Destinations

BERMUDAIR – ‘A COUPLE OF HOURS TO PARADISE’

By Michael Baginski/ Adam Scott is in Toronto and complaining about the cold. At the same time, the founder and CEO of BermudAir – a Canadian himself – couldn’t be happier because he knows “that’s when we start booking (to go to places like Bermuda).”

THE LATEST ON JAMAICA HOTEL, SANDALS RE-OPENINGS

From already “open for business” to “closed indefinitely,” there is no one-size-fits-all template for hotel re-openings in Jamaica as the island recovers from the effects of devastating Hurricane Melissa. It is clear, however, that much of the island, and many of its resorts, are ready, willing and able to receive guests again after the late October storm.

BLUE JAYS A BIG BOOST FOR TORONTO TOURISM

Despite falling short in the World Series in dramatic fashion, the Blue Jays hit a home run for Toronto, giving the city a big economic boost, with more visitors and more spending at local businesses. According to Destination Toronto, the four home games of the World Series saw a 15% average increase in hotel demand compared to the same nights last year, adding a total of more than 11,000 room nights. 

THE END IS NEAR: Barcelona basilica almost ready after 100 years of construction

After well over a century under construction, Barcelona’s Sagrada Familia basilica is ready to raise its immense central tower and become the tallest Christian church in Europe. The basilica’s General Director Xavier Martínez says that “the tower will be finished at the end of this year or the beginning of 2026.”

FINDING SEATTLE’S SWEET SPOT: Mission opens arms to Canadians

By Michael Baginski/ A delegation from Seattle conducted a five-day mission Montreal, Toronto and Edmonton last week, emphasizing the importance of the Canadian market to the cross-border city, which, like much of the U.S., has seen a decline in visitors from their northern neighbours this year.

FOUR UNEXPECTED NEW CHRISTMAS MARKETS FOR 2025

From rooftop mulled wine to Northern Lights pop-ups, new festive markets are shaking up the classic winter break in Europe. And according to a new survey, the new entries play to a new theme: less about ticking off touristy Christmas markets, and more about finding something original, local, and TikTok-worthy – particularly for younger travellers.

VISIT LAUDERDALE EXPANDS LAUDERDALE LOYALIST PROGRAM

Visit Lauderdale’s free, award-winning trade platform, Lauderdale Loyalist, powered by TravPRO Mobile, connects travel advisors with interactive training, ready-to-use marketing materials, and a variety of other tools to help them confidently sell Greater Fort Lauderdale.

A GRAND OCCASION: Epic Grand Egyptian Museum finally open in full as Tut moves in

After two decades of anticipation and countless delays, the Grand Egyptian Museum has finally had its grand reveal, opening in full on the weekend. Located just outside Cairo next to the Giza Pyramids, the $1-billion facility is the world’s largest museum dedicated to a single civilization with over 50,000 artifacts detailing the life in ancient Egypt.

SPORTS AND THE GREAT OUTDOORS IN GREATER FORT LAUDERDALE

With football, baseball, basketball, and clearly hockey (can you say two-time Stanley Cup Champion Florida Panthers?) on offer, Greater Fort Lauderdale’s vibrant sports scene ensures there’s always a team to cheer for. And for visitors who would rather get out and get active, the area’s various sporting venues, lush parks, serene waterways, and expansive green spaces make it a haven for those seeking to stay fit or simply connecting with nature.

CALIFORNIA STEPS UP TO THE PLATE FOR CANADIANS AT WORLD SERIES

With all Canadian eyes on the Blue Jays playing the in the World Series in Los Angeles this week (shifting gears to Toronto tonight), Visit California launched a playful welcoming digital out-of-home campaign to greet Canadian Blue Jays fans at Dodgers stadium.

DAY OF THE DEAD COMES ALIVE IN MEXICO

As much of the world gets in ghoul on for Halloween, Mexico will come alive with Day of the Dead celebration’s across the country this weekend. The Día de los Muertos holiday (Nov. 1-2) is rooted in pre-Hispanic rituals and Catholic traditions and honours the souls of children and adults who have passed away.

GHOSTS ARE US: Europe’s top 10 creepy houses and why they haunt us

By Cindy-Lou Dale/ The oldest walls in Europe don’t just hold in heat; they hold in stories. Step into a country house on a fog-slung coast or a fortress crouched in a mountain pass, and you can feel history press close: the chill of a draft that shouldn’t exist, the echo of footsteps on an empty stair, the sense that you’ve arrived late to a conversation that never ended.

MY DOCTOR SAYS I NEED A HOLIDAY IN SWEDEN – REALLY!

A sauna in Swedish Lapland for better sleep quality, or cold plunges in the archipelago for improved circulation? Two out of three respondents in a new international survey would be open to spending more time in nature if a doctor prescribed it. Now, Sweden is positioning itself as the world’s first country to which travel can be prescribed by a doctor.

IRELAND REVELS IN ANCIENT ROOTS AT HALLOWEEN

As kids of all ages get pumped over pumpkins and giddy over ghosts this week, Tourism Ireland reminds that the event can be traced back to the ancient Celtic festival of Samhain, thereby rendering the destination as the true “home of Halloween” – a “holiday” that is still taken seriously around the country while lending traditions that are rooted in Irish folklore to the rest of the modern world.

CUBA CLOSES AIRPORTS AS MELISSA ARRIVES: Jamaica faces humanitarian crisis

The Cuba Tourist Board has confirmed the temporary closure of airports in Santiago de Cuba and Holguín on Tuesday and Wednesday (Oct. 28-29) as Hurricane Melissa – a category 5 storm that has tied for the strongest on earth in 2025 – approaches the island tonight and into Wednesday.

TRADE OUTREACH: Visit Scotland ready to Connect in 2026

Scotland is welcoming more international visitors than ever, making it the fastest-growing UK nation for inbound tourism, and VisitScotland is planning to continue the momentum at its Connect 2026 event in Glasgow in April. The annual trade event remains a vital platform for Scottish tourism businesses to connect with international tour operators and travel advisors while showcasing the country’s landscapes, culture, heritage, and welcoming experiences.

BAA-D NEWS FROM MADRID

Madrid’s streets were baa-dly jammed last weekend – not by protesters or soccer fans but by a flock of sheep and goats being led through the Spanish capital in an annual festival that honours the area’s rural heritage.

ROME COLOSSEUM: Once secret emperor’s passage opens for first time

For the first time in nearly 2,000 years, visitors to Rome’s world-renowned Colosseum have the opportunity to walk through a hidden imperial passage that once allowed Roman emperors to reach the ancient amphitheater unseen. The once-secret corridor – known as the “Commodus Passage” and named after the Roman emperor turned into a pop icon by Ridley Scott’s movie “Gladiator” – opens to the next week (Oct. 27) marking an extraordinary milestone in archaeological preservation and access.

PORTUGAL’S APPEAL ON DISPLAY AT CANADIAN ROADSHOW

By Michael Baginski/ The Visit Portugal Roadshow rolls into Vancouver today (Oct. 23) after stops in Toronto and Montreal earlier in the week, giving over 300 travel advisors and tour operators a chance to catch up on the latest news from one of travel’s bona fide “it” destinations, and one that is particularly popular with Canadians.

CANADA COMPASS: At 96, Niagara District Airport recalls tragic debut, lasting legacy

The Niagara District Airport has been part of Niagara’s skies since 1929, witnessing aviation’s evolution from risky early flights to today’s modern operations. Now marking its 96th anniversary, it has grown from its beginnings on the edge of St. Catharines into the certified general aviation hub it is today at 468 Niagara Stone Rd. in Niagara-on-the-Lake.

HAWAI’I’S GREATEST: Tapping into the Islands’ most unique treasures

Hawaiʻi stands apart as a place where nature, culture, and community come together in incredible ways. Across the islands, remarkable experiences await, ranging from dramatic landscapes and iconic landmarks to distinctive flavours that reflect the islands’ history and traditions. Each island offers something unique, yet all share the same enduring spirit of aloha that defines Hawaiʻi’s greatest treasures. 

VIENNA BITES, IN A GOOD WAY: City to celebrate food and wine in 2026

By Michael Baginski/ Vienna stands out as a culture landmark of Europe, but next year the Austrian capital is sinking its teeth into a new theme – it’s food. In 2026, many of the activities of the Vienna Tourist Board will be dedicated to the theme of culinary delights. At the centre is Viennese cuisine – the only cuisine in the world named after a city.

UPLIFTING BAHAMAS MAKES STRATEGIC CALLS IN CANADIAN CITIES

With a substantial and welcome increase in airlift from this country to the Bahamas this winter – and the need to put more Canadian bums in seats – the islands’ ministry of tourism conducted a sales mission in three secondary, though important, markets last week, opting for Ottawa, Halifax and Calgary (ahead of more populated, and more frequently visited, Toronto, Montreal and Vancouver).

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