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Tuesday, September 1, 2026
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Ken Houston didn’t set out to become a travel advisor, but 50,000 Cruise Critic posts later, he’s built a cruise business on trust, expertise and lightning-fast replies. From construction and pizza delivery to Blockbuster and carpentry, every chapter taught him one thing: urgency matters. Today, with clients across North America, Houston proves you don’t need flashy marketing when your reputation does the selling.
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Trafalgar will bring Insight Vacations and Costsaver under one name for 2027, offering more than 600 itineraries across five travel categories and three value tiers. The expanded portfolio goes on sale in Q4 2026, with existing itineraries, experiences and pricing unchanged for 2027 departures. Advisor training is now available online.
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Global air passenger demand was flat in July, as declines among carriers in the Middle East and North America put the brakes on growth during the peak summer season. New data from IATA shows total passenger demand, measured in revenue passenger kilometres (RPKs), rose just 0.2 per cent in July compared with the same month in 2025.
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At least two people have died and more than 20 others may remain unaccounted for after powerful flash flooding tore through Arizona’s Grand Canyon over the weekend, prompting helicopter evacuations and widespread closures. Heavy rainfall on Saturday (Aug. 29) sent a torrent of mud, rocks and debris through Bright Angel Creek.
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ACTA is offering independent travel advisors 2027 memberships for $79, plus applicable taxes, through Sept. 30. Rates rise Oct. 1 ahead of the association’s 50th anniversary year. Members who join or renew will also be entered into prize draws featuring Porter Airlines vouchers, Air Canada tickets and a resort stay.
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Scenic Group has named Sture Myrmell chief operating officer, following Riko van Santen’s appointment as chief information officer. The executives will oversee global operations and technology, respectively, as the company expands its Scenic and Emerald fleets with new river ships and ocean yachts scheduled to launch in 2027 and 2028.
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Hyatt has opened the 467-room Hyatt Vivid Punta Cana, marking the adults-only, all-inclusive brand’s debut in the Dominican Republic. The beachfront resort features five à la carte restaurants, seven bars and lounges, a spa, fitness facilities and programming spanning wellness, Dominican culture, live music and creative workshops.
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Holland America Line has opened bookings for its 2028 Alaska season, which will feature six ships, new itineraries and scenic cruising experiences, as well as the Alaska debut of a reimagined Oosterdam. The 2028 program includes cruises ranging from seven to 18 days aboard Oosterdam, Noordam, Eurodam, Koningsdam, Westerdam and Zaandam.
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Luxury travellers are looking beyond the traditional sightseeing checklist, and new booking data from Kensington is revealing which destinations are benefiting from the shift. Hawaii leads the charge, with bookings up 196% year over year, while Austria rose 86%, Peru 62 per cent and Japan 51%. South Korea, Rwanda and China are also emerging as destinations to watch.
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Registration is now open for Granite Travel Trade Expos' fall 2026 series, visiting seven cities across Western Canada and Ontario. Each event will connect advisors with up to 36 suppliers and include presentations, networking, dinner, prizes and giveaways. Admission and parking are free for qualified travel advisors, who are encouraged to register early.
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Circa Resort & Casino, the D Las Vegas and Golden Gate welcomed more than 120,000 Canadian visitors during their At Par promotion. Running from January through August, the exchange-rate offer generated an 80 per cent increase in Canadian visitation, more than $20 million in slot coin-in and over 8,000 hotel room nights.
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IN CASE YOU MISSED IT
Canadians continued to rethink where they travel in early 2026, with trips to the United States falling sharply while overseas destinations attracted more visitors – and considerably more spending. Mexico remained the most-visited country, welcoming 1.3 million Canadian visits during the quarter. The Dominican Republic ranked second, followed by Costa Rica.
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Air Canada is warning passengers travelling through Toronto on Monday (Aug. 31) that thunderstorms and resulting air traffic control restrictions could disrupt flights throughout the day. As a result, the airline has revised its ticketing policy, allowing customers travelling on affected flights to change their bookings without penalty (subject to availability).
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Celebrity Cruises has announced the appointment of Nick Levasseur as field sales manager. Effective Sept. 2, 2026, he will cover Quebec and the Maritime provinces. “We are very happy to welcome him to the team and look forward to the support and fresh perspectives he will bring to his travel partners,” said Allan Brooks, national director of sales for Canada.
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