Tour Operators
Take A Hike With Great Canadian Trails
Active holiday specialists Great Canadian Trails has introduced a no deposit booking offer to give travellers the peace of mind to book their next hiking and cycling trip for 2020 or 2021. Great Canadian Trails manager Nathalie Gauthier said the offer is designed to remove any financial risk to travellers who are ready to start planning their next trip, and be the first in line when it’s possible to explore once again. Gauthier explained: “We expect a renewed interest in active outdoor experiences, particularly remote and wilderness trips. Canada is the perfect destination for...
Travelling Well With Collette
As it plans to resume tour operations and welcome back guests to experience the world, Collette has evaluated the tour experience from start to finish. It has implemented measures as recommended by the CDC, WHO, and appropriate government agencies to promote cleanliness, physical distancing and reduced contact. Resuming Operations Collette plans to resume tour operations to select destinations beginning July 1, 2020. Based on a variety of factors, the decision to operate specific departures will be made 45 days prior to departure of travel. As it resumes travel, Collette...
Expedia Group Makes Commitment To Partners
Expedia Group has announced that it is committing $275 million to help partners rebound from the impact of COVID-19 and fuel industry-wide recovery efforts. Its recovery program is comprised of global initiatives to support industry recovery and property-level relief designed to help independent partners and small chains rebuild their business, attract high-value guests, and optimize cash flow. The initiative includes the following: For Partners Expedia Group is committing $250 million in marketing credits and financial relief. For each property that participates in the...
UNWTO Releases Guidelines To Reopen Tourism
The World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) has released a set of guidelines to help tourism sector emerge stronger and more sustainably from COVID-19. The guidelines highlight the need to act decisively, to restore confidence and, as UNWTO strengthens its partnership with Google, to embrace innovation and the digital transformation of global tourism. Produced in consultation with the Global Tourism Crisis Committee, the guidelines aim to support governments and private sector to recover from an unparalleled crisis. Depending on when travel restrictions are lifted, the United Nations...
Tracking Travellers’ Perception Of Safety
MMGY Global has launched its new Travel Safety Barometer -- a sentiment tracking tool created for the travel and tourism industry -- to monitor American travellers’ perceptions of how safe it is to engage in specific travel behaviours as the country embarks on its reopening and recovery efforts. Designed by MMGY’s Travel Intelligence research and insights division, the Barometer is an informational resource for both business and leisure travellers and the industry as the coronavirus continues to fundamentally change all aspects of our society, including when, where and how we feel...
Hong Kong Update – Last Chance to Register
Baxter Media is sending out a last call for agents to sign up for a webinar happening tomorrow (May 29) at 2 p.m. (EST). There will be five prize giveaways of $200 e-gift cards available to agents who attend the full duration of the webinar. In this webinar, you will hear how Hong Kong has handled COVID-19, and for those who are new to the destination or need a refresher, they will be providing basic destination information, updating you on the newest developments, as well as providing a glimpse of what you or your clients can experience in Hong Kong. The webinar will be presented...
ACV Introducing New Health and Safety Standards
Air Canada Vacations has launched new health and safety standards to provide customers with greater peace of mind through the various stages of travel. As an extension of Air Canada CleanCare+, the new health and safety standards include the enhanced grooming of vacation transfer vehicles and safety protocols throughout the travel journey for vacation packages to Sun destinations. As well, ACV will continue to work with its trusted hotel partners to support the implementation of the highest standards of safety and cleanliness to give customers added assurance when booking their next...
Some Final Thoughts
In the final part of a three part series, tripcentral.ca’s Richard Vanderlubbe writes about agents and the need to pay them properly for the services they provide to both their customers and their suppliers. Vanderlubbe is nothing if not practical and one of the points that he makes this week is that agents not only need to be paid properly for the services they render to their clients and to their suppliers, they also need to have the right tools to be able to render those services effectively and efficiently. As an example, he points out the limited ability agents have to modify...