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
ACTA is launching a special Accessible Travel Advisor Directory, a first-of-its-kind resource designed to connect Canadians with travel advisors specializing in accessible travel for both visible and non-visible disabilities. The directory will open to the public once the inaugural listing of travel advisors is compiled, following a one-month application period for qualified ACTA members. ACTA invites qualified travel advisors to apply now to secure their place in the inaugural Accessible Travel Advisor Directory. Apply for inclusion in the guide HERE.
After being charged by the Travel Industry Council of Ontario (TICO), Parvaz Travel and Hamid Reza Siami pleaded guilty to one count each of operating as a travel agent without being registered. Parvaz Travel was previously a TICO-registered travel agency; however, their registration was revoked in October 2020, but they continued to advertise and sell travel services. Siami was fined $10,625, inclusive of a victim surcharge and Parvaz Travel received a suspended sentence. Both parties were sentenced to a two-year probation.
ADM Aéroports de Montréal is advising passengers that its multi-level P5 parking lot located in front of the YUL terminal is now closed and users will need to choose a different parking lot on the airport site. Moreover, with fewer spaces available – especially during peak periods during the week – travellers who wish to drive to the airport are strongly advised to reserve their parking space online or, better still, use public transportation.
AIR
Beginning Dec. 1, Air Canada will double the frequency of The Landline Company’s luxury coach service between the Region of Waterloo International Airport and Toronto Pearson. The number of daily return trips will increase to 10 from five, giving customers more options for travelling and better connection times with their onward flights from Air Canada’s global hub.
WestJet reports that 100 of its 737 aircraft now offer WestJet Wi-Fi presented by TELUS as the service roll-out continues. WestJet Wi-Fi, presented by TELUS, is free for WestJet Rewards members. The two companies have also linked their loyalty programs enabling members to earn, transfer and redeem points across the programs, unlocking exclusive travel and connectivity benefits. They will also automatically receive WestJet seat selection vouchers and TELUS Roaming Passes.
Next summer, Icelandair will start service to Venice, Italy with flights operating three times a week from May 22 to Oct. 18, on Tuesdays, Fridays, and Sundays from the airline’s Reykjavik hub. Venice becomes Icelandair’s third destination in Italy, alongside Rome and Milan. Canadians travelling to Europe can add a stop in Iceland at no additional airfare with Icelandair’s stopover program enabling travellers to “experience two trips in one.”
BY THE NUMBERS
Jamaica has seen an unprecedented 22% increase in airline capacity from Canada for the winter 2025/26 season, including flights from new gateway cities like Quebec City, Ottawa, and Halifax. The increasing lift has prompted Jamaica’s minister of tourism Edmund Bartlett to set bold new targets for the Canadian market, aiming to welcome 600,000 Canadian visitors annually and generate US$750 million in tourism earnings by 2030.
DEALS
Rail Europe has launched a promotion on the Swiss Travel Pass: buy a 4-day pass and receive an extra day for free; choose the 8-day version and it stretches to 10 days. The offer is valid for journeys between October and March. The Swiss Travel Pass is an all-in-one ticket: unlimited travel by train (photo), bus and boat, panoramic journeys, entry to more than 500 museums, and free travel for children under 16.
Coinciding with the debut of its new Nature’s Vow inspiration, Sandals and Beaches Resorts are offering a complimentary Sweetheart Wedding package to couples who book a minimum of seven nights in a Club or Butler Suite, including a celebration for up to 10 resort guests. This includes all the essentials for a memorable “I do,” from a picturesque ceremony location and décor to a dinner party celebration, inclusive of a decadent wedding cake, and even more perks like access to a pre-arrival wedding planning team and a US$200 credit towards photography and videography ($400 total).
The new ‘First Class in Every Way’ offer from Regent Seven Seas Cruises provides guests booking select 2025-26 voyages with free First Class airfare and private chauffeured Blacklane transfers to and from the airport. The offer is valid for bookings made by Oct. 31 and applies to popular itineraries in 2026.
TOURS
Contiki says it is “flipping the script” to offer its 18-to-35 clientele lower tour costs, plus other benefits on its Europe 2026 roster of trips. The “bold new global pricing model” is designed to make travel more affordable, transparent, and accessible, says the company. With nearly 70% of Europe’s summer 2026 departures now offered at lower prices, travellers can access significant savings across a wide range of itineraries. Examples include a 15% reduction on the Scotland and Ireland trip and a 20% decrease on the Greek Island-Hopping Plus itinerary. In addition to lower pricing, Contiki has introduced a $200 deposit with flexible monthly payments and listed per-day costs.
Quark Expeditions has a new feature in its Partner Portal. “Manage My Client’s Booking” is a self-serving payment tool allows travel advisors to make payments online at any time without having to call a Polar Travel Advisor to process the payment. In addition to payments on behalf of their client, travel advisors can also update their guest details and purchase add-ons.
CRUISE
Carnival’s Excel-class ship, Mardi Gras, has returned to service with a variety of fresh enhancements following a comprehensive dry dock in Marseilles, France. Among the new additions are new connecting doors across 100 staterooms offering more flexibility for multi-generational families and larger groups. The ship also underwent a series of changes aimed at improving accessibility, including redesigned walkways and upgraded features in both public areas and guest cabins.
Viking has taken delivery of its newest river ships, the Viking Honir, which will sail the Rhine, Main and Danube Rivers, and the Viking Thoth, which will sail the Nile River. Based on Viking’s committed orderbook, the company expects to take delivery of 23 additional river ships by 2028 and 10 additional ocean ships by 2031. With these orders, Viking will have 112 river ships in 2028 and 23 ocean and expedition ships in 2031.
HOTELS & RESORTS
Riu Guanacaste has officially re-opened following a full refurbishment, including a transformation of rooms (photo above), communal areas, restaurants, bars and the RIU Land children’s area. Following the addition of 300 rooms last year, the all-inclusive resort now features 1,041 completely redesigned rooms that are more spacious and brighter for maximum guest comfort. The lobby has been redesigned with an open and functional layout, while outdoors, new shaded areas and landscaped gardens have been created. The pool area has been completely restructured and now boasts six pools, three of which feature swim-up bars.
Now open, Sandman Signature Winnipeg Airport Hotel & Suites is at 1760 Sargent Ave., about a five-minute drive from the airport. The hotel offers 215 spacious rooms and suites with upgraded amenities, luxurious bedding, and deluxe bathrooms. There is also an indoor pool with water slide, hot tub, and state-of-the-art 24/7 fitness centre.
FAMS & INCENTIVES
Sandals Resorts has a new travel advisor booking incentive featuring a number of pickleball-themed prizes. The top three travel advisors across Canada and the United States with the highest earnings from bookings made to Sandals South Coast between Oct. 10 and Nov. 10 (and for travel through March 31, 2026) will win a 4-day/3-night land only stay in a Butler Suite at Sandals South Coast plus a complimentary private Pickleball lesson with a certified Pickleball coach on-site plus premium Pickleball gear; second and third Pickleball Prize Packages include premium gear, gift cards and more. To be eligible, Canadian advisors can book with their preferred Canadian tour operator but must register the booking on Sandals TA Portal within 30 days or book with Unique Vacations Canada. Winners will be announced on or around Dec. 12.
PEOPLE/APPOINTMENTS
Léonardo Fiori has been appointed as Transat’s account manager for the territories of Montréal, Laval, Lanaudière, Laurentides, and Abitibi. Fiori has held several positions at Transat Tours Canada, including Special Groups and Events Coordinator, Group Agent, and Reservations Agent. He also spent several years working for Club Med, where he held management roles in various international destinations such as Turkey, Brazil, and Mexico. He can be reached at Leonardo.fiori@transat.com.
DESTINATIONS
On June 10, 2026, Antoni Gaudí’s La Sagrada Família will be crowned by the long-awaited Tower of Jesus Christ – one of the most significant elements of the original design – officially making it the world’s tallest church, exactly 100 years after Gaudí’s death. To mark the moment, Barcelona is planning a year-long program of concerts, exhibitions, and guided tours celebrating the architect’s legacy.
Sail 250 will be coming to New Orleans May 28-June 1, 2026. New Orleans will be the first stop as America welcomes tall ships from around the world to the Port of New Orleans to celebrate America’s 250th Anniversary. There will be a welcome parade, a downtown fireworks show, multiple family activities and the ability to tour several of the tall ships. For more info, visit www.sail250neworleans.com.
LAST WEEK IN TRAVEL HISTORY
In 1958, British Overseas Airways Corp. (BOAC) began transatlantic jet passenger service with a New York-to-London flight.
In 1971, Britain’s historic London Bridge, transported across the Atlantic, opened as a tourist attraction in Arizona.
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