As travel advisors were discovering for themselves at the Jamaica Tourist Board’s annual ‘One Love Affair’ event, the island’s tourism minister declared that Jamaica had met its target of restoring tourism operations by Dec. 15, marking an impressive turnaround just over six weeks after the island was ravaged by Hurricane Melissa.
Fauchon L’Hôtel Paris, a member of The Leading Hotels of the World, recently conducted a survey among luxury travel advisors to determine what really matters to their clients when selecting a hotel. One of the key findings – which was 100% unanimous by all respondents – was that it is important for a hotel to offer “an authentic sense of place” versus a “cookie-cutter brand design.”
Travellers flying out of YYC Calgary International Airport domestically now have a simpler, more streamlined start to their journey. Phase One of YYC’s new Centralized Security Screening area combines separate screening points into one simplified, modern and more enlarged space.
Egypt has revealed the revamp of two colossal statues of a prominent pharaoh in the southern city of Luxor, the latest in the government’s archaeological events that aim at drawing more tourists to the country.
They call it “coorie.” Based on the old Scottish word for nestling or snuggling, the concept today implies “embracing the great outdoors (no matter what the weather) and enjoying the cozy feeling of coming back to home comforts afterwards.”
The U.S. Travel Association is warning that a Customs and Border Protection (CBP) proposal to begin collecting five years’ worth of social media information from travellers from select countries who do not have to get visas to come to the U.S. will scare potential visitors away and severely damage the U.S. travel industry.
Ontario Premier Doug Ford announced plans Monday to double the number of visitors to the Niagara Region, with visions of multiple new casinos, a theme park, an observation wheel, an expanded airport and more.
Transat A.T. Inc. has set March 10 for a shareholder meeting to vote on a board overhaul and other changes sought by Pierre Karl Péladeau, the travel company’s second-largest shareholder and the CEO of Quebecor Inc.
This week: Antigua and Barbuda Tourism Society bestows Black Pineapple awards, Collette is going virtual with travel advisors, and Flight Centre buys in Britain.
The world’s tallest hotel has opened in Dubai. Featuring one of the world’s highest infinity pools with panoramic views of the emirate’s coastline, Ceil Dubai Marina represents a striking new landmark in the city’s skyline.
Christmas celebrations are slowly returning to the traditional birthplace of Jesus in the Israeli-occupied West Bank – a hopeful change in the Palestinian city that’s been reeling since war broke out in Gaza.
By Michael Baginski/ With 2025 coming to a close, Air Canada hosted a VIP industry gathering in Toronto late last week to say farewell to a successful year, as well as VP of global sales Lisa Pierce, who is retiring at the end of the month after a 40-year career with the company.
Foreigners who are permitted to enter the United States without a visa could soon be required to submit information about their social media, email accounts and extensive family history to the Department of Homeland Security before being approved for travel.
WestJet has paused a move to install non-reclining seats on a big slice of its fleet after pushback from employees and passengers. The airline announced in September it would reconfigure the seating on 43 Boeing 737 jets to install an extra row and divide the cabin into several tiers, some with more space – and pricier tickets – than others.
The first segment of the federal government’s proposed high-speed rail project will connect Montreal and Ottawa, acting as a test case for a multibillion-dollar infrastructure project intended to transform rail travel in Canada’s most densely populated region.
Ontario’s auditor general reports that the Travel Industry Council of Ontario (TICO) has completed three quarters (74%) of the action items directed at the organization two years ago to make its operations more efficient and effective.
News nuggets, airlines, hotels/resorts, cruising, tours, events, FAMS/incentives, deals, destinations and more are covered in our weekly round-up of travel industry news you may have missed.
A newly released travel survey from Blue Cross reveals that geopolitical instability and rising costs, particularly in the United States, are significantly reshaping where and how Canadians travel. Yet despite these challenges, Canadians remain committed to exploring, with many turning to artificial intelligence (AI) to plan more cost-effective trips and make informed decisions about where and when to visit.
The federal government is renewing the Canada Strong Pass, starting this week (Dec. 12) and continuing over the holiday period through Jan. 15. It will once again offer free admission to national historic sites, national parks and national marine conservation areas operated by Parks Canada and a 25% discount on camping fees.
By Harding Bush/ No matter how carefully you plan, flight disruptions can strike anytime. Bad weather, mechanical issues, volcanic ash, wildfires or even air traffic reductions mandated by the government, can disrupt flights for hours – or overnight.
A tentative deal has yielded big wage gains for Air Transat pilots, the culmination of nearly a year of bargaining and 10 straight days of intense negotiations that saw wages emerge as the main sticking point.
WestJet and Scandinavian Airlines System (SAS) have announced a reciprocal codeshare partnership, offering guests on both sides of the Atlantic enhanced access to a broader network of destinations all with the ease of a single booking.
Club Med has announced its second Canadian resort – Club Med Tremblant in Québec – marking a strategic expansion of company in North America and building on the successful opening of Club Med Québec Charlevoix in 2021.
Flight Centre celebrated the company’s 30th anniversary in Canada earlier this week at head office in Toronto with senior leaders reflecting three decades of achievement, while sharing what’s ahead in 2026 and beyond.
Carnival is offering a unique opportunity for travel advisors to experience Celebration Key in February and March through a new program called Partners in Paradise. Agents can qualify to get an inside look at Carnival’s newest exclusive destination while learning about the potential for business growth through partnership with the cruise line.
Zambia is one of Africa’s best-kept secrets and a safari lover’s paradise. With its vast wilderness, stunning landscapes and rich biodiversity, Zambia offers some of the most authentic safari experiences on the continent. Home to 20 national parks, 36 game management areas, the country provides numerous opportunities to witness the Big 5 and beyond in their natural habitat
Air Transat passengers breathed a sigh of relief Tuesday evening after the company reached a tentative deal with its pilot union, narrowly avoiding a strike on the cusp of the holiday travel period.
By Michael Baginski/ Visit Orlando and a dozen of its top theme park, attraction, hotel and transportation partners delivered a dose of Orlando sunshine to Hamilton and Toronto last week for the destination’s annual Canada trade mission, demonstrating that the destination has “not taken it’s foot off the pedal” when it comes to the Canadian market.
Artificial intelligence is a net positive for travel, according to a show-of-hands after a lively debate that rounded off the Technology Summit at this year’s WTM London. The role of AI in travel was debated by two teams who considered the straightforward proposition of whether the now ubiquitous tech is “the enemy of travel?”
This week: Türkiye was a treasure with Collette for a group of Canadian agents; Onvigo advisors celebrated their independence, and Flight Centre Travel Group unveiled a “transformative” new corporate tool.