Destinations
Farrill Joins Pulse Travel Marketing
Cynthia Farrill has joined Pulse Travel Marketing Inc. – a Canadian, boutique travel trade, marketing and public relations company. Farrill will help manage the Brand USA travel trade account for Pulse from its Toronto-based office with support from Patrice Bell and Pulse offices in Montreal and Vancouver and the Pulse PR and Marketing teams. With over 40 years experience in the travel industry, Farrill started her career with Air Canada and helped to position and build Air Canada's brand within the international markets. She retired from Air Canada in late April of this...
Where are you?
For Lisa LaVecchia taking on the role of president and CEO of the Ontario Tourism Marketing Partnership Corporation (OTMPC) is, she's quick to admit, “a dream job” for her, so it shouldn't be a surprise that her plan is to make the organization she now leads the top tourism marketer in Canada, reports Bob Mowat in this week's digital edition of Canadian Travel Press. In a recent interview, LaVecchia told CTP: “I've been here since 2013 as the VP of marketing and chief marketing officer and I'd always aspired to take the lead role so it's a thrill to take part in this.” She...
Life Elevated in Utah
From the Mighty 5 National Parks to experiencing the “greatest snow on earth,” representatives from The Utah Office of Tourism and partners from the state stopped in Toronto last night (April 27) to showcase the destination dubbed a lovechild between Colorado and Arizona. “Tourism [from Canada] is very good – it's still our top international market. It's not increasing quickly, mostly because of the exchange rate, but once again it's our top international market so it's an important market to us either way,” Rachel Bremer, global travel trade manager at the Utah Office of...
Star-Struck In Hilton Head
Hilton Head Island, South Carolina, may leave visitors a little star-struck. The destination was developed as vacation retreat in the 1950s, “planned as a perfect blend of resorts and nature,” Charlie Clark, spokeswoman for the Hilton Head Island Chamber of Commerce, said during a Thursday Toronto visit. Buildings are limited to five storeys on the five-by-12-mile island that's linked to mainland South Carolina by a bridge and is free of neon and streetlights, reducing the amount of artificial light at night, ensuring impressive celestial displays after sundown, Clark said....
Royal Caribbean Makes Inaugural Visit to Havana
It was a historic day for Royal Caribbean International earlier this week when the cruise line made its inaugural visit to Cuba as Empress of the Seas called in Havana as part of a five-night sailing from Miami. “We’re thrilled to be a part of Cuba’s future, ushering in Royal Caribbean’s next big adventure with Empress of the Seas’ first visit to Havana. Vacationers will now be able to experience a destination like no other, with authentic and immersive experiences that bring to life the vibrancy of Havana and its traditions,” said Michael Bayley, president and CEO, Royal...
Air Canada Takes Off To Three More
Air Canada welcomed a stellar group of its industry supporters to Malaparte at the TIFF Bell LightBox in Toronto last night (April 26) for a celebration – and there was certainly a lot to celebrate. “I'm proud of what's happening,” the carrier's vice-president, global sales, Duncan Bureau told his audience, continuing, “In 2016, 28 new markets were launched and in 2017, there's lots more to come.” And if that's not enough reason to celebrate, Bureau pointed to the fact that Air Canada was celebrating its 80th birthday in 2017; its planes are being decked out in a new...
Sunwing Launch – What An Experience!
There's no disputing that Bonaire is a new destination for the Sunwing Travel Group. The company held a Toronto show Wednesday night (April 27) updating travel agents on what's new for both Sunwing and Signature Vacations, with Lorraine Brisbois, Sunwing Travel Group's corporate manager of preferred partners telling the audience that Bonaire is so new to the company's lineup that it doesn't even appear in the new brochures the company was distributing last night. “We're very excited about the destination,” Brisbois told the gathering about an island known among other things for...
Now Open In Maui
The Westin Nanea Ocean Villas has opened on the Hawaiian island of Maui. Situated on 16 acres of North Kā'anapali Beach, the resort marked the event with a traditional Hawaiian blessing. Comprised of one-, two- and three-bedroom villas, The Westin Nanea Ocean Villas is designed to be a relaxing haven with culturally inspired programs and distinctive Hawaiian experiences. Under the guidance of the resort's cultural director, the “essence of Hawai'i has been carefully woven into design elements throughout the property. Additionally, the Pu'uhonua o Nanea Cultural Center will...