Archive for the 'Niagara Falls Tourism Industry' Category

NPC has to act as a catalyst for tourism

From the Niagara Falls Review:

We have long supported Kim Craitor’s bid to bring more openness and, it would follow, accountability to government and government agencies.

We think the Niagara Falls MPP’s attempt to pass the Transparency in Public Matters Act as a private member’s bill is laudable and responsible, the type of good work we expect from our elected officials. We regret that it’s even necessary, but such is the way of today’s secretive political world…

Take, for example, the recent tussle the Niagara Parks Commission had with Destination Cinema, owners of Imax Niagara Falls…

As a public agency, the NPC does in fact have every ethical responsibility to nurture and develop and promote tourism in Niagara. And not just its own properties.

Tory calls on province to help tourism sector

From Niagara This Week:

Saving $40 or $50 on a weekend getaway to Niagara Falls might not sound like a huge amount when you consider a family can spend hundreds of dollars for such things as staying at a hotel, eating in restaurants and seeing various attractions.

But John Tory, leader of the Ontario Progressive Conservative party, figures it’s enough to entice the many of the millions of so-called day trippers mulling a visit to Niagara Falls this summer to grab the kids and hop in the car.

Tourism spending up in first quarter

From the Niagara Falls Review:

Statistics Canada says tourism spending rose 1.3 per cent in the first quarter.

The agency says Canadians spent 2.3 per cent more money in Canada and less on travel outside the country.

‘Drop the retail sales tax’

From the Niagara Falls Review:

Removing the provincial sales tax applied to hotel stays and attractions would provide an economic boost for tourist towns like Niagara Falls, says Ontario Progressive Conservative Leader John Tory.

Doing so would also benefit families and businesses struggling through challenging economic times made worse by skyrocketing energy costs, he said.

“It might just tip the balance for people who are thinking, in light of gas prices, not to take that weekend in Niagara Falls, whether they be from Toronto or London, or, for that matter, Buffalo,” Tory said during a visit to the Cataract City Thursday.

He was joined by Niagara-West Glanbrook MPP Tim Hudak, the party’s finance critic and a former tourism minister, and Niagara Falls Mayor Ted Salci.

2007 Annual Business Development Report

I was browsing the City of Niagara Falls web site today and clicked on the What’s New page. Last Tuesday they released the 2007 Annual Business Development Report. It is a 42-page PDF that covers many of the developments in the city. The Hilton, Fudge Factory, Convention Centre, Topple Tower, and more are covered. Check it out!

Tourism minister backs parks commission approach

From the Niagara Falls Review:

Ontario Tourism Minister Peter Fonseca backs the Niagara Parks Commission’s approach in developing tourism attractions and the role it plays in Niagara’s economy even though it competes with private-sector businesses.

“I’m happy. I’m excited,” Fonseca said after visiting Niagara’s Fury, the $7-million attraction the parks commission built onto Table Rock House, at the brink of the Horseshoe Falls.

“This is a giant step for Ontario tourism,” Fonseca said about the renovations at Table Rock. It was a ringing endorsement for the parks commission from the provincial cabinet minister who is responsible for overseeing the agency.

The parks commission has been criticized by the head of the company that owns the Imax Niagara Falls theatre for developing an attraction he said goes head-to-head with its businesses.

Visit to Niagara Falls is a legend come alive

From NewKerala.com:

With more and more Indians travelling overseas, thanks to the growing prosperity of the middle class, there is a beeline of tourist promotion organisation scouting for business in the country.

There are often days when two or three will hotsell their wares.

For instance, The Niagara Tourism and Convention Corporation (NTCC) and Tanzania Tourist Board made a presentation this morning on the potential of their destinations.

Mr John Percy, President and CEO of NTCC, said there has been a 39 per cent increase during 2007 in the number of Indians travelling to the United States and many of them make it a point to visit the magnificient Niagara Falls.

Niagara Falls, Ont. is growing, but not because of U.S. visitors

From the Buffalo News:

The number of Americans crossing into Ontario steadily declined during the past nine years, but that hasn’t slowed the pace of new hotels and tourist attractions in Niagara Falls, Ont.

A 58-story Hilton Hotel is going up near the Fallsview Casino, and a $7 million virtual experience tour of the formation of Niagara Falls will open this weekend at Table Rock.

Since 1998, $3.5 billion has been invested in the Falls, Ont., tourism community, Jim Williams, chairman of the Niagara (Ont.) Parks Commission, said.

‘Disappointing’ weekend

From the Niagara Falls Review:

Who says travellers are sticking close to home this summer?

Nearly half of America’s 50 states were represented in the Niagara Parks Commission’s parking lot at Table Rock Sunday afternoon. Throngs of people strolled along the walkway adjacent to the falls, lazed in the park, dined in cafes in the park and on Clifton Hill, speaking in languages that would be a United Nations’ translator’s dream: Japanese, Chinese, South Asian, French, Spanish, German, Italian and ones of Eastern European origin. British and Australian accents were also heard.

But tourism operators like Tim Parker, general manager of Ripley’s Believe it or Not!, Ripley’s Moving Theatre and the Louis Toussauds Wax Works said the attractions are down about 10 per cent over a wet Memorial Day weekend last year.

Sorbara to tourism’s rescue

From the Niagara Falls Review:

Wherever you go in Niagara Falls, people who work in tourism are nervous right now. Industry operators are walking on eggshells. Workers are wondering if the summer season will be strong enough to give them the hours they need to make ends meet.

The American economy is in a tailspin. Gas is $1.25 a litre. Niagara’s casinos – once the golden goose of tourism employment – froze wages this year and offered full-time employees “voluntary resignation packages.”

Enter Greg Sorbara.