Hong Kong Ritz-carlton named best hotel
It has been the highest hotel in the world since it opened last year, but now, according to the 36-year-old luxe almanac The Robb Report, the Ritz-Carlton in Hong Kong is also the Best of the Best, the top hotel in their 24th annual list of all the very best (read: expensive) things in the world. The 16-storey hotel occupies the 102nd to 116th floors of the International Commerce Centre on Hong Kong’s waterfront.
GOOGLE FLIGHT COMES TO CANADA
As of Wednesday, Google’s flight search feature, introduced for the U.S. market in September, now lets us search for Canadian flight options. Go to google.ca/flights. According to Gianni Marostica, Google’s commercial director for travel, about 50 airports are involved, including all major ones (except Billy Bishop), with more being added as data becomes available. Porter flights are not up yet, and it’ll be a while before you can search for anything other than economy fares.
CRUISE LINE MAKES IT TO BROADWAY
Royal Caribbean wants to be known for the Broadway-style shows they offer on three of their vessels. So the company is sponsoring tomorrow night’s Tony Awards and will beam in a live performance of the current cruise production of Hairspray from Oasis of the Seas.
PEI HOPES FOR STAYCATIONS
Tourism in Prince Edward Island has been dwindling for some time and the province has decided it’s best hope to shore up this vital sector are its own citizens. Tourism minister Robert Henderson has announced a staycation campaign, but he’s hoping it will spread by word of mouth, since there’s actually no budget.
WESTJET ADDS LAGUARDIA
WestJet began its seven daily flights to New York’s LaGuardia airport this week, which will increase to eight in July. It’s the latest jab Canada’s second-largest airline has taken at Air Canada. Porter also added two more daily flights to Newark earlier this year.
MEET THE PEOPLE IN JAMAICA
Jamaicans are trying to plant themselves more firmly in tourists’ minds with a Meet the People program, in which more than 700 Jamaicans from different walks of life offer conversation and hospitality free of charge. Go to visitjamaica.com, hit the About Jamaica pull-down menu and choose Meet the People for more information.
AUSSIES PREFER LEGROOM
Some airlines, especially those that specialize in long-haul flights, are bellwethers for the industry. So when a Sydney Morning Herald story on in-flight entertainment appeared this week, airline execs were probably paying close attention to the more than 100 commenters who said they didn’t care. Said one typical comment: “Legroom (and wiggle room) wins over anything else . . . My phone has a better screen than those seat-back screens.
AND FURTHERMORE . . .
Montreal tourism officials are gravely concerned about the effect the student protests will have on this summer’s business . . . This year marks the100th anniversary of the first road trip across Canada, and the 50th anniversary of the Trans-Canada Highway. APP OF THE WEEK: JAMAICAN LINGO (FREE; ANDROID)
Thanks to Bob Marley, non-Jamaican North Americans tend to know a little bit more Jamaican argot. But there’s lots we don’t know, and this app’s pretty smooth when it comes to looking up words and phrases by first letter (which helps, because spelling is part of the problem).
But please, for the love of Selassie, do not try on these phrases yourself. Just remember Dan Aykroyd in Trading Places and keep it to yourself. Bert Archer writes weekly about travel news to use and amuse. You can reach him with tips, complaints and questions at bertstravel@gmail.com, and follow him on Twitter @BertArcher.