Destinations
Jamaica assessing damage as Hurricane Melissa takes aim at Cuba
Officials in Jamaica are starting the process of assessing the damage caused by Hurricane Melissa today after the storm ripped across the island yesterday. Words like catastrophic, devastating and apocalyptic are being used to describe the damage left by Hurricane Melissa. Late yesterday, Jamaica’s Prime Minister Andrew Holness declared the island a disaster area, and made it clear that the storm had had a devastating impact on the island, causing significant damage to hospitals, homes and businesses. Reports from a variety of sources indicate that power outages are...
Jamaica braces for landfall of Hurricane Melissa
Hurricane Melissa is set to make landfall in Jamaica this morning (Tues., Oct. 28), with the latest reports from the National Hurricane Center (NHC) indicating that it will arrive with maximum sustained winds near 175 mph (280 km/h) with higher gusts. During the past few hours, Jamaica has been experiencing the effects of the hurricane-force winds, with Norman Manley International Airport in Kingston reporting a sustained wind of 43 mph (69 km/h) and a gust of 59 mph (93 km/h); while Sangster International Airport in Montego Bay has reported a sustained wind of 38 mph (61 km/h) and a...
Cuba closes airports, Oct. 28 and Oct. 29, as it prepares for Hurricane Melissa
Cuba has implemented measures to safeguard tourists, staff, and facilities in the eastern part of the country as it prepares for the arrival of Hurricane Melissa. Precautionary actions have been taken at the airports in Santiago de Cuba and Holguin which will be temporarily closed on Tues., Oct. 28, and Wed., Oct. 29. Gihana Galindo, Director of the Cuba Tourist Board, said: “The safety of our clients is paramount. Cuba is experienced in dealing with natural disasters, and we have an immediate organizational structure in place to respond to this climatological event.” And...
Jamaica prepares for Hurricane Melissa, now a category 5 storm
The National Hurricane Center says that Hurricane Melissa, now a category 5 hurricane, is forecast to move “near or over” Jamaica Monday night (Oct. 27) and early Tuesday. NHC says that a life-threatening storm surge is likely along the south coast of Jamaica Monday night (Oct. 27) and on Tuesday. Peak storm surge heights could reach 9 to 13 feet above ground level, near and to the east of where the centre of Melissa makes landfall. This storm surge will be accompanied by large and destructive waves. Jamaica Prepares The Jamaican Ministry of Tourism’s Tourism Emergency...
Jamaica’s Minister of Tourism, Edmund Bartlett provides Hurricane Melissa update
As Jamaica prepares for the impact of Hurricane Melissa, the island’s Tourism Minister, Edmund Bartlett provided an update on its preparations to its international travel trade partners. In his message, Minister Bartlett said that the government and the Ministry of Tourism, in close collaboration with the Jamaica Tourist Board (JTB) and our industry partners, has been fully mobilized to safeguard the wellbeing of our visitors and tourism workers. The Minister writes: “Over the past 24 hours, we have maintained continuous communication with the Jamaica Tourist Board (JTB), the...
Intrepid adds new Chile DMC as it expands Latin America presence
Intrepid Travel has launched a new operational hub in Santiago, Chile, marking a significant expansion of its global footprint. The new Destination Management Company (DMC) will oversee operations in Chile, Argentina, Brazil, and Uruguay, enabling Intrepid to strengthen local partnerships, and scale up operations in one of its in one of its fastest growing regions. Gary Cohen, Regional General Manager for the Americas at Intrepid, said that: “This is a key milestone on our journey to becoming tour operator of choice across Latin America by 2030. With a stronger local presence, we...
TTC Tour Brands to feature Grand Egyptian Museum on Egypt itineraries
TTC Tour Brands will be featuring the Grand Egyptian Museum (GEM) on all Trafalgar and Insight Vacations Egypt itineraries; and it will be available as an optional experience with Costsaver once the museum fully opens this November. The GEM will be the world’s largest museum dedicated to a single civilization and shines a spotlight on Egypt as a must-sell destination for 2026 It will showcase over 5,000 treasures from Tutankhamun’s collection together for the first time, along with an iconic Grand Staircase, an 83-ton Ramses II statue in the Grand Hall and cutting-edge...
Little Canada Just Got Bigger
The downtown Toronto attraction, which features miniature replications of regions in this country, unveiled its latest addition late last week (Oct. 16), Little North, a showcase for Nunavut, the Northwest Territories and the Yukon. "Nearly 15 years ago, our beloved founder and chief visionary officer, Jean-Louis Brenninkmeijer, embarked on a journey fueled by creativity, generosity and resilience. His dream: to build a nation in miniature -- a place where every citizen and every visitor stands equal, shoulder to shoulder, united in the belief that the unique stories of this land and...