Travelweek - December 1st, 2022

IS WAITING FOR YOU. PERU

From the sacred citadel of Machu Picchu to the floating islands of Lake Titicaca, magical wonders of Peru will be found around every corner. TOUR SNAPSHOT:

Machu Picchu and Lake Titicaca

Uncover the mysteries of Machu Picchu alongside a guide. Explore colorful markets, like the famous Pisac village market, in Peru. Journey through the Andes by train to Machu Picchu. Experience a culinary demonstration and learn how to craft ceviche and pisco sours.

Cruise to the floating islands of the Uros people of Lake Titicaca. Discover the artist’s designs inspired by ancient Peruvian cultures at the Pablo Seminario Ceramic Studio. Immerse yourself in local culture at a home-hosted lunch at a Quechua community.

Availability is slim and prices are still high but that hasn’t deterred clients from booking December holiday getaways, say agents

By Kathryn Folliott

TORONTO — The end of 2022 looks nothing like the start of 2022, and for the travel industry, that’s a wonderful thing.

Bookings are coming in fast and furious, as the demand for travel after two and a half years of the pandemic shows no sign of slowing down.

It’s a far cry from the grim days at the start of this year, when sometimes it seemed like travel restrictions would be with us forever.

Travel advisors tell Travelweek they couldn’t be happier with the upswing in bookings.

That’s true even when they’re working with clients to book increasingly tight space for the late December holiday break. Always a popular travel time especially for families with school-age children, the holiday break is going gangbusters this year.

Bernard Cote, Transat’s Director, Marketing, Public Relations and Social Media, says that as far as holiday travel is concerned, “destinations like Mexico and the D.R. continue to be tremendously popular with travellers, families and adults alike.”

The tour operator’s Black Friday

and Cyber Monday offers last month gave travellers a lot of deals to choose from, he added.

According to a recent survey by Visa Canada, over the holidays international travel will make up 75-80% of pre-pandemic travel volume. And while 70% of Canadians surveyed say their travel plans have been impacted due to current economic factors, such as inflation, (surpassing last year’s leading factor of health concerns brought on by the pandemic), 42% of Canadians surveyed say they’ll be travelling internationally this holiday season.

Travelweek spoke to several travel advisors across Canada for a quick

snapshot as we get ready to wrap up 2022.

“25+ DECEMBER BOOKINGS BY APRIL”

Cambridge, ON-based travel advisor Caitlin Lajeunesse, part of the Independent by Flight Centre network, says she had December holiday break bookings come in all the way back in the spring. Whether those early bookings were fuelled by the sheer joy of being able to book travel again in those early days, or a scarcity-mindset with clients determined to lock in their travel plans before everyone else, the end result is that Lajeunesse had more than two dozen December 2022 trips booked some eight months out.

She says: “What was surprising to me was how early my clients booked for winter travel this year. I had over 25 bookings for the week of Boxing Day/New Year’s on the books by the end of April. I’m so happy my clients booked early as the prices are high and availability is very slim!”

SOME PEOPLE ARE SHOCKED BY THE HIGH PRICES, BUT I AM DEFINITELY SEEING PEOPLE UP THEIR BUDGET ACCORDINGLY

THE RIVER CRUISES, ESPECIALLY CHRISTMAS MARKET RIVER CRUISES,

ARE VERY POPULAR.

I BOOKED AT LEAST EIGHT CABINS.

As the trade knows all too well - but not so much the travelling public - it’s not just Canadian travellers booking up space in Mexico and the Caribbean, it’s U.S., UK and European travellers too, all major markets for Canada’s favourite sun spots. These markets had a head start with their return to travel but for many this is the first winter in three years that travel has been restriction-free. Space in top sun destinations has been booking at a rapid pace, and as Lajeunesse notes, availability is low at some resorts, and prices are high.

Ashley Doell, a Warman, SK-based travel advisor with TPI, says her December holiday break clients booked early too. Sticker shock has been an issue and that’s prompted some clients to look outside the December high season.

“I think with prices being higher than ever and availability being at an all-time low, people are trying to opt for more affordable times of the year to travel,” Doell tells Travelweek.

And ‘affordable’ is now a relative term, as prices stay high no matter what the month, and deals are few. Clients have mixed reactions, says Doell. “Some people are shocked by

Got a story idea? Questions or comments?

Write to Kathryn Folliott at kfolliott@travelweek.ca

the high prices, but I am defi nitely seeing people up their budget accordingly and spending the extra that it will take to have the same experience that they have come to expect regardless of what it costs. Then there are the travellers who are stuck in the 2018-2019 budget range, and think they can get a family holiday for $5,000 or less. It just isn’t happening this year and I’m not sure it ever will again!”

“DEFINITELY DECEMBER PRICES ARE HIGH”

Paulette Soloman, owner of The Travel Store in Charlottetown, PE, says “definitely December prices are high but we feel that is consistent with past years, it has usually been an expensive time to travel.”

Luckily for PEI residents, in 2023 there’s an alternate two-week break opportunity that’s perfectly timed for a winter vacation. From Feb. 18March 5, 2023 Prince Edward Island is hosting the Canada Winter Games. Students get a two-week school holiday, making it an ideal time for a family getaway.

“In terms of availability that’s where we are seeing things getting booked up,” says Soloman. “Already we are seeing full plane loads in February, and the requests keep pouring in.”

Soloman says for February 2023 prices “are also reflective of supply, so I think that there is some moderate sticker shock at times depending on what clients are looking for, but this has not significantly affected demand. People seem very understanding of the idea that prices are higher when demand is higher, and after these years of no travel are very keen to go, within reason.  Our agents work hard to find options within client budgets.”

“EAGER TO GET GOING AGAIN”

Sheila Gallant-Halloran, owner of Lush Life Travel (an affiliate of Vision Travel), says her December bookings are strong too - particularly for river cruises.

She connected with Travelweek from a Rhine cruise herself. “The river cruises, especially Christmas market river cruises, are very popular. I have at least eight different cabins of folks going over the next couple of weeks. With the markets pretty well stopped or extremely limited for a couple of years, folks are eager to return. I even have some folks doing a river cruise over New Year’s Eve.”

She adds: “I do have some sun holiday clients to Grand Cayman, and some Caribbean cruisers with folks like Windstar and Seabourn, but most of my clients are booking bigger trips like Europe and Egypt and Malaysia and Australia. The cost of air remains quite high. But many are choosing to travel anyway. Most of my clients feel they’ve lost out on a couple of years of travel, and are eager to get going again.”

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Cover Photo Credit: Kristiyan Markov for Silversea Cruises

Making history in Antarctica: Silversea Cruises debuts Silver Endeavour

ONBOARD SILVER ENDEAVOUR’

—

Silversea Cruises made history last month with its newest addition to the fleet: Silver Endeavour, whose inaugural voyage was to Antarctica, the planet’s seventh and least-visited continent.

“We are incredibly proud to have hosted ultra-luxury cruising’s first Antarctica naming ceremony,” said Roberto Martinoli, President and CEO of Silversea Cruises. “Silver Endeavour strengthens our position as the industry’s leading cruise line, broadening our diverse polar offerings for our guest’s enjoyment.”

Silversea Cruises has christened an unprecedented four ships starting in 2021, also including the Silver Dawn, Silver Origin and Silver Moon, increasing the Royal Caribbean Group’s fleet to 64. Silver Endeavour’s name was inspired by the HMS Endeavour, the British Royal Navy research vessel commanded by Lieutenant James Cook on his first voyage of discovery from 1768-1771.

Silver Endeavour’s six-day maiden voyage in Antarctica departed November 15 and included the historic Drake Passage and the notable Lemaire Channel, where the naming ceremony was held. Feted by executives from Silversea Cruises, select members from the company’s extended family, passengers, media and travel advisors, which included Ron Dawick, President of Oakville, ON-based Sea Courses Inc., a member of TravelSavers. “The Endeavour is really a fantastic ship. I’ve been on many of the Silverseas ships and other luxury liners, and this ship is one of the best.”

The sentiment was echoed by Travelweek Publisher Devin Kinasz, also on board for the groundbreaking journey. “What an incredible ship. A sailing on Silver Endeavour promises a once-ina-lifetime sailing, especially for clients looking for that elevated luxury experience on top of a memorable trip to

the stunning Last Continent.”

Silver Endeavour’s godmother is Felicity Aston MBE, British explorer, author and climate scientist, who was excited to welcome fellow travellers to one of her favourite places on earth. “Silver Endeavour will allow more people to become explorers and return home with new outlooks. She will be a source of self-enrichment, as people connect with the planet and each other. Fair winds and following seas to all those who sail on her.” Aston was the first woman to ski solo across Antarctica in 2012 solely using muscle power.

INAUGURAL VOYAGE

Leaving the quiet surroundings of Puerto Williams on southern Chile’s Beagle Channel, Silversea Cruises is the only cruise company operating out of this small town, adding to the ship’s exclusivity, as other cruise companies are based in Ushuaia, Argentina. “An important gateway to Antarctica, Puerto Williams is a key destination for Silversea, and it is always our goal to positively impact the local communities we visit,” explained Conrad Combrink, Senior Vice President of Expeditions, Destination and Itinerary Management, Silversea Cruises.

Focused on fostering a long-term relationship with the community, Silversea Cruises has donated

four zodiacs to the Cedena Nautical School, a non-profit organization dedicated to training and educating young people in nautical sports and sponsored a physical education integration program for disabled children at the Puerto Williams School, both located in Puerto Williams.

The next day Silver Endeavour was officially in the Drake Passage (also known as the Mar de Hoces) named after 16th century British privateer Sir Francis Drake. This body of water is located between Cape Horn, Chile at the southern tip of South America and the South Shetland Islands of Antarctica, providing an opportunity for guests to spot the region’s wide variety of sea birds including albatross and giant petrel. Priming passengers for upcoming landings, the first lectures were from ornithologist Claudia Holgate and Nicholas Crane, president of the Royal Geographical Society, introducing passengers to this polar region.

Day three brought the first of many zodiac adventures, landing on Robert Island in the South Shetland Islands and for Silver Endeavour passengers, their first sight of Antarctica’s popular (and numerous) residents: penguins. “They are not afraid, quite funny and very curious,” said Kinasz, who learned about the island’s penguin highways, while also seeing fur seals

EXCURSION TO ROBERT ISLAND, ANTARCTICA

Photo credit: Silversea

and elephant seals, with the males putting on a show fighting each other. Another memorable moment during this south pole adventure was arriving at the Antarctica Peninsula’s Neko Harbour to see icebergs, showing off intense shades of turquoise. Disembarking to hike up the mountain from the harbour resulted in an unforgettable reward: a first glimpse of Antarctica Peninsula’s ice shelf, glistening from every angle and seeing many more penguins.

Sailing the Lemaire Channel was another highlight of the inaugural cruise, made possible because of cutting-edge technology found on Silver Endeavour. Considered one of the most advanced and luxurious expedition vessels, this ship is built to a PC6 polar class specifications, with the ability to navigate through a metre of ice. Because of favourable weather conditions, guests could board zodiacs to experience the channel too, a rare opportunity made possible by Silver Endeavour’s tech assets like DPS – dynamic positioning system – allowing the ship unprecedented maneuverability.

The last off-ship adventure was visiting volcanic Petermann Island, off the northwest coast of the Kyiv Peninsula. This two-kilometre isle was a budding ornithologist’s dream with Adélie penguins and a massive colony of Gentoo penguins found within the island’s Groussac Refuge. A rare glimpse of human history is also found on the island including artifacts from a French expedition, an Argentinian refuge hut and a cross to

mark the memory of three members of the British Antarctic Survey.

LUXURY DEFINED

As Chief Commercial Officer for Silversea Cruises, Barbara Muckermann may have numerous responsibilities in sales and marketing, but her focus is always on the guest experience. “We only have one class of passenger which means we always strive to give all our guests the same access to a destination.”

Travel agents are the primary distribution channel for Silversea and Muckermann knows her product is perfect for advisors. “You (will) earn commission on everything – including all the drinks, food and excursions, because Silversea is all-inclusive. And you can be certain that every detail will be taken care of for your clients to the highest standard.”

With Antarctica becoming a more popular option, Muckermann wants advisors to know why Silversea Cruises, and especially Silver Endeavour, is the right choice for clients to have an unforgettable vacation. “Any ship above 250 passengers will have a hard time delivering experience where everybody gets off the ship at the same time, while we have unmatched guest-to-zodiac ratios.” She added a smaller ship provides more landings and access, while larger ships typically do cruise-by with passengers enjoying the scenery from the ship, but not able to leave the ship. The quality and quality of shore landings should be a deciding factor when agents are making suggestions.

ENDEAVOUR ITINERARIES

As the 11th Silversea ship, Silver Endeavour will sail pole to pole, bringing guests to remote regions of the Arctic, Antarctica and northern Europe. Specifically designed for the polar landscape, this ultramodern expedition ship offers a bespoke travel experience to and from the ship, private charter flights when embarking/disembarking in remote turnaround ports, transfers and hotel nights pre and post cruise and all-inclusive luxury hallmarks like butler service for every suite.

Offering ultra-luxury with a 1:1 passenger to crew ratio, a capacity for 200 passengers/200 crew, there are seven suite categories on Silver Endeavour, with the average suite size starting at 270 square feet. Featuring eight public decks, seven dining and bar options and several places to lounge: the relaxing Observation Lounge with 270 degree views, Otium Spa for wellness treatments and the glass-enclosed two-storey Pool Deck, with swimming pool, whirlpool and The Grill Restaurant.

Silversea Cruises has led the return to ultra-luxe cruising, as the first cruise company to return to the Med and the Galapagos, with all ships in service except Silver Explorer, which is currently being upgraded. Planning for an increased capacity of 40% since 2019, Silversea’s commitment to door-to-door, port-to-port all-inclusive fares will make sales simpler for travel agents, avoiding numerous promotional codes.

Currently with the largest portfolio of Antarctica journeys available including Antarctic Peninsula, Antarctica Bridge (flying from Santiago, Chile via Punta Arenas to the Antarctica Peninsula to ship, skipping the Drake Passage), Falkland Islands and South Georgia Islands, Silver Endeavour is now sailing a series of 12 voyages to Antarctica, ranging from five to 20 days, including Deep South expeditions and a new 10 day Antarctica Peninsula voyage.

SILVER ENDEAVOUR

Photo credit: Silversea

AIRLINES

Air Canada is now offering Live TV on select aircraft and domestic routes, with an offering that includes six Canadian national sports and news channels in English and French. The move makes Air Canada the only Canadian carrier to offer customers the ability to cheer on their favourite sports teams by watching global sporting events in real time, or watch live national news onboard a flight. Live TV is presently available on domestic routes from coast to coast operated with a Live TV-enabled aircraft. Currently 40 Boeing 777, Boeing 787, Airbus A330 and Airbus A220 aircraft are Live TV-enabled. More than half (55%) of Air Canada’s mainline aircraft will be Live TV-enabled by the second quarter of 2023.

AIRPORTS

The Greater Toronto Airports Authority (GTAA), operator of Toronto Pearson International Airport, has reopened Runway 06L/24R, the airport's second-busiest runway, after an eight-month rehabilitation. The project was one of the largest in Pearson's history. Planning began more than a year and a half ago, to ensure safety and minimal disruption for passengers and nearby communities. Federal Transport Minister Omar Alghabra joined GTAA President and CEO Deborah Flint and others for the reopening. “As the busiest airport in Canada and one of the busiest in North America, the return of this runway at Pearson Airport will keep air passengers moving safely and smoothly in and out of the GTA,” said Minister Alghabra.

CRUISE

Silversea Cruises has begun construction on Silver Ray, the second ship in its Nova class. Silver Ray is set to join sister ship Silver Nova as one of the most environmentally conscious ships ever built when it launches in summer 2024. At Silver Ray’s steel cutting ceremony in Germany, Silversea President and CEO Roberto Martinoli took the opportunity to set a new launch date for Silver Nova, which, due to the global situation, is now expected to join Silversea’s fleet on Aug. 14, 2023, sailing roundtrip from Venice on its maiden voyage. Silversea has informed affected guests and travel advisors of Silver Nova’s revised launch date, offering travellers a savings of 10% when booking an alternative voyage before Nov. 30, 2022; a Future Cruise Credit, valued at 100% of the total booking amount paid; or a cash refund option.

INBOUND TOURISM

Tourism spending in Canada is expected to recover sooner than previously anticipated, but as TIAC notes, there’s still a long way to go. Destination Canada’s latest tourism outlook shows tourism spending recovering to 2019 levels by 2024, up from 2025 as predicted last spring. The government organization says that Canada's domestic travel market spending is recovering at an even faster pace and is expected to reach 92% of 2019 levels in 2022 and fully recover in 2023. It says the U.S. market is positioned to grow with spending reaching 91% of 2019 levels in 2023 and expects a full economic recovery by 2024.

DESTINATIONS

The Los Cabos Tourism Board is reporting unprecedented growth in tourism arrivals, with more than 3.3 million visitors expected to arrive by year’s end. This marks a 20+% projected growth compared to 2021, and a 32% compounded growth over the last five years with 800,000 more passengers than 2017. In the Canadian market, Los Cabos is projecting 19.3% more available seats for the next six months, making it the second largest international market following the U.S. It is on track to match arrivals from 2019 by the end of 2023.

CAC, airlines, federal govt. working together to

TORONTO — The Canadian Airports Council has outlined steps that industry and government partners can take to help Canada’s airline industry meet passenger expectations, evolve the airport experience and ease pressure on airports.

The CAC joined Canada’s Minister of Transport, Minister of Tourism and Associate Minister of Finance, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Transport, and leaders of Canada’s air sector recently to discuss lessons learned from the COVID-19 pandemic.

A statement issued by CAC President Monette Pasher outlines the CAC’s asks and recommendations.

Infrastructure Investments: Deprived of user fee revenue, Canadian airports took on $3.2 billion in new debt to continue operating as essential services during the pandemic. “Servicing this debt and paying deferred rent to the federal government will make it difficult to finance the infrastructure projects that are vital to airport operations. Reinvesting rent payments for all airports over the next decade would release billions of dollars that can be used for these projects. Additionally, the government should deploy funding programs for the Greening of Airport Assets and recapitalize the Airports Capital Assistance Program (ACAP) to support infrastructure at Canada’s smaller airports,” says Pasher.

Accelerate the adoption of digital solutions: It is vital that industry work with government to streamline the passenger experience at borders and security checkpoints, says Pasher. The CAC is asking for coordinated support to implement new technologies

such as facial confirmation and trusted traveller programs that can facilitate traffic flow more seamlessly.

Data sharing: Requirements to share data across Canada’s Aviation ecosystem would help Canadian airports serve passengers better, make more informed investment decisions and remain more competitive. “Europe and the US do this and benefit from higher quality decisions and better response to predictable and unpredictable operations,” she says.

Establish service level standards at each step of the journey: Pasher notes that airports want to work more closely with all aviation stakeholders to serve the travelling public; however, the establishment of service level standards also requires three key ingredients: data transparency, stakeholder accountability and collaborative frameworks.

She adds: “Canada’s airports have made significant progress since the worst days of the pandemic; they still have a long way to go. As an industry, we must continue working with the government and all partners in the ecosystem on mutually beneficial solutions.

“Air connectivity for passengers, supply chains and regional economies is essential to Canada’s competitiveness. The Air Sector Recovery Summit was a welcome conversation. We hope that by having more dialogue in the coming months, we can make travel the best possible experience for all Canadians and visitors to our country.”

Delays at security check-in and other problems at Canada’s airports were among the concerns raised at the summit, convened by Minister Alghabra. He noted that passenger volumes rose 280% between February and June 2022. The high passenger volumes and inadequate staffing levels contributed to a summer of lost baggage and flight disruptions, during which Toronto’s Pearson International Airport had the world’s worst record on delayed flights.

IHG, Iberostar sign licensing deal for allinclusive resorts

PALMA DE MALLORCA — InterContinental Hotels Group (IHG) has answered the call for more all-inclusive options by signing a 30-year licensing deal with Iberostar Hotels & Resorts.

Through this long-term commercial agreement, up to 70 hotels – the equivalent of 24,300 rooms – will be bookable via IHG’s system under the Iberostar Beachfront Resorts brand, which marks IHG’s 18th brand overall. IHG’s global system will increase by up to 3% as a result of the partnership. Iberostar will retain 100% ownership of the 70 hotels, all of which are beachfront properties.

The first Iberostar properties will

avoid summer’s chaos for coming months

IHG CEO KEITH BARR (SECOND FROM LEFT) WITH IBEROSTAR GROUP'S SABINA FLUXÁ, VICE-CHAIRMAN & CEO_ MIGUEL FLUXÁ, CHAIRMAN_ AND GLORIA FLUXÁ, VICE-CHAIRMAN & CSO

join the IHG system this December in popular locales like Mexico, the D.R., Jamaica, Brazil and the Canary Islands in Spain. These include: Iberostar Grand Paraiso (Riviera Maya); Iberostar Selection Hacienda Dominicus (Bayahibe, DR); Iberostar Grand Rose Hall (Montego Bay); and Iberostar Selection Anthelia (Tenerife, Spain).

Additional properties in Spain, Southern Europe and North Africa are anticipated to join the system throughout 2023 and 2024.

As IHG has less than 20 resort properties in the countries where the Iberostar Beachfront Resorts properties are located, the new agreement signifi cantly increases its resort footprint.

“Guests have told us of their wish for increased choice of resort and all-inclusive destinations within our brand portfolio,” said Keith Barr, CEO, IHG Hotels & Resorts. “We are delighted to address that by working with such a well-respected, experienced and like-minded partner as Iberostar, and to see more amazing hotels join our system that continues IHG’s growth in so many of the world’s most attractive markets and destinations.”

Miguel Fluxá, Chairman of Iberostar Group, added: “This strategic alliance will enable Iberostar Beachfront Resorts to benefit from IHG’s industry-leading technology, deep skills and global scale. Retaining 10)% ownership of Iberostar allows us to continue to generate differentiation in the hospitality industry with a longterm vision for our employees, clients, tour operators, distribution partner and local communities that have been loyal to us during all these years.”

The Iberostar Beachfront Resorts brand will be included in a new ‘Exclusive Partners’ category in IHG’s brand portfolio, alongside its Suites, Essentials, Premium and Luxury & Lifestyle categories.

The total gross revenue of the 70 hotels was approximately US$1.3 billion in 2019. IHG’s fee structure will ramp up through to 2025 as the hotels integrate onto its platform. By 2027, annual revenue within IHG’s fee business is expected to be in excess of $40 million.

Int’l tourism to reach 65% of prepandemic levels by year’s

end: UNWTO

MADRID — International tourism continues to make strong gains in 2022, with tourist numbers on track to reach 65% of pre-pandemic levels by the end of the year.

According to the latest World Tourism Barometer from UNWTO, an estimated 700 million tourists travellers internationally between January and September, more than double (+133%) the number recorded for the same period in 2021. This equates to 63% of 2019 levels and puts the sector on course to reach 65% of its pre-pandemic levels this year, in line with UNWTO scenarios. Results were boosted by strong pent-up demand, improved confidence levels and the lifting of restrictions in an increasing number of destinations.

The latest data also revealed the speed at which the sector has recovered, with monthly arrivals being 64% below 2019 levels in January 2022 and reaching -27% by September. An estimated 340 million international arrivals were recorded in the third quarter of 2022 alone, almost 50% of the nine-month total.

REGIONAL RECOVERY

Europe continues to lead the rebound of international tourism, welcoming 477 million international arrivals in January-September 2022 (68% of the world total), hitting 81% of pre-pandemic levels. This was more than double that of 2021 (+126%) with results boosted by strong intra-regional demand and travel from the United States. Europe saw particularly robust performance in Q3, when arrivals reached almost 90% of 2019 levels.

Several subregions reached 80% to 90% of their pre-pandemic arrivals in January-September 2022. Western

Europe (88%) and Southern Mediterranean Europe (86%) saw the fastest recovery towards 2019 levels. The Caribbean, Central America (both 82%) and Northern Europe (81%) also recorded strong results. Destinations reporting arrivals above pre-pandemic levels in the nine months through September include Albania, Ethiopia, Honduras, Andorra, Puerto Rico, Dominican Republic, Colombia, El Salvador and Iceland.

In the month of September arrivals surpassed pre-pandemic levels in the Middle East (+3% over 2019) and the Caribbean (+1%) and came close in Central America (-7%), Northern Europe (-9%) and Southern and Mediterranean Europe (-10%).

AIR & HOTEL

The robust recovery of tourism is also reflected in various industry indicators such as air capacity and hotel metrics, as recorded in the UNWTO Tourism Recovery Tracker. Air seat capacity on international routes (measured in available seat-kilometres or ASKs) in January-August reached 62% of 2019 levels, with Europe (78%) and the Americas (76%) posting the strongest results. Worldwide domestic capacity rose to 86% of 2019 levels, with the Middle East (99%) virtually achieving pre-pandemic levels (IATA).

Meanwhile, according to STR, global hotel occupancy rates reached 66% in September 2022, from 43% in January. Europe led the way with occupancy levels at 77% in September 2022, following rates of 74% in July

and August. The Americas (66%), the Middle East (63%) and Africa (61%) all saw occupancy rates above 60% in September. By subregion, Southern Mediterranean Europe (79%), Western Europe (75%) and Oceania (70%) showed the highest occupancy rates in September 2022.

THE FORECAST

The challenging economic environment, including persistently high inflation and soaring energy prices, aggravated by the Russian offensive in Ukraine, could weigh on the pace of recovery in Q4 and into 2023. The latest survey among the UNWTO Panel of Tourism Experts shows a downgrade in confidence levels for the last four months of 2022, reflecting more cautious optimism. Despite growing challenges pointing to a softening of the recovery pace, export revenues from tourism could reach USD 1.2 to 1.3 trillion in 2022, a 60-70% increase over 2021, or 70-80% of the USD 1.8 trillion recorded in 2019.

TTAND wrapping up 2022 with est. $255 million in sales, and more than 1,100 agents

TORONTO — The Travel Agent Next Door is getting ready to tie a bow on 2022, in the best possible way.

The host agency is projecting $255 million in sales by year-end, and 1,100 travel advisors. Those numbers will make TTAND, by its own calculations, the largest host agency in Canada with the highest sales volume.

Speaking to Travelweek at TTAND’s VIP Supplier event at the Fairmont Royal York, TTAND CEO Flemming Friisdahl said even he is surprised by how far the host agency has come in eight and a half years. Friisdahl founded TTAND in 2014 and that first year’s

numbers (60 agents, 3 staff and $7 million in sales) underscore just how far the agency has come in a short amount of time.

TTAND has even outperformed its projected recovery at this point in the pandemic. In 2019, sales hit $165 million. After a very challenging 2020 and 2021 for the travel industry, Friisdahl says he didn’t expect a major bounce-back until 2023. The increase from 2019 to 2022 is a whopping 53.5%. “We’re really proud of our 2022 sales,” Friisdahl said to applause from TTAND’s top suppliers.

TTAND still follows its ‘Less is MORE’ approach when it comes to supplier partners. As Friisdahl notes, this year’s $255 million in sales is going to just 40 suppliers.

Looking ahead to 2023, he says TTAND is projecting $305 million in sales (“at a minimum”), with 1,200 agents supported by 50 staff. At the same time, he says, TTAND “will not increase its fees or charge extra for all that we bring to our agent partners.” Fees remain steady at $69 / month for Primary Agents, and $19 / month for Associate Agents. And agents still retain up to 100% of their commission.

During the pandemic, TTAND

supported its travel agent members with everything from Zoom meetings (250+ and counting), to ongoing marketing support, to gifts, meals and emotional support for some 54 families in that first pandemic holiday season of 2020, when so many in the travel industry were struggling with no light at the end of the tunnel. TTAND also reduced its annual fees and start-up fees for three years. Some 250 of TTAND’s agent partners left the industry during the pandemic, but 450 new members joined TTAND, over the past 30 months.

TTAND agents stick by their host agency, in more ways than one. In 2021 TTAND switched from Ensemble to TL Network. An overwhelming majority of TTAND agents (96.4%) voted in favour of the move to TL Network. TTAND is part of a group of nine North American agencies taking Ensemble to task for what it says are overdue incentive payments, an allegation which Ensemble has denied. “The Travel Agent Next Door has become one of TL Network’s largest Canadian partners,” said Friisdahl.

THE EXEC TEAM AT THE TRAVEL AGENT NEXT DOOR

THE TRAVEL AGENT NEXT DOOR HAS BECOME ONE OF TL NETWORK’S LARGEST CANADIAN PARTNERS

NEW LOGO, NEW

GROUPS

PROGRAM, CONFERENCE & MORE

TTAND’s VIP Supplier Event also included a look at TTAND’s updated logo, now with stronger colours and customizable taglines. A new B2B version of the logo includes the tagline ‘1,000+ agents strong!’ For the B2C version, TTAND agents can choose from 12 tagline options, to showcase their specialties to prospective clients. Sample taglines include ‘Europe and Beyond’, and ‘Oceans & River Cruises’. Or they can go with the standard logo, or even customize their very own tagline. “We want agents to be able to promote their specialty,” said TTAND’s Director of Marketing, Antje Splettstoesser.

Splettstoesser also highlighted TTAND’s Holiday Calendar event, a fun advent calendar-style promotion coming this December with supplier incentives and messaging for agents.

There was also news about TTAND’s new proprietary Groups program, allowing clients to reserve online, and manage their block of rooms / staterooms. The program also generates a custom manifest for the supplier, and more.

And TTAND’s Z.I.P. program got a shout-out too. The Zero Interest Program, in partnership with Flexiti and modeled after the popular Sears Travel payment program, offers the option of deferred or equal payments for three, six or 12 months.

The evening ended with a look ahead to April 2023 and TTAND’s annual conference, taking place at Majestic Elegance Costa Mujeres. There’s no conference fee for TTAND agents; “I don’t want to make money on conference,” says Friisdahl. In 2022 some 190 agents came out for the TTAND conference and in 2023 projected numbers put the total at 240. “For two consecutive years we’ve set the record for the largest IC conference held outside of Canada,” said Friisdahl. TTAND also just wrapped up its cross-Canada roadshows, with 12 events in all.

What’s new in Seattle, from hotels to attractions and more

SEATTLE — There’s always something going on in a thriving city like Seattle, and these next few months are no exception. Here’s a look at what’s new and newsworthy in the Emerald City, from attractions to hotels to sports and more, as 2022 comes to a close and we head into 2023.

ATTRACTIONS

One of Seattle’s more popular attractions, Chihuly Garden and Glass, recently debuted its new holiday display. ‘Winter Brilliance’, on now and running through the holiday season, offers guests a brand new original light and music show using innovative video projection technology. In other news, The Seattle Art Museum (SAM) is closing out 2022 with the museum’s new installation of its American art galleries, the first in 15 years: ‘American Art: The Stories We Carry’.

HOTELS

Astra Hotel Seattle has opened a new stylish space-themed hotel in South Lake Union. The 265-room hotel is part of Marriott’s Tribute Portfolio, centrally located in the South Lake Union neighborhood and steps away from the Amazon campus, Seattle Center, the Space Needle, the Museum of Pop Culture and Climate Pledge Arena. Meanwhile citizenM has opened a second location in Pioneer Square. And

RailSpur will open a boutique hotel in Pioneer Square in 2023.

SPORTS

Seattle has been chosen to host Major League Baseball’s 93rd edition of the All-Star Game on July 11, 2023. Not only that, but Seattle’s Lumen Field will welcome soccer teams from across the globe in 2026 when it hosts several matches in the FIFA World Cup. The 2026 FIFA World Cup is the first to be co-hosted by three nations (Canada, the U.S. and Mexico).

RAIL

Previously suspended due to the pandemic, Amtrak has reinstated its Cascades line service between Seattle and Vancouver, B.C. As of late 2022, there is one daily train in each direction between Seattle and Vancouver with additional bus routes.

MEETINGS & CONVENTIONS

The Convention Center’s newest addition, The Summit, continues to build progress towards its 2023 grand opening. The Summit will add approximately 250,000 sq. ft. of exhibition space, 160,000 sq. ft. of meeting room space, including a 60,000 sq. ft. ballroom.

For all the latest tourism news from Seattle, see visitseattle.org.

SEATTLE’S SPACE NEEDLE

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Air Transat’s summer 2023 program: 275 weekly flights to 40+ destinations

TORONTO — Air Transat’s summer 2023 program will feature 275 weekly flights to more than 40 destinations at the peak of the season.

In addition to strengthening its position in Europe, Air Transat will also increase connectivity to the South and the U.S., and enhance its domestic service.

Says Michèle Barre, Vice-President, Network, Revenue Management and Pricing, Air Transat: “This flight program is perfectly in line with our mission, which is to encourage discovery and foster openness, whatever the destination or the reason for travelling. From an operational standpoint, the more efficient use of our aircraft allows us to increase the frequency of flights and regain a capacity similar to what we had prior to the pandemic.”

From Toronto, 73 direct flights a week are scheduled to 15 cities in Europe.

From Montreal, Air Transat will offer 88 direct flights weekly to 19 European destinations at the height of the season. From Quebec City, three weekly direct flights are scheduled to Paris and one to London.

Out of Toronto, seven direct flights will depart every week, including four to Fort Lauderdale and three to Orlando. From Montreal, Air Transat will offer a total of 16 direct flights each week stateside, including four

to Fort Lauderdale, three to Orlando, and three each to Miami, L.A. and San Francisco. And from Quebec City, Air Transat will again offer one direct weekly flight to Fort Lauderdale.

Many of Air Transat’s top sun destinations in Mexico and the Caribbean will once again be on offer for summer 2023, from Montreal, Quebec City and Toronto.

Air Transat will also continue to offer numerous domestic flights out of Montreal and Toronto next summer.

Jamaica wraps up Canada mission as recovery momentum stays strong

TORONTO — Jamaica has wrapped up a whirlwind string of events and presentations in the Canadian market, with Jamaica’s Minister of Tourism, Edmund Bartlett, making the most of the Canada mission by champion increased airlift, new development and collaborative relationships.

Jamaica’s top tourism officials touched down in Toronto, Ottawa and Montreal last month to launch the island’s ‘Come Back’ campaign, and meet with tourism stakeholders and government officials.

As the fifth fastest recovering country in the world, Jamaica is on track to welcome three million visitors by the end of the year. And despite Canada’s strict travel restrictions in early 2022, tourist arrivals and revenues from this market are rebounding at a faster pace than expected, according to the Jamaica Tourist Board.

Minister Bartlett and Director of Tourism, Donovan White were joined by Angella Bennett, Jamaica Tourist Board Regional Director for Canada, for the four-day mission that took place from Nov. 15 - 18. The multicity campaign included official launch parties for Jamaica’s new ‘Come Back’

marketing campaign, meetings with Canadian airlines and tour operators, discussion forums with investors and academic institutions, media interviews, and meetings with Canada’s top government officials.

“As Jamaica’s second-largest source market, Canada has played a critical role in our successful recovery,” said Minister Bartlett. “As we look ahead, we are focused on working with travel partners to increase airlift and launch new routes into the destination, exploring new investment and development opportunities, and building collaborative relationships to enhance the resilience and sustainability of the tourism sector across the globe.”

Jamaica’s signature hospitality was on full display as Minister Bartlett and Director White unveiled the destination’s ‘Come Back’ campaign at receptions in Toronto and Montréal. Tour operators, travel agents, hotel partners, journalists, and diaspora communities were invited to celebrate the official Canadian debut of Jamaica’s new marketing campaign, which invites travellers to come back to their best selves through vibrant promotional images and videos showcasing the island’s natural beauty and local talent.

On November 16, the Jamaica Tourist Board and the Ministry of Tourism partnered with the Consulate-General of Jamaica and the Jamaica Promotions Corporation (JAMPRO) to host the first-ever Jamaica Tourism Investment Forum in Toronto. The event brought together more than 50 top-tier investors and representatives from the worlds of real estate, tourism, manufacturing, finance, and academia.

Minister Bartlett and Director White were joined on stage by fellow panelist Stephen Charoo, Consul for Trade and Investment Canada Region at JAMPRO, for a conversation highlighting the many prospective opportunities for land development and real estate investment on the island. Panelists discussed how conscious and holistic growth strategies are being employed to maintain an inclusive and

SUN DESTINATIONS

Fall in love with these ultra-romantic hotels and resorts this winter season and beyond

Dreams Resorts & Spas invites guests to ‘Dream Big’

Dreams Resorts & Spas, part of the AMR Collection, offers all-inclusive vacations in luxurious beachfront settings across Mexico, the Caribbean, Central America and Europe. Travellers can experience first-hand a picture-perfect getaway for themselves and their family with Unlimited-Luxury inclusions.

For US$199 per room, the Dream Big package includes extra special touches that make family vacations memorable. These include a “Dream Big” door banner, in-room welcome gift, relaxing 25-minute couples massage, dessert party in room or a romantic dinner for two, and early check-in and late checkout (subject to availability).

The package is valid at any Dreams Resort & Spa (excluding Dreams properties in Europe) and is available for purchase from now through Dec. 19, 2022, for travel between Oct. 10, 2022 through Dec. 31, 2023. The package price is based on double occupancy.

The package can be purchased by selecting Dream Big on the services page when booking through dreamresorts.com or by calling 1-866-237-3267 and requesting the package. If guests already purchased a stay, the package can be purchased separately by visiting the Dreams Shop and selecting ‘view extras.’ It is combinable with all current offers applicable during the valid booking and travel window, including Deal of the Day or Run of the House specials. It is also applicable to Groups Savings Programs and other group bookings.

The Dream Big package is valid only for the amount of people staying in the room; only one package can be purchased per room, per stay. Guests must be staying at the resort where the package is purchased in order to be eligible.

The welcome amenity will vary by destination and hotel. Limit one welcome amenity per room. Parents’ 25-minute massage is limited to one per adult, up to two per room. The 25-minute massages must be arranged with the Spa Front Desk in advance and are based on availability. Not combinable with any other spa discount, spa special offer or resort coupons nor can multiple treatments be combined to receive a longer treatment. Massages are only available to guests at least 18 years of age.

Guests must choose between a dessert party in room or a romantic dinner; only one option can be selected. They must coordinate with the concierge in advance in order to confirm availability. A dessert party includes a select variety of desserts delivered to the guest’s room (the hotel will do its best to accommodate dietary restrictions but cannot guarantee it). A romantic dinner is limited to two guests, not private, location and menu may vary by hotel.

Early check-in and late checkout are subject to availability and are not guaranteed. Guests must check with the hotel in order to confirm availability.

For more information go to AMRCollection.com.

(DOMINICAN REPUBLIC)

A classic Caribbean summer in the DR with TRS Hotels

The Caribbean is a timeless choice for a summer vacation and TRS Hotels is elevating this classic travel spot with its adults-only, all-inclusive luxury concept in the Dominican Republic at two properties: TRS Turquesa Hotel in Punta Cana, and TRS Cap Cana Hotel in the exclusive Cap Cana area. With its ‘Infinite Indulgence’ concept, guests enjoy an elevated all-inclusive experience at all times.

The adults-only TRS Turquesa Hotel houses the ultimate all-inclusive dining and entertainment experience for couples and groups of friends on a mile-long stretch of Bávaro Beach. There are 372 luxury suites within 12 categories with perks like jetted tubs and butler service.

Amenities include seven pools (including two exclusively for TRS Turquesa Hotel guests), a swim-up bar, a private VIP section on the beach, and endless water and sports activities. TRS Turquesa is also home to four exclusive à la carte restaurants and five bars.

The star of TRS Turquesa Hotel’s entertainment offering is the award-winning Chic Cabaret & Restaurant dinner and show concept, which includes a six-course menu, acrobatics, dance and a music show of all genres. Other unique activities include archery, chippo games, pool paddle-board yoga, cheese tastings, mini golf tournaments, popsicle drink tastings, morning fitness and stretching sessions, mangú-mofongo cooking lessons, live music, merengue lessons, basketball games and more. Guests can also choose to soak up the sun on the beach, enjoy water sports such as windsurfing,

catamaran sailing, and snorkelling, and get pampered at Zentropia Palladium Spa & Wellness featuring extensive hydrotherapy circuits and luminous pools.

Over at TRS Cap Cana Hotel, guests will find an even more tranquil stay. The resort is located in the most exclusive part of Punta Cana, just 10 minutes from the airport and surrounded by 2,500 hectares of lush tropical forest next to a long pristine beach. There are 115 luxury suites with private balconies, plus 24-hour room service, private check-in, and a 24-hour personal butler. The hotel’s most luxe room category is the jacuzzi terrace poolside suite, which boasts a hydromassage bath on the terrace, a balinese bed and wine cellar.

Other top-selling points at TRS Cap Cana Hotel include wine & hat painting classes, water bike lessons, dance lessons, boccia classes, bachata dance classes and more. The property also features five à la carte restaurants, four bars, an onsite coffeeshop, and an Ibiza-style beach club, plus two swimming pools and access to Chic Cabaret & Restaurant at TRS Turquesa Hotel and Zentropia Palladium Spa & Wellness. Onsite activities include yoga, Pilates, archery, windsurfing, diving and snorkelling, plus, the hotel is located a short distance from the Punta Espada Golf Club by Jack Nicklaus, Los Establos horse riding centre, and an exclusive marina. Guests at TRS Hotels properties also have access to the services and areas of the nearby Grand Palladium Hotels & Resorts in Punta Cana.

For more information go to palladiumhotelgroup.com.

sustainable tourism product. Lincoln Do wner, Consul General of Jamaica, served as the moderator for the forum.

The Jamaica delegation then travelled to Canada’s capital city on Nov. 17 to host a Resilience Forum at Carleton University. Minister Bartlett and Director White met with Dr. Bettina Appel Kuzmarov, Associate Vice-President of Carleton University; Dr. Jean Charles Le Vallée, Canada Representative at the Inter-American Institute for Cooperation on Agriculture; and Carleton graduate students to share insights on the importance of global travel and tourism resilience. The group also discussed the establishment of an Ottawa location for the Global Tourism Resilience and Crisis Management Centre. The Centre’s first Canadian satellite location opened in April 2022 at George Brown College in Toronto.

Bartlett conducted in-person meetings with Canada’s Minister of Tourism, Randy Boissonnault; Jamaica’s High Commissioner to Canada, Sharon Miller; and Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Maninder Sidhu.

The Jamaica delegation also hosted meetings in Toronto and Montreal to connect with executives from Canada’s major airlines and tour operators, including Air Canada Vacations, WestJet, Swoop, Sunwing, Air Transat, and TravelBrands.

“Jamaica is on a mission to recover and grow travel from Canada,” said Bennett. “Thanks to the ongoing efforts of the Jamaica Tourist Board and the support of our Canadian airline partners, we have secured 283,000 seats into Montego Bay and Kingston for the 2023 winter season, an increase of 26,000 more

Trevello kicking off 2023 with new commission model and more

TORONTO — Just how far will Trevello go to ensure its travel advisors’ success? It’s redirecting profits from its own pocket so that advisors can earn more starting in January 2023.

The company, led by President and CEO Zeina Gedeon, announced a brand new commission model at the recent Partner Launch Event at The Rec Room in Mississauga. The model, which Gedeon said is the most innovative in today’s market, includes more commission levels and more choice, allowing travel advisors to pocket 100% of the commission on any product they sell.

Moreover, starting in 2023, travel advisors will be able to pick and

choose the benefits or services that Trevello offers, allowing for more customization and earning opportunities.

Speaking with Travelweek, Gedeon said that although this new model will mean less profit for the company overall, the long-term goal of ensuring their advisors’ success far outweighs the short-term losses.

“Everything we do is based on feedback from our advisors. Obviously, we always try to innovate, but it’s all based on their needs after meeting with them one on one and during our many town halls. Anything our advisors mentioned that they didn’t like, we made sure to address,” said Gedeon.

“Before this new model, our advisors were stuck. It used to be, “This is our product, this is what you get.” For 2023, we’re giving them the choice. They get to pick and choose what they want. Now we’re saying, ‘This is the product but you get a choice of what services you want,’ versus ‘This is what we offer and you’re out of luck if you don’t want it,” she added.

The news comes at a time of real recovery for Trevello, which according to Gedeon, has seen a 5% increase in sales this year over 2019,

People

the company’s best-ever year. Commissions are also up 9% over 2019, with the average booking increasing from $1,100 to $1,900. Business has been so good, in fact, that Gedeon referenced a travel advisor who’s making over $700,000 in commission alone.

“And that’s based on our old commission model!” she noted.

In addition to the new commission program, Trevello has been working on a wide array of innovations throughout the pandemic, all of which will help it maintain its trajectory of growth, said Gedeon.

NEW PREFERRED SUPPLIER PROGRAM

Also launching in 2023 is a new preferred supplier program called Strategic Partner Program (SPP), which will help travel advisors earn an extra 2%3% commission at source when booking with preferred partners. There are five main criteria in order to be a strategic partner: source commission percentage; performance score; review score; marketing support; and override support.

“This program is being implemented for directional selling, making sure we’re working with our core supplier partners to make sure they get the sales they need, that we get the sales we need, and that advisors get paid,” said Sneha Varghese, Trevello’s Director, Marketing Partnerships & Events.

NEW CRUISE PROGRAM

Caroline Hay, president and CEO of Cruise CEO, the cruise-centric host agency launched in 2021 and backed by what was then known as TPI (Trevello’s former name), announced that the agency will be moving forward with cruise as a product line under the Trevello Travel Group.

Visit Central Florida appoints new rep in Canada

Visit Central Florida has appointed TM Americas as its new representative in Canada to expand its presence among the Canadian travel trade.

As part of the new strategy, Juanita Ariza, TM Americas’ Associate VP of Business Development and based in Toronto, will be responsible for working with the trade and media to highlight Central Florida’s many attractions and offerings. She has over 12 years of experience in customer service and tourism marketing, developing brands and businesses for destinations, attractions and resorts in Brazil, Colombia and Mexico, and has coordinated specific projects in Canada since 2019. She has worked with Visit Central Florida for eight years as a representative in Latin America. Also known as Polk County (Florida) Division of Tourism and Sports Marketing, Central Florida is the fourth largest county in Florida, located between Orlando and Tampa and home to attractions like Legoland Florida resort, Peppa Pig Theme Park, Safari Wilderness and the world’s largest one-site collection of Frank Lloyd Wright architecture. Winter Haven, Lakeland, Davenport, Lake Wales and Bartow are the most recognized cities in Polk County. Ariza can be reached at juanita@TMAmericas.com or at (754) 301-1837.

“What this means is, regardless of the brand an advisor is affiliated with, whether they’re Trevello or Cruise CEO, they will all now have full access to a comprehensive cruise strategy to make sure that we are working towards growing our business overall,” said Hay.

Noting the steady increase in cruise business (“In March 2019, 12.9% of our overall sales was in the cruise business, while year-to-date we’re trending at about 15.9%”), Hay said the team is confident that the cruise industry is set to boom. When it does, Trevello will be ready.

“We want to be recognized as the partner in the Canadian market that has a full comprehensive program to give our advisors the opportunities to be recognized as a major cruise seller in the Canadian space and, ultimately, North America,” said Hay.

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SOCIAL MEDIA & LEAD GENERATION

In keeping with new marketing efforts, Varghese also announced that Trevello will be launching a new social media platform for travel advisors, providing more ease and customization.

“We have never marketed directly to consumers, our goal is to have everything go through the advisor,” said Varghese. “This new platform will allow them to get a much more robust analytics preview on posts, customize their posts rather than a cutand-paste copy content that goes on their pages. They will have the ability to customize it however they want because we encourage our advisors to push out their own brand.”

Also noteworthy is a new lead generation ad program designed to bring more leads to advisors and, at the same time, increase exposure for Trevello’s strategic partners.

5-PHASE GROWTH STRATEGY

When asked by Travelweek the reason for Trevello’s name change earlier this year, Gedeon said the evolution from TPI to Trevello Travel Group was part of a five-phase approach to growth.

Phase One was the rebrand and name change, which according to Gedeon, “took forever to decide” as a team.

She adds: “In the last five years, I’ll be the first to say that we lost our position at the forefront of host. So we needed to change, to move to the next level. If you look at the meaning of Trevello, it really means empowered entrepreneurship. TPI was a great name for its time, but now we need to be much bigger and broader.”

Phase Two is the new commission model, while Phase Three will involve a complete upheaval of backend systems later this year. Phase Four will see Trevello’s expansion into the U.S. According to Gedeon, the company

has just begun its licencing and has set its sights on Q1 in 2023 for launch. “We’re getting so many calls from people in the U.S. wanting to join us. We already have a recruiter to hire a president for the U.S. so we’re very serious about our growth,” she said.

And the fifth and final phase? Details are being kept under wraps – for now.

Travelex Insurance Services expands into Canada

OMAHA — A new travel insurance provider has entered the mix here in Canada, giving Canadians more options and services.

Travelex Insurance Services, which has operated in the United States for

more than 25 years, has announced its expansion into Canada with full operations, including claims administration and travel assistance.

Opening in Toronto, Travelex joined the Zurich family of global brands, which operates in 15 countries, back in 2017, opening the door for it to broaden its presence in the global travel market.

“We’re bridging a gap for our current partners that have operations in Canada with more opportunities for Travelex products and services,” said Shannon Lofdahl, President and CEO at Travelex. “And we’re working to become a premier travel insurance provider for their Canadian travellers.”

Travelex offers an array of products designed to protect travellers and their travel investments. According to Lofdahl, the company has won many awards for its customer service, which she says is one of its key differentiators.

“I think Canadian travellers will be impressed with what we have to offer them,” she added. “Our expansion into Canada gives us the opportunity to serve travellers throughout North America, whether they book travel insurance through a travel professional, tour operator or our website.”

Sandals & Beaches on sale now when booking with ACV

TORONTO — Unique Vacations Canada Inc., affiliate of the worldwide representatives of Sandals Resorts and Beaches Resorts, has launched instant savings on select Air Canada Vacations packages exclusively for Canadians travellers.

Clients who book a five-night minimum stay in any room category at select Sandals or Beaches Resorts with Air Canada Vacations, between now through Dec. 4, 2022, for travel through April 30, 2023, will receive a

variety of savings, including:

Sandals Royal Curaçao, instant savings of $250 per room: Sandals’ newest resort – and first in the Dutch-Caribbean – opened its doors on June 1, 2022 and boasts a number of Sandals Firsts, including two new signature suites that come with complimentary use of a MINI Cooper, a two-level infinity pool, three gourmet food trucks and more.

Sandals Barbados, instant savings of $450 per room: A Sandals exclusive exchange program with Sandals Royal Barbados allows guests to enjoy two resorts for the price of one, for a total of 20 restaurants, 11 pools, 14 bars and more.

Beaches Turks & Caicos, instant savings of $750 per room: Voted the ‘Caribbean’s Leading All-Inclusive Family Resort’ at the 2022 World Travel Awards, this beloved resort offers 21 gourmet restaurants, a 45,000 square-foot waterpark, 10 pools, ‘The Caribbean Adventure with Sesame Street’ and accommodations for all family sizes.

Sandals Emerald Bay, instant savings of $1,300 per room: Located in Great Exuma, this 249-room resort offers 11 5-Star Global Gourmet restaurants, a half-acre zero entry pool, a Red Lane Spa, championship 18-hole golf course and more. Air Canada Vacations offers exclusive direct flights from YYZ-GGT weekly, with connecting flights in over 51 Canadian cities.

The ACV offer is not valid on group bookings and cannot be combined with any other promotions of discounts. One valid offer per booking. Reference booking ID: ACV Black Friday Instant Savings.

Canadian agencies honoured at Virtuoso’s Chairman’s Event

NEW YORK Virtuoso’s top-performing travel agency members were honoured recently at its Chairman’s Event in Munich last month.

A total of 155 attendees from nine countries were in attendance to network, discuss key industry topics and explore the city. While the Chairman’s Event is a destination immersive experience, business was still a major focus, with participants learning how to optimize their portfolio of high-net-worth clients and analyzing recent trends in traveller demand and spend.

“Fostering relationships and trust and admiration is what a shared travel experience does for our travellers, but also for our members,” said Virtuoso Chairman and CEO Matthew D. Upchurch. “Our Chairman’s Event has strengthened that bond, lead to greater collaboration and grown in importance with the diversity of business models around the world. The way in which we’re received in the destination also creates a sense of price in the collective reputation we have built and strive to enhance.”

Several Virtuoso members in Canada were recognized as top-producing and most engaged agencies in 2022.

Said Úna O’Leary, General Manager Canada, Virtuoso: “We are incredibly proud of our Canadian member agencies and their advisors’ commitment to providing exceptional advice and

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service to luxury leisure travellers.”

The following agencies were invited to attend Virtuoso’s Chairman’s Event: CWT Vacations – CWT Harvey’s Travel; Maritime Travel; Trevello; TTI Travel, Away by TTI Travel; Renshaw Travel; North South Travel & Tours Ltd.; and Direct Travel/Vision Travel.

Throughout their stay in Munich, participants were able to design their own days with options that included BMW Welt and Museum tours, a ‘bretzel’ making class and wine tasting, culinary and beer tours, and a visit to Nymphenburg Palace and Park. Guests were also treated to an authentic Bavarian dinner, complete with traditional lederhosen and dirndl attire, hosted by the Munich Tourism Office. Other highlights include dinners at Mandarin Oriental Munich and Hotel Vier Jahreszeiten Kempinski, and a gala dinner party at The Charles Hotel hosted by Rocco Forte Hotels.

Goway unveils refreshed Hawaiian packages

TORONTO — Goway has updated its Hawaii portfolio just in time for the winter season.

The tour operator has rebuilt all its itineraries to the Hawaiian Islands to be fully customizable, allowing travellers to extend their stay, add or change excursion options. Ten of these new itineraries are land-only and include hotel accommodation, popular tours and excursions and a car rental on Maui, Kauai and the Big Island for multi-island trips.

These travel packages include a mix of dedicated trips to Oahu, Maui, Kauai and the Big Island, as well as vacations that combine several islands on one itinerary. Goway also offers two 5-day trips to Oahu and Maui that include airfare from Toronto, Vancouver, New York City, Chicago or Los Angeles.

“The enchanted isles, as they are often called, are the perfect remedy to get over any kind of winter blues,” says Colin Rusch, Product Manager for the U.S. & Canada at Goway. “Our new Hawaii program includes fabulous excursions on various themed packages, including a four-island combination we call Four Flavours of Paradise. We hope that our refreshed trips to Hawaii offer a variety of ways for travellers to get into the aloha spirit.”

New Hawaiian packages include excursions and tours such as driving the Road to Hana and snorkelling in Lahaina Turtle Town, both on Maui, as well as a helicopter ride over Manawaiopuna Falls, famously known as Jurassic Falls from the blockbuster film ‘Jurassic Park.’ There are also itineraries that cater to specific travel interests, including the eightday Oahu & Maui Romantic Getaway, and the eight-day Oahu & Maui Family Discovery.

D.R. shares positive outlook with Canadian travel industry

TORONTO — The Dominican Republic is showing its love for the Canadian market with is second official visit to the country in just six months.

Minister of Tourism David Collado arrived in Toronto recently to meet with tour operators, airlines, travel agents and partners to deliver an important message: that Canadians are a key market for the DR and that the government is proactively working to support local partners.

During his visit, the Minister shared some incredibly positive statistics coming out of Canada, where nearly 1,700 flights arrived from in the first 10 months of the year. The majority of traffic comes out of Ontario, which reported a 97% increase this year over 2021. Canadian customer satisfaction also remains very high, with 9 out of 10 exit polls showing guests would return in the future. Hotels and excellent beaches were the elements most respondents cited in customer satisfaction surveys.

Minister Collado also noted that Punta Cana remains the favourite destination among Canadians, with current reservations up 20% over pre-pandemic bookings.

“We have confirmed 500 additional flights into Punta Cana this winter. It is one of the most popular sun destinations out of Canada and we want to ensure that agents have inventory to sell,” he said.

While inflation has increased the cost of travel, the Minister confirmed only 7% of Canadians said they would cancel travel plans. They will, however, be seeking economical options, he added.

“We are well positioned to cater to a price-sensitive market because our

DR MINISTER OF TOURISM, DAVID COLLADO

REDISCOVER NICARAGUA

THE NATURALLY BEAUTIFUL GEM OF CENTRAL AMERICA

With a unique mix of unspoilt natural beauty, volcanic vistas and rainforests, white sand beaches, and stunning colonial architecture, Nicaragua is a truly dynamic destination. It’s these essential elements and the warmth of its people that make Nicaragua naturally beautiful …and a destination you owe it to yourself to visit. Here are five essential reasons why Nicaragua should be on your bucket list.

1. UNCOVER COLONIAL ARCHITECTURE AND HISTORY

With a fascinating and complex history, Nicaragua has a richness in art, architecture, and culture that any other country would be envious of. Nowhere is this more evident than in Granada, Nicaragua’s oldest city and foremost cultural centre. Resplendent with classic colonial architecture and anachronistic charm, Granada is the sum of Nicaragua’s history crystallized into one urban tapestry. Whether you’re wandering the streets and museums or just taking in the performances in the square, Granada is where history comes to life…and where you will, too.

2. ECO-EXPERIENCES

Eternally misty and more than a little mysterious, Nicaragua’s famous

cloud forests tempts travelers with a hiking experience unlike any other. Charming sky bridges snakes between secluded rainforest canopies, the thrill of tropical birds and rare howler monkeys punctuating the forest’s magical ambiance. Whether you’re wandering the walkways of Maderas or soaring through Mombacho by zipline, Nicaragua’s Natural beauty is sure to leave you on cloud nine.

3. TAKE A DAY AT THE BEACH

Nicaragua wouldn’t be Central America’s most complete destination without incredible beaches. Located 50 miles off Nicaragua’s east coast, the unassuming Little Corn Island deserves special recognition. This humble, verdant jewel looks like something off a postcard, seducing visitors with its calm cerulean waters. Little Corn Island may be out of sight, but like the rest of Nicaragua, this idyllic escape deserves to be top of mind.

4. THE ADVENTURE

Nicaragua is an adventurer’s paradise. With 78 protected areas and a plethora of natural parks, the hiker, spelunker, and kayaker will be spoiled for choice. Eternally misty cloud forests tempt travellers to navigate their canopy

walkways while the black sands of the Cerro Negro welcome the thrillseeker for an afternoon of volcano boarding.

5. COFFEE TRAILS

If you love a good cup of joe, Nicaragua is where you must go. The green hills of the Nicaraguan countryside serve as the perfect growing environment for some truly delectable organic blends. Mildly acidic with a smooth body and a nutty bouquet, Nicaragua’s sustainably grown coffee beans have been winning fans the world over. Part countryside sightseeing, part caffeinated heaven, a “coffee tour” in Matagalpa is all you’ll need to become a true believer.

Start planning your visit today at: VISITNICARAGUA.US

packages offer excellent value. We have a high level of service, competitive pricing and a reputation for safety and service. This all combines to make us highly competitive heading into the winter season,” said the Minister.

He added: “Canadians have always had a special affinity for our country and we are delighted to see such a robust response for this winter. We are grateful for your support and look forward to welcoming you to the sun soon.”

Antigua’s Jolly Beach reopening Dec. 1

ANTIGUA — Antigua’s iconic Jolly Beach Resort has reopened its doors with a clear message to guests: this is where to come for fun in the sun.

The largest resort on the island, Jolly Beach reopened to guests on Dec. 1 with all-inclusive rates starting at US$199 for two people.

Top selling points of the resort include the Fantasy Pool where local DJs spin tracks, a wide range of food and beverage options like the Pizza Factory and The Coffee Shop, and a wide range of activities like beach volleyball, non-motorized water sports such as stand-up paddleboarding and kayaking, tennis and billiards. There’s also a fitness centre offering a range of cardio and weight-training equipment, and the Island Spa where guests can indulge in traditional massages and other beauty treatments.

For those wishing to venture offsite, a range of excursions is available including jeep safaris, catamaran cruises, scuba diving, sport fishing and more. The resort’s concierge team is also on call to book reservations at a variety of local restaurants, and help with destination weddings, anniversaries and vow renewals.

There are three categories of rooms to choose from: supersaver, standard and superior, with rates from $199

per room, per night for two persons, on an all-inclusive basis. Accommodations, dining, house-brand alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages, non-motorized watersports, resort activities, entertainment and Wi-Fi are included. Room only/à la carte pricing is also available. All rooms face the Caribbean Sea and offer partial or full views of the sea from a private patio or balcony.

Canadians looking to explore farther from home can choose from an array of 2023 European voyages to the Baltic, British Isles, Iberia, Iceland, Mediterranean, Norway and transatlantic crossings.

“With the current exchange rate, the Canada Super Sale makes booking a cruise vacation cost-effective for our Canadian travellers,” said Beth Bodensteiner, chief commercial officer of Holland America Line. “We’re excited to feature some of our most popular destinations in this offer, with easy-access departures to many exciting closer-to-home regions, along with bucket-list locations in Europe that become more economical with the savings.

SEATTLE — Holland America Line has sweetened the deal on its ‘Canada Super Sale’ with additional cruise dates in 2023.

Featuring up to 20% off fares on select sailings, the exclusive offer runs through Dec. 31, 2022 and aims to help ease the exchange rate on departures from a Canadian homeport. The sale is valid on select 2023 Panama Canal, Caribbean, Pacific Coast and Alaska departures. Alaska Cruisetours that combine an Alaska cruise with an overland exploration to Denali and the Yukon are also included.

Apply now for River Cruise Summit with Avalon Waterways & ACTA

TORONTO — Applications are now being accepted for the Avalon Waterways’ European River Cruise Summit, in partnership with ACTA.

Taking place in October 2023, the special sailing is open to 134 Canadian travel advisors.

Holland America’s ‘Canada Super Sale’ includes savings of up to 20%

JOLLY BEACH RESORT ANTIGUA

WELCOME TO THE ALL-INCLUSIVE SONESTA RESORTS SINT MAARTEN

A duo of stunning oceanfront properties, Sonesta Resorts Sint Maarten includes the fun-forall-ages Sonesta Maho Beach Resort, Casino & Spa, offering a variety of spacious accommodations, first-rate amenities, and stellar personalized service for singles, couples, families and groups, and the luxury, all-suite, adults-only Sonesta Ocean Point Resort, a “resort within a resort” featuring swim-out and sunset suites, exclusive pools, bars and dining experiences, 24-hour room service, concierge and butler service in top category suites, culminating in the most sophisticated holiday retreat in the Caribbean. The award-winning resorts are steps away from the airport, beaches, nightlife, shopping and the largest casino and theatre on island, Casino Royale located at the heart of Maho Village. Elevate your vacation experience from memorable to unforgettable at the all-inclusive Sonesta Resorts Sint Maarten. For more information, please contact your preferred travel partner, visit sonestastmaarten.com or call 1.800.223.0757, and join MyMahoRewards.com, an educational and loyalty program offering advisors the opportunity to earn cash incentives on qualified bookings.

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AVALON WATERWAYS HAS REDEFINED CRUISING BY GOING AGAINST THE CURRENT

Stéphanie Bishop, managing director for the Globus family of brands, says the opening of the application process means travel advisors are now one step closer to attending this inaugural gathering, for a deep-dive into river cruising.

“Avalon Waterways has redefined cruising by going against the current and away from the ordinary,” says Bishop. “That’s something 134 lucky travel advisors will experience firsthand in October 2023 – on our Suite

Ships and through unparalleled excursions in ports – as part of this firstof-its-kind river cruise summit.”

The event was first announced at ACTA’s 2022 Eastern Canada Travel Industry Summit back in September.

Cruising onboard Avalon Vista – one of 14 signature award-winning Suite Ships in Avalon Waterways’ fleet - agents will set sail from Amsterdam for the seven-day ‘Romantic Rhine’ itinerary. Travel advisors will not only have the chance to experience the Avalon difference on ships, says Bishop, they will also have the opportunity to enjoy a choice of ‘Classic,’ ‘Discovery’ and ‘Active’ excursions. Agents will also take part in onboard workshops and special events to ignite inspiration and business opportunities before disembarking in Basel.

As part of the application travel advisors must meet the following criteria as of Dec. 31, 2022: be (or become) and active ACTA member; complete the Globus family of brands’ advisor

training program – GFOB University; complete Air Canada’s advisor training program – GSU.

If selected to join this inaugural event, advisors will be sent a full registration form in the new year, at which time a non-refundable deposit (Cdn$250) will be due to confirm space.

Says ACTA President Wendy Paradis: “Recognizing that river cruising is the fastest growing travel option across the globe, it’s clear that the new wave in cruising is on the world’s rivers. Through our first River Cruise Summit with Avalon Waterways, we look forward to providing a great networking opportunity for Canadian travel agents, as well as the chance to learn for themselves why river cruising provides a great opportunity for them to really grow their business.”

To apply, go to cognitoforms.com/ ACTA23/_2023avaloneuropeanrivercruisesummitinpartnershipwithactaapplicationform.

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