Tour Operators
The Right Way Forward
Should you travel right now? It’s an ethical question that has come up recently — especially as COVID-19 cases spike across multiple destinations that have reopened to international travellers and others yet are still grappling with controlling the spread of the virus at home. In order to move forward, tourism needs to restart, but can it be done more responsibly for both visitors and locals alike when the time is right? As the world slowly starts to reopen, what can tour operators and travellers do to ensure they aren’t negatively impacting destinations? What should travel...
Sunwing Taking Care Of Frontline Heroes
Sunwing has awarded 100 frontline heroes with free, all-inclusive vacations as part of the recent Sunwing Celebrates Heroes contest. The company notes that these Canadians have worked tirelessly during the COVID-19 pandemic and their response efforts went above and beyond the expectations of their peers, families and communities. To celebrate these individuals and all their hard work, Sunwing will be awarding them with all-inclusive vacations to select Royalton Luxury Resorts. The Sunwing Celebrates Heroes contest asked Canadians to nominate deserving frontline workers for this...
Intrepid Targets North Americans With 2021 Sale
For those looking to plan ahead for their 2021 travels, Intrepid Travel is offering an exclusive sale for North American customers. Through Aug. 25, Intrepid is offering 15% off all trips and 10% off all Intrepid Retreats booked to depart from March to Dec. 31, 2021. "Intrepid Travel offers itineraries around the globe, so travelers can turn their vacation day-dreaming into a reality with trips ranging from exploring the markets and mosques of Marrakech and treasure-trove of ancient history in Egypt to traveling the cities of mainland Greece," the company says. To ensure the...
Pardon The Interruption
This week, TraveLaw Online’s Doug Crozier and Tim Law of Heifetz, Crozier, Law respond to a question from an agent who didn’t have business interruption insurance and is wondering if they should get it for the ‘next time.’ Q: Knowing what I now know about the impact of COVID-19, I wished I’d gotten Business Interruption insurance. Should I get it now, for the “next time?” A: That’ll be a commercial call for you to make, perhaps with some input from your professional advisors. Business Interruption (“BI”) coverage is designed to cover a loss of income...
CATO Makes It Clear What Tour Operators Need
In a meeting of its members late last week, the Canadian Association of Tour Operators (CATO) made it clear that the need for clear and concise criteria and an extension of the Canadian Emergency Wage Subsidy (CEWS) were critical to the industry's restart and recovery. In a statement, CATO indicated that the #1 Need for clear and concise criteria government must make known any criteria for easing of travel restrictions and reopening of borders. The criteria, while serving public health, would immensely help industry to forecast and plan for recovery. As for the extension of the...
Closer To Home
August 6 was a monumental day for Intrepid Travel. For the first time since COVID-19 brought travel to a global halt in March, the small group adventure travel company officially departed on a tour with six travellers in Greece, writes managing editor, Ann Ruppenstein in this week’s issue of Canadian Travel Press. “While this is by no means a return to normal, we do hope these trips will serve as a source of hope and inspiration for the industry after several months without travel,” James Thornton, the CEO of Intrepid Travel, tells Canadian Travel Press. In direct response to...
ACV Has Something Special For Agents In Cuba
Air Canada Vacations is offering travel agents independent FAM rates to select properties in Cayo Coco starting at $599 per person from Toronto or $549 per person from Montreal. As for agents’ customers, ACV has non-stop flights from Montreal to Cayo Coco operating on Fridays starting Sept. 4, 2020, and from Toronto to Cayo Coco on Saturdays starting Sept. 26, 2020. Beginning in October, departures from Toronto to Cayo Coco will operate twice per week on Saturdays and Sundays. Also, beginning in October, agents’ client can visit Varadero with non-stop flights from Montreal...
Transat Takes Off South For 2020-2021
With its ‘Here Comes the Sun’ promotion underway, Transat has launched its 2020-2021South brochure. The new brochure features a total of 320 properties grouped under its four collections --Luxury, Distinction, Family and Solo -- in over 30 destinations in Colombia, Costa Rica, Cuba, Guadeloupe, Honduras, Jamaica, Martinique, Mexico, Panama, Puerto Rico, the Dominican Republic, St. Maarten/St. Martin and El Salvador. The electronic version of the brochure is now available on Transat Agent Direct. Exclusively designed to support travel agents in their sales, the print...