Destinations
ACV Offering New Ways To Shop With Softvoyage
Air Canada Vacations has unveiled a streamlined travel agent shopping experience with Europe and Canada Tours now available for booking in Softvoyage (SIREV, SABRE and GALILEO) under the same Tour Operator Link (VAC) as the SUN Products under the TOURS section. The company will also offer travel agents a 2% bonus commission when booking their clients’ Europe Tours through GDS. Nino Montagnese, Vice-President, Air Canada Vacations, explained that: “By offering our travel agent partners the option to reserve our most popular European and Canadian tours through SIREV, we are...
Travel Agent Appreciation – It’s All About You
Since 2016, Baxter Media has been highlighting travel advisors from coast to coast in our annual Travel Agent Appreciation combined special issue of Travel Courier and Canadian Travel Press. Last year, we launched the inaugural Travel Agent and Beyond Award recognizing one of the finalists during an amazing virtual event. This year we’re going even bigger with a three-day affair loaded with trade shows, informative sessions to inspire agents and so much more. Not only will we be announcing the recipient of the second annual Travel Agent and Beyond Award during the event...
Embracing Responsible Tourism
The Hawai'i Tourism Authority's Kalani Ka'ana'ana expects those vacationing in Hawaii will find it a welcoming kind of place -- particularly if they're respectful of the destination's inhabitants. Ka'ana'ana told Baxter Media’s Responsible Travel & Tourism webinar on April 7 that the Hawai'i Tourism Authority is promoting the concept of "malama" -- caring for the land -- and he wants to see locals and visitors alike be respectful of one another. "I always say Hawaii is a mirror," Ka'ana'ana said. "What I mean by that is if you come to Hawaii with humility, respect and aloha,...
UNWTO In Search Of The Best Tourism Villages
For the second year, the UNWTO is searching for The Best Tourism Villages – an initiative that will establish the UNWTO as the leading network focused on tourism for rural development. Launched in 2021, Best Tourism Villages by UNWTO promotes and enhances the role of tourism in safeguarding rural villages, along with their landscapes, natural and cultural diversity, knowledge systems, and local values and activities, including gastronomy. At the same time, the initiative also promotes transformative approaches to the development of tourism in rural destinations that contribute to...
Toronto’s Chelsea Hotel Earns EarthCheck Gold
The Chelsea Hotel, Toronto has achieved EarthCheck Gold Certification, which recognizes seven consecutive years of commitment to environmental and social responsibility. This places the hotel as a leader in the unique worldwide group of sustainable tourism operators that are certified to the internationally recognized EarthCheck Company Standard. Stewart Moore, CEO and founder of EarthCheck, said that Chelsea Hotel, Toronto has a long-standing commitment to sustainability, which is reflected in their continued dedication to the EarthCheck Certified program. The hotel recognizes that...
CDC Lowers Jamaica To Level 1 Advisory
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in the United States has downgraded Jamaica to a Level 1 designation in its latest COVID-19 travel advisory to citizens released this week. Countries classified as Level 1 have low cases of the virus. Joining just a handful of countries globally at Level 1, Jamaica’s case levels have steadily decreased in recent months. According to Hon. Edmund Bartlett, Minister of Tourism for Jamaica, with the destination at its lowest level for COVID-19 risk since the pandemic began, a strong tourism rebound can continue to occur. Minister...
Utah: Forever Mighty
Zach Fyne has some ‘Mighty’ good reasons for people to visit his jurisdiction. Fyne, global markets specialist with the Utah Office of Tourism, told a Wednesday Toronto gathering that the bureau has adopted the promotional slogan Forever Mighty, reflecting what he says is a grandeur his state offers and efforts to safeguard its natural and cultural sides. "Responsible travel is the big buzzword going around the industry these days," he said, adding Utah "has been a leader" in that field. Tourism officials began labelling five southern Utah national parks -- Zion,...
Germany Gears Up For Growth
With no testing requirements needed for entry to the destination, Anja Brokjans, director of the German National Tourist Office, said vaccinated travellers can start enjoying the beauty and diversity of Germany as soon as they land. “I think the moment is right to talk about booking travel,” Brokjans said during an event in Toronto on April 7 for the launch of a new marketing campaign called German.Local.Culture. “We’re quite bullish for this year knowing that the Oberammergau Passion Play will take place this year and also there’s a huge pent up demand for...