The theme at Baxter Media these days is all about “making it new,” so it should surprise no one that that's exactly what we're going to do with Agents' Choice in 2018.
Actually, we already started making those changes with the Canadian travel industry's favourite and most influential poll of travel agents in 2017 with a brand new design that showcases the results in a way that makes for easy reading.
And we're happy to report that last year, 5,770 Canadian travel agents voted for their favourites in 30 different categories, making it the second highest response rate in the history...
The Greater Miami Convention and Visitors Bureau's 5th Annual Miami Cruise Month is underway and runs throughout January.
Offering cruisers the best deals of the year on bookings, Miami Cruise Month is part of the year-long Citi Miami Temptations Program presented by Citibank, which takes a thematic focus on the best the destination has to offer with monthly deals and special events for locals and tourists.
Cruisers sailing from Miami will also get “great offers on hotel stays, attractions and heritage tours to extend their vacation beyond the cruise.”
A full listing of deals...
Porter Airlines has partnered with Vermont to bring its passengers exclusive at-par savings on winter getaways in the Green Mountain State.
Offers on lodging and lift tickets are available exclusively for Porter passengers who can choose from more than 20 participating properties in Burlington, Stowe area and Mad River Valley. Savings of 20% to 30% mean prices are equivalent to Canadian dollars.
Vermont offers a variety of winter activities from world-class skiing and riding to relaxing at the state’s diverse range of premier accommodations.
“We are excited that passengers...
Residents in a trio of Ontario cities are now being offered direct Porter Airlines flights to Florida's Space Coast, home to varied attractions that includes the site that sends objects skyward to heights that far surpass the altitudes the Porter planes reach on their journeys south.
Porter now has direct service to Orlando-Melbourne International Airport from Toronto, Ottawa and Windsor, with Ottawa and Windsor service running through March and Toronto service continuing until April 7.
“We know that there is a significant demand from Canadians to visit Florida during the winter...
VISIT FLORIDA has chosen destination marketing firm Pulse Travel Marketing as its new in-market representative for Canada.
The firm will work with VISIT FLORIDA staff, agencies and in-state partners to “ensure that the Sunshine State is prominently positioned with the travel trade and key distribution networks in Canada. This will include, but not be limited to, the development and implementation of a strategic program of appropriate co-operative marketing programs and promotions in tourism distribution channels and sales programs to increase the profile of VISIT FLORIDA and maximize...
Carnival Cruise Line has begun paying travel agent commission on wedding package sales, as of Jan. 1.
Commission tiers for wedding packages will be based on wedding package sales made Jan. 1-March 31. Additionally, agents will earn accelerated commissions on wedding packages during the Wave Season booking period.
Commission tiers during the Jan. 1-March 31 Wave Season period are as follows: Silver (1-10 weddings): $200 per wedding; Gold (11-35 weddings): $225 per wedding; Platinum (35+ weddings): $300 per wedding.
After March 31, agencies reaching Silver, Gold and Platinum booking...
Halifax may want to get ready for an influx of visitors this year after the Maritime city was recognized as a winner in the 2018 TripAdvisor Travelers’ Choice awards for “Destinations on the Rise,” ranking four out of 10 globally.
“We are delighted to have Halifax recognized by Trip Advisor as one of the Top 10 Global Destinations on the Rise. This is a great testament to the growth that we have been experiencing in Halifax and the awareness this announcement brings is tremendous,” said Discover Halifax president Ross Jefferson.
The full span of awards recognize 44...
Tauck is once again welcoming solo travellers with special savings in 2018.
Most notably, the company has again eliminated the single supplement on its Category 1 European riverboat cabins, waiving the supplement entirely for those cabins on each departure of every Tauck river cruise itinerary.
In all, the single supplement is being waived on more than 200 Tauck river cruise departures for the coming year.
In addition, Tauck is also reducing the single supplement by $1,000 on other selected cabin categories on 58 departures of 16 different river itineraries.
Tauck has also...
Israel has set an all-time record for tourist arrivals with 3.6 million people visiting in 2017 – up 25% over 2016.
According to the Central Bureau of Statistics, the final tourism statistics for 2017 are as follows: 3,611,800 million tourist entries were recorded, 25% increase on 2016 and 29% on 2015; 290,000 tourist entries were recorded in December 2017, about 17% more than December 2016 and 47% more than December 2015.
The United States remains the largest source country for incoming tourists, with 778,800 tourist entries in 2017, 20% more than 2016. The second largest source...
Montreal is proving popular with tourists.
According to Tourisme Montréal projections, the city will receive 11.6 million visitors – a 4% annual increase – this year and approximately $4.3 billion in tourist spending.
This growth will be primarily attributable to the overseas market, which is expected to grow by 6.1%.
Increased interest in the city will be sustained following Montreal's 375th anniversary celebrations thanks to new direct flights, tourism sector development, buzz surrounding the destination and investments in various marketing campaigns.
“Our destination...