Destinations
Coast Hotels appointment
Coast Hotels & Resorts welcomes Pia Collins who joins the brand as executive director, People and Culture, responsible for all human resource initiatives including workforce planning, recruitment, training and development. Prior to joining Coast Hotels & Resorts, Collins was acting vice-president, Human Resources for Vancouver-based Matrix Asset Management, where she oversaw employee communications, recruitment, union contract negotiations and the rollout of a new benefits plan. An HR veteran with more than 20 years experience, Collins previously served as director, Human Resources, for Lift...
Tourism Vancouver introduces energy specialist
Tourism Vancouver's recent appointment of a tourism energy specialist is believed to be a worldwide first among destination marketing and management organizations. The role was made possible through sponsorship from BC Hydro with the mandate to guide member hotels, restaurants and attractions in energy efficiency and conservation initiatives. The new tourism energy specialist role will enable Tourism Vancouver to more actively support the City of Vancouver's Greenest City Action Plan and goal to be the world's "greenest"city by 2020. The services of the tourism energy specialist will build on...
Big Island expands its online profile
The Big Island Visitors Bureau (BIVB) recently announced that it has a Twitter account, on @HawaiiBigIsland. As the official BIVB Twitter account, @HawaiiBigIsland will provide news, links, information, tips and RTs about Hawaii, the Big Island in 140 characters or less. The BIVB is also on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/hawaiibigisland...
Luxury packages for girlfriends, family at Turtle Bay Resort
Two new packages have been introduced at the Turtle Bay Resort, including a Girlfriend Getaway and Family Adventure. The Girlfriend Getaway celebrates the bond between friends by exploring the "waterman"lifestyle - but for women! This takes in surfing, paddling, fishing, diving and most recently stand-up paddle boarding. In the package is daily surf lessons, a canoe paddling lesson, a spear fishing lesson, a beach picnic, Segway tour and... daily spa treatments. A five-night minimum stay is required and the rate is from US$5,970 (double occupancy) The "Talk Story"package is a Hawaiian...
Say Shalom to Oded
Oded Grofman is heading back to Israel in August. Leaving his post as consul for tourism for the Israel Government Tourist Office (IGTO) in Canada after five years. And while he's not quite sure what he's going to be doing yet, the one thing that's for sure, Grofman told Press Today is that he'll continue to promote and sell Israel with a passion everywhere he goes. As for his time in Canada, IGTO's outgoing tourism consul said that he has received nothing but support from the travel trade here and that it has been great doing business with them. Since Grofman's arrival in 2007, Israel has...
Win a beach getaway to Fort Lauderdale
Known for 40 km of beaches, great shopping, vibrant dining and nightlife, and a burgeoning cruise port, this is your chance to win a trip to the sunny south Florida city of Fort Lauderdale. The Greater Fort Lauderdale Convention and Visitors Bureau, along with Travel Courier, is sending one lucky travel agent and a guest on a seven-night trip for two to Greater Fort Lauderdale. The prize package includes flights from Toronto courtesy of WestJet; one week's stay at the four-diamond Atlantic Resort & Spa on Fort Lauderdale Beach; a one-week rental from Dollar Rental Car; a US$250 gift...
Record-breaking April for Hawaii tourism sector
A strategic focus on supporting experiential culture programs and the growing volume of commercial air capacity both contributed to strong arrival numbers to Hawaii in April, says the Hawaii Tourism Authority. The month of April reached all time highs for this typically slow period for Hawaii's tourism economy. Both visitor spending and arrivals surpassed past record years for April, reaching US$1.16 billion and more than 640,000 visitors. The increases in airlift to the Hawaiian Islands with new routes, as well as the moves to larger aircraft, were significant contributors to the successful...
2012 a miracle year for Thailand
Press Today's Ian Stalker reports that delegates at last week's Thailand Travel Mart in Bangkok learned that Thailand's tourist trade enjoyed a strong year in 2011, with the country seeing 19.2 million foreign visitors. The 2011 figure represented a 20.6% increase over 2010 visitations and this year the Thailand Tourism Authority is hoping for 20.5 million international visitors. The first four months of this year saw 7.3 million visitors, up 7% from the same period last year. The bulk of Thailand's foreign visitors are drawn by the country's many beach resorts but tourism authorities are...