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Canada's in dire need of a restart plan, say NACC and Air Canada
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%.
Canada’s in dire need of a travel restart plan, says NACC
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
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 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.”
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
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."
“Perhaps this summer if everything goes well”: Trudeau talks travel, but no specifics
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 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.
Amex GBT makes binding offer to acquire Expedia Group’s Egencia
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.
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.
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.
Credit: Andrew Burr
Rock climbing in Zion National Park
Utah visitors seeking Active & Adventure Travel are spoiled for choice
TORONTO — Following its successful Adventure Travel Xpo last month, XpoPRO Mobile Events, a division of TravPRO Mobile, is gearing up to launch its Family Travel Xpo next month.
Set to take place on June 1 from 12-4pm EDT, the virtual event will see thousands of travel advisors from Canada and the U.S. connect with over 25 leading family suppliers and destinations from around the world. Participants can network one-on-one with exhibiting partners, access in-depth content at virtual exhibitor booths as well as earn the chance to win prizes.
Educational breakout sessions will feature speakers from leading organizations and associations including Family Travel Association (FTA), Adventure Travel Trade Association (ATTA), American Indian Alaska Native Tourism Association (AIANTA), and National Parks Service. Topics of discussion will include multi-generational family travel,
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 those unable to tune in on June 1. Said Dean Jacobberger, Vice President, XpoPRO Mobile Events: “After the success of our Adventure Travel Xpo in April, we are thrilled to deliver the second show in our 2021 virtual event series. The upcoming Family Travel Xpo is sure to meet the needs of today’s travel advisors with tons of domestic and international family vacation ideas – and special deals – for summer and fall travel.” Last month’s Adventure Travel Xpo attracted over 1,300 travel advisors specializing in adventure travel from across Canada and the U.S. Following the Family Travel Xpo, other virtual shows in the pipeline include The All American Roadshow, Romance Travel Xpo, Luxury Travel Xpo and Europe Travel Xpo. Travel advisors can register for the Family Travel Xpo at familytravelxpo.com.Travelweek 2020 ads:TravelWeek 2016 2021-03-31 10:56 AM Page 1
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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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 Ama 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,” 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.”
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
“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.
Riu Reggae
RIU Hotels reopens three more Caribbean properties
TORONTO — RIU Hotels is well on its 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 celebrate 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.
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.
