Will New York Tourism Grow Exponentially Due to Same-sex Marriages?
New York has recently become the sixth state to make same-sex marriages legal. Since then, wedding planners and wedding venues have felt a sharp increase in business, with 800 couples getting married within hours after the law had been passed on July 24th. As the new legal system of the state settles in, what will it mean to the travel industry and event planning businesses in the already popular among travelers city?
Photo courtesy of Reuters
High profile weddings, such as Bill White, the former president of the Intrepid Sea, Air and Space Museum in New York, and commercial insurance broker Bryan Eure that’s scheduled for late September are only the first wave. Their famous guest list, which includes Bill and Hillary Clinton, Barbara Walters, George W. Bush and General David Petraeus, will definitely set a trend for other same-sex couples that will want to follow in their footsteps. Read more…
Travel on the Rebound, US Tourists Plan to Spend $86.4 Billion this Summer
As the economy rebounds and the demand for travel is on the rise, Americans are expected to spend nearly 16 billion US dollars more on their summer travel of 2011 than they have spent a year ago. The total amount US tourists plan to spend on summer vacations this year is up 22% compared to 2010, totaling 86.4 billion US dollars.This comes as a bit of a surprise among serious concern over high gas prices, which were expected to drive down traveling for North America.
The data was released today in a survey by global travel assistance company Mondial Assistance USA and their travel insurance brand, Access America. According to the survey results, almost half (45%) of Americans are confident they’ll take a summer vacation this year, 5% more than in 2010, and 10% more than in 2009. Read more…
Tips for Travelling with Children for the First Time
If you are a parent with young children, chances are that you are looking forward to the opportunity to take them away on holiday for the very first time. There’s no doubt that travel broadens the mind and bringing your kids abroad at a young age is a great way to introduce them to the wonder of the world and the variety of different cultures to be found around the globe. Travelling with children is not without its challenges, however, and it is a good idea to take the time to prepare for everything from boredom to upset tummies to make sure that your holiday goes off without a hitch and your kids have the time of their lives.
Out of all the problems that can crop up when taking your children abroad, boredom may seem like a minor one, easily solved by exploring their new surroundings. While this is true, there are times when boredom setting in is virtually unavoidable, such as in airports and on long flights or bus and train journeys. It’s a good idea to let your kids take a favourite toy with them on longer journeys or, if they are old enough to read, a book that will captivate their attention. In situations where you would like to avoid bothering other passengers with noise, children’s audiobooks on an mp3 player are a great way to keep the kids entertained without disturbing the peace. Read more…
Survey: Travelers Find Smartphones Extremely Useful
Travelers rely heavily on their mobile devices as useful companions on their trips. According to a new TripAdvisor survey on mobile device use conducted on over 1,000 US travelers, 38% have used their smartphones to plan a trip and another 60% have downloaded travel apps to help with their planning and enhance their traveling experience.
While making phone calls to friends and family is still the main reason to take their mobile devices on their trips, other up and coming reasons are winning ground – communicating online through chat or email or other tasks they perform during trips. Other than calling and texting, travelers also take and share photos, surf online, use their smartphones as navigation systems to get to their destinations, read the news or play games.
Angel Fire Resort Upgrades and Expands Its Mountain Bike Park
The Angel Fire Resort has upgraded and tweaked its mountain bike park, adding improvements and expanding it to better accommodate riders of all levels. The new and improved Angel Fire Bike Park will debut on May 26, featuring 29 miles of new and enhanced mountain biking trails covering all levels of skill. The resort’s main goal was to focus more on beginner and intermediate riders, thus expanding and reworking their trail systems to ensure a safe and controlled learning environment. The park is now perfect to train and improve basic skills to later be able to approach the park’s more difficult sections.
Photo courtesy of Angel Fire’s Facebook Page
Located in Angel Fire, New Mexico, the Angel Fire Bike Park has the longest mountain biking season across all resorts in the Rocky Mountains, opening all trails on May 26 and welcoming riders until October 16 of each year. The resort will promote its new and improved mountain biking park with discounts offered for passes, and accommodation packages in an attempt to become the most affordable bike park in the USA. Read more…
Visa Report Shows Powerful Travel Spending Growth in 2010
Travelers are putting the economic downturn behind them and spending more on their trips, according to a newly released Visa report. Or at least Visa cardholders do! According to Visa’s “Tourism Outlook USA,” US card holders spent 31 billion dollars in 2010 on trips abroad, a 6% growth compared to 2009. At the same time, foreign Visa card holders traveling to the US have spent 18% more than in 2009, that is 34 billion US dollars, up from only 29 billion in the previous year.
“Despite economic uncertainties, the United States continues to be a major contributor to the global tourism economy, both as a destination of choice and as a critical source of tourism for many countries,” says William Sheedy, Visa’s group president for the Americas.
The most popular destination for US travelers with a Visa card was Canada, boosted as a top country to visit by hosting the 2010 Winter Olympic Games, and enticing them to spend 3.5 billion on trips to this country, up 8% from 2009. The following top destinations were Mexico and the UK. Read more…
5 Brilliant Backpacking Destinations for 2011
Backpacking holidays in 2011 can give you the chance to experience different cultures and ways of life, but where are the best places for you to go?
1. Australia
The world is your oyster but you may find Australia to be a great destination to head to. Heading down under has been something British backpackers have been doing for years, so whether you’re looking to chill out on Bondi Beach or see stunning natural sights like Uluru (also known as Ayers Rock), Australia seamlessly manages to cater for everyone.
Uluru, Australia
With the majority of the country’s population living on the east coast, you may spend much of your time in major cities like Brisbane, Melbourne or Sydney, the latter of which is home to the world-famous Opera House and Harbour Bridge. Read more…
