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WestJet adding more flights in the West
WestJet hedges its bets with strong domestic program, adding more flights in the West
CALGARY — Banking on another summer of domestic travel amid the pandemic, WestJet says it will restore more service to its Canadian network with 11 new routes across the West and Ontario.
The routes include new connectivity between the prairie provinces and tourism destinations in B.C.
The news comes two days after WestJet said it will bring back flights to Atlantic Canada and Quebec City. Flights to Charlottetown, Fredericton, Moncton, Sydney and Quebec City will be restored starting in June 2021 after service had been suspended indefinitely in November 2020. Flights to Deer Lake and Gander will also be restored, at the end of June.
In Western Canada, WestJet announced it will offer nonstop service to 15 communities across Alberta, B.C., Saskatchewan, Manitoba and Ontario. The new routes include flights between Toronto (YYZ) and Comox (YQQ); between Ottawa (YOW) and Victoria (YYJ); and eight new routes connecting the Prairies to top tourism destinations in B.C., such as Regina (YQR) to Kelowna (YLW). "As we look to the coming months with cautious optimism, we know our restart agenda will be pivotal to Canada's economic recovery," said Ed Sims, WestJet President and CEO. "Stimulating air travel benefits all Canadians and supports those hardest hit; with one in every 10 Canadian jobs tied to travel and tourism, the ripple effect benefits our whole country.” "We are at an inflection point, one that is buoyed by the rollout of vaccines, months of learning how to take appropriate precautions, and a view to Canada's beautiful summer months that allows us to spend more time outdoors," added Sims. "If Canadians were to shift two-thirds of their planned international-leisure travel spend towards domestic tourism, it would help sustain 150,000 jobs and accelerate recovery by one year, all while seeing what Canada has to offer."
Transat is days away from finalizing its summer 2021/winter 2022 schedule
MONTREAL — With an eye to resuming flights by mid-June 2021, Transat is currently finalizing its summer 2021/ winter 2022 program.
Transat’s Public Relations and Marketing Advisor, Marie-Eve Vallieres, told Travelweek Group’s ProfessionVoyages.com that Transat’s summer 2021/winter 2022 offering “will mainly focus on the top destinations that Canadian travellers already enjoy and are eager to find, in Europe and the South, and also in Canada. We expect this to resonate particularly strongly with our passengers.”
On March 12 Transat announced that its flights would resume June 14. Canada’s four major airlines - Air Canada, WestJet, Sunwing and Transat - agreed to the federal government’s request to halt all winter sun flights Jan. 31-April 30, 2021 amid the pandemic. Says Vallieres: “Although it is still too early to reveal the content of this program, we can already confirm that some destinations will not be operated in 2021. The reservation systems will be updated by the end of the month for the Summer 2021 program, and within the next few months for the Winter 2022 program."
Passengers who had a scheduled flight will receive all the necessary information over the next few weeks, in chronological order of departure, added Vallieres.
Are Ontario travel agencies eligible for one-time grants worth $10K - $20K with 2021 Ontario Budget? We sure hope so
TORONTO — Unless the Ontario government has mixed up its travel industry jargon, it looks as though Ontario travel agencies could be eligible for one-time grants worth between $10,000 and $20,000 through the province’s Ontario Tourism and Hospitality Small Business Support Grant program.
The brand new program was announced on March 25 by the province’s Minister of Finance, Peter Bethlenfalvy, as part of the 2021 Ontario Budget.
According to the budget, Ontario will provide an estimated $100 million in one-time payments of $10,000 to $20,000 to eligible small businesses in the tourism and hospitality sector.
The wording goes: “Examples of eligible businesses include: Hotels, Motels, Travel Agencies, Amusement and Water Parks, Hunting and Fishing Camps and Recreational and Vacation Camps.”
It adds: “Application details, including a full list of eligible businesses, will be available soon.”
It also notes that any small businesses that received the Ontario Small Business Support Grant will not be eligible for the new grant.
As he outlined the details of the Ontario budget, titled ‘Protecting People’s Health and our Economy’, at Queen’s Park today, Bethlenfalvy noted that tourism and hospitality have been particularly hard hit during the pandemic. “Some 140,000 tourism and hospitality jobs were lost between February 2020 and February 2021,” said Bethlenfalvy.
TAP to resume Toronto, Montreal service by August
NEW YORK — TAP Air Portugal has set its sights on operating 879 flights per week, including those from Toronto and Montreal, by August.
The Portuguese airline has announced that 51 flights per week will operate from North America, with service to Lisbon from Toronto, Montreal, Boston, Newark, Chicago, Washington D.C. and San Francisco.
It is also adding eight new routes to Europe and Africa this summer, including: Fuerteventura, Ibiza and Santiago de Compostela, Spain; Zabreg, Croatia; Djerba and Monastir, Tunisia; and Oujda and Agadir, Morocco. In total, TAP will operate 555 flights each week to Europe in August as well as 83 flights each week to Africa. These will include six flights each week to Luanda, three to Maputo three to Bissau, four to São Tomé, 10 to Praia, three to Sal and seven to São Vicente.
Come August, the airline will add even more flights throughout Portugal with 126 weekly flights on eight domestic routes.
Over the coming months, it will increase its service to Madeira, operating five daily flights from Lisbon to Funchal by August, as well as two daily flights between Porto and Funchal. Service will also restart to Porto Santo with five flights per week from June.
By August, TAP will operate 22 weekly flights to the Azores, including 12 flights per week from Lisbon and three per week from Porto to Ponta Delgada. There will be one flight each day on the Lisbon-Terceira route.
Between Lisbon and Porto, TAP will operate four flights per day. In August, it will operate three flights per day between Lisbon and Faro.
Tickets purchased by May 31 for travel by Dec. 31, 2021 can be changed free of charge.
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Three winners have been announced for Tourism Malaysia’s ‘Book Now Travel Later, Malaysia Awaits You’ contest. Claire Babineau of Voyages Granby in Granby, QC has won the third-place prize of an Amazon gift card valued at $200. Derek Paquette of Marlin Travel in Saskatoon, SK, the second-place prize winner, has won a $500 Amazon e-gift card. The grand prize winner, Christine Cameron of TPI in Belleville, ON, has won a $1,000 Amazon e-gift card.
All three winners successfully answered weekly questions about Malaysia and its top selling points during the contest’s run from Feb. 4 to March 21. They also learned about package specials being offered by Malaysia’s travel partners like GOWAY Travel, Canada One Travel, SITA World Tours and Royal Scenic Holidays.
To provide added convenience to passengers, TAP, in partnership with UCS, the Group’s Health Care Unit, is now offering COVID-19 testing service at Lisbon airport at a discounted rate. Depending on the destination, UCS performs a rapid antigen test for 21 euros, a PCR test for 85 euros, and a PCR test plus rapid antigen test for 106 euros. TAP customers also benefit from priority access to this service.
Test results are sent directly to passengers via email within 30 minutes of a rapid antigen test, and between 6-8 hours of a PCR test.
For now, this service is available in the UCS building, located at the Rua B building 8 next to Lisbon Airport. From April 19, UCS services will also be available at the departures area of the airport.
The testing service can be scheduled directly on the UCS website here.
Another month’s pause for Carnival Cruise Line
MIAMI — Carnival Cruise Line is extending its pause in all operations from U.S. ports by an additional month, from May 31 to June 30, 2021.
Booked guests and travel advisors are being notified directly of the cancellations and the options for a future cruise credit plus onboard credit package, or a full refund.
For guests booked on July itineraries that remain in the schedule, Carnival is extending final payment deadlines for all July sailings to May 31, 2021, with the ability to cancel without penalty.
“We know that this is very disappointing to our guests who continue to be eager to sail, and we remain committed to working with the Administration and the CDC to find a workable solution that best serves the interest of public health. We are asking that the cruise industry be treated on par with the approach being taken with other travel and tourism sectors, as well as U.S. society at large,” said Christine Duffy, president of Carnival Cruise Line.
“While we have not made plans to move Carnival Cruise Line ships outside of our U.S. homeports, we may have no choice but to do so in order to resume our operations which have been on ‘pause’ for over a year.”
CEWS and CERS support must be extended through 2021 for hardest-hit sectors: ACTA
OTTAWA — ACTA is supporting the call from The Coalition of Hardest Hit Businesses urging the federal government to provide enhanced aid for hardest hit sectors, including travel, through 2021.
The coalition, which includes ACTA, released a survey March 24 on Parliament Hill showing that 60% of Canada’s hardest hit businesses will not survive if the Canada Emergency Wage Subsidy (CEWS) and the Canada Emergency Rent Subsidy (CERS) are not extended beyond the June 5, 2021 deadline to the end of the year.
Backed by those survey results, the coalition is formally appealing to the federal government to extend its CEWS and CERS supports to the end of the year, as part of the April 19, 2021 budget.
Airlines including Air Canada and WestJet have said they’re hoping travel restrictions, including the three-day hotel quarantine requirement, will be phased out this spring, potentially replaced by more standard quarantine and/or testing, if needed.
The hotel quarantine was announced Jan. 29, 2021, at the same time that Prime Minister Justin Trudeau anhas also intensified lobbying efforts for the extension of other programs of critical importance to travel agencies, travel agents and independent contractors, including the Canada Recovery Benefit (CRB) and Employment Insurance (EI) until the end of 2021. And, of course, unique to the travel industry sector, funding to protect travel agencies and independent travel agents from recall commission when the government announces mandatory consumer refunds by airlines.
“The travel industry will be in a holding pattern until we see a fully developed ‘Roadmap to Recovery’ from the federal government that includes the conditions and metrics required to start easing restrictions such as the mandatory hotel stopover program, the 14-day quarantine, the travel advisories and other measures,” said Paradis.
nounced that all four of Canada’s major airlines – Air Canada, WestJet, Sunwing and Transat – had agreed to suspend winter sun flights until April 30, 2021.
While there was never any end-date given for the hotel quarantine rule, the federal government has consistently said throughout the pandemic that any travel measures will remain in place for as long as is necessary.
The coalition is also hoping for an easing of restrictions and a modest return of leisure travel for summer 2021.
But conventions for fall 2021 have already been cancelled and business travel will not recover in the short term.
The coalition includes 100+ stakeholders representing a variety of sectors including tourism, travel, arts and culture, events and festivals, accommodation and hospitality.
ACTA President Wendy Paradis says: “As a member of the Coalition, we support the Coalition’s request for the extension and enhancement of vital programs such as the wage and rent subsidy through to the end of 2021.”
Ahead of the release of the federal budget on April 19, Paradis says ACTA
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Eric Bacon is Celestyal’s new BDM for Western U.S. & Canada
Celestyal Cruises has announced Eric Bacon as its new Business Development Manager for the Western U.S. and Canada. Based in Los Angeles, Bacon will be responsible for cultivating relationships with Celestyal’s travel advisors and growing the company’s key distribution channels. He will report to Gordon Dirker, vice president, business development-North America.
Prior to joining Celestyal, Bacon served as business development consultant at Atlas Ocean Voyages and also spent four years as BDM-Southwest for Hurtigruten. In addition, he worked for four years as the regional sales director, Canada for Rail Europe and has also worked for several Canadian travel agencies.
TORONTO — Sunwing has opened bookings for 2022 cruises onboard the brand new MSC Seashore. Sailings will be available between Jan. 8, 2022 and April 23, 2022, with flight departures from Toronto, Quebec City and Montreal. Travellers who book their cruise onboard MSC Seashore by April 20, 2021 will receive a free upgrade from an Oceanview to a Balcony stateroom. Considered one of MSC Cruises’ most innovative ships to date, MSC Seashore will offer four different itineraries across the Eastern and Western Caribbean, with ports of call that include the U.S. Virgin Islands, the Cayman Islands and MSC’s private-island destination in The Bahamas, Ocean Cay MSC Marine Reserve. All Sunwing cruise packages on MSC Seashore include roundtrip flights onboard Sunwing Airlines, roundtrip transfers from the airport to PortMiami, and seven nights of cruise accommodations and meals. Exclusive pricing is also available for groups of eight or more who book together. Moreover, Sunwing customers will receive the MSC Fantastica Experience at no additional cost. The Fantastica Experience includes preferred stateroom locations, free room service delivery
and preferred dining times (subject to availability). Also included at no additional cost is a selection of alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks with the Easy Drink Beverage Package and 24-hour Wi-Fi access. MSC Cruises’ ‘MSC Safe Bubble’ measures allow clients to sail with peace of mind. These include health screenings for all guests including a COVID-19 swab test before boarding, regulated occupancy in public areas and venues, use of face masks, enhanced sanitation measures and stringent cleaning methods including the use of hospital-grade disinfectants and electrostatic sprayers, daily contactless temperature checks for all guests, comprehensive crew training and more.
Flair Airlines adds Montreal flights starting July 1
EDMONTON — Looking to make the most of what many predict will be another summer of domestic travel for Canadians, Flair Airlines has added another gateway to its network.
Flair announced on March 30 that it is expanding service to include Montreal, with direct flights between Montreal-Trudeau International Airport to Toronto, Vancouver, Abbotsford and Halifax, starting July 1. Billing itself as ‘Canada’s only independent ultra low-cost carrier’, Flair had already indicated last month that it planned to expand its network starting May 1 with service being added to Ottawa, Kitchener-Waterloo, Halifax and Saint John, plus service in June to Thunder Bay and Charlottetown. Service to Victoria is set to begin in July, and to Abbotsford in August.
“We are excited to bring ULCC service to Montreal and to provide our low fares to a region where Canadians have been paying far too much for far too long,” said Flair’s President and CEO, Stephen Jones. “Providing affordable air travel within Canada is an essential first step in restarting travel and tourism. We know there is a need for ULCC service in Montreal and are thrilled to bring our low fares to the area.” Jones says Flair was one of the first airlines to focus its network exclusively on essential domestic travel during the pandemic. Flair continues to operate only essential service through April and will begin increasing service in May.
Here’s what one Nova Scotia agent did to keep Caribbean vacations top of mind with her clients
LOWER SACKVILLE, NS — The rollout of vaccinations and the spring weather have many in the industry feeling a bit more optimistic about restarting travel in the months ahead.
But it can still be tough for travel agents to strike the right tone when promoting vacations to their clients, when there’s still so much uncertainty.
Getting creative helps. Kim Hartlen with Kim Hartlen Travel TPI in Lower Sackville, NS had good results from an online event she hosted recently with Beaches Resorts. Hartlen is a Certified Sandals Specialist and has been named to the elite Chairman’s Royal Club, which recognizes the top-tier retail partners for Sandals Resorts and Beaches Resorts. Hartlen’s ‘Follow Me to the Beach’ online event showcasing Beaches Turks & Caicos took place March 13 “and it was a huge success,” said Hartlen.
Hartlen is hosting a group to Beaches Turks & Caicos in October 2021.
The March 13 virtual tour was led by Beaches Turks & Caicos’ GM, Jamie McAnally, and sales manager Tanya Swann, with a special appearance by none other than Sesame Street’s Elmo.
“We toured a few rooms in Key West Village,” says Hartlen. “Chef Colin did some wonderful samples to show us from the Sky Lounge and they even made Nanaimo bars for us Canadians. We had Bishop, one of their best bartenders, do a ‘Bishop Special’ and he made us a drink with Canada’s colours, white and red.”
The Beaches Turks & Caicos team ended the event with staff holding up a Canadian flag, “and on their t-shirts it said ‘We Love Canada’.” Says Hartlen: “My phone and emails were blowing up after the event, with clients asking for information on rates.”
Hartlen had reached out to her contact at Unique Vacations Canada to get the ball rolling on setting up the virtual event. “This was my vision and I called my contact at Sandals and discussed it and they were onboard right away,” she says.
Even in these challenging times, it can be worth it to get creative and give clients ideas, and inspiration, she says, adding that she recommends online events like this for every agent.
“I had such great feedback and bookings from this event, and it was so nice to feel like I was back in the travel game again,” says Hartlen.
“I found it so rewarding even just for myself.”
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Club Med promotes Brouhard and Giraud
Club Med has announced new advancements among its senior team in North America. Amélie Brouhard, formerly Vice President, Managing Director of Club Med Canada, is now Vice President Sales USA and Omnichannel Marketing for Club Med North America. After working in sales and marketing in both France and Canada for over 10 years, Brouhard will join the brand’s head office in Miami to lead the North American division’s commercial and marketing strategies.
Vincent Giraud will take over Brouhard’s former role as Vice President of Club Med Canada in addition to his North America Sales Operations role. He will lead the implementation of Club Med’s worldwide digital tools to increase sales, contact centre conversion rates and customer satisfaction and engagement, and will also co-create with other North American teams to establish training programs to ensure global sales alignment.
NEW LOOK, SAME TRUSTED SOURCE
Top Story Your new Travelweek.ca has arrived
TORONTO — An informed, reliable and up-to-the-minute news source is crucial in these challenging times. Staying on top of the latest travel industry updates is more important than ever. Travelweek’s new-look website at Travelweek.ca delivers all the in-depth reporting that travel agents and the trade have relied on for close to 50 years, with a brand new high-impact, high-function design. The redesigned Travelweek.ca is an ideal complement for Travelweek Daily, also sporting a new look, & Travelweek magazine, now in digital format. “Travelweek is known for its print magazines. But we have invested heavily in our digital products too, for more than 20 years now. Between travelweek.ca and Travelweek Daily we’re a leader and an innovator as a digital news source for the Canadian travel industry,” says Devin Kinasz, Publisher of Travelweeek. “And now our beautiful new website showcases our digital offerings even more.” It’s all at Travelweek.ca...
• The top travel industry news coverage, original content and special series • From airline, cruise and tour operator updates, to travel retailer news
• The latest government policies and their impact on the industry • Special series like ‘Industry Experts’ and our ‘Take 5’ series
• Our Marketplace section with Job, FAM and Event listing • Educational offerings like webinars and e-learning • Deals, incentives and commission opportunities • And much more....
Windstar to require proof of vaccination upon June restart
SEATTLE — Windstar is the latest cruise line to make proof of vaccination a requirement for all guests. Saying that the decision was made in the best health and wellness interests of its guests, crew and the places it visits, the cruise line will require proof of a current COVID-19 vaccination for all guests sailing aboard its yachts, until further notice. Crew members will also be required to be vaccinated as soon as the vaccine is made available to them.
“Vaccination is another layer of safety for all of us and it’s the responsible course of action as our yachts resume cruising and our guests travel the world,” said Christopher Prelog, President of Windstar Cruises.
When arriving at the cruise terminal prior to embarkation, guests will be required to provide proof of a completed current vaccine course (one or two shots, depending on the brand) finished at least 14 days prior to the
embarkation date. Negative COVID-19 test results will also be required prior to embarkation.
Windstar is scheduled to restart operations in June 2021 in a phased manner, with initial cruises at a reduced guest occupancy, some modified itineraries, all with enhanced health and safety protocols. Star Breeze and Wind Star will still resume sailing on June 19 while its four other yachts have been moved back to later dates. The resumption dates are as follows: • Star Breeze: June 19, 2021, Caribbean • Wind Star: June 19, 2021, Mediterranean • Wind Spirit: July 15, 2021, Tahiti • Wind Surf: Aug. 8, 2021, Mediterranean • Star Legend: Sept. 4, 2021, Northern
Europe • Star Pride: Nov. 3, 2021, Caribbean
Guests booked on a cancelled cruise are being offered a Future Cruise Credit (FCC) valued at 125% of monies paid to Windstar Cruises. They will have 24 months from the issue date of the FCC to sail with their FCC. Guests may also request a cash refund once the FCC certificate is received. To provide added flexibility, Windstar has also moved the final payment date from 120 days to 60 days prior to cruise departure.
Last month, Crystal also announced proof of vaccination for all guests, making it the first large cruise line to do so. Britain-based Saga Cruises was the first to announce the requirement in January, followed by American Queen Steamboat Company and sister line Victory Cruise Lines in early February.
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Costa Cruises appoints new President and Chief Commercial Officer
Costa Cruises has made key changes to its executive team in preparation of its resumption of cruises on May 1. Mario Zanetti has been promoted from Chief Commercial Officer of Costa Cruises Europe to President of Costa Cruises, a role that had been temporarily filled by Michael Thamm, Group CEO of Costa Group & Carnival Asia. As President, Zanetti will oversee Costa’s branding around the world, with the aim of ensuring profitable and sustainable growth in the long term in Europe, South America and Asia. Meanwhile, Roberto Alberti has been appointed Chief Commercial Officer of Costa Cruises, which was previously held by Zanetti. Alberti will be responsible for overall commercial operations, including Sales, Revenue Management and Marketing worldwide, reporting to Zanetti.
Both Zanetti and Alberti will be based in Costa Cruises’ headquarters in Genoa.
CBSA reports 30 cases of suspected fraudulent documentation for PCR tests
OTTAWA — New stats from the Canada Border Services Agency show that 30 people entering Canada in recent weeks had what appeared to be faked COVID-19 test results.
Both the CBC and CTV are reporting that the latest numbers sent by the CBSA indicate that potentially faked results were submitted by 10 travellers entering Canada from international flights, between Jan. 7-March 24, 2021.
Another 20 suspected fake results were flagged at the Canada-U.S. land border, Feb. 15-March 24, 2021.
The requirement for proof of a negative PCR test no more than 72 hours pre-boarding has been in place for international air travellers since Jan. 7, 2021. The requirement was extended to the land border effective Feb. 15, 2021.
The 30 suspected faked tests are a drop in the bucket, however, compared to overwhelming compliance with the PCR test requirement. CBSA stats indicate a compliance rate of 99.8% for air travellers entering Canada between March 22-29, and 99.74% at the land border.
Charged and convicted: Michael Shane Adams
MISSISSAUGA — After being charged by TICO, Michael Shane Adams has plead guilty to operating a travel agency and offering short-term rentals without TICO registration.
In addition, Adams plead guilty to operating a website offering for sale the arrangement of short-term rentals of various properties.
He was found guilty on March 26 of contravening section 4(1) of the Travel Industry Act, 2002 and was fined $3,000 plus Victim Fine Surcharge.
Adams had previously indicated that he would be submitting an application to register with TICO but did not follow through with completing the application process. To date, he has never been registered with TICO as a Travel Agent.
Royal Caribbean's Vision of the Seas
Royal Caribbean announces summer sailings from Bermuda
MIAMI — Royal Caribbean is sailing full steam ahead towards a summer restart, with new seven-night cruises onboard Vision of the Seas from the fi rst-time homeport of Bermuda. Seven-night itineraries on Vision will sail from June through August and include an overnight in Bermuda as well as a full day at Perfect Day at CocoCay, Royal Caribbean’s top-rated private island destination in The Bahamas that’s home to Thrill Waterpark, Up, Up & Away (a helium balloon that fl oats up to 450 feet in the air) and the fi rst fl oating cabanas in The Bahamas at Coco Beach Club.
Bookings for the new Bermuda itineraries are already open and depart as early as June 26. At this time, the cruises will be available to adult guests who are fully vaccinated against COVID-19. Those under the age of 18 must have negative test results.
Last month, the cruise line announced its resumption of operations with seven-night cruise getaways onboard Adventure of the Seas to Cozumel and The Bahamas.
Details about health and safety measures will be announced at a later date but guests can rest assured that a multi-layered approach will be led by science and leverage expert guidance from the Healthy Sail Panel, Royal Caribbean Group’s Head of Public Health and Chief Medical Offi cer, and local government and health authorities.
In addition, travellers must meet the travel requirements of Bermuda, which currently include a negative PCR test result before travelling, testing upon arrival in to the country, and fi lling out appropriate entry forms.
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Liz Scull joins DWHSA as new GM in Canada
Destination Wedding & Honeymoons Specialists Association (DWHSA) has appointed Liz Scull as its new general manager in Canada. A well-known fi gure in the Canadian travel industry, Scull will help build DWHSA’s membership in Canada and off er romance travel training programs for Canadian travel advisors. Currently, 15% of the association’s members reside and work in Canada. Scull began her career in the product and marketing departments at various tour operators and eventually landed at Ensemble Travel Group as marketing manager in 2010. There, she helped grow the company’s DestinationVows program by adding dedicated training options, marketing tools, a destination wedding magazine, exclusive wedding shows and conferences for Ensemble members. At the same time, she became managing editor and creative director of ‘Vacations’, Ensemble’s premier travel magazine. She now works as a travel advisor herself based in Toronto with Romantic Planet Vacations.
TORONTO — A month after announcing a new long-term agreement between Marriott International and its resort division, Blue Diamond Resorts, Sunwing Travel Group is adding another property in Mexico to Marriott’s portfolio.
Mystique Holbox by Royalton, located in Mexico’s Yum Balam Nature Reserve and featuring 38 suites and two on-site restaurants, will be aligned with Marriott’s Tribute Portfolio brand later this year. The Tribute Portfolio is Marriott’s growing global family of inde-
pendent hotels known for their unique design and vibrant social experiences.
Mystique Holbox will join 19 other Blue Diamond Resorts properties slated to be part of Marriott’s Autograph Collection, which comprises hand-selected hotels based on design and hospitality.
“We are thrilled to add Mystique Holbox by Royalton, the twentieth Blue Diamond Resorts property, to the Marriott portfolio,” said Laurent de Kousemaeker, Chief Development Offi cer of Marriott International, Caribbean and Latin America. “This exquisite boutique beachfront resort, which is located on the exotic island of Holbox, is a perfect fi t for our Tribute Portfolio brand.”
As part of the monumental agreement with Marriott, Sunwing Travel Group will benefi t from worldwide distribution in addition to the award-winning Marriott Bonvoy travel program with 147 million members worldwide.
Willie Walsh, Director General IATA
Former CEO of British Airways and IAG takes helm at IATA; Travel Pass app ready by mid-April
GENEVA — IATA is known for its strong leadership and the next airline executive taking the top spot is no exception.
Willie Walsh, former CEO of British Airways’ parent company IAG, is now IATA’s Director General.
As announced in November 2020, Walsh succeeds Alexandre de Juniac, the former Chairman and CEO of Air France-KLM who served as IATA’s Director General from September 2016 to March 2021.
In 1979 Walsh got his start in the airline industry as a cadet pilot at Aer Lingus, at the age of 18. Rising through the ranks Walsh was CEO at Aer Lingus from 2001 to 2005, overseeing the airline’s transformation into a low-cost airline amid rising competition from Europe’s LCCs and ULCCs, Ryanair in particular.
From 2005 to 2011 he was CEO of British Airways, strengthening its position amid even more intense competition. Walsh also secured BA’s joint venture with American Airlines. In 2011, with the creation of IAG, Walsh was appointed CEO, overseeing the group’s carriers which by then included British Airways, Iberia, BMI and more.
He also served on the IATA Board of Governors for almost 13 years between 2005 to 2018, including serving as Chair (2016-2017).
“I am passionate about our industry and about the critical work that IATA does on behalf of its members, never more so than during the COVID-19 crisis,” says Walsh.
He notes that IATA “has been at the forefront of efforts to restart global connectivity, including developing the IATA Travel Pass.”
According to new reports, the IATA Travel Pass will be available as a downloadable app for iOS from Apple by April 15, with availability via Google Play coming soon.
And airlines continue to rely on IATA’s financial settlement systems, Timatic
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Former G Adventures executive lands at Tourism Ireland
Tourism Ireland has appointed Ernie Balint as its new Trade Promotions and CRM Executive in Canada. Balint, who previously served as Senior Sales Executive at G Adventures, will be tasked with planning and implementing a targeted program of trade marketing activities with key Canadian travel partners, tour operators and airlines. He will also manage digital communications, which is key to the development of new recovery strategies to restart tourism from Canada to Ireland. and other vital services to support their day-to-day operations, he says.
“I am grateful to Alexandre for leaving behind a strong organization and a motivated team. Together, the IATA team is absolutely focused on restoring the freedom of movement that airlines provide to billions of people around the world. That means your freedom to visit friends and family, to meet critical business partners, to secure and retain vital contracts, and to explore our wonderful planet,” said Walsh.
Walsh adds: “In normal times over four billion travellers depend on aviation each year and the distribution of vaccines has put the value of efficient air cargo in the spotlight. Airlines are committed to delivering safe, efficient, and sustainable services. My goal is to ensure that IATA is a forceful voice supporting the success of global air transport. We will work with supporters and critics alike to deliver on our commitments to an environmentally sustainable airline industry. It’s my job to make sure that governments, which rely on the economic and social benefits our industry generates, also understand the policies we need to deliver those benefits.” Walsh was confirmed as IATA’s 8th Director General by the 76th IATA Annual General Meeting on Nov. 24, 2020.
Air Canada further extends Aeroplan Elite Status
MONTREAL — There’s good news for Aeroplan Elite Status members: Air Canada is extending their current status and providing greater ease and flexibility. Saying that “loyalty is a two-way street,” Mark Nasr, Senior Vice President, Products, Marketing and eCommerce at Air Canada announced several updates for Elite members, including the extension of current Elite Status until the end of 2022, in addition to a previous extension through 2021, as well as the possibility to accelerate their status qualification in the years ahead.
“We understand and appreciate why so many of your travel plans are interrupted this year. For that reason, we are automatically extending Aeroplan Elite Status for an additional year,
Air Canada is marking its 70th anniversary on its Montreal - Paris route, a route that has never been suspended, not even for the pandemic. On April 1, 1951, a four-engine, 40-passenger Canadair North Star, registered as CF-TFO and operated by Trans-Canada Air Lines (now Air Canada), touched down for the fi rst time at Orly airport. While the route initially included a London layover, it soon went nonstop, with weekly fl ights. These days Air Canada's Montreal-Paris route serves Roissy-Charles de Gaulle Airport on a year-round basis. The regular schedule consists of two daily fl ights in summer season and one daily fl ight in winter season. Air Canada is the longest-serving North American airline in France.
through to the end of 2022,” he said. “These changes are some of the many ways we’re recognizing our members and demonstrating our commitment to welcoming them back onboard, whenever it’s the right time for them to travel again.”
This is the second year Air Canada has extended the status of its Aeroplan Elite members. Changes include the following: • Automatic extension of 2021 Aeroplan Elite Status: All Aeroplan Elite
Status for 2021 will automatically be extended through to the end of 2022. • Extension of Priority Reward Vouchers: Air Canada is also extending the validity of all unused Priority Reward vouchers issued in 2020 by one full year, making them valid for use until
October 2022. • Elite Status Qualifi cation Jumpstart for 2022: For Aeroplan members who earn any Elite Status through their 2021 fl ight activity, the Status
Qualifying Miles, Segments, and Dollars earned in 2021 will be honoured the next year, jumpstarting their status qualifi cation in the years to come.
The following improvements come in addition to other changes for all Aeroplan members: • Change or cancel Flight Rewards,
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Condé Nast Traveler honours 3 Vision Travel advisors
Three top advisors with Vision Travel have been named to Condé Nast Traveler’s Travel Specialists list. Ariane Henry of Vancouver and sister duo Lisa and Nancy Zupancic of Toronto are now on the list, which includes just 435 travel advisors from all around the world. Vision Travel is the leisure arm of Direct Travel in Canada. American travel agent Jennifer Fried of Direct Travel from Cleveland, OH is also on the list.
Condé Nast Traveler says that the travel specialists who made the list this year were selected based on their expertise, ability to assemble elaborate itineraries and cope with the shifting protocols brought on by COVID 19. free of charge: Aeroplan fl ight rewards booked through April 30, 2021, for travel through April 2022, can be changed or cancelled free of charge, at any time. Members who opt to cancel will receive all of their
Aeroplan points back in their account, plus a full refund of any associated taxes, fees and sur-charges on the unused value of their travel. • Temporary pause to expiration of
Aeroplan points: Air Canada has further paused expiry of Aeroplan points until Jan. 31, 2022, meaning that between now and Jan. 30, 2022, any points that would have expired will not. Eff ective Jan. 31, 2022, its recently improved expiration policy will apply, meaning points will expire if an eligible transaction has not been completed prior to this date.
TORONTO — Uniworld Boutique River Cruises and U River Cruises are doing their part to make travel matter with a range of new experiences for 2021 through India, Europe and the Middle East.
Implemented directly into itineraries, the ‘MAKE TRAVEL MATTER’ Experiences aim to directly advance Uniworld’s long-standing commitment to have a positive impact on the people and communities visited on sailings. Uniworld and U River Cruises, part of The Travel Corporation umbrella, are founding partners of The TreadRight Foundation, a not-for-profi t that works to make a positive impact on the planet, communities and wildlife.
MAKE TRAVEL MATTER Experiences are off ered across TTC brands and are chosen for the ways in which they directly advance the United Nations 17 Global Goals, which were developed by world leaders to create a better future for people and the planet by 2030.
The MAKE TRAVEL MATTER Experiences for 2021 and 2022 include the following: INDIA While on the ‘India’s Golden Triangle & the Sacred Ganges’ itinerary, guests will have the chance to board a pedal-
powered Trishaw in the ‘Temple City’ of Kalna to explore the Rajbari temple complex, which dates back to 1739. They will also get have the opportunity to support local artisans who have been making ornamental brass objects for centuries through attending various brass workshops in Matari. Other highlights include a visit to Mother Theresa’s home and tomb or the local NGO Calcutta Rescue in Kolkata. EUROPE
Uniworld’s MAKE TRAVEL MATTER Experiences in Europe include a day on a ‘Dutch Cheese Trail’ at a sustainable dairy farm while on the ‘Tulips & Windmills’ itinerary, as well as a saffron tasting and a visit to a typical ‘Mostheurigen Farm’ in Linz while on the ‘Enchanting Danube’ itinerary. While on the ‘Holland & Belgium’ itinerary, guests will learn how Belgian chocolate is made at the sustainable company Neuhof, and on the ‘Castles Along the Rhine’ tour, they’ll visit the Doktorenhof Estate to learn about the generations-old traditions used to make vinegar. MIDDLE EAST In Jordan, while on the ‘Splendors of Egypt & the Nile’ Jordan extension, Uniworld clients can visit the Iraq Al Amir women’s cooperative Association, which aims to provide meaningful employment for local village women. Guests will visit the workshop and explore the women’s handmade paper, pottery and fabrics as well as fresh produce.
Dubrovnik, Croatia
MIAMI — Silversea’s new arts-inspired World Cruise 2023 sold out on the day of its general opening, “shattering” booking records after the most successful pre-sale in the company’s history.
The 139-day voyage will take guests deep into the Southern Hemisphere, sailing from the South Seas to the Amazon Rainforest and beyond, calling in 66 destinations in 34 countries across five continents. Recently previewed through Silversea’s largest-ever creative production, this exceptional
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Two TPI agents named to Condé Nast Top Travel Specialists list
TPI is celebrating two of its advisors who’ve been named to Condé Nast’s 2021 Top Travel Specialists list. Both Donna Flanigan and Shari Tucker were chosen based on their expertise, specialization and excellence in customer service. Zeina Gedeon, CEO of TPI, says the entire team is proud of their accomplishments. While Donna and Shari have very different business specialties, they share a few similarities: they both go above and beyond for their clients by providing a high touch level of service and are laser-focused on ensuring that they are doing all they can to stay relevant and move their business forward,” she says. world cruise will sail about the all-suite Silver Shadow, which will depart Sydney on Jan. 10, 2023 and arrive in Fort Lauderdale on May 28.
“We are delighted to have seen unprecedented demand for our World Cruise 2023, South Side Story, which sold out within hours of its general opening,” says Roberto Martinoli, Silversea’s President & CEO. “The most successful World Cruise launch in the history of our cruise line, this triumph pays testament to the strong demand we are seeing in the market, particularly from affluent, sophisticated travellers.
“I strongly advise our travel partners to be quick in adding their interested clients to the voyage’s waitlist, as Silver Shadow is sure to embark upon this remarkable itinerary at capacity.” In another first for Silversea, each guest will enjoy private executive transfers to/from their local airport and benefit from private assistance to their gate/lounge as well as access to designated airline lounges. They will then enjoy a superior flight experience in Qantas Business Class from select U.S. and U.K. gateways to Sydney, Australia. Once in Sydney, travellers will experience VIP arrival assistance, private executive transfers and priority embarkation. Once aboard Silver Shadow, butlers will be available to assist guests in unpacking, should they wish.
Fares for World Cruise 2023 range from US$74,000 to $278,000 per guest, based on double occupancy.
