Destinations
Cuba: Sunny, Safe And Ready For Travellers
Cuban prime minister Manuel Marrero Cruz says his country is both a sunny and safe destination for coronavirus-wary travellers who continue to hear media reports of countries struggling with the pandemic, reports Press Today's Ian Stalker who's in Cuba attending the event. Marrero Cruz said during a Wednesday presentation at a tourism fair held by Cuban tourism company Gaviota that his country of over 11 million people saw only 77 reported coronavirus cases on Dec. 8, while its capital of Havana -- home to over 3 million people -- saw a scant 14 cases. Cuban cases peaked at 9,907 on...
Reaching The Peak At TL Network Canadian Regionals
TL Network Canada is celebrating the success of its recently concluded, in-person events in Toronto, Vancouver and Edmonton. The three regionals hosted more than 355 agents and 82 supplier partners attended with the PEAK themed events enabling agents to leverage the tools and training available to help grow their business and help TL Network members across Canada continue their quest to PEAK -- “Programmes, Education, Advisors and Knowledge,” -- while facilitating networking opportunities, supplier partner roundtable discussions and a rewarding trade show. TL Network’s vice...
Testing, Testing, Testing
With over 100 bookings set to depart over the next month, Caitlin Lajeunesse felt a jolt of panic and fear when the news of testing requirements for all arriving air passengers outside of the US came out. “I was worried this news would bring a wave of cancellations, again,” the owner of Vacations by Caitlin with Independent by Flight Centre told Travel Courier. “As the days have passed, and after a meeting with my MP to get some further details and clarification, I feel confident that travel will remain as planned.” Lajeunesse says the measures are not meant to deter travel,...
Sandals Toasts Agents At 40th Anniversary Celebration
After so many virtual events over the past two years, Sandals Resorts celebrated its 40th anniversary in Toronto last night during an in person agent appreciation dinner at The Miller Tavern. Giselle Williams, Business Development Manager – Central Ontario & Ottawa, noted that agents were hand selected for the event as a way of saying thank you for their support over the years and especially over the last two years. Agents in attendance ranged from those who are new to the brand to those who have booked sold out group trips. Best of all, Williams announced that unlike...
TICO Updates Registrant Reinstatment Policy
In a message to the industry, the Travel Industry Council of Ontario (TICO) says that it recognizes the difficulty that many registrants have faced resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic; observing that the prolonged industry downturn has led to great financial strain and uncertainty, forcing some registrants to make the difficult decision to voluntarily terminate or allow their registration to expire. Now TICO is pleased to share that effective Dec. 6, 2021, it has updated the Registrant Reinstatement Policy in order to encourage registrants considering reinstatement to do so without...
Beth Fleeton Joins CAA Niagara
Beth Fleeton has joined CAA Niagara as its Associate Director of Travel Sales & Experience. In a social media post, Fleeton wrote: “I can't wait to dive in and help in the recovery efforts we have all been dealing with during the pandemic, in particular my beloved travel industry.” She added that: “In my 30+ years working in this business, I have been fortunate to have already developed relationships with this amazing organization.” And Fleeton concluded her post: “As a Niagara native, I hope to bring both local insight and global knowledge from all the experiences...
TTI Buys MeritBiz From H.I.S-Merit Travel Group
TTI Travel has bought MeritBiz from H.I.S Merit Travel Group. MeritBiz is the corporate travel management division of H.I.S-Merit Travel Group and the purchase was jointly announced by Rocky Racco, CEO of TTI Travel and Frank DeMarinis, CEO of H.I.S-Merit Travel Group and H.I.S-Red Label Vacations Inc. With its focus on servicing discerning business travellers with high-touch personalized service, TTI’s acquisition of MeritBiz makes a lot of sense. Rocky Racco, TTI’s CEO, said: "For over a quarter of a century, MeritBiz has built a well-earned reputation of providing leading...
Hope For The Best, Prepare For The Unexpected
Ask Joel Ostrov if 2021 has gone the way he’d expected it would go and Direct Travel’s president – Canada East Region will tell you: “I am afraid not. The Delta variant caused many corporations to slow the restart of their travel programs. As a result, the borders between Canada and the US (and rest of the world) reopened much later than anticipated.” And Ostrov continued: “Some believed I was overly optimistic, but had the Delta variant not have transpired, I would have been right on with the predictions I made the last time you canvassed industry leaders for their...