Top domestic destinations for Canadians: A look at canuck travel trends

Toronto continues its reign with Montreal and Vancouver filling out the top three

TORONTO, May 22, 2012 /CNW/ - Canada is one of the most beautiful countries in the word, so it should be no surprise that when it comes to travel, Canadians like to enjoy trips within their own country. With its impressive size, Canada has many unique regions - part of the reason exploring is so fun! From the mountains in British Columbia to the mist of Niagara Falls, Hotels.com® has put together a list of the top domestic destinations, using its latest Hotel Price Index™ (HPI™).

The 'In Crowd': Canada's Top Five Destinations

1. Toronto may not be the capital but it's definitely the number one hotspot. It's a city that can satisfy even the hardest to please travellers. Art and history lovers will appreciate the ROM and AGO, shoppers will enjoy the boutiques in Yorkville, and food lovers? Well, they've got the world at their fingertips. With a range of ethnic neighbourhoods, you can satisfy your hunger with cuisine from around the world. Average daily hotel rate: $142.
2. Montreal: Craving some European culture, but don't have the time or budget to leave the country? Then plan a visit to Montreal. This French-speaking city comes in at number two, and has a range of attractions for visitors such as the scenic, and historic, Old Montreal. If you're craving some exercise and green space, Mont Royal is a must-see, and if you're hungry? Well you can't visit without trying the famous smoked meat and, of course, the Canadian favourite, poutine. Average daily hotel rate: $151.
3. Vancouver: If you like seeing green, you'll love Vancouver. But this city has much more than trees and landscapes. For a unique shopping experience, check out the Granville Island Market or, if you'd rather get your heart pumping, hike or bike around the seawall in Stanley Park. If you're craving a bit of culture plan a visit to Vancouver's Chinatown, the largest in Canada, and check out the Dr. Sun Yat-Sen Classical Chinese Garden. Average daily hotel rate: $144.
4. Niagara Falls is one of the world wonders, so naturally it's near the top of the list. The falls itself is incredibly impressive, especially if you're up close on the Maid of the Mist or high up on Skylon tower. But there are many other things to check out, like the amusement park attractions on Lundy's Lane or, for more 'refined' entertainment, a show at the Fallsview Casino. Average daily hotel rate: $136.
5. Edmonton has seen an increase in popularity and has since made it into the top five domestic destinations - bumping out Ottawa.  Visitors will fall for West Edmonton Mall, which has attractions for non-shoppers too including an indoor waterpark, amusement park, ice skating rink and more. Edmonton is known as the 'Festival city,' but besides festivals travellers can check out the picturesque river valley, a popular area to hike, walk or ski (in the winter of course), the Old Strathcona Farmers market, or the galleries on 124^th street. Average daily hotel rate: $126.

The Trend Watch: How Canadian cities fared in 2011

Increases : 2011 was a great year for cities like Edmonton, Victoria, Saskatoon, Kelowna, Canmore and Regina which all experienced a boost in popularity. Saskatoon in particular gained a lot of ground climbing from the 17^th spot in 2010 to number 13 in 2011.

Decreases: Not all cities were as lucky though, and several destinations from the west coast to central Canada took a beating. Those included: Ottawa, Banff, Whistler, London, Jasper and Kingston.

Top 20 Domestic Destinations for Canadian Travellers
Rank	2011	2010
1	Toronto, ON	Toronto, ON
2	Montreal, QC	Montreal, QC
3	Vancouver, BC	Vancouver, BC
4	Niagara Falls, ON	Niagara Falls, ON
5	Edmonton, AB	Ottawa, ON
6	Ottawa, ON	Edmonton, AB
7	Calgary, AB	Calgary, AB
8	Quebec, QC	Quebec, QC
9	Victoria, BC	Banff, AB
10	Banff, AB	Victoria, BC
11	Winnipeg, MB	Winnipeg, MB
12	Halifax, NS	Halifax, NS
13	Saskatoon, SK	Whistler, BC
14	Whistler, BC	Jasper, AB
15	Kelowna, BC	London, ON
16	London, ON	Kelowna, BC
17	Canmore, AB	Saskatoon, SK
18	Jasper, AB	Kingston, ON
19	Regina, SK	Canmore, AB
20	Kingston, ON	Regina, SK

Planning travel within Canada is really a no brainer. We live in a country that has the best of both worlds, from charming countrysides to big cities with bright lights. It's no wonder we're so patriotic... or as we so humbly like to put it, "Canadian."

* The HPI is a biannual report that looks at hotel prices in cities all around the world. The data is based on bookings made through the Hotels.com website and the prices listed are the actual prices paid by Canadians - not advertised rates. The report compares prices paid in 2010 with those of 2011. For the full report, featuring infographics, detailed maps, colourful photos and a regional breakdown, visit: www.hotel-price-index.com.

About the HPI™
The HPI tracks the real prices paid per room by Hotels.com customers around the world using a weighted average based on the number of rooms sold in each of the markets that Hotels.com operates. The index started in 2004, and includes all bookings across the almost 142,000 properties in over 60 countries that make up the sample set of hotels from which prices are taken.

About Hotels.com®
Hotels.com also known in Canada as Hotels.ca) is a leading online accommodation booking website with more than 150,000 properties around the world, ranging from international chains and all-inclusive resorts to local favourites and bed & breakfasts, together with all the information needed to book the perfect stay. Hotels.com benefits from one of the largest hotel contracting teams in the industry, negotiating the best rates for its customers, and offers frequent sales, special deals and promotions. There are more than 6.5 million guest reviews on the site from users who have actually stayed in the hotels to ensure customers can make an informed choice when booking. Through its industry-leading loyalty program Welcome Rewards™, customers can earn a free night for every 10 nights stayed at more than 65,000 hotels. Under its Price Match Guarantee, if a customer can find the same deal for less on a prepaid hotel, Hotels.com will refund the difference. Travellers can book online or by contacting one of the multilingual call centres. Special apps for mobile phones and tablets can also be downloaded at www.hotels.com/deals/mobile_app/  enabling customers to book on the go with access to 20,000 last minute deals. Hotels.com publishes an award-winning twice-yearly review of international hotel room price trends called the Hotels.com Hotel Price Index™, which is now produced in 31 individual country editions, with North American data available at http://www.hotel-price-index.com. Follow Hotels.com on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/hotelsdotcomca, on Twitter at http://www.twitter.com/hotelsdotcomca and on YouTube at http://www.youtube.com/user/hotelsdotcom. Hotels.com is part of Expedia Inc., the largest online travel company in the world with an extensive portfolio that includes some of the world's best-known brands.

Hotels.com, Hotel Price Index, HPI, 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.

Image with caption: "Travellers flock to West Edmonton Mall, a popular attraction in the city which is now the number five destination in Canada. (CNW Group/Hotels.com)". Image available at: http://photos.newswire.ca/images/download/20120522_C9194_PHOTO_EN_13956.jpg

Press contacts: 

Lauren Wasley
energi PR for hotels.com
Phone: [phone] ext. 19
Email: [email protected] 

Taylor L. Cole, APR
hotels.com North America
Phone: [phone]
Email: [email protected]