Destinations
Celebrate With Grenada
Today marks Grenada's Independence Day and the country's Toronto consulate prepared in part for it by showcasing art and literary works by Grenadians on Friday. Sekou Stroude, the Grenada Tourism Authority's director of sales for Canada, says his homeland is a culturally inclined part of the world and will soon host a number of festivals, including the May 5-7 Grenada Music Festival, which will feature reggae, soul and R&B acts. Grenada Chocolate Fest begins May 12 and will include the likes of a “bean-to-bar” tour that showcases the entire production of...
WestJet to Launch Calgary-Nashville Service
WestJet will become the first Canadian carrier to feature non-stop service between Calgary and Nashville when twice-weekly flights begin May 4. WestJet began service to Nashville from Toronto last year and currently flies six times weekly on WestJet Encore. Flights from Calgary to Nashville will be operated on WestJet’s Boeing 737 aircraft featuring the enhanced Plus product and WestJet Connect, WestJet’s inflight entertainment system accessed directly through smartphones, tablets or computers. In other news, WestJet launched daily service from Toronto to Sudbury, Ont. on...
Trump, Canada among concerns at Caribbean Travel Marketplace
There’s no question Trump was a hot topic arising multiple times during the Caribbean Travel Marketplace, which just wrapped up in The Bahamas. Karolin Troubetzkoy, president of the Caribbean Hotel and Tourism Association (CHTA), told PressToday, she’s concerned about the messaging that has come out since he became president. “Whilst I think originally we didn't see immediately the impact that it could have had on actual tourism, now we are a bit concerned,” she says. “What I’m concerned about mostly is the psychology of the American traveller, how it will be affected...
Mexico Flying High
For Mexico, there's no slowing down. The Mexico Tourism Board reports that Mexico’s global air connectivity continues to grow at a record pace, with airlines around the world adding new routes, additional flights on existing routes, and upgrading to the latest aircraft models with larger capacities to meet demand for travel. As of January, airline partners had announced the addition of more than a million new seats scheduled in 2017 on international direct flights to Mexico from more than 20 countries. This includes five new Canadian routes on four carriers: Aeromexico, Vancouver...
Royal Caribbean Opens New Sailings to Cuba
Agents with clients looking to experience the culture and nightlife of Cuba now have the opportunity to do so Royal Caribbean's Empress of the Seas’ new sailings to Havana. Royal Caribbean International has expanded its Caribbean itineraries sailing from Tampa to include new four- and five-night cruises with day and overnight visits to Havana, along with stops in Key West, Fla. and Cozumel, Mexico. The new sailings are available through Nov. 4 and all sailings are now open for...
What’s Next For Cuba, US Tourism
New US President Donald Trump's campaign pledge to put the brakes on warming Cuba-United States relations is leading some to wonder if surging Cuban tourism is due for something of a slowdown, reports Ian Stalker in this week's digital edition of Travel Courier. The US election campaign saw Trump denounce the diplomatic rapprochement between his country and Cuba, which reportedly hosted 4 million visitors last year, an impressive 13% increase from 2015. Cuba's tourism ministry has credited improved relations with the United States as being “partially responsible” for last year's...
AC Adds Iceland to International Network
Air Canada will launch daily summer seasonal service from Canada to Reykjavik, Iceland. Flights will operate four times and three times weekly from the carrier's Toronto and Montreal hubs respectively, subject to government approvals. Special introductory fares start from $698 round trip, all in, and tickets are now available for purchase. “Iceland is an emerging and exciting vacation destination growing in popularity with its array of outdoor leisure and cultural adventures, and we're looking forward to flying to the Land of Fire and Ice this summer,” said Benjamin Smith,...
The Royal Hawaiian marks 90 years
Waikiki's The Royal Hawaiian, a Luxury Collection Resort marked another milestone with the opening of The Royal Hawaiian Bakery on Feb. 1, the hotel’s 90th anniversary. With the Bakery debut, The Royal Hawaiian becomes the only hotel on the island to feature its own stand-alone bakery. Open daily from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m., the bakery is a one-stop confectionary located on the resort’s Coconut Lanai offering everything from The Royal Hawaiian’s famous banana bread and classic freshly baked desserts to custom-created cakes by Executive Pastry Chef Carolyn Portuondo, Pastry Chef Quirino...