Destinations
Martinique Ready To Welcome The World, Virtually
The Martinique Tourism Authority is gearing up to welcome the international travel trade to the Martinique Travel Show that is set for May 18 to May 20. The welcome will be virtual, of course, with the event being attended by tour operators, travel agents and other members of the international travel trade. There will be one-on-one meetings for delegates and exhibitors; the ability to create personal avatars for in-person meetings or drop-ins at virtual booths; and there will be a chance to visit four virtual worlds. About 50 exhibitors are expected to participate at the...
TICO Looking For CIAC Nominations
The Travel Industry Council of Ontario (TICO) is looking for nominations – from consumers and from the travel industry – to form a new advisory committee reporting to TICO’s Board of Directors (Board). The Consumer and Industry Advisory Committee (CIAC) will provide advice on proposed new initiatives, broad policy matters, innovation and/or other changes that impact the travel marketplace, whether leisure or business focused. TICO’s board has recently approved a Terms of Reference for the CIAC and they are available at...
Opportunity Awaits The Atlantic Provinces
The Atlantic provinces should look across the ocean when seeking ways to attract more foreign visitors, a Thursday McGill University webinar on tourism in that part of the country was told. Webinar viewers were told that Canada hosted over 22 million foreign tourists in 2019 but only a relatively small percentage -- around 1.5 million -- of them visited the Atlantic provinces. "The numbers seem a little bit low," said Gavin Eccles, a Lisbon-based tourism and aviation consultant, who noted there was a time when those visiting Spain overwhelmingly headed for its beaches, largely...
Uniglobe Carefree Launches New Host Agency
Uniglobe Carefree Travel is entering the host agency business, following its recent acquisition of Uniglobe LGI Travel and through the launch of its new division, Carefree Connections. Carefree Connections is a full-service host agency designed to provide independent travel advisors and agencies with the model, systems, and support to succeed in today’s challenging travel environment. The Carefree Connections program offers a tailored approach to deliver value in technology & automation, training, support & care, revenue, accounting, marketing and more. This enables...
Agents Can Win In Cuba Photo Contest
The Cuba Tourist Board is celebrating Travel Agent’s Day and honoring the hard work and dedication of the Canadian travel advisors with a photo contest. Lessner Gomez, director of the Cuba Tourist Board in Toronto, is inviting all Canadian travel advisors to share their favorite memories of Cuba and enter a photography contest for a chance to win a trip to Cuba and other amazing prizes courtesy of Iberostar Hotels and the Gaviota Group. “To pay tribute to our travel partners for their continued support we are organizing this exciting competition. There is no better time to go...
Anguilla Updates Visitors On Protocols
Anguilla has updated its COVID-19 Exit Strategy with changes including a series of revised entry protocols, some of which will become effective immediately, while others will be introduced in phases over the coming months. The island’s Minister of Tourism, Haydn Hughes explained: “We recognize that the widespread distribution and administration of vaccine programs in our major source markets as well as here in Anguilla have profound implications for our tourism industry.” The Minister continued: “As more people become vaccinated, and new infections begin to plateau, we...
Tauck Restarting U.S. Tours By July 1
In an email to guests and travel advisors, Tauck CEO Dan Mahar revealed that Tauck plans to fully restart its U.S. tours by July 1. Mahar advised that Tauck’s “Southern Charms: Savannah, Hilton Head and Charleston” itinerary have already begun operating, to be followed this month by “New Orleans & Mississippi River Country,” with other popular tours across the country relaunching in the coming months. Guests and travel advisors can access information on specific tour departures at a new Open for Travel page on Tauck’s website. Along with providing several...
Our Survival Is At Stake
Frightening. A newly released ACTA survey reveals that a ‘staggering’ 75% of the industry will not survive if financial aid programs are not continued until the end of 2021 or until 90 days after travel restrictions are lifted. The survey of travel agents, ITAs and travel agencies was conducted by ACTA in April. ACTA president, Wendy Paradis said: “With the federal budget being tabled on April 19, 2021, we need to let the government know how critical the situation is for travel agencies, travel agents and independent travel agents, citing specific data from our...