It’s so Miami in Toronto
With scenic views overlooking Toronto from the 51st floor of the Manulife Centre, the spotlight was on Miami last night (Oct. 3) as the Greater Miami CVB held an industry reception ahead of a sales mission for travel agents tonight.
With the economy picking up and Snowbirds starting to head south, Linda Stilmann, senior director of sales travel industry, for the Greater Miami CVB, says Canadian travel to Miami is beginning to pick up again.
“We’re a hop, skip and a jump away from here,” she says. “I mean 2.5 hours there you are out of the cold weather sitting on the beach drinking a margarita. You can’t get better than that.”
Although many travellers come for the beach and sunshine – or pre- or post-cruise – she says Miami also boasts great dining, as well as art and culture with the addition of Wynwood Walls, an outdoor destination featuring graffiti and street murals by artists from around the globe.
“The Wynwood area is really our artsy district now. It’s very famous for the Wynwood Walls, where everyone goes to visit and there are a lot of art shops there and great restaurants,” she says. “There are a lot of new things going on in Miami too – the Museum of Science will be opening soon. We’ve got new ships coming in, like we’ve got the Carnival Vista coming in in November.”
Tonight’s travel agent event will be held at the Toronto Marriott Downtown Eaton Centre Hotel. The mission then heads to Montreal.
For any agents planning a trip to Miami, Stilmann says the CVB offers a Go Miami pass for complimentary entrance to most of the major attractions and partners Big Bus Tours Miami provides them with tickets on the hop-on hop-off double decker bus.
Taking part in the event held at The One Eighty along with Stilmann were: John Hulsewe/North America Destinations; Gigiana Fraind/Kimpton Hotels & Restaurants; Concha Perdomo/Circa 39 Hotel; Fred Khoury/The Hotel of South Beach; Berit Naatz/The Confidante Miami Beach; Lori Kendall/Hotel YVE Miami; Stephanie Phillips Casas/Courtyard Miami Aventura Mall; Joanne Scalamogna/Miami CVB and Chris Conte/Hotel Indigo Miami Lakes.
