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LISTENING IN: This Christmas medley is just too much

I implied last week that I am largely uninspired by most of the overwrought and overthought holiday musical fare that comes like the snow this time of year (whether you want it or not). But I’m not in fact a mean one like Mr. Grinch, because I do in fact love that classic song, along with many of the other great cartoon tunes that still make me smile.

CANADA’S MOST, AND LEAST, COMPLAINED ABOUT AIRLINES

Air Transat is the least dissed domestic airline in 2022 by consumers at just over two (2.2) complaints per 100 flights flown, according to the Canadian Transportation Agency (CTA), which has published a new dashboard that tallies the grievances. At the more dubious end of the scale, Flair Airlines racked up the most moans per century at 13.7.

WINTER WOES CONTINUE: Snow a blow at YVR, Toronto next

The woes for travellers stranded by heavy snow at Vancouver’s airport are spreading across the country and Toronto Pearson International Airport is now advising of an approaching storm that could derail things further.

PUMPING UP THE JAM: Jamaica primed for record winter

Jamaica is set to have a record winter tourist season, with the Jamaica Tourist Board forecasting that it will welcome nearly 1.5 million visitors and earn approximately US$1.5 billion in foreign exchange, prompting the country’s tourism minister to declare, “We’re back to normal.”

DESPERATE FLIGHT: Stowaway dies in plane wheel well

A dead man was found in the wheel bay of an airplane that flew from Gambia to Britain, Gambian authorities said this week. The unidentified body of a man was found on a jet operated by a British charter carrier TUI Airways, which had flown from Gambia’s capital of Banjul to London’s Gatwick airport.

CARBON KILLERS: TravCorp accelerates climate action plan

The Travel Corporation (TTC) has become the first global tour operator to introduce verified net zero targets validated by the Science Based Target initiative (SBTi). The company has also introduced an industry leading internal carbon fund to achieve net zero across its 40 brands, which include prominent names like Trafalgar, Insight and Contiki.

RAZZLE DAZZLE: Sensational MSC Seascape named in New York

MSC Cruises’ latest vessel – and new US flagship – has sailed off to its winter home, Miami, and onwards to Caribbean itineraries after a dazzling debut in New York last week, officially named at a traditional maritime ceremony at the Manhattan Cruise Terminal.

Travel Industry Today Inspirations

Words are important, they can make us think – build us up – give us hope and courage and happiness, and equally they can destroy our confidence, and plunge us into despair.  At Travel Industry Today we offer a selection of words and thoughts that have inspired us, made us think, smile, or laugh out

MSC INTRODUCES WORLD EUROPA IN STYLE

Call it the celebration before the celebration (FIFA World Cup 2022) as MSC Cruises lit up the sky in Doha, Qatar last night (Sunday) during the official naming ceremony of its newest ship, MSC World Europa.

LISTENING IN: Gordon the great

It was only a stray line in the paper recently, but it hit like hammer: Gordon Lightfoot was performing at a small venue in Oakville, Ont. on the weekend. To be sure, the iconic Canadian singer-songwriter hasn’t been entirely out of the news in recent years, but the about-to-be 84-year-old (Nov. 17) is still going strong filled me with delight.

NEW LOOK FOR EURAIL

Eurail, the company behind the popular Eurail and Interrail Passes, has a new look, featuring a visual identity designed to pay tribute to its heritage while embracing what’s to come for rail travel.

ALL THAT JAZZ: The life and times of Sandra Jaffe

I never knew, met, nor (I confess) was even aware of Sandra Jaffe, but in hindsight the remarkable woman has without a doubt played an influential, unexpected role in my life. Jaffe, after all, was co-founder of Preservation Hall in New Orleans, an iconic institution that I have previously proclaimed my favourite place on the planet.

DISNEY DESTINATIONS

Walt Disney World Resort 50th Anniversary Fifty years ago, the Walt Disney World Resort, born of impossible dreams, opened its gates. And beginning October 1, 2021, the magic is calling everyone to The World’s Most Magical Celebration – the 50th Anniversary at Walt Disney World Resort. Come be immersed in shimmering EARidescence and experience special

SEEING AND BELIEVING: Mack makes it worth the trip

02 MAY 2019: After decades in this industry, I like many others, have been subjected to more than my fair share of tours and tour guides usually droning on and on in monotonous monotones about some seriously uninteresting – let’s call it – stuff. Regrettably over the years I have on occasion inflicted this same dull disservice on other unfortunate travellers. Only twice in all that time have I ever found a tour that offered me an experience that was truly both interesting, fun and made me not dread getting back on the coach. And both occasions had three common denominators.

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