Karisma Hotels & Resorts, in partnership with Autism Double-Checked, has introduced what it says is the world’s first-ever Autism Concierge, providing a dedicated contact for all autism-related questions and serving as an extension of the Autism Double-Checked comprehensive three-part training program.

The British Museum – a major tourist attraction in London – has dismissed a staff member after items dating back as far as the 15th century BC were found to be missing, stolen or damaged.

The fight over passengers compensation continued last week, while in other weekly news, TICO issued an invitation for new directors; grim hurricane news hit the headlines; Transat introduced Peru; and TravelBrands’ committed a good deed.

The Supreme Court of Canada has agreed to hear an appeal from several airlines, including Air Canada and Porter, looking to quash rules that boost compensation to passengers for delayed flights or damaged luggage.

As Yellowknife begins evacuation and Maui continues to cope with the aftermath of devastating wildfires, global attention has turned to the Spanish Canary island of Tenerife, a popular tourist destination where an out-of-control wildfire has burned thousands of hectares and affected nearly 8,000 people who are either evacuated or confined.

Do you look and act like a tourist? If so, it can produce assumptions that you are inexperienced, naive, lacking cultural awareness, and wealthy. Standing out as a tourist can make you appear vulnerable and an easy target for scams, pickpockets, and other types of crime.

Back for the 12th time, Goway will host its gala Africa and Middle East event in Toronto on Oct. 24 and agents are being invited to save the date. The event will feature close to 30 suppliers from across all of Africa and the Middle East for a full-day of training, events, meals, cocktails, and a free-flow trade show.

Ensemble top performers experienced the Explora 1 cruise ship, Direct Travel unveiled enhanced tech capabilities, and Virtuoso tipped its top cruise lines at the network’s annual Travel Week in Las Vegas in this week’s round-up.

Amidst the “immense and unprecedented” devastation caused by the wildfires in Lahaina and West Maui (including Napili, Kaanapali and Kapalua), all non-essential travel to the region continues to be strongly discouraged through the month of August, says Hawaii’s governor.

With its new Sun brochure now out there in the ether and product launches pending in five Canadian cities in September, Air Canada Vacations says it is also implementing a new commission policy designed to offer agents enhanced financial protection and stability.

Railbookers is registering a spike in demand for travel in the latter half of 2023, with more than half of all bookings in the last six weeks departing before the end of December, reports the rail specialist tour operator.

A “perfect storm” of problems lies behind Air Canada’s wave of flight delays over the summer, its CEO said, even as the country’s largest airline roars back to profitability.

A judge has sanctioned Southwest Airlines, writing that the airline twisted his words and disregarded his order in the case of a flight attendant who claimed that she was fired for expressing her opposition to abortion.

The composition of Travel Industry Association of Ontario’s (TICO) board is changing – news that officially filtered out late Friday afternoon and garnered industry reaction over the weekend (see following link). And while the letter from Minister of Public and Business Service Delivery Kaleed Rasheed made it clear that province’s travel industry will have less representation – and input – on the board, many questions remained unclear. We put some of them to TICO CEO Richard Smart. Here’s his reply.

The government of Mexico says it plans to revive the Mexicana name for its new airline, which will be controversially run by the country’s military starting in September. The administration of President Andrés Manuel López Obrador has also put trains, law enforcement, tourism and infrastructure projects under the army’s command, including one tourist ferry line serving the Isla Marias islands that is manned by navy personnel.