Wednesday, 7, January 2025


  • WHAT DOES CHAT GPT SAY ABOUT TRAVEL ADVISORS?
    by Staff Writer - It’s not news that artificial intelligence is all the rage and that the travel industry – including many travel agents – have begun embracing the new technology for a range of tasks, from business planning and promotion to curating ideal itineraries for clients. So, what, we wondered, does AI actually think of travel advisors?

  • SOUTHERN DISCOMFORT: Bitter cold, snow wreak havoc in US south
    by Staff Writer - The plunging polar vortex brought subfreezing temperatures Tuesday to some of the southernmost points of the US, threatening to dump snow on parts of Texas and Oklahoma in the coming days and contributing to a power outage in Virginia's capital that made the water unsafe to drink. Floridians were warned to watch for falling lizards (from trees due to the cold);

  • PORTUGAL’S AMAZING AZORES, FROM A TO Z
    by Michael Baginski - An undiscovered gem in the mid-Atlantic that boasts European culture and style, lush landscape with plentiful outdoor activity options, great food and wine, year-round moderate climate, and direct air service from Canada (with free stopovers!) – what’s not to love about Portugal’s amazing Azores islands?

  • AIR CANADA SET FOR NEW JFK TERMINAL
    by Staff Writer - Air Canada will operate from John F. Kennedy International Airport's new world-class Terminal 6 (T6) when it opens to passengers in New York in 2026, joining fellow Star Alliance partners Lufthansa, SWISS, Austrian Airlines, Brussels Airlines and ANA as future T6 airlines.

  • STEPHEN GOULDING JOINS VIRGIN ATLANTIC
    by Staff Writer - Stephen Goulding has joined Virgin Atlantic as Country Manager for Canada. The Canadian airline industry veteran, who has held leaderships roles with WestJet, began the role this week, and takes the position ahead of Virgin’s launch of service from Toronto to London on March 30.

  • JOY AS FIRST FLIGHTS RETURN TO SYRIA
    by Staff Writer - The first international commercial flight since the fall of former Syrian President Bashar Assad landed Tuesday at the Damascus airport. The Qatar Airways flight landed at Damascus International Airport, greeted by the passengers' relatives and friends inside a terminal building.

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JUST IN CASE YOU MISSED YESTERDAY’s STORIES:


  • YOU NEED TO KNOW: Canadians face changes to UK and European Travel Authorizations
    by Staff Writer - Starting this week, Canadians will face new entry requirements to enter the United Kingdom, to be followed later in the year in Europe. The electronic travel authorization (ETA) process takes effect Wednesday (Jan. 8) in Britain and is expected to follow by mid-2025 in Schengen zone countries. Notably, the ETAs must be completed (at least the first time) before arrival in the destinations.

  • TRANSAT PILOTS TALK TOUGH ON NEW CONTRACT
    by Staff Writer - Air Transat pilots have filed notice to beginning bargaining with the company over a new contract with the warning, “We want management to know we are ready to fight for a contract that addresses the concerns of our pilots and brings stability to our airline.”

  • RETAIL ROUND-UP: Ensemble, Trevello, TRAVELSAVERS, Direct Travel, Onvigo, TTAND
    by Staff Writer - TRAVELSAVERS Canada advisors are feeling optimistic about the upcoming year; Ensemble expands its Range with a new content-rich digital platform; top Trevello advisors cruised in style in South America with Swan Hellenic; Direct Travel got festive across the country; Onvigo recognized its first-year top achievers; and TTAND agents were honoured in Antigua.

  • 5 FOR ‘25 ADVENTURE TRENDS
    by Staff Writer - Intrepid Travel, with almost 1,000 small group adventures across all seven continents, has dropped its ‘Five for 2025 Travel Trend Predications’ for the year ahead. Trips led by women for just women, Gen Z solo adventures, and parents looking to connect with their kids in new ways were just a few that made the list. 

  • BYE-BYE BOARDING PASSES?
    by Staff Writer - The chief executive of start-up Riyadh Air, which will take flight this summer, says that boarding passes – both paper and digital – will likely disappear withing five years, to be replaced by biometric scans for passengers.

  • ALL IS WELL IN ANTIGUA AND BARBUDA
    by Staff Writer - The twin-island nation of Antigua and Barbuda has become the first Wellness Destination officially recognized by the Wellness Tourism Association (WTA), satisfying all nine of the WTA’s stringent criteria.