Destinations
Tracking The Trends
The Conference Board of Canada has released its Outbound Canada update on Canadian outbound travel activity, revealing that Canadians made almost 9 million outbound overnight trips in 2020 compared to 33 million in 2019. The update reported that total overnight trips fell 73% during the year with overseas activity down by two-thirds (-67%) and transborder trips declining by more than three-quarters (-77%). Eighty-eight per cent of activity took place in the first quarter, before the pandemic was declared and restrictions and health measures were implemented. United...
Rocky Mountaineer Extends Its Offer
Rocky Mountaineer is extending its Canadian Resident Offer and travel agent incentive program through March 26 to entice travellers to book Canadian trips this year. Canadian travel agents who make three new Rocky Mountaineer bookings for Canadian residents to travel in 2021 will receive a complimentary vacation package for their own travel. The complimentary Classic Rail package is a four- to five-day package, which includes two- to three-days onboard the train and overnight accommodations, valued at up to $4,479. For more, go to Rocky Mountaineer’s agent portal. In...
Love Is In The Air At From The Bahamas With Love
Describing the travel trade and destination wedding specialists as the “custodians of this niche market,” Dionisio D'Aguilar, Minister of Tourism & Aviation welcomed attendees to the From The Bahamas With Love virtual romance and wedding expo yesterday (March 2). With day one of a two day event dedicated exclusively to trade professionals, The Bahamas highlighted how important travel agents are to the destination. The informative day was filled with panel discussions on topics ranging from how hotels and resorts are adapting in response to the global pandemic to the changing...
March Into Dublin: A St. Patrick’s Day Celebration
Baxter Media invites all travel professionals to attend an exciting and informative webinar with Tourism Ireland next Wednesday (March 10) at 2 p.m. (EST). On March 17, the island of Ireland thrums with energy and excitement for St Patrick’s Day. But it’s not just us – the whole world goes green to celebrate, so pin on that shamrock and join in this virtual event that explores Dublin’s fair city hosted by Tourism Ireland and friends. Participants who tune in for the entire duration of the webinar will have a chance to win some great prizes, like a box of luxury Irish...
Royal Caribbean Says Shalom, Israel
Israeli holidaymakers will set a new course for adventure this summer when Royal Caribbean International begins sailing from Israel for the first time in May. The cruise line will offer Israelis a combination of 3- to 7-night escapes visiting the Greek Isles and Cyprus on board its highly anticipated, brand-new ship, Odyssey of the Seas. The new sailings will go on sale on Tuesday, March 9. The itineraries, roundtrip from Haifa, Israel, will include visits to idyllic isles and destinations in the Mediterranean, including Rhodes, Santorini, Mykonos and Athens, Greece and Limassol,...
Discover Canada With Sunwing
For the 16th consecutive year, Sunwing is making it easier for Canadians to reconnect with loved ones this summer with the launch of its domestic summer program. Flights will commence in May and run weekly until the beginning of September, with weekly routes to some of Canada’s most popular destinations. And to help customers make the most of their travel budget, the tour operator is offering savings of up to $200 per couple on domestic flights. Andrew Dawson, president of tour operations for Sunwing, said: “With lots of Canadians staying closer to home this spring and...
Finding A Way Forward
Using the overused buzzword of the past year as an example, the pandemic has brought unprecedented challenges and turmoil to the travel industry. Travel advisors are struggling, tour operators aren't operating, airlines are cutting routes and would-be travellers are staying home amidst lockdowns and new hotel quarantine measures. So, it makes sense to avoid getting into the industry, right? In anticipation of a brighter future, Travel Courier caught up with several businesses who have expanded or launched new travel-focused companies during these trying times, as well as an...
A New Way To See Europe From G Adventures
G Adventures is challenging stereotypes around some of Europe’s most popular holiday spots with the launch of 15 new Active tours designed to support local communities through community tourism, and to show travellers an alternative side of typically ‘mass market’ vacation destinations, as and when it comes time for them to ‘retravel’. To provide an added incentive to book now for travel later, during the month of March all trips in the adventure operator’s ‘Active’ travel style will have 15% off for trips departing up to June 30, 2022, including this new...