In this week’s round-up, ACTA wants to know what members think of NDC; TTAND travel advisors were river cruising with ACTA and Avalon Waterways; Direct Travel held its annual conference in Chicago; and TTC Tour Brands inaugurated its first advisors conference.
Crystal has finalized its order with Italian shipbuilder Fincantieri for construction of a third ocean ship. The announcement comes two years after A&K Travel Group acquired Crystal in 2022, marking a new chapter for the cruise line.
World Travel Market attendees seemed to take the US election results in stride last week – beyond at least one avowed Democratic who was considering seeking asylum in the UK – instead focussing on the business of travel at a time it was being reported that international tourism arrivals are expected to hit 1.5 billion this year, surpassing 2019 values (the global benchmark for record tourism numbers).
Air Canada is extending its intermodal strategy across Europe to include Italy, Spain, Britain as well as to Asia, with its first operator in South Korea. Clients purchasing flights on Air Canada can now easily book onward land rail and bus connections to destinations across these countries to create a seamless travel itinerary.
Italy’s former national carrier Alitalia has started procedures for the collective dismissal of its remaining 2,059 employees, its administrators told unions. The move comes as the successor to bankrupt Alitalia, ITA Airways faces hurdles in its merger plans with German Lufthansa.
Prestigious Forbes Travel Guide (FTG) has announced the winners of its first Verified Air Travel Awards. The 2024 luxury awards spotlight the best experiences in air travel, including airlines, airports and private jet services and highlight a range of 22 winners across multiple travel categories. They include five-time winner Emirates and four-time winner Delta Air Lines.
Ever been to Kalso, Kinsale or Kilwa Kivinje? How about Hermanus or the Abrolhos Archipelago? Neither has any cruise line before Swan Hellenic added them to their coming itineraries. The storied brand has been reborn with new owners and a fleet of new eco-friendly expedition ships.
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.
Cuba was left reeling Thursday after a fierce Category 3 hurricane ripped across the island and knocked out the country’s power grid. The magnitude of the impact remained unclear through the early hours of the day, but forecasters warned that Hurricane Rafael could bring “life-threatening” storm surges, winds and flash floods to Cuba after ravaging parts of the Cayman Islands and Jamaica.
Indonesia’s Mount Lewotobi Laki Laki unleashed towering columns of ash into the air on Thursday, in an even larger eruption than the one that killed nine people and injured dozens of others three days ago. There were no reports of casualties from the latest eruption as residents living in the danger zone spanning a radius of 7 kilometers (4.3 miles) from the crater had been evacuated to other villages.
Effective January 1, 2025, members of Skål Toronto and Skål Toronto North will consolidate into a single Skål Toronto Club, reuniting both clubs after over two decades of independent journeys. This decision reflects the commitment and unified vision of members from both clubs, marking a step forward in revitalizing Skål within the Greater Toronto Area.
From koalas to kangaroos, Australia’s unusual wildlife has long-captivated North American travellers. To find out which animals people want to encounter most, experts at UK-based tour operator Audley Travel analyzed Google Search data, revealing quokkas as top of the list, with wombats and platypuses rounding out the top three.
It’s been a year since ‘Pilsner Urquell: The Original Beer Experience’ was untapped in Prague and already the interactive attraction, located in a historic building on the city’s landmark Wenceslas Square, rates in the top five for tourists in the Czechia capital.
On almost every level It’s hard to compare Fiona Apple with Fats Domino, but that doesn’t mean the exceptional American singer doesn’t do justice to the great early rock and roller. From John & Yoko to Cheap Trick, plenty of artists have covered “Ain’t That a Shame,” but Apple and her collection of talented friends give it their own rootsy treatment, which is fun and refreshing.
US Google searches for “how to move to Canada” skyrocketed as the votes were counted and Trump’s victory became apparent. “Work visa Canada” searches in the US have also surged as votes were revealed. Searches for “if Trump wins can I move to Canada” peaked for the first time in three months. And, “Canada work visa” searches are projected to skyrocket by 566% following Trump’s victory.
Royal Caribbean Group has confirmed it is buying the Port of Costa Maya in Quintana Roo, Mexico. The deal is reported to be worth nearly US $300 million and includes adjacent land at Mahahual. The cruise company plans major upgrades at the port and surrounding infrastructure.
In Wrexham, the ‘Rob and Ryan effect’ goes beyond the soccer club the Hollywood stars Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney bought and revived, as tourism and investments grow in the small Welsh city, which has rapidly become one of Britain’s most unlikely tourist hot spots.
Due to the unique multi-leg nature of travelling by cruise ship, combined with potential medical issues abroad, the importance of cruise travel insurance cannot be overstated, says travel insurance comparison site InsureMyTrip.ca.
The world’s second Sphere will be built in Abu Dhabi, the capital of the United Arab Emirates following the opening of the first in Las Vegas. The attraction will be located in a prime spot in the city and echo the scale of the Sphere in the US and is expected to be a major year-round draw for both residents and visitors from around the world.
With the popular “Yellowstone” series set to return this fall, America’s majestic wild west will again be in the spotlight, inspiring many to seek not only the great outdoors, but an authentic western experience. And where better to do so than a dude ranch?
Tropical Storm Rafael was chugging past western Jamaica on Tuesday and was expected to strengthen into a hurricane as it headed toward Cuba. The National Hurricane Center in Miami said it expected “steady to rapid intensification” over the next 24 to 36 hours.
The German National Tourist Office (GNTO) in Canada will be closing due to significant budget cuts affecting operations in 2025. This decision involves the closure of six offices worldwide, including Canada.
Factory workers at Boeing voted to accept a contract offer and end their strike after more than seven weeks, clearing the way for the aerospace giant to resume production of its bestselling airliner and generate much-needed cash.
Travel Leaders Network (TLN), the largest network of professional travel advisors in North America, has announced that Lindsay Pearlman will serve as Chief Operating Officer and Senior Vice President at Travel Leaders Network. His role will officially begin in January 2025, and he will report to John Lovell, President of TLN.
Travelling can be an exhilarating experience, filled with adventure and the opportunity to explore new cultures. However, for many, it can also be a minefield of scams and deceit. The more travellers know about the tricks and traps scammers use, the better off they’ll be.
What basement bar belonging to anyone with tenure in the travel industry doesn’t have one? Since the 1950s, KLM has been handing out Delft Blue Houses filled with Bols Jenever to World Business Class passengers on intercontinental flights. The houses are miniature versions of buildings in the Netherlands and abroad with a special history and are sought-after collector’s items.
From Australia to Idaho, American Express Travel has revealed the next installment of its Trending Destinations list, highlighting the top 10 must-visit places for 2025 with Millennial and Gen Z travellers in mind. Destinations are based on global American Express card member travel bookings and insight from Amex travel consultants.
The recurrent storms in eastern Spain that led to massive flooding last week and killed at least 217 people, mostly near Valencia, dumped rain on Barcelona on Monday, prompting authorities to suspend commuter rail service.
Building on the success of last year’s pilot Tourism Corridor Strategy Program, which aims to accelerate destination development across provincial and territorial boundaries. Destination Canada has announced the launch of four new tourism corridors bringing together tourism organizations to develop new journeys for travellers to explore. The program is a key initiative of Destination Canada’s 2030 Tourism Strategy with its goal to propel Canada back into the Top 7 global tourism destinations.
Holland America Line is expanding its Canada and New England season in 2026 with more cruises, increased ports of call and added overnights. Sailing from Boston, a new 28-day Legendary Voyage –”Canada, New England and Iceland” – highlights the three regions.