High-end travellers in the U.S. say Canada is their top choice for an international vacation, followed by Costa Rica. They’re also increasingly interested in cruise and wellness holidays. A new report from Resonance Consultancy, a respected tourism/travel research company, looked at the top 10% and top 1% of travel spenders in the U.S. They found that safety and easy access/proximity to the States were key factors in travel decisions. “Safety is the top factor affluent travelers consider when choosing a destination. Canada scores strongly on political stability, personal security, health care and infrastructure, particularly important for multi-generational family trips and Read more

More Canadians are visiting Australia than ever, and Tourism Australia touched down in Toronto last week to say thank you. Karen Fitzgerald, General Manager, Experiences, Tourism Australia, said the downtown meeting was an opportunity to connect with Canadian travel advisors and to make sure they’re aware of the country’s luxury travel experiences. Fitzgerald took time to introduce agents and Aussie specialists to the Signature Experiences of Australia program,  a Tourism Australia initiative with seven marketing collectives that offer unique experiences for the luxury traveller. Together the seven marketing collectives represent 176 operators across Australia and offer more 800 experiences. Australian Read more

The Northern Ontario Heritage Fund (NOHFC) has announced significant support for the largest restoration in the 145-year history of the RMS Segwun, Canada’s iconic steamship. The fund also announced important support for the “Love Muskoka, Sustain Muskoka” exhibit at the Muskoka Steamships & Discovery Centre. Graydon Smith, MPP Parry Sound-Muskoka, and George Pirie, Minister of Northern Economic Development and Growth, visited the Muskoka Discovery Centre in Gravenhurst on Friday (Jan. 30) to announce their commitment and support through NOHFC in the amount of $830,000. This grant is a critical piece of financing in the project, which will cost more than Read more

Japan rules the tourism world. A new look at the world’s best cities gives the top spot on the podium to Osaka, with Kyoto in the bronze medal spot and five Japanese destinations/cities in the top 12 in the world. Yanolja Research recently published its Global Tourism City Attractiveness Index, which it says “objectively measures the attractiveness of global tourism cities from the perspective of tourists—the actual demand side of tourism.”   This index directly reflects how tourists perceive and evaluate the appeal and popularity of tourism cities. It is derived through sentiment analysis and the measurement of positive and Read more

A record 28.2 million visitors came to Toronto in 2025, generating a record $9.1 billion in spending. Destination Toronto figures released today (Jan. 28) show overnight visits rose two per cent over last year despite a softening U.S. market. Large entertainment events such as concerts and sporting events like the Toronto Blue Jays helped the city set its new record, officials said. The $9.1 billion in direct spending exceeded the previous year’s record by four per cent, reinforcing tourism’s role as one of the city’s most important export sectors. Toronto is the most visited city in Canada. Domestic visitation remained Read more

America’s biggest annual sporting event takes place less than two weeks from now in the San Francisco Bay Area. Yes, the World Cup will be there in the summer, but I’m talking about an annual event, the National Football League’s Super Bowl. The big game, Super Bowl LX if you want to be precise about it, or if you just love Roman numerals, will be held at Levi’s Stadium in suburban Santa Clara on Sunday Feb. 8.  Last week I posted an item about things to do and see and where to stay in the city of San Francisco. Today Read more