The Kitchener-Waterloo area is only a short drive from Toronto, and there’s so much to see. On top of that, they’re now providing a great incentive: a program called ExploreMore!, which provides anyone who books a minimum two-night stay at participating hotels with a $100 VISA gift card to use at restaurants, attractions and retail locations in Waterloo Region. “Our local tourism industry is still in the early phases of recovery following the pandemic,” says Minto Schneider, CEO at Explore Waterloo Region. “ExploreMore! is designed to inject much-needed revenue back to our accommodation members through overnight stays, while also encouraging guests to visit Read more
November 2021
Fully vaccinated Canadians taking short trips out of the country will no longer be required to take COVID-19 tests before returning home, multiple sources report. Both the Toronto Star and the Globe and Mail report that the government will introduce a rule waiving the need for tests for anyone who’s outside of Canada less than 72 hours. PCR tests, also known as molecular tests, would still be required for trips longer than 72 hours. Those tests can cost $200 or more in the U.S. The CBC said the change likely will be made near the end of the month, just Read more
Australia held a virtual global tourism summit today (Nov. 16), with tons of great information and tantalizing stories about the country. Canadians still aren’t allowed to visit, but there is a travel bubble with New Zealand, which allows Kiwis to visit without needing to quarantine. They’re hoping to set up an Australia-Singapore bubble soon. There’s no date for when Canadians or Americans can go, but they’re hoping it’s not far away. Given that one in 13 jobs in Australia depend on tourism, there are a lot of reasons for Aussies to want to welcome overseas visitors again. I was lucky Read more
Chicago is one of the world’s great cities, home to amazing architecture, sensational food and warm, welcoming people. Here are seven great things to see, do and eat, as well a wonderful place to lay your head at night, when you visit. CHICAGO DOGS Portillo’s main restaurant on Ontario Street downtown is as Chicago as it gets; a wild emporium packed with sports paraphernalia, old cars hanging from the ceiling and other kitschy but fun pieces. They serve everything from Italian beef sandwiches to massive salads and desserts big enough to feed the starting five of the Chicago Bulls NBA basketball Read more
Cross border travel between Canada and the U.S. is growing, and experts see a strong recovery on the horizon. BrandUSA, which seeks to boost travel to the United States, sponsored a virtual tourism/travel session earlier today with border, tourism and airline officials. Tim Liu, Managing Director, Sales Planning & Effectiveness at Air Canada, said things are looking much better these days. “We are definitely seeing strong signs of growth and we expect to return to a more normal Canada-USA air travel market,” he said. “We definitely see that recovery under way.” “We expect it to be fast-paced recovery and expect Read more
