Global Travel News

CRYSTAL CHRISTENING: Cruise line introduces luxury yacht ‘Endeavour’

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Crystal Expedition Cruises officially welcomed its new luxury expedition yacht ‘Crystal Endeavor’ to its fleet on Saturday in Germany as the ship was christened by Manuela Schwesig, Prime Minister of Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, who is also the vessel’s godmother.

Almost 100 people attended the ceremony at the Stralsund shipyard, which was also livestreamed on the Crystal Cruises Facebook page so that friends and fans of the cruise line could attend.

Executives hailed the state-of-the-art Polar Class Six vessel, which features “unmatched technical capabilities, including the most installed power per gross ton for any cruise ship at over 13 MW.”

The ship was also heralded as the most expensive ship ever built at US$20,000 per gross tons and includes the largest space ratio, at over 100 gross tons per guest, and highest staff to guest ratio in the industry at one-to-one, as well as 100% additional lifeboat capacity to handle extreme polar conditions.

Amenities

Designed to offer travellers elegantly expansive private and public spaces, Crystal Endeavor accommodates just 200 guests in 100 all-verandah, all-butler serviced suites.

Other amenities include Michelin-inspired dining options such as Umi Uma, the first and only Japanese restaurant on an expedition ship; fine Italian cuisine at Prego; 24-hour room service; and optional Vintage Room experience; plus the only casino on an expedition yacht, a glass-covered, two-story solarium – housing the Seahorse Pool and Jacuzzi – providing panoramic views from sea to sky, and the full-service Crystal Life Salon & Spa with a state-of-the-art fitness centre. There is also a wrap-around Promenade Deck.

Expedition-specific amenities include high-tech enrichment spaces, designated mud rooms, an Expedition Lounge, and a Helicopter Lounge. The ship’s marina will feature the “toys” found aboard a private yacht for further explorations, including a fleet of Zodiacs, kayaks, snorkel gear, and a six-guest submersible and two helicopters in select regions of the world.

Sustainability

Crystal Endeavor has been designed with a host of ecologically minded features, such as dynamic positioning capability that enables the ship to remain in one place utilizing GPS and its thrusters, rather than dropping anchor, avoiding any potential damage to delicate reefs.

Additionally, the company has equipped the ship to connect to shore power while in port, installed several water treatment systems, and will clean exhaust emissions through a Selective Catalytic Reductant system.

Inaugural voyages

Crystal Endeavor will set sail beginning July 17 with five 10-night voyages circumnavigating Iceland from the ship’s homeport of Reykjavík, followed by the 10-night “Journey of Vikings: Iceland & Norway” from Reykjavík to Tromsø, Norway, departing Sept. 5.

First published at Travel Industry Today

First published at TravelNewsHub.com – Global Travel News

UMBRIA, ITALY’S GOURMET GOLDMINE: A land of shepherds, wild landscapes and ancient forests.

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Leave Rome its Pantheon and Venice its canals. Let Tuscany have its art, and hoards of visitors. Where you want to be is camera-shy Umbria – Italy’s authentic slow-food capital. Pastoral rolling hills and broad, sunny valleys dominate its western reaches, with high mountains, gorges and fast-flowing rivers in its eastern margins. It’s one of the country’s most fertile corners, a region of ancient traditions where fine ingredients proliferate.

Castello di Monticelli, near Peruga

In its former life, dating back to the 6th century, Castello di Monticelli has been a fortress, a monastery, a hunting lodge and a prison during both World Wars. Owners Ellen Krauser and Prof Giuseppe Tullio bought the estate in 1992 and spent 18 years restoring it, preserving the medieval characteristics in each of its 26 suites – fireplaces, terra-cotta floors, oak ceiling beams (many original), chestnut windows which frame views of the valley and Perugia in the distance. It’s surrounded by two acres of gardens and terraces, six acres of forest, and a large patch of land where organic produce is grown.

Dinning al fresco is a communal four-course affair, starting with Orzo salad, fried sage and zucchini. Ellen explains Orzo to be a spelt bean with strong Umbrian connections. “It’s used in bread-making but in Umbria it’s popular in ‘zuppa di farro’ soup.” Then comes Pasta Umricelli – thick spaghetti-like strands dressed in a spicy tomato sauce, followed by Guinea Fowl, a white-meat speciality dish of Umbria, with rabbit, white fennel and Erba Cotta. Dessert is a cream-cheese mousse with strawberries.

Breakfast, taken in a glass fronted cabin overlooking the valley, is a rich continental feast with typical local produce – cured meats, cheese, organic fruits and home-made bread (Ellen’s cheese bread is something else). www.castellomonticelli.com

Majolica Ceramics, Deruta

In the hill town of Deruta I visit the world’s oldest ceramic factory, Grazia Maioliche Ceramics. Although official records show majolica being manufactured in Deruta during the second half of the 13th century, evidence suggests that it actually began a century earlier.

I’m speaking with Dr Ubaldo Grazia of his family’s history in ceramics: “In the early 1500s Giuseppe Grazia moved his factory to Deruta and with this found a succession of master painters whose creations where highly sought after. In 1921 my father moved the factory to where it now stands,” says Ubaldo. “Nothing has changed since then and the craft remains what it’s been since the 12th century, handed down from father to son uninterrupted.”

Beyond the conscious commitment to keeping this ancient art alive, the present Grazia generation pursue a vigorous policy of innovation in their ceramic classes, workshops, museum and factory. www.ubaldograzia.com

Lungarotti Winery, Torgiano

Umbria’s mild climate makes it particularly suitable for wine growing, and produces top-quality white and red wines, including those found on the Lungarotti Estate, first planted by Giorgio Lungarotti in 1962. A cellar tour demonstrates a state-of-the-art vinification process, and culminates with a tasting of some of the best Italian wines I’ve yet sampled.

“We have two estates,” says CEO, Chiara Lungarotti, “570 acres here in Torgiano and 50 acres in Montefalco. Together they produce 2.5-million bottles a year, exported mostly to Germany, the USA and Canada.”

Chiara treats to me to lunch at L’U Winebar where understated gourmet cuisine is standard. We share a bottle of Rubesco, over beef carpaccio with red beet mayo, then finish with Tozzetti almond biscuits and a small glass of Lungarotti vin Santo. Later I take a wander around the fascinating Wine Museum, created by Chiara’s mother, Maria Grazia. www.lungarotti.it

Umbrian Beer, Torgiano

Continuing on the artisan food trail, I head to Fabbrica della Birra Perugia, a small brewery where Antonio Boco introduces me to his Umbrian ales, telling me about the craft beer revolution which kicked off in 1996. A group of beer-loving friends planned the rebirth of the historic Fabbrica della Birra Perugia, which ceased trading in 1927. Their aim: resurrect the city’s beer and bring a prestigious part of its history to the 21st century. After years of study, research and trials, the Fabbrica della Birra Perugia is once again a working reality.

“Craft beers are unpasteurised, unfiltered, without preservatives or additives,” says Antonio. “These beers speak of the relationship between the most natural of raw materials, Umbrian spring water, coupled to the skill and know-how of the brewer.”

Of their eight beers, the four most unique are Chocolate Porter: a full bodied, deep-brown beer with delicious hints of cocoa; L’Isterica: a perfect combination of a continental beer and an English ale with just enough gas to lift it; Insolita: an authentic Italian grape ale that’s rich in personality; and their flagship Fabbrica Birra Peruga, which is smooth, fruity and long, with a bitter finish.

“We ferment some of beers in Lungorotti wine vats,” Antonio states. “They’re then bottled in ceramic flagons from Deruta.” www.birraperugia.it

Hotel Le Silve, near Assisi

At the end of a winding mountain road with 700m-high vistas across wooded hills, is Hotel Le Silve di Armenzano. It has grown from the ruins of a 10th century mountain inn, making the most of its sublime setting. The central hotel, outlying buildings, 19 air-conditioned double rooms and 13 mini-apartments, retain their medieval features with rough-hewn stone walls and terracotta floors. Aside the myriad of outdoor activities, the big draw is their restaurant with superb views and an extra-ordinary menu, bursting with Umbrian tradition and supplies from their organic farm. Their Tortelli pasta stuffed with ricotta and thyme, dressed with asparagus and truffle shavings, is out of this world. www.lesilve.it

The best pasta restaurant in Europe

Scheggino is one of those picture-postcard hill villages where time and space have stopped. A flight of narrow stone steps delivers me to Osteria Baciafemmine and a demonstration in pasta making.

“Our typical pasta is umbrici, made from flour and water,” says Elisa Valentini, whislt slapping around a ball of pasta.

“After kneading the dough, it is rolled out like this, then hand-cut into a cord-like spaghetti strips. The ideal condiment for umbricelli is truffles.” And as if by magic a plate of it appears before me. www.osteriabaciafemmine.it

Food producers, Norcia

Founded 600 years before Rome, Norcia is filled with tales of magicians and chiromancers who bewitched the caves and forests. It’s also a town that has, over the centuries, been damaged by frequent earthquakes – the most recent in 2016.

The old town, with many ancient buildings lying in ruins, is all but cordoned off, some areas inaccessible. I eventually found Catia Ulivucci, a 30+ year old Norcia farmer and owner of the famed cured meat shop ‘Norcineria Ercole Ulivucci’. She lost her farmhouse and her ‘old town’ shop in the 2016 earthquake. She and her husband Claudio Funari now run their business from a temporary stand in a car park which they attend twice a week. Ten years is what she recons it will take to reinstate their business and her home. For now, she smiles.

“There’s little more I can do,” she says, “there are no more tears to cry.” But of course she is one of Umbria’s super-farmers. She cultivates her fields and she gets her hands dirty, her aim is to develop innovative ecotourist projects like a cooking school.

We speak about her meats and she introduces me to her herd of Apennine sheep, telling me of her seasonal favourite cheese – Giuncata, which is curdled slowly in baskets made of rush, then eaten with sugar and cinnamon. But the one to look out for is the caciotta ai tartufo, flavoured with black truffles. https://vendita.norcineriaulivucci.it/negozio/

The specialist farm shop, ‘Il Casale De Li Tappi’, is a third-generation family run deli/butcher, who encourage visitors to their breeding farm and meet the free-range Black Belted pigs and Wild Boar.

“Our most popular sausage is Corallina di Norcia,” says butcher, Mario Salvatori. “It’s seasoned with pepper and garlic then macerated in wine, then left to rest in an airy room, heated by log-fire and smoked using charcoalled juniper berries. www.norcineriadinorcia.it

Castello di Gallano, Valtopina

The castle, once a fortified Benedictine monastery dating back to 1085, was left abandoned for near 40 years then privately acquired in 2008. A five-year, €15-m renovation project delivered 32 two-bedroom, self contained apartments, two swimming pools, a grocery shop and two chapels.

In the central part of this UNESCO World Heritage Site is a restaurant where guests and locals come together to savour traditional Umbrian cuisine. All the ingredients are local, almost zero miles travelled.

A bottle of Montefalco Rosso and a plate of lamb ‘cooked-two-ways’ is put before me – one fried in herby bread crumbs, the other grilled with herby salt, followed by Tagliolini with shavings of black truffle. Everything is drizzled with locally produced golden olive oil, which enhances any dish without upstaging the flavor.

In hues of blue and lavender, I stood at the precipice of Castello di Gallano watching Umbrian farmers in the act of creating food, tilling the warm-smelling soil with hoes. The branches around me hung heavy with birds who sought a suitable vantage point from which to sing out the sunset. www.castellodigallano.com

www.umbriatourism.it

First published at Travel Industry Today

First published at TravelNewsHub.com – Global Travel News

Marriott International Opens 70th Property in Japan

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Aloft Osaka Dojima
Aloft Osaka Dojima
Miyuki Kaneko (Nacasa & Partners

Marriott International today celebrates another milestone in Japan with the opening of the company’s 70th property in the country, Aloft Osaka Dojima. With this opening, Marriott International continues its solid growth in Japan as the hotel chain with the most brand offerings. The company has 70 properties across 18 brands in 21 prefectures including major cities such as Tokyo, Osaka and Kyoto, as well as other lesser known gems like Tochigi, Gifu and Wakayama. With a pipeline of over 30 additional hotels, including three hotels expected to open later this year, the portfolio is poised for continued growth in Japan.

“Expanding our presence and bringing more brands and experiences to Japan has been a priority for us,” said Rajeev Menon, President, Marriott International Asia-Pacific (excluding Greater China). “We remain confident in the future of travel and look forward to welcoming both domestic and international guests with new and exciting travel choices when they are able to travel again.”

Select-Service and Collection Brands Continue to Grow in Japan
The opening of Aloft Osaka Dojima, Marriott International’s 70th property in Japan, is emblematic of its select-service brand category growth in the country, with the number of open hotels nearly tripling since 2019. The brands in the category such as Fairfield by Marriott, Courtyard, Aloft Hotels, and Moxy Hotels to name a few, offer distinct value for travelers with streamlined services and amenities, paired with casual, convenient dining options and warm hospitality — all at an approachable price point. The new Aloft property is centrally located at the crossroads of entertainment, shopping, dining and business in Osaka. In addition to vibrant urban centers, many of the select-service hotels are opening in Japan’s lesser known areas and are expected to offer easy and comfortable stays for travelers exploring less traveled, yet attractive locations.

The “Michi-no-eki” portfolio – which now comprises thirteen Fairfield by Marriott hotels in prime locations near roadside rest stations in Japan – is a key driver of growth in the select service category in the country. Earlier in 2021, five Fairfield by Marriott hotels opened across picture-perfect destinations including Odai in Mie, Minamiyamashiro in Kyoto, Nikko in Tochigi, Kushimoto in Wakayama, and Susami in Wakayama. Later this year, an additional new Fairfield by Marriott hotel is slated to open with the arrival of Fairfield by Marriott Gifu Takayama Shokawa. The new hotels are situated close to national parks and UNESCO World Heritage Sites, providing guests a gateway to secluded destinations and local gems across the country.

This summer, the highly anticipated opening of Japan’s fourth Moxy Hotel, Moxy Kyoto Nijo is expected to add a stylishly playful twist to Kyoto’s bar and social scene, celebrating youthful nonconformity, open-mindedness, and originality above all. Located in the Kyoto Nijo historic district near the World Heritage site of Nijo Castle, it is set to be a buzzing new location to play and explore.

The recently opened Hiyori Chapter Kyoto, a Tribute Portfolio Hotel, is the Tribute Portfolio brand’s second property in the country, and welcomes guests from near and far to craft their own story and live like a local on a journey of exploration in picturesque Kyoto.

Luxury Brands Continue Remarkable Momentum in 2021 and Beyond
Earlier this year Marriott International celebrated the opening of Japan’s very first W hotel with the arrival of W Osaka, which brought the brand’s singularly bold attitude and a playground of new possibilities to the city’s already-vibrant hospitality scene.

The iconic lifestyle luxury brand EDITION will further expand with the expected opening of The Tokyo EDITION, Ginza later this year. The hotel is slated to be the second EDITION property in Japan following The Tokyo EDITION, Toranomon, which opened in 2020.

“We are gratified to see the strong growth of Marriott International in Japan, and appreciate the confidence of our owners and franchisees in our vision for the future of hospitality in the country,” said Karl Hudson, Area Vice President, Japan and Guam, Marriott International. “Like us, our owners believe that the future of travel lies in providing what travelers truly want, based on lifestyles, interests and preferences. Marriott’s strong and differentiated portfolio of brands cater to the individual requirements of travelers, and this is how our guests know they can count on us to provide what they want, wherever they may travel to.”

With today’s announcement, Marriott International is well-positioned in Japan with 70 hotels across 18 distinct brands, aimed at serving differentiated experiences across traveler segments. The brands currently operating in Japan include: JW Marriott, St. Regis Hotels & Resorts, The Ritz-Carlton and Ritz-Carlton Reserve, W Hotels, The Luxury Collection, and EDITION in the luxury segment; Marriott Hotels, Sheraton, Westin, Autograph Collection, Tribute Portfolio, and Renaissance in the premium segment; Courtyard by Marriott, Four Points by Sheraton, Fairfield by Marriott, Aloft Hotels, AC Hotels by Marriott, and Moxy Hotels in the select service segment.

Note on Forward-Looking Statements
This press release contains “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of United States federal securities laws, including expected hotel openings, future expansion, and similar statements concerning anticipated future events and expectations that are not historical facts. Marriott International (“we”) caution you that these statements are not guarantees of future performance and are subject to numerous evolving risks and uncertainties that we may not be able to accurately predict or assess, including those we identify below and other risk factors that we identify in our U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission filings, including our most recent Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q or Annual Report on Form 10-K. Risks that could affect forward-looking statements in this press release include the duration and scope of COVID-19, including the availability and distribution of effective vaccines or treatments; its short and longer-term impact on the demand for travel, transient and group business, and levels of consumer confidence; actions governments, businesses and individuals have taken or may take in response to the pandemic, including limiting, banning, or cautioning against travel and/or in-person gatherings or imposing occupancy or other restrictions on lodging or other facilities; the impact of the pandemic and actions taken in response to the pandemic on global and regional economies, travel, and economic activity, including the duration and magnitude of COVID-19’s impact on unemployment rates and consumer discretionary spending; the ability of our owners and franchisees to successfully navigate the impacts of COVID-19; the pace of recovery when the pandemic subsides; general economic uncertainty in key global markets and a worsening of global economic conditions or low levels of economic growth; the effects of steps we and our property owners and franchisees have taken and may continue to take to reduce operating costs and/or enhance certain health and cleanliness protocols at our hotels; the impacts of our employee furloughs and reduced work week schedules, our voluntary transition program and our other restructuring activities; competitive conditions in the lodging industry and in the labor market; relationships with customers and property owners; and the availability of capital to finance hotel growth and refurbishment. Any of these factors could cause actual results to differ materially from the expectations we express or imply in this press release. We make these forward-looking statements as of the date of this press release and undertake no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

About Marriott International
Marriott International, Inc. (NASDAQ: MAR) is based in Bethesda, Maryland, USA, and encompasses a portfolio of more than 7,600 properties under 30 leading brands spanning 133 countries and territories. Marriott operates and franchises hotels and licenses vacation ownership resorts all around the world. The company offers Marriott Bonvoy™, its highly-awarded travel program. For more information, please visit our website at www.marriott.com, and for the latest company news, visit www.marriottnewscenter.com. In addition, connect with us on Facebook and @MarriottIntl on Twitter and Instagram.

Read original article at Marriott Hotels

First published at TravelNewsHub.com – Global Travel News

The Luxury Collection Debuts in Hungary with the Opening of Matild Palace, a Luxury Collection Hotel, Budapest

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Matild Palace, a Luxury Collection Hotel, Budapest - LUX BUDLC
Matild Palace, a Luxury Collection Hotel, Budapest
GEORGE FAKAROS – VISION REQUIRED

The Luxury Collection Hotels & Resorts, part of Marriott International, today announced the opening of Matild Palace, a Luxury Collection Hotel, Budapest. Owned by Özyer Group, this iconic opening marks The Luxury Collection’s debut in Hungary. Listed as a UNESCO world heritage site, Matild Palace has undergone a meticulous five-year transformation led by award-winning interior designer Maria Vafiadis and acclaimed local architects Péter Dajka and Puhl Antal to become a 130-guestroom luxury hotel.

At the helm of the interiors, Maria Vafiadis, founder of MKV Design, ensured the next chapter of the building honored its Hungarian heritage through stunning décor that reflects the hotel’s remarkable location in the heart of Budapest, just a stone’s throw from the Danube. The spectacular design celebrates the building’s famed past as a thriving social destination in the city, while creating a modern elegant ambience for discerning locals and global explorers alike to create enduring, treasured memories.

“We are thrilled to celebrate this milestone moment in the growth of The Luxury Collection brand with the opening of Matild Palace, a hotel that will define the destination of Budapest,” said Philipp Weghmann, Vice President and Global Brand Leader of The Luxury Collection. “The property allows our guests to realize the fantasy of living within in a royal palace, elevated with modern amenities and impeccable service, and we look forward to welcoming them as they discover this timeless and inspiring city.”

An Icon Returns
Steeped in history, Matild Palace was built 120 years ago during the Belle Époque era and was developed under the patronage of Her Imperial and Royal Highness Maria Klotild of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha to serve as the social hub of the city. Matild Palace was part of her vision to create two baroque palaces, acting as a gateway to those entering the ‘Pest’ side of the city from Elisabeth Bridge.

A True Epicurean Destination by Wolfgang Puck
Wolfgang Puck will oversee all dining operations at Matild Palace bringing a new era of gastronomy and entertainment to the city. His renowned restaurant Spago by Wolfgang Puck marks the debut of the Beverly Hills dining phenomenon in Hungary. The menu will offer traditional Hungarian cuisine with a modern twist through recipes inspired by the produce of the region.

The iconic chef will also oversee culinary offerings at The Duchess rooftop bar opening next month, a secret liquor library, as well as Matild Café and Cabaret, opening in September, which is a dramatic re-imagination of the most popular address for the high society of the Belle Époque era.

Spago and Matild Café & Cabaret will both offer year round outdoor dining on the charming streets of Budapest, marking the first ‘gastro street’ in the city.

Signature Guestrooms and Palatial Suites

Matild Palace offers an exceptional choice of 111 elegantly appointed guestrooms and 19 suites, with many providing spectacular views of the city or the Danube River. The four guestroom categories each take inspiration from The Duchess’s exuberant lifestyle and early 20th century Budapest. Each bedroom is over four meters in height and celebrates Hungarian culture throughout with delicately handcrafted headboards, traditional fishbone parquet floors and lavish spa-style bathrooms inspired by the iconic thermal baths of Hungary. A thoughtful color palette of teal, green, gold, and copper decorates the rooms, reflecting the hues of the iconic Budapest roofscape. The hotel offers many connecting family rooms for multi-generational city breaks.

For a truly unique stay, the Loft Guestrooms, located at the rooftop of the property, provide endless views either across the city or the Danube River through large, sloping windows. The eclectic mix of contemporary design with colorful vintage furnishings and art captures the eye of creatives and is a nod to The Duchess’s artisan friends who used to frequent the palace.

Crowning the palace with its fifth-floor location, The Crown Tower Suite is split across three floors and is the first suite in Hungary to come with a 48-meter-high dedicated tower boasting 360-degree views of the city. Regal elegance is epitomized in the Maria Klotid Royal Suite, designed as a modern interpretation of the Duchess’s private suite, featuring a spacious master bedroom, bathroom, living room and separate study, decorated with elegant chandeliers and handmade glass mosaics.

Wellness and Relaxation
Swan Spa at Matild Palace features a Hungarian-influenced wellness experience with traditional thermal therapy and Hammam rituals designed to awaken guests’ senses. Complete with a salt and steam room the spa will exclusively offer ESPA products for all spa treatments. For those looking to keep active, there is also a fully equipped state-of-the-art gym.

Exceptional Meeting and Event Spaces
With the hotel’s grand architecture providing the perfect backdrop, Matild Palace is poised to handle all occasions from business meetings to special events. Guests can put their minds at ease with dedicated planning experts, the culinary direction of Wolfgang Puck and the latest audio-visual equipment on hand to make sure every experience will be truly memorable.

Rates start from 450 EUR per room, per night and includes breakfast. For more information or to book a stay, please visit https://www.marriott.com/matild-palace.

About Matild Palace, a Luxury Collection Hotel, Budapest
Matild Palace, a Luxury Collection Hotel, Budapest joined The Luxury Collection, Marriott Bonvoy’s celebrated brand. Commissioned by the forward-thinking Arch Duchess of Hungo-Austria Empire, the Palace offers a distinctive ambience representative of its Hungarian heritage, which runs beautifully through its core and is unmistakable from the moment guests step in through the front doors. The property has undergone an extensive restoration, and the interiors are designed by award-winning MKV Design, which celebrates a charming, contemporary style with a nod to the property’s past narrative. Today, the hotel is committed to inspiring guests with its rich history, culture, and epicurean excellence. This iconic palace, listed as a UNESCO world heritage site, will offer 111 guestrooms and 19 suites. The property also comes complete with an exclusive rooftop liqueur garden with magnificent views of the city, Hungarian thermal bath inspired spa, and three unique dining concepts created through a culinary partnership with world-renowned chef, Wolfgang Puck. Located in the heart of Budapest and just a stone’s throw from the Danube, Matild Palace combines luxurious surroundings with authentic experiences, and serves as the most spectacular gateway to exploring the magic of Budapest. For more information visit www.matildpalace.com

About The Luxury Collection® Hotels & Resorts
The Luxury Collection®, part of Marriott International, Inc., is comprised of world-renowned hotels and resorts offering unique, authentic experiences that evoke lasting, treasured memories. For the global explorer, The Luxury Collection offers a gateway to the world’s most exciting and desirable destinations. Each hotel and resort is a unique and cherished expression of its location; a portal to the destination’s indigenous charms and treasures. Originated in 1906 under the CIGA® brand as a collection of Europe’s most celebrated and iconic properties, today The Luxury Collection brand is a glittering ensemble of nearly 120 of the world’s finest hotels and resorts in more than 35 countries and territories. All of these hotels, many of them centuries old, are internationally recognized as being among the world’s finest. For more information and new openings, visit theluxurycollection.com or follow Twitter, Instagram and Facebook. The Luxury Collection 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.

Media Contacts
Georgie Noble
Consumer PR Director, EMEA
Marriott International
Georgie.Noble@Marriott.com

Lauren Singleton
Consumer PR Manager, EMEA
Marriott International
Lauren.J.Singleton@Marriott.com

Read original article at Marriott Hotels

First published at TravelNewsHub.com – Global Travel News

ROUND-UP: June 21-25, 2021

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More and more borders (including Canada’s) edge open, Sunwing is set to offer refunds, and MSC Cruises revealed the name of its newest ship. These items and more in last week’s round-up…

NEWS

Effective July 5, fully vaccinated eligible Canadians returning to Canada will be able to avoid a mandatory quarantine as long as they still test negative for COVID-19 before and after arrival. Falsifying vaccination documents can result in a $750,000 fine, up to six months in jail, or both. Children who aren’t fully vaccinated, arriving by air with fully vaccinated parents, won’t have to go to quarantine hotels but will have to quarantine at home for two weeks.

Following the government’s news (above), Sunwing reports it will resume partial service to select sun destinations from Toronto and Montréal starting on July 30, 2021. The initial flight schedule from both gateways will include Cancun (July 30), Punta Cana (July 31), and Varadero (Aug. 2), with additional Montego Bay flights from YYZ starting Aug. 22.

MSC Cruises’ has revealed the name of its newest ship, being built in Italy and due in November, 20220: MSC Seascape.

RE-OPENING/RE-START

Switzerland has begun to return to normality after the global pandemic, including welcoming international guests and the full opening of tourist infrastructures (restaurants, events, leisure facilities). Effective June 26, vaccinated travellers from Canada are eligible to visit without quarantine or PCR tests

Uniworld Boutique River Cruises has officially returned to the rivers of Europe, as its newly transformed Super Ship S.S. La Venezia departed on its inaugural sailing on June 20. The luxury river cruise company is the first North American river cruise line to resume operations in Europe since the pandemic began, departing from Venice. Uniworld president and CEO Ellen Bettridge joined the journey to mark the long-awaited occassion.

After an eight-month closure, the Eiffel Tower in Paris will reopen to the public on July 16, with an improved customer experience. Travel agents can book admission in advance, as well as tables at the Jules Verne restaurant and Thierry Marx’s new brasserie. Many other services are now available to visitors and may be booked ahead by advisors.

DELAYED/ CANCELLED

Bahamas Paradise Cruise Line announced it has delayed its June 28 closed group CDC test cruise and its previously planned July 2 cruise restart as one of its vaccinated crew members has tested positive for COVID-19.

The full reopening of Israel to vaccinated tourists on July 1 has been delayed due to concerns about the spread of the infectious delta variant of the coronavirus. It is anticipated that new re-opening date will be Aug. 1.

BY THE NUMBERS

Total demand for air travel in April 2021 (measured in revenue passenger kilometers or RPKs) was down 65.4% compared to April 2019, according to IATA. That was an improvement over the 66.9% decline recorded in March 2021 versus March 2019. The better performance was driven by gains in most domestic markets. International passenger demand in April was 87.3% below April 2019, little changed from the 87.8% decline recorded in March 2021 versus two years ago.

AIR

WestJet has started flights to London, Gatwick (LGW) from Calgary International Airport (YYC) and Toronto Pearson Airport (YYZ). Service from Calgary operates two-times weekly, while flights from Toronto depart three-times weekly.

An expanded schedule from Swoop this winter will include increased non-stop domestic service and the re-introduction of flights to the US, Mexico, and Caribbean. Citing daily bookings on par with pre-pandemic levels, the airline also announced it will proceed with planned fleet growth by adding a 10th Boeing 737-800 NG aircraft this winter. Nine planes will fly domestically during the summer, with winter flights across Canada, as well as Montego Bay; Las Vegas, Mesa/Phoenix, St. Pete/Clearwater, Orlando and San Diego; and Cancun, Puerto Vallarta and Mazatlán.

DEALS

An extensive list of value offers for visitors to Fort Lauderdale are now available courtesy of the south Florida’ city’s annual “LauderDeals” program. Available through Sept. 30, deals include discounted room rates, offers for third or fourth nights free, resort and dining credits, free or discounted parking, complimentary upgrades and more. “Things To Do Deals” also give 2-for-1 admission or discounted rates at attractions and in August, Dine Out Lauderdale offers will be added. More details at https://www.sunny.org/lauderdeals

TOURS

Starting in 2022, Adventures by Disney is more than doubling its recently introduced Private Adventures vacation portfolio with tours in Vietnam, Laos and Cambodia; England and France; New Zealand; Australia; South Africa; and Ireland.

Tauck will resume its safaris in eastern and southern Africa with the Aug. 2 departure of “Mountain Gorilla Safari: Kenya, Tanzania & Rwanda” and the Aug. 4 departure of “Kenya & Tanzania: A Classic Safari” and “South Africa: An Elegant Adventure.” All of the company’s safaris are small-group journeys, with as few as 18 guests per departure to ensure an up-close immersion into the local culture, flora and fauna.

HOTELS

Following a completed investment of more than US$200 million, Harrah’s Las Vegas now features 2,542 redesigned guest rooms, a complete casino floor remodel and two new LED marquees at the north and south entrances.

A new accommodation option in the Swiss Alps is the Kempinski Palace Engelberg. Located in central Switzerland, the five-star-superior hotel is a re-imagined Belle Epoque-era property featuring 129 rooms and suites, elegant restaurant and bar, spa, and cigar lounge. The area is ideal for both summer and winter escapes.

RESORTS

Calling all Phishheads: Phish will return to Mexico for its fifth “Phish: Riviera Maya,” the band’s destination concert vacation, taking place Feb. 24-27, 2022. The all-inclusive event, to be held at Moon Palace Cancun, will feature concerts for four nights in a state-of-the-art concert venue on the beach. Packages, including show tickets are on sale at www.phishrivieramaya.com

CRUISE
May 20, 2023 will mark the departure of Uniworld Boutique River Cruises’ inaugural “Rivers of the World” cruise. The 46-night trip will treat travellers to nine countries aboard five luxury ships combining both cruise and land. The unique itinerary is the first of its kind for the brand, including exclusive experiences and special surprises throughout the journey. The journey begins on the Nile in Egypt, followed by cruises departing Italy, Hungary, France, and Portugal, all enhanced by stays in such towns at Lugano, Milan, and Lisbon.

Carnival Cruise Line will grow its fleet by two additional ships by 2023, taking 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 another of its European sister lines, with that ship going through a dry dock, renaming, and brand conversion and joining the fleet by mid-2022.

ATTRACTIONS & THEME PARKS

SeaWorld Orlando’s first separate-ticketed, nighttime Halloween event, Howl-O-Scream, will premiere this fall, joining the daytime Halloween Spooktacular. Halloween celebrations, including haunted houses, scare zones, and “terrifying shows” will take place at the Florida theme park for 27 select nights from Sept. 10 to Oct. 31, from 7 p.m. to as late as 2 a.m.

FAMS & INCENTIVES

Visit Orlando has launched a new interactive website for travel advisors, providing on-demand video training about the destination and the opportunity to win prizes. ‘Love and Learn Orlando’ (loveandlearnorlando.com) provides travel advisors with easy access to a library of on-demand videos segmented into three channels – Accommodations, Attractions and Outdoor Adventure – providing an in-depth look into some of Orlando’s most popular experiences, along with selling tips. Travel agents who view all channels and submit their answers before July 29 have three chances of winning a hotel stay and attraction passes.

EVENTS

June 29: The Annual General Meeting of the members of the Travel Industry Council of Ontario (TICO) will be held tomorrow at 5 p.m. Anyone can attend the event virtually via a link that will be posted on TICO’s web site.

PEOPLE

At its online AGM on June 23, ACTA members voted on nine positions available to the Board of Directors. The newly elected board also appointed three positions. The 12-person board for 2021/22 consists of Mary Jane Hiebert CTC – Chair and Manitoba/Nunavut; Liz Fleming – Vice Chair and BC/Yukon; Louise Gardiner CTM, Treasurer, Director at Large; Peter Keyter, Alberta/NWT; Karen Schabel CTM, Saskatchewan; Mike Foster CTC, Ontario; Stéphane Corbeil, Québec; Glenda Hunter CTM, Atlantic; Richard Vanderlubbe, Director at Large; and Appointed – Patrick Doyle, Monica Johnstone CTC, and Brian Robertson.

DESTINATIONS

Darwin’s Arch. Before and after

A little off the top: The famed Darwin’s Arch in the Galapagos Islands has lost its top, and officials are blaming natural erosion of the stone. The rock structure – 43 m. high, 70 m. long and 23 m. wide – is less than 1 km from Darwin Island, and some 1,000 km off the coast of mainland Ecuador and it’s a popular spot for scuba divers. It’s not accessible by land.

Visit Tampa Bay has debuted its “Bay Crafted Pass,” a new mobile passport program that incentivizes beer and cocktail-lovers while generating economic impact for local breweries and distilleries in Tampa Bay. Visitors and locals can sign up for the free passport program, which includes 21 local breweries and distilleries showcasing the best of Tampa Bay in an easy, mobile-friendly way. Visitors can unlock prizes by checking in at participating partner locations throughout Hillsborough County.

Send info to baginski@travelindustrytoday.com

First published at Travel Industry Today

First published at TravelNewsHub.com – Global Travel News

Hug Thais Tourist Offers to Launch in Phuket as Island Reopens

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Hug Thais Tourist Offers to Launch in Phuket as Island Reopens - THAILANDPhuket, Thailand, June 27, 2021 / TRAVELINDEX / The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) recently signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the Thai Chamber of Commerce (TCC) to launch the ‘Hug Thais’ project to stimulate Thai and foreign tourists’ spending to revive economy.

• Discover gastronomy destination Phuket and the Asia’s Best Fine Dining Restaurants at Top25Restaurants.com

H.E. Mr. Phiphat Ratchakitprakarn, Minister of Tourism and Sports, said, “The ‘Hug Thais’ project is the latest public-private sector initiative of TAT, the Thai government, and partners like the TCC to reinvigorate Thailand’s tourism industry and the wider national economy. Such cooperation is vital as Thailand progresses towards once again enjoying its status as a preferred tourist destination.”

The ‘Hug Thais’ project will be launched with the pilot ‘Hug Thais Hug Thais’ programme in July 2021, to coincide with the much-awaited reopening of Phuket to tourism under the ‘Sandbox’ model, which begins 1 July. This will see the island welcoming vaccinated foreign tourists without quarantine requirements and is to be followed by the subsequent reopening of other destinations in the coming months.

Among the ‘Hug Thais Hug Thais’ initiatives on offer to Thai and foreign tourists will be discounts of up to 10% when they spend 1,000 Baht or more in the retail sector, and 100 Baht cash coupons for use on their next visits at participating shops and outlets.

Mr. Yuthasak Supasorn, TAT Governor, said, “The ‘Hug Thais Hug Thais’ project is aimed at revitalising Phuket’s tourism and service industry and in doing so, leading the way for the similar revitalisation of other destinations around Thailand.”

As the ‘Hug Thais’ project will also be introduced in other Thai destinations, TAT will provide marketing and publicity support to stimulate travel and tourism expenditure of both Thai and foreign tourists on ‘Eat More’ local food, ‘Travel More’ within Thailand, and ‘Shop More’ for products of Thailand at shops and outlets with the ‘Hug Thais’ logo.

• Discover gastronomy destination Phuket and the Asia’s Best Fine Dining Restaurants at Top25Restaurants.com

The ‘Hug Thais’ project is expected to help generate an estimated of over 100 billion Baht to the Thai economy within the next six months.

First published at TravelCommunication.net

First published at TravelNewsHub.com – Global Travel News

Seychelles President Receives Mr Alain St Ange at State House

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Seychelles President Receives Mr Alain St Ange at State House - TRAVELINDEXVictoria, Mahé, Seychelles, June 26, 2021 / TRAVELINDEX / President Wavel Ramkalawan welcomed Mr Alain St Ange for a courtesy call at State House this morning. The former Minister for Tourism, Civil Aviation, Ports and Marine; Mr St Ange, returned to Seychelles following his recent posting as a Tourism consultant in Jakarta, Indonesia.

The meeting this morning, at the invitation of the Head of State centred on the work he has been engaged in over the past seven weeks and was an opportunity to discuss how Seychelles as a similar tropical island nation can garner new ideas and expertise from Indonesia.

President Ramkalawan also congratulated Mr St Ange on his achievement of being featured in a Coffee Table publication – Global Icons of Travel & Tourism launched by the Pacific Area Travel Writers Association.

Speaking to the press after the meeting, Mr St Ange thanked the President for receiving him at State House and expressed how honoured he is to impart his knowledge and experience for the benefit of Tourism industry of his homeland.

Upon his return to Seychelles, Mr St Ange has also held discussions with the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Tourism, Mr Sylvestre Radegonde.

First published at TravelCommunication.net

First published at TravelNewsHub.com – Global Travel News

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