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
China is dropping its visa requirement for Canadian tourists and business visitors, after moves by Prime Minister Mark Carney to put relations with Beijing on a better footing. China’s Foreign Ministry says Canadians will no longer be required to get visas for 30-days stays until at least the end of this year.
An arbitrator reviewing wages for Air Canada flight attendants has finalized rates at the airline, bringing an end to the labour dispute that saw travel disrupted for thousands of people last summer. The arbitrator maintained the rates agreed to in a tentative agreement for flight attendants at Air Canada’s mainline but bumped up the increase in the first year for those at Rouge.
ACTA has launched an Accessible Travel Advisor Directory – a first-of-its-kind Canadian resource connecting travellers with travel advisors specializing in accessible travel for both visible and non-visible disabilities. It includes 34 vetted travel advisors from across the country who have demonstrated experience and commitment to accessible travel planning. The directory is available through the “Find an Advisor” section of the ACTA website, and can also be accessed directly at: https://www.acta.ca/accessible-travel-directory.php
BY THE NUMBERS
In Austria, Vienna’s tourism sector reported its strongest ever performance in 2025, with 20 million bednights (up 6% on 2024), and is on course for record revenue from overnight stays. Canadian contributed 233,000 visitors to the total, up 17%.
AIR
Air Transat says it’s cancelling its U.S. flights for the 2026 summer season as it looks to better manage its resources. The airline says flights to Fort Lauderdale and Orlando in Florida will start gradually winding down in the spring with the flight program for the 2026-27 winter season to be determined later. Air Transat flies to 67 destinations and those cities are the only two in the United States.
WestJet Rewards and Virgin Atlantic Flying Club members can now earn points with their preferred loyalty program on each other’s entire network including VS-WS codeshare flights. The update to the partnership particularly benefits WestJet guests travelling on Virgin Atlantic’s Toronto-London (LHR) route, which connects Canadians travelling through Pearson airport to Virgin Atlantic’s primary hub at London Heathrow.
Air Canada says it is strategically expanding its summer schedule to Mexico with 18% more seat capacity than last summer. Highlights of the airline’s Mexican network growth include the addition of new, year-round flights from Montréal to Guadalajara, as well as increased frequencies to Cancún (from YUL), Monterrey (from YYZ), and Mexico City and Puerto Vallarta (both from YVR) – four “in-demand destinations” with Canadians and international travellers alike.
DEALS
The first-ever ‘Semi-Annual Caribbean Sale’ from Sandals Resorts offers 65% off luxury accommodation with additional perks like resorts credits and a complimentary night based on length of stay. The offer is available to book until March 16 (for travel through Dec. 25, 2027, with select blackout dates) and also includes a $175 resort credit when guests stay five nights or longer.
February sales from Transat and Air Transat offer up to $1,500 off on select packages for two to the South and Europe, for bookings made by March 8. Plus, Option Flex Standard is 25% off, for extra flexibility in case plans change. Meanwhile, until March 1, fares are also reduced to several destinations departing from Ontario, Quebec and the Maritimes. The package offer applies to departures before Dec. 16 and the flight offer applies to departures before Oct. 31. Terms and conditions apply.
HOTELS & RESORTS
Canadian-owned Wymara Resort & Villas (photo above) has become the first property in Turks and Caicos to earn a Forbes Travel Guide’s Five-Star award. Wymara is also the only private villa resort in the Caribbean to achieve this honour and one of just 10 properties across the region to hold a Five-Star designation. “With my Canadian roots and the deep ties between Canada and Turks and Caicos, we like to say this makes us the islands’ first and Canada’s ‘sixth’ Forbes Travel Guide Five-Star resort,” said the resort’s owner Bruce Maclaren. Wymara joins Canada’s Fairmont Pacific Rim in Vancouver, Four Season Hotel Toronto, The Hazelton Hotel Toronto, Shangri-La Hotel Toronto, and The St. Regis Toronto in achieving Five-Star status.
With more than 50 open hotels and 80 in development, comprising close to 12,000 rooms, IHG Hotels & Resorts, one of the world’s leading hotel companies, is set to more than triple its portfolio in India over the next five years.
TOURS
Returning to the Air Canada Vacations’ luxury resort collection is Royalton Hotels & Resorts. Effective immediately, the family-friendly Royalton Riviera Cancun and adults-only Royalton Hideaway Riviera Cancun are available for booking, with more to come throughout the year.
Online travel agency FlightHub has launched ‘Fly to the Beautiful Game,’ a new website feature that helps fans book flights for the summer soccer tournament in North America by linking their preferred national team or host city directly to flight search results. The feature help find affordable fares during a high-demand travel period and offers flexible date options tailored to the selected match.
CRUISE
A quartet of cruise lines have opened bookings for select 2027 tours: Viking for new itineraries on the Mississippi and Ohio rivers for 2027; Margaritaville at Sea for ‘Paradise in 2027,’ featuring new Caribbean destinations, longer voyages, and the return of some of the cruise line’s most beloved sailings from Palm Beach; and Windstar for its Winter 2027-2028 season, which features a global lineup of more than 230 sailing dates, 21 new itineraries, and six luxury yachts sailing between September 2027 and April 2028. Last but not least, Disney Cruise Line’s summer 2027 line-up of itineraries across span Europe, the Caribbean and beyond can now be booked.
Luxury cruise line Regent Seven Seas Cruises has signed an agreement with Fincantieri to construct a fourth Prestige-Class ship, scheduled for delivery in 2036. The new vessel will follow the debut of Seven Seas Prestige in December 2026, with sister ships arriving in 2030 and 2033, marking a significant expansion of Regent’s first new ship class in a decade.
ATTRACTIONS & THEME PARKS
Discovery Cove is offering guests 30% off any 2026 reservation at the Orlando attraction when reservations are made by March 1.
EVENTS
Advisors and their clients can take advantage of up to 100 complimentary Ocean Travel Lounge experiences nationwide throughout the year hosted by Scenic Luxury Cruises & Tours and Emerald Yacht Cruises. Space is limited to 24 guests per one-hour session and guests will receive a special bonus option. To register visit emeraldcruises.ca/travellounge or scenic.ca/travellounge.
FAMS & INCENTIVES
Expedia Travel Agent Affiliate Program (TAAP) has launched 2026 Spring Deals, giving travel agent partners access to exclusive savings of 25% or more on thousands of hotels worldwide. Participating properties span top global destinations, offering agents a strong value proposition to meet client demand for spring, summer, and early autumn travel. Bookings must be made by March 16 for travel from Feb. 10 through Sept. 30
PEOPLE/APPOINTMENTS
Collette has introduced Shane Coupland as its new Head of Sales, Canada, overseeing sales strategy, partner engagement, and market growth across the country. The Canadian travel industry veteran previously served as Director of Travel Sales & Retail Operations at CAA Atlantic and spent several years with Collette as BDM for Atlantic Canada.
DESTINATIONS
Strategic partnerships, global marketing campaigns and major events contributed to Dubai welcoming 19.59 million international overnight visitors in 2025, marking a 5% increase compared to 18.72 million arrivals in 2024, according to data published by the Dubai Department of Economy and Tourism (DET), and the third successive year of record-setting figures. The city ended the year by welcoming more than 2 million visitors in a single calendar month for the first time in December, building strong momentum heading into 2026.
Route 66 road trippers can now hear their tires play the iconic tune of The Eagles’ “Take it Easy” while cruising into Winslow, Arizona thanks to the new custom-designed singing road installed as part of the upcoming Route 66 centennial celebration in 2026. The city, with the help of ROADTUNES, installed a synthetic asphalt material that, when driven over at the exact speed of 35 mph, will make the tires vibrate and create the tune of the verse “Standin’ on a corner in Winslow, Arizona, such a fine sight to see.” Located on the east side of town near the 9/11 Memorial Park, drivers can roll down their windows and hear their tires play the catchy verse.
LAST WEEK IN TRAVEL HISTORY
In 2013, American Airlines and US Airways agreed to merge in an US$11 billion deal that would create the world’s biggest airline. It was approved in December and the combined carrier is named American Airlines Group Inc.
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