In case you missed it, and even if you didn’t, here’s a quick look at some of last week’s need-to-know travel news, including: Cruise ships will steer clear of US ports until Sept. 15, Air Canada says recovery will take years, and Tourism HR Canada and Visit Orlando have announced webinar dates.
NEWS
Tourism HR Canada president and CEO Philip Mondor is hosting a webinar launching the free COVID-19 Tourism Recovery Toolkit, created to provide guidance and support to the 200,000 tourism operators across the country devastated by the impacts of COVID-19. The webinar is taking place Wednesday, June 24 (1-2 p.m. EST) and will focus on labour-related challenges and opportunities key to moving from recovery to renewed growth and innovation. Use the following link to REGISTER.
RE-OPENING
Cuba is re-opening to international travellers on July 1, Puerto Rico on July 15.
Coinciding with the re-opening of Mexico’s popular tourist destinations, Palace Resorts and Le Blanc Spa Resorts have also re-opened their doors with over 300 check-ins on the first day – 80% from the US.
Atlantis, located on Paradise Island in The Bahamas, will welcome guests to The Royal and Harborside Resort beginning July 7 and The Cove on July 14, as part of a phased reopening.
DELAYED
Citing a need for more time to “resolve barriers” with US authorities, CLIA says it will not sail from American ports now until Sept. 15 – a voluntary extension of the previous July 24 no-sail order from the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention issued on March 14.
Rocky Mountaineer has extended the suspension of its 2020 travel season to include all departure dates up to and including Aug. 30. This suspension is in addition to the previously announced suspended departures from April 13 to July 31.
AIR
The chief financial officer for Air Canada, Michael Rousseau, says the airline does not expect passenger numbers to return to pre-pandemic levels until 2023.
DEALS
Dubbing the deal their “best redemption offer ever” and a return to 1984 prices, Aeroplan members who book an Air Canada Flight Reward between by July 1 for all routes within Canada and the US will get 50% miles back. Travel must be taken between July 1 and Oct. 15, 2020.
TOURS
From Canada to California and Yakima to the Yukon, Globus and Cosmos have unveiled a new series of nine “Undiscovered” vacations in North America. “We do not need to cross oceans for adventure when there’s so much to discover in our own backyard,” says Globus Canada managing director Stéphanie Bishop of the nine wilderness-inspired itineraries. Experiences include riding a dune buggy on the Oregon Coast (photo), seeing the Colombia Icefield by all-terrain vehicle, and seeing mountains, waterfalls and wildlife on an Inside Passage cruise. EBBs are available on select 2021 tours.
RESORTS
With its opening in March interrupted by the coronavirus pandemic, Secrets St. Martin Resort & Spa will now re-open in August as the country does. St. Martin’s only all-inclusive hotel, is located on white sand Anse Marcel Beach in a quaint bay on the north side of the island, overlooking the island of Anguilla with activities including scuba, snorkelling, as well as boat charters and seadoos.
CRUISE
Carnival Corp. reports that for the full year of 2021, booking volumes for the six weeks ending May 31 were running meaningfully behind the prior year. However, the company saw an improvement in booking volumes for the six weeks ending May 31 compared to the prior six weeks.
FAMS & INCENTIVES
Through June 30, TTC brand African Travel is calling on travel advisors to nominate a local community hero who went above and beyond during the COVID crisis. Agents can then vote for their favourite from a top 10 shortlist that will be posted July 13-23. The top vote-getter will be awarded an eight-night private escape to South Africa and Botswana for two. The nominating agent will also receive a complimentary spot on an African Travel educational FAM to South Africa, Kenya or Tanzania. Find details and the registration form HERE.
EVENTS
Visit Orlando has created a new webinar series to inform travel advisors of the latest updates from the destination, including new safety programs, to help advise their clients. Dates and details of the series are as follows (all times EST):
• June 30 – 3 p.m. – Universal Orlando Resort and Walt Disney World Swan & Dolphin: Register HERE.
• July 14 – 3 p.m.: SeaWorld Parks & Entertainment and Westgate Resorts: Register HERE.
• July 28 – 3 p.m.: ICON Park, Orlando Magic and Gatorland: Register HERE.
DESTINATIONS
Colombia’s participation in Make Music Day yesterday (June 21) may have ended, but the beat always goes on in the South America nation (photo). To ensure that music fans can always enjoy the sounds of “The Land of 1000 Rhythms” – even during the days of social distancing – ProColombia has created a Spotify playlist (The Colombian Soundtracks) as well as the dedicated “Feel the Rhythm” section on its website with access to playlists, video and more. Air Canada will operate three flights a week on the Bogotá-Toronto route from Sept. 1.
https://colombia.travel/feel-the-rhythm/en
Send info to baginski@travelindustrytoday.com
* Future dates and events listed here are up to date at time of printing, although obviously subject to changes due to ever-involving pandemic information. Travel Industry Today accepts no responsibility for sudden or unreported inaccuracies.