Tour Operators
TICO Reduces Certification Exam Rewrite Wait Times
The Travel Industry Council of Ontario (TICO) is reducing the required rewrite wait times for the Travel Counsellor and Supervisor/Manager exams effective Feb. 1, 2023. With the travel industry continuing to rebound, the change is aimed at facilitating the pace at which new travel professionals can enter the industry. New exam rewrite wait times (if first exam attempt is unsuccessful): First exam rewrite – 24-hour waiting period after receiving results. Second exam rewrite – 5-day waiting period after receiving results. Third and any subsequent exam rewrites –...
Highland Explorer Tours Offers Adventure In Scotland
Highland Explorer Tours is offering travellers an opportunity to be part of an inspiring local community project on the Sleat Peninsula in March 2023 and October 2024. The 6-Day Isle of Skye Volunteer Adventure provides a balance between exploring the Isle of Skye and making a positive impact on its unique landscape and habitats. The tour includes two unique “MAKE TRAVEL MATTER¨ Experiences: a meaningful volunteering project with the Sleat Community Trust; and an immersive visit to the National Centre for Gaelic Language and Culture, Sabhal Mor Ostaig. Highland Explorer has...
Luxury Gold Rebrands For The Golden Age Of Travel
Luxury Gold is rebranding to enter a new era of travel; an era when travel will be more intimate, personalized, and luxurious than the competitive set. Noting that multiple sources have pointed to the exponential growth and demand in the luxury travel industry, Luxury Gold is offering 30 extraordinary small group journeys to the world’s most sought after places, all limited edition, and all with the finest end-to-end travel experience. The new branding will reflect these sentiments with aspirational, flawless visuals and a refined champagne and caviar colour palette. Melissa...
Save On Summer With Air Canada Vacations
Air Canada Vacations is offering more flexibility and savings for travellers booking early for their summer vacation to a sunny destination. Until March 5, 2023, agents’ clients can book a beach vacation and save for departures between May 1 and Oct. 31, 2023, to select destinations in Mexico, the Caribbean, Central America and Hawaii. For full details on ACV’s offer, go to https://vacations.aircanada.com/en/all-deals/100221/sunshine-on-savings And for added flexibility, travellers can take advantage of 50% off Air Canada Vacations’ CareFlex travel protection plan when...
Take A Trip Downunder With Goway
Goway is celebrating Downunder Day with deals on its air-inclusive, Australia and New Zealand Combo. The operator’s celebration marks Australia Day (which took place on Jan. 26) and New Zealand’s Waitangi Day which is celebrated on Feb. 6. Travellers who book by Feb. 28 will save US$350/CDN$470 per person on the operator’s Australia and New Zealand Combo. The trip is tailor-made for Downunder first-timers, combining the best of magical Sydney with a few days in gorgeous Auckland. In each city, travellers will see the highlights on escorted tours, then enjoy plenty of free...
AAT Kings Unveils 2023-2024 Season
AAT Kings has unveiled its 2023-2024 Guided Holiday tour season for Australia and New Zealand, with the launch of three new South Australia tours. The new season’s offerings cement South Australia as the next hot international destination. The trips focus again on the places, stories and tastes of Australia -- from incredible, landscapes, to food and drink that immerses guests into the destination. AAT Kings CEO Ben Hall said: “Our new 2023/2024 season showcases the best Australia and New Zealand has to offer and has a real emphasis on South Australia, a bucket list destination...
Sunwing Addresses Disruptions, Impact On Agents
In a statement sent to ACTA following a meeting with the Travel Agency Leaders Advisory Group yesterday (Jan. 25), Sunwing addressed the recent travel disruptions and impact on valued travel advisors, and the company's plan moving forward for the winter season. The tour company’s statement begins: “At Sunwing, we have always remained steadfast in our purpose of making vacation dreams come true and travel advisors are integral to that process, helping our mutual customers choose from a wide variety of all-inclusive resorts located in a number of popular vacation destinations. We...
WeTravel Report Tracks Booking, Payment Trends For 2023
WeTravel has launched its inaugural annual travel trends report, Purchasing Habits: The Future of Travel Bookings and Payments, using data from thousands of tour operators and group travel businesses to understand how travel purchasing is shifting in post-pandemic consumerism. The report is comprised of the business’s internal data from more than 3,000 clients -- that, through the platform, marketed more than 100,000 global tours and multi-day trips, leading to more than half-a-million traveler bookings and payments -- and an external survey of nearly 150 non-WeTravel tour operators...