Destinations
The Return Of The Fam Trip
Want to know a creative way to spark inquiries and motivate clients to stop dreaming and lock in upcoming trips? Consider highlighting some of the special experiences and features that await on future vacations while going live on location from an idyllic Caribbean destination. That’s exactly what Clementina Iannuzzi of Dream Adventures with TTAND did while attending Sandals Resorts’ first Canadian FAM trip this week in Ocho Rios, Jamaica, and within the hour she already fielded promising requests for bookings. “The live on my Facebook page was very successful,” Iannuzzi...
A Critical Time For The Agency Business
ACTA says that it’s pleased with the announcement that as part of its election platform, the Liberals indicated that it they’re re-elected, they will provide hardest-hit businesses in the tourism sector – those with a minimum 40% revenue loss -- a new rent and wage subsidy at a maximum 75% rate from September 2021 – May 31, 2022 as part of the Liberal platform. The industry association has confirmed that travel agencies qualify as an eligible business under this proposed plan. Wendy Paradis, ACTA president, said that: “ACTA is pleased with this announcement, as these...
Go Back to School with Jamaica, Pinch Social
Are you ready to go back to school? Well, in a special edition of its Irie Hour tomorrow (Aug. 24), the Jamaica Tourist Board (JTB) has invited some special guests from Pinch Social to host a professional-development session designed specifically for Canadian travel specialists. With many retail advisors working in the digital space for the first time now, this custom social media marketing workshop will show agents how to use and optimize various social media platforms for their business to enhance their online presence, reach new clients, and achieve success in the new consumer...
U.S. Travel Reacts To Extended Border Restrictions
The U.S. Travel Association has reacted to the extension of border restrictions on Mexico and Canada through to Sept. 21, 2021. In a statement, USTA’s executive vice president of public affairs and policy, Tori Emerson Barnes said that: “Travel restrictions are no longer protecting us from the virus – vaccines are. Every day that our land borders remain closed delays America’s economic and jobs recovery, causing greater damage to the millions of people whose livelihoods depend on travel and tourism.” Emerson Barnes continued: “For each month the status quo continues at...
Industry Gathers For The ‘Social Event Of The Summer’
TravelOnly members are clearly willing to travel. TravelOnly agents Pat Probert and Mary de Almeida organized an Aug. 19 travel industry Toronto gathering that Probert notes drew TravelOnly members from far and wide. "Agents travelled from Ottawa, Sault Ste Marie, Windsor, London, St Catharines, Keswick and many other places … It was just amazing that they come from all over the province to be here," Probert reports. Indeed, a particularly prominent TravelOnly figure was on hand for the event and happy to make an appearance. "What a great time for so many in the travel...
WestJet Restarts Calgary-Paris Service
WestJet has restarted its non-stop route between Calgary and Paris using 787 Dreamliner aircraft. With the restart of service to Paris, WestJet becomes the airline serving the most European destinations, direct from its global hub in Calgary. WestJet introduced twice-weekly, non-stop, service between Calgary and Amsterdam on August 5 and is currently serving London (Gatwick) two times weekly, with both markets increasing to three-times weekly in September. John Weatherill, Chief Commercial Officer for WestJet, said: “We are thrilled to bring back this historic route between...
IATA Travel Pass Recognizes EU, UK Digital Certificates
IATA has announced that the EU Digital COVID Certificate (DCC) and UK NHS COVID Pass can now be uploaded into the IATA Travel Pass as verified proof of vaccination for travel. Travellers holding an EU DCC or UK NHS COVID Pass can now access accurate COVID-19 travel information for their journey, create an electronic version of their passport and import their vaccination certificate in one place. That information can be shared with airlines and border control authorities who can have the assurance that the certificate presented to them is genuine and belongs to the person presenting...
A Heavy Burden
Rosario (Ross) de Gregorio of Manditours International Inc. in Richmond Hill, Ontario is not happy with the Ontario government and is urging the industry to speak up about policies that are impacting travel agencies in the province. De Gregorio reports that last week Richmond Hill Travel, a successful applicant for the COVID-19 Small Business Support Grants, received the following message from [email protected]: “An audit of the program has now been completed. We regret to inform you that, despite your attestation, and after several reviews of your file, it has been...