The Caribbean has been performing very strongly late in 2021 and is poised for a great year in 2022, Caribbean tourism officials and other experts say. Speaking at a Caribbean Hotel and Tourism Association virtual meeting this week, Nicola Madden-Greig, president of the CHTA, said things have improved drastically in the region since the height of the pandemic. “We are recovering, and we are recovering well,” she said. Madden-Greig said tourism levels late this year are roughly 70% of what they were in 2019, which was a phenomenal year for Caribbean tourism. She also noted that testing of travellers in Read more

The travel advisory issued by the Canadian government on Wednesday is already sparking changes by some travel insurance companies. Travel agents and expert say it’s definitely a case of buyer beware. Allianz Global Assistance Canada sent me an email to say that the situation changed once the government of Canada issued its advisory for Canadians to avoid non-essential international travel. “While coverage varies by channel and product, generally speaking, policyholders with Emergency Medical benefits who contract COVID-19 at their destination would not be eligible for emergency medical treatment if a Government of Canada travel advisory (against non-essential travel, level 3 Read more

WestJet says the travel warning issued by the Canadian government on Wednesday is not based on science and could create holiday season chaos. “The WestJet Group today is expressing its strong opposition to the travel advisory issued by the Government of Canada,” the Calgary-based company said in a statement. “The targeted advice outlined today is not based on science and data and significantly undermines aviation’s proven safety record in response to COVID-19. “These measures are a setback in Canada’s progress and its successful transition from relying on blanket advisories and policies.” The Justin Trudeau government on Wednesday announced a four-week advisory Read more

The Justin Trudeau government has announced a four-week advisory for Canadians to avoid non-essential travel. The government today also suggested new testing rules could be coming. Canadian Health Minister Jean-Yves Duclos said the federal government’s advisory will be posted in the next few hours. He also said Ottawa will continue to expand capacity “to test as many people as possible as quickly as possible,” and that the government “will more have to say on that in the very near future.” “There will certainly be other measures,” he said. “All actions are on the table.” “We must stand together,” the minister Read more

The pandemic has been anything but kind to Canada’s hotel industry. But a senior official at Canada’s Germain Hotels says they’re going to be okay. “One thing for sure is we’re out of the woods,” Marie Pier Germain, vice president sales and marketing for Germain Hotels, told me in a recent Zoom chat. “The company is going to be okay.” Germain said the company has kept communication lines open with its investors during the pandemic But it’s not been easy. And it hasn’t been a straight line. “Everything we’re used to relying on to forecast budget is gone,” she said. Read more

Air Canada today officially launched an expanded partnership with Uber Canada, which will give Aeroplan members new ways to earn points at home and on the road. With the new partnership, Aeroplan members will be able to link their Uber and Aeroplan accounts together so that earning points and other rewards are seamless, officials said. Aeroplan members based in Canada will be able to link their accounts to the Uber app and automatically earn Aeroplan points on food orders and certain types of rides, including:   1 Aeroplan point per $1 spent on eligible Uber Eats orders over $25 in Read more