With 70 guestrooms and suites, Hotel La Compañía del Valle is now welcoming guests to the first phase of its new luxury destination in Valle de Antón in central Panama. Part of The Unbound Collection by Hyatt, and boasting Canadian connections, the countryside retreat is located 130 km. west of Panama City, sitting approximately 600 m. above sea level within the crater of an extinct volcano.
Three new trips showcasing the cultural and natural beauty of Nepal have been announced by Community Homestay Network, a leading homestay and immersive local experiences operator in Nepal, which has been named one of TIME’s ‘World’s Greatest Places of 2025’.
By Michael Baginski/ Holding to account “the big orange elephant in the room” and the “shameful way the current president has represented us on the national stage as of late,” Illinois governor J.B. Pritzker says matter of factly that he “doesn’t blame anyone from Canada whose appetite for visiting the U.S. might have soured.”
Travel to the United States took another hit in April as an “elbows up” attitude persists among Canadians, who eschewed the country amid anger over tariffs and annexation threats from the U.S. president.
Proclaiming a “bold new chapter of polar exploration,” G Adventures will introduce a new expedition vessel for the upcoming Antarctica season. Currently chartered through Danish maritime company SunStone, the presently named ‘Ocean Adventurer,” will replace G’s ‘Expedition’ ship and take its name in tribute to the signature “little red ship.”
This week: Travel Leaders Network has host of new supplier partners; Trevello celebrated in Jamaica with Sandals; Brand USA announced its FAM contest winners; two top Virtuoso execs have been promoted; and St. Kitts has extended its SKY Travel Agent Program, offering exclusive incentives for travel advisors.
Tourism Ireland recently hosted its ‘Senses of Ireland’ roadshow in Canada, with over a dozen partners taking part (banner photo) and close to 200 travel advisors in attendance at events in Victoria, Kelowna, Edmonton, and Ottawa.
Lawmakers in Hawaii have passed a first-of-its-kind legislation that will increase the state’s lodging tax to raise money for environmental protection and strengthening defenses against climate change-fueled natural disasters.
It was a busy week for WestJet, highlighted by the news that Delta Air Lines and Korean Air will strengthen their respective partnerships with the company through the purchase of minority equity stakes from the Onex Group, which will continue to own and control the Calgary-based carrier.
Air Canada lowered its financial forecast for the year as travellers continue to shy away from trips to the United States amid cross-border tensions, pushing the airline to hunt for demand elsewhere. The company’s transborder bookings have dropped at least 13% for the next six months, chief executive Michael Rousseau said on Friday, prompting the carrier to cut flight capacity south of the border.
Known for decades for its land/coach tours, Trafalgar has announced that it is expanding into river cruising, starting in 2026. The company will debut in Europe with two river cruise journeys along the Rhine and Danube, with travel advisors now able to book the trips (ahead of the general public).
The Trump administration has proposed a multibillion-dollar overhaul of a U.S. air traffic control system that it said still relies on floppy disks and replacement parts found on eBay and has come under renewed scrutiny in the wake of recent deadly plane crashes and technical failures.
Disney is planning to build a seventh theme park in the United Arab Emirates (UAE). The company says the waterfront resort will be built on Yas Island on the outskirts of Abu Dhabi, which is already home to Formula One’s Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, the Ferrari and Warner Bros. amusement parks, SeaWorld and a waterpark.
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/ Three members of Congress from across the U.S. political and geographical spectrum – one an avid supporter of Donald Trump; another a Republican who has been targeted by the POTUS; and an opposition Democrat – having come out in support of Canadian snowbirds, proposing that the reliable long-stay visitors be allowed to stay in U.S. even longer than is currently permitted.
India’s Civil Aviation Ministry late Thursday confirmed in a statement the temporary closure of 24 airports across northern and western regions of the country amid heightened tensions with Pakistan. In advisories to passengers, key domestic airlines said their flights would remain suspended from airports including Amritsar in northern Punjab and Srinagar in India-controlled Kashmir, bordering Pakistan.
Residents and visitors alike can tiptoe through the tulips in Ottawa starting today (May 9) as the the Canadian Tulip Festival returns for its 73rd year. The free event will run for 11 days and feature over 300,000 blooming tulips in 26 gardens, alongside a vibrant lineup of events for all ages.
For more than a decade, passengers at New Zealand ’s Wellington Airport have boarded flights below the figures of two giant, hovering eagles from the Hobbit films, one bearing a bellowing wizard Gandalf. But today (Friday) the majestic creatures, which underscore the capital city’s connection to Peter Jackson ’s “Lord of the Rings” and Hobbit films – a niche dubbed “Tolkien tourism” – are departing the terminal for good, Wellington Airport says.
A surf and turf burger in the Waves Grill tops a thick patty of wagyu beef with medallions of lobster. A spicy salad in Red Ginger stacks strips of crispy duck with succulent cubes of watermelon and cashews. And wherever you go there are decadent pastries that are tiny works of art.
I get plenty of random e-mail (as we all do) and one of the regular ones persists in advising me who I can expect to see perform at the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Hollywood, Fla., should I be in the neighbourhood, and so inclined. But I must say, the place does present a stellar line-up and in many cases I would if I could, such as an upcoming gig by the great Steve Miller.
According to a new Longwoods International study of Canadians, 60% of them say that current U.S policies, trade practices and political statements make them less likely to travel to the U.S. in the next 12 months. And 36% of them had planned to travel to the U.S. in the next year but have since cancelled those plans.
Most airports around the United States are said to have operated smoothly as new REAL ID requirements for passengers took effect because travellers without the updated document were still allowed to move through security easily.
With Travel Advisor Appreciation now in the books (May 6), travel agent “month” continues in full swing. Following our listing of a host of supplier incentives and news yesterday (see stories further down in the newsletter), here is a further sampling of relevant news and offers available for the trade in May, and, in some cases, beyond.
By Bryen Dunn/ Washington, D.C. is set to hold WorldPride this year, with events happening throughout the month of May, leading up to the final weekend of parties, parades, and politics taking place throughout the city from June 6 to 8. The event is expected to draw millions of attendees, both local, out of state, and out of country.
Peru will be front and centre in Vancouver tonight (May 8), with the Latin American country’s tourist board entertaining – and educating – agents in the city, following a successful stop in Toronto on Tuesday. Then it’s back across the country to Montreal on Monday.
With a crew of nine flight attendants and pilot, all with Indigenous heritage, Air Canada took flight from Vancouver to Toronto on April 27 highlighting and celebrating the professional achievements of Indigenous employees in aviation.
The other day was Star Wars day, but in the annals of national day lore, the first Wednesday of May is, more importantly, Travel Advisor Appreciation Day. The not-quite national holiday (it should be!) was consecrated in 2012 and has been steadily growing ever since, and in a typical year agents might celebrate with cake and balloons, while suppliers profess love and respect with kind words, and in many cases, special booking incentives – many lasting through “travel advisor month.” Here’s a sampling of some of those offers – and, btw, happy day!
To celebrate Travel Agent/Advisor Day, ACTA has launched a social media contest offering the chance to win a multi-night stays at several top Caribbean resorts. Continuing through May 15, agents are invited to participate by following @ACTACanada_ or @ACTAQuebec on Instagram.
In celebration of its milestone 50th anniversary this year, Air Canada Vacations is introducing two new initiatives designed to recognize and reward the company’s most dedicated travel partners: the Top 50 Ambassador Program and the inaugural ACV Agency Awards Program.
Expedia Group is celebrating Global Travel Advisor Day by hosting several events, including breakfasts, lunches and evening reception, across the world today – including Canada – to recognize and show appreciation for its Expedia TAAP travel agent partners and the vital role they play in the travel ecosystem.