Destinations
You #CantSkipPortugal
Coinciding with Travel Agent Day (May 1), William Delgado made a toast to the trade for their support at the Toronto stop of the Visit Portugal roadshow yesterday prior to showcasing how travellers #CantSkipPortugal. Notably, Canadian visits to Portugal were up by 16% in 2018 with 275,000 travellers, room nights increased by 17% to 738,000 and revenue increased by 21% to €321 million. “Canada has been a market that’s been increasing year over year. We’re almost at 750,000 room nights, and we’re very proud of the revenue, not because of the money but because it shows the...
New Brand For Stratosphere Signals Major Upgrade
The iconic Stratosphere Casino, Hotel & Tower in Las Vegas, notable for its sky-scraping profile in the city skyline, is now undergoing significant upgrades and changes under new owners. A rebranding of the property – to the STRAT Hotel, Casino and SkyPod – is the most obvious initial alteration. But the changes and improvements go much further than that. New owners Golden Entertainment took possession of the hotel late in 2017. Golden Entertainment began the transformation with a remodelling that started in mid-2018. For instance, in August The STRAT unveiled the...
Irish Castle Fit For A King… And Rock Stars!
Although Dromoland Castle, the former ancestral home of the O'Briens – who were direct descendants of the High King of Ireland in the 11th century – is steeped with history, the five-star hotel has undergone a refurbishment to the tune of €20 million. Over the years, the property has seen many notable guests, from Demi Moore and Bruce Willis to The Beatles, who had to escape from the premise while hiding in laundry baskets to avoid the masses gathered outside to catch a glimpse of the fab four. Even Edge and Bono of U2 unexpectedly crashed at the hotel during a snowstorm, even...
G Adventures On Sri Lanka
“Following the attacks in Sri Lanka on April 21, 2019, G Adventures can confirm all our travellers and staff in the country are safe and accounted for. All trips have been rerouted to avoid Colombo and our groups have been advised to exercise caution,” the company said in a statement. As a result of elevated travel warnings in a number of countries, the tour company has made the decision to cancel all departures in Sri Lanka up to and including April 30, 2019. Travellers have the option to transfer to an alternative tour, or to cancel their tour and receive a full refund. Our...
Accommodating New Zealand
New Zealand just keeps getting more accommodating. The destination recently reported the addition of several new accommodation offerings that provide travellers with some additional options on where to stay when visiting the destination. The new accommodation additions include: Auckland – Only the seventh SO/ hotel in existence around the world, the new five-star, 130-room SO/ Auckland is a hot hub of hospitality for visitors and locals. There are three bars including a rooftop bar with outdoor terrace and private booths enjoying uninterrupted views of Auckland Harbour. A...
The Dream Makers
These days travellers are looking for more from their vacations than simply seeing the sights. They want to be authentically immersed in the destination through experiences and local interactions. At the core, it's the people they encounter along the way who help shape their trip. In the same way, cultivating personal relationships is also key to the success of travel agents. Rather than a business transaction, it's about getting to know clients and being part of milestone moments like honeymoons and birthday celebrations or plans for a much-needed break from their day-to-day...
WestJet Strengthens Air France Codeshare
WestJet has expanded its codeshare relationship with Air France, giving travellers convenient access from Paris' Charles de Gaulle Airport (CDG) to seven cities in France, Italy and Greece. The enhanced partnership also provides greater access to Canada for travellers originating from these European points. Commenting on the move, WestJet's vice-president, network planning and alliances, Brian Znotins said: “WestJet's deepened codeshare relationship with Air France means guests of both airlines will now enjoy more opportunities to travel between the fantastic destinations in Canada and...
Specials, Spies And More At Jamaica’s Moon Palace
After months of speculation, it has been confirmed that the 25th installment of the James Bond spy series will be shot in Jamaica, with filming starting last week. Moon Palace Jamaica sits on the very spot where Sean Connery landed his helicopter in the first James Bond movie, “Dr. No" and the resort is located in Ocho Rios, which is full of history, and unique stories to be told around the Bond films, Palace Resorts says. Meanwhile, a spring and summer “Kids and Teen stay free” promotion is found at Moon Palace Jamaica. “That means your kids and teens can stay, play and...