The Indigenous Tourism Association of Canada (ITAC) and tourism leaders from Westjet, Airbnb and Rocky Mountaineer, have launched the Indigenous Tourism Destination Fund (ITDF). The ITDF is expected to be a game changer for Indigenous tourism in Canada — both as a way to invest in the continued growth of the industry and as a model for the development of Indigenous tourism, Indigenous communities and entrepreneurs worldwide. It will also bring ITAC one step closer to its ambitious goal…
Destination Toronto’s president and CEO Scott Beck has announced his departure from the organization, effective October 28, to join San Francisco Travel as its new president and CEO. Beck will succeed Joe D’Alessandro, who will retire in December after nearly 18 years at the helm. Since arriving at Destination Toronto almost four years ago, Beck has been a passionate and dedicated advocate for the city and growing its visitor economy. Before joining Destination Toronto, Beck served as president and…
Air Canada is welcoming a new group of restaurants to the longest-running Canadian restaurant awards. The 30 nominees for Canada’s Best New Restaurants 2023 longlist span 15 cities across seven provinces, featuring restaurants that are worthy of note by both domestic and international travellers. “Canada’s Best New Restaurants is a celebratory guide for discovering the best of dining as you explore Canada, which is incredibility meaningful for us at Air Canada. The regionally diverse list spans 15 cities across seven provinces,…
Porter Airlines is expanding its coast-to-coast network further with the inauguration of service in Victoria. Daily flights between Toronto Pearson Airport represent another link in a growing network of routes the airline has introduced this year. The 132-seat plane features a two-by-two configuration, offering all passengers no middle seats and greater personal space. Free, fast, streaming-quality WiFi is also available, with the ability to watch and listen to personal subscription services on multiple devices. A library of movies and…
The Thompson Okanagan Tourism Association (TOTA), in partnership with Okanagan College, have offered the third intake of the fully funded Hospitality Professional Program. The initiative is open to current professionals looking to elevate their career path, and those interested in securing skills and experience to land a job in the region’s tourism-and-hospitality sectors. The Hospitality Professional Program comes with no financial burden, ensuring students can focus on gaining the skills and experience needed to unlock new and elevated roles.…
Sibos, the annual conference, exhibition, and networking event organized by Swift for the financial industry, returns to Toronto and the Metro Toronto Convention Centre (MTCC) for the third time from September 18-21, 2023. This highly anticipated citywide convention will connect more than 8,000 financial industry thought leaders, decision-makers, and experts to address critical issues challenging the global financial ecosystem. Themed “Collaborative Finance in a Fragmented World”, key topics at Sibos 2023 will include ESG, cross-border payments, post-trade data, digital…
Red Deer Resort & Casino has completed the expansion of its new casino, offering a first-of-its-kind gaming experience in central Alberta. As central Alberta’s leading hotel and conference centre, Red Deer Resort & Casino features 241 unique guestrooms, 15 modern meeting rooms, a sprawling conference centre that covers 53,000 square feet, and now a groundbreaking casino that promises to reshape local entertainment. “The completion of the casino is a major milestone for us and the City of Red Deer,”…
The iconic Warwick Hotels & Resorts (WHR) opened their first property in Canada with Warwick Le Crystal – Montréal, in the midst of the city’s economic and cultural centre. Warwick Le Crystal – Montréal features 131 rooms and suites and follows WHR’s core strategy, namely, having hotels located in the centre of commercial, cultural and gastronomic activities of international gateway cities. Each hotel in the Warwick Collection reflects the spirit of the origins in the locale it inhabits, originality…
IHG Hotels & Resorts (IHG) has signed a new Crowne Plaza property in New Brunswick, the Crowne Plaza Saint John Harbour View, which will join Crowne Plaza Fredericton-Lord Beaverbrook and Crowne Plaza Moncton Downtown. The Crowne Plaza Saint John Harbour View, owned by Devansh Group of Hotels, is set to open in late 2023 after a $7.5 million investment dedicated to renovations throughout the property. “This signing marks the beginning of a new era for the Crowne Plaza brand in Canada; to…
WestJet is extending its direct service between Winnipeg and Ottawa, making it the exclusive carrier to provide essential service on the popular route. Previously set to temporarily pause on Oct. 29, 2023, the route will now run four weekly connections between Manitoba and Canada’s capital cities. Service between Ottawa and Winnipeg will resume Dec. 18, 2023, and operate throughout the duration of WestJet’s winter schedule. “The extension of this route is a further demonstration of our market leadership and…
