By Michael Baginski/ U.S. Travel’s signature inbound travel trade show IPW – running since 1969 – is set to take place for the first time ever in Fort Lauderdale, Fla., and organizers are putting out the welcome mat for Canadians for an event that organizers promise will be like none before.
As the final pilgrims of the 2025 Holy Year passed through the Holy Door of St. Peter’s Basilica in Rome last week, the Vatican claimed success after more than 33 million people participated in what was the rarest of Jubilees: opened by one pope and closed by another.
Citing unprecedented demand for travel to Japan, while at the same time cognizant of the demands of overtourism, Goway is expanding its product line in the Asian destination with off- the-beaten-path experiences on the southern island of Kyushu and Shizuoka region near Mt. Fuji.
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.
By Mike Foster/ As we dive deeper into the themes introduced in my last column (and series opener), I want to share a practical vision of the near future. We are standing at a crossroads: AI is already part of our daily lives, and by 2026 it will be far more ubiquitous in the workflows of travel professionals.
Canadian airlines pulled back in a big way from the United States over the past year and boosted flight volumes elsewhere – especially the Caribbean – with no sign of a cross-border rebound on the horizon.
The Caribbean Tourism Organization (CTO) says the region is open for business and ready to welcome travellers in the wake of the U.S. military action in Venezuela, which caused a temporary closure of airspace last weekend that disrupted some travellers.
Residents of Gander, Nfld., formed an impromptu volunteer shuttle service for about 200 passengers aboard two planes forced to land unexpectedly at the town’s airport on Wednesday night.
A rare “weather bomb” swept across Britain overnight with warnings of life-threatening winds, rains and snowfall and major travel disruptions as it headed in from the southwest of England during what already has been one of the country’s worst cold snaps in years.
By Wallace Immen/ It seems everyone got the same idea at the same time: there’s an untapped demand for a small ship that can explore the far corners of the globe in the luxury you expect at the world’s finest hotels or resorts.
By Michael Baginski/ “Hallelujah,” the ubiquitous Leonard Cohen classic, has been covered countless times (ok, there’s been over 300 versions identified), with the likes of Jeff Buckley, k.d. lang, Yolanda Adams, Jennifer Hudson and Willie Nelson being considered among the best.
From travellers planning holidays centered around sporting events to children influencing family holiday choices, there are six key trends that are shaping guests’ booking patterns and driving itinerary offerings heading into 2026, according to MSC Cruises.
An excuse to have another beer or glass of wine when flying? A new study emanating from south of the border warns travellers not to drink tea, coffee, or unbottled water on flights, load up on ice, or even clean their hands in washrooms, due to potentially unhealthy water used on board many aircraft.
By Cindy-Lou Dale/ A quiet shift is reshaping what luxury means. Once, it was measured in exclusivity – fine linens, private jets, and polished isolation. Now, it’s measured in connection: to nature, to people, and to place.
The Trump administration has added seven countries, including five in Africa, to the list of nations whose passport holders are required to post bonds of up to $15,000 to apply to enter the United States.
Expedia TAAP has announced the appointment of Gail Lea as Business Development Manager and Account Manager for Canada. With more than 20 years of experience in tourism marketing, destination development, and front-line travel advising, Lea brings a strong combination of industry insight, strategic capability, and relationship-driven leadership.
Tauck has introduced its newest brand, Roam by Tauck. Designed for travellers in their 40s and 50s, the premium, flexible small group division of the still evolving 100-year-old tour operator will feature five itineraries in its first year, expanding to a dozen in 2027.
By Shannon Stowell/ Remember when Canadians and Americans mostly argued about who invented basketball and who should have won the Stanley Cup or World Series? The Beyond Borders Tourism Coalition (BBTC) is now staring at a border relationship so strained that empty hotel rooms, quiet main streets and $100 park surcharges are doing the talking – and none of it is good for tourism.
Air Transat pilots have overwhelmingly ratified a new five-year employment contract, according to the Air Line Pilots Association, Int’l (ALPA). Of the 98% of 750 eligible pilots who cast ballots, 91% voted in favour of the deal, negotiated in December, which offered a wage hike of more than 50% on average over five years.
Snow, ice and freezing temperatures hit parts of Europe on Tuesday, forcing the cancellation of hundreds of flights from one of the continent’s busiest airports, as well as several traffic fatalities.
This week: Travel Master advisors visited Mexico; Total Advantage Travel & Tours has a launched a host agency; TDC held its Sales Academy at Sea; Kensington goes corporate; an incentive from Quark Expeditions, and Atlas Ocean Voyages has a new website for agents.
Citing the successful implementation of comprehensive prevention and control measures across the country, the Cuba Tourist Board in Toronto is reporting a sustained downward trend in arbovirus cases in the destination, including dengue, chikungunya, and Oropouche.
According to the latest Scotland Visitor Survey, one in five visitors (19%) said film, TV or literature inspired their trip – a figure that rises to 37% for long-haul travellers.
From sports you’ve never heard of to book club retreats, salvaged hotels to farm stays, new trends in 2026 will flip the script on traditional getaways, predicts Expedia in its annual ‘Unpack’ report, which highlights shifts in traveller behaviour and the destinations set to dominate itineraries in the coming year, including several Canadian destinations and activities spotlighted throughout.
Transport Canada has warned Air India that it faces a loss of its flight authorizations if it does not comply with rules about alcohol consumption. The warning comes after an Air India pilot was offloaded from a plane and arrested at Vancouver International Airport on Dec. 23.
Aeromexico maintained a 90.02% on-time performance to claim the world’s most on-time global airline title for the second consecutive year, according to Cirium’s 2025 On-Time Performance Review, released on Jan. 2.
The Travel Industry Council of Ontario (TICO) has launched a new, enhanced Certification Program and exam for individuals aspiring to become Travel Counsellors and agency Supervisors/Managers.
‘G-Normous’ is back. The four-month competition from G Adventures is designed to supercharge advisor sales while giving agents across the country a chance to compete for a ‘G Dollar’ grand prize worth $10,000, which can be used to book any G Adventures trip globally. In total there are more than $45,000 in prizes to be won during the incentive period.
As it does every year, Edmonton is preparing to make the most of Central Alberta’s typically frosty winter weather with a host of activities and events in the New Year that will bring a city alive with light, music, and outdoor celebration.
After several years of labour unrest in transport, Canadian travellers face more potential airline disruptions in 2026. The slew of work stoppages has left many wondering whether the coming year will be more peaceful on the aviation front – or if they still need to book with caution.