Canada’s Travel Trade News June 30, 2021 travelweek.ca
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Canada’s Travel Trade News June 30, 2021 travelweek.ca
The recovery clock is ticking The restrictions are winding down - but so is the financial support, plus the travel ban is still in place. Here's what agents, airlines and tour ops are saying. pg. 3
ACITA turns one: A look back
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Sunwing ready to assist agents in wake of refunds announcement JTB gets ready for its first-ever Virtual Product Showcase
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TOP NEWS
Elation and frustration: The phones are ringing again, but the travel ban’s still in place, making for strange days in the industry by Kathryn Folliott TORONTO — Getting rid of quarantine measures for fully vaccinated travellers eliminates a major stumbling block to travel's restart. The hope now is that the recovery comes in time to save the industry. The non-essential travel ban is still in place, so Canadians are still cautious about booking travel for the immediate future. But travel for later in 2021, and into 2022? Tour operators and travel agents say the phones are ringing and bookings are coming in at a good clip for fall and winter 2021 and beyond. Some clients have even been caught off guard by how fast the good deals are disappearing. Says Jennifer McPherson with Turnkey Travel – TravelOnly: “A Dreams resort package I quoted on May 20 has now increased by $500 per person and the client wishes she had booked!” Maybe seeing Prime Minister Trudeau finally talk about travel with a smile on his face, as he did when making his June 18 announcement about Canada's 2-track proof of vaccination system for international travel, got some clients thinking about their own long-overdue travel plans. Canada's vaccination success has boosted spirits. And the federal government's June 21 announcement about eased travel restrictions for fully vaccinated returning Canadians, effective July 5, was no doubt the biggest game-changer so far. Nino Montagnese, Managing Director, ACV, says the biggest demand so far is for winter 2021-2022 sun destinations. “We had anticipated a few trends that we’re seeing materialize ... namely, a tremendous demand for sun destinations such as Mexico and the Caribbean. And, as so many Canadians have been longing to reunite with friends and family, there has also been an increase in multiple room bookings. Finally, travellers are looking to shed their months of lockdown with once-in-a-lifetime getaways, and we’re seeing this in the rise of luxury vacations.” STAFFING UP ACV is calling back employees and hiring new team members to keep up
with the demand. It's the same at Goway. “We are seeing a significant increase in inquiries. There is pent-up demand and clients are shopping and dreaming of their next trip. We are presently bringing back all of our Destination Specialists and will be at full staffing on the sales floor in the next two weeks,” says Goway’s VP, Europe, Craig Canvin. “If the destination is open, clients are booking,” adds Canvin. “Greece, Iceland, Costa Rica, Belize, Dubai, Egypt, Tahiti and the Maldives are all incredibly popular right now.” Goway’s message for agents? “Business is back. If your clients are thinking of travelling this fall, book early and remember we are still offering our flexible booking conditions,” says Canvin. Collette is also seeing an uptick. Almost all the new bookings are for 2022 and 2023. “We have dates available through May 31, 2023,” says Collette’s General Manager, Brett Walker. Sales of Collette’s cancel for any reason waiver have skyrocketed, adds Walker, from a 36% buy-rate pre-pandemic, to 62% now. “It’s been climbing consistently,” he says. “Our waiver allows guests to cancel at any point, up to 24 hours prior to departure and receive a full cash refund and Collette made good on that promise throughout the pandemic.”
SUPPORT STILL NEEDED But while the travel restrictions are winding down, so too are the federal government’s financial assistance programs that have helped the travel industry stay alive throughout the pandemic. Travel agents have been working amid negative cash flow for more than a year now, and while bookings are now coming in, the long booking window means agents still aren’t seeing any immediate revenue. ACTA President Wendy Paradis said that although the news of the eased travel restrictions was welcome, “unfortunately, continued non-essential travel advisories and restrictions offer little hope of recovery this summer.” Not only that, but with CEWS, CERS and CRB starting to wind down starting in July, Canada’s 24,000 travel agents will be at risk of unemployment and bankruptcies, Paradis adds. The planned reductions of federal support programs means that most travel agent businesses will have continued monthly losses, even with potential increases in travel demand, says Paradis. “Travel agencies have been operating at a loss since the beginning of the pandemic,” says Paradis. “Without continued full federal support for at least the summer, many will close. Businesses can only survive monthly losses for so long.” June 30, 2021 | TRAVELWEEK | 3
TOP NEWS “ENCOURAGED WITH A GOVERNMENT WINK” TO TRAVEL The still-in-effect travel advisory has impact for tour operators too. “Tour companies carry liability and errors & omissions insurance as part of sound business practice. These insurance policies carry an endorsement which nullifies the tour operator’s insurance coverage while the ‘Avoid all travel' and 'Avoid non essential travel' government advisories are in effect. So until these blanket advisories are lifted, it is extremely difficult (read largely impossible) for Ontario-based tour operators to operate tours outside Canada,” says Laurielle Penny, Managing Director, Worldwide Quest. Penny adds: “Individuals are free to disregard the government advisory with impunity (and are now encouraged with a government wink to do so with the relaxation of restrictions upon re-entry to Canada); tour operators who follow the rules and regulations are not. Ontario-based outbound tour operators need the blanket advisories lifted and replaced with sensible country specific recommendations. And until that happens we need continuing government financial support to compensate for being prevented from operating.” Without knowing when the advisory will lift, flexible rebooking policies are now essential. G Adventures, which earlier this week announced more flexibility with its new 14-day rebooking policy, has seen “a significant increase in Canadians booking trips” following the government's announcement about eased quarantine measures, says VP Commercial, David Green. But with the non-essential travel advisory still in place, Green notes that the company is seeing more Canadians book for the last quarter of 2021, and throughout 2022, as opposed to the immediate future. Green adds that G Adventures has liability insurance in place that enables the company to run trips globally. “Since we restarted tours in September, 2020, the majority of our travellers have been from the U.S. and Europe, TRAVELWEEK
where there have been less restrictions on travel than for Canadians. As with all G Adventures tours, travellers are required to have personal travel insurance to cover them for the duration of their trip, which is also currently available for Canadian travellers to purchase for their future trips,” he said. For G Adventures trips taking place in July, a very small percentage (about 2%) of the travellers are Canadians. But from September onwards, the company has far higher volumes of Canadians booked on its trips.
Bookings are coming in at a good clip for fall and winter 2021, and 2022, and the deals are disappearing fast: “A Dreams resort package increased by $500 per person and the client wishes she had booked.” “We are still advising agents to recommend their travellers book now for future travel, while there are fantastic deals to be had. If customers know when and where they want to travel, there’s never been a better time to lock in their trip in terms of flexibility and cost,” says Green. AIRLINES GEARING UP Full recovery is a long ways off for Canada's airlines too, and the urgent calls for the federal government to provide more reopening benchmarks continue. That said, the second half of 2021 is looking a far sight better than the second half of 2020. “For Q3 (July, August, September) we are currently planning to be 86% above 2020. But [we're] still not back where we were in 2019 as we are down 66% from then,” says Air Canada spokesperson Peter Fitzpatrick. Transat, with its restart set for July 30,
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has seen bookings ramp up. "In recent weeks, we have seen an increase in demand from travellers and an increase in bookings, particularly for travel next winter and the following months,” says Transat spokesperson Debbie Cabana. She adds: “However, we urge the federal government to provide us with better visibility on the next steps of its recovery plan for the industry so that we can better plan our operations.” Meanwhile Sunwing’s winter sun sales for 2021 – 2022 are already surpassing 2019 sales trends, Sunwing’s Chief Marketing Officer, Samantha Taylor, told Travelweek recently. Sunwing will resume partial service to select sun destinations from Toronto and Montreal on July 30. “ONLY THE FIRST STEP” McPherson, whose client saw her Dreams sun resort package shoot up in price in recent weeks, says she’s had a lot more resort requests for later in fall 2021, and February and March 2022 too. “I’ve been warning my clients of the ‘travel tsunami’ and to not wait but many were not comfortable until they knew more about the quarantine,” she says. “Although it is another positive sign that we are coming out of this pandemic, the recent announcement [about the July 5 eased travel restrictions] is only the first step of many needed for the travel world to rebound,” she adds. “Suppliers need to rehire and train a lot of staff. Governments need to decide on and operationalize the vaccine documentation process. Airports need to quickly come up to speed on how to safely and efficiently move the increased number of travellers through once international flights resume.” It's a long list of items. And here's one more: replacing the blanket ban on all non-essential travel with country-by-country guidance, as the U.S. did months ago. Got a story idea? Questions or comments? Write to us at editorial@travelweek.ca
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ACITA turns one: A look back on its growth and accomplishments By Cindy Sosroutomo TORONTO — It’s hard to believe that after forming ACITA a year ago, the three founding members have still not met one another. Thanks to the global pandemic and lockdown measures, Judith Coates of The Travel Agent Next Door in Orillia, Nancy Wilson of Leisure Life Holiday in Ottawa, and Brenda Slater of Beyond the Beach in Tiny, Ontario have been forced to meet virtually, like everyone else in the travel industry, during these past 15 months. But it’s also through the magic of Zoom that ACITA (Association of Canadian Independent Travel Advisors) has been able to make an indelible impact in such a short amount of time. June 26 marked a full year since the organization’s very first Zoom meeting with MP Michael Barrett, Leeds-Grenville-Thousand Islands and Rideau Lakes. Since then ACITA has held close to 250 virtual meetings with various MPs as part of its ongoing advocacy efforts on behalf of Canada’s 12,000+ Independent Travel Advisors, a huge accomplishment considering Coates, Wilson and Slater had no previous political experience. “I say it all the time, we’re just three wee chicas who sell travel, that’s what we do,” Slater told Travelweek during an exclusive interview. “So if we can do it seriously and we can mobilize all of these people across the country, anybody can do it. It just takes a lot of one people.” RAPID GROWTH For ACITA, a chance encounter started it all. In March 2020, Flemming Friisdahl, founder of The Travel Agent Next Door, encouraged Coates to request a meeting with her MP since at that time, Independent Travel Advisors were not being considered for any government funding. After three months of waiting to see whether the federal government would clue in, Coates finally reached out to Bruce Stanton, MP-Simcoe-North in June and secured a meeting, then invited other Independent Travel Advisors via Facebook to join in. It was during that fateful initial Zoom call where 6 | TRAVELWEEK | June 30, 2021
ACITA's founding members, from top left: Judith Coates, Brenda Slater and Nancy Wilson
Coates first met Wilson and Slater. After a post-meeting chat, the three formed an easy alliance and agreed to join forces in their advocacy efforts. ACITA was quickly born and soon enough, they were generating quite a bit of buzz in the industry. “We asked our travel advisor colleagues and shared the information on other travel agent groups to get the word out. The biggest advantage we had was word of mouth and specifically through the host agencies. When advisors who weren’t constituents joined a call, we invited them to share the information about our group and what we were doing with agents in their host agencies. That really helped spread the word,” said Wilson. The plan worked. Within six months, ACITA’s membership skyrocketed to 1,000 strong and after a year it now boasts 1,800 members, all Independent Travel Advisors. Salaried agents, agency and business owners and media are all prohibited from joining to ensure the authenticity of the group. With a growing team, ACITA was able to reach out to MPs across the country more quickly and more efficiently to advocate for financial aid and commission protections. Rumours swirled for months last year of government bailout plans for Canada’s airlines that
were contingent on the airlines offering refunds to all passengers whose travel plans were cancelled by COVID-19. Refunds, of course, would mean commission recalls for travel advisors so time was of the essence to connect with as many MPs as possible and bring the plight of travel advisors – both salaried and independent – to the forefront of the conversation. How did they do this? ACITA provided their members with customizable email templates and talking points that they could, in turn, use during meetings with their MPs. Coates, Wilson and Slater also opened up their own MP meetings to allow members to listen in, which was a huge motivating factor for members to take up their own advocacy efforts. “By the end of August or September, we were starting to have the same regulars jumping on calls and now ultimately, we have a small crew of people who are helping us,” said Wilson. “As you can well imagine, we’re doing this voluntarily, in addition to our own businesses, and not getting paid for it. It was starting to become a bit hard to manage, with some weeks being 50hour weeks. So it’s great that we had all these people step up and say, ‘how can I help?’”
TOP NEWS MAJOR ACCOMPLISHMENTS Another upside to having a bigger team is having more people to celebrate accomplishments with, and ACITA had several over the past year. The biggest one is commission protection, first announced by Air Canada on April 12 and then Transat on April 29 following their respective funding agreements with the federal government. By then ACITA had spent several months relaying to MPs how dire it was for Independent Travel Advisors to have their commissions protected so when two of Canada’s major airlines came forward with the news, it was a major victory celebrated by all its members. “We know that they would never have entertained the idea,” said Slater. “The thing about the politicians is that they didn’t understand how our business works and they didn’t understand the connotations of refunds. They didn’t know that it meant taking back our revenue from 2019 and early 2020 and the airlines weren’t about to tell them. “ACITA was on it, ACTA was also, it was coming at them from all angles. But where we differed from ACTA was that we were extremely vocal in the House of Commons and busy talking to MPs and getting them to talk about us in the House of Commons, whereas ACTA was coming at them from the back end, from the policymaker point of view. “So when they use the term ‘Independent Advisors’ in the House of Commons, it’s because we put that in their ears and for no other reason. We don’t always get the pats on the back from our community but we certainly do get them from the House of Commons.” Another big ‘get’ for ACITA this past year was a virtual sit-down with Minister of Transport Omar Alghabra on March 29. After efforts to meet with his predecessor, former Minister of Transport Marc Garneau, proved unsuccessful, Coates, Wilson and Slater were all “thrilled” when the door opened to have a one-on-one with Minister Alghabra less than two months after he took over the post. Though Wilson says he was “very careful” during the meeting to not make any promises regarding the lifting of travel restrictions and providing financial aid for travel advisors, he at least made them feel heard and, more importantly, valued. “He made it very clear that he knew about us before the meeting had even happened and that he knew about the issue of commission protection,”
says Wilson. “He really reassured us that they understood the critical factor of it all and that it was definitely being addressed as part of ongoing negotiations. And I think our meeting gave him that extra understanding of us to the point where he stood up in the House and mentioned specifically Independent Travel Advisors. We had heard quite a few people speaking in the House by that point but to have somebody of his stature mentioning us made us feel like that was an accomplishment.”
ACITA has held close to 250 virtual meetings with various MPs, a huge accomplishment considering Coates, Wilson and Slater had no previous political experience. ACITA worked just as hard at securing a seat at the table with FINA, the federal government’s Standing Committee on Finance, before which they appeared as witnesses at one of its Committee meetings to address the issue of commission recalls. It was shortly after that meeting that Air Canada announced it would be issuing refunds to eligible customers and protecting agent commissions. NEXT ON THE AGENDA & AFTER THE PANDEMIC With several victories already under its belt, ACITA is now looking forward to new issues it can lend its voice to. Next on the agenda is the Ontario Tourism Travel Small Business Support Grant, which according to Coates is leaving Independent Travel Advisors out in the cold. As reported this month by Travelweek, applicants for the grant must have a TICO registration number. But for Independent Travel Advisors, their TICO number belongs to their host agency, which prevents more than one Independent Travel Advisor from the same host agency to apply for the grant. “There’s a huge flaw there and we think they just didn’t realize that that was going to be a huge roadblock,” says
Coates, adding that ACITA was scheduled to meet with the Assistant Deputy Minister of the Tourism Ministry of Ontario, to discuss the issue ahead of the grant’s deadline. “They’re finally listening to us because we’ve done huge email campaigns with them as well.” Beyond this and the pandemic, what’s next for ACITA? Will it still be around once travel resumes and everything goes back to normal? Coates says bookings are already picking up for 2022 and 2023 and that the three founding members are trying to determine how to juggle their respective businesses with ongoing advocacy efforts. “We realize that there’s going to be a tipping point when we’ll have to start pulling back a little from ACITA. But going forward when the pandemic’s over, there are always going to be issues with our Independent Travel Advisors so we definitely plan to stick around.” Some of these issues, post-pandemic, may include new questions about how commissions are paid out and whether regulation is needed to protect them, should another pandemic occur. Slater also notes that the travel industry works differently province by province, and that host agencies also have varying rules, commission splits and fees. This begs the question whether there’s a need for more public information to ensure each province and host agency is in line with each other, “to keep everybody honest,” says Slater. In anticipation of all these issues, Slater adds that the three founders are getting their management team more involved in taking on projects and moderating the group. This ‘passing of the torch,’ so to speak, will help ensure that the work will continue and that Independent Travel Advisors remain part of any conversation going forward in the travel industry. As noted in ACITA’s hashtag, #WeAreNotDoneYet, the group’s influence and impact will continue long after the pandemic. “The perception has always been the agency was king and that agents were just the little people, with outside agents being an afterthought,” says Slater. “But now almost half, if not more, are independent advisors and we’re really the ones driving the bus on where revenues get spent with which suppliers. Hopefully we’ll be able to maintain some kind of influence in the industry and make it better in the long run.” June 30, 2021 | TRAVELWEEK | 7
WORLD NEWS
CRUISING Celebrity Cruises’ Celebrity Edge set sail from Ft. Lauderdale on June 26, becoming the first cruise ship to sail from a U.S. port in more than a year. Captain Kate McCue, the first and still only American female to captain a major cruise ship, set a course for Mexico and the Bahamas on the history-making departure. “It’s not only a huge honour to be the first ship back in the water, leading the industry in the long-awaited return to U.S.-based cruising, it’s also an incredible achievement and testament to the tireless efforts of our shoreside team and onboard crew," said Richard Fain, Chairman of the Royal Caribbean Group, the parent company of Celebrity Cruises. Windstar Cruises has resumed operations. Carrying fully vaccinated guests and crew onboard, the 148-maximum guest Wind Star, embarked on a seven-day roundtrip voyage to the Greek Isles, visiting Nafplio, Monemvasia, Patmos, Santorini and Mykonos. Windstar plans for the yacht to sail the itinerary on near-weekly dates through October. Windstar is returning to operations in a phased manner, with its fleet of six yachts debuting on various dates through November. In addition to being vaccinated against COVID-19, passengers will be required to follow health and safety precautions such as testing, social distancing and mask wearing Uniworld Boutique River Cruises
It's time for New York City
DESTINATIONS New York City is going on a promotional blitz, launching its largest-ever global tourism marketing and advertising campaign to promote all that the Big Apple has to offer. The unprecedented US$30 million tourism recovery campaign from NYC & Co., dubbed ‘It’s Time for New York City,’ is being rolled out as restrictions continue to be lifted. The first of three phases launched on June 24. The campaign comes as New York City expects to welcome 36.1 million visitors this year, recapturing more than half of its record 66.6 million visitors in 2019.
AIRLINES
Uniworld Boutique River Cruises has become the first North American river cruise line to resume operations in Europe since the start of the pandemic. The newly transformed Super Ship S. S. La Venezia departed on its inaugural sailing from Venice with President & CEO Ellen Bettridge onboard. Uniworld is taking all necessary precautions to ensure passengers are comfortable and has enhanced its already stringent security and sanitation protocols. The protocols include a face scanner to identify guests and take their temperature each time they board the ship, mandatory mask wearing in hallways and public spaces (but not while outside or seated), booth seating in the dining room and no self-service in dining areas, as well as enhanced disinfecting and air filtration systems. 8 | TRAVELWEEK | June 30, 2021
Air France has become the first airline to test IATA’s new Travel Pass app at Montréal-Trudeau airport. In collaboration with the Biron Health Group, from June 24 through July 15, the airline will operate the trial program on outbound flights from Montreal to Paris-Charles de Gaulle airport. Air France’s trial is free of charge for customers and offered on a voluntary basis, and open to customers travelling on Air France-operated flights with Paris as a final destination. Eligible passengers will receive a notification a few days before departing for Paris. TAP Air Portugal has announced the resumption of operations from all nine of its North American gateway cities, including Toronto and Montreal. Next month the airline will ramp up to twice daily service to Lisbon from Newark and daily service from Boston, Toronto and Washington, D.C. Montreal will also return in July, with four weekly flights. These schedules will remain in effect through October.
NEWS
“We’re excited for our future” says Sunwing in wake of refunds announcement TORONTO — Sunwing aims to give travel agents all the resources they need to help clients get their refunds for COVID-19-impacted bookings. “Our goal is to equip agents with as much information as possible so they can smoothly navigate the refund process on behalf of their clients,” Sunwing spokesperson Melanie Filipp told Travelweek in the wake of the much-anticipated news about Sunwing's revised refund policy. “We are conducting direct outreach to the travel agent community to let them know about eligibility requirements, the refund process, and providing them with extensive FAQs to help them field common inquiries both they and their clients may have,” she said. “This is in addition to posting key information and resources on our travel agent portal, including a direct link to the refund request form, and a notification on our ‘Sunwing – Exclusively for Agents’ Facebook page.” Sunwing's revised refund policy now includes non-refundable bookings cancelled by COVID-19. Customers with non-refundable bookings whose vacations were cancelled due to the
COVID-19 pandemic, and who have received a future travel credit or opted to use their Worry Free cancellation waiver and received travel vouchers, can request a full refund to their original form of payment. The new policy applies to hotels, flights and vacation packages booked on or before June 25, 2021 for scheduled travel from February 1, 2020 onwards. To request a refund, eligible customers and travel agents are asked to submit a request through Suwning's online COVID-19 refund request form by August 27, 2021. Sunwing's new agreement with the Canada Enterprise Emergency Funding Corporation (CEEFC), in addition to its February 2021 agreement, gives the company access to a repayable loan worth up to $100 million, under the Large Employer Emergency Financing Facility (LEEFF), with the goal of providing financing for customer refunds. As part of the agreement, travel agent commissions will not be recalled. Sunwing is the latest Canadian carrier to announce refunds for COVID-19 impacted travel plans. Filipp told Travelweek: “We are confident that agents and customers alike will be pleased with [this] announcement. We have been working diligently behind the scenes to support those with non-refundable bookings whose travel was cancelled amid the pandemic and are glad we have reached an agreement with the government to provide the fi-
nancing needed for customer refunds.” She added: “We know that the entire agent community has been busy fielding inquiries on refunds during the pandemic, so this announcement will help them directly address and alleviate customer concerns. In addition, we think agents will be very pleased to hear that commissions will not be recalled! We are thrilled that we can continue to support our valued travel agent community as part of our financing agreement.” Regular terms and conditions will apply to any refund requests made after 11:59 p.m. EST on August 27, 2021. Those who will not be eligible for a refund under the new policy include: customers who already received a refund, including a refund from an insurance provider; customers who received a refund from initiating a chargeback, or have a chargeback currently in progress; or customers who transferred their travel credit to another person not named on the booking. Customers who wish to keep their Sunwing Vacations travel credit may do so and can take advantage of incredible savings on their future dream getaway. Future travel credits are available for travel up to September 30, 2026. More information on the refund process and eligibility can be found on Sunwing’s website. “After a difficult 16 months for the travel industry, we’re excited for our future and grateful for the ongoing support and dedication from the agent community,” says Filipp.
Air Canada launches digital solution to verify COVID-19 test results MONTREAL — Air Canada has announced a new digital solution that will allow customers to securely scan, upload and verify their COVID-19 test results. Available via its mobile app, the feature is currently in a trial phase with the support of Amadeus, a leading travel technology company. It’s been available since June 29 for flights from Frankfurt to Toronto and Montreal, and will roll out across the airline’s network later this summer, pending reJune 30, 2021 | TRAVELWEEK | 9
NEWS sults of the trial, with new capabilities so that customers can also pre-validate proofs of vaccination. For the Frankfurt departure trial, the new solution accepts COVID-19 PCR test results from Centogene Labs in Germany. Capabilities to manage test results from other labs and also vaccination records will be introduced. The use of the new function by customers is optional. For users: • There is no requirement to download an application, as a link to submit documents will appear on the Air Canada mobile app or mobile website during check-in • Within 24 hours of departure, customers checking in on mobile can securely submit their test results by scanning a QR code of the Centogene lab test result • Customers will then receive a message verifying the test that will enable them to pass through the airport and board their flight without any further requirement to demonstrate the validity of their health documents • Customers must bring and retain their original documents for the duration of their journey “As travel resumes around the world, we’re proud to do our part to support government health protocols that protect passengers and safeguard local communities,” said Mark Nasr, Senior Vice President, Products, Marketing and eCommerce. “Once fully rolled out, this new function from Amadeus will make it easy for customers to securely submit their COVID-19 test results and records of vaccination for review ahead of their flights. Pre-validation of those documents will streamline the airport experience, one of many ways Air Canada is focused on elevating the customer journey with touchless travel services.” Nasr added that the new service complements Air Canada’s Covid Information Hub featuring detailed information on travel requirements and testing. Based on Amadeus Traveler ID, which automates document verification for travellers in order to minimize queues, the new service also provides information about government health entry requirements of the destination country, and is compatible with other health passport applications currently under development around the world. 10 | TRAVELWEEK | June 30, 2021
WestJet's ready for summer 2021 with new domestic schedule CALGARY — WestJet is gearing up for a strong summer of domestic travel with restored connectivity and new routes. The airline has announced its plans for Ontario, B.C., Alberta, Saskatchewan and Atlantic Canada. "We continue to work towards the restoration of our pre-COVID domestic network to ensure that when our guests are ready to travel, we are there for them," said John Weatherill, WestJet Chief Commercial Officer. "WestJet remains committed to building back stronger for the betterment of all Canadians and as we look ahead to reconnecting friends, family and loved ones, the safe restart of travel is essential to Canada's economic recovery." The news follows on WestJet's release of its first brand campaign video since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. Here's a look at WestJet's domestic offering for summer 2021, so far ... ONTARIO WestJet will inaugurate two new routes from Toronto and Ottawa to Comox and Victoria. This July, WestJet will offer nonstop service from Toronto to 26 cities, from Ottawa to five cities, from London to two cities and serve one city from Hamilton and Windsor. B.C. WestJet will usher in 10 new routes to and from B.C. by July 5, 2021. By the end of June, the airline is set to inaugurate new flights between Abbotsford and Prince George and restore WestJet Link service between Vancouver and
Cranbrook. This July, WestJet will offer nonstop service from Vancouver to 18 cities, from Victoria to eight cities, from Kelowna to seven cities, from Comox to four cities and from Nanaimo to three cities. From the communities of Kamloops, Penticton and Prince George, the airline will connect to two communities nonstop. ALBERTA WestJet will begin operating three new routes to and from Edmonton and begin nonstop service between Calgary and Charlottetown on July 29. The service connecting the two provinces was previously scheduled to start in June 2020. This July, WestJet will offer nonstop service from Calgary to 42 cities and from Edmonton to 16 cities. SASKATCHEWAN WestJet is further restoring Saskatchewan's domestic connectivity with the restoration and inauguration of five routes to and from destinations across Alberta and B.C. from Saskatoon and Regina. By the end of June the airline will begin its new nonstop flights from Saskatoon to Kelowna and Victoria. This July, WestJet will offer nonstop service from Saskatoon to seven cities and five cities from Regina. ATLANTIC CANADA WestJet's new nonstop service to Charlottetown from Calgary starts July 29. By the end of June, the airline is set to restore commercial air service to Sydney, N.S., Deer Lake and Gander, NL, with the restart of flights from Halifax and Toronto. This July, WestJet will offer nonstop service to Atlantic Canada from Halifax to six cities, from St. John's to three cities, from Charlottetown to two cities and from Moncton, Fredericton, Deer Lake, Gander and Sydney to one city.
NEWS
“We know the pent-up demand is going to be like nothing we’ve ever seen”: Brand USA’s Thompson TORONTO — Brand USA's 'USA Training Day' specifically for Canadian travel agents took place with possibly – hopefully - just weeks to go before the gradual reopening of the Canada-U.S. border gets underway. Chris Thompson, CEO and President, Brand USA told agents at the online event that he's cautiously optimistic as momentum builds towards a potential reopening of the border. “We welcome our friends and visitors back from Canada,” said Thompson in his opening remarks. “It's no surprise to any of you that Canada is our largest source market,” he said. “We have nearly 80 million visitors a year and a quarter of those come from our friends north of our border. So Canada always has been and will be a critical contributor to our return - to whatever 'the next normal' looks like.” Thompson said he’s “more optimistic than I’ve ever been about a future that’s a little brighter.” At the same time, he’s well aware that the key to restoring cross-border travel between Canada and the U.S. is reopening the border.
“I'm more optimistic than I’ve ever been about a future that’s a little brighter.” “I do have cautious optimism because, as we well know, there are still a lot of things that are outside of each of our control as it relates to impediments that have not allowed people to travel. Certainly a lot of that has to do with our two governments and them getting together and getting the border open ... so we're optimistic,” he said. The Canada-U.S. border is closed until July 21, however based on recent remarks by Prime Minister Trudeau, it's possible this could be the last closure renewal. “Now's the time to plan, assuming
that's going to happen,” Thompson told agents. He added: “We know the pent-up demand is going to be like nothing we’ve ever seen.” Even when the border reopens, said Thompson, a critical component to get travel started again is gaining the consumer's confidence. Thompson says the rapid return to a robust domestic travel market in the U.S. underlines the country's competence in getting travel restarted safely, which should help build confidence levels for international visitors, including Canadians. Thompson wrapped up his opening remarks with a shout out to travel agents attending USA Training Day: “Thank you for your commitment, and thank you for all you’re going to do in the months ahead. We look forward to welcoming everybody back here with open arms.” USA Training Day gave Canadian agents an opportunity to learn more about U.S. destinations from Brand USA’s receptive tour operator partners, and also hear from Donald Leadbetter, Tourism Program Manager for the U.S. National Park Service. Agents will also had the chance to win travel prizes. All pre-recorded content will be translated into French. Attendees also learned about Brand USA's resources for the travel trade…. . Brand USA’s travel trade website is the official resource for USA Travel Trade planning, where agents can find inspiration and information to help book more travel to the USA. . Insider Guides road trip itinerary ideas provide inspirational and bookable road trip itineraries. . Brand USA’s Travel Trade Toolkit offers images, videos, print ads, and banner ads, which agents can customize to their individual needs. To access images and videos, agents must have a MediaValet account. New users can register here. . USA Discovery Program is Brand USA’s online training platform. . GoUSA TV is what Brand USA calls the premier travel entertainment streaming platform. It’s available on GO Transit, Plex, Reach TV, iOS, Android, Android TV, Roku, Apple TV, Amazon Fire, and Google Chromecast without a subscription, fees, or login required. Launching new programming on a monthly basis, the GoUSA TV lineup inspires travellers to explore the USA’s must-see places, great outdoors, foodie hot spots, and road trips.
Discover the World to handle SIA's sales and marketing across Canada TORONTO — Discover the World is taking over responsibility for sales and marketing across Canada for Singapore Airlines, effective July 1, 2021. The move follows retirement news from Les Kovacs, SIA's Sales Manager Canada. Discover the World has provided sales representation to Singapore Airlines in Mexico for over 25 years, and more recently in Czech Republic and Slovakia. Building on the foundation that Singapore Airlines has established in Canada, Discover the World will leverage its local knowledge to continue to grow awareness of Singapore Airlines, and increase revenues, says Discover the World's CEO, Ian Murray. “We are extremely proud to play such an important role in the representation of Singapore Airlines in the Canada market and are very much looking forward to bringing our deep market knowledge and experience into play,” says Murray. Singapore Airlines has been ranked as the world's best airline by Skytrax four times and has topped Travel & Leisure's best airline rankings for more than 20 years. The airline is known for its industry-leading service and amenities across all cabin classes. Says Jane Clementino, Director of Discover the World Canada: "This is an exciting opportunity! Singapore Airlines is a premium brand and continues to set the bar for all airlines globally. The Canadian Discover the World team is well positioned to strategically grow sales and provide exceptional service with our national coverage, dynamic partnerships and extensive expertise.” Chee Chian Seah, SIA's VP Western USA, adds: “For decades, Canada has been an important market for Singapore Airlines, and we are confident that this new appointment will continue to build on our long-standing tradition of providing expert, personalized support to our industry and trade partners. SIA remains firmly committed to the Canadian market and to continuing to be of service to travel agents, corporate travel managers, and to business and leisure travellers throughout the country.” June 30, 2021 | TRAVELWEEK | 11
NEWS
Sandals Royal Bahamian announces further expansion, now opening in January MONTEGO BAY — Sandals has pushed back the reopening date of Sandals Royal Bahamian to allow for the completion of further enhancements to this award-winning, private-island Bahamian resort. Originally scheduled to reopen on Nov. 4, Sandals Royal Bahamian in Nassau will now reopen its doors on Jan. 27, 2022 following a multi-million-dollar renovation that now includes an innovative new concept called Coconut Grove. In addition to the already-announced river suites and refurbishment of over 200 rooms and suites, Coconut Grove will be an expansive lounge area that will complement the resort’s latest innovations. A reimagination of its famed private island, Sandals Cay, the new area will be shaded by coconut palms and feature a new gastronomic experience. The resort will remain closed while construction is underway so as not to intrude upon the guest experience. “Moving the opening date from Nov. 4 was a very difficult decision,” said Sandals Resorts International (SRI) Executive Chairman Adam Stewart. “While we could reopen much of the resort, worldwide demand for commodities and supply chain disruptions are delaying our ability to complete the project’s full scope. Keeping this hotel under wraps until it is absolutely ready is the right thing to do. We’re in an environment of great expectation and when our guests arrive, it will be a place of Caribbean calm and cool that will definitely have been worth the wait.” Guests with reservations at Sandals Royal Bahamian during its closure will be accommodated at the available Sandals Resorts location of their choice including Sandals Emerald Bay in Great Exuma for guests wishing to keep their reservation in the Bahamas. Sandals will assume all airline change fees. For more information contact your local Sandals BDM or call Inside Sales at 1-800-545-8283. 12 | TRAVELWEEK | June 30, 2021
Paddle boarding at North Carolina's Hammocks Beach State Park
Win a trip to North Carolina with Visit NC's new contest for travel agents TORONTO — What better way to celebrate Canada Day and the start of summer than with a contest? Visit North Carolina wants to wish all of its travel agent partners a Happy Canada Day – and to do that, they're launching a contest with travel agents in mind. To enter, visit the contest landing page at https://www.travelweek.ca/ contests/get-back-to-a-better-placein-north-carolina-contest/, where you'll find a question about North Carolina. Then head to VisitNC.com - that's where you'll find the answer. Go back to the contest landing page and enter your answer for your chance to win. It's that easy! The contest runs June 30 – July 25, 2021. Here's the prize, valued at Cdn$4,000: a holiday for two to North Carolina with airfare, car rental and hotel. “The trip could be your ticket to get back better place, to restore inner peace and inspire the return of your own best self,” says Visit North Carolina. The prize trip showcases North Carolina to full effect. It starts with time in Raleigh, a city to savour for culinary excellence, in everything from barbecue to farm-fresh fare from celebrated chefs. Then it's time to go with the flow of craft beer and creativity on a journey from a downtown humming with energy to a museum park that expands the mind across 65 hectares. Next up: the Outer Banks, a destination shaped by the winds. Wondrous beauty
and monumental history await with dune-lined beaches, towering lighthouses, and adventure borne on air and water. Ready to get back to a better place, and find yourself in North Carolina? Start at VisitNC.com. And for more North Carolina vacation inspiration, check out these trip ideas from Visit North Carolina... Immersive mountain beauty: Lighten your load of worries as you hike to the loftiest peaks in Eastern North America and drink in the view at hundreds of waterfalls. Beaches that sweep you off your feet: Dunes line a 515-kilometre Atlantic shoreline where wild horses, climbable lighthouses, and adventure plays out on land, in the water and in the air. Cities of invention (and reinvention): Take inspiration from artists, scientists, and culinary craftsmen who shape forward-looking experiences from the storied past. Glorious golf: Place yourself on courses designed and played by the best in the sport. In the Pinehurst area, the 'home of American golf,' find the fabled Pinehurst No. 2 among 40 courses in a 25-kilometre radius. The Brunswick Islands offer more than 30 championship courses, and the mountains tee up jaw-dropping views at Sequoyah National in Cherokee, the Omni Grove Park Inn in Asheville, and other spots.
NEWS
Switzerland and Germany reopen to fully vaccinated Canadian travellers TORONTO — Add Switzerland and Germany to the list of European countries that have reopened to fully vaccinated Canadian travellers. Pascal Prinz, Director Canada for Switzerland Tourism, says the Swiss government has outlined the return to normality after the global pandemic including the complete opening to international guests and the full opening of tourist infrastructures including restaurants, events and leisure facilities. Switzerland Tourism is already actively present in Toronto to provide information about existing protection measures and rules, as well as travel opportunities in Switzerland for the summer and autumn 2021, Prinz adds. “We are very happy to welcome fully vaccinated Canadian guests back in Switzerland. Our campaign with Vancouver-based photographer Callum HKS_7x4-875in_EN_062021_op.pdf 1 8/6/2021 Snape showcases why Canadians will love
reconnecting with friends and family in the heart of Europe. Hike and bike in the Swiss Alps, explore our boutique towns, swim in our turquoise lakes, discover in our four language regions and ride our scenic trains along palm trees and stunning glaciers,” says Prinz. Canadians who can prove that they are fully vaccinated can now travel to Switzerland without quarantine or PCR tests. Upon return to Canada local regulations apply. Canada’s new eased restrictions for fully vaccinated Canadians take effect July 5. More information about Switzerland reopening to fully vaccinated Canadian travellers can be found at MySwitzerland.com/trade. Germany is also allowing entry of fully vaccinated travellers, from countries outside of the EU. According to an update sent out by Anja Brokjans, Director, German National Tourist Office in Canada, 14 days after they received their last required vaccine dose, travellers may enter Germany for any valid purpose – e.g. as a tourist or to visit family and friends – provided that they meet the general 14:15:59 requirements of residence law accord-
ing to the German Embassy. Travellers need to have been vaccinated with one of the vaccines listed on the website of the Paul-Ehrlich-Institut to benefit from the eased restrictions. Currently, only vaccines approved by the European Medicines Agency (EMA) are recognized (https://www.pei.de/ impfstoffe/covid-19). More vaccines that offer a similar level of protection will be added to the list as soon as the necessary evaluations are completed, says Brokjans. Entering Germany from virus variant areas of concern is still not permitted. The rules of the Ordinance on Coronavirus Entry Regulations (CoronavirusEinreiseverordnung), including the ban on transport from areas of variants of concern, continue to apply in full, says the GNTB. More information, in particular about the requirements for proof of vaccination, is available on the BMI website at: https://www.bmi.bund.de/ corona-faqs. The GNTB's 2021 international campaigns, just recently launched, are: German.Local.Culture, Feel Good and German.Spa.Tradition.
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NEWS
Sunwing prepares for takeoff with sun destination flights from Toronto and Montreal TORONTO — Sunwing plans to resume partial service to select sun destinations from Toronto and Montreal, starting July 30, 2021. Sunwing’s initial lineup of destinations includes Cancun, Punta Cana, Varadero and Montego Bay. Sunwing’s initial flight schedule from Toronto Pearson International Airport will be as follows: • Between Toronto and Cancun, on Fridays and Sundays starting July 30, 2021 and on Saturdays starting August 21, 2021 • Between Toronto and Punta Cana, on Saturdays starting July 31, 2021 and on Fridays starting Aug. 20, 2021 • Between Toronto and Varadero, on Mondays starting Aug. 2, 2021 • Between Toronto and Montego Bay, on Sundays starting Aug. 22, 2021 The initial flight schedule from Montréal-Trudeau International Airport will be as follows: • Between Montreal and Cancun, on Fridays and Sundays starting July 30, 2021 • Between Montreal and Punta Cana, on Saturdays starting July 31, 2021 • Between Montreal and Varadero, on Mondays starting Aug. 2, 2021 Additional flights and routes may be added in the coming weeks to reflect consumer demand. Travellers can also look forward to more gateways and destinations for the fall/winter season, with departures onboard Sunwing Airlines from various Canadian cities beginning in October 2021. With the company’s Safe with Sunwing commitment, clients can travel with peace of mind knowing that the highest Canadian standards are in place throughout their entire vacation experience. Safe with Sunwing was developed under the advisement of global healthcare leader Medcan. In addition, customers who book between now and July 5, 2021 will receive complimentary COVID-19 Emergency Medical Insurance for departures until Oct. 31, 2021. “After a difficult year, we’re excited that Sunwing Airlines will be returning 14 | TRAVELWEEK | June 30, 2021
to the skies with initial service from two of our busiest gateways,” said Andrew Dawson, President of Tour Operations for Sunwing. “With vaccines rolling out across the country and borders reopening, we’re seeing a significant increase in demand for travel nationwide. We’re excited to be offering our customers frictionless vacation experiences under our wing and helping them return to the tropics safely and responsibly under our Safe with Sunwing commitment.”
Carnival's adding two more ships to its fleet by 2023 MIAMI — Carnival plans to grow its fleet by two additional ships by 2023. The cruise line will take delivery of an Excel-class ship that had previously been assigned to sister line AIDA Cruises that will arrive in late 2023. Carnival will also take ownership of Costa Magica from Costa Cruises. That ship will go through a dry dock, renaming and Carnival-branded conversion and join the fleet by mid-2022. These two ships are in addition to the new capacity growth represented by Mardi Gras, Carnival’s first Excel-class, liquefied natural gas (LNG)-powered ship which starts sailing from Port Canaveral on July 31 and sister ship, Carnival Celebration, which will be delivered and sail from Miami starting in late 2022, as part of Carnival’s 50th birthday festivities. The addition of these four ships will bring the Carnival fleet to 27 by yearend 2023. “We are excited about these additions to our fleet which reflect the strong position that Carnival has established in the U.S., the pent-up demand we continue to see for cruise vacations, and the overall plans by Car-
Costa Magica will join Carnival’s fleet
nival Corporation to optimize capacity and growth in key markets,” said Carnival's President, Christine Duffy. “While our immediate focus is on our restart of guest operations this summer, this is another cause for excitement at Carnival, and we will be announcing more detailed plans about homeports, itineraries and ship names very soon.” Meanwhile Carnival's parent company, Carnival Corporation, announced that eight of its nine brands are resuming guest operations in the U.S., Caribbean and Europe, with sailings announced on 42 ships to date through the end of fiscal year 2021. The lineup of currently planned sailings represents 52% of the corporation’s total fleet capacity returning by the end of the fiscal year.
“We are excited about these additions to our fleet which reflect the strong position that Carnival has established in the U.S.” "For all of our brands, our highest responsibility and top priorities are always compliance, environmental protection, and the health, safety and well-being of our guests, our shipboard and shoreside employees, and the communities we visit," said Roger Frizzell, Carnival Corp.’s chief communications officer. "We are excited to see eight of our world-leading cruise line brands sailing this summer, and to date, we’ve announced over half of our capacity returning by the end of the fiscal year, as we work to meet significant pent-up demand for cruising and get back to what we do best – serving our guests with one of the world's most popular vacations."
NEWS
After another virtual AGM, ACTA has its board of directors for 2021 - 2022
Jamaica to host first-ever Virtual Product Showcase for Canadian agents KINGSTON — The Jamaica Tourist Board (JTB) will be hosting its first-ever Virtual Product Showcase, an exclusive one-day-only destination experience for Canadian retail agents. Taking place July 20 from 1-3 p.m. EDT on Zoom, the showcase will include destination presentations from the BDM team and suppliers as well as breakout rooms where agents can connect with resort representatives, tour operators, attractions, airlines and ground services. Participating suppliers include Air Canada Vacations, WestJet, Sunwing, TravelBrands, Ocean Hotels, Blue Diamond Resorts, Tryall Club and Transat. In addition to learning about the latest destination news and resources, including updates on the Jamaica Travel Specialist program, participants will have multiple chances to win complimentary hotel stays, island tours and more prizes. “We look forward to connecting with our valued travel agent partners this summer for our first-ever Virtual Product Showcase,” said Angella Bennett, Regional Director, Canada, Jamaica Tourist Board. “While we wish we could meet in person, this engaging and interactive platform will provide us with a unique opportunity to bring together agents from across the country to participate in an afternoon of destination education, networking, games and in-
credible prizes.” Travel agents are invited to pre-register for the Jamaica Virtual Product Showcase at visitjamaica.com/canada/ showcase. To further keep Jamaica top of mind among travel agents, the JTB team is also hosting seasonally-inspired giveaways this summer.
“While we wish we could meet in person, this engaging and interactive platform will provide us with a unique opportunity to bring together agents from across the country.” With the Jamaica Short Story contest (open until Aug. 15), travel agents can write a short story about their most unforgettable Jamaican memories and experiences for a chance to win one of three cash prizes. Agents can upload their island-inspired stories (1,000 words or less) at visitjamaica.com/ canada/contest. For more information about Jamaica’s ongoing engagement initiatives and giveaways for Canadian travel agents, including the Irie Hour virtual program and Jamaica Training University, go to visitjamaica.com/canada.
TORONTO — For the second year in a row ACTA’s AGM was a virtual event, presided over by Mary Jane Hiebert CTC, Chair of the ACTA Board of Directors. ACTA’s year-end results allowed the organization to manage the anticipated losses in 2021 and as government subsidies wind down, ACTA President Wendy Paradis says ACTA will work closely with the Board Finance Committee to ensure that ACTA continues to be sustainable into 2022 and beyond. ACTA Treasurer Louise Gardiner presented the financial statements and Auditor’s Report for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2020. The timing of the pandemic was such that ACTA had already collected the majority of revenue from membership and partnerships. In addition the ACTA board worked with ACTA management to make strategic decisions to effectively manage priorities and resources to better position the organization in the months and years ahead. At the end of 2020, the decision was made to not renew the office lease, and two staff positions were eliminated. ACTA was eligible for wage and rent subsidies which reduced expenses. At the June 23 AGM Hiebert thanked ACTA’s current board of directors for continuing to serve for an extended term while the travel industry copes with the ongoing COVID-19 challenges. Hiebert also thanked outgoing directors André Desmarais, Andrew Enns, Eric Holenka and Michael Thompson. Members voted on the nine positions available to the Board of Directors and the newly elected Board of Directors appointed three positions, to round out the 12-person Board. Here’s a look at the ACTA Board of Directors for the year 2021-2022: Mary Jane Hiebert CTC – Chair, representing Manitoba/Nunavut region Liz Fleming – Vice Chair, representing British Columbia/Yukon region Louise Gardiner CTM, – Treasurer, Director at Large Peter Keyter, representing Alberta/ Northwest Territories region Karen Schabel CTM, representing Saskatchewan region Mike Foster CTC, representing Ontario June 30, 2021 | TRAVELWEEK | 15
NEWS region Stéphane Corbeil, representing Québec region Glenda Hunter CTM, representing Atlantic region Richard Vanderlubbe, Director at Large Patrick Doyle, Appointed Monica Johnstone CTC, Appointed Brian Robertson, Appointed
Travel South USA names Reach Global Marketing as agency of record TORONTO — Travel South USA (TSUSA), the official destination marketing organization of U.S. southern state tourism offices, has named Reach Global Marketing Ltd. as its new agency of record. Canada is the top market for drive and fly-drive travel to the U.S. South. TSUSA says it has retained Reach to represent TSUSA partner states and elevate Travel South USA's Canadian presence through PR, social media and influencer promotions, and strategic partnerships. Says Liz Bittner, President and CEO of Travel South USA: "In 2019, we saw 2.89 million Canadians to the region. We know we need to strengthen our presence and enhance our strategy in preparation of the borders reopening and the shifts in consumer behaviour. Therefore, we are excited to work with the team at Reach Global in collaboration with other partners such as Brand USA and state agencies to leverage our resources to inspire and welcome Canadians back when they feel comfortable." Travel South USA will deploy digital marketing and social media/influencer programming in fall 2021 and host Canadian tour operators for International Showcase in November 2021. It will oversee a media mission to bring state tourism offices and city DMOs to Toronto and Montreal, Feb. 7 - 10, 2022. The Southern USA is known for its distinctive charm and unique seasonal offerings, highlighted by its pristine beaches, mountain views, lively music, historic sites, and delicious regional dishes alongside great weather and world-renowned southern hospitality: “We have the perfect holiday for travellers on a budget, seeking that au16 | TRAVELWEEK | June 30, 2021
thentic one-of-a-kind experience with bragging rights or those just ready to just relax and enjoy a bit of luxury.” Charmaine Singh, President & CEO of Reach Global, says the options are limitless. “There are hundreds of places Canadians can make plans. From a long-weekend getaway with girlfriends, golf, whitewater rafting or foodie trips with bourbon and moonshine, to planning a 10+ night holiday in the sunny south." says Singh. “Whether you're driving or renting a car upon arrival, we know Canadians are eager to experience all the flavours, outdoor adventures, and family fun available across the region. There is so much more to know about the South, and my team and I are excited to work to generate media and create partnerships that share these experiences.”
TuGo now offering COVID-19 coverage for both vaccinated and unvaccinated Canadians TORONTO — Canadian owned and operated travel insurance provider TuGo has announced COVID-19 coverage for both vaccinated and unvaccinated Canadian travellers. Having come into effect June 22, 2021, TuGo’s Emergency Medical In-
surance includes coverage, up to the policy limit, for COVID-19 medical and related expenses if the traveller: • Has been partially vaccinated with a Health Canada approved dose at least 14 days before their departure date • If available to them, they’ve received or scheduled any subsequent vaccine doses before departing • Isn’t yet eligible for a vaccine due to their age This coverage is applicable while the government of Canada’s level 3 travel advisory is in place, and travellers must follow their provincial/territorial health authority’s vaccination protocols. The company works with travel agents, says TuGo’s Senior Marketing Manager, Melissa Kaerne Manning. For Canadian travellers who are unvaccinated for any other reason than age, they can still get coverage by adding TuGo’s new COVID-19 Insurance – Unvaccinated plan to their Emergency Medical plan. The Unvaccinated plan includes COVID-19 emergency medical and related quarantine expenses during Canada’s level 3 travel advisory, with coverage up to $1 million, if the unvaccinated traveller tests positive for and is diagnosed with COVID-19 while on their trip. It also includes a Trip Interruption benefit if the Government of Canada’s travel advisory changes to a Level 4 (avoid all travel) during their trip and they choose to come home early. “Supporting the health, wellness and safety of all of our customers is para-
NEWS mount, whether they’re vaccinated or not,” said Brad Dance, TuGo’s Chief Customer Officer and the Travel Health Insurance Association’s Past President. “It’s never been more important to take the needs of our customers into consideration as we move out of a pandemic and into a busy travel year ahead. Having COVID-19 coverage is obviously a top concern so we’ve taken the steps to ensure that’s available for all those who are ready to travel.”
Resorts of Ontario's 2021 Great Escapes Guide now available TORONTO — Just in time for summer, Resorts of Ontario has released its 2021 Great Escapes Guide. With the focus on domestic vacations again this summer, the guide is a great resource for a variety of resort getaway options, says Resorts of Ontario. “Whether your client is a fishing enthusiast, a spa goer, a golfer, an outdoor explorer, or looking for family holidays, Ontario offers endless choices,” says the group. Adventures and packages outlined in the Great Escapes Guide can also be viewed at the website, ResortsofOntario. com. Resorts of Ontario has a message for travel agents: “We have always appreciated the collaborative travel partnership with you. Thank you for sharing, distributing and spreading the word on Resorting! Order your Great Escapes Guide today.” The guide can be ordered by emailing escapes @resortsofontario.com, or through Envoy at envoynetworks.ca.
TDC launches new Luxury program for travel professionals MONTREAL — Transat Distribution Canada (TDC) has launched a brand new luxury program that it says will better equip TDC’s network to sell this niche market. According to Louise Fecteau, General Manager of TDC, the program’s launch couldn’t have come at a better time, as a growing number of customers are
now enhancing their travel experience with more luxurious products. “The implementation of our luxury expert program is an important step that will allow travel professionals throughout the TDC network to showcase even better their high added value and, above all, allow them to take advantage of the market sector that is expected to have the highest growth rate by 2027,” she said.
“There is no shortage of ideas to promote this fascinating market segment and we will continue to work on many other marketing projects in the coming months.” “While TDC has many very active travel professionals in the luxury market, we hope that the program will open up new opportunities for as many of our advisors as possible by introducing them to this lucrative market and its almost limitless scope, which goes far beyond the products many are used to selling.” The new program is built around three main pillars: a compelling product offering, a dedicated and advanced training program, and strong marketing support.
Of the 70 or so preferred partners that TDC currently has, nearly 50 offer luxury products either partially or exclusively. New suppliers will be added as the needs of its members evolve, said Fecteau. As for the program’s training component, TDC has created an exclusive Master Class in three levels, each focused on a specific aspect that the advisor must develop. Hosted on its online training platform, TDC Campus, the Master Class is based on the following: ‘What to know’ about the luxury market, ‘How to act’ in order to properly sell luxury to clients, and ‘What to do’ to effectively market one’s expertise. At the end of training, travel advisors will be certified as an expert luxury consultant. Finally, in terms of marketing, all necessary tools will be provided to advisors, including posters and social media support. “And because this luxury certification adds even more value to doing business with a travel professional, we have developed a specific luxury variation of our ‘Value of a travel professional’ campaign for our new certified advisors,” added Fecteau. “There is no shortage of ideas to promote this fascinating market segment and we will continue to work on many other marketing projects in the coming months.” June 30, 2021 | TRAVELWEEK | 17
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