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Wednesday, December 3, 2025
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The travel industry is mourning the loss of Duncan Bureau, a veteran aviation and travel-technology sales executive who reportedly passed away from a heart attack in Mexico on Dec. 2. He was 58. He was the kind of person who would do anything for you—always willing to help and ready to reach out to one of his many contacts to connect you with the right people," said Flemming Friisdahl, TTAND's Founder.
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The Travel Agent Next Door has entered into an equity partnership with UK-based Travel Counsellors effective today (Dec. 2). In a statement, Flemming Friisdahl, TTAND’s founder and CEO, said the two companies share a similar culture and values. “I’m confident this will be great for our agent partners and for our suppliers,” he said, noting that there will be no changes to TTAND's structure in Canada.
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Air Transat’s 750 pilots have voted 99 per cent in favour of a strike mandate, which could be exercised starting December 10 if no agreement is reached, Obtaining a strike mandate is a common step in the collective bargaining process. Air Transat says negotiations are still ongoing and that operations will continue as planned.
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Hawai’i brought the aloha spirit to Toronto’s Tuesday (Dec. 2), hosting travel advisors and media at Aloha Canada. Canadian travel to the U.S. has declined over the past year. However, Hawaiʻi may be less affected by this trend. “I think Canadian travel agents and potential travellers see us differently than the continental U.S.,” said Colin Wood of Hawai’i Tourism Canada, represented by VoX.
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Visit Orlando brought its sunshine message north this week, gathering Canadian trade partners for dinner in Toronto Tuesday night (Dec. 2), kicking off sold-out training events in Hamilton and Toronto. Despite a challenging 2025, the destination emphasized Canada remains its number one international market. "We are here to ensure [Canadians] still feel welcome," said Elaine Blazys, VP, travel industry sales at Visit Orlando.
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A new survey from TRAVELSAVERS Canada shows 71 per cent of travel advisors expect revenue growth in 2026. The survey found 70 per cent now charge professional fees, while AI adoption more than doubled to 50 per cent. High travel costs remain advisors' top concern for the year ahead.
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Air Canada Vacations (ACV) hosted its annual ACV@Home Virtual Holiday Cheer on December 2, bringing together its valued travel advisors’ community for a festive 30-minute celebration. The virtual gathering featured interactive games, prizes, and a heartfelt moment of recognition through a photo collage showcasing memorable highlights from 2025.
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Hapag-Lloyd Cruises has launched a two-tier fare system replacing its previous three-tier structure. The Platinum fare offers flexible rebooking and cancellation options with cabin selection, while Silver maintains standard services with cruise line-assigned accommodations. Both fares include champagne, minibar, meals and cabin service.
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Celestyal has made a strategic leadership change, appointing Janet Parton as vice president - marketing, PR and customer experience. Parton moves into the role immediately from her previous position as VP, business development for Europe and the UK, and managing director of Celestyal Travel UK.
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Riverside Luxury Cruises has opened reservations for its 2027 European sailing season, featuring routes from three-night getaways to 23-night journeys. The line added theme cruises to 2026 focusing on golf, beer and cultural celebrations. Early booking discounts offer up to 18% off 2027 sailings.
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IN CASE YOU MISSED IT
Cue the Christmas Markets! Last week, Canadian travel pros joined Avalon Waterways' at its European River Cruise Summit on the Rhine, an event held in partnership with ACTA. Miss out? PAX was there, with cameras rolling, and connected with two presidents that were on board: Pam Hoffee of Avalon Waterways and Suzanne Acton-Gervais of ACTA. Watch the interview here!
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The government of Baja California Sur, home to popular vacation spots like Los Cabos, has announced that its tourist tax, called "Embrace it," will remain in effect throughout 2026. But the fee, first introduced on July 1, 2025, continues to generate confusion as not all stakeholders are aligned.
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Pierre Karl Péladeau is calling for a special meeting to change the composition of Transat A.T.’s Board of Directors and to initiate steps to restore the company’s financial position. The Quebec-based media magnate made the request through his investment company Financière Outremont, Transat’s second-largest shareholder.
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