Destinations
Sea to Sky Reopens Feb. 14
The Sea to Sky Gondola will re-open on Feb. 14, just in time for the Family Day Long Weekend. The popular attraction was shutdown after a criminal act of vandalism on Aug. 10, 2019 forced its closure. The rebuilding process has taken six months and four days and the popular attraction will be celebrating its return on Feb. 14, by welcoming guests back with 50% off lift tickets all weekend long. In the coming weeks, 30 new cabins will be installed on the new main haul rope that arrived from Switzerland at the end of October. Kirby Brown, general manager of Sea to Sky Gondola,...
V2V Ferry Departs From BC Tourism Waters
A boutique ferry service that had sailed between Vancouver and Victoria has decided to end its run in the BC tourism business. V2V Vacations, which had been in operation for 2 1/2 seasons, announced that it was folding in the first week of January this year. “V2V Vacations has made the difficult decision to cease our service between Vancouver and Victoria with immediate effect,” says a message on the website home page. V2V had operated a luxury catamaran named the Empress that sailed in stylish comfort on a leisurely 3.5-hour route between the two cities. Sightseeing – not...
Agents’ Choice Is Back
Are you ready to pick your favourites? Well it's that time again as Baxter Media launches the 2020 Agents' Choice Readership Survey this week. Agents' Choice is Canada's original, authoritative and most popular travel industry poll and each year it asks Canadian travel agents to pick their favourite suppliers in over 40 different categories – ranging from airlines to tour operators; cruise lines to destinations; coach operators to car rentals; and a whole lot more. How popular you ask? Well in 2019, 6,512 Canadian travel agents voted for their favourite suppliers in the annual...
Bucketlist Worthy Yucatan
Baxter Media invites agents to attend a unique webinar next Thursday (Jan. 16) at 1 p.m. (EST). Taken from an Industry perspective, next week's webinar covers all of the features and benefits that make travel to Yucatan not only unforgettable but accessible to your clients. Whether as a stand-alone vacation or an add on to Cancun or Riviera Maya, the unspoiled beaches, colonial city and deep cultural heritage make for an extraordinary experience. Join Tammy Cecco, Publisher and editor of Travel Life (on behalf of the Yucatan Tourism Board) for an in-depth conversation on how to sell...
New Cuisine, Work-Outs Part Of Faimont Renos
Fairmont Kea Lani Maui resort has recently completed an extensive makeover of its breakfast restaurant, fitness centre, ballroom and foyer. The remodelled Kea Lani Restaurant offers guests a contemporary design, alfresco dining and innovative menu, featuring a farmers-market selection of produce and proteins. An international menu of breakfast favorites with island flavors is offered, as is an a la carte menu with a two-course breakfast. The resort’s new fitness centre offers equipment like Peloton bikes, plyometric boxes, strength equipment, GYM RAX systems and a Aktiv Virtual...
New PCC Luau Is A Feast Fit For A Queen
In December, the Polynesian Cultural Center (PCC) on Oahu unveiled its all-new Ali‘i Luau, called “Onipaa,” – a tribute to the kingdom of Hawai‘i monarch Queen Liliuokalani. Guests will experience a Hawaiian luau “fit for a Queen,” including a lei greeting, the unveiling of the imu – the underground oven – and blessing of the food. Onipaa is a Hawaiian word meaning “steadfast.” Visitors to the centre’s Hukilau Marketplace can now get a taste of the PCC’s offerings on the new Holoholo Canoe Ride, a 25-minute guided tour highlighting activities that guests...
Hip Vibe At Historic Waikiki Hotel
White Sands Hotel, a classic Waikiki Beach property, has been renovated for modern travellers and is aiming to tap into the Bamboo Bar lounge culture of the early 70s. Originally opened in 1959, it’s the area’s only remaining walk-up hotel building; the three-story hotel has no elevator. There are also no ocean views available from this central Waikiki location, so instead guests look inward, to a lush and lively courtyard, with an emphasis on being green. Solar panels have been installed on the roofs of the hotel’s three buildings, making it the only property in Waikiki...
Taking Care Of Mother Nature
The beauty of Hā’ena State Park on the island of Kauai is so well known that its popularity is becoming an issue. As more visitors come to see the stunning beach coves and dramatic cliffs of the park, intensive trail usage and car parking have become problems. But that situation is being resolved by new rules governing visits to the park, including the creation of a pass reservation system. Storms and severe flooding in 2018 caused both Hāʻena State Park and Nāpali Coast State Wilderness Park to be closed for over a year. This gave the Division of State Parks the opportunity to...