In this week’s Round-Up, we go on the road with The Travel Agent Next Door (TTAND) and check out the United Arab Emirates on an Exotic Journeys FAM trip. Meanwhile, the Affluent Traveler Collection is taking luxury to new levels.
It’s never to early to start planning for Can-Am Days, Myrtle Beach’s annual festival of friendship for its Canadian visitors. So, mark the calendar, the 64th annual event will take place March 8-16, 2025.
Thrill-seekers looking to get their name in the record books will now have even more opportunity to do so as MSC Cruises plans to roll out its Guinness World Records entertainment program across its entire fleet. The popular program, which gives guests the chance to break official Guinness World Records titles through a variety of activities, is now available on 12 ships and will be rolled out across the entire MSC Cruises fleet within the next year.
As Hurricane Oscar begins to roll across Cuba, many Cubans were still suffering Sunday without electricity, which had yet to be totally restored after days of blackout. Some neighbourhoods had electricity restored in Cuba’s capital, where 2 million people live, but most of Havana remained dark.
Customers who give their rental car companies the highest scores for trust are also most likely to reuse that brand for their next rental. However, according to the just-released J.D. Power 2024 North America Rental Car Satisfaction Study, overly complicated vehicles, problems experienced during the rental car experience, and the inability to choose a specific vehicle can negatively affect trust, thereby damaging customer loyalty.
The Alberta and federal governments are putting a combined $5.5 million toward attracting tourists to the Rocky Mountain town of Jasper, Alta., after the July wildfire that destroyed one-third of the town, including multiple hotels and 800 housing units. Year-round tourism is Jasper’s main economic driver as close to 2.5 million people visited the surrounding national park last year alone.
Travel Leaders Network (TLN) wrapped its cross-country fall regional PEAK showcases last week boasting “biggest ever” numbers. Such was the turnout in Toronto – 160 members plus 72 supplier partners – that the TLN was forced to relocate to a larger venue near Pearson Airport than was required in previous years.
Sunwing Vacations’ Partner of the Month for October, Iberostar Beachfront Resorts, is offering perks and ways for clients to save, plus benefits for advisors who book their getaways at select properties in Jamaica and the Dominican Republic.
Goway has appointed travel industry veteran Sean Hebert as its new Vice President, The Americas with a mission to spearhead the company’s transformation of its North American and Latin American product lines.
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.
When a hurricane sets its sights on Florida, storm-weary residents may think of catastrophic wind, hammering rain and dangerous storm surge. Mounds of sand swallowing their homes? Not so much. Yet, that’s the reality for some after Hurricanes Helene and Milton clobbered Florida’s Gulf Coast with back-to-back hits in less than two weeks.
Universal Orlando Resort announced it will open its fourth theme park – Universal Epic Universe – on May 22, 2025. The park will feature themed areas based on Harry Potter, Super Nintendo and “How to Train Your Dragon,” as well as monster movie brands, Universal officials said Thursday.
When you gotta go, you gotta go. Like most people, public restrooms are not my first choice for bio-breaks, or even the second choice. But when you don’t have a choice and nature is calling loudly then you can plan your international travel based on the best and worst destinations for public restroom cleanliness.
Travelling bird watchers take note: New Zealand’s elusive hoiho – believed to be the world’s smallest penguin – is New Zealand’s bird of the year, having won the country’s recent fiercely fought avian election and offering hope to supporters of the endangered bird that recognition from its victory might prompt a revival of the species.
Le jazz was hot. The band rocked sets that ranged from Abba to Zappa. Bubbly and sangria were the drinks of choice. The party on the roof overlooking Promenade des Anglaise had the electric chic of a music video and the location was the most sybaritic on the French Riviera.
Guerlain Spa Toronto, situated within Hotel X Toronto, was named Canada’s Best Hotel Spa 2024 at the World Spa Awards. In its 10th year, the international awards program celebrates the very best in the global spa industry.
Recently we ran an early-days clip of U2 when the band were hardly recognizable as what they would become. Here’s another – of AC/DC – from 1976 on Australian TV, though the band isn’t so much unrecognizable as just kinda funny.
Starting Dec. 1, Canadian citizens will again be able to obtain their Egyptian visa upon arrival in the country, or electronically, reversing a controversial pre-entry requirement implemented by the Middle Eastern country last October that forced applicants to obtain their documents via mail from Egyptian consulates in Ottawa or Montreal.
Travellers are becoming increasingly concerned about the evolving risks in international travel, according to a survey of frequent travellers conducted by travel risk experts Global Rescue. Based on the survey of its members, the company says nearly a third (30%) of respondents revealed that geopolitical instability is their most significant perceived travel risk.
The Grenada Tourism Authority reports that new direct service by WestJet from Toronto to Grenada will start Dec. 15 and operate weekly until April 27, 2025. Flights to ‘the Spice Island’ are now open for booking.
When in Africa, you’ll often hear passing reference to Zimbabwe’s outstanding hospitality, and there’s nowhere better to appreciate it than at the iconic World Heritage Site of Victoria Falls. Everyone smiles warmly and greets you like an old friend – they’re all genuinely delightful. And how could they not be, living at a World Heritage site?
Carnival Cruise Line has announced an announced an enriched Learn & Earn training platform as part of its Loyalty Rocks! program for travel advisors. Travel advisors will now have new curriculum options, as well as access to more than 50 video-based courses designed to sharpen expertise on a variety of Carnival topics, including ship overviews, industry trends, and tools like social media training.
The United States has fined German airline Lufthansa $4 million for its treatment of a group of Jewish passengers who were denied boarding a 2022 flight in Frankfurt after they had flown to Germany from New York.
An annual event involving dirt, beer and cash once again drew dozens of eager competitors to a ski resort in Maine last weekend. More than 30 couples competed in the North American Wife Carrying Championship, a 254-metre race during which contestants splash through water, leap over logs and trudge through mud – all while
With an increasing number of newbies joining the ranks of travel advisors in Canada, it’s critical that the wisdom and experience of veteran agents be passed on to ensure their success and the continued success of the industry, says ACTA. With this in mind, at its recent Summit event in Toronto the association enlisted a panel of prominent travel sellers and career coaches to share some “actionable insights and proven strategies to help make their journeys a success.”
From to ‘F–k-it Lists’ to ‘Silver Bullet Wellness’ and ‘Raceteering,’ Virtuoso has revealed the latest surprising luxury trends based on a survey of its high-net-worth/ultra-high-net-worth clientele. Conducted in partnership with travel trend forecasting agency, Globetreder and referencing data from its 2024 Brand & Travel Tracker Survey, the network’s ‘Luxury Travel Trend Watch: 2025’ identifies seven trends that it says will shape the luxury travel landscape in the new year and beyond.
To encourage Taylor Swift fans and visitors to explore deeper throughout the city during the entertainer’s upcoming series of concerts in the city in November, Destination Toronto has created a website ‘Taylor Swift in Toronto’ web site designed to help fans make the most of their time in town – and leverage its moment in the singer’s spotlight.
The Grand Egyptian Museum will partially open its main galleries today (Wednesday) including 12 halls that exhibit aspects of ancient Egypt, as part of a trial run. The museum, a mega-project near the famed Giza Pyramids in Cairo, which has cost well over $1 billion so far, will open the halls for 4,000 visitors as a trial run until the official opening date, which is yet to be announced.
Entry and arrival in St. Maarten is now easier for visitors with the launch of a new a new Digital Embarkation/ Disembarkation (ED) Form and the opening this week of a new arrivals hall at Princess Juliana International Airport.
Small-ship cruise line Azamara has launched a revamped global reservation system aimed at enhancing the booking experience for travel advisors. Dubbed RezA, the new system is part of Azamara’s broader commitment to improving relationships with its travel partners through its “Listening, Learning, and Linking” initiative.