Destinations
Over 3,000 attend second annual Food & Wine Fest
The second annual Hawaii Food & Wine Festival, held Sept. 6-9, was deemed a success by the Hawaii Tourism Authority. The four-day epicurean festival hosted more than 60 world-class chefs, four master sommeliers, top-tier winemakers, local farmers and artisan food producers and innovators from across the Pacific. The festival attracted more than 3,000 attendees to special events held at The MODERN Honolulu, Halekulani, Hilton Hawaiian Village Beach Resort & Spa, Hyatt Regency Waikiki, Ko Olina Resort with Aulani, A Disney Resort & Spa and JW Marriott Ihilani Resort & Spa....
Eat, stay, love with yoga at Loden, Vancouver
In celebration of International Yoga Month in September, Vancouver's Loden Hotel invites travellers to channel their inner yogi with its "Eat, Stay, Love"package. Through Sept. 30, the package features Garden Terrace room rates starting at $259 nightly, double occupancy. It includes an in-room yoga mat, dedicated yoga channel, unlimited access to the Loden's infrared sauna and daily in-room orange juice delivery. Guests can up the add on a private yoga session with a professional trainer for $125 more. This must be confirmed at the time of booking, at least 72 hours before the requested time....
Dinos extend their stay at Royal BC Museum
The dinosaurs at the Royal BC Museum don't want summer to end, so they are staying an extra two weeks, until Sept. 30. The exhibition "Dinosaurs: Ancient Fossils, New Discoveries"is being held over due to its popularity. Visits to the museum are up by 14% over last summer. The two-week extension of the exhibition should be good news for local families that have spent summer away, as well as for tourists visiting in the early shoulder season and for local schools that may not have gone in the spring....
Goway set for South America in 2013
Goway is offering 4 different escorted tours with regular departures to South America in 2013 as part of its signature Holidays of a Lifetime tour series. The 15 day Splendours of South America includes Chile, Argentina and Brazil and highlights a scenic Andes crossing, wine tasting in both Santiago and Mendoza, a day tour to Uruguay, a Tango show in Buenos Aires, a Samba show in Rio and a stopover to view the spectacular Iguassu Falls. Prices start from $9,999. The 13 day Cradle of the Incas features Peru with a stopover in Bolivia, and visits Lima, Cusco (including the unique Inti Raymi...
Homewood breaks ground in Winnipeg
Atlific Hotels reports that construction has begun on Homewood Suites by Hilton, Winnipeg Polo Park. The property is owned by MLS Management Ltd., and makes for a fitting addition to the Atlific portfolio. "We are delighted to work with MLS Management Ltd. and to partner once again with the Hilton family of hotels," said Philippe Gadbois, senior vice-president, Atlific Hotels. "Homewood Suites by Hilton is a well-recognized extended stay brand, offering all of the services and amenities of a 'home away from home' to both business and leisure guests." Scheduled to open its doors to the public...
Korea releases new app
The Korea Tourism Organization (KNTO) has released Visit Korea 2.0, the upgraded version of the original Visit Korea smart phone application for iPhones and Android phones. Visit Korea 2.0 contains expanded travel content and information on Korea?s tourist attractions, restaurants, accommodations, shops, and more. All listings have a map to assist travelers in navigation. Visit Korea 2.0 features increased user-friendliness by adding such convenient functions as links to Social Networking Services. The new app is designed to meet the demand of the increasing number of travellers using smart...
Alberta sizzles in 2012
The summer of 2012 proved a sizzling season for the Alberta hotel industry. According to HotelsCombined's year-on-year price index, average nightly rates in the oil-laden province soared in comparison to the rest of Canada. Based on average hotel prices throughout June, July and August, all major Alberta destinations experienced significant hotel rate increases in summer 2012 compared to summer 2011, with an average upturn of 16%. Likely thanks to the 100th Anniversary of the Stampede, Calgary snagged the highest price increase in the country, with a 27% rise in the average nightly hotel rate...
Talking tourism in Turkey
The 6th Annual Travel Turkey Izmir Fair and Conference will take place from Dec. 6 to Dec. 9, 2012 at the Izmir International Fair Center in Izmir, Turkey. The event is organized by the Association of Turkish Travel Agencies (TURSAB), MESSE International Istanbul and Izmir Fair Services, Culture and Art Affairs (IZFAS). The Conference will host some of the tourism industry's leading exhibitors from all over the world ranging from travel agencies, airlines, hotels, car rental companies, and tourism associations and corporations to communication systems, language schools, tourist transportation...