Calling Elon Musk an “idiot” and X a “cesspool,” the CEO of Ryanair on Wednesday dismissed Musk’s idea of buying the budget airline and shrugged off insults from the billionaire, in a war of words that erupted over installing Starlink systems on aircraft.
Weddings are meant to be celebrations of love. They also may require invited guests to make a financial commitment that brings them stress. Whether it’s paying for hotels and flights to attend a destination wedding or different outfits and gifts for multiple pre-wedding events, friends and extended family often feel pressure to spend a large amount of money before the couple gets married.
By Wallace Immen/ Atlas Ocean Voyages has revealed it’s building a state-of-the-art luxury expedition sailing yacht with sails and an eco-friendly hybrid propulsion system that can run almost silently.
By Michael Baginski/ Rob Hirst, the drummer for Midnight Oil, died this week at age 70, but the great Aussie band had already been in the back of my mind for awhile now. In these crazy days of Trump, wars, kidnappings, wild weather and “cats and dogs living together” (as Bill Murray said in “Ghostbusters”), it really does seem like our “beds are burning.”
Travel search engine Kayak has dropped its 2026 ‘What the Future’ Report – cheekily dubbed “WTF,” though more seriously offering a look at the destinations and travel behaviours that will shape the year ahead for Canadians.
Air Canada has announced the only non-stop flights from North America to Sapporo, Japan, will begin in December – just in time for travellers to take advantage of a wide range activities in the well-known cold-weather hotspot, which came to prominence after hosting the Winter Olympics in 1972.
From local roundtables to its golf summer tournament, and cross-country Summits to the annual international destination conference, ACTA has released its 2026 calendar of events, while encouraging members to save the date(s) for the association’s busy roster of educational and networking activities.
The sudden closure of a major ski resort because of a labour dispute has thrown Quebec’s Charlevoix region into uncertainty. Le Massif is a major draw for skiers and a key economic engine for the region northeast of Quebec City.
A former flight attendant for a “Toronto-based airline” posed as a commercial pilot and as a current flight attendant to obtain hundreds of free flights from U.S. airlines, authorities said.
This year will bring a standout slate of hotel openings, from restored heritage properties in the Alps and new city addresses in London to modern mountain retreats in Aspen and ultra-private villa estates in the Seychelles.
By Michael Baginski/ Some Canadians are rethinking plans to visit parts of the Caribbean in the wake of military action and threats from the United States in the region. Among the affected destinations are Aruba and Curaçao, two islands off the coast of Venezuela, where the U.S. launched a strike and captured its president about two weeks ago.
Starting this fall, WestJet will offer the only non-stop flight between Western Canada and South America, operating three times weekly between Calgary and São Paulo, Brazil. The service to the vibrant city – dubbed “the New York of South America” – and a gateway to iconic Brazilian landmarks such the Amazon Rainforest, Patagonia and the Iguaçu Falls, marks the airline’s 100th destination from YYC Calgary Airport.
Air Canada and its flight attendants have begun an arbitration process to settle wages under their deal reached last year to end a strike that halted flights around the world.
The Sandman Hotel Group has unveiled the transformation of its popular West Georgia Street hotel, officially reintroducing the property as Sandman Signature Vancouver Downtown Hotel following a comprehensive, full-property reimagining.
The Granite Travel Trade Expos are set to return in 2026, kicking off in Ontario in April and return to the Maritimes in May, before visiting western Canada in October and concluding in Ontario again in November.
A 145-km (90-mile) section of California’s Highway 1 along the famous Big Sur coast has fully reopened after three years of closures and repairs following a series of landslides and a roadway collapse that hampered tourism on the scenic route.
A handful of platforms now specialize in pairing sellers who have to call off non-refundable trips with buyers eager for a bargain and willing to reserve last-minute. But are they safe?
The U.S. Federal Aviation Administration on Friday urged aircraft operators to “exercise caution” when flying over the eastern Pacific Ocean near Mexico, Central America and parts of South America, citing “military activities” and possible satellite navigation interference.
ACTA has a launched a new referral program for 2026 in where one lucky travel advisor or agency will win a once-in-a-lifetime Antarctic expedition courtesy of ACTA partner, Aurora Expeditions (banner photo).
For a true taste of Bahamian culture, visitors naturally point their lenses toward the islands’ many heritage sites and lively celebrations – such as the rhythmic energy of a Junkanoo rush-out, with performers dressed in elaborate, colourful costumes dancing to the beat of goatskin drums and cowbells. It’s an explosion of sound and movement that’s a dream for any photographer. But there are quieter stories that are just as powerful.
Air Transat has announced plans to start a new loyalty program with Desjardins Group and Visa. The launch, planned for the second half of this year, will offer travellers exclusive benefits and an improved experience, the airline said.
Visitors to Parliament Hill soon won’t be able to see the iconic Peace Tower, once it’s covered with scaffolding to enable renovations and repairs later this year. The Peace Tower is set to be sheathed so that workers can repair its interior and exterior – part of sprawling renovations to the nearly 100-year-old building.
In the wake of a backlash sparked by a viral video, WestJet says it will scrap a new seat configuration that squeezed an extra row on board many of its planes and left passengers with less legroom – and the airline with a budding customer exodus.
Flair Airlines is revamping its ultra-low-cost brand in a bid to attract more business travellers, despite a lack of frills on board – and will court travel advisor networks to do so. Company CEO Maciej Wilk says Flair is attempting a strategic shift away from a pure-play budget airline and toward what he dubbed a “value carrier.”
Fears of Porter Airlines joining the ranks of Canadian carriers affected by a strike (or threat of) have diminished with agreement between the company and its flight dispatchers, represented by the Canadian Airline Dispatchers Association (CALDA).
While cars and canola garnered the most attention during Mark Carney’s trade visit to China last week, the meeting between the prime minister and Chinese President Xi Jinping also changed the tourism landscape between the two countries.
TravelBrands has announced the appointment of Janita Hubbard as Business Development Manager for British Columbia. She brings more than 13 years of experience in the travel industry to the role.
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.
What if the most uplifting remedy for modern-day overload wasn’t found on a therapist’s couch, but in a boarding pass? Moving into 2026, travel is emerging as an important form of non-medical therapy, says Flight Centre, citing a growing number of Canadians who are planning escapes that help them recharge, reconnect and feel more like themselves.
By Michael Baginski/ As up to 30 cm. of snow was dropping my head (and all southern Ontarians) on Thursday, I was reminded of the travel wisdom of a long-ago president of Signature Vacations, who exclaimed: “We’re hoping for a lot of snow – but not so much that people can’t drive to the airport to leave.”