Happiness was in the air in Vancouver last week when Air Canada got together with Visit Florida, VoX International, and other Florida tourism and public relations people to celebrate the next-day launch of Air Canada’s direct flight from Vancouver nonstop to Miami. They threw an elegant and lively cocktail lunch at a downtown hotel that was well-attended by local media people, all of whom shared the joy of the season and the positive vibe of the super successful launch.
“We’re beyond ecstatic, obviously, to have this direct lift into Miami,” said Suzie Sponder, Sr. Director of Communications for the Greater Miami Convention & Visitors bureau. “We’re a wonderful, diverse destination – lots of hidden gems, heritage neighbourhoods, big 10 events, beautiful beaches, lots of arts and culture – and we look forward to welcoming more Western Canadians soon.”
A special guest was Dana Young, President and CEO of Visit Florida. She “congratulated” the crowd because the Canadian market, which had been “down-a-ways,” is now “back up to Number One” for Florida.
“We value your market so much,” she said, “and the fact that we can now get Western Canadians to Florida more quickly than you can get to Hawaii is great for us—and we’re just thrilled that this new flight is starting tomorrow, December 17th, three days a week—and it’s doing so well.”
The demand is such that the inaugural flight is already sold out and the flight’s place on the schedule, initially envisioned as a seasonal-only offering, has ballooned to year-round availability.
Dana Young says Miami is a destination that’s not to be missed, and of course she’s right. It may be rare to meet an Eastern Canadian who has never been to Miami, but Western Canadians are a different story altogether.
The new direct flight will bring Miami, a vibrant and diverse world-class city, closer to Western Canadians than ever before. Miami is the second-largest hub for international tourism in the United States, just after New York City. It’s the gateway to the Americas, and it’s logical that it now connects directly with Vancouver, Air Canada’s trans-Pacific hub.
Tim Liu, Air Canada’s Managing Director, Sales Planning and Effectiveness, was excited that the flight went from seasonal-only to year-round. “We’re going to be connecting Vancouver to Miami for the full year. And we’re really looking forward to having that route. It’s not only about bringing Canadians to Miami but also leveraging our hub position in Vancouver, connecting Asia Pacific to Miami in a one-stop flight.”