Global Travel News

The wildfire that has brought sheer devastation to Maui is especially heartbreaking for Hawaii because it struck one of its most historic towns and the onetime capital of the former kingdom.

Lahaina holds deep cultural significance for Hawaiians. The town was once the royal residence of King Kamehameha, who unified Hawaii under a single kingdom by defeating the other islands’ chiefs. His successors made it the capital from 1820 to 1845, according to the National Park Service.

Kings and queens are buried in the graveyard of the 200-year-old stone Wainee Church. Later named Waiola, the church that once sat up to 200 people was photographed engulfed in flames.

Across the town, landmarks were charred beyond recognition and entire neighbourhoods that had been a vibrant vision of colour and island life have been reduced to gray ash.

Block after block is nothing but rubble and blackened foundations, including along famous Front Street, where tourists shopped and dined just days ago.

“Lahaina, with a few rare exceptions, has been burned down,” said Hawaii Gov. Josh Green. “Without a doubt, it feels like a bomb was dropped on Lahaina… We are heartsick.”

More than 1,000 structures were destroyed and boats in the harbour were scorched.

Many businesses, including one of the town’s oldest shops, were destroyed. As owner Tiffany Kidder Winn assessed the damage at the Whaler’s Locker gift store, she said, “I couldn’t even tell where I was, because all the landmarks were gone.”

The fire consumed much of Lahaina’s historic Front Street, home to restaurants, bars, stores and what is believed to be the United States’ largest banyan, a fig tree with aerial roots that grow out of branches and eventually reach the soil and become new trunks. Reports say that while the famed Banyan tree is still standing, it is scarred and unknown whether it will survive.

“All the places that are tourist areas, that are Hawaiian history, are gone, and that can’t be replaced,” said Richard Olsten, a helicopter pilot with Air Maui who surveyed the scene. “You can’t refurbish a building that’s just ashes now. It can’t be rebuilt – it’s gone forever.”

Francine Hollinger, a 66-year-old Native Hawaiian, said witnessing the destruction of Front Street was “like losing a family member … because they’ll never be able to rebuild it, like we wouldn’t be able to bring back our mother or father.”

The Lahaina Historic District is home to more than 60 historic sites, according to the Advisory Council on Historic Preservation.

For Native Hawaiians, the town is a connection to their ancestors. Lahainaluna High School was where royalty and chiefs were educated, and also where Kamehameha and his Council of Chiefs drafted the first Declaration of Rights of the People and the Constitution for the Hawaiian Kingdom.

Lahaina also has a rich history of whaling, with more than 400 ships a year visiting for weeks at a time in the 1850s. Crew members sometimes clashed with missionaries on the island.

Sugar plantations and fishing boosted the economy over the decades, but tourism is the main driver now. Nearly three million visitors came to Maui last year, and many of them come to the historic town.

The fire is “just going to change everything,” said Lee Imada, who worked at the Maui News for 39 years before retiring. “It’s just hard to register, even right now, what the full impact of this is going to be.”

He recalled walking down Front Street among the tourists as they shopped or ate, looking at the banyan tree, and enjoying the beautiful ocean views from the harbour.

“It’s just sort of hard to believe that it’s not there,” Imada said. “Everything that I remember the place to be is not there anymore.”

First published at Travel Industry Today

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First published at TravelNewsHub.com – Global Travel News

Last week, devastating wildfires in Maui dominated the late week news. Other things: China snubbed Canada in blow to inbound tourism, IATA reported the air sector has nearly reached pre-pandemic levels, Virgin Galactic got its first tourist to space, and Europe forecast a dramatic shift in future tourism patterns as global warming continues to take effect.

NEWS

Wildfires ravaged Maui last week causing dozens of deaths, mass evacuations of visitors and residents, and the near total destruction of historic Lahaina town. Visitors were advised to avoid non-essential travel and to check with their hotels and airlines ahead of future travel.

China has increased the number of countries that its big-spending tourist groups can visit by more than 75 following the lifting of its last COVID-19 travel restrictions. But in a blow to this Canada’s tourism industry, this country was not among them. Canada, which continues to navigate strained political relations with the China over several issues including Canadian claims the country attempted to interfere in the last federal election, joins Saudi Arabia has the only G20 countries to lack approved status.

In the face of global warming and record-shattering heat in Europe this summer,

a new report by the European Union says tourists may soon begin trading the Greek Islands for western Wales, and Italy for Sweden – and doing so in April rather that July. Generally, the report forecasts that a temperature rise of 3°C or 4°C will reduce the number of summer tourists by almost 10% in southern coastal regions, and raise demand for northern coasts by 5%, the report’s projections show.

BY THE NUMBERS

IATA announced that the post-COVID recovery momentum continued in June for passenger markets with total traffic (measured in revenue passenger kilometres or RPKs) rising 31.0% compared to June 2022. Globally, traffic is now at 94.2% of pre-COVID levels. North American carriers saw traffic climb 23.3% in June 2023 versus the 2022 period. Capacity increased 19.5%, and load factor rose 2.7 percentage points to 90.2%, which was the highest amongst global regions.

AIR

WestJet is boosting flight service to Mexico this winter, boasting a 14% increase in capacity from Vancouver International Airport, as well as adding weekly non-stop service between Vancouver and Ixtapa. The carrier says it will be offering more seat to Mexico from Vancouver than any other carrier and cites additional regional flights from the lower mainland by Sunwing. Meanwhile, new Abbotsford service includes Los Cabos, 1x weekly, from Dec. 4, and Puerto Vallarta, 2x weekly, from Dec. 5.

New Distribution Capability content from British Airways is now live on the Travelport+ platform, enabling the carrier to give simplified access to NDC content to agents, so that travel retailers can easily book and service NDC offers for their customers. The content is available in the UK and Ireland and will be followed by a global rollout for Travelport+ users around the world.

Azores Airlines is boosting its international and domestic air operations to the city of Porto and this winter will operate six international multi-leg flights to Porto (via the Azores). New weekly direct service from Toronto to Porto (same aircraft with a technical stop in Ponta Delgada) will operate Nov. 23-May 24, 2024. And summer 2024 (June 1-Sept. 24) will feature weekly, non-stop flights from Toronto to Porto.

Virgin Galactic rocketed to the edge of space with its first tourists Thursday, including a former British Olympian who bought his ticket 18 years ago and a mother-daughter duo from the Caribbean. The space plane glided back to a runway landing at Spaceport America in the New Mexico desert, after a brief flight that gave passengers a few minutes of weightlessness. This first private customer flight had been delayed for years; its success means Richard Branson’s Virgin Galactic can now start offering monthly rides, joining Jeff Bezos’ Blue Origin and Elon Musk’s SpaceX in the space tourism business.

DEALS

Clients can save up to $250 when booking Collette’s “Flavors of Portugal and Spain” exploration tour (photo), departing Jan. 28, 2024. The 16-day experience sees travellers venture throughout the Iberian Peninsula, sampling different vintage wines and taking in the rich culture learning about bullfighting in Pamplona, touring a Spanish cider house, and taking part in a petiscos cooking class in the Douro River Valley.

TOURS

To meet increasing demand from travel advisors and their clients, Riviera River Cruises says its adding a new ship and new itinerary on the Douro River in Portugal and Spain for 2024. The MS Porto Mirante will sail 10 departures of the “Highlights of the Douro Valley and Salamanca River Cruise” from July to October starting next year. The Porto Mirante will join Riviera’s MS Douro Elegance and MS Douro Splendour, which sail the Douro, Porto, and Salamanca River Cruise.

Bestselling author Frances Mayes, whose memoir “Under the Tuscan Sun” was made into an acclaimed Hollywood film, will share reflections of her 30 years in Italy with Tauck guests on selected departures of the company’s eight-day, small-group “A Week In… Tuscany and Umbria” itinerary. Mayes will join with Tauck guests on more than a dozen 2023 and 2024 tours when they visit the author’s adopted Tuscan town of Cortona, where the principal events of the book and its film adaptation took place. While in Cortona, Tauck guests will also enjoy a guided walking tour in town and a lunch of local specialties prepared by a Michelin-starred chef who is also a close friend of Mayes.

CRUISE

Crystal Symphony, the second Crystal ship to relaunch following Crystal Serenity’s recent return to service, successfully completed sea trials in anticipation of its inaugural cruise from Athens on Sept. 1. The refurbished vessel will spend the rest of the summer in Europe before repositioning to Africa in October and then hosting voyages in Australia and Asia.

MSC Cruises has opened sales for its winter 2024/25 season with more than 150 global sailings now available to book. Six ships will serve the Caribbean Sea, while the MSC World Europe will sail the Mediterranean, and MSC Euribia undertakes a new deployment in the Middle East. The world’s fastest-growing cruise line says it will offer established both favourite destinations and new hotspots, plus short mini cruises and enriching long cruises, all providing varied options across hemispheres and “ensuring there is something for everyone.”

HOTELS

Riu Hotels & Resorts has made its UK debut with the opening of the Riu Plaza London Victoria, a new four-star 435-room establishment located in the heart of Westminster near Buckingham Palace and Big Ben. The hotel is also beside Victoria Station, a strategic transportation hub in the British capital that links directly to Gatwick Airport. The 12-storey building was originally built in the 1960s and was completely renovated in the 1990s and features appealing design and quality finishes, prompting most characteristic features to be maintained during the refurbishment.

The St. James Hotel, originally built in the Gaslamp District in 1912, has been reimagined as the Palihotel San Diego. The redesign brings Palisociety’s signature California quirky sensibility with nautical inspired charm to each of its 122 guest rooms. The hotel also features Saint James French Diner, an all-day dining room that blends the approachable nature of an American diner with the subtle elegance of a French bistro.

RESORTS

Zoëtry Marigot Bay St. Lucia is offering a new beach experience with a touch of island charm. Guests are transported via a short pontoon ride to the LaBas beach where they are provided an immersive and elevated beach visit that includes concierge service, personalized wait service, and relaxation amenities such as a tote bag, plush towels, and comfortable beach loungers. The excursion adds Dolittles restaurant for an additional charge. The resort is also now extending a complimentary sunset cruise on Thursdays from for all guests who book a Master Suite Residence with Plunge Pool or higher for a minimum of four nights.

An extensive enhancement project has started at Breathless Punta Cana Resort & Spa in the Dominican Republic with work to be done in phases. The resort says appropriate steps will be taken to minimize the impact for guests with all the work complete by year’s end.

ATTRACTIONS & THEME PARKS

Minion Land on Illumination Avenue officially opened to guests last week (Aug. 11) at Universal Studios Florida. Previously open in preview, the one-of-a-kind land expands upon the popular ‘Despicable Me Minion Mayhem’ attraction, bringing a new collection of humorous adventures inspired by the beloved Minions franchise.

EVENTS

The Tourism Industry Association (TIAC) has opened registration for the Canadian Tourism Congress 2023, taking place Nov. 21-22 at the Westin Ottawa. The annual event brings together industry leaders and peers from across the country, and features motivational speakers, expert panellists, and networking opportunities. Learn more at http://tiac-aitc.ca/congress .

DESTINATIONS

Since 2022, the Opernhaus Zürich (photo) has been performing the four operas of Richard Wagner’s Der Ring des Nibelungen individually as part of the first full production of the Ring Cycle in the Swiss city in 20 years (all together the pieces play for 16 hours). The theatrical feat represents the culmination of years of preparation and takes place in the city where it was first performed in 1853. The fourth instalment – Götterdämmerung will debut on Nov. 5. And the complete Cycle of the operas will be performed over eight days in spring 2024. At the same time, Opernhaus Zürich will be cooperating with Zürich Tourism to allow audience members to relive Wagner’s experiences in Zürich with a guided tour of the city featuring his most frequented spots.

Declaring it good “not only for Arizona but for the planet,” President Joe Biden signed a national monument designation for the greater Grand Canyon, turning the decades-long visions of Native American tribes and environmentalists into reality. The move will help preserve about 4,046 sq. km. just to the north and south of Grand Canyon National Park. It encompasses canyons, plateaus and tributaries that feed a range of plants and wildlife, including bison, elk, desert bighorn sheep and rare species of cactus, and it is Biden’s fifth monument designation.

LAST WEEK IN TRAVEL HISTORY

In 1949, the first commercial jet plane to fly in the Western Hemisphere made its maiden flight over the Malton airport (now Pearson International) outside Toronto. The Jetliner C-102 was designed in Canada by an Englishman, James Floyd, and built by Avro of Toronto. It was never produced commercially.

Send info to baginski@travelindustrytoday.com

First published at Travel Industry Today

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First published at TravelNewsHub.com – Global Travel News

Bruce Hodge is surely one of the most interesting men in the world, so it was only fitting that lightning flashed and thunder clapped during his remarks as the inimitable founder of Goway Travel celebrated his 80th birthday at his North Toronto home late last week.

Dramatic effects aside, most in attendance – several dozen family, friends, neighbours, and select industry colleagues (in some cases one and the same) – knew much of the Hodge/Goway origin story, in which a determined young Aussie (a former research economist with a bank in Australia and a tour guide/travel sales manager in Europe) emigrated to Canada in 1970 where he founded Goway Travel.

The company quickly found its niche as a leading South Pacific tour specialist, eventually evolving into an international powerhouse that in 2023 sends travellers to destinations around the world and boasts offices in four countries (Canada, US, Australia, Philippines).

Though guests might not have known that the humble Hodge and wife Claire (also integral in the growth of the company) were “too poor to have children” in their early days – a problem clearly remedied, as daughter Bronwyn and son Adam looked on – most had heard some or all of Hodge’s travel exploits, such as climbing Mt. Kilimanjaro, visiting the gorillas in Rwanda, fleeing tiger sharks while diving the Great Barrier Reef, trekking in Peru and Nepal, riding the Trans-Siberian railway, a 32-day crossing of Africa from “Cairo to Cape Town,” and too many more to mention.

The humble Hodge – and other speakers – recounted a life and business fueled by good humour, remarkable tales, and a healthy helping of vino and suds – one of Hodge’s passions being a hearty pub wherever he roams.

But make no mistake, declared Ian, his friend of 44 years and BGM – “bloody good mate” – Hodge is a man of remarkable qualities: “Determined, focussed, purposeful, enduring, constant, consistent… And those qualities are laced with integrity and honesty.”

Then he laughed and bestowed upon his friend an “Australian OBE” award – “over bloody eighty!”

And 80 years has proved to be plenty of time for Hodge to fulfil what he said were his two great quests in life: “to explore our wonderful world, and to create and build a business from scratch.”

The latter, he says, started with a mere “350 bucks” in his pocket, rendering his second quest “an impossible dream.”

Looking back, he laughed, “it was stupid” and required “breaking all the rules of business” to succeed. Indeed, he revealed, “Things were not good… and for the first eight years of running a business with no money, I wandered in the wilderness.

“And if you know anything about the Bible,” he joked, “Moses only wandered in the wilderness for 40 days and 40 nights.”

Even as the business grew, he admitted, “I had to face many, many, many, unbeatable foes. There were seven recessions, which includes Sept. 11, the travel-industry killing pandemic (and) we even had a computer hack…” – all obstacles that wouldn’t have been overcome without the “unwavering support of my wife Claire, the dedicated staff of Goway who bought into my quest, and some wonderful friends. So, those of you who helped me along the way, I want to formally thank you.”

As for his “other” quest – experiencing the wonderful world (with his family and friends), Hodge said, “I’ve been lucky to get really out there and see a lot of places.”

And it’s a quest that continues. Only last year, Hodge said he visited “the unbelievably treacherous, rotten place called the Skeleton Coast (in Namibia),” adding with grin, “It was awesome!”

But his biggest blessing, he reckoned, was the great luck to fall in love three times in his life: “First with my wife Claire, then with my daughter, and then with my granddaughter.” And there’s another grandchild on the way, he revealed.

Ultimately, he mused, “I am a very fortunate person… Life, you can gather in my case, has not been boring.

“And it’s going to continue that way,” he assured, explaining that he and Adam have been invited to take part next year in an 1,800-km. safari across Western Australia – a quest he says there was no chance of turning down.

“The point,” he said, “is I’m going! Just because you turn 80 doesn’t mean you can’t do those kinds of things.

“I tell you, I try to live my life by the philosophy of Clint Eastwood. And his philosophy is: ‘Don’t let the old man in!’”

First published at Travel Industry Today

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First published at TravelNewsHub.com – Global Travel News

Among the headlines last week, IATA took umbrage with the federal government, TICO forked out funds for a number of claims, Nicaragua finally dropped arrivals testing requirements, Crystal cruised again, a new low-cast Caribbean carrier revealed plans for Canada, and a surprising retirement announcement from south of the border.

NEWS

Instead of pursuing “costly and poorly thought-out” air travel consumer rights regulations, federal governments in Canada and the US need to “take ownership” of the issues – not least air traffic controller staff shortages – causing “unacceptable” delays at airports across the continent and resolve them, says the director general of IATA, Willie Walsh.

The Travel Industry Council of Ontario’s (TICO) approved eight claims against the Compensation Fund totalling $44,180 to assist 16 consumers who did not receive the travel services for which they had paid. They include Albarkah Travel and Tours, 1 claim to assist 3 consumers, $4,253; Crystal Cruises, 4 claims for 8 consumers, $31,280; The Travel Broker Group, 1 claim, $1,250; World Travel Inc. 2 claims for 4 consumers, $7,397. Some claims were denied: Rejoice Holidays Inc., 1 claim was denied as it was received beyond the legislated filing deadline date; Interjet Airlines, 5 claims were denied as they were claiming for unredeemed credits issued by the airline; Luxury Travel Centre Inc., 4 claims were denied as they were based on credit card misuse by the registrant.

The government of Nicaragua announced that the requirement for arrivals to present a Covid 19 Vaccination Card or PCR Test Certificate has been lifted. Therefore, all COVID 19 entry restrictions upon entering Nicaragua are no longer in effect.

Visits to the Acropolis of Athens, Greece’s most popular archaeological site, will be capped starting next month at a maximum 20,000 daily and subject to varying hourly entry limits, the Greek government says. Similar caps will also be imposed for other popular archaeological sites in a bid to mitigate overcrowding. Typically, the Acropolis attracts 23,000 visitors a day.

AIR

Low-cost Dominican Republic-based carrier Arajet, will launch flights from YYZ to Santo Domingo from Oct 24, followed by Montreal from Nov. 7. Service will be four times a week on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Fridays, and Saturdays. Onward connections from the airline’s hub include Santiago de Chile, Medellín, Sao Paulo, Cartagena, Aruba, Kingston, Curacao, and Saint Martin. Launched in 2022, Arajet offers nearly 90 connections in 20 destinations in the 14 countries in which it operates.

Canada Jetlines has taken delivery of its third Airbus A320 aircraft, which has been provided by a global aviation lessor providing aircraft and capital to the world’s airlines. The aircraft is an Airbus A320-200, with Canadian registry C-GCJK, equipped with two CFM56-5B4/3 engines. Passenger amenities include galley provisions for hot and cold buy on board refreshments, the installation of Jetlines’ complimentary Flymingo wireless inflight entertainment system and a USB charger for personal electronic devices.

In-flight entertainment with Air Canada now includes Apple TV+. AC is the first airline in Canada and second airline globally to offer Apple TV+ original programming onboard and brings the in-flight entertainment programming to more than 2,500 hours of movies, TV shows, podcasts, music as well as live TV news and sports—nearly double last year.

DEALS

Travellers booking Collette’s Oct. 1 or Oct. 10, “Cruising the Danube to the Black Sea” tour departures can either save 25% or book two seats for the price of one. During the 10-day experience, travellers will cross seven countries – Austria, Slovakia, Hungary, Croatia, Serbia, Bulgaria, and Romania – along the majestic Danube. Offer codes are DANUBESOLO (25% off) and DANUBE2FOR1.

TOURS

Air Canada Vacations has added a host of popular sun destinations to its ePackages shopping tool. Among them: Bermuda, Belize, San Juan, Puerto Rico Fort-de-France, Martinique, Grand Cayman, Pointe-à-Pitre, Guadeloupe, Saint Vincent, St, Kitts, Port of Spain, Kingston, Jamaica, Mexico City, and Monterrey, Mexico. With the enhanced ePackages tool, travel agents will earn their regular package commission amount on the land portion of the booking. Agents will also receive 300 ACV&ME points per room on ePackage bookings.

HOTELS

The Hamilton Princess & Beach Club in Bermuda recently debuted its first-ever custom fragrance, created in collaboration with local Bermudian Master Perfumer Isabelle Ramsay-Brackstone of Lili Bermuda. The perfume reflects the legacy of Bermuda hotel, which has evolved through more than a century of Bermuda’s tourism iterations. The Harkness Hamilton Princess Rose blooms around the harbour-front property and was the source of inspiration for this new custom fragrance, aptly named Island Rose.

Plans for a new Hotel and Private Residences in Jacksonville, Fla., have been announced by Four Seasons. Anticipated to open in 2026, the property will play an integral role in the development of the Jacksonville Shipyards and Downtown Jacksonville.

RESORTS

Club Med is enriching its programming for teenagers with Club Med Teens (11 to 13 years old) and Club Med Chill Pass (14 to 17 years old) to offer special activities adapted to each age group. New features include a modern talent show, a giant inflatable water course, a variety of sports and a pool party, guaranteeing unforgettable moments. The new program is available exclusively at Club Med Punta Cana, Club Med Michès Playa Esmeralda, Club Med Cancún and Club Med Ixtapa Pacific Villages. It will be rolled out to all destinations by 2024.

All-inclusive Blue Diamond Resorts has announced substantial upgrades to its elevated Diamond Club and Star Class room categories. The enhancements will be offered across the Royalton Luxury Resorts and Planet Hollywood Beach Resorts portfolios to guests with bookings on or after Oct. 13. The enhancements will encompass significant improvements in Food & Beverages, In-Room Experience, and Guest Services, with a particular focus on Butler Services, which have become synonymous with luxury and personalized attention.

BY THE NUMBERS

Artificial intelligence (AI) has helped Iberostar Hotels & Resort prepare 735,000 fewer meals in the first half of the year, while cutting food waste by 28% overall. The company has also achieved an 11% reduction in waste weight and saved 1,264 tons of CO2, which translates to 2,500 tons of CO2e reduced per year – the equivalent of 6.4 million miles driven by a passenger car.

CRUISE

Crystal officially relaunched under the new guardianship of A&K Travel Group with the maiden voyage of Crystal Serenity last week. The original Crystal cruise line filed for bankruptcy in 2022 and sold off its two ships. The cruise line’s largest vessel accommodates 740 guests and is the first of two ships returning to service this summer. The cruise line also announced that four new ships are planned, including two classic ships and two expedition vessels.

A new and improved ‘Future Cruise Program’ by MSC Cruises is designed to benefit travel agents and the line’s guests when a customer who had used an agency for their holiday at sea books their next sailing while onboard. The original agents will receive full commission for any new booking made on board and MSC Cruises while new aspects of the program for guests include a reduced ‘onboard-only deposit’ starting from CDN$100 p.p. for their next cruise, greater flexibility so a reservation can be changed to suit the customer’s needs prior to final payment, and an extended ‘best price guarantee’ timeframe. Benefits of the line’s existing ‘Future Cruise Program’ will continue.

EVENT

Adventure booking platform Tour Radar, which offers 50,000+ multi-day organized adventures across the globe from 2,500+ reputable and niche operators, announced its third annual Adventure Together event will be hybrid, held online and in Vienna, Austria, Oct. 18-19. The conference attracts global leaders in the adventure industry, filled with essential conversations about travel and technology, as well as a symposium about AI, sustainability, business growth, and talent attraction. While the focus is on the entire organized adventure industry, there will be tracks exclusively for travel agents and operators. Sponsors include Globus, Intrepid, The Travel Corporation, Europamundo, Colette, Air Canada, Explore!, Travel Talk, and Wastik India Journeys. For info and to register, go HERE.

ATTRACTIONS & THEME PARKS

A new, exclusive Ultimate VIP Experience package has been introduced by Discovery Cove in Orlando. The package (which does not include admission) features a VIP Cabana for the day with amenities and photo plan, VIP concierge service, personal time with animal care specialists, premium drinks, reserved seating and table service, private photo session, valet parking and expedited entry.

FAMS & INCENTIVES

The Jamaica Tourist Board (JTB) is offering Canadian travel advisors a chance to take part in its annual series of familiarization trips taking place this fall. Included are excursions exclusive to Western Canada (Nov. 18-23, departing Calgary) and Quebec (Dec. 5-12, from Montreal). Prices for Destination Jamaica’s educational FAM trips start at $499, with fees covering return airfare, accommodation, meals, activities, and ground transportation in Jamaica. As space is limited, agents are encouraged to apply early to secure a spot at www.visitjamaica.com/canada/fam-tours.

PEOPLE/APPOINTMENTS

TRAVELSAVERS Canada has appointed Clare Burke as manager of marketing. With a 20-plus year career in the travel industry in marketing and events, Burke will play a key role in the expansion of the TRAVELSAVERS CANADA network of travel advisors and preferred partners through unique marketing products and networking events. Previously, Burke served at Ensemble Travel Group for 13 years, specializing in network care and event management.

Chris Thompson, who has led Brand USA, the destination marketing organization for the United States, as President and CEO since 2012, announced his retirement effective May 31, 2024. His career included 15 years as an executive at VISIT FLORIDA, including three years as President and CEO.

DESTINATIONS

Spain received 37.5 million international tourists in the first half of 2023, a 24% increase from the same period last year. The figure is lower than for the same period in 2019, the year before the COVID-19 pandemic, when 38 million tourists arrived, but officials say the numbers are a sign that international tourism has rebounded strongly since the health crisis. Visitors from Britain topped the tourist list, totaling some 8 million and the northeastern region of Catalonia, including Barcelona and the Costa Brava, were the most visited area.

The 12th Annual “Kids Free San Diego” is returning in October with special savings for the entire family. City hotels, restaurants, attractions, museums, tours, and transportation companies are offering families with kids 12 and under a variety of deals from complimentary attraction and museum admission to free meals, as well as welcome amenities at area hotels. See San Diego.org for details.

LAST WEEK IN TRAVEL HISTORY

In 1930, the British airship “R100” crossed the Atlantic and arrived in Montreal. The trip was financed by Britain and Canada, part of a plan to provide airship service throughout the Commonwealth. The flight took 78 hours and 52 minutes. But airships were too vulnerable to the elements and after the explosion of the Hindenburg in 1937 airship travel ceased.

Send info to baginski@travelindustrytoday.com

First published at Travel Industry Today

Source

First published at TravelNewsHub.com – Global Travel News