What could be a better memorial to Queen Elizabeth II, Britain’s longest-reigning monarch, than a pod of faintly psychedelic giant lily pads? Perhaps a big bronze tree or a recording of the late monarch’s voice. All those ideas feature among the five finalists for a permanent London monument to Elizabeth, who died in September 2022 at the age of 96 after 70 years on the throne.
Porter Airlines phenomenal growth is set to take another giant step with the launch of the carrier’s first sun destination flights, which initially will include Mexico, the Caribbean and Costa Rica this winter. Porter supporters will be able to choose from five destinations and 13 routes originating from Toronto Pearson, Ottawa, and Hamilton, Ont. International Airport.
By Michael Baginski/- Not unlike its ubiquitous flying fish, Bahamas tourism is calmly skimming along above the surface of the world’s choppy waters and having a definitive moment in the sun, both generally and with its integral Canadian market.
While more than half of travellers are unconcerned about natural disasters disrupting their travel plans, that’s not the case when it comes to manmade trouble. According to the recent Spring 2025 Traveller Sentiment and Safety Survey conducted by Global Rescue, travellers are increasingly factoring geopolitical instability and civil unrest into their trip planning decisions, with a majority saying these risks influence not only where they go but whether they travel at all.
Royalton Luxury Resorts will launch a new adults-oriented brand in Barbados next year.
Maine Governor Janet Mills tried hard to convince a skeptical New Brunswick business crowd that people from the province had nothing to fear about travelling to her state. But when she and New Brunswick Premier Susan Holt took questions on Tuesday from a Chamber of Commerce audience in Fredericton, local financial adviser David Dennis said his own family member had serious anxiety about such a trip.
The Dominican Republic’s rich and diverse culinary flavours are an important part of the country’s history. Aside from its taste profiles, the region’s unique gastronomy is a lesson in every dish. The indigenous Taíno population, along with Spanish and African populations have called this island home, the latter bringing with them new ingredients and cooking methods that have helped shape Dominican cuisine into what it is today.
By Michael Baginski/ I’m usually the one asking the questions. But this year at IPW, the U.S. Travel Association interviewed me – on camera – about my views on Canadian travel south of the border during these troubled times. And as a Canadian, I told them we were pissed.
New England governors say tariffs and anti-Canadian rhetoric by the United States government is taking a bite out of tourism, with some states seeing a drop of up to 60% in visitors from north of the border. And they say they understand our hostility – and are ticked off too.
The International Air Transport Association (IATA) has accused the European Parliament of meddling in operational and commercial issues that it doesn’t understand, following moves to make cabin luggage allowance obligatory, regardless of whether the passenger needs it or not.
This week: Lovell is leaving Travel Leaders Network; TTAND is tops at TLN; FAM winners discover Nevada; and Tully’s Crystal vision.
Margaritaville at Sea says it is implementing a series of “impactful initiatives” designed to strengthen its commitment to the trade, including a full-scale push to reward, engage and empower travel advisors through an expanded Travel Trade team, improved sales tools, and exclusive perks, including FAMs and advisor rates.
The COVID-19 variant that may be driving a recent rise in cases in some parts of the world has earned a new nickname: “razor blade throat” COVID. That’s because the variant – NB.1.8.1. or “Nimbus” – may cause painful sore throats. The symptom has been identified by doctors in the United Kingdom, India and elsewhere, according to media outlets in those countries.
Dozens of airlines – including Air Canada – are cancelling more flights to the Middle East as the war between Israel/the U.S. and Iran escalates, including an attack by the latter on a U.S. military base in Qatar on Monday.
With Chicago now in the books, Fort Lauderdale is now on the clock for next year’s IPW, the U.S. Travel Association’s signature inbound travel trade show, to be held at Greater Fort Lauderdale/Broward County Convention Center from May 17-21. And as the future host, Visit Lauderdale shared a snapshot at last week’s IPW in the Windy City of what guests can expect from the South Florida destination in 2026.
Canadian airlines were once again flying high as this year’s prestigious World Airlines Awards, conducted by Skytrax. Dubbed “Oscars of the aviation industry,” the awards saw five Canadian carriers rank in the top 100 worldwide, as well as taking home hardware – including top spots – in several other categories.
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.
Air India is facing disruptions – including temporary service cuts to Canada – following the airline’s recent fatal crash. Additional safety inspections on its Dreamliner fleet have also led to flight delays and cancellations.
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.
Suitcases rattle against cobblestones. Selfie-snappers jostle for the same shot. Ice cream shops are everywhere. Europe has been called the world’s museum, but its record numbers of visitors have also made it ground zero for concerns about overtourism.
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’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.
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 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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.