Fighting The Good Fight

TIAC vows to continue to work for the industry

The Tourism Industry Association of Canada (TIAC) is vowing that it will continue to work energetically on behalf of this country’s tourism trade, regardless of the course that the coronavirus pandemic takes. TIAC’s David McKenna said during the Nov. 17 opening of the 2020 TIAC Tourism Congress that this year has been one of collaboration for those involved in tourism as they work...

 

Thrilled to be back:

A Q&A With Sunwing’s Andrew Dawson

While the global pandemic has hammered the global travel industry, Sunwing Travel Group’s COO, Andrew Dawson has no doubt that the travel industry “will get through this,” observing: “I’m confident we’ll come out stronger on the other side.” Dawson sits down with CTP this week and talks about what to expect from Sunwing going forward. Sunwing resumed partial service at the...

 

Ontario: It’s there for agents to discover

Beth Potter, President & CEO of the Tourism Industry Association of Ontario (TIAO), tells Canadian Travel Press this week that: “I think there is a great opportunity for Canadian agents and operators to package new itineraries for the local markets.” Let’s start with the obvious question: what is TIAO’s reaction to Ontario’s 2020 Budget? What are you hearing from your...

 

Pandemic, what pandemic?

Basecamp Resorts ready for Revelstoke, BC

Let’s see, two months into 2020, the travel industry was shut down by a global pandemic, but Basecamp Resorts pushed ahead with its plans to open a new resort in Revelstoke, British Columbia this month. The company’s owner and CEO, Sky McLean tells CTP the story. You’re opening a new resort in November. I guess the obvious question is: Was it part of your plan to open it during a...

 

Who is the Mad Trapper?

Something to speculate about on Tundra North Tours’ trip

IAN STALKER Inuvik-based Tundra North Tours is inviting visitors to the Arctic community to view an area grave that enables them to reflect on a great unsolved Northern mystery – just who was the reclusive man newspapers dubbed the Mad Trapper of Rat River while he led the RCMP on a bloody seven-week-long pursuit that ended with him defiantly fighting to the death in a remote part of the...

 

Prepare now

New data pinpoints sales opportunities for Canadian travel advisors

TANIA KEDIKIAN Travel advisors might feel like Capitan Ahab at the moment, scanning the seas all alone just hoping that they’ll make a catch. With lockdowns popping up again, the waters are calm. [caption id="attachment_144884" align="alignright" width="220"] Kedikian[/caption] Canadian travellers, however, will be the new white whale for the world’s destinations as the globe starts...

 

Switzerland is ready for the rebound

ANN RUPPENSTEIN When describing Switzerland Tourism’s strategy to stay engaged and strengthen relationships with travel trade partners during the pandemic, Pascal Prinz, Director Canada, likens it to being a hockey player actively waiting in anticipation of the next play. “When the pucks come back and rebound, we want to get as many of these pucks or rebounds or travel credits or...

 

Vaccine news raises spirits in the industry

Following the positive news about the late-stage clinical trials of both the Pfizer/BioNtech and Moderna vaccines, Gavin Tollman, global CEO for Trafalgar, Costsaver and Brendan Vacations shared his thoughts on what this means for rebuilding the world, our beloved travel industry and establishing a new normal. Like many of the days that have changed history, Nov. 9, 2020 is a day that I...

 

Reaching the summit

ACTA’s Virtual Event Looks To The Future

BOB MOWAT In his keynote address to the virtual audience at ACTA’s Travel Industry Summit held in mid-November, G Adventures founder, Bruce Poon Tip said that COVID-19 has presented an opportunity for both the travel industry and the planet. [caption id="attachment_144854" align="alignright" width="300"] Poon Tip[/caption]Who would have thought we’d be where we are today, Poon Tip...

 

New WTTC modelling tracks “staggering” US job losses

According to the World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC), the US travel and tourism sector could lose a “staggering 9.2 million jobs” in 2020 if barriers to global travel remain in place. The WTTC’s latest economic modelling looks at the “punishing impact” of COVID-19 and travel restrictions and its latest data reveals that 7.2 million jobs in the U.S. have been...