It’s been a long time since Led Zeppelin rock and rolled: Dec. 7, 2007, to be exact, and that was 27 years after their last concert with the original foursome in 1980 (before John Bonham died). But fans can now relive the era of arguably rock’s best band with the release of “Becoming Led Zeppelin,” a new documentary that opened last week at IMAX theatres, but debuts in regular theatres today (Friday).
Set in the ancient Wychwood forest in the Cotswolds (about 30 minutes from Oxford), TreeDwellers takes modern accommodation to new heights with seven eccentric “treehouses” that seamlessly blend both luxury and nature.
Renowned as a “City of Spires” and for its historic university, Oxford has never suffered for profile, notably as a daytrip delight for visitors from London. And in recent years, the city has attracted a new cohort of Harry Potter fans intent on seeing sites used in the smash film series – namely Christ Church college and the Bodleian Library.
Great Scottish band The Waterboys are set to release their 16th album on April 4. Including such stellar guests as Bruce Springsteen, Steve Earle and Fiona Apple. ‘Life, Death And Dennis Hopper’ is said to be “the epic story of the trailblazing American actor and rebel told through a song cycle depicting not only Hopper’s story but the saga of the last 75 years of western pop culture.” Hmm.
Ecuador’s rich natural heritage, diverse culture, and wide range of adventure activities – with natural wonders including the Amazon rainforest, the Galapagos Islands, and the Avenue of the Volcanoes – is no secret. But with so many options, what is right for clients? A handful of Goway’s destination expert are eager to share their insider’s tips to help insure they get the most out of their South American adventure in one the world’s most remarkable destinations.
Braving tariff-related sentiment, a travel trade mission from the state of Colorado called in Toronto Tuesday night inviting Canadians to discover – or return to – a state with an endless, and sometimes surprising, array of attributes for visitors.
Lynda Falcone is retiring after a remarkable 48 years in the travel business. Having served for the past 17 years as national travel trade manager for VisitBritain, Falcone plans to say cheerio in April (actual date TBA).
From Paddington Bear to Harry Potter and James Bond to Mr. Bean, Great Britain has a long history of marketing the destination through TV and film. Indeed, Britain is never far from viewers around the world through an endless list of cinematic mainstays that are uniquely British, such as Downton Abbey, Bridgerton, Dr. Who, Mary Poppins, and Sherlock Holmes – not to mention productions that simply borrow Britain as a backdrop, like Jurassic Park and Game of Thrones/House of Dragons.
Everyone knows the U2 classic “One,” so if you’re going to cover it, it better be good.
And this one certainly is, with Florida cover kings Boyce Avenue teaming up with the revelatory Jennel Garcia.
Charles Darwin was so inspired by the Galapagos Islands that he came up with his theories of evolution and natural selection there. No visitor to the archipelago arriving after the British naturalist in 1834 has made such a significant mark in the history of human thinking… but most, no doubt, have been equally awed.
‘The Wall’ was arguably Pink Floyd’s best album, and ‘Mother’ arguably it’s best song (though we’ll accept votes for ‘Dark Side of the Moon’ and ‘Comfortably Numb’ respectively). There is, however, no argument that the classic Roger Waters’ tune, as rendered here by Sinead O’Connor, isn’t equally as compelling.
From the jungles of the Amazon to the ecologically unique islands of the Galapagos in the Pacific, and the Andes mountains in between – not to mention the name-giving Equator running through it – Ecuador packs unprecedented diversity into its small frame. And that, says Goway Travel, makes it a wonderland for travellers, not least those drawn to adventure and the natural world.
If I didn’t know before, I know it now: I want to live in Tahiti – as do, I’ll warrant, the three dozen or so travel advisors who turned out on the coldest day of the year (can you say polar vortex?) in Mississauga Tuesday to get the latest news on the South Pacific destination courtesy of The Islands of Tahiti, a collection of a dozen suppliers whose job it is to inspire people, if not to live, but at least visit the idyllic islands.
A new poll has named “On the Road Again” and Willie Nelson as the top travel song and musical artist for the fourth consecutive year. Following “On the Road Again”, as the favourite travelling song, was “Africa” by Toto, “Leaving on a Jet Plane” by John Denver and, making the list for the first time, “Lovely Day” by Bill Withers.
On Wednesday (Jan. 8), Elvis would have turned 90 years old, prompting a week-long memorial celebration of the King of Rock ‘n’ Roll at Graceland that included the opening of a new year-long exhibit featuring 90 curated artifacts designed to give unique insight into key moments in both Presley’s professional and personal lives.
An undiscovered gem in the mid-Atlantic that boasts European culture and style, lush landscape with plentiful outdoor activity options, great food and wine, year-round moderate climate, and direct air service from Canada (with free stopovers!) – what’s not to love about Portugal’s amazing Azores islands?
Probably the most common question I’m asked is, “How do you pick your music videos?” That no one seems to ask why a travel trade publication publishes a music column at all just shows how established and – dare I say – beloved our “Listening In” feature is every Friday. Before I go on, today’s video is the great British ska-pop band Bad Manners.
Travel advisors have been called therapists, curators, creators, and “architects of dreams.” Add another honorific: peacemakers. That’s according to Jamaica’s minister of tourism Edmund Bartlett, who spares no hyperbole in describing the important role travel agents play in the world.
In this special Christmas Eve edition of ‘Listening In’ I will offer that without a doubt my favourite Christmas song is “Christmas in Killarney,” a song written in 1950 and performed by many artists over the years, though the best IMO is unquestionably The Irish Rovers version, recorded in 2002 (a video we posted a couple of years ago).
The Trans-Siberian Orchestra has become as much a part of Christmas as Frosty or The Grinch, ever since its landmark album “Christmas Eve and Other Stories” album debuted over 25 years ago. The collection of Christmas-themed “rock operas” included this week’s offering, the epic instrumental “Christmas Eve/Sarajevo,” which cleverly incorporates echoes of a familiar Christmas tune.
Princess Hotels & Hotels celebrated its official opening last weekend in Jamaica, marking the Spanish company’s first property in the country and the biggest hotel on the island in the past 15 years. Not by coincidence, the Jamaica Tourist Board’s (JTB) annual One Love Affair top travel advisor weekend – which included 15 Canadians (and Travel Industry Today) – aligned with the long-anticipated opening, which culminated with a spectacular fireworks display.
“Architect of dreams, therapist, curator and creator…” – all of them rolled into one: travel advisor. And 50 of Jamaica’s best global agents were honoured by the island’s tourist board for being just so over the weekend at the brand-new Princess Grand resort during the Jamaica Tourist Board’s annual One Love Affair celebration and gala.
Curious travellers have been visiting Egypt over 5,000 years ago, inspired by a list of treasures that keeps growing, even today. Recently an extraordinary new statue of Ramses II has been unearthed, ancient tombs discovered, gold-tongued mummies brought to light, and an incredible 2,500-year-old funerary tunnel revealed.
Boston’s “More than a Feeling” was about how music can take you back to people or places from the past, so it’s not surprising that hearing the song today does just that for me – back to 1976 when the band exploded into public consciousness with a self-titled album that became the fastest- and best-selling debut LP in US history.
Close to 200 travel advisors turned out for a lunch Tuesday hosted by Cuban hotel group Gaviota and partner Sunwing to catch up on the latest in the Caribbean destination, which has recently suffered weather and electrical grid problems that have generated high profile international headlines.
With over-tourism particularly acute in Greece in the summer, the country’s tourism sector is looking to pivot to a model that encourages and supports year-round options, coupled with a strong focus on sustainability.
What could be better than banging a gong and getting it on with Marc Bolan than also doing it with Elton John, who was a surprise guest with T-Rex in this performance of their 1971 classic on Britain’s Top of the Pops?
Sunwing and RIU Hotels & Resorts hosted their annual holiday season partners trade lunch Wednesday with good spirits for the upcoming winter season and even a bit of snow to thrill RIU team members that had flown into chilly Toronto from some of the much warmer destinations to which most Canadians are already longing to escape.
With Chicago primed to host US Travel’s premiere IPW trade event in 2024, the Windy City will garner the gaze of the global travel industry for almost a week next June. But Choose Chicago’s chief marketing officer Lisa Nucci says her job is to ensure Chicago remains top of mind year-round – especially for Canadians.
Spain’s tourist office in Canada is welcoming new Air Transat flights from Montreal to Valencia starting next summer, sentiment that was shared at an event last week in Toronto hosted by the country’s new Consul for Tourism affairs, Isabel Martin.