Category Archives: Travel/Tourism

All things related to travel and tourism.

Sacramento Convention Center Hosting Diabetes Health Conference

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Men and women managing diabetes in their lives can acquire health advice, important medical related information and motivation during a health fair and diabetes conference at the Sacramento Convention Center this Saturday.

The nonprofit organization Taking Control of Your Diabetes is hosting the conference and health fair to support patients living with diabetes. The function is designed for diabetics as well as their family and friends. The main goal of the conference is to offer diabetes education and motivation that may be missing from patients’ traditional treatment.

The conference will be held from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the Sacramento Convention Center. Admission costs $25 and includes lunch. Financial aid will also be available for those who need it.

To register for the event, call (800) 998-2693 or visit www.tcoyd.org.

Hawaii – Top Travel Destination in 2012

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Travel reports show that in January of 2012, travel and spending in Hawaii increased nearly 14 percent from January of 2011. The increasing number of tourists to Hawaii have many businesses hopeful for a strong and successful tourism year in the Hawaiian Islands.
Hawaii Tourism Authority president and chief executive Mike McCartney explained that “January 2012 was the highest month on record for tourism spending in Hawaii, even exceeding the December 2011 totals of nearly $1.3 billion.” The serious growth was attributed to the typical $192 spent per visitor each day during January. A record setting 223,452 travelers visited the Hawaiian islands in January 2012 which was the highest number of visitors since July 2005.
Mike McCartney also said, “A strong holiday season, combined with pent up demand for travel to the Hawaiian Islands, increases in airlift and a large delegation of convention attendees were all contributing factors to the increases seen in January.”
Hawaii travel is also receiving a lift from the increase in travelers from the business and meetings industry. Business travel has increased 25 percent in Hawaii and nearly 6,000 attendees traveled to Hawaii for meetings and conventions in January this year.

Wireless Networks Prepare for SXSW Crowds in Austin

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Verizon Wireless is busy preparing their network to accommodate the large number of visitors that are expected at the Austin Convention Center at the annual South by Southwest or SXSW conference. Thousands of guests travel to Austin every year to enjoy music and films at the South by Southwest conference. Verizon technicians have prepared the Austin Convention Center and the surrounding areas to provide peak performance for Austin residents and conference attendees.

To be ready for the SXSW events, Verizon Wireless teams have increased coverage and increased capacity at many locations including the Austin Convention Center, Downtown Austin, 6th Street and Auditorium Shores. Travelers passing through the Austin-Bergstrom International Airport will also have access to the Verizon 4G LTE Mobile Broadband network.

Frank Antonacci explains, “We realize the importance in customers wanting to share their experiences at SXSW and our customers’ satisfaction with our service is a top priority. We strive to exceed the everyday needs of our customers by enhancing our network, especially in the event of a large festival or gathering such as SXSW.”

Convention Center Hotel Network Impresses Business Travelers with New Website

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As corporations, businessmen, businesswomen and consumers begin to mark their calendars with upcoming conventions, conferences and expos in 2012, Conventioncenterhotelnetwork.com provides simplicity and convenience with convention and meeting attendance and planning.  Convention Center Hotel Network has proudly released an all-inclusive website that is quickly becoming the preferred site for booking hotels near popular convention and conference centers.  Conventioncenterhotelnetwork.com currently provides hotel options at over 80 of the world’s most popular convention centers and provides the lowest rates at over 100,000 hotels worldwide.

Industry officials expect tourism and business travel to rebound and grow in 2012 and Convention Center Hotel Network has developed the website to provide as many conveniences as possible.  The website provides an extensive selection of convention center locations spanning across the United States, Canada and other international locations. Whether travelers need Anaheim Convention Center hotels or are looking for Orlando Convention Center hotels, Conventioncenterhotelnetwork.com provides the most superior hotel booking resources on the internet.

“Business travelers do not want to waste time on the internet,” says Gary Rogers, co-founder of Conventioncenterhotelnetwork.com. “Booking a hotel closest to a convention center or business meeting should not be difficult. We have done the research and provide the best results at the best prices. If you need a hotel for a business trip, you will not find a more helpful website.”

In addition to the best hotel inventory, the creators of Conventioncenterhotelnetwork.com also provide travelers with other important information and resources about their destination.  Mike VanSteenkiste who also co-founded Convention Center Hotel Network explains, “If you plan to attend a convention in San Diego, not only do you need a list of San Diego Convention Center hotels, but you also need detailed information about nearby restaurants, events and other city amenities. All of this information is effortlessly found on Conventioncenterhotelnetwork.com.”

Throughout development, Convention Center Hotel Network never lost sight of the main goal of providing detailed and helpful information to business travelers. Every convention center page provides a map showing the hotels near the convention center, a listing of the most popular restaurants surrounding the convention center, directions to the convention center from the nearest airport and other city center information and attractions.  Visitors to the site will also find Convention Center Hotel Network’s commitment to adding convention centers and providing the most accurate and current information for each location.

Conventioncenterhotelnetwork.com is quickly being recognized as the premier booking service for hotels near convention centers worldwide.  Visitors to the site will enjoy the simple navigation and user experience, the superior customer support and appreciate no fees for changing or cancelling a reservation. As you plan business trips in 2012, be sure to use Convention Center Hotel Network to find the best conference and convention center hotels and rates.

Orange County Convention Center (FL) Welcomes NBA Jam Session

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The Orange County Convention Center is expecting more than 100,000 NBA fans to attend the ALL Star Jam Session in Orlando, FL. The Jam Session opens today at the convention center and will be open through Sunday, offering 45 attractions for fans to enjoy. The NBA All-Star Jam Session is one of the most attended events during the NBA All-Star Weekend.

“It really is the chance to experience NBA All-Star Weekend up front, up close, and personal,” said Karen Barberan, NBA Events Director.

The main sporting event during the All-Star Jam Session will be the NBA All-Star Celebrity Game, showcasing former NBA players playing basketball against other celebrities. Fans can also play, shoot, run and dunk on basketball hoops set up to accommodate their skill level. Visitors may want to attempt to fill some of the largest shoes worn by some of the NBA’s best players. The Jam Session also provides fans many opportunities to get autographs and meet their favorite all-stars including Dwight Howard and Kobe Bryant.

9/11 Memorial Increasing New York Tourism

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Within a few short months of opening to the public, the 9/11 Memorial in New York has made a huge impact on tourism and travel to New York City. The memorial opened for the tenth anniversary of the September 2001 terrorist attacks in New York and attracted one million visitors in less than four moths. The National September 11 Memorial Plaza helped draw in nearly 10 million visitors to Lower Manhattan in 2011.

Downtown Alliance president Elizabeth H. Berger said,“Tourism is thriving in Lower Manhattan like never before.” NYC & Company chief executive, George Fertitta also explained “As a result of our efforts to attract visitors to New York City, we not only reached a record 50.5 million visitors in 2011, but also helped create a significant, positive impact for Lower Manhattan.”

Lower Manhattan has long been identified as the gateway to the Statue of Liberty, Governors Island and Ellis Island. There are many other important tourist attractions in the area including the National Museum of the American Indian, the Museum of Jewish Heritage, the Skyscraper Museum, the New York Stock Exchange, and Saint Paul’s and Trinity churches.

Hotels Look to Accommodate Medical Tourists

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Medical tourism is increasing in appeal throughout the world as medical providers and hotels are working to provide medical services for traveling patients. The increasing costs of medical procedures and insurance coverage in most countries have people considering alternative ways to get health care at affordable prices.

Typically a “medical tourist spends anywhere from five to 12 times the amount of what a typical tourist would spend on travel costs,” said Renee-Marie Stephano, president of the Medical Tourism Association. “This is because patients will most likely be in the foreign country for a longer period of time and will upgrade to nicer rooms as they spend more time in the hotel recovering from medical procedures,” Stephano explained.

Studies show the leading medical tourism destinations include Costa Rica, Uruguay, Brazil, India and Singapore. The ability to recover from medical treatments in a private setting away from home is a major selling point for the majority of medical travelers.

Tourism Roads Lead to Denver in 2012

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City officials and business owners in Denver, Colorado are optimistically preparing for boosting tourism numbers in 2012. Throughout 2012, Denver will host several highly anticipated events including the opening of two new museums, popular international shows, major sporting events and exciting animal exhibits. These events and conventions scheduled in 2012 point to a busy and exciting tourism year in Denver.
Some of the most anticipated events and openings this year include the Clyfford Still Museum and the Toyota Elephant Passage at the Denver Zoo. These additions to the attractions in Denver are estimated to produce nearly a quarter billion dollars into Denver tourism. Richard Scharf, the president and CEO of Visit Denver explains, “When you add the 100th Anniversary of the Titanic sinking and its significance to the Molly Brown House, the NCAA Woman’s Final Four and the only North American showing of Yves Saint Laurent: The Retrospective, this is really going to be a big tourism year for Denver.”
Many are anticipating 2012 to be an opportunity for Denver to shine not only in the national but in the international spotlight as well. Some of the events that are expected to attract international attention include the final day of the USA Pro Cycling Challenge and the first presidential debate between the major party candidates. With famous attractions, great food and beautiful climate, Denver is a wonderful place to visit. Here are some of the upcoming events in Denver that you will not want to miss:

1. Clyfford Still Museum. Opened: November 2011
2. 100th Anniversary of the Sinking of the Titanic at the Molly Brown House Museum. Dates: February 15, 2012, additional events throughout the year.
3. Dale Chihuly Venetians at the Foothills Art Center. Dates: April 7 – June 30, 2012
4. Yves Saint Laurent: The Retrospective at the Denver Art Museum. Dates: March 25 – July 8, 2012
5. NCAA Woman’s Final Four Tournament at the Pepsi Center. Dates: April 1 – 3, 2012
6. History Colorado Center. Opening: April 28, 2012
7. Mile into the Wild walkway at the Wild Animal Sanctuary. Opening: Spring, 2012
8. Icelandair direct flights from Reykjavik. Opening: May 10, 2012
9. Toyota Elephant Passage at the Denver Zoo. Opening: June 1, 2012
10. USA Pro Cycling Challenge Denver. Date: Aug. 20 – Aug. 26, 2012
11. Presidential Debates: First Round at the University of Denver. Date: Oct. 3, 2012
12. Becoming Van Gogh at the Denver Art Museum. Opening: Oct. 21, 2012 – Jan. 20, 2013

Record Breaking Attendance at Los Angeles Times Travel Show

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On January 27-29, The Los Angeles Times hosted the 14th-annual Travel Show at the L.A. Convention Center. For the first time, the Travel Show included a travel industry conference that attracted nearly 24,300 speakers, travel professionals, industry leaders and consumers to the conference. The L.A. Convention Center, recorded a record breaking attendance for the event this year and called it the “must-attend Southern California travel event of the year.”David Burns, the Vice President of Promotional Revenue, Sports and Events for the Times explained, “The 2012 Travel Show surpassed our wildest attendance expectations and it’s enormously gratifying to have our first industry-focused conference receive such a great response. We effectively brought the world to Southern California in great style.”

The Times chose to team with MSE Management and IMG Worldwide to produce the event and to plan and execute upgrades to the conference. This year the travel show took pride in featuring popular speakers that included Lisa Ling, Rick Steves, Arthur Frommer, Adam Richman, Rudy Maxa, Don Wildman, Josh Gates and Johnny Jet. The LA Times Travel show also brought in travel experts from the National Geographic Channel, LivingSocial Escapes and Travelzoo to this years conference.

More than 2,000 travel specialists took advantage of the occasion to attend the innovative industry conference sessions. People at the conference spent hours walking through the Travel Show, with 90 percent of visitors interested in details about prospective travel destinations with 94 percent of visitors planning to travel in 2012.

Las Vegas reports increase in tourists and convention attendance

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The city of Las Vegas and Las Vegas hotels observed a 2.5 percent rise in guests this past December compared with December of 2010. These findings are providing evidence that the troubled economy in Nevada and Las Vegas has begun to take a turn for the best.

The Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority recently documented that nearly 3 million people visited Las Vegas in December of 2011.

The visitor count in Las Vagas increased by 4.3 percent in 2011 compared with the total visitors in 2010. Conference and convention attendance also increased by 9 percent to nearly 4.9 million another positive sign for hotels and convention centers in Las Vegas.

The increased numbers of visitosr also helped create a 5 percent increase in gambling revenue in 2011 compared to 2010.

The rising tourist numbers point to potentially exciting news for the state of Nevada, which heavily relies upon hotel tourism and convention attendance. Nevada has suffered through the highest unemployment rates in the United States over the past year.