☀️ Super El Nino Could be a Boon for Summer Vacation Bookings A languishing US travel market could get a sizable lift from a coming Super El Niño, reported by the NOAA. The NOAA charts show predictions are for an unusually warm summer. And as June nears, the CPC ENSO Probability predictive scales show the…
🤖 MindTrip.ai Personalized Travel Planner It’s 2026, and AI chatbot-powered trip itinerary planners are evolving with new services and powerful new partnerships to compete with travel agencies for a select portion of the travel market. In the case of the Mindtrip.ai travel itinerary planner, that potential is in improved range of services and travel planning options. …
Upgrading to Become a Luxury Travel Advisor? The titles luxury travel advisor or luxury travel designer are ones any travel professional would love to have. Prestige, income, freedom and high brand value come with that designation. Yet, wealthy clientele as you may have learned, have sophisticated tastes and premium expectations about travel and who will…
NASDAQ:KEEL. Keel’s Vertical Shift Upward to AI Infrastructure Services Bitfarms, founded in 2017 in Toronto, Canada, initially established itself as a global, vertically integrated Bitcoin mining company. Fast forward to now, the company is relocating to the US, (New York City) and has rebranded as Keel Infrastructure, a new company focused on AI infrastructure and…
Fuel Price Crisis: Another Opportunity for Entrepreneurs May Update: As the summer driving season approaches and international travelers prepare to fly to Europe, they’re getting hit with extra unexpected costs and cancellations. The current crisis is one of rising costs, recession worries, global slowdown, Iran war and border security hassles. It’s affecting travelers’ choices in…
Why is a Travel Content Strategist Your Best Asset? Today, the web and content experiences are the victims of trends, i.e., ChatGPT and Google’s takeover of the discovery layer of search. Visibility is tough to achieve. And there’s the tsunami of generative AI slop polluting the content ecosphere. This is making worthy businesses invisible. Our…
Profitable Spring Break Travel Audience Segments The Spring break vacation period is a pivotal one for travel businesses. In the U.S., it represents a multi-segment, multi-month revenue window driven by families, groups, cruises, and short-trip experiential travel — not just college party traffic. Normally, it’s been a brief lead window – sort of like lions…
Finding the Right Travel Agency for You in Toronto (GTA region) Your Traveler Guide to Find the Right Travel Expert for Your Kind of Trip The Greater Toronto Area (GTA) is one of Canada’s most diverse consumer or corporate travel markets. With millions of residents who love to travel, with their deep cultural ties around…
Your 2026 Dream Trip: Where Will You Find Yourself This Year? Not every dream trip begins with wanderlust or an impulse to get away this week. For many travelers looking ahead to 2026, it could begin a little quieter, spawning from a feeling that this winter will linger just a little too long, slowly building…
Why Norwegians Are Rich and Canadians Aren’t — and how the Liberal Era Has Stolen Our Future Building a renewed Pro-Canadian Strategy for National Wealth, National Identity, and a Positive, New Economic Direction (Political commentary) Canada should be one of the richest countries in the world and each citizen should be enjoying the vast national/provincial…
Loss of Canadian Travelers Hurting the US Travel Sector US inbound international travel is predicted to fall by about 6.3% in 2025, falling to an estimated 67.9 million visitors, which marks the first decline since 2020. A sizable portion of that loss is attributed to missing Canadians, who look to be cutting out US travel even…
Your New Theme of Efficiency, Service and Performance Most travel agency owners and travel advisors find themselves with diminished visibility online and a dependence on OTAs for leads. It’s a painful place to remain given how Travel AI is progressing and how OTAs are better positioned to score big time in the new AI-mediated marketplace….
Rare Earth Stocks As technology products advance in performance and durability, the demand for special metals with special properties used in those products is growing too. We know these unique valuable metals as rare earths – a group of 17 metals used in the production of many high-demand products today such as x-ray machines, smartphones,…
✈️ 20 Travel Startup Ideas (Low-to-Mid Budget) I discussed the many business opportunities in travel for VC investors and entrepreneurs and want to expand with some practical possibilities that you might find very interesting (and profitable). It’s a billion-dollar industry of course, and has a bright future despite current geopolitical, migration, and recessionary issues. People…
🙏 The Power of Targeting Only the Best Client Prospects Every business person or company needs great customers who translate into successful, satisfying relationships. And it seems that only the customers/clients who love your company and you will buy from you again or engage in long-term business. The rest vanish. In this spirit, I offer…
Upcoming Tour Operator Conferences and Conventions The Travel and Tourism sector is readying for an exciting winter season along with growth in trips and tour bookings in 2026 as the US and global economies continue their growth. You’ve got some outstanding events planned for this fall, such as Tourpreneurs “TourWeek” in South Carolina, and US…
🍁 Why Canadians Still Make a Great Choice for Outsourcing The US is undergoing a fantastic economic, cultural and business transformation launched via tariffs, deregulation, tax reduction, cheaper energy and artificial intelligence. Growth will be phenomenal. In 2026, the FED rate will drop allowing small US businesses to enter the boom times. We’ll see burgeoning…
Hottest Topics in Residential Real Estate Realtors like yourself should be curious about the real estate-related topics thaat buyers and sellers are concerned with as we approach 2026. After all, these issues are what shape buyer’s perceptions of value, drive intent as well as affect sellers thoughts about when to sell. See the full list…
Toronto Housing Market Bubble Despite falling home prices in August, Toronto home buyers have that sinking feeling that accompanies a recession. As covered in the Toronto housing market report, sellers are listing their prices. They want their dream price, but as the market slides many of them are starting to give in and entertain some…
Toronto Housing Market Report TRREB in its September housing market reports a rise in home sales with a price drop in the GTA region. More sellers listed their homes, with many of them deciding to give up on their “dream price” to get their home sold. For home buyers, it’s an issue of affordability, down…
How You Can Beat AI Travel Agencies With OTA’s and new AI travel agencies impinging on your audience and customer base, you’re understandably concerned. Young travelers are open to AI-driven travel planning and services. Agency owners on the other hand appear to be resisting anything that carries that artificial intelligence tone to it. However, as…
Tailored SEO, Content, PPC & Social Strategy for Travel Agencies Considering a new team member or to hire a versatile freelance marketer? Your first task is to visualize what you need to accomplish and find the most efficient staffing solution. I’m just a little biased, but we shouldn’t underestimate what one single talent can do…
Small Business Marketing Report The National Federation of Independent Business (NFIB) says its latest Small Business Optimism Index in July, rose 1.7 points to 100.3, slightly above the 52-year average of 98. Uncertainty remains (fell 8 points from June to 97) and is a big factor in growth and hiring intentions. Yet, respondents feel the…
🥇SEO Services Toronto It’s a new business environment for many Toronto companies in diverse industries ranging from travel to manufacturing to software development. A US business cultural trend to exclude Canada is afoot, and a good way to counter that threat is to employ effective digital marketing. A comprehensive marketing strategy that leverages high-quality content…
Market Correction Coming Soon? Do you ever get that feeling that when things look too good to be true, you’re not far from finding the truth? And one truth is that the stock market is not driven by valuations or earnings, but instead by the emotions of institutional and retail investors — animal spirits. Right…
It’s a Good Time to Be American, But Not Canadian Talk about being between a rock and a hard place, Canadians are finding themselves stuck between two politically opposite politicians. If it continues, the country could fail. Tomorrow, we’ll see how the US stock market reacts to the passing of the One Big Beautiful Bill,…
Give the Gift of Travel You know all about the joy of travel. It’s lifted your spirit, empowered your confidence, and broadened your awareness of how the world is and could be. But many others haven’t had that pleasurable, healthy vacation getaway. And perhaps now, your heroic side is awakening, and this might be the…
Are You Ready for 2026? With home sales sagging to record lows this year, some Realtors might have trouble visualizing sales success for themselves. But like it is in any industry, where the mind goes, performance flows. It’s time to get ready. There’s so much pessimism saturating the real estate sector (e.g., Florida) that Realtors…
Massive Global Market: Your International Content Strategy How nice would it be to relax and enjoy an amazing and massive flow of travel customers from across the globe, wowed by your brand and content, fully trusting that booking with you is a great decision sure to satisfy? Sometimes a wider audience is the solution to…
Alberta Separation from Canada? The G7 meeting held in the too majestic surrounds of the Rocky Mountains of Alberta in hindsight, achieved very little for members and for Canada itself. It was a photo op event, that the media used to try to skew perceptions Americans, Brits, Australians, French, Spanish, Germans, and Asian readers rather…
✍ How To Optimize Your Travel/Tour Descriptions Hundreds of millions of travelers are online, mostly using Google, and they follow a finding path to destinations, hotels, trips, tours and more. Everything they see on their path to travel fulfillment, that stream of travel content is a description of a desired experience. The final destination…
💵 Buy Now Pay Later a Growing Opportunity in Travel Market While many wealthy Canadian, European, and American travelers can easily pay for their vacations and trips, most others are stretched to make them happen. Not being able to buy a travel package right away, as expected, means they don’t. And that results in making…
🏆 A Business that Beats Them All If you’re chasing stocks as a FOMO stock market investor right now, I want to ask you if there might be a better investment option in launching an online business with all the bells and whistles focused on real, lucrative markets? In this post, we explore one such…
😎 Compelling Reasons Why You Should Choose the Travel Sector I’ve worked with clients in many sectors, but I’m most enthused about the travel sector. I’ve found real estate and the sports equipment sectors stimulating too. But there’s just something about travel that puts it front and center. It’s not just about living the good…
🚗Top Tour Marketplaces Online The tour industry has grown in leaps and bounds, as global travelers search eagerly on Google, Bing and tour company websites for interesting travel experiences. Travelers want something invigorating or interesting to do for a sense of personal meaning, and a feeling that they’re immersed in these wonderful places. It’s all…
Navigating Challenges and Threats Through the Next 5 Years Without good insights into demand, trends, challenges and threats, it might be hard for travel agency owners, DMO chiefs, and hotel managers to feel really confident about their travel marketing strategy — whether for 2025-2026 or the long view. With the stakes high, going down the…
Visibility is Everything Whether you’re in the travel business or in real estate sales, being discovered and getting your message heard is paramount. And I’m reminded of what SparkToro’s well-known CEO and co-Founder, Rand Fishkin said recently — that discovery is the next big marketing objective, ahead of clicks. Because as he puts it, being…
🚗 The Great North American Cottage Escape: 15 Idyllic Summer Retreats for Families There’s a compelling magic in a summer spent in a rented cottage—where the rhythm of the days slows to the pace of lapping water, sizzling grills, and children’s laughter echoing through the trees. For families, it’s the sweet spot between adventure and…
🌞🍹⛱️ The Sweet Rush of Late Spring Wanderlust The sudden arrival of amazing weather with warm temps and not a cloud in the sky makes us all get dreamy about the summer season ahead. There’s a moment now in the late days of spring when the air changes with buds on trees blooming — when…
😇Travel Angel Investing: A Goldmine if you Choose Well Like the rest of the globe, US travel is changing dramatically, drawn back to a domestic focus which I explored in the US domestic travel market report. As an angel investor, you have plenty of industries to invest in, however, as mentioned in the travel startup…
🚀 2025 Best Small Business Opportunity: AI Travel Agency Given the turmoil in the North American travel sector, you might think it’s an industry to stay clear of. And as an entrepreneur, you might not be licensed or have sufficient qualifications to run a travel agency. Then there is the whole challenge of it and…
🚵🏽♂️ 21 Unique Mountain Biking Vacation Destinations Mountain biking as a sport or thrilling adventure is evolving and resorts, DMOs, and tour companies are designing more sophisticated and satisfying experiences for MTBers. As new venues/trails are created around the world, and the diversity and number of riders increase yearly, the types of vacations mountain bikers…
Visit Canada’s Beautiful Okanagan Region 🚲It was in 1985, that I rode my bicycle from Banff, Alberta to the Okanagan region of British Columbia, in Canada. That epic 300-mile trip through towering snow-capped mountain ranges, past raging glacier-fed rivers and giant red cedar and hemlock forests into a thrilling 50 mph ride down undulating mountain…
The US Gargantuan Trade Deficit with the World International Trade has been heralded as the greatest thing all the way back to the 1970s. The claim was based on the premise that nations would exchange goods and services they were able to make, and that countries wouldn’t be taken advantage of or run big deficits…
How Will Tariffs Affect the US Housing Market As we head into the spring buying season, buyers and sellers are confused and curious about the effect of Trump’s import tariffs and how it will play out. Aside from potential higher building costs are a host of other factors that are discussed below. It’s not an…
Europe on the Brink of Economic Disaster After President Trump announced its sweeping tariffs on imports into the US, Europe has suffered paroxysms of fear and doubt about its continued existence. While the EU is justifiably unhappy about the new tariffs of 20% on the EU, they should recognize that it could be much worse….
Trump’s Tariffs in Effect Yesterday, President Trump announced his promised, sweeping tariffs on foreign imports into the US, and the world looks very different. He lamented that this is the end of taking advantage of the US and it will be a boom economic period in the US. Today, investors dumped their favorite stocks of…
Trump’s Liberation Day: Launching US Business The world isn’t so pleased with Donald Trump since taking office, but Americans are about to enjoy a very prosperous period. Today’s event announced 50% reciprocal tariffs on nations that tariff the US. The event was a huge success for him politically given he not only announced protective tariffs…
Is the US Travel Market Crashing? We’ve been waiting for US national travel data for 2025 to begin rolling in and it’s arriving. What the initial data is telling us is that the US and Canadian travel markets are taking a downturn, and it’s surprising how steep the decline is. While the harm is immediate,…
It’s Time to Reorganize your Travel Business It’s a fact of business life that the consumer market changes. And we need to adjust. Travel agencies, hotels, airlines, DMOs, and tour companies are seeing valued long-time customers disappear while new ones become available. This current tourism slowdown comes as technology is changing travelers choice and they…
Visit Alberta’s Amazing Attractions This Summer Picture waking up in a natural paradise of mountain peaks, rugged mountain landscapes, wild elk and mountain sheep, pristine blue/green alpine lakes, to venture out on thrilling hiking trails that are on everyone’s bucket list. Picture modern hotels with comfortable spas, swimming pools, and mountain views. See yourself strolling…
👩🏻💻 Travel Destination Marketing Software It’s going to be an exciting year for DMOs and tourism businesses in the United States in 2025 and 2026. DMO/DMC organizations can make it a great year for visitors, bookings and revenue if they gain reach to audiences and make an impact. Visibility is the key because without it,…
Is President Trump Trying to Crash the Stock Market? 🎢The themed wild roller coaster ride called Mr. Trump’s Wild Tariff Ride is providing lots of thrills and spills for the globe. I wonder if Disney or 6 Flags are designing a roller coaster in his honor, perhaps one that stops and goes backward? In the…
30 Top Travel Destinations in the World Remember the old saying “the world is your oyster?” Well, it still is! For an adventuresome traveler, the globe offers up a seemingly endless supply of potential destinations. From the Mayan Riviera to the Italian Riviera, and the Canadian Rockies to the the Alps, there’s an adventure waiting…
How Canadian Companies Can Get Past the US Tariffs If you’re a business owner in Ontario and Quebec, the new tariffs from President Trump are a big problem. Update: Now that President Trump has announced the global tariffs, and that Canada will be spared if it meets the requirements of the USMCA deal. What was…
Travelers Changing Vacation Preferences President Trump’s tariffs are only beginning to send negative ripples through the Canadian economy. It’s still early but it looks like Canadians will increasingly alter their travel plans away from the US. Today, as Ontario Premier Doug Ford visited the US White House with the Canadian trade minister, Trump reiterated his…
Trump Tariffs Spoiling Investor’s Party It wasn’t so long ago that stock market investors were salivating at the launch of the Trump pro-US era with its promise of low taxation, de-regulation, less government interference, US manufacturing support, lower interest rates, and maybe even lower inflation and interest rates. If it didn’t sound too good to…
Connect with Financially Strong Costa Rica Travelers You might be selling trips to all over the world and doing okay. And you might have your favorite destinations to serve. However, what if expanding to new destinations and reaching new types of travelers is wiser (e.g., luxury travel buyers)? Because when you tap into a better-quality…
2025, The Year to Save Money on Travel! It’s 2025 and travelers have a lot of travel options on their travel menu including transportation, hotels, itineraries and tours to choose from. It’s time to find the perfect travel experience for your family or group. With the rise in the US dollar and the political strife…
How Long Before You Lose Your Job to AI? AI is here, and it’s like a forest fire that generates a little smoke at first but accelerates into intense firenados as it meets thick brush forest aided by higher winds and dry hot air. AI feeds on a high-cost, low-productivity environment which becomes fuel for…