Record year for spending by tourists visiting America!

Spending by foreign visitors to the U.S. totaled $127 billion in the first 10 months of 2011 and is on pace to break the $141 billion record set in 2008, the U.S. tourism agency says. The figure is expected to top $152 billion for 2011, the U.S. Office of Travel and Tourism Industries reports

That's great news as tourism spending creates jobs!

I’ve mentioned in past posts that enlightened US visa policies will help grow this revenue & I’m hearing positive yes positive reports from Washington that Congress is moving towards the recommended changes!

December Survey Reveals 2012 International Travel Hotspots!

Travel Leaders, a travel agency consortium group, just unveiled the 2012 results of their authoritative annual Travel TrendsSurvey.

The results indicate that that Americans are ready to travel farther from home than in recent years. Travelers are also willing to spend what is necessary for their desired vacation- over 91% of Travel Leaders surveyed say clients will spend the same or more on travel in 2012 as compared to last year.

The survey was conducted November 21 - December 16, 2011and is based on actual booking data. The 2012 Travel Trends Survey includes responses from 640 Travel Leaders owners, managers and frontline travel experts throughout the United States.

 

The top 2012 international destinations are:

1.         Caribbean cruise

2.         Cancun, Mexico

3.         Playa del Carmen, Mexico

4.         European Mediterranean cruise

5.         Rome, Italy

6.         London, England

7.         Punta Cana, Dominican Republic

8.         Paris, France

9.         Montego Bay, Jamaica

10.       Negril, Jamaica

Be kind to your travel agent & let them your out of the country vacation! 

2012 Domestic Travel Hotspots!

Travel Leaders, a travel agency consortium group, just unveiled the 2012 results of their authoritative annual Travel TrendsSurvey.

The results indicate that that Americans are ready to travel farther from home than in recent years. Travelers are also willing to spend what is necessary for their desired vacation- over 91% of Travel Leaders surveyed say clients will spend the same or more on travel in 2012 as compared to last year.

The survey was conducted November 21 - December 16, 2011and is based on actual booking data. The 2012 Travel Trends Survey includes responses from 640 Travel Leaders owners, managers and frontline travel experts throughout the United States.

The 2012 Top Domestic Destinations are:

1.         Las Vegas, NV

2.         Orlando, FL

3.         Maui, HI

4.         Alaskan cruise (with land tour options)

5.         New York City, NY

6.         Honolulu, HI

7.         Washington, D.C.

8.         Chicago, IL

9.         Los Angeles, CA

10.       Phoenix/Scottsdale, AZ

Be kind to your travel agent & get out of town! 

It’s Christmas time in the islands of Aloha!

Aloha! 

Here’s a little history about how this holiday arrived in the islands and some key phrases that you may hear in Hawaii during the Christmas and New Year's Day holiday season.

“Mele Kalikimaka” or Merry Christmas! The words "Mele Kalikimaka" are a phonetic translation. When the missionaries and other Westerners first brought the custom of Christmas to the islands the Hawaiians had difficulty pronouncing Merry Christmas and turned it into words that rolled more easily off their tongues.

Mele Kalikimaka from the Travel Professor!

The Nude Wedding Returns to Jamaica

Hedonism II is searching for 10 couples to exchange their vows in the buff for a top-rated show on Valentine’s Day. These modern day “Adam’s & Eve’s" will be featured in a documentary and receive a complimentary 4 night stay.

Jamaica’s Hedonism II is putting out a siren call for engaged couples who would like to get married in the buff on national TV on Valentine’s Day 2012. The nuptials and interviews with the newlyweds will be featured in a top-rated show on a major documentary network.

This infamous resort has thrice hosted the “World’s Largest Nude Wedding” is asking couples looking to exchange vows in an "au natural" ceremony to apply confidentially by January 6, 2012. Up to 10 couples will be chosen to star in the cable television program, and receive a complimentary Dream Wedding and four-night stay at Hedonism II in Negril, Jamaica.         

       

For those not daring to bare it all there is a clothed side of the resort. The Travel Prof has been to this “split” personality resort and trust me the nude side is very well marked! Unless you can’t read or understand pictures you can only wander into the unclothed side on purpose! 

Not interested in the wedding gig but curious about the resort contact me for more information!                                                                                                                      

New ship to sail America's rivers in 2012

American Cruise Lines has scheduled a August 2012 launch of its new 140-passenger “Queen of the Mississippi” paddle wheeler. The vessel will boast staterooms that the company says are larger than those of all former Mississippi riverboats, and each stateroom will feature a private balcony. Public areas will include a dining salon with crystal chandeliers and artwork. The Paddlewheel Lounge, one of six lounges, will feature panoramic views.

On board entertainment will include live Dixieland music and calliope performances. In addition, a Mark Twain impersonator, costumed shows and on board lectures may also be available, based on the itinerary.

The "Queen of the Mississippi" will sail the Mississippi River as far north as St. Paul, Minn., and the Ohio River as far east as Pittsburgh. 

For reservations or information contact your professional travel agent!

River cruises on the rise

While there has generally a little drop in travel during the recession the river cruise industry has continued to experience growth.

There are 20 scheduled launches of new vessels in 2012 alone. As these new cabins come on-line I am expecting some interesting prices and promotions to help the companies fill the cabins.

Check back as I’ll be examining some of the river cruise option both here and abroad!   

Inflatable Wine Bag Gift Idea

Here’s a gift idea for the traveler on your shopping list that like to buy a bottle of local wine, tequila, rum or some other liquid. The VinniBag is a reusable travel bag with inflatable air chambers that protect and insulate wine bottles, other liquids, and fragile items. It’s designed to provide superior protection against impact and leakage, is easy to use, and stores flat, rolled or folded when not in use.

The VinniBag is eco friendly, reusable and TSA compliant!

Order your VinniBag today!

NYC's 1st Casinos is open!

NYC’s first casino the “Resorts World Casino” has just opened in Queens. It offers slot machines, electronic table games, dining, and entertainment. 

Take the subway A Train (Far Rockaway) to Aqueduct / North Conduit Station. 

Now there’s another reason to return to the Big Apple!