Air New Zealand And Sports Illustrated Showcase Safety In Paradise. Air New Zealand will release the world’s most beautiful safety video this week. The airline has partnered with Sports Illustrated’s iconic Swimsuit franchise to produce Safety in Paradise, which was shot in the idyllic Cook Islands and features some of the biggest names in modelling, [...]Safety in Paradise is a post from: New Zealand Travel


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With an international reputation for luxury and with more than a hint of the exotic, Hong Kong is the ideal place to indulge your romantic side. Furthermore, Cupid’s bow will strike twice in Hong Kong this year as the Chinese (Spring Lantern Festival) and Western Valentine’s Day fall on the same date. For couples who [...]Indulge Hong Kong’s Romantic side is a post from: China Travels


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The Small Island Developing States Tourism Conference 19-20 February 2014

The Small Island Developing States (SIDS) Tourism Conference will be held at the Melia Nassau Beach Resort in the city of New Providence, The Bahamas. The Conference will build up on the conclusions of the Conference on Sustainable Development of Tourism in Islands held in Reunion Island in September 2013 and shall serve as guidance to National Tourism Authorities and the international community as an input to the Third International Conference on SIDS, scheduled to be held in September 2014.

2. CONFERENCE PROGRAMME OVERVIEW (Please refer to Provisional Programme for more details and updated information)
Wednesday, 19 February
0830-0900 Registration
0900-1000 Official Opening of the International Seminar: TOURISM AS A KEY FACTOR FOR DEVELOPMENT IN ISLAND STATES by the Prime Minister of the Bahamas, Hon. Perry Christie, followed by the Open Letter Ceremony.
1000-1130 SESSION 1: Maximizing the local benefits of tourism
1200-1330 SESSION 2: Transport and air connectivity as a major factor for SIDS´ destinations
1330-1430 Lunch Intervention UNEP
1430-1800 Ministerial meeting on Air Connectivity (Closed meeting for Ministers and invited guests) - A technical visit will be provided by the organizers for those not participating in the meeting
Thursday, 20 February
0930-1100 SESSION 3: Regional integration. Building partnerships to compete globally
1130-1300 SESSION 4: Climate Change and Environmental Challenges
1300-1400 LUNCH
1400-1600 SESSION 5: Innovation in Tourism Product Development: High volume vs. high value tourism. Where do we want to go?
1600-1730 SESSION 6: Resilient tourism development
1730-1800 Conclusions and closing

Hostelling International's (HI) hostel awards - the HI 5ives! - are held every year and the winners are based on ratings left by customers who have stayed in the hostels. The best hostels in the following five categories are awarded: most comfortable hostel, friendliest hostel, green hostel, best hostel and best hostel country. This year the award ceremony took place at the CEO Meeting in Paris on Monday 3 February with a special guest giving them away - Liesbet Maroye our Big Blog Exchange blogger from Belgium. We're pleased to announce that the best hostels in the world according to the Hostelling International customers are:

Best Hostel Country 2013: USA

With an overall average rating of 88% the USA prove their hostels have been our customers' favourite last year mixing unique charm with friendliness and quality, all the HI values that our hostellers love. The second Best Hostel Country with 87.7% is Singapore and third Iceland with 87.3% all finalists in this category have achieved outstanding quality across all of the hostels in their country.

Best Hostel 2013: Interlaken, Switzerland

With 96% overall customer satisfaction Interlaken Youth Hostel is the best hostel of 2013 followed closely by Oslo Central, Norway and HI - Martha's Vineyard, USA both with 94%. Set in a stunning location with views of the mountains, the super-modern hostel offers a high standard of comfort, a bar and restaurant on site, a convenient location right next to the train station, as well as friendly and helpful staff.

Most Comfortable Hostel 2013: Interlaken, Switzerland

Judging by its 96% rating on comfort this outstanding hostel has impressed and charmed our customers. The hostel is praised for its design furniture, spacious dorm rooms as well as a lounge with an open fireplace. We also honoured Kyoto - Utano YH, Japan in second place with 95% and in third place HI Udee Bangkok, Thailand (94%).

Friendliest Hostel 2013: HI-Martha's Vineyard, USA

Never short of local tips, the staff's willingness to share its knowledge and passion of hospitality is praised with an impressive 99% rating for friendliness. HI-Martha's Vineyard is great for both families and single travellers and is a fantastic base for exploring the beautiful region. Very close behind with 98% the hostels Akranes, Iceland, HI - Phoenix - The Metcalf House, USA and Zagarolo - WIKI Hostel, Italy are amongst the friendliest hostels in the world
according to our customers.

Green Hostel 2013: HI-Boston, USA

Second year in a row that HI-Boston scoops up the Green Hostel 2013 award making them the most eco-friendly hostel of the HI network. At HI-Boston you'll find recycling stations, elevators that recapture energy, recycled carpet, energy efficient appliances, environmental-friendly cleaning products and motivational signs to encourage hostellers to be good stewards of the earth. Top of the environmental friendly hostel leader board are also HI Chicago, USA in second place and the new hostel Paris - Yves Robert, France in third place.

Finland is one of the most northernmost countries in the world and while winter can be marked by snowy weather, long nights and cold days, the Finns know how to make the most of it. From snow-sure Lapland to cosmopolitan Helsinki, there’s a calendar jam-packed with fun and quirky events across the Nordic country that [...]Wintery Fun In Finland is a post from: Finland Travel


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Specialist tour operator, The Cultural Experience has announced the launch of four brand new art focused tours, which document history of how art has been used by autocratic regimes to support their aims and how our subsequent perception of those regimes has been influenced by that art. Lovers of history and art meet For lovers... Read More . Four New Art Focused Tours is a post from: ArtnSpire

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Ingolstadt – On June 14/15, Audi will leave no stone unturned to continue its string of victories in the Le Mans 24 Hours. The new Audi R18 e-tron quattro the brand will be competing with is the most complex race car in Audi’s history. Chris Reinke, Head of LMP at Audi Sport, outlines the key [...]Audi And The Long Way To Le Mans is a post from: Auto n Spire

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Hotel ICON was among the honourees at the prestigious United Nation’s World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO) Awards for Excellence and Innovation in Tourism 2013, an annual event acknowledging tourism leaders from around the world. UNWTO Ulysses Award Hotel ICON was one of the four finalists in contention for the UNWTO Ulysses Award for Innovation in Enterprises, [...]Hotel ICON Makes History is a post from: China Travels


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Formula E, the FIA’s new global electric racing series, has today (23, January) announced that its new headquarters and team facilities will be based within the grounds of the Donington Park Racing Circuit in the UK. Construction work on the 44,000 ft² bespoke premises began on 2 January and when complete will provide state-of-the-art facilities [...]Formula E Headquarters At Donington Park is a post from: Auto n Spire


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London Art Fair, the UK’s largest Fair for Modern British and contemporary art, opens the cultural year with its 26th edition at the Business Design Centre, Islington, from 15 – 19 January 2014. New features for 2014 include the Fair’s first museum partnership, which sees The Hepworth Wakefield present a unique exhibition of British Modernism,... Read MoreLondon Art Fair 2014 is a post from: ArtnSpire

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