DISCOVER THE WORLD TO BRING BRIGHTLINE TO TRADE

Brightline and Discover the World have announced a global strategic partnership aimed at expanding travel trade opportunities for Brightline’s high-speed rail service in Florida, while also showcasing Brightline’s service for visitors to the Sunshine State.

CANADA COMPASS: Historic Nova Scotia ship relaunched in Pictou

A restored replica of the square-rigged sailing ship that sparked a wave of Scottish immigration to Nova Scotia more than 250 years ago was relaunched Saturday with a mighty splash into Pictou harbour. After a restoration and public fundraising effort that began in 2019, the rebuilt hull of the Hector was eased into the water sideways during a colourful ceremony on the town’s scenic waterfront

LANDMARK HAITI HOTEL BURNED DOWN BY GANGS

Haiti’s once-illustrious Grand Hôtel Oloffson, a beloved Gothic gingerbread home that inspired books, hosted parties until dawn and attracted visitors from Mick Jagger to Haitian presidents, was burned down by gang last week.

PASSING THE TORCH: ACTA on course for leadership change

By Michael Baginski/   ACTA’s 35th annual golf tournament last week marked a milestone on more than just the course as the association’s popular president Wendy Paradis officially celebrated her last day with the organization before retirement and passed the torch to Suzanne Acton-Gervais, who made her first official outing after being announced for the job.

NEW SOUTH KOREAN FLIGHTS A FIRST AT YVR

Vancouver International Airport is the first airport in North America to welcome regular service from South Korean airline T’way Air. The inaugural flight on Saturday kicked off four-times weekly, year-round service between Incheon International Airport (ICN) in Seoul and YVR.

KEY ATTRACTION: Carnival ready to celebrate good times on July 19

On Saturday, government officials, community leaders and local residents of Grand Bahama received an exclusive preview of Celebration Key, Carnival Cruise Line’s new destination. The special preview event showcased the fun Carnival guests will experience and took place in tandem with the embarkation of Carnival Vista, which will make the first official visit to Celebration Key for its July 19 grand opening.

FIRST FLIGHTS OPEN OVERSHADOWED NAYARIT TO CANADIANS

The “overshadowed” culturally rich state of Nayarit in Mexico will welcome its first-ever direct flights from Canada this December, with WestJet launching a new weekly route between Calgary and the Tepic/Riviera Nayarit International Airport and Air Canada set to do the same from Vancouver.

PARTNER OF THE MONTH: Sunwing making the most of Melia in July

Sunwing Vacations is offering “partner of the month” deals with Meliá Resorts throughout July. The limited time offer is available on bookings at participating properties in Mexico, the Dominican Republic and Cuba made by July 31 for travel taken by Dec. 20.

ROUND-UP: July 7-11, 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.

THE CANADIAN TOURIST TOWN ON STEROIDS: Why Tofino is so expensive

For a midweek standard room in July at Long Beach Lodge Resort overlooking Cox Bay: $659, plus tax. Best Western Plus Tin Wis Resort: $649, plus tax and there’s a nightly minimum, depending on the day. Wickaninnish Inn on North Chesterman Beach: $980, with a four-night minimum. Oceanside suite at Pacific Sands: $699, with a three-night minimum. For a king bed at Hotel Zed: $714, plus tax and the two-night minimum.

THE PROBLEM WITH POSTING: Sharing travel on social media threatens home safety

Almost one third (32%) of Canadian respondents to a survey that say they are active on social media post about their plans before or while travelling, a figure that rises to 51% among those aged 18 to 34. But sharing that beach vacation selfie while away could be putting the safety of their property at risk for theft because it also shares that their home is empty.

BUTT OUT: Behind France’s new sweeping cigarette ban

After glamourizing tobacco for decades, France has begun its most sweeping smoking ban yet. The new restrictions, which began this month, outlaw smoking in virtually all outdoor public areas where children may gather, including beaches, parks, gardens, playgrounds, sports venues, school entrances and bus stops.

HOW YOU CAN SHAPE CELEBRITY’S NEWEST SHIP

How’d you like to design your dream cruise ship? Take this simple quiz: Would you rather your surroundings include colorful natural greens and blues or vibrant tropical reds and yellows?

VATICAN UNVEILS LAST OF RESTORED RAPHAEL ROOMS

The Vatican Museums has unveiled the last and most important of the restored Raphael Rooms, the spectacularly frescoed reception rooms of the Apostolic Palace that in some ways rival the Sistine Chapel as the peak of high Renaissance artistry.

LISTENING IN: Darious Rucker delights at IPW

By Michael Baginski/ The annual U.S Travel Association IPW trade show is typically a treasure trove of music, playing to America’s outsized influence on popular culture. This year in Chicago, the event was highlighted by a special Travel South USA partners conference featuring Darius Rucker, aka Hootie of Hootie & the Blowfish.

PROFESSIONAL FEES NOW MAINSTREAM: But Canada lags

The World Travel Agents Associations Alliance – which includes ACTA as a member – says a fundamental shift in traveller expectations is driving travel advisors worldwide to adopt transparent professional fees for their consultancy services, according to a comprehensive new study.

CANADIANS ARE STILL PART OF THE COMMUNITY IN MYRTLE BEACH

By Michael Baginski/   Bob Harris says there’s so much more to Myrtle beach than golf. After all, Canadians who told him so. The executive VP of group sales for Visit Myrtle Beach said his own misconception that Canadians mainly admire the South Carolina destination for its world class golf (mini and masters) was quickly corrected by in-the-know visitors from north of the border.

AIR CANADA FURTHER EXPANDS LATIN AMERICA NETWORK

Air Canada is adding flights to Latin America as it looks to diversify its global network this winter.  The airline will resume non-stop service to Lima, Peru, this winter with twice weekly flights from both Montreal and Toronto as well as adding three new routes to Central America and Mexico including, Montreal-Belize, Toronto-Puerto Escondido, and Vancouver-Tepic, Riviera Nayarit.

TECH TOOL HELPS PLAN PERFECT MYRTLE BEACH ESCAPE

A new AI-powered travel assistant from MyrtleBeach.com is transforming how visitors discover and design their perfect Myrtle Beach getaway. With just a few simple inputs – such as travel dates, group size, and vacation preferences – Sandy delivers fully customized itineraries in seconds, providing tailored recommendations on everything from oceanfront hotels and seafood spots to top attractions and family-friendly adventures.

CANADA COMPASS: Inside British Columbia’s unique grizzly bear sanctuary

Hidden deep in northwest B.C.’s coast lies the lush inlet of the Khutzeymateen, bustling with grizzly bears and other rich fauna. Created in 1994 as the first specially protected area for grizzly bears and their habitat in Canada, it is widely regarded as the densest natural grizzly bear habitat in North America and is accessible only by boat or plane.

SUMMER AT THE BEACH: Making waves in Myrtle Beach

Myrtle Beach is flying this summer 2025 with a full calendar of events to complement the laid-back coastal charm that keeps people coming back year after year. This season’s lineup includes live music, cultural festivals and family-friendly celebrations stretching across 100 km. of shoreline.

VISITING CHINA JUST GOT EASIER – BUT NOT FOR CANADIANS

In a significant bid to boost tourism, China will now allow citizens from 74 countries to enter the country for up to 30 days without a visa. However, Canadians, are not among the beneficiaries of the unprecedented move to relax visa restrictions in a country that maintained strict COVID-19 restrictions and kept its borders closed to tourists until early 2023.

GET SMART: WTTC issues overtourism call to action

As Travel & Tourism enters the height of the summer season, the World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC) has launched a new report calling for a more balanced approach to managing tourism in popular destinations. The new paper sets out six practical actions to help destinations grow sustainably while protecting jobs and communities.

EBB HIGHLIGHTS SUNWING WINTER PROGRAM LAUNCH

Following of the announcement this week of WestJet’s winter 2025-26 flight schedule, Sunwing Vacations has detailed its corresponding vacation program, which marks its first full winter season with travel on board WestJet. On offer are direct flights from over 20 airports across Canada to over 25 sun destinations including new destinations Nicaragua and Samana, plus the returning island of San Andrés, Colombia, plus an expanded resort portfolio and inclusions.

RETAIL ROUND-UP: Agent news, fams & incentives

This week: ACTA is set to host a townhall meeting; ACV FAM introduces northern Portugal; Total dominance and movin’ on up at TRAVELSAVERS’ Canada; Virtuoso celebrates a milestone; meet the Trevello agents who are ‘Simply the best’; and new agent tools from Explora Journeys.

IF THE SHOE FITS: US expected to drop footwear restrictions at security

For the first time in almost 20 years, travellers may no longer be required to take off their shoes during security screenings at certain U.S. airports. The Transportation Security Administration is looking to abandon the additional security step that has for years bedeviled anyone passing through U.S airports, according to media reports.

SNAKE ON PLANE: Rogue serpent delays Australia flight

Canadian travellers have to contend with snow, Australia has… reptiles. An Aussie domestic flight was delayed recently for two hours after a stowaway snake was found in the plane’s cargo hold as passengers were boarding a Virgin Australia flight at Melbourne Airport bound for Brisbane.

HARD TO SWALLOW: Brand USA budget bludgeoned

By Michael Baginski/  Donald Trump’s “big, beautiful bill” is now law, which is bad news for Brand USA. At nearly 900 pages, the budget reconciliation legislation – signed by the president with the backdrop of fireworks on July 4 – is a sprawling collection of tax breaks, spending cuts and other Republican priorities, including new money for national defense and deportations. But buried in the document is the slashing of funding for the marketing organization responsible for promoting U.S. tourism abroad by 80% to a mere $20 million.

LET THE SUNSHINE IN: WestJet releases winter sked with a grin

WestJet’s 2025/26 winter schedule will feature five new destinations across the Caribbean and Latin America. While departures will increase by three percent year-over-year, capacity will be consistent with last winter, as seats will be removed from former Sunwing/Swoop aircraft, which will be updated to WestJet’s standard configuration before the start of winter.

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