Mobile Edition
Print
Get the Mag
Weekly UpdatesJul 19, 2009
Argentina
OFor reasons of force majeureO, plays are canceled during next 10 days in Argentina meanwhile cinemas will postpone premieres. The Argentinian Association of Theater Impresarios announced that it decided to cancel the theater activity in the country during 10 days to help avoiding that the Influenza A virus spreads. Jul 15, 2009
Brazil
Brazil Community Reforestation Program, one of PlaneterraOs more than 30 global community outreach projects, is providing landless people uprooted by change the skills to grow their own food and reforest the communities of Parana and Sao Paolo, Brazil. This program, resulting in 450,000 trees planted by the end of 2009, will also provide the communities of Marilia and Londrina with access to training workshops and seedlings, thus enabling them to increase food production, create natural barriers on their lands and provide shade and fodder for livestock and other animals. Richard G. Edwards, director of the Planeterra Foundation, said that some of the deforestation of BrazilOs tropical rain forest, in essence the OlungsO of the planet that absorb carbon dioxide, Ocan be reversed by expanding protected areas and developing methods of sustainable forestry. ItOs critical that local peoples have ownership of the restoration because they will benefit economically while helping to maintain the natural ecosystems.O Jul 15, 2009
Cascatas Golf Resort, Hilton Vilamoura
As Cascatas Golf Resort & Spa and Hilton Vilamoura is trying to better cater to the business travel segment. The property was listed among the most luxurious hotels in the world in 2009 and considered the Best Luxury Hotel in Portugal by the Business Destinations magazine. The Hilton Vilamoura As Cascatas Golf Resort & Spa has 351 suites, which include hotel rooms, junior suites, the presidential suite and luxurious one- to four-bedroom suites. The resort contains meeting, congress, and event venues and a Concierge Service dedicated exclusively to events. The eight Hilton meeting rooms are equipped with advanced technology and Wi-Fi Internet access throughout the common areas, along with a Business Center. Restaurants, bars, six pools, a complementary shuttle service to the beach with a beach club and a location with five golf courses at its door-step. While staying at the resort, guests may use an exclusive golf simulator which allows them to perfect their technique on any of the 35 international golf circuit courses, without leaving the Algarve, along with the 7 Seven Spa, the largest spa in the country. www.ascascatasvilamoura.com. Jul 15, 2009
Costa Rica
Costa Rica is gearing up to host the 2009 ISA Billabong World Surfing Championship in Playa Hermosa, July 31 to Aug. 9, with 40 nations and 280 surfers participating. This yearOs competition will be the largest in its history and will be broadcast over the web to over 80 million people worldwide throughout the competitionOs eight-day run with additional coverage on ESPN and Fox Sports. As one of the few countries in the world that can offer two wave-producing oceans for surfing, Costa Rica is a dream come true for any surfer. With easy access between dual coasts, a surfer can spend sunrise on the Pacific and end the day with a surf session at sunset on the Caribbean coast. Additionally, Costa Rica is the only country that offers prime surfing waves 365 days a year, an advantage that surfers from all over the world come to experience. Jul 16, 2009
Grupo Xcaret
Grupo Xcaret opened a new park in Cancun, Quintana Roo, where it invested USUSD 22 million. The new project named Xplor is an underground park which allows visitors to submerge in a sea of stalactites and stalagmites also navigate a raft by underground paths, land on water after a flight in the jungle or drive an amphibious vehicle. New facilities have a capacity of 1,200 people and are looking for turning into one of the greatest attractiveness of the resort. Jul 15, 2009
Guayaquil
The local foundation, The Airport Authority of Guayaquil, gave definitive studies about the aeronautical feasibility of the future intercontinental airport of Guayaquil which confirms Chongn [ETH] Daular zone as the place that meets necessary characteristics for its operation. The new airport will have 3 parallel tracks that will be able to operate simultaneously; one of them will be of 4,100 meters length with international category to be useful to airplanes such as Airbus 380 or Boeing 747-400ER, and the rest will be of 3,500 meters length. All of them will have 60 meters width. Jul 15, 2009
Haiti
Canada is relaxing its Haiti travel advisory because of improving security in the impoverished Caribbean nation. Haitian officials hope the Friday announcement will help revive tourism. Canadians are now advised to exercise caution. The same level of precaution applies to the neighboring Dominican Republic. The United States and United Kingdom maintain higher alerts for Haiti. Jul 14, 2009
Huaca Chotuna
In 30 days, Huaca Chotuna - Chornancap Museum will open its doors; this is placed in the city of Lambayeque, place that will show finds and studies done three years ago to national and international community. Jul 15, 2009
La Quinta Inns
La Quinta Inns & Suites opened 21 hotels in 12 states during the first half of 2009. La Quinta also executed 36 new franchise agreements including locations in Panama and expects its strong pace of growth to continue during the remainder of 2009. In addition, the company reported another increase in guest satisfaction scores, demonstrating the brandOs continuing and increasing appeal to consumers. Jul 16, 2009
Los Cabos
The hotels and resorts of Los Cabos are currently luring travelers back to OLandOs EndO with travel deals and packages offered through the Los Cabos a la Carte promotion. Now, local businesses around the destination are offering savings for some of Los CabosO tourism attractions as well as ground transportation. Deals include a 25 percent discount on a car rental from Avis Rental Car (www.avis.com), valid now through Dec. 23, 2009; a two-for-one rate on a 45-minute glass-bottom boat ride with Epic Group los Cabos (www.epic.com.mx); and a USD 99 twilight golf package from Questro Golf (www.questrogolf.com). www.visitloscabos.travel. Jul 15, 2009
Machupicchu.
A group of specialist discovered a Pre-Hipsanic road in the National Historic Sanctuary of Machupicchu. This road possibly started from the archeological complex of Wuaraqtambo, it moved upward to the summit of Machupicchu and went down to the Inca citadel. The road discovered is made of stone masonry, approximately it has 1 meter width, walls that supports its slope reach between 4 and 5 meters high and it has a front although, various stretch have brought to a standstill. Jul 15, 2009
MSC Cruises
MSC CruisesO MSC Poesia is offering an Oldies Music cruise during the seven-night Caribbean cruise departing March 20. The cruise will feature The Lettermen and The Fabulous Stingrays. Tony Butala, Donovan Tea and Mark Preston comprise The Lettermen. Scheduled for one performance during the cruise, their 45-year career spans big band and the early rhythm and blues music. The Fabulous Stingrays will perform songs from the 1950s, O60s and O70s all week long. Also scheduled are an Elvis look-alike contest, dance competitions, trivia games and lectures about the rock-and-roll era. Jul 16, 2009
MSC Cruises
MSC Cruises has added five new theme cruise sailings to the Baseball Greats, Polka and Big Band themes already planned for MSC PoesiaOs 2009-10 Caribbean season. The PresidentOs Cruise is scheduled for the five-night Nov. 10 OCaribbean EscapeO itinerary. Rick Sasso, president and CEO of MSC Cruises USA, will be the featured guest onboard MSC PoesiaOs first sailing in the Caribbean. Latin Music is the theme of the seven-night Jan. 23 OEastern Caribbean EnchantmentO itinerary. Carlos Oliva and Los Sobrinos del Juez will perform traditional salsa dance songs and arrangements of pop and disco favorites with a Latin beat. Salsa dance lessons and live performances by Latin music stars also are scheduled. Jul 13, 2009
New Seven Wonders Foundation
The New Seven Wonders Foundation which is the foundation that organizes the competition announced that Lake Titicaca, the Colca Canyon and the Jungle of Amazonas were included in the list of 77 nominated from the competition. They were chosen after the end of the vote process on July 7th. The final 28 will be elected by a committee of experts and they will be announced on July 21st. The elected 28 will enter to the final stages until the middle of 2011 Jul 15, 2009
Peru
The early morning mist dissipates in the landscape of palm trees and lush green forests framed by inhospitable snow-capped mountains. This journey taken by innumerable tourists every day is the very same route that explorer Hiram Bingham took in late 1911. Today we revel in a plush train - followed by a comfortable bus ride and a walk among llamas. Jul 16, 2009
Puerto Vallarta
In keeping with full disclosure, I have to admit a very strong bias: One of my favorite destinations on the planet is Puerto Vallarta (PV). Airport transport is not a hassle (if you make pick-up reservations when you book your hotel), the road system is well maintained (see Mexico City for hellish highway congestion), the town-square is chock full of shops (from trinkets to gems), dining options (from the mundane to gourmet), entertainment (from street performers to night clubs), hotels (from budget to over-the-top luxury) and nearby towns (i.e., San Sebastian) where time stopped at the 18th century [ETH] all contribute to a desirable retreat. Jul 16, 2009
FEED