Destinations
Calgary Stampede tops WestJet survey
An online contest by WestJet has determined that the Calgary Stampede is Canada's favourite festival. Launched for a second year, the WestJet Festivals contest invited Canadians coast-to-coast to choose their favourite Canadian festival. After more than 10,000 votes were cast, the Calgary Stampede was selected, beating out more than 230 other festivals from across the country. Others that garnered votes included the Royal St. John's Regatta in St. John's, NL; the Pacific National Exhibition (PNE) in Vancouver, and the Just For Laughs festival in Montreal....
Aboriginal Tourism Conference set for March in Osoyoos
The 2012 Aboriginal Tourism Conference will bring together First Nations tourism managers with private sector groups to create networking opportunities. It will be held in Osoyoos, BC, March 28-30, at the Spirit Ridge Vineyard Resort & Spa. The conference will focus on best practices and examples of authentic aboriginal tourism products, and the plenary sessions will showcase successful indigenous tourism businesses from around the world. Space is limited to 300 delegates and the expected mix will be 200 aboriginal tourism businesses and communities, in addition to 100 private sector...
Film Feast’ returns to Santa Barbara
Santa Barbara rolls out the red carpet for the second edition of "Film Feast,"a special tasting-menu program coinciding with the star-studded Santa Barbara International Film Festival (SBIFF), Jan. 26 - Feb. 5, 2012, and California Restaurant Month. New this year, Film Feast tasting menus include liquid indulgences ranging from Bacara Resort & Spa Bar's inventive cocktail flights to wine-tasting in "threes"offered at downtown and wine-country tasting rooms. In addition, several establishments are bringing the drama tableside with menus themed to classic and contemporary films like Olio e...
Coast Victoria Harbourside to undergo $6.2 million renovation
One of Victoria's premier hotels, the Coast Victoria Harbourside Hotel & Marina, is getting a facelift. The Victoria waterfront hotel, home to the Blue Crab Bar & Grill seafood restaurant, will undergo a $6.2 million renovation which will include cleaning and resealing the hotel's brickwork, installing new gutters and flashing, and replacement of windows and sliding doors along with interior improvements. The hotel and restaurant will be temporarily closed for approximately four months, effective Dec. 27. The Coast Victoria Harbourside Hotel & Marina and the Blue Crab Bar & Grill are...
Anchorage CVB has new name
After 36 years of bringing business to Anchorage and diversifying Anchorage's economy, the Anchorage Convention & Visitors Bureau is now doing business as Visit Anchorage. The name change was announced during its December membership luncheon. According to officials, the name Visit Anchorage makes finding Anchorage visitor information easier, reinforces the organization's marketing efforts and reduces confusion about the organization's purpose....
WestJet off from Calgary, Edmonton
WestJet has launched the return of its non-stop seasonal service from Calgary to Maui, Calgary to Honolulu and Edmonton to Maui. The inaugural flight from Calgary to Maui departed Dec. 15, with the first flight to Honolulu departing Dec. 16. WestJet launches services from Edmonton to Maui on Dec. 18. The aircraft, a Boeing 757-200 leased from Thomas Cook Airlines featuring WestJet flight attendants and service, offers additional capacity and more access to the only daytime scheduled non-stop flights between Alberta and the popular Hawaiian islands. One-way fares between Alberta and Hawaii...