Destinations
Travel Agent Appreciation Goes Above And Beyond
It’s the day you’ve all been waiting for – the Travel Agent Appreciation Event and Award presentation is here. Today, May 19, Baxter Media’s three-day, Travel Agent Appreciation event culminates with a day that is all about travel agents. Not that every day isn’t all about travel agents. We’ve had some great sessions on Day 1 and Day 2 that were designed to help you understand where things are at in the Cruise and Luxury markets. And today won’t disappoint as we’ve got some more great sessions lined up for you including: Judith Coates of ACITA on what’s...
Louisiana Let’s The Good Times Roll
Louisiana tourism authorities are working on a project that they say will be particularly notes-worthy for music enthusiasts. Jennifer Berthelot of the Louisiana Office of Tourism told a Tuesday Toronto gathering that the state is developing a music trail, a product that will showcase such homegrown musical expressions as jazz and zydeco, along with other impacts the state has had on the U.S. music scene, with, for instance, Shreveport's Municipal Auditorium serving as a launching pad for the likes of eventual household names Elvis Presley, Johnny Cash and Jerry Lee Lewis. “We...
Travel Agent Appreciation 2022 Taps Into Luxury
Travel agents who promote luxury travel may rattle some prospective clients but that doesn't mean agents shouldn't do it, Baxter Media's Wednesday Travel Agent Appreciation 2022 panel discussion was told. Chris Nowrouzi of Toronto-based FlyGTA -- which has a fleet of planes that carry people to points in southern Ontario and outside this country as well -- said during the discussion on luxury travel that many consumers become "afraid" when upscale travel is raised, fearful they'll be looking at trips with hefty price tags. But Nowrouzi said that doesn't have to be the case. "I...
Air Transat Adds Montreal To LA Flights
Air Transat has launched non-stop service to Los Angeles from Montreal, marking the start of the carrier's operations in sunny California. The first TS240 flight to Los Angeles landed on May 16, with passengers and crew greeted with excitement by the airport team. Joseph Adamo, Chief Sales and Marketing Officer, Transat, said: “We are thrilled to be operating this route and flying passengers to a multifaceted city that is known for its many tourist attractions, but that also represents an excellent gateway to the rest of California.” Adamo added: “The new flight shows our...
The Bahamas Accepts Purchase Offer For Grand Lucayan
The Bahamas Ministry of Tourism, Investments & Aviation (BMOTIA) has announced that an offer has been accepted for the purchase of Grand Lucayan, a beachfront resort located in the bustling city of Freeport. Electra America Hospitality Group (EAHG), a real estate investment firm, has entered into an agreement with Lucayan Renewal Holdings to buy the resort for $100 million. The agreement is projected to be completed by summer 2022, with renovations and construction to follow. CEO and Principal of Electra America Hospitality Group Russell Urban said the company was very...
Tourist Boards Look To Cuisine For An Edge
With the travel industry’s recovery starting to gather pace, many tourist boards are looking to differentiate themselves from rival destinations by focusing on their cuisine rather than traditional natural hot spots, cities, or coastal locations. According to GlobalData’s Ads Database, Destination Marketing Organizations (DMOs) for Turkey, Malta, and Indonesia have focused on their national cuisine to entice new tourists. Marketing campaigns have included glossy images and short videos covering traditional cooking methods to boost cultural appeal. The development of these...
Tapping Into Luxury At Travel Agent Appreciation 2022
It’s Day Two of Travel Agent Appreciation 2022 and today is all about luxury travel. After two years of staying close to home, Canadian travellers are looking to get away from it all and more and more of them are willing to pay top dollar to get the trip that they want. Customers are booking higher room categories, splurging on bucket list getaways and upgrading where possible, which is good news for travel advisors. Christine Hogg, the Editor of OFFSHORE – Travel At Its Finest – that’s Baxter Media’s luxury travel consumer publication – will moderate today’s panel...
Time For A Little Golf With ACTA
Believe it or not, ACTA’s Annual Ontario Golf Tournament is only 8 weeks away. The association is expecting a big turnout this year and is asking the industry to register early for this fun event as space is limited. The ACTA 32nd Annual Ontario Golf Tournament will take place on Thurs., July 14, 2022 at Royal Ontario Golf Club in Milton, Ontario. The golf tournament title sponsor is Air Canada -- with Manulife and Globus Family of Brands joining as major sponsors. Antigua and Barbuda will be featured golf destination sponsor. This year’s tournament will be a best ball format...