Destinations
A Celebration of Harry Potter
Harry Potter fans now have a chance to see star Jason Isaacs (Lucius Malfoy) -- pictured on the right -- as Universal Orlando and Warner Bros. have announced that he will attend the fourth annual “A Celebration of Harry Potter” from Jan. 27-29. The special three-day event will be highlighted by numerous experiences that will allow agents' clients to celebrate J.K. Rowling’s Wizarding World. Isaacs will join the previously announced Harry Potter film talent Warwick Davis (Professor Flitwick and Griphook) and Matthew Lewis (Neville Longbottom) for a weekend of...
Lindblad Puts the Spotlight on the South Pacific
Lindblad Expeditions-National Geographic will take the National Geographic Orion to French Polynesia and the South Pacific in 2018. Five new itineraries will offer one- and two- week voyages from March through August 2018 with guests able to discover secluded atolls, wildlife and local culture with access to spectacular landscapes, waterfalls and shore landings only accessible by expedition ship and Zodiac. They will also have opportunity to dive and snorkel some of the world’s most pristine seas and renowned scuba sites. Part research vessel, part hotel, the 102-guest National...
Ambitious Arrivals Goal Set by ASEAN
The 2017 edition of the ASEAN Tourism Forum has just wrapped up, kicking off a year in which the member states of ASEAN will mark the 50th anniversary of the organization. The ATF took place in Singapore at the Marina Bay Sands last week, and was attended by western Canada editor Ted Davis. The original five countries that created ASEAN – Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand and the Philippines – have since grown in number to a total of 10. Together with these additional five countries – Brunei, Cambodia, Vietnam, Myanmar and Laos – ASEAN has gone on to establish links...
Pearl Seas Sails to Cuba
Cuba is back in the news as the first cruise ship to sail there from Broward County's Port Everglades in Florida since the 1950s departed last week on a 10-day cultural voyage to Havana and several other ports of call on the island. Pearl Seas Cruises has scheduled 11 cruises aboard the 210-passenger Pearl Mist from Port Everglades to Cuba through April. More are scheduled for the 2017-2018 cruise...
Curacao Scores Big at Leaf Game
Curacao scored big at last night's Toronto Maple Leafs game against the New York Rangers. More importantly than hosting trade partners in a box for the game, the southern Caribbean island imprinted on the consciousness of those in attendance through a series of in-game ads, scoreboard videos, and 2nd-period beach ball drop in which one lucky fan won a trip to the C of the ABC islands in the Dutch Caribbean. Hosting the group (seen here on the Air Canada Centre scoreboard) were Curacao's minister of economic development Eugene Rhuggenaath (c) and North American marketing manager...
Scottsdale Invites Canadians to Warm Up in the Desert
Fresh off a re-branding, tourism officials from Experience Scottsdale – the new name for the Scottsdale Convention & Visitors Bureau – dropped by Toronto yesterday (Jan. 19) to host an industry lunch and update the trade on all things new in and around Scottsdale. Nicole Krekeler, tourism sales manager for Experience Scottsdale, said there's been a lot of changes in the area, which is growing fast and offers “a lot more than just golf [there are almost 200 courses] and spa.” Drawing visitors to the Scottsdale region of Arizona are such things as the Sonoran Desert (full...
WestJet Inaugurates Service to Mesa
WestJet officially launches the start of service to Phoenix-Mesa Gateway Airport from Calgary today. Inaugural service from Edmonton begins Jan. 21. “WestJet is providing our guests in Calgary and Edmonton even more options when travelling to this very popular sun destination,” said Brian Znotins, WestJet vice-president, Network Planning. “The Phoenix-Mesa market is very robust and WestJet continues to add new service to meet demand. These new non-stop flights connect Albertans to a highly desirable leisure market and offer convenience to those looking to fly directly into...
Gran Meliá Now In Brazil
Meliá Hotels International will open its first luxury hotel from the Gran Meliá brand in Brazil with the official opening of Gran Meliá Nacional Rio in March. Located in Rio de Janeiro’s most exclusive area, São Conrado, Gran Meliá Nacional Rio is a member of the prestigious “Leading Hotels of the World” club. Originally built in 1972, the famous Hotel Nacional has reopened after more than a decade of being left abandoned, as the Gran Meliá brand’s flagship property. Following extensive renovations, the property has been restored to its former glory, maintaining the...