Destinations
Ashford Castle Unveils New Hideaway Cottage
Ireland's Ashford Castle in County Mayo has unveiled the latest addition to its accommodations, the new Hideaway Cottage, situated on the edge of Lough Corrib. As part of a large renovation project, the estate's former boathouse has been fully modernized, while keeping true to its Irish heritage, to create a luxurious cottage hideaway. The Hideaway Cottage offers maximum privacy for the ideal romantic retreat, while still offering guests access to all of the amenities and services of the Castle and its 350-acre estate. Surrounded by woodland with a 180-degree view over Ireland's...
Crystal Embarks On A Historic Journey
Crystal Cruises is making history this week with Crystal Serenity, in an industry first, embarking on a 32-day journey through the Northwest Passage, the Arctic region north of Canada that was unattainable until just 100 years ago. Following more than three years of planning and preparation, Crystal’s welcomed nearly 1,000 intrepid guests aboard in Seward, Alaska, embarking on what promises to be an experience punctuated with rare wildlife encounters; insightful visits to remote communities; rugged treks on land and icy waters; and immersive onboard enrichment from some of the...
Louisiana Open for Business Despite Flooding
Tourism officials in Louisiana have issued a statement noting that the state remains open for business despite recent historic flooding. The Louisiana Office of Tourism continues to monitor the effects of the recent floods on Louisiana's tourism industry, a vital segment of the state's economy and an US$11.5 billion industry. “As the weather subsides in our capital and southwest regions, we are confident that business will return to usual. We also want to highlight that a majority of the state has not been impacted by this disaster,” said Lt. Governor Billy Nungesser. “We look...
A World Away in Kansai
Living history is getting harder to come by, as some countries trade in their heritage sites for more lucrative real estate opportunities. But then there is Japan, which retains a powerful connection to its history and culture, and maintains meticulous heritage sites throughout the country. This is maybe most evident in Kansai, the central-west region of Japan that is Japan’s spiritual and historic heart. It is anchored by the one-time imperial capital of Kyoto, but is also dotted with numerous sites outside the city that reflect Japan’s history from centuries past. A visit to...
Halloween Horror Nights Set to Haunt Sept. 16
One of the most horrifying shows in television history is coming to Universal Orlando Resort and Universal Studios Hollywood as FX's critically acclaimed “American Horror Story” comes to life during “Halloween Horror Nights,” beginning Sept. 16. Three chapters of “American Horror Story” will haunt Universal guests in all-new frightening mazes. Agents' clients will embark on a terrifying journey to become the next doomed residents of Murder House from Installment 1, tortured performers in the disturbing and twisted Freak Show from Installment 4, and victims of the...
Florida Hits Record High for Tourism
Despite a slight dip in numbers from Canada, the Sunshine State has set another record in tourism by welcoming the highest amount of visitors of any six months in the state’s history with 57.4 million visitors, a 4.3% increase over the previous year. In the second quarter of 2016 (April-June), 27.3 million visitors came to Florida, an increase of 3.1% over the same period in 2015. The average number of direct travel-related jobs in quarter two of 2016 was also a record high, with 1,255,200 Floridians employed in the tourism industry – up 4.3% year over year. VISIT FLORIDA...
Houston, There Is No Problem
With the Houston Astros in town to play the Toronto Blue Jays on the weekend, Visit Houston seized the opportunity to invite a small trade group to the Rogers Centre to enjoy the game and get the latest updates on the Texas town and especially its sporting culture. For example, the city best known as the home of NASA and the US space program will reach the sporting stratosphere in 2017 as host of the Super Bowl. Alas, the Friday night game was good news for Houston's tourism reps and less so for guests as the Astros won the game. Pictured at the event are Visit Houston Canada rep...
Insight Into The Galapagos
Insight Vacations has unveiled its 2017 USA, Canada and South America collection showcasing four new itineraries, three of which offer deeper explorations into South America with the addition of Brazil, Argentina, Chile and the Galapagos Islands across all-new escorted holidays. The program will also see the expansion of Insight's range of Premium journeys in North America with the addition of the 23-day Grand Tour of the American West. Clients can save up to $2,636 per couple through the Early Payment Discount Program if they book and pay in full by Jan. 12, 2017. “Having...