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Weekly UpdatesJul 12, 2009
Alamo Rent A Car, National Car Rental
Alamo Rent A Car and Enterprise Rent-A-Car -- both owned and operated by the Taylor family of St. Louis, Mo. -- recently have expanded their operations to meet customer demand and enhance car rental service on the islands of Hawaii, Kauai and Molokai. AlamoOs new office on Molokai is its sixth airport location in Hawaii. Alamo, which has been operating in Hawaii since 1984, also has locations at the Honolulu Airport; Lihue, Kauai Airport; Kahului, Maui Airport; Kailua, Kona Airport; and the Hilo Airport; and off airport in Waikiki and Kaanapali, West Maui. Enterprise's new branch offices are located at the Hilo; Kona; and Lihue, Kauai, airports. Enterprise -- which has been operating in Hawaii since 1984 -- will continue serving the Honolulu and Maui airports, as well as 20 home-city locations throughout the islands. Jul 7, 2009
Alamo Rent A Car, National Car Rental
Alamo Rent A Car and National Car Rental -- citing an extraordinarily positive customer response to their OFlorida Drive-OutO promotions -- announced that they have ended the program several weeks earlier than planned. The program, which offered travelers low one-way rates, no drop charges and unlimited mileage, had been scheduled to run through July 18. Hibbard noted that Alamo and National customers can continue to take advantage of a number of other promotions, including USD 15-off three-day weekend rates (good through Dec. 15, 2009) and last-minute online specials. Jul 6, 2009
Altour
For the second year in a row Altour was named to Los Angeles Business JournalOs 2009 list of Best Places to Work in Los Angeles, one of only 67 Los Angeles-based companies to receive this accolade. The complete listing of the O2009 Best Places to WorkO will be unveiled at an awards luncheon on Aug. 5 at the Millennium Biltmore Hotel in Los Angeles. The August 2009 issue of the Los Angeles Business Journal will profile the ranked companies. Altour has a travel volume of more than USD 500 million, and is among the largest agencies serving the luxury and mid-market travel niches today. It has 21 offices and more than 700 travel professionals throughout the United States and in Europe. For more information, visit www.altour.com. Jul 8, 2009
American Tourism Society
The American Tourism Society's Tourism College program held a tourism training session in New York City for students from the German state of Mecklenberg-Vorpommern in advance of its regular program, which will take place during the ATS Annual Conference at the Grand Hotel Heiligendamm in Heligendamm, Germany, Oct. 26 to 28. Students from area universities have been invited to attend all activities of the conference. Additionally, ATS industry professionals will teach courses under the auspices of the ATS Tourism College at the University of Rostock, which will be attended by some 200 students from around Mecklenberg-Vorpommern. Jul 7, 2009
Amtrak
As Amtrak continues a number of track work projects to improve service in the Northeast, Acela Express and Northeast Regional (Washington-New York-Boston) passengers will see additional, temporary schedule changes beginning Monday, July 13. In addition, Amtrak is adding two new Acela Express departures to its regular Sunday schedule between New York and Boston, starting July 19. The track work projects will improve the reliability of train service in the Northeast and will provide passengers with a more comfortable ride. To perform the necessary work, the number of available tracks will be reduced and trains will be single tracking, sharing tracks, as crews work to replace concrete railroad ties on the track that is not in service. Jul 8, 2009
Aqua Hotels
Aqua Hotels & Resorts has added the Aqua Waikiki Pearl to its Aqua Boutique brand, effective July 13. Previously known as Honolulu Prince Hotel, Aqua Waikiki Pearl is located at 415 Nahua St. The hotel recently completed a USD 5 million refurbishment. OIt was exciting to watch the Aqua Waikiki Pearl evolve from a neglected property into a stylish, modern hotel in central Waikiki,O said Richard Mandel, president of Ramsfield Hospitality Finance, the New York-based owner of the hotel. OIt was literally a top-to-bottom refurbishment process including the lobby and elevators.O Jul 8, 2009
Butterfield & Robinson
Butterfield & Robinson is running a bring-a-friend promotion that encourages clients to bring along a friend for this September's Classic Greek Islands By Sea excursion. The client and each of the friends will receive a USD 1,000 trip credit, which can be used now or later, whenever traveling with B&R. For more information, see www.butterfield.com. Jul 8, 2009
Carey International
Carey International, Inc., the worldwide leader in chauffeured transportation and value-added logistics management, today announced the appointment of Michael Devine Chauffeur Services Ltd. as the new Carey licensee in Ireland to join its global network. Established in Dublin in 1978, Devines has been owned and managed by the same family, offering more than 30 years of high quality chauffeured services combining tradition and dynamism. With regional hubs in both Dublin and Belfast -- the only limousine company to cover both cities -- Devines has dominated the Irish market in providing premium ground transportation solutions for music and entertainment tours, representing the majority of prominent music promoters, film companies and record labels. Jul 10, 2009
Colorado
The communities of Gunnison and Crested Butte, Colo., have announced their 37th annual Crested Butte Festival of the Arts (Aug. 1 and 2), 36th annual Gunnison Art in the Park (July 26) and the 21st annual The PeopleOs Fair (Sept. 5 to 6). From June to September, Crested ButteOs ArtWalk Evenings feature gallery tours on the last Thursday evening of the month. There is no admission charge. The Gunnison Arts Center and the Crested Butte Center for the Arts also are hosting cultural offerings and art exhibits: Among them are the Gunnison Gallery Crawl (Aug. 7 and Sept. 4) and the High Octane Arts & Crafts Festival (Gunnison, Aug. 22). Vacation packages are available. www.gunnisoncrestedbutte.com. Jul 7, 2009
Florida
Lightning struck and killed an Oklahoma man vacationing Wednesday on the Space Coast as a cluster of thunderstorms moved through the area, bringing heavy rain, gusty winds and lightning strikes at a rate of five per minute at its peak. The Brevard County Sheriff's Office identified the man as 54-year-old Frank Paxton of Ripley, Okla. Jul 9, 2009
Florida
For the third straight summer, a rare ghost orchid is in bloom at AudubonOs Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary just inland from Naples beach, and orchid enthusiasts are converging on the area for a glimpse of the ghostly white flowers. To assist with travel planning, Naples area hotels, resorts and restaurants are offering an assortment of attractive, value-oriented rates, packages and specials for orchid enthusiasts. Hotel rates begin at USD 49 per night and cover a wide range of price points. Some hotels and resorts are offering packages with a variety of attractive add-ons and amenities to enhance your vacation visit. Several area restaurants are offering discounts when a Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary ticket stub is shown. Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary is located just northeast of Naples, 15 miles from I-75 on Immokalee Road (Exit 111). Hours are 7 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. until Sept. 30, with the last guests admitted by 6:30 p.m. each day. The cost for adults is USD 10; full-time college student with photo ID, USD 6; National Audubon Society member with ID card, USD 5; students (6 to 18 years old), USD 4; and children younger than 6, free. Visitors are advised to call the sanctuary at 239-348-9151 for daily updates on the flowerOs status. For a complete list of hotel and restaurant deals, visit the Naples, Marco Island, Everglades Convention and Visitors BureauOs special orchid deals at www.paradisecoast.com/ghostorchid. Jul 8, 2009
Gutsy Women Travel
Gutsy Women Travel is offering a nine-day Costa Rican Traditions trip that departs Nov. 7; Jan. 16, 2010; and Nov. 20, 2010. Throughout the trip, as ladies travel from San Jose to Arenal, Monteverde, and Tambor, theyOll find endless opportunities for viewing an amazing variety of animals, birds, and plant species. The itinerary also includes special treats such as a sunset yoga session on the beach; enjoying the therapeutic effects of the Tabacon hot springs; a Tico cooking class; a painting lesson at the CASEM, a thriving artistsO community founded by women; visits to working coffee and sugar plantations; a boat ride on Lake Arena; a ferry ride to Tambor; and a cruise around Tortuga Island. Guests will also visit La Paz Waterfall Gardens; learn to paint your own handicrafts with local artisans; cross Lake Arenal to Monteverde; attend a Costa Rican cooking class; take a scenic ferry ride to Tambor; snorkel at Tortuga Island; participate in a sunset yoga session on the beach; and visit the Gold Museum and Costa Rica's National Theater. Jul 8, 2009
Hawaii
Despite deep discounts on room rates, Hawaii hotels were less than 62 percent full in May, marking the worst May since at least 1987. Jul 7, 2009
Hurtigruten
HurtigrutenOs 18-day Greenland-to-New York cruise, departing Sept. 22, will feature Benedicte Ingstad, professor in medical anthropology and daughter of the famed Norwegian explorer Helge Ingstad. Ingstad was with her parents, Anne Stine and Helge, on their 1960 expedition to LOanse Aux Meadows in Newfoundland, when they made their groundbreaking historical discovery, excavating what is considered to be the OVinland settlementO of Leif Eriksson from circa AD 1000, or 500 years earlier than Christopher ColumbusO arrived in North America. Through a series of lectures, she will share memories of her familyOs adventures and the story of her fatherOs life as well as show photographic material and unique films. Jul 8, 2009
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