A round-up of 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
Online passport renewal is now open to all eligible Canadian adults. To qualify, applicants must have an address in Canada, be older than 16 when they got their last passport and must have received it within the last 15 years, among other criteria. Online passport renewals have been an option for some passport holders for few years, but the most recent version of the service had a daily cap of 2,000 applications. People who apply online should expect to receive their new passports within 20 days and to be able to track its progress in real time.
Toronto hosted the Canadian-Caribbean Tourism Resilience Symposium last week (July 29-30) with tourism leaders, policymakers, researchers and sustainability practitioners in attendance at George Brown Polytechnic. Caribbean Tourism Organization Secretary-General and CEO Dona Regis-Prosper lead the organization’s delegation, and Jamaica’s Minister of Tourism Edmund Bartlett, co-founder of Global Tourism Resilience and Crisis Management Centre (GTRCMC) delivered the keynote address. The program featured expert panel discussions, interactive workshops, field excursions to sustainable tourism sites and cross-sector networking.
The International Air Transport Association (IATA) announced that Saadia Zahidi has been appointed by IATA’s Board of Directors to the position of Director General starting Nov. 1. She will be IATA’s ninth Director General and the first woman appointed to hold the position. She joins IATA from the World Economic Forum (WEF) where she spent more than two decades and serving as Managing Director and Member of the Managing Board. Zahidi will replace Willie Walsh, who, will conclude his duties on July 31. Sandrine Le Borgne, IATA’s Chief Financial Officer and Sr. VP for Corporate Services, will act as Interim Director General for the intervening period.
BY THE NUMBERS
A surge in premium-class travel highlights the findings from IATA’s just-released World Air Transport Statistics (WATS), which provides comprehensive statistical data on the global aviation industry. In 2025, the number of international premium-class passengers – business and first class –reached 109.7 million, up 4.5% year-on-year and accounting for 5.5% of all international travellers. North America (10.4%) had the highest shares of premium-class passengers as a proportion of total passenger numbers.
AIR
The Belize Tourism Board notes that WestJet will launch a new nonstop service between Winnipeg Richardson International Airport (YWG) and Philip Goldson International Airport (BZE), further strengthening air connectivity between Canada and Belize. The new route will operate once weekly beginning Dec. 14, offering travellers from Manitoba a direct gateway to Belize in time for the winter travel season. The new Winnipeg service complements WestJet’s existing nonstop flights from Toronto and Calgary.
Air Transat says its new non-stop service between Montreal and Dakar will become a year-round route operating weekly every Friday from Oct. 30 to March 26, 2027, complementing the two weekly flights offered during the summer season. Additionally, airline will launch a new weekly non-stop service between Windsor (YQG) and Cancún (CUN), operating every Saturday through April 25, 2027. Cancún will complement the airline’s existing service from Windsor, which currently includes Punta Cana. And Fredericton (YFC)-Cancún (CUN) route, introduced last winter, will return with an extended season for Winter 2026-27 with service from Dec. 16 to April 29, 2027, with one weekly flight every Wednesday.
Effective Aug. 18, the airport code for Palm Beach International Airport will change to DJT from PBI to reflect the facility’s new name President Donald J. Trump International Airport, which took place on July 9. The transition is being completed in phases across airport signage, air traffic control systems, airline reservation systems and industry distribution channels.
DEALS
Porter Airlines is offering up to 20% off all New York itineraries when flights are booked by Aug. 7, for travel through Dec. 15.
The Bahamas Ministry of Tourism’s “It’s More Bahamas Season” promotion features a $250 instant savings incentive to North American travellers a high-value gateway this fall. To claim the offer, travellers must book a new air-inclusive vacation package of four consecutive nights or longer (all room categories) by Aug. 15 for travel through Aug. 15-Nov. 15. Travellers can browse the $250 instant savings offer directly on the Bahamas website, where they can also learn about events and experiences across the archipelago. Packages can be booked via preferred tour operators including Air Canada Vacations, Sunwing Vacations, Unique Vacations (Sandals), and WestJet Vacations.
TOURS
Collette has launched its 2026-27 Asia brochure (photo above). The portfolio highlights destinations including Japan, Thailand, Vietnam, and Cambodia. Available for download through Collette’s Travel Advisor Portal, the brochure is designed as a true sales tool, pairing bold visuals with concise, experience-focused storytelling, helping move clients from initial interest to booked travel.
For the 11th consecutive year, travelbrands turned a day of travel bookings into collective impact with its annual SickKids Day in support of SickKids Foundation. For July 30, travelbrands donated 1% of all sales to help advance the world-class care, research, and innovation that give children and families hope when they need it most. This year, every dollar raised will go twice as far thanks to a generous corporate match, doubling donations and amplifying the impact.
HOTELS & RESORTS
With new additions to its portfolio, IHG Hotels & Resorts (IHG) is celebrating its continued growth in Canada across a portfolio that now includes more than 200 open hotels. Additionally, 40 hotels are in the development pipeline, with six of them expected to open this year: Holiday Inn, Candlewood Suites and Staybridge Suites properties in Barrie, Aurora East, Pembroke and Woodstock. These openings will build on the seven new hotels that arrived in Canada in 2025, including a Crowne Plaza in Toronto and four Staybridge Suites properties. New IHG brands like voco and Garner are also on the way.
W Hotels, part of Marriott Bonvoy‘s portfolio, has opened W Riyadh – KAFD, marking the brand’s debut in Saudi Arabia. Located in King Abdullah Financial District (KAFD), the hotel serves as a social and dining destination, with detail-driven design, multiple dining venues, curated programming, and the brand’s signature Whatever/Whenever service.
CRUISE
Three new ships will debut for Uniworld Boutique Rivers Cruises in 2028: the S.S. Helen, S.S. Clara, and Mekong Mystique, bringing the brand to a total of 22 ships. The added vessels will sail on the Danube, Rhine and Mekong rivers, building on the momentum of the brand’s recent fleet expansion, with four new ships joining the Uniworld fleet in 2027. Bookings are now open.
MSC Cruises has announced that MSC World Asia will debut the largest Venchi chocolate experience at sea, including selections from the premium Italian chocolate brand and new exclusive offerings for guests. To celebrate the partnership, Venchi and MSC Cruises have come together to create an exclusive gelato flavour – “Crunchy Waves” – which will also be available indefinitely on board existing MSC Cruises’ ships with Venchi gelaterias, along with MSC World Asia when the ship enters service in December.
ATTRACTIONS & THEME PARKS
Niagara Falls, Ont.’s Whirlpool Jet Boat Tours has introduced a lineup of three packages that pair its signature ride aboard custom‑built, 1,500‑horsepower vessels through the Class 5 Whirlpool Rapids with some of the region’s most popular attractions. This season’s packages allow visitors to extend the adventure with aerial views, high speed ziplines or elevated ropes course challenges, including H2Air Canada, Wet n Wild Zipline and Wet n Wild Ropes Course.
EVENTS
The 32nd Annual FCCA Cruise Conference & Trade Show returns Oct. 12-16 in San Juan, Puerto Rico, offering delegates direct access to approximately 100 high-level cruise executives who can drive business. Through one-on-one meetings, networking events, workshops, luncheons and receptions, participants can connect with the decision-makers who determine where ships call, what sells on board and how investments are made in destinations and infrastructure. Register by Aug. 31 to schedule meetings and secure early-bird savings at FCCAConference.com .
PEOPLE/APPOINTMENTS
Toronto-based Kensington has announced the appointment of Tara Powadiuk as SVP, Marketing. A seasoned global marketing executive with more than 25 years of experience driving brand growth, digital transformation and customer engagement, Powadiuk will lead Kensington’s global marketing strategy as the company continues its rapid expansion across the luxury and ultraluxury travel markets. Powadiuk has held senior leadership roles with organizations including Volvo Cars Canada and Microsoft, where she led large-scale transformation initiatives, digital and e-commerce innovation, award-winning marketing campaigns and cross-functional teams spanning more than 30 countries.
The Korea Tourism Organization has appointed Insook Lee as Executive Director for the Americas, where she will oversee the organization’s tourism marketing and industry engagement across North and Latin America. Based in New York, Lee will lead efforts to strengthen relationships with travel advisors, tour operators, airlines, media and other key partners while supporting continued growth in visitation to Korea.
DESTINATIONS
In south Florida it’s “Keys Season” and a new promotion from Visit Florida Keys & Key West featuring exclusive offers from Key Largo to Key West. Through Oct. 31, travellers can enjoy special values on a variety of accommodations, attractions, fishing charters (photo above), diving adventures, eco-tours, restaurants and cultural experiences throughout the island chain. For more, go to VisitFloridaKeys.com/KeysSeason.
One of the most intricately decorated parts of the Vatican’s Apostolic Palace, a passageway walked by popes and presidents and attributed to Renaissance master Raphael, is getting its first major face-lift in over 500 years. The Vatican Museums announced the start of a five-year, $5.5 million project to clean and restore the Raphael Loggia, a 65-metre-long, 4-metre-wide corridor that is considered one of the highest expressions of Renaissance figurative art.
LAST WEEK IN TRAVEL HISTORY
In 1909, Orville Wright established a world duration record for airplanes when he and passenger, Lieutenant Frank Lahm, remained aloft for one hour and 12 minutes.
Send info to baginski@travelindustrytoday.com
If you enjoyed or found this story useful, we’d appreciate if you would forward it to a colleague or friend who may also enjoy it. If, on the other hand, a friend shared it with you, welcome! You can get all the latest travel news and reviews from Travel Industry by simply clicking HERE.