Boeing named a longtime aerospace industry veteran on Wednesday as its next chief executive, who will take over a company that has been rocked by legal, regulatory and production problems, as well as a just-reported US$1.4 billion second quarter loss. Robert “Kelly” Ortberg, a former CEO at Boeing supplier Rockwell Collins, will succeed David Calhoun as CEO and president effective Aug. 8.
Sandals Resorts International (SRI) says it is accelerating plans to expand the family-friendly Beaches Resorts brand with the development of Beaches Exuma. The first Beaches in the Bahamas will replace Sandals Emerald Bay, which will close on Aug. 15 to undergo the transformation and rebranding before reopening in the fall.
Vowing to “take low-fare travel to new heights,” Spirit Airlines is moving farther away from its history as a fee-happy budget airline and will start selling tickets that include some of its most popular extras in a single bundle.
Government backing has been approved to enable the Tampa Bay Rays to finally build a new ballpark for the team, replacing arguably major league baseball’s most dismal venue. But local officials see the Field of Dreams development as more than that: an opportunity to transform the west-Florida city into a “world-class tourism destination” at the same time.
A new study has uncovered the most coveted airplane seats by passengers. The results of a travel survey conducted by Texas-based Upgraded Points reveal preferences based on seat location, airline comfort, and specific needs, providing a comprehensive guide for passengers and, at the same time, aiming to settle once and for all the great debate: window or aisle?
Air New Zealand scrapped its 2030 carbon emissions reduction targets on Tuesday, citing lags in producing new planes, a lack of alternative fuel and “challenging” regulatory and policy settings.
WestJet and Air North have announced a new interline agreement directly connecting both carrier’s networks. Starting today (July 31), guests can book a single ticket with a connected itinerary between WestJet’s global network and the Yukon and Northwest Territories with single point check-in and through-checked bags for connecting itineraries.
Britain’s new Labour government has axed a construction project on a controversial traffic tunnel bypass near Stonehenge as part of austerity measures resulting from what it called an unexpected 22-billion-pound shortfall in the public finances.
In an unusual first-look roll-out of details of its newest ship, taking place over three days, Disney Cruise Line (DCL) has revealed the first details of the heroes and villains-inspired Disney Destiny, which will set sail in late 2025 from Port Everglades in Fort Lauderdale, Florida.
As the world worries about war between Israel and Hezbollah, prompting some airlines to cancel flights to Lebanon, it appeared to be business as usual Tuesday at the Beirut airport, where many travellers greeted the situation with a shrug.
TV and film is a proven driver of tourism interest and Sweden is once again in the spotlight with the recent third season debut of “Vikings: Valhalla” on Netflix, a show that has rated in the network’s top 10 since its 2021 debut. With this in mind, Visit Sweden as has curated a lengthy list of sites and experiences to inspire fans who want to delve into Viking history in the epicentre of the Norseman’s world.
TIME magazine has unveiled its ‘The World’s Greatest Places’ list for 2024. The annual accounting of “extraordinary destinations to visit and stay this year” expands in number (to 100 from 50) and scope (to include hotels, cruises, restaurants, attractions, museums, parks, and more) over last year, and runs the gamut from other-worldly art to active travel and engaging communities to “learning more deeply about ourselves.” And, yes, Canada is represented.
The Competition Bureau says it is officially launching its market study of domestic airline service as concerns around prices and quality persist. Competition commissioner Matthew Boswell says “many Canadians are frustrated by the cost and quality” of air travel in Canada and that he aims to put forward recommendations on how to improve it.
The Nobu Hotel Toronto isn’t expected to open until next spring, but fans, and those eager to discover, the acclaimed Nobu hospitality group’s offerings will get a first taste in August with the pre-opening of the Nobu Toronto restaurant and bar, which will fire up the burners in time for the Toronto International Film Festival (starting Sept. 5).
Air Canada Vacations and Azamara combined for what they called a “landmark” incentive trip with Expedia Cruises, while Travel Only advisors donated to Hurricane Beryl victims with the help of One Caribbean Canada, and Virtuoso member attended a series of cruise ship tours.
Super 8 by Wyndham is marking its 50th anniversary by reviving its eye-catching $8.88 room rate (plus tax) for a limited time this summer. The rate, playing off the popular road-side budget-friendly brand’s name, was offered at the at the original Super 8 in Aberdeen, South Dakota in 1974, when gas cost just 53 cents (in the US).
Italy’s ancient Roman Appian Way has been admitted to the UNESCO World Heritage List, becoming the country’s 60th entry on the list. At more than 800 km. long, the Appian Way, known as the “Queen of Roads,” is the oldest and most important of the great roads built by the Ancient Romans from 312 B.C.
Nestled between the Pacific Ocean and the Caribbean Sea, and boasting 12 distinct microclimates, Costa Rica provides visitors with a unique opportunity to explore lush rainforests, pristine beaches, and volcanic peaks.
Imagine planning a vacation and not being able to check Airbnb or another online booking site for an apartment in which to spend a few days walking, shopping and eating among the locals.
Environmental activists caused disruptions outside Montreal’s Trudeau International Airport for several days last week in protest of Canadian fossil fuel policy. The latest action took place on Friday around 12:30 p.m. when three people with activist group Last Generation Canada glued their hands to a road that connects the airport’s departure and arrival ramps, temporarily blocking vehicle access to the terminal.
The devastation of Jasper by wildfire is just the latest sign that climate change “cannot be ignored,” says the Canadian Association of Tour Operators, which has urged the tourism industry to “prioritize sustainability and take proactive measures to address the challenges posed by climate change.”
It was big news for a big state: Texas is getting its own Michelin guide. The welcome development for Travel Texas broke as representatives from the state visited Canada last week, talking up and recent developments and current trends in the Lone Star state in both Montreal and Toronto.
Toronto-based Siren Communications has been named the Canadian public relations Agency of Record (AOR) for Los Cabos, which bills itself as Mexico’s fastest growing destination. Siren will oversee a “robust” fall campaign designed to attract more visitors from this country to the Pacific resort destination with a focus on key pillars of wellness, gastronomy, sustainability and adventure.
A surprise eruption of steam in a Yellowstone National Park geyser basin sent people scrambling for safety as basketball-sized rocks flew overhead, highlighting the US parks hydrothermal activities that attract millions of tourists annually are dangerous and not as predictable as Old Faithful, which erupts “like clockwork.”
Canada’s passport was ranked among the best in the world in this week’s round-up; also, Southwest is breaking a 50-year tradition; Carnival Cruise Line ordered three more massive ships (biggest in the world); WestJet announced free onboard internet; dog owners at the US border got a reprieve; and (in case you might have missed it), the Summer Olympic Games kicked off, putting the spotlight of the world on France.
Air Canada hosted an official send-off celebration at Pearson airport for Team Canada athletes and delegation members Wednesday night for 2024 Paris Olympic Games onboard a Boeing 777 complete with a special celebratory livery for Team Canada. And the airline promised that, thanks to its ‘Going for Gold’ program, the athletes would arrive “rested and ready to compete at their best.”
“The notion of connection is one of the biggest reasons why ECHO is important”, says Writer and Director Mukhtar Omar Sharif Mukhtar of the new Cirque du Soleil production currently performing in Toronto, perhaps that is why DT Minich, President/CEO at Experience Kissimmee and his team chose ECHO to conclude a busy week in Toronto meeting and connecting with associates, partners and media, before, finally, relaxing at a casual get together to gasp at a spectacular performance of ECHO.
Southwest Airlines says that it plans to drop the open-boarding system it has used for more than 50 years and will start assigning passengers to seats, just like all the other big airlines. The airline said it has been studying seating options, running tests and surveying customers and concluded that that preferences have changed over the years and the vast majority of travellers now want to know where they are sitting before they get to the airport.
Among the throngs of tourists in cowboy attire who flock to Nashville’s famed downtown honky-tonks, a small but unsettling group has distracted locals and visitors from the neon lights lately with Nazi salutes and white supremacist rhetoric.
Welcome aboard, hope you are standing comfortably. For the horses on the US eventing team, the journey to France for the Paris Olympics was – quite literally – a four-legged journey.