With Royal Caribbean’s new Legend of the Sea preparing to set sail next July in the Mediterranean, followed by Caribbean Island hops from Fort Lauderdale in November, the cruise line is offering the latest look at – and opened bookings for – its new Icon class vessel, which it promises will raise the bar for guests with more dining spots, new entertainment and ways to play.
Canada is having a moment. This week, our home and native land was named among the Top 10 Countries in the World in the 2025 US Condé Nast Traveler Readers’ Choice Awards, one of the most respected accolades in global travel.
The World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC) has released a landmark report revealing that the Travel & Tourism sector is on course to support one in three new jobs worldwide by 2035. However, the “Future of the Travel & Tourism Workforce’ report warns that demographic and structural shifts could create a workforce shortfall of more than 43 million people if left unaddressed.
The head of a central Newfoundland airport is warning the public after staff noticed an increase in people who appear to have been victims of a manipulative scheme known as “catfishing.” And it’s a scam that could be spreading across the country.
This week: Air Canada named its Circle of Excellence award winners, among them The Travel Agent Next Door (banner photo); TDC and Ensemble introduced new agencies; The St. Kitts Tourism Authority has launched a travel advisor board and is seeking members; and Quark Expeditions has a convenient new feature for agents in its Partner Portal.
With the first direct Air Canada flight from Montreal to Guatemala City having landed at La Aurora International Airport on Oct. 2, and subsequent ceremony that followed, the Guatemala Tourism Institute (INGUAT) and tourism officials from both countries hailed the new route amidst a growing presence for the Central American country, now including Canada.
Virgin Voyages is introducing VoyageFair Choices, a new fare model, starting this week. The cruise line says the tiered system was created directly in response to customer feedback and features four primary goals: better price transparency, make fares easier to compare across the industry, offer more flexible and competitive options for different budgets, and to respond to clients’ and travel advisors’ call for more choice.
By Michael Baginski/ The days of Jamaican patties on the buffet are long gone, but travel advisors across the country are nevertheless getting a generous helping of love from TravelBrands at three agent appreciation events this week, with close to 1,500 people expected across the launches, the first of them held in Vancouver last night (Monday), with Toronto and Montreal following on Wednesday (Oct. 8) and Thursday (Oct. 9) respectively. They are the first shows in 18 months by the tour company and the first in Vancouver since before the pandemic.
Popular Cuba Tourist Board director Lessner Gomez is heading home after six years in Canada, to be replaced by Gihana Galindo, who, for the past three years, has served as Commercial Director at the Ministry of Tourism of Cuba, where she has collaborated with Canadian tour operators, giving her strong familiarity with the market and its key players.
American Express Global Business Travel (Amex GBT and SAP Concur have announced a strategic alliance to launch a new integrated travel and expense platform designed to reshape how technology and services come together in managed travel.
The Los Cabos Tourism Board’s new brand campaign, “Where the Land Ends, Your Story Begins.”elevates the popular Canadian getaway as a holistic luxury and wellness destination, while inviting travellers to create personal connections and unforgettable memories in the destination.
Globus family of brands (gfob) says will debut its most comprehensive and innovative portfolio ever in 2026 – 590 guided and independent vacations worldwide that includes 44 new tours, and featuring seven new Small Group Discovery itineraries, bringing the high-profile collection to 61 tours worldwide.
Not even half of the spots in the 48-team field have been claimed. The schedule of matches won’t be finalized until December. And other than host nations Canada, the U.S. and Mexico, nobody has any idea where or when they’ll be playing. Yet, millions of soccer fans worldwide evidently don’t seem to mind any of those points.
A working paper from IATA that suggested raising the retirement age of pilots to help mitigate a shortage of personnel across the industry was soundly rejected by the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) at its 42nd Assembly in Montreal.
Hopes for a quick end to the U.S. government shutdown faded Friday as Democrats refused to budge in a Senate vote and President Donald Trump readied plans to unleash layoffs and cuts across the federal government. And with no further votes plans for a vote over the weekend, travellers faced another uncertain week with warnings that if the situation goes on long enough, it could potentially lead to longer airport wait times, flight delays and even cancellations.
G Adventures brought together over 700 “changemakers” from around the globe, including travel agents, partners, suppliers, media, and travellers, for its third annual GX World Community Tourism Summit. Taking place in Amman, Jordan, the milestone event, which marked the travel company’s 35th anniversary, coincided with World Tourism Day.
Allianz Global Assistance Canada (Allianz) has launched an expanded telemedicine service that allows customers travelling in over 80 countries to schedule both virtual and in-person medical care quickly and easily. The new digital appointment booking capability is operated in partnership with Air Doctor, providing insured customers with an additional way to access their insurance benefits and take care of common illnesses and injuries during their international trip.
Germany’s Munich Airport reopened Saturday morning after authorities shut it down the night before for the second time in less than 24 hours after two additional drone sightings, officials said. The closures are the latest after mysterious drone overflights in the airspace of European Union member countries.
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.
Let’s face it, the value of our dollar sucks, hovering in the low 70s-cent range (against the US greenback) and having recently dubiously descended to near 20-plus-year lows. Remember the heady days of 2011 when the loonie was actually worth $1.06 U.S?
Entry to the United States and other countries may prove problematic for Canadian citizens who list “X” as their gender on their passports, the government has warned in a recent online Global Affairs update.
The core of Hurricane Imelda was moving past Bermuda early Thursday as weather conditions were expected to improve around the tiny British territory that reported major power outages and downed trees, but no injuries. A tropical storm warning remained in effect after the weather system swiped the island and then lost strength.
Jane Goodall, the intellectual, soft-spoken conservationist renowned for her groundbreaking, immersive chimpanzee field research in which she documented the primates’ distinct personalities and use of tools, has died. She was 91.
By Wallace Immen/ Iconic fashion and costume designer Bob Mackie and Julien’s Auctions will join Cunard’s ‘Transatlantic Fashion Week’ voyage aboard flagship Queen Mary 2 this fall. Following Paris Fashion Week, this extraordinary journey will celebrate the world of fashion and style on the high seas.
When David Bowie died in 2016, he left a vast musical legacy – and a trove of unrealized projects. Tantalizing details of those abandoned and unfinished ideas are revealed in Bowie’s archive, which recently opened to the public at the David Bowie Centre in London.
Prominent Canadian travel industry figure Joseph (Joe) Adamo has announced his intention to retire from Transat A.T. as of Dec. 31, setting in motion a reorganization of the company’s commercial leadership team.
As U.S. Democrats and Republicans continue to wrangle over critical funding, the U.S. Travel Association warned Wednesday that a U.S. federal government shutdown could cost the U.S. travel and tourism industry $1 billion per week and that travellers could expect to face longer TSA lines, increased flight cancellations, and deteriorating conditions at national parks.
Porter Airlines is announcing a significant expansion of its 2025-26 winter schedule, increasing flights to southern destinations by up to 25% during peak travel periods and unveiling four new routes, including its first transborder service from Vancouver (to Phoenix).
With year-end arrivals projected at 4.5 million – comprising 3.1 million stopover visitors and 1.4 million cruise passengers – Jamaica has secured its position as the Caribbean’s most connected destination, achieving record-breaking global linkages while advancing an ambitious agenda for inclusive and sustainable tourism growth.
Sandals Resorts and Beaches Resorts have unveiled a new eco-chic wedding inspiration for 2026. “Nature’s Vow” is rooted in the spirit of the Caribbean with a design that blends sustainable elements with elevated style, promising “a trend-forward way to honour love, nature, and purpose, surrounded by friends and family.