ROUND-UP:March 23-27, 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:

COVID-19

Subject to further government restrictions, Air Canada intends to continue to serve a small number of international and US trans-border destinations from select Canadian cities after April 1 as well as continuing to serve all provinces and territories of Canada April 1-30, albeit with a significantly reduced network (40 of 62 airports).

While United Airlines‘ international schedule will still be reduced by about 90% in April, the airline will continue flying six daily operations to and from the following destinations – covering Asia, Australia, Latin America, the Middle East and Europe. Service between Newark/NY and Frankfurt, London and Tel Aviv continue, as do Houston-Sao Paolo, and San Francisco to Tokyo and Sydney.

Ethiopian Airlines flights from Toronto on the following dates have been cancelled: April 9, 14, 16, 23, 25, 28 and 30. Other dates in April are still available.

As per the latest United Arab Emirates government directive, Emirates has temporarily suspended all passenger flights.

All travel through Abu Dhabi International Airport via Etihad as been suspended. Any passengers booked on connecting flights via Abu Dhabi to anywhere else on the Etihad network will not be permitted to travel. Only UAE citizens and their immediate family members, diplomatic passport holders, and those with UAE-API clearance will be allowed entry into Abu Dhabi.

Sandals/Beaches is closing all 15 of its properties from March 30 to May 15. Guests with affected bookings are being asked to reschedule at a later date.

Hard Rock International has temporarily close all company-owned Hard Rock Café locations internationally and select Hard Rock Hotel and Hard Rock Hotel and Casino locations in the US and abroad.

Palace Resorts reports that its Le Blanc Spa Resort Cancun and The Grand at Moon Palace Cancun remain open, while the rest of its properties are closed. The company says it hopes to have all resorts open by May 1.

All Poseidon Expeditions cruise operations aboard its 114-passenger expedition vessel Sea Spirit in April have been suspended. Also postponed until 2021 are a sub-charter in the mid-Atlantic and a cruise along the coastline of Portugal, Spain and France. Sales and reservation offices are available to provide assistance to affected passengers.

Expanding on actions taken recently, Parks Canada has now also temporarily suspended motor vehicle access by visitors at all national parks, national historic sites, and national marine conservation until further notice.

Destination Canada recently hosted a webinar providing information on Covid-19 federal support initiatives. It is available online HERE. The next seminar is set for April 1 at 11 a.m. featuring minister of economic development Melanie Jolie. Click HERE to join

All arriving passengers in Hawaii have been ordered to self-isolate for 14 days. Many hotels are expected to shut down during this period.

South Florida’s Brightline train temporarily suspended service on March 25.

AIR

A new hourly shuttle service between Washington’s Reagan National Airport and New York/Newark Liberty International has been launched by United Airlines. Using the world’s only two-cabin 50-seat regional aircraft – the Bombardier CRJ-550 on most flights – the service is designed for business and leisure travellers who want true-first-class seating, Wi-Fi, more leg room and enough space for every customer to bring a roller bag on board. Tickets are available for purchase now.

TOURS

Travellers bound for the now cancelled Oberammergau Passion Play with Globus, Cosmos, Avalon Waterways and Monograms will be the first to be able to reserve their spots in 2022 at the current price when new dates are unveiled (expected to available by May). Those impacted by the postponement can also choose to use the company’s Peace of Mind travel plan, which invites travellers with vacations planned to depart by May 31, 2020 the freedom to reschedule their vacation in 2020, 2021 or 2022, to any destination, on any brand, without incurring cancellation fees.

Royal Scenic’s new-look “Asia & the World” tour brochure for 2020/21, offers a wide range of tour packages to Asia, the Indian Sub-Continent, South America, the Middle East and the South Pacific and ranges from less-travelled destinations to popular vacation programs, as well as additional short-stay Cityscape packages in Europe, the US, Middle East and Asia. More than 50 land packages are available, including new itineraries in Bhutan, Nepal and Taiwan plus enhanced programs to South America, the Middle East and the South Pacific. The brochure is available digitally or can be ordered from RS online.

HOTELS

The award-winning Angama Safari Lodge safari lodge overlooking Kenya’s Maasai Mara, has introduced Angama Safari Camp, a seasonal sole use tented camp featuring “the best of everything” and situated in a remote wilderness region of the southwestern Mara Triangle. Tents sleep up to eight guests in a camp that promises absolute privacy in the midst of the mega herds of the migration and abundant resident wildlife. Guests can tailor-make their safari days, leaving the Safari Camp as early as 6 a.m. and returning after sundown at 7:30 p.m. The camp is scheduled to open in July.

Maui’s Kaanapali Beach Hotel’s Kealaula Project is aimed at further enhancing the establishment of Hawaiian culture throughout the property. The project includes a significant redesign to the property’s 180-room Kauai Wing, a refresh of its sweeping courtyard to include the introduction of additional native Hawaiian plants and the launch of new oceanfront restaurant Huihui.

RESORTS

On the occasion of its 25th anniversary, Soneva Fushi in the Maldives will unveil its first-ever overwater villas in April, offering eight new one- and two-bedroom villas created with sustainably sourced materials.

Nassau’s Baha Mar resort complex is scheduled to host the first-ever Bahamas Culinary & Arts Festival April 30-May 3 showcasing top chefs, master sommeliers and respected artists. The resort includes Grand Hyatt, Rosewood and SLS hotels.

CRUISE

Rates will not be increased to journey to the Top of the World with Poseidon Expeditions in the summer of 2021. Instead, rates will mirror those in 2020 for the same journey, says the Rhode Island-based company, which is currently entering its 20th season of polar cruising. Departures are scheduled in July and August 2021 aboard the 128-passenger 50 Years of Victory, a nuclear-powered icebreaker that was purpose-built to pilot scientific and cargo ships to hard-to-reach areas of the Arctic and along the Northeast Passage.

THEME PARKS

Avengers Campus at Disney California Adventure Park

Avengers Campus, an entirely new land dedicated to “discovering, recruiting and training the next generation of heroes,” is currently scheduled to open July 18 at the Disneyland Resort, inside Disney California Adventure Park, California (photo). Guests will be invited to team up with the Avengers and their allies to live out their superhero dreams in this fully immersive land that mixes innovative technology and fun for all ages.

EVENTS

Royal Museums Greenwich is now closed until May 1, but members of the travel trade can learn more about the attraction through a series of free 60-minute online product training sessions. Topics include tickets (Royal Observatory, Cutty Sark, Day Explorer), new Cutty Sark Tea Tour, services available to international visitors, packages for groups and coach organizers, and voucher scheme. Participants can also “chat with industry colleagues, and share positivity and ideas.” Dates are April 2, 9 and 16 from 11 a.m. to 12 p.m. and sessions can be reserved HERE.

PEOPLE/APPOINTMENTS

At the company’s recent Annual Meeting of Shareholders, 12 candidates for the Transat director positions were elected: Raymond Bachand, Louis-Marie Beaulieu, Lucie Chabot, Lina De Cesare, W. Brian Edwards, Susan Kudzman, Jean-Yves Leblanc, Ian Rae, Jacques Simoneau, Louise St-Pierre, Philippe Sureau, and Jean-Marc Eustache.

TECH

Travelogix has launched a new airline incentive management platform developed to enable travel agencies, TMCs and consortia to track the performance of their airline overrides and commercial contracts. The Farecast platform provides instant access to detailed revenue and airline ticket statistics, partner contribution metrics and gives the data and insights required by travel companies to track the progress of airline incentives and negotiate the best deals possible.

DESTINATIONS

The first fully immersive DC-inspired gastronomic restaurant experience in the world is coming soon to London’s Soho district. Located on Brewer Street, Park Row (photo) will feature five restaurants and bars, storytelling and food and drink inspired by stories and characters from the DC universe, including Batman, The Joker, Wonder Woman, Superman and others. Guests descend through the Batcave into a world of experiential dining “never seen before,” including a multi-sensory tasting menu experience in the Monarch Theatre (reservations required).

Canadians landed at Juno Beach in Normandy, France, on June 6, 1944. The Juno Beach Centre’s Maple Leaf Route Cycling Tour follows their path. Visitors can cycle the first part of the Maple Leaf Route – the legendary route of the First Canadian Army in Europe 1944-45 – and gain a first-hand look at Canada’s contribution to the 1944 liberation of France. From the beaches, the tour reaches deep into the interior of Normandy and then northward to the English Channel port of Dieppe. It also has side visits to the American and British landing beaches, as well the Canadian First World War Memorial at Vimy Ridge. Check HERE for more info.

* Future dates and events listed here are up to date at time of printing, although subject to changes due to ever-evolving pandemic information. Travel Industry Today accepts no responsibility for sudden or unreported inaccuracies.

Send info to baginski@travelindustrytoday.com.