From koalas to kangaroos, Australia’s unusual wildlife has long-captivated North American travellers. To find out which animals people want to encounter most, experts at UK-based tour operator Audley Travel analyzed Google Search data, revealing quokkas as top of the list, with wombats and platypuses rounding out the top three.
It’s been a year since ‘Pilsner Urquell: The Original Beer Experience’ was untapped in Prague and already the interactive attraction, located in a historic building on the city’s landmark Wenceslas Square, rates in the top five for tourists in the Czechia capital.
US Google searches for “how to move to Canada” skyrocketed as the votes were counted and Trump’s victory became apparent. “Work visa Canada” searches in the US have also surged as votes were revealed. Searches for “if Trump wins can I move to Canada” peaked for the first time in three months. And, “Canada work visa” searches are projected to skyrocket by 566% following Trump’s victory.
Royal Caribbean Group has confirmed it is buying the Port of Costa Maya in Quintana Roo, Mexico. The deal is reported to be worth nearly US $300 million and includes adjacent land at Mahahual. The cruise company plans major upgrades at the port and surrounding infrastructure.
In Wrexham, the ‘Rob and Ryan effect’ goes beyond the soccer club the Hollywood stars Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney bought and revived, as tourism and investments grow in the small Welsh city, which has rapidly become one of Britain’s most unlikely tourist hot spots.
Due to the unique multi-leg nature of travelling by cruise ship, combined with potential medical issues abroad, the importance of cruise travel insurance cannot be overstated, says travel insurance comparison site InsureMyTrip.ca.
The world’s second Sphere will be built in Abu Dhabi, the capital of the United Arab Emirates following the opening of the first in Las Vegas. The attraction will be located in a prime spot in the city and echo the scale of the Sphere in the US and is expected to be a major year-round draw for both residents and visitors from around the world.
With the popular “Yellowstone” series set to return this fall, America’s majestic wild west will again be in the spotlight, inspiring many to seek not only the great outdoors, but an authentic western experience. And where better to do so than a dude ranch?
Tropical Storm Rafael was chugging past western Jamaica on Tuesday and was expected to strengthen into a hurricane as it headed toward Cuba. The National Hurricane Center in Miami said it expected “steady to rapid intensification” over the next 24 to 36 hours.
The German National Tourist Office (GNTO) in Canada will be closing due to significant budget cuts affecting operations in 2025. This decision involves the closure of six offices worldwide, including Canada.
Factory workers at Boeing voted to accept a contract offer and end their strike after more than seven weeks, clearing the way for the aerospace giant to resume production of its bestselling airliner and generate much-needed cash.
Travel Leaders Network (TLN), the largest network of professional travel advisors in North America, has announced that Lindsay Pearlman will serve as Chief Operating Officer and Senior Vice President at Travel Leaders Network. His role will officially begin in January 2025, and he will report to John Lovell, President of TLN.
Travelling can be an exhilarating experience, filled with adventure and the opportunity to explore new cultures. However, for many, it can also be a minefield of scams and deceit. The more travellers know about the tricks and traps scammers use, the better off they’ll be.
What basement bar belonging to anyone with tenure in the travel industry doesn’t have one? Since the 1950s, KLM has been handing out Delft Blue Houses filled with Bols Jenever to World Business Class passengers on intercontinental flights. The houses are miniature versions of buildings in the Netherlands and abroad with a special history and are sought-after collector’s items.
From Australia to Idaho, American Express Travel has revealed the next installment of its Trending Destinations list, highlighting the top 10 must-visit places for 2025 with Millennial and Gen Z travellers in mind. Destinations are based on global American Express card member travel bookings and insight from Amex travel consultants.
The recurrent storms in eastern Spain that led to massive flooding last week and killed at least 217 people, mostly near Valencia, dumped rain on Barcelona on Monday, prompting authorities to suspend commuter rail service.
Building on the success of last year’s pilot Tourism Corridor Strategy Program, which aims to accelerate destination development across provincial and territorial boundaries. Destination Canada has announced the launch of four new tourism corridors bringing together tourism organizations to develop new journeys for travellers to explore. The program is a key initiative of Destination Canada’s 2030 Tourism Strategy with its goal to propel Canada back into the Top 7 global tourism destinations.
Holland America Line is expanding its Canada and New England season in 2026 with more cruises, increased ports of call and added overnights. Sailing from Boston, a new 28-day Legendary Voyage –”Canada, New England and Iceland” – highlights the three regions.
VisitBritain has relaunched its travel advisor training program, BritAgent PRO Sales Companion, now with enhanced mobile sales enablement through TravPRO Mobile. The revamped program provides travel advisors with resources to effectively promote destinations across England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.
Hilton and Universal Pictures have combined to create a unique hotel suite in New York for fans of ‘Wicked,’ which will open in movie theatres on Nov. 22. Available for a limited time – Nov. 21 to Jan. 5 – at the New York Hilton Midtown, the ‘Stay Like Wicked’ package reflects the growing travel trends of guests wanting to “stay like” their favourite pop culture icons in ultra-decked-out themed guest rooms and suites.
Booking.com’s annual Travel Predictions research reveals that travellers will be “rewriting their playbook” in 2025, defying the norms of age, gender, or simply what society thinks travel should look like for them. From nighttime exploration to thrill-seeking seniors, travellers are stretching their wings to fuel and find long-lasting personal growth.
This week marks the anniversary of one of my most memorable days in the travel trade: when Trump won! It was eight years ago at World Travel Market, which kicks off tomorrow (Tuesday) in London, with expectations of close to 50,000 people from across the global travel industry in attendance.
US Travel wants to play ball with Canadians. And hockey. Plus, all the other sports and entertainment offerings, like concerts (can you say Taylor Swift?). That was the theme for last week’s Discover America Day Canada, an annual accounting of travel affairs south of the border as revealed by a couple of dozen partners ranging from all corners of the country.
Explore Louisiana recently concluded a successful Western Canada Roadshow, bringing a taste of Louisiana to travel advisors, media, and tour operator partners in Vancouver and Calgary regions.
Nearly 40 employees across Sunwing Vacations Group and Sunwing Airlines recently joined GlobalMedic for a humanitarian aid packing party to support the local communities in Jamaica that were greatly impacted by the devastating effects of Hurricane Beryl in July. The activity was reflective of the travel company’s longstanding commitment to support the communities and destinations it services with hurricane relief and disaster recovery.
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 Canadian dollar is trading against the US dollar at levels not seen since 2020 as the combined pressures of economic outlooks, elections, and energy prices weigh. And up or down, the level of the loonie is a constant in the travel industry, often influencing where – and if – clients choose to travel.
The hotel industries in Vancouver and Toronto would clearly love to see Taylor Swift perform in the cities more often, with room rates being hiked up to 10 times as much as on regular nights around the singer’s upcoming tour stops.
Snow fell on Hawaii’s tallest peak this week, briefly turning the mountaintop into a winter wonderland. The summit area of Mauna Kea on the Big Island got five centimetres of white powder. Hawaii is better known for its warm weather, beaches and rainforests. But it’s not unusual for snow to fall at the higher elevations on Mauna Kea during the wetter, winter months.
The International Air Transport Association (IATA) has released the results of its 2024 Global Passenger Survey, revealing that travellers continue to prioritize convenience and speed. For a smoother travel experience, they are eager to use biometric identification and complete some travel processes before reaching the airport.