This week: ACTA announced regional chairs and vice chairs, and promotes a key exec; a first for Marlin Travel; TTAND signs new luxury suppliers; Ensemble has a new cruise partner; and Direct Travel launches a host luxury division
In the lead-up to St. Patrick’s Day (March 17), Tourism Ireland is celebrating Irish Heritage Month with a comprehensive activation at the Toronto Eaton Centre, with both travel advisors and their clients invited to drop by a little inspiration and hopefully to engage in some on-the-spot trip planning.
Building respectful, mutually beneficial relationships with Indigenous communities and advancing tourism systems that are owned, guided and governed by Indigenous Peoples is the objective of a new trade toolkit unveiled at the recent 2026 International Indigenous Tourism Conference in Edmonton.
Several international airlines cautiously resumed a small number of flights from the United Arab Emirates on Monday, offering some relief for travellers stranded by sweeping airspace closures after the U.S. and Israel bombarded Iran, and Iran struck back at targets across the Middle East.
Remember Cuba, last week’s centre of attention? Lost in the fear and loathing of war in the middle east over the weekend was Donald Trump’s declaration Friday that the U.S. is in talks with Havana and the suggestion of the possibility of a “friendly takeover of Cuba.”
ITB Berlin has seen a lot in its 60-year history. Indeed, the world’s largest travel show was born in the middle of the Vietnam War. This year, thousands of delegates scrambled to get to the show (if they could get there at all) due to the sudden outbreak of a new war in Iran and the Middle East
The United Arab Emirates has sold itself to foreigners for years as a sunny, safe, tax-free oasis.
Goway is celebrating women and marking International Women’s Month with an exclusive incentive for travel advisors booking solo women travel. Throughout March “every travel advisor who helps women discover their passions in far-flung destinations” by booking a solo women travel tour with Goway will earn $100 with the GowayPro Loyalty Program.
Travelling with children is a balancing act: high energy for the thrill-seekers, shade breaks for the nappers, and experiences that feel like vacation rather than a generic beach break. Luckily, in Nassau & Paradise Island, visitors can pair a big water-park day with wildlife encounters, hands-on sweets, and a quick taste of local flavour – all without overplanning.
Hundreds of thousands of stranded travellers scrambled to make new connections and get through to airlines on jammed phone lines Sunday after the attack on Iran by the United States and Israel shut down much of the Middle East to air travel. Iran’s retaliatory strikes directly hit several airports in the region, which resulted in at least five deaths and more injuries.
Prime Minister Mark Carney said he supports the U.S. action in Iran, but Canada will not get directly involved in the conflict after American and Israeli militaries launched an attack on the Middle Eastern country that left its leader dead.
With the launch of operation “Roaring Lion” against Iran, and with explosions rocking Jerusalem on Sunday night as Iranian missiles attempted landfall, Israel’s Ministry of Tourism said it is operating in emergency mode, providing accommodation to residents evacuated from their homes and assisting tourists currently staying in Israel with departing from the country.
The World Trade Center’s final office tower will start construction as soon as this spring and become the new headquarters of American Express, marking a milestone nearly 25 years after the Sept. 11 attacks destroyed the New York site.
The Japan National Tourism Organization (JNTO) welcomed 64 members of the Canadian travel Friday at the Vancouver edition of “Japan: Delve Deeper.” The event, hosted at Vancouver’s Fairmont Waterfront Hotel, brought together a cosmopolitan group of Japan’s top travel suppliers and partners for a compelling mini trade show.
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.
A long-running air traffic controllers shortage has aviation experts warning of a perfect storm of delays for travellers in Canada this summer when the FIFA World Cup of soccer kicks off.
Global Affairs Canada/Affaires Mondiales Canada was suddenly thrust into the spotlight this week as it supported Canadians caught up in the eruption of violence in Mexico’s Jalisco state (including Puerto Vallarta) after a leading cartel figure was killed by Mexican government forces. But what exactly does/can Global Affairs really do?
Louise MacKinnon and her family have become accustomed to visiting Cuba in March, but plans to return this year fell through when Canadian carriers were forced to suspend service to the island due to a fuel shortage caused by the U.S. oil blockade.
British tourism is experiencing a “Bridgerton”-fuelled surge, according to leading tour operator Evan Evans, which says the demand for the series’ UK filming locations has resulted in a staggering 276% increase in website visits for its Stonehenge & Bath private tours, while online searches for the Hampton Court & Windsor tours have climbed 140%.
By Wallace Immen/ What if every other day was 25 hours long? What if you could make an entire day vanish – or jump from one year to the next and back again? And what if you could fly home from halfway around the world and arrive before you left?
A collection of Paul McCartney instruments, outfits, handwritten lyrics, unseen photos and tour memorabilia will be part of an exhibit at the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame this summer, billed as the first major museum show to feature McCartney and Wings.
According to the latest Longwoods International tracking study, 59% of Canadian travellers say U.S. government policies, trade practices and political statements make them less likely to travel to the U.S. in the next 12 months – up from 53% last October, but down from a peak of 63% in July 2025. At the same time, 45% say they plan to visit the U.S. in 2026 with 23% of those undeterred at all by politics.
Canada is sending $8 million in food aid to people in Cuba, where a U.S. oil blockade has triggered a humanitarian crisis. Foreign Affairs Minister Anita Anand and MP Randeep Sarai, secretary of state for international development, say the funding is aimed at addressing urgent needs.
The federal government is advising First Nations people to carry a passport in addition to a secure status card when crossing the border to the United States. The updated advisory comes as one First Nation chief says his members are already hesitant about travelling south.
Calling it ‘a new era of long-haul’ travel, Air Canada has announced the next phase of its fleet modernization program with the purchase of the Airbus A350-1000 widebody aircraft. The airline will add eight of the aircraft to its fleet and has rights to buy eight more with deliveries scheduled to begin in the second half of 2030.
In an era of constant notifications, endless scrolling and always-on schedules, travellers are redefining the meaning of luxury, says the Globus family of brands. Citing new research from MMGY Travel Intelligence, GFOB says, “It’s no longer about planning more – or even escaping to a beach to do nothing at all. Increasingly, the ultimate indulgence is being fully present: immersed in culture, connected to place and free from the distractions that pull attention away from the moment.”
Food in Panama isn’t just something you taste, it’s something you experience in every corner of the country. From award-winning restaurants to fresh, locally sourced ingredients, Panama offers a culinary scene shaped by its history, diversity and exceptional natural abundance. It’s a place where flavour tells a story, and where Canadians can enjoy authentic tastes that reflect the country’s unique identity.
Take a cruise, one travel advisor suggested, as cancelled flights in and out of Puerto Vallarta emerged as the latest obstacle in a rocky season for Canadian travellers – and the travel advisors who book (and sometimes must help retrieve) them – with Mexico joining troubled Cuba and muted interest in the U.S. in a perfect storm of uncertainty when it comes to travel ahead of March break and beyond.
Canadian airlines began flying in and out of Puerto Vallarta again Tuesday after widespread violence led them to temporarily suspend service since the weekend. Air Canada, Air Transat, WestJet and Porter Airlines all announced were resuming flights to and from the popular western Mexican resort city, with WestJet also offering service to Guadalajara and Manzanillo.
Cigar afficionados have been forced to stoke their Habanos elsewhere this year as Cuba’s most famous cigar festival has gone up in smoke. The annual fair, which was to have taken place this week was postponed as the island continues to face blackouts and severe fuel shortages brought about by a U.S oil embargo.