Hurricane Melissa is forecast to reach the southern coast of Jamaica as a major hurricane late today (Monday) or Tuesday morning and people on the island have been urged to seek shelter immediately as the slowly moving storm threatens to dump over 1,000 mm (40 inches) of rain on some areas of the island.
Accessibility is moving from the margins to the mainstream of Canadian travel. A Flight Centre survey conducted by YouGov reveals that 42% of Canadians place high importance on accessibility when making their travel plans. This figure outpaces even the most recent Statistics Canada data: that 27% of Canadians aged 15 and older – and a striking 40.4% of individuals 65 and older – are affected by disability.
The FAA issued a temporary ground stop Sunday at Los Angeles International Airport – one of the world’s busiest airports – soon after the U.S. secretary of transportation predicted that travellers would see more flights delayed and cancelled in the coming days as U.S. air traffic controllers work without pay during the federal government shutdown.
Viking named its nine newest river ships – including the company’s 100th ship – during a simultaneous ceremony last week that spanned six countries. The main celebration took place in Basel, Switzerland, on board the Viking Honir, and was connected virtually to the eight other new ships located across five additional countries.
Madrid’s streets were baa-dly jammed last weekend – not by protesters or soccer fans but by a flock of sheep and goats being led through the Spanish capital in an annual festival that honours the area’s rural heritage.
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.
By Michael Baginski/ Heading south for the winter has been a Canadian ritual for generations, but this winter a dramatic new shift in Canadian travel trends is emerging, according to the Travel Health Insurance Association of Canada – one that threatens to see snowbirds roosting at home rather flying the Canadian winter coop.
Air Canada plans to launch flights to the U.S. out of Toronto’s island airport in a bid for business passengers that marks a direct challenge to rival Porter Airlines. The airline announced Thursday it will fly planes between Billy Bishop airport (YTZ) and New York (LaGuardia), Boston, Chicago (O’Hare) and Washington, D.C.’s (Dulles), starting next spring for a total of 10 daily return flights.
Visit St. Pete-Clearwater, which counts Dunedin, Fla., – spring training home of the Toronto Blue Jays – among its constituencies, says it “couldn’t be prouder” that the team has reached the World Series this year for the first time in 32 years.
For the first time in nearly 2,000 years, visitors to Rome’s world-renowned Colosseum have the opportunity to walk through a hidden imperial passage that once allowed Roman emperors to reach the ancient amphitheater unseen. The once-secret corridor – known as the “Commodus Passage” and named after the Roman emperor turned into a pop icon by Ridley Scott’s movie “Gladiator” – opens to the next week (Oct. 27) marking an extraordinary milestone in archaeological preservation and access.
By Wallace Immen/ With a secret announcement to insiders, Scenic Group revealed its latest luxury exploration ship – Scenic Ikon – will join the Scenic Discovery Yacht Fleet for its inaugural season in 2028. And its inaugural voyage from Venice in April 2028 is apparently already sold out.
Passengers are living digital-first lives. They manage their finances, health, and mobility from their phones. But when it’s time to fly, they’re often still asked to queue, print, and repeat. And that has to change, according to leading aviation industry IT provider SITA, which says passengers are simply demanding that the aviation industry catch up to them.
At the time when the dollar is dipping, AI is reshaping jobs, and burnout feels like the new normal, Flight Centre Canada has declared 2026 the Year of R&R Travel – “reconnection and renewal” – unveiling 10 trends that show how resilient Canadians are adapting.
By Michael Baginski/ The Visit Portugal Roadshow rolls into Vancouver today (Oct. 23) after stops in Toronto and Montreal earlier in the week, giving over 300 travel advisors and tour operators a chance to catch up on the latest news from one of travel’s bona fide “it” destinations, and one that is particularly popular with Canadians.
With G Adventures set to mark the close of its 2025 educational travel program in December, the Toronto-based tour company is already looking ahead to next year, announcing a series of trips that will see travel advisors FAM-ing it up in a wide range of destinations across the globe, from Ireland to Egypt, and Korea to Peru.
The Louvre reopened on Wednesday to long lines beneath its landmark Paris glass pyramid, three days after one of the highest-profile museum thefts of the century stunned the world for its audacity and scale.
The Niagara District Airport has been part of Niagara’s skies since 1929, witnessing aviation’s evolution from risky early flights to today’s modern operations. Now marking its 96th anniversary, it has grown from its beginnings on the edge of St. Catharines into the certified general aviation hub it is today at 468 Niagara Stone Rd. in Niagara-on-the-Lake.
By Michael Baginski/ It’s certainly no secret that Canadian travel patterns have changed this year, as many travellers look beyond the U.S. for alternative destinations that are not imposing tariffs or teasing about statehood. Indeed, data from Statistics Canada bears out what we all know anecdotally, but it also provides interesting nuance and perspective on how Canadians really feel about travel to Trump’s America – and where else they’re going.
Score one for Canadian passport holders, who have overtaken Americans in terms of their visa-free access to the world. The Henley Passport Index ranks Canada in 9th place for how many countries Canadian citizens can visit without needing to apply for a visa. The U.S. passport is in 12th place.
Air Canada Vacations has launched a loyalty program for the travel trade. The new ACV Groups Excellence Loyalty Program, a first for ACV, is designed exclusively to reward travel partners for their ongoing support and success in selling groups.
This week: TRAVELSAVERS CANADA is celebrating 25 years; and both Tauck and Oceania Cruises introduced enhanced version of the agent specialist/rewards programs.
Six months ago, Flair Airlines announced “Flair FWD,” a series of “transparent and customer-centric” experience enhancements the ultra-low-cost carrier (ULCCD) promised will “deliver the best value in the Canadian skies without losing the affordable prices.” So, where does the airline’s bold initiative stand, er, fly?
Celebrating its 75th anniversary in 2025, Club Med this year accelerated its global expansion with plans for new ski resort projects in Canada and Italy. Simultaneously, Club Med plans to soon unveil major renovations at its flagship Punta Cana resort, while preparing to launch groundbreaking resorts in South Africa and Malaysia.
As evidenced by destinations such as Antarctica, Greenland, and the Arctic Circle witnessing higher demand for activities like ice climbing, glacier trekking, polar diving, and wildlife expeditions, the extreme tourism trend is fuelled by travellers’ desire for raw, pristine landscapes and the appeal of experiencing regions most affected by climate change before they transform further.
Police arrested a man at Atlanta’s bustling airport on Monday after getting a tip from his family that he was planning to shoot up the place, and found an assault-style rifle and ammunition in his truck outside, the city’s police chief said.
Hawaiʻi stands apart as a place where nature, culture, and community come together in incredible ways. Across the islands, remarkable experiences await, ranging from dramatic landscapes and iconic landmarks to distinctive flavours that reflect the islands’ history and traditions. Each island offers something unique, yet all share the same enduring spirit of aloha that defines Hawaiʻi’s greatest treasures.
By Michael Baginski/ Vienna stands out as a culture landmark of Europe, but next year the Austrian capital is sinking its teeth into a new theme – it’s food. In 2026, many of the activities of the Vienna Tourist Board will be dedicated to the theme of culinary delights. At the centre is Viennese cuisine – the only cuisine in the world named after a city.
The final cruise ship of the 2025 season, Coral Princess, departed from the Canada Place cruise terminal in Vancouver today (Tuesday) marking the end of a cruise season in which 301 cruise ships called in the city, delivering 1.2 million passengers since March 5. The successful 2025 season follows several record seasons, with preliminary bookings indicating another strong year to come in 2026.
A German museum was unexpectedly overrun last week by Taylor Swift fans because one of its paintings bears a striking resemblance to the opening scene of Swift’s current No. 1 hit video, “The Fate of Ophelia.”
By Michael Baginski/ Given the “current environment,” it’s not surprising that Canadian travel to the U.S. is suffering a “serious decline,” says an executive for Brand USA, who nevertheless suggests that things could be worse, even if Mexico has recently surpassed Canada as the U.S.’s top international source market for visitors.