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
Canadians got a break on inflation in March as gas prices fell and a slowdown in travel to the United States helped cool airfare costs. StatCan said gas prices fell 1.6% year-over-year in March, coming off a hike of 5.1% in February, but the agency also pointed to a drop of 4.7% annually in prices for travel tours last month. Airfare costs were down 12% year-over-year in March, StatCan said, and rose only slightly month-to-month. StatCan said the cooling in flight costs came as fewer Canadians travelled to the United States last month, when many families typically get away for March break.
Antigua and Barbuda have launched a “modern” digital arrival and departure system designed to help visitors get from gate to beach faster when arriving in the Caribbean islands. Accessible online, the new protocols are in effect at V.C. Bird International Airport and will be expanded to seaports arrivals and private jets in the future. Travellers to Antigua and Barbuda are encouraged to complete the online form in advance of travel at www.ArriveAntigua.com.
Starting May 1, all non-Thai nationals entering Thailand by air, land, or sea must complete the Thailand Digital Arrival Card (TDAC) online within three days before arrival. The new system replaces the traditional paper-based disembarkation form required for all foreign arrivals.
For more information, visit https://tdac.immigration.go.th.
BY THE NUMBERS
Anguilla is celebrating a record-breaking surge in visitor arrivals. In December 2024, Anguilla welcomed 23,871 visitors, reflecting a 24.5% increase from the 19,178 arrivals recorded in December 2023. This figure represents the highest number of December arrivals since 1993.
AIR
Discover Airlines (photo) continues to expand its long-haul network from Munich Airport, with Calgary now joining the carrier’s destination roster. Flights depart from Munich three times a week (Mon.-Thur.-Sat. in April, switching to Mon.-Wed.-Sun. in May) at 1:25 p.m., seasonally through the end of October, joining year-round flights between Frankfurt and Calgary.
WestJet has walked back its bid to put temporary foreign workers in the cockpit of WestJet Encore aircraft due to “economic uncertainty,” says the airline. The federal government last month approved WestJet’s application for pilot permits under the temporary foreign worker program, according to the company’s main pilot union, which opposed the move.
DEALS
Through June 29, travellers can save $1,000 per family of four or $250 p.p. on select Air Canada Vacations packages to Mexico, the Caribbean, and Central America, as well as on select Flight & Hotel packages to Hawaii. This ‘Book Winter Early’ offer is valid for travel between Nov. 1 and April 30, 2026, and also applies to Group bookings. Travellers can also save $250 per pair on the flight portion of select Flight & Cruise packages to Mexico, the Caribbean, and Hawaii for the same travel period.
For booking made by June 3, the “Upgrade Your Ocean” offer from Explora Journeys, the luxury lifestyle ocean travel brand of the MSC Group, includes a one-category suite upgrade and savings of up to 25%, along with a reduced deposit of 15%. The upgrade will be reflected in the fares paid for selected suite categories.
Through June 30, clients booking AmaWaterways select 2025 and ‘26 11-day Egypt river cruise and land journeys guests can receive complimentary roundtrip airfare, available from nine Canadian gateways. Special upgrade fares are also available. An alternative is $1,800 in stateroom credits. Full details HERE.
HOTELS & RESORTS
The new AC Hotel by Marriott Ottawa Downtown is now open. The property is the first of three Marriott-branded hotel projects in the capital area, including the Moxy Ottawa Downtown opening in early 2026 and the Renaissance Hotel slated for 2027. Located at 201 Rideau St. in the heart of the ByWard Market district, the 159-room hotel is ideally situated for close access to the city’s top business, cultural, and entertainment destinations.
2027 will see the debut of Waldorf Astoria Hotels & Resorts in Texas with the opening of the Waldorf Astoria Texas Hill Country and Waldorf Astoria Residences Texas Hill Country in Fredericksburg. Located just under two hours outside of Austin and San Antonio and managed by Hilton, the sprawling property will encompass 60 dedicated hotel guest rooms and suites, 37 branded multi-bedroom resort villas eligible to participate in a hotel rental program as 74 additional keys, and 50 branded private residences. The resort will also include five food and beverage concepts, spa and fitness centre, two resort-style pools and more.
TOURS
The debut of the S.S. Emilie, highlights the 50th anniversary of Uniworld Boutique River Cruises in 2026, ushering in a lineup of offerings to celebrate the milestone, including a 50-night ‘Rivers of the World’ sailings, three new Mystery Cruises, a new family-friendly Generations Collection offering and more. The former, the third annual ‘Rivers of the World’ departs on April 16, 2026, from Brussels, and ultimately includes Egypt and Jordan.
Brazil’s tourist board, Embratur, has unveiled, “Feel Brasil,” a curated selection of 101 experiences across 61 municipalities in all 27 Brazilian states designed to reflect Brazil’s authenticity, diversity, and hospitality and ranging from the country’s most beautiful beaches to a safari in the Pantanal. Among the tours, 59% are led by women, and over 80% involve inclusive teams and a commitment to social and environmental sustainability. Check it out HERE
CRUISE
Norwegian Cruise Line christened the new Norwegian Aqua in Miami (photo) before setting sail for her first voyage. The vessel now repositions to Port Canaveral, Fla. for a season of seven-day Eastern Caribbean sailings through August with calls to Puerto Plata, Dominican Republic; St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands; Tortola, British Virgin Islands; and the Company’s private island in the Bahamas, Great Stirrup Cay. From August through October she will sail a series of five and seven-day warm-weather voyages to Bermuda from New York before returning to Miami for a season of seven-day Eastern Caribbean cruises through April 2026.
Paul Gauguin Cruises has completed an extensive refurbishment of its 330-guest m/s Paul Gauguin. The vessel emerged from its seven-week drydock in Singapore on April 1. The refurbishment included a contemporary redesign of the Le Grill restaurant, a reimagined pool deck with an elegant, shaded cabana area, eight new connecting staterooms, refreshed soft furnishings throughout the ship, and the integration of sustainable technologies.
ATTRACTIONS & THEME PARKS
Universal has chosen the homeland of Harry Potter to build its first theme park and resort in Europe. Construction on the park planned on 1.93 sq. m. in a former brickyard in Bedford, U.K. is expected to be completed by 2031. The town is about 80 km. north of London. Universal did not say what attractions it would offer at the park, but it has built rides around many of its movie franchises, including “Minions,” “E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial,” “Jurassic Park,” “Kung Fu Panda” and “Fast & Furious.”
FAMS & INCENTIVES
Serenity at Coconut Bay, a luxury couples-only all-inclusive resort in Saint Lucia has a Double Rewards Offer for Canadian travel agents this month. As part of the Serenity Resort REWARD$ program, travel agents can earn up to US$300 per booking, both direct and through tour operators, along with a 15% commission on direct bookings. The Double Rewards Offer is valid for 7-night stays booked by April 30, valid for travel through June 30, 2025. Agents can enroll in the Serenity Resort REWARD$ program using their IATA number at SerenityRewards.com or the travel agent booking portal on the resort’s website.
EVENTS
Skål Toronto has announced that Ontario tourism minister Stan Cho will be the key-note speaker at the upcoming Skål Toronto meeting being held at the Holiday Inn Suites, Oakville, Ont. on April 30. He will discuss “the current tourism and cultural segment is very timely in today’s environment.” The event is open to industry colleagues, guests and all Skål Club members. A networking reception from 6 to 7 p.m. will be followed by dinner and the key-note address. To RSVP visit https://skaltorontoapril30.eventbrite.ca
or email skaltorontoclub@gmail.com.
PEOPLE/APPOINTMENTS
VisitBritain’s National Travel Trade Manager – Canada Lynda Falcone has officially said farewell to the trade after a long and distinguished career in travel. Her last day in the office was April 16, having worked at VisitBritain since 2008 (and other companies previously). VisitBritain trade and marketing staffer Ritushri Dhankher has been promoted to replace her.
Also on the move from VisitBritain’s Toronto office, Diego Perez has joined CIE Tours as Business Development Manager for Eastern Canada. Perez will be responsible covering key accounts from Ontario to Newfoundland.
DESTINATIONS
Visit California is partnering with Expedia to launch a Canada-exclusive value program, offering savings of up to 25% on hotels, activities and attractions. The promotion will run across Expedia’s platforms and drive users to Visit California’s Canadian landing page, starting at the end of April. “These initiatives,” Visit California president Caroline Beteta said, “come at a critical time; rising political and economic headwinds are tempering intent to travel from Canada. That’s why we’re stepping up: to reinforce confidence, restore momentum and remind Canadians that in the Golden State they are welcome and valued.”
Expo 2025 opened in Osaka, Japan, on April 13 with more than 10,000 people singing Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony to celebrate the start of the six-month event that Japan hopes will unite the world divided by tensions and wars. The Osaka Expo is held at Yumeshima, which means “dream island,” a reclaimed industrial waste burial site in the Osaka Bay, where participants from more than 160 countries – including Canada – regions and organizations showcase their futuristic exhibits inside about 80 pavilions of unique architecture.
LAST WEEK IN TRAVEL HISTORY
In 1912, the British luxury liner “RMS Titanic” sank in the North Atlantic off Newfoundland at 2:20 a.m. ship’s time, more than 2-1/2 hours after striking an iceberg; 1,514 people died, while less than half as many survived.
In 1988, the federal government put Air Canada up for sale. Legislation was introduced to sell 45% of the carrier’s shares, with the remainder to be sold in the future.
In 1992, Euro Disneyland, a $4-billion theme park, opened outside Paris.
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