In an era of AI chatbots, self-service kiosks and digital check-in, the concept of a traditional hotel concierge may seem somewhat antiquated. But with demand for dedicated concierge staff far outpacing supply…
Food & Wine Festival coming to Casa de Campo Resort
Casa de Campo Resort & Villas in the Dominican Republic will hold its inaugural Casa de Campo Food & Wine Festival from Oct. 17 to 22. The event is a partnership with…
Bermuda wants to be an island for all seasons
Omar Perez Tracy Berkeley, CEO of the Bermuda Tourism Authority, doesn’t want her island to be known simply as a summertime destination — or one that’s difficult to get to, for that…
The renovated Crystal Symphony embarks on first cruise
The Crystal Symphony has returned to service following a refurbishment. The 1995-built ship departed Athens on Sept. 1 on its inaugural voyage for Crystal, a revived luxury line owned by A&K Travel…
Oceania reveals inaugural season for the Allura
Oceania Cruises has revealed the inaugural season for Allura, the line’s second Allura-class ship coming in summer 2025. Cruises open for sale on Sept. 13. The Allura’s maiden voyage will be a…
Future-proofing in Morocco
Editor’s note: Two days after this column was published, a 6.8-magnitude earthquake struck outside Marrakech. A statement posted on Kasbah du Toubkal’s website said that although the hotel sustained some damage no…
Cunard will no longer share a U.S. sales team with Princess
After 18-plus years of sharing sales forces, Cunard North America and Princess Cruises are splitting up. Each cruise line will have its own sales force this fall, a decision that Cunard said…
Ignacio Maza transitioning to part-time role at Signature Travel Network
WAILEA, Maui — Ignacio Maza, Signature Travel Network’s executive vice president, will transition to a part-time role as a senior advisor to the cooperative at the end of the year. Maza’s career…
Dispatch: I’m in Maui. And I’m glad I came.
MAUI — I had mixed feelings about coming to Maui so shortly after wildfires decimated Lahaina. On one hand, I heard voices on social media urging visitors to stay away as the…
New and updated tour and stay options in Ketchikan
Thanks to its location on the southern end of Alaska’s Inside Passage, the popular cruise ship stop of Ketchikan has earned its “Alaska’s First City” nickname. It’s a city that most visitors…