Destinations
PONANT Sails Back To Cuba In 2019
PONANT will be returning to Cuba for a second season. with sailings scheduled for Jan. 25 to Feb. 3, 2019. Passengers who book early can save up to 30% resulting in fares that start at $7,980 per person and include airfare from Miami as well as two pre-cruise nights in Havana at a hotel. PONANT's Cuba cruises will be aboard the 64-guest Le Ponant – a three-masted sailing yacht – with ports of call including Santiago de Cuba, Trinidad; Punta Frances on Isla de la Juventud; and Cienfuegos. And for the first time, the fare includes two hotel nights in Havana. Airfare from Miami,...
Hong Kong Gets Ready To Paddle
One of the fastest growing sports paddling its way around the world these days is dragon boating and Hong Kong is set to host its Dragon Boat Carnival. The Dragon Boat Carnival is one of Hong Kong's favourite summer festivals: a time for spectators and athletes to assemble from around the world. This year's three-day carnival is scheduled to take place at the Central Harbourfront and on the waters of Victoria Harbour from June 22-24. Admission is free and the event is organized by the Hong Kong Tourism Board (HKTB) and co-organized by the Hong Kong China Dragon Boat Association...
Le Boat Opens 2018 Cruising Season
Le Boat has opened its 2018 cruising season on the Rideau Canal near Ottawa. Le Boat is known as Europe’s largest boat rental company and this year expanded into North America with the launch of the company’s first North American destination and base operation in Smiths Falls, Ont. On May 18, Le Boat hosted a small ribbon cutting ceremony at the Kilmarnock Lock Station with three of their new Horizon Cruisers. Lisa McLean, national marketing manager for North America, and Amanda Breeze, sales agent, had the honour of cutting the ribbon at the official opening of the locks,...
Making Music At IPW 2018
It’s a year of musical tourism in America in 2018, and organizers of the IPW travel trade conference last week ensured that delegates went home with that theme firmly embedded in mind. They did so by presenting a schedule of impressive music concerts during this year’s IPW, held in Denver at the vast Colorado Convention Center, plus venues in and around the city. Most of these took place at the daily lunches, including shows by early new wavers the B52s, Rob Thomas of Matchbox 20 and a medley of show tunes by cast members of Broadway musicals. But the finale, featuring a...
Tourism Vancouver Teams Up With Tencent
Tourism Vancouver has signed a new technology deal with China industry giant Tencent to attract more Chinese tourists. The deal will see Tencent Travel and its partner Trip Advisor China promote Vancouver as an international model for smart city tourism. As part of the three-year agreement, Tencent will provide cutting-edge mobile technology for Vancouver to offer interactive digital services to Chinese travellers and to set a global benchmark. Trip Advisor China will cross-promote Tencent Vancouver content to Chinese audiences. Stephen Pearce, vice-president of marketing for...
Brand USA Finds The Right Tune
Music and travel go hand in hand, and as Anne Madison, Brand USA's chief communications and strategy officer, says, “what a wonderful way of connecting people.” Music is a key theme of Brand USA's marketing strategies this year and next and the message behind the organization's second 3D IMAX film, America's Musical Journey, writes assistant editor, Greg Coates in this week's digital edition of Canadian Travel Press. Narrated by Academy Award winner Morgan Freeman, the film follows Grammy Award-nominated singer and songwriter Aloe Blacc as he traces the roots of America's music...
Back And Better Than Ever
Throughout the Florida Keys & Key West, 86% of all lodging units are back online after Hurricane Irma passed through the island chain last fall. The Keys are to add nearly 1,500 rooms to their lodging inventory as the destination continues to unveil new and fully refurbished properties. The Keys' first luxury-inclusive, adults-only resort is to debut in late fall. In Key West and nearby Stock Island, 95% of all properties are open. Elsewhere in the island chain, 86% are open in Key Largo, 71% in Islamorada, 77% in Marathon and 64% between the west end of the Seven Mile Bridge...
Montreal Makes It Official
Tourisme Montréal has just launched an innovative mobile app called My Official Montréal City Guide. The new app has been designed to assist leisure and business tourists visiting Montreal. Once they create an account, users can select favourites, plan their stay, share their itinerary and get personalized recommendations to enhance their visit. The app will offer users an engaging and authentic Montréal experience by pointing them to museum exhibitions, guided tours, tourist attractions and restaurants. Danièle Perron, vice-president, marketing for Tourisme Montréal, noted...