| Journal: TWUK | Section: |
| Title: | Issue Date: 19/06/00 |
| Author: | Page Number: 35 |
| Copyright: Other |
Toronto basks in booming short-break sales
The city is an eight-hour flight from the UKbut is experiencing strong demand from the British market. Jane Archer reports
TORONTO has become Bridge Travel Service’s third best selling short-break destination in North America after just one full year in its brochure.The operator is planning to double the number of hotels offered in Toronto to four next year to meet demand for the city. Bridge would not release figures but said bookings this year – its second featuring Toronto – are up 180% on the same time last year, putting it behind New York and Boston.
Product executive Jaynie Ness said it is an ideal alternative to New York, which is always busy and full from October to December. “We get many inquiries for New York that we can’t fulfil and we suggest Toronto. Clients are not disappointed.
“The shopping is excellent and it is good value as prices are similar to the US.”
Despite the eight-hour flight from the UK, the British are by far the biggest overseas market to Toronto after the Americans. Of the 1.3m overseas visitors in 1998, 268,000 came from the UK. France is next at 128,000.
Individual country figures for last year are being calculated now but Tourism Toronto spokeswoman Cheryl Cheung believes they will be unchanged as the city is cutting its tourism budget.
The city gives Tourism Toronto about £2m a year, with a similar amount contributed by Tourism Toronto members – 900 companies including hotels, attractions and mega shopping malls such as Eaton Centre which all benefit from tourism.
“Our biggest challenge is raising awareness of Toronto in the UK without much advertising,” said Cheung. “We rely on trade initiatives such as evening functions for UK agents in cooperation with operator partners and joint promotions with the Canadian Tourism Commission and Ontario Tourism.”
Operators featuring the city include Cresta, Crystal, Thomson, Travelscene, Globespan and Travelpack.
“Our target is to increase hotel occupancy from 73% now to 80% over the next couple of years,” she added.
The biggest attraction in the city is the CN Tower – at just over 553m the world’s tallest building.
Shopping is also a big draw, especially as sterling is strong against the Canadian dollar – £1 buys around C$2.2 – as is the city’s theatreland and mix of cultures. Toronto is also the gateway to the Niagara Falls, which can be visited on a day trip.
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TORONTOBridge Travel Group: three nights at the three-star-plus Sheraton Centre costs £657 per person, room only with flights, from July to October 1.
Crystal Holidays: three nights at the four-star Toronto Colony costs £735 per person bed and breakfast with flights in July and August.
The CN Tower: offers great views of the city