Launched in early 2024, the Consumer Advisory Council (CAC) and Industry Advisory Council (IAC) play a crucial role in advising the Travel Industry Council of Ontario (TICO) Board of Directors and management on matters related to consumer protection, challenges and opportunities affecting Ontario’s travel industry and overall emerging trends.
The Japan National Tourism Organization (JNTO) is inviting Canadian travellers to venture beyond the bustling hubs of Tokyo, Kyoto, and Osaka and discover some of the country’s best-kept secrets.
Tolls on the Confederation Bridge linking Prince Edward Island to Canada’s mainland will drop sharply starting Aug. 1, along with several other Atlantic travel fees, the prime minister said Monday. Fulfilling a promise the Liberals made during the April election campaign, Mark Carney said the toll for an average vehicle will drop to $20 from $50.25 to cross the bridge.
Europe’s Travel Information and Authorization System (ETIAS) isn’t in effect yet and already the fee for visitors may potentially go up, prompting a coalition of organizations representing the European travel sector to warn that a price hike will put the continent’s travel competitiveness at risk.
With overtourism affecting many popular destinations, finding the road less travelled is a priority for many travellers, not least cyclists, whose enjoyment – and safety – can depend on rolling down the right route, far from congestion and crowds. The good news, says British-based Epic Road Rides, is that the world is not short of amazing cycling destinations that can be every bit as good as their more famous counterparts.
Calgary Airports has unveiled a refreshed brand identity that the company says reflects its optimistic and ambitious strategic direction, and deep connection to the Calgary region. The rebrand introduces a new logo, visual identity, tone and naming convention – each element inspired by YYC’s operation, the people who run it and the guests it serves.
Cunard has “come together” with Abbey Road Studios to bring a new and exclusive Listening Lounge experience to music lovers on board Queen Elizabeth. The luxury cruise line has partnered with the famed recording studio of The Beatles to create a series of curated playlists packed with iconic recordings, each specially handpicked by the Abbey Road team.
Resorts World New York City – the city’s only casino-hotel – has made a US$5.5 billion “once in a generation proposal” that would transform the historic 30-hectare Aqueduct racing site in Queens into the single-largest fully integrated resort and entertainment hub in the state with a possible opening date of July, 2026.
With less than a year to go until the 2026 FIFA World Cup, political tensions and U.S. policy threaten to pose problems as Canada, the United States and Mexico prepare to co-host tournament. With millions of fans expected to cross borders to attend the games, U.S. President Donald Trump’s harsh immigration policies – which include travel bans on some countries, immigration raids and mass deportations – are generating anxiety.
The union representing Air Canada flight attendants is urging a “strong mandate” to strike by members in voting that beings today. The process begins after the close to eight months of bargaining and the two sides completing the conciliation process without resolution last week. Voting continues through Aug. 5 and members will be eligible to strike effective Aug. 16.
School’s out for summer, and a growing number of Canadian adults want to be where the kids aren’t. According to a Flight Centre survey conducted by YouGov, 57% of Canadian travellers are prioritizing adults-only travel, while 75% would consider taking a booze-free trip this year.
Lawmakers on Maui have passed legislation aimed at eliminating a large percentage of the Hawaiian island’s vacation rentals to address a housing shortage exacerbated by the wildfire that destroyed most of Lahaina two years ago.
iryo and Discover the World have announced a strategic partnership aimed at enhancing awareness of Spanish high-speed train travel among international audiences. The collaboration will focus on promoting iryo’s extensive network and onboard offerings to travel trade partners around the globe.
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.
Canadian travellers appear to be embracing the role of artificial intelligence in the travel planning process, according to a new survey by Booking.com. The Global AI Sentiment Report reveals that nearly eight in 10 Canadians (78%) want to use AI in their future travel plans; however, only 4% fully trust it.
WestJet and Kenya Airways have announced a new interline partnership agreement that will enable WestJet guests to seamlessly travel to Nairobi, and beyond, with expanded access to 35 destinations across Africa.
You’re too busy to exercise, right? Your job consumes all your time. You’re strapped by professional and family demands. As you get more and more responsibility, your free time shrinks. Well, these blockers don’t have to be an excuse. Making time simply calls for creativity and a broader understanding of how to get in daily exercise.
A museum is like an iceberg. Most of it is out of sight. Most big collections have only a fraction of their items on display, with the rest locked away in storage. But not at the new V&A East Storehouse, where London’s Victoria and Albert Museum has opened up its storerooms for visitors to view – and in many cases touch – the items within.
A long-running experiment in green roofs is coming to an end. Like a growing A-list of Hollywood celebrities who have ripped out real grass and gone to synthetic greenery around their homes, Celebrity Cruises is phasing out the half acres of lawn on upper decks of its Solstice Class ships to install a high-tech artificial turf.
Singapore holds the crown as the world’s most powerful passport, with visa-free access to 193 destinations out of 227 globally, according to the latest Henley Passport Index. Canada dropped one place on the list, holding relatively steady at eighth globally in 2025 and sitting only nine countries behind the leader (and five out of third place).
The Trump administration has announced that it will once again withdraw from the U.N. cultural agency UNESCO, dealing a blow to an agency known for preserving cultural heritage through its UNESCO World Heritage Sites program, which recognizes significant landmarks for protection, ranging from the Taj Mahal to Egypt’s pyramids of Giza and the Grand Canyon National Park.
Expedia Travel Agent Affiliate Program (TAAP) has launched several new platform enhancements designed to help travel advisors work more efficiently and better serve their clients. Shaped directly by feedback from travel advisors around the world, TAAP says the updates provide powerful tools that simplify trip management, expand payment flexibility, and offer new ways to increase revenue.
Alex McConnachie couldn’t believe his eyes: When he checked Canadian North’s website Monday morning, it said the price of a one-way ticket from Ottawa to Iqaluit had more than tripled to approximately $2,000.
Walking, hiking, and trekking offer a uniquely human way to experience and connect to a place. Whether following world-renowned routes like the Tour du Mont Blanc or detouring on day hikes through beautiful landscapes, the hiking holiday continues to grow in popularity among the North American traveller, according to the Adventure Travel Trade Association (ATTA), which also reports that hiking, walking and trekking continue to be the primary activities that adventure travellers undertake on guided trips.
New Brunswick Premier Susan Holt says there’s no new money for heritage sites despite the operator of an anchor tourist attraction in the Saint Andrews area saying it would fold at the end of the year without more funding.
Most Canadians would be proud to be considered mean and “nasty” for standing up for their sovereignty and economy in the face of U.S. threats, B.C. Premier David Eby said Tuesday – a day after the U.S. ambassador said Canadians avoiding travel south of the border and banning American alcohol have raised the ire of President Donald Trump, and adding that such steps “don’t send positive signals” about Canada treating the United States well.
A new international study of prospective cruisers reveals the segment’s prioritization of iconic destinations, bundled value and wellness-focused experiences. The comprehensive report examines the attitudes, motivations and behaviours of these travellers from Canada, the U.S., U.K., and Germany – countries that together represent more than two-thirds of the global cruise market.
An uptick in last-minute bookings has travel advisors at TRAVELSAVERS Canada encouraged that summer and fall travel is still in the cards for many clients as they navigate economic circumstances and misgivings about travelling to the U.S.
This week: Air Transat and partners were Berlin bound; the world’s largest AI summit for the travel industry is set to return in October; and Fora Travel has put down roots in British Columbia.
The St. Vincent and the Grenadines Tourism Authority (SVGTA) has unveiled the Diamond Rewards Program, a shiny new initiative designed to recognize and reward travel advisors who passionately promote the destination.