Not only is Florida bouncing back from the pandemic, but they’re shooting past 2019 numbers. Dana Young, president of Visit Florida, told Fox13 News that the state only has third-quarter numbers for 2021 right now, but that those are higher than third quarter figures for 2019. “That’s how well Florida is doing,” she said. “People see Florida as a bright, shining vestige of freedom in this country.” Visit Tampa Bay CEO Santiago Corrada says hotel revenue for November 2021 was about $66 million. That’s higher than the $50 million Tampa Bay had in November of 2019, which at the time Read more
hotels
Canadian tourism and travel industry officials say new federal programs being introduced by the Trudeau government will be a big help. Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland on Monday said the government’s main business support programs will end on Wednesday, Oct. 23, as Canada has already recovered 100% of the jobs lost during the pandemic. But she said the government recognizes that tourism and other businesses have been hit hard, and that Ottawa will bring in two new programs beginning on Thursday, Oct. 24. Those programs will provide wage and rent support for hotels, restaurants and travel agencies. Read more
Canadians can expect vaccine passports for international travel in the coming days. There’s also more help coming for trouble tourism businesses, and potential vaccines on the horizon for Canadian children. Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau today (Oct. 21) said fully-vaccinated Canadians travelling overseas or using airplanes or interprovincial trains will soon have to show a vaccine passport. Starting November 30, you won’t be able to fly without it, or take an interprovincial train. The cards will have a QR code and the word Canada with a maple leaf flag over the final “a,” according to the Toronto Star. In a Read more
Toronto moves to stage two of its COVID-19 recovery plan tomorrow, while the city’s main airport has introduced a new health and safety plan. New York City moved to stage two on Monday, and Chicago is moving to stage four on Friday. I also look at American and Quebec travel attitudes and the top 10 small cities in the U.S. Stage Two for Toronto: At Last! One of Canada’s most popular cities for tourists (and my place of abode) is beginning to waken from its long slumber. After some three months of lockdown, Toronto restaurants with patios are allowed to Read more
CHATHAM-KENT, ONTARIO – A beach town with charm to spare. A vital link to Ontario’s black history. And a positively wondrous hotel in a town that will definitely surprise you. I had stopped in the town of Erieau a couple years ago on a trip along the Lake Erie shoreline (sometimes called Canada’s forgotten coast). It was only a brief drive-by, but I was charmed by the low-key yet vibrant nature of the town and beguiled by the beach and the cute waterfront homes. This time, with the help of the folks at Ontario’s Southwest I managed to squeeze in Read more
