A round-up of 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.
NEWS
Canadians are slowly returning to U.S. travel. Returns to this country by residents surged in May, up 9.5% year over year, building on a bump in April that had ended a 15-month slump, according to Statistic Canada data. In May, Canadian-resident return trips from the United States totalled 1.9 million, driven by an increase in return trips by automobile (+15.1%). However, return trips from the U.S. by air in May decreased 5.5% from May 2025.
Air Canada announced its customer service employees ratified a new collective bargaining agreement. The agreement with Unifor applies to about 6,000 employees across contact centres, customer relations, concierges and other business segments. The four-year agreement is in effect until Feb. 28, 2030.
The Air Line Pilots Association, Int’l (ALPA) says it has reached a Tentative Agreement with Flair Airlines management after 10 months of contract negotiations. Flair pilots will review and vote on the deal.
AIR
Porter Airlines is adding another destination to its sun network with service to Providenciales (PLS), Turks and Caicos. The new non-stop flights are available from Toronto Pearson five times weekly, beginning Nov. 6, and Ottawa twice weekly, beginning Dec. 17. Turks and Caicos is the fifth new sun destination to be added to Porter’s growing winter seasonal network, joining recently announced Aruba, San Jose (Costa Rica), Montego Bay and Los Cabos.
Spanish carrier Iberia officially launched its new direct route between Toronto and Madrid. The new route will operate five times per week – Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays – and offer more than 37,000 seats during the summer season.
Philippine Airlines (PAL), the national flag carrier of the Philippines, will become oneworld’s 16th member airline following the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) at the recent International Air Transport Association’s 82nd Annual General Meeting in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
HOTELS & RESORTS
Hilton has launched Undergraduate by Hilton (photo above) a new upper-midscale brand developed designed for travellers visiting college towns, from students and families, to alumni, sports fans, business travellers and conference attendees. Building on the success of Graduate by Hilton, the brand has long-term expansion potential of 400-500 hotels, with the first property anticipated to open in 2027. Properties are currently in development in such locations like Tuscaloosa, Ala.; Manhattan, Kan.; Syracuse, N.Y.; Savannah, Ga.; Laramie, Wyo.; Flagstaff, Ariz.; and Boulder, Colo.
TOURS
Avalon Waterways is launching three new 2027 Cruise & Tour itineraries that combine a guided Globus tour with an Avalon river cruise. The new 16- and 17-day offerings, which include Essential Britain & Ireland with Romantic Rhine, The Best of Spain with Paris & Normandy, and Italian Vista with Romantic Rhine with 2 Nights in Lucerne, reflect a growing traveller desire to maximize international trips (and airfare), experiencing multiple countries, says the company. The additions bring Avalon’s Cruise & Tour collection to seven.
Intrepid Travel has officially launched a new Premium Family range, expanding its family offering with eight new trips across Costa Rica, Sri Lanka, India, Borneo, Vietnam, Morocco, Thailand and Egypt. The new range responds to the growing demand for hassle-free family travel, bringing together Intrepid’s most comfortable travel style – Premium – and its established Family range, which already spans more than 50 itineraries worldwide and recorded 19% year-on-year growth in 2025.
DEALS
WestJet Vacations’ Early Booking Bonus is available on select all=inclusive vacation packages booked by June 28 for travel Nov. 1 to April 20, 2027. Guests can save up to $1,000 per couple on featured sun destinations, secure reduced deposits of just $100 p.p. plus receive additional perks. At the same time, agents will earn a 3% bonus commission on every eligible winter package booking made during the promotional period.
Transat’s free Option Flex Standard (a $99 value) is being offered on a selection of South packages booked by Aug. 31 for travel within the same period. The benefit allows clients to cancel and receive a travel credit, or change their travel dates, destination or hotel up to 72 hours before departure, or transfer their package to a friend or relative up to 30 days before departure. Terms and conditions apply.
Trafalgar River Cruises has announced its 2027 Early Booking Advantage, offering guests up to 30% off on select 2027 sailings along Europe’s most iconic rivers. Booking deadline is Sept 30.
CRUISE
Viking Annar
Viking has taken delivery of its newest river ships, the Viking Annar (rendering above) and the Viking Fjolvar. Both vessels were built at Meyer’s Neptun Werft shipyard in Rostock-Warnemünde, Germany. The Viking Annar will sail Viking’s itineraries on the Rhine, Main and Danube rivers, while the Viking Fjolvar will sail itineraries on the Seine River.
The Seabourn Quest has emerged from drydock with the most comprehensive interior update in the line’s history. Enhancements across suites, public spaces, dining venues and the spa create a more relaxed and refined onboard experience, further elevating the sense of comfort and understated luxury guests know and value. The ship will continue its Mediterranean season through November and sail a series of immersive seven-day voyages between Dubrovnik, Fusina (Venice), Istanbul and Athens, calling on yacht harbors and islands in Croatia, Greece, Montenegro and Turkey. Each voyage can be combined to create 14- and 21-day sailings.
EVENTS
The Caribbean Hotel and Tourism Association (CHTA) has named Barbados as the host destination for Caribbean Travel Marketplace (CTM) 2027, the region’s premier business-to-business tourism event. The annual gathering connects global buyers with Caribbean suppliers to strengthen partnerships and drive business opportunities across the region. The announcement was made at this year’s Caribbean Travel Marketplace in Antigua.
PEOPLE/APPOINTMENTS
After an iconic 40-plus year career in the Canadian travel industry, Dino Bertolo has finally called quits. After retiring for the first time from Thomas Cook Canada 15 years ago, Bertolo returned to Air Canada Vacations for another dozen years as VP of product development. The company hosted industry friends and family at the Woodbine Golf Course in Toronto earlier this month for a tasteful send-off.
With Bertolo leaving ACV, industry veteran Rose Consentino has stepped into role of Head of Product Development. Cosentino has spent the last 11 years at Playa Resorts, most recently as role of VP Global Wholesale and Retail Sales.
The Jordan Tourism Board (JTB) has announced that New York-based Trove Tourism Development Advisors (“Trove”) has been appointed as the market-based representative to serve as its partner across the U.S., Canada, and Mexico. The appointment establishes a unified North American team led by Trove to drive Jordan’s travel trade engagement, media relations, and market development across all three markets.
DESTINATIONS
This year marks 50 Years of the 1976 Summer Olympics with citywide programming including ‘Montréal 1976: An Olympic Feat’ at the McCord Stewart Museum and initiatives celebrating women’s sports inspired by Nadia Comăneci’s perfect score.
Edinburgh Festival Fringe (Aug. 7-31) is the world’s largest arts festival with thousands of performances across hundreds of venues, creating a dynamic cultural backdrop that enhances Scotland’s appeal for international meetings, creative congresses and extended delegate stays. Meanwhile, Piping Live! Glasgow International Piping Festival (Aug. 9–14) combines concerts, competitions, workshops and street programming, this festival provides an immersive cultural lead-in to the World Pipe Band Championships.
LAST WEEK IN TRAVEL HISTORY
In 2018, WestJet Airlines launched Swoop, joining Flair Airlines as Canada’s only ultra-low cost airlines.
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