Destinations
BY THE NUMBERS: San Francisco posts gains
The San Francisco Travel Association reports that San Francisco welcomed 16.51 million visitors in 2012, an increase of 1% from 2011. Those visitors spent $8.93 billion in 2012, up 5.5% compared to the previous year. Joe D'Alessandro, San Francisco Travel president and CEO, said: "Visitor spending reached the highest level ever in 2012. The total number of visitors is climbing steadily as well." The tourism industry generated $562 million in taxes for the City of San Francisco, up 6.7% from the previous year. The number of jobs supported by tourism rose 3.6% to 74,009 jobs in 2012, with an...
MAKE IT MARYLAND: New guide available
The Maryland Office of Tourism Development (OTD) has released its 2013 Destination Maryland: The Official Guide to Maryland State Travel. The free travel publication highlights the regions of Maryland, and includes trip suggestions as well as listings of attractions, state and national parks, lodging and services. And for the first time, the official Maryland Calendar of Events has been bound into Destination Maryland. Margot Amelia, executive director, said: "This combination makes sense so that consumers have one printed trip planning resource for their Maryland vacation. Now as travellers...
THE PRICE IS RIGHT: Free meals for kids
The Napili Kai Beach Resort on Maui is now offering a Keiki Eat Free program for stays through Dec. 13. Children (keiki) age 12 and under will receive one free entree from the special keiki menu when accompanied by an adult who purchases an adult entree. This is offered for breakfast, lunch and dinner at the resort's beachfront Sea House Restaurant. The Keiki Eat Free program is not available on holidays and is valid for hotel guests only. The Napili Kai Beach Resort has 163 hotel rooms, studios and one- and two-bedroom suites in 11 low-rise plantation-style buildings on Napili Bay. Studios...
DOWN UNDER WONDERS: Now at San Diego Zoo
Coming to the San Diego Zoo in May this year will be the Conrad Prebys Australian Outback exhibition, showcasing some of the wonders from the Land Down Under. Visitors can venture through a eucalyptus grove and discover species from wombats to wallabies and kookaburras to cockatoos. The Australian Outback exhibit culminates at a Queenslander house-style care centre that overlooks a forest for the Zoo's Queensland koala colony -- the largest koala colony outside of Australia....
SPORT OF KINGS: Polo package available
Visitors can now discover one of the most exciting sports in Hawaii with the "Sport of Kings"package offered by the Equus Hotel. The Equus is the only hotel in Hawaii that is directly linked to the Hawaii Polo Club, a 100-acre polo complex along an unspoiled beachfront on Oahu's North Shore. Polo season begins on April 7 and continues until a mid-season break on July 14. Play resumes on Sept. 1 through Oct. 27. Equus guests who purchase the "Sport of Kings"package will receive a private polo lesson for two and two tickets to view a Sunday polo match from the private, members-only clubhouse....
Maui visitors can now lend help to orphaned animals
Visitors to Maui who are feeling some "pet withdrawal"while on vacation can drop into the Maui Humane Society for some therapy. Beginning in April, the MHS is introducing two new programs for pet-deprived visitors who want to interact with and help homeless animals while holidaying on the island. For instance, the "Helping Paws Visitor Program"starts April 3, and visitors can offer a "helping paw"at the shelter every Wednesday and Thursday from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. Each half-day session will start with a brief orientation followed by pre-planned activities such as walking dogs, bathing puppies,...
MANY HAPPY RETURNS: Retirement beckons for YVR agent
Long-time Vancouver-area travel agent Maureen Otway has decided to step away from the booking computer and take up travelling in retirement. She started her career with BOAC in London in 1960, and was then transferred to South Africa for a few years. After working for Qantas in Vancouver from 1976 to 1993, she joined Thomas Cook/Marlin Travel in May 1997 and has been there ever since. "It's been a blast. I have worked with some amazing people and have been able to travel all over the world,"said Otway. "The thing I will miss is my clients that I have built up over the...
VIRTUAL SPAIN: Interactive discoveries abound
April 10 and 11 will see TURESPANA, through the Tourist Office of Spain, host the third edition of Conexion Spain Virtual ("Virtual Connection Spain"), an interactive trade show showcasing Spain as a leisure and convention tourism destination. Geared toward consumers, travel professionals and those planning or thinking of a trip to Spain, the two-day virtual trade show will feature more than 40 exhibitors from Spain or selling Spain in interactive booths, where the visitor may look around, download brochures, start a chat conversation, pick up or leave a business card, request further...