SANDALS SAYS ‘THANK YOU’ TO AGENTS Outlines five pillars to define the brand ANN RUPPENSTEIN Pictured above: At Bisha Hotel Toronto are Unique Vacations Inc.’s CJ Smith, Giselle Williams, Furman White and Maureen Barnes-Smith. “It’s not just a gimmick,” Maureen Barnes-Smith, director...
GO REMOTE WITH ALASKAN DREAM CRUISES The Alaska Native-owned, small-ship cruise line, Alaskan Dream Cruises, is heading into the most remote areas of the Inside Passage this year aboard its newest vessel, the Kruzof Explorer. A former Bering Sea crab fishing boat, the Kruzof is built to sail some...
EXPLOREGB SHOW SET FOR MAY IN BELFAST The annual flagship travel trade event by VisitBritain, welcoming product buyers and media from around the world, has been scheduled for May 2020 in Belfast. The “Explore [Great Britain] GB and Northern Ireland” trade show and conference will be held in Belfast...
SINGLE-USE PLASTICS BANNED BY GRUPO XCARET Grupo Xcaret, committed to sustainable and socially responsible tourism in the Mexican Caribbean, invites visitors, collaborators and employees alike to join them on their new initiative. The group has announced that all of its parks have been free from...
Story and Photos by ANN RUPPENSTEIN Gliding across the water as the imposing Arenal Volcano comes into focus, Elidier Rojas of Pedal Board Costa Rica turns and shouts, “You can jump in if you want.” Picture a stand-up paddleboard with handles for balance that’s propelled forward by a stepping...
COLLETTE LAUNCHES 2020 AGENT INCENTIVE Collette is putting its money where their mouth is during travel agents’ busiest time of the year. For every 10 bookings, agents will earn $1,000. Bookings made from Jan. 1 to March 31 for travel through April 30, 2021 are eligible. Jaclyn Leibl-Cote, president...
BC FOUR SEASONS VANCOUVER ENDS OPERATIONS The Four Seasons Hotel Vancouver bid final farewells to staff, guests and partners this week, as the property closed its downtown location for good at the end of its lease. A goodbye letter from general manager Martin Sinclair said, “from our opening...
GOWAY LAUNCHES 2020-21 IDYLLIC ISLANDS BROCHURE Goway Travel has launched its 2020-21 Idyllic Islands brochure featuring some of the world’s top islands. The 56-page catalogue is a comprehensive travel guide to some of the world’s most idyllic islands including Tahiti, Fiji, Cook Islands, Hawaii,...
POPULAR BORA BORA RESORT SET TO REOPEN Goway is advising agents that after being closed for extensive renovations, in which the accommodation was upgraded and 28 overwater bungalows added, Tahiti’s popular Bora Bora Pearl Beach Resort & Spa is getting set to reopen. According to officials,...
FOUR SEASONS HOSTS TRAVEL EDGE Six of Travel Edge’s top performers were hosted by Four Seasons in Lanai, Hawaii recently. The Hawaii trip marks the third top performer trip of its kind. Travel Edge is the first in the industry to reward and celebrate leading advisors with the opportunity to choose...
