Author: Alicia

  • Nicaragua launches new coffee trail

    The Nicaragua Tourist Board has launched the Coffee Trail, a brand new tourist route so that they can give visitors an authentic experience of the northern region of the rustic.

    The Coffee Trail covers five regional departments – Estelí, Jinotega, Madriz, Matagalpa, and Nueva Segovia – and aims to point out visitors the various culture, food, scenery and tourism products of this area.  Visitors following the route will travel through several coffee and tobacco plantations and stay in charming rural hotels or guest farmhouses where they may be able to participate in everyday activities.  They may be able to hike through nature reserves, visit picturesque villages and towns, and spot how the locals produce beautiful handicrafts made from marble, clay or tusa (corn skin).  The local gastronomy is another main attraction, including several corn-based dishes.

    In Matagalpa, travellers can discover more in regards to the history of tobacco and low production within the area on the National Coffee Museum.  The dept of Jinotega is the country’s main producer of coffee, renowned for its quality.  In Estelí, visitors can choose amongst several natural parks – Cerro Tisey-La Estanzuela, Miraflores-Moropolente, Canta-Gallo, and La Patasta – to enjoy beautiful scenery.  Madriz is known for its ‘rosquillas’, or typical doughnuts, perfect to accompany an amazing cup of coffee.  Nueva Segovia is understood for its colonial and revolutionary history, and the common handicrafts made by the local indigenous community.

    The Coffee Trail offers visitors a mix of indigenous traditions, history, lush natural landscapes and a rich biodiversity, in conjunction with the warmest welcome from the locals, to offer an authentic experience of Northern Nicaragua.

  • News: Turkish Airlines sponsors Porsche Tennis Grand Prix

    Turkish Airlines is likely one of the world’s fastest growing airlines and is currently the fourth biggest in Europe. The corporate is a member of Star Alliance, a number one international airline alliance. Istanbul, the geographically ideally placed hub, offers excellent connections to the Near and Middle East, Central Asia, the Indian sub-continent in addition to to the Far East and Africa. The innovative Comfort Class, which fills the distance between the economy and business classes, have been available on long-haul flights since October 2010.

    Turkish Airlines offers both international operating groups and small and medium-sized companies a beautiful corporate customer programme with its “Turkish Corporate Club” – partners take advantage of discounted ticket prices, increased baggage allowances and various other advantages for his or her employees.

    Currently Turkish Airlines serves over 220 destinations in almost 100 countries. As for Germany, Turkish Airlines operates flights to Turkey from 12 different cities – a hit story that began with the primary flight to Frankfurt in 1960. Along with its Star Alliance partners, Turkish Airlines today offers greater than 21,000 flights daily to over 1,300 destinations in almost 200 countries worldwide.

    With a median aircraft age of lower than six years, Turkish Airlines’ fleet is among the world’s youngest. Initially of 2010 Turkish Airlines ordered, contrary to the fad inside the aviation industry, 40 short and medium-haul Airbus A320 and Boeing 737 NG (Next Generation) jets. In the intervening time Turkish Airlines operates a complete of 202 airplanes and recently ordered further medium-haul planes from Airbus.

    In 2007, Turkish Airlines received a four-star rating from the independent Skytrax institute. Three years later in 2010 the airline won the prize for Best Catering Economy Class. On the 2011 and 2012 Skytrax World Airline Awards, Turkish Airlines was honoured in three categories: as well as the precise Airline Europe distinction it was also given the award for the world’s best Premium Economy Class Seat. Turkish Airlines was also named Best Airline Southern Europe for the third consecutive year. Skytrax evaluates airline service and quality standards and in doing so it uses as much as 750 different parameters.

    Recommended

  • Mantis opens operations on seventh continent

    Mantis, a family-run choice of award-winning, privately-owned, five-star properties is now the one hotel group on this planet to have a presence on all seven continents.

    The group has signed with a suite of unique bush camps in Australia, called Wild Bush Luxury, giving Mantis its seventh continental footprint.

    Mantis prides itself on working with hotels that represent the best example in their kind and celebrate the culture, gastronomy, architecture and nature of the locations wherein they’re found.

    In-the-know travellers can enjoy diverse experiences including quintessentially British stays at London’s Draycott Hotel and 16th century country house-hotel Ellenborough Park within the Cotswolds.

    Moving further into Europe guests can witness the natural wonder of the Northern Lights on the ICEHOTEL and Lapland Resorts, or if journeying to Africa can enjoy unique river-based game viewing aboard the Zambezi Queen.

    Mantis also offers guests incredible experiential journeys including exploring the various scenery of South America with explora, or a sumptuous adventure to Antarctica at White Desert.

    Continuing to expand their brand under the vision of “unearthing the exceptional” this year has also seen Mantis embark at the development of a five star hotel at the island of St. Helena, within the South Atlantic Ocean, 2,000km from the closest major land mass.

    The island is currently only accessed by the last commercially operating Royal Mail Ship, but shall be opening its own airport in January 2016.

    Mantis has also recently partnered with ICS Group in India forming a three way partnership ‘Ayana Hospitality’ targeting providing hospitality services to high-end boutique hotels and lodges, primarily in nature destinations.

    To make certain that Mantis continues to give member properties the suitable sales, marketing and management solutions, Mantis has also formed a partnership with global boutique hotel specialist, Mr & Mrs Smith.

    The partnership sees Mantis’ new booking engine channel being powered by Mr & Mrs Smith’s proprietary technology.

    The business is additionally developing into other areas having identified a chance within the adventure travel market.

    In September 2012 it launched the Bear Grylls Survival Academy as portion of Worldwide Experience, allowing clients to experience extreme activities in the group.

  • Columbus survey reveals top 10 items Brits must tackle holiday

    A survey conducted by travel insurance specialist Columbus Direct has found some surprising statistics on which item Brits cannot do without on holiday.

    The top three items that Britons insist on taking with them on holiday are smartphones (33%), books or an ebook reader (22%) and sunglasses (16%). Surprisingly, only 6% said that expensive gadgets including tablets or an iPad was their essential holiday companion and only .5% said they couldn’t do without their camera.

    The indisputable fact that smartphones were the number 1 option and more important than sunglasses and swimwear combined illustrates a shift towards people using their phones as all-in-one tools with camera, video, and entertainment capabilities as well as communication functions.

    The top 10 items Brits should tackle holiday:

    1.  Smartphone – 33%
    2.  Books / ebook reader – 22%
    3.  Sunglasses – 16%
    4.  Swimwear – 11%
    5.  Make-up – 7%
    6.  iPad or Tablet – 6%
    7.  Flip-flops – 2%
    8.  Suncream – .5%
    9.  Medication – 1%
    10.  Camera – .5%

    Of course not everyone agreed with the pinnacle ten with some people telling us they couldn’t travel without their spouse, comfortable shoes and the conventional British must have… tea-bags.

    Greg Lawson, Head of Retail at Columbus Direct, said: “Our customer survey has revealed some intriguing figures. In relation to taking gadgets on holiday, smartphones are the number 1 choice. For those individuals that do favor to take more valuable items reminiscent of iPads and tablets abroad, it is very important note that ordinary travel policies will only cover as much as a specific amount for gadgets so if additional cover is required travellers should check out options akin to a gadget policy add-on.”

    “While all of us have different necessities we have to bring with us on holiday, the only essential is travel insurance documents. Whilst we wouldn’t expect this to be first thing people think about it is important to bring copies of your policy documents with you.

    “Your policy will contain critical details about what to do in an emergency, including medical assistance numbers. It’s going to also list full details on what you’re and aren’t covered for. Here’s important to grasp before choosing to participate in an activity for which you’ll not be covered.”

  • News: IHG opens fourth Crowne Plaza in Oman

    IHG (InterContinental Hotels Group) is continuous to enhance its presence in Oman with the outlet of Crowne Plaza Duqm today. The recent hotel will join IHG’s three existing Crowne Plaza hotels in Oman’s major cities – Muscat, Sohar and Salalah – in addition to InterContinental Muscat.

    The beachfront hotel is found near the rapidly expanding port and dry dock at Duqm.  With the launch of activity at Duqm Commercial Port earlier this month and the predicted opening of Duqm International Airport in 2014, the hotel is ready to capture the growing corporate travel market.

    Crowne Plaza Duqm’s 213 spacious rooms including 21 suites all offer direct sea views. Guests can benefit from the hotel’s outdoor pool area, fully equipped fitness centre and five restaurants and lounges. There’s plenty to do outside the hotel, too, because of its picturesque location on Duqm beachfront; explore beautiful natural beaches, wander down Duqm Corniche, or discover the geological rock gardens, all within the nearby area.

    In addition to the hotel’s leisure facilities, Crowne Plaza Duqm offers state-of-the-art business and meeting facilities including a 780 m2 Event Centre, consisting of two ballrooms and one boardroom. The development Centre also comprises a business centre and 4 separate meeting rooms.

    Crowne Plaza Duqm presents a lot of cuisines to fit every palate. Souq is the hotel’s all-day-dining restaurant, while Frontier will cater to the sports fan seeking to make amends for all of the latest sporting action. Gastronomic delights await diners at Al Safi, which treats guests to a spectacular seafood dining experience. At Splash, the poolside snack bar, guests can enjoy a refreshing drink from the relief in their sun lounger.

    Ali Salih, General Manager of Crowne Plaza Duqm, commented: “Duqm is fast becoming a hotspot for travel and business within Oman.  With the hotel’s location at the beachfront combined with its premium business facilities we’re confident that Crowne Plaza Duqm is a fantastic offering for business and leisure guests alike. We glance forward to a successful opening period.”

    Pascal Gauvin, Chief Operating Office, India, Middle East and Africa for IHG, added: “Thanks to its discuss growing its travel tourism industry, Oman is still crucial marketplace for us within the Middle East.  With the brand new opening of Crowne Plaza Duqm, we now operate hotels spanning from Muscat all the way down to Salalah.  We’re delighted to now be open in Duqm because it continues its exciting expansion.”

    IHG opened InterContinental Muscat in 1997, the city’s first five-star hotel.  The gang also now operates four Crowne Plaza hotels in Duqm, Muscat, Sohar and Salalah, with InterContinental Muscat Hills and Holiday Inn Muscat Airport inside the development pipeline.

    Recommended