Group items tagged

AMERICINN BY WYNDHAM has launched the State Fair Family contest with a $15,000 family payday, a statement said. The winning family will get a $10,000 travel stipend and $5,000 cash as prize. To participate in the competition, families need to attend at least three separate Midwest state fairs in one week. They then document their experience in photos and videos on social media and contribute to the future AmericInn Best of the Midwest Fair Guide, the statement added. A social-media savvy family with active social media accounts (TikTok and Instagram preferred) over 21 years old can participate in the contest. They must be a U.S. resident with a valid federal or state-issued ID. Entries should be submitted by Aug. 3 along with a 300-word minimum written entry and family photo or 1- to 3-minute video describing what makes your family the ideal candidate for the job. The winner will be selected during the week of August 4, the company said.

New rules go in effect, enforcing travelers to show passports at San Ysidro border crossing. Pedestrian travelers entering Mexico at the San Ysidro/Puerta Este crossing must show a valid passport and fill out an entry form. Travelers who will remain in Mexico for more than one week will also need to pay 326 pesos (approximately $20) for a Tourist Card valid for 180 days. Although the majority of travelers entering Mexico by land continue to be able to cross the border without a passport, it is very important to remember that a passport is required to re-enter the United States. Read the article to get a clearer insight of implementation of the new rules at the Mexican border.

New rules go in effect, enforcing travelers to show passports at San Ysidro border crossing. Pedestrian travelers entering Mexico at the San Ysidro/Puerta Este crossing must show a valid passport and fill out an entry form. Travelers who will remain in Mexico for more than one week will also need to pay 326 pesos (approximately $20) for a Tourist Card valid for 180 days. Although the majority of travelers entering Mexico by land continue to be able to cross the border without a passport, it is very important to remember that a passport is required to re-enter the United States. Read the article to get a clearer insight of implementation of the new rules at the Mexican border.

Before you pack your bags for your summer travel, you'd be wise to check the passport requirements for your destination! Entry requirements for international destinations aren't set in stone; they can and do change frequently. Nations including Italy, France, Kuwait, and even the US have recently changed their entry requirements for foreign visitors. Read the PassportInfo's latest post on updated passport requirements of Europe, Asia, and North American countries.

If you have plans to visit to the America and you are a citizen of UK or any of the European countries that fall under the category of Visa Waiver Program (VWP) from the US. You need to apply for ESTA authorization before getting an entry to the USA, while you don't need to apply for the US VISA.

If your valid passport is in poor condition because of heavy wear, water damage, or other mishaps, it is time to get it replaced. Severely damaged or mutilated passports are not valid for travel or for use as identification. It could be cause for you to be denied entry to a country or not to be allowed to board a plane. To replace a damaged passport, you may be able to request an early passport renewal rather than going through the full mutilated passport replacement procedure. Read on our complete guide for damaged passport replacement, including all requirements.

The laptop ban has been the top travel news that shocked everyone and is still dominating all the other travel news. There are more travel and passport news for you to stay updated and prepared for your next travel. Check out the status of the Miami Passport Agency, which flooded last month. And, if you are traveling to Europe, you'll want to check out the latest news about entry procedures for Italy and France!

The Everest Base Camp trek - 9 Days is we designed for trekkers who have short holidays but still would like to touch the world highest Everest Base Camp (5,380m). It's one of the most rewarding and popular treks in the world, where you will be experience the likely sceneries of Himalayan ranges, Ancients Buddhist monasteries and wildlife animals throughout the travel. Trek begins with a 30 minute Domestic flight to Lukla from Kathmandu Airport and trek start from Lukla is a main tourism connection of Everest regions and we will be walking from Lukla towards through Sherpa settlements and go into the Mt. Sagarmatha National Park then trails goes in following up Northern side of Dudkoshi River, crosses the bridge and climb up hill to reach entry police check point and passes beautiful traditional Sherpa village likes Namche Bazzar, Tengboche, Pangboche, Dingboche, Labuche, Gorakshep and reach finally your destination at Mt. Everest Base Camp.

Annapurna Base camp trek Solo is the most Well-known trekking area for trekker's in Annapurna Himalaya region. The peaks like Annapurna Himalaya including Machhapuchhere(fish Tail) 6993m ,Hiunchuli (6470m), Annapurna south (7230m), Gangapurna (7450m), Annapurna I (8091m),Tent Peak(5665m) and many More. The trekking in the that circuit inaugrates from Nayapul which is around 1/30 hours drive from pokhara 20 min walk begins from Nayapul to Birethathi. There are Main Entry ACAP and Tims check point after that along the Modi Khola River and all the way up to Ghandruk village .this village is one of the popular and Largest Gurung villages in the Annapurna Himalaya .while we get to the Gurung village we resaerch the Old Gurung Museum and Buddhist temple. From Ghandruk village trail leads east south to the hamlet Chhumrung village, sinuwa Dada, Bamboo, Dovan , Deaurali, M.B.C and A.B.c . Annapurna Base camp is last ending village in the Annapurna region. Evening and morning time we explore the Glacial, Memorial and all Himalaya range. While we go back down one night we do enjoy with natural Hot spring in Jhinu dada and trek to Landruk, Pothana and Dhampus phedi and back to pokhara

The Gorkha Territorial Administration (GTA) has decided to suspend all tourism activities in Darjeeling till 31 July, because of the huge increase in the number of Corona positive cases in West Bengal and adjoining hill stations. The decision was taken a week after the Darjeeling hills were reopened to tourists. The GTA has urged people from other hill stations, including Kalimpong, not to visit Siliguri without any significant reason because of the ever-increasing cases of corona infection.

THE WAR IN Ukraine and lingering concerns about the COVID-19 pandemic are making some travelers nervous, according to a survey from risk and crisis response provider Global Rescue. Still, Global Rescue found that fewer people are experiencing hesitancy about travel. About 71 percent of respondents to Global Rescue's Spring 2022 Traveler Safety and Sentiment Survey said they are somewhat concerned, concerned or much more concerned about international travel since the beginning of the war in Ukraine. The remaining 29 percent said they are not concerned at all. The respondents' destinations also caused some anxiety as well as returning to travel after two years of pandemic-related travel restrictions. At the same time, 89 percent of respondents said the war in Ukraine has not changed their travel plans and 70 percent are not experiencing any re-entry to travel anxiety. An even larger majority, 84 percent, of survey takers report they are less or much less concerned about travel today compared to the beginning of the pandemic.

HOTEL INVESTMENT AND management company Banyan Group has announced that its $35 million Banyan Lodging Enhanced Value Fund has been fully subscribed. The final participants were domestic and foreign families, a statement said. The BLEV, or "Believe" fund offers an opportunity for investors to purchase hotels that have been impacted by the on-going COVID-19 crisis, the statement added. "Interest in our BLEV fund has risen steadily since our original announcement earlier this year, as evidenced by how quickly the raise was completed, to the point where we now actually are over-subscribed," said Rakesh Chauhan, managing partner and CEO, Banyan Investment Group. "We already have our sights on several respected hotels in strong markets with high barriers to entry and multiple demand generators to help offset any potential economic headwinds that could arise in the future. We look forward to a successful run with our partners and fully expect this to be a profitable endeavor for all involved."

ALL FORMS OF travel are experiencing a post-pandemic resurgence, including cruises, according to a survey from risk and crisis response provider Global Rescue. Some have concerns about their destination, but most are ready to hit the seven seas. According to the Global Rescue Traveler Sentiment and Safety Survey, 30 percent of respondents were experiencing some hesitancy about where to go, or when to get back to travel after two years of pandemic-related travel restrictions. Meanwhile, 70 percent of respondents are not experiencing any re-entry to travel anxiety in general or on cruise ships, according to the survey. "Nineteen percent of survey takers say they feel safer or much safer about taking a cruise compared to last year," said Dan Richards, CEO of Global Rescue and a member of the U.S. Travel and Tourism Advisory Board at the U.S. Department of Commerce.

HOTEL INVESTMENT AND management company Banyan Investment Group announced the initial closing of $20 million Banyan Lodging Enhanced Value Fund, also known as BLEV or "Believe." The fund gives investors an opportunity to purchase hotels that have been impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic, a statement said. The group said that the first Closing delivered more than half of capital sought to acquire pandemic-impacted hotels. According to prospective investors, BLEV will reach its $35 million hard cap early next year, well before the formal end of its offering period. "The hospitality industry continues to reel from the COVID pandemic and its uneven recovery, and many markets continue to suffer from a sustained, record decline in hotel performance, a lack of liquidity in the capital markets and value dislocation," said Andy Chopra, managing partner and CIO at Banyan Investment Group. "We believe the impact caused by the pandemic has created a number of investment opportunities, ranging from newer assets selling at below replacement costs to discounts resulting from owners facing liquidity crises. BLEV will take advantage of these prevailing headwinds as we move further into a post-pandemic world." The fund will be used to form joint venture partnerships with institutional investors and/or syndicates of retail investors, with a total investible equity in the range of $350,000,000. The BLEV will focus on high-barrier-to-entry hotel locations, targeting properties with significant discounts and expects to deliver superior, risk-adjusted returns for investors when the hospitality industry re-stabilizes.

EVERWOOD HOSPITALITY PARTNERS has completed the acquisition of the 184-room LaQuinta I Drive/Convention Center hotel in Orlando, Florida, from Cavalier Florida, LP, the company said. Real estate capital advisory, Cronheim Hotel Capital, helped secure the loan for the acquisition and subsequent renovation of the property which includes upgrades to public and private spaces. The loan, from a Florida-based bank, which provided five-year fixed rate financing with two years of interest only, represented 65 percent of the all-in cost, according to Everwood. The hotel is next door to ICON Park and offers multiple dining and entertainment options. The property is one mile from the Orange County Convention Center and the city's many amusement parks and entertainment venues. Amenities include an outdoor pool and a fitness center. "With its proximity to many of Orlando's top attractions, the LaQuinta is an ideal addition to Everwood's expanding hotel portfolio," said Amit Patel, Everwood's managing principal and chief operating officer. "We continue to seek hotels in prime markets with barriers to new entry and multiple demand generators that help protect against occasional market fluctuations. Following the implementation of our proprietary management and marketing systems, LaQuinta I Drive will become the segment leader for leisure and business travelers in Orlando."

JOBS IN THE hotel industry are projected to exceed overall job market growth in the next five years, according to recent research commissioned by the AHLA Foundation. The foundation has also introduced an interactive dashboard enabling job seekers to explore and compare roles, requirements and compensation within various hospitality careers. The foundation tasked Lightcast, a labor market analytics firm, with providing data on demographic and growth trends crucial for identifying and mapping career pathways within the hotel and lodging industry, the AHLA Foundation said in a statement. With its real-time, proprietary databases and industry parsing capabilities, Lightcast created an interactive dashboard illustrating career pathways in the hotel and lodging industry from 2010 to 2023. "It's an attractive time to enter the hotel industry," said Anna Blue, AHLA Foundation's president. "A key part of our work at AHLA Foundation is supporting the recruitment, retention and advancement of people in our industry. Understanding the entry points where careers begin, where they lead and what paths they take is a critical step to helping find their home in hospitality."

BARON HOSPITALITY, LED by president Sanjay Patel, recently acquired the Hampton Inn Birmingham/Mountain Brook in Birmingham, Alabama. The company plans a complete renovation of the 129-room property on the city's primary commercial corridor. The Hampton Inn is close to downtown Birmingham, the University of Alabama-Birmingham, Samford University and Birmingham Botanical Gardens. "Adding another Hampton Inn to our portfolio was a strategic move as part of our three-year plan, aligning with our goals for growth and setting the stage for success in the hospitality industry," said Patel. "By entering a market with high barriers to entry, you can benefit from the brand's recognition and reputation, attracting customers seeking quality accommodations. Initiating renovations to enhance the property will further differentiate it within the upper-midscale segment, making it a unique asset that stands out among competitors."

HILTON WORDLWIDE HOLDINGS aims to double its 350 lifestyle hotels by 2028, planning to add 350 more within four years, including 100 this year. Also, the company appointed Kevin Osterhaus as president of global lifestyle brands to oversee the growth, design, and development of Canopy by Hilton, Curio Collection by Hilton, Graduate by Hilton, Motto by Hilton, Tapestry Collection by Hilton and Tempo by Hilton. The growth will be supported by the addition of the Graduate and NoMad brands, Hilton said in a statement. The company added more than 50 new lifestyle hotels and approved another 100 in 2023. Additionally, this year will mark the debut of Hilton's 400th property in this category. "As we celebrate the 10th anniversary of Hilton's entry into the lifestyle segment, we look ahead to even more rapid growth with a powerhouse lineup of brands that will meet the needs of developers and guests alike in some of the world's most desirable locations," said Kevin Jacobs, Hilton's chief financial officer and president, global development. "The recent addition of the Graduate and NoMad brands to our lifestyle and luxury lifestyle portfolio will accelerate our growth as we look for more opportunities to deliver the exceptional experiences guests want in the world's top hotel destinations."

The most interesting section in the Alexandria National Museum is the section that displays antiquities that were found under the sea in Alexandria. The museum also displays live pictures of how these items were pulled out of the sea.

The global remittance has been redoubled during last couple of years. The international trade and commerce has augmented by leaps and bounds during last two decades owing to the growth of economy across the world. Especially, Indian and China has developed in a phenomenal rate.

Just grabbing the bag and going home without US passport control, Isn't a good thought? It has possibly come true with "Preclearance" facilities set up by US Customs and Border Patrol (CBP) at 15 airports in 6 countries. If you are flying to US with those airports can pass through US immigration and customs before you board your flight. The benefits of preclearance is not only to facilitates your entry in US but it is an extra layer of scrutiny to make sure terrorists or other inadmissible people are not allowed to board flights to the US.