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.
NEWS
Air Canada and the union representing its customer service agents, who work at airports and call centres, have begun contract talks. Unifor says it has opened collective bargaining on behalf of its nearly 6,000 members working at Air Canada locations across the country.
BMO Financial Group has announced it will replace Air Miles with a new loyalty rewards program called Blue Rewards this summer. It said the new program will be available for all Canadians through a newly designed Blue Rewards app, and will be integrated into BMO’s existing mobile banking app and website for the bank’s clients. Air Miles program members can continue to use their collector cards, and their miles will automatically convert to “Blue Points” at an equivalent value upon this summer’s launch, with no action required.
Intrepid Travel signed a landmark partnership agreement with the Indigenous Tourism Association of Canada (ITAC), committing $500,000 over the next five years to support the growth and promotion of Indigenous tourism across Canada. Through the partnership, Intrepid will increase the number of Indigenous-led experiences across its Canadian itineraries, co-develop community-led products and co-create new signature Indigenous-centered adventures.
BY THE NUMBERS
Buoyed by both surging international arrivals and elbows-up domestic tourists, a record 28.2 million visitors came to Toronto in 2025, generating a record $9.1 billion in spending in Canada’s most-visited city. Generating nearly $13.5 billion in economic impact, with 37% of spending coming from the U.S. and international markets, the $9.1 billion in direct spending exceeded the previous year’s record by 4%, according to Destination Toronto.
AIR
More flight options from Air Canada next winter include new service to Quito from Montréal and Toronto start December 2026; Toronto-Manchester and Toronto-Copenhagen become year-round as of October; expanded winter season service to Rio, Santiago, and Lima; new Calgary services to Cancun and Puerto Vallarta launch in December.
Porter Airline’s U.S. network continues to expand with new flights to Nashville International Airport (BNA) – served from Toronto City (YTZ) and starting May 11. Boston (BOS) also sees new service from Toronto Pearson (YYZ) and Montreal (YUL), both beginning May 14.
On Jan. 27, Southwest Airlines ended the open-seating system that distinguished it from other airlines for more than half a century. Customers on Southwest flights now have assigned seats and the option of paying more to get their preferred seat closer to the front of a plane or seats with extra legroom. The airline began selling tickets shaped by the new policy in July.
DEALS
It’s last call for Collette’s New Year’s sale. Through Feb. 4, clients can save up to $1,500 per couple on all tours worldwide (land only) with the NEWYEAR26 code. The travel window is through April 30, 2027.
This year’s Wave Offer from Explora Journeys has been extended to Feb. 24, offering clients 30% savings, a reduced 10% deposit and a complimentary one-category suite upgrade. Click HERE for more information.
In Jamaica, the Princess Senses The Mangrove re-opened Feb. 1, after renovations necessitated by Hurricane Melissa. A re-opening special sees guests receive 60% off when booked by Feb. 8 for travel through Oct. 31, 2027 (blackout dates apply).
TOURS
Air Canada Vacations has launched its inaugural ‘Europe, Asia, Oceania, South America and Beyond, 2026 Travel Agent Toolkit,’ bringing together several continents and cruises in one place. Designed to streamline trip planning and support travel advisors with enhanced features and practical tools aimed at simplifying the booking process and improving day-to-day usability, the publication is presented in an easy-to-navigate format, organized by section covering Europe, multi-continent, Cruises, and Travel Expert Tips. New sections are dedicated to ACV Groups Excellence and ACV Options.
With its four new London weekend getaways, Goway says travellers can experience two of the most exciting sides of English cultural life – a Premier League football (soccer) match before seeing a musical in London’s West End. The matches (all in London) featured in Goway’s new packages are Leeds United at Crystal Palace on March 14; Bournemouth at Arsenal, April 11; Leeds United at Tottenham, May 9; and Newcastle at Fulham on May 24.
HOTELS & RESORTS
The final additions to the refreshed Barbados Collection – Tamarind, Barbados, an Autograph Collection All-Inclusive Resort; Crystal Cove, a Tribute Portfolio All-Inclusive Resort; and Turtle Beach, Barbados, a Tribute Portfolio All-Inclusive Resort (photo above) – are set to open this spring on the island’s west and south coasts, bringing even more family-friendly options to the island.
In Nassau, Bahama’s Atlantis’s Mandara Spa is undergoing a multimillion-dollar transformation that will bring a new level of luxury to the resort. Set to debut in early 2026, the spa will feature modern programming, expanded services, amenities and serene spaces, providing an unparalleled retreat for relaxation and self-care.
CRUISE
TravelBrand’s FlexAir by Encore is a new air-booking solution that allows advisors to hold qualifying flights with $0 due at time of booking, giving them more time to finalize their clients’ cruise plans without risking today’s airfare or losing momentum on the sale. FlexAir is available on select major North American and international airlines including Air Canada, Air Transat, Porter, WestJet, United Airlines, TAP Air Portugal, LOT Polish Airlines, SAS, and ITA Airways. Flights must be booked by calling the Encore Reservations team and must be made in conjunction with one of Encore’s cruise line partners.
Norwegian Cruise Line (NCL) has opened for sale Norwegian Aura, the longest and largest vessel in its fleet, which will homeport in Miami beginning in June 2027 following her debut in Europe in late May 2027. Offering seven-day cruises to the Caribbean, each of Norwegian Aura’s voyages in the region will visit either Harvest Caye, NCL’s resort-style destination in Belize, or Great Stirrup Cay, the Company’s private island in the Bahamas, which recently received several enhancements.
ATTRACTIONS & THEME PARKS
Universal Orlando Resort will introduce its next big thrill with Fast & Furious: Hollywood Drift – a high-octane outdoor roller coaster where riders will experience the sensation of 360-degree drifting as they speed through jaw-dropping maneuvers – including a 170-foot vertical “spike” that will send riders nearly 17 stories in the air over the outskirts of Universal CityWalk.
As Universal Studios Florida makes way for the experience, Fast & Furious – Supercharged will permanently close in 2027.
FAMS & INCENTIVES
Air Canada, Travel Nevada, Lake Tahoe Travel, Utah Office of Tourism, Visit Salt Lake, Visit Seattle, Travel Oregon, and Brand USA have reprised for 2026 the “Sell Your Way to the USA” incentive, which gives agents an opportunity to join one of four self-guided (or self-driven) itineraries to the destinations. There are 12 spots available – three for each FAM itinerary. Agents earn points for bookings made during the selling period: Jan. 15 – March 31, 2026. For details, go to the registration link (deadline March 15) or email peri@canuckiwi.com.
Agents can earn $50 bonus rewards with Goway on every new Air New Zealand booking to New Zealand until March 31, with Club100 members earning double rewards.
For Wave Season, Paul Gauguin Cruises is offering travel advisors up to a $500 gift card for each new deposited booking. Meanwhile, guests a $1,000 shipboard credit per stateroom or suite, paired with a bottle of Champagne and a chocolate treat. Open to bookings made by Feb. 28, the “Take Your Sweetie to Tahiti” promotion applies to all 2026 sailings on the m/s Paul Gauguin to the Society Islands, Tuamotus, Marquesas, Cook Islands, and South Pacific, which range from seven to 14 nights.
EVENTS
Unique Vacations Canada announces the return of their popular, bite-sized live training sessions “Sandals and Beaches Resorts…in 10 Minutes” – developed exclusively for the Canadian market – with a special winter edition featuring some very special guests during the entire month of February. Led by national training manger Lorna Richards, every Wednesday at 1 p.m. EST, the session offer insider info on featured Sandals and Beaches Resorts in Jamaica and beyond. Advisors will get up-to-the-minute updates, valuable key selling features and insights not available anywhere else….in just 10 minutes. Register HERE.
G Adventures has announced that Cambodia will be the new host for its 2026 GX Summit, Sept. 23-28. Having originally been set to take place in Morocco, the Toronto-based tour operator says the decision to change location reflects GX’s core mission to use travel as a force for good by supporting destinations where community tourism can have the greatest positive impact.
PEOPLE/APPOINTMENTS
Intrepid Travel has promoted Dr. Susanne Etti to lead its newly formed Climate Department as the company doubles down on its enhanced Climate Action Plan. The new department will drive the company’s accelerated decarbonization roadmap and oversee the allocation of Intrepid’s new $2 million Climate Impact Fund, supporting practical, immediate emissions reductions across the business and its supplier network.
DESTINATIONS
The Antigua Racing Cup, a new addition to Antigua’s yachting calendar will take place from April 9 -12 kicking off a month of sailing events, including Antigua Sailing Week and the RORC Caribbean 600. For details: www.antiguaracingcup.com
On Feb. 4, the Museum of Ice Cream NYC will unveil the next evolution of its popular three-story SoHo New York flagship. The refreshed experience is bigger, brighter, and more playful, featuring expanded immersive environments, new interactive installations, and even more room for movement, imagination, and shared fun. New experiences including the Hall of Freezers, where freezers open to secret rooms; Sundae House, a hands-on kitchen of imagination and play; a larger-than-life carnival and playground; an infinite Banana Split Jungle; and an interactive exhibit exploring the history and science of ice cream. The new exhibits debut join the Sprinkle Pool, and the largest indoor slide in NYC, the Ice Cream Subway.
LAST WEEK IN TRAVEL HISTORY
In 1888, the National Geographic Society was founded.
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