ANN RUPPENSTEIN
The Canadian contingency on hand for Karisma Hotels & Resorts’ recent 10th Annual Gourmet Inclusive Vacation Consultant (GIVC) Awards – a four day event in Riviera Maya, Mexico celebrating top performing travel professionals from across North America – walked away with notable recognition.
“Canada remains a top priority for Karisma,” Mandy Chomat, chief marketing...
ASHLEY ROCHEFORT
(Photo above: Kimpton Seafire Resort & Spa)
When hotel brand, Kimpton, opened its Seafire Resort & Spa on the shores of Grand Cayman’s famed Seven Mile Beach in November 2016, it marked the start of a chain reaction of revitalization and development projects across the island.
Over the next few years, the Cayman Islands will see the completion of several...
JOHN BOULDING
[Editor’s Note: In this week’s issue, well-known industry veteran, John Boulding takes a thoughtful look at overtourism – a topic that’s getting more and more attention these days. His commentary makes for some interesting reading.]
The travel press recently picked up on some TripAdvisor research identifying the lengthiest lines at tourist attractions around the world,...
ANN RUPPENSTEIN
Once a year, a chosen group of travel agents from coast to coast gather in Toronto with one main objective: to become adventure specialists.
Put on by G Adventures at the adventure operator’s Base Camp over the course of a weekend, the interactive Special Agent G (SAG) program goes far beyond educating the trade about the company, says Denise Harper, director of sales,...
IAN STALKER
(Photo above: Sky Bike riders will get a great view of their surroundings. (Photo/ Ian Stalker)
Ecuador’s Mashpi Lodge is inviting pedal-pushers and their possibly less-energetic companions to enjoy a toucan’s-eye view of the surrounding cloud forest.
National Geographic-affiliated Mashpi’s attractions include the Sky Bike, which has cloud forest explorers travel for some...
Armando Mendonca
(Photo above: Seen, from l to r, are Armando Mendonca, AMPM & Lifestyle & Diversity columnist for Canadian Travel Press with Elizabeth Ohayon and Eric Lauzon from Air Canada.)
Air Canada, Visit Berlin and Vienna Tourist Board recently hosted a reception at Le Saloon Bistro off Ste. Catherine Street in the heart of Montreal’s “Le Village.”
Eric Lauzon, Air...
ANN RUPPENSTEIN
They’re movers and shakers. Their contributions have changed and continue to change the nature of travel, both in Canada and around the world. In this week’s issue, Canadian Travel Press’ series of profiles on Women in Travel continues for the last instalment of 2017, featuring Booking.com’s CEO Gillian Tans.
Although Booking.com is now one of the largest travel...
[caption id="attachment_102002" align="alignright" width="250"] Stephanie Bishop and friends at Kilimanjaro[/caption]
Exceeding expectation
We sensed that domestic travel was going to experience a big bump this year due to Canada 150, and we planned accordingly. We added, for example, several more departures on the Globus Newfoundland & Labrador tour. But the demand exceeded even that...
[caption id="attachment_102005" align="alignright" width="250"] Boyer[/caption]
Not afraid to travel
In 2017, the world saw a number of political, terrorist, and environmental situations around the globe that could have impacted Canadians’ willingness to travel. There were acts of terrorism in favourite tourism destinations like Britain and France.
There was also a series of terrible...
[caption id="attachment_101997" align="alignright" width="250"] Friisdahl with TTAND’s Penny Martin. Photo: Details Group.[/caption]
Home at last
I think the big surprise in 2017 was the number of travel agents and specifically travel agencies that decided to make the move to going home-based or being hosted.
I say this as I know it has been a good year for all host agencies in Canada,...
