Destinations
Top speed skiers head to Sun Peaks for race
Fifty of the world's fastest ski racers from 10 countries will soon converge on the Headwalls Speed Skiing Track at Sun Peaks Resort in BC for the 2013 FIS Speed Ski World Cup. The top speed ski competition will be held Feb. 28 to March 3. This is the fastest non-motorized sport on earth, with speeds of about 177km/hr. Sun Peaks Resort is the only ski resort in North America to host a FIS Speed Ski World Cup event. (http://www.sunpeaksresort.com ;...
JAPEX set for April in Montego Bay
The 23rd annual Jamaica Product Exchange (JAPEX) will be held from April 28-30 at the Montego Bay Convention Centre. A one-of-a-kind exhibition, JAPEX is the island's premier travel trade show and serves as a forum for leading Jamaican suppliers of the island's tourism product to meet with travel wholesalers and tour operators from the Americas and Europe. Last year's JAPEX attendance featured 116 representatives from approximately 76 buyer companies along with 222 participants from 92 supplier companies. Hosted by the Jamaica Tourist Board (JTB) and the Jamaica Hotel and Tourist Association...
Outrigger toasts love and 10,000 vow renewals
Outrigger Hotels and Resorts helped 25 couples from around the world "hoi hou ke aloha,"or fall in love all over again this Valentine's Day with a special vow-renewal ceremony on the shores of Waikiki Beach. And for one lucky couple, Valentine's Day couldn't have gotten any sweeter, as they were recognized as being the 10,000th couple to renew their wedding vows with Outrigger Reef on the Beach and Outrigger Waikiki on the Beach since the program began ten years ago in 2003. The honoured couple, Matthew and Kimberly DeCovich, from Waterford, Michigan, is in the islands to celebrate their...
Never mind, drive on
After creating quite a furor, the Florida Department of Highway Safety & Motor Vehicles (DHSMV) has now announced (in a Feb. 14 statement) that it is suspending the state's recently enacted International Driving Permit requirement pending further study. International visitors who plan to drive in Florida now need only a valid driver's license issued from their own country. In its statement, the DHSMV said: "During the 2012 legislative session, the Florida Legislature amended section 322.04, Florida Statutes, to require visitors from outside the United States to have an International Driving...
Tourcan hosts South Africa seminars in Alberta
Tourcan Vacations in collaboration with South African Tourism will host seminars in Alberta that will cover what the vacationer needs to know prior to travel to South Africa; what the first-time traveller should get to experience; and various travel options. Seminars will be conducted in Edmonton March 4, Red Deer March 5, and Calgary March 6. RSVP to [email protected]....
Winter recreation, music at Edmonton festival
Edmonton's longest running winter festival returns with its extravaganza of art, culture, recreation and sports programming to Hawrelak Park, Feb. 15-18. The 23rd annual Silver Skate Festival is a free, all-age winter celebration featuring activities/performances like large-scale snow sculpture, skate races/demos, a Heritage Village, Family Fun Zone, live music and the popular Baba Yaga Folk Trail, which includes spectacular fire sculpture installations. The Silver Skate snow sculpture symposium kicks off Feb. 15, and free festival programming/activities run Feb. 16-17....
Second Ritz-Carlton for Hawaii in planning
Luxury hotel operator, Ritz-Carlton has made plans for its first Oahu property, to be located in Waikiki. The property will be Ritz-Carlton's second presence in Hawaii, after The Ritz-Carlton, Kapalua on Maui. Formerly 2121 Kuhio, the new Ritz-Carlton Residences Waikiki Beach will begin construction this year, and the completion of the tower is scheduled for early 2016....
In tune on St. Kitts
The St. Kitts Tourism Authority is inviting all lovers of music and authentic Caribbean fun to mark their calendars to attend the 17th Annual St. Kitts Music Festival, which will be held June 27-29. "Each year, the St. Kitts Music Festival combines music, Caribbean island culture and elements of carnival-type block parties with world class performances from a wide variety of internationally popular music genres,"said Senator Ricky Skerritt, Minister of Tourism & International Transport. "What results is an authentic, festive atmosphere and sense of connection to the music and to our...