Destinations
US to end COVID-19 testing requirement for travelers
The White House is expected to announce on Friday that the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) will lift their COVID-19 testing requirement for travelers re-entering the United States from other countries, according to CNN. The new ruling will go into...
National Geographic Expeditions announces 2023 Signature Land Trips
National Geographic Expeditions has announced their 2023 itineraries for Signature Land, including an expanded Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia: Ancient Temples and Natural Wonders expedition. The Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia itinerary is a 17-day, 16-night journey across...
‘Let’s Do London’ tourism campaign launches to US audiences
London has launched their largest-ever international tourism campaign, welcoming travelers back to the UK capital. The $12.5 million "Let's Do London" campaign was launched to celebrate the lifting of US-UK travel restrictions. "Led by London & Partners, which...
Feature: A conversation with CityPASS on the future of travel
Things have begun to return to normal in the travel industry, but most agree that travel will likely never be exactly what it was prior to 2020. For the companies who survived through the pandemic, the world of travel is a very different place. Companies have adapted,...
Discover Puerto Rico invites visitors to ‘Live Boricua’
Discover Puerto Rico unveiled their latest brand campaign: 'Live Boricua.' Discover Puerto Rico is the Destination Marketing Organization (DMO) of the island, and is launching their campaign along with others in the Puerto Rican tourism industry. "A movement born out...
Diamond Head State Monument to implement reservation system, timed entry
The State of Hawai‘i’s Department of Land and Natural Resources (DLNR) announced that reservations will now be needed for visitors to Lē‘ahi – the Diamond Head State Monument, starting on May 12, 2022. "Diamond Head State Monument is one of Oʻahu’s most sought-after...
‘City of Museums’ Xi’an, China opens 2 major museums
Xi'an, China has two museums for travelers and locals to learn the history of the area. The Shaanxi Archaeological Museum was recently completed in Xi'an, China and will be open to the public on a trial basis from April 28. The Xi'an Museum had also officially...
Atlantis Paradise Island to undergo complete renovations
Atlantis Paradise Island is embarking on multimillion-dollar renovations at their resort in The Bahamas. The renovations include redevelopment of the Beach Tower, all Royal Tower guest rooms and suites, the Atlantis Casino, and the addition of another Michelin-starred...
United Airlines to launch or resume 30 transatlantic flights by June
United Airlines is launching the largest transatlantic expansion in its history, with 30 Transatlantic flights being launched or resumed between mid-April and early June of 2022. The new nonstop flight destinations include: Amman, Jordan Bergen, Norway Azores,...
Hawaiian Airlines to add Starlink broadband on all transatlantic flights
Hawaiian Airlines is the first major airline to sign a contract with Starlink to provide their broadband internet service to their transatlantic flights between the Hawaiian Islands and the continental United States, Asia, and Oceania. Hawaiian Airlines will include...
Silversea’s Antarctic cruises add departure from Puerto Williams, Chile
Silversea Cruises is launching an itinerary to Antarctica from Puerto Williams, Chile for the 2022-2023 season. The route will be traveled by the cruise line's three ice-class expedition ships: Silver Cloud, Silver Wind, and Silver Explorer. "I extend my gratitude to...
Feature: Cypress Tours is ready to welcome the world back to Italy
There are so many tour companies taking travelers all across the world, but some of the more unsung heroes are the smaller or one-person companies introducing travelers to new locations and cultures. Lynette of Cypress Tours has been taking groups to Italy for more...
European travel by Americans to increase 600 percent in summer 2022
Although many Americans have opted to travel domestically since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, the trend for summer of 2022 is leaning toward European travel. According to a report by Allianz Partners, the Top 10 Summer European Destinations, travel to Europe...
Travel & Tourism industry expected to create 126 million new jobs by 2032
The World Travel & Tourism Council's (WTTC) latest Economic Impact Report (EIR) shows expected signs of recovery, with nearly 126 million new jobs within the Travel & Tourism industry within the next decade. The report also found that the new jobs created will...
Top 10 airports in the world show 2021 show travel recovery
Although 2020 and 2021 were not normal for travel, the busiest airports in the world remained (at least relatively) the same with Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport taking the top spot once again. According to Airports Council International (ACI) World,...
Omni Hotels adds instant booking for groups and meeting planners
Omni Hotels & Resorts, along with Groups 360, have announced a new instant booking experience for groups and meeting spaces. GroupSync is Group360's proprietary online booking marketplace, and is available now at the Omni Frisco Hotel in Frisco, Texas, and will...
Southwest to increase service in California, Hawaii, Cuba
Southwest Airlines will be adding additional services to its flight schedules beginning in early June, including destinations like California, Hawaii, the Pacific Northwest, and the Caribbean. “For a gamut of travelers seeking business opportunity, faraway fun, or...
Hawaiian Airlines to resume nonstop Honolulu-Auckland flights
Hawaiian Airlines is planning to resume its nonstop flights between Honolulu (HNL) and Auckland (AKL) after two years of pandemic-related travel restrictions. The flights between Hawaii and New Zealand will resume three times a week beginning on July 2. "Our July...
Hurtigruten Expeditions announces 2023-24 season
Hurtigruten Expeditions, the world's largest expedition cruise line, has announced their 2023-2024 itineraries. The new itineraries span five continents and 150 different itineraries, including to the Galápagos, Antarctica, Arctic, West Africa, the Caribbean, Canary...
Palms Las Vegas announces grand re-opening April 27
Palms Casino Resort has announced plans to reopen on April 27, 2022, with fireworks on opening night. They will be open for stays on April 28, 2022. The iconic hotel had undergone a more than $600 million renovation beginning in 2019. "Our goal is to deliver a truly...
Hyatt adds 100+ all-inclusive resorts to rewards program
Hyatt Hotels is adding to its rewards portfolio, with the addition of more than 100 luxury all-inclusive resorts across seven brands to its AMR Collection portfolio. The new resorts will join the program in phases, beginning with six Cancun resorts joining the World...
Four Seasons launches Tuscany driving tour
Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts have unveiled Beyond by Four Seasons, "An Exclusive Driving Journey Through Tuscany," as their latest destination tour. The weeklong tour will be curated by the brand and showcase the Tuscan countryside by luxury car with the Four...
WeTravel partners with Tourism Cares for Meaningful Travel Map of North America
WeTravel has announced they will be sponsoring Tourism Cares' Meaningful Travel Map of North America, which will help travel businesses connect with bookable, sustainable experiences by adding them directly to new or existing itineraries. Visit the Meaningful Travel...
Vail Resorts purchases majority of Swiss ski resort
Vail Resorts are moving into Europe. The company announced they are purchasing a majority stake in Andermatt-Sedrun Sport AG in Central Switzerland from Andermatt Swiss Alps AG (ASA). The purchase will help Vail Resorts invest in the Europe market, with a resort that...
U.S. Travel asks the White House to phase out COVID travel restrictions
The U.S. Travel Association is the latest association to call on the White House to phase out pandemic-era restrictions. The letter to incoming White House COVID-19 response coordinator Dr. Ashish Jha asked for travel to resume fully. The letter pointed to countries...
Air New Zealand launches flagship JFK-AKL flight
Just a few weeks after New Zealand announced their reopening to international travelers, Air New Zealand has announced a nonstop New York City to Auckland flight. The flight will operate three times a week and will run between John F. Kennedy Airport in New York and...
![Islands of Tahiti launch campaign to welcome ‘treasured’ travelers [VIDEO]](https://destinationandtravelnews.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/islands-of-tahiti-treasured-campaign-400x250.jpg)
Islands of Tahiti launch campaign to welcome ‘treasured’ travelers [VIDEO]
The Islands of Tahiti launched a new campaign: “When did you last Feel Treasured?” The Feel Treasured campaign is hoping to reach travelers who are ready for adventure, romance, or to relax after an exhausting two years. Tahiti is allowing travelers who are vaccinated...
Viking leads new Iceland cruise trend
Iceland has been a popular destination for travelers for year, in part to the country's tourism campaigns and in part to IcelandAir providing a stopover service for the country. And now cruise lines have taken the hint and are offering circumnavigations of the island....
VisitBritain & British Airways team up for new tourism campaign
VisitBritain and British Airways have teamed up to promote Britain in the United States, with a new campaign called "Meanwhile in Britain." According to Travel Weekly, the multi-million dollar campaign kicks off a three year partnership between the two companies. "The...
Report: EU’s tourism saw significant improvement in 2021
Those in the tourism industry understand how locations across the world have struggled since 2020. But as countries begin to open up and remove restrictions, tourism is making a comeback. The European Union's (EU) Eurostat found that tourism in the EU improved overall...
New Zealand will welcome visitors for first time since 2020
Just days after Australia announced they will be reopening to visitors, New Zealand is following suit. The island country closed at the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic and remained closed the last two years. Beginning on April 13, vaccinated visitors from Australia...
ASTA asks White House to forego testing requirement for fully-vaccinated travelers
Many Americans are still avoiding international travel because of the testing requirement upon reentering the country, even if they are vaccinated. The American Society of Travel Advisors (ASTA) has asked the White House to reconsider testing requirements for...
Thailand to relax travel requirements, beginning in February
Thailand is planning to relax their entry requirements beginning in February, after getting through a short Omicron COVID surge. During a Thursday meeting of the Center for COVID-19 Situation Administration, Thailand Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha and the Thai...
Map: What countries are open & what are travel restrictions?
With constantly changing travel restrictions around the world, Sherpa has put together an interactive map to help travelers and travel advisors stay up to date on the current requirements and restrictions. The interactive travel restrictions map allows you to see the...
Wellness travel is expected to surpass $1.1 billion by 2025
Wellness tourism continues to grow, with an expected growth of 20.9 percent every year through 2025, according to a new report. The report, The Global Wellness Economy: Looking Beyond COVID by the Global Wellness Institute, found that the industry will reach nearly...
Italy to pay cruise lines after Venice ship ban
The Italian government is paying cruise lines for their decision to ban large ships from the Venice lagoon. According to Italian newspaper The Local, the compensation will come out to 57.5 million euros, or around $65 million. Around 30 million euros will be allocated...
Restored Grenada Underwater Sculpture Park is unveiled
The Grenada Tourism Authority (GTA) has completed the renovation of the Grenada Underwater Sculpture Park (USP), which is located off the West Coast of Grenada in the Molinere Beauséjour Marine Protected Area. A destination for snorkelers and divers, the Grenada...
Feature: Visit Sun Valley on the future of tourism, welcoming new types of visitors
Sun Valley, Idaho came to fame in the 1940s and 1950s when Hollywood arrived, with films from stars like Abbott & Costello, Lucille Ball, Marilyn Monroe, and Glenn Miller. The area was also home to Ernest Hemingway (he wrote For Whom The Bell Tolls there, as well...
Barbados becomes an independent republic, with no more queen
Barbados is officially a republic, having separated themselves from Queen Elizabeth II. The ceremony took place in Bridgetown, with the swearing in of Dame Sandra Mason as president. Barbadan native Rihanna attended the ceremony, along with Prince Charles. The move...
Thailand’s reopening gives insight to other countries
Thailand's reopening has other Asian countries looking at how to open, and what that opening may look like. Although tourism in Thailand is increasing, it is slow and steady for the country. According to Reuter, Thailand has 106,117 foreign tourists between January...
Hyatt completes acquisition of Apple Leisure Group
Apple Leisure Group (ALG) has a new owner, as Hyatt Hotel Corporation has completed their acquisition of the travel company. The acquisition includes 100 hotels in 10 countries of ALG's AMR Collection, which will double the number of Hyatt resorts around the world....
Survey: 63% of Americans plan to travel for the holidays
Americans are looking to travel for the holidays in 2021, according to a survey by The Vacationer. The survey found that 63 percent of American adults (161 million people) are planning to travel for at least one holiday before the end of 2021, and 42 percent of...
Valencia and Bordeaux named 2022 European Capital of Smart Tourism winners
The European Capital of Smart Tourism (ECST) competition has selected two cities as their 2022 winners: Bordeaux, France and Valencia, Spain. The two winners will receive their official award at the Award Ceremony during the European Tourism Forum gala dinner on 16...
CRVA opens expanded $127 million Charlotte Convention Center
The city of Charlotte's new Charlotte Convention Center expansion opened this week after nearly two years of construction. The $126.9 expansion was welcomed by the city of Charlotte and the Charlotte Regional Visitors Authority (CRVA). The new center broke ground in...
Grand Teton, Yellowstone visitor numbers shows growth of outdoor travel
Grand Teton Park in Wyoming has already surpassed their past visitor records in 2021, in the first nine months of the year. The park, as well as nearby Yellowstone, have shown an increase in visitors as people look to get outdoors. Between January and September 2021,...
US to allow foreign travelers starting in November, with stipulations
The United States will be allowing in foreign tourists beginning in November, as long as they are fully vaccinated, according to White House Assistant Press Secretary Kevin Munoz. "The US’ new travel policy that requires vaccination for foreign national travelers to...
Fiji to reopen after nearly 2 years of being closed
After nearly two years of being closed, Fiji has announced they are reopening and are ready to welcome visitors, starting in December 2021. Fiji will be reopening with entry requirements in place, including required vaccines, providing negative RT-PCR tests taken...
Hawaii begins easing restrictions on events
Hawaii is looking to ease restrictions on gatherings, according to a news conference held by Hawaii Gov. David Ige and Honolulu Mayor Rick Blangiardi on Friday, Oct. 8. In August, after a spike in COVID-19 infection rates, Mayor Blangiardi restricted large gatherings,...
Australia will lift travel ban plan for citizens, months earlier than expected
Australia will begin lifting their travel bans for international travel starting in November, according to a new plan by Prime Minister Scott Morrison. Australia's government had originally said they would not be opening any sooner than 2022. The new plan would allow...
Top travel trending locations for holidays include Florida, Mexico
Travelers are once again looking forward to holiday travel, and are already planning. According to a survey conducted by Expedia, the top destinations include beach and mountain locations. "Whether you're hoping to spend your holidays on the sand or on a ski slope,...
Travel trend: Wellness is an important part of future trips
Although wellness has always been a travel niche, it has been growing in popularity in the last few months. According to a poll conducted by American Express, 76 percent of travelers want to improve their well-being while traveling and 68 percent said they are...
SE Asian islands are planning reopenings this fall
Much of Southeast Asia closed to tourists in 2020 due to COVID-19, but a few of them are reopening. Islands in SE Asia, including Thailand, Vietnam, and Cambodia, kept their COVID rates low in 2020 and 2021 due to the closures. Thailand officially reopened to tourism...
Vaccinated travelers to the Bahamas will no longer need a COVID-19 test before travel
The Bahamas has changed their visitor requirements for fully-vaccinated travelers. As of May 1, those travelers will no longer need to provide a negative COVID-19 test prior to entering the country. Travelers who are not fully vaccinated will still need to upload a...
NYC mayor: The city will ‘fully reopen’ by July 1
New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio said he expects the city to "fully reopen" by July 1, with all COVID-19 restrictions lifted by then, according to the Associated Press. "We are ready for stores to open, for businesses to open, offices, theaters, full strength," he...
Los Cabos expects return to pre-pandemic numbers by summer 2021
As things begin to reopen, locations that rely on tourism and meetings are figuring out the best ways to open safely and welcome visitors back to their towns. Los Cabos has done a lot since the beginning of the pandemic to be safe and encourage the reopening of travel...
European Commission: Vaccinated Americans may visit Europe as early as summer
It looks like American tourists who have been fully vaccinated may be able to visit the European Union as early as summer 2021, according to the New York Times. Ursula von der Leyen, president of the European Commission, told the New York Times in an interview that...
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A&K Travel Group acquires Crystal Cruises’ name, 2 ships
A&K Travel Group has announced the acquisition of the Crystal Cruises name, as well as two ships: the Crystal Serenity and Crystal Symphony. A&K's goal is to relaunch the ships in 2023 after "extensive refurbishment" and will operate under the name "Crystal...
US to end COVID-19 testing requirement for travelers
The White House is expected to announce on Friday that the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) will lift their COVID-19 testing requirement for travelers re-entering the United States from other countries, according to CNN. The new ruling will go into...
Feature: A conversation with CityPASS on the future of travel
Things have begun to return to normal in the travel industry, but most agree that travel will likely never be exactly what it was prior to 2020. For the companies who survived through the pandemic, the world of travel is a very different place. Companies have adapted,...
Discover Puerto Rico invites visitors to ‘Live Boricua’
Discover Puerto Rico unveiled their latest brand campaign: 'Live Boricua.' Discover Puerto Rico is the Destination Marketing Organization (DMO) of the island, and is launching their campaign along with others in the Puerto Rican tourism industry. "A movement born out...
Diamond Head State Monument to implement reservation system, timed entry
The State of Hawai‘i’s Department of Land and Natural Resources (DLNR) announced that reservations will now be needed for visitors to Lē‘ahi – the Diamond Head State Monument, starting on May 12, 2022. "Diamond Head State Monument is one of Oʻahu’s most sought-after...
‘City of Museums’ Xi’an, China opens 2 major museums
Xi'an, China has two museums for travelers and locals to learn the history of the area. The Shaanxi Archaeological Museum was recently completed in Xi'an, China and will be open to the public on a trial basis from April 28. The Xi'an Museum had also officially...
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