US News Announces New Global Travel Rankings

US News Announces New Global Travel Rankings
MarketWatch (press release)
The new rankings identify the top vacation spots based on a methodology that combines expert and consumer opinions. They reflect how strongly a destination is recommended by travel experts and U.S. News Travel website users. "We are pleased to ...

Illinois tourism back at pre-recession levels
Chicago Tribune
Illinois tourism powered back to pre-recession levels in 2011, boosted in part by cost-conscious leisure travelers opting for close-in driving trips, the state announced Monday. The state reported hosting more than 93.3 million visitors, up 10.2 percent from ...

European Crisis Back From Vacation To Ruin Summer: Seven And A Half Things ...
Huffington Post
The European debt crisis is back from vacation. Thing One: European Vacation Over: Earlier this month, 7.5 Things went for more than a week without feeling compelled to ruin your morning with news from Europe. That was a modern 7.5 Things record.

Minister: Bulgaria Bomb Won't Stop Israeli Travel
ABC News
The suicide bombing that killed six people, five of them Israelis, in a Bulgarian seasideresort will not stop Israelis from traveling wherever they wish, a government minister from the Jewish state said Monday during a visit to the eastern European nation. Like other Israeli leaders, Tourism Minister Stas Misezhnikov also blamed the attack on Iran and the militant group Hezbollah, but Bulgarian officials declined to name any culprits until their investigation was complete. Misezhnikov first met with representatives of ...

ABC News

GBTA Sees Business Travel In Developed Economies Slow While Emerging ...
MarketWatch (press release)
The GBTA Foundation, the research and education arm of the Global Business Travel Association (GBTA), today released the 4th annual comprehensive report analyzing the current state of global business travel spend and growth projections for the next five ... alike,"said Tad Fordyce, head of global commercial solutions at Visa Inc. "For example, in 2011, we saw Brazilian Visa account holders increase international tourism spend by 32 percent to $6.3 billion and inbound travelincreased 10 percent to $2.3 billion." ...

Travel companies save energy through sunshine, ocean breezes
msnbc.com (blog)
... wind turbines on its high-rise roof. Hoping to generate 5 to 10 percent of its energy needs, the Florida resort is part of a trend that's seeing travel companies turning to wind and solar power to cut costs and appeal to environmentally-conscious travelers.

Travel Planning Software does not require Internet connection.
ThomasNet Industrial News Room
Making efficient, customized travel plans is now easier than ever with today's launch of Microsoft Streets & Trips 2013, the new edition of the popular trip-planning software. Current users of Streets & Trips will find the new 2013 version offers a sleek and clean ...

Disneyland Resort Update
USA TODAY (blog)
This has been a very busy year in the Disney community, with a new Disney Cruise ship, new Disney resort in Hawaii, new Adventures by Disney destinations, dozens of new Disney books and movies, and the end of the Disneyland Resort expansion project and debut of Cars Land and Buena Vista Street. ... Even dedicated smart phone users should add Otto to your contacts list—it beats having separate listings for Disney Dining, Guest Services, the Walt Disney Travel Company, and the Disneyland Hotel operator.

Travel, Get Naked And Start Living Life
Huffington Post
My lovely wife and I own a very popular nude sunbathing resort in sunny Palm Springs, California called The Terra Cotta Inn, http://sunnyfun.com Repeat guests tell us they keep coming back because it's like staying with family, sort of like a naked version of the ... Plus, she got to tell the TV audience, it's fun being naked. If I can vacation here, so can you. "People take everything for granted. Well it all can change with a simple phone call from your doctor. Don't wait to travel. Experience new adventures. Get naked and ...

Ex-presidents to star at Hub travel show
Boston Herald
Two former U.S. presidents will hit Boston this week for the Global Business Travel Association's annual convention, which expects to set attendance records in its second visit to the Hub in five years. More than 6500 people are expected for the event, which ...

Carlson Wagonlit Travel Forecasts 2013 Global Travel Prices
MarketWatch (press release)
AMSTERDAM, Jul 23, 2012 (BUSINESS WIRE) -- Carlson Wagonlit Travel (CWT) today released its 2013 Travel Price Forecast, which indicates that prices in most areas of travel spend are expected to grow modestly around the globe next year, with the most ...

Thailand - Land of smiles or tourist trap?
Reuters
"The Tourism Authority of Thailand TAT.L think numbers are going up so people must like it here, but the problem is the quality of their visit has gone down," said Larry Cunningham, Australia's Honorary Consul to Phuket, an island described by travel guide ...

JetBlue, Virgin America Up Business Travel Ante With Elite Frequent-Flier Levels
Wall Street Journal (blog)
By Scott McCartney. Two value-oriented airlines, JetBlue Airways and Virgin America, are adding elite tiers to their frequent-flier programs to appeal more to business travelers and reward repeat customers with better seats, shorter airport security lines, ...

Vacation junkie first lady
News Banner
She has power, privilege,and tremendous perks, without any real responsibilities. She also has a taxpayer funded ticket to travel the world. In 2011, Mrs. Obama's travel expenses exceeded $10 million as she enjoyed 42 days of vacation bliss, according to the ...

Tourist Trapped: Secret Spots In Fort Mason
San Francisco Chronicle (blog)
Tourist Trapped: Secret Spots In Fort Mason ... Listed Under: Tourist Trapped ...Outside Lands ...

San Francisco Chronicle (blog)

Cuban lawmakers meet to consider Castro's reforms, including travel restrictions
Fox News
Islanders and Cuba-watchers will be seeing if the assembly takes any action on long-promised measures such as the easing of travel restrictions, increased private farming of state-controlled land or the approval of cooperative businesses. Foreign journalists ...

Concur Unveils New Innovations to Its Corporate Travel Booking Tool
MarketWatch (press release)
As business travelers book outside a corporate travel tool due to convenience or cheaper traveloptions, companies face a growing issue of capturing spend that happens outside of the corporatetravel program. The new innovations from Concur give ...

This Solar-Powered, Floating Resort Could Be The Hotel Of The Future
Business Insider
This is the fourth post of an eight-part series called "Travel In Style. ... Michele Puzzolante has created realistic plans for a $125 million resort that will have a "five-star hotel" as well as pod-like floating units that can house up to six people. The resortand units ...

Business Insider

Up-and-coming travel destinations
Fox News
More than a year after Japan's devastating tsunami, tourism in the country is regaining momentum and Naha, considered the "Hawaii of Japan," on Okinawa Island is becoming a hot travel spot. With a tropical climate, white sand beaches, diving, ... As a tourist, you can enjoy the beaches of Copacabana and Ipanema, drink Caipirinhas in the city's samba clubs and climb the hundreds of steps to get to the iconic Cristo statue to enjoy the breathtaking harbor landscape. You might want to plan your trip around Brazil's ...

How to make sure your pet has a good time on vacation, too
Taunton Daily Gazette (blog)
When it comes time to take a vacation, don't forget to invite your family pet along for the ride. Traveling with your pet adds an extra element of fun to your getaway and means you don't have to make separate arrangements for feeding and boarding your pet ...

Newsbyte: SAP Addresses and Simplifies Global Business Travel Woes With ...
MarketWatch (press release)
BOSTON, July 23, 2012 /PRNewswire via COMTEX/ -- As the pain and expenses associated with global business travel continue to increase, companies and business people alike are seeking effective and integrated software to help simplify the end-to-end ...

Is the photo better than the vacation?
CNN
(CNN) -- Brent Larson and his bride, Ona, look like an ad for their Antigua resort, glowing, in love and sun-kissed in paradise. The picture doesn't tell the whole story. Larson, a CNN iReporter, said the resort had no record of the couple's reservation for the ...

MSC Cruises' Neil Palomba Named a Travel Industry 'Rising Star'
MarketWatch (press release)
The 50 "Rising Stars" are featured in a special supplement accompanying the July issues ofVacation Agent Magazine and Agent@Home Magazine. Each was selected for their dedication to the travel industry and for their contributions to their organizations.

Thailand: Land of smiles or tourist trap?
Reuters
Less than a week later, a 60-year-old Australian woman is stabbed to death in a botched robbery outside a luxury resort in Phuket. Their deaths are the latest in a ... "The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) think numbers are going up so people must like it here, but the problem is the quality of their visit has gone down," said Larry Cunningham, Australia's Honorary Consul to Phuket, an island described by travel guide Lonely Planet as "one of the world's most famous dream destinations". The government has vowed ...

Airlines & Airports Face Increased Pressure to Adopt Innovative Travel ...
MarketWatch (press release)
BOSTON, Jul 23, 2012 (BUSINESS WIRE) -- A new survey of more than 600 business travelers conducted by FlightView sends an important message to airport and airline executives: it's time to get on board with advanced travel technology. FlightView's new ...

Reflections from Vacation - Blazer's Edge
By Dave
We will talk about all of this and more in the coming days, but upon returning I want to share a few reflections garnered during my vacation. ... One of the things I love about the pretty little beach we visit is that it's not your typical tourist trap.
Blazer's Edge

What's the One Vacation Gadget You Can't Live Without?
By Leslie Horn
What's the One Vacation Gadget You Can't Live Without? It's Monday morning in late July, and if you're not on vacation, you'd almost certainly rather be. So rather than checking email or filing a report, let's think of sandy white beaches and the ...
Gizmodo

Florida Travel and Life Photo Contest - Photography Competitions
By PhotographyCompetitions.net
Enter your most phenomenal Florida photographs in our 2012 Photo Contest, sponsored by WaterColor Inn & Resort in Santa Rosa Beach and Florida Travel + Life. Winning photos will be selected by the editors of Florida Travel + Life and ...
Photography Competitions

Pamela Geller, American Thinker lede article: Obama's Passport ...
By Pamela Geller
Did Obama confess to this trip, which he doesn't mention in either of his autobiographies, because of the passport breach? While the oft-repeated charge that Americans were forbidden to travel to Pakistan in 1981 appears to be false, ...
Atlas Shrugs

Review: Kona Cafe Breakfast at Disney's Polynesian Resort | the ...
By AJ
Visiting the Kona Cafe for breakfast at Disney's Polynesian Resort in Walt Disney World is always a treat with fan favorites like 100% Kona Coffee and Tonga Toast.
the disney food blog

SAVE on your next San Antonio vacation! - Turning the Clock Back
By Diane
SAVE has something for every budget…whether you are looking for cheap budget travel or a luxurious vacation getaway. SAVE partners include top San Antonio hotels like the Grand Hyatt San Antonio and the Hyatt Regency San Antonio on ...
Turning the Clock Back

All Things Travel: Travel Conference Opens In Boston « CBS Boston
By miketoole
Contests & Promotions. BOSTON (CBS) – The Global Business Travel Association opened its annual conference at Boston's Convention and Exhibition Center on Sunday with record attendance of more than 6000 guests expected this week.
CBS Boston

National Bank of Egypt to finance tourist projects - Daily News Egypt
By Daily News Egypt
An official at the National Bank of Egypt (NBE) stated that the bank is currently conducting studies into providing an additional EGP 300million for tourist projects in Marsa Alam and Taba. The official said that the NBE recently provided EGP ...
Daily News Egypt

Reese Witherspoon's Post-Travel Pampering | Celebrity-gossip.net
By admin
Showing off her ever-growing baby belly, a very pregnant Reese Witherspoon closed out the work week with a bout of pampering at Spa Noa in West Hollywood, California on Friday (July 20). The day of beauty came just after the "Legally ...
Celebrity Center

The Radar: Inspirational Road Trips, Top 10 Travel Apps, How to ...
By Erin Spencer
What traveler can resist gorgeous scenery and an open road? These 39 inspirational drives will have you itching to hit the road. [Matador]; Put your smartphone to use on your next adventure. Here are 10 apps that help eliminate travel woes ...
Intelligent Travel

Articles: Obama's Passport Breach: Unanswered Questions, and an ...
Who at the State Department is covering up Obama's passport breach? ... While the oft-repeated charge that Americans were forbidden to travel to Pakistan in ...
www.americanthinker.com/.../obamas_passport_breach_unans...

Thailand - Land of smiles or tourist trap? - Yahoo! News
... woman is stabbed to death in botched robbery outside a luxury resort in Phuket . ... "TheTourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) think numbers are going up so ... an island described by travelguide Lonely Planet as "one of the world's most .... I have found that the best way to find truly unspoiled vacation spots is to 1) get there ...
news.yahoo.com/thailand-land-smiles-tourist-trap-212543198....

The City Sage: Hit the Road: How Do You Ease Travel Anxiety?
I am a sissy when it comes to travel. I spend the day before a trip wringing my hands and looking for the nearest hole to crawl into. When I was eighteen my ...
www.annesage.com/.../hit-the-road-how-do-you-ease-travel-a...

Travel Leaders joins Radius network - Travel Weekly
Travel Leaders Corporate, a unit of the $17 billion Travel Leaders Group, is joining the ... Marketing to Latinos: Travel, Tourism & Hospitality Conference .... The Anguilla Tourist Board has partnered with various hotels on the island to offer ... Park in Anaheim, the nearby Hyatt Regency Huntington Beach Resort & Spa is ...
www.travelweekly.com/.../Travel-Leaders-joins-Radius-networ...

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