Monthly Archives: October 2025

While new ships topped last week’s cruise news, on Sunday the industry’s focus was on Hurricane Melissa‘s northward movement through the Caribbean. At press time, weather authorities noted this storm had just elevated to a Category 5 hurricane. Given the storm’s slow movement, they also warned of strong storm surges, flash flooding and landslides for […]

Jamaica’s tourism industry is moving into full‐gear emergency mode as Hurricane Melissa approaches, with the country’s tourism leadership emphasizing readiness, coordination and visitor safety. The island nation is facing a fast-moving and intensifying weather threat. According to the U.S. National Hurricane Center, Hurricane Melissa has rapidly strengthened and is forecast to bring heavy rainfall, major […]

Saint Lucia Tourism Authority is ready for peak travel season, with the addition of seasonal nonstop flights from key U.S. gateways. This winter, Saint Lucia will welcome nearly 12,000 more seats from the U.S., boosting airlift by  four percent. “As temperatures start to dip in the U.S., demand for warm weather travel increases,” Louis Lewis, […]

Travelers across Europe, the Middle East, and Africa (EMEA) are gearing up for a busy 2026 — and increasingly relying on artificial intelligence to get them there. According to Marriott Bonvoy’s “2026 EMEA Ticket to Travel Report,” four in five travelers (79 percent) plan to take as many or more holidays next year as they […]

Artificial intelligence (AI) continues to gain popularity among various industries, including travel. More travelers are turning to tools like ChatGPT as a quick way to plan their trips, prompting the tool to build itineraries, find hotels and flights, and plan activities. However, they might not realize the potential travel disruptions they could face. Squaremouth, a […]

The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia will host the 26th session of the U.N. Tourism General Assembly from Nov. 7 to 11. The landmark session will focus on “AI-Powered Tourism: Redefining the Future” and also commemorate five decades of cooperation under the United Nations’ specialized agency for tourism. Represented by its Ministry of Tourism, Saudi Arabia […]

Celebrity Cruises has taken delivery of its newest ship—Celebrity Xcel—and announced the name of its sixth Edge Series ship—Celebrity Xcite—as the ship’s first piece of steel was cut and construction commenced at the Chantiers de l’Atlantique shipyard in Saint-Nazaire. Celebrity Xcite is expected to set sail in 2028. “Celebrity Xcel represents the next bold step in our journey to transform the way the […]

Korean Air has acquired a 11.02 percent stake in WestJet’s parent companies, Kestrel Topco Inc. and Kestrel Holdings Inc, through an investment of $217 million. This investment represents a 10 percent equity stake in WestJet, Canada’s second-largest airline. The transaction, first agreed upon on May 9, 2025 has now been completed, with Delta Air Lines […]

Amperity, the AI-powered customer data cloud, has released its 2025 “State of AI in Travel & Airlines” report, uncovering how travel brands are experimenting with AI—and where they are falling short as the busy holiday season approaches. Based on a survey of 800 U.S. hotel and airline professionals across executive, marketing, IT, and analytics roles, […]

American Cruise Lines has announced brand new 15-day Northwest National Parks cruises operating roundtrip from Tacoma, Washington in September 2026. This bucket-list itinerary explores the Pacific Northwest’s parks and ports, featuring seven days of guided exploration through Mount Rainier, Olympic, and North Cascades National Parks followed by eight days cruising throughout Puget Sound, Friday Harbor, […]