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THE SEARCH CONTINUES: Many feared dead after Florida beachfront condo collapse

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It has been reported that the 12-story building that collapsed in Surfside, just north of Miami, on Thursday was sinking and possibly in dangerous condition before the horrifying event. At least one person was killed and others trapped in the tower. Dozens of survivors were pulled out, as rescuers keep up a desperate search for more.

The report from last year also opened questions as to whether recent construction work on the roof could have triggered the collapse – and revealed that the building was due to have its safety recertified in just months. However, authorities have not yet determined definitively what caused the building to collapse and Miami-Dade police have opened an investigation – though Mayor Daniella Levine Cava said “there has been no evidence found of foul play.”

Questions are now being asked whether the tragedy could have been prevented and how similar collapses can be prevented.

A wing of the 12-story building in the community of Surfside came down with a roar around 1:30 a.m. By late afternoon, nearly 100 people were still unaccounted for, authorities said, raising fears that the death toll could climb sharply. Officials did not know how many were in the tower when it fell.

“The building is literally pancaked,” Surfside Mayor Charles Burkett said. “That is heartbreaking because it doesn’t mean, to me, that we are going to be as successful as we wanted to be in finding people alive.”

Hours after the collapse, searchers were trying to reach a trapped child whose parents were believed to be dead. In another case, rescuers saved a mother and child, but the woman’s leg had to be amputated to remove her from the rubble, Frank Rollason, director of Miami-Dade emergency management, told the Miami Herald.

Video showed fire crews removing a boy from the wreckage, but it was not clear whether he was the same person mentioned by Rollason. Teams were trying to enter the building from a parking garage beneath the structure.

Gov. Ron DeSantis, who toured the scene, said television did not capture the scale of what happened.

Rescue crews are “doing everything they can to save lives. That is ongoing, and they’re not going to rest,” he said.

Teams of 10 to 12 rescuers at a time entered the rubble with dogs and other equipment, working until they grew tired from the heavy lifting, then making way for a new team, said Florida Chief Financial Officer Jimmy Patronis, the state’s fire marshal.

“They’re not going to stop just because of nightfall,” Patronis told Miami television station WPLG. “They just may have a different path they pursue.”

Patronis said he was deeply moved by the image of a bunk bed near the now-exposed top of the building.

“Somebody was probably sleeping in it,” he said. “There’s all those what-ifs.”

On video footage captured from nearby, the center of the building appeared to fall first, with a section nearest the ocean teetering and coming down seconds later as a huge dust cloud swallowed the neighborhood.

Work was being done on the building’s roof, but Burkett said he did not see how that could have been the cause.

President Joe Biden promised to provide federal aid if requested.

Hotels opened to some displaced residents, the mayor said, and deliveries of food, medicine and more were being hastily arranged.

About half of the building’s roughly 130 units were affected, the mayor told a news conference. Rescuers pulled at least 35 people from the rubble by mid-morning, and heavy equipment was being brought in to help stabilize the structure to provide more access,.

The tower has a mix of seasonal and year-round residents, and while the building keeps a log of guests, it does not keep track of when owners are in residence, Burkett said.

Nicholas Fernandez spent hours after the collapse trying to call two friends who were staying in the building with their young daughter. The family had come to the United States to avoid the COVID-19 outbreak in their home country of Argentina, said Fernandez, of Miami.

“The hope is that, perhaps, someone hears the call. I know there are dogs inside,” he said. “I know it may sound ridiculous what I’m saying but there’s always hope until we hear different.”

A total of 22 South Americans were missing in the collapse – nine from Argentina, six from Paraguay, four from Venezuela and three from Uruguay, according to officials in those countries.

The collapse, which appeared to affect one leg of the L-shaped tower, tore away walls and ripped open some homes in the still-standing part of the building. Television footage showed beds, tables and chairs inside. Air conditioners hung from some parts of the building, where wires dangled.

Barry Cohen, 63, said he and his wife were asleep in the building when he first heard what he thought was a crack of thunder. The couple went onto their balcony, then opened the door to the building’s hallway to find “a pile of rubble and dust and smoke billowing around.”

“I couldn’t walk out past my doorway,” said Cohen, the former vice mayor of Surfside.

Surfside City Commissioner Eliana Salzhauer told WPLG that the building’s county-mandated 40-year recertification process was ongoing. Salzhauer said the process was believed to be proceeding without difficulty. A building inspector was on-site Wednesday.

“I want to know why this happened,” Salzhauer said. “That’s really the only question. … And can it happen again? Are any other of our buildings in town in jeopardy?”

The seaside condo development was built in 1981. It had a few two-bedroom units on the market, with asking prices of $600,000 to $700,000. The area’s neighborhood feel offers a stark contrast to the glitz and bustle of nearby South Beach.

The area has a mix of new and old apartments, houses, condominiums and hotels, with restaurants and stores serving an international combination of residents and tourists. The main oceanside street is lined with glass-sided, luxury condominium buildings, but more modest houses are on the inland side. Among the neighborhood’s residents are snowbirds, Russian immigrants and Orthodox Jewish families.

First published at Travel Industry Today

First published at TravelNewsHub.com – Global Travel News

A RETURN TO NORMAL: Switzerland welcomes fully vaccinated Canadian guests

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The Swiss government has outlined a return to normality after the global pandemic including the complete opening to international guests and the full opening of tourist infrastructures (restaurants, events, leisure facilities).The  government announced that it is opening the country’s borders to fully vaccinated travellers from Canada from June 26, in time for the summer holidays.

Switzerland Tourism is already actively present in Toronto to provide information about existing protection measures and rules, as well as travel opportunities in Switzerland for the summer and autumn 2021.

“We are very happy to welcome fully vaccinated Canadian guests back in Switzerland. Our campaign with Vancouver-based photographer Callum Snape showcases why Canadians will love reconnecting with friends and family in the heart of Europe. Hike and bike in the Swiss Alps, explore our boutique towns, swim in our turquoise lakes, discover in our four language regions and ride our scenic trains along palm trees and stunning glaciers”, says Pascal Prinz, Director Canada for Switzerland Tourism.

Canadians, who can prove that they are fully vaccinated will be able to travel to Switzerland without quarantine or PCR tests starting tomorrow. Upon return to Canada local regulations apply.

Over 4,000 tourism businesses use the Swiss “Clean & Safe” label to document the application of comprehensive protection concepts. Information is available on the website.

Travellers appreciate – especially after the pandemic – Switzerland’s values such as reliability, cleanliness, safety and naturalness.

Image by Callum Snape

First published at Travel Industry Today

First published at TravelNewsHub.com – Global Travel News

GROUND CONTROL TO MAJOR TOM: Are space tourists ‘astronauts’?

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As more companies start selling tickets to space, a question looms: Who gets to call themselves an astronaut? It’s already a complicated issue and about to get more so as the wealthy snap up spacecraft seats and even entire flights for themselves and their entourages.

Astronauts? Amateur astronauts? Space tourists? Space sightseers? Rocket riders? Or as the Russians have said for decades, spaceflight participants?

NASA’s new boss Bill Nelson doesn’t consider himself an astronaut even though he spent six days orbiting Earth in 1986 aboard space shuttle Columbia — as a congressman. “I reserve that term for my professional colleagues,” Nelson recently said.

Computer game developer Richard Garriott — who paid his way to the International Space Station in 2008 with the Russians — hates the space tourist label. “I am an astronaut,” he declared in an email, explaining that he trained for two years for the mission.

“If you go to space, you’re an astronaut,” said Axiom Space’s Michael Lopez-Alegria, a former NASA astronaut who will accompany three businessmen to the space station in January, flying SpaceX. His US$55 million-a-seat clients plan to conduct research up there, he stressed, and do not consider themselves space tourists.

Axiom Space has announced a second flight for next year that will be led by the company’s Peggy Whitson, a retired NASA astronaut who’s spent 665 days in space, more than any other American. Her No. 2 will be businessman-turned-race car driver John Shoffner, of Knoxville, Tenn., who’s also paying around $55 million. “I’ve asked Peggy to throw the book at me in training. Make me an astronaut,” he said.

There’s something enchanting about the word: Astronaut comes from the Greek words for star and sailor. And swashbuckling images of “The Right Stuff” and NASA’s original Mercury 7 astronauts make for great marketing.

Jeff Bezos’ rocket company, Blue Origin, is already calling its future clients “astronauts.” It’s auctioning off one seat on its first spaceflight with people on board, targeted for July. NASA even has a new acronym: PAM for Private Astronaut Mission.

Retired NASA astronaut Mike Mullane didn’t consider himself an astronaut until his first space shuttle flight in 1984, six years after his selection by NASA.

“It doesn’t matter if you buy a ride or you’re assigned to a ride,” said Mullane, whose 2006 autobiography is titled “Riding Rockets.” Until you strap into a rocket and reach a certain altitude, “you’re not an astronaut.”

It remains a coveted assignment. More than 12,000 applied for NASA’s upcoming class of astronauts; a lucky dozen or so will be selected in December.

But what about passengers who are along for the ride, like the Russian actress and movie director who will fly to the space station in October? Or Japan’s moonstruck billionaire who will follow them from Kazakhstan in December with his production assistant tagging along to document everything? In each case, a professional cosmonaut will be in charge of the Soyuz capsule.

Training with SpaceX at the Kennedy Space Centre: Jared Isaacman, Hayley Arceneaux, Sian Proctor and Chris Sembroski.

SpaceX’s high tech capsules are completely automated, as are Blue Origin’s. So, should rich riders and their guests be called astronauts even if they learn the ropes in case they need to intervene in an emergency?

Perhaps even more important, where does space begin?

The US Federal Aviation Administration limits its commercial astronaut wings to flight crews. The minimum altitude is 80 km. It’s awarded seven so far; recipients include the two pilots for Richard Branson’s Virgin Galactic who made another test flight of the company’s rocket ship Saturday.

Others define space as beginning at an even 100 km above sea level.

Blue Origin’s capsules are designed to reach that threshold and provide a few minutes of weightlessness before returning to Earth. By contrast, it takes 90 minutes to circle the world. The Association of Space Explorers requires at least one orbit of Earth – in a spacecraft – for membership.

The astronaut debate has been around since the 1960s, according to Garriott. His late father, Owen Garriott, was among the first so-called scientist-astronauts hired by NASA; the test pilots in the office resented sharing the job title.

It might be necessary to retire the term altogether once hundreds if not thousands reach space, noted Fordham University history professor Asif Siddiqi, the author of several space books. “Are we going to call each and every one of them astronauts?”

Mullane, the three-time space shuttle flier, suggests using astronaut first class, second class, third class, “depending on what your involvement is, whether you pull out a wallet and write a cheque.”

While a military-style pecking order might work, former NASA historian Roger Launius warned: “This gets really complicated really quickly.”

In the end, Mullane noted, “Astronaut is not a copyrighted word. So, anybody who wants to call themselves an astronaut can call themselves an astronaut, whether they’ve been in space or not.”

First published at Travel Industry Today

First published at TravelNewsHub.com – Global Travel News

PUBS, PATIOS & BARS: Tea with a twist (of gin)

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There’s nothing wrong with a nice afternoon tea, but typically it’s not the purview of this column (let’s be honest, we’ve never, ever, never, talked about tea before). However, lest you think I’m soused (more likely than writing about tea), this time there is a twist: Tea at the Grand Central Hotel Belfast, Northern Ireland, is now paired with the world’s largest bottle of gin.

The luxury hotel, which lays claim to having Ireland’s tallest cocktail bar (an important feature as you will see), teamed up with local gin distiller Jawbox Spirits to unveil the huge Giant’s Edition bottle, which is the attraction of the playfully named “G & Tea” afternoon tea experience, also dubbed “tea with a twist,” and now served in The Observatory on the 23rd floor of the Grand.

Nearly 1,000 measures of gin are included in the huge Jawbox Giant’s Edition bottle, which takes its name and inspiration from Jonathan Swift’s famous novel Gulliver’s Travels, in which the writer was said to have been inspired by the sight of the Belfast Hills, which he felt resembled a sleeping giant safeguarding the city.

At 73 cm tall, the Jawbox Giant’s Edition holds almost 46 standard bottles of gin, with the huge flagon weighing more than 50 kg and containing a staggering 32 litres of the spirit.

The G & Tea menu includes a selection of delicate sandwiches, scones, and sweet treats inspired by the botanicals and flavours of the gin.

Guests can also sit back, relax, and take in the stunning views overlooking the Belfast Hills, where one of the spirit’s ingredients, Black Mountain Heather, is gathered, while enjoying a new, specially designed Jonathan’s Twist Cocktail.

The G & Tea experience is notably supported by Tourism Northern Ireland and the ‘Embrace a Giant Spirit’ campaign, which is evident everywhere one goes in the streets of Belfast.

The Tea is served daily from 1 to 5 p.m. and is priced at £40 (£50 with the Jonathan’s Twist Cocktail). The hotel is located in the heart of the city at 9-15 Bedford St. in the Linen Quarter.
With glass purposefully in hand, we at Travel Industry Today continue our series on some of the planet’s best bars, patios and rooftop venues. For more articles in the series, click here:

PREVIOUS ARTICLES: https://travelindustrytoday.com/pub-patio/

First published at Travel Industry Today

First published at TravelNewsHub.com – Global Travel News

CARNIVAL PLANS TO ADD TWO MORE SHIPS TO ITS FLEET

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Carnival Cruise Line has plans to grow its fleet by two additional ships by 2023. It’s taking over the delivery of an Excel-class ship that had previously been assigned to sister line AIDA Cruises that will arrive in late 2023, as well as taking ownership of Costa Magica from European sister line Costa Cruises. That 2,700-passenger ship, built in 2004, will go through a dry dock and be renamed to join the Carnival fleet by mid-2022.

These two ships are in addition to the new capacity growth represented by Mardi Gras, Carnival’s first Excel-class ship which starts sailing from Port Canaveral on July 31 and her sister ship, Carnival Celebration, which will be delivered and sail from Miami starting in late 2022, as part of Carnival’s 50th birthday festivities.

Read it all in The Cruisington Times

Carnival’s Mardi Gras is the first of four ships growing the fleet – Courtesy Carnival Cruise Line

 

 

 

 

First published at Travel Industry Today

First published at TravelNewsHub.com – Global Travel News

WTTC on Call to Reimpose Quarantines on Arriving British Travellers

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WTTC on Call to Reimpose Quarantines on Arriving British Travellers

London, United Kingdom, June 25, 2021 / TRAVELINDEX / Virginia Messina, WTTC Senior Vice President, said: “WTTC is very concerned about reversing quarantine measures and would urge against EU states reimposing them on arriving British holidaymakers.

“With more than 60% of British adults now fully vaccinated, they should be able to enjoy quarantine-free travel to the EU.

“Quarantines are not the most effective measure to curb the spread of COVID-19 and there is no need to reintroduce them especially given the increasing vaccination rates across Europe.

“Imposing an EU-wide quarantine would extinguish any hopes of bringing back significant summer travel which is a critical season for most European markets. This would significantly damage these countries’ economies, such as Germany where the UK is the fourth largest source market.

“It would also deal a significant economic blow to countries such as Portugal, Spain, Cyprus and Malta where the UK is also the biggest source market – and Italy – where quarantines have recently returned for inbound British travellers.”

First published at TravelCommunication.net – Global Travel News

First published at TravelNewsHub.com – Global Travel News

Tourism Industry Summit to Take Place in Andermatt this November

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Tourism Industry Summit to Take Place in Andermatt this November

Lucerne, Switzerland, June 25, 2021 / TRAVELINDEX / After two inspiring Online Meetups featuring speakers from the tourism industry, one thing is clear: tourism is on the cusp of a promising future. Leading personalities from the tourism industry and politics, as well as investors and start-ups will meet in Andermatt in November to promote and exchange new ideas. The Innovation Festival will hone in on topics introduced at the Online Meetups and examine possible solutions to rebuild and advance tourism.

Setting sail for new shores

The disruptive forces of the current crisis are leaving their mark on the tourism industry. Buoyed by innovation and enterprise, the industry is taking this opportunity to jettison mediocre solutions and instead develop new ideas that will endure even after the storm has passed, says futurist Matthias Horx. Marcus Bernhardt, CEO of Deutsche Hospitality, agrees: “You can sense that the pace of innovation is accelerating in the tourism industry, that even well-established companies are quickly adapting to the new needs of guests.”

Keeping pace with change

It was important, according to Nadia Fettah Alaoui, Tourism Minister of Morocco, that governments supported the tourism industry during a difficult phase. However, now it is time for the industry to push on with the transformation process that was triggered by the crisis. Philipp Depiereux, CEO of etventure, is convinced: agility and adaptability are more important than adhering rigidly to a previously defined strategy. For this to succeed, guests have to be made the focus, because tourism is all about social interactions and personal exchanges with them.

Foster diversity and inclusion

There’s a need for action with regard to diversity and inclusion too. The figures in a study by the World Tourism Forum and Aptamind are clear: when it comes to diversity and inclusion, there’s still plenty of room for improvement in the tourism industry. Firms must level the playing field and «walk the talk» when it comes to involving employees in proceedings.

Johannes Reck, CEO of GetYourGuide, believes, “that young businesses in particular can change the world for the better, as long as you give them the opportunity to develop their ideas and put the pedal to the metal.” And that is exactly what WTFL is doing with its unique platform for exchange and its global network.

A platform for new ideas – the Innovation Festival will take place in November

“To move forward with positivity, you need new perspectives and a clear objective”, says Raphael Krucker, CEO of Andermatt Swiss Alps, “and this objective, whether it’s in the field of sustainability or diversity and inclusion, can only be achieved in collaboration with others.”

With this awareness and the insights from the Online Meetups, World Tourism Forum Lucerne looks eagerly to the future. The conference of the hybrid Innovation Festival, whose theme is “Moving Forward” takes place from 15th and 16th November in Andermatt, Switzerland. Simultaneously, the guest destination Morocco will host a satellite event to be broadcast live. Participation is possible in person or remotely from anywhere in the world.

First published at TravelCommunication.net

First published at TravelNewsHub.com – Global Travel News

More than Words: W Hotels Celebrates Pride 2021 with a Summer Book Club, Amplifying Queer Authors and Narratives

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You can lose yourself in a good book, but you can see yourself in a great one. W Hotels, a champion of inclusivity since its inception, today announces the them. x W Hotels Summer Book Club, a collaboration with them., the next-generation media platform that provides news and commentary through the lens of today’s LGBTQ+ community. By harvesting the power of storytelling, W Hotels and them. hope to bring further attention to queer authors and audiences by shining their collective spotlight on three moving literary titles throughout the summer of 2021.

“Whether through original music, digital art, or dancing in the streets at parades around the world, W Hotels has honored Pride with artists of countless mediums over the years,” said Carly Van Sickle, Senior Director, Global Brand Marketing, W Hotels Worldwide. “This year—in light of smaller gatherings—we wanted to celebrate Pride with anyone, anywhere, who would like to connect through the written word. Together with the incredible team at them., we are excited to support three talented authors with our LGBTQ+ guests and fans.”

The them. x W Hotels Summer Book Club will bring together leading authors, activists, and creatives to dive into outstanding recent LGBTQ+ novels and nonfiction works. From the most unique gay bars on Earth to tight-knit queer communities in the unlikeliest of places, readers are invited to take an inspiring tour of the various ways queer people come together and exist in our world today. From June through August, them. will announce the monthly book selection on Instagram and invite all to read along and share their thoughts throughout the month. Guests at select W hotels across North America can request a copy of the book to borrow during their stay simply by calling Whatever/Whenever™ and mentioning the them. x W Hotels Summer Book Club selection of the month.

them x W Hotels Summer Book Club.jpg

The inaugural book is Real Queer America by Samantha Allen, a transgender reporter’s narrative road trip that shines a light on unexpectedly vibrant LGBTQ+ communities in conservative states across the country, introducing readers to extraordinary individuals fighting for change. All book club members are invited to pick up a print or digital copy and read alongside Book Club Ambassadors, influential members of the queer community who have been chosen by W Hotels and them. to share their personal interpretations of what they’re reading. A book review will be written and published by them. and readers can share their thoughts using #whotels.

“We are so proud to be collaborating with W Hotels to put the power of LGBTQ+ storytelling into the hands of people everywhere. Through this book club, we hope readers feel the spirit of Pride all summer long and beyond—no matter where they are,” said Whembley Sewell, Editor-in-Chief, them. “The selections from LGBTQ+ authors in this series are sure to uplift, inspire, and inform —representing the beauty and promise of a more inclusive future. As you—guests and members of them‘s community—read along, be sure to share connections and reactions to these incredible stories.”

For more information visit the theangle.whotels.com and join the conversation on Instagram @whotels @them #whotels.

About W Hotels Worldwide
Born from the bold attitude and 24/7 culture of New York City, W Hotels, part of Marriott International, Inc., has disrupted and redefined the hospitality scene for over two decades. Trailblazing its way around the globe, with nearly 60 hotels, W is defying expectations and breaking the norms of traditional luxury wherever the iconic W sign lands. With a mission to fuel guests’ lust for life, W ignites an obsessive desire to soak it in, live it up and hit repeat. The brand’s provocative design, iconic Whatever/Whenever service and buzzing Living Rooms create an experience that is often copied but never matched. Innovative, inspiring and infectious, the brand’s super-charged energy celebrates guests’ endless appetite to discover what’s new/next in each destination, to see more, feel more, go longer, stay later. For more information on W Hotels, visit whotels.com/theangle or follow us on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook. W Hotels Worldwide is proud to participate in Marriott Bonvoy, the global travel program from Marriott International. The program offers members an extraordinary portfolio of global brands, exclusive experiences on Marriott Bonvoy Moments and unparalleled benefits including free nights and Elite status recognition. To enroll for free or for more information about the program, visit MarriottBonvoy.marriott.com.

About them.
Them., a next-generation community platform, chronicles and celebrates the stories, people and voices that are emerging and inspiring all of us, ranging in topics from pop culture and style to politics and news, all through the lens of today’s LGBTQ+ community.

MEDIA CONTACTS:
Rose Gottwald
Marriott International
rose.gottwald@marriottluxurybrands.com

Alexandra Marín
SEQUEL
amarin@sequel-inc.com

Read original article at Marriott Hotels

First published at TravelNewsHub.com – Global Travel News

SIMPLY GORGE-OUS:10 things you probably don’t know about France

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The Loire Valley’s sensational chateaux, baguettes and beaches, snug ski resorts and the Eiffel Tower – all classic symbols of France well known to international travellers. But there’s plenty that visitors likely don’t know – at least until they get there. And now, with the European nation is re-opening to tourism, here’s a petite heads up on just a few of things that can be discovered in France that may not be thought of as typically French:

1. CANYONS

Forget lavender fields, Provence has another colourful natural beauty. Known as the second biggest canyon after the Grand Canyon, the Verdon Gorge (banner photo) is a river canyon in the Provence-Côte d’Azur region. Visitors can hike or rent kayaks or rock climb.

2. VOLCANOES

Believe it or not, the Auvergne-Rhones-Alpes region is home to the UNESCO Chaine des Puys, a chain of more than 80 volcanoes from north to south. The first eruption took place 96,000 years ago with the most recent one 8,600 years ago. Le Puy de Dome is the highest point at 1,465 m. Climb to the top for a 360-degree view of the surrounding countryside.

In Martinique, Mont Pelee erupted in 1902 destroying the vibrant community of Saint-Pierre. Last year, the completely renovated Franck A. Perret Museum (also known as the Memorial de la Catastrophe) opened with artifacts recovered from the eruption. In addition to the 432 artifacts, the museum also has an exhibit dedicated to the 7,000- plus victims of the disaster. Despite the tragic history, the volcano has been dormant since then and is a popular hiking spot full of dense rain forest and spectacular views over the Caribbean from the summit.

3. SURFING

Surfing at Biarritz – Photo ©FFS

Sipping rosé beach-side is a popular pastime, but visitors to the southwest city of Biarritz can bring their boards thanks to numerous surf spot, including La Cote Basque, which is fantastic for longboarders. Framed by the foothills of the Pyrnees, this beach has great waves for both beginners and more experienced riders.

And when one thinks of surfing, admittedly Martinique is not the first place to come to mind. However, the French Caribbean island is actually a premiere destination – the water is warm all year long and the surf spots are not overcrowded. In fact, surfing is part of the island’s DNA. Along the coasts of Grands-Rivieres and Basse Pointe, the Amerindians practiced the ‘bwa flo’ This early form of surfing consists of riding the waves on a tree trunk. Today the long and powerful swells of the Basse-Pointe (Martinique’s northeast coast) are a favourite of surfers for the ability to execute multiple maneuvers. Anse Bonville is the most popular spot on the island but Anse Couleuvre on the northern tip of the Caribbean coast has some of the best waves on the island.

4. GOLF

In 2018, France hosted the Ryder Cup on the Albatross course of Le Golf National, outside of Paris. In 2024, the Olympics are scheduled to take place there as well. Plus, Provence’s Terre Blanch Hotel is home to two renowned courses (voted Best Golf Resort in Continental Europe by Golf World UK) that take inspiration from nature; they’re filled with valleys, lakes and waterfalls.

5. PRETZELS

Actually it’s known as a Bretzel in the Alsace region. That’s where you’ll find these treats. The dough is precooked in boiling water then sprinkled with sea salt and caraway seeds and baked in the oven. Bretzels are typically washed down with beer. Some boulangeries even make a sweet version.

6. ROMAN RUINS

Nimes Arena

The Romans ruled what is now France for more than 500 years and impressive vestiges of that period are still visible. The most famous is Pont Du Gard, one of the best-preserved aqueducts in southern France.

Nearby, Nimes was an important Roman city and the Arena (home to gladiator contests) and Maison Carrée (temple) are stunningly intact. Next year the city of Narbonne will open the Musée NarboVia dedicated to Roman history in the area.

Lastly, the town of Orange is home to the UNESCO Roman Theatre, the first of its kind in France and the most well preserved of its kind in all of Europe. The intricate carvings and designs of the enormous stage and wall are still intact.

7. LOBSTER

France’s version of Maine, the Brittany region, is known for “le petit bleu.” This lobster with a black shell with blue highlights, is known for its extremely fine taste.

8. NATIONAL PARKS

Of the 11 national parks in France, highlights include Mercantour near the Italy border, where thousands of ancient rock carvings dating from the Bronze Age can be seen, or Les Calanques just outside of Marseille where one can rent a boat to explore the limescale crevices and coves.

9. PANCAKES

Everyone is familiar with crepes, but there are several savoury pancakes that are distinctly regional. In Amiens, the ficelle picarde is filled with ham, cheese and mushrooms; galette-saucisse is a Breton food truck fave consisting of a cold buckwheat crepe wrapped around a warm grilled pork sausage; and on Feb. 2, get ready to break out the pancakes for the Fete de la Chandeleur, which marks 40 days after Christmas and provides an occasion to use up all the butter and eggs before Lent as well as a way, according to legend, to ensure a plentiful crop.

10. ROUNDABOUTS

More than half of the world’s roundabouts – 30,000 of them – are found in France.

First published at Travel Industry Today

First published at TravelNewsHub.com – Global Travel News

Alma Resort Recognised Among World’s Top Independent Luxury Resorts

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Alma Resort Recognised Among World's Top Independent Luxury Resorts - TRAVELINDEXCam Ranh, Vietnam, June 24, 2021 / TRAVELINDEX / Alma, a remarkable new 30-hectare resort with 14 food and beverage outlets and a cascade of 12 swimming pools overlooking Vietnam’s pristine Long Beach, has joined an exclusive selection of the globe’s leading independent luxury properties – the Preferred Hotels & Resorts portfolio.

• See the World’s Best Luxury Hotels here.

Deemed “the world’s largest independent hotel brand”, Preferred Hotels & Resorts requires each of its member hotels to conform to stringent quality standards measured yearly by anonymous on-site inspections.

Representing more than 700 hotels, resorts, residences and hotel experiences across 80 countries, Alma has joined two of Preferred Hotels & Resorts’ five collections; ‘Lifestyle’ and ‘Preferred Residences’.

Member hotels benefit from a range of privileges including the brand’s points-based loyalty program ‘I Prefer Hotel Rewards’ that currently has more than 3.8 million travellers enrolled globally.

Alma’s managing director Herbert Laubichler-Pichler said he and Alma’s team were thrilled to be recognised by such a prestigious group, headquartered in the United States, in the lead-up to the world reopening in the wake of COVID-19.

• See the World’s Best Luxury Hotels here.

“It is an honour to join Preferred Hotels & Resorts’ international network of sales experts, who promote our resort to travellers who deliberately seek one-of-a-kind luxury experiences with independent operators,” he said.

To contact Alma or to make a booking, please call +84 258 399 1666

For more information about Preferred Hotels & Resorts, call +1 (866) 990-9491.

First published at TravelNewsHub.com – Global Travel News