Destinations
Kona Coffee festival set for November
Hawaii's oldest food festival will once again host more than 40 events throughout the 2012 Kona Coffee Cultural Festival slated for Nov. 2-11. For easy planning, the Festival has separated its events into three signature blocks of fun -- Opening Weekend, Festival Weekday Events and Festival Finale Weekend, brewing a full menu of events for attendees during this iconic coffee festival. Throughout the 10 days, festival goers are immersed in a Kona coffee extravaganza that includes such favourites as the prestigious Kona Coffee Cultural Festival Cupping Competition, Kona coffee cooking and...
Dinosaurs roam at Royal BC Museum
Dinosaurs continue to roam the Royal BC Museum in a new exhibition that opened May 17 and runs through the summer. It is named "Dinosaurs: Ancient Fossils, New Discoveries,"and it explores changes in the understanding of these creatures. The exhibit features skeletons of giants like T. Rex and other predators and herbivores, plus a scientifically accurate robotic moving dinosaur; the recreation of a forest in Mesozoic China and other high-tech displays and hands-on interactive stations. The four-month engagement at the Royal BC Museum is its first and only Canadian stop....
Business as usual in Acapulco
Following Tropical Storm Carlotta, which made landfall on June 16, the Acapulco Destination Marketing Office reports that the destination, its airport and all hotels are operating in full capacity. "Acapulco luckily suffered nothing more than a good rain,"said Pedro Haces Sordo, president of the Acapulco Destination Marketing Office. "It is important to note that tourism services have not been interrupted and are operating normally."While the storm did not affect Acapulco directly, destination officials maintained close contact with Offices of the Secretary of Tourism for the State of...
Family package on sale at Fairmont Kea Lani
The all-suite Fairmont Kea Lani in Maui is now offering summer and fall packages with customized amenities and discounts of up to 40%. The luxury resort, located in the lush Wailea area of Maui, has a package for everyone, including families, couples, golfers and active travellers. For instance, the Suite Ride Car package is great for families visiting Maui. It not only includes accommodations in a one-bedroom suite, but also a midsize rental car with unlimited miles to explore the island. Guests can also enjoy the resort's 140-foot water slide, toddler pool, sandy bottom swimming beach,...
Your Wedding, Your Style with Sandals
It's all about you! That was the clear message for brides as Sandals Resorts International (SRI) kicked off the 2012 wedding season with a high energy launch of its innovative "Your Wedding, Your Style" program that lets couples "personally style" their nuptials at any one of Sandal's 14 resorts in the Caribbean. TLC's "Say Yes To The Dress" star, Randy Fenoli was the host of the day-long event which took place at New York's Grand Central Station's Vanderbilt Hall and saw Sandals welcoming commuters as they headed off to work; honour military couples attending with honeymoon packages at a...
Andaz Maui at Wailea Resort appointments
Andaz Maui at Wailea Resort & Spa has named Michael Stephens, general manager and Anita Rahman, director of sales and marketing, respectively. Andaz Maui at Wailea is set to be the brand's first Andaz resort with its debut scheduled in spring 2013. Stephens' 26-year career with Hyatt started in 1986 as an assistant restaurant manager at Hyatt Regency Miami. He later went on to hold various operations positions throughout the country including sales manager at Hyatt Regency O'Hare and later executive assistant manager positions at the former Hyatt Regency Wilshire (Los Angeles), Hyatt Regency...
Coast Hotels appointment
Coast Hotels & Resorts welcomes Pia Collins who joins the brand as executive director, People and Culture, responsible for all human resource initiatives including workforce planning, recruitment, training and development. Prior to joining Coast Hotels & Resorts, Collins was acting vice-president, Human Resources for Vancouver-based Matrix Asset Management, where she oversaw employee communications, recruitment, union contract negotiations and the rollout of a new benefits plan. An HR veteran with more than 20 years experience, Collins previously served as director, Human Resources, for Lift...
Tourism Vancouver introduces energy specialist
Tourism Vancouver's recent appointment of a tourism energy specialist is believed to be a worldwide first among destination marketing and management organizations. The role was made possible through sponsorship from BC Hydro with the mandate to guide member hotels, restaurants and attractions in energy efficiency and conservation initiatives. The new tourism energy specialist role will enable Tourism Vancouver to more actively support the City of Vancouver's Greenest City Action Plan and goal to be the world's "greenest"city by 2020. The services of the tourism energy specialist will build on...