Destinations
Finding Paradise
“In the cottages, there’s no WiFi, there’s no TV. There’s minimal technology – only a Bose sound dock for music and a Nespresso coffee machine. That’s it,” General Manager Matthew Semark explains upon arrival at Petit St. Vincent Private Island, a 115-acre tropical oasis in the southern tip of The Grenadines. Free of telephones and room keys, each of the 22 one-bedroom cottages and two-bedroom beach villas rely instead on a flag pole system to communicate with staff, writes assistant editor, Ann Ruppenstein in this week's Travel Courier cover story. “When guests are...
Halifax Welcomes Back American Airlines
American Airlines has re-introduced service from Halifax to Philadelphia. The non-stop service allows American travellers to easily visit the Maritimes, while offering Maritimers an opportunity to access all that Philadelphia and its connecting cities have to offer. “We’re happy to have American Airlines back in Halifax, serving our region once again,” said Joyce Carter, president and CEO, Halifax International Airport Authority (HIAA). “Having destinations like Philadelphia and New York LaGuardia... provides more options for travellers, with the added benefit of boosting...
Club Med Celebrates in Canada
On June 14, dignitaries, partners and industry professionals gathered to lay the official first stone for Canada’s inaugural Club Med resort, Club Med Québec Charlevoix. Notable attendees included the Minister of Tourism of Quebec, Caroline Proulx; President of Club Med, Henri Giscard d’Estaing; and chairman of the board of directors of Groupe Le Massif, Daniel Gauthier, to help mark this momentous development in Canadian travel and tourism. Club Med has announced Dec. 5, 2020 as the official opening date for the sole waterfront mountain resort of the pioneering brand. It will...
A New Story Unfolds
While Sarain Fox may have a new title – she’s now a partner – with the TreadRight Foundation, as she sees it, all it does is “just expands some of the work that I can do in a more official way and broadens the scope of our relationship – the possibilities of the projects that we can be involved in together and how I can advocate from the TreadRight side as well now, especially in [the area of the TreadRight Foundation’s] People pillar.” The People pillar is one of three pillars defining the TreadRight Foundation’s activities around the world. The others include the...
SLH Expands European Portfolio
Small Luxury Hotels of the World’s (SLH) three latest hotel joiners are the epitome of European elegance. Indulge in a curated art hotel in the heart of Vienna, relax in a 15th century villa set amongst the rolling hills of the Tuscan countryside, or choose a Roman holiday fit for wine or culture aficionados. Hotel Das Tyrol, Vienna, Austria Following an extensive refurbishment, the 30-room Hotel Das Tyrol is an elegant hotel that puts you at the heart of the action in Vienna. The walls of this luxury boutique hotel are adorned by an impressive collection of original Viennese...
Spotlight on ‘Authentic’ Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland officials are touting its festive present without sugarcoating its sometimes violent past. Richard Wakely, director of fall's Belfast International Arts Festival, said during a Friday Toronto visit that the secretarian violence that plagued Northern Ireland for much of the 20th century is over and those visiting Belfast today will find a flourishing cultural scene. “The city has changed beyond all recognition,” he said. “It's an astonishing turnaround.” The Belfast International Arts Festival – which Wakely labelled the “granddaddy” of Belfast's...
Saint Lucia Hotels Offer Summer Savings
More than 20 hotels in Saint Lucia are offering up to 60% off rates this summer, giving vacationers extra incentive to make the most of their summer travel season. From intimate inns to luxury resorts, attractive rates are being offered by hotels that cater to families, couples, wellness enthusiasts and more. The Saint Lucia Tourism Authority has created a Summer Specials promotional page with details about all hotel offers, which can be found on https://www.StLucia.org and clicking “Specials,” or going directly to https://www.StLucia.org/specials/Summer-Specials. Butler...
Agents’ Choice: Two Decades Of Tracking Trends
For 20 years, Baxter Media has worked diligently to make the Annual Agents’ Choice Readership Survey the most-trusted and authoritative travel industry poll in Canada. And the result, Canadian travel agents have made it their own, voting for their favourite suppliers in growing numbers, year-after-year. Over two decades, we've learned a lot by listening to agents across the country because, no matter how you slice it, Agents' Choice is their survey. It's our way of giving them an opportunity to let suppliers know how well they're doing from one year to the next. So here it...