Destinations
WestJet Announces More Flight Reductions
WestJet has advised that it is consolidating 20% of its scheduled flights between Feb. 1 and Feb. 28, 2022 – that’s in addition to the carrier’s January 2022 flight consolidation announcement. In advising of the additional consolidation, Interim WestJet Group president and CEO, Harry Taylor said: “As we continue to navigate the unpredictability of the Omicron variant on our staffing levels along with the ongoing barriers to international travel, we are making every effort to proactively manage our schedule in order to minimize disruption to our guests’ travel...
Romantic Experiences On The Island Of Ireland
Baxter Media invites all travel professionals to attend an exciting webinar with Tourism Ireland next Thursday (Jan. 27) at 2 p.m. (EST). The island of Ireland is the perfect place for a romantic getaway, with its fairy-tale forests, picturesque towns, and stunning scenery drenched in Celtic folklore. Whether your clients are looking for the ideal wedding venue, a bespoke honeymoon itinerary, or a ‘treat yourself’ luxury experience, the island of Ireland has it all. Join Tourism Ireland for an exclusive update on: Itinerary and trip ideas with ‘off the beaten track’...
Canada, Australia, Argentina Off EU Safe Travel List
Canada, along with Australia and Argentina, have been removed from the EU’s safe travel list which applies to non-essential travel by third countries into the EU. The European Council made the announcement of its recommendation on Jan. 17, 2022. As a result, the European Council is recommending that EU member states reintroduce temporary entry bans or travel restrictions on travellers from the three countries The move comes following a review under the recommendation on the gradual lifting of the temporary restrictions on non-essential travel into the EU. Non-essential...
Get A Taste Of Ventura, California
January is always a slow month in the travel business, so the Ventura Visitors and Convention Bureau has come up with what it hopes is a little extra incentive to visit in the first month of the new year. For anyone who books a two-night, mid-week stay (Sunday to Wednesday) in a Ventura hotel during January, they’ll receive a free $50 dining gift certificate to use at one of Ventura’s charming, locally owned restaurants. Cheryl Shallanberger, VVCB Vice President of Sales & Marketing, said: “We wanted to do something to help our Ventura hotels during what is typically a...
Now Is The Time To Act
Chief Medical Officers of Health for Air Canada, Toronto Pearson and WestJet are urging federal and provincial governments to shift PCR testing from airports to communities. In an open letter -- to federal health minister Jean-Yves Duclos; chief public health officer, Dr. Theresa Tam; Ontario deputy premier and minister of health, Christine Elliott; and Ontario’s chief medical officer of health, Dr. Kieran Moore – Air Canada’s chief medical officer, Dr. Jim Chung; Toronto Pearson’s chief medical officer, Dr. Edward Wasser; and WestJet’s chief medical officer, Dr. Tammy...
Red Label Vacations Picks Ortmann As VP, IT
H.I.S.-Red Label Vacations Inc. (RLV) has named Kurt Ortmann as its new VP of Information Technology. Ortmann joined RLV on Jan. 14, 2022 and he is an accomplished technology executive and will bring new strategies to amplify the company’s technological infrastructure and to further the continued goal of streamlining operations and expanding customer-centric solutions. He has over 30 years of experience in all areas of Information Technology, with the last 15-plus years working in travel and hospitality, including CIE Tours, Wyndham Hotels Group, and Security Validation. His...
Change It Up
The Canadian Travel and Tourism Roundtable has called on the federal government to redeploy PCR tests used for on-arrival testing of fully-vaccinated, asymptomatic and previously negative travellers into Canada for community use and for a return to randomized on-arrival testing for surveillance purposes. The federal government announced additional measures to contain the spread of the Omicron variant on Dec. 17, with measures including the increase of on-arrival PCR testing for travellers arriving from destinations other than the United States and isolation until test results are...
Grand Opening Celebration
Karisma Hotels & Resorts celebrated the official opening of the newest laid-back luxury addition to the Margaritaville Island Reserve brand, Margaritaville Island Reserve Cap Cana, which opened its doors November 2021. Joined by top company executives and Dominican Republic elected officials, the event featured an opening speech by President Luis Abinader, followed by a ribbon-cutting ceremony, live entertainment, signature cocktails, and dining experiences. The five-star resort is located in one of the most sought-after stretches of beach in the Dominican Republic and is the...