Travelweek - June 17th, 2021

Canada’s Travel Trade News June 17, 2021 travelweek.ca

Europe Bound Amsterdam and Rome flights coming this summer with WestJet and Air Canada pgs. 11&17

Frustrations mount over Ontario grant applications

6

9

Air Canada extends COVID refund deadline Carnival & Royal Caribbean back in U.S. waters

3

12

10

THIS ISN'T YOUR ORDINARY BEACH.

FALKLAND ISLANDS & SOUTH GEORGIA. You’ve heard about the snow-capped mountains, expansive glaciers and sculpted icebergs of the Antarctic—but did you know about the windswept beaches where few humans have ever set foot?

Imagine shorelines teeming not with crowds of sunbathing people but with incredible wildlife as far as the eye can see.

Join Quark Expeditions on a journey to Antarctica, Falklands and South Georgia for an unforgettable polar adventure that surpasses all expectations. Visit the sandy beaches of the sub-Antarctic islands of the Falkland Islands and South Georgia, where you’ll encounter thousands of curious king penguins and lounging elephant seals, not to mention great albatrosses soaring overhead. Then, sail further south to explore the rugged shoreline of the Antarctic Peninsula.

The most remote beaches on Earth await you.

MULTIPLE DEPARTURES FOR 2021, 2022 & 2023 Contact your travel professional today.

TOP NEWS

“It was very frustrating”: Agents react to application for Ontario’s tourism grant TORONTO — When news first broke about Ontario’s new Tourism & Travel Small Business Support Grant, Marianne Vogel was excited, knowing that the one-time payment would help pay her bills following 16 months of seeing no income at all.

But Vogel, based in Dundas, Ontario and owner of Just for You Travel & Consulting, hit a roadblock fairly early on in the application process, turning her initial excitement into major skepticism.

“The website was extremely difficult to manoeuvre and I ended up calling on the phone because the site was forever down,” she tells Travelweek. “The website also did not want to accept my CRA business number so I called CRA and the grant people there said the CRA and the grant program were not gelling well and that it had a glitch. It was very frustrating.”

Vogel’s experience is not unique.

Travelweek heard from several travel agents who came across similar complications when applying for the grant, first announced on May 14 by Lisa MacLeod, Minister of Heritage, Sport, Tourism and Culture Industries.

Launched to support struggling small tourism and travel businesses that have been hit hard by the pandemic, the grant would essentially provide one-time payments of $10,000 to $20,000 at a time when these businesses need it the most. To be eligible, businesses must apply by June 25, have fewer than 100 employees and prove a minimum 20% revenue drop between 2019 and 2020.

Vogel, who lost 90% of her 2020 income due to commission recalls, was approved immediately after she eventually figured out how to apply, but was told her payment would take a full four weeks to be delivered. Already skeptical, she felt even more jittery when she was questioned about how she would use the money.

“They threatened to take it back, said we could be disqualified at any time and have to refund it, which is scary. They questioned me on what I am doing with [the money] and why I feel I deserve it, so I am leery to spend too much of it in case I have to pay it back,” she says.

On the cover: Amsterdam

By Cindy Sosroutomo

Though her application experience was less than perfect, Vogel did achieve the end goal of approval, which is more than what can be said for Judith Coates, an advisor with The Travel Agent Next Door in Orillia, Ontario and co-founder of the Association of Canadian Independent Travel Advisors (ACITA). Coates, who was “elated” at first about the grant, especially after

“They questioned me on what I am doing with [the money] and why I feel I deserve it, so I am leery to spend too much of it in case I have to pay it back.” learning that travel agents had been disqualified from the previous Ontario Small Business Grant, got all the way to the end of the application process only to later discover when checking her status that it had been denied.

“I got an email two weeks later telling me that my application had been denied but there was no reason given,” she tells Travelweek.

Though she remains in the dark as to why her application wasn’t approved, Coates does highlight two potential stumbling blocks other Independent Travel Advisors may come across when applying. The first is a business account requirement, which she says many Independents don’t have (“we don’t receive funds from customers or pay funds out to suppliers, our host agencies do that so there really is no need for one”), and the second is a TICO Registration number, which for Independent Travel Advisors belongs to their host agency. This means that only one Independent Travel Advisor at one host agency can apply for the grant.

“When I applied, it accepted the TICO number I provided, which belongs to my host agency and is the number I am required to put on all my marketing material, in compliance with TICO regulations. But many other advisors got stopped at that point in the application, getting the message that the TICO number had already been used so they weren’t able to continue,” says Coates.

“I don’t think the Ontario government realized that we don’t have our own individual TICO number. I don’t think they did it on purpose, it was just an oversight in their planning.”

This doesn’t mean, however, that applicants are out of luck or should give June 17, 2021 | TRAVELWEEK | 3

TOP NEWS up at this point in the application process. As Coates notes, for one thing, it gives Independent Travel Advisors the incentive to get a business account if they don’t already have one.

“Because we are a small business, my belief is we should have a business account and that the commissions we earn should go into that and then we pay ourselves into our personal account – that just makes business sense to me. We operate as a business so we should have a business account,” she says, adding that a basic business account costs approximately $6/month and is considered a business expense.

As for the TICO number, Coates says Independent Travel Advisors can get around this requirement by using the

“According to Minister MacLeod, the government has not received many applications for the grant.

This is really telling.” certificate number that was given to them when passing the TICO exam.

But the onus to get around this “glitch” should be on the Ontario government, she adds, which should be fairly easy to do considering TICO is a government agency and that it has an up-to-date list of all Independent Travel Advisors in Ontario.

“Every host agency has to supply a list annually to TICO of all the Independent Travel Advisors that are covered under their TICO licence and that list is updated annually,” says Coates.

“The government can just go to TICO and ask for the list, then check all the agents against that list.”

Still, Coates and her team at ACITA are doing what they can to highlight the issue and alert the government on how Independent Travel Advisors are falling through the cracks. ACITA is urging all its members to request a meeting with their MPP and has also launched a letter writing campaign addressed to the TRAVELWEEK

various Ministers responsible for the grant ahead of the June 25 deadline.

“We’ve got a few indications that they’ll try to do something but nothing’s really happened,” said Coates. “I feel they probably will extend the deadline because according to Minister MacLeod, who recently spoke at a town hall meeting, the government has not received many applications for the grant. This is really telling and I think that’s a direct result of Independent Travel Advisors not being able to get through.”

With the deadline fast approaching, ACTA is also lending its voice to advocacy efforts. Wendy Paradis, President, tells Travelweek that the organization has been actively advocating for a deadline extension to accommodate independent travel agent businesses but that the response from both the Ministry of Heritage, Sport, Tourism and Culture Industries as well as the Ministry of Finance has thus far been to direct travel agents to federal government support programs like the CRB (Canada Recovery Benefit), CERS (Canada Emergency Rent Subsidy), CEWS (Canada Emergency Wage Subsidy) and the CEBA (Canada Emergency Rent Subsidy).

“The advice from the Ontario government is a sign that they do not understand our situation,” says Paradis.

“Independent Travel Advisors are primarily sole proprietors that are not eligible for CEWS or CERS, and while the majority are collecting CRB, the amount of $450/week will be declining significantly to $300/week by mid-July, making it extremely difficult for them to pay for mandatory fixed expenses.”

Like ACITA, ACTA is encouraging Independent Travel Advisors to contact their local MPP to discuss their ineligibility, as well as call the grant helpline at 1-855-216-3090 to let the government know they are being denied due to the TICO Registration number requirement.

Calling the helpline is particularly important, adds Coates, who says that she recently heard from the director of the call centre who confirmed that most incoming calls have been from

130 Queens Quay East, Suite 512, Toronto, Ontario M5A 0P6 Tel: 416.365.1500 Fax: 416.365.1504 Toll-free: 1.855.392.8820 Web: www.travelweek.ca

SUBSCRIPTION RATES (PER YEAR)

Canada: $85 Canadian + $4.25 GST per year United States & International: $100 US per year

Judith Coates

Independent Travel Advisors saying they’re unable to apply.

“Calling has been really effective because we’re at least making them aware of the problem,” says Coates, adding that the need for the grant is dire for many of her peers. “For the past 15 months, I and most other Independent Travel Advisors have been barely existing on the CRB, which was designed to help put food on our table and a roof over our heads. When it becomes reduced in July, this will leave us stranded.

“The majority of our revenue comes in the form of commissions from our travel suppliers, which they pay when the client’s travel takes place. And since no travel is taking place – or will – until late 2021 and 2022, it will be 5-11 months from when travel restrictions are lifted until we start earning revenue again. It will basically be like starting from scratch again.

“If we can get the grant it’ll be a great thing – it’s just a matter of will they make it accessible to us.”

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

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

SOCIAL MEDIA

For circulation inquiries please email circulation@travelweek.ca

4 | TRAVELWEEK | June 17, 2021

Europe invites the curious

I am

#Naturally Curious

I am

#Creatively Curious

I am

#Historically Curious

TOP NEWS

“You become the authority”: Here's what Bruce Poon Tip is saying about selling travel in these next few months

by Kathryn Folliott TORONTO — G Adventures has more than 70 trips taking place in June, and 165 trips on the schedule for July. And that's on top of 100+ trips that have already run since April.

Those numbers are positive in their own right, but what really got G Adventures founder Bruce Poon Tip celebrating at the company's Special Agent G trade conference on June 10 was the recent announcement from the federal government about eased quarantine restrictions. Poon Tip even busted out Kool and the Gang's 1980s hit 'Celebration' to mark the occasion – and no doubt travel agents watching the online event were celebrating right along with him.

Along with the eased quarantine news, Poon Tip talked about everything from the importance of proof of vaccination (“don't call it a vaccine passport”), to the crucial role of travel agents especially as travel restarts, to rapidly tightening global travel inventory, during a Q&A session at the event, hosted by Kris Martinez, Mayor of G Adventures.

“THE OTAS ARE AT A DISADVANTAGE” Everyone knows that the role of the travel agent will become even more important as travellers look for guidance post-pandemic. Poon Tip spelled out his take on why.

“You have an opportunity to be a source of information for your clients, and transcend your product,” Poon Tip told agents. “If you have a business, you're always trying to create a dialogue and a relationship with your customers, that isn't just about selling them stuff. When you're selling product to your clients all the time, that's not a meaningful relationship. And that's why this is a rare opportunity. Travellers are nervous and we have to get people comfortable again, with travel, with getting on a plane again. This is the perfect opportunity to engage your clients in conversations around that.

You become the authority. Be a source of confidence, and information.”

Expert advice, the kind that comes from a real, live travel agent, is something 6 | TRAVELWEEK | June 17, 2021

G Adventures' Bruce Poon Top

the online travel agencies (OTAs) just can't match right now, adds Poon Tip. And expert advice is exactly what travellers are looking for for post-pandemic travel.

“All this complaining the travel industry has done for so long, about OTAs stealing business, going direct ... this is the perfect opportunity for travel agents to engage customers with in-

“The airlines are desperate to get people to travel again and booking flights now is a lot cheaper than it's going to be once they have a reasonable amount of traffic.” formation and create a conversation.

You know people who are starting to travel to destinations that are opening faster, you become an authority, and you give people that confidence. And having those conversations suddenly becomes a valuable source of connectedness that you have with your customers. You can't get that from an OTA right now. So the OTAs are at a disadvantage.”

“DROPPING THE QUARANTINE SHOULD HAVE BEEN DONE A LONG TIME AGO” One agent asked Poon Tip for his take on where the Canadian travel industry is at this point in the pandemic.

While the eased quarantine announcement last week was good news, Canada is still lagging behind the U.S. and Europe when it comes to reopening travel.

“We're a bit behind. They're opening up in the U.S. ... we don't have the amount of double vaccinated people [as they do in the U.S.], we had a strategy of getting single vaccinations. You can complain about the execution of how this format has gone ... it's put us back a bit but I do think we're placed very well, if our government cooperates. I am constantly talking with groups of different CEOs from different industries and leaders within Canada, trying to communicate with governments about what we need to do. Dropping this quarantine is something that should have been done a long time ago.”

Poon Tip added: “The government seems to have no urgency, I think that's our biggest problem. I think we actually stand to fare well as a country.

Everyone wants to come to Canada, that's for sure. I hear from all the operators all over Europe, I got calls literally for this morning. It's going to be people

TOP NEWS that are vaccinated and I think it's going to depend a lot on other countries opening their borders to double vaccinated or fully vaccinated people.”

“DON’T CALL THEM VACCINE PASSPORTS” Speaking of vaccinations, Poon Tip urged agents to drop the 'vaccine passport' term, and use 'proof of vaccination' instead: “Stop using this term 'vaccine passports'. It's a lightning rod, it's a politicized term. Everyone in the travel industry knows we've had proof of vaccination since the dawn of travel ... proof of vaccination has existed since [mass air] travel started in the 1950s. People are trying to make it something it's not.”

As many in the industry have noted over these past 15 months, the 'yellow book' showing proof of vaccination for yellow fever has been in use for decades. Proof of vaccination is needed in schools too: “If your child hasn't had their vaccinations, they can't go to school,” noted Poon Tip. “Proof of vaccination will be a very important part of restarting travel.”

Credit: G Adventures

“BOOK NOW – THERE’S LIMITED SPACE EVERYWHERE” Poon Tip was also asked why agents should tell their clients to book travel product now for getaways in later 2021 and into 2022. Especially with travel on the radar for consumers in the U.S. and Europe, inventory is getting snapped up at a fast pace, a situation most Canadians are probably unaware of.

“At G Adventures we're starting to see bookings return as more people get vaccinated,” he says. “Why should customers book now? There're a few reasons. The first one is, there's limited space everywhere. There’s going to be a tipping point and I think it’s going to

move very fast. I don't think it's going to drip, drip, drip like it has been up until now, I think there will be a tipping point where we're going to hit those herd immunity numbers in certain countries and, you know, we're going to have 70% of people fully vaccinated and travel is going to open, and you want to make sure you have space. That's number one.

The second reason to get clients to book? The deals. “There's lots of deals, there are deals, deals, deals, and we're offering deals too.”

Those deals aren't just with tour operators like G Adventures, says Poon Tip. “The third reason is airlines. The airlines are desperate right now to get people to travel again and booking flights now is a lot cheaper than it's going to be once they have a reasonable amount of traffic and they're trying to get more planes up in the air.”

The flexibility on offer right now is also unheard of, he added: “We're all offering unheralded flexibility that we've never offered before.”

Finally, there's the need to support the travel industry. Says Poon Tip: “The last one, and the most important one, and the more compassionate one, is to support the travel industry. I mean, we love travel. And it's not just about agents or operators or airlines. It's all those people on the ground who need to need to start planning their lives ... a lot of them are hanging on by a thread waiting for people to travel again. I got letters from people saying, 'I'm putting a deposit down, I'm not even choosing a trip, I'm putting a deposit down to support you guys'. It was unbelievable how many people wanted to do just that, just to put a deposit down to support the industry.”

Ccaccaccollo Women’s Weaving Co-op, Peru’s Sacred Valley

Air Canada’s summer 2021 schedule includes 50 airports and 3 new routes MONTREAL — Air Canada will serve 50 Canadian airports this summer, and is set to offer three new routes, as it sharpens its focus on domestic travel for this second COVID summer travel season.

The company says its domestic peak summer schedule will begin at the end of June, and has been developed to advance the country's economic recovery and support Canada's tourism and hospitality enterprises during the high season.

The three new routes are: • Montreal - Deer Lake (daily starting July 1) • Montreal - Kelowna (starting June 26 and operating three times weekly in July and four times weekly in August) • Montreal - Saskatoon - Regina (daily starting Aug. 1) The three new routes complement Air Canada’s extensive schedule of re-established routes plus Air Canada Signature Class and Premium Economy Class cabins on select transcontinental routes.

Air Canada's revised refund policy, announced in April 2021, provides customers an option for a refund to the original form of payment in instances where Air Canada cancels their flight or reschedules the departure time by more than three hours, irrespective of the reason. Air Canada customers also have the option of accepting an Air Canada Travel Voucher or Aeroplan points with a 65% bonus. Normal fare rules will apply when customers make voluntary changes to non-affected flights.

Air Canada is also providing connectivity to five additional regional communities through interline agreements with third party regional carriers: Wabush, Baie Comeau, Gaspe, Mont Joli, and Val d'Or. The airline notes that its summer 2021 schedule may be adjusted as required based on the COVID-19 trajectory and government restrictions.

June 17, 2021 | TRAVELWEEK | 7

WORLD NEWS

DESTINATIONS

CRUISE LINES

This month the Mexican Caribbean is celebrating one year of reopening to tourism following the start of the COVID-19 pandemic. In June 2020, Cancun International Airport registered only 32 operations, 16 of which were arrivals, 12 national and 4 international. A year later, there have been a record 470 operations, of which 235 were arrivals, 82 national and 153 international. In May 2020, hotel occupancy saw an average 2.5% in the Riviera Maya and 5.69% in Cancun and Puerto Morelos Hotel Zone. In May 2021, Riviera Maya reported an average 53.3% hotel occupancy while Cancun, Puerto Morelos and Isla Mujeres saw an average of 58%. The Mexican Caribbean’s Clean & Safe Check Certification, developed by the Quintana Roo Tourism Secretariat, allowed tourism companies to adopt comprehensive health and hygiene protocols for their safe reopening in June 2020.

All five ships in the Regent Seven Seas Cruises fleet are on their way back. The cruise line says it intends to preserve already published itineraries as much as possible, beginning with Seven Seas Explorer on October 16, 2021, from Venice, as the ship takes over five of Seven Seas Mariner's published cruises, with Mariner going into a technical drydock. Seven Seas Mariner will resume sailing December 18, 2021, from Miami, as will Seven Seas Navigator on January 6, 2022. Finally, Seven Seas Voyager will return on February 15, 2022from Barcelona. As part of the return to sail plan, 17 new sailings in Europe and the Caribbean have been created for Seven Seas Explorer and Seven Seas Voyager, which can be viewed at RSSC.com/Regent-returns, and are scheduled to go on sale in June 2021. Meanwhile the cruise line has canceled all sailings up to each ship's respective restart date. “We are incredibly excited that all five of our ships will be back on the ocean by early 2022, the year of our 30th anniversary,” said Jason Montague, president and chief executive officer, Regent Seven Seas Cruises. “The World’s Most Luxurious Fleet is ready to return, and our crew will be there eagerly waiting to welcome all our guests back onboard once again.”

The dates for this year’s Tianguis Turístico Mexico have been moved up by a few days following feedback from the private sector and international tourism industry. Previously announced for Nov. 21-24, Mexico’s largest tourism event is now scheduled for Nov. 16-19. The location remains the same, in Mérida, Yucatán. According to Miguel Torruco Marqués, Mexico’s Secretary of Tourism, and Mauricio Vila Dosal, Governor of Yucatán, the dates were moved following requests from wholesale agencies, hosted and international buyers – especially those from the U.S. – to have the “best edition” of Tianguis. The new dates will also allow for antigen testing, vaccinations and the latest bio-sanitary measures to be implemented.

Turkey has updated its entry rules to allow vaccinated travellers arriving by air from select countries, including Canada, to enter without having to take a PCR test and undergoing quarantine. The new rules, which went into effect on June 1, state that passengers from certain countries who submitted a document issued by their respective country’s official authorities showing that they had been vaccinated at least 14 days before their arrival in Turkey and/or that they have recovered from COVID-19 in the last six months, are not requested to submit a PCR test and quarantine. If this cannot be provided, submission of a negative PCR test taken up to 72 hours before arrival in Turkey, or a negative rapid antigen test taken up to 48 before arrival in Turkey, is deemed sufficient. The Turkey Entry Form, available on Turkish Airlines’ website, must still be completed within 72 hours prior to their flight.

8 | TRAVELWEEK | June 17, 2021

Silversea, which was the first cruise line to return to global ultra-luxury cruising with voyages in Greece and the Galápagos starting June 2021, has announced new summer voyages in Alaska and Iceland, starting in July 2021. Silver Muse will resume roundtrip sailings from Seattle on July 29.

The Alaska sailings have been added to Silversea's website.

Meanwhile Silver Shadow will circumnavigate Iceland with the launch of new all-Icelandic itineraries, returning to Northern Europe with three 10-day voyages from Reykjavik, beginning July 30. Passengers who book before Aug. 31, 2021, will be able to cancel their cruise up to 30 days prior to departure for all voyages (except World Cruises) until April 30, 2022, without penalties when selecting an FCC. All guests and crew will be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 before embarking Silver Muse in Alaska and Silver Shadow in Iceland.

TOURISM The UNWTO says that the latest stats from its Confidence Index show a slow but definite uptick in travel confidence, however tourism experts point to the continued imposition of travel restrictions and the lack of coordination in travel and health protocols as the main obstacle to the sector’s rebound. International tourist arrivals were down 83% in the first quarter of 2021 as widespread travel restrictions remained in place, according to the stats. Meanwhile the latest survey of the UNWTO Panel of Tourism Experts shows prospects for the May-August period improving slightly due to the pace of the vaccination rollout in key source markets as well as restart policies, in particular, the EU Digital Green Certificate. Three in five (60%) of the UNWTO's tourism experts say they expect a rebound in international tourism only in 2022, up from 50% in the January 2021 survey.

NEWS Beth Potter, President and CEO of TIAC

“We need a plan, and we need it now,” urge Roundtable industry leaders OTTAWA — Saying “times have changed since March of 2020”, the industry leaders that make up the Canadian Travel & Tourism Roundtable urged the federal government during a June 14 press conference to act now to save the Canadian travel and tourism industry, while highlighting the grave impact the 15-months and counting travel restrictions and advisories are having on Canadian businesses and the economy.

Perrin Beatty, President and CEO of the Canadian Chamber of Commerce, was joined by industry leaders and members of the Roundtable including the Tourism Industry Association of Canada (TIAC), the Hotel Association of Canada (HAC), the National Airlines Council of Canada (NACC) and the Canadian Airports Council (CAC).

“We call this press conference today to underscore the dire situation facing the Canadian travel and tourism industry and to call on the federal government to take concrete steps to prevent permanent damage to the sector, by providing a clear and comprehensive plan for safely reopening our country,” said Beatty.

“Canada remains a clear outlier among our G7 peers” with its lack of plan for restarting travel, he said.

“Canada needs a plan of its own and it needs it now.”

“Canadians deserve clarity on what life after the pandemic will look like and how we will get there,” he added.

The Roundtable is calling on the

government to take three immediate steps.

“First, we need a comprehensive national plan for the reopening of our economy. Second, Canadians have a right to know the criteria for reopening the Canada-U.S. border. We understand that Prime Minister Trudeau and President Biden discussed this issue on the margins of the G7. But we've seen no plan. We have no idea what the government's intentions are, for when the current closure expires, a week from today. And third, we need a clear vaccination certification process to speed reopening and to support the recovery of the Canadian economy,” he said.

Beatty added that these measures are important not just for the survival of the travel and tourism industry, they're also essential for the people that the sector serves: Canadian businesses and the Canadian economy.

“Canadians have done their part by getting vaccinated. Now's the time to provide clear, timely and safe guidance on reopening travel Canadians and Canadian businesses don't want to be left behind,” said Beatty. “We need lead time. It's not like throwing a light switch. We need clarity.”

He added that the federal government's June 9 update about eased quarantine restrictions, including the elimination of the hotel quarantine effective some time in early July was a “small announcement” that, while welcome, lacked concrete details including how families with double-vaccinated adults but unvaccinated kids should approach travel plans.

Also speaking at the conference, Beth Potter, President and CEO of TIAC, repeated the simple but urgent message: “We need a plan, and we need it now.”

She noted that if the summer 2021

isn't saved, on the heels of 15 months of travel lockdown, up to 75% of small and medium sized travel and tourism businesses in Canada may fail.

“Recovery may be years away,” she said, adding that the federal and provincial governments must work to ensure that there's not a patchwork of 13 different travel policies from the 13 provinces and territories, something that would be “unnecessary and cumbersome.”

The Roundtable's message came on the same day the Montreal Canadiens face off against Vegas Golden Knights in Las Vegas for the first game of the semi-finals in the Stanley Cup playoffs.

“If there can be a plan for NHL teams, why can't there be a plan for the rest of Canadians?” said Potter.

Air Canada extends COVID refund deadline to July 12, 2021 MONTREAL — Air Canada has extended its COVID refund deadline to July 12, 2021.

The policy allows eligible customers who purchased a non-refundable ticket before April 13, 2021 for travel on or after Feb. 1, 2020, but who did not fly for any reason, to submit their request for a refund online or with their travel agent.

Air Canada's original refund deadline, June 12, was announced in midApril when the company outlined its financial assistance package from the federal government.

The company says that since April 13, 2021, about 40% of eligible customers have requested a refund, and 92% of submitted requests have been processed.

"The number of customers who have requested a refund is lower than anticipated and most have kept their travel credit, Air Canada Travel Voucher or Aeroplan points, which we are pleased to see as it is an indication they plan on travelling in the future. We also take this as a vote of confidence from our customers that they intend to fly with us on their next trip, and we are looking forward to welcoming them back onboard," said Lucie Guillemette, Air Canada's Executive Vice-President and Chief Commercial Officer.

Guillemette adds: “For customers June 17, 2021 | TRAVELWEEK | 9

NEWS who want a refund, our employees have been working very hard to process requests as quickly as possible and will continue to do so, including in collaboration with our travel agency partners. We have in place an easy online refund process and we have also reached out to customers directly to advise them of their options. Still, given only approximately 40% of eligible customers have requested a refund, we are extending the initial deadline for requests."

The COVID-19 refund policy covers tickets and Air Canada Vacations packages purchased for flights cancelled either by the airline or by the customer for any reason was initially due to expire June 12, 2021.

As of April 13, 2021, the day on which the COVID-19 refund policy came into effect, Air Canada had a total of 1.8 million of its customer bookings eligible for a refund.

Air Canada customers also have the option of accepting a fully transferrable Air Canada Travel Voucher (ACTV) with no expiry date or converting the value of their ticket to Aeroplan points with a 65% bonus.

Customers who have already accepted an ACTV or Aeroplan points also have the option to exchange these for a refund to the original form of payment, including for the unused portion of any ACTV issued or in cases where a partial refund was provided.

Customers can request a refund online at aircanada.com/refund until July 12, 2021. The policy also applies to Air Canada Vacations packages. Customers who booked through a travel agency are asked to contact their agent directly. As Air Canada notes: “In support of its travel agency partners, Air Canada is not recalling agency sales commissions on refunded tickets that they process.”

As for the airline's future travel policy, Air Canada's new refund policy of offering customers options of refunds, an Air Canada Travel Voucher or equivalent value in Aeroplan Points with a 65% bonus should the airline cancel or reschedule a flight by more than three hours, is applicable to all tickets purchased.

In other news, Air Canada says it will recall more than 2,600 employees as it prepares for an increase in demand for flights.

10 | TRAVELWEEK | June 17, 2021

Royal Caribbean's Adventure of the Seas

Carnival & Royal Caribbean announce U.S. comeback in July MIAMI — After more than a year’s pause in U.S. waters, Carnival Cruise Line and Royal Caribbean have at long last announced their return to service from U.S. ports starting next month.

The news follows Royal Caribbean’s previously announced plans to resume sailings from the Caribbean in June, as well as to Alaska from Seattle in July and August. Carnival Cruise Line, meanwhile, announced last week that it had been granted CDC approval for its port agreements for PortMiami, Port of Galveston and Port Canaveral.

The new Odyssey of the Seas will set sail from Fort Lauderdale on new Caribbean cruises, soon to be followed by Allure, Symphony, Independence and Mariner of the Seas.

CARNIVAL CRUISE LINE Carnival Cruise Line plans to return to guest operations from Port of Galveston on July 3 with Carnival Vista, followed by the return of operations on Carnival Breeze on July 15.

These cruises are available to guests who have received their final dose of a CDC-approved COVID-19 vaccine at least 14 days prior to the start of the cruise and have proof of vaccination, in accordance with CDC guidelines.

The other ship and port identified for a July restart is Carnival Horizon from PortMiami.

Carnival will be advising guests and travel advisors about its plans for August sailings in the coming days.

ROYAL CARIBBEAN Royal Caribbean has confirmed that six of its ships will begin sailing from major U.S. cruise ports in Florida and Texas in July and August. The line’s comeback will kick off on July 2 in Miami with Freedom of the Seas embarking on a special Fourth of July weekend sailing to Perfect Day at CocoCay. By the end of August, 12 Royal Caribbean ships will once again cruise across The Bahamas, Caribbean, Alaska and Europe.

On the heels of its return to the U.S. will be the debut of the brand new Odyssey of the Seas on July 3. The ship will set sail from Fort Lauderdale on new six- and eight-night Caribbean cruises, soon to be followed by Allure, Symphony, Independence and Mariner of the Seas. In the coming weeks, Royal Caribbean will announce plans to reintroduce its full fleet around the world by year’s end.

The 2021 summer cruises are now available to book. The full summer lineup is as follows: • Freedom of the Seas: 3- and 4-night Bahamas and Perfect Day at CocoCay sailings from Miami, starting July 2 • Odyssey of the Seas: 6- and 8-night Southern and Western Caribbean cruises from Fort Lauderdale, starting July 3 • Serenade of the Seas: 7-night Alaska sailings from Seattle, starting July 19 • Allure of the Seas: 7-night Eastern and Western Caribbean itineraries from Port Canaveral, starting Aug. 8 • Ovation of the Seas: 7-night Alaska itin-

NEWS eraries from Seattle, starting Aug. 13 • Symphony of the Seas: 7-night Eastern and Western Caribbean sailings from Miami, starting Aug. 14 • Independence of the Seas: 7-night Western Caribbean sailings from Galveston, Texas, starting Aug. 15 • Mariner of the Seas: 3- and 4-night Bahamas and Perfect Day at CocoCay sailings from Port Canaveral, starting Aug. 23 Travellers and travel agents should take note that Freedom, Odyssey, and Independence of the Seas’ 2021 summer sailings are that of existing itineraries for the following ships: Navigator, Independence, Explorer and Liberty of the Seas, respectively. Guests booked on these ships will be automatically transferred to the new ship.

The expanded summer lineup will go beyond the U.S. to include international ports across the Atlantic, like Barcelona and Rome, when Harmony of the Seas returns to Europe. Starting Aug. 15, the Oasis Class ship will set sail on 7-night itineraries to the Western Mediterranean and visit destinations like Palma de Mallorca, Spain and Provence, France.

The new U.S. and Europe cruises extend Royal Caribbean’s previously announced plans to return to sailing, which include Adventure of the Seas departing from The Bahamas on June 12 as well as Anthem of the Seas out of the U.K. and Jewel of the Seas from Cyprus in July. The complete list of Royal Caribbean’s 2021 cruises is available here.

While crew members will be required to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19, Royal Caribbean is strongly recommending the same for guests, if they are eligible for a vaccine. Those who are unvaccinated or unable to verify vaccination will be required to undergo testing and follow other protocols, which will be announced at a later date. Other measures in place in order to cruise with Royal Caribbean include: • Guests sailing to Alaska who are 16 years of age or older must be fully vaccinated against COVID-19, and those 12 or older as of Aug. 1 • If departing from an international port, guests must meet the travel requirements of their home county and the country of departure (policies can be found online on each

country’s tourism site) Cruises outside of those announced above will be cancelled through the end of August. Booked guests impacted and travel partners will be contacted with further details, including the option to receive a full refund. All guests who have booked by July 31 are covered by the ‘Cruise with Confidence’ program.

WestJet puts Amsterdam on the schedule, ramps up Hawaii service CALGARY — WestJet says it plans to expand its international network to include Amsterdam, with new 787 Dreamliner service starting Aug. 5, 2021.

Service between Amsterdam Airport Schiphol (AMS) and Calgary International Airport (YYC) will operate two-times weekly beginning Aug. 5, 2021 and will increase to three times weekly as of Sept. 9.

WestJet's 787 Dreamliner service offers lie-flat seats in the business cabin

ESSENTIAL DUBAI

7 DAYS

2549

$

WITH EXPO

*

INCLUDES AIRFARE

Airfare from Toronto to Dubai on Air Canada, meet & greet, airport transfers, 5 nights first-class accommodation, 3 day Expo ticket, pre-booked time slot for the Emirates Pavilion, general Admission to At The Top, SKY level 148 for non-prime hours, Desert Safari and 5 breakfasts, 1 lunch, 1 dinner.

EXPLORE DUBAI WOMEN’S TOUR

7 DAYS

1999

$

*

Airport transfers, 6 nights accommodation, 6 breakfasts, 1 dinner, sightseeing tours to Burj Khalifa Level 124 observation level entrance, Abu Dhabi tour, Dubai Shopping tour, Sunset Desert Safari with Dinner including, Camel ride, Henna painting, Shisha, Belly Dancing Show, Dubai Miracle Garden and Taxes & Tourism Dirham Fee.

Call Toll Free 800

387 8850 or visit www.goway.com

*Per person, twin. Taxes included. Select travel dates. TICO#1543989. 3284 Yonge Street, Toronto, ON. June 17, 2021 | TRAVELWEEK | 11

along with on-demand dining and entertainment.

The new service is timed to support late-day departures and daytime arrivals.

Connections are available via Amsterdam to a long list of destinations, including Athens, Berlin, Edinburgh, Lisbon, Madrid, Manchester, Milan, Munich, Vienna and Venice, says WestJet. WestJet also announced that starting in July 2021, WestJet will operate flights to London-Gatwick (LGW) from Calgary as well as from Toronto. Service from Calgary will operate two times weekly, while flights from Toronto will depart three times weekly.

For sun-seekers, the airline is gearing up to offer more Dreamliner flight options from Western Canada to Maui and new nonstop service from Calgary to Kona and Lihue this winter.

“We’ve increased winter service to Hawaii to ensure our guests have increased flexibility and the most affordable options from Western Canada.”

With 57 weekly roundtrip flights on 10 nonstop routes, WestJet says it will have more service between Canada and Hawaii than any other airline.

According to John Weatherill, Chief Commercial Officer: . “We’ve increased our winter service to Hawaii by more than 25% from 2019 to ensure our guests have increased flexibility and the most affordable, nonstop options from Western Canada.”

WestJet is adding new weekly nonstop service from Calgary (YYC) to Kona (KOA) and Lihue (LIH) beginning in December. With the addition of the new service, WestJet will offer service to four Hawaiian destinations non-stop from Calgary and two from Edmonton.

Starting this winter, WestJet will also add 787 Dreamliner service from Calgary and Vancouver to Kahului, Maui (OGG) with 13 weekly flights. WestJet's 787 service to Maui from Western Canada is scheduled with daytime departures to ensure guests arrive in Maui in the early afternoon. The airline's signature Dreamliner service features lieflat seats with on-demand dining and entertainment.

12 | TRAVELWEEK | June 17, 2021

Credit: iStock

NEWS

Dead Horse Point State Park, Utah

These 3 memorable itineraries are a great way to see Utah at its best Maybe you haven't been to Utah – yet.

But you've probably seen it on the big screen.

That's because Utah is a go-to choice for location scouts for a long list of big-name movies. In fact, so many movies have been shot in Utah, there's even a trademarked slogan: Utah. America's Film Set. One of the biggest and best-known films shot in Utah - the iconic “Thelma and Louise” with Geena Davis and Susan Sarandon - is celebrating its 30th anniversary this year. Clients can experience the film's locations first-hand, thanks to an epic road trip itinerary.

The journey starts just outside of Moab, first at the rock formations known as the Courthouse Towers in Arches National Park (one of Utah's Mighty 5 national parks), followed

by Dead Horse Point State Park. Remember the most talked-about moment in the movie, in the very final minutes? Fossil Point, visible from Dead Horse Point State Park, was the backdrop for that never-to-be-forgotten scene with Thelma, Louise and their powder-blue 1966 Ford Thunderbird. Red Cliffs Lodge just outside Moab has its own movie museum with memorabilia from films shot in Utah, including “Thelma and Louise”.

The police chase scene was filmed in the tiny ghost town of Cisco, one of the highlights of day three of the “Thelma and Louise” themed itinerary, along with Sego, another ghost town, and Thompson Springs. On day four, the trip winds up in the La Sal Mountains, instantly recognizable from the opening scenes of the movie.

Driving up La Sal Pass brings visitors to the doorstep of some great hikes.

Try Mount Peale Trail, or a walk around Medicine Lake.

There are so many themed itinerary ideas for visitors to Utah. A Winter Trip Through the Heart of Utah’s Desert is the perfect way to see the state in the hauntingly beautiful winter months, when crisp white snow offsets the vivid red mountains and rock formations. Starting in Green River or Salt Lake City, this five-day trip includes national parks (Capitol Reef National Park and Bryce Canyon National Park) and state parks (including Kodachrome Basin State Park and Goblin Valley State Park).

One hiking trail, Bryce's Fairyland Loop, is a perennial favourite. On the last day, a spectacular drive along Highway 12 from Boulder (Utah) to Escalante winds along with jaw-dropping views on both sides.

Another must-do Utah itinerary is Hoodoos and Stars. Three of Utah's Mighty 5 national parks - Bryce, Capitol Reef and Zion - take centre stage on this seven-day trip. The rock formations known as hoodoos, standing like sentinels for many millions of years, are a big draw for Bryce visitors. And when the sun sets, Utah's wide open spaces truly shine, and sparkle, with more stars in one awestruck gaze than most people see in a lifetime. Utah has the highest concentration of the dark skies in the world, according to the list of International Dark Sky Places compiled by the International Dark-Sky Association (IDA), and this itinerary features the state's Dark Sky Parks at their finest.

For more information check out VisitUtah.com.

NEWS

CATO & ATOQ seeking financial support to save industry jobs TORONTO — CATO and its Quebec counterpart, ATOQ, have banded together to seek “urgent action and financial support” for their struggling members.

Both associations – Canadian Association of Tour Operators and Association des Tours Opérateurs du Québec – are asking the federal government to extend the Canada Emergency Wage Subsidy (CEWS) at the current level until at least Dec. 31, 2021. The program, along with CERS (Canada Emergency Rent Subsidy), will come to an end on Sept. 25.

CATO and ATOQ operate on a volunteer basis, with owners and senior executives of professional tour companies advocating for support of their industry sector. To highlight their significant contribution to the Canadian economy, and the devastating impact the COVID-19 pandemic has had on its

members, the two associations have released an Economic Impact Assessment Report.

Members of both associations were forced to temporarily and permanently lay off employees when travel came to a halt in March 2020. Women were particularly impacted, with more than 73% of the workforce made up of female employees.

The Report also shows that without the government providing a clear roadmap to recovery, revenue will continue to be 82% below 2019 levels. Compounding the issue is the fact that the average advanced booking is made six months ahead of departure; in Ontario and Quebec, all revenue generated from bookings is held in trust until trips depart. This means companies cannot use these funds to pay wages or travel agent commissions, which typically return millions of dollars to the government through payroll taxes.

Without an extension of CEWS, CATO and ATOQ both say that their segment of the industry will have no choice but to lay off more individuals or permanently let go of employees. ““It is mission critical we receive clear

federal guidelines and timelines ahead of international travel resuming. Canadian tour operators need at least six months to prepare and bridge the gap between the opening of international borders and earning any revenue,” said CATO and ATOQ in a joint statement. “Along with securing guests’ accommodations, flights, tour guides, sightseeing excursions and more, they also need to coordinate health and well-being protocols in this new world of travel.

“To avoid prolonged duress for the industry, the government must make known any updated criteria or clear guidelines for easing of travel restrictions and reopening of borders.

Millions of Canadians work in tourism-related industries yet tour operator members have not been provided the fundamentals their industry sector needs to survive.”

Brett Walker, CATO Chair, added that while CATO and ATOQ members “truly appreciate” the federal government’s CEWS program and that it has enabled them to retain employees during the pandemic, they were, nonetheless, forced to lay off nearly 30% of their col-

Agent DecAthlon chAllenge This month’s tips:

Reach out to clients Reconnect with escorted tour operators Polish your selling skills What’s up with sun destination ITC? LEARN MORE™ June 17, 2021 | TRAVELWEEK | 13

NEWS lective workforce.

“We are fighting for our survival. With average advanced bookings made six months prior to departure and borders still closed, there will be little, if any, return to international travel before 2022,” he said. “With CEWS running out, the only means to bridge the gap and save thousands of jobs is for the government to extend CEWS at the current level for our members and those hardest hit until the end of 2021.”

On June 9, the Canadian government announced eased travel restrictions for fully vaccinated Canadians, including the lifting of the mandatory 3-day hotel quarantine starting as soon as early July. However, this will come in phases and will only apply to returning Canadians, essential workers, foreign students and other categories of approved travellers at first.

To request a copy of CATO and ATOQ’s Economic Impact Assessment Report contact Marie Anne MacRae at marieanne.macrae@ttc.com or Emily Leak at Emily.leak@ttc.com.

Sandals Resorts' June 23 town hall gets back to basics with marketing TORONTO — Sandals Resorts has scheduled a second online town hall event exclusively for its Canadian travel agent partners.

The company says that following the success of last month’s inaugural live virtual town hall on digital marketing, Sandals “is going back to basics” with an important and interactive new session on grassroots marketing.

“As Canadian travel advisors emerge from the pandemic, cost-effective and purpose-driven tactics have never been more crucial. Enter grassroots marketing,” says Sandals. “Can a 'think big, start small' approach really benefit the bottom line? How does getting 'back to basics' take your Sandals and Beaches business to the next level?”

This second online town hall – 'Let's Talk: Grassroots Marketing', will take place June 23 from 1-2 p.m. EDT. Like the May 2021 town hall, it will be led by moderators C.J. Smith, Senior National Sales Manager and Lorna Richards, National Training Manager, Unique Vaca14 | TRAVELWEEK | June 17, 2021

tions Canada Inc. Special guests joining on June 23 include Winston Chang – BDM, British Columbia, Saskatchewan & The Yukon, and Robert Smith – BDM, Ontario.

Advisors are encouraged to join the conversation by submitting questions before June 21 to: webinars@uvisandals. ca. Contact your Sandals BDM for registration details.

WestJet President & CEO, Ed Sims, to retire in December CALGARY — WestJet President and CEO Ed Sims has announced his retirement at the end of the year, a decision he says was spurred by his desire to reunite with family in New Zealand.

Sims has spent four years at WestJet’s helm, during which he was responsible for the successful introduction of the airline’s Boeing 787 long-haul aircraft, the launch of two new airline ventures, the significant expansion of WestJet’s international network, as well as the continued growth of WestJet Vacations, WestJet Cargo and the WestJet Rewards program.

He will remain as President and Chief Executive, as well as a member of the WestJet Group board of directors until December 2021. Moving forward, he will continue in a senior advisory role with Onex Partners focused on aerospace and aviation.

In a video message, Sims stressed

the importance of family and how the pandemic has served as a “powerful reminder that family matters and comes first.” He plans to return to his home in New Zealand where two of his children, who he hasn’t seen in two years, currently live.

“Family has always been important for me and the pandemic has served to underscore the need to be reconnected in person,” he said. “My time with WestJet has been an absolute career highlight and a privilege in my 35 years in the travel and aviation industries. I would like to thank WestJet’s founder Clive Beddoe, Onex and past and current board members and my Executive Leadership team who have all been tremendously supportive. My special thanks go to the remarkable group of people who call themselves WestJetters for everything they have achieved.”

Chris Burley, Chairman of WestJet’s board of directors, added: "I want to thank Ed for his contributions to WestJet's strategy and growth initiatives over the past four years. Ed has led WestJet through the worst crisis in aviation history and will see us through to the end of 2021. We owe our relative strength and stability in no small measure to Ed's leadership and steady hand. On a personal note, we're pleased that Ed will be able to rejoin his family in New Zealand at the end of the year."

The board of directors of WestJet has commenced a search for a new Chief Executive Officer.

WestJet President and CEO Ed Sims

NEWS RIU Tequila

All 42 RIU resorts in the Americas are now open MADRID — RIU Hotels has completed the reopening of all its hotels in the Americas, becoming the first Spanish hotel chain to reach the milestone.

The June 1 reopening of the Riu Tequila in Playa del Carmen, Mexico, the Riu Palace Macao in Punta Cana, Dominican Republic, the Riu Negril in Negril, Jamaica, and the Riu Plaza Panama in Panama completes the company’s reactivation process of all 42 hotels in the region. Fully opened are 20 hotels in Mexico, six in Jamaica, six in the D.R., three in the United States, two in Costa Rica, two in Panama and one in the Bahamas.

Following these openings in the Americas and additional ones in Europe in the coming days, RIU will have 76 of its 100 hotels open worldwide.

Riu Hotels previously announced that all RIU guests from countries that require a negative antibody test prior to returning home can get the test free of charge at its Caribbean destinations.

Plus, all hotels have applied the 17 safety protocols included in the company’s manual for post-COVID hotels, created in collaboration with Preverisk, an international leader in food safety, hygiene and health.

Win a US$200 Florida gift box with the new and improved Florida Travel Pro specialist program TORONTO — The easing of restrictions at the Canada-U.S. border could be coming any day now and that means it’s a great time to learn more about Canada’s favourite U.S. vacation destination: Florida.

VISIT FLORIDA’s new and improved Florida Travel Pro specialist program is now available on Travelweek’s Learning Centre. An English-language version is available now; a French-language version is coming soon with more details on the way at ProfessionVoyages.com.

Agents who take the course to become a Certified Florida Travel Pro can win one of three specially curated Florida gift boxes valued at US$200 each. Of special note, the gift boxes contain items from specialty lifestyle brand Spartina 449.

To enter, travel advisors must complete all seven modules of the VISIT FLORIDA Travel Pro Specialist Program in order to qualify. The end date for the contest is June 30, 2021, and contest entry is open to Canadian certified travel advisors who have completed the requirement to become a qualified specialist.

Florida Travel Pro has three new modules: Road Trips; Ecotourism; and LGBTQ. Overall the program is designed to showcase different aspects

of destinations within Florida, including (but not limited to) attractions, shopping, art and culture, nightlight, music and theatre, festivals and events, accommodations, beaches and water activities, spas and golf.

Says VISIT FLORIDA: “The entire site has also been given a complete overhaul making it faster, smoother, and more intuitive. The addition of showcase listings now gives you an inside look at popular places and attractions all throughout Florida. Lastly, make sure to keep up with our message centre, as we will keep you updated on everything new to come!”

The Florida Travel Pro program includes: Essential Modules • Complete these modules to learn the basics for promoting and selling Florida and earn a specialist certificate • The Fundamentals, Beaches, Beyond the Beaches, Experiences NEW Specialization Modules • Take your knowledge a step further and earn badges in niche categories • Road Trips, Ecotourism, LGBTQ Partner Programs • Earn additional badges from VISIT FLORIDA’S partners Benefits for certified Florida Travel Pros: • Personalized VISIT FLORIDA Travel Pro diploma and use of the official Florida Travel Pro logo • Qualify for participation in destination FAMs, and priority invitations for additional training and special events • Access to an exclusive Florida Travel Pro toolkit which includes an interactive directory, maps, images, and videos for promotional use Adds VISIT FLORIDA: “The Sunshine State offers every type of adventure, experience, and entertainment, but many would say its most alluring assets are its 1,000+ kilometres of sunkissed beaches and 2,000 kilometres of coastline. Shopping, museum-going, tropical rambles, historic stops, and all manner of water sports showcase the state’s versatility… with everything from big-city experiences and smalltown fun to the planet’s most beautiful landscapes and a range of flora and fauna that simply must be seen to be believed. You’ll never run out of things to do in Florida, a state packed with nature trails, parks, roller coasters, museums and so much more.”

Complete the Florida Travel Pro specialist course at travelweeklearning centre.com for a chance to win!

June 17, 2021 | TRAVELWEEK | 15

NEWS

#OpenTheBorder press conference

TIAC urges feds to #OpenTheBorder, forms new cruise committee TORONTO — “We need a plan and we need it now” was the call to action during a recent TIAC press conference on June 8, during which the organization launched its new #OpenTheBorder campaign.

Beth Potter, President and CEO of TIAC (Tourism Industry Association of Canada), “stood united” with representatives from Provincial and Territorial Tourism Industry Associations across Canada to urge the federal government to commit to a plan to reopen the Canada-U.S. border. The hour-long virtual conference followed an in-person event at Toronto’s Ripley’s Aquarium of Canada, where the campaign was officially launched.

“We’d like to see the borders open as soon as possible and we know that it will take some time to put necessary protocols in place. We also know it takes time for businesses to ramp up operations again, to rehire and retrain staff. What we’re really asking for right now is, what is the time frame [to reopening] so that we can begin to plan as an industry.”

As part of the campaign, TIAC has launched a new website, openuscanborder.ca, and is asking Canadians to write to their local elected officials to “let them know that they’re ready to welcome U.S. visitors across the border again,” said Potter. She added that 16 | TRAVELWEEK | June 17, 2021

she’s encouraged by the conversations currently happening between the government and provinces.

“But what we need is a plan in the end, we need to see what the timeline looks like to reopen so that the more than 225,000 businesses that make up our industry from coast to coast can plan to be ready when the borders are open,” she added.

The Canada-U.S. border has been closed to all but essential traffic since March 21, 2020. The closure is up for renewal on June 21, 2021.

“We need a timeline to reopen so that businesses can be ready when the borders are open."

When asked what the economic impact would be should the border remain closed for the summer, Potter said that Canada’s tourism industry would continue to see revenues decline.

“Prior to the pandemic, our industry was a $109 billion a year industry. Right now, we’re averaging about 50% of that but in some sectors, the devastation is actually 90%-100% if businesses haven’t been reopened. And with the border closed, those businesses that rely up to 100% on U.S. customers will see a second summer of zero revenue,” said Potter.

Dave McKenna, TIAC Chair, also added that with both CEWS and CERS payments coming to an end in September, the need to reopen the border is even

greater now.

“Right now, the government is talking about decreasing the CEWS and CERS programs that have helped keep tourism businesses afloat for the past 15 months. If that is the case, then the border needs to reopen to allow for the tourism industry to have a chance at their own recovery,” he said. “We can’t have it both ways. If financial aid is going to decrease, then the border needs to reopen so that businesses can go back to work and support themselves.”

A week after it launched the new campaign, TIAC also announced a brand new National Cruise Committee comprised of TIAC members, Canadian organizations that operate in the global cruise industry and represent all regions of Canada impacted by cruise – Atlantic Canada, Quebec, Ontario, British Columbia and Northern Canada.

The group will advocate for the cruise industry to be treated no different from other travel sectors in Canada, act in an advisory capacity to identify key issues and provide regular updates and recommendations to TIAC’s Recovery Committee. It hopes to send a clear message that the sector is ready to safely welcome ships back and that it has confidence in cruise line partners that their restart will follow the necessary protocols to keep guests, crew and communities safe.

Canada’s cruise ship ban, first implemented in March 2020 in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, has been extended until Feb. 28, 2022. It essentially bans cruise vessels carrying 100 or more people from operating in Canadian waters. The cruise sector is responsible for 30,000 direct jobs in Canada.

“We are a part of the tourism industry that is effectively in ‘lockdown’ until Spring 2022 due to the federal ban on cruise until Feb. 28, 2022. As other parts of the country and industry may start to see some recovery in summer 2021, we won’t have the ability to make any movement. This committee will allow for coordinated advocacy for this sector,” said Danielle Timmons, TIAC National Cruise Committee Chair.

“This is a pivotal time to be launching. The committee is in full support of TIAC’s recent campaign launch on opening the U.S. Canada border. We hope to bring awareness education and support for the cruise supply chain businesses that are still in lockdown,” added Timmons.

NEWS

Air Canada has Rome flights starting July 2 that don’t require quarantine in Italy MONTREAL — Air Canada plans to begin offering flights to Italy starting July 2, 2021.

Flights are scheduled to operate to Rome from Toronto and Montreal.

According to Air Canada’s website, passengers arriving into Italy on these flights do not need to quarantine upon arrival.

Passengers must show proof of negative COVID test results within 48 hours before departure, and again on arrival.

As reported by Global News, and outlined on Air Canada’s site, the flights are government-approved COVID-tested flights.

Italy has begun to re-open, with bars and restaurants reopening for indoor dining earlier this week, for the first time in months.

As reported in April 2021, while the EU is preparing its Digital COVID Certificate of vaccination and testing certifiHKS_7x4-875in_EN_062021_op.pdf 1 8/6/2021 cation for travel within the 27-country

EU bloc, and has indicated a potential reopening for fully vaccinated travellers, Italy had signalled that it wanted to take things a step further and reopen to global markets.

Complete details about the Air Canada flights can be found at aircanada.com. Previously the quarantine requirement for arrivals in Italy was 10 days. As the Air Canada site notes, “passengers travelling on a COVID-tested flight as of July 2 are exempt from the quarantine.”

Transat eyes July 30 restart, discontinues hotels division MONTREAL — Transat is gearing up for a gradual resumption of operations on July 30.

The restart date is in line with Transat’s update last month that it was suspending operations through July 29.

In a list of notables from its Q2 2021 results (see below), the company said 14:15:59 it will continue to refocus its airline

operations with a greater presence in Eastern Canada and Montréal, and also that it has discontinued its hotels division.

“Following a quarter without revenues, progress made on vaccinations allows us to plan for a gradual resumption starting July 30,” says Annick Guérard, President and CEO, Transat.

“We hope that a safe travel recovery plan can be deployed as soon as possible and will lead to a lifting of restrictions in the near future. All indications are that our customers are eager to make use of some of their savings from recent months to travel. We're excited about welcoming them back soon,” she added.

Guérard took over the top spot at Transat on May 27, following the retirement of Jean-Marc Eustache.

"The financing we secured will allow us to roll out our plan over the coming years. Our strong brand, our employees' commitment and the transformation we have undertaken and which will continue over the coming years will allow us to position ourselves again as our customers' favourite leisure travel company and become more profitable than before the

BE A RECOGNISED HONG KONG SPECIALIST C

M

Y

CM

MY

CY

CMY

K

Start the FREE online training today!

• Equip yourself with professional knowledge to promote Hong Kong • Study at your own pace and monitor your progress at a click • Receive an e-Certificate and enjoy exclusive Club membership benefits upon training completion • Stay up-to-date on the industry with PartnerNet

June 17, 2021 | TRAVELWEEK | 17

NEWS pandemic," says Guérard.

Transat’s Q2 results, also announced on June 10, included a net loss of $69.6 million. Last year’s Q2 loss, when a strong start was soon overshadowed by the early weeks of the pandemic, was $179.5 million. Revenue was $7.6 million, down from $571.3 million year over year.

As Transat notes in its Q2 briefing, all four of Canada’s major airlines agreed to a request from the federal government in January 2021 to temporarily suspend all winter sun flights until April 30. Since that time sun flights and flights to most other destinations have been largely grounded in the wake of the second and third waves of COVID. Transat says it has implemented a series of operational, commercial and financial measures, including new financing and cost reduction measures, aimed at preserving its cash. On April 29 the company announced its agreement with the Government of Canada that allows it to borrow up to $700 million in additional liquidity through the Large Employer Emergency Financing Facility (LEEFF). Also in April, Transat and Air Canada announced they were

walking away from their acquisition deal after months of delays in the wait to get a green light from the European Commission.

“While the availability of a vaccine makes it possible to hope for the resumption of operations at a certain level during 2021, the Corporation does not expect such level to reach the pre-pandemic level before 2023,” says the company.

Other notables from the Q2 briefing: • As at April 30, 2021, cash and cash equivalents totalled $346.1 million.

• Deposits from customers for future travel amounted to $560.4 million in Q2 2021, compared with $605.1 million as at April 30, 2020, a decrease of $44.7 million.

• Following Transat’s April 29 announcement that it would offer COVID refunds, the company has received requests for about 64% of the amount of credits issued and made refunds for more than 70% of amounts claimed, at the end of May 2021. Customers have until Aug. 26, 2021 to submit their refund requests.

Transat’s strategic plan includes: • During 2021, stabilize the business by

•

•

•

•

streamlining operations and laying the foundations for a recovery that will ensure the Corporation's longterm viability after the pandemic; During the 2022-2026 period, make the Corporation profitable again and complete its transformation to achieve a level of profitability that exceeds pre-pandemic levels, as well as grow in new markets; After 2026: leverage those achievements to propel Transat toward a new growth phase.

To achieve those goals, Transat says it will refocus airline operations and redefine the network by ensuring a greater presence in Eastern Canada and Montréal and forging alliances to strengthen the network; among other financial and fleet strategies Discontinuation of the hotel division: On May 20, 2021, due to the decline in liquidity as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, and in line with the objectives of the new strategic plan, Transat’s board of directors approved the discontinuation of the hotel division's operations.

IMAGINE YOUR KOREA SPECIALIST COURSE The Korea Specialist course will teach you about the beautiful, high-tech and dynamic destination of Korea. Learn about getting to Korea, general information, transport, accommodation, activities, events and what makes it truly unique.

Be one of the first 100 agents to complete the “Imagine Your Korea” Specialist course before September 30th to receive a $20 e-Giftcard!

18 | TRAVELWEEK | June 17, 2021

Visit travelweeklearningcentre.com to learn more!

NEWS

Register before June 21 for Brand USA’s ‘USA Training Day’ TORONTO — The countdown is on until Brand USA’s ‘USA Training Day’ for Canadian travel agents, taking place virtually on June 23.

The event, which will be available on Brand USA Global Marketplace, will connect Canadian agents with the U.S. travel industry in preparation for the reopening of the Canada-U.S. border. Agents will also learn about Brand USA’s resources and tools designed to sell, promote and inspire travel to the USA. There will be an opportunity to hear directly from destinations themselves, as well as the National Park Service and some of Brand USA’s receptive tour operator partners.

In addition, by attending the training, agents will have the chance to win travel prizes during the USA Networking and Training Day quiz. Prizes include two Air Canada tickets and USA land packages.

Agents must register by June 21 on Brand USA’s Global Marketplace at brandusaglobalmarketplace.com.

The USA Training Day program is as follows: • 11:30-11:32 a.m. EDT – Welcome and Introduction, Chris Thompson • 11:32 a.m.-12:00 p.m. EDT – Brand USA Travel Trade Resources, Suzy Shepard • 12:00-12:20 p.m. EDT – Keynote on

National Parks, Donald Leadbetter, Tourism Program Manager, U.S. National Park Service • 12:20-1:35 p.m. EDT – Regional Destination Training • 1:35-2:00 p.m. EDT – Kahoot! Quiz, networking and further Q&A • 2:00 p.m. EDT – Session ends Chris Thompson, CEO of Brand USA, encouraged agents to register for the event during Travelweek’s recent ‘Future of Travel: Sunnier Days Ahead’ virtual conference.

“As we begin welcoming our friends and visitors to the north back, there’s going to be a lot of questions that has to do with travel policy,” he said. “The reach and relevance that the travel trade has with their clients is going to be a critical role in our ability to be able to welcome people back once we have a safe environment.”

Bahamas Paradise Cruise Line gets green light to conduct test cruise WEST PALM BEACH — Bahamas Paradise Cruise Line is still on track to resume sailings on July 2 after being granted CDC approval to conduct a simulated sailing.

As part of the CDC’s updated Framework for Conditional Sailing Order,

PEOPLE Retail travel industry veteran Cheryl Babulal joins the Travelweek team Travelweek's new Business Development Manager, Cheryl Babulal, is no stranger to the travel industry, with more than 25 years of experience at some of the biggest names in retail travel. Babulal joined The Travelweek Group last month after 14 years with Ensemble Travel Group, most recently as Business Development Director. In that role she developed and fostered partnerships with over 100 Ensemble members in Eastern Canada - Ontario, Manitoba and Atlantic Canada, and was responsible for new member sales and retention. Over the course of another 10+ years Babulal worked in retail management with companies including American Express, Thomas Cook Travel, Sears Travel and Travelchoice. At Travelweek Babulal will report to Annie Cicvaric, Director of Business Development and Content Strategy.

simulated cruises – or test cruises – are now required for cruise lines, prior to the resumption of regular cruises, in order to set sail.

Bahamas Paradise Cruise Line will conduct a closed-group test cruise that will include a full evaluation of the line’s cleanliness and safety protocols.

A small, private group of pre-selected, fully vaccinated passengers will join a group of fully vaccinated crew members onboard Grand Classica, departing June 25 for a two-night, roundtrip cruise from the Port of Palm Beach to Grand Bahama Island. The sailing will simulate all aspects of the onboard experience, including dining, entertainment, leisure activities and shore excursions.

Bahamas Paradise Cruise Line plans to resume sailing on July 2, 2021 and is currently accepting bookings on its website. It anticipates earning CDC approval to cruise on July 2 following this month’s simulated sailing.

In recent days, Royal Caribbean has also been given the green light to operate a test cruise ahead of its resumption of service.

Disney Cruise Line gets CDC's go-ahead for test cruises CELEBRATION, FL — Disney Cruise Line has received the green light from the CDC to operate test cruises out of Florida.

Numerous consumer and cruise industry news outlets are reporting that DCL's test cruise will operate June 29 – July 1, 2021 out of Port Canaveral on the Disney Dream.

There would be no shortage of volunteers among the general public for DCL test sailings; Disney blogs say it's more likely the test sailing will be filled with Disney cast members and other company volunteers.

An emailed statement to the Orlando Sentinel from DCL spokesperson Cynthia Martinez said: “We have reached an important next step toward our gradual and responsible resumption of service, and are grateful for the productive dialogue with the state, local and federal officials, the CDC and others in our industry that has made this possible. We look forward to our amazing crew once again creating magic for June 17, 2021 | TRAVELWEEK | 19

NEWS our guests and to helping the many workers who support our industry get back to work.”

Test cruises are part of the CDC's Conditional Sailing Order, which replaced the No Sail Order earlier this year.

In the past several weeks several major cruise lines have announced sailings from U.S. ports starting this summer.

Globus has more details on its vaccination-required policy TORONTO — The Globus family of brands – consisting of Globus, Cosmos, Avalon Waterways and Monograms – is providing more details about its COVID-19 policies.

First announced in February 2021, Globus family of brands will require proof of full COVID-19 vaccination to join the company’s upcoming international tours, river cruises and independent vacation packages.

“As part of our commitment to provide sustainable, responsible travel across the globe – while keeping in line with current and anticipated destination policies – we are instituting a new requirement for travellers embarking on international vacations,” said Stéphanie Bishop, managing director for the Globus family of brands. “They

will now need to provide proof of full COVID-19 vaccination for international vacations.”

With the new policy in place, travellers ages 12 and older must provide proof of COVID-19 vaccination, completed at least 14 days prior to embarkation. The Globus family of brands will accept vaccines authorized or approved by the World Health Organization (WHO), Centers for Disease Control (CDC), European Centre for Disease Prevention (ECDC), Health Canada or an official government body.

Those who do not comply will not be able to join a planned international vacation with Globus, Cosmos, Avalon Waterways or Monograms.

The new protocol will take effect for international vacations departing July 15 through Oct. 31, 2021.

The company plans to revert back to its policy of proof of vaccination, negative COVID-19 test or immunity for travel after Oct. 31, 2021.

“While we do not anticipate that Canadians will have the opportunity to travel internationally with us for most of the summer, we’re ready and providing ample time to prepare for their next, best vacation,” said Bishop. “This international travel policy provides our guests the safest return to travel, follows the latest requirements of many countries and ensures more seamless movement between destinations.”

The Globus family of brands also provides travellers a complimentary Peace of Mind Travel Plan. If guests are

Globus family of brands welcomes new BDM for BC territory The Globus family of brands has appointed Fiona Schonewille as its new BDM in British Columbia on a contract basis. Schonewille, who will be covering a parental leave, will be based in Vancouver and responsible for building and maintaining travel partner relationships and regional sales goals for Globus, Cosmos, Monograms and Avalon Waterways.

On welcoming Schonewille to the Globus family of brands, Carla Brake, director of business development, said: “She brings with her more than two decades of travel industry experience, including spending the last six years honing her business development skills with Holland America, Seabourn Cruises and Transat Tours Canada. With a background in both cruising and touring, we know her expertise will seamlessly translate for our needs in the BC region.”

20 | TRAVELWEEK | June 17, 2021

unable to go on their vacation due to COVID-19 restrictions, they have the flexibility to move their plans to any other 2021 or 2022 date, destination, itinerary or even, another brand in the Globus family of brands’ travel portfolio, without penalty.

TravelBrands offering refunds, protecting commission TORONTO — TravelBrands says it's ready to offer COVID refunds and will do so without recalling travel agent commission.

The company announced on June 14 that it will offer full refunds on vacation packages impacted by COVID-19, for travel on or after Feb. 1, 2020. The policy also covers new bookings as of June 1, 2021, going forward.

Frank DeMarinis, President & CEO, TravelBrands, says the company will offer the refund program without relying on external assistance. In April 2021 both Air Canada and Transat announced new COVID refund policies and commission protection as part of financial assistance packages, including loans and credit, from the federal government.

“Trust is paramount in any industry, especially the travel industry, and we saw an opportunity to do more,” says DeMarinis. “Our team worked relentlessly behind the scenes to deliver a meaningful action plan that would positively impact the travel agent community and their clients. We will continue to redefine industry norms to renew confidence in the incredible travel experiences that are ahead of us.”

TravelBrands' refund policy will include all Air & Hotel bookings, including TravelGenie, Sunquest, and Exotik Journeys packages that have flights with Air Canada or Transat. If a refund cannot be secured on a land portion, a future travel voucher will still be applicable. Coverage dates include travel on or after February 1, 2020, and new bookings as of June 1, 2021.

The company says “this forward-thinking response to changes in the travel industry is a reassuring step towards the promising future ahead.”

More information and an FAQ are at travelbrandsaccess.com.

NEWS

Royal Caribbean and AQSC celebrate first resumption cruises MIAMI & NEW ALBANY — Two more cruise lines are celebrating the resumption of operations, further adding steam to the cruise industry’s road to recovery.

Royal Caribbean’s Adventure of the Seas set sail from Nassau, The Bahamas on June 12, as previously announced, the first of its ships to resume cruising in the Western Hemisphere.

More than 1,000 fully passengers are onboard, with those 16 years and older fully vaccinated (along with the crew).

Vaccinated guests make up 94% of all those onboard, while the remaining 6% of guests are children younger than 16.

Adventure of the Seas now begins a summer lineup of seven-night sailings to Perfect Day at CocoCay, Royal Caribbean’s private island destination in The Bahamas; Grand Bahama in The Bahamas; and Cozumel, Mexico.

“The return of Adventure of the Seas marks a start in the tremendous step forward our guests have been waiting

for and we’ve been working toward for more than 15 months,” said Michael Bayley, president and CEO, Royal Caribbean International. “This is all possible thanks to the government of The Bahamas, the support of our partners and the hard work of our teams across Royal Caribbean.”

Guests sailing with Royal Caribbean aged 16 years or older must be fully vaccinated against COVID-19. This age minimum goes down to 12 or older on Aug. 1. Guests younger than the eligible age must undergo testing and follow other protocols.

Following its inaugural cruise, 11 Royal Caribbean ships are set to cruise from the U.S. and Europe beginning in July and August. The complete lineup of 2021 cruises is available here.

Meanwhile, American Queen Steamboat Company’s American Empress embarked on June 14 on the company’s first sailing of the 2021 Pacific Northwest season. This sailing marks the first overnight river cruise with 100% COVID-19 vaccinated guests and crew in the United States, as well as AQSC’s return to cruising on the Columbia and Snake rivers. The popular Pacific North-

west Splendor itinerary, which sails from Portland to Spokane or reverse, is almost sold out for the 2021 season.

“Today is an important milestone for both American Queen Steamboat Company and Pacific Northwest tourism as we restart operations in the region and cruisers can once again relish the majestic beauty of the Columbia and Snake rivers,” said Shawn Bierdz, president of American Queen Steamboat Company. “We look forward to safely welcoming guests onboard the American Empress to sail through this diverse environment and discover the communities that make it such a unique travel experience.”

AQSC was the first U.S.-based cruise company to announce a 100% vaccination policy for guests and crew in February, which will go into effect fleetwide, including Mississippi, Ohio, Tennessee and Cumberland river departures, after July 1, 2021. All guests must show proof of COVID-19 vaccination at check-in by providing a valid vaccination card or an image of a valid vaccination card. Guests who fail to provide proof of vaccination will be denied boarding and subject to full cancellation penalties.

NOTICE - ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING TAKE NOTICE THAT the Annual General Meeting of the members of the Travel Industry Council of Ontario (“TICO”) will be held at 5:00 p.m. on Tuesday, June 29, 2021 for the purpose of: (a) (b) (c) (d) (e)

receiving the financial statements for the previous financial year, together with the Auditor’s Report; receiving and considering the Annual Report; appointing the auditors for the Corporation and authorizing the Board of Directors to fix the auditor’s remuneration; announcing the successful candidate for the position on the Board of Directors; and transacting such other business as may properly come before the meeting.

The deadline for providing written notice of any motions to be made at the meeting has now passed.

As a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, the meeting will be held virtually and some changes to the usual meeting arrangements will be required. Please watch for further updates concerning the event. Notice will be provided with respect to any changes.

Only members in good standing are entitled to participate in and vote at the meeting. Members wishing to participate and vote at the meeting will need to register for the event. Registration will open on May 31, 2021. To register, send an email with your name and registration number to ticoagm@tico.ca by June 25, 2021 at 4:30 p.m. Materials and instructions regarding how to participate will be sent out to those registered in advance of the meeting.

Members of the public are invited to attend. For those wishing to watch the event, the link for the meeting will be posted on TICO’s website by June 22, 2021.

Members who will not be attending the meeting are invited to submit written requests for proxies. The Agenda, Minutes from the AGM on September 17, 2020, and the 2021 Annual Report and Business Plan containing the audited financial statements as at and for the fiscal period ended March 31, 2021 will be made available on TICO’s website prior to the meeting.

DATED at Mississauga this 25th day of May 2021.

On behalf of the Board of Directors Tracey McKiernan, Secretary 55 Standish Court, Suite 460, Mississauga, Ontario L5R 4B2 Tel: (905) 624-6241 Fax: (905) 624-8631 Toll-free: 1-888-451-TICO e-mail: tico@tico.ca Website: www.tico.ca June 17, 2021 | TRAVELWEEK | 21

NEWS

Holland America updates its summer 2021 Europe cruise schedule SEATTLE — Holland America Line has updated its summer 2021 Europe cruise schedule, with some cancellations.

The cruise line’s Eurodam will maintain its recently announced Mediterranean season through October 2021.

However, cruises onboard Nieuw Statendam and Volendam cruises will be cancelled, and Rotterdam’s season will shift.

The move comes as Holland America Line continues to work with governments and port authorities in correlation with the phased resumption of cruising. Holland America is cancelling the remainder of the summer 2021 European sailings aboard Nieuw Statendam and Volendam, impacting cruises that were scheduled to depart from September through November, along with the Collectors’ Voyages associated with those departures.

Rotterdam will remain in non-guest operations until its Sept. 26 cruise from Amsterdam, after an expected on-schedule delivery from the Fincantieri shipyard July 30. Plans for Rotterdam’s naming ceremony are being finalized, says the cruise line.

Passengers currently booked on cancelled Nieuw Statendam and Volendam departures automatically will be moved to a 2021 cruise on Eurodam in the Mediterranean, beginning with the Aug. 15 cruise through the Oct. 30 transatlantic crossing, and receive a US$100 onboard spending credit per person.

Nieuw Statendam and Volendam passengers also can choose to move to an equivalent cruise in 2022 at the 2021 fare or receive a future cruise credit of 110% of any cash paid that will be placed in the guest’s loyalty account.

Passengers currently booked on a cancelled Rotterdam voyage may select an equivalent sailing in 2022 at the 2021 fare paid, or they can choose to receive a future cruise credit of 110% of any cash paid.

Any passenger on a cancelled voyage also can request a full refund of all monies paid to Holland America Line.

22 | TRAVELWEEK | June 17, 2021

Transat now owns Become an Intrepid 100% of inbound tour Travel Specialist operator TraficTours with new training MONTREAL — Transat has acquired the program remaining minority interest in inbound tour operator TraficTours Canada Inc. Transat was already a 70% shareholder in the company. It has now purchased the company outright, acquiring the remaining 30%.

Transat says the purchase price is for an amount lower than the amount booked in Transat's financial statements on account of the option to purchase such minority interest.

“By becoming sole shareholder, Transat is strengthening its inbound services in key markets.”

The minority shareholder had the option to require Transat to purchase the minority interest since 2019. The manager of TraficTours and its subsidiaries remains in place to ensure the operations run regularly.

TraficTours offers excursions and other services to vacationers in Mexico, the D.R. and Jamaica.

“By becoming sole shareholder, Transat is strengthening its inbound services in three of these key markets,” says Transat.

On April 29, 2021 Transat announced its financial assistance package from the federal government, allowing Transat to borrow up to $700 million in additional liquidity through the Large Employer Emergency Financing Facility (LEEFF).

TORONTO — In anticipation of travel’s return, Intrepid Travel has launched a new training program to certify advisors as Intrepid Travel Specialists.

The program, which comprises five 30-minute trainings, comes complete with certification and exclusive access to promotions, incentives and more.

Agents will learn about Intrepid Travel as a business and brand, with topics that include responsible travel and Intrepid’s B-Corp status.

Upon completion, each participant will receive a custom email signature, certificate and logo to add to their website. They will also gain exclusive access to promotions and discounts for their clients that won’t otherwise be available, early access to public promotions, bonus commission offers only available to Specialists, and other incentives such as prizes and giveaways.

“With travel on the rebound, it’s more important than ever that people are aware of the impact their vacations have on the world and why choosing a responsible travel provider is essential,” said Shayna Zand, Head of Business Development in North America for Intrepid Travel. “Our goal with this new Specialist Program is to support our partners with expanded knowledge about Intrepid and what makes us a responsible business so they can feel confident and comfortable when recommending our tours to their clients.”

For more information on how to become an Intrepid Travel Specialist email intrepidspecialist@intrepidtravel.com.

NEWS

Ontario lifts border restrictions with Quebec, Manitoba

Marella Explorer 2

Sunwing has sun flights from Saskatchewan, cruise savings on Marella Explorer 2 TORONTO — Sunwing has announced sun flights this winter from Regina and Saskatoon as well as cruise packages onboard the Marella Explorer 2.

Saskatchewan flights will begin operating in December and run until midApril 2022, just in time for the holidays.

The flight schedule from Regina will be as follows: • Between Regina and Cancun, Mondays and Saturdays from December 11, 2021 until April 11, 2022 • Between Regina and Puerto Vallarta, Fridays and Sundays from December 10, 2021 until April 10, 2022 • Between Regina and Los Cabos, Thursdays from December 16, 2021 until April 14, 2022 • Between Regina and Mazatlán, Fridays from December 17, 2021 until April 8, 2022 • Between Regina and Punta Cana, Wednesdays from December 15, 2021 until April 13, 2022 • Between Regina and Varadero, Tuesdays from December 14, 2021 until April 12, 2022 The flight schedule from Saskatoon will be as follows: • Between Saskatoon and Cancun, Mondays and Saturdays from December 11, 2021 until April 11, 2022 • Between Saskatoon and Puerto Val-

larta, Fridays and Sundays from December 10, 2021 until April 10, 2022 • Between Saskatoon and Los Cabos, Thursdays from December 16, 2021 until April 14, 2022 • Between Saskatoon and Mazatlán, Fridays from December 17, 2021 until April 8, 2022 • Between Saskatoon and Punta Cana, Wednesdays from December 15, 2021 until April 13, 2022 • Between Saskatoon and Varadero, Tuesdays from December 14, 2021 until April 12, 2022 • Between Saskatoon and Ixtapa-Zihuatanejo, Thursdays from December 9, 2021 until April 7, 2022 Meanwhile, starting in November 2021, guests can set sail onboard the adults-only Marella Explorer 2 – Marella Cruises’ newest ship – with Sunwing and save up to $300 per couple, or $150 per person, on applicable packages. Bookings must be made by July 1, 2021 for select sailings between Nov. 23, 2021 and Jan. 25, 2022 (excluding Dec. 21-28, 2021).

Sunwing’s cruise packages include roundtrip flights between Toronto and Montego Bay, pier transfers, cruise accommodations, meals, the Standard Beverage Package and daily service charges and gratuities.

Marella Explorer 2 sets sail to ports of call across the Caribbean and Central America, with passengers embarking and disembarking from Montego Bay in Jamaica. Calls include the Cayman Islands, Guatemala, Cartagena in Colombia and Panama.

OTTAWA — Inter-provincial travel restrictions have finally lifted, the latest victory in Canada’s long road to recovery.

As confirmed by Solicitor General Sylvia Jones, the government did not extend the order that restricted non-essential travel between Ontario, Quebec and Manitoba. The order, first announced on April 16 in response to Ontario’s third wave of COVID-19, expired at 12:01 a.m. ET on Wednesday, June 16.

Those entering Ontario “must continue to follow the public health measures in place in the province,” said Jones in a statement.

“The news comes on the heels of last week’s announcement

by Minister Dominic LeBlanc that Canada’s mandatory three-day hotel quarantine will be gradually lifted starting as early as July.”

Under the ban, access was limited to essential travel only, including essential workers and anyone travelling for medical care, transportation of goods and exercising indigenous treaty rights. Those without a valid reason for entering Ontario were turned back.

Jones announced the news on June 14, as Ontario reported 447 new cases of COVID-19, a slight decrease from the 525 cases reported a week before.

The news also comes on the heels of last week’s announcement by Minister of Intergovernmental Affairs Dominic LeBlanc that Canada’s mandatory three-day hotel quarantine will be gradually lifted starting as early as July for fully vaccinated Canadians returning from abroad, essential workers, foreign students and other eligible travellers.

June 17, 2021 | TRAVELWEEK | 23

FOLLOW YOUR SUNSHINE

VISITFLORIDA.com VISITFLORIDA.com

LEARN AND WIN CLICK HERE TO ENTER TODAY

VISIT FLORIDA TRAVEL PRO SPECIALIST PROGRAM CONTEST VISIT FLORIDA is happy to introduce you to the new and improved Florida Travel Pro! In addition to the new design, we added three new modules focused on the niche areas of Road Trips, Ecotourism, and LGBTQ. The entire site has also been given a complete overhaul making it faster, smoother, and more intuitive.

Become a Certified Florida Travel Pro for your chance to WIN one of three specially curated Florida Gift Boxes valued at $200USD each containing items from Spartina 449 The program is designed to showcase different aspects of destinations within Florida including, but not limited to, attractions, shopping, art and culture, nightlife, music and theatre, festivals and events, accommodations, beaches and water activities, spas, and golf. There is a wealth of information that will assist you with expanding your knowledge on the state and help you become a Florida expert.