By David Koo/ When most people picture an emergency medical evacuation, they imagine flashing lights, sirens and helicopters landing on a hospital rooftop. That’s the Hollywood version. In reality, the farther you travel from civilization, the stranger – and more inventive – an emergency medical rescue becomes.
Amidst a “rebellion” by Canadian travellers against travelling to the U.S., Donald Trump is predicting that Canadians will travel south of the border again after a trade deal between the two countries is ultimately reached.
Air Transat has begun its summer 2026 route roll-out with the announcement of new international routes and annualization of several southern services from Montreal, Quebec City and Toronto – with “further developments” to follow in the coming weeks.
By Michael Baginski/ Coinciding with new flights from Toronto, the Guadeloupe Islands are upping the ante in Canada with the appointment of Toronto-based representation firm VoX International to promote the appeal of the French Caribbean archipelago in this country. And the first order of business was a trade event in Toronto on Tuesday evening hosted by the islands’ tourist board.
ACTA has launched its 2026 membership drive with the organization inviting members of the travel trade to not only support their national trade association, but be part of a community with a powerful voice that is committed to advocating for travel agencies and travel advisors across Canada.
ADM Aéroports de Montréal is advising passengers that its multi-level P5 parking lot located in front of the YUL terminal will be closing to the public on Oct. 15 and from that date users will need to choose a different parking lot on the airport site. Moreover, with fewer spaces available – especially during peak periods during the week – travellers who wish to drive to the airport are strongly advised to reserve their parking space online or, better still, use public transportation.
With Royal Caribbean’s new Legend of the Sea preparing to set sail next July in the Mediterranean, followed by Caribbean Island hops from Fort Lauderdale in November, the cruise line is offering the latest look at – and opened bookings for – its new Icon class vessel, which it promises will raise the bar for guests with more dining spots, new entertainment and ways to play.
Canada is having a moment. This week, our home and native land was named among the Top 10 Countries in the World in the 2025 US Condé Nast Traveler Readers’ Choice Awards, one of the most respected accolades in global travel.
The World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC) has released a landmark report revealing that the Travel & Tourism sector is on course to support one in three new jobs worldwide by 2035. However, the “Future of the Travel & Tourism Workforce’ report warns that demographic and structural shifts could create a workforce shortfall of more than 43 million people if left unaddressed.
The head of a central Newfoundland airport is warning the public after staff noticed an increase in people who appear to have been victims of a manipulative scheme known as “catfishing.” And it’s a scam that could be spreading across the country.
This week: Air Canada named its Circle of Excellence award winners, among them The Travel Agent Next Door (banner photo); TDC and Ensemble introduced new agencies; The St. Kitts Tourism Authority has launched a travel advisor board and is seeking members; and Quark Expeditions has a convenient new feature for agents in its Partner Portal.
With the first direct Air Canada flight from Montreal to Guatemala City having landed at La Aurora International Airport on Oct. 2, and subsequent ceremony that followed, the Guatemala Tourism Institute (INGUAT) and tourism officials from both countries hailed the new route amidst a growing presence for the Central American country, now including Canada.
Virgin Voyages is introducing VoyageFair Choices, a new fare model, starting this week. The cruise line says the tiered system was created directly in response to customer feedback and features four primary goals: better price transparency, make fares easier to compare across the industry, offer more flexible and competitive options for different budgets, and to respond to clients’ and travel advisors’ call for more choice.
By Michael Baginski/ The days of Jamaican patties on the buffet are long gone, but travel advisors across the country are nevertheless getting a generous helping of love from TravelBrands at three agent appreciation events this week, with close to 1,500 people expected across the launches, the first of them held in Vancouver last night (Monday), with Toronto and Montreal following on Wednesday (Oct. 8) and Thursday (Oct. 9) respectively. They are the first shows in 18 months by the tour company and the first in Vancouver since before the pandemic.
Popular Cuba Tourist Board director Lessner Gomez is heading home after six years in Canada, to be replaced by Gihana Galindo, who, for the past three years, has served as Commercial Director at the Ministry of Tourism of Cuba, where she has collaborated with Canadian tour operators, giving her strong familiarity with the market and its key players.
American Express Global Business Travel (Amex GBT and SAP Concur have announced a strategic alliance to launch a new integrated travel and expense platform designed to reshape how technology and services come together in managed travel.
The Los Cabos Tourism Board’s new brand campaign, “Where the Land Ends, Your Story Begins.”elevates the popular Canadian getaway as a holistic luxury and wellness destination, while inviting travellers to create personal connections and unforgettable memories in the destination.
Globus family of brands (gfob) says will debut its most comprehensive and innovative portfolio ever in 2026 – 590 guided and independent vacations worldwide that includes 44 new tours, and featuring seven new Small Group Discovery itineraries, bringing the high-profile collection to 61 tours worldwide.
Not even half of the spots in the 48-team field have been claimed. The schedule of matches won’t be finalized until December. And other than host nations Canada, the U.S. and Mexico, nobody has any idea where or when they’ll be playing. Yet, millions of soccer fans worldwide evidently don’t seem to mind any of those points.
A working paper from IATA that suggested raising the retirement age of pilots to help mitigate a shortage of personnel across the industry was soundly rejected by the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) at its 42nd Assembly in Montreal.
Hopes for a quick end to the U.S. government shutdown faded Friday as Democrats refused to budge in a Senate vote and President Donald Trump readied plans to unleash layoffs and cuts across the federal government. And with no further votes plans for a vote over the weekend, travellers faced another uncertain week with warnings that if the situation goes on long enough, it could potentially lead to longer airport wait times, flight delays and even cancellations.
G Adventures brought together over 700 “changemakers” from around the globe, including travel agents, partners, suppliers, media, and travellers, for its third annual GX World Community Tourism Summit. Taking place in Amman, Jordan, the milestone event, which marked the travel company’s 35th anniversary, coincided with World Tourism Day.
Allianz Global Assistance Canada (Allianz) has launched an expanded telemedicine service that allows customers travelling in over 80 countries to schedule both virtual and in-person medical care quickly and easily. The new digital appointment booking capability is operated in partnership with Air Doctor, providing insured customers with an additional way to access their insurance benefits and take care of common illnesses and injuries during their international trip.
Germany’s Munich Airport reopened Saturday morning after authorities shut it down the night before for the second time in less than 24 hours after two additional drone sightings, officials said. The closures are the latest after mysterious drone overflights in the airspace of European Union member countries.
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.
Let’s face it, the value of our dollar sucks, hovering in the low 70s-cent range (against the US greenback) and having recently dubiously descended to near 20-plus-year lows. Remember the heady days of 2011 when the loonie was actually worth $1.06 U.S?
Entry to the United States and other countries may prove problematic for Canadian citizens who list “X” as their gender on their passports, the government has warned in a recent online Global Affairs update.
The core of Hurricane Imelda was moving past Bermuda early Thursday as weather conditions were expected to improve around the tiny British territory that reported major power outages and downed trees, but no injuries. A tropical storm warning remained in effect after the weather system swiped the island and then lost strength.
Jane Goodall, the intellectual, soft-spoken conservationist renowned for her groundbreaking, immersive chimpanzee field research in which she documented the primates’ distinct personalities and use of tools, has died. She was 91.
Prominent Canadian travel industry figure Joseph (Joe) Adamo has announced his intention to retire from Transat A.T. as of Dec. 31, setting in motion a reorganization of the company’s commercial leadership team.