Ensemble recently hosted its annual Summit at the iconic Fairmont Le Château Frontenac in Quebec City, welcoming more than 200 attendees from across North America for three days of learning, leadership, and collaboration under the theme “Reimagine the Future.”
From transatlantic crossings to a permanent berth in Dubai, the Queen Elizabeth 2 (QE2) retains a legacy as one of the greatest ocean liners of all time. Now a floating hotel under the Accor flag, the public at large can step aboard and rediscover its remarkable legacy through guided QE2 Heritage Tours.
The flight cancellations at airports across the U.S. are expected to worsen this week and continue to persist even after the government shutdown ends. The U.S. Senate took a first step toward ending the shutdown Sunday, but final passage could still be several days away. However, Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy made clear last week that flight cuts will remain in place until the FAA sees safety metrics improve.
Concerns about safety, politics, and border treatment now rank ahead of cost or exchange rates as the top reasons Canadians are cutting back on travel, according to a new poll by Angus Reid. That said, experiences at the border for those who have travelled are no more difficult than they were in previous iterations of this survey.
From already “open for business” to “closed indefinitely,” there is no one-size-fits-all template for hotel re-openings in Jamaica as the island recovers from the effects of devastating Hurricane Melissa. It is clear, however, that much of the island, and many of its resorts, are ready, willing and able to receive guests again after the late October storm.
With this year’s successful GX Summit in the books, G Adventures has announced the return of its ‘Change Makers’ global incentive program, which will give 15 Canadian travel advisors the chance to earn their way to the next year’s fourth annual Summit event in Morocco.
Despite falling short in the World Series in dramatic fashion, the Blue Jays hit a home run for Toronto, giving the city a big economic boost, with more visitors and more spending at local businesses. According to Destination Toronto, the four home games of the World Series saw a 15% average increase in hotel demand compared to the same nights last year, adding a total of more than 11,000 room nights.
A car explosion near the historic Red Fort in New Delhi on Monday killed at least eight people and injured at least 19 others. No tourists were reported harmed, nor the UNESCO site damaged. The 17th-century Red Fort monument is one of India’s most high-profile tourist attractions.
There’s a cold front at the border and it’s not just Canada’s now arrived winter weather. According to a new poll from Angus Reid, Canadians are giving the U.S. the cold shoulder as the once reliable relationship between the two countries appears to have entered a new phase of elevated enmity.
The travel industry is set to grow at a faster pace than the global economy over the next 10 years, according to the World Travel Market Global Travel Report. Released at WTM London – the world’s largest English language travel show last week – the report’s optimism comes as the global travel industry reaches record levels in 2025, with international arrivals set to top 1.5 billion, surpassing the previous record achieved in 2019.
WestJet says its is encouraged by the government’s plans to unlock the economic potential of affordable air travel through increasing the affordability of Canada’s aviation ecosystem.
On Jan. 5, 2026, the Travel Industry Council of Ontario is launching a new, enhanced Certification Program and exam for individuals aspiring to become Travel Counsellors and agency Supervisors/Managers. The interactive online education program will replace the existing static study manual with a new fee structure.
Shaikha Al Nowais has been confirmed as the new Secretary-General of UN Tourism. Meeting in Riyadh, the Organization’s General Assembly formally ratified her nomination and showed their strong support. Al Nowais will be the first woman to lead the United Nations Specialized Agency for tourism in its 50-year history.
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.
The Federal Aviation Administration is forcing airlines to cut 10% of their flights at 40 of the busiest airports across the nation to reduce pressure on air traffic controllers during the ongoing government shutdown and ensure that flying remains safe.
Digital travel tools such as smartphone-based passports, smart glasses and live translation apps are gaining traction among global travellers, especially younger respondents. But widespread adoption still faces resistance due to privacy concerns and technological limitations, according to the Global Rescue 2025 Traveller Safety and Sentiment Survey.
On the Mercator projection, one of the world’s most popular maps, Greenland and Africa appear to be about the same size. But on the Equal Earth projection showing continents in their true proportions, 14 Greenlands would easily fit inside the African continent.
Getting there isn’t half the fun if a poorly packed suitcase yields an unexpected mess, or damaged, items upon arrival. With this in mind, experts at Global Work & Travel, an Australian work-travel brand (with offices in Canada), has a assembled a list of 10 everyday items that can crack, burst, spoil or disappear entirely by the time you land.
By Wallace Immen/ Want a unique winter experience? How about sailing from Barcelona to Rome – in January. Or, trading ski season for a cruise in the Greek Isles? While most cruise ships migrate to warmer oceans in the winter. Windstar is joining a new homing trend with plans to sail its newest ship, Star Explorer year-round in Europe.
By Michael Baginski/ Hawaii is many wonderful things: long sand beaches (both white and black), blue water, white caps and surfing, impossibly dramatic coastlines and fragrant valleys, Polynesian beauties (both female and male), and of course, Israel Kamakawiwoʻole.
Air Canada is looking beyond the U.S. as Canadians continue to shun their neighbour amid the trade war.
A new report that forecasts a significant lodging shortage in Vancouver next summer during the 2026 World Cup games is being used as a pitch by Airbnb for governments to loosen regulations on short-term rentals. Other experts agree that the city isn’t ready for the part it will play in what is arguably the world’s biggest sporting event (along with the Summer Olympics).
Suzanne Acton-Gervais, President of the Association of Canadian Travel Agencies and Travel Advisors (ACTA), issued the following statement regarding yesterday’s federal budget:
With 2026 marking the 100th anniversary of the founding of the first Lufthansa, Germany’s national airline says it is using milestone as an opportunity to fundamentally redesign its onboard experience. Dubbed FOX – short for Future Onboard Experience – the reset will be introduced next Spring on long-haul routes with the aim of reinforcing Lufthansa’s premium claim.
A new AI-powered tech suite has boosted growth exponentially for the HotelPlanner, which says it can do the same for travel advisors and other travel planners. Reservations.ai delivers natural phone conversations with an AI agent that can handle search pricing and bookings. It also offers omni channel chat (including Whatsapp) that can take the customer right from inspiration to booking.
Towering over Victoria Harbour on the Kowloon waterfront, Rosewood Hong Kong was named the World’s Best Hotel at a gala ceremony last week in London, jumping from third spot in the prestigious The World’s 50 Best Hotels list. The third annual accounting of the best properties around the globe featured 22 destinations across six continents, although, alas, none from Canada.
After well over a century under construction, Barcelona’s Sagrada Familia basilica is ready to raise its immense central tower and become the tallest Christian church in Europe. The basilica’s General Director Xavier Martínez says that “the tower will be finished at the end of this year or the beginning of 2026.”
Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy predicted Tuesday that there could be chaos in the skies next week if the government shutdown drags on and air traffic controllers miss a second paycheck.
The biggest shift in travel this year isn’t where people are going – it’s why. Dubbed the year of the “whycation,” this global mindset marks a move away from simply checking destinations off a list.
By Michael Baginski/ A delegation from Seattle conducted a five-day mission Montreal, Toronto and Edmonton last week, emphasizing the importance of the Canadian market to the cross-border city, which, like much of the U.S., has seen a decline in visitors from their northern neighbours this year.