Destinations
India In The Spotlight
Travel agents can look forward to a higher profile for India in this country now that India Tourism again has a full-time director here, says the man who assumed the post this spring, reports Ian Stalker in a special India supplement in this week's digital edition of Canadian Travel Press. Anil Oraw, who arrived in the Toronto office in April and has held previous India Tourism postings in the head office in Delhi and abroad, notes that the office hadn't had a director since June 2011 until his arrival. “There's no question it makes a lot of difference,” Oraw says of having a...
Transat Adds Halifax-Punta Cana to Summer Lineup
Air Transat has extended its direct flight program from Halifax to Punta Cana during the summer season. Transat offers direct flights from Halifax to Punta Cana from February to May, with departures on Tuesdays, Fridays and Saturdays. From June 24 to Aug. 19, flights to Punta Cana will be operated on...
Air Transat Set For Ottawa-Orlando Service
Air Transat now offers service to Orlando from Ottawa. Direct flights to Florida from the Canadian capital will be operated on Fridays from Feb. 13 to April 10, 2015. Direct flights to Orlando are also available from Toronto, Halifax, Moncton, Montreal and Quebec...
Las Vegas Breaking Records
Las Vegas has reached an historic milestone, exceeding 40 million visitors for the first time. The tourism industry in Southern Nevada continues to expand, achieving 10 consecutive months of visitor volume increases, with many of those months being the best on record. The “Entertainment Capital of the World” has surpassed its record for annual visitation, drawing more than 40 million people with two weeks remaining on the calendar year. Current pacing suggests the destination could approach nearly 41 million visitors by the end of the year. The previous record was set in 2012...
Hotel Saskatchewan Joins Autograph Collection
After acquiring The Hotel Saskatchewan in April, Temple Hotels Inc. has taken its first step in reconstituting the property’s grandeur as it joins the acclaimed Autograph Collection by Marriott. As part of this new affiliation, The Hotel Saskatchewan will undergo extensive renovations to revitalize guestrooms, public spaces and restaurants commencing in January. Substantial portions of the renovations are to be completed by next summer. Hotel Saskatchewan is located in the heart of downtown Regina overlooking Victoria Park, about a 10-minute drive from Regina International...
AC Inaugurates Toronto-Mont-Tremblant Flights
Air Canada operated its first non-stop flight between Toronto Pearson and Mont-Tremblant, Quebec, yesterday (Dec. 18). Service to Mont-Tremblant will be operated four times per week until March 30, 2015 by Air Canada Express with 74-seat Bombardier Q400 aircraft. “We are pleased to launch this new service to the Upper Laurentian region famous for a wide variety of outdoor activities at the world renowned Mont-Tremblant ski resort,” said Benjamin Smith, president, Passenger Airlines, at Air Canada. “Tailored to offer short weekend stays as well as long ski break holidays,...
‘Promising’ Times Ahead for India Tourism
The director of India Tourism Toronto says the coming year is shaping up well for his homeland's tourist trade. Anil Oraw told a Toronto gathering last night (Dec. 17) that India is looking at “very promising things,” including Air Canada's decision to begin providing a link between this country and India in 2015, with Oraw saying direct flights from the national carrier will help make India a lot more attractive to Canadians. Oraw added he's hoping the Indian government will soon lift visa requirements for Canadians. Those of us who visit India will find “there are many...
US, Cuba Chart New Course
The announcement that the US and Cuba will be re-establishing diplomatic relations yesterday [Dec. 17, 2014], has created quite a buzz in the travel industry in Canada. But before everyone whips themselves into a panic, take note of the fact that even with the changes that have been announced, Americans still cannot travel freely to Cuba at this point in time – although that day is clearly coming. In reaction to the announcement, officials at Canadian-owned Cuba Cruise indicated that while unlicensed U.S. tourist travel remains banned, the company anticipates increased bookings from...