ROUND-UP: June 2-6, 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.

IN TRIPADVISOR WE TRUST: How travel review platform fights fake reviews

Despite nearly nine out of 10 reviews (87.8%) meeting standards for publication, influential travel review site TripAdvisor says it continues to fight ever-evolving fraudulent schemes in its domain, which now includes misleading communication generated by artificial intelligence.

‘WE DON’T WANT THEM’: How U.S. travel ban may affect your clients

U.S. President Donald Trump has resurrected a hallmark policy of his first term, announcing that citizens of 12 countries would be banned from visiting the United States and those from seven others would face restrictions starting June 9. Here’s what you may need to know, including its effect of dual citizenship Canadians.

HOW TO COPE WITH FLYING ANXIETY

Being at least a little nervous about flying is understandable. As Mel Brooks once said: “If God wanted us to fly, He would have given us tickets.” But for some people it causes deep anxiety that could require professional help.

BRIGHTENING THE FUTURE OF CELEBRITY’S SOLSTICE SHIPS

Celebrity Cruises is investing more than $250 million to completely modernize a well-loved class of ships. Guests can look forward to eight new experiences, including four new-to-sea spaces, and many redesigned favorites which elevate everything that makes these ships unique.

LISTENING IN: Jammin’ with The Jackson 5

By Michael Baginski/ With the news this week that G Adventures has enlisted The Jacksons to perform at the company’s epic GX tourism event in Jordan in September, the time seems right to recall a group that is one of the top-selling bands of all time, having sold more than 150 million records worldwide since bursting on the scene with four straight No. 1 hits on the Motown label in 1969.

SILVER LINING: U.S. travel boycott may mean billions for Canadian tourism

A new report from the Conference Board of Canada argues that Canada’s trade war with the United States might come with a silver lining for the domestic tourism industry with the board estimating that estimates that Canadians boycotting the U.S. for cross-border vacations could net the country’s tourism sector up to $8.8 billion in extra business this year as travellers stay closer to home.

FLIGHTS ARE BETTER FOR THE BAHAMAS

With new and expanded airlift options from multiple gateways across Canada, The Bahamas Ministry of Tourism says getting to the Caribbean islands will be easier than ever for Canadians this summer and fall.

TDC SAYS BRAVO TO PERU

Transat Distribution Canada (TDC) recently hosted 30 franchise and affiliate agency owners from across Canada and their guests on the organization’s Bravo Excellence Club reward trip – this year a seven-night Peruvian adventure that was conducted in collaboration with Transat and G Adventures.

CANADA COMPASS: New look for Nova Scotia’s Fox Harb’r Resort

As Nova Scotia gains ground as one of Canada’s top golf destinations, Fox Harb’r Resort, Eastern Canada’s only four diamond, five- star resort is marking its 25th anniversary with a sweeping transformation designed to elevate the guest experience on and off the course.

JAMAICA’S WATER-FORWARD ADVENTURES

While Jamaica is famous for its pristine beaches and reggae culture, there’s much more that travellers can experience than meets the eye. Beyond Jamaica’s best all-inclusive resorts are a variety of natural wonders that highlight the island’s incredible beauty and where visitors are virtually guaranteed to get wet!

NYC AND ME: Why I’d go back to the Big Apple in a New York minute

By Michael Baginski/    I recently spent a minute (several, in fact) in New York – a visit that transpired during the nascent times of tariffs and the 51st state. Perhaps not surprisingly, I was asked by some why I went, and what my experience was like. Simply put, it was New York – no more, no less. Frenetic, mesmerizing, limitless, a world unto itself. And utterly unconcerned, even oblivious, of my Canadianness and critical gaze.

MEASLES SHOTS URGED: Significant warning for travellers reflects risk during transit

Health officials in the U.S. have changed their advice about measles, saying international travellers should be vaccinated against the virus no matter where they’re going. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention previously emphasized the importance of vaccination for travellers going to countries with outbreaks.

TICO TO LAUNCH NEW CERTIFICATION PROGRAM

Later this year, the Travel Industry Council of Ontario (TICO) will launch a new online education program and exam to become Travel Counsellors and agency Supervisors/Managers, with the changes focussing on having learners apply the program’s regulatory and consumer protection content, enhancing regulatory knowledge and professionalism.

RETAIL ROUND-UP: Agent news, fams & incentives

This week: Flight Centre makes a strategic investment in Toronto; Miami was on the FAM roster with Air Canada; and Virtuoso revealed the location of its 2026 Symposium.

JORDAN, JACKSONS STARS OF G ADVENTURES SUMMIT

G Adventures and its non-profit partner Planeterra have unveiled details of this year’s GX event, taking place in Jordan this September. Notably, the Toronto-based small group adventure operator has revealed that the mega event will conclude with a performance by The Jacksons.

BAGPIPES AND KILTS: A Scottish summer sampling

From epic anniversaries and a reimagined landmark castle to the Knights who say ‘ni,’ here are 10 tidbits of news or note, some even a little bit quirky, emanating from the land of bagpipes and kilts for this summer and beyond.

U.S. TRAVEL TICKING UP

Despite Canadians’ cross-border travel bookings declining in the “mid-to-high-teens percentage points” in the next couple of months compared to last year, WestJet CEO Alexis von Hoensbroech says his airline is already seeing signs the U.S. market is picking up a bit. 

DUST SMOTHERS CARIBBEAN, ETNA SPECTACLE IN SICILY

A massive cloud of dust from the Sahara Desert blanketed most of the Caribbean on Monday in the biggest event of its kind this year as it heads toward the United States. The cloud extended some 3,200 km. from Jamaica to well past Barbados in the eastern Caribbean, and some 750 1,200 km. from the Turks and Caicos Islands in the northern Caribbean down south to Trinidad and Tobago.

BERLIN: Germany’s Cool Capital is calling Canadians

By Michael Baginski/    There’s no better time for Canadians to discover, or return to, Berlin – on many levels – says the CEO of Visit Berlin, who noted to Canadian media last week that, “When we read the news about south of here, we immediately thought that we should go and visit our friends in Canada.”

CLIMATE CRISIS PROMPTS ROOM, CRUISES TAXES: Hawaii governor says destination first, but won’t be last

Hawaii’s governor has signed legislation that boosts a tax – to 19 percent – imposed on hotel room and vacation rental stays in order to raise money to address eroding shorelines, wildfires and other consequences of climate change. The signing, which includes a 11 percent levy on cruise ships comes nearly two years after a Maui wildfire killed 102 people and wiped out almost all of Lahaina town, and marks the first such levy in the U.S. to help cope with a warming planet.

CANADA COMPASS: Last roar for The Lion King in Toronto

“The Lion King” will soon utter its final roar in Toronto. Mirvish Productions has announced that the last performance of the critically acclaimed and award-winning musical will take place Aug. 30 at the Princess of Wales Theatre.

THE BEACH IS BACK: Caribbean demand heats up for summer

Leading travel intelligence provider ForwardKeys has published a joint report, “Caribbean Travel Trends 2025” indicating strong demand for the region this summer, not least as consumers seek to go back to beaches.

CANADA, NATURALLY: New tourism brand unveiled

‘Canada, naturally’ is the country’s new tourism brand and tagline. Unveiled at the recent Rendez-vous Canada, the country’s largest international tourism tradeshow, the brand is meant to reflect “what comes naturally to Canada – awe-inspiring landscapes and warm-hearted people – and how even the ordinary moments here can feel extraordinary to guests,” according to Destination Canada.

DETAINED IN DR, TOURIST HOME AT LAST.: Offers cautionary tale for Canadian travellers

When David Bennett decided to escape Canada’s icy winter with a weeklong trip to the Dominican Republic, he never imagined he’d be fighting to get back on Canadian soil for more than two months. Bennett has finally returned to his Burlington, Ont., home after being arrested in the Caribbean country and accused of smuggling drugs. Even after the charges were withdrawn, he was stuck in the island nation for weeks due to court delays. 

FAM-TASTIC SEATTLE: New specialist program offers essential knowledge, chance to win trip

Travel advisors who complete Visit Seattle’s new online training program by July 1 will have a chance to win one of three spots on a FAM trip to the Emerald City scheduled for early October. The free interactive program is designed to equip travel professionals with in-depth knowledge and skills they can use to showcase the city’s exceptional experiences to their clients and to do so backed by an official “Seattle Certified” designation.

SIT DOWN!: Turkey cracks down on disembarkation chaos

Airline passengers in Turkey who unbuckle their seat belts, access overhead compartments, or occupy the aisle before their plane has fully stopped now face fines under new regulations issued by the country’s civil aviation authority.

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