VANCOUVER, BC, Oct. 7, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Canada is having a moment. From coast to coast to coast, the country's natural beauty, open-hearted spirit, and unforgettable travel experiences continue to capture the imagination of travelers worldwide. This week, that admiration was reaffirmed as Canada was named among the Top 10 Countries in the World in the 2025 US Condé Nast Traveler Readers' Choice Awards, one of the most respected accolades in global travel.

Each year, Condé Nast Traveler invites hundreds of thousands of readers to rate their favorite destinations across the globe. In the 2025 rankings, Canada earned the #10 spot, a recognition that celebrates both the country's breathtaking landscapes and the warmth of its people. Other parts of the country were recognized in categories like "Best Airport" and "Best Cities."

This recognition joins a wave of 2025 accolades, among them Most Loved Country in the World in the Country RepTrak® report, reflecting Canada's natural beauty, safety, and welcoming spirit. Canada also snagged three of the top five spots on North America's 50 Best Restaurants list including Mon Lapin (Montréal, Québec), Restaurant Pearl Morissette (Lincoln, Ontario) and Tanière3 (Québec City, Québec). It's further proof that in Canada, travelers naturally find what they're looking for.

"Travelers today are craving what's real; experiences that build compassion, spark belonging, and remind us of what we share," says Gloria Loree, Senior Vice-President, Marketing Strategy & Chief Marketing Officer at Destination Canada. "For Americans, Canada offers exactly that. It's a place that welcomes you in, leaves a lasting mark, and sends you home seeing the world and one another a little differently."

As travelers seek connection, meaning, and authenticity, Canada continues to deliver whether through vibrant cityscapes like Toronto and Montréal, wild wonderlands like Banff and Yukon, or Indigenous-led experiences that honor the land and its stories. From the people to the places, here's a taste of what makes those moments so lasting:

• A welcome that feels personal. In Canada, kindness isn't a gesture, it's a way of life. Conversations come easily, and visitors feel like neighbors from the moment they arrive.
• A culture open to many stories. Canada's identity is woven from many threads - Indigenous, French, English, and global - blending into a mosaic that shows up in every neighborhood, market, and festival.
• Cities in harmony with nature. From Montréal's creative spirit to Vancouver's coastal calm, Canadian cities invite exploration while keeping nature close at hand.
• Room to breathe. Towering peaks, quiet forests, and endless skies remind travelers to slow down, recharge, and reconnect with the world around them.
• Moments that can't be staged. Whether sparked by a shared meal, a starlit sky, or an unexpected act of generosity, the experiences in Canada linger - leaving travelers more open, grounded, and inspired.

With this recognition from Condé Nast Traveler's U.S. readers, Canada's place as a global leader in tourism is stronger than ever and is a true reflection of a destination where travel feels both transformative and true to its nature. To learn more, please visit CanadaNaturally.com to see "10 reasons Canada is the most loved country in the world."

NEW YORK 6 October, 2025 — Artificial intelligence is no longer a future trend but a present force reshaping hotel distribution and pricing. That was the central theme of the 4th Hospitality Pricing Innovation (HPI) Series, hosted by 123Compare.me in partnership with the Hotel Association of New York City (HANYC) and Keytel.

Held at Park Avenue Plaza in New York City, the roundtable brought together senior executives, distribution experts, and revenue leaders to examine how AI and data management are rewriting the rules of hotel distribution. The event concluded with strong participation and delivered actionable insights that directly affect hotel competitiveness worldwide.

Industry at a Crossroads

Panelists agreed the industry is entering uncharted territory, moving from human-driven to machine-to-machine rate negotiations, where bots will soon handle rates, availability, and conditions. Key takeaways included:

• Price integrity is non-negotiable: protecting direct channels against rate disparities is more urgent than ever in an AI-driven world.
• Personalization has limits: hotels should design experiences based on intent and context, not just fixed profiles.
• Content is strategic: each language not covered by a hotel’s website represents lost demand to OTAs.
• Efficiency through automation: real-time alerts and automated reporting help revenue managers oversee more properties with fewer errors.
• Value capture at the entry point: whoever controls the guest’s first touchpoint—Google, Apple, or OpenAI—will capture most of the value.
• Experiential travel is rising: AI will aggregate demand for micro-experiences, turning them into bookable products.

Executives Weigh In

“AI is no longer future talk—it’s already reshaping hotel distribution. Hoteliers must act now: organize data, strengthen content, and protect direct pricing,” said Jordi Serra, CEO of 123Compare.me.

Vijay Dandapani, President & CEO of HANYC, noted: “We are proud to have played a pivotal role in organizing this first-of-its-kind seminar on the new frontiers of digital distribution. Panelists and attendees alike shared insights that converged into actionable suggestions for the future of distribution.”

Raúl Álvarez, Global VP Digital Strategy, Innovation & eCommerce at Radisson Hotel Group, highlighted the transformative role of AI: “Artificial intelligence is redefining how we connect with our guests and strengthen direct bookings. At Radisson, we see AI not as a distant future but as a 24/7 partner that helps us work smarter, protect price integrity, and deliver value more efficiently. Price integrity builds trust with customers and enhances brand reputation, as travelers who see consistent pricing across platforms gain confidence and are more likely to book directly.”

Keytel added: “It has been an honor to co-organize the HPI Series in New York. The discussions on artificial intelligence were invaluable. While the event offered clear action points, it also showed that AI will bring increased operational costs for hotels. In this new era, experience, knowledge, and trusted partnerships are more vital than ever to help hotels maintain control of their strategy and shape their future.”

The discussions and insights from HPI New York have been compiled into the whitepaper “The New Rules of Hotel Distribution.” This resource provides hoteliers with a roadmap to strengthen their direct channel, protect profitability, and prepare for a market increasingly shaped by algorithms.

The whitepaper, “The New Rules of Hotel Distribution,” compiles the event’s insights and action points. It is available for free download [https://123compareme.net/en/whitebook-ai-hotel-distribution/].

MEDICINE HAT, AB, October 3, 2025. Sun City Hotels Ltd. is proud to announce that the Best Western Premier and Executive Residency Medicine Hat has been selected as a recipient of the prestigious 2025 M.K. Guertin Award, Best Western's highest honor and one of the hospitality industry's most coveted distinctions. The award will be presented at the Best Western North American Convention awards ceremony on October 7, 2025, in Seattle, Washington.

The M.K. Guertin Award, named after Best Western's founder, recognizes hotels that have demonstrated exceptional levels of service, quality, guest satisfaction, and unwavering commitment to the brand. The Best Western Premier Executive Residency Medicine Hat is among only 111 properties out of more than 2,300 BWH Hotels locations across the United States and Canada to receive this distinguished recognition.

"Receiving the M.K. Guertin Award represents the pinnacle of achievement within the Best Western family," said Kell Sloan, General Manager of Sun City Hotels Ltd. "This honor reflects the extraordinary dedication of our entire team who consistently go above and beyond to deliver exceptional guest experiences. From our front desk staff to housekeeping, maintenance, and food service teams at Denny's and Bar One, every team member has contributed to this remarkable achievement."

The award recognizes hotels that “best represent the vision of Best Western's founder and demonstrate exceptional levels of quality, guest satisfaction, and dedication to the brand”. Properties must meet rigorous brand standards and quality of service requirements to qualify for this exclusive recognition.

Currently ranked #1 among Medicine Hat's 22 hotels on TripAdvisor with 4.8/5.0 rating, the Best Western Premier Executive Residency has consistently maintained the highest guest satisfaction scores in the local market. The 99-room property features modern aquatic and wellness amenities including an indoor pool with waterslide, hot tub, steam room, and exercise facilities, along with comprehensive meeting spaces and on-site dining options.

"The M.K. Guertin Award honors Best Western hotels that demonstrate exemplary performance in key service areas that are important to our customers and to our brand," noted Best Western leadership in previous award ceremonies. The recognition celebrates properties that inspire travel through unique experiences while providing extraordinary service that builds lasting brand loyalty.

The award ceremony will take place during the Best Western 2025 North American Convention, October 6-8, 2025, at the Seattle Convention Center, where more than 2,800 hotel owners, staff, suppliers, and BWH Hotels corporate team members will gather to celebrate the strength and growth of the BWH Hotels brand.

This achievement comes at a significant time for Sun City Hotels Ltd., which recently announced plans for a $35 million expansion featuring a premium extended stay hotel with approximately 100 suites, enhanced aquatic amenities, and meeting spaces adjacent to their award-winning flagship property.

"This recognition validates our commitment to excellence and positions us perfectly as we embark on our expansion plans," added Sloan. "The M.K. Guertin Award demonstrates to our guests, community, and future partners that we consistently deliver on our promise of exceptional hospitality."

The Best Western Premier Executive Residency Medicine Hat joins an elite group of Canadian properties to receive this honor, including recent winners such as the Best Western Premier Chateau Granville Hotel & Suites in Vancouver and the Best Western Plus Drayton Valley All Suites in Alberta.