Destinations
Starwood Signs Three Cuba Deals
Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc. has signed three new hotel deals in Cuba. The announcement comes after Starwood received authorization from the U.S. Treasury Department to operate hotels in Cuba. Long-time Havana icon, Hotel Inglaterra, will join The Luxury Collection and Hotel Quinta Avenida will become a Four Points by Sheraton. Both hotels will undergo renovations before raising their new brand flags later in 2016. As well, Starwood also announced that it has signed a Letter of Intent to convert the famed Hotel Santa Isabel into a member of The Luxury...
Booking.com Connects With Cuba
Booking.com has announced that it will become the first online US travel brand to offer instantly bookable hotel properties for certain US citizens travelling to Cuba. Following months of work with the Cuban Authorities and local hotels, the first properties will be ready to book in the coming weeks on Booking.com. The company's move follows the recent loosening of restrictions for US travellers to Cuba. The announcement means that Cuba will soon become instantly bookable for US travellers that meet the criteria currently approved by the US government for travel to Cuba. At the...
Marriott Gets Cuba Clearance
Marriott International, Inc. reports that the Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) of the U.S. Department of the Treasury has approved Marriott International’s application to pursue a business transaction in Cuba and that the company is in discussions to develop a hospitality relationship with potential partners. The announcement was made during President Obama’s historic trip to Cuba, marking the first time in more than 80 years a sitting U.S. president has visited the country. Marriott President and Chief Executive Officer Arne Sorenson is traveling with U.S. Commerce...
Remembering the Battle of the Somme
In honour of the 100th anniversary of the Battle of the Somme (July 1, 2016), Trafalgar is offering a special 10-day trip of the battlefields and memorial sites in France, Belgium and England from June 26 to July 5. Guests will get to visit many notable sights including: D-Day Landing Beaches, including the Juno Beach Centre, Vimy Ridge, Caribou Memorial Site and Beaumont Hamel. “Trafalgar’s Beaumont Hamel Freedom 100 guided vacation is a once-in-a-lifetime trip because it is an opportunity for Canadians to walk in the footsteps of family members who fought in the First and...
Brazil Introduces Olympic Visa Waiver Program
Travellers from Canada, as well as the Unites States, Japan and Australia, who plan to visit Brazil between June 1 and Sept. 18 will be exempt from needing a Brazilian visa. Brazilian president Dilma Rousseff sanctioned a draft law, which determines such a waiver, last November. The initiative will facilitate the entry of athletes and international tourists who wish to come to Brazil to accompany the Olympic and Paralympic Games in 2016. The visa waiver will benefit those who are in Brazil until Sept. 18 (end date of the Paralympic Games), for a period of stay limited to 90 days,...
JTB Hosting JAPEX Fam
The Jamaica Tourist Board is organizing a fam specifically for travel agents interested in attending the upcoming Jamaica Product Exchange (JAPEX). The trade show is a great chance for agents to meet with a variety of Jamaica’s leading tourism suppliers, including hotels and attractions. The trip will take place from April 28 to May 4 and visit Montego Bay, Negril and Ocho Rios. Agents will participate in planned JAPEX show activities. The cost is $499 (including taxes) and includes return airfare via WestJet (YYZ-MBJ), shared accommodation, all meals, local transportation and...
New Destination Resort Coming to Bermuda
Caroline Bay, Bermuda – the newest luxury destination resort, residential and yachting community – is coming to Bermuda and will include a Ritz-Carlton Reserve boutique hotel. The newly branded Caroline Bay, Bermuda will be situated on a secluded cove protected by a historic peninsula in the Great Sound in the west end of Bermuda. The development will feature the Ritz-Carlton property, residences, spa, restaurants, shops and a mega-yacht marina. The new resort community is the vision of Morgan’s Point Ltd. “After years of planning, it’s gratifying to announce this...
ACV Adds Routes for Summer 2016
Air Canada Vacations (ACV) is kicking off the summer 2016 booking season with the introduction of new routes and increased capacity and frequencies, as well as adding exclusive properties to its Sun lineup. New routes include: Montreal to Puerto Plata operating Tuesdays from May to October; Toronto to Samana operating Mondays from May to August. Increased frequencies include: Montreal to Cayo Coco, Santa Clara and Varadero; Toronto to Holguin and Santa Clara. Packages from Montreal to Varadero now include flexible stay options (three to five nights). Certain frequencies from...