Closure

advisory: Holy Destinations Travel Inc.

TORONTO — TICO has announced that Holy Destinations Travel Inc., a travel agency in Nepean, Ontario, had its registration revoked under the Travel Industry Act, 2002, effective July 26, 2023.

The agency specialized in Islamic holy pilgrimages – including Hajj and Umrah – to Mecca, Saudi Arabia.

TICO has received consumer complaints alleging that the travel agency collected consumer payments without providing the travel services consumers had purchased.

Any consumers affected by the closure of Holy Destinations Travel Inc. are encouraged to contact TICO at tico@tico.ca and 1-888-451-8426 or (905) 624-624.

Arajet to operate new service between Montreal and Santo Domingo

SANTO DOMINGO — Low-cost Caribbean airline Arajet has announced its second route to Canada, direct flights to and from Montreal and Santo Domingo in the Dominican Republic.

The new route will begin operations on Nov. 7, 2023 with 4x/weekly service at fares starting at US$155, one way, tax included. The carrier says there are future plans to include additional connections to other destinations in North, Central, South America and the Caribbean.

“Arajet remains committed to the growth and expansion of our hub, especially now with Canada which is the second country of origin of tourists to the Dominican Republic, and with a diaspora of more than 50 thousand Dominicans who now have a national airline to visit their friends and family,” said Víctor Pacheco Méndez, CEO and founder of Arajet.

“The citizens of Montreal and Santo Domingo have for the first time an airline that offers direct flights at the best market price, which will generate greater benefits for both countries by strengthening commercial and cultural exchange, as well as tourism,” he added.

Arajet, which began operations in the Caribbean in September 2022 from its base at Las Americas Airport in Santo Domingo, currently offers direct flights to 20 destinations in 14 countries, making the Dominican Republic the continent’s new low-price hub. The airline features a new fleet of Boeing 737 MAX-8 aircraft that reduces sonic pollution by up to 40%.

ACTA adds two new Travel Advisor Destination Experiences

TORONTO — ACTA has announced the addition of two destination experiences for travel advisors in 2023.

Along with the sold-out ACTA-Avalon Waterways European River Cruise Summit taking place in October 2023, ACTA will also be offering the Dominican Republic from Aug. 15-21, and Alentejo, Portugal from Nov. 13-19, 2023. ACTA has partnered with the Dominican Republic and

Visit Portugal, with air provided by Air Canada.

ACTA’s 2023 Immersive Destination Experiences have been developed for Canadian travel advisors who are dedicated to growing their business and driving profitable growth. These professional development opportunities will allow participants to immerse themselves in the culture of a destination, improve product knowledge and further develop social media business building skills.

Available to ACTA travel advisor members in 2023, the new Immersive Destination Experiences are as follows:

• Dominican Republic Aug. 15-21: The official Itinerary can be found here and registration is available here. The cost to participate in this Immersive destination experience is $300.

• Alentejo, Portugal Nov. 13-19: The agenda can be found here and registration is available here. The cost to participate in this Immersive destination experience is $800.

ACTA Destination Experiences are accredited under ACTA’s Continuing Education (CE) program. Travel agents who attend the Destination Experience will be eligible to receive CE credits, which can be applied to obtaining or maintaining the professional designation of Certified Travel Consultant (CTC) or Certified Travel Manager (CTM).

Visit the ACTA Events website for more details.