ONE STEP FORWARD, TWO STEPS BACK: US tourism groups want to win Canadians back
Appeals from American tourism organizations seem to be everywhere. Billboards and banners proclaimed a state or city’s love for Canada. Online and social media ads offered special deals for travellers from north of the border.
WESTJET DOUBLE-DOUBLES DOWN WITH TIM HORTON’S
Tim Hortons’ coffee is cleared for takeoff. As Canadian brands increasingly search for ways to differentiate themselves in a crowded retail marketplace, the café giant is teaming up with WestJet.
AIR CANADA REVEALS TOP RESTAURANT CONTENDERS
For a quarter-century, ‘Air Canada’s Best New Restaurants’ has traversed coast to coast, mapping Canada’s culinary hotspots to uncover what’s new and next, establishing its place as a leading voice in food worth flying for.
WHY SMART TRAVELLERS NEVER LEAVE HOME WITHOUT CASH
As Canadians continue to embrace digital payments at home, experienced travellers know that carrying local currency remains one of the smartest ways to prepare for international travel. In a new travel guide, ICE Exchange Corporation Canada explores why cash still plays an essential role in many destinations around the world despite the rapid growth of digital payments.
MIDDLE EAST ERASED FROM CRUISE MAP FOR YEARS
By WALLACE IMMEN/ Cruises lines are now expecting the Persian Gulf is going to be a no-go zone for a long, long time. Explora Journeys has just scratched 2028 Middle East itineraries for two of its ships. They join Norwegian Cruise Line, which cancelled its entire 2027-28 Gulf season.
LISTENING IN: A moving moment ‘Out in the middle of Lake Ontario’
By MICHAEL BAGINSKI/ Who knew that a throwaway line in Blue Rodeo’s 1993 song “Hasn’t Hit Me Yet” would resonate so deeply some 33 years later?
Check out our special inFocus Editions...
Just in case you missed yesterday’s stories…
HOW LOW CAN IT GO? New stats reveal Cuban tourism decline
Cuba’s tourism declined by 62% from January to July of this year compared to the same period in 2025, according to official figures that highlighted the enormous drop in the island’s strategic sector.
THAILAND UPDATES ENTRY RULES: Canadians continue to qualify for 30-day visa-free visits
Canadian passport holders will continue to have visa-free entry to Thailand for tourism stays of up to 30 days under an updated entry framework that comes into effect this week, according to the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT)
WHY WALES?: The considerable charms of the UK’s ‘forgotten cousin’
By MICHAEL BAGINSKI/ About 30,000 Canadians a year visit Wales, or 2% of those who travel into the UK overall – numbers that are sure to rise with the launch of new Toronto-Cardiff flights this summer by WestJet (already renewed for 2027). Nevertheless, most UK travel trade observers in Canada agree that limited output could – and should – grow.
IRELAND RAISES CURTAIN ON SCREEN TOURISM AT TIFF EVENT
Tourism Ireland celebrated its vibrant film industry – and the profile it affords the Emerald Isle –at the 51st annual Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) at a star-studded gala that included Liam Neeson.
NO NAME, NO GAME: Kennedy Center to close after Trump rebuke by Supreme Court
The Trump-aligned Kennedy Center board voted this week to close most of the iconic Washington D.C. performing arts venue just hours after a federal judge blocked the institution from returning Donald Trump’s name to the building.
TRAVELBRANDS INTRODUCES NEW ONTARIO, ATLANTIC BDM
travelbrands has introduced Nicole Mathias as its new Business Development Manager for the GTA to Fort Erie, Southwestern Ontario, and Atlantic Canada. She brings nearly two decades of travel industry experience to the role.