RED MENACE: Life-threatening storm wallops England, headed for continent

A rare “weather bomb” swept across Britain overnight with warnings of life-threatening winds, rains and snowfall and major travel disruptions as it headed in from the southwest of England during what already has been one of the country’s worst cold snaps in years.

DISCOVERING AN ADVENTUROUS NEW GALAXY OF INTIMATE SHIPS

By Wallace Immen/ It seems everyone got the same idea at the same time: there’s an untapped demand for a small ship that can explore the far corners of the globe in the luxury you expect at the world’s finest hotels or resorts.

LISTENING IN: Hallelujah for this stunning, unexpected duet

By Michael Baginski/ “Hallelujah,” the ubiquitous Leonard Cohen classic, has been covered countless times (ok, there’s been over 300 versions identified), with the likes of Jeff Buckley, k.d. lang, Yolanda Adams, Jennifer Hudson and Willie Nelson being considered among the best.

STUDY FLAGS INFLIGHT WATER WORRIES

An excuse to have another beer or glass of wine when flying? A new study emanating from south of the border warns travellers not to drink tea, coffee, or unbottled water on flights, load up on ice, or even clean their hands in washrooms, due to potentially unhealthy water used on board many aircraft.

THE ART OF LUXURY TRAVEL: Where elegance meets the Earth

By Cindy-Lou Dale/ A quiet shift is reshaping what luxury means. Once, it was measured in exclusivity – fine linens, private jets, and polished isolation. Now, it’s measured in connection: to nature, to people, and to place.

U.S. EXPANDS BONDS FOR VISAS LIST

The Trump administration has added seven countries, including five in Africa, to the list of nations whose passport holders are required to post bonds of up to $15,000 to apply to enter the United States.

GAIL LEA TIPPED FOR TAAP ROLE IN CANADA

Expedia TAAP has announced the appointment of Gail Lea as Business Development Manager and Account Manager for Canada. With more than 20 years of experience in tourism marketing, destination development, and front-line travel advising, Lea brings a strong combination of industry insight, strategic capability, and relationship-driven leadership.

NO PLACE LIKE ROAM: Tauck launches new brand in 2026

Tauck has introduced its newest brand, Roam by Tauck. Designed for travellers in their 40s and 50s, the premium, flexible small group division of the still evolving 100-year-old tour operator will feature five itineraries in its first year, expanding to a dozen in 2027.

FROM BEST FRIENDS TO ELBOWS UP: Tourism leaders offer blueprint to end Canada-U.S. travel meltdown 

By Shannon Stowell/ Remember when Canadians and Americans mostly argued about who invented basketball and who should have won the Stanley Cup or World Series? The Beyond Borders Tourism Coalition (BBTC) is now staring at a border relationship so strained that empty hotel rooms, quiet main streets and $100 park surcharges are doing the talking – and none of it is good for tourism. 

TRANSAT PILOTS RATIFY DECEMBER DEAL

Air Transat pilots have overwhelmingly ratified a new five-year employment contract, according to the Air Line Pilots Association, Int’l (ALPA). Of the 98% of 750 eligible pilots who cast ballots, 91% voted in favour of the deal, negotiated in December, which offered a wage hike of more than 50% on average over five years.

RETAIL ROUND-UP: Agent news, fams & incentives

This week: Travel Master advisors visited Mexico; Total Advantage Travel & Tours has a launched a host agency; TDC held its Sales Academy at Sea; Kensington goes corporate; an incentive from Quark Expeditions, and Atlas Ocean Voyages has a new website for agents.

MOSQUITO THREAT DIMINISHING, SAYS CUBA

Citing the successful implementation of comprehensive prevention and control measures across the country, the Cuba Tourist Board in Toronto is reporting a sustained downward trend in arbovirus cases in the destination, including dengue, chikungunya, and Oropouche.

WISHLIST ’26: Inspiring Scotland on screen

According to the latest Scotland Visitor Survey, one in five visitors (19%) said film, TV or literature inspired their trip – a figure that rises to 37% for long-haul travellers.

UNPACKING THE YEAR AHEAD: Seven trends that will shape 2026

From sports you’ve never heard of to book club retreats, salvaged hotels to farm stays, new trends in 2026 will flip the script on traditional getaways, predicts Expedia in its annual ‘Unpack’ report, which highlights shifts in traveller behaviour and the destinations set to dominate itineraries in the coming year, including several Canadian destinations and activities spotlighted throughout.  

IT’S TIME FOR CIRIUM’S MOST PUNCTUAL PERFORMERS LIST

Aeromexico maintained a 90.02% on-time performance to claim the world’s most on-time global airline title for the second consecutive year, according to Cirium’s 2025 On-Time Performance Review, released on Jan. 2.

TICO LAUNCHES ENHANCED CERTIFICATION PROGRAM

The Travel Industry Council of Ontario (TICO) has launched a new, enhanced Certification Program and exam for individuals aspiring to become Travel Counsellors and agency Supervisors/Managers.

G-WHIZ: Incentive offers agents chance to $10,000 top prize, and more

‘G-Normous’ is back. The four-month competition from G Adventures is designed to supercharge advisor sales while giving agents across the country a chance to compete for a ‘G Dollar’ grand prize worth $10,000, which can be used to book any G Adventures trip globally. In total there are more than $45,000 in prizes to be won during the incentive period.

CANADA COMPASS: Edmonton prepares lively ‘winterruption’

As it does every year, Edmonton is preparing to make the most of Central Alberta’s typically frosty winter weather with a host of activities and events in the New Year that will bring a city alive with light, music, and outdoor celebration.

TURBULENCE AHEAD: More labour uncertainty for Canadian airlines in 2026

After several years of labour unrest in transport, Canadian travellers face more potential airline disruptions in 2026. The slew of work stoppages has left many wondering whether the coming year will be more peaceful on the aviation front – or if they still need to book with caution.

HAWAII CRUISE TAX BLOCKED: Reprieve for island-bound passengers

Just days after being given the go-ahead by a U.S. district court judge, a federal appeals court ruling on New Year’s Eve blocked Hawaii from enforcing a climate change tourist tax on cruise ships passengers, a levy that was set to go into effect at the start of 2026.

ADD IT UP: Big new ships offer more than ever

By Wallace Immen/ No matter how popular their ships are, cruise lines expanding their fleets aren’t content with just more of the same. The big new cruisers launching in 2026 are invariably a little larger than their sisters and packed with inventive added features, options and fun twists to get attention.

ROUND-UP: Dec. 29-Jan. 2, 2026

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.

WHY TRUMP WAS TOPS IN TRAVEL IN 2025

By Michael Baginski/ Donald Trump, and by extension all things relating to Canadian travel to the U.S., dominated our news feed, and reads, this year. Sure, AI and its applications in travel emerged in full force in 2025, generating its fair share of fears and cheers.

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