swotc-bwc-leaderboard-728x90-3

Fort Myers

  Porter Airlines is launching daily service to five cities in south Florida this fall. Toronto Pearson International Airport to Fort Lauderdale, Fort Myers, Miami, Orlando, and Tampa, as well as Ottawa International Airport to Fort Lauderdale and Orlando. All routes begin with one daily, roundtrip flight on Porter’s new Embaer jets. It’s a big boost for Canadian snowbirds and other travellers who love the Sunshine State. Porter’s only Florida destination as of today is Melbourne/Orlando International Airport. “Canadians represent the largest group of international travellers to Florida, and now they can choose to fly with the only airline that Read more

{ 0 comments }

SAN ANTONIO – Fort Myers is recovering nicely from Hurricane Ian. California is bursting with visitors. Washington D.C. wants more international travellers. And  Philadelphia says like us or get out of town. Nearly a dozen U.S. destinations took to the stage at this year’s U.S. Travel Association/IPW convention in San Antonio to trumpet everything from world class cuisine to mosquito-chomping bats. There was also an actual trumpet player and a wonderfully talented poet laureate from Orlando. Here are some of the highlights from IPW press conferences this week, including some Canadian visitation information. FORT MYERS AND BEACHES Miriam Dotson, communications Read more

{ 0 comments }

WEST PALM BEACH, FLORIDA – Canadians are flocking back to Florida in near-record numbers. Following nearly three years of declining numbers, Canadian visits to Florida are very nearly back to 2019 levels, tourism officials have announced. Speaking to media at this year’s Florida Huddle tourism event in West Palm Beach, VISIT FLORIDA executives said a surge in Canadian visits to the Sunshine State last fall resulted in 1.04 million visits from Canada. That’s just 4.5% below the fourth quarter figure of 1.09 million for 2019. It’s also the first quarter since the start of the pandemic that saw Florida attract Read more

{ 0 comments }

For years now, I’ve posted travel blogs that point out what other websites suggest for places to visit the following year. This time, I’m happy to mention a few of the major travel publications, but I’m also providing my OWN list of places I think travellers should explore. Without further ado, here are my Jim Byers Travel suggestions for cool places to check out in 2023. I’ve listed ten, with a bonus pick at no extra charge. WESTERN AUSTRALIA I visited in May of this year, and it was one of the best trips of my life. Perth was a Read more

{ 1 comment }

Southwest Florida was slammed recently by Hurricane Ian. Here’s a statement put out today by local authorities. “The Lee County Visitor & Convention Bureau (Fort Myers – Islands, Beaches & Neighborhoods) is working closely with state, federal and local officials to assess​ the catastrophic effects of Hurricane Ian, which made landfall on September 28 as a Category 4 near Cayo Costa, an island just off the coast of Fort Myers. Search and rescue efforts continue throughout the region. Southwest Florida International Airport (RSW) in Fort Myers has reopened for limited operations. Visitors are asked to put travel plans to the Read more

{ 0 comments }