Destinations

NEW ORLEANS FAM MONTH: Celebrate the holidays in the Big Easy with special rates

During the month of December travel advisors can take advantage of special hotel rates and exclusive offers courtesy of New Orleans & Company’s Holiday Travel Advisors independent familiarization trip. The annual program, which has been running for over a decade, enables travel advisors to opportunity to experience the city firsthand, while enhancing the city’s visibility and accessibility, and benefiting the travel industry.

BRAZIL TO MILITARIZE KEY AIRPORTS, BORDERS TO FIGHT CRIME

Brazil’s is sending the armed forces to boost security at some of the country’s most important airports, ports, and international borders as part of a renewed effort to tackle organized crime in Latin America’s largest nation.

SUNNY DAYS: Register for Orlando Canadian trade mission

Visit Orlando, along with theme park, hotel, transportation, and attraction partners, will host a series of training and marketplace events in Calgary, Toronto, and Halifax from Dec. 3 to 8. The “Orlando Canadian Sunshine Tour” marks the return of Visit Orlando to both Calgary and Halifax, which have new airlift to Orlando.

FINDING MIAMI

Miami brought its new global marketing campaign to Toronto recently at a trade event designed to convey the South Florida city’s many faces and colours. Salsa dancers, cocktail making, and an artistic endeavour guided by a renowned graffiti artist from the city enlivened the event while giving hints of the “Find Your Miami” campaign.

AGRITOURISM STAY PROVIDES A TASTE OF TUSCANY

When we say we love Italy it’s because of the way Italy and Italians make us feel when we visit. Italy punches way above its cultural weight class – good food, the Mediterranean climate, opera, the visual arts, supercar capital of the world, fashion, warm and friendly people.

MAGIC MILLION: Canada poised to set all-time arrivals record in Britain

Canadian arrivals into Britain are poised to set an all-time record this year. And with an expected 944,000 visitors from this country forecast to find their way to Old Blighty – significantly more than not only 2019 (874k), but also the previous high-water mark in 2017 (911k) – VisitBritain officials are eyeing the magic million mark in 2024.

WILD CARD: Cybersecurity issue causes big problems at MGM Resorts

MGM Resorts said in a statement Monday that it had “recently identified a cybersecurity issue affecting some of the Company’s systems.” The issue was not described, but the statement said efforts to protect data included “shutting down certain systems.” It said the investigation was continuing. By Monday evening, the websites for all MGM Resorts International were offline with only a post offering telephone contacts for the various resorts’ locations.

FLYING HIGH: Nunavut tourism bounces back, sees growth ahead

Nunavut’s tourism industry is quickly recovering from the pandemic, according to the territorial government’s Director of Tourism and Culture Industries, David Boyle who contends that the industry is recovering faster locally than it is nationally, with cruise ship visits to the territory actually surpassing pre-pandemic levels last year.

VENICE TO TEST TOURIST FEES: Aim to ‘disincentivize’ day-trippers

Tourist-flooded Venice has approved guidelines for testing a new fee for day-trippers on peak visitor weekends next year. The city council gave the go-ahead for the guidelines, tweaking earlier plans for a fee that were announced a year ago. Final approval of the plan will come up for consideration on Sept. 12.

BEST OF BRITAIN ON DISPLAY AT ANNUAL TRADE FAIR

VisitBritain’s flagship Destination Britain North America trade event kicks off today in San Francisco with more than 50 top buyers from Canada and the US on hand to meet 70 British suppliers touting the message that Britain is the “must-go-now destination.”

SUNWING’S GUIDE TO CUBA’S COLOURFUL CAYS

Like an island getaway within their island getaway, Cuba has smaller islands nestled along its northern and southern shores that bring all the beauty Canadians expect from their favourite tropical destination, and set the stage for unforgettable stays.

QUEBEC CRACKS DOWN ON TOURIST ROOM RENTALS

Quebec’s new tourist accommodation law is now in effect, with hefty fines of up to $100,000 for short-term rental platforms listing properties without a proper government certificate.

A NEW TRADITION?: Corgi parade honours late Queen

The changing of the guard at Buckingham Palace may draw tourists from far and wide, but on Sunday visitors to the landmark were treated to a different sort of spectacle: a parade of corgis dressed up in crowns, tiaras, and royal outfits.

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.

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.

HONG KONG’S NEWEST MUST-SEES

While the world – and tourism – paused during the pandemic, Hong Kong used the unavoidable downtime to nevertheless continue developing its infrastructure and attractions for the day when tourism resumed. And that day has come.

SPLASH AND DASH: Summer fun for the family in Hong Kong

From thrilling theme parks and vibrant art and cultural attractions to family-friendly hospitality options with easy access to the city’s must-see attractions, Hong Kong is an ideal destination for families.

CANADIANS FLOCKING TO FLORIDA: State on track for record visitations

Florida is hot, and it’s not just the weather. VISIT FLORIDA yesterday announced the strongest international visitation numbers the state has seen since 2019. And that includes nearly 850,000 Canadians to date in 2023 – a whopping 80% ahead of the same period in 2022.

2024 OLYMPICS: A not-so-early Paris primer for next summer games

With less than a year until the start of the next Summer Olympics, Paris is preparing to welcome millions of visitors to the City of Light from July 26 to Aug. 11, 2024. Here’s a not-so-early early look at what to expect at the next installation of the world’s biggest sporting event.

GET READY FOR A BIODIVERSE WONDERLAND IN COSTA RICA

Costa Rica is a biodiverse paradise. This nation lies at the meeting point of both northern and southern migration routes, meaning it abounds with birds, mammals, and reptiles. The landscape shifts rapidly throughout the nation from volcanoes to cloud forests to sandy beaches. All that diversity leads to a near certain chance that travellers will encounter incredible animals on a trip to Costa Rica.

ENJOY ENDLESS OPPORTUNITIES FOR ADVENTURE IN COSTA RICA

Costa Rica’s diverse natural environment is a playground for travellers who like to feel a rush of adrenaline and the wind in their hair. The thick rainforests, sandy beaches, and multitude of volcanoes provide the sort of terrain that’s perfect for adventure.

ENJOY THE PURA VIDA LIFESTYLE IN COSTA RICA

The national phrase of Costa Rica is pura vida. It means “pure life.” It’s a greeting, a slogan, and the national philosophy. Costa Rica is the happiest nation in the world and pura vida guides every action of its citizens. These are people who love their land, their animals, and each other, and they’re thrilled to share the beauty and comfort of their nation with visitors.

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.

NOT OUR FAULT: Fed employees not involved in Regina rebrand fiasco

Federal government employees expressed relief that Prairies Economic Development Canada was not involved in last spring’s disastrous rebrand that saw Saskatchewan’s capital city criticized for sexualized slogans, including “show us your Regina.”

SUN, SAND AND SAFETY: Hawaii doesn’t want firearms on its beaches.

A judge is scheduled to consider today whether Hawaii can continue enforcing a new law banning firearms on its world-famous beaches, a measure that state leaders say makes them safer. The state’s latest gun control measure landed in court because of a lawsuit by three Maui residents who want to carry guns on beaches and other places deemed sensitive by the law, which took effect this month and involves a misdemeanor offense.

JAMAICA BREWING UP COFFEE TOURISM

Jamaica is brewing up plans to harness the potential of its renowned Blue Mountain coffee to stimulate economic growth and benefit local communities through the creation of a unique experiential tourism product.

SEE THEM WHILE YOU CAN: America’s most endangered historic places

The National Trust for Historic Preservation recently revealed its 2023 list of America’s 11 Most Endangered Historic Places, an annual ranking that spotlights significant sites of American history that are at risk of destruction or irreparable damage.

SEOUL WITH SOUL: Contiki launches first Korean trip

With Korean culture, from TV shows to pop music, Korean culture is at all-time in in interest around the world. With this mind, Contiki has announced its first ever trip to South Korea. The nine-day “South Korea Soul” itinerary begins and ends in Seoul and includes a high-speed rail journey to Busan, plus a stopover at Jeonju – the UNESCO World Heritage town known for its traditional ambience and local hospitality.

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