Tour Operators
G Adds Four To Travel with Confidence Plus Collection
After receiving positive feedback from travellers, along with encouraging booking numbers for departures in 2020 and 2021, G Adventures has introduced four additional itineraries to its new Travel with Confidence Plus Collection, which provides travellers with increased physical distancing measures while on tour. The collection was launched in June 2020 and features smaller group sizes (a maximum of 12), cheaper solo rooming options, ensuite bathrooms and private transportation, as well as increased sanitization and hygiene protocols as part of G Adventures’ Travel with...
Sunwing Adds Complimentary COVID-19 Insurance
Sunwing has partnered with Manulife to offer COVID-19 Coverage to Canadians at no additional cost when booking their long-awaited vacation. Designed to cover emergency medical and quarantine costs associated with COVID-19, this coverage is included in all Sunwing vacation packages (excluding cruises) and air only bookings with Sunwing Airlines (for a duration of 21 days or less) made between now and Oct. 31, 2020 for departures from Oct. 16, 2020 up to and including May 31, 2021. The COVID-19 Emergency Medical Certificate of Insurance includes, but is not limited to, medical...
Looking To The Future
Six months into the global pandemic, Travel Courier chats with Collette, Royal Irish Tours, G Adventures and CIT Tours to get a sense of how business is going, what’s going to sell well and how they’re handling bookings across various stages of operations. For the first time since the pandemic brought travel to a halt, Collette restarted operations a little over two months ago. This month, the tour operator reached a consistent level with tours on the road every day throughout parts of the United States. “We are finding that while the willingness to travel overall has...
Sun Destination Update From WestJet
WestJet released an updated schedule designed to get Canadians to and from key destinations while supporting the economic recovery of Canada through continued domestic flying. Beginning Oct. 4, 2020 WestJet will offer operations to and from 48 destinations including 39 in Canada, three in the U.S. and three in Mexico, two in Jamaica and one in the U.K. Arved von zur Muehlen, WestJet chief commercial officer, said: “This fall we continue to offer guests stringent safety measures and travel that meets their needs during this extraordinary time.” He continued: “As more...
ACV Unveils Its 2020/2021 Sun Collection
Air Canada Vacations has launched its 2020-2021 Sun Collection. The new Sun Collection features new additions, savings, sun-soaked fun, and its New Health and Safety Standards to make your customers’ next vacation the worry-free break they deserve. The new collection features a selection of packages in 42 sunny destinations, over 700 hotels – mostly all-inclusive – 31 of which are new to the tour operator’s line up, 3 resorts that are exclusive to Air Canada Vacations, 30 semi-exclusive resorts, and more than 100 cruises, with the addition of Cunard Line to its product line....
UNWTO Reports International Arrivals Plunged 93% In June
According to the latest issue of the UNWTO World Tourism Barometer, international tourist arrivals plunged 93% in June 2020, compared to June 2019 – driving home the severity of the COVID-19 global pandemic on the travel and tourism industry. For the first half of 2020, the UNWTO’s barometer reports that international tourist arrivals plummeted 65% -- representing an unprecedented decrease, as countries around the world closed their borders and introduced travel restrictions in response to the pandemic. In recent weeks, however, a growing number of destinations have started to...
Canada-US Border To Remain Closed To Oct. 21: Report
According to a report from the CBC, the Canada-US border closure will be extended to Oct. 21. Quoting a source “with direct knowledge of the situation,” the CBC story indicates that the federal government will extend the border closure another 30 days and the CBC is also reporting that its source indicated that Canadians should “expect the possibility that the border “will remain closed for longer.” The report of the extension of the border closure comes just a day after the UNWTO released its latest World Tourism Barometer which showed that international tourist arrivals...
A Unique Collection From Kensington
Kensington Tours has launched The Resort Collection in an effort to give travellers an opportunity to get more out of their resort experiences by combining “some of the world’s most exquisite resort destinations” with “once-in-a-lifetime local experiences” and “white-glove service and amenities.” Using its expertise in creating custom private-guided travel itineraries for tens of thousands of clients, The Resort Collection is designed for travellers who love sea and sand, but who are also seeking more from their getaway. Alison Hickey, president of Kensington Tours,...