Travel enthusiasts are itching to get moving again, and there’s one place that’s definitely seeing the results of pent-up demand from Canadians: the United States.
A favorite destination even before the pandemic, data obtained by Yahoo Canada over the past full week revealed that Expedia saw a 10% increase in searches for flights to Las Vegas, Los Angeles, Honolulu and San Francisco in particular.
“It’s been two long years and there’s been tremendous pent-up demand,” Christopher Heywood, executive vice president of global communications for New York and company Told Yahoo Canada on the phone, as he watched a double-decker bus full of tourists pass by his window.
“Not only have people missed their ability to travel to the greatest city in the world, New York, but they have a love affair with it.”
“New York City is one of the few places where you can literally go around the world without leaving all five boroughs. So it really is the ultimate international multicultural experience. One of the things we’ve done during the pandemic is we’ve doubled down on highlighting various experiences where people can really get a better sense of what New York has to offer.
It’s been two long years and there’s tremendous pent-up demand.
As travel resumes, sustainability-focused travel is also a priority for visitors, including those heading to New York.
“I think people are more concerned about sustainability, they want to leave a positive mark on the place they visit,” Heywood said. “I really think visitors are looking for destinations that embrace sustainability.”
“I think being able to support the local economy, being able to help small businesses and being able to support the livelihoods that go with it, I think that’s [also] so important.”
Hotel development is also accelerating in New York, with plans to expand from 118,000 rooms to 130,000 rooms over the next two years, to ensure the city is even better prepared to welcome growing numbers of visitors.
Based on hotel searches on Expediahere are the main travel destinations in the United States for Canadians:
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Vegas
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New York City
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Honolulu
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Orlando
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Anaheim
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maui
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San Diego
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Seattle
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Nashville
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myrtle beach
Las Vegas, Nevada
There’s always something to see and do in Las Vegas, making it one of the most popular tourist destinations in the world.
If you’re going in June, get tickets to Aerosmith 50th Anniversary Residence in Las Vegasat Dolby Live at Park MGM, from June 17, or see the Jonas Brothers during their five-night residency, also at Dolby Live, between June 3 and June 11.
Travelers and sports enthusiasts looking to get away earlier can take advantage of the NFL draft experiencean interactive soccer theme park that will be free to the public for all three draft days, April 28-April 30.
If you’re a fan of Bravo’s Real Housewives franchise, don’t miss the opportunity to go to Lisa Vanderpump and her husband Ken Todd’s second restaurant in Las Vegas, Vanderpump in Parisin Paris Las Vegas.
New York, New York
A fairly quick trip for many Canadians, it’s always a good time to visit New York.
This year marks the 30th anniversary of NYC Restaurant Week in July, which will feature a variety of restaurant specialty dishes featuring cuisine from around the world. Fans of the Amazon Prime Video show The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel can take a tour of the sites presented in the series, traveling in a 1957 Chevy car.
If you are looking for new experiences, a new hotel, the Hotel Aman in New York, is due to open in May in the Crown Building, which was the first home of the Museum of Modern Art. Want to be pampered in town, the QC NY Spa recently opened on Governor’s Island, offering immersive wellness experiences with city views. The newly renovated Javits Center launches its seven-acre green roof with 35 species of birds, five species of bats and thousands of bees.
If you’ve never been to New York before, or just yearn for the classics, there are certainly some quintessential New York attractions, including seeing the Statue of Liberty, visiting Bemelmans bar at the iconic Carlyle Hotel and having afternoon tea at The court of palm trees at the Plaza Hotel.
A tip from Christopher Heywood: The best way to explore New York really is on foot, walking around the city, taking the subway, which is not only a greener way to explore, but it’s also a way to “deepen” your exploration of the city.
Honolulu Hawaii
The state capital of Hawaii is an incredibly unique destination.
Experience traditional Hawaiian sports like outrigger canoe paddling and surfing. There’s nothing quite like enjoying Hawaii’s natural beauty as you roam the terrain with a variety of trails for beginners and experts alike.
The Hawaii Visitors and Convention Bureau and the Hawaii Tourism Authority have partnered to launch malama hawaii, which urges visitors to take a trip that “gives back to Hawaii and to them.” These experiences include volunteer projects like reforestation and tree planting, self-help beach cleanups, ocean reef preservation, and creating Hawaiian quilts for local elders. Visitors can also enjoy an extra free night at participating hotels.
Orlando Florida
We can’t talk about Orlando without talking about all that is new and exciting for theme park visitors.
Next month, on May 27, Walt Disney World Resort will launch a new Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Return coaster at Epcot, Disney’s first reverse-launch coaster and the first roller coaster attraction at Epcot.
September may seem a long way off, but with increased interest in travel, you can already buy tickets and packages for Universal Orlando Resort presents Halloween Horror Nights at Universal Studios Florida. For 43 nights from September 2 through October 31, the event will feature 10 new haunted houses, five scare zones, and two live shows.
Anaheim, California
If you’re more into Disneyland Resort, as opposed to Disney World, don’t miss the Main Street Electric Parade, returning for a limited time from April 22, with an epic finale sequence inspired by the original designs of the parade floats and the art style of Mary Blair on “it’s a small world”. The very first Disney Junior Fun Fest Also coming to Disney California Adventure Park on April 29, a day-long celebration that kicks off with a cavalcade of beloved Disney Junior Characters, plus a Disney Junior Dance Party and “Spidey and His” photo wall. Amazing Friends” at the Hollywood Backlot.
If you’re about to take a trip to Anaheim, stop by Knott’s Berry Farm Boysenberry Festivalwhich runs until April 24 and features some interesting boysenberry dishes like crab sushi rolls with boysenberry aioli and a boysenberry rocky road brownie.
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