Due to the ongoing impact of COVID-19 globally, The Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection has made the decision to reschedule its inaugural voyage. Evrima, the first yacht of The Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection, will now set sail on July 24, 2021 from Venice, Italy to Athens, Greece. Previous delays at the shipyard pushed back the vessel’s original 2020 debut […]

Host agency Travel Experts has added 40 independent consultants (ICs) as new affiliates during the pandemic—with most of them attributing their move to the Travel Experts “staff support” and having a “no-split pay policy” resulting in advisors receiving 100 percent of commissions, plus the Virtuoso connection among the main reasons. Further, in a survey of both new […]

Olympus Ventures, the family office of Richard M. Schulze, founder and chairman emeritus of Best Buy, has acquired ownership of The Resorts & Residences by CuisinArt in Anguilla, which encompasses CuisinArt Golf Resort & Spa and The Reef by CuisinArt. The property is being managed by Wischermann Lifestyle Hospitality. Looking forward, the new ownership plans to […]

The Indian ocean archipelago the Seychelles has reviewed its entry requirements to be more accessible for potential visitors as part of the restart of its tourism activities for 2021 and beyond. The new measures are to be implemented in two phases. The news was announced by the minister for foreign affairs and tourism, Sylvestre Radegonde, […]

Venice’s newest five-star hotel, Ca’ di Dio, will make its debut in May 2021. The hotel sits within a transformed ecclesiastical compound dating from 1272 that has hosted Crusaders, pilgrims and tourists for more than eight centuries. Located on the Riva Ca’ di Dio, the hotel overlooks Venice’s lagoon, and is located adjacent to the […]

Joseph R. Biden Jr. has officially been sworn in as the 46th president of the United States. According to The New York Times, he takes office “at a moment of profound economic, health and political crises with a promise to seek unity after a tumultuous four years that tore at the fabric of American society.” The ceremony was led […]

Big news in the cruise industry: Azamara has entered into a definitive agreement to become part of Sycamore Partners, a private equity firm. In an announcement from Carol Cabezas, chief operating officer of Azamara, she says the move will play an important role in driving the brand forward and expanding its “Destination Immersion” experiences. Sycamore Partners, according to the […]

Rosewood Hotels & Resorts has debuted “Journey to Resilience,” a new wellness retreat concept designed to enhance one’s ability to recover from or adapt easily to change. The retreats will focus on four main behavioral elements to resilience—positivism, purpose, resourcefulness and compassion—through practices to assist guests in recognizing areas of their lives they’d like to restructure […]

In opposite outcomes, MSC Cruises announced on Sunday that MSC Grandiosa will return to sea starting on January 24, while Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings on Tuesday extended its “operational pause” for all three of its brands—Norwegian Cruise Line, Oceania Cruises and Regent Seven Seas Cruises. MSC Grandiosa Returns Following the latest ministerial decree issued by the Italian government and related updated health measures, MSC Cruises‘ flagship, MSC Grandiosa, will […]

Romania is this country at the crossroads of Central and Eastern Europe that once used to be my home. While I lived there I didn’t think much of it, but now that I look back, I realize that Romania is a country full of surprises. Besides its rich cultural traditions, unique cuisine and beautiful scenery, […]