Destinations
Heart rates rise on Fernie’s new Aerial Playground
Fernie Alpine Resort boasts the largest mountain bike park in the Rocky Mountains, but this year the resort's new Aerial Playground and Rippin' Zipline is also taking visitors by storm. An exhilarating leap of faith is needed to zip through a rope course that is 18 metres (60 feet) above the ground. Then there's the suspended, gravity-defying climbing walls, walk-the-plank and high-wire acts, all designed to raise heart rates....
Downhill thrills on two wheels at Kicking Horse Resort
Thrills at Kicking Horse Resort near Golden, BC are not restricted to winter downhill activities. The mountain also has the highest of all Canadian bike parks. It boasts vistas of three mountain ranges and the wetlands of the Columbia Valley from the top. From there it's all down hill, in the best way possible. Riders might even see Boo, the resident grizzly bear at Kicking Horse's protected grizzly bear habitat. This, by the way, is also the world's largest....
Sea Life on view at new Deep Bay Marine Field Station
Vancouver Island's new, multi-million dollar Deep Bay Marine Field Station, near Qualicum Beach, is a stunning clamshell-shaped structure that gazes over the waters of Baynes Sound. It is an architectural triumph, honoured with a 2011 National Green Buildings Award. At this facility, aquaculture research is treated the same way land-based agricultural field research has been done for years. The building also functions as a marine science museum with huge aquariums up to nine metres long, jellyfish tank, touch-tanks and the skeleton of a 10-metre grey whale. Here, children and adults can...
First Nations fishing program at Watermark Beach Resort
Member communities of the Okanagan Nation Alliance (ONA) have been working at restoring the salmon stocks of the Okanagan River, and to celebrate the return of the salmon, the Watermark Beach Resort is offering a special Watermark Fishing excursion package. By integrating modern science with traditional practices, the stocks have successfully rebounded to the point that, for the first time, the ONA is offering salmon fishing experiences on Osoyoos Lake. Available through Aug. 31, with rates starting from $409 (double occupancy), the package includes one night's accommodation and a four-hour...
Kenya launches new specialist program
The Kenya Tourist Board has launched the Jambo Kenya Specialist program, a newly improved training program for Canadian travel agents. The new course features a number of new enhancements, including quarterly trade updates, booking tracking, rewards and incentives for graduates. Jamboömeans welcome or hello in Swahili. The Jambo Kenya Specialist Program has been approved by CITC through the Provider of Quality Education (PQE) program and consists of five informative lessons designed to provide agents with the essential knowledge of Kenya, as well as offering them the inside scoop on the...
Hotel Molokai remains open after fire
The Hotel Molokai, on the island of Molokai, is almost back to being fully operational after a morning fire in mid-June. While the hotel's restaurant, kitchen, laundry facilities and various storage areas were affected, the hotel remains open to welcome guests to Molokai. All food, beverage and laundry services have been suspended, and a complimentary continental breakfast is being offered each day in the lobby for in-house guests. The hotel bar has reopened and will continue to host the "Aloha Friday Event"with hula and music 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. Plans to completely rebuild are in progress....
WTTC talks tough on taxes
Pointing out the important role that the tourism industry plays in stimulating economic growth and in creating jobs, the World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC) is urging European Union (EU) finance ministers to avoid making "unproductive knee-jerk tax hikes at a time of austerity." In a letter to all 27 EU finance ministers, WTTC chairman, Dr Michael Frenzel reminded them that travel and tourism is a key generator of employment across the European Union directly generating 10 million jobs across Europe, substantially more than the automotive manufacturing (3.2 million), mining (3.6 million)...
Acapulco reports increase in hotel occupancy
The Acapulco Destination Marketing Office reports hotel occupancy levels throughout the destination have increased an average of 10.7% in 2012 to date, according to statistics released by the Office of the Secretary of Tourism for the State of Guerrero. "The rise in occupancy is due to increased security measures implemented by the state government, resulting in a more stable and peaceful environment for visitors,"says Javier Aluni, secretary of tourism for Guerrero. The Golden Zone of Acapulco showed the greatest rise in hotel occupancy with a 12.1% increase. Other popular areas saw similar...