TWEPI unveils visitor guide at Staycation Expo
Tourism Windsor Essex Pelee Island unveiled their 2024/2025 Official Visitor Guide today ahead of the 10th annual Staycation Expo at Devonshire Mall this Friday and Saturday.
It marks the unofficial kick-off to the return of the tourism season in Windsor Essex.
The guide features all new content, engaging new diverse and drone photography, and buyable experiences to entice locals and visitors alike to explore the Windsor-Essex region in an authentic way.
"We took the opportunity to highlight the regions’ largest tourist attraction Caesars Windsor as the focus of our Official Visitor Guide to not only profile our top tourist attraction, but also capitalize on the brand recognition that Caesars Windsor brings with it," said Gordon Orr, CEO of Tourism Windsor Essex.
"Visitors are looking for trip planning inspiration, and our Official Visitor Guide is the ultimate tool to make that planning easy. Highlighting buyable experiences, one-of-a-kind itineraries and 280+ businesses, it is our most-packed guide ever, and will be a hot commodity on shelves and in businesses this year."
Orr said this year's cover highlights the region’s top tourist attraction, Caesars Windsor, noting Caesars Windsor is celebrating 30 years of gaming in Windsor this year.
"This year marks Caesars Windsor's 30th anniversary and we thank Tourism Windsor Essex for profiling prominently our casino on the front cover of their official visitor guide for the region. We value our longstanding partnership with them as both our organizations recognize how the introduction of gaming 30 years ago positively changed the tourism and hospitality landscape and helped put Windsor Essex on the map" said Kevin Laforet, president and CEO of Caesars Windsor.
"This milestone year has given us the opportunity to reflect on the incredible impact we've had on our community as the first commercial gaming casino in the country and the tremendous effect we have had as an economic generator and job creator. The evolution of our property over the last three decades has been a testament to our commitment to our employees, our community and our customers,” Laforet added.
The Staycation Expo runs during mall hours on Friday April 26 and 27, with officials saying it an event that encourages local residents to explore the great things to see and do in their own backyard.
The Expo features 50+ exhibitors profiling key attractions, tour operators, wineries, craft breweries, a local artisan market, summer festivals and more exhibiting inside Devonshire Mall, plus the first chance to pick up a copy of the 2024/2025 Official Visitor Guide.
“We've become kind of a destination out in the county,” stated Randy Ure, owner of Ure’s Country Kitchen in Malden Centre, between Amherstburg and Harrow.
“There's a lot of great tourism along the lake, but there's not a lot for kids to do. So we really are trying to appeal to kids and families,” Ure explained.
Ure noted the family run business has been open for 4 years and that they have been a part of the Staycation Expo for the last 3 years.
“People really enjoy it!”
He continued, “We find people are looking for things locally that they can do without going too far. You come out our way, you can hit the beach, you can have Holiday Beach, Colchester, and then people end up at our place for the golf or the ice cream. Sometimes they come early and do breakfast and then they go off and do other things.”
Devonshire Mall General Manager, Chris Savard said about 40,000 people come to the mall regularly between Friday and Saturday throughout the year, with tourism officials noting 52,000 people stopped by in 2023.
“Some of the best vacations are actually right here in our own backyard,” Savard said.
LaSalle Mayor Crystal Meloche told CTV News, “Supporting local is extremely important. We learned that during COVID and coming out of COVID. I think it's even more important that we support our small businesses and learn what's in our own backyards.”
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Serial sexual offender linked to unsolved 1970s homicides of four Calgary girls, women
An investigation into unsolved historical homicides from the 1970s has linked the deaths of two girls and two young women in and around Calgary to a now-deceased serial offender.
Woman with liver failure rejected for a transplant after medical review highlights alcohol use
For nearly three months, Amanda Huska has been in an Ontario hospital, part of it on life support, because of severe liver failure. Her history of alcohol use is getting in the way of her only potential treatment: a liver transplant.
$500K-worth of elvers seized at Toronto airport
Fishery and border service officers seized more than 100 kilograms of unauthorized elvers at the Toronto Pearson International Airport on Wednesday.
Toronto eliminated from PWHL playoffs
Toronto has been eliminated from the PWHL playoffs.
Information commissioner faces $700K funding shortfall, says system is 'overwhelmed'
Canada's information commissioner says her office is facing a $700,000 funding shortfall that could impact its ability to investigate complaints about government transparency and accountability.
B.C. man 'attacked suddenly' by adult grizzly near Alberta boundary: RCMP
A B.C. man is recovering from multiple injuries after he was "attacked suddenly" by an adult grizzly bear near Elkford Thursday afternoon.
Backlash over NFL player Harrison Butker's commencement speech has reached a new level
The NFL is distancing itself from controversial comments by Kansas City Chiefs kicker Harrison Butker during a recent commencement address.
Dabney Coleman, actor who specialized in curmudgeons, dies at 92
Dabney Coleman, the mustachioed character actor who specialized in smarmy villains like the chauvinist boss in '9 to 5' and the nasty TV director in 'Tootsie,' has died. He was 92.
Craig Berube named as next head coach of Toronto Maple Leafs
The Toronto Maple Leafs have named Craig Berube as their new head coach.