Tag Archive for Tourism

Ultimate Insider?s Guide to New Orleans Travel and Tourism iPad App Launched by The Times-Picayune with NOLA.com

admin | February 11, 2012 | One comment

Ultimate Insider’s Guide to New Orleans Travel and Tourism iPad App Launched by The Times-Picayune with NOLA.com











New Orleans Ultimate Insider’s Guide iPad app


New Orleans, LA (PRWEB) February 07, 2012

The Times-Picayune, powering NOLA.com, has launched an Ultimate Insider’s Guide to New Orleans iPad app, with premier issues focused on dining, music, drinking and things to see.

The Ultimate Insider’s Guide to New Orleans iPad app can be downloaded now for free. It also includes an introduction to the region, with dozens of photos and short essays about what makes New Orleans a world-class travel destination.

“This is New Orleans as captured by the talented writers, editors and visual artists of The Times-Picayune, who know this amazing city better than anyone, “ said Jim Amoss, editor of The Times-Picayune. “We believe this is the definitive iPad experience if you want to enjoy an unforgettable time in New Orleans.”

The app includes articles, destination listings and maps, brilliant photos, stirring videos and music providing a real feel for the best of the Crescent City.

“The Ultimate Insider’s Guide to New Orleans underscores Advance Digital’s commitment to leverage great content to reach our audience on multiple platforms,” said Mark Rose, general manager, NOLA.com. “This guide uses the unique powers of the tablet space to showcase this great city not simply with great writing, but with a full-color visual explosion of photos, music and video.”

The app is available for download at no charge in the iTunes App Store. It was developed and launched with Advance Digital and Mobile IQ’s PressRun software to provide a uniquely compelling iPad experience for people interested in travel and tourism in New Orleans.

Download the Ultimate Insider’s Guide to New Orleans for free from the App Store here.

About The Times-Picayune

The Times-Picayune is Louisiana’s leading newspaper. Founded in 1837, and home to such literary giants as William Faulkner and O.Henry, The Times-Picayune has also won four Pulitzer Prizes, including two for its signature coverage of Hurricane Katrina in 2005. Today, it continues to lead in the coverage of breaking news, politics, sports, entertainment, lifestyle, business and more throughout the metropolitan New Orleans area.

About NOLA.com

NOLA.com, an affiliate of Advance Digital, Inc., is the leading local website for news and information throughout New Orleans featuring the latest New Orleans news, business, sports, travel, weather, traffic, shopping and entertainment information. In addition, NOLA.com has a comprehensive business listings directory, as well as local classified listings for jobs, homes, apartment rentals and autos. NOLA.com is powered by The Times-Picayune.

About Advance Digital

Advance Digital, Inc., based in Jersey City, NJ, provides digital information and connection solutions for local consumers and businesses. The company operates 11 media properties across the U.S. that are the number one local news, information and community hubs in the markets they serve. The sites include al.com, cleveland.com, gulflive.com, NJ.com, NOLA.com, OregonLive.com, SILive.com, syracuse.com, MassLive.com, PennLive.com, and lehighvalleylive.com.

About Mobile IQ

Mobile IQ helps publishers and media agencies take their content mobile in intelligent, engaging, profitable ways. Its publishing hub enables content owners large and small to reach new audiences and make new revenue. Added with its ability to rapidly develop, integrated smartphone apps, Mobile IQ helps its customers stand out from the crowd. Please visit http://www.mobileiq.com or http://www.pressrun.com for more information.

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Category: Tourism | Tags: , , , , , , , , ,

Vacation Rental Market Offers Tourism With Minimal Environmental Impact and Encourages Ecotourism in Kauai, Hawaii

admin | January 27, 2012 | One comment

Vacation Rental Market Offers Tourism With Minimal Environmental Impact and Encourages Ecotourism in Kauai, Hawaii












Honolulu, HI (PRWEB) November 27, 2006

Kauai, HI: Kauai, Hawaii provides one of the most effective examples of ecotourism in the United States today by offering a tourist destination that has preserved its natural beauty while opening its arms to visitors from around the world. The growing availability of vacation rentals in places such as Kauai, Poipu, Princeville and Hanalei has lead to a change in the visitor experience. These vacation rentals offer tourists a unique opportunity to engage in the local communities and share in the true “Aloha” of Hawaii.

Ecotourism is defined by the Hawaii Ecotourism Association as “nature and culture based tourism that is ecologically sustainable and supports the well being of local communities”. According to a poll of HEA members in 2004, to be considered as genuinely engaging in ecotourism, operators need to minimize the negative impact on Hawaii’s cultural heritage, local communities and natural environment, as well as maximize the positive impact on these factors. Furthermore, these operators must also foster an appreciation of Hawaii’s sense of place among staff and visitors. In Hawaii, the spirit of the land is referred to as “aina”. Kauai condo complexes and hotels are sensitive to this “aina” because they are built with special care to have the least impact possible on the land and wildlife in the local area.

For the savvy traveler who is also environmentally concerned, Kauai vacation rentals can offer a true Hawaiian experience that does an outstanding job of providing first class amenities and service while allowing the traveler to experience the incredible raw beauty of a Pacific Island.    Online resources make it simple to plan a vacation based around the concepts of ecotourism because you can browse for Kauai vacations with just a few simple clicks of your mouse and yet still be able to get personalized, one-on-one service. Charles Koehl of Hawaiian Beach Rentals states that, “Every vacationer is looking to have the vacation of a lifetime and we aim to help them find it in Hawaii. Our customers want to be able to ask questions about their trip and have a human interact with them and listen to their desires and dreams and make suggestions on what they would like.”

The focus on ecotourism in Hawaii causes operators to lean toward renewable tourism as opposed to building a 20 story hotel on the beach without considering its environmental impact. This creates an unprecedented opportunity for tourists to revel in the natural magnificence of Hawaii in a special setting of their own choice. Protecting the environment also gives tourists the opportunity to fully understand the wildlife, flora and traditions of Hawaii. Simply by surfing the Internet, travelers can view their potential Kauai vacation condos and finalize arrangements for their trip securely online. Koehl of Hawaiian Beach Rentals further says that, “Allowing our customers to make a transaction easily and securely online also makes us unique. We provide our customers with service on all of the major Hawaiian Islands and offer accommodations, airfare and car rentals to customers wanting to travel to Hawaii.”

Environmentally responsible hotels are known as “green hotels” because they use energy and other natural resources in environmentally responsible ways. Ecotourism was also internationally recognized when the United Nations celebrated the “International Year of Ecotourism” in 2002. Hawaii has been engaging in the practice of ecotourism for many years and Kauai vacation rentals evidence the success of this vibrant, important movement. Incredible, first-class accommodations are available all over the island, from a Poipu vacation home to Kauai hotels, that enable visitors to have a realistic Hawaiian experience without compromising the world around them.

In short, ecotourism is a vehicle to sustainable development that makes it possible to accept tourists without compromising the quality of the land and its precious resources. A Kauai vacation gives well-informed tourists an opportunity to see the benefits of ecotourism in action, especially since this is a long-standing concept in this area of Hawaii.

Environmentally-friendly Hawaiian vacations are easier and more affordable to plan than was ever thought possible with the growing online resources available to travelers today. Take advantage of this technology to plan the most unique, socially-conscious trip of a lifetime! After all, today’s vacation rental market is filled with incredible travel opportunities that make a tropical trip more accessible than it ever was before.

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Vocus, PRWeb, and Publicity Wire are trademarks or registered trademarks of Vocus, Inc. or Vocus PRW Holdings, LLC.







Category: Ecotourism | Tags: , , , , , , , , , , ,

Currituck Outer Banks, NC Tourism & Ciniva Web Agency Featured by Google as a Success Story in Google TV Ads

admin | January 14, 2012 | One comment

Currituck Outer Banks, NC Tourism & Ciniva Web Agency Featured by Google as a Success Story in Google TV Ads











Google TV Ads Advertising and Video Production by Ciniva Web Agency


Virginia Beach, Virginia (PRWEB) December 07, 2011

Ever on the cutting edge of the tourist destination marketing industry, Currituck County, NC recently received the honor of being the subject of a Google case study for its success in utilizing the Google TV Ads platform to attract new visitors to the cozy beach vacation community.

The pristine Outer Banks beach vacation destination of Currituck County, NC has garnered a special place in the hearts and minds of East Coast travelers over the past few years by engaging potential visitors through carefully crafted web advertising messages managed by its agency of record, Ciniva Web Agency. When faced with the challenge of reaching new visitor markets outside of Currituck’s traditional East Coast audience, Ciniva suggested trying the relatively new Google TV Ads platform as an affordable method of creating awareness for the destination on a national scale.

“We try to stay on top of technology topics,” said Diane Nordstrom, Currituck’s Director of Travel & Tourism. “I think it’s pretty cool – you’d never expect Currituck would be an industry leader in this area.” Working with Ciniva Web Agency, Nordstrom and her team in Currituck County developed a stunning interactive Web presence supplemented with an active community of Facebook fans, a mobile app for iPhone, iPad, and Android users, and successful pay-per-click and TV advertising campaigns. This partnership has resulted in multiple awards for the tourism department. For the past three years, the visitor’s bureau has been recognized for having one of the best tourism websites and Internet marketing campaigns in North Carolina by the Destination Marketing Association of North Carolina.

As the awards for Currituck’s marketing program continue to pile up, so does the traffic into the website from visitors located outside the East Coast – visitors specifically reached through Google TV Ads’ network of national TV ad inventory. The Google TV Ads initiative, managed by Ciniva, not only attracted new visitors, but also improved the quality of these visits, with the average visitor from these TV ads spending three times the amount of time on the site and converting at almost double the rate of other advertising formats, including regional network TV buys.

“Currituck is a great success story,” said Robbie Foglia, Director of Paid Media for Ciniva Web Agency. “From the beginning, the Currituck team was interested in thinking outside the box to promote their stretch of the Outer Banks beachfront, and not only did we show them how to maximize their marketing budget, but we also helped them turn Currituck into one of the state’s most visible and desirable vacation destinations.”

As Currituck continued to see extremely positive results from the Google TV Ads campaign, the Google TV Ads team took notice and decided to recognize Currituck’s experience in an official case study, highlighting Currituck’s innovative usage of the Google TV Ads platform. “It is great to share with the industry how Currituck & Ciniva are leading the way in effective and accountable media,” shares Kallista Stephenson, Account Strategist with Google.

Nordstrom said she intends to increase usage of the Google TV Ads program in the future. “Calls started coming in from all over the country; places like California, Michigan, Illinois and other states where Google TV Ads was the only way they could have heard about us. I like to think that this campaign helped Currituck capture travelers dreaming about where to go.”

Ciniva’s participation in Google advertising has also proven beneficial for the agency, which serves clients throughout the United States and parts of Europe and the Caribbean with web design and development, mobile app development, and social media marketing. Google has recognized Ciniva Web Agency as a quality partner for its successful utilization of search and PPC tools, and recently invited the agency and Nordstrom to attend the annual Travel Forward conference held at Google headquarters in Mountain View, California.

View the official Google TV Ads case study here.

Ciniva Web Agency

As experts in online marketing for tourism companies and destinations, CINIVA Web Agency of Virginia Beach has spent more than a decade successfully expanding awareness of domestic and international attractions and landmarks, hotels and resorts, and hidden gem vacation spots. Their long-term relationship with the Currituck County, North Carolina Department of Travel and Tourism has proven especially fruitful for the beach destination – adopting new innovations in marketing and Web design have helped the state’s “best kept secret” become a very popular destination for families, honeymooners, and others looking for affordable vacation alternatives. http://www.ciniva.com

Currituck County Travel & Tourism

Currituck is one of the fastest growing counties in North Carolina. Beautiful, clean beaches, a high quality of life, and the perfect blend of history have made this part of the Outer Banks a popular destination for visitors and locals alike. The tourism website can be reached at http://www.visitcurrituck.com.

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Vocus©Copyright 1997-

, Vocus PRW Holdings, LLC.
Vocus, PRWeb, and Publicity Wire are trademarks or registered trademarks of Vocus, Inc. or Vocus PRW Holdings, LLC.







Category: Honeymoons | Tags: , , , , , , , , ,

Puerto Rico Posts Strong Tourism Gains, Unveils New Marketing Campaign to Continue Momentum

admin | December 7, 2011 | One comment

Puerto Rico Posts Strong Tourism Gains, Unveils New Marketing Campaign to Continue Momentum











Puerto Rico Tourism Company executive director | Insider Images

New York, NY (PRWEB) December 01, 2011

The Puerto Rico Tourism Company (PRTC) today unveiled its U.S. marketing campaign for the upcoming winter and 2012 tourism season during an event hosted by PRTC Executive Director, Mario Gonzalez-Lafuente. The “Puerto Rico Does It Better” campaign has already turned the Island into a thriving Caribbean hotspot and is directly responsible for a resurgence in U.S. visitors that travel to Puerto Rico, a feat that has provided a strong boost to the local economy.

In fact, Puerto Rico’s tourism industry had a banner fiscal year 2011 (July 2010 – June 2011), as measured in hotel registrations, and attributes that in large part to the U.S. marketing campaign. Year-to-date hotel revenue per available room (RevPar) has increased 5.8 percent and average daily rate (ADR) by 4.3 percent compared to the same time period in 2010. Demand has been strong, with room night production reaching more than three million room nights sold, an increase of 4.4 percent. This translates to an increase of 8.2 percent in total additional revenue, the highest in Puerto Rico’s history.

“The ‘Puerto Rico Does it Better’ campaign has been instrumental in reshaping how the Island does business,” said Gonzalez-Lafuente. “The campaign played a significant role in the Island’s first increase in visits from U.S. tourists in five years. The hospitality industry has been a major driver of economic growth, even during a recession. We are working to continue this trend and to make Puerto Rico the undisputed number-one vacation destination in the Caribbean for our fellow Americans.”

The U.S. tourism campaign, which is budgeted at $ 20 million and runs through June 2012, uses both traditional and new, innovative media and marketing tactics to reach its audiences. This year’s program places an increased emphasis on social media to reach American tourists. This includes search engine marketing and optimization, the launch of official Twitter feeds, YouTube videos and Flicker images, new smartphone applications and a re-vamped website, where would-be travelers can learn about the Island through written and video content, find promotional packages and even book travel directly.

The launch used nine of Times Square’s famous electronic marquees simultaneously lit with the campaign’s new ads. Specially branded television ads and programs, such as the Puerto Rico-sponsored 2011 Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree Lighting on November 30, will give viewers a spectacular look at the Island. Finally, a first-of-its-kind event, the Yanni at El Morro concert, will see both traditional and new media pushes. PBS will internationally broadcast the concert, which will take place on December 16-17, in 2012. It will also be promoted online via a Facebook sweepstakes that will award two grand prizes that include Puerto Rico vacations and VIP tickets for the show.

A story of ongoing success

Since the launch of “Puerto Rico Does It Better” in 2010, the Island has experienced consistent growth in its hospitality industry, now boasting the highest hotel occupancy rate in the Caribbean. Visitors enjoy new boutique, luxury and business facilities – which include a convention center, casinos, five-star golf courses and resort hotels – and new properties are expected to open an additional 2,100 rooms in 2012.

Additionally, this year sees the return of air service to Puerto Rico from Germany’s Condor as well as by West Jet out of Toronto. New airline partners also include British Airways and Virgin Air in conjunction with Jet Blue.

In addition, the campaign is also showcasing how increased tourism reinvigorated all aspects of the Island’s hospitality industry. Small- and mid-sized hotels and paradores – private, locally-owned boutique hotels that meet PRTC’s standards of excellence – are updating their accommodations, amenities and services. Guided tours are available to meet almost any desire, including a Segway-driven program in Old San Juan known as “Information on the Go.”

Puerto Rico offers multiple advantages and opportunities:


    The ability to travel without a passport or need to change currency;
    A modern, first-in-class infrastructure that includes one of the busiest ports in the Western hemisphere and an international airport served by 17 major airlines that provide flights from more than 50 destinations;
    Breathtaking natural beauty, from unspoiled beaches to one of the most ecologically diverse rainforests in the world;
    World-class luxury, including spas, fine dining, golf and haute-couture shopping;
    Adventure opportunities that include kayaking on a bioluminescent bay or flying above a tropical forest on the world’s second-highest zipline;
    Rich colonial history on display across the Island, particularly in the life-sized museum that is Old San Juan;
    Relaxed legal requirements for Americans seeking to have a destination wedding;
    A highly-educated, highly-skilled local population that, according to Travel & Leisure’s 2011 Edition of America’s Favorite Cities, is among the friendliest, most stylish and most attractive in the U.S.

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Vocus©Copyright 1997-

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Vocus, PRWeb, and Publicity Wire are trademarks or registered trademarks of Vocus, Inc. or Vocus PRW Holdings, LLC.







Category: Vacation Packages | Tags: , , , , , , , , , ,

Pearson?s Hospitality & Tourism Interactive Wins 2011 Software & Information Industry Association CODiE Award

admin | November 26, 2011 | One comment

Pearson’s Hospitality & Tourism Interactive Wins 2011 Software & Information Industry Association CODiE Award











New York, NY (PRWEB) June 16, 2011

Hospitality & Tourism Interactive from Pearson is this year’s winner of the Software & Information Industry Association (SIIA) CODiE Award for Best Education Game or Simulation. Students at more than 110 colleges and universities in the US are exploring careers in the hospitality industry in this 3-D learning environment.

Established in 1986, the CODiE Awards honor outstanding achievement across the software, digital information and education technology industries. Nominated products undergo an intensive review by subject matter experts, analysts, journalists and other respected authorities in education technology. This year’s 30 education CODiE winners were selected from more than 425 nominations.

“Educational gaming and simulation present boundless possibilities for preparing students for careers in today’s evolving job market. With Hospitality & Tourism Interactive, students become immersed in the world of hospitality careers. They learn the ins and outs of the industry, and develop valuable customer service insights and other skills that they will need to be successful in the diverse & growing hospitality and tourism area,” said Tim Bozik, CEO of Pearson’s Professional & Career group. “We are honored that the technology community has recognized Pearson’s Hospitality & Tourism Interactive with this coveted award.”

Hospitality & Tourism Interactive uses activity-based learning to allow college students to gain practical experience in developing customer service, service quality and leadership skills. Set in the virtual world of Little Wolfe Island, Hospitality & Tourism Interactive features 16 properties on the island, including a fine-dining restaurant, casual dining establishment, full-service hotel, boutique hotel, tiki bar, casino, water park and ecotourism rainforest tour. Students meet characters (avatars) that share information about their jobs and give activities to complete. To watch a video about Hospitality & Tourism Interactive, click here.

Hospitality & Tourism Interactive is one of three Pearson products earning prestigious 2011 CODiE Awards. Also honored this year were MyMathLab Algebra I and II, a homework and assessment program and Words Their Way Online Workshop, an interactive professional development tool.

About Pearson

Pearson, the world’s leading learning company, has global reach and market leading businesses in education, business and consumer publishing (NYSE: PSO).

For more information, press only:

Lisa Wolfe, L. Wolfe Communications, 773-227-1049, lwolfe(at)lwolfe(dot)com

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Vocus©Copyright 1997-

, Vocus PRW Holdings, LLC.
Vocus, PRWeb, and Publicity Wire are trademarks or registered trademarks of Vocus, Inc. or Vocus PRW Holdings, LLC.







Category: Ecotourism | Tags: , , , , , , , , , , ,

Responsible Tourism Declaration and Conference Papers

admin | November 22, 2011 | One comment

Responsible Tourism Declaration and Conference Papers










Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala, India (PRWEB) May 29, 2008

Kerala declaration on Responsible Tourism adopted at the Incredible India Second International Conference on Responsible Tourism and fifteen papers presented at the conference are now available on internet.

The conference on Responsible Tourism, inaugurated by Mr. Kodiyeri Balakrishnan, Minister for Tourism, Government of Kerala and presided over by Mr. Shailabhadra Banerjee, Secretary, Ministry of Tourism, Government of India, was attended by 503 delegates from 29 countries.

Kerala declaration was developed through a participatory process that was moderated by Dr. Venu V., Co-chair of the conference and Secretary, Kerala Tourism.

At the concluding session of the conference academicians, representatives from Government agencies, NGOs, media and the travel and tourism industry from Kerala, India and international arena participated. The delegates shared their expertise and experience to take forward the agenda of Responsible Tourism and Sustainable Tourism development across the world.

Kerala declaration on Responsible Tourism was a sequel to the Cape Town declaration, adopted at the Cape Town Conference organized by the Responsible Tourism Partnership and Western Cape Tourism preceding the World summit on Sustainable Development in Johannesburg in the year 2002.

Besides Dr. Harold Goodwin, International Centre for Responsible Tourism (ICRT), Leeds Metropolitan University, Co-chair of the Conference, eminent persons like, Dr. Harsh Varma, Director, The United Nations World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO), Ms. Fiona Jeffery, Chairman, World Travel Market, Mr. Adama Bah, Travel Foundation, Mr. Hiran Cooray, Secretary & Treasurer, Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA), made speeches at the inaugural session of the conference.

Mr. Juan Carlos Bonilla, Mr. Felix Francis, Ms. Nicole Frey, Ms. Rachel Dodds, Dr. P. K. Manoj, Ms. Lucy Mccombes, Ms. Maria Lusia Rendon Puertas, Dr. Anna Spenceley, Mr. Prem Subramaniam and Mr. Gordon Sillence presented academic papers and Dr. Venu V., Ms. Sarada Muraleedharan, Mr. Sudhir Sahi, Ms. Yumnaa Firfirey and Ms. Archana Capoor presented International Conference papers.

The conference papers of Responsible Tourism can be accessed through the homepage of the website http://www.keralatourism.org, official website of Department of Tourism, Government of Kerala.

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Vocus©Copyright 1997-

, Vocus PRW Holdings, LLC.
Vocus, PRWeb, and Publicity Wire are trademarks or registered trademarks of Vocus, Inc. or Vocus PRW Holdings, LLC.







Category: Tourism | Tags: , , , ,

Virginia Tourism Corporation Announces Classic Holiday Getaways to Remember

admin | November 4, 2011 | One comment

Virginia Tourism Corporation Announces Classic Holiday Getaways to Remember











Holidays in Virginia


Richmond, Va. (PRWEB) November 03, 2011

Love is what the holidays are all about and Virginia’s classic seasonal events put love at the heart of holiday getaways. This season, the Virginia Tourism Corporation invites travelers to gather with their loved ones and celebrate with the state’s many heartwarming holiday happenings. From Christmas-themed tours to special holiday deals, visitors to the state can choose from an array of seasonal offerings sure to please families, friends and couples alike. Complete details on the following, as well as additional holiday information and getaway ideas can be found on http://www.Virginia.org/Holidays.

Colonial Christmas at Jamestown Settlement

The “Colonial Christmas” program features a film and interpretive presentations that compare and contrast 17th-century English Christmas customs with how the season may have been observed in Jamestown Settlement’s early years. For the month of December, daily tours and programs in the outdoor living-history area allow visitors to learn about the English colonists’ first Christmas at sea, enter a re-created colonial fort and take a scenic drive on Colonial Parkway to Yorktown, where the victory of the American Revolution was won. At the Yorktown Victory Center museum, participants will hear accounts of Christmas and winter in Revolutionary War military encampments and watch a reenactment of holiday preparations on a 1780s Virginia farm. Admission fees start at $ 15.50 for adults, $ 7.25 for children ages 6-12. Call 757-253-4838 or visit explorewilliamsburg.com for more information.

Civil War Christmas at Brentsville – Bristow, Va.

Civil War Christmas at Brentsville Courthouse Historic Centre brings visitors back 150 years to see how soldiers and civilians celebrated Christmas time during the Civil War when they were away from their families and loved ones. Participants in this event, taking place December 17, 2011, will have the opportunity to walk through camps by candlelight, interact with soldiers and learn about Christmas customs of the past. The event will also feature holiday refreshments including hot cider, Christmas caroling and a musical performance in the historic Union Church. For more information, visit pwcgov.org/brentsville.

Christmas Town: A Busch Gardens Celebration – Williamsburg, Va.

New for 2011, Christmas Town: A Busch Gardens Celebration will dazzle visitors as Busch Gardens gets decked out in holiday splendor this Christmas. From November 25-December 31, the popular park will be ablaze with over two million twinkling lights, holiday traditions, dazzling shows and one-of-a-kind gift ideas. A complete Christmas Town experience includes a visit to Santa’s workshop and the park’s 50-foot tall, light-animated Christmas tree. Admission is $ 23.99. Call 800-343-7946 or visit christmastown.com for more information, including a complete operating schedule.

Scottish Christmas Walk – Alexandria, Va.

The Annual Scottish Christmas Walk parade held on Saturday, December 3, 2011 at 10 a.m., honors Alexandria’s Scottish heritage. In total, more than 100 Scottish clans dressed in traditional tartans will march through the historic streets of Alexandria. In addition to the colorful display, complete with bagpipes, the event also features living history reenactment units. On Friday, December 2, Alexandria’s Campagna Center will hold an annual sale of greens and heather for traditional decorating, plus its annual Christmas bazaar featuring handmade items at the George Washington Masonic Memorial. Call 703-746-3301 or visit scottishchristmaswalk.com for more information.

Colonial Williamsburg Christmas Experience – Williamsburg, Va.

More than 100 holiday events and 30 new programs bring historic Christmas cheer to the streets of Colonial Williamsburg. The annual Grand Illumination (December 4th) is one of Virginia’s top Christmas events each year. Learn the 200-year-old secrets of the local chocolate maker (December 6th) or kick up your heels at Lady Dunmore’s Ball (December 8th). New programs include performances of holiday music of the Civil War and the favorite tunes of Thomas Jefferson’s household. For more information visit colonialwilliamsburg.com/visit/holidays/holidayPrograms.cfm

Holidays at The Jefferson – Richmond, Va.

Nothing says the holidays like beautiful decorations, fabulous dining and a festive atmosphere with friends and family. This year, guests can enjoy just that at The Jefferson Hotel with a holiday package that includes luxurious accommodations, a keepsake Jefferson holiday ornament, valet parking, and a $ 50 Jefferson Hotel gift card to be used anywhere in the hotel, with $ 75 added for each additional night stay. Package is available for $ 225 per night, based on double occupancy from November 20, 2011 through January 9, 2012, excluding December 31, 2011. Call 800-424-8014 or visit jeffersonhotel.com for more information.

Five Star Christmas at The Homestead Resort – Hot Springs, Va.

The historic, five-star Homestead Resort, surrounded by the splendor of the Allegheny Mountains, paints a perfect picture this holiday season. The Five Star Christmas package at The Homestead offered by Mid Atlantic Tours and Receptive Services includes four-night accommodations with all available amenities, a selection of meals, holiday decoration class, holiday cooking class, wine and cookie greeting upon arrival, and afternoon tea. In addition, guests who book this package will also have access to the Bull Run Festival of Lights, Holiday Lights & Ice, a holiday evening with Thomas Jefferson, a trip to the Rotunda at the University of Virginia and Monticello (UNESCO World Heritage Sites) a holiday candlelight tour, and more. Call (800) 769-5912 or visit takeafuntrip.com for more information.

It’s a Wonderful Life at The Inn at Little Washington – Washington, Va.

The elegant Inn at Little Washington is inviting travelers to indulge in their renowned cuisine with the It’s a Wonderful Life package. The delicious package for two features accommodations in an impeccably decorated guest room, with a complimentary upgrade; welcome cocktail and afternoon tea; a six-course dinner with gratuity included as well as breakfast for two; a $ 100 credit for The Tavern Shops and a keepsake holiday gift. Package is available Sunday through Thursday, from November 27 through December 27, 2011, with rates starting at $ 905 per night, based on double occupancy. Call 540-675-3800 or visit theinnatlittlewashington.com for more information.

Love is at the heart of every Virginia vacation. Visit http://www.Virginia.org for more trip ideas or call 1-800-VISITVA for a free Virginia is for Lovers travel guide.

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Vocus©Copyright 1997-

, Vocus PRW Holdings, LLC.
Vocus, PRWeb, and Publicity Wire are trademarks or registered trademarks of Vocus, Inc. or Vocus PRW Holdings, LLC.







Category: Hotels | Tags: , , , , , , ,

Wegoplaces Tourism Adds Regional Choices to Their Travel Wizard That Provides Custom Vacation Ideas

admin | October 22, 2011 | One comment

Wegoplaces Tourism Adds Regional Choices to Their Travel Wizard That Provides Custom Vacation Ideas











Where to Vacation Wizard


(PRWEB) October 07, 2011

WeGoPlaces Tourism adds regional choices to their “Where Should I Go On Vacation?” travel wizard, a simple multiple question survey that matches vacation preferences to vacation destinations.

With so many vacation ideas to choose from, the newly improved vacation wizard narrows down the number of travel destinations by giving the visitor the choice of specific regions of the U.S. and Canada. WeGoPlaces.com has an extensive database that combines the destination profiles along with climate data, allowing the travel wizard to match the region of the countries, month of travel, temperature preferences and vacation preferences, which results in a list of ideal travel destination recommendations.

While relaxation is the desire of some vacationers, others prefer adventure, recreation, sightseeing, shopping or family fun. It is no longer difficult to find the vacation destination that best matches the vacation preferences of a single traveler, couple, family or group. WeGoPlaces.com suggests giving the vacation wizard a try. The wizard and other vacation ideas can be found on WeGoPlaces.com.

About WeGoPlaces Tourism, LLC:

WeGoPlaces.com is an all-inclusive travel planning website that specializes in tourism within the United States and Canada. The website provides free listings to tourism businesses and event organizers and also provides a free information request service for visitor bureaus. Their goal is to get enough tourist information to spotlight every region in the country, as well as Canada.

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Vocus©Copyright 1997-

, Vocus PRW Holdings, LLC.
Vocus, PRWeb, and Publicity Wire are trademarks or registered trademarks of Vocus, Inc. or Vocus PRW Holdings, LLC.







Category: Tourism | Tags: , , , , , , , , , , ,

Tourism Saskatoon Launches New Marketing Campaign: Saskatoon is Calling

admin | October 1, 2011 | One comment

Tourism Saskatoon Launches New Marketing Campaign: Saskatoon is Calling












Saskatoon, SK (PRWEB) September 16, 2011

Tourism Saskatoon has launched an ambitious new marketing campaign – Saskatoon is Calling – to tell the world about the benefits of hosting an event in one of Canada’s fastest growing cities. The new campaign was announced at the first day of the Canadian Society of Association Executives (CSAE) 2011 National Conference & Showcase which runs until Saturday.

“Saskatoon is Calling will show a new confidence in our city and our ability to host major events. It also shows that we are stepping out and selling our city and not just waiting for someone to come discover us,” says Tourism Saskatoon President and CEO Todd Brandt. He notes that the campaign crosses over to all of Tourism Saskatoon’s marketing programs including sports, leisure, trade and media.

“For the past few years we have been using The Secret is in Saskatoon as a campaign for our Saskatoon conventions and event marketing. It’s hard to keep a secret now that everyone is talking about us. It was time for something new,” Brandt said.

For the past decade Saskatoon has played host to many high profile events and conferences, including the JUNOS and the World Junior Hockey Championships. In 2012, the city will be adding the Canadian Country Music Awards, Tim Horton’s Brier and the Federation of Canadian Municipalities to its roster.

And the secret is truly out. Saskatoon has been making recent headlines across the country. Last week it was reported that Saskatoon’s iconic Broadway Avenue was named one of Canada’s Great Streets. While unemployment continues to rise elsewhere in Canada, Saskatchewan’s unemployment rate remains the lowest in the country and Saskatoon’s is the fourth lowest for a metropolitan area in Canada. Also, the Conference Board of Canada has declared that Saskatoon will see strong economic growth this year, and its economy will expand by 4.1 per cent, growing at an even faster pace than other cities across Canada.

Saskatoon is fast becoming one of Canada’s most impressive cities and Saskatoon is Calling emphasizes this extraordinary momentum and the city’s emergence as a prime meetings and convention destination.

For more information about Tourism Saskatoon or to book your next Saskatoon conference or event, please visit http://www.tourismsaskatoon.com.

About Tourism Saskatoon

Tourism Saskatoon is a membership-based, non-profit visitor and convention bureau marketing Saskatoon and region as a destination of choice for leisure and business travel. Services include convention and events attraction, media relations, and membership services and advocacy. One of a few destinations in Canada, Tourism Saskatoon holds Destination Marketing Accreditation by Destination Marketing Association International. Nicknamed “the hub city” for its numerous domestic and international transportation connections, Saskatoon is known for its expansive parklands and admired for its arts and culture scene, festivals and major sporting events. For more information, visit http://www.tourismsaskatoon.com.

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Vocus, PRWeb, and Publicity Wire are trademarks or registered trademarks of Vocus, Inc. or Vocus PRW Holdings, LLC.







Category: Tourism | Tags: , , , , ,

Australia?s Red Centre Solar City hosts Global Eco Tourism Conference

admin | September 19, 2011 | One comment

Australia’s Red Centre Solar City hosts Global Eco Tourism Conference













Alice Springs accommodation using solar power


(PRWEB) November 4, 2009

The Northern Territory’s solar city, Alice Springs, will host the brightest sparks of the ecotourism industry at the Asia Pacific ecotourism conference, Global Eco, from 9-11 November.

As travellers continue to display their growing appetites for all things green, the conference program will introduce tourism operators and industry participants to new technologies, research, product partnerships and policies, and showcase the “full gamut” of challenges, and potential solutions, facing the industry.

The impressive list of speakers includes chief executive of Ecotourism Australia, Kym Cheatham; Federal Minister for the Environment, Heritage and the Arts, Peter Garrett; president of non-profit organisation Sustainable Travel International, Brian T. Mullis; director of the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority’s Tourism and Recreation Group, Lisha Mulqueeny, and Frank Hubbard, director of corporate responsibility for IHG (InterContinental Hotels Group).

IHG includes the Crowne Plaza Alice Springs, which has set the green benchmark for the Australian business sector and hotel industry, by covering its roof in solar panels, creating the largest building-mounted solar photovoltaic (PV) system in the southern hemisphere. This ground-breaking $ 3.3 million installation will reduce the hotel’s energy consumption by between 40 and 80 percent.

The most anticipated speaker will be Costas Christ, the global travel editor of National Geographic Adventure, and an internationally recognised expert on sustainable tourism. An ecotourism pioneer, he is also the lead author of Tourism and Biodiversity: Mapping Tourism’s Global Footprint and a contributing author in Wilderness: Earth’s Last Wild Places.

Alice Springs was deemed the most suitable location for the conference in light of the extensive ‘green’ initiatives that have been instigated by its local government and tourism operators, in an attempt to create the most sustainable tourist destination in Australia.

Tourism NT Environmental Tourism Development Officer Natasha Smith said that the Alice Springs businesses and community had shown tremendous initiative in making Alice Springs the solar capital of Australia.

“Tourists travelling to Alice Springs now have a fantastic opportunity to learn about solar technologies at the new, world class Desert Knowledge Solar Centre,” Ms Smith said.

“This 3.1million centre showcases the largest range of solar power technologies in the southern hemisphere, through commercial-scale installations.

Within the town of Alice Springs, the local community and businesses are also heavily engaged in embracing sustainable technologies. Since the Alice Solar City was launched in March 2008, 1121 households and 75 businesses have got on board to reduce their energy consumption.

For more information visit:

http://www.globaleco.com.au

http://www.alicesolarcity.com.au/

http://www.dkasolarcentre.com.au/

http://www.australiasoutback.com

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, Vocus PRW Holdings, LLC.
Vocus, PRWeb, and Publicity Wire are trademarks or registered trademarks of Vocus, Inc. or Vocus PRW Holdings, LLC.







Category: Ecotourism | Tags: , , , , , , ,
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