Destinations
Giddying up for the Calgary Stampede
The countdown is on: 69 days. Gearing up for the annual event, taking place this year July 8-17, representatives from the Calgary Stampede were in Toronto last night (April 28) to highlight the event and announce the official lineup for country music venue Nashville North during the festival. Among the headliners is The Washboard Union, the Vancouver-based band who was also on hand for a surprise performance. “We’re super excited about Stampede. I think we’re still going to have a very good year. Our ticket sales are looking good tourism wise, international,” Lindsay...
Crystal Puts The Spotlight On The Big Easy
Crystal Cruises has introduced three new Caribbean itineraries which either start or end in New Orleans for November and December. The voyages, each 14 days in length aboard the Crystal Serenity, set out on varied island routes and either begin or end with an overnight stay in The Big Easy. “There’s something about traveling to destinations that are entirely different than one’s usual surroundings – from the climate to the cuisine – that creates a true sense of vacation,” says Crystal president Edie Rodriguez. “Many of our guests live in areas that experience snow and...
Take Me To The River
French America Line is getting set to introduce boutique US river experiences with the August launch of the newly refurbished 75-stateroom Louisiane, sailing from its home port of New Orleans. Inaugural sailings begin Aug. 22. The elegant ship celebrates regional food, music and history during cruise tours of five to 10 days, visiting places where larger riverboats cannot navigate along the Mississippi, Ohio, Tennessee, Cumberland and Red Rivers, as well as the Intracoastal Waterway of the Gulf Coast. “We’ve orchestrated an unprecedented array of onboard services and amenities...
Air Canada to Launch YVR-Delhi Service
Air Canada has introduced new non-stop flights from Vancouver to Delhi, India, beginning Oct. 20 in time for Diwali festivities. The seasonal, three-times weekly flights complement Air Canada's Toronto-Delhi non-stop service launched last fall. To promote the new Vancouver route, Air Canada is offering special introductory fares starting as low as $999 round trip, all-in. Tickets are now available for purchase. “Customer response to our Toronto-Delhi service has been extremely positive, and with this new seasonal Vancouver route, we are strategically increasing our presence in the...
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...