Fort Lauderdale in Toronto: Plus Preferred Hotels, NYC in Winter and More JimBits

Here's a surprising number. There are 725,000 seats available on flights from Canada to Fort Lauderdale every year.

That's one seriously large number of Canadians heading to one of Florida's top destinations. Which is why the folks from Greater Fort Lauderdale tourism held an event for Canadian agents and the travel trade in Toronto this week.

"We're here because we want to stay top of mind," Senior VP Tourism and Travel Industry Sales Tracy Vaughan told TravelPulse Canada. "Canada is our number one international market, so we keep those numbers up."

Vaughan also took time out to thank agents "for all you do to help Fort Lauderdale."

Once known as the home of spring break activities, Fort Lauderdale has definitely become a much more luxurious and family-oriented destination. They still welcome college kids, but the emphasis has decidedly ticked in the upscale direction, with posh new hotels like The Hyde Resort and Residences, which will open the Hyde Beach House next door on January 1, 2020. The Hyde Beach House will have large, condo-like units just like its sister property, but also will have an outdoor movie theatre and other great amenities.

Margaritaville Beach Resort in Hollywood Beach is an island unto itself, a luxurious, Jimmy Buffett-themed property with several pools, a waterslide, an 11,000 square foot spa and eight bars and restaurants. They also have 40% off rates for agents and special upgrades for clients of travel agents (if, of course, agents tell them their clients are coming).

The Bonaventure Resort and Spa is an inland property that's not far from the Sawgrass Mills Outlet Center, billed as Florida's second largest attraction. The hotel features 501 rooms, four restaurants and bars, a 45,000 square foot spa, a free shuttle to Sawgrass Mills, four outdoor pools and 80,000 square feet of meeting and event space.

Fort Lauderdale also has a wonderful, natural side; with quiet walking trails in thick, jungly settings and airboat rides on the Everglades.

Gabriel Martinez, head of International Tourism Sales for Greater Fort Lauderdale, urged agents to have their clients spend time at a hotel on the beach when they head to Lauderdale for a cruise.

"Almost all the hotels in our area are 15 minutes or so from the airport or the cruise terminal, so your clients can have a great Fort Lauderdale experience." He also suggested agents consider booking their clients in the shoulder season or summer, when there are great deals to be had.

Martinez said Greater Fort Lauderdale, which has a strong LGBTQ community, will host the first-ever Pride of the Americas in April of this year.

Preferred Hotels and Resorts might be the biggest hotel group you've never heard of.

TravelPulse Canada this week sat down with Terry McCollin, the company's executive director of public relations, to talk about a massive hotel company that a lot of folks probably don't quite understand.

"We have 780 hotels around the world in 85 countries," McCollin said. "Three hundred and fifty of those are in the U.S., Canada, the Caribbean, Mexico and Central America."

With so many travellers now booking trips on their own, the company is trying to broaden their brand awareness in consumer circles and go beyond their usual B2B base, McCollin said.

"That being said, B2B is where we make our money and it's very important. "The trade is very important to us. We have agent programs, training programs, incentives. Preferred rates for agents."

McCollin said Preferred Hotels and Resorts has 70 properties in Mexico, including Grand Velas, and that they're growing fast in Asia.

McCollin said there are only three in Canada (the Soho Hotel and Residences in Toronto and both the Hotel Gault and Hotel Monville in Montreal) but they're hoping to add more.

"People really want independent, boutique properties these days, and that's what we offer."

The first Preferred property was in Chicago and was set up by a group of hoteliers who wanted a referral network for independent hotels.

They now do business in every nook and cranny of the globe and are expanding steadily.

McCollin said hotels have to meet strict standards to become a Preferred property and stay as one. They're graded regularly on everything from communal areas to guest rooms.

But they're all independent, so it's not a cookie-cutter experience.

"We can't dictate the looks of a hotel, and we don't want to."

Scanning the company's website, you'll find some of the world's top properties on the Preferred Hotels and Resorts roster: The Montage Kapalua on Maui, Shutters on the Beach in Santa Monica, The SLS South Beach in Miami, Half Moon Resort in Jamaica, Cap Maison in Saint Lucia, The Grand Hotel Tremezzo on Lake Como, Hotel Keppler in Paris and many others.

NYC Winter Outing returns for the second year January 21-February 9, 2020, combining NYC & Company's three signature promotional programs for New York City.s:

NYC Broadway Week features two for one tickets to amazing shows, including Frozen, Come From Away, The Lion King, Dear Evan Hansen and many more.

NYC Restaurant Week, where you can get a two-course lunch for $26 USD and a three-course dinner for $42 US dollars (I took part last year and had a great meal at a beautiful restaurant in midtown Manhattan).

NYC Must-See Week. This includes tickets for 63 experiences across all five boroughs, including the Circle Line Sightseeing boat tours (exceptional, even in winter), the Empire State Building Observatory, and more.

While they're announcing details now, reservations for the programs open on January 8, 2020.

River cruising is one of the biggest trends in travel, and each year more Canadians are opting for this leisurely way of exploring Europe's countryside and famous cities. But if they're not quite yet sold on the concept, a four day mini-cruise may be just the experience they are looking for.

Award-winning Avalon Waterways offers four-day cruises between Vienna and Budapest from May to November. These "Taste of the Danube" cruises include as ports of call Bratislava (Slovakia) and Melk and Durnstein in Austria, with splendid river vistas of vineyards and villages in between.

Like all of Avalon's European cruises, each includes all meals, with wine included at lunches and four-course dinners; charming light entertainment and port talks in the evening; and a choice of optional shore excursions at each stop, such as a sightseeing tour of Melk's 11th century Abbey or an invigorating hike up to Bratislava Castle. And you needn't sign up in advance, so you can decide each morning what you are in the mood for! Or if touring independently is more your style, you're free to explore on your own. The ship has bicycles for your complimentary use and the AvalonGO app is full of sightseeing suggestions and tips.

The Passion, launched in 2016, features two full decks of Avalon's signature Panorama Suites, with window-facing beds that provide the perfect vantage point from which to view the passing scenery. Every 200 square foot Panorama Suite features a marble bathroom and an 11 foot window wall which opens a full six feet to create an "open air balcony," bringing in the sights and sounds of Europe.

A similar, 5 day "Taste of the Rhine" cruise sails between Amsterdam and Mainz in Germany.

And because Avalon is a member of the Globus family of brands, it's easy to combine your short-and-suite cruise with a tour from their sister companies, Monograms (pre-packaged independent touring) or escorted tour companies Globus and Cosmos.

Following a dynamic year of award-winning marketing campaigns, new events, and hotel openings, The Antigua and Barbuda Tourism Authority is excited to be celebrating an even greater milestone. By December 2019, Antigua and Barbuda Tourism stayover arrivals would have reached over 300,000. And, with the launch of a new 'Come home' sweepstakes, the Antigua and Barbuda Tourism Authority is inviting the Antiguan and Barbudan diaspora to join in on the celebrations.

"The destination has received tremendous growth since 2018, and we are proud to know that by December 2019, we would have met and surpassed our target of 300,000 stay-over visitor arrivals," said Antigua and Barbuda Minister of Tourism, The Honourable Charles Fernandez. "We have to recognise each and every one employed in the tourism industry, who have welcomed visitors to our shores and whose deliverance of quality customer care ensures our visitors have an amazing experience while they are here."

"Reaching 300,000 stay-over tourism arrivals is a significant milestone," said CEO of the Antigua and Barbuda Tourism Authority Colin C. James. "We have incredible partnerships with stakeholders throughout the industry, who have been instrumental in bringing us to this milestone, and who are as committed as we are to driving tourism growth."

As Antigua and Barbuda Tourism officials push to reach the 300,000 mark, the Antigua and Barbuda Tourism Authority has launched a sweepstake specifically targeted to the global diaspora.

"The Antigua and Barbuda diaspora are travelers too. And we are inviting them to 'Come home in December' to reconnect with family and friends, and ring in the new decade in Antigua and Barbuda," said James.

The 'Come Home in December' promotion entices Antiguans and Barbudans living abroad to come home during the month of December for a chance to win a free 3-night, 4-day trip back to Antigua during summer of 2020. The promotion officially kicks-off today, November 20, 2019.

The sweepstake is open to citizens of Antigua and Barbuda living abroad and persons of Antiguan and Barbudan heritage. Persons must enter on the www.visitantiguabarbuda.com website and be able to prove booking and travel between December 1 and December 31, 2019. One winner will be selected from each of Antigua and Barbuda's main source markets in the USA, Canada, U.K. & Europe and the Caribbean. Winners will be selected by random drawing and will be expected to show proof of citizenship and heritage or lineage. Visit www.visitantiguabarbuda.com to enter and for full details and terms and conditions.