By Michael Baginski/ The Rocky Horror Picture Show first screened on Aug. 14, 1975, bringing a film version of the London West End theatrical production to a global mainstream audience that proved to be anything but mainstream.
Hurricane Melissa – one of the strongest Atlantic hurricanes on record – left dozens dead and a trail of destruction across Cuba, Haiti and Jamaica, where roofless homes, toppled utility poles and water-logged furniture dominated the landscape Wednesday.
The MP overseeing Canada’s foreign aid says that, as of Wednesday afternoon, no Canadians had been reported dead as a result of Hurricane Melissa. Randeep Sarai, secretary of state for international development, also said Canada has supported making United Nations crisis funds available to Caribbean governments and is ready to help with logistics.
After more than 30 years of operation in North America, the Jordan Tourism Board says it will officially close its office on Nov. 30. The Washington DC-based office promoted the Kingdom across Canada, the United States, and Mexico.
As the 2026 FIFA World Cup across North America nears, travel experts are warning that thousands of football fans could be refused entry to the United States next summer due to tightening visa checks, social media screening, and renewed border policies in the U.S.
By Harding Bush/ Your hotel may feel like a haven after a long flight, but security begins the moment you step through the lobby doors. Checking in isn’t just a formality, it’s a crucial opportunity to put situational awareness and proven safety practices into action. Hotel security isn’t only about locks and cameras. It starts with the traveller, and how prepared and observant they are from the very beginning.
A sauna in Swedish Lapland for better sleep quality, or cold plunges in the archipelago for improved circulation? Two out of three respondents in a new international survey would be open to spending more time in nature if a doctor prescribed it. Now, Sweden is positioning itself as the world’s first country to which travel can be prescribed by a doctor.
Heavy floodwaters swept across southwestern Jamaica, winds tore roofs off buildings and boulders tumbled onto roads Tuesday as Hurricane Melissa came ashore as a catastrophic Category 5 storm, one of the strongest Atlantic hurricanes on record.
What makes the perfect travel content to drive bookings in today’s world of AI? According to Expedia Group Advertising, which has released comprehensive findings from research dubbed ‘The Science of Wanderlust,’ there are six key ingredients that that drive consumer travel decisions.
As kids of all ages get pumped over pumpkins and giddy over ghosts this week, Tourism Ireland reminds that the event can be traced back to the ancient Celtic festival of Samhain, thereby rendering the destination as the true “home of Halloween” – a “holiday” that is still taken seriously around the country while lending traditions that are rooted in Irish folklore to the rest of the modern world.
This week: Nexion Travel Group announced its 2026 Summit in Vancouver in 2026; Virtuoso’s Chairman’s Event recognized top performers in Mexico; Voyzant lit up Vancouver with Diwali celebrations; TRAVELSAVERS Canada is showcasing its professional development; and a new-look Club Med University is back in session.
From space to sea, and air to ice, Kensington says its new Expeditions collection is set to “push the boundaries” of luxury travel, blending highly customized travel experiences – such as curated visits to next-generation space stations – with immersive adventure across land, sea, air and space.
Hilton is celebrating a major milestone: more than 200 hotels now open in Canada. The achievement, highlighted by the most recent openings of Hôtel Vallea Bromont, Tapestry Collection by Hilton, Home2 Suites by Hilton Woodstock ON and Spark by Hilton Toronto Mississauga – reflects the hospitality company’s successful multi-brand growth strategy.
The U.S. Department of Homeland Security is amending its policies to require that all non-citizens – including Canadians – be photographed when entering or leaving the United States.
The Cuba Tourist Board has confirmed the temporary closure of airports in Santiago de Cuba and Holguín on Tuesday and Wednesday (Oct. 28-29) as Hurricane Melissa – a category 5 storm that has tied for the strongest on earth in 2025 – approaches the island tonight and into Wednesday.
With travellers increasingly turning to tools like ChatGPT as a quick way to plan their trips, an insurance expert is warning that users might not realize the potential travel disruptions they could face caused by misinformation the technology may provide, such as missed flights or incorrect visa information.
Scotland is welcoming more international visitors than ever, making it the fastest-growing UK nation for inbound tourism, and VisitScotland is planning to continue the momentum at its Connect 2026 event in Glasgow in April. The annual trade event remains a vital platform for Scottish tourism businesses to connect with international tour operators and travel advisors while showcasing the country’s landscapes, culture, heritage, and welcoming experiences.
The guided tour isn’t dead yet, according to Globus family of brands, which commissioned a new survey showing that three in four next-gen travellers still embrace the traditional means of travel as it continues to offer balance, value, and smaller group sizes.
The robbery at the Louvre has done what no marketing campaign ever could: It has catapulted France’s dusty crown jewels – long admired at home, little known abroad – to global fame. Over a week on, the country is still wounded by the breach to its national heritage –even as authorities have announced arrests tied to the haul.
Hurricane Melissa is forecast to reach the southern coast of Jamaica as a major hurricane late today (Monday) or Tuesday morning and people on the island have been urged to seek shelter immediately as the slowly moving storm threatens to dump over 1,000 mm (40 inches) of rain on some areas of the island.
Accessibility is moving from the margins to the mainstream of Canadian travel. A Flight Centre survey conducted by YouGov reveals that 42% of Canadians place high importance on accessibility when making their travel plans. This figure outpaces even the most recent Statistics Canada data: that 27% of Canadians aged 15 and older – and a striking 40.4% of individuals 65 and older – are affected by disability.
The FAA issued a temporary ground stop Sunday at Los Angeles International Airport – one of the world’s busiest airports – soon after the U.S. secretary of transportation predicted that travellers would see more flights delayed and cancelled in the coming days as U.S. air traffic controllers work without pay during the federal government shutdown.
Viking named its nine newest river ships – including the company’s 100th ship – during a simultaneous ceremony last week that spanned six countries. The main celebration took place in Basel, Switzerland, on board the Viking Honir, and was connected virtually to the eight other new ships located across five additional countries.
Madrid’s streets were baa-dly jammed last weekend – not by protesters or soccer fans but by a flock of sheep and goats being led through the Spanish capital in an annual festival that honours the area’s rural heritage.
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 Michael Baginski/ Heading south for the winter has been a Canadian ritual for generations, but this winter a dramatic new shift in Canadian travel trends is emerging, according to the Travel Health Insurance Association of Canada – one that threatens to see snowbirds roosting at home rather flying the Canadian winter coop.
Air Canada plans to launch flights to the U.S. out of Toronto’s island airport in a bid for business passengers that marks a direct challenge to rival Porter Airlines. The airline announced Thursday it will fly planes between Billy Bishop airport (YTZ) and New York (LaGuardia), Boston, Chicago (O’Hare) and Washington, D.C.’s (Dulles), starting next spring for a total of 10 daily return flights.
Visit St. Pete-Clearwater, which counts Dunedin, Fla., – spring training home of the Toronto Blue Jays – among its constituencies, says it “couldn’t be prouder” that the team has reached the World Series this year for the first time in 32 years.
For the first time in nearly 2,000 years, visitors to Rome’s world-renowned Colosseum have the opportunity to walk through a hidden imperial passage that once allowed Roman emperors to reach the ancient amphitheater unseen. The once-secret corridor – known as the “Commodus Passage” and named after the Roman emperor turned into a pop icon by Ridley Scott’s movie “Gladiator” – opens to the next week (Oct. 27) marking an extraordinary milestone in archaeological preservation and access.
By Wallace Immen/ With a secret announcement to insiders, Scenic Group revealed its latest luxury exploration ship – Scenic Ikon – will join the Scenic Discovery Yacht Fleet for its inaugural season in 2028. And its inaugural voyage from Venice in April 2028 is apparently already sold out.