Breaking News

Choice Hotels to Offer Instant Booking
2023/05/08

Choice Hotels International will be rolling out GroupSync Instant Booking from hotel technology solution provider Groups360 across Choice’s global portfolio in 2023 Soon meeting and event organizers can shop and book online group guest rooms at Choice Hotel properties within GroupSync Marketplace. GroupSync’s direct integration with Choice Hotels will offer real-time best available group rates and inventory to thousands of Choice properties. Planners of small or simple meetings can book these events in real-time, with guaranteed rates and availability. Event organizers…
Explore Waterloo Unveils Tourism Plan
2023/05/08

Explore Waterloo Region has unveiled the Waterloo Region Tourism Master Plan, which provides a roadmap for the future of the region’s visitor economy by 2030. The goal is to position Waterloo Region as one of Ontario’s most dynamic and connected destinations for the leisure, business events and sport hosting markets. “Tourism is an important contributor to the local economy,” said Michele Saran, CEO of Explore Waterloo Region. “The focus of this new plan is to build our destination brand…
New PNE Amphitheatre Plans Revealed
2023/05/08

A brand-new PNE Amphitheatre at Hastings Park in Vancouver has been unveiled, featuring a dramatic mass timber curved roof. Construction of the open-air, 10,000-seat venue is set to begin in 2024, with expected completion in 2026. The estimated cost is $65 million. “The amphitheatre will be a jewel in Vancouver’s crown of spectacular venues,” says PNE president and CEO Shelley Frost. “The project will be designed to showcase British Columbia building products and engineering while adhering to the highest…
Calgary Event Centre Moves Forward
2023/05/05

A new world-class arena and event centre is coming to downtown Calgary. The City of Calgary has reached agreements, in principle, with the Province of Alberta (Province), Calgary Sports and Entertainment Corporation (CSEC) and Calgary Stampede (CS) to proceed with a significant phase of the Culture + Entertainment District. “This new arena and event centre will be at the heart of Calgary’s sports, entertainment and cultural scene for generations, and will result in billions of dollars of economic activity…
Gaby Natale Keynote at MPI WEC23
2023/05/05

Latina author and speaker Gaby Natale will join the world’s largest meeting and event industry association Meeting Professionals International (MPI) as the opening keynote speaker for their upcoming World Education Congress (WEC23). Her address, Utterly Unique You: Breaking Barriers and Redefining Possibility, will show how attendees can turn discomfort into a wake-up call for transformational leadership and personal growth. The triple Emmy winning journalist will illustrate how visionaries and innovators are not extraordinary people, but instead, ordinary people who…
Vancouver-Nanaimo Ferry Launches this Summer
2023/05/05

A new passenger only ferry service will launch between downtown Nanaimo and downtown Vancouver this summer. The ferry line called Hullo, by the Vancouver Island Ferry Company (VIFC), are high-speed, passenger-only catamarans that will offer guests a seamless and enjoyable 70-minute crossings with up to seven roundtrip sailings planned daily. Construction has also officially begun on the terminal, which will include more than 400 parking stalls, EV charging stations, connected travel options, a guest welcome centre, and proper traffic…
Expedia Launches New Media Platform
2023/04/24

Expedia Group Media Solutions has unveiled a new media platform that gives travellers the tools to shop and book travel as they are watching travel content, making entertainment tourism bookable. The site recently went live in Canada with additional markets in the pipeline. Using the “shoppable” platform technology, the company is partnering with Brand USA to create a channel for their content to be ‘shopped,’ called GoUSA. Featuring Brand USA’s inspirational travel content and interactive maps, the innovative hub showcases the breadth and…
Vancouver Groups Get Tourism Funding
2023/04/24

The Government of Canada is making investments in British Columbia to attract new visitors and stimulate local economies. More than $2.9 million in PacifiCan funding through the Tourism Relief Fund will go towards 14 projects in Vancouver. Among these projects, the Greater Vancouver International Film Festival Society is receiving $500,000 to revitalize the organization’s annual film festival events, which include screenings, conferences, live performances, and free outdoor programming. The Vancouver International Film Festival is a key attraction for visitors during the city’s shoulder season and helps…
BCHA Awards Finalists Revealed
2023/04/21

The finalists for the prestigious 2023 BC Hotel Association (BCHA) Awards of Excellence have been announced. The winners of these coveted awards will be celebrated during the Summit Spring Fling on May 2, 2023 as part of the 2023 BCHA Summit, taking place May 1-2, 2023, at Delta Hotels by Marriott Grand Okanagan Resort. The two-day Summit is an industry event that brings together the most influential figures in British Columbia’s accommodation sector, providing delegates with an opportunity to…
Air Canada Adds Vancouver-Dubai Flights
2023/04/21

Air Canada announced the addition of new, non-stop flights from its hub at Vancouver International Airport (YVR) to Dubai. The new route will operate four times weekly beginning Oct. 28, 2023 onboard Air Canada’s flagship Dreamliner fleet. The carrier’s new Vancouver–Dubai flights will complement Air Canada’s daily service between Toronto and Dubai, broadening its presence in fast-growing international markets. “We are extremely pleased to add the only non-stop service linking Vancouver and Dubai, two iconic and vibrant global destinations. Dubai is one of the top destinations worldwide renowned for its extraordinary landmarks,…