Destinations
Caribbean Set To Make A Splash
The Caribbean Week in Toronto will have a new twist in 2014 after the Caribbean Tourism Organization (CTO)’s accepted an invitation from representatives of national tourist offices in Canada to host a Caribbean Week event in Ottawa. As a result, Ottawa will host the CTO Travel Agents Educational Program on Mon., June 23 from 5:30 pm to 8:30 p.m. at the Chimo Hotel, 1199 Joseph Cyr Street, Ottawa. Sylma Brown, who heads the CTO’s New York office, the organizers of Caribbean Week Toronto, said: “Having held similar workshops for hundreds of travel agents in the greater Toronto area...
What’s Your Beach Personality
Florida is getting the word out on its famed beaches through the use of some creative technology. This summer has seen VisitFlorida launch http://www.visitflorida.com/beachfinder, which VisitFlorida spokeswoman Lucy Spann labels a tool to enable users to find the Florida beach which is suited for an individual's “beach personality. “There are adventurous beaches. There are family beaches. There are au naturale beaches. You can see six options of Florida beaches,” Spann says, adding there's a “97% likelihood that you'll enjoy going to that beach [that the...
Sunset, Palace Forge Strategic Deal
Sunset Resorts Jamaica and Palace Resorts have signed an agreement that will see Palace Resorts assume ownership of the Sunset Jamaica Grande on July 7. Palace will close the property on Sept. 1, 2014 for extensive renovations and upgrades before opening its doors again as the new Moon Palace Jamaica Grande in early 2015. This substantial investment will mark Palace Resorts’ latest step outside of Mexico, expanding their signature awe-inclusive brand standards to the Jamaican market. Gibran Chapur, executive vice-president for Palace Resorts and responsible for the overall growth and...
Driving Canadian Hotel Investment
The Tourism Industry Association of Canada (TIAC) has released a new report that examines the current investment climate, identifies the challenges undermining profitability and provides practical recommendations to address the public policy issues which impede growth and deter investment. According to TIAC president and CEO, David Goldstein: "The global competition for capital investment is fierce. Simply put, capital is not patriotic; it is mobile and seeks out the most profitable returns. If we don't act investment opportunities in the Canadian hotel sector will be passed-over for...
On The Road Again At Universal Orlando
There’s more magic at Universal Orlando Resort this week as the theme park hosts its gala, global sneak peak for the travel trade of Diagon Alley (shown) and the Hogwarts Express, expanding the wildly popular Wizarding World of Harry Potter themed area. The official opening is set for July 8. PressToday’s Mike Baginski has hopped a broom down to the gala event and will be reporting all the details in future issues of Travel Courier and Canadian Travel...
More Latin America From Contiki
Contiki is expanding its Latin program for 2015-2016 to include 21 itineraries and introduce Belize, Guatemala and Colombia as new destinations for 2015. In all, 7 new trips will be offered by Contiki that feature Guatemala, Belize and Colombia, including the 14-day Central Trail, the 25-day Mexico, Guatemala and Belize and the 11-day Hola Colombia itineraries. As one of the fastest-growing travel destinations, Colombia offers up a mix of culture, adventure and epic landscapes. Contiki’s exclusive Hola Colombia trip brings travellers right into the heart of the country, as they...
Find A Legacy Of Laughter In Santa Rosa
In this week's issue of Travel Courier, Ian Stalker reports that tourism authorities in Santa Rosa, Ca., are inviting people to visit the community that Charles Schulz chose as his adopted home and which has a standing structure to his comic genius. Peanuts creator Schulz was smitten with Santa Rosa and ended up relocating there, says Brad Calkins, executive director of the Santa Rosa Convention & Visitors Bureau, and the community in turn is now home to the Charles M. Schulz Museum, and museum visitors can gain insights into both that hugely popular comic strip and the man who...
Jump Into Ireland’s Free Educational Webinars
Tourism Ireland's educational webinar series is designed to help agents sell Ireland to their interested clients and give them the most up-to-date information about tours and services offered in the Emerald Isle. Register today: http://promo.baxter.net/contest/webinars/Ireland.asp This summer we have a two-part series with Irish partners calling in directly from Ireland to answer your questions. Webinar One: From Dublin to Cork with our Ireland Partners takes place on June 25, 12:00pm EST with representatives from The Guinness Storehouse, The Cottages, and SouthWest Walks...