Travelweek - February 25th, 2021

Canada’s Travel Trade News February 25, 2021 travelweek.ca

Talking about the 'new normal' An overview from Club Med about strategies at its resorts, which include Club Med Michès in the D.R. pg. 3

When will COVID-19 recede to a background threat?

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Agents, the bailout and one travel retailer's 5-point plan

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TOP NEWS

When will COVID-19 be seen as a background threat, clearing the way for travel’s takeoff?

‘Transformation 2021’ outlines key indicators

by Kathryn Folliott TORONTO — When consumers get to the point that they can treat COVID-19 as a background threat, that’s when recovery in the airline and travel industry will take off in earnest.

That’s how Jay Sorensen, a veteran of the airline industry and President of consulting firm IdeaWorksCompany, sees the end game for the pandemic’s negative impact on travel.

In recent years Sorensen’s company has become well-known in the industry for its airline ancillary reports, produced in conjunction with CarTrawler, charting the meteoric year-over-year rise in revenue from the airlines’ profitable ancillary fee structures.

With COVID-19, IdeaWorksCompany is also focusing on trends and strategies as the industry navigates the pandemic.

There won’t be a magic moment when COVID-19 just goes away, and in fact, it could be with us for years to come. Public confidence in how COVID-19 is handled by companies and governments, and, of course, mass vaccinations, will make all the difference for travel getting back on track, says Sorensen.

“It’s a long list of objectives to meet, but the world is determined to end this plague and return to the business and joy of travel.”

IdeaWorksCompany and CarTrawler’s just-released report, ‘Transformation 2021: How Airlines and Travelers Will Adapt as the Pandemic Recedes’, part of the Transformation 2021 series, notes that there are plenty of other threats to human health and safety in the world.

But human nature being what it is, we get on with daily life and keep those risks in perspective. COVID-19, on the other hand, is a new and immediate

The UNWTO's latest Travel Restrictions Map, from its Tourism Recovery Tracker site.

“A global community that once welcomed tourists and their cash now embraces barriers to entry," says Jay Sorensen, President, IdeaWorksCompany.

concern, and it’s demanding all of our attention.

What will it take for COVID-19 to be demoted to a background threat? For starters, when the public accepts and understands key COVID-19 statistics, and most importantly, when the rates of infection and death take steep decreases, says Sorensen.

“Countries will no longer rely upon travel restrictions to provide immediate protection from viral spread,” he says.

“Vaccines will be given to members of the general population and COVID-19 treatments will deliver predictably positive results for most. Dining out at the destination will be welcomed as an experience to be savoured. It’s a long list of objectives to meet, but the world is determined to end this plague and return to the business and joy of travel."

In the report Sorensen tackles two of the bigger logistical hurdles facing the industry amid the pandemic: COVID testing, and ‘health passports’ like IATA Travel Pass, and CommonPass.

COVID-19 TESTING In the early days and weeks of the pandemic, cities, regions and countries almost immediately put in place travel restrictions, in the form of testing requirements, to deal with COVID-19.

The top priority was to prevent viral spread, as Sorensen notes, adding that the impact on the travel and tourism industry was very far down the list of concerns. “A global community that once welcomed tourists and their cash now embraces barriers to entry,” says Sorensen.

Canada’s quarantine measures and warning against all non-essential travel aside, COVID testing has been the most tangible measure that most countries around the world have taken to navigate the pandemic in an age of global travel. As travel agents well know, Canada also requires travellers to not only do a 72-hour PCR test in destination before departure, but also another PCR test upon arrival in Canada.

While testing was embraced as an early indicator of safe travel, and will February 25, 2021 | TRAVELWEEK | 3

TOP NEWS likely endure until the threat is eliminated, says Sorensen, the problem is the chaos that comes with any new undertaking, with so many players jostling for position, and no real coordination. The fact that it’s on a global scale makes it that much more daunting.

“The experience can frustrate the most intrepid of travellers. Too many will throw up their arms in frustration and choose the greater certainty offered by a vacation close to home that doesn’t involve international borders,” he says.

“Airlines and the travel industry should strive to embrace one or two key platforms to minimize complexity for consumers.”

The answer? As Sorensen sees it, the best solution would be a combination of off-airport and in-airport testing. But there are caveats. He gives the example of 100% testing at a busy terminal like Heathrow’s Terminal 5. About 2.5 hours would be needed to process pre-boarding tests for a planeload of international passengers, at an optimistic rate of 4 minutes per passenger.

With 15.4 million passengers departing the terminal every year (preCOVID), his calculations estimate that just for Heathrow’s Terminal 5, some 500 extra employees would be needed to process the pre-departure testing regimen. And that’s just one terminal.

“The numbers are overwhelming and convey the giant scale of the testing challenge,” says Sorensen.

Got a story idea? Questions or comments? Write to us at editorial@travelweek.ca

TRAVELWEEK

IATA Travel Pass

HEALTH PASSPORTS Sorensen also looks at ‘health passports’ like IATA’s Travel Pass, and CommonPass, in the latest Transformation 2021 report.

There’s a bit of a catch-22 happening right now with vaccinations. In the understandable rush to get people vaccinated and get life back to normal, proof of vaccination is mostly coming via paper certification. But that’s going to create headaches down the line, at least for getting the travel industry back on track, with any attempt to coordinate vaccination stats and verification on a global level.

There was good news this week for IATA Travel Pass, a mobile app designed to help travellers securely manage their travel in line with any government requirements for COVID-19 testing or vaccine information.

Another major carrier - Air New Zealand - signed on to trial the new digital system. Other carriers that have signed on to use the IATA Travel Pass include Emirates, Etihad, Copa and Singapore Airlines.

Even better, IATA has indicated that the plan is for the app to go live in March 2021.

Meanwhile CommonPass had its first international test run last fall.

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The key to adoption for any health passport system will be mass use. “It would be unfortunate if consumers are required to rely upon multiple mobile apps as they travel the world,” says Sorensen. “Airlines and the travel industry should strive to embrace one or two key platforms to minimize complexity for consumers.”

Ralph Hollister, Analyst, Travel & Tourism at GlobalData, offers his take: “IATA’s Travel Pass is not the golden ticket to an instant recovery for the global travel sector, but it will no doubt help,” he says.

He too points to the difficulties of coordinating such a system on a global scale, where some governments use paper documentation for proof of vaccination or negative test, and where app rollout could be difficult in developing nations with lower levels of smartphone ownership. “This could mean that the rollout is seen as something that increases global inequality in terms of which nations can and can’t freely travel,” says Hollister.

But ultimately, he says, “the rollout of a digital COVID Travel Pass will be beneficial to the global travel sector and will increase the likelihood of a meaningful start to recovery in 2021.”

CONTENTS COPYRIGHTED We acknowledge the financial support of the Government of Canada.

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4 | TRAVELWEEK | February 25, 2021

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TOP NEWS

Agents encouraged to move to Emirates Gateway, GDS surcharge kicks in July 1 DUBAI — Emirates has doubled-down on its commitment to the travel agent community by announcing new content and services on its NDC-enabled direct platform.

Starting July 1 Emirates Gateway will feature the following: • Access to differentiated ticket pricing such as dedicated promotional fares and pre-sales • Ability to sell excess baggage, enabling enhanced customer experience • Access to rich content • Differentiated pricing for select ancillary services • Faster access to new ancillary products A surcharge on all bookings made via GDS will also kick in on July 1.

Agencies not signed up for Emirates Gateway can continue to access Emirates’ EDIFACT – legacy content through the airline’s GDS partners Amadeus, Travelport, Travelsky, Infini and Sirena.

However, to mitigate the higher cost Emirates incurs through GDS distribution, from July 1, 2021 bookings made via GDS will incur a distribution surcharge ranging between US$14 and $25 per ticket depending on sector length.

Numerous airlines have brought in GDS surcharges over the years.

Lufthansa Group got the ball rolling back in 2015 when it announced a 16 euro surcharge for every GDS booking, a decision that was roundly criticized at the time by GDSs and agent groups including ACTA.

Emirates Gateway

board Emirates Gateway, which provides access to the widest range of Emirates fare products, including exclusive content not available with indirect channels and where bookings will not incur a Distribution Surcharge.

“Our goal is to empower our trade partners to deliver even better customer experiences and we are pleased to introduce the next batch of new

Lufthansa Group started adding GDS surcharges back in 2015 and was roundly criticized at the time by GDSs and agent groups. More airlines have since come onboard including British Airways, Iberia and Air France - KLM. It was more of a move to push back against GDS fees than to alienate travel agents, though it didn’t come across that way at first.

In the intervening years more airlines have come onboard with charging GDS fees, including British Airways, Iberia and Air France - KLM. Emirates says it is working closely with trade partners to bring them on6 | TRAVELWEEK | February 25, 2021

exclusive features and benefits for them on Emirates Gateway, which was launched to address the limitations of current legacy systems and provide a wide range of additional content and options for agents,” said Adnan Kazim, Emirates’ Chief Commercial Officer.

“Emirates firmly believes in healthy, long-term relationships with all players in the travel ecosystem, and we will

continue to work hard to nurture the relationships that we’ve built through the years by providing great value and service.”

Emirates Gateway content can be access through three access solutions: • Emirates Booking Portal: A userfriendly web booking portal available in 16 languages, connected directly to Emirates’ reservation systems that simplifies the booking, ticketing and post-ticketing servicing of Emirates orders • Emirates Gateway Direct: This option provides access to Emirates content through IATA standard NDC APIs, allowing trade partners to build applications that meet their needs • Emirates Gateway Sync: A facilitated link to Emirates products and services provided by IATA-registered and Emirates-certified technology partners For more information about Emirates Gateway, agents can visit the Emirates Partners Portal at emirates.partners or contact the Emirates sales team.

TOP NEWS

Here’s how Club Med is adapting to the new normal TORONTO — After a full year of travel lockdowns and restrictions due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Club Med is sharing how it has adapted to the new normal and its predictions for what travel will look like in 2021.

“By continually and thoughtfully updating our travel offerings, we are able to align with market trends to provide premium experiences while ensuring the safety and relaxation of our guests,” said Amélie Brouhard, YP, Managing Director, Club Med Canada.

“In a year that was filled with uncertainty, we are well-positioned to share our learnings from 2020 as well as our predictions on what travel trends we’ll see take off in the year ahead.”

SAFETY PROCEDURES Worldwide, Club Med’s ‘Safe Together’ program has a range of health and safety protocols that include protective face coverings for staff, hand sanitizer available throughout the resort, deep cleaning and frequent sanitizing of surfaces and facilities, social distancing, capped resort capacity, temperature checks on arrival and periodically during the stay, as well as doctor or nursing staff available 24/7 at the resort.

Resorts are also POSI-Check certified (recognition from Intertek Cristal for the prevention of the spread of infection) and operate with a reduced capacity to enable social distancing. Club Med is also bringing COVID-19 testing to most of its resorts to accommodate guests who require a negative PCR test prior to their flight home.

CONTACTLESS TECHNOLOGY Club Med’s ‘Easy Arrival’ contactless check-in/check-out prepares guests to fully enjoy vacations immediately.

From signing up children for childcare services to booking ski equipment ahead of time, everything will be ready for guests as soon as they arrive at the resort. Club Med’s Happy Digital initiatives help clients guarantee a seamless travel experience.

Ski runs with St. Lawrence River views

Club Med Québec Charlevoix

REMOTE WORK Travellers have shown an appetite for extended stays at all-inclusive resorts where they can work or study remotely while also relaxing. Club Med is adapting to this trend by setting up ‘Workation,’ a hybrid stay between working remotely and a vacation with all-inclusive service. This option has been made available at Club Med Sandpiper Bay since last October, and will soon be available at Club Med Cancún, delivering premium Wi-Fi, dedicated workspaces (or free to set up beach or poolside) and printer access. Club Med also offers complete childcare services for a variety of ages.

DOMESTIC DESTINATIONS The pandemic has spurred increased domestic travel with Canadians looking for shorter escapes closer to home.

The all-new Club Med Québec Charlevoix, the brand’s first four-season mountain property, is scheduled to open on Dec. 3, 2021 just outside Quebec City in Le Massif de Charlevoix region.

Designed with packages, services and accommodations for families, couples, singles, friends and business groups, the 4-Trident resort features 302 rooms including an Exclusive Collection space with 25 suites. Club Med anticipates that approximately 50% of the clientele will be Canadians. Bookings are now available.

SUSTAINABILITY Avid globetrotters are quickly getting behind the ‘Go green’ initiative in their tourism decisions and Club Med is supporting the cause. In 2018 Club Med launched its ‘Bye-Bye Plastics’ program and is on track to ban single-use plastic products from bars, restaurants and rooms in 2021.

Club Med’s ‘Happy to Care’ program details its commitment to building resorts that blend in harmoniously in exceptional sites. Club Med Québec Charlevoix, for example, is on track to be North America’s first hotel structure to comply with strict BREEAM (Building Research Establishment Environment Assessment Method) environmental standards and is working towards sustainable operations management of the resort in order to become Green Globe-certified by opening day.

NEW DESTINATIONS Now more than ever, travellers are looking for new and secluded destinations. This year Club Med will open Seychelles on its own private island in the Indian Ocean.

FLEXIBLE TRAVEL OPTIONS To add more peace of mind, Club Med is offering the following: Free Cancellation Policy: For all stays booked until Dec. 16, 2021, guests can cancel their booking for free up to 31 days prior to departure (and 61 days instead of for stays during blackout dates); clients will receive a full refund of the land portion and air portion of their stay if flights were booked with Air Canada, Air Transat or WestJet Emergency Assistance Program: All guests travelling before Dec. 31, 2022 will receive coverage for emergency medical expenses during their stay, including those related to COVID-19.

February 25, 2021 | TRAVELWEEK | 7

WORLD NEWS Messina and Cagliari. From May 1, the ship will return to sailing one-week cruises in the western Mediterranean with visits to Italy (Savona, Civitavecchia and Palermo), France (Marseille) and Spain (Barcelona and Palma de Mallorca). A second ship, Costa Luminosa, will also be back in service, departing from Trieste from May 2, and the following day from Bari for one-week cruises in Greece and Croatia.

Dr. Tammy McKnight

AIRLINES WestJet’s Arved von zur Muehlen is stepping down as Executive VP and Chief Commercial Officer, effective March 5. Von zur Muehlen joined WestJet in January 2019 from Malaysia Airlines, leading WestJet’s commercial team in all aspects of its commercial functions. Stepping into the role of Executive Vice-President and Chief Commercial Officer is John Weatherill, who has held several roles within WestJet’s commercial team since August 2013. WestJet has also hired its first ever Chief Medical Officer (CMEDO) to help ensure the health and well-being of both its team members and passengers. Dr. Tammy McKnight starts her new role on April 5.

The National Airlines Council of Canada (NACC) is renewing its call for science-based testing strategies, ideally for implementation starting April 30. “As the new measures come into force, it is critical that the government engage with the industry to develop, for April 30, a truly robust and effective testing strategy based on science and that is tied to quarantine and border restrictions. These are necessary pre-conditions for the eventual safe, phased re-opening of aviation,” said NACC President and CEO Mike McNaney.

MSC Cruises

MSC Cruises has unveiled new details about its highly anticipated MSC Seashore, scheduled to come into service this August in the Mediterranean. At 339 metres, the new flagship will become the longest ship in MSC’s fleet and will be the largest ship ever to be built in Italy by Fincantieri. There will be 11 different types of cabins and suites with balconies, including aft suites, 50 terraced suites with extended balconies, offering up to 15 square metres of private terrace, and 32 different suites with outdoor private whirlpools. After entering service in August 2021, MSC Seashore will spend an inaugural season in the Mediterranean calling at the Italian ports of Genoa, Naples and Messina as well as Valletta in Malta, Barcelona in Spain and Marseille in France. It will then head to the U.S. where it will home port in Miami.

Riu Palace Jamaica

CRUISE Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings (NCLH) has extended its suspension of operations to May 31, 2021. The company, which operates NCL, Oceania Cruises and Regent Seven Seas Cruises, says global cruise voyages for all three brands have been suspended through to the end of May as it continues to work through its return to service plan to meet the requirements of the CDC’s Framework for Conditional Sailing Order. NCLH is also working in tandem with global government and public health authorities and its Healthy Sail Panel expert advisors to take all necessary measures to protect its guests, crew and the communities it visits.

After a temporary suspension of operations due to the pandemic, Costa Cruises is set to resume cruises, starting with the departure of flagship Costa Smeralda on March 27.

The Smeralda will sail passengers to Italian locales with three- and four-day mini-cruises or, alternatively, a sevenday cruise calling at Savona, La Spezia, Civitavecchia, Naples, 8 | TRAVELWEEK | February 25, 2021

HOTELS & RESORTS It’s been 20 years since RIU Hotels & Resorts opened its first hotel in Jamaica and since then it has opened five more, all of which have been either newly built or completely renovated. The company first opened the Riu Palace Tropical Bay in Negril in 2001, becoming the first Spanish hotel chain to dedicate operations on the island. RIU says its growth in Jamaica has created more than 1,500 jobs in the country between its six operational hotels, with some original staff members still with the company 20 years later.

NEWS

Leisure travel is at “a standstill” with mandatory hotel quarantine now in effect, says one travel retailer TORONTO — The hotel quarantine measures now in effect have brought leisure travel “to a standstill,” says one travel retailer.

The new measures require international travellers to quarantine at an airport hotel for up to three days while waiting for PCR test results With a negative test result, travellers can wait out the rest of the 14-day quarantine at home. With a positive test result, they will be transferred to a government facility.

The new measures were announced on Jan. 29, on the same day that the federal government announced that all four of Canada’s major airlines had agreed to suspend winter sun flights through April 30. They’re on top of Canada’s warning against all non-essential travel, in place for close to a year now, and the 14-day quarantine, plus mandatory 72-hour PCR testing before flying to Canada.

Though the hotel quarantine price was originally pegged at up to $2,000 per person, initial reports suggest that prices are considerably lower.

Airport hotels at the 4 airports currently accepting international travellers - Toronto, Vancouver, Calgary and Montreal - are listed at the government’s site, with more hotels expected to be added in the coming days.

The hotel info site went live as promised on Feb. 18. The site notes that hotel stopover bookings will be managed

by American Express Global Business Travel and are available by phone only.

Travellers are directed to call 1-800294-8253 to book their mandatory 3-night hotel stopover.

At the federal government’s COVID-19 briefing on Feb. 19, a reporter told Prime Minister Justin Trudeau that “the phone system isn’t working at all.” In response Trudeau outlined the government’s measures to keep Canadians safe when it comes to travel, and then added “there are always challenges when it comes to the implementation” of new initiatives.

Travelweek called the number and

the call was dropped on the first try, however two subsequent calls went through. Consumer media reports indicate problems with unanswered calls and long wait times.

Asked how the hotel quarantine will impact business, Cindy Gaudet, Chief Operations Officer, fareconnect.com, says: “The hotel quarantine has basically brought our non-essential leisure travel to a standstill. We were starting to see a few bookings coming in prior to Christmas, but the latest announcement has caused clients to stay away from any future bookings.”

Gaudet adds that clients travelling Internationally for compassionate reasons are now dealing with an extra burden at already very difficult times. “No clients want to deal with extra financial cost as they already have to spend the high cost at a last-minute decision to travel,” she says.

Gaudet says her team makes sure to communicate to clients that it’s a personal choice to travel or not. “We explain to them the current restrictions and policies and allow them to make their own decisions.”

Thankfully a few bookings are still coming in. “We are booking some clients 6 – 18 months or so out as long as the supplier has cancellation policies that protect their future decisions.”

WestJet temporarily suspending flights to St. John’s, NL, London, ON and two cities in Alberta CALGARY — WestJet has announced it will temporarily suspend operations to St. John's, NL, London, ON, and Lloydminster and Medicine Hat, AB, effective March 19 through June 24, 2021.

"We have continued to operate in the face of uncertainty as domestic and international travel restrictions and quarantines have caused demand to plummet," said WestJet President and CEO Ed Sims.

"Unfortunately, with new and increasingly restrictive policies, we are left once again, with no other option than to suspend service to these communities.”

Flights between St. John's and Halifax will be suspended as of March 21, while service between London, ON, and Toronto will cease on March 22.

WestJet Link service from Calgary to Lloydminster will end on March 19, and Calgary to Medicine Hat discontinued as of March 21.

"Our ability to return to markets remains directly correlated to government policies and the prioritization of February 25, 2021 | TRAVELWEEK | 9

NEWS a domestic travel program," said Sims.

"As we look ahead to contributing to the economic recovery of Canada, the relationship between testing and quarantine must evolve based on data and science.”

In October 2020 WestJet announced it was indefinitely suspending operations to 4 Atlantic Canada gateways – Moncton, Fredericton, Sydney and Charlottetown – and significantly reducing service to 2 more, Halifax and St. John’s, amid the sharp downturn in travel as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. Flights to Quebec City were also discontinued.

As a result of the suspensions, WestJet says it will be working with newly established third-party service providers in St. John's and London, ON, and directly with Pacific Coastal Airlines for affected WestJet Link operations in Lloydminster and Medicine Hat. WestJet continues to operate at more than a 90% reduction year over year.

The airlines says passengers impacted will be contacted directly regarding their options for travel to and from the regions. Service is set to resume to all communities as of June 24, 2021.

Travel agents, the bailout, and one travel retailer’s 5-point plan TORONTO — Knowing that travel agents and commission recalls are on the radar for the federal government amid the airline bailout talks - and hearing from ACTA that it’s a matter of ‘how’, not ‘if’, commissions will be protected - is a significant light at the end of the tunnel after a very long 11 months for Canada’s travel agents.

ACTA is currently in talks with the Ministry of Finance, which has taken over the airline industry bailout file from the Ministry of Transport. “Our talks have moved on from asking that travel agents and travel agencies be protected from commission recalls, to HOW to achieve that in whatever aid package is arrived at,” said ACTA President Wendy Paradis. “We are very encouraged by this and it is becoming clear that negotiations are at a critical stage and that decisions are expected very soon.”

10 | TRAVELWEEK | February 25, 2021

Feedback sent to Travelweek from the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance, has underscored that positive news.

We wanted to know, with Canadian travel agents looking at potentially $200 million in recalled commissions in the face of mass refunds from Canada's airlines due to the pandemic, what if anything is the federal government doing to protect travel agent commission as part of the airline bailout, one that's contingent on refunds?

“We remain committed to supporting Canadian airlines, people who work in the air sector, and travel agents who have been especially hard-hit during this unprecedented and difficult time.”

Says Katherine Cuplinskas, Press Secretary for the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance: “We remain committed to supporting Canadians airlines, people who work in the air sector, and travel agents who have been especially hard-hit during this unprecedented and difficult time.”

Discussions between the airlines and the government to finalize the financial assistance package, first announced back in November 2020, are reportedly now in the home stretch.

Cuplinskas went on to note that since the beginning of the pandemic, the air sector has received more than $1.7 billion in support through CEWS, and that in the Fall Economic Statement, more than $1 billion was committed in support for airports and smaller airlines.

“Any further taxpayer support will prioritize (1) refunding Canadians for cancelled flights; (2) retaining and reinstating regional routes in Canada; and (3) protecting jobs across the air sector. We continue to emphasize this in our ongoing conversations with the airlines. In a country as vast as Canada, it’s essential we maintain connections between people and our communities.

Maintaining a vibrant, competitive Canadian air sector and Canadian airlines is a priority,” says Cuplinskas, reiterating the federal government's messaging since talk of a potential bailout began back on Nov. 8, 2020.

ONE AGENCY OWNER’S 5-POINT PLAN Jamie Milton with Uniglobe Carefree Travel in Saskatoon, SK says there needs to be a multi-pronged approach to be effective and to get the assistance where it needs to go.

Milton adds: “I am heartened by ACTA’s thoughts that a commission protection fund is getting closer to a reality.”

Here’s Milton’s 5-point plan for how best the federal government can help travel agents, especially with the potential bailout …

“Step 1 would be to ensure that any future refunds by airlines and tour operators protected travel agent commissions and that those commissions that were rightfully earned would not be

NEWS recalled,” says Milton.

“Step 2 would be to have a fund where travel agencies and independent consultants would be able to claim for commissions already recalled over the past 12 months. There would need to be criteria set up to ensure that there were checks and balances in place (commission recall notices, proof of commission recall, etc).

“Step 3 would be to offer the 90% CERS (Canada Emergency Rent Subsidy) to all travel agencies. Travel agencies have, effectively, been shut down by the government since March of 2020. With all of the travel restrictions in place, we cannot perform our services and the government is actively asking us NOT to perform our services.”

Milton says that in Saskatchewan, her agency storefront is still open, so she only qualifies for 65% CERS, yet she’s down 95% in sales, just like agencies in Ontario who closed their storefronts. “We all face the same restrictions on our product – we should all qualify for the higher CERS” and it should be backdated to October when the program came out, she notes.

“Step 4 is that the CRB (Canada Recovery Benefit) needs to be continued beyond 26 weeks,” says Milton. “There are travel agents and independent consultants whose time on CRB will be running out in March. The economy and travel restrictions are worse than they were in September when this program was announced. To end the CRB now would mean that many self employed travel consultants or independent travel consultants would be left with ZERO income. They would be ineligible for EI and many are having great difficulty finding alternative work during this time.”

Finally, says Milton, Step 5 is that the CEWS (Canada Emergency Wage Subsidy) needs to be continued at 75% or higher through June 2021 and beyond.

“With travel restrictions in place until the end of April, there is no chance that travel will be ‘back’ and travel agencies will be in a place to support full wages by June,” she says. “The government needs to take all of these factors into account and come up with a well-rounded approach.”

Further assistance is essential, says Milton. “The travel and tourism industry is so critical to a strong economic recovery and the government has invested in supporting us this long. To let us fail now would be a tragedy.”

Tourism Malaysia’s ‘Book Now, Travel Later’ campaign going strong Tourism Malaysia’s ‘Book Now Travel Later, Malaysia Awaits You’ campaign, which kicked off recently in partnership with Canada One Travel, Goway Travel, Royal Scenic Holidays and SITA World Tours, is going strong.

The initiative includes a fun contest for the trade that went live on Travelweek.ca at the start of February and runs through March 21.

‘Book Now Travel Later, Malaysia Awaits You’ also features brand new Malaysian travel deals that extend through 2022, all aimed at inspiring clients into travelling again.

Malaysia positions itself as the cultural hub of Asia for good reason. as a melting-pot of cultures, not just from its own diverse populace, but from all of Asia. Inclusivity and differences are revered and celebrated here.

Spanning Islam, Buddhism, Christianity, Hinduism, Taoism, Sikhism and Catholicism, among many others, Malaysia has created a unique melding of these amazing cultures.

According to the 2020 Global Peace Index, which spans a survey of 163 countries around the world, Malaysia is also ranked as the 20th most peaceful country in the world, the fifth most peaceful country in the Asia Pacific region, and the second most peaceful country in all of Southeast Asia.

Malaysia’s rich history led to two

of its cities, Melaka and George Town, joining the ranks of UNESCO’s ‘World Heritage Cities’ in 2008. The cities offer exceptional examples of multi-cultural trading towns culminating from exchanges between Malay, Chinese and Indian cultures as well as the three different European powers - the Portuguese, Dutch and British - who have all left their legacies on both cities.

Being home to so many cultures also means a celebration of festivals all year round, and Malaysia has a public holiday for each and every one of the country’s main festivals. And with such depth of cultures, Malaysia is also, not surprisingly, a food paradise. Besides Malay, Chinese and Indian cuisine, there are the fusion gastronomical delights that have put Malaysia on the global culinary map.

Top must-try dishes in Malaysia include nasi lemak, which is Malaysia’s national dish, and go-to breakfast for many Malaysians, with a good serving of coconut rice, topped off with a spicy sambal, and garnished with crispy fried anchovies and peanuts, fresh cucumber and topped off with slices of boiled egg. Other top picks include laksa, roti canai and char kway teow.

February 25, 2021 | TRAVELWEEK | 11

NEWS VISIT FLORIDA's launch of the new Wanderlust - Florida docu-series

VISIT FLORIDA launches ‘Wanderlust: Florida’ docu-series with The Weather Network TORONTO — VISIT FLORIDA and The Weather Network, along with partner Air Canada, have launched ‘Wanderlust: Florida’, a brand new 4-part docu-series.

Kicking the series off with an online screening event, VISIT FLORIDA’s President and CEO, Dana Young, said Wanderlust: Florida “shines a light on many of the state’s hidden gems.”

Wanderlust: Florida is airing on The Weather Network over four weeks on Thursdays (10 p.m. EST) with re-airs on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays.

Each instalment is 18 minutes long.

The first episode, on Feb. 18, focused on Florida’s Space Coast. Episode 2 (Feb. 25) highlights the Crystal River and area. Episode 3 (March 4) is all about the Fort Myers & Sanibel area.

And episode 4 (March 11) looks at the Everglades/Keys (out of Ft Lauderdale).

The goal is to get Canadians dreaming of Florida vacations, even if they can’t visit the Sunshine State in person yet.

“Canada is a critical market for us,” said Young, noting that Canada is the state’s number one international market, representing about 25% of its international visitation. In 2019 some 3.6 12 | TRAVELWEEK | February 25, 2021

million Canadians headed to Florida for some fun in the sun, up 2% from 2018.

“Winter in Florida is just not the same without our snowbirds,” she added. “We do miss Canadians very, very much.”

She assured viewers that “travel will come back, and people will travel again, that is a certainty. And we’re working hard to make sure that Florida is at the top of their list.”

Florida Huddle 2021 took place virtually Feb. 8 – 12 with more than 700 participants including buyers, suppliers and, for the first time ever, travel agents, taking part.

“It’s wonderful to have so many travel agents with us,” said Young during Florida Huddle. “The virtual format really lends itself to that. Going forward, if having travel agents join Florida Huddle is successful, and I think it will be, we could continue to have some sort of virtual element, to make sure that agents who can’t be with us in person can take part virtually.”

Florida Huddle 2022 is currently scheduled for Jan. 24 – 26, 2022 at the Tampa Convention Center. VISIT FLORIDA is represented in Canada by VoX International.

More information about the Sunshine State is at VISITFLORIDA.com.

Jamaica Tourist Board launches weddings, romance microsite ‘My Heart Beats JA’ TORONTO — Jamaica has launched a Wedding & Romance microsite as part of its Jamaica Tourist Board (JTB) website.

Appropriately named ‘My Heart Beats JA’, the microsite “is a repository of all things love,” according to the JTB. The microsite has ideas and inspiration for everything from ‘Romantic Getaways’ to ‘Getting Engaged’ to ‘I Do’.

Content across the microsite addresses consumer trends, including more intimate or even private destination weddings.

“My Heart Beats JA is a fulfillment of a promise the Jamaica Tourist Board made to continue to evolve the VisitJamaica platform into an ecosystem of all opportunities for tourism in Jamaica. It gives us a great feeling that we have been able to, not just keep our promise, but more importantly, remain true to the objectives we have set for our digital focus,” said Jamaica’s Director of Tourism, Donovan White, at the COVID-safe launch event for ‘My Heart Beats JA’ at the AC Hotel by Marriott in Kingston.

Jamaica’s Minister of Tourism, Hon. Edmund Bartlett, in his keynote address, said: “Jamaica is a place for love, for lovers, for romance and the romantic. Of the over 700 stopover arrivals to the island from January to November last year, 58% of that number represented visitors travelling for weddings and honeymoon. This tells me that Jamaica is truly the heartbeat of the world as it continues to pull and pique the interest of visitors searching for unique experiences.”

The microsite gives opportunities for all licensed vendors and suppliers within the space to be represented, notes the JTB. Visitors to the site, including agents, can connect live with vendors.

To access the My Heartbeats JA microsite, see www.visitjamaica.com/ weddings-and-honeymoons/.

NEWS

HASCAP loan input needed, says ACTA TORONTO — ACTA is providing feedback and recommendations to the Ministry of Finance to ensure that the HASCAP program, which opened on Feb. 1, is working for travel agencies and that there is ease of access.

ACTA President Wendy Paradis says ACTA is lobbying the government to allow a portion of the HASCAP loan to be forgiven, similar to what was offered with the CEBA program.

ACTA is asking travel agencies to advise ACTA of their experience with applying for the HASCAP loan so that ACTA can follow up directly with the government if there are any roadblocks or issues.

Crystal to require proof of vaccination from all guests MIAMI — Crystal is the latest cruise line to announce proof of vaccination for all guests once operations resume.

The cruise line is now requiring all guests to be fully inoculated with a COVID-19 vaccine at least 14 days prior to their Crystal cruise. Guests will need to provide proof of vaccination before embarkation and must have received both doses of the vaccine if recommended by the manufacturer by that timeline.

In addition, guests must also complete an online form acknowledging this requirement before their cruise tickets will be issued. An FAQ document on the advisory alert section of Crystal’s website has been published for more details.

“We are encouraged by the progress being made with the COVID-19 vaccines and what this means for our Crystal family and the travel industry as a whole as we eagerly look forward to exploring the world again,” said Crystal’s interim president and CEO, Jack Anderson. “We know that peace of mind is the greatest luxury and the vaccine requirement is simply the best way to ensure the safest possible Crystal Experience for all onboard.”

Crystal has voluntarily paused operations through May 2021 for its riv-

er fleet, into June for its ocean ships, through Aug. 1 for Crystal Esprit and through August for Crystal Endeavor, giving most travellers ample time to get fully vaccinated prior to departure.

In addition to guests, Crystal’s crew will also be expected to be vaccinated when cruises resume, however, the company acknowledges that this may not be a viable option for all crew members given their age and/or the availability of vaccines in their home countries.

Crystal is at least the fourth cruise line to mandate proof of vaccination for guests. Britain-based Saga Cruises was the first to announce the requirement in January, followed by sister brands American Queen Steamboat Company (AQSC) and Victory Cruise Lines earlier this month.

Among the larger cruise lines, NCL told Travelweek earlier this month that it is “currently exploring all options” regarding vaccinations for guests and crew, while Carnival Corporation said that it is “closely monitoring the situation” and will make a decision with regard to vaccines as the situation evolves.

CLIA also told Travelweek that it is monitoring vaccine developments and that a “multi-layer” approach, one that includes 100% testing, mask-wearing, physical distancing and other measures, is best to help mitigate risk.

Agencies are asked to advise ACTA of their experience with applying for HASCAP so that ACTA can follow up directly with the government Paradis says ACTA is also preparing to submit its recommendations to Pre-Budget Consultations with the federal government and is asking for extensions of support for the sector.

On Feb. 19 the federal government announced a 12-week extension for CRB. “Travel agencies, travel agents and independent travel agents are unique with sector specific challenges including the recall of commission tied to consumer refunds, and the need to extend the Canada Recovery Benefit (CRB) beyond the current 26 weeks.

CRB should be at minimum 52 weeks, or until 90 days after travel and border restrictions are eased, and the extension should also include those collecting EI Benefits,” said Paradis.

ACTA is hosting a webinar on March 2 (English) and March 4 (French), which will cover the latest updates on advocacy aid, provincial programs and travel industry restart plans. For more details see ACTA.ca.

February 25, 2021 | TRAVELWEEK | 13

NEWS

David Boigné, President of 5Continents

5Continents launches dedicated Le Boat portal for agents TORONTO — 5Continents, an inbound tour specialist, is offering travel agents a section on its website dedicated to Le Boat and its products.

Exclusive to agents, the booking engine is password protected and features boat rentals only. Agents can visit https://5-continents.ca/what-we-doleboat/ for the password.

In business for 50 years, Le Boat offers houseboat vacations in Europe and on Canada’s Rideau Canal. Its fleet of boats has been compared to floating cottages that come with fully-equipped kitchens, private showers and bathrooms, comfortable cabins and a top-deck ‘fun deck.’ No boat licence or previous boating experience is required.

“Canada’s UNESCO World Heritage Rideau Canal is undoubtedly the featured destination of 2021, however we also wanted to start introducing our European destinations offering perfect opportunities to travel to Europe in a 'bubble' when the time is right,” said David Boigné, President of 5Continents.

Boigné added that though Le Boat is an “exceptional” product, it can also be difficult for travel agents to navigate through the mandatory supplements as well as varying pricing options available to clients.

14 | TRAVELWEEK | February 25, 2021

“It sells much easier when packaged with transportation to and from the base and/or with a pre- or post-stay and this is exactly what we are offering travel agents and their clients,” he added. “We are the one-stop shop making the booking experience stress-free.”

Packages are offered offline and include a higher commission. Agents can contact info@5continentsca.com or call 1-866-239-6474 for more details.

Lisa Mclean, Le Boat Sales & Marketing Manager, North America and Latin America, added: “We are extremely happy to see our products being packaged and offered to the travel agent community in a ‘ready to book’ format.”

The boating season in Europe opens as early as March 2021 and in Ontario on May 22, 2021.

Sunwing’s Freedom 21/22 Sale includes up to $1,000 in added value TORONTO — Sunwing is looking ahead to brighter days with its new Early Booking Bonus, featuring exclusive discounts and special perks.

The Freedom 21/22 Sale applies to select vacation packages booked by March 31, 2021, for travel between Nov. 1, 2021 and April 30, 2022, and gives early bookers up to $1,000 in val-

ue per couple when they plan their future getaway.

The Freedom 21/22 sale also includes reduced deposits of $100 per person, complimentary Price Drop Cash Back of up to $800 per couple at select resorts and the ability to change or cancel their plans anytime with ease. Complimentary COVID-19 coverage is also included on all packages for travel between now and Dec. 31, 2021.

Clients looking forward to the freedom of future travel can choose to stay at the brand new Planet Hollywood Beach Resort Cancun, an entertainment-themed resort featuring A-lister amenities. It’s also home to the first-ofits-kind Planet Hollywood Adult Scene Cancun, a resort-within-a-resort for guests aged 18 and over.

According to Sunwing, booking a future vacation ahead of time can result in an instant mood boost. A recent Sunwing survey revealed that 75% of Canadian travellers undergo a spike in excitement the instant they book, proving that the benefits of a vacation start long before a customer gets to the airport.

“Planning a future vacation to a tropical destination provides numerous mental health benefits and positively influences overall wellbeing," says Dr. Nord.

“Almost a year of quarantining and months of gloomy winter weather is starting to take its toll on Canadians,” said Dr. Peter Nord, acting Chief Medical Advisor for Sunwing Travel Group and Chief Medical Officer at Medcan.

“Planning a future vacation to a tropical destination provides numerous mental health benefits and positively influences overall well-being.”

To give Canadians added reassurance, the ‘Safe with Sunwing’ commitment – designed under the advisement of global healthcare leader Medcan – is in place throughout the entire vacation experience and includes the highest health and safety standards.

NEWS

All systems are go for St. Lawrence Cruise Lines in 2021

‘From The Bahamas With Love’ romance expo includes dedicated trade day March 3 TORONTO — The Bahamas is reminding the travel trade to ‘save the date’ for two virtual events - one trade, one consumer - focusing on the destination’s weddings, honeymoon and romance offering.

‘From The Bahamas With Love’, scheduled for Wed. March 3 (trade) and Wed. March 10 (consumer), promises to showcase the wide variety of romance, honeymoon and destination wedding product in The Bahamas.

The expo will bring together industry leaders, partners, hotels, venues and services “for a truly unique and educational experience for trade and consumer participants,” say organizers.

The trade event on March 3 features an afternoon planned specifically for trade professionals, including travel agents and event planners, and takes place 1 - 4 p.m. EST. The trade program includes panel discussions, breakout sessions, workshops and more.

The week after, on March 10, consumers including soon-to-be engaged or recently engaged couples, future

brides and grooms, bachelorette party planners, honeymoon do-over seekers and more are welcome to join in to discover the array of romance product available in The Bahamas. The consumer event takes place 4 - 7 p.m. EST. “The pandemic has caused many couples to postpone or reimagine their romantic getaways over the last year, and the destination wants to ensure future planning is made as seamless as possible in 2021. ‘From the Bahamas With Love’ will feature a diverse series of panel discussions with experts from across all romance industry sectors, along with opportunities to network directly with partners,” say organizers.

“With intimate, secluded cays, unmatched turquoise waters and pinkand white-sand beaches, it's easy to understand why The Bahamas is considered one of the world’s most romantic destinations,” said Joy Jibrilu, Director General of the Bahamas Ministry of Tourism & Aviation. “With so many offerings available, we are thrilled to connect consumers to experts across a number of industries through our virtual romance expo experience to ensure the ease of planning a romantic Bahamian getaway, especially after so many plans were upended this last year.”

For details or to register see bahamas. com/from-the-bahamas-with-love-trade.

KINGSTON — Despite Canada’s newly extended cruise ship ban, Canadians still have a small-ship cruising alternative in 2021 with St. Lawrence Cruise Lines.

The small-ship operator, which sails on the St. Lawrence and Ottawa Rivers, has confirmed operations for 2021, with overnight cruises on both rivers from May 20 to Oct. 24. A variety of cruises ranging from four to seven nights will depart from Kingston, Ottawa and Quebec City, sailing exclusively in domestic waters with stops at select ports in Ontario and Quebec.

On Feb. 4, Canada’s Minister of Transport, Omar Alghabra announced that Canada’s cruise ship ban will be extended until Feb. 28, 2022. This measure, which effectively prohibits cruise vessels carrying more than 100 passengers from operating in Canadian waters, does not impact the smallship operations of St. Lawrence Cruise Lines and its 32-stateroom Canadian Empress.

“We are excited to offer travellers a small ship option for the 2021 season.”

“We are excited to offer travellers a small ship option for the 2021 season,” said President Jason Clark. “Our overnight cruises stay close to shore in Canadian waters and our COVID-19 Health and Safety program has been recognized for its high standards.”

This past December, the cruise line was awarded the Safe Travels Stamp by the Tourism Industry Association of Ontario (TIAO) for adherence to global standards of health and hygiene.

The program includes a wide range of safety measures, including reduced passenger loads, masking, physical distancing and hospital-grade electrostatic disinfecting for both private staterooms and shared spaces. Plus, all staterooms have access to fresh air, climate controls and views of the river.

To view St. Lawrence Cruise Lines’ free travel brochure go to StLawrence CruiseLines.com or call 1-800-267-7868.

February 25, 2021 | TRAVELWEEK | 15

Credit: VisitSurrey

NEWS 12 Contiki x Bridgerton, Painshill Promenade

Contiki launches new ‘Bridgerton’inspired itinerary TORONTO — With ‘Bridgerton’ heating up television screens around the world, Contiki has unveiled a brand new ‘Limited Edition’ trip based on the hit Netflix series.

The proposed four-day mini adventure will visit over 19 areas of the period drama’s filming locations in London, Bath and the surrounding English countryside in summer 2022. The show, which is based on Julia Quinn’s best-selling novels about life in Regency-era London, was just confirmed for a second season.

“Bridgerton has been the perfect binge-worthy show to see us through the lockdown restrictions, not just for its captivating romantic storyline and sumptuous costumes but also for the gorgeous U.K. scenery many Canadians can only dream of visiting right now,” said Sheralyn Berry, president of Contiki Canada. “Contiki’s recent ‘Voice of a Generation’ survey revealed 71% of our millennial and Gen-Z audience is turning to entertainment series such as ‘Emily in Paris’ and ‘Down to Earth’ for future travel inspiration. After receiving overwhelming interest from over 4,000 clients and young travellers across social media, we have good reason to take those dreams and start working towards making it a reality in 2022.”

While in London, guests will enjoy a high tea at the five-star Rubens at the Palace as well as a visit to Greenwich, which was used as the exterior of the Bridgerton family home. They’ll also take a guided tour of central London, including Lancaster House used for Lady Bridgerton’s audience with Queen 16 | TRAVELWEEK | February 25, 2021

Charlotte, and have dinner and drinks at the Viaduct Tavern, London’s last remaining authentic Victorian gin palace.

In Bath, highlights include a city tour featuring Beauford Square (used in the show to recreate Mayfair) and Abbey Street (the location of Madame Delacroix’s dressmaking boutique), and a visit to Holbourne Museum of Art and the Bath Assembly Rooms, both used for scenes in Lady Danbury’s mansion and the ballroom.

Clients looking for a deeper dive into the historical past of the U.K. can opt for the 16-day ‘Great Britain & Ireland’ or the 13-day ‘Scotland & Ireland.’

Bahia Principe Grand Punta Cana reopens its doors PUNTA CANA — Bahia Principe Hotels & Resorts has reopened its third brand property in Punta Cana in response to an increase in travel demand to the destination in the last few months.

Reopening this month is the 756room Bahia Principe Grand Punta Cana, a seaside property that boasts

Bahia Principe Luxury Ambar.

“At Bahia Principe, we take pride in always offering our loyal customers a variety of options to choose from that better matches their wants and needs, and so we are pleased to once again be able to offer this resort to them.” said Lluisa Salord, SVP Global Sales, Contracting & Distribution. “We remain committed to reactivating tourism and helping the local community in Punta Cana, especially past employees that had been part of the Bahia Principe family for years.”

As part of the brand’s Grand category, Bahia Principe Grand Punta Cana offers unlimited Wi-Fi, one hour per day of complimentary kayaking or paddling, and a number of entertainment options suited for all ages, including activities inspired by the local Dominican culture such as dancing Bachata and Spanish lessons.

In addition to on-site offerings, guests have access to the brand’s Las Olas Beach House located within the complex. Opened in late 2019, the beach house is home to several restaurants overlooking the beach and spans a total of 7,400 square metres. The two-storey facility also features two beachfront restaurants that at night convert into themed restaurants – one Mexican and one Rodizio-style – as well as a beach bar and three other themed restaurants (seafood for adults-only, Indian with vegetarian and vegan options, and Mediterranean).

With all its reopened properties, Bahia Principe Hotels & Resorts has implemented rigorous safety and hygiene measures in collaboration with HS Consulting, international consultants specializing in the tourism industry.

These include proper social distancing, increased cleaning and disinfection, health checks, digitalizing experiences and more. Additionally, for guests who

The resort joins family favourite Bahia Principe Fantasia Punta Cana and the adults-only Bahia Principe Luxury Ambar in welcoming back guests to the D.R. two pools, six restaurants, four bars, a disco, children’s water park, the Bahia Spa and much more. The resort joins two other properties in Punta Cana that are now welcoming back guests: the family favourite Bahia Principe Fantasia Punta Cana and the adults-only

require COVID-19 testing for their return flights, Bahia Principe is able to accommodate on site through partnerships with local laboratories and clinics. Guests should contact the front desk upon arrival to schedule their test prior to departure.

NEWS

Ride the Rhythm Do you feel it?

Let’s go!

visitjamaica.com February 25, 2021 | TRAVELWEEK | 17

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