LAS VEGAS – A soothing retreat in the middle of one of the entertainment capitals of the world. I recently had a night at the new Park MGM Hotel and Casino in Vegas, formerly the Monte Carlo. It’s been given a spectacular facelift, with a welcoming lobby, a great swimming pool complex, sensational food (with more to come, including an Eataly outlet) and relaxing, restful rooms. The room I had was decorated in soft shades of green with gold accents and a big comfy cushioned seating strip by the window. They had nice art on the walls, including a series Read more
U.S.A.
The damage has been almost entirely to private homes, far from areas frequented by visitors. But the volcano that has pummelled the southeast corner of Hawaii Big Island has certainly had an impact on the state’s vital tourism industry, officials say. I chatted by phone on Friday with Ross Birch, head of Hawaii Big Island Tourism. He told me there’s no doubt that the uncertainty has hurt his island’s economy. He also agreed that a lot of the concern isn’t necessary. “Less than 10 square miles has been affected by the volcano,” he said. “The island is 4,028 square miles.” Read more
Hawaii is open for business. I met with Hawaii Tourism officials on Monday at the IPW U.S. tourism event in Denver and that was their overwhelming message. Yes, there is some volcano activity on the east side of the Big Island of Hawaii. But it’s limited to 10 square miles of an island that’s more than 4,000 square miles in all. Erin Kinoshita of The Anthology Group, which does public relations for Hawaii tourism, said there’s been no significant impact on the city of Hilo, which is only a half hour’s drive from the eruption site. It’s almost 100 miles Read more
NEAR SANTA FE, NEW MEXICO – I’m hiking through the Kasha-Katuwe Tent Rocks National Monument, less than an hour from Santa Fe. Above me are swooping, surging, curving walls that bend and bulge in wild patterns of pale sand and dusty orange. There’s a tiny sliver of robin’s-egg-blue sky slipping through an overhead crack in the canyon walls. I step through a narrow gap in the rock and stroll into a wider opening with sweet-smelling evergreens and tiny plants clinging to life in the harsh desert climate. Suddenly a small monarch butterfly slides past my ear. I look up as Read more
ANNA MARIA ISLAND, FLORIDA – One of you wants style. The other wants space. Travellers often are forced to make tough choices when booking a holiday hotel. One of you craves modern, artful surroundings, a bright, modern restaurant, and a sexy pool. The other wants a couple of rooms so they won’t have to step over bulky suitcases on the floor or so that the kids can have their space. You won’t have that kind of issue if you bed down at the Waterline Marina Resort and Beach Club on beautiful Anna Maria Island. I recently had a couple of Read more
