Category Archives: Uncategorized

PONANT Launches Two New Ships, 50 New Luxury Expeditions Worldwide for 2020

PONANT announced a new partnership with the Musée du Louvre to bring Paris to the sea with two new sailings in the Adriatic and Persian Gulf departing in August and November 2020 respectively. In collaboration with PONANT, onboard programming will be carefully designed with curators and department directors from the Louvre for guests to discover the ancient lands that have inspired the museum’s collections.

PONANT, a leader in luxury expeditions, will continue to broaden its horizons in 2020 with the addition of two new ships, a new partnership and 50 new itineraries through destinations in North America, Europe, Asia and Africa.

NEW SHIPS

The PONANT EXPLORERS fleet will total six ships with the launch of LeBellot in April 2020and Le Jacques Cartierin July 2020.Both vessels will feature an innovative Blue Eye lounge located eight feet beneath the water line. The industry-first, multi-sensory space will allow guests to experience the subaquatic world through sight, sound and feel.

Space to watch: PONANT will also launch Le Commandant Charcot in May 2021. As the first luxury hybrid polar vessel, it will be powered by Liquefied Natural Gas and electric battery. The ship will be able to reach the true North Pole at 90 degrees latitude.

NEW PARTNERSHIP

PONANT announced a new partnership with the Musée du Louvre to bring Paris to the sea with two new sailings in the Adriatic and Persian Gulf departing in August and November 2020 respectively. In collaboration with PONANT, onboard programming will be carefully designed with curators and department directors from the Louvre for guests to discover the ancient lands that have inspired the museum’s collections.

NEW ITINERARIES

NORTH AMERICA: PONANT will have a new eight-day itinerary from Alaska to British Columbia. As the leader in luxury polar expeditions, PONANT is the authority on traversing the northern icy waters. On the July 22, 2020 departure, Le Soléal will travel along the Tracy Arm Fjord, amidst dramatic cliffs that rise more than 3,000 feet on either side. Travelers will then explore smaller inlets on the coast where guests can see humpback whales, cascading waterfalls and neon blue glaciers. 

EUROPE: PONANT will have eight ships exploring Europe’s coastline on more than 15 new itineraries. Among the highlights is a nine-night, music-themed cruise in September 2020 that will cover the rich cultural heritage of Northern Europe accompanied by world-class chamber musicians performing an all-Beethoven repertoire. The sailing coincides with a worldwide celebration of Beethoven’s 250th birthday. In warmer waters, new Mediterranean sailings will include trips between Athens and Venice and voyages through the Aegean Sea.

ASIA: Le Jacques Cartier – one of the line’s newest vessels – will debut five Asia sailings in fall and winter 2020. The ship, which features the industry-first Blue Eye lounge, is set to travel through the Persian Gulf and Gulf of Oman on an eight-night journey that makes stops in Muscat, Dubai, Abu Dhabi and Doha among other smaller ports, like Sur, Khasab and Sir Bani Yas. Meanwhile a new itinerary on Le Lapérouse will depart from Mumbai on December 28, 2020 and continue south to the atolls in the Maldives before concluding in Sri Lanka. 

AFRICA: Guests will be able to see the Seychelles like never before as Le Bougainville and its underwater lounge embark on a selection of new expeditions in the region beginning in December 2019. The ship will make a new port of call each day. Suspended in the Indian Ocean, the atolls are only accessible by boat. In addition to exploring UNESCO World Heritage sites, there will be opportunities to spot wildlife, like the indigenous Aldabra tortoises, weighing up to 550 pounds.

WORLDWIDE: In 2020, PONANT will continue to offer a series of themed cruises that feature onboard speakers and tailored shore excursions that embrace local cultures and dive deeper into the history of the destinations. Each of the six different itineraries will touch on a different topic with highlights including a birding trip through Costa Rica, a culinary sailing that circumnavigates Sicily, and a voyage through the Baltic Sea with leading policy makers, including former Supreme Allied Commander of NATO Admiral James Stavridis.

Established in 1988 by Jean Emmanuel Sauvée and a dozen officers from the French Merchant Navy, PONANT offers a style of sea travel which combines exceptional itineraries with luxury hotel services aboard smaller-scale ships. In 2021 PONANT will launch Le Commandant Charcot, the first electric hybrid cruise ship with luxury appointments, yet another pioneering development in polar exploration.  It will be the first ship to reach the true geographic North Pole. 

For more information on PONANT’s worldwide itineraries to the Arctic, Antarctica as well as in the Atlantic and North Europe, Asia, Mediterranean and the Indian Ocean, Eastern Asia, Oceania, Central and South America, visit www.ponant.com, call l 1-844-747-2873 or contact your travel advisor.

For more travel features, visit:

goingplacesfarandnear.com

goingplacesnearandfar.wordpress.com

moralcompasstravel.info

www.huffingtonpost.com/author/karen-rubin

travelwritersmagazine.com/TravelFeaturesSyndicate/

goingplacesfarandnear.tumblr.com/

instagram.com/going_places_far_and_near/

‘Like’ us on facebook.com/NewsPhotoFeatures

Twitter: @TravelFeatures

Spend Spring Break with CroisiEurope; Book by Nov 30 for 5% Discount

In 2020, take the kids on an alternative spring break that will bring classroom learning to life. Discover art and history or wildlife and nature on board a CroisiEurope cruise.

In 2020, take the kids on an alternative spring break that will bring classroom learning to life. Discover art and history or wildlife and nature on board a CroisiEurope cruise. From the historical seaside cities of Rochefort and La Rochelle in France’s Aquitaine Region to Africa’s diverse flora and fauna, there’s a new adventure for every type of traveler waiting to be discovered.

Travelers who book a 2020 cruise before November 30, 2019 can receive a discount of up to 5% off per person, per trip with the special code: EARBOOUS.

Cruises include all excursions, activities, meals and drinks served on board.

Information and bookings at www.croisieuroperivercruises.com, 800-768-7232.

Animal Lover? Golfer? Art Aficionado? Movie Buff? Give the Gift of Getting Away

Gift your adventure seeker the gift of a visit to India with andBeyond to explore the mountainous region of Ladakh and search for snow leopards

Stuck for a special gift for your animal-lover lover? Your art aficionado? Music buff or theater devotee? How about a snow leopard expedition for your adventure seeker? Think about giving the uniquely personal gift that keeps giving: the gift of a travel experience. The holidays is a time of wish fulfillment, so what better gift that tapping into that bucket list. Here are some ideas for the gift of getting away, no matter the time of year:

For the Animal-Lover

Winner: andBeyond Pangolin Adventure

Pangolins are mini (and adorable) dinosaur-like mammals. While not commonly known in the U.S., these native African anteaters are covered in keratin scales, which are highly valuable to poachers, making them the most trafficked mammal in the world. The species used to roam freely in the province of KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa, but have been locally extinct for decades. andBeyond Phinda Private Game Reserve has committed to reintroducing the species to the area, and there are already three thriving in their new environment. Conservation-minded travelers can have the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to get up close and personal with these elusive creatures with andBeyond’s Pangolin Conservation Experience and assist in replacing tags and monitoring behavior. Rates from $3,504 per group (up to six people).

Runner-Up: Nayara’s Sloth Sanctuary

Ever wonder what it would be like to sleep all day? And all night? Of course you have. Humans are naturally lazy. But not as lazy as sloths. The slowest mammal on earth loves to hang around in Cecropia trees. Spot them in the wild at the new Nayara Tented Camp in Costa Rica, which opens December 20. As a part of Nayara’s commitment to reforestation, the acres surrounding the resort are being replanted with thousands of trees, including the Cecropia trees, so that the sloths can continue to thrive. Take a slow, leisurely stroll around the property to see these fabulous animals in in-action. Rates start from $1,200 per night.

For the Art Aficionado

Winner: La Reserve Paris

Mona-who? Been there, done that. The latest must-see at the Louvre celebrates much more than the Instagram overloaded Mona Lisa. Open through February 24, the Leonardo da Vinci exhibition honors the 500th anniversary of the Renaissance man’s death. Though almost sold out, guests of La Réserve Paris can skip the line by booking the Leonardo da Vinci package, including two VIP fast-track tickets to the exhibition and da Vinci inspired cocktails at Le Bar. Package rates start at $1,330.

Runner-Up: Belmond La Residencia

It’s P-art-y time in Mallorca! Deia, the hillside village on the island’s northwest coast, is an artsy town welcoming painters, sculptors and writers for inspiration. Among Mallorca’s most famous former residents is Joan Miró, and Belmond La Residencia is home to the largest exhibition of his paintings in a hotel anywhere in the world. Thirty-three of his original artworks will be on display in Café Miró, the hotel’s bistro, until September 2020. The hotel lawn is also one of Spain’s largest outdoor sculpture gardens, and it features Tete (1975), a Miró bronze head. After taking in the art, enjoy Belmond La Residencia’s “Tea with Miró,” which is inspired by the artist’s signature use of bold colors and abstract line drawings. The tea is served on an exclusive tea set made of La Cartujade Sevilla porcelain with a design based on Miró’s 1952 work, Sans titre. The setwill be available for purchase in the on-site boutique. Rates start at $470 per night.

Fore! The Golfer

Winner: Belmond Royal Scotsman

Hit the links with Belmond Royal Scotsman as the train travels through the heart of the Highlands from tee time to tee time. Golf enthusiasts can customize the two- to seven-night journeys by adding rounds at Scotland’s renowned courses such as Gleneagles, Royal Donorch Golf Club, Castle Stuart Golf Links and Kingbarns Golf Links. A veritable ‘country house on wheels,’ the Royal Scotsman will also make stops at local distilleries including Strathisla Distillery, the oldest working distillery in the Scottish Highlands. Journeys start at $3,158 per person for the two-night Taste of the Highlands itinerary.

Runner-Up: Dromoland

Enjoy a golf experience fit for a king at Ireland’s Dromoland Castle. Set on a 450-acre estate, the 15-century castle’s parkland course is the perfect place to hone golf skills. Take a lesson at The Academy, the on-site golf school helmed by a resident PGA pro. What’s more, Dromoland can coordinate private transfers and tee times at Ireland’s famed links courses, including nearby Lahinch, Ballybunion, Tralee and the new Adare Manor. Rates start at $355 per night. 

For the Adventure Seeker

Winner: andBeyond Snow Leopard Expedition

Known as ‘Little Tibet’ or the ‘Roof of the World’, the mountainous region of Ladakh is situated on the northern border of India and is home to the snow-capped Himalayas, cobalt lakes and an abundance of wildlife, including the elusive snow leopard. The species, listed as ‘vulnerable’ and rare to find, lives in this high-altitude cold desert environment and can be seen during winter months. Conservation-minded, experiential safari outfitter andBeyond offers travelers the opportunity to explore this wilderness with the region’s most experienced guides, offering the rare opportunity to meet a snow leopard, if luck strikes. The 12-day Snow Leopard Expedition sets off in small group set-departures in January, February and March 2020. Rates start from $6,891 per person, including a $200 donation to the Snow Leopard Conservancy.

Runner-Up: Ponant Emblematic Antarctica Cruise

Journey to the ends of the earth, but make it luxury. Swap icicles in your eyelashes for a champagne toast on an Antarctic iceberg with Ponant, the leader in polar cruising. Each trip to the southernmost continent challenges adventure seekers with the trip through the Drake Passage – the 600-mile stretch of ocean between South America and the Antarctic peninsula that boasts some of the roughest seas in the world. Keep an ear out as the captain will often stop and redirect the ship to point out passing whales, Gentoo and Adelie penguins, and crabeater seals. Once in Antarctica, expedition guides and naturalists will lead daily Zodiac excursions with visits to research stations and former whaling stations. Rates start from $13,310 per person for the 11-day / 10-night Emblematic Antarctica journey.

For the Theater Goer

Winner: Chatwal, New York

Do you like your theater with a little side of murder mystery? If so, you’ve come to the right place – The Chatwal, New York. Designed in 1905 by iconic American architect Stanford White – who was famously killed by his mistress’s husband atop Madison Square Garden – The Chatwal was once home to the prestigious Lambs, America’s first professional theatrical club. The Chatwal continues to play homage to its history as the epicenter of Broadway. A dedicated theater concierge can offer access to the most sought-after shows; and guests can enjoy a pre-theater dinner at Geoffrey Zakarian’s The Lambs Club at The Chatwal. Rates start at $595 per night based on double occupancy.

Runner-Up: Westbury

Theater buffs visiting The Westbury in Dublin can explore the history of Ireland’s stage with the complimentary Theatre Walking Tour every Thursday morning. The 90-minute stroll begins in the vibrant Georgian Quarter and brings guests to key sites around the city, including a behind-the-scenes look at the famed Abbey Theatre, which has nurtured the talents of Irish playwrights like William Butler Yeats. The tour also includes a lesson on ancient Irish storytelling at the Setanta Wall, and a look at the drama-inspired artwork within the National Gallery. Rates start at $277 per night.

For the Movie Buff

Winner: GoldenEye

The 25th James Bond movie, which will mark Daniel Craig’s final appearance as 007, is heading back to Jamaica. In celebration of the April 2020 release, movie buffs can retrace the island life of Bond’s creator, Ian Fleming. The author was a former British intelligence officer and discovered Jamaica during a WWII mission in 1942. Four years later, he purchased 15 acres of under-developed tropical land and named it GoldenEye to pay homage to his naval operation that first brought him to the island. He resided at GoldenEye every January and February for more than two decades and wrote a new Bond novel each winter for a total of 14 books. His beachfront bungalow, which is now called The Fleming Villa with five bedrooms, is part of the 52-acre GoldenEye resort. Fleming’s writing desk and sunken garden where he would entertain the likes of Noël Coward and Katherine Hepburn are available for guests to enjoy. Rates start at $6,365 per night.

Runner-Up: Park Hyatt Tokyo

Guests of Park Hyatt Tokyo can channel Bill Murray while sipping on a whisky flight in the hotel’s 52nd floor New York Bar. Famed as the location of Sofia Coppola’s Lost In Translation, the bar’s signature L.I.T cocktail with Japanese sake and peach liqueur can be enjoyed to the soundtrack of live jazz while overlooking the sparkling city skyline. Rates start at $600 per night.

For the Romantic Beach Bum

Winner: Waldorf Astoria Maldives Ithaafushi

“Love Island” – not just a reality show, but something that could actually be your reality. Give the gift of an ultimate couples’ vacation in the Maldives. When it debuted in July, Waldorf Astoria Maldives Ithaafushi became the first luxury resort to open near the capital of Malé in the last decade. The journey to tranquility begins with a yacht ride from the airport to the resort. The 122 accommodations include 39 beach villas, each of which features a swimming pool and a private alcove on the beach with an outdoor hammock and two sunbeds. Surround yourself with sand and surf on a nearby sandbar, available for a wine pairing dinner or a yoga class. Rates start at $1,700 per night.

Runner-Up: Belmond Cap Juluca

Set on the white sands of Anguilla’s Maundays Bay, known as one of the most pristine beaches in the Caribbean, each room at Belmond Cap Juluca has its own private slice of sand complete with a dedicated beach butler. Guests of the newly renovated property can soak in the Caribbean sun and sway to live calypso and reggae at the Cap Shack, a laid-back beach bar with a vintage ’80s food truck serving up everything from fish tacos to rum punches and poke bowls. Rates start from $725 per night.

For the #InstagramFamous Friend

Winner: Dalloway Terrace

Off to Europe for the festive season? Why not hit two countries in one – visitors to The Bloomsbury in London will be treated to a Merry Swissmas celebration. The hotel’s heated, al fresco restaurant, Dalloway Terrace, has launched a collaboration with the alpine resort town of Gstaad. Stroll from Regent’s Park into snow-dusted pine garlands and frosty foliage. Gstaad’s Swiss traditions overwhelm the terrace, with bespoke “Scherenschnitte” (Swiss paper cuttings) on display around the restaurant. Guests can warm up with Foxford woolen blankets and warming cocktails like an alpine toddy – a hot toddy with a chamomile twist. Cocktails are delivered to the table with a Retro Viewer that allows guests to gaze upon the picturesque mountains of Gstaad between sips. Afternoon tea starts at $50 per person.

Runner-Up: Almanac Rooftop

360-degree views of Barcelona, check. Instagrammable décor, check. Craft cocktails, check. Almanac Barcelona’s Azimuth rooftop bar is open year-round, beckoning guests with its coral-hued, cocoon-like lounges and cozy blankets during the mild winter months. The city is known for its gin and tonics, with the clear liquid and fizzy bubbles the perfect accessory for an Instagrammable rooftop view. Almanac’s signature ‘Dealer’s Choice’ cocktail is elevated with dry sherry from Jerez, grapefruit bitters and artisanal tonic water. Rates start from $287 per night.

For the Foodie Focused

Winner: Chuck Williams Culinary Arts Museum in Napa

Give the gift of the CIA. No, not that CIA ­– the Culinary Institute of America at Copia in Napa Valley is the perfect place for travelers to the region to become immersed in the local food culture, with daily cooking classes and tastings from local wineries. Newly opened at the CIA, the Chuck Williams Culinary Art Museum features the 4,000-piece personal culinary collection ­– including rare special cookware, bread baking and culinary tools, appliances, and tableware – of the Williams-Sonoma founder. Admission to the museum is free. Class and tasting pricing varies with rates starting at $30.

Runner-Up: Shou Sugi Ban House

Get a taste for the flavors that put Noma in Copenhagen on the map! Chef Mads Refslund, formerly of the world’s best restaurant, now directs the food and beverage program at wabi sabi-inspired wellness retreat and destination spa Shou Sugi Ban House in the Hamptons. The plant-based menu is inspired by Nordic, Japanese and New England cuisines. Located in Water Mill, New York, adjacent to the Parrish Art Museum, the 13-room property incorporates many forms of wellness in its multi-day retreats, which include spa and healing arts treatments, workshops, meditation and movement. Rates start at $550 per person.  

P.S. Don’t forget the most important carry-on items when traveling: chocolate and a face mask. La Maison du Chocolat’s Bars Unhinged ($14) are the perfect plane-size snack (think mini deconstructed chocolate bars). Guinot’s Newhite Instant Brightening Mask ($77, set of seven) is a travel-size sheet mask that removes those post-flight dark circles and creates a glow in 10 quick minutes.

For more travel features, visit:

goingplacesfarandnear.com

goingplacesnearandfar.wordpress.com

moralcompasstravel.info

www.huffingtonpost.com/author/karen-rubin

travelwritersmagazine.com/TravelFeaturesSyndicate/

goingplacesfarandnear.tumblr.com/

instagram.com/going_places_far_and_near/

‘Like’ us on facebook.com/NewsPhotoFeatures

Twitter: @TravelFeatures

Top 25 Most Haunted Historic Hotels of America

Jekyll Island Club Resort, Jekyll Island, Georgia, is among this year’s Historic Hotels of America Top 25 Most Haunted Hotels © Karen Rubin/goingplacesfarandnear.com

WASHINGTON, DC—Halloween 2019 – Just in time for Halloween 2019, Historic Hotels of America has released its list of Most Haunted Historic Hotels. A membership organization of more than 300 hotels with long and storied histories, some hotels have reported ghosts and paranormal activity throughout the halls and in guestrooms giving those who stay a fright – and they don’t just come out at Halloween. From ghosts who have been around since the Revolutionary War to jilted lovers, heartbroken, there are an abundance of ghostly sightings in historic hotels.

Here is a listing of the Top 25 Most Haunted Hotels:

Concord’s Colonial Inn (1716) Concord, Massachusetts
The original part of the Inn was built in the early 1700s before the Revolutionary War. With such a long and robust history, it’s no wonder there are spirits that still wander the halls of this historic hotel. One of the most famous, haunted and sought-after guestrooms is room 24. During the Revolutionary War, the right side of the Inn was privately owned by Dr. Timothy Minot. When patriot soldiers were injured at the Battles of Lexington and Concord at the North Bridge, they were brought to his home to be cared for. Dr. Minot used what is now the Liberty Room as a hospital and room 24 as an operating room. Several soldiers who were operated on in room 24 died during surgery. They were then carried directly downstairs into room 27, which was used as a morgue. It’s no wonder then that guests have reported lights flickering in room 27 or turning on and off completely. One guest woke up in the middle of the night and every light was on in the room, including the television! Others have heard hushed whispers coming from the closet and have seen the door to the room slamming shut on its own.

The Red Lion Inn (1773) Stockbridge, Massachusetts
Ghostly rumors continue to swirl at the inn which has seen the likes of many paranormal investigators and mediums. The fourth floor, in particular, has been said to have the most activity. Both cleaning staff and guests have claimed to see a “ghostly young girl carrying flowers” and “a man in a top hat.” It has been said that guests have awoken to the feeling of someone standing over them at the foot of the bed. Cold spots, unexplained knocks, and electrical disturbances have all been reported. Guestroom 301 is also known to be a haunted hot spot. 

Omni Parker House, Boston (1855) Boston, Massachusetts
This hotel was opened by Harvey Parker and he was involved with the operations of the building until his death in 1884. Over the years, many guests have reported seeing him inquiring about their stay—a true “spirited” hotelier even after his death. 

The Sagamore (1883) Bolton Landing, New York
The Sagamore has its own American ghost story. Opened in 1883 as a playground resort for summer residents of Millionaire’s Row, this rambling historic hotel sits in a 6 million-acre state park and is rumored to accommodate a ghost or two. Stories persist of the ghost of a silver-haired woman wearing a blue polka-dot dress descending from the second floor to the Trillium, the hotel’s fine dining restaurant. 

1886 Crescent Hotel & Spa (1886) Eureka Springs, Arkansas
The 1886 Crescent Hotel, well known today as being a mountaintop spa resort in the Arkansas Ozarks, was once used as a Cancer Curing Hospital which was under the control of the hospital’s owner, reported charlatan Norman Baker from Muscatine, Iowa.  Baker operated his Eureka Springs’ facility from 1937 until December 1940. There are many paranormal patrons with terrifying tales to tell. Among those are Michael, the Irish stonemason who, while constructing the building back in 1885, fell to his death in the footprint of what is now Room 218. He has thought to be a frequent visitor to the room since the day of his death. There’s also Theodora – a patient and helper during the days when the hotel was owned Norman Baker, resides in Room 419. Guests have reported that she will put bags in front of the door from the inside making it hard for guests to open their door upon their return. Dozens and dozens of ghost like encounters, and creepy, unexplained occurrences happen at this hotel on a regular basis.

Jekyll Island Club Resort (1887) Jekyll Island, Georgia
Over the years, the Jekyll Island Club Resort has seen many families come and go since it opened in 1887. With all that time, comes the stories and mysteries, the staff, as well as guests have encountered firsthand. One such encounter involves the family of J.P. Morgan. Sans Souci, one of the buildings at the Jekyll Island Club Resort, is a handsome four-story structure erected in 1896 as one of the first condominiums to ever be built. It was built originally for families to use, including the family of J. Pierpont Morgan. His family rooms were located on the third floor, north end of the property facing the Jekyll River. He was particularly fond of the large porch which graced the front of his apartment allowing him a beautiful view of the river. Mr. Morgan was a lover of cigars. As the story goes, one could tell where he was by following the trail of smoke. In order to avoid criticisms for his favorite hobby, he would rise early every morning by 5 am to have a smoke on the porch. While most contemporary guests are not rising at such an early hour for a cigar, those who have stayed in the Morgan’s old apartment swear they have awakened to the faint smell of cigar smoke wafting about when there is absolutely no one else awake.

Union Station, Nashville, Tennessee is among this year’s Historic Hotels of America Top 25 Most Haunted Hotels © Karen Rubin/goingplacesfarandnear.com

Union Station Nashville, Autograph Collection (1900) Nashville, Tennessee
One of Nashville’s most iconic landmarks, Union Station Hotel resides in a building that previously served as the city’s buzzing railway station. Guests are reminded of the building’s rich history through another kind of encounter: with the hotel’s resident ghost, Abigail. Legend has it that during World War II a young woman, Abigail, said goodbye to her soldier on the Union Station train platform before he shipped off to France. When she arrived at that same spot to greet him on his return, she was instead met with word that he was killed in action. Distraught, Abigail threw herself in front of a passing locomotive. The forlorn spirit of Abigail, still looking for her lost love, can reportedly be seen wandering the main terminal and her presence felt in Room 711. Now known as the Abigail Room, guests can request to stay in the haunted suite, which is decorated unlike any other room in the hotel with antique furnishings, a four-poster bed and artwork inspired by her tale. 

Moana Surfrider, A Westin Resort & Spa (1901) Honolulu, Hawaii
On February 28, 1905, the untimely death of Jane Stanford, co-founder of Stanford University, made headlines everywhere. Stanford, who was vacationing in Hawaii following a strychnine poisoning attempt on her life, died in her room at the Moana. There have been reports that the ghost of Stanford still frequents the hotel, whose beautiful ocean vistas brought her short-lived peace. Guests and hotel staff have said that they’ve seen her walking at night trying to find her room. 
Omni Mount Washington Resort, Bretton Woods (1902) New Hampshire
Known affectionately by staff members as “the princess”, Caroline Foster, was a long-time inhabitant of the hotel. Princess Caroline Foster’s ties to the resort go back to its inception when her husband, railroad tycoon Joseph Stickney, built the grand resort in 1902. Incorporating special accommodations for his wife, construction of the resort included an indoor swimming pool and a private dining room for Caroline known today as the “Princess Room.” A prominent figure at the resort since its opening, many guests who have visited continue to report sightings of the regal Caroline. Visions of an elegant woman in Victorian dress are often spotted in the hallways of the hotel, there are light taps on doors when no one is outside and items suddenly disappear and then reappear in the exact place they were lost. But perhaps the most common sighting of the beloved Caroline is in room 314, where guests report seeing a vision of the woman sitting at the edge of their bed. 

The Seelbach Hilton Louisville (1905) Louisville, Kentucky
Legend says two lovers were to be married at the hotel in 1907, but the groom met an untimely death on his way to the wedding. His distraught bride threw herself down the elevator shaft, falling ten stories to her death. The bride is said to continue to haunt the halls of this historic hotel. 

Mizpah Hotel (1907) Tonopah, Nevada
Built in 1907 and beautifully restored to its former grandeur and glory. The hotel is home to several ghostly figures. One of which is the former bellhops has been seen roaming the halls of the hotel trying to give guests a hand with their luggage. The town of Tonopah was well known for silver mining and just beneath the Mizpah are old mining tunnels. The hotel had a run-in with a few very greedy miners and lost out on a large sum of money. As legend is told, three miners dug a hole into the old bank safe and robbed the hotel. One of the men turned his back on his two accomplices and shot them. He left them for dead and took off with the money and was never been caught. To this day, those two miners still lurk in the basement of the Hotel.

The Omni Grove Park Inn (1913) Asheville, North Carolina
There is a strange, but gentle spirit residing within the gray, granite walls of Asheville’s historic Grove Park Inn. Known simply as the “Pink Lady”, she has been seen, felt and experienced by hotel employees and guests for nearly a century. Although the Pink Lady is believed to have met her demise on the Palm Court floor after falling two stories from the fifth floor to the third floor, she has been seen and experienced in a number of places throughout the resort. The Pink Lady has been described as a dense pinkish smoke with a presence that can be felt by guests throughout the grounds of the Inn.

La Fonda (1922) Santa Fe, New Mexico
Shot to death in 1867 in the hotel lobby, John P. Slough, Chief Justice of the Territorial Supreme Court, is said to have never left. Meanwhile, a distraught salesman, who jumped into the hotel well after losing a card game, has been seen emerging from the fountain by visitors and guests alike. 

The Emily Morgan San Antonio- a DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel (1924) San Antonio, Texas
The Emily Morgan is known to be one of the most haunted hotels in all of Texas. According to various reports, even some given by the hotel’s own management team, the most haunted floors are the seventh, ninth and fourteenth floors in addition to the basement.
It was these particular floors that at one time functioned as the psychiatric ward, surgery level, waiting area and morgue, respectively. At the Emily Morgan, almost all of the paranormal reports involve ghosts and spirits from days gone by when the building was the medical building.
Guests have reported strange things occurring on these particular levels. Those staying on the fourteenth level of the Emily Morgan generally have one thing to say: that the smell is acutely reminiscent of a hospital. Guests have reported to opening the doors to the hallways only to find a scene from a hospital waiting right inside.

Francis Marion Hotel (1924) Charleston, South Carolina
In the early 1930s, New Yorker Ned Cohen was visiting his Southern lady friend in Charleston. Whatever happened was never clear, but he was found face down, body smashed in the middle of King Street facing toward the old Citadel’s parade grounds. Today, visitors hear eerie and unexplained sounds at night, all too familiar to the bell staff and room attendants walking the halls. Sounds of rustling silk drapes, rattling windows, and an unexplained vision of a man questioning either himself or the witness. Some see the ghost in short sleeves, others just feel his presence throughout the hotel. 

Hawthorne Hotel (1925) Salem, Massachusetts
The city of Salem is notorious for the Salem Witch Trials in 1692 and is prone to hauntings and spirits of its own. The hotel has ghost stories, mostly attributed to the sea captains who were returning to their gathering place. In particular, guests staying in rooms 612 and 325 have reported of lights turning off and on and experiencing a general uneasy feeling throughout the rooms. 

Hotel Viking (1926) Newport, Rhode Island
Hotel Viking has had many guests and staff members come and go, reporting stories of spirited guests. The story that has been reported repeatedly is of a little boy is often seen cleaning the floors of the historic wing of the hotel. There have been about 10 different guests regaling a similar story of a young boy cleaning. This has also been confirmed by most of the housekeeping staff. 

Hotel Saranac, Curio Collection by Hilton (1927) Saranac, New York
This historic hotel was built on foundation of a former High School. It is the only hotel building remaining of 13 luxury hotels that once served this community. While fires led to the downfall of some of the area’s hotels, survived by design: made of steel and brick, Hotel Saranac was the area’s first fireproof hotel. The hotel had a civil defense tower on top, where it is said that Boy Scouts would wait to watch for Russian Bombers. Room 308 – Emily Balsam, was a guest at Hotel Saranac and worked at a local college. She had a cat. The story is told that she was not feeling well for a while and got tired of people checking on her and just wanted to be left alone. She had her phone disconnected and stopped all housekeeping.  She did not want to be disturbed for any reason. No one saw much of her after that. At some point the guest and staff started to complain about the smell coming from that room and the cat always “crying” and Emily refused to answer the door. The manager at the time went up to talk to her and found she had been dead for weeks and the cat was still alive. The cat was taken to a shelter but it is said that the ghost of Emily’s cat can still be heard crying or scratching at the wall, perhaps wandering the hotel looking for her.  

Hotel Monteleone (1886) New Orleans, Louisiana
A maid, known as “Mrs. Clean” reputedly haunts the hotel. Paranormal researchers once asked why she stayed, and the maid, whose mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother also worked at the hotel, said she was picking up after housekeeping to ensure high standards.

Fairmont Sonoma Mission Inn & Spa (1927) Sonoma, California
It is said that ghosts haunt where they were the happiest. Fairmont Sonoma Mission Inn & Spa welcomes guests past and present and tells the tales of guests who never wanted to leave. When the evenings are still and the fog rolls in from the Bay, a hauntingly beautiful woman has been seen strolling the hallways of the Inn in period dress. Victoria, as she is fondly referred to by many of the Inn’s tenured employees and whose family traces back to the founding fathers of Sonoma Valley, is said to have celebrated her wedding and many anniversaries at the resort.

Hassayampa Inn (1927) Prescott, Arizona
The year it opened, the Hassayampa Inn developed its most famous legend. A very young bride named Faith Summers checked into a balcony suite with her much older husband in 1927. According to the story, Faith’s husband went out to buy cigarettes and never returned. Faith waited for three days and then took her life in despair. Since then, countless hotel guests and employees have reported encounters with a young woman throughout the hotel crying at the end of a bed, dressed in a pink gown in the hallway, appearing and disappearing from rooms. One housekeeper saw a woman by a bed, holding flowers and crying. When asked if she needed help, the woman vanished. Kitchen staff have reported feeling Faith’s presence in the kitchen, right before the burners on the stove suddenly went out. Others have reported strange cold spots in Faith’s honeymoon suite. The heartbroken ghost appears unable to move on from her anguish. Many think that though Faith is heartbroken, she enjoys staying at the Hassayampa Inn.

The Don CeSar (1928) St. Pete Beach, Florida
Over the years there have been a number of reported “sightings” and strange occurrences at this historic hotel. Although there are various stories, the most common presence felt through the building is that of  Mr. Thomas Rowe, the man who brought the Don CeSar to life and is the focal point of the love story surrounding the hotel. It is rumored that people have reported seeing Mr. Rowe throughout the hotel, on the beach, and even interacting with guests and staff. In the evening it has been reported that from time to time guests have looked up to the windows on the fifth floor and see the figure of a man watching from above. 

Lord Baltimore Hotel (1928) Baltimore, Maryland
Over the course of its more then 90-year history, the Lord Baltimore Hotel has had reports of paranormal activity. Built in 1928, the hotel was one of the tallest building in the city (the Great Fire of 1904 destroyed Downtown Baltimore) and around the time of the Great Depression, there were at least 20 documented reports of “jumpers” from the 19th floor rooftop deck. The most spoken about is that of a couple who attended an event at the hotel with their daughter – and then proceeded to jump off the building. Their daughter, “Molly,” is typically seen in the halls wearing a white dress and playing with a red ball. There has also been a lot of paranormal speculation around a handprint of a child on a wall in one of the hotel’s penthouses that won’t go away.

Omni Shoreham Hotel, Washington, DC (1930) Washington, DC
During the Shoreham’s early years, three people died unexpectedly in suite 870. At that time the apartment was occupied by one of the hotel’s owners, Henry Doherty. Juliette Brown, the family’s housekeeper dropped dead mysteriously one night at 4 am. Doherty’s daughter and wife also perished mysteriously in the same suite. During its vacancy there were claims of mysterious noises, doors slamming shut and furniture moving—many of which happened around 4 am, the time of Juliette’s death. 

Tubac Golf Resort and Spa (1959) Tubac, Arizona
There have been hauntings throughout the resort that have been reported by guests by at least four unique ghosts including a boy, a lady in gray, a very active gentleman spirit, and a cowboy. Some of these spirits are believed to date back to the early age of the resort when it was the Otero Ranch. The haunts have been investigated by the Phoenix, Arizona Paranormal Society and featured on the “Haunted Series, Arizona.”
“The spirits reported to reside within these Historic Hotels of America have been described as sad to happy, shy to friendly, slowly meandering to in a rush, in work clothes to elaborately dressed, and range from young to old,” said Lawrence Horwitz, Executive Director, Historic Hotels of America and Historic Hotels Worldwide. “Some pre-date the construction of the hotel and others figure prominently from the early years of the historic hotels.”

For a complete listing of haunted historic hotels, visit https://www.historichotels.org/MostHaunted.php.

Historic Hotels of America is the official program of the National Trust for Historic Preservation for recognizing and celebrating the finest Historic Hotels. Historic Hotels of America has more than 300 historic hotel members. These historic hotels have all faithfully maintained their authenticity, sense of place, and architectural integrity in the United States of America, including 44 states, the District of Columbia, the U.S. Virgin Islands, and Puerto Rico. Historic Hotels of America is comprised of mostly independently owned and operated historic hotels. More than 30 of the world’s finest hospitality brands, chains, and collections are represented in Historic Hotels of America. To be nominated and selected for membership into this prestigious program, a hotel must be at least 50 years old; have been designated by the U.S. Secretary of the Interior as a National Historic Landmark or listed in or eligible for listing in the National Register of Historic Places; and recognized as having historic significance. For more information, visit HistoricHotels.org

For more travel features, visit:

goingplacesfarandnear.com

goingplacesnearandfar.wordpress.com

moralcompasstravel.info

www.huffingtonpost.com/author/karen-rubin

travelwritersmagazine.com/TravelFeaturesSyndicate/

goingplacesfarandnear.tumblr.com/

instagram.com/going_places_far_and_near/

‘Like’ us on facebook.com/NewsPhotoFeatures

Twitter: @TravelFeatures

Applications Being Accepted for 16th Annual Global Scavenger Hunt, Around-the-World Mystery Tour, Set for April 17-May 9, 2020

Racing out of Petra, Jordan, team Lazy Monday, Eric & Kathryn Verwillow of California, who would go on to win second place in the 2019 Global Scavenger Hunt © Karen Rubin/goingplacesfarandnear.com

SANTA ROSA, USA –The 16th annual edition of The Global Scavenger Hunt, known among travel cognoscenti as the world travel championship, is set to take place over 23-days between April 17 and May 9, 2020, is now accepting applications for entry. Eager Indiana Jones-types of adventurers and curious travelers wanting to test their travel IQ against other travelers in an extraordinary around-the-world travel adventure competition that crowns The World’s Greatest Travelers, can apply at GlobalScavengerHunt.com

“Competitions, trophies and titles provide inspiration,” says Event Director William Chalmers, “We want the best international travelers to participate. The 2020 event will find out if travel writers and bloggers know the world as well as they claim to; whether social media influencers and travel agents can go beyond their staged selfies and glossy brochures; and whether some of the world’s ‘most traveled people’ and Amazing Race wannabe’s actually have any real-world travel skills. Winning our event is the ultimate test and proof.” 

The 2020 event will pit savvy international travelers against each other by taking them on A Blind Date with the World, visiting ten secret destinations without any prior preparation, and then have them unravel a constant blitz of highly authentic, participatory and challenging culturally-oriented scavenges along the way, like: meditating with monks, training elephants, taking flamenco lessons, cooking local dishes with local chefs, searching out Lost Cities, cracking sacred temple mysteries, joining in local celebrations, and learning local languages enough to decipher their scavenger hunt clues. Trusting strangers in strange lands will be their focus as they circle the globe for three weeks. The event has touched foot in 85 countries to date.

The title of The World’s Greatest Travelers and free trip around the world to defend their titles in the 2021 event await the travelers worthy enough to win the 16th edition of the world travel championship.    

Event participation is open but limited; the $25,000 per team entry fee includes all international airfare, First Class hotels, 40% of meals, and special event travel gear. All travelers are interviewed for suitability and single travelers are welcome to apply. For additional information please visit GlobalScavengerHunt.com, or contact GreatEscape Adventures Inc., at +1.310.281.7809. (CST#2071053-40)

See Global Scavenger Hunt: In the Scramble to be Crowned ‘World’s Best Travelers’ and more features on the 2019 Global Scavenger Hunt at goingplacesfarandnear.com

For more travel features, visit:

goingplacesfarandnear.com

goingplacesnearandfar.wordpress.com

moralcompasstravel.info

www.huffingtonpost.com/author/karen-rubin

travelwritersmagazine.com/TravelFeaturesSyndicate/

goingplacesfarandnear.tumblr.com/

instagram.com/going_places_far_and_near/

‘Like’ us on facebook.com/NewsPhotoFeatures

Twitter: @TravelFeatures

The Travel Corporation, TreadRight Foundation Pledge to ‘Make Travel Matter’

Brett Tollman, chief executive officer of The Travel Corporation, commits the company and its 42 brands, and the TreadRight Foundation to “Make Travel Matter” for the planet, people and wildlife © Karen Rubin/goingplacesfarandnear.com

By Karen Rubin, Travel Features Syndicate, goingplacesfarandnear.com

On one issue I take exception to the courageous climate activist, Greta Thunberg: travel – even airline travel – is not the enemy of the climate action crusade, travel is its best ally. She may have taken two weeks to sail the Atlantic to reach the United Nations Climate Action Summit, but the thousands of diplomats and heads of state she scolded and shamed into action, could not.

“What would happen if we stopped traveling, stopped flying? Would we save the planet or unleash a global conservation crisis? There would be global conservation crisis,” asserted Costas Christ, chairman of The TreadRight Foundation, a philanthropy created by The Travel Corporation’s 42 brands, to preserve and protect the planet, people and wildlife.

“What would happen if we stopped traveling, stopped flying? Would we save the planet or unleash a global conservation crisis? There would be global conservation crisis,” asserted Costas Christ, chairman of The TreadRight Foundation, a philanthropy created by The Travel Corporation’s 42 brands, to preserve and protect the planet, people and wildlife.
© Karen Rubin/goingplacesfarandnear.com

Christ, who came out of the Wildlife Conservation Society, pointed to the three great forests on the planet – New Guinea, Amazon Basin, Central African rainforest including Gabon. But in the early 2000s, Gabon’s economy was dependent on mining and timber concessions.

The Wildlife Conservation Society went to Gabon’s president and said, “If you continue mining, cutting trees, the party is over in 50 years, but if put aside area for conservation, travelers will come, alleviate poverty and save the forest – your great grandchildren will be able to make their livelihood here.

“With stroke of Gabon President’s pen, he created 11 national parks, protecting 13 million acres – Travel Matters,” Christ said.  “Travel is the alternative to exploitation – preserve and protect instead of poach and encroach.”

 “If travelers did not go to the African continent, the future would be unrelenting poverty. Travel is hope, conservation.”

Colombia, where The Travel Corporation has introduced new travel programs, is one of the 30 places on the planet which are the “Noah’s Ark of Life,” a biodiversity hot spot harboring one out of 10 species.

 “If we are able to help Colombia protect its natural resources we will protect the second largest biodiverse place on the planet.”

“We make an impact when travel supports conservation, protects wildlife and alleviates poverty. Travel matters when it is planned, managed well, sustainable. Then magic happens – we deliver on our promise to make the world a better place.

It is significant that travel benefits the destinations, but travel also enriches individuals, in a mutually virtuous circle.

What is wanderlust and why do we seek out other places? Christ asks. Marco Polo understood. So did John Steinbeck, who, in his Pulitzer-Prize winning book, wrote:

A journey is a person in itself; no two are alike.

And all plans, safeguards, policies and coercion are fruitless.

We find after years of struggle that we do not take a trip; a trip takes us.

Mark Twain, who actually was a travel writer, wrote in “The Innocents Abroad,” “Travel is fatal to prejudice, bigotry, and narrow-mindedness, and many of our people need it sorely on these accounts. Broad, wholesome, charitable views of men and things cannot be acquired by vegetating in one little corner of the earth all one’s lifetime.”

Costas Christ traveled to meet the Dalai Lama, who travels constantly, to ask ‘Why travel?.’ “He said, ‘in ancient Tibetan ‘gropa’ is the word for human being, but the literal meaning is ‘one who goes on migrations.’ We define the essence of being human to travel – to travel is to be human.

“We think of the word ‘progress’ as hitting goals, but to pro-gress is a kind of travel. In Middle English, “progress” means “to go on a seasonal journey” – so success is a journey, success is linked to travel.”

The TreadRight Foundation, a not-for-profit organization created 10 years ago as a joint initiative between The Travel Corporation’s (TTC) family of  brands, takes a percentage of profit from 42 companies to make sure goes to projects that make a difference. TreadRight supports 55 projects in 280 communities in 26 countries in three basic categories: planet, people and wildlife.

TTC, a member of the World Travel & Tourism Council, is joining in a commitment for the industry – which accounts for one in 10 jobs around the world and accounts for 10% of the global economy, to become carbon neutral by 2050. TTC will also take steps to eliminate plastics through its supply chain, and reduce carbon emissions.

“We’re committed to be carbon neutral before 2050 and not through carbon offsets. Carbon is what’s destroying climate, not offsets,” Brett Tollman, Chief Executive, The Travel Corporation and Founder, The TreadRight Foundation. said at a reception marking TreadRight’s 10 years.

“We are at an unfortunate tipping point, where unless we careful, this industry will be the poster for all that’s bad,” he said. “We have the opportunity to make change, but we have to be courageous.”

But though travel  – particularly airline travel – does have a carbon cost (until the technologies improve), not traveling would be far worse for the quest of saving the planet and communities from the impacts of climate change and promoting a more just society.

Christ points to places devastated by climate catastrophe that have rebounded because of tourism, communities and cultures destroyed by war and conflict, like Bosnia and Croatia, rebuild and thrive because of the economic support of travel dollars.

For example, working with the Jordan tourism Board, TreadRight supports the Queen Noor Iraq Alamei, a cooperative that employs women as potters and artisans – giving women jobs outside the home but within the village. With TreadRight support, the cooperative built up a gift shop and opened an Air BnB.

New travel programs in Colombia help create a wildlife nursery and install solar panels, while another program in Sierra Nevada, through Trafalgar, creates an opportunity for visitors to be hosted by a family.

“Travel is an incredible gift. It has the ability to open our eyes to the unique cultures and spellbinding beauty of the natural world. But with this gift comes a responsibility – to protect the world as we know it. At TreadRight, our mission is clear; to have a positive impact on the people and communities we visit, to protect wildlife and marine life, and to care for the planet we call home.”

Craig Kielburger, the co-founder of WE charity, explained how Treadright’s family of travel companies is partnering with We.org, which builds schools, promotes sustainable agriculture, brings pure water to communities – to offer programs in which travelers can immerse themselves into that community.

The Travel Corporation and TreadRight Foundation are partnering with Craig Kielburger’s We charity to create Me to We voluntourism trips to places like Kenya © Karen Rubin/goingplacesfarandnear.com

In partnership with ME to WE, travelers have the opportunity to visit three iconic destinations: India, the Ecuadorian Amazon and Kenya. In conjunction with TTC, guests can book ME to WE Immersive Volunteer Trip extensions on upcoming set departure dates or as a requested custom trip. Travelers  stay among local communities in comfortable lodges, owned and operated by ME to WE. All meals, ground transfers, transportation and local sightseeing excursions hosted by an expert facilitator are included.

You can run with the Masai, help build a school, see what it feels like to have to carry water barrels on your back; stay in a family’s home in Ecuador; in India, visit an elephant rescue preserve instead of riding on one.  (See TreadRight.org site, https://www.TreadRight.org/trips/).

Celine Cousteau, TreadRight ambassador, speaks of the difference between tourists financing the cruel treatment of elephants, versus visiting elephants in a rescue preserve © Karen Rubin/goingplacesfarandnear.com

“Travel is a privilege,” said Celine Cousteau, a documentary filmmaker and TreadRight Ambassador and storyteller. “Experience places and people, become a part of who they are. Travel fosters profound change. Travelers become storytellers. Traveling on an airplane has a carbon footprint, yes, but the value it brings more than compensates.  Travel is an opportunity to bring a thriving economy, conserve, preserve. Make a choice to do good and if travel, make it count.”

TTC’s ‘Make Travel Matter’ Pledge

TreadRight has made #maketravelmatter its mission and its theme and on this year’s World Tourism Day, made this pledge:

The Travel Corporation (TTC) has just announced its new Make Travel Matter Pledge, in celebration of World Tourism Day. Guided by The TreadRight Foundation, a joint initiative between The Travel Corporation’s family of award-winning  brands,  including  TrafalgarUniworldInsight Vacations, Luxury GoldContikiAfrican Travel, Inc.Lion World Travel, Brendan Vacations and Red Carnation Hotels the pledge serves as the next step in a long standing commitment to sustainable tourism and conscious travel.

“This World Tourism Day, Friday, September 27th, 2019, engaged citizens will examine the positive impact travel has on the globe and TreadRight is making its commitment public to Make Travel Matter,” the company stated.

Inspired by Palau’s First Lady, Debbie Remengesau who introduced the Palau Pledge, every one of TTC’s 10,000 team members and 42 companies worldwide are committing to make travel matter, with its new official pledge standing to help protect people, planet and wildlife. In celebration of World Tourism Day, all members of TTC’s family of brands will use the opportunity to stand up and personally commit to share TreadRight’s ethos as travelers, as travel providers and as members of the global travel industry.

Brett Tollman, chief executive officer of The Travel Corporation, commits the company and its 42 brands, and the TreadRight Foundation to “Make Travel Matter” for the planet, people and wildlife © Karen Rubin/goingplacesfarandnear.com

“Our Make Travel Matter Pledge is another step on our journey and an impactful one as it further solidifies our commitment to helping protect the destinations we work with, its communities and local wildlife,” Tollman said. “As responsible travelers, TreadRight’s ethos has become part of our company’s DNA and what we stand for, and we share our pledge with our guests as well as partners in hopes they will join us.”

MAKE TRAVEL MATTER PLEDGE

I will make my travel matter – for our planet, for people and for wildlife.

When I explore this planet, I will do my best to TreadRight.

I will refuse single use plastics when I can and recycle what I cannot avoid.

When possible, I will offset my travels.

When I meet new people, I will honor their home as I do my own and do so in the spirit of diversity and inclusion. I will purchase locally made items wherever possible and pay a fair price.

When I experience wildlife, I will do so in nature.

I will not ride animals that ought not be ridden, nor support animal cruelty in any way. 

Together, we will TreadRight upon the earth – and we will make our travel matter.

More information at TreadRight.org. #MakeTravelMatter

For more information about TTC, visit www.ttc.com.

TreadRight is not the only entity that facilitates authentic, transformative, responsible travel experiences – there is a whole travel industry subcategory, many represented by Center for Responsible Travel (responsibletravel.org),  Global Sustainable Tourism Council (gstcouncil.org), Earthcheck (earthcheck.org) and the Rainforest Alliance (https://www.rainforest-alliance.org).

See also:

NYT Travel Show: How to Be a Responsible Traveler… and Why

What I Learned From Traveling Around the World in 23 Days

_____________________________

© 2019 Travel Features Syndicate, a division of Workstyles, Inc. All rights reserved. Visit goingplacesfarandnear.com, www.huffingtonpost.com/author/karen-rubin, and travelwritersmagazine.com/TravelFeaturesSyndicate/. Blogging at goingplacesnearandfar.wordpress.com and moralcompasstravel.info. Send comments or questions to [email protected]. Tweet @TravelFeatures. ‘Like’ us at facebook.com/NewsPhotoFeatures

Devastating Hurricane Dorian Reminds of Vital Link Between Climate Action, Tourism & Sustainable Economy

Tourism creates jobs, provides a sustainable economy that preserves heritage and environment © Karen Rubin/goingplacesfarandnear.com

On World Tourism Day 2019, Patricia Affonso-Dass, president of the Caribbean Hotel and Tourism Association offered this message:

The theme of this year’s World Tourism Day, “Tourism and Jobs: A better future for all”, is particularly relevant for the Caribbean because no other sector creates more jobs or more opportunities in a wider variety of professions and skills. 

In addition to the 2.5 million people employed directly, many more benefit indirectly from the industry’s contributions to Caribbean health, wealth, education and the environment. Our infrastructure, schools, hospitals, public services, and parks and recreation facilities are all helped by this dynamic and growing industry – already the world’s largest sector but also its fastest growing.

The 2017 hurricanes and Hurricane Dorian that devastated some of our destinations reinforced the indispensable role of tourism in our lives. They remind us that for each tourism employee unable to work because of the storms, many members of their families were also affected.

Initiatives such as “Tourism Jobs for Bahamians”, just launched by the Caribbean Hotel and Tourism Association (CHTA) together with the Bahamas Hotel and Tourism Association (BHTA), are finding interim jobs for displaced industry professionals.

There will be more jobs as tourism recovers from the hurricanes and the industry resumes its healthy growth trend, and our task is to spread the benefits more equitably to a wider cross section of our people. We want to ensure women, youth, minorities, and the differently abled have open gateways to employment, ownership and leadership within the industry. There are over 1,000 different job and career paths in the industry, a fifth of which are at supervisory and management levels. Increasing diversity always strengthens companies and organizations, especially in tourism. Our visitors come from a wide range of backgrounds, so our people who welcome visitors to our shores should also reflect the full spectrum of our rich human diversity.

The Caribbean Hotel and Tourism Association, with the support of many of the region’s local associations and our members, is earnest about its mandate to develop our industry’s human resources. Well over 500 Caribbean nationals have received higher education scholarships through the CHTA Education Foundation. More than 1,000 chefs and several hundred bartenders have honed their skills through professional development opportunities that CHTA and the industry have provided through our Taste of the Caribbean initiative. 

Thousands of employees have benefited from industry-sponsored professional development training, including over 500 who attended “diversity in the workplace” courses over the past year. Earlier this year, CHTA launched its Young Leaders Initiative, in which dozens of young people are developing their leadership skills and their understanding of the industry and the opportunities it offers. 

This does not include the additional investments that independent hotels, resort brands, airlines, tour operators, attractions, taxi and transportation providers, vendors and other industry stakeholders, with their human resource professionals and employees, are making every day to deliver exceptional hospitality. 

Building upon a rich foundation, we have the responsibility to make more opportunities to develop our people and our industry, anticipating technological and consumer demand-driven changes which are now a constant. The recent collapse of the world’s oldest travel agency offers more lessons. While never losing sight of the fundamentals of hospitality, the dynamics of our industry demands our adaptability and responsiveness to change if we are not to face a similar fate.

Tourism can benefit every corner of our region and so on this World Tourism Day, we celebrate the importance of the industry and the employment and entrepreneurial opportunities it represents. We resolve individually and collectively, as businesses, governments and education and training institutions, to continue to invest in our people. 

In the Caribbean, “Tourism is Everyone’s Business”.

The Caribbean Hotel and Tourism Association (CHTA) is the Caribbean’s leading association representing the interests of national hotel and tourism associations. For more than 50 years, CHTA has been the backbone of the Caribbean hospitality industry. Working with some 1,000 hotel and allied members, and 33 National Hotel Associations, CHTA is shaping the Caribbean’s future and helping members to grow their businesses. Whether helping to navigate critical issues in sales and marketing, sustainability, legislative issues, emerging technologies, climate change, data and intelligence or, looking for avenues and ideas to better market and manage businesses, CHTA is helping members on issues which matter most.

For further information, visit www.caribbeanhotelandtourism.com.

Four Seasons Resort Nevis Partners with Sea Turtle Conservancy on Research

Four Seasons Resort Nevis sponsors GPS satellite transmitters to support the Sea Turtle Conservancy track the migration patterns of sea turtles that return to Nevis to lay their eggs, and this year, even with the Resort’s ongoing renovation, the research needed to continue. 

NEVIS, WEST INDIES – From June to October, the beaches of Nevis come alive with the scurrying of one of nature’s most beloved animals, the sea turtle. Each year, the partnership between Four Seasons Resort Nevis and the Sea Turtle Conservancy aims to educate and create awareness about the protection of these beautiful sea creatures through a joint program that helps researchers study the migration patterns of the endangered species that nest on Nevis’ beaches.

Four Seasons Resort Nevis sponsors GPS satellite transmitters to support the Sea Turtle Conservancy in tracking the migration patterns of sea turtles that return to Nevis to lay their eggs, and this year, even with the Resort’s ongoing renovation, the research needed to continue.

“This is our 13th year coming to Nevis and conducting research on these beautiful hawksbill sea turtles,” says David Godfrey, Executive Director of the Sea Turtle Conservancy. ”For us, this partnership is more than just the research; it’s an opportunity to be a part of the Nevisian community year after year and see how much they truly value our efforts and being a part of this very important initiative.”

Along with the help of the Nevis Turtle Group and Ignacio Ottley, one of longest standing sea turtle participants from the Resort, the team was able to successfully locate and track two new nesting hawksbill sea turtles on the beaches of Cades Bay, located just 15 minutes from Four Seasons.

As they headed out to the beach in the late evening, no sooner had they spotted the first turtle nesting along the beach. The conservation team began taking notes, measurements, and nesting patterns when another turtle began to make its way up the banks, just a few steps away. And, just like that “Spongie” and “Patches” were cleaned up, tagged and sent back to the ocean.

Just one week before the team came to Nevis, the Nevis Turtle Group was already out looking for turtles when they found “Sundrop” nesting on Jones Bay Beach. Initially tagged in 2016, her return to Nevis shows the thriving population on the island and that the turtles do come back to nest on the same beaches.

Three species of sea turtles nest on the shores of Nevis: the hawksbill, the leatherback, and the green turtle. These majestic creatures journey hundreds of miles each nesting season to return to the same place where they were hatched and, under the glow of the moonlight, lay the next generation of sea turtles that will one day make the same journey. With only 1 in 1,000 to 10,000 baby sea turtles surviving to adulthood, the sea turtle conservation program needs to continue tracking and protecting these animals for future generations.  To follow the tagged sea turtles, visit ConserveTurtles.org.

For more travel features, visit:

goingplacesfarandnear.com

goingplacesnearandfar.wordpress.com

moralcompasstravel.info

www.huffingtonpost.com/author/karen-rubin

travelwritersmagazine.com/TravelFeaturesSyndicate/

goingplacesfarandnear.tumblr.com/

instagram.com/going_places_far_and_near/

‘Like’ us on facebook.com/NewsPhotoFeatures

Twitter: @TravelFeatures

Experience 2020 Total Eclipse of Sun in Chile with Lost World Adventures

Four-day Eclipse trip in Chile with daily guided excursions and overnights in luxury Sibley tents for four days/three nights starting at $3150.00 per person.

Lost World Adventures is offering a Four-day Total Eclipse of the Sun trip in Chile with daily guided excursions and overnights in luxury Sibley tents for four days/three nights  starting at $3150.00 per person. 
 
Chile will be privileged once again with another Solar Eclipse that will occur near the city of Pucon in the Chile Lake District on December 14th, 2020. A specially-designed Glamping site will be setup in the area with a 4-day itinerary that will allow guests to explore the different natural and cultural aspects of the Araucania area, home of the Mapuche culture, prior to the Solar Eclipse. 
 
Overnight accommodations are in classic Sibley tents. From an original design dating back to 1856, the Sibley tents provide a luxurious stay in a comfortable environment, to revive the style of the camps that were mounted by European aristocratic travelers. The tents are 220 square feet in area. Made of 100% cotton canvas, they are waterproof with natural breathability. Pre-trip and post-trip options include the Chile Lake District, Torres del Paine National Park, Santiago and the surrounding Wine Region, Valparaiso and Vina del Mar, the Atacama Desert, Easter Island. 
 
Rate:
Price from $3,150.00 per person, based on double occupancy

Includes: 4 days/3 nights
Temuco Airport transfers
Accommodations in Sibley-style tents
All meals including buffet breakfast, lunch and dinner
Guided excursions

Excludes:
International and domestic airfare
Round-trip airfare Santiago-Temuco – $120, per person, based on 2019 fares
 
Web: www.lostworld.com

For more travel features, visit:

goingplacesfarandnear.com

goingplacesnearandfar.wordpress.com

moralcompasstravel.info

www.huffingtonpost.com/author/karen-rubin

travelwritersmagazine.com/TravelFeaturesSyndicate/

goingplacesfarandnear.tumblr.com/

instagram.com/going_places_far_and_near/

‘Like’ us on facebook.com/NewsPhotoFeatures

Twitter: @TravelFeatures

Belmond Royal Scotsman Launches Bespoke Excursions

Guests on the Belmond Royal Scotsman can choose to explore the night skies with a private stargazing excursion in the Cairngorms National Park complete with a certified astrologer whilst a late-night picnic is served under the stars, among the new bespoke excursions the luxury sleeper train has introduced.

Belmond Royal Scotsman, Scotland’s only luxury sleeper train, has introduced bespoke excursions that takes guests off the rails and into the wilds of Scotland. Guests can now tailor their itinerary by choosing from a range of activities including stargazing under some of the darkest skies in Europe, in the Cairngorms; hiking the gorges of Aviemore; canoeing on Loch Ness; clay pigeon shooting at Rothiemurchus Estate or teeing off for golf at some of Scotland’s most famous links courses.

Gary Franklin, Vice President, Trains & Cruises, Belmond comments, “Our guests are increasingly looking to personalize their experience and we hope these options give them the flexibility to see the Scotland of their choice.  The experiences showcase some of the real highlights of Scotland and allow guests to connect with nature through incredible Scottish landscapes. These new experiences appeal to everyone from adrenalin junkies to whisky enthusiasts and we are very excited to be able to offer stargazing.”

AFTER DARK

The Scottish Highlands offers a rich cluster of Dark Sky Discovery sites and is fast becoming one of the best places for stargazing in the world.  Guests can choose to explore the night skies with a private stargazing excursion in the Cairngorms National Park complete with a certified astrologer whilst a late-night picnic is served under the stars.

Ensuring a good night’s sleep, The Bamford Haybarn Spa Car, has introduced a new ‘B-Silent’ Treatment, designed to relax the body and prepare guests for a sound, restful night.

FOR ADRENLINE JUNKIES

For those with an adrenaline streak, activities now on offer include white water rafting, gorge walking in Aviemore, paragliding in Fort William or traditional Scottish outdoor pursuits such as clay pigeon shooting, falconry or quad biking at the famed Rothiemurchus Estate.

Guests can also choose to make the most of the outdoors and the breathtaking Scottish scenery with active excursion options such as guided cycle tours, guided hikes and options for running tours.

FOR WATER BABIES

The lochs of Scotland are an iconic part of the Scottish scenery and there are plenty of water-based activities to choose from for guests with a love of water – from spotting the mythical ‘Loch Ness’ monster on a boat cruise, kayaking in Clachnaharry Works Loch, dolphin spotting in the Moray Firth or a quiet fishing trip on the Atholl Estate in Pitlochry.

SCOTLAND’S BEST GOLF COURSES

Golf enthusiasts can choose to add a round of golf into their itinerary with tee times at Gleneagles, Royal Donorch Golf Club, Castle Stuart Golf Links, and Kingbarns Golf Links.

FOR A WEE DRAM

Scotland is known for its whisky and consequently its distilleries – Belmond Royal Scotsman itself serves over 60 varieties on board.

Those with a taste for the finest malts can choose to visit some of the Highland’s best-known distilleries. Including Glen Ord, one of the oldest in Scotland, Glenlivet Distillery, home of the iconic malt that inspired the Speyside Region; and Tullibardine Distillery in Blackford village where guests can join a tour led by the distillery’s master blender.

Departing from Edinburgh’s Waverley Station, Belmond Royal Scotsman travels on circular routes through the heart of the Highlands. With only 40 passengers on board, the train replicates a ‘Country House on Wheels’ and has two, three- or four-night itineraries. 

To book or for more information visit Belmond.com or call 0845 077 2222.

Excursion options vary depending on the route the train takes. Prices vary per excursion option and will be given upon booking.

A full list of excursions can be found here: https://www.belmond.com/trains/europe/scotland/belmond-royal-scotsman/activities

Video link can be found here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9lF7i1BxBpM  

For more information, please contact Alice Marshall Public Relations at [email protected].

Belmond Ltd., part of the world’s leading luxury group LVMH Moët Hennessy Louis Vuitton, has been a pioneer of luxury travel for more than 40 years, building a passion for authentic escapes into a portfolio of one-of-a-kind experiences in some of the world’s most inspiring and enriching destinations. 

Since the acquisition of the iconic Hotel Cipriani in Venice in 1976, Belmond has continued to push industry boundaries, taking discerning global travelers on surprising and unforgettable journeys spanning land, water, adventure and relaxation, with international acclaim. The portfolio of 46 properties extends across 24 countries, encompassing three luxury safari lodges, two river cruises, seven luxury trains, including the iconic Venice Simplon-Orient-Express, and the legendary ‘21’ restaurant in New York. From historic city landmarks like Belmond Cadogan Hotel and Belmond Copacabana Palace to hidden retreats at Belmond Cap Juluca and Belmond La Résidence d’Angkor, each incomparable property has its own timeless story to tell, yet the hallmarks of the brand thread through them all: heritage, craftsmanship, and a reputation for genuine, unscripted service in an unrivalled location create exceptional experiences that stir the soul. www.belmond.com

For more travel features, visit:

goingplacesfarandnear.com

goingplacesnearandfar.wordpress.com

moralcompasstravel.info

www.huffingtonpost.com/author/karen-rubin

travelwritersmagazine.com/TravelFeaturesSyndicate/

goingplacesfarandnear.tumblr.com/

instagram.com/going_places_far_and_near/

‘Like’ us on facebook.com/NewsPhotoFeatures

Twitter: @TravelFeatures