This week: Virtuoso recognized its top cruise partners this month at Virtuoso Travel Week, while First in Service scored its own award. Also, Travel CUTS is planning a big reunion for staff and former staff in Toronto.
The Travel Industry Council of Ontario has announced details for its upcoming annual general meeting on Sept. 25 at 5 p.m. All TICO registrants and members of the public are invited to attend the virtual event, however only members in good standing are entitled to vote at the meeting.
As Syria’s world leaders continue to reestablish relations with the country’s new government after the end of 14 years of civil war, and a new US$4 billion airport expansion is in the works, experts are returning to the nation’s war-ravaged heritage sites, hoping to lay the groundwork for restoring them and reviving tourism to a country that had always been renowned as one of the most amazing places to visit in the Middle East.
Air Canada customers looking to lodge a complaint with the regulator over their experience during the flight attendants’ strike should prepare for a wait. The Canadian Transportation Agency says its backlog of air travel complaints stood at about 85,000 as of Aug. 14, two days before the strike started.
WestJet is adding Puerto Escondido to its route map for the first time, providing seasonal access for travellers between Calgary and the Pacific coast surf town in Oaxaca, Mexico. Beginning Dec. 12, the route will operate once per week throughout the winter travel season.
Thousands of people are painting a town red with tomato pulp today (Aug. 26), flinging the fruit at one another in the 80th anniversary of Spain’s famous “Tomatina” tomato street fight. The hourlong event – and official tourist attraction – brings 120 tons of overripe tomatoes to the eastern town of Buñol, where tarp-covered buildings flank a crowd of up to 22,000 participants awaiting their ammo.
The Grande Prairie Airport – whose history spans nearly 100 years – has acted as a hub connecting not only the Peace region of Alberta but the north to the world. Its history is being explored on a set of wall panels just before the security gate in the main terminal.
With the launch of the new Antigua Racing Cup in 2026, the Antigua and Barbuda Ministry of Tourism is doubling down on the twin islands’ top-class yachting attributes and introducing a new vision that builds on the on the long-established brand of Antigua Sailing Week.
Air Canada says more customers whose flights were cancelled during last week’s strike will be eligible for reimbursement for alternative travel and out-of-pocket expenses. And that includes passengers who booked their original Air Canada or Air Canada Rouge flights through a travel agency.
W Hotels has officially opened its first all-inclusive hotel. W Punta Cana marks a major milestone in the Marriott brands’ expanding portfolio beyond urban hotspots, escapes, and residences to debut in the adult all-inclusive segment.
Fewer Canadians have been heading south in recent months in response to U.S. President Donald Trump’s trade war with Canada, his comments about annexing the country and because of fears among travellers about treatment at the border. In the duty-free industry, less border traffic directly correlates to fewer sales.
Allianz Global Assistance Canada has announced that Shannon Lofdahl has joined the Cambridge, Ont.-based travel insurance and assistance company as Vice President and Head of Field Sales for North America.
In celebration of National Waffle Day on Aug. 24, Choice Hotels International, one of the world’s largest lodging franchisors, and its flagship hotel brand, Comfort Hotels, cast a spotlight on North American’s love for waffles with a survey that revealed the breakfast staple is far more than a morning meal – rather a cherished symbol of travel, connection, and joy.
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.
This year, as a trade war grinds on with the United States, Canadians who decide to vacation within their country are realizing their patriotism comes with a hefty price tag – and some are choosing to scale back their plans as costs spiral “out of control.”
Air Canada expected most of its North American routes to be back up and running on Thursday after resuming operations Tuesday following the conclusion of a strike by its flight attendants.
While turbulence-related fatalities are quite rare, the number of injuries has grown over the years. Some meteorologists and aviation analysts note that reports of turbulence encounters also have been increasing and point to what climate change may be doing to flying conditions. Several turbulence-impacted flights have been reported this year.
With Labour Day weekend fast approaching, many pet owners are gearing up for one last summer road trip. Allstate Insurance Company of Canada is launching a campaign to encourage Canadians to reconsider how they travel with their furry family members and prioritize their safety.
Air Canada says it is adopting a policy to cover “certain transportation expenses” incurred by customers while getting to their destinations during the recent work stoppage. The airline says it will reimburse customers for those costs if they had a cancelled flight originally scheduled to depart from Aug. 15 to Aug. 23, Air Canada was unable to rebook them, and they then made alternative arrangements themselves.
Flight delays and cancellations at major airports are prompting many travellers to adjust their plans according to the Global Rescue Summer 2025 Traveller Safety and Sentiment Survey.
Mariah Erkloo remembers as a child watching massive, gleaming vessels glide into her hamlet of Pond Inlet, Nunavut, bringing strangers to her Arctic home for a few hours before vanishing over the horizon. It wasn’t an altogether positive experience, she recalls.
Dedicated to uplifting communities through tourism, non-profit Planeterra has released its 2024 Impact Report, demonstrating the immense power of travel to fuel local economies and preserve cultural traditions worldwide. The report reveals that communities earned almost $3 million ($2,896,802) from the non-profit’s travel company partners in 2024, directly benefiting over 30,000 people across 51 countries.
The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey has announced a landmark collaboration with four premier New York City cultural institutions – the American Museum of Natural History, Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts, the Metropolitan Museum of Art, and the Museum of Modern Art – that will transform the new US$4.2 billion Terminal 6 (T6) at John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) into a distinctly New York arts district within the airport.
Air Canada is taking flight “in earnest” today (Wednesday) after the company reached a tentative deal with the union representing its flight attendants to end a strike that began Saturday morning. A full resumption of service may take up to 10 days, says the airline.
In announcing its tentative deal with the Air Canada on behalf of the airline’s flight attendants yesterday, the Canadian Union of Public Employees declared “unpaid work is over” after making it a central issue in its push for a new contract.
With Canadian and Mexican visits reduced to “just a drip,” tourism in Las Vegas is slumping this summer, with resorts and convention centres reporting fewer visitors compared to last year. And some officials are blaming the Trump administration’s tariffs and immigration policies for the decline.
Following a year of record bookings and what it is says is soaring demand for meaningful, connection-focused travel, Women Travel Tribe (WTT) will run 50 trips for women over 50 in 2026, tripling its women-only offerings, which are designed to embrace the notion that “the most meaningful part of travel is not the place, but the people they share it with.”
Lethbridge Airport (YQL) is taking measures to combat human trafficking by joining the “notinmycity” initiative. This initiative founded by country singer Paul Brandt in 2017 provides training for employees and the symbol of a yellow rose will soon be found in both the airport and the website to help give victims hope and spread awareness of human trafficking.
Visit California has launched a new Accessibility Hub, a comprehensive online resource designed to empower travellers with disabilities to explore the Golden State with greater ease and confidence. The initiative supports both travellers and industry professionals with tools, tips and curated content aimed at making California more inclusive and navigable for all.
Air Canada and the union representing its flight attendants have reached a tentative deal to end a strike that began on Saturday morning. The airline said it will gradually begin operations Tuesday.