LOS CABOS MARKS CANADIAN MILESTONE
Canadian arrivals in Los Cabos have jumped over 12% in the first two months of 2025 compared to the same period last year, making Canada the fastest-growing international market for the Pacific Mexican destination.
CANADA COMPASS: Top summer roadtripping routes in Quebec
Québec’s country roads are brimming with regional flavours, scenic landscapes and local culture. Here are four signature tourist routes and itineraries that encourage visitors to chart a course by car (or bike) and discover the sights and flavours of the province.
CULTURE COMES ALIVE IN JAMAICA
“Out of Many, One People” isn’t just a motto in Jamaica, it perfectly describes this vibrant yet laidback country at its core. Influenced by far-flung destinations such as Africa, Europe and Asia, the destination has a culture that is truly unlike any other. These influences are put on display at various events throughout the year, allowing vacationers to get a firsthand look at Jamaica’s colourful culture and the magic that one can find there.
THE NEXION CONNECTION: Host agency takes stock in Canada
By Michael Baginski/ Travel remains strong in 2025, according to a new survey of Nexion Travel Group (NTG) members in Canada, who report that factors such as global uncertainty, political tensions between the U.S. and Canada, as well as a weaker loonie and economic distrust, have affected where – but not whether – Canadians are travelling this year.
EMIRATES, MSC CRUISES COMBINE TO DEVELOP DUBAI TOURISM
Emirates and MSC Cruises have extended their long-term strategic partnership aimed at enhancing the air-sea traveller experience, supporting Dubai’s cruise ambitions to become a major cruise hub, and exploring future opportunities for joint growth across the airline’s extensive network.
RETAIL ROUND-UP: Agent news, fams & incentives
This week: Travel Oregon host Brand USA FAM winners; Virtuoso and Uniglobe Travel Canada members gathered in exotic locals; First in Service enhanced support for members; and a Toronto TRAVELSAVERS advisor received a uniquely prestigious award.
SKYROUTE, FARENEXUS INTRODUCE NEW NEXT-GEN BOOKING PLATFORM
Toronto-based Skyroute Travel Group has partnered with travel technology provider Farenexus Group to launch NetFaresHub, a next-generation, intelligent booking platform designed to empower travel agencies across the Canadian market.
TORONTO EVENT REVEALS THE SECRETS OF SRI LANKA
The travel trade is being invited to discover Sri Lanka at a unique event taking place May 31 as part of the World Travel Expo at the Metro Toronto Convention Centre. Supported by the Sri Lanka High Commission, the event is being hosted by Prestige Discoveries in partnership with the Global Tourism Film Festival, and will feature the documentary film ‘Realm of Paradise,’ by filmmaker and avid traveller Anna Leonti.
CANADIANS HELP DRIVE CARIBBEAN TOURISM GROWTH
By Michael Baginski/ With Canadian visitations rebounding and a continued strong interest from the U.S., the Caribbean tourism sector is continuing robust recovery and expansion, according to the Caribbean Tourism Organization (CTO).
I WANT MY BAG AND I WANT IT NOW
Travellers like to get their bags. So declares the International Air Transport Association, which has launched a Global Baggage Roadmap to modernize baggage operations. To be developed with airlines, airports, and industry partners over a mere 10-year timeframe, the roadmap sets a clear path, says IATA, to improve both operational efficiency and traveller satisfaction
ORLANDO SET FOR FIRST NEW THEME PARK IN 25 YEARS
From Harry Potter to Super Mario Bros. to Frankenstein’s monster, Universal Orlando Resort is pulling out all the pop culture stops at its newest and largest theme park in Florida – the multibillion-dollar Universal Epic Universe, opens this week (May 22) with five distinctively themed sections and a 500-room hotel.
CRUISE LINES OFFER $1,000 BOOKING INCENTIVE
Ponant Explorations and Paul Gauguin Cruises are celebrating the “indispensable role of travel advisors” during Travel Advisor Appreciation Month in by offering a special booking incentive that gives agents the opportunity to earn up to US$1,000 in gift cards per new booking made in May.
FAMED LOUISIANA PLANTATION DESTROYED BY FIRE
Flames ripped through Nottoway Plantation House in Louisiana last Thursday, destroying much of a historic structure said to be the southern U.S.’s largest remaining antebellum mansion. Used as a plantation house when it was completed in 1859, the site was described as a “a cornerstone of our tourism economy and a site of national significance,” by local officials, having served before the fire as a resort and event venue.
ROUND-UP: May 11-15, 2025
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.
WHERE THE BUFFALO DON’T ROAM
Call it a canary in the coal mine: Canada’s Big Three telecommunications carriers say they are taking in less revenue from international roaming so far this year as fewer Canadians travel to the U.S. amid the ongoing trade war.
AIR TRANSAT ADDS TRIO OF NEW CANADIAN GATEWAYS
Air Transat has announced the addition of three new departure points in Canada for winter 2025-26. Travellers from Windsor (YQG) will have access to weekly flights to Punta Cana (PUJ), while those directly connect clients in Charlottetown (YYG) and Fredericton (YFC) to Cancún (CUN).
THE REEL THING: Expedia converts social media into bookable travel
Expedia Trip Matching is a new first-of-its-kind feature that allows travellers to seamlessly build an itinerary based on reels found on Instagram and then book directly on Expedia. Travellers can share any publicly available travel-related reel – whether from content creators they follow or trending posts – directly with Expedia and receive customized itineraries, destination ideas, and travel tips based on the video.
CANADA COMPASS: Delayed Niagara City Cruises launches for summer
Following a colder-than-usual winter, Niagara City Cruises has launched its 2025 ‘Voyage to the Falls boat tour,’ welcoming guests back to one of Niagara’s most iconic experiences.
REGENT’S DRAMATIC NEW SHIP CELEBRATES PAST AND FUTURE
They call the atrium Starlight and its design swirls into the heavens. Regent Seven Seas Cruises is taking inspiration from the past and looking to the future with the showy interiors of its newest ship Seven Seas Prestige.
LISTENING IN: We’re with The Band
I heard this song – this version, at least – walking through an airport somewhere and it stopped me in my tracks. Almost missed my flight. I’m kidding, of course, but The Band’s folksy, Appalachian treatment of the Bruce Springsteen classic “Atlantic City” did give me a “what is this?” moment and sent me searching on the Internet when I got home.
CASHING IN: ‘Anti-ethical’ US carrier bases business model on deportations
A budget airline that serves mostly small U.S. cities began federal deportation flights Monday out of Arizona, a move that’s inspired intense criticism, protests, an online boycott petition, and sharp rebuke from the carrier’s flight attendants, who say transporting “handcuffed and shackled” passengers would be unsafe in case of emergency.
‘STRUGGLING’ AIR CANADA FLIGHT ATTENDANTS FILE FOR CONCILIATION
The union representing 10,000 flight attendants at Air Canada and Air Canada Rouge has filed for conciliation with the federal minister of labour, citing an impasse with the airline. If settlement is not reached, the flight attendants could be in a strike position by August.
TRAVEL WITH MEANING: Tourism Cares provides free tools to travel advisors
This month, Tourism Cares is honouring the work of travel advisors by launching a special Travel Advisor Appreciation Month campaign focused on sustainability in travel. Throughout the month, Tourism Cares is providing exclusive, free tools and resources to help advisors lead the way in building a more responsible future for tourism.
IT WAS A DARK AND STORMY NIGHT: Bermuda calls on Canadian trade at critical time
The Bermuda Tourism Authority (BTA) amped up its presence in the Canadian market recently during a pair of targeted sales events designed to foster strategic relationships with trade partners, travel advisors and meeting planners in one of the island’s priority tourism markets.
CANADA COMPASS: Whistler Blackcomb Epic Pass covers summer and winter
Dubbed North America’s ‘most beautiful’ mountain resort, Whistler Blackcomb opens this weekend (May 16) for the summer season. And with features including the continent’s largest bike park, sightseeing trails with amazing vistas, ancient glaciers, and alpine lakes and wildflowers, Vail Resorts notes that the destination is not just for winter experiences.
JAMAICA – WHERE CULTURES AND LOVE MEET
Jamaica is a wealth of blended identities – from the Taíno indigenous community to the incorporation of immigrants throughout the centuries. Now, an incredibly popular location for destination weddings, travellers who wish to plan a South Asian wedding can easily honour their own heritage and simultaneously the heritage of the island playing host.
THE WORLD’S MOST PROFITABLE AIRLINE: Staff receive 22-week salary bonus
Emirates says it is the world’s most profitable airline, having reported last week that it earned annual profits of $5.2 billion. The Dubai-based carrier served 53.7 million passengers out of its hub of Dubai International Airport, compared to 51.9 million passengers in the fiscal year prior.
US TRAVEL CHILL GOES BEYOND CANADA
Expedia Group, which owns the lodging reservation platforms Hotels.com and VRBO as well as an eponymous online travel agency, is the latest American company to report slowing business with both international visitors and domestic travellers.
FROM BUS TO ROBUST, COLLETTE SUPPORTS AGENTS
By Michael Baginski/ Collette celebrated Travel Agent Month with a special gathering for Toronto-area travel advisors Tuesday atop the X Hotel at Exhibition Place, offering arguably the most spectacular view of the city, and the island airport.
MSC CRUISES EXPANDS FLY&CRUISE PROGRAM IN CANADA
MSC Cruises Canada is expanding ‘Fly&Cruise’ program for the summer and winter 2025-26 seasons. Designed to let Canadian guests seamlessly book both their flights and cruises together, the package solution aims to provide stress-free and flexible vacation experience for clients while also adding commissionable air rates for travel advisors. The program is supported by airline partners including Air Canada, Air Transat and WestJet and includes cross-Canada gateways.