Hotels
Put Your Hands Up!
With the success of its CREACTIVE by Cirque du Soleil program and the upcoming opening of the Zen Oasis in Punta Cana, Club Med has many reasons to celebrate, not to mention that the all-inclusive brand is marking its 65th anniversary this year, reports assistant editor, Greg Coates in this week's digital edition of Travel Courier. Club Med officials were in Toronto last week to celebrate at an industry function at The Old Mill, highlighted by the launch of the brand's 2016 Trident brochure. Carolyn Doyon, senior vice-president of Club Med Canada and Mexico, kicked off the evening by...
Embracing Luxury
Small Luxury Hotels of the World (SLH) has picked Filip Boyen as its new CEO and he didn't waste any time in outlining his vision for SLH's future. Recognizing that the definition of luxury was ever-changing in order to meet the evolving needs of the guest, Boyen unveiled a number of new initiatives designed to respond to those needs and to an increasingly competitive marketplace. The new initiatives include: An integrated quality assurance program for its global collection of independent small luxury hotels. The new program will include a Mystery Inspector Program, which will...
Hogwarts Is Coming To Hollywood
As it gears up for the Spring 2016 opening of The Wizarding World of Harry Potter at Universal Studios Hollywood, California, Universal has launched a new and interactive web site that will let the world experience a virtual tour of the much-anticipated attraction. With Hogwarts' arrival in Hollwood, visitors to the new site will be able to explore Hogsmeade village where magical spells and magical creatures meet dark villains and daring heroes and virtually sample the land's many shops, establishments and attractions through an artfully recreated parchment map. With each click of...
On The Road & Dressing Up
Let the games begin … or rather, let the game begin … golf that is … as the 21st Annual Canadian Travel Industry Golf Tournament – hosted by Baxter Travel Media – gets underway at the Sandals Ochi Resort in Jamaica. Day One of the tournament is “Dress Up” day, with some healthy competition between the participating teams to bring some style to their game. Seen here sporting a great look, and representing Canada, are Addie Smith, David McClung, Paul Leon and Jackie Smith. Go team...
Starwood Unveils Member Favourites
Drum roll... Starwood Preferred Guest (SPG) has unveiled the winners of the 2015 Member Favorites Hotels & Resorts List. In this annual ranking, SPG is highlighting the Top Thirty Hotels and Resorts from around the globe. For the first time ever, SPG unveiled a new “Wish List” feature which allows its well-travelled members to seamlessly create and share their ultimate hotel bucket list. Among the highlights of SPG’s fifth annual Member Favorites List: Newcomers include Sheraton Hong Kong Hotel & Towers, known for its views of Victoria Harbour, and the St. Regis...
Beaches Introduces Planetarium Experience
Lost in space, Caribbean-style. Beaches Resorts has debuted the region’s first resort-based portable planetarium experience at Beaches Negril Resort & Spa in Jamaica and Beaches Turks & Caicos Resort Villages & Spa. Discovery Dome is a transportable air-conditioned, full dome theatre that surrounds guests with a panoramic interactive experience. Within the Discovery Dome, children and families will view “One World, One Sky: Big Bird’s Adventure,” a show that launches this fall and will remain year round as part of the Caribbean Adventure with Sesame Street...
Melia On A Roll
Melia Hotels International is on a development roll, with a company that now has more than 350 hotels worldwide preparing to open additional properties on both sides of the Atlantic Ocean. Melia will open a Jamaica resort in December, with the one-time SuperClubs property found in the Montego Bay area. Among Melia brands is Innside, now found in Germany and Madrid, and which will appear in New York City in 2016. A ME hotel – another of Melia's brands – is slated to open in Miami next year. ME properties are billed as contemporary lifestyle resorts. “Sometimes people...
Club Med Celebrates
Club Med celebrated its 65th anniversary in fine fashion last night at an industry function at The Old Mill in Toronto, highlighted by the launch of its 2016 Trident brochure. Carolyn Doyon, senior vice-president of Club Med Canada and Mexico, kicked off the evening by inviting guests to “press pause” – the name of the 2016 Trident brochure. “Overall, 2015 was a very successful year and for that you should be congratulated. In Canada, we experienced a 12% increase in individual activity over the winter season and a 5% increase during the summer,” she said, adding Ontario...