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Special Deal to Sicily for Easter

2010-03-12T08:44:00.000-08:00

The Crossroad of cultures and ancient peoples enfolded in myth and history. More Greek than Roman, more Norman than Italian, the island always surpasses visitors' expectations with an incredible array of historical remains. The land that attracted the Phoenicians and the Carthaginians is surrounded by sea once sailed by Ulysses' ship. It enticed the Arabs, the Normans, the Spaniards and Swabians all leaving their footprints on the island surviving in the genes and traditions of modern-day Sicilians

Sicily Easter Special:

One time only departure
3rd of April 2010 - $998 USD per person.

http://www.italytraveltours.biz/Sicily-tour-classic.htm

Additional 5% off for MEMBERS for this one departure only.

Spend Easter in Mythical Sicily during the Spring Blossom Season!!!

http://www.italytraveltours.biz/Sicily-tour-classic.htm

Italy Farm Holidays

2010-02-20T09:19:00.000-08:00

Farm visits in rural Italy with authentic Roman-style buildings surrounded by needle cypress trees amid rolling wheat fields or extensive wineries are highlights of any visits to Italy. They usually appeal to well traveled and more mature travelers that have already visited Italy’s major cities and unparalleled artistic sites.

The farm stays with accommodation featuring living, kitchen and bedrooms can also be used for family vacations since they usually feature swimming pools and other recreational facilities. They are in save and idyllic surroundings and are ideal bases to discover romantic country sides in a leisurely way by driving around hilltop stone villages, Etruscan ruins and beautiful vistas. Most popular regions for farm holidays in Italy are Tuscany and Umbria

Spring Concert Season Rome Doria Pamphili Palace

2010-02-19T09:23:00.000-08:00

Concert Season at the Doria Pamphili Palace in Rome

The beautiful Doria Pamphilj Palace in Rome, dating back to the 15th century released its new spring concert schedule. In addition to being one of Rome’s largest palaces, the Doria Pamphili Palace is one of Rome's most important picture galleries privately owned.
The Pamphili family private art collection has over 600 paintings including masterpieces by Velazquez, Titian, Caravaggio. Many of the private apartments have the original furnishing dating back mostly to the 16ht-17th century.
It is already the palace’s 32nd concert season with chamber music performances taking place in the Throne Room fit for a royalty. The Throne Room is part of the private Doria Pamphilj Apartments of the Doria-Pamphilj-Landi, a princely Roman family. The chamber spring concert series starting on 10 April 201, feature works by Alessandro Scarlatti, Antonia Vivaldi and several other Italian composers.
It is also possible to arrange private, exclusive concerts on different dates, either in Palazzo Doria Pamphilj or in other historical buildings or churches.

Umbria: Art and Culture

2010-02-16T09:57:00.000-08:00

The beauty of Umbria is seductive and at times seems quite perfect. The secret lies in the splendid balance between man and nature, in the bond that Umbrians have always had with their land their rich past. In the Middle Ages in the Renaissance, it was a pulsating region at the heart of Italian historical, cultural, and religious events, and its cities flourished in an extraordinary manner, accumulating an enormous wealth of artistic jewels. So it is entirely natural that the cities of Umbria attract tourists and travelers who are thirsty for beauty.

Hotel Classifications

2010-02-16T09:50:00.000-08:00

Hotel stars are a well-known tool for classifying the quality of accommodation world wide. However, the ranking is not unified and as a result, a visitor may receive much different experience from hotels that have the same number of stars. A five-star hotel in Uganda will most likely provide a different set of services than a five-star hotel in the U.S.

However, the problematic situation seems to be changing now. A new scheme has been recently founded under the patronage of HOTREC – Hotels, Restaurants & Café in Europe (a society of EU hotel and restaurant associations). On their meeting in Prague this December the hotel associations of Austria, Czech Republic, Germany, Hungary, Netherlands, Sweden and Switzerland established a “Hotelstars Union”.

More than 17,000 hotels that are situated in these seven countries could be thus soon categorised based upon the same criteria. The new classification system will be launched in Austria, Czech Republic, Germany and Sweden from 1 January 2010. Hungary will implement the categorization in 2010, and Switzerland and the Netherlands in 2011.

So far, the countries use different classification schemes but as soon as they start to use the new system, it will be much easier for a guest to pick a hotel based on the number of its stars. The common classification is based on 270 criteria, which are based on guest surveys. Among the judged criteria is e.g. the width of beds, Internet-PC in the room, safe in the room or ironing service.

The idea of common hotel classification is not new but only now it can be actually implemented at least in some European countries. Other members of HOTREC are invited to join the Hotelstars Union and it is expected that the membership will grow to 15 within two years.

Not everyone, however, agrees with the idea of the common classification. For example, the International Hotel & Restaurant Association (IH&RA) considers current national hotel classification and grading systems as sufficient. They point out that standards as well as customer expectations vary country to country. According to the IH&RA, one single 5-star-system cannot capture the entire diversity of hotels worldwide. They also add that the cost for creation of a global standard would be extremely high.

New Luxury Hotels

2010-02-15T11:41:00.000-08:00

TO open a hotel in 2010 — when the industry is in its worst slump in decades — requires chutzpah.

Who’s got chutzpah? Donald Trump, for one. The Trump SoHo (www.trumpsohohotel.com), a 391-room hotel in Lower Manhattan, is expected to open this spring, towering over its low-rise neighbors with a lot of razzle-dazzle.

Oh, and Kelly Wearstler has chutzpah. The former Playboy centerfold is putting the finishing touches on the Viceroy Snowmass in Colorado and the Viceroy Anguilla in the Caribbean (www.viceroyhotelsandresorts.com). Both have the kind of glamour that have made Ms. Wearstler a top interior designer and Bravo TV star.

And Giorgio Armani has chutzpah, or whatever it’s called in Italian. This spring, he plans to unveil the first in a much-hyped chain of Armani Hotels (www.armanihotels.com). Where? In the Burj Dubai, the tallest building in the world. The hotel features lots of dark leather and wood and — given Dubai’s economic troubles — will stand either as a symbol of rebirth or of hubris.

It won’t be the only new hotel in the emirate. One & Only Resorts (www.oneandonlyresorts.com) is set to open a new resort on the tree-shaped Palm Jumeirah Island. So what if there’s already a One & Only (the Royal Mirage) overlooking Palm Jumeirah Island? Call it the Two & Only.

Another desert emirate sprouting new hotels is Dubai’s oil-rich sister, Abu Dhabi. The biggest surprise there may be the Yas (www.theyashotel.com). Designed by Asymptote, the hot architecture firm based in New York, the 499-room Yas Hotel is covered in a shell of diamond-shaped glass panels, like a high-tech veil. Even more surprising, it bridges Abu Dhabi’s new Formula One racetrack.

While new hotels in the Middle East are making bold architectural statements, European hotels seem to be slipping into older buildings unobtrusively. In Venice, Philippe Starck designed the modern, 26-room Palazzina Grassi (www.palazzinagrassi.it) to disappear behind a 15th-century facade. In Amsterdam, the 23-room Canal House Hotel (www.canalhouse.nl) is set to open in a group of charming old houses on the Keizergracht, with canal views and contemporary styling.

In London, the Dean Street Townhouse (www.deanstreettownhouse.com) — a 39-room hotel in what was once the Gargoyle Club — has four-poster beds, hand-painted wallpapers and other retro-chic touches. And in Portugal, the Palácio do Freixo (www.pousadas.com), in Porto, occupies a magnificently restored Baroque palace and former factory next door.

Closer to home, the hotel boom doesn’t seem to have slowed much in New York City. Vikram Chatwal, the hotelier behind the Dream Hotels in New York and Bangkok, is opening the Chatwal (www.vikramchatwalhotels.com) in the former Lambs Club on West 44th Street designed by the great Beaux-Arts architect Stanford White. An outpost of the Mondrian Hotel (www.mondrianhotel.com) is coming to SoHo, with design based on the 1946 Cocteau Surrealist film “Beauty and the Beast” and the “Top Chef” alum Sam Talbot manning the kitchen.

Also expected to open are the W Downtown (www.whotels.com), with views of the World Trade Center site, and Fashion 26 (www.wyndham.com), a Wyndham Hotel that takes its cue from the Fashion Institute of Technology, its 26th Street neighbor. The Kimpton chain, known for its affordable, boutique-ish hotels, will open the Eventi (www.eventihotel.com) in the Chelsea neighborhood. And Patrik Horstmann, the longtime manager of the Gansevoort Hotel, will open the Nolitan (www.nolitanhotel.com), a boutique hotel just north of Little Italy.

Not all the openings are in Manhattan. The 321-room Sheraton Brooklyn (www.sheraton.com/brooklyn), near the MetroTech Center, is expected to open in March, and will be one of the borough’s largest new hotels in decades. Elsewhere in the Americas: In Cartagena, Colombia, the Sofitel Santa Clara (www.hotelsantaclara.com) is opening in a former monastery that dates from 1621. And in Mexico, in another sign of Acapulco’s rebirth, Banyan Tree Hotels and Resorts, the Singapore-based chain, plans to open the Banyan Tree Cabo Marqués (www.banyantree.com/en/cabomarques).

Asia, meanwhile, continues to add hotels at a furious pace. In Thailand, Ritz-Carlton Reserve opens Phulay Bay (www.phulaybay.com), a 54-villa resort in the southern town of Krabi that offers private butlers and meditation classes taught by monks. Not far away, W Hotels is planning to open the W Retreat Koh Samui (www.whotels.com/kohsamui).

Anantara, a resort chain based in Bangkok, is opening the Anantara Kihavah Villas in the Maldives (www.kihavah-maldives.anantara.com), a secluded 82-villa resort with private swimming pools, thatched roofs and an underwater restaurant.

Don’t confuse Anantara with Aman — the ne plus ultra chain that is set to open Amanfayun (www.amanfayun.com), a spectacular 42-room resort that evokes an ancient Chinese compound, about 20 minutes from Hangzhou, China. It’s just one of hundreds of hotels expected to open in China in 2010, including three hotels from Shangri-La Hotels and Resorts (www.shangri-la.com), in Beijing, Guilin and Shanghai.

Another growth market is India, where Starwood has more than a dozen hotels in the pipeline, including three Aloft hotels (www.alofthotels.com) and the Westin New Delhi Gurgaon (www.westin.com/gurgaon), scheduled to open in July.

The St. Regis is set to open its first hotel in Japan, in the heart of Osaka (www.stregis.com/osaka). In Tokyo, the Tokyu hotel group plans to open the Capital Hotel Tokyu (www.tokyuhotelsjapan.com) near the Imperial Palace. This is no capsule hotel — the smallest room will be more than 400 square feet.

Singapore is also bucking the global hotel downturn. The Wangz Hotel (www.wangzhotel.com) on Tiong Bahru Road occupies a futuristic cylindrical building (the shape is said to induce relaxation). Even more spectacular — or gaudy — is the Marina Bay Sands (www.marinabaysands.com), a giant resort composed of three 55-story towers, with a giant park on their shared roof. When it opens, the hotel-casino-resort is expected to feature a production of “The Lion King,” and restaurants by Mario Batali, Wolfgang Puck and Daniel Boulud. All three are known for their cuisine and for their chutzpa

Russian Ice Hotel

2010-02-14T11:33:00.000-08:00

Do not remain aloof from the fashionable trends to build snow hotels, Russia is also ready to open the country’s first ice hotel. The hotel is going to be open on Feb. 14, 2010 in Ustyansk area of the Arkhangelsk region, Russia. Presentation of the hotel will take place within Russia’s Ice Sculpture Festival, which will start ten days earlier.

The hotel will comprise nine residential rooms, all the furniture there will also be made of ice. In addition, a theater will be opened inside the hotel with 70 seats. There will be a conference hall, bar and even the palace of weddings. For Russian Ded Moroz, who arrives from the Great Ustyug, the separate apartments already booked. According to calculations of the creators, the construction will last until 30 March,

Moscow Hotels Most Expensive

2010-02-14T10:15:00.000-08:00

Hotels in Moscow have been revealed as the world’s most expensive for a fifth consecutive year. Average room rates in the Russian capital were £265 a night, down by £37 on 2008. However they were still more than £40 dearer than the second most expensive destination, Abu Dhabi.

According to the survey by the Hogg Robinson Group (HRG), an international corporate travel services company, average room rates (calculated in local currency) fell in most cities, as hoteliers sought to entice travellers during the financial downturn with cut-price deals.

However for British travellers the falling value of the pound during 2009 meant that the cost of hotels in many cities actually increased. Average room rates in Abu Dhabi were £32 more expensive, accommodation in Geneva in £6 dearer, and prices in Washington were £9 higher.

In New York, the third most expensive city on the list, rates fell by 23 per cent (from $414.52 to $318.98), but due to the weak pound, this represents a fall of less than £20 for British visitors.

Average room rates in London fell by five per cent to £151.45, placing the capital in 29th position on the list

Tuscany brings to light Vie degli Etruschi

2010-02-14T09:30:00.000-08:00

The Tuscany Region's effort to re-launch interest in the Etruscans and develop the places and itineraries of ancient Etruria will have to continue even in the next legislature. The Regional Council has approved a proposal for the support of projects to reconstitute the federation of Etruscan cities and create the 'Vie degli Etruschi'. The project will include trekking itineraries, horseback riding routes, and cycling paths that are characterised by a coordinated graphic, a common logo and an illustrative set of brochures that will make it possible to visit the archaeological areas, monuments and museums with Etruscan collections as well as other cultural assets or territorial offers.

Valentine's Day St Valentine's land

2010-02-13T14:00:00.000-08:00

Umbria, the land of St Valentine and St Francis of Assisi is the pretty green heart of Italy of rolling green hills, woods with secluded monasteries, meadows, vineyards and olive groves. It has it own micro climate spring arriving much earlier than at neighboring provinces like Lazio,the more southerly region of Rome.

The celebrations of St. Valentine Day on February 14th go back to pre-Roman times and started as pagan fertility festivities of the Umbri and Etruscan peoples celebrating spring, rebirth and mating time.

Although similar to Tuscany, which it borders, Umbria is slightly less well-known, quieter and with gentler landscape of medieval hamlets and Roman-style villas with serpentine roadways fenced by needle Cyprus trees.

While Umbria is totally land locked in the center of Italy, it has a lively beach-like lifestyle in the summer along Lake Trasimento, the largest lake in the region ideal for water activities.

Umbria is also the legendary land of a thousand saints, among them Saint Francis of Assisi and St Valentine, the third century bishop of Terni. (105 km from Rome)

Italy Religious Holy Shroud Turin

2010-02-12T13:58:00.000-08:00

For the first time after its restoration in 2020, the Holy Shroud will once again be on display in the Cathedral of Saint John the Baptist in Turin from April 10 to May 23, 2010

The shroud was only displayed 4 times in the 20th century and it will not be again on display until the year of 2025, 15 years from now.

The Shroud of Turin (or Turin Shroud) is a linen cloth bearing the image of a man who appears to have suffered physical trauma in a manner consistent with crucifixion. It is kept in the royal chapel of the Cathedral of Turin, Italy. The origins of the shroud and its image are the subject of intense debate among scientists, theologians, historians and researchers.
Believers contend that the shroud is the cloth placed on the body of Jesus Christ at the time of his burial, and that the face image is the face of Jesus. Non-believers claim contend that the artifact postdates the Crucifixion of Jesus by more than a millennium.
The shroud exhibition is not only a pilgrimage opportunity but also a chance to visit Italy’s less know region of Piedmont and the city of Torino
Piedmont this mountainous northern region of Italy at the borders of France and Switzerland renowned for its rugged castles, unique northern cuisine especially its tasty truffles as well as world-class vineyards. It is the ancient dominion of the Savoys, the ill-fated royal family who ruled Italy from the Unification in 1870 until abdication in 1946. With its many picturesque lakes and hills, many more than you can find in celebrated Tuscany, Piedmont can be a real surprise for visitors.

Rome Italy Palace concerts

2010-02-10T10:02:00.000-08:00

The absolutely gorgeous Doria Pamphilj Palace in Rome, dating back to the 15th century released its new spring concert schedule. In addition to being one of Rome’s largest palaces, the Doria Pamphili Palace is one of Rome's most important picture galleries privately owned.
The Pamphili family private art collection has over 600 paintings including masterpieces by Velazquez, Titian, Caravaggio. Many of the private apartments have the original furnishing dating back mostly to the 16ht-17th century.
It is already the palace’s 32nd concert season with chamber music performances taking place in the Throne Room fit for a royalty. The Throne Room is part of the private Doria Pamphilj Apartments of the Doria-Pamphilj-Landi, a princely Roman family. The chamber spring concert series starting on 10 April 201, feature works by Alessandro Scarlatti, Antonia Vivaldi and several other Italian composers.
It is also possible to arrange private, exclusive concerts on different dates, either in Palazzo Doria Pamphilj or in other historical buildings or churches.
For information contact allegro@allegroholidays.com

Brussels to Recover Hub status thanks to Star Alliance

2010-01-26T11:21:00.000-08:00

When Belgium's national carrier, Sabena, went bankrupt 8 years ago the nation's number 1 gateway lost fully one-third of its traffic overnight. Now that Sabena’s successor is a fully fledged member of the Star Alliance, Brussels Airport stands poised to recoup a significant chunk of that traffic.
The failure of Sabena meant that regional carriers serving BRU lost their long-haul feed, and they pulled back on frequencies. Meanwhile, other European long-haul airlines like Air France, British Airways, KLM and Lufthansa boosted frequencies to their home bases to fill the Sabena void. Almost 40% of Sabena’s traffic was on a transfer basis and it was lost overnight. Now that Brussels Airlines is a member of the Star Alliance it can once again focus on transfer traffic.
Many predict that BRU will become a significant Euro-hub for the Star group; in particular for its North American members, which have announced major route additions. Air Canada will inaugurate daily year-round service from Montreal next June, United will add daily Chicago service to its daily Washington operations next March, and US Airways is adding a Philadelphia service on top of Continental’s daily Newark flight.
Brussels Airport has a capacity for 28 million passengers per year and currently it has only 18.5 million per year so it has a lot of room for the Star Alliance to grow there.

RUSSIA READY TO DEVELOP INDUSTRIAL TOURISM

2009-12-30T08:45:00.000-08:00

Industrial tourism has a good chance to become one of the most popular niche markets in Russia. This opinion is shared by many tour operators highlighting the growing demand of tourists to visit Russia’s industrial sites.

Industrial tourism is well developed in North America and European countries such as France, Britain, Germany and Netherlands. Only in France, 1,700 companies organize tours around their premises and production sites. Among the leaders is the Rance tidal power plant in Brittany which welcomes 300,000 tourists every year. In the UK, the British confectionary producer Cadbury is visited by 400,000 people per year. In Spain, the industrial tourism benefits among other things from wine tourism, in France from cheese tourism, in the Netherlands from flower-related tours and in Finland glass-blowing factories are highly popular.
The origin of industrial tourism can be traced to American companies. When in 1866 the Jack Daniel"s distillery was established at the same time the company opened its doors to tourists. Today, there are only few companies in the U.S. that do not organize tours around their premises.
In Russia, only a few dozen companies are aware of the advantages industrial tourists represent as reported by Russian portal Travel.ru. However the demand for such tours is immense. For example, if you are interested in touring a famous Moscow chocolate factory prepare for long waiting. All tours until March 2010 are already booked.

Most of the tour operators who have been offering various types of sightseeing around industrial complexes simply added these kinds of trips to their usual tours. However, thanks to their popularity several travel companies started specializing only in industrial tours. Most of the offered trips lead tourists through the region around Moscow but tours around large industrial complexes in Ural and Siberia are currently negotiated too.

NEW HOTEL DESIGNED AS A MAGNIFICENT TRIBUTE TO DOSTOYEVSKY

2009-12-28T08:41:00.000-08:00

Since 2009, St. Petersburg proudly presents yet another tribute to the work of one of Russia‘s greatest figures, Fyodor Dostoyevsky. Reval Hotel Sonya was dedicated solely to his most famous novel, Crime and Punishment.

St. Petersburg belongs to one of the most fascinating cities in Russia. It is a crucial financial and industrial hub as well as a culturally diverse place with more than 300 years of history. Undoubtedly a must-see, tourists come here to admire the typical cathedrals and churches, picturesque parks and the breathtaking views over local canals. There are many hostels and hotels in St. Petersburg, yet one of the latest additions to local hospitality scene undoubtedly deserves all the praise; the new Reval Hotel Sonya is solely inspired by the great novelist Fyodor Dostoyevsky.

Dostoyevsky remains one of the most praised authors, whose “Crime and Punishment” has been inspiring artists for many decades. The Norwegian chain Reval Hotel, which had dominated the Baltic market, decided to expand to Russia and chose St. Petersburg for their first hotel. When searching for the right theme, the link between the city and Dostoyevsky, whose “Crime and Punishment” takes place here, seemed perfect.

The 4-star hotel is situated in the heart of the city in the vicinity of the Neva river. It features 173 beautiful rooms, an amazing restaurant and lively bar, a fitness centre, 24-hour room service and WiFi coverage. Reval Hotel Sonya is a tribute to Dostoyevsky and his Russian culture. The interior design possesses a light Russian touch and naturally, the Metamorfos restaurant’s menu does not fail to combine the best dishes of Russian cuisine with delicacies and flavor from all over the world.

The hotel happily assists foreign guests with their visa requirements and diligently caters for all their wishes. Local library is a rather amusing highlight as all the books it features are copies of none other than “Crime and Punishment” in many languages.

HOTEL CLASSIFICATION SYSTEMS UNITED IN SEVEN EUROPEAN COUNTRIES

2009-12-27T08:40:00.000-08:00

A unification of hotel classification systems has started in Prague where representatives of hotel associations from 7 European countries founded a Hotelstars Union. Its members will use the same criteria to determine how many stars a hotel should get.

Hotel stars are a well-known tool for classifying the quality of accommodation world wide. However, the ranking is not unified and as a result, a visitor may receive much different experience from hotels that have the same number of stars. A five-star hotel in Uganda will most likely provide a different set of services than a five-star hotel in the U.S.

However, the problematic situation seems to be changing now. A new scheme has been recently founded under the patronage of HOTREC – Hotels, Restaurants & Café in Europe (a society of EU hotel and restaurant associations). On their meeting in Prague this December the hotel associations of Austria, Czech Republic, Germany, Hungary, Netherlands, Sweden and Switzerland established a “Hotelstars Union”.

More than 17,000 hotels that are situated in these seven countries could be thus soon categorised based upon the same criteria. The new classification system will be launched in Austria, Czech Republic, Germany and Sweden from 1 January 2010. Hungary will implement the categorization in 2010, and Switzerland and the Netherlands in 2011.

So far, the countries use different classification schemes but as soon as they start to use the new system, it will be much easier for a guest to pick a hotel based on the number of its stars. The common classification is based on 270 criteria, which are based on guest surveys. Among the judged criteria is e.g. the width of beds, Internet-PC in the room, safe in the room or ironing service.

The idea of common hotel classification is not new but only now it can be actually implemented at least in some European countries. Other members of HOTREC are invited to join the Hotelstars Union and it is expected that the membership will grow to 15 within two years.

Not everyone, however, agrees with the idea of the common classification. For example, the International Hotel & Restaurant Association (IH&RA) considers current national hotel classification and grading systems as sufficient. They point out that standards as well as customer expectations vary country to country. According to the IH&RA, one single 5-star-system cannot capture the entire diversity of hotels worldwide. They also add that the cost for creation of a global standard would be extremely high.

Top 5 Destinations for Chocolate Lovers

2009-12-23T11:23:00.000-08:00

Don’t you love the ecstatic feeling when you get hold of your favorite chocolate delicacy? If chocolate is your cup of tea then here is your chance to get some ideas for your next holidays. What is the country to get the best pralines? Where do people eat the most chocolate? Where can you become a chocolate chef?

Zürich & Bern, Switzerland
Where else to start then in Switzerland, the country that has the highest per capita rate of chocolate consumption world wide (11.6 kg per capita per annum)! Switzerland is also home to TOBLERONE, the famous triangular chocolate bar created at the beginning of 20th century in Bern. In Zurich there are based three well-known chocolate producers namely Sprungli, Lindt and Teuscher. Here in the largest Swiss city you can spend hours admiring and tasting the hundreds of different shapes of chocolate bars, figures and desserts in local cafés and shops. Close to the lively Paradeplatz Square you will find for example the big chocolate shop called Confiserie Sprüngli which is simply heaven for all chocoholics.

Belgium
As the locals boast “Belgian chocolate has been the food of champions, a lure for lovers, the indulgence of the rich and later, the favorite of the masses.” The country is home to more than a dozen chocolate factories, sixteen chocolate museums and 2000 chocolate shops. Basically, every town or even small village has its own chocolate store with luxurious pralines. Producing 172,000 tons of chocolate per year Belgium is regarded as top chocolate destination of Europe. Especially the various flavors of chocolate pralines are popular. Many Swiss chocolatiers still make their pralines by hand.

Tain L'Hermitage, France
Tain L'Hermitage is a small old French town in a wine-growing district near Lyon where Valrhona is based. Valrhona is a premium chocolatier founded by a pastry chef Monsieur Guironnet in 1922. Today it is one of the leading chocolate producers in the world focusing mainly on top-quality luxury chocolate as well as vintage chocolate. The company also maintains its own École du Grand Chocolat, a school for professional chefs, chocolate makers and caterers. Even amateurs can learn here to prepare delicious desserts through a three-day course for $1000.

Villajoyosa & Alicante, Spain
The oldest gourmet brand for chocolate and pralines in Spain, Valor, is based at La Villajoyosa which is sometimes nicknamed “Chocolate City”. The town offers many delights like for example the local chocolate museum where you can find out how your favorite treat is produced. The fame came to this town when it started importing cocoa beans from Ecuador and Venezuela in the 18th century. The Valor brand is well known not only in Spain but all over Europe. In their flagship boutique and cafe in Alicante you can try besides delicious chocolate mousse or ice chocolate drinks a local specialty – chocolate with churros. This sweet pastry is ideal for a cup of hot chocolate.

San Francisco Bay Area, USA
The San Francisco Bay Area is definitely one of the world's chocolate capitals. In San Francisco you will find the legendary Ghirardelli whose chocolate is as much a San Francisco icon as the trolley car. The company was founded in 1852 and is the second oldest chocolate company in the U.S. Across the bay you can find the Scharffen Berger, a chocolate manufacturer and first American company founded in the past 50 years that made chocolate from "bean to bar". Six times a day visitors can tour their factory for free.

MOST POPULAR TOURISM ATTRACTIONS FOR 2010

2009-12-23T07:55:00.000-08:00

The British Airways claim next year tourism will be determined by eco tourism and sport events. Among the major attractions should be the 2010 FIFA World Cup and the Winter Olympics.

According to the British Airways’s recent survey the major drives for international tourism in 2010 will be sport events and eco tourism. More specifically these factors will be behind picking a destination as a spot for one’s vacation.

If the prediction is correct the South African Republic will be among the winners as it is going to host the 2010 FIFA World Cup, which is expected to lure approximately half a million fans to the country. Similarly Winter Olympics should make Vancouver a very popular tourism destination with many tourists.

Among other popular destinations for 2010 will be, according to the BA, Istanbul in Turkey. Tourists are expected to come to the cultural centre of the country to admire the local Roman and Byzantine tourist attractions. The capital of Lithuania, Vilnius is also listed as one of the top destinations for 2010. This city is actually the European Capital of Culture for 2009, which definitely has a positive impact on visibility of a city as a tourism destination.

The well established destinations in the USA, Las Vegas and New York are expected to remain among the major draws for tourists in 2010 according to BA. Dominican Republic is expected lure growing numbers of people to the beaches of Punta Cana. Another popular destination mentioned in the BA survey is Maldives.

Back in Europe there is one more destination that will be very popular in 2010, at least according to the survey, and it is Dubrovnik in Croatia. The city is a prime tourism destination in the Adriatic and it is also included in the UNESCO World Heritage List. Among the top ten is also an Indian destination, Delhi which is likely, apart from other attractions, to lure visitors to the 2010 Commonwealth Games.

Tour of Christmas Markets in Alto Adige

2009-12-09T16:00:00.000-08:00

Alto Adige has opened its Christmas Markets, one of the most traditional events of the holiday season in Italy. Five destinations are involved: Bolzano, Merano, Bressanone, Brunico and Vipiteno, through which visitors can take a tour this year following an enchanting "five star" route along 135 kilometres, even taking the new panoramic train of Alto Adige, using the mobilcard, which provides visitors with free use of public transportation for 3 to 7 days.

Vienna looks to hasten inbound visitors

2009-12-09T09:04:00.000-08:00

Despite the Austrian capital always being likely to attract a large number of visitors due to its charm and the fact that the whole centre is a UNESCO heritage site, the Vienna tourist board is keen to urge tourists to visit now rather than later. It seems that the supposed eternal charm has also its downfall.

Many tourists having visited or planning to visit the Austrian capital say that a major plus point for the city is its eternal charm. This is the same as if people would say there is no rush in visiting Stonehenge, as it will always be there.

This discovery of such attitude was made by the Vienna tourist board, which asked around 11000 visitors what their opinion of the magical city is. Eternal beauty and charm nearly always came up.

However, this is now seen as a disadvantage as people are not rushing to get to Vienna. It seems to often be on the list of places to see yet not necessarily now. The Viennese tourist board has reacted to this situation by introducing a “now or never” campaign, trying to urge potential visitors that the best time to come is now and that the classic beauty may not last forever.

Indeed, like most European cities, Vienna is undoubtedly changing and its centre does not particularly look the way it did 15 years ago. The trendy “sand in the city” area on the Danube canal is an example of the way modernisation is inevitable.

The new campaign has been launched in countries with the traditionally high amount of inbound tourists. For example, the “now or never” slogan recently appeared on the side of a London bus. The British market is hugely important for Austria, thus targeted first.

Central European Spas Popular among visitors from the Middle East

2009-12-08T20:25:00.000-08:00

Despite the current difficult economic situation in most developed countries many incoming tour operators in the Czech Republic offering niche travel products have recorded moderate growth in terms of both tourism arrivals and revenue. The latest statistics however show significant changes in the source countries of travelers visiting Central and Eastern Europe.

Since 2007 the local spas have been recording a growing demand from customers in Middle Eastern countries. Today, two thirds of foreign guests in Czech spas are patients from UAE, Jordan, Saudi Arabia or Egypt. Although the growing numbers of guests from the Middle East or North African regions are the trend of only few last years, the local health service providers are well aware of specific aspects related to this type of clients.

People from the ME&NA region often require more sophisticated services, such as special diets or more intensive treatment programmes. However, they mostly stay longer than other foreign guests, take their whole families with them, and also spend more money.

A recent survey carried out in UAE by the international research organization YouGov for National newspaper, revealed that over 70% of UAE residents would seek treatment abroad, if they fall seriously ill. Based on the reactions of the respondents the researchers stated that despite all the modern diagnostic equipment and up-to-date facilities in the country, the overall health care services do not meet the patients’ expectations. Therefore they look to other destinations offering quality healthcare with favorable prices.

As a result the Central European incoming tour operators of both leisure and medical segments have started discovering the new business opportunities in the Middle East and North African countries and began marketing their products in the region. Although many providers and regional boards from the Central Europe fail to promote their destinations and services efficiently countries like Hungary, Slovakia or the Czech Republic remain attractive destinations for travellers from the ME&NA countries.

Top 10 Party Hotels

2009-12-08T08:01:00.000-08:00

Travellers who enjoy the night more than the day on holiday are looking for a hotel with a relaxing atmosphere, with a trendy design, located in the heart of the action.

If flirtation is also on the cards, then nothing stands in the way of an exciting trip. The hotel price comparison site trivago has investigated the most popular cities in the world and has found the top hotels that are ideal for couples and singles alike. This top ten guarantees a boredom free holiday.

1. Andaz London

London is the top destination for party people worldwide and Hotel Andaz, the new luxury brand of the Hyatt Group offers trendy design in a Victorian building. There is no reception, the lobby is a spacious living room and check-in occurs on a laptop on the way to the room. The rooms are minimalistic, well equipped and include biological juices, an iPod and DVD’s. Tourist hot spots such as the Tower of London or the Tate Museum are in walking distance, and the closest underground station to the city centre is around the corner. A highlight for party people is the proximity to the East End and its galleries, bars and nightclubs.

2. Tres, Palma de Mallorca

The Hotel Tres in the old town of Palma de Mallorca offers a blend of old and new. In the remnants of the city palace a house has been cultivated with a pure style and exclusive roof terrace: it does not only offer a beautiful view of the cathedral, but also of the pool, the sundeck and the sauna. Alternatively guests can relax under palm trees in the inner court or in the lounge. The hotel is located in the party district La Llonja and the Abaco Bar is directly around the corner. Discotheques and clubs on the harbour promenade are only a stone’s throw away.

3. Villa Emilia, Barcelona

The Zinc Bar in Villa Emilia is the place to be seen in Barcelona; however the hotel also allures guests with its Zen style design and high-tech equipment with WiFi and Plasma TV. Close to the Plaça Espanya and the underground station, the centre of Barcelona is easy to reach. The sea is less than two miles away. In addition guests can sample wines from the hotel owned wine cellar, try Catalonian dishes or view the city from the sun terrace and from there begin the night.

4. Marmara Pera, Istanbul

Hotel Marmara Pera is located in downtown Istanbul, in Beyoğlu, where the nightlife is in full swing. This luxury accommodation has been designed with a retro feel. The roof terrace offers a swimming pool with a bar and a view over Bosporus. On the top floor of the hotel, the panoramic restaurant "Mikla" serves Turkish-European food prepared by star chef Mehmet Gürs. Hotel Marmara Pera is where the designer scene in Istanbul meets. For travellers who want to dive into the nightlife, the hotel is close to Taksimplace and the party district Istiklal with bars, clubs and discotheques.

5. Hotel Ellington, Berlin

Whether in the 20s in the "Femina" swing palace or in the 70s in the discotheque "Dschungel" – in the Ellington Hotel dancing is a tradition, the new hot spot is the 5055Club in the lounge. The hotel with its historical facade takes its guests back to the „Golden Twenties“, and offers everything of a modern design hotel, with elegant rooms, a bar and the Duke restaurant. Besides this the hotel is located close to Kudamm which is an ideal starting point for tourists and night clubbers.

6. Hotel Panorama, Alanya

The Hotel Panorama is situated in the centre of Alanya, on the beach in the heart of the nightlife. The majority of guests who stay at this hotel are from Germany. The highlights include the pool which is close to Olympic sizes, the panoramic bar and the sports facilities which include a fitness studio and tennis courts. At night an entertainment programme is offered in the hotel, but the nightlife in the closely located club district also has a lot to offer. Travellers can visit the Auditorium – one of the largest open air discotheques in Turkey – to dance until the early hours of the morning.

7. Phoenix Hotel, San Francisco

The Tenderloin district in San Francisco is not necessarily a good neighbourhood, but the Hotel Phoenix in retro style makes it better than good. At the entrance visitors are greeted by a frog sculpture, art can be discovered everywhere, the mosaic pool is even an architectural monument of the city. The hotel is famous for its rock and roll clientele; Little Richard, Pearl Jam and Franz Ferdinand have been spotted here. The Bambuddah Lounge is a trendy meeting point and at the weekends and wild pool parties are a part of the standard programme.

8. Hotel V Frederiksplein, Amsterdam

In 2008 the Hotel V Frederiksplein opened in the centre of Amsterdam, a chique hotel behind a traditional exterior, close to the trendy Pijp Viertel with a tram stop in front of the door. The lobby is an "open space" with a rubber reception, wooden bar and leather lounge including a fireplace and soul music. Travellers can enjoy the hectic street life in peace or surf the internet on a Mac. The rooms are furnished with chrome, wood and retro objects. As a special the hotel offers an overnight stay with entrance to the world famous "Supperclub".

9. Hotel Eurostars Das Letras, Lisbon

Located in the centre of Lisbon, the lavish five star city hotel Eurostars Das Letras was opened in 2008: with an impressive lobby, nobly furnished rooms in walnut and marble plus a sauna and fitness centre. Travellers can end the day or start the evening in the restaurant or the cocktail bar. In the later hours of the night the nightlife starts in the trendy district Bairro Alto which is not too far away. A must see is "Pavilhão Chinês", a cult bar with a twist and city museum in one.

10. Hotel Gansevoort, New York

The meatpacking district is considered a hot spot in New York and those who can afford it stay in Hotel Gansevoort. Its silver exterior looks like a jewel and the interior is also stylish, whether in the lobby or in the rooms, the Gansevoort Spa or Restaurant Ono. However the actual jewel is on the roof: the pool with underwater music and the popular "Plunge" Bar with a DJ and a view over the Big Apple. Models, rock stars and trendsetters all meet here – an ideal starting point to explore the party district between Greenwich Village and Chelsea.

Tourism and the Global Recession

2009-12-07T14:00:00.000-08:00

The 5th UNWTO International Conference on Tourism Statistics – Tourism: An Engine for Employment Creation took place in the spring of 2009 in Bali. The Conference was organized by UNWTO and by the Ministry of Culture and Tourism of the Republic of Indonesia. It was also supported by other organizations.

The speakers agreed that the tourism sector is an important employer and contributor to national GDPs. Its role is especially important during the current global economic crisis. The participants emphasized that public - private cooperation is quite essential for further development of the sector. They also agreed on further promotion and protection of the Tourism Satellite Account (TSA). The TSA is a statistical accountant framework for measurement of the economic contributions of tourism which allows comparisons from country to country.

According to the Taleb Rifai, Deputy Secretary-General of the UNWTO, it is crucial to offer technical assistance to Member States so that they can measure how many jobs tourism generates and how much does it contribute to their national GDP. Mr. Taleb Rifai also says that nowadays there is a rising awareness of tourism as an important part of the economy. In the past the tourism industry was often underestimated and there was no political will to further develop the sector. This has changed and now the industry may efficiently help fight off the impacts of the economic crisis.

As the tourism industry is vital for some countries’ economies according to the experts it is important to include it in the stimulus packages. It is a significant sector even in G20 countries, where it creates 5 per cent of GDP and 6 per cent of jobs. Tourism is also the main growth and trade driver for the world’s poorest countries.

Length of Stay now the top Challenge for U.S. Tourism

2009-12-07T07:30:00.000-08:00

The world has come up to a good number of economic challenges in recent years, most of which have been focused on the economic giant – the USA. Dollar has weakened significantly and the world economic situation has sunk into crisis leaving people frightened to spend money on so-called luxury items such as holidays or cars.

However, the tourism industry is not suffering as much as some would make out, if we take the exception of the airline companies, and people are still travelling. Admittedly, Americans are spending less of the green stuff on their travels yet the new situation has opened up a host of new challenges for the American tourism sector.

On the basis of a Travelhorizon’s survey conducted by Ypartnership and the U.S. Travel Association it was revealed that Americans in general plan to stay for fewer nights at the place of their destination when on a business or leisure trip. In fact, over half of the 2.270 American respondents that were surveyed said that they plan to cut the length of their trips.

This is clearly related to the hefty hotel rates in the USA. So the challenge now is clearly to make Americans stay longer. Getting them to travel and attracting them to places is apparently no problem. It is keeping the fish in the net, which seems to be the difficulty.

This is also linked to the fact that around 70% of those interviewed for the survey admitted that saving money is a primary aim when either taking a business trip or going on leisure break. If hotels and tourist resorts can manage to persuade people to stay longer, then the amount they spend would surely increase.

USA loves Italy: will be the top EU destination in 2010

2009-12-02T13:18:00.000-08:00

Italy will be the top tourism destination amongst European countries for American tourists in 2010-2011 according to a market study done with US tour operators. Some sector magazines, like Travel Leisure, Condè Nast Traveler, and Recommend have assigned numerous awards to Italy: Rome, Florence and Venice as the top European destinations; the Aeolian Islands as the top European islands and Italy as the top destination in Europe. In 2009 ENIT USA organised seminars for more than 1400 travel agents and brought more than 650 people, including tour operators, travel agents and media, to Italy, who were able to visit Puglia, Marche, Sicily, Lazio, Veneto and Piedmont