Tour Operators
Merit Travel Group Transitions Leadership Team
Merit Travel Group is transitioning its leadership team as president Jason Merrithew (pictured) has announced he is leaving the company, effective Nov. 15. Dirk Baerts, chief operating officer, will take over leadership of Merit Travel. Merrithew started working with Merit Travel Group over 14 years ago, filling a part-time position while in school. Helping to grow the company over the past eight years in a full-time team leadership position, Merrithew has led the company through acquisitions, re-positioning, steady growth and success, most recently as president of Merit...
Canada Cool With Air Canada Vacations
Air Canada Vacations has launched its 2019 Canada Collection, saying “Canada’s rugged landscapes, cultural attractions and proximity make it a prime destination for travellers looking to enjoy the country’s four distinct seasons.” The collection features 91 vacation packages, which include flight and hotel accommodations, options for stays ranging from three to 15 nights, and the ability to combine two or more regions. “When we dream about our next vacation, we often think of adventures in far away places,” said Nino Montagnese, managing director at Air Canada Vacations....
Contiki Appoints New Global CEO
James Marchant has been appointed Global CEO for Contiki. A highly regarded travel executive, Marchant joins Contiki from Second Estates, where he was a marketing, loyalty and strategy consultant for the luxury holiday rental investment company, and from the board of Black Tomato, the luxury travel agent that he helped to conceive and develop in 2005. Relocating from London to be based at Contiki’s head office in Geneva, Marchant will have responsibility for the youth travel company’s global network of teams across Australia, New Zealand, the USA, Canada, Europe, Latin America,...
TravelBrands Has New Agent Incentive
From Nov. 1-30. TravelBrands is offering agents 25,000 Loyalty Rewards points when booking through TravelBrands Cruises, by Encore Cruises. To qualify, agents must book five cruises, in any category, for sailings by Feb. 28, 2019. “With so many great sailings coming up, we wanted to give travel agents to earn more with TravelBrands,” says Nathalie Tanious, vice-president, TravelBrands. “This new travel agent incentive is just one of many ways we want to say thank you to travel agents for their continued dedicated work.” This limited-time offer applies to new individual...
Exodus Unveils 2019 ‘Brochures With Heart’
With responsible tourism at the heart of every adventure, Exodus Travels has begun releasing its new brochure collection for 2019-2020. The new collection, being released throughout the fall, features original cover art created by celebrated Bosnian and Herzegovinian artist Martina Crepulja, who uses her work to encourage and support children through art. As such, Crepulja will donate a portion of her fee to Exodus’ Inspiration Project, an initiative that takes disadvantaged children from around the globe on exciting trips within their homelands. “This year, we really wanted...
Sunwing Offers Agents 4X STAR Points
Until Nov. 30, Sunwing is offering agents 4X STAR Agent Reward Points on all new bookings to select Royalton Luxury Resorts, Planet Hollywood Resorts, Grand Memories Resorts, Hideaway at Royalton Resorts and Grand Lido for departures through April 30. Plus, each time an agent makes a booking with a participating resort, they’ll be entered into a weekly contest for a chance to win an all-inclusive vacation for two to a select resort included in the promotion. Hotels participating in this promotion include all Royalton Luxury Resorts (with the exception of Royalton resorts in Cuba),...
Trafalgar Loves to Talk Travel
Trafalgar is inviting agents and their clients to take advantage of an opportunity to learn more about its best vacation experiences during one of numerous “Love to Talk Travel” events kick-starting again this month. Held Canada-wide for the ninth consecutive year, attendees will have the opportunity to meet like-minded travellers and get inspired with a world of destinations and have their questions answered by one of Trafalgar's dedicated experts. Guests will be welcomed with light snacks and wine. Also, exclusive show offers will be available to attendees, along with the chance...
Goway Puts World’s Longest Commercial Flight to the Test
The world’s longest commercial air route has returned to the skies aboard a new Singapore Airlines Airbus A350-900ULR, and Belinda MacNeil, product manager for Goway Asia, checked it out, taking her Premium Economy seat for the route’s second flight on Oct. 14, an 18.5-hour journey between Newark and Singapore. With only 94 Premium Economy and 67 Business class seats, boarding the flight is quick and efficient, allowing passengers time to get settled into the spacious seating. While tray tables are stowed in armrests that cannot be raised (no sneaky impromptu beds here), this...