VisitBritain has relaunched its travel advisor training program, BritAgent PRO Sales Companion, now with enhanced mobile sales enablement through TravPRO Mobile. The revamped program provides travel advisors with resources to effectively promote destinations across England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.
Hilton and Universal Pictures have combined to create a unique hotel suite in New York for fans of ‘Wicked,’ which will open in movie theatres on Nov. 22. Available for a limited time – Nov. 21 to Jan. 5 – at the New York Hilton Midtown, the ‘Stay Like Wicked’ package reflects the growing travel trends of guests wanting to “stay like” their favourite pop culture icons in ultra-decked-out themed guest rooms and suites.
Booking.com’s annual Travel Predictions research reveals that travellers will be “rewriting their playbook” in 2025, defying the norms of age, gender, or simply what society thinks travel should look like for them. From nighttime exploration to thrill-seeking seniors, travellers are stretching their wings to fuel and find long-lasting personal growth.
This week marks the anniversary of one of my most memorable days in the travel trade: when Trump won! It was eight years ago at World Travel Market, which kicks off tomorrow (Tuesday) in London, with expectations of close to 50,000 people from across the global travel industry in attendance.
US Travel wants to play ball with Canadians. And hockey. Plus, all the other sports and entertainment offerings, like concerts (can you say Taylor Swift?). That was the theme for last week’s Discover America Day Canada, an annual accounting of travel affairs south of the border as revealed by a couple of dozen partners ranging from all corners of the country.
Explore Louisiana recently concluded a successful Western Canada Roadshow, bringing a taste of Louisiana to travel advisors, media, and tour operator partners in Vancouver and Calgary regions.
Nearly 40 employees across Sunwing Vacations Group and Sunwing Airlines recently joined GlobalMedic for a humanitarian aid packing party to support the local communities in Jamaica that were greatly impacted by the devastating effects of Hurricane Beryl in July. The activity was reflective of the travel company’s longstanding commitment to support the communities and destinations it services with hurricane relief and disaster recovery.
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.
The Canadian dollar is trading against the US dollar at levels not seen since 2020 as the combined pressures of economic outlooks, elections, and energy prices weigh. And up or down, the level of the loonie is a constant in the travel industry, often influencing where – and if – clients choose to travel.
The hotel industries in Vancouver and Toronto would clearly love to see Taylor Swift perform in the cities more often, with room rates being hiked up to 10 times as much as on regular nights around the singer’s upcoming tour stops.
Tipping can be a perplexing social custom for travellers, especially in a world where norms vary significantly from one country to another. Tipping in Venezuela, for example, is like adding sprinkles to a cake that already has frosting – it’s sweet, but unnecessary. In Hungary, many establishments – but not all – include a service charge, so if one is included there’s no need to leave any extra. But in Austria, Mexico and the UK tipping practices are like in Canada and the US, where a gratuity is generally expected.
Snow fell on Hawaii’s tallest peak this week, briefly turning the mountaintop into a winter wonderland. The summit area of Mauna Kea on the Big Island got five centimetres of white powder. Hawaii is better known for its warm weather, beaches and rainforests. But it’s not unusual for snow to fall at the higher elevations on Mauna Kea during the wetter, winter months.
They’ve got big eyes, furry ears and goofy, toothy grins – and they had us surrounded on the road in Morocco. It had hardly been the Marrakesh Express since we left Oceania Cruises’ Marina on the two-lane blacktop road from Agadir to the remarkable walled city of Taroudant. But our bus ground to a total halt as the lumbering camels completely blocked the route.
Blue Oyster Cult’s “Don’t Fear the Reaper” is a rock classic, but has always seemed a little creepy, nonetheless. Which is to say, the perfect song for Halloween this year! Having said that, we’ll take the edge off a little (and mostly because all the BOC videos are quite long), with a version by the rather more wholesome Choir! Choir! Choir!, a Canadian-based initiative we introduced recently doing Bowie’s “Space Oddity.”
The International Air Transport Association (IATA) has released the results of its 2024 Global Passenger Survey, revealing that travellers continue to prioritize convenience and speed. For a smoother travel experience, they are eager to use biometric identification and complete some travel processes before reaching the airport.
Federal regulators south of the border have given a strong push to electric-powered air taxis by issuing a final rule for operating the aircraft and how pilots will be trained to fly them. The head of the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), Mike Whitaker, said the rule recognizes air taxis as an entirely new type of aircraft that will soon join airplanes and helicopters in the sky.
Tourism Ireland brought the spirit of Halloween’s origins to life with an adventurous group of industry professionals this week at Toronto’s Casa Loma’s ‘Legends of Horror.’ The gathering paid tribute to the 2,000-year-old Celtic festival of Samhain – the inspiration for modern-day Halloween – and a nod to the 30,000-plus (yes, you read that right!) castles and castle ruins across Ireland, which range from ancient strongholds and visitor attractions to luxury accommodations.
Air Canada is resuming daily service from Canada to Beijing and will be increasing its Shanghai flights to daily. Both routes will operate from the airline’s Vancouver (YVR) hub, starting Jan. 15 and Dec. 7 respectively. The airline currently offers flights four days a week from Vancouver to Shanghai.
The St. Kitts Tourism Authority recently hosted the fifth instalment of its culinary event, “Savour St. Kitts”, designed to help travel advisors learn more about the destination’s diverse culinary experiences. The interactive event, held this year at Capra’s Kitchen in Port Credit, Ont., was at maximum capacity as agents crowded in to have their chance to cook Kittitian inspired dishes, side-by-side with celebrity chef, Massimo Capra.
With interest in the US presidency currently at fever pitch, a new attraction in Washington DC has opened, offering the next best thing to being in the Oval Office: an identical replica of President Joe Biden ‘s office, right down to his desk, the armchairs in front of the fireplace and the weathered family Bible resting on a side table.
Canada has announced an expanded its air transport agreement with Australia that will allow an unlimited number of direct passenger and cargo flights and enhances operational flexibility for each country’s airlines. It also includes access to any point in the other country’s territory.
Tourism officials on Florida’s Gulf Coast say one of the ways concerned people can help the area recover from recent hurricanes Helene and Milton is to visit as tourists. The tourism promotion agency for the St. Petersburg-Clearwater area said in a news release that 80% of hotels and businesses in the area are open for business, even as clean-up and recovery continues.
Goway held the latest edition of its long-standing annual Africa & Middle East event Monday at the Chelsea Hotel in Toronto with approximately 125 travel advisors in attendance for a day of learning and networking, plus trade show featuring over two dozen supplier partners – “from Saudi Arabia to South Africa” – on hand as well.
In this week’s round-up, we recap Uniglobe Canada’s annual conference, Trevello is going public, Encore Cruises is set to sail with travel advisors at its annual SeaU event, while the Affluent Traveler Collection recognized a host of winners at its recent symposium in Florida.
The US government has fined American Airlines $50 million for failing to provide wheelchair assistance to passengers with disabilities and damaging thousands of wheelchairs over a five-year period. The Transportation Department said that “in some cases,” wheelchair users were injured, but it did not give a number.
A popular selfie spot for visitors to Banff National Park has become a victim of its own success. The two-metre-high, $350,000 “Banff” sign was installed in 2017 on Mount Norquay Avenue, one of two entrances into the Alberta mountain park’s idyllic townsite. But the narrow two-lane road, which runs from the Mount Norquay Ski Resort seven kilometres away, is fraught with traffic jams, even between the peak tourist seasons of winter and summer.
Ontario’s government wants to transform the Niagara region into a “Las Vegas of the North.” The grand plan, which promises to “put Niagara region on the map,” encompasses more casinos, hotels, an amusement park, cruise ships, and even an international airport.
MSC Cruises will launch Alaska itineraries for the first time, with seven-night sailings available from May to September 2026 aboard MSC Poesia out of the cruise line’s new Seattle home-port – its fifth in the US. The summer season will also feature two itineraries transiting Panama Canal between Seattle and Miami.
American Airlines is testing a new technology at three airports across the US during the boarding process that aims to cut down on passengers who try to cut the line. The technology, which is being tested in Albuquerque, Tucson, and Washington (Reagan) alerts gate agents with an audible sound if a passenger tries to scan a ticket ahead of their assigned group.
Over 1,000 travel advisors, industry partners, dignitaries, government officials, and resort executives gathered in Jamaica earlier this month to explore the island’s tourism offering through the lens of the Sandals Resorts and Beaches Resorts brands. The one-day ‘Jamaica Love Showcase,’ showcased valuable insights and emerging trends showcasing the future of travel to Jamaica and the Caribbean at large.