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
WestJet flight attendants represented by CUPE 8125 have ratified their new collective agreement, with a 90.2% vote in favour of ratification. The Canadian Union of Public Employees said the agreement includes a more than 18% wage hike over three years as well as new compensation for work done on the ground. The contract will give workers a 13% wage increase this October, followed by a 2.75% hike in January and a 2.5% raise at the start of 2028.
Government officials say people from Ebola-affected countries will continue to be banned from entering Canada for another 30 days, prolonging the state of limbo for tens of thousands of people who have had their residency applications suspended since May. Canada will also keep a 21-day quarantine for anyone returning from those three countries, a measure that aid agencies said impacts their ability to send humanitarians to the region.
American Express Global Business Travel (Amex GBT) is forecasting relatively stable car rental prices globally in 2026-27, with only moderate increases expected across many major markets.
According to the company’s latest Ground Monitor, Canada and the United States are both forecast to see rental rates increase between 1.5% and 2%, with restrained GDP growth and improved vehicle supply helping to keep increases modest. However, rising auto insurance costs could put upward pressure on prices.
BY THE NUMBERS
In June, the number of Canadian-resident return trips from the United States increased 5.0% year over year, while trips to Canada by US residents rose 6.1%, according to Statistics Canada. The government agency also reported the number of Canadian-resident return trips from overseas edged up 0.2% in June compared with the same month a year earlier. Meanwhile, trips to Canada by overseas residents increased 3.4%.
AIR
Porter Airlines is launching service in London, Ont., for the first time in the airline’s history. Starting in November, London International Airport (YXU) – will see four nonstop seasonal routes to sunny southern destinations in Florida, Jamaica and Mexico. By summer 2027, the airline is also planning to introduce an extensive year-round domestic schedule, connecting locations across Canada with Southwestern Ontario’s largest city. Flights for the winter as follows Nov. 18 – Fort Lauderdale (FLL): 4x weekly (Monday, Wednesday, Friday, Sunday); Nov. 19 – Orlando (MCO): 3x weekly (Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday); Dec. 17 – Cancun (CUN): 4x weekly (Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday, Sunday); and Dec. 18 – Montego Bay (MBJ): 2x weekly (Monday, Friday).
WestJet says it has completed the transformation of its remaining all-economy aircraft that were formerly operated by Swoop or Sunwing airlines. The cabin refresh includes upgraded Premium seating, an expanded Extended Comfort cabin as well as enhanced amenities and a refreshed interior look and feel.
Flight attendants at Canadian North have filed a Notice of Dispute under the Canada Labour Code, citing a lack of meaningful progress in negotiations with the airline. Bargaining between the airline and nearly 200 flight attendants represented by CUPE 8111 has been ongoing since March, but key issues remain unresolved, including wages, unpaid work, working conditions, and scheduling. The filing of a Notice of Dispute begins the federal conciliation process under the Canada Labour Code
DEALS
Through Sept. 9, Cunard’s Labour Day Sale gives travellers fares from $999 p.p. and up to $300 in onboard credit across more than 150 voyages sailing from October through Dec. 2027, including 2026 Caribbean and European voyages and Transatlantic Crossings; 2027 Canada New England, Caribbean, Europe and Mediterranean voyages; Transatlantic and Enhanced Crossings; and segments of the World Voyage. For details, visit or visit www.cunard.com or visit OneSourceCruises.com.
Guests celebrating weddings, anniversaries or romantic escapes can take advantage of The Great Jamaica Comeback Sale at Sandals Resorts, featuring up to US$1,500 in instant credit, up to US$350 in air credit (when booked with Unique Vacations Inc.) and a complimentary Jamaican adventure. Book by Sept. 7 for qualifying stays through Dec. 25, 2027; savings and inclusions vary by length of stay and travel dates.
TECHNOLOGY
The Expedia Travel Agent Affiliate Program (TAAP) is redefining its role beyond a booking platform, introducing new capabilities that help travel advisors and agencies streamline back-office operations, reduce manual work and scale their businesses more effectively. With the launch of its back-office API and a new feature that lets advisors add their own internal reference codes to bookings, Expedia TAAP connects booking data to their existing systems while improving tracking, reporting and reconciliation of bookings and expected earnings. The tool frees teams from manual reconciliation and fragmented processes, allowing them to focus more on higher-value activities such as client relationships, strategic growth and new revenue opportunities.
HOTELS & RESORTS
WestJet Vacations is expanding its Caribbean offering with the addition of Royalton Vessence Barbados, An Autograph Collection All-Inclusive Resort. The new, 220-room resort joins a growing selection of new additions to the WestJet Vacations portfolio, including Lopesan resorts in Punta Cana and Moon Palace The Grand – Punta Cana.
IHG Hotels & Resorts has announced a landmark portfolio deal in Kyoto, Japan. The milestone portfolio deal, totalling 1,063 rooms, includes 14 hotels in the city, comprising 12 Garner hotels, one Holiday Inn Express and one unbranded hotel. All these hotels will be converted, with phased openings after renovations and rebranding to embed the Garner and Holiday Inn Express hallmarks, across the next 12 months. Garner is IHG’s fastest-ever brand to scale globally and recently celebrated reaching 100 open hotels since its August 2023 launch.
The expansion of IHG’s portfolio in Kyoto further strengthens its presence in the city, which includes Six Senses Kyoto, ANA Crowne Plaza Kyoto, Holiday Inn Kyoto Gojo and Garner Hotel Kyoto Shijo Karasuma.
CRUISE
MSC Cruises has updated its Winter 2027/28 season, enhancing deployment in the Western Mediterranean and South Caribbean. Originally scheduled to sail in the Middle East, MSC World Europa will continue to offer seven-night itineraries in the western Mediterranean; guests and agents will be contacted about change options or refund details. Similarly, MSC Cruises’ new flagship, MSC World Asia, which will sail the South Caribbean.
A new chapter in Carnival Cruise Line’s history was celebrated in August in Sydney as Daniela Gargiulo was appointed the global fleet’s first female Staff Captain. A special ceremony was held onboard Carnival Adventure as Captain Francesco Bencivenga officially welcomed Gargiulo to be his second-in-command, while the ship was returning to Sydney from the South Pacific.
TOURS
Goway‘s new 10-day “Chasing Totality: Egypt & Red Sea Solar Eclipse” combines one of the world’s most spectacular natural phenomena, the total solar eclipse on Aug. 2, 2027, with the historical wonders of Egypt (photo above), the land that pioneered sun worship in the ancient world. Goway’s new itinerary includes an exclusive total solar eclipse viewing event from Akassia Marsa Alam’s Roman-style theatre, with over five minutes of total darkness, five nights at a deluxe resort in Marsa Alam on the Red Sea, four nights at a deluxe hotel in Cairo, and Egyptologist-led tours of the Grand Egyptian Museum, the Pyramids of Giza, and Khan el-Khalili Bazaar among other Cairo landmarks. For the month of September, travel advisors can also earn $50 bonus rewards with the GowayPro Loyalty Program on all bookings to Egypt, including Chasing Totality.
ATTRACTIONS & THEME PARKS
Now open, Rampaging Run is the tallest, fastest, longest and first-ever giga (300+-foot-tall) dive coaster in the world, setting six world records with its unveiling at Six Flags Over Texas in Arlington this summer. Themed after one of Spain’s longest traditions, the running of the bulls, the historic new attraction towers over a brand-new Spanish village called Rancho de la Tormenta, elevating riders to a height of 309 feet and, just like waiting for the release of the bulls, the train releases plunging riders into a record-breaking 95-degree, beyond vertical drop complete with sharp turns followed by other exhilarating drops that replicate the thrill of the running of the bulls.
FAMS & INCENTIVES
Jamaica Inn in Ocho Rios is known for unpretentious style, flawless service, and timeless Caribbean charm along a private, pristine white-sand beach. Now Canadian travel advisors can earn exclusive a 17% commission incentive alongside premium guest benefits on qualifying direct bookings made by Oct. 1 for travel through Aug. 31, 2027 (min. five-night stay). The incentive at the popular luxury boutique hotel applies to Cottages 1 through 7, which include spacious two-bedroom configurations suited for family holidays, as well as the ultra-exclusive Suite 21, positioned on its own private peninsula. Email elaine@canlinktravel.com or book online at www.jamaicainn.com using reference code JICOTTAGE.
EVENTS
The Annual Meeting of the members of the Travel Industry Council of Ontario (“TICO”) will be held at 5 p.m. on Sept. 22. All TICO registrants and members of the public are invited to attend. Only members in good standing are entitled to vote at the meeting. Voting members and public guests are required to register in advance of the meeting at https://www.icastpro.ca/qz7ivo. Registration will close at 5 p.m. on Sept. 18.
PEOPLE/APPOINTMENTS
Brand USA president and CEO Fred Dixon is leaving the country’s official destination marketing organization to return to NYC Tourism + Conventions, the organization he left to take the post.
Dixon will continue to lead Brand USA into November to ensure continuity and a “thoughtful, timely transition” during the search for a successor, which has already begun. He will then return to the position he held from 2014 to ’24 effective Dec. 1.
AIC Hotel Group has appointed Christopher Jeffrey-Racine as Business Development Manager for Québec, reinforcing the company’s continued commitment to the Canadian travel advisor community. He will work closely with travel advisors across Québec, providing sales support, training and business development opportunities while promoting AIC Hotel Group’s advisor resources, including the Amplified Rewards program and direct booking platform.
DESTINATIONS
Boston is welcoming the world’s first restaurant named after Quebec’s biggest star as Celine opens this fall. Named after Céline Dion, the new restaurant at Boston’s Fort Point neighbourhood brings Montréal influences, elevated tavern fare and a strong cocktail program to one of the city’s fastest-growing dining districts.
Independence Day (Sept. 21) is a day for parades in Belize when floats, music and dancing take over. This festive event showcases the nation’s cultural heritage and pride, featuring participants from various businesses, schools and communities across the country. Throughout September in Belize, a packed calendar of events welcomes visitors, including Pan Yaad steelpan concerts, St. George’s Caye Day festivities, concerts, block parties and community celebrations that showcase the country’s diverse cultural heritage. The Belize Carnival Road March transforms Belize City into a giant street party where revellers in elaborate feathered costumes dance behind music trucks in one of the country’s most anticipated cultural events.
LAST WEEK IN TRAVEL HISTORY
In 1919, the first international air service began with Air Transport and Travel’s flight from London to Paris. Only one passenger made the trip on a converted biplane bomber. The trip took two-and-a-half hours and cost 21 pounds.
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