2017 – The Big Surprise

A viewpoint from Travelsavers' Nicole Mazza

[caption id="attachment_101994" align="alignright" width="250"] Mazza[/caption] Good move We find that more suppliers are moving away from supporting large discounters. As an organization that celebrates the travel professional, we are thrilled that suppliers are moving more towards travel professionals who do not discount their products and provide them a more valuable client. We were also...

 

2017 – The Big Surprise

A viewpoint from Air Canada's Virgilio Russi

[caption id="attachment_101990" align="alignright" width="250"] Russi[/caption] Embracing the future For Air Canada, 2017 was defined by the strong results of our ongoing international expansion strategy. These exceeded all expectations and set records, including for traffic and financial performance. The effect was felt throughout the year, particularly in the third quarter. We ran with an...

 

2017 – The Big Surprise

A viewpoint from TICO's Richard Smart

[caption id="attachment_101978" align="alignright" width="250"] Seen in the photo are TICO’s Susan Janko with Richard Smart.[/caption] Insatiable demand In our 20th year of operations, it is encouraging to observe the continued growth of the travel marketplace fueled no doubt by innovation, service excellence and the insatiable demand of consumers to travel. Perhaps somewhat surprising is...

 

What’s the Next Big Thing?

That’s the million dollar question

[Editor’s Note: We asked The Hotel Insider to offer his take on the Big Surprise of 2017 and give us a hint as to what’s going to be the Next Big Thing. His column makes for some interesting reading.] The Big Surprise Let me preface this answer by stating that I am speaking from a strictly Canadian hotelier’s perspective. Now, we were all prepared for a busy year in 2017, with Canada...

 

Looking back, moving forward

Tour operators talk about the year that was and what’s to come

ANN RUPPENSTEIN From the Trump Slump or the Trump Bump to travel bans and natural disasters, the past year was full of surprising moments that impacted the travel industry. Here we sat down with Canadian and international tour operators to get the lowdown on what was unexpected in 2017 and what to expect in 2018. What a surprise! Looking back at 2017 When asked to identify the most...

 

Travel with a purpose

Bob Mowat (Photos courtesy of The Travel Corporation) [Editor’s note: Craig Kielburger is definitely a visionary and Brett Tollman is not too far behind in that respect. In talking to them about the partnership between the Travel Corporation and Me to We, it became crystal clear that the kind of life-changing experiences that people will have when travelling to any of Me to We’s...

 

Get Ready for the revolution

IATA ready to transform agency settlement system

Mike Dunbar Almost a fortnight ago, IATA member airlines adopted resolutions for the full implementation of the New Generation of IATA Settlement Systems (NewGen ISS, for short) that is destined to completely transform the back-office processes between carriers and travel agents beginning next March. According to IATA, NewGen ISS “represents the most extensive and ambitious modernization of...

 

Have an ‘amazing experience’ in Belize

IAN STALKER (Photo above: Exotic birds ensure that bird-watchers will appreciate Belize.) Archeology enthusiasts are certain to be in their element in Belize. Deborah Gilharry of the Belize Tourist Board told a recent Toronto event that the Central American country was the “heartland” of the Maya civilization and is now home to “the highest concentration of Maya sites in Central...

 

Kiwi Pete onboard as Air New Zealand adds seats

Ted Davis The fact that he has finally found a way to fly is a happy revelation to Kiwi Pete, the new spokes-celebrity for the latest Air New Zealand promotional video. The comedic, normally flightless kiwi continues a tradition of demonstrating Air New Zealand aircraft features using movie stars and fictional personalities to grab viewers’ attention. Characters culled from the Lord of the...

 

Congratulations!! They’re elephants!

IAN STALKER (Photo above: Chad Intrachooto of the Tourism Authority of Thailand met the two newest additions at Baanchang Elephant Park.) Thailand’s Baanchang Elephant Park is looking a little like a maternity ward these days. The Chiang Mai-area park is home to around 45 Asian elephants, including two comparative youngsters, with their arrivals a welcome development, as elephants are...