News

Black Friday (Nov. 29) is now considered the biggest shopping day of the year (ahead of Boxing Day), and it’s hard to find a travel supplier that isn’t eager to try to get in on the action which typically extends to Cyber Monday, ‘Travel Tuesday’ (Dec. 3) and, in many cases, the lead up to, and days or weeks following the event. Here, at a glance, are some of this year’s best travel deals – some of them already ongoing and/or offering travel advisors pre-sale access.

Health officials say they have confirmed the first US case of a new form of mpox that was first seen in eastern Congo. The person had travelled to eastern Africa and was treated in Northern California upon return, according to the California Department of Public Health.   Symptoms are improving and the risk to the public is low.

Direct Travel advisors attended a GEM of an event in Costa Rica; Ensemble has announced its first-ever hosted LGBTQ+ sailing; Virtuoso VIPs assembled in Slovenia; and four Canadian agents were trip winners in Quark Expeditions’ ‘Ultimate Summer in The Arctic Sweepstakes.’

ACTA is encouraging travel advisors to earn Certified Travel Counselor (CTC) or Certified Travel Manager (CTM) status and is offering a 30% discount off registration fees this fall to help them do so. The CTC and CTM certifications are the only designations recognized nationwide in Canada. 

A French student detained for weeks in Tunisia returned to Paris on Friday after weeks of top-level diplomatic discussions. The arrest provoked concerns about the safety and security of foreigners in Tunisia, where rights and freedoms have gradually been curtailed under President Kais Saied.

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.

Where will Canadian luxury travellers be celebrating honeymoons and milestone life events, cruising in comfort, dining in Michelin-starred restaurants, nodding off in satin sheets, and wrapping their faces in seaweed next year? The ‘2025 Virtuoso Luxe Report: Canada’ tells all, revealing what’s now and next for in-the-know travellers.

International flights to and from Bali were cancelled on Wednesday as an ongoing volcanic eruption left thousands of travellers stranded at airports across Indonesia. Some tourists said that they have been stuck at the Bali airport since Tuesday after their flights were suddenly cancelled.

TravelBrands Encore Cruises wrapped its 9th annual SeaU cruise event on Friday, having hosted 240 Canadian travel agents aboard the Carnival Celebration for a week of immersive training, Caribbean experiences, supplier networking, and the latest insights on travel and cruise trends.

The city of Florence took new measures Tuesday to crack down on overtourism, just as the Italian government hosts the Group of Seven tourism ministers in the Renaissance city and seeks to significantly boost the country’s place as a top visitor destination.

The US Federal Aviation Administration announced Tuesday that it will prohibit US airlines from flying to Haiti for 30 days after gangs shot a Spirit Airlines flight and the United Nations said it will suspend flights, “obviously limiting the flow of humanitarian aid and humanitarian personnel into the country.”

Air Canada Vacations latest travel collection features New Zealand, with a collection designed to show off the South Pacific destination’s “stunning landscapes, Māori culture, natural wonders and vibrant cities.” The program of seasonal tours corresponds Air Canada flights from Vancouver to Auckland operating four times per week from November to January, and five times per week from January to March. 

An earthquake with a preliminary magnitude of 6.8 shook eastern Cuba on Sunday, after weeks of hurricanes and blackouts that have left many on the island reeling. The epicentre of the quake was located about 40 km south of Bartolome Maso, Cuba, about 100 km from Holguin, according to a report by the U.S. Geological Survey.