The Summer of Canada: Road Trips All The Rage. Plus Europe Says Hello Canada

A new study finds Canadians will definitely be staying close to home this summer. I also have news on how Europe is opening its doors to Canadians, and a report on safety and health policy changes for Air Canada. My Future of Travel blog for June 29.

Let’s Take a Road Trip: Canada Looking Good This Year

With apologies to Seinfeld, this is not the Summer of George. Rather, it’s the Summer of Canada. And the summer of road trips in our home province.

A new Ipsos poll, conducted on behalf of Toyota Canada, find that only a quarter (24%) of Canadians say they’d feel comfortable taking a plane at the moment. A full 70% of us, however, feel comfortable travelling by car outside of their city or town, and almost half (49%) are planning at least one day trip over the next two months. This year, though, Canadians are looking for closer-to-home destinations to explore, with less than half (42%) comfortable venturing out of their province and only 21% who would visit the U.S in the near future.

Of those planning to hit the road this summer, most are opting to stay within a 100km radius of home, making day trips the new preferred excursion.

An overwhelming majority (94%) of those planning a road trip say they will be taking extra precautions to protect both themselves and those around them. Of those going on a road trip, two-thirds (65%) say they will limit contact with people outside their immediate circle and limit their exposure to crowds (64%). Other precautions Canadians plan to take on their road trips include wearing a mask while out in public (54%) and taking extra time to clean and disinfect surfaces inside the car (43%).

Europe: Hello Canada; Not So Fast, USA

This report came in a while ago from the BBC.  I bet Donald Trump can hardly stand that Canadians can go to Rome and Paris, but Americans are being told to stay home.

The European Union has named 14 countries whose citizens are deemed “safe” to be let in from 1 July, despite the pandemic – but the US, Brazil and China are excluded.

Those on the official “invite list” for July 1 onward include Canada, Australia, Japan, Morocco and South Korea, the BBC said. The EU is ready to add China if the Chinese government offers a reciprocal deal for EU travellers, diplomats say.

The US? Not so much. Not given recent spikes in Arizona, Florida and Texas.

Travel Companies Boost Canadian Trips

With more folks looking to perhaps stay close to home this summer, two major travel companies in Canada recently boosted their Canadian offerings.

Transat Distribution Canada (TDC), Canada’s largest full-service travel agency network, announced on Friday of last week that has signed a preferred agreement with Fresh Tracks Canada, a leader in domestic travel.

Officials said they’ll be offering memorable, personalized journeys for FIT & Group clients, rail journeys featuring VIA Rail and/or Rocky Mountaineer trains, High Arctic experiences, self-drive itineraries, wildlife experiences such as grizzly bear viewing and salmon fishing, and adventure trips, including helicopter tours, heli-hiking, heli-skiing, horseback expeditions, iceberg exploration and more.

Trafalgar Tours today (June 29) said it has three new Canadian itineraries for folks looking to explore their own back yard. Wonderful trips are being organized in Prince Edward Island, Alberta’s Kananaskis Country and in Ontario/Quebec. Here’s my story for TravelPulse Canada today.

MGM Resorts Vegas Sale

It’s summer season at MGM Resorts and that means it’s time for the pool. Plan your Vegas getaway now and learn how they’re keeping safety top of mind.

Even better? Book by July 13, 2020 with email-exclusive 25% off rates for stays now through December 29, 2020.

Several MGM Resorts in Vegas are already open, including Bellagio, New York New York and MGM Grand. Both Aria and Mandalay Bay re-open Wednesday, July 1. Others are slated to open soon, including the Park MGM and Vdara.

Porter Airlines Pushes Back Re-Start Date

Toronto-based Porter Airlines had planned to begin service again on July 29. But the company today said government travel restrictions have forced it to push that date back to Aug. 31.

Air Canada Changes; Flexible Booking For Crowded Flights, Return of On-board Food and Lounges

Air Canada today announced it is advancing its industry-leading bio-safety measures by offering flexible rebooking options to Economy Class customers on flights that are close to capacity, introducing additional touchless processes at airports, and enhancing inflight service and amenities.

Options for customers when Economy Class is booked close to capacity

Starting July 1, Air Canada will replace its policy of guaranteeing adjacent seats in Economy Class are empty with a new transparent process offering flexible rebooking options for customers. On flights where Economy Class is booked close to capacity, notification emails will be sent to Economy Class customers in advance of check-in and announcements will be made at the departure gate. Customers will have the option to change to another flight operating within three days or to the next available flight without additional fees.

Airports: Touchless services

Air Canada has implemented TouchFree Bag Check, an industry-leading process for all domestic flights from Toronto, Montreal, Vancouver and Calgary airports, and is now expanding this process to other select Canadian airports, as well as for customers departing on international flights. Watch a demonstration here.  

Later in July, virtual queuing will also be introduced at primary Canadian airports to more efficiently manage wait times at select counters. Customers requiring service from an airport agent can simply scan their boarding card to enter a virtual queue and they will be notified via their smartphone to proceed to the counter for assistance.

Maple Leaf Lounges are expected to begin re-opening later this summer.

Air Canada is continuing to evaluate and assess additional touchless and new bio-safety initiatives in airports to further advance efficient, safe and secure travel.

On-board: Meals to resume

Beginning late July, Air Canada will resume meal service planned by its panel of celebrated Canadian chefs in Air Canada Signature Class, and for the first time, will introduce chef-designed meals in Business Class – North America. Customers travelling on international flights in Economy Class will enjoy an enhanced meal service.

Limited inflight food options in Economy Class onboard North American flights greater than two hours will be re-introduced on a pre-order basis. Customers will also be offered an expanded selection of alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks adapted by cabin and route.

In addition to Air Canada CleanCare+ customer care kits containing hand sanitizer, a mask, antibacterial wipes, hand sanitizer, gloves, water bottle, headphones and a snack, additional antibacterial wipes will be available as part of each meal service and in lavatories.  Pillows and blankets will be offered again on all international flights and presented to customers wrapped and sealed.

RBC Rewarding Canadian Travel

This Canada Day, Royal Bank of Canada (RBC) is helping to stimulate growth in local economies through Points for Canada, a new RBC-funded campaign that gives RBC Rewards clients the opportunity to enjoy significantly more value when they shop and dine at businesses across Canada.

During the month of July, RBC personal and business clients who pay using their RBC Rewards credit card, including the market-leading RBC Avion travel cards, earn 2x RBC Rewards points at restaurants across Canada (opt-in required), and at Petro-Canada from July 15 to July 21 (no opt-in required). In addition, RBC Rewards credit card clients save 30% when they redeem their RBC Rewards points to purchase select gift cards from their favourite Canadian brands, including the RBC Visa Prepaid Card which can be used to shop locally. RBC is also providing clients with 30% more value when they redeem their RBC Rewards points by using Pay In Store with Points at retailers across Canada.

Points for Canada is just another step in RBC’s journey to support the recovery of businesses across Canada and local economies. In the coming weeks, RBC will be unveiling additional offers and programs designed to get Canadians engaged in supporting small and local businesses across the country.

To learn more about Points for Canada and for a list of participating brands, clients can visit www.rbcrewards.com/pointsforcanada.

Eastern Canada Hotel Woes

You know you’re living in a new world when a hotel dreams of filling three of every ten rooms. But, that’s what it’s come to for hotel operators in Saint John, New Brunswick.

I spotted an interesting but sad item from the CBC on the weekend that notes hotel owners in the city had an occupancy rate of just 5% in June because of COVID-19 and travel restrictions for New Brunswick. They’re hoping they can bump that up to 30% by the end of summer.

Which is still a terrible number in an industry where most owners need around 60% or so to stay in business, and that’s averaged over a year in a country where winter bookings tend to be slow.  Paulette Hicks, president of the Saint John Hotel Association and general manager of the Delta Hotels Saint John, told the CBC that the province would typically see a 70 to 90% occupancy rate over the summer.

I don’t know what kind of government assistance hotel operators have been getting, but I hope it’s damned good.

The CBC also has a good story on how two rival Newfoundland touring companies have joined forces to try to survive the summer.

Italy Bans Overhead Bags on Planes

The Express UK says Italian authorities have banned cabin baggage from flights for “health reasons.” Overhead lockers are now out of bounds on all national and international flights, but items can be slipped under the seat in front of you.

The idea seems to be that authorities don’t want people standing in the aisle in close proximity to one another while they try to jam three-foot-wide suitcases into spaces meant to accommodate two-foot-wide bags. Which actually makes some sense.

British Tour Group Drops Florida Trips

Europe’s biggest travel and tourism company, TUI, is canceling all holidays to Florida from the U.K. until December following the introduction of new hygiene rules at Walt Disney World Resort, including the mandatory use of face coverings.

The website FloridaPolitics.com says the firm made the decision because the new regulations would “significantly impact the holiday experience” for its customers.

Walt Disney World Resort, which includes four theme parks, will require visitors aged two and above to wear face coverings except when eating or swimming when it reopens in mid-July. Temperature screenings may be required for entry to some locations, and the number of entry tickets will be limited.

What’s It Like to Visit Jamaica These Days?

Jamaica and other Caribbean countries have recently opened their borders. More nations will follow suit this week, including The Bahamas. But what’s it like to travel south these days?

According to my friends at TravelPulse in the U.S., at least one American couple sounded pretty happy with the experience. They had to quarantine at their hotel for the first two days of their five-day visit, and of course not everything on the island was open. But they love Jamaica and seemed to enjoy themselves. 

Here’s the full story.