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Provincial vaccine passports could get certification for int'l travel
Provincial vaccine passports could get certifi cation for int’l travel
TORONTO — Hosted this year in Basel MISSISSAUGA — Justin Trudeau says the Liberal party is open to working with the provinces to certify provincial vaccine passports for use for international travel. Trudeau made the pledge from the campaign trail. The federal election is Sept. 20. The potential for the feds to piggyback on the province’s vaccine passports may expedite travel’s recovery, but not every province has committed to vaccine passports yet. And what about that fall 2021 timeline for the cross-Canada system of proof of vaccination to help restart international travel? Provincial vaccine passports, facilitating entry to everything from restaurants and bars to movies, gyms, and concerts - depending on the province - are now up and running in Quebec (Sept. 1) and Manitoba (Sept. 3), and coming soon to B.C. (Sept. 13) and Ontario (Sept. 22). Meanwhile several provinces are looking at proof of vaccination for some activities, even if it’s not called a vaccine passport, while a few others have so far rejected the concept outright. While provincial vaccine passports for day-to-day activities and venues have been the focus in recent weeks, back in June 2021 Trudeau said Canadians could expect to see a cross-Canada system of proof of vaccination to help restart international travel by potentially fall 2021. The fi rst track of Canada’s 2-track proof of vaccination system for international travel, allowing travellers to use Canada’s ArriveCAN app to upload vaccination certifi cation, is already up and running. On the campaign trail, Trudeau was asked when Canadians can expect to see that cross-Canada system of proof of vaccination for international travel. In his response Trudeau noted that the provincial governments have people’s health data, not the federal government. Trudeau added that for those provinces with vaccine passports, the Liberals could “add a federal element of certifi cation so you can show it at international airports around the world and use it for international travel. It is an interim measure that will be very good for the next year or so, easily.” Late last month Trudeau promised $1 billion to the provinces to help with the costs of bringing in provincial vaccine passports. With all the focus on the provinces, many in the travel industry - and anyone looking to travel this winter - may be wondering what happened to the fall 2021 timeline for the cross-Canada vaccine passport for travel? Trudeau also said “we will be bringing in that more formalized version in the coming months or a year perhaps”, while acknowledging that “the priority is giving people a solid document that will allow them to do both things, both engage provincially in local businesses, knowing that they’re safe from the people at the next table, and travel internationally with something robust enough and approved by the government of Canada, that will be accepted at airports around the world.”
Justin Trudeau on the campaign trail, leading up to the Sept. 20 election
Direct Travel acquires McCord Travel in fi rst buy since 2019
TORONTO — Direct Travel has acquired McCord Travel Management. Says Brian Robertson, President of Direct Travel, Canada West region: “We have admired Scott and his team's ability to maintain an enviable reputation of providing tailored travel services to Canada's top executives, celebrities and government representatives. The existing level of service will remain in place and be further enhanced by Direct Travel's technology and global reach.” The deal “is a powerful statement of the strength and diversity of Direct Travel in the travel marketplace,” he said. “We are enthusiastic about adding McCord Travel to our organization and continuing to provide a more personalized approach to the business of travel,” he added. McCord Travel, based in Ottawa, has been in business for more than 20 years. The company will now operate as McCord Travel, A Direct Travel Company. McCord Travel founder Scott McCord is joining Direct Travel senior management team as Director of Customer Experience. He will continue to oversee the operations of McCord Travel. “For years, both Direct Travel and McCord Travel have consistently gone above and beyond for business and leisure clients alike,” said McCord. “Our team at McCord Travel is excited to combine our focus on highly personalized service with the expanded range of global services that Direct Travel will provide our clients.” Travelweek checked in with Robertson to ask if the McCord deal signals a steadily building momentum in the travel sector. The acquisition is Direct Travel’s fi rst in Canada since 2019. “We are back to 40% across Canada and 50% across the U.S." for transactions, measured against pre-pandemic 2019 volumes, Robertson told Travelweek. “Forward leisure bookings are going through the roof and current corporate / meetings activity is coming back despite continued travel restrictions globally,” he added.
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Air Transat’s new flash sale has seats under $299
MONTREAL — Air Transat has launched its ‘10,000 Seats Under $299’ flash sale to entice Canadians to book their fall travels to the South, Florida or within Canada. The promotion applies to flights departing from Montreal, Quebec City or Toronto to the South (Cuba, Dominican Republic, Jamaica, Mexico, Panama, St. Maarten), Florida (Fort Lauderdale, Fort Myers, Miami, Orlando) and within Canada (Calgary, Montreal, Quebec City, Toronto, Vancouver). It’s valid for new individual bookings made between Sept. 3-13, 2021, for travel between Sept. 20 and Dec. 16, 2021. Published rates are per person for a one-way Economy Class flight in Eco budget fare. Eco budget fares are only available for reservations made through Sirev Air and GDS. For more information go to airtransat. com or Get Connected.
Canada finally gets a spot on the UK’s green list
LONDON — Canada has been added to the UK’s green list. With the updated policy Canadians are now able to enter the UK without a mandatory quarantine, regardless of whether or not they are fully vaccinated. Canadian travellers still need to take a pre-departure test and a COVID-19 test on or before day 2 of arrival. Quarantine is only necessary if the test is positive. Travellers can find test providers in England by visiting the test provider site. Travellers must also fill out the passenger locator form, up to 48 hours before arriving in the UK. VisitBritain reminds Canadian travellers that each country within the UK may have different rules in place, and encourages visitors and travel advisors to find out the requirements before arriving in Scotland, Wales or Northern Ireland. Visitors and advisors can also find more information on the UK’s COVID-19 traffic light system and guidelines on www.gov.uk. “We are thrilled by the news that Canada will be added to the UK Government’s green list as of Monday, August 30. Canada is a robust and growing inbound market for Britain with strong cultural ties. We know Canadians have been eager to visit again, and with Britain’s tourism and hospitality businesses reopened, we are ready to welcome them back to our iconic cities, countryside, and world- class cultural attractions,” says VisitBritain Senior Vice President, The Americas, Paul Gauger. Gauger adds: “Tourism is an extremely competitive global industry and we had already forecast a slow recovery, with overseas visitor spending in the UK this year of £6.2 billion compared to £28.4 billion in 2019, so being able to welcome more international visitors back by safely reducing barriers to travel is a crucial step on the industry’s road to rebuilding.” In 2019 some 874,000 Canadian visits to the UK marked the second highest on record, plus Canadians spent £724.36 million in the UK in 2019, another record. According to VisitBritain’s research, 64% percent of Canadians keen to travel had not yet booked or decided where to go. It’s an opportunity to influence decision-making, destination-choice and bookings, says VisitBritain. The UK’s upcoming events include the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games, COP26, Coventry City of Culture, The Queen’s Platinum Jubilee and Festival UK 2022. More details can be found at visit britain.com.
TORONTO — G Adventures is introducing a Vaccinated Tours program, with each trip led by a fully vaccinated chief experience officer (CEO or tour guide), and with all trip participants also fully vaccinated. The company says that due to the high number of tours and destinations G Adventures is currently operating in, and the slower roll-out of vaccines in some destinations, the adventure operator is also introducing ‘Travel-Ready’ tours to ensure equitable access to tourism employment opportunities for CEOs in destinations which have not yet been able to administer vaccinations as widely as others. G Adventures is also actively assisting CEOs to access vaccines in their home countries. Of the tours departing in October, 304 departures across 116 tours will operate as Vaccinated Tours and 64 departures will be designated as TravelReady. On Vaccinated Tours, all travellers and CEOs must have received a full COVID-19 vaccination with the final dose administered at least 14 days prior to day one of the tour. On Travel-Ready tours, all travellers and CEOs must have either received a full COVID-19 vaccination, or have a negative PCR test within 96 hours prior to day one of their tour’s departure. Vaccinated Tours and Travel-Ready Tours will be designated with an icon featured next to each trip at gadventures.
com to indicate which category of tour the departure falls under. “By October we will have successfully, and safely, run close to 1,000 tours since September 2020 - more tours than any other operator - supporting employment and boosting the local economies of countries that are dependent on tourism, such as Costa Rica, Ecuador, Egypt, Morocco, Peru and Kenya. We are starting with Vaccinated Tours in October and will be adding future departures as we confirm CEOs and travellers are all fully vaccinated in order to lead and travel on those itineraries,” says Jeff Russill, COO, G Adventures. “As a global operator, we also want to ensure travel equity for those travellers who haven’t been able to be vaccinated as yet due to their age and / or home country, as we have travellers from more than 160 countries join our trips. We expect vaccination rates to increase in most destinations later this year, and as they do we will be operating even more Vaccinated Tours,” he added. According to G Adventures’ data, when surveyed, 56% of travellers globally expressed that having a vaccinated
CEO was actually more important to them than their fellow travellers being fully vaccinated, which 45% of travellers indicated they would prefer when travelling on a small group tour. The results are based on 4,624 responses from G Adventures’ April 2021 global consumer panel, of which two thirds are former travellers and 1,498 are Canadian. “By October we will have successfully, and safely, run close to 1,000 tours since September 2020, more tours than any other operator” The Vaccinated Tours and TravelReady programs represent an evolution of G Adventures’ existing Travel with Confidence policy which remains in place. This policy was introduced in June, 2020, and saw the implementation of enhanced health, safety and physical distancing measures across all tours. Travelweek 2020 ads:TravelWeek 2016 2021-08-30 12:05 PM Page 1
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TICO’s consultation for new funding framework, fee model starts this month
MISSISSAUGA — TICO management is planning a consultation period with registrants and other stakeholders on a new funding framework and fee model. The consultation period starts this month, said TICO in a memo to registrants, adding that further details and timing of sessions, including the process for registrants to provide feedback, will be shared soon. As TICO notes, the COVID-19 pandemic has devastated Ontario’s’ travel marketplace. “TICO’s consumer protection role during this period has also been challenged,” says TICO in its memo. Following a series of communications and regulatory amendments which came into effect March 30, 2020, registrants have experienced reduced reporting requirements as well as renewal fee and payment waivers owing TICO through to March 31, 2022.
The pandemic has also highlighted issues and challenges associated with the current funding framework and fee model, notes TICO. A review of the funding and fee model has been completed and subject to input. TICO says it is proposing changes aimed at improving transparency, fairness and equity for fees charged to registrants. “Further details concerning these proposed changes and how registrants can participate in the consultation, will be supplied via a consultation document which will be sent to registrants shortly,” says TICO. “Registrant feedback and input are critical in shaping TICO’s future funding model in support of its consumer protection mandate. Your participation and engagement in this review process is greatly appreciated.”
Royal Grenada Resort set to reopen on Oct. 1, 2021
TORONTO — Blue Diamond Resorts will reopen Royalton Grenada Resort on Oct. 1, 2021. The all-inclusive, 269-key property overlooks Tamarind Bay with direct access to two of the island’s best whitesand beaches. Along with its enviable beachfront location, Royalton Grenada Resort is only five minutes from Maurice Bishop International Airport. Accommodations include rain showers and soaker tubs, DreamBed mattresses, 24-hour room service, complimentary non-motorized water sports, All-in Connectivity offering free high-speed WiFi resort-wide, a worldclass spa and more. “We are thrilled to welcome back our discerning guests to experience a fivestar luxury vacation on the renowned Spice Isle,” says Jordi Pelfort, President of Hotels and Resort at Sunwing Travel Group. “Blue Diamond Resorts’ expansion into the Eastern Caribbean presents travellers with more opportunities to enjoy Royalton's bespoke offerings in the exotic destination of Grenada.” Pelfort notes that with unlimited reservation-free dining at the resort’s а la carte restaurants, guests can choose from a range of cuisine including the French bistro-style eatery Ma Maison. A first for the Royalton Luxury Resorts portfolio, the new dining concept offers authentic cuisine in a beautiful waterfront setting. Guests can also upgrade to Royalton’s Diamond Club offering premium service, dedicated pool and beach areas, preferential room locations, and access to the Diamond Club lounge.
Willey joins Scenic Group as BDM for Western Canada
VANCOUVER — Lisa Willey has been named BDM for Western Canada for Scenic Group Canada. Willey joins Scenic Group Canada with 20+ years of cruise industry experience, including long stints as BDM for Seabourn and Holland America. For the past five years Willey was with Uniworld, where she developed robust sales and support growth in Western Canada. In 2017 she was named Uniworld’s Global Revenue Producer of the Year. Now with Scenic Group Canada, Willey will be responsible for supporting the sales and trade marketing efforts of Scenic and Emerald Cruises’ travel partners in B.C., Alberta, Saskatchewan and Manitoba. “We are pleased to have the calibre of Lisa’s talent and expertise join our Canadian sales team. As we continue to build our sales and marketing team, our travel partners can expect increase support in helping them achieve their business goals,” says Juna Ueda, General Manager Sales, Scenic Group Canada. “The Scenic Group is committed to investing in the Canadian marketplace, to drive the sales recovery.” Ueda adds that Willey combines strong academic knowledge with real-life work experience and is seen as an integral player in Scenic Group’s growth plan for the Canadian market. Willey also has her Level 1 Certification in the Sommelier and Wine Cellar Management Program, and contributes to numerous charitable efforts. "It's such a privilege to be joining the team at Scenic and Emerald Cruises, and for the opportunity to represent such innovative and dynamic brands,” says Willey, who is based in Vancouver. “I'm especially excited about their growth into the ultra-luxury ocean market with the stunning Scenic Eclipse and Emerald Azzurra. It is thrilling to be coming back into the industry with the Scenic Group and I look forward to once again be working with all my valued travel partners." Willey can be reached at Lisa.Willey @scenic.ca.
