EXPERIENCE FORT LAUDERDALE LIKE ONLY A SPECIALIST CAN

Visit Lauderdale’s ‘Lauderdale Loyalist’ program is an interactive training and sales experience for travel advisors designed to help sell the South Florida destination, but also to provide deals and discounts that can help agents discover Greater Fort Lauderdale for themselves.

BOMBS AWAY: Trump targets Canadian aircraft manufacturing

Experts are casting doubt on U.S. President Donald Trump’s ability to ban new Canadian-made aircraft from American skies in a proposed move that would deal a blow to plane makers, airlines and travellers on both sides of the border.

READY WHEN YOU ARE: Miami ‘something different’ in the U.S.

By Michael Baginski/ The salsa dancing inside contrasted with the foot of snow and bitter temperature outside the Lula Lounge in Toronto last week as a small delegation representing Miami tourism reacquainted with close to 80 members of the Canadian travel trade who brave the weather for a colourful evening.

SUNWING ADDS MEXICO, D.R. RESORTS

Sunwing Vacations is expanding its portfolio with five new and renovated all inclusive resorts across Mexico and the Dominican Republic, offering travel advisors new options for clients seeking family vacations, adult-only escapes or elevated beachfront relaxation.

GETTING IN THE SWING OF THINGS: Golf show inspires weary-winter Canadians

By Michael Baginski/ With two feet of snow and wind chill of -30 outside, a young Canadian’s fancy turns to thoughts of… golf. And so it was over the weekend at the Toronto Golf and Travel Show, where the travel trade from this country, and further afield, turned out to inspire thousands of winter-weary attendees dreaming of escape to a sunny destination – and an emerald green golf course.

ROUND-UP: Jan. 26-30, 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.

TRUMP OPENS VENEZUELA AIRSPACE

Trump says Venezuelan airspace will reopen to commercial travel and Americans soon can visit. President Donald Trump said Thursday he has informed Venezuela’s acting president, Delcy Rodríguez, that he will open up all commercial airspace over Venezuela and Americans will soon be able to visit.

BIGGEST LOSERS: Canadians most likely to have their luggage lost, survey says

A new survey reveals that 30.4% of Canadian flyers have had luggage misplaced by airlines – the most among travellers from Australia, Canada and the U.S. Moreover, the majority of flyers with lost luggage did not get reimbursed by their airline and the bags were likely to take days to be returned, if at all.

CELEBRITY PLANS TO FLOOD EUROPE WITH RIVER CRUISES

By Wallace Immen/ Make that 20! Celebrity River Cruises has announced a commitment for 10 more new ships that will expand its European river cruise fleet to 20 vessels by 2031. All this while construction of the first of the fleet – Celebrity Compass – has just started. And it’s already a sellout.

BLOCKBUSTER EXHIBIT: Famous artwork returns to UK after 1,000 years

The Bayeux Tapestry, the 11th-century artwork depicting the Norman conquest of England, is set be displayed in the U.K. for the first time in almost 1,000 years. The treasured medieval tapestry will be on loan from France and arrive at the British Museum in London, where it will star in a blockbuster exhibition from September to July 2027.

LISTENING IN: Eagles Greatest Hits soars to unprecedented heights

By Michael Baginski/ The Eagles have landed… the best-selling album in the history of the United States. Always mooted as one of the top-selling albums of all time, The Eagles’ “Their Greatest Hits (1971-75)” was officially certified by the Recording Industry Association of America this week for having sold 40 million copies – quadruple diamond – the first record to have done so.

HEEDING THE HEADWINDS: TLN considers state of the industry

By Michael Baginski/ The sky may be falling, but that isn’t stopping travellers from taking flight, according to Travel Leaders Network. And that is the best reason for confidence in a world where everyone always seems to be heading into the wind.

AIR CANADA REVEALS MORE WINTER SKED DETAILS

From Quito to Copenhagen, Air Canada has announced more flight options for travellers in next winter’s schedule. Among them are increased winter services to Latin America destinations, a new destination in South America, year-round service enhancements to Europe, and two sun destinations from Calgary.

INTREPID COMMITS TO INDIGENOUS TOURISM IN CANADA

Intrepid Travel signed a landmark partnership agreement with the Indigenous Tourism Association of Canada (ITAC), committing $500,000 over the next five years to support the growth and promotion of Indigenous tourism across Canada.

GAME ON: Roadtrips reveals top travel-sports events for 2026 and beyond

With the FIFA World Cup set to kick off in June and Summer Olympics on the horizon (after February’s Winter Olympics), the growth and popularity of once-in-lifetime sports travel is sure to continue for Canadians, even as fans continue take in all manner of annual sports, from hockey to baseball, football, basketball and golf in roadtrip excursions across the continent.

THIS IS GRIM: Tourism in Cuba plummets amid U.S. tensions

Tourism in Cuba is plummeting at a time when the island desperately needs that revenue, with the number of visitors dropping by more than half since 2018. For almost two decades, a steady stream of visitors sparked a boom in tourism, only for the COVID-19 pandemic and severe blackouts to hit, coupled with increased U.S. sanctions.

G SWITCHES GEARS: September GX Summit moving to Cambodia

G Adventures has announced that Cambodia will be the new host for its 2026 GX Summit in Septmeber. Having originally been set to take place in Morocco, the Toronto-based tour operator says the decision to change location reflects GX’s core mission to use travel as a force for good by supporting destinations where community tourism can have the greatest positive impact.

RETAIL ROUND-UP: Agent news, fams & incentives

This week: Ensemble helps with hotel groups; Friesen Travel Group celebrates success; MSC Cruises Canada recognizes “excellent” agents; Encore Cruises launches an air booking solution; and the Selling the USA 2027 incentive from Canuckiwi and partners.

WISH THAT YOU DON’T HAVE TO PAY? Tourists tapped for visiting Trevi Fountain

Tourists visiting the Trevi Fountain are now going to pay more than just the legendary coin toss over their shoulder to get a selfie in front of one of the world’s most celebrated waterworks. Starting Feb. 1, the city of Rome is imposing a 2-euro ($3) fee for tourists to get close to the fountain made famous by Federico Fellini’s “La Dolce Vita” during prime-time daylight hours.

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