Collette “just getting started” ahead of 102nd travel season

Tour operator launches 20 new tours for 2020

ANN RUPPENSTEIN Collette is gearing up for its 102nd travel season in 2020 with over 20 new tours being offered including Russia, Patagonia, the Azores, the Galapagos, and a combo tour to Egypt and Jordan. “It may be our 102nd season, but we’re just getting started. We’re continuing to redefine what guided travel is and continuing to evolve, innovate and be creative to the guest...

 

One Love

CTO set to reinvent itself

GREG COATES With a diverse membership of more than 30 countries and territories, the Caribbean Tourism Organization (CTO) certainly has its challenges, as an organized body trying to focus on the entire region of the Caribbean as a single destination entity. It was everything Caribbean in Toronto Aug. 22 as the CTO hosted its annual Caribbean Media Day – highlighted by a news conference,...

 

Cruising the Danube with AmaWaterways

A mother-daughter journey on the innovative AmaMagna

ANN RUPPENSTEIN “Ein Prosit, ein Prosit der Gemütlichkeit.” The beer was flowing and the scent of fresh pretzels lingered as a group of local musicians started playing the popular German drinking song. But rather than Munich, we found ourselves in a shoreside party tent in the small town of Vilshofen – where guests on AmaWaterways itineraries on the Danube start or end their trips...

 

Drink up the wonders of Wachau Valley

ANN RUPPENSTEIN “Look around and you will see what this region is all about: wine, wine and wine,” tour guide Christine Wölfel said as rows upon rows of terraced vineyards set in steep hillsides drew near stretching as far as the eyes could see. Located along the Danube River between the towns of Melk and Krems, Austria, Wachau Valley is renowned for its wine making. The area is lined...

 

Air Canada ups bid for Transat to $18 per share

Air Canada and Transat A.T. Inc. announced earlier this week that Air Canada has agreed to increase the purchase price for the acquisition of all issued and outstanding shares of Transat, from $13 to $18 per share and have amended the Arrangement Agreement dated June 27, 2019 accordingly. Based on the increased consideration, the value of the all-cash transaction is approximately $720...

 

Why use a travel advisor?

Just ask Carnival, it can give your clients lots of reasons

IAN STALKER (Photo above: Justin French and Adolfo Perez) “It’s nice to see Carnival has our backs.” Adolfo Perez has mastered the art of artfully promoting travel agents. Perez, senior vice-president, global sales and trade marketing for Carnival Cruise Line, sports a tattoo on his left shoulder that reads Travel Agents Rock, underscoring his belief in the importance of the...

 

Historic Horsepower

Planes, trains and Automobiles in museums around England

TED DAVIS (Photo above: Circled by sports cars at the British Motor Museum. Photo courtesy © Ted Davis) On June 6 this year, a few historic relics from the golden age of flight lifted off from an airfield in eastern England to participate in a re-enactment of the D-Day landings. It was 75 years to the day since these same aircraft had taken off in the early morning gloom to start the...

 

Cunard answers the call of the wild

GREG COATES Luxury cruise line Cunard is helping travellers tame their “call of the wild” with its return to Alaska after more than 20 years. And there’s no better way to experience the wonders of The Last Frontier than by cruise ship. And what better way to cruise Alaska than with Cunard? The Cunard experience is built on fine dining, hand-selected entertainment and outstanding...

 

‘Travel Unlocked’ by Trafalgar

Agent e-learning podcasts

Trafalgar has launched an agent e-learning podcast, “Travel Unlocked,” created specifically to provide behind-the-scenes access to the brand in a way that has never been done before. With more than seven million Canadian adults listening to podcasts at least once a month, the demand and opportunity for listening and learning on the go is at an all-time high. This latest initiative...

 

Air Canada wins five Skytrax Awards

Success breeds success

BOB MOWAT (Photo above: John MacLeod) To say that Air Canada did well in the 2019 Skytrax World Airline Awards is definitely a bit of an understatement, considering it was picked as the Best Airline in North America; as well as having the Best Business Class Lounge Dining; the Best Airline Staff in Canada; the Best Business Class in North America; and the Best Airline Cabin Cleanliness in...