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
ACTA members made their final port call on Saturday as the organization’s 3rd annual European River Cruise Summit – an Avalon Waterways roundtrip cruise from Basel, Switzerland – concluded. Close to 120 ACTA advisors spent a week on board, deepening their destination and river cruise expertise, networking and getting a firsthand look at Avalon’s award-winning Suite Ships and immersive Active & Discovery excursions. Discovering Europe’s colourful Christmas markets was an added bonus.
WestJet led North American airlines in on-time performance in October, according to respected aviation firm Cirium. And with Air Canada ranking third in the region, it was the first time in months that two Canadian carriers ranked among the top three (Delta was second). It should be noted that at 84.66% on time arrivals, WestJet also ranked fifth globally, while Air Canada posted an 82.14% on time arrivals. Both Canadian carriers also improved substantially since August, up approximately 14% and 8% respectively.
With three resorts– Riu Ocho Rios, The Riu Montego Bay, and Riu Palace Jamaica – now in the first stage of reactivation – RIU Hotels & Resorts says all seven of its hotels in Jamaica will resume service before the end of the year overcoming the crisis caused by the passage of Hurricane Melissa. The reopening is accompanied by the return of charter flight operations from key markets such as Canada, the UK and the Netherlands. The four remaining establishments (Riu Reggae; Riu Negril; Riu Palace Tropical Bay, and Riu Palace Aquarelle) have tentative opening dates scheduled from Nov. 30 to Dec. 15.
BY THE NUMBERS
According to Allianz Global Assistance Canada’s new Winter Vacation Confidence Study, half of Canadians (46%) are confident they will take a winter vacation this year. That is up 11 percentage points from last winter. The insurance provider’s survey, now in its ninth year, shows that confidence is particularly strong among younger Canadians. Millennials lead the way with 52% planning a winter getaway, followed closely by Gen Z at 48% and Gen X sits at 46%. At 37% confident, Boomers remain the most hesitant to travel.
AIR
Air Canada unveiled a special livery (photo) honouring the Canadian Olympians and Paralympians competing in the Milano Cortina 2026 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games. This design features images of Team Air Canada Athlete Ambassadors and “embodies the strength, dedication and national pride of Team Canada.” The first scheduled flight with the special Team Canada livery departed for Milan last week.
Three previously seasonal Sunwing Vacations routes will now operate year-round, giving Quebec travellers consistent access to Puerto Plata and Samana, Dominican Republic, from Montreal, and Cayo Coco, Cuba, from Quebec City.
WestJet has launched a new hotel booking platform that will enable both WestJet members and customers to book hotels worldwide and earn WestJet points. In partnership with digital travel platform Agoda, WestJet Hotel aims to enhance the WestJet customer experience by expanding hotel bookings with flight services, encouraging loyalty through the WestJet Rewards program. Rocket Travel by Agoda will operate the platform, managing the complete customer journey – from search and booking to customer service, while providing access to a vast inventory of global properties.
DEALS
The “From Here to Anywhere Sale” includes Black Friday deals at Avalon Waterways, Globus, and Cosmos through Dec. 10 for select 2026 (and early 2027) vacations. Offers vary and can be viewed at www.traveladvisorportal.ca.
Turkish Airlines’ “Travel Tuesday” (Dec. 5-12) sales campaign offers Canadians round-trips fares from $1,099. To be eligible, travel must take place between Jan. 12 and April 30, 2026. The airline currently operates at three gateways in Canada — Toronto, Vancouver and Montreal and guests connecting via Istanbul can take advantage of complimentary accommodation (two nights in a 4-star hotel for Economy Class, three nights in a 5-star hotel for Business Class) in the city.
TOURS
First checked bags are now free with Sunwing Vacations all-inclusive package bookings. Following feedback from travel partners and customers, the tour company says it is including the amenity, plus one free carry-on bag per person, on both new and existing bookings. Customers who have already paid for their first checked bag on existing bookings with Sunwing will be issued a $100 future travel voucher per round-trip bag purchased.
Britain’s Great West Way has issued the 7th edition of its travel trade directory, designed as a comprehensive resource for intermediaries creating market-ready itineraries along or within easy reach of the route. It features over 400 trade-friendly attractions and accommodation options, along with fresh bookable experiences, activities, specialist tours, and upcoming highlights through to 2027. It also showcases popular towns and cities with restaurants, cafés, pubs, hotels, and attractions suitable for refreshment stops without entry fees, plus quick and convenient stop-off points for coach groups. Download a copy HERE.
CRUISE
MSC Cruises and Chantiers de l’Atlantique have announced a major extension of their long-standing relationship with orders for two additional World Class ships – numbers 7 and 8 – due to be delivered in 2030 and 2031. The announcement was made at a double celebration event to mark important maritime milestones for two other World Class ships currently under construction at Chantiers de l’Atlantique’s shipyard in Saint Nazaire, France, the float out of MSC World Asia and coin ceremony of MSC World Atlantic.
A change in Carnival Cruise Line’s 2027/28 deployment plan will see Carnival Spirit now homeport in Tampa, Fla., while the Carnival Sunshine will bring increased capacity to Galveston to support the Texas market’s growing demand for cruising, while also homeporting the ship at the Port of Galveston for the very first time. Carnival Spirit’s move to Tampa includes offering a variety of new Caribbean itineraries.
HOTELS & RESORTS
Now open is Secrets Mirabel Cancun Resort and Spa. Conveniently situated in the heart of Cancun’s Hotel Zone, the adult-only, all-inclusive resort is nestled between the Caribbean Sea and the serene Nichupté Lagoon, and builds on the Hyatt Hotels brand’s expansion in Latin America and the Caribbean following the recent openings of Secrets St. Lucia Resort & Spa, Secrets Baby Beach Aruba and Secrets Playa Esmeralda Resort & Spa.
Royalton CHIC Barbados, an adults-only all-inclusive resort will bring a vibrant blend of luxury and entertainment to the island’s Gold Coast in Spring 2026, adding to the island’s luxury travel scene with its unique ‘Party Your Way’ concept, and offering guests a dynamic mix of relaxation, social experiences, and high-end amenities.
ATTRACTIONS & THEME PARKS
The holiday season is in full swing at Universal Orlando Resort. Running through Jan. 4, park visitors can revel in the magic of Christmas in The Wizarding World of Harry Potter, meet The Grinch during Grinchmas, and watch larger-than-life balloons and floats wind down the streets of Universal Studios in Universal’s Holiday Parade featuring Macy’s.
FAMS & INCENTIVES
The Expedia Travel Agent Affiliate Program (TAAP) is offering travel advisor partners access to hotel discounts of at least 30% across thousands of properties worldwide. Advisors can also participate in a limited-time Book-to-Win Rewards Challenge for a chance to win one of five 100,000 Reward Point prizes. The Black Friday promotion is effect until Dec. 3.
EVENTS
The Jamaica Tourist Board (JTB) is inviting the trade – and all Jamaica lovers – to a special benefit concert in support of recovery efforts following Hurricane Melissa in Toronto on Dec. 10. The event, which promises to bring tother “music, community, and passion” to assist those affected by the hurricane will take place at the Meridien Arts Centre in North York, starting at 7 p.m. with a reception to follow. Tickets are available for $150 at Ticketmaster.ca.
PEOPLE/APPOINTMENTS
WestJet recently hosted its fourth group trip to Orlando with Make-A-Wish Canada, bringing 29 families from across Canada for an unforgettable week in the Florida city. Volunteers from multiple Make-A-Wish Canada corporate partners joined together for two days of hosting families at a variety of events where children played games, enjoyed pizza, popcorn, and cookies and even meet Santa and Mrs. Claus – complete with a gift, of course. The families enjoyed the rest of the week exploring their favourite amusement parks and characters, and Florida sunshine, free from schedules and medical appointments.
Travel industry veteran Nicole Bursey (best known for her tenure at Transat) has been named Head of Canada Agency Sales for Project Expedition an online platform for discovering and booking tours, activities, shore excursions, private transfers, multi-day itineraries, and tailor-made services in destinations around the world. The newly created role, designed to support and grow relationships within the Canadian travel industry, marks a significant milestone in the company’s expansion into Canada. Bursey can be reached at nicole@projectexpedition.com.
TRAVELSAVERS Canada is strengthening its marketing leadership team with two strategic appointments designed to drive continued advances and sales performance amid rapid network growth. Tim Paul joins the network as VP, Marketing for Canada and the US, bringing over two decades of leadership experience from prominent brands including WestJet and Expedia. Meanwhile, Malia Vrooman, formerly VP, Marketing, has transitioned into the newly established role of VP, Creative Services for both Canada and the US.
DESTINATIONS
Canada’s coolest music festival – Igloofest – returns in 2026, bringing an electrifying atmosphere and high-energy performances to three cities across Quebec. Thousands of revellers clad in vibrant vintage snowsuits dance through the icy nights to a pulsating soundtrack performed by electronic artists from around the world. Igloofest heads to Montréal (Jan. 16-Feb. 8), Gatineau (Feb. 13-15) and Québec City (March 6-8) for a multi-city tour over six weekends this winter.
Gibraltar’s iconic Moorish Castle is being reborn. Extensive restoration of the Tower of Homage and adjacent structures is opening spaces unseen for centuries and creating new walkways that link the Castle directly to the revitalised Northern Defences – an immersive chain of bastions, tunnels, and gun positions now open and undergoing further visitor-focused upgrades. Together they form a seamless heritage corridor from Casemates to the Upper Rock, inviting visitors to explore Gibraltar’s layered story in one dramatic ascent. At the same time, “The Tunnels – Gibraltar’s WWII Experience” has relaunched in 2025 after a full upgrade.
LAST WEEK IN TRAVEL HISTORY
In 1977 British and French Concorde airliners made their first flights with fare-paying passengers to New York.
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