Tour Operators
A Call For Change
In an open letter to travel suppliers, the ACTA COVID-19 Travel Agency Leaders Advisory Committee calls for “a holistic review of the systemic practices and policies that are currently in place between travel agencies and travel suppliers.” The travel industry is going through an unprecedented crisis due to the global pandemic and it will be affected adversely for much longer than other industries. Tour operators, cruise lines, airlines, hoteliers, car rental companies and travel agencies have seen their business more or less come to a halt, the letter states. It...
Sunwing Resumes Flights On Nov. 6
Sunwing will be resuming flight service on Nov. 6, 2020. It will be offering guaranteed flights as of that date, with departures from Toronto to Punta Cana in the Dominican Republic on Fridays and Sundays; from Toronto to Cancun in Mexico on Saturdays and Sundays from Nov. 7; from Toronto to Montego Bay in Jamaica on Fridays and Saturdays from Nov. 6; and from Toronto to Liberia in Costa Rica on Mondays from Nov. 30. Andrew Dawson, president of Tour Operations for Sunwing, said: “We are thrilled to be resuming our flights on November 6. Bringing dream vacations to life for...
TravelBrands Picks A Winner
TravelBrands has announced the first prize winner in the Loyalty Rewards points giveaway for Canadian travel agents. Diane Letourneau from Club Voyages Mille et Une Nuits has been officially selected as the first prize winner. The prize consists of 100,000 Loyalty Rewards points. Nathalie Tanious, COO, TravelBrands, said: “This year especially, it was very important for us to show that now more than ever, TravelBrands loves agents.” Tanious continued: “Congratulations to Diane on being our first winner. We hope you enjoy these points as much as we love gifting...
Service, Fare Option Enhancements From Transat
Transat is launched its revamped Option Flex service and fare options yesterday (Oct. 1, 2020), offering travellers maximum latitude and flexibility for their trips to the South, the United States, Europe and within Canada. Annick Guérard, chief operating officer of Transat, explained: “We put in place a series of relaxed measures, for both flights and packages, to allow all types of travellers to find the flexibility they need, notably by changing their travel dates or destination, or even cancelling their booking.” Transat is also extending its Book With Peace of Mind offer...
We Salute You … All Of You
Not even a global pandemic could prevent Baxter Media from paying tribute to those in the travel industry who are truly deserving of tributes. On Thursday, Baxter Media took the high-tech route to host the 2020 Agents’ Choice Awards Virtual Gala and salute the favourites of its annual, and 21st, Agents' Choice Awards Readership Survey. The event – the high point for this country’s travel industry – welcomed 700 registered attendees. Required social distancing resulting from coronavirus prompted Baxter Media to reach out virtually this year, rather than hosting another of...
It’s Agents’ Choice Awards Gala Day
Find out who all your favourites are this afternoon. There's still time to register to be a part of this historic event at: https://www.travelpress.com/aca-2020-gala/ The Baxter Media team is thrilled to deliver the highly-anticipated Agents' Choice Awards Virtual Gala presented by Manulife and WestJet today at 1PM EST. You won't want to miss a moment of the celebration as Baxter Media reveals the favourites - as voted by you, Canadian travel agents - in 48 categories and announces this year's 34 favourite BDMs. A live, interactive trade show will follow the awards...
Sustainability Initiatives Key To Success
According to GlobalData, COVID-19 isn’t the only obstacle to future profitability for travel operators. Johanna Bonhill-Smith, travel & tourism analyst for the data analytics firm, points out that: “38% of GenZ and 41% of millennials desire to hear news about a brand’s sustainability initiatives right now. How a brand is acting during COVID-19 is still the main priority, but this pandemic has shown the global population the impact that travel and tourism can have on the natural environment.” Operators continue to struggle amid slumps in travel demand and fluctuating...
Ready To Be Wonderful
Tourism Ireland is assuring travel trade and consumers that the welcome in Ireland will be as wonderful as ever when COVID-19 restrictions allow travel to resume. In a statement, the tourist board says that the industry right across the island of Ireland re-opened over the summer for domestic visitors and the industry is obviously very much looking forward to welcoming back the travel trade and their clients from Canada when the time is right. In fact, Tourism Ireland has put together a video to allow trade contacts in Canada to see the huge work that has been undertaken to ensure...