Destinations
Aeroplan, Rocky Mountaineer Team Up
Air Canada has announced that Aeroplan members can now earn and redeem points – along with enjoying premium benefits -- when booking rail trips with Rocky Mountaineer. The new partnership with Rocky Mountaineer allows Aeroplan members to earn up to 20,000 bonus points for each eligible traveller booked with the scenic rail company. Mark Nasr, senior vice president, products, marketing and eCommerce, Air Canada, said: “While spectacular from 30,000 feet above, the Rocky Mountains are even more breathtaking from the ground. Air Canada is pleased to offer Aeroplan members an...
TICO Board Approves Fund Claims
TICO’s Board of Directors approved four claims protecting five consumers against Gideon Travel & Tours Ltd. for a total amount of $2,250 0n May 25, 2021. The consumers did not receive the travel services for which they had paid. Gideon Travel & Tours’ registration was terminated on October 5, 2020. Go to www.tico.ca for...
Recovery, Rebuilding On The Agenda For Britain
To mark English Tourism Week, VisitBritain/VisitEngland hosted its annual review event in London this week, setting out its priorities to support the sector in its recovery and rebuilding. During the ‘hybrid’ virtual and in-person event, VisitBritain’s outlined its latest forecasts which show a slow recovery with domestic tourism spending estimated this year at £51.4 billion, just over half of the £91.6 billion in 2019. Last year alone saw about two-thirds of the value wiped off the domestic tourism industry, a £58 billion loss to the economy. The forecast for inbound...
A Responsible Path Forward
WestJet and the National Airlines Council of Canada (NACC) are both welcoming the findings outlined in the Health Canada Testing and Screening Expert Advisory Panel in the Border Measures Report that was released yesterday (May 27). Ed Sims, WestJet’s president and CEO, said following the report’s release: “Over the past 15 months, WestJet has been requesting science-based travel guidance and this report represents a responsible path forward.” Sims continued: “These findings are evidence-based recommendations that are proportionate and reduce risks. We ask that the...
Smile: Ireland Moves Closer To Reopening
With the announcement that it will adopt the European Union’s Digital COVID Certificate, Ireland has moved another step closer to reopening and, not surprisingly, Tourism Ireland is in a celebratory mood as it prepares to roll out the green carpet to welcome international visitors. Ireland’s adoption of the EU’s Digital COVID Certificate will enable more seamless travel among EU member states and is definitely good news for everyone in the tourism and hospitality industry. The country will launch the initiative on July 19, meaning that travellers from EU member states...
Going Beyond At Travel Agent Appreciation 2021
It was a day of appreciation and celebration as the Canadian travel industry gathered for the inaugural Travel Agent Appreciation virtual event hosted by Baxter Media and Voyzant. The event’s centrepiece was the presentation of the first annual Travel Agent and Beyond award. It wasn’t an easy choice considering the talent and dedication of the 18 agent nominees (all of them featured in the 2021 Travel Agent Appreciation issue) who were in the spotlight during the May 27 virtual Awards Ceremony. The winner of the 2021 Travel Agent and Beyond Award was Shalene Dudley of Latitude...
Celebrate National Indigenous History Month
Indigenous Tourism BC (ITBC) will be hosting a series of free virtual workshops celebrating National Indigenous History Month (June 2021) and National Indigenous Peoples Day (June 21, 2021), in partnership with Destination BC and sponsored by Daily Hive. The workshops provide an opportunity for people everywhere to learn about Indigenous cultures, history and tourism in BC; with the workshops being anchored by themes of food and beverage, arts and culture, and wellness. National Indigenous History Month was introduced in June 2009 as a way to educate, connect and promote...
Wiped Out
In its annual Economic Impact Report (EIR), the World Travel & Tourism Council reveals the dramatic impact COVID-19 has had on the Caribbean’s travel and tourism sector, wiping out $33.9 billion from the region’s economy. The newly released report shows that in the Caribbean, the sector’s contribution to GDP dropped a staggering 58% -- higher than the global average. Travel and tourism’s impact on the region’s GDP fell from USD$58.4 billion (14.1%) in 2019, to USD$24.5 billion (6.4%), just 12 months later, in 2020. The year of damaging travel restrictions...