Destinations
A little love from Virginia
The Virginia Tourism Office has just released the 2012 Virginia Travel Guide, with new destinations, family favourites, wineries and attractions that "put love at the heart of every Virginia vacation."New features include vacation ideas for all four seasons, a special section on small towns, scenic drives and a listing of the newest attractions in...
Responsible Travel: Industry needs to do more
A newly released survey reports that the global travel and tourism industry could do more for responsible and sustainable tourism. Conducted by SustainIt during the 2011 World Travel Market in London, the survey found that more than 7 out of 10 industry professionals -- including hoteliers, airlines, resorts and tourist attractions -- believed the industry could do more to reduce poverty and support sustainable local economic development in destination communities. It also found that only 18% of companies questioned had sustainable supply chains and procurement policies in place. The survey...
Kung Hei Fat Choy!
It's Chinese New Year and the dragons are running wild in 2012. Check out your horoscope for the year, courtesy of the Hong Kong Tourist Board, in Travel Courier's annual cover story. TC also reports on new online air booking capabilities from G Adventures and the latest on travel insurance. And make sure you take a good look at this week's digital edition of Travel Courier. It has a whole new look with great new features such as page-flip technology, enhanced zoom, key-word search, and share capabilities. So go to https://www.travelpress.com/subscription/IDEA/115712_011912_tc/ and check it...
Trio of tourism conferences offer quite a buzz
At the beginning of March, hoteliers, tourism marketers, travel technology types and other industry professionals will head to Toronto for a trio of conferences that have been creating quite a buzz in the tourism business in the last couple of years. From March 5-6, the Hotel Association of Canada (HAC) will hold its annual conference which, in 2012, features Dr. David Suzuki and Joie de Vivre's founder, Chip Conley as the headline speakers. HAC's incoming chairman, Hank Stackhouse will not only give delegates the inside scoop on what's coming in the next 12 months for the association, he'll...
New ways to slide on frozen water at Whistler
Whistler welcomes new activities this winter at the Whistler Sliding Centre, a legacy of the 2010 Winter Games. For instance, the public bobsleigh and skeleton experiences are new. Participants in the Skeleton Slide Experience begin their track journey at the Maple Leaf Start, about one-third of the way up the track, and zip through six corners, reaching speeds of up to 100 km per hour. With the Bobsleigh Ride Experience, participants ride with a professional pilot through 10 corners at speeds of up 125 km per hour. This winter also marks the launch of Whistler's outdoor skating rink, located...
One Wellness & Spa now at Solara Resort in Canmore
Bellstar Hotels & Resorts has just announced the opening of One Wellness & Spa at the Solara Resort & Spa in Canmore, AB. It makes the Bellstar flagship property a leading wellness destination resort in the Canadian Rockies. The "Pathways to Engagement"process is the spa's signature experience menu. Guests choose a pathway that best represents a current need -- sleep, release, clearing, transition or joy -- and then they are led through a process of needs assessment, massage, aromatherapy, etc. More traditional spa services are also offered by a talented staff, using the best possible...
Maui bargains listed in Accommodations Guide
There are deals to be had this winter in sunny Maui. The Maui Accommodations Guide, a free directory to accommodations on Maui and Molokai, has released its quarterly "Special Values E-Alert"listing 40 of the latest bargains offered by Maui hotels, condos, homes, villas, and B&Bs. The quarterly e-newsletter is provided free as a service to bargain-hunting travellers. Visitors can review the list of offers and link directly to each property for more information or to book reservations. The Maui Accommodations Guide does not act as a booking service. The newly released E-Alert features a...
Book’em (into this Waikiki hotel)
The Hilton Hawaiian Village Waikiki Beach Resort is giving guests the chance to star in their own "Hawaii Five-0"experience with a new room package through August. The resort, which made frequent appearances throughout the series' debut season in 2010-2011, is offering a new "Hawaii Five-0 Experience"package that allows guests to stay, dine and sip on everything "Hawaii Five-0."The package includes a five-night stay in a luxurious oceanview room, Hawaii Five-0 Season 1 DVD set, US$50 dining credit for Tropics Bar & Grill, two signature Hawaii Five-0 cocktails and 50% off a Spirit of Aloha...