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Friday, May 1, 2026
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Trevello is gearing up for its 2026 conference, "Building Bridges," in Belfast, Northern Island’s capital. The event from May 3-8, organized in collaboration with Brendan Vacations, a Celtic destination specialist with TTC Tour Brands, will bring together more than 250 travel advisors and suppliers. "We don’t just build connections, we build stronger businesses and a stronger industry," says CEO Zeina Gedeon.
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Tech, tools and moustache madness. The Travel Agent Next Door’s 2026 conference, Leading The Way, concluded last week after bringing nearly 400 Canadian travel pros together aboard the Celebrity Silhouette. What does the future hold for TTAND? Is bigger, better? How is the host agency navigating headwinds? Flemming Friisdahl, TTAND's founder, shares all the answers in this in-depth interview, filmed on board the ship!
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Air Canada has scrapped its full-year guidance after geopolitical tensions in Iran drove up jet fuel prices and created uncertainty around travel demand. Fuel costs—normally about 25% of operating expenses—have surged to nearly double their previous levels since the conflict began. Air Canada posted a net profit of $48 million in the first quarter, a turnaround from last year's $102 million net loss.
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This month, it's all about you, travel advisors. The travel industry is taking time in May to travel advisors worldwide, marking Travel Agent Day—an annual event held on the first Wednesday of May (May 6) and observed throughout the entire month. The discounts, prizes and contests are coming in hot. See PAX's roundup of the latest supplier promotions!
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Jamaica’s Minister of Tourism, Hon Edmund Bartlett, is welcoming new direct service from Porter Airlines to Montego Bay. The new flights from Toronto (YYZ), Ottawa (YOW) and Hamilton (YHM), announced Thursday (April 30), mark a significant expansion of airlift between Canada and Jamaica for the 2026–27 winter season. It "opens our island to an even wider circle of Canadian visitors," noted Bartlett.
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Ottawa has announced a plan to hand off the air passenger complaints system to an independent third party in an effort to reduce the large backlog facing Canada’s transport regulator. In its spring economic update released Tuesday (April 28), the Liberal government said it intends to adopt a European-style approach, where outside adjudicators handle complaints on issues such as refunds.
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Los Cabos is entering the winter 2026–27 season with expanded non-stop access from across Canada. New and increased service from Toronto, Ottawa, Edmonton and Montreal, thanks to Porter and Air Transat, reflects sustained interest from Canadian travellers and growing confidence from airline partners in the market, says the tourism board.
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The Cayman Islands broke tourism records in March 2026, welcoming 64,213 stayover visitors and surpassing 60,000 for the first time in history, powered in large part by a surge in Canadians. Canada delivered a 49% year-over-year increase in March, with 6,711 visitors setting a new monthly record, eclipsing the previous high, set in February 2026, says the Cayman Islands Department of Tourism.
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TripOppo and the China National Tourist Office (CNTO) are hosting a breakfast seminar in Calgary on May 8 to highlight the many reasons why China is on the map for 2026. “Your Gateway to Asia,” held at the Calgary Plaza Hotel & Conference Centre, promises to give advisors the inside scoop on ways to sell China and make it a seamless experience for clients. Register now.
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Calgary Airports has released its 2025 Annual Report, Elevate, showing strong performance and major investments across YYC Calgary International Airport and YBW Springbank Airport. In 2025, YYC welcomed 19.4 million travellers, representing 2.7 per cent growth over 2024, including two consecutive summer months with more than two million travellers moving through the airport – a first in YYC’s history.
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Maritime Travel has joined forces with graspANALYTICS to provide business travel clients with state-of-the-art reporting and predictive technology. The new partnership allows clients to realize greater savings and to make smarter decisions around their travel spend.
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The Buffalo Ride is back on Sunday (May 3) with Intrepid Travel calling on the travel industry to get on their bikes whether in Melbourne, Seattle, or anywhere in the world and help raise CAD $164,000 to support women and girls in rural communities through access to transport.
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IN CASE YOU MISSED IT
Porter Airlines has added four new destinations to its winter 2026-27 season. In addition to new sun routes from Eastern Canada, the airline is also introducing its first international flights from Alberta. Additions to this year’s schedule include Aruba, San Jose, Montego Bay and Los Cabos. New flights are also being added from Edmonton to Puerto Vallarta, Los Cabos, Las Vegas and Phoenix, and from Calgary.
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Year-over-year Canadian travel to the United States declined by double digits in 2025, and if the latest data is any indication, that trend shows no signs of slowing. But can New York City, one of the most visited destinations in the world, turn things around? PAX speaks to Julie Coker, president and CEO of New York City Tourism + Conventions, in Toronto during a sales mission.
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ProColombia transformed The Illuminarium in Toronto's Distillery District Wednesday night (April 29) into a light-filled journey through Colombia's six regions, giving the Canadian travel trade a taste of what the destination has to offer. With more than 150,000 Canadians visiting in 2025, and with flights expanding, the destination is worth a closer look.
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