Tourism operators in Ontario’s hot spots have been bracing for the fallout of U.S.-Canada tensions but instead are seeing an uptick in demand that some attribute to Canadian staycationers. Still, experts say a booming summer travel season is not a guarantee across the province amid ongoing economic uncertainty.
Every morning, Tom Stehr wakes up and heads straight into his maple shop. As he walks through the Huntsville, Ont., building, he passes displays of syrup memorabilia, Canadian flags and maple leaf decor. “I just fell in love with everything about maple,” Stehr says. “It’s totally Canadian. It’s iconic.”
The Las Vegas Visitor and Convention Authority (LVCVA) is visiting Canada this week, with its Eastern Canada mission concluding in Winnipeg Thursday, following gala events in Montreal and Toronto earlier in the week,
When travellers think of beach getaways, their first thought may be to spend their days relaxing under the sun, and while white-sand lounging certainly has a place on tropical vacations, it’s not the only way to experience the sands of paradise. With dozens of beaches to explore in Aruba, there’s no limit to what vacationers can do, from ocean exploration to enjoying the lively nightlife.
According to its tourism motto, Fort Lauderdale welcomes “Everyone Under the Sun.” And naturally, Canadians rank high among that “everyone.” In a message addressed directly to Canadian travel advisors, Stacy Ritter, President and CEO of Visit Lauderdale, said, “We look forward to welcoming you and your clients to Greater Fort Lauderdale. We deeply appreciate our Canadian visitors, who not only embrace all that our destination has to offer but also show great respect and love for our community. Their presence enriches our local culture and strengthens the deep-rooted connection between Canada and Greater Fort Lauderdale.
WestJet will launch new service between Halifax and Barcelona, Spain, beginning June 27. The seasonal route will operate four times per week as part of WestJet’s summer 2025 schedule, offering Atlantic Canadians a direct connection to what the airline says is one of its most sought-after European destinations.
Constant sunshine and amazing natural attributes help Greater Fort Lauderdale sell itself as a destination, but Visit Lauderdale is leaving nothing to chance by offering a comprehensive suite of tools for Canadian travel advisors designed to make it easier – and more lucrative – to sell the diverse 31 municipalities of Broward County.
From the tranquility of a beach escape to engaging outdoor adventures, and fine dining to nightlife and exciting sporting events (including being home base for the Stanley Cup champion Florida Panthers), there’s something to suit all – and multiple – interests in Greater Fort Lauderdale.
By Michael Baginski/ Tiny Anguilla has a big heart. So says Kimberly King of the Anguilla Tourist Board (ATB), who visited Toronto and Montreal last week to update the trade on the most recent developments on the Caribbean island. “(Anguillans) are very, very friendly and offer warm hospitality,” she said. “(Visiting) us is a very authentic experience.”
For lovers of beer, lagers and ciders, London has an answer that’s off the beaten track: The Bermondsey Beer Mile, a loose collection of brewery bars and liquor stores that stretches well over a mile through the streets and railway arches of south London.
By Michael Baginski/ Chris Allison simply wants to say, “G’day, Canada!” And Tourism Australia’s VP for The Americas was in Toronto last week, accompanied by a delegation of tourism partners, to say just that on an annual trade mission designed to show his country’s appreciation of this one, and the 100,000-plus Canadians it welcomes annually.
Blue Diamond Resorts has unveiled its latest venture in the Caribbean: Royalton CHIC Jamaica Paradise Cove, An Autograph Collection All Inclusive Resort – Adults Only, set to debut in late 2026.
Through the end of April, Québec’s ‘sugaring season’ is in full force with charming sugar shacks taking advantage of Spring’s flow of maple syrup production to offer a traditional Québécois dining experience in a rustic setting.
2025 is a special year for fans of Jane Austen, one of literature’s most beloved authors, who was born in 1775. 250th anniversary events and celebrations are taking places across the UK, but notably in Bath, which counts Austen as its most famous former resident.
One Caribbean Canada has launched its first Caribbean events calendar, now available on its website. The comprehensive new resource, offered in both English and French, highlights the diverse and vibrant events taking place across the Caribbean throughout the year.
The weak Canadian dollar and the eroding relationship between the US and Canada may in fact bring a major boost to Quebec’s economy in 2025, says Alliance de l’industrie touristique du Québec. The tourism group calculated that Quebecers who cancel trips to the US and instead travel in the province will spend about $1.5 billion this year.
VisitBritain hosted a blockbuster film-inspired reception for travel trade in Toronto in support of its new global screen tourism campaign this week. The event followed similar gatherings in Dubai and Australia, with over a dozen more to come to launch the ‘Starring GREAT Britain’ campaign, which features a star-studded film drawing on iconic film and TV moments made in the UK.
The German National Tourist Board’s (GNTB) inaugural AI influencer project utilizes artificial intelligence to promote Germany as a travel destination on an international scale. With the launch of ‘Emma’ – an AI-generated influencer – the GNTB has created an interactive brand ambassador designed to virtually inspire potential travellers to visit the European country.
Miami Beach officials have announced they are bringing back enhanced security measures for practically the entire month of March, including parking restrictions and increased fees for non-residents. The new rules were introduced last year after three consecutive years of spring break violence
Plans for major recreational tourism project in Mirabel, Que, have been unveiled with expectations that the first phase of the multifunctional complex will open in 2028. The $175-200 million entertainment hub, featuring a world-class indoor water park, will be located about an hour from Montreal, and is expected to become a major economic and tourism driver for the region and Greater Montreal, say city officials.
Sixty years after the fourth James Bond movie was filmed in The Bahamas, some evidence of “Thunderball” still remains for fans to discover. Sean Connery was so enamoured with Nassau-Paradise Island (NPI) after the shoot that he bought a villa in an exclusive gated community at the western end of New Providence.
An expansive new resort destination opens today in Orlando. Encompassing 32 hectares on International Drive near Universal Orlando and the convention centre, Villatel Orlando Resort will offer two distinct ways to stay: The Villas and the nation’s first Apartments by Marriott Bonvoy Resort. There will also be a full-scale water park.
With an increasing number of Canadians considering holidaying at home this summer due to a depleted dollar and negative sentiment towards the US, Adventure Canada says it is giving Canadian residents the option to receive expedition pricing in Canadian dollars, rather than the industry standard USD.
When Shanghai-based designer Guo Qingshan posted a vacation photo on Valentine’s Day and captioned it “Puppy Mountain,” it became a sensation in China and even created a tourist destination.
Once coveted as a Canadian province (how does that feel now?), Turks and Caicos bears no ill will. Quite the opposite in fact, as Canada rates as the Caribbean islands’ second largest market after this country’s current would-be colonizers, the US.
Britian’s Royal Collection Trust has announced its program of group visits and private tours at the official residences of King Charles III – Buckingham Palace, Windsor Castle, and Holyroodhouse (Scotland) – for 2025.
As the snow was piling up at home, even in the torrential rain California was a more desirable place to be than Canada. Such was the case earlier this month as Visit California and some 35 destination partners hosted a couple of dozen members of the Canadian trade for a reverse mission in San Diego, followed by post conference FAMs throughout the state.
An iconic metal sculpture of a dragon that spits real fire in the Polish city of Krakow will hold its breath for a month to check why it’s been devouring so much fuel lately. Experts are checking the gas feeds for the six-metre sculpture to find ways of reducing the dragon’s energy bills.
A relative pause in Middle Eastern tensions in Israel and the easing of Egyptian visa processing is seeing Canadians flocking back to the Land of the Pharaohs in 2025, according to Goway, which reports that bookings are up 250 percent in the past few months compared to the year before – a year blighted by full-fledged war between neighbouring Israel and Gaza.
“Let it snow,” Saint Lucia tourism execs exclaimed while visiting Toronto this week, as the city (and much of the eastern part of the country) continued to dig out from far too much of the white stuff. And to be clear, Saint Lucia Tourism Authority CEO Louis Lewis smiled, there is no snow on his Caribbean island. “Absolutely none!”