New WestJet Flights, Europe Hotel News And Cayman Savings: This Week's JimBits

WestJet recently added a slew of new routes to great destinations in North America and Europe.

As the carrier with the most transatlantic flights from Halifax, WestJet last week began its new non-stop service between Halifax Stanfield International Airport (YHZ) and Dublin Airport (DUB).

"Today's flight between these important tourism and business markets reinforces our commitment to investing in Halifax as an Atlantic gateway to Europe," said Arved von zur Muehlen, WestJet's Chief Commercial Officer. "WestJet continues to support the efforts of the government of Nova Scotia to enhance trade, tourism and grow economies in the province and the UK. To our guests on both sides of the Atlantic, go raibh maith agat, thank you."

WestJet has served the city of Halifax since 2003 and has seen 160 per cent growth in flights to and from Halifax Stanfield. This summer the airline will operate non-stop service to 15 cities with an average of 28 departures per day from Halifax.

The airline last week began its new nonstop flight between Portland International Airport (PDX) and Calgary International Airport (YYC) today. The new flight is the first-ever WestJet-scheduled service to and from Portland.

"This nonstop flight between Calgary and Portland is the latest example of WestJet's investment in our home in Calgary," said von zur Muehlen, "This new flight provides travellers in Western Canada and Northwestern U.S. more options to get to fantastic destinations for both business and leisure. We are thrilled to be part of strengthening these ties between two important locations."

WestJet also has added twice weekly flights between Calgary and Austin, a fabulous city for music, food and culture. Austin is the second city in Texas served by WestJet, which already operates twice-daily flights to Houston.

Representatives of Ireland's Dromoland Castle were in Toronto recently to talk about renovations that have made one of the country's top places to stay even more luxurious.

Owners recently completed the final phase of a full-scale $30 million refurbishment, using traditional skills and craftsmanship while incorporating the latest technology.

Included in the extensive refurbishments were the following: Castle guest rooms and bathrooms, Queen Anne Wing, dining and lounge areas, all public spaces, Spa at Dromoland Castle, indoor pool, new golf carts and pathways, air conditioning units, a new water treatment system, as well as window refurbishments and stone façade repairs. Acclaimed Irish painter John Brennan was commissioned for the artwork in the guestrooms; the Celtic inspired paintings are unique, with each gold leaf applied by hand.

Marie Chawke, Director of Business Development, said the castle, built in the 1600s, has been in the same family for centuries and was only opened to the public in the 1960s.

It's one of the most famous baronial castles in Ireland and was the ancestral home of the O'Briens of Dromoland, royal descendants of Brian Boru, the High King of Ireland. Among those who have graced its halls are Nelson Mandela, Bill Clinton, Muhammad Ali and Johnny Cash.

Princess Cruises 50th year sailing in Alaska began recently with the arrival of Ruby Princess into Ketchikan and Juneau. This summer, seven Princess Cruises ships will sail to Alaska with the inaugural season of Royal Princess beginning on May 11.

New programs will be available onboard all Princess Cruises ships sailing in Alaska for the upcoming May through September season, marking the cruise line's largest deployment ever. Royal Princess debut marks the first time a Princess MedallionClass ship will be sailing in Alaska. Powered by OceanMedallion, the most advanced wearable device in the global hospitality industry, delivering a hassle-free, personalized vacation that gives guests more time to enjoy what they love most about cruising.

"We've hosted more guests in Alaska than any other cruise line - more than 5 million over the last 50 years, and this season will be the best one yet," said Lisa Syme, Princess Cruises vice president marketing. "With some sailings still available, think about spending summer vacation experiencing the awe-inspiring beauty of the Great Land with its glaciers and wildlife, create lifelong vacation memories."

As the recognized cruise line leader, Princess offers a variety of cruise and cruisetour options highlighting the state's must-see attractions, including Glacier Bay National Park and Denali National Park. Alaska cruises range in length from seven to 12 days and depart from Vancouver, Anchorage (Whittier), Seattle, San Francisco and Los Angeles.

Following a record-breaking year for Canadian visitation, the Cayman Islands is offering spectacular savings of up to 40 per cent through their SUMMER ONLY IN CAYMAN campaign. Renowned as the Culinary Capital of the Caribbean, the Cayman Islands recently experienced the best month in recorded history, welcoming 4,567 Canadians in February 2019.

With adventure and relaxation just a flight away, summer is the best time to visit the Cayman Islands.

Visitors can book a Summer Only In Cayman vacation by June 30, 2019 with travel between April 2019 and December 19, 2019 to enjoy fantastic limited-time offers on airfare, accommodations, watersports, dining and more. Travelling to paradise has never been easier, with both Air Canada and WestJet offering twice weekly non-stop four-hour flights from Toronto to Grand Cayman, as well as easy connections from Canadian gateways.

Feast on sea-to-table and farm-to-fork cuisine, dive amongst shipwrecks, lounge on pristine beaches and relax in immaculate hotels, condominiums and villas. Experience the thrill of adventurous watersports and explore the destination's unique attractions and world-class shopping and spas, all while receiving warm Caymankind service. Packages are available through Air Canada Vacations and WestJet Vacations.

Situated in the heart of Rome, one of the world's favourite cities, the Sofitel Rome Villa Borghese will reopen on July 1st.

The hotel will be unveiling extensive renovations by contemporary architect and interior designer, Jean-Philippe Nuel. Modern luxury travelers are invited to eat, sleep, enjoy, travel, stay, celebrate and live the French way at Sofitel Rome Villa Borghese.

Situated on a quiet street in the epicenter of Rome, this former 19th century Roman palazzo lies within walking distance of some of the city's best-known cultural landmarks and parks, including the Trevi Fountain, Villa Medici and Spanish Steps. Evoking the feel of a Roman home, guests will appreciate the hotel's relaxed and laid-back atmosphere and the sense of being truly immersed in the essence of this picturesque Italian city.

The hotel will offer 78 rooms and suites, with the unveiling of larger suites, a new fitness center and wellness program, and three large event rooms. Sofitel Rome Villa Borghese will also be home to Settimo, an elegant rooftop lounge and restaurant, offering panoramic views overlooking the picturesque Villa Borghese gardens and St. Peter's Basilica. Adorned with eclectic furnishings and lush green interiors, Settimo will provide a garden escape on the 7th floor and serve contemporary Roman cuisine using locally-sourced ingredients. Paying respect to local mastery and heritage, while highlighting the personality of the hotel's Executive Chef, Giuseppe D'Alessio, signature dishes will incorporate traditional Roman culinary styles such as 'cucina povera' and 'Tripolina.'

Skyscanner, the world's travel search engine, has announced its latest partnership with Swoop, the Canadian ultra low-cost carrier, which will allow Skyscanner users in Canada, Jamaica, Mexico, United States and United Kingdom - to search for flights and view airfares from Swoop.

The flight integration, powered by Skyscanner's award-winning global flight search technology, means travellers in the five markets will have direct access to low fares from the Canadian airline, which launched in 2018.

"We are delighted to announce our latest partnership with Swoop," remarks Mark Crossey, Commercial Director, Americas. "Travellers are at the very heart of what we do at Skyscanner and this integration means that we can offer even more competitive fares to our users. It's also a great example of how Skyscanner continues to grow our global airline partnerships and enables our platforms to better serve the needs of our 80+ million monthly active users."

"The addition of Swoop flights to Skyscanner is a significant step in carrying out our distribution strategy," said Karen McIsaac, Senior Advisor of Communications at Swoop. "Exposure on Skyscanner creates valuable awareness, showcasing our ultra-low fares and enabling a convenient booking experience."