Meeting Community

$52M Loan For Thompson Airport Project
2023/12/14

A $52-million loan from the Canada Infrastructure Bank (CIB) will push the redevelopment of the Thompson Regional Airport forward. The $135-million project will include a new airport terminal building, a new water treatment facility and upgraded transportation and water infrastructure. The airport is a hub providing essential passenger and cargo services to communities in northern Manitoba and western Nunavut. The airport serves as a regional catchment area for 37 northern communities which includes many First Nations – 15 of…
Alaska Air Agrees to Buy Hawaiian Airlines
2023/12/14

Alaska Air announced it will buy Hawaiian Airlines for $1.9 billion. The acquisition is expected to unlock more destinations for consumers and expand choice of critical air service options and access throughout the Pacific region, Continental United States and globally. “In Alaska Airlines, we are joining an airline that has long served Hawai‘i, and has a complementary network and a shared culture of service. With the additional scale and resources that this transaction with Alaska Airlines brings, we will…
Scotiabank Arena Unveils $350M Renovation
2023/12/14

Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment (MLSE) has unveiled a $350-million investment plan for the Scotiabank Arena Venue Reimagination project. The comprehensive multi-phase renovations will feature capital improvements to almost all areas within the venue including concourses, suites, premium clubs, retail spaces, food and beverage offerings, state-of-the-art technological innovations and more. “For 25 years, Scotiabank Arena has been the heartbeat of this city and has established itself as one of the top venues in the world, hosting many of the…
SITE International Board Elected
2023/12/01

The Society for Incentive Travel Excellence (SITE) has elected its 2024 international board of directors. Jennifer Attersall, director, incentive travel, Destination Canada; Mary Clare Darland, director, sourcing, Maritz Global Events; and Marissa Fernandez, managing director, DMS Destination Marketing Services, have been elected to serve three-year terms, commencing January 2024. Colleen Brzozowski, regional director, global sales – Midwest, Hard Rock International, was re-elected for a further three-year term. SITE’s board of directors has also elected the following directors to officer…
Pearle Hospitality Awarded Niagara Power Station
2023/12/01

Niagara Parks has announced plans to redevelop the historic Toronto Power Generating Station, turning it into the town’s first five-star boutique accommodation. The historic landmark overlooking the Canadian Horseshoe Falls will undergo a $200 million renovation by Pearle Hospitality. “Toronto Power is a globally recognized landmark of Canadian architecture and industry that has stood as a central feature of the Niagara Falls landscape for over a century. Overseeing its preservation and transformation from a dormant heritage building of national…
Porter Starts New Florida Routes
2023/12/01

Porter Airlines is taking to the skies for two new routes to Orlando International Airport (MCO). The start of service to Orlando from Toronto and Ottawa marks the third new Florida destination that Porter has touched down since the start of November, following Tampa and Fort Myers. “Canadians are the most frequent international visitors to Florida, and Porter is proud to take off on two more routes into the Sunshine State,” said Kevin Jackson, executive vice president and chief operating…
International Traveller Spending Doubles
2023/11/30

Statistics Canada data shows international travellers spent nearly $7 billion in Canada in April, May and June – almost twice the $3.6 billion that they spent in the second quarter last year. The spending also exceeded the $6.3 billion that international visitors spent in Canada in the second quarter of 2019, before the COVID-19 pandemic disrupted travel. The 2019 spending level, however, was not adjusted for inflation, which rose to a 39-year peak of 8.1 per cent in mid-2022,…
TIAC Celebrates Tourism Award Winners
2023/11/30

The winners of the 2023 Canadian Tourism Awards, presented by the Tourism Industry Association of Canada (TIAC), were revealed at the awards ceremony in Ottawa. The awards are a prestigious recognition of outstanding achievements in the tourism sector. These awards showcase the dedication, innovation, and excellence of individuals and organizations that contribute significantly to the growth and success of the Canadian tourism industry. The Canadian Tourism Awards, sponsored by Ottawa Tourism, WestJet, and the Toronto Star, continue to play…
Fairmont Royal York Achieves Zero Carbon
2023/11/30

The Fairmont Royal York in Toronto, ON has received the Canada Green Building Council’s (CAGBC’s) Zero Carbon Building – Performance Standard certification. This $65 million project was completed after close to five years of detailed planning and execution. It will reduce more than 7,000 tonnes of carbon annually or 80 per cent of the hotel’s annual carbon emissions, the equivalent of taking 1,558 cars off the road. “Fairmont Royal York achieving zero carbon certification is another transformative step in…
Managing Client Touchpoints
2023/11/27

Amidst all the excitement of re-connecting and once again enjoying all the things we had lost during the pandemic, those of us in the event industry who work directly with clients found something new added to our proverbial “to do” list. We now found ourselves at the beck and call of clients, around the clock. Let me state something very important about this – it was no one’s fault. We all remember those early days of the pandemic when…

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