Destination News - North America.May 10, 2009 Atlantic City Atlantic City, city (1990 pop. 37,986), Atlantic co., SE N.J., an Atlantic resort and convention center; settled c.1790, inc. 1854. Situated on Absecon Island, a barrier island 10 mi (16. An increase in some key tourism indicators in Atlantic City in 2008 bucked negative national trends and demonstrated that US travelers are seeking nearby, domestic vacation destinations that offer a full range of leisure experiences over their counterparts in farther reaches of the country and overseas. According to according to prep. 1. As stated or indicated by; on the authority of: according to historians. 2. In keeping with: according to instructions. 3. the United States United States, officially United States of America, republic (2005 est. pop. 295,734,000), 3,539,227 sq mi (9,166,598 sq km), North America. The United States is the world's third largest country in population and the fourth largest country in area. Travel Association (USTA USTA United States Tennis Association USTA United States Telecom Association USTA United States Trotting Association USTA United States Telephone Association USTA United States Twirling Association USTA United States Trademark Association ), rail travel on Amtrak Amtrak, the National Railroad Passenger Corp., authorized to operate virtually all intercity passenger railroad routes in the United States. Amtrak was created by Congress in 1970 in response to more than two decades of continuous operating deficits by privately run was down by 1.2 percent as compared to the year before. Room demand, meanwhile, sank 3.6 percent overall across the nation. May 6, 2009 BabySafeTravel.com Each year many new parents venture for the first time from baby-proof homes to the unpredictable nature of hotel stays with their children. The new baby travel website, www.BabySafeTravel.com, helps parents take the guesswork out of booking a family friendly hotel stay, while navigating the new nature of flights, car trips, and more with baby on board. The website serves as a comprehensive safe baby travel resource with baby travel tips, products, and hotel booking services. Parents can join together to warn others about hotels that are not kid friendly while recommending baby safe stays with free parent hotel reviews. Parents can book, review, and shop all from one destination. BabySafeTravel.com is a one-stop-shop for a parent's baby travel needs, combining hotel booking and parent reviews with baby travel tips for infants, crawlers, walkers, and multiples as well as baby travel products. www.BabySafeTravel.com. May 7, 2009 Carnival Cruise Lines This article or section needs sources or references that appear in reliable, third-party publications. Alone, primary sources and sources affiliated with the subject of this article are not sufficient for an accurate encyclopedia article. Port Canaveral This article is about the port of Port Canaveral. For the city, see Cape Canaveral, Florida. Port Canaveral is a major cruise and cargo port located in Brevard County, Florida. Port Canaveral is the second busiest cruise port in the world with 4. welcomed Carnival Cruise LinesO Carnival Pride This article or section needs sources or references that appear in reliable, third-party publications. Alone, primary sources and sources affiliated with the subject of this article are not sufficient for an accurate encyclopedia article. back to its original homeport for 18 calls scheduled this year from Baltimore. Carnival Pride was inaugurated in Canaveral in January 2002 and homeported here until fall 2003. It was replaced with the larger Carnival Glory The Carnival Glory is a Conquest Class cruise ship owned by Carnival Cruise Lines. Some features of the Glory include nightclubs, duty-free shops, four pools, seven whirlpools, and a 214-foot water slide. , which today sails Eastern and Western Caribbean itineraries and will be replaced later this year by the largest Carnival ship ever, the Carnival Dream This article or section needs sources or references that appear in reliable, third-party publications. Alone, primary sources and sources affiliated with the subject of this article are not sufficient for an accurate encyclopedia article. . Carnival expects the Carnival Pride to carry more than 115,000 passengers from Baltimore annually. Carnival has scheduled a record 94 cruise ship calls to Port Canaveral now through 2011. www.portcanaveral.org or www.carnival.com. May 7, 2009 Cebu Cebu has become the countryOs top tourist destination A tourist destination is a city, town or other area the economy of which is dependent to a significant extent on the revenues accruing from tourism. It may contain one or more tourist attractions or visitor attractions and possibly some "tourist traps". based on tourist arrivals, according to the Department of Tourism. The province led 14 other key tourist destinations in the country, including the world-famous Boracay Island in tourist arrivals from January to March. Data from the DOT on tourist arrivals for the first quarter showed that 422,239 tourists went to Cebu, nearly 3 percent higher than the 410,597 tourists who went to the province during the same period last year. Boracay was second with 158,030 arrivals, followed by Davao City The City of Davao: De Facto Capital of Mindanao (Tagalog: Lungsod ng Dabaw; Cebuano: Dakbayan sa Dabaw) is one of the most important cities in the Philippines and the chief city of the island of Mindanao. (156,468), Camarines Sur Camarines Sur is a province of the Philippines located in the Bicol Region in Luzon. Its capital is Pili and the province borders Camarines Norte and Quezon to the north, and Albay to the south. To the east lies the island province of Catanduanes across Maqueda Channel. (140,220), Zambales (88,718), and Bohol (71,876). The increase reflected the growth in over-all tourist arrivals in the country during the period, reaching 10.33 percent or a total of 1.3 million from last yearOs 1.1 million, the DOT said. May 10, 2009 Celebrity Cruises Celebrity Cruises is a cruise line founded in 1989 by the Greek Chandris Group. In 1997 Celebrity Cruises Ltd. merged with Royal Caribbean International to become Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd., which operates Celebrity and the Royal Caribbean International line. Celebrity Cruises and sister line Azamara Cruises Azamara Cruises is a cruise line with two almost identical ships which provide cruises to Asia, Bermuda, Caribbean, Europe, Panama Canal and South America. World cruises are planned for 2009. launched the second phase of their booking promotions with Celebrity Alaska sailings starting from $57 per person, per day, and prepaid gratuities on select 2009 Azamara sailings in Europe. Select staterooms on several Alaska cruises are available starting at $57 per day when booked by May 31. A number of Europe sailings within OThe Celebrity Starring You PromiseO offer some stateroom state·room n. A private cabin or compartment with sleeping accommodations on a ship or train. stateroom Noun 1. a private room on a ship 2. categories starting at $85 per person, per day, and several Panama Canal Panama Canal, waterway across the Isthmus of Panama, connecting the Atlantic (by way of the Caribbean Sea) and Pacific oceans, built by the United States (1904–14) on territory leased from the republic of Panama. cruises from $69 day. The promotion features discounted rates on 16 Alaska sailings, six Europe sailings and eight Panama Canal sailings, all taking place in 2009. www.celebritycruises.com. May 4, 2009 Chicago Would you stand in a glass box jutting jut v. jut·ted, jut·ting, juts v.intr. To extend outward or upward beyond the limits of the main body; project: out from the side of the Sears Tower Sears Tower, Chicago, the world's third tallest building. Until the opening of the 1,483-ft (452-m) Petronas Towers (1997) in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, it was the world's tallest building. Constructed from 1970 to 1974 for Sears, Roebuck & Co. , with nothing but an inch and a half of glass between you and the pavement, 103 floors down? In a little over a month, you'll have that option, terrifying ter·ri·fy tr.v. ter·ri·fied, ter·ri·fy·ing, ter·ri·fies 1. To fill with terror; make deeply afraid. See Synonyms at frighten. 2. To menace or threaten; intimidate. as it may be. The Sears Tower will open four glass enclosures, called the Ledge, on the Skydeck's West side by early June. The Ledge enclosures will extend more than four feet beyond the building, and will be retractable re·tract v. re·tract·ed, re·tract·ing, re·tracts v.tr. 1. To take back; disavow: refused to retract the statement. 2. so they won't interfere with window washers. Similar glass-floored views at the Grand Canyon Grand Canyon, great gorge of the Colorado River, one of the natural wonders of the world; c.1 mi (1.6 km) deep, from 4 to 18 mi (6.4–29 km) wide, and 217 mi (349 km) long, NW Ariz. and the CN Tower inspired the Ledge. The Skydeck hopes the new attraction will draw more visitors, particularly locals who may have given up on going to the top of the Sears Tower. The balconies will be able to hold about five tons. The Ledge will be part of regular Skydeck admission of $14.95. May 4, 2009 Cruise West Cruise West is an independent destination focused small-ship cruise operator based in Seattle, Washington, USA. History Founded in 1973 by Chuck West, the line started out as an Alaska tour operator before morphing over time into the much broader focused cruse line that Cruise West has introduced two three-night Alaska cruise weekend packages that include airfare from 14 West Coast cities. The OAlaska Weekend Explorers PackageO offers reduced airfare for both the three-night OGlacier Bay HighlightsO and OGlaciers of Prince William SoundO cruises. Total price of USD USD In currencies, this is the abbreviation for the U.S. Dollar. Notes: The currency market, also known as the Foreign Exchange market, is the largest financial market in the world, with a daily average volume of over US $1 trillion. 1,499 includes the USD 999 cruise fare and USD 500 airfare. The USD 500 air add-on deal is available from Boise, Denver, Las Vegas Las Vegas (läs vā`gəs), city (1990 pop. 258,295), seat of Clark co., S Nev.; inc. 1911. It is the largest city in Nevada and the center of one of the fastest-growing urban areas in the United States. , Los Angeles Los Angeles (lôs ăn`jələs, lŏs, ăn`jəlēz'), city (1990 pop. 3,485,398), seat of Los Angeles co., S Calif.; inc. 1850. , Oakland, Ontario, Phoenix, Portland, Sacramento, San Francisco, San Diego, San Jose, Seattle and Spokane. www.cruisewest.com. May 8, 2009 Emory Conference Center Hotel The Emory Conference Center Hotel (ECCH ECCH European Case Clearing House ) announced the completion of its new addition. The new development was designed and built in anticipation of receiving certification for LEED-Silver (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design The Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Green Building Rating System, developed by the U.S. Green Building Council, provides a suite of standards for environmentally sustainable construction. ) by the U.S. Green Building Council. The new five-story structure connects to the existing building by a bridge and includes 127 new guest rooms; 6,000 square feet of additional meeting space; Wisteria Lanes, a six-lane bowling alley with retro decor that includes a full bar and game room; and a parking garage. The added guest rooms and meeting space will result in ECCH offering a total of 325 guest rooms with six suites and 32,000 square feet of meeting space. www.emoryconferencecenter.com. May 4, 2009 Enterprise Rent-A-Car Enterprise Rent-A-Car is making it economical for Florida visitors to return home and have plenty of room for their luggage and souvenirs from their stay in the Sunshine State. Until May 26, customers can take advantage of low one-way car rental rates with no drop charges and unlimited mileage. Under the program, Enterprise customers traveling from most cities in Florida The following is a list of incorporated cities in Florida. At the top is a list of the ten largest cities, followed by the complete list of incorporated cities arranged in alphabetical order. can rent cars at participating neighborhood locations for as little as USD 10 per day for economy through full-size cars, USD 15 per day for premium cars and mid-size SUVs, or USD 20 per day for large SUVs and luxury autos. Vehicles must be dropped off at a participating Enterprise location within the 48 contiguous states outside of Florida. Airport rentals and in-state rentals do not qualify for the special rates. www.enterprise.com May 8, 2009 Florida, Cuba Florida's Monroe County's updated 10-page "Cuba Strategic Marketing Plan" reflects the growing attention Cuba is getting from Florida's tourism industry. With the White House last month lifting travel restrictions for Cuban-Americans, the debate shifted to what could be the next step: allowing all Americans to visit the Communist island. Politics aside, that possibility has long been a concern for vacation spots in Florida that fear competition from the lush and exotic island. Studies predict as many as 2 million Americans would vacation in Cuba in the years after the end of travel restrictions. That potential has the Sunshine State studying how to prepare its top industry for an American tourism boom 90 miles from its shores. May 4, 2009 Funjet Vacations Funjet Vacations is continuing to closely monitor the status of the H1N1 influenza situation in the United States and Mexico. In order to assist customers in protecting their vacation investment, Funjet Vacations has updated its rebooking and cancellation policies with a rebook re·book v. re·booked, re·book·ing, re·books v.tr. 1. To book again. 2. To change a booking for (a performance or reservation). v.intr. by date of May 31. The policies enable customers to rebook their Mexico vacation to another date or to one of hundreds of popular Funjet destinations, including the Caribbean, Hawaii, Florida, Las Vegas, California, ski vacations and Europe. Funjet also highly recommends purchasing the Complete Coverage travel protection program to give vacationers peace of mind. www.VAXVacationAccess.com. May 4, 2009 Future Vacations, Continental Airlines Future Vacations launched a OYour Ticket to RideO booking incentive that rewards travel agents with one roundtrip ticket aboard Continental Airlines for every four eligible air-inclusive packages booked by June 15. Eligible packages must include roundtrip air transportation and a four-night minimum hotel stay with travel taking place between May 1 and Nov. 30. Bookings to any of the more than 350 destinations featured in the Future Vacations global product line are valid. Group bookings are ineligible. Award tickets are valid for roundtrip air travel aboard Continental Airlines (excludes codeshare flights) within the continental U.S. and must be booked by Dec. 30. Travel agents are responsible for tracking their bookings with redemption forms available at www.VAXVacationAccess.com/futurevacations. Completed forms must be received by June 30. Future Vacations rewards travel agents by paying up to 15 percent commission. www.futurevacations.com. May 8, 2009 GOGO GOGO Government-Owned, Government-Operated Worldwide Vacations GOGO Worldwide Vacations is giving a $250 Red Lane Spa Credit with a booking at a Sandals or Beaches Resort May 1 to 31 for five nights or longer. At Sandals, the offer is valid for travel May 1 to Dec. 26. For Beaches, the offer is valid for travel May 1 to Dec. 20. www.gogowwv.com. May 4, 2009 4/13/2009 Holland America Line Holland America was founded in 1873 as the Dutch-America Steamship Company, a shipping and Passenger line. Because it was headquartered in Rotterdam and provided service to the Americas, it became known as Holland America Line (HAL). Holland America LineOs pilot program, Cruise With Purpose, enables cruise guests to participate in community volunteer work and scientific data collection on specially designed tours. Beginning in Alaska this summer, select tour operators, partnered with local non-profit organizations, will offer guests the chance to contribute some of their time. These excursions build traditional tour content around volunteer and Ocitizen scienceO opportunities provided by the non-profit partners. The first Cruise with Purpose tour will be offered in Juneau from May through September. OBy combining a tour experience with a volunteer opportunity, guests are experiencing the destination in a different, rewarding way,O said Richard D. Meadows, executive vice president-marketing, sales and guest programs. www.hollandamerica.com, www.hollandamerica.com/cruise-destinations/ShoreExcursions.action May 7, 2009 Marriott Hotels The Waikiki Beach Marriott Resort & Spa has unveiled the crowning touch to its $28 million renovation at the oceanfront Kealohilani Tower -- the Queen Liliuokalani Suite. The hotel redesigned and renamed the one-bedroom presidential suite in honor of HawaiiOs beloved monarch. Located on the 25th floor, the suite offers views of Waikiki Beach and provides 1,880 square feet of flexible interior living space and a 520-square-foot lanai Lanai (lənī`), island, 141 sq mi (365 sq km), central Hawaii, W of Maui island across the Auau Channel; Mt. Lanaihale (3,370 ft/1,027 m) is the island's highest point. For many years the island was used for sugarcane raising and cattle grazing. . The Queen Liliuokalani ChildrenOs Center donated a portrait of the queen taken during her reign, which is displayed in the suite foyer. The queen loved music and attended Queen VictoriaOs Golden Jubilee in 1887, for which she composed OThe QueenOs Jubilee.O In tribute, the music sheets to this song are also displayed in the suite. The queen composed more than 150 songs. www.marriottwaikiki.com. May 4, 2009 Marriott Hotels John Q. HammonsO 246-room Courtyard by Marriott Courtyard by Marriott is a brand of hotels owned by Marriott International. They have over 2,800 hotels worldwide, as of June 2007. Courtyard by Marriott is designed for business travelers. Omaha-La Vista at 12560 Westport Parkway in La Vista, Neb., is open for business. Featuring the Courtyard brandOs new, refreshing personalized design and amenities, the Courtyard Omaha-La Vista is adjacent to HammonsO 100,000-square-foot La Vista Conference Center and 257-suite Embassy Suites Omaha-La Vista, which opened in July 2008. Responsible for creating nearly 300 new jobs over the past nine months, the expansive hotel and meeting complex is the largest of its kind in Nebraska. All three facilities are owned by Hammons and managed by Springfield, Mo.-based John Q. Hammons John Q. Hammons (born James Quentin Hammons on February 24, 1919) is an American businessman and one of the nation's premier developers of upscale luxury hotels and resorts. With over 50 years of experience in the hotel industry, John Q. Hotels & Resorts. www.omahalavistacourtyard.com. May 4, 2009 Massachusetts The Massachusetts Port Authority Massachusetts Port Authority, or Massport, is a port district in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. It operates the airports, seaport, and Mystic River Bridge in Boston, Massachusetts and the surrounding areas. (Massport) officially opened its 2009 cruise season with Norwegian Spirit beginning a series of 21 weekly cruises to Bermuda. The ship is one of Norwegian Cruise LineOs newer and larger vessels. Norwegian Spirit departs weekly to Bermuda on Fridays through Sept. 18, and will also sail a series of four seven-day Canada/New England cruises beginning Sept. 25. OOverall, we look forward to this yearOs cruise season bringing two new transatlantic voyages, two Caribbean cruises, and several new ship visits to the Port of Boston The Port of Boston is a major seaport located in Boston Harbor and adjacent to the City of Boston. It is the largest port in Massachusetts as well as being one of the principal ports on the east coast of the United States. ,O said Mike Leone, MassportOs port director. www.massport.com. May 4, 2009 MGM MGM in full Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, Inc. U.S. corporation and film studio. It was formed when the film distributor Marcus Loew, who bought Metro Pictures in 1920, merged it with the Goldwyn production company in 1924 and with Louis B. Mayer Pictures in 1925. Grand The Signature at MGM Grand has announced a Summer Splash promotion for travel through Aug. 31. With nightly rates starting at $129, the package includes a Junior Suite and daily breakfast for two at Delights. In addition, children ages 10 and under eat free at Delights or poolside with the purchase of an adult meal. To book, call 800-727-0007 and mention booking code SUM016 or SUM017. www.signaturemgmgrand.com. May 4, 2009 MSC Cruises MSC Cruises in fall 2010 will operate an inaugural series of six Canada/New England itineraries out of New York City New York City: see New York, city. New York City City (pop., 2000: 8,008,278), southeastern New York, at the mouth of the Hudson River. The largest city in the U.S. and Quebec. On Sept. 22, 2010, the MSC (1) (MSC.Software Corporation, Santa Ana, CA, www.mscsoftware.com) Founded in 1963 by Richard H. MacNeal and Robert G. Schwendler, MSC is the world's largest provider of mechanical computer aided engineering (MCAE) strategies, simulation software and services. Magnifica, one of MSCOs Lirica class vessels, and currently under construction in France, will arrive in New York New York, state, United States New York, Middle Atlantic state of the United States. It is bordered by Vermont, Massachusetts, Connecticut, and the Atlantic Ocean (E), New Jersey and Pennsylvania (S), Lakes Erie and Ontario and the Canadian province of for a season of Canada/New England itineraries roundtrip from New York and Quebec. MSC said it is estimated that the shipOs calls in New York can potentially have an indirect revenue impact on the city valued at more than USD 2.7 million. The company is no stranger to New York City. The U.S. headquarters of the cruise lineOs parent company, Mediterranean Shipping Company, has been based in New York City for nearly 25 years. www.MSCCruisesUSA.com. May 7, 2009 New York City Voted by New York City parents as the cityOs Obest kid fest,O ChildrenOs Day and Fireworks fireworks: see pyrotechnics. fireworks Explosives or combustibles used for display. Of ancient Chinese origin, fireworks evidently developed out of military rockets and explosive missiles and accompanied the spread of military explosives westward to at South Street Seaport The South Street Seaport is a historic area in the New York City borough of Manhattan, located where Fulton Street meets the East River, and adjacent to the Financial District. The Seaport is usually considered a historical district, distinct from the neighboring Financial District. returns for its 16th anniversary on Saturday, June 13, 2009. Tens of thousands of visitors from New York and around the world flock to the annual, day-long event in lower Manhattan for its wide array of free family-oriented entertainment, which includes performances by recording artists Robbert Bobbert and the Bubble Machine (of Apples In Stereo fame), and Rebecca Frezza & Big Truck, among others, as well as storytimes and/or photo appearances by a cast of well-known childrenOs characters. The day concludes with an evening concert and two barges of Zambelli Fireworks (courtesy of Target). Scheduled for 12:00 noon to 5:00 pm, the daytime festivities fes·tiv·i·ty n. pl. fes·tiv·i·ties 1. A joyous feast, holiday, or celebration; a festival. 2. The pleasure, joy, and gaiety of a festival or celebration. 3. also include a variety of activities and/or crafts led by area cultural and childrenOs museums and organizations. The 9:00 pm fireworks show [ETH eth n. Variant of edh. ] produced by Zambelli, the first family of fireworks [ETH] rivals any major celebration in New York City. May 7, 2009 New York City New York City is including a new message in its pitch to lure visitors _ don't worry about swine flu. City tourism officials joined their Spanish counterparts on Tuesday to announce a $1.7 million advertising campaign to promote New York tourism in Spain After Francisco Franco's death Spain became the second most-visited tourism destination in the world after France. They welcome 60 million tourists per year (2007), according to the World Tourism Organization. In fact, the headquarters of WTO are in Madrid. , a country that sends hundreds of thousands of visitors here annually. They used the promotion's start to remind potential visitors that the city is open for business. May 5, 2009 Ohana Hotels Ohana Hotels & Resorts has announced new Best Available Rates, valid through Dec. 21. Those rates start at $79 at the Ohana Waikiki West, $89 at the Ohana Waikiki Malia, $97 at the Ohana Waikiki East, $99 at the Ohana Honolulu Airport Hotel and $119 at the Ohana Waikiki Beachcomber. In addition, through May 31, travel agents can earn a $25 bonus for new bookings at the new Ohana Waikiki Beachcomber for each four-night stay, with travel through Dec. 21. OhanaOs Best Available Rates are per room, per night, for single or double occupancy. Ohana also has announced a Mahalo Month rate of $50 per person, double, for travel agents, valid for travel through June 5. There is a maximum seven-night stay with this rate. Agents must present a business card and ID at check-in. For more information, call 866-968-8744 or visit www.ohanahotels.com. May 4, 2009 Panama City Beach Panama City Beach, Fla. is offering free night stays, lodging specials and thrilling celebrations for travelers seeking a last-minute Memorial Day Weekend getaway. www.visitpanamacitybeach.com. May 7, 2009 Philadelphia The Greater Philadelphia Tourism Marketing Corporation The Greater Philadelphia Tourism Marketing Corporation (GPTMC) was founded in 1996 by the City of Philadelphia, the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and the Pew Charitable Trusts. (GPTMC GPTMC Greater Philadelphia Tourism Marketing Corporation ) has launched a contest as part of the OPhiladelphia -- Get Your History Straight and Your Nightlife GayO tourism marketing campaign. Entrants can sign up to win OPhillyOs Ultimate Gay Stay,O including a trip to the city and dining, shopping and pampering at some of the cityOs gay-friendly businesses, at www.gophila.com/gayphilly. Online banner ads promoting the contest will run nationwide on www.logoonline.com and www.outtraveler.com, while a print ad will run in Passport Magazine. In addition, targeted outreach at out-of-market events and businesses in cities such as Chicago, Denver, Palm Springs and Columbus maximizes the value of this promotion, which runs through mid-May. www.gophila.com. May 7, 2009 Ritz-Carlton Hotel The Ritz-Carlton Hotel Company
The Ritz-Carlton Hotel Company is the parent company to the luxury hotel chain, Ritz-Carlton Hotels. is introducing two vacation packages. The range of value added Value Added The enhancement a company gives its product or service before offering the product to customers. Notes: This can either increase the products price or value. options are designed to encourage travel from May 1 through Sept. 30, 2009. New this year, the OPeace of MindO package is available in city and resort locations around the world. Inclusive features at resorts are deluxe room accommodations, full American breakfast for two served in the restaurant, daily Internet access and local phone calls, overnight parking, and Ritz Kids special activities program for two youngsters. www.ritzcarlton.com/ONE. or www.ritzcarlton.com. May 4, 2009 Roomorama.com Chicago event visitors are rooming with the newest solution to affordable travel -- www.roomorama.com. The free peer-to-peer website for short-term room and apartment rentals offers an attractive alternative to pricey hotels. Ideal for events, leisure or business travel to the Windy City and other major cities in the U.S. and Canada, Roomorama.com is designed as an easy way to stay and save. With summer and fall events welcoming thousands to Chicago, Roomorama.com seeks to offer a safer, more streamlined rental tool for travelers than previous options such as searching CraigOs List or classified ads. May 7, 2009 Royal Caribbean Emmanouil Kasselas, captain of Royal CaribbeanOs Freedom of the Seas freedom of the seas: see seas, freedom of the. , called the ship his Olittle puppyO hours after docking at Port Canaveral on Monday. Freedom of the Seas is the worldOs largest cruise ship, running more than 1,100 feet long and holding up to 4,375 passengers. ItOs the first of four huge cruise ships that will begin sailing from Port Canaveral between now and 2012, and tourism and port officials said their presence here will generate millions in additional tourism spending and solidify the areaOs reputation as a major player in the cruise business. TheyOre banking on cruise passengers coming to Brevard County a day or two prior to their cruise to stay in local hotels, eat at restaurants and visit some of the areaOs tourist attractions. May 5, 2009 San Francisco The Aquarium of the Bay Aquarium of the Bay is an aquarium in Pier 39, San Francisco, California, that has many types of fish including eels, flatfish, rockfish, Wrasse, Gobies, Kelpfish, Pricklebacks, Ronquil, Sculpin and Sturgeons as well as various other sharks and rays. in San Francisco, the only gated attraction to be certified by the San Francisco Green Business program, has mounted solar panels on its roof, converting the sunOs energy into electricity to run video microscopes and electronics in the centerpiece of its new climate change exhibit, the PG&E Bay Lab station. Naturalist-led presentations at the PG&E Bay Lab station include interactions with many of the exhibit's land animals, along with presentations that focus on energy and conservation, climate change and the San Francisco Bay San Francisco Bay, 50 mi (80 km) long and from 3 to 13 mi (4.8–21 km) wide, W Calif.; entered through the Golden Gate, a strait between two peninsulas. and marine environments. Energy and conservation presentations include OBlowing in the Wind,O OEnergy Hogs,O OSolar Power ScienceO and OWatch Where You Step.O Visitors learn unique and varied ways that wind energy is used; how and where energy is often overused in the home; and the relationships between climate change and lifestyle, environmental impacts and population dynamics. Visitors also learn how the sunOs energy can be harnessed, through interactive demonstrations using radiometers. www.aquariumofthebay.com. May 7, 2009 Scottsdale Scottsdale hotels are offering a Luxury for Less program this summer, with nightly room rates dropping up to 60 percent off high-season rates. Among the participating hotels: The Mondrian Scottsdale is offering a Play package at USD 145 per night, which includes a summer amenity, a USD 25 food and beverage F&B is a common abbreviation in the United States and Commonwealth countries, including Hong Kong. F&B is typically the widely accepted abbreviation for "Food and Beverage," which is the sector/industry that specializes in the conceptualization, the making of, and delivery of foods. credit at the Blue Pool Bar & Grill and 20 percent off treatments at Agua Spa from May 28 through Aug. 30. The Hotel Valley Ho is offering a So Summer special starting at USD 149 per night and including a drink upon arrival, 10 percent off the first VH Spa visit, 20 percent off dinner at Trader VicOs, a Westcor shopping book with more than USD 700 in discounts and VIP line passes to area nightclubs from May 25 through Sept. 7. www.summerinscottsdale.com. May 7, 2009 Sea Experiences of Discovery Crystal SymphonyOs Theatre at Sea Experiences of Discovery cruise will celebrate the 90th anniversary of the Theatre Guild. This summer, Gena Rowlands, Susannah York, Patricia Neal and others will perform during the 11-day Aug. 12 sailing from Stockholm to London. Among the live performances from the GuildOs most famous productions are OPorgy & Bess,O OOklahomaO and OCarousel.O The artists will also perform their own works throughout the voyage. www.crystalcruises.com. May 6, 2009 StudentUniverse.com Online student and faculty travel provider StudentUniverse.com has introduced the new OFarePlayO feature to help travelers search destinations and airfares faster and easier than ever just in time for the busy summer travel season. The FarePlay service allows students to search for cheap airfares by region of the world or by theme such as Popular European Cities or by budget parameters. Building on the success of StudentUniverse's real-time flexible date search function, which allows users to search up to three days before and three days after their preferred travel dates, students now have even more options for inexpensive, customized travel. FarePlay has searchable themes that include study abroad, party spots, cheap destinations, backpacking, best U.S. cities for singles and others. For more information, visit www.studentuniverse.com. May 7, 2009 The Travelex Group The Travelex Group has signed a new deal with MasterCard Worldwide. Under the agreement, MasterCard will provide the currency company with the capability to provide global pre-paid transaction processing for its clients. Travelex said the deal marked an extension of its relationship with the car company. The currency company already issues and distributes MasterCard Cash Passport cards. Under the new deal it will also launch a new MasterCard branded Cash Passport cards for both individuals and corporates. Travelex will also convert all its existing programmes to MasterCard. www.travelex.com www.mastercard.com May 5, 2009 Thompson Hotel Group The owners the Thompson Hotel Group announced a venture into the nightlife and restaurant scene with the Do Not Disturb Do not disturb usually referes to a status where the subject prefers to be left in solitary. It can also mean the following:
v. con·cep·tu·al·ized, con·cep·tu·al·iz·ing, con·cep·tu·al·iz·es v.tr. To form a concept or concepts of, and especially to interpret in a conceptual way: and operate The Libertine lib·er·tine n. 1. One who acts without moral restraint; a dissolute person. 2. One who defies established religious precepts; a freethinker. adj. Morally unrestrained; dissolute. and Zentan. www.thompsonhotels.com. May 4, 2009 Tourism Cares Tourism Cares, the non-profit group dedicated to promoting responsible and sustainable tourism, announced a long-term partnership with GTA GTA Grand Theft Auto (legal) GTA Grand Theft Auto (video game) GTA Greater Toronto Area (Canada) GTA Graduate Teaching Assistant North America, a subsidiary of GTA which is one of the worldOs largest travel wholesalers. Tourism Cares and GTA North America will form a Global Strategic Alliance, and GTA North America has agreed to promote the work of Tourism Cares around the world. GTA North America shares Tourism CaresO mission to preserve the travel experience through the restoration and rejuvenation Rejuvenation Aeson in extreme old age, restored to youth by Medea. [Rom. Myth.: LLEI, I: 322] apples of perpetual youth by tasting the golden apples kept by Idhunn, the gods preserved their youth. [Scand. Myth. of landmark and historical sites for the benefit of both todayOs and future generations and upholds the strong belief that everyone in the travel industry is responsible for investing in the future. www.tourismcares.org or www.gta-travel.com. May 7, 2009 Travel Bound Travel Bound is offering free nights, free transfers, free resort fees and other incentives to agents booking three-, four- and five-star U.S. hotels for their independent travel clients. Many of these offers are for a limited time and may be found on the Travel Bound website, www.booktravelbound.com, under OThe U.S. is on usO promotion. Travel Bound sells exclusively through travel agents. All Travel Bound hotel rates are quoted per person per night based on double occupancy and include local hotel taxes and service charges. Starting commission for all Travel Bound hotels, sightseeing tours and transfers is 10 percent. www.booktravelbound.com. May 6, 2009 Travel Impressions Travel Impressions is launching a OFlorida FreebiesO promotion featuring free hotel nights and food and beverage credits at participating hotels in Florida. The OFlorida FreebiesO promotion must be booked by May 31 for travel June 1 to Sept. 18. As part of the promotion, four-day/three-night packages start at USD 179 per person, based on double occupancy, and include a four-day Alamo Alamo Eighteenth-century mission in San Antonio, Texas, site of a historic siege of a small group of Texans by a Mexican army (1836) during the Texas war for independence from Mexico. car rental (except in Orlando), roundtrip airport/hotel transfers (Orlando only), hotel accommodations and hotel tax. www.TravelImpressions.com. May 7, 2009 Unique Vacations Unique Vacations Inc., worldwide representative of Sandals Resorts, Beaches Resorts, The Royal Plantation Collection, and Grand Pineapple Beach Resorts, announced the OSandals Resorts No Worry Guarantee,O an added benefit to the companyOs optional insurance policy, granting guests a full cash refund on their vacation should they be involuntarily terminated from their jobs. Beginning May 1, 2009, when guests purchase the Trip Mate Travel Protection Plan ($99 per adult; $79 per child), they will now have expanded coverage including the Sandals Resorts No Worry Guarantee, offering protection on travel to all four brandsO properties in Jamaica, St. Lucia, Antigua, The Bahamas and the Turks & Caicos. www.sandals.com. May 4, 2009 United Vacations During the month of May, United Vacations is offering up to USD 100 off three-night air/hotel vacations for MGM Mirage Vegas properties (booked by 6 p.m. CST CST abbr. 1. Central Standard Time 2. convulsive shock treatment CST Central Standard Time Noun 1. on May 31 for travel through Oct. 31). This limited-time offer is in addition to already reduced prices on three-night air/hotel vacation packages starting from just USD 234. www.vaxvacationaccess.com/uv. May 8, 2009 United Vacations United Vacations is offering savings up to $200 on destinations worldwide. Through June 16, clients can save on vacation packages to the Caribbean, all U.S. destinations including Hawaii, Las Vegas, California and Disney, as well as Mexico, Europe, Canada and popular ski hot spots hot spots acute moist dermatitis. . This offer is valid for travel through Feb. 28, 2010. Use promotion code GROW (for vacations in the U.S., Canada and Europe) or MEXCARGROW (for vacations in Mexico or the Caribbean) at the time of booking to receive the savings. The total discount will be based on the cost of the vacation package. Save $200 on vacations of $4,000 or more, $100 on vacations of $2,200 to $3,999, or $50 on vacations of $1,300 to $2,199. In addition to the up to $200 savings, United Vacations is also featuring a wide variety of destination-specific deals that are combinable with this sale. Travel agents can book United Vacations at www.vaxvacationaccess.com/uv. May 4, 2009 Walt Disney US senators have invited officials from Walt Disney resorts and Las Vegas to discuss ways to pump up US tourism amid a painful recession and flu-related travel fears, a lawmaker announced Friday. Democratic Senator Amy Klobuchar of Minnesota said she and Republican Senator Mel Martinez of Florida will lead the Senate Commerce subcommittee hearing, "Tourism In Troubled Times," which is set for Wednesday. Tourism in the United States This article or section has multiple issues: * Its neutrality is disputed. * It needs to be expanded. * It may require general cleanup to meet Wikipedia's quality standards. Please help [ improve the article] or discuss these issues on the talk page. generates roughly 10.3 billion dollars in yearly economic activity and accounts for more than 140,000 jobs, her office said in a statement. May 8, 2009 ZZ AirGuide 090511 Editorial eMail: edit@AirGuideOnline.com For Air Transport & Travel Business Experts contact our Director of Content Aram Gesar eMail: bizintel@AirGuideOnline.com For Advertising and Marketing: advert@AirGuideOnline.com For Custom Content: content@AirGuideOnline.com ISSN ISSN abbr. International Standard Serial Number 1544-3760 - Copyright [c] 2009 AirGuide / Pyramid Media Group, Inc. All rights reserved. |
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