The US Virgin Islands and Airbnb have confirmed the first tax agreement in the Caribbean, which will allow the platform to collect the Territory's 12.5% Hotel Room Occupancy Tax on behalf of hosts and remit the funds to the Virgin Islands Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR).
The deal will also create a framework to help promote tourism to the U.S. Virgin Islands, highlighting the cultural and historical heritage of this world-class destination.
Airbnb has been investing in partnerships in the region to support a thriving community of homeowners who are renting their spaces and creating...
About 120 Toronto-area travel trade VIPs learned first hand that All Dreams Are Welcome in California, as a mega-delegation of the Golden state's top tourism executives greeted them at a reception and dinner (prepared by celebrity chef, Bob Blumer) last night (May 25).
“Tonight, we want to welcome you into our living room,” observed Visit California's president and CEO, Caroline Beteta. “We're friends of Canada and Canada has been a friend to California and we want to roll out the red carpet to you and your clients.”
Beteta led the high-profile group of senior executives...
RIU Hotels & Resorts celebrated its top travel agency partners from Canada and the US during its Second Annual RIU Awards at the Riu Palace Bavaro in Punta Cana.
The award-winning agencies were rewarded with a trip for two to the Dominican Republic to attend the RIU Awards Ceremony.
In addition to the awards program, they were treated to a VIP weekend, inclusive of special tours of the island, leisure activities and special events.
The goal of the awards is to recognize the best travel agents in the United States and Canada in an effort to show the consolidation of the brand...
Hilton recently celebrated the opening of its 100th hotel in Latin America with the opening of Hilton Rio de Janeiro Copacabana.
The 545-room beachfront Hilton Rio de Janeiro Copacabana is one of the largest hotels in the famous Copacabana neighbourhood, one of Brazil’s most visited destinations, and represents Hilton’s second property in the city.
The beachfront hotel in Rio, which was built in 1975 and completed an extensive renovation in 2011, includes 545 rooms featuring the brand’s sophisticated amenities for guests travelling on leisure or business to the South zone of...
The adults-only, all-inclusive Warwick Paradise Island - Bahamas is celebrating “Travel Agent Appreciation Month” by offering agents a third night free when two nights are booked at the travel professional rate for travel through June 14.
And, with each two-night minimum stay, Warwick is offering agents a complimentary classic manicure or pedicure when booked by June 14 for travel through Dec. 15. All-inclusive agent rates start from US$175 single occupancy and US$280 double occupancy, per night, based on accommodations in an Island View room.
Agents staying elsewhere in The...
Israel's Dan Hotels has completed renovations to three of its properties – Dan Panorama Haifa, Dan Eilat and Dan Accadia.
The most extensive work was carried out in the Dan Accadia, a resort located on Herzliya beach, 15 minutes north of central Tel Aviv. The US$11 million renovation included upgrades to 117 rooms and suites, dining areas, corridors and banquet halls. All guest rooms saw a complete overhaul, including new bathrooms featuring a spacious interior window looking through the room and on to the sea.
At the Dan Eilat, on the Red Sea, designers worked with a muted colour...
The Venetian Las Vegas has launched one of the hospitality industry's first Facebook Messenger direct booking channels, offering agents and guests the opportunity to book directly and securely through social messaging.
The Venetian's direct social booking channel represents the first step for the brand in reducing interface friction, enabling guests to stay within their platform of choice as they gather information, ask questions and transact with the brand. The Venetian's direct booking channel provides guests with real-time rates for desired dates, details on resort amenities and...
PressToday's Emily McClung is in Cancun, Mexico this week at Carlson Wagonlit Travel's (CWT) international conference.
The event is taking place at the Barcelo Maya Grand Resort and more than 160 travel agents and suppliers from across North America are attending.
Conference festivities started out with WestJet hosting the group for a beach party.
Stay tuned for more to...
Villa Casa Del Mar is Karisma Hotels & Resorts' new oceanfront villa featuring nearly 12,000 square feet of luxury accommodations and complete comfort in Mexico's Riviera Maya.
The private Villa Casa Del Mar will open in June 2017 and is now available for bookings.
It's the fourth and latest offering within the Karisma Villas collection of Gourmet Inclusive properties – Villa Esmerelda, Villa Carola and Villa Maroma – which deliver the 'ultimate five-star escape in paradise' and are offered as a part of Karisma's Connoisseur Collection.
The six-bedroom, six-bathroom...
Booking.com has announced the 10 start-ups that will join its new accelerator program, Booking.com Booster.
The goal of the program is to identify, mentor and fund enterprising start-ups from around the world that are seeking to have a positive impact on the global tourism industry.
The 10 selected ventures will participate in a three-week program in June 2017 in Amsterdam that culminates with a chance to pitch to a panel of Booking.com and industry experts for grants of up to Ç500,000 from Booking.com.
Gillian Tans, CEO of Booking.com, commented:
“We are so impressed with...