Jim Byers’ Carry On Notebook: Atlantic Bubble Part Two, RV Rentals and a New Toronto Hotel

March 17, 2021 Jim Byers

Is the Atlantic Bubble ready for a return? Or will Canadians from across the country be allowed to visit this summer?

The Globe and Mail reports that Atlantic Canada premiers will meet virtually tonight (March 17) to discuss bringing back the Atlantic Bubble, which was in effect for part of last year. The bubble allowed residents of Nova Scotia, PEI, New Brunswick and Newfoundland + Labrador to wander freely around all provinces without having to quarantine. Other Canadians had to undergo a 14-day quarantine to travel to Atlantic Canada.

It was in effect for most of the summer but collapsed in November due to a spike in cases in Nova Scotia and New Brunswick.

Tourism operators are obviously hoping that a good number of Canadians will be able to visit this summer and bring their valuable dollars with them. But medical experts say it’s too soon to predict what will happen.

 “We may get to the point where we can open up the provinces to the rest of Canada, but it has to be done in a very, very controlled way,” Susan Kirkland, chief of the department of community health and epidemiology at Dalhousie University in Halifax, told the Globe.’

Kirkland suggests even fully vaccinated travellers from Ontario or Quebec hoping to visit this summer should still plan on a 14-day quarantine period when they arrive.

If that’s what the medical evidence says, that’s what should happen. But I hope things are considerably better by summer, as I’d be thrilled to visit the Maritime provinces and Newfoundland + Labrador this year. To me, these are some of the greatest places in Canada, with wide-open spaces, warm and welcoming people, great food and breathtaking scenery. The culture and music, however, are what really set it apart in my mind. There’s really no part of North America quite like it.

CANADIAN QUARANTINE HOTEL LIST GROWING

Canada started their hotel quarantine plan on February 22 with just a handful of hotels. There are now 57 in total; five in Calgary, 14 in Montreal, 18 in Vancouver and 20 in Toronto. The full list is here.

MORE ON THE COMING “SUMMER OF CANADA”

Destination Canada, which has traditionally marketed Canada to the world, has turned its attention to getting Canadians to stay home this year as much as possible.

Officials suggested recently that Canadians could do a great deal to save Canadian tourism jobs (one in ten or 11 jobs in this country is in tourism or travel) if they diverted two-thirds of their planned international travel spending and used it on the domestic front.

In a story posted today at Skift.com, it’s said that Destination Canada’s phased domestic tourism marketing plan includes running a series of special offers this year, starting in the summer. DC president and CEO Marsha Walden said the plan is aimed at giving “Canadians a chance to explore like they’ve never had a chance to do before because there will be an enriched value proposition for them.”

The Ontario government has proposed a domestic tax credit that would provide Ontario residents with a rebate on tourism spending within the province. There’s a good deal of support for something like that at the federal level, although I haven’t heard much about it from the Trudeau government.

SLEEK QUBE HOTEL COMING TO TORONTO

Set to open in June of this year, the latest addition to Toronto’s heated luxury hotel-condo market is the new Qube Hotel, a seven-story, 120-key boutique hotel located on the historic Westinghouse Canada Building site in Toronto’s Theatre District. The hotel is a key component of Greenland Group’s larger mixed-use development plan, which includes the 48-and-44-storey King Blue Condominiums and a 10,000 sq. ft. Theatre Museum. Owned and operated by International Shanghai-based megastructure developer Greenland Group (Canada), with interiors designed by CHIL Interior Design, Qube “will set new standards in luxury hospitality design and will build on the successes of the new urban hotel model as our cities continue to blur the lines between space and function,” the company said.

Located at 355 King St. West, the hotel will feature two presidential suites, a restaurant, two private dining rooms (great for TIFF guests), a “Sky Bar,” a media room, a lovely indoor pool with an open deck and patio, a ballroom, boardrooms and “state of the art, modern and high-tech kitchen facilities.”

There are 50-something Qube hotels in Asia. This is the first one in Canada, but more are planned.

CANADREAM EXPANDS RV OFFERINGS IN EASTERN CANADA

RV’s were a huge hit in Canada last year. Now guests can rough it in luxury across the country in CanaDream’s Maxi Travel Camper, previously only available at locations in Western Canada. Arriving in time for spring and summer travel, the vehicle rental is offered with an unbeatable unlimited mileage package allowing adventurers to go further in comfort and style, plus 5% off of vehicle charges for pick ups on or after May 1, 2021.

“We are thrilled to announce the arrival of our Maxi Travel Campers to CanaDream locations in Toronto, Montreal and Halifax,” says Kathryn Munro, VP Sales & Marketing, CanaDream. “They are an ideal choice for adventurers, providing exceptional comfort and convenience both on the road or parked up in camping mode.”

The spacious Maxi Travel Camper is mounted on a current model Ford F150 diesel truck, providing ample room in both the truck cab and the camper. Attractively priced, and now paired with an unlimited mileage package, guests would be hard pressed to find a more accessible way to RV. Perfect for taking on the windy roads along Nova Scotia’s South Shore, navigating the narrow, picturesque streets of Quebec City or exploring places off the beaten path like Ontario’s Georgian Bay.

Experience the freedom to explore remote places and wide open spaces, designing a new adventure every day feeling safe and in control with CanaDream. To help make the most of your trip check out CanaDream’s informative blog post on the Truck camper, as well as local itineraries and information on the CanaDream Club – offering a wealth of campsites, attractions and tours at exclusive rates. 

BERMUDA BLACK GOLF SUMMIT AND CHAMPIONSHIP

Bermuda Tourism Authority (BTA) recently announced a socially conscious sporting event, the Bermuda Black Golf Summit & Championship. The event will convene thought leaders in the world of golf to explore pathways to drive diversity and inclusion in the sport and converge with a weekend of networking and golf. 

The Black Golf Summit & Championship will take place November 2- 7, 2021 with Port Royal Golf Course—a public facility—as the main focal point. The scheduling dovetails with the PGA TOUR Bermuda Championship at the same venue, which runs immediately prior, creating natural incentives for longer stays. Participants in the Black Golf Championship will compete in a unique and exciting format, represent their communities, and throw their hat in the ring for the inaugural championship trophy. The BTA has targeted a year-one goal of 24 foursomes arriving in Bermuda and has pledged to build-in opportunities for these visitors to enjoy the island’s history, culture, and food. 
 
A great benefit of this event is that it satisfies more than one important National Tourism Plan goal. The first is golf. The other is Black travel. It’s a reminder that Black consumers have diverse travel desires, and Bermuda has many ways to engage with them.
 
The new venture will establish and support community programmes and initiatives on-island. The event would create pathways for local children to gain access to the sport and explore careers in golf. Bermuda Tourism Authority will also use this opportunity to celebrate Bermuda’s Black golf legacy by sharing the inspirational journeys of the pioneers that paved the way like golfer Louis “Kid” Corbin who pushed through adversity to lead the charge against segregation in golf.

ROYAL CARIBBEAN HEADS BACK TO L.A.

After a decade-long hiatus, Royal Caribbean International will once again call Hollywood home starting in June 2022, casting Navigator of the Seas as a “series regular” that will sail from Los Angeles. The amplified ship will broaden the cruise line’s West Coast offerings, sailing 3-, 4- and 5-night itineraries to Catalina Island, California and Ensenada and Cabo San Lucas, Mexico – plus, select winter holiday 7-night sailings will feature overnights in the popular resort city. Royal Caribbean’s new year-round adventures from LA will open for sale the week of March 29, 2021.

“California was calling us home once again, and what better way to reintroduce Royal Caribbean than to bring our next-level cruise vacations to the City of Angels and make it a year-round adventure starting just in time for summer,” said Michael Bayley, president and CEO, Royal Caribbean International. “We’re excited to return to Los Angeles to add bigger, bolder vacation options along the West Coast. With a ship like Navigator of the Seas, complete with waterslides, activities from day to night and a lineup of restaurants, bars and lounges, friends and families alike are in for a memorable getaway.”

After a $115 million amplification in 2019, Navigator bringsstar power that will thrill guests with its reimagined Caribbean poolscape anchored by the lively three-level bar The Lime & Coconut; two daring waterslides that cantilever over the edges of the ship – The Blaster aqua coaster, the longest waterslide at sea, and Riptide, the industry’s only headfirst mat racer;the first standalone blow-dry bar at sea, To Dry For; elevated nightlife and dining, and transformed spaces that each are dedicated to kids and teens. The winning combination of these thrilling features and activities alongside Royal Caribbean favorites – against the backdrop of Hollywood Hills – will make for a new short getaway, over the week or weekend, that makes the most of every minute for vacationers of all ages.

MORE SUPPORT FOR VACCINE PASSPORTS

The European Tourism Manifesto alliance, a group of more than 60 public and private travel and tourism organisations and the voice of the sector in Europe, today says it strongly welcomes the European Commission’s proposal to introduce a common, interoperable and mutually-recognised Digital Green Certificate. This digital proof that a person has been vaccinated against COVID-19, has recovered from the virus, or has a negative test result will greatly facilitate safe free movement of citizens and restart of travel and tourism in the EU.

Today, there are already a number of European countries that facilitate entry into their country if travellers can provide such proof. More countries are expected to follow as  vaccinations are rolled out and the health situation improves. EU coordination is thus vital to avoid a fragmented situation with 27 different certificates covering testing, vaccination and immunity the Manifesto alliance said.

US TRAVEL SHRINKAGE

Travel’s economic footprint in the United States shrank a staggering 42% last year, from $2.6 trillion to $1.5 trillion, according to new end-of-year totals prepared for the U.S. Travel Association by the research firm Tourism Economics. The employment devastation was similarly massive: travel-supported jobs fell by 5.6 million in 2020 (16.7 million to 11.1 million)—a whopping 65% of all American jobs lost to the economic fallout of the pandemic. Travel and tourism had supported employment for 11% of the U.S. workforce prior to the onset of COVID.

About the Author