LAST WEEK THIS MORNING: Round-Up May 18-22, 2026
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.
LOVE-HATE RELATIONSHIP: Canadians sour on social media, but continue to use
Once hailed as the future and saviour of communication for society, the ills of social media have become readily apparent to many Canadians, even as they continue to like, share, and scroll. New data from the non-profit Angus Reid Institute finds that Canadians are still overwhelmingly enmeshed in the social media environment, but that many aren’t sure about the impact it’s having on them, personally, and on broader society.
WHERE IS THE WORLD’S BEST BEACH?
As the self-proclaimed “ultimate global authority on beaches,” The World’s 50 Best Beaches has revealed its annual rankings for 2026. Driven by The World’s 50 Best Beaches team’s first-hand, year-round exploration as well as collaboration with over 1,000 elite travel professionals worldwide, the list highlights the planet’s most spectacular beaches.
WHERE’S THE BEEF? At the Big Texan Steak Ranch in Amarillo, of course
By MICHAEL BAGINSKI/ The Big Texan Steak Ranch and Brewery Is more than a restaurant, it’s an empire. The family-owned establishment in Amarillo serves over 600,000 lbs of beef a year to more than 600,000 guests and ranks as arguably the top attraction in the Texas Panhandle city that is also home to the famed Cadillac Ranch art installation immortalized in song by Bruce Springsteen.
WHY SUSTAINABLE TRAVEL ISN’T TAKING ROOT: Cost and convenience trump conscience
New insights reveal into how sustainability is shaping travel decisions worldwide, according to data from the Holafly eSIM & Travel Report, which says 42% of travellers surveyed say they actively take steps to travel more responsibly, highlighting a growing awareness of environmental impact among global explorers. However, the data also reveals a clear hierarchy between intention and decision-making.
7 THINGS YOU MUST KNOW NOW ABOUT CELEBRITY ASCENT.
Has Celebrity Cruises evolved to the point where the ship can be the destination? We’re about to find out on a cruise aboard the Celebrity Ascent, which offers a range of daily activities for every age and interest. But is it right for you? Here’s a look at the ups (and some downs) on the recent addition to Celebrity’s Edge Class of ships:
LISTENING IN – RANDY MEISNER’S SOARING EAGLES HIT
By MICHAEL BAGINSKI/ The Eagles were blessed with three great singer-songwriters: Don Henley, Glenn Frey, and Joe Walsh. And then there as Randy Meisner, who quietly penned, or contributed to some memorable efforts, not least one of the band’s signature hits, “Take It to the Limit.”
SHORT MEMORIES: Illness outbreaks unlikely to curb cruise enthusiasm
While a pair of high-profile outbreaks on cruises might have a temporary chilling effect, those in the industry predict the ships’ siren song will lure travellers back in short order.
BREAKING DOWN BARRIERS: How to make the most of accessible travel
For people living with disabilities, barriers to tourism can range from the obvious – such as an out-of-service elevator – to the unseen, like an outing that’s too long or a setting that’s too loud.
U.S. INDICTS RAUL CASTRO: Former Cuban president indicted on murder and conspiracy charges
The US Justice Department announced a criminal case Wednesday against former Cuban President Raúl Castro as the Trump administration escalates pressure on the socialist government, according to two people familiar with the matter.
INTREPID BRAND EVOLVES: Offers properties with purpose
Intrepid Travel has launched ‘Stay Intrepid,’ a new brand extension featuring a curated collection of six properties that offer experience-led, community-driven stays. The range includes five signature properties across Australia, as well as a riad in Morocco, with plans to grow into new destinations in the coming years.
THAT’S A KICK IN THE TEETH: Cost, travel fears, dampen demand for World Cup in U.S.
The promised economic boon from the World Cup hasn’t matched expectations, at least not yet, for U.S. hotels. Room bookings have been lighter than expected in most of the 11 U.S. cities hosting the world’s most watched sporting event, according to an April survey by the American Hotel & Lodging Association.
THE TROUBLE WITH TRACY: Popular Alaska cruise stop off limits this summer
For years, a popular part of many cruises in southeast Alaska has been sailing up Tracy Arm, a long, narrow fjord marked by steep mountains, glittering waterfalls and calving glaciers.
STEADY AS SHE GOES: Stable Caribbean tourism set to usher in new phase
Caribbean tourism is entering a new strategic phase, one defined less by rapid post-pandemic recovery and more by the need to diversify demand, capture higher-value travellers, and unlock growth beyond traditional peak periods.
LIVING LA PURA VIDA: Costa Rica brings special energy to Canada
The Costa Rican Tourism Board (ICT), alongside Costa Rican tourism partners and the Canadian team at VoX International, welcomed travel advisors, tour operators and airline representatives to an immersive “Energía Pura Vida” trade networking event last week at Arcadia Earth in Toronto’s The Well.
CHEERS: Ontario extends alcohol service for World Cup
Licensed Ontario restaurants and bars will be allowed to sell alcohol until 4 a.m. during the upcoming FIFA World Cup. The province announced the temporary extension Tuesday morning, saying it would help support tourism and local businesses during the international soccer tournament.
RETAIL ROUND-UP: Agent news, fams & incentives
This week: Ensemble is picking up the pace; a first for TRAVELSAVERS Canada; Travel Counsellors earns royal approval, Brendan Vacations plans Ireland FAMS, Oceania Cruises adds to its Canadian sales team, travel learning platform KORE arrives in Quebec …………
SALT, STEAM AND SOY: Discovering Tokyo’s culinary DNA
By CINDY-LOU DALE/ Tokyo’s food is layered: Edo pragmatism, Meiji experimentation, post-war reinvention. These 15 dishes trace the capital’s culinary DNA – but they are only a beginning. In Tokyo, every neighbourhood writes its own menu.
JET FUEL FLEXIBILITY: Canadian model gives industry options, says IATA exec
By STUART FOX/ The recent pressure on the supply of aviation fuel globally due to the war in the Middle East has put a spotlight on something most passengers never think about: the fuel in the aircraft. If the war continues, it won’t be long before we see fuel shortfalls in parts of the world. Flexibility could help the industry to make better use of the fuel we have, and airlines keep schedules intact.
ON THE GROUND AT IPW: Sussing out the latest in U.S. travel
By MICHAEL BAGINSKI/ IPW, the U.S. Travel Association’s signature annual trade show, kicked off Monday in sunny Fort Lauderdale with thousands of industry delegates from around the world on hand to buy and plan future product, but also to suss out for themselves just what’s happening in America at this moment, and yes, to enjoy the incredible warmth and hospitality (and entertainment) that is always on display from both the hosts and exhibitors from across the entire country.
UNCHARTED TERRITORY: Gas prices poised to stay high all summer, upending budgets and travel
As the conflict in the Middle East drags on and the global oil supply dwindles, the price of gas continues to hover near historic highs, with no sign of dropping before the travel-heavy summer season kicks off in earnest – or even before it winds down.
FEAR AND LOATHING IN TRAVEL: Risk embedded in global travel mindset
Virtually no travellers believe international travel is safer today than it was a year ago, according to new Global Rescue survey data – a striking finding that underscores how deeply risk has become embedded in the global travel mindset.
THE SQUEEZE IS ON: Transat reveals the cost of high fuel prices
Transat AT Inc. says high jet fuel prices added $70 million in additional costs for March and April compared with the same months last year. The travel company says fuel surcharges have only marginally offset the higher costs because a large portion of its bookings were made before the crisis caused by the attacks on Iran by the U.S. and Israel began.
DOMINICAN REPUBLIC REINFORCES CANADIAN PRESENCE
The Dominican Republic Ministry of Tourism hosted the DR Tourism Roadshow Toronto on May 12 at the Four Seasons Hotel Toronto, bringing together travel advisors, tour operators, airline partners, media representatives, and tourism stakeholders for an evening dedicated to showcasing the destination’s latest tourism developments, experiences, and growing connectivity with the Canadian market.
ROUND-UP: May 11-15, 2026
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.
CANADA BY CHOICE, NOT DEFAULT: Canadians are not giving up in travel, just planning closer to home
Economic pressures are real, but Canadians are not giving up on travel. A new survey from the Business Development Bank of Canada (BDC) shows nearly nine in 10 Canadians plan to travel in 2026.
THE NIGHT THE LIGHTS WENT OUT IN HAVANA: Energy blockade pulls plug on city’s legendary nightlife
Havana’s broad avenues are empty at night. Theatres are closed. Bars and cafés have curtains lowered. It’s hard to find lights in the streets or Cubans making money entertaining tourists.
TIPPING IN TOUGH TIMES: Rising requests getting ‘out of hand’ and how to cope
With many Canadians facing greater financial constraints, sentiment around tipping culture is shifting. Over the past few years, customers have seen “suggested” tipping amounts rise, and with more people paying on debit and credit machines instead of cash, they are being asked to tip more often.
ICE, ICE, BABY: It’s a banner year for ‘bergs in Newfoundland
At the top of Signal Hill in St. John’s, Nfld., on a recent afternoon, a steady stream of people walked around a rocky cliff and gasped. Some cheered, some took out their phones to capture the moment – a rush of awe as an iceberg floated in the ocean below, cleaved off from a Greenland glacier and delivered by the Labrador current on a cloudless spring day.
TRANSCEND AIMS TO BE THE GO-TO FOR GROUP CRUISES
By WALLACE IMMEN/ A sleek, dark blue ship with interiors by luxury yacht firm Tillberg Design of Sweden is about to start sailing on Europe’s rivers. Gorgeous, but you can’t just book a single cabin, you have to commit to the whole ship. The Transcend Connect is only the first of 12 ships planned by Transcend Cruises, that sees an untapped demand for group charters on Europe’s rivers.