07 Nov 2017
CANADA NEWS : FLOATING HOTELS, NEW ROUTES, FISHY TALES AND NEW SKI TRAILS
PLEASE NOTE FOR ALL 2018 CONTENT : AVOID LAST MINUTE DISAPPOINTMENT AT THE AIRPORT : BRITISH VISITORS TO CANADA MUST HAVE ELECTRONIC TRAVEL AUTHORITY (ETA)
To Avoid disappointment at the airport, a reminder that all British visitors to Canada arriving by AIR must as of November 2016 have an Electronic Travel Authority (Eta) to Travel to Canada. Those planning trips for 2018 are advised to apply in advance of booking airline tickets. The ETA costs $7.00 and is valid for 5 years. Purchase is done on line through : http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/visit/eta.asp . PLEASE NOTE : Any site charging more than $7.00 is not the official government site.
EXPANSION OF ARCTIC CRUISE FLEET
One Ocean Adventures (OEE) has recently announced the expansion of its operations and expedition cruise fleet with the addition of RCGS Resolute. Named after HMS Resolute, a British Royal Navy Arctic Exploration vessel , as well as the Inuit town of Resolute in Canada's Nunavut Territory, RGCS Resolute will arrive in Canada in November 2018 for its inaugural One Ocean Adventures polar Voyage. RGCS also carries the name of the Royal Canadian Geographical Society (RGCS) marking the society and OEE's exclusive education, environmental science and expedition partners in Canada's North . RGCS Resolute has an unsurpassed ice classification, a proven track record for stability and safety, large indoor and outdoor viewing platforms and exceptional manoeuvrability. It is ideally equipped to guide guests through Canada's pristine arctic . It will carry 146 passengers in unparalleled comfort with an array of luxury amenities, educational opportunities and activities tailored to guests interests and individual , personalised service.
For more information : www.oneoceanexpeditions.com
PANORAMA MOUNTAIN RESORT TO IMPLEMENT RFID TECHNOLOGY FOR 2017 – 18 WINTER SEASON
Panorama Mountain resort in British Columbia recently announced that SkiData RFID (radio frequency identification) technology will be implemented at the resort for the upcoming 2017/18 ski season, providing efficient, hassle free lift access this coming 55th anniversary season. This makes them one of the first in Western Canada to move to a leading ticketing and lift access system
All daily lift tickets, seasons passes and other products will be available on cards, which are embedded with an RFID chip to enables hands free access to lifts. When a guest passes through the RFID gate the gate will open automatically after registering the card. As in previous seasons, lift operators will be on hand to assist with the access gates to ensure a smooth and efficient experience.
For more information : www.panoramaresort.com
CANADA'S FIRST POD ACCOMMODATION CONCEPT TO OPEN IN WHISTLER, BRITISH COLUMBIA 2018
In April 2018 , Whistler will be opening the Pangea Pod Hotel - a visionary property situated in the centre of the pedestrian village . Designed for the discerning solo traveller seeking a boutique hotel feel, impressive design and a prime location at an affordable price point, Pangea is set to fill Whistlers void between hostel and hotel.
Pangea will offer a series of custom suites housing a total of 88 private sleeping pods. Each boutique pod will be luxuriously lined in wood and comfortably outfitted with memory foam double mattresses and high end linens. They'll also be equipped with individually controlled LED lights, multiple charging points and an integrated fan for ventilation and white noise.
The Toy Box, Pangeas meticulously planned designed open plan gear area, will offer secure storage for skis, boards and bikes, places to hang wet gear and private lockers for boots and accessories meaning everything Pangeas guests need to enjoy Whistlers great outdoors.
Pangea will reinvent accommodation in Whistler for a generation of travellers who expect more for less and want to spend money on their experiences no on several hundred feet of hotel room space in which they simply sleep.
For more information : https://www.pangeapod.com/
ROCKY MOUNTAINEER INTRODUCE TWO NEW PACKAGES FOR 2018
Two exciting new packages that combine the best selling Rocky Mountaineer Holidays with culinary and adventure themes will launch in 2018. First Passage to the West Culinary Exploration includes additional top rated dining experiences and food tours on top of the five star dining onboard the train. With an increased desire for adventurous activities in Vancouver and the Rockies, the company has introduced Journey through the Clouds Outdoor Adventures, creating new ways to explore the destinations with outdoor activities both at sea and in the mountains, from canoeing on Lake Louise to hiking in Jasper. Lake Louise will also be available on every First Passage to the West Journey between Vancouver and Banff.
For more information : http://rockymountainholidays.com/rocky-mountaineer/2018-vacations.html
OPENING 2018: FLOATING OCEAN HOUSE TO OFFER LUXURY INSIGHTS INTO HAIDA GWAII, BRITISH COLUMBIA
A new luxury floating lodge on the remote west coast of Haida Gwaii promises to give visitors fresh insights into a seldom seen side of this “Galapagos of the North”. Surrounded by calm waters on the quiet shoreline of Haida Gwaii's Peel Inlet, Ocean House at Stads K'uns GawGa will offer a launching point to explore the natural beauty and culture of the First Nation in this destination. Visits will packaged in stays of 3 or 4 nights , and both offer the opportunity to discover the mystical beauty of towering cedars in old growth forests, ancient village sites, dramatic coastlines, broad beaches and the living culture of the Haida.
For more information : http://www.haidahouse.com/
LE BOAT COMES TO CANADA, ONTARIO IN 2018
Le Boat proposes a $16M investment on the Rideau Canal in the province of Ontario with new state of the art canal boats specially designed to meet Ontario Maritime and Le Boat Customer requirements. The fleet will be imported over a 5 year period from 2018 to 2022 with investment in Le Boat infrastructure. Holiday makers will be able to pick up a vessel on the Rideau Canal and make a journey to explore this region of Ontario in depth from the water.
For more information check out : http://www.leboat.co.uk/
BRITISH AIRWAYS TO ADD FIRST ROUTE FROM GATWICK TO CANADA
British Airways is to add another transatlantic route to its summer 2018 schedule from Gatwick. A three times a week Toronto flight will be taking to the air from May 1st 2018. Both flights will depart Gatwick on Tuesdays, Friday and Sundays. The new flight to Toronto will be BA's first flight to Canada from Gatwick and follows the introduction of new long haul routes to Oakland and Fort Lauderdale in the US. Summer 2018 fares on the Toronto flight in World Traveller will start from £453.00 return. BA customers travelling from Gatwick will benefit from the airlines new facilities at the West Sussex airport's South Terminal, after it moved in at the start of the year. Those travelling in Club World will have access to the new lounge area at Gatwick which opened in the Spring.
Go to www.britishairways.com for more information.
PRIMERA AIR TO START FLYING BIRMINGHAM AND STANSTED TO TORONTO IN MAY 2018
Low cost Airline Primera Air has announced it will start flying from Birmingham and Stansted to Toronto, Ontario in May 2018. This will be the third transatlantic one the Danish airline is operating out of the airport and will complement those to New York and Boston launched in April. Flights to all three destinations will be operated on Primera Air's new Airbus A312 aircraft with a choice of two cabins – full service premium and low fare economy.
Toronto will be served three times per week on a year round basis from Birmingham. Tickets start from £149 (one way , all taxes included).
For more information please check out: www.primeraair.com
SQUAMISH WELCOMES NEW ATTRACTION
Rope running is the newest activity and attraction in the Sea to Sky Corridor. The first of its kind in British Columbia, standing 17 metres high and 20 metres in diameter, it is built of steel, wood, ropes and wire. Featuring 49 “elements “, that people of all ages can run the ropes and overcome obstacles in a fun and safe high wire adventure.
The Rope Runner Aerial Adventure Park opened September 1st, 2017. The attraction is fully engineered and patented structure by Kristall Turm ® which originated in Germany. The expandable aerial ropes course technology was developed through a unique collaboration of talented adventure makers who were first and foremost adventure seekers. The Squamish Roper Runner Park is uniquely designed for the beautiful mountain location and purpose built to fit in with the surrounding area. The games or 'elements' are designed and arranged throughout the structure to allow many ways to experience the rope running. There is room for 60 people per session and anyone can pre book their session so that they don't have to wait in line. Each session lasts 1.5 – 2 hours and no experience is necessary.
For more information on the new attraction please check out www.exploresquamish.com
MAKE TRACKS FOR THE ARCTIC OCEAN
Road trippers , start your engines. As of November 2017 , you will be able to drive to the Arctic Ocean all year. The Inuvik to Tuktoyaktuk Highway is a 140km road from Inuvik, at the terminus of the Dempster Highway , to the little Inuvialiut town of Tuktoyaktuk on the shores of the Beaufort Sea. What can you expect? Herds of wild caribou and domestic reindeer, sweeping tundra and “pingo's” (mini hills) and waters rippling with Arctic fish, fowl and beluga whales.
For more information www.gov.nt.ca
NEW ARCTIC HOTELS
Hotel beds in Yellowknife have been a rare commodity this past summer as visitor numbers increased. The opening of the new Chateau Nova Hotel could not have come at a better time with a new 146 room hotel. Located at the entrance to downtown, the four storey structure boasts a ground floor restaurant and the Norths' largest conference hall. www.novahotels.ca/chateau-nova-yellowknife
Meanwhile the largest hotel in the Northwest Territories, the Explorer Hotel with currently 187 rooms is expanding to add 72 more rooms in a seven story addition. Once complete the Explorer hotel will have 259 rooms as well as an expanded banquet and meeting facility. Construction is currently underway with completion due by September 2018, just in time for the autumn Aurora viewing season.
ELECTRIC CAR TOURING THROUGH THE THOMPSON OKANAGAN
There is now a comprehensive network of electric car charging stations in the Thompson Okanagan including the new TESLA Super Chargers. You can rent a TESLA S car from Power Trips based in Vernon. They offer hourly, daily or weekly rates. From wineries and resorts to golf courses and fruit stands, every stop to top up a vehicle charge allows time for wine tasting, a round of golf, shopping or just enjoying a beautiful beach or lake. The Route 97 road network provides many choices for touring routes through the wine regions, desert and inland temperate rain forest. And speaking of electric, how about renting an electric bike and touring a dozen wineries along a wine trail or renting a Segway and cruising around Sun Peaks resort or the trails in Roderick Haig Brown Provincial Park.
SALUTE TO THE SALMON FESTIVAL – OCTOBER 2018 MARKS PEAK OF 7 YEAR CYCLE
In October 2018 the Salute to the Salmon Festival will take place to celebrate the return of the Sockeye Salmon. The Sockeye returns late September to early November every year and 2018 marks a peak of a 7 year cycle. The festival is put on by the Adams River Salmon Society at Roderick Haig Brown Provincial Park. First nation heritage, onsite food vendors, souvenir sales, artisan wares, cultural and salmon and environmental interpretation programmes. The First Nations' Quaaout Lodge offers Voyageur canoe trips over to view the salmon at the mouth of the river. Alternatively stay on a Shuswap House Boat. A Canadian Signature Experience “Salmon 'N Wine Discovery” tour is offered by a wine touring company and hotel. The Shuswap region boarders on to the southern edge of the largest inland temperate rainforest in the world, and the fall foliage of the forests rivals any other in Canada.
NEW FOR NOVA SCOTIA
DIG FOR DINOSAURS
To dig for Canada's oldest dinosaurs you need to start your adventure by sea! Take an exclusive Zodiac boat excursion with the team from Fundy Geological Museum past the colourful cliffs and red sands of the Bay of Fundy short to take part in an active Dinosaur Dig. Led by a museum expert, you'll dig for fossils, see the latest discoveries and enjoy a delicious sea – side, lobster infused picnic lunch on a Jurrasic Beach
BEST OF HALIFAX FOODIE ADVENTURES
Taste your way through Halifax's hippest neighbourhoods, connecting with chefs and culinary artisans whilst sampling must-try Nova Scotia flavours – from lobster mac 'n cheese to donair to sea food chowder paired with micro brews, ciders and Nova Scotia's signature Tidal Bay white wine. This fun filled exclusive tour with Taste Halifax wraps up with a p rivate spirit and charcuterie tasting inside the Halifax Citadel National Historic Site.
DINING ON THE OCEAN FLOOR
Savour the best of Nova Scotias flavours in the most unique dining room on earth at the site of the world's highest tides. Meet a local brewer, winemaker and foraging expert before taking a seat at an elegant dining table for an intimate dinner on the ocean floor! Toast your amazing culinary adventure around a sunset bonfire with your hosts from The Flying Apron Inn & Cookery
CRACK OPEN OUR SEAFOOD TRAILS
The Nova Scotia Sea Food Trails brings together a collection of restaurant, retail and fisheries experiences that highlight the province's incredible seafood products. Discover some of the freshest seafood experiences the province has to offer – from seaside lobster boils, authentic seafood chowder, freshly shucked oysters and many other mouthwatering seafood dishes as you wind your way along the sea coast with a stop on the Chowder Trail, Lobster Trail, Oyster Trail and Fish and Chips trail – it's time to let adventure out of its shell and get a taste of Nova Scotia
Nova Scotia Tourism have launched 18 new Experiences to Explore in 2018 from Whale Watching to Wine Tasting and a lot more in between. To check out the list go to www.novascotia.com
BANFF HOTEL TO UNDERGO MAJOR RESTORATION
The Mount Royal Hotel is adding a major layer to its century old history following a fire in December 2016. A $45 million transformation of both the hotel's interior and exterior will re -establish the Mount Royal as the heart of Banff. “We were inspired by the hotel's rich history and knew we had to incorporate it into the design, while providing a unique experience for today's modern traveler”, said David McKenna, President of Brewster Travel Canada by Pursuit. “To do so, we engaged the local community, collaborated with world renowned design and construction firms, and challenged ourselves to deliver something that's never been done before”. The restoration of the façade will significantly revitalize this iconic center of Banff Avenue. The new concept features historically inspired décor and remarkable amenities including the much anticipated roof top lounge with outdoor hot tubs and fire tables. A Custom designed museum and a hotel library will provide unique spaces for guests and the community to connect and share stories. Well appointed and spacious guest rooms will showcase outstanding mountain views.
For more than 100 years the Mount Royal Hotel has been an anchor in Banff's community. Its location on the corner of Banff Avenue and Caribou Street - in the heart of the town – make it an iconic landmark. The hotel is scheduled to open in July 2018. The Mount Royal Hotel is currently taking bookings for summer 2018.
For more information visit : www.mountroyalhotel.com
EMBARGOED TO NOVEMBER 8TH, 2017
MARMOT BASIN, JASPER OPENS NEW TERRAIN FOR THE 2017/2018 SEASON
Parks Canada has granted Ski Marmot Basin , located in Jasper National Park, approval to open the 'Tres Hombre' ski area to skiers and snowboarders beginning the 2017/18 ski season. Tres Hombres is a large north facing and treeless slope, some 22 acres (54 acres) in size within Marmot Basin's leasehold which provides some of the very best off piste advanced and expert terrain in the Canadian Rockies. Tres Hombres has long been coveted by advance skiers and snowboarders who have anxiously been waiting for the day to come when the terrain would be made open to public skiing. Its' powder filled bowls and chutes descend 367 vertical metres (1204 ft.) and is Marmot Basins longest, uninterrupted fall – line.
Marmot Basin has undertaken avalanche control work in Tres Hombres since 1987, although the area was never opened by Marmot Basin to the public for operational reasons. Opening the area to the public follows acceptance by Parks Canada of a comprehensive trail maintenance and operational plan developed by the ski area.
The plan was reviewed by Parks Canada to ensure it met with all regulatory and policy requirements. Parks Canada concluded that the ecological management parametres in the 2008 Marmot Basin Site Guidelines concerning caribou and mountain goats were properly addressed and, that with the implementation of identified mitigation measures, there are no significant environmental effects. The mitigation measures ensure that caribou recovery efforts and the protection of white bark pine – both species at risk in Jasper National Park –are not compromised.
Marmot Basin works with Parks Canada as a responsible environmental steward operating in one of Canada's iconic National Parks. They have collaborated on the completion of a two year comprehensive caribou risk assessment and a three year goat study. The resorts proposal to open the Tres Hombres was informed by the results of these studies. The resort has also agreed to an 18% reduction in its leasehold in the Whistlers Creek area and volunteered to not advance a proposal for a ski lift in the Tres Hombres area. These measures in combination result in a substantial environmental gain for Jasper National Park.
Tres Hombres is accessed from the trop of Paradise quad chair and has an average slop angle of 62.8% with the steepest section at 100%. The 22 hectares that make up the Tres Hombres area is equivalent in size to 27 football fields, plenty of room to make tracks in some of the most magnificent terrain the Canadian Rockies has to offer.
For more MEDIA information please contact: Brian Rode brrode@skimarmot.com
For more media information please go to:
www.explore-canada.co.uk (Consumer)
www.destinationcanada.com (Corporate/Visual Library/Press Releases etc)
UK Contact : Nim Singh, Media and PR Manager
Destination Canada
Tel. 0207 389 9983 (not for publication)
