WAC Travel, specialists in luxury tailor-made adventure vacations have launched a new website, solely dedicated to special offers.

Tortribe, or http://www.tortribe.com offers clients the same tailor-made service, private touring, and luxury boutique hotels they have become accustomed to, but at substantial savings, ranging from 10% to 40%.

Tortribe makes it quick and easy for the discerning vacationer to go online and with a single click acquire a tailor-made itinerary with a new adventure every day, all the while in the lap of luxury.

With prices starting at $1,250 for an adventure weekend in Telluride for a single traveler (down by 25%); to $14,205 for a family of 4 taking a malaria-free safari in Africa (down by 20%). Prices include everything from flights, to activities and transfers – all details arranged by the experts, for a hassle-free vacation.

Included in the offering is a 20% discount at Anedodi, WAC Travel’s new luxury eco-lodge in the Ozark Mountains of Arkansas. Prices for 10 people booking the lodge exclusively start at $319 per person per week during Fall.

‘This is my favorite time to visit the Ozark Mountains’ says founder Michael Altman, ‘the weather is warm and sunny, the water smooth – and the fall foliage colors are magnificent!’.

for more, see: http://www.tortribe.com

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WAC Travel, specialists in luxury tailor-made adventure vacations are launching a luxury eco-lodge in the Ozark Mountains of Arkansas.

The first of its kind in the Ozarks, the lodge will combine high-end features, such as double rainfall showers, egg baths, and woven circular daybeds with eco-features like dual flush toilets, recycled tiles, reclaimed wood furniture, bamboo bedding, and organic towels.

Named ‘Anedodi’ (meaning ‘adventure’ in Cherokee), the lodge offers numerous adventure activities: From water skiing, wake boarding, and knee boarding on Lake Norfork, to fishing some of the best trout rivers in the country.

Nearby, the Buffalo River National Park offers opportunities for hiking along riverbeds to find waterfalls and floating the river by canoe or kayak. Rock climbing is another big attraction, with over 1,000 established routes through the Ozark sandstone.

For more, see: http://www.anedodi.com

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Since the beginning of time, people have flocked to the water for medicinal and spiritual reasons. What’s in your memory of summers gone by?

It seems for all of us there is that memory of a sapphire-blue swimming pool or the teasing ocean rush. We laid in the sun working on our tan, sat in the shade reading a wonderful book, walked the water’s edge searching for seashells or simply played like a fish.

There is still time to visit one of these fabulous all-inclusive resorts where you will be WOWED by their beach or pool.

Take a trip to ResortCompete – they have the largest collection of all-inclusive resorts on the web, over 700+- where you will find these top resorts to sooth your soul this summer.

Here are ResortCompete Specialists top recommendations:

Grand Velas All Suites and Spa Resort
Nuevo Vallarta, Mexico – The impression of an unending horizon is yours as you soak in the impressive 23,000 square foot infinity pool at the Grand Velas Resort. Or perhaps you’d prefer the warmth of the infinity Jacuzzi, available to guests aged 18 and up; a plunge in either provides a view that seems to reach right out into beautiful Banderas Bay, and beyond. Have a bite to eat in the poolside restaurant, or let teams of waiters bring you tropical drink concoctions as you bask in the sun.

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Canada Tourism News – Total spending on tourism in Canada declined by 1.3 percent in the first quarter of 2009, constituting the third consecutive quarterly fall of this industry, government agency Statistics reported Monday.

Tourism spending measures the cumulative expenditures by both travelers from abroad and Canadians. Three consecutive quarterly drops last occurred in Canada in the aftermath of the Sept. 11, 2001 attacks, when the tourism industry experienced a major decline.

Tourism spending has declined a cumulative 2.4 percent so far in the current downturn, the report said.

Spending by visitors from abroad fell by 5.7 percent in the first quarter of 2009, the sharpest decline since just after the SARS outbreak in the second quarter of 2003.

These travelers spent less on all tourism commodities, Statistics Canada reported.

Among this group, consumption of vehicle fuel was down 10.3 percent, and spending on food and beverages fell 8.0 percent.

These drops could be driven in part by declining numbers of U.S. visitors.

Meanwhile, tourism spending by Canadians fell slightly by 0.1 percent in the quarter. Canadians flew less, as spending on air transportation fell 2.3 percent. Continue Reading

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The 26th Danube Island Festival was ceremoniously opened on Friday night in the Danube island as scheduled.

Over the past few days, due to the continuing rainfall, the Danube water rose to such an extent that some of facilities set up for the Danube Island Festival had been soaked by water. Until Wednesday, the organizers of the festival still worried that this year’s Danube Island Festival might be forced to cancel owing to flooding.

Fortunately, from Thursday on, the weather along the Danube valley in Austria began to be fair, and the Danube water level dropped. The flow decreased significantly to alleviate the flood threat. The organizers therefore decided to hold this year’s Danube Island Festival on Friday evening as scheduled.

People were organized to repair and clean up the soaked facilities on Danube islands. A total of 1,000 cubic meters of wood pieces were also shipped to be scattered on the island to prevent the road slippery, muddy, so as to ensure the festival opened as scheduled. Continue Reading

Singapore recorded a double digit decline of 13 percent in tourist arrivals last month compared to a year ago.

The Singapore Tourism Board (STB) said today about 730,000 visitors came to the city-state last month compared to the 834,000 in May 2008.

In its monthly update on tourism performance in the Republic, STB said visitor days in May were estimated at 3.1 million days, a decrease of 10.6 percent in comparison to the corresponding month last year.

The board said Indonesia, India, Australia, Malaysia and China were Singapore’s top five visitor-generating markets, accounting for 53.1 percent of total visitor arrivals for last month.

Some 129,000 Indonesian, 90,000 Indian, 59,000 Australian, 55,000 Malaysian and 52,000 Chinese visitors came to Singapore last month. Continue Reading

Cyprus’ revenue from tourism for January-April this year has declined by 7.5 percent, Cypriot President Demetris Christofias revealed on Wednesday.

Facing a decrease of foreign tourist arrivals by 8.9 percent, the president called for joint action to contain the fallout of the world economic downturn on the island’s tourism industry.

“Now is the time to work together to cut the losses of the crisis provided that we learn from the omissions of the past and move together towards the right direction,” Christofias told a meeting of travel agents.

He assured that the government in cooperation with all stakeholders will continue efforts to support tourism and will not hesitate to take swift and well-thought decisions for the benefit of its tourism industry.

The government has already announced a 52-million-euro (about 71.97 million U.S. dollars) plan to boost tourism, along with a new holiday voucher scheme targeting local holiday-makers. Continue Reading

The Mexican government and Google Mexico on Tuesday signed an agreement on providing Google with Mexico’s cultural heritage information to help revive tourism.

Under their arrangement, the National Anthropology and History Institute (INAH) will provide photographs, videos and other information to Google Mexico. INAH will also provide maps and floor plans for its museums, archeological areas and historical monuments.

Google Maps will offer visitors a tour guide to take them to different cultural destinations in Mexico.

John Farrel, head of Google Mexico, said that before deciding to buy or travel, people often access the Internet to get information, so this program will make tours in Mexico convenient and accessible.

In Mexico, some 27 million people or 85 percent of Mexico’s Internet population, use Google’s tools.

Billions of dollars and thousands of jobs are at stake should Australia not reform its ailing tourism industry, a new report revealed on Monday.

The government-sponsored Jackson Report came as Australia’s share of global tourism dropped 14 percent between 1995 and 2008, while also declining as a proportion of Australia’s gross domestic product (GDP) since peaking in 2001.

“If Australia does not make the necessary changes between now and 2030, we risk forgoing 3.6 million international visitors, 17.7 billion U.S. dollars (22 billion Australian dollars) of tourism’ s contribution to GDP, and as many as 100,000 tourism jobs,” former Qantas chairwoman Margaret Jackson said.

The report produced by the Long Term Tourism Strategy Steering Committee made 10 recommendations to enhance research, online capability, skills and investment. Continue Reading

Trax.com is pleased to announce the official launch of the travel meta-search engine out of Beta. Trax offers users the convenience of comparing rates for flights, hotels, and car rentals across more than 200 travel suppliers simultaneously. Trax differentiates itself from existing meta-search engines by searching all of its suppliers without bias, offering comprehensive and competitive search results uninfluenced by exclusivity contracts. Trax also breaks the mold by searching regional specialty travel companies, providing exclusive offers not available on leading online travel agencies.

“Trax is based on the principle that fair, unbiased competition between our suppliers will ultimately bring our users the best travel rates,” says Evvie Meier, Marketing Manager at Trax. “Since we don’t sign exclusivity contracts, Trax has the freedom to offer users fares from hundreds of suppliers, meaning more options, more flexibility, and lower rates. We put consumers first.”

With the proliferation of online travel companies, even the most internet-savvy travelers can find the task of searching and comparing rates a daunting one. The increase in booking options can backfire, leaving customers reluctant to finalize a purchase out of fear that a better deal exists somewhere else.

“Increased competition works in customers’ favor until it gets too complex that it overwhelms them. Travel purchase shouldn’t be a wild goose chase,” Meier says. “The goal of Trax is to channel this competition into something that is digestible for travelers.” Continue Reading

Hong Kong Disneyland has launched two MICE products to help corporate clients maximize their spending, while taking some time out to relax and recharge, amidst business events.

Available until the end of August, the Special Meeting Package and Group Ticket Promotion take into account budgets and the growing emphasis on holding MICE events that provide a mini escape for employees.

Hong Kong is well-known as a MICE hub thanks in part to its strategic location, comprehensive and world-class infrastructure, and strong hospitality sector.

Aliana Ho, Vice President, Sales and Travel Trade Marketing of Hong Kong Disneyland said, “The current economic environment is set to be a challenge for our corporate clients and budgets now play a significant role when organizing MICE activities. Hong Kong Disneyland understands the mounting pressure that corporations face. Our new Special Meeting Package and Group Ticket Promotion are excellent solutions financially, and give clients’ employees a break from their everyday routine.” Continue Reading

Smart Destinations, the company behind Go Cards and Explorer Passes, announces the addition of the Empire State Building Observatory as part of the NYC Explorer Pass. The newly-renovated visitor’s area at the Empire State Building Observatory is one of the most visited attractions for visitors to New York City and represents an important addition to the popular product.

The NYC Explorer Pass offers the ultimate in convenience, cost savings and flexibility for visitors to the city. Customers choose three, five or seven attractions at a low, pre-paid price. The pass serves as a ticket to any of the 40 participating NY attractions. Customers have the freedom to use the pass at anytime of the day or night and can take up to 30 days to use the admissions on the pass, making it ideal for out-of-towners and locals alike. The pass also provides discounts at popular restaurants and shops and the ability to skip the lines at many attractions. Each Explorer Pass also comes with a color-printed, pocket-sized guidebook full of maps, travel tips and itineraries for New York City.

“With millions of visitors from around the world, the Empire State Building is the ‘must-see’ attraction in New York City,” said Jean-Yves Ghazi, Director of the Observatory at the Empire State Building. “We have recently renovated our 86th and 102nd floor observatories with aesthetic and modernization improvements. By joining with the NYC Explorer Pass, we encourage people to get the most out of their visit to the world’s most famous office building.”

Among the top attractions included in the NYC Explorer Pass are Metropolitan Museum of Art, Top of the Rock, Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island Ferry, and Madame Tussauds. In addition to the Empire State Building Observatory, in 2009 Smart Destinations also added a Harlem Walking Tour, Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Annex, Bodies…The Exhibition, the Museum of Sex and an entire Brooklyn section with attractions including the Brooklyn Museum, Brooklyn Botanical Gardens and more. Continue Reading