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:

AIR

Swoop’s 2020 summer schedule will take travellers to two new domestic destinations including Victoria (from Winnipeg), Kamloops (from Edmonton), plus San Diego (from YEG). Starting in April, WestJet’s ULCC is also increasing its weekly frequency service between many markets, including Hamilton to Winnipeg, Edmonton to Abbotsford, and Abbotsford to Winnipeg. Since inception, Swoop’s summer network has grown to serve 14 domestic, 10 transborder and four international markets.

Miami International Airport has a new state-of-the-art, fully automated baggage handling system that doubles the speed and efficiency of baggage screening and delivery for flights in MIA’s Central and South terminals.

Sangster International Airport (SIA) in Montego Bay, Jamaica is expanding infrastructure improvements, which include a new design theme, the addition of 2,300 sq. m. to the departure terminal, and upgrades to the commercial area with a renewed focus on Jamaican specialty products and artisan goods. New customs kiosks and online customs forms have already significantly eased entrance times into the country.

DEALS

2020 rings in with Sunwing’s “Million Dollar Beach Blowout Sale,” so named because the tour operator says it has negotiated “millions of dollars in savings” on all inclusive vacation packages to a grand selection of resorts across the Caribbean, Mexico and Central America. The deals must be booked Jan 10, and feature such resorts as the Margaritaville Grand Cayman, BlueBay Grand Esmeralda in Riviera Maya and Grand Memories Punta Cana and Varadero.

To celebrate the launch of the new Goway/Australian Pacific Touring brochure for 2020/21, Goway is offering earlybird savings of approximately 5% on the cost of a vacation for clients booking before March 31. Savings of up to 10% are available to clients who book tours in advance and pay in full at the time of booking.

To celebrate the its grand opening on Dec. 19, the luxury adults-only Bunglows Key Largo is offering a limited time “Grand Opening” escape to the first all-inclusive resort in the Florida Keys for US$995 per night – a savings of 20-30% – based on a four-night or more stay through April. Located 100 km south of Miami at mile marker 99 Bayside, Bungalows Key Largo sits within a botanical garden and features two pools and two jacuzzi tubs, extensive shoreline laced with countless beach cabanas, a variety of watersports, a full fleet of boats featuring the “Lady B” catamaran, full-service Zen Garden Spa, Fitness Tiki Hut and more.

TOURS

Canadian country music artist Gil Grand has launched “Canada’s only sight-seeing and sing-along tour company,” Gil Grand Country Music Tours, which will whisk clients to country music events and destinations in Canada and the US via luxury coach and be entertained along the way. The first trip, in partnership with Arkansas-based Little Rock Tours, rolls out from Orillia, Ont. (with a shuttle from Sudbury and pick-up in Mississauga) March 5-10 to Nashville, and features a stay at the Opryland Hotel, backstage VIP tour of the Grand Ole Opry with Grand, country legends concert, visit to the Country Music Hall of Fame, and more. Booking deadline is Jan. 31; prices from US$1,295 p.p. For details, visit HERE.

A return of Tauck’s “Celebration of Roses” event is in the cards for late 2020. The five-day event (from $8,170 p.p., double) is highlighted by a behind-the-scenes visit to the Rose Parade Float Construction Barns, as well as premier grandstand seating at the parade. Participants will also get a guided tour of Paramount Pictures Studio, an optional visit to the Academy Award Museum, a private tour and lunch at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library and Museum, and a Gala New Year’s Eve dinner at the Fairmont Miramar Santa Monica. Football fans will also have the option of attending the annual Rose Bowl game, with tickets available for additional cost.

New offerings from Intrepid for 2020 include tours in several destinations that have recently been in the news. The “beyond the headlines” tours include Greenland (sought by Donald Trump); Ukraine & Chernobyl (HBO mini-series); Japan (2020 Summer Olympics host); and Turkey (political concerns). New destinations also include Sudan and Scotland, and the company reports it will officially become a seven-continent operator with the launch of a small group expeditions in Antarctica.

HOTELS

Small Luxury Hotels of the World (SLH) is introducing five new members to its exclusive collection of independent luxury boutique hotels. The first ever SLH properties in Bhutan and the island of Barbuda offer remote hideaways in unique settings, while guests can also bask in the sun at a seaside resort in the Mani region of Greece, take in the views at a chic hotel in the heart of Lisbon, or relish the great outdoors at a ranch in Colorado.

Montana’s The Pine Lodge on Whitefish River and The Ridge Hotel at Yellowstone are among the newest additions to the growing Ascend Hotel Collection, a global portfolio of independent resort, historic and boutique hotels. With locations at the base of the Rocky Mountains on the Whitefish River and the northern entrance to Yellowstone National Park, respectively, both hotels offer adventure-seeking guests access to outdoor activities such as fishing, whitewater rafting, hiking and skiing. Additionally, each hotel features a myriad of guest-focused amenities, spacious guestrooms, pet-friendly accommodations, a fitness centre and complimentary breakfast.

Now Open:

The newest addition to the Margaritaville portfolio is open in Nashville. With a “no worries” casual luxury atmosphere, the Tennessee property has 166 guestrooms in a 12-storey building. located a half block south of the Music City Center, near Broadway. Amenities include a rooftop relaxation and entertainment area with an outdoor pool, sundeck, fire pits and live entertainment; a 24-hour fitness centre; and two first-ever Margaritaville dining concepts – FINS Bar and JWB Grill.

RESORTS

A new adults-only retreat is now open on the remote Hawaiian island of Lanai (photo). The Four Seasons Hotel Lanai at Koele, A Sensei Retreat.
(formerly The Lodge at Koele) features 96 guest rooms and suites, plus a soaring Great Room, Sensei by Nobu restaurant, spa, and wellness facilities including 10 private spa hale. The all-inclusive hotel will focus exclusively on wellness retreats, offering a comprehensive and fully customisable program tailored to individual needs.

Guests at Sandals Royal Caribbean in Montego Bay, Jamaica, have two new dining options: Spices and Bombay Club. The former serves up Pan-Caribbean favourites for breakfast, lunch (buffet) and dinner, while the latter features Indian fare such as Shrimp Pakoras and Butter Chicken, along with vegan and vegetarian options like aloo gobhi. Including exchange program options with neighbouring Sandals Montego Bay, guests now have 20 different dining options.

Now open:

Officially opened Dec. 15, Club Med Alp d’Huez is welcoming guests again after a US$145-million renovation. The 4-Trident resort is located in the Savoie region of the French Alps and provides a ski-in/ski-out area that opens to the L’Alpe d’Huez Grand Domaine ski region with more than 250 km of ski runs, including 18 black trails, 28 red trails, 31 blue trails and 34 green trails. As part of Club Med’s all-inclusive ski package, guests receive a ski lift pass and have access to daily group ski and snowboard lessons, ranging from beginner to advanced and families.

CRUISE

Due to popular demand, Princess Cruises has announced a second Valentine’s Day cruise departing from Los Angeles to Mexico, designed to break the Guinness World Records title for the largest multi-location vow renewal. Officiated by the very first Bachelorette couple, Trista and Ryan Sutter, the ceremony will take place onboard Royal Princess, setting sail from Los Angeles Feb. 10-15 on a five-day, round-trip cruise to Mexico that includes an overnight stay in Cabo San Lucas. The cruise coincides with a previously announced Regal Princess cruise Feb. 9-16, in which couples will renew their vows in a ceremony officiated by Love Boat TV show captain Gavin MacLeod.

With its port capacity doubled thanks to a second cruise pier, St Kitts and Nevis welcomed four large cruise ships simultaneously at Port Zante, for the first time ever before Christmas. Prime Minister Timothy Harris greeted the combined 12,000 upon arrival, suggesting enthusiasm from the islands’ tourism industry. Residents and cruise pax may not have been so sure.

American Cruise Lines will introduce two ships in 2020 – American Jazz and American Melody, the third and fourth modern riverboats in the fleet. American Jazz will begin operating Mississippi cruises in late August, and American Melody will be out toward the end of the year. Meanwhile, new ACL itineraries in 2020 include the 11-Day Alaskan Explorer Cruise and eight-day Music Cities cruises between Nashville and Memphis. Sailings are musically inspired both on board and on shore and cruises explore four great American Rivers in addition to beautiful Kentucky Lake and Lake Barkley. Complimentary pre-cruise hotel and transportation is available from either departure city (Nashville or Memphis).

ATTRACTIONS & THEME PARKS

“The Art of the Brick,” an exhibition featuring more than 100 works of art created from over one million LEGO bricks by contemporary artist Nathan Sawaya, will open Feb. 28 the California Science Center in Los Angeles. It comprises the world’s largest display of LEGO art. Sawaya, transforms LEGO bricks into thought-provoking sculptures, elevating the toy to the realm of contemporary art. The collection features original pieces as well as re-imagined versions of some of the world’s most famous art masterpieces such as Michelangelo’s David, Van Gogh’s Starry Night and Da Vinci’s Mona Lisa. In addition, Sawaya created a six-metre Tyrannosaurus rex skeleton (comprised of over 80,000 LEGO bricks) that guests will be able to walk under and come face-to-face with a giant LEGO skull.

FAMS/INCENTIVES

St. Vincent and the Grenadines Tourism Authority recently hosted a group of Canadian travel agents on a seven-day, multi-island FAM led by Shelley John, Director of Sales for Canada (photo). The six agents represented agencies including Flamborough Travel Plus, Ingrid’s Travel, Carlson Wagonlit Victor Travel and Carlson Wagonlit Creative Travel & Tours, Groupe Voyages VP and Handa Travel. Calling in Bequia, Petit St. Vincent, Young Island, Palm Island Resort, Canouan, and Tobago Cays, the itinerary also showcased some of the newest product including The Liming hotel.

For the month of January, Sunwing is offering agents double STAR Agent Reward Points on all new bookings to Princess Hotels & Resorts for travel Feb. 1-May 31. In addition, agents can learn more about the popular resort chain, which has locations in Punta Cana and the Riviera Maya with a series of Sunwing-hosted webinars. A host of consumer incentives are also on offer all month. Group bookings for travel through Dec. 10 earn 4X rewards. Bookings also qualify agents to win a trip for two.

PEOPLE/APPOINTMENTS

Norwegian Cruise Line named TravelBrands Cruises, by Encore Cruises as its 2019 Marketing Partner of the Year.

Celebrity Cruises has also recognized a host of top achievers for the year including The Travel Agent Next Door as its Canadian Account of the Year and Voyages Optimistes as Canadian Strategic Market Account of

NEWS

The Plastic Partnerships Project is G Adventures’ initiative to encourage the travel industry to provide alternative solutions to using single use plastic in tourism. G says that after an approach to its complete hotel supply chain, 80% of the hotels have committed to providing clean drinking water for travellers, which equates to up to 3.5 million bottles being saved annually by G Adventures’ 200,000 travellers. The tour company is calling on others to take similar “simple” steps.

BY THE NUMBERS

Despite contraction in some larger destinations, such as Cuba and the Dominican Republic, the Caribbean experienced an overall 6.1% level of growth in visitor arrivals during the first nine months of the 2019, reports the Caribbean Tourism Organization, which adds, “It is noteworthy that the growth rates of those countries affected by the 2017 hurricanes were substantial, in some cases up to triple-digit levels.” The cruise sector has also had a strong showing in 2019 with a 5.8% growth rate for the first three quarters, says the CTO.

DESTINATIONS

The 250th anniversary of the birth of Ludwig van Beethoven is being celebrated across Germany this year, not the least in his birthplace, Bonn. Through Dec. 17, a multitude of events are taking place, including around a thousand concerts, opera and theatre performances, festivals and exhibitions. The German tourist board’s #DiscoverBeethoven campaign is designed to encourage visitors to “take a stroll in the footsteps” of the beloved composer, while discovering destinations, scenery and visions that influenced him, and at the same time, “be inspired by milestones in history, personal stories, outstanding events, innovative sound sensations and unexpected perspectives.”

Fort Lauderdale’s art scene will shine during Fort Lauderdale Art & Design Week, Jan. 18-26. Anchored by the fourth annual Art Fort Lauderdale, dubbed the “Art Fair on the Water,” the south Florida event will feature more than 120 independent artists for a week of museum exhibitions, shows, art studio tours, gallery openings, roundtables, exclusive parties, performances and more.

The upcoming 400th anniversary of the Mayflower landing in Plymouth is another reason for history buffs to head to Massachusetts, with the Bay State set to commemorate the significant historical event and subsequent founding of Plymouth, with events throughout the year. Signature events and programs by Plymouth 400 include Mayflower Sails 200, May 14-19, which includes the re-launch of the Mayflower after a three-year US$20 renovation.