When you picture hostels, you might envision worn-down buildings, dorm rooms packed with up to 30 beds, a non-stop party atmosphere, and exclusively for youth. However, over the past few years, this has changed dramatically with many hostels providing travellers with a modern, clean, and private setting that puts old ideas of hostels to bed.
Well, it finally happened. They caved. As of May 28 no more “Two Bags Fly Free” for Southwest flyers. Well at least not for all of them. As recently as last September, the airline that the iconic Herb Kelleher built, was denying that such a move would ever happen.
Travel Leaders Network (TLN) says it has seen a notable increase in website traffic to its consumer-facing site, TravelLeaders.com. Notably, analysis of search patterns and user behaviour revealed a growing interest in using travel advisors for the first time, as well as offering insights into evolving consumer travel trends and preferences throughout the year.
ITB Berlin, the world’s largest travel trade show, is set to launch an Americas edition in 2026. Focussing on “the entire American continent(s),” the show will take place in Guadalajara, Mexico, from Nov. 10 to 12. Notably, it will take place a week after the annual World Travel Market in London.
SpaceX’s latest Starship test flight last week ended with another disaster. This time, wreckage from the explosion was seen streaming from the skies over Florida. The space-skimming flight was supposed to last an hour. The latest failure comes after the Federal Aviation Administration gave SpaceX approval to launch despite an ongoing investigation into a previous explosion.
In the news this week: Transat Distribution, Trevello, Nexion, Virtuoso, Flight Centre, Ensemble-Windstar, and Air Transat-Morocco.
In honour of International Women’s Day (IWD) on March 8, Sunwing Airlines took the skies with two all-female crews on service to the south out of Toronto and Montreal. The annual initiative was meant to serve as a powerful symbol of women’s achievements in travel and the company’s longstanding dedication to fostering an inclusive environment.
One Caribbean Canada has launched its first Caribbean events calendar, now available on its website. The comprehensive new resource, offered in both English and French, highlights the diverse and vibrant events taking place across the Caribbean throughout the year.
Five years after COVID upended the world (the World Health Organization declared the coronavirus pandemic on March 11, 2020), the tourism industry’s revival is still up in the air. The sector, which employs two million Canadians, was hit harder by COVID-19 than nearly any other sector.
The weak Canadian dollar and the eroding relationship between the US and Canada may in fact bring a major boost to Quebec’s economy in 2025, says Alliance de l’industrie touristique du Québec. The tourism group calculated that Quebecers who cancel trips to the US and instead travel in the province will spend about $1.5 billion this year.
Canada has reached a first-time Blue Sky air transport agreement with Ghana, a West African country the government says is a “growing market.” The new agreement includes the right for Canada and Ghana to designate multiple airlines to operate scheduled air services between the two countries.
Airports Council International (ACI) World, in partnership with Amadeus, has announced the winners this years 2024 ASQ Airport Experience Awards – considered the benchmark for excellence in airport customer experience as determined exclusively by passengers. Three Canadian airports made the grade, but perhaps not the ones you might think.
Effective May 6, WestJet will accept new maximum carry-on baggage sizing to seamlessly align with common international cabin baggage dimensions adopted by other North American carriers and luggage manufacturers, including partner carrier, Delta Air Lines.
In celebration of International Women’s Day (March 8), Wild Women Expeditions, in partnership with Aurora Expeditions, has announced the launch of the first and only all-female Antarctic expedition designed by women, for women.
Like a good pizza delivery pledge, the federal government says it will process Canadians’ passport applications within 30 days or they’re free. Citizens’ Services Minister Terry Beech says that change is coming this year, along with an online renewal option that will launch in the summer.
A one-day strike by workers at 13 German airports, including the Frankfurt and Munich hubs and all the country’s other main destinations, caused the cancellation of most flights on Monday. The 24-hour walkout, which started at midnight, involves public-sector employees at the airports as well as ground and security staff.
Pro-Palestinian activists targeted US president Donald Trump’s Turnberry golf course and hotel in southwest Scotland on Saturday, painting “Gaza Is Not For Sale” in giant letters on the lawn and using red spray paint on the club house’s exterior wall.
With International Women’s Day celebrated on the weekend (March 8), G Adventures, is calling on travellers to rethink how they travel, with a list of simple actions that demonstrate how empowering women is something that can be weaved into holiday plans 365 days a year.
The discovery of a huge unexploded World War II-era bomb near the tracks by workers severed Paris’ high-speed rail links with London and Brussels on Friday, causing cascading disruptions to scores of other trains to and from France’s busiest railway station, the Gare du Nord in Paris, as well as chaos on roads in the capital as bomb-disposal experts worked to make the half-ton explosive safe.
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.
Nearly three-quarters of Americans surveyed after President Trump’s address to Congress this week believe they will be less welcome while travelling abroad in 2025 due to recent international policy proposals introduced by the US, which include the imposition of tariffs in Canada and Mexico.
ACTA says that travel to the US is now at risk thanks to the imposition/ threat of US tariffs on Canadian goods by Donald Trump’s administration. Canadians are also turned off by Trump’s assertion that Canada should be the US’s 51st state.
VisitBritain hosted a blockbuster film-inspired reception for travel trade in Toronto in support of its new global screen tourism campaign this week. The event followed similar gatherings in Dubai and Australia, with over a dozen more to come to launch the ‘Starring GREAT Britain’ campaign, which features a star-studded film drawing on iconic film and TV moments made in the UK.
They’re the (occasional) bane of beachgoers: tar balls – small, dark pieces of oil that annoyingly stick to one’s feet while walking in the sand, and which are difficult to clean. For some others, tar balls can cause rashes or allergic reactions. But where do they come from?
Goway has named industry veteran Dean Moore as Chief Operating Officer. The appointment comes as the Toronto-based travel company celebrates its 55th anniversary amid a sustained period of sustained growth, which included a major company rebrand in 2024.
Anger over the trade war set off by Donald Trump as well as a weak loonie have resulted in plummeting bookings to the US, report Canadian travel companies, which also say clients are switching their plans to other hotspot destinations.
A retirement and two promotions will change the look of the looking of the WestJet’s executive team as the integration between WestJet and Sunwing continues: Andrew Dawson has announced that he will step down early next year and Samantha (Sam) Taylor and Tanya Foster have immediately taken on important new roles.
Travellers should be aware of heightened risks associated with visiting countries experiencing potentially volatile national elections, advises leading travel risk and crisis management firm Global Rescue, which has released a risk assessment for countries with national presidential and parliamentary Elections in 2025. But breathe easy, Canada doesn’t rate – though some other destinations clearly do.
Four Seasons opened its first hotel in 1961 in Toronto, and since that time has become a global leader in luxury hospitality and branded residential, currently operating 133 hotels and resorts and 55 residential properties in major city centres and resort destinations in 47 countries. And there are more than 60 projects under planning or in development.
MSC Cruises is set for summer with a host of Mediterranean itineraries featuring both beaches and cityscapes; northern exposure in Iceland and the Norwegian fjords, and a first look at MSC World America, as she sails her inaugural summer season in the Caribbean.