Airlines, hotels/resorts, cruising, tours, events, FAMS/incentives, deals, destinations and more are covered in our weekly round-up of travel industry news you may have missed.
NEWS
Starting Dec. 1, Canadian citizens will again be able to obtain their Egyptian visa upon arrival in the country, or electronically, reversing a controversial pre-entry requirement implemented by the Middle Eastern country last October that forced applicants to obtain their documents via mail from Egyptian consulates in Ottawa or Montreal.
The meetings and events industry is projected to flourish in 2025, with meeting professionals expressing confidence in its future and noting planned increases in meetings budgets, according to Amex GBT Meetings & Events in newly released 14th Annual ‘Global Meetings and Events Forecast.’ The 2025 forecast points to solid growth ahead, with increasing budgets and a positive outlook from professionals, despite challenges like rising costs and ongoing staffing shortages. In fact, 66% expect their budgets to grow, intending to allocate these funds towards a variety of business priorities.
BY THE NUMBERS
The US Transportation Security Administration (TSA) reports it intercepted 5,028 firearms at airport security checkpoints during the first nine months of 2024. The total represents an average of 18.3 firearms detected per day at TSA checkpoints, more than 93% of which were loaded. The rate of firearms discoveries at TSA checkpoints during the most recent quarter (July – September) was 7.5 firearms per one million passengers, which is a decrease from the same period in 2023 when officers discovered 8.1 firearms per one million passengers.
AIR
New direct service by WestJet from Toronto to Grenada will start Dec. 15 and operate weekly until April 27, 2025. Flights to ‘the Spice Island’ are now open for booking.
A new codeshare agreement has been signed between Icelandair and Portuguese airline TAP. Expanding a longs-standing partnership between these two airlines, both known for their Stopover programs. In the coming weeks, customers of both airlines will be able to connect between the airlines’ networks with one ticket, and have their luggage checked all the way to their final destination.
DEALS
Through Oct. 30, Transat is offering special rates on South packages starting at $799 from Quebec, $899 from Ontario, and $999 from the Maritimes. Sales apply to individual bookings of packages for select travel dates by April 30, 2025. Terms and conditions apply.
Riviera River Cruises is now offering a 50% discount on all 2026 European river cruise departures. For example, through Dec. 15, book an eight-day itinerary for $1,999 p.p. based on double occupancy instead of $3,999.
HOTELS
Reservations for Nov. 15 are now being accepted at the Four Seasons Hotel New York (photo) which will re-open its doors after a four-year closure. Located in an area often referred to as Billionaire’s Row, the hotel is ideally located between Madison and Park Avenues, steps from Central Park, and landmarks including Rockefeller Plaza, Fifth Avenue shopping, museums and galleries, and countless dining options ranging from hidden neighbourhood gems to three Michelin-starred establishments.
IHG Hotels & Resorts has welcomed InterContinental Chantilly Château Mont Royal to its growing luxury and lifestyle portfolio. Located 30 minutes from Paris by train, the quintessentially 19th Century Château blends storied history with the natural beauty of northern France, positioned amidst the renowned forests in Hauts-de-France. A transformative renovation project has thoughtfully restored the building’s original heritage, while introducing an elegantly restorative design, tailored for today’s modern luxury guest.
TOURS
Solo-ish features 13 trips in some of G Adventures‘ most popular destinations, including Costa Rica, India, Peru, South Africa and Vietnam. All trips are designed to engage in community tourism, ensuring local interactions and maximum benefit to local people in terms of money staying in the destination. With no upper age limit, Solo-ish tours include dinner parties and surprise experiences designed to help bring the group closer together in the first few days of the tour, while respecting solo travellers’ desire for free time and space.
Contiki’s new eight-day “Albania Beaches & Peaks’ tour for 2025 showcases Albania’s emerging status with time on the turquoise waters and white-sand beaches of the Albanian Riviera, and hikes with breathtaking views in Valbona National Park. Highlights include cable car rides and historical architecture tours in Tirana, a scenic cruise over Lake Komani, and opportunities to immerse in local culture with a traditional Iso-Polyphony singing performance and visit to an agro-tourism farm.
CRUISE
Norwegian Cruise Line has announced a multiyear partnership as the Official Cruise Line of the NHL. The milestone new venture marks the first time in NCL’s company history that it is partnering with a professional sports league and the first time the NHL is partnering with a cruise line.
Windstar Cruises is expanding in the South Pacific, announcing new itineraries for 2026 that will include destinations in The Islands of Tahiti. The expansion allows travellers to explore more of the beautiful region with shorter itinerary options, including a 7-night cruise in the Tuamotu Islands and an 11-night journey across the Marquesas. Early booking rate for Canadian travellers are available through Oct. 31.
RESORTS
After a four-year closure for extensive renovations, Sooke Harbour House (photo) located on the rugged west coast of Vancouver Island, has reopened. The 28-room oceanfront boutique resort has a rich history dating back to the 1920s, and through its recent transformation continues to honour its legacy while embracing a fresh, modern approach. “We’ve built on the past, but we don’t live in it,” says GM Manfred Agath, who highlights state-of-the-art kitchen, redesigned grounds, and updated rooms.
In the Bahamas, Atlantis Paradise Island, announces the dates of the Nassau Paradise Island Wine & Food Festival (NPIWFF): March 12-16, 2025. Tickets for the event are on sale now at npiwff.org.
ATTRACTIONS & THEME PARKS
Universal Orlando Resort announced it will open its fourth theme park – Universal Epic Universe – on May 22, 2025. The park will feature themed areas based on Harry Potter, Super Nintendo and “How to Train Your Dragon,” as well as monster movie brands.
FAMS & INCENTIVES
On bookings made with Sunwing Vacations at select Iberostar Beachfront Resorts properties through Nov. 2, for travel between Nov. 1 and Oct. 31, 2025, advisors will automatically be entered for the chance to win a seven-night hotel stay at Iberostar Selection Playa Mita in Mexico. Plus, they can earn 3X STAR Points on eligible bookings.
EVENTS
The Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA) will hold its next annual summit in İstanbul, Türkiye, in March, 2025.
PEOPLE/APPOINTMENTS
WestJet Vacations has announced the appointment of Shane Dineen to its Leisure National Sales team as a new BDM. Based in Vancouver, the former travel advisor joins Irene Wong (based in Calgary) and Meghan Miller (Toronto). In his role, Dineen will be focused on building and strengthening relationships with trade partners, developing new business opportunities, and providing product training and sales support.
Annette Mark is the new CEO of the St. Vincent and the Grenadines Tourism Authority. Having taken up duties in August, she will lead the team of the SVGTA Authority to fulfill its primary mandate of destination marketing.
DESTINATIONS
Entry and arrival in St. Maarten is now easier for visitors with the launch of a new a new Digital Embarkation/ Disembarkation (ED) Form. Introduced by the St. Maarten Tourism Bureau, the new ED form can be found at www.entry.sx. Additionally, the long-awaited new arrivals hall at Princess Juliana International Airport opened on Oct. 15.
Barbuda has a brand-new international airport, signalling the start of a new chapter for the island’s connectivity, tourism, and economic growth by offering direct connections to global destinations without a stop in neighbouring Antigua first. Inaugurated on Oct. 3, the $US14-million facility boasts a 1,900-m. runway, which is significantly longer than the 500-m. runway at Codrington Airport and twice as wide, enabling it to accommodate larger aircraft, including private jets and planes such as the Embraer E-170.
LAST WEEK IN TRAVEL HISTORY
In 1986, Expo 86 closed in Vancouver after a 172-day run. It drew 22 million people.
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