Destinations
SellOffVacations Is Making It New
SellOffVacations has launched its website re-platform and brand refresh. A work in progress since 2018, the brand has remained steadfast in its commitment to digital transformation for a faster and more unified user experience from start to finish, and the re-platform of SellOffVacations.com is among the core improvements the brand is making to streamline the vacation planning experience for customers and agents. Valerie Miko, Vice President of Retail at SellOffVacations, said: “We’re thrilled the new re-platform of SellOffVacations.com is now live. Today’s launch is the...
TICO Issues Closure Advisory For Crystal Cruises
In an advisory to Ontario registrants, TICO advises that on Feb. 11, 2022, Crystal Cruises commenced an Assignment for the Benefit of Creditors, an alternative to formal bankruptcy proceedings, in Circuit Court in Miami-Dade County, Florida (the “ABC Case”). All future cruises have been cancelled and no cruises will be rescheduled in the future. All cruises departing from a U.S. port with accommodations for more than 50 passengers are required, by U.S. law, to have secured financial coverage to reimburse passengers in the event of a failure. Crystal Cruises has assigned Mark C....
Council Endorses Extension Of EU Digital COVID Certificate
The Permanent Representatives Committee (Coreper) formally endorsed the Council’s negotiating mandate with the European Parliament to extend the Regulation establishing the EU Digital COVID Certificate. The Digital COVID Certificate has played an important role in facilitating the free movement of people during the pandemic. And the principle of gradually lifting travel restrictions if the epidemiological situation so permits still applies. The European Commission had proposed on Feb. 3, 2022 to extend the Regulation establishing the EU Digital COVID Certificate by one year, until...
Tourism Ireland Celebrates Irish Heritage Month
Irish tourism board eyes are smiling these days and with good reason. The worldwide drop in COVID-19 cases has led Ireland to drop its COVID restrictions for those wanting to enter the country and allow the likes of parades and other events, making the country more attractive to potential visitors. "Ireland is open and as of last Sunday we removed all travel restrictions," Jocelyn Black of Tourism Ireland's Toronto office said during a Thursday Toronto event. Tourism Ireland's Canadian director Sandra Moffatt in turn said that it has been a "challenging couple of years” for the...
VisitBritain Gears Up For ExploreGB Virtual
More than 330 global buyers will connect online and do business with 370 tourism industry suppliers and destinations from across the UK at ExploreGB Virtual 2022. The five-day program of virtual events provides destinations and suppliers with the opportunity to promote their tourism products and services to top global buyers and forge valuable business connections. Travel industry buyers from more than 20 countries, including Canada, are joining the event. Over 10,000 pre-scheduled one-to-one virtual business meetings will take place during the event. Commenting on the event,...
New Federal Initiatives Benefit Indigenous Tourism
The National Indigenous Tourism Conference in Calgary this week was the occasion for announcing two federal government initiatives that will have direct benefits for Indigenous tourism, reports western editor Ted Davis. For one, over $1.3 million in federal funding by Prairies Economic Development Canada has been budgeted for Indigenous tourism organizations in Alberta. These investments will be used to help Indigenous tourism firms adapt/develop unique experiences for attracting domestic and international visitors. The funding announcement comes at a key moment for all tourism...
Air Canada Partners To Launch Humanitarian Effort
An Air Canada-operated humanitarian special cargo flight on behalf of Airlink and other aid organizations departed Toronto Pearson International Airport with a final destination of Warsaw, Poland yesterday (March 9). Through a partnership between Air Canada, disaster logistics non-profit Airlink, relief organization Project C.U.R.E., and freight forwarder Flexport, medical supplies and hospital beds, humanitarian and medical supplies were loaded onboard the Air Canada Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner. Medical and trauma supplies destined for a Ukrainian hospital provided by Canadian disaster...
Scenic Goes Live With Cross-Canada Info Sessions
During March, Scenic Luxury Cruises & Tours is holding a series of free, in-person Travel Showcase information sessions for Canadian travel advisors, their clients, and consumers. Attendees will gain insights from the Scenic expert team on the benefits of small-ship cruising and handcrafted land journeys, learn about the newest itineraries for both river and ocean cruising for 2023 and beyond, and enjoy access to exclusive bonus offers. Participants will also receive an update on the ship’s enhanced health and safety protocols. Three sessions will be held at each...