A global search is underway for a new president for WestJet Airlines. Diederik Pen, who is also Group Executive Vice-President and Chief Operating Officer (COO) announced his retirement last week, with his departure expected to be in the first quarter of 2027 at the latest pending the integration of his replacement.
A round-up of 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/ With “elbows up” tourism in full force, as well as increasing interest in Canada from abroad, Rendez-vous Canada (RVC), wraps up in Toronto today (Friday) having hosted a record number of international travel buyers and Canadian tourism sellers – a peak performance symbolized by an opening night reception attended by many of the 1,500 delegates at the top of the CN Tower.
President Donald Trump’s administration is planning to send Americans who are exposed to Ebola while abroad to a new facility in Kenya instead of flying them to the United States – a move one critic has called “a moral abdication of care” for the country’s citizens.
There are faster ways to get from Chicago to Los Angeles, but none have the allure or cultural cachet of Route 66. To John Steinbeck, it was the Mother Road that led poor farmers from Dust Bowl desperation to sunny California. To Native Americans along the route, it was an economic boon that also left scars. To Black travellers, it offered sanctuary during segregation. And to music fans, it was the place to get their kicks.
He is known as the French Banksy – or simply JR. Now the artist popular across France for large-scale projects, from photographs to graffiti and street art, has transformed Paris’s most famous bridge, the bustling Pont Neuf, into a walk-through “cave.”
By WALLACE IMMEN/ The brochures for Celebrity Cruises’ shore excursion in Katakolon, Greece say it’s an opportunity to re-live what it was like to participate in the ancient Olympiade.
By MICHAEL BAGINSKI/ “Stateboro Blues” is remarkably still as a staple, nearly 100 years after the song was written. Stick with me here: the modern version of the song is most notably a classic Allman Brothers tune, pre-eminently known from the band’s iconic 1971 album “At Filmore East” (considered by some the best southern rock album of all time).
The Canadian government is imposing a mandatory 21-day self-isolation period for travellers from Ebola-affected regions – about 350 people per week – while immigration authorities are temporarily suspending decisions on applications from the Democratic Republic of Congo, South Sudan and Uganda.
A developing El Nino that is forecast to get quite strong will likely dampen the upcoming Atlantic hurricane season, but it won’t make the potentially deadly storms disappear, meteorologists predict.
Canada’s main flight attendants union is crying foul on airline submissions to the federal government for its probe into unpaid work in the sector. In a letter, the head of the union’s airline division says the self-audits on wages that airlines provided to authorities this month rely on a narrow and “misleading” definition of what constitutes work in order to show that cabin crew are paid fairly.
In the first four months of 2026, Embratur says Brazil achieved the best results in the history of international tourist arrivals from 10 of the main source markets to the country. In April alone, Colombia, China, Mexico, Portugal, Peru, Canada, the UK, Chile, Australia and Uruguay sent together more than 1.1 million visitors to Brazilian destinations. The total number of arrivals in the first four months of 2026, was 4,333,423.
As travellers seek more meaningful and immersive ways to explore the world, a new global report reveals how “Grandma Tourism” is moving into the mainstream with experiences led by older local guides reshaping the way people travel.
A structural checkup on Tyra the Dinosaur has determined she’s retaining water, has breathing issues, a fever and wrinkles – but is otherwise far from extinct.
With airline tickets growing more expensive and customers facing the risk of cancelled flights, insurance experts are advising those with summer travel plans to stay on their toes.
By MICHAEL BAGINSKI/ Brand USA, the destination marketing organization for the United States, has launched a new initiative to encourage travel to the country while at the same combatting “misperceptions” that may give potential visitors pause.
Temperature records toppled as a spring heat wave continued to scorch parts of Western Europe on Tuesday, triggering government warnings about risks to life. Several drownings were reported in Britain and France as people tried to cool down.
This week: ACTA opens summit registrations; TTAND is tops with Travel Leaders; appointments at Trevello and Flight Centre Canada; Canada; Amex GBT is plugged in; and Collette adds to its training program…
The Kingdom of Bhutan will host its first-ever travel exhibition June 11-13 at Zhichenkhar, Thimphu, designed to facilitate tourism to the emerging “Thunder Dragon Kingdom.”
Travel advisors can unlock limited-time resort deals, added-value excursions and prizes for their clients until May 31 with the return of Sunwing Vacations’ ‘Sun Week’ event.
By MICHAEL BAGINSKI/ Last year at IPW, the U.S. Travel Association ducked “the Canadian question.” In fact, it ducked the media altogether. But this year, full marks to the organization (and Brand USA) for facing the music and comprehensively answering the question that Travel Industry Today asked on behalf of all Canadians and the Canadian travel industry: “Where does Canadian travel to the U.S. stand at this moment and what do you have to say to Canadians that might make a difference?”
Nav Canada’s head of operations says the country continues to face a dearth of air traffic controllers as the busy summer travel season kicks off, but stresses the organization has put a raft of measures in place to plug the holes.
Rendez-vous Canada (RVC) kicks off today in Toronto with Canada’s largest international tourism trade show set to welcome a record number of international travel buyers and Canadian tourism sellers over the next three days.
With vibrant greenery, blooming flowers and dramatic Atlantic views around every turn, islands across the Atlantic archipelago offer a sensory escape unlike anywhere else in Europe.
The British Columbia Hotel Association is blaming what is it says is flawed “messaging” for vacancies heading into next month’s FIFA World Cup that has left tourists with the false impression no rooms are available.
Travellers remain hesitant about space tourism despite the successful return of NASA’s Artemis II mission, according to new data from the Global Rescue Spring 2026 Traveller Sentiment and Safety Survey.
The travel industry is on edge after U.S. Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin reiterated his threat to withdraw U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers from airports in so-called “sanctuary cities” in a move that could jeopardize international flights.
By MICHAEL BAGINSKI/ Even as U.S. Homeland was threatening travel chaos by withdrawing U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers from airports in U.S. “sanctuary cities, the U.S. Travel Association’s signature annual travel trade show IPW 2026 wrapped up on Friday, having drawn nearly 5,000 delegates from over 60 countries, including Canada, over the event’s four full days last week in South Florida.
An expert on public health and communicable diseases says Canada should remain vigilant about an Ebola outbreak in Africa, with the FIFA men’s World Cup coming to Toronto and Vancouver in two weeks.
Hotel industry and tourism groups in Toronto are optimistic that FIFA World Cup matches will bring many people to the city and boost the local economy despite a lack of surge in hotel bookings and high ticket prices.