WESTJET HITS NEW HEIGHTS WITH JAYS: Unveils branded plane to mark partnership renewal
By MICHAEL BAGINSKI/ With nearly 1,000 WestJetters, Toronto Blue Jays representatives – including legendary players Pat Borders and Edwin Encarnacion – and community members in attendance, WestJet celebrated the renewal of its long-standing partnership with the Toronto Blue Jays Tuesday by unveiling a new co-branded plane that will take the iconic Jays logo to 35,000 feet, and wherever the plane flies.
CUBA ‘EMPOWERS’ TRAVEL SECTOR: Details emerge from unprecedented economic package
As part of an unprecedented emergency economic package designed to open up Cuba’s struggling economy, the Cuban government has announced the rollout of a historic package of 176 free-market reforms designed to completely revitalize the island’s travel sector.
FIRST DOMINO TO FALL? Porter reduces fuel surcharge
With fuel prices dropping in the wake of an apparent agreement between the U.S. and Iran to end the war in the Middle East, Porter Airlines says it is reducing its temporary surcharge for new reward flight bookings to $20.
FRENCH FRY AND EUROPE WITHERS UNDER RECORD HEAT
France recorded its hottest day ever Tuesday as an early heat wave gripped Europe, prompting the Eiffel Tower and the Louvre museum to restrict visiting hours and disrupting school and transportation schedules in multiple countries.
RETAIL ROUND-UP: Agent news, fams & incentives
This week: ACTA is concerned over cuts, Ensemble ups tech ante, Utah Office of Tourism hosts Canadian travel advisors, Flight Centre Canada gets a gift partner, and Collette collects food donations.
EXPEDIA TAAP MOVES BEYOND BOOKINGS: Introduces new back-office API and tools
Expedia Travel Agent Affiliate Program (TAAP) is redefining its role beyond a booking platform, introducing new capabilities that help travel advisors and agencies streamline back-office operations, reduce manual work and scale their businesses more effectively.
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UNPRECEDENTED MEASURES: Cuba aims to open up economy
Citing economic models in China and Vietnam, Cuba’s Communist Party has approved an emergency economic package featuring unprecedented free-market measures aimed at opening up the struggling island’s economy following heightened pressure from the United States.
À BIENTÔT À TOULOUSE: France’s Ville Rose awaits culture-loving Canadians
Toulouse is one of France’s most underrated gems – a mid‑sized, culturally rich, high‑value city that consistently delights travellers without overwhelming them. And it’s easily accessible for Canadians via direct Air Canada flights from Montreal, now on the airline’s sparkling new Airbus A321-XLR aircraft.
CONTEXT IS KEY: The most important skill in the age of AI
By Mike Foster/ One of the most valuable lessons I learned in business is that the first answer is not always the best answer. Over time, I came to understand that good decisions usually come from understanding context before evaluating options. I was reminded of that lesson years ago when I began looking for a new office location.
WITH GLOWING HEARTS: Air Canada’s acclaimed Airbus A321XLR makes international debut
Great planes deserve great destinations (and vice versa), so it’s no surprise that Air Canada’s new Airbus A321XLR aircraft made its international debut en route to Toulouse, France, on June 15, flying from YUL Montréal-Trudeau airport to Toulouse-Blagnac Airport (TLS).
FIRST LOOK: Sandals offer glimpse of Jamaican resort 2.0 makeovers
New guest experiences, dining concepts and accommodations will highlight the US$200 million Sandals 2.0 transformation of three of the company’s most popular resorts beginning this fall: Sandals Montego Bay, Sandals Caribbean Cay (renamed from Sandals Royal Caribbean), and Sandals South Coast.
FOOTLOOSE IN TOULOUSE: TLS airport a springboard to Southwestern France
Toulouse-Blagnac Airport is far more than a convenient landing point for Canadians headed to the renowned Pink City. It’s a strategic gateway to an entire region – a launchpad into Occitanie, the Pyrenees, the Basque coast, and even northern Spain.