Chile solar eclipse tour

ON July 2, 2019 a total solar eclipse will cross the Pacific Ocean and peter out in Argentina before sunset. La Serena in Chile sits on the Pacific Coast just south of the centerline of the eclipse. The closer you are to the centerline, the longer totality lasts. Eclipse viewing will be slightly inland and at a small gain in elevation. Probabilities of seeing the eclipse are in 80 plus percent range according to historical weather figures.

A total solar eclipse happens when the moon passes in front of the sun. Totality will last just over 2 minutes. At this time the moon will hang a black dot surrounded by the sun's corona.

A new 5-day 4-night tour is being offered by Tropical Sails Corp. It will feature the wines of Chile near Viña del Mar, the Total Solar Eclipse in La Serena and Santiago, Chile. There is an option to extend you visit to Buenos Aires, Argentina and Iguazu Falls for 6-days, 5 nights. The tour begins in Santiago and visits Vina del Mar, La Serena, Vina del Mar and ends in Santiago.



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Dubai a global cruise tourism hub

THE cruise industry has long boasted of its value compared to land vacations. And now according to a new report from Dubai Chamber of Commerce and Industry, cruise tourism is one of the fastest-growing segments of Dubai’s tourism industry with the city being among the world’s leading winter cruise destinations. 

The global cruise industry continues to grow rapidly with 27 million cruisers expected in 2018. By 2030 more than 40 million people worldwide will travel on cruise ships annually. #Dubai is well-placed to be a global cruise tourism hub. 

According to Cruise Arabia and Africa, the number of cruise passengers in Dubai increased to 625,000 in the 2016/2017 season compared to 320,000 in the 2013/2014 cruise season representing a 95 per cent growth rate. Over the next cruise season 2018/2019, the tourism board of Dubai expects to see 725,000 cruise tourists and 825,000 cruise tourists in the 2019/2020 season.

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Up in the air . . .

IN just over three months, WOW air will launch its much anticipated flight service from the U.S. to Indira Gandhi International Airport (DEL) in New Delhi, India via Iceland beginning December 5, 2018. 

To celebrate, WOW air is offering one-way tickets to the Indian capital for $199. The new route will provide millions of Americans in seven major metro areas across the country an extremely affordable way to visit the lively city.

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Best 2018 UK hot tub holiday destinations

THE staycation has grown in popularity over preceding years and with 66% of us planning a break the UK in 2018 (according to ABTA research) it has led to a mini boom for the UK tourist industry.  At Aqua Warehouse we believe enjoying a holiday with friends, family or a romantic break can only be made better with a hot tub. So, we’ve put together our top five favourite UK hot tub holidays, for whatever style of break you’re looking for.

The forest makes for a beautiful escape for the family. Perfect for reconnecting with nature, and spending quality time together as a family. Create unforgettable memories on your forest adventure with Forest Holidays. With 10 locations from Scotland to Cornwall to choose from, you’re spoilt for choice!

If glamping is more your style, try the Sunridge EcoPod in Devon - This takes glamping to a new level! Underfloor heating, luxury German kitchen, remote control colour changing lighting, 3D home cinema snug, games consoles, 10 minutes from a beach and seconds away from your own private hot tub - bliss!

Brook Lodge is one of five detached luxury lodges which are located in idyllic countryside on the Wakes Hall Estate in the breath-taking Colne Valley on the Essex/Suffolk border. Each lodge boasts a verandah and the ultimate indulgence – a soothing Vita Spa 300 series Voeux hot tub, surrounded by 500 acres of land and walks to the village of Wakes Colne.

Knoydart Hide offers stunning luxury Scottish self-catering accommodation for two with hot tub and sauna in a beautiful and secluded woodland setting overlooking Loch Nevis. Total privacy, total luxury, 180 degree breakfast-in-bed forest views from your super-sized antique canopy bed, infra red sauna, outdoor floodlit hot tub, monsoon shower, free wifi throughout and freestanding bath, a truly unique experience.

With cottages and lodges sleeping from 2-9 guests Ta Mill in Cornwall has the facilities to cater for romantic getaways, family holidays, and weddings. The flexibility of self-catering allows you to enjoy the local attractions, but if you really don’t fancy cooking you can ‘rent a chef’ and enjoy a night in with all the luxuries of a night out!


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Playful Luxury

W KUALA Lumpur opens its doors in the heart of the capital, steps from the world-famous Petronas Twin Towers. Through bold, innovative design, W Kuala Lumpur immerses guests in the city's wildly lush greenery, globally renowned cuisine, centuries-old history and growing appetite for playful luxury

Kuala Lumpur is known for its fast-paced spirit which emerged from modest beginnings. Nestled between the Klang and Gombak Rivers, boasting a sunny tropical climate, flourishing jungle, soaring buildings and traditional Malaysian architecture – a meeting of old and new, nature and humankind, on every street. Kuala Lumpur is home to a multicultural mix of world-class cuisine and creativity, the perfect spot for the brand's debut in #Malaysia.

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On the catwalk . . .

ONE of the largest travel e-commerce companies in the world, Booking.com and New York-based contemporary fashion brand alice + olivia by Stacey Bendet have partnered to showcase the emotional and cultural touchpoints that travel inspires through Bendet's Spring 2019 collection at New York Fashion Week. 

For the very first time, Booking.com is offering travelers the incredible chance to book a stay at an iconic property serving as the stage for alice + olivia's show, the Fashion Yacht at Chelsea Piers in New York City, complete with shopping sprees for the ultimate fashion week experience.

Anyone interested in taking this fashion journey must be quick as only a few select nights are available for booking. Everyday at at 5:00 p.m. EST on September 5th, 6th and 7th, Booking.com will release a one-night stay aboard the Wonderland Fashion Yacht for September 11th, 12th and 13th respectively.

www.booking.com/hotel/us/alice-olivia-fashion-yacht.html.


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Palawan and Cebu raise national pride

TWO Philippine islands set off a barrage of national pride as they have recently been named world’s best islands for 2018 by a New York-based international magazine The Philippines’ largest carrier Cebu Pacific is beaming with pride along with millions of Filipinos across the world as two of the Philippines’ finest islands, namely Palawan and Cebu, have placed in the list of New York-based international magazine Travel + Leisure’s “15 Best Islands in the World” for 2018.

Both international and local tourists can take advantage of budget-friendly, safe and the widest network of convenient flights that Cebu Pacific offers to catch a glimpse of the #Philippines awe-inspiring destinations. 

Palawan and Cebu are favorites among award-winning international travel magazines including Condé Nast Traveler. Home of the Puerto Princesa Underground River, one of the new seven wonders of nature, Palawan has clinched Condé Nast Traveler Readers’ Choice Awards for consecutive years. Meanwhile, the magazine also touted Cebu for the richness of its surrounding waters and islands, describing it as a “more personal, with plenty of up-and-coming restaurants and shopping”.

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Game, Set and Bagel

AT Bruegger's Bagels, a bagel is an authentic, New York-style, kettle-boiled-then-baked ring of bread. But in #tennis, a "bagel" is a set that ends in 6-0. That's why Bruegger's is getting in on the U.S. Open fun and giving away bagels for "bagels."

If there's a "bagel" at any time during the Quarterfinals, Semifinals, or Finals of this year's men's, women's or doubles matches at the U.S. Open, Bruegger's will offer one free bagel and cream cheese to every member of its Bruegger's Bagels Inner Circle rewards program, redeemable from September 18-20.

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Accessible Yosemite National Park

WITH the reopening of the Mariposa Grove this summer, Yosemite National Park unveiled a natural area that’s both free of commercial operations, and accessible to wheelchair-users and slow walkers. And those features are highlighted in the second edition of Candy B. Harrington’s popular title, Barrier-Free Travel; Yosemite, Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks for Wheelers and Slow Walkers.


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Explore the Russian Far East

ACCOMMODATING just 200 guests, Crystal Endeavor, the world’s largest, most spacious purpose-built polar class expedition yacht, will set sail from Tokyo in August 2020 on a journey encompassing the far east of Russia and Japan to mark her maiden voyage. 

The territory Crystal Endeavor will cover during this 17-day voyage is dramatic and far from the beaten path – from the rarely explored Kamchatka Peninsula and the Kuril Islands (places favoured by whales, otters, seals, bears and foxes) to the glorious hot springs in the Valley of Geysers, to the natural paradise along Japan’s northern shores and the volcanic peaks of Mt Rishiri.

Crystal Endeavor itineraries will go on sale Thursday, 23 August 2018.


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Wander the streets in San Sebastian's old town

SAMPLING delicious pintxos along the grid of narrow streets in San Sebastián's old town has been named the #1 best food experience in the world, according to global travel authority Lonely Planet's Ultimate Eats.

In the much-anticipated follow-up to Lonely Planet's Ultimate Travel, Ultimate Eats: The World's Top 500 Food Experiences...Ranked (Lonely Planet Food / $29.99 / August 2018) travels the world with an insatiable appetite to present the definitive foodie bucket-list of the world's top 500 food experiences – ranked.

Visitors to lonelyplanet.com/ultimate-eats have the opportunity to enter a competition for a chance to win the ultimate eating experience for two courtesy of Intrepid Travel's Northern Spain Real Food Adventure. Terms and conditions apply.




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Hula some time away at New York Botanical Gardens

HAWAIIAN summer at the New York Botanical Garden, while Georgia O’Keeffe: Visions of Hawai‘i at The New York Botanical Garden (NYBG) brings more than 15 paintings back to #NewYork City for the first time since they were exhibited in 1940. 

This landmark exhibition that runs through October 28, 2018 and also offers up a summer-long feast of Hawaiian flora, culture, music and food, along with a rich menu of programming, hula and films. For visitors to New York City, it’s an immersive counterpoint to a day of urban sightseeing, a tropical escape just 20 minutes from the bustle of midtown.

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Food on the go for Brits

A study conducted by Le Boat into the eating habits of holidaying Europeans has revealed that Brits lag behind their French and German counterparts when it comes to experimenting with foreign cuisine.

The survey of 1,000 adults from each of France, Germany and the United Kingdom (UK) found less than half of UK travellers (47%) cited food and drink as very being a very important element of their trip compared to nearly two-thirds (62%) of Germans and half of French (50%).

When it comes to the first dish of the day, it seems half of Brits prefer to stick to a savoury start to the day while the French have the sweetest tooth of all at the breakfast table. Nearly four-fifths (79%) of French travellers ensure their morning meal includes some sweet elements, such as pastries, yoghurt or fruit, whereas only two thirds of Germans (64%) and 50% of Britons would do the same.

According to the poll, the British tendency to grab and go at work may be a hard habit to break on holiday. When asked how long they would be likely to spend enjoying lunch, those from the UK are three times as likely to spend less than 15 minutes having lunch while away and four times as likely not to eat anything at all compared to their French and German peers.


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Tourism Triangle

TOGETHER with Jimmy Morales , president of Guatemala , and Salvador Sánchez Cerén, president of El Salvador , Juan Orlando Hernández, president of Honduras , announced, the inclusion of El Salvador in the Customs Union of the Northern Triangle. The three countries cover an area of ​​more than 77,000 square miles and represent about 60 percent of the Central American population.

This integrated economic bloc will promote free movement of people and goods between the three countries while creating jobs that increase trade opportunities, improve regional security and facilitate the conditions for tourism. The three countries cover an area of ​​more than 77,000 square miles and represent about 60 percent of the Central American population.

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Multi-dimensional waterpark and entertainment complex for Phuket

PHUKET'S tourism industry has received a major shot in the arm with the unveiling of Blue Tree Phuket, a USD40 million investment (undiscloed local and overseas investors) and multi-dimensional destination waterpark and entertainment complex set over 140 rai in Cherng Talay. 

Positioned as Phuket’s premier family attraction, Blue Tree is located within easy reach of Phuket’s popular central west coast and will be the island’s first international-standard, fully integrated waterpark and family entertainment complex, placing it at the cutting-edge of a growing demand for inland tourism on the island. 

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Puerto Rico milestones since Hurricane Maria

DISCOVER Puerto Rico announced today a new initiative to underscore the progress Puerto Rico's tourism industry has made since Hurricane Maria. As the one year mark approaches and old imagery resurfaces in the news and in social media, local tourism and community members are rallying audiences everywhere, including news media, to #CoverTheProgress and share real-time Island imagery and the many milestones that have led the Island in one of the greatest comeback stories in tourism. This initiative stemmed from the strong sentiment of the local community paired with reactions from recent travelers to #PuertoRico. Tourism benefits everyone on the Island, and sharing the positive milestones achieved within the tourism industry will help continue to attract travelers – helping to drive the recovery forward.

Puerto Rico offers over 189 tourist attractions, including walking tours through Old San Juan, Castillo San Felipe del Morro, Castillo San Cristobal and the Bacardi Distillery. The Island also offers salsa tours that visit famous places to dance your heart out, caving systems like Cueva Ventana, Toro Verde Adventure Park and El Yunque rainforest – the largest rainforest in the U.S. 

The islands of Culebra and Vieques are ready to welcome visitors, too. Culebra is home to Flamenco Beach, recognized as one of the most beautiful beaches in the world. There are day excursions to the islands if you are staying in mainland Puerto Rico.

The bioluminescent bays are an experience not to miss, and Puerto Rico has three of the world's five. The reflection of microorganisms causes the water to glow when touched. Puerto Rico's bioluminescent bays are located in Mosquito Bay in Vieques; Laguna Grande in Fajardo; and La Parguera in Lajas.

There are plenty of culinary options with more than 1,885 restaurants across the Island, including Culebra and Vieques. Puerto Rico is a foodie's paradise.

For those looking for golf and added entertainment, the Island offers 13 professional golf courses, 16 casinos and plenty of nightlife options like bars and clubs.


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Travel & Tourism generated 18% of New Zealand’s GDP in 2017

RESEARCH published by the World Travel & Tourism Council has shown that in 2017, the total contribution of Travel & Tourism accounted for 17.9% (NZD$47.5bn) of New Zealand’s GDP. This figure is set to rise by 2.9% per annum and forecast to account for 20% of New Zealand GDP over the next decade. 

The travel sector grew by 3.2% in 2017, faster than the economy as a whole which grew at 2.9% in the total wider economy. New Zealand is the 32nd largest travel economy in the world.

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Slovakia lights up the sky

AT the Rostec International Fireworks Festival in Moscow, Slovakia was the  winner of the festival which is one of the world's greatest events related to fireworks. Second place went to Greece, and the USA took third place. All three teams took part in the festival in Moscow for the first time. 

The Rostec International Fireworks Festival was held for the fourth time this year and teams from Austria, Andorra, Bulgaria, Italy, the UK, Greece, Slovakia and the USA took part in it.

The teams presented programs consisting of two parts: fireworks in the colors of a national flag with national music, which was a participant's presentation; there was also a free program on the theme of goodness and magic.  A world-class jury monitored the technical aspect of the performances including eminent pyrotechnicians from the USA, Romania, Portugal, Canada and Spain.



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White Stallion Ranch named in America's Top 10 family resorts

THE White Stallion Resort, a family owned and operated dude ranch located in Tucson, has been named one of the top 10 America's best family resorts of 2018 by readers of USA Today.

The USA Today Readers Choice Award honor was based on readers' votes for the resort determined by kids' amenities and family programming. A panel of experts including USA Today editors, 10Best.com editors, expert contributors and media nominated the ranch.

White Stallion Ranch is located just outside Tucson, Arizona and adjacent to Saguaro National Park West, and for more than fifty years has been the home of the True family. Guests reconnect with nature, family, friends and serenity during a relaxing visit to the ranch. Visitors ride through the unspoiled desert, rugged mountains and cactus that have brought Hollywood filmmakers to the ranch for over 70 years. The White Stallion Ranch is a unique, high quality and elegant working cattle ranch with spectacular views of the mountains. 

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Up in the air . . .

TRAVELLERS around the world recognized the quality of service and exceptional experience offered by Avianca selecting it as the “Best Airline in South America” at the 2018 Skytrax World Airline Awards. This is the eighth time the has company received this award. Avianca also received the award for “Best Economy Class in the Region” and ranked 51st in the Top 100 ranking of best airlines in the world. www.avianca.com

Iberia’s first A350 flight from Madrid landed at London Heathrow on 20 July. It is configured with 31 business class seats, 24 premium economy seats, and 293 economy seats and will fly between Madrid and London on selected weeks between July and August and then from Madrid to New York City. Iberia’s new planes are also good for the environment with fuel consumption and CO2 emissions 25% lower than similar aircraft. www.iberia.com

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Yosemite Valley reopens following recent wildfires

CONDITIONS in California's High Sierra region around Yosemite National Park have allowed Yosemite Valley and the Mariposa Grove of Giant Sequoias to reopen to visitors with vastly improved air quality.

Visit California President & CEO Caroline Beteta today issued the following statement regarding wildfires in the vicinity of Yosemite National Park:

"Today's reopening of Yosemite Valley is immensely encouraging – both for the thousands of travelers with plans to visit the area this summer and the communities that rely on visitors to fuel their economies.

"Yosemite is one of California's most iconic experiences for residents and visitors alike, and now is the time to visit.

"Though other wildfires continue to burn in some remote areas of the state, California is safe to travel to and travelers can access information about all Golden State destinations at VisitCalifornia.com"

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European Capital of Smart Tourism nominees

A new EU initiative aims to promote smart tourism in the EU, foster innovative, sustainable and inclusive tourism development, as well as spread and facilitate the exchange of best practices. The European Capital of Smart Tourism initiative recognises outstanding achievements in four categories: sustainability, accessibility, digitalisation as well as cultural heritage and creativity, by European cities as tourism destinations.

The following cities have been shortlisted as finalists in the competition for the European Capital of Smart Tourism 2019 are:

Brussels (Belgium), Helsinki (Finland), Ljubljana (Slovenia), Lyon (France), Málaga (Spain), Nantes (France), Palma (Spain), Poznań (Poland), Tallinn (Estonia), and Valencia (Spain).


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A truly unique experience

THE Masaya Volcano National Park in Nicaragua offers visitors the rare and unique opportunity to see an active volcano up close. It’s the only volcano in the western hemisphere where you are able to drive right up to the edge and one of only 11 volcanoes in the world with an active lava lake.

The volcano has erupted several times in history, feared by both the indigenous people and Spanish conquerors. The Spanish baptized the volcano “La Boca del Infierno” or “The mouth of hell”. 

ORO Travel offer the rare opportunity to experience the volcano at night an amazing photo opportunity.

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World's Largest 3-D Printed Reef Installed at Summer Island Maldives

THE world's largest 3-D printed reef was submerged on Saturday (11 August) at Summer Island #Maldives, in what is hoped could be a new technology-driven method to help coral reefs survive a warming climate.

The artificial reef, assembled with hundreds of ceramic and concrete modules, was submerged at Summer Island's 'Blue Lagoon' -- a sandy part of the lagoon, where the resort hopes to create a new coral reef ecosystem.

The project started in a lab in Melbourne, Australia, where industrial designer Alex Goad of Reef Design Lab used sophisticated computing modeling to design reef structures similar to the coral reefs found naturally in the Maldives.

A large 3-D printer whirred away for 24 hours to print moulds of the reef structures. These moulds were cast in ceramic -- an inert substance, similar to the calcium carbonate found in coral reefs. The ceramic moulds were shipped to the Maldives, and filled with concrete on the beach at Summer Island. 220 ceramic, concrete filled moulds were then slotted together, like a giant LEGO set, to create the new reef.

The new reef sits in seven metres of water, close to the resort's existing coral nursery. Fragments of coral from the nursery are being transplanted onto the 3-D reef, where they will grow and colonise the structure.

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U.S. tops list for Australian Travellers

AUSTRALIANS are planning trips to the Americas, with the United States and Canada ranking high on the list of preferred destinations for the upcoming 2018 holiday season according to global luxury travel network Virtuoso. Known as a leading trend forecaster in the industry, Virtuoso has surveyed its 1,400 Australian travel advisors to uncover expert insights into luxury holiday trends and the preferences of their elite clientele. 

Top International Destinations 

• United States 

• Canada /Italy (tie) 

• Japan 

• France 

• New Zealand

Top Unusual/Surprising Destinations 

• Iceland 

• Bhutan 

• Mongolia 

• Sri Lanka 

• Antarctica

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Visitors flock to historic properties

VISITENGLAND'S Annual Attractions Survey shows historic properties experienced significant growth in visitor numbers in 2017.

Of the 1,400 English attractions surveyed the research found that historic properties such as mills, monuments, boats and burial grounds saw the largest increase in visitor numbers, up 8% on 2016.

The British Museum was the most visited 'free' attraction in England in 2017 for the 10th consecutive year with nearly 6 million visitors, and the Tate Modern came a close second with more than five and a half million.

The Tower of London topped the list as the most visited ‘paid for’ attraction for the ninth year running with 2.8 million visitors and Chester Zoo came in second place with 1.9 million.



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Website for Travelers Visiting Japan

All Nippon Airways (ANA) announces the introduction of a new website "Japan Travel Planner" aimed to help travelers visiting Japan discover the beauty of the country by obtaining valuable travel information.

The two informative current websites "ANA Experience Japan" and "Taste of Japan" were integrated into the new " Japan Travel Planner" website which offers enhanced research and travel plan creation functions making it easy to find the best ways to get to sightseeing spots. By selecting a location and the desired traveling time, a recommended itinerary of the trip will be created and an option to make a reservation for an air ticket will be given.

Through this new "Japan Travel Planner" site, ANA will introduce not only the most popular sightseeing spots, but also many hidden attractive locations throughout Japan, strongly contributing to the accomplishment of the Japanese government tourism target of reaching 40 million overseas visitors to Japan in 2020.



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Capital of Connecticut least expensive New England destination

HARTFORD, capital city of #Connecticut, is the least expensive destination in New England for visitors over the summer, according to a survey conducted by BostonHotels.org. Conversely, Martha's Vineyard leads the rankings as the most expensive destination in the region.

The survey compared hotel rates for 30 popular destinations in #NewEngland during the month of August 2018. In each destination, prices for the cheapest available double room were established and compared. Only hotels located close to the city center or shore and rated at least 3 stars were included.


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Expedia Group kicks off

EXPEDIA Group is kicking off an agreement with UEFA to become the Official Travel Partner of the UEFA Champions League. The three-season agreement also includes the UEFA Super Cup, UEFA Youth League Finals and the newly formed UEFA Futsal Champions League Finals until the end of the 2020-2021 season.

Expedia Group's Brand Expedia and Hotels.com will lead the engagement, highlighting the enormous power travel has to connect football fans around the world with Europe's most prestigious club football competition.



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Up in the air . . .

BRITISH Airways is celebrating being named Best Family Friendly Airline out of 20 international airlines, looking at how easy they make the travel experience for families. 

As well as sitting families together for free, British Airways was praised for offering families pre-boarding, giving children their own free checked luggage allowance, plus a free allowance for a pushchair and car seat, complimentary special kids meals on longer flights, special children’s in-flight entertainment and free carrycots and baby seats on board flights. 

To help further ease the stress of family travel, this summer British Airways introduced a permanent family check-in zone and security lane at the its hub at Heathrow Terminal 5, which has so far been enjoyed by 150,000 customers.

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Reducing plastic consumption

FOLLOWING up on Swiss-Belhotel International’s global initiative to enhance the sustainability of its operations and reduce plastic consumption, the group has announced plans to eliminate the use of disposable plastic straws from its existing and upcoming properties across the Middle East and Africa region. 

According to industry reports the ‘throw-away’ culture is doing a catastrophic damage to the environment. An estimated eight million tons of plastic waste enter oceans every year and research projects that plastic in our oceans could triple in a decade. 

The scale of the plastic problem is evident from these figures: 480 billion plastic bottles were sold worldwide in 2016; one trillion single-use plastic bags were used every year; more than half a million plastic straws were used every day around the world. If the world continues to generate plastic waste at the current rate approximately 12 billion tonnes will be in landfills or the natural environment by 2050.

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Puerto Vallerta's center now a protected area

PUERTO Vallarta's Historic Centeris now a protected Cultural Heritage of the Mexican State of Jalisco. The declaration was made by the state's Department of Culture on July 21 via the official journal of Jalisco and makes the center of the city a protected area, with all the rights and privileges of a heritage protected by state and federal laws.

The recognition includes the area from the beginning of the Malecon - where the oldest hotel in Puerto Vallarta, the hotel Rosita, stands - and continues to the cobblestoned Romantic Zone and up to the historic Conchas Chinas neighborhoods. Each area is of special historical significance to Puerto Vallarta, Jalisco and Mexico, as well as the essence of the port city, which is in the midst of celebrating its centennial.


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Picture Credit: By Adam Jones from Kelowna, BC, Canada - Facade of Hotel Rosita with Pelicans - Puerto Vallarta - Jalisco - Mexico, CC BY-SA 2.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=64119845