Destinations
Putting Its Best Foot Forward
Is Trinidad and Tobago putting its best foot forward and inviting energetic travellers to do the same? Warren Solomon of the destination's tourist board told last week's Caribbean Hotel & Tourism Association Marketplace in San Juan that his homeland has embarked on a multi-year program of creating 1,000 kms of hiking, biking and hashing trails, with those trails showcasing terrain that began life as coffee or cocoa plantations. The project will be a three-phase one and will strengthen his homeland as “the ultimate outdoor destination in the region,” he said. Solomon also...
A Positive Breakthrough
Call it a breakthrough year, but definitely call it a reason to celebrate as Las Vegas reported that it welcomed a record 41.1 million visitors in 2014 – that about 1.4 million more visitors than the previous high of 39.7 million set in 2012. The 2014 year-end statistics - released recently by the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority (LVCVA) – point to continued recovery for Las Vegas tourism with increases in all of the key visitation indicators. Las Vegas tourism generates more than $45 billion in economic impact for the local economy and supports 376,000 local...
Cuba A Hot Topic At CHTA 2015
The president of the Caribbean Hotel & Tourism Association says CHTA members are well aware that the looming rapprochement between the Cuban and American governments may hit some of them in the pocketbook, reports Press Today's Ian Stalker, who's just returned for the annual conference. Emil Lee said during last week's CHTA Marketplace show in San Juan, Puerto Rico, that some members of the CHTA – which only has a limited Cuban presence -- are aware that if travel restrictions on Americans visiting Cuba are lifted their hotels and destinations may loose visitors to a destination...
Big Numbers For The Big Apple
New York City hit an all-time record of 56.4 million visitors in 2014. And those visitors generated a record $61.3 billion in overall economic impact, supporting 359,000 tourism-related jobs and $21 billion in wages. The city’s hotel sector reached 102,000 hotel rooms last year, while selling a record 32.4 million total hotel room nights – another all-time high. The tourism industry also generated $3.7 billion in local tax revenues. The results were announced by New York's mayor, Bill de Blasio, NYC & Company president and CEO, Fred Dixon, and NYC & Company board of...
Qantas Adds YVR Lift
If your clients are thinking of a summer or winter holiday, then Qantas has just provided some additional options, with its announcement that it will offer more non-stop flights from Vancouver to Sydney with an extended seasonal schedule. Stephen Thompson, executive manager international sales for Qantas, said the decision to offer more flights from Vancouver came at the end of a successful first season of flying during the December to January travel period. “Our non-stop Vancouver services proved really popular so we’re pleased to expand them this year, offering customers more...
Check Out New Zealand Your Way
Goway Travel has teamed up with Tourism New Zealand and Air New Zealand to launch New Zealand Your Way – a campaign that offers a variety of vacation ideas and special offers. All pre-planned New Zealand self drive itineraries booked flying with Air New Zealand are eligible for $50 in free fuel (paid in the form of a gift card). Also, agents' clients flying to New Zealand and stopping in the Cook Islands can get their first two nights accommodation at Palm Grove Resort free of charge or receive a credit towards upgrading or extending their stay. And last, but not least, in...
ASTA Applauds Bill to Repeal Cuba Travel Ban
The American Society of Travel Agents (ASTA) fully supports the Freedom to Travel to Cuba Act, bipartisan legislation introduced Jan. 29 that would fully repeal restrictions on travel by American citizens and legal residents to Cuba. “ASTA has long believed that Americans ought to be allowed to travel across the globe without restriction, allowing them to act as ambassadors of freedom and American values abroad,” said Zane Kerby, ASTA president and CEO. “While the Administration’s recent actions on Cuba were a step in the right direction, it is Congress that needs to step up to...
Air France ‘Oh la la Deals’ from YVR
There’s still time to catch the special offer by Air France on its new schedule of flights between Vancouver and Paris, that will start this spring. With the “Oh la la deals” promotion, airfares start at $949 for economy class seats on flights out of Vancouver to many European destinations, as well as Beirut, Tel Aviv and Dubai. This covers numerous cities, including Venice, Lisbon, Madrid, Athens, Istanbul, Florence, Moscow, Barcelona and many more. And these fares include a free stopover in Paris. The promotion runs until Feb. 5, and applies to trips with departures between...