World News

The Maldives is famous as a picture-perfect holiday destination, but sadly most visitors remain marooned on the white sandy beaches and crystal clear lagoons of their luxury resort islands – oblivious to the rich and diverse local cultural experiences they could be enjoying. For those seeking an insight into the real Maldives beyond the manicured beaches, an eye-opening trip to see Eid Kulhivaru – a four-day national celebration of the Islamic holiday Eid Ul Adha featuring spectacular street performances, Mashi Maali 'ghosts of mud' parades, feasts, and Bodu Beru drumming and dancing.

For millennia Tokyoites have looked to the stars during the harvest moon celebration. More recently though, it's the stars that look to Tokyo for the latest in fashion inspiration. As the autumn moon waxes above Japan, guests of Palace Hotel Tokyo can experience Tsukimi, a moon-viewing celebration that dates back a thousand years. Between September 1 and October 31, “Moon Over Tokyo” guests will enjoy a bottle of 1-1-1 daiginjyo sake crafted exclusively for the hotel by the famed Hakkaisan brewery.

Barbados, this is a deep island. While so much goes on above ground, there’s a lot happening under the surface as well.  And far underground in the heart of inland Barbados lies Harrison Caves, subterranean caves formed by erosion of the limestone and shell rock left behind as Barbados rose out of the sea. The island of Barbados is unique to all other Caribbean islands by the way it was formed.

For the fifth year now since 2011, the famous Marie-Antoinette restaurant, one of the top Creole restaurants in Seychelles, has scooped another Certificate of Excellence from TripAdvisor, a feat which can only be achieved by a dedicated team. Located not far from the Victoria capital, the Marie-Antoinette restaurant is renowned for its unique authentic local cuisine and traditional architecture.

The head of one of the world’s most acclaimed airlines will keynote the region’s most valued tourism gathering. The president and chief executive officer of JetBlue Airways, Robin Hayes, will address the Caribbean Tourism Organization (CTO)’s State of the Industry Conference (SOTIC), which takes place from 21 -23 October in Curaçao.

Grand Bahama Island visitor arrivals and occupancy levels have increased significantly this year. Statistics show that the occupancy rate for Grand Bahama Island in June has increased by 18.2% compared to the previous year, to 72%. Another sign of increased demand is a 40.1% increase in the year-to-date number of room nights sold in June was 253,941 versus 181,248 from the previous year.

The Saint Lucia Tourist Board and industry partners have hailed the just concluded North American Showcase “another fruitful and productive marketplace encounter”. The 2015 North American Showcase attracted twenty-five international wholesale and tour operator companies, and double that number out of the domestic market.

The Landings St. Lucia has appointed international business executive Kathy Taylor interim General Manager following the departure of Caribbean hospitality veteran Kashmie Ali, who led a turnaround of fortunes at the premier Caribbean resort over the past year. Ali, who helped to bolster the resort's success in the luxury villa resort category, opted to pursue new opportunities following his one year stint which produced strong results and increased revenues.

Visitors to the French Indian Ocean island of Reunion are able to enjoy the spectacle of a third eruption, when the Piton de la Fournaise started to spit fire again last week. The previous eruptions took place in February and May and were widely publicized around the world, leading to a stream of volcanic eruption spotters coming to Reunion Island.

Following the tragic and reportedly illegal killing of Cecil the lion, Born Free Foundation and Born Free USA today called on the US Government and European Union to take urgent steps to end the import of lion trophies and for an international moratorium on lion hunting. The global outcry following Cecil’s death has sent shock waves across the world and has further ignited the political and public debate on the plight of wild lions and the inhumane actions of sport hunters. 

Qatar Airways Cargo have launched an express airfreight service for door-to-door and time-critical shipments. The new QR On-Board Courier service have rolled out across the cargo carrier’s global network, enabling customers to book time-definite airfreight delivery solutions.

The Antigua and Barbuda Tourism Authority, North America was one of the main sponsors of the annual Chefs and Champagne event held at the grand Wolffer Estate Vineyard in the Hamptons Long Island. Antiguan Chef, Melvin Myers of Success Catering was one of over 40 select chefs from across the globe featured at the culinary show.

Visitors to Lisbon next month will be treated to an innovative, limited-run public spectacle inspired by a legendary love story. Between the 7th and 16th August, the façade of Arco da Rua Augusta, one of the city's focal points, will be 'transformed' into a giant screen to display an impressive new multimedia show.

The Dolomites, a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2009, are one of the world's best-loved walking areas thanks to the dramatic scenery and wide range of routes on offer, from easy, family-friendly hikes to the challenging via ferrata (literally, iron roads, which were created during the First World War to assist troop movement).

After 15 years of trying, a white-bearded Florida man won the "Papa" Hemingway Look-Alike Contest, a highlight of Key West's annual Hemingway Days celebration that ended Sunday, 26 July 2015.  Charlie Boice, 56, a retired air traffic controller from Palm Beach Gardens, triumphed over 121 other entrants in the final round of the contest that concluded late Saturday after a three-way draw. Preliminary rounds were held on Thursday and Friday last week.

Choice Hotels International, Inc. executive, Bill Clegg, a respected hotel industry professional, believes that as the Caribbean tourism industry recovers, its leadership should work more collectively to ensure growth in the region is sustained.