Ottawa—The Tourism Industry Association of Canada (TIAC) and Meetings Mean Business Canada (MMBC) welcome the President of the United States of America, Joseph R. Biden, Jr., to Canada. We also take this opportunity to highlight the close relationship our countries have long maintained with regard to leisure and business tourism.

US visitors are vitally important to Canada’s travel economy. In 2022, a total of 14 million US residents entered Canada, just 56% of the level of 25 million in 2019. Not surprisingly, around 80% of all foreign travellers to Canada come from the US¹.

Tourism in Canada has long been an important driver for the economy overall, generating more than $105 billion in spending annually pre-pandemic and sustaining close to two million total jobs. Prior to COVID-19, one in 10 workers in Canada had a job in tourism and the sector accounted for 2% of Canada’s total GDP.

More than its economic might, tourism also fosters social cohesion and is a prime vehicle for promoting Canada’s ideals as a country on the world stage.

MMBC’s key focus and mission is to communicate the important social and economic impact of the business events sector, mirroring similar initiatives of its US counterpart. This sector, which includes conferences, conventions, trade shows, symposiums, and other business gatherings, is a very significant part of the joint travel economies, and in Canada represented $41 billion in spending pre-pandemic (or about 40% of all tourism spending) and supported hundreds of thousands of jobs. Equally important are the social impact that meetings and business events bring to communities across the country and the capacity of the sector to help attract direct foreign investment.

However, the number of international business events that took place in Canada in 2022 was only at 55% of pre-pandemic levels. And the future booking pace five years out is now only at 47%. Due to a number of factors, including the long planning cycle for such events, it is expected that this important sector will be the very last of all tourism sectors in Canada to recover.

TIAC and MMBC encourage Prime Minister Trudeau and President Biden to work collaboratively to help strengthen even further our bilateral relationship in tourism.

1 Statistics Canada. Table 24-10-0050-01, Non-resident visitors entering Canada, by country of residence.  

www.tiac-aitc.ca

Located in the GTA, ON and supporting Hotel Marketing & Sales Professionals in the GTA and across Canada, the Canadian Hotel Marketing & Sales Executives have, by membership approval, voted to end operations as of May 1, 2023

Toronto, ON—CHMSE was created in 1980 as a truly Canadian Association by a group of forwardthinking, energetic hospitality individuals dedicated to the professional development and advancement of salespeople in the hotel industry.

In the early years CHMSE, with the help of corporate sponsorship, was the host of Hotelympiad, a high-profile industry skills challenge, held in downtown Toronto for the hospitality industry with participating hotel companies sending teams to compete. Money for this event went to a fledgling charity at the time, AboutFace, which has now grown into Canada’s facial difference charity.

Several events over the years such as the May Meeting Planner Matinee, Sales Challenge, Planner Connect and General Manager Night Galas have been prominent in the many decades of work this association has done to bring the hotel sales and marketing community together.

Over the years a lot has changed. The leadership mantle was thrown to successive boards of directors and committees. Countless members stepped up to join, guide, and support the Association over the past 43 years. A tight knit community of sales and marketing professionals have both welcomed into its fold new hospitality students coming into the industry and have seen industry power houses retire. And the purpose has always been to support an industry that at its core, is about the friendly and generous reception of guests, visitors, and strangers.

The worldwide pandemic was declared a week before CHMSE’s 40th anniversary celebrations in March 2020, which were ultimately, cancelled. As a non-profit, volunteerrun association operating in a volatile industry, CHMSE felt the impact immediately. Efforts were made to pivot using all available resources, but the association was unable to regain traction post-covid.

It was with great sadness that the Membership voted for the association to cease operations as of May 1, 2023.

The Board of Directors wishes to thank all those who supported CHMSE and its members over the years. A new legacy website will soon launch, featuring a retrospective on the many years of camaraderie and association activities.

For more information see (www.chmse.com) or call 416-252-9800.

About CHMSE
The Canadian Hotel Marketing and Sales Executives (CHMSE) was a professional association comprised of members from hotels and affiliate suppliers. Governed by an elected (voluntary) Board of Directors, the mission of CHMSE was to advance the sales and marketing profession of the hotel industry. Continuing objectives of the board and the association included providing educational opportunities for members to develop and to provide opportunities for information exchange among members and affiliates of our profession. Inaugurated in 1980, CHMSE has thus supported hundreds of hotel sales and marketing professionals in its 43-year history.

CONTACT:
Shelley Macdonald, Co-Executive Director
Sandra Herriot, Co-Executive Director
Canadian Hotel Marketing & Sales Executives (CHMSE)
416-252-9800
info@chmse.com

Kris Phillips Joins Renowned Los Angeles Hotel

West Hollywood, CA—Andaz West Hollywood is excited to announce the appointment of Kris Phillips as the new Director of Sales, Marketing and Events. The property is one of Hyatt’s boutique hotels under the Andaz brand. In his new role, Kris Phillips will primarily oversee and spearhead strategy for sales and marketing, in addition to conducting revenue forecasting, writing business plans, and closely with his team on all events taking place at the art and entertainment-centric property, which is known for being the first hotel on the famous Sunset Strip. 

“It is our pleasure to welcome Kris to the Andaz West Hollywood family,” said Julian Tucker, General Manager of Andaz West Hollywood. “In addition to his extensive knowledge of this industry and our key markets, Kris’s sincere passion for client and customer satisfaction is undeniable and will make him a great asset to this team.”

Phillips is an accomplished hospitality professional with nearly 15 years of experience and over a decade of sales management within the industry. In his career thus far, Phillips has fostered strong relationships and partnerships with clientele while servicing accounts to best meet their needs and boost profits. He started his hospitality career as a valet attendant for Hyatt, where he discovered his passion for the industry and grew to become the Sales Manager for Hyatt Regency Albuquerque and then transitioned into the same role at Hyatt Regency New Orleans for three years. Following his role in New Orleans, Phillips moved to the Greater Atlanta area where he assumed a role as Sales Manager at Grand Hyatt and then Director of Group Sales at Crowne Plaza Atlanta Perimeter at Ravinia. Most recently, Phillips held the title of Associate Director of Sales at Thompson Buckhead where he focused on account sales, marketing, and management for lifestyle, luxury, leisure, corporate consortia, corporate business travel and entertainment.

“I am so thrilled to be starting this next chapter of my career at Andaz West Hollywood,” said Phillips. “It will be easy to stay creatively inspired at a property that places such a strong emphasis on all things entertainment and art, while always looking for the next exciting experience to offer guests.”

Andaz West Hollywood is a boutique luxury property offering 239 guest rooms, various dining outlets, the highest rooftop pool in Los Angeles which underwent a half-million-dollar renovation in 2022, multiple private event spaces as well as a ballroom with complete city views.

For more information about Andaz West Hollywood please visit: www.andazwesthollywood.com.

About Andaz West Hollywood
Andaz West Hollywood is Los Angeles’ iconic rock ‘n’ roll hotel located on the famous Sunset Strip in West Hollywood, Calif. where musical history, celebrity, and style come together. Formerly known as the Riot House, the property – then called Continental Hyatt House and later the Hyatt on Sunset – served as the home of some of rock ‘n’ roll’s most memorable tales by being the choice hotel for rock legends including Led Zeppelin, The Rolling Stones, The Who, Duran Duran, The Doors, and more. Rebranded as an Andaz – Hyatt’s lifestyle collection – in 2009, the stylish hotel is more alluring and artful as ever, featuring 239 guest rooms, including 20 suites, and spectacular views of the Hollywood Hills on one side and the Sunset Strip and Downtown Los Angeles on the other. The property is home to the highest rooftop pool in Los Angeles which was renovated in 2022.

About Andaz
Global in scale while local in perspective, Andaz hotels weave the sights, sounds and tastes of their surroundings into each property for an experience that truly immerses guests in the eclectic culture of each local destination. Through personalized, unscripted service, Andaz hotels create a barrier-free environment where guests are encouraged to explore their personal sense of style and become inspired by the spirit of the culture around them. Seventeen Andaz hotels are currently open: Andaz 5th Avenue and Andaz Wall Street in New York, Andaz San Diego, Andaz West Hollywood, Andaz Napa, Andaz Scottsdale Resort and Spa, Andaz Savannah, Andaz Maui at Wailea, Andaz Ottawa Byward Market, Andaz Mayakoba Resort Riviera Maya, Andaz Peninsula Papagayo in Costa Rica, Andaz London Liverpool Street, Andaz Amsterdam Prinsengracht, Andaz Singapore, Andaz Delhi, Andaz Xintiandi in Shanghai, and Andaz Tokyo Toranomon Hills. For more information, please visit andaz.com. Follow @Andaz on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram, and tag photos with #WhenInAndaz. 

Hotel Indigo, part of IHG Hotels & Resorts’ luxury and lifestyle portfolio, has expanded its offering in the northwestern United States with the opening of Hotel Indigo Vancouver Dtwn - Portland Area in Washington’s Vancouver Waterfront Park. The opening follows a year of significant global growth for the lifestyle hotel brand, which is set to expand its footprint to more than 200 open hotels in the next three years.

The 138-room Hotel Indigo Vancouver Dtwn - Portland Area, developed by Kirkland Development and managed by MKM Hotels, is set along the curves of the Columbia River on the city’s scenic waterfront, where explorers Lewis and Clark are rumored to have tied their boat to the “Witness Tree” to survey the area’s fertile terrain.

Just as no two neighborhoods are alike, no two Hotel Indigo properties are alike. Hotel Indigo Vancouver Dtwn - Portland Area has been designed to reflect the local culture, character and history of the surrounding area while celebrating its idyllic waterfront location. The hotel’s architect, Otak, and interior design firm, The Society, have infused nods to the Pacific Northwest into its sleek design. The surrounding neighborhood was once used to build wooden ships in the early 1900s. Paying homage to this history, natural wood furniture and water-inspired accents are juxtaposed against an earthy color palette of taupe with hints of ocean blue and moss green. Modern guest rooms feature spa-inspired showers as well as a working desk.

Carol Hoeller, Vice President Global Brand Management for Hotel Indigo, commented: “The last year has been one of strategic growth for the Hotel Indigo brand, with record openings in 2022. Hotel Indigo Vancouver Dwtn - Portland Area is not only an exciting addition to our fast-growing global portfolio, but it also demonstrates our confidence and dedication in growing the brand on the west coast – an increasingly important region for Hotel Indigo in the U.S. The hotel brilliantly conveys the unique spirit of its vibrant surroundings through inspiring design and thoughtful touches woven throughout that celebrate the people, places and experiences that make its picturesque neighborhood one-of-a-kind.”

Dean Kirkland, Chairman of Kirkland Development, added: “We are proud to open the doors to Hotel Indigo Vancouver Dwtn - Portland Area. The Vancouver waterfront is experiencing an era of transformation and this hotel is in the center of it all. Guests can expect to discover a wealth of cultural and recreational experiences just beyond the hotel’s doors, while locals can look forward to uncovering a host of new dining destinations that bring the community’s flavors into their spaces.”

Hotel Indigo Vancouver Dwtn - Portland Area’s on-site restaurants and bars are poised to become the heart of the neighborhood where guests and locals dine together. Dining options include:

• El Gaucho, the legendary northwest steakhouse that blends signature tableside service with exceptional quality. The menu features the finest ingredients, including fresh seafood selections and 28-day dry-aged Niman Ranch Prime Certified Angus Beef® prepared in a one-of-a-kind charcoal grill and an open exhibition-style kitchen.
• 13 Coins Restaurant, famed for its high-backed booths and swiveling captain’s chairs, is a timeless Seattle institution where generations have settled in for an unforgettable experience since 1967. The menu is known locally for its all-day breakfast, continental favorites from Steak David to Clam Fettucine, and comforting, approachable house specialties like Chicken Parmigiana.
• Witness Tree Lounge, Vancouver’s first rooftop bar whose name hints to the tree Lewis and Clark tied their boat to, is located atop the hotel with sweeping views of the Columbia River and Portland skyline. The lounge offers an elevated dining experience with indoor and outdoor balcony seating.
• Oregon-based Evoke Winery produces award-winning wines with attention to detail, vineyard diversity and intentional blending practices, offering varietals meant to evoke happiness and feel-good moments. The wine list showcases the winery’s Evoke label releases as well as more thought-provoking wines and bubbly alongside a menu of light bites.

The hotel also features The Liquor Cabinet, a premium on-site liquor store with upscale liquor, wine, beer and curated cocktails as well as Amelie Med Spa, a female-owned, body-positive med spa.

Additional amenities include a fitness center, business center, and meetings and events spaces, including a grand ballroom with access to a large terrace overlooking the Columbia River. Hotel Indigo Vancouver Dtwn - Portland Area is adjacent to the new Kirkland Tower, providing convenient access to nearby retail shops, restaurants and an entertainment pier.

Guests will also have access to a best-in-class loyalty program, IHG One Rewards, which is centered around its guests – giving them richer benefits and more ways to earn than ever before, all powered by leading technology on its new mobile app.

Hotel Indigo has 143 hotels open globally, with another 119 in the pipeline.* Recent and upcoming openings include NYC Financial District in New York City, Exeter in the UK, The Galapagos in Ecuador, Costa Baja Resort & Spa in Mexico and Tokyo Shibuya in Japan.

To learn more or book a stay, visit Hotel Indigo Vancouver Dwtn - Portland Area’s website.

*Numbers as of 31 December 2022.

Source: IHG Hotels & Resorts

Incentive Summit Americas, Banff & Lake Louise, Canada, March 16–19, 2023

SITE Executive Summit, Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe, June 20–24, 2023

Chicago—Boutique by choice and intimate by design, Society for Incentive Travel Excellence’s (SITE) Incentive Summit Americas brought an elite group of 130 incentive travel professionals to the iconic Fairmont Banff Springs to connect, learn and discover a truly “incentive-ready” destination with an incomparable cultural sustainability story.

In addition, participants at ISA raised over $35,000 USD for SITE Foundation’s important work on research, education and industry impact.
 
"Quality education is the hallmark of SITE’s Incentive Summit series and this year, two of the educational sessions drew upon Indigenous wisdom. Kendall Netmaker (sponsored by Speak Inc.) shared a compelling story about grabbing what’s right in front of you, and Destination Canada's Jennifer Attersall held a fascinating fireside chat with Brenda Holder, a woman of Cree descent who shares her people's knowledge on tours through rural Alberta, Canada,” said Annette Gregg, MBA, CMM, CEO of SITE & SITE Foundation.  
 
“Banff/Lake Louise is a quintessential incentive destination so it’s vital for a DMO like ours to be part of SITE and to bid to host events like Incentive Summit Americas. SITE is all about relationships. By hosting ISA, we foster these relationships, strengthen them, make them life-long. We’re hugely proud, too, of our sustainability and CSR credentials and were grateful to showcase them throughout this event,” said Mariana Shackleton, Manager, Business Events, Banff & Lake Louise Tourism.

Meanwhile, SITE is also announcing the launch of its forthcoming Executive Summit, destined for Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe, June 20–24.

Hosted usually in emerging destinations, SITE Executive Summit has recently taken place in Rwanda, Turkey, Slovenia and Abu Dhabi.

With the full presence and participation of SITE’s International Board of Directors, the defining characteristics of Executive Summit are education and destination immersion — formal learning sessions with the local incentive travel community and intensive, immersive destination experiences for the visiting delegation.
 
Commenting on the forthcoming trip to Zimbabwe, SITE CEO Annette Gregg said, “SITE is committed to working with new and emerging destinations and helping position and refine their offerings for discerning incentive travel qualifiers. With its unique natural setting, World Heritage Sites and incentive-ready resorts, hotels and lodges, Zimbabwe has so much to offer. SITE looks forward to working with the local incentive travel community to delivering award-winning incentive travel programs in southern Africa.”
 
“Not only are we looking forward to hosting SITE’s International Board of Directors, we view them as ambassadors who will reinforce our marketing efforts in driving the viability of incentive travel in Zimbabwe,” said Winnie Muchanyuka, Chief Executive of the Zimbabwe Tourism Authority.

For further information, including photography, please contact SITE CMO Pádraic Gilligan, CIS, CITP, at pgilligan@siteglobal.com

About SITE and SITE Foundation
Founded in 1973, SITE is a professional association of 2,000 members located in 90 countries, working in corporations, agencies, airlines, cruise companies, and across the entire destination supply chain.

We bring value to our members at both the global and local chapter level by networking, online resources, education, certification, and advocacy. SITE is also deeply committed to the new generation and operates a best-in-class Young Leaders’ program and dedicated annual conference.

SITE’s mission is to advance the business case for incentive travel & motivational experiences through global connections, education and advocacy by building and bridging cultures through the transformative power of incentive travel & motivational experiences.

SITE’s vision is to build and bridge cultures through the transformative power of incentive travel & motivational experiences.

SITE Foundation was established by SITE to support research, education and advocacy projects on behalf of the incentive travel industry. Monies raised by SITE Foundation help us make the business case for incentive travel and highlight the transformational potential of travel experiences on individuals, enterprises and communities. SITE Foundation is a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization.

Source: SITE Global

Toronto—Chair-man Mills Corp. (CMMC), Canada's premier national event and tent services provider, announces today the acquisition of Higgins Event Rentals, a Toronto-based event rental company proudly serving customers since 1982. The partnership strengthens the ability of both parties to offer exceptional product assortment, quality and experience to Ontario's top venues, caterers, planners and corporate clients, and to increase their combined investments in inventory, technology and people.

“Today marks an exciting new chapter for our companies as we advance our shared commitment to elevating and redefining the events sector in Canada,” says Allison Freeman, Chief Executive Officer of Chair-man Mills Corp. "For decades, Higgins has proudly served customers in the Greater Toronto Area with a reputation for quality and exceptional customer service. With our shared purpose and values, we are delighted to welcome John and Dave Higgins and their talented team into the Chair-man Mills portfolio of companies." 

Higgins will continue to operate from its Etobicoke location and customers, partners, and team members can expect the same level of service and quality that has driven Higgins’ growth over the last 40 years. John Higgins joins CMMC as Vice President while David Higgins will support the transition in a consulting capacity. The expanded leadership team will evaluate best practices across the two companies in service of thoughtful integration. There are no plans for concerted changes to personnel.  

"Our partnership is the perfect opportunity for us to combine our strengths and continue to enhance our client and employee experience,” says John Higgins, co-owner of Higgins. “Our shared purpose is to support our clients' most memorable events with a broad selection of quality products delivered by a team of professionals. The Higgins team looks forward to the next chapter as part of the Chair-man Mills family of brands." 

For more information, visit chairmanmills.com and higginseventrentals.com.

About Chair-man Mills Corp.
Founded in 1911, Chair-man Mills Corp. is the largest tent and event services provider in Canada. In 2019, McCain Capital Partners made a strategic investment to support Chair-man Mills’ long-term growth. In addition to Chair-man Mills, the company proudly serves its customers, venues, caterers, and event planners under the brand names of Event Rental Group, Contemporary Furniture Rentals, Regal Tent Productions, Advanced Tent Rental, A&B Partytime, Loungeworks, and MacFarlands.

About Higgins Event Rentals
Higgins has been a leading provider of tent and event rentals to caterers, planners, private hosts, and designers in the greater Toronto area for over 40 years. With a focus on growth and innovation, Higgins consistently offers new designs and products to make hosting events easier.

For more information: 
Sean Cotnam
Torchia Communications 
416 560-9815
sean@torchiacom.com

IHG Hotels & Resorts today celebrates both impressive development momentum from a successful 2022 and the start of the annual HUNTER Hotel Investment Conference in Atlanta by releasing an update on its recent and planned future growth across the Americas region and beyond.

Elie Maalouf, CEO, Americas, IHG Hotels & Resorts, said: “IHG continues to invest in strategic efforts that strengthen our brand portfolio while building trust and confidence among our guests and owners. We continue to see strong growth in the Americas and around the world, notably among our Suites brands and the Holiday Inn brand family and through the addition of exceptional Luxury & Lifestyle properties and brand debuts in key markets. With more than 4,300 Americas hotels among a more than 6,100 property global portfolio that spans 18 new and iconic brands, we’re excited for the future and well positioned to deliver even greater levels of exceptional guest service and strong owner returns.”

Notable milestones across IHG Hotels & Resorts’ growing Americas and global portfolio include:

• Holiday Inn Express: Remains IHG’s largest global brand with 3,000+ open properties and nearly 327,000 rooms spanning 50+ countries; 110 signings globally add to a pipeline with potential to expand the brand’s market-leading scale by more than 20 percent; new downtown Washington, DC hotel among key 2022 openings.
• Holiday Inn: Sixty-two newly opened hotels include an Atlanta property near IHG’s Americas headquarters, and the dual-branded Holiday Inn & Suites/avid hotel Mt. Juliet – Nashville Area and Holiday Inn/voco hotel Chicago Dwtn - Wolf Point; refreshed prototype features an evolved design and premium breakfast offering, with a further 50 Americas hotels slated for renovation in 2023.
• avid hotels: Emerging brand of scale scheduled to open its 60th hotel in Conyers, Georgia this year, while also maintaining a 140+ property Americas pipeline that will more than triple its size in the region; new-to-market hotels opening later this year in Austin, Tuscaloosa and Tulsa demonstrate the brand’s popularity within the midscale segment.
• Atwell Suites: IHG’s newest all suites brand designed for the next generation traveler opened its first two hotels in Miami and Denver in 2022; 11 new Americas signings have expanded its regional pipeline to 30+ properties.
• Staybridge Suites: Extended stay brand’s growing global footprint includes 314 hotels spanning nearly 34,000 rooms; 142-hotel Americas pipeline equals nearly half of its current regional portfolio; enhanced prototype adds seven keys while reducing build size by two percent.
• Candlewood Suites: Mid-scale extended-stay brand’s expanding footprint includes 368 hotels and nearly 33,000 rooms; on track to increase its portfolio by one-third with 124 hotels in the pipeline. 
• voco hotels: IHG’s fastest growing premium brand has opened 10,000+ rooms among 18 countries within five years of launch; recently opened hotels in Chicago, Niagara Falls and Guadalajara will join forthcoming U.S. properties in Flushing, Destin and Laguna Hills and Mexico properties in Queretaro and Saltillo.
• Crowne Plaza Hotels & Resorts: Global pipeline will expand the brand’s current reach of 400+ hotels and 110,000+ rooms by 26 percent; three-quarters of the Americas portfolio will be new or have been recently renovated before the end of 2025, with 20 planned for completion in 2023.
• EVEN Hotels: New and evolved prototype features a more cost-efficient design, refreshed restaurant concept and integrated wellness experience; on pace to double its Americas presence with 10 hotels in the pipeline, including planned 2023 openings in Bozeman, Beaverton, Waco and Austin.
• Six Senses Hotels Resorts Spas: Eight new signings grew the brand’s global pipeline to 38 hotels, which will triple its existing portfolio; brand’s strong emergence in the Americas includes six signings, among them a resort with branded residences in Napa Valley.
• Regent Hotels & Resorts: Reimagined upper-luxury brand’s first Americas property scheduled to open along Santa Monica Beach in late 2023; expanding global portfolio of 19 open and pipeline hotels includes the recently reopened Carlton Cannes in France and signature properties in Vietnam, Hong Kong, Shanghai and Bali.
• InterContinental Hotels & Resorts: The world’s first and largest international luxury hotel brand with 200+ open hotels and 90 in the pipeline; 10 Americas pipeline hotels include planned openings in Dallas, Grenada, Bellevue and a recently signed resort on the island of Dominica.
• Vignette Collection: Robust Americas entrance included initial signings in Mexico’s Yucatan Peninsula and Oregon’s wine country, followed by its early 2023 debut opening in Washington, DC; new signings in China, Japan and Germany will expand the brand’s presence to more than a dozen countries, with 100+ properties globally expected to join during the next decade.
• Kimpton Hotels & Restaurants: First all-inclusive resort in Mexico among 10 new global signings that increased boutique luxury brand’s global pipeline to 41 properties, representing growth of more than 50 percent on its 76 open hotels; 2022 also saw the opening of the brand’s first Australian property in Sydney; five new Americas openings planned for 2023.
• Hotel Indigo: On pace to reach 200+ hotels in the next three years, doubling in half the time it took to open the first 100; eight Americas hotel openings in 2022 included the brand’s South American debut in the Galapagos Islands and three new properties in New York City.
• Iberostar Beachfront Resorts: IHG’s first exclusive partner also represents its 18th global brand, and accounts for 70 hotels and 24,000+ rooms; global pipeline includes five properties planned for the coming years, and expands guests’ access to resort, beachfront and all-inclusive properties in the Americas and Southern Europe.

About IHG^®
IHG Hotels & Resorts [LON:IHG, NYSE:IHG (ADRs)] is a global hospitality company, with a purpose to provide True Hospitality for Good.

With a family of 18 hotel brands and IHG One Rewards, one of the world's largest hotel loyalty programmes, IHG has over 6,000 open hotels in over 100 countries, and more than 1,800 in the development pipeline.

• Luxury & Lifestyle: Six Senses Hotels Resorts Spas, Regent Hotels & Resorts, InterContinental Hotels & Resorts, Vignette Collection, Kimpton Hotels & Restaurants, Hotel Indigo
• Premium: voco hotels, HUALUXE Hotels & Resorts, Crowne Plaza Hotels & Resorts, EVEN Hotels
• Essentials: Holiday Inn Hotels & Resorts, Holiday Inn Express, avid hotels
• Suites: Atwell Suites, Staybridge Suites, Holiday Inn Club Vacations, Candlewood Suites
• Exclusive Partners: Iberostar Beachfront Resorts

InterContinental Hotels Group PLC is the Group's holding company and is incorporated and registered in England and Wales. Approximately 345,000 people work across IHG's hotels and corporate offices globally.

Visit us online for more about our hotels and reservations and IHG One Rewards. To download the new IHG One Rewards app, visit the Apple App or Google Play stores.

For our latest news, visit our Newsroom and follow us on LinkedIn, Facebook and Twitter.

New report from GBTA and Spotnana reveals travel manager sentiment on post-pandemic recovery, changing priorities, economic risks, and balancing cost savings and the traveler experience

Alexandria, VA and New York City—A majority of U.S. corporate travel buyers expect their company’s business travel to ramp up and return to pre-pandemic levels by the end of 2023. Despite concerns about inflation and rising prices, only one in five travel managers say their companies have begun to limit business travel. Since the onset of the pandemic, however, demands on travel managers’ time and priorities have grown, including addressing traveler needs, conducting data analysis, and the increasing challenge to balance cost savings with the business traveler experience.

This is according to a new report – How Travel Managers Will Succeed in 2023 – from the Global Business Travel Association (GBTA), the world’s largest business travel association, and Spotnana, the modern infrastructure for the travel industry. The report is based on survey responses from 151 U.S.-based corporate travel buyers and addresses key questions, including when travel managers expect business travel to return to pre-pandemic levels, current and new priorities in their roles, and the travel program metrics they are now tracking.

We wanted to look to those on the front lines who have been navigating all the changes happening in business travel for their expert insights and outlook on what might lie ahead. Tapping into the experiences and perspectives of travel managers provides valuable knowledge that can empower all stakeholders to optimize their business travel programs. Johnny Thorsen, VP Partnerships, Spotnana

This latest research not only provides travel managers with beneficial benchmarking data and a glimpse into the priorities of their peers, but also crucial insights for suppliers and other industry stakeholders to make informed decisions and stay ahead as they plan for the future of business travel. Suzanne Neufang, CEO, GBTA

Here are some key highlights from the report:

• RECOVERY CONTINUES ON TRACK. Travel managers largely expect most types of business travel will reach pre-pandemic levels by the end of 2023, including domestic business travel (74%), external meetings (77%), conference/group travel (76%) and internal meetings (69%).One in 10 travel managers, however, say they do not expect business travel volumes to return until 2025 or later, citing inflation and rising prices as the top concerns, followed by travel disruptions and a potential recession. Few feel business travel will never return to pre-pandemic levels, underscoring its importance for companies regardless of travel type.
• BUSINESS TRAVEL GOES ON AS PLANNED. Most companies (64%) say they are unlikely to limit business travel, although many are taking a wait-and-see approach and not seriously considering limiting business travel (36%). Only one in five travel managers say their company (19%) is already implementing a plan to limit business travel.
• BALANCING COST AND TRAVELER PRIORITIES. Both travel managers (54%) and senior leadership (65%) are prioritizing cost savings, but travel managers rank traveler experience higher (51%) than executives (42%), making it more challenging to obtain buy-in to focus beyond costs. The study highlights the increased importance of addressing travel experience metrics, especially as business traveler preferences continue to evolve.
• A DAY IN THE LIFE OF A TRAVEL MANAGER NOW. When asked which tasks they dedicate more time to now compared to before the pandemic, travel managers most frequently cite traveler communications / answering questions (72%) and overseeing their travel management company (TMC) relationship (59%). They also spend more time on data analysis (52%) and risk management / traveler tracking (42%). Few report they spend less time on key travel program components, demonstrating the growing complexity of managed travel programs.
• BENEFITS FROM COLLABORATION AND METRICS. Travel managers must collaborate with a number of stakeholders, the most commonly cited being finance / accounting (69%), senior leadership/C-suite (49%), and risk management/ security (44%). Only three in five (59%), however, regularly share travel-related performance metrics with senior leadership, revealing an opportunity for more regular reporting to demonstrate the value of a managed travel program and travel managers.Three in five travel managers (62%) say cost-focused metrics are the most important measures they will use to evaluate their program’s success in 2023. A notable number (32%) say travel experience-focused metrics will be the single most important measure they will use to gauge success, however.
• OPPORTUNITIES FOR PARTNERS. Asked about their top TMC pain points, travel managers most commonly said agents / assistance (48%), data analysis / reporting / dashboarding (37%), and the ability of their TMC to deliver a “customized” travel program (33%). Concerning their primary OBT, travel managers identify end-user/traveler experience (49%), the ability to manage changes or cancellations (47%), and innovation (41%) as key pain points.

Data collection for the online survey of U.S.-based travel managers took place from December 12, 2022, to January 3, 2023, with 151 qualifying responses received.

GBTA members can download the complete research report from the GBTA Hub. The report can also be downloaded from the Spotnana website.

On Wednesday, March 22 (11-12noon ET) join a free webinar for insights from the report and how travel managers will succeed in 2023 featuring Spotnana's Johnny Thorsen and GBTA Research Director, Chris Ely. Register here.

About Spotnana
Spotnana powers unparalleled global travel experiences. We are modernizing the infrastructure of the travel industry in order to bring freedom, simplicity, and trust to travelers everywhere. Our Travel-as-a-Service Platform makes travel simpler and more affordable for corporations, while enabling our ecosystem of agency, supplier, and technology provider partners to increase operational efficiency, unlock new revenue sources, and accelerate innovation. To learn more, visit spotnana.com.

Please reach out to GBTA or Spotnana to request a full copy of the report. It can be used for reference and quoted, but please do not distribute, share or post the full report.

About the Global Business Travel Association
The Global Business Travel Association (GBTA) is the world's premier business travel and meetings trade organization headquartered in the Washington, D.C. area with operations on six continents. GBTA's members manage more than $345 billion of global business travel and meetings expenditures annually. GBTA delivers world-class education, events, research, advocacy, and media to a growing global network of more than 28,000 travel professionals and 125,000 active contacts. Visit www.gbta.org and follow us on LinkedIn, YouTube, Twitter and Facebook.

About the GBTA Foundation
The mission of the GBTA Foundation, the US 501c3 charitable arm of GBTA, is to help the global business travel industry create a positive impact and a better future for people and the planet. The GBTA Foundation focuses on the strategy and execution of GBTA's global sustainability programs, supporting initiatives related to climate action; diversity, equity and inclusion; and other talent-related topics via education, research and advocacy.

Debbie Iannaci
GBTA Global Communications, PR & Research
+1 305 301 7057
GBTA

Edmonton, AB—Today, Hotel Equities (“HE”) announced the grand opening of the Courtyard by Marriott Nanaimo, a 172-room hotel in downtown Nanaimo, British Columbia. Hotel Equities partnered with Utah-based commercial real estate leader PEG Companies (“PEG”) and Petroglyph Development Group to manage the new hotel.

“We are thrilled to have the opportunity to expand our presence in the Canadian market,” said Ryan McRae, VP of Business Development for Hotel Equities. “The Vancouver Island market has been a focus of ours for quite some time and we look forward to having representation in this highly desirable destination. We expect to continue our growth here and look forward to serving the community and the many visitors who travel here.”

The new Marriott hotel offers industry-leading amenities including a charming street-level café, large pool, and all-inclusive fitness center. Design features include angular windows with street side views, stone panels, and a façade of exterior colors allowing it to blend well within the environment and existing buildings in the area. Vancouver-based sustainable construction firm, Nexii, has generated efficiencies in the buildout by utilizing its innovative construction methodology, saving both money and time. As part of PEG’s design plan, the new Courtyard pays homage to Nanaimo’s cultural heritage through Snuneymuxw-inspired décor and serves as a symbol of the rich cultural heritage of the Snuneymuxw people.

The nine-story hotel is conveniently situated adjacent the Vancouver Island Conference Centre, and between Casino Nanaimo and the Nanaimo Museum. Nanaimo is well-positioned for further growth with its easy access to Vancouver and growing tourism industry.

City officials have maintained that the hotel is crucial for the downtown revitalization and success of the neighboring conference center. The Marriott is expected to spur economic growth as the first major hotel brand in the area.

“Hotel Equities has a strong footprint in Canada that benefits from HE’s strategic approach to talent and technology platforms which provide operational efficiencies across all of our properties,“ said Martin Stitt, SVP of Operations for Hotel Equities. “We look forward to utilizing these systems to provide sound support for property operations benefiting our Associates, Guests, and Ownership.”

About Hotel Equities
(HE) is an award-winning full-scale hotel ownership, management, and development firm with a portfolio of nearly 300 hotels and resorts throughout the United States and Canada. Fred Cerrone, CHA, serves as Founder and Chairman; Brad Rahinsky serves as President and CEO. Hotel Equities is an affiliate of 33 Degrees, an integrated management platform combining market knowledge and industry experience across a broad range of CRE assets including office, restaurant, retail, mixed-use and multi-unit residential. For more information on Hotel Equities, visit www.hotelequities.com.

About PEG Companies
PEG Companies [“PEG”] is an internationally recognized commercial real estate investment, development, and asset/property management firm known for its unique approach to creating value. Since 2003, PEG's mission has been to create opportunities through grit, ingenuity, and expertise. The firm has developed, owned, and managed more than 4,700 multifamily housing units across the United States, plus additional office, retail, and industrial space, along with 4,200-plus hospitality keys across the U.S. and Canada. PEG sponsors multiple investment products on behalf of its investors. For more information, visit pegcompanies.com.

Media Contact:
Sommer Shiver, Vice President of Branding & Communications for Hotel Equities sshiver@hotelequities.com

Tofino resort commemorates legacy with $1.2 million investment, exclusive offers, events and indigenous art

Tofino, BC—This April, Pacific Sands Beach Resort will commemorate 50 years as a Tofino landmark with $1.2 million investment, exclusive getaway offers, special events and commissioned artwork from renowned Canadian First Nations artist, Roy Henry Vickers. 

In April 1973, the Pettinger family acquired the property they would christen Pacific Sands Beach Resort and spent the next four decades on expansions and improvements. Fifty years later, under the ownership of the Nelson family – who took over Pacific Sands in 2015 – the resort’s legacy as an escape for family, romance and fun lives on. The Nelson family has invested over $20 million to expand and update the resort. In 2023, a further $1.2 million in improvements will be completed, including eco-focused initiatives such as updating the geothermal system in the Beach Houses.

Guests are invited to attend Pacific Sands events taking place throughout April, including the unveiling of a specially commissioned art piece by Roy Henry Vickers on Saturday, April 15. With Vickers’ signature blend of traditional and contemporary styles, the piece will capture the beauty and spirit of the West Coast. Guests can also join a storytelling session where Vickers will share his insights and stories about the inspiration behind his art. Other events throughout April include a 50^th anniversary wine tasting and wine release (March 31 and April 1), an Easter egg hunt and complimentary Easter Sunday brunch (April 9).

As part of the celebrations, visitors can enjoy a special discount on a Pacific Sands getaway this spring, helping to disconnect from technology and the relentless pressures of everyday life. Book the resort’s Storm Watching Package for any dates in April and save an additional five per cent – which translates to 20-30 per cent off your entire stay. You’ll also receive discounts to onsite amenities, including 25 per cent off a two-hour private sauna session with Tuff City Saunas; 15 per cent off surf rentals with Surf Sister; and 15 per cent off bike rentals at Tofino Bike Co. 

“From deep and enduring roots in the community to vacations, weddings and sprinkling the ashes of loved ones, we’ve shared in the lives of friends and families that have been coming to Pacific Sands for generations,” said Sabrina Donovan, general manager at Pacific Sands Beach Resort. “Over the years, the resort has evolved and grown, but our underlying mission has remained the same – to offer guests a space where they can unwind and connect with our stunning natural surroundings, with each other, and with themselves.”

For more information, or to book a stay at Pacific Sands Beach Resort, visit www.pacificsands.com.

About Pacific Sands Beach Resort:
Ranked within the top two Tofino Resorts by Trip Advisor, Pacific Sands Beach Resort offers an authentically West Coast experience that reflects service, comfort and style in the most spectacular of settings. A Tofino landmark since 1972, the resort offers ocean views, surf-in, surf-out access and fully equipped, family-friendly kitchens and fireplaces. Located on the shores of Cox Bay beach, Pacific Sands Beach Resort is the ideal destination for anyone, from family vacations to reflective getaways and romantic retreats. www.pacificsands.com

Media Contact: 
Louise Stoddart | tartanbond
604-351-3623 | louise.stoddart@tartanbond.com

The iconic luxury brand expands its resort portfolio, bringing celebrated rituals and exquisite experiences to the Mayan Riviera

St. Regis Hotels & Resorts, part of Marriott International, today announced the opening of The St. Regis Kanai Resort, Riviera Maya. Descending from the Mayan stars, The St. Regis Kanai Resort, Riviera Maya is a destination-defining oasis that captures the undiscovered glamour of the Mayan Riviera. Inspired by the neighboring 620-acre nature reserve and UNESCO World Heritage Site – the Sian Ka’an Reserve, the resort breathes life and magic into the Kanai region with its avant-garde architecture, inviting interiors, and bespoke service. Owned by Grupo Alhel, the resort is a short drive from both Cancun and Playa Del Carmen and offers a gateway to the wonders of the region, from the luxuriant biodiversity of its natural parks and the mysticism of its cenotes, to the vivid blues of its ocean and the cultural richness of its archaeological sites.

“Kanai is a vibrant oasis yet to be discovered by many global travelers, but with its striking natural surroundings, rich cultural history, and inherent connection to the land, it is set to take its place among the world’s most coveted leisure destinations,” said George Fleck, Vice President and Global Brand Leader for St. Regis Hotels & Resorts. “We are thrilled to welcome The St. Regis Kanai Resort, Rivera Maya to our expanding global portfolio of legendary hotels and resorts. The St. Regis brand’s founding family, the Astors, were known for seeking out exquisite locations around the globe for their collection of homes, hosting luminaries and vanguards of the day in the most breathtaking natural surroundings. With The St. Regis Kanai Resort, Riviera Maya, we are continuing the legacy of that timeless era of luxury, offering our guests a glamorous hideaway and escape to the extraordinary.”

“We look forward to offering guests exceptional experiences that are a reflection of both the history of the destination and the celebrated traditions and rituals of St. Regis,” said David Cayuela, Multi Property General Manager, The St. Regis Kanai Resort, Riviera Maya. “The St. Regis Kanai Resort, Riviera Maya will provide our guests with a sense of exquisite ease, enlivened by the brand’s signature Butler Service, which is purposefully tailored for each of our global luminaries.”

Avant-Garde Architecture and Inspired Design Designed by Mexican architectural firm Edmonds International with interiors by Chapi Chapo Design, the resort features an exceptional circular exterior design inspired by the constellation Pleiades, resulting in unrivaled ocean views from nearly every vantage point. Designed with a minimal construction footprint aimed at protecting the natural reserve, The St. Regis Kanai Resort, Riviera Maya is suspended above a mangrove forest with the different elements of the hotel connected by elevated walkways. Guests of the resort are immediately transported into the magic of Kanai with a multi-story open air water installation leading into the main lobby. Floor-to-ceiling panoramic views of the mangroves give way to lush gardens and an expansive outdoor lawn with direct access to 2 miles of undisturbed white sand beach.

Drawing inspiration from ancient Mayan artistic and ceremonial manifestations, the hotel’s sophisticated aesthetic features a rich palette of limestone, walnut, and layered textiles. Elegant décor and contemporary interiors are accented with bespoke elements including custom furniture and artwork from local artisans. The Mayan Calendar is recreated through textiles within the public areas and guestrooms, with elements inspired by ceremonial Mayan garments.

The St. Regis Kanai Resort, Riviera Maya boasts 124 lavishly appointed guestrooms and 19 suites including a 2,300 sq. ft. Presidential Suite, each offering mesmerizing ocean views and a private terrace or plunge pool. The spacious guestrooms feature design elements and rich materials evoking the surrounding elements from the mangrove trees and nearby cenotes to the stars above. Guestrooms feature custom hanging mirrors, bedside tables, ceramic light pendants, and intricate walnut wood-carved headboards. Guests of all room categories will also have access to the St. Regis Signature Butler Service.

Incomparable Culinary Experiences The resort invites guests and local luminaries to embark on unique gastronomic journeys with eight incredible culinary venues. The hotel’s signature restaurant TORO by Chef Richard Sandoval is a bar and restaurant with a Latin-inspired menu led by the esteemed chef. Chaya features a menu that uniquely combines local ingredients and regional touches of Riviera Maya with culinary elements rooted in Eastern Mediterranean history. Located along the beautiful beachfront, Riviera seamlessly blends the South of France with the Mayan Riviera. A tea and chocolate salon, The Library is the perfect back drop to experience St. Regis’s signature ritual of afternoon tea and enjoy a tasting of Mexican chocolate. The intimate St. Regis Bar, designed to feature views of the night sky, offers the Kanai Mary, a local take on the brand’s signature Bloody Mary cocktail, which incorporates ingredients from the ancient Maya diet including corn, peppers and cucumber. The space also features an expansive mural inspired by Maya astronomer-priests who looked to the heavens for guidance. Additional dining venues include Jack’s Club, a hidden speakeasy; Pik Nik, a grab-and-go deli, and The Beach Club for light bites while relaxing seaside. Honoring a signature tradition among St. Regis properties around the world, The St. Regis Kanai Resort, Riviera Maya will mark the transition from day to night with a celebratory champagne sabering each evening.

Rejuvenation for the Body and Soul A private invitation to experience the extraordinary, The St. Regis Spa is an enclave apart with every aspect custom created to captivate and celebrate. The spa features eight treatment suites and a standalone salon. Connecting guests with nature, the space brings the lush outdoors inside with treatments inspired by ancient practices and featuring local ingredients. Signature treatments include the Secret Garden ritual, allowing guests to hand select ingredients from the hotel’s garden to personalize a body scrub and mask, as well as a Celestial Energy treatment that is inspired by Mayan cosmology and uses herbal cleansing, hot stones energized under the moon and stars and aromatherapy based on the phase of the moon. Guests can work out in the exclusive Athletic Club, featuring a range of cardio and strength equipment as well as an outdoor yoga platform. The Beach Club will set a new standard for glamorous seaside lounging while offering access to a selection of water sports, and an incomparable pool and beach experience that includes Adult and Family pools, where vast cabanas offer complete privacy.

Family Traditions and Exquisite Exploration Whether you are enjoying a day poolside in a Family Cabana at or partaking in sport activities on the beach, there is fun to be had for guests of all ages. Through the brand’s Family Traditions program the property offers the Tortuga Children’s Club, with activities tailored to help younger guests discover the magic of Riviera Maya. Located less than half a mile from an undisturbed coral reef, part of the second largest system in the world, the resort is also an ideal launching pad for underwater exploration.

Sophisticated Celebrations and Bespoke Events Marking the brand’s legacy as the House of Celebration, The St. Regis Kanai Resort, Riviera Maya features over 50,000 square feet of indoor and outdoor event space across six distinguished meeting venues. From the expansive Astor Ballroom to the 7,300 sq. ft. Great Lawn, the resort can accommodate up to 600 guests bringing inimitable grace and style to any event: whether it be an executive meeting or gala celebration.

For more information, please visit www.stregis.com/kanai.

About Marriott Bonvoy^®
Marriott Bonvoy’s extraordinary portfolio offers renowned hospitality in the most memorable destinations in the world, with 30 brands that are tailored to every type of journey. From The Ritz-Carlton and St. Regis to W Hotels and more, Marriott Bonvoy has more luxury offerings than any other travel program. Members can earn points for stays at hotels and resorts, including all-inclusive resorts and premium home rentals, and through everyday purchases with co-branded credit cards. Members can redeem their points for experiences including future stays, Marriott Bonvoy Moments™, or through partners for luxurious products from Marriott Bonvoy Boutiques^®. To enroll for free or for more information about Marriott Bonvoy, visit marriottbonvoy.com.

About St. Regis Hotels & Resorts
Combining timeless glamour with a vanguard spirit, St. Regis Hotels & Resorts is committed to delivering exquisite experiences at more than 50 luxury hotels and resorts in the best addresses around the world. Beginning with the debut of The St. Regis hotel in New York by John Jacob Astor IV at the dawn of the twentieth century, the brand has remained committed to an uncompromising level of bespoke and anticipatory service for all of its guests, delivered flawlessly by the signature St. Regis Butler Service. For more information and new openings, visit stregis.com or follow Twitter, Instagram and Facebook. St. Regis is proud to participate in Marriott Bonvoy®, the global travel program from Marriott International. The program offers members an extraordinary portfolio of global brands, exclusive experiences on Marriott Bonvoy Moments and unparalleled benefits including complimentary nights and Elite status recognition. To enroll for free or for more information about the program, visit marriottbonvoy.com.

Media Contacts
Erica Flint
Director, Global Communications, Marriott International Luxury Brands
Marriott International
Erica.Flint@MarriottLuxuryBrands.com

Toronto/CNW/—Exhibition Place has signed the Sustainable Tourism 2030 Pledge, joining a global movement of businesses committed to creating a sustainable future for the tourism industry.  This pledge demonstrates Exhibition Place's commitment to improving the sustainability performance of its business between now and 2030 in support of the UN's Sustainable Development Goals.

Exhibition Place plans to amplify its sustainability performance by enhancing annual targets for all aspects of the venue's operations – from infrastructure developments all the way to how events are managed.

"At Exhibition Place, we have long understood the importance of sustainability and our GREENSmart initiatives span almost two decades of progress in this realm," said Exhibition Place General Manager Laura Purdy. "Today, we remain dedicated to reducing our impact on the planet by going beyond conventional industry practices and supporting the efforts of likeminded event organizers. Taking the Sustainable Tourism 2030 Pledge represents another step in becoming Toronto's sustainable venue of choice and we are excited to expand on our longstanding achievements."

Reducing the environmental impact of events remains a strong focus in the global Events & Exhibition industries as planners and organizers seek to make sustainability a priority. Exhibition Place takes pride in supporting the ambitions of likeminded clients including the One of A Kind Show, whose parent company Informa is recognized as leader in the ESG space.

"As a part of Informa, One Of A Kind has aligned it efforts to contribute to our company's commitment in building a sustainable business. Through the FasterForward program, our aim is to become a positive impact business by embedding sustainability into everything we do, and seizing opportunities to help our customers and communities to do the same," said Show Director Janice Leung. "We greatly value having a venue partner like Exhibition Place who boasts a longstanding dedication to sustainable practices. These practices support our own ambitions of becoming zero waste and net zero carbon by 2030 while creating annual events that meet the high standards of our customers."

Additional leading-edge environmental initiatives at Exhibition Place include Silver and Platinum recognition through the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED®) rating system, renewable wind, solar and geothermal Energy Production, innovative building operation initiatives and urban forestry.

For more information about Exhibition Place's green initiatives please visit: explace.on.ca/about/green-initiatives/

About Exhibition Place
Established in 1879 and located on the shores of Lake Ontario, Toronto, the award-winning Exhibition Place is Canada's largest entertainment venue, hosting 1,260 events and attracting over 5.5 million visitors a year. The 192-acre site is an integral component of Toronto and Ontario's economy, particularly with respect to conventions, sports, festivals, recreation, culture and tourism. Exhibition Place boasts the award-winning, LEED Platinum Enercare Centre; Canada's largest exhibition and convention centre, and the Beanfield Centre LEED Silver conference venue. Since 2004, Exhibition Place has undertaken an environmental stewardship initiative, entitled GREENSmart; which includes the promotion of sustainable development, environmental initiatives and leading-edge green technologies and practices across the site.

About One of Kind Show
Since 1975, the One Of A Kind Show has been deeply connected to craft. The show has played a significant role in the craft movement and has evolved into a place where like-minded individuals come together to exchange ideas, stories, and inspiration through the culture of craft.

SOURCE Exhibition Place

Langley, United Kingdom/CNW/—Travelport, a global technology company that powers travel bookings for hundreds of thousands of travel suppliers worldwide, today announced the acquisition of Deem, a leading corporate travel management platform. Since launching the company's next-generation marketplace, Travelport+, Travelport has continued its investment in innovation, with the acquisition of Deem being the latest example.

"The game-changing acquisition of Deem by Travelport will fulfill a growing, post-pandemic need for a tight, fully-integrated corporate tool that will provide access to all multi-source content, including NDC," said Greg Webb, CEO of Travelport. "We've been laser-focused on investing in technology innovation, and Travelport+ has simplified the agency workflow, upgraded how travel content is curated, and enabled modern travel retailing. Now with the acquisition of Deem, Travelport will provide corporate travel with award-winning, complementary tools that are as revolutionary, modern, and easy-to-use as Travelport+."

Previously owned by Enterprise Holdings, a leading provider of mobility solutions, Deem has long been recognized as the foremost modern technology for the corporate travel industry. Named one of Fast Company's Most Innovative Companies of 2022, Deem has pioneered its suite of online booking and travel technology products for business travelers, travel managers, travel-management companies and suppliers, making the corporate travel experience more efficient for all. Deem has continued to grow its share of the corporate travel business, and Travelport's investment intends to further accelerate that growth on a global scale.

"Deem is pleased to be joining the Travelport family," said David Grace, President of Deem. "We are proud of the growth and success Deem has achieved in recent years. The acquisition by Travelport will enable a strong future of global growth for Deem and help accelerate the delivery of travel management solutions in a rapidly evolving industry. We want to express our sincere appreciation to our customers, as well as recognize the hard work and dedication of our Deem team members."

Travelport established itself as a leader in NDC by launching the industry's first end-to-end solution for American Airlines' NDC content. Travelport plans to build on its leadership position by implementing a swift technical integration to enable Deem's access to NDC offers, products and services. Access to this content is becoming critical for travel agencies, corporations, and travelers, particularly those in North America where airlines are beginning to shift some content exclusively to NDC. This acquisition will dramatically improve Deem's speed to market, allowing it to seamlessly integrate multisource content.

"We are committed to ensuring a smooth transition for Deem employees, partners, and customers, and look forward to welcoming them to Travelport," Webb continued. "Having a one-stop source for all content on a single corporate tool has been the main goal of our customers for a long time. Together with the Deem team, Travelport will deliver that."

For more information, please visit Travelport.com.

About Travelport:
Travelport is a global technology company that powers bookings for hundreds of thousands of travel suppliers worldwide. Buyers and sellers of travel are connected by the company's next generation marketplace, Travelport+, which simplifies how brands connect, upgrades how travel is sold, and enables modern digital retailing. Headquartered in London, United Kingdom and operating in more than 180 countries around the world, Travelport is focused on driving innovation that simplifies the complex travel ecosystem.

SOURCE Travelport

Canada’s first Hyatt Centric hotel is open for reservations, offering 177 modern upscale guestrooms in the heart of Old Montréal.

Chicago—Hyatt Hotels Corporation (NYSE: H) announced today the first Hyatt Centric hotel in Canada, Hyatt Centric Ville-Marie Montréal, in collaboration with global real estate developer Jesta Group. Centrally located in the heart of Old Montréal, the property boasts 177 modern upscale guestrooms, including five suites, a signature restaurant fusing Québec and British cuisines, a rooftop pool (slated for summer 2023), as well as four fully equipped meeting and event facilities sprawling nearly 5,000 square feet. The hotel provides savvy travelers a launchpad for exploration, offering an opportunity to discover the iconic neighborhood of Old Montréal and everything Montréal has to offer.

The lifestyle hotel is located at the crossroads of old and new in the picturesque Parisian-style neighborhood of Old Montréal. The convenient location puts guests steps from the lively Place Jacques-Cartier, acclaimed dining and shopping, a thriving nightlife scene, cultural destinations, and a short walk to downtown Montréal.

“Montréal and particularly the neighborhood of Old Montréal offers an experience unlike most destinations in North America, as it boasts European flair and offers countless local and international events annually, making it an ideal location for this milestone opening,” said Don Lougheed, regional vice president, franchise operations and sales, Hyatt. “As part of the evolution of a dynamic neighborhood rich with history, Hyatt Centric Ville-Marie Montréal is housed within the Place Gare Viger development, infusing new life into a deep-rooted and profound part of the city.”

Place Gare Viger is a new urban campus in the heart of Old Montréal, taking shape around the iconic Place Viger, historically known for being one of the first railway stations ever built in Canada and served as the network’s terminus for the Canadian Pacific Railway. Drawing inspiration from the French château-design of the Hotel Viger station, Place Gare Viger provides modern and imaginative office spaces, a bustling retail selection, a cutting-edge residential complex, and now, Hyatt Centric Ville-Mare Montréal, all in the middle of a thriving neighborhood.

Vibrant and modern designs by local Montréal designers and architects are represented throughout the hotel, including lobby and meeting space design by Ivy Studio; and principal design and architecture by Provencher Roy. Every aspect of the design at Hyatt Centric Ville-Marie Montréal has been carefully curated to showcase its local inspirations, iconography and culture. The building façade – comprised of Normand brick, white polished concrete, and zinc metal – is influenced by the neighboring chateau, historic church roofs in the area and the iconographic clock tower on the waterfront, just a few steps from the hotel. Additionally, the lobby of Hyatt Centric Ville-Marie Montréal is inspired by the Jacques Cartier Bridge, with metal arches and wood paneling. The lobby also includes Terrazzo floor tiles and railway-inspired artwork to achieve a vintage and modern feel.

Hyatt Centric Ville-Marie Montréal’s inviting lobby, welcoming staff and energizing colors allow guests to simply feel at home with upscale modern comfort and shareworthy art and styling elements that celebrate the character of the destination. Each guestroom offers a creative and compact design with multifunctional elements, including a 55” flat-screen HDTV, individually controlled heating and air conditioning, blackout curtains, a minifridge, keyless entry operated through the World of Hyatt app, and much more. Additionally, guests can revel in the spacious comfort of the hotel’s 600-square-foot suites. Each of the five suites features a king bed, separate living area and workspace, a 60” flat-screen HDTV, and picture windows with views of Square Dalhousie.

For business travelers, Hyatt Centric Ville-Marie Montréal offers multiple meeting and event spaces well-equipped for any workshop, small conference, seminar or event. Featuring the latest in modern audiovisual hybrid technology supplied by Encore Global, the four meeting venues are located on the hotel's main level and feature floor-to-ceiling fenestration allowing beautiful views of the city or the interior courtyard.

Guests can experience locally inspired and creatively presented dining at Cartier Arms, the hotel’s lively on-site restaurant by the locally renowned Burgundy Lion Group. Cartier Arms serves Quebéc-British fusion with handcrafted cocktails, embodying the turn-of-the-century golden age of the railroad. Cartier Arms includes a 130 seat restaurant, 30 person terrace, and 20 person private dining room.

“Hyatt Centric Ville-Marie Montréal marks a special debut for the Hyatt Centric brand in Canada, and we’ve set the bar very high to deliver an unparalleled and authentic experience for guests in the heart of Old Montréal,” says Anthony O’Brien, Jesta Group's senior managing director. “This property has been developed to celebrate the deep history and vibrancy of the neighborhood and all it has to offer. We look forward to welcoming visitors and Montréalers alike for an incomparable experience.”

For more information or to make a reservation at Hyatt Centric Ville-Marie Montréal, please visit www.hyattcentricvillemarieMontreal.com or follow the hotel on Instagram @hyattcentricmtl.

The term “Hyatt” is used for convenience to refer to Hyatt Hotels Corporation and/or one or more of its affiliates.

For further information:

About Hyatt Centric
Hyatt Centric is a brand of full-service lifestyle hotels located in prime destinations. Created to connect guests to the heart of the action, Hyatt Centric hotels are thoughtfully designed to enable exploration and discovery so they never miss a moment of adventure. Each hotel offers social spaces to connect with others in the lobby, meanwhile the bar and restaurant are local hot spots where great conversations, locally inspired food and signature cocktails can be enjoyed. Streamlined modern rooms focus on delivering everything guests want and nothing they don’t. A passionately engaged team is there to provide local expertise on the best food, nightlife and activities the destination has to offer. For more information, please visit hyattcentric.com. Follow @HyattCentric on Facebook and Instagram, and tag photos with #HyattCentric.

About Hyatt Hotels Corporation
Hyatt Hotels Corporation, headquartered in Chicago, is a leading global hospitality company guided by its purpose – to care for people so they can be their best. As of December 31, 2022, the Company’s portfolio included more than 1,250 hotels and all-inclusive properties in 75 countries across six continents. The Company's offering includes brands in the Timeless Collection, including Park Hyatt®, Grand Hyatt®, Hyatt Regency®, Hyatt®, Hyatt Residence Club®, Hyatt Place®, Hyatt House®, and UrCove; the Boundless Collection, including Miraval®, Alila®, Andaz®, Thompson Hotels®, Hyatt Centric®, and Caption by Hyatt®; the Independent Collection, including The Unbound Collection by Hyatt®, Destination by Hyatt®, and JdV by Hyatt®; and the Inclusive Collection, including Hyatt Ziva®, Hyatt Zilara®, Zoëtry® Wellness & Spa Resorts, Secrets® Resorts & Spas, Breathless Resorts & Spas®, Dreams® Resorts & Spas, Hyatt Vivid Hotels & Resorts, Alua Hotels & Resorts®, and Sunscape® Resorts & Spas. Subsidiaries of the Company operate the World of Hyatt® loyalty program, ALG Vacations®, Unlimited Vacation Club®, Amstar DMC destination management services, and Trisept Solutions® technology services. For more information, please visit www.hyatt.com.

About Jesta Group:
The Jesta Group is a family-owned Montréal-based business that has been an active investor and developer of iconic real estate assets for over four decades. Its large portfolio of hotel, residential, retail, and industrial properties can be found in some of the World’s most sought-after locations including Montréal, Miami, New York, London, and Paris, as well as several Mediterranean destinations. Place Gare Viger is home to Jesta’s international headquarters. For more information, please consult www.placegareviger.com.  

Victoria, BC/CNW/—The Parkside Hotel & Spa is thrilled to announce that it won the Sustainability Award during the 2023 BC Tourism & Hospitality Conference in Prince George, March 1 to 3. Director of Operations Ashley Priest had the pleasure of accepting the award on behalf of the hotel.

"Words cannot express how honoured we are to have received this award," shares General Manager Trina White. "Thank you to our incredible guests, community, and our team members for their work in providing exemplary hospitality with a core focus on sustainability. We look forward to continuing to strengthen our environmental efforts and enhancing our guest's experience."

The Sustainability Award recognizes an individual, organization or consortium operating in British Columbia that has championed the implementation and/or education of sustainable and regenerative practices in their operations. The Parkside Hotel & Spa was selected as a winner, in great part, due to a strong commitment to working on goals and actions aligned with one or more of the 17 UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The hotel proudly shared this nomination with Monte Creek Winery and Spirit of the West Adventures.

Since opening in 2009, The Parkside Hotel & Spa has been a pioneer in promoting sustainable tourism. Last year, the hotel reached a variety of sustainable milestones, moving from Carbon Neutral to Climate Positive and becoming Biosphere Certified. The hotel also joined Beyond Green, a curated portfolio of planet Earth's most sustainable hotels, resorts, and lodges, as the brand's first urban hotel and first Canadian property. Beyond Green provides a range of guest experiences in unique locations around the world. All members are subject to a rigorous vetting process, based on globally recognized sustainable tourism standards and the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.

For additional information and hotel photos, please visit The Parkside Media Centre.

ABOUT THE PARKSIDE HOTEL & SPA 
The Parkside Hotel & Spa is committed to supporting a sustainable urban lifestyle, exploring, and adopting more sustainable practices to enhance the guest experience, ensuring the operation is treading as lightly as possible on the environment.
As a carbon-positive, all-suite hotel, accommodations at The Parkside feature fully equipped kitchens and kitchenettes, washers and dryers, private balconies, gas fireplaces, separate sleeping areas and plenty of space to relax and unwind.
Amenities include various meeting and event spaces, a wellness centre (featuring an onsite spa, 25-metre indoor pool, hot tub, and fitness centre), a private movie theatre, a rooftop patio with fire pits, along with Tre Fantastico Bistro. Uniquely Parkside—and fondly referred to as the heart of the hotel—the atrium is home to hundreds of plant species and koi.
The Parkside Hotel & Spa is a member of the Beyond Green collection. Learn more by visiting www.parksidevictoria.com.

ABOUT BEYOND GREEN
Guided by a passion to embrace travel as a force for good, Beyond Green is a global portfolio of planet Earth's most sustainable hotels. To create a more purposeful way to explore the world where good guests meet good hosts, Beyond Green has curated a unique portfolio of hotels, resorts, and lodges based on their commitment to deliver on the three pillars of sustainable tourism: environmentally friendly practices that go beyond the basics; protection of natural and cultural heritage; and contribution to the social and economic wellbeing of local communities. To be considered for membership in Beyond Green, a property is vetted according to more than 50 sustainability indicators that align with global sustainable tourism standards and the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. Owned and operated by Preferred Travel Group – the family-owned company that manages and operates other hospitality brands including Preferred Hotels & Resorts, Historic Hotels of America, and Historic Hotels Worldwide – Beyond Green ushers in a new way to experience genuine hospitality by the people for the planet. For more information, visit www.StayBeyondGreen.com. 

Hotel Media Contact:
Lisa Roughley
The Parkside Hotel & Spa
250.686.4762
lisa@roughleyspeaking.com

Beyond Green Media Contact:
Hannah Nelson                                                                        
Director, Public Relations (Americas)                                    
Tel: +1 303 885 7186                                                                
hnelson@staybeyondgreen.com 

SOURCE The Parkside Hotel & Spa

Brand New $1 Billion Dollar Destination to Open This Summer, Featuring Casino, Hotel, Entertainment Venue and Multiple Dining Outlets

Toronto, ON—Great Canadian Entertainment, Canada’s leader in gaming and hospitality, announced today that its $1 billion, brand-new entertainment resort will be known as Great Canadian Casino Resort Toronto when it opens its doors at the intersection of Highways 401 and 427 this summer. 

With its transformative architecture and impressive 33-acre footprint, the destination adjacent to Woodbine Racetrack will feature a modern Vegas-style casino, integrated 400-room hotel, 5,000-seat live entertainment venue, and multiple on-site dining options, bringing to life a new, one-of-a-kind entertainment district in Toronto with best-in-class gaming, entertainment and hospitality experiences. 

The existing Casino Woodbine will continue to operate with no interruption until Great Canadian Casino Resort Toronto debuts its new, re-imagined destination. 

“We see this as an unprecedented opportunity to introduce an entirely new, world-class experience in Canada that will bring together the best in casino gaming, exceptional live entertainment, dining, and accommodation in one very special place,” said Matthew Anfinson, Chief Executive Officer, Great Canadian Entertainment. “We are very excited to reveal more about what this landmark destination will feature and what our guests can expect in the coming weeks, including the announcement of an opening date. This project has been several years in the making, and we are thrilled that we are close to bringing it to life,” concluded Anfinson.  

The company’s popular Great Canadian Rewards program, which was introduced in Ontario in August 2022, is an excellent tool for learning about news and special offers coming to Great Canadian Casino Resort Toronto and other Great Canadian properties across the province. Members are guaranteed the best rates when booking hotel stays at Great Canadian owned resorts and receive special discounts and perks such as comp dollars that can be redeemed at participating restaurants, or for gaming credits by presenting your Great Canadian Rewards card.  

Together with its partner, Ontario Lottery and Gaming (OLG), Great Canadian Entertainment remains focused on promoting safe play at all their casinos across Ontario. The new Great Canadian Casino Resort Toronto will feature a PlaySmart Centre which provides players with gambling knowledge and tools to help build and maintain positive play habits, among other responsible gaming tools available.

Great Canadian Casino Resort Toronto is scheduled to open this summer, and an opening date will be announced in the coming weeks.  

For more information, please visit greatcanadiantoronto.com or follow us on Instagram and Facebook @greatcanadiantoronto and Twitter @GreatCanadianTO.

About Great Canadian Rewards
The Great Canadian Rewards loyalty program connects the company's 12 destinations across Ontario, including the upcoming Great Canadian Casino Resort Toronto. Great Canadian Rewards is free to join, and members receive exclusive perks from using their Great Canadian Rewards card such as Free Play earned on gaming activity, complimentary and discounted dining at participating restaurants, best available rates and discounts for hotel stays at Pickering Casino Resort and Great Blue Heron Casino & Hotel, front-of-the line presale access to live concerts, and much more. To learn more, please visit gcrewards.com or visit the guest services desk at Great Canadian Rewards destinations near you.

About Great Canadian Entertainment
Founded in 1982, Great Canadian Entertainment is Canada’s premier gaming and hospitality company with 25 gaming, entertainment and hospitality facilities in Ontario, British Columbia, New Brunswick, and Nova Scotia. The Great Canadian Casino Resort Toronto project will open this summer, which once complete will include a 400-room hotel, 5,000-seat entertainment venue, new parkade, and on-site dining options. 

Committed to investing in and offering opportunity to those in the communities in which it operates, Great Canadian supports over 1,400 charitable and non-profit organizations across Canada under its PROUD program; "PROUD of our people, our business, our community". A significant portion of gross gaming revenue from Great Canadian’s gaming facilities is retained by Crown partners on behalf of their provincial governments for the purpose of supporting programs that benefit healthcare, education, and social services in Canada. To learn more, please visit greatcanadian.com.

Media Contacts:
Naomi Strasser or Hannah Rastrick
Aerial Communications Group
naomi@aerialpr.com / hannah@aerialpr.com

Destination Vancouver modelling shows demand poised to exceed supply as early as 2026

Vancouver, BC—/CNW/—To close the gap between current supply and projected demand, 20,000 new hotel rooms are needed in Metro Vancouver by 2050; with 10,000 of those new hotel rooms necessary just in Vancouver.

According to a new study Economic Analysis of Hotel Supply and Projected Demand in Metro Vancouver, 2023 to 2050, released today by Destination Vancouver, without new investment, the lack of hotel supply in Metro Vancouver will translate into significant losses to the provincial economy.

Between 2022 and 2050, the cumulative economic impacts are projected to be:

• $30.6 billion in foregone output.
• $16.6 billion in forgone GDP.
• 168,000+ FTEs of foregone employment.
• $7.5 billion in foregone tax revenue for all three levels of government.

"Metro Vancouver's infrastructure is not keeping up in delivering on our global profile," said Royce Chwin, Destination Vancouver's President & CEO. "This is critical because on our doorstep over the next few years are tennis's Laver Cup, the Invictus Games, next year's Grey Cup and in 2026 we're a Host City for the world's largest single sport event, the FIFA World Cup."

If the supply of hotel rooms remains at current levels, demand will exceed supply by:

• 2026: in the summer months in the City of Vancouver.
• 2028: in the summer months in the rest of Metro Vancouver.
• 2040: every month of the year across Metro Vancouver.

Cities of a comparable profile have been building new hotels at a steady pace. At the same time, Vancouver's hotel supply has been contracting; Metro Vancouver is down roughly 2000 rooms since 2010, with 1500 of those rooms lost in Vancouver.

The pandemic removed an additional 550 rooms from the city's inventory, with purchases by BC Housing and City of Vancouver which converted those rooms to supportive housing.

This is an issue Destination Vancouver has identified and has actively been working on for close to a decade. The precursor to this report (published in 2019) included projections from 2022 to 2030, which is now too short a planning horizon for development timelines.

The projections in this new report are in line with the planning horizons of the Vancouver Plan and the Broadway Plan.

The City of Vancouver did pass an interim hotel development policy in 2018 but it is just a policy statement. To make a tangible impact on the hotel inventory, substantial new investment is needed, both to mitigate loss through redevelopment and to encourage new development.  

Existing development applications and permits for additional hotel capacity submitted to the City of Vancouver are insufficient to replace the losses. And the total estimate of approximately 1,100 new rooms in rezoning, planning, or permitting stages through to 2026 is by no means guaranteed.

"This is crucial for our global destination competitiveness," says Chwin. "Lack of available hotel rooms will make visiting Vancouver even more expensive, and the city will be less competitive in attracting major conferences, large sporting events and leisure group travel. Vancouver is running short on time to prepare for the influx of visitors and the economic impact they contribute to the city. Those visitors will just go elsewhere."

Vancouver is the gateway to the rest of the province and this lack of capacity may mean visitors avoid BC altogether, instead choosing other parts of Canada for their travel. This in turn deprives smaller cities and towns in our province of the positive economic benefit that those visitors would bring.

Report: Economic Analysis of Hotel Supply and Projected Demand in Metro Vancouver, 2023 to 2050.

About Destination Vancouver
Destination Vancouver is the non-profit, member-led destination management organization for the spectacular city of Vancouver, BC. Our purpose is to transform our communities and our visitors through the power of travel and to be thoughtful leaders, advocates and ambassadors for our city. We work with our partners in Vancouver's visitor economy to develop compelling experiences and offerings for our visitors and to promote Vancouver in key Canadian, US, and international markets. The responsibility to build a sustainable and resilient visitor economy is the foundation of everything we do.

SOURCE Destination Vancouver

For further information: Media Contact: Destination Vancouver, Suzanne Walters | Director, Communications & Stakeholder Engagement, T 604.631.2855 / C. 604.328.2701, E swalters@destinationvancouver.com

Wellness Reimagined as a Harmonious Extension of the Natural World.

Kauai, Hawaii/CNW/—1 Hotels, the mission-driven luxury lifestyle hotel brand founded by hospitality visionary Barry Sternlicht, announces the opening of 1 Hotel Hanalei Bay, its flagship nature-and-wellness-focused island oasis overlooking a storied stretch of Kauai's North Shore. Guests seeking solace and serenity at this sustainable sanctuary can swim, snorkel, bike, paddle, kayak, soak up the sun and surf off a legendary beach where Native Hawaiians lived in harmony with nature for generations and a laidback surf scene still thrives. The dramatic peaks of the Namolokama and Mamalahoa mountains loom over a verdant valley whose iconic waterfalls capture the breathtaking bounty and beauty of Hawaii's famed "Garden Island."

BIOPHILIC DESIGN & INSPIRATION
'If you can't find it in nature, you won't find it here' is the biophilic design principle that inspired the resort's $300 million imaginative transformation, in line with the brand mission to connect people, place and nature. Indigenous and endemic vines and plants weave through low-impact structures that blend softly and seamlessly into their surroundings, causing the hotel to virtually vanish into its cliffside site. The multi-year conservation plan replaced non-native and invasive species with wildlife-friendly vegetation including white hibiscus and nau, native to the Hawaiian Islands. Conscious conservation techniques naturally narrate the sacred story of the Polynesian people, restoring nearly a third of the site with native and adapted vegetation.

The lobby, reception, and open-air entranceway lead guests on a journey deep into Hawaiian history and mythology. Much of the original building was removed and replaced with streams and gardens. Reclaimed teak joists, puka lava stone walls and ceilings hand-woven from abacá, a natural leaf fiber harvested from a cousin of the banana tree, are locally sourced.

The oasis' 252 airy and nature-inspired rooms, including 51 suites, evoke a sense of sacred place and space with hand-woven floors fashioned from local black basalt, reclaimed teak and abaca furniture and traditional punai daybeds. Three spectacular spacious signature suites - the two-story Puu Poa Ocean Loft Suite, Napali House Suite and Makana Penthouse – serve stunning ocean and majestic mountain views from private terraces. Every interior detail lends texture framing panoramic vistas - visible through oversized openable windows - of the shimmering crescent-shaped Bay.

SUSTAINABILITY
Opting for reconstruction as opposed to new construction enabled opening up the resort to the sky, warmly embracing the property's astounding natural surroundings while diverting waste away from landfills. In collaboration with local partner RE-use Hawaii, nearly 150 tons of on-site furniture, fixtures, equipment, and other materials were salvaged, reducing greenhouse gas emissions. 1 Hotel Hanalei Bay is on track to operate as a 100% Certified Carbon Neutral and TRUE zero-waste certified oasis, in-line with the brand's other U.S. properties.

The sprawling winged structure's verdant green roofs reduce and filter stormwater runoff, mitigate heat island effects and improve air quality through carbon sequestration. Planted with pili grass, pohinahina and nanea, the roofs host an organic chef's garden from which fresh herbs, vegetables and micro-greens are harvested for culinary creations. Tree canopies harbor bird-and-bee-friendly candlenuts (kukui), breadfruit (ulu) and banana (maia) trees, bearing an abundance of fruit served fresh to guests.

A HOLISTIC WELLNESS DESTINATION
Our integrated approach is centered around a heartfelt connection with nature and conscious cultivation of serenity. The expansive Wellness Center offers a diverse menu of services, models and methods individually tailored to fulfill a guest's preferences and medical, physical, and spiritual needs. Transformative experiences are offered by the Bamford Wellness Spa, Anatomy, and the 1 Hotels' Within Collection, a curated category of hospitality for guests seeking multi-day and a' la carte wellness journeys.

Founder and organic pioneer, Carole Bamford, worked with the 1 Hotel team to create an 18,000-square-foot Bamford Wellness Spa which provides an open, serene setting for wellness sessions designed to nurture mind, body, and spirit. Under the care of expert therapists, transformative body treatments inspired by local culture use specially formulated products made from Native Hawaiian medicinal plants and natural and organic ingredients. Touchless therapies enable guests to achieve a range of wellness goals within one destination. Services include a cryotherapy chamber, hyperbaric chamber, infrared saunas with halotherapy, Dreampod ice baths, a Somadome meditation pod, and a salt pod flotation chamber.

Helmed by former NFL athlete Marc Megna, the 10,000 square-foot Anatomy fitness center offers state-of-the-art 24/7 cardio equipment and strength training, mind & movement group classes, a dedicated spin/all function room, and personal athletic performance training and body sculpting by specialized Anatomy Body Architects. The outdoor beachfront jungle gym is fashioned from invasive Albizia wood, extracted from a local forest preserve, providing a natural, open air oceanfront free weight experience. Indoor and outdoor yoga spaces offer a therapeutic environment in which to relax, rejuvenate and restore. All support a variety of practices, in individual and group settings, and open or guided meditation sessions.

Launching in May 2023, 1 x Vitahealth Medi Spa offers a 360-degree integrated medicine program that nurtures health from the inside out, powered by an expert team of doctors, registered nurses and nurse practitioners specializing in accurate, meaningful, safe hormonal testing and consulting. Our rich menu of holistic treatment options includes Peptide Cosmetic Therapy (promotes weight loss, accelerates healing, reduces inflammation, produces collagen) Hormone Regulation Therapy (HRT) (improves sleep, lowers anxiety), Brain Health Therapy (enhances focus, memory and cognition), Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT) (restores energy and vitality) Neuro/Adrenal Testing and Consultation, Gastrointestinal, Nutritional, and Anti-Aging testing and analysis.

1 HOTELS' WITHIN COLLECTION AND RETREATS
1 Hotels' Within Collection's 22 rooms and suites provide a separate sanctuary to invigorate, rejuvenate and drive foundational changes that last a lifetime. Our integrative approach to wellness infuses culinary, physical, emotional and spiritual healing with a sense of adventure. Sound therapeutic practices, enhanced by advanced wellness technologies, form the foundation of personalized journeys. These combine outdoor activities such as guided hikes with counseling sessions led by wellness sages to align mind, body, nature and spirit. The property's Retreat program will launch in May 2023 with fitness and lifestyle wellness brand XPT Life, designed by famed big-wave surfer Laird Hamilton and former professional volleyball player and inspirational spokeswomen of athleticism, Gabby Reece.

TASTE
The enticing flavors at the property's seven sustainable food venues support a deep-rooted mission to honor the rich local culture and centuries of Native Hawaiian tradition. All tell extraordinary stories of land and sea through seasonal cuisine sourced from Kauai and neighboring islands. All feature the freshest, most delectable organic ingredients, many grown in our on-site chef's garden and apiaries. Community farms and local fishers and purveyors harvest ingredients for our culturally attuned chefs.

Dining options include 1 Kitchen, an all-day restaurant; Welina Terrace celebrating Hawaii's multi-cultural heritage through modern Japanese cuisine; poolside dining at The Sandbox; Kai Maikai, a snack bar; Neighbors, the all-day grab-and-go; Waioli, serving shave ice desserts; The Juice Bar; and the Lobby Farmstand stocked daily with local produce.

IMMERSIVE DAYLIFE EXPERIENCES
Daylife incorporates once-in-a-lifetime experiences, encouraging our guests to explore the abundant nature and culture both within our footprint and beyond our boundaries. Programs include classes with artists-in-residence, bird watching, forest bathing, archery, natural sound bathing, surfing, river kayaking, scenic hikes and mountain biking with views that stay with you long after you leave.

1 Hotel Hanalei Bay will feature an array of deeply engaging experiences and mindfully relaxing moments designed to envelop our guests in the beauty and lifestyle of Kauai. Each moment of every guest's time - from sunrise to sunset and everything in between - is enhanced by a musical selection carefully curated to create a truly transcendent sonic experience.

The resort offers guests a wide range of traditional athletic activities, from tennis and pickleball to golf on its world-renowned Robert Trent Jones Jr.-designed Princeville Makai Golf Club. Consistently ranked one of the top courses in the country by Golf Digest, Golf Week and National Geographic Traveler, the Club recently announced the opening of an 18-hole Championship Mauka Disc Golf Course designed by the principals of Innova Disc Golf, inventors of the sport in 1983.

The most extraordinary natural asset of 1 Hotel Hanalei Bay is the Bay itself. A world-class surfing destination that uniquely welcomes surfers from novices to world champions, from its near-shore sand bottom waves for beginners, and challenging sand bars and reef breaks for advanced surfers. The Bay's year-round conditions spectacularly suit surfers at all levels.

At 1 Hotel Hanalei Bay, guests can take advantage of a unique opportunity to surf with Bill Hamilton, the renowned Kauai surfer and shaper who will custom craft your personal surfboard, collaborate with you on its design and tailor it to your wave-riding style. Guests can schedule a session with Hamilton, followed by a private lunch or dinner with the living legend.

Swim and sun at one of the three saline pools - the main pool is just steps from the sand. Play with your seedlings at our lagoon pool, designed with natural rock outcroppings. For adults-only, a stunning infinity pool and jacuzzi creates a sense of floating on top of the waves, with full-service private cabanas.

At Seedlings, our youngest guests learn the wonders of Kauai's sea creatures, the delights of gardening, how to turn marine debris into art works, and the true meaning of aloha. They discover ancient Hawaiian moolelo, or storytelling, enter a sandcastle contest, and absorb the magic of the island's lore and legends through discovery, play, exploration, and the sheer joy of one of life's simplest pleasures: fun in the sun.

As part of 1 Hotels' ongoing partnership, fully electric Audi e-tron vehicles will serve as the Official Electric Vehicle of 1 Hotel Hanalei Bay. Guests are welcome to enjoy the Audi Experience while taking advantage of the house chauffeur vehicle or test driving the e-tron during your stay. Both bikes and e-bikes are available for guests to explore the stunning surroundings, including laidback Hanalei, a bohemian, rustic, unspoiled, quintessential surf town.

To assure that all guests have access to the wide range of experiences offered, and to provide clarity and stress-free travel planning, the property does not include hidden resort fees in pricing. Beyond the many included experiences, team members will gladly curate bespoke island journeys. At 1 Hotel Hanalei Bay, we practice authentic regenerative tourism through a conscious commitment to restore and revitalize our natural environment as intentionally as we focus on our guests' restoration. Our dedicated team members support that commitment by collaborating with local proprietors, farmers, fishers, artists and culture carriers to engage our team and guests to give back through meaningful experiences that not only enrich individual lives but contribute to the conservation initiatives and goals of the island.

With everything that we do, by day and by night, we seek to simultaneously calm and connect, transcend and transport, and leave all who journey to our island sanctuary forever transformed.

Welcome Home to 1 Hotel Hanalei Bay.

ABOUT SH HOTELS & RESORTS
SH Hotels & Resorts, an affiliate of global private investment firm Starwood Capital Group, is a sustainable hotel brand management company that operates 1 Hotels, a nature-inspired lifestyle brand that launched in 2015 with properties in South Beach and Manhattan and now includes Brooklyn Bridge, West Hollywood, Sanya (China), Toronto, San Francisco, Nashville and the recently opened Hanalei Bay flagship property with projects in development in London (Mayfair), Cabo San Lucas, Paris, Elounda Hills (Crete), Austin, Copenhagen, Riyadh and Melbourne; Baccarat Hotels & Resorts, a luxury brand that made its debut in March 2015 with the opening of its flagship property in New York, with projects under development in Brickell (Miami), Florence, Dubai, Riyadh and Rome; and Treehouse Hotels, which premiered in London in 2019 and with projects under development in Manchester, Sunnyvale, Brickell (Miami) and Riyadh. Leveraging its marketing, design, operational and technological expertise, SH Hotels & Resorts is the force behind some of the most groundbreaking and dynamic hotel brands in the world.

ABOUT 1 HOTELS
As a luxury lifestyle hotel brand inspired by nature, 1 Hotels cultivates the best of sustainable design and architecture, together with extraordinary comfort and an unrivaled level of service. 1 Hotels, which launched in 2015 with the opening of exclusive properties in Miami's South beach and Manhattan's Central Park, followed by Brooklyn, located on the East River, in February 2017, West Hollywood, on Sunset Boulevard, in June 2019, Sanya (China) in 2020, Toronto in 2021, San Francisco and Nashville in 2022 and most recently the Hanalei Bay flagship property, is inspired by a simple idea: those that travel the world should also care about it. It is, after all, 1 world. 1 Hotels upholds this vision by channeling nature through design and culinary partnerships while connecting with the local community and taking sustainable steps to make a big difference. The brand is expanding with properties under development in London (Mayfair), Cabo San Lucas, Paris, Elounda Hills (Crete), Austin, Copenhagen, Riyadh and Melbourne. Additional information can be found at 1hotels.com.

SOURCE SH Hotels & Resorts

For further information: Elizabeth Traub, (212) 518-4771 x 108, elizabeth@ejmediagroup.com

Aided by Canadian travellers, Cayman Islands is welcoming record number of visitors

Toronto—Recently recognized by Trip Advisor’s Best of the Best Awards as #6 on the ‘World’s Trending Destinations’ list -the only Caribbean destination of the 25 featured - The Cayman Islands Department of Tourism cites strong tourism from Canada as a primary reason for its success.

When visitation from the top ten countries for Jan-Dec 2019 is compared to 2022, Canada recorded the second fastest recovery to pre-pandemic visitation ahead of the UK (fourth) and the United States (fifth).

Between July and December 2022, Canada recorded two record breaking months, and three that were ahead of 2019 month over month numbers indicating a strong demand for the sophisticated destination. Despite pandemic-induced limited air service in 2022, which has now returned to normal scheduling, 19,852 Canadian travellers arrived in the Cayman Islands last year, a remarkable 66% of the country’s record year of 2019.

“The Cayman Islands has always been a favourite of discriminating Canadian travellers who value the diversity of experiences found on our three pristine islands and the superior infrastructure the destination offers,” said Raymond Mathias, Business Development Manager, Canada. “We were hopeful that as the pandemic waned, travellers would once again embrace the unique experience that Cayman offers, and are thrilled by the high consumer demand and support of our industry partners to ensure that even more Canadians can enjoy our distinctive islands.”

Canada exceeded its December visitation 12% over December 2019 aided in part by national exposure on Food Network Canada’s Top Chef Canada, which filmed the semi-final and finale episodes in the Culinary Capital of the Caribbean. The episodes, which aired between October 31 and November 14, 2022, provided viewers with a window into the refined island destination’s exceptional culinary culture, chic hotels and pristine beaches.

In addition, the Cayman Islands was named a winner in Good Housekeeping’s 2023 Family Travel Awards. The honour of Top East Coast Island Escape in the Mexico and Caribbean category was bestowed upon Cayman following an extensive evaluation by experts in the Good Housekeeping Institute Labs who assessed the family-friendly accommodations, experiences, programs, and local attractions available to travelers of all ages. The magazine calls it a “can’t miss destination” citing its ease of access from major cities and “being able to explore the island safely rather than just stay at the resort was a major selling point.”

About the Cayman Islands
Located 480 miles south of Miami and just a four-hour flight from Toronto, with year-round service on Air Canada and WestJet, in the vibrant tranquility of western Caribbean, this trio of tiny islands is a premier destination for discriminating travellers, divers, honeymooners and families. World renowned for its idyllic beaches and recognised as a sophisticated, diverse and memorable tourist destination, the Cayman Islands offers spectacular recreational opportunities along with warm, impeccable service. To learn more about the Cayman Islands, please go to visitcaymanIslands.com or call your local travel agent.

Media Contacts: 
Mindy Cummings or Naomi Strasser
mindy@aerialpr.com/ naomi@aerialpr.com

Paris/CNW/—Warwick Hotels and Resorts (WHR) is pleased to announce the acquisition of Hotel Le Crystal, located in downtown Montreal on the corner of Rue de la Montagne and Boulevard René-Lévesque. The hotel will henceforth be known as Warwick Le Crystal–Montreal.

Having built a strong presence in the hearts of international cities such as Paris, New York, London, Geneva, Dallas, Chicago and San Francisco, WHR is thrilled to expand its geographical reach into Canada through this latest acquisition.

Warwick Le Crystal–Montreal will feature 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.

The guest rooms of Warwick Le Crystal–Montreal will be amongst the largest in the city, and most of them have kitchenettes. There is also an indoor swimming pool, a fitness centre, underground parking, a number of meeting rooms and the celebrated spa Elements Maison de Beauté. At the lobby level, there is a renowned Asian restaurant, Siam.

"Our Group is delighted with this acquisition, which is an excellent addition to our portfolio. Hotel Le Crystal shares many attributes of other Warwick hotels," said Richard Chiu, President and Founder of Warwick Hotels and Resorts.

"With its prime location and its spacious and stylishly designed guest rooms, Hotel Le Crystal reflects the DNA of our Group," added Clare Chiu, Vice President of Development. "Our guests seek luxurious comfort, excellent service and authentic experiences. This is precisely what Warwick Le Crystal–Montreal will deliver."

Warwick Le Crystal–Montreal is scheduled to welcome its first guests in May this year. Further announcements will be forthcoming.

About Warwick Hotels and Resorts:
Warwick Hotels and Resorts was founded in 1980 with the purchase of the Warwick New York, a hotel originally built by William Randolph Hearst for his Hollywood friends. WHR now includes more than 40 prestigious hotels, resorts and spas worldwide. The 20 or so hotels located in the Americas, Europe and the South Pacific are wholly owned and operated by WHR. Another 20 or so hotels are either affiliates which participate in sales and marketing activities of the Group or operated under management contracts.

Further details can be found at www.warwickhotels.com.

SOURCE Warwick Hotels and Resorts

For further information: Press Contact: François de Le Rue, francois.delerue@teneo.com, +1 (581) 995-6186

Island Scores High Marks with Business and Leisure Guests; Golf, Beaches, Culture, and Gastronomy Contribute to Satisfaction, Intention to Return

San Juan, Puerto Rico—Discover Puerto Rico published its first comprehensive study on visitors arriving in Puerto Rico, a year-long assignment that included interviews in different parts of the Island with 1,607 travelers from abroad.

One of the study’s main findings is that 98% of visitors were satisfied with their experience on the Island. Similarly, 95% estimate they will return in the future, and less than 15% experienced any concerns at some point during their stay.

The Island has long been popular with golfers, beach lovers, and those who appreciate the Island’s culture, biodiversity, and people. Now, according to the study results, visitors have expanded the reasons they choose Puerto Rico for getaways and travel experiences.

The main reason for travel was vacationing (65%). Only 13% said their trip was to visit relatives or friends. Travelers selected Puerto Rico as a destination for its weather (34%), scenic beauty (32%), and local culture (31%). On average, travelers stayed on the island for 6.1 nights. About half spent the night in a hotel (45%), a third in short-term rentals (34%), and the rest in private residences. It is estimated that each visitor spends around $208 per day. These expenses include accommodations, food, entertainment, experiences, and shopping.

This picture shows the composition of travelers in the best year in the history of the tourism industry in terms of total visitor spending ($8.9 billion), revenue from the rental tax ($116 million), and jobs in the recreation and lodging sectors (91,500). 2022 generated the highest passenger traffic at Luis Muñoz Marín airport (over 10 million) in more than a decade.

The increased visitation certainly has resonated throughout the Island golf destination, as many courses and golf resorts report welcoming burgeoning numbers of players in each of the past three years. Sixteen of Puerto Rico’s 18 golf courses are open to the public. The other two – at TPC Dorado Beach – allow play by guests staying at the Dorado Beach, Ritz-Carlton Reserve. Golfweek rates several of the Island’s courses among the best in the Caribbean, Mexico, Costa Rica and the Atlantic Islands. Island courses range from luxury resort to municipal, spread throughout Puerto Rico with several clustered near historic San Juan. Oceanside views, coconut trees, and mountain and rainforest vistas frame their settings. Price points, terrain, layout style, and related amenities are varied and complementary.

Traveling to the Island is convenient with many choices as it is the air hub of the Caribbean. Further traveler friendliness is found in Puerto Rico’s bilingual culture, U.S. currency, and no passport required for American citizens.

For more information on the Island, travel guidelines, golf courses, resorts and hotels, and other destination attractions, visit DiscoverPuertoRico.com

About Discover Puerto Rico 
Discover Puerto Rico is a private, not for-profit Destination Marketing Organization (DMO) whose mission is to make Puerto Rico visible to the world as a premier travel destination. The DMO is bringing prosperity to the people of Puerto Rico by collaboratively positioning the Island’s diversity and uniqueness for leisure, business and events. It is responsible for all global marketing, sales and promotion of the destination and works collaboratively with key local governmental and non-governmental players throughout Puerto Rico’s visitor economy and community at large, to empower economic growth. Visit: www.DiscoverPuertoRico.com

Destination Canada embraces unique ways of pushing new brand ambition with a first‑of‑its kind partnership with TED

Vancouver, BC—Destination Canada, the national tourism organization, introduced its new global brand strategy to put Canada on the map as the destination that inspires openness. This new brand strategy will be unveiled through a series of traditional and unconventional marketing initiatives that aims to increase Canada’s competitiveness as a destination and drive international high value guests to visit Canada.

The disruption caused by the COVID-19 pandemic forced bold choices and new ways of marketing the destination. Canadians represented 8 out of 10 tourism dollars spent last year, a formidable contribution to the recovery. With these domestic travellers set to exodus this Spring for international travel, Canada needs to fill the gap and bring back international travellers, especially from the US, Canada’s largest inbound market and biggest opportunity for revenue recovery.

“Our valued guests want more than a travel experience - they want a space for growth, enrichment and true transformation," says Gloria Loree, Destination Canada’s Senior Vice-President, Marketing Strategy & Chief Marketing Officer. “In a world that makes us feel trapped, Canada’s unique blend of openness helps us break free. It’s Canada’s open spaces, open hearts and open minds, that offer the space that travellers crave and will help us as a nation brand stand out in the fiercely competitive travel marketplace.”  

TED@DestinationCanada

This bold brand ambition is pushing Destination Canada to embrace unique ways of engaging a global audience. Through a first-of-its kind partnership with TED, Destination Canada is creating a global conversation about openness. Through masterful storytelling by remarkable Canadians, they are encouraging new conversations about the destination, and pushing people to rethink what they already know about Canada. These TED Talks were filmed today in New York City and will be published on TED.com starting in the Spring. Destination Canada will share with its key leisure markets, as well its Business Events markets.

"TED's mission of Ideas Worth Spreading is perfectly aligned with Destination Canada's theme of Openness  - we are thrilled to offer the TED stage as a place for extraordinary Canadians to share their ideas with the world,” says Lindsay Levin, Head of Partnerships + Impact, TED.

“From breathtaking outdoor landscapes to authentic Indigenous experiences to incredible urban and culinary journeys, Canada’s openness and inclusiveness make possible the memorable experiences that people carry with them for the rest of their lives,” says the Honourable Randy Boissonnault, Minister of Tourism and Associate Minister of Finance. “There’s no doubt Canada is the place to visit, any time of the year, and we welcome you with open arms!" 

Destination Canada unveiled its new brand positioning with a campaign that invited Americans to take a new kind of leave - a Maple Leave and escape for a stress-free vacation to Canada. Destination Canada also launched its Open If You Are campaign in the US which challenges certain myths and misconceptions that are stopping guests from thinking about Canada as a long-haul travel destination and aims to inspire, surprise and immerse travellers in Canada’s experiences, as well as its unique blend of openness. 

Additional brand campaigns will be launched throughout 2023 as Destination Canada finds new ways to invite guests to experience Canada’s open spaces, open hearts, and open minds.

About Destination Canada
At Destination Canada, we believe that tourism enhances the wealth and wellbeing of Canadians and enriches the lives of visitors. Our mission is to influence supply and build demand for the benefit of locals, communities and visitors through leading research, alignment with public and private sectors, and marketing Canada nationally and abroad.  

Knowing that diversity is our greatest asset, we promote Canada as a premier four-season leisure and business tourism destination around the country and world in Australia, Canada, China, France, Germany, Japan, Mexico, South Korea, United Kingdom and the United States. In addition, our Business Events team leverage in-depth global market analysis to target international clusters aligned with Canada's priority economic sectors. 

Destination Canada is a Crown corporation wholly owned by the Government of Canada. www.destinationcanada.com

About TED
TED is a nonprofit organization devoted to Ideas Worth Spreading, often in the form of short talks delivered by leading thinkers and doers. Many of these talks are given at TED conferences, intimate TED Salons and thousands of independently organized TEDx events around the world. Videos of these talks are made available, free, on TED.com and other platforms. Audio versions of TED Talks are published to TED Talks Daily, available on all podcast platforms.

TED's open and free initiatives for spreading ideas include TED.com, where new TED Talk videos are posted daily; TEDx, which licenses thousands of individuals and groups to host local, self-organized TED-style events around the world; the TED Fellows program, which selects innovators from around the globe to amplify the impact of their remarkable projects and activities; The Audacious Project, which surfaces and funds critical ideas that have the potential to impact millions of lives; TED Translators, which crowdsources the subtitling of TED Talks so that big ideas can spread across languages and borders; and the educational initiative TED-Ed. TED also offers TED@Work, a program that reimagines TED Talks for workplace learning. TED also has a growing library of original podcasts, including The TED Interview with Steven Johnson, WorkLife with Adam Grant, Am I Normal? with Mona Chalabi and How to Be a Better Human.

Follow TED on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, TikTok and LinkedIn.

Source: Destination Canada

Victoria, Canada—The Oak Bay Beach Hotel is pleased to announce that as of February 21, 2023, the hotel has achieved the Responsible Tourism Institute’s Biosphere certification which aligns with 17 sustainable development goals of the United Nations in areas that include climate change, environment, social, economy and culture. The hotel joins only two other Biosphere Certified accommodations in British Columbia.

“The Oak Bay Beach Hotel has long been committed to sustainability, which was incorporated into many of the design elements when the hotel reopened in 2012,” says Madone Pelan, General manager at the Oak Bay Beach Hotel. “Today, more than ever, we are aware of our impact on the environment, community and how this ties back to the guest experience. It is not only the right thing to do, but also the future of our industry.”

Bestowed by the Responsible Tourism Institute — an international certification body that maintains an memorandum of understanding with UNESCO, is affiliated to the World Tourism Organization and is a member of the Global Sustainable Tourism Council — biosphere destinations are committed to continuous improvement guided by the 17 Sustainable Development Goals of the United Nations of the 2030 Agenda, including combating climate change, protecting the environment, supporting economic growth and respecting culture and social values.

From using low flow taps to reduce wastewater, to supporting local initiatives such as the David Foster Foundation and the Victoria Hospitals Foundation, to transitioning from single use to large format BABOR shower amenities in each Guest Room, the Oak Bay Beach Hotel is dedicated to the goals of the 2030 Agenda.

The hotel commits to continuing its work on their dynamic Biosphere plan. This includes adding new activities, involving their employees, and sharing their results with their guests and surrounding community to improve their on-going sustainability efforts.

Discover the Oak Bay Beach Hotel’s Biosphere Certification page here.

About The Oak Bay Beach Hotel
The luxurious Oak Bay Beach Hotel is nestled on the shores of the Pacific Ocean near Victoria, BC, overlooking the Salish Sea and offering breathtaking ocean views of snow-capped Mount Baker in the distance. Just minutes away from the quaint boutique shops, cafes and galleries of Oak Bay Village, the 100 room boutique hotel is known for world-class services such as the award-winning Boathouse Spa, heated seaside mineral pools, fine dining and more. Our well-appointed guestrooms and suites offer complimentary self-parking, Nespresso Coffee in the room upon arrival and include large spa-inspired bathrooms. Have confidence in our care, knowing every detail has been thought through so we can continue to provide our guests with a safe and special vantage point from which to experience the best of the Pacific Northwest. www.oakbaybeachhotel.com

Media Contact
Anneke Feuermann
Marketing and Public Relations Manager
marketing@oakbaybeachhotel.com
1-250-940-031

Toronto—Canada Jetlines Operations Ltd. (NEO: CJET) (“Canada Jetlines”), is pleased to announce their first scheduled flights to the United States from Canada occurred on February 16th between Toronto and Las Vegas. 

"Canada Jetlines is very proud to have operated our first scheduled flight between Canada and the United States. Las Vegas is the entertainment capital of the world and a very popular getaway destination with attractions, professional sports, gambling, and gastronomic delights,” said Canada Jetlines Chief Commercial Officer, Duncan Bureau. “Canada Jetlines has built strong relationships with the Travel Agency community, and tourism boards in both Canada and Nevada. We are looking forward to offering our world class product to those that are traveling between Ontario and Nevada. The airline is looking forward to adding more markets and partners across North America, Mexico, and the Caribbean.”

Canada Jetlines has announced Cancun, Mexico which are scheduled to begin operations in March 2023 respectively. Canada Jetlines’ flights can be booked via Jetlines.com or contact your favorite Travel Agency. Canada Jetlines will operate its growing network with a fleet of Airbus A320 aircraft. 

Connect With Us!
Instagram: @ca_jetlines
Twitter: @ca_jetlines 
Facebook: @CAJetlines
LinkedIn:www.linkedin.com/company/jetlines

Media Contact:
media@jetlines.ca 

Montreal/CNW/—Air Canada announced it has launched digital identification, becoming the first airline in Canada with approval to offer customers the safety and convenience of a new option using facial recognition technology to confirm identification. In a pilot project currently underway, Air Canada's digital identification is now available for customers departing from Vancouver International Airport (YVR) when boarding select flights to Winnipeg, and for eligible customers entering the Air Canada Café at Toronto Pearson International Airport. Air Canada plans to expand digital identification options to select Canadian airports and Maple Leaf Lounges as part of its pilot project phase.

"Many of our customers already utilize digital credentials to simplify their daily activities such as unlocking mobile phones, entering workplaces, verifying identification during financial transactions and more. We are very excited to now take a leadership position in Canada and test digital identification using facial recognition technology to validate customer identification quickly, securely and accurately at select airport touchpoints. Participation in digital identification is voluntary. Customers choosing to use digital identification will benefit from a simplified and seamless process at the gate and when entering our Maple Leaf Lounges," said Craig Landry, Executive Vice President and Chief Operations Officer at Air Canada.

"Our government and Canadian airlines and airports are eager to move forward with innovative solutions and technologies to modernize the traveller journey in airports across the country, which would enable a more seamless and efficient air transportation system. Air Canada's pilot project will speed up processes at YVR, and other airports where it's established, while respecting robust privacy measures and security standards. This project has great potential in making gate boarding easier and faster for Canadian passengers, while maintaining strong safety measures," said the Honourable Omar Alghabra, Minister of Transport – Government of Canada.

Customers eligible to utilize the Air Canada Café in Toronto and customers on select flights from Vancouver to Winnipeg will receive an invitation to use the digital identification option, and instructions on how to create their secure digital faceprint prior to arriving at the airport.

Customers who do not wish to utilize digital identification may simply board as they currently do now by presenting their boarding pass and government-issued photo ID for manual ID check and processing. Likewise, customers may elect to continue scanning their boarding cards manually as they do now to enter the Air Canada Café at Toronto Pearson.

Digital identification is a single enrollment feature on the Air Canada app.  Biometric data is encrypted and stored only on the customer's mobile phone. Customers must provide additional consent for the data to be used day-of travel and will only be retained for up to 36 hours subject to Air Canada's rigorous privacy and security standards.  More information about digital identification is here.   

Air Canada's digital identification is strictly an optional, consent-based Air Canada program. It is not related to any government-sponsored program like NEXUS, Global Entry or US CBP Mobile Passport Control (MPC).

About Air Canada
Air Canada is Canada's largest airline, the country's flag carrier and a founding member of Star Alliance, the world's most comprehensive air transportation network. Air Canada provides scheduled passenger service directly to 51 airports in Canada, 51 in the United States and 88 internationally. It holds a Four-Star ranking from Skytrax. Air Canada's Aeroplan program is Canada's premier travel loyalty program, where members can earn or redeem points on the world's largest airline partner network of 45 airlines, plus through an extensive range of merchandise, hotel and car rental rewards. Its freight division, Air Canada Cargo, provides air freight lift and connectivity to hundreds of destinations across six continents using Air Canada's passenger flights and cargo-only flights with its fleet of Boeing 767-300 freighters. Air Canada has committed to a net zero emissions goal from all global operations by 2050. 

SOURCE Air Canada