Visit Florida loves Canada, and they’re spending a couple days north of the border to make sure Canadians know it.
A handful of Sunshine State tourism and travel reps are in Toronto and Montreal this week to talk up Florida visitation with the Canadian trade, and to honour top advisors.
They put on a fine lunch in Toronto’s posh Yorkville district on 14MAY, followed by a charcuterie-making and wine-tasting session at Arcadian Court in the evening for 20 top Canadian agents. Florida reps will meet with the trade and advisors in Montreal on 15MAY.
“Canadians love Florida, and Florida loves Canadians,” said Lee-Ann Goltz of VoX International, the media/pr group that represents Visit Florida in Canada.
Goltz said Canadian visits to Florida last year were up 46% from 2022, and have reached 93% of pre-pandemic levels.
“Florida never went dark during the pandemic, and we’re certainly back with Canadian visitors,” she said.
Like any great destination, Florida is constantly changing.
“I think our riverwalk really helps set us apart, and it keeps expanding,” said Stefanie Finke, director of global sales at Visit Tampa Bay. “Tampa is a very walkable city with a downtown street car and a great food scene.”
Open Jaw recently had a chance to experience Tampa’s growing restaurant scene, and found it exceptional.
Tampa also is ideal for a pre- or post-cruise stay, Finke said. The Port of Tampa will be the home port for Margaritaville at Sea’s Islander ship, she said.
Mohammed Daod, senior sales executive at The Vinoy Resort and Golf Club in St. Petersburg, part of the Marriott Autograph Collection, told Open Jaw the resort was fully renovated in 2023. It’s an outstanding property across the street from the sparkling St. Pete North Yacht Basin. It’s a short walk to great restaurants and top attractions within a short walk, including the Dali Museum.
Also in St. Petersburg, Mint House is a hotel in the trendy Edge District that has fully-furnished apartments that are available for as short a stay as one night, or as long as three months. All units have a kitchen, balcony, and a washer-dryer. There’s also an outdoor pool, said Janniel Negrón, Mint House Sales Manager.
The Nautilus Sonesta in Miami’s South Beach district is undergoing a $25 USD million renovation next year and will reopen as under Sonesta’s lifestyle brand, The James Hotel, said Josue “J” Kant-Szybowski, Business Travel & Leisure Sales Director.
Karen DiGiacomo, Travel Tourism Sales Manager for Daytona Beach, told Open Jaw there are five four-star hotels in the city, including a new Renaissance by Marriott property that’s right on the ocean and has an infinity pool. Visitors also can do fun tours of the city to explore its colourful history during Prohibition, including visits to places once frequented by gangster Al Capone.
Other top attractions include the Peppa Pig Theme Park in Winter Haven, Universal Studios Florida in Orlando and spacious villas in Kissimmee that are ideal for family holidays.
Click here for more details about great Florida destinations, and for travel advisor information.
