Re-openings in Bermuda and the Bahamas, as well as France, the legendary Fairmont Chateau Laurier hotel in Ottawa. I also have news from Toronto, Hawaiian Airlines, Viking Cruises, Booking.Com and PAL Airlines in Eastern Canada. My Future of Travel Blog for July 2.
Everybody Sing Along: Bermuda, Bahamas, Come On Pretty Mama….
Great news for lovers of sun and sand: both the Bahamas and Bermuda re-opened for visitors on Canada Day, July 1.
The Bahamas today issued a release to say they have a new travel app available. The Bahamas Ministry Of Tourism & Aviation’s new, free mobile app provides an easy to use resource and tool for consumers planning a visit to The Islands Of The Bahamas. Key features of the app include: downloadable island guides, flight charter request processing and recommendations based on the user’s geo-location within The Bahamas. It also highlights current deals, Bahamas.com blog posts, an interactive map and suggests top activities for adventure, relaxation and romance.
The Islands Of The Bahamas mobile app is free to download on IOS and Android devices.
Here’s a report on the destination’s re-opening from the Caribbean Journal.
And here’s an item from the Royal Gazette in Bermuda about an Air Canada flight that arrived on Canada Day: the first international flight into Bermuda’s airport in three months.
Of course, Europe also has hung up a “Canadians welcome here” sign, although they’re not yet inviting Americans. Here’s an item on France opening up to Canadians, courtesy of my colleagues at TravelPulse Canada.
Viking Cruises: 2023 Sailings on the Mississippi Now on Sale
Rendering of the Viking Mississippi Ship – Pool Deck, Deck 5
Viking today announced that new 2023 sailings of its Mississippi River cruises are now on sale. The company’s first custom vessel, Viking Mississippi, will debut in August 2022 and will sail voyages on the Lower and Upper Mississippi River, between New Orleans and St. Paul. Viking’s first river cruises in the U.S. had been highly anticipated when they were officially announced in April 2020, and several sailings have already sold out. This strong demand has led Viking to open additional 2023 sailing dates sooner than originally expected. Also, the company today released several new renderings of Viking Mississippi.
“We are very pleased at the initial response and support we have received from guests and community partners along the Mississippi River,” said Torstein Hagen, Chairman of Viking. “Like me, many travellers are planning ahead for when we will once again be exploring the world in comfort – to exotic destinations as well as those closer to home. We look forward to welcoming guests as we bring modern river cruising to the Mississippi River in 2022.”
Viking’s arrival to the Mississippi will represent a major commitment to tourism and economic development in many communities along the river, with the new cruises expected to bring more than 5,800 guests to the region in 2022 and 17,600+ during the first full sailing season in 2023. Currently scheduled ports of call on Viking’s new Mississippi River cruises comprise seven U.S. states: Louisiana (Baton Rouge, Darrow, New Orleans and St. Francisville); Mississippi (Natchez and Vicksburg); Tennessee (Memphis); Missouri (Hannibal, St. Louis); Iowa (Burlington, Dubuque and Davenport); Wisconsin (La Crosse); and Minnesota (Red Wing, St. Paul).
Hawaiian Airlines Re-starting Flights to the Mainland Aug. 1
Hapuna Beach on Hawaii Big Island. JIM BYERS PHOTO
In other re-opening related news, Hawaiian Airlines says it will resume MOST mainland routes on August 1 when Hawaii rolls out a pre-travel COVID-19 testing program allowing visitors to bypass the state’s mandatory 14-day quarantine. Here’s a report from my friends at TravelPulse in the U.S.
Booking.com adds incentive for Canadians with 15% off deal
Sooke Harbour House is a fine spot west of Victoria, B.C., where the weather is bound to be better than most parts of Canada. JIM BYERS PHOTO
While Canadians were making plans to visit some of the most beautiful destinations both domestically and across the world, the spread of coronavirus (COVID-19) quickly turned into a global pandemic that forced many governments to close their borders and travellers to stay home.
To make it easier for everyone to experience the world, starting with re-discovering the joys of their own country as travel restrictions ease, Booking.com is launching a ‘Rebook Campaign’ to encourage those who had to cancel their domestic trips as a result of coronavirus-related government travel restrictions to rebook the same property for a future stay once it’s safe to travel again.
Eligible customers will receive a promo code to re-book and receive 15% of the booking price (up to $100 CAD) back in credit. With this, Booking.com aims to inspire travellers to reprise the trips they were looking forward to, while also supporting local businesses in their communities.
“At Booking.com, we are committed to doing everything we can to support customers and partners during this evolving pandemic and when the time is right, to make it easier for everyone to experience the world again,” said Adriana Mantilla, Regional Manager Canada at Booking.com. “As a part of this commitment, we are excited to introduce our ‘Rebook Campaign’ to incentivize Canadians to book a future stay at the same property while also earning a travel reward. During this time, many home-bound travellers are looking for inspiration to satiate their wanderlust as well as seeking ways to support their favorite local businesses. This campaign is a step towards helping them do so.”
A Glorious Hotel Re-Opening
The Fairmont Chateau Laurier in Ottawa.
So glad to see that the Fairmont Chateau Laurier in Ottawa has re-opened. The doors swung upon on, of course, Canada Day.
It’s one of Canada’s best hotels, with sleek and stylish rooms, amazing views, fabulous food, craft cocktails and the one and only Jimmy, who’s been at the hotel for decades and works his magic on the stove at Wilfrid’s restaurant most mornings and afternoons. The man is a treasure, and an inspiration.
And Another, This One in Toronto
As the city of Toronto reopens its businesses, Kimpton Saint George Hotel begins its own awakening from temporary hibernation. As of Friday, July 3, the Saint George will open its doors to hotel guests looking for a welcoming and safe place to stay.
Over the past few weeks, the hotel team has been hard at work to build upon its already high cleanliness standards to implement multiple add-ons to cleaning and disinfecting practices to protect the health and safety of guests and employees. However, changes aside, the Saint George promises not to lose the specialness that makes a uniquely Kimpton experience. Guests will still enjoy beloved amenities such as morning coffee hour, evening social hour, in-room yoga mats, complimentary PUBLIC bikes and pet-friendly policies. How each of these are experienced moving forward just may have a bit of a different approach to stay within the new standards and respect physical distancing suggestions from national and local governments. Visit kimptonhotels.com/clean for the full details of Kimpton’s approach to clean.
This summer, as more and more folks look to venture from their homes and begin to travel again, the Saint George is pleased to welcome all visitors, both near and far. For locals craving a close-to-home getaway, the “Staycation” package offers free parking, $30 hotel credit and 1,000 IHG Rewards Club points. And for the planners out there, the “IHG Rewards Club Advance Purchase” offer delivers 15% off when booked direct 3+ days prior to arrival. See full details of each of these offers and other promotions for the hotel here.
PAL Airlines: We’ll Keep it Going in Eastern Canada
Blue Rocks is a quintessential Nova Scotia fishing village, located just a few minutes from Lunenburg.
PAL Airlines is reaffirming the company’s commitment of continued service to destinations in Atlantic Canada and Quebec.
“PAL Airlines knows firsthand the uncertainty COVID-19 has created in Canadian commercial aviation,” said Calvin Ash, President of PAL Airlines. “Given recent events, we believe it is important to restate our commitment to serving our network in Atlantic Canada and Quebec and to assure our passengers that they can continue to book future travel with confidence in our airline.”
PAL Airlines maintains an extensive presence throughout Atlantic Canada and Quebec with scheduled passenger and cargo services to a variety of destinations primarily operating De Havilland Dash 8 series aircraft.
Air Canada last week closed eight airport stations in eastern Canada and cancelled 30 domestic routes, most in Ontario, Quebec and the Atlantic provinces.
A Hotel All To Yourself: The Ultimate in Social Distancing Travel
It’s one thing to book a nice hotel room, but it’s a decidedly more decadent flex to “buy out” an entire luxury hotel. During these stressful times, deep-pocketed travellers are paying more for maximum privacy and minimal contact with strangers in the midst of the ongoing coronavirus outbreak, according to the website Maxim.com. Hotels in the Florida Keys, Colorado, Maine and other places are offering full buyouts so travellers can bring family and friends and have the whole place to themselves. The deals span from major splurges on sprawling luxury properties to relative bargains at more intimate getaways. Isn’t it nice to know movie stars and other celebrities can get away from it all like this? I mean, I was beginning to feel pretty sad about their plight.
