Travelweek - March 17, 2022

Canada’s Travel Trade News March 17, 2022 travelweek.ca

FUTURE OF

TRAVEL INDUSTRY EXPERTS TACKLE THE BIG ISSUES IN THIS RAPIDLY-CHANGING START TO 2022 Page 3

+ NEW DIRECTION FOR THE TRAVEL CORPORATION Page 22 CODESHARE DEAL FOR AIR TRANSAT, PORTER Page 23 IS THE D.R. ON THE MAP FOR SANDALS? Page 30

Canada’s Travel Trade News March 17, 2022 travelweek.ca

FUTURE OF

TRAVEL INDUSTRY EXPERTS TACKLE THE BIG ISSUES IN THIS RAPIDLY-CHANGING START TO 2022 Page 3

+ NEW DIRECTION FOR THE TRAVEL CORPORATION Page 22 CODESHARE DEAL FOR AIR TRANSAT, PORTER Page 23 IS THE D.R. ON THE MAP FOR SANDALS? Page 30

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TOP NEWS

Bookings up, but waiting for more financial aid: ‘Future of Travel: 2022’ highlights turning point for industry

By Kathryn Folliott TORONTO — Travelweek’s latest ‘Future of Travel’ virtual conference - the sixth since the start of the pandemic - couldn’t have come at a better time.

The travel advisory had just dropped to a Level 2 days before, and pre-arrival testing requirements had expanded to include the option of rapid antigen tests. Restrictions against unvaccinated young travellers had eased. And bookings were finally taking off again.

As travel advisors leaned in to the new wave of pent-up demand - a long-promised pent-up demand, after two years of the pandemic - the message they heard from keynote speakers at ‘Future of Travel: 2022’ was in sync with their ringing phones and ramped-up email intakes.

Travel was on its way back.

Agents tuning into the virtual conference heard about tour updates, FUTURE OF TRAVEL: 2022

and news about new ships, and teasers for new resorts, all packed into a streamlined two-hour format.

“This year the question will not be ‘How are you doing?’, but ‘Where are you travelling?’,” joked keynote speaker, Pascal Prinz, Chair, Canada, European Travel Commission.

He adds that Europe’s tourism boards are looking forward to the new year and new influx of visitors.

It’s about time. The travel industry has been hit harder than almost any other sector by the pandemic.

While the uptick in travel is welcome, the trade is still waiting to hear about extensions for financial aid, a topic addressed by another keynote speaker, the federal government’s Minister of Tourism and Associate Minister of Finance, Randy Boissonnault.

Along with the ETC’s Prinz, and Minister Boissonnault, the event featured CATO chair Brett Walker, as well as reps from Globus family

of brands, Scenic Cruises, Emerald Cruises, Barbados Tourism Marketing Inc. and Bahia Principe.

‘Future of Travel: 2022’ also included special guests AMR Collection, Quark Expeditions, Sandals Resorts, Grenada, Germany, Ireland, Flanders and France.

Budget day coming The federal government’s Budget 2022 will be unveiled in the coming weeks, and travel advisors will be waiting to see if their urgent calls for more financial aid have been heeded. There’s a lot of secrecy leading up to the budget, and the travel industry won’t know until Budget Day if the government truly has its back.

Minister Boissonnault spoke to Bill C-2 and programs like the Tourism and Hospitality Recovery Program and its rent and wage subsidies. THRP is currently slated to begin ramping down in mid-March, and end in May. “These measures were always intended to be temporary measures,” he said. “Those measures need to and will taper off.

At the same time we know that the hospitality sector, the tourism sector is the hardest hit.”

However he added: “My officials and I are looking into it. We hear the sector clearly. And we will be able to update the sector as we come to a decision on the timing for these programs and any possible extensions.”

Minister Boissonnault addressed the Independent Travel Agent Relief Program (ITARP) proposal as well. ITARP has been presented to the federal government March 17, 2022 | TRAVELWEEK | 3

TOP NEWS as a possible solution to help fill the gap for financial aid for independent travel agents who don’t qualify for other aid programs. “I have met with members of ACITA and I understand their predicament,” he said. “We are looking into this issue. I’m working with officials … to see what we can do.”

“There’s definitely a gap right now” Brett Walker, Chair, CATO, also spoke to concerns for the industry’s recovery, given that many bookings made now have departure dates that are several months out.

According to CATO’s stats, the typical booking window is just under six months. And while many travel agents and tour operators are seeing a shortened booking window in these first weeks of eased travel restrictions, there’s still a long timeline from booking to payment (including commission payments) for many trips.

“We will begin to see bookings come in. But those bookings may not be for travel until the third or fourth quarter of 2022, or possibly even 2023,” said Walker. “The concern is that the industry does not realize any of that revenue until after travelling. So there's definitely a gap right now between the support that the industry is receiving and this announcement allowing the industry to begin to recover.”

Many Canadians are still wary of travel, plus even if people are game, there’s some inertia and fear after two long years, he adds. “We

TRAVELWEEK

have been cautioned as consumers and as an industry, not to travel for simply too long, for there to be an immediate bump,” said Walker.

“But the good news is that we're going in the right direction.”

Walker adds that as long as pre-arrival testing requirements remain, “most if not all CATO members will be facilitating the testing, if not paying for it. I think most will be facilitating.”

Wide range of product awaits When clients are ready to travel, a wide range of great product awaits. Henry Perez, Director of Sales & Marketing, USA & Canada, Bahia Principe, spoke about Bahia Principe’s new Cayo Levantado Resort, scheduled to open in the D.R. at the end of 2022. “We are creating a unique and sustainable resort where you can experience a rhythm of its own … the resort is as unique as anything you will find in the Caribbean,” said Perez.

Also a top sun destination, Barbados is eager to welcome Canadians back. Especially those who already know and love the island. Marsha Alleyne, Chief Product Development Officer, Barbados Tourism Marketing Inc., noted that Canada gives Barbados its second highest market for repeat guests.

Over at Globus family of brands, Carla Brake, Director of Business Development, says the company’s entire portfolio “is available and ready to book”, from Globus to Cosmos to Monograms to Avalon Waterways. The company recently launched its ‘Just Say YES’ agent incentive, with weekly prizes and a free Avalon Waterways cruise in 2022. Running through April 1, 2022, the contest gifts travel

130 Queens Quay East, Suite 512, Toronto, Ontario M5A 0P6 Tel: 416.365.1500 Fax: 416.365.1504 Toll-free: 1.855.392.8820 Web: www.travelweek.ca

SUBSCRIPTION RATES (PER YEAR)

Canada: $85 Canadian + $4.25 GST per year United States & International: $100 US per year

advisors with one entry for every passenger booked during the booking window. Winners are announced every Tuesday at 2 p.m.

(EST) at the company’s Facebook page for its travel agent partners.

More details are at agentlingo.ca.

Meanwhile both Emerald Waterways and Scenic Cruises are seeing more and more bookings from the Canadian market.

Emerald’s new superyacht, Emerald Azzurra, has launched, and Emerald Sakara is due next year.

“We like to say that everyone deserves to feel like a billionaire on a superyacht without needing to be one. It's really an exciting product and the Canadians love the warm weather destinations that we go to,” says Patricia Wu, Brand Director, Emerald Cruises Canada.

Lisa Willey, BDM for Western Canada for Scenic Luxury Cruises and Tours Canada, says Scenic is seeing high booking volumes from new-to-cruising travellers.

Upwards of 65% of 2022 and 2023 bookings are new customers for Scenic, and “many of those are new river cruisers as well,” says Willey. “We’re definitely seeing there's a comfort in small, intimate and uncrowded environments.”

Scenic Eclipse kicked off 2022 in Antarctica, adds Willey, who notes that passenger reaction to the ship and the bucket-list itinerary has been “overwhelmingly positive”.

Meanwhile the brand new Scenic Eclipse II, identical in design to sister ship Scenic Eclipse, will join the fleet in early 2023.

Scenic’s two discovery yachts will offer a new collection of 85 voyages featuring brand new destinations for the cruise line, including new ports in Indonesia, Polynesia, the Pacific Islands, Australia, the Caribbean and Scotland.

CONTENTS COPYRIGHTED We acknowledge the financial support of the Government of Canada.

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4 | TRAVELWEEK | March 17, 2022

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FUTURE OF TRAVEL

6 | TRAVELWEEK | March 17, 2022

FUTURE OF TRAVEL

Bahia Principe Hotels & Resorts unveils new Cayo Levantado Resort Project MIAMI — Bahia Principe Hotels & Resorts has unveiled its 2022-2025 strategic plan, designed to solidify its presence in the Caribbean and maintain its commitment to sustainability.

In the upcoming years, the company will take concrete steps towards solidifying its competitive edge by launching global projects and increasing digitalization across business units. A new ‘asset-light’ strategy has been implemented, which will see the brand expand into new business lines and achieve new goals, both in terms of brand and geographic scope without losing its all-inclusive vacation identity.

Launching in the last quarter of 2022 is the Cayo Levantado Resort Project. Located on the private island of Samaná Bay in the Dominican Republic, this completely rebranded and renovated property will invite guests to explore the many delights of the country through its ‘A Rhythm All Its Own’ concept. Bahia Principe has sealed an alliance between the Cayo Levantado Resort and Forbes Travel Guide to prove its commitment to the guest experience.

“We want to position the Cayo Levantado Resort Project as an important benchmark in the

BAHIA PRINCIPE, CAYO LEVANTADO RESORT

Dominican Republic, a reference of sorts that will allow us to initiate the asset-light business model and showcase our ability to successfully undertake such an ambitious project,” said Antonio Teijeiro, COO of Bahia Principe Hotels & Resorts.

“This major milestone also demonstrates Bahia Principe’s commitment to improving its offers, adding value to the tourism sector and contributing to the development of the country and the local community.”

WE WANT TO POSITION THE CAYO LEVANTADO RESORT PROJECT AS AN IMPORTANT BENCHMARK IN THE DOMINICAN REPUBLIC.

At the core of the resort’s individuality are three key pillars: • Environment: The brand will aim to establish a benchmark as the leading self-sufficient resort, focusing on renewable energy and a waste management strategy in addition to opting for native gardening and landscaping.

• Local Culture: The brand will collaborate with local designers, interior decorators and architects, ultimately contributing to both the economic development of the area and the integration of its distinct culture and people.

• Wellness: The resort will incorporate top-tier wellness practices and disciplines into every category of its offerings, including gastronomy, relaxation and outdoor activities.

For details go to www.bahiaprincipe.com.

March 17, 2022 | TRAVELWEEK | 7

FUTURE OF TRAVEL

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FUTURE OF TRAVEL

Transatlantic travel will be the fastest long-haul market, says ETC

Credit: European Travel Commission

TORONTO — With Europe open to vaccinated travellers, the European Travel Commission (ETC) has released its most recent edition of the ‘European Tourism Trends & Prospects’ quarterly report, which examines how travel activity is rebounding across the region.

According to the report, European destinations continue to see weak travel activity from Canada, with many countries registering declines in Canadian arrivals of more than 85%. This performance is likely attributed to Canada’s travel rules and travel advisories, which were recently eased on Feb. 28, 2022.

Looking into the future, annual average growth from Canada to Europe is expected to be 38% in the five-year period 2020-2025, with the fastest increase in Southern Europe (44.8%).

Driven by strong domestic and intra-European travel, the overall

travel demand is projected to be 20% below pre-pandemic levels in 2022. Domestic travel is expected to exceed pre-pandemic peaks in 2022, while international travel will be slower on the uptake and is not likely to fully recover until 2024.

Transatlantic travel is likely to be a key driver of long-haul recovery.

Long-haul travel as a whole should exceed 2019 volumes in 2025, with the long-haul share of international visitors expected to exceed the pre-pandemic peak by 2027.

According to the latest ETC LongHaul Travel Barometer, good flight connections between Canada and Europe are a key driver of positive sentiment about European travel, with younger generations most likely to travel long-haul during 2022 (57% of 18-34 year olds, 46% of 35-49 year olds, and 32% of 50+).

The Barometer also found that COVID-19 concerns are the main deterrent to international travel

for Canadians (48%), with travel costs (12%) and restrictions in destination (8%) also slightly above the combined average of long-haul markets. Knowing that the country is effectively handling the pandemic (30%), flexible cancellation policies (28%), fully lifted travel restrictions (27%), getting vaccinated for COVID-19 (25%) and appropriate health protocols (23%) are the main factors for boosting Canadian travellers’ confidence.

In terms of where Canadians would like to travel to, more than half (54%) of respondents cited France, Italy, the U.K. and Germany as their top destination of choice. Meanwhile, coastal and mountainous regions appear to be in equal demand among Canadians, both 27%.

For more information go to www. etc-corporate.org.

GOOD FLIGHT CONNECTIONS BETWEEN CANADA AND EUROPE ARE A KEY DRIVER OF POSITIVE SENTIMENT ABOUT EUROPEAN TRAVEL. March 17, 2022 | TRAVELWEEK | 9

FUTURE OF TRAVEL

Here’s what’s new with Emerald Cruises’ 2023 Europe collection VANCOUVER — Emerald Cruises’ 2023 Europe river cruise collection includes a brand new Danube sailing, plus new city-stay extensions in some of Europe’s most celebrated destinations.

Guests booking 2023 European river cruises also qualify for airfare and suite upgrade savings, as well as early payment discounts. Bookings on itineraries of 15 days or more will include free, roundtrip airfare to Europe, while bookings of 8- to 15-day sailings (excluding those on the Douro River) will include $295 roundtrip air per person. All Douro river cruises in Portugal will include $395 roundtrip air per person, and

bookings of five-day sailings will include $495 roundtrip air per person. Guests will also save $250 per person on a suite upgrade on 15day sailings, while those booking shorter voyages will receive $150 per person off their upgrade.

Finally, all guests paying for their sailing in full 12 months in advance of departure will receive an additional Super Earlybird savings of 10% off per couple. This offer is valid through March 31, 2022.

New additions to the 2023 program include: • ‘The Great Danube’ river cruise: Sailing from Passau to Belgrade, this new 11-day itinerary priced from $6,445 per person includes a vineyard hike with tasting in Weissenkirchen, a guided bike tour in the Wachau Valley and a visit to Serbia’s second city, Novi Sad. • City-stay Extensions: New additions to the city-stay extension program for 2023 include Copenhagen, Munich and Oktoberfest, and Seville. Alternatively, an unforgettable

journey through the central Swiss Alps with the new three-day ‘Swiss Glacier Express’ program is available for guests sailing on the ‘Jewels of the Rhine’ itinerary.

• New ports of call: While on the best-selling, eight-day ‘Danube Delights’ river cruise, which sails from Regensburg to Budapest, guests will explore new ports including the quaint market town of Engelhartszell, home to a magnificent monastery and church, as well as the historic city of Krems, renowned for its wine production. Prices for the eight-day cruise start at $4,245 per person.

To provide peace of mind, all bookings made by March 31, 2022 come with the company’s Flexible Booking Policy, which allows guests to defer travel plans and transfer to an alternate departure date or itinerary up to 60 days prior to departure, with no Emerald Cruises fees.

For more information go to emeraldcruises.ca.

2023 Europe River Cruises Sale

Tips Always Included Drinks with Select Meals

Our 2023 Europe river cruising collection is now on sale. Take advantage of our special flight offers plus special suite upgrade savings, all combined with our exceptional EmeraldVALUE. New for 2023! Discover our 11-day Great Danube River Cruise sailing from Passau to Belgrade.

Order your 2023 Brochure available in April at envoynetworks.ca emeraldcruises.ca | 855 444 0161 © EMERALD CRUISES ALL RIGHTS RESERVED | BC CONSUMER PROTECTION #40178.

10 | TRAVELWEEK | March 17, 2022

FUTURE OF TRAVEL

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VANCOUVER — Scenic is going global with its 2023/24 sailing collection, visiting all seven continents onboard its expanded fleet of Discovery Yachts.

With the introduction of Scenic Eclipse II, which joins the fleet in early 2023, guests will be able to sail further than ever before, to more than 50 countries, making it Scenic’s largest-ever collection of ultra-luxury ocean voyages.

New itineraries for 2023/24 include ‘Antarctica Insights: Fly and Cruise,’ which provides guests the option to fly either in both directions or just one direction. This

2023/2024

*Terms & Conditions: For full terms and conditions relating to the offers above, please visit sceniceclipse.com. Scenic Luxury Cruises & Tours is a division of ST Touring Canada Ltd. Office is located at Suite 1025, 401 West Georgia Street, Vancouver BC, V6B 5A1, Canada BC consumer protection #40178

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Seven continents, one season: Scenic’s 2023/24 collection is its largest ever

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2022-03-10 3:49 PM

nine- or 10-day journey begins (or ends) in Punta Arenas, Chile with a two-hour flight to/from King George Island. Once in Antarctica, guests join one of the Discovery Yachts to begin their exploration of the Antarctic Peninsula. Fares start at $21,437 per person, double.

Also new is the 11-day ‘Discover the Kimberley Coastline,’ priced from $16,807 and sailing from Darwin to Broome, and the 18-day ‘Wild Frontiers: Franz Josef Land Archipelago,’ priced from $29,012 and exploring the Russian High Arctic and Novaya Zemlya. Other new itineraries include the 13-day ‘Caribbean Sojourn’ from Nassau to Bridgetown, the 13-day ‘Passage through Melanesia: Solomon Islands & Vanuatu’ from Cairns to Fiji, the 9-day ‘Scottish Isles: Historic Trails & Wilderness’ from Edinburgh to Dublin, and more.

Scenic is currently offering savings of up to 20% per person on 2023/24 voyages when booked

and paid in full 12 months prior to departure. All Scenic Eclipse voyages include return flights, transfers, up to 10 fine dining experiences, premium branded beverages and excursions. All new bookings are covered by Scenic’s Flexible Booking Policy, enabling guests to defer their cruise to another travel date or itinerary up to 60 days prior to departure.

To learn more about the season, Scenic’s health and safety protocols and exclusive bonus offers, travel agents are invited to attend the company’s free, in-person Travel Showcase information sessions, taking place in 15 cities across Canada throughout March.

Sessions are also open to clients and consumers. To register and for all dates go to https://linktr.ee/ verpesarillo.

Scenic’s new 2023/2024 Worldwide Discovery Voyages brochure is available now via Envoy Networks.

March 17, 2022 | TRAVELWEEK | 11

FUTURE OF TRAVEL

Just Say

YES

Eilean-Donan Castle, Scotland

UNDISCOVERED TOURS As your clients escape the confines of their homes and journey back to travel, we invite them to trade the roar of Rome for the tranquility of Tuscany; the clamour of city crowds for the calm of the Greek Isles; the sea of tourists for the quiet coasts of Scotland. To wander without worry, trek without trepidation and discover the space they need—from cliffs to valleys to volcanoes—with “Undiscovered” tours in Italy, Great Britain, and the Mediterranean.

Bonnie Scotland

Hidden Treasures of Southern Italy

Idyllic Aegean with 7-Night Cruise

7 days | Glasgow to Edinburgh $2,719 | Sep 22, 2022

9 days | Naples to Sorrento $2,899 | Oct 24, 2022

11 days | roundtrip from Athens $4,359 | May 5, 12 & Oct 6, 2022

Other Undiscovered vacations and departure dates available, please inquire.

For a full list of our Undiscovered vacations, please visit: https://agents.globusfamily.ca/undiscovered-tours/.

WWW.AGENTLINGO.CA | RESERVATIONS: 800.268.1639 INSIDE SALES: 888.268.1928 | CANADIANGROUPS@GLOBUSFAMILY.CA 3280 Bloor St. W, Centre Tower, Suite 400, Toronto, ON M8X 2X3, TICO#1893755/50015835 12 | TRAVELWEEK | March 17, 2022

FUTURE OF TRAVEL

Globus has close-to-home itineraries for 2022 TORONTO — Globus is reminding travellers that “there’s so much to see, this side of the sea,” with several close-to-home getaway options in 2022.

“For travellers interested in staying near ‘home sweet home’ with a backyard getaway, we’re excited to pave the road back to travel,” says Stéphanie Bishop, managing director for the Globus family of brands.

“This includes getaways that offer travellers the beauty they expect from North America with a flair of Europe they’ve been missing.”

As an added incentive, travellers who book a 2022 Globus North America vacation can save $300 per couple. Here are some suggested itineraries: • California Classics (10 days): This itinerary travels along California’s Central Coast, highlighting its cute cottages, towering bluffs, quaint cafes and wineries.

• Cape Cod & the Islands (8 days): For those craving the French QUEBEC CITY

BANFF NATIONAL PARK

Riviera, this itinerary along the Northeast’s coast features breezy coastal walkways and architectural wonders from the gilded age in Newport, Rhode Island.

• Majestic Rockies (11 days): Reminiscent of Switzerland’s majestic peaks, the Canadian Rockies are equally spectacular on this close-to-home getaway.

• Québec in Depth with the Gaspé Peninsula (11 days): While on this journey, guests will enjoy

the café-lined promenades of Quebec City and the music-filled streets of Montreal.

• Wonders of the Maritimes & Scenic Cape Breton (9 days): Nova Scotia is home to the largest Scottish Gaelic-speaking community outside of Scotland. While on this journey, guests will see red-andwhite-striped lighthouses, salty fishing harbours and towering cliffside coasts that mirror the destination’s Scottish roots.

• Historic Cities of Eastern Canada (9 days): No place does Europe better than Quebec City and Montreal. Highlights include cobblestoned streets, café-lined town squares and beautiful basilicas.

For 2022, Globus and sister brand Cosmos are making group experiences even smaller on all itineraries worldwide, including hundreds of North America departures, with Small-Group Discovery tours. With an average of just 24 guests per tour departure, these small-group journeys promise more room to roam while getting up close and personal with the world’s most fascinating places.

For more information go to www.agentlingo.ca.

March 17, 2022 | TRAVELWEEK | 13

FUTURE OF TRAVEL

AMR Collection launches Bvlgari contest for Canadian agents

Prizes are non-transferrable, may not be substituted and are not redeemable for cash. The following prizes will be awarded before July 15, 2022 to the top five winners that are chosen at random: • First prize (one winner): Bvlgari watch worth up to $5,000 • Second prize (two winners): Bvlgari gift worth up to $700, women’s

leather wallet or men’s silk tie and leather wallet • Third prize (two winners): Bvlgari gift worth up to $500, women’s credit card holder and fragrance or men’s keyholder and fragrance For more information go to www.AMRAgents.com.

The contest comes on the heels of the December 2021 grand opening

Credit: AMR Collection

TORONTO — AMR Collection has launched a Bvlgari Incentive Contest for Canadian travel agents at participating Zoëtry Wellness & Spa Resorts.

Travel agents who book and register 10 or more room nights at a Zoëtry Wellness & Spa Resort into AMRewards from Jan. 31, 2022 through Aug. 20, 2022, for travel between Feb. 1, 2022 through Aug. 31, 2022 will be entered for a chance to win select prizes.

Participating resorts include: Zoëtry Agua Punta Cana; Zoëtry Casa Del Mar Los Cabos; Zoëtry Curaçao Resort & Spa; Zoëtry Montego Bay Jamaica; Zoëtry Paraiso de la Bonita Riviera Maya; and Zoëtry Villa Rolandi Isla Mujeres Cancun.

14 | TRAVELWEEK | March 17, 2022

of Zoëtry Casa Del Mar Los Cabos, located in the heart of Los Cabos’ Tourist Corridor. This newly renovated resort returns to the AMR Collection portfolio after operating as an independent resort since 2015. Highlights include 57 luxurious accommodations with views of the Sea of Cortez and private furnished terraces or balconies, a private beach club, two restaurants and two bars, four pools and the Zoëtry Spa, which spans nearly 5,424 square feet. Guests also enjoy exclusive rates at nearby Cabo Real, Club Campestre and Puerto Los Cabos golf courses.

As part of the resort’s renovations, all guestrooms have been enhanced as well as the lobby area, fitness centre and El Arroyo restaurant. A new oceanfront restaurant, Saltwater, has also been added.

For more details go to www.AMRCollection.com.

Quark Expeditions unveils details of its Antarctic 2023/2024 SEATTLE — Quark Expeditions, a leader in Polar adventures, has unveiled a robust Antarctic 2023/2024 season featuring nine itineraries

Credit: Acacia Johnson

FUTURE OF TRAVEL

PORT CHARCOT

designed to empower travellers to tap into their inner explorer.

Over 50 departures ranging from 8-23 days are available, and include: • Antarctic Express: Fly the Drake (8 days) • Antarctic Express: Crossing the Circle (11 days) • Antarctic Explorer: Discovering the 7th Continent (10, 11 or 12 days) • Antarctic Explorer: Discovering the 7th Continent plus Cape Horn & Diego Ramirez (13 days) • Crossing the Circle: Southern Expedition (14 days) • Essential Patagonia: Chilean Fjords and Torres del Paine (15 days) • South Georgia and Antarctic Peninsula: Penguin Safari (16 days) • Falklands, South Georgia and Antarctica: Explorers and Kings (20 days) • Epic Antarctica: Crossing the

Circle via Falklands (Malvinas) & South Georgia (23 days) “With our Antarctica 23.24 season, we want more than ever before to take travellers beyond the predictable and the ordinary during their polar voyage,” says Thomas Lennartz, Vice-president of Sales for Quark Expeditions.

“Quark Expeditions has always explored Antarctica differently from other operators, and in the Antarctic 23.24 season we’ll heighten our efforts to take our guests to explore like never before.

“Our data has been very clear: guests just don’t want to see things - they want to experience them.

They want to venture farther than most others dream of, and to discover nature at its rawest.”

For more information go to www.quarkexpeditions.com.

March 17, 2022 | TRAVELWEEK | 15

FUTURE OF TRAVEL

Grenada highlights agent program, discounts and voluntourism opportunities ST. GEORGE’S, GRENADA — As more and more travellers return to its shores, Grenada is reminding travel agents about the many reasons to book the tri-island destination.

Comprising Grenada, Carriacou and Petite Martinique in the Eastern Caribbean, Grenada has launched the new Grenada Travel Expert Program, an e-learning program that allows travel agents to acquire the necessary knowledge to become an expert in selling the destination. Recognizing the importance of agents, particularly now as international travel continues to make its comeback, the Grenada Tourism Authority (GTA) developed the program to provide vital updates on its health and safety protocols, new hotels and attractions, airlift as well as agent incentives, including cash rewards. Go to https://expert.puregrenada.com.

To further increase awareness of the island, the Ministry of Tourism and the GTA also launched ‘Simple Stays Grenada,’ consisting of 16 properties that offer affordable accommodations. Anyone who books

16 | TRAVELWEEK | March 17, 2022

GRAND ANSE BEACH, GRENADA

a stay at a participating property can take advantage of special discounts of up to 50% off for a host of activities, including chocolate making, river tubing, kayaking and more. For details go to https://simplestays.puregrenada.com/.

Finally, with trends indicating that travellers are looking for more meaningful experiences, the GTA has launched its new Voluntourism Program that allows visitors to engage with the local community while making a tangible impact.

Opportunities are available year round in a variety of sectors such as agriculture, environment, education and health. For more details go to https://www.puregrenada. com/voluntourism/.

THE NEW GRENADA TRAVEL EXPERT PROGRAM ALLOWS TRAVEL AGENTS TO ACQUIRE THE NECESSARY KNOWLEDGE TO BECOME AN EXPERT IN SELLING THE DESTINATION.

FUTURE OF TRAVEL

March 17, 2022 | TRAVELWEEK | 17

WORLD NEWS

HOTELS

UKRAINE RELIEF Many travel companies have stepped up with support for Ukraine in the wake of the Russian invasion. A special cargo flight operated by Air Canada on behalf of disaster logistics non-profit Airlink, Project C.U.R.E. and more brought medical supplies and hospital beds to Warsaw, to help Ukrainian refugees arriving in that country. Medical and trauma supplies for a Ukrainian hospital were onboard as well, provided by GlobalMedic. The Collette Foundation, Collette’s charitable arm, has pledged $200,000 to support humanitarian efforts in Ukraine. Other companies pitching in include Intrepid and TravelBrands, which in addition to a lump sum donation is also donating $5 from every booking to the Canadian Red Cross for Ukraine aid.

CRUISE In the wake of Canada’s eased cruise travel restrictions, cruise lines are getting back on board with Canadian ports.

Holland America’s 2022 Alaska cruises depart from Vancouver and call at Victoria. Cunard, which returned to Alaska in 2019 to much fanfare, is now preparing for its 2022 summer season in Alaska on the Queen Elizabeth, with time in Vancouver. And Princess sails to and from Vancouver on its ‘Voyage of the Glaciers’, plus Alaska cruises sailing from Seattle and San Francisco visit Victoria. There are plenty of

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Canadian ports on Holland America’s and Princess Cruises’ Canada and New England voyages too.

ENTRY RULES Entry requirements are easing for more and more destinations by the week.

The Bahamas recently announced that all persons travelling to the islands are no longer required to take a COVID-19 rapid antigen test on the fifth day of travel, regardless of vaccination status. Belize has also dropped its negative COVID-19 test requirement for fully vaccinated travellers. To Costa Rica, effective April 1, travellers will no longer be required to complete an online Health Pass for entry.

Additionally, unvaccinated travellers will no longer be required to purchase a travel insurance policy. Dominica and Saint Lucia have also eased entry requirements.

Meanwhile Ireland has removed all COVID-19 travel restrictions; visitors are no longer required to complete a passenger location form to travel, provide proof of vaccination or recovery, or take a COVID-19 test for entry into the country.

Hilton is set to debut the Curio Collection by Hilton brand on Galapagos Island this summer, following a franchise agreement with Serinatura S.A. Formerly the Royal Palm Galapagos Hotel, the conversion of the renowned property will take place July 2022, at which point it will be known as the Royal Palm Galapagos, Curio Collection by Hilton. Upon opening, it will represent the first international hotel brand name with a presence in the destination. Located on the Galapagos Island of Santa Cruz, the boutique hotel will offer 21 casitas and villas, a pool, fitness centre and the only fine dining restaurant located inside a cavern within one of the property’s lava tunnels.

COVID TESTING Switch Health, GTAA and Metrolinx have teamed up to offer travellers coming to Toronto Pearson on the UP Express a new option for pre-departures testing. The new clinic is located at the UPStairs lounge on the second floor above the Union Station UP Express platform.

It’s available for commuters using UP Express, GO Transit riders, residents and visitors to Toronto’s central business district, and is open to everyone who is asymptomatic.

NEWS

WestJet’s summer 2022 schedule brings network back to near prepandemic levels CALGARY — WestJet has released its summer 2022 schedule, with a restored network to near pre-pandemic levels.

Among the highlights, WestJet is adding new daily nonstop service between Toronto and Chicago, starting in May. And to Europe, WestJet’s transatlantic network will offer more nonstop options across the country from Calgary, Vancouver, Toronto and Halifax.

“We know Canadians are ready to make their highly anticipated return to travel this summer, so whether it's reconnecting with friends and family, or taking that long overdue trip, we are here to help our guests make up for lost time,” said John Weatherill, Chief Commercial Officer, WestJet.

At the height of the summer season WestJet will offer 43 domestic, 23 transborder, 16 Caribbean and eight transatlantic destinations.

That amounts to 94% of WestJet’s pre-pandemic routes with 600+ daily departures network-wide.

Last month WestJet Group’s Swoop announced its summer 2022 plans, including an expansion of its domestic network.

WESTJET’S TRANSATLANTIC ROUTES WestJet is restoring transatlantic connections from across Canada this summer, with a significant reinvestment in its Atlantic gateway, notably through increased service between Halifax to Paris, London, Dublin, Glasgow and Edinburgh.

WestJet will also re-introduce connectivity to Rome with nonstop service from Calgary.

"Our guests have long awaited a return to international travel," said Weatherill. "These routes create a significant visitor pipeline from Europe and demonstrate WestJet's commitment to leading the travel and tourism industry's recovery.”

MORE FLIGHTS OUT OF ALBERTA WestJet is also restoring service levels across Alberta to pre-pandemic levels, with 180+ daily departures from both Calgary and Edmonton this summer.

WestJet's service between Alberta and Europe will increase 43% versus 2019, supported by new routes and increased nonstop options to London Gatwick, Paris and Dublin.

From Calgary, WestJet will offer 142 daily departures, to 35 domestic destinations, 16 transborder and eight international.

And from Edmonton, WestJet will offer 38 daily departures, to 15 domestic destinations, and two transborder.

TICO issues closure advisory for Crystal, with Comp Fund claim and commission info TORONTO — Visitors to Crystal Cruises’ website will now find themselves redirected to a claims site.

The site has been set up by Florida-based Michael Moecker & Associates, the insolvency assignee. The URL is crystalcruiseclaims.com.

Out-of-pocket passengers can download a Consumer Claim Form from the site. There’s also a General / Vendor Claim Form. In both instances, “to receive any dividend in these proceedings, a Proof of Claim form must be completed and delivered to the Assignee with supporting documentation by June 11, 2022,” according to the site.

There’s also an FAQ section, including an email address for Michael Moecker & Associates.

Crystal Cruises announced in January 2022 that it was suspending operations. That announcement followed parent company Genting Hong Kong’s bankruptcy protection filings, after months of rumours for the troubled company.

After dramatic diversions to The Bahamas, both Crystal Symphony and Crystal Serenity were seized, as was expedition ship Crystal Endeavor.

Long one of the industry’s most respected and well-loved luxury cruises lines, Crystal’s demise was confirmed in February 2022 by interim president Jack Anderson.

TICO’S ADVICE FOR AGENTS In its closure advisory for Crystal Cruises, TICO says that because no one knows how long the consumer claims process will take, or what the level of reimbursement might be, “we advise consumers to file a March 17, 2022 | TRAVELWEEK | 19

NEWS claim with the Ontario Travel Compensation Fund at the same time to avoid missing the claim filing date (August 12, 2022).”

TICO also notes that travel agents may also be eligible to recover commission payments from Crystal Cruises through the claims process.

Currently TICO is directing travel agents who are owed commission to the General / Vendor Claim Form at crystalcruiseclaims.com. TICO tells agents: “The claim would be under the General/Vendor Claim Form option. If necessary, please download the claim form and submit the supporting documentation to the address listed on the form by no later than June 11, 2022.” See TICO.ca for more information.

Transat in talks with federal govt. for more financial aid MONTREAL — Transat reported a $114.3 million loss for Q1 2022, however the company is staying the course and proceeding with its recovery plans as travel picks up for the months ahead.

Transat’s Q1 revenue totalled $202.4 million, up from $41.9 million year over year.

“While we were in the midst of a strong recovery, with November and December results matching our targets, the emergence of the Omicron variant brought our sales to a temporary halt between mid-December and early February.

Subsequently, and particularly after the easing of restrictive measures at the borders, bookings picked up again, for both winter and summer, which augurs well for the coming months,” said Annick Guérard, President and CEO of Transat.

“We therefore intend to continue with our initial strategic plan and stay the course for the summer.

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Our recovery plan has allowed us to recall approximately 500 employees since the start of November and we are delighted to see that many of our customers in Canada and Europe are eager to travel after two years of the pandemic,” said Guérard.

She noted that Transat’s codesharing agreement with Porter Airlines, announced last week, points to Transat’s progress towards its longer term strategic goals.

Guérard added: “The deferral of certain terms of our financing under the Large Employer Emergency Financing Facility (LEEFF), as well as the securing an additional $43.3 million for refunding travellers, will facilitate our recovery following the resurgence of the pandemic.

“In the short term, our priority is to protect our cash flows and access the liquidity needed to get through this period of uncertainty.

Although we are in recovery, the impacts of COVID-19 are still being felt and the geopolitical situation is constantly changing.”

Guérard also said that Transat is in talks with the Canadian government for more financial aid.

“As we will remain in a cash burn situation for the coming months, we are also in discussions with the federal government for additional funding,” she said.

Looking ahead, Transat’s planned capacity for summer 2022 is 91% of 2019 levels. For

Transat’s transatlantic program, the planned capacity in 2022 is 78% of 2019 levels. To sun destinations program, it’s 96%. Across the border, with Transat’s recently announced new flights from Montreal to Los Angeles and San Francisco, capacity is set to quadruple.

There’s also a 9% capacity uptick planned for domestic flights.

Federal government eases cruise travel advisory TORONTO — The federal government has downgraded its advisory against cruise travel for Canadian travellers, and is now telling cruise travellers to exercise a high level of caution.

Transport Minister Omar Alghabra recently outlined Canada’s rules for passengers boarding cruise ships heading to Canadian ports. The federal government’s ban on cruise ships in Canadian waters was lifted four months early, on Nov. 1, 2021.

Minister Alghabra said cruise ship employees and passengers must be fully vaccinated against COVID-19. Passengers will need to take a PCR test within 72 hours before they board, or an antigen test

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THIS IS ANOTHER MILESTONE ON THE ROAD TO RECOVERY, AND WILL SUPPORT TRAVEL AGENCIES AND INDEPENDENT TRAVEL AGENTS WHO DEPEND ON CRUISE SALES within one day of boarding.

Passengers will also need a negative PCR test result within 72 hours before their return to Canada, or an antigen test result within one day of their arrival.

Alghabra says cruise ship operators will be required to inspect proof of vaccination and monitor and report test results.

The minister says no passenger will be allowed off a cruise ship unless they meet the requirements, which will be enforced by the Canada Border Services Agency.

ACTA WELCOMES THE NEWS ACTA said it welcomed the news, but added that more needs to be done with the elimination of all pre-departure testing for travellers.

“ACTA is pleased at the significant progress to re-opening Canada’s cruise industry, including the easing of the travel advisory,” said Wendy Paradis, President, ACTA. “This is another milestone on the road to recovery, and will support travel agencies and independent travel agents who depend on cruise sales.”

Paradis notes that travellers will no longer be advised against cruise travel, meaning insurance becomes more accessible.

“We are thankful to the Government of Canada, Minister Alghabra and Minister Boissonnault for their close engagement with travel and tourism partners,” said Paradis. “We also thank CLIA for their leadership and two years of tireless advocacy.”

Roundtable execs urge govt. to eliminate pre-departure testing by April 1 TORONTO — The Canadian Travel & Tourism Roundtable is urging the federal government to lift all remaining travel restrictions by April 1.

At the latest Roundtable briefing, high-profile executives in the corporate travel world - including Nancy Tudorache, Regional VP, Canada, GBTA; Andrew Weir, EVP, Destination Development, Tourism Toronto; and Patrick Doyle, VP and GM, American Express Global Business Travel - outlined how Canada’s travel rules are decimating business travel, and stifling Toronto’s tourism economy.

While the briefing focused mainly on reviving inbound corporate and MICE travel to Toronto, that may work in the outbound travel sector’s favour in getting travel’s last remaining restrictions dropped.

That’s because inbound corporate and MICE bookings for cities like Toronto are a massive money-maker, and money talks.

As Tourism Toronto’s Weir points out, Toronto’s visitor economy is worth upwards of $10 billion annually. That includes all the many business conferences and other large-scale events that meeting planners book years in advance.

And if meeting planners are hesitant to book events in Toronto because of Canada’s current travel restrictions right now, that impact will have a “long tail” that will negatively affect the city’s economy for years to come.

EASED MEASURES DON’T GO FAR ENOUGH Canada’s new eased travel measures, in effect since Feb. 28, 2022, for fully vaccinated travellers, include: the option of antigen tests instead of PCR tests for the pre-arrival testing requirement; a return to randomized on-arrival PCR testing with no isolation while waiting for test results; no isolation requirement for unvaccinated kids under 12 travelling with fully vaccinated adults; and a downgraded travel advisory, to Level 2.

The eased measures don’t go far enough, say many industry groups, including the Roundtable. They also note that Canada’s measures aren’t in sync with other top destinations like the UK. “We’re calling on the federal government to eliminate the pre-departure antigen test requirement for fully vaccinated travellers no later than April 1, when the regulations are set to be updated,” said the Toronto Region Board of Trade’s Lindsay Broadhead.

“Since the beginning of the pandemic Canadians … have been steadfast in their support for common sense government measures.

The time has now come to reward those who have made many sacrifices to get where we are today.

We’re confident we can emerge from this with a vibrant and thriving regional economy. But we need government to do their part as well,” she said.

The GBTA’s Tudorache noted that business travel in and to Canada contributes $40 billion annually to the Canadian economy, and supports more than 600,000 jobs.

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NEWS President and CEO for 10 years.

Also announced last week, TTC is consolidating all its global tour brands under a single new division called TTC Tour Brands. The division will include Insight, Trafalgar, Luxury Gold, Costsaver, Contiki, Adventure World Travel and more.

“WE DID HAVE TO MAKE VERY DIFFICULT PERSONNEL DECISIONS”

have successfully reopened, but we’ve seen little to no progress for the travel and tourism industry.

We’re still struggling.”

Requiring any sort of test results, either antigen or PCR, for travelling coming into or returning to Canada, “are a barrier to travel,” Tudorache adds. “These measures simply do not permit flexibility or schedule changes. They add tremendous uncertainty.”

And as long as these measures are still in place, “our forecast estimates that business travel to Canada, subject of course to further lifting of travel rules, will not recover to pre-pandemic levels until 2024.”

“NOTHING SHORT OF CATASTROPHIC” AmexGBT’s Doyle put it bluntly: “The impact of the pandemic on business travel is nothing short of catastrophic. And the current travel restrictions are limiting our ability to bounce back.”

He added: “Toronto is currently being overlooked for international events and conferences by organizers … future events are being planned elsewhere.”

Over the past two years, 400+ big conferences and events have been cancelled in Toronto, he noted. “This represents billions in losses for hotels and restaurants, and other segments of the tourism industry. And without these events, 22 | TRAVELWEEK | March 17, 2022

business travellers are just not coming to Canada.”

While rapid antigen tests are less expensive and more accessible than PCR tests, “they pose a cost to travellers and promote a degree of uncertainty. The current restrictions do not provide certainty.”

The Travel Corporation’s new direction on this side of the pandemic TORONTO — The Travel Corporation’s new streamlined operations will include a single sign-in portal for TTC’s travel agent partners, rather than multiple portals for the company’s many brands.

The trade portal will launch in summer 2022, said Guy Young, TTC’s Chief Trade Engagement Officer. Young, who is based in New York City, is expanding his role with the addition of Canada as part of TTC’s new North America reorganization, as announced last week.

Young is well-known in the Canadian travel industry, heading up The Travel Corporation here from 2000 to 2006 before heading to TTC brand Uniworld, where he was

Few companies are emerging from the pandemic as they were pre-2020, and that’s true for The Travel Corporation.

With the new reorganization, TTC will be without many of its key Canadian team members, who are all pillars in this industry and who propelled TTC’s growth in this market, with their years of hard work and dedication.

They include Brad Ford, who headed up Insight Vacations and Luxury Gold in Canada; Sheralyn Berry, who led the Contiki team in this market; and Wolf Paunic, who led the Trafalgar team.

“With this transition, we did have to make some very difficult personnel decisions,” Young confirmed in an interview with Travelweek. He adds that the decision was part of the restructure, “and was in no way a reflection of performance or contribution.”

The Toronto-based office will remain one of three offices supporting the TTC Tour Brands in North America, in addition to Cypress, California and New York City, he adds. Young is based in New York.

TTC TOUR BRANDS & THE CANADIAN MARKET The creation of a centralized TTC Tour Brands was an opportunity to provide more efficiency, says Young.

In an ever-changing travel landscape, “it will be easier to make quick decisions and react to changes in the marketplace. It was long overdue.”

Young said the TTC Tour Brands move will also help to maintain

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CANADA IS A VERY IMPORTANT MARKET FOR US ... EVERYBODY UNDERSTANDS THE RATIONALE. differentiation among the TTC’s many brands, and to make sure the brands aren’t competing against each other. “And we thought that it would be much easier to accomplish that having one team overseeing all the brands, and having visibility across all the brands.”

The idea was in play long before the pandemic, but the past two years “really helped us crystallize our thinking,” he adds.

Young spoke to concerns the industry might have about Canada being lumped in with the U.S., given that Canada - while it has a lot in common with the U.S. market - is also its own unique market.

“Canada is a very important market for us,” he said, adding that in talks with key retail partners, “everybody understands the rationalization.” He noted that many of the biggest retail players in Canada, including TL Network, Ensemble, TravelSavers, Virtuoso and the like also have a Canada / U.S. structure.

“We put in a structure where we will definitely have representation.

We’re still going to have a field sales team that’s in Canada. We’re going to have a Director of Field Sales.

We have appointed a new position as director of national accounts.

We’ve got inside teams, we’ve got our marketing team. There is a basis for collaboration, so we’re going to make sure that continues.”

Young added that in his expanded role, now including the Canadian market as well as the U.S., one of his first priorities is to spend a lot of time with TTC’s Canadian travel agent partners, “just to make sure we give them all the attention and reassurances that they deserve and make sure that they all understand that Canada is very important to us. Travel agents are the key to success for our organization.”

Working with Young is Melissa da Silva, who previously served as president of TTC brands Trafalgar, Costsaver, Brendan Vacations, Contiki and Adventure World Travel in the U.S. With the reorganization, the combined U.S. and Canada effort, comprising the North America sales and marketing region, will be under da Silva’s direction. Da Silva has added TTC brands Insight Vacations and Luxury Gold, as well as the Canadian market, to her portfolio.

FORWARD BOOKINGS UP In recent weeks, in the wake of the Canadian government’s announcement about eased travel restrictions, TTC saw an uptick in bookings from the Canadian market.

Moving on from the pandemic, he notes that TTC’s focus on care for its clients - including its new Wellbeing Directors on its tours, introduced in summer 2020 - will serve the company well going forward. “We think we’re well-positioned,” says Young.

“And we look forward to working welcoming lots and lots of Canadian guests on tours in 2022 and 2023.”

Young adds that while TTC has cancelled its Russia product, the company intends to operate all of its other European itineraries as planned. “we’ve got a 24/7 support service so we can very quickly adapt to whatever changes are happening in Europe. So our hope and expectation is we’ll continue to operate in good numbers in 2022.”

Air Transat, Porter sign off on new codesharing agreement MONTREAL — Air Transat and Porter Airlines have signed off on a new codesharing agreement.

Pending regulatory approvals, the agreement would effect for the 2022 summer season, with the first phase focusing on connecting Porter’s bases at Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport (YTZ) and Halifax-Stanfield (YHZ) to Air Transat’s hub at Montreal-Trudeau (YUL). This move will give customers of both carriers a greater selection of connecting flights in Canada, the U.S. and internationally, say the companies.

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ST. PATRICK'S DAY N

ow fully reopen to travellers, Ireland is gearing up for one memorable St. Patrick's Day, both in destination and in countries around the world

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SPOTLIGHT

Tourism Ireland kicks off ‘Green Button Festival’ for St. Patrick’s Day TORONTO — For this year’s St. Patrick’s Day, Tourism Ireland is taking excitement to a new level by launching its first ever Green Button Festival campaign, following its Green Button Campaign previously launched in 2021.

To celebrate the spirit of community and human connection that Ireland has to offer, the campaign will bring the destination’s unique culture of music and dance to digital out-of-home screens across the globe. With the additional presence online, millions of potential visitors will be inspired to consider a holiday in Ireland this year.

As part of the campaign, Tourism Ireland is turning digital billboards in high profile locations in New York, London, Berlin, Milan and Sydney into stages for its Green Button Festival on St. Patrick’s Day. The festival can be viewed via Ireland.com. Social media users can look out for QR codes and ‘scan for music’ promos on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter that will lead them to the festival on their phones.

The Green Button Festival comes perfectly timed to Ireland’s removal of COVID-19 travel restrictions as of March 6, 2022. Visitors no longer need to complete a passenger locator form to travel, provide proof of vaccination or recovery, or take a COVID-19 test for entry.

“Now that Ireland is open, we are excited about the return of travel and are looking forward to working with travel agents on lots of initiatives to help promote and sell the destination, encouraging their clients to ‘Press the Green Button’,” said Sandra Moffatt, Market Manager – Canada, Tourism Ireland.

“With commissionable offers from our flight, hotel and operator partners, as well as FAM trips and content toolkits and itineraries, our goal is to make selling Ireland as easy as possible after a difficult couple of years. We are also back on the road across Canada this May, and look forward to reconnecting with the agent community in person once again as we work together to build back business for 2022,” added Moffatt.

Following examples of other European countries, authorities in Ireland have also lifted the majority of restrictions imposed due to the Coronavirus in an effort to help many industries recover from the damages caused by the virus, especially the travel and tourism sector.

For more information go to Ireland.com.

For more information on the Green Button Festival, go to Tourism Ireland’s social media channels on Facebook.com/discoverirelandca, Twitter.com/gotoirelandca, and Instagram.com/ tourismireland.

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SPOTLIGHT

CIE TOURS

90 Years of Excellence in Travel

Celebrating 90 Years of Travel Excellence

SINCE 1932

In 1932, we created a company dedicated to introducing the beauty and magic of Ireland to the world. Ninety years later, we’re proud to continue and expand the spirit of Irish hospitality to Britain, Iceland and Italy.

Our excellent reputation is based on our warm welcome, beloved guides, unique itineraries and authentic experiences. And Only CIE Tours offers the “All-In Inclusive Advantage” – we include every experience and many meals, so our tour guides focus on maximizing your customers’ enjoyment.

Go to CIETours.com to register for travel agent news, incentives, special offers and more.

Scan to see our video

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BRITA I N

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I C E L A ND

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SPOTLIGHT

CIE Tours launches new airfare promotion to celebrate 90th anniversary TORONTO — In celebration of its 90th anniversary and the company’s strong Irish heritage, CIE Tours, a leader in guided vacations to Ireland, has launched a special airfare promotion titled ‘Go for the Green.’

The limited-time promotion includes airfare to Ireland starting at $699 when booking a 2022 Ireland holiday of seven days or longer. The promotion runs March 1-31, 2022 for travel through the end of 2022.

Travellers can choose from a guided motorcoach holiday, travel with their own private driver, or take their dream trip on a fully customized holiday in Ireland.

The offer is available from 10 Canadian gateways, including Calgary, Edmonton, Halifax, Montreal, Ottawa, Quebec City, Toronto, Vancouver, Victoria and Winnipeg.

Noting how Ireland is fully open and ready to welcome back visitors, Elizabeth Crabill, Chief Executive Officer of CIE Tours, says she’s particularly eager to see the return of Canadians.

“Canada is an important market to CIE Tours, and we are excited to continue working with Canadian partners in their post-COVID recovery. We have a dedicated Canadian website and produce custom collateral for Canadian travel agents to ensure that the market can access the latest offers, promotions, and sales support,” says Crabill.

Suggested itineraries include ‘Irish Adventure,’ which circles the whole island of Ireland and is priced from just over $2,000 per person, as well as ‘The Scots Irish Tour,’ a personal favourite of Crabill’s that boasts the best number of departures left for 2022.

CIE Tours’ 2023 Reference Guide is available now as well, plus its 2023 full brochure will be mailed out in late June. In addition, the company is offering a Groups incentive that includes an $800 booking bonus on most 2023 guided holidays for groups of 10 or more if booked before April 30, 2022.

Crabill adds: “Today, we are fully focused on the resumption of travel in 2022 and beyond and look forward to continuing to give travellers the holidays of their dreams. We have a team of seasoned professionals with decades of experience and are proud to boast a satisfaction ratio that exceeds industry standards.”

Agents are encouraged to follow CIE Tours’ social media channels and visit its website to register for emails and stay up to date on the latest offers, incentives and last-minute deals.

For more information go to cietours.com.

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SPOTLIGHT

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SPOTLIGHT

St. Patrick’s Day kicks off year-long festivities in Montserrat TORONTO — In celebration of its rich heritage and cultural diversity, Montserrat is inviting travellers to partake in key festivals taking place throughout the year, starting with St. Patrick’s Day. The destination comes to life with traditional fanfare during a unique schedule of events that invites visitors to join in on the festivities. Below is a list of the key festivals taking place throughout the winter and summer travel seasons:

St. Patrick’s Day Celebrations Being the only other nation in the world aside from Ireland to commemorate St. Patrick’s Day as a national holiday, the island infuses its African and Irish heritage into its yearly celebrations, taking place March 12-19.

Notable activities include: national exhibitions showcasing the island’s history, art and literature; open-air concerts; the Junior Calypso Monarch Competition; pub crawl; Freedom Run and Walk; a Heritage Day Feast with samples of local traditional foods like bush tea, goat water and stewed yard fowl; and the not-tobe-missed event, Leprechaun’s Revenge.

Calabash Festival The 14th Annual Calabash Festival from July 17-23, 2022 is a celebration of culture, creativity, and music.

Local artisans and designers are showcased through a range of events that promote the island, such as a family fun day, a hike, island tour, boat excursion to the former capital city Plymouth and a food fair.

Cudjoe Head Celebrations From July 29-30, 2022, residents and visitors are invited to join in the festivities that celebrate the island’s strong African heritage. Organized as a way to unify the residents of Cudjoe Head and the remaining cultures that share the small island, the festival is also a way for Montserratians to highlight their African roots and the impact it has on the destination’s culture.

Carnival (Festival) Running from mid-December to New Year’s Day, visitors to Montserrat get real insight into local culture during this always popular event. There are a wide range of cultural activities scheduled such as calypso competitions, masquerade street performances, the

festival Queen Competition, open-air concerts, and a parade of costumed troupes on New Year’s Day.

Villa accommodations Montserrat’s villas offer prime accommodations for couples, families and friends who long for an affordable upmarket Caribbean getaway. Surrounded by verdant mountains, blue sea vistas, curvy slopes and deep valleys, Montserrat’s villas provide all the features, conveniences and comforts of a vacation home.

The destination’s beauty extends far beyond its scenic shoreline, to beneath the clear blue waters of the Caribbean Sea. With more than 13 miles of coastline, visitors can spend an afternoon discovering an underwater paradise by booking an unforgettable aquatic adventure with the island’s two water sports operators: Aqua Montserrat and Scuba Montserrat.

For up-to-date information on Montserrat and its upcoming events, go to www.visitmontserrat.com.

Travel protocols Visitors to Montserrat must confirm their accommodations and show proof of a negative COVID-19 PCR test result taken no earlier than five days prior to travelling (children five years and under are exempt).

Visitors must also complete and submit an Access Declaration Form, available at www.gov.ms, 72 hours (three days) prior to travel. Contact Port Health Officials at phcmni20@gmail.com with any issues submitting. Only air travel via Fly Montserrat or SVG Air is permitted.

Fully vaccinated travellers must quarantine 5 days at home, place of occupancy, designated quarantine facility or another place of isolation upon arrival, and take a PCR or RNA COVID-19 test between 3-5 days after entry. If negative, they can leave quarantine on day 5. If they are expected to leave Montserrat before the five days have passed, they will be allowed to leave the destination.

Travellers who are not fully vaccinated must quarantine for 14 days upon arrival, and take a PCR or RNA test within 24 hours of entry, as well as between 12-14 days after entry.

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NEWS Continued from page 23

Says Transat President and CEO, Annick Guérard: “We are very excited to team up with Porter in an important partnership that will contribute to the strengthening of our network and reinforce our leadership in our main markets.

This promising agreement brings together two award-winning, traveller-centric brands whose flight schedules are complementary, and creates great opportunities for customers who are looking for quality and effortless travel. By providing better connectivity, it will not only enhance our destination offering for our Canadian and international customers, but also save them time and make their lives easier.”

And Michael Deluce, President and CEO, Porter Airlines, says: “This codesharing agreement with Air Transat nicely complements our own growth plans. The introduction of seamless access to international markets, where Air Transat has made its mark, is an especially great benefit for our passengers. The overall combination of new routes and finding a partner that shares our dedication to delivering a great travel experience is a perfect fit.”

Porter will carry its code on Air Transat-operated flights between Montreal and the following destinations: • Europe: Athens, Barcelona, Brussels, Lisbon, London, Lyon, Madrid, Paris, Porto, Toulouse and Venice • South: Cancun, Cayo Coco, Holguin, La Romana, Montego Bay, Port-au-Prince, Puerto Plata, Puerto Vallarta, Punta Cana, Roatan, Samana, Santa Clara and Varadero • U.S.: Fort Lauderdale, Los Angeles, Miami, Orlando and San Francisco • Domestic: Calgary and Vancouver Air Transat meanwhile will put its code on Porter’s flights to and from Toronto (Billy Bishop) and Halifax, connecting to all the above destinations in Montreal.

The codeshare agreement between Air Transat and Porter comes on the heels of the proposed 30 | TRAVELWEEK | March 17, 2022

acquisition deal between WestJet and Sunwing, announced earlier this month. Transat also has a codeshare agreement with WestJet.

Is the Dominican Republic on the map for Sandals?

MONTEGO BAY — Is Sandals considering an expansion to the D.R.?

While there’s no resort announcement yet, there is word of an exploratory visit to the Dominican Republic by the Sandals Resorts International (SRI) executive team.

Executive Chairman Adam Stewart and CEO Gebhard Rainer recently led the SRI Executive Committee to the D.R., where there was a meeting with government officials including the D.R.’s President, Luis Rodolfo Abinader Corona.

Stewart and other SRI executives had been to the D.R. on previous occasions, however this latest foray marked SRI’s first official visit.

The trip was designed to showcase the different destinations and to discover tourism investment opportunities, as per the SRI update.

During the two-day visit, the SRI team visited various areas of the island including Punta Cana, Miches and Las Terrenas.

THIS WAS AN EXCELLENT VISIT AT A TIME WHEN WE ARE PURSUING EXPANSION GOALS AGGRESSIVELY. It’s in Miches that all-inclusive pioneer Club Med, often the first to set up shop in a new-to-tourism destination, opened Club Med Miches Playa Esmeralda in 2019.

Angie Shakira Martínez Tejera, Ambassador of the D.R. in Jamaica and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in the D.R. and in partnership with Executive Director of ProDominicana, Biviana Riveiro, arranged the Sandals trip. The delegation also met with the Director General of the Public-Private Partnership of the Dominican Republic, Dr. Sigmund Freund, and the Dominican Minister of Foreign Affairs, Roberto Álvarez.

Says Stewart: “We thoroughly enjoyed our brief but fruitful time in the Dominican Republic and wish to thank our hosts, especially President Abinader. When leadership at the highest levels makes time

SANDALS RESORTS’ EXECUTIVE TEAM MEETS WITH D.R. DIGNITARIES

NEWS focused its efforts on the English Caribbean.

The latest property, a new Beaches in St. Vincent and the Grenadines, is coming in 2023. Plus, in June 2022 Sandals will open its first property in the Dutch Caribbean, Sandals Royal Curacao.

Earlier this year SRI reopened Sandals Royal Bahamian. And three new resorts are planned for Jamaica, including Sandals Dunn’s River.

All in all SRI’s expansion plans in the Caribbean, with an investment of nearly US$200 million, will result in 3,000 Caribbean-based jobs.

Said Stewart about the team’s visit to the D.R.: “This was an excellent visit at a time when we are pursuing expansion goals aggressively. We look forward to the possibility of what’s to come.” to discuss the power of tourism and investment opportunities that expand its reach, we know we’ve found a like-minded partner.”

Ambassador Martínez noted that plans for the visit had been underway for some time, and were of great importance to the D.R.: “Like Jamaica, where Sandals hails from, the Dominican Republic is a revered Caribbean tourism destination and the [tourism] industry is critically important to our economy. It is a dream of ours to have the very prestigious Sandals brand present here. We are honoured by the visit and excited by the possibility of our island nation becoming the first Spanish Caribbean territory to welcome the Sandals organization,” she said.

A JEWEL IN THE SPANISH CARIBBEAN TOURISM MARKET The D.R. is among the most-coveted tourism markets in the Spanish Caribbean, and a partnership between SRI and the D.R. would mark a landmark first for the resort company, which so far has

Los Cabos eagerly anticipating return of Canadian market TORONTO — Los Cabos Tourism Board’s Rodrigo Esponda has just about all the major Canadian carriers winging their way to Los Cabos in 2022, with 120,000 seats over the next six months.

He’s even eyeing Canadians airlines that haven’t launched yet.

That’s how dedicated Esponda is to growing this market.

Well-known to the Canadian travel industry from his time here with the Mexico Tourism Board, Esponda has spent the past several years promoting the many charms of Los Cabos, as Managing Director of the Los Cabos Tourism Board.

His frequent visits to Canada brought him back to Toronto this week, and he provided updates for the trade media at a small industry luncheon.

Air Canada, WestJet, Sunwing, Flair and Swoop - all have flights to Los Cabos this year. Esponda said he’s also in talks with upstart carriers Canadian Jetlines and Lynx.

“We’re looking to get them down to Los Cabos as well,” he said.

Los Cabos isn’t exclusively upscale, but it’s certainly become a favourite of many high-end travellers, attracted by the destination’s superb golf and sport fishing, sophisticated restaurants and nightlife, and boutique hotels.

In an interview with Travelweek back in October 2021, Esponda noted that during the pandemic, Los Cabos’ luxury hotels “were the first to reopen, and luxury clients were the first to come back. We did not do a price strategy. In our case the priority has always been safety.

And the market preferred safety.”

Emphasizing how Los Cabos has differentiated itself in an already tourism-rich country, Esponda yesterday noted how the state of Quintana Roo, home to Cancun, Riviera Maya, Playa del Carmen and more, will open the same number of hotel rooms in one year that Los Cabos

LUXURY CLIENTS WERE THE FIRST TO COME BACK TO LOS CABOS. WE DID NOT DO A PRICE STRATEGY. IN OUR CASE THE PRIORITY HAS ALWAYS BEEN SAFETY. AND THE MARKET PREFERRED SAFETY. March 17, 2022 | TRAVELWEEK | 31

NEWS has in total: 18,000. In Los Cabos, those 18,000 rooms include a mix of all-inclusive product (8,000) and EP (10,000).

EP resort clientele in Los Cabos drive up the average spend, he added, because they’re going off-property to experience restaurants, attractions and more. The average visitor spend for Los Cabos is almost four times the visitor spend for Mexico overall.

“If you want to be locked into a resort for two weeks, Los Cabos is not the place,” says Esponda.

In 2019 visits from Canada to Los Cabos hit 200,000. Like every destination, Los Cabos took a hit from the pandemic, but it recovered extremely quickly. As Esponda noted in last fall’s interview, Los Cabos broke even with 2019’s year-to-date numbers by March 2021, and before even the mid-way mark in 2021 the numbers were going up, up, up.

Thanks to proximity, Western Canada has always been the strongest performer to Los Cabos from this market, with a 65% share. Esponda is continuing his focus on developing the market in Eastern Canada, and says that pre-pandemic, in 2018-2019 Eastern Canada was showing double-digit growth to Los Cabos.

More information about travelling to Los Cabos can be found at visitloscabos.travel.

THE AVERAGE VISITOR SPEND FOR LOS CABOS IS ALMOST FOUR TIMES THE VISITOR SPEND FOR MEXICO OVERALL 32 | TRAVELWEEK | March 17, 2022

VoX International adds FLYGTA Airlines, hires Oddleifson TORONTO — Travel industry veteran Erin Oddleifson has joined VoX International to manage its new account with FLYGTA Airlines, along with other projects.

Most recently with Transat as Director of Marketing, Oddleifson has held senior management positions for various major tour operators, a list that also includes Canada 3000 and Signature Vacations.

Oddleifson will manage the FLYGTA Airlines account, working with the private jet operator to develop marketing plans and enhance travel trade outreach. She can be reached at Erin@voxinternational. com.

Travel advisors can go online to FLYGTA.com to book – and earn commission on – all the company’s scheduled flights and private charters. Agents will also soon be able to access FLYGTA’s services through GDS, the first private charter company to offer this option to the travel trade.

FLYGTA offers flights out of Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport (YTZ) to 20+ Canadian, U.S., and Caribbean destinations. It also offers

routes from an additional five locations across Ontario and Quebec, including Toronto Pearson International Airport (YYZ).

In addition to private charters, FLYGTA also operates a popular air taxi service between YTZ and Niagara Falls, YTZ and Kingston, and to the Muskoka region through the summer.

FLYGTA Airlines’ private charters from YYZ (that service Florida, The Bahamas, and the Turks & Caicos Islands) and scheduled flights from YTZ can be booked online at FLYGTA.com. The private jet service was founded in Toronto in 2015.

Says Susan Webb, President of VoX International: “FLYGTA is growing in leaps and bounds and we are delighted to be a part of that, supporting the company with its growth plans and raising its profile among the travel trade and MICE sectors here in Canada. In turn, we are happy to welcome Erin to the VoX family to manage this account and assist in providing the always-crucial training component needed to ensure success.”

Chris Nowrouzi, CEO of FLYGTA Airlines, says the carrier is the only 100% charter operation in Canada.

“We focus on one thing and one thing only – best-in-class service in the sector – and are able to do so while also offering private jet transportation at unmatched prices. We look forward to working with the

NEWS team at VoX to connect with travel advisors and provide them with more alternatives for their clients,” says Nowrouzi.

Air Transat getting ready to relaunch summer routes for 2022 MONTREAL — Air Transat is set to gradually restart flights to a total of 25 European destinations starting next month.

Currently the airline serves six routes to Europe. At the height of the 2022 season, Air Transat will operate more than 250 direct flights weekly on 69 direct routes.

Joseph Adamo, Transat’s Chief Sales and Marketing Officer, says the company is consolidating its position in the transatlantic market and continuing to develop its services in the U.S., in addition to offering flights to the South and within Canada.

“The numbers tell us clearly that with the gradual lifting of travel restrictions worldwide, people are more ready than ever to plan their next trip, whether to Europe, the U.S., Canada or to South destinations,” says Adamo.

“The outlook for the summer season is favourable, and our abundant air offering, which includes the vast majority of our pre-pandemic destinations as well as exciting new routes, is enabling us to respond to the significant pent-up demand. This surge in demand has also allowed us to increase capacity on certain key routes between now and the end of the winter season,” he added.

WITH THE LIFTING OF TRAVEL RESTRICTIONS WORLDWIDE, PEOPLE ARE MORE READY THAN EVER TO PLAN THEIR NEXT TRIP, WHETHER TO EUROPE, THE U.S., CANADA OR TO SOUTH DESTINATIONS Athens, Barelona, Dublin, Lamezia, Paris, Rome, Venice and Zagreb will once again be on the schedule, in addition to the flights currently operated to Glasgow, Lisbon, London, Manchester and Porto. Furthermore, due to sustained demand for southern Portugal, Air Transat will now fly to Faro year-round.

From Montreal and starting in April, Air Transat will gradually resume its direct flights to 16 European destinations including, for the first time, Amsterdam. Customers will once again be able to travel nonstop to Athens, Basel-Mulhouse, Barcelona, Brussels, London, Madrid, Porto, Rome and Venice, as well as to the French provinces, including Bordeaux, Lyon, Marseille, Nantes, Nice and Toulouse. In addition, the airline currently offers flights to Malaga and Lisbon, as well as a daily service to Paris, which will increase to up to 14 flights per week during the summer.

From Quebec City, Air Transat will be the only airline to offer nonstop service to two European capitals: first, to Paris starting in early April and, for the very first time and exclusively, to London in May.

SUN FLIGHTS & DOMESTIC Air Transat says it will offer in California for the first time in its history for summer 2022, serving both San Francisco and Los Angeles from Montreal. And on the east coast, Air Transat will be operating several of its Florida flights yearround, including flights from Montreal to Fort Lauderdale and Miami, from Quebec City to Fort Lauderdale, and from Toronto to Fort Lauderdale and Orlando.

Even after two years of mostly domestic travel, many Canadians haven’t yet had their fill of Canada, and all indications are that travel within Canada will still be popular

TRANSAT WILL OFFER CALIFORNIA FLIGHTS STARTING IN SUMMER 2022

MORE FLIGHTS TO EUROPE From Toronto, Air Transat will serve 15 European cities for summer 2022. Flights to Amsterdam, March 17, 2022 | TRAVELWEEK | 33

NEWS Standard or Club Standard fares will benefit from additional flexibility. They will be able to change their travel dates and/or destination free of charge up to 24 hours prior to departure and will have to pay only the difference in fare, if any.

Register now for Scenic’s in-person Travel Showcase sessions

CN TOWER, TORONTO

for summer 2022, according to Air Transat. The airline will offer an enhanced flight program between Montreal, Toronto, Quebec City, Calgary and Vancouver.

Air Transat also notes that these flights will provide many Canadians access to international flights via connections in Toronto and Montreal.

Air Transat is also offering a selection of its most popular destinations in Mexico and the Caribbean from Montreal, Quebec City and Toronto for summer 2022.

FLEXIBLE BOOKING POLICIES Air Transat is reminding travellers and its travel agent partners that clients looking for maximum flexibility can purchase Eco Flex and Club Flex fares (flights) or Option Flex Extra (packages).

This will allow them to make changes to their booking free of charge and obtain a refund in the event of cancellation, regardless of the circumstances.

For a limited time, customers booking flights on Eco Budget, Eco 34 | TRAVELWEEK | March 17, 2022

VANCOUVER — Save the date for Scenic Luxury Cruises & Tours free, in-person Travel Showcase information sessions.

Open to Canadian travel advisors, their clients and consumers, the sessions will take place throughout March in 15 cities across Canada.

Attendees will gain insights from the Scenic expert team on the benefits of small-ship cruising, learn about new river and ocean cruising for 2023, receive updates on enhanced health and safety protocols, plus gain access to exclusive bonus offers.

Three sessions will be held at each location. A travel advisor-only session runs from 9 - 9:30 a.m., followed by the opportunity to learn more about the Scenic Eclipse, ‘The World’s First Discovery Yacht,’ from 2 - 2:45 p.m. This will be followed by a focus on the company’s fivestar, all-inclusive river cruises in Europe and Southeast Asia and its luxury ships from 3 - 4 p.m.

Travel advisors can register here, while consumers can get more info and register here. Events will follow all provincial government regulations as required by the event venue, which may include proof of vaccination.

“As Canadians begin to enjoy the easing of travel restrictions, our team looks forward to sharing their expertise on small-ship cruising with travellers who are eager to

begin exploring the world again,” offered Juna Ueda, General Manager, Sales Canada. “Attendees will hear about what’s happening on the rivers in both Europe and Asia and hear more about the recent enhancements to our epic discovery yacht, Scenic Eclipse.”

The series kicked off earlier this month, and the remaining dates are as follows: Barrie, ON – March 18; London, ON – March 21; Vancouver – March 22; Kitchener – March 22; Langley, B.C. - March 23; Ottawa - March 24; Etobicoke, ON - March 29; and Burlington, ON – March 30. The link to register is https://linktr.ee/verpesarillo.

The Excellence Collection investing US$50m. into Caribbean resorts MIAMI — The Excellence Collection has announced a US$50 million investment to upgrade all of its eight all-inclusive properties in Cancun, the Riviera Maya, Punta Cana and Montego Bay. Following the success and growing demand for its ultra-luxe Beach Villas with a Private Pool category, the company has plans to build 12 additional units at Excellence Oyster Bay in Jamaica, nearly tripling its current offering to a total of 17 villas once completed. The new villas, like the original five at the resort, will measure over 1,500 square feet and feature a garden with a Jacuzzi, a shaded porch, an outdoor lounge area with a pool and a private stretch of beach.

The rest of the funds will be allocated to some of the resorts’ most popular common areas. Among the changes will be new sports facilities, enhanced dining venues and bars and restructure spaces.

NEWS Additionally, some of the furnishings in restaurants, suites, lobbies and beach areas will be upgraded to match the improvements made at the properties. Better mobility and connectivity will also be considered.

“Since the inception of our first resort in Punta Cana over two decades ago, we strived for a standard in hospitality that we have no achieved and wish to continue for years to come,” said Domingo Aznar, Vice-President of Sales and Marketing for The Excellence Collection. “It’s our goal to improve the experiences we can offer our guests. We want those who choose to stay with us, to return and not settle for anything less than Infinite Excellence in every single visit.”

FONTAINE SAINT-MICHEL, PARIS

Air France adds more flights to Vancouver-Paris summer route MONTREAL — Air France is ramping up its Canada-Paris summer schedule with up to 49 flights a week, including a daily flight between Vancouver and the City of Lights.

AFTER TWO YEARS OF CURTAILING FLIGHTS, WE'RE PROUD TO INCREASE THE NUMBER OF DEPARTURES This increases the airline’s number of weekly flights out of Vancouver by two, while overall departures from Canada will increase 27% compared to summer 2019.

“After two years of curtailing flights, we are proud to be able to measurably increase the number of departures from Vancouver and our other Canadian destinations,” said Catherine Guillemart Dias, who adds that this will make “Air France the leading European airline in terms of capacity between Europe and Canada.”

Effective March 27, passengers will fly between Vancouver and Paris aboard B777-200s equipped with 28 seats in Business class, 24 in Premium Economy and 260 in Economy.

Introductory fares are in effect until March 30, 2022, for travel by May 6, 2022 or between Oct. 16Dec. 10, 2022. Business fares are valid for travel effective immediately, through Dec. 10, 2022. Fares include all taxes, complimentary inflight meal, breakfast or snack, alcoholic or non-alcoholic beverages including champagne in all cabin classes.

As part of the Air France Protect program, all tickets are 100% changeable. Bookings may be postponed or cancelled regardless of the reason, giving customers the flexibility to change their flight or obtain a non-refundable voucher valid for one year from the issue date to book a new flight.

AIR FRANCE & KLM IN CANADA Together, Air France and KLM will be offering a combined 81 flights a week to Europe.

Air France will operate 49 weekly flights to Paris-Charles de Gaulle from Montreal (25), Toronto (14) and Vancouver (7), plus three flights out of Quebec City, a new service being inaugurated on May 17.

KLM will fly to Amsterdam via 32 departures, including Toronto (10), Vancouver (7), Calgary (7), Montreal (5) and Edmonton (3).

Porter resumes nonstop service to Myrtle Beach TORONTO — Porter Airlines has officially resumed nonstop service to Myrtle Beach from Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport.

Flights from Toronto will operate twice weekly on Wednesday and Saturdays until May 28, 2022, with connecting service form various Porter locations. Porter Escapes also offers vacation packages.

Noting the destination’s sandy beaches, oceanfront hotels and 90+ golf courses, Michael Deluce, president and CEO or Porter Airlines, said: “The warm breezes of Myrtle Beach are just a two-hour flight away. It’s the perfect sunny destination for a family getaway or a weekend of golf.”

Passengers can book a flight with the Full Refund Option for $40 plus taxes. The Refund Option provides a refund for the booking, including base fare, taxes and fees, should a passenger have to cancel their flight in advance, for any reason.

Bookings made before March 31, 2022 are also eligible to change or cancel without fees.

March 17, 2022 | TRAVELWEEK | 35

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