Tour Operators
Direct Travel launches Direct Impact: Give Back initiative powered by the Intrepid Foundation
Direct Travel has launched Direct Impact: Give Back -- a new initiative developed in partnership with Intrepid Travel that gives advisors a meaningful way to engage clients in charitable giving as part of their travel planning. The initiative connects travellers with carefully vetted, community-led projects in the destinations they visit, work in, or feel a personal connection to. Through Direct Impact: Give Back, advisors can invite clients to support causes from youth empowerment to humanitarian response and community-driven climate action with 100% of donations going directly...
Meet, mingle, enjoy: Baxter Media welcomes CATO and its members at its Toronto headquarters
Baxter Media demonstrated its appreciation for members of the Canadian Association of Tour Operators (CATO) Thursday evening, appreciation that was immediately returned by the association. The company once again hosted CATO members at its Toronto office, with company president David McClung thanking those members directly. "We do appreciate you're taking the time to come and see us," he said. "It's really a pleasure to say the least. "CATO members are always welcome here." It was the second straight year Baxter Media hosted the gathering. “It's always wonderful...
Consumer protection, industry updates, board elections on TICO AGM agenda
The Travel Industry Council of Ontario (TICO) held its Annual Meeting this week, sharing updates on Ontario's travel marketplace, consumer protection activities and key achievements from the past fiscal year. Richard Smart, TICO's CEO, observed that: “Ontario's travel marketplace continues to demonstrate resilience and adaptability in a volatile and changing environment.” Smart continued: “As expectations evolve, TICO remains focused on protecting consumers, supporting registrants, and continuously improving how we deliver on our mandate to maintain confidence in the...
GX Cambodia kicks off in the Kingdom of Wonder
Every September G Adventures gathers its wider community of travel advisors, industry partners, everyday travellers, global staff and media together in a destination around the world that could benefit from a boost in visitors in order to showcase the power and potential of community tourism. Following previous summits in Peru, India, and Jordan, GX Cambodia officially kicked off with a strong showing of 600 participants on location in Phnom Penh, including 18 Canadian travel advisors, most who earned their spot by selling G Adventures trips to clients. “Once again, GX comes to a...
Air Canada Vacations helping advisors work smarter, not harder
Air Canada Vacations wrapped up its 7 city, cross-Canada Dream Makers product launch series in Toronto this week, welcoming some 1,300 travel advisors at the Universal EventSpace in Vaughan for an evening that just buzzed with high energy as the tour company introduced its 2026-2027 winter offerings – and a whole lot more -- to the retail travel community. In 2026, ACV added two new stops – Calgary and Quebec City -- to its Dream Makers roadshow, as well as bringing its buzz to Halifax, Edmonton, Vancouver and Montreal, before arriving in Toronto for this week’s event. All of the...
Intrepid strengthens commitment to purpose-led growth with new certification
Intrepid Travel has strengthened its commitment to purpose-led growth, announcing that it has been certified under B Lab’s new global standards for B Corp Certification, becoming one of the first travel companies to meet the rigorous social and environmental requirements. The announcement comes ahead of the European Union’s Empowering Consumers for the Green Transition (ECGT) Directive, which comes into effect on Sept. 27, 2026 and which aims to combat greenwashing through unsubstantiated environmental claims. B Lab’s V2 Standards incorporate independent, third-party verification...
Kensington opens booking for 2030 Oberammergau Passion Play Journeys
While four years may seem a bit early to begin planning a European vacation, but when the experience happens only once a decade, early planning matters. And that’s why Kensington has opened reservations for the 2030 Oberammergau Passion Play, giving travellers the opportunity to build a tailor-made European journey around one of the world's most celebrated and sought after cultural traditions. Held just once every ten years in the Bavarian village of Oberammergau, the Passion Play brings together more than 2,000 local cast and crew members and draws approximately half a million...
Brendan Vacations goes big with small group tours, custom vacations in 2027
Brendan Vacations has rolled out its 2027 product collection, which includes two new Small Group Tours and four new sample itineraries to inspire Custom Vacations across various travel styles. The expanded lineup also introduces new properties and experiences across Ireland and Scotland, from thermal wellness in Dublin to ancestry exploration in Edinburgh. Whitney Ramirez, SVP Sales, Brendan Vacations North America, said that: “Nearly 60 years in Ireland and Scotland have given us an incredible depth of experience, from the people and places we know to the relationships we’ve...