A FRESH APPROACH: Calgary Airports unveils new brand identity

Calgary Airports has unveiled a refreshed brand identity that the company says reflects its optimistic and ambitious strategic direction, and deep connection to the Calgary region. The rebrand introduces a new logo, visual identity, tone and naming convention – each element inspired by YYC’s operation, the people who run it and the guests it serves.

CUNARD AND BEATLES COME TOGETHER ON QE2

Cunard has “come together” with Abbey Road Studios to bring a new and exclusive Listening Lounge experience to music lovers on board Queen Elizabeth. The luxury cruise line has partnered with the famed recording studio of The Beatles to create a series of curated playlists packed with iconic recordings, each specially handpicked by the Abbey Road team.

RESORTS WORLD ROLLS DICE ON MASSIVE NYC EXPANSION

Resorts World New York City – the city’s only casino-hotel – has made a US$5.5 billion “once in a generation proposal” that would transform the historic 30-hectare Aqueduct racing site in Queens into the single-largest fully integrated resort and entertainment hub in the state with a possible opening date of July, 2026.

REASON TO BE WORRIED: Trump could complicate 2026 World Cup for Canada

With less than a year to go until the 2026 FIFA World Cup, political tensions and U.S. policy threaten to pose problems as Canada, the United States and Mexico prepare to co-host tournament. With millions of fans expected to cross borders to attend the games, U.S. President Donald Trump’s harsh immigration policies – which include travel bans on some countries, immigration raids and mass deportations – are generating anxiety.

AIR CANADA FLIGHT ATTENDANTS BEGIN STRIKE VOTE

The union representing Air Canada flight attendants is urging a “strong mandate” to strike by members in voting that beings today.  The process begins after the close to eight months of bargaining and the two sides completing the conciliation process without resolution last week. Voting continues through Aug. 5 and members will be eligible to strike effective Aug. 16.

SOBER AND KIDS-FREE TRAVEL ON THE RISE

School’s out for summer, and a growing number of Canadian adults want to be where the kids aren’t. According to a Flight Centre survey conducted by YouGov, 57% of Canadian travellers are prioritizing adults-only travel, while 75% would consider taking a booze-free trip this year.

MAUI TO LIMIT VACATION RENTALS

Lawmakers on Maui have passed legislation aimed at eliminating a large percentage of the Hawaiian island’s vacation rentals to address a housing shortage exacerbated by the wildfire that destroyed most of Lahaina two years ago.

THE TRAIN IN SPAIN IS NOW REPPED BY DISCOVER THE WORLD

iryo and Discover the World have announced a strategic partnership aimed at enhancing awareness of Spanish high-speed train travel among international audiences. The collaboration will focus on promoting iryo’s extensive network and onboard offerings to travel trade partners around the globe.

ROUND-UP: July 21-25, 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.

HOW AND WHY CANADIAN TRAVELLERS ARE USING AI

Canadian travellers appear to be embracing the role of artificial intelligence in the travel planning process, according to a new survey by Booking.com. The Global AI Sentiment Report reveals that nearly eight in 10 Canadians (78%) want to use AI in their future travel plans; however, only 4% fully trust it.

INTO AFRICA: WestJet announces Kenya Airways interline

WestJet and Kenya Airways have announced a new interline partnership agreement that will enable WestJet guests to seamlessly travel to Nairobi, and beyond, with expanded access to 35 destinations across Africa.

TOO BUSY TO GET FIT?: Easy ways to work exercise into your packed schedule

You’re too busy to exercise, right? Your job consumes all your time. You’re strapped by professional and family demands. As you get more and more responsibility, your free time shrinks. Well, these blockers don’t have to be an excuse. Making time simply calls for creativity and a broader understanding of how to get in daily exercise.

A NICE TOUCH: Top London museum opens storerooms to public

A museum is like an iceberg. Most of it is out of sight. Most big collections have only a fraction of their items on display, with the rest locked away in storage. But not at the new V&A East Storehouse, where London’s Victoria and Albert Museum has opened up its storerooms for visitors to view – and in many cases touch – the items within.

GET OFF THE GRASS

A long-running experiment in green roofs is coming to an end. Like a growing A-list of Hollywood celebrities who have ripped out real grass and gone to synthetic greenery around their homes, Celebrity Cruises is phasing out the half acres of lawn on upper decks of its Solstice Class ships to install a high-tech artificial turf.

LISTENING IN: Remembering Ozzy Osbourne, the Blizzard of Oz

Ozzy Osbourne, the gloomy, demon-invoking lead singer of the pioneering band Black Sabbath who became the throaty, growling voice – and drug-and-alcohol ravaged id – of heavy metal, died Tuesday, just weeks after his farewell show. He was 76. In 2020, he revealed he had Parkinson’s disease after suffering a fall.

TOWER OF POWER: Canadian passport ranking among the best

Singapore holds the crown as the world’s most powerful passport, with visa-free access to 193 destinations out of 227 globally, according to the latest Henley Passport Index. Canada dropped one place on the list, holding relatively steady at eighth globally in 2025 and sitting only nine countries behind the leader (and five out of third place).

THE US IS LEAVING UNESCO – AGAIN

The Trump administration has announced that it will once again withdraw from the U.N. cultural agency UNESCO, dealing a blow to an agency known for preserving cultural heritage through its UNESCO World Heritage Sites program, which recognizes significant landmarks for protection, ranging from the Taj Mahal to Egypt’s pyramids of Giza and the Grand Canyon National Park.

NEW EXPEDIA TAAP TOOLS EMPOWER AGENTS

Expedia Travel Agent Affiliate Program (TAAP) has launched several new platform enhancements designed to help travel advisors work more efficiently and better serve their clients. Shaped directly by feedback from travel advisors around the world, TAAP says the updates provide powerful tools that simplify trip management, expand payment flexibility, and offer new ways to increase revenue.

SIGH OF RELIEF: Air ticket cost a big boo-boo

Alex McConnachie couldn’t believe his eyes: When he checked Canadian North’s website Monday morning, it said the price of a one-way ticket from Ottawa to Iqaluit had more than tripled to approximately $2,000.

FIVE FAVOURITES FOR THOSE WHO LIKE TO HIKE

Walking, hiking, and trekking offer a uniquely human way to experience and connect to a place. Whether following world-renowned routes like the Tour du Mont Blanc or detouring on day hikes through beautiful landscapes, the hiking holiday continues to grow in popularity among the North American traveller, according to the Adventure Travel Trade Association (ATTA), which also reports that hiking, walking and trekking continue to be the primary activities that adventure travellers undertake on guided trips.

LACK OF FUNDING THREATENS NEW BRUNSWICK HERITAGE SITES

New Brunswick Premier Susan Holt says there’s no new money for heritage sites despite the operator of an anchor tourist attraction in the Saint Andrews area saying it would fold at the end of the year without more funding.

BLAME CANADA: Trump calls Canadians ‘nasty’ for avoiding US travel

Most Canadians would be proud to be considered mean and “nasty” for standing up for their sovereignty and economy in the face of U.S. threats, B.C. Premier David Eby said Tuesday – a day after the U.S. ambassador said Canadians avoiding travel south of the border and banning American alcohol have raised the ire of President Donald Trump, and adding that such steps “don’t send positive signals” about Canada treating the United States well.

PORTRAIT OF AN INTERNATIONAL CRUISER: What motivates clients to plan, prioritize and book a cruise

A new international study of prospective cruisers reveals the segment’s prioritization of iconic destinations, bundled value and wellness-focused experiences. The comprehensive report examines the attitudes, motivations and behaviours of these travellers from Canada, the U.S., U.K., and Germany – countries that together represent more than two-thirds of the global cruise market.

RETAIL ROUND-UP: Agent news, fams & incentives

This week: Air Transat and partners were Berlin bound; the world’s largest AI summit for the travel industry is set to return in October; and Fora Travel has put down roots in British Columbia.

HOW TURKISH TV IS DRIVING TOURISM BOOM

Under the sweltering Turkish sun, tourists wander through sets that recreate Ottoman and Byzantine-era castles, take selfies with actors in traditional costumes and watch horseback stunt performances. The global popularity of Turkish TV dramas – or dizi in Turkish – has greatly bolstered the nation’s international image and is drawing millions of viewers and tourists worldwide to its historical and cultural sites which are backdrops to many of the shows.

BLEISURE GOES MAINSTREAM: What’s fueling blend of business and leisure travel

Bleisure travel is no longer just a Gen Z trend; it’s booming across age groups, including among Canadians in the Gen X age bracket. New data from Corporate Traveller Canada, based on a national survey conducted by YouGov reveals that 24% of Canadian business travellers ages 45 to 60 are mixing work with pleasure all or most of the time – just slightly less than their Gen Z counterparts (28%).

NEW PARK TRANSFORMS TORONTO WATERFRONT

Toronto’s largest park in a generation has opened on the city’s newest island, Ookwemin Minising. Biidaasige Park is the island’s marquee attraction along the re-naturalized Don River on the city’s east side, offering a natural space within the urban environment that boasts recreational trails and cycling paths, fishing, slips for non-motorized boats, and the Don Greenway wetland for birdwatching.

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