Destinations
Visit Orlando Looking for Stories
Visit Orlando will soon launch a worldwide consumer campaign in search of millions of stories its visitors have to share about their experiences in the theme park capital of the world. The experiences, to be collected via a special orlandostories.com web site will serve as the cornerstone of the destination’s future marketing and sales efforts beginning in August and slated for Canada, revealed Visit Orlando CEO George Aguel at IPW. “Visit Orlando is reaching out to the storyteller in all of us through this brand creative in order to showcase our visitors and the lifetime of...
Call To Action
The Tourism Industry Association of BC (TIABC) is commemorating Tourism Week in Canada (through June 6) by issuing a call to action for all BC tourism stakeholders to connect with local and provincial government representatives to both remind them of how important the tourism industry is economically, socially and environmentally, and to enlist their help in spreading that message to constituents. Although the tourism industry is expected to enjoy another record year in parts of British Columbia, officials say the sector is often overlooked as a significant economic contributor to the...
On The Road At IPW 2015
The Obama administration is dedicated to making America even more attractive as a destination by taking a ``whole of government” approach to travel and tourism. That was the upbeat message delivered to some 6,500 IPW delegates by US commerce department secretary Penny Pritzker, reports Press Today's Mike Dunbar. According to Pritzker, the approach is led by President Obama who, she said, ``understood right from the beginning how important travel and tourism is to the US economy.” She added, ``We do not take our visitors for granted. We want more travelers to visit America but...
Busch Gardens Puts a Spin on Family Thrills
Busch Gardens Tampa will put a spin on family thrills next year with a new family thrill ride – Cobra’s Curse. The spin coaster is the only one of its kind in the world, featuring a vertical lift and taking riders on a whirlwind adventure of exciting explorations. Located in the Egypt area of the park, explorers will come face-to-face with an 80-foot snake icon, trek over the park’s Serengeti Plain and discover the mysteries of an Egyptian archeological excavation. “This isn’t your ordinary spin coaster. In true Busch Gardens style, we’re putting a twist on this...
Oh Canada!
The Canadians were out in full force on the first night of International Pow Wow (IPW) Sunday night in Orlando at a special reception for what is typically the premiere US travel trade show's largest delegation, reports Press Today's Michael Baginski. Close to 80 Canadians were on hand representing associations like Brand USA (including Sana Shearer, seen in the photo with microphone). There were destinations ranging from Myrtle Beach to Louisiana, and, of course Orlando (Melanie Dickey is shown at right); attractions like Disney, SeaWorld and Universal Orlando Resort; tour...
Getting Roped Into Texas
Kevin Fitzpatrick hasn't had “a real job” in over 20 years. The trick roper and bullwhip artist was in Toronto as part of the “Texas on Tour” destination exhibit at Yonge-Dundas Square May 27-29. “Texas on Tour is an interactive high-tech marketing exhibit that brings a taste of what Texas has to offer to consumers in their own backyard,” Tim Fennell, tourism deputy director at Texas Tourism, told PressToday during an industry soiree promoting the exhibit on May 28. “You can get a hands-on personal experience of some of the different activities and everything you might...
On The Road At IPW 2015
``A lot of creative assets and capital investment has made Orlando as attractive a destination as it has ever been.” That was the proud boast from George Aguel, CEO of Visit Orlando, alluding to the five-year-gap between now and the last time the city hosted the huge IPW trade show, reports Press Today's Mike Dunbar. Aguel told a Sunday-morning kick-off event that Orlando was the first US destination ever to record 60 million arrivals in one year; upping that figure to 62 million last year. Visit Orlando chairman Peter Kacheris added, ``As a destination, our true mission is to...
Orlando’s Fastest, Longest Coaster Coming to SeaWorld
Surfacing summer 2016 at SeaWorld Orlando will be Mako, a 200-foot-tall hypercoaster that will reach 73 mph along 4,760 feet of steel track – nearly a mile long – and leave riders feeling both breathless and weightless. Named for one of the ocean’s fastest known sharks, Mako will be Orlando’s tallest, fastest and longest roller coaster. “On Mako, you’ll experience what it’s like to be this apex predator, surging through the water at top speed and chasing prey throughout a massive reef,” said Brian Morrow, SeaWorld’s attraction creative director. “It will be a...