Happy holidays from Pax Global Media – here's to a successful 2026

As we close out another year, we want to take a moment to say what matters most: thank you.

This year belonged to you - the travel advisors who navigated labour disruptions with grace, pivoted strategies when political tensions shifted travel patterns, and guided clients through uncertainty with expertise and reassurance.

You embraced new technology while proving that the human touch still matters most. You learned new products, explored destinations, and continued elevating the traveller experience even when some of the headlines made it challenging.

You showed up for your clients when Hurricane Melissa impacted Jamaica. You adjusted itineraries when airline strikes loomed. You experienced tariff implications, recommended alternatives to clients, and found solutions when the Canada-U.S. relationship complicated what should have been simple vacation planning.

Through it all, you demonstrated why travel advisors aren't just relevant - you're essential.

Looking back at the stories that defined 2025, a few major themes emerged. Ones that shaped your year and kept our newsroom busy.

The WestJet-Sunwing airline integration was a big one for Canadian aviation. May 28 marked the official merge, but the ripple effects – new booking processes, policy shifts, leadership changes – kept coming all year.

Meanwhile, The Travel Agent Next Door partnered with UK-based Travel Counsellors. Trevello expanded into the United States. Flight Centre Canada celebrated 30 years while announcing ambitious growth plans.

The industry's structure evolved throughout the year, and PAX was there to report on it all, in English and French. 

Some moments were tense. Air Transat's pilots filed strike notices in December. Air Canada's flight attendants voted for strike action in August, leading to a total shutdown.

These were labour issues with direct impacts on your clients’ travel plans. PAX stayed on it because you needed the facts fast.

The Canada–U.S. relationship became one of the major stories in 2025. Trade tensions, tariff warnings, and boycott calls led to shifts in booking patterns.

Travel to the U.S. dropped, and Europe and the Caribbean became more popular. You guided clients through these choices, and we kept you updated as the story changed.

Hurricane Melissa's impact on Jamaica tested crisis response systems across that country.

We brought you real-time updates, on the ground in Jamaica, to track recovery efforts.

We also got you aboard many new ships and helped you understand what makes each one special for your clients.

Destinations bounced back and evolved. Jamaica showed remarkable resilience. Cuba's tourism sector worked through infrastructure challenges while operators, like Sunwing, introduced enhanced hotel rating systems.

We also said goodbye to some giants in 2025. Lisa Pierce retired from Air Canada. Joe Adamo also announced his retirement from Transat. Wendy Paradis retired from ACTA, with Suzanne Acton-Gervais stepping up. Andrew Dawson also announced his farewell after guiding Sunwing through its final chapter.

We lost Duncan Bureau, Ken Stewart, Casey Canevari, Amanda Strobl, Jean-Paul Bellon, Serge Lamaille, and others who shaped Canadian travel. Their contributions mattered, and we made sure their legacies were recognized.

Our team also visited countless countries this year, providing on-location coverage based on firsthand experience.

PAX’s social media platforms also grew, but the real value was in your engagement – sharing updates, commenting, and tagging colleagues.

To our readers and partners: by choosing PAX, you help make our coverage possible.

As we head into 2026, we’re ready to explore more destinations and bring you breaking news and fresh insights.

Thank you for your trust, engagement, and for being part of the PAX community.

Here's to a successful 2026! 

Happy holidays, 

The Pax Global Media team

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