Travel Destination News | Canada's Travel Industry

By TravelPress Staff

May 31, 2012

Get the picture at Grand Wailea Resort

The Grand Wailea Resort Maui is offering a hands-on photography program, which includes classroom instruction, followed by a photographic exploration of Maui. Led by award-winning photographer, Michael Gilbert, participants get to learn the process of producing photographic canvases and can then bring home a finished 40-cm. canvas. Classes are held on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays from 8:30 a.m.-12 p.m. Cost: $40 p.p. plus $25 for materials....

By TravelPress Staff

May 31, 2012

Vancouver tops as meetings centre

For the third consecutive year, Vancouver has been named North America's top destination for international meetings by the International Congress and Convention Association (ICCA). The Amsterdam-based organization releases an annual report ranking cities according to the number of international meetings hosted in the previous year. Vancouver hosted 55 international meetings in 2011, making it first in North America and 35th overall....

By TravelPress Staff

May 30, 2012

Shangri-La Hotel, Vancouver gets new GM

Shangri-La Hotel, Vancouver has a new general manager, Vito Romeo, who joins the hotel from the 670-room Shangri-La Hotel, Beijing where he served as resident manager from 2009 to March 2012. During this tenure, he also studied at Cornell and graduated in the general managers' program in 2011. Romeo joined Shangri-La Hotels and Resorts in 2008 as the executive assistant manager, food and beverage at the company's Aberdeen Marina Club in Hong Kong where he was in charge of extensive recreation and meeting facilities. Romeo brings with him a comprehensive resume that covers all aspects of hotel...

By TravelPress Staff

May 30, 2012

BC’s tourism industry applauds Family Day decision

This week's announcement of BC's Family Day as the second Monday in February initiated widespread enthusiasm across British Columbia's tourism industry. Originally slated for later in the month to align with other provinces and the US President's Day holiday, the announcement came on the heels of a consultation process led by TIABC, Tourism Whistler, the Canada West Ski Areas Association, and other tourism partners. At the urging of Pat Bell, Minister for Jobs, Tourism and Innovation, the industry-wide consultation process looked at the outcome of holding the holiday on a weekend already busy...

By TravelPress Staff

May 30, 2012

Monk seal Hoailona moves into Waikiki Aquarium

The Waikiki Aquarium recently welcomed its newest marine animal, Hoailona. The Hawaiian Monk Seal is getting used to his new home at the Waikiki Aquarium and can be visited throughout the year along with the Aquarium's additional resident Hawaiian Monk Seal, Maka....

By TravelPress Staff

May 29, 2012

Fourth night free

Condominium Connection, a Hawaii wholesaler for more than four decades, is offering every fourth night free in select room categories at the Outrigger Royal Kahana on Maui. The special is valid until Dec. 22. Rates begin at US$155 per night for a studio garden view unit. The free night is not applicable in Aloha Rate and Simple Saver categories. The Outrigger Royal Kahana is a beachfront high-rise condominium located on a sandy beach in the Kahana area of West Maui. Most of the studio, one- and two-bedroom units feature ocean views. The non-smoking accommodations all have full kitchens,...

By TravelPress Staff

May 29, 2012

Old Tucson closes for summer months

Tucson's popular visitor attraction Old Tucson will be closed to the general public between June and September when visitation is least active. Old Tucson will remain open by reservation-only for groups interested in guided tours and private events such as weddings, corporate functions and company picnics; it also will be open for film productions. The attraction will reopen to the general public on Fridays through Sundays in October. Old Tucson has been used as a location in over 300 feature films and TV westerns....

By TravelPress Staff

May 28, 2012

Sea Talk focuses on tsunami debris

Maui Ocean Center's complimentary Sea Talk series continues May 31 from 6-7 p.m. with a presentation on "Japan Tsunami Marine Debris"by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). The hour-long Sea Talk is presented by Carey Morishige, Pacific Islands Regional Coordinator at NOAA, and will include information on NOAA's efforts to collect data, assess the debris and possible impacts based on sound science, and protect our natural resources and coasts. This Sea Talk will be held in Maui Ocean Center's Open Ocean Exhibit. Seating is limited and reservations are required. Call...

By TravelPress Staff

May 28, 2012

Inn at Laurel Point teams up with the Royal BC Museum

Victoria's Inn at Laurel Point has partnered with the Royal BC Museum and launched a package designed especially for dinosaur lovers. Available through Sept. 16, the "Dino-mite Package"includes two adult passes to see the new Dinosaurs: Ancient Fossils, New Discoveries exhibition at the Royal BC Museum (youth tickets are available for an extra cost; children five and younger are free); one-night hotel accommodation; some tasty Dino Drops (a chocolaty welcome gift packing an asteroid-like punch and prepared by the Inn's pastry chef); and free parking. Rates start at $199 (based on double...

By TravelPress Staff

May 25, 2012

Sierra Vista Scenic Byway is open

California's Sierra Vista Scenic Byway, a 160-km journey through an area of the Sierra National Forest often referred to as a "secret Yosemite"has opened for the season. The seasonal road is maintained by the National Forest Service, and opens once all the snow has melted from the upper elevations and any necessary cleanup has been completed. "We're very excited that the Byway opened up just in time for the Memorial Day Weekend,"said Jarrod Lyman with the Yosemite Sierra Visitors Bureau. "The Sierra Vista Scenic Byway is an excellent way for people to get out and enjoy the great outdoors in a...

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