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HARD ROCK CELEBRATES MESSI WITH CHICKEN SANDWICH

Love Lionel? Then Hard Rock International has the sandwich for you. The pop-culture inspired hotel brand has teamed up with arguably the world’s greatest-ever soccer player, Lionel Messi, to launch a namesake menu item – the Messi Chicken Sandwich, “Made For You by Leo Messi.”

SOUTHERN SURGE CAUSES ‘DISARRAY’ AT U.S. BORDER

Members of US Congress are growing concerned about what they say is a shortage of agents on the southern side of the Canada-US border that is causing “disarray” at entry points to the country.

MORE MASS PROTESTS ROCK ISRAEL: Roads blocked, airport thronged

Thousands of Israeli protesters – some threatening “civil war” – took to the streets on Tuesday, blocking major highways and thronging the country’s main international airport, in countrywide demonstrations against the government’s contentious plan to overhaul the country’s judicial system.

HOW YOU CAN HELP SHAPE AIR PAX RIGHTS

The Canadian Transportation Agency (CTA) has launched consultations on proposed amendments to the Air Passenger Protection Regulations (APPR) and you can help shape the outcome.

VOLCANO HEATS UP ICELAND, VISITORS WARNED

With erupting volcanos increasingly serving as beacons to locals and tourists alike, Icelandic authorities are warning people to stay away from a erupting hotspot in southwestern Iceland, which began erupting Monday, 11 months after its last eruption officially ended.

WORLD CUP A WINNER FOR QATAR AIRWAYS

Qatar Airways reported $1.2 billion in profits over the past year, buoyed by its role in ferrying fans to the soccer World Cup. The long-haul airline said it transported 1.4 million passengers to the FIFA World Cup in Qatar. It also expanded its network to more than 160 destinations.

COURT CONFIRMS SCHIPHOL FLIGHT CUTS

Appeals court judges in Amsterdam have ruled that the Dutch government can order Schiphol Airport, one of Europe’s busiest aviation hubs, to reduce the number of flights from 500,000 per year to 460,000.

TRANSAT SELLS MEXICAN PROPERTY

Transat AT Inc. says it has sold a piece of land in Mexico to resort company Finest Resorts for US$38 million. The company says the sale is part of its plan to focus on its airline business as it tries to return to profitability after more than two years of losses.

HOTEL SET TO OPEN AT GREAT CANADIAN CASINO RESORT

Great Canadian Casino Resort Toronto, the lavish new entertainment complex in the city, will open its hotel on Aug. 1 and reservations can now be made. The 400-room property is part of the $1-billion development that opened its first phase on June 20.

ATLANTIC CITY BETS ON NON-GAMBLING ENTERTAINMENT

A new $100-million indoor aquatic recreation facility is hoping to make a splash in Atlantic City with the aim of appealing to family tourism and giving visitors something else to do besides gambling in the New Jersey tourism destination.

BANG A DRUM, INDEPENDENT BAHAMAS IS 50 YEARS YOUNG

The Bahamas celebrates the 50th anniversary of its independence from Britain today (July 10) with festivities across the country and throughout Nassau-Paradise Island. The celebrations culminate days of events throughout the islands involving both residents and visitors, including this morning’s 1 a.m. People’s Rush, when the public is invited to join parade groups to inaugurate Junkanoo.

FERRY DISRUPTION LATEST ‘SPEED BUMP’ FOR PEI TOURISM

The company that operates the ferry between Nova Scotia and eastern Prince Edward Island says the MV Confederation will return to service early this week following mechanical issues that docked the vessel last week and into the weekend – and at the height of PEI’s tourism season.

LYNX TO OFFER MORE U.S. OPTIONS FROM EAST

Lynx Air is expanding service to its US network this fall, with the addition of routes from Toronto Pearson International (YYZ) to Los Angeles International (LAX) and Phoenix Sky Harbor International (PHX), as well as from Montreal Pierre Trudeau International (YUL) to Las Vegas Harry Reid International (LAS).

JETBLUE, AA DEAL DERAILED: Carrier sets sights on Spirit, again

JetBlue says it will end a partnership with American Airlines in the Northeast US after losing a court fight over the deal and will instead focus on salvaging its proposed purchase of Spirit Airlines.The US Justice Department sued to block both the JetBlue-American deal and JetBlue’s agreement to buy Spirit for $3.8 billion on grounds that they would hurt competition.

PASSENGER FEARING CARTEL MAKES BOMB THREAT TO SPUR ARREST

A passenger who made a bomb threat aboard an Alaska Airlines flight from Atlanta to Seattle last week told investigators he made the false threat hoping to be arrested because members of a “powerful cartel” were waiting in Seattle to kill him.

ROUND-UP: July 3-7, 2023

Canada unveiled a new tourism strategy, and a boost for travellers arriving in Ottawa and Halifax; also last week, Canadian carriers announced some new destinations, Emirates conducted its first flight to Montreal, and a member of the Canadian travel trade was appointed to the Order of Canada.

THE WORLD’S TOP SUMMER CITIES: And other global travel trends

Leading travel analytics firm ForwardKeys has revealed the hundred most appealing city destinations this summer and the answer might surprise you. Rankings are based on how extensively travel to them has been searched online by global consumers.

FIRST FLIGHT: Emirates marks Montreal milestone

Emirates made a landmark touchdown in Montréal this week, marking the start of scheduled daily non-stop aboard Boeing 777 services to its second gateway in Canada. Emirates now serves Canada with 14 flights per week.

NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC TURNS THE PAGE ON VENERABLE PAST

A beacon for those who love travel and the world’s exotic (and sometimes not-so-exotic) places for 135 years, the familiar yellow-bordered cover of the monthly National Geographic will no longer be for sale on newsstands starting next year, part of cutbacks affecting the venerable magazine.

EPIC DISNEYLAND COLLECTIBLES COLLECTION GOES UP FOR AUCTION

Fans who agree Disneyland is indeed the happiest place on Earth will soon be able to take home more than a souvenir. A passionate collector has brought Disney magic to a sprawling 2,800-sq.–m. building in Burbank, California, where fans can hear birds chirping in the Enchanted Tiki Room section or giggle at the animated ghosts from the Haunted Mansion ride as they preview more than 1,500 items up for auction later this month.

EURO CRUISE TOP ECO RANKINGS: But LNG in question

A niche fleet in Norway is gaining world attention by scoring better than any other cruise line in a global ranking of environmental sustainability. The German environmental organization NABU ranked Havila Voyages in a tie at the top of its cruise ranking for 2023, based on the company’s efforts towards sustainability and reduced carbon emissions.

STRANGE BUT TRUE: Tales of the weird and wacky

From hot dogs to pie and pork products, this weird week was mainly about food, glorious food, with additional dispatches about a persistent pencil pusher, Dutch body art, and a gun nut who just should have stayed in bed.

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