A liquor store has opened in Saudi Arabia for the first time in over 70 years, marking a further socially liberalizing step in the once-ultraconservative kingdom. While restricted to non-Muslim diplomats, the store in Riyadh comes as Saudi Arabia’s assertive Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman aims to make the kingdom a tourism and business destination as part of ambitious plans to slowly wean its economy away from crude oil.
The world’s biggest cruise ship – the size of almost four city blocks – began its maiden voyage Saturday from the Port of Miami. Royal Caribbean International’s 7,600-passenger ‘Icon of the Seas’ departed for Caribbean waters after fittingly being christened earlier in the week by the world’s biggest soccer star – Lionel Messi.
The World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) has a new name and brand: UN Tourism. With the change, the United Nations specialized agency for tourism says it is reaffirming its status as “the global leader of tourism for development, driving social and economic change to ensure that people and planet are always centre stage.”
At first it sounded like another case of a bad behaviour aboard an airplane when a man opened an emergency exit and walked out on a wing of a plane that was parked and waiting for takeoff at Mexico City International Airport. But despite taken into custody, the man was backed by fellow passengers on the AeroMexico aircraft for doing so.
2024 has started with numerous challenges – and potential opportunities – for Atlantic City, the historic east coast seaside resort primarily known for its famous boardwalk, and gambling opportunities, that has been transition for several years. Foremost among them is likely to be whether New Jersey lawmakers approve a measure to ban smoking in the nine casinos (a vote that is taking place today – Jan. 29).
Forbes named its best Canadian employers for 2024 – find out which travel companies made the list; other Round-Up highlights include five new planes for WestJet, the launch of Lynx summer service from Montreal to L.A., a sales booking record for Holland America, and consideration by Crystal of its status in the Red Sea.
With Canadians leading the way, the latest flight booking data from the World Travel & Tourism Council and its knowledge partner ForwardKeys shows that France is set to keep its pole position as the world’s most popular destination for international arrivals this year.
Federal regulators in the US have approved an inspection process that will let airlines resume flying their Boeing 737 Max 9 jetliners as soon as this weekend. The head of the Federal Aviation Administration said that his agency’s review of the scary incident on board an Alaska Airlines Boeing jet gave him confidence to clear a path for the planes to fly again.
Avalanche deaths are not as uncommon as they should be, and mountain conditions in southern British Columbia are currently deemed “very dangerous,” according to Avalanche Canada. Nevertheless, as snow accumulates across much of western North America, some hardy winter sport enthusiasts continue to head to vulnerable ski areas and backcountry slopes despite the threat, and frigid temperatures.
United Airlines will offer more than 100 new flights to cities in North America this summer and will remain the largest US carrier to/from Canada with over 150 daily flights between the countries, serving nine destinations in Canada from all seven of its US hub airports.
Los Cabos is perhaps best known internationally for its luxurious accommodations, sophisticated cuisine, and breathtaking landscape, but for fishing enthusiasts, this dichotomous destination of beaches and deserts is known for a very different reason: With teeming waters off the Baha peninsula in Mexico home to a wide variety of sea life, Los Cabos is specifically reputed as the “Marlin Capital of the World.” And anyone can (try to) catch one.
When Cathy Olliffe-Webster’s 90-year-old mother-in-law died suddenly last year, her family had to make the trek from Cold Lake, Alta., to Ontario in a hurry. The jewellery business owner figures the flight would have set her and her husband back $2,000 because it was a last-minute booking, but they scored a hefty discount.
Porter Airlines is introducing a new senior leadership structure to support its ongoing growth. The president and CEO roles will be separated, with Michael Deluce continuing in the position of CEO, while current executive VP and CCO Kevin Jackson assumes the role of president.
The City of Dryden, Ontario’s chief administrative officer and the local airport’s manager are leading efforts to address a pending gap in plane service, following the announcement that Bearskin Airlines will end its scheduled passenger air service to Dryden, Kenora, and Fort Frances in May.
On Saturday a Boeing 757 jet operated by Delta Air Lines lost a nose wheel while preparing for takeoff from Atlanta, potentially creating more uncertainty around one of the nation’s top manufacturers after a troubling string of incidents involving its planes.
The European Commission on Tuesday announced an in-depth investigation of German airline Lufthansa’s planned takeover of Italian carrier ITA Airways, citing competitive concerns. Lufthansa signed a deal last year for a 41% minority share in the long-struggling ITA Airways, formerly Alitalia.
In times of economic uncertainty, it’s not uncommon for business owners to tighten their belts and cut costs wherever possible. Unfortunately, one area that often falls victim to budget reductions is public relations and marketing. Some view it as an “extra expense” rather than a strategic investment.
Manulife and Air Canada have announced first-of-its-kind loyalty program partnership in Canada that will enable Manulife Group Benefits members to earn Aeroplan points by engaging in behaviours and activities that encourage health and wellbeing.
About a kilometre-long section of Ottawa’s Rideau Canal Skateway has opened, much to the relief of many Ottawa residents – and potential visitors – who worried it would remain closed for the second winter in a row, following an unusually warm December.
VisitBritain will welcome more than 120 international travel buyers – including a delegation from Canada – for a series of educational visits across Britain, as part of its flagship ‘Showcase Britain 2024’ trade event. The annual event helps set agendas for tour operator and travel agency product for the coming year.
With the introduction of Air Transat flights from Toronto and Montréal to Lima, Canadians have a direct route to the South American nation known for stunning natural landscapes, historical treasures, exceptional cuisine – and affordability. With this in mind, here’s a look at some of the most recent tourism developments in the country, including digital nomads, ceviche and coffee culture, and new treks, tours, and packages in the pipeline:
Spirit Airlines hasn’t made money since before the pandemic, ticket sales haven’t bounced back as quickly as the carrier expected, and dozens of its planes will be grounded at times this year because of a problem with the engines. But after a federal judge in Boston scuttled plans for JetBlue to buy the troubled carrier last week, some analysts who follow Spirit are tossing around the B word – bankruptcy.
An overwhelming about of misinformation about travel insurance online and elsewhere is causing confusion for Canadian travellers, leading to negative implications when it comes to cost, coverage, treatment, and claims, says leading insurance provider Snowbird Advisor Insurance. With this in mind, SAI says it wants to debunk some of the most common myths about travel insurance in this country and “set the record straight.”
Tens of thousands of people were without electricity and hundreds of trains were cancelled and some planes diverted on Monday after the latest in a wave of winter storms – nine since September – lashed Britain and Ireland with heavy rain and wind gusts of almost 160 km an hour.
With shipping under attack in the Red Sea region, Crystal Cruises is the latest cruise line to take stock of its situation there. Citing safe passage of its cruises as being of paramount importance, the cruise line a statement on future intent.
While visitor spending reached a record $7 billion in 2023, the number of visitors in Toronto remains below pre-pandemic levels, according to the year-end Toronto’s ‘Visitor Economy: 2023 Market Performance Highlights’ report published by Destination Toronto.
From star gazing to gorilla trekking, and Bhutan to Japan, Virtuoso has curated a list of top experiences, trends, and destinations it believes should be on every traveller’s list this year. Based on the opinions and experiences of travel advisors from around the world, and their clients, the unique results appear in Virtuoso’s newly released Luxe Report 2024.
Perimeter Aviation, the parent company of Bearskin Airlines says it plans to discontinue passenger service from Thunder Bay, Ont. to Dryden, Fort Frances, and Kenora effective May 11. Termination of the flights is being blamed on financial reasons.
Following the dissolution of the previous Consumer and Industry Advisory Committee (CIAC) effective Dec. 31, the Travel Industry Council of Ontario (TICO) is launching a new opportunity for Ontario’s travel industry to provide input on the way travel consumer protection is delivered in the province.
Air Transat has announced the appointment of Benjamin Pron as Vice-President Commercial Air Transat. Employed by the airline company since 2019, Pron until recently held the position of Commercial Director for Air Transat.