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.ASSOCIATION NEWS
Say hello to the new Tour Operator Council
OMCA
The OMCA Tour Operator Council has some new faces as well as a new chair and vice-chair. Below is the list of Tour Operator Council members — please feel free to reach out to them anytime to chat, ask questions about OMCA’s tour operator support and services, or to provide input.
Chair: Julie Gagnon, Jolly Tours (OMCA Board Rep)
Vice-Chair: John Temple, Temple and Temple Tours, Inc. (OMCA Board Rep)
Ted Goldenberg, Chapman Cultural Tours (OMCA Board Rep, TICO Board Rep)
Eric Forrest, Cardinal/Lakeshore Tours
Howard Herman, DeNure Tours
Sash Munjal, ShortTrips
Bradley Walters, Ellison Travel & Tours Ltd.
Debbie Yantzi, Perspectives (OMCA Board Rep)
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Say hello to the new Supplier Council
OMCA
The OMCA Supplier Council also has some new faces as well as a new chair and vice-chair. Below is the list of Supplier Council members — please feel free to reach out to them anytime to chat, ask questions about OMCA’s tourism supplier support and services, or to provide input.
Chair: Wes Brown, Shaw Festival (OMCA Board Rep)
Vice-Chair: Kelly Dean, Ottawa Tourism (OMCA Board Rep)
Immediate Past Chair: Jennifer McGregor, Niagara SkyWheel
LouAnna Henton, Nashville Convention & Visitors Corporation
William Hogg, Destination Sherbrooke
Leah Mueller, Visit Buffalo Niagara
Angela Poletto, McMichael Canadian Art Collection
Aldo Sdao, University of Toronto — New College Residence
Sandra Woloschuk, Ripley’s Aquarium of Canada
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.INDUSTRY NEWS
How a COVID-19 vaccine could change travel for good
CTV News
It was the good news that gave the world hope.
On Nov. 9 it was announced that one of the candidates for a COVID-19 vaccine, made by Pfizer and BioNTech, was over 90% effective in preventing volunteers from contracting the virus.
The beleaguered travel industry immediately got a boost, with airline and cruise company share prices rallying, and tour operators seeing upticks in searches and bookings for 2021. Finally, it feels as if vacations might be in our future.
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COVID-19 has opened the door to innovation
Travel Weekly
Travel spending in the U.S. this year will be down 45% from 2019, according to the latest U.S. Travel Association estimate. But the pandemic is nevertheless providing opportunities for innovative travel companies, according to panelists at the Phocuswright Conference 2020.
"Now is the time to make sure that your business is jumping ahead," said Rachel Barger, senior vice president of global enterprise sales for the technology provider Cisco Systems.
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Canada-U.S. land-border closure has been extended to Dec. 21
The Star
Canada and the United States will extend COVID-19 restrictions on non-essential cross-border travel for at least another month, to Dec. 21, the Star has learned.
A senior Canadian government official told the Star the agreement initially reached in March with the U.S. administration of President Donald Trump has been renewed, by mutual agreement, for another 30 days, with no end date set.
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The University opens its residences to tour groups, conference guests, sports teams, and vacationers visiting the region. Conveniently located downtown and within walking distance of major attractions, the residences allow you to enjoy your stay in Canada’s capital with ease. Plan your stay at uOttawa now!
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Is selling travel now unethical: ASTA blows gasket at USA Today assertion
Travel Industry Today
An article in USA Today implied that some travel agents are putting commissions before customers and that a desperate travel industry “fighting for survival (is) willing to do almost anything to get you traveling again — including possibly exposing you to a deadly virus.” Soon after, ASTA was on the warpath.
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Check these COVID-19 risk scores before traveling this holiday season
Fast Company
Just how risky is it to travel for the holidays this year? With rising rates of COVID-19, many experts are recommending a moratorium on holiday gatherings. But for those who are trying to decide whether they still want to travel, smart-thermometer company Kinsa has created predictive COVID-19 risk scores for every county in the U.S.
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Gates calls for immediate financial support for Niagara restaurants
St. Catharines Standard
Niagara Falls MPP Wayne Gates is calling on the provincial government to immediately release emergency funding for Niagara restaurants and bars, after new restrictions were introduced by the local public health unit.
“The premier knows that Niagara is a tourist destination. We depend on our restaurants and bar industry,” said Gates in the Ontario legislature.
“In fact, 13 per cent of all jobs in Niagara are tied directly to this sector, which doesn’t include thousands of spinoff jobs. These businesses cannot survive without financial help. The premier holds that power in his hands.”
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RTO 9 announces partnership recipients
Kingston Whig-Standard
The Regional Tourism Organization of South Eastern Ontario recently announced eight additional partnership proposal recipients, awarding more than $60,000 in grants from the Partnership Fund to support projects across the region during the 2020/2021 fiscal year as a result of the second intake of applications.
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Just a few weeks left to visit Canyon Sainte-Anne and experience a complete forest immersion and thrilling sensations! Walk across 3 suspensions bridges (one sitting 60 meters high) - Soar at 50km/h over the waterfall onboard AirCANYON!
Outdoor terrace – Flexible Hours – Secure Family Fun Ask about our special group rates!
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Haliburton County welcomes year of staycation funding
The Star
Warden Liz Danielsen said she welcomes a provincial tax credit for tourists aimed at making 2021 the “year of the staycation.”
The provincial government announced the credit in its budget Nov. 5. Although details have yet to be released, it will provide Ontarians with up to 20 per cent of eligible tourism expenses within the province. Ontario also announced a $100 million community building fund to support tourism, culture and sports organizations facing significant pressures in the pandemic.
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Travelweek's Agent Survey: 75% of agents say they're staying in the travel industry
Travelweek
For the past eight months travel agents have worked long hours cancelling and rebooking clients’ travel plans, and navigating travel policies that can change on a dime.
They’ve been stuck in the middle of more than a few refund requests, using every diplomatic skill in their arsenal to deal with frustrated clients and sometimes hard-to-reach suppliers.
And they’ve watched as other industries have gotten at least a tentative green light to restart, whereas travel is still under the same tight restrictions as it was back in March.
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Tourism marketing gets FedNor boost
Sault Star
Tourism Sault Ste.Marie will direct about $250,000 in federal funding to market the city to outdoor adventurers in new Canadian markets.
But those dollars won’t be spent until the number of COVID-19 cases eases.
Ontario has repeatedly set new daily highs of persons testing positive for COVID-19 in the last week. Director of tourism and community development Travis Anderson isn’t keen to bring visitors to the Sault in the near future.
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City's tourism master plan should set direction, focus for the next decade
Barrie Today
City tourism is getting a new roadmap for success.
Councillors will consider initial approval Monday of a motion to receive, and approve in principle, Barrie’s tourism master plan, and have city staff report back next spring with prioritized recommendations on implementing and executing the plan — when COVID-19’s impacts on tourism and associated recovery conditions may be more conducive to implementing it.
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600+ canoes, countless stories to tell! Located in Peterborough, The Canadian Canoe Museum offers engaging and inspiring exhibits exploring Canada’s history by canoe. You don’t have to be a paddler to enjoy the museum – but you may become one after your tour! 2021 dates now available.
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Ontario launches workplace education and enforcement campaigns
Government of Ontario
The Ontario government is launching a series of education and enforcement campaigns to ensure businesses across the province are taking the necessary steps to keep employees, consumers and the public safe. These campaigns will support the current efforts of police, municipal by-law officers, and public health inspectors to educate businesses and enforce the COVID-19 health and safety requirements. Officers will be asking employers to produce their workplace safety plans.
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Shorter stays, social distance: How Thanksgiving travel will look different this year
USA Today
Fewer Americans are planning to travel for Thanksgiving this year, according to AAA and TripAdvisor, with shorter stays and social distance from family and friends.
AAA predicts 50 million people will travel for the holiday this year, down 10 per cent from the 55 million who travelled last year, before the coronavirus pandemic.
As in years past, the vast majority of those are expected to drive to their destinations. AAA projects that 47.8 million Americans will hit the road over the Thanksgiving holiday. That's a 4.3 per cent decline from last year.
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7701 Las Colinas Ridge, Ste. 800, Irving, TX 75063
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