Following yesterday’s overview of Porto and the Douro Valley, Travel Industry Today continues its journey through Portugal’s north, which will be serviced by new Air Canada flights to Porto out of Montreal beginning next June. Here’s a quick guide on where to go, what to do, and where to stay in the captivating region.
Antigua and Barbuda hosted its inaugural agent achievement gala in the islands; Ensemble is planning to sing the praises of top performers in 2025; and Travel Leaders Network has new Canadian members on its advisory board.
Shuffling across icy ground on a cold December afternoon, lots of tourist groups poured into Santa Claus Village, a winter-themed amusement park perched on the edge of the Arctic Circle.
Universal Orlando Resort has provided a preview of its new 500-room resort, the Universal Helios Grand Hotel, to be located at the Universal Epic Universe theme park, which will open on May 22, 2025. Managed by Loews, the property will have its own dedicated entrance to the park and brings UOR’s portfolio to a total of 11 hotels and 11,000 guest rooms.
The federal government needs to reform this country’s aviation system if it wants travel to become more affordable, according to the under-pressure CEOs of Air Canada and WestJet, who appeared before a parliamentary committee over their recent decisions to introduce carry-on bag fees for travellers.
“Architect of dreams, therapist, curator and creator…” – all of them rolled into one: travel advisor. And 50 of Jamaica’s best global agents were honoured by the island’s tourist board for being just so over the weekend at the brand-new Princess Grand resort during the Jamaica Tourist Board’s annual One Love Affair celebration and gala.
While many Canadians are familiar with Portugal’s Lisbon and Algarve regions, an amazing abundance of lesser-known tourism opportunities are about to open up in the country thanks to new upcoming Air Canada service from Montreal to Porto, starting in June and running through September.
Air Canada plans to offer free Wi-Fi to Aeroplan members aboard its flights starting in May, building on a partnership with telecom giant Bell that already gives passengers free text messaging capabilities. The airline says that the Bell-sponsored internet service will be available on all Wi-Fi equipped aircraft for North American and Central American followed by long-haul international routes in 2026.
Canadian travel industry veteran Sue Urie, died of natural causes on Dec. 13, at age 70. She was Business Solutions Manager for Travel Leaders Network in Western Canada, having joined the organization in 2006.
Seven foreign tourists were hospitalized in Fiji after drinking cocktails at a resort bar, Fijian authorities said on Monday. The cause of their illness was not known, but local news outlets reported on Sunday that the cause of the foreigners’ illness was suspected alcohol poisoning, similar to a case in Laos in November in which six tourists – including two Australian teenagers – died after consuming tainted drinks.
A large number of mysterious drones have been reported flying over parts of New Jersey, New York and the East Coast in recent weeks, sparking speculation and concern over who sent them and why. The FBI is among several agencies investigating and has asked residents to share videos, photos and other information they may have about the unusual night flyers.
With the Global Wellness Institute estimating wellness tourism to reach US$1.4 trillion by 2027, the golden age of wellness tourism has arrived, according to a new report recently released at the recent Global Wellness Summit in St. Andrews, Scotland.
The first commercial batch of made-in-Canada low-carbon aviation fuel sourced from non-food grade canola and tallow has been produced and quickly purchased (by Air Canada). Fuel retailer Parkland Corp. said last week it has successfully produced about 100,000 litres of the fuel at its refinery in Burnaby, B.C. “using existing infrastructure.”
Despite occasional media focus on disruptions and strikes, 19% of business travellers in North America and 58% in major European markets now opt for trains for domestic travel, according to a new survey. The trend is spurred by new routes, increased productivity and an increasing focus on reducing environmental impact.
Beyond the country itself, there are seven other places named Sweden: one in Indonesia and six across the United States alone. And although countries themselves cannot trademark their names, recognized travel destinations can. As such, Visit Sweden is now making an unprecedented, cheeky move by applying for the trademark “Sweden” through the European Union Intellectual Property Office (EUIPO).
Curious travellers have been visiting Egypt over 5,000 years ago, inspired by a list of treasures that keeps growing, even today. Recently an extraordinary new statue of Ramses II has been unearthed, ancient tombs discovered, gold-tongued mummies brought to light, and an incredible 2,500-year-old funerary tunnel revealed.
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.
Transat A.T. Inc. reported a big boost in profits in its latest quarter, driven by millions of dollars in compensation from an engine maker as well as an uptick in passenger figures.
The head of the Federal Aviation Administration, who has led a tougher enforcement policy against Boeing since a panel blew off a Boeing jet in January, said Thursday that he will step down next month, clearing the way for Donald Trump to name his choice to lead the agency.
From the soaring peaks of the Albanian Alps, featuring distinct cultures across the Balkans, to the stunning landscapes of the Orkney Islands, adventure expert Wilderness Travel has curated a list of top 10 up-and-coming destinations designed to help adventurous spirits – and those who book them – get ahead of the curve.
As we prepare to jet off on our getaways this winter, let’s address the elephant in the departure lounge: vacation etiquette. Have you ever found yourself eyeing up that spare armrest on the plane, torn between an elbow battle or simply letting the other passenger use it? And what about reclining your seat mid-flight – is it your right or a travel sin?
Cruise Critic has named the winners of its 16th annual Best in Cruises 2024, featuring the best cruise lines and destinations of the year based on expert insight and traveller ratings. The site features more than 650,000 cruise reviews and hosts the world’s largest online cruise community where travellers share experiences and opinions with fellow cruisers.
Prague has banned organized nighttime pub crawls, which have caused misery for residents and authorities alike. The popular outings of tourist groups moving from bar to bar in the Czech capital’s historic district have been one of the outcomes of overtourism felt across Europe.
Virgin Voyages is inviting freebooting entrepreneurs who can “work for anywhere” to make the company’s Lady-ships their home by buying a year-long pass. And they can pay in crypto.
Boston’s “More than a Feeling” was about how music can take you back to people or places from the past, so it’s not surprising that hearing the song today does just that for me – back to 1976 when the band exploded into public consciousness with a self-titled album that became the fastest- and best-selling debut LP in US history.
Weather has increasingly become a critical component of travel, from affecting travellers’ ability to get to where they’re going, to the experience they have when there. And while most of Canada mostly misses hurricanes and severe heat waves, that seems to be changing, and we’re certainly not immune, of course, to snow – and increasingly – (worsening) wildfires.
The number of air passengers will likely reach 5.2 billion in 2025, topping the 5 billion mark for the first time ever, predicts IATA in its year-end financial outlook for the global airline industry. The nearly seven percent rise compared to this year will also see net profits for the airline industry reach US$36.6 billion.
Close to 200 travel advisors turned out for a lunch Tuesday hosted by Cuban hotel group Gaviota and partner Sunwing to catch up on the latest in the Caribbean destination, which has recently suffered weather and electrical grid problems that have generated high profile international headlines.
The Globus family of brands (Globus, Avalon Waterways and Cosmos) has announced a new “learn and earn” FAM trip program for travel advisors. Dubbed “FOR U, BY US,” the sales-focussed initiative will be administered by BDMs working directly with travel advisors, combining immersive, on-trip experiences with a comprehensive training program designed to drive sales growth and overall ROI, upon their return.
With over-tourism particularly acute in Greece in the summer, the country’s tourism sector is looking to pivot to a model that encourages and supports year-round options, coupled with a strong focus on sustainability.