Destinations
Thailand Celebrates Pride In Toronto
The Tourism Authority of Thailand takes great Pride in Thailand's happily welcoming members of the LGBT community who wish to vacation in the Asian nation. The tourism authority's Canadian office brought members of Thai on-line TV show Drag Race – which features transgender and other performers – to Baxter Media's Toronto office Friday as part of a promotion to get the message out that Thailand is happy to host LGBT travellers. “Thailand is most accepting.” said the tourism authority's Canadian director Puangpen Klanwari. “We want to show that Thailand is a LGBT-friendly...
Brainstorming In Calgary
WestJet welcomed members of its Travel Agent Advisory Board (TAAB) to its head office in Calgary for two days of interactive feedback, planning and discussion last week. The two-day conference was attended by 40 TAAB members representing 35 travel agencies across Canada. Corporate and leisure agents had the opportunity to meet with WestJet employees, share their feedback about upcoming initiatives and attend presentations by vice president of sales and distribution, Chuck Crowder and agency sales director, Jane Clementino. There were brainstorming sessions and in-depth workshops...
The Bahamas Is Hot
The Bahamas is coming off a record year for tourism with almost half a million more visitors in the books for 2018 versus 2017. “The tourism sector in the Bahamas has boomed. The growth in visitor arrivals have been nothing short of exceptional,” Dionisio D’Aguilar, Minister of Tourism and Aviation for The Government of The Bahamas, noted, addressing those gathered for the International Travel Partners Conference in Nassau Paradise Island. “I deem 2018 as a historic year for the Bahamian economy in that 6.6 million foreign visitors made The Bahamas their vacation destination, the...
Good As Gold
Jamaica's minister of tourism, the Hon. Edmund Bartlett has hailed Sandals Resorts as a prime example of indigenous companies in the tourism sector that are taking their Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) to new heights, ensuring that the positive impact of tourism is reaching all corners of our communities. Minister Bartlett made his comments during the recent World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC) North America Leaders Forum panel: From Doing CSR to Being CSR. Bartlett pointed out that in an effort to modify the perception that the tourism sector is too focused on the narrow...
All The Colours Of The Rainbow
New York's five boroughs are lighting up with rainbows all this month in celebration of the queer community and the first WorldPride in the United States. Throughout June, approximately 4 million visitors in addition to locals will witness an awe-inspiring expression of LGBTQ+ representation and acceptance across the Bronx, Brooklyn, Manhattan, Queens and Staten Island, aligned to the monumental celebration and the Stonewall Uprising's 50th anniversary. Mayor Bill de Blasio said: “New York City is the birthplace of the modern LGBTQ rights movement and has played a significant role...
Let Yourself In
Tourism Toronto has launched a brand new destination marketing campaign, Let Yourself In. The launch comes on the heels of the Toronto Raptors capturing the NBA title and the city's sense of welcome and diversity that's attracting world attention. As well, the campaign also arrives as Toronto celebrates another record year in visitation having welcomed 44 million travellers into the city in 2018. Jon Mamela, executive vice-president and chief marketing officer at Tourism Toronto, observed that: “Right now, Toronto's having a real moment -- you can feel the incredible sense of...
San Francisco Is Making It New
Representatives from San Francisco Travel welcomed a high profile group of travel agents, tour operators, airline executives and meeting planners at Toronto's trendy Don Alfonso 1890 last night (June 19), updating them on a host of happenings taking place in the City by the Bay. New hotel openings, the opening of the Chase Center (the new home of the NBA's Golden State Warriors), the opening of the Moscone Center after a $500 million upgrade, new subway service and lots, lots more will welcome visitors to the city in 2019. Canada has always been a strong market for San Francisco and...
Trafalgar Unveils Enhanced 2020 US, Canada Program
Trafalgar has released its 2020 USA & Canada program, highlighted by a number of new trips and experiences. To celebrate the launch, travellers can save 10% on select 2020 trips when paid in full by Dec. 18. 2020 sees the brand introduce “Active” itineraries, ideal for lovers of the great outdoors, featuring a walk or a hike most days, with guests having the freedom to take on different trails best suited to fitness levels. “State Explorer” trips will like the name suggests, give clients an even deeper look at particular states and what makes them so unique, featuring...