Last week in travel: ArriveCan protocols were eased, as were fees for lapsed TICO registrants seeking reinstatement; Transat posted ‘optimistic’ year-end results; TTI bought MeritBiz; and Jimmy Buffet’s Margaritaville brand announced that it is heading to sea.
NEWS
Canadian border officials will allow travellers to give their travel information at the border if they’ve forgotten or haven’t been able to use the governments ArriveCan app. Until now, anyone coming into Canada had to enter their travel details in the app or else be denied boarding or be subject to a two-week quarantine on arrival.
Effective Dec. 6 TICO’s updated Registrant Reinstatement Policy took effect, allowing registrants that were forced to let their registration lapse due to financial restraints during the pandemic to seek reinstatement without additional fees. The policy will be available up to March 31, 2023, for any former TICO registrant that voluntarily terminated their registration or allowed their registration to expire from April 1, 2020, onwards.
Voters in the French island territory of New Caledonia chose overwhelmingly Sunday to stay part of France, in a referendum boycotted by pro-independence forces and closely watched around the South Pacific. Separatist activists had urged a delay in the vote because of the pandemic and were angry over what they said were French government efforts to sway the campaign. However, 96% of those who took part chose to stay in France, according to regional officials.
RETAIL
TTI Travel has bought MeritBiz from HIS Merit Travel Group. Announced jointly by respective CEOs Rocky Racco and Frank DeMarinis, MeritBiz is the corporate travel management division of Merit.
RE-OPENING/RE-START
Cayman Islands dignitaries turned out to welcome the return of Air Canada Rouge to the island on Dec. 4 (photo), marking a milestone in the destination’s return to tourism after reopening its border to fully vaccinated tourists on Nov. 20.
AIR
Air Canada says it has introduced a series of improvements for customers to meet new US government entry requirements, including ensuring “an ample supply” of antigen tests (available for purchase) through Canadian-based health care company Switch Health. The self-administered test can be taken from the customer’s home or accommodation in about 15 minutes. The Air Canada app and aircanada.com have been upgraded to recognize the Switch Health QR code and proof of vaccination status, enabling customers to securely submit their test results and proof of vaccination in advance of travel.
Swoop celebrated the launch of three new inaugural flights from Toronto Pearson International Airport with the departure of new non-stop service to Los Cabos, Mexico, on Dec. 4, Punta Cana, DR, on Dec. 5 and Kingston, Jamaica on Dec. 8.
Annual seasonal service to Myrtle Beach, SC, by Porter Airlines will begin March 9, 2022, and conclude May 28. Direct flights from Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport will operate twice weekly on Wednesdays and Saturdays, with connecting service from various Porter locations.
Checkport Switzerland at Zurich Airport offers antigen rapid and RT-PCR tests in three dedicated test centres. Results for RT-PCR tests take as little as three to five hours and antigen test results are available 15-20 minutes after test delivery.
BY THE NUMBERS
In releasing its fourth quarter results for the fiscal year ended Oct. 31, Transat reported $62.8 million in revenues, up $34.4 million (120.9%) from $28.4 million for the corresponding period of 2020. Overall operations generated an operating loss of $118.3 million, compared with $239.3 million in 2020, an improvement of $121.0 million. For the fiscal year as a whole, the company recognized revenues of $124.8 million, a decrease of $1.2 billion (90.4%) compared with 2020. In 2021, operations generated an adjusted operating loss of $401.2 million compared with $426.0 million in 2020, an improvement of $24.7 million.
DEALS
Windstar is gearing up for its “12 Ways of Windstar” holiday sale, running Dec. 14-28. Cruise rates will be reduced on select departures with a lead rate of US$1,499 p.p., double. Travellers will find deals on cruises in the Caribbean, Mediterranean, Black Sea and Holy Lands, US Coastal, Tahiti, and Trans-Ocean.
TOURS
G Adventures has partnered with Dublin-based OTA Hostelworld to combine the former’s group adventure tours with the latter’s global hostel booking platform to create a series of unique backpacking-meets-organized-travel experiences dubbed ‘Roamies.’ The collection is designed to capture the free-spirited nature of adventure travel and combine it with the inherently social side of hostels with five- to 34-day tours limited to between 16 and 24 travellers. Close to 40 tours in 15 countries will begin in May 2022.
Sunwing has launched its own branded gift cards in time for the holidays. The digital Sunwing Gift Cards can be purchased online on the travel company’s web site in amounts ranging from $50 to $2,500, and can be redeemed online, through travel agents, or through the Sunwing Sales Centre. The cards, which do not expire, can be used towards the purchase of any Sunwing product including vacation packages, flights, room upgrades, excursions and private transfers.
HOTELS
Dec. 10 saw the official opened of the Muir, Autograph Collection hotel in Halifax. Inspired by “the enduring spirit, culture and character of Nova Scotia and its people,” the Muir is the first hotel in Nova Scotia to join Autograph Collection Hotels, a curated collection of some of the world’s most distinctive independent hotels, hand-selected for their inherent craft and distinct perspectives on design and hospitality. It is located in the new Queen’s Marque district on the Halifax Waterfront.
In Edinburgh, Scotland, Red Carnation Hotels is set to breathe new life into one of the city’s more important addresses, 100 Princes Street, the former home of the Overseas League and “home away from home” for many great Scottish explorers. The 100 Princess Street hotel, set to open next June, is a sister property to Hotel 41 in London and promises an “anything, anytime” approach while featuring décor from local artisans. Also coming to Edinburgh next year: Roomzzz in spring and W Hotel next winter. Both are set to be part of the new St. James Quarter development near Waverley trains station.
RESORTS
The second annual Amazing Agents Celebration was hosted in Cancun by AMResorts earlier this month (photo). The three-day gathering held at AMR Collection’s Dreams Vista Cancun Golf & Spa Resort honoured about 90 top-performing agents and travel agent leadership from the US and Canada, and provided a first look at Breathless Cancun Soul Resort & Spa during its grand opening event. Attendees earned their place at the celebration based on the number of room nights registered with AMRewards from January 2019 through June 30, 2021. In 2022, agents will have the opportunity to be selected to attend the event based on their room nights registered from July 1, 2021, through June 30, 2022.
A new casino has opened at the Royalton Antigua. The 400-sq.-m. Casino Royale features slots and gaming tables (blackjack, high card flush, and electronic roulette), bar, and 10 big screens offering all the latest in sports from the NBA, MLB, NFL, and all European Soccer leagues. The venue is open daily from 6 p.m. to 1 a.m., for adults aged 18 years of age and older.
CRUISE
Setting sail April 30, 2022, Margaritaville at Sea will operate two-day cruises from Palm Beach, Fla., to Freeport, Bahamas, in partnership with Bahamas Paradise Cruise Line, whose former flagship vessel Grand Classica will be renamed the Margaritaville Paradise. The venture marks the entry of the singer-songwriter Jimmy Buffet’s fast-growing brand, based on his 1977 song “Margaritaville,” which already includes two casinos, 25 hotels and resorts, 60 restaurants, and much more.
UnCruise Adventures, the small ship company operating overnight inter-island adventures in Hawaii, commenced operations in the islands over the US Thanksgiving Day holiday. The 36-guest Safari Explorer kicked off her winter season with in-depth cultural immersion in Halawa Valley on the island of Molokai. The company notes that it does not fit into the category of a large ship cruise line, which were required to cancel cruises until 2022, and has received permission to operate in ports and parks in Hawaii.
FAMS & INCENTIVES
Continuing through Dec. 21, TravelBrands’ “Encore’s Favourite Things: 12 Days of Giveaways” gives travel agents a chance to earn incentive on new cruise bookings made on five-night or longer sailings in any category on all cruise lines (unless stated otherwise). Agents will also have a chance to receive free chocolate covered strawberries for their guests. Here are a few of the offers: $100 in Bonus Loyalty Points on any river cruise, $100 in Bonus Loyalty Points on any new group booking, $75 in Bonus Loyalty Points on any cruise tour, $75 in Bonus Loyalty Points when redeeming a Future Cruise Certificate, and $50 in Bonus Loyalty Points on any Mexican Riviera sailing.
Also, from TravelBrands Car Rentals, the ‘Tis the Season for Giving campaign allows agents the opportunity to receive a 2% bonus commission and 2x the Loyalty Rewards Points on all car rental bookings, plus a chance to win their entire car rental back. This promotion applies to any new car booking with Hertz, Dollar, Thrifty, Avis, Budget, Alamo, Enterprise, and National and runs from through Dec. 31.
EVENTS
The American Marketing Group (AMG), parent company of TRAVELSAVERS, NEST, and The Affluent Travel Collection, has announced that its 2022 Global Travel Market conference will take place at the Las Vegas Hilton at Resorts World Sept. 28 – Oct. 1, 2022. Themed “Stronger, Bolder, Brighter,” the event marks AMG’s 50-year anniversary celebration, two years late due to cancellation from the pandemic. Attendees will gather from around the globe including travel professionals, suppliers, educators, and speakers.
PEOPLE/APPOINTMENTS
Goway is growing its team with the addition of Ian Smyth as Account Manager in Canada. Smyth has over 20 years’ experience working in the travel industry with organizations such as Fun Sun Vacations and WestJet. For the past five years he has served as Business Development Director at Norwegian Cruise Lines
CAA Niagara has a new Associate Director, Travel Sales & Experience: Beth Fleeton. The travel industry veteran spent the past 13 years (pre-pandemic) representing Universal Orlando Resort in Canada. Fleeton is based in Thorold, Ont. and can be reached at bfleeton@caaniagara.ca.
DESTINATIONS
All non-European persons aged 12 or over entering France are now required to present the results of a negative COVID-19 (antigen or PCR) carried out less than 24 or 48 hours prior to departure. The measures come as the nation fights a fifth wave of the virus and has tightened social distancing measures, but resisted another lockdown
The Wales Coast Path has launched a comprehensive news series of 75 itineraries to entice hikers in the UK. The new itineraries are also aimed at promoting the diverse range of destinations along the coast path, to re-distribute visitors from Wales’ “honey pot” sites. From child-friendly rambles on ‘Family Friendly’ routes or an adrenalin pumping three-day hike, the 75 new itineraries have been crafted by park wardens to offer accessibility, variety, and miles of iconic scenery. Details can be found on the Wales Coast Path web site.
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