International tourism off to a strong start in 2012

May 14, 2012 Destination No Comments

The first results of 2012 indicate that international tourism continued to show sustained growth in spite of challenging economic conditions. During the first two months of 2012, international tourist arrivals grew by an estimated 5.7 percent compared to the same period of 2011, according to the May issue of the UNWTO World Tourism Barometer, released in Batumi, Georgia on the occasion of the 54th UNWTO Commission for Europe. … Continue Reading

Forbes Travel Guide Launches In Shanghai, China Two Luxury Hotels Earn Its First Five-Star Honor In Mainland China

May 14, 2012 Destination No Comments

Forbes Travel Guide, the originators of the prestigious Five-Star ratings program in the U.S., added Shanghai, China as its newest global destination. This announcement is marked by the addition of two properties, The Peninsula Shanghai and Waldorf Astoria Shanghai on the Bund, to the prestigious Forbes Travel Guide Five-Star hotel list, while The Peninsula Spa by ESPA is the only property in Shanghai to achieve the Five-Star Spa award. … Continue Reading

The 2012 Canandaigua Wine Trail Attracts Visitors from the U.S. and Canada Booking New York Vacation Rentals

May 14, 2012 Destination No Comments

Spring Garden tents on the lush grounds of Sonnenberg Gardens in Canandaiga, New York will be pitched to celebrate the Wine Trail 2012 “Plant Yourself in the Finger Lakes’ Spring Wine Garden Party! May 20. Wine tasting among the magnificent spring flora makes this annual sprint event a popular in the Finger Lakes area. … Continue Reading

The Miami Beach Visitor and Convention Authority is Bringing a Fresh Perspective, Encouraging Cultural Events and Helping to Drive the Economic Engine of Miami Beach

May 14, 2012 Destination No Comments

Quietly but diligently, the Miami Beach Visitor and Convention Authority (MBVCA) has been hard at work providing grants to local, national and international businesses and event producers, an integral partner in helping to boost the local economy and rebrand the city as a cultural mecca. … Continue Reading

NZ balloon crash disaster pilot had smoked cannabis

May 14, 2012 Destination, Headline News No Comments

Drug testing is likely to become mandatory in New Zealand’s adventure tourism industry. The pilot of the hot-air balloon that crashed and killed 11 people in New Zealand’s North Island in January “was flying with cannabis in his system” when the crash occurred, investigators have found. … Continue Reading