One of Canada’s top hotels. Decadent lobster on what might be the city’s best patio. And a killer room overlooking bustling Yorkville. Sometimes a staycation is the best type of getaway, and I had a great one on Friday and Saturday. My wife and I were celebrating our wedding anniversary last week and were invited to stay the night and dine at the Hazelton Hotel in Yorkville. The hotel was recently renovated and has a bright, fresh and, to my mind, more youthful look to it than I remember. The lobby is stylish and sleek and welcoming, and the rooms Read more
safety
A new study finds that Canada is one of the most googled vacation spots on earth. And a story from the New York Times focuses on how hotels are changing the way they do business as as result of COVID-19. My Future of Travel blog for Sunday, July 26. There’s nothing wrong with sharing a silver medal. A company called Kuoni recently analyzed Google searches for vacations and found that Canada finished in a tie for second as a potential holiday spot. The study found that the United Arab Emirates, a group of states that includes Dubai and Abu Dhabi, Read more
Air Canada is trying to build consumer confidence as it also seeks a new approach to Canada’s borders. I also have news on United States tourism, Quebec tourism and Canadian travel (or lack thereof) to Europe this summer. My Future of Travel blog for July 17. Air Canada Health and Safety: Plus Renewed Calls For Border Reforms Air Canada hopes a program they staged for media and tourism/travel industry folks on Thursday will help build confidence in the concept of air travel. Airline officials also reiterated their call for more open borders to help Canada’s economy, albeit in a careful, Read more
COVID-19 “passports” to help revive the airline and tourism industries. Plus a look at what the future holds for cruising, a new rewards plan from CIBC that will help local restaurants, and great advice from the Canadian Automobile Association on summer road trips. That and more in today’s Future of Travel post. CORONAVIRUS PASSPORTS? COOL IDEA A company called Pangea has introduced an end-to-end platform for issuing a Covid-19 immunity ‘passport’ based on a biometric ID. The smart card holder will be granted free access to public areas including airport terminals and planes, as part of the effort to revive Read more
Beautiful Jamaica opens for international visitors tomorrow. I also have news on a $750 million program to help Quebec tourism, a California Highway One opening, a partial Bahamas opening, an update on when cruise ships will start running again and a look at the hotel experience of the future. JAMAICA RE-OPENS TOMORROW Jamaica has announced it will reopen its borders for international travellers tomorrow, June 15. Officials say an extensive set of safety protocols have been announced, including health screening before entry and upon entry, which will be implemented to manage risks to workers, communities and travellers. From planning Read more
