Destinations
Searching For Millennials
Federal tourism officials are reaching out to millennials, with tourism minister Bardish Chagger using the Rendez-vous Canada show in Montreal to announce the launch of the Millennial Travel Program yesterday (April 27, 2016). That demographic is seen as tech-savvy, with Chagger saying millennials "are born with a smartphone in their hands." The new program is encouraging "young Canadians to explore our country and share pictures," Chagger told Rendez-vous delegates. Millennials like to "go off the beaten path" and Chagger predicted they'll "share and forward all the amazing...
On A Mission
Louisiana's department of tourism called in Toronto yesterday (Tuesday) to celebrate its relationship with its top international market. In fact, with 28 state suppliers, led by Lieutenant Governor Billy Nungesser, the international sales mission ranked as the state's largest ever. “[Canada] is our No. 1 market, but we want to grow that market and get more Canadians coming down,” he told a trade audience at Ruth's Chris Steak House at the Hilton. Nungesser said he personally owed Canada a vote of thanks for helping him succeed in his business life, but added that Canadians...
Canada Remains Cuba’s Favourite Market
Celebrating 70 years of uninterrupted diplomatic relations between Canada and Cuba – not to mention a record 1.3 million visitors from Canada last year – the Cuba Tourist Board held an industry luncheon yesterday (April 26) to clear the air on misconceptions surrounding current Cuba-US relations. Eloy Govea, director, Cuba Tourist Board, Canada, said Canada represents more than 40% of the island's arrivals, is its number one market and will remain so in the future. “This is a golden opportunity for us to get the message out that Cuba will remain loyal to our friends,” said...
Massachusetts: It’s All Here
About 65 travel agents and tour operators were on hand to get the inside story on Massachusetts in Toronto last night (April 26) from representatives of the state and its key tourism regions. As well, Massachusetts' airline partners – Air Canada, Porter and WestJet – were also in attendance to update travel trade types on their service to the state. Jackie Ennis, international marketing, Massachusetts Office of Travel and Tourism, told Press Today that Canada was the state's number one international visitor market, with the most recent visitor numbers (from 2014) showing that...
Setting The Stage
The always-ambitious Cirque du Soleil seized the moment at this week’s Tianguis Turistico Mexico trade conference in Guadalajara to announce a new mega project for Mexico. Cirque du Soleil already has a successful permanent theatre in the Riviera Maya, where the show “Joya” operates. At Tianguis, Cirque CEO Daniel Lamarre announced that a theme park focused on a new theatre in Nuevo Vallarta was now in the works. Ground has broken on the theme park and it is estimated to open in 2018. The new show to be presented there will be called “Luzia” and it will adhere to the...
Inspiring People To Travel
Close to 120 travel counsellors turned out Tuesday night to get the latest updates on Europe at a Toronto event co-hosted by the European Travel Commission and Collette. The event will be repeated in Halifax on Thursday with close to 90 agents expected. The annual ETC event, which features rotating tour operator partners, included representatives and table top stands from ETC members in Canada -- Spain, Portugal, Ireland, Germany, Italy, Belgium and Switzerland, followed by country presentations. “It's all about inspiring people to travel,” ETC vice chair Dana Welch (Ireland)...
A Taste Of Fogo Island
Quench Trip Design is offering travellers a chance to discover the culinary wonders of Newfoundland. Epicurean Newfoundland is a self-drive, point-to-point tour of Canada’s easternmost province, offering gastronomes a chance to explore the enigmatic landscapes of the Avalon and Bonavista Peninsulas and Fogo Island and along the way discover a culinary heritage inextricably tied with land and sea. Partnering with the Fogo Island Inn and Fishers’ Loft, Quench Trip Design's sustainable-food focused trip features seven night departures that are available beginning Sept. 1, 2016 through...
Tianguis Opens With A Splash
Mexico president Enrique Pena Nieto led an elaborate opening of the Tianguis Turistico Mexico 2016 on Monday (April 25, 2016) at the Expo Guadalajara in the city of Guadalajara, reports Press Today's Ted Davis from the show. President Nieto presided over ceremonies that included energetic dance routines and presentations by Mexico government officials extolling the strength of Mexico’s tourism sector. At one point, the stage was also occupied by a group of indigenous children that had been hosted on a trip through the country, as part of a push to encourage more domestic...