Canucks flock to New Orleans and Louisiana/Canadian hotels crack world's top 100

Things are looking pretty good down in New Orleans and Louisiana. At a Louisiana tourism lunch this week it was revealed that Canadian visits to the state are up 24 per cent over the past two years; a huge increase.

That bodes well for a state that looks to have finally recovered (mostly) from the devastating effects of Hurricane Katrina a few years back.

It looks like a busy couple months coming up down there, as Mardi Gras will be in February, as usual, and the city also is hosting the Super Bown for the first time since Katrina came in 2005.

There's a new streetcar line in town that will connect the Louisiana Superdome and the French Quarter by trolley; an important link. Streets are being repaved in the legendary French Quarter, the airport is undergoing a huge renovation and work crews are out fixing streetlights, sidewalks and potholes. Sounds like we could use them up here ...

FODORS TOP 100 SHOWS SOME LOVE FOR CANADIAN HOTELS

Congrats to four Canadian properties for cracking Fodors List of the top 100 hotels in the world. Included in the list is the new Shangri-La on University Ave. in Toronto, which was lauded in the "city chic" category for its cool, Asian design style and food options. Making it in the "global icon" category was the Fairmont Chateau Frontenac in Quebec City, a beautiful, historic and glamorous property that's always a delight (see photo at left). Two B.C. properties also made the list. In Vancouver, the stunning and newly renovated Rosewood Hotel Georgia made it in the "Fun for All Ages" category, while Sparkling Hill resort, in the hills near Vernon, B.C., got in in the "Trendsetter" category.

CHRISTMAS SHOP IN DETROIT AND SAVE

The Detroit Metro Convention & Visitors Bureau (DMCVB) launched its Shop Greater Detroit marketing campaign today to attract Toronto-area consumers to greater Detroit this holiday season. The campaign highlights the many reasons to shop and stay overnight in the greater Detroit area and rewards participants with a $50 Visa card.

 In a press release, the bureau said the top reasons Canadians should stay, shop and save in greater Detroit are:

• Detroit is less than a five-hour drive from Toronto, with two international crossing points, Sarnia and Windsor.
• Detroit’s sales tax is only six percent. In comparison, Buffalo, N.Y. has an 8.75 percent sales tax.
• Recently increased duty-free allowances and Canadian tax exemptions on purchased goods are better the more time shoppers spend in greater Detroit: $200 for 24 hours and $800 for 48 hours.
• From malls, to outlet stores, to walkable downtown shops in Wayne, Oakland and Macomb counties, greater Detroit has a wide variety of quality shopping options with greater selections.
• Plus, qualified participants are rewarded with a $50 Visa card.

 

To participate in Shop Greater Detroit, Ontario residents must complete a stay at a greater Detroit area hotel for one or more consecutive nights between Nov. 15 and Dec. 31, 2012. In order to qualify for the $50 Visa card, participants need to fill out an online registration form and mail their original hotel receipt and online registration confirmation to the DMCVB. The submission must be post-marked before Jan. 31, 2013. The promotion is limited to the first 1,000 qualified participants.

For information, go to www.shopgreaterdetroit.com