Amtrak Winter Park Express 2019 Season Has Begun

THE third season of the "Amtrak Winter Park Express" started with its first departure from Denver Union Station on January 4, arriving at Winter Park Resort and delivering 300 happy skiers and riders directly to the slopes.

The train will continue to run every Saturday and Sunday as well as the first two Fridays of every month through March 31. New this year is a sightseer lounge car complete with food and beverage service.


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A heroes send off from British Airways for Team UK

BRITISH Airways is proud to announce it will be the official airline partner of Team UK, a 72-strong group of wounded, injured and sick serving military personnel and veterans, who have been specially selected to represent Great Britain at the #Invictus Games #Sydney 2018, presented by Jaguar Land Rover.

The competitors, along with their families and support staff, will head down under on October 15 after a heroes’ send-off at Heathrow. During the games, which run from October 20 to 27, the team will participate in 10 different adaptive sports against 500 men and women from 18 countries.

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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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Best golf destinations for November

WHEN it comes to choosing the best destinations for golf this November, a few places really stand out. Here is a brief look at 3 fabulous November 2018 destinations for golf.

Playa del Carmen: Mayakoba Golf Classic - The Mayakoba Golf Classic is not just the centerpiece of the PGA Tour and golf but at the same time, it is also a cultural attraction for people who are thinking of visiting Mexico this November.  The Mayakoba Golf Classic was first introduced in the year 2007 and since then it has contributed millions of dollars to different charities and philanthropic causes. It has also contributed to the welfare of communities including the Playa del Carmen. This classic is going to be held from November 5th to November 11th 2018. 

Dubai: DP World Tour Championship - The DP World Tour Championship will be held in Dubai from November 15th to November 18th 2018. This is a top golf destination if only because it gives you an excellent opportunity to watch the top sixty European Tour players compete in the last event of the Race to Dubai. General admission to this tournament won’t cost you anything though you may have to undergo pre-registration for free fast-track entry tickets.

Antalya, Turkey: European Tour Turkish Airlines Open, Regnum Carya Golf and Spa Resort - The Turkish Airlines Open takes place from the 1st of November to 4th November 2018. The 2017 winner Justin Rose will be defending his title, and this event also happens to be the sixth Rolex Series event of the European Tour of 2018. The total prize money at this event is seven million dollars and in addition, this event is also the most exciting tournament to be added to the 2018 European Tour.

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Education and Eco-adventure in the canopy

ANGKOR Zipline is the only permanent educational eco-adventure canopy tour inside Angkor Park and the only zipline in Siem Reap, #Cambodia. Formerly Flight of the Gibbon, this one of a kind jungle eco-adventure has operated since 2012, but was acquired in January 2017 by a group of international investors.

The gold zipline eco-adventure features 9 individual ziplines, 1 double zipline, 3 suspended sky bridges and any many other course features designed to both educate and energize guests. 

The silver zipline eco-adventure was created for guests with less time, and smaller budgets.

Both options offer the thrill of #ziplining, while also learning about the wildlife, history and environment inside Angkor Park, considered one on the 10 modern wonders of the world and a UNESCO world heritage site.



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Links with history

DURING a spectacular summer of #golf, a group of historic golf clubs will celebrate a number of important milestones that coincide with The Open and the Seniors Open returning to #Scotland. Links with History, which features some of the finest courses in Fife, has announced a run of notable anniversaries as well as confirming encouraging year-on-year booking figures.

Links with History is a group of great golf courses and glorious histories, made up of four historic golf clubs; Crail Golfing Society est 1786; Scotscraig Golf Club est 1817; Lundin Golf Club est 1868 and Ladybank Golf Club est 1879. The clubs involved include former Open Championship Final Qualifying venues as well as trailblazers from golf’s golden era. 

www.linkswithhistory.com

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Golfing Shangri-La

THE Shangri-La Chiang Mai 2 Ball Golf Championship is a must play event for golfers wanting the best of everything. Golfers will experience Thailand’s rich culture, tantalising food, luxury spas and generous hospitality. 

Chiang Mai’s mountainous terrain and valleys has enabled renowned golf course designers to build breathtakingly beautiful golf resorts. Just as impressive as the courses is the pampering you get from the knowledgeable and well-trained caddies.

The Shangri-La Chiang Mai Golf Championship is a collaboration between Australian based Go Golfing and Thailand’s Golfasian. This powerhouse partnership delivers Asia’s biggest and richest tournaments as well as boutique events like this one.

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500,000 FAN ID cards issued ahead of 2018 FIFA World Cup

DEVELOPED by the Russian Federation especially for the 2018 FIFA World Cup FAN ID is a personalized spectator's card. Issued free of charge once for all of the tournament matches, every spectator who has purchased a match ticket must get a FAN ID. In combination with a match ticket, a FAN ID will ensure fast and convenient access to the stadium and also entitles spectators to free travel on additional trains connecting the 2018 FIFA World Cup host cities and on public transportation of the host cities on match days.

Foreign citizens and stateless persons can enter Russia visa-free with a FAN ID during the period starting 10 days before the date of the first match of the 2018 FIFA World Cup and ending on the date of the last match. Therefore, entry into Russia with a FAN ID is possible starting from 4 June through 15 July 2018. The FAN ID holders must leave the country no later than 25 July 2018.

Fill in an application form at http://www.fan-id.ru/ or register at one of the FAN ID Distribution Centers located in Russia.

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Temples to Tees

THE South East Asian nation of Cambodia is becoming increasingly popular with foreign tourists, attracting more than five million visitors in 2016 and with around seven million expected by 2020.

#Golf tourism is still very much in its infancy, however. There are currently nine golf courses in #Cambodia: four in capital Phnom Penh including the country’s oldest course, Cambodia Golf & Country Club, which opened in 1996, the Grand Phnom Penh Golf Club course by Nicklaus Design and the IMG-managed Garden City Golf Club, which opened in 2013; three in Siem Reap, including Angkor Golf Resort’s Nick Faldo-designed course which opened in 2007 and former Asian Tour venue Phokeethra Country Club; and two courses on the coast at Dara Sakor Golf Club, forming the first part of a project by a Chinese developer in Koh Kong province.

A further two Faldo Design courses are set to open soon at Vattanac Golf Resort, a development 15km from the centre of Phnom Penh which is being built by international construction group Arup. The first course at the resort is due to open for play by late 2018.

Cambodia’s lure for golfers is underpinned by its appeal as a tourist destination, with the main attraction being the Angkor UNESCO World Heritage Site temple complex near Siem Reap that includes Angkor Wat, the world’s largest religious monument. It was named the world’s top UNESCO heritage site by review website TripAdvisor in November.

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Spring into April in Miami

APRIL is all about sports and wellness in #Miami and the Beaches. From relaxing walks on the beach to Jet Ski adventures, there is a lot to be found in Miami.

As Miami is perfect for indoor and outdoor activities, The Greater Miami Convention & Visitors Bureau has made April ‘Miami Sports and Wellness Month’, offering discounts and special offers for great activities such as yoga, golf and a wide range of water sport activities

The Miami Sports and Wellness Month will kick off with the ‘Yoga In The Park’ event, a free yoga class, on April 5th at 6:00 PM at The Tina Hills Pavilion on the south end of Bayfront Park.

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New world-class sporting event for London

BRITISH Athletics has confirmed that eight of the worlds top athletics nations will compete in the Athletics World Cup London 2018 this summer.

Following on from the success of London 2017 which saw the capital become the first city ever to stage both the World Para Athletics and IAAF World Athletics Championships in the same year, fans of the sport will once again see the best countries competing in the UK, in the greatest athletics stadium in the world.

Athletes from USA, Great Britain & Northern Ireland, Poland, China, Germany, France, Jamaica and South Africa will compete in the ground-breaking two-day event on Saturday 14 and Sunday 15 July at the London Stadium.

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Tee it up with the stars

Star-struck golfers need to tee it up at one of three courses in #California, including two that comprise the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro Am, which draws celebs like Justin Timberlake, Josh Duhamel, Bill Murray and Jake Owen every February. 

Pebble Beach Golf Links, the number one public course in America, and Spyglass Hill, one of the toughest in the world, lets #golfers play like the celebs do. Add in The Links at Spanish Bay and there is a trifecta of amazing courses where Tiger Woods, Jack Nicklaus and Ben Hogan have all teed off. Bunker down at The Lodge’s new Fairway One, a collection of one- and two-bedroom cottages featuring luxurious appointments and views of the fairway. The on-property Forbes Five-Star spa is the perfect antidote to the sore muscles from a tough round.

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Queensland emerges as a leader in sport tourism

NEW research shows #Queensland has emerged as a global leader in fitness and wellness tourism, with a report released by the government revealing what drives the world’s most #active travelers to ‘bucket list’ endurance events across the state. 

The Queensland Government through Tourism and Events Queensland supports a line-up of 17 world-class endurance events stretching from the Gold Coast to Tropical North Queensland and covering everything from triathlon to multi-sport challenges, running, mountain biking and cycling events and ocean swims.

In the countdown to the Gold Coast 2018 Commonwealth Games, Acting Minister for Innovation and Tourism Industry Development Shannon Fentiman said the state was proud of its reputation as Australia’s endurance event capital.

Endurance events supported by the It’s Live! In Queensland events calendar can be accessed here: www.queensland.com/events/endurance-events

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New tourism experiences for Bermuda

MORE than 20 home-grown ideas, out of a total 55 approved experiences, will receive investment funding from the #Bermuda #Tourism Authority for the first time in 2018. The 23 newly supported tourism experiences is the largest crop of successful new applicants since the process to find home-grown ideas began in 2014.

Newly supported experiences include Bermuda by Dune Buggy, a low-noise, electric vehicle tour experience that will travel via public roadway in the west end making stops at key sites. Meantime, a water transport mobile app known as WaterRide Transport also won cash investment for its innovative approach as a water shuttle. The Bermuda Triangle Beach Experience at Clearwater Beach is also on the list, the brainchild of the same Bermudian proprietors behind the Tobacco Bay Beach Experience.

Culinary experiences Sip & Savour Bermuda Food Tours and Wild Herbs N Plants of Bermuda were successful too and local performers will take centre stage in an expanded version of Made in Bermuda, a home-grown entertainment showcase.

About 70 percent of the investment for 2018 will go to experiences characterised as sports and adventure, while the remaining 30 percent is in the arts and culture realm. Bermuda’s success attracting younger, more experiential travellers over the past two years has raised the adventure-related demand.

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Surfers Paradise in Sri Lanka

SETTING a benchmark in eco-tourism and hospitality, Jetwing Hotels introduces the award winning eco-luxury surf resort, Jetwing Surf in Pottuvil Point, #SriLanka. Built on minimum carbon footprint the property recently received the award for the Best Hotel Architectural Design at the Asia Property Awards 2017.

 

A luxury resort dedicated for #surfers, located on an unspoilt stretch of beach in Pottuvil Point with magnificent waves gushing onto shore. Only a few minutes away from the surfer’s paradise of Arugam Bay, this property includes 20 beach cabanas made using wood, woven coconut palm leaves and reeds.

The unexplored East is a haven of natural wonders, wildlife, and historical sites that can tick off many a travel bucket lists. Picturesque lakes, majestic sunsets by the Panama Lake, Semanikulam Lake and Rotakulam Lake. For the history enthusiasts the Sastrawela Maninaga Pabbatha Viharaya, Kudumbigala Monastery, Muhudu Maha Viharaya, and Magul Maha Viharaya are significant archaeological sites. Deemed as one of the best places to spot the leopard and sloth bear in undisturbed territory is the Kumana National Park, which is also home to the largest flock of migrant birds. The Lahugala and Gal Oya National Parks are also in the vicinity and are home to an abundance of flora and fauna.

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A goal for London tourism

TO celebrate the 60th anniversary of the competition, UEFA EURO 2020 will be the first European Championship tournament to be held across multiple countries. Wembley Stadium is one of 12 venues across 12 different cities that will host the 24 nations competing in UEFA EURO 2020.

The Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, and The Football Association are now working to deliver a programme of community activity to capitalise on bringing even more fixtures of this global event to #London. The capital will now take centre stage for the duration of the month long tournament and Londoners will be given a variety of opportunities to become involved as this major global sporting event takes place on their doorstep.

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Elite Athlete Centre and Hotel

LOUGHBOROUGH University is creating a dedicated 4-star Elite Athlete Centre and Hotel (EAC) comprised of 44 bedrooms. The facility will be run by Imago Venues – Loughborough University’s dedicated hotel, conference and events provider. It will provide a unique sports hotel that promotes rest, relaxation, and the pursuit of excellence. 

Set in the heart of Loughborough University’s world-leading sports facilities, this inspiring high-performance environment offers aspirational space for athletes, businesses and fitness enthusiasts to be the best they can be. With 20 specially designed altitude rooms, eight dedicated accessible bedrooms, a nutrition lounge, café and athletes’ relaxation area and seminar space for 30, the inspirational facility is a European first. 

Packages will include access to the UK’s leading coaches, sports scientists and support staff; it boasts the country’s largest concentration of high quality sports training facilities and is an aspirational backdrop for businesses and individuals wanting to improve their performance. 

The EAC will open in Autumn 2018. Bookings and enquiries can be made from November 2017.

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Partner up in Panama

#PANAMA, having recently launched their new golf tourism program, announces the corresponding website Panama Golf Destination is now live and accepting golf travel bookings. Packages for all inclusive golf, accommodations and meals/beverages can be custom tailored upon request.

The following courses are included in the new destination for golf program; Mantarraya Golf Club, Buenaventura Golf Club, Coronado Golf Club and Vista Mar Golf Club (Beaches), Santa Maria, Tucan Golf and Country Club, Summit Golf Club and Club de Golf de Panama (City) and Lucero Country Club (Mountains).


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Adrenalin adventures in Oman

TRAVELLERS with a sense of #adventure need look no further than #Oman to satisfy the next adrenalin rush. No other Gulf region offers such a diverse range of great outdoor adventures across a striking terrain that travels back 500 million years of geological time.

Desert Dune Bashing - Huge rolling dunes as far as the eye can see makes for a white knuckle ride dune bashing in 4WD’s at Shaqiya Sands- less than 3 hours from Muscat. Take a quad bike or camel over the dunes and watch the world turn pink and orange with a spectacular desert sun set. 

Caves and Canyons - For those who like their adventure on the extreme side, the thrill of rock-climbing and abseiling awaits. Climbers from around the globe are drawn to the high peaks of the Hajar mountains, and to the beautiful sea cliffs along the Omani coast. First-time climbers can attempt one of several Via Ferrata (‘by wire’) routes which keep them permanently attached to a cable via a harness for maximum safety at Snake Canyon, Jabel Shams and Jabal Akhdar. 

Take a Hike  - The challenging terrain of Oman’s ‘Sun Mountain’, Jabal Shams – standing 3009 metres above sea level as the country’s highest mountain peak – is a perfect place to start an adventure tour. 

Wadi Bash - Go off-road and experience one of Oman’s fastest growing adventure sports. Throughout the Sultanate there are many opportunities for travellers to hit the dirt, water and sand dunes in a 4 x 4 wheel drive. 

Snorkel and Scuba - Oman’s magnificent marine environment draws in adventurous travellers with the opportunity to snorkel, scuba dive and kayak in sparkling turquoise waters that support vibrant coral reefs. 

Get Airborne - Kitesurfing is one of the fastest growing and extreme water sports to be enjoyed in the Gulf’s warm waters and Masirah Island has the only kitesurfing academy in the Gulf where you can camp out on the island in Bedouin style tents. 

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Italy seeing significant increase in golf visitors

ITALY has enjoyed a significant increase in the number of #golf visitors in recent times, with international bookings having risen by an impressive 25% over the last two years of growth.

With Italy Golf & More, the first pan-Italian international promotional golf project, providing the driving force, latest figures show that the number of rounds played by international golfers in the country has gone up by around a quarter since 2015.

Green fee bookings rose by around 15 per cent in 2016 and have increased by a further 10 per cent so far this year, with a rise in numbers reported in regions across the north and south of #Italy.

The likes of Lombardy, Piedmont, Veneto and Sicily have all seen international numbers rise in the last 12 months, while the number of foreign golfers playing rounds in the regions of Trentino Alto Adige and Friuli Venezia Giulia has almost doubled during the same period.

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