It’s only fitting that the new border bridge connecting Windsor and Detroit is named after Canadian hockey legend Gordie Howe, whose “elbows up” philosophy personified his robust style of play, after Donald Trump threatened this week to stall the opening of the soon-to-open mega structure.
As Canadian airlines and tour operators suspend operations in Cuba due to the nation’s ongoing fuel crisis, the Travel Industry Council of Ontario is providing guidance on registrants’ responsibilities.
This week: ACTA releases its Accessible Travel Advisor Directory; Nexion benefits from industry interest; Kensington commits to travel agents; Visit Orlando introduces a new tool for agents; Atout France announces trade show dates; and Emerald and Scenic Cruises hit the road to host info sessions in 25 Canadians cities.
Air travel continues to grow, yet is constrained by two key problems, says IATA, which released its 2025 passenger market performance results showing 5.3% growth – 7.1% international, 2.4% domestic – over 2024. Load factors were 83.6%.
A study by online travel agency Exoticca.com has revealed the most popular hiking trails in Southeast Asia. The travel specialists ranked paths across 11 countries using AllTrails data, scoring each route based on hiker ratings, review numbers, and popularity to find which trails pull in the most foot traffic and positive feedback.
Canadians in Cuba are waiting for flights home after the suspension of service by all three major Canadian airlines as an energy crisis worsens in the nation amid a U.S. oil blockade. Air Canada, WestJet and Air Transat each said on Monday that they were cancelling flights to Cuba, citing a shortage of aviation fuel.
WestJet is expanding its domestic network with new non-stop summer service between Calgary (YYC) and Sault Ste. Marie, Ont. (YAM), North Bay, Ont. (YYB) and Campbell River, B.C. (YBL). The airline is also adding non-stop seasonal service between Terrace, B.C. (YXT) and Edmonton (YEG), strengthening domestic connectivity within Western Canada.
Flair Airlines has named Len Corrado as Chief Executive Officer. Effective Feb. 9, the former president of Sunwing Airlines replaces Maciej Wilk as part of planned transition at the company.
By Michael Baginski/ Colorado is set to double down on the festivities this year: not only is the Rocky Mountain state celebrating America 250, the country’s 250th anniversary, but the state has its own 150th birthday on the calendar.
Coming off a record year, Goway is expanding its GroupsOnly leadership team and holding a sweepstakes for travel advisors in February. The tour company saw 25% growth in sales and 100 groups bookings made in December alone.
The Mexican state of Jalisco has issued a health alert as a measles outbreak hit the state capital, Guadalajara, a key host city for the upcoming 2026 FIFA World Cup.
Anxieties simmered in Havana over the weekend as Cuban President Migual Diaz-Canel warned that U.S. efforts to block oil supplies would take a heavy toll on the Caribbean nation and asked Cubans to endure further sacrifices to weather the impending hardship.
VisitBritain is advising that the ETA (Electronic Travel Authorisation) program will be strictly enforced for visitors to the UK – including Canadians – effective Feb. 25. From that date onward, travellers without an approved ETA will not be permitted to board transportation to the UK or enter the country.
Air Transat operated its first flights to Rio de Janeiro (GIG) last week, including marking the only service between Montreal and the Brazilian city. Flight TS272 departed Toronto Pearson International Airport (YYZ) on Wednesday evening, Feb. 4, while flight TS274 took off from YUL Montréal-Trudeau International Airport on Thursday evening, Feb. 5.
Tourists to Milan during the Winter Olympics hoping to see Leonardo da Vinci’s “The Last Supper” were in for an unwelcome surprise: Access to the masterpiece was closed to the public for 3-1/2 days.
Global business travel professionals are cautiously optimistic as 2026 unfolds ─ despite concerns over balancing travel budgets with costs, traveller safety and satisfaction, and potentially stricter U.S. border and visa requirements.
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.
Introducing Marek Andryszak, the new president of Sunwing Vacations Group. Effective March 16, the travel industry veteran (banner photo) will take the reigns from the retiring Andrew Dawson, the WestJet Group said Thursday.
Porter Airlines inaugurated nonstop flights between Montreal-Trudeau International Airport and Nassau, Bahamas on Thursday, marking the airline’s first Caribbean service from Montreal. The winter seasonal service will operate up to three times weekly and complement existing service from Toronto Pearson and Ottawa.
With the golf season approaching, Tourism Ireland celebrated the country’s long history on the links at a recent Toronto trade event, as well as looking ahead, in particular, to the Ryder Cup – one of the sports pre-eminent events – which will take place on the Emerald Isle in 2027.
Just in time for the Super Bowl on Sunday, Visit California has announced a new partnership with the National Football League (NFL) that makes the Golden State an Official Partner of the NFL in Canada.
Pointing to new air routes from Canada and arrivals from this country up 15% since November over the same period the previous year, the Cuba Tourist Board in Toronto is countering the recent narrative that the island’s tourism industry has become unstable under the gaze of Donald Trump.
Transport Minister Steven MacKinnon says he will not interfere with the work of regulators after Donald Trump threatened to decertify Canadian-built planes unless the government greenlights Gulfstream business jets.
By Michael Baginski/ The Arizona Office of Tourism called in Canada this week – an annual reverse migration to Toronto and Vancouver designed to emphasize the state’s long-standing relationship with this country, unperturbed by any other rhetoric that may be emanating across the 49th parallel.
The Bahamas Ministry of Tourism, Investments & Aviation is reporting a historic new milestone for the nation’s tourism industry, welcoming an unprecedented 12.5 million visitors, the highest total ever recorded and marking back-to-back record years.
Luxury and experiential travel network Virtuoso has unveiled its next level of “epic experiences,” aggregated form its 2026 Luxe report – an annual forecast highlighting how, where and why savvy travellers will be exploring in the year ahead.
G Adventures and National Geographic Expeditions have unveiled ‘National Geographic Signature with G Adventures’ – a new collection of high-end travel experiences offering rare access to the world through the lens of National Geographic, focused on expert education and immersive experiences that ensure meaningful benefits for local communities.
Canadians are preparing to spend a record amount on travel this year, according to Allianz Global Assistance Canada’s (Allianz) latest Vacation Confidence Index Study. Total vacation spending is projected to reach an unprecedented $47.6 billion in 2026, a 22% increase over last year, signaling a resilient desire to travel despite financial headwinds.
By Crystal Greene/ Inuvik resident Harley Minakis was on his way home from visiting his daughter in Costa Rica last month – transiting via “Houston” airport – when a U.S. Customs and Border Protection officer stopped him.
Cayman Islands closed 2025 with record-breaking December visitation and continued positive momentum in stayover arrivals supported by strong airlift capacity, robust performance in key markets, and notable gains from Canada and the United States, reports the islands’ department of tourism.