A view from the water of a town of colourful buildings are built along the steep incline of a cliff.

A look at the most popular places to travel from Canada

August 12, 2022 No Comments

According to new research from First in Service Travel LTD (F1S), Italy, France and Greece are the top international destinations Canadian advisors are booking and recommending.

“With all the pent-up demand for travel, coupled with the Canadian dollar’s stronger performance against the euro over the past year, it’s no surprise that Europe is performing so well,” explained Fernando Gonzalez, chief executive officer for F1S, one of North America’s largest independent travel agencies. “Italy has once again claimed its place among the world’s premier destinations, thanks to its stunning scenery, exquisite culture and history, epicurean delights, and extraordinary people.”

Findings from the recent survey had F1S travel advisors name the top three international destination they were booking for 2022. Among international destinations, 72.7% of the advisors named Italy as one of their top destinations, followed by France (45.5%) and Greece (27.3).

“Italy is always a winner,” added F1S advisor Willa Griffin. Advisor Waldo Wohl concurred, offering a simple explanation that “Italy is always Italy.”

Gonzalez indicated that the biggest surprise internationally for the year is the popularity of Greece. “Whether it’s the culture of ancient cities like Athens or the allure of the islands, Greece has really taken off over the past couple years. It was able to take hold during the pandemic and has maintained its strong forward momentum this year,” he said.

F1S advisor Marisa Wise added that she is booking “lots of Santorini. Its views and food are amazing. Also, Greek island cruising is super popular.”

First in Service advisors in Canada were also asked which “under the radar” destinations they are booking most internationally. Colombia and Portugal were tied for first place, with 27.3% of advisors recommending each. 

“Travel to the United States and cruising have both been on the rebound,” Gonzalez added. “Additionally, we will soon issue the trends we are seeing specifically for domestic travel within Canada.”

F1S advisor George Alexandrou is among those recommending Colombia because “it has a great mix of culture, adventure and direct flights.” Meanwhile, Portugal is recommended by F1S advisor Christina Gula, who said, “Portugal is a beautiful country with lots to offer. Great scenery, food and culture.”

Most popular travel picks

Each surveyed advisor was also asked to name the single most popular international destination they are specifically booking for Canadian clients on each continent and other major regions globally.

The top picks were:

  • Africa: South Africa
  • Asia: Thailand
  • Australia/New Zealand/South Pacific: Australia
  • Caribbean: St. Barths
  • Central America: Costa Rica
  • Europe: Italy
  • Middle East: Israel
  • North America: United States
  • South America: Colombia

Willa Griffin, who helps lead the agency in Canada, pointed out that they’ve seen a major uptick in last minute bookings with borders reopening.

“I think it’s been a combination of pent up demand and the feeling that the world might close down again,” Griffin shared. “Personally, I feel like things will regulate themselves again very soon. This spring and summer were all about having the freedom to travel again. Moving forward, I think people will again start to plan ahead, maybe not like they used but will want to ensure that they get what they want from their travel dollars. I am already seeing very limited availability for festive which to me is a very good sign.”

 

Three of the hottest new hotels to check out this summer

June 6, 2022 No Comments

As the summer weather heats up, Canadians are eager to get out and explore again. Here’s a look at some memorable new hotels to check into across North America, Europe and beyond. 

Calilo, Greece  

The scenic boutique hotel Calilo first opened in 2019 as part of the Luxurious brand owned by Angelos Michalopoulos and Vassiliki Petridou. New this year are five reimagined EOS Collection suites, a new spa and wellness centre and a newly-appointed Executive Chef, Alexandros Tsiotinis, who will oversee the resort’s culinary offerings and launch two signature dining concepts.

The hotel features luxurious 1, 2 and 3-bedroom suites; multiple dining outlets, Rocks Pool Restaurant and private beach cabanas; wellness offerings like sunrise yoga and in-room spa treatments; exclusive experiences like private boat excursions, culture trips, wine tasting and dinner under the stars; and a variety of spaces for weddings and events.

The family has left 95% of the land undeveloped, in order to sustain Ios’ natural beauty, and made use of construction material extracted from the ground of the actual building site like marble and stone-granite.

Calilo also has several conservation projects including the Elektra olive tree project, where they have planted over 60,000 trees and bushes from around the island to restore the habitat that had previously been burned by wildfire and land deforestation, including 550 ancient olive trees (some more than 300 years old) which were saved from being sold for wildfire in Athens. 

Hyatt Place LAX

The newly opened Hyatt Place LAX is an airport hotel travellers will actually want to spend time in — and not just to sleep. The dual branded hotel (Hyatt Place LAX for longer stays) is conveniently located a short 24/hour a day shuttle ride from the airport and with a prime location that offers some viewing perks. The hotel offers the tallest outdoor pool in the Los Angeles Airport District and the rooftop ShoresLAX Restaurant & Bar features views of LAX runways and the lights of downtown Los Angeles.

The 15th floor location is a relaxing spot to watch watch planes landing over pints of craft beer or cocktails, tacos and other options like New York strip with avocado salad and garlic fries. The hotel offers 401 rooms with floor-to-ceiling windows offering natural light and front row views of planes arriving and departing from the runway. Along with overnight stays, this is also a great option for travellers looking to make the most of a lengthy layover in Los Angeles. Additional perks include free breakfast and WiFi, and onsite amenities include large fitness centre.

XIXIM Mundo Imperial

XIXIM Mundo Imperial is set to open this fall offering a blend of total wellness immersion with all-inclusive comfort within a nature reserve with miles of private beaches.

XIXIM, part of Mundo Imperial Entertainment & Hospitality, will open with 32 suites available for reservations beginning this fall. Each suite will be set within a cabin with traditional palm-thatched roofs and feature a terrace with hammocks overlooking the ocean.

The Mayan-inspired resort will feature amenities like a wellness dome and a temazcal. XIXIM is located 90 minutes from the Mérida airport and 10 kilometres north of the town of Celestún.

TEXT BY: ANN RUPPENSTEIN