Tour Operators | Canada's Travel Industry

By Bob Mowat

February 10, 2022

Finding New Opportunities In A Challenging Environment

Richard Smart admits that: “While there will certainly be challenges ahead, I believe there is also reason to be optimistic.” In the latest issue of Canadian Travel Press, the president & CEO of the Travel Industry Council of Ontario’s (TICO) observed that: “We’ve seen that consumers are eager to travel and that consumer protection can be a competitive advantage to leverage.” Smart told CTP that: “It’s hard to believe that we are coming up to the two-year anniversary of the pandemic. This past fall, there were glimmers of hope that the beginning of the recovery...

By Bob Mowat

February 9, 2022

Goway Is Ready For Australia’s Reopening

Goway is ready to help travellers explore the wide expanses of Australia as that country prepares to reopen its borders to international travellers on Feb. 21,1 2022. Since 1970, Goway has been North America’s leader in travel Downunder. The privately-owned, family-run travel company continues to pioneer travel experiences in Australia and has reimagined its product line in anticipation of the country’s reopening. Goway has a division of Destination Specialists dedicated to all things Australia and the South Pacific, who can help travellers customize any kind of dream vacations...

By Bob Mowat

February 7, 2022

Platform For Growth

WeTravel – an integrated-payment platform for multi-day travel companies and used by thousands of global travel businesses to book trips and collect payments – has launched the free-for-use WeTravel Academy -- an online resource with downloadable tools to help travel businesses with their growth strategies. Since its launch in December, more than 1,200 travel businesses and travel advisors have downloaded its content. With more than 400 content pieces on 12 topics -- from how to handle credit card disputes to how to put climate action at the forefront of your business’s...

By Bob Mowat

February 2, 2022

Explore Canada With Sunwing

This summer, Sunwing is making it easier for Canadians to explore their own backyard with the return of its domestic summer program. Now in its 17th year, flights begin in May and will run weekly until the beginning of September to some of the most popular destinations from coast to coast. And, as an added travel incentive, the tour operator is offering customers savings of up to $200 per couple on domestic flights. Andrew Dawson, president of tour operations at Sunwing, said: “We’re thrilled that our domestic program is making its return this summer. Our program is well...

By Bob Mowat

February 2, 2022

TravelBrands Encore Cruises Shares The Love

Anchors aweigh … TravelBrands Encore Cruises is sharing the love with travel agents with a new incentive campaign. The company’s Valentine’s Dinner on Us campaign allows agents the opportunity to receive a $25 Uber Eats e-gift card for all cruise bookings made. The promotion applies to any new cruise booking and runs from Feb. 1 to Feb. 10; and it’s applicable to any sailing in any category and with all of TravelBrands Encore Cruises’ cruise line partners. The $25 Uber Eats e-gift card is applicable on every cruise file that is reserved and deposited or paid in...

By Bob Mowat

February 1, 2022

TDC Adds Exoticca As New Preferred Partner

Transat Distribution Canada (TDC) has added Exoticca to its list of preferred partners. Founded in 2015, Exoticca offers affordable itineraries that are in between 100% escorted and a la carte tours. With over 300 exotic destinations tours available that meet the needs of small groups, private tours and solo travellers on every budget, Exoticca will appeal to a large number of travellers. Louise Fecteau, general manager of Transat Distribution Canada, said: “The current situation in the tourism industry reflects that many travellers want to be guided and accompanied to learn...

By Bob Mowat

February 1, 2022

Agents Can Help Clients Escape With Sunwing

Sunwing has launched its Great Escape Sale, providing travel agents with an opportunity to help their clients getaway this winter. The Great Escape Sale deals are available until Feb. 28, 2022 and Andrew Dawson, president of tour operations at Sunwing, observes: “After two long years, more Canadians are in need of a much-deserved break and the benefits that a tropical vacation provides.” Dawson continued: “Sunwing is offering fantastic winter savings to a variety of sun destinations that offer something for every travel style. Plus, agents can help their customers book their...

By Bob Mowat

February 1, 2022

Exotik Journeys Celebrates 45th

TravelBrands Exotik Journeys is celebrating its 45th anniversary with an all-new campaign designed to inspire travellers with journeys that broaden the mind, enrich the soul, and invigorate the spirit. The operator has released seven new brochures that include: The Exotik Explorer, Ocean Explorer, Self-drive Explorer: The best of USA, Self-drive Explorer: The best of Canada, Escorted Tours Explorer, Explorer Canada Holidays, and Explorer Winter Holidays. As well, Belize is being introduced as a new destination offered by Exotik Journeys. And, both travel agents and their clients...

By Bob Mowat

January 31, 2022

New Tauck Itinerary Includes Passion Play

Tauck is introducing a new in-depth, eight-day exploration of the Swiss and Bavarian Alps that will immerse travellers in the region’s rich and fascinating culture, and be highlighted by a performance of the traditional Passion Play in the quaint alpine village of Oberammergau, Germany. Residents of Oberammergau have been staging the epic performance depicting the final days of Jesus Christ since 1634, when villagers vowed to perform the play each decade if they were spared from a plague ravaging Europe at the time. The 2020 staging of the play was postponed due to COVID-19, and is...

By Bob Mowat

January 31, 2022

Hot Travel Trends 2022

It’s hard to predict what the future holds at a time when anything can change in an instant and the travel industry remains in a fluid state. But to get a sense of what’s in store for 2022, Travel Courier talked to a panel of travel industry professionals and tour operators and in this week’s issue it takes a look at six travel trends based on research and booking insights. At a time where the industry is changing daily and travellers have to deal with the reality of testing positive for COVID-19 in destination, Christian Wolters, CMO at TourRadar, says travel insurance is...