Destinations
Exploring Iceland
Representatives from Iceland – including 14 tourism partners and three marketing officials – were in Toronto on Friday (Nov. 13) to highlight the destination’s diverse offerings to the travel trade. Margrét Helga Jóhannsdóttir, pictured left, project manager, tourism and creative ideas at Promote Iceland told PressToday these road show workshop events are key initiatives to meet with the industry, as Iceland doesn’t have proper representation abroad. “Like every market the Canadian market is growing," she says. "Last year we had 38,000 guests arriving the whole year,...
Intrepid Supports Blind Runner’s Historic Feat in Peru
Dan Berlin blazed his own trail. Berlin partnered with Intrepid Travel and endurance athlete colleagues of Team See Possibilities to undertake Peru's 46-km Inca Trail on Oct. 14, becoming the first blind person to complete the storied mountain journey in a day. Berlin alternately ran the trail – which normally takes trekkers three or four days – and at other times gingerly stepped along sometimes startlingly steep stone stairs built by the Incas more than 500 years ago in 13 hours. He was joined by three other endurance athletes – collectively known as Team See Possibilities –...
Whistler Opening a Week Ahead of Schedule
Favourable early season conditions is allowing BC's Whistler Mountain to open a week ahead of schedule on Nov. 19. Conditions include natural snowfall and prime temperatures for snowmaking. Blackcomb Mountain will open as scheduled on Nov. 26. “Since Nov. 1, we have received 98 cm of natural snow as measured at our Pig Alley weather station on Whistler Mountain and we have another 45 cm to 75 cm in the forecast at higher elevations over the next few days,” says Doug MacFarlane, director of Mountain Operations at Whistler Blackcomb. “What Mother Nature has brought us so far...
Texas On Tour
A group of Texas tourism officials are making the rounds in Toronto and southern Ontario this week, informing travel trade personnel of the diversity that the Lone Star State has to offer. With plenty of access, including direct Air Canada service to Dallas-Fort Worth, Houston and Austin, Texas is easy to get to and only a 2.5-hour flight away – making it a viable destination for weekend getaways. Officials told PressToday that the state is competitively priced, making the vacation dollar go further, especially when it comes to things like accommodation, dining and green fees....
MSC Divina Back in Miami
As part of a US expansion strategy, MSC Cruises recently celebrated the arrival of MSC Divina – one of its newest ships – to Miami where it will sail year-round to the Caribbean. MSC Divina spent this past summer in the Mediterranean, following an inaugural Caribbean season sailing from Miami between November 2013 and April 2015. In other news, MSC announced that sales for its next-generation cruise ship MSC Seaside will open on Dec. 15, two years ahead of its debut in December 2017. Seaside, which will join Divina in sailing from a newly renovated and expanded dedicated berth...
Caribbean Calling
In this week's digital edition of Travel Courier, senior staff writer, Ian Stalker reports that the Caribbean tourism showcase that in most years past has been held in Toronto alone will this year also visit Burlington and Kitchener-Waterloo, something Caribbean Tourism Organization (CTO) secretary general Hugh Riley says underscores the CTO's efforts to reach out to a broad swathe of people. “The Caribbean loves Canada and we're extremely grateful that Canada loves us back,” Riley told Travel Courier in advance of the Nov. 16 to Nov. 19 event. Caribbean Week highlights include...
Montreal Is Totally Cool
Maripierre D'Amour says Montreal's igloofest is totally cool. The outdoor celebration will be held on Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays from Jan. 14 to Feb. 6 in Montreal's Old Quarter, with the parties aimed at those in the 18-to-35 age bracket. Participants will find music and DJs in what's been described as a “totally festive environment.” This winter marks igloofest's 10th year and D'Amour says it's easy to attract people to an outdoor party scene during the height of Montreal's winter. “We have to embrace winter,” she said during a Tuesday Toronto event. “We're...
Staying Strong
Despite geopolitical turbulence and slow economic growth in the Eurozone, international tourist arrivals to Europe have been growing steadily during the first half of 2015. According to the European Travel Commission's (ETC) latest report, “European Tourism -- Trends & Prospects,” the majority of European destinations recorded positive results during the summer period in 2015. Data up to August suggest a 5% increase in tourist arrivals to Europe compared to the same period last year. However, more importantly, the region was able to offset the sag in arrivals from Russia and...