Meeting Professionals International (MPI) has selected Grapevine, Texas, as the destination for its World Education Congress (WEC) in 2020. The association will collaborate with the Grapevine Convention and Visitors Bureau to host the conference, which is scheduled for June 6 – 9, 2020, at the Gaylord Texan Resort and Convention Center. Grapevine is centrally located between Fort Worth and Dallas, where MPI is headquartered. WEC is MPI’s signature event through which it delivers premier education, business and networking opportunities in…
Corporate Travel & Incentives
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The Sutton Place Hotels invests in new hotel property in Halifax’s Nova Centre
The Sutton Place Hotels, a sophisticated collection of luxury properties in North America, is investing in a new hotel property in Halifax’s Nova Centre. This is the first Sutton Place property in Atlantic Canada. It is an integral part of Nova Centre, a one-million-square-feet of mixed development space, including the newly opened Halifax Convention Centre, a financial centre, office space, restaurants, shops, and a public plaza known as Rogers Square. The hotel will feature 262 well-appointed guest rooms and suites…
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American Express and Conferma team up to deliver simplified digital payments to corporate travel
New partnership will see American Express vPayment integrated with Conferma’s network of travel partners American Express Canada and Conferma – a FinTech company specializing in corporate travel payments – have teamed up to bring the power of digital payments to businesses with American Express vPayment. This new payment solution will help make it easier for companies to make reservations, book travel, pay suppliers, and reconcile costs. To help simplify corporate travel bookings, American Express has partnered with Conferma to bring…
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WestJet launches inaugural flights to Mexico City from Calgary and Vancouver
WestJet’s inaugural flight, WS2200 from Calgary International Airport (YYC) to Mexico City International Airport (Aeropuerto Internacional Benito Juárez, MEX) departed on the morning of March 14, marking the airline’s newest flight to Mexico. Flights between Vancouver International Airport (YVR) and Mexico City start March 15, solidifying WestJet’s position as the Canadian airline with the most flights to Mexico. “WestJet is proud to be at the forefront of expanding on vital trade and tourism linkages between Mexico and Canada,” said Ed Sims, WestJet President and CEO. “Non-stop, year-round flights from Calgary and Vancouver to Mexico Cityconnect the country to one of…
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Crescent Hotels & Resorts prepares to open the Staybridge Suites Vaughan, Ontario
Crescent Hotels & Resorts has been selected to manage and convert the Extended Stay Vaughan to a Staybridge Suites and will oversee the complete renovation and rebranding of the property. Crescent, based in Fairfax, Virginia is a nationally recognized operator of major hotels, resorts and conference centres throughout Canada and the United States. Crescent assumed management of the property on March 1, 2018, and renovations will begin immediately. The hotel will remain open and operate as Extended Stay Toronto Vaughan during the renovation and convert to…
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WestJet launches inaugural flight between Calgary and Denver
First Canadian airline operating nonstop from Calgary to Denver With the March 8 departure of flight 1570 from Calgary International Airport (YYC), WestJet becomes the first Canadian airline flying nonstop to Denver International Airport (DEN) from Calgary. The new service operates daily year-round. “Denver is a popular destination for outdoor enthusiasts or those looking for the combination of cowboy heritage and cosmopolitan chic,” said Ed Sims, WestJet President and CEO. “We are proud to offer our guests this exciting destination with mass appeal. These added flights further demonstrate WestJet continues…
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Gregg Saretsky retires from WestJet
Ed Sims appointed new President and CEO WestJet has announced Gregg Saretsky, President and CEO, has advised the time has come for him to retire from the company. Having found his successor, he has agreed with the company that his retirement will be effective immediately. “For the past eight years, it’s been my privilege to lead team WestJet through a tremendous period of growth and success,” said Gregg Saretsky. “I am pleased with the continued growth and profitability we’ve achieved together. With plans…
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Air Canada to launch daily, seasonal Calgary-Palm Springs and Edmonton-Las Vegas flights next winter
More flights from Calgary to Puerto Vallarta, Los Cabos and from Vancouver to Palm Springs and Phoenix. Air Canada has announced it will launch daily, seasonal flights between Calgary and Palm Springs, and between Edmonton and Las Vegas starting October 28, 2018. All flights are now available for purchase via the Air Canada app, at aircanada.com and through travel agents. “We are very pleased to offer additional convenient travel options to Albertans with non-stop flights from Calgary and Edmonton to Palm Springs and Las Vegas respectively this winter,” said Benjamin Smith, President, Passenger Airlines at Air Canada. “Concurrent with our fleet…
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GBTA launches new podcast: The Business of Travel
On March 7, the Global Business Travel Association, the voice of the global business travel industry, launched an all-new podcast called The Business of Travel. The podcast will consist of weekly episodes featuring several industry experts and thought leaders on a range of key issues affecting the business travel industry. In the coming months, The Business of Travel will cover business travel’s role in employee recruitment and retention, the business travel experience, travel friction, travel technology, aviation regulations, Brexit’s impact…
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Will market disruption make room blocks the next casualty?
By Anita Carlyle, CMP, CMM At a recent PCMA East Canada workshop in Ottawa, meeting professionals and business event suppliers came together to discuss room blocks. Consensus among the hotel sales representatives was that it is business as usual – if clients want the use of meeting space, they will be held to specific room blocks. These blocks will continue to be contracted with attrition clauses that mandate room and food & beverage revenue. Group business is the hotel’s base…
