Jamaica: Still on TopJamaica has been a favorite of travel agents and the clients they represent for years, so it’s no shock that Recommend readers awarded this year’s best selling destination in the Caribbean award to Jamaica.
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Florida Hotel UpdateHelp your clients plan the perfect Florida getaway by staying up-to-date on the latest hotel news in the Sunshine State.
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Become an ExpertIf you're interested in expanding your knowledge of properties throughout Mexico, Destination Ventures has several options to consider, including Pueblo Bonito University and the Villa Group Travel Agent Academy.
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COPA Picks Tara ToursCOPA Airlines appointed Tara Tours to design and operate its COPA Vacations programs, just introduced to Argentina, Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador Panama and Peru.
Read MoreAgent Rates and Bonuses in Mexico Royal Hideaway Playacar, an all-inclusive, adults-only resort located on Mexico's Yucatan Peninsula is offering agents nightly rates from $149 pp through Dec. 20, 2010.
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Riviera Maya’s Green Escape Guests can give back to the environment this Earth Day (April 22) while experiencing the Green Globe-certified Grand Velas All Suites & Spa Resort in the Riviera Maya, Mexico.
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Incredible Vacations 2010 India Programs Incredible Vacations is expanding its FIT services in 2010 to include special interest packages that focus on India’s rich cultural heritage, spirituality, exotic wildlife, golfing opportunities, and other unique facets of the country.
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SVG has Moms in Mind and HeartHave your clients give their moms more than a token of their love and appreciation this year with the gift of a pampered escapade to St. Vincent and the Grenadines.
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Globetrotting With Grandtravel Grandtravel, a company that provides luxury vacations exclusively for grandparents and their grandchildren, is offering the ultimate summer vacation—a 12-day Italy's Splendor itinerary.
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Curaçao Welcomes New Resort To celebrate its April 10 grand opening, the new Hyatt Regency Curaçao Golf Resort, Spa and Marina is offering introductory rates starting at $199 per night.
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Antigua and Barbuda Sail Into Spring With a number of island-wide sailing events and a number of special vacation deals available, this spring is a perfect time for your clients to explore the twin islands of Antigua and Barbuda.
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Airline UpdateOffer your clients options and convenience on their next vacation by staying up-to-date on the latest airline news.
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Indulge in Caesars Palace With some brand-new lavish enhancements and other goodies, this year is a perfect time for your Vegas-bound clients to rediscover the classic Caesars Palace.
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CityCenter Lights up the StripNot even Howard Hughes could have imagined something as grandiose as Vegas’ new CityCenter—an almost city-within-a-city concept that has blown everything else on the Strip out of the water, at least temporarily.
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Spa-Licious Getaways From relaxing massages, revitalizing facials, and manicures and pedicures galore, we’ve found indulging packages for the spa connoisseur, as well as some brand-new spa offerings your clients won’t want to miss.
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Aloha HawaiiWith tons of hotel packages, several new hotel openings, and some very attractive FAM rates, it’s the perfect time for travelers—and travel agents—to head to the Aloha state.
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Themed Cruising Around the Globe From whipping up culinary creations to exploring destinations of the Bible, a number of cruise lines offer special sailings that cater specifically to your clients’ unique interests.
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Discover Europe by Water With A&K Whether your client is a Europe newbie or looking to explore a new part of this region of the world, Abercrombie & Kent has a collection of canal and river cruises in Western Europe, including several new itineraries for 2010.
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Looking at Luxury From Burgundy's wine country to the world's largest cruise ship, Recommend's February Looking at Luxury issue explores the many faces of luxury…here are a few more options to consider from around the globe.
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Latin America is HotWith its diverse history and culture, an array of cuisine and lush landscapes, Latin America and its myriad of destinations is definitely a place worth exploring.
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What’s New in Las Vegas?Las Vegas has lots of new and exciting experiences for your clients, so book Vegas today and allow your clients the opportunity to see the city in a whole new way.
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Explore Atlanta With an array of events and attractions available year-round, as well as tons of hotel packages, it's a great time to visit Atlanta.
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Rediscover Santa BarbaraThe Santa Barbara Conference & Visitors Bureau is giving travelers even more of a reason to come explore this charming California city, with a number of events, packages and special offers.
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Dazzling Dubai With its fabulous cityscapes, prehistoric sandscapes and endless beaches, Dubai is today's hottest destination in every way.
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Golf Getaway in ScotlandThe five-star Gleneagles Hotel in Perthshire, Scotland, along with Kingsbarns Golf Links, is offering the Ultimate Scotland Golf package.
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Mardi Gras, Oh My!Whether your clients want to experience Mardi Gras first-hand in New Orleans this February, or they want to check out a Mardi Gras celebration closer to home, we've found some options they might enjoy.
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Discover Brazil’s Northeast CoastThough Rio de Janeiro has always been the go-to destination in Brazil, the relatively undiscovered state of Pernambuco, located on the country's northeast coast, is slowing gaining popularity among U.S. travelers looking for a more laid-back vibe.
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Goings-on at CHA MarketplaceOur Caribbean Editor, Ciara LaVelle, attended this week's CHA Marketplace—which took place in Puerto Rico—and is filling us in on the latest hotel news coming out of this region.
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Welcome Back HondurasTourism fuels the main economic motor of Honduras, and in 2008, the visitor figures enjoyed a healthy seven percent increase.
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Costa Rica’s Parador ResortFor your most selective clients, treat them to the finest newest collection of Las Suites at Parador Resort & Spa, a luxury, eco-friendly family and adult resort in Costa Rica.
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Onsite: Hard Rock Hotel at Universal OrlandoNo matter how many times one visits Universal Orlando Resort, they haven’t had the full experience until they stay at one of the onsite hotels. ecommend got a first-hand taste of the Hard Rock Hotel at Universal Orlando, where guests are definitely given the “rock star” treatment.
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St. Vincent and the Grenadines Specialist ProgramThe St. Vincent and the Grenadines Specialist Program introduces you to one of the Caribbean’s brightest gems. Each island in this exotic chain offers a unique blend of luxury and serenity, and arming yourself with knowledge about this little-known but much-loved destination gives you the edge in today’s travel marketplace.
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The Cayman Islands’ Top TenFrom basking in its sandy beaches to diving its crystal-blue waters teeming with a breathtaking variety of marine life, it’s obvious there’s much to do on The Cayman Islands. Here are the top 10 reasons why this British colony in the Western Caribbean is the top pick for your client’s summer vacation.
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A Hole in One in ParadisePuerto Rico is an inherently proud island, and now it has something else to brag about—some of the finest golf courses in the Caribbean.
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Girls’ Getaways: Escaping to Antigua When it comes to women’s travel, it’s all about getting away from it all. Sure, different women want different experiences, but one thing remains constant: the desire to leave the stress of everyday life—from work to marriage to children—at the doors of the airport.
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Family Getaways in JamaicaSure, Jamaica’s ever-expanding inventory of new high-rise hotels and resorts is growing more enticing every day. But let’s not forget the properties that made Jamaica the family destination it is today—properties that have been perfecting their service and value for parents and kids for decades.
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Argentina & Chile : Where Summertime is Ski-timeClients who are presently out on the slopes in the United States or Europe don’t have to wait until 2009 to get back on skis. Come this summer, it will be winter in Chile and Argentina and from mid-June through September, the majestic southern Andes beckon skiers.
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Into the Land of Inscrutable IndiaStunning. Electric. A complete shock to the senses. No one word can completely captivate the riveting experience that is India, the world’s seventh largest country and second most populous state
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Enthralling Egypt Tourism to Egypt is climbing to pyramid-like heights—in large part due to an upsurge from U.S. visitors.
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Caribbean All-Inclusive BreakdownIf you’ve seen one, you’ve seen them all—or so it sometimes seems. But the fact is, there are plenty of distinguishing characteristics at each all-inclusive chain in the Caribbean and it’s those details that make or break your client’s experience in paradise.
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Agents Upgrade American Airlines in Business and LeisureIt hasn’t been all that long since the skies were definitely unfriendly in terms of travel agent and airline relations. Even today, on occasion, more than a little slight turbulence pops up from time to time. But in the long run, things have smoothed out as both sides have come to the realization that neither business model will get too far off the ground without one another.
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From Dust to Dazzle: Las VegasOffering more than 150,000 guestrooms by decade’s end, welcoming some 40 million visitors this year alone and constantly reinventing itself, Vegas is a true model for success in the tourism front.
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“Let’s Make A Deal” at Tel Aviv MarketsFew would disagree that Israel sits at the crossroads of history and religious development and offers a multitude of cultural and religious attractions. But man does not live by spirituality alone and as mom used to say, “Hey, a little shopping can’t hurt.”
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Puerto Rico for Parents and KidsIn a couple of years, Puerto Rico will be the Caribbean destination of choice for family travelers who can’t be bothered with passports. But there’s a long list of reasons to send your family clients to the island now, starting with the bottom line.
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San Juan StardomIn one of the Caribbean’s most cosmopolitan cities, luxury clients can expect to be just as pampered as the celebrities staying in the next room over.
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Africa: An Everyman’s DestinationIf there’s a destination—or more accurately—a series of destinations that have truly re-invented themselves over the past 40 years, it’s the safari-oriented countries of Africa.
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Costa Rica: Catering To TouristsThis Central American gem might be small, but it’s bursting at the seams with new hotel development, endless ecological zones and a steady stream of tourists and cruise passengers.
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All Hail VailIt’s easy to be overcome by sheer natural beauty in Colorado. This is a state that often seems as if it was designed with the sole purpose to awe the senses, a place where the superlatives prevalent in travel brochures seem inadequate.
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A Place of Promises UnkeptWhile the rest of the Caribbean has made great efforts to attract tourism, Haiti remains a stagnant backwater, the basket case of the Americas.
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Kids Rule in the D.R.From family concierge programs to creative kids’ clubs, the Dominican Republic’s top resorts know how to put the “F” in family fun.
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The Land of OZAs a continent of 7.7 million sq. miles, roughly the size of the United States, there is plenty of action in Australia to fit everyone’s interest in this land—including the most eager-to-please 10-year-old or the most jaded 15-year-old, if you know what to book
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Egypt For All AgesEvery destination in the world would have us believe it is unique, but few are. Egypt is an exception, for it has remnants from antiquity and cultural traditions found in no other place on earth. Mysterious and awesome, Egypt fires the imagination, and the very mention of its name sparks interest. Just ask any school kid in America.
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Directing the Fun at Westin St. JohnAll across the Caribbean, families traveling together have become a much sought-after market segment. Here’s how one resort is competing for its share of parents and kids—and coming out on top.
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Getting in Gear to Sell Central AmericaAs the saying goes, the best things come in small packages, and the seven little countries that make up Central America add up to a big, exciting and profitable destination package that offers the kinds of memorable vacation experiences that clients seek nowadays: adventurous, nature-oriented, cultural and involving.
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Booking a Vibrant RegionAs travel agents know, today’s clients increasingly want not only to sightsee but also “life-see,” to learn about people and their cultures, to explore pristine natural environments, to find opportunities for action and adventure, to have plenty of time for relaxation and fun, to be safe, comfortable and cared for. Central America delivers all these elements, offering different strokes for different folks, depending on their special interests and expectations.
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The USVI Goes GreenNo matter whether you believe Al Gore, the truth remains that the beauty of America’s Caribbean is worth preserving as well as selling. Here are a couple of properties working to do both, while
simultaneously providing natural experiences that’ll have your clients coming back again and again.
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Kenya’s Enjoying Record Tourism SalesMagical Kenya is conjuring up almost more business than it can handle, but if clients book far enough out front, there’s still plenty of product so they don’t have to worry about their safari dreams doing a disappearing act.
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Ski: Snow West As the white turned to brown in the Alps last year, there was plenty of powder in the Wild West of the United States.
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Adventures in the AustralsHeading for the wilds of Australia and New Zealand is adventure enough for most of us, but for those who like taking the plunge into the unknown, these wonderland destinations offer more than the Great Outback, Ayers Rock, the Great Barrier Reef and the magical forests of New Zealand.
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Jamaica: Beyond the GreenProperties in Jamaica are re-inventing the term “golf resort,” with renovations, upgrades and additions designed to score the perfect hole in one with golf clients.
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All-Ages AdventureJamaica’s varied terrain offers exciting adventures high up in the mountains and deep below the ocean’s surface, with family-friendly tours ensuring that kids and adults alike can happily get in touch with their wild sides.
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Secluded Honeymoons in JamaicaThousands of honeymooners flock to Jamaica’s mega-resorts every year—meaning that thousands of travel agents are competing to sell them. How can you set yourself apart? Explore the island’s lesser-known romantic venues and offer your clients a truly unique way to celebrate their love.
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Atlantic Canada: A Bit of Europe in the New WorldThe high tides at the Bay of Fundy, the extreme landscape and ferocious beauty of its inland fjords, the sandy ocean shorelines, historic fortresses, the rugged Highlands of Cape Breton—these are just a few reasons why tour operators, cruise lines and air lines are taking their itineraries and vacation-goers and heading north...way north.
Read MoreJamaicaThe singularly most unique sound in the Caribbean is the Jamaican accent, tinged with British inflection, a reggae timbre, an ocean of pride and a dollop of sunshine. The people make Jamaica what it is, a citizenry passionate about showing off their island and religiously laid-back lifestyle.
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AlaskaFact: When it comes to the great far north, size matters. Alaska covers 570,373 sq. miles of land, making it the biggest state in the country—more than twice the size of Texas, 10 times the size of Georgia or Florida and almost 500 times the size of little Rhode Island.
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St. Maarten/St. Martin Join ForcesAfter 350 years of independent coexistence, Dutch St. Maarten and French St. Martin have unveiled a joint marketing campaign unifying what is often called the culinary capital of the Caribbean.
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Jamaica’s Spa ExperienceThe bigger the better? Perhaps, but some say the best things come in small packages—let your clients decide what spa retreat takes them to Nirvana.
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Sandals WhitehouseMost newlyweds have timeless post-nuptial vacation dreams: sunsets over pristine beaches, moonlit dining and dancing, rose petals and champagne, the works.
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Jamaica’s Many ‘MoonsHoneymoons, babymoons, familymoons…. When it comes to all-inclusive resorts in Jamaica, the experience is all about celebrating with the ones you love.
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Jamaica For AllFamilies are finding more and more reasons to visit the Caribbean’s most traditional honeymoon destination.
Good old Jamaica. Year after year, it’s the destination you can count on when lovestruck newlyweds or couples rekindling their romance walk into your agency in search of paradise.
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Royal Plantation, Jamaica From the moment they enter the lobby for check-in to their last look out to the uncrowded beach from their suite window, guests at the intimate, exclusive-feeling Royal Plantation resort in Ocho Rios, Jamaica, feel pampered and personally cared for.
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Jamaica Value and VarietySelling low-cost vacations to Jamaica is all about knowing your clients, fitting them with value-packed accommodations and activities, and watching them come back again and again.
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Kids and the Irie IsleWhen you think about it, the island of Jamaica has a lot in common with your average kid: carefree and fun-loving, outgoing and unpretentious, a unique blend of high energy and naptime.
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Sandals Resorts: Offering the Best of Both WorldsWhen it comes to the Recommend Readers’ Choice Awards, Sandals Resorts has hit a solid home run in the resort/hotel chain category. It won not one, not two, but five awards: Best Resort/Hotel Chain for Honeymoon/Romance, the Best Resort/Hotel Chain for Spa, the Best All-Inclusive Resort Chain, and the very Best in the Caribbean, not to mention the Best All-Inclusive Resort Chain for Travel Agent Support.
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Jamaica on the MoveBlue Mountain coffee. Reggae and steel drum music. That laid-back “ev’ryting cool, mon” ambiance. And, of course, a thriving and diverse tourism infrastructure. There are plenty of things that keep clients coming back to Jamaica. But according to the island’s new Director of Tourism, Basil Smith, that’s not the reason the irie isle was selected as the Best Destination in the Caribbean in the Recommend Readers’ Choice Awards.
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