Destinations
Greater Fort Lauderdale Loves Canadians
There's no doubt what the message was last night in Toronto as travel trade types were welcomed at one of the city's popular downtown gathering places. It was pretty simple: Greater Fort Lauderdale loves its Canadian visitors and it was up here to make sure it stayed 'top of mind' when travel retailers are looking for sunny spots to send their clients. Chatting with Press Today before the formal presentation, Tracy Vaughan, Sr. VP Tourism and Travel Industry Sales, Greater Fort Lauderdale Convention and Visitors Bureau, made it clear that travel agents were an important part of the CVB's...
Canadian Travel to Europe Remains Strong
The latest quarterly report “European Tourism - Trends & Prospects 2019” published by the European Travel Commission (ETC) shows that demand for European tourism continues to rise, albeit at a slower rate than in previous years due to the weakening economic outlook and uncertainty over Brexit. According to the World Tourism Organzation (UNWTO), international tourist arrivals to Europe were 4% higher during the first six months of the year, compared to 2018. Canadian arrivals (45%) and overnights (77%) to Slovakia increased significantly based on data to June. This notable...
Royal Caribbean Increases Bermuda, Canada Options
Royal Caribbean International is amping up its cruise options for sailings to Bermuda (pictured) and Canada for the 2021-2022 season. For the first time in summer 2021, Freedom of the Seas will homeport in Cape Liberty in Bayonne, New Jersey, touting new features and fan favourites following a major US$116 million amplification. And, for the second consecutive summer, Empress will offer seven-night itineraries from Bayonne to Bermuda and select sailings that feature New England and Quebec City. Just in time for leaf peeping season, the ship will sail to Montreal offering 10- and...
Majestic Opens First Mexican Resort
The highly anticipated Majestic Elegance Costa Mujeres is open, the hotel company’s first resort in Mexico. “We have brought the same luxury and excellence that we’re known for in the Dominican Republic to Costa Mujeres. A guest-first mentality is the heart and soul of all of our resorts, and that will be reflected in Mexico,” said Bernard Wyss, COO, Majestic Resorts. Set along the white sand Costa Mujeres beach, Majestic Elegance Costa Mujeres offers 570 modern, well-appointed rooms in a picturesque beachfront location. Located just 20 minutes north of Cancun, the resort is...
Bermuda: Always in Season
Fresh off three straight years of double-digit tourism growth, Bermuda continues to add to its infrastructure and welcoming visitors year-round. Bermuda tourism officials and partners hosted an industry event in Toronto last night to update the trade on all that's new. Speaking with PressToday, Victoria Isley, chief sales and marketing officer for the Bermuda Tourism Authority, credited the positive tourism numbers to a concerted effort to introduce the island to a new generation of travellers. She noted that 85% of the increased visitor arrivals came from travellers aged 45 and...
TAP Adds New Montreal Route
TAP Air Portugal is adding two new routes from North American in 2020, with non-stop service between Montreal and Lisbon and Boston and Ponta Delgada, in the Azores. Both new routes will be operated with new Airbus A321LR aircraft and will launch by summer 2020. TAP plans to operate six weekly frequencies between Lisbon and Montreal, and five weekly frequencies between Boston and Ponta Delgada. TAP has been steadily increasing its operations from North America over the past several years. The airline earlier announced it is adding 15 weekly flights from Canada and the US by...
Carnival Celebrates 25 Years in Tampa
Carnival Cruise Line recently celebrated its 25th anniversary sailing from the Port of Tampa with a reception and luncheon aboard Carnival Legend highlighted by the presentation of a commemorative plaque from Carnival president Christine Duffy to Port Tampa Bay president and CEO Paul Anderson commemorating the milestone. Carnival was the first cruise operator to recognize the potential of Tampa as a year-round cruise homeport when it launched a schedule of seven-day voyages aboard the since-retired Tropicale in 1994 carrying about 28,000 guests a year. Fast forward to today and...
Virgin Sets Sights on the Med for Second Ship
Virgin Voyages has announced that its second ship will be called “Valiant Lady” and will sail seven-night Mediterranean itineraries out of Barcelona, Spain when it debuts in May 2021. Bookings for the three feature itineraries, that all offer overnight and late-night stops across some of the hottest destinations in France, Italy and Spain, will open Dec. 19. “We are thrilled to unveil the name of our second ship – Valiant Lady – and to deliver on our commitment to offer travellers a sea change in how they can experience cruising in this fantastic part of the world. Our...