Destinations
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...
Air Canada Picks AmEx GBT
American Express Global Business Travel (GBT) has signed an agreement with Air Canada to become the carrier’s employee global travel booking tool and travel management provider. Effective June 28, 2021 GBT will support the carrier’s employee corporate hotel accommodation and ground transportation bookings. The relationship will also extend to hotel consulting, and meetings and events (M&E). Neo, GBT’s proprietary online booking platform was a key factor in Air Canada’s decision to select GBT. Patrick Doyle, Vice President and General Manager at GBT Canada, said: “We...
Save The Summer
Major Toronto-area attractions – all members of the Canadian Travel & Tourism Roundtable – were out in force yesterday (June 29) to call on the federal government to release a comprehensive reopening plan for the industry or risk putting the summer travel season in jeopardy for the second consecutive year. In fact, the group made it pretty clear that without immediate action, many Toronto attractions are in danger of permanent closure. Analysis by Destination Toronto revealed that the City of Toronto lost out on more than $8 billion in economy activity through visitor...
Experience Russia With Emerald Cruises In 2022
Emerald Cruises is offering two itineraries on the Volga River, between St. Petersburg and Moscow and for travellers who book the 2022 Russia sailing by Dec. 31, 2021, they’ll receive a choice of free, round trip air to Russia, or a savings of CDN$2,200 per couple off the cost of the sailing. The 11-day Imperial Charms of Russia river cruise onboard the chartered MS Nizhny Novgorod is priced from CDN$6,795. Emerald Cruises also offers a 12-day alternative of the above itinerary that is priced from CDN$7,195 CAD per person. For more, go to www.emeraldcruises.ca...