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!”
One of Japan’s most picturesque seasons is on its way: cherry blossoms – or sakura – are preparing to bloom. Starting in mid-March and continuing through mid-May, the Japan National Tourism Organization (JNTO) has announced 2025’s cherry blossom season forecast, with dates and locations to help travellers experience the hanami (the custom of flower viewing in Japan) season from city to city.
The federal government is moving ahead with a high-speed, fully electric rail network between Quebec City and Toronto. The new system – to be called Alto – will slash travel times in half and get travellers from Montréal to Toronto in just three hours. Additionally, there will be stops in Peterborough, Ottawa, Laval, and Trois-Rivières.
2025 will be a year of continuing momentum for France, according to Atout France, which is rolling out across Canada this week with annual roadshow events in Montreal, Toronto, Calgary, and Vancouver. The forecast is no surprise after a robust 2024 when the country cracked the “magic” 100-million visitor mark thanks to such landmark events as the Summer Olympics in Paris, 80th anniversary of D-Day, and the re-opening of Notre Dame Cathedral.
Brand USA, the destination marketing organization for the United States, has appointed Toronto-based Faulhaber as its new agency of record (AOR) for public relations in Canada. Faulhaber, which also has locations in Montreal and Vancouver, will work closely with the Brand USA team to share stories that highlight the USA as a culturally rich, diverse, and inclusive destination.
The Los Cabos Tourism Board has launched a digital platform designed to enhance trip planning for both travellers and travel advisors. Featuring AI-powered tools, 360-degree virtual tours, interactive maps, and customizable itineraries, the platform simplifies the process of exploring the destination’s offerings.
Wimpy would have been the word to describe the last two winters in Ottawa too, when temperatures never plunged low enough, for long enough, for winter activities to abound. The canal skating rink never opened at all in 2023, a historic first, and in 2024 was open for only a handful of days on a very narrow portion, with poor skating conditions.
There’s no shortage of natural wonders and travel destinations in Alberta’s north; however, the biggest draw for visitors isn’t the boreal splendour or isolated lakes, it’s the people who live there. There are approximately 1.4 million domestic visitors to the northern Alberta annually, according to the most recent national travel survey released by Statistics Canada. The top trip purpose, equalling about a third of all tourists, was to visit friends and family.
The Britannic Explorer, newly unveiled by Belmond, is the first luxury sleeper train in England and Wales. Set to debut in July 2025. The Britannic Explorer will depart from London, offering three-night journeys with a choice of three routes through the spectacular natural landscapes of Cornwall, The Lake District, and Wales.
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.
The Islands of the Bahamas welcomed a record-breaking 11.22 million international visitors in 2024, making it the best year ever, far exceeding the 9.65 million arrivals in 2023.
Part art gallery, science exhibition and 21st century funhouse, the Paradox Museum Miami takes guests on a tour through optical illusions and other enigmas geared for the age of Instagram. Housed in Miami’s trendy Wynwood arts and entertainment district, the attraction features more than 70 exhibits that challenge the imagination,
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.
A mountain in New Zealand considered an ancestor by Indigenous people has been recognized as a legal person after a new law granted it all the rights and responsibilities of a human being. The pristine, snow-capped dormant volcano is the second highest on New Zealand’s North Island at 2,518 metres and a popular spot for tourism, hiking and snow sports.
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).
French President Emmanuel Macron announced Tuesday that the “Mona Lisa” will get its own dedicated room inside the Louvre – the world’s most-visited museum – under a major renovation and expansion of the Paris landmark that will take up to a decade.
Visitors to Tokyo and Kyoto might not realize it, but Osaka – one of Japan’s biggest and oldest cities, known more as a business hub than a tourist destination – is gearing up to host this year’s World Exposition. The city has been plastered with the Expo’s red-and-blue “Myaku-Myaku” mascot for months and is abuzz with preparations.
The rare unfurling of an endangered plant that emits the smell of decaying flesh recently drew hundreds of devoted fans to a greenhouse in Sydney, Australia, where they joined three-hour lines to experience a momentous bloom – and a fragrance evoking gym socks and rotting garbage.