Destinations
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...
St. Kitts and Nevis’ List Now Includes Mixed Vaccination
St. Kitts and Nevis has updated its vaccination information for international travellers and Canadians who have taken mixed vaccine two-dose regimens using World Health Organization (WHO) approved vaccines, will be considered fully vaccinated. The Ministry of Health states that Canadians who received their first dose of an mRNA vaccine followed by a second dose of different brand of mRNA vaccine, as well as those who received a viral vector vaccine such as AstraZeneca/COVISHIELD followed by an mRNA vaccine, will be considered Fully Vaccinated by The Federation. WHO approved...
VFR Will Drive The Recovery
After a year of lockdowns, GlobalData says that the desire to reconnect with family and friends is likely to be greater than a leisure getaway in 2021 and, as a result, the power that VFR will play in the recovery of travel shouldn’t be underestimated. Johanna Bonhill-Smith, travel & tourism analyst at GlobalData, observed that: “GlobalData’s forecasts suggest that visiting friends and relatives (VFR) travel will experience higher growth, with a 17% compound annual growth rate (CAGR) between 2021-25, compared to leisure, growing at a 16.4% increase between the same time...
Aeroplan, LCBO Launch New Loyalty Partnership
Aeroplan and the LCBO have announced a new strategic partnership allowing Aeroplan members to earn points when shopping at LCBO stores across Ontario. The new partnership is expected to launch in late 2021. Mark Nasr, Senior Vice President, Products, Marketing and eCommerce at Air Canada, said: “We're thrilled to come together with the LCBO to offer our members a new way to earn and redeem Aeroplan points in Ontario. When we relaunched Aeroplan last year, we made a commitment to earn our way into consumer's everyday lives. Marquee partnerships like the LCBO and other...
Shift And Reset
In an exclusive conversation with CTP’s executive editor, Bob Mowat, the president and CEO of the Hawai‘i Tourism Authority, John De Fries relates the destination’s COVID-19 story. While the pandemic had far-reaching effects on the industry, it also provided De Fries and the industry an opportunity to shift and reset the role of Hawai‘i tourism and put it on a path to effect positive change. De Fries observed that: “Like everywhere else in the world, the global COVID-19 pandemic had far-reaching effects. Tourism, Hawai‘i’s number one industry, was brought to a standstill...
IMPACT Conference Back In January 2022
The IMPACT Sustainability Travel & Tourism Conference is set for Victoria, BC from Jan. 23 to Jan. 26, 2022; with registration opening on Sept. 15, 2021. It also announced that the Indigenous Tourism Association of Canada, Tourism Research Association of Canada are once again co-hosting the conference, while favourite speakers Elizabeth Becker, Wade Davis, Keith Henry, and Bob Sandford will attend the event in person. Synergy’s Jill Doucette, IMPACT co-founder, said: “Like so many tourism destinations and businesses, we had to pause everything and reimagine our own business...
Porter Mandates Vaccinations, Testing For Staff
Porter Airlines’ new COVID-19 Vaccination Policy will require its team members to be fully vaccinated or present a negative COVID-19 test administered within 72 hours of the start of their shift. The new policy aligns with Porter’s restart of service on Sept. 8, 2021 and is designed, the carriers says, “to support a safe and healthy workplace for employees and passengers.” Following the federal government’s recent announcement of its intention to mandate vaccination for federally-regulated employers and workers, Porter has become the first Canadian airline committed to...
ACITA Pushes Back On Liberal Support Plan
While a number of industry groups welcomed Justin Trudeau's announcement that support programs would be extended into 2022 if a Liberal government was re-elected, the Association of Canadian Independent Travel Advisors’ (ACITA) Judith Coates observed that: “For independent travel advisors, hearing Trudeau pledge support is much like hearing him say over the past 17 months ‘We've got your back.’” Coates pointed out that although the “tourism industry in Canada is starting to bounce back, with travel restrictions still in place -- and changing every day -- [independent]...