What was once ugly bush and a place big shipping containers were loaded off trains onto trucks will in days be the mecca for shoppers from Thunder Bay, Regina and all points between.

Winnipeg's new IKEA throws open its doors Nov. 28, ending more than four years of behind-the-scenes political wheeling and dealing in which some of the players couldn't even tell their wives what they were working on -- it was that big a secret....        ...

The province jumped on board not just because IKEA's arrival was a big vote of confidence in Winnipeg's place in the retail firmament, but because it would be a tourist draw.

"We did believe that there was going to be a pretty significant tourism impact for the city," the provincial source said. "People will come here to shop."

http://www.winnipegfreepress.com/local/in-on-the-secret-180477851.html

Complete: The City of Brandon’s new accommodation tax has collected more than $214,000 in the first three months. City treasurer Dean Hammond said the amount brought in between July 1 to Sept. 30 is in line with their initial projections of $800,000 to $1 million per year. “Things went pretty smoothly for the first go-around,” Hammond said. “We were working closely with hoteliers to make sure they understand the process and what the expectations were.” The city is still waiting on one hotel to submit their accommodation tax funds. “It’s a very small hotel, so we’re following up to make sure that we receive their payment,” Hammond said. “It’s not going to significantly change that amount.” Hammond wouldn’t disclose which hotel is still holding out, citing privacy issues.

“We’re still following up with that one hotel but I’m not anticipating any issues there,” Hammond said. “And going forward, we’ll continue to work with the hotels to make sure the process works smoothly.”

The accommodation tax means hotel guests pay roughly $3 extra per night. Funds collected from the hotel tax will be funnelled into tourism initiatives, particularly for attracting or keeping events in Brandon. City council approved a $25,000 grant to Hockey Brandon for the Tournament of Champions this week, which is the first payment out of the accommodations tax reserve. Hockey Brandon president Glen Parker said they are honoured to be the first group, and are looking forward to what the grant will help them accomplish.

“It will be to initially help us market the tournament so we can try to attract more teams from further away, that will add to the whole feel of the tournament, giving it that international flavour again,” Parker said. The annual tournament runs every February, and brings an estimated 4,000 people, including hockey players and parents to the city.

“We’re certainly trying to maintain that number but we want to increase the awareness and … add the sizzle to the steak,” he said. “Do some more off-ice stuff, so people are encouraged to keep coming here and enjoy their time, even when they’re not at the rink.”

No other applications have been submitted to access the accommodation tax reserve.

“The only means in which funds can be spent out of that fund are when applications are made that fit the criteria that’s been set up,” said Sandy Trudel, the city’s director of economic development. “So basically that reserve will continue to grow until, obviously, events come forward ... or requests that meet the criteria are approved.”

Trudel expects more applications will start to come in, as more people learn about and understand the goal of the funding.“(It’s) a new funding process, so people are just beginning to get their heads wrapped around what it means relative to the potential for bringing new events to the community,” Trudel said.

The main goal of the initiative is to generate events that will result in overnight stays in Brandon.“It could be a new event that is applying, it could be an existing event that is looking to enhance their event and generate more room nights, or it could be an event that is in existence and ... their existence in Brandon is being threatened by another community’s pursuit of them,” Trudel said.

http://www.brandonsun.com/local/hotel-tax-has-already-yielded-214k-180498181.html?thx=y

Canada's national tourist board has announced details of a new promotional video that features Canadians extending an invitation to global travellers.

This summer, the Canadian Tourism Commission (CTC) asked citizens to take on the job of showcasing their country, resulting in a two-minute film that celebrates the nation's landscapes, food, wildlife and culture, among many other attractions.

Officially launched this week, the video will be rolled out internationally through various marketing campaigns and events.

It will also feature on the front page of the CTC's international websites.

http://news.opodo.co.uk/NewsDetails/2012-11-22/Canadians_invite_international_travellers

Complete: NEW YORK, N.Y. - The National Park Service says the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island will not reopen to visitors this year.

Both sites have been closed since Superstorm Sandy hit the region Oct. 29. Cleanup and repairs have been ongoing.

The Statue of Liberty itself received little or no damage. The pedestal and base, including the main floor and exhibits upstairs, are OK. But docks, a brick promenade, railings and other facilities on Liberty Island were damaged. At Ellis Island, the storm damaged doors, windows and exhibits in the ferry building among other sites.

Park Service spokeswoman Daphne Yun said Wednesday no projected reopening date has been established. Both the statue and Ellis Island, which served as an entry point for immigrants for a half-century, are among New York's top tourist attractions.

http://www.winnipegfreepress.com/travel/statue-of-liberty-and-ellis-island-will-not-reopen-in-2012-due-to-sandy-damage-180418861.html

International visitors continue to give a solid boost to tourism in the United States, new government numbers show.

In June, the number of international visitors to the country rose 7 percent from a year ago to 5.3 million. It’s the 15th straight month of increases in international tourism to the USA.

Top markets in June continued to be Canada, up 9 percent, and Mexico, up 2 percent, from a year earlier. Arrivals from Brazil jumped 13 percent from a year ago, said the federal government’s Office of Travel and Tourism Industries.

http://blogs.sun-sentinel.com/south-florida-travel/2012/11/21/international-tourism-to-us-up-7-percent-in-first-half/

(A complete article published originally in the WFP, Nov.  '51)

Deer hunting season In Manitoba south of the 53rd parallel opened Thursday instead of next Monday, and hunters can shoot one animal of either sex and of any age. G. W. Malaher, director of game and fisheries, explained Wednesday decision was made earlier in the day and an order-in-council to that effect was passed, The great inroads made in crops still lying in fields — especially by does and fawns — prompted the move, he said. The situation is so bad the unprecedented move to allow both docs and fawns to be shot, as well as bucks, had to be introduced, he said. He emphasized that the season bag is still one animal a hunter. In view of the unexpected change, many farmers and woodsmen who ate in the bush cutting wood and Christmas trees, will not know of the new shooting dates. A sportsman Thursday said many will not be dressed in white or red and urged hunters to use extreme caution.