Tour Operators
Staying Positive, Saying Thanks
Our friends at Anderson Vacations passed this on to Press Today recently and seeing that it’s May and time to appreciate all of the things that travel agents do – in this case, beyond taking care of their customers – we thought it would be a good idea to run it as we received it. It’s a letter from Katie Webster at Personal Travel Management, about a contest that they launched -- with Anderson Vacations and Strategic Private Wealth -- that allows people to nominate an essential worker to win a trip an Aurora Borealis trip with Anderson. Webster explains how it all came...
Exclusive: After The Fever Breaks
At a time when the world has been turned upside down and each and every one of us is searching for a way to move forward, tripcentral.ca’s Richard Vanderlubbe provides some thought-provoking ideas that the industry may want to pack on its journey to recovery. In a three-part series that begins in this week’s issue of Canadian Travel Press, Vanderlubbe sets the scene, with some timely observations and advice about government travel advisories and the changes that need to be made to them. Amidst a whirlwind of government travel advisories, supplier policy decisions, requests that...
Sunwing Will Use CEWS To Bring Back Staff
Sunwing Travel Group is bringing 1,800 employees back onto its payroll through the Canada Emergency Wage Subsidy (CEWS) program. The move provides Sunwing’s Canada-based employees with additional financial support for the duration of the wage subsidy’s term. Stephen Hunter, CEO of Sunwing Travel Group, said: “Sunwing was formed on a vision of not only being a high-quality vacation company, but also providing high-quality jobs for Canadians. Unfortunately, during these unprecedented times we had been forced to reduce our workforce.” Hunter continued: “Throughout this...
The Space Between
This week, TraveLaw Online responds to travel agents’ questions about the workplace and the responsibilities of both the employer and the employee which have become increasingly important during the COVID-19 pandemic. Today, travel law experts, Doug Crozier and Tim Law of Heifetz, Crozier, Law respond to a question on changes that may be required to an agency in order to ensure that social distancing between employees is maintained in the office. Q: Most of the staff in our large travel operation use headphones, sitting at work stations that have for years been quite...
G Adventures Suspends Tours To June 30
Due to the continuing COVID-19 global pandemic, G Adventures has decided to further suspend all tours departing up to and including June 30, saying the move is needed to protect its clients and staff. All travellers booked and fully paid on a tour departing up to June 30 will receive a 110% travel credit on all booked tour services, including pre- and post-night accommodation and transfers, to be used on any tour departing up to two years from the end of the month of their tour’s suspension. Travellers who haven’t yet made their final payment will have their lifetime deposit...
Hope For Healing 2020
Today, it should be all about hope. To that end, the Sandals Foundation and Island Routes have teamed up to offer a message of hope and healing in a new, online campaign to mark Earth Day 2020. The ‘#HopeforHealing2020’ Campaign, launched by both companies on their social media platforms, invites people to light a candle as a symbol of healing and share a message of hope for the planet and each other. Over the last 50 years, the world has come together on April 22 to mobilize support and action for environmental protection. This year, in light of the unique reality of...
Enjoy A Virtual Tour Today With G Adventures
G Adventures has always been about creating community through shared experiences and although travellers can’t get together in person in the present circumstances, they can still connect and dream about where they want to go next using the gift of technology. With this in mind, G Adventures is introducing all new Virtual Travel Experiences, including the operator’s first live virtual small group tour - to Italy - departing today -- April 21, 2020 -- at 12.00pm EST. Virtual travellers can sign up at https://gadventures.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_wPOVvtEyRUO-Pq_NrlyOrQ Other...
ACV Makes Vouchers Transferable
In a major move, Air Canada Vacations says it will allow travellers holding future travel vouchers the possibility of transferring those credits to another person. ACV said that in response to the COVID-19 crisis, it has made a number of changes that include: The extension of the validity of the future travel credit. The possibility to transfer the credit to another person. The ability to keep the residual value of the credit resulting from a fare difference. Nino Montagnese, managing director at Air Canada Vacations, explained that: “Our travel partners have always...