World News

Grenada Tourism Authority (GTA) Chief Executive Officer  Patricia Maher, has completed a successful mission to the UK to further raise the profile of Pure Grenada, the Spice of the Caribbean. The schedule of several days was packed with consumer, media and travel industry events that showcased Grenada, Carriacou and Petite Martinique.

Ms. Maher led the GTA delegation at the UK’s foremost bridal event, the National Wedding Show in London on Sunday 24 September, reaching an audience of potential wedding couples and honeymooners. She undertook positive meetings with senior management at British Airways and Virgin Holidays both of which are significant providers of visitors and Visiting Friends and Relations (VFR) traffic from the UK.

Meetings with leading ‘partner’ tour operators including Trailfinders, Lotus/Dial A Flight, Kenwood Travel and the Sandals Store enabled Ms. Maher to hear first-hand how Pure Grenada continues to be positioned and promoted as an authentic destination for discerning travellers.

Ms. Maher attended the annual Association of National Tourist Office Representatives (ANTOR) media networking event attended by over 60 leading UK press and social media influencers. The following evening she hosted an informal briefing session with key consumer media including BBC Radio London and The Huffington Post correspondents, where rum and chocolate - two special ingredients from Pure Grenada – provided an authentic taste of the tri-island state.

In addition, Ms Maher was interviewed by trade and consumer media about Pure Grenada and tourism news including the March 2018 opening of Silversands Grenada, next year’s Pure Grenada Music Festival and Grenada Chocolate Fest, and the island hosting the State of the Industry Conference (SOTIC) this week.

Ms Maher said: “The UK remains a vital market for Pure Grenada, the Spice of the Caribbean and we’re investing wisely in partnerships and promotions to ensure we remain front of mind with the travel trade and consumers. Given recent events in the region that have affected some of our neighbours it is imperative that we remain proactive to ensure we Grenada, Carriacou and Petite Martinique are seen to be ‘open for business’ and offering exciting, memorable and exceptional experiences to our visitors.”

She added: “We return to London in November for World Travel Market, the global travel industry and media networking exhibition, and in the meantime the UK team will be showcasing Pure Grenada at premier consumer events including The Chocolate Show and The Birmingham Dive Show 2017.”

Untangling the hair grip problem. It goes by many names - it might be called the hairpin, the bobby pin or the hair grip.

But whatever you call it, The UK's waste management agency have called for these hair essentials to be made exclusively from recycled materials.

BusinessWaste.co.uk argue that the much-used hair grip is used and lost so frequently by women around the world that they risk becoming an unnecessary blight on the environment, as well as a huge waste of materials.

Spokesperson Mark Hall from BusinessWaste.co.uk said: “While boys might not know exactly what they’re looking at when they see one, girls can’t do without that small piece of metal that somehow gets absolutely everywhere.

“Sometimes they might only be used once and then thrown away or lost, which is why you see them littering everywhere from gyms to pavements, workplaces, pubs and anywhere else ladies with hair might go.

“Because we know how frequently they’re discarded, it’s only right that they should be made from recycled materials, otherwise we’re just wasting resources on something that is effectively disposable.”

A survey was conducted by BusinessWaste.co.uk which involved over 3000 people. When asked where they’d seen hair grips discarded, people had some strange and interesting responses. 53% of people said they’d seen hair grips in public bathrooms, even down the loo in some cases, although it’s not clear whether they ended up there on purpose or by accident.

86% of people had found them in their own homes with no idea how they got there. The most common places where

Under the bed

Down the side of sofa

Bathroom floor

Draws

And some odder finds including

In the dishwasher

In the toilet

9% of men surveyed by BusinessWaste.co.uk said they’d been put in a tricky situation at some point in their lives, with a girlfriend finding a stray hair grip that wasn’t hers in their home or car.

Steve, 33, Leeds said: “I was seeing a couple of girls at once when I was at uni, one didn’t go to my university and one did so their paths never crossed. I thought I was being really smart and careful, but then the uni girlfriend, Sarah, found a hair grip in my bathroom left by the other girl, Laura, I was rumbled. I tried to convince Sarah it was her own hair grip but she had really short hair and never used them - and neither did I.

“The irony is that Laura later found Sarah’s earring under my bed so she dumped me too. Lads need to know what these things are otherwise we’re going to slip up, that weird little bit of metal can ruin your life.”

It’s estimated that tens of millions of hair grips are sold in the UK each year, with many coming in multipacks of 50 or more. On average, each one of these hair grips lasts up to two weeks before it’s lost or broken, inevitably ending up in landfill.

BusinessWaste.co.uk say that switching to recycled materials would be a much more environmentally-friendly and sensible way to make hair grips, and would have a considerable impact on our planet considering how many are bought each year.

The Belize Tourism Board (BTB), in collaboration with tourism industry stakeholders, will launch a Dollar for the Caribbean Relief Fund campaign during the entire month of October to assist victims of Hurricanes Irma and Maria, which severely devastated many of our Caribbean sister countries earlier in September.

The Belize Tourism Board will donate a $1 for every tourist arrival for the month of October and the initiative is that each stakeholder donates a $1 for every guest; therefore, creating a multiplier effect. The BTB initiative is being supported by participating agencies and tourism stakeholders such as the Belize Tourism Industry Association (BTIA), the Belize Hotel Association (BHA), Tour Operators, water taxis, hoteliers and local airlines amongst many others.

During the first week of September, category 5 Hurricane Irma pummeled a number of Caribbean countries in the northern Leeward Islands and the northern Caribbean leaving a long trail of devastation. Many residents of these countries were left homeless, without food, power, water and basic essentials.  Two weeks later, Hurricane Maria followed the same path further exacerbating the level of destruction throwing many of these countries in a severe state of desperation and despair. Many of these countries depend on tourism as their chief means of survival and the devastation by both hurricanes has stalled their economies, which may take several months or perhaps years to recover.

The BTB, therefore, hereby appeals to all stakeholders to donate $1 for every passenger/ guest engaged for the month of October towards the Caribbean Relief Fund in order to ease the road to recovery for our Caribbean sister countries.

The funds will be donated to the Caribbean Tourism Organization, in addition to their existing Go fund me Hurricane Relief fund for the Caribbean. Hugh Riley, Secretary General & CEO of CTO, stated "It's through this Fund that the CTO channels monetary assistance to our impacted member states. Assessments are being conducted of needs through the Ministries of Tourism and the monies collected will be disbursed directly to the people in need in form of food, medication, water, or material for rebuilding. The CTO appreciates all donations to assist in the recovery efforts of these countries."

Further information on the A Dollar for the Caribbean Relief Fund campaign and transparency for disbursements of funds can be found http://belizetourismboard.org/caribbean-hurricane-relief/

Barbados reported strong tourist arrivals, a successful Year of Sports, and a slew of new activities, attractions and accommodations on the horizon.

During his presentation at the annual State of the Industry Conference (SOTIC) in Grenada, CEO of the Barbados Tourism Marketing Inc. (BTMI), William ‘Billy’ Griffith, gave an overview of how destination Barbados performed over the past year, and what’s new for the island.

Barbados still safe

He began by addressing the effects of hurricanes Irma and Maria. Although the hurricanes passed several miles north of the island, there is some overall confusion in source markets about which Caribbean islands were affected by the 2017 hurricane season. He said that the BTMI was working closely with its international public relations agencies to reinforce the message that Barbados was not damaged and is still safe and functional.

Strong 2017 so far

Year-to-date, the island is reporting growth in both arrival numbers and visitor expenditure. Arrivals to Barbados between January and August 2017 stood at 453,645, up 7.4% over the same period in 2016, with the U.S. and Canada recording the highest growth at 16.4% and 12.1% respectively. Meanwhile, cruise arrivals grew by 20.3% between January and August, compared to the same period in 2016, from a total of 323 cruise calls.

According to the Caribbean Tourism Organization’s (CTO) exit survey, visitor expenditure between January and June stood at US$587.7 million, up 5.3% compared to the same period in 2016.

Airlift updates

These strong growth trends are expected to continue as several new services are being added at the Grantley Adams International Airport (GAIA). This December, the U.K. will see a new twice weekly Barbados-Heathrow direct service through April 2018, as well as a new Thomas Cook direct weekly flight from London Gatwick airport. In the U.S., Jet Blue has also announced a new year-round Barbados-Boston service, and the carrier’s Newark service will increase from eight to 24 rotations this winter.

New and improved accommodations

Visitors taking advantage of these new services this winter will have their pick of new and refurbished accommodations, from luxury to adults-only. Sandals Royal Barbados is slated to be opened on December 20th 2017. Elegant Hotels’ The House and Treasure Beach are both undergoing extensive renovations to enhance guest experience and are slated to open in October and November. Also reopening this winter is the renowned Fairmont Royal Pavilion in November, and Sea Breeze Beach Hotel in December.

In addition to the new accommodations, the island will also welcome the world-acclaimed luxurious Nikki Beach at Port Ferdinand this winter, as well as the first of its kind Departure Beach by Virgin Holidays in May 2018.

Winter means luxury

To promote the diverse and quality offerings in the pipeline, Barbados’ winter campaign will focus on luxury. The winter campaign is geared towards promoting travel during the dominant travel period of December 2017 to March 2018, will target the affluent traveller and will commence in all major markets in October. A mix of traditional and digital marketing tools will showcase the effortless beauty and luxurious wonder destination Barbados has to offer.

Upcoming festivals and events

Several culturally immersive experiences await visitors this winter and beyond. The diverse sports calendar continues as the Year of Sports comes to a close, with everything from motorsports like Festival of Speed, to sailing with the Dragon World Championship, and of course the highly-anticipated Run Barbados Marathon Weekend in December. Looking forward to 2018, the January Mount Gay Round Series will be rebranded Barbados Sailing Week to highlight the plethora of activities on offer that week.

Also on the menu for fall is the 8^th annual Barbados Food & Rum Festival. From November 16-19, Barbados will feature a culinary and cultural immersion experience like no other, featuring both local and international culinary artisans, as well as polo, parties and fish fries. This year’s international chefs are Jean-Georges Vongerichten of the U.S., Tom Aikens of the U.K. and Chris De La Rosa of Canada.

Accolades and achievements

For their hard work throughout the year, destination Barbados received several prestigious awards including Travel Bulleting Star Award’s Star Winter Sun Destination 2017, the #3 spot in Cruise Critic’s Top-Rated Southern Caribbean Cruise Destinations, and the World Economic Forum’s highest score in the Caribbean for Safety & Security.

Denmark is famed worldwide for its cosy, warm and friendly atmosphere – and the 'hygge' is at its best during the chilly Danish autumn and winter, making it the perfect time to visit. But at Halloween, the cosiest country in the world transforms for frights and fun. With pumpkins galore in the heart of Copenhagen, 'Brick or Treat' at LEGOLAND® Billund Resort, and spookily terrifying parties at haunted castles all over the country, an autumn trip to Denmark wouldn't be complete without immersing yourself in these Halloween-themed experiences.

Halloween in Copenhagen

Copenhagen's beautiful and iconic Tivoli Gardens will be dressed up for Halloween this autumn, with 20,000 pumpkins creating a wonderfully warm autumnal atmosphere along with spiders, scarecrows, magical creatures and thousands of lights. Halloween in Tivoli is for everyone, whether it's a family day out to enjoy the thrill of the rides, a delicious dinner for two, or to simply soak up the atmosphere of the beautiful Gardens. As the evening comes to a close, music, lights, smoke, fire and lasers illuminate Tivoli Lake for a show that is not to be missed.

While in Copenhagen, why not experience the frightfully terrifying Carlsberg Halloween Party on 27 October? Situated in Carlsberg's old brewery, the ghosts are coming out of the deepest, darkest corners of the cellars at Visit Carlsberg, with everyone invited to meet them at the Halloween party to end all parties. Grab a scary Halloween costume and join the party!

Tivoli Friheden Aarhus

Located in the heart of Marselisborg Forest in Denmark's second city Aarhus, Tivoli Friheden will be transformed into the home of witches, ghosts, monsters and hundreds of spiders from 14 October until 22 October. As night falls, experience the beautiful lighting and an extra creepy atmosphere in the amusement park. Restaurant Friheden will also be hosting a special Halloween evening buffet on 18 October and 21 October, hosted by witch Grufelia and offering delicious Halloween-themed dishes for the whole family.

LEGOLAND® Billund Resort

LEGOLAND® Billund Resort will be transformed for Halloween from 7 October until 5 November. The park will be full of ghoulish LEGOLAND® creatures and impressive LEGO® Halloween decorations. Join the 'Brick or Treat' tour round the park and meet funny, crazy (and a bit scary!) Halloween creatures on your way, or creep into the giant pumpkin made of more than 100,000 LEGO bricks. LEGOLAND will be decked out with pumpkins, skeletons, ghosts, mummies and spiders to create a Halloween atmosphere everywhere. From 14–22 October and on 28 October, the is open until 9 pm. Selected amusements will be open until 7.30 pm, and when darkness falls, the park will be illuminated by fantastic lights.

Spooky events at haunted castles

Valdemar's Castle, a stunning palace on the island of Tåsinge near Svendborg, in southern Denmark, will have a series of spooky Horror Nights from 29 September until 4 November. With several 'horror zones' to explore – everything from a war zone to a horrific hospital and mysterious dark forest – be prepared to be scared! There is also 'The Mind-Blowing Horror Show' starring Martin Castor, an international show hypnotist with a scarily sharp ability for modern psychological entertainment, mentalism and mind reading.

Wanderlust, the go-to magazine for independently minded travellers, has announced the winners of its annual World Guide Awards for 2017. This year saw Khalid Lamlih, a Moroccan guide who grew up in the Atlas Mountains, clinch first place at the ceremony at London's Royal Geographical Society on Thursday 5 October 2017, receiving his Gold Award from legendary travel writer Bill Bryson.

These awards, now in their 12th year, recognise the world's best tour guides and honour these far too often unsung heroes of the travel industry, as voted for by Wanderlust readers, intrepid explorers, and a range of knowledgeable and experienced judges.

Moroccan born Khalid Lamlih has had a passion for both travel and tour guiding since he was very young. Before he began his successful 10-year career as a tour guide, Khalid formed a symbiotic relationship with other tour-leaders; he would act as their sidekick, helping them out in any way he could, whilst gaining the knowledge, passion and enthusiasm he shares with his groups today.

New-Zealand born Hayley Shephard received the Silver Award. Her family moved to British Colombia, Canada when she was growing up and here she became an outdoors education teacher before she found her true calling – guiding in Antarctica. Meanwhile, Dinesh KC's desire and dedication to sharing his love for his native Nepal over the past decade has been rewarded with the Bronze Award.

Thousands of unforgettable and caring guides who went above and beyond for their travel clients were nominated this year, making it tough job for the winners to be chosen.

The industry-experts who judged this year's awards include: Wanderlust co-founder and editor-in-chief Lyn Hughes; experienced wilderness and adventure guide Myles Farnbank; travel industry gurus Mandy Nickerson and Derek Moore, and Gill Russell from Craghoppers UK – this year's sponsor. At the ceremony, they were also joined by special guests and previous judges, legendary travel Writer Bill Bryson and author, photographer and TV wildlife expert, Mark Carwardine.

The winning guides all receive a generous bursary donated by Craghoppers to put towards community projects and charities of their choice. Swarovski Optik and Powertraveller also provided some additional prizes for the winners.

Wanderlust co-founder and judge, Lyn Hughes, stated, “Every time the judges and I come together, we spend hours smiling and being inspired by the bucket load of anecdotes and testimonials that have been sent in by readers.”

“It never gets any easier to narrow such an incredible list down to just three. And then, picking an overall winner is even trickier still! As always, though, these accolades only serve to utterly convince me of their importance in making your experience one that's extremely special.”

Many comments made by Wanderlust readers and Khalid's past clients which truly convinced the judges that he deserved this year's Gold Award. He was nominated for reasons such as “he went out of his way on several occasions to provide different options and activities. He was also a great storyteller and great fun” and “when I think of Morocco, I think of Khalid. He cared for us like a kind father cares for his family, creating life long memories”.

After the Florida Keys were impacted by Hurricane Irma on 10 September, local government officials have announced that the island chain will reopen to visitors on Sunday, 1 October.

Potential visitors are advised that while it is safe to travel to the Keys, recovery efforts are ongoing, especially in the Lower Keys and parts of Marathon which were hardest hit by the Category 4 storm. Not all lodging is operating on a normal basis currently and this includes RV resorts and other tourism facilities throughout the Keys. The districts of Key Largo and Key West were the least impacted, however visitors planning to travel to the Keys in the coming months are advised to call ahead to ensure their chosen hotels1 and favourite attractions are open.

Motorists should use extreme caution when navigating Marathon and the Lower Keys regions and stay off side roads to avoid hindering restoration activities. Bridges on the Florida Keys Overseas Highway have passed inspections and any necessary repairs have been made.

Officials confirmed that the decision to open the Keys to visitors is based on some of the most immediate infrastructure repairs having been completed. Almost all power and water services have now been restored and mobile phone service is working well, however the full restoration of television and internet connections is taking longer to re-establish. Throughout the Keys there are significant debris piles that are being removed by clean-up contractors.

Monroe County Mayor George Neugent commented, “We know we have a long way to go before the Keys fully recover, but because tourism is our top economic engine and many of our residents' livelihoods depend on it, we also know that we need to begin asking visitors to return.”

UK travellers planning a visit to the Keys can access the island chain from this weekend through the normal gateway airports of Miami and Fort Lauderdale. International airports in Marathon and Key West have also reopened to aviation traffic and The Port of Key West is now welcoming cruise ships again.

While some special events have been postponed or cancelled, key upcoming events include Key Largo's Humphrey Bogart Film Festival (18-22 October) and Key West's Fantasy Fest (20-29 October), both of which will take place as originally scheduled.

It's no secret that the cruise industry has transformed itself in recent years: shaking off outdated stereotypes and working hard to keep cruising relevant for the modern traveller. These days you'll find cutting edge cruise ships with thrilling on-board activities and a wide range of state-of-the-art facilities as standard - and it's not about to stop there

Cruise lines are already ordering world-class ships that will come into service in 10 years' time. To ensure these ships will impress passengers in 2027 and beyond, innovation and forward-thinking is vital. So, what will the cruise ships of the future look like? Here, the experts at Cruise Nation share their insights

Screens, Screens, Screens

Forget about one strategically positioned TV on the wall in your cabin. Soon, LED screens will feature on the walls, ceilings and even floors of cruise ships. Royal Caribbean has already created virtual balconies, bringing ocean views to every inner stateroom - but this is just the beginning. In the future, it'll be the norm to use LED visual display technology to create illusions and enhance the ambience of the public spaces throughout the ship

Personalised Experience

Wearable technology has already been adopted by Princess Cruises, who have given their device a catchy name – Ocean Medallion – but, in the future, it will be used for more than just room access and paying for cocktails. As cruise lines look to provide a personalised experience for each traveller, devices worn by guests will inform bar tenders of a customer's name and favourite drink, alert waiting staff if it's someone's birthday or anniversary and tailor activity suggestions based on repetitive behaviour of the wearer

Your Own Virtual Butler

Voice activated in-room assistants will act as personal butlers from the moment a customer enters their stateroom. Without lifting a finger, guests will be able to ask their assistant to make dinner arrangements, book last minute excursions or even have a hire car delivered to the port for when they dock. Virtual assistants will also make sure customers never get caught without sun cream or an umbrella again by giving an accurate weather report for the ship's next destination

Robotic Bartenders and Floating Platforms

State of the art engineering is enabling the cruise industry to take bold and exciting steps when it comes to futuristic design concepts on board. Royal Caribbean has introduced the 'Rising Tide Bar' which moves between floors as guests enjoy their cocktails and the 'Bionic Bartenders' – robots that mix your drinks. We expect to see many more incredible engineering ideas setting sail soon, many of which would be impressive on dry land let alone at sea. The first being the 'Magic Carpet' on the Celebrity Edge, which launches in 2018. The Magic Carpet is already causing ripples of excitement in the cruising world as it'll be the world's first cantilevered floating platform to hang off the side of the ship

Visit the Destination Before You Arrive

As virtual reality technology becomes more advanced, it will be used to give customers a real-life experience of the destinations they are about to visit. Watching short videos will be long gone, replaced by the ability to experience the heat, wind and even local smells before travellers arrive. We also expect cruise companies to invest more in virtual reality gaming for children, and any big kids, onboard. Next-level technology will enable players to be present in a three-dimensional environment and interact with live characters or situations within the game

Reducing Environmental Impact

Cruise liners are already investing in environmentally friendly initiatives around waste disposal and water efficiency to reduce their carbon footprint. The next step is to pay closer attention to the ships themselves to ensure the next generation of vessels will have as little impact on the environment as possible. Royal Caribbean's Icon Class ships, planned for 2022, will be powered by liquefied natural gas and use fuel cell technology to reduce gas emissions. Plans are also in place for what is being dubbed the 'World's Greenest Cruise Ship' which will use retractable solar panels and a future-ready hybrid engine.

Holographic staff

Friendly holographic staff will soon be available for real-time interactions with customers at hundreds of touch-points around cruise ships. Acting as virtual information points, the holographic helpers will give on board directions, answer customer questions and make important announcements to a crowd or a room full of people.

There's never been a better time to catch the fitness bug, so why not get your fitness fix on holiday? Gone are the days of the mundane gym class; instead, increasingly alternative workouts are springing up worldwide to cater for fitness fans who demand more from their exercise. Fitness retreats worldwide are subsequently pushing the boundaries of what classifies as a workout; providing exciting new ways to exercise beyond the gym floor.

It's time to ditch the treadmill, as Health and Fitness Travel, the wellness holiday specialists, has trawled the globe to discover the world's most unusual fitness classes. From facial gymnastics in Italy to laughter therapy in India, these alternative holiday workouts offer individuality worth travelling for.

Try 'Spoga' in St Lucia: BodyHoliday Yoga

For those whose idea of a perfect workout is to sweat then stretch, look no further, as BodyHoliday's 'Spoga' class is the answer to your prayers. 'Spoga' complements the current trend for hybrid fitness classes, providing you with 20 minutes of spin class and 20 minutes of yoga. This workout is certain to boost your overall wellness, as the relaxation of yoga will repair the body after such high intensity calorie-burning. Relish the soul-soaring views of the glossy green St Lucian jungle, as you enjoy Spoga classes in a luxurious glass treehouse.

Try 'RIP Trainer' in India: Atmantan Fitness

Beautiful views, lavish rooms and fine dining food; Atmantan is the luxurious haven you deserve to return home to after a vigorous workout. Deadly as it may sound, the 'RIP trainer' provides an effective workout for improving core strength, burning calories and increasing cardiovascular endurance. It will soon become your favourite TRX tool, as the level bar fitted with an innovative resistance cord is great for muscle-defining rotational exercise. Once you're done, relax and unwind at Atmantan's blissful spa, with healing treatments that will rejuvenate both inside and out.

Try 'Fit & Face' in Italy: Lefay Fusion Fitness

Throw out the makeshift anti-wrinkle creams, and get active about your looks with facial gymnastics. Lefay's 'Fit & Face' class provides therapeutic facial exercises that lift and tighten your muscles, giving you naturally youthful results that everyone will notice. Bask in the tranquillity of this peaceful sanctuary, and alleviate years of built-up muscular tension. This workout not only counters ageing effects on the face, but has an anti-stress element that will make your entire body smile. Afterwards, take your new look for a spin, and venture out around the luscious greenery of the Gargano mountains.

Try 'Laughter Therapy' in India: SwaSwara Rejuvenation and Yoga

Laughter is indisputably the finest medicine, and the perfect alternative to western pharmaceuticals. Feel organically restored as you take part in holistic laughter and breathing exercises, and engage in group meditation under SwaSwara's large Banyan tree. This treatment is designed to lower blood pressure, boost your immune system and, most importantly, will leave you beaming from ear to ear. Enjoy a spine-tingling rush of endorphins as you laugh out loud and relieve yourself of negative emotion. SwaSwara's infectiously positive environment is sure to leave you feeling giddy with glee.

A new range of limited edition amenity kits from luxury luggage brands BRIC’S and Nappa Dori have made their debut on board Qatar Airways flights for passengers flying in First Class and Business Class.

BRIC’S limited edition luxury amenity kits come in a selection of four colours for autumn – yellow, navy blue, blush and tan – and will be presented to passengers flying long-haul in First Class and Business Class.

First and Business Class passengers travelling on Qatar Airways’ medium-haul routes will be offered amenity kits from leading fashion brand Nappa Dori featuring a new series of destination images printed on the kits canvas exterior, including Thailand, the Netherlands, China and Doha. Frequent travellers can add the new keepsake designs from both brands to their collections, which combine vintage and contemporary styles and contain a range of must-have handy travel accessories.

First Class and Business Class long-haul passengers can enjoy a luxury amenity bag created exclusively for Qatar Airways by stylish Italian luggage brand BRIC’S. The miniature versions of the Bellagio and Sintesis suitcase features a hard-shell with a Tuscan leather trim. Each bag contains exclusive products from Italy’s Castello Monte Vibiano Vecchio, the environmentally friendly olive oil company. The skin care range includes lip balm, hydrating facial mist, and anti-ageing moisturiser in Business Class, with added Night Recovery Cream for First Class kits. Socks, eyeshades and ear plugs complete the range with the addition of a BRIC’S signature luggage tag for First Class.

Medium-haul customers flying in First Class and Business Class enjoy bespoke luxury amenity kits developed by artisan brand, Nappa Dori, which has gained global recognition for its luxury handcrafted travel and fashion accessories. The kits feature select images from destinations around the world served by Qatar Airways, and contain socks, eyeshades and lip balm from Castello Monte Vibiano Vecchio.

This is just the latest initiative taken by Qatar Airways to enhance its service for passengers. Last month, the airline announced the launch of a new Pre-Select Dining service, allowing First and Business Class passengers to pre-select one main course from the à la carte on-board menu as far as 14 days in advance and up to 24 hours before take-off.

With just over 37,000 human inhabitants in an area the size of California, the Yukon has a lot of space for wildlife. From broad uninhabited valleys to crystal-clear rivers and endless mountain peaks, more than 80 percent of the Yukon landmass is wilderness. Its home to more than 250,000 caribou, 70,000 moose, 22,000 mountain sheep, 6,000 grizzly bears, 10,000 black bears, 1,500 polar bears and 284 species of birds.

It's no surprise then that seeing wildlife is a highlight of a visit to the Yukon. And on just about any road, anywhere in the Yukon, it is not at all uncommon to see wildlife.

More than a quarter of Canada's grizzly bears live here, making it one of the best places anywhere to see one. Sightings of both grizzly and black bears from the side of the road, while hiking and paddling, or even from the air are common.

Shorter summers in the North mean that grizzlies must be as efficient as possible in preparing for their long winter hibernation. They depend on thick crops of berries and seasonal runs of salmon to fatten up. In an autumn feeding frenzy, a grizzly can eat 200,000 berries in a single day!

One of the most unique bear viewing opportunities takes place at Bear Cave Mountain. In a remote location near the Arctic Circle, thermal springs create a turbulent effect in the river water, preventing it from freezing, creating the perfect habitat for salmon. Grizzly bears are attracted to this bounty and are able to fish much later than elsewhere. Long after the snow starts falling, grizzlies congregate here to feast, which has earned them the moniker “Ice Bears” due to water that freezes in their long winter fur. Visitors tell stories of the ice 'tinkling like a chandelier” while the bears walk along the waters' edge. With only a handful of guests permitted at any one time, and exceptional photographic opportunities, it's a remarkable experience.

It's not all about the bears though. The Yukon is witness every year to many spectacular wildlife migrations. Watch as thousands of salmon make their way up the longest wooden fish ladder in the world in Whitehorse. On land the Porcupine Caribou Herd, the fifth largest herd in North America, ranges over its vast territory in northern Yukon. The herd can be seen in spring and fall as it migrates along the Dempster Highway corridor from south to north, and back again, often in groups of hundreds or even thousands.

And during spring and fall the skies over the Yukon come alive with thousands upon thousands of migratory birds as they make their way along the Pacific Flyway. Several of these migrations are celebrated in festivals throughout the Yukon. During the Celebration of Swans at Marsh Lake near Whitehorse, approximately 3,000 swans and thousands of other waterfowl stopover on their spring migration north. At the Crane and Sheep Viewing Festival in Faro an estimated quarter of a million Sandhill Cranes pass through on their spring migration to summer nesting grounds. Tombstone Territorial Park provides habitat to 148 species and the annual birding festival Weekend on the Wing offers an opportunity to see many migratory birds. Environment Yukon offers these as well as other wildlife and bird viewing programs.

Guests from abroad often name Heidelberg as their favorite destination in Germany. Around 12 million guests a year make their way to explore the flair of the historic university town in a picturesque location. The city on the Neckar not only offers magnificent history, but also advanced modernity, culture, entertainment, diverse shopping possibilities and a varied gastronomy for all requirements.

In addition to the Heidelberg Castle, Schwetzingen is particularly well worth seeing, as is the world-famous Speyer cathedral. The wine and asparagus region of Kraichgau, attractive golf courses, the Wirsol Rhein-Neckar-Arena and the bathing area in Sinsheim offer a great experience in the surroundings.

And who would have thought that the first “gas station” in the world could be found in the neighboring wine-growing city of Wiesloch! In August 1888, Bertha Benz, the wife of the Baden-based automobile inventor Carl Benz, was driving from Mannheim to Pforzheim with her two sons with her car, the Benz Patent Motor Car No. 3. On this first long-distance journey of world history, the three automakers south of Heidelberg, however, ran out of fuel. The light-weight Ligroin, which was offered as a cleaning agent at that time, was fortunately on purchase in the Wiesloch City Pharmacy. Thus Bertha Benz was able to continue her journey with a full tank. The City Pharmacy became the first gas station in the world, its pharmacist Ockel the first gas station attendant ever! The pharmacy still exists today and can be visited. There is also a specially designed Bertha Benz Memorial Tour for interested tourists.