Texas Tourism brings the Lone Star State to Toronto

Seven Texas destination representatives were in attendance as Texas Tourism promoted the state to a Toronto audience at a breakfast event yesterday morning. The diversity of the state’s culture, landscapes, cuisine, outdoor adventure and more were showcased at the event, which involved presentations from representatives of Fort Worth, Galveston, Grapevine, Houston, Lubbock, McAllen, and San Antonio.

Rosalyn Hunter, PR director for Texas Tourism in Canada, emphasized the popularity of Texas among Canadian travellers, with Canada currently representing the second largest source of arrivals for the state – totalling 453,000 in 2015. Ontario remains the number one market in Canada for travel to Texas, followed by Alberta and British Columbia.

Hunter said that Texas’ status as an ‘exciting and enticing destination’ was demonstrated by the addition of three Air Canada routes into the state from this country: Toronto-Texas, Vancouver-Dallas Fort Worth, and the Montreal-Dallas Fort Worth route, which is scheduled to commence on May 26. She encouraged Canadian travellers not to be dissuaded by the poor exchange rate on offer, pointing to the advantages of tax-free shopping in Texas and the value offered by the CityPass program operated in Dallas and Houston.

Debra Bustos, Economic Development & Tourism, Texas Tourism; Rosalyn Hunter, PR director, Texas Tourism in Canada

Galveston

The island is a popular year-round destination, easily accessible by its Causeway. The family-friendly beaches of Galveston compare favourably to more raucous spring break destinations, while the island’s resilience in the face of recent hurricanes is exemplified by the Galveston Seawall, the longest continuous sidewalk in the U.S. It is home to several large festivals including Dickens on the Strand – in which the whole downtown area transforms into Dickensian London at Christmas.

Houston

Houston was billed as an ideal destination for a weekend getaway for Canadian travellers, with the city boasting a youthful, diverse scene along Avenida Houston – its new pedestrian-friendly dining and entertainment district. One of the city’s most prominent attractions is Independence Plaza at Space Center Houston, a full-sized space shuttle on top of a Boeing 737; other features at the space center include a Mars exhibit, moon rocks, and the opportunity to have lunch with a real astronaut.

San Antonio

The spotlight is set to turn to San Antonio as it prepares for its 300th anniversary in 2018. The annual Fiesta festival, held every April, celebrates its predominantly Mexican and Spanish culture, and the River Walk along the picturesque Serpentine River remains a popular feature. The iconic Alamo, meanwhile, was christened a UNESCO World Heritage site in July 2015. Service from Toronto to San Antonio will be boosted by the launch of a new Air Canada route on May 1.

McAllen

McAllen’s status among the cheapest places to live in the U.S. was highlighted as an attractive factor for Canadian tourists to Texas. The city, which is easily accessible with direct flights from Houston and Dallas, boasts appealing features for business and leisure travellers alike: in addition to the expansive McAllen Convention Center, it also offers a range of diverse culinary experiences and an ideal climate for golfing, camping and birding. McAllen also consistently ranks among the country’s safest locations.

Lubbock

Lubbock’s 263 days of sunshine each year were offered as a central reason for its flourishing wine culture – illustrated by the fact that it grows 90 per cent of the grapes used in Texas wine. Billed as ‘the original rock and roll capital of Texas,’ the city houses the Buddy Holly Center – a tribute to the music legend who was born in Lubbock. Among Lubbock’s prominent winemakers is the award-winning Kim McPherson, while the American Wind Power Center is the largest windmill museum in the world.

Grapevine

Lubbock’s Urban Wine Trail offers tasting rooms across 10 wineries throughout Grapevine. The Legoland Discovery Center and Sealife Grapevine Aquarium made the city ideal for a family vacation, while its scenic views include the expansive Lake Grapevine – which hosts the annual Independence Day fireworks on July 4. The city has also been boosted by Stand Rock Hospitality’s announcement that it is to construct a new 1,020 sq. ft. resort, including waterparks, dining outlets and mini-golf.

Fort Worth

Several new developments are coming to Fort Worth in the near future, including the Trinity River Vision Project – an expansive undertaking aimed at connecting several neighbourhoods directly to the Trinity River. Construction on the Will Rogers Memorial Center Arena Project – a 14,000 seat arena that will host sporting events and more – is expected to be completed by December 2019, while a number of hotels are scheduled to open towards the end of this year, including the 210-room Hampton Inn & Suites Hotel.