Latest news with #EasternTownships
Time Out
a day ago
- Entertainment
- Time Out
A Quebec tourism ad is making Americans emotional but not for the reason you think
Know anyone in the U.S. who needs a hug? An ad from the Eastern Townships tourism board offering hugs to Americans visiting Quebec has gone viral, even scoring a celebrity endorsement from an Academy Award winner. The Eastern Townships, just north of Vermont and a short drive from Boston and New York City, is one of our favourite getaways. The 'Come Hug It Out' ad campaign, which shows an American tourist approaching the front desk at a hotel. 'Sorry, I don't speak French. I'm just visiting,' he says, before leaning in and adding in a whisper: 'I'm American.' Without missing a beat, the clerk reaches under the desk and presses a red button — which swings open the counter, allowing her to step out and give him a warm hug. The lighthearted ad hints at the considerable political tension between Canada and the U.S., and arrives on the heels of a new US travel requirement in addition to the updated U.S. travel rules and safety advisories—plus a travel warning sharing risks and recommended precautions for U.S. citizens travelling to Canada. The post on Instagram shared the following message: 'What if this summer, we opened our arms wide to warmth, smiles, and genuine moments? In the Eastern Townships, hospitality isn't something we say — it's something you feel. Come hug it out in the Eastern Townships — Close to you. Far from ordinaire.' Online, viewers shared comments like: 'This American in Texas would like a Canadian hug, please.' Even actress Sharon Stone chimed in, leaving the message: "Thanks we need a hug." In a press release, Isabelle Charlebois, General Director of Tourism Eastern Townships, wrote: 'Our American guests are more than tourists, they're part of our story. This ad campaign is our way of saying: we appreciate you and we can't wait to welcome you again.'
CNN
a day ago
- CNN
Canadian kindness breaks the internet
A viral ad campaign from the Eastern Townships Tourism Association has a message for American travelers hoping to come to Canada.
CNN
a day ago
- CNN
Canadian kindness breaks the internet
A viral ad campaign from the Eastern Townships Tourism Association has a message for American travelers hoping to come to Canada.
The Independent
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- The Independent
Quebec trolls Trump's America with new tourist campaign
A tourism board in Quebec, Canada has poked fun at the US with its new campaign aimed at getting Americans to visit. The advert, called 'Come Hug It Out', was released last month by Eastern Township Tourism office and shows an American holidaymaker looking confused at a hotel's front desk when the worker starts speaking to him in French. When he tells him that he's American, she looks sheepish before pressing a red button which opens the desk counter top. She then proceeds to give him a long hug as the words 'come hug it out in the Eastern Townships' appears on screen. The advert has since gone viral, with Oscar winning actress Sharon Stone commenting: 'Thanks, we need a hug.'
CTV News
2 days ago
- Business
- CTV News
Eastern Townships tourism ad offers hug to Americans travelling to Canada
The "Come hug it out" ad campaign from the Eastern Townships has sparked an increase in tourism from the US. (Cantonsdelest) In the spring, tourism agents in Quebec's Eastern Townships region say they saw fewer travellers from south of the border. Stats from the border showed almost a five per cent drop in U.S. entries into Canada compared to the same time in 2024. 'We were hearing real concerns,' said Eastern Townships Tourism director of visitor services Catherine Carignan-Lavasseur. 'Americans were actually, literally calling our hotels and attractions asking, 'Am I still welcome? Are people going to be nice to us if we come? Are we going to be served in English?' In regards to, obviously, the political and economic context that kind of started at that period of time, so that kind of sparked a red flag.' Carignan-Lavasseur said Americans represent six per cent of visitors to the Eastern Townships, generating nearly $73 million a year in economic impact. The answer was the 'Come Hug It Out' ad campaign, where a sheepish American approaches a Ripplecove Hotel and Spa clerk in Ayer's Cliff, Que. 'Sorry, I don't speak French. I'm just visiting,' he says. He then whispers, 'I'm American,' and the clerk reaches under the desk to push a red button. The button opens the desk counter top, and she goes and gives him a hug. 'The ad is a warm, humorous 30-second ad, but it's also truly an invitation,' said Carignan-Lavasseur. 'It's a symbolic hug to our American neighbours, and it really reflects who we are in the Eastern Townships: approachable, kind and authentic.' Tourism Eastern Townships said it is planning a mid-season assessment in August, but said it has already seen an 83 per cent increase in traffic to its English-language website, with over 90,000 unique visitors since May 26. The numbers are also up 137 per cent from the U.S., and the ads on Instagram, YouTube, and Facebook have been viewed over 5.5 million times, the organization said. Academy Award-nominated actress Sharon Stone was among those who left comments on the Instagram post. 'Thanks,' the Casino star wrote. 'We need a hug.' 'We actually have a lot of Americans calling us, emailing us, saying that they were hesitating in visiting Quebec in the Eastern Townships this summer, and that actually seeing the ad had given them more confidence in doing so, and they decided to keep their travel plans,' said Carignan-Lavasseur. 'There is a rise in reservations. There's a presence of Americans in the Eastern Townships, and also we're seeing Americans coming from not only the New England region, but from all over the United States.' She said that the ad was meant to be less about encouraging Americans to visit due to the beneficial exchange rate, and more a message of human empathy. 'We're really aware of all the hundreds and hundreds of comments that we see on the ads that are published on the web, Americans saying, 'Thank you. We needed this.' Americans getting emotional after seeing the ad, also seeing Canadians responding, saying, like, 'Hey, you're really welcome here,'' she said.
