Destinations
Direct Toronto Flights Resume From Nanaimo Airport
Direct flights to Toronto are scheduled to resume on a limited basis in July at the Nanaimo Airport. The Air Canada flights are part of a measured reopening of the economy and will boost Vancouver Island’s vital tourism and hospitality sectors and make it easier for Islanders to visit and host family and friends from Eastern Canada via the Toronto Pearson International Airport. Dave Devana, president and CEO of Nanaimo Airport Commission, said: “Air Canada is a valued partner that supported Nanaimo Airport during the pandemic and continues to support us during reopening. We...
Vaccinations Restoring Confidence In US Travel
A rapidly progressing program aimed at vaccinating Americans against coronavirus is welcome news to the U.S. Department of Commerce, which is understandably eager to see the travel industry rebound from the devastating effects of the pandemic. Julie Heizer, deputy-director of the department's National Travel and Tourism Office, told a June 30 Brand USA webinar more than 179 million Americans have now received one vaccination dose and 57% of the population is now fully vaccinated, with vaccinations seen as key to restoring confidence in travel. Heizer reported that the number of...
It’s Time To Explore Canada
Jon Montgomery has been exploring Canada since the tender age of two months old when his family headed out on the open road from Russell, Manitoba to B.C. with an RV trailer attached to their van in the summer of 1979. “My interest in RVing was developed from the real formative age of two months old and I’ve been doing it ever since with my family and now with the family that my wife and I have created together,” Montgomery, the host of The Amazing Race Canada who now calls Victoria home, tells Travel Courier. “We very much enjoy getting out here on Vancouver Island as well as...
AmEx GBT Tech Solutions Drive Confidence
American Express Global Business Travel (GBT) has unveiled new features in its proprietary reporting and online booking solutions to help companies get back on the road. The enhancements will use information from post-trip traveller surveys, Travel Vitals, and GBT’s own set of travel data to help increase confidence in travel. Mark McSpadden, VP of Product Strategy at GBT observed: “Business trips are less predictable than before the pandemic. To best adapt their programs, travel managers are looking for new ways to get real insights into the traveler experience and deliver...
Are We Ready For Takeoff?
In its newly released “Recovery Insights: Ready For Takeoff?, Mastercard takes a look at some of the key trends in air and ground travel around the world. Developed by the Mastercard Economics Institute, the report draws on aggregated and anonymized sales activity across the global Mastercard network to better understand the next phase for travel, its drivers and challenges. This includes the balance between leisure and business, local and long distance, and saving and spending; and it also looks at the spending categories seeing an uptick and what they signal for travel...
EU Adds Canada To Its List
After reviewing its recommendations for the gradual lifting of temporary restrictions on non-essential travel into the EU, the Council of the European Union has updated the list of countries, special administrative regions and other entities and territorial authorities for which travel restrictions should be lifted. As a result of that review, Canada, along with nine other countries, has been added to that list and based on the criteria and conditions set out in the recommendation, as of July 1, 2021, member states should gradually lift the travel restrictions at the external borders...
Porter Signs Loan Deal With Federal Government
The parent company of Porter Airlines -- Porter Aviation Holdings Inc. -- has reached an agreement with the Canadian government for loans of up to $270.5 million. That amount includes $20.5 million for additional reimbursements for passengers on flights canceled during the COVID-19 pandemic. Porter’s president and CEO, Michael Deluce said: “Porter is using this money primarily as a capital reserve during the recovery period from the pandemic.” Deluce explained: “We intend to draw on these funds as needed to support the recovery of operations during an uncertain period of...
Five Booking Trends Driving Upcoming Travel
With borders reopening and vaccination rates increasing daily, luxury travel company Abercrombie & Kent is witnessing the great comeback for international travel — especially among American travellers, writes managing editor, Ann Ruppenstein in the latest issue of Canadian Travel Press. “People are happiest during that planning phase because ultimately it gives them something to look forward to,” says Stefanie Schmudde, VP Product Development & Operations, A&K. “I think everybody coming out of this is looking for that sense of normal, looking for that sense of...