Hotels.com survey reveals how Canadians want to celebrate and what puts them in the mood for romance
TORONTO, Feb. 1, 2012 /CNW/ - Valentine's Day is just around the corner, the time when single people crawl under rocks, and couples get ready to flaunt their love. The malls are packed with fluffy teddy bears, sappy cards and heart-shaped chocolates. The florists are full of flowers and the jewellers have sales, but what does this all mean for Canadians - are these things that really make Valentine's Day special?
Hotels.com® asked its Canadian customers to dish on what their ideal Valentine's Day entailed and the 2012 Romance Survey results were hot! Turns out Canadians, while sometimes traditional, really like private time together as a couple.
Lake Louise Brings the Love - Most romantic place in Canada
Toronto, Vancouver and Montreal, may be the most popular provinces for travel in Canada, however, its prairie province Alberta which steals the spotlight on Valentine's Day. Spending the holiday in a lodge near Lake Louise, in Banff, was number one with over 36 per cent of the votes. Dinner at the Old Port of Montreal or a chalet in Whistler tied for second place at 24 percent. With Valentine's Day coming up quick, hotels.com makes it possible to score a great Valentine's Day hotel deal for that perfect romantic rendezvous.
Getting "Romantic"- Every day
Yes, you read that right; Canadians on vacation make time for romance - lots of it. More than 44 per cent of Canadians make sure that their daily itineraries include intimate time with that special someone. Nothing says 'I love you' more than time together.
"There's something romantic about being spontaneous," said Taylor L. Cole, APR, director of public relations and social media for hotels.com. "Tonight's Local Deals on our site and the hotels.com mobile apps, which feature exclusive mobile deals, allow couples to find an abundance of last minute travel deals and jolt romance into their winter by getting away, even if it is at a local cozy hotel."
Location, Location, Location - Beds are number one
Forget the bathtub, Jacuzzi, couch and balcony, Canadians say the most romantic place for hanky panky is the bed. Maybe it's because they're in the mood for love more often but, when travelling and staying in hotels, the bed rules with more than 39 per cent of votes.
The Way to a Canadian's Heart - Celebrate with dinner
Surprisingly, men and women can agree...at least on some things. One of those things is a love for food. More than 30 per cent of Canadians would choose an intimate dinner for two as their number one activity on Valentine's Day. Coming in second is the excitement of exploring a new city. Interestingly enough, even in today's modern society 42 per cent of all respondents (men and women) feel that the man should pay.
Fuelling the Fire - Champagne in the hotel sets the tone
Paris isn't called the City of Love for nothing, and the French must have known they were onto something when they created champagne. For Canadians, nothing gets them in the mood faster. An overwhelming 50 per cent of men and women said they would most like to find champagne in their room. This beat chocolate-covered strawberries, dark chocolate and oysters.
Lingerie Makes Our Day?...err...Night! - Must-pack item
Don't worry folks, the appeal of the garter belt is unlikely to ever get old. Lingerie topped the list with 58 per cent of the votes when it came to the most important item for a romantic getaway. Other items included a camera, which was most popular for men between 40 and 49 years or age, contraceptives, and for a small percentage of respondents, an engagement ring.
So Happy Together...We Wish - Most desired celebrity date
Remember when Ryan Gosling and Rachel McAdams were an item? Well these gorgeous canucks clearly made more than just their own hearts flutter as they were the number one male and female dream dates. They beat out attractive crooner Michael Bublé, hockey icon Sidney Crosby, movie star Elisha Cuthbert and Canadian pin-up Pamela Anderson.
Can't Buy Me Love - Gifts? No thanks
Most Canadians, more than 66 per cent of them, are more concerned about spending quality time together than receiving presents. That being said, if you really want to buy a gift, jewellery came in second at 19 per cent.
Planning a romantic Valentine's Day is always a challenge, so why not keep it simple and spend time with each other exploring some of the most romantic destinations in Canada. Just add dinner, some champagne and lingerie, and you'll have all the tools for romance. The Valentine's Day hotel deals on hotels.com are an easy and affordable way to plan your perfect romantic getaway.
All hotel deals are subject to availability. To book your hotel room, visit www.hotels.com, call 1-800-CA-HOTELS or use our mobile apps. Other news and images are available at our media room: http://press.hotels.com/en-ca.
About hotels.com
Hotels.com (also known in Canada as hotels.ca) is a leading provider of worldwide accommodations to Canadians, offering reservation services through its website at www.hotels.com and its toll-free call centre at 1-800-CA-HOTELS (1-800-224-6835). Hotels.com offers travellers the widest selection of accommodations - from traditional hotels to vacation rentals - at almost 145,000 properties in Canada, the United States, Europe, and around the world. The company offers a one-stop shopping source for hotels, with 2.5 million customer reviews, a Price Match Guarantee, an industry leading loyalty rewards program, welcomerewards®, and pricing in Canadian dollars. Follow us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/hotelsdotcomca and Twitter at www.twitter.com/hotelsdotcomca. Hotels.com is a brand owned and operated by Expedia, Inc. (NASDAQ: EXPE).
Hotels.com and the Hotels.com logo are either registered trademarks or trademarks of Hotels.com, LP. All other trademarks are property of their respective owners. © 2012 Hotels.com, LP. All rights reserved. CST # 2083949-50
Image with caption: "Hotels.com Romance Survey: Find out how Canadians want to spend Valentine's Day. (CNW Group/Hotels.com)". Image available at: http://photos.newswire.ca/images/download/20120201_C8442_PHOTO_EN_9501.jpg
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Lauren Wasley | Taylor L. Cole, APR |
energi PR for hotels.com | hotels.com North America |
Phone: (416) 425-9143 ext. 19 | Phone: (469) 335-8442 |
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