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
Canada urged its citizens to “avoid all travel” to Israel as the country exchanged missile attacks and airstrikes with Iran. The federal government said it will help Canadians in Israel and Iran to fly home once they reach neighbouring countries. With airports closed across the region, Ottawa has stationed consular officials on the other side of certain crossings on the Israeli and Iranian borders to help those fleeing either country to get home.
Canada should allow up to 100% foreign ownership of domestic-only airlines, the Competition Bureau says in a new report highlighting the country’s “highly concentrated” aviation industry. In a market study released Thursday, the watchdog suggested a new class of airline that operates only in Canada but could have owners from outside its borders, opening the gate to global expertise – and cash.
ACTA had named Suzanne Acton-Gervais as its new president, effective July 10. She succeeds Wendy Paradis who announced her retirement earlier this year following a successful tenure leading the association. Acton-Gervais most recently served as VP, Stakeholder Relations and Regulatory Affairs at the National Airlines Council of Canada (NACC) and previously has held roles at the International Air Transport Association (IATA), the Airports Council International (ACI World), Transport Canada, and Air Canada. She has extensive experience in advocacy with federal and foreign governments.
BY THE NUMBERS
Return trips by Canadians from overseas countries rose 9.8% to 1.1 million in May compared to a year ago, according to Statistic Canada, which reports that, at the same time, U.S. returns fell 24.2% year over year to 488,800. Meanwhile, Canadian resident return trips from the U.S. by automobile totalled 1.3 million, down 38.1% compared with May 2024, to mark the fifth consecutive month of year-over-year declines.
AIR
Non-stop WestJet service between Edmonton and Kamloops, B.C. as well as the introduction of all-new service to Prince George, B.C. will begin July 6 and 5 respectively. WestJet Encore will operate the routes twice per week throughout the peak summer travel season.
Emirates’ My Emirates Pass is now available year-round, offering passengers access to over 600 exclusive offers across Dubai. Travellers flying from, through, or to Dubai can enjoy discounts on dining, shopping, leisure attractions, and luxury spas throughout the year.
Cathay Pacific is introducing its new Aria Suite Business class suites on flights between Vancouver and Hong Kong this month. Flights will be progressively introduced, starting with three flights per week. The cutting-edge Aria Suite offers a more personalized and immersive travel experience, featuring a more spacious cabin, intuitive seat designs and refined finishes.
HOTELS & RESORTS
Sunwing Vacations reports that the new family-friendly, 700-room Riu Ventura in Cancun (photo above) will open its doors on Dec. 6, just in time for the winter season. Bookings are open now for RIU’s sixth all-inclusive property in the city’s hotel zone. Amenities will include six pools, kids club, spa and fitness and wide range of dinging options and bars, plus RIU Party access at nearby Riu Caribe for guests looking to enjoy themed nightlife events.
DEALS
Canadian residents can receive special rates from Atlas Ocean Voyages to explore the Arctic, Europe or Antarctica with 15% savings on select expedition voyages. The Canadian Resident Offer applies to 33 select expeditions through the first quarter of 2026. It can be combined with additional incentives such as Explorer’s Choice offering Air Credit Savings of up to $2,000, a 1-night Hotel/Land Package or Enhanced Wi-Fi. The cruises must be reserved by Sept. 30 with the booking code CANADA RESIDENT.
To encourage more people to explore their own backyard, Intrepid Travel has launched a 20% off sale on all Canada trips, exclusively for Canadian travellers. The offer is valid on departures from June 16 through Dec. 14, with a booking deadline of June 26.
Atlantis Paradise Island in Nassau, Bahamas, is offering a limited-time Summer Sale, available for booking from June 27 through July 10. The sale, available for stays through Nov. 23, offers guests up to 25% off accommodations plus up to $1,200 in resort credits & kids 5 & under eat for free.
TOURS
Following its return to Antarctica in October, G Adventures is doubling its polar program with the relaunch of Artic voyages in June 2026, its first operations in the region since 2019. Small expeditions cruises will sail across the Arctic circle, including Iceland, Norway and the Scottish Isles in some of the most remote regions in the world. Four new Arctic itineraries, offering 10 departures, are now available to book, including the eight-day ‘Realm of the Polar Bear’ and 15-day ‘Arctic Highlights.’ Five additional trips through Scotland, Iceland, the Faroe Islands, Greenland and Labrador will be announced in the coming weeks.
Ponant Explorations has a new itinerary in Baja California, Mexico, for winter 2027. From January through March, the 184-guest Le Bellot will offer four round-trip departures from Cabo San Lucas including one operated in alliance with Smithsonian Journeys (Feb. 10-20). The voyages spotlight the advancements of Cabo Pulmo locals who have embraced eco-tourism to evolve the region into a model of marine conservation alongside the natural wonders of the Baja California Peninsula – from extraordinary marine life to the coral reefs that inhabit the UNESCO-designated Gulf of California.
CRUISE
Regent Seven Seas Cruises has unveiled the Seven Seas Prestige’s Skyview Regent Suite, which it says is the largest all-inclusive, ultra-luxury cruise suite in history. With nightly fares starting at US$25,000, the suite is nearly four times the size of the average home and comes with a dedicated personal butler, private car and guide in every port, curated linen and pillow menus, in addition to the unlimited perks that come as standard with a Regent Cruise. The Seven Seas Prestige will sail her inaugural season across Europe and the Caribbean, starting in December 2026.
PEOPLE/APPOINTMENTS
Virtuoso has named Karen Hardie as general manager, Canada. An industry veteran, Hardie comes to Virtuoso as a strategic and collaborative executive with more than 20 years of leadership experience in the global luxury travel industry. She enters the role as former GM of Canada, Una O’Leary, steps into her new role as vice president, Global Partnerships. Most recently, Hardie served as VP, global sales for Rocky Mountaineer.
The Canadian Association of Tour Operators (CATO) has announced the appointment of Peter Lacy, CFO and Director of Goway Travel, to its Board of Directors. Lacy brings over 35 years of extensive travel industry experience to the role. His appointment comes as CATO continues its work in promoting responsible travel practices, supporting consumer protection, and ensuring the long-term sustainability of the outbound travel sector.
DESTINATIONS
The European Union and the U.K. have reached an agreement to ease cross-border travel and trade in Gibraltar after years of post-Brexit wrangling over the contested territory. The deal would involve removing all physical barriers, checks and controls on people and goods circulating between Spain and Gibraltar. At the airport, checks would now be done much like they are for the Eurostar train stations in London and Paris.
Tahiti Tourisme’s new sustainable donation platform enables visitors to them to make a positive impact on French Polynesia by contributing to one-of-four non-profit projects that prioritize socioeconomic development, cultural preservation, and environmental protection in Tahiti. They include Run for Dogs – funding animal welfare across the islands via a global ultramarathon challenge; Va’a Hiva – reviving ancient Polynesian voyaging traditions by building traditional canoes; Hono Tai – developing a land-based whale and dolphin observation route from publicly accessible viewpoints in Mo’orea; and Dolphins of Tiputa – raising awareness for ethical dolphin tourism in Rangiroa. For more information on each project, visit the HINA website HERE.
LAST WEEK IN TRAVEL HISTORY
In 2008, the Ontario home where Lucy Maud Montgomery penned many of the books in her Anne of Green Gables series, and a popular tourist haunt, was named a national historic site.
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