Author: Lee Fletcher

Passengers are set to benefit from two new safety policies announced recently by the European Cruise Council, an industry association for cruise companies operating in Europe. The European Cruise Council (ECC) and Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA) have announced two new safety policies at the request of governments across the world, which will address the recording of passenger nationalities and the issuing of emergency instructions. Christine Duffy, the president and chief executive officer of CLIA, said, ‘Our industry continues to actively identify a range of measures that will improve the safety of passengers and crew, which is the top priority…

A retreat that is intended to help divorced men and women to learn how to rebuild their life after a marriage break-up will be held from September 15 to 17, 2012, at the Granlibakken Resort, in Tahoe City, US. The event will set out to provide guidance to divorced people in taking back control of their lives and forming new relationships. The brainchild of journalist and author, Kimberly Pryor, the retreat will provide sessions with 12 relationship and self-empowerment experts who will instruct divorcees in how to come to terms with common problems after divorce, such as overcoming nervousness when…

Morocco has gained a new luxury hotel called the Palais Namaskar, which is located in Marrakech. The new luxury hotel is a member of Leading Hotels of the World, and it is claimed to have an architectural style that incorporates contemporary aspects with old world charm. The Palais Namaskar hotel has a total of 41 accommodation units, which include three types of room, four types of suite, two sets of luxury villas, and two upmarket palaces for those who want to enjoy the ultimate in luxurious living. The accommodation includes terraces, outdoor Jacuzzis and heated pools, and the luxury villas…

MSC Cruises, a US-based cruise company, is offering new complimentary upgrades on holiday sailings aboard the luxurious, MSC Poesia. The cruise line is offering its guests complimentary upgrades from ocean view to balcony staterooms, or from balcony standard to balcony superior staterooms, on certain five-night and seven-night cruises through the Mediterranean, as part of its ‘Holidays on Sale’. The sale fares are available untilJuly 31, 2012, for prices commencing at GBP403 per person, for double occupancy. Holidays on Sale itineraries include a Christmas Cruise departing December 21, 2012, calling at Jamaica, Grand Cayman, Mexico, and the Roatan Islands; a New…

British Airways, a UK-based airline company, has announced that a recent poll of its passengers has suggested that the Caribbean tops the list of favourite summer holiday destinations. The survey of passengers showed that while Caribbean holidays are becoming ever more popular, they are closely followed by destinations that include South Africa and Florida, in the US, and other favourite vacation destinations include London and the Maldives. Respondents to the survey also chose ‘a relaxing beach vacation’ as their favourite kind of holiday, in preference to ‘romantic city-breaks’, ‘fun-filled family getaways’, or ‘an all-action adventure trip’. British Airways organised the…

Sonesta ES Suites has opened three new properties; the new Sonesta ES Suites Atlanta has opened in Atlanta,US; the Sonesta ES Suites Houston, in Houston, US;  and the Sonesta ES Suites St Louis, in St Louis,US. Sonesta ES Suites is a brand from Sonesta International Hotels, a US-based hospitality company with properties in North and South America, Africa, and the Caribbean. The new 122-room Sonesta ES Suites Atlanta is offering one and two bedroom suite accommodation, each with a work area, a kitchen, and complimentary high-speed wireless Internet access. The 106-room Sonesta ES Suites St. Louis is located close to…

Scotland has spent £7m on a tourism campaign to coincide with the release of Disney Pixar film, Brave. The animated film, which is set in the Scottish Highlands, follows the journey of the headstrong central character, Merida, who is an accomplished archer and the daughter of King Fergus and Queen Elinor. It features the voices of several well-known Scottish actors, including Robbie Coltrane, Billy Connolly, Craig Ferguson and Kelly MacDonald, who were in attendance at the film’s premiere in Los Angeles. Scottish officials hope that the film’s worldwide release will attract more visitors to the country, and the £7m tourism…

An alliance of more than 30 airlines and tour operators is encouraging travellers to complain to their MP’s about increases in Air Passenger Duty. The alliance, calling itself ‘A Fair Tax on Flying,’ is also intending to create a list of at least 100,000 signatures of travellers that are disgruntled by the tax increases, which have seen APD rise by 360 percent in the last 7 years. Depending on distances travelled, APD can now add as much as £368 to the flight cost for a family of four, which the alliance say can deter British holidaymakers from travelling abroad and…

Travellers on a beach holiday in the US can now download the US Beach Finder App on their smart phones to search for the perfect beach. ‘Visit South Walton’, an official tourism agency in South Walton, Florida, US, is offering the mobile app for travellers to search and find real-time information on weather forecasts, ocean conditions and other aspects for any beach in the US. The new app is currently available on Android platform for smart phones, and for Apple iPhones. The users of other mobile devices may visit the mobile Web platform, beachfinder.visitsouthwalton.com, for the information. Dawn Moliterno, the…

Sonesta International Hotels, a US-based hospitality company with properties in North and South America, Africa, and the Caribbean, is opening a new extended stay hotel in Parsippany, US. The 150-room Sonesta ES Suites Parsippany has been recently re-branded from an earlier Staybridge Suites Parsippany, and is opening on July 30, 2012 under its new brand name. The hotel is offering studio, one and two-bedroom suite accommodation, each with a work area. Sonesta ES Suites is a recently launched extended stay brand from the company. The hotel will be providing complimentary wireless Internet access, a heated outdoor swimming pool, a 24-hour…