Destinations
Time To Flock To Florida
Visit Florida along with more than a dozen of its partners were in Toronto earlier this week to update the Canadian travel trade on all that's going on in the Sunshine State this winter. In fact, Summer Gonzalez of Visit Florida offered Canadian vacationers a warm welcome. “We're opening our arms to share the warmth with Canadians,” Gonzalez said, after reminding her audience that winter was fast approaching and Florida was more than happy to offer a warm respite from the cold, snow, heavy coats and boots and all of the other annoyances of that season. On hand to update trade...
Take Off To The Azores
Rui Amen hopes that watersports enthusiasts who have never vacationed in the middle of the Atlantic will 'fin-ally' do so. Amen, with the Azores Promotion Board, told an Oct. 19 Toronto event that the Azores is “one of the top five places in the world” for whale-watching, and the archipelago is also becoming one of the “hot spots in the Atlantic for diving. It's a perfect place for you to see a dolphin while you're diving” and also “one of the best places to dive with blue sharks,” Amen added, with the latter not considered a dangerous activity. Wreck diving is also...
All About Cuba
It was all things Cuba last night at the Palais Royale Ballroom in Toronto as the Cuba tourist board and a bevy of partners updated agents on their programs and on-island developments. Some of the local suppliers on hand for a mini trade show included Transat, WestJet, Air Canada Vacations, Sunwing, and Hola Sun. At a dinner presentation, agents were told that Canadian visitations to the island has already topped the million mark in 2016 – the sixth consecutive year it has done so. The rest of the world is also discovering Cuba, with the 3 millionth visitor arriving this month,...
Goway All About Culture
For Goway Travel's Pacific departments, 2017 is shaping up to be a year of culture. The operator is urging its globetrotting customers to go beyond the usual tourist attractions and discover the more unique cultural experiences and local connections on trips through Asia, the South Pacific and the lands Downunder. India’s allure has been particularly strong. The Temples of Khajuraho and Varanasi trip is a 5-day journey through India’s spiritual side. It combines the ancient Hindu temples of Madhya Pradesh with India’s most holy city, Varanasi, where the devout come to bathe...
Allianz Thanks Partners with a Taste of Brazil
As one of the global sponsors for the Paralympian athletes – fresh off a successful competition in Rio – Allianz Global Assistance brought a taste of Brazil to Toronto last night (Oct. 18) at Copa Cabana restaurant. Along with cocktails and dinner, the evening featured special entertainment for the travel trade and partners in attendance. “Allianz Global Assistance in Canada has travel agency and broker partners right across the country and this evening we’re here to celebrate them,” Karen Cullen, director of sales for Allianz Global Assistance told PressToday. “This is...
A Renaissance In Acapulco
Legendary TV show host Johnny Carson's favorite hotel is under new management. Acapulco's long-standing Princess Hotel, along with fellow nearby upscale Acapulco property, The Pierre, has been bought by the owners of Acapulco's Mundo Imperial property, giving them a weighty presence in Acapulco's hotel scene. The three properties collectively have some 2,100 rooms. Yayoi Shibayama of the Mundo Imperial's sales team says the new ownership is making improvements to the two new additions. “They're being renovated,” she said during an Oct. 18 Toronto event. “We're very...
Sunwing Brings Back Direct Toronto-Saint Lucia Service
Sunwing is re-introducing direct service from Toronto to Saint Lucia with Saturdays departures taking flight from Jan. 28, 2017 until April 29, 2017. The return to Saint Lucia coincides with the early opening of two of the island’s latest luxury all-inclusive luxury resorts, the Royalton Saint Lucia Resort & Spa and Hideaway at Royalton Saint Lucia. Originally slated to open Feb. 1, 2017, both properties will now be ready from Jan. 15, 2017. Andrew Dawson, president of tour operations for Sunwing commented, “Royalton Luxury Resorts is one of our top partners and we are...
Bermuda Open For Business
Within 24 hours, Bermuda bounced back from one of the strongest storms to ever hit the country – Hurricane Nicole, a dangerous Category 4 storm. Hurricane Nicole hit Bermuda Oct. 13 toppling trees, flooding neighbourhood streets and knocking out power to 90% of the island. However, strict building codes and a commitment to hurricane preparedness paved the way for a wide-ranging recovery effort immediately following the storm. No major injuries or loss of life resulted from the hurricane. The airport is open and all hotels are open with little to no damage reported. “Bermuda...