In the round-up this week, Canada’s airlines are under fire, the Caribbean is bouncing back from Hurricane Beryl, Air Canada raised money for kids, WestJet introduced two new destinations in California, Southwest is making history, Sandals is set to make a switch in The Bahamas, and much more.
NEWS
The Competition Bureau says it is officially launching its market study of domestic airline service as concerns around prices and quality persist. Competition commissioner Matthew Boswell says “many Canadians are frustrated by the cost and quality” of air travel in Canada and that he aims to put forward recommendations on how to improve it.
The Caribbean tourism industry has bounced back quickly from the effects of Hurricane Beryl, according to data from the Caribbean Hotel and Tourism Association (CHTA), which reveals a rapid rebound in travel bookings. While there was a short-term decline in Caribbean bookings immediately following the storm, analysis of air tickets issued between June 30 and July 23 shows only a modest 2% drop compared to the same period in 2023. Destinations which were in the storm’s direct path saw more pronounced falls, such as Grenada with a 14% decline and Jamaica with a 24% drop.
Delta Air Lines CEO Ed Bastian says the airline is facing $500 million in costs related to the global tech outage last month that disrupted emergency services, communications, and thousands of businesses. Bastian said that the monetary amount represents lost revenue as well as “the tens of millions of dollars per day in compensation and hotels” for the five-day period.
BY THE NUMBERS
North American carriers saw a 6.6% year-on-year increase in demand in June, reports IATA. Capacity increased 8.6% year-on-year, and the load factor was 88.7%, the highest among regions.
AIR
Porter Airlines will offer two new winter seasonal routes connecting Eastern Canada to Las Vegas. Starting Nov. 1, Porter will operate nonstop service between Ottawa International Airport (YOW) and Las Vegas Harry Reid International Airport (LAS) four times weekly. Las Vegas-Montréal-Trudeau (YUL) service begins on Nov. 2, with flights operating three times weekly.
WestJet and Air North launched a new interline agreement directly connecting both carrier’s networks. Guests can now book a single ticket with a connected itinerary between WestJet’s global network and the Yukon and Northwest Territories with single point check-in and through-checked bags for connecting itineraries. Jared Mikoch-Gerke, director of alliances and airport affairs for WestJet says the agreement will “redefine” air travel to Yukon and the Northwest Territories, sparking new tourism and business travel opportunities.
Also, WestJet reports it will begin new daily service connecting Kelowna and Seattle beginning in January 2025. Flights from Kelowna to Seattle will depart at 9 a.m. local time, returning at 11:30 a.m.
Southwest Airlines says that it plans to drop the open-boarding system it has used for more than 50 years and will start assigning passengers to seats, just like all the other big airlines. The airline said it has been studying seating options, running tests and surveying customers and concluded that that preferences have changed over the years and the vast majority of travellers now want to know where they are sitting before they get to the airport.
GOOD DEEDS
The 12th annual Air Canada Foundation Golf Tournament raised a record-breaking$1.4 millionto support the health and well-being of children and youth acrossCanada. This year’s event (photo) welcomed 296 guests and over 100 sponsors. The funds will be redistributed over the coming year through the Foundation’s many programs that have helped sick children access specialized medical care, ensured the basic needs of children are met and protected, and provided hope to children facing adversity, with an increased focus on charitable partnerships that directly impact children from equity-deserving populations.
DEALS
For a limited time, all new Air Canada Vacations bookings (air-inclusive packages of five nights or longer) made by Aug 18 – for travel through Dec. 31 – will receive instant savings of up to $1,000 at nine featured Sandals and Beaches Resorts in Jamaica, Curaçao, Saint Lucia and their newest destination, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines. The offer is valid in all room categories with no blackout dates.
The ‘Save. Indulge. Explore.’ promotion from Silversea Cruises promotion provides savings ofCDN$4,000per suite on Door-to-Door and Port-to-Port All-Inclusive fares, with a reduced deposit of 15%. The promotion is applicable to new bookings made between Aug. and Oct. 31, on over 500 voyages spanning all seven continents in 2024, 2025, and 2026. The offer is combinable with Silversea’s fare guarantee, Venetian Society savings, and combo savings programs, among other programs.
TOURS
A new 2024-25 Asia brochure from Collette comes amid “some incredible escalation from our advisor partners for our tours to Asia,” says company CEO Jaclyn Leibl-Cote. Four of the five tours in the brochure have a maximum of 24 travellers, falling under Collette’s small group Explorations travel style. The Collette Connection on-demand print service launched earlier this year allows advisors to order the Asia brochure with an attached personalized letter to their clients.
G Adventures has added a selection of new ‘Classic’ trips to its portfolio of adventures for 2025, including value-for-money safaris in Africa and multi-country trips in Central America that were only previously available to travellers aged up to 39. In addition, the tour company has brought back trips to Tibet and expanded its itineraries in China and South Korea as demand in Asia continues to grow.
HOTELS
Hilton has debuted Yoo2 Rio de Janeiro, marking the company’s 20th hotel in Brazil and Tapestry’s first property in Rio de Janeiro. The 135-room hotel is located in the trendy Botafogo neighbourhood and features spectacular views of Sugar Loaf Mountain and Christ the Redeemer.
Now open in Texas, the 390-room InterContinental San Antonio Riverwalk is located a mile from the Henry B. Gonzalez Convention Center and steps away from the city’s famed River Walk. The 21-storey hotel is also within walking distance of many of the city’s attractions, including The Alamo, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, as well as The Pearl and La Villita Historic Village. The hotel also provides guests with direct access to a water taxi landing zone, granting them an alternative mode of transportation along the tranquil waterways.
RESORTS
Sandals Resorts International (SRI) says it is accelerating plans to expand the family-friendly Beaches Resorts brand with the development of Beaches Exuma. The first Beaches in the Bahamas will replace Sandals Emerald Bay, which will close on Aug. 15 to undergo the transformation and rebranding before reopening in the fall.
To celebrate the grand opening of Marriott Cancun, An All-Inclusive Resort, the property is offering an exclusive 20% discount on all bookings made in August 2024 for travel by Jan. 11, 2025. In addition to the discounted rates, guests will receive a US$50 resort credit. The property is Marriott’s first-ever all-inclusive.
CRUISE
Holland America Line opened its 2026 Europe season for booking with four ships taking guests on Mediterranean, Northern Europe, Canary Island and transatlantic cruises ranging from seven to 42 days.
Conservation-led luxury travel company andBeyond has extended its South American portfolio with the launch of an expedition yacht in the Galapagos Islands. The 40-m. andBeyond Galapagos Explorer operates on two seven-night routes in the east and west of the Ecuadorian islands. Boasting just six suites and cabins, the yacht caters for a maximum of 12 guests, with two expert guides present on each departure.Both itineraries present plenty of opportunities for land and sea adventures such as snorkeling, hiking and birdwatching, as well as a plethora of unique and interesting land, air, and marine species. Rates for both itineraries begin from US$10,950 p.p.
ATTRACTIONS & THEME PARKS
WildFloridahas announced the hatching of a rare albino alligator (photo) at its Gator Park. The latest addition to the Central Florida park’s wild and exotic animal family followed a careful 60-day incubation period led by their dedicated Croc Squad. WildFloridasays it is the only attraction in the world with a successful albino alligator breeding program, marking this as their third successful hatching. Parent albino gators, Snowflake and Blizzard, have been with Wild Florida for seven years, and the pair’s last hatching was in the Summer of 2022. The new baby albino gator will make its debut at Wild Florida’s Gator Park after a month of maturity.
PEOPLE/APPOINTMENTS
Toronto-based Siren Communications has been named the Canadian public relations Agency of Record (AOR) for Los Cabos, which bills itself as Mexico’s fastest growing destination. Siren will oversee a “robust” fall campaign designed to attract more visitors from this country to the Pacific resort destination with a focus on key pillars of wellness, gastronomy, sustainability and adventure.
DESTINATIONS
Miami Spice Restaurant Months, from Aug. 1 to Sept. 30, allows locals and visitors alike to indulge in the destination’s finest eateries, enjoying prix fixe offers. And to taste Miami’s best seafood, visitors can go to the 11th Annual South Beach Seafood Festival on Oct. 21, a beachfront event that features South Florida’s top chefs, pop-up cafes, 30-plus open bar stations, a beer garden, live demos, DJs, live music, and interactive sponsor experiences.
Spending the night in a wooden barrel might not be for everyone. Yet, those who can handle being surrounded by thick oak planks should try an overnight stay in a wine barrel at Switzerland’s Chalet Diognysos. In winter, the barrel serves as a fondue and raclette room, while in summer it is transformed into a cozy room with a double bed and romantic lighting. It is located in the vineyards of Diogne, below Crans Montana, and offers a magnificent view of the Valais Alps.
LAST WEEK IN TRAVEL HISTORY
In 1909, Orville Wright established a world duration record for airplanes when he and passenger, Lieutenant Frank Lahm, remained aloft for one hour and 12 minutes.
Send info to baginski@travelindustrytoday.com
