Destinations
GNTB Sees 2021 As A Year Of Transition
The German National Tourist Board (GNTB) is indicating that 2021 will be a transition year for German incoming tourism due to the Covid-19 pandemic; and expects a gradual recovery of international demand is likely to occur from 2021. Its forecast is based on currently available figures for 2020 and the analyses of different market research institutes. Petra Hedorfer, Chairwoman of the Executive Board for the German National Tourist Board (GNTB) said: “The COVID-19 pandemic and the resulting halt for many parts of worldwide tourism are mirrored in the results of German incoming...
Rocky Mountaineer Delays Canadian Start To June
Rocky Mountaineer offered an update on changes to its 2021 travel season in consideration of the continuing travel restrictions and uncertainty of when they will be lifted. The company said that it’s extending the inaugural season of its new route in the United States, Rockies to the Red Rocks, by four weeks, and delaying the start of its Canadian travel season until June 1, 2021. Peter Armstrong, founder and interim CEO, of Rocky Mountaineer, said that: “The travel landscape is almost unrecognizable from 17 months ago when we last operated our trains, and much uncertainty...
An Anniversary No One Wants To Celebrate
One year. I have been thinking about the passage of time. In those early days, it passed like a dripping tap … drip … drip … drip … we left our offices, closed our businesses, abandoned our daily routines and barricaded ourselves in our homes because we needed to stay away from each other. As we scurried to our safe place, we searched frantically for toilet paper, paper towels, antiseptic wipes, masks, gloves and other supplies that we bought in bulk, believing by doing so we'd be protected from something that couldn’t be seen, but we all knew was out there. At home,...
Digitalization Key To GNTB Recovery Strategy
The German National Tourist Board (GNTB) systematically capitalizes on digital instruments for an increased customer communication with their evidence-based recovery strategy for incoming tourism. Brand awareness and inspiration are the focal points. In different stages of their customer communication digital chances were consistently used by means of conversational interfaces, AI applications (e.g. chat bots), machine learning and predictive analysis, for empathy campaigns during the lockdown phases within international markets to digital events and workshops with the travel industry...
Vision Travel Unveils Enhanced ITA Programs
As part of its campaign to build its team of Independent travel advisors, the senior management of Direct Travel -- whose leisure arm in Canada is Vision Travel -- have launched their new ASCENT Program. Including professional development and mentoring, lead generation and collaboration, the program’s launch coincides with the recent recruitment of two highly respected individuals to the group’s senior management team: Joelle Goldman, formerly with Virtuoso, in the new role of Vice President, Host Services; and Nicole Goodheart, formerly with CWT Vacations, in the new role of...
Atout France Ramps Up Support Of Canadian Market
Travel to France from Canada may have come to a standstill for now, but Atout France is not slowing down its efforts to support the Canadian market. With a growing team, a specialist program in the pipeline and active trade engagement, Mélanie Paul-Hus, director of the tourism development agency of France in Canada, says the team is working hard to ensure the destination will be top of mind when international travel resumes. “We want Atout France to remain the main contact to create a network between our suppliers and our members. We have over 1,300 members from our industry in...
Big Adventure For Allure Of The Seas
Royal Caribbean International is bringing the heat to its 2022-2023 winter deployment with weeklong Caribbean itineraries that will inspire guests to adventure again. The cruise line will set a bold tone for the season, breaking its own Texas-sized record with one of the world’s largest ships homeporting in Galveston for the first time ever, starting in November 2022. The adventure-filled Allure of the Seas will spend the season sailing 7-night Western Caribbean itineraries from Royal Caribbean’s new state-of-the-art cruise terminal, which will begin construction in April...
Tightened Restrictions Challenge Industry
With the emergence of new variants of COVID-19, many governments have been prompted to reverse their efforts to ease travel restrictions, with one in three destinations worldwide now completely closed to international tourism, according to the latest data from the World Tourism Organization (UNWTO). The total closures to tourists are most prevalent in Asia and the Pacific and Europe. In the newly released UNWTO Travel Restrictions Report provides a comprehensive overview of the regulations in place in 217 destinations worldwide. While previous editions had shown a movement...