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FORT LAUDERDALE SERVING UP A SIZZLING SUMMER

Known as a vibrant melting pot with residents from more than 170 countries, Greater Fort Lauderdale’s richly diverse community has long shaped its inclusive dining scene. This summer, that global influence takes centre stage as Visit Lauderdale kicks off a season of culinary celebration marked by the return of Dine Out Lauderdale restaurant months, first-time MICHELIN guide recognitions, and notable new restaurant openings.

SELL AND SAVE AS A LAUDERDALE LOYALIST

Visit Lauderdale’s ‘Lauderdale Loyalist’ program is an interactive training and sales experience for travel advisors designed to help sell the South Florida destination, but also to provide deals and discounts that can help agents discover Greater Fort Lauderdale for themselves.

BEAUTY AND THE BEAST: The two sides of America at IPW

By Michael Baginski/   IPW wasn’t a doozy – at least in the way I predicted in this space a week ago. To be clear, the annual U.S. Travel Association tradeshow was absolutely first rate thanks to the organizers, and particularly host city Chicago; however, any anticipated fireworks inside the show were quickly doused by a thorough glossing over by U.S. Travel and Brand USA of the affairs going on outside the convention space.

MAINE MAKES AMENDS FOR TRUMP’S CANADA STANCE

Maine’s governor is in the Maritimes today (Monday) with hopes a charm offensive will slow the rapid drop in Canadian tourist visits to her state. In a release issued Friday, Janet Mills says she’s aware the historically close relationship between New England and its northern neighbours has been challenged by U.S. president Donald Trump’s tariffs and his rhetoric about Canada becoming the 51st state. 

WESTJET CYBERATTACK STILL A MYSTERY

The recent cyberattack against WestJet remains unresolved, as questions linger about the nature and fallout of the breach. The airline said last week it was working to assess whether sensitive data or customers’ personal information was compromised after hackers accessed its internal systems.

AIR TRANSAT EYES ISTANBUL

Air Transat will launch a new year-round non-stop route between Toronto and Istanbul starting Dec. 6, operating twice weekly, on Tuesdays and Saturdays. Air Transat and Turkish Airlines have also established an interline partnership aimed at strengthening air service between Canada and Türkiye, while offering travel options to destinations across the Middle East, Asia and Africa.

NOT PRETTY IN PINK: Activist sprays paint on Picasso at Montreal museum

A climate activist group claimed responsibility for spraying pink paint on a rare Pablo Picasso painting at a Montreal museum last week. Last Generation Canada says an activist smeared washable paint on the 1901 painting L’hétaïre at the Montreal Museum of Fine Arts. 

ROUND-UP: June 16-20, 2025

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.

FEDS, ISRAEL, HELP CANADIANS FLEE MIDDLE EAST

The federal government will help Canadians in Israel and Iran to fly home once they reach neighbouring countries, Foreign Affairs Minister Anita Anand said Thursday. With airports closed across the region, Ottawa has stationed consular officials on the other side of certain crossings on the Israeli and Iranian borders to help those fleeing either country to get home.

COMPETITION BUREAU RECOMMENDS MAJOR AIR INDUSTRY REFORM

Canada should allow up to 100% foreign ownership of domestic-only airlines, the Competition Bureau says in a new report highlighting the country’s “highly concentrated” aviation industry. In a market study released Thursday, the watchdog suggested a new class of airline that operates only in Canada but could have owners from outside its borders, opening the gate to global expertise – and cash.

SMART TRAVEL WITH YOUR SMARTPHONE: How to avert swipe-and-run phone-snatching trend

If you haven’t heard, smartphone snatching is a thing. A friend of TIT recently had hers snatched out of her hand while walking down a busy sidewalk in a major European city, describing two young people hopping a curb on a scooter in broad daylight and absconding with the device in a lightning quick drive-by strike.

A TRUE TASTE OF MEXICO AT CITY’S TOP RESTAURANT

Quintonil is not your typical Mexican restaurant. Clients book tables months in advance to celebrate special occasions. The World’s 50 Best list ranked it as the most acclaimed venue in the country in 2024 – and No. 7 worldwide. But once in a while something unexpected happens: food brings guests to tears.

THE NEW TRAVEL PRIORITIES: Expedia reveals forces fuelling travel bookings in 2025

Expedia Group’s latest research reveals significant shifts in how travellers plan and book travel compared to previous years, including a surge in social media influence and the impact of trust. Drawing on insights from over 11,000 consumers across 11 global markets including Canada, the 2025 Traveller Value Index offers a valuable roadmap for travel brands seeking to meet evolving expectations.

ACTA appoints Suzanne Acton-Gervais as new President

Following an extensive and thorough recruitment process, the Association of Canadian Travel Agencies and Travel Advisors (ACTA) is pleased to announce  the appointment of Suzanne Acton-Gervais as its new President, effective July 10, 2025. She succeeds Wendy Paradis who announced her retirement earlier this year following a successful tenure leading the association.

AGE HAS IT’S BENEFITS: Elderly aircraft still provide essential services.

Each morning, travellers and cargo take off from Montreal’s Trudeau airport for a 1,600-kilometre flight to Puvirnituq in northern Quebec aboard a nearly 50-year-old Air Inuit plane. This seasoned Boeing 737 previously cruised the skies above Europe and Central Africa for now-defunct carriers in France, Gabon and the Congo. But now its trips are all-Canadian, shuttling people, food and building materials between the country’s second-biggest city and a village of 2,100. 

72 HOURS IN ETHIOPIA

By Nicole Evatt/    As we darted through Addis Ababa’s morning rush hour, my jet lag couldn’t dull the energy of Ethiopia’s capital. We wove through crowds of office workers headed to high-rises and families leading goats home for Orthodox Christmas feasts while our guide explained how one needs at least three weeks to fully experience his country.

CANADA COMPASS: Jasper Dark Sky Festival

Since starting in 2011, the Jasper Dark Sky Festival has steadily grown in popularity and become a signature event for Jasper National Park. Dark sky tourism, a subset of ecotourism, is focused on experiencing the night sky in areas with minimal light pollution and allowing visitors to appreciate natural phenomena such as auroras and eclipses.

ADVENTURE THE DOMINICAN WAY

The Dominican Republic’s reputation for pristine beaches and luxurious resorts is well-established, but beneath this polished exterior beats the heart of an adventure seeker’s paradise.

TRENDING DESTINATIONS AND OPPORTUNITIES TO WATCH

Kensington recently released its inaugural Kensington Travel Trends Report, offering an extensive list of insights and trends on traveller behaviours that are currently influencing client preferences. They range from off-peak and off-the-beaten-path travel to solo and personalized journeys. With this in mind, the Toronto-based travel company has highlighted five special destinations it says are poised to stand out this year and beyond.

RETAIL ROUND-UP: Agent news, fams & incentives

This week: Virtuoso hosted its first Impact Summit and named a new GM for Canada; Celebrity celebrated TTAND; the top agencies and partners of TRAVELSAVERS was revealed; and Air Canada Vacations is set for ‘Simply the Best’ awards for at-home agents.

NEW AIRPORT A BOOST FOR CAMBODIA TOURISM

Cambodia expects that its new airport serving the capital will open in July in a major step forward in boosting the country’s lucrative tourism sector, whose growth was interrupted by the coronavirus pandemic.

MULLING THE KINTYRE TRAIL AND OTHER SENSATIONAL SCOTTISH HIKES

With miles of coastline, plus impossibly scenic highlands and valleys, Scotland rates as one of the world’s great hiking destinations. And with the northern European country easier to get to than ever for Canadians thanks to new direct Air Canada flights launching from Montreal to Edinburgh this month (June), plus existing direct flights from YYZ to EDI, it’s an ideal time for those looking to lace up the hiking boots and hit the trails.

IMPOSSIBLE TO IGNORE: Spain a victim of its own success

Spain could receive as many as 100 million tourists this year – twice as many people as live in the country – which the nation’s economy minister says poses challenges for residents that the government can no longer afford to ignore. Last year, Spain received a record 94 million international visitors making it one of the most visited countries in the world.

CANADA COMPASS: The power of Pow Wows and where to see them this summer

Canada continues to be recognized as a global leader in Indigenous tourism, with several Pow Wows celebrated annually. More recently, Indigenous tourism and experiences have gained greater attention as travellers increasingly seek meaningful and culturally rich experiences.

WORLD OCEAN MONTH: Sandals guests can help restore coral reefs

In celebration of World Ocean Month in June Sandals Resorts and its philanthropic arm, the Sandals Foundation, have unveiled an expansion of the company’s coral restoration efforts across the Caribbean, with new experiences in The Bahamas and Curaçao. The programs join existing conservation efforts in Jamaica, Saint Lucia, and Grenada, inviting resort guests to become part of the brands’ commitment to protecting the region’s precious underwater ecosystems.

THIS COULD BE A DOOZY: US IPW trade show kicks off in Chicago

by Michael Baginski/-Chicago is the place to be for the travel trade this week as U.S. Travel hosts its signature IPW trade show, where U.S. suppliers and destinations – and the host city, of course – pull out all the stops to put on a show for the world and position the U.S. as a pre-eminent place to visit. At the same time, the event never fails to capture the zeitgeist of the host country – both in travel and in general – and, as such, this year ought to be a doozy.

WITH ELBOWS UP WHO IS TRAVELLING IN CANADA THIS SUMMER?

From the front desk of Hotel Bedford in Goderich, Ont., Lynda Cross welcomes guests from regions ranging from southern Ontario to the South Pacific. “A lot of them come from Toronto,” said the manager, standing just inside the Romanesque arches of the 129-year-old establishment. “Just lately, we’ve had a few groups come from Australia” – a first, she said.

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