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How VIPs Work Remotely, Plus Taylor Swift's Travel Effect

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Happy Travel Tuesday, here are some the top trends in travel right now:

The price of travel continues to drop. Airfares: Down 6.1%, Car rentals: Down 10%. However for lodging and entertainment the prices are up slightly: Hotels and motels: Up 0.9%, Dining out: Up 4.5%, Entertainment: Up 6.2%.. The new data is available from NerdWallet’s latest Travel Price Index.

  • Theme Park Prices - As airfares drop, attractions are beginning to cut prices to welcome back travelers. Sea World San Diego has revealed special $60 anniversary tickets, and Universal Studios revealed their newest ticket offer – starting at $74 per day – that includes admission to Universal Studios Florida and Universal Islands of Adventure (one park per day)

  • Travel (Taylor’s Version) - Taylor Swift’s Eras Tour has inspired a new generation of travel, and brands are partnering or using the Taylor Travel effect to help bookings. Unforgettable Travel is also offering a unique contest where Swifties can apply for incredible experiences connected to Swift’s upcoming stops in London.

  • Remote Work: As business executives lean into remote work flexibility, Grand Velas Boutique Los Cabos had debuted a new “C-Suite” Work experience that features 24/7 IT support, in-suite custom snack and beverage bar, kitted-out ergonomic desk setup, dedicated aromatherapy, and more in the room. Guests are also treated to special spa services in the package.

  • New Travel Partnerships - Timberland has partnered with Maine’s Cape Arundel Inn & Resort for a special “Adventure Package” which allows guest to try on new pieces of the collection and test them out during their stay.

  • Tourism Goes Hollywood - New York City’s Downtown Alliance has hired its first Filmmakers in Chief to create a film about the historic downtown area. Brothers Andrew and Remy Neymarc will be awarded with $50,000 to create their film "Dreamscape" this summer in Lower Manhattan. The Filmmaker in Chief program had 432 submissions from 17 countries. The Neymarcs were ultimately chosen as winners from our jury of Lower Manhattan cultural leaders. Congrats to Andrew and Remy!

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The Travel Top 10

Tulip Experience Amsterdam, our favorite experience of the week!

  1. Hotel of the Week 🏨: 🌴 Viceroy Bali 🌴 A five star luxury, family owned and operated, 40 villa resort located in Bali’s Ubud region

  2. Restaurant of the Week 🍴: 🍽️ Somserset in Chicago, IL 🍽️

  3. Experience of the Week 🎭: 🌷 Tulip Experience Amsterdam 🌷

  4. Travel Agent Of The Week 🌍: Virgi Schiffino Kennedy, founder of Lux Voyage, a Philadelphia-based, Latina-owned, award-winning private luxury travel consultancy.

  5. Airline of the Week ✈️: ✈️ Singapore Air ✈️

  6. Cruise of the Week 🚢: 🌅 European Waterways 🌅

  7. Spa of the Week 💆‍♀️: 🧖‍♀️ The Spa at Omni Amelia Island 🧖‍♀️

  8. Travel App Of The Week 🏡: 🌅 Memrise 🌅 (It’s a cool way to learn a new language!)

  9. Destination of the Week 🌍: 🌍 Norway 🌍 Nordic travel curator Up Norway creates custom itineraries for gig-trippers with

    inclusions based on Norway culture and heritage such as viking history, Sami culture, and more.

  10. Airport Of The Week 🏡: 🌅 LGA Airport 🌅 (The new renovations are amazing!)

HOTEL NEWS

Hotels Around The World Open For Spring & Summer Travel Season

Ofland Escalante is a 20-acre outdoor hotel located in Southern Utah’s Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument

The US Government predicts that this spring break will be 6% busier than last year, which would set a new record for travel over the time period. Hotels are gearing up for the spring and summer travel surge.

W New Orleans – French Quarter - The hotel recently opened after completing a multi-million renovation that was led by Canadian design firm Chapi Chapo Design. The property’s General Manager Derek Tueller shared that "We are proud to welcome guests to experience a mélange of history, mystique, and modern luxury in our all-new guest rooms and carriage houses.”

Ofland Escalante reopens on March 13 in Southern Utah, offering a luxury adventure stay amidst natural wonders, with accommodations like deluxe cabins and vintage Airstreams starting at $159/night. Positioned near multiple parks for easy exploration, it promises a unique blend of outdoor excitement and comfort. A perfect escape for spring and summer, Ofland invites guests to experience nature with style.

AIRLINE NEWS

Turkish Airlines Heads To Melbourne

Skyline with sunrise and balloons, Melbourne, Australia

Melbourne, Australia

Turkish Airlines has now launched flights to Melbourne, marking its first foray into Australia and expanding its network to an impressive 346 destinations across six continents with a fleet of 450 aircraft. Beginning with a Saturday inaugural flight, the airline will offer three weekly trips from Istanbul to Melbourne, the most populous city in Australia, via a transfer at Singapore Changi International Airport. This move not only introduces special introductory fares but also establishes Turkish Airlines as the only European airline flying to Melbourne, enhancing trade and tourism between the two nations. Chairman Prof. Dr. Ahmet Bolat highlighted this milestone as a significant step towards connecting diverse cultures and strengthening the airline's presence in the Asia-Pacific, with Australia becoming the 130th country in its network.

CRUISE NEWS

New Viking Cruise Options For 2024

🚢⚓ The cruise industry came to a grinding hault during the pandemic, but demand is now soaring. Viking anticipates traveler trends by launching 2026 bookings early, including for the new Viking Vesta®, amidst high demand. This expansion showcases over 80 itineraries and new immersive city extensions, catering to the growing preference for advanced bookings and deeper cultural exploration. Viking's move reflects a shift towards luxury, personalized travel experiences, emphasizing unique, thoughtful journeys across the globe.

STAYING IN STYLE

Porto’s Hottest New Hotel

🇵🇹 Porto's Picture-Perfect Hotel: IHG has opened its first European Vignette Collection Hotel in Porto, Portugal 🏨. Casa da Companhia, located in the heart of the picturesque Clérigos district, is a luxury property with 40 rooms, three suites, a spa, fitness suite, indoor and outdoor pools, and an outdoor terrace 🌅. Offering timeless design and an emblematic experience, it's just a short walk from São Bento Station and Porto's top attractions 📸.

Upcoming Travel Calendar:

March 25 - In celebration of the upcoming Lunar Eclipse, RVshare is offering All-in-One packages that include a camping spot reservation and a fully equipped RV with full hookups, power, linens, bedding, and towels. The packages also feature additional amenities, both within the RV and across participating campgrounds, and start at $749 a night.

April 8 - The Solar Eclipse will take place, and travelers are on the move to secure lodging before the big event. For travelers seeking a home stay, HomeExchange Collection presents a selection of luxury homes on the eclipse path for travelers who want to take advantage of this once-in-a-lifetime event. One of the key perks of traveling with HomeExchange Collection is the opportunity to feel at home anywhere in the world. For travelers seeking a hotel stay, they are encouraged to use trivago’s Hotel Price Index to book a deal and see the incredible sight! 

April 18 - New travel series from Conan O’Brien debuts on streaming service MAX. “CONAN O'BRIEN MUST GO” features Conan where he dives deep with listeners from around the world. Making stops in Norway, Thailand, Argentina, and Ireland, O’Brien surprises some of his most memorable fans while also taking in local culture, cuisine, and sights.

May 1 -Auberge du Soleil, Napa Valley’s quintessential adults-only retreat will debut its annual Rosé All May programming this May which will extend throughout the season. The perfect timing for a trip to Napa!

May 2 - Shafer Vineyards (Napa Valley) Launches the Hillside Select Experience - Booking Link

May 3 - W Costa Navarino kicks off the new season on May 3 with an exciting line up of events centered around music, wellness, sports, fashion, and gastronomy, designed to foster guests’ creativity, individuality and freedom of expression. Greece’s first W Escape, located in Costa Navarino, the sustainably driven destination in southwest Peloponnese, will host a series of events as of May, and continue throughout the summer, including celebrated Greek chefs cooking on open fire, exclusive wellness retreats, watersports festivals and renowned DJ sets.

May 19-25 is National Travel and Tourism Week from U.S. Travel Association

May 23 - AirFrance debuts new service between Paris and Phoenix. The airline also announced a new partnership with triple Michelin-Starred French Chef, Dominique Crenn

March 23 - Peak Cherry Blossoms Begin in Washington, D.C. according to the National Parks Service. (Check out our favorite hotels in the area, Viceroy Washington DC and Kimpton Banneker Hotel)

May 24–26 - Cali Roots in Monterey, CA

May 28 - Tony, GRAMMY, and Emmy Award winner Ben Platt will play an exclusive concert residency at Broadway’s recently refurbished Palace Theatre

April 1 - will offer a Spring Sale! 15% savings on the best available rate for two-night stays or more through June 30, 2024. Travelers looking to book online using promo code SPRING24

June 7, 8, 9 - Governor’s Ball NYC - New for the first time ever this year is the ultra-premium Ultimate Ticket which has had incredible public reception! The ticket includes access to a shared Ultimate guest Cabana with all day snacks, dinner buffet, all-inclusive bar, dedicated restroom, and prime views of Main Stage, exclusive front-of-stage viewing at all stages with complimentary beer & seltzer, golf cart transportation between stages, festival concierge to assist with your festival needs, $100 credit to use at official Festival Merch store, and more.

Summer Olympics - This summer, Paris takes the center stage as host of the Summer Olympics and Paralympics. On Location, the official Hospitality provider for the Games, has special tourism packages to help visitors get in on the action.

Aug 15–17 - Park City Song Summit in Park City, UT

October 28 - The American Hotel & Lodging Association (AHLA) and Questex announced today that registration is now open for this year’s The Hospitality Show (The Show), which will be held in San Antonio, Texas, from October 28-30. Attendees can register here. (While in San Antonio, check out one of our favorite hotels - the Hotel Emma!)

Bon Voyage! See you next Travel Tuesday!

Stay in touch during the week

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