Effective February 01, the Travel Industry Council of Ontario (TICO) reduced the required rewrite wait times for the Travel Counsellor and Supervisor/Manager exams. TICO has also charged Elite Encounters and Adventures Inc., Dwayne Pogue and Stefanie Landriault with one count of operating as a travel agent without being registered.
Last weekend Canadian ultra-low-cost airline Swoop, operated the last of its seasonal restarts with Saturday’s non-stop flight from Hamilton to Montego Bay. This winter Swoop offers an expanded schedule of more than 100 sun flight options per week to destinations across the US, Mexico and the Caribbean.
Thousands of schools in the UK closed some or all of their classrooms, train services were paralyzed and delays were expected at airports on the biggest day of industrial action Britain has seen in more than a decade, as unions stepped up pressure on the government Wednesday to provide better pay amid a cost-of-living crisis.
History tends to repeat itself, particularly in the travel industry. We resist or fear change, predicting the end to life in the sector as we know it; then we adapt; we survive; and the learning process is then, somehow, erased from our memory.
As Dominica continues to celebrate two months of Carnival, or “Mas An Lawi,” with an authentic display of revelry, freedom, and culture with tasteful nods to the West African and Creole roots of the island, the island’s tourism office is reporting a significant increase in 2022 tourism arrival numbers, while projecting even stronger growth in 2023.
Thailand has ushered in a new age of train travel as Southeast Asia’s biggest railway station officially began operations this month. The government says the huge, modern development on the edge of central Bangkok will bolster the country’s position as a regional hub and boost its economy.
Global business travel is forecast to see an uptick in 2023 versus 2022. Companies are expected to send more employees on trips and travel suppliers anticipate an increase in corporate travel spending. Sectors such as finance, insurance, professional services, and consulting are showing stronger signs of growth in travel spending. Despite potential economic challenges and uncertainty surrounding the post-COVID return of China − the world’s largest business travel market – the industry remains optimistic about continued recovery and employees’ willingness to travel for work.
Winter weather brought ice to Texas and nearby states Tuesday, causing the cancellation of more than 980 flights and delays to nearly 800 more. More than 500 flights to or from Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport and nearly 125 to or from Dallas Love Field were cancelled or delayed Tuesday, according to the tracking service FlightAware.
Auckland prepared for another round of flooding as rain battered northern New Zealand’s Northland region, which declared an emergency Tuesday afternoon in anticipation of the deluge. A state of emergency was already in place for Auckland, which saw deadly record rainfall Friday. Officials had closed schools for the week and were asking people to work from home if possible as the nation’s largest city braced for more flooding. Auckland Airport has warned that flight schedules may be disrupted for several days
Niagara-on-the-Lake has been honoured with Tripadvisor’s 2023 Travellers’ Choice “Best of the Best” Popular Destination in Canada award. This award comes from customers and the ratings they leave for restaurants, hotels, things to do and other activities in the area. The reviews are collected over a 12-month period.
The pre-pandemic ‘use it or lose it’ rule for airport slots is coming back. The UK government says that effective March 26 this year, airlines at British airports will have to maintain 80% of their take-off and landing slots to keep them.
The US Department of the Interior has given new names to five places that previously included a racist term for a Native American woman. The renamed sites are in California, North Dakota, Tennessee, and Texas, completing a year-long process to remove the historically offensive word “squaw” from geographic names across the country.
Silversea Cruises 11th, and newest ship, Silver Nova, is scheduled for delivery this summer. Built with a revolutionary asymmetrical design – a first for the cruise line – the new ship will offer guests all-new outdoor spaces for an unprecedented openness, with a reimagined, outward-facing pool deck, an al fresco dining area, and a sky bar that offers panoramic views from the ship’s aft.
The latest injuries from airplane turbulence were on flights to Honolulu and Houston, leading to a total of 41 people being hurt or receiving medical treatment in the week before Christmas.
Social media influencers are inspiring one in five young travellers to head off on holiday – but their impact drops dramatically over the generations, new research shows. At the same time, that same demographic is the most likely to book with a travel agent.
British Columbia is introducing a policy of decriminalization on Tuesday as part of what it says is an overall plan to prevent overdose deaths from illicit drugs. The pilot project will continue until Jan. 31, 2026, after a federal exemption from the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act.
As travel continues to make its return in most parts of the world, the 11th annual Booking.com Traveller Review Awards recognize travel providers from across 220 countries and territories for their commitment to providing consistently excellent service and hospitality over the course of the year.
The federal government has announced an investment of up to nearly $23.5 million for an expansion and sustainability project at John C. Munro Hamilton International Airport.
For more than 60 years, Four Seasons has helped define the art of luxury hospitality and the Toronto-based company says it has no plans to stop, with a continuing “robust (and) evolved growth strategy” that has seen the brand add private residences, a jet, and soon yachts to its global portfolio of 126 luxury hotels – all of which began with the opening of the singular Four Seasons Motor Hotel in Toronto in 1961.
The Ponte Vecchio, a beautiful centuries-old bridge spanning the Arno River in the Italian city of Florence, is best viewed on foot, with crowds of tourists regularly thronging the pedestrianized structure to view its ancient stonework.
Lynx Air launched its inaugural flight to the United States on Friday, departing from Toronto Pearson International Airport (YYZ) and arriving at the new Terminal C at Orlando International Airport (MCO). Canada’s new “ultra-affordable” airline will operate four direct flights per week between Toronto and Orlando, flying brand-new Boeing 737 aircraft.
Struggling UK regional airline Flybe collapsed for the second time in three years Saturday, putting jobs on the line and leaving passengers stranded. The airline initially slumped into bankruptcy in March 2020, shedding 2,400 jobs, as coronavirus restrictions decimated the travel industry. It relaunched in April last year, flying many of the same routes out of Belfast, Birmingham and London Heathrow.
Residents of the Mexican resort of Cancun hoped people would boycott medallion taxis Friday, after a week of blockades and violent incidents by drivers protesting the ride-hailing app Uber. Road blockades, stone throwing and cabbies physically preventing tourists from boarding Uber vehicles drew a U.S. travel advisory Monday, noting “past disputes between these services and local taxi unions have occasionally turned violent, resulting in injuries to U.S. citizens in some instances.”
Channelling the hope and promise of the New Year, CheapOair.ca has looked into its crystal ball to share some of the top trends that Canadian travellers – and those who book them – need to be aware of.
US Federal officials say they will require charter airlines, air-tour operators, and plane manufacturers to develop detailed systems for identifying potential safety problems before accidents occur.
Britain’s national tourism agency, VisitBritain has announced two appointments to ensure it is best placed to drive tourism to Britain, deliver its strategy, build for the future and that Britain remains the top destination of choice for travellers.
Protests and pilots were in the news last week, while CATO called for consumer contributions to the Ontario Compensation Fund. Jamaica was jammin’ over its new numbers, and Porter introduced a new loyalty program…
The Walt Disney Company marks its 100th anniversary this year and the Disneyland Resort will commemorate the milestone with new experiences, entertainment and more throughout 2023. Disney100 will celebrate our incredible storytellers and creators, along with the fans and families who’ve brought us into their hearts, as they together spark the magic and wonder of Disney. This celebration honours the journey we’ve been on and the memories we’ve created together, and it will bring new experiences with our beloved characters along with heartwarming new stories.
TRON Lightcycle / Run presented by Enterprise officially opens April 4 at Magic Kingdom Park!
The story of TRON Lightcycle / Run picks up after “TRON: Legacy” where Kevin’s son, Sam Flynn, has opened a second gateway into a digital world called the Grid. The first portal was built at Shanghai Disneyland with the original TRON Lightcycle Power Run.
For 25 years, Disney Cruise Line has set a course for magical vacations at sea. On the way to dazzling destinations in the Caribbean, Alaska and Europe, you can play the day away with some favourite Disney Characters, enjoy Broadway-style shows, relax in adult-exclusive spaces and venture into incredible kids’ clubs. Plus, with special limited-time entertainment, themed offerings and more, this summer’s 25th anniversary celebration is sure to be shining, shimmering and splendid!