Author name: Michael Baginski

ANTIGUA HAS MOMENT IN THE SUN

The tiny Caribbean nation of Antigua and Barbuda is flying high. Literally. On Aug. 10, two citizens of the island ventured into space on the Virgin Galactic 02 Spacecraft, making Keisha Schahaff and her daughter Anastatia Mayers worldwide celebrities, but also blasting their country into the international spotlight.

LISTENING IN: Super-duper Roger Hodgson

As an all-time favourite of mine, I could (but won’t) launch a Supertramp September of videos, with little limit of great song choices from which to choose (but not many decent clips to accompany). Instead, here’s something from co-frontman Roger Hodgson’s successful solo career, which followed the unfortunate break-up of the British band.

LISTENING IN: A little Coldplay Fix

Earlier this year, Coldplay earned raves for a film release of its sold out 10-night run at run at Buenos Aires’ River Plate stadium at the end of last year. The screening alone sold more than 6 million tickets and attracted rave reviews from fans and critics alike: with The Guardian calling it “genuinely stunning” the New York Post describing it as “a night for the history books,” and the Glasgow Evening Times heralding it as “the greatest show on Earth.”

HELLO HONG KONG: New attractions, timeless treasures welcome returning Canadians

It already seems like ages ago (March) that Hong Kong lifted its COVID mask mandate and Canada removed temporary pre-departure test requirements for air travellers from China, Hong Kong, and Macao. The double move eliminated two major obstacles for the return of travel to the favourite destination for Canadians and prompted the always industrious Hong Kong Tourism Board to ramp up operations to accommodate visitors ready (and able) to return after the long pandemic.

LISTENING IN: Some wee haver on The Proclaimers

With thick Scottish accents and numerous references to their homeland in their songs, there’s little doubt from whence The Proclaimers – identical twin brothers Craig and Charlie Reid – hail.

TICO DROPS TWO SEATS: What does the board change really mean

The composition of Travel Industry Association of Ontario’s (TICO) board is changing – news that officially filtered out late Friday afternoon and garnered industry reaction over the weekend (see following link). And while the letter from Minister of Public and Business Service Delivery Kaleed Rasheed made it clear that province’s travel industry will have less representation – and input – on the board, many questions remained unclear. We put some of them to TICO CEO Richard Smart. Here’s his reply.

BRUCE ALMIGHTY: Goway’s founder at 80, celebrates a not-boring life

Bruce Hodge is surely one of the most interesting men in the world, so it was only fitting that lightning flashed and thunder clapped during his remarks as the inimitable founder of Goway Travel celebrated his 80th birthday at his North Toronto home late last week.

LISTENING IN: Bruce still a spring chicken

Few singer-songwriters have been so good for so long as Bruce Springsteen. Indeed, it’s a sad, if understandable fact that many, while continuing to play, must rely on their previous glory days as new music diminishes – at least in terms of quality. Not so the Boss, whose output beyond the ‘70s and ‘80s has been every bit as engaging.

BRAND USA BOSS CHRIS THOMPSON TO RETIRE

Chris Thompson is goin’ fishin’. But colleagues and well-wishers will have until May 31, 2024 – after IPW in Los Angeles – to say goodbye to the popular Brand USA exec, who announced his retirement yesterday.

LISTENING IN: Collective Soul shines on

Collective Soul is touring this summer (new album), including multiple dates across Canada. I caught the band in Kitchener, Ont. a couple of weeks back, at last crossing one of my all-time faves off my concert bucket list.

SMELLS LIKE TEAM SPIRIT: ACTA golf tourney brings industry together

Though it is universally agreed that business is booming, the Canadian travel industry certainly still has its share of woes at the moment – though for one shining day in Milton, Ont., the rain clouds parted and the sun beamed down for close to 200 enthusiastic participants in ACTA’s 34th annual summer golf tournament.

LISTENING IN: Just Joni

In honour of Canada Day earlier this month, Rolling Stone magazine rolled out its occasional accounting of “best” Canadian artists, encompassing familiar names like Neil Young, Gordon Lightfoot, Rush, Shania, Celine, Drake, and Justin (Bieber, that is). Plus, some absolute head-scratchers: Snow, (disco-punk revivalists) Death From Above 1979, and Japandroids.

LISTENING IN: Sweatin’ with an oldie

With temperatures feeling like 40-plus degrees across large parts of Ontario and Quebec this week, and the world at large posting its highest daily temperature ever, it was definitely getting dirty and gritty in the cities. So, envy to those on holiday, or working (sure!) on the dock at the cottage – or better still, legitimately sipping a cocktail there, toes dangling in the cool water. Sigh.

ALL ABOARD FOR SAN FRANCISCO’S AMAZING RIDE

It was simply time for the Golden Gate City to start playing ball again in Canada – literally, as a delegation from the San Francisco Tourism Association invited a select group of travel friends to attend a Blue Jays game against their own Giants at the Rogers Centre last week.

PUBS, PATIOS & BARS: Mellow yellow on Granville Island

Vancouver is certainly known for its bridges, but the one we’re most enamoured of is Bridges restaurant and patio, found on Granville Island, overlooking fabulous False Creek, the city skyline, and the mountains of the north shore.

LISTENING IN: The Stampeders – Bon c’est, bon!

As we get set to turn the volume to 11 on Canada Day, it’s only fitting that we offer a little classic Canadiana for your listening/viewing pleasure. And who can forget the Calgary-based trio The Stampeders – perhaps the only band that could use the word macaroons in a song and get away with it?

FORT WORTH – TEXAS TILL THE COWS COME HOME

A place where “cowboy boots and hats come together,” Fort Worth exudes a real Texas vibe, yet with a “modern west” ambiance befitting America’s 12th largest city.

LISTENING IN: Matchbox 20 still strikes a chord

Mention Matchbox 20 and the band is usually greeted with an “Oh, I love them.” It is entirely fair to say they are beloved, not least thanks to charismatic frontman Rob Thomas and not just by women (my wife included). A few years ago, Thomas, performing solo, blew the audience away at the annual IPW U.S. travel trade show.

VIRGINIA TOWN IS QUIRKY – AND PROUD OF IT

There’s no place like Wytheville. Literally. Unlike Washington or ubiquitous Springfield (notably home of everyman family the Simpsons), the southwest Virginia town is the only place in the US with that name (and the entire world, they claim).

‘LITTLE TENNESEE’ BRINGS SOUTHERN FLAVOUR TO TORONTO

Launching ‘Little Tennessee’ at The Drake Hotel Toronto are (l-r) Charmaine Singh, Reach Global; state tourist development commissioner Mark Ezell; singer-songwriters Eric Arjes and Jimmy Robbins; Deana Ivy, president of Nashville Convention and Visitors Corp.; and state tourism assistant commissioner of marketing Debra Smith.

LISTENING IN: Cool song a hot hit for Blake Shelton

Blake Shelton isn’t from Tennessee, but with a nod to the state’s unique music-oriented promotional event in Toronto this week (see story above), we’ll feature a song co-written by talented Nashville songwriter Jimmy Robbins, who performed for media at the ‘Little Tennessee’ launch Wednesday at The Drake Hotel.

LOS CABOS CALLING: And Canadians getting the message

Canadians’ love affair with Los Cabos is continuing as arrivals to the Mexican tourism hotspot have increased close to 13% in the first half of the year – and that’s having already reached pre-pandemic figures over the winter.

CUCKOO FOR COCONUT BAY, AND SERENITY

With Air Canada flying three times weekly to Saint Lucia this summer, there’s no time like the present for Canadians to take advantage of the amenities of the island’s sibling resorts, Coconut Bay Beach Resort and Spa and Serenity, travel agents were told at a Toronto event Friday.

LISTENING IN: Gimme Jimi

With a nod to today’s lead story, we had a hankerin’ for a little Hendrix this week, and specifically the guitar god’s classic “Purple Haze.”

IS THAT IT?: Not any more at The Alamo

It’s the most iconic landmark in Texas, but for many, initial impressions prompt the question: “Is that it?” After all, the historic site – famed site of the Battle of The Alamo in 1836, where Davy Crockett and others lost their lives fighting in the Texas Revolution – is squeezed into a downtown square in San Antonio that lacks the epic scale of most other national moments in the US.

CANADA COMES FULL CIRCLE FOR FLORIDA

Canada has regained its position as Florida’s top international market – status it officially but briefly lost (to Colombia) during the pandemic. But when borders re-opened, this country quickly regained its typically unassailable position atop Visit Florida’s visitor logs.

LISTENING IN: Are you ready… for the Ballroom Blitz?

A trip down nostalgia road this week with the Sweet classic, “Ballroom Blitz.” For me it takes me back to CHUM sock hops in junior high (which always ended, I might add, with the conflicting slow dance nervousness/elation of “Stairway to Heaven.”)

NEW CRUISE PORT OPENS, USHERS IN NASSAU RENAISSANCE

After three years of construction and a cost of $300 million, the reimagined Nassau Cruise Port has opened its doors to cruisers, not only offering enhanced service for cruises to the Bahamas’ capital city, but ushering in a regeneration of the city’s downtown core.

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