BIGGEST LOSERS: Canadians most likely to have their luggage lost, survey says

A new survey reveals that 30.4% of Canadian flyers have had luggage misplaced by airlines – the most among travellers from Australia, Canada and the U.S. Moreover, the majority of flyers with lost luggage did not get reimbursed by their airline and the bags were likely to take days to be returned, if at all.

CELEBRITY PLANS TO FLOOD EUROPE WITH RIVER CRUISES

By Wallace Immen/ Make that 20! Celebrity River Cruises has announced a commitment for 10 more new ships that will expand its European river cruise fleet to 20 vessels by 2031. All this while construction of the first of the fleet – Celebrity Compass – has just started. And it’s already a sellout.

BLOCKBUSTER EXHIBIT: Famous artwork returns to UK after 1,000 years

The Bayeux Tapestry, the 11th-century artwork depicting the Norman conquest of England, is set be displayed in the U.K. for the first time in almost 1,000 years. The treasured medieval tapestry will be on loan from France and arrive at the British Museum in London, where it will star in a blockbuster exhibition from September to July 2027.

LISTENING IN: Eagles Greatest Hits soars to unprecedented heights

By Michael Baginski/ The Eagles have landed… the best-selling album in the history of the United States. Always mooted as one of the top-selling albums of all time, The Eagles’ “Their Greatest Hits (1971-75)” was officially certified by the Recording Industry Association of America this week for having sold 40 million copies – quadruple diamond – the first record to have done so.

HEEDING THE HEADWINDS: TLN considers state of the industry

By Michael Baginski/ The sky may be falling, but that isn’t stopping travellers from taking flight, according to Travel Leaders Network. And that is the best reason for confidence in a world where everyone always seems to be heading into the wind.

AIR CANADA REVEALS MORE WINTER SKED DETAILS

From Quito to Copenhagen, Air Canada has announced more flight options for travellers in next winter’s schedule. Among them are increased winter services to Latin America destinations, a new destination in South America, year-round service enhancements to Europe, and two sun destinations from Calgary.

INTREPID COMMITS TO INDIGENOUS TOURISM IN CANADA

Intrepid Travel signed a landmark partnership agreement with the Indigenous Tourism Association of Canada (ITAC), committing $500,000 over the next five years to support the growth and promotion of Indigenous tourism across Canada.

GAME ON: Roadtrips reveals top travel-sports events for 2026 and beyond

With the FIFA World Cup set to kick off in June and Summer Olympics on the horizon (after February’s Winter Olympics), the growth and popularity of once-in-lifetime sports travel is sure to continue for Canadians, even as fans continue take in all manner of annual sports, from hockey to baseball, football, basketball and golf in roadtrip excursions across the continent.

THIS IS GRIM: Tourism in Cuba plummets amid U.S. tensions

Tourism in Cuba is plummeting at a time when the island desperately needs that revenue, with the number of visitors dropping by more than half since 2018. For almost two decades, a steady stream of visitors sparked a boom in tourism, only for the COVID-19 pandemic and severe blackouts to hit, coupled with increased U.S. sanctions.

G SWITCHES GEARS: September GX Summit moving to Cambodia

G Adventures has announced that Cambodia will be the new host for its 2026 GX Summit in Septmeber. Having originally been set to take place in Morocco, the Toronto-based tour operator says the decision to change location reflects GX’s core mission to use travel as a force for good by supporting destinations where community tourism can have the greatest positive impact.

RETAIL ROUND-UP: Agent news, fams & incentives

This week: Ensemble helps with hotel groups; Friesen Travel Group celebrates success; MSC Cruises Canada recognizes “excellent” agents; Encore Cruises launches an air booking solution; and the Selling the USA 2027 incentive from Canuckiwi and partners.

WISH THAT YOU DON’T HAVE TO PAY? Tourists tapped for visiting Trevi Fountain

Tourists visiting the Trevi Fountain are now going to pay more than just the legendary coin toss over their shoulder to get a selfie in front of one of the world’s most celebrated waterworks. Starting Feb. 1, the city of Rome is imposing a 2-euro ($3) fee for tourists to get close to the fountain made famous by Federico Fellini’s “La Dolce Vita” during prime-time daylight hours.

CAN-AM DAYS 2026: Myrtle Beach’s ‘secret sauce’ that keeps Canadian coming back

By Michael Baginski/ It’s a love affair that’s been going on for 65 years. That’s how long Myrtle Beach has been hosting – and Canadians attending – Can-Am Days in the coastal South Carolina city. Of, course, Canadians were acquainted with the Grand Strand long before the 1961 festival launched, but that’s when the relationship got serious.

LOUVRE DEFENDS BIG ADMISSION HIKE: Visitors question logic

Long lines beneath I.M. Pei’s glass pyramid in Paris have become as much a part of the experience as the “Mona Lisa” itself. Now the Louvre has put a higher price on that pilgrimage, raising admission prices for most non-European visitors by nearly half last week as it tries to shore up finances after repeated strikes, chronic overcrowding – and a brazen French Crown Jewels heist that shook the institution.

THE MORNING AFTER: Snowmageddon chaos worst since the pandemic

While much of the country has been hit with bone-chilling cold, Toronto was seeing heavy snowfall Sunday into Monday morning, causing severe flight chaos at both of the city’s airports. Up to 40 cm (16 inches) of snow were forecast for some areas of the GTA.

WHERE CANADIANS TRAVELLED IN NOVEMBER: And guess where they didn’t?

While Prime Minister Mark Carney continues to make entreaties with the rest of the world, it seems Canadian travellers are as well, with Statistics Canada reporting that Canadian residents returning from overseas in November rose 13.6% compared with the year before to 1,099,750.

PHILLY FUMES OVER TRUMP ORDER: Sues for ‘whitewashing’ black history

Outraged critics accused U.S. President Donald Trump of “whitewashing history” on Friday after the National Park Service removed an exhibit on slavery at Philadelphia’s Independence National Historical Park in response to his executive order “restoring truth and sanity to American history” at the nation’s museums, parks and landmarks.

AGENTS RALLY WITH SUNWING TO SUPPORT JAMAICA

Sunwing Vacations is extending its “heartfelt thanks” to travel agents across the country for their exceptional commitment and support, which made possible a $210,000 donation to aid communities in Jamaica impacted by Hurricane Melissa.

ROUND-UP: Jan. 19-23, 2026

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.

‘CATASTROPHIC’ WINTER STORM BLASTS U.S.: Massive weather event could rival hurricane

As Ontarians prepare for their own winter wallop on the weekend, millions of Americans from New Mexico to the Carolinas are bracing for a potentially catastrophic ice storm that could crush trees and power lines and knock out power for days, while extreme snow is forecast to make travel very difficult or nearly impossible in cities like Washington, D.C., Philadelphia, New York and Boston.

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