Royal Caribbean Group and Sandals Resorts Announce Landmark Partnership to Accelerate Their Leading Vacation Experiences
Royal Caribbean Group (NYSE: RCL) and Sandals Resorts announced the signing of an agreement to form a partnership in the all-inclusive resort space with an investment from Royal Caribbean Group. Building on Sandals and Beaches Resorts’ more than four decades of leadership in Caribbean hospitality, the joint venture will create new opportunities for continued resort…
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FTA Member Spotlight: Journeys by Jess
Jessica Kinkead has been an advisor for 6 years, specializing in Royal Caribbean cruises and family travel. Launching Journeys by Jess in 2026, Kinkead has since became an active member of the travel community, seeking to share insight with fellow advisors. That includes a Facebook group discussing family travel, ocean and river cruising, and more.…
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GroupCollect Announces New ‘Works’ Product
GroupCollect, a company that builds technology for the group travel industry, has introduced a new product, GroupCollect Works, a modern group travel operations platform designed to help tour operators, suppliers, and destinations manage more of their business in one place. Works, as the company refers to it, brings together tools for: Supplier management Trip operations Payments Communications…
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FAA Pours Billions Into Airport Upgrades Nationwide
Airports across the country are getting a substantial infrastructure boost as the Federal Aviation Administration rolls out a series of investments aimed at improving runways, terminals, airfield safety and the technology used to keep airport operations moving. The latest round, announced Sept. 14 by U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean P. Duffy, sends $1.1 billion to airports…
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Soak up the Holiday Magic With The Elf On The Shelf ® at Beaches® Resorts
Image courtesy of Beaches Resorts Nov 27, 2026 – Dec 25, 2026 Celebrate the holidays with The Elf on the Shelf at Beaches Resorts through an exclusive lineup of themed parties, holiday movie nights, and magical family experiences-only at Beaches. Learn more at Beaches.com
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FTA Member Profile: Robin Wing Travel
For Robin Reiner, travel has always been more than just a job-it’s a way of life. Reiner’s journey started in the dive industry, where she spent years managing group travel for scuba diving adventures worldwide. As a biologist and former science teacher, she wanted to create experiences that allowed travelers to focus on what really…
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Air Travel Demand Stays Strong with Record Ticket Sales
The summer travel season wrapped up on a high note, according to new data from Airlines Reporting Corporation (ARC), with U.S.-based travel agencies and online travel agencies recording their highest-ever August air ticket sales. Travel agency air ticket sales reached $9.8 billion in August 2026, up 19% from August 2025 and 2% from July. The…
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Kauaʻi Updates Travelers as Hurricane Recovery Continues
Families planning a trip to Kauaʻi should check their itineraries before heading to the island, as communities continue to recover from Hurricane Lowell. According to the Hawaiʻi Tourism Authority, Kauaʻi is making steady progress following the storm, with crews working to clear roads, restore power and improve access around the island. Some hotels, restaurants, shops…
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US State Department Refreshes Travel Advisories
The U.S. Department of State has issued a flurry of travel advisory updates heading into September, covering destinations across Asia, Europe, Africa, the Caribbean and the Americas. For family travelers and the advisors who help plan their trips, the updates are a reminder that an advisory’s overall level doesn’t always tell the whole story-specific regions,…
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Canadian Travel to the U.S. Slowly Recovering
The latest Longwoods International Canadian Travel Sentiment Toward the U.S. research is revealing insight into how the travel behavior of Canadians venturing to the U.S. is changing. Among those promising findings are indications that travel from Canada to the U.S., which has seen a sizable downturn since early 2025, is slowly trending in the right direction. Key…
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Opening the Door to a New Group Destination or Attraction
Group travel professionals understandably have an eye for what works for groups, including untapped potential in a destination or attraction. But beyond recognizing a spot would be perfect for group inclusion in your offerings, how do you bring that untapped potential to fruition? “Building group business in a destination that doesn’t yet have a strong…
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Beaches Turks & Caicos Has It All
For families looking for a Caribbean getaway that keeps everyone entertained, Turks & Caicos offers an appealing combination of beautiful beaches, water adventures and plenty of ways to slow down. At Beaches Turks & Caicos, families can settle into an all-inclusive vacation where the biggest challenge may be deciding what to do first. The resort…
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