‘FANTASTIC FIVE’: Visit Lauderdale builds on ‘phenomenal’ tourism year

Springboarding off a “phenomenal” year of tourism, which included $125 million in revenue from the tourist development tax – the second highest in its history – Visit Lauderdale has unveiled a series of ambitious destination marketing initiatives for 2024 designed to “share our message of inclusion and diversity to travellers who are looking for fun, bold, immersive, and interactive experiences.”

STRANGE BUT TRUE: Non-paying resident claims ownership of famed New York hotel

In a case of you can’t make this stuff up, a New York City man who lived rent-free for five years in a landmark Manhattan hotel has claimed ownership of the entire building. Prosecutors say Mickey Barreto filed paperwork saying the New Yorker belongs to him – and tried to charge another tenant rent.

WESTJET COMMITTED TO ‘DOING BETTER’ ON ACCESSIBILITY

WestJet chief executive Alexis von Hoensbroech has apologized for incidents where the airline failed to accommodate people living with disabilities, and says the airline is “committed to doing better.”

SOUTHERN COMFORT: Greater Fort Lauderdale’s tempting eats and cozy treats

With a culinary landscape and cultural scene flourishing with newfound vitality, Greater Fort Lauderdale’s buzzing neighbourhoods offer a diverse array of creative, highly sought-after restaurants, but also classic comfort food, from pizza to barbecue and, of course, ice cream – the perfect compliment to the South Florida warmth.

ROUND-UP: Feb. 12-16, 2024

Troubles in the Red Sea continue to play havoc with the cruise industry. Also last week, the New Year and Leap Year have intersected to create plenty of consumer deals; PEI is polishing up its hockey sticks; a Jamaican resort is celebrating the Bob Marley movie; TravelBrands welcomed a new BDM; and Tauck celebrated a newly re-organized executive team.

BETTER TOGETHER? Flair, Lynx merger speculation heats up

As rumours swirled Thursday, Flair and Lynx declined to comment on speculation of a merger, and various sources said the precise timing of any announcement was as yet unknown.   However, the Toronto Star, citing three industry sources,  reported that “Flair Airlines and competitor Lynx Air are in discussions about a merger, and a deal could be announced the same day.

DIGITAL DIGEST: Producing viral content – myth vs reality

Creating viral content is what every advertiser, marketer, and content producer dreams of, but it isn’t always straightforward. There are no set formulas or recipes for success, so it’s important to get the basics right.

WHERE CANADIANS ARE BOOKING FOR FAMILY DAY

With Family Day (Feb. 19), marking the first holiday of 2024, online travel family CheapOair.ca revealed some of the top local and international destinations being booked by Canadians. Some are certainly familiar, but others not so much.

STRANGE BEDFELLOWS?: PEI and NHL sign partnership deal

Canada’s smallest province is looking to boost its tourism profile through a deal with the National Hockey League. The agreement announced Tuesday designates Tourism Prince Edward Island as the “official travel destination partner of the NHL.’”

EEWWWW: It’s even worse than ‘bugs’. Delta flight turns back

What a week.  First we had mummified monkeys (‘bushmeat’ as it was so appetizingly termed) now we have a  Delta Air Lines flight forced to turn around back to Amsterdam due to a “bug” infested carry on bag. Well, though the airline diplomatically described an “improperly packed carry-on bag,” social media posts (you can always count on them for the nitty gritty) noted the ‘bugs’ falling from an overhead bin, were in fact …ewww

WHAT’S NEW IN ORLANDO FOR THE HOLIDAYS

With a Family Day and Spring Break on the horizon, Orlando is sure to be in the spotlight for many Canadians. And with more than two dozen new experiences set to amuse, entertain, and dazzle in the theme park capital, here’s a look at just some of what’s new for the upcoming holidays, and beyond.

FOOD FOR THOUGHT: Where to eat on the street in Vietnam

Ho Chi Minh City, a culinary haven renowned for its vibrant street food scene, has embarked on an international campaign to showcase its unique and transformative cuisine. Spearheaded by the Ho Chi Minh City Department of Tourism, the campaign has enticed audiences worldwide since December with its compelling video titled “All You Can Eat.”

NEW SHIP ORDERS SIGNAL RISING CRUISE OPTIMISM

In a signal that cruising has finally recovered, Carnival Corp. has inked its first order for a new ship since before the pandemic. The fourth Excel-Class ship for Carnival Cruise Line will be built at the Meyer Werft shipyard and be delivered in 2027. And the company confirmed rumors reported in Seatrade Cruise News they are in discussion for as many as four ships to be built by Fincantieri in Italy.

LISTENING IN: Advice from Keb’ Mo’ and Rosanne Cash

I’ve loved the music of Kevin Roosevelt Moore known as Keb’ Mo’, since my blues loving (and playing) cousin Jerome, introduced me to his music some years ago. Since then, the American blues musician and eight-time Grammy Award winner, has become a staple in our house.

‘IT’S BLOWIN’ A STORM’: Another huge snowstorm descends on Atlantic Canada

A Valentine’s Day snowstorm closed school and caused travel delays across parts of Nova Scotia and Newfoundland. The nor’easter dumped up to 37 centimetres of snow on Nova Scotia by Wednesday morning before heading to Newfoundland, where the wind picked up and a swirling snowfall enveloped much of the province.

FORT MYERS REBOUNDS FROM HURRICANE IAN

During my recent visit to Lee County, Florida I couldn’t help but strum along to Jimmy Buffett’s 1977 hit song, “Changes in Latitudes, Changes in Attitudes.”  As I walked the streets and beaches of Fort Myers, Sanibel and Captiva islands, these lines in particular stood out:

CUNARD OFFERS SPECIAL BRITAIN SAILING ON QUEEN ANNE

Cunard has announced the first event voyage on Queen Anne with a special British Isles Festival to coincide with her maiden voyage around the British Isles, departing May 24. The 14-night roundtrip voyage is designed to showcase the very best of Britain’s shores, taking in Cunard’s spiritual home of Liverpool and along with Belfast, the Highland cliffs, and the scenic Scottish coast.

‘RENDEZVOUS WITH THE WORLD’: France to mark special D-Day milestone in June

The eyes of the world will be on Paris this summer when the City of Light hosts the Summer Olympics; but first France will show its gratitude toward World War II veterans who will return, many for the last time, to Normandy beaches this year for 80th anniversary commemorations of D-Day to mark the defeat of the Nazis.

EXPLORE ’24: 7 reasons to visit Denmark

With a rich cultural heritage and vibrant culinary scene, Denmark always has plenty on the go to entice visitors, not least a host of new events and experiences set to take place in 2024. From unique sightseeing and active adventures to only-in-Denmark culinary celebrations, here are seven mouthwatering reasons to visit this year.

CALL A CAB: Uber, Lyft and DoorDash plan mass strike today

Happy Valentine’s Day. Thousands of Uber, Lyft and DoorDash drivers are set to cause chaos on today in Toronto and other cities across Canada and the US, during a mass strike for higher wages. The Valentine’s Day strike is expected in Toronto, Vancouver and Winnipeg, as well as dozens of cities across the US. and Europe. The drivers, who are considered independent contractors, have accused the platforms of taking disproportionately high amounts as commissions.

VRBO FUMBLES: Newfoundland and Labrador rightly angered by SuperBowl tourism ad.

Newfoundland and Labrador has released a new advertisement that appears to respond to an ad by a vacation rental company that angered many in the province.  Vrbo ran an ad during the Super Bowl broadcast on Sunday showing disappointed travellers discovering that their vacation rental is overrun by squealing livestock, while the beloved folk song “I’se the B’y” plays in the background.

FIRST LOOK: Universal reveals new Orlando theme park

Universal Orlando Resort has revealed the first official look and details of its new theme park, Universal Epic Universe. Located a few miles from the current Universal footprint, the park is set to open in 2025, promising an “unmatched level of theme park innovation” that includes five immersive worlds featuring attractions, dining, shopping and more, all set in “breathtaking gardens.”

HILTON EMBRACES MOBILE MESSAGING FOR GUESTS

Late check-out request. Extra pillows. Wine glasses. Replacement toothbrush. Just send a text. To support the growing need for frictionless travel and introduce easier ways for guests to engage with hotel teams, Hilton is expanding its mobile messaging platform to its more than 7,000 Hilton properties worldwide by the end of 2024.

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