Destinations
Whistler Receives Record-Breaking Snowfall
Skiers and snowboarders in Whistler, BC had more than one reason to celebrate as the New Year rolled in after Whistler Blackcomb announced a new snowfall record for the month of December. A total of 384 cm fell over the course of the month, surpassing Whistler Blackcomb’s previous December snowfall record of 380 cm, set in 1994. And the snow in Whistler hasn’t stopped falling since. Whistler Blackcomb has seen a total of 627 cm of snowfall so far this season and there is more snow in the forecast this week. The ultimate big mountain experience is now available to skiers and...
Dana Young Named VISIT FLORIDA President
VISIT FLORIDA has announced the appointment of Dana Young as its new president and CEO, effective today (Jan. 9). The announcement was made following a unanimous vote of the VISIT FLORIDA board of directors. Governor-elect Ron DeSantis commented, “Dana Young is an exceptional leader who has worked tirelessly to improve the quality of life for all Floridians. Her leadership ability and experience make her an excellent candidate to lead VISIT FLORIDA in its mission to maximize the economic impact of travel and tourism to our state. I look forward to working with Dana, who will be...
Swoop Inaugurates Hamilton-Puerto Vallarta Service
Swoop is celebrating its first of four inaugural flights to Mexico today (Jan. 8). Flight WO660 departed John C. Munro Hamilton International Airport (YHM) at 8 a.m. this morning and arrives at Puerto Vallarta International Airport (PVR) at 12:28 p.m. CST. It is the first time an airline has offered service to Puerto Vallarta from Hamilton. The airline is also offering flights from Hamilton to Cancun beginning Jan. 14 and Abbotsford to Puerto Vallarta and Mazatlán beginning Jan. 12 and Jan. 20, respectively. “Not only are we celebrating Swoop's entry into its fourth country in...
Contiki Unveils Re-Imagined South Pacific Program
Contiki has unveiled its newly re-designed South Pacific 2019 program featuring 16 new and improved adventures designed to meet the wants and needs of the youth market. In meeting the needs of the millennial and Gen Z traveller, Contiki's new suite of adventures features smaller group sizes: with a maximum of 30 travellers on Australia’s East Coast and 25 in the Northern Territory in a bid to offer more opportunity for immersive local experiences. Clients will also spend more time in-destination with the inclusion of more internal flights; Contiki now flies from Darwin to Alice...
Norwegian Reveals Winter 2020-2021 Itineraries
Norwegian Cruise Line has opened sales for its winter 2020/2021 itineraries. Highlights include sister ships, Norwegian Joy and Norwegian Encore, sailing from Miami to the Caribbean; Norwegian Escape’s debut in Port Canaveral; and Norwegian Epic’s return to San Juan. “We are so pleased with the variety of itineraries we are providing, including positioning sister ships, Norwegian Joy and Norwegian Encore, to sail from the Cruise Capital of the World, where we can showcase the ship’s stand-out amenities to thousands of guests each week,” said NCL president Andy...
MSC Cruises Opens Books on 2021 World Cruise
MSC Cruises has opened sales for its 2021 World Cruise open. This once-in-a-lifetime experience – the cruise line's third world cruise – will journey on board MSC Poesia on a 119-day journey around the globe departing on Jan. 5, 2021. With an all-new itinerary featuring a significant focus on unique Asian destinations, the 2021 World Cruise has been designed to allow guests to really discover some of the region’s most inspiring destinations and more. The 119-day voyage sails roundtrip from Genoa and Civitavecchia in Italy, Marseille in France and Barcelona in Spain and...
Weathering The Trends
When it comes to what's visually luring travellers into booking a particular hotel, it turns out the money shot isn’t just of the view, but also the loo. “Oddly enough, a bathroom photo [is important],” Bonnie Vesterfelt, Expedia’s Toronto area manager tells Canadian Travel Press' Ann Ruppenstein. “It does really help on an increase in Average Daily Rate, typically, if you have a really good solid bathroom photo, which are sometimes hard to get. Also, with an international traveller too, they love to see the size of the bathroom.” Vesterfelt, whose market management team...
Travellers Invited to Spend the Night on a Glacier
Adventure travel company Off the Map Travel is inviting travellers to spend a night on a glacier, in a prime viewing area for Norway’s polar bears. On the island of Svalbard, high up in the Arctic Circle, guests will stay at the exclusive Nordenskiold Lodge located at the foot of the blue glacier. There, with almost no sounds to distract, guests can hear the ice creaking and cracking as the glacier moves along its slow journey. Guests will also have the chance to observe the island’s variety of wildlife including its most famous residents, the polar bear. Bookable now, the new...