TORONTO — Thanks to its 24 miles of golden beaches, cosmopolitan dining and nightlife, world-class shopping and amazing nature encounters - not to mention an average year-round temperature of 25 degrees Celsius – Fort Lauderdale has long been a go-to destination for Canadian travellers.
At an industry event last night, the team at Visit Lauderdale made it clear that this long-time favourite is as relevant as ever for the Canadian market.
Paul Mason and Tracy Vaughan from Visit Lauderdale, along with local hotel reps, treated media and industry partners to dinner at Parcheggio in Toronto, with presentations to showcase offerings of interest to Canadian vacationers.
On the hotel scene, Marissa Hoppe with Sands Harbor Resort and Marina, highlighted the property’s luxurious accommodations, modern amenities and stunning views. The hotel’s penthouse has 1,500 square feet and two bedrooms, full kitchen, large living room, and a wraparound balcony. Trish Pederson with AC Hotel Fort Lauderdale Beach said her property offers 171 rooms: 97 king rooms and 74 double rooms. The hotel offers European-inspired breakfasts and all-day craft beer or cocktails with tapas. And Nara Azevedo with Atlantic Hotel & Spa highlighted her hotel’s private balconies, full spa service, and rooftop poolside space that can host up to 80 people. There’s also a meeting room with ocean views.
Many travellers are most familiar with Fort Lauderdale as a cruise port, with a long list of cruise lines sailing in and out of the city, including Silversea, Celebrity, Cunard, Disney Cruise Line, Princess Cruises and many more.
Topping the list of new offerings is Brightline, the high-speed rail network that now serves many of Florida’s top destinations, including Fort Lauderdale. Also on the network are Boca Raton, West Palm Beach and Miami. Meanwhile the new station at Orlando Airport is expected to open this summer with tickets bookable for Sept. 1 onwards. There’s word of Tampa getting onboard with Brightline too.
Mason told Travelweek that Toronto and Montreal are Visit Lauderdale top two markets internationally in terms of flights. Air Canada, Canada Jetlines, Flair Airlines, Swoop and WestJet all offer flights to Fort Lauderdale from Canada.
Asked about recovery, Mason said: “The recovery has been constant since the pandemic started, reason being, South Florida never really closed, we were open for business and flights were still coming in. It has been a gradual increase making Canada our number 1 inbound international market.”
When it comes to getting around Fort Lauderdale, the Fort Lauderdale Water Taxi is a unique mode of transportation that allows visitors to see the city from a different perspective while travelling on the waterways. The water taxi offers multiple stops along the Intracoastal Waterways and the New River, giving travellers easy access to many popular destinations and attractions in Fort Lauderdale. “Though it’s not new, water taxis are a great way for our tourists to get around and see the mansions and yachts up close on both the Intracoastal and New River,” says Mason.
The City of Fort Lauderdale has also introduced the Micro Mover, a free, convenient and sustainable mobility option to help get residents and visitors around downtown, Las Olas and the beach. Users can download the ‘Ride Circuit’ app to book their ride.
The ‘What’s New in Greater Fort Lauderdale’ section on Visit Lauderdale’s website is a great resource for agents, Mason added. “This will go into detail offerings like our Ale Trail, our Aquatic Center and International Swimming Hall of Fame complex, new restaurants, events and hotels that have just opened, as well as new attractions, exhibits and event updates.”
Visit Lauderdale works with travel agents in Canada through several programs. Says Mason: “We offer fams based on their criteria and travel agent rates are recognized on our website. We also have pre- and post-cruise information, collateral materials and our popular ‘LauderDeals’ on our site. Our Lauderdale Loyalist program offers travel agents the opportunity to be certified in order to promote and market the greater Fort Lauderdale region. There’s a mobile app for the program as well, and there’s no charge to participate.”
For more information go to www.visitlauderdale.com.
