Travelweek - December 15th, 2022

WHERE AMAZING COMES TOGETHER

They’ll sense it the moment they arrive, this alchemy of culture and color. It’s a feast for the senses and for their sensibilities. The flavors, the scents, the sounds, the architecture: they all work in unison to lull your client into a state of simultaneous exhilaration and relaxation. That’s the magic of this destination — Sandals® Royal Curaçao — and the island it calls home.

Sandals®

Future sales of travel for 2023 pacing

47% higher than future sales in 2019, and other key findings from Virtuoso

By Kathryn Folliott

TORONTO — The demand for luxury travel is hitting new heights in these waning days of the pandemic, and as one of the biggest names in upscale getaways, Virtuoso is at the top of its game.

And it’s not only the traditionally high-end clients who are travelling in droves. So many vacationers in the upper tiers of the middle market are also splurging, thanks to those pandemic savings. Clients who travel advisors wouldn’t normally consider for big-budget itineraries are suddenly splashing out, and fuelled by all that pent-up demand, the bookings just keep rolling in.

Out of the Canadian market, that means luxury travel will continue its steady climb to a full recovery to 2019 levels by Q2 2024, says Úna O’Leary, General Manager, Canada.

Travelweek checked in with O’Leary to get Virtuoso’s take on what’s ahead for one of the strongest and most bankable segments in the travel industry today: luxury travel.

All numbers are in U.S. dollars (except where indicated), but all refer specifically to the Canadian market.

BIG DATA, BIG RESULTS

Virtuoso is all about big data, and that comes in handy for breaking down travel intentions in such a tumultuous time.

Virtuoso scrupulously surveys its travel agencies, and travellers, to get a full picture of booking trends - and crucially, booking spend.

Leading up to the pandemic, Virtuoso’s consumer survey shows that Canadians were spending some US$9,176 annually on travel. Looking ahead to 2023, respondents said they’re planning on spending an average of US$10,336 on travel for the year - more than $1,000 more.

And booking levels for international trips - typically the most profitable for travel advisors - have recovered healthily this year, eclipsing 2019 levels in July, added O’Leary.

We asked O’Leary if Virtuoso Canada did better in this first recovery year than forecast.

“From a recovery perspective, the spend for outbound leisure travel is expected to outpace the actual numbers of travellers (i.e. the volume of people on the ground) according to Tourism Economics,” she said. “Outbound leisure travel sales have shown a strong rebound, even in markets where borders only recently opened up. According to Virtuoso’s booking data, the U.S. has already outperformed 2019 numbers for 2022 by 122%, and Canada is catching up at 80%.”

TRENDING DESTINATIONS

What destinations are Canadian vacationers booking with Virtuoso? O’Leary has data on that front too, based on the company’s back-office hotel booking data for SeptemberDecember 2022.

Leading the pack is domestic travel within Canada, followed by transborder trips to the U.S. Italy, always strong from this market, comes in at #3, followed by Germany and France.

Sun favourites Mexico and Spain take the #6 and #7 spots, followed by the lone long-haul destination on the list: Australia, at #8. Rounding out the top 10 are the Netherlands and the UK.

Says O’Leary: “It’s interesting that of the destinations seeing the largest percentage difference in total bookings compared to 2019, nearly all are in the Caribbean. Trips to the Dominican Republic have almost doubled, while Cuba and Jamaica saw 1.5 times more bookings than they did in 2019. This indicates a clear trend towards beach destinations.”

And she says that from Canada, while the U.S. and Europe remain the

most booked destinations, bookings to the Caribbean now represent nearly one-fifth of all international bookings, an 8% percent difference from 2019.

‘MORE IMPORTANT THAN PRICE’

Everyone wants to say ‘price is no object’ when planning their trips, especially after these pandemic years. Turns out, some travellers are indeed taking that approach, or at least close to it. At the same time, value has always been a major driver for Canadian travellers, and that’s true across the budget spectrum. O’Leary says travellers are prioritizing the experience like never before, and looking at the price tag second.

Not only that, but survey results show that travellers booking through a travel advisor are more likely to spend more, and that’s especially true for the high-end clients of Virtuoso agencies.

“According to our network survey, 74% of Virtuoso travellers say, ‘creating a travel experience that best fits my expectations is more important than price’,” says O’Leary. “We are also seeing that Virtuoso-advised travellers are planning to increase their spending by 52% next year, while DIY travellers are planning to keep their spending flat. Data from the 2022 YouGov study shows Virtuoso-advised travellers are spending 2.2 times more than DIY or other advised travellers, spending close to US$20,000 on leisure travel last year alone. We are projecting Canadian Got

SEVENTY-SIX

PERCENT

OF VIRTUOSO ADVISORS HAVE SEEN A RECENT INCREASE IN ULTRA-LUXE TRAVEL

travellers will increase their previous year’s spend by 34% to Cdn$27,800 in the next year; 3.4 times compared to DIY travellers and 2.7 times more than other advised travellers.”

She notes that DIY travellers took about the same number of trips in the past year as Virtuoso-advised travellers, “but the latter took longer trips, spending more nights in hotels, rentals, and cruises and skewed more towards international trips.”

ULTRA-LUXE TRAVEL

Did the pandemic create a new higher tier of luxury travellers who won’t want to go back to the same old, same old? So many people splurged on big trips, spending way more than they usually would. Could this be a new normal for some of them?

“Seventy-six percent of Virtuoso advisors have seen a recent increase in ultra-luxe travel,” O’Leary confirms. “African safaris, Caribbean islands, international city destinations and ocean cruises are the top preferred experiences. The uptick in high-end travel is the result of pent-up demand and expanded financial means.”

Solo travel is on the rise, and while travelling with friends showed a slight decrease (from 46% in 2019 to 36% in 2022), it’s still the second-most popular form of travel, she adds. Travelling with a spouse or significant other is still the preference for most travellers, followed

by travelling with friends and family trips with kids under 18.

O’Leary also a look at festive travel trends, for the rapidly approaching late December holiday travel weeks. “When it comes to festive/holiday travel, many people are ready to make plans, even amid the lingering uncertainty. In 2020, only 16% were comfortable planning and making adjustments later if need be, and now that’s up to 28%. Islands and beaches are topping travellers’ lists for the holiday season, followed by trips with a wellness component or an ocean cruise. In fact, wellness-focused trips were the only category to see a yearover-year increase: 2021 (13%) versus 2022 (24%).”

And finally, the last word goes to cruise trends. The first to be impacted at the start of the pandemic, and subject to scrutiny by the CDC that set it apart from other sectors working on recovery, the cruise industry has come roaring back. Multiple cruise lines reported record-breaking sales in late November for Black Friday and Cyber Monday promotions, proving that loyal-as-ever cruise travel fans can’t wait to get back on the high seas.

Says O’Leary: “Future sales of travel for 2023 are pacing 47% higher than future sales made in 2019, and cruising is leading the way with heavy bookings in 2023.”

TRAVELWEEK

130 Queens Quay East, Suite 512, Toronto, Ontario M5A 0P6 Tel: 416.365.1500 Fax: 416.365.1504 Toll-free: 1.855.392.8820 Web: www.travelweek.ca

SUBSCRIPTION RATES (PER YEAR)

Canada: $85 Canadian + $4.25 GST per year

United States & International: $100 US per year SOCIAL MEDIA

CONTENTS COPYRIGHTED

We acknowledge the financial support of the Government of Canada.

For circulation inquiries please email circulation@travelweek.ca

LIVE.

Live Cuba. Discover its dreamlike beaches, the cities full of heritage and its friendly people. Write your own story, here and now. Once you start to live it, there is nothing else you want to do. Live Cuba with Meliá.

Breaking down NCFs with ACTA’s Wendy Paradis and Richard Vanderlubbe

By Cindy Sosroutomo

TORONTO — What’s all the fuss about NCFs anyway?

In the midst of NCL’s move last month to start paying commission on non-commissionable fares (and AQV soon followed suit), the long-contested policy that has denied travel agents of additional earnings is being put under renewed scrutiny, with many agents wondering whether other cruise lines will follow suit.

In this follow up to our interview with Virgin Voyages, which has never implemented NCFs since its launch in 2020, we asked ACTA president Wendy Paradis why NCFs – the portion of a cruise fare that doesn’t pay commission to agents – continue to be a significant concern to travel agencies and independent travel agents, particularly now as they work to recoup losses brought on by the pandemic.

“When fares are overwhelmed by ‘surcharges’ beyond taxes and real port fees, the consumer is irritated and it makes selling the travel product more difficult,” she says. “In ACTA’s view, all travel suppliers should rethink these surcharges and return to a simple price, plus actual taxes. NCFs also diminish our industry’s ability to effectively lobby governments against excessive taxation.”

Paradis adds that ACTA “strongly believes that all revenue earned by cruise lines from travel agent bookings should be appropriately compensated,” and that NCFs diminish the contributions made by agents towards a cruise line’s success.

“Their continued use serves only to erode that vital relationship between travel agents and cruise lines,” says Paradis.

When asked what her thoughts are

on NCL’s announcement, Paradis is quick to note that ACTA publicly applauded the line across its social platforms.

“NCL is taking steps to do the right thing and should be recognized for it. We strongly support NCL’s decision to remove NCFs and appropriately compensate travel agents. No doubt, NCL will see improved travel agent relationships and stronger bookings,” she says.

Richard Vanderlubbe, ACTA Director and President of tripcentral.ca, also applauds NCL for leading the way but adds that the cruise line can go one step further by expunging the term ‘NCF’ entirely from its corporate lexicon and stop line-iteming it out separately. Only then will he be able to trust that they have truly been eliminated.

“Each supplier has to figure out its compensation policies, and it would be nice to have an honest dialogue rather than starting with deception,” he tells Travelweek. “The term ‘NCF’ and ‘non-commissionable fares’ itself being used publicly and disclosed directly to customers on cruise line websites, reservation confirmations and price summaries is disrespectful and offensive to the retail travel industry. Why should a consumer know what is commissionable and what is not? If a consumer is buying direct from a cruise line, it is meaningless. If they are buying from a travel retailer,

it has meaning and creates unnecessary challenges for travel agents.”

We asked Vanderlubbe about the history of NCFs, why cruise lines continue to implement them, and what it would take to be rid of them for good. Here’s what he said:

Travelweek: What do you know about the history of NCFs? How did they first come about?

Vanderlubbe: “NCFs first appeared after the term ‘port taxes’ or ‘port taxes and surcharges’ became problematic. This stemmed from advertising regulations in Florida that no longer permitted low-ball base fares and ‘port taxes and surcharges,’ the most problematic being that these port taxes were lumped together and not transparent. The all-in advertising brought in the concept of a non-commissionable fare. This was to sustain the deceptive premise of a high commission on a lower base price, rather than having an honest commission on the full fare.

“Perception is reality. Since agents were getting a higher commission on a lower fare, when port taxes were eliminated and NCFs came in, there was no real economic change but the amount was even more opaque and arbitrary. My objection is using the term ‘commissionable’ in any way with consumers.”

IT’S

Travelweek: If NCFs are so unpopular among both consumers and travel agents, why do you think cruise lines continue to have them?

Vanderlubbe: “Consumers don’t care because the advertising regulations require all-in pricing for advertising. So they show up occasionally on breakdowns of pricing, sometimes on websites and confirmations actually line-iteming the amount. Agents care because they don’t earn commission on them, and on very low cruise fares it makes selling distressed inventory simply not worth the effort. A low cruise fare could be 75% NCFs. It’s not uncommon to see extremely low base fares of $99 or $199, plus hundreds in NCFs.

“The cruise lines shoot themselves in the foot by making such distressed cabins unpalatable for agents to sell, and it works against them because of the opportunity to earn onboard revenue. I think this is one of these things were ‘everyone does it, everyone’s always done it, we can’t pay the higher commission on the NCFs,’ and so it persists. Stupidity abounds – cruise lines for not seeing how this disincentivizes agents selling their distressed inventory and soft dates, and agents for not realizing that the perceived higher commission is not really a higher commission at all when factoring the total price.”

Travelweek: How are NCFs being justified by suppliers?

Vanderlubbe: “Where do you draw the line? Part of the cruising

experience include facilities to board and disembark, and customs inspections in ports of call. Why exactly should that be ‘an extra’? It’s the same logic with airlines: lowball base fare, a fuel surcharge that never goes away – even when the price of fuel was at record lows in the middle of the pandemic – and ‘taxes’ that are often padded or created into per person charges when they are not.

“When travel suppliers pad taxes and invent surcharges just for the purpose of duping agents into thinking that they are earning a commission rate that they used to in the past, it’s all about a psychologically higher commission rate. ‘I’m not cutting your commission rate but I am lowering the base fare and including a non-commissionable surcharge.’

“So, if port taxes and surcharges are not commissionable, why not a ‘food surcharge’ or ‘staff surcharge.’ Arbitrarily taking expenses that we don’t like and separating them in the price is just pig-headed, stupid 1990s mentality that just doesn’t seem to go away.”

Travelweek: If there ever comes a day that NCFs are eliminated for good, would it be up to individual cruise lines to decide, or a governing body like CLIA?

Vanderlubbe: “Well, there’s that little problem of competition legislation. I think eliminating NCFs as an industry decision would be a good thing. Coordinating commission changes together would be collusion. This is entirely a decision for each business. WestJet Vacations pays commission on the

full base price without taxes. Others pad the taxes. It makes a difference on the total compensation. Most of us are smart enough to figure that out.”

Travelweek: Do you think NCL has opened the floodgates for other cruise lines to follow its example?

Vanderlubbe: “I see no flood of announcements. My guess is that they realized there was little incentive to sell lower base prices and distressed inventory, and sanity prevailed. If you are dumping space and want passengers onboard, distribution policies like this matter. If agents are indifferent or reticent to sell low cruise prices that stem from this silly policy being continued ‘just because that’s how it’s always been,’ well, this is a good solution.

“For cruise lines selling at a much higher price where the NCFs are a low percentage of the price, it probably has less impact. There is value in separating out true tax amounts in pricing to draw attention to governments for overtaxing our industry. If these are transparent and not padded or manipulated, an industry coalition of unity can lobby governments to lower taxes. If they are hidden like gas taxes, it is rife for governments to raise them.

“I think the balance is to disclose them somewhere so consumers know exactly what amount each government and port authority is taking from them. Maybe that was harder in the 1980s and 1990s, but with today’s technology I think it makes sense to disclose to consumers the true taxes, include them in an all-in price for advertising, and keep them out of base fares. Commissioning taxes worsens the problem.

“My beef is the naked term ‘non-commission fare’ and any deception in padding them or taking non-tax cost lines and making them non-commissionable. Whatever advantage might be gained on a financial side is a façade, and it brings dishonesty to the point where lobbying governments is not credible or taken seriously.”

NCL NOW PAYS COMMISSION ON NCFS

AIRLINES

Canada has signed an expanded air transport agreement with Colombia that will significantly increase the number of flight options between the two countries. As announced by Minister of Transport Omar Alghabra, the recent conclusion of the agreement allows designated airlines of both countries to operate an unlimited number of passenger and cargo flights to an unlimited number of destinations in Canada and Colombia. This marks a significant increase from the previous agreement, which allowed 14 passenger and 14 cargo flights per week. The new rights under the expanded agreement are available for use by airlines immediately. Colombia is currently Canada’s largest South American international air transport market.

CRUISE

Royal Caribbean and Celebrity Cruises have both reported record-breaking booking days. It marks the third time Royal Caribbean has broken its single largest booking day record in 2022, with Black Friday 2022 coming in as its biggest ever in its 53-year history. The day also capped the company’s highest volume booking week ever, which comes on the heels of the record-breaking booking day for the highly anticipated Icon of the Seas, set to debut in January 2024. Celebrity Cruises also posted its single largest booking day ever on Black Friday, followed by its strongest Cyber Monday in history, both of which followed the delivery of the new Celebrity Beyond last month.

PROTOCOLS

Star Clippers has dropped its COVID-19 vaccine mandate for passengers ahead of the winter Caribbean and Central American sailing season. The cruise line’s eased protocols means passengers are no longer required to be vaccinated against COVID-19. Non-vaccinated passengers will need to present a negative antigen test performed within 48 hours of embarkation, or a negative RT-PCR test performed within 72 hours of embarkation. The test must be administered by an authorized party; home tests will not be accepted. Passengers who are fully vaccinated with at least all COVID-19 primary series vaccine doses will no longer be required to present a negative antigen or PCR test upon embarkation. Star Clippers will require proof by way of the original vaccination documents issued by the relevant country’s health authority.

DESTINATIONS

Air Canada’s new service connecting Vancouver and Bangkok has taken to the

skies. The airline’s four times weekly, seasonal flights will operate out of YVR until March 26. “We are thrilled to launch Air Canada’s first nonstop service to Southeast Asia and the only nonstop flights between North America and Thailand,” said Mark Galardo, Air Canada’s Senior VP – Network Planning and Revenue Management. “This new service from YVR is another step in our ambition to develop this hub into one of the most important trans-pacific gateways in North America. We look forward to welcoming our customers onboard.”

SUSTAINABILILTY

With a goal to be the first carbon neutral country in the world, the Costa Rican Tourism Board has announced that it is now a member of the Global Sustainable Tourism Council (GSTC). GSTC establishes and manages global sustainable standards, known as the GSTC Criteria, and encourages destinations to join and pursue sustainability practices in tourism development and management. Costa Rica holds 5% of the world’s land-based biodiversity, and 26% of its territory is protected natural land.

WestJet’s heading to Tokyo as part of Calgary network expansion

CALGARY — WestJet is doubling down on its growth strategy out of Calgary, announcing its first-ever destination in Asia as well as new routes to Europe for summer 2023.

The new 787 Dreamliner routes from Calgary International Airport (YYC) include Tokyo with 3x/weekly seasonal service beginning April 30, 2023 to Narita International Airport. WestJet will be the only airline providing transpacific service to Asia direct from Alberta.

In addition, the airline is increasing connectivity between Western Canada and Europe with new service between YYC and Barcelona, Spain and Edinburgh, Scotland, along with increased frequencies on existing European routes.

In total, WestJet’s 787 flying from Calgary will see the airline take flight to eight transoceanic destinations in 2023. With 40 weekly departures scheduled to maximize connecting capacity across 24 Western Canadian communities, WestJet will offer more options for both leisure and business passengers alike.

“This is an exciting day for the WestJet Group, our guests, and partners as we deliver on our new strategy and demonstrate our western focus as we increase our Calgary capacity by more than 25% in 2023,” said WestJet Group’s CEO, Alexis von Hoensbroech. “Starting with the expansion of our intercontinental routes, future announcements will focus on domestic and North American additions that will bring even more affordable travel options to our guests in the new year.

“With Calgary as home base to our 787 aircraft, access between western Canadian communities and these intercontinental destinations will play a vital role in creating an economically

prosperous aviation pipeline that better connects Canadians to the world and the world to Western Canada,” he added.

The new Tokyo service will kick off with flights starting April 30 from Calgary at 6:55 p.m. According to WestJet, Tokyo was a natural choice for its first destination in Asia, as it offers connectivity to more than 50 destinations across the continent.

Meanwhile WestJet will bolster its European presence between Calgary and six transatlantic destinations next summer by adding increased frequency on existing popular European routes, and welcoming new nonstop service to Edinburgh and Barcelona.

Service from Calgary to both Barcelona and Edinburgh will operate seasonally from May to October, up to 3x/weekly. With the addition of its newest routes, WestJet will offer service to six European cities, increasing capacity by 95% with flights to London Heathrow and Gatwick, Paris, Rome and Dublin.

WestJet’s summer 787 service to Europe from Calgary includes: Barcelona, starting May 6, 2023, 3x/weekly; Edinburgh, starting May 17, 2023, 3x/weekly; London Heathrow, continued from winter, 7x/weekly; London Gatwick, starting April 30, 2023, 7x/ weekly; Paris, continued from winter, 7x/weekly; Rome, starting April 6, 2023, 5x/weekly; and Dublin, starting April 30, 2023, 5x/weekly.

The news follows on the heels of WestJet’s announcement last month that it has enhanced its codeshare

agreement with Japan Airlines, putting its WS code on Japan Airlines-operated flights between YVR and Narita International Airport in Tokyo.

Bahia Principe Hotels & Resorts opens books on Cayo Levantado Resort

PALMA DE MALLORCA — Bahia Principe Hotels & Resorts’ much-anticipated Cayo Levantado Resort is now taking reservations ahead of its grand opening in June 2023.

Billed as an enchanting island hotel in the D.R., the resort is Bahia Principe’s entry into the luxury hotel segment business, bringing together sustainability, local traditions, curated experiences and upscale amenities. The resort takes over from the previous property, Luxury Bahia Principe Cayo Levantado.

Under the concept ‘A Rhythm All Its Own’, the guest experience at Cayo Levantado Resort focuses on three pillars: local culture, sustainability, and wellness.

Bookings are now open, for stays starting June 1, 2023.

In his ‘Future of Travel: 2022’ interview with Travelweek earlier this year, Bahia Principe’s Director of Sales & Marketing,

Henry Perez, said Cayo Levantado Resort is really something special.

“We are creating a sustainable resort where you can experience a rhythm all its own,” Perez told Travelweek. “The resort is as unique as anything you will find in the industry.

“THE D.R.’S NEWEST SECLUDED PARADISE”

Located on the island of Cayo Levantado, a few miles away from Samaná Bay, the resort has been completely rebranded, and extensively renovated. Under the concept of ‘A Rhythm All Its Own’, Bahia Principe says Cayo Levantado Resort aims to offer an expertly curated, distinctly Dominican, and decidedly authentic experience.

“We are thrilled to announce the launch of this very unique nature’s enclave,” says Lluisa Salord, VP of Sales, Contracting and Distribution. “Cayo Levantado Resort is certainly an important benchmark in the Dominican Republic, a major sustainable innovation project taking shape with the help of local companies and talent in Samana. This project not only adds value to the tourism sector, but also contributes to the development of the country and the local community.”

Cayo Levantado Resort is the flagship for Bahia Principe Hotel & Resorts, which is evolving its business and entering the luxury hotel management segment with the aim of improving its offer and adding value to the tourism sector, Salord added.

The company says one of the resort’s great strengths and differentiators is its cultural impact, which was done by incorporating talent from the D.R., thereby contributing, and enhancing the economic and social development of the area.

The island is made up of three incredible sandy and palm-fringed beaches, one being open to the public and two that are exclusively for guests staying at Cayo Levantado Resort.

The resort offers 200+ rooms, three à la carte restaurants, two specialty restaurants, one buffet restaurant, four bars and a coffee shop. There are also two swimming pools, two spas

(including a jungle spa), an outdoor CrossFit area, a beach club, a personal training studio, a beauty salon, botanic garden, a wide range of entertainment activities and an exclusive area focused on wellness.

ACV offers first look at its 2023 summer sun, U.S. and Europe program

MONTREAL — Air Canada Vacations is offering a sneak peek at its summer 2023 vacation lineup.

ACV says the program includes the return of key seasonal sun destinations like Saint Lucia, Aruba, Grenada, Curaçao and Liberia, Costa Rica. ACV’s hotel partners include Sandals Hotels & Resorts, AMR Collection, Bahia Principe Hotels & Resorts, Ocean Hotels by H10 and Melia Hotels International and many others.

The 2023 summer schedule also features daily flights to Hawaii, Florida and California, plus an updated flying schedule for a long list of European cities, including must-see destinations like Barcelona and Greece.

And in the U.S., hotspots like Miami, New York, Las Vegas and Hawaii beckon. ACV has plenty of options for Med cruise packages too.

Says ACV: “If you want to learn more about our countless offers and packages be sure to book a meeting with your Area Sales Manager, check out our Facebook page or visit the Dream of Europe and Dream of SUN digital brochures.”

ACV’s CareFlex and CareFree plans offer added peace of mind.

For $69 (Canada & U.S.) and $99 (Mexico, the Caribbean, Central and South America & Europe) per person, the CareFlex travel protection plan allows travellers to transfer their package, change their departure date, destination, or hotel, and cancel with a full refund up to 21 days prior to departure, or cancel with an in-house credit up to three days prior to departure.

For $69, CareFree travel protection plan includes free seat selection, and a Price Drop Guarantee. Both travel protections are commissionable at 20% commission when added to a client’s booking.

Ground-breaking for UNICO Montego Bay, a luxury adults only

all-inclusive

MONTEGO BAY — Jamaica’s Minister of Tourism Edmund Bartlett signalled the start of what he called “a new perspective in tourism development in Jamaica” following the ground-breaking ceremony for UNICO Montego Bay, a 451-room luxury adults only all-inclusive resort.

UNICO Montego Bay will be joined by other high-end brands such as Hard Rock.

UNICO Montego Bay is the second hotel brand under the RCD Hotels banner locally and the choice of location met the desire of the family hotel chain “to expand the brand

AIR CANADA VACATIONS HAS PLENTY OF OPTIONS FOR MEDITERRANEAN CRUISE PACKAGES TOO

to a destination in the Caribbean known for its rich culture and stunning beaches,” according to a statement from Jamaica’s Ministry of Tourism. RCD Hotels has developments in Mexico, the D.R. and the United States of America.

The resort development will be complemented by the construction of 1,000 houses for hotel workers in partnership with the Housing Agency of Jamaica.

In the long-term however, the RCD group’s investment project could expand to 2,000 rooms, including the Hard Rock Hotel and Casino.

The development has been welcomed by Prime Minister Andrew Holness and Minister Bartlett as an investment not only in tourism but in the people of Jamaica.

“I want to welcome the RCD group to Jamaica. We are very happy to have you as a development partner and we know that it is not just an investment in our sun, sea, and sand. You’re also going to be investing in our society,” said Prime Minister Holness.

He underscored that Jamaica is seeking to offer safety, security, soundness, seamlessness and stability in attracting investors and visitors. He noted that RCD Hotels had made its decision to invest in Jamaica because of the unique cultural experiences of the people. “But they’re also making the decision because Jamaica is a country that you can bank on,” he said.

Minister Bartlett added: “All subsequent discussions with investors coming into Jamaica for tourism will take into account the impact on the environment; the impact of the social development within the area and the governance of the area.”

Year to date, Jamaica’s visitor arrivals for the year so far showed a 97% recovery on 2019 figures. Revenue is up 20% above 2019 levels.

Rodrigo Chapur, VP Development at RCD Hotels, said his family was happy to be bringing the second UNICO branded hotel to Jamaica.

Porter Airlines is heading to Vancouver, starting February 2023

TORONTO — Porter Airlines’ first three routes with its new Embraer E195-E2 aircraft will connect passengers between Toronto Pearson and Vancouver, Ottawa and Montreal.  Ottawa and Montreal were Porter’s first two destinations when it started operations in 2006 from Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport (YTZ). However this is the very first time Porter will offer Vancouver, and it’s all thanks to the new E195-E2s. The airline first announced its expansion plans back in July 2021, with an order for up to 100 new E195-E2s.

Down the line, Porter aims to service more U.S. sun spots, plus destinations in Mexico and the Caribbean.

“Porter’s introduction of the E195-E2 provides the ability to operate throughout North America, including the west coast, better positioning us to serve the needs of many more business and leisure passengers. This investment introduces a new level of thoughtful service, unmatched by any other airline in North America. It will change the way passengers think about flying economy. A substantial amount of work has been accomplished to mark this milestone announcement, the first of many. I want to acknowledge the dedication and entrepreneurial spirit of our team members for getting us to this point. It’s quite an achievement,” says Michael Deluce, president and CEO, Porter Airlines.

The new service starts in February 2023 with multiple daily, nonstop flights, increasing over time for additional flexibility.

Earlier this month Porter outlined upgrades for its already enhanced Economy Class product. A collection of six fares is also available to support the broader product offering, including two new options specifically for

the PorterReserve all-inclusive economy experience. These fares are currently available for purchase, with the associated in-flight amenities starting Feb. 1. This includes routes served by E195-E2 and Dash 8-400 aircraft.

Porter Escapes vacation packages will be available soon.

Air Canada’s latest update includes new flights from Toronto and Montreal to JFK

MONTREAL — Air Canada’s restoration of its transborder network continues with news of three new U.S. routes.

New double-daily Toronto and daily Montreal service to JFK begins in March 2023.

Plus, new four times weekly Toronto-Sacramento starts in June 2023.

Service has also been restored on 11 U.S. routes beginning May 1, including Montreal-Nashville, Calgary-Los Angeles, Vancouver-Austin.

Air Canada is also adding increased frequencies on more than a dozen other transborder routes for summer 2023.

“Air Canada is very pleased to offer customers the most choice of any carrier flying to the U.S. for Summer 2023, where we will operate more than 400 daily flights on 95 routes to 47 destinations. We are getting an early start with new routes to JFK from both Toronto and Montreal beginning March 26, and Toronto-Sacramento in June. As well, we will restore previously suspended routes and increase frequencies on existing routes as we rebuild our transborder schedule,” said Mark Galardo, Senior Vice President of Network Planning and Revenue Management at Air Canada.

“Our U.S. summer schedule, which

BOOK NOW

Visit www.globusjourneys.ca for Vienna and beyond coach tours and www.vienna.info for information and sightseeing options.

Join the Vienna Experts Club International: experts.wien.info/welcome-en

Note: Air Canada operates non-stop flights from Toronto to Vienna yearly with convenient connections throughout Canada. Visit Air Canada : https://www.aircanada.com/en-ca/flights-from-vienna-to-toronto

Photo Credit: Vienna Ringstrasse © WienTourismus Christian Stemper

will complement our recently announced Canadian and international summer schedules, is designed to maximize connectivity within our network and offer the most seats on the most flights to the most destinations. Strengthened by our Transborder Joint Business Agreement with United Airlines, our schedule will also be attractive for sixth freedom global travellers flying internationally and strengthen our hub airports with more connection traffic.”

In total Air Canada will offer 3,500+ seats on 39 daily flights from six Canadian cities (Vancouver, Calgary, Toronto, Montreal, Ottawa, Halifax) into New York City’s three major airports (JFK, Newark, LaGuardia).

New services to New York’s JFK will begin March 26, with double daily service from Toronto and daily service from Montreal. Flights will be operated by Air Canada Jazz on Embraer E175s.

New service between Toronto and Sacramento will begin June 1, 2023, year-round and four days a week, on A220-300s.

Meanwhile Air Canada has several transborder routes starting this month. Halifax-Newark daily service starts Dec. 16, 2022. Montreal-Tampa three times weekly service and Vancouver-Miami three times weekly service starts Dec. 17, 2022. And new Vancouver-Houston daily service starts Dec. 16, 2022.

AMpm Canada highlights new site, joint marketing partnership

TORONTO — AMpm Canada’s new website, launched this fall, features easy-to-navigate design and serves as a dynamic platform for information on AMpm Canada’s B2B services, says company founder Armando Mendonça.

The site can be found at ampm canada.ca.

AMpm Canada is a destination management company that specializes in project management solutions for travel organizations looking to promote and elevate their brand in the Canadian marketplace. AMpm Canada currently manages special projects for the Vienna Tourist Board in Canada.

Says Mendonça: “The Vienna Tourist Board has long been - since the mid-1990s - one of the only mainland European cities to promote itself in the Canadian market. As a result, more and more Canadians are intrigued to visit this ‘City of Music’ and its formidable landmarks, contributions to the arts and sciences and landscapes.”

150 YEARS OF THE VIENNA WORLD’S FAIR

In 2023 Vienna will celebrate ‘150 Years of the Vienna World’s Fair’, an anniversary that is all about the spirit of Vienna and the landmark event that began the city’s reinvention in the years around 1873. No other major event had a bigger impact on Vienna’s development into a global city, says Mendonça, which is why Vienna will celebrate its past, present, and future in 2023.

Why is the time around 1873 still so incredibly important, and what is the significance of the World’s Fair for Vienna today? Mendonça says the World’s Fair and this period represented the birth of Vienna’s modernization. “Many hotels, like the

legendary Hotel Imperial, were built, but also coffee house institutions like Café Landtmann and the founding phase of many museums and collections, which have since become world famous,” he notes.

For more information see b2b. vienna.info/vision.

JOINT MARKETING INITIATIVE WITH GLOBUS & AIR CANADA

Joint marketing initiatives and partnerships are more important now than ever to support the tourism industry’s efforts to rebuild, says Mendonça.

The Vienna Tourist Board, the Globus family of brands and Air Canada have come together with one simple message: ‘Don’t Delay – Book Today.’

It’s the perfect time for this call to action, says Mendonça, with forecasts predicting 2023 as a banner year for the travel industry, and with advance booking percentages exceeding 2019 levels.

He adds that Globus family of brands offers a great selection of coach tours that include Vienna, other destinations in Austria, and neighbouring countries. Here’s a sampling: Tour ZC - Best of Austria & Switzerland – 11 days, Tour KCAX or KCA - Imperial Escape – 7 days, Tour RS - Imperial Splendours – 10 days, Tour HA - European Tapestry – 14 days, Tour RO - The Best of Eastern Europe – 14 days. Visit globusjourneys.ca for more details.

Mendonça adds: “Many itineraries offer leisure time and I strongly suggest to visit Vienna.info and their sightseeing page with wonderful suggestions, at wien.info/en/ sightseeing.”

In 2019 Air Canada started operating nonstop flights from Toronto to Vienna with convenient connections throughout Canada. Currently Air Canada offers year-round nonstop flights with B787-9 Dreamliner service, with daily flights in the summer and five times weekly service in the winter (subject to change).

In addition, Star Alliance joint venture partner Austrian Airlines operates

AMPM CANADA PRESIDENT  ARMANDO MENDONÇA

Montreal-Vienna service. Flight details can be found at aircanada.com/en-ca/ flights-from-vienna-to-toronto.

For updates on Vienna and product offerings join the Vienna Experts Club International see https://experts.wien.info/welcome-en.

For more information on AMpm Canada see ampmcanada.ca.

ACTA’s latest survey focuses on key supplier issues

TORONTO — ACTA has launched a new member survey to gain insight on key supplier issues.

Members across the country, including travel agencies, travel agency employees and independent travel

agents, are invited to participate in the survey. By participating, ACTA members will ensure that the supplier advocacy issues important to them are front and centre with ACTA.

The link to the survey is surveymonkey.com/r/ZLTKBC6.

“Advocacy on supplier issues remains a critical priority for ACTA and this survey ensures that we continue to act on the issues most important to members,” said Wendy Paradis, ACTA President. “As we navigate a new phase of travel and tourism recovery, there are changes in how businesses operate, including suppliers, and our goal is to ensure that business practices remain equitable for all.”

Paradis also noted that “considering the changing business landscape, ACTA is undertaking a holistic review of its supplier advocacy priorities,” and that historically, ACTA has advocated for members with suppliers and governments.

Win Big with The Beach – A New Contest from Visit Myrtle Beach, South Carolina

TORONTO — Agents can win big thanks to a new contest presented by the Myrtle Beach Area Convention & Visitors Bureau.

A Cdn$500 Visa gift card is up for grabs, just in time to help one lucky winner with their holiday shopping

The contest runs until Dec. 31, 2022. Agents are asked a question about tourism product in The Beach. Answers can be found at visitmyrtlebeach.ca.

The Grand Strand welcomes over 20 million visitors globally, and over 500,000 Canadians a year, who experience all there is to offer including

TOKYO TOURISM E-LEARNING PROGRAM Complete all themes by Feb. 28 for a chance to win an air ticket to Japan!

excellent value at a multitude of resorts, condos, and beach homes; attractions; live entertainment; Coastal Carolina cuisine at over 2,000 restaurants; 90+ championship golf courses; water sports; soft adventure experiences; and affordable outlet and retail shopping. Visit http://visitmyrtlebeach.ca/ for more info.

To enter the contest, check out the contest landing page at https:// www.travelweek.ca/contests/ win-big-with-the-beach/.

NYC set to welcome 56.4m visitors in 2022, including 650K Canadians

TORONTO — New York City is looking to end the year with visits from some 650,000 Canadian travellers, according to the latest projections from NYC & Company, the city’s official tourism organization.

As one of the city’s top international markets Canada is expected to provide further growth in 2023, with estimates for 900,000 Canadian visitors.

At NYC & Company’s trade event earlier this month at the Ace Hotel

Toronto, NYC & Company President and CEO Fred Dixon and Executive VP, Global Communications, Tiffany Townsend presented destination updates, holiday activity ideas and the value of visiting NYC during winter. The briefing also highlighted the City’s diversity and multicultural experiences across all five boroughs.

NYC & Company recently rolled out the latest edition of ‘It’s Time for New York City’, the destination’s largest-ever global tourism marketing and advertising campaign. In Canada, ongoing digital promotions are running through mid-February, in partnership with Porter Airlines. NYC & Company will also roll out an in-market out of home campaign in the months ahead.

New York City expects to welcome 56.4 million visitors this year, recovering 85% of its record 2019 visitation, including 8.9 million international travellers. That includes the 650,000 from Canada.

“Canada has long been a top international market and we are delighted to return to Toronto and Montreal this week,” said Dixon. “From the iconic holiday season to the winter months and beyond, there is more to see and do than ever in New York City. We invite Canadians to book their next trip now, to enjoy the many new, iconic and unexpected experiences across all five boroughs.”

NEW YORK CITY FOR THE HOLIDAYS

New York City is one of the most iconic holiday destinations in the world, home to the Rockefeller Christmas Tree, the Radio City Rockettes, ice skating rinks, holiday markets, festive hotel offers, and the New Year’s Eve Ball Drop in Times Square, just to name a few. Some 6.5 million travelers are expected to visit NYC this holiday season.

Heading into early 2023, visitors will be able to take advantage of NYC Winter Outing offers across hotels, dining, Broadway shows, attractions, museums, tours and performing arts. NYC & Company’s popular value-add programs - NYC Restaurant Week, NYC Broadway Week and NYC Must-See Week - all take place Jan. 17 - Feb. 13, 2023. And for the second year, NYC Hotel Week, Jan. 3 - Feb. 13, offers 23% off stays at 140+ hotels.

New York City is currently home to 124,000 hotel rooms, with 11,000 additional rooms debuting in the next two years. Manhattan hotel openings making headlines include Aman New York, Hard Rock Hotel New York, the city’s second Ritz-Carlton, Radio Hotel in Washington Heights, and MOXY Lower East Side. There’s also the recently opened Ace Hotel Brooklyn and Renaissance New York Flushing Hotel, and the to-be-opened Westin New York Staten Island.

There are also 19 new Broadway show openings this fall; developments across infrastructure and transportation including upgrades at the region’s three major airports; new and improved meeting space including the US$1.5 billion, the 1.2 millionsquare-foot expansion of the Javits Center; arts and culture including the brand-new Museum of Broadway, the upcoming The Louis Armstrong Center in Corona, Queens and the American Museum of Natural History’s Gilder Center opening Feb. 17; and performing arts venues such as Lincoln Center’s reimagined David Geffen Hall (which just opened) and the Apollo Theater expansion next year.

TRAVEL EDGE NETWORK RECENTLY HOSTED A FUN-FILLED, SIX-DAY TRIP TO PORTUGAL WITH NINE TRAVEL ADVISORS. IN PARTNERSHIP WITH VISIT PORTUGAL, THIS ‘KNOWLEDGE TRIP’ WAS PART OF A SERIES OF TRIPS DESIGNED FOR ADVISORS TO GAIN CRITICAL, FIRST-HAND KNOWLEDGE OF TRAVEL EDGE NETWORK’S PREFERRED PARTNERS, AND INCLUDED STOPS IN LISBON, SINTRA, CASCAIS AND MADEIRA. FIRST LAUNCHED IN JUNE 2022, KNOWLEDGE TRIPS HAVE BEEN HELD IN RWANDA AND BVI. THE NEXT KNOWLEDGE TRIP IS SCHEDULED FOR SPRING 2023 IN KENYA.

Blue Diamond Resorts announces reopening of Starfish Cayo Santa Maria

TORONTO — Starfish Cayo Santa Maria has reopened its doors following extensive renovations.

Operated by Blue Diamond Resorts Cuba and known for being the first Starfish Resort to debut in Cuba, the 684-room property in Jardines del Rey now boasts updated family offerings, modern touches and revamped all-inclusive amenities.

“We are very excited to welcome back travellers from all over the world,” said Mohamad Fawzi, Managing Director for Blue Diamond Resorts Cuba. “After a temporary pause in operations, we wanted to add fresh layers to attract new guests and create a renovated space where locals and visitors alike experience a wonderful getaway. All this, with the friendly service of our team.”

Surrounded by lush flora, Starfish Cayo Santa Maria offers spacious rooms with ocean, garden or pool views, three restaurants and four bars, an entertainment theatre with a capacity of up to 1,000 people, several pools and a sports club. It’s also a popular choice for weddings and honeymoons.

The resort’s reopening comes on the heels of other Blue Diamond Resorts openings on the island, including Cayo Largo del Sur, Grand Memories Holguin, and Sanctuary at Grand Memories Holguin

New five-star Riu Palace Kukulkan opens in Cancun

CANCUN — RIU Hotels & Resorts has opened its newest five-star property in Mexico, the 428-room Riu Palace Kukulkan.

The new all-inclusive, adults-only hotel has a prime beachfront location in Cancun.

This year marks RIU’s 25th anniversary in Mexico. The country has become RIU’s main international destination with 22 hotels in five Caribbean and Pacific states, for a total of 12,000 rooms.

Riu notes that the rooms are bright and spacious with views of the Caribbean Sea and a colour palette dominated by natural and earth tones. Enormous green columns preside over the lobby and contrast with the comfortable curved white sofas that add distinction in combination with

the spectacular lighting fixtures, says the company.

Seven restaurants offer an array of culinary options. There’s the main Don Julio, a great buffet with terrace; the Japanese restaurant Sunakku; the Krystal, with fusion food; the Mexican restaurant la Casa de las Flores; the Italian restaurant Rossini; a poolside steakhouse; and the grill Pepe’s Food with barbecue served throughout the day. There are also five bars: the lobby bar Daiquiri, with a mixology specialist and daily signature cocktail; Capuchino patisserie and ice cream shop; la Latina lounge; Mamasita pool bar; and the Lounge bar.

Outside there are four pools plus direct beach access from the hotel. There’s also a Renova Spa. Riu Palace Kukulkan is across from the popular La Isla shopping centre, plus it’s well connected to the archaeological areas of the Yucatan as well as the city of Cancun and the airport.

Guests booking Elite Club by RIU rooms have access to separate and personalized check-in  and late checkout, a welcome gift, aromatherapy and a Premium beverage dispenser, among other perks. Guests who choose the new Elite Club option will also receive a special welcome with a letter from the hotel manager, a gift with the Elite Club logo and a bottle of wine or cava to celebrate the start of their holiday.

STARFISH CAYO SANTA MARIA

AFTER A TEMPORARY PAUSE IN OPERATIONS, WE WANTED TO ADD FRESH LAYERS TO ATTRACT NEW GUESTS

Here’s how DCL plans to celebrate its 25th anniversary

CELEBRATION, FL — Big plans are underway for Disney Cruise Line’s 25th anniversary next year, including special entertainment, merchandise and celebratory experiences on select summer sailings.

Since its maiden voyage onboard the Disney Magic in July 1998, Disney Cruise Line has been offering families immersive cruises complete with Disney storytelling, dazzling entertainment and family-friendly hospitality.

Said Sharon Siskie, senior vice president and general manager: “For twoand-a-half decades, Disney Cruise Line has built an incredible legacy of creating unforgettable vacation memories for families around the world. Of course, at the heart of this anniversary celebration are our dedicated cast and crew members who continuously deliver legendary service and create magic at sea for our guests every day. Whether returning as a member of our Castaway Club or sailing with us for the first time, we are thrilled to invite guests of all ages to be a part of our very special anniversary festivities next summer.”

Limited-time ‘Silver Anniversary at Sea’ offerings will be available across all five of Disney Cruise Lines’ ships from May through September 2023.

SUMMER SAILINGS

The ‘Silver Anniversary at Sea’ celebration onboard all five ships will include new entertainment, limited-time enhancements, special décor, merchandise and more:

Captain Minnie Mouse and Captain Mickey Mouse will don coordinated looks featuring multi-toned fabric and swirling designs reminiscent of ocean waves. The iconic duo will also make appearances in their festive attire exclusively aboard ‘Silver Anniversary at Sea’ sailings across the fleet.

A NEW MEMBERSHIP TIER FOR CASTAWAY CLUB

The cruise line will debut a signature song to serve as the soundtrack of the celebration, which will manifest in a variety of ways during summer sailings.

New family entertainment and activities will culminate in evening experiences created exclusively for the anniversary celebration.

Throughout their voyage, guests will enjoy themed culinary creations ranging from fanciful desserts to special craft cocktails.

The Shimmering Seas Collection is a line of dedicated merchandise featuring a new signature colour and comprising an assortment of apparel, accessories, drinkware, keepsakes and more.

CASTAWAY CLUB

A brand new membership tier for Castaway Club will be unveiled as part of anniversary celebrations, recognizing returning Disney Cruise Line guests with exclusive rewards and perks. Honouring 25 years at sea, members will now earn the distinction of Pearl status after 25 Disney Cruise Line vacations, which will unlock new at-home and onboard benefits. These will be announced in early 2023.

SPECIAL VOYAGES

Cruises featuring the ‘Silver Anniversary at Sea’ celebration will sail to the Bahamas, Caribbean, Europe and Alaska during summer 2023.

Departing from Miami, from May 24-Sept. 4, the Disney Magic will visit destinations in the Bahamas and Caribbean, including Disney’s private island, Castaway Cay.

The Disney Wonder will depart on Alaskan voyages from Vancouver, from May 15-Sept. 11, with stops in Juneau, Skagway, Ketchikan and more.

From May 7 to Sept. 17, the Disney

Dream will sail transatlantic and European itineraries, including the Mediterranean, Northern Europe and the Greek Isles.

The Disney Fantasy will set sail from Port Canaveral, Florida, from May 6-Sept. 2, to the Eastern and Western Caribbean, each with a day at Castaway Cay.

Disney Cruise Line’s newest ship, the Disney Wish, will depart on sailings to Nassau, Bahamas and Castaway Cay, from May 1-Sept. 8, from Port Canaveral.

Regional road shows “huge success,” says Direct Travel / Vision Travel

TORONTO — The first-ever roadshow events for Vision Travel, a Direct Travel company, are proving to be a big success.

Earlier this month Direct Travel/Vision Travel hosted roadshow events in Ontario: in Ottawa, Waterloo and Toronto. These three get-togethers followed on the heels of the company’s road shows in Western Canada which took place in Vancouver, Calgary, Edmonton and Regina.

Comprising a trade show, cocktail reception and holiday themed dinners, the events showcase the participation of as many as 30 leisure and corporate preferred suppliers including Air Canada and ACV; WestJet and WestJet Vacations; Enterprise Rent-ACar; and the Globus family of brands.

“This is the first time we have done

WILL BE UNVEILED WITH THE CELEBRATIONS

FULL-PAGE AD CURRENT COURSES & WEBINARS

www.travelweeklearningcentre.com

The Palm Beaches eLearning Program

Prize: Complete the course to win one of 3x $100 Amazon gift cards

Welcome to The Palm Beaches, America’s First Resort Destination®! This course will provide the essential information needed to inspire your clients and better understand the 39 cities and municipalities of this South Florida hotspot that are easy to reach and hard to resist.

Colombia Specialist Program

Available in English in French

Newly launched on Travelweek’s Learning Centre is the Colombia Specialist Program, available in English and French. The course offers an opportunity for travel agents to learn about Colombia, the “most welcoming destination on earth.” A diverse South American country, Colombia features many regions to suit a wide range of travellers, including mountain ranges, vast plains, lush rainforests, and world-famous beaches.

Tokyo Tourism eLearning program

Prize: agents who complete all 6 themes by February 28th will be entered to win an air ticket to Japan courtesy of Air Canada. Each month, two agents who completed one or more of the 6 themes will receive a package containing goods from Tokyo.

Broken down in to six themes, The Tokyo Tourism eLearning Program has been created to provide tips, insights, essential information to travel agents regarding travel to Tokyo. Each theme will walk you through the best way to travel and will sum up with a 5 question quiz to test your knowledge!

the road show format and it’s proven a huge success,” said Brian Robertson, President of Direct Travel, Canada West. He added that both supplier and advisor registrations sold out quickly, thanks to what is clearly pentup demand. “Our senior management are attending every show and meeting with all of our advisor and support teams, and it’s great to see everyone face-to-face. Our preferred partners are so motivated to meet our team members in person and many are celebrating that our sales numbers are surpassing 2019 numbers moving into 2023 and beyond.”

Azores Airlines hits 1 million mark in less than a year, for the first time

PONTA DELGADA — Azores Airlines recently celebrated a major milestone: its 1,000,000th passenger in less than a year.

It was a first for the airline, and it couldn’t have come at a better time, after more than two years of pandemic disruption.

Azores Airlines surprised its millionth passenger at the check-in counter for flight S4172 to Porto at Ponta Delgada airport.

An oversized Boarding Pass was presented to the surprised passenger minutes after check-in. A certificate was also given as a souvenir of the symbolic moment.

Says Luís Rodrigues, Chairman of the SATA Group: “It’s a symbolic day for all those who work daily to grow Azores Airlines’ air operation. And nothing seemed to make more sense than sharing our enthusiasm and success with passengers who choose to travel with us. After all, without our passengers’ trust, we would not have achieved this milestone in a single year.”

He added that on Aug. 3, 2022, SATA Group reached the milestone of one million passengers carried in the activity calculation of the two airlines, SATA Air Açores and Azores Airlines. The record was achieved earlier than expected for the sector, with SATA airlines exceeding expectations regarding traffic recovery in the post-pandemic period. In the summer of 2022, the two airlines carried more passengers than in the pre-pandemic year of 2019.

Win a trip for two to Ireland with CIE’s sweepstakes

MORRISTOWN, NJ — CIE Tours is giving travel advisors the chance to win a free trip for two to Ireland with a new limited-time sweepstakes.

Open to advisors in both Canada and the U.S., the ’90 Shades of Green’ sweepstakes runs through to Dec. 24, 2022. To enter, travel advisors will be

asked three questions about Ireland and CIE Tours, the answers to which can be found on cietours.com. Travel advisors must have a valid IATA or CLIA number to enter.

Travel advisors can enter each week during the four-week sweepstakes period by answering a new set of questions for an additional entry to win the seven-day ‘Taste of Ireland’ vacation for two. At the close of the sweepstakes period, one travel advisor will be randomly selected to win the trip.

“As CIE Tours comes to the end of its 90th anniversary year, the ’90 Shades of Green’ sweepstakes is just a small way to show our travel advisor partners how much they are valued,” said Elizabeth Crabill, CEO of CIE Tours.

“CIE Tours’ ability to share the warmth and beauty of Ireland with more than three million visitors over the years could not have been achieved without countless recommendations from trusted travel advisors. With 90 years of expertise and deep roots in the country, savvy advisors know that CIE T ours has the unique ability to deliver truly local experiences that bring both the hospitality of the Irish people and the country’s rich culture and heritage to life,” she added.

WITHOUT OUR PASSENGERS’ TRUST, WE WOULD NOT HAVE ACHIEVED THIS MILESTONE IN A SINGLE YEAR

COUNTY CORK, IRELAND

‘Taste of Ireland’ begins and ends in Dublin and covers Ireland’s ‘greatest hit’ highlights that include Blarney Castle, Cliffs of Moher, Ring of Kerry, Galway and a visit to a family-run sheepdog farm.

Stewart Travel Group’s charity fundraising hits a high note

CHARLOTTETOWN — Stewart Travel Group’s 2022 fundraising efforts for Stars for Life, Foundation for Autism, has surpassed the $50,000 mark.

It’s been a few weeks since Stewart Travel Group sailed the Danube and returned with a cheque for $35,800 for Stars for Life, the Charlottetown-based non-profit organization.

That was on top of the $15,500 that Travis and Paula Stewart, co-owners of Stewart Travel Group, presented to Stars For Life earlier this year.

The Stewarts say it’s been an overwhelming year for the company’s fundraising efforts, and it’s all thanks to the guests of two full-charter river cruises in Europe which Stewart Travel Group hosted this year.

Travis and Paula first hosted an exclusive charter river cruise in France in late April. Sailing on Avalon Waterways’ Tapestry II, the cruise featured special musical guests including award-winning singer-songwriter Jim Cuddy of Blue Rodeo, fiddler Anne Lindsay, and Cuddy’s sons, Sam Polley and Devin Cuddy. As part of the special programming, many of the 121 guests on the cruise purchased tickets for a chance to sit down at an intimate dinner with the artists.

“I knew it was going to be a success on the first day, folks were just lining up to buy the tickets,” Travis recalled of the fundraiser in April. “We quickly hit our initial goal of $5,000, and we just kept going from there.”

The final amount raised in April was $15,500. Then in October, the

quartet were once again special musical guests onboard the Avalon View, this time cruising down the Danube from Germany to Hungary. This charter cruise was larger, with 157 passengers onboard.

“We had hoped to have a little friendly competition with our passengers on the Danube to see if they can surpass our Seine River fundraising,” said Travis. “It blew us away how quickly folks stepped up to support Stars. Before we knew it, the amount was double what we raised in the spring.”

“Is that comma in the wrong place?” Carolyn Bateman, President and Co-Founder of Stars for Life jokingly said when the Stewarts presented her with the most recent cheque of $35,800, bringing the total raised by Stewart Travel Group and their guests to $51,300.

Bateman was quick to note where the donations could be used. “We have two new small-option homes we’re hoping to get up and running in the next few years. They will need to be furnished and this can pay for that.”

Those homes will allow adults with autism their independence, coupled with support from Stars For Life staff, she added.

“We know as a local business that non-profit organizations took a hit financially since the start of the pandemic and Stars for Life is one of our major organizations that we love to give back to yearly,” said Travis. He knows firsthand the help they lend to PEI families who have adult children with autism. Travis’ son Kobe Stewart has been participating with Stars for Life’s programs since his high school graduation.

“When Kobe goes to Stars … he’s smiling from ear to ear,” said Travis. “For me that makes me have a wonderful day, to see your son be excited to go somewhere where he’s truly loved with lots of things for him to do.”

Since opening for business in 2014, Stewart Travel Group has been committed to supporting the Island community and organizations like Stars for Life, Hospice PEI, United Way of PEI, and more. The PEI-based travel agency has gained a reputation for quality travel experiences over their eight years in operation. They’ve grown from one advisor to 15 and have won numerous awards, including many Top Agency and Advisor awards in Canada (with The Travel Agent Next Door) from 2016 to 2021.

STEWART TRAVEL GIVES BACK TO STARS FOR LIFE

IT BLEW US AWAY HOW QUICKLY FOLKS STEPPED UP. THE AMOUNT WAS DOUBLE WHAT WE RAISED IN THE SPRING.

SEASON'S GREETINGS

Airlines, tour operators, tourism boards and more extend warm wishes to their travel advisor partners for a wonderful holiday season

Thank you

to our wonderful Travel Advisor community.

Your determination, passion and love for our industry is greatly appreciated.

We are looking forward to our partnership and continued success in 2023.

We have made a donation to our partners at Trees4Travel on behalf of our advisor community in Canada.

From our family to yours, Happy Holidays!

Join our Facebook community to stay connected with us

On behalf of all Jamaicans we’d like to thank our travel advisors, tour operators and airline partners for everything you’ve done to help us during our recovery this past year. We couldn’t have done it without you.

We wish you the happiest holiday season and a prosperous new year.

Underwritten by The Manufacturers Life Insurance Company (Manulife). Manulife, Stylized M Design, and Manulife & Stylized M Design are trademarks of The Manufacturers Life Insurance Company and are used by it, and by its affiliates under license. © 2022 The Manufacturers Life Insurance Company. All rights reserved. Manulife, P.O. Box 670, Stn Waterloo, Waterloo, ON N2J 4B8. Accessible formats and communication supports are available upon request. Visit manulife.ca/accessibility for more information.