The transformative power of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and its role in shaping the future of Travel & Tourism are examined in new reports by the World Travel & Tourism Council, which cites its commitment to a digital future that prioritizes safety, ethical considerations, and responsible AI adoption.
Travellers on Air Transat heading to Brussels from Montreal-Trudeau International Airport on May 5, were treated to a Wonka-themed flight celebrating the arrival of the movie on the airline’s in-flight entertainment system. The whimsical experience was the result of a first-time collaboration between Air Transat, Warner Bros. and Quebec-based Chocolats Favoris.
With outdoor adventure and escaping the hustle and bustle of day-to-day life remaining a top reason to travel, Visit Scotland says there’s never been a better time for travel advisors to get clients thinking about Scotland – a country with “endless options” for being active.
Known for diversity and inclusivity, Orlando has been a pioneer in LGBTQ+ tourism dating back to the original Gay Days in 1991. A winning family travel destination in the 2022 “Gay Travel Awards,” the Florida city promotes inclusivity through events, nightlife, and activities that welcome all and embraces the ethos: “the place where dragons, coasters and Pride flags fly.”
Set to debut in the Western Med. on Seabourn Venture in Spring, 2025, “The Collection” is a series of exclusive sailings featuring unique, one-of-a-kind shoreside experiences that includes exclusive access to private cultural events, fine dining at world-renowned wineries, and premium tickets to iconic tennis tournaments in select marquee ports.
In the latest round of their decades-long battle for dominance in commercial aircraft, Europe’s Airbus established a clear sales lead over Boeing even before the American company encountered more fallout from manufacturing problems and ongoing safety concerns.
A potential strike between WestJet and its mechanics union appears to have been avoided. A statement from the Calgary-based airline Sunday night says a tentative deal between it and the Aircraft Mechanics Fraternal Association has been agreed to. WestJet had issued a 72-hour lockout notice on Saturday to the union, saying it was response to AMFA announcing a strike vote.
MSC Cruises Canada will conduct an exclusive webinar series tailored specifically for travel agents in Canada. The first session will take place May 9. Hosted by MSC business development managers Annie Archambault, Mokhtar Kerkeni, Tammy Thompson and Facinet Yansane, the webinars are designed to offer useful insights into the company while boosting agents’ knowledge and sales skills.
A new awareness campaign will train staff at the Greater Sudbury Airport and educate travellers to recognize and respond to the signs of human trafficking. Angels of Hope Against Human Trafficking, a local non-profit organization providing support to survivors and public education about one of the country’s fastest-growing crimes, will launch a campaign entitled Spot the Signs, Break the Chains on May 12.
The Hawaiʻi Tourism Authority (HTA) has partnered with Kanu Hawai‘i to make it easier for visitors to search and sign up for enriching volunteer opportunities throughout the state. Travellers planning their trips in the Hawaiian Islands can now access the Mālama Hawai‘i Volunteer Dashboard at GoHawaii.com/malama, the state’s official website for visitors.
As more people reconsider how they travel on a warming planet, a small but growing contingent in Europe wants to switch from high-emission, short-haul planes to more climate-friendly sleeper trains. But for all the climate benefits – plus the enduring romance of overnight train journeys – it’s not always simple building a vacation around them.
The World Food Travel Association (WFTA), the world’s leading authority on food and beverage tourism, has released its “2024 State of the Industry – Food & Beverage Tourism” report, which is available as a free download. The report is the WFTA’s annual bellwether assessment and analysis of the food and beverage tourism industry (also known as culinary tourism or gastronomy tourism).
IPW kicked off on the weekend with Los Angeles welcoming 5,700 delegates at the California city’s latest incarnation of US Travel’s largest inbound travel show, though first in 12 years. A delegation of over 100 Canadian trade and media (including Travel Industry Today) began trickling in late last week for weekend events and Saturday’s opening night gala at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum.
WestJet has issued a 72-hour lockout notice to the union representing its mechanics, and warns a work stoppage could happen as early as Tuesday. The Calgary-based airline says in a statement that the decision follows an announcement of a strike vote by the Aircraft Mechanics Fraternal Association, which represents approximately 670 aircraft maintenance engineers and skilled trade groups with the carrier.
The leading players of Travel & Tourism globally have published a landmark joint report setting out their joint plan to help halt and reverse biodiversity loss. The project marks a new collaborative era in the sector says the partner, which launched “Nature Positive Travel & Tourism in Action” in April in conjunction with Earth Month.
Southwest Airlines is studying changes to its quirky boarding and seating policies as it searches for ways to raise more revenue. Airline officials say they are studying possible changes but won’t have anything to announce until September. That tease is leading to speculation about whether Southwest might ditch some longstanding traditions, including the practice of passengers picking their own seats only after they board a plane.
As jurisdictions like Venice increasingly look to regulate visitors to help solve local problems, Spain’s drought-stricken Catalonia is considering imposing water restrictions on tourists in the driest parts of the region if domestic consumption is not curtailed. The restriction of 100 litres per tourist per day for hotels would go into effect if a municipality fails to keep domestic water use by residents below established limits for three consecutive months under the current “drought emergency” for the northeastern region.
Madonna put on a free concert on Copacabana beach Saturday night, turning Rio de Janeiro’s vast stretch of sand into an enormous dance floor teeming with a multitude of her fans. It was the last show of The Celebration Tour, her first retrospective, which kicked off in October in London.
Air Canada dropped new seat selection fees (for now), ACTA opened nominations for its annual awards and Dubai announced it is planning a $35-billion airport and urban growth project. In other round-up from last week, food service workers went back to work at Pearson, but Transat flight dispatchers voted for a strike mandate. Meanwhile, travel advisors received the seal of approval from CLIA for their outsized influence in cruise bookings.
Canadians’ diminishing appetite for post-pandemic travel helped nudge Air Canada to an $81-million first quarter loss, though the company boosted passenger revenues by nearly 11 percent year over year in the quarter ended March 31. The airline also says it is seeing “very strong signals” on business travel on the horizon.
In a mad mix of game-show glitter and marketing flash, Airbnb is offering customers a chance to spend a night in a Paris museum, stay in houses mocked up to look like movie settings, or sleep surrounded by eight Ferrari racing cars. Those and other chimerical listings are part of a splashy new campaign by the short-term rental giant, which wants to portray itself as a company that sells experiences and not just alternatives to staying in a hotel.
Around 30 men are crammed into a Kabul classroom, part of the debut student cohort at a Taliban-run institute training tourism and hospitality professionals. The students vary in age, education level and professional experience. They’re all men – Afghan women are banned from studying beyond sixth grade – and they don’t know anything about tourism or hospitality. But they are all eager to promote a different side of Afghanistan. And the Taliban are happy to help.
In visit to Halifax this week, WestJet Group CEO Alexis von Hoensbroech detailed the airline’s efforts and growth strategy in the region, including the resumption of transatlantic service, increased service to popular sun destinations in the winter, and enhanced east-to-west domestic air service to connect Canadians from coast-to-coast.
Amid accusations that a man struck a wolf with a snowmobile, taped its mouth shut and showed off the injured animal at a Wyoming bar before killing it, wildlife advocates are leading a call for a boycott by tourists of the conservative ranching state over laws that give people wide leeway to kill gray wolves with little oversight.
When MSC Cruises’ World America enters service in 2025, it will feature Cliffhanger, the only over-water swing ride at sea. The swing will tower above the new US flagship’s top deck, promising adrenaline junkies a one-of-a-kind, edge-of-your-seat thrill as their view oscillates between the water below and the sky above.
One of the things I most love is receiving recommendations from readers, often introducing bands I’ve never heard of. This week I offer we-are-not-worthy plaudits to Visit Fort Lauderdale’s Paul Mason, who urged me by to check out Leonid & Friends, an amazing band he was going to see.
From unrealistic expectations of candidates – such as higher wages and the ability to travel everywhere, all the time, for free – to the wider public simply not knowing that the profession still exists, travel agencies are struggling to find new blood to replace lost and retiring staff in order to keep up with surging travel demand from consumers.
Air Canada has launched new – and free – motorcoach service connecting southern Ontario’s Hamilton-Wentworth and Kitchener/Waterloo Regions to Toronto Pearson International Airport, at the same time enabling customers to create a single itinerary when booking travel with Air Canada through YYZ.
“Mexico City is always a good idea,” would be my geographical manipulation of a quote attributed to Audrey Hepburn, reflecting on the best-known capital city in the world (Paris). Yet, barely five hours’ flying time from Toronto (and marginally longer from YVR), there is another gem of a capital city powerfully reflecting the character and culture of the great country of Mexico.
Global Travel Agent Month has kicked off with a flurry of supplier incentives for May – and, in some cases, beyond – designed to profess recognition and appreciation of the invaluable work done throughout the entire year by travel advisors. While the list is lengthy – everyone loves travel agents after all! – here is a sampling of just some of the perks that are available.