Luxury travel is booming like never before, including high-end cruise trips, and hotel prices are jumping. Virtuoso, the leading global network specializing in luxury and experiential travel, is hosting its 2023 Symposium this week in Montréal. During the event’s General Session, Virtuoso Executive Vice President David Kolner presented proprietary data and industry insights before an audience of the industry’s top professionals from 35 countries. As a sign of travel’s continued rebound, Kolner shared that Virtuoso bookings for 2023 are 91 percent higher than they were in 2019 leading into 2020, and 62 percent higher than 2022. That’s truly remarkable. “With Read more
Europe
Flight bookings are taking off in Canada and around the world. A study from the Mastercard Economics Institute found that flight bookings around the world show an impressive 33% year-over-year growth. It also found that leisure flight bookings in Canada were up 45.1% in the first quarter of 2023 compared to the same period last year. New insights from Mastercard reveal that consumers are prioritizing leisure travel and pioneering new corridors around the world. Released today, Travel Industry Trends 2023 delivers key insights about the global state of travel, punctuated by shifting economic landscapes, persistent consumer demands, and a reopening of mainland Read more
There’s a lot of hullabaloo in Jolly Old England regarding the May 6 coronation of King Charles. It’s the first coronation of a member of British royalty in 70 years, and there’s been a flurry of bookings. But a look at London hotel prices finds some very reasonable deals. Not only are people seemingly not getting ripped off, but several hotels have what I could consider excellent prices. A look at Expedia.ca yesterday found rooms at the DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel London – Tower of London for just $282 CAD, including all taxes and fees. A room at the Nobu Read more
Despite the financial challenges posed by inflation and high gas prices, a significant majority of Canadians remain determined to embark on road trips this summer. Conducted among members of the Angus Reid Forum, the 2023 edition of the annual Toyota Canada Summer Road Trip Survey found 74% of those polled are still planning a road trip, but fuel efficiency and other ways to cut costs are very much top of mind this year. Cost-cutting and affordability are top of mind Of those who are planning a road trip this summer, 43% say rising gas prices have impacted their plans. And, Read more
News about LGBTQ+ travel, plus a Nova Scotia golf update and European train travel item. My news roundup for today. Canada Ranked Safest Country in World for LBGTQ+ Travelers Canada ranked at the top of the 2023 list as the most LGBTQ+ country in the world for the third year in the row. Journalists Lyric and Asher Fergusson run a travel site dedicated to LGBTQ+safety. At the beginning of March, they published a report called “The 203 Worst (& Safest) Countries for LGBTQ+ Travel in 2023.” CIC News says they reviewed every country’s individual laws and gathered data from Read more
