Travelweek - May 13th, 2021

Canada’s Travel Trade News May 13, 2021 travelweek.ca

Hopes high for Europe by fall 2021 Tourism boards weigh in on EU and England's plans pg. 3

Why travel shaming is still a thing, but won't be forever

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Canada's in dire need of a restart plan, say NACC and Air Canada Beaches & Baseball: Dunedin, FL waits for Canadians to return

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TOP NEWS

“We’re optimistic for an exceptionally strong fall season”: European tourism boards look ahead to the second half of 2021 for Canada rebound

by Kathryn Folliott TORONTO — As Europe signals its intentions to reopen to tourism this summer, even if it’s just within the EU’s 27-country bloc, the Canadian travel industry is looking on with optimism and not a little wistfulness.

With Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s promise that a ‘one-dose summer’ could at least allow for some easing of restrictions here at home, and that if all goes well, a ‘two-dose fall’ could bring Canada even closer to normal life, there’s a chance vaccinated Canadian travellers could be heading for Europe later in 2021.

In the meantime however, the travel industry here can do little else but wait for Canada’s travel restrictions to lift. And while Canadians dream of Europe for the fall and winter months, we may see our neighbours south of the border welcomed back as early as this summer, after EC President Ursula von der Leyen indicated that the EU could potentially reopen its borders to fully vaccinated Americans.

“If Canada has a similar system in place, this will greatly facilitate travel of Canadian citizens to their favourite European destinations,” says ETC's Prinz.

With so much still up in the air in terms of Canada's timeline for outbound travel, we checked in with several European tourism boards, to see what approach they’re taking when it comes to promotional campaigns for the Canadian market.

We also wanted to get their thoughts on vaccination passports, more commonly referred to these days as vaccination certificates, for international travel. The Digital Green Pass, the EU’s digital passport in this era of COVID-19, is making good progress through official channels. Meanwhile Canada’s

Spiez Castle, Switzerland

Health Minister Patty Hajdu has for months signalled Canada’s intention to collaborate with other G7 countries on a system of vaccination certification to help reopen international travel.

PASCAL PRINZ CHAIR, ETC CANADA DIRECTOR, CANADA FOR SWITZERLAND TOURISM The accelerating vaccination rollouts in Europe, the U.S. and Canada means tourism will start to pick up in Europe this summer, and “we’re optimistic for an exceptionally strong fall season,” says Pascal Prinz, Chair, European Travel Commission (ETC), Canada Chapter and Director, Canada for Switzerland Tourism.

“Canada seems to be around 2 months behind the U.S. in terms of relaunching travelling internationally. The reopening of the Canada-US border will be a key milestone.”

Prinz shared feedback he’s hearing from travel agents and suppliers. “Operators and agents are telling us that people are not just dreaming but also starting to look again for when the time is right and ask for more information.

They might not book yet, but they’re eager to travel when the time is right.”

The flexibility from airlines, tour operators, travel advisors and destinations has been a big help, he adds.

Group travel could be a tough sell, “but for FIT, such as travelling with friends, and family, we’re very optimistic.”

He points out that the EU’s Digital

Green Pass isn’t exclusively for confirming COVID-19 vaccination. It also covers people who have recovered from COVID-19 or have a negative test result. “It is a tool that would serve all travellers,” he says, adding that vaccination would not be an obligatory or sole condition for travel.

Just as important for Canada’s international travel restart, the Digital Green Pass proposal foresees the possibility to extend the system beyond the EU, to compatible certificates issued in other countries. “If Canada has a similar system in place, this will greatly facilitate travel of Canadian citizens to their favourite European destinations,” says Prinz.

The ETC is currently running a trade campaign to keep Europe top of mind for agents and operators: “We focus on passion points that Canadians love such as Europe’s outdoors, creative cities and history.”

When the time is right, Prinz adds, the ETC will also launch its consumerfacing campaign.

Asked for his recommendations for post-pandemic travel, Prinz has a top pick: the Grand Tour of Switzerland, by electric car, by train or a combination. “It’s the number one road trip in the Alps and a fantastic itinerary combining all the hidden gems and major sights in our country with palm trees, majestic glaciers, quirky wineries, creative cities, stunning Alpine passes, 12 UNESCO World Heritage Sites and friendly people.”

May 13, 2021 | TRAVELWEEK | 3

TOP NEWS PAUL GAUGER SENIOR VP AMERICAS VISITBRITAIN The UK government’s ‘traffic list’ system comes into effect May 17. Canada, the U.S., and most of the world’s countries are on the ‘amber’ list. There are currently 12 countries on the ‘green list’. Pre-arrival, amber list travellers including Canadians must complete a passenger locator form, take a COVID test and book and pay for day 2 and day 8 COVID tests. Upon arrival in England, there’s a quarantine requirement for 10 days, and the day 2 and day 8 COVID tests.

That’s the drill for arrivals to England.

Passengers arriving in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland should follow the rules for those countries.

VisitBritain is ready and waiting for restrictions to ease to launch new campaigns across its inbound tourism markets, “to compete hard for international visitors who are worth billions to our economy,” says VisitBritain.

There are plenty of top level events to woo Canadians back to Britain in 2022, including The Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games, HM The Queen’s Platinum Jubilee and Festival UK 2022.

Plus, Coventry City of Culture kicks off May 2021 and runs through May 2022.

For many Canadians, just knowing they can finally travel to one of their very favourite European destinations will be enough of a reason to head to the UK. “With the most recent announcement, the UK government is taking the first steps towards reopening tourism.

It is a consistent approach that prioritiZes the health and safety of UK citizens and international travellers,’ said Paul Gauger, Senior Vice President Americas VisitBritain.

Gauger adds: “Britain is a favourite destination for Canadian visitors, and VisitBritain continues to work across government and with tourism industry partners to move toward being able to Got a story idea? Questions or comments? Write to us at editorial@travelweek.ca

TRAVELWEEK

welcome back our Canadian friends and family. We will continue to update the Canadian tourism industry and Canadian travellers as guidelines change in the weeks to come.”

SANDRA MOFFAT MARKET MANAGER TOURISM IRELAND CANADA Tourism Ireland remains optimistic that it might still be possible to welcome Canadian visitors in the second half of 2021, when the time to travel is right and as travel restrictions are lifted.

In the meantime the team is inspiring visitors through social media and publicity activity to keep Ireland top of mind.

More than 4.5 million Canadians claim Irish heritage, so it’s no wonder that Tourism Ireland’s research shows that the Irish diaspora and people visiting friends and family will likely be first to return to the Emerald Isle. When travel does reopen, Ireland’s wide open spaces, outdoor adventure experiences, and luxury and self-catering accommodation options also makes Ireland well suited to a post-pandemic vacation. “The health and safety of all our visitors will be the priority, but we will ensure they are protected alongside a very warm Irish welcome and a great vacation experience,” says Sandra Moffat, Market Manager, Tourism Ireland (Canada).

Asked about vaccination certificates for international travel, Moffat says it’s likely that some form of vaccination passport will play a role in how people

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will travel, once restrictions are eased: “We welcome the fact that this is being discussed at EU level, and also recognize that there are a range of issues and concerns to be debated and considered.”

MELANIE PAUL-HUS DIRECTOR, CANADA ATOUT FRANCE France plans to welcome back European and international travellers starting June 9. It will be up to Canadians to decide when the time is right, says Melanie Paul-Hus, Director, Canada for Atout France. “We hope that lifting the essential travel only restriction would be a great first step and that by the end of 2021, immunized Canadians will start planning trips to France or its overseas regions,” she says.

On the consumer side, communication remains aspirational, at least until October 2021 when Paul-Hus says Atout France hopes to start promoting the French Caribbean. On the trade side, “we are still focusing our actions on networking to keep the trade in contact with our destinations and suppliers until the end of 2021.”

And what about vaccine certificates?

Says Paul-Hus: “The digital health certification has been announced by the French government but there are still details to be released before its implementation. Atout France thinks it’s an essential aspect to restart safe travel, even as a temporary measure.”

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TOP NEWS

Why travel shaming is still a thing, and why we won’t be stuck with it forever

by Kathryn Folliott TORONTO — It’s tricky enough these days making a living in the travel industry, without worrying about getting travel shamed for marketing your travel services - even for future travel - or getting pushback for taking vacations.

Travel shaming reached a high point (or, for the industry, a low point) at the start of 2021 when several politicians and others in the public eye were vilified for vacationing over the Christmas holidays with the advisory against non-essential travel still in place, and with most of Canada deep in the second wave.

Travel agents were targets of travel shaming too, especially on social media, where some followers were quick to weigh in with negative comments in reaction to posts about booking travel.

Agents who took fam trips in fall 2020 were often on the receiving end of these types of comments, sometimes even from travel industry colleagues.

Ultimately the rising COVID-19 numbers during the second wave, coupled with growing backlash against travel during the pandemic and fears for spiking caseloads with March Break on the horizon, led to the federal government securing agreements from Air Canada, WestJet, Sunwing and Transat in late January 2021 to temporarily suspend all winter sun flights. On the same day, the federal government also announced the 3-day hotel quarantine requirement as another layer added to Canada’s already considerable travel restrictions.

ONE TRAVEL AGENT’S EXPERIENCE Michelle Whalen, a travel agent with Uniglobe Enterprise Travel Ltd. in London, ON went to Mexico in November 2020 with a friend. “I held off telling friends, contacts and clients about it for fear of shaming,” says Whalen, adding that she didn’t share news about her Mexico trip until three or four months later, when she posted a video about it.

“In the video I did not name the friend I had gone away with for fear she would experience shaming. I know she did not tell her extended family, coworkers, and many friends that she had travelled. I had been debating whether 6 | TRAVELWEEK | May 13, 2021

to share it or not and a mentor encouraged me that clients want to hear our personal experiences.”

In posting the video, Whalen says she asked followers to help her maintain a positive, encouraging tone by going the private messaging route if they had any negative comments. She was also careful with her wording in the video. “I tried to be very sensitive and emphasize ‘when the time is right for you’, as opposed to ‘travel now’,” she says.

Whalen’s close attention to messaging has paid off. “When I review this past 12 months+ of posts and comments, there really hasn't been anything negative or shaming. Part of that is being sensitive in our messaging,” she says. “We've held back from promoting ‘book now, travel later’. The tone of our messaging has been posts that are inspirational or that highlight destinations. When I reviewed the past year or so, 95% of our content has been that focus. That messaging will continue for some time in 2021 as opposed to strongly offering future promotions.”

While there’s a lot of solidarity in the industry these days, not everyone is in agreement when it comes to promoting travel and taking vacations. “I do find that even within our industry our colleagues, fellow advisors are shaming and judgmental,” she says. “A couple of my colleagues who did travel also were very cautious sharing their experiences on social media.”

HOW LONG UNTIL TRAVEL SHAMING GOES AWAY? Now that Canada’s vaccination rollout is gaining momentum, there’s talk even beyond the travel industry about the need for a reopening plan. That’s true about the Canada-U.S. border especially, now that the U.S. is making such great strides with its own vaccination program.

Months or potentially even weeks down the line, as travel begins to reopen to and from Canada, will travel shaming kick into high gear again as those who feel it’s ‘still too soon’ judge others who feel ‘the time is right’?

Travelweek caught up with Dr. Alan Fyall, Graduate Programs’ Director at the Rosen College of Hospitality Management, University of Central Florida, to get his take on travel shaming from his vantage point south of the border, where domestic travel especially has very quickly ramped back up.

Q: Travel has started to reopen in the U.S., which is great. Even with those positive achievements, is travel shaming still happening?

Dr. Fyall: “The high rate of vaccinations across the U.S. in particular is helping to ‘normalize’ travel once again with so-called ‘travel shaming’ less obvious than it was even a month ago.

Yes, where irresponsible and reckless behaviour occur then the shaming is quick to follow but for those in the majority who are observing the guidelines in place, travel is becoming a pleasurable experience again.

TOP NEWS “Much of the shaming has been caused by frustrations of being in perpetual lockdown and seeing others, in other states or countries, getting back to some sense of normality. The frustrations in Europe in particular reflect the slow vaccination program with some sense of envy over those in the UK, Israel and the USA where vaccination programs are proving highly effective. Also, in states such as Florida where travel is such a huge contributor to the economy, travel is viewed in a positive light as the traveling population are contributing to the re-opening of the industry and so many peoples’ livelihoods.”

Q. What's your take on why travel shaming has become so rampant?

Dr. Fyall: “Much of the shaming is borne out of frustration with others benefiting from faster vaccination programs and a sense of envy that they in their own situation, a return to normality still seems to be a long way off. … With so many people still furloughed in many parts of the world, social media represents the one easy outlet to share frustrations when in reality …. most people would rather be travelling themselves!”

Q. Here in Canada it's very much still a no-travel situation, with multiple layers of very challenging travel restrictions. Many of our travel agent readers have been shamed on their social media accounts for even promoting travel for future. Are there ways to deal with this shaming in a polite and professional way?

Dr. Fyall: “Sensible travel, adhering to the guidelines in place, staying local, enjoying the natural environment are all ways to demonstrate that travel can be conducted safely. In addition, choosing brands that have made a huge effort to be safe, avoiding what you think may be crowded areas, and observing the simple ‘mask up’ mandates where they exist all help. As for avoiding travel shaming, it’s easy, avoid posting on social media until normality really has returned …. something that many travellers are undoubtedly doing already.”

Q. Will travel shaming go away when the pandemic subsides, or do you see it having a long-lasting impact on the travel industry?

Dr. Fyall: “As with so many other ‘hot topics’ such as COVID passports, once vaccination levels really do reach the necessary threshold, shaming will diminish with travel once again becoming normal, and acceptable, once again, albeit travel in a post-COVID world!”

Walk, run or bike for Planeterra’s new Around the World Challenge

TORONTO — Planeterra’s new Around the World Challenge hits all the right notes: it encourages travel lovers to join its movement to support community tourism enterprises as travel reemerges post-COVID, while celebrating the diversity and power of community tourism.

The challenge will take place over the course of 10 days, May 17 - 26.

Participants will collectively 'travel the globe’ by walking, running, or biking 40,087 km - the distance around the equator - while aiming to raise US$40,087.

“We thought it was the perfect time to highlight these new community partners, and help Planeterra support them.”

Emails and social media posts each day highlight a new region.

Participants can look forward to exclusive events and videos from community tourism enterprises in places like Bolivia, Rwanda and India, plus unique cuisine, facts, and culture in more than a dozen destinations.

Jamie Sweeting, President, Planeterra, says the challenge dovetails with the non-profit’s Global Commu-

nity Tourism Network, launched last week. Community partnerships have more than doubled since December 2020 and Planeterra now works with communities in over 65 countries.

“We thought it was the perfect time to highlight these new community partners, and help Planeterra support them as they prepare to recover and the world prepares to travel again,” said Sweeting.

Sweeting adds that Planeterra felt it was crucial to acknowledge the current situation in India. “Planeterra has pledged to match the first US$1,500 raised during the Around the World Challenge, to be allocated to operations and community partners in Delhi,” he said.

The Global Community Tourism Network supports community tourism enterprises to achieve their social and environmental goals by breaking down barriers that exist in the tourism marketplace. It aims to increase capacity, quality and accessibility of community tourism enterprises all around the world by providing online training, peer-to-peer connection, marketing, and promotion.

Last year’s Planeterra Trek Challenge garnered overwhelming support, with 550 individuals on 62 teams trekking the distance to virtually climb Everest Base Camp.

May 13, 2021 | TRAVELWEEK | 7

WORLD NEWS

HOTELS Two more hotels on the federal government’s list of designated quarantine properties - the Hampton Inn and Suites by Hilton, and the Holiday Inn Toronto Airport have COVID-19 outbreaks. Peel Region has partially closed the Hampton Inn and Suites by Hilton, under direction from Peel Public Health. A closure happens when five or more people at a workplace test positive for COVID-19 within a period of 14 days. There’s also been an outbreak at the Holiday Inn Toronto Airport, where seven people are said to have tested positive for COVID-19. The news comes a week after more than a dozen employees tested positive at the Crowne Plaza Toronto Airport.

Sunwing has announced it will be returning to the Region of Waterloo International Airport this winter, with weekly flights to Cancun. The service will cater to residents of Cambridge, Kitchener and Waterloo. Flights will operate on Mondays from December 13, 2021 until April 18, 2022.

“We’re excited to be returning to the Region of Waterloo International Airport for our 11th season,” said Andrew Dawson, President of Tour Operations for Sunwing. “Service from the region has been consistently well received for over a decade and we’re sure that residents of the surrounding area will enjoy being able to head to paradise safely under our wing.”

Silversea's Silver Origin

CRUISING DESTINATIONS Ahead of New York State’s reopening on May 19, NYC & Company this week held a Canadian Sales Mission for the travel trade, its first since the start of the pandemic. The virtual mission included a destination showcase, one-on-one meetings, travel agent trainings and a networking reception with representatives from NYC & Company and nine of the city’s tourism and hospitality businesses, including arts and culture institutions, attractions, Broadway shows and hotels.

Broadway performances are scheduled to return to the stage on Sept. 14, with tickets on sale now.

AIRLINES & AIRPORTS The federal government has laid out the criteria for Canada’s airports to access $740 million in capital investments over the next six years. Funding was first announced in November 2020. Nearly $500 million will go to large airports to put toward critical infrastructure such as runway repairs and transit stations. Most of the remaining funding is for smaller airports. The government previously announced $435 million roughly evenly split between airport rent relief and support for regional air transportation.

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Silversea Cruises is resuming service in the Galapagos Islands, with itineraries on the new Silver Origin starting June 19. Sailings will be available to fully vaccinated guests as part of Silversea’s multi-layered set of science-backed protocols designed to safeguard the health and safety of guests, crew and local communities. Crew embarking on the Silver Origin will also be required to be fully vaccinated. The 100-guest, all-suite, all-balcony Silver Origin will sail on two alternating itineraries in the Galapagos. Last month Silversea announced sailings onboard its new flagship, Silver Moon, in the Eastern Med, starting June 18.

Carnival says it’s working towards plans for a possible July restart in the U.S. on select ships, aiming to operate sailings on three ships from Florida and Texas this summer. The cruise line announced yesterday that it hopes to sail Carnival Vista and Carnival Breeze from Galveston, and Carnival Horizon from Miami. The company added: “Further, if Carnival can find a solution to allow cruise ships to visit Alaska, Carnival Miracle will assume some of Carnival Freedom’s departures from Seattle.” The Alaska cruise season for 2021 is in limbo because the Canadian ban against cruise ships was extended through February 2022. Under U.S. law, ships with non-U.S. registry (and that includes most of the major cruise lines) can’t embark and disembark passengers at more than one U.S. port on a sailing, unless that itinerary also includes a distant foreign port. Canadian ports are a big part of most Alaska cruise itineraries.

NEWS

Canada’s in dire need of a travel restart plan, says NACC

Air Canada’s Rousseau calls on govt. to eliminate hotel quarantine rule MONTREAL — Air Canada CEO Michael Rousseau has called on the federal government to put an end to the hotel quarantine requirement, and to develop a reopening plan for international travel.

“The current mandatory hotel quarantine for arrivals has proven ineffective. It should be eliminated,” said Rousseau during Air Canada’s Q1 conference call.

“We believe that with a vaccination program now underway nationally, a modified and more relevant approach to testing and quarantine would keep Canadians safe while allowing our country to reopen for international travel,” he added.

Air Canada isn’t the only airline to call for the end of the hotel quarantine rule. WestJet has also made the same request to the federal government.

Rousseau said the government must develop and communicate a reopening plan as it is cautiously optimistic that the country is nearing an “inflection point” with the vaccination rate rising in the middle of a difficult third wave.

In the U.S., where the successful vaccination rollout has started to plateau, air travel is hitting the highest numbers seen since the start of the pandemic.

More than 1.6 million travellers were screened at U.S. airports this past Sunday, another record high.

Meanwhile the EU is moving ahead with its Digital Green Pass system of COVID-19 vaccination certificates with an eye to allowing travel within the 27-country EU bloc this summer, and potentially for fully vaccinated Americans as well.

“After over 14 months of restrictions, Canadians, who we know are eager to travel, want and deserve clear guidelines. They want to know when they will be able to travel internationally again and under what protocols,” said Rousseau.

He said Air Canada expects domestic travel will lead its recovery, as was the case in the U.S. Peak summer leisure travel in July and August, including to Europe, is expected to be pushed to September and October. Meanwhile corporate travel likely won't come back until after Labour Day, said Air Canada’s chief commercial officer, Lucie Guillemette.

Rousseau and Guillemette said Air Canada is seeing strong demand through next winter to Mexico, the D.R., Hawaii and Florida as Canadians anticipate their first post-pandemic holiday.

One analyst on Air Canada’s Q1 call said he expects air traffic will ultimately rebound strongly, but only if restrictions are lifted, noting that the government-imposed air travel restrictions are “not set to be materially eased in time to salvage much of the upcoming peak summer travel period.”

Meanwhile demand for refunds is slower than expected despite reaching out to customers proactively, said Air Canada. The airline announced its $5.9 billion deal with the federal government for federal aid last month.

Air Canada’s Q1 loss for 2021 was $1.3 billion. Revenue in the quarter totalled $729 million, down from $3.7 billion in the first three months of 2020.

Capacity was down 82.1% compared with a year ago, while traffic was down 89.5%. Air Canada plans to almost double its Q2 capacity from the same quarter in 2020, but says compared with the same period in 2019 that Q2 capacity is expected to be down 84%.

TORONTO — No one really expected Canada to be included on England’s ‘green’ list of travel destinations, not yet anyway.

So why are airlines and industry groups here so interested in the list?

Because it’s part of a travel restart plan, something that’s sorely needed in Canada for the months ahead.

Britain’s list, effective May 17, follows the ‘traffic light system’ adopted by several other countries amid the pandemic. Countries are classified as green, amber or red. There are currently 12 countries on Britain’s ‘green list’, including Portugal, Israel, Singapore, Australia and New Zealand.

Canada and the U.S., and the majority of the world’s countries, are on the ‘amber’ list.

The green list just means that travellers coming back to England from those 12 approved countries don’t have to quarantine upon their return.

It’s not a travel bubble, because the 12 countries may still have restrictions of their own. But it’s a step in the right direction, says Mike McNaney, President and CEO of the National Airlines Council of Canada (NACC).

In the NACC’s statement McNaney said: “In the midst of the pandemic in February, the British government recognized the critical need to plan for the eventual safe re-opening of international travel, and began working with its aviation sector to develop a restart process.

“On behalf of the hundreds of thousands of Canadians who have lost their jobs in the aviation and travel sector, and the scores of communities that have lost service, it is critical that the federal government now follow the UK example and work immediately with industry to develop a restart plan,” he said.

Other industry groups including ACTA have long called for a restart plan too. Last week ACTA sounded the alarm over the very real possibility of Canada being “left behind” in global recovery efforts, should the government not develop a clear Roadmap for Recovery.

The NACC says that the travel plan from the British government demonstrates that countries can plan for the careful restart of travel and protect public health, while also providing the May 13, 2021 | TRAVELWEEK | 9

NEWS public and industry with clear information on the path forward.

“The UK plan provides metrics, clarity on process, and underscores that the government retains complete authority on timing and implementation, including the ability to reinstate restrictive measures. As the pace of vaccination increases across the country, there is no reason why Canada cannot develop a restart plan of its own that will allow the industry to start planning its recovery.

Countries that establish a clear recovery strategy for their aviation sectors will not only ensure the safe restart of travel and their overall economy, they will take market share, investment and jobs from countries that do not. Canada must get moving,” said McNaney.

Alghabra confirms Canada’s G7 commitment to testing, vaccination status to restart travel OTTAWA — A coordinated approach for COVID-19 testing and a system of vaccination certificates will be at the heart of the travel restart plan from the G7 countries, including Canada, says Transport Minister Omar Alghabra.

In a statement issued after G7 Transport Ministers' Meeting, Minister Alghabra said getting travel back up and running will hinge on two key elements: COVID-19 testing and vaccination passports, more commonly referred to these days as vaccination certificates.

His statement reconfirms the federal government’s commitment in recent

10 | TRAVELWEEK | May 13, 2021

weeks to a system of vaccination certificates for international travel.

Minister Alghabra also acknowledged the importance of restarting travel, not just for leisure and business travel but for supporting and growing the global economy.

“During our meeting … G7 Transport Ministers recognized that travel not only connects people to family and friends, it also supports the global economy by facilitating business, trade, and tourism. To this end, we have committed to working on a common set of principles to guide the resumption of international travel when it's safe to do so,” he said.

Alghabra added: “At the centre of this effort must be a coordinated approach for testing and a common platform for recognizing the vaccinated status of travellers. As we work to build back better, the establishment of a system that will protect our privacy and personal information, and that will be accessible, fair, and equitable is imperative. We must apply lessons learned from innovative technologies to identify long-term, sustainable solutions and expand upon them globally.

“Ultimately, a safe recovery will require an inclusive approach that reaches beyond the G7 and includes working with other countries and with international organizations such as the International Civil Aviation Organization, International Maritime Organization, and World Health Organization.

“As G7 Transport Ministers, we have a leading role to play in advancing a new global framework for international travel that will be essential to safely resume the free movement of people and goods, and the return to a barrierfree global travel environment.”

“Perplexed, flabbergasted, outraged”: NCLH’s Del Rio blasts CDC for its treatment of the cruise industry MIAMI — Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings CEO Frank Del Rio says that NCLH’s original target of mid-July for sailings out of U.S. ports is in jeopardy in the wake of new guidance from the CDC. During NCLH’s Q1 earnings call last week Del Rio said: “Our team is working through the guidance, but at first glance, however, it appears the path forward is a bit rockier and a bit steeper than originally expected.”

In NCLH’s earnings call, CEO Frank Del Rio called the CDC's test cruise requirements “preposterous, impractical and onerous.”

Del Rio’s cautionary words came as the CDC gave ship operators including cruise lines final technical guidelines for trial runs, allowing cruise lines to begin test voyages in U.S. waters with volunteer passengers to see whether the ships can sail safely during a pandemic.

In NCLH’s earnings call, Del Rio called the test cruise requirements “preposterous, impractical and onerous.”

While passenger traffic on U.S. airlines has soared in recent weeks, and travel is beginning to boom again in the wake of the country’s strong vaccination rollout, the cruise industry is still at a standstill, at least from U.S. ports as per restrictions from the CDC. Many U.S.-based cruise lines have announced sailings from non-U.S. ports starting this summer, with a long list requiring all passengers to be fully vaccinated before sailing.

Last month the CDC indicated that cruising from U.S. ports could potentially start by mid-July.

With the CDC’s latest guidance, each practice cruise, with a duration between two and seven days, must have enough passengers to meet at least 10% of the ship's capacity. Volunteers

NEWS must be 18 or older and either fully vaccinated or free of medical conditions that would put them at high risk for severe COVID-19.

The cruise line must tell passengers that they are simulating untested safety measures “and that sailing during a pandemic is an inherently risky activity,” according to the CDC guidelines.

Passengers must be examined for COVID-19 symptoms before and after the trip, and at least 75% must be tested at the end. Restrictions on board will include face masks and social distancing. The CDC will allow guided shore excursions if tour operators follow certain standards.

Ships must make at least one practice run before resuming regular cruises in U.S. waters. However cruise companies can avoid the requirement if they can show that 98% of the crew and 95% of passengers are vaccinated.

Asked about how he felt about the CDC’s approach to the cruise industry compared to other modes of travel, Del Rio said: “Perplexed, flabbergasted and outraged."

to coordinate vaccination certification systems as the world moves towards reopening post-pandemic.

Not surprisingly, Trudeau opened his response with his oft-repeated message, “This is not the time to travel.

We’re not there yet.”

He then reiterated Canada’s interest in vaccination certificates for international travel: “We are interested in aligning with the countries that would like to do so.”

As for the U.S., Trudeau said: “I can’t speak for the U.S. and the decisions they might make about decisions about who they welcome into their country.”

Later he said: “Ideally speaking [Canada and the U.S. would] have similar measures. But our responsibility is to do everything we can to protect Canadians, even if that doesn’t align with other countries.”

His comment about potentially reopening travel this summer was a quick mention in a broader response: “Perhaps this summer if everything goes well.”

For many Canadians, even being able to travel to another province this summer would be a positive development.

“Perhaps this summer if everything goes well”: Trudeau talks travel, but no specifics

Amex GBT makes binding offer to acquire Expedia Group’s Egencia

OTTAWA — In a recent COVID-19 briefing Prime Minister Justin Trudeau alluded to the possibility of travel restarting as early as this summer.

That’s reason for hope, however with no further specifics the travel industry is left wondering what exactly will be lifted when it comes to travel restrictions.

With even interprovincial travel currently off the table for many right now, and with some premiers calling for more travel restrictions and checks as several provinces wait for third wave numbers to substantially decrease, ‘travel this summer’ could at best mean domestic travel within Canada - although that would still be reason to cheer.

During the briefing Trudeau was asked about vaccination passports, in light of the fact that the U.S. - the most popular out-of-country destination for Canadian travellers - has so far been lukewarm to the idea.

Canada meanwhile is working in collaboration with its G7 counterparts

LONDON — American Express Global Business Travel (GBT) has made a binding offer to buy Egencia, Expedia Group’s corporate travel arm.

Expedia Group would become a shareholder in, and enter a long-term strategic commercial agreement with, GBT, as part of the transaction.

“Our strategy is to provide customers

with unparalleled choice by having the best solutions for each managed travel segment that we serve. In Egencia, we would welcome the indus-try’s leading digital business travel platform,” said GBT’s CEO Paul Abbott.

“Egencia would be strengthened by GBT’s complementary technology, enterprise capabilities and cutting-edge content. This would create new opportunities for both multinational and small and medium-sized enterprise (SME) clients, suppliers and the talented teams within both organizations,” he added.

The companies say a combined GBT and Egencia would offer comprehensive technology and customer solutions across every segment of business travel. Teaming Egencia with GBT’s Supply MarketPlace would give customers more choice and suppliers more access to busi-ness travellers, while with both the Egencia platform and GBT’s Neo Technology Group, the business “would be positioned to build the best solutions for the future of business travel.”

Says Ariane Gorin, President, Expedia Business Services: “We are thrilled by the potential transaction and what GBT and Egencia could achieve together, as Expedia Group seeks to simplify our business and be a leader in all of our endeavours. The combination of GBT’s leading solutions with Egencia’s great technology and team would help create the world’s best business travel offerings for customers and suppliers.”

The proposed deal is subject to consultation by Expedia Group and Egencia with their appli-cable employee representatives, as well as customary closing conditions including regulatory approvals.

May 13, 2021 | TRAVELWEEK | 11

Sunwing to resume winter sun flights from Sudbury and North Bay TORONTO — Sunwing will be heading back to Sudbury and North Bay this winter with vacation packages to popular sun destinations Beginning in December 2021, flights from Greater Sudbury Airport and North Bay Jack Garland Airport will run weekly until mid-April 2022.

Service between North Bay and Cancun will operate Thursdays from Dec. 16, 2021 until April 14, 2022, and between Sudbury and Varadero on Fridays from Dec. 17, 2021 until April 15, 2022.

“We’re excited to be returning to Sudbury and North Bay this winter and offering Northern Ontarians seamless vacation experiences under our wing,” said Andrew Dawson, President of Tour Operations for Sunwing. “Our seasonal flight services from Sudbury and North Bay have been consistently well received over the years. With convenient flights from their regional airports, travellers will be able to spend less time getting to their destination and more time soaking up the sun in paradise.”

Once in Cancun, North Bay residents can stay at the family-friendly Grand Sunset Princess All Suites Resort and Spa or the budget-friendly Riu Dunamar, which offers exclusive RIU-topia amenities like unlimited reservation-free dining.

In Sudbury, clients can soak up the sun on Cuba’s world-famous beaches at Grand Memories Varadero, which offers complimentary water sports like windsurfing and catamaran rides.

Plus, clients who book their tropical getaway at select resorts by May 31, 2021 for travel between Nov. 1, 2021 and April 30, 2022 will receive up to $1,000 per couple in value during Sunwing’s extended Freedom 21/22 Sale, which includes complimentary Price Drop Cash Back of up to $800 per couple at select resorts and the flexibility to change or cancel their plans with ease.

Last month, Sunwing also released its Atlantic Canada winter schedules featuring popular sun destinations like Cancun, Montego Bay, Puerto Plata, Punta Cana and more. The tour operator also announced its return to Thunder Bay this winter with packages to Mexico, Cuba and the D.R. 12 | TRAVELWEEK | May 13, 2021

Credit: Andrew Burr

NEWS

Rock climbing in Zion National Park

Utah visitors seeking Active & Adventure Travel are spoiled for choice Few destinations embrace active and adventurous travel quite like Utah. Outdoor adventure isn’t just an occasional diversion here, it’s a way of life. And the passion that residents here feel for their breathtaking natural surroundings inspires visitors too.

More than 70% of Utah is public land, and that means plenty of wide open spaces for everything from high-octane mountain biking, rafting and rock climbing excursions, to leisurely hikes, or an awe-inspiring evening of stargazing in Utah’s famous ‘Dark Sky Parks’.

In addition to Utah’s ‘Mighty 5’ National Parks - Arches, Bryce, Canyonlands, Capitol Reef and Zion - the state is also home to nine million acres of forest, plus millions more acres for recreation areas and national monuments. Not surprisingly, Utah has developed a loyal following of travellers who love the outdoors, love Utah and return year after year.

Two top favourite destinations for active getaways are Grand Staircase-Escalante, famous for its network of slot canyons, making it a hiker’s dream, and Flaming Gorge, much-loved by locals and visitors alike as a scenic playground for boating, waterskiing, windsurfing, camping and rafting. Grand Staircase-Escalante is not only a haven for hikers, it offers spectacularly scenic drives. And Flaming Gorge is also a fishing paradise, brimming with trout, kokanee salmon and more.

While many adventurers are happy hiking their way through Utah, others have their heart set on biking.

It’s hard to narrow down the state’s

best cycling routes, but top picks often include an 87-kilometre stretch of Utah’s famous ‘All-American Road, Scenic Byway 12’ from Escalante to Boulder, the Ogden River Parkway, roadways through the Wasatch mountain range, and in southern Utah, the 70-kilometre Veyo Loop past Snow Canyon. For mountain bikers, it’s hard to beat Moab's epic trails, from Slickrock to Porcupine Rim to Amasa Back.

Utah’s rafting scene is much sought-after too, with whitewater pros gravitating to Westwater and Cataract Canyons (class IV-V) on the Colorado River, the Gates of Lodore and Desolation Canyon (class III-IV) on the Green River, and the Upper and Lower stretches (class III) of the San Juan River. For novices, there are flat water stretches of these rivers through other-worldly canyons, like Labyrinth Canyon in Canyonlands National Park.

For rock climbers, few destinations delight more than Utah, with top rated ascents across the state. Moab, Ogden, Logan, Salt Lake City and St. George are all well-known with climbers, and the biggest draw of all, Zion National Park, is legendary.

While summer beckons, winter is always just around the corner and winter visitors to Utah are spoiled for choice, with skiing and snowboarding aplenty, and snowshoeing and snowmobiling too.

Active and adventurous clients will find every sport and activity they ever wanted in Utah - and no doubt a few surprises too.

For more information check out VisitUtah.com.

NEWS

Register now for the Family Travel Xpo, coming June 1

outdoor family fun, cultural family experiences, theme parks and more.

The exhibit floor and all content will be accessible to all attendees for 30 days past the show date to accommodate TORONTO — Following its successful those unable to tune in on June 1.

Adventure Travel Xpo last month, XpoSaid Dean Jacobberger, Vice PresiPRO Mobile Events, a division of TravPRO dent, XpoPRO Mobile Events: “After the Mobile, is gearing up to launch its Family success of our Adventure Travel Xpo in Travel Xpo next month.

Set to take place on June 1 from April, we are thrilled to deliver the sec12-4pm EDT, the virtual event will see ond show in our 2021 virtual event sethousands of travel advisors from Can- ries. The upcoming Family Travel Xpo is ada and the U.S. connect with over 25 sure to meet the needs of today’s travel leading family suppliers and destina- advisors with tons of domestic and intertions from around the world. Partic- national family vacation ideas – and speipants can network one-on-one with cial deals – for summer and fall travel.” exhibiting partners, access in-depth Last month’s Adventure Travel Xpo content at virtual exhibitor booths as attracted over 1,300 travel advisors well as earn the chance to win prizes. specializing in adventure travel from Educational breakout sessions will across Canada and the U.S. Following feature speakers from leading orgathe Family Travel Xpo, other virtual nizations and associations including Family Travel Association (FTA), Adven- shows in the pipeline include The All American Roadshow, Romance Travel ture Travel Trade Association (ATTA), American Indian Alaska Native Tour- Xpo, Luxury Travel Xpo and Europe ism Association (AIANTA), and National Travel Xpo. Travel advisors can register for the Parks Service. Topics of discussion will Travelweek 2020 ads:TravelWeek 2016 2021-03-31 AMXpo Page 1 include multi-generational family travel, Family10:56 Travel at familytravelxpo.com.

Holland America to resume operations in Greece with departures starting in August 2021 SEATTLE — Holland America Line has opened the books on its Greece sailings this summer.

All four departures, available to fully vaccinated guests, will sail aboard the Eurodam and include the following: ‘Idyllic Greek Isles’ departing Aug. 15 and 29 and featuring Kotor, Montenegro plus the Greek isles of Kékira (Corfu), Thíra (Santorini) and Mykonos; ‘Ancient Wonders’ departing Aug. 22 and featuring Haifa (Israel) as well as Náfplion, Mykonos and Rhodes in Greece; and the seven-day ‘Adriatic Allure’ departing Sept. 5 sailing to Venice with calls at Mykonos, Katakolon (Olympia) and Crete (Chania), Greece, as well as Sarandë, Albania.

Both the ‘Idyllic Greek Isles’ and “Ancient Wonders’ itineraries can be combined to form a longer, back-to-back

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NEWS 14-day Collectors’ Voyage.

Additional Med cruises aboard Eurodam through the fall will be announced in the coming weeks and will include ports in Italy and Greece. Eurodam will return to the U.S. to begin sailing its published Caribbean cruises in mid-November.

“Everyone at Holland America Line has been preparing for our return to service and we are grateful to the government of Greece for allowing us to show that we can safely operate our cruises,” said Gus Antorcha, President, Holland America Line. “The beautiful islands of Greece have been a highlight of our Mediterranean itineraries for decades and we are honoured to be able to restart out of Athens and give our guests a memorable vacation after all this time without cruise travel.”

Fares for Eurodam’s seven-day Greece cruises start at a ‘Have it All’ premium package fare of US$1,999 per person, which includes one shore excursion, a beverage package, specialty dining and Wi-Fi. Cruise-only fares start at $1,649 per person, double occupancy. Taxes, fee and port expenses are additional.

VACCINATION & SAFETY PROTOCOLS These inaugural cruises from Greece are available to guests who have received their final dose of an approved COVID-19 vaccine at least 14 days prior to the start of the cruise. They must also provide proof of vaccination.

In addition to being fully vaccinated, guests will be required to comply with all health and safety protocols at the time of departure for travel to and from the ship, as well as all onboard procedures for visiting ports.

Additional preventative health measures under Holland America’s Travel Well program will also be in place.

These include health screenings, face mask requirements, physical distancing and capacity control. The line’s ships now feature enhanced sanitation and air filtration with upgraded HVAC systems and ultraviolet technology; HEPA filters will also be used in key areas as an additional safeguard. Medical centers onboard will be equipped with COVID-19 testing and treatment capabilities.

ALASKA & OTHER EUROPEAN CRUISES To accommodate the new Greece sailings, guests sailing on Eurodam’s published Seattle roundtrip Alaska cruises will be moved to similar accommodations on sister ship Nieuw Am14 | TRAVELWEEK | May 13, 2021

Holland America Line’s Eurodam

sterdam, which is scheduled to sail on the same departure dates.

In addition, European cruises departing from July 1-25 on Volendam and July 1 through Aug. 31 on Westerdam will be cancelled. Guests who were booked on impacted cruises and their travel advisors are being notified.

Clients can save thousands of dollars with AQSC’s and Victory Cruise Lines’ Spring Sale NEW ALBANY — Spring has sprung for sister brands American Queen Steamboat Company and Victory Cruise Lines, which have launched a new Spring Sale that will save guests thousands of dollars on their 2022 voyages.

Those who book by June 30, 2021 will save up to US$2,000 per stateroom on select American Queen Steamboat Company 2022 itineraries and up to $4,000 per stateroom on Victory Cruise Line 2022 voyages.

The U.S.-flagged American Queen Steamboat Company began operating at reduced capacity in March with two boats – the newly christened American Countess and boutique-style American Duchess – sailing the Mississippi and Ohio rivers. It will resume service of

a third vessel, the American Empress, on the Columbia and Snake rivers on June 14, 2021.

In 2022 Victory Cruise Lines will chart all-new routes in addition to returning favourites to some of North America’s most desirable destinations. The Spring Sale will allow guests to maximize savings on select 2022 itineraries, including the Ocean Victory’s inaugural season in Alaska as well as new voyages to Mexico and the Yucatán Peninsula and the U.S southeastern seaboard.

“We are witnessing an unprecedented demand for our 2021 sailings and are tracking to sell out the entire season,” says AQSC and VCL President, Shawn Bierdz.

“We are witnessing an unprecedented demand for our 2021 sailings and are tracking to sell out the entire season,” said Shawn Bierdz, president of American Queen Steamboat Company and Victory Cruise Lines. “Looking ahead to our 2022 season we are excited to offer guests an added incentives as they continue to seek out our close-tohome domestic itineraries.”

NEWS brate their hard work. The past year has been challenging and we want to make sure they know just how valued they are,” said Friisdahl.

The Travel Agent Next Door has also partnered with BizXcel to organize a virtual networking event for agents to connect after 200 agent partners voiced their interest in the event. Taking place May 20, it will include a keynote speech from Gary Gzik who’ll discuss the impact of the pandemic on businesses and how partners can take action to not just survive but also thrive during this time. His speech will be followed by a networking session.

Riu Reggae

RIU Hotels reopens Travel Agent Next three more Caribbean Door celebrating Travel Agent Month properties TORONTO — RIU Hotels is well on its throughout May way to a full recovery, with three additional properties reopening their doors in Jamaica and the Bahamas.

The Riu Palace Tropical Bay in Negril and the Riu Reggae in Montego Bay, as well as the Riu Palace Paradise Island in the Bahamas all reopened on May 1.

The hotel chain now has 24 of its 27 hotels in the Caribbean open for business following their temporary closures due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

To accommodate guests coming from countries that require a negative antibody test prior to returning home, RIU Hotels has announced free in-hotel testing capabilities in both Jamaica and the Bahamas. The possibility of a PCR test may also be available to guests.

The only remaining Riu property in Jamaica left to reopen is the Riu Negril.

Other hotels in the Caribbean whose reopenings are pending include the Riu Tequila in Playa del Carmen, Mexico and the Riu Palace Macao in Punta Cana.

Following these reopenings and other upcoming ones in Morocco and Spain in coming days, IRIU will have 56 of its 100 hotels open worldwide.

Cancun, Montego Bay, Puerto Plata, Punta Cana and more. The tour operator also announced its return to Thunder Bay this winter with packages to Mexico, Cuba and the D.R.

TORONTO — The Travel Agent Next Door is celebrating Travel Agent Day throughout the month of May to show its continuing support and appreciation for its agent partners.

The monthly events kicked off May 5 on Travel Agent Day, with TTAND founder Flemming Friisdahl and VP Talent Development Rhonda Stanley hosting a special webinar during which an appreciation video featuring heartfelt messages from consumers to agents was shown.

The webinar concluded with a Travel Agent Trivia contest with almost 200 agents registered. The top prize was $150. The trivia contest will be a twopart series with a total of $450 in prizes.

Throughout May agents are encouraged to share their favourite travel stories from their career on TTAND’s private Facebook group, ‘The Isolation Page,’ where the company has hosted a number of engagement initiatives throughout the pandemic.

Also during Travel Agent Month, TTAND will release ‘MORE’ appreciation videos from Preferred & Approved suppliers. The videos feature BDMs recording custom messages dedicated to TTAND’s agents, wishing them a happy Travel Agent Day and thanking them for all that they’ve done.

“We truly believe that our partners deserve more than just a day to cele-

Palladium Hotel Group has a new Director of Retail Affairs MADRID — Palladium Hotel Group has named Stefany M. Jones as Director of Retail Affairs in the North American market.

In her new role Jones will lead sales revenue, business relations and brand recognition for strategic accounts in the North America market.

An industry veteran with more than 18 years of experience in the travel agency industry, Jones is a sales and marketing professional specializing in account management, marketing and business development, working to strategically grow business accounts exponentially every year from different points of sale around the globe.

She joins the Palladium Hotel Group team with extensive experience in high-volume Caribbean, Mexico and Central America key destinations and hotels. She also has experience negotiating and executing sales for online brands, travel agent groups, consortia accounts, and airline brands.

Says Pilar Arizmendi-Stewart, VP of Sales & Marketing for Palladium Hotel Group: “Stefany’s extensive experience working with one of the world’s largest wholesale and retail travel operators brings valuable insight to Palladium Hotel Group. We are excited to expand our business relations and brand recognition on strategic accounts in the North American market.”

“One of Palladium Hotel Group’s values is teamwork; we recognize that working as a team is the key to success,” says Arizmendi-Stewart.

May 13, 2021 | TRAVELWEEK | 15

NEWS

Scenic Eclipse’s 2022/ 2023 Arctic collection includes four new destinations VANCOUVER —Scenic Luxury Cruises & Tours’ Scenic Eclipse will embark on brand new Arctic adventures in 2022/23, with four new destinations that include the Russian Far East, Japan, Northeast Passage and Alaska.

The new destinations complement Scenic’s existing program that takes guests to the Arctic, the Norway, Greenland and Iceland. As the ‘World’s First Discovery Yacht,’ Scenic Eclipse offers unique exploration experiences by way of two state-of-the-art helicopters, a custom-built submarine capable of 1,000 feet and a fleet of Zodiacs. A Discovery Team of 20 geologists, marine biologists, naturalists and glaciologists is also on hand to provide expertise.

Highlights of the 2022/23 season include: . Russian Arctic, the Northeast Passage: Scenic Eclipse will traverse nine time zones across the top of Siberia and Russia on a 26-day journey through the Northeast Passage.

Guests will see remote Arctic islands rarely visited by humans, cruise past the planet’s greatest migration paths and observe polar bears and walrus on ice floes. Prices from the ‘Cross the Legendary Northeast Passage’ voyage from Anchorage, Alaska to Tromsø, Norway start at $36,744 per person, double, departing Aug. 6, 2023. Guests can also combine the voyage with the seven-day ‘Wilds of Alaska’ luxury escorted land journey, priced from $12,195, which takes in Alaska’s frontier towns. . The Russian Far East: On this journey, guests will trace the Pacific Ring of Fire from Alaska to Chukotka (Russia’s easternmost federal subject), south along Kamchatka Peninsula to the Kuril Islands. Highlights include guided walks in Chukotka, a soak in Kamchatka’s hot springs, and a visit to Soviet-era fish processing plants and Japanese World War II fortresses in the Kuril Islands. Prices for the 14-day ‘Jewels of the Russian Far East’ voyage from Anchorage to Vladivostok start from $18,517, departing May 27, 2023. . Japan: The 12-day ‘Japan: A Journey Through Time’ begins on June 21, 2023 in the seaport of Sapporo, then 16 | TRAVELWEEK | May 13, 2021

travels to Hakodate, known for its Western-style architecture from bygone days. Guests will then visit the archaeological dig of Sannai Maruyama, the largest and best-preserved dig from the Jomon era. Other highlights include visits to Maizuru, Kyoto’s port on the Sea of Japan, and a sailing to South Korea for a day in Busan. Fares start at $17,215. . Arctic: Highlights of the 15-day ‘Arctic Islands: Svalbard, Greenland & Iceland’ include a helicopter ride over the waterfalls of the Norwegian fjords, kayaking between Svalbard’s icebergs, and a submarine dive in Greenland to witness the vast Arctic wildlife of Greenland’s National Park, larger than all but 29 of the world’s countries. Prices start at $20,896, departing July 11, 2023.

Scenic is offering special Super Earlybird savings of up to 20% on many sailings when fares are paid upon booking.

All bookings are covered by Scenic’s flexible booking policy, allowing guests to defer their cruise to another travel date or itinerary up to 60 days prior to departure. They also come with Scenic’s Deposit Protection Plan, or guests can choose to upgrade to the company’s new Risk-Free Platinum Protection Plan, providing for changes or cancellations up to 15 days prior to departure.

VoX announces new Director for German National Tourist Office TORONTO — VoX International has welcomed Anja Brokjans as the new Director for the German National Tourist Office (GNTO), effective immediately.

In her new role, Brokjans will be responsible for developing and executing a marketing plan for the Canadian market, which will include media and trade activities along with initiating digital and social marketing campaigns.

She brings with her extensive experience in marketing, public relations, trade and communications. She previously spent 22 years as the spokesperson for Deutsche Messe, one of the world’s largest trade show companies, where she developed marketing plans for international events and companies.

Brokjans said she is very excited to join the team at VoX, which represents the GNTB in Canada.

“I’m looking forward to diving into this new journey headfirst and working

with the GNTO team, as well as with trade and media partners in Canada,” she said. “I lived in Germany for most of my life and I’ve been telling my Canadian friends how beautiful and interesting Germany is since I moved here.

Now I have the opportunity to share this view with a much broader audience.”

Beaches & Baseball: Dunedin, FL can’t wait for Canadians to come back

by Cindy Sosroutomo TORONTO — The ties that bind Dunedin, Florida and Canada date back close to 50 years – 44 to be exact to when the Toronto Blue Jays was born.

As the original home of the team’s spring training season, this 10-squaremile, laidback city located just north of Clearwater Beach has become so synonymous with Blue Jays baseball that much of day-to-day life revolves around all things blue and white. Welcome signs for the team can be seen in restaurant windows, fans regularly meet on rooftop patios to catch glimpses of games and, of course, watching a team practice or pre-season exhibition game has become a favourite pastime for locals and visitors alike. The team’s sparkling new Player Development Complex, spanning 100,000 square feet and boasting 12 batting cages, a barber shop, a fully-covered practice facility and a 3,700 square-foot clubhouse that’s become the envy of the entire league, will further cement the longstanding connection between Florida and Canada.

This year however, due to the global pandemic and continued border closures, Canadians have been unable to cheer on the Jays in person during the pre-season. Their absence, says Steve Hayes, President & CEO of Visit St. Pete/ Clearwater, has been sorely felt throughout Dunedin.

“You certainly can tell that we did not have our normal presence of Canadians here and it was missed greatly,” he said during a special ‘Beaches & Baseball’ media briefing yesterday. “Canada is such an important market for us and we cannot wait until the borders upon up and for Canadians to come back to visit.”

NEWS

Princess Cruises introduces Dine My Way as latest MedallionClass enhancement

Toronto Blue Jays mascot Ace with a fan in Dunedin, Florida

Prior to the pandemic, a total of 3.6 million Canadians visited the state of Florida, comprising 24.9% of all international visitation. As such, Canada is Florida’s #1 international market, a distinction that’s long been celebrated on both sides of the border.

“It’s just broken our hearts that you all have not been able to come this year but things are looking up and we are just so excited to be able to welcome our Canadian friends soon,” said Dana Young, President and CEO of VisitFlorida. “None of us could’ve predicted what 2020 turned out to be but I feel confident that Florida is going to rebound stronger than ever and that we’re going to beat all projections in terms of our recovery.”

When Canadians are able to safely travel once more, Florida will be ready.

Noting that the state is “open for business,” Young, who logged onto the virtual briefing from Orlando, confirmed that everything from theme parks to restaurants, bars, hotels and, “most importantly,” ball fields are all currently open to visitors.

Canadians, of course, will be heading straight to Florida’s beaches, eight of which recently ranked among the top 25 beaches in the United States in TripAdvisor’s 2021 Travelers Choice of the Best Beaches awards. At #1 is St. Pete Beach, followed by Madeira Beach (#9), Ormond Beach (#12), Henderson Beach State Park (#13), Pensacola Beach (#15), Treasure Island Beach (#16), Siesta Beach (#17) and Clearwater Beach (#18). With beaches that span a total of 1,327 kilometres across the state, VisitFlorida’s interactive ‘Beach Finder’ tool on its website allows visitors to adjust various sliders that match them with the beach best suited to their needs and preferences, whether it be adventure, family friendly, romance, manicured or au naturel.

In Dunedin in particular, the new temporary home of the Toronto Blue Jays, a lot is packed into its 10 square miles that go beyond baseball, said Mayor Julie Ward Bujalski. Founded in 1889 by “a couple of Scotsmen,” the city is known for its Highland Games and Celtic festivals and on any given day, visitors can spot a bagpiper or two at the marina. Giving Dunedin its smalltown feel is its wide assortment of independently owned restaurants, bars and shops; in fact, the city is completely void of big-box stores and chains. A rite of passage for all first-time visitors is a meal at Casa Tina, an off-beat local spot known for its authentic Mexican cuisine, as well as a Smoked Old Fashioned at the rooftop bar of The Fenway Hotel, built in 1924 and home to Dunedin’s first-ever speakeasy.

And no visit would be complete without hitting up a brewery or two; there are eight in total, including the Dunedin Brewery, the oldest in all of Florida. Chances are visitors will pass a few breweries while walking or biking the 61-kilometre Pinellas Trail, which runs north from St. Petersburg all the way to Tarpon Springs. Stopping for a beer, cocktail or an ice cream is an absolute must, said Bujalski.

But, of course, baseball is what Dunedin is really known for, something Bujalski is reminded of each year during her annual City Council trip to Toronto.

“People in Toronto always know how to pronounce our name – Du-nee-din.

People in Florida don’t even know how to pronounce our name sometimes!” she said. “We couldn’t be more proud to have hosted the Toronto Blue Jays for 44 years and we are thrilled to have signed a deal to have them here for another 25 years. We just love them.”

For more information about travel to Florida go to visitflorida.ca or visit dunedinfl.com.

SANTA CLARITA — Princess Cruises’ latest MedallionClass enhancement makes it easy for passengers to preplan and tailor their dining experiences.

Dine My Way, the cruise line’s new flexible dining system, was unveiled yesterday by the cruise line. Dine My Way pairs with Princess’ OceanNow on demand service to offer the ultimate in onboard dining flexibility and convenience, says the company.

Passengers can make reservations in onboard dining rooms and specialty restaurants at times they prefer and with whom they wish to dine. Dine My Way also helps to optimize capacities in dining rooms and restaurants on board and manage wait times.

When making a reservation, passengers are able to: add additional friends or family members with whom they are travelling; select their preferred pace of dining (relaxed, quick); indicate their desired seating location (near window, close to entrance) in the Ocean profile; share dietary preferences and allergen information; and pick the same venue and dining time each night.

“We believe guests are going to love the control and customization Dine My Way offers,” said Jan Swartz, President, Princess Cruises. “Instead of restricting dining choices during the pandemic, we’ve been able to expand the options for our guests and thanks to the unique, innovative capabilities of the OceanMedallion, reduce wait times and eliminate the need to stand in line.”

In addition, Princess’ OceanNow on-demand menu has been expanded to include entrees and beverage options from restaurants through-out the ship with guest's requests delivered directly to their location. OceanNow orders can be made using the MedallionClass app on a smart device, via the stateroom TV, or by having a crew member place the order on the guest’s behalf.

May 13, 2021 | TRAVELWEEK | 17

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