Having the Toronto Blue Jays in the World Series is causing a large spike in demand for Toronto hotels. Air Canada launches new flights from Billy Bishop/Toronto Island Airport, including direct flights to New York City/La Guardia. And San Francisco opens a new “Martini Trail.”
BLUE JAYS SPARK TORONTO TRAVEL SPIKE
As the Toronto Blue Jays gear up for their long-awaited World Series return tomorrow (Fri, Oct 24), Toronto is seeing the impact not just on the field, but in travel demand as well.
New data from Booking.com (the official accommodation partner of Major League Baseball in the U.S.) shows that travellers around the world searching for places to stay in Toronto are spiking for stays in the city when the American League champion Jays play the Los Angeles Dodgers, champions of the National League.
A Blue Jays game at the Rogers Centre in Toronto. Jim Byers Photo
Leading up to the American League Championship Series against the Seattle Mariners, searches by global travellers looking for Toronto accommodations were up 22.5% year-over-year. Once the Jays’ beat Seattle and secured a spot in the finals, searches by global travellers looking for Toronto accommodations through the World Series went up 54% year-over-year.
Booking.com officials said the surge underscores how a high-performing local major league team translates into real travel behavior, with fans planning trips to experience the energy of the games firsthand.
If you have somehow lucked into tickets for a World Series game in Toronto and don’t have a hotel, here are a few of my faves, and a couple that won’t cost you too much money.
Fairmont Royal York: A downtown classic just three blocks from the Rogers Centre
The Marriott City Centre: Located directly inside the stadium! They also have suites overlooking the field, but those are likely sold out.
Le Germain Maple Leaf Square: A lovely, European-style hotel steps from the ballpark
Holiday Inn and Suites Downtown Toronto: This is a fair distance from the stadium, located on the east side of downtown. But it’s relatively affordable.
DUNEDIN, FLORIDA HOSTING BLUE JAY PARTIES!
Dunedin, Florida is home to a lovely marina. Jim Byers Photo
The lovely city of Dunedin, Florida (the spring training home of the Jays, and a long-time fave destination of mine) is hosting community watch parties for every World Series game, inviting fans to come together and celebrate this historic moment.
“Dunedin has been the proud spring training home of the Toronto Blue Jays for 49 years,” said Mayor Maureen “Moe” Freaney. “Every spring we watch these players train on our fields and become part of our community. Now we get to cheer them on as they take on the LA Dodgers. Let’s go Blue Jays!”
The watch party for Game 1 (Friday, October 24) and Game 2 (Saturday, October 25) will be held at TD Ballpark, the team’s spring training venue. Fans will be able to watch the games on the big screen in a fun, family-friendly atmosphere. Both stadium and lawn seating (outfield) will be available, so bring your chairs and blankets along with your Blue Jays spirit!
Gates will open at 7 p.m. with all games starting at 8 p.m. Admission is free and food and beverages will be available for purchase. No tents, pets, coolers or outside alcohol will be permitted.
Watch parties for Games 3, 4 and 5 will be held at Pioneer Park.
AIR CANADA BOOSTING US FLIGHTS FROM ISLAND AIRPORT, INCLUDING NEW YORK CITY/LGA
New York City and the Brooklyn Bridge. Trevor Hayes/Unsplash
Air Canada today unveiled a major expansion at Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport (aka the Toronto Island Airport) with new transborder routes to four major U.S. cities and increased daily flights to Montréal and Ottawa. The new services, with frequencies favourable to business travel, further heighten the customer experience at Billy Bishop airport in downtown Toronto, including the introduction this month of fast, free onboard Wi-Fi, complimentary onboard premium snacks, beer and wine, and exclusive access to the Aspire Air Canada Café for eligible domestic customers.
Beginning in Spring 2026, Air Canada will launch new, non-stop return service four-times-daily to New York’s LaGuardia Airport, three-times-daily to Boston Logan International Airport, twice-daily to Chicago O’Hare International Airport, and daily to Washington Dulles International Airport. The start of transborder services from Billy Bishop will follow the opening of U.S. Customs Pre-Clearance at the island airport, a convenience for customers flying to U.S. airports from Canada that allows them to clear U.S. customs before departure. In addition, beginning in January 2026, Air Canada will expand its daily services in Canada’s busiest domestic travel corridors by increasing the frequency of return flights to Montréal to nine from eight, and to six from four to Ottawa.
This puts Air Canada into head-to-head competition with Porter Airlines, which flies from Billy Bishop/YTZ to Newark/EWR in New Jersey and to Midway Airport in Chicago. Porter also flies from YTZ to Boston Logan and to Washington Dulles. Porter has been expanding into Air Canada’s territory the past few years, with direct flights from Toronto Pearson to San Francisco, Florida, and, starting this winter, to Mexico, the Caribbean and Costa Rica.
“This is our most significant expansion at Toronto Island since Air Canada first served the airport 35 years ago,” said Mark Galardo, Air Canada Executive Vice President and Chief Commercial Officer, and President, Cargo. “The new transborder routes will especially benefit our loyal customers and business travellers by creating frequent and easy connections between the heart of Canada’s financial capital and the major markets of New York, Boston, Washington and Chicago.
“Moreover, we are increasing at the island the daily frequency of return flights from Toronto to Montréal and Ottawa, which are Canada’s most heavily travelled corridors for business traffic.
The giant ring in downtown Montreal. Jim Byers Photo
“These exciting new services reflect Air Canada’s commitment to further elevate the customer experience at Billy Bishop Airport,” Galardo said. “Our flights are the only ones from Toronto Island to offer travellers the productivity tool of fast, free in-flight Wi-Fi and the comforts of the Aspire Air Canada Café, a quiet space for eligible domestic customers to work or recharge prior to their flight. All customers can also enjoy complimentary premium snacks, beer and wine that we offer on board.
“Our expanded services at the island complement our already extensive services from Toronto Pearson where we will operate more than 600 return flights a day to 124 destinations next summer. This expansion ensures the Greater Toronto Area and beyond are highly connected for business and leisure travel, making Air Canada the preferred choice for travel to and from the GTA,” Galardo added.
HICCUP! SAN FRANCISCO LAUNCHES MARTINI TRAIL
San Francisco’s love affair with the martini runs deep. From elegant lounges to classic hotel bars, the city offers endless ways to enjoy this timeless cocktail: dirty, dry, or with a twist. After all, legend has it the martini was born here.
From classy hotel lounges to dimly lit dives, from some of the Best Bars in America to the World’s Best Restaurants, we have plenty of places where you can wet your whistle with a well-crafted martini.
There are a couple dozen spots on the trail in different areas of the city, including downtown, The Mission District, Hayes Valley, The Richmond District and Haight-Ashbury. I can personally vouch for the drinks at Tadich Grill, a historic, fine dining spot in the heart of the financial district.
