News nuggets, 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
Anger over the Trump administration’s tariffs and rhetoric will likely cause international travel to the U.S. to fall even further than expected this year, an influential travel forecasting company says. Tourism Economics said this week it expects the number of people arriving in the U.S. from abroad to decline by 9.4% this year. That’s almost twice the 5% drop the company forecast at the end of February. Moreover, Tourism Economics expects travel from Canada to plummet 20% this year.
Canada is forecast to be Asia-Pacific’s sixth largest source market in the next three years, according to the Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA), which is forecasting a strong travel rebound and growth in the region through 2027. Detailed in the association’s latest Asia Pacific Visitor Forecasts report for the period 2025-27, Canada is projected to provide 29 million arrivals into the region in 2025, 29.8 million in 2026, and 31.3 million in 2027.
Intrepid Travel has launched an emergency appeal to help victims of the recent devastating 7.7-magnitude earthquake in Myanmar, which caused widespread damage across the country and parts of Thailand. All funds raised will go directly towards providing medical support and aid to communities through Intrepid’s local NGO partner in Myanmar. The Intrepid Foundation will match all donations up to AUD$100,000. To donate to recovery efforts, visit The Intrepid Foundation’s Myanmar Earthquake Appeal HERE.
BY THE NUMBERS
North American carriers saw a -1.5% year-on-year fall in demand, according to IATA. Capacity decreased -3.2% year-on-year, and the load factor was 78.9% (+1.3%) compared to February 2024.
DEALS
Ending today (April 7), the April Flash Sale from Club Med allows kids under 16 to stay free and 40% off at select Club Med resorts in the Caribbean, Mexico and Canada. Travel is valid through Nov. 1. There is also no single supplement charge for solo travellers.
TTC Tour Brands, which includes Insight Vacations, Trafalgar, Brendan Vacations, and Costsaver, are offering savings of up to 15% off on select September 2025 departures in the ‘September on Sale,’ promotion, available for booking through May 9.
For a limited time, Collette is offering travellers up to 50% off when they book their airfare with Collette. Use the Spring Sale offer code AIRDEAL50 for economy (50%) and elite class flex seats (25%) on any 2025 departure.
AIR
Virgin Atlantic has returned to Canada, launching direct flights between Toronto Pearson International Airport and London Heathrow on March 31. On Thursday, Virgin founder – and adventurer – Sir Richard Branson visited Toronto for inaugural festivities, which included a trip to the Falls on Friday for a little ziplining (photo above).
Air Canada is adding a new route and boosting frequencies to popular Europe destinations for the summer, highlighted by new thrice-weekly service from Montreal to Edinburgh, Scotland. June 26-Sept. 6. The carrier is also adding close to 1,300 weekly seats to Paris and Athens and is also extending its peak Toronto to Rome schedule until October.
For the peak summer season of 2025 (July and August), Air France will offer 59 weekly flights from Canada to Paris. They include Montreal – 4 flights per day; Toronto – 2 flights per day; Vancouver – daily; Ottawa – daily; and three weekly flights from Quebec.
The new BMO VIPorter Mastercard credit cards is the first and only travel credit card program in Canada that grants immediate frequent flyer benefits for cardholders in an airline’s loyalty program, while enabling accelerated travel rewards. The new card lineup enhances customers’ ability to earn Porter Airlines points and redeem for flights through everyday purchases, while automatically granting VIPorter Avid Traveller benefits to both the primary cardholder and any secondary cardholders on the account.
HOTELS & RESORTS
The Hotel X Toronto, located on the grounds of the Canadian National Exhibition, is joining Destination by Hyatt, which is marking the brand’s entrance into Canada. Located across from Ontario Place, the hotel features a year-round heated rooftop pool with panoramic views, the first Guerlain Spa in Canada, and 10XTO, athletic club, curated art gallery, 250-seat cinema, dining venues, landscaped gardens, and more.
In July, andBeyond will expand its lodge circuit in Kenya with an exclusive tourism concession over the 18,000-hectare Suyian Conservancy in northwestern Kaikipia. As the sole luxury lodge and tented camp operator on the conservancy, andBeyond features a premium lodge, tented camp, sky beds, and mobile camping experience, while supporting critical conservation efforts. Activities will include safaris, (including walking, camel horse-riding) botany walks, discovering the area’s Stone Age-era cave paintings and artifacts, and interacting with residents of the Samburu and Pokot tribes.
CRUISE
Free social media marketing provider BranchUp has partnered with Virgin Voyages to introduce a seamless booking integration with the cruise line’s LetsGoBook platform. Through BranchUp’s automated marketing, Virgin Voyages’ offers are posted directly to Facebook with links to the travel advisor’s personalized landing page, which also connects to their unique LetsGoBook site. This enables clients to explore and book Virgin Voyages itineraries while maintaining the booking through their agent.
This month, Delfin Amazon Cruises is relaunching its signature Delfin I vessel in Peru following a three-month, full-scale renovation. The newly reimagined boat will feature four oversized suites appointed with updated bathrooms, floor-to-ceiling windows, and panoramic balconies – two of which include a private whirlpool. Renovations to the vessel’s exterior include an air-conditioned observation deck and new solar panels designed to generate clean energy. Delfin 1 provides three- or four-night river cruise itineraries exploring the Marañon and Ucayali Rivers in Peru’s Pacaya Samiria National Reserve.
TOURS
G Adventures has launched 20 new trips in Indonesia. The tours join the Classic travel style, giving travellers the opportunity to discover untouched regions in the archipelagic country, while introducing them to fresh and impactful community initiatives that take them off-the-beaten-path in the more popular island hotspots such as Bali. The 20 new trips join a handful of other new trips, launched earlier this year, straddling the Geluxe and Solo-ish travel styles.
International airport transportation service provider Go Airport Shuttle (GOWithUs.com) is now serving London Heathrow and Gatwick with multiple transportation options including executive sedans, economy service and private vans for groups of seven, 10 and 14 passengers.
ATTRACTIONS & THEME PARKS
Universal Orlando Resort has launched a variety of products to help guests and clients maximize their visit to Universal Epic Universe – the new theme park opening on May 22. Guests can purchase theme park upgrades like Universal Express, VIP Experiences and My Universal Photos packages. Plus, bookings for Dark Universe’s Darkmoor Monster Makeup Experience – where guests can become their favourite Universal Monster – are also now available.
EVENTS
Tourism Ireland celebrated the 50th anniversary of ‘Meitheal,’ Ireland’s annual travel industry showcase, which connects the Irish tourism sector with international buyers. Delegates from over 20 countries including Canada (some of them above) were on site in Killarney in Co. for the two-day event, which followed the annual Meet the Buyer conference Northern Ireland.
PEOPLE/APPOINTMENTS
The Travel Corporation (TTC) announced the permanent appointment of Simon Jones as Chief Executive Officer, and Melissa DaSilva as Deputy Chief Executive Officer TTC Tour Brands, following the latter’s tenure as Interim CEO since October 2024. Simon joins TTC from Away Resorts.
DESTINATIONS
‘Legends of Lake Lucerne’ is a new, exclusive cruise experience launching in May in Switzerland. Aboard the historic steamboat “Gallia,” guests will enjoy a four-hour journey across Lake Lucerne, with panoramic views and a five-course menu featuring regional ingredients. With only 65 passengers, the immersive journey into Swiss history and tradition is available daily from May to September.
LAST WEEK IN TRAVEL HISTORY
In 1960, Canada entered the jet age when Trans-Canada Air Lines (now Air Canada) began service between Vancouver, Toronto and Montreal.
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