Destinations
Fascination Resumes Year-Round San Juan Service
Carnival Fascination has resumed its year-round schedule of seven-day southern Caribbean departures from San Juan, following an extensive multi-million-dollar dry dock that added a variety of popular food and beverage concepts. On its San Juan-based program, Fascination departs every Sunday on week-long voyages visiting five tropical destinations – St. Lucia, Barbados, St. Kitts, St. Thomas and St. Maarten, each of which is home to world-class beaches, centuries-old historical sites and unique shoreside experiences and shopping and dining opportunities. “We’re delighted that...
Lively Lisbon
In the wise words of our local guide Bruno Jorge, the best way to experience Alfama — one of the only neighbourhoods in Lisbon to withstand the earthquake, fire and tsunami of 1755 — is to get lost strolling through its picturesque streets, reports assistant editor, Ann Ruppenstein in this week's Travel Courier cover story. After taking random lefts and rights, meandering through narrow alleyways, up steep stairways and along cobblestone streets, we came to a pause as we heard someone call out to us from a second floor window. Through some interpretation we learned the voice...
Contiki Sounds
Contiki has launched two new “Sounds” trips as part of its Limited Edition series. The two adventures were designed in partnership with one of the world’s largest summer music festivals, Reading Festival, and will offer clients a VIP festival experience. The two limited time departures will also include additional musical experiences and the chance to witness some of the UK’s top destinations. The combination of musical education, partying at one of the world’s biggest musical festivals and immersing oneself into the distinctly “cool Britannia” culture makes these two...
Dominica Poised To Get 120 New Luxury Rooms
Principals of the Anichi Resort and Spa recently hosted Dominica Prime Minister Roosevelt Skerrit and members of his Cabinet in a ground breaking ceremony for a new 120-room property being built in the northern town of Portsmouth. The boutique property will be operated by Trust Hospitality under the Autograph Collection Hotels brand of Marriott and is expected to open in late 2019. According to Alick Lawrence, CEO of Anichi Development, “This ground breaking ceremony is particularly relevant post Hurricane Maria, as it shows the resiliency of our people while instilling trust in...
On The Run in Nepal
Khadga Bikram Shah is inviting energetic sorts to participate in an up, up and away experience. Bikram Shah, with the Nepal Tourism Board's Kathmandu office, says Nepal – known for its trekking and mountaineering opportunities – is diversifying its vacation experiences, offering more outdoors activities for visitors. And he noted during a Tuesday Toronto presentation that those activities include opportunities to participate in running races, among them The Tenzing Hillary Everest Marathon, billed as the “highest and most adventurous marathon in the world.” The event...
UNWTO Working With Africa
In an effort to better measure tourism growth and development in Africa, UNWTO signed a Cooperation Agreement with the Nigeria Tourism Development Corporation for the Strengthening of the National Tourism Statistical System of Nigeria and the Development of a Tourism Satellite Account. UNWTO is committed to developing tourism measurement for furthering knowledge of the sector, monitoring progress, evaluating impact, promoting results-focused management, and highlighting strategic issues for policy objectives. On the occasion of the meeting between UNWTO Secretary-General, Zurab...
Record Year For Canada
Canada welcomed a record-breaking 20.8 million tourists in 2017, the highest ever in Canadian history. The preliminary data, released this week by Statistics Canada, shows that Canada has surpassed the previous record set in 2002, by almost a million. “Today's results are yet another reminder of what has been clear for a while now – Canada is back. And more and more, the world wants to come and visit. We are excited to share our vibrant cities, beautiful natural attractions, diverse cultures and proud history with record numbers of visitors,” said Bardish Chagger, minister of...
Cox Picked As New CSHAE President
Stacy Cox has been elected president of the Caribbean Society of Hotel Association Executives (CSHAE) for the next two years. Cox, who unexpectedly took the top job early last year following an unscheduled leadership change, received a full two-year mandate at the association's annual general meeting, which preceded this month's 36th annual Caribbean Hotel and Tourism Association (CHTA) Caribbean Travel Marketplace event in San Juan, Puerto Rico. CSHAE is an independent organization aimed at advancing professional development and strengthening networking among Caribbean hotel and...