TAMPA – The growing downtown skyline is impressive. The growth of the Tampa food scene is what really grabbed my attention. I recently enjoyed three full days in Tampa and sampled everything from Middle Eastern cuisine to Michelin-starred Italian, and from craft cocktails to maybe the best tuna poke nachos I’ve had outside Hawaii. And that was served up at a sports bar/brewhouse on Super Bowl Sunday, when you pretty much expect a diet of Budweiser and Buffalo chicken wings. I also checked out a fine art museum, took a ride on an electric boat on a brilliant sunny day, Read more
foodies
A new report from the World Travel & Tourism Council predicts the Canadian tourism and travel industry is poised for a major rebound and is close to recovering to 2019 levels. The council’s 2023 Economic Impact Research (EIR) reveals the Canadian Travel & Tourism sector continues to show strong signs of post-pandemic recovery. According to the latest report, the sector is set to contribute $162.6 billion to the Canadian economy this year, up 17.2% from last year and within touching distance of the previous peak of $173.9 billion in 2019. WTTC is also forecasting that Travel & Tourism will create Read more
Michelin and Destination Vancouver today announced the MICHELIN Guide Vancouver, the latest expansion of the MICHELIN Guide. The inaugural edition of the MICHELIN Guide Vancouver with the selection of local restaurants receiving honors will be announced this fall. Inspectors award MICHELIN Stars – One, Two or Three – to unparalleled cuisine. The Guides also bestow Bib Gourmand ratings on restaurants that offer great quality food at good prices, and award the MICHELIN Green Star to restaurants that are leaders in sustainable gastronomy. With today’s announcement, Vancouver joins Toronto as the only MICHELIN Guide destinations in Canada and among the seven Read more
By Jim Byers Member, Society of American Travel Writers (SATW) KA’ANAPALI, MAUI, HAWAI’I – The Ka’anapali Beach Hotel is often voted the most Hawaiian hotel in the state. Now it’s even better and brighter than ever, and the food has been kicked up several notches. I had a chance to stay in one of their renovated rooms last month, and it was terrific. The décor was light and bright, with restful taupe accents and restrained, pretty floral prints on the wall. All the new rooms have works of art made by KBH employees, many of whom have been with the Read more
It’s been a tough couple years, but St. Kitts and Nevis are poised to bounce back in a big way. Visitors are being welcomed, a range of activities are available, and most hotels are open, Ellison “Tommy”Thompson, CEO of the St. Kitts Tourism Authority, said in a Zoom chat this week. Thompson formerly worked in tourism in The Bahamas and just came to his new role in January, so he’s looking at St. Kitts with fresh eyes. “We see St. Kitts as a real fun, adventure place,” Thompson told me. “There’s quite a lot to do here. We’re also targeting Read more
