JimBits: Canadians Flocking to Vegas, Cuba Broadens Wi-Fi & more

The Clark County Aviation Department reports May was the busiest month in the history of McCarran International Airport, with 4.36 million airline passengers using the facility. That beats the previous record, set last year, of 4.33 million and marks the 15th consecutive month with passenger traffic gains for an airport that's now the eighth busiest in the U.S.

WestJet, which added flights so Winnipeg Jets' fans could travel to Las Vegas to see the Jets play the Las Vegas Knights in the NHL playoffs, saw a 17.3 percent jump in traffic last month. Air Canada's traffic into Vegas grew 8.1 per cent in May.

The Cuba Tourist Board has announced the start of a progressive rollout of nationwide WIFI coverage. The initiative was first presented at FIT Cuba, one of the country's largest international tourism fairs, hosted in the Villa Clara Keys in May. As noted by Tourism Minister Manuel Marrero Cruz in his opening address, WIFI coverage is expected to be extended to 287 additional hotels by the end of 2018. Full coverage of every hotel on the island slated for 2019.

"We're thrilled to be able to expand our service on such a national scale" said Eloy Govea, Director, Cuba Tourist Board. "This initiative is the product of our continuing commitment to deliver the best experience to the millions of guests who choose Cuba every year."

In light of new agreements reached with global telecommunications providers, Minister Manuel Marrero Cruz was also pleased to announce that Cuba will begin offering visitors preferential rates for roaming service. This exciting development-in conjunction with the debut of 3G and 4G networks in popular destinations like Cayo Santa Maria and Cayo Largo-will empower visitors to the country to communicate freely and stay in touch with family back home.

These technological advances come at a time of increasing foreign management and participation in Cuba's tourism industry, as the country embraces its identity as a truly global destination. As of 2018, Cuba is home to 21 foreign-owned, independently managed properties. With over 45,000 of the island's rooms falling under the stewardship of these international entities, 64.8 per cent of total accommodation capacity is being operated by non-domestic management.

This increasing openness to foreign investment is mirrored elsewhere in the Cuban tourism industry, with 2,152 restaurants and 23,185 hostel rooms now managed by non-state owners. The central province of Villa Clara has become a flashpoint for this diversification and development, with an eclectic mix of nine hotels on pace to open in 2018. The Hotel Floreale, Hotel "E" Palacio Arena, and Hotel "E" Leyenda will be among the most exciting openings in Villa Clara, while the Packard and Prado Y Malecón hotels are sure to attract attention after their grand openings in Havana.

Air Transat has signed an agreement with AerCap for the long-term lease of seven new Airbus aircraft: two A321neos and five A321neo LRs (long-range). These next-generation, single-aisle jets, which will be delivered gradually between 2020 and 2022, will notably replace wide-body A330s whose leases will expire during this period.

"We are continuing our fleet transformation in order to achieve greater efficiency and versatility," said Jean-François Lemay, President of Air Transat. "With their smaller size, the A321neos will enable us to implement our air strategy, which involves increasing our flight frequencies, expanding our network and strengthening our position in several markets. The goal: continue to provide our customers with comfortable service at the best possible price."

With 199 seats in a two-class configuration, the A321neo will be used for feeder flights and service to the South (short- and medium-haul) while the long-range version (A321neo LR) will be deployed for Sun and transatlantic destinations (medium- and long-haul). These aircraft will be added to the 10 new A321neo LRs, on lease from AerCap, announced in July 2017, which will gradually be introduced to Air Transat's fleet starting in spring 2019.

Air Transat's fleet currently consists of 33 permanent aircraft in a unique flexible-fleet model that allows it to deploy more wide-body aircraft in summer for the high transatlantic season, and narrow-body aircraft in winter for the high Sun destinations season. By 2024, it will have an all-Airbus fleet.

There are new hotel offerings in several major Canadian travel markets.

In Toronto, the Kimpton Saint George opened on Bloor Street West this week. It was formerly a Holiday Inn property but has been given a massive renovation and upgrade and rebranded as a Kimpton, the first in the city. The Kimpton Saint George, which operates under the IHG (Intercontinental Hotels Group) banner, has 188 rooms, 20 of them suites, plus a gastropub called The Fortunate Fox. TEAC turntable systems and a curated selection of vinyl records can be found in all 20 suites and the presidential suite.

In Ottawa, Le Germain Hotel Ottawa also opened officially this week marking the 16th property in Canada for Group Germain. The new Le Germain Hotel Ottawa follows in the footsteps of the stylish Alt Hotel Ottawa, which opened in 2016.

The hotel complex includes the ArtHaus private residences and is located at the corner of Daly Avenue and Waller Street, within walking distance of the ByWard Market, the Rideau Canal, the Parliament of Canada, the Convention Centre and many other attractions and amenities in the city centre.

Meanwhile, Group Germain also this week announced a $20 million renovation for Hotel Le Germain Montreal.

In Banff, a perennial world and Canadian favourite, The Mount Royal Hotel will officially reopen its doors on July 1 and welcome guests back to the historic property. The hotel was badly damaged in a fire in December of 2016 but "has been restored to its former beauty, seamlessly blending its storied heritage with thoroughly modern amenities and design."

Renowned art consultancy firm Farmboy Fine Arts from Vancouver complemented the design with carefully selected artwork that reflects both contemporary and modern works alongside re-imagined historic pieces from Banff's Whyte Museum. Design highlights also include the creation of custom-made headboards from Toronto's Moss & Lam art studio to serve as the centrepiece in each of the hotel's 133 guest rooms.

Better still, there's a rooftop lounge with outdoor hot tubs.

Key West is pretty much all the way back in business following last fall's hurricane, and there are some good deals to be found.

The Perry Hotel Key West at Stock Island Marina is a one-year-old hotel located on a private marina just over the bridge from downtown Key West. The boutique property features two seafood-driven restaurants, 100 guest rooms with waterfront views, a posh pool area with hammocks and cabanas, and direct marina access that makes doing excursions ranging from snorkeling and diving to sailing, jet-skiing, and fishing a breeze. Not to mention, complimentary shuttle service to downtown Key West.

The property recently launched a new offer called Experience The Perry that includes 30 per cent off accommodations, a $100 (all prices USD) excursion credit that can be used at nearly a dozen excursion partners, a bottle of wine, and an in-room welcome amenity. The booking/travel window is open through the rest of the year, and rates start as low as $225/night for a 2-night stay (originally $321/night). If guests stay more nights, the starting rate is even lower.

Other Key West properties also are offering deals. Ocean Key Resort and Spa is a luxurious oceanfront property that offers "the perfect balance of excitement, relaxation and luxury with 100 deluxe rooms and suites, warms breezes and breathtaking views that inspire and energize. Guests enjoy oceanfront dining at Hot Tin Roof, a AAA Four-Diamond Award restaurant; Sunset Pier, a lively outdoor bar offering waterfront dining and libations; and the resort's luxurious spa, SpaTerre. Rooms are from $279 a night.

Nightly summer rates at The Gates in Key start at a more modest $189 per night, while summer rates are $179 a night at 24 North.

Carnival Cruise Line has announced that it will return to the Port of San Diego for the first time in seven years when Carnival Miracle arrives in late 2019.

Miracle will operate a winter schedule of three- to 15-day voyages from San Diego from December 2019 to February 2020. The schedule kicks off with a seven-day cruise to the Mexican Riviera departing Dec. 1, 2019, and also includes two longer-length Carnival Journeys voyages - 14- and 15-day Hawaii adventures visiting popular destinations throughout the Aloha State departing Dec. 8, 2019 and Jan. 17, 2020, respectively.

Miracle's San Diego-based program also includes two five-day voyages that spend two days in Cabo San Lucas departing Dec. 22, 2019 and Jan. 12, 2020, along with two three-day getaways visiting Ensenada Dec. 27, 2019 and Jan. 3, 2020. There's also a special four-day New Year's Baja Mexico cruise departing Dec. 30, 2019, as well as a six-day cruise that includes two days in Cabo San Lucas and a day-long visit to Ensenada departing Jan. 6, 2020.

The schedule concludes with a 13-day Panama Canal Carnival Journeys cruise that departs San Diego Feb. 1 and arrives in Miami Feb. 14, 2020.

The Canadian government is taking steps to protect airlines from lasers.

The Honourable Marc Garneau, Minister of Transport, on June 28 announced a new measure which prohibits the possession of battery-operated hand-held laser over 1 milliwatt (mW) outside of a private dwelling without a legitimate purpose, such as for work, school, or education purposes.

This Interim Order takes effect immediately and applies to municipalities within the greater Montréal, Toronto, and Vancouver regions and also to a 10-kilometre radius around any airport or certified heliport across Canada.

The new measure allows Transport Canada and delegated law enforcement to issue fines on the spot to anyone who possesses a hand-held laser within a prohibited zone without a legitimate reason. The maximum fines are $5,000 for an individual and $25,000 for a corporation.

In addition to the Interim Order, Transport Canada is also designating laser attacks on aircraft as offences subject to immediate fines under the Canadian Aviation Regulations.