Destinations
Time To Get Back To Business
The Global Business Travel Association (GBTA) is calling on governments in Europe, the U.S. and Latin America to end COVID-19 testing requirements for vaccinated travellers. Clearly, Canada was listening as the GBTA’s call came just as Canada was announcing that it was doing just that. In other jurisdictions, however, the GBTA points out that although entire segments of the global economy have successfully reopened, business travel is still lagging far behind in recovery. As a result, corporations are reluctant to send people back on the road in large part due to the complexity...
Air Canada Expands Its South Pacific Network
Air Canada is taking off with a strategic expansion of its South Pacific schedule with the return of daily service to Sydney and resumption of services to both Brisbane and Auckland. The carrier’s Australia and New Zealand flights operate from its trans-Pacific hub at Vancouver International Airport which the carrier has built to conveniently connect its international network to its vast North American network. Seats are available for purchase now at www.aircanada.com. Mark Galardo, Senior Vice President, Network Planning and Revenue Management at Air Canada, said that: “Air...
ACTA Advocates For Independent Travel Agents
Independent travel agents have been without direct financial support since the end of the Canada Recovery Benefit (CRB) in October-- despite being among the hardest-hit entrepreneurs on a long road to recovery. ACTA is launching a new advocacy campaign -- www.helpita.ca – that will provide a platform for independent travel agents to record a video detailing their personal story and why immediate financial support is necessary. These videos will be shared widely on social media and with politicians in a national advocacy campaign. And ACTA is encouraging all independent travel...
Brand USA Boss Celebrates Congress’ Support
Good news for the US travel industry following President Biden’s signing of the 2022 omnibus spending bill that – among other things – includes the Restoring Brand USA Act. In a letter to the industry, Brand USA’s president and CEO, Chris Thompson writes: “Today marks a new milestone in the U.S. travel and tourism industry’s recovery from COVID-19. President Biden signs the 2022 omnibus spending bill, which includes the Restoring Brand USA Act. The international segment of the travel economy is the most lucrative and has been the slowest to return to pre-pandemic...
New Zealand Set To Open Borders
New Zealand will be opening its borders to international travellers from visa waiver countries – which includes Canada -- on May 1, 2022 at 11:59 pm. From May 1 travellers will be able to travel to New Zealand without self-isolation on provision of a negative pre-departure test. Tourism New Zealand’s Chief Executive, René de Monchy said: “We look forward to welcoming manuhiri [visitors], family and friends back in May. New Zealand has plenty to offer international visitors from breathtaking landscapes, rare and remarkable wildlife to our rich culture and heritage; our people...
Air France Takes Off From Vancouver To Paris
Air France’s Canada-Paris summer schedule will include up to 49 flights a week in summer 2022, including a daily flight between Vancouver and Paris. This ups the airline’s number of weekly flights out of Vancouver by two, while overall departures from Canada will be up 27% compared to summer 2019. “After 2 years of curtailing flights, we are proud to be able to measurably increase the number of departures from Vancouver and our other Canadian destinations,” said Air France’s Catherine Guillemart Dias; adding that this will make “Air France the leading European airline in...
TDC Certified LuxeXperts Join Virtuoso
Transat Distribution Canada (TDC) reports that selected LuxeXpert certified travel professionals within its network have become members of the Virtuoso. Selected certified LuxeXpert travel professionals in the TDC network who are members of Virtuoso will now have access to a host of rare travel experiences and above all, exclusive values for their clients. Benefits from Virtuoso’s hotel program alone are worth more than (U.S.) $500 per stay, allowing the agency to provide real value to their clients. Louise Fecteau, general manager of Transat Distribution Canada, said that:...
Cunard Sets A Course To Welcome Back Canadians
Cunard is gearing up to call on Vancouver, following news that Canada is once again welcoming cruise ships. The cruise line returned to Alaska in 2019 to much fanfare and excitement, and is now looking ahead with great enthusiasm to its 2022 summer Alaska season on Queen Elizabeth. The ship will again sail through the storied waters and landscapes of the Last Frontier, featuring the blue hues of the immense Hubbard Glacier, and Glacier Bay National Park – where visitors are awed by some of the world's most spectacular tidewater glaciers. It will sail a coastal transit from Los...