This week, the Discover America Canada committee held its seventh annual media day in Toronto. The event featured more than 35 exhibitors from across the U.S. and focused on increasing tourism from the Canadian market.
A new partnership between Brand USA and Air Canada is one of the efforts being made to promote more travel to the U.S. The companies announced that they will be launching a new marketing campaign this fall in Toronto and Montreal, and Air Canada will also increase its service to U.S. destinations in the coming months.
As for what particular U.S. destinations are doing to draw more Canadian tourism, Travel Citizen sat down with some of the exhibitors to find out what’s new and what they have to offer travellers.
Visit Buffalo Niagara: The Buffalo Niagara region is shining a light on its $295 million development project in its historic Canalside district. More than 800 events are being held there this year including concerts, yoga classes and kayaking; the Courtyard by Marriott and a new HARBORCenter amateur hockey complex are also expected to open soon. Another industrial project that is nearing completion is the Silo City Rocks which is dubbed as the world’s tallest man-made rock climbing wall designed on grain elevators that line the Buffalo River. For more information, go to visitbuffaloniagara.com.
Finger Lakes Visitors Connection: The Finger Lakes is playing up its easy access for travellers driving down from Toronto to NYC. It hopes to attract those visitors and encourage them to extend their stay and enjoy some of the attractions the region has to offer such as the National Museum of Play, boating on the Canal; hot air ballooning over Letchworth; gliding from Harris Hill; and shopping in the Destiny USA center and the Waterloo Premium Outlets. For more information, visit fingerlakes.org.
Destiny USA: Considered the country’s premier shopping and entertainment complex, Destiny USA has added 30 new openings this year and introduced a new entertainment space to make the shopping experience more dynamic. The complex is also focusing on its Shop and Stay program with participating hotels. Guests will receive discounted room rates, a $25 gift card, a recycled shopping bag and a free Carousel ride. For more information, visit destinyusa.com/travel&accomodations.
Oneida County: For 2014, the Central New York region will be offering various new attractions, openings and events. Villa Verona Vineyards Winery is one of the highlights and will include varieties of wine, a tasting room and a bistro. There are also three new itineraries being introduced: the Sylvan Beach itinerary which offers a day of shopping, lunch at a local restaurant and beach time; and the Brew Central itinerary which includes tastings in local restaurants and breweries, and traditions and stories behind craft beer. CNYFresh is also including an agri-tourism itinerary that features u-picks, farm tours, and tastings at farm-to-table restaurants. For more information, visit oneidacountytourism.com.
Virginia Tourism: Virginia is hosting various events, unveiling new openings and itineraries throughout 2013-2015. The Lincoln Movie Trail is a major itinerary focus for the destination since the movie was filmed in the Richmond/Petersburg area and includes visits to film locations and famous sites. In 2014, the region will open the Jack Nicklaus Signature Golf Course which will include an 18-hole, par-72 golf course. In 2015, Richmond will host the UCI World Road Cycling Championships that will feature 1,000 athletes from more than 75 countries. For more information, visit virginiaisforlovers.com.
Myrtle Beach Are and Convention & Visitors Bureau: Myrtle Beach has invested in extensive expansions and additions in the past year. The destination has enhanced some of its most famed attractions such as the Ripley’s Aquarium, Family Kingdom Amusement and Water Park, and the Dunes Golf and Beach Club. It has also added a new “Enchanted Storybook Forest ‘ exhibit at Brookgreen Gardens, a Jetpack Adventures itinerary, and has built a new sports complex that will feature the Harry-Potter inspired Quidditch World Cup in April 2014. For more information, go to visitmyrtlebeach.ca.
Visit Mesa, Arizona: Visit Mesa is highlighting some of its most diverse itineraries including the Dinners Down the Peach Orchard which are hosted on the Schnepf Farm, a fourth generation family farm and the largest organic peach grower in Arizona. The dinners include cuisine prepared by famous Valley chefs and food of the season. Other itineraries focus on the Apache Trail that takes travellers through the Superstition Mountains and the Goldfield Ghost Town. For more information, go to visitmesa.com.
Colorado Tourism Office: Colorado is focusing its attention on craft breweries and road trips along the state’s byways. There are several beer festivals taking place across the state including the fifth annual Denver Beer Fest, the Great American Beer Festival and the All Colorado Beer Festival. Colorado is also promoting itineraries that take place along some of its byways including the San Juan Skyway, Colorado River Headwaters, Gold Belt Tours, Grand Mesa and the Santa Fe trail. For more information, visit Colorado.com.
Eat and Play Card: This discount card offers savings in countless restaurants, attractions, shopping, and entertainment venues throughout Orlando and New York City, the country’s top tourist destinations. The card is valid for up to four people and offers savings of 10-50 per cent off the total purchase, often including alcohol. For more information, visit eatandplaycard.com.
For full details on all U.S. destinations, visit discoveramerica.ca.
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