Destinations
Brand USA hosts first Canada Connect show in Toronto
Brand USA kicked off the first of its sold-out segment of the 2024 Canada Connect show in Toronto on June 4. Welcoming 35 delegates from across the U.S. and approximately 100 trade partners, the Toronto show was the first of three events by Brand USA Canada. The company anticipates another 130 agents at its Canada Connect in Montreal on June 5, followed by 74 attendees at its Calgary show on June 6. During the event, attendees had the opportunity to network throughout the day in a series of eight-minute face-to-face sessions, learning about in-destination news and updates, as well...
Air Canada expands service to India for winter 2024/2025
Air Canada has announced the strategic expansion of its international network to India, adding 40 per cent more seat capacity beginning late October for the winter 2024-25 season. Highlights of the carrier's new services include the only non-stop flights from Canada to India's financial capital, Mumbai, improved service from Western Canada to Delhi with the introduction of new seasonal daily flights over London Heathrow and daily flights from Montreal to Delhi. In total, Air Canada will operate 25 weekly flights to India, the most comprehensive offering of any carrier between Canada...
Icelandair’s non-stop summer flights from Halifax return
Icelandair has reintroduced non-stop summer seasonal flights between Halifax and Reykjavik. Non-stop summer service will fly three times weekly between Halifax Stanfield and Reykjavik via Iceland’s Keflavik International Airport (KEF) on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays, now through Oct. 14, 2024. “It’s fantastic to see this flight launch today as we know many travellers across the Atlantic Region are excited to see Icelandair flying again at Halifax Stanfield," said Joyce Carter, president and CEO, HIAA. “We appreciate Icelandair’s investment in our market. This service...
AmaWaterways announces two new river ships for 2026
AmaWaterways has announced two new river ships launching in 2026: AmaKaia joins AmaDara on the Mekong River and AmaSofia will sail Europe’s Rhine and Danube Rivers. With an expected launch date of May 24, 2026, AmaSofia will be the award-winning cruise line’s 24th ship to sail on Europe’s most popular rivers. AmaSofia’s inaugural 14-night itinerary, aptly named Magnificent Europe, follows the route of emperors, kings and queens as it journeys between Amsterdam and Budapest. About the river cruises Guests will sail on three rivers through four countries on an immersive...
WestJet’s year-round Calgary-Tokyo service starts in October
Westjet has announced the introduction of year-round flights from Calgary (YYC) to Tokyo (NRT). Set to start on Oct. 27, 2024, the new schedule will include three weekly direct flights. Thanks to a codeshare agreement with Japan Airlines, travellers with WestJet will also gain exclusive access to seven additional destinations beyond Tokyo. This expanded connectivity marks a major milestone for the Japan National Tourist Office (JNTO) as they commit to enhancing Canadian accessibility to Japan. “I am so pleased that Westjet has made the decision to expand their service to Japan....
Canadian visits to Britain pass 1M for the first time ever
More Canadians are visiting Britain – and spending – than ever before, according to the latest official statistics highlighted by Britain’s national tourism agency, VisitBritain. Canada’s appetite for travel to Britain is surging with more than 1 million Canadian (1,003,000) visits in 2023, up 12 per cent over 2022 and an increase of 15 per cent since 2019, the year before the pandemic. Canadian visits have also delivered a record spend of £970 million pounds ($1.7 billion CAD), up four per cent from 2022 and an increase of 32 per cent since 2019, according to data released...
Agents honoured at Sandals’ 19th annual STAR awards
More than 400 travel advisors recently attended a weeklong celebration at Sandals St. Vincent and the Grenadines for the 19th edition of the Sandals Travel Advisor Recognition (STAR) Awards. Sandals Resorts International Executive Chairman, Adam Stewart, captured the sentiment of the week addressing attending travel advisors: “We’ve always put our money on the horse that is the travel advisor community. This goes as far back as 1981 — when my father started this company. The best bet in the world is to bet on the most powerful distribution means in the entire tourism ecosystem –...
St. Lucia & Bahamas recognized for resiliency at Marketplace
Saint Lucia and The Bahamas were named the recipients of this year’s Caribbean Destination Resilience Award during the 42nd Caribbean Travel Marketplace taking place this week in Montego Bay, Jamaica. “These awards are aimed at recognizing destinations with a deliberate focus on resiliency as indicated by their commitments to address some or all of the UNWTO’s 17 Sustainable Development Goals,” said Vanessa Ledesma, acting CEO and director general of the Caribbean Hotel and Tourism Association. “Special emphasis is placed on recognizing destinations with a collaborative and...