Destinations
Chile a Land of Many Contrasts
Chilean tourism officials say there's much about their country that nature enthusiasts will find “n-ice.” Juan Lopez, North American market manager for TurismoChile, says the country has many distinct regions, including Patagonia, the southernmost part of South America, which is a land of dramatic mountains, fiords, glaciers and icebergs. The northernmost part of the country, on the other hand, is home to the Atacama Desert, the driest desert on the planet and the skies of which are remarkably clear, attracting people eager to see nighttime celestial displays. Volcanoes are another...
Montreal Set to Party
Montreal has got some cool festivals and events in the works. Tourism officials are touting fall and winter celebrations expected to lure visitors in the height of the city's winter. Upcoming events include the Jan. 16 to Feb. 8 Igloofest, which will see outdoor nighttime performances of electronic music on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays, with up to 10,000 gathering a night. “It's an exotic event,” says Igloofest's Maripierre d'Amour of the event that will have two stages and VJs. “It's what Montreal is all about. We want people to enjoy the city.” Among other events will...
Surf’s Up Year-Round in Edmonton
Waves and winter can go hand-in-hand for aspiring surfer dudes and dudettes in the Edmonton area. West Edmonton Mall's World Waterpark – a five-acre indoor park that has a wave pool that holds 1.23 million litres of water and produces hydraulic-powered waves of up to 4.5 feet in height – began the year-round Sharks Surf Club in 2013 and also teaches those interested in learning to ride waves a sport commonly associated with tropical locales. “I don't know of any other location in Canada where a program like this exists,” says park spokeswoman Sheri Clegg, adding water...
Kempinski Expands in Germany
Kempinski Hotels will expands its presence in Germany when it takes over the Berchtesgaden International Resort, currently managed by InterContinental Hotels Group. A management agreement has been signed by Kempinski and the Bayerische Landesbank, which owns the luxurious resort hotel. The five-star hotel in the Berchtesgadener Land boasts 138 rooms and suites and is scheduled for take-over in the first half of 2015. “This luxurious resort in the Bavarian Alps is a perfect match with the Kempinski brand, and is an excellent addition to our existing alpine portfolio in the region,...
Canadians Shuffling Off To, And From, Buffalo
More than two million Canadians a year are already flying out of Buffalo, but it's a number, and market, that Buffalo officials think can be higher. A delegation of Buffalo tourism officials were in Toronto yesterday (Oct. 21) to promote the affordability and convenience of flying out of the Buffalo Niagara International Airport. “Southern Ontarians have to bear some of the highest travel costs in the country,” noted Pascal Cohen, senior manager of Marketing & Aviation Business Development at Buffalo Niagara International Airport. “We are here to offer an attractive...
‘Select Your Day, Select Your Savings’
Canadians can take advantage of up to $40 in savings with the all-new SeaWorld Orlando and Busch Gardens “select your day, select your savings” ticket offer. Guests can choose between a weekday visit or an “any day” visit, both offering savings. What they might enjoy the most is the convenience – buy online, print tickets at home and go straight through the turnstiles. Whether guests are looking to visit the chills of Antarctica: Empire of the Penguin at SeaWorld, or drop in on the all-new Falcons Fury at Busch Gardens, weekdays are the best time – and the best rate – to...
Almost Ablaze
A group of more than a dozen representatives – hotels, attractions, etc. -- from Jackson Hole, Wyoming were in Toronto this week, meeting with travel trade types in the city and hosting a premiere of a new film, “Almost Ablaze,” on the destination. Kent Elliott of the Jackson Hole Chamber of Commerce explained that Canada was the destination's number one international market in the winter season, with Canadians attracted to the area for its skiing, along with a host of other winter sports activities that include dog sledding, snow biking, sleigh rides, winter festivals, culture...
Gansevoort Set for Dominican Opening
Gansevoort Hotel Group will officially open its latest oceanfront resort – Gansevoort Playa Imbert – on the Dominican Republic’s north coast on Dec. 15. The hotel will feature 48 suites comprised of one- and two-bedroom lofts, three-bedroom apartments with private plunge pools and terraces, and a collection of four-bedroom penthouses. Each penthouse offers a private rooftop Jacuzzi. Floor-to-ceiling windows offer seascapes from every guestroom, while interiors provide kitchens, walk-in showers, custom bathtubs and natural stone finishes. A three-tiered cascading infinity pool...