Thick, toxic smog enveloped New Delhi on Monday as the air quality became increasingly hazardous in the Indian capital. The deadly haze covered monuments and high-rise buildings in the city of some 33 million, with visibility so low that airlines warned of delays.
The ancient Roman Colosseum will be the venue of gladiator fights – albeit staged – for the first time in two millennia under a $1.5-million sponsorship deal with Airbnb that aims to promote “a more conscious tourism.” Critics, however, say the plan is a disgrace that simply eats away at the essence of “the Eternal City.”
Black Friday (Nov. 29) is now considered the biggest shopping day of the year (ahead of Boxing Day), and it’s hard to find a travel supplier that isn’t eager to try to get in on the action which typically extends to Cyber Monday, ‘Travel Tuesday’ (Dec. 3) and, in many cases, the lead up to, and days or weeks following the event. Here, at a glance, are some of this year’s best travel deals – some of them already ongoing and/or offering travel advisors pre-sale access.
Health officials say they have confirmed the first US case of a new form of mpox that was first seen in eastern Congo. The person had travelled to eastern Africa and was treated in Northern California upon return, according to the California Department of Public Health. Symptoms are improving and the risk to the public is low.
Spirit Airlines said Monday that it has filed for bankruptcy protection and will attempt to reboot as it struggles to recover from the pandemic-caused swoon in travel and a failed attempt to sell the airline to JetBlue. But the US’s biggest budget airline said it expects to operate as normal as it works its way through a prearranged Chapter 11 bankruptcy process and that customers can continue to book and fly without interruption.
Direct Travel advisors attended a GEM of an event in Costa Rica; Ensemble has announced its first-ever hosted LGBTQ+ sailing; Virtuoso VIPs assembled in Slovenia; and four Canadian agents were trip winners in Quark Expeditions’ ‘Ultimate Summer in The Arctic Sweepstakes.’
WestJet has released its summer schedule for 2025, featuring 10% growth network wide and domestic growth of 12%. Highlights include two new domestic and three new transborder destinations, along with 11 new routes across its network.
ACTA is encouraging travel advisors to earn Certified Travel Counselor (CTC) or Certified Travel Manager (CTM) status and is offering a 30% discount off registration fees this fall to help them do so. The CTC and CTM certifications are the only designations recognized nationwide in Canada.
As the third named storm to emerge during November, Tropical Storm Sara serves as a reminder that the Atlantic hurricane season hasn’t quite ended. Sara formed in the western Caribbean Sea before making landfall Thursday on the northern coast of Honduras, dumping torrential rains in a slow weekend crawl across parts of Central America.
Some travellers who checked baggage on certain WestJet flights between 2014 and 2019 may now claim their share of a class-action settlement approved by the British Columbia Supreme Court last month and valued at $12.5 million. A statement from Evolink Law Group says anyone in the world who paid a fee for their first checked bag on domestic and international flights during certain periods when they shouldn’t have been charged has until Feb. 10, 2025, to submit a claim.
A bullet struck the body of a Southwest Airlines airplane preparing for departure from a Dallas airport, forcing the cancellation of the Friday evening flight, the airline said. No injuries were reported and law enforcement was contacted after the bullet struck the right side of the aircraft just under the flight deck. At the time, the crew of Flight 2494 was preparing the plane for departure from Dallas Love Field Airport, Southwest said in a statement.
The Caribbean Hotel and Tourism Association (CHTA) has unveiled a specialist program for the travel trade designed to heighten awareness of the Caribbean while enhancing visitors’ travel experiences.
A French student detained for weeks in Tunisia returned to Paris on Friday after weeks of top-level diplomatic discussions. The arrest provoked concerns about the safety and security of foreigners in Tunisia, where rights and freedoms have gradually been curtailed under President Kais Saied.
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.
Where will Canadian luxury travellers be celebrating honeymoons and milestone life events, cruising in comfort, dining in Michelin-starred restaurants, nodding off in satin sheets, and wrapping their faces in seaweed next year? The ‘2025 Virtuoso Luxe Report: Canada’ tells all, revealing what’s now and next for in-the-know travellers.
Travelling alone can be one of the most empowering experiences a woman can have. It offers the freedom to explore on your terms, build confidence and embrace independence. As with any travel, however, solo female travellers need to prioritize safety and make informed decisions when choosing destinations. Not every place in the world offers the same level of security, and understanding which destinations are safest – and which are riskiest – can make all the difference.
From finding a mentor to developing a personal brand, newcomers to travel received career building tips from highflyers in the industry during the ITT Future You sessions at World Travel Market London, the world’s largest English-language travel trade show, which attracted over 43,000 visitors last week.
For the 23rd consecutive year, Air Canada has named its Top 10 Best New Restaurants in Canada. For 2024, Montreal’s Sabayon took top spot from amongst 30 candidates that were visited in 2024 by a single anonymous reviewer, who assessed all aspects of the dining experience.
Been there done that? No matter how many weeks you’ve cruised in the Caribbean or the Med, it’s time to shake things up and broaden your horizons beyond the usual suspects. Cruise lines are plotting innovative out-of-the-ordinary cruise options to one-up the growing competition. They’re experiences you haven’t been able to have before and are destined to be remembered for years after they end.
Dennis DeYoung called it the Styx song that the record company “missed.” The Chicago band’s ultimate masterpiece, “Suite Madame Blue,” anchored the 1975 album Equinox, challenging and encouraging a “changed” America to “lift up your heart and make a new start” to be a mature and worthy world leader once again.
A residential cruise tour operator is offering disgruntled American voters facing four more years of Donald Trump a chance to continuously sail around the world and “skip forward” to the end of his administration in 2028. Starting at just under US$40,000, Villa Vie Residences has programs ranging from one to four years that allow guests to join at any time in any port as it circles the globe.
International flights to and from Bali were cancelled on Wednesday as an ongoing volcanic eruption left thousands of travellers stranded at airports across Indonesia. Some tourists said that they have been stuck at the Bali airport since Tuesday after their flights were suddenly cancelled.
Gastronomy and cooking were on the front burner this week during the annual visit by a representative from the Florida Keys to Montreal and Toronto, the latter including a trade event featuring a cooking demonstration by Key West chef Paul Menta at the Dish Cooking School.
TravelBrands Encore Cruises wrapped its 9th annual SeaU cruise event on Friday, having hosted 240 Canadian travel agents aboard the Carnival Celebration for a week of immersive training, Caribbean experiences, supplier networking, and the latest insights on travel and cruise trends.
Disney Treasure, Disney Cruise Line’s new ship, docked in its home port of Port Canaveral, Florida, for the very first time this week. Following its initial visit to Florida, the ship will sail to New York City for a special christening celebration on the evening of Nov. 19.
VoX International has added Canadian travel industry veteran Joshua Knox to its team as an Account Manager, tasked specifically to work with the Canadian travel trade on campaigns, training, marketing, and business development for both Experience Kissimmee and Broadway Inbound.
Perched on two fingers on the roof of the city art gallery in Wellington, New Zealand, the giant hand with an unsmiling human face has loomed over the city for five years. Some found “Quasi” disturbing, and now, after five years of provoking controversy and myriad emotions – from horror and revulsion to delight – among residents, the sculpture has been removed taken to a new home.
The city of Florence took new measures Tuesday to crack down on overtourism, just as the Italian government hosts the Group of Seven tourism ministers in the Renaissance city and seeks to significantly boost the country’s place as a top visitor destination.
The US Federal Aviation Administration announced Tuesday that it will prohibit US airlines from flying to Haiti for 30 days after gangs shot a Spirit Airlines flight and the United Nations said it will suspend flights, “obviously limiting the flow of humanitarian aid and humanitarian personnel into the country.”
The International Air Transport Association (IATA) and its partners report that they have successfully demonstrated that the industry is ready to deliver a fully digital air travel experience. This was achieved in a recent proof-of-concept (PoC) involving two passengers using different digital wallets and travel credentials on a round-trip between Hong Kong and Tokyo.