Tour Operators
Finding A New Mission
With a storm rolling in calling for rough seas with strong nautical winds and up to six metre swells, eco-tourism operators Kevin Smith and Russell Markel knew they were racing against time to remove the lift bags filled with tons of marine debris their crew and colleagues had collected over the last five weeks off the north coast of BC. “There’s no way we can be there in those conditions and we were worried that the bags were going to be washed out to sea,” says Markel, the owner of Outer Shores Expeditions, one of five small ship tour operators that made up the Marine Debris...
Softvoyage Automates FTCs
Softvoyage has introduced a simple electronic way to redeem Future Travel Credits (FTC). Now, Sirev users can easily, safely and promptly verify their customers’ future travel credits and apply the FTC as payment method. The process is simple: 1) Log on to Sirev 2) Click “future travel credit” (also available at the payment page) 3) Enter basic details: Name Booking number Date of birth Select supplier The FTC is listed as a payment method. Partial payment can also be used. This new tool will also be available shortly to Softvoyage customers using...
Don’t Miss Tomorrow’s Sun Peaks’ Agent Webinar
Join Megan Nelson, Senior Market Development Specialist at Tourism Sun Peaks, on Thursday, October 15th at 10am (PST) for a Sun Peaks Webinar. Learn why Canada’s 2nd largest ski area is the ideal destination for your clients this winter. Whether they are skiers or snowboarders, looking to explore the outdoors through unique winter experiences or wanting to cozy up in a condo by the fire with a private hot tub, there is something for everyone. This educational session will include an overview on the destination in both winter and summer, accommodation, activities, terrain and...
A Difficult Decision
WestJet has announced that it will be indefinitely suspending operations to Moncton, Fredericton, Sydney and Charlottetown while significantly reducing service to Halifax and St. John's. The suspension eliminates more than 100 flights weekly or almost 80% of seat capacity from the Atlantic region starting Nov. 2, 2020. Ed Sims, WestJet president and CEO, explained: “It has become unviable to serve these markets and these decisions were regrettably inevitable as demand is being obliterated by the Atlantic bubble and third-party fee increases.” And Sims continued: “Since the...
Sunwing Survey Finds Canadians Ready To Travel
A new survey, commissioned by Sunwing, reveals that a growing number of Canadians are ready to go on vacation. The survey was conducted by Sunwing among members of the Angus Reid Forum between Sept. 28-29, 2020 with a representative online sample of 1,505 Canadians, in both English and French. Results revealed that 56% of Canadians are considering going on vacation within the next year. Regular vacation-goers are even more likely to be interested in an upcoming getaway, with seven-in-ten (71%) saying that they are considering a vacation. Of respondents who would consider travelling...
Goway Groups Is Meeting The Challenges
Goway Travel's Groups Only department is meeting the challenges of these unprecedented times with the addition of their Travelmate program and three new booking incentives. Goway’s Travelmate Assurance A dedicated senior Group Coordinator will be assigned to groups bookings, guaranteeing destination and customer service expertise to work in partnership with travel professionals. Group files will also come with a priority phone line throughout the entire travel process, from first inquiry to final landing. Travelmate also offers a Priority Assist line that’s available from...
Travel Advisors Are All-Stars
In the Agents’ Choice 2020 Readership Survey, the value of using a travel agent is showcased in the issue’s feature story. In the wake of travel bans, restrictions, cancellations and last-minute re-booking needs brought on by the pandemic, it became apparent that those who used travel advisors were better off than those who decided to go it alone. “I have never been told so many times how absolutely lost they would have been without a travel agent to find alternate flights home, cancel their trips for refunds or credits and take care of everything. I was able to assist all my...
Big Savings From Sunwing & RIU
With its flights set to restart on Nov. 6, Sunwing is offering savings on its getaway to RIU Hotels & Resorts with the See You At RIU Sale. From now until Oct. 14, 2020, travellers can save up to 50% off their getaway to RIU Hotels & Resorts for departures throughout the fall and winter. Plus, each time an agent makes a booking at RIU Hotels & Resorts for departures between Nov. 6, 2020, and April 30, 2021, they’ll receive 5X the STAR Agent Reward Points that convert to cash and 5X the RIU Partner Club points. Deana Murphy, VP Retail Sales for Sunwing, said: “In...