When to book your flights, the increasing power of sports tourism, the debut of the new MSC World America cruise ship, and great hotels in Toronto. Without further adieu, I bring you today’s Jim Byers Travel blog post.
TRAVEL TIPS AND TRICKS FROM KAYAK
Calgary International Airport. JIM BYERS PHOTO
Flight delays and cancellations can really kill the vacation vibe before your trip gets started. KAYAK, the world’s leading travel search engine, is urging Canadians to brace themselves for a possible increase in delays.
KAYAK’s travel experts are helping Canadians save their summer with these tips and tricks for avoiding delays and cancellations, even before the flight is booked.
- Consider planning your summer vacation in June or early September— and avoid August if you can. Last year, 37% of flights were delayed in August compared to 30% in June and 23% in September. (Jim Byers note: Keep in mind that many European residents take their holidays in August. I would avoid a trip to Europe, especially Italy, in that month.)
- Book the morning flight to avoid delays. Departures between 5 a.m. and 8 a.m. experienced 57% fewer delays than evening flights, which can rise upwards of 42%. (Jim Byers note: This makes a lot of sense. Airplanes that leave early in the morning have usually been parked at the airport overnight and are ‘ready to go.’ If you fly out of a major hub airport such as Vancouver, Toronto or Montreal in later hours, you may be delayed by a slow incoming flight. That being said, mid-day flights are great for avoiding crowds.)
- Fly out of smaller airports if you have the option. Smaller, less trafficked airports like Edmonton, Billy Bishop and Winnipeg experienced the fewest flight delays (between 22% and 25%) vs busier airports like Toronto Pearson, where 39% of flights took off late. (Jim Byers note: Porter Airlines in June will start flying out of Hamilton airport, which is far less crowded than Pearson, and is a great idea for anyone in the Niagara region or in the Oakville/Burlington region or Kitchener/Waterloo.)
Looking to book a stress-free vacation this summer? You can also find more details and tips on avoiding flight delays and cancellations in KAYAK’s blog post.
THE POWER OF SPORTS TOURISM
A full house at the Rogers Centre in Toronto. JIM BYERS PHOTO
We’ve seen a lot of evidence of a growing trend toward entertainment or concert tourism, with shows such as Taylor Swift having an enormous impact on travel to cities around the world. Expedia Group says we’re also seeing a great more travel for major sporting events.
Expedia Group’s latest research reveals sports tourism is transforming how people travel and creating massive opportunities for the travel industry. As a 15-year sports reporter for the Toronto Star who covered six Olympic Games, four or five baseball World Series, a couple of PGA Tour golf majors and a few NFL, NBA and NHL playoff games, I’m not at all surprised.
The numbers tell a compelling story: sports tourism now represents10% of global tourism spending and is projected to reach $1.3 trillion (all figures USD) by 2032. With the 2026 FIFA World Cup and upcoming Olympics in Italy and Los Angeles, not to mention the Ryder Cup golf tourney (Europe versus the US) next year in Ireland, momentum is picking up.
Expedia Group’s data suggests sports trips are about more than just the event; they’re a chance for meaningful bonding that is known to positively impact mental health. It’s why most respondents attended their last sporting trip with friends (35%), partners (34%), or family (33%).
Findings from the survey serve as a playbook for travel providers looking to capitalize on this high-value market. The research was conducted by Censuswide and included a sample of 2,000 respondents who have traveled for a sporting event in the past 12 months across Australia, Canada, France, Germany, Japan, Mexico, the US and the UK.
Women’s sports climb the table
While football/soccer dominates in most countries surveyed, the real growth story is women’s sports. Though 71% of respondents traveled for men’s events, younger generations are breaking this pattern. In fact, 24% of 16–34-year-olds attended mix-gender sporting events (vs. the 20% overall average), while 12% attended women’s sporting events (vs. the 9% overall average).
Fans are willing to go the extra mile
The Los Angeles Coliseum. BP Miller/Unsplash Photo
Sports fans aren’t just crossing town, they’re crossing borders. The data shows 44% traveled internationally for their last sporting event, jumping to 56% among travelers aged 16-34. Respondents from several countries were also far more likely to travel internationally, including Canada (62%), Germany (58%), and France (57%). This trend highlights the growing opportunity for travel providers to tap into international markets and reach younger consumers.
Nearly half of travelers with trips longer than a day stayed in a destination outside the event location at some point during their trip. Of these, nearly one in three chose a more well-known spot close by, 20% opted for a destination over an hour away from the sporting event, and another 20% chose a lesser-known nearby destinations.
Travelers also chose to visit cities outside of where they stayed, 81% of those who booked lodging visited other destinations, with 45% exploring nearby areas, 30% traveling within the same country, and 21% heading abroad.
Sports tourism fuels local economies
Sports tourists aren’t just filling seats, they’re filling cash registers. When asked about their most recent trip, respondents reported spending an average of over $1,500 across various trip elements.
On average, attendees spent over $300 on event tickets for their last sports trip, with airfare costs averaging over $420 per person for those who flew. Lodging also contributes to the economic impact, with travelers who stayed overnight spending an average of $480 on accommodations. Beyond the event itself, travelers typically allocate more than $370 for additional activities such as dining and shopping, further boosting local economies.
Looking ahead, respondents planning to attend sporting events in the next 12 months anticipate spending an average of over $1,200 and have already begun setting aside budgets for their next trip.
MSC CRUISES WORLD AMERICA UNVEILING
MSC World America arrives in Miami.
MSC Cruises will name its new flagship, MSC World America, tonight in a ceremony at the line’s new state-of-the-art MSC Miami Cruise Terminal. The event will culminate with MSC World America’s Godmother, Drew Barrymore, naming the ship with the cutting of a ribbon that breaks the bottle on the ship’s bow. She will be joined by Orlando Bloom – who co-stars with Drew in MSC Cruises’ “Lets Holiday” campaign that debuted during the Super Bowl earlier this year.
I had a fine trip on the MSC World Europa last year, the sister ship to MSC World America.
BEST “AFFORDABLE” HOTELS IN TORONTO
The Ace Hotel, Toronto. Photo Courtesy The Ace Hotel.
Conde Nast Traveler has a nice list out on “affordable” hotels in Toronto. Of course, what Conde Nast considers affordable is not necessarily what the average visitor would find easy on their wallet.
The list doesn’t include any Holiday Inns or Hilton Garden Inns or Marriott Residence Inn properties, but instead focuses on upper-mid range boutique properties and a few others that many might call luxury or near-luxury hotels.
Still, it’s a good list, and one that includes some of fave hotels in the city, including the Fairmont Royal York, Le Germain Hotel on Mercer Street, Anndore House and the stylish Ace Hotel.
