The Turks & Caicos Collection’s Alexandra Resort launches new oceanfront eatery

 
Asú On the Beach Receives Rave Reviews Following November 1 Opening

PROVIDENCIALES, TURKS & CAICOS - The Turks & Caicos Collection’s all-suites beachfront escape, the Alexandra Resort, recently completed a property-upgrades program and has added a new dining spot, Asú on the Beach, as of November 1.

Asú serves delicious, casual Caribbean and popular international fare. The restaurant is helmed by Executive Chef Alexander Powell, who hails from the east coast of the United States and who has a résumé that boasts such work as training chefs for famed restauranteur Jean-Georges Vongerichten and overseeing kitchens of five star properties. Restaurant patrons are sure to swoon at his culinary prowess.

Asú, meaning “sunset” in Taino, the language of the Arawak Indians who resided in the Turks and Caicos centuries ago, fittingly describes this beachfront restaurant, which flaunts a prime sunset view of the Caribbean Sea. 

Four Seasons Resort Nevis serves up irresistible value for winter getaways

AUTHENTIC CARIBBEAN LUXURY

NEVIS, West Indies – Celebrate in authentic Caribbean luxury at Four Seasons Resort Nevis. Leave the planning, cooking and pampering to the Resort’s extraordinary staff, who also will serve up holiday memories that will last a lifetime.

With a choice of four gourmet restaurants, three dedicated bars and lounges, three infinity pools, 10 tennis courts, a championship 18-hole golf course, nearly three miles of pristine beach, and an expansive range of sun, sand and evening events and activities, guests can relax in extraordinary style at Four Seasons Resort Nevis. 
 
       Travellers have a choice of two great offers: a 30 percent savings for four-night or longer reservations made 60 days in advance, or a complimentary night for a five-night stay. Both offers are valid for stays starting Jan. 5, 2016. The advanced-booking offer is valid for stays up to February 8 (except Jan. 21-24 and 31), and the fifth-night free offer is valid for stays up to Mar. 31, 2016. For more information and to take advantage of these offers, please visit http://www.FourSeasons.com/Nevis/Offers.

Destination BC Slope Angles, December 2015

Here is a captivating collection of Slope Angles from Destination British Columbia.

Destination BC is on Twitter and Instagram. Follow us at @HelloBC.

In British Columbia, 10 snow-capped ranges and 13 top-notch ski resorts — many boasting quaint villages and celebrated après-ski adventures — offer the ideal incentive to embrace another season of snow. And here, in Canada's westernmost province, you're bound to discover the winter within.

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Cruise the Contours, See the Sights Along BC's Cross-Country Tracks

In BC, slipping into skinny skis promises a self-propelled sojourn, embraced by Mother Nature's quiet calm. Here follows a few local tracks worthy of exploration.

Adventurers can click in at Mount Washington Alpine Resort, where more than 688 hectares (1,700 acres) of cruise-worthy trails weave through old-growth forest. The Vancouver Island destination's Raven Lodge and Nordic Centre draw enthusiasts to Strathcona Provincial Park, a striking expanse that showcases 55 kilometres (34 miles) of machine-groomed cross-country trails through open meadows and unspoiled forest. Alternatively, enthusiasts can take in the landscape at a different pace, and slide into snowshoes for a satisfying crunch into the woods. mountwashington.ca

Fall under the spell of Old Québec in winter

Discover Old Québec in Winter as If You Were There Stroll through its areas

New

New record for cruise ship visits at Port of Québec in 2015 New pavilion at the Musée national des beaux-arts du Québec: 80% of the work is completed New Best Holiday Destination Top 10 by USA Today featuring Québec City in the nominees New arena for the Tournoi international de hockey Pee-Wee de Québec in 2016

Coming Soon SEE ALL EVENTS

• DECEMBER • Opening of the Holy Door The only Holy Door outside Europe will reopen for a year. Discover where it is   • JANUARY • Québec Winter Carnival The world's largest winter carnival will enliven Québec City for 2 weeks under the theme My Carnival. Learn more   • FEBRUARY • Québec City Snow Pentathlon Biggest winter multisport event in the world that includes biking, running, skiing, skating and snowshoeing. Get more info (in French)

Surfing, cool festivals and a snow hotel: It's winter in British Columbia

 

Story Ideas from Destination British Columbia, December 2015

Here is a captivating collection of Fresh Story Ideas from Destination British Columbia.

Destination BC is on Twitter and Instagram. Follow us at @HelloBC.

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Crashing waves and wildlife wonders. Cool exploration and small town festivals. It's winter season in British Columbia.

Break the Waves (and Brace for Storms)

While skis and snowboards are primed for the winter season, boards of a different sort make an appearance on Vancouver Island's west coast, namely November through March when waves are at their peak. Indeed, cooler temperatures mark the province's annual surf season, a time when swells climb as high as six metres (20 feet) before crashing against the coastline. To best maneuver the boundless blue, adventurers can suit up with local pros, including Tofino's female-focused Surf Sister and Long Beach Lodge Resort's skilled crew, the latter boasting a Surf Club complete with a hot pool, sauna, showers, change rooms and cappuccinos by the fire. For a full coastal experience, Wya Point, further south in Ucluelet, promises First Nations-led surf lessons that offer historical insight into the traditional landscape. surfsister.com; longbeachlodgeresort.com; tourismtofino.com

Four Seasons Resort Nevis presents Nevisian Jubilee Package

AUTHENTIC CARIBBEAN LUXURY MARKS 25TH ANNIVERSARY

NEVIS, WEST INDIES – Experience 25 years of Caribbean excellence in five extraordinary days. The year 2016 marks Four Seasons Resort Nevis’ silver anniversary and the Resort is launching a year-round celebration of a quarter century of authentic Caribbean luxury.

As part of the celebration, Four Seasons Resort Nevis is presenting the Nevisian Jubilee package for couples to enjoy the best of the Nevis resort. The $25,000 anniversary package includes five nights in luxury suite accommodations, exclusive airport lounge access, roundtrip ground and sea transfer to the Resort, breakfast buffet, couples spa treatment, luxury beach cabana, gourmet beachside dinner, unlimited golfing and tennis, a private mixology class, and a Sea Turtle Conservation Sponsorship.

For more information about the Nevisian Jubilee package, please visit http://www.fourseasons.com/nevis/offers/nevisian_jubilee_package/. To book the Nevisian Jubilee celebration experience, please call 869-469-6234.

Nevisian Jubilee guests can immediately enjoy 25 years of excellence as soon as they touch down at the airport. Guests flying into St. Kitts airport will be met on the tarmac and whisked away in a private luxury vehicle to the elegant YU Lounge, where they savour champagne and gourmet hors d’oeuvres in a refined and relaxing atmosphere, while their luggage claim and entry processing are handled by the staff. Guests will then board a private car to meet the Four Seasons launch to carry them on a breathtaking 40-minute crossing to the Resort’s on-property pier.

Veteran outfitter Western River Expeditions names top favorite whitewater runs on Colorado River

SALT LAKE CITY – Where’s the wild water on the mighty Colorado River?

The legendary Colorado River is just another float trip until it crashes into Westwater Canyon just over the Utah/Colorado border and upstream from Moab, UT, says whitewater rafting pioneer Western River Expeditions (http://www.westernriver.com/).

After this introductory splash, named by National Geographic as “The West’s best short whitewater run,” the Colorado River gains momentum and a well-earned reputation for some real kick-in-the-butt, whitewater rapids that live deep down in the Canyonlands of Utah (Cataract Canyon) and farther down in the Grand Canyon of Arizona.

While every commercial boatman has his or her own favorite, the team at Western River Expeditions got together and agreed upon their top eight most beloved rapids along the course of the Colorado River. While there’s still time to enjoy a trip this season, reservations are already open for 2016, a year that may experience the best spring runoff on record thanks to the predicted effects of an unusually strong El Niño, adds Brandon Lake, CMO of Western River Expeditions.

Pure Adventures launches new self-guided bike tours In California’s Napa and Sonoma Wine country - Fall trips come with $150 savings

SCOTTSDALE, AZ – Pioneers of self-guided cycling vacations, Pure Adventures (http://pure-adventures.com/), announces two new self-guided bicycle itineraries in the California Wine Country that come with a savings of $150 per person if traveling this September or October.
  With new itineraries come opportunities for spontaneity and discovery, so the incentive is dubbed a “Scout Discount” for the first riders to follow these planned routes.

“These are new tours; as such there may be some unexpected hiccups, so if you are willing to share your feedback and suggestions for possible improvement, Pure Adventures is willing to extend a “Scout” discount of $150/person for anyone who signs up for a September or October departure,” said Loren Siekman, Pure Adventures founder/owner.

September is prime time to explore Moab, Utah

Moab, UT – The local inhabitants of Moab, Utah can’t wait until Labor Day, the start of their favorite season. The summer heat has mellowed, the hordes of tourists have moved on and festival season begins.

It’s also prime time to do that last raft trip of the season, lace up the boots for an all-day national park hike or top off the fat tires on that mountain bike.

“Here in one of the world’s most spectacular natural playgrounds, September can fool visitors into thinking we have endless summer,” explains Jamie Pearce, longtime resident and manager of the one-stop shop for outdoor activity, the Moab Adventure Center (http://www.moabadventurecenter.com/).

“The climate is still great with daytime temperatures averaging in mid-80’s F. It’s also again possible to snag a table at a favorite restaurant without a long wait!”

ACE Adventure Resort assists students With hands-on learning through STEM curriculum

Minden, WV – On 1,500 acres in West Virginia’s southern hills, ACE Adventure Resort (http://aceraft.com/) delivers fun and adventure along with non-traditional instruction through STEM-based field trips offering hands-on learning for grades 9-12 in a stunning outdoor classroom. (STEM, which stands for science, technology, engineering and mathematics, is a national effort supported by private companies.)

Students raft, zip, climb or hike their way to becoming more interested in the world around them while performing scientific studies and experiencing living history here.  Using the natural world as a classroom increases students’ enthusiasm for learning, enhances critical thinking and relationship skills and improves academic performance across curriculums, observed Jackie Gallimore, ACE Director of Outdoor Recreation.
 

Starwood Hotels & Resorts introduces Sheraton Grand

From Rio to Beijing, Tokyo to Dubai: New Premier Tier Celebrates Best of Sheraton Brand with Focus on In-Demand Destinations, Service Excellence, and Outstanding Designs

 100 Sheraton Hotels to be Recognized with Grand Designation by Early 2017

 

Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc. (NYSE:HOT) has introduced Sheraton Grand, a new premier tier that recognizes exceptional Sheraton hotels and resorts for their enticing destinations, distinguished designs, and excellence in service and guest experiences.

Starwood revealed the first ten Sheraton Grand properties, which span from Bangalore to Beijing, Dubai to Edinburgh, Miyazaki to Seoul, Taipei to Bangkok, and Tokyo to Rio de Janeiro. By year end, Starwood expects to have 50 newly-designated Sheraton Grand hotels around the world with plans for 100 by early 2017. Sheraton Grand is one of many initiatives currently underway for Sheraton 2020, a comprehensive plan designed to solidify Sheraton as a leading global hotel brand of choice, everywhere. 

A new kind of New Year at Gogo Island Inn in Newfoundland

  Fogo Island, NL -- By the time the ball drops in Times Square, 2016 celebrations will be well underway at Fogo Island Inn. Newfoundlanders are the very first in North America to welcome in the New Year.

Guests at Fogo Island Inn will indulge in Island traditions of music, poetry, fireworks and a Seven-Season supper paired with wines by Norman Hardie, a winemaker at the forefront of the Canadian craft wine industry. An auspicious – and unforgettable – start to 2016 begins on Thursday, December 31, 2015 and runs through to January 2, 2016 at Fogo Island Inn.
 
The Inn’s New Kind of New Year’s Eve combines repose and retreat with cultural experiences and festivities before and after the arrival of a brand new year. Fogo Island Inn’s guests will ring out the old year with a cocktail reception before dinner, followed by a festive seven-course supper in the award-winning dining room just steps away from the wild North Atlantic. Each course will be thoughtfully introduced and paired with a cold-climate varietal by Chef Murray McDonald and celebrated Ontario winemaker Norman Hardie.

Travel ideas from Destination British Columbia

Fresh travel ideas from Destination BC on Twitter and Instagram. Follow at @HelloBC.

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Tumbler Ridge: Dinosaur Tracks, Extraordinary Landscapes and now, a Geopark

Northern BC's Tumbler Ridge may be small in number (population: 2,983), but here, amid the foothills of the Rocky Mountains, all offerings are on a grand scale, including the remains of prehistoric beasts who once roamed the landscape. In this tight-knit, forward-thinking community, locals like to think big, too — a happy fact celebrated by the recent unveiling of a brand new 7,722 square-kilometre (2,981 square-mile) Global Geopark, a designation meant to protect and promote geological heritage and sustainable local development.

Stowe, Vermont to welcome new boutique hotel‏

Destination Vermont: Lark Hotels Debuts First Mountain Resort Property, Field Guide, Grand Opening October 1, 2015 

STOWE, VT, Aug. 26, 2015 – Lark Hotels is bringing luxe lodge accommodations and a rustic mod design aesthetic to Stowe, Vermont, with the October 1 grand opening of Field Guide. Stowe’s newest boutique hotel is Lark’s first non-coastal property and brings the number of hotels in this fast-growing collection to 12.

Envisioned as a home base for exploration and unique Vermont vacation experiences, Field Guide occupies the site of the former Ye Olde England Inn and features 30 accommodations, comprised of 17 standard guest rooms, ten suites, and three private-entrance cottages.

Rail Europe offers $50 off first-class France Rail Pass bookings

Kids Under 12 Travel Free With The New Family Friendly France Rail Pass Offering

TORONTO, ON, July 30, 2015 – Rail Europe, Inc., the largest distributor of European rail products in North America, offers $50 off 1^st class France Rail Pass bookings in celebration of the new expanded France Rail Pass product line. The pass is more attractive than ever with:

• Free travel for up to two children under 12 years of age (Per adult or senior pass holder. All children under 4 travel for free when sharing a seat with an adult or senior.)
• Children, Youth, Adult, Saver and Senior passes available in 2^nd class as well as 1^st class, making multi-generational trips easy and affordable
• More validities on the flexi-pass with new 2-day and 15-day options. Now travelers can choose to travel as much as they want:1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9 or 15 days within a one-month period
• The new “consecutive” pass includes 2, 4, 5, 8 or 15 consecutive days of travel. For those traveling by train every day, they will save 20% on consecutive validities as compared to the same validities on a flexi-pass
• Bonus discounts on city passes and other activities, so travelers can make the most of their family vacation

Austin Adventures suggests seven trips on seven continents to enjoy or book this fall

BILLINGS, MT – Austin Adventures (www.austinadventures.com/) enjoys a legacy spanning more than four decades of engaging travelers on small group trips to the world’s best destinations for active travel. With another record-setting summer winding down, the company turns its focus on the fall and upcoming winter seasons and recommends seven best-in-class adventures on seven continents.

Since inception, Austin Adventures founder, president and trip visionary, Dan Austin, had the goal of spanning the globe with world-class adventure itineraries for the intrepid traveler. This was finally accomplished in 2015 with the addition of Asia and small ship river cruising in Vietnam and Cambodia (departures offered December through April).

“While it’s hard to beat summer in Montana, my favorite time to travel is in the fall when the crowds thin out and you get the feeling you have a special place all to yourself,” shared Austin. “We put our collective heads together and have come up with a list of trips to either be taken in the fall when conditions are ideal or booked now before space disappears for prime-time winter travel.”

Italy’s active travel leader, Dolomite Mountains s.r.l., introduces Lake Garda multisport adventure

For Immediate Release

DOLOMITES, Italy, July 30, 2015 – Italy’s largest lake, surrounded by steep glaciers, is the setting for Lake Garda Multisport Adventure recently launched by Italy’s active leader in guided and self-guided mountain travel, Dolomite Mountains s.r.l.
  Think northern Italy’s Trentino region, a short drive from Milan, Verona or Venice. Here in the last Ice Age glaciers carved out Lake Garda, surrounded by vertical limestone walls and medieval castle towers, a near-mythical landscape today enjoyed by merry-makers year-round at the resort town of Riva del Garda where Dolomite Mountains’ guests lodge while adventuring over and around this clear blue water.

Visitors will tackle a via ferrata ascent high above Lake Garda, experience the adrenaline rush of canyoneering through narrow passageways and caves, sliding through rocks carved by water over eons, and mountain bike to a glacial lake. Swimming and water sports are also included.

A world’s first: Wild Planet Adventures now offers wildlife eco-tours in fabled “Lost World” of Borneo

SAUSALITO, CA, Aug. 4, 2015 – Award-winning wildlife travel expert Wild Planet Adventures (http://www.wildplanetadventures.com/) announces a world’s first for travel companies. They have been granted special access to lead wildlife eco-tours in the remote Maliau Basin Conservation Area, famously known as The Lost World of Borneo. Located on the strait of Sabah, the region encompasses Malaysia’s easternmost state on the island of Borneo.
  The Lost World of Borneo is one of three areas left in Borneo that encompass the last stands of the oldest rainforest on earth. Its geography – a basin surrounded by steep cliffs – has never been fully explored. Another of these areas, the Danum Valley, is also included in Wild Planet’s signature “Weird & Wonderful Wildlife Eco-tour” available in 12-and 16-day itineraries, the latter including an exclusive wildlife expedition into The Lost World of Borneo. 

Starwood Preferred Guest members gain the advantage with exclusive access to the U.S. Open through SPG Moments

SPG Members to sit courtside at biggest matchups, tour the iconic Arthur Ashe Stadium and more

STAMFORD, Conn. – July 14, 2015 – As a leader in loyalty, Starwood Preferred Guest® (SPG®), is serving up premier tennis experiences with the launch of its 2015 US Open SPG Moments.

SPG members get access like no other to the US Open with experiences including SPG Luxury Suites, courtside seats to exciting matches, behind-the-scenes tours of Arthur Ashe Stadium, and much more. Starting today, members will have the chance to bid their coveted Starpoints® for once-in-a-lifetime opportunities every tennis fan would love.

“Our US Open SPG Moments are some of the most highly-anticipated packages of the year for our members, and we take a lot of pride in securing the best tennis experiences possible. This year we’re giving our members even more for their loyalty,” said Mark Vondrasek, Senior Vice President, Commercial Services for Starwood.

 “Not only do our members get to watch some of the greatest moments in the sport from the SPG Luxury Suite or courtside seats, they get exclusive access to the US Open that they won’t find anywhere else.”

Spring fun from Destination British Columbia

Here is a captivating collection of Fresh Story Ideas from Destination British Columbia. Destination BC is on Twitter and Instagram. Follow us at @HelloBC. See the Sights: Walking Tours in BC's Urban Landscapes Year-Round Resorts Promise Outdoor Play Beyond the Skis and Boards Go Fish: British Columbia Lures with Top-Notch Casting Operations See the Sights: Walking Tours in BC's Urban Landscapes Few modes of exploration can unearth the sights, sounds and secrets of a place like a walking tour. And in these BC cities, meeting the locals, sampling the goods and even learning a thing, or two, means pounding the urban pavement in Canada's westernmost province is a rewarding endeavour. For shutterbugs who want to shoot with their mighty iPhones and more, Vancouver Photowalks offers outdoor pursuits that expertly blend walking tours with tutored photography classes. These two-hour, small-group excursions are guaranteed to take in well-tread, scenic spots, with cameras or phones in hand: enthusiasts can choose their skill level (Basic, Technical or Creative) or fine-tune their genre (Stanley Park walks mix natural and urban settings, while Night Photowalks document either Granville Island or Gastown's expansive waterfronts). As a bonus, seasoned professionals will instruct on all things aperture, ensuring participants will see the city through a new, or at least improved, lens. vancouverphotowalks.ca

#ALOFTLIVE: Starwood's innovative Aloft brand announces Live at Aloft Hotels 2015 tOUR

 5 Emerging Artists. 5 Cities. 25 Nights of Music.

Only at Aloft.

STAMFORD, CT – Aloft Hotels has announced that the hottest emerging musical acts are checking in and rocking out at Aloft Hotels across the country as part of the Live At Aloft Hotels 2015 Tour. The tour will feature intimate, exclusive performances by five rising artists, each set to play at five of Aloft’s most buzz-worthy destinations in North America.

“Aloft is built for the next gen traveler. From innovative design, to our vibrant social scene and dynamic music programming, the Aloft experience is for early adopters,” said Brian McGuinness, Global Brand Leader, Starwood’s Specialty Select Brands. “With Live At Aloft Hotels, we’re able to give our guests a taste of the future of music while offering a larger platform of exposure for some of the industry’s hottest rising artists.”

The Live At Aloft Hotels 2015 Tour officially kicked off with acoustic based pop artist Christian Burghardt at Aloft Dallas Downtown. Australian pop duo The Veronicas will then hit the stage at the Dallas hotel. Additional tour stops for both acts include Aloft Minneapolis, Aloft Orlando Downtown, Aloft Cleveland Downtown and Aloft Denver Downtown. Check out LiveAtAloftHotels.com for upcoming tour dates and the full tour lineup.