No Place Like Roam: RTO 9 Partners with VIA Rail and Landsby For Exclusive New ‘Rail + Roam’ Campaign
Initiative encourages locals and visitors alike to explore all that South Eastern Ontario has to offer through an array of exclusive getaway and stay-and-play packages
| Kingston, ON – November 16, 2021 – RTO 9 is teaming up with VIA Rail and Canadian travel company Landsby to heat up the winter season by offering exclusive new Rail + Roam packages that encourage travellers to ride the rails and safely explore well-known gems, best-kept secrets and off-the-beaten-path adventures across the region. From now until March 15, 2022, Rail + Roam allows locals and visitors alike to indulge in a wide array of culinary, adventure and wellness-themed experiences that can be booked through landsby.ca/rail-and-roam/. These experiences offer unique ways to get out and soak in the small-city warmth and hospitality of places such as Kingston, Brockville, Gananoque, Cornwall, Belleville and more. Stretching from Lake Ontario all the way to the Quebec border, South Eastern Ontario follows along the northern shore of the St. Lawrence River and encompasses the laid back charm of Prince Edward County, the historic architecture of Kingston, stunning views of the 1000 Islands and the UNESCO-designated Rideau Canal. The region also backs up its claims as a true culinary hub, offering food lovers and wine aficionados alike a myriad of opportunities to sip, sample and savour their way through award-winning wineries, craft breweries and restaurants serving locally sourced, farm-fresh fare. “We’ve seen a lot of people — including Snowbirds — who are planning on staying closer to home this winter, so it’s the perfect time for people to book an escape and explore smaller towns across the region,” says Bonnie Ruddock, executive director for the Regional Tourism Organization of South Eastern Ontario (RTO 9). “South Eastern Ontario is Ours to Re-discover again, and Rail + Roam offers so many ways to relax, recharge and get rejuvenated by taking part in unforgettable experiences while also supporting local businesses in our own backyard.” |
| Among others, examples of the exclusive getaway and stay-and-play packages available through the Rail + Roam promotion include:A two-night ‘Glamping’ experience‘ inside a Mongolian-style yurt at Apple Hill’s Springfield Farm, including transfers from either the Cornwall or Alexandria VIA stations from $399 CAD for two nights plus taxA two-night ‘Seaway and Cider Experience’ in Kingston that includes suite accommodations at the Residence Inn by Marriott, a private Seaway and Helicopter tour of the 1000 Islands archipelago and lunch at the region’s newest cider mill for $969 CAD per couple plus tax A two-night culinary experience in the village of Morrisburg including a stay at the historic Russell Manor B&B and a gourmet three-course meal at its bistro for $620 CAD per couple plus tax A two-night stay at the Victorian-style Secret Garden Inn in Kingston that includes a gourmet private chef-curated three-course meal for two with wine pairings and breakfast service for $439 CAD per couple plus tax A three-night stay at the historic Cove Country Inn in the village of Westport on the banks of Rideau Canal with passes to nearby Foley Mountain for $299 CAD per couple plus tax A luxurious two-night ‘Modern Lakeside Retreat’ where guests are welcomed as friends at Prince Edward County’s stunning new Mirazule Inn set high on a cliff overlooking Lake Ontario for a 3-day/2-night luxurious stay with delicious breakfast and all beverages included for $1,380 CAD per couple plus taxLandsby has developed a series of unique, exclusive packages that combine accommodations and local experiences unique to this region. Packages are available for all ages, interests and price points. Train travel by VIA Rail to and from Toronto, Ottawa, Montreal and the surrounding region can be added on to all packages (for an additional fee) to add an extra element of ease to travellers’ visits. “The travel industry, and the people we serve, are in a phase of recovery. To that end, Canadians are yearning for authentic travel experiences that satisfy a need for both adventure and comfort, that support our local businesses and aid in our collective growth,” said Jason Sarracini, founder of Landsby. “The Rail + Roam packages in South Eastern Ontario embrace this trifecta, providing Canadians with opportunities to explore the beauty and wonder of their own country.” The Rail + Roam campaign is a collaboration between the provincially funded tourism organization RTO 9, which works to support and grow tourism across 10 destinations in South Eastern Ontario; VIA Rail, Canada’s national rail passenger service; and Landsby, a Canadian travel company that launched in May 2021. The initiative is part of an ongoing recovery campaign built to support the local tourism economy while driving visits to the South Eastern Ontario region during the upcoming winter months. This is the first partnership of its kind between South Eastern Ontario, VIA Rail and Landsby. HOW TO BOOK Travellers can explore and choose from a wide array of Rail + Roam packages by visiting landsby.ca/rail-and-roam/ until March 15, 2022. For more information about travel to South Eastern Ontario, visit www.southeasternontario.ca |
About RTO 9
RTO 9 is a regional tourism organization established in 2010 that is funded by the Ontario Ministry of Heritage, Sport, Tourism, and Culture Industries. RTO 9 actively promotes tourism for the South Eastern Ontario region and works to support and grow the tourism industry through marketing, product development, investment attraction, and workforce development initiatives. The regions of South Eastern Ontario are 1000 Islands Gananoque, Bay of Quinte, Brockville, Cornwall and Stormont, Dundas & Glengarry Counties, Frontenac County, Kingston, Lennox and Addington, Prince Edward County and the 1000 Islands and Rideau Canal Waterways.
About Landsby
Landsby – a name derived from the Nordic word for ‘village’ — is a new Canadian tourism company with one driving principle: we are stronger when we work together. Landsby partners with large and small Canadian tourism partners to create unique and authentic experiences that not only provide travellers with authentic, immersive trips but positively impact the communities being explored. Landsby is helping to support and rebuild Canada’s tourism sector through innovative collaborations, storytelling and a soon-to-launch online community marketplace program.
About VIA Rail
As Canada’s national rail passenger service, VIA Rail and all its employees are mandated to provide safe, efficient and economical passenger transportation service, in both official languages of our country. VIA Rail operates intercity, regional and transcontinental trains linking over 400 communities across Canada, and about 180 more communities through intermodal partnerships, and safely transported more than five million passengers in 2019. The Corporation has been awarded nine Safety Awards and three Environment Awards by the Railway Association of Canada since 2005.
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