Hotels & Resorts
The ‘Drive That Defines Us’
In the first of a two-part conversation, Adam Stewart, Sandals Resorts International’s Executive Chairman, talks about his father’s legacy; the importance of the company’s 40th anniversary in 2021; and the fact that: “We have always operated with a future lens; the challenges of today do not define the possibilities of tomorrow.” Stewart tells Canadian Travel Press: “Our brand, although perhaps not the largest resort chain in the world, is one of the most well-known, award-winning and influential. For any brand, this would be remarkable, but for an idea developed in the...
Beaches Celebrates Autism Acceptance Month
To mark Autism Acceptance Month, Beaches Resorts is expanding its commitment to families with children on the autism spectrum, ensuring a safe, fun and comfortable vacation experience that’s tailored to their needs. With one in 66 children in Canada diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder, special needs travel continues to be one of the fastest-growing family travel segments and one that is severely underserved. Building upon an existing partnership with the International Board of Credentialing and Continuing Education Standards (IBCCES), Beaches Resorts has extended its Advanced...
Canadians Are Ready To Explore
Not to put too fine a point on it, the impact that COVID-19 has had on people’s daily lives has made the past year one of the hardest people have had to endure. And while there may still be tough days ahead, new research from Booking.com reveals that the appetite of Canadians to explore the world remains undiminished and after months of restrictions. In fact, thanks to the roll-out of vaccines and the development of other break-through medical advances in the battle against COVID-19, Canadian travellers are finally starting to see light at the end of the tunnel. Booking.com’s...
Time To Pay The Bill
In an open letter to Premier Doug Ford, Restaurants Canada and the Ontario Restaurant Hotel & Motel Association are calling for the following actions to reverse the devastating impacts of dining closures: For public health measures to be fair and effective, all industries must be impacted equally. Patio dining should remain available as an alternative to private gatherings, as safe options for enjoying outdoor activities are important for people’s mental health. All restaurants should be supported financially to mitigate rising debt in the following ways: Further...
CTO, GWU Team Up On Toolkit
The Caribbean Tourism Organization (CTO) has teamed up with the George Washington University International Institute of Tourism Studies (GW IITS) to develop a recovery toolkit to provide a useful guide for small and medium-sized tourism enterprises as they plan for their reopening, and a dashboard for ministries and destination management organizations to capture and report on key recovery metrics. Seleni Matus, executive director of the GW IITS, observed that: “The global pandemic has accelerated the importance of sound digital strategies for destinations and tourism...
Changes At Club Med Canada
Club Med has announced promotions for members of its senior team. Amélie Brouhard, currently Vice President, Managing Director of Club Med Canada, will assume the role of Vice President Sales USA and Omnichannel Marketing for Club Med North America. Brouhard has over ten years of travel expertise in sales and marketing, working in both France and Canada, and she will join the brand’s head office in Miami and will lead the North American division’s commercial and marketing strategies to gain market shares and continue optimizing the customer omnichannel pathway. She has played...
Wrestling With The Issues
Those eager to kickstart this country's tourist trade must do more than convince potential tourists that it's once again safe to hit the road, a March 30 TIAC webinar was told. Joe Naaman of consulting firm Twenty31 wondered how those in tourism can “unscare” people who may be nervous that it's safe to again explore this country but also cautioned that those who do vacation in Canada must be received well on their vacations. Those in the hospitality trade must “make sure people (in hosting communities) are enthusiastic about tourism and are welcoming to visitors,” he...
Another Sunwing Resort Joins Marriott
Sunwing Travel Group has announced that Mystique Holbox by Royalton will be joining Marriott International’s portfolio and is expected to align with the Tribute Portfolio brand later this year. The announcement comes following last month’s monumental announcement that Sunwing Travel Group’s resort division, Blue Diamond Resorts, had entered into a long-term agreement with Marriott International. The move will bring one of Mexico’s most stylish destinations to the Tribute Portfolio, Marriott International’s growing global family of independent hotels highly regarded for...