Sunwing takes passenger comfort to new heights

Boeing 737 MAX 8 joins Sunwing fleet

GREG COATES Taking delivery of a new plane is always memorable, but add to this the ability to fly further and offer a better passenger experience, and you’ll understand why Sunwing executives are so excited to have two new Boeing 737 MAX 8’s in their fleet. [caption id="attachment_109846" align="alignright" width="300"] Captain Ron Henry[/caption] [caption id="attachment_109847"...

 

Ready for takeoff

Azores Airlines to add new aircraft on Toronto route, promotes stopover program

ANN RUPPENSTEIN (Photo above: Gavin Eccles, chief commercial officer, Azores Airlines and William Delgado, Visit Portugal’s country manager for Canada) Azores Airlines hopes to do with the Azores – Portugal’s nine volcanic islands in the North Atlantic Ocean – the same as Icelandair has done with Iceland. With a hub in Ponta Delgada, Gavin Eccles, chief commercial officer of...

 

Sailing Away With The Moorings

ANN RUPPENSTEIN “There are two sides to the British Virgin Islands,” our captain Martin Street says after we’ve settled aboard The Moorings 5800 Legacy Edition catamaran at sunset, explaining that the archipelago is known on one hand for its idyllic scenery, secluded coves and snorkelling spots, and on the other a beach-side party scene. “What do you want to see?” As first-timers do...

 

Thailand keeps it fresh

Tourism Authority of Thailand has new Toronto office

IAN STALKER (Photo above: On hand at a recent Tourism Authority of Thailand event in Toronto were Chris Mustachi and Misty Khaola-Iead, Puangpen Klanwari, and Shubert and Viktor Spysak of the Tourism Authority of Thailand’s new Toronto office.) There’s always something new under the sun when that celestial body is shining over tourists exploring Thailand, famed in part because of its...

 

Canada is hot

Rocking it at the Best Western Leisure Travel Summit

BOB MOWAT (Photo above: Pictured during a break at the 13th Annual Best Western Leisure Travel in Toronto last week are (l-r) Summit moderator Bryson Forbes, Best Western’s Dorothy Dowling, the Hotel Association of Canada’s Susie Grynol and TripAdvisor’s Brad Payea.) According to three top travel industry executives, there’s no doubt that Canada is a hot – and getting hotter –...

 

A casual escape

Relaxation and adventure await at Panama Jack Resorts

ANN RUPPENSTEIN It all started with sunscreen. Since launching in 1974, Panama Jack’s product line has evolved to include sunglasses, clothing, hats, bags, accessories, and more. But today, thanks to a partnership with Playa Hotels & Resorts, the brand has taken part in an even bigger evolution by stepping into the all-inclusive resorts market in Cancun and Playa del Carmen. “Last...

 

NCL’s Bliss

A sure winner at sea

GREG COATES Photo above couryesy / Andrea Sugranes [caption id="attachment_108942" align="alignright" width="300"] The Haven[/caption] As the first cruise ship specifically designed with features and amenities for sailing in Alaska, Norwegian Cruise Line’s (NCL) new Norwegian Bliss is taking the cruise experience up a notch. The 4,000-passenger Bliss is the third ship in the line’s...

 

Vancouver to Munich

Jet lag lessened on Lufthansa A350

TED DAVIS (Photo above: The new Lufthansa Airbus A350-900 inflight) Flights from Vancouver to Germany are long, at about 9.5 hours, so Lufthansa has eased the jet lag stress by assigning a new Airbus A350-900 aircraft to the Munich route. With a recently awarded five-star rating for Lufthansa by Skytrax, passengers can expect a top shelf level of service and amenities on board the flight....

 

25 years in the making

Switzerland celebrates banner year from Canada

ANN RUPPENSTEIN (Photo above: Pascal Prinz of Switzerland Tourism in his Toronto office with a recent Travel Courier cover story on Switzerland.) Tourism to Switzerland is on a roll. With an 11.2% increase in arrivals in 2017 and a 9.1% gain in overnights, Pascal Prinz, director Canada for Switzerland Tourism, says the destination noted the best results from the Canadian market in a...

 

Costa Rica’s curious crocodiles

IAN STALKER Costa Rican guide Maurice Motte Simpson guarantees that those who sail along Costa Rica’s Sarapiqui River won’t spot any velociraptors. But that doesn’t mean they won’t see any large predators, as they ply the waterway. Motte Simpson – with tour company Aventuras del Sarapiqui – says Costa Rica – the setting for Michael Crichton’s classic novel Jurassic Park –...