Destinations
AmaWaterways announces two new river ships for 2026
AmaWaterways has announced two new river ships launching in 2026: AmaKaia joins AmaDara on the Mekong River and AmaSofia will sail Europe’s Rhine and Danube Rivers. With an expected launch date of May 24, 2026, AmaSofia will be the award-winning cruise line’s 24th ship to sail on Europe’s most popular rivers. AmaSofia’s inaugural 14-night itinerary, aptly named Magnificent Europe, follows the route of emperors, kings and queens as it journeys between Amsterdam and Budapest. About the river cruises Guests will sail on three rivers through four countries on an immersive...
WestJet’s year-round Calgary-Tokyo service starts in October
Westjet has announced the introduction of year-round flights from Calgary (YYC) to Tokyo (NRT). Set to start on Oct. 27, 2024, the new schedule will include three weekly direct flights. Thanks to a codeshare agreement with Japan Airlines, travellers with WestJet will also gain exclusive access to seven additional destinations beyond Tokyo. This expanded connectivity marks a major milestone for the Japan National Tourist Office (JNTO) as they commit to enhancing Canadian accessibility to Japan. “I am so pleased that Westjet has made the decision to expand their service to Japan....
Canadian visits to Britain pass 1M for the first time ever
More Canadians are visiting Britain – and spending – than ever before, according to the latest official statistics highlighted by Britain’s national tourism agency, VisitBritain. Canada’s appetite for travel to Britain is surging with more than 1 million Canadian (1,003,000) visits in 2023, up 12 per cent over 2022 and an increase of 15 per cent since 2019, the year before the pandemic. Canadian visits have also delivered a record spend of £970 million pounds ($1.7 billion CAD), up four per cent from 2022 and an increase of 32 per cent since 2019, according to data released...
Agents honoured at Sandals’ 19th annual STAR awards
More than 400 travel advisors recently attended a weeklong celebration at Sandals St. Vincent and the Grenadines for the 19th edition of the Sandals Travel Advisor Recognition (STAR) Awards. Sandals Resorts International Executive Chairman, Adam Stewart, captured the sentiment of the week addressing attending travel advisors: “We’ve always put our money on the horse that is the travel advisor community. This goes as far back as 1981 — when my father started this company. The best bet in the world is to bet on the most powerful distribution means in the entire tourism ecosystem –...
St. Lucia & Bahamas recognized for resiliency at Marketplace
Saint Lucia and The Bahamas were named the recipients of this year’s Caribbean Destination Resilience Award during the 42nd Caribbean Travel Marketplace taking place this week in Montego Bay, Jamaica. “These awards are aimed at recognizing destinations with a deliberate focus on resiliency as indicated by their commitments to address some or all of the UNWTO’s 17 Sustainable Development Goals,” said Vanessa Ledesma, acting CEO and director general of the Caribbean Hotel and Tourism Association. “Special emphasis is placed on recognizing destinations with a collaborative and...
Carnival shows off details of highly-anticipated Starfish Lagoon
Carnival Cruise Line continues to tease details on Celebration Key, including the recent announcement of plans for Starfish Lagoon. Opening July 2025, the destination on Grand Bahama is centred around one of the largest freshwater lagoons* in the Caribbean. Starfish Lagoon will feature a variety of activities for all ages and energy levels, including: The pink Flash Flamingo and blue Mach III Marlin water slides, each over 350 feet long, invite guests to friendly competition as they weave through and around the iconic 10-story high Suncastle. Located right at the entrance to...
BermudAir adds Canada service with inaugural Toronto flight
BermudAir, Bermuda’s flagship airline, has launched service to Canada, beginning with flights to Toronto. The inaugural flight to Pearson International Airport (YYZ) opening this latest route on BermudAir’s expanding network took place on May 17. “Flying to Canada marks the latest phase of our strategic expansion of service for Bermuda,” said Adam Scott, founder and CEO of BermudAir. “Launching flights to Toronto today, along with service to Halifax next week, means that we now offer seven routes between Bermuda, Canada and the U.S. This extends year-round air service and...
42nd Caribbean Travel Marketplace kicks off in Jamaica
Canadian arrivals into the Caribbean are outpacing the growth from the US market. The 42nd Caribbean Travel Marketplace kicked off in Montego Bay yesterday with the third annual Caribbean Travel Forum, where a state of the industry address provided insights into how the region was performing. Nicola Madden-Greig, president of the Caribbean Hotel and Tourism Association, shared the latests results showcasing that Canadian arrivals saw a 14 per cent increase in the first half of 2024 compared to 2023, while Toronto paved the way with a 23 per cent increase. Meanwhile, the United States sat...