Destinations
Canada Extends India Flight Ban To Sept. 26
As Canada prepares for the return of direct flights from India to Canada, Transport Canada is announcing an extension of the Notice to Airmen (NOTAM) that restricts all direct commercial and private passenger flights to Canada from India until Sept. 26, 2021, at 23:59 EDT. Once the restriction on direct flights expires, travellers eligible to enter Canada will be able to board direct flights from India to Canada with the following additional measures: Travellers must have proof of a negative COVID-19 molecular test from the approved Genestrings Laboratory at the Delhi airport...
GBTA Encourages Government To Support Business Travel
The Global Business Travel Association Canada (GBTA Canada) says it is looking forward to working with Canada’s new federal government on support for business travel and all the benefits it brings to Canadians. Nancy Tudorache, regional vice president, Canada for GBTA, observed: “GBTA Canada congratulates Prime Minister Trudeau on forming Canada’s new Federal government and looks forward to working with all parliamentarians to support business travel and capture all the benefits that this activity brings to Canadians.” Tudorache emphasized that: “Advancing policies that...
Poon Tip To Keynote At Caribbean World Tourism Day
Bruce Poon Tip will deliver the keynote address at a special virtual conference on Sept. 27 to mark World Tourism Day. “The Future of Caribbean Tourism - Redefining the three S’s” will be a day-long event and is an unprecedented collaborative effort among nearly a dozen agencies and institutions related to tourism and key ancillary sectors, bringing together a wide range of stakeholders across the tourism spectrum to discuss the outlook for the region’s primary revenue earner. In his keynote, Poon Tip will discuss three priority areas for the region: social inclusion,...
Expedia Group Unifying Its Loyalty Programs
With over 145 million members across its current and separate rewards programs, Expedia Group already has one of the largest loyalty platforms in the world. Now, the company is unveiling plans to unify and expand the offering to include all brands and products so Expedia Group customers can soon enjoy the most complete travel rewards offering in the industry. The program will consist of unique member pricing discounts and the ability to earn and redeem rewards across all Expedia Group brands, such as Expedia, Vrbo, Hotels.com, Travelocity, and Orbitz. The new program will...
Saint Lucia Welcomes Return Of Canadian Airlines
Saint Lucia is welcoming back Canadian airlines this fall/winter season with new nonstop service to the island. The first flight after nine months returns on Oct. 3 with Air Canada, following the cancellation of all flights to the Caribbean earlier this year amid the Covid-19 pandemic. The new air schedule coincides with the loosening of travel restrictions in Canada, permitting fully vaccinated international arrivals to enter the country as of September 7 for non-essential travel, and removing the hotel quarantine requirements upon arrival. Air Canada will resume nonstop...
Promises Made Must Be Promises Kept
While ACTA indicates that it’s ‘looks forward to working’ with the newly elected federal government, it is also making it clear that it plans to hold the Liberal’s to the promises that they made in their election platform to introduce a new wage and rent subsidy program for hardest-hit tourism businesses who have experience a minimum 40% revenue loss, with benefits up to 75% to cover fixed costs between September 2020 and May 31, 2022. The industry association said that it was pleased to confirm prior to the election that travel agencies will be eligible for these...
Air Transat Takes Off To Portugal
Air Transat has resumed service to Portugal, operating its first flights between Canada and Portugal recently, following its temporary suspension of service as a result of the global pandemic. The carrier is now offering two direct flights per week from Montreal to Lisbon and from Toronto to Porto. Direct flights from Toronto to Faro are set to begin on Jan. 18, 2022. For more on Air Transat’s service to Portugal, go to Agent...
Tourism Australia Relaunches Specialist Program
Tourism Australia has relaunched the Aussie Specialist Program, making it easier for travel sellers around the world to gain the skills they need to better promote and sell Australia. Run in conjunction with Australia’s State and Territory Tourism Organisations, the Aussie Specialist Program has been given a new look and feel in its 32nd year and the new program has greater personalization, faster qualifying times, and shorter, more interactive training modules. Phillipa Harrison, managing director of Tourism Australia said the investment comes after many frontline travel sellers...