A leading group of travel agents says it’s “imperative” that the Trudeau government extend aid to travel agents devastated by the coronavirus. The Tourism and Hospitality Recovery Program rent and wage subsidies are scheduled to be cut in half on Sunday, March 13 and end entirely May 7, 2022. “The fifth wave of Omicron has devasted Canada’s travel and tourism small businesses, nearly eliminating the winter holiday season,” said Wendy Paradis, President, ACTA. “While recovery is on the horizon, border restrictions remain and travel agencies and independent travel agents cannot recover until the summer season.” “It is imperative that the Read more
Canada
The shakeup continues in the Canadian airline industry. Air Transat and Porter Airlines, two major Canadian carriers, have concluded a code-sharing agreement to be implemented for the 2022 summer season. The first phase of the agreement will focus 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), providing customers of both carriers with a greater selection of connecting flights in Canada, the U.S. and internationally. “We are very excited to team up with Porter in an important partnership that will contribute to the strengthening of our network and Read more
Holland America Line cruise ships to visit Canadian ports again this summer. Officials today said the publication of procedures for the safe resumption of cruises to Canadian ports allows the company to complete preparation for a full season of Alaska explorations and Canada/New England sailings. Holland America Line will sail itineraries as scheduled that include Canadian homeports and ports of call from late spring through fall. Canadian government officials last month said new cruise regulations will be in place in time for the start of the Canadian cruising season in May. “The completion of this guidance by Transport Canada, Read more
Air Transat today announced the relaunch of a significant number of its routes for the summer season, including flights to the Caribbean and new European destinations. At the height of the summer season, it will operate more than 250 direct weekly flights on 69 direct routes. “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,” said Joseph Adamo, Chief Sales and Marketing Officer, Transat. “The outlook for the summer season is favourable, and our Read more
The most recent survey by the Society of American Travel Writers (SATW) of its American and Canadian media and communications members highlights top travel destinations and motivations for travel this year. Hot destinations for the media in 2022 are the U.S., including Hawaii, the South Pacific, Canada, the Caribbean and Europe. These results dovetail with the tally that while American (80%) and Canadian media (60%) are comfortable traveling overseas this year, the appeal of domestic travel was more popular with the Americans (91%) and Canadians (94%). Elizabeth Harryman Lasley, President of SATW, said “Because travel is part of Read more
