Destinations with the largest year-to-year increases in bookings from Canadian travelers are the English Commonwealth Countries, of which Canada is a member. New Zealand is seeing massive growth at 140 percent.
TORONTO – Leading luxury travel network, Virtuoso, has released its top destinations for Canadian travelers in 2014. Harnessing data collected from its 13 travel agency members, with 30 locations throughout the country, from April 2012 – March 2014, the network set out to answer the following questions: where do Canadians like to travel, and what is increasing in popularity – in other words, “what’s hot?” The answer is clear – the United States, and specifically warm weather spots, sit at the top of Canadian traveler’s lists.
For total sales, the United States (U.S.) leads the charge, accounting for 53 percent of bookings. All subsequent destinations appear in the single digits:
- Mexico (six percent)
- UK (five percent)
- Dominican Republic (three percent)
- Italy (three percent)
- Jamaica (two percent)
- France (two percent)
- Cuba (two percent)
- Israel (two percent)
- Germany (one percent)
Within the U.S., Florida is the leading destination with 29 percent of bookings. (Miami accounts for 80 percent of Florida travel. Viva South Beach!) California comes in second at 16 percent, Hawaii commands 10 percent, Nevada with nine percent and New York with six percent of bookings. By comparison, Nevada accounts for only two percent of bookings for U.S. travelers.
Destinations with the largest year-to-year increases in bookings from Canadian travelers are the English Commonwealth Countries, of which Canada is a member. New Zealand is seeing massive growth at 140 percent, followed by:
- Australia (59 percent)
- Mexico (35 percent)
- United Kingdom (30 percent)
- Turks And Caicos (23 percent)
- Jamaica (23 percent)
- Cuba (19 percent)
- Italy (18 percent)
- Dominican Republic (15 percent)
- France (11percent)
Virtuoso counts 341 agencies with more than 620 locations throughout North and South America, the Caribbean, Australia and New Zealand amongst its membership, accounting for more than 8,900 travel advisors and upwards of $12.5 billion (U.S.) in annual sales. The network has 13 member agencies in Canada with 30 office locations, as well as 32 Canadian-based travel partners such as the Shangri-La Hotel Toronto, Four Seasons Hotels & Resorts (exclusive to Virtuoso) and Butterfield & Robinson. Virtuoso is the leader in the luxury travel sector, with exacting standards for both travel agency and preferred supplier partners.
Photo caption: Within the U.S., Florida is the leading destination with 29 percent of bookings.
Vicky is the co-founder of TravelDailyNews Media Network where she is the Editor-in Chief. She is also responsible for the daily operation and the financial policy. She holds a Bachelor's degree in Tourism Business Administration from the Technical University of Athens and a Master in Business Administration (MBA) from the University of Wales.
She has many years of both academic and industrial experience within the travel industry. She has written/edited numerous articles in various tourism magazines.
