Already involved in two lawsuits with Disney, Gov. Ron DeSantis’ appointees to a board that oversees Disney World’s governing district launched a battle this week against the company on a new front – free passes and discounts for district employees.
Historic Gleneagles Hotel in Scotland has been named the winner of the Art of Hospitality Award, the first category announced in advance of the inaugural The World’s 50 Best Hotels awards 2023.
Club Med has announced the appointments of Tyler Mattioli and Debbie Miller as Business Development Managers for Ontario.
The central Okanagan is facing weeks without tourism during its peak season after British Columbia’s premier imposed bans on travel to wildfire zones. The ban, which was introduced Saturday under the provincial state of emergency, will be in place until Sept. 4 for hotels, motels, inns, bed and breakfasts, hostels, RV parks and campgrounds in Kelowna, West Kelowna, Kamloops, Oliver, Osoyoos, Penticton and Vernon.
It already seems like ages ago (March) that Hong Kong lifted its COVID mask mandate and Canada removed temporary pre-departure test requirements for air travellers from China, Hong Kong, and Macao. The double move eliminated two major obstacles for the return of travel to the favourite destination for Canadians and prompted the always industrious Hong Kong Tourism Board to ramp up operations to accommodate visitors ready (and able) to return after the long pandemic.
Building on strong bookings this summer, US airlines are already adding new routes later this year and next, underscoring the airline industry’s confidence that its strong recovery from the pandemic will continue and that planes will remain packed.
While the world – and tourism – paused during the pandemic, Hong Kong used the unavoidable downtime to nevertheless continue developing its infrastructure and attractions for the day when tourism resumed. And that day has come.
This summer has proven how destructive climate change can be. We have been plagued by harrowing images of Maui, Hawaii in ashes, news about wildfires spreading smoke across Canada and the United States and record-breaking heat waves worldwide.
From thrilling theme parks and vibrant art and cultural attractions to family-friendly hospitality options with easy access to the city’s must-see attractions, Hong Kong is an ideal destination for families.
Princess Cruises’ largest ship ever – Sun Princess – will make her US debut in October 2024. The ship is the first in the line’s new Sphere class, and will homeport at Port Everglades, Fla. for the winter, following a season of Mediterranean and Europe cruises when she launches in February.
Having made landfall on Mexico’s Baja California peninsula early Sunday, Tropical Storm Hilary drenched Southern California from the coast to inland mountains and deserts Sunday evening, prompting rescues from swollen rivers and forcing some of the nation’s largest school districts to cancel Monday classes. Millions braced for more flooding and mudslides, even as the storm began to weaken.
Maui’s Governor has reinforced the importance of tourism to the recovery, and future, of the Hawaiian island in the aftermath of the devastating wildfires and the destruction of Lahaina town this month, stating that tourists are welcome – just not in West Maui.
Air Canada customers will have the freedom and flexibility to change their travel plans when booking on aircanada.com (Canadian edition), thanks to a new partnership with travel app Hopper.
Flair Airlines says it is launching a unique pilot training program that will see applicants placed in the cockpit of one of the company’s Boeing 737 jets within 18 months.
Karisma Hotels & Resorts, in partnership with Autism Double-Checked, has introduced what it says is the world’s first-ever Autism Concierge, providing a dedicated contact for all autism-related questions and serving as an extension of the Autism Double-Checked comprehensive three-part training program.
The British Museum – a major tourist attraction in London – has dismissed a staff member after items dating back as far as the 15th century BC were found to be missing, stolen or damaged.
The fight over passengers compensation continued last week, while in other weekly news, TICO issued an invitation for new directors; grim hurricane news hit the headlines; Transat introduced Peru; and TravelBrands’ committed a good deed.
The Supreme Court of Canada has agreed to hear an appeal from several airlines, including Air Canada and Porter, looking to quash rules that boost compensation to passengers for delayed flights or damaged luggage.
Airlines are adjusting prices and adding capacity to help with evacuation efforts in Yellowknife. WestJet and Air Canada both said they are taking steps to avoid elevated prices, adding extra flights and swapping in bigger planes amid the rapidly unfolding situation up north.
As Yellowknife begins evacuation and Maui continues to cope with the aftermath of devastating wildfires, global attention has turned to the Spanish Canary island of Tenerife, a popular tourist destination where an out-of-control wildfire has burned thousands of hectares and affected nearly 8,000 people who are either evacuated or confined.
Do you look and act like a tourist? If so, it can produce assumptions that you are inexperienced, naive, lacking cultural awareness, and wealthy. Standing out as a tourist can make you appear vulnerable and an easy target for scams, pickpockets, and other types of crime.
From Big Apple bodypainting to bizarre (and, frankly, macabre) Barbie mania in El Salvador, and a big peanut and bologna sandwich to zoo antics in China, it was another stellar week in our weird and wacky world.
Just scanning Istanbul’s minaret-studded skyline on the busy Bosphorus that divides Europe from Asia evokes images of genies and wizards and magical flying carpets. It’s Constantinople, the coveted city that inspired Crusades and Tales of Arabian Nights.
With thick Scottish accents and numerous references to their homeland in their songs, there’s little doubt from whence The Proclaimers – identical twin brothers Craig and Charlie Reid – hail.
Florida is hot, and it’s not just the weather. VISIT FLORIDA yesterday announced the strongest international visitation numbers the state has seen since 2019. And that includes nearly 850,000 Canadians to date in 2023 – a whopping 80% ahead of the same period in 2022.
WestJet announced the addition of twice-weekly non-stop service between Kelowna and Toronto to the airline’s 2023/24 winter schedule. The service will begin Nov. 5.
With less than a year until the start of the next Summer Olympics, Paris is preparing to welcome millions of visitors to the City of Light from July 26 to Aug. 11, 2024. Here’s a not-so-early early look at what to expect at the next installation of the world’s biggest sporting event.
Back for the 12th time, Goway will host its gala Africa and Middle East event in Toronto on Oct. 24 and agents are being invited to save the date. The event will feature close to 30 suppliers from across all of Africa and the Middle East for a full-day of training, events, meals, cocktails, and a free-flow trade show.
Ensemble top performers experienced the Explora 1 cruise ship, Direct Travel unveiled enhanced tech capabilities, and Virtuoso tipped its top cruise lines at the network’s annual Travel Week in Las Vegas in this week’s round-up.
Preparatory construction works for the new terminal at Montreal Saint-Hubert Airport has begun, but airport officials maintain that “at no time” will be the operation of the airport will be compromised or affected.