Florida Sets New Tourism Record

Last week in Orlando, Florida Gov. Rick Scott officially announced that the Sunshine State attracted a record number of tourists in 2015. Statistics compiled by Visit Florida, the organization that handles tourism marketing for the state, indicate that 105 million visitors were drawn to the state’s vast selection of beaches, cities and theme parks, setting a new record.

This represents the fifth year in a row that a record number of tourists came to Florida. The number beats the previous high of nearly 99 million visitors.

“Tourism plays an important role in supporting our economy, and we will continue to make strategic investments in the tourism industry to keep Florida on track to becoming first for jobs,” Scott said in a statement.

Ever optimistic, Scott hopes to see the number of tourists visiting the state rise to 115 million in 2016.

Florida Tourism

Visit Florida estimates that the vast majority of those visiting Florida, nearly 90 million tourists, reside in other parts of the United States. The organization reports that 11.2 million tourists arrived from overseas. Approximately 4 million came from Canada.

Visit Florida is quick to promote the fact that the family-friendly destination offers something for everyone. The thrilling theme parks in Orlando are legendary. For those who prefer peace and quiet, Sanibel and Captiva Islands offer refreshing retreats. Nature beckons beach-lovers with some of the most beautiful coastline in the country. Those who crave action will adore pulsating Miami, which boasts fabulous shopping and people-watching. Those interested in culture will find a vibrant melting pot of people from Central and South America, as well as the Caribbean Islands. For meeting planners, Florida offers top notch convention centers and a wide assortment of hotels in all price ranges.

With dozens of airports up and down the state, Florida is easy to get to from virtually anywhere. And with its near constant sunshine, it’s no surprise that Florida is attracting record numbers of tourists.

Air Service Between Cuba and America

U.S. Department of Transportation announced today that air service between Cuba and America will be restored after a 50-year hiatus. Immediately following a signed agreement, U.S. air carriers were urged to bid on scheduled commercial and cargo flights between the two countries. The first flights are expected to take off later this year.

Pending the approval of the Department of Transportation, airlines from both countries will be able to operate up to 20 daily roundtrip flights between the U.S. and Havana. They will also be allowed to operate 10 additional daily roundtrip flights between the U.S. and nine other international airports—Varadero, Holguín, Santa Clara, Cayo Coco, Cayo Largo del Sur, Camagüey, Cienfuegos, Santiago de Cuba and Manzanillo de Cuba—on the island for a total of 110 flights. The new agreement imposes no limits on existing charter service.

Several U.S. carriers, including American Airlines, Southwest and JetBlue have already announced that they will submit proposals for access to the coveted route. Miami and New York City are expected to land most of the flights, as both cities are home to some of the largest Cuban populations outside of Cuba.

The agreement was authorized by U.S. Transportation Secretary Anthony Foxx, Assistant Secretary of State for Economic and Business Affairs Charles Rivkin, Cuban Minister of Transportation Adel Yxquierdo Rodriguez and President of the Cuban Civil Aviation Institute and Ministry of Transportation Colonel Alfredo Cordero Puig.

“We are excited to announce the availability of new scheduled air service opportunities to Cuba for U.S. carriers, shippers and the traveling public, and we will conduct this proceeding in a manner designed to maximize public benefits,” said Foxx in a statement.

After President Obama announced his intentions to re-establish diplomatic relations with Cuba, both countries concluded negotiations on re-establishing commercial flights in December 2015. Travel for U.S. citizens is not without restrictions—visitors must meet criteria under one of 12 categories before traveling to Cuba. But today’s agreement marks a major stride in relations with Cuba.

Fortune 500 list

The 2016 edition of the Fortune 500 list of the world’s most admired companies has been released, and there are many familiar names to the meetings industry that made top billing.

Marriott International was the top-ranked company among hotels, casinos and resorts, and placed No. 29 on the list, overall. Others in the industry that made the list were Hilton Worldwide, Wynn Resorts, Hyatt Hotels, Wyndham Worldwide and MGM Resorts International.

Hilton Worldwide held onto the No. 2 spot again in 2016. Likewise, Hyatt Hotels placed No. 4 in the industry, the same ranking they received last year.

Wynn Resorts was the highest ranking casino on the list, ranking No. 3 out of 13 internationally distinguished hospitality companies.  Wynn Resorts ranked first overall in the category of quality of products/services among all international hotel companies.

Wyndham Worldwide has now made the list seven times. Its most recent accolades, in addition to making Fortune’s list, include being named World’s Most Ethical Company by the Ethisphere Institute, and being recognized as one of the Top 50 Companies for Diversity by DiversityInc.

MGM Resorts International jumped two spots from last year, ranking No. 6 within the industry.

Flying High on the Fortune 500 List

Two airlines also broke the top 50 mark for all industries on the list. Southwest Airlines ranked No. 7 overall, and Delta Airlines came in at No. 30. Southwest has been among the top 10 for 17 out of 22 consecutive years on the list.

“More than four decades ago, Southwest was founded on a people-first philosophy that has served us well and stood the test of time,” said Gary Kelly, chairman, president and CEO of Southwest Airlines. “To be recognized as a world’s most admired company 22 consecutive times is a testament to our people, who I believe are the best in the world. They are my heroes, and this honor belongs to them.”

Other airlines on the Forbes 500 list were Singapore Airlines, Air France-KLM Group, United Continental, Cathaway Pacific Airlines and Lufthansa Group.

Fortune partnered with Korn Ferry Hay Group and asked 4,000 executives, directors, and securities analysts from 652 companies in 30 countries around the world to rate companies in their industry on nine criteria, from investment value to social responsibility. Leaders chose the top 25 percent of winners from last year’s survey in addition to considering the top 20 percent in their industry.

most on-time carrier

Hawaiian Airlines remained the nation’s most on-time carrier in 2015, as reported by the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT), marking the airline’s 12th consecutive year holding the title.

Hawaii’s largest and longest-serving airline averaged an 88.4 percent on-time performance rating in 2015, earning the top ranking in nine of the 12 months and exceeding the industry average for the year by 8.5 percentage points. For December, Hawaiian Airlines ranked first for flight arrivals, recording a 93 percent on-time performance rating. The carrier also ranked first in fewest flight cancellations with 0.1 percent, or only five cancellations out of 6,260 flights.

“We have more than 5,500 employees at Hawaiian Airlines, and it’s thanks to their commitment and hard work that we have led the nation in on time performance every year since 2004,” said Mark Dunkerley, Hawaiian Airlines’ president and CEO.

Hawaii’s largest and longest-serving airline provides daily non-stop service to Hawaii from 11 gateway cities in North America and ten cities throughout Asia and the South Pacific using Airbus A330-200 and Boeing 767-300 aircraft, making it the only carrier to offer wide-body, twin-aisle aircrafts for all transpacific flights. Hawaiian Airlines operates approximately 160 daily flights between the Hawaiian Islands using Boeing 717-200 aircraft.

The DOT’s monthly Air Travel Consumer Report ranking the nation’s 16 largest air carriers is available online at dot.gov/individuals/air-consumer/air-travel-consumer-reports.

nassau-paradise-islandWith new resorts popping up, extensive renovations at existing ones and a multitude of events on tap, Nassau Paradise Island is anticipating a tourist boom in 2016. According to the Caribbean Tourism Organization, the Bahamas hotspot welcomed 1.42 million visitors in 2014. Statistics indicate a 3 percent increase in arrival traffic through mid-2015.

Travelpulse.com reports that the Nassau Paradise Islands Promotion Board has observed an uptick in Google searches for the destination, which it views as a strong indication of consumer interest in the region.

Luxury Hotel Development

Several projects will add to the hotel inventory on Paradise Island. Most notable is Warwick Paradise Island Bahamas, an all-inclusive, adults only, 245-room luxury resort scheduled to open in mid-2016. The property will feature a lobby bar, numerous dining options, a full service spa and free Wi-Fi.

Iconic Atlantis Paradise Island resort, a meetings mecca, is embarking on a renovation that will include updating every suite. The former Marketplace eatery in Royal Towers will be replaced by the new ocean-inspired restaurant, Poseidon’s Table. Salon Privé, an exclusive portion of the casino designed to entertain “elite” customers, is also scheduled to open in 2016.

Nassau’s One & Only Ocean Club has remodeled guest rooms in the Hartford Wing, and has added an oceanfront infinity pool. The British Colonial Hilton in downtown Nassau is expanding to include new restaurants, luxury retail outlets and a rooftop garden. And the all-inclusive Breezes Resort & Spa on Nassau’s Cable Beach spent $1 million to revamp its meeting space; adding the 490-square-foot Panorama Gallery. The event space, which holds up to 50, boasts floor-to ceiling glass windows and an ocean view.

Events Galore in 2016

High profile cultural and sporting events are expected to draw crowds to the Bahamas in 2016. The Bahamas Rum Festival, scheduled for Feb. 26-28, will celebrate the region’s signature spirit with tastings, culinary demonstrations, educational sessions and live entertainment. The Bahamas Junkanoo Carnival, held in April and May, will feature concerts, cultural shows and parades that celebrate local culture and heritage. Films from around the world will screen at the Bahamas International Film Festival, date TBA. And finally, the Battle 4 Atlantis college basketball tournament will feature eight top teams from U.S. universities competing Nov. 23-25, 2016.

 

Myths About Airline Food

Airline food doesn’t get a lot of love when the subject of haute cuisine arises, however it may not be as bad as its reputation.  USA Today dispels five common myths about airline food:

1. All airplane food is frozen and reheated. While some meals are indeed frozen and then reheated, today fresh salads and sandwiches are often served on flights. Sometimes dishes are prepared sous vide, a process where food is sealed in airtight plastic bags, cooked slowly and then blast chilled. While this could be perceived as “frozen and reheated,” it is actually an advanced culinary technique.

2. Business- and first-class passengers get the good food.  While this is generally true, many foreign carriers, most notably Turkish, Aegean and Swiss Airlines, also provide quality meals in economy class. Passengers are invited to pay to upgrade their economy-class meal on certain airlines, including Air France, KLM, Austrian Airlines, Aer Lingus and British Airways. The cost is about $15.

3. They purposely assault us with stinky food.While fish, marinated vegetables, butter sauces and fried foods may be delicious on the ground, they often lose their appeal at 30,000 feet. While airline chefs generally know what works, mistakes happen.

4. Airline food resembles fast food.  It is actually higher in quality than it gets credit for. Some carriers serve organic steel-cut oatmeal, whole fruit or sandwiches made with fresh meats and cheeses, as well as premium snacks. In Europe, passengers can get nutritional information about their meals.

5. The food has been purposely crafted to make you fall asleep. While flight attendants may welcome such an idea, there is actually no such conspiracy. Nothing is added to the food.

 

Cruise Critic Cruisers’ Choice Awards

Disney Cruise Line won top accolades in the 6th annual Cruise Critic Cruisers’ Choice Awards. Reviews website Cruise Critic announced the winners this month, based on ratings and reviews for cruises taken last year. Ships were ranked in three categories based on passenger capacity, with large ships containing more than 2,000, mid-size ships carrying 1,200-1,999 and small ships holding 1,999 or less.

Out of 30 first place winners, Disney scored 11 first place slots, including nine in the large ship category. For the second year in a row, Disney Dream was named “best overall” among large ship cruises, and also earned “best for families,” “best cabins,” “best public restrooms,” “best entertainment” and “best service” rankings. Disney Dream, Disney Wonder and Disney Fantasy also scored top marks in various other categories, from dining and embarkation to entertainment, service and fitness and recreation.

Viking Star, which was started by Viking Ocean Cruises last year, was the only new cruise ship to make the list. It was appropriately named “best for first-timers” and also received recognition for having the “best cabins” and “best public restrooms” in the small ship category. Viking Ocean Cruises will launch Viking Sea later this year.

Several ships under Oceana Cruises were awarded first place. It was no surprise that Oceana Marina won “best dining” in the mid-size category, as the company has recently begun to offer culinary immersion programs and cooking classes. Oceana Riviera had “best cabins” and “best fitness & recreation” among mid-size ships.

Carnival Cruise Lines’ Carnival Freedom won “best value for money” for a third year in a row. Holland America Maasdam was another budget-friendly option, receiving “best value for money,” as well as “best overall” and “best embarkation” among mid-size cruises. For small ships, Windjammers’ Sagitta, which holds 24 passengers, was found to have the most value.

First-place winners of Cruise Critic Cruisers’ Choice Awards include:

Best Cruises Overall:
Disney Dream (Large)
Holland America Maasdam (Mid-Size)
Celebrity Xpedition (Small)

Best Cruise Ship Cabins:
Disney Dream (Large)
Oceania Riviera (Mid-Size)
Viking Star (Small)

Best Cruise Ships for Dining:
Disney Fantasy (Large)
Oceania Marina (Mid-Size)
Island Windjammers Sagitta (Small)

Best Cruise Ships for Embarkation:
Disney Fantasy (Large)
Holland America Maasdam (Mid-Size)
Windstar Wind Surf (Small)

Best Cruise Ships for Entertainment:
Disney Dream (Large)
Disney Wonder (Mid-Size)
Pacific Princess (Small)

Best Cruise Ships for Fitness & Recreation:
Disney Fantasy (Large)
Oceania Riviera (Mid-Size)
Oceania Nautica (Small)

Best Cruise Ship Public Rooms:
Disney Dream (Large)
Oceania Riviera (Mid-Size)
Viking Star (Small)

Best Cruise Ships for Service:
Disney Dream (Large)
Disney Wonder (Mid-Size)
Windstar Star Breeze (Small)

Best Cruise Ship Shore Excursions:
Norwegian Jewel (Large)
Coral Princess (Mid-Size)
Celebrity Xpedition (Small)

Best Cruise Ships for Value:
Carnival Freedom (Large)
Holland America Maasdam (Mid-Size)
Island Windjammers Sagitta (Small)

Best Cruise Ship for Families: Disney Dream
Best Cruise Ship for First-Timers: Viking Star

Best Beaches in the World

There’s no better cure for the winter blues than escaping to tropical white sand beaches with crystal blue ocean shores. What better time for TripAdvisor to release the results of their Travelers’ Choice Awards for the best beaches in the world?

There’s a new sandbox champion, now that the top ranked beach for the last two years has taken second place.

Grace Bay in Turks and Caicos is the world’s new No. 1 beach, followed by previous winner Baia do Sancho in Fernando de Noronha, Brazil.  Grace Bay offers perfect beach weather year-round, and according to TripAdvisor, the area offers 43 hotels, including Traveler’s Choice Award Winner The Tuscany.

More than 3,300 reviews of Grace Bay echoed the same satisfied sentiments: sugary-white beaches, warm blue water, delicious beach-front restaurants, and no crowds.

Check out which sandy shores made the top 10 best beaches in the world:

1. Grace Bay — Providenciales, Turks and Caicos
2. Baia do Sancho — Fernando de Noronha, Brazil
3. Playa Paraiso — Cayo Largo, Cuba
4. Anse Lazio — Praslin Island, Seychelles
5. Cayo de Agua — Los Roques National Park, Venezuela
6. Flamenco Beach — Culebra, Puerto Rico
7. Playa de Ses Illetes — Formentera, Spain
8. Ngapali Beach — Ngapali, Myanmar
9. West Bay Beach — Bay Islands, Honduras
10. Nacpan Beach — El Nido, Philippines

The decision was made based on the quality and quantity of user reviews and ratings of beaches over a year-long period.

In addition to their best in the world ranking (which includes 25 beaches), TripAdvisor also ranked the top beaches in the US, UK, Africa, Asia, Australia, the Caribbean, Central America, South America, the South Pacific and Europe.

Playa de Ses Illetes in Formentera, Spain took the No. 1 spot for Europe, while Florida’s Clearwater Beach claimed the crown for the U.S. (and landed in the No. 20 spot for best in the world).

You can see the full list at TripAdvisor.com. 

top-wine-picks-for-meetingsUnless you are a sommelier, it can be easy to feel nervous about selecting wines for your upcoming event. You don’t want to be embarrassed serving something that tastes like grape juice or vinegar. Although attendees would no doubt savor the Screaming Eagle Cabernet Sauvignon 2011, a top-rated varietal from Napa Valley, California, it retails for $2,249 per bottle. How can you pick wines that will please your guests without breaking your budget?

Harley Carbery, director of wine at Mandalay Bay Resort & Casino in Las Vegas, recently shared some thoughts with associationsnow.com.  If you don’t feel confident choosing among the thousands of brands available, Carbery recommends asking for help.

“There’s no better resource for selecting wines and pairing them with the right foods than a wine director and catering team,” he says.

Top Wine Picks

Compared to other alcoholic beverages, wine is uniquely suited to serving to a large group. Trendy or traditional, there are plenty of choices, at all price points. According to Carbery, the most popular red wine is cabernet; the most popular white is chardonnay. Malbec, a red varietal that appeared on the scene just 10 years ago, has also quickly become a crowd pleaser.

The last thing a meeting planner wants to be is boring. Carbery says three interesting choices that demonstrate a little pizazz but will still appeal to everyone are an Italian prosecco, a Sonoma chardonnay and a California or Washington state merlot.

He suggests being a little adventurous when it comes to choosing wines. ‘Don’t be afraid to try something new,’” Carbery says, adding,  “There are always opportunities to customize something to your group.”

Wine Buzzwords

Organic, sustainable, vegan and biodynamic are buzzwords often associated with wine today. Carbery points out that for centuries, wine has been organic and vegan. Biodynamic refers to the handling and processing of the fruit, a complex process that even takes moon phases into account.

Cheers!

When deciding which wines to choose for an upcoming event, meeting planners who don’t have an onsite expert to consult with can always visit VinePair.com. This helpful website provides information and reviews of great wines, as well as trending news about beer and spirits.

Winter Wonderlands

During the winter, warmer climates and tropical locales get all the love from business and leisure travelers. Last year, even Ithaca/Tompkins County Convention & Visitors Bureau told prospective visitors to skip its freezing temperatures for Florida’s sandy shores. But some snowy hotels and resorts are embracing the cold with activities such as skiing and ice skating and offering creative ways to get cozy and keep warm.

Here are 6 winter wonderlands that are sure to delight guests no matter what the weather holds:

1. Hotel Vermont in Burlington offers two ways for guests to stay active during the winter months. Those who can handle the cold are offered complimentary snow shoes to explore downtown Burlington or take a walk alongside scenic Lake Champlain. For the weather weary, indoor group yoga sessions are available in an onsite yoga studio. Visitors can also enjoy hot toddies by the fire at Juniper Bar.

2. Dream Downtown in New York City is a wintry escape in a maritime-inspired setting, complete with a glass-bottomed swimming pool. Head to the hotel lobby for a selection of churros and hot chocolate, which makes a sweet afternoon pick-me-up. Party-goers need not venture outside for nightlife—the boutique hotel has a swanky rooftop nightclub and lounge.

3. Loews Boston Hotel also appeals to guests’ sweet tooth to perk up the mid-afternoon slump. Its chocolate station includes decadent hot chocolate and delicious beignets served with chocolate, coffee and caramel dipping sauces.

4. In the ski and cinema town of Telluride, Colorado, Madeline Hotel and Residences has several outdoor options for groups to partake in. There are 84 ski trails weaving around the San Juan Mountains and are accessible from the hotel. Guests can glide an onsite ice-skating rink or take a dip in the rooftop pool. The property also offers unique team building activities such as broomball, available all season long.

5. Chocolate is the name of the game this season. Omni Bedford Springs Resort, nestled in Pennsylvania’s Allegheny Mountains, has designed two entire menus for chocolate lovers. Choose from spiced hot chocolate, rock slide brownies, chocolate covered espresso beans or double chocolate chunk cookies.

6. For a spiked way to warm up this winter, Omni Grove Park Inn in Asheville, North Carolina, is partnering with Oskar Blues Brewery to create signature drinks that warm guests from the inside out. Fireplace ale is flavored with nutmeg, cinnamon and molasses. House made hot cocoa is topped with chocolate ganache for a non-alcoholic treat. Guests can also add whipped cream, chocolate and caramel sauce, peppermint, chocolate chips or salted caramel marshmallow toppings.