Destinations
Record Results For Chicago
It was quite a celebration as Chicago mayor, Rahm Emanuel and Choose Chicago president & CEO, David Whitaker announced that the city reached record tourism levels in the first quarter of 2018. The results build on Chicago's record performance of 55.2 million visitors in 2017 and reflect the city's growing strength in attracting more leisure visitors and convention delegates. Mayor Emanuel said of the results: “Tourism in Chicago means jobs throughout Chicago. By continuing to set new tourism records and bring millions more people to Chicago every year, we are creating jobs and...
London Visitor Growth Stalls
According to the latest figures from ForwardKeys, London's immediate tourism outlook is on the wane with international forward air bookings showing a significant decline, particularly from the Chinese who have accounted for a boom in visitor numbers in recent years. A year-on-year comparison shows that international forward bookings to London lag by 3.5% for the first half of 2018, with a large 10.1% fall currently projected in the second quarter. At the same time, other top European Union destinations Paris, Rome, Amsterdam and Barcelona look set to grow visitor...
Contiki Has Latin America Covered
For 18 to 35 year olds, Latin America is a 'must do' travel destination and Contiki has it covered, offering authentic food experiences, travel musts, more freedom, unrivalled value and tailored travel styles. Sheralyn Berry, vice-president of sales for Contiki Holidays Canada, notes that: “Central and South America are high on the lists of young travellers for a reason. They seek authenticity through their experiences and are looking for an adventure through who they meet, what they do, where they go and what they taste.” And says Berry: “This is what Latin America offers, and...
CHTA Taking Care Of Business
Officials are gearing up for the fourth annual Caribbean Hospitality Industry Exchange Forum that's slated for June 22 to June 24, 2018 at the Hyatt Regency in Miami. The Caribbean Hotel and Tourism Association (CHTA) announced that plans are set for the top regional gathering where unity and innovation will be examined as central factors to fuel the growth of the region's bread and butter industry. CHTA president Karolin Troubetzkoy said after a challenging close to 2017 following the impact of September's hurricanes, it was important for industry stakeholders to get together and...
Cuba On A Roll In 2018
Cuba's Ministry of Tourism reports that it has recorded over 500,000 visitors to the island in the first quarter of 2018. The ministry notes that with the half-million milestone surpassed so early in the season, all signs point to another strong year of tourism growth for the popular island nation. Canadians can certainly take some credit for the results as Cuba remains their top destination in the Caribbean, with over one million visitors from Canada flying down each year. Plus the timing couldn't be better as the island gears up for the Cuba International Tourism Fair (FIT...
TTAND Is On A Mission
Some 140 travel agents from the The Travel Agent Next Door collective have descended on Punta Cana in the Dominican Republic, to take part in the group's fourth annual educational conference, reports Press Today's Ted Davis, who's at the event. Dubbed “On A Mission,” it has already featured a Spy vs. Spy theme night, during which members turned out in their best secret agent gear, ranging from trench coats to fedoras and moustache disguises. The all-Canadian conference has drawn attendees – about half who are from Ontario – to the Majestic Colonial Resort, a sprawling property...
Montreal Welcomes Hôtel Monville
Montreal has welcomed its newest hotel – the Hôtel Monville, the only hotel in Canada providing room service using an autonomous delivery robot that carries orders directly to guest rooms. Located just a few steps from Palais des Congrès and historic Old Montreal, the 20-storey, four-star hotel offers 269 guest rooms, including 54 suites. Guests can easily check in at electronic kiosks where they will automatically receive their room keys. All rooms and suites have large windows that, alongside the paintings that adorn the walls, provide panoramic views of the city, the...
Gwen Stefani Takes Up Residency in Las Vegas
Multi-platinum recording artist Gwen Stefani is heading to the Las Vegas Strip with her exclusive headlining residency show, “Gwen Stefani – Just a Girl,” inside Zappos Theater at Planet Hollywood Resort & Casino, beginning June 27. Designed exclusively for Zappos Theater, Stefani will take to the stage with a show celebrating the breadth of her illustrious musical career. Stefani, Live Nation Las Vegas and Caesars Entertainment have also announced their partnership with Cure 4 The Kids Foundation, where $1 of every ticket purchased to the show will be donated to the...