Destinations
Experience Europe All Year Round
Insight Vacations is offering Canadians a chance to experience Europe's fall colours, winter magic and spring blooms and discover the magic that's unique to those seasons. Until August 31, 2017, travellers are encouraged to book early to get the best possible deal and can save up to 7.5% per person and give them a chance to enjoy Europe’s milder weather and vibrant colours, seasonal culinary specialties and celebrate regional festivals with the locals. Cris David, president, Insight Vacations Canada, said: “Travelling to Europe is special all year long, but what many clients...
Easier To Explore With Arctic Kingdom
Arctic Kingdom says its new website makes the Canadian Arctic easier to explore. The tour operator says dramatic landscapes, unique wildlife, culture, and bucket list experiences await those who visit the Arctic. It adds that its “completely redesigned and mobile website inspires and brings awareness to this incredible vast and ever-changing place in the world, makes it easier for travellers to get here now, and empowers travel agents to confidently promote this incredible destination.” The site has a new travel agent section that includes tools and information to help agents...
Princess Cruises Unveils Americas Sailings
Princess Cruises has unveiled details of its 2018-2019 Americas cruise itineraries – including sailings to the Caribbean, Panama Canal, Mexico, Hawaii, the California Coast, and Alaska. Now on sale, the upcoming season includes 12 ships, sailing to over 70 destinations on more than 40 unique itineraries on 250 departures from six North American homeports. Four of the 12 ships - Royal Princess, Regal Princess, Caribbean Princess and Island Princess -- will be OCEAN Medallion enabled for this fall 2018-spring 2019 season. Passengers will experience the highly anticipated, wearable...
On The Road At Volcano Bay
Amidst the threat of a tornado warning, Universal Orlando Resort offered a sneak peek at its newest theme park -- Volcano Bay -- yesterday, an impressive 25-acre water park which will celebrate its grand opening today (May 25), attended by PressToday's Greg Coates. Replacing Universal's former Wet 'n Wild water park, Volcano Bay features more than 18 attractions, from a serene winding river ride to the thrilling Ko'okiri Body Plunge, which takes riders atop the signature 200-foot volcano and features a 70-degree fall through a trap door before participants plunge 125 feet into the pool...
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...