Global Travel News

With Travel Agent Appreciation Week (and month) now in full swing, a host of suppliers and trade partners have stepped up to thank agents for the important work they do. Here is a sampling of just some of the messages, programs, events, and – most importantly – incentive offers communicated on Travel Agent Appreciation Day yesterday (May 3).

TICO

“Ontario travel agents’ passion and dedication for providing exceptional service and consumer protection to clients is truly commendable,” says the Travel Industry Council of Ontario. “Whether you’re helping someone plan their dream vacation or navigating the complexities of post-pandemic travel, TICO thanks you for all that you do.”

“It has been a challenging three years for the travel industry, but Ontario’s travel agents have proven their expertise, professionalism and commitment to their clients day after day,” says TICO’s CEO Richard Smart. “Travel agents are an integral part of Ontario’s travel consumer protection framework and play a vital role in ensuring consumers have added peace of mind as they purchase travel.”

TTC TOUR BRANDS

The TTC Tour Brands team convened in Toronto last night (May 3) to celebrate Canadian travel advisors and to thank them for their ongoing partnership across their “full house” of brands, including Luxury Gold, Insight Vacations, Trafalgar, Brendan Vacations, Costsaver and Contiki. Advisors were invited to enjoy a casino-themed evening of cocktails, canapes, and casino games alongside executive team members and the Canadian sales team. Melissa DaSilva – President, TTC Tour Brands, North America, who flew in from California for the event, told the dozens of agents in attendance that there was “no big announcement,” simply appreciation and a big “thank you” for TTC’s Canadian partners, especially over the past tumultuous year.

JAMAICA/ACTA

To honour travel advisors this month, the Jamaica Tourist Board, in partnership with ACTA, is offering a Business-building Workshop series May 9, 10, and 11 with three-night stay (for two) giveaways from Royalton Negril Resort, DeCameron Club Caribbean, and Secrets St. James Resort. The three hour-long virtual professional development sessions will be hosted by travel industry expert and TV host Sandra McLemore and include (all times 2-3 p.m. EDT):

• May 9 – Planning Fees for Travel Advisors: Everything you need to know
• May 10 – Removing the noise and overwhelm to make space for new leads
• May 11 – Generating new leads for your business

Workshops will be administered in English and are free to attend. Register at  visitjamaica.com/canada/engage.

TOURISM IRELAND

“Travel agents are undeniably important in our business, and we would like to take the opportunity to acknowledge and express our gratitude to all our partners   across the country. Their continued engagement and passion for the Emerald Isle is evident as business is back – thanks largely in part to our travel trade urging travellers to ‘Fill their Heart with Ireland’ and book their trip in 2023,” says Tourism Ireland Canadian manager Sandra Moffatt. “We are here to offer the support and resources advisors need to sell the island.” That includes the following upcoming educational webinars (all at noon, EST):

• May 10 – ‘Attractions Across the Island of Ireland’
• June 7 – ‘Flavours of Ireland’
• June 28 – ‘Explore Northern Ireland’

There is also an agent specialist program, content pool with free images to use, agent Facebook group, and monthly e-zine.

And now – the incentives!

ACV

Air Canada Vacations’ month-long “You Mean the World To Us” event offers travel counsellors booking any package by May 31 (for travel through Dec. 31) a chance to win a trip for two to anywhere Air Canada flies. The prize includes roundtrip economy tickets for one agent plus a companion and includes a $2,000 accommodation voucher to anywhere that Air Canada Vacations serves. The winners will be announced on June 15, 2023. The more you book, the more you can win.

Additionally, the travel agent appreciation celebration provides a 20% discount for agents to use for their personal travel. The agent discount will be applicable to packages to Mexico, the Caribbean and Europe throughout the month of May with a travel window through Dec. 18.

GFOB

As part of its efforts to celebrate travel advisors, the Globus family of brands launched a special booking incentive to compliment its existing offers for agents: a $150 gift card for every Globus or Avalon Waterways booking made between mid-April and May 17.

In addition to this limited-time incentive for new bookings, travel advisors can earn more through GFOB’s Travel Advisor Discount Program. And, for those advisors who become an Avalon Waterways specialist, the company offers access to Suite Rewards – a program that provides them the opportunity to earn a complimentary FAM.

AFRICAN TRAVEL INC.

Travel advisors will earn a booking incentive for each new custom safari (excluding specials, Classic Safari Vacation Packages, and groups) booked with TravCorp brand African Travel Inc. (ATI), from May 1 to Dec. 15. Plus, advisors will receive up to 15% commission on land safaris and savings of up to 30% for themselves and a travel companion. When they have five plus bookings, advisors can travel with three guests. The tour operator encourages advisors to sign up for its specialist program for access to marketing and event support, educational trips, new client amenities, the Agent Academy, and the new ATI summer webinar series. To receive the travel discount advisors must be registered for the program and complete the Academy courses before travel. (www.africantravelinc.com/advisor)

COLLETTE

To celebrate Travel Advisor Appreciation Month, Collette is offering each advisor who secures at least two bookings from May 1 to June 30 a $50 incentive. Plus, the three advisors who secure the most bookings in the month of May will earn even more. The top booking advisor will win a free Spotlight tour of their choosing. Second and third place will win $2,000 and $1,000 travel vouchers respectively. The winners will be announced on May 31. Meanwhile, the tour operator notes that agents receive a 50% discount on tours, with companions receiving 25% year-round for personal travel.

ROYAL IRISH TOURS

In celebration of Travel Agent Appreciation Month, Royal Irish Tours (RIT) has revealed an incentive for travel counsellors in May: every booking in May will be added to a draw to win a grand prize of an eight-day familiarization trip to Ireland or Scotland in 2023/24. Multiple bookings mean multiple entries in the draw.

KARISMA HOTELS & RESORTS

Karisma Hotels & Resorts is celebrating travel agents all month long with the introduction of a travel agent advisory board, weekly scavenger hunts with prizes, and incentives for new bookings. Virtual scavenger hunts will occur each week, and participating agents can win a $250 gift card. A questionnaire will be distributed weekly via email, closing each Friday at midnight. Those who complete all four scavenger hunts will also be entered to win a $1000 gift card grand prize.

As an added incentive, new bookings made for Nickelodeon Hotels & Resorts and the Margaritaville brand before July 31 for travel between May 15-Dec. 15 will receive Double Gourmet Inclusive points when registered by the agent in their account via Karisma’s travel agent portal.

SILVERSEA CRUISES

Silversea Cruises has introduced a new incentive for Travel Partner Appreciation Month: When travel advisors make a new confirmed booking on any expedition cruise during the months of May and June, they will automatically be entered into a weekly prize draw for a chance to win a gift card. One winner will be selected for each week in May and June. In addition, the cruise line notes its introduction of kicker commissions in early 2023, whereby Silversea is offering agents an extra 1% kicker commission on all expedition cruises, an extra 1% on all new-to-brand guests, and an extra 1% an all new-to-repeat guests (guests who book for a second time with Silversea through the same agency).

First published at Travel Industry Today

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First published at TravelNewsHub.com – Global Travel News

Bounteous Belize, a colourful combo of Central America and the Caribbean,
is reporting a positive outlook for its tourism sector and expects to come close to full post-pandemic recovery this year, in part with the help of the Canadian market.

Belize’s Director of Tourism, Evan Tillett, says that despite challenges from the global health crisis, Belize registered 75% of its 2019 numbers in 2022, and is projecting to finish the current year at around 90% of its 2019 tally, with growth predicted for 2024 and 2025.

Tillett believes key factors driving Belize’s tourism industry include the diversity of its product, Belize’s focus on sustainability, and its commitment to offering an authentic, experiential product that showcases its culture and natural assets, which Belizeans describe as “wealth untold.”

Speaking at the recent Routes Americas air route development conference, Tillet told attendees, “Belize is one of the most diverse destinations on the planet in a very small space. We have 8,867 sq. m., and we have not only the sun, the beach, but we have an authentic product. We have basically what the new post-COVID tourist is looking for.”

Belize is home to the largest living barrier reef in the Western Hemisphere, three of the four atolls in the Caribbean, and an extensive cave system. Add Mayan history and a cultural melting pot, and the destination has something for everyone, from adventure seekers to those seeking relaxation and rejuvenation.

In terms of accommodations, Tillett emphasized that Belize has a wide range of options, from budget-friendly “mom and pop” operations to the Alaia Belize, Autograph Collection, which opened in 2021. Additionally, a Margaritaville is expected in 2023, Four Seasons Resort and Residences (2024), and other properties in the pipeline demonstrate the country’s commitment to expanding its accommodation offerings.

“Belize is in the western Caribbean and on the outskirts, but we are considered the Caribbean basin in Central America, and so it’s important that we sell the Caribbean for what we all offer. We have beaches, but we have different products that will allow us to be competitive with the world,” Tillett added.

Canada

Cruise lines have also returned to Belize, and Tillett says air prospects from North America look solid.

That includes Canada, which features direct seasonal flights from Air Canada and WestJet serving the peak December to March tourism period. Other connecting flights are available, such as Copa through Panama City.

On a recent a visit to Toronto, BTB branding and hospitality specialist Jana Puga told Travel Industry Today that Canada is an important market for Belize, and is a destination that “ticks all the boxes” for the interests of many Canadians: sustainable, active, experiential and authentic.

Indeed, authenticity is a hallmark of the destinations, she says, stating. “We’re not Cancun, we’re not mass market.”

She compares Belize today – “unspoiled and preserved” – to the Costa Rica of 20 years ago, adding, “You don’t feel like a tourist – you feel like you live there.”

Visitors can easily engage and mingle with locals, she says, not least due to the boutique- and lodge-style accommodation sector.

Visitors – or snowbirds, of which Belize attracts more than 11,000 Canadians a year – can also hop into a rental car and travel around via a developed road system. English is widely spoken (it is the only English-speaking country is the Central America).

A former British colony that achieved independence in 1981, the country exhibits its English influence most prominently in Belize City, whereas Creole culture flourishes in rural areas.

Puga says most Canadians will combine a beach stay with an active vacation in the interior, which includes jungle habitat combined with Mayan archeological sites and an extensive system of caves. Many cultural programs, such as homestays, Maya immersion, chocolate making, dancing, music, and drumming, can be availed.

Throughout the year, festivals across the country abound, such as Punta Gorda’s chocolate festival each May, and in summer, lobster festivals in coastal locales. The International Music and Food Festival is a two-day summer extravaganza that showcases local and international musical artists, with genres ranging from Reggae, Afro-Beats, Dancehall, Soca, Punta, and Latin beats, as well as exceptional local cuisine on Belize’s biggest island, and most prominent beach resort, Ambergris Caye.Sustainability, Puga emphasizes, is not taken lightly in Belize, and is ingrained into the DNA of Belizeans.

Indeed, more than half of Belize is blanketed in thick jungles, forests and nature preserves and the country has 103 protected areas, featuring a wealth of biodiversity.

Notable among them is Mountain Pine Ridge Forest Reserve, which is comprised of 121,000 hectares and home to sublime Big Rock Falls.

In 2021, a major deal was confirmed where Belize will be able to protect 30% of its ocean territory, which includes the Belize Barrier Reef, a UNESCO World Heritage Site that features 500-plus species of fish and nearly 300 km. of coral reef. The region is a mecca for divers and snorkellers worldwide.

With such an emphasis on the environment and sustainability, overtourism is not an issue in the country, says Puga.

“Belize,” she concludes, “has an island feel. There are great beaches, but much more. It’s Caribbean with twist.”

Specialist program

Meanwhile, the BTB has relaunched the North American version of the Belize Specialist Program. Available through the Online Travel Training (OTT) platform, the free online course features a new look with the same content re-structured into a more concise format of four 30-minute modules.

In addition to the re-structured content, a Trade Resource Center has been added to the program, where travel advisors can download e-brochures, request high-resolution images and videos to use as a selling tool, submit FAM inquiries, subscribe to Belize Tourism Board’s e-newsletters, and request Zoom destination presentations for groups conducted by the Belize travel trade team. A list of tour operator partners that sell packages to Belize has also been added to the program as a quick reference for travel advisors.

The platform also includes a section that links to the new travel advisor rewards program: unBelizeableRewards.com. Participation in the Belize Rewards program is available to all travel agencies and travel advisors and reporting Belize bookings translates into redeemable Points for FAM trips with partner hotels and select merchandise.

Upon completion of the program, travel advisors will receive the following perks:

• Printable certificate of completion
• Belize Specialist Logo to use on business cards, email signatures, and website
• Access to quarterly trade newsletters
• Special invitation to attend Belize-hosted trade events
• Priority Considerations for FAMs

The program is currently available in English, French, German, and Dutch.

First published at Travel Industry Today

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First published at TravelNewsHub.com – Global Travel News

The first member of the three-vessel Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection fleet, Evrima, finally began accepting passengers in October 2022. I was on the christening cruise, which left Lisbon Nov. 5, for Funchal, Tenerife, and Barbados. It was a 13-day indulgence, which, for some of my fellow travellers, meant sipping champagne from breakfast to bedtime.

It was an interesting crossing. I had previously crossed from Southampton to New York in October on the Queen Mary 2. That was pleasant, no rough seas and moderately warm. On Evrima’s crossing we went further south in the Atlantic so that even in November every day was in the high 70s/low 80s. Evenings we were able to dine and have cocktails outside.

What Canadians need to know is while Ritz-Carlton isn’t a Canadian brand, the idea is Canadian. The man behind the RC Yacht Collection, CEO Doug Prothero is from Port Stanley. By launching this collection, he is continuing the legacy of Canadian luxury travel innovators – like Canadian Pacific, which built the chain of chateaux that formed the basis of the Fairmont resorts; Halifax’s Sir Samuel Cunard; Four Seasons; and the Rocky Mountaineer.

The RC Yachts are the first time a major hotel brand has gone to sea. While cruise ships have always divided their personnel into sailing crew and hotel staff, none had teamed with a hotel company to operate that aspect of their business.

Inside, Evrima is like an intimate 149-suite resort. Every suite has a terrace. There are no windowless, inside cabins. Walls are panelled in walnut, ash, and leather. Baths are marble, with heated floors and towel racks. Linens are French.

Evrima’s accommodations include five styles of suites ranging from 29 to 100 sq. metres. I stayed in a two-story, 57-sq.-m. loft suite that had a powder room, living and dining room and terrace on Deck 5, with bedroom, suite-wide window, dressing area and full marble bath with heated floors on Deck 4. Some suites have a movable airwall, which allows guests to double the size of their suite.

The second RC yacht, Ilma, is larger. It has 224 suites in seven styles to accommodate 448 guests. Ilma begins sailing in September 2024 – bookings are open now.

Unfortunately, the RC yachts were delayed in launching due to financial failure of the 125-year-old Spanish shipyard building the yacht. Prothero, who has a background in marine finance, had to create a rescue plan that involved working with state, national and European governments, and private investors, to get the yard functioning again.

That accomplished, the project then faced the COVID-19 travel shut down. In a way, COVID came at the right time because Prothero’s team didn’t launch and stop, which would have impacted momentum. Instead, Evrima entered the market as a fresh, new post-pandemic product. A number of the guests I met had booked and rebooked as many as five times – with the general consensus that it was worth the wait.

Non-traditional

There is a lot of innovation and thought behind the RC yacht collection and it is important to realize this is not the traditional cruise product. There are no Broadway-style shows, skating rinks, theme parks or buffets. Every meal is specifically prepared for that plate by the 41-member culinary team and the menus focus on being hyper local, created for the region and season.

Evrima has six bars, five restaurants plus in-suite dining, a water-level marina option available when in port, and a 15,000-bottle wine cellar. There’s also a private dining room available for special celebrations.

Entertainment is provided by musicians who perform solo and in various combinations for lunch, afternoon tea, early evening, late night, and a DJ for really late nights. There is also a visiting artist program on-board, as well as special RC-curated land excursions.

Even the ports of call are unique as Evrima’s size allows it to avoid crowds by visiting destinations that are too small to accommodate large cruise ships. For example, Caribbean ports included the Papagayo Peninsula in Costa Rica; Ile des Saintes, Guadeloupe; Soufriere, St Lucia; Canouan, Tobago Cays, and Bequia in St. Vincent and the Grenadines; and intimate islands and beaches of the Bahamas.

And when in port, Evrima lingers longer. On a cruise ship, with thousands of guests to reboard, passengers usually have to return by 4 p.m. But Evirma stays into the evening, so if guests feel like it, they can dine ashore.

The intimate size of the yacht also means that boarding, departures, and even customs, are relaxed and line-up free.

Other amenities include a full-service spa, a 400-piece art collection with art curator, infinity pool, hot tubs, and a marina with a full complement of water toys for use when moored. There is also a boutique and a medical centre staffed with a doctor and registered nurse.

Freedom

For me, Evrima’s real luxury is freedom from regime. On a large cruise ship, with thousands of people to feed, passengers have to pick between two dinner sittings and return each night to an assigned table with the same tablemates. On Evrima you eat where, when, and with whom, you want.

It is also a dress-code free experience, by which I mean no formal nights and men are spared having to don a jacket and tie. The only time men wore jackets – with an open shirt – was at S.E.A., by three-Michelin-starred chef Sven Elverfeld, who has a restaurant at the Ritz-Carlton Wolfsburg, Germany.

Not only do guests represent the so-called 1%, so do the crew. Evrima has 250 crew for 298 passengers. Over 40,000 people applied for those 250 crew positions.

Bookings show that 75% of guests are first-time cruisers, and they are typically younger than traditional cruisers. Having said that the age range for guests on my cruise went from 30 to 90.

My fellow passengers included a 30-year-old Danish e-bike entrepreneur who brought his mother for her 80th birthday. Solo traveller Eric, late 40s, headed a Goldman Sacks wealth management team. He’s a sailor, married to a woman from Stellarton, Nova Scotia, who gets seasick, so he was on his own. The attraction for him was being so close to the water.

There was a 50-something almond farmer from near San Francisco and his school superintendent husband. He brought 42 shirts for his 18-day trip – we were all entertained by their wardrobe. There was a young couple I assumed were tech entrepreneurs because of their age and matching t-shirt collection. Another guy took early retirement from film distribution with MGM. His husband was in music, so they now live in Nashville. There were probably a dozen gay couples on board.

Another man had headed Deloitte’s Japanese business, before coming back to re-configure Walmart’s operations. One man escaped Cuba on a raft 30 years ago and did so well in America he was able to retrace some of that route on this yacht. Another passenger was a Washington-based transplant surgeon who makes regular trips to Toronto to study cutting-edge medical procedures. There was a dentist from Cincinnati, and a Florida-based OBGYN, who with her wealth manager husband, worked six months and travelled six months of the year.

A woman from Richmond, whose earring flew into my lap (“Don’t worry, it’s paste. My real jewels are home!”) complained, “They put Diet Pepsi in one of my refrigerators. No Southern woman’s lips should ever be expected to touch Pepsi.” Fortunately, there was Diet Coke in her suite’s second refrigerator. When she returned home from the cruise her husband needed to return her Porsche to the dealership. It was his birthday gift to her, but he bought a brown Porsche and, after all, “Who buys brown?” I learned from another passenger that that couple spent $1 million a year on travel.

Among the Canadians on board was a couple from Halifax/Chester and a former Mayor of Ottawa with his wife and son.

Evrima is positioned to serve the Mediterranean and Caribbean for 2023-24. However, looking ahead, its dimensions allow it to fit into the Great Lakes.

Prothero says, “Our competition isn’t another ship, it’s a villa in Tuscany.”

First published at Travel Industry Today

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First published at TravelNewsHub.com – Global Travel News

Sleepy (and chilly) Niagara on the Lake, Ont., got a healthy dose of California tourism sunshine last week as the state’s tourist board checked into town for its annual Canadian sales mission, attracting close to 40 members of the Canadian travel trade, along with an equal cohort of destination and supplier representatives from the Golden State.

The unique three-day event, held at the town’s popular Pillar and Post Inn and organized by Visit California’s Canadian reps, the Zeno Group, included a diverse program of panel discussions, speed-dating, mini-trade show, and plenty of relationship-building events, such as winery and brewery tours, Niagara Falls visits (including ziplining), High Tea at the Prince of Wales Hotel, trivia games, and a pub night at a historic venue in the historic town.

Attendees from this country included major tour operator and airline representatives and buyers, some local travel agents, and media (including Travel Industry Today). Just some of the companies represented included Air Canada/ACV, Transat, Lynx Air, TravelBrands, Disney (Cdn. office), and CAA.

For their part California delegates were able to learn more intimately about their state’s top priority and most-likely-to-travel-there market (Canada) and its latest consumer demographic and travel trends, while importantly advancing business deals and touting their own destination’s news and developments.
Among the insights for the California delegates delivered by the panel on Canadian travel habits were:

• Canadians are at almost at pre-pandemic travelling levels, and are spending on average 9% more – most notably on premium/luxury products

• But while willing to spend more, travellers are still looking for value in order to stretch their trips

• “Revenge travel” is alive and well

• Competition for Canadian travellers is increasing, not least from places that previously “took Canadians for granted” and want them back
• Business travel is a mixed bag: big conferences have resumed, quick in-and- outs are really struggling

• Indigenous and wellness tourism are booming, as is a desire for eco travel and authentic experiences

• Trendsetter travel – to off-the-radar destinations or being the first go somewhere – is gaining momentum

• Gen A (starting in 2010) are starting to influence travel choices.

As for the Californians on hand, delegates ranged from San Diego and Palm Springs to Napa and Yosemite, and a couple of dozen more in between. For more on what they had to say, stay tuned for a future article!

First published at Travel Industry Today

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First published at TravelNewsHub.com – Global Travel News

In was Tourism Week in Canada last week, while amongst other round-up dispatches, a report suggested Canadian airports are still struggling, YVR unveiled new flights, and IGH Hotels made news in Nepal.

NEWS

Tourism Week in Canada last week marked an important milestone: the first peak travel season in three years without pandemic-related border restrictions. Across the country, tourism businesses, destination marketing organizations, government celebrated tourism as a key economic driver in Canada with special events and consumer offers, social media messaging, and programs like lighting up green as part of TIAC’s #GreenMeansGo campaign.

Canadian airports and airlines logged a large number of flight delays last month, raising questions about their readiness for the summer travel rush. Figures from aviation data firm OAG show large airports and carriers had a much weaker on-time record in March than comparable US outfits – and than their own performance in 2019. Toronto’s Pearson airport saw 61.2% of flights leave on time – that is, within 15 minutes of their scheduled departure – versus 73% four years earlier. By comparison, New York’s JFK airport and Chicago’s O’Hare airport had an on-time performance of about 73% and 79%, respectively.

US President Joe Biden declared Florida’s Broward County a disaster area Friday, two weeks after record-breaking rain left parts of Fort Lauderdale and its suburbs flooded. More than 0.6 m. of rain fell in some parts of the county on April 12. The one-in-1,000-year deluge left some neighbourhoods with up to 0.9 m. of water. The flooding also closed the airport for almost two days.

RETAIL

TICO reports that Travel Broker Group Inc., a travel agency located in Kingston, Ont., terminated its registration under the Travel Industry Act, 2002 effective April 18. The Travel Broker Group Inc. specialized in custom tours and group tours for women

AIR

Air Canada has announced new, non-stop flights from Vancouver to Dubai. The new route will operate four times weekly beginning Oct. 28 onboard Air Canada’s flagship Dreamliner fleet.

New daily service between Dubai and Montreal by Emirates will begin on July 5.

Lynx Air is expanding its Montreal network with the introduction of six flights a week between Montreal Trudeau International Airport (YUL) and Vancouver (YVR) starting June 23.

Canada Jetlines has announced a partnership with Travelport that allows connected agents to be able to view and book Canada Jetlines inventory via the GDS.

DEALS

Rocky Mountaineer’s season kicked off in mid April and the company is offering a promotion for returning guests on Canadian and US routes in 2023 and 2024. Couples will receive $500 off in Canada and US$400 on the ‘Rockies to the Red Rocks’ in the US.

TOURS

Tickets for the Formula 1 Qatar Grand Prix 2023 go on sale to the general public starting June 1, but Goway has pre-sale access available now. Those who book will secure a three-day Main Grandstand ticket, which offers seats near the pit boxes with views of the main straight and start line. This ticket includes access to all three days of the event, as well as fan zones and other festivities. The Qatar F1 Grand Prix Super Special also includes deluxe accommodation, a visit to the Geneva International Motor Show, and tours of Doha and the surrounding desert and Inland Sea.

Collette, the longest-running tour operator in North America (since 1918) has launched a new way to unpack the world with the brand-new “Travel Unpacked” podcast. Hosted by Joshua, Nicole, and Kelsie, the show will touch on all of the interesting, fun, and curious aspects of the travel industry, with the answering popular questions, and chatting with guests from all over the travel industry, and much more.

HOTELS

IHG Hotels & Resorts has signed a management agreement with Nepal-based Shangri-La Hotel & Resort Group to develop four new hotels in the country:  InterContinental Kathmandu Lazimpat, Hotel Indigo Pokhara Gharipatan, InterContinental Resort Pokhara Begnas Lake, and InterContinental Resort Chitwan, Meghauli. The signing will see IHG add close to 500 rooms to its portfolio in Nepal, and debut two of its global brands, InterContinental and Hotel Indigo in the market.

A recent travel trends survey conducted by Marriott International in the Caribbean and Latin America found that the most crucial factor for guests when choosing a destination is exploring the culture and local history (86%), gastronomy (79%), beach settings (74%), outdoor adventures (73%), and extreme adventures (39%).

RESORTS

The Grand Velas Riviera Maya in Mexico recently debuted a new bee sanctuary, the Meliponario, to protect the local Maya Melipona Bee. In addition to preserving the species and facilitating their honey production, the resort now offers an experience for guests to learn more about the species with a new eco-tour and honey tasting taking place every Wednesday at 10 a.m. The tour is free and requires reservations made through the concierge.

CRUISE

AmaWaterways has announced the debut of two newly designed ships, AmaMagdalena, and AmaMelodia, both of which begin sailing in Colombia in 2024. Specially designed to maximize views along the Magdalena, the intimate AmaMagdalena (photo) will accommodate 60 guests, while the AmaMelodia, can take 64. Amenity-filled staterooms are between 22 and 48 sq. m. and all feature both a French and an outside balcony. In addition, guests will find a sun deck pool, and massage and fitness facilities. Optional pre-cruise land packages in Medellín and Cartagena, and post-cruise land package in Panama City, Panama are available.

Oceania Cruises’ Free Land Programs, available on select 2023 sailings, has been extended into 2024 voyages. The program is available on 24 featured sailings reaching Africa, Asia, Australia, the Middle East, and beyond. Travellers who book by June 30 can lengthen their voyage to include immersive Pre- and Post-Cruise Land Programs with itineraries featuring more than 600 destinations. Valued at up to $5,000 per stateroom, the Land Programs explore such popular places as the Cape Winelands, Taj Mahal, Jerusalem’s Old City and more.

BY THE NUMBERS

Quebec is expecting more than 300 cruise stopovers at nine Saint Lawrence ports of call in 2023, bringing over 460,000 expected passengers to the province.

ATTRACTIONS & THEME PARKS

Vancouver’s Chinese Canadian Museum, located in the Wing Sang Building on East Pender Street, will open its doors on July 1. Melissa Karmen Lee, CEO of the museum, says its opening will be a significant milestone for Chinese communities across Canada, and the venue will serve as a hub where people can learn more about the communities’ intangible heritage. The museum’s opening will feature a national exhibition titled “The Paper Trail to the 1923 Chinese Exclusion Act,” with July 1 marking the centennial of the passing of the Chinese Immigration Act, also known as the Chinese Exclusion Act.

FAMS & INCENTIVES

Montreal-based Rental Escapes a full-service luxury villa company specializing in providing private villa rentals worldwide since 2012, has announced the launch of a new travel advisor rewards program that offers the opportunity to earn free villa vacations. Believed to an industry first in the sector, agents will earn one reward point for each $1 booked, which can then be used towards their own trip. Visit rentalescapes.com for details.

EVENTS

On May 9, 10 and 11 (2-3 p.m. EDT each day), ACTA, in partnership with the Jamaica Tourist Board, will offer three one-hour online sessions with travel industry expert and TV Host Sandra McLemore, designed to help lay the groundwork for sustainable business success, including topics such as de-cluttering your business space to make room for revenue-generating activities; smart prospecting and client retention strategies; and productive lead generation and business building success. Those who register and participate in the Business Building Workshops on will be eligible to win a $250 Visa gift card and a $250 VIA Rail travel voucher.

For details and registration, go HERE.

PEOPLE/APPOINTMENTS

Greek Islands and the Eastern Med cruise line Celestyal is putting a greater emphasis on North America, including the addition of Stephanie McDonald as BDM in Canada in Canada and Morgan Hatfield, marketing executive, North America, based in Virginia. Priorities include developing strong relationships with key travel agents, group and tour operators, increasing trade awareness, providing training and marketing support, and representing the company at industry events. Hatfield will be responsible for developing and executing both B2B and B2C marketing campaigns throughout the US and Canada.

DESTINATIONS

Grenada’s 10th annual Chocolate Festival (photo) will take place from May 16 to 21, celebrating the rich history and culture of chocolate production in Grenada, which is home to six chocolate companies. This year, the festival is returning with a special Rum Edition where attendees will learn about the history of rum and chocolate production. Activities include rum tastings and tours at local distilleries, a masterclass with chocolate producers, and mixologist competitions. Visitors will also be able to explore the cocoa fields of sustainable chocolate factories, take behind-the-scenes journeys of the ethically produced tree-to-bar chocolate making processes, and partake in chocolate arts and crafts, and even chocolate yoga meditation.

Niagara Falls will be illuminated in rainbow colours in celebration of LGBT+ pride and inclusivity on June 24 and 30.

LAST WEEK IN TRAVEL HISTORY

In 1626, French explorer Samuel de Champlain sailed from Dieppe on his 11th voyage to Canada.

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First published at Travel Industry Today

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First published at TravelNewsHub.com – Global Travel News