Travel Industry Today

HOW TRAVEL AGENTS ARE HELPING CHANGE THE WORLD
by Michael Baginski - Travel advisors have been called therapists, curators, creators, and “architects of dreams.” Add another honorific: peacemakers. That’s according to Jamaica’s minister of tourism Edmund Bartlett, who spares no hyperbole in describing the important role travel agents play in the world.
SOUTH KOREA SEEKS ANSWERS FOR PLANE CRASH
by Staff Writer - A team of US investigators including representatives from Boeing on Tuesday examined the site of a plane crash that killed 179 people in South Korea while authorities were conducting safety inspections on all Boeing 737-800 aircraft operated by the country’s airlines. The country’s worst aviation disaster in decades triggered an outpouring of national sympathy and a seven-day national mourning has been declared until Jan. 4.
HONG KONG AIRLINES RETURNS TO YVR IN JANUARY
by Staff Writer - Hong Kong Airlines will resume direct flights to Vancouver starting Jan. 18. The twice-weekly services will provide additional travel options for passengers travelling between Hong Kong and Vancouver, and those connecting via Hong Kong.

FRESH PERSPECTIVES: 7 must-visit destinations for 2025
by Staff Writer - From exploring Norway’s pristine fjords to venturing deep into the Amazon and to discovering the cultural heritage of Northern Morocco, Abercrombie & Kent (A&K) has curated a list of seven destinations that promise “a fresh perspective on beloved destinations” for travellers in 2025.
DIGITAL MARKETING TRENDS THAT WILL SHAPE TRAVEL IN 2025
by Staff Writer - In a packed session on digital marketing trends at the recent World Travel Market in London, Dan Christian, host of a popular Travel Trends podcast, revealed the trends – from AI and videos to search engine optimization and advertising on TikTok – that are at the forefront of travel marketing today.
HIGH HOPES: German town to lose tallest church status, eyes Einstein for tourism efforts
by Staff Writer - The Ulmer Münster in southern Germany is the world's tallest church. For now, anyway. The Gothic-style Lutheran church's reign – begun on May 31, 1890 – could end in 2025, when La Sagrada Familia Basilica's “Tower of Jesus Christ” in Spain is set to be completed.

THINKING BACK.LOOKING AHEAD
by Jen Savedra - It’s been quite a year – exhausting may be the best word to describe it. The heat is on as the world gets hotter - in more ways than one. So, here’s a look at some of what we saw in 2024 and what we can perhaps hope for in 2025.
TRAVEL SAFE AND SOUND: Take a bow Canada
by Staff Writer - Safety and security are understandably more important than ever when it comes to finding a safe place to live, work, or travel. 2024, The Global Peace Index 2024 ranks 163 countries based on their levels of peacefulness. They evaluate factors such as societal safety and security, ongoing domestic and international conflict, and the degree of militarization.
WHAT WERE YOU LISTENING TO IN 2024?
by Staff Writer - ‘Listening In’ on Travel Industry Today is one of our most popular features . We took a nostalgic stroll/scroll through the weeks and came up with the top five most watched/listened to in 2024.
ROUND-UP: Dec. 9-13, 2024
by Staff Writer - 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.