Tour Operators
andBeyond making changes to groups & incentives programs
Conservation-led luxury travel company andBeyond is set to update and reimagine their already extensive groups and incentives offering by planning fully inclusive programs for guests and groups across Africa, Asia, South America, and Antarctica. “Our exclusive selection of experiences tailored specifically for groups is designed to provide extraordinary, one-of-a-kind moments for travelers who share a niche interest or passion,” said Ryan Powell, andBeyond’s chief operating officer for sales and touring. “Utilizing our in-depth destination knowledge and specialized network of...
Collette ushers in new era with cross-Canada Encompass campaign
Collette has been on the road, bringing details of four new tools it’s offering travel advisors as part of its cross-Canada Encompass launch campaign. The 12 events provided travel advisors with details on Collette’s new tools, but it was also an opportunity to celebrate the beginning of the tour company’s 107th season of travel. The four new, self-service tools, which were designed in partnership with travel advisors, include MyCollette and the Travel Advisor Portal, which are designed to enhance efficiency; while their learning tools -- Collette University and the Travel...
Sail away with G Adventures to the Greek Islands
G Adventures is launching five vessels that have been purpose-built for the small group adventure operator’s 2025 European sailing season in Greece. Each sailing adventure is led by a qualified G Adventures ‘Skipper CEO’ (chief experience officer), who knows the islands like the back of their hand, and is passionate about sharing hidden spots that are far away from the well-known tourist spots. The shoreside excursions are all quintessentially local and ensure travellers interact with local people and support local communities that may not usually see a lot of tourists on...
Cuba, Sunwing offer update as power restored
The Cuba Tourist Board reports that electricity has been restored to 100 % of the hotels in Cuba and at all the tourist areas, it’s business as usual. Lessner Gomez, Director of the Cuba Tourist Board in Toronto, said: “We have reports, directly from the destination, that the hotels are fully operational across the country, all facilities and services are back to normal, our clients are enjoying their regular tourist activities and it’s business as usual.” Sunwing Vacations said that further to reports from Cuban officials, together with updates from our in-destination and...
Tauck gears up for 100th anniversary in 2025
Nearly 100 years to the day after a fateful lunch prompted Arthur Tauck Sr. to launch one of the world’s first guided tour companies, a group of Tauck employees visited the site in western Massachusetts that gave rise to that inspiration. Six Tauck employees visited the Wigwam Western Summit near North Adams, Massachusetts, earlier this month while returning to the company’s Connecticut headquarters after visiting a motor coach supplier in Quebec. It was at the Wigwam in 1924 that the seed was planted for an idea that later grew into a global travel leader that today offers more...
G Adventures’ agent fam trip applications for 2025 are now open
In appreciation of its travel advisors across Canada, G Adventures has announced that it has increased the number of fam trips it will be running in 2025 to 12, including six fams that are open to all agents, and six that will be run exclusively with partners. The six trips open for agents at a heavily discounted trip will take place in Costa Rica, the Galápagos, Greece, Japan, New Zealand or Thailand. Agents will need to be quick, however, as applications close on 01 November, 2024. As communicated on a webinar this week that was attended by more than 500 Canadian travel agents -...
BackRoads expands Women’s Adventures with 40 new walking & hiking trips
Backroads has expanded its Women's Adventures with more than 40 walking and hiking trips and 125 departures available in 2025. Exclusively for women—solo travellers, mothers, daughters, sisters and friends—Women's Adventures were an instant hit after the announcement last fall, with 2024 trips quickly booking to capacity. The first trip ran in May, and the offering continues to gain momentum and garner rave reviews as word spreads. The company projects more than a 200 percent increase in Women's Adventures guests for 2025. The collection features the same expert trip design,...
WestJet Vacations names Dineen as new BDM
WestJet Vacations has named Shane Dineen to its Leisure National Sales team as the new Business Development Manager. Dineen’s addition to the sales team reinforces WestJet Vacations’ commitment to supporting its trade partners across Canada. He brings a wealth of experience from his background as a travel advisor, where he offered invaluable insights and expertise to customers and travel partners. Based in Vancouver, he joins Irene Wong (based in Calgary) and Meghan Miller (based in Toronto) as part of WestJet Vacations’ coast-to-coast National Business Development Management...