So which room in the Fort Garry Hotel is haunted, anyway?

And what Winnipeg merchant was imprisoned in the landmark Winnipeg hotel in the winter of 1869?

Well, it’s time for the Winnipeg 1913 Trivia Hunt, which was only a century in the making, as part of the Fort Garry Hotel’s 100 anniversary festivities.

"The Fort Garry Hotel is really an icon for all of Winnipeg," said hotel spokesperson Laura Wiebe. "There’s mystery around it. It’s had hard struggles. There’s stories of it being haunted."

http://www.winnipegfreepress.com/local/Fort-Garry-Hotel-celebrating-100th-anniversary-with-trivia-hunt-190262391.html

The future of harness racing in rural Manitoba remains undecided for 2013.

The Red River Exhibition wants to take over Assiniboia Downs in Winnipeg and standardbred racing is part of what they want to offer at the downs. Red River Exhibition General Manager Garth Rogerson says lots has to happen before they take control of the downs. He wants stakeholders to have their say on the future of harness racing in our province.

"That's the tough one, I don't know the funding situation going forward for the rural harness racing circuit but rumors are it doesn't sound very good. But I think that is some benefit to operations at Assiniboia Downs to see at least that some of those tracks survive to allow those horses to stay fit and conditioned and ready to go when we bring it onto the big track. I support to ensuring that some of those rural tracks stay open and operational."

http://www.pembinavalleyonline.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=30879&Itemid=425

In yet another historic milestone for this city, 2013 marks the 275th anniversary of the first white guys setting foot in Winnipeg.

In 1738, Quebec explorer Pierre Gaultier de Varennes, sieur de La Vérendrye paddled up the Red River to The Forks and built a fur-trading post he dubbed Fort Rouge. Although it was little more than a cabin on the south bank of the Assiniboine River, the fort marked the beginning of a European presence at the confluence of the Red and Assiniboine, a well-known gathering spot for indigenous people for the previous 6,000 years.

Depending on the account, the original Fort Rouge lasted only four to 10 years. But it paved the way for Fort Gibraltar, which was later renamed Fort Garry and then finally dubbed the City of Winnipeg in 1873.

http://www.winnipegfreepress.com/local/a-year-steeped-in-history-190337391.html

Destination BC is off the ground and ramping up for its official launch in April.

The much-anticipated names of the nine Destination BC board members were revealed last week.

The overseers of B.C.'s new tourism marketing organization include former Whistler resident Al Raine, Whistler Blackcomb lawyer Susan Tamiko Doi and Chief Gibby Jacob of the Squamish Nation.

Andrea Shaw, a former VANOC vice- president, has been named as the chair of the board.

"I'm really clear on what we as a board have to do," said Shaw, who worked with the Vancouver Olympic organizing committee. "That project changed my life. The most powerful lesson I learned in those ten years was the power of a clear vision. The key to our success in my mind...is to ensure we build a bold, solid vision for the organization."

http://www.piquenewsmagazine.com/whistler/destination-bc-announces-board-of-directors/Content?oid=2450200

Just mentioning China at last month's New York Times travel show sparked a flurry of activity in which names and phone numbers were traded like baseball cards.

The "new Chinese tourist" appears to be causing a stir in the US travel industry.

With trend forecasters such as the Boston Consulting Group declaring that China will become the world's second-largest travel and tourism market by the end of 2013 and with the US at the top of China's "long-haul" travel destinations list, it's no wonder more and more US hoteliers and tourism boards are expressing their "Huanying" ("Welcome").

"I always try to set up meetings at [the International] Pow Wow every year with all the different Chinese companies that come through," said Millie Nye, Sales Manager for the Long Island Convention and Visitors Bureau, referring to the US Travel Association's premier annual marketplace. Although Long Island is a secondary market for Chinese tourists, "more sophisticated travelers" visit the region, she said.

Today's average Chinese tourist is younger, more educated, more international and more affluent, according to a joint 2012 study by China Travel Trends, Dragon Trail, China Outbound Travel Researchi Institute and the Pacific Asia Travel Association.

http://usa.chinadaily.com.cn/epaper/2013-02/08/content_16216682.htm

HONOLULU, Hawaii - Tourism officials are planning to issue a brochure later this year to raise awareness among tourists about potential perils while enjoying Hawaii.

The Visitor Aloha Society and Hawaii Tourism Authority plan to release an online brochure with tips for travelling safely in the islands. The brochure will be available in multiple languages and will be distributed to marketing partners, hotels and other visitor industry stakeholders, according to the Honolulu Star-Advertiser (http://is.gd/bu5oCn ).

At least 11 tourists in Hawaii have died in accidents so far this year, officials said. Five tourists drowned, four died in traffic accidents and two fell from cliffs.

http://www.winnipegfreepress.com/travel/hawaii-tourism-officials-plan-brochure-aimed-at-keeping-tourists-safe-while-enjoying-islands-190272651.html

Complete: MADRID - Las Vegas Sands casinos and Madrid officials have chosen the town of Alcorcon on the outskirts of the Spanish capital as the site for the multibillion-dollar "EuroVegas" casino project, which authorities hope will bring much-needed jobs and investment to the recession-wracked country.

Madrid regional government president Ignacio Gonzalez said Friday that work on the first of three phases would begin at the end of 2013 and would be completed by 2017.

The entire project, initially comprising 12 hotels and six casinos, is to be finished by 2023 at an estimated cost of €22 billion.

Las Vegas Sands is to fund 35 per cent of the project. It is not clear where the remaining 65 per cent will come from.

Spain has a swollen deficit and 26 per cent unemployment.

http://www.winnipegfreepress.com/travel/madrid-town-of-alcorcon-chosen-for-eurovegas-gambling-resort-that-spain-hopes-will-bring-jobs-190346041.html

HONOLULU, Hawaii - Aerosmith frontman Steven Tyler plans to attend a legislative hearing in Hawaii on Friday on a bill that bears his name and would limit people's freedom to take photos and video of celebrities. Hawaii's Senate Judiciary Committee plans to consider the so-called Steven Tyler Act on Friday morning, the first time lawmakers will discuss the bill publicly.

A publicist for the former "American Idol" judge told The Associated Press on Thursday that Tyler submitted written testimony supporting the proposal, which would allow people to collect damages from someone who photographs them in an offensive way during their personal or family time.

"The paradise of Hawaii is a magnet for celebrities who just want a peaceful vacation," Tyler said in a statement emailed to The Associated Press....       ...Sen. Kalani English, from Maui, says he introduced the bill at the request of Tyler, who owns a multimillion-dollar home in Maui. More than two-thirds of the state's senators have co-sponsored the bill.

English says the bill will spur celebrity tourism to the islands, boosting Hawaii's economy.

http://www.winnipegfreepress.com/world/aerosmith-frontman-tyler-to-attend-hawaii-hearing-on-celebrity-photo-privacy-190311381.html

(A complete article published originally in the WFP, Jan.  '12)

The furnishing committee of. the G.T. P. hotel department, which has been selecting the furnishings for the new Fort Garry hotel since Jan. 20, completed its work Monday -with the exception of a few minor equipments and most of the members have gone back to their regular work. W. B. Davis, passenger traffic manager for the G.T. P., who is a member of the committee, left yesterday for the east. Mr. Bergman, manager of the hotel department, stated yesterday that he was very pleased with the showing that Winnipeg factories had made in sending in tenders. He said that many very good samples were shown by local manufacturers and that, all the members of the committee were glad to favor them as much as possible. He said that all the exhibits were very good and that considerable difficulty was encountered in making the choices because each was practically as good as the other. From the appearance of the selections made, Mr. Bergman states that the hotel will be one of the finest in Canada. The equipments for the kitchen, laundry and some of the other minor details have not as yet been selected, but Mr. Bergman will attend to this task immediately and will turn the report into the purchasing  department of the road.