04 NOV 2019: In case you missed it – or even if you didn’t – here’s a round-up of last week’s news and information in travel and tourism.
AIR
Western Canadians looking to visit Rome, Italy will now have seasonal non-stop service on WestJet with Dreamliner service starting May 2, 2020 (subject to government approvals). Also, starting April 26, WestJet will offer daily 787 Dreamliner summer service between Vancouver and London with departures at 17:25, arriving at Gatwick at 10:30 a.m. The airline has also announced its transatlantic Dreamliner service between Paris and Calgary will resume on March 12, 2020 and daily 787 service between Toronto and Gatwick will operate year-round.
The first of Delta’s four new, state-of-the-art concourses on eastern half of LaGuardia airport in New York opens this week. The development is part of the facility’s ongoing US$8-billion refurbishment and follows the
opening of the first new concourse and gates at Terminal B last December.
From the beginning of November to the end of December, SWISS will be supplementing its regular inflight entertainment program with the “Flying Film Festival” aboard its long-haul flights. The festival will feature 13 varied short documentaries by young filmmakers from all over the world. And the best two will each earn a special jury prize.
DEALS
Air-inclusive deals to Club Med Yucatan and Club Med Columbus Isle are available from $1,649 per adult per week through June, 2020 (some blackout dates apply through the resort company. Club Med is also offering up to 50% off stays for kids under 15 years old and free stays for kids under four years old.
Through Dec. 2, Exodus Travel’s “Be Your Best Self” sale offers 10% off up to $500 on small group and self-guided adventures to more than 100 countries. To book, quote Adventure20Ca.
Travellers making advanced vacation plans for next summer can save up to $1,200 on an Alaskan adventure cruise with UnCruise Adventures. The cruise line is offering clients an early bird on weeklong 2020 Alaska cruises aboard the Legacy, Wilderness Explorer and Wilderness Discoverer. The offer is good until Dec. 13.
TOURS
California-based African Travel, Inc. has launched its 2020 brochure in Canada for the first time. The Travel Corporation family company has 40 years of experience in the region and specializes in custom safaris. All South Africa itineraries in the brochure are available in Canadian dollars (all others are offered only in USD), and travel agents earn 15% commission. Customers who book any brochure itinerary of five nights or more by Dec. 31 will save $400 per couple.
Wild Women Expeditions, a Canadian outfitter for and by women, will offer a new trip to Nepal in 2020 as part of its 30th year celebrations. The 18-day Annapurna Himalayan Haven Trek blazes new routes (away from the busy “teahouse trails”) and offers some of the best hiking in the Annapurna massif. This cluster of 30 mountains (most over 7,000 metres) is flanked by a gorge, a river and the Pokhara Valley. Highlights include the gateway city of Kathmandu and a slow ascent of Machapuchare (Fish Tail) to Annapurna Base. Departures are April 21-May 8 and Oct. 21- Nov. 7, priced at US$2,995 p.p.
In Hawaii, the Kauai Coffee Company‘s new farm tour escorts guests, via open-air truck, down the red-dirt roads of its plantation, home to more than 4 million coffee trees. During the two-hour tour, guests learn about the production of coffee from seed to cup, including how trees are planted, and how coffee is grown and manufactured. Guests on the tour are also offered an inside look at plantation operations and a chance to plant a coffee tree. The farm tour ends with a cup of coffee grown, harvested and roasted on the estate.
HOTELS
Boasting the largest waterfrontage in Venice, the St. Regis Venice (photo, terrace garden) has re-opened after a two-year, full-scale renovation that has restored the grandeur of the former Grand Hotel Britannia, which opened in 1895. The hotel offers 169 guestrooms and suites, many of which boast private terraces or Juliet balconies for sweeping views of Venice’s iconic landmarks. The hotel marries its celebrated heritage with modern design and bespoke service throughout a unique collection of five Venetian palaces. A secluded garden with views of the Grand Canal also sets the hotel apart.
Virgin Hotels, the lifestyle hotel brand by Virgin Group Founder Sir Richard Branson, plans to open and operate a new hotel in Miami, Fla. The property is slated to open in 2023.
Open:
Inspiration for the newly opened 21-story, 226-room Cambria Hotel Houston Downtown Convention Center – comes from the city’s oil industry roots, storied cowboy culture and NASA influence. Originally known as the Petroleum Building, the hotel is located in the heart of the central business district at 1314 Texas Ave., and a short walk to the George R. Brown Convention Center and Minute Maid Park.
RESORTS
With the final stages of rebuilding complete after Hurricane Irma, the all-inclusive Sonesta Resorts Sint Maarten are offering seasonal savings, amenities and activities for guests over the holidays, plus 13% commission for travel agents booking the “Unwrap Your Holiday Special,” which features up to 35% off stays at the all-inclusive family-focused Sonesta Maho Beach Resort the adult-only Sonesta Ocean Point Resort. The offer is valid through Nov. 30 for travel Dec. 19 through Jan. 4, 2020. Use the promo code: HOLIDAY.
Cabrits Resort & Spa Kempinski Dominica is a new option for visitors to the Caribbean’s “Nature Island.” The 151-room, five-star resort opened on Oct. 14 in Douglas Bay on the northwest side of the island, featuring a stunning panoramic view of the Caribbean Sea as well as easy access to explore the island’s countless waterfalls, natural hot springs and 365 rivers. Resort amenities include three distinctive restaurants; spa; four pools; six beach cabanas; fitness facilities; two tennis courts; a children’s club and on-site water sports. Guests can add on inter-island airfare from Antigua and Guadeloupe for $250 p.p.
CRUISE
Nine different journeys from June through September on four unique itineraries, including a new seven-day option from Vancouver to Juneau and the reverse, will highlight Windstar Cruises’ 2021 Alaska season. While Windstar’s 11- (and more)-day itineraries in Alaska allow plenty of time for scenic cruising and in-depth exploration, the new seven-day cruise is in response to guest demand for shorter options. New shore excursions will also be introduced. All sailings will take place aboard the reimagined 312-passenger Star Breeze, with 50 new suites, two new restaurants, an enhanced spa and fitness centre, and more. Rates start at US$2,999 p.p.
Regent Seven Seas Cruises has introduced a new globally inspired spa brand that will debut across its five-ship fleet this winter. Serene Spa & Wellness will offer exclusive treatments integrating techniques and ingredients from destinations around the world with the aim of creating “a tranquil haven of health, beauty and wellness” that offers restorative treatments and services to soothe both the body and mind.
Vanuatu will be the new home of Royal Caribbean’s newest private island destination – Perfect Day at Lelepa, Vanuatu. The South Pacific destination will be created in partnership with the community of Vanuatu to showcase the distinct natural ecological beauty and diverse local culture of the island nation as well as provide employment and education opportunities.
THEME PARKS
When it opens in 2020, The LEGO Movie World attraction will be the largest addition in the history of LEGOLAND California Resort in San Diego. Based on the films The LEGO Movie and The LEGO Movie 2: The Second Part, the new land fully immerses guests into the LEGO Movie universe and places them onto the streets of Bricksburg. On the flagship ride, Masters of Flight, guests hop aboard Emmet’s triple decker flying couch for a thrill-seeking adventure.
Hard to believe but Disney will soon introduce its first-ever ride actually themed around Mickey Mouse when Mickey and Minnie’s Runaway Railway at opens at Disney’s Hollywood Studios in Orlando next Spring.
EVENTS
Sixteen top Scottish suppliers took part in a VisitScotland mission to Toronto to meet with local partners and offer information and training to Canadian travel counsellors through the course of several events. The VisitScotland team, shown here at an event at the Westin Harbour Castle, included Gwen Raez, Laura Kirk, Nicole Graham, and Keith Campbell
VisitBritain’s flagship annual travel trade event “Explore Great Britain (GB) and Northern Ireland” will be held in Belfast, Northern Ireland from May 18 to 20, 2020. VisitBritain’s largest annual travel trade event is attended by hundreds of international buyers and journalists from the UK’s largest inbound visitor markets, including Canada, to meet and do business with industry suppliers from across the UK.
FAMS/INCENTIVES
Every month until March 30, 2020, travel agents can submit their best Vacation Better tips for a chance to win Sunwing’s ‘tip of the month award’ and receive 100,000 STAR Agent Reward Points which convert to cash. Winners will be announced on the Sunwing Agents Facebook page at the start of each month. Tips can highlight everything from the best new resorts to visit, which destinations to choose, what to pack and much more.
PEOPLE/APPOINTMENTS
The Travel Agent Next Door attended the Ensemble International conference in Seattle, Washington recently where it was recognized as being a member of Ensemble’s Circle of Excellence – only 10 agencies from Canada are included. Travel Agent Next Door agents attending the conference took to the stage to receive the award on behalf of all TTAND agents. Photo: Scott Waldron; Kim Tillmar; Stacey Knight; TTAND VP Penny Martin; David Harris, CEO, Ensemble; Kim Lake, Kevin Pikkert; and Flemming Friisdahl, Founder, TTAND.
Club Med has promoted Sabrina Cendral to senior vice president of marketing and sales, responsible for driving marketing strategies for North America as a whole, including Canada.
NEWS
Visitors to Uluru (also known as Ayers Rock) are now officially banned from climbing the iconic Australian rock. The move comes 34 years after the title of the sandstone monolith in the country’s Red Centre was returned to the local Anangu people and follows a 2017 vote to ban entry to the sacred site. Hundreds of people turned out on Oct. 25 to make a final climb.
BY THE NUMBERS
Royal Caribbean International is predicting that its Caribbean cruise tourism business will grow by 50% by 2030, with overall economic benefit of cruise reaching US$6 billion. Eight of the top 10 cruise destinations worldwide are in the Caribbean, according to the Caribbean Tourism Organization.
DESTINATIONS
Illumi is a new multi-sensory festival in Montreal starting in early November and continuing until January. The large-scale outdoor complex will include eight areas illuminated with dazzling light sculptures and immersive video installations, as well as a sprawling Christmas Village with local artisan vendors, gourmet seasonal food and drink offerings, live entertainment and a 47-metre Tree of Lights. Boasting more than 10 million LED bulbs, Illumi is the largest multimedia sound and light show in the world and is set to run seasonally in Laval for the next five years.
Close to $10 million is being invested in a nearly half-hectare recreational site near Montego Bay, Jamaica, similar to Emancipation Park in Kingston. The Closed Harbour Beach Project will have walking trails and an amphitheatre, along with “state-the-art” public beach with completion expected in mid 2020.
Already home to the highest concentration of accredited international dark sky parks and communities on the planet, Utah can add more to the list with the certification of Arched and Bryce Canyon for their quality night skies and commitment to protecting and sharing natural darkness.