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
The global travel industry celebrated World Tourism Day Saturday, held on Sept. 27 each year since 1980. This year’s theme was “Tourism and Sustainable Transformation” with a call to action to unlock the benefits of tourism, balanced with checking its negative impacts. Events were held around the world to celebrate the day, with an official program taking place in Malaysia. As of 2024, international tourism recorded 1.4 billion global arrivals.
Statistics Canada says that more U.S. residents came to Canada that month than Canadian residents returned from the U.S. It’s a feat that’s only happened one other time in roughly the last two decades, if you exclude the COVID-19 pandemic outliers of August and September 2021. The same imbalance happened in June this year, but before that it hadn’t occurred since June 2006.
An estimated loss of loss of $375 million during its flight attendants strike has prompted Air Canada to lower its guidance for the year. The airline says that it now expects to make between $2.9 billion and $3.1 billion for the full year, compared to airline’s previous 2025 guidance that it suspended in August, which was projected to be between $3.2 billion and $3.6 billion.
BY THE NUMBERS
Data from SAP Concur suggests Canadian business travel to the U.S. during the first half of the year remained stable compared with last year’s levels, even as some companies are taking more precautions at the border. During the six-month period that ended June 30, the data showed the U.S. accounted for 79% of corporate travel from Canada. The figures also show Canada was the No. 1 international destination for corporate travel from the U.S. On a global scale, Canada was ranked as the fourth most popular destination for international business travel.
AIR
Air Canada is adding new transborder flights and boosting capacity in select transborder markets for Summer 2026. The carrier is launching seasonal service to San Antonio from Toronto, three times a week from May to October, and linking Columbus and Cleveland to Montreal daily, all from May to October. The airline is set to boost its transborder capacity by 15% in Summer 2026 compared to its Summer 2025 schedule. While in line with its Summer 2024 transborder capacity level, the planned 2026 increase is aimed at increasing choices for travellers connecting between Air Canada’s international network and these markets.
Miles & More, the loyalty program of the Lufthansa Group, now awards miles and points for more sustainable flying with bookable CO2-offseting packages. By choosing to fly more sustainably, customers can now achieve their desired frequent flyer status more quickly.
Since 2023, Miles & More members have been able to earn extra miles and points when booking the Green Fares tariff. With this step, Miles & More aims to encourage its customers to make more sustainable travel choices and thus contribute personally to climate protection.
DEALS
When booked by Oct. 5, Nassau, Bahamas’ Atlantis Paradise Island resort’s new November Offer gives travellers 35% off stays throughout November in The Coral, The Royal, The Cove, Harborside Resort, and The Reef units. A minimum two-night stay is require, bookable at atlantisbahamas.com/november-offer .
Through Oct. 7, Windstar Cruises is offering a limited time ‘Ways to Winter’ promotion featuring a Free All-Inclusive Package plus up to $1,000 onboard credit per stateroom on select small ship cruises in Tahiti, the Caribbean, the Mediterranean and the Canary Islands. Travel dates extend to the end of March 2026.
EVENTS
A delegation from Meet Boston travelled to Toronto last week to engage with the trade and demonstrate the city’s love of and long connection with Canada. Coinciding with a Red Sox game with the Blue Jays (which the Sox rudely won – some love!), the team of David O’Donnell, Nik Pereira and Jay Marsh (with Cdn. reps Gabi Sandler (l) and Pamela Laite of About DCI) also talked sports, with Boston primed to host seven matches of the FIFA World Cup next June and July. December 2026 is also the 250th anniversary of Boston Tea Party with immersive reenactments, exhibitions, and special events at the Boston Tea Party Ships & Museum, offering a deep dive into a pivotal moment in American history. And tall ships will return to Boston Harbour in the summer.
Celebrating its 55th anniversary, Goway Travel is hosting the free Goway55 Virtual Show on Tuesday Sept. 30. Attendees can drop in between 10:20 and 2 p.m. EDT for engaging presentations, panels, insight on how to grow your business with Goway, and meaningful conversations about the future of travel in general. To see the agenda and to register, click HERE.
TOUR OPERATORS
A recent West Group team-building workshop marked the official integration of WestJet Vacations trade sales team members with the existing Sunwing Vacations. Travel advisors will continue working with their established contacts at both brands, which will maintain their distinct identities and product offerings. Under the leadership of Deana Murphy, VP Sales & Business Development at Sunwing Vacations Group, the team includes Shannon Cunningham, Director of Sales for WestJet Vacations; Graeme Franklin, Director of Sales for Western Canada; David Wright, Director of Sales for Ontario and Atlantic Canada; and Gustavo Moor, BDM for Quebec, who all now report to Murphy, with their respective teams continuing to report to each director.
Air Canada Vacations’ newly released 2025/26 Sun Toolkit features more than 620 hotels, including 41 brand-new Sun properties and 32 additions across the United States. The collection also expanded to 64 destinations with five newcomers: Cartagena (Colombia), Miches (Dominican Republic), Palm Springs and Napa Valley (California), and San Juan (Puerto Rico). There is also a new cruise partner – Virgin Voyages – and a wider selection of river cruises itineraries with CroisiEurope. And coming soon: Avalon Waterways and Seabourn Cruise Line with premium, one-of-a-kind experiences. The 2025/26 Sun Toolkit can be found HERE.
HOTELS & RESORTS
WestJet Vacations has expanded its all-inclusive portfolio with three additions spanning Mexico’s Riviera Maya and Jamaica’s Montego Bay regions. Travel advisors can now offer our mutual guests all-inclusive vacation packages to the brand-new Bahia Principe Grand Tequila, the rebranded Hyatt Vivid Playa del Carmen and Dreams Rose Hall, providing enhanced options for adult and family travellers.
Adding to the luxe set in Belize, the Four Seasons Resort and Residences Caye Chapel will open in 2026 on a 113-hectare private island beside the UNESCO-designated Belize Barrier Reef. The all-new resort will feature overwater bungalows, 50 private estate homes, a Greg Norman-designed golf course, cenote-inspired spa, and the Fabien Cousteau Nature & Conservation Institute. For Canadians, WestJet expands service from Toronto and Calgary from Oct. 30 through May 10.
CRUISE
After reportedly selling out its priority booking allotment in just six minutes, Celebrity Cruises has opened access to the remaining inventory for its inaugural season of river vacations in 2027. The seven-night cruises will journey between Budapest to Bavaria.
New in November, PONANT Explorations is introducing five-night Mediterranean voyages aboard Le Lapérouse. Sailing from Malta’s Valletta to Naples (Nov. 17-22) and Naples to Valletta (Nov. 22-27), the itineraries will showcase Mediterranean heritage with excursions to numerous UNESCO World Heritage sites. The onshore experience is further enhanced by onboard lectures delivered by expert speakers with profound knowledge of each region, providing valuable context and deeper appreciation for the destinations visited.
ATTRACTIONS & THEME PARKS
Set to open in October, The Reefline is a groundbreaking fusion of art, science, and conservation. Stretching 11 km. along the coast of Miami Beach, the immersive, publicly accessible snorkel trail will feature site-specific sculptures that double as hybrid reef structures, providing habitat for coral regrowth and marine biodiversity – all while serving as a cultural and civic beacon. Phase 1 activates a site between the 200 and 500 blocks of Ocean Drive, while future phases are planned near key east-west access points and lifeguard stations to align with the city’s public infrastructure. Signage on land and docking points in the water will help visitors engage with this underwater cultural and ecological landmark.
FAMS & INCENTIVES
Small-ship expeditions specialist Aqua Expeditions has introduced a new loyalty program for travel advisors. The first phase of the initiative, the Circolo Aqua Trade Loyalty Program, is a dedicated platform for both individual travel advisors and partner companies that offers exclusive, tier-based rewards in the form of Miles. The program applies retroactively to all qualifying bookings with departure dates from Jan. 1, 2025, and the first rewards will be issued in January, based on total production from the 2025 calendar year. Full details of the program can be found in Aqua’s Agent Portal.
PEOPLE/APPOINTMENTS
ACTA has announced the promotion of Marco Pozzobon to Vice President, Strategic Partnerships and Business Development, effective Oct. 1. In this role, Pozzobon, who has been with ACTA for 15 years, will continue to forge key partnerships and further drive business development to support the association’s long-term vision.
Intrepid Travel has promoted Caroline Tinsley to the newly created role of Head of Partnerships, Canada, marking a key strategic investment in the company’s growth across the Canadian market. In her new role, Tinsley will lead Intrepid’s partnership strategy in Canada, with a focus on accelerating industry collaborations, expanding brand alliances, and forging strategic partnerships that deliver long-term impact and visibility for Intrepid. She will report directly into the regional leadership team and oversee a growing team of Key Partnership Managers as part of an expanded Canadian structure.
DESTINATIONS
Las Vegas has debuted a completely re-imagined ride share pickup area at Terminal 1 area at Harry Reid International Airport (LAS). In true Vegas fashion, the ‘Fabulous Pickups’ space was recently unveiled with showgirls and a DJ welcoming visitors. The space now features vibrant lighting, additional seating, and a custom neon selfie wall (photo) and on select dates, the experience will be elevated even further with live music, DJs, and other special activations. The transformed pickup zone is a part of the broader “Welcome to Fabulous Las Vegas” brand campaign.
The Mardi Gras Express – officially known as Amtrak’s Mardi Gras Service – began service Aug. 19 connecting New Orleans, Louisiana, with Mobile, Alabama, twice daily, and offering scenic coastal stops such as Gulfport and Biloxi. Hopes are that route will soon extend to Florida, giving people the chance to combine three states, thus providing incentive to visit Louisiana and the southern Gulf Coast.
LAST WEEK IN TRAVEL HISTORY
In 2019, British tour operator Thomas Cook fell victim to multiple setbacks including shifting travel habits, the rise of online booking sites, the sinking pound and even unusually hot weather that encouraged fewer Northern Europeans to travel. Specific problems of its own, like a 1.6 billion-pound ($2 billion) debt pile, made it less able to react to change. It all added up to a perfect storm that led the 178-year-old firm – the world’s tour company – to cease operations, stranding hundreds of thousands of travellers. The company was revived in 2020 as an online business by a group of employees.
Send info to baginski@travelindustrytoday.com
If you enjoyed or found this story useful, we’d appreciate if you would forward it to a colleague or friend who may also enjoy it. If, on the other hand, a friend shared it with you, welcome! You can get all the latest travel news and reviews from Travel Industry by simply clicking HERE.