Canadians are embracing the chill in favour of cold-weather vacations

During the cold winter months it’s only natural to want to escape the snow for warmer climates. However, trends suggest more travellers are embracing the chill and turning to cold-weather vacations. According to a recent IHG (InterContinental Hotels Group) survey, majority of Canadians (60 per cent) consider Canada a go-to travel destination in the winter. This is especially true for millennials, of which a third prefer to embrace the cold and travel within Canada during the winter months (34 per cent). Given this new trend, IHG releases its Great Canadian Winter Travel List of can’t miss, cold-weather experiences to encourage Canadians to embrace the chill this travel season.

Beata Cieplik, Regional Vice President, IHG, Canada, said: “There’s no shortage of unique winter activities to experience in Canada, so who better to embrace the latest cold-weather travel trends? With our Great Canadian Winter Travel List, we want to show Canadians you don’t have to travel far to have a truly memorable winter vacation.”

The survey found that when it comes to seasonal travel, 51 per cent of Canadians currently don’t have any plans. For the half of Canadians who haven’t yet booked their travel this winter, don’t fret! It’s not too late to try something local.

Robin Esrock, bestselling author of The Great Canadian Bucket List and an internationally-recognized travel expert, agrees:“Beyond our obvious bounty of world-class ski resorts and active snow sports, Canada offers dozens of truly unique winter experiences, coast to coast.  Whether you’re sipping wine on snowshoes, dancing under the stars, encountering wildlife or chasing adventure, Canadian winters give us much to celebrate.”

Developed in partnership with Robin Esrock, the IHG Great Canadian Winter Travel List includes 10 must-try winter experiences located close to IHG hotels across the Great White North:

• Montreal: Pull an all-nighter exploring free cultural, musical and culinary delights at Nuit Blanche.
• Kelowna: Snowshoe the Myra Canyon Trestles overlooking sparkling Lake Okanagan, 3000 feet below.
• Saskatoon: Track Canada’s elusive grey wolf in the dense forests of Prince Albert National Park.
• Canmore: Discover stunning cave formations and ancient bones on a subterranean tour.
• Niagara on the Lake: Sample wines as you snowshoe through picturesque vineyards.
• Fredericton: Lay beneath Salvador Dali’s world-famous Santiago El Grande painting.
• Halifax: Enjoy a “sociable” beer in the home of Alexander Keith’s famous Indian Pale Ale
• Mont Tremblant: Explore stunning and snowy trails on a fat bike.
• Windsor:  Stargaze in the Dark Sky Preserve at Point Pelee, the most southerly point of mainland Canada.
• Victoria: Enjoy the bald eagle extravaganza at Goldstream Provincial Park.

With over 180 hotels across the country and 47 hotels in the pipeline, IHG’s hotels in Canada are a home away from home for travelers. With leisure-favourite hotel brands such as Holiday Inn and iconic luxury brands like InterContinental Hotels – IHG’s family of brands in Canada has more than 25,000 rooms across seven brands.