Destinations
AC Opens in Chicago
The AC Hotel Chicago Downtown recently opened its doors to guests in the heart of Chicago’s thriving River North district – celebrated by an unveiling ceremony and grand opening event on June 22. The AC Hotel Chicago Downtown is AC Hotel’s first property in Illinois and fifth in the United States. The eight-storey hotel offers 226 guest rooms, balconies with views of the city, a fifth floor terrace and indoor pool, along with a fitness centre. Additional amenities include secure on-site parking, 3,000-square-feet of meeting space and complimentary WiFi. AC Hotel is part of a...
Say Fore At Princeville Makai
The Princeville Makai Golf Club on Kauai's north shore is offering a variety of unique, fit, and fun ways for golfers and non-golfers alike to experience the Makai Course. Guests can start their day with Sunrise Yoga, Monday and Wednesday mornings at 7:30 a.m. on the Makai's oceanfront 7th hole tee area. The Sunrise Yoga class is open to all levels of students for a fee of $20. No reservation is needed. Check in at 7:25 a.m.at the Makai Golf Shop. Golfers can spend the day enjoying a round of golf on the Makai Course, then relax and unwind at the neighboring St.Regis Princeville Resort...
All That Jazz
Now in it’s sixth year, the Curaçao North Sea Jazz Festival returns to the stage Sept. 3-5, playing host to such international superstars as John Legend, Enrique Iglesias, Wyclef Jean, Juanes, Lionel Richie and Usher. The festival has seen performances by such pop and jazz icons as Bruno Mars, Rod Stewart, Smokey Robinson, Alicia Keys, Prince, Sting and Stevie Wonder. The event draws crowds from all over the world and has been praised for showcasing an eclectic mix of sounds for pop revelers and die-hard jazz fans alike. This year’s Curaçao North Sea Jazz Festival will also...
Renaissance Harbourfront Rebrands as a Pinnacle
The Pinnacle Hotel Vancouver Harbourfront has been officially relaunched, now operating under the Vancouver-based Pinnacle Hotels & Restaurants brand. Previously known as the Renaissance Vancouver Harbourfront Hotel, Pinnacle International purchased the 442-room property in 2007, but continued operating it under the existing brand. It will now be jointly marketed with North Vancouver's 105-room Pinnacle Hotel at The Pier, and the Pinnacle Hotel Whistler Village with 84 suites. Renovations to the property's meeting and event spaces have started, with completion expected this...
Montreal Remains Top Convention City in the Americas
For the fourth straight year, Montreal ranks first in the Americas for international association events, ahead of New York, Washington and Buenos Aires, according to the Union of International Association's (UIA) International Meetings Statistics Report for the Year 2014. Overall, the city hosted 79 international events during the last year. Officials note that this ranking is remarkable given the extremely competitive global environment marked by an overabundance of convention space, highly incentivised offers from prospective host cities, and a US convention market fervently bouncing...
Transat Off To Budapest
Air Transat launched Budapest service from Toronto (via Montreal) June 17, restoring direct connections to the Hungarian city for the first time since 2008. Dignitaries greeted passengers at Pearson International, who were also treated to a light buffet and wine. The flight was welcomed by Hungary's consul general to Canada Stefania Szabo, who reported a 5% increase in visitations by Canadians to her homeland last year to a total of 34,000. “Canadians are discovering the not-so-secret that Budapest is hot and trendy,” she said. She noted that Hungary is “charming” beyond...
HVCB Appointment
The Hawaii Visitors and Convention Bureau (HVCB) reports that Erica Neves has joined the bureau as manager of travel trade marketing. She reports to Robyn Basso, senior director, travel industry partnerships. Neves manages the implementation of HVCB’s travel trade marketing efforts, overseeing integration of Island Chapters in all major initiatives and events. She also develops and co-ordinates travel trade events and training, including tradeshows, sales blitzes and webinars. Neves brings to the position more than 20 years of experience in regional tourism marketing, public...
Esrock Writes on the Esoteric in Canada
With spring verging on summer, the time is now for maximizing the usefulness of The Great Canadian Bucket List, by travel writer and TV host Robin Esrock. The author expedites pre-trip research with a guide to some of Canada’s standout attractions and activities, as well as some intriguing, less well known ones. The book is laid out in a west-to-east progression, and features top western Canada draws like the West Coast Trail, the Rocky Mountaineer rail tour and an RV drive on the Ice Fields Parkway. But then there are others to pique interest, like snorkeling with salmon in...