Air Pacific – Hong Kong to Fiji

AIR PACIFIC, Fiji’s national airline, is in negotiation with Hong Kong regarding a new route between Hong Kong and Fiji. If approved, this direct route would capture more of the Asian travel market as well as travellers connecting from UK and Europe. It is hoped that the new schedule would commence by mid 2009, initially with two flights to Fiji a week operating B767-300 aircraft.

Anguilla Announces New Executive Air Service to Puerto Rico

Anguilla? Ministry of Tourism has announced the launch of a new executive air service which will operate between San Juan, Puerto Rico and Anguilla. The new service, scheduled to start on February 14, 2009, will be provided on the Anguilla Air Express, and operated by Rainbow International Airlines Inc.

Rainbow International Airlines is one of the premiere charter companies in the region, and currently operates executive charter service out of major hubs in the Caribbean including San Juan, St. Maarten, Antigua, Barbados and St. Kitts.

They also serve a number of five star properties, including Malliouhana Hotel, Four Seasons, and Raffles, to name a few. They are the airline of choice for guests seeking the comfort, luxury and convenience of a private jet service, and this same quality of service will be offered to visitors traveling on the Anguilla Air Express.

The Anguilla Air Express will operate a Beechcraft 1900D Turbo Prop Airplane with seating capacity for 19 in leather reclining cabin chairs on this route. A captain and first officer will pilot the flight.

Ticket prices start at US$399 per person, including taxes. The emphasis of the Anguilla Air Express will be on first class, personalized service, with an agent meeting all passengers at the gate and escorting them through security and to the departure gate in San Juan, and through Immigration and Customs on arrival in Anguilla. The same level of service will apply on the return journey, with all passengers greeted at aircraft by an agent, then escorted through Immigration and Customs in San Juan.

With more than 30 beaches on 12 miles of coastline and some of the Caribbean’s best resorts and restaurants, Anguilla and its resorts continually sit on the top of Conde Nast Traveler and Travel + Leisure award lists.

Part of the British West Indies, Anguilla is home to the Caribbean’s highest concentration of luxury properties. Most of them are on the western half in Shoal Bay West, Rendezvous Bay, and Meads Bay.

Although still a long way from being overdeveloped (in 1980, the government decided to limit development to discreet, small hotels and elegant, upscale resorts), Anguilla is becoming more sophisticated with each season. The island is booming with recent hotel and restaurant openings and its airport runway is growing to accommodate larger commercial planes in addition to private jets.

The Best Amusement Parks & Rides in the USA

Do you live amusement parks? If not, do your kids? Are you looking for the best amusement park or the best ride? Well here are the 2008 winners of the Golden Ticket Awards.

The Golden Ticket Awards are presented to the ?est of the Best?in the amusement industry calculated from an international poll conducted by Amusement Today. Surveys were sent to a database of experienced and well-traveled amusement park fans around the world ?in balanced geographical regions ?asking them to rate the ?ests?in 25 categories such as ?musement parks,??oller coasters,??hows,??riendliest staff?and ?ater rides.?The 2008 winners are ?r

Best Amusement Park
Cedar Point, Sandusky, Ohio

Best Waterpark
Schlitterbahn Waterpark Resort, New Braunfels, Texas

Best Children? Park
Legoland California, Carlsbad, Calif.

Best Marine Life Park
SeaWorld Orlando, Orlando, Fla.

Best Seaside Park
Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk, Santa Cruz, Calif.

Best Funhouse/Walk-Through Attraction
Frankenstein? Castle at Indiana Beach, Monticello, Ind.

Best Wooden Coaster
The Voyage at Holiday World, Santa Claus, Ind.

Best Steel Coaster
Superman Ride of Steel
at Six Flags New England, Agawam, Mass.

Best Kids?Area
Kings Island, Kings Mills, Ohio

Friendliest Staff
Holiday World & Splashin?Safari, Santa Claus, Ind.

Cleanest Park
Holiday World & Splashin?Safari, Santa Claus, Ind.

Best Halloween Event
Halloween Horror Nights at Universal Orlando, Orlando, Fla..

Best Landscaping
Busch Gardens Europe, Williamsburg, Va.

Best Christmas Event
Smoky Mountain Christmas at Dollywood,
Pigeon Forge, Tenn.

Best Food
Knoebels Amusement Resort, Elysburg, Pa.

Best Shows
Six Flags Fiesta Texas, San Antonio

Best Outdoor Night Show Production
IllumiNations: Reflections of the Earth
at Walt Disney World? Epcot Center, Orlando, Fla.

Best Water Ride
Dudley Do-Right? Ripsaw Falls
at Universal? Islands of Adventure, Orlando, Fla.

Best Waterpark Ride
Master Blaster at Schlitterbahn Waterpark Resort,
New Braunfels, Texas

Best Dark Ride
Amazing Adventures of Spiderman
at Universal? Islands of Adventure, Orlando, Fla.

Best New Ride of 2008 – Amusement Park
Ravine Flyer II at Waldameer Park, Erie, Pa.

Best New Ride of 2008 – Waterpark
Dragon? Revenge at Schlitterbahn Waterpark Resort,

Best Carousel
Grand Carousel at Knoebels Amusement Resort,
Elysburg, Pa.

Best Indoor Roller Coaster
Revenge of the Mummy at Universal Orlando,
Orlando, Fla.

Best Indoor Waterpark
Schlitterbahn Galveston Island, Galveston, Texas

This is the 11th annual year for Amusement Today? coveted Golden Ticket Awards, which are the most sought-after awards in the business of amusements and attractions. The awards have become the subject of much discussion by park aficionados the world over and have garnered mentions in such notable media outlets as USA TODAY and the Chicago Tribune, by venerable radio newsman Paul Harvey and were the topic of a one-hour documentary on the Travel Channel.

Royal Caribbean Expands ?asis of the Seas?Inaugural Season

Vacationers will now be able to experience the world? most highly-anticipated cruise ship even sooner. Royal Caribbean International today announced two additional sailings to Oasis of the Seas?inaugural season: a seven-night inaugural Eastern Caribbean itinerary, sailing on December 5, 2009; and a special four-night voyage ?eparting December 1, 2009- to celebrate the launch of an all-new Labadee, Royal Caribbean? private beach paradise in Haiti.

On the December 5, 2009 inaugural voyage, guests will receive a special commemorative certificate to mark the occasion, and be among the first to enjoy Oasis of the Seas, with all of her venues and amenities, and premiers of the full array of breathtaking AquaTheater light and water shows, and new productions in the Opal Theater and Studio B ice-skating rink.

The seven-night itinerary will call at St. Thomas, St. Maarten, and Nassau in the Bahamas. Throughout, guests will enjoy the friendly and engaging Gold Anchor Service from Oasis of the Seas?staff and crew, representing more than 70 nations around the world.

Guests booked on the original inaugural sail date of December 12, 2009 will be contacted by their travel agent or a Royal Caribbean representative, and given the opportunity to move their cruise vacation to the new inaugural sailing of December 5 before the sailing opens to the public for booking on January 12, 2009. During the re-accommodation period, which ends on January 11, 2009, the following special benefits will apply.

Guests choosing to sail consecutively on both the December 1 and 5, 2009 voyages also will receive a $200 onboard credit per stateroom ($300 onboard credit per suite) for an extraordinary 11-night Oasis of the Seas cruise. Booked guests who wish to take either the December 1 or 5 sailing will be re-accommodated in the same stateroom and category. The cruise fare for the December 5 sailing will remain unchanged. Guests wishing to sail on the four-night voyage will receive a prorated fare.

On the four-night itinerary, guests will make a call at Labadee and enjoy two days at sea. Oasis of the Seas maiden port of call at Labadee on December 3, 2009 also will herald the opening of new facilities and debut of a spectacular array of activities and excursion options at the private beach destination. Oasis of the Seas will dock at Labadee? new pier (currently under construction), which leads guests through a grand entry to the welcome plaza.

Water taxis and five different walking paths, trails and avenues will take guests from the welcome plaza to many areas throughout the peninsula, including the new Dragon? Plaza, Labadee Town Square, and Columbus Family Beach, all currently under development. Sea-based excursions, including a new exhilarating fast boat tour, also will depart from the welcome plaza.

At the north end of the peninsula, Dragon? Plaza will be the heart of Labadee and feature the Dragon? Breath Caf?nd Pub, a welcome center, and central tram station, which will ferry guests to other areas of the peninsula. Guests booked on the extremely popular Dragon? Breath Flight Line, the world? longest zip-line over water, also will begin their excursion here.

At the base of the peninsula, Labadee Town Square will offer guests cultural experiences, shopping, dining and entertainment, featuring the Haitian Cultural Museum, Caf?abadee and Bar, and the Straw and Artisan Market. From the Town Square, guests will board the new Alpine Coaster, a thrilling new roller coaster experience on Labadee.

With convenient transportation from the pier via water taxis, the new Columbus Family Beach will appeal to adults and children of all ages, where guests can enjoy lunch and refreshments at the Columbus Caf?nd Bar. Guests also can rent one of many private family cabanas, which dot Columbus Family Beach.

Oasis of the Seas and Allure of the Seas (debuting in 2010)will claim the title of the world? largest and most revolutionary cruise ship. Architectural marvels at sea, Oasis of the Seas and Allure of the Seas will span 16 decks, encompass 220,000 gross registered tons (GRT), carry 5,400 guests at double occupancy, and feature 2,700 staterooms. They will feature the cruise line? new neighborhood concept of seven distinct themed areas, which will offer guests of every age the widest array of onboard vacation experiences that cater to their personal styles, preferences or moods.

New categories of onboard accommodations made possible by the ship? cutting-edge design include bi-level, urban-style Loft Suites; two bedroom/two bathroom AquaTheater Suites; and Central Park- and Boardwalk-facing exterior staterooms with balconies. Both will be homeported at Port Everglades in Fort Lauderdale, Florida.

For more information including interline rates and availability contact InterlineTravel.com at 800 766-2911 or in the DFW Area call metro 817 481-8631 or go online to www.interlinetravel.com.

Introducing the Oasis of the Seas – Coming in 2009!

Air Canada to Reintroduce Nonstop Service between Montreal, Martinique

Air Canadahas announced the re-introduction of the only nonstop scheduled service between Montreal and Fort-de-France, Martinique. The weekly service will be initially offered on Saturdays during the summer between July 4, 2009 and August 29, 2009, and will recommence on a year-round service basis on December 5, 2009.

?e look forward to re-introducing the only nonstop service between Montr? and Martinique, the Caribbean island with French flair,?said Daniel Shurz, Air Canada? Vice President, Network Planning.

?e expect this new service to appeal to Quebecers seeking direct access to a slice of France set down in the tropics and offering vacationers a wide range of cultural and sporting activities as well as to residents of Martinique taking advantage of Qu?c? cultural and educational features,?he added.

Minus 5 Ice Lounge Opens in Las Vegas

Looking for a cool place to hang out in Las Vegas? A lounge in which everything is made of ice is has become the hottest destination in the United States; and, the forecast calls for Las Vegas, known for its 100-degree heat, to become a whole lot cooler ?as cold as ice. In September 2008, New Zealand-based Minus 5 Groupstarted an American ice age when it opens the first permanent ice lounge experience ever in the United States at Mandalay Place, located adjacent to Mandalay Bay Resort & Casino on the famous Las Vegas Strip.

Building an ice lounge in the middle of the desertwas no easy task, but with years of knowledge and expertise Minus 5, a world renowned hospitality group famous for their unparalleled ice lounge creations, the scorching Mojave Desert is the perfect location to showcase this incredible experience. The Las Vegas location is the first of many U.S.-based Minus 5 ice lounges, with other locations currently in the development stage in New York, Miami, Hawaii, and Los Angeles.

?e are happy to be the first full-sized ice lounge attraction of this kind in the United States. We take pride in being one of the most visited man-made attractions in Australia and New Zealand, and look forward to recreating that experience all aroundthe U.S.,?said Craig Ling, president and founder of Minus 5. ?e are excited to introduce what is a truly unique experience to an American audience and we believe Las Vegas is the perfect city to continue our global expansion.?r

The Minus 5 Ice Lounge, named for its constant frosty temperature of minus five degrees Celsius (27-degrees Fahrenheit) opened in September 2008 at Mandalay Place, adjacent to Mandalay Bay Resort & Casino. Everything inside the 1,200 sq. ft. Minus 5 Ice Lounge is made of ice, including the walls, the bar, the sculptures, the chairs, and even the glasses from which guests sip exotic vodka cocktails (non-alcoholic ?ocktails?are available for guests under 21). To ensure guest comfort in the sub-freezing environment, guests are provided with winter gear that includes sheepskin-lined parkas, gloves, and booties.

?inus 5 celebrates the art of ice, and we continually re-invent the experience by recreating the lounge and sculptures every 6-8 weeks,?said Ling. ?e take enormous pride in the quality of our product and the uniqueness of this experience.?So much so that the Minus 5 ice sculptures and other fixtures are carved from crystalline Canadian ice and then shipped to Las Vegas where they are re-assembled on-site at Minus 5. The ice cocktail glasses are made from pure New Zealand spring water and are shipped in their frozen form all the way from Kiwi-country.

A world-leader in sub-freezing attractions, Minus 5 debuted in Auckland in 2002 then expanded to Queenstown 2003, Sydney 2005, Gold Coast 2006, and Portugal in 2008. The newly-announced U.S. Minus 5 attractions are part of a global expansion that is moving at anything but a glacial pace, with additional Minus 5 international venues secured and in development in India, Singapore, Dubai, Manila for 2009 openings.

?inus 5 is far from a freezer, as many of our competitors have learnt. We spent more than two years developing and engineering our concept and the result is a comfortable, arid ice environment for our patrons that involves no wind, wind chill or humidity inside the ice lounge ?a rarity for attractions of this nature,?said Ling, who has painstakingly sought out the best ice carvers and researched the purest water from New Zealand springs in order to create glasses made of ice.

Admission is $30 per person and includes a premium vodka drink for guests 21 and older or a non-alcoholic drink for younger guests. Minus 5 Ice Lounge Las Vegas opened in September 2008. Reservations, group, corporate and wedding arrangements can be made by calling 702.632.7714; or lasvegas@minus5experience.com.