TORONTO — A new interactive map at the time-to-travel.ca site shows travellers where they can travel in Canada in an easy-to-use and readily understandable format.

Meanwhile, ACV is offering special offers and savings with any Canada Flight and Hotel package, and Tours.

And Transat Distribution Canada (TDC) has signed a preferred agreement with Canada travel specialist Fresh Tracks Canada.

Niagra Falls, Ontario

#TIMETOTRAVEL MAP

With an open letter to federal and provincial levels of governments, social media postings using #timetotravel and more, over the past several weeks Canadian Travel & Tourism Roundtable has worked hard to get its message out: that it’s time to loosen travel restrictions.

The coalition comprises 120+ travel industry executives including Air Canada President & CEO Calin Rovinescu, Transat President & CEO Jean-Marc Eustache, WestJet President & CEO Ed Sims; Sunwing Travel Group President & CEO Stephen Hunter as well as ACTA plus tour operators and retail travel host agencies and chains.

While for now the focus seems to be domestic travel this summer, many members of the group are heavily invested in outbound international travel as well.

Using the new map at the time-to-travel.ca site, travellers click on their province of residence, and where they’re travelling from, prompting a colour-coded map of Canada to appear, showing where travel is allowed. Green colour-coded provinces mean ‘You can travel here’. Light brown colour-coded provinces mean ‘You can travel here with restrictions’. Pink colour-coded provinces mean ‘You cannot travel here’.

To see the map, click here.

The map page also keeps a running list of international destinations now open to Canadian travellers. Currently the list includes Jamaica, Mexico, Dubai and Portugal. The site notes that these are the countries that Canadians can travel to for any purpose (leisure or business) with little to no restrictions.

ACV’S CANADA DEALS

Until July 12 clients can take advantage of an exclusive savings of $100 off per booking (promo code CANADA2020). As well, with ACV’s updated Canada Promise, special perks are available with any Canada Flight and Hotel package, and Tours.

“When we think about our next vacation, we often think about adventures in far away places. With our enhanced Canada Promise and our curated Canada Collection, travellers can easily experience the untamed tundra and city flair found in their own backyard,” says ACV’s Managing Director, Nino Montagnese.

New offers with ACV’s Canada Promise include one free checked bag per person. Travellers also get free standard seat selection, and the possibility to earn an additional 2,000 bonus Aeroplan Miles per couple when booking any Canada Flight and Hotel package or Tour with Air Canada Vacations.

The offer is valid on new bookings only, and applicable to all Canada packages (Flight & Hotel vacations, Urban getaways, Guided tours, Wildlife adventures, Fly & Drive vacations, Fly & Rail vacations, Golf vacations, Ski vacations, Winter Adventures) with a minimum of three-night stay. Conditions apply.

Using promo code CANADA2020 for clients before July 12 means an extra $100 off per booking. The promotion is applicable to new bookings of Canada packages made June 25 – July 12 for travel June 25, 2020 – April 30, 2021 and subject to availability. Conditions apply.

TDC & FRESH TRACKS CANADA, AND TRANSAT’S TRAVELLER CARE

TDC has signed a preferred agreement with Vancouver-based Fresh Tracks Canada, offering what TDC calls a diverse selection of vacation ideas with true insider experience.

For FIT and group clients, the operator offers everything from rail journeys to High Arctic experiences, self drive itineraries throughout Canada, wildlife experiences, helicopter tours, heli-hiking, heli-skiing, horseback expeditions, iceberg exploration and more.

“Never before has domestic travel been so popular than now during this unprecedented time, and many Canadians are choosing their own country to explore.”, says Louise Fecteau, TDC General Manager.

Fecteau adds: “TDC is happy to partner with this proud Canadian company, which will allow agencies in our network to offer an even greater range of Canadian experiences to their clients. Canada is the second largest country in the world and there is so much to see and do right here. We know that Fresh Tracks Canada has the insights and experience to help travellers create great travel memories right here at home.”

Meanwhile tour operator Transat is getting the word out about its Traveller Care program, offering a wide range of health and safety measures updated regularly in compliance with recommendations issued by regulatory authorities.

Transat is gearing up to resume operations on July 23, in a phased approach.

In addition to Traveller Care, Transat has also put together a new guide with tips to help travellers prepare for their trips and travel with peace of mind. It covers everything from what to check before departure and how to ensure that check-in and boarding go smoothly, to what to do if passengers are denied boarding, how to limit contact, and what new procedures to respect at destination.

Transat’s Traveller Care guide can be found here.