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HYATT PROMPTS NEW LOOK FOR BAHIA PRINCIPE: New sub-brands reflect brand refresh

Bahia Principe Hotels & Resorts has refreshed its visual identity and brand architecture with the aim of strengthening its position in the all-inclusive segment and enhancing the booking experience. The new customer-centric structure simplifies the experience by organizing sub-brands into clearly defined adults-only and all-ages categories.

OLYMPICS FURTHERS MILAN’S TOURISM TRANSFORMATION

Milan has added the title of Olympic city to its long-held monikers as Italy’s fashion and finance capital, a legacy that crowns two decades of growth that reshaped the skyline and boosted investment, tourism and cultural life.

THAT WAS QUITE AN EVENING: Shooting raises questions about Trump security

A small army of Secret Service agents are mandated by Congress to keep the American president, his family, cabinet members and various dignitaries safe.  The American president is arguably the world’s most protected person, but the job is proving to be tricky.  “I can’t imagine that there’s any profession that is more dangerous,” Trump said of his job, just hours after the incident.

FORCE OF NATURE: How Canadian adventure travellers are helping shape tourism’s future

Adventure travel is no longer niche – it’s a trillion-dollar force shaping the future of tourism, according to the Adventure Travel Trade Association. In a recently released report, the ATTA says that globally, the majority of international travellers now fall into the “Open to Adventure” category. So, where do Canadians fit in?

WHO IS TRAVELLING TO ITALY, WHERE AND WHY

Italy continues to hold the world’s highest number of UNESCO World Heritage Sites – 61 in total – with Italian cuisine added to the list of intangible heritage in 2025. Its standing as a leading global cultural destination is firmly established. The deeper story lies in how travellers are interacting with that heritage: which cities are strengthening their appeal, how demand is redistributing geographically, and whether growing visitor volumes are affecting experience quality.

HOW AI HAS CHANGED TRAVEL PLANNING: TripGenie compares past three years

As AI becomes an everyday part of travel planning, one thing is increasingly clear: while the technology may be global, how travellers use it is anything but uniform. New data from TripGenie, Trip.com’s AI travel assistant, reveals that three years of real-world usage have surfaced new patterns in how travellers plan, decide and navigate their journeys.

YOTEL JOINS NEW HILTON BRAND

Hilton has announced an agreement with YOTEL that will see the UK-based hotel chain known for it’s tech-centric urban vibe become the first the first brand in the newly established Select by Hilton portfolio.

ROUND-UP: April 20-24, 2026

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.

WHO’S WATCHING YOU?

For digital nomads, logging on to work from a cafe, co-working space, hotel lobby or airport lounge is a way of life. Remote working has been made possible by reliable high speed internet and turbocharged by the pandemic. For some remote workers, for various reasons that includes working from somewhere other than their home.

PASSENGERS PICK WORLD’S BEST AIRPORTS

Airports Council Int. (ACI) World, trade association of world airports, in partnership with SITA, recently announced the winners of this year’s ASQ Airport Experience Awards – considered the benchmark for excellence in airport customer experience as determined exclusively by passengers. This year three Canadian airports made the prestigious list.

LOOKING BACK AND GOING FORWARD

Rome’s Colosseum has a bright new look following a restoration using the same travertine marble of ancient Rome to recreate parts of columns from 2,000 years ago. Thousands of Romans once flocked to this arena to watch gladiators battle each other and wild animals. The structure still captures the public’s imagination; it is Italy’s most popular tourist destination, with 9 million visitors in 2025 alone.

IF YOU COULD TRAVEL WITH ANYONE: And where would you go?

When it comes to fantasy travel companions, most travellers want expertise and conversation over glitz and glamour, according to a recent survey by Global Rescue. Among the top celebrity dream companions were Rick Steves, Taylor Swift, Oprah Winfrey, and Robert De Niro.

THE COST OF WAR:  Transat latest airline to cut flights

Soaring jet fuel prices have forced yet another Canadian airline to cull its schedule, with Transat A.T. Inc. announcing it will axe hundreds of planned flights thanks to energy shocks triggered by the war in the Middle East.

YES, HE REALLY SAID THAT

 Democratic Senator  Jeanne Shaheen from New Hampshire is blaming the Trump administration’s “insulting” rhetoric for the collapse of Canadian tourism in her state.In a Senate hearing, she asked Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick about his recent comments on Canada’s trade strategy.

JUST KEEP ON GOING:

With Toronto set to host six matches of the upcoming FIFA World Cup 2026, new research from Destination Ontario highlights significant opportunities for the tourism industry across the province to entice visitors beyond the city around the June 12 to July 2 game window.

PUPPY LOVE: Global pet travel and relocation a fast-growing sector

The global pet relocation market is now valued at approximately US$2.4 billion and projected to reach US$3.9 billion by 2030, reflecting a growing trend in international mobility: employees are increasingly unwilling to travel for long periods for work without their animals.

GRENADA IN FOCUS: Meet its’s must-see beaches

Grenada delivers the beach escape vacationers picture when they think of the Caribbean, with a safe, welcoming atmosphere and enough variety to keep every day feeling exciting. The island’s coastline ranges from iconic, postcard-worthy stretches to quieter and secluded bays with warm water and laid-back energy that makes it easy to stay a while.

CANADIAN KILLED IN MEXICO

An armed man standing atop one of the historic Teotihuacán pyramids opened fire on tourists Monday, killing one Canadian and leaving at least 13 people injured at the archeological site north of Mexico’s capital, authorities said.  The shooter was identified as 27-year-old Julio Cesar Jasso of Mexico, a state official told The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to speak about the case.

SUSTAINABILITY AS A COMPETITIVE ADVANTAGE

Internova Travel Group says its approach to sustainability-minded travel is translating into stronger advisor engagement and measurable commercial momentum. Through its Green Circle eco-luxe sustainability initiative, the company says it is equipping travel advisors with the knowledge and experiences needed to confidently sell sustainability-minded travel with the strategy already translating into stronger advisor engagement and measurable commercial momentum.

FLOATING HOTEL SPARKS VANCOUVER WATERFRONT WORRIES

Vancouver’s council has approved a 250-room floating hotel on the city’s waterfront that proponents say would bring more accommodation capacity and generate economic activity, despite concerns that it would mar water and mountain views. 

RETAIL ROUND-UP: Agent news, fams & incentives

This week: Transat Distribution Canada takes on AI; TRAVELSAVERS Canada members convened in Toronto; RIU Hotels & Resorts launched a new mobile app for RIU Partner Club for retail travel agents; Kensington commits to the Canadian travel trade; and Flight Hub has a new content hub.

FAIRMONT UNVEILS NEW ‘SPECIAL HAPPENS’ EXPERIENCES

From a private helicopter tour of the Great Wall of China to an Indigenous Foraging Culinary Experience in Jasper, Fairmont Hotels & Resorts has unveiled the debut of six new bookable experiences in its new “Special Happens…” series, designed to showcase new ‘must try’ experiences across its global portfolio.

EIGHT TIPS TO MITIGATE SOARING AIRFARES

As the U.S. and Israel’s war with Iran squeezes global oil supplies, travellers have valid reasons to worry about the cost and availability of flights as they plan their late spring and summer trips.

GRAVY PLANE

‘The people don’t want it,’ Doug Ford says about the decision to sell his new plane just days after purchase. The Ontario Premier says he listened to the taxpayers who told him over the weekend he needed to reverse his decision to buy a used $29-million private jet for his use.

SLAINTÉ TO IRELAND: Tourist board, partners celebrate Canada, trade

By MICHAEL BAGINSKI/ Ireland’s tourist board and a host of road show partners wrapped a successful week-long “whistle stop tour” of Eastern Canada at an elegant reception at the Residence of Ireland Toronto Friday after stops in St. John’s, Halifax, Moncton, and Montreal.

UNPAID WORK STILL RANKLES FLIGHT ATTENDANTS

Eight months into Ottawa’s investigation into flight attendants’ allegations that they’re forced to do unpaid work, the union is raising concerns that it won’t result in any change.

FUEL DUMP: Air Canada suspends six routes, including JFK service

Air Canada will suspend service to New York’s JFK International airport from Toronto and Montreal over the summer as the war in Iran creates jet fuel shortages that have sent prices soaring. It will, however, continue to offer 34 flights a day to LaGuardia and Newark from six Canadian cities.

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