InterContinental Hotels and Resorts (IHG) says it is embarking an extensive brand evolution designed to lead it into the future through cutting-edge technology, innovative design, and elevated service, while maintaining a “harmonious balance between freedom and familiarity” for guests.
Leading hotel commerce platform SiteMinder, has released the 2023 edition of what it says is the world’s largest consumer research on accommodation. Among its notable findings are the continued dependence of travellers on both new and familiar technologies (and devices) – from artificial intelligence to social media and the Web – in the travel planning and booking process.
Machine Learning (ML) and Artificial Intelligence (AI) are among the most frequently used phrases in business today. In simple terms, machine learning entails a machine or system using processes and algorithms to learn a solution to a problem, while AI mimics human intelligence to do the same. It’s more complex than this explanation but adopting some of these technologies today will give your business the early-mover advantage with years of benefits.
Princess Cruises will celebrate its 40th anniversary sailing the Mediterranean by featuring two of its newest and largest ships there in 2025 – Star Princess and Sun Princess. In total six Princess ships will offer cruise tours in the regions, with departures now on sale.
Amber Vencill, a Florida mother, alleges her 12 and 10-year-old sons who were travelling alone, were left without food, water, blankets or pillows after their flight was cancelled. She also claims she was given conflicting information on the boys’ rescheduled flight and was unable to speak with them for hours.
Almost half of Canadian sports fans (42%) are more likely to travel and see a game on the road rather than attending a game at home or in their closest sports city, according to a new study by Expedia, Hotels.com and Vrbo. The Sports Travel Road Game Report also found that the average fan takes approximately three sports trips per year, and that 80 percent of fans are looking to take either the same or more trips in the upcoming year than they did the previous year.
This August, US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) said it was holding meetings at 90 airports after the National Transportation Safety Board said it was investigating seven runway incursion events since January, including some that were potentially catastrophic. The FAA announced yesterday that runway 16 additional airports have been added to the list and will be investigated in the coming weeks after a series of troubling close-call aviation incidents.
When Enterprise started to see automobile supply problems after the pandemic hit in 2020, the car and truck rental, fleet management and mobility company decided to cater to its long-term customers. Chrissy Taylor, CEO of the newly renamed Enterprise Mobility, emphasized rentals to businesses and insurance companies with clients whose cars were damaged in crashes.
Virgin Atlantic has been granted permission to operate the first transatlantic flight powered by 100 percent sustainable aviation fuel (Saf). The British Civil Aviation Authority has approved the flight, which is scheduled to take place from London Heathrow to New York JFK on November 28.
Brightline, Florida’s intercity passenger rail connecting Miami to Orlando – having recently extended service to the theme park capital – has announced a new travel professional program that includes commissionable bookings for travel advisors, including those in Canada.
During the month of December travel advisors can take advantage of special hotel rates and exclusive offers courtesy of New Orleans & Company’s Holiday Travel Advisors independent familiarization trip. The annual program, which has been running for over a decade, enables travel advisors to opportunity to experience the city firsthand, while enhancing the city’s visibility and accessibility, and benefiting the travel industry.
Crystal has announced its lineup of 2025 itineraries onboard Crystal Serenity and Crystal Symphony. Following the brand’s acquisition by the A&K Travel Group, the cruise line will offer 144 new destinations, ranging from far-flung destinations such as the Faroe Islands, to Shanghai. And cruises will be timed to match notable events like the Formula 1 Grand Prix in Monaco and the Northern Lights in Norway.
World Travel Market London kicks off today in the British capital with the annual event expected to be 20% larger than last year as the industry continues its surging post-pandemic recovery. Travel Industry Today is onsite at the ExCel venue in east London and will offer coverage in the days, weeks, and months to come, reflecting the always overwhelming amount of information disseminated at the world’s largest English language travel and tourism trade fair.
The hostage situation at Hamburg Airport ended Sunday afternoon, around 18 hours after a man drove his vehicle through the gates of the airport with his 4-year-old daughter inside. The man was arrested and the girl appeared to be unharmed.
Brazil’s is sending the armed forces to boost security at some of the country’s most important airports, ports, and international borders as part of a renewed effort to tackle organized crime in Latin America’s largest nation.
Starting in June 2024, Air Canada will offer new summer seasonal service to Stockholm, with three weekly flights from Montreal and two weekly flights from Toronto. The strategic expansion of its route network in Scandinavia will also see increased capacity on its year-round Copenhagen flights from Toronto and an earlier seasonal start from Montreal.
In celebration of Veterans Day yesterday (November 05), Carnival Cruise Line welcomed approximately 200 local Miami-Dade veterans for a special military tribute event and appreciation luncheon aboard Carnival Horizon at PortMiami. Carnival Cruise Line President Christine Duffy presented a 15-passenger van to the Miami Veterans Affairs Healthcare System to assist with transportation of veterans participating in its programs and services.
Visit Orlando, along with theme park, hotel, transportation, and attraction partners, will host a series of training and marketplace events in Calgary, Toronto, and Halifax from Dec. 3 to 8. The “Orlando Canadian Sunshine Tour” marks the return of Visit Orlando to both Calgary and Halifax, which have new airlift to Orlando.
Last week, WestJet said so long to Swoop while Air Canada hello to Dubai (from YVR); in other round-up news, Viking is seeking reimbursement for its COVID refunds, CATO continued to question TICO’s review in Ontario, and G Adventures launched its “biggest, boldest,” sale of the year.
We don’t use AI. Indeed, Travel Industry Today produces content the old-fashioned way – by real people, who really travel, and through travel industry sources cultivated literally for decades. I mention this because a just-released survey by The Canadian Journalism Foundation reports that fully one-half of Canadians admit they are not confident in their ability to distinguish between fake news generated by AI and human-produced content.
Recording-breaking winds up to 190 kph – some of the highest in decades – slammed France’s Atlantic coast Thursday as Storm Ciaran lashed the UK and countries around western Europe, cancelling flights and trains, uprooting trees, blowing out windows and causing travel mayhem around the region.
The 2023 Canada’s Best New Restaurants Top 10 have been unveiled by Air Canada, with Toronto restaurant Kappo Sato taking the coveted top spot. In it’s 22nd year, the list is the longest running and most respected Canadian restaurant ranking. More than 30 restaurants across the country were visited by a single anonymous reviewer in determining the rankings.
The recent attempt by an off-duty pilot to shut down the engines of a US airliner in midflight highlights the threat that insiders pose to aviation safety with their ability to go where passengers are prohibited. Events like the one on Horizon Air jetliner are very rare, but they are potentially devastating.
The phenomenon of Beatlemania screamed itself into existence 60 years ago in October 1963. Sixty years later, Liverpool’s The Beatles Story has released a new video that explores the phenomenon with first-hand accounts of those frantic fanatical days.
Everything moves more slowly in Arctic. The seasons are condensed in Canada’s far north as nature takes advantage of a few fleeting months of light and hibernates in the long dark months. There’s a timelessness to the land that has never been altered by roads or development.
It’s hard to pick a song for Electric Light Orchestra – after all, during the British band’s heyday (1973-86), the Jeff Lynne-led collective boasted 15 Top 20 songs on the Billboard chart (and 27 in their home country), not least the innovative Chucky Berry-Beethoven (Ludvig von) mash-up, “Roll Over Beethoven.” But since that classic clocks in at eight minutes and nine seconds, I’ve opted here for something a little more concise.
Dining out is more expensive than ever. The cost of gas is rising again. And the price of travel – including airfare and hotels – has kept pace. Right? Not exactly, according to a US study. Airfare costs declined by 13% between September 2022 and September 2023, according to September 2023 Consumer Price Index data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Air Transat is getting creative with this weekend’s daylight savings time change, giving Ontarians a chance to win an all-inclusive trip to Jamaica. But only those who are out and about between 1 and 2 a.m. on Nov. 5 – just after the clocks are set back and an hour “lost” – and who spot a digital billboard with a QR code displayed for contest entry.
The catastrophic implosion of the submersible Titan in June during an expedition to view the Titanic wreckage 4,000 metres below the ocean’s surface not only led to the deaths of all five people aboard but also called attention to the rise in adventure tourism.
The Canadian Association of Tour Operators (CATO) is continuing its campaign calling for the Ontario government to initiate a thorough review of the province’s Travel Industry Act, reiterating its belief that the ongoing TICO review is merely a “cosmetic change” that does not address that Act’s fundamental flaws, including providing adequate consumer protection.