48 REGION AMERICAS &
48 REGION AMERICAS & CARIBBEAN Discover the “New Midtown” – the New Place to Be in NYC! Canada Goes “Over the Top” to Woo Chinese Tourists Since the launch in December by Canadian Prime Minister Trudeau and Chinese Premier Li Keqiang of the 2018 Canada- China Tourism Year, excitement has been picking up about prospects for the project. The announcement of the official launch of the Canada- China Tourism Year (CCTY) brings fresh excitement to Canada’s tourism industry, which has been preparing and continues to prepare for further increases in Chinese tourism, as set out in the government’s New Tourism Vision (NTV). Chinese tourism to Canada has grown by an average of 20% annually since 2011, and Canada welcomed an estimated 750,000 Chinese travellers in 2017. China is Canada’s third largest inbound market, and with continued growth could supersede the UK and take 2nd position in just a few years. Meanwhile, the government of Canada has announced the official opening of 7 new Visa Application Centres (VACs) across China. These VACs will be instrumental in the fulfilment of the goal to double Chinese visitation laid out in the New Tourism Vision. VACs will be located in the following cities in China: Beijing; Chengdu; Chongqing; Guangzhou; Hangzhou; Jinan; Kunming; Nanjing; Shanghai; Shenyang; Wuhan. It has also been announced that UnionPay is to be accepted for payment processing in 2018. In a statement, Marcela Diaz, Director of Public Affairs and Communications for the Tourism Industry Association of Canada (TIAC), said, “With a rapidly growing middle class and an increasing appetite for travel, VACs in more areas of China will make it easier for potential Chinese travellers to make Canada their destination of choice. Entering these new markets will mean more visitors, more spending, and further growth in Chinese visitors. Chinese visitation to Canada is up 10.6% in the first 8 months of this year, and is second only to the UK as one of our largest overseas markets… This announcement is a step in the right direction in achieving the New Tourism Vision’s stated goal to double Chinese visitation by 2021” Hall 3.1 / Stand 390 As neighbourhoods across NYC continue to develop, NYC & Company is sharing some exciting news on one of the City’s best-known areas: Midtown Manhattan. Midtown is adding new attractions and destinations that will appeal to artists, sports fanatics, music lovers, foodies, families and more. Find some key highlights of what’s new below. SPYSCAPE Just opened in February, families can now enjoy the world’s largest interactive spy museum featuring world class artefacts, technology and experiences. Visitors will be able to test hacking, code breaking and espionage skills to discover their inner James Bond. NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC ENCOUNTER Ocean Odyssey: The National Geographic is known for its unique storytelling and they’re expanding those abilities using cutting-edge technology in its Ocean Odyssey experience. Visitors are transported on an underwater journey - without getting wet - through this interactive attraction. GULLIVER’S GATE Finding it hard to accomplish your travel goals? The new Gulliver’s Gate attraction has National Geographic Encounter, Night Coral Reef visitors covered with its exhibit featuring miniature 3-D replicas of iconic global landmarks, allowing them to visit the entire world in Times Square. Take a trip to world wonders such as the Hoover Dam, the Colosseum, the Pyramids, the Great Wall of China and many more all in one place. OPRY CITY STAGE It is impossible to not have a memorable time at Opry City Stage, the 27,000-square-foot entertainment complex dedicated to country music and Southern culture. Equipped with a full bar, Southern-themed food menu, and a listening room for intimate live shows, Opry City Stage brings the Southern charm to the heart of NYC. THE MUSEUM OF MODERN ART RENOVATION As the first phase of the MoMA’s three-year expansion plan is now complete, art lovers can now experience three floors of newness in the Museum which will be devoted to exhibitions and installations from its collection. The fully renovated space is set to be completed and open in 2019 Hall 3.1 / Stand 205 © National Geographic Encounter Ocean Odyssey ITB BERLIN NEWS • Wednesday 7 th March 2018 www.itb-berlin-news.com
AMERICAS & CARIBBEAN REGION 49 ADVERTORIAL Michael Goldsmith Vice President Marketing, Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority (LVCVA) Las Vegas Continues to Diversify and Expand the Visitor Experience Virtual reality, billions of dollars’ worth of new projects and new nonstop routes add to the destination’s portfolio Las Vegas recently launched the first and only destination virtual reality art program, Vegas: Alter Your Reality (VAYR.) We asked Michael Goldsmith, VP of Marketing, Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority (LVCVA) to tell us more about this technology, as well as what else is new in Las Vegas. This past December, we introduced a unique VR experience called Vegas: Alter Your Reality (VAYR) and we are excited to bring this technology for ITB Berlin. For VAYR, five distinguished, international artists created their unique interpretations of Las Vegas, which were then transformed into vibrant and immersive content pieces, ultimately presented as a virtual reality art collection that consumers can enjoy anywhere in the world. What can attendees expect from the Las Vegas booth at ITB Berlin this year? Joining us this year are our partners from various resorts and industries in Las Vegas, including: MGM Resorts, Caesars Entertainment, Wynn and Encore Las Vegas, The Venetian and The Palazzo Las Vegas, Cirque du Soleil, Papillion Grand Canyon Helicopters, Nevada Division on Tourism and Destination Las Vegas Group. In addition to our stand partners, we are able to bring the entire destination with us thanks to our Vegas Interactive display, an interactive video wall that allows users to access detailed visuals and information about hotel, entertainment, convention and event spaces through the power of touch-screen technology. 2017 was a record year for d o m e s t i c a n d international flights arriving at the airport in Las Vegas - to what do you attribute these increases? In 2017 McCarran International Airport welcomed 48.5 million arriving and departing passengers, making 2017 the busiest year in the airport’s nearly 70-year history. We are excited to see our direct service continue to expand and add further accessibility to the destination. Our current direct service from Europe includes British Airways from London Heathrow, Norwegian Air from Stockholm, Oslo and London Gatwick, Edelweiss from Zurich, Condor Airlines from Frankfurt, Eurowings from Cologne, Thomas Cook from London Stansted, Manchester and Glasgow and next month we will add to this list as we welcome new direct service from Munich to Las Vegas with Eurowings. What does the future hold for Las Vegas’s tourism industry? Continued confidence in Las Vegas is demonstrated by more than billion in current, planned or announced projects in the next few years, including Wynn Paradise Park, The Park MGM and Resorts World Las Vegas. Las Vegas is constantly reinventing itself and the Las Vegas Convention Center’s expansion into the Las Vegas Convention Center District is doing just that. The expansion will add 1.4 million square feet to the existing 3.2 million square foot campus and include 600,000 square feet of new exhibit space, corresponding meeting rooms, pre-function space, service and support areas that will expand the options and offerings for conventions and delegates. The Las Vegas Convention Center District is not only an investment for the convention center but for the city to fill rooms, restaurants, entertainments venues and more. The city means business and we are seeing that through new meeting space all over, such as Caesars Entertainment’s development of Caesars Forum, a 550,000-square foot conference center opening in 2020, and MGM’s 0M initiative to expand the MGM Grand Convention Center bringing the total to 850,000 square feet. These projects won’t just grow our record-breaking convention attendance but will continue to grow visitation throughout the destination, which will ultimately benefit increased room occupancy WE ARE EXCITED TO SEE OUR DIRECT SERVICE CONTINUE TO EXPAND AND ADD FURTHER ACCESSIBILITY TO THE DESTINATION. ITB BERLIN NEWS • Wednesday 7 th March 2018
