A new flight to Spain from Air Canada, top trending destinations for 2027 includes Niagara, and a new tourism campaign for Monterey, California. A busy news day!
AIR CANADA ADDS SEVILLE NEXT YEAR
Air Canada’s expansion into Spain shows no signs of slowing down.
The airline has announced its newest European destination is Seville, with the addition of non-stop, seasonal service out of YUL starting 08SEP, 2027. Seville marks the fifth destination in Spain for Air Canada.
“The addition of Seville further bolsters Air Canada’s growing global network and cements Air Canada as the largest airline by seats offered between Canada and Spain,” said Mark Galardo, Executive Vice President & Chief Commercial Officer, and President of Cargo, at Air Canada. “As the only non-stop service between the city and North America, Air Canada’s new service will unlock more of Andalusia and the world for our customers and Aeroplan Members while delivering a step-change in global connectivity for Seville.

Seville, Spain is the newest European destination for Air Canada.
“Enabled by the next-generation capabilities of our expanding Airbus A321XLR fleet, Seville builds upon recent additions to Palma de Mallorca and Tenerife and marks another unique Air Canada destination in Southern Europe.”
“Seville’s appeal extends well beyond the height of summer,” airline officials said. “Known for its rich history, vibrant culture, acclaimed cuisine and position as the gateway to Andalusia, the city offers an ideal escape during the spring and fall months when temperatures are milder, and visitors can enjoy its iconic landmarks, festivals and outdoor lifestyle at a more relaxed pace.”
Flights are available for sale now at aircanada.com and through travel agents.
EXPEDIA HOT SPOTS AND TRAVEL TRENDS FOR 2027
Expedia has issued its list of hot destinations for 20267, which is based on the percentage of increased searches for travel spots around the world. Here’s their top 10, including the percentage increase in searches.
- South Lake Tahoe, California (+195%)
- Hyogo, Japan (+95%)
- Punta del Este, Uruguay (+65%)
- Sedona, Arizona (+55%)
- Busan, South Korea (+50%)
- Holbox, Mexico (+45%)
- Perugia, Italy (+35%)
- The Tweed, New South Wales, Australia (+35%)
- Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ontario, Canada (+35%)
- Chichester, England, (+30%)

The Prince of Wales Hotel in Niagara-on-the-Lake. Jim Byers Photo
Meanwhile, as part of a massive global survey, more than 2,000 Canadian respondents weighed in on their plans for vacations next year, including the following travel trends:
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Un-Adulting: Canadian travellers are reclaiming child-like joy with getaways built around play, spontaneity, and zero obligations. Expedia data shows that 48% of Canadian travellers are likely to book an Un-Adulting trip
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Trip Snacking: One-night stays are becoming a popular, economical way to grab a little break without booking a long vacation. Among Canadians, 79% of travellers say they’re planning to book a one-night stay in the coming year, and that figure climbs to 85% among Gen Z and 87% among Millennials.
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Gothic Getaways: Fuelled by the rising popularity of dark fantasy and Gothic storytelling in pop culture, gothic getaways have turned into a year-round travel trend. Among Canadian travellers, 55% are specifically interested in booking a Gothic-style hotel. Gothic-style properties are especially popular with Gen Z and Millennials with 62% saying they’d like to stay in one.
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Hobby Hubs: For a growing number of travellers, trip planning starts with a passion rather than a destination, with Vrbo research showing 78% are likely to take a hobby-focused trip in 2027.
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Set-Jetting: The popular trend returns this year, with almost half of Canadian travellers surveyed reported proactively researching or booking trips to destinations from upcoming TV shows and movies that haven’t even been released yet, rising to 51% among Gen Z and Millennials.
MONTEREY, CALIFORNIA LOOKS FOR TOURISM BOOST
One of the best parts of my home state of California, the Monterey region, has a new tourism push coming on stream.

Pacific Grove is a lovely town just west of Monterey, California. Jim Byers Photo
New Strategic Priorities for 2026–27
Expanding Reach with Find Your Way Here 2.0: The evolution of See Monterey’s brand campaign is designed to grow awareness and familiarity in new markets, building the demand needed to support today’s lodging inventory and the more than 1,000 additional hotel rooms expected in the coming years. The campaign is organized around three connected bodies of work:
- Monterey Is introduces the destination as many distinct places and stories.
- Parallel Paths shows the County’s range through playful contrasts and surprising pairings.
- Found In is a video series that brings each jurisdiction and region to life through its people and experiences.
See Monterey will expand beyond priority fly-and drive-markets using the latest marketing technologies to reach travelers nationwide who are already planning a California trip. Expanded public relations with regional, national and international media will carry Monterey County’s narrative to new audiences,
I’ve written extensively about the area for some time, as I grew up about two hours north of Monterey and we have a family cabin an hour from the region.

A drone view of Big Sur and the Bixby Bridge in California. GEORGE COX PHOTO/UNSPLASH
The city of Monterey is a coastal gem that includes fine food options and the world-renowned Monterey Aquarium. The next-door town of Pacific Grove is a personal fave, with a marvellous waterfront walk and gorgeous oceanfront parks and walks. The 17-Mile Drive in Monterey County is one of the great drives on the planet, and the town of Carmel-by-the-Sea is as pretty and charming town as you’ll find.
Monterey is also the northern gateway to Big Sur, one of the most beautiful areas of the world.
Here’s a story I wrote about the region last year.











