Destinations
Canadians Continue Love Affair With Mexico
Mexico appears to be an unstoppable force in this country's tourism market, with the country continuing to post increases in the number of vacationing Canadians, says the CEO of the Mexico Tourism Board. Rodolfo Lopez Negrete told a Toronto gathering Thursday (July 9) that Canadian air arrivals rose 3.6% in the first five months of this year over the same period in 2014, with that increase following years of increases. “We believe Mexico continues to be the best proposition for the Canadian market...,” he said. “The outlook for Mexico and Canada looks very...
Europe Airpost Returns to Halifax
For the second year, Europe Airpost will offer service from Halifax to Paris and, new for 2015 the route will include a stop in Dublin, Ireland. The Paris route was launched last summer. “It’s a pleasure to welcome Europe Airpost back to Halifax and Nova Scotia,” says Joyce Carter, HIAA president and CEO. “This new air service to Dublin and return service to Paris connects our region with two very popular European destinations and complements our 2015 summer schedule of flights.” The weekly service began yesterday (July 9) and runs until Sept. 11. Flights are aboard...
Israel: Heading In The Right Direction
In Toronto this week, Uri Steinberg, tourism commissioner for North America for Israel and Ami Allon, consul for tourism – IGTO Canada, provided top travel trade types and key customers with an update on how things have been going for Israel during the first half of 2015 and also provided a briefing on Israel's tourism marketing and promotion plans for the remainder of this year. “Our office is small, but mighty,” observed Allon during his presentation. “Canada is a huge country, but we try to be where we need to be and it helps that we have great partners,” he said in direct...
Trafalgar Unveils 2016 Hawaii Program
Trafalgar is inviting travellers to experience the culture and natural beauty of Hawaii with the launch of its 2016 Hawaii program. Offering four unique itineraries, Trafalgar’s program features authentic experiences including exclusive “Be My Guest” dining experiences, “Cultural Insights” into the local culture and “Local Specialists” including historians and artists. All inter-island flights are included making for a hassle-free itinerary to Oahu, Hawaii, Maui and Kauai. “The Hawaiian Islands are a dream destination for many Canadian travellers and our dedicated...
Goway Goes to the World Juniors
The 2015-2016 World Juniors Hockey tournament is being held in Helsinki, Finland and Goway has tickets to all of the Canadian and US round robin games, quarters, semis, bronze and gold medal games, as well as guaranteed accommodation. “The chance to witness the next generation of hockey stars in Helsinki is not only a hockey experience not to be missed, but also a great opportunity to see one of Scandinavia’s most popular destinations,” says Don Forster, marketing and product manager for Scandinavia. With a 13-night package starting at US$2,579 for Canadian fans, Goway has...
Celebrity Adds Winnipeg to ‘All Included’ Program
Celebrity is once again expanding its “All Included” Caribbean cruise program with Winnipeg joining as a new point of departure for the packages that will take off and set sail weekly from Jan. 29 to April 3, 2016. This complements the original departure cities of Hamilton, Ont. and Ottawa that were joined by London (Ont.), Quebec City, Moncton, N.B. and Halifax in 2015. “Our continued expansion of the All Included program demonstrates our commitment to bringing Canadians cruise travel the way they prefer,” said Ken Brooks, Canadian sales director. “Celebrity’s All...
Canopy by Hilton Says Hello to Reykjavik
Canopy by Hilton, Hilton Worldwide’s new hotel brand, and Icelandair Hotels have unveiled plans for Canopy’s first hotel in Iceland’s capital, Reykjavik. Canopy Reykjavik City Centre is expected to be the first hotel globally to open in the brand’s portfolio, which launched in October 2014. “Reykjavik has an incredible energy and is a fitting setting in which to introduce our first Canopy by Hilton hotel,” said Patrick Fitzgibbon, senior vice-president, development, Europe & Africa, Hilton Worldwide. “Iceland has grown in stature as a destination, owing to the...
Air Canada Sets Radar On Brisbane
Air Canada will launch new non-stop flights from Vancouver to Brisbane, Australia, initially operating three times weekly using Boeing 787-8 Dreamliners beginning June 17, 2016, with the intention to increase to daily service, subject to obtaining the necessary government approvals. “Air Canada continues to strategically expand its international network with the addition of our second Australian destination - Brisbane, capital of Queensland and the third most populous city in Australia. The new route increases our presence in the Asia-Pacific market at a time when trade and travel in...