On April 13, 2012, in the spirit of highlighting Canada and the world’s most vibrant garden experiences and Garden Tourism’s limitless potential, the Canadian Garden Tourism Council, in consultation with a Canadian and international jury network, was proud to announce the Rooftop Garden of The Fairmont Royal York hotel, Toronto, as a 2012 winner at the Garden Tourism Awards. The hotel’s fourteenth floor roofgarden and apiary took the top award in the winning category: “Canadian Garden Tourism Initiative of the Year.”
The award was presented at the Annual Canadian and International Garden Tourism Awards Luncheon, sponsored by VIA Rail Canada and hosted by VanDusen Botanical Garden in Vancouver, British Columbia.The Garden Tourism Awards are presented to organizations and individuals who have distinguished themselves in the development and promotion of the garden experience as a tourism attraction.
“Gardens are among Canada’s premier tourism destinations, offering unique experiences and attracting visitors from our core and emerging markets,” said Michele McKenzie, President & CEO of the Canadian Tourism Commission as she presented today’s Awards.
Dave Cowen, Chair of the B.C. Garden Tourism Coalition, and General Manager of Butchart Gardens closed the event saying, “Given the enormous number of Canadian and American travellers – almost 14 million annually, as quoted in the latest TAMS report — who include visiting Canadian gardens among the top ten things they want to do while on a holiday, it has been a pleasure to recognize Canada and the world’s many and varied garden experiences as vibrant tourism products.”
The inaugural Garden Tourism Awards were presented at the 2011 Garden Tourism Conference held in Toronto.
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