Destinations
Europe: It’s All About The Experience
About 40 airline and tour operator executives and 70 top travel agency representatives were hosted by the European Travel Commission (ETC) in Toronto last night and briefed on the organization's new Horizon 2022 strategy that moves the region away from its traditional generic (and geographic) approach to one that emphasizes the opportunities to explore its natural wonders, discover its cities and its immerse oneself in its history and culture. Or more simply put, make Europe all about the experiences that today's travellers are seeking. On hand for the presentations was Miguel...
Goway Expands Central, South America Program
Goway Travel has released its 2020/21 Central & South America Travel Planner highlighted by an expanded variety of products. Goway’s travel module formula lets holiday planners combine city stopovers with Central & South America’s big-name attractions and boutique travel ideas, from Mexico to Patagonia and beyond. The program features itinerary choices from three- to five-star levels, train journeys, a wide choice of boutique cruising options in the Galapagos, the Amazon, or the Panama Canal, customizable itineraries to set-date small group departures. New for 2020, is...
France Shows Off Its ‘Savoir Faire’
From the French Alps to the beaches of Martinique, France was well represented last night (Nov. 6) during an Atout France gathering in Toronto. Special guest Tudor Alexis, the new consul general for France, was on hand and noted that Canada is an important market for France and one that sees travellers that tend to stay a long time, an average of 10 nights. He said Canadians also tend to explore the country and “see more than Paris.” The focus of the night was on all that France has to offer, including history, culture and world-class gastronomy with the theme based around the...
Jamaica Is Hot With Canadian Agents
The Jamaica Tourist Board (JTB) just wrapped up a month-long roadtrip across Canada to update agents in Saskatoon, Regina, Lethbridge, Edmonton, Calgary, Toronto, Ottawa and Montreal on what the popular Caribbean destination had on offer this winter. The seminars provide agents loads of information on Canadian flights to Jamaica, new product offerings (on-island events, festivals and popular island excursions), as well as details on hotel debuts, renovations and expansions. Agents also had the opportunity to meet with industry experts such as tour operators, airline partners and...
It’s All About Win-Win-Win For TTAND
The Travel Agent Next Door (TTAND) welcomed close to 120 representatives from its preferred supplier partner companies to its 5th Annual Supplier Appreciation event at Toronto's Fairmont Royal York last night. The evening was all about thanking those suppliers for the support that they've given to the home-based agency group since its launch five and a half years ago as well as to update those suppliers on all of the things going on at TTAND these days. In his welcome, TTAND founder, Flemming Friisdahl told his audience that the agency group remains true to its mission of providing...
California Open for Business
Tourism officials in California are letting agents and their clients know that the state’s tourism industry remains largely unscathed from the wildfires that broke out over the past two weeks. Fires are nearing containment, and weather forecasts are favourable. The affected regions of Sonoma County and west Los Angeles are returning to business as usual and reassuring visitors and meeting planners that the regions are open and ready to welcome visitors. While fires of any size in populated areas are destructive, officials say California’s visitor experience remains intact....
Tourism Solomons, China Relationship Bodes Well
Tourism Solomons CEO, Josefa ‘Jo’ Tuamoto has expressed his hopes the country’s official friendship with China will act as a catalyst for increased growth within the key tourism sector. Speaking to Chinese media representatives in Honiara to follow the recent visit by a Chinese government mission, CEO Tuamoto said the advent of the new relationship with China offered a two-pronged opportunity. Firstly, he said, the development would signal a marked increase in profile for the Solomon Islands which hopefully will eventually lead to good numbers of Chinese visitors arriving in...
GTRCM Helps Out The Bahamas
Jamaica's Minister of Tourism, Hon Edmund Bartlett presented US$50,000 to the Director General of the Bahamas Tourism and Aviation Ministry, Mrs. Joy Jibrilu at the second Global Tourism Resilience and Crisis Management Centre (GTRCM) Board of Governors Meeting in London this week. The money, forms part of the overall relief fund established by the GTRCM to support tourism-ravaged economies impacted by disruptions such as natural disasters and pandemics. Hurricane Dorian, a Category 5 storm, hit the Bahamas last month as one of the most powerful Atlantic hurricanes to make landfall....