Transat Launches YVR-Costa Rica, Plus News From WestJet, RCI, Air Canada + More

Air Transat, named World's Best Leisure Airline at the Skytrax World Airline Awards for a second straight year, has inaugurated service between Vancouver and Costa Rica, consisting of a direct flight to San José and a second flight segment to Liberia. The route is available twice weekly, on Wednesdays and Saturdays, until April 18.

"We are proud to be adding these new destinations to our winter 2019-2020 program, and, in the process, enhancing service out of Vancouver," said Jean-Francois Lemay, President-General Manager of Air Transat. "These new routes make it easier than ever for travellers to explore Costa Rica, an increasingly popular tourist destination that has so much to offer in the way of rich culture and majestic scenery."

To mark the occasion, the team at Vancouver International Airport served up beverages and sweet treats to passengers before they boarded Air Transat's first-ever flight TS796.

After its initial stop in San José, the aircraft landed at Daniel-Oduber-Quirós International Airport in Liberia to a traditional water cannon salute. Disembarking passengers watched a ribbon-cutting celebration and enjoyed snacks in the company of César Jaramillo, CEO of the airport.

"We are excited to see the fruits of our ongoing efforts in conjunction with government authorities to attract new flights and airlines," said Jaramillo. "The new route operated by Air Transat provides direct service to and from Vancouver but also connections to the rest of Canada. This is a very important market for achieving our goal of maintaining growth in tourist arrivals from the northern part of the continent."

A travel group called Globehunters this week came out with a new study on airline in-flight entertainments, which is what many of us rely on to get through those long trips at 36,000 feet.

The study found that the top airline in the world for in-flight movies and other entertainment options is Turkish Airlines. Number two was Emirates and American AIrlines in a tie.

Air Canada was ranked ninth in the world.

In a cruise industry first, luxury cruise line Cunard has joined forces with 'Cool Cousin', a travel technology company which provides curated and off-the-beaten track recommendations from locals in each port. The 200 destination guides can be downloaded 15 days before sailing, perfect for those keen to start planning and maximize their shore experience.

As experts, 'Cool Cousin' are local residents who make informed recommendations on what to do, offering suggestions on the best restaurants and hidden gems to city landmarks. Art enthusiasts can look forward to exploring little-known galleries, coffee lovers can sample delicious beans in locally-loved cafes, and fashionistas can discover up-and-coming designers in hidden boutiques.

Sam Cole, Shore Experiences Director, Cunard, said: "The Cunard customer is becoming ever more curious and adventurous, seeking authentic recommendations. These guides are powered by locals, which makes it easier for our guests to seek out unique experiences in every destination they visit."

Callum Hale-Thomson, Cool Cousin's Vice President of Business Development, said: "We are delighted to be working with Cunard to help their guests unlock unforgettable local experiences in hundreds of ports across the globe. By leveraging machine learning, AI and the power of local knowledge, our dynamic sourcing engine identifies the best places to eat, drink and explore in each port, providing guests with a curated guide delivered straight to their mobile device."

Printed versions of the guides will be available for guests once on board, with this service being rolled out across the fleet between January and July.

WestJet is celebrating carrying guests for the first time to the snorkeling and diving paradise of Roatán, Honduras following yesterday's inaugural flight between Toronto and Roatán.

"With our new seasonal non-stop service guests can now enjoy a superior travel experience when flying to this Caribbean paradise," said Arved von zur Muelhen, WestJet Chief Commercial Officer. "These flights strengthen tourism ties and are a win for leisure travellers looking to explore Roatán's beautiful barrier reefs and white sand beaches."

With convenient access to 14 Caribbean destinations non-stop from Toronto this winter, WestJet's new service to Roatán is operated on the airline's Boeing 737 aircraft featuring WestJet's Premium and Economy cabins.

Fairmont Hotels & Resorts and ESJ Resort LLC recently announced the signing of an agreement for Fairmont Hotels & Resorts to assume the management of El San Juan Hotel, in San Juan, Puerto Rico.

Fairmont El San Juan Hotel will be the first property in Puerto Rico for the luxury brand known for its landmark properties around the world, and also marks the first hotel on the island for Accor.

Originally opening its doors in 1958, and then undergoing a $65 million restoration led by world-renowned designer Jeffrey Beers in 2018, the hotel now features 388 guestrooms, suites, and poolside and oceanfront villas; full service, state-of-the-art Well & Being Spa and fitness center; 4 pools with swim-up bar and luxury cabanas; pro-level tennis court; watersport rentals including jet skis, banana boats and parasailing; and 13 celebrated food and beverage venues.

Air Canada said this week that Rouge Wi-Fi high-speed satellite-based connectivity provided by Gogo is now available across the entire Air Canada Rouge fleet of 65 aircraft that fly globally and across North America.

"Customers now can access Rouge Wi-Fi high-speed internet connectivity on their own devices whenever they are onboard an Air Canada Rouge aircraft anywhere in the world, giving everyone the ability to stay connected to email, surf the web, or stream their favourite movies and TV shows from services like Netflix and YouTube. We are excited to now offer fast, reliable wi-fi options onboard all Rouge aircraft for the increasing numbers of customers seeking connectivity when flying," said Andrew Yiu, Vice President, Product at Air Canada.

Customers can choose from a selection of Wi-Fi packages to suit their requirements with starting prices of $8.50 CAD simply by connecting to the "Rouge Wi-Fi" network onboard and following the instructions.

In addition to the full Air Canada Rouge fleet, satellite based Wi-Fi is already available on all Air Canada Boeing 777s, and most Boeing 787s and Airbus A330s with the remainder to be completed early 2020. Air Canada Wi-Fi connectivity is also available across the carrier's entire mainline narrow body fleet and the Air Canada Express Embraer 175 and Bombardier CRJ-900 fleets. Air Canada's new Airbus A220 fleet which it begins taking delivery of before the end of 2019 will come equipped with satellite based wi-fi.

Royal Caribbean International's newest ship, Odyssey of the Seas, will deliver a bold lineup of sought-after destinations as the first Quantum Ultra Class ship to homeport in Rome and sail through the Eastern Mediterranean for the summer season.

Royal Caribbean's game-changing ship will be the first to tout a combination of longer stays in every destination and overnights across some of the Mediterranean's most alluring cities and famed beach destinations. The highly anticipated ship will debut in November 2020, sailing from Fort Lauderdale to the Caribbean for her first season, before continuing her inaugural year in Europe. Odyssey's Mediterranean cruises for summer 2021 open today for bookings.

Beginning May 2021, Odyssey will take travelers on sun-soaked summer vacations in the Eastern Mediterranean on 7-, 9- and 12-night itineraries to the scenic shores and ancient ruins of Santorini, Mykonos and Athens, Greece; Ephesus and Rhodes, Turkey; Naples, Italy; Heraklion, Crete; and Haifa and Jerusalem, Israel. Vacationers will have more time than ever to explore local cultures with maximum time on shore, from longer days - up to 15 hours at every port -- spent enjoying the multihued waters and beaches of Mykonos and waterfront tavernas of Santorini on 7-night getaways to the Greek Isles, to a double dose of destinations with overnight stays and two full days in Athens and Naples on both 9-night Greek Isles and 12-night Holy Land sailings.

"Odyssey will set the standard for delivering unforgettable European adventures, on which travellers will cruise to an exceptional combination of destinations that are in a league of their own as the most popular ports in the Eastern Mediterranean," said Michael Bayley, President and CEO, Royal Caribbean International. "With extended stays and overnights, Royal Caribbean is combining amazing itineraries with our game-changing ship to create a truly one-of-a-kind Europe vacation."

The Kincade Fire in Northern California has been fully contained and Sonoma County's hospitality businesses have returned to what they do best - providing guests with a world-class welcome and unforgettable experiences.

The fire damaged less than 8% of Sonoma County's 1 million-acre land mass. Some 77,758 acres burned and threatened the populated areas of Geyserville, Healdsburg, Santa Rosa, and Windsor. However, firefighters were able to contain the blaze to the largely unoccupied wilderness areas in the rugged northeastern part of the county, beyond where most visitors go.

The 2019 wine grape harvest was 92 percent complete at the onset of the fires, while an additional 3% was harvested before evacuations took place a few days later. Vintners have a positive outlook about the 2019 wines and are committed to only releasing the highest-quality wines that Sonoma County wine enthusiasts have come to know and love.

Only two winery tasting rooms reported damage. Soda Rock Winery lost its tasting room. Much of Soda Rock's wine storage is offsite, so there was little damage to inventory. As part of Wilson Artisan Wineries, Soda Rock wines can be purchased online or at other Wilson Artisan wineries. The Spire Collection at Field Stone Vineyard sustained damage to the winery and barn. They are still hosting guests and accepting appointments at their tasting room in Calistoga.

"This is a great time to visit," said Claudia Vecchio, president/CEO of Sonoma County Tourism. "The weather is good, there is a full slate of events, and the hospitality is unmatched. Visiting now helps support local businesses and families." Visitors are encouraged to take photos while they explore the region and tag #GatherInSonoma on their social media channels. Enjoy tasting rooms, brew pubs, state and regional parks, and gorgeous coastline. With warm temperatures and blue skies, there is an abundance of events to enjoy, and the hospitality remains unmatched.