Destinations
Hilton Continues Growth in Mexico
Hilton Worldwide has announced the signing of a management agreement with Grupo Aldo Promotora de Inversion SAPI de CV to operate a new build Hilton Garden Inn hotel in Salamanca, Mexico. Scheduled to open in 2016, the new Hilton Garden Inn in one of Mexico’s key industrial cities serves as an example of the company’s continued expansion efforts in Mexico. Forming part of the award-winning, mid-priced brand that delivers high quality and value, Hilton Garden Inn Salamanca, in the Mexican state of Guanajuato, will be strategically located near major automotive plants, businesses...
Tourism Ireland Targets Group Business
In this week's digital edition of Travel Courier, executive editor, Bob Mowat reports that Tourism Ireland has no time to rest on its laurels these days. With the introduction of year-round air service in 2014, plus a host of seasonal flights available, officials continue to spread the word that any time is a good time to visit the Emerald Isle. In Toronto recently on a tour that would also stop in Ottawa, Vancouver and Victoria, the tourist board, along with 10 of its industry partners, hosted 70 agents specializing in group travel to talk to them about the business opportunities the...
Vail Resorts Acquires Australia’s Largest Mountain Resort
Vail Resorts, Inc. has agreed to acquire its first international mountain resort, Perisher Ski Resort in New South Wales, Australia, for a cash consideration of approximately US$136 million, subject to certain adjustments. Perisher is the largest and most visited ski resort in Australia, and is well-positioned with access to the country’s largest cities, including Sydney, Melbourne, Adelaide, Canberra and Brisbane. Perisher is also the largest ski resort in the Southern Hemisphere. The acquisition is expected to close in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2015 following the satisfaction of...
Carnival Pride Back in Baltimore for Year-Round Cruising
Carnival Cruise Line has returned to the Port of Baltimore with a year-round cruise program featuring the newly refurbished Carnival Pride. Pride’s year-round schedule from Baltimore encompasses a range of departures, from five-day Bermuda cruises to seven- to 14-day voyages visiting top destinations in the Caribbean, The Bahamas and Florida. Carnival Pride recently underwent an extensive multi-million-dollar dry dock that added a variety of the line’s Fun Ship 2.0 innovations, including new dining venues such as Guy’s Burger Joint, BlueIguana Cantina and Bonsai Sushi, bar...
Magical Culinary Experience
Overnight packages and event-only tickets are now on sale for the sixth-annual Walt Disney World Swan and Dolphin Food & Wine Classic, set for Oct. 30-31. A Swan and Dolphin Food & Wine Classic causeway ticket offers guests unlimited tastings at more than 40 stations featuring culinary selections from the hotel’s award-winning restaurants and wine from more than 30 wineries amidst a festive backdrop of live entertainment on the hotel’s scenic causeway. Upgraded ticket options allow guests to enjoy access to a beer garden featuring a wide selection of craft beers and...
Air France Inaugurates Paris-Vancouver Flights
Driving rain welcomed the inaugural arrival of the new Air France service to Vancouver International Airport from Paris on March 29. After clearing customs, dignitaries and airline brass met media and guests in the departure lounge amidst French-themed cuisine, music and appointments. This kicks off a schedule of up to five flights per week to Paris-Charles de Gaulle from YVR. Flights are being operated by a Boeing 777-200 with 309 seats: 35 in business class, 24 in premium economy and 250 in economy. To encourage further participation by agents, Air France has rolled out a...
‘Brilliant Barbados’ Offers Incentives to Visit
With a roaring start and upward trend in arrivals to the island this year, Barbados is now further boosting the incentive for travellers with the launch of its “Brilliant Barbados” travel package, boasting more than 40 hotels, must-see attractions and top restaurants. Designed to maintain the momentum of growth the island has been experiencing in visitor arrivals over the last year, “Brilliant Barbados” offers guests their first night free when planning a minimum stay of four days. The package also includes an exclusive discount voucher to use towards local attractions, plus...
Detour Puts an Expert Guide in Your Earbuds
Detour is a new way to experience San Francisco using your mobile phone, featuring audio walks that reveal hidden stories, people and places at every turn. Created by Andrew Mason, the founder of Groupon, Detour takes participants on tours at their own pace and on their own schedule, either alone or synced with friends. Visitors can choose from seven Detours (more added monthly) including: Beat Generation (join the Beat Poets in North Beach in the 1950s and ‘60s), Beyond the Painted Ladies (an incredible story of upheaval and change in the Western Addition), Cool Gray City (25,000...