Ontario residents can now earn travel reward points buying booze. Aeroplan, Canada’s leading travel loyalty program, and the LCBO, one of the world’s largest buyers and retailers of beverage alcohol, are pleased to announce that Aeroplan members can now earn points when shopping at LCBO retail stores across Ontario. Starting today, Aeroplan members will earn one Aeroplan point for every $4 spent at LCBO retail stores, in addition to bonus points on promotional offers. To earn Aeroplan points in LCBO retail stores, simply present a physical or digital Aeroplan membership card at checkout. Aeroplan points can be redeemed in the Read more

Visit Huntington Beach, the destination marketing organization for Huntington Beach, California, also known as Surf City USA, has appointed The Pilgrim Group as its agency of record in Canada after a competitive and in-depth review process.    The Pilgrim Group will work closely with Canada’s travel trade industry to assess the needs of Canadian travellers as they return to travel, build awareness of the destination, and increase visitation from the key Canadian markets.    “Canada continues to be California’s largest international market for overnight visitors, and with new direct flights from Vancouver and Calgary to Orange County Airport (SNA), Huntington Beach is now more accessible Read more

Days after the U.S. reopened its land and air borders to vaccinated international visitors, including Canadians coming over the land border, the U.S. Travel Association released a study that shows that domestic leisure travel has returned to near pre-pandemic levels. But they’re forecasting an uneven recovery for the international inbound and business travel segments. The forecast, based on analysis from Tourism Economics, projects that domestic leisure travel will continue to drive the U.S. travel industry’s recovery in the near term. This segment is projected to surpass pre-pandemic levels in 2022 and beyond. U.S. domestic business travel spending is expected to reach Read more

If you’re a Canadian with a mixed dose of vaccines, Ireland has some good news for you. The Irish government says it is now accepting mixed vaccinations as proof of inoculation. That’s a relief for millions of Canadians who received mixed vaccines, such as AstraZeneca followed by Moderna or Pfizer. Some countries were slow to accept mixed vaccinations, but the U.S. agreed to the policy a few weeks ago, and now Ireland’s official website makes the same point. To visit Ireland, you only need to fill out a Passenger Locator Form and show your vaccination proof. No PCR-style or even Read more

This is a re-post of a blog I published in June, 2014. Lest we forget. YPRES, BELGIUM – I take a train through rolling fields of prosperous farms and frisky Holsteins and small, black sheep grazing on deep, green grass. I dive into perfectly cooked sole at a stunning restaurant. I wander adorable streets filled with attractive brick buildings and drink rich Belgian beers on lovely squares and stroll through romantic parks with tiny bridges over pretty marshes and silent fishermen trying their luck I have a lovely time in this small town and the surrounding area. But I also Read more

More Europe. And now both Los Angeles and San Francisco. Air Transat has announced its flight program for the summer of 2022. At the height of the season, it will operate more than 250 flights each week to 44 destinations. It will gradually increase its service to Europe, strengthen its position in the United States by offering flights to Los Angeles and San Francisco for the first time, offer a selection of its most popular South destinations, and enhance its domestic flight program. “We are actively rebuilding our network with a modern and versatile fleet that will enable us to Read more