Destinations
Contiki Unveils Re-Imagined South Pacific Program
Contiki has unveiled its newly re-designed South Pacific 2019 program featuring 16 new and improved adventures designed to meet the wants and needs of the youth market. In meeting the needs of the millennial and Gen Z traveller, Contiki's new suite of adventures features smaller group sizes: with a maximum of 30 travellers on Australia’s East Coast and 25 in the Northern Territory in a bid to offer more opportunity for immersive local experiences. Clients will also spend more time in-destination with the inclusion of more internal flights; Contiki now flies from Darwin to Alice...
Norwegian Reveals Winter 2020-2021 Itineraries
Norwegian Cruise Line has opened sales for its winter 2020/2021 itineraries. Highlights include sister ships, Norwegian Joy and Norwegian Encore, sailing from Miami to the Caribbean; Norwegian Escape’s debut in Port Canaveral; and Norwegian Epic’s return to San Juan. “We are so pleased with the variety of itineraries we are providing, including positioning sister ships, Norwegian Joy and Norwegian Encore, to sail from the Cruise Capital of the World, where we can showcase the ship’s stand-out amenities to thousands of guests each week,” said NCL president Andy...
MSC Cruises Opens Books on 2021 World Cruise
MSC Cruises has opened sales for its 2021 World Cruise open. This once-in-a-lifetime experience – the cruise line's third world cruise – will journey on board MSC Poesia on a 119-day journey around the globe departing on Jan. 5, 2021. With an all-new itinerary featuring a significant focus on unique Asian destinations, the 2021 World Cruise has been designed to allow guests to really discover some of the region’s most inspiring destinations and more. The 119-day voyage sails roundtrip from Genoa and Civitavecchia in Italy, Marseille in France and Barcelona in Spain and...
Weathering The Trends
When it comes to what's visually luring travellers into booking a particular hotel, it turns out the money shot isn’t just of the view, but also the loo. “Oddly enough, a bathroom photo [is important],” Bonnie Vesterfelt, Expedia’s Toronto area manager tells Canadian Travel Press' Ann Ruppenstein. “It does really help on an increase in Average Daily Rate, typically, if you have a really good solid bathroom photo, which are sometimes hard to get. Also, with an international traveller too, they love to see the size of the bathroom.” Vesterfelt, whose market management team...
Travellers Invited to Spend the Night on a Glacier
Adventure travel company Off the Map Travel is inviting travellers to spend a night on a glacier, in a prime viewing area for Norway’s polar bears. On the island of Svalbard, high up in the Arctic Circle, guests will stay at the exclusive Nordenskiold Lodge located at the foot of the blue glacier. There, with almost no sounds to distract, guests can hear the ice creaking and cracking as the glacier moves along its slow journey. Guests will also have the chance to observe the island’s variety of wildlife including its most famous residents, the polar bear. Bookable now, the new...
Tourism Vancouver Signs Landmark Airbnb Agreement
Tourism Vancouver has signed a first-of-its-kind agreement in Canada with Airbnb to promote the city to travellers on its platform. The agreement will see Airbnb leverage its global reach through digital channels such as Instagram, Facebook and Twitter as well as its magazine Airbnbmag, to boost Vancouver's reputation as a premier destination. Additionally, Airbnb will work with Tourism Vancouver to expand the variety and quality of licensed accommodation offerings in the city, providing visitors with diverse options to suit every budget and style. “This partnership is an...
WestJet Launches Calgary-Montego Bay Service
Jamaica bound. WestJet launched its new, non-stop flight from Calgary to Montego Bay, Jamaica, yesterday (Jan. 3). To mark the occasion, the Jamaica Tourist Board Canada partnered with the Calgary Airport Authority to hold an inaugural event at Calgary International Airport. The new flight will run until April 27. For the inaugural flight, WestJet passengers received special luggage tags and hats to commemorate the milestone. Additionally, they were treated to a true Jamaican send-off with live music from PowerHouze, a Calgary-based reggae band. WestJet’s flight WS 2228 departs...
Eight Days, Eight Distilleries, 300 Miles
Having been named one of the Lonely Planet’s “Best In Travel” destinations for 2019, eight of Scotland's Highland Distilleries have introduced a new Whisky Festival to celebrate the established Highland Whisky Trail. The Highland Whisky Festival, which will take place in May, is a celebration of the region’s finest distilleries on the North Coast 500 route. With each distillery hosting an open day with exclusive events and tastings, it’s an unmissable experience for even the most seasoned of whisky enthusiasts. The North-East Coast of Scotland features impressive scenery,...