global travel news

Last week offered good news on the value of holding a Canadian passport; a timely reminder from TICO; a new campaign from Transat; plus, news from Canada Jetlines, Air Canada Vacations, Sunwing, Quark Expeditions, and Cosmos. And celebrations of an artistic genius began in Spain…

NEWS

Canadians can claim the world’s 8^th-most valuable passport for the third year running, according to the respected Henley Passport Index, which ranks the world’s 199 passports according to the number of destinations their holders can access without a prior visa (185 for Canadians in 2023). Japan took top spot for the fifth consecutive year (193). Canada has ranked 8^th since 2021. Historically, the document has never ranked lower than 9^th and hit its high point – 2nd – in 2014.

For three years, TICO waived registrants’ annual registration renewal fees and Compensation Fund assessments, but the regulating body is reminding that the arrangement will come to an end on March 31, 2023, with TICO temporarily reverting to the fee structure that was in place prior to the pandemic. All registrants with a year-end or six-month period-end on or after Jan. 1, 2023, will have fees owing starting on April 1: Registration renewal fees – payable 90 days after fiscal year-end; Compensation Fund assessments – payable semi-annually (payment 1-90 days after fiscal year-end; payment 2-90 days after fiscal half year-end).

 Air Transat launched a new promotional campaign: “Come Back Changed.” Inspired by the belief that travel has transformative powers, it aims to demonstrate the importance of travel and its ability to transform not only our way of being by expanding our horizons, but also our state of mind. This campaign, rolled out in Quebec and Ontario, the campaign includes 15- and 30-videos available online on YouTube as well as on various digital platforms plus radio ads.

The multiplatform campaign can also be seen online in consumer and trade media. To support the campaign, attractive flight and packages rates are offered for travellers heading South (including Florida).

With its flights running on a roughly normal schedule again, Southwest Airlines is now turning its attention to repairing its damaged reputation after it cancelled 16,700 flights around Christmas and left holiday travellers stranded. Experts says the debacle may lead to US$600 million in lost revenue for the airline, plus higher expenses such as vouchers and frequent-flyer points.

AIR

Sunwing has cancelled its seasonal operations from Sudbury and North Bay. The routes were originally scheduled weekly from Dec. 14 to Apr. 13, from Sudbury to Punta Cana, and from North Bay to Varadero. In a statement the company said, “The difficult decision to cancel winter flights beginning in February was deemed necessary due to operational and business constraints that would prevent us from delivering the standards of service our customers expect when travelling with Sunwing.”  Affected customers can transfer their vacation package to same-day departures from Toronto, as well as a $100 future travel credit. Customers who decide to cancel will receive a full refund.

Canada Jetlines has announced a partnership with TripAdmit, an online booking system that gives travellers the ability to select and book from a full range of tours and activities in the destinations served by the airline. TripAdmit’s white label solution enables distribution partners to provide their customers with the opportunity to choose and book from a portfolio of over 50,000 trip and activity experiences in over 100 countries globally.

 Delta Air Lines will provide free Wi-Fi service on most of its US flights starting in February. The airline says that by the end of the year it will outfit more than 700 planes with high-speed, satellite-based broadband service from T-Mobile and plans to expand free Wi-Fi to international and Delta Connection flights by the end of 2024.

Türkiye’s flag carrier Turkish Airlines, and Mongolia’s flag carrier, MIAT Mongolian Airlines, recently signed a codeshare agreement. The signed agreement between two flag carriers will enable both carriers to provide more flexibility of choice to their passengers on direct flights between Türkiye and Mongolia as well as flights connecting via İstanbul.

DEALS

Cosmos is waiving the single supplement on 15 tours across Europe and North America in 2023. Among the options are the seven-day “Rome, Florence & Venice”; nine-day “Irish Discovery”; and 13-day “Canadian Rockies.”

The “Bye-Bye Winter Event” from Air Canada Vacations is back with savings of up to 40% on winter escapes booked by Feb. 5 for travel by April 30 to select destinations in Mexico, the Caribbean and Central America and select Flight and Hotel packages to Hawaii, Orlando, and California.

TOURS

Quark Expeditions is reducing the price of select polar voyages by 45% while also including a variety of guest benefits. In addition to the discount, the ‘Escape Sale,’ available for booking through April 4, drops single supplements on multiple voyages, includes free transportation between airport and hotel, as well as overnight hotel accommodation on select Arctic 2023 voyages, and gives an additional 10% savings when guests pay in full at time of booking. Among the featured 2023 departures are “Three Arctic Islands: Spitsbergen, Greenland and Iceland (Southbound)” on Aug. 6, and “Canada and Greenland,” departing Sept. 11. Full details HERE.

The Feminist Jack the Ripper tour in London looks at history from a different angle focusing on the lives of Mary Ann Nichols, Annie Chapman, Elizabeth Stride, Catherine Eddowes and Mary Jane Kelly, bringing them centre stage. Details HERE.

CRUISE

American Queen Voyages has updated its all-inclusive fare offerings for 2023. The new pricing structure includes port charges, taxes, services fees, and onboard crew gratuities. Travel agents will also earn commission on previously non-commissionable fees (NCFs) as an opportunity to increase earnings.

PONANT is the first expedition company to offer a voyage to the tropical islands of Southern Japan, with an all-new eight-day itinerary aboard Le Soléal from Taiwan to Okinawa. Departing March 24-31, the weeklong sailing will offer an immersion in the traditional villages and craft of the Okinawa archipelago and the Ryukyu Islands, with snorkeling, diving, and zodiac excursions, and discovering the beautiful beaches of Ishigaki, and Kume. In Japan, a sailing from Osaka to Fukuoka, an eight-day circuit from May 15-22 whisks guests around the picturesque towns and cities of the Seto Inland Sea, the oldest sea route in Japan.

RESORTS

Expected to open in 2023, the luxury Park Hyatt Los Cabos and Residences will mark the first Park Hyatt hotel in Mexico and will feature a master-planned golf resort that stretches along 3.2 km of pristine beach in Cabo del Sol – Los Cabos, Baja California Sur.

Adding to its portfolio in Southeast Asia, Club Med will build a new resort on the Malaysian side of the island of Borneo – Club Med Borneo Kota Kinabalu. The destination is known for its beaches, biodiverse rainforest, Mount Kinabalu (Southeast Asia’s highest peak), famed dive site Sipadan Island, and native species such as orangutans and clouded leopards. The resort is due in 2024.

HOTELS

The opening of Mondrian Mexico City Condesa (photo) marks the brand’s first hotel in Latin America. The new luxury, lifestyle property is designed to be a colourful cultural hub in the lively Condesa neighbourhood and features 183 rooms and 18 luxury suites, plus four distinct culinary concepts including Cleo Mediterraneo, Skybar, The Flower Shop, and La Terraza.

 Tennis star Rafael Nadal and Meliá Hotels International, have announced the launch of ZEL, a new brand of resort and urban leisure hotels. The casual, yet upscale brand will open its first hotel in Mallorca later this year 2023, with plans to open in destinations on the Mediterranean coast and in major cities such as Madrid, Paris, and London.

BY THE NUMBERS

Marriott International says it has successfully trained one million associates to spot the signs of and respond to human trafficking marking “a significant moment in the global fight against trafficking.” Marriott International first introduced human trafficking awareness training in 2016 and rolled out enhanced training in 2021.

ATTRACTIONS & THEME PARKS

Illumination’s Villain-Con Minion Blast – opening this summer at Universal Studios Florida in Orlando – will combine innovative screen technology, state-of-the-art gaming interactivity and elaborate physical sets to create a one-of-a-kind, game-based adventure where guests encounter immersive environments, nefarious villains, and tons of mischievous Minions from Illumination’s blockbuster film franchise. The new attraction will be part of a new Minion land, featuring the beloved Despicable Me Minion Mayhem attraction, a new Minion café and more.

FAMS & INCENTIVES

The Travel Corporation is offering agents an adventure through the Southern US. Each day of the May 8-15 ‘Taste & Sounds of the South’ FAM trip is allotted to and includes accommodation for a different TTC Tour Brand between Trafalgar, Costsaver, Contiki, Insight Vacations and Luxury Gold. For example, on the Costsaver day in Memphis, advisors will be able to tailor the itinerary to their interests with the choice between two ‘Make Travel Matter’ experiences, such as a visit to the National Civil Rights Museum with a local specialist or a tour of the city’s musical heritage from the nation’s only music bus. On Trafalgar day in Natchez, advisors will enjoy a ‘Be My Guest’ dinner of Southern food and punch at the historic Lansdowne Plantation. For info and to apply, click HERE.

EVENTS

The world’s largest cruise trade conference, Seatrade Cruise Global, is moving from Miami, returning to Fort Lauderdale next year. The 2023 conference and exhibition will be held at the newly renovated Greater Fort Lauderdale Broward County Convention Center, March 27-30, 2023. The four-day event is expected to attract more than 10,000 attendees, bringing together cruise professionals, thought leaders and innovators from all facets of the industry.

DESTINATIONS

With 2023 marking the 50th anniversary of the death of one of its most famous artists – Pablo Picasso – Spain has launched a campaign to appeal to fans of the creative genius with a full slate of events in five cities throughout the year.

Madrid, Barcelona, Malaga, Bilbao, and A Coruna – all of which were a particular a source of inspiration to Picasso, leaving a mark on his personality and his art – will be prominent in the celebrations, which will feature museum, gallery, and art school exhibits, symposiums, and online opportunities, but also gastronomy and touring itineraries created by the tourist board. For more information on Picasso in Spain, click HERE.

A new Alabama ‘All in One Ticket’ program being introduced offers 60 different attractions curated into 14 separate cities/regions in a state known for its civil rights history, outdoors (including under-the-radar beaches), golf, and growing culinary scene. In Birmingham, the pass features 11 attractions, including the 16th St. Baptist Church, Civil Rights Institute, zoo, Oak Mountain State Park, and several museums. Tickets are available through Expedia or at alabama.travel.

LAST WEEK IN TRAVEL HISTORY

In 1951, the world’s first jet passenger trip took place as an Avro jetliner flew from Chicago to New York in 102 minutes.

Send info to baginski@travelindustrytoday.com

First published at Travel Industry Today

First published at TravelNewsHub.com – Global Travel News

Louisiana’s cuisine is unlike anywhere else, and locals have conjured up a plethora of ways to honor these traditional dishes and the influences that brought them to life.

Food trails are the perfect venue for real foodies to explore the best of the best, and there’s a trail for every taste. Start with andouille – a Louisiana delicacy made of pork, seasoned with salt, garlic and cracked black pepper and smoked over pecan wood and sugar cane. The Andouille Trail runs through Louisiana’s River Parishes between New Orleans and Baton Rouge. Boudin consists of rice, pork and spices typically served in links or in fried boudin balls. Louisiana loves boudin so much, there are two food trails dedicated to it for an all-encompassing boudin experience. Head to the Lake Charles area to eat your way across the SWLA Boudin Trail with more than 25 restaurants serving up boudin varieties. Or, travel through the Lafayette area’s Cajun Boudin Trail for some of the best boudin varieties. For the seafood lovers, the Louisiana Oyster Trail features the top spots shucking the freshest local oysters you can find. And we can’t forget the state’s favorite crustacean – the crawfish! Try an array of crawfish dishes – from boiled or fried to tossed in étouffée or between po’boy bread and more – along the Bayou Country Crawfish Trail in the Houma area. Rounding up Louisiana’s unique culinary trails, you’ll find the Gas Station Eats trail in the “No Man’s Land” region on Louisiana’s western border. From boudin, barbecue, burgers, baked goods and more home-style plates in unassuming spots – what’s not to love?

Now, Louisiana is known to find any excuse to have a good time. Why not host a festival centered around good eats? Natchitoches Meat Pies – the signature dish of Natchitoches – are fried pies similar to empanadas, filled with beef, pork and seasonings. Find them all over town including at Lasyone’s Meat Pie Restaurant and celebrated the Natchitoches Meat Pie Festival. Étouffée is the Creole stew made with crawfish or shrimp and ladled over rice. Find crawfish étouffée and other tasty crawfish dishes celebrated at the Étouffée Festival in Arnaudville or the World Championship Crawfish Etouffee Cook-Off in Eunice. Gumbo – the iconic and irresistible amalgamation dark roux, rice, seafood or chicken & sausage, “trinity” (a combination of onions, bell peppers and celery) and often okra – is the official dish of Louisiana. There are several events honoring this beloved dish, such as the World Championship Gumbo Cookoff in New Iberia, the Opelousas Gumbo Cook-Off, the Bridge City Gumbo Festival, Louisiana Gumbo Festival in Chackbay, New Orleans’ Treme Creole Gumbo Festival and more. Beignets, the sugary-sweet fried dough pillows traditionally topped with powdered sugar, can also be found stuffed with savory or sweet ingredients across Louisiana. While Café Du Monde in New Orleans’ French Quarter is the unofficial world capital of beignets, New Orleans also has an annual Beignet Festival that you won’t want to miss. Po’boys are submarine-type sandwiches made with French bread, “dressed” with mayonnaise, lettuce, pickles and tomato. Throughout the state, restaurants serve many varieties of this sandwich. If you’re looking for a one-stop opportunity to try dozens of creative po’boy concoctions, plan a trip to the Oak Street Po-Boy Festival in New Orleans. Jambalaya, a Creole take on Spanish paella containing chicken, sausage, long-grain rice and the trinity. Served traditionally out of a big black pot, it’s one of the spicier signature dishes you’ll find in Louisiana. Gonzales, a town known as the world capital of jambalaya, hosts the Jambalaya Festival every May. Curious about cracklins? Think pork rinds, but meatier and fattier. This savory delicacy has crunchy fried skin, soft and juicy rendered fat, and a bit of meat seasoned with Cajun spices. These are a Cajun specialty honored at the Port Barre Cracklin Festival.

However you celebrate, you won’t leave hungry. Learn more at LouisianaTravel.com.

First published at Travel Industry Today

First published at TravelNewsHub.com – Global Travel News

There’s no better way to explore all Louisiana has to offer than by taking a road trip! Along the way, you’ll experience Louisiana’s most popular attractions along with quirky marvels.

Louisiana has 19 trails & byways, each telling their own unique stories. Variety spices up the Louisiana Great River Road Byway along the Mississippi River for more than 700 miles – stretching from Poverty Point World Heritage Site in northeast Louisiana, through Baton Rouge, down to New Orleans and beyond. Throughout your trip, lay your head in fascinating accommodations like the Inn at the Old Jail, built as a New Orleans police jail and patrol station in 1901.

The Creole Nature Trail Byway lies on one of North America’s largest bird migration routes. You’ll find attractions from the Charpentier Historic District and prime gaming at several popular casinos in Lake Charles, to Holly and Cameron beaches for ideal relaxation and sunset-watching.

Discover the Atchafalaya Basin’s bayous and cypress forests along the Bayou Teche Byway. Take a swamp tour, visit the TABASCO Factory and the onsite Museum, Country Store and Restaurant 1868. Plus History buffs will love the Wedell-Williams Aviation & Cypress Sawmill Museum in Patterson and the Longfellow-Evangeline State Historic Site in St. Martinville.

How about a road trip to explore Louisiana’s state parks? With 21 total, there are plenty of opportunities for adventure. Check out the recently renovated Sam Houston Jones State Park, paddling at Chemin-a-Haut, glamping at Grand Isle, horseback riding at Bogue Chitto or fishing and watersports at North & South Toledo Bend State Parks.

And of course, Louisiana has plenty of small town charm nestled in Main Street Communities throughout every corner of the state. Downtown Hammond won the 2022 Great American Main Street Award. Focal points include Railroad Park, Jacmel Inn’s southern cuisine and the Tangipahoa African American Heritage Museum & Veterans Archives. The Louisiana Renaissance Festival is a big deal, with hundreds of artisans, entertainers, demonstrations, food vendors and more.

Several Louisiana communities have earned Main Street America’s top level of recognition—Nationally Accredited status! Among them are Monroe and West Monroe. Dine at popular area restaurants like Restaurant Cotton or Parish Restaurant, shop along Antique Alley, visit the Biedenharn Museum & Gardens and end the night with live music at Enoch’s Irish Pub & Cafe.

Nearby, start your day in Ruston at Railway Coffee, then partake in retail therapy at Dussé Boutique or Ivy & Stone and peruse local art at Ruston Artisans. Sundown Tavern provides an inviting pub-style experience with live music, and Heard Freighthouse Food Truck Park features a variety of cuisines. A visit here wouldn’t be complete without attending the Louisiana Peach Festival, celebrating the local bounty in many forms.

Check out the Denham Springs Historic District & Antique Village where there’s a lot more than antiques. The Historic District fills with hundreds of vendors, games, rides, food booths and more at the area’s Spring and Fall Festivals. You won’t have to stray far to visit the Old City Hall Museum listed on the National Register of Historic Places. For a great bite to eat, head over to Randazzo’s Italian Market and for drinks – Le Chien Brewing is a family-and-pet-friendly microbrewery serving up quality beers and sodas.

Minden Main Street had the honor of appearing on HGTV’s “Home Town Kickstart.” Included was Geaux Fresh Bistro & Bakery, offering fresh and healthy meals plus sinful desserts, and the Miller Quarters Community Park spanning plenty of space to enjoy. Learn the story of Webster Parish at the Dorcheat Historical Museum and the Germantown Colony Museum before winding down at the Huffman House Bed & Breakfast, a Queen Anne Revival home built in 1918 offering modern amenities.

Plan a visit to Crowley – the Rice Capital of the World – for the International Rice Festival and stay to explore the area. The Grand Opera House of the South is a beautifully restored historic theater that hosts shows and events, and the Crowley City Hall, Historic Ford Building is comprised of four interesting museums. Dine and drink at Reggie’s Downtown, a restaurant and microbrewery using Crowley rice and other locally-soured ingredients.

Where will you road trip? Start planning today at LouisianaTravel.com.

First published at Travel Industry Today

First published at TravelNewsHub.com – Global Travel News

Louisiana is where Jazz and zydeco music originated, Cajun cuisine was concocted, where industries flourished and where the Civil Rights Movement made an impact. Learn about Louisiana’s unique and storied history told at countless historic sites, museums and venues around the state.

You can’t find another U.S. state that can say it’s the birthplace of multiple musical genres that still thrive today. Hear the sounds of Cajun music at famous venues like Buck and Johnny’s, Fred’s Lounge and Mulate’s, dedicated to preserving Cajun culture. Over in Mandeville, the Dew Drop Jazz & Social Hall is the oldest Jazz Social Hall in America, built in 1895 and hosting many famed performers over the years. Also located in Mandeville, Ruby’s Roadhouse turns out tunes in a building more than 100 years old, and has been known as a popular venue since the 1930’s. For jazz enthusiasts, a trip to New Orleans would not be complete without experiencing live music at Tipitina’s – founded in 1977 and inspired by the song “Tipitina” by Professor Longhair, who played at the venue until his passing in 1980. And there is no more traditional a jazz haunt than Preservation Hall in the French Quarter, offering true New Orleans jazz since 1961.

Delve into Louisiana’s history at museums across the state covering topics for every interest. The Cabildo, the site of the Louisiana Purchase transfer ceremonies in 1803, features the three floors of exhibitions covering the history of Louisiana through rare artifacts, documents, paintings and more. Visitors can check out the “From ‘Dirty Shirts’ to Buccaneers: the Battle of New Orleans in American Culture” exhibit or peruse the works of famed artist, Clementine Hunter. On the opposite side of St. Louis Cathedral, The Presbytère  became part of the Louisiana State Museum in 1911. Its “Mardi Gras: It’s Carnival Time in Louisiana” exhibit features parade floats, costumes and historical throws as well as rare glimpses into the secretive social club society from which modern-day Mardi Gras krewes evolved. The Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame honors household-name inductees such as Archie Manning and Shaquille O’Neal, plus other notable athletes like New Orleans-born Audrey “Mickey” Patterson, the first African-American woman to win an Olympic medal. A Super Bowl XLIV commemorative football signed by the Saints after their 2010 victory, the fastest car in the world in 1963 (a souped-up Ford Thunderbird), and vintage jerseys and cheerleading uniforms are just a few artifacts that make the museum a prime fan experience. Upstairs, the Northwest Louisiana History Museum tells the story of how Caddo Indians, French and Spanish settlers, free and enslaved Africans and rural southern whites created the region’s distinctive culture through displays of artifacts dating from the 1700s. In Baton Rouge, the Capitol Park Museum showcases two permanent exhibits: “Grounds for Greatness: Louisiana and the Nation” and “Experiencing Louisiana: Discovering the Soul of America.” A 48-foot wooden shrimp trawler and a sugar cane harvester give a glimpse into the state’s aquatic and agricultural assets, while an oil-well head and a scale model of a drilling are an example of Louisiana’s energy industry. And learn more about the state’s iconic music history, featuring Pete Fountain’s clarinet, Buddy Guy’s polka dot Stratocaster guitar, Clifton Chenier’s Grammy award and an expansive Louis Armstrong exhibit.

And learn the stories and contributions of varied cultures whose influence made Louisiana what it is today. Louisiana’s African American Heritage Trail features historic homes, state historic sites, museums and more noteworthy spots honoring their profound contributions to the cultural fabric of the state. Laura Plantation’s award-winning tour transports visitors into the Creole world of Laura Locoul, exploring the complex relationships of four generations of one family, both free and enslaved. View a permanent exhibit dedicated to telling the story of the enslaved population specific to Laura Plantation. Houmas House Estate and Gardens is a Greek Revival home that features The Great River Road Museum onsite. For those intrigued by the paranormal, Myrtles Plantation is considered one of the most haunted homes in the country where ghosts of former residents have been documented in photos, featured on national TV shows and witnessed by residents and tourists alike. Take a mystery tour or even stay the night.

Learn more and plan your trip at LouisianaTravel.com.

First published at Travel Industry Today

First published at TravelNewsHub.com – Global Travel News