ROUND-UP:Aug. 3-7, 2020

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: Sunwing welcomed its first guests since March; CLIA has delayed cruising again; and Transat is set to ramp up operations in November.

NEWS

Sunwing celebrated its first customers since March, with passengers arriving in Cancun and Montego Bay last week. A limited September is in the cards with service from Toronto to Cancun, Varadero, Cayo Coco, Punta Cana and Montego Bay; and from Montreal to Cancun, Punta Cana, Varadero and Cayo Coco.

Let’s hope three’s the charm: CLIA announced that its ocean-going cruise line members have agreed to voluntarily suspend US cruise operations until at least Oct. 31. It is the third time launched dates have been pushed back.

Effective Nov. 1, Transat plans to operate flights to more than 40 destinations globally and will at the same time operate domestic flights between Toronto, Montreal and Vancouver. The schedule is designed to allow the carrier to emerge from a limited pandemic schedule (which resumed July 23) and operate Caribbean and Mexico programs at the height of the season, as well to Europe, the US, and Central and South America. More than 320 hotels will able be available to be booked. Gateways include Toronto, Vancouver, Montreal and Quebec City, as well as southern flights from Halifax, Hamilton, London, Moncton and Ottawa.

RE-OPENING/STARTING

A full resumption of international flights to Pakistan began yesterday (Sunday) amid a steady decline in COVID-19 deaths and infections. Last week, authorities allowed a resumption of domestic flights from all of the country’s airports. Commercial flights had been banned since March.

European river cruises from CroisiEurope are steadily increasing. The latest rivers to come into play again are the Danube and Loire, which follow recent restarts on the Seine, Rhone and Burgundy Canal in France, plus the Elbe and Douro. This month will see cruises commence in Croatia on Aug. 13 and in France on the Gironde on Aug. 26. Other European destinations will be available progressively throughout the season.

On Aug. 16 and 19 MSC Cruises’ MSC Grandiosa and MSC Magnifica will resume operations respectively with seven-night cruises in the Mediterranean. The two ships will be the first to implement a new comprehensive health and safety protocol that has been approved by national authorities in the countries they will visit.

DELAYED/CANCELLED

Porter Airlines is extending its suspension of all flights until Oct. 7, the third such delay caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. The carrier had previously planned to resume flying on Aug. 31, after initially setting a late-July date.

Crystal Cruises has cancelled all Ocean voyages (aboard Crystal Symphony and Crystal Serenity) and Yacht voyages (aboard Crystal Esprit) through the remainder of 2020. Affected guests will be provided credits equal to 125% of the cruise fare paid on fully-paid reservations – along with a refund of port charges, taxes and fees paid, and any air and hotel packages booked through Crystal. For guests who have not fully paid, the credit will then be based on the deposited amount. Credits are valid on any Crystal experience (Ocean, River, Yacht or Expedition) embarking through Dec. 31, 2023. The cruise line had previously announced the cancellation of its river cruise program for the remainder of the year.

Previously set to open its airport to international travellers on Aug. 15, Belize has delayed the move until an unspecified date due to a spike in COVID-19 cases.

AIR

United Airlines plans to resume service on nearly 30 international routes in September, including flights to Asia, India, Australia, Israel, and Latin America and to continue to add flights to the Caribbean, Hawaii and Mexico. The airline intends to fly 37% of its usual schedule in September, which is 4% up over August.

TOURS

Through its Exotik Journeys brand, TravelBrands has launched domestic program, featuring multiple trip ideas that vary in dates, budget, travel time and activities. Itineraries can be completely customized to travellers’ needs. TravelBrands also has hundreds of hotel options and car rentals options (see “Incentives” below for more).

HOTELS

The largest Holiday Inn Express in Europe has opened in Amsterdam. The Amsterdam North Riverside property is located on IJ-lake, a short free ferry ride from city centre and 30 minutes from Schiphol. With 438 rooms, the hotel caters to both and business travellers. Room amenities include blackout curtains, high-quality bedding, power shower, free high-speed Wi-Fi, plus flexible workspace, flat screen TV, ergonomically designed chairs and ample USB ports and plug sockets next to the bed. The hotel is pet friendly and breakfast is included.

RESORTS

Hilton’s Conrad brand will debut its first resort (and second Conrad property) in Mexico with the opening of the Conrad Punta de Mita in Mexico’s Riviera Nayarit (above) on Sept. 1. The resort is situated among the area’s beautiful natural landscape and adheres to a philosophy of “barefoot resort elegance.” The resort has 324 Pacific-view guest rooms and suites, three pools, four restaurants and three bar concepts, plus spa, golf and more. The resort will open with a selection of suites available, prompting Conrad to promise “a full-service resort experience with the volume of a boutique hotel.” Opening incentives are available.

CRUISE

Nominations for the annual Seatrade Cruise Awards have been extended until Aug. 10 giving agents one last chance to vote. The awards invite the cruise community to submit entries in series of categories with the winners revealed in October. Nominations can be made HERE.

To address health concerns brought on by the pandemic, Windstar Cruises has committed to a holistic “Beyond Ordinary Care” program and will retrofit its fleet of six yachts with hospital-grade HEPA filters, ultraviolet germicidal irradiation and will employ a safe sanitization formula used in health care settings. A new partnership with the epidemiology department at the University of Colorado’s Anschutz Medical Center provides ongoing guidance.

BY THE NUMBERS

The newly announced 2021-22 Viking World Cruise on the 930-passenger Viking Star will span 136 days, 27 countries and 56 ports, with overnight stays in 11 cities. Setting sail on Dec. 24, 2021, from Fort Lauderdale, the itinerary will include three new ports of call for Viking, including Phillip Island and Eden, Australia, as well as Yangon, Myanmar. The price is US$49,995 p.p.

FAMS & INCENTIVES

Travel counsellors who book Canadian getaways can take part in TravelBrands’ interactive Discover Canada game for a chance to win earn bonus commission 50,000 Loyalty Rewards points. Games include multiple choice about Canadian destinations and puzzles involving Canadian themed items. Visit TravelBrands’ Canada page on Access to get clues about answers for the game.

EVENTS

WTM London (World Travel Market) has been given the go-ahead to take place at its usual time in London. Dates this year for the event at ExCel London are Nov. 2-5, concurrent with the travel technology exhibition Travel Forward and London Travel Week. The world’s largest English-language trade show is expected to be one of the first major exhibitions to take place globally since the COVID-19 pandemic and will be both live and virtual, the former including a full suite of health and safety protocols.

DESTINATIONS

St. Pete has unveiled a new “exPIERience: the US$92-million, 11-hectare pier district in the Florida city (rendering) offers plenty to see, do and eat set on the waterfront against the backdrop of Tampa Bay. Visitors can spread out on a tilted lawn or take part in all-age interactive exhibits about marine life at an outdoor “wet classroom,” tuck into local fare at five different dining venues with ample open-air seating, and experience dramatic public art, a fishing deck, kid-friendly amenities and a marketplace of community artisans.

Meanwhile, nearby, the Clearwater Marine Aquarium has unveiled a new 6.8 million-litre dolphin complex with sweeping underwater views as part of its US$80-million expansion. Notably, the complex is home to the aquarium’s star resident, “Winter,” whose injury and prosthetic tail were depicted in the film “Dolphin Tale.”

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.