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Tuesday, May 5, 2026
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Ensemble Horizons 2026 opened in Las Vegas on Monday (May 4) with nearly 1,000 members and partners gathered for updates on growth, advisor opportunity and travel’s resilience. PAX is on location as executives, suppliers and industry speakers address the tools, relationships and market shifts shaping the advisor business.
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Oceania Cruises says it will eliminate Non‑Commissionable Cruise Fares (NCFs) on all newly-launched sailings, expanding earning opportunities for travel advisors. Effective with the launch of new itineraries, covering the 2028 Summer and 2028-2029 Winter seasons and 2028 and 2029 Around the World voyages, published commission rates will apply to the full commissionable cruise fare.
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Finnair celebrated the inauguration of a new direct flight from Toronto to Helsinki at a luncheon held at Toronto’s Scotia Plaza on Monday (May 4). Representatives from the carrier were joined by members of the Finnish Embassy and over twenty of Canada’s travel and trade media for a look at everything awaiting Canadians in Helsinki, culminating in a ribbon-cutting at Toronto Pearson.
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Porter is partnering with HTS to introduce a new product, giving passengers more flexibility with day-of-departure flight disruptions. HTS’ Disruption Assistance product, available on Porter as Delay and Cancellation Assistance, is an optional add-on that offers passengers real-time solutions if their flight is disrupted by more than two hours or cancelled within 24 hours of departure.
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Investment and technology firm Long Lake announced on Monday (May 4) that it plans to acquire corporate travel operator American Express Global Business Travel for $6.3 billion in an all-cash transaction, driven by expectations that artificial intelligence will transform the industry. The acquisition reflects a view that artificial intelligence can modernize the business travel industry.
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Air Canada has announced that the 13 nominees listed in its 2026 management proxy circular were elected as directors at its annual meeting of shareholders on May 1, 2026. All nominees were serving as directors of Air Canada, except for Ms. Rachel Notley and Mr. Eric La Flèche who were standing for election for the first time.
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Visit Algarve and SATA welcomed just over 60 travel advisors and suppliers to The Old Mill in Toronto on Monday (May 4) to celebrate a destination described as "Europe's most famous secret." Speaking with PAX, Hugo Nascimento, Visit Algarve's executive director, and João Ferreira, head of international markets for SATA, shared that Canada has shown double-digit growth over the past two years.
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Air Canada Vacations is recognizing the contributions of its Travel Advisory Board members as it open applications for a new cohort. The opportunity invites travel advisors who are eager to share their voice, collaborate with industry peers, and help shape the future direction of the tour operator.
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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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ICO has issued a notice for U.S.-based Spirit Airlines, which ceased operations on May 2, 2026 “Spirit Airlines has indicated that airfare purchased directly through them with a credit or debit card will be reimbursed automatically to the original form of payment,” TICO wrote in a bulletin.
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Tourism Ireland is hosting 10 Canadian travel advisors from TourRadar on a multi-day FAM across the island, with stops in Belfast, Derry-Londonderry, Fermanagh and Dublin. The trip gives agents firsthand experience with tours, food, culture and attractions to help them sell the destination to Canadian clients.
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TravelBrands has announced the launch of its latest global destination campaign, Japan: One Destination, Endless Journeys, delivering a suite of limited-time offers designed to help Canadian travel advisors drive bookings, increase earnings, and unlock greater value for their clients.
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IN CASE YOU MISSED IT
Exclusive: Bring on Belfast! Trevello’s 2026 conference, "Building Bridges," with Brendan Vacations kicked off Sunday night (May 3) in Northern Ireland’s capital. The event coincides with Canada becoming the Emerald Isle’s fourth-largest overseas market, while Northern Ireland gains momentum through fresh investment in tourism. Having Trevello advisors experience the destination is "something we're quite excited about," says George Diamondis of Tourism Northern Ireland. PAX reports on location.
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Transat and Porter are launching Transat packages that combine Porter's non-stop flights to Nassau, Grand Cayman, Cancun and Puerto Vallarta with Transat’s tour operator expertise. “These additions mark a significant enhancement to Transat’s South destination portfolio,” says Renée Boisvert, VP of tour operator products at Transat. They will be available from Toronto, Ottawa and Hamilton for travel on or after Nov. 1.
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Jamaica has once again proven its resilience with the reopening of Half Moon Resort. On April 2, the beachfront property with three experiences marked a milestone in its post-hurricane recovery, reopening its Eclipse and Villa sections. At the centre of the restart is Shernette Crichton, who recently became the resort’s first female managing director. She was in Toronto last week to share updates with the trade.
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