All travellers are eligible to enter Canada if they qualify as a fully vaccinated traveller regardless of citizenship. A pre-entry molecular test is required for all travellers. A rapid antigen test will not be accepted.
For more information, visit the official Government Of Canada Travel page here:
https://travel.gc.ca/travel-covid/travel-restrictions/covid-vaccinated-travellers-entering-canada
Effective August 9, 2021, the Government of Canada is adjusting its post-arrival testing strategy for fully vaccinated travelers. The official Government of Canada news release, announcing the easing of border measures for fully vaccinated travelers.
Full news release here at Canada.ca
Dear CRTA Members and Industry colleagues,
I would like to announce that Greg Crist, past President of CVOA, (Canadian Vacation Ownership Association) has resigned his role as a Board Director of CRTA. Greg, who is also the CEO of the Association of Vacation Owners, has been a Member of the Canadian Association for nearly 10 years.
“It has been my sincere pleasure” quotes Greg, “to have served in the leadership of this organization (CRDA, CVOA and CRTA) over the last 7 years. As we emerge from the COVID pandemic, I believe that CRTA is well positioned to gain traction in this recovery. Due to heavy professional and personal demands at this time however, I must respectfully submit my resignation as a director of CRTA to focus on other endeavours.”
On behalf of the entire team of CRTA, we want to thank Greg for his involvement and many contributions towards our Canadian Trade Association. We know he will continue to be a strong voice in the industry in his mission of aiding Timeshare Owners all over the world.
We wish Greg much success in all his future endeavors.
It finally came together after 2 years. ARDA 2021 was a successful, well attended both physically and virtually, conference in the beautiful Marriott Grand Lake in Orlando Florida.
The buzz around the conference was electric. Folks that had not seen each other for 2 or more years, shared stories, experiences, and personal challenges in an open style venue the likes of what has never been seen in past ARDA conferences.
Jason Gamel, newly appointed President and CEO of ARDA, was introduced for the first time in his new role even though he has taken the position 2 years ago. With guest speakers such as Sarah Thomas, first female official of the NFL and Daymond John, from Shark Tank, everyone attending this year’s conference were treated with very inspirational keynote speakers.
Having attended over 25 ARDA, what really impressed me this year was that all small individual panels were replaced with group events, and plenty of time was allowed for networking. I heard the last figures were around 700 on site attendees.
Every precaution was in place for a safe environment for all attendees. Lots of events were in the outdoors and when indoor, proper distancing was in place. They even had 3 colored wrist bands so you could have a green band (I feel comfortable shaking hands, hugs, most likely vaccinated), a yellow band (ok for fist pumps, no physical touching) and a red band ( please keep 6 feet apart at all times). As most attendees had been vaccinated, they ran out of green bands the quickest.
ARDA focused hard on their new campaign, LOVE MY TIMESHARE. They invested substantial funding in this positive image of how our product enhances people’s lives. Stories of families vacationing, testimonials, are all part of the positive image that ARDA is committed to promote through various medias. The objective is to change the public perception about the Timeshare Industry as a whole. Jason Gamel and I discussed how CRTA can join them in this venture as it is imperative to the continued growth of our Industry.
I think the message overall the entire conference was: “We are back, and stronger than ever”. The Timeshare industry has always rebounded the quickest after a Financial Crisis as seen in 2008 or a world Pandemic such as COVID-19. And ARDA continues to lead and protect developers as well as members to ensure its continued growth. Personally, this was one of my favorite ARDA of all times. Special recognition to Jenny Davlin, Catherine Lacey and Katelyn Reitz for the fantastic behind the scenes work of setting up ARDA this year. You are the true stars of the event.
The Canadian Vacation Ownership Association (CVOA) has completed a rebrand to Canadian Resort & Travel Association (CRTA) under the new leadership of Gaetan Babin as the organization’s President & Chief Executive Officer.
Since 1980, Canada’s only trade association for the vacation ownership and resort development industries has brought together development companies, management firms, resorts, exchange companies, service providers, suppliers and similarly aligned professional organizations to network and foster business growth.
Formerly CVOA and CRDA, the association now enters a new era, with new leadership and a broadened objective as the Canadian Resort & Travel Association (CRTA).
Read more at Perspective Magazine
GNEX at Eden Rock, Miami Beach, the first Industry conference since the COVID-19 Pandemic. To say it was a successful event would be an understatement.
I have known Paul and Sharon Mattimoe for nearly 10 years. If there is one common trait they share and we all agree on, is their determination to get things done, and do it right everytime. As the founders of GNEX, they had the vision of uniting the top brass of the Timeshare Industry in a conference format that would engage everyone to share their experience and knowledge and assist in the growth of the Timeshare Industry. From the very first conference in 2011, GNEX became known as the Timeshare Conference where every attendee could engage with the true leaders of the industry.
Attendees at GNEX come from all regions of the US, Canada, Mexico, and the Caribbean. In the past years, they have seen representation from Europe and Central America as well.
When I talked to Paul back in late 2020, when the COVID-19 Pandemic was peaking just about everywhere on the planet, he was determined to reunite everyone in the first quarter of 2021. Sadly, the situation in the US, with all the travel restrictions, did not permit a conference in March. However, the determination of the Mattimoes to get the GNEX conference on for 2021, they announced a new date, May 17th, 18th and 19th. Who knew the great timing that blessed them? On that week, all restrictions in Florida were basically lifted. The vaccination rate was high enough for the governor of Florida to permit social interaction while still following basic safety protocols. Even though it was basically impossible for many regular attendees to come, such as Canadians because of travel restrictions, GNEX happened and it felt like a breath of fresh air for all attendees.
GNEX was the last industry conference prior to the Pandemic freezing all travels and life as we knew it. It will be recorded that it was also the conference to happen as we are seeing the world adjusting to this new normal.
The Canadian Vacation Ownership Association (CVOA) has appointed Gaetan Babin as the organization’s new President & Chief Executive Officer to continue the growth of Canada’s only association dedicated to representing the interests of the vacation ownership and resort development industries.
Since 1980, CVOA (formerly CRDA) has represented all forms of Vacation Ownership in Canada, and has brought together development companies, management firms, resorts, exchange companies, service providers, suppliers and similarly aligned professional organizations to network and foster business growth.
Gaetan Babin is a Canadian with more than 25 years of domestic and international experience in the Vacation Ownership industry with leading resort developers, and first joined the Canadian Association in the 1990’s. His knowledge of multiple travel markets and extensive business relationships with key industry stakeholders was a determining factor in his appointment by unanimous consent of the board of directors.
“In the last decades, our industry has seen growth and challenges that many did not expect. This latest COVID-19 Pandemic certainly has impacted the tourism industry in ways we never planned. However, now more than ever, we as partners need to reinforce the value of Vacation Ownership in these times as there is little in the world that replaces quality times with our loved ones.” Says Babin. “I commit to providing enhanced value of membership through networking opportunities that forge partnerships and growth amongst members, and to enforce our code of ethics to protect our members and their customers from unethical operators.”
CVOA holds its member companies to the highest ethical standards possible in the timeshare and resort development industry, which provides an increased level of comfort to consumers when purchasing a vacation ownership product.
CVOA member companies comprise of vacation industry resort operators and service providers from Canada, USA, Mexico, The Caribbean and beyond whose customers include Canadian travelers. They benefit from the credibility of being a member of an official association based in those travelers’ home country.
It’s time for the 2020 TIAC Tourism Congress. Traditionally, TIAC’s Tourism Congress is an in-person event that brings together tourism operators from coast to coast to coast. But this year, we’re going virtual. And we hope you’ll join us November 17 & 18!
Diamond Resorts®, a global leader in the hospitality, vacation ownership and entertainment industries, has filed a lawsuit against a ring of so-called timeshare “exit” companies for allegations of fraudulent business practices and false advertising. The 13 defendants are based in Florida and Nevada and include Timeshare Freedom Group, Jordan Salkin, Shayna Schroeder, John E. Mortimer, Frank Silva, Harold O. Miller, Michael A. Molfetta and William Saliba. The lawsuit alleges that the defendants use false and misleading advertising to convince timeshare owners to stop making payments on their timeshare contracts, while charging the unsuspecting victims thousands — sometimes tens of thousands — of dollars in upfront fees in exchange for no legitimate service.
The Hotel Association of Canada (HAC) is applauding the new direction taken by the federal government in the Speech from the Throne delivered recently. “The hotel sector has been working with government to carve out dedicated support programs for our sector, which faces continued restrictions impacting our ability to recovery. We are delighted to hear today that the government has listened,” said Susie Grynol, HAC’s President and CEO. “We have a strong champion for our sector in Minister Mélanie Joly, and she and her team have worked tirelessly to make sure that our voices were heard. Today’s Throne Speech reflected months’ worth of work and the Government’s commitment to stand behind our industry.”
