In this week’s round-up: Accolades (perhaps surprising) for Pearson airport; promising global travel news from UN Tourism, IATA and American Express; plus, mixed financial results from Transat, a new destination for Contiki, and plenty more industry tidbits.
NEWS
Canadians rank as the second highest global market for anticipated average trip spend and are prioritizing spontaneous, bucket list vacations, according to American Express Travel, which has released its annual 2024 Global Travel Trends Report highlighting the inspiration and trends driving global travel bookings this year. The report also says one in three (33%) Canadians are planning on taking a trip in 2024 plan to travel for a major this year.
Toronto Pearson has been named the “Best Airport over 40 million passengers in North America” for the sixth time in seven years by Airports Council International (ACI) – World, the global trade representative of the world’s airports. The airport regained the prestigious ranking for 2023 after achieving the honour for five consecutive years between 2017 and 2021.
UN Tourism has released its latest Tourism Visa Openness report on global visa policies, revealing continuous shifts in international travel regulations – and indicating that the world at large has returned to pre-pandemic levels of openness and visa-free travel. North America remains one of the most restrictive regions for inbound travel (in some cases spawning retaliatory outbound visa needs for its citizens); however, on a global scale, less than half of the population now needs a traditional visa to travel, continuing an ongoing trend.
BY THE NUMBERS
IATA says its data of global passenger demand for January indicates a strong start for the year. Total demand was up 16.6% compared to the year previous, while total capacity was up 14.1%; and the load factor was 79.9% (+1.7%). In North America, carriers had a 12.3% traffic rise in January 2024 versus the 2023 period. Capacity also increased 13.7%, though the load factor fell 1 point to 79.4%.
AIR
Revenue increased by almost 18% percent, but overall profit declined for Transat in the first quarter, with the travel company citing the (now resolved) threat of strike by flight attendants, fierce competition, and supply chain challenges as factors contributing to a $61 million net loss. At the same time, record customer deposits for future travel (+14%) have been achieved.
Porter Airlines is adding seasonal roundtrip flights on two new non-stop routes between Montreal and Los Angeles and San Francisco. The new YUL-LAX route begins June 27, with 4x-weekly service. YUL-SFO begins on June 28, with 3x-weekly service. The program ends on Oct. 26.
KM Malta Airlines, the national airline of Malta, has signed a unilateral codeshare agreement with Air France. Under this agreement, Air France will place its code on KM Malta Airlines’ 10x-weekly flights between Malta and Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport (CDG), 9x-weekly flights between Malta and Paris Orly Airport (ORY), and 5x-weekly flights between Malta and Lyon (LYS).
For the 13th year in a row the oneworld alliance has been named the world’s Best Airline Alliance for wines served by member airlines onboard in an annual international tasting competition. The Gold award in the Best Alliance category came from the Business Traveller’s Cellars in the Sky Awards 2023 now in its 38th year.
DEALS
Collette reminds agents that their clients can now save $500 when booking a seat on the July 22, 2024, departure of its “Italian Vistas” tour.
Solo Travellers can now enjoy no single supplement on select 2024 voyages on the six-star luxury sailing yacht Scenic Eclipse. Destinations include the Arctic, Australia, Caribbean, Antarctica, and Brazil. Check with Scenic Luxury Cruises & Tours for specific details.
TOURS
Hailing the new program as its most successful launch, G Adventures has added 17 trips to its Geluxe premium active collection. The trips span 10 countries and bring the total number of Geluxe adventures to 45 itineraries across 26 different countries. The Collection focuses on being physically active in the great outdoors and features one-of-a-kind accommodation and elevated dining experiences incorporating the flavour of a destination. The new destinations include Argentina/ Chile (Patagonia), Ecuador (Galapagos), Iceland, Ireland, India, Kenya, Portugal, Spain, Tanzania and Turkey, with departures available from October. Maximum group size is 16.
Contiki has introduced its first-ever trip to the Philippines with a new nine-day and 13-day Island Hopping tour, visiting the country’s most famous tourist hotspots and unique hidden gems on the Palawan Island, including Puerto Princesa, Port Barton and El Nido with stays at beachfront hotels and bamboo huts, along with underground river tours, snorkeling, jewelry making, and more. The extended tour also includes a four-day boat expedition to Palawan Calamian’s Group of Islands (Northern Palawan archipelago) and famous attractions such as Coron islands, Cullion and Linapacan.
HOTELS
In western Ireland, the 16th-century Dromoland Castle – the former ancestral home of the royal O’Brien family—has unveiled a five-bedroom private residence, Dromoland Lodge, overlooking the property’s 500 acres. Perfect for families and groups, the lodge is kitted with a game room, a private putting green, an outdoor terrace and dining area, and a chef on-call for in-house meals. Guests have access to all the castle’s facilities, plus daily breakfast, two golf carts for exploring the grounds, airport transfers, and a personal residential assistant who can set up activities like a falconry demonstration or an excursion to the Wild Atlantic Way.
Guests at the newly renovated Sky Rock Sedona a Tribute Portfolio Hotel by Marriott in Sedona, Arizona will find 360-degree views of Sedona’s red rocks and a host of wellness activities. This boutique hotel celebrates the spirit of Sedona with a dazzling amethyst-filled wall welcoming guests to the vibrant lobby, where guests can meet with the hotel’s “Vortex Hunters” to curate an adventurous and transformative stay embarking on hikes, moonrise ceremonies, scientific vortex talks, sound baths, yoga, and stargazing. The hotel is dog-friendly, with an on-call pet psychic for furry guests to consult.
RESORTS
RIU Hotels & Resorts has launched Elite Club at the Riu Palace Jamaica (photo), located in Montego Bay. For the first time in Jamaica, hotel guests can access the wide range of Elite Club advantages and benefits such as access to exclusive areas of the hotel or premium food and drink options. Elite Club guests will have access to the 42 rooms with the best views in the hotel, a personalized check-in and late check-out service, welcome gifts, private pool, a premium drinks menu and aromatherapy in their rooms, and more.
The contract between Sunscape Puerto Plata Dominican Republic and Hyatt’s Inclusive Collection will expire April 30. As of this date, the resort will no longer be affiliated with the Inclusive Collection. Guests with existing reservations at the resort April 30 and beyond may have their stays honoured with their current rate at Marien Puerto Plata, an independent resort affiliated with the Inclusive Collection or may cancel their stay without penalty. Any questions can be directed to ana.moreno2@hyatt.com or Matthias.hohner@hyatt.com.
CRUISE
Cunard has announced it will be significantly increasing the number of calls its iconic Queens will make to Barbados. Thirteen new voyages with ports of call to Barbados have been announced, in addition to the six already on sale for late 2024 to 2026. Cunard’s Queen Elizabeth will visit the island nine times throughout 2025 and 2026, with the launch of a new Caribbean program of sailings from Miami. When the ship sails to Bridgetown in October 2025 as part of her 12-night Eastern Caribbean voyage, it will be the first time she will have called at Barbados since November 2015.
Riviera River Cruises will launch two new ships on the rivers of Europe in 2025, including the first in a new generation of ships with a split-level bar and restaurant, a third restaurant, and the line’s largest-ever suites. The new ships, Riviera Radiance and Riviera Rose, will also share the line’s name for the first time for improved branding.
RAIL
Inbound Platform Corp. has launched its Shinkansen (bullet train) ticket service, which includes basic fares, express tickets, and ticket issuance via QR codes, for international travellers and foreign residents in Japan. Through the “Japan Bullet Train” English website, travellers and foreign residents can effortlessly book and manage Shinkansen tickets in less than two minutes, while also eliminating language barriers. Click HERE.
The Brightline rail service, which connects central and south Florida, has announced its next stop: Stuart in Martin County. The new location – on the Sunshine State’s Treasure Coast half-way between Miami and Orlando – was chosen after a review of five proposals in the area.
ATTRACTIONS & THEME PARKS
In Virginia, Loch Ness Monster, the iconic, registered landmark interlocking loop roller coaster at Busch Gardens Williamsburg celebrates 46 years as the park’s most iconic attraction with a full restoration including all-new thematic and experiential elements. It is set to debut this Spring.
EVENTS
The webinar “Wildlife Experiences in Perú” will be held Tues., March 19, at 3 p.m. ET. hosted by PromPeru and featuring two Peruvian partners. One agent will receive a $150 Amazon Gift Card just for attending. Info and registration HERE.
The 2024 Granite Travel Trade Shows will kick off April 22 in Windsor, Ont., the first of four shows in the province in April. The first 50 agents who arrive at each of the 11 Granite Travel Trade Expos (Spring and Fall) will receive a $20 MasterCard, courtesy of Catalonia Hotels & Resorts. Following Windsor, Ontario events will take place April 23 in Kitchener-Waterloo; April 24 – Oshawa; and April 25 – Barrie. Registration for travel agents opens March 22; click HERE.
FAMS & INCENTIVES
Collette is offering advisors $1,000 in bonus commission on all group bookings for 15 more travellers through April 15, 2024. The offer is valid for any booking made on departures through March 31, 2025.
For each tour and package booking to Ireland made through Air Canada Vacations through June 30, agents have a chance to win an “Ireland Classic Tour” package for two. The winners will be announced on July 15. Travel must take place by Dec. 31. And agents can enjoy 20% off their next ACV Europe Tours & Flight plus Hotel package booked by March 29 for travel through year’s end.
DESTINATIONS
A steady increase in Canadian visitations to the Cayman islands – including a record-breaking Q1 and best-ever March – has prompted a boost in airlift to the Caribbean destination with additional flight frequencies by both Air Canada and WestJet. Combined, the carriers will offer a combined seven non-stop flights a week to Grand Cayman from Toronto through April, and then five a week to Grand Cayman thanks to augmented summer schedules, starting May 2.
2025 will mark the 250th birthday of Jane Austen, whose life and literary accomplishments will be marked throughout Hampshire and Bath, England. Fans can take a Jane Austen walk, retracing the footsteps of the legendary author from Alton to Chawton and immerse themselves in her world at the Jane Austen Centre and her former residence at 1 Royal Crescent in Bath.
LAST WEEK IN TRAVEL HISTORY
In 2005, discount airline Jetsgo declared bankruptcy – leaving thousands of passengers stranded.
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