NEWS
AQSC unveils new 2022 Ohio River itineraries
WestJet and ITAC award grants to support Indigenous tourism businesses CALGARY — WestJet is doing its part to support Canada’s Indigenous community through a grant program launched in collaboration with the Indigenous Tourism Association of Canada (ITAC). Together, the airline and ITAC will provide a total of nine grants valued at $10,000 each to Indigenous tourism businesses across Canada that have been devastated by the shutdown of the tourism industry due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The recipients of these grants were given the news in March 2021 and their reactions were captured in a new WestJet/ITAC video, which can be viewed WestJet’s YouTube channel. Recipients will be spotlighted on WestJet’s social channels and its newsroom over the next year.
“The situation facing the travel and tourism industry overall has been devastating.” “We are pleased to be able to support these Indigenous businesses as they work their way to recovery,” said Angela Avery, WestJet Executive Vice President. “WestJet is a proud partner of ITAC and is committed to advancing reconciliation by growing opportunities for indigenous entrepreneurs and sharing with the global travel industry the importance of Indigenous tourism, a unique, important and developing sector of Canadian tourism.” The grants were originally earmarked through the WestJet/ITAC strategic national partnership, which was signed in November 2019 as a three20 | TRAVELWEEK | June 3, 2021
year commitment that outlines how the airline will foster opportunities for Indigenous tourism by showcasing Indigenous People’s culture and history and bringing global audiences to take part in Indigenous tourism experiences. This summer, WestJet and ITAC are encouraging Canadians to support local tourism organizations, including local Indigenous tourism businesses from coast to coast to coast, while following all public health and safety guidelines. Destination Canada has stated that if Canadians shift two-thirds of their planned spend on international leisure travel towards domestic tourism, it will make up for the estimated $19 billion shortfall currently facing our visitor economy and will help sustain 150,000 jobs while accelerating recovery by one year. “The situation facing the travel and tourism industry overall has been devastating,“ continued Avery. “We encourage Canadians to support Indigenous businesses in their communities and across the country when it is safe to do so.” Recipients of the 2020/2021 WestJet/ ITAC grants are: • Feast Café Bistro: Winnipeg, Manitoba • Moonstone Creation: Calgary, Alberta • Talaysay Tours: Vancouver, British Columbia • Moccasin Trails: Kamloops, British Columbia • Indigenous World Winery: Kelowna, British Columbia • North Star Adventures: Yellowknife, Northwest Territories • Aurora Village: Yellowknife, Northwest Territories • Indigenous Experiences: Gatineau, Quebec • Miqmak Catering Indigenous Kitchen: Roxboro, Quebec For more information about indigenous experiences across the country visit www.DestinationIndigenous.ca.
NEW ALBANY — For the first time in its history, American Queen Steamboat Company will be operating a full season in the U.S. Midwest, with 30 Ohio River sailings scheduled to sail in 2022. As the only overnight operator on the Ohio River, and in response to increased demand for less-travelled routes, the American Queen, American Duchess and the new American Countess will sail through the U.S. heartland, from Kentucky to Ohio to Pennsylvania. Plus, with the Spring Sale, guests can save up to US$2,000 per stateroom on select 2022 sailings, including Ohio River itineraries, when booked by June 30, 2021 using the code ‘SPRING.’ Fares start at US$1,799 per person, plus port fees, taxes and gratuities. AQSC resumed operations in March 2021 with enhanced health and safety policies including, but not limited to, pre-cruise COVID-19 testing of all guests and crew and a mask mandate in all public areas where social distancing is not possible. Its COVID-19 vaccination mandate for all guests and crew will go into effect for all sailings beginning July 1, 2021. Here is a sampling of AQSC’s 2022 itineraries featuring the Ohio River: LOUISVILLE TO PITTSBURGH (OR REVERSE) The nine-day ‘Ohio River Exploration’ sailing includes visits to Heinze History Center and the Duquesne Incline, the Ohio River Museum in Marietta, Ohio and the oldest commercial estate winery in America at the Baker-Bird Winery in Augusta, Ky. Ports of call on ‘Ohio River Exploration’ include: Pittsburgh, Pa.; Wheeling, W.Va.; Marietta, Ohio; Huntington, W.Va.; Augusta, Ky.; Cincinnati; Madison, Ind.; and Louisville, Ky. MEMPHIS TO LOUISVILLE (OR REVERSE) This nine-day sailing takes guests along the Ohio River with ports of call that include Louisville, Ky.; Brandenburg, Ky.; Owensboro, Ky.; Henderson, Ky.; Columbus, Ky.; and Memphis, Tn. Highlights include a visit to Paducah, Ky., a UNESCO Creative City of Crafts and Folk Art, and an option to visit the Abraham Lincoln Birthplace National Historic Park, tour the Lincoln Museum and explore Fort Knox in Brandenburg, Ky.
