Travelweek’s incredible history spans 50 years. From the 1970s through to the 2020s, we look at all 6 decades in a special feature in the April 13, 2023 issue of Travelweek. Excerpts are also running in Travelweek Daily, starting with the 1970s on April 13,  the 1980s on April 14 and the 1990s on April 17. Here’s a look at the 2000s.

With the 2008 Great Recession in the rearview mirror, people were ready to travel in the 2010s.

And for many travel companies, the 10 years from 2010 to 2019 were incredibly robust, and profitable.

The demand for travel was fuelled by rapidly growing social media platforms. Facebook was already a hit worldwide at the start of the decade, while Instagram launched in 2010. Travellers were posting envy-inducing travel pics, stoking even more wanderlust.

THE END OF SEARS TRAVEL

One major travel retailer didn’t make it to the end of the ‘10s.

When Sears Canada filed for creditor protection in June 2017, the future of one of the best-known brands in the retail travel industry – Sears Travel – was up in the air.

Later that year TravelBrands, which managed Sears Travel, rebranded it as The Travel Experts.

RED LABEL’S BIG BUY & THE END OF THOMAS COOK

TravelBrands’ parent company, Red Label Vacations, made headlines earlier in the decade when along with Thomas Cook North America’s senior management it acquired Thomas Cook’s North American assets, including Sunquest, Holiday House, FunSun Vacations, Encore CruiseEscapes and ALBATours.

The new company was christened TravelBrands in 2013.

Speaking of Thomas Cook, the legendary travel brand was no more by the end of the ‘10s.

In 2019 Thomas Cook filed for liquidation, stranding some 600,000 passengers worldwide.

737 MAX GROUNDING & MORE AIRLINE NEWS

The grounding of Boeing’s 737 MAX took effect in March 2019, and finally lifted in Canada in early 2021.

The rush to launch low-cost carriers continued unabated, including Air Canada’s Rouge and WestJet’s Swoop.

In May 2019 Air Canada and Transat stunned the industry with news of their proposed merger. Two years later, as the pandemic raged on, the agreement was officially terminated.

Air Canada and Transat, 2019

TRAVELWEEK IN THE 2010s: CHANGE AT THE TOP

After an incredible 27 years at the helm of Travelweek, Patrick Dineen retired at the end of 2015.

Kathryn Folliott, who joined Travelweek in 1995, took over as editor, and Cindy Sosroutomo, with Travelweek since 2007, was named deputy editor.

Travelweek’s Cindy Sosroutomo (centre) on a Goway South Africa fam, 2010

Meanwhile Travelweek Group owner Gerry Kinasz took the title of chairman, and Devin Kinasz was named publisher.

Travelweek Group’s initiatives in the 2010s included the French-language industry news site Profession Voyages, and a new title – Travel Professional.

The Travelweek.ca site was completely revamped to be a go-to travel industry news source. And Travelweek Daily debuted and quickly became an essential read for the industry.

Throughout 2023 watch for interviews and memories marking Travelweek’s 50th anniversary. Plus, try your luck with our contest, ‘It Happened This Week’, featuring a new headline (and a new chance to win!) every week from Travelweek’s 50 years of travel industry news coverage.