Resorts
Now Open In Maui
The Westin Nanea Ocean Villas has opened on the Hawaiian island of Maui. Situated on 16 acres of North Kā'anapali Beach, the resort marked the event with a traditional Hawaiian blessing. Comprised of one-, two- and three-bedroom villas, The Westin Nanea Ocean Villas is designed to be a relaxing haven with culturally inspired programs and distinctive Hawaiian experiences. Under the guidance of the resort's cultural director, the “essence of Hawai'i has been carefully woven into design elements throughout the property. Additionally, the Pu'uhonua o Nanea Cultural Center will...
Preferred Hotels Enhances Rewards Program
Preferred Hotels & Resorts has launched a mobile app and member rate program as major enhancements to its points-based hotel rewards program, iPrefer. “The new mobile app and member rate program are designed to better connect today’s travellers with the unique appeal of the independent hotel experience through a seamless loyalty program that delivers exclusive, on-the-go access to an attractive rate, points and valuable on-property perks,” said Casey Ueberroth, chief marketing officer, Preferred Hotels & Resorts. The iPrefer mobile app is designed to provide time-saving,...
New Experience At El Paseo
El Paseo Hotel on Miami Beach’s Española Way is offering guests an innovative way to share their travel experiences through social media. The boutique hotel's guests will now have complimentary access to Spectacles, new sunglasses with an integrated video camera that connect directly to Snapchat via Bluetooth or WiFi and transfer memories directly onto the user’s app. Luis Soto, general manager of the property, said: “Guests of El Paseo are culture seekers who want to experience Miami both on and off the beach. They want to discover the hidden gems, learn something new and,...
Sparkling Once Again
After being closed for almost 40 years, the Omni King Edward Hotel's Crystal Ballroom is sparkling once again. Following a $6.5 million renovation, the ballroom is set to revive the glitz and glamour of Toronto's thriving social scene. Home to the city's most prestigious functions from the 1920s through the 1970s, the Crystal Ballroom unveiled its new look, almost 100 years after its initial debut in 1922. Located in the heart of Toronto and within the city's first luxury hotel, the Crystal Ballroom opened its doors to great public acclaim, standing high above the skyline on the...
Partnering To Fight Pollution
Hamilton Princess & Beach Club is partnering with the Seabin Project, a pilot program dedicated to sea-cleaning technology. Sponsored by The Butterfield Group, Bermuda's official bank, the Seabin apparatus will be installed at the Princess Marina this month, and will automatically begin collecting floating rubbish and fuel runoff to create a cleaner ocean and healthier sea life. The Marina will be the first in North America and one of 10 locations globally to feature the Seabin technology. During the test period of three months, data from the collected debris will be analyzed...
Eco-Friendly Stays The Way To Go
With 2017 being designated as the International Year of Sustainable Tourism for Development by the United Nations, it's fitting that Canadians are changing the way they travel. The recent Sustainable Travel Report commissioned by Booking.com found the number of Canadian travellers staying in an eco-friendly accommodation at least once could almost double this year with 61% expressing this intention versus only 36% who stayed in one or more last year. When it comes to making luxury adjustments in order to stay somewhere eco-friendly, the vast majority of Canadians are more than happy...
A Real Personality
Carlo Trinidad, business development manager for AMResorts, was awarded with the first-ever “Personality of the Year” award during Uniglobe’s Western Canada Conference lunch in Richmond, BC recently. Uniglobe’s Western Canada Conference is hosted annually, bringing in top industry leaders and hosts award ceremonies, educational presentations, talking point sessions and forecasting trending topics. With 20 years of industry experience, Trinidad serves as one of three BDMs in Canada, with a focus on the West. He develops and manages relationships with key travel agents, tour...
The Perfect Hotel Stay
More travellers than ever before are booking their trips based on peer recommendations and consumer behaviour is showing that reviews are becoming even more important than the traditional hotel star ratings when booking their trips. However, with so much information out there, it can be difficult to figure out what's important. Hotels.com, with over 25 million guest reviews on its website, took a deep-dive into its 2016 data to settle the debate and create the right formula of what makes the perfect hotel stay. It enlisted the help of consumer psychologist, Dr. Simon Moore to lead...