With winter starting and many Canadians planning escapes from the snow and cold, Service Canada is encouraging travellers to make sure their passports are up to date, or to apply well ahead of their trip if they don’t already have one.
Between finding openings, sending out your resume and interviewing, looking for a job is tough. Now a growing trend of scammers impersonating recruiters is making it even harder.
Airfares are forecast to see modest increases across most regions globally in 2025 as airline capacity continues to rise, according to American Express Global Business Travel’s (Amex GBT) latest Air Monitor 2025. The report anticipates that, after a period of sharp fluctuations, airfare prices are starting to stabilize globally, marking a shift from the more volatile pricing patterns of previous years. However, the underlying cost of air travel is likely to remain high.
Calling the move an “appalling decision,” IATA has condemned a decision by the Spanish government to remove cabin baggage fees for passengers in Spain and fine airlines EUR 179 million. The air transport association charges that the move “undermines freedom of pricing which is fundamental to consumer choice and competition, a principle that has been long upheld by the European Court of Justice.”
One hundred and fifty travel advisors from across the Canada took part in ACTA’s first International Destination Conference in Portugal’s Azores islands last week. Travel Industry Today was there, pen – and camera – in hand. Yesterday, we reported on the conference (scroll down in the newsletter if you missed the story); today we offer some flavours and faces from the corresponding FAM.
The biggest November snowstorm to hit South Korea’s capital in more than a half century blanketed the capital on Wednesday, grounding hundreds of flights, disrupting commuter traffic and leaving at least two dead. South Korea’s weather agency said 20 to 26 cm of snow fell in northern areas of Seoul and nearby areas.
The travel industry is mourning the passing of noted Saint Lucian hotelier, developer and visionary Nick Troubetzkoy during a recent visit to London. Raised in western Canada, Troubetzkoy’s many notable accomplishments included building Anse Chastanet and the renowned Jade Mountain resorts.
SeaWorld Orlando has unveiled plans for its latest attraction, set to open in Spring 2025: the world’s first-of-its-kind Arctic flying theatre. The new experience will invite guests to soar over icy landscapes, dive beneath frozen waters, and come face-to-face with some of the planet’s most magnificent creatures – from beluga whales to orcas and walruses.
The Canadian dollar fell to its lowest level since May 2020 after Donald Trump threatened to impose tariffs on Canadian goods shipped to the United States once he takes office in January.
Pronouncing Azores properly, which is to say, in Portuguese, is an undeniable challenge for the English-speaking human mouth – so, in this case we’ll go with the Canadian version – ‘Eh-zores.’ Fortunately, almost everything else about the amazing archipelago – nine volcanic islands peaking out of the mid-Atlantic ocean 1500 kms (and a two-hour flight) due west of Lisbon – was much easier to grasp for 150 travel advisors from this country attending last week’s first annual ACTA International Destination Conference.
With Toronto having reverted to normal levels of chaos, Vancouver is preparing for the arrival of the recording breaking Taylor Swift tour with the expectation of nearly $160 million in economic impact for the city over the singer’s three tour dates, Dec. 6-8.
WestJet will launch new nonstop service connecting Vancouver and Austin, Texas, next spring. The three-times-weekly flights will commence May 11. Last week, the airline also announced new seasonal routes to Boston and Tampa beginning in June.
From a new ship in the Uniworld fleet and all-new FAM initiative to new itineraries in Albania and Peru for Contiki, expanded small group and women’s tour offerings from Insight Vacations, and five new itineraries from Trafalgar, there’s a lot going in the TTC Tour Brands portfolio in 2025. Here’s a look at some of the notable news.
Yuka Suzuki has been named Executive Director of the Japan National Tourism Organization office in Toronto. The veteran tourism professional, who has previously worked for Destination British Columbia in Tokyo, has a “strong passion” for both Canada and Japan, and has dedicated much of her career to fostering stronger connections between the two, making her uniquely qualified for the position, according to the JNTO.
It’s last call for ACTA members to make their voices heard on the implementation and impacts of New Distribution Capability (NDC). The deadline is today (Nov. 27) to complete a survey by the association designed to specifically examine members’ current engagement levels with NDC, identify any challenges they are encountering in their day-to-day operations, and explore potential areas for improvement in NDC implementation.
If you were having problems with opening Outlook or other Microsoft applications yesterday – you weren’t alone. Thousands of Microsoft 365 customers worldwide took to social media to report trouble seeing their emails, loading calendars or opening other Microsoft 365 applications such as Powerpoint and Teams.
Just as there are good odds the turkey will taste dry, airports and highways are expected to be jam-packed during Thanksgiving week, a holiday period likely to end in another record day for air travel in the United States. However, take heart, the people responsible for keeping security lines, boarding areas and jetliners moving — from the US transportation secretary and airline chiefs on down the line — swear they are prepared for the crowds.
New York has leapfrogged Las Vegas as the top meeting and events destination in North America, while Toronto has dropped out of the top five. according to the 2025 Meetings & Events forecast by American Express Global Business Travel (Amex GBT).
For guests who have vision disabilities, exploring the unfamiliar surroundings of a hotel could pose unique and specific challenges that have the potential to impact their stay. Hilton has announced an industry-first partnership with Be My Eyes to enable guests who are blind or have low vision can experience a more accessible and seamless stay
Italy’s Pompeii archaeological park will now limit visitor numbers to 20,000 a day and introduce personalized tickets starting in a bid to cope with over-tourism and protect the world heritage site. The move comes after what authorities called a record summer that saw over 4 million people visiting the world-famous remains of the ancient Roman city, buried under ash and rock following the eruption of Mount Vesuvius in 79 A.D.
Bhutan’s Department of Tourism has launched a new Tourism Services Portal, designed to streamline the experience of visitors to the Kingdom. To date, more than 400 Bhutanese tour operators, nearly 1,000 certified guides, 100 hotels, more than a dozen homestays, and several other service providers in Bhutan have joined the site.
A little town known as a backpacker paradise in northern Laos is receiving unpleasant attention after six young travellers are dead and 11 remain in hospital, following a night out drinking in the town of Vang Vieng. All are suspected of consuming drinks laced with methanol.
Norwegian Cruise Line has cancelled almost six months of sailings between November 2025 and April 2026 on three of its ships – Norwegian Dawn, Norwegian Star and Norwegian Jewel. The cruise line said the cancellations were due to ‘fleet redeployment’ according to a communication sent to booked guests and their travel advisors.
HotelPlanner has announced what it says is “a world first that will change how customers find and book their hotels.” HotelPlanner.ai is the first end-to-end AI hotel booking assistant with access to book over one million-plus properties worldwide.
As Notre Dame gears up to reopen its doors in December, Paris is on the verge of a remarkable eco-revival, bringing nature back to the forefront of the City of Light. Beyond restoring the cathedral’s iconic spire and medieval charm, the city has announced plans to revamp Notre Dame’s surroundings — to the tune of €50 million ($75 million) – into a serene, green oasis.
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.
Matt Perrault has shipped animals in and out of Canada on behalf of owners for more than two decades, handling creatures ranging from birds to bearded dragons, rabbits and ferrets. But lately, it’s requests to haul cats and dogs that have been raining down on him.
As unpredictable weather events become increasingly common, it’s important to understand how travel insurance covers bad weather and natural disasters like hurricanes, floods, earthquakes, snowstorms, and more.
Based on research among more than 27,000 travellers across 33 countries and territories (including over 1,000 in Canada) Booking.com looks at some of the unique spots that are at the top of everyone’s lists for 2025. Their Travel Predictions report highlights a collection of diverse destinations offering a wide range of experiences, from serene beach getaways to cultural hubs and adventure-filled landscapes.
Hurricane-force winds of up to 159 km/h have slammed into parts of the British Columbia Coast as a massive storm swirling off Vancouver Island severed highways and cut power to about 225,000 people. Winds exceeding 100 km/h were recorded in multiple areas late Tuesday, with gusts approaching 80 km/h at Vancouver’s airport.