Repercussions (of the travel kind) were immediate after Russia’s unprovoked invasion of Ukraine; border regulations around the world continue to ease, as do the number of COVID-19 cases; airlines announced the return of routes; and a contest from the Fairmont Pacific Rim in Vancouver. All are part of last week’s edition of As Travel Turns…

RUSSIA-UKRAINE

In response to the Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, the Government of Canada is prohibiting the operation of Russian-owned, chartered or operated aircraft in Canadian airspace, including in the airspace above Canada’s territorial waters. The airspace closure will remain until further notice — and some Baltic and European nations similarly announced the closure of their airspace to Russian carriers.

Delta Air Lines has suspended its codesharing partnership with Russian national airline Aeroflot.

It’s of little surprise that cruise lines have begun dropping Russia and Ukraine from their 2022 itineraries. Most notable is the removal of St. Petersburg from Baltic cruise itineraries. Some lines are “monitoring” the situation (including Carnival Corp. and Royal Caribbean companies), however Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings said it would remove all calls in the two countries for the remainder of the year, while other definitive cancellations/alterations have been announced by Viking and Windstar.

NEWS

ACTA is reporting that the Quebec provincial government has agreed to waive the OPC permit for another year until February 2023. ACTA says it has been asking that the Quebec government extend financial relief and waive all OPC fees. The province joins Ontario in doing so, and ACTA says it continues to lobby BC as well.

TICO has approved 39 claims totalling over $68,000 to assist 66 consumers who did not receive the travel services for which they had paid. They include Fly Jamaica Airways, 20 claims to assist 35 consumers, totalling $29,675.12; Jet Airways, 12 claims to assist 19 consumers, totalling $15,105.97; and Sunmed Holidays Inc., seven claims to assist 12 consumers, totalling $23,500.15. TICO also reports that Philippines specialist Rejoice Holidays Inc. in North York is no longer in business and has had its registration revoked.

BORDERS

Effective March 1, international visitors to Jamaica will no longer be required to obtain travel authorization to enter the country. Travellers 12 years of age and older will only need to provide a negative result from a COVID-19 Antigen or PCR test conducted within 72 hours prior to their travel. Additionally, travellers to Jamaica will no longer face travel-related quarantine measures.

A week after discontinuing its curfew, the Government of Barbados has announced a further series of updates to its entry process. As of Feb.26 Rapid Antigen tests (administered by a healthcare provider no more than one day prior to arrival in Barbados) will be accepted along with PCR tests (restrictions apply) taken no more than three days prior to arrival in Barbados. In addition, all paper forms previously distributed on board aircraft arriving in Barbados will be discontinued.

For fully vaccinated travellers, Grenada is now accepting the rapid antigen test taken within one day of arrival.

Portugal has rescinded its non-essential travel ban on Canadians.

The tourism board of Jordan announced that as of March 1, visitors to the country will no longer be required to take a PCR test before entering the country or take another PCR test upon arrival at airports and other entry points. Visitors will still have to sign a pledge to get tested if they feel coronavirus symptoms and agree to self-isolate if they contract COVID-19.

RE-OPENING

The National Gallery of Canada (NGC) reopened its doors to visitors on Saturday and will also be open on Feb. 28 and March 1 ahead of the resumption of regular hours of operation from Wednesday to Sunday. Time-ticketed admissions can be purchased online. Proof of vaccination and government-issued ID cards are required for all visitors over the age of 12 and masks and physical distancing remain in place for all visitors until further notice.

BY THE NUMBERS

The number of new coronavirus cases around the world fell 21% in the last week, marking the third consecutive week that COVID-19 cases have dropped, reports the World Health Organization. Deaths fell 8%, the first time they have fallen since early January. However, there were still more than 12 million new coronavirus infections and about 67,000 new COVID-19 deaths worldwide.

AIR

Air Canada has announced an expanded Summer 2022 international schedule with 34 routes relaunching across the Europe, Asia, Africa, and The Middle East, including relaunching service from Toronto to popular destinations as early as this week. Among them: Tel Aviv (March 1), Paris (March 2), and Amsterdam (March 2). Montreal and Vancouver relaunches begin in May.

Flight service from Halifax to Varadero by Sunwing will begin March 10, departing weekly on Thursdays until April 28. The service joins existing Saturday flights, which continue until April 30.

Porter Airlines is boosting its presence in the Maritimes in a big way with three new non-stop routes connecting Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport to Halifax, Fredericton, and Moncton. Non-stop Halifax service begins April 7, featuring up to three daily roundtrips in summer, while Fredericton and Moncton both start May 5, with one daily year-round non-stop flight each. The new service is in addition to existing flights for each market that stop in Montreal or Ottawa, and don’t require passengers to change aircraft.

DEALS

The new “See Europe” promo from Transat offers up to $250 off per couple on Europe tours and packages on bookings made by March 21. An additional discount of $500 per couple will be offered for tour bookings made up to 60 days prior to departure. The promo applies to select Europe tours and packages for travel between May 1 and Oct 31, 2022. Exceptions apply.

RESORTS

The Luxury Collection, part of Marriott International’s portfolio of 30 “extraordinary” hotel brands, has opened a new resort in the Dominican Republic. The Ocean Club Costa Norte is located on the north coast, 15 minutes from the Puerto Plata Airport. Positioned deep within the expansive beachfront landscape of the island, the Club offers 64 spacious suites, ranging from one to three bedrooms, and five multitiered four-bedroom penthouses. The property has three gourmet restaurants, three pools, and a secluded beach with private wooden cabanas, several lounges, and bespoke beach service.

Radisson Hotel Group’s first beach resort property in Dubai, Radisson Resort Dubai Palm Jumeirah, is set to open on Palm Jumeirah this spring. Located on the trunk of the Palm, the resort will feature 389 rooms and five F&B outlets overlooking the Dubai Marina skyline.

HOTELS

A new 4-star hotel will open in Kingston, Jamaica in April. ROK Hotel Kingston is part of the city’s downtown resurgence and will overlook Kingston Harbour along Victoria Pier. A member of the Tapestry Collection by Hilton, ROK Hotel will encourage guests to connect with resident locals and the city’s art, cuisine, and culture. With 168 rooms (including 47 luxury suites), the hotel will also offer a 24-hour fitness centre, pool with private cabanas, and a culinary menu featuring Caribbean and international flavours.

The St. Regis Chicago is set to debut in 2022 as the 50th St. Regis globally. The 101-story building is the third tallest building in city, the 10th tallest in the US, and the tallest building in the world designed by a woman. The hotel will comprise the first 11 floors of the building, featuring 192 guest rooms, multiple dining options, a 1,115 sq. m. St. Regis Spa, fitness centre, indoor pool, and outdoor sunken terrace with scenic views, ballroom, and more. The hotel’s backyard is a wide open botanical green space featuring a children’s play park, dog park, and attractive ornamental and water gardens.

CRUISE

Carnival is turning 50 and is planning year-long festivities suitable for the occasion. Kicking off the celebration are Sailabration cruises continuing through March 10 and featuring rare at-sea ship meetups, as well as special entertainment and programming. Serving as the culmination to the year-long festivities, Carnival Celebration will officially be named in PortMiami in late November at the newly transformed Terminal F which will also usher in a new era of port infrastructure as one of the first at PortMiami equipped to provide shore power to ships by fall 2023.

ATTRACTIONS & THEME PARKS

Four nighttime spectaculars are returning to Disney in California along with a new grand finale to the “Main Street Electrical Parade” for its 50th anniversary. On April 22, the “Main Street Electrical Parade” and “Disneyland Forever” fireworks spectacular will light up Disneyland Park, and “World of Color” (photo) returns to Disney California Adventure Park. Meanwhile, “Fantasmic!” is preparing for its return to Disneyland on May 28. Since the theme park reopened in April 2021, guests have been able to rediscover a number of past favourites, such as Jambalaya Jazz in New Orleans Square at Disneyland and “Disney Junior Dance Party!” at Disney California Adventure.

CONTEST

Vancouver’s Fairmont Pacific Rim has launched a dream staycation contest asking, “How do you live the Pacific Rim Life?” through the hotel’s website. Canadian residents can enter to win their choice of one of three staycations worth more than $3,000 with the contest running from March 1-8. To enter, participants must visit the hotel’s new lifestyle website and submit their Pacific Rim Life moments along with their email address. Contestants will have the opportunity to increase their entries by sharing their Pacific Rim Life moments on Instagram, using the hashtag #PacificRimLife. The winner will get to choose one two-night staycation from three distinct categories with corresponding amenities: Food & Beverage; Wellness; and Art, Music & Fashion.

EVENTS

The early bird deadline for Destination Canada and the Tourism Industry Association of Canada (TIAC)’s Rendez-vous Canada+ (RVC+) 2022 is March 1 for sellers. This year’s event will be a hybrid event, from May 24-27, 2022, held in Toronto at the Metro Toronto Convention Centre but featuring a virtual exhibit hall, as well as online appointments. For more details about the event, visit the RVC+ website.

EDUCATION

The Jamaica Tourist Board is refreshing its travel agent specialist ‘One Love Rewards’ program and website; The designated portal now offers a new more responsive design; better mobile experience; Spanish version; updated courses and course content; newsfeed to read the latest travel news about Jamaica; enhanced technology; and more.

The Grenada Tourism Authority (GTA) has launched a new travel agent specialist program. Benefits include personalized Grenada Travel Expert Certificate of Completion upon graduation; access to promotional materials; Continuing Education Units (CEU) from ACTA; monthly cash rewards to the top three agents recording the most room nights; plus other incentives and fam trip opportunities.

PEOPLE/APPOINTMENTS

Transat A.T. has appointed Marc-Philippe Lumpé to head its airline operations, replacing Jean-Francois Lemay, who has led Air Transat since 2013. As Chief Airline Operations Officer, Lumpé will start on June 1 subject to receiving a work permit in Canada.

DESTINATIONS

A scaled down edition of Carnival Virgin Islands on St. Thomas will be held from April 27 to May 1. The 70th anniversary event will showcase the territory’s culture, cuisine, history, music, and people. The festival will stage a specially tailored J’ouvert celebration; the re-crowning of the Territory’s first carnival queen; food fair; boat race; children village; and calypso showcase. Entry requires proof of vaccination or a negative result from a COVID-19 test taken within 24 hours of each event, and masks are mandatory.

Porter Airlines is resuming direct non-stop service from YTZ/Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport to MYR/Myrtle Beach International Airport on March 9, just in time for March Break and the start of the 61st Anniversary of CAN AM Days, March 12-20. The annual Myrtle Beach, SC, friendship festival for Canadian features a 10-day agenda of activities and fun, as well as CAN AM Days Savings Promotion discount offers on accommodations, attractions, and restaurants (continuing through April 30). For more Canadian-specific info, visit HERE.

Send info to baginski@travelindustrytoday.com