Destinations
LAVAMAN KEAUHOU RETURNS TO SHERATON KONA
Sheraton Kona Resort & Spa at Keauhou Bay on the Big Island has once again stepped forward to become the title sponsor for the 5th Annual Lavaman Keauhou Triathlon scheduled for Nov. 24. Lavaman Keauhou is a fully sanctioned USA Triathlon Olympic Distance Triathlon produced by Hawaii Sports Connection. It is open to elite triathletes, triathlon enthusiasts and relay teams of all ages and levels. Lavaman Keauhou begins with a single lap 1,500-metre swim in Keauhou Bay where water temperature averages 80 degrees F. and visibility averages 40 feet. Athletes then transition to the bike portion, a...
TIME RUNNING OUT ON DIANA EXHIBIT
Time is running out for people to see the award-winning exhibition Diana, A Celebration at West Edmonton Mall. The exhibit will close on June 9 after a four-month run. The West Edmonton Mall stop marks the exhibition's final visit to Canada, as no other Canadian stop is planned before the exhibition's 10-year global tour concludes in the summer of 2014. On loan from Althorp Estate, the Spencer family's 500-year-old ancestral home in England, Diana, A Celebration chronicles the life and work of Diana, Princess of Wales. The exhibition contains 150 objects throughout nine galleries, ranging...
BATTLING IT OUT IN YVR & YYZ
Toronto is expected to be slightly ahead of Vancouver for fourth place among overnight international travellers in North America, but tourists are expected to spend $2.3 billion (35% more) in Vancouver than in Toronto in 2013, according to MasterCard's Global Destination Cities Index, an analysis of international travel and visitor spending in 132 major cities. Dr. Yuwa Hedrick-Wong, the economist who serves as global economic advisor to MasterCard, said: "This suggests that Vancouver has done a better job creating the activities, the arts, culture, entertainment and historic sites that...
NORTH CAROLINA PICKS CWC
The North Carolina Division of Tourism, Film and Sports Development has awarded Connect Worldwide Canada agency representation for the second consecutive time, representing both Travel Trade and Public Relations. Charmaine Singh, president of Connect Worldwide Canada, said: "We are absolutely thrilled to continue to represent the beautiful and unique state of North Carolina. From pristine beaches, world-class golf and spa, to exceptional culinary and natural beauty, North Carolina is a destination that truly resonates with Canadians. The team at Connect Worldwide Canada is delighted to...
PURCHASE PARK PASSES ONLINE
Visitors to Canada's iconic Banff National Park are now able to pay park entry fees and purchase annual passes to the famed Rocky Mountain park and UNESCO World Heritage Site online via Banff Lake Louise Tourism's web site. Banff National Park welcomes over 3 million visitors from near and far through its gates annually, with the majority of them purchasing a pass to the park upon arrival at the entrance gates. Parks Canada, in collaboration with Banff Lake Louise Tourism, has introduced an efficient online purchasing service, providing a convenient one-stop shopping experience for visitors....
BUOYED BY BUSINESS
Buoyed by the previous record-breaking winter, Whistler business levels remained consistent in winter 2012-2013, ending on a positive note. In fact, the winter of 2012-2013 proved to be the second busiest on record, with room nights down only slightly from the record-breaking winter 2011-2012 season and still 10% above the 10-year average. Winter 2011-2012 holds the record as Whistler's busiest on record, in terms of room nights booked. But the most recent winter's results were only slightly behind, down by 1% and that is positive news for the resort. Tourism Whistler's vice-president of...
ECUADOR MAKES IT SPECIAL
Ecuador's Ministry of Tourism reports that it has successfully concluded its Discover Ecuador Roadshow in Canada and the US. During the events, ministry officials had a chance to meet with leading members of the travel trade industry in Toronto, Ottawa, Montreal, Vancouver, San Francisco, Los Angeles, Chicago, Washington D.C. and New York and showcase the latest developments in Ecuador's tourism industry. The event also featured top suppliers from the country, representing a diverse offering including the world-renowned Galapagos Islands, the Pacific Coast, the Andes and the Amazon. The...
MONTREAL GETS AMBITIOUS
Tourisme Montreal is gearing up for the summer tourist season, unveiling its plans to invest over $10 million in a range of promotional initiatives designed to drive an ambitious tourist volume growth target of 2%. For the most part, these efforts will target the North-Eastern United States, Ontario and Quebec markets. Tourisme Montreal predicts that 8.5 million tourists will stay in Montreal in 2013, which will represent a 2% increase over last year. Tourist expenditures are projected to reach $2.5 million in 2013, an increase of 4.7% from 2012. Tourism in two particularly profitable...