By Michael Baginski/ It’s hard to appreciate now just how subversive – or at least cool – KISS was when they came on the scene in the ’70s. Just like trying to explain to the younger generation how groundbreaking Sgt. Pepper was when everything that followed ultimately rendered it mainstream.
Passengers are living digital-first lives. They manage their finances, health, and mobility from their phones. But when it’s time to fly, they’re often still asked to queue, print, and repeat. And that has to change, according to leading aviation industry IT provider SITA, which says passengers are simply demanding that the aviation industry catch up to them.
At the time when the dollar is dipping, AI is reshaping jobs, and burnout feels like the new normal, Flight Centre Canada has declared 2026 the Year of R&R Travel – “reconnection and renewal” – unveiling 10 trends that show how resilient Canadians are adapting.
By Michael Baginski/ The Visit Portugal Roadshow rolls into Vancouver today (Oct. 23) after stops in Toronto and Montreal earlier in the week, giving over 300 travel advisors and tour operators a chance to catch up on the latest news from one of travel’s bona fide “it” destinations, and one that is particularly popular with Canadians.
With G Adventures set to mark the close of its 2025 educational travel program in December, the Toronto-based tour company is already looking ahead to next year, announcing a series of trips that will see travel advisors FAM-ing it up in a wide range of destinations across the globe, from Ireland to Egypt, and Korea to Peru.
The Louvre reopened on Wednesday to long lines beneath its landmark Paris glass pyramid, three days after one of the highest-profile museum thefts of the century stunned the world for its audacity and scale.
The Niagara District Airport has been part of Niagara’s skies since 1929, witnessing aviation’s evolution from risky early flights to today’s modern operations. Now marking its 96th anniversary, it has grown from its beginnings on the edge of St. Catharines into the certified general aviation hub it is today at 468 Niagara Stone Rd. in Niagara-on-the-Lake.
By Michael Baginski/ It’s certainly no secret that Canadian travel patterns have changed this year, as many travellers look beyond the U.S. for alternative destinations that are not imposing tariffs or teasing about statehood. Indeed, data from Statistics Canada bears out what we all know anecdotally, but it also provides interesting nuance and perspective on how Canadians really feel about travel to Trump’s America – and where else they’re going.
Score one for Canadian passport holders, who have overtaken Americans in terms of their visa-free access to the world. The Henley Passport Index ranks Canada in 9th place for how many countries Canadian citizens can visit without needing to apply for a visa. The U.S. passport is in 12th place.
Air Canada Vacations has launched a loyalty program for the travel trade. The new ACV Groups Excellence Loyalty Program, a first for ACV, is designed exclusively to reward travel partners for their ongoing support and success in selling groups.
This week: TRAVELSAVERS CANADA is celebrating 25 years; and both Tauck and Oceania Cruises introduced enhanced version of the agent specialist/rewards programs.
Six months ago, Flair Airlines announced “Flair FWD,” a series of “transparent and customer-centric” experience enhancements the ultra-low-cost carrier (ULCCD) promised will “deliver the best value in the Canadian skies without losing the affordable prices.” So, where does the airline’s bold initiative stand, er, fly?
Celebrating its 75th anniversary in 2025, Club Med this year accelerated its global expansion with plans for new ski resort projects in Canada and Italy. Simultaneously, Club Med plans to soon unveil major renovations at its flagship Punta Cana resort, while preparing to launch groundbreaking resorts in South Africa and Malaysia.
As evidenced by destinations such as Antarctica, Greenland, and the Arctic Circle witnessing higher demand for activities like ice climbing, glacier trekking, polar diving, and wildlife expeditions, the extreme tourism trend is fuelled by travellers’ desire for raw, pristine landscapes and the appeal of experiencing regions most affected by climate change before they transform further.
Police arrested a man at Atlanta’s bustling airport on Monday after getting a tip from his family that he was planning to shoot up the place, and found an assault-style rifle and ammunition in his truck outside, the city’s police chief said.
Hawaiʻi stands apart as a place where nature, culture, and community come together in incredible ways. Across the islands, remarkable experiences await, ranging from dramatic landscapes and iconic landmarks to distinctive flavours that reflect the islands’ history and traditions. Each island offers something unique, yet all share the same enduring spirit of aloha that defines Hawaiʻi’s greatest treasures.
By Michael Baginski/ Vienna stands out as a culture landmark of Europe, but next year the Austrian capital is sinking its teeth into a new theme – it’s food. In 2026, many of the activities of the Vienna Tourist Board will be dedicated to the theme of culinary delights. At the centre is Viennese cuisine – the only cuisine in the world named after a city.
The final cruise ship of the 2025 season, Coral Princess, departed from the Canada Place cruise terminal in Vancouver today (Tuesday) marking the end of a cruise season in which 301 cruise ships called in the city, delivering 1.2 million passengers since March 5. The successful 2025 season follows several record seasons, with preliminary bookings indicating another strong year to come in 2026.
A German museum was unexpectedly overrun last week by Taylor Swift fans because one of its paintings bears a striking resemblance to the opening scene of Swift’s current No. 1 hit video, “The Fate of Ophelia.”
By Michael Baginski/ Given the “current environment,” it’s not surprising that Canadian travel to the U.S. is suffering a “serious decline,” says an executive for Brand USA, who nevertheless suggests that things could be worse, even if Mexico has recently surpassed Canada as the U.S.’s top international source market for visitors.
Sunwing Vacations Group (SVG) reports that advance bookings this winter are strong and trending ahead of last year, with customers particularly keying in on Caribbean and Latin American destinations as demand shifts from transborder.
With a substantial and welcome increase in airlift from this country to the Bahamas this winter – and the need to put more Canadian bums in seats – the islands’ ministry of tourism conducted a sales mission in three secondary, though important, markets last week, opting for Ottawa, Halifax and Calgary (ahead of more populated, and more frequently visited, Toronto, Montreal and Vancouver).
Travel South USA has launched a new campaign for both Canadian travellers and travel trade.
In a minutes-long strike Sunday inside the world’s most-visited museum, thieves rode a basket lift to the Louvre, forced a window into the Galerie d’Apollon – while tourists pressed shoulder-to-shoulder in the corridors – smashed display cases and fled with priceless Napoleonic jewels, officials said.
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.
Did you stay for a week in a hotel room right next to the boiler room? Did your lucky hat get eaten at a local petting zoo? Did a translation error with your rideshare driver result in getting dropped off at a funeral parlour instead of the ice-cream parlour? Travel Insurance provider Travel Guard says it’s heard them all.
Travellers are flying with more lithium battery-powered devices than ever before. An IATA passenger survey found that 83% carry a phone, 60% bring a laptop, and 44% travel with a power bank. While these items are generally safe when handled properly, improper packing or damage can pose serious risks.
Dog owners often face a dilemma before travelling: leave your beloved pet with a sitter or at a kennel? Both require quite some planning and logistics, which can be stressful and time-consuming for fur parents.
Century-old wreaths made from human hair fill the walls of Leila’s Hair Museum, and glass cases overflow with necklaces and watch bands woven from the locks of the dead. There also are tresses purported to come from past presidents, Hollywood legend Marilyn Monroe and even Jesus.
By Wallace Immen/ Did you know that Royal Caribbean Cruise Line came within hours of being bought by its rival, Carnival? Know what made them decide to cut ships in half? Or why the Swedish Air Force was ready to shoot down a thrill ride planned on the Oasis of the Seas?