Cruise
Social Media Connects Tourism, Travellers
While many companies in the global tourism industry are focusing all of their financial resources on battling the threats they face from COVID-19, GlobalData says that they still need to stay relevant and social media is a relatively cheap way to promote. The data and analytics company points out, in its “Impact of COVID-19 on the global cruise industry,” that 70% of Brazilians are now spending more time browsing social media when compared to pre-COVID-19 outbreak figures, with an enormous 34% saying they spend all day using social media. Meanwhile, a considerable number of US...
Forward To The Future
After holding virtual meetings with its top accounts and travel advisors, Michelle Palma, Vice President, Field Sales – North America, Uniworld, said they’ve gleaned incredible insights into the current market conditions. “First and foremost is that consumers still want to travel. Many clients that have travel plans for late summer and fall 2020 are optimistic and are waiting to see what happens in the coming weeks as parts of Canada and the world start to open back up,” she told Travel Courier. “That being said, there are also consumers who have written off their...
Silversea Has Been Listening
Over the past few weeks, Silversea’s global team has been reaching out directly to its travel agent partners to answer their questions, listen to their feedback and discuss new ideas. And based on that input, Silversea’s has made some significant policy updates to help support agents at this challenging time. Commission Protection Silversea will now pay commissions on cancelled voyages for all guests who have paid in full, regardless of whether they choose cash refunds or a future cruise credit. This is retroactive to our first cancellations in March, 2020. And this policy...
When Will Domestic Travel Start Again?
In a special report for Canadian Travel Press, Eric Barber writes that if the Canadian government was looking for any guidelines on how to put the travel and tourism industry in Canada back to work, they might want to consider a new report from Germany’s Kompetenzzentrum Tourismus des Tourismus and represents the first document in tourism that plots a timeline for the return of tourism in Germany based on select factors: politics, economics and science. The report identifies four phases of COVID-19, which are represented by Shutdown, Loosening, Revival & Normalization. ...
Scenic Group Extends Suspension
The Scenic Group has is suspending all river and ocean cruises, and land tour operations on its Scenic Luxury Cruises & Tours, Emerald Cruises and Evergreen Cruises & Tours brands until Aug. 31, 2020 as part of its ongoing response to the COVID-19 pandemic situation. The company also advised that Scenic Eclipse sailings will be suspended through Sept. 30, 2020. Rob Voss, COO for The Scenic Group, explained: “Our top priority is to ensure that our guests and crew are able to travel safely before we resume operations. Although we see some easing of national lockdowns and...
Set Sail With AMAWaterways Today
AmaWaterways has unveiled the majority of its 2022 deployment and it’s now open for group and individual bookings - a full six months ahead of previous season openings. All itineraries in France, Portugal, Holland and those traveling the Rhine and Moselle rivers are open for reservations, with added rewards for guests who book early. By May 20, the remaining 2022 river cruise voyages with pre- and post-cruise land extensions will also be available. While the company would typically open 2022 bookings much later in the year, increased demand for 2022 sailings led to early release...
Safe Travels
The World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC) has unveiled a range of new worldwide measures to restart the sector. The new measures are have designed to rebuild confidence among consumers so they can travel safely once the restrictions are lifted. Called Safe Travels, the new protocols provide consistency to destinations and countries as well as guidance to travel providers, operators and travellers on the new approach to health and hygiene in the post COVID-19 world. The health and safety of travellers and workers is put at the heart of the new global protocols, which have been...
Voices In The Mist
2020 was shaping up to be a banner year for travel with endless itinerary options, a bounty of direct flight routes and a slew of travellers eager to embark on adventures. The Travel Corporation had its centennial to celebrate, Goway Travel planned on promoting its 50th anniversary and G Adventures was gearing up to mark 30 years in business. Instead, plans were turned upside down by COVID-19 and tour operators were forced to make tough decisions and enforce drastic cost saving measures resulting in layoffs, terminations and downsizing as international travel came to a grinding...