One of the world’s best beaches is getting bigger. Much bigger. I recently caught up with Brian Lowack, president and CEO of Visit St. Pete/Clearwater; one of the top destinations in Florida. He told me a beach renewal project that stretches from Sand Key on Clearwater Beach to St. Pete Beach will add 2.5 million cubic yards of sand, with roughly 200 feet of width. “It’s already great, but it’s going to be the most beautiful beach in Florida,” he told me in Toronto, where Visit St. Pete/Clearwater hosted media and travel agents at a Blue Jays-Yankees game. The cost Read more
Canada
A posh room at one of Canada’s top hotels. And time to listen to the loons and inhale the sweet smell of pines at one of the country’s most popular outdoor playgrounds. The Ritz-Carlton Hotel and Jayne’s Luxury Rentals recently treated travel advisors and a few members of the travel media to an evening in Ontario’s Muskoka district, including a fashion show that was part of Muskoka Fashion Week, and an overnight stay at one of Jayne’s Luxury Rentals properties. Yours truly media in attendance on a night that featured cool temperatures but plenty of hot fashion, locally made art Read more
Endless beaches. Swaying palm trees. Pretty coastal villages. Expedia says the world is in love with islands, and they’ve created a special list of the best islands for everything from relaxing to affordable luxury. They also have come up with a list of the top islands for Canadians. Expedia today (July 15) released its 2025 Island Hot List, a first-of-its-kind guide to island travel based on verified data and traveler insights. The inaugural report reveals global interest for islands is up 30%. “From the cultural richness of Jamaica to the sunny shores of Koh Samui, the islands on the 2025 Read more
What began as a heartfelt invitation to American travelers has now become an international sensation. The Eastern Townships’ Come Hug It Out tourism campaign, designed to remind visitors from the U.S. that they’re always welcome in this charming Canadian region, has gone viral, racking up millions of views and even catching the attention of Hollywood icon Sharon Stone, former star of Basic Instinct. Launched in late May across the U.S. Northeast, the campaign features a humorous yet touching video of an American traveler being quite literally embraced by the warmth and authenticity of the Townships. It is a simple, powerful Read more
Travel + Leisure has released its awards for best destinations, hotels and more for 2025. There are tons of categories – far too many to list here – so I’ll concentrate on some of the top awards for North America and a few world categories. WORLD’S TWENTY BEST CITIES San Miguel de Allende, Mexico Chiang Mai, Thailand Tokyo Bangkok Jaipur, India Hoi An, Vietnam Mexico City Kyoto Ubud, Bali Cuzco, Peru Florence Seville Granada Istanbul Siem Reap, Cambodia Mumbai Cape Town Rome Santa Fe Agra, India I was quite surprised to see Mumbai rated so highly, as I haven’t heard Read more
