The smiles say it all. Canada’s not all the way back, but U.S. tourism reps at this year’s IPW conference in Los Angeles are pleased with how Canadians are returning to key states south of the border. Visit California statistics show Canada last year eclipsed pre-pandemic visitation levels, rising from 1.732 million visits in 2019 to 1.799 last year. Canadian visits to Florida last year were at 93% of pre-pandemic levels. Orlando says it attracted 1.256 million Canadians last year, a new, single-year record. For New York City, visitors from Canada were achingly close to 2019 numbers (995,000, compared to Read more
Santa Monica
With hot new openings and under-the-radar surprises to cultural icons and globally held accolades, the reasons to jet off to Los Angeles in 2024 are endless. Beckoning travelers to discover a place where magic happens and dreams come true, the Los Angeles Tourism & Convention Board is spotlighting the most significant milestones and must-visit spots from the Eastside to the Westside in the year ahead. “The city of Los Angeles is undergoing transformational change that visitors and Angelenos will experience across every touchpoint in 2024, especially travelers who haven’t visited in recent years, from world-renowned dining to major developments in sports, Read more
Thinking of a trip to Europe next year? You’ll likely need a special waiver form/authorization statement. Americans, Canadians, Australians, Mexico citizens and many others heading to Europe have traditionally not needed special documentation, other than a passport. But the European Union is changing the rules for 2024, and will now require a special authorization for people travelling from visa-exempt countries (1.4 billion people in all) to so-called Schengen Zone countries, which you can apply for in advance through the European Travel Information and Authorization System, or ETIAS. NOTE: This does not apply to the United Kingdom or Ireland, which are Read more
One of the world’s favourite foods is celebrating it’s 100th anniversary in January, 2024. And a weary, hungry world says thank you. The story goes that Lionel Sternberger, a 16-year-old worker at a restaurant in Pasadena, California, was making up some hamburgers at a place called The Rite Spot in the first month of 1924. Apparently one of the patties started to fall apart. Rather than serve a good customer a fragmented burger, he is said to have found a slice of cheese and placed it on top to cover up his poor patty work. Voila! A star was born. Read more
With the Toronto Blue Jays set to play their first home game next week at the Rogers Centre, the Toronto Marriott City Centre is proud to unveil this season’s unique and amazing amenities from its enviable location; the only hotel in North America located inside a major league stadium. With unparalleled views of the ballpark, the Toronto Marriott City Centre offers an unmatched experience for baseball fans and those looking to enjoy Toronto’s best attractions. The hotel’s unique offerings include in-stadium open-air Skyboxes that can accommodate 25-30 guests, including 18 seated; exceptional “in action” field-view rooms and suites so guests Read more
