Tour Operators
Mundo Maya Invites Trade To Discover Mayan World
Mundo Maya – which includes Mexico, Guatemala, Belize, El Salvador, and Honduras – is preparing to host a virtual trade event that will offer the international travel trade an opportunity to set up meetings with entrepreneurs of the Mundo Maya in a span of three days, from July 27 to 29, 2021. Participants will be able to pre-register for 15 minute appointments with exhibitors as well as request last-minute meetings during the event. In addition, they will have the opportunity to listen to the tourism ministries of the Mundo Maya member countries share updated protocols and...
TICO Closure Advisory
The Travel Industry Council of Ontario (TICO) advises that Jet Airways, an airline operating out of Mumbai, India suspended operations effective April 17, 2019. Jet Airways became officially insolvent when the company was sold (asset purchase only) on June 22, 2021. The new company will operate as Jet Airways 2.0. TICO indicates that consumers who have purchased Jet Airways travel services from an Ontario registered travel agency or website and did not receive their travel services due to the cessation of the airline may file a claim from the Ontario Travel Industry Compensation...
Europe Invites The Curious
The European Travel Commission (ETC) has launched a major campaign with Air Canada and Air Canada Vacations to inspire Canadians to rediscover Europe this summer and fall. The new campaign rolls out following the European Union’s recent decision to add Canada to its green list and recommendation to all EU states to lift restrictions on Canadian non-essential travellers. Miguel Gallego, ETC's Head of Marketing said: “As Europe is set to welcome Canadian travellers back, we are thrilled to join forces with Air Canada and Air Canada Vacations to encourage transatlantic travel...
Always Put Your Best Foot Forward
Running a travel-centric sales office in the middle of a global pandemic is not an easy feat. Over the past year and counting, Maureen Barnes-Smith says Unique Vacations Inc. shifted strategies to keep Sandals Resorts and Beaches Resorts at the forefront. “For us it was just a matter of pivoting to where our customers were — they were at home — so we were meeting them at their home. We were doing events that captured them where they were,” says Barnes-Smith, who earned a promotion to Vice President of Sales & Marketing, Canada for Unique Vacations Inc., during this time....
ACV Adds Silversea To Its Cruise Portfolio
Air Canada Vacations has added Silversea Cruises to its portfolio of cruises. Nino Montagnese, Vice President at Air Canada Vacations, said that: “Our partnership with Silversea Cruises is yet another important step in broadening our selection of offerings for Canadians looking to set sail. It gives travellers access to a luxury cruise line, as they benefit from the trust and convenience of flights aboard Air Canada and Air Canada Rouge.” Montagnese continued: “We’re looking forward to continuing to help them create their perfect vacation at sea by providing them with more...
Claims Approved By TICO Board
The Travel Industry Council of Ontario’s (TICO) Board of Directors approved 31 claims against Albarkah Travel and Tours Inc. to assist 94 consumers who did not receive the travel services for which they had paid. Approved on June 29, 2021, the claims totalled $124,700.64. One claim was denied as it was not based on a payment for travel services. In addition, three claims against Tucan Travel Inc. were approved assisting four consumers who did not receive the travel services for which they had paid. Claims totalled $9,248. Seven claims were denied as the consumer purchased...
Are We Ready For Takeoff?
In its newly released “Recovery Insights: Ready For Takeoff?, Mastercard takes a look at some of the key trends in air and ground travel around the world. Developed by the Mastercard Economics Institute, the report draws on aggregated and anonymized sales activity across the global Mastercard network to better understand the next phase for travel, its drivers and challenges. This includes the balance between leisure and business, local and long distance, and saving and spending; and it also looks at the spending categories seeing an uptick and what they signal for travel...
Tauck Set To Resume Global Operations
Tauck is planning to resume full operations of all remaining 2021 itineraries during August and September. That plan includes the return of Tauck’s Danube and Rhine river cruises, its land tours in Italy and elsewhere across Europe, and its explorations of far-flung destinations ranging from Morocco to Machu Picchu. In all, the company said that it expects to operate more than 80% of its pre-pandemic portfolio of tours and cruises this year, with a full return of all itineraries slated for 2022. Dan Mahar, CEO of Tauck, said that: “If a destination is welcoming American...