Destinations
It’s Christmas Already
Avalon Waterways is offering passengers a different way to see Europe, unveiling 16 festive cruises for 2018, offering them a chance to experience the sights, smells and tastes of Central Europe’s Christmas markets. Stéphanie Bishop, managing director for Avalon Waterways Canadian office, observed: “There’s no better way to get into the Christmas spirit than by visiting the charming and traditional European Christmas markets.” Bishop noted that: “You’ll be immersed in traditions dating back centuries – so completely different from our crowded malls at that time of...
Canada Is Hot, Hot, Hot
The Conference Board of Canada is forecasting that with Canadian and foreign airlines expanding their fleets and adding direct connections to many destinations across the country, overnight visits are expected to increase by 3.7% in 2017. Greg Hermus, associate director for The Conference Board of Canada’s Canadian Tourism Research Institute, observed: “Last year, the low Canadian dollar and energy prices fueled travel to and within Canada. These factors will continue to benefit tourism growth in 2017. In addition, we expect that new direct flights and Canada’s reputation as a...
UNBELIEVABLE!
Unbelievable is probably the only printable version of what many in the US tourism industry are actually saying as the news that Donald Trump's new budget proposes the elimination of Brand USA. In a statement following the release of the federal budget document, U.S. Travel Association president and CEO, Roger Dow said: “With all that's going on in the world, unilaterally disarming the marketing of the U.S. as a travel destination would be to surrender market share at the worst possible time. It’s especially perplexing that the elimination of Brand USA is on the table when both...
Now This Isn’t Good
The Global Business Travel Association (GBTA) is projecting that the United States will lose $1.3 billion in overall travel-related expenditures, including hotels, food, rental cars and shopping expenses that inbound travellers would have spent. That figure includes $250 million lost in spending from inbound business travellers from Europe and the Middle East. And the GBTA says that the even greater concern is that the longer-term impact on business travel will become even larger as companies begin to host meetings and events in other destinations. Using first quarter ticketing...
RBC Tracks The Summer Trends
Summer is here. And with the Victoria Day weekend just passed, Canadians are putting the finishing touches on their travel plans – and not surprisingly, as the country gears up for its 150th birthday celebrations, Canada is THE hot spot for vacations in 2017. In fact, a recently released RBC Insurance survey offered a double dose of good news revealing that 79% of Canadians are planning to travel in 2017 and a majority (60%) are planning a staycation here in the true north. RBC also found that as millions of Canadians prepare to hit the road, 75% said they'd never leave home...
‘Golf at Par’ in Upstate New York
With 90 holes, five courses and four locations, upstate New York golfing is “on par with the best.” Now, Canadian golfers have extra incentive this summer to enjoy the North Country’s classic golf courses, with special lodging and golf packages at par at Malone Golf Club and other top Adirondack-area courses. Participating courses in the “Golf at Par Packages” promotion include the 36-hole Malone Golf Club East and West courses designed by Robert Trent Jones and Donald Ross; the 18-hole Saranac Inn Golf & Country Club designed by Seymour Dunn; the 18-hole Tupper Lake...
Hilton Opens 100th Hotel in Latin America
Hilton recently celebrated the opening of its 100th hotel in Latin America with the opening of Hilton Rio de Janeiro Copacabana. The 545-room beachfront Hilton Rio de Janeiro Copacabana is one of the largest hotels in the famous Copacabana neighbourhood, one of Brazil’s most visited destinations, and represents Hilton’s second property in the city. The beachfront hotel in Rio, which was built in 1975 and completed an extensive renovation in 2011, includes 545 rooms featuring the brand’s sophisticated amenities for guests travelling on leisure or business to the South zone of...
RVC 2017 Shines In Calgary
Given the historic anniversary significance of 2017 for Canada, any number of Canadian cities would have been appropriate venues for hosting the country’s principle tourism marketplace, reports western editor, Ted Davis in this week's digital edition of Canadian Travel Press. But it was Calgary’s turn to go to the front of the line as the host city for Rendez-vous Canada in 2017 – the same year that Canada marks its 150th birthday. This definitive frontier city, with the sprawling, fertile prairies in its backyard, and the spectacular Rockies in front, made the most of the...