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
Thailand
Dr. Beach, a Florida-based researcher who compiles a list of the best beaches in the USA every year, has come out with his list of top beaches for 2025. I’ll give him credit for not just including sun destinations, but I still take issue with some of his choices. Here’s his top ten for 2025: Coopers Beach, Southampton, New York (Long Island) Wailea Beach, Maui, Hawaii Poipu Beach, Kauai, Hawaii Delnor-Wiggins Pass State Park, Naples, Florida Main Beach, East Hampton, New York (Long Island) Beachwater Park, Kiawah Island, South Carolina St. Andrews State Park, Panama City, Florida Kaunaoa Beach, Hawaii Read more
U.S. News and World Report has come out with its annual list of top hotels and resorts in the U.S. and Canada. The Four Seasons Hualalai on Hawai’i Big Island earned twin awards by being named best hotel and best resort in the U.S. The Four Seasons Hotel Toronto was named Canada’s top hotel and Four Seasons Resort in Whistler, B.C. was named Canada’s top resort. Hawai’i had four spots in the top ten resorts list and three places in the list of top ten hotels. South Carolina had two resorts in the top ten and California had two hotels Read more
Two Canadian hotels and 16 in the U.S. have attained the highest rating by Michelin Guide by earning “three key” status. U.S. THREE-KEY WINNERS Canyon Ranch, Tucson, Arizona (new to the list) Little Palm Island Resort and Spa, Florida (new) Kona Village, a Rosewood Resort, Hawai’i Island, Hawai’i (new) Sage Lodge, Montana (new) Amangiri, Utah (new) The Beverly Hills Hotel, Beverly Hills, California Post Ranch Inn, Big Sur, California Single Thread Inn, Healdsburg, California Hotel Bel-Air, Los Angeles, California Auberge du Soleil, Rutherford, California Meadowood Napa Valley, St. Helena, California Canyon Ranch Woodside, Woodside, California Aman New York, New York Read more
Canadians are still paying more for groceries, but the cost of airline tickets is dropping. New Statistics Canada figures published this week show the average air ticket in January of this year cost 14.3% less than in January 2023. January average airline prices also were down 23.7% from December of 2024, StatsCan said, “as holiday demand gave way to stay-at-home habits,” The latest news continues a trend for air prices in Canada that began last spring. Airline prices in December of 2023 were 10% lower than in December 2024. Prices in November of last year were 17% lower than the Read more
