Holiday & Travel

The Hospitality Sales & Marketing Association International (HSMAI) will honor the San Francisco Travel Association with a Gold Adrian Award for the redesign of their website, www.sanfrancisco.travel,  in the 59th annual Adrian Awards, the largest and most prestigious global travel marketing competition. This year's contest was one of the most competitive in history, garnering more than 1,300 entries from around the world, with entries judged by distinguished executives from all sectors of the industry.

Over the course of 2016, Heathrow will be celebrating a number of key moments with colleagues, passengers and the local community to mark 70 years since Heathrow officially became a commercial airport. 31st May is the official date of Heathrow’s birthday – marking 70 years since the then newly named London Airport officially opened for civilian aviation.

The 27th Indian Ocean Swimming Festival kicked off on Reunion Island and ran until the end of the year, with the last competitions taking place on December 31.  The first day ended with the French Olympic duet synchronized swimming - eighth in the world championship in 2015 – at the synchronized swimming gala. In preparation for the Olympic Games, Margaux Christian Auge and Laura were accompanied in the pool by various clubs from the island, namely the Aquanautes, Western Sirens, West Swimming Meeting, and the Sainte-Marie Aquatic Club.

It is that time of year when we make our resolutions, most of which are about being better people.  Award winning luxury tour operator Hands Up Holidays is at hand to help you realise your resolutions to both be better, and do better in 2016. Hands Up Holidays has inspiring luxury travel ideas for families, couples and solo travellers to get 2016 off on the right footing, give back and help those less fortunate.

Tourists visiting Jerusalem in Israel this year are getting a treat for Christmas. The city’s Young Men’s Christian Association is decked out every year with lights and Christmas decorations, but this year, the YMCA has really outdone itself. A huge planted tree with colored lanterns stands out in front of the impressive building, located opposite the historical King David Hotel. Inside the halls of the YMCA a number of Christmas bazars have been opened, with sweets and decorations being sold by smiling people in silly festive hats.

At a recent press conference presided over by Guam Governor Mr. Eddie Baza Calvo, Dusit International CEO Mr Chanin Donavanik and Guam Visitors Bureau General Manager Mr. Jon Nathan Denight, the Dusit Thani Guam Resort officially opened its doors to a new wave of visitors to the island.  The launch of the Guam Convention Centre heralds a new era for tourism in Guam as the hotel works with stakeholders to promote the island as a first-class destination for both business and leisure travellers alike. 

The Islands Of The Bahamas was recently named 2015 Leading Wedding Destination at the World Travel Awards in Morocco. World Travel Awards was established in 1993 to acknowledge, reward and celebrate excellence across all sectors of the tourism industry. The World Travel Awards brand is recognized globally as the ultimate hallmark of quality, with winners setting the benchmark to which all others aspire.

Qatar Airways has unveiled a fun and football-fueled safety video to engage and entertain passengers as they travel with the airline. A break from industry norms, this fresh and unique take on the traditional safety video aims to engage customers whilst communicating essential information. The unique 4 minute video stars 6 of FC Barcelona’s La Liga players – Messi, Suarez, Neymar, Pique, Rakitic and Mascherano – alongside fans and Qatar Airways crew as they demonstrate important safety information to passengers.

It gets more visitors per square mile than any of Britain's other national parks and no wonder, with its unique combination of ancient woodland, heathland, coast and wildlife – including those famous ponies. But while the New Forest has officially been around for nearly a thousand years, there's always something new and exciting going on and 2016 is no exception.

Hard Rock Hotel Ibiza, Europe's first Hard Rock Hotel developed in collaboration with Palladium Hotel Group, will make its mark on the 2016 summer season with the world's largest outdoor LED curved screen, at 400 m2, thanks to Odyssey Ibiza. Offering an unbeatable location, five-star facilities, top-notch performances from international artists and musically-infused leisure activities, Hard Rock Hotel Ibiza will now feature a unique display that is sure to be the talk of the town on the White Isle in summer 2016.

It's been a busy few months for eco-luxury family travel specialist Hands Up Holidays, as in rounding off the year it has won three awards: Highly Commended Award for Best Family Educational Holiday – Family Traveller Magazine, Highly Commended Award for Best Family Tour Operator – Junior Magazine, Runner Up Award for Best Volunteering Travel Organiser in Thailand – Thailand Green Excellence Awards.