Destinations
Hola Sun Cancels Flights
Due to Hurricane Irma, Hola Sun has cancelled all Southbound flights scheduled from today (Sept. 8) to Sept. 10 and implemented its hurricane policy. Agents can contact the operator's call centre at 905-882-9445 with any questions regarding their clients who were suppose to depart this weekend. Hola Sun is also evacuating all passengers that are currently in destination. All representatives in destination have been notified and will be in contact with passengers. The tour company indicated that it is working as quickly as possible with its airline partner, Cubana, to ensure that...
Air Transat Evacuating Florida Customers
Air Transat continues its rescue operation and is evacuating its passengers that are in the trajectory of Hurricane Irma. The company is deploying a total of four flights to Florida to evacuate its clients there – two flights to Fort Lauderdale and two to Orlando. The aircraft are expected to arrive in Fort Lauderdale today (Fri., Sept. 8) and in Orlando on Sat., Sept. 9, both before noon. This operation will allow more than 750 passengers to be repatriated. The company is continuing to monitor the evolution of Hurricane Irma and regular updates will be posted on its...
France Takes Centre Stage At TIFF
It was a festive scene on the Toronto International Film Festival's (TIFF) Festival Street (located on King St. West between University Avenue and Peter Street) as Air France,the France Tourism Development Agency and the Consul General of France in Toronto welcomed travel trade types to the opening of the Air Bistro Paris. Air France is the official airline of TIFF 2017 and until Sept. 10, its Air Bistro Paris – complete with a four-metre-plus Eiffel Tower – will welcome festival-goers with a “Parisian cafe style” experience. Roland Coppens, commercial director Air...
NEW: Air Transat Airlifts All Travellers From Cuba
Following the evacuation of its passengers out of the Dominican Republic, Air Transat is continuing its rescue operation and is evacuating its passengers that are in the trajectory of Hurricane Irma. The company announces that it is deploying a total of 10 flights to Cuba to evacuate its clients: four flights to Varadero, three to Santa Clara, two to Cayo Coco and one to Holguin. All aircraft should arrive in Cuba on Sept. 7, and passengers should be back in Canada in the afternoon or late evening. This operation will allow more than 1,800 passengers to be repatriated. Transat...
Everyone Is In Our Thoughts
The Caribbean Hotel and Tourism Association (CHTA) has expressed sympathy for the loss of life and hardship following the passage of Hurricane Irma and has urged Caribbean residents and visitors in the projected path of the storm to take continued precautions as it makes its way through parts of the northern Caribbean. In a statement, CHTA's director general Frank Comito warned that the Category 5 hurricane was packing winds of 180 miles per hour, and the effects of the storm were already evident on the dual-island of St. Maarten/St. Martin, St. Barthélemy (St. Barts), and Barbuda,...
All Systems Go For Transat Winter Program
School's back for Ontario travel agents interested in Transat's winter offerings. The tour operator – along with partners Melia Hotels International Cuba and Bahia Principe Hotels & Resorts – Tuesday night began in Toronto what it's billing as Ontario Training Academies, workshops that familiarize agents with the tour operator's winter sun program and to a lesser degree its Europe program. “We're really focusing on training – training the agent, education, getting them to meet our hoteliers face to face,” Denise Heffron, Transat Tours Canada's vice-president, national...
Antigua Open For Business Post Irma
Antigua has successfully coped with Hurricane Irma, defying the worst predictions of disaster. According to officials, there was no loss of life and the local population and all visitors are safe. Most residential, business and hotel properties remain largely unscathed and main roads have already been cleared of the debris of fallen trees. The VC Bird International Airport will be open by 2 p.m. (Eastern Standard Time) today (Sept. 6) to accommodate arriving and departing aircraft and passengers. Visitors are encouraged to contact the relevant airlines and tour operators if their...
Visit Florida Ready To Take Back Canada
Visit Florida was “asleep at the wheel” while Canadian visitation submarined over 15 consecutive quarters but a “major initiative” is in the works to kick-start a rebound after “taking the market for granted,” reports Quebec editor, Mike Dunbar in this week's digital edition of Canadian Travel Press. Those were the frank admissions and sincere promise made by Visit Florida executive Nelson Mongiovi during last week’s Governor’s Conference on Tourism in Hollywood. The interim chief marketing officer told a packed breakout session that he wanted to “separate fact from...