The Travel Channel program, “Stranded with Cash Peters” will be filming throughout the St. John’s area June 29 to June 30. The premise of the program consists of Cash Peters, the show host, being dropped off at a destination he knows nothing about and must rely on the hospitality of strangers to explore the area.

The film crew will be visiting Signal Hill and Cape Spear as well as filming throughout the downtown area. http://travel.discovery.com/fansites/stranded/stranded.html

Keep an eye out for Peter Cash and show him what Newfoundland Hospitality is all about!

From the Travel Chanel Website: Cash Peters, author (Gullible's Travels) and travel correspondent for National Public Radio's Marketplace, is in trouble — he's stranded. Dropped off with no money, no place to stay, no food and virtually no idea where he is, Cash is out to explore the world. On a globe-trotting journey from country to country and town to town, Cash will throw himself on the mercy of the locals as he explores the places they call home.
Cash Peters tells it like it is, with a no-holds-barred humor that is paradoxically merciless and endearing. The perpetual outsider, Cash will see if he can truly count on the better part of humanity to let him into their lives and hearts — and hopefully provide a bed and meal along the way.
Stranded will explore locales both iconic as well as unknown and destinations both domestic and around the globe. Cash will do his best to become one with the cultures and subcultures he encounters; however, things don't always work out as planned, and Cash isn't afraid to say so.
Funny, exciting, refreshing, fascinating and often jaw-droppingly honest, Stranded takes on the world — one town at a time.

Location specialist: Lorraine McGrath, Destination St. John’s 739-8896
and Erin Skinner, Tourism St. John’s 576-8519

The City of St. John's will be presenting the Royal Canadian Regiment, 2nd Battalion, with the Freedom of the City honour on Sunday, June 19. As part of the ceremony, a parade is being held which will begin from the Sgt.'s Memorial on Queen's Raod at 1:40 pm. Some road closures will be necessary in the area of City Hall on New Gower Street however the Parade will proceed through the downtown without street closures.

Freedom of City Parade and Ceremony - June 19th, 2005

1:20 pm Parade starts to form up at Sgt.'s Memorial
1:40 pm Parade departs Sgt.'s Memorial
2:00 pm Parade arrives at City Hall (New Gower Street to be closed to traffic in both directions by Parking Enforcement Officers)
2:00 to 2:45 pm (approx) Ceremony at City Hall

2:45 pm to 3:30 pm Parade from City Hall to Bannerman Road as follows:
New Gower Street
South on Waldegrave Street
East on Water Street
North on Cochrane Street
East on Duckworth Street
North on Cavendish Square
West on Military Road to Bannerman Road

Parade will dismiss on Bannerman Road. For more information please call 754 CITY (2489)

For a complete listing of St. John's Days events taking place throughout the downtown visit our events page or call 576 8106.

Movie star Russell Crowe made a surprise visit to downtown St. John’s and O’Reilly’s Irish Newfoundland Pub on George Street on Monday, June 13, 2005 with Great Big Sea’s Alan Doyle.

Crowe was in St. John’s visiting Doyle as the two recently paired up on Crowe’s latest album. Crowe took to the stage for about an hour with Doyle playing tunes, sharing stories and enjoying the local brew while entertaining a packed house of screaming fans.

Some businesses say the St. John's Convention Centre may be just about the best thing to happen to their bottom line.

This past week, the Federation of Canadian Municipalities Conference attracted close to 3,000 visitors to local shops and restaurants.

Fears that the Convention Centre – which was built in conjunction with Mile One Stadium five years ago – would fail to draw a crowd are starting to subside.

Velma Rose, who owns Velma's restaurant on Water Street, has been happy to see such crowds so heavy that patrons have had to line up to get a seat.

"We were turning over 300, 400 people a day," she says.

"We found it great for this time of year … They were spending big money. The crowd from the conferences were really good on the money."

Kelly Barry, who works with Destination St. John's, says new hotel capacity has helped the capital city attract more and larger conventions.

"We are literally on a roll in St. John's," she says. "We're a hot destination, and we're being talked about."

Upcoming conventions include 500 McDonald's restaurateurs and about 3,000 delegates to a youth conference.

Conference delegates are expected to pump about $23 million into the city's economy this year, Barry says.

Excerpt from CBC Radio Newfoundland and Labrador, June 10, 2005

The Delta St. John’s is now the largest hotel and conference center in Atlantic Canada, thanks to a $15 million expansion by owner/operator Fortis Properties.

The capital improvement project, which is 99 per cent complete, entailed the construction of a 128-room extension to the existing New Gower Street building. The hotel’s capacity is now 403 rooms.

Along with the nearby St. John’s Convention Center – which Fortis Properties manages as part of an agreement with St. John’s Sports and Entertainment Ltd. – the Delta has become a major player in the local convention business.

The convention center, the Delta’s existing Avalon ballroom and the new Harbourview ballroom on the main floor of the extension, make up 40,000 square feet of banquest and meeting space.

According to industry players, hotel construction and expansion in St. John’s is in response to demand. “St. John’s, NL, is a very hot destination,” said Terry Chaffey, general manager of the Delta St. John’s, adding the capital city has blossomed into a popular spot for both tourism and the convention trade.

Chaffey said the fact the Delta can now handle larger conventions will provide spinoffs for others in the accommodation business, since bigger conventions translate into more people needing accommodation, which means more business for other local hotels. “Our expansion will increase the market”, he explained.

The president and CEO of Fortis Properties, meanwhile, sees the Delta as a real asset. “Since its acquisition in 2002, the Delta St. John’s has performed extremely well and has continued to strengthen the Fortis Properties hospitality portfolio,” Earl Ludlow said. “The expansion will help in drawing a greater number of large conventions to St. John’s and, in turn, generate positive economic impact for the city.”

The Delta expansion, announced last year, will be finished on schedule, just in time to accommodate many of the 2,500 people arriving in St. John’s this week for the Federation of Canadian Municipalities convention, which wraps up June 6.

The hotel’s new rooms opened to guests Wednesday. “The quality of the workmanship is second to none,” Chaffey said, adding that the hotel is now better able to respond to customers’ needs.

The extension features barrier-free rooms for people with disabilities, which include wheel-chair accessible bathrooms. For those who plan longer stays, there are rooms equipped with a kitchen sink, small refrigerator, toaster, microwave and other amenities. There are jucuzzi suites, as well.

The extension also has a luxurious, 1,800 square-foot executive suite on the New Gower Street side of the 11th floor, equipped for computers and other technology.

Chaffey said the Delta’s expansion reflects Fortis Properties’ confidence in the market.

Craig Jackson, The Telegram. Thursday, June 2, 2005