Destinations
Insight Looks Ahead To 2021 With Wander Women Journeys
Coinciding with International Women’s Day, Insight Vacations announced the launch of its new Wander Women program dedicated to female travellers, writes managing editor, Ann Ruppenstein in this week's issue of Travel Courier. The inaugural itinerary, Inspirational India, A Wander Women Journey, is not only for women, but designed by women, run by women and provides economic empowerment to women. “With 57% of our guests being women along with the rise of women’s-only travel, our new journey makes it a perfect fit for those who want to get below the surface and experience India...
The Biggest Danger Is ‘The Lockdown Paradox’
The main risk to the global economy in general and travel and tourism in particular from COVID-19 is not contagion or mortality but rather it stems from the actions that national and local authorities have taken to curb the outbreak – actions that have been dubbed “the lockdown paradox,” reports Quebec editor, Mike Dunbar in this week's issue of Canadian Travel Press. That was the analysis shared by Tourism Economics president Adam Sacks during an online COVID-19 update organized by Visit California and attended by some 1,200 listeners. Sacks explained, “As the coronavirus...
Tremblant Unveils $8.8 M Expansion Plans
Quebec's Tremblant has announced a new $8.8 million investment to open a new summit called Timber, create a new beginner area on Versant Soleil and carry out infrastructure maintenance work. With a growing demand for easy runs, $1.4 million will go toward a new beginner area at the base of Versant Soleil. Several maintenance projects representing $5.4 million will also be carried out on the ski lifts and buildings, including the renovation of the washrooms next to Café Johannsen. To prepare for the opening of the new Timber Summit for the 2021-22 winter, $2 million will be dedicated...
Rocky Mountaineer Delays Season
Rocky Mountaineer is delaying the start of its next season from April 13 through to the end of April in response to COVID-19. Guests on suspended departures will receive a credit valued at 110% of their original booking to be used for travel by the end of the 2022 season. “Along with the rest of the tourism industry, we have been watching the immeasurable global impact of COVID-19,” said Steve Sammut, president and chief executive officer of Rocky Mountaineer. “These are challenging times for the world and, while we were hopeful for the start of this season, we have no choice...
A Cry For Help
The Tourism Industry Association of British Columbia (TIABC) is calling for government intervention to prevent “a complete collapse of the visitor economy” as a result of the “COVID-19 crisis.” The industry association said that with the massive cancellations that include flights, hotel bookings, conferences, events and closures of major resorts such as Whistler-Blackcomb, Silver Star and others, losses amount to hundreds of millions of dollars already and will soon represent billions of dollars unless senior governments provide some form of financial relief to help businesses...
COVID-19 Update: A Message From Ontario Registrar
Ontario Registrar Has A Message On COVID-19 In a message to Ontario travel industry registrants, TICO CEO and registrar, Richard Smart writes: “These are unprecedented and dire times for travellers and the entire travel industry. Our hearts and thoughts go out to the people who have been affected by this unparalleled event and we appreciate the healthcare workers, local communities and governments around the world who are on the front-lines working to contain the coronavirus/COVID-19.” Smart continues: “For our registrants, we acknowledge the extreme challenges underway for...
Stardust Letters Re-Lamped and On Display
The monumental Stardust letters – one of Las Vegas' Neon Museum’s most iconic Neon Boneyard sign exhibits – have been re-lamped and are now illuminated daily. These letters join the growing number of restored and illuminated Las Vegas neon signs on display in the Boneyard. To re-lamp the eight letters, which range in height from 14 to 18 feet, Hartlauer Signs used more than 1,100 energy-efficient, three-watt cold cathode compact fluorescent (CCFL) bulbs. Their original location on the building and the year they were put on it are currently unknown. The sign originally used...
Rendez-vous Canada 2020 Cancelled
Rendez-vous Canada 2020 has been cancelled. In a message to the industry, posted on the Rendez-vous Canada website, Destination Canada's chair, Ben Cowan-Dewar and the Tourism Industry Association of Canada's president and CEO, Charlotte Bell, write: “We know these are difficult times within the tourism sector. We know there is a lot of uncertainty around what our world will look like next month, next week, and even tomorrow. On behalf of Destination Canada and the Tourism Industry Association of Canada we are writing to assure you that we are in this together as we face...