Destinations
Guatemala to Host TravelMart LatinAmerica 2015
Guatemala will host TravelMart LatinAmerica in 2015. The event will bring together more than 1,000 attendees, including service providers, hotels, airlines, tour operators, tourism offices, media and other industry professionals. TravelMart is expected to make both a short and long-term impact on the country’s economy by attracting important global buyers who will boost Guatemala’s tourism offerings. It also further positions Guatemala in the meetings and conventions segment, showcasing the country’s preparedness to host and execute international events with the latest...
Riu Set to Open its First US Property
Riu will open its first Riu Plaza urban hotel brand property in the United States in November. Miami’s Hotel Riu Florida Beach is closed for a major refurbishment, after which it will reopen as the Hotel Riu Plaza Miami Beach. While maintaining its characteristic façade, the hotel will completely change its interior décor to adapt “the facilities to the standard of service of the modern and cosmopolitan Riu Plaza line.” Total contemplated investment in the project is US$15 million. The hotel has direct access to Miami Beach and is near the Ocean Drive restaurant and bar...
A Solid Choice
Paul Pennicook has been named Jamaica's new director of tourism, replacing John Lynch, who stepped down after five years in the post in late April of this year. Pennicook's appointment was announced by Dennis Morrison, chairman of the Jamaica Tourist Board today, and is effective as of July 9, 2014. Jamaica's new director of tourism is a strong, seasoned tourism leader and no stranger to the post having served in that capacity from 2003 to 2006. Pennicook has spent several years as a successful hotelier, serving as president and CEO of Couples Resorts, executive vice-president of...
Shangri-La Vancouver Screening Room Bookable
Now available for use by discerning business travellers staying at the Shangri-La Hotel Vancouver is its state-of-the-art Blue Moon Theatre. One of six meeting venues located within the hotel, the private screening room is fully outfitted with AV and HD capabilities, 36 plush leather seats, all the frills required for conferences and a cozy opulence that deserves more than just use for meetings. That’s why Shangri-La launched “Movies at the Market,” a bookable evening starring fine food and film, that is well suited to team building. Groups can arrange for special screenings...
Mokulele Celebrates Opening of Kalaeloa Airport
Mokulele Airlines hosted a grand opening celebration last week at its newest service location, Kalaeloa Airport on west Oahu, marking the successful conclusion of a year of preparations. Kalaeloa is located at the former Barber’s Point Naval Air Base John Rogers Field. The grand opening and inaugural flight took place July 1, 15 years to the day that the former base was closed and turned over to the State of Hawaii. July 1 marked the beginning of Mokulele’s daily non-stop service to Kahului, Maui from Kalaeloa, with six scheduled daily flights, three each...
Polynesian Canoe Voyaging on Land in Oahu
The spirit of Hokulea, Hawaii’s traditional Polynesian voyaging canoe, is alive and well on the islands. One of these canoes is on a three-year worldwide expedition covering 47,000 nautical miles, 85 ports and 26 countries. Crew members, continuing their ancestor’s voyaging traditions, are using the stars, waves, wind and birds for assistance to map their way. But visitors to Hawaii can experience the essence of the Hokulea in a number of ways. For instance, they can virtually hop on board the Hokulea and navigate from Tahiti to Hawaii during a special daily show at the Bishop...
Chinapac Mailing List VIPs Get Perks
Chinapac International of Vancouver is encouraging clients to become VIP mailing list members. Doing so makes them eligible to win $300 in Chinapac travel credits, plus be included in exclusive mailings that detail all the best deals in travel across Asia. VIPs get first dibs on Chinapac’s most buzz-worthy all-inclusive tours, including the nine-day Amazing Beijing tour from $1,099 and the 14-day Royal China and Yangtze five-star anniversary sale from $2,399. Another option is the 13-day Amazing India with free Shanghai stopover from $3,499. It includes attendance at the Holi...
Poverty Point Gets World Heritage Nod
UNESCO’s World Heritage Committee has voted to inscribe Louisiana’s Poverty Point State Historic Site as a World Heritage Site, making Poverty Point the 22nd World Heritage Site in the US. It joins the likes of the Great Wall of China, Stonehenge in England and the Pyramids of Giza in Egypt as World Heritage Sites. Poverty Point was the U.S. Department of the Interior’s lone nomination for the status. The 3,400-year-old site is considered one of the most culturally significant American Indian sites in the US. Programs and tours are offered daily and show visitors how life...