Tour Operators
CATO appoints Paola Briata to its Board of Directors
The Canadian Association of Tour Operators (CATO) has appointed Paola Briata, VP of Contracting and Operations Product Delivery at WorldStrides, to its Board of Directors, effective immediately. Briata is a multilingual and accomplished travel industry executive with 30 years of international experience across the leisure, corporate, cruise, and educational travel sectors. Originally from Europe and residing in Canada for the past two decades, Briata brings a uniquely global perspective shaped by her extensive career and multicultural background. She began her professional journey...
Intrepid Travel names Considine as Head of Sales for North America
Intrepid Travel has announced the promotion of Anthony Considine as Head of Sales, North America, marking a significant step forward in the company’s ambitious 2030 growth strategy. Since joining Intrepid in 2024 as Sales Manager for Tailor-Made, Considine has made a major impact, growing Tailor-Made sales by 66% year-over-year, delivering a record-breaking month in December 2024, and representing Intrepid at key industry events. The announcement comes as Intrepid sees not only the biggest sales month YTD, but the second-best month over the past two years. Considine observed:...
Intrepid Travel unveils its August Showdown for travel advisors
Intrepid Travel is calling on travel advisors across North America to step up, compete, and claim the crown during its August World Sale. A booking blitz packed with big savings, bold prizes, and serious bragging rights. Running from Aug. 12 to Aug. 31, 2025, the World Sale offers all travelers up to 20% off select 2025 departure, including bucket-list favorites like Japan, Vietnam, Iceland, Morocco, and India. But the real action is happening behind the scenes, where travel advisors will go head-to-head in a leaderboard-style competition to see who can book the most and walk away...
Transat suspends its BonBon program “until further notice”
Transat is advising travel advisors that “due to the recent termination of the contract between DCBank and TruCash, the program manager, as well as persistent technical issues with the Bonbon card, the program is suspended until further notice. Accumulating additional BonBon rewards is therefore no longer possible.” And Transat added: “We want to clarify that this situation is entirely beyond our control.” Transat’s advisory continues: “Action Required: Transfer Your Funds or Have a Cheque issued by DCBank” "After verifying the legitimacy of the DCBank email, we...
Blue Diamond, Sunwing Vacations team up to deliver luxury for less
Blue Diamond Resorts is Sunwing Vacations' August Partner of the Month, and the two companies are teaming up to offer Canadians luxury for less. Blue Diamond has properties in Mexico, the Dominican Republic, Jamaica, Antigua, Grenada, Saint Lucia and Costa Rica Travel advisors can earn* up to 6X STAR Points on every booking with a minimum of 7-nights at participating Royalton Luxury Resorts, Hideaway at Royalton Luxury Resorts, Planet Hollywood Hotels & Resorts, Royalton CHIC Resorts, and Grand Lido Resorts between Aug. 1 and Aug. 31, 2025 for travel until Oct. 31, 2026. As...
TravelBrands Loyalty Rewards Program Enters a New Era
TravelBrands has unveiled significant enhancements to its Loyalty Rewards Program that take effect today, Aug. 1, 2025. For more than a decade, the program has been loved by travel agents, and now it’s getting even better with a new sales-based tier structure, expanded redemption options, and elevated benefits across all product lines. Nathalie Tanious, President & CEO of H.I.S. Canada Travel Inc., parent company of TravelBrands, said: “We’re always listening to feedback from our travel agent partners and finding new ways to help them thrive.” Tanious explained that:...
MyEscapades redesigns website, expands portfolio of travel experiences
With the launch of its new website, MyEscapades is showcasing its newly designed, curated itineraries designed for today’s discerning traveller. The company has built its reputation on Africa and has significantly expanded its portfolio to include offering exclusive travel experiences across Europe, Asia, and Central & South America. Each trip crafted with the same dedication to detail - delivering authenticity and unforgettable moments. Firdosh Bulsara, Vice-President of MyEscapades, said: “We are known for our expertise in crafting authentic travel experiences that not...
Tourism at a Crossroads: Beyond Borders Tourism Coalition Urges Action
The Beyond Borders Tourism Coalition is calling for “urgent policy clarity and coordinated action,” saying that “the combined effects of tariffs, funding cuts, new fees to enter the United States, and uncertainty at border crossings are undermining recovery, deterring new investment, and reducing opportunities for cultural and economic exchange.” Terry Dale, President, US Tour Operators Association (USTOA), said that: “Rising tariffs and economic headwinds are cutting into consumer purchasing power, reducing demand for U.S. vacations, and forcing our members to reconsider...