Destinations
There’s Something About Clearwater
Calling all Blue Jays fans. Want to take in a game while staying on the beach? Joelle Castelli (pictured below), from the city of Clearwater, Florida says Dunedin, where the team has spring training, is located close to the destination. “You can stay at the beach and then take a trolley to take in a game,” Castelli told Press Today during a one-on-one interview in Toronto yesterday (Jan. 27). “It's a big attraction. The whole month of March people are there for it.” Clearwater's most famous celebrity however is Winter the dolphin, star of the Dolphin Tale movies, who resides...
There’s Nothing Like Australia
Tourism Australia is making a splash with its latest tourism campaign that highlights the country's aquatic and coastal experiences, in a bid to lure more international visitors to Australia. The new initiative is the latest installment of Tourism Australia's global There's Nothing like Australia campaign, and it was unveiled recently by Australia's Minister for Foreign Affairs the Hon. Julie Bishop at an event in New York. A new broadcast ad features a voice-over by Australian actor and Tourism Australia's new global ambassador Chris Hemsworth. Tourism Australia managing director,...
On the Road at Grand Velas Riviera Maya
“Canadians have a way of thinking of Mexico not as a destination, but as a week far away from the cold,” says Juan Vela, VP of Velas Resorts, pictured. While escaping winter may be a key factor to many getaways, he says the variety of things visitors can do while in Mexico make it a year round destination. “The quality of hotels and the experiences that you can get in Mexico is superior to anything you’d find in the Caribbean,” he says. On site at Grand Velas Riviera Maya, Vela told Press Today that Canada is a top international market (along with the USA) for the...
50 Years Of Mystique
The chief marketing officer for the Caribbean Hotel & Tourism Association doesn't expect that Cuba will be rolling out the welcome mat for huge numbers of American tourists this year. Matt Cooper told travelpress.com that there remain “some obstacles” in the way of unfettered American visitations, including Cuba's ability to accommodate large numbers of additional visitors. There are predictions in some quarters that if all restrictions on American travel to the communist island were lifted, Cuba would see at least a million American visitors a year. That prospect is a...
Chicago Now Epic
Vail Resorts, Inc. has expanded its collection of premier urban ski areas in the US Midwest with the acquisition of Wilmot Mountain in Wisconsin near the Illinois state line. Located approximately 100 km north of Chicago, Wilmot Mountain has long been a favourite of skiers and snowboarders. Terms of the acquisition were not disclosed. Vail Resorts plans to transform both the on-mountain and base area experience at Wilmot. Enhancements will include redesigned and updated terrain parks, best-in-class coaching and instruction for all levels of skiers and riders, expanded dining and...
Hadfield To Join Quark Expedition
Astronaut Colonel Chris Hadfield will join Quark Expeditions on a voyage exploring the Arctic and Greenland on its Arctic Icebreaker Expedition: Best of the Canadian High Arctic voyage in true expedition style on the legendary icebreaker, Kapitan Khlebnikov. This voyage, Aug. 22 – Sept. 8, is the third of four separate journeys, which together culminate in a historic, full circumnavigation of the Arctic. “Chris Hadfield’s Generator” is a science-based variety show that blends knowledge, perception, music and comedy, hosted by the celebrated astronaut and featuring special...
Las Vegas Breaks Tourism Record
Forty-two million and counting. Las Vegas continued its historic visitation growth, setting another new record by surpassing 42 million visitors for the first time in 2015. This breaks 2014's record of 41.1 million, which was the first time the destination had ever topped 40 million. Boosted by several new non-stop flights, increased convention attendance and several other factors, Las Vegas officials expect to surpass the 42 million mark by the end of 2016. Tourism is the lifeblood of the Southern Nevada economy and the Las Vegas Valley generating more than US$50 billion...
Emirates Celebrates New Codeshare With A Sale
On the heels of its Hello 2016 global sale, Emirates has launched another round of fare deals to celebrate its recently government-approved, codeshare agreement with Alaska Airlines. For a limited time, Western Canadian travellers can save on roundtrip, all inclusive economy class fares flying out of Vancouver (YVR), Victoria (YYJ), Kelowna (YLW), Calgary (YYC) and Edmonton (YEG) via Seattle (SEA) with Emirates and Alaska Airlines and featuring fares starting from $1,199. Destinations included in this special fare sale are: Dubai (DXB) from $1,199 Karachi (KHI) from...