By MICHAEL BAGINSKI/ An expected group of 300 agents and supplier partners across Goway’s roster of 20-plus destinations in Asia is convening today (Tuesday) at the Chelsea Hotel in Toronto, at the tour company’s inaugural Asia Forum, reflecting just how popular the region is right now for travellers, says Goway VP for Asia, Moira Smith.
Metropolitan Montreal Airport – “MET” – will officially open its new terminal next week (June 15). Upon its opening, the terminal will host operations for Porter Airlines and Pascan Aviation, offering flights connecting Canadian destinations from coast to coast. The terminal will also be able to accommodate other airlines in the future.
Air Transat and Iberia have entered a new interline partnership with Iberia, further expanding the Canadian carrier’s footprint in Spain and enhancing travel options for its customers. The agreement enables Air Transat passengers to connect via Madrid (MAD) to over 20 destinations including Palma de Mallorca (PMI), Ibiza (IBZ), Tenerife (TFN and TFS) and Alicante (ALC).
A massive coastal development project linked to Jared Kushner, the son-in-law of U.S. President Donald Trump, is facing growing resistance from protesters in Albania. Police fired water cannon and clashed with protesters last week and thousands continued to oppose the plan on the weekend in the capital, Tirana.
On a day that a defiant Cuba Tourist Board declared the country “open for global business,” including transitioning hotels to Cuban brands, Sunwing Vacations Group declared that it had made the “difficult decision” to indefinitely suspend all its Cuba operations until further notice.
With the stroke of a pen, Air Canada has signed an agreement designed to further “unlock the Americas” through a strategic partnership with the parent company of Avianca and GOL airlines.
Air Transat says it has enough fuel to maintain normal operations throughout the summer season. The message of reassurance further comes with enhanced flexibility conditions for clients applicable to its Eco Standard and Club Standard fares for a limited time.
By MICHAEL BAGINSKI/ Held every July and early August, Antigua and Barbuda Carnival is far more than a festival, it’s a living expression of the islands’ history, identity, and spirit.
With less than a week to go before the World Cup, a Toronto cannabis shop has already got ahold of the trophy – sort of. Cosmic Charlies is selling golden bongs that resemble the tournament’s prize and are marketed as “a true hat trick: portable, durable and easy to clean.”
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.
First, the bad news. Users of credit cards that accrue airline miles and points toward various travel perks are likely to find their balances won’t take them as far this summer.
Despite disruption caused by the crisis in the Middle East, International tourist arrivals grew 2% over the first quarter of 2026, according to the United Nations.
A man carrying what authorities described as an explosive device powerful enough to damage a plane, as well as a torch lighter, knife, zip ties and other items, was arrested after trying to pass through a Sacramento International Airport security checkpoint over the weekend, federal prosecutors said.
By FERNANDO LOPEZ MEDINA/ Security threats have a way of reminding us how fragile normal life can be. They erupt without warning, escalate quickly and force people, governments and organizations into rapid decision-making.
By WALLACE IMMEN/ With global conflicts seemingly never-ending, more cruise lines are shifting winter itineraries away from the Middle East and Africa to offer guests the security of Europe. And they’re seeing strong bookings because despite the cooler temperatures, the off-season promises a relief from tourist crowds.
By MICHAEL BAGINSKI/ A casual conversation at an industry luncheon the other day (long story) revealed that my considerably younger colleagues were oblivious to the existence of Live Aid, the epic, generational concerts in London and Philadelphia in 1985 that were organized to raise funds for Ethiopian famine relief. (Woodstock was vaguely recognized).
Democrats hammered U.S. Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin during a heated Senate hearing this week, calling his threats to pull officers from some airports in so-called sanctuary cities “insane” and accusing his department of recklessly spending billions of dollars.
Though most of the hotels in Cuba are not currently operational, Meliá says it is formally ceasing operations at 15 properties across the island, operating primarily under the Meliá, Sol and Paradisus brands.
With the 2026 World Cup of Soccer set to kick off on June 11 in Mexico City and continue through July 19 across Canada, the U.S. and Mexico, travellers are increasingly treating the mega event like a last-minute luxury purchase, waiting longer to commit while spending significantly more on customized experiences surrounding the tournament’s semifinals and championship match, says luxury sports travel company Roadtrips.
By MICHAEL BAGINSKI/ Never mind MAGA, Amarillo, Texas has embraced a different vibe: Make America Cowboy Again. Located in the heart of the state’s northern Panhandle, the city is having a moment in the West Texas sun thanks in part to the booming interest in western and cowboy culture generated by the hit TV show “Yellowstone.”
While the war in Iran has led to a significant downturn in air travel, North American carriers have held steady, posting exactly the same numbers for total demand (0.0% gain/loss) in April over last year, reports IATA.
Air Canada has launched Cabin-Ready Canines, a new, industry-leading initiative to enable customers with owner-trained service dogs to travel with confidence on Air Canada flights.
By MICHAEL BAGINSKI/ Despite a precipitous drop in the number of international visitors to the U.S. – not least from Canada – U.S. Travel Association president and CEO Geoff Freeman says there are many misperceptions and “untruths” about travel to the country amongst travellers, and that the Trump administration has actually done plenty of good to boost the country’s travel industry.
New first-party search data from Expedia Group reveals a clear shift toward shorter booking windows, with travellers increasingly planning trips closer to departure than they did a year ago.
It may seem counterintuitive, but BermudAir wants Canadians to think not only of Bermuda for their next winter holiday, but Turks and Caicos, and Anguilla too. That’s because the carrier is launching flights to the two Caribbean destinations from Toronto Pearson starting in December.
This week: Transat Distribution Canada says ‘Bravo’ to agency owners; ACTA has a new board; Travel Leaders Network celebrates POP winners; Tully Travel is tops with Crystal; First in Service (F1S) introduces a hotel program; and Aurora Expeditions gives agents a chance to win a trip
At the gateway to Old Town Niagara-on-the-Lake, The Clayfield will be a new option for visitors to one of Canada’s prettiest towns when it opens in late summer as part of Hyatt’s Unbound Collection, a curated portfolio of independent hotels recognized for their strong sense of identity and place.
A festival honouring Lithuania’s iconic cold beet soup brought tens of thousands of visitors Saturday to its capital city, which was fully decked out in pink. The colourful three-day Vilnius Pink Soup Fest featured a synchronized “Pink Break” lunch of revellers from across the globe all sharing in the beet soup, known as šaltibarščiai (also called cold borscht) sitting at long tables.
Soaring prices and other complications from the Iran war are putting Asia’s peak tourist summer season at risk as elevated jet fuel costs coupled with ceasefire uncertainties prompt flight cancellations and higher ticket prices.
By MICHAEL BAGINSKI/ At IPW – U.S. Travel’s biggest event of the year – it’s the host destination that always resonates with regular attendees long after the business part of the signature trade show ends. News comes and goes year after year, and meetings have a business-as-usual demeanor, but it’s the events and galas, the weather, the food, the vibe, that stick.