School spring breaks are a hop and a skip away and travel leader Booking.com has compiled data on where Canadian families and students are planning to go.
A few common destinations that appear to be popular across the country this spring break season are Cancun, Puerto Vallarta and Playa Del Carmen in Mexico, Punta Cana in Dominican Republic, and our own Toronto, Canada.
Tropical beaches are to be expected. A full 43 per cent of Canadian travellers are interested in water-centric vacations in 2024, with three quarters (76%) agree that being close to water instantly makes them feel more relaxed, as reported by Booking.com’s Travel Predictions 2024. Here’s a closer look at the hot search destinations by regional break period.
Ontario and Nova Scotia are first up, taking their break from March 11 – 15. Here are the top 10 trending destinations for Canadians looking to stay from March 11 – 15:
- Cancun
- Toronto
- Puerto Vallarta
- Punta Cana
- Montreal
- Playa del Carmen
- Orlando
- New York City
- Vancouver
- Las Vegas
Cancun, Mexico. JIM BYERS PHOTO
Schools in B.C. take their break from March 18 – April 2. Here are the top 10 trending destinations for Canadians looking to stay from March 18 – April 2.
- Cancun
- Puerto Vallarta
- Punta Cana
- Toronto
- New York City
- Playa del Carmen
- Vancouver
- Paris
- Las Vegas
- Montreal
Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. JIM BYERS PHOTO
Alberta, P.E.I., and Manitoba’s school breaks are from March 25 – 29. Here are the top 10 trending destinations for Canadians looking to stay from March 25 – March 29.
- Cancun
- New York City
- Puerto Vallarta
- Punta Cana
- Toronto
- Vancouver
- Playa del Carmen
- Paris
- Montreal
- Las Vegas
I’m somewhat surprised to see Puerto Vallarta so high on these lists. We have friends who go every year but somehow I’ve never visited. Orlando only made the list for Ontario and Nova Scotia, which also is a tad surprising. Cancun was tops on everyone’s list, which tells you a lot about the continuing popularity of the region. I also note that Toronto was in the top five for all regions, and that Las Vegas, New York City, Vancouver, Playa Del Carmen, Montreal and Punta Cana were on all three lists. Guess we Canadians are more homogenous than I thought when it comes to travel.
LANGHAM HOTELS INTRODUCES NEW, “BRILLIANT” LOYALTY PROGRAM
Langham Hospitality Group has launched its new loyalty program, called Brilliant By Langham. The Toronto Chelsea is part of the program. L to R: Josef Ebner, Regional Vice-President – Canada & Managing Director, Toronto Chelsea Hotel, Tracy Ford, Director of Public Relations, Rob Housez, General Manager, and Tess Clarke, Director of Rooms.
Langham Hospitality Group (LHG) is proud to announce the launch of Brilliant by Langham, a loyalty and experiences platform designed to meet the dynamic and evolving needs of its guests.
Seamlessly converging an exclusive benefits program with preference-led offerings and an unwavering commitment to service excellence, Brilliant is purpose-built to deliver more rewarding, personalized and captivating journeys across 30 participating hotels under LHG’s renowned brands – The Langham Hotels & Resorts, Cordis Hotels & Resorts, Eaton and Ying’nFlo. Toronto’s Chelsea Hotel is also participating.
Signing up for Brilliant is free and all members receive special room rates and discounts at over 100 restaurants. Members also earn status and award points for their stays and use of amenities. The former determines members’ tier levels while the latter can be redeemed for an expansive range of accommodation, dining and soon wellness rewards.
Beyond traditional perks, Brilliant additionally allows for the introduction of personalized experiential offerings, from whimsical excursions and cultural immersions to unforgettable wellness and culinary delights. Examples* of such offerings include:
- Private cooking lessons and dinners with celebrity chefs
- Behind-the-scenes dance and musical performance encounters
- Nature walks with guided mindfulness sessions
- Off-the-beaten-path tours hosted by local guides
- Traditional crafting workshops with seasoned artisans
- Themed tea parties in picturesque locations
*Actual offerings will be based on preferences expressed by Brilliant members.
“Brilliant by Langham empowers us to meet the growing demand for more rewarding, personalised and captivating hospitality encounters, LHG chief executive officer Bob van den Oord said. “By creating a system that enables us to offer guests immediate benefits, learn more about their preferences, compensate them for repeat business and craft bespoke experiential offerings for them, we have significantly enhanced our ability to build great memories.”
Brilliant is now live and will hereafter serve as LHG’s sole loyalty program. It replaces the group’s existing loyalty programs, Langham Supper Club and 1865 Privilege by Langham, both of which ceased to operate on February 28, 2024. Members from the closing programs will have their past loyalty rewarded with an invitation to join Brilliant at higher starting membership tiers.
To join Brilliant by Langham, visit BrilliantByLangham.com.
TOP EUROPEAN DESTINATIONS FOR A “WORKCATION”
Lisbon, Portugal. JIM BYERS PHOTO
The swift ascent of remote work is triggering a cultural transformation, blurring the lines between work and travel. Freed from conventional offices, an increasing cohort of digital nomads is embracing the concept of “workation,” effortlessly intertwining their professional endeavours with globetrotting adventures.
According to a study conducted by ClickSlice, the foremost European destinations for workation enthusiasts in 2024 have been unveiled. Ranging from historically rich cities to sun-kissed getaways, these places provide a perfect blend of sturdy digital infrastructure, cost-effective living, and abundant opportunities for exploration amid meetings or coding sessions.
Here are their top 10 choices for a workcation in Europe based on connectivity, days of sunshine and cost of living:
- Gran Canaria, Spain
- Sofia, Bulgaria
- Bansko, Bulgaria
- Budapest, Hungary
- Athens, Greece
- Lagos, Portugal
- Valencia, Spain
- Lisbon, Portugal
- Tallinn, Estonia
- Madeira, Portugal
Interesting (and not surprising given the weather and cost of living) to see three Portuguese destinations in the top ten. I know nothing about Bulgaria, but I’m not surprised that it’s inexpensive. I was only there once, and that was in 2008, but I love Valencia’s food and public spaces, and they also have some nice beaches.
