Cardiff, Wales is emerging as Canada’s hottest trending travel destination, with flight searches skyrocketing by nearly 1,046 per cent year-over-year, according to Skyscanner’s Travel Trends 2027 report. With 80% of Canadians planning to travel as much or more in 2027, travellers are increasingly looking beyond traditional hotspots for destinations that offer memorable experiences and greater value. Bryan Batista, CEO of Skyscanner, comments on the emerging travel trends: “Travel is entering a new era. As people become more intentional about how they spend their time and money, they’re making different choices about where they go, how they book and what creates lasting value.” Read more

A look at a lovely hotel and a fantastic attraction on the Hawaiian island of O’ahu, a look at new Hyatt hotels across Canada, and a taste of Italy’s Emilia-Romagna region in Toronto. Oh, and an Explora Journey’s Black Friday cruise sale! All in today’s blog post.   O’AHU NORTH SHORE: A COOL HOTEL AND THE FAB POLYNESIAN CULTURAL CENTER Tourism representatives from the north shore of O’ahu were in town recently, giving me a chance to hear more about a terrific part of Hawai’i. I’ve been to the north shore many times, including a visit to the Polynesian Cultural Read more

 I stopped in at a recent Scenic/Emerald workshop in Toronto to hear more about the magnificent Emerald Yachts from Emerald Cruises. There are three at sea now, the Emerald Azzurra, the Emerald Sakara and the new Emerald Kaia, which launched in April of this year. They each have a capacity of 128 passengers and carry nearly 70 crew. Because the ships are relatively small, they can get into ports that other ships can’t. A monster cruise ship with several thousand passengers might have to dock two hours from Venice, but the Emerald Yachts can dock in the heart of the city, Read more

American Express Canada and Hilton today announced the launch of the Hilton Honors American Express® Card, marking a new chapter in the companies’ longstanding partnership and introducing a Hilton Honors co-branded credit card to Canada for the first time. Combining the powerful backing of American Express with the award-winning Hilton Honors loyalty program, the new Card gives Canadian travellers flexibility, choice and value, with new ways to turn everyday purchases into rewarding Hilton stays. Cardmembers can earn accelerated Hilton Honors Points on eligible purchases, enjoy complimentary Hilton Honors Gold Status, and access Hilton’s global portfolio of 28 brands comprising more Read more

Portugal is already a top destination for Canadians. But one region is hungry for more.   Representatives from the Albufeira and Lagos districts in the Algarve region descended on Toronto yesterday for a media lunch and an evening event with travel trade.    The sunny Algarve region has 12% of all the hotel and resort beds in Portugal, with everything from five-star luxury and boutique places to villas and budget hotels.   With 300 days of sunshine a year, it’s an area of Portugal that draws a good deal of Canadians already.   “Canada is a strategic market for us,” Read more

  More women travelling solo and more multi-generational trips. More Canadians staying home. And no slowdown in sight for luxury travel.   The Virtuoso Luxe Report Canada was revealed at a Virtuoso media event in Toronto this week. The briefing provided an in-depth look at the booming luxury travel market and a bevy of travel trends. It also provided a few surprise facts about how Canadians are making choices that differ from other travellers.   The Luxe Report was issued as part of Virtuoso’s On Tour event, which saw dozens of advisors on hand to meet with  destinations, hotels, cruise Read more