Calling all classic car fans! Blenheim Palace is hosting the Pre-50 American Auto Club 'Rally of Giants' on Sunday 9 July. This superlative gathering offers a rare opportunity for collectors and admirers to see the finest and most valuable examples found anywhere in Europe.

There will be more than 400 classic American vehicles attending, including some of the best examples of motoring history and the most valuable. Dating from the early 1920's through to the 1970's the Rally of Giants is a must visit for those with a passion for American motorcars. For those with only a passing interest in motoring avocation expect your interest to be piqued with this remarkable collection of American motorcars, trucks, military vehicles and bikes.

Attracting collectors from the UK and continental Europe to Blenheim Palace the rally provides the perfect backdrop for admiring, purchasing and selling classics. Visitors can enjoy a full day out in Blenheim Palace, Park and Gardens with delicious food and refreshments available in the new Orangery Restaurant which overlooks the private Italian Gardens.

Cologne Bonn Airport was officially wed to Las Vegas when Eurowings launched its twice-weekly direct link to the vibrant party city in Nevada. Commencing the German airport’s second connection to the US, the carrier will utilise its fleet of A330s on the 8,824-kilometre sector.

“We are very pleased that Cologne Bonn Airport is now connected to this dazzling metropolis. We are expanding our route network to the US ‒ Las Vegas is now our second destination after Miami," said Michael Garvens, Chairman of the Management Board, Cologne Bonn.

Understanding the commitment with the Lufthansa Group carrier, Cologne Bonn’s latest low-cost long-haul destination will add another 612 weekly seats to the US this summer. Joining its existing service to Miami, the carrier is set to launch two further US links next month – Orlando and Seattle-Tacoma – resulting in Eurowings offering close to 60,000 seats to the US from Cologne Bonn during S17, a remarkable 210% year-on year increase in US capacity.

This summer will see Eurowings base over 20 aircraft at Cologne Bonn, serving a total of 95 routes with 506 weekly flights, including operating 18 low-cost long-haul destinations from the airport.

Creating a fresh perspective on Edinburgh's rich narrative of history, culture, heritage and everyday life, Edinburgh's 101 Objects is a new visitor experience set to bring the city's colourful, and sometimes dark, past to life through some of its most treasured objects and curiosities.

The city-wide attraction is a first for Edinburgh with 50 partners, including city institutions, attractions, universities, galleries and local pubs, coming together to each showcase their precious objects in celebration of 1,000 years of Scotland's capital city.

From the architectural grandeur of the Scott Monument and the ethereal ceiling in the Thistle Chapel at St Giles' Cathedral, to a 90-year old paint mixer used on the Forth Bridge and a golf ball once owned by Robert Louis Stevenson, every object has been carefully chosen for both their personal intrigue and part in the compelling story of the city.

Seven themes provide a thread through the Edinburgh's 101 journey through time: Building a City, Faith & Nation; City of Innovation; Arts & Performance; Everyday Life; On the Dark Side and Books, Words, Ideas.  A balanced combination of familiar favourites including The Stone of Destiny, Sherlock Holmes statue and Dolly the Sheep, sit along the first Edinburgh International Festival programme from 1947, the 200-year old Sabal palm tree, the original New Town Plan and the Witches Well.

A new website www.edinburgh.org/101 presents all 101 objects, providing an entertaining insight into each object's personal history and its place within Edinburgh's gripping story. With each item numbered 1-101, visitors can explore the objects, arranging them by locale or theme, creating a personal visitor experience tailored to their interests.  Designed to be an engaging information resource, the site also acts as a mobile geo-mapped guidebook, enabling visitors to navigate the city and discover the physical objects for themselves.

The premiere Beijing International Travel Mart (BITM) 2017 will be held at China National Convention Center (CNCC) in Beijing, China from 16 – 18 November 2017. The three-day event, open to trade visitors on the first two days and to public visitors on the last day, will climax the current ASEAN-China Year of Tourism Cooperation 2017.

With a gross area of 10,000 square metres, BITM 2017 will feature over 400 international exhibitors from over 60 countries. The countries of Southeast Asia are expected to form a significant ASEAN Pavilion to highlight the touristic attractions and programmes along the Maritime Silk Route.

In addition, the event is expected to attract some 400 local and international buyers and is projected to attract 10,000 public visitors as well as 6,000 trade visitors from the MICE, OTAs, Travel Agents, Corporates and Trade Associations.

Beijing, the capital of China, is the world’s third most populous city and is ranked second to Shanghai in China’s outbound generating markets for year 2016. The UNTWO has predicted that 200 million Chinese will travel out of the country by 2020, spending US$422 billion.

“A globalized one-stop sourcing platform is vital for stakeholders within the tourism industry to effectively reach out to the Chinese travel market,” says Edward Liu, Group Managing Director of Conference & Exhibition Management Services (CEMS), the organizers.

To accentuate the ASEAN-China Year of Tourism Cooperation, a panel discussion on the first day of the BITM 2017, would feature prominent captains of industry from both ASEAN and China, exploring extended cooperation between the two regions, in sync with the initiatives being formulated under the Maritime Silk Route.

Another forum on the second day would be dedicated to big data and analytics as well as the latest travel technologies that are being implemented across the global tourism industry. There would also be specially curated workshops running concurrently with the exhibition to provide attendees with relevant industry updates.

To generate awareness for the exhibition and forums, CEMS would be running pre-event roadshows in various cities and regions within China. Participating exhibitors would be invited to join the pre-event publicity campaigns to attract buyers prior to the event.

Exhibitors could also look forward to enriched business matchings through one-on-one meeting interaction technology to maximize the efficiency of their pre-scheduled appointments with the preferred Chinese and international buyers.

For the record, CEMS is the founder of Beijing International Travel Expo (BITE) series in Beijing, China and is accountable for over 13 years of continued success in the tourism exhibition.

Cumulatively, CEMS has a track record of 25 successful professional international tourism exhibitions such as BITE, CGITE, XSPRITE, and CITE, with participants from across 80 countries over the last 15 years.

With the May half term holiday out of the way and summer holidays all finalised, now is the time to book a trip to see Santa in his Lapland home this winter to ensure the best availability for departure dates and accommodation.  With the increase in demand for Santa holidays, these magical breaks often sell out quickly. This winter, independent tailor-made tour operator Best Served Scandinavia offers its widest choice of Santa breaks with four different itineraries available in Finnish Lapland ranging from a luxurious wilderness retreat to the option of a night in a glass igloo.

New this year is a 4 day tailor made break to the Finnish town of Rovaniemi also known as Lapland's Christmas Capital.  Direct flights, transfers, 3 nights at Ounasvaaran Lakituvat in a cosy log cabin, a visit to Santa's Village, husky sledding and a snowmobile ride to a local reindeer farm are all included in this magical break. Early booking is recommended with a free husky toy for children under 12 for all bookings made before the end of June.

The quiet village of Luosto in Finnish Lapland is home to Santa's Hotel Aurora, a cosy hotel ideally located for Northern Lights viewing.  This year, the Snow and Santa in Finnish Lapland break includes a magical night in a glass-domed igloo where it's possible to catch a display of the Northern Lights.  There's also a private visit from Santa in the igloo and a guided reindeer excursion.