By Shannon Stowell/ Remember when Canadians and Americans mostly argued about who invented basketball and who should have won the Stanley Cup or World Series? The Beyond Borders Tourism Coalition (BBTC) is now staring at a border relationship so strained that empty hotel rooms, quiet main streets and $100 park surcharges are doing the talking – and none of it is good for tourism.
Air Transat pilots have overwhelmingly ratified a new five-year employment contract, according to the Air Line Pilots Association, Int’l (ALPA). Of the 98% of 750 eligible pilots who cast ballots, 91% voted in favour of the deal, negotiated in December, which offered a wage hike of more than 50% on average over five years.
Snow, ice and freezing temperatures hit parts of Europe on Tuesday, forcing the cancellation of hundreds of flights from one of the continent’s busiest airports, as well as several traffic fatalities.
This week: Travel Master advisors visited Mexico; Total Advantage Travel & Tours has a launched a host agency; TDC held its Sales Academy at Sea; Kensington goes corporate; an incentive from Quark Expeditions, and Atlas Ocean Voyages has a new website for agents.
Citing the successful implementation of comprehensive prevention and control measures across the country, the Cuba Tourist Board in Toronto is reporting a sustained downward trend in arbovirus cases in the destination, including dengue, chikungunya, and Oropouche.
According to the latest Scotland Visitor Survey, one in five visitors (19%) said film, TV or literature inspired their trip – a figure that rises to 37% for long-haul travellers.
From sports you’ve never heard of to book club retreats, salvaged hotels to farm stays, new trends in 2026 will flip the script on traditional getaways, predicts Expedia in its annual ‘Unpack’ report, which highlights shifts in traveller behaviour and the destinations set to dominate itineraries in the coming year, including several Canadian destinations and activities spotlighted throughout.
Transport Canada has warned Air India that it faces a loss of its flight authorizations if it does not comply with rules about alcohol consumption. The warning comes after an Air India pilot was offloaded from a plane and arrested at Vancouver International Airport on Dec. 23.
Aeromexico maintained a 90.02% on-time performance to claim the world’s most on-time global airline title for the second consecutive year, according to Cirium’s 2025 On-Time Performance Review, released on Jan. 2.
The Travel Industry Council of Ontario (TICO) has launched a new, enhanced Certification Program and exam for individuals aspiring to become Travel Counsellors and agency Supervisors/Managers.
‘G-Normous’ is back. The four-month competition from G Adventures is designed to supercharge advisor sales while giving agents across the country a chance to compete for a ‘G Dollar’ grand prize worth $10,000, which can be used to book any G Adventures trip globally. In total there are more than $45,000 in prizes to be won during the incentive period.
As it does every year, Edmonton is preparing to make the most of Central Alberta’s typically frosty winter weather with a host of activities and events in the New Year that will bring a city alive with light, music, and outdoor celebration.
After several years of labour unrest in transport, Canadian travellers face more potential airline disruptions in 2026. The slew of work stoppages has left many wondering whether the coming year will be more peaceful on the aviation front – or if they still need to book with caution.
While stating on its web site that its flights to the Caribbean and South America are operating “normally,” Air Canada has instituted a limited time allowance for passengers worried about flying to the region to change their plans for free following the U.S.’s military action in Venezuela.
Just days after being given the go-ahead by a U.S. district court judge, a federal appeals court ruling on New Year’s Eve blocked Hawaii from enforcing a climate change tourist tax on cruise ships passengers, a levy that was set to go into effect at the start of 2026.
As 2026 dawns, the long-promised return of the Northlander is no longer stuck at the station. Ontario Northland has released a proposed service schedule for the Northlander, offering what travel between Timmins and Toronto could look like when passenger rail service resumes later this year.
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.
The Canadian travel industry lost its share of luminaries in 2025. Here are some of them – all sadly gone, but certainly not forgotten.
A U.S. District Judge’s ruling has cleared the way for Hawaii to include cruise ship passengers in a new tourist tax to help cope with climate change, a levy set to go into effect at the start of 2026. The decision denied a request that sought to stop officials from enforcing the new law on cruises.
Dreams Take Flight, Air Canada and The Air Canada Foundation celebrated another successful year of heartfelt journeys to theme parks in Florida and California. This year, more than a thousand children across Canada got to experience a day full of rides, magic and laughter.
London Heathrow (LHR) has retained its title as the world’s most connected airport for the third consecutive year in 2025, offering over 59,000 possible connections to 226 destinations on the busiest day. Two Canadian airports made the annual top 50 ‘Megahubs’ list by global aviation data platform leader OAG: Toronto Pearson at 26, and Vancouver, 46.
New Year’s Eve notwithstanding, travellers are increasingly prioritizing authenticity, nature and mindfulness over partying and nightlife according to Global Rescue Traveller Sentiment and Safety Survey.
Each year, G Adventures releases its annual ‘Where to Travel’ list, looking at hot destinations for the upcoming year. But, this year, the travel company is doing things differently, focussing on how travel can change people, and its power to create lasting happiness.
Trips by Americans to Canada rose for the first time in eight months in October, Statistics Canada reports. The number of trips to Canada by U.S. residents in October totalled 1,814,406, up 3% compared with 1,760,987 the same month last year.
As 2025 comes to a close, WestJet has revealed a list of some of its quirkiest and most critical stats of the year – such as the most-watched movies at 35,000 feet and whether guests consumed more cookies or pretzels.
Sweden’s ICEHOTEL – the world’s first (since 1989) – has opened in doors for the season, inviting guests to sleep surrounded by shimmering art made of ice and snow created by 33 artists from 12 countries, including Canada. A highlight this year is a grand piano – a full-scale piano made of ice – which will be played during the winter season.
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.
Call it the ultimate flight tracker. For 70 years, the NORAD Tracks Santa hotline has been tradition at the North American Aerospace Defense Command – a joint U.S. and Canadian operation charged with monitoring the skies for threats since the Cold War.
Trading the North Pole for a tropical atoll, Old St. Nick took his annual holiday plunge in the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary on the weekend, where 35-degree weather and streams of sunshine offered stark contrast to the ice and snow in Santa’s more familiar habitat.
In the spirit of the season, several tour operators are launching (or relaunching) extensive FAM trip and/or prize opportunities that will enable travel advisors to experience some new or favourite destinations, and, at the same time, gain hands-on experience with a supplier that will help build their business.