Hidden deep in northwest B.C.’s coast lies the lush inlet of the Khutzeymateen, bustling with grizzly bears and other rich fauna. Created in 1994 as the first specially protected area for grizzly bears and their habitat in Canada, it is widely regarded as the densest natural grizzly bear habitat in North America and is accessible only by boat or plane.
Myrtle Beach is flying this summer 2025 with a full calendar of events to complement the laid-back coastal charm that keeps people coming back year after year. This season’s lineup includes live music, cultural festivals and family-friendly celebrations stretching across 100 km. of shoreline.
By Michael Baginski/ Donald Trump’s “big, beautiful bill” is now law, which is bad news for Brand USA. At nearly 900 pages, the budget reconciliation legislation – signed by the president with the backdrop of fireworks on July 4 – is a sprawling collection of tax breaks, spending cuts and other Republican priorities, including new money for national defense and deportations. But buried in the document is the slashing of funding for the marketing organization responsible for promoting U.S. tourism abroad by 80% to a mere $20 million.
European travellers are showing strong interest in Ontario as a destination of choice. According to a new Europe Pulse Study conducted by Context Research Group (CRG) on behalf of Destination Ontario and Destination Toronto, more than half of leisure travellers from the United Kingdom, Germany and France are considering a trip to Ontario in the next two years, with Canada seen as culturally and experientially distinct from the United States.
Nine restaurants have received prestigious Michelin stars in the tastemaker’s first foray into Quebec, cementing the province’s reputation as a hot spot for culinary creativity. All nine of the starred restaurants announced recently are categorized as serving contemporary or creative fare.
For the first time in over a century, Parisians and tourists can take a refreshing dip in the River Seine. The long-polluted waterway has finally opened up as a summertime swim spot following a 1.4 billion euro ($1.5 billion) cleanup project that made it suitable for Olympic competitions last year.
The party tents are up, straw bales are scattered around sidewalks, and the most crucial 10 days of the year are in full swing. The Calgary Stampede is a yearly celebration of western culture that kicked off Friday with a parade and includes rodeo events, concerts, carnival games, midway rides, neighbourhood pancake breakfasts, corporate shindigs, and a whole lot of cowboy cosplay.
In a not-at-all subtle message to its neighbours to the north, New York City illuminated its skyline in red and white on July 1 to mark Canada Day and “celebrate the enduring friendship between Canada and New York City.”
Would you go? Well, you can’t, even if you wanted to. Nevertheless, North Korea took a “proud first step” toward realizing the government’s policy of developing tourism, according to leader Kim Jong Un at the opening of a mammoth beach resort in the Asian pariah nation this week.
The Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority is set to launch the “ultimate recognition experience” this summer for Canada’s top-performing travel trade professionals. The initiative will spotlight “the best in the business – those who go above and beyond to sell and promote Las Vegas” with special perks, exclusive invitations, and iconic Vegas experiences.
By Anita Draycott/ When the International Association of Golf Tour Operators awarded Wales the “undiscovered Golf Destination of the Year in 2003,” that kudo, plus the Ryder Cup at Celtic Manor in 2010, put the country on the global golf map. Wales hosted The Senior open in 2014, 2017 and 2023. This year the AIG Woman’s Open comes to Royal Porthcawl (July 30 to Aug. 3).
Barcelona recorded its hottest June in over a century, the summit of the Eiffel Tower in Paris was closed to visitors and hundreds of French schools shut on Tuesday as Europe sizzled in its first major heat wave of the summer.
Hard Rock International has turned up the volume in Canada with the opening of the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Ottawa today (July 3). The venue is the first fully integrated Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in the country, also featuring a 2,200-seat auditorium.
Schools out for summer, and Canadians are ready to hit the road for vacation – perhaps this year content to stay in their own back yard (relatively speaking). With this in mind, Mazda Canada, in partnership with the Coffee Association of Canada, has unveiled the official Mazda Coffee Tour, inviting Canadians to explore their country through the lens of coffee, culture, and road trip adventures.
The Canada Strong Pass is now in effect, offering free admission to national parks, national historic sites and marine conservation areas maintained by Parks Canada. The program, which runs until Sept. 2 also includes a 25% discount on camping fees at national parks.
Having kicked off operations at Downsview Park on Sunday with a performance by K-pop group Stray Kids, Toronto’s new 50,000-capacity Rogers Stadium (not to be confused with the Rogers Centre), is set to stage 14 concerts this summer featuring some of the world’s biggest acts, including Oasis and Coldplay, and attracting tens of thousands of fans.
What could be a better memorial to Queen Elizabeth II, Britain’s longest-reigning monarch, than a pod of faintly psychedelic giant lily pads? Perhaps a big bronze tree or a recording of the late monarch’s voice. All those ideas feature among the five finalists for a permanent London monument to Elizabeth, who died in September 2022 at the age of 96 after 70 years on the throne.
By Michael Baginski/- Not unlike its ubiquitous flying fish, Bahamas tourism is calmly skimming along above the surface of the world’s choppy waters and having a definitive moment in the sun, both generally and with its integral Canadian market.
Royalton Luxury Resorts will launch a new adults-oriented brand in Barbados next year.
With Chicago now in the books, Fort Lauderdale is now on the clock for next year’s IPW, the U.S. Travel Association’s signature inbound travel trade show, to be held at Greater Fort Lauderdale/Broward County Convention Center from May 17-21. And as the future host, Visit Lauderdale shared a snapshot at last week’s IPW in the Windy City of what guests can expect from the South Florida destination in 2026.
Known as a vibrant melting pot with residents from more than 170 countries, Greater Fort Lauderdale’s richly diverse community has long shaped its inclusive dining scene. This summer, that global influence takes centre stage as Visit Lauderdale kicks off a season of culinary celebration marked by the return of Dine Out Lauderdale restaurant months, first-time MICHELIN guide recognitions, and notable new restaurant openings.
Visit Lauderdale’s ‘Lauderdale Loyalist’ program is an interactive training and sales experience for travel advisors designed to help sell the South Florida destination, but also to provide deals and discounts that can help agents discover Greater Fort Lauderdale for themselves.
Quintonil is not your typical Mexican restaurant. Clients book tables months in advance to celebrate special occasions. The World’s 50 Best list ranked it as the most acclaimed venue in the country in 2024 – and No. 7 worldwide. But once in a while something unexpected happens: food brings guests to tears.
By Nicole Evatt/ As we darted through Addis Ababa’s morning rush hour, my jet lag couldn’t dull the energy of Ethiopia’s capital. We wove through crowds of office workers headed to high-rises and families leading goats home for Orthodox Christmas feasts while our guide explained how one needs at least three weeks to fully experience his country.
Since starting in 2011, the Jasper Dark Sky Festival has steadily grown in popularity and become a signature event for Jasper National Park. Dark sky tourism, a subset of ecotourism, is focused on experiencing the night sky in areas with minimal light pollution and allowing visitors to appreciate natural phenomena such as auroras and eclipses.
Cambodia expects that its new airport serving the capital will open in July in a major step forward in boosting the country’s lucrative tourism sector, whose growth was interrupted by the coronavirus pandemic.
With miles of coastline, plus impossibly scenic highlands and valleys, Scotland rates as one of the world’s great hiking destinations. And with the northern European country easier to get to than ever for Canadians thanks to new direct Air Canada flights launching from Montreal to Edinburgh this month (June), plus existing direct flights from YYZ to EDI, it’s an ideal time for those looking to lace up the hiking boots and hit the trails.
Three Canadian travel advisors who were winners in the ‘Sell Your Way to the USA’ incentive campaign, recently returned from a prize FAM trip hosted by Visit Seattle, in partnership with Brand USA. And three more can qualify for another trip to the Emerald City in October by completing Visit Seattle’s new online training program by July 1.
Canada continues to be recognized as a global leader in Indigenous tourism, with several Pow Wows celebrated annually. More recently, Indigenous tourism and experiences have gained greater attention as travellers increasingly seek meaningful and culturally rich experiences.
by Michael Baginski/-Chicago is the place to be for the travel trade this week as U.S. Travel hosts its signature IPW trade show, where U.S. suppliers and destinations – and the host city, of course – pull out all the stops to put on a show for the world and position the U.S. as a pre-eminent place to visit. At the same time, the event never fails to capture the zeitgeist of the host country – both in travel and in general – and, as such, this year ought to be a doozy.