The folks at hotels.com have come up with a list of 10 Instagram-worthy spots in the U.S. I also have a look at the new rules for visitors to Hawaii that come into effect Sept. 1. Top Instagram Places in the U.S. They skipped over some obvious places such as the Empire State Building and came up with a nice list. I’ll note that four of the 10 places they listed are in my home state of California. Just sayin’. Here’s the list: 1. Big Sur, California 2. Red Rocks Park and Ampitheater, Colorado 3. Montauk Read more
A lot of folks were skeptical when Air Canada said it was taking over Aeroplan and would bring in a whole new loyalty rewards system. But the early reviews are excellent, indeed. Air Canada this morning officially released details of its new Aeroplan program, which begins Nov. 8. Among the changes: Every seat on every Air Canada flight can now be booked with Aeroplan points (they’re using points as the terminology, not miles) There are no longer any annoying fuel surcharges or other surcharges on Aeroplan tickets The credit cards have been given a big boost, with more perks for Read more
A report on over-tourism. Which is now under-tourism. Which isn’t good, either. Also, a note about the U.S. State Department lifting its four-month advisory against Americans travelling abroad. My Future of Travel blog for Aug. 7. Finding the Right Tourism Balance For years we’ve read headlines about too many tourists cramming the Champs Elysees and jamming the canals of Amsterdam. Locals on some popular Spanish islands got so fed up that they vandalized visitors’ cars. Petitions against over-tourism sprang up in overcrowded cities such as Barcelona and Venice, where they had to put limits on cruise ships. Now, what some Read more
Ottawa Tourism has launched a visitor incentive campaign called It’s On Us whereby visitors who book at least a two-night stay in Ottawa receive a $100 Visa Gift Card. Rooms must be booked before September 30, 2020 for stays before December 31, 2020 at more than 30 participating hotels. Visa Gift Cards are distributed upon check-in and are encouraged to be spent to enhance the visitor’s stay… for dinner, tickets to an attraction or tour, or souvenirs before returning home. “With more of our tourism businesses opening up with enhanced safety protocols, we’re seeing more people planning staycations in Ottawa,” Read more
The travel news from Europe and Hong Kong is bad. But things may be looking up for Canadian tourism in the Atlantic provinces. My Future of Travel report for July 27. It was only a few weeks ago that the UK put Spain on its good list, saying it was safe for its residents to take a holiday there. Now, with a surge in cases in Barcelona and other places, the UK has put Spain back on its naughty list, meaning UK residents would have to quarantine after coming home. The World Travel and Tourism Council called the move a Read more
As if getting more attention from owners working at home isn’t enough, now we find that dogs are increasingly getting more vacation time. I’ve got a report on that today, as well as an update on Air Canada re-opening some of its lounges. Rover Goes Road Trippin’ It’s been a crazy few months in the travel and tourism biz. Trips were cancelled and lockdown measures were enacted to ensure a flattening of the curve. However, as restrictions loosen and cases (mostly) trend down, Rover.com (who knew?) surveyed 500 Canadian pet parents to find out how folks are feeling about summer Read more
An AirBnB study finds that searches for properties in the Kawarthas topped the charts for Canada. I also have a surprising report on how some Canadian insurance companies actually ARE offering travel insurance for COVID-19, as well as a story on what women want in travel. Finally, I have items on how Air Transat is back in action today, and an item on how a top Canadian business person says it’s time for Ottawa to support Canada’s aviation industry. My Future of Travel blog for July 23. Kawarthas Tops the Canadian AirBnB Charts The August long weekend is just around Read more
