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 Canada will test passenger’s temperatures, and Carnival is making plans to sail again, Sandals adjusts specialist programs, and agents can “chill and chat” with the Jamaica Tourist Board.
AIR
Starting May 15, customers travelling on Air Canada flights will be subject to an infra-red temperature check at all airports. The measure is part of the airline’s new Air Canada CleanCare+ program, introduced in response to the coronavirus pandemic. Other measures include capping and blocking adjacent seats, distributing care kits to all customers, strengthening grooming standards and more.
In June, Lufthansa, Eurowings and SWISS will begin offering monthly flight schedules to more destinations in Germany and Europe than in the past few weeks. A total of 80 aircraft will be reactivated within the “June timetable” serving 106 destinations. Starting June 1, 160 of the Group’s passenger aircraft will be in service.
A new promotion from Aeroplan is designed to help members reach Altitude status without leaving the ground. Through May 31, when a member earns 50,000 Aeroplan Miles through everyday travel at home activities (including miles earned via an Aeroplan-affiliated credit card), the member will receive Altitude Prestige 25K status valid through 2021. Members must register for this promotion. Full details are available online.
TOURS
The new CareFlexPLUS travel protection program by Air Canada Vacations is designed to give travellers greater peace of mind by allowing cancellations with a full refund to the original form of payment up to 25 days prior to departure; changes to their booking; or a transfer of their package. The introductory price is $29 at time of booking on vacation packages to Mexico, the Caribbean, Europe, the US and Canada made before May 31, 2020 for departures between July 1, 2020 and April 30, 2021.
From boarding to buses, Uniworld Boutique River Cruise Collection says it is reviewing every facet of its current health and safety procedures and protocols in anticipation of returning to operations. Among the changes: guest must complete health screening prior to embarkation; disinfect wipes will be available throughout the ship; onboard payments will be processed using a contactless payment; all restaurant dining will have reserved seating, with guests at the same table, with the same people, each day; and for excursions, the maximum occupancy per bus will be adjusted to reduce the total number of people together at one time.
HOTELS
The Morrison Hotel Gallery invites people to hit the road with Idols, a web-exclusive world tour spanning seven continents and more than a half-century of iconic imagery. Playing on portrait tradition, conventional sites of exhibition and the pangs of wanderlust presently felt worldwide, Idols reframes the works of acclaimed photographers such as Terry O’Neill, Peter Hujar and Timothy White through irreverent virtual renderings at the intersection of kitsch and hallmarks of human expression. Visit the company web site or follow on Instagram at @IdolsWorldTour.
RESORTS
To showcase its “unwavering support during these unprecedented times” to travel advisors, Sandals has adjusted its impacted specialized specialist programs by extending status as follows:
• Current Certified Sandals Specialist (CSS) status is extended through the end of 2021.
• Preferred Sandals Agency Status (PSA) is extended through the end of 2021.
• Chairman’s Royal Club Status – Chairman’s Royal Club members maintain their membership through 2021.
• Points 2 Paradise (P2P) 2019 and 2020 points are now extended until Dec. 31, 2021
CRUISE
Carnival Cruise Line plans to gradually resume cruising in North America in August. Sailings will begin on Aug. 1 or soon after, with eight ships setting off from Galveston, Miami, and Port Canaveral. Operations from other North American ports will be on hold through Aug. 31. It is also cancelling planned sailings from Vancouver to Honolulu on Sept. 25.
Several cruise lines have confirmed full cancellations of their Alaska cruise programs this year due to COVID concerns and restrictions: Princess, Holland America, Carnival and Seabourn.
FAMS & INCENTIVES
The new “Travel Agent Stimulus Package” from Coconut Bay Beach Resort & Spa and its luxury sister resort Serenity at Coconut Bay in Saint Lucia offers the highest ever rewards for travel partners, including free nights and $50-250 for Coconut Bay bookings and $300-500 for Serenity, based on room category for seven-night bookings made before July 31, 2020 for travel through Dec. 31, 2021. To qualify, join and register direct or tour operator bookings HERE. The resorts are set to re-open on June 4 with rates for clients reduced up to 65%.
EVENTS
The Jamaica Tourist Board is continuing its weekly “Irie Hour” on Tuesdays in May, starting at 2:30 p.m. EST. Agents are invited to join the JBT Canadian team for the informal “chill and chat” session, which will feature a weekly guest. The schedule is as follows:
May 12 – Marsha Mattos of Mystic Mountain / Jamaica Bobsled
May 19 – Sebnem Richtmann of Palladium Resorts
May 26 – Kerry-Ann Quallo-Casserly of Blue Diamond / Royalton Resorts
Register HERE.
DESTINATIONS
Tourism Australia, with the help of prominent Aussies like Chris Hemsworth and The Wiggles, plans to transport the country’s unique tourism offerings into living rooms with a curated live program of virtual travel experiences starting on Friday May 15. Live from Aus can be found on the tourist boards YouTube and Facebook pages starting from 5 p.m. EST and continuing all weekend.
The World Creole Music Festival, dubbed the Caribbean’s greatest indigenous music festival, is scheduled to be held a week earlier than usual this year in Dominica, Oct. 22-25, to accommodate preparations for celebrating the country’s 42nd anniversary of Independence on Nov. 3. The WCMF, which is part of the wider celebrations for Dominica’s annual independence anniversary, and is preceded by a variety of cultural events, competition and fringe musical events, has become well known for attracting some of the region’s major acts in creole musical genres like Cadence-lypso, Bouyon, Zouk, Compas, as well as Reggae, Dancehall, Soca, Calypso and more. Organizers advise keeping up to date on COVID before making travel plans.
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.