Industry Insider tips

Crystal, the luxury cruise line owned by A&K Travel Group, has become a preferred supplier of the travel agency consortium, Ensemble, which has travel agents in both the U.S. and Canada. 

A senior Norwegian Cruise Line (NCL) official revealed Thursday that travel advisors would no longer receive commissions for the entire cruise fare on advanced bookings, starting in the first quarter of 2024.

“Once upon a time, the planets and the fates and all the stars aligned..." — Taylor Swift

For the latest travel news, updates and deals, subscribe to the daily TravelPulse newsletter.

Virtuoso, the global network specializing in luxury and experiential travel, recently published the findings from its 2024 Luxe Reports, a survey that found 46 percent of the network’s travel advisors found their travelers are concerned about climate change during their travel planning process. 

Royal Caribbean International welcomed its newest ship to the fleet at a celebration at the Meyer Turku shipyard in Turku, Finland on November 27, ahead of the Icon of the Seas’ official January, 2024 debut in Miami, Florida. 

WHY IT RATES: Aqua-Aston Hospitality celebrates its recent expansions while also supporting its employees affected by the Maui wildfires and giving back to the local Maui community. — Lacey Pfalz, Associate Writer, TravelPulse

MSC Cruises ordered two liquefied natural gas (LNG)-powered ships with French shipbuilder Chantiers de l’Atlantique, to be delivered in 2026 and 2027. 

Rail Europe, the leading provider of train and rail passes across Europe, is partnering with the European LGBTQIA+ Travel Alliance (ELTA) to encourage greater diversity and inclusivity in travel. 

The Caribbean Tourism Organization’s (CTO) Conference on Sustainable Tourism Development will be held in Grenada on April 22-24, 2024. 

The AHLA Foundation, run by the American Hotel and Lodging Association (AHLA), announced a new ForWard initiative to support women in hospitality, especially in leadership positions. 

Job openings for the leisure and hospitality segment of the U.S. economy remain disproportionately high compared to other industries, which could slow the travel industry’s growth as the country considers its future following its post-pandemic recovery period.