Destinations
Vegas By The Numbers
What goes on in Vegas doesn't necessarily stay in Vegas. The following are some interesting facts about Las Vegas for 2014, a year in which the capital of fun hosted more than 40 million visitors: 7,982,550 pillows fluffed at MGM Grand. 3.2 million people visited The Adventuredome at Circus Circus. 1 million Hershey’s Kisses distributed across Las Vegas to celebrate the opening of Hershey’s Chocolate World at New York-New York. 729,753 pizza slices were served at Shawn McClain’s FIVE50 Pizza Bar at ARIA. 267,436 toilet paper rolls were used by the Blue Man Group at Monte...
Record-Setting Huddle Wraps Up
Florida Huddle concludes today (Jan. 16) having set records for participation, including a strong contingent of travel trade and media from Canada. The annual state travel trade show, in its second year of being run by VISIT FLORIDA, was held over two days and three nights at the Greater Fort Lauderdale Broward County Convention Centre. PressToday's Mike Baginski reports that VISIT FLORIDA president and CEO Will Seccombe (shown in photo) predicted that the state would achieve a fourth consecutive year of record growth following records in the first three quarters of 2014. New...
Luxury Eight-Screen Cinema to Open at Ka Makana Alii
Consolidated Theatres will open an eight-screen, state-of-the-art cinema at Ka Makana Alii, the 1.4 million-square-foot regional mall being built in West Oahu. The new theatre, which will be the company’s ninth in Hawaii and its first new cinema to break ground since 2001, will feature the latest in cinematic technology and incorporate elements that celebrate Hawaii’s unique lifestyle. “Our new theatre at Ka Makana Alii will provide the West Oahu community with a world-class cinematic experience, from plush reclining seats to a delicious, locally inspired menu,” said Ellen...
Last Chance to Escape Winter to Sunny St. Pete
Steady sun, top-rated powder-white beaches, lively restaurants, eclectic shops and historic neighbourhoods, who wouldn't want to spend the Canadian winter in St. Pete/Clearwater, Florida? It's your last chance to enter the Travel Courier and Visit St. Pete/Clearwater contest. One lucky Canadian agent will win a week-long vacation for two including round-trip airfare to Tampa International Airport from a Canadian WestJet gateway, seven-night stay at the Sheraton Sand Key on Clearwater Beach, tickets to the Clearwater Marine Aquarium, a cruise with Tropic Boat Tours and $100 dining...
Mardi Gras Florida-style
Universal Orlando Resort is getting set to let the good times roll with announcement of its 2015 Mardi Gras celebration – highlighted by 16 nights of concerts from some of the biggest names in music, coupled with the essence of the legendary Bayou bash. On select nights from Feb. 7 through April 18, guests can experience a family friendly version of the “N’awlins”-inspired festival at Universal Studios Florida. Guests can top off their day in the theme parks with Cajun cuisine, an awe-inspiring parade and a live concert. This year’s concert lineup features an array of...
San Diego Unveils New Embarcadero
Visitors to downtown San Diego’s bustling bayside will find a new, more pedestrian-friendly Embarcadero thanks to enhancements recently unveiled by the Port of San Diego. Two years in the making at a cost of US$31.1 million, a new esplanade located along Harbor Drive between the Navy and B Street piers welcomes visitors, including cruise ship passengers boarding and disembarking from San Diego’s two adjacent cruise ship terminals. Representing the first phase of San Diego’s Embarcadero Visionary Plan, the improvements include a two-block area of West Broadway between North Harbor...
Hilton Touches Down At Munich Airport
Hilton Hotels & Resorts has opened its first hotel at Munich Airport in Germany. Hilton Munich Airport has 389 guest rooms and is the only hotel to provide direct access to the terminal building. Amenities at the hotel include a range of dining options, fitness facilities with swimming pool, sauna and steam bath and conference and business facilities. The hotel is also undergoing a significant extension which will see 160 guest rooms added to the building in...
A Yen For Japan
Japan's tourist trade closed out 2014 on a high note, with a lower yen receiving much of the credit from one Asia specialist for the country's strong performance, reports staff writer, Ian Stalker in this week's digital edition of Travel Courier. The country's tourist trade has set records in recent months, including from Canada, where November figures were the highest on record, the eighth straight month of record months. Japan saw 165,214 Canadians in the first 11 months of 2014, more than the 152,766 it hosted in all of 2013. The January-November period saw a 19.5% increase in...