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Work starts on creation of new Dubai island

Mon, 20 May 2013 04:26:18 -0400

Work began on Monday on the development of a man-made island in Dubai, 500 metres directly opposite the Jumeirah Beach Residence complex. To be known as Bluewaters Island, the new development will house five star hotels and resorts, al fresco dining and entertainment zones, and residential apartments and villas. The focal point of the island city, which will cost $1.6 billion, will be a 688 ...

Chiranjeevi offers wide opportunities to foreign film producers in India

Tue, 21 May 2013 01:50:03 -0400

Asserting that India is a complete film making destination Union Tourism Minister K. Chiranjeevi has offered wide opportunities to foreign film producers in the country. Speaking at the Cannes International Film Festival at Cannes, France, yesterday, the Minister said " We try constantly for creating new opportunities for the international filmmakers, to access diverse Indian locations, and ...

Civil Aviation Minister takes action against erring DGCA officers

Tue, 21 May 2013 01:50:02 -0400

Civil Aviation Minister Ajit Singh has taken a decision to award minor penalty of censure to four officers of DGCA namely James George, Assistant Director (Airworthiness), V.P. Massey, Director (Airworthiness), R.K. Yadav, Assistant Director (Airworthiness) and Rajiv Gaur, Assistant Director (AE) for non-intimation of employment of their dependents in the private airlines or any sector under ...

Mexicos tourism sector goes up

Tue, 21 May 2013 01:20:01 -0400

Economic activity associated with tourism grew 4 percent in 2012 compared with the year before, Mexico's INEGI statistics service said. Spending by foreign and domestic tourists increased by 4.7 percent last year. In the fourth quarter of 2012, tourism activity topped the same period in 2011 by 4 percent, INEGI said Monday. By segments, spending by domestic tourists rose 4.8 percent, while ...

Muscat the focus of Omans aggressive plan for a tourism push

Tue, 21 May 2013 12:16:31 -0400

Muscat is an enticing one for any visitor. Men and women in traditional dress chat and pose gracefully around the souk, one of the oldest marketplaces in the Arab world, often seen with scarcely a guidebook -wielding tourist to get in the way of a camera shot. But all that could be about to change is an aggressive plan ...

Comply with tourism levy regulations - GTA

Tue, 21 May 2013 11:54:49 -0400

Kumasi, May 20, GNA - The Ghana Tourism Authority (GTA) has asked operators in the hospitality industry to ensure strict compliance with the new tourism levy ...

United promises upgrades at Newark hub

Tue, 21 May 2013 10:58:20 -0400

United Airlines is celebrating 25 years at its Newark Liberty International Airport hub today with plans for upgraded terminal facilities and even new uniforms. Also today, the first Boeing 787 Dreamliner ...

Carnival earnings take a hit after months of bad publicity

Tue, 21 May 2013 10:58:20 -0400

The Carnival Triumph departs from the Alabama Cruise Terminal in Mobile, Ala., on May 8, 2013. The ship was docked for repairs in Mobile for about three months because of an engine room fire that disabled the ...

Photos Top 11 Places to Kick Off Summer

Tue, 21 May 2013 10:40:22 -0400

New York City, Midtown West. Topping the list is the area of the Big Apple known as Midtown West. Bryant Park, a top attraction in the area, shows outdoor movies on summer evenings and bikini bodies during the ...

Domestic airlines post core business loss in April

Tue, 21 May 2013 09:48:28 -0400

/enpproperty--> The nation's three major airlines all saw a revenue slump in April due to declining seat-kilometers and ticket prices, sources said. Domestic carriers booked 1.4 billion yuan ($228 million) profit in April, a decline of 30 percent year-on-year, and their core businesses continue to run deficits, chinanews.com reported on May 16, citing unnamed sources from the Civil ...

TripAdvisor announces Travelers Choice Destination awards

Tue, 21 May 2013 09:42:54 -0400

TripAdvisor, the crowd-sourced mega site that lets travelers rate hotels, restaurants and attractions worldwide, has crunched the numbers for the fifth year running and will announce its 2013 Travelers' ...

Southwest Airlines sets date for new Houston-D.C. service

Tue, 21 May 2013 09:30:50 -0400

Southwest Airlines Co. (NYSE: LUV) has set the date for its new nonstop service from Houston to Washington, D.C. Southwest Airlines Co. (NYSE: LUV) has set the date for its new nonstop service from Houston to Washington, D.C. One daily roundtrip flight between Houstons William P. Hobby Airport and D.C.s Ronald Regan Washington National Airport will begin Aug. 4. The Dallas-based airline received ...

Top 10 most dangerous countries for tourism

Tue, 21 May 2013 09:13:32 -0400

There are countries in the world where local people and even more so tourists feel uncomfortable. These are mostly countries with high level of crime such as murder, robbery in the streets, corruption, hostage-taking, terrorism, and so on. But tourists enamored by local beauty sometimes do not even think about ...

Turkish Airlines says sorry for flights mix-up

Tue, 21 May 2013 06:16:57 -0400

Turkish Airlines has apologised to an American couple after they were flown to the wrong city - on different continents - when it mixed up the airport ...

Easy access to flight deals from U.S.-based airlines

Tue, 21 May 2013 06:13:52 -0400

As we've said many times, the best airfare deals are only sometimes available on the airlines' own websites, and many of them come in the form of promo-code deals and special offers. You can only get these, in some cases, if you sign up for alerts and emails directly from the airlines. However, we've noticed that many airlines make it a bit challenging to find where to sign up for ...

Two I-Drive convention hotels partner to attract big under-one-roof-type meetings and events

Tue, 21 May 2013 06:08:01 -0400

With more than 5,000 hotel rooms, Las Vegas' MGM Grand offers more rooms - by at least a couple thousand - than any single convention hotel in the Orlando market. And Sin City's Mandalay Bay boasts more meeting space than the four-biggest convention hotels in Orlando combined. So it's no surprise that Orlando's hotels are feeling some heat from their Far West rival, which has ...

Approval signals takeoff for new airlines

Tue, 21 May 2013 05:12:11 -0400

aviation authority approved two new airlines in May, ending its policy of not granting approval to any airline. The Civil Aviation Administration of China approved an application on May 17 for Qingdao Airlines Co Ltd, which will have 1 billion yuan ($163.1 million) in registered capital. Three companies ...

Mauritius Drop in tourism hurts earnings

Tue, 21 May 2013 03:05:02 -0400

Earnings from tourism in Mauritius fell 12.4 percent from a year earlier to 12 billion rupees (R3bn) in the first three months of this year as the weak economic environment in Europe hurt visitors’ spending. Statistics Mauritius cut its forecast for visitor arrivals this year to 990 000 from a previous estimate of 1 million, but expected tourism revenue to rise to 46.1bn rupees from 44.3bn ...

Selection of Andhra hospital for best medical tourism facility award kicks up a controversy

Tue, 21 May 2013 02:51:10 -0400

The selection of Apollo Hospitals, Hyderabad, for the "best medical tourism facility" award, as part of the National Tourism Awards 2011-12 by the Union ministry of tourism, has kicked up a controversy.The awards were presented by President Pranab Mukherjee in the presence of Tourism Minister K. Chiranjeevi at a function in New Delhi on March 18. Andhra Pradesh, Chiranjeevi's home ...

Oman unveils master plan for tourism port

Tue, 21 May 2013 01:42:22 -0400

MUSCAT, Oman - In response to the directives of His Majesty Sultan Qaboos bin Said to convert Sultan Qaboos Port into a tourist port, Dr Ahmed bin Salim Al Futaisi, Minister of Transport and Communications, announced Sunday, the approval of the master plan for the development of the port for tourism and for the establishment of a specialised company that will act as a developer for the project. ...

Hainan Airlines to launch Beijing-Chicago route on Sept 3

Tue, 21 May 2013 01:07:44 -0400

Economy-class passengers on the new route, which will initially use an Airbus 340, will be charged about 5,500 yuan ($895.4) for return tickets up to the end of ...

Dubai aims to become top destination for health tourism in the Middle East

Tue, 21 May 2013 00:38:20 -0400

Medical tourism has been brought to the fore with renewed optimism and a host of projects as announced by the Dubai Health Authority (DHA) on Sunday. The projects are part of the authority's strategy for 2013-2025, which build on His Highness Shaikh Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai's long-term sustainable development vision ...

Excess pilots Singapore Airlines waives cadets bonds

Mon, 20 May 2013 23:50:41 -0400

pilot s have been told that until Sept 30, those who quit may have their bonds waived. The usual payback for leaving before serving the seven-year work bond can be more than S$250,000 ...

Hainan urged to promote good faith in tourism industry

Mon, 20 May 2013 23:00:21 -0400

China's tourist industry has been urged by a senior official to promote practices of good faith. Liu Qibao, head of the Publicity Department of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, made the comment during a four-day inspection tour, that ended on Monday, in south China's Guangdong and Hainan provinces. When visiting Hainan, a popular tourist destination, Liu urged for ...

Gulf Airlines engulfed in Indian fare dogfight offering cheaper tickets

Mon, 20 May 2013 21:20:07 -0400

India will mandate that all firms offering internet telephony, including Skype owned by software giant Microsoft, must set up a server in the ...

United Airlines Returns 787 Dreamliners to Service

Mon, 20 May 2013 20:57:13 -0400

After being grounded by battery problems since mid-January, ...

American Airlines carry less board first

Mon, 20 May 2013 20:36:26 -0400

American Airlines has developed a new strategy to encourage faster boarding times. The airline’s new approach means passengers travelling with only a personal carry-on item will be able to board the aircraft first, Forbes reported. Boarding times have been rising steadily over the last few years due to a reduction in flights, which increases passenger numbers, causing extra charges ...

Czech Airlines Fleet Expands with Its First Long-Haul Airbus A330-300

Mon, 20 May 2013 20:36:26 -0400

The first long-haul A330-300 joined Czech Airlines’ fleet of aircraft on 14 May 2013. It bears a symbolic matriculation number, OK-YBA, referring to an Ilyushin IL-62, the first-ever long-haul aircraft to be used by the airline. As of June, the aircraft will be deployed primarily on Czech Airlines’ new scheduled route to Seoul, as well as on flights to Almaty, Moscow, and Tel Aviv. In ...

SIA SilkAir And Shenzhen Airlines Sign Codeshare Agreement

Mon, 20 May 2013 20:36:25 -0400

Singapore Airlines and SilkAir customers travelling between Singapore and Shenzhen now have a choice of two daily flights, as a result of a new codeshare agreement with Shenzhen Airlines. Under the agreement, SIA will add its ‘SQ’ code and subsidiary SilkAir will add its ‘MI’ code to Shenzhen Airlines-operated flights between Singapore and Shenzhen. On a reciprocal ...

Southwest Airlines Announces New Nonstop Service Between Houston Hobby And Ronald Reagan Washington National

Mon, 20 May 2013 20:36:25 -0400

Southwest Airlines (NYSE: LUV) announced today that new service between Houston Hobby and Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport will begin Aug. 4, 2013. The airline initially will operate one daily roundtrip flight between the two cities. To celebrate the new service, the carrier announced introductory $149 one-way fares between Houston and Washington, DC available today through May 24, ...

Free meals Hotels say Have a bite on us

Mon, 20 May 2013 20:29:57 -0400

In a bid for more loyal customers, Marriott International is going after their stomachs.Starting June 22, Marriott Rewards Gold and Platinum Elite members plus a guest will get free continental breakfast ...

2013 Miss Tourism China Contest World Final to kick off in Chengmai

Mon, 20 May 2013 19:36:10 -0400

The annual Miss Tourism China Contest World Final is to kick off at Kowloon Hot-spring Hotel in Chengmai county of Hainan province on June 8th. A total of 40 beauties from 20 countries including China, the United States, Russia, Ukraine, England and France will gather in Chengmai to compete against each other for the top three places and individual awards in the evening gown competition, the ...

Hainan scenic spots offer fantastic discounts for China Tourism Day

Mon, 20 May 2013 19:36:09 -0400

In celebration of the 3rd China Tourism Day, which falls on May 19, many scenic spots in Hainan are offering a series of great enticements for tourists. Public museums, memorial halls, patriotic education bases and stadiums across the province on the list of public places are open to the public for free on that day. In addition, travel agencies, starred hotels and scenic spots will roll out ...

Emirates Airlines introduces shisha lounges up in the sky.

Mon, 20 May 2013 19:19:06 -0400

Emirates has started to trial new shisha lounges aboard its A380 fleet.Last week the airline revealed that the lounges would be available to business and first class passengers on several of its long-haul routes flown using ...

Dreamliner flies again with United flight

Mon, 20 May 2013 19:16:37 -0400

A Dreamliner operated by United takes off from Bush Intercontinental on the Boeing 787's first North American flight since being grounded for several ...

Turkish Airlines flies US couple to Bangladesh instead Senegal

Mon, 20 May 2013 19:03:44 -0400

Two US holidaymakers found themselves a long way from their intended destination after an airline confused two airport codes. Sandy Valdiviseo and her husband Triet Vo were intending to fly from Los Angeles to Dakar in Senegal with Turkish Airlines. However, instead they ended up about 11,000km away - on an entirely different continent - in Dhaka, the capital of Bangladesh, after the airport ...

United Airlines to return all Boeing 787s to service this week

Mon, 20 May 2013 18:51:45 -0400

CHICAGO | Mon May 20, 2013 6:51pm EDT CHICAGO May 20 (Reuters) - United Airlines said on Monday it expects to have its entire fleet of Boeing 787 Dreamliners back in service this week, as the airline's first flight with the new jetliner in four months landed safely in Chicago. "Every new airplane has issues," United CEO Jeff Smisek said after the flight landed ahead of ...

Jackson Co. chooses representatives for new tourism board

Mon, 20 May 2013 18:28:30 -0400

JACKSON COUNTY, MS (WLOX) - Jackson County's Board of Supervisors on Monday appointed three representatives to the new tri-county tourism board: Rich Westfall, Carla Todd and Richard Chenoweth. The 15 member regional tourism board was created under a bill recently signed by Governor Phil Bryant. It replaces the Harrison County Tourism Commission. Both Jackson and Hancock counties will ...

US Airways flight makes belly landing at Newark airport

Mon, 20 May 2013 18:10:38 -0400

Officials at the National Transportation Safety Board and the Federal Aviation Administration are investigating the emergency landing of a US Airways flight early Saturday at Newark Liberty ...

United Airlines to restart Boeing 787 flights today

Mon, 20 May 2013 17:55:42 -0400

United Airlines is getting its 787s back in the air. The planes are flying again after being grounded for four months because of smoldering batteries on 787s owned by other airlines. The incidents included an emergency landing of one plane, and a fire on ...

Medina says he’ll boost tourism agro in poor regions

Mon, 20 May 2013 17:12:59 -0400

Pedernales, Dominican Republic.- President Danilo Medina on Sunday affirmed that despite having shown an interest in developing the southwest region's tourism, when the Bahia de las Aguilas land title conflict arose, "I didn't see any one who have titles come to defend themselves." "You know that I gave a clear demonstration that I want to develop tourism in the region, ...

Protesters to skip Amazon shareholders meeting target Alaska Airlines

Mon, 20 May 2013 16:52:47 -0400

Protesters plan to skip this year's Amazon shareholders' meeting after the company made changes to its policies. Last year, protesters lined the block around the Seattle Art Museum when Amazon held its annual shareholders meeting there. This year, things may be a bit more subdued. When Amazon shareholders and executives meet Thursday, the investors will vote whether to reappoint the nine ...

Meet the Cronut Croissant-Donut Hybrid Takes Pastry World by Storm

Mon, 20 May 2013 16:52:23 -0400

cronut , the half-croissant and half-donut hybrid, which is taking New York and the pastry world by storm. ';It has the shape of a donut. The dough is very similar to croissant dough,'; pastry ...

Why is it so much nicer to fly foreign airlines

Mon, 20 May 2013 16:07:29 -0400

Flying foreign airlines can be so much more pleasant than our domestic options. On a recent KLM flight to Amsterdam, the Dutch airline behaved as if it was in the customer-service industry, not merely transporting a bunch of people from one point to another. I’ve flown enough non-U.S. airlines to know this situation to be true, but I do it so occasionally that it amazes me every time. For ...

Coast Guard evacuates passenger from Carnival Splendor

Mon, 20 May 2013 16:03:34 -0400

WTKR , the ship was about 150 miles east of Cape Lookout, N.C., when the vessel called for help with a male passenger in need of medical attention.A crew from the Coast Guard Air Station in Elizabeth City, N.C., dispatched an MH-60 Jayhawk helicopter and an HC-130 Hercules aircraft to medevac the passenger.The Hercules provided navigation, and located and contacted the ship. At about 8 p.m., the ...

United lands first Dreamliner in four months

Mon, 20 May 2013 16:03:34 -0400

United Airlines flew a Boeing 787 Dreamliner for the first time after a four-month grounding due to battery problems. United Flight 1 started its voyage at 11 a.m. at Houston Intercontinental and landed ...

Seychelles tourism pledges support to Qatar Airways

Mon, 20 May 2013 15:52:11 -0400

Minister Alain St.Ange, the Seychelles Minister of Tourism and Culture, met Mr. Akbar Al-Bakar, the CEO of Qatar Airways, at the Arabian Travel Market (ATM) Qatar Airways stand when he was in Dubai for the 2013 ATM tourism trade fair. Since his appointment to the Office of Minister in Seychelles, this was the first opportunity for Minister Alain St.Ange and the CEO of Qatar Airways to discuss ...

Dominos Brazil Tests Smellvision in DVDs

Mon, 20 May 2013 15:48:32 -0400

YouTube If you’re traveling in Brazil, pop in a DVD and find yourself crazing pizza, then Domino’s has you right where they want you. Domino’s independent franchisees in the South American country have partnered with an ad agency there to use DVDs embedded with the scent of pizza to lure in movie watchers. Ten discs available in ten video rental stores throughout Sao Paulo and ...

Hot-air balloons collide near Turkish tourist hotspot 1 dead 24 hurt

Mon, 20 May 2013 15:09:47 -0400

By Ece Toksabay, Reuters ISTANBUL- A hot-air balloon flying over a tourist destination in central Turkey crashed after colliding with another balloon on Monday, the Anatolian news agency reported.A Brazilian passenger was killed and 24 other people were injuried when the accident occurred near the city of Nevsehir in Cappadocia, an area famous for its geological features called fairy chimneys. ...

Is a Smelly Seatmate or Crying Baby Preferable In-Flight

Mon, 20 May 2013 14:41:13 -0400

Image credit: Getty Images If you had to choose, which would be preferable on a flight: Sitting next to a crying baby or a smelly adult? It’s not a choice anyone wants to make. And it’s probably not up to you anyway: Unless it’s your crying baby or your smelly friend, you won’t get to choose your seatmate. But with the summer travel season fast approaching (and hot ...

Christie Stars in NJ Tourism Ads Dems Cry Foul

Mon, 20 May 2013 14:41:07 -0400

starring in television commercials that are part of a publicly funded $25 million tourism campaign to encourage people to visit the Jersey Shore ...

Sanya Nanshan Tourism Zone receives over 9000 visitors on May 19th

Mon, 20 May 2013 14:02:26 -0400

On May 19th, the 3rd China Tourism Day, Sanya Nanshan Cultural Tourism Zone received over 9,000 visitors, and 800 of which are from Hainan province. Even if Sanya summers has strong ultraviolet rays in the outdoors and maximum temperatures can reach up to 33 degrees, Sanya Nanshan Cultural Tourism Zone still attract many domestic tourists to enjoy the charming tropical ocean scenery and attend ...

Inside the historic Royal Hawaiian hotel

Mon, 20 May 2013 13:53:48 -0400

The TODAY team's home away from home has a rich history dating all the way back to 1927. The hotel known as the pink palace is set on land the Hawaiian monarchy once called home and has attracted presidents, movie stars, and more. NBC's Natalie Morales ...

Moonshine University classes in session in Louisville

Mon, 20 May 2013 12:47:39 -0400

42 minutes ago It's been a long time since scofflaw drinkers were forced to resort to bathtub gin. But after whipping up a batch of diluted grain alcohol flavored with juniper berry concentrate for about 40 curious students at a Moonshine University class in Louisville this winter, Colin Blake celebrated the end of Prohibition. "Happy Repeal Day, everybody!" he said.Whether its ...

Amtrak upgrades Wi-Fi allowing passengers to complain about it even faster

Mon, 20 May 2013 12:47:39 -0400

Amtrak has tapped 4G technology to provide faster Wi-Fi in California and the Northeast Corridor with expanded service to come later this summer. Never known for its reputation for speedy service, Amtrak is finally getting on the fast track in at least one regard. On Thursday, "America's Railroad" announced it was upgrading its Wi-Fi service to take advantage of 4G cellular ...

N.M. In-state Tourism Should Increase in 2013

Mon, 20 May 2013 12:45:06 -0400

More New Mexico residents will be hitting the road this summer and fall to destinations in the Land of Enchantment, according to the 2013 Garrity Perception Survey. In the survey, New Mexico residents were asked how many non-business in-state trips they plan to take over the next 12 months. Fifty-five percent of them said they plan to take more than three trips, while seven percent are ...

Airline mix-up sends passengers to wrong continent

Mon, 20 May 2013 12:36:28 -0400

A couple who had intended to fly from Los Angeles to Dakar, Senegal, ended up 7,000 miles away in Dhaka, Bangladesh, because of an airline error. Sandy Valdivieso and her husband Triet Vo, 39, told the ...

Sacked Indian Airlines officer jailed for 4 yrs in DA case

Mon, 20 May 2013 12:30:57 -0400

A sacked Indian Airlines officer has been jailed for four years for possessing disproportionate assets worth Rs 63.06 lakh, double his known income, by a Delhi court which said he failed to maintain the "purity" of public office.Special CBI Judge Kanwaljeet Arora awarded four years rigorous jail to Greater Kailash resident Rohit Sehgal, son of a retired DCP in Delhi Police, and also ...

See This Skip That Portland Oregon

Mon, 20 May 2013 12:21:07 -0400

Portland, Oregon's largest city, is easily one of the most attractive travel destinations in the Northwest. Here, environmental consciousness reigns supreme, with a healthy bike culture, booming libations scene and varied arts movement drawing steady crowds. And here's ...

Itineraries Porter Airlines Hopes to Join the Jet Age

Mon, 20 May 2013 12:00:22 -0400

TORONTO ...

How space tourism could open our eyes help save Earth

Mon, 20 May 2013 11:42:57 -0400

A "Blue Marble" image of the Earth taken from the VIIRS instrument aboard NASA's Earth-observing satellite -- Suomi NPP. This composite image uses a number of swaths of the Earth's surface taken on Jan. 4, ...

Keeping Hawaii’s cultural traditions alive

Mon, 20 May 2013 11:42:57 -0400

The Hawaiian Islands are full of beauty and steeped with cultural traditions passed down from one generation to the next. TODAY's Willie Geist reports on how native Hawaiians are working to keep hula dancing, the Hawaiian language, and more ...

Willie Natalie learn art of pounding poi

Mon, 20 May 2013 11:42:56 -0400

Poi, the purple paste made from taro root, is a staple in native Hawaiian diets and a large part of the culture. Daniel Anthony, a Hawaiian poi expert, demonstrates how to prepare the ...

Hawaii travel tips Choosing the perfect island

Mon, 20 May 2013 11:42:54 -0400

hawaiian islands so we thought we'd give you a taste of what you can expect as you visit each one. brian brusch is a travel expert and expert on all ...

New York senator asks airlines to reverse flight change fees

Mon, 20 May 2013 11:31:54 -0400

Sen. Charles Schumer is asking airlines to reverse recent decisions to increase flight change fees. The New York Democrat said on Sunday that higher fees recently implemented by Delta Air Lines, ...

Deal watch Crystal offers discounts on back-to-back cruises

Mon, 20 May 2013 11:31:54 -0400

Luxury small-ship line Crystal is taking a lead from the fast-food industry, offering discounts on combo packages. But instead of burgers, fries and a drink, cruisers will get a price break on Turkey, ...

NYC airports chief to step down

Mon, 20 May 2013 11:31:53 -0400

The official who oversees the three high-profile New York City passenger airports will step down this summer, leaving behind a unique legacy in USA's biggest aviation market. Sue Baer became the first ...

Supreme Court to hear frequent-flier case

Mon, 20 May 2013 11:31:38 -0400

A dispute between a frequent flier and an airline is heading to the Supreme Court. The court announced Monday it would hear the case called Northwest Airlines vs. Ginsburg, which is basically about ...

Social Media a New Stress for Moms Seeking Perfection

Mon, 20 May 2013 11:17:55 -0400

May 20, 2013 10:17am Jennifer Bathgate, a mother of three boys, is called ';Cake-zilla'; by her husband. Bathgate’s elaborate, over-the-top cakes for her sons’ birthdays and celebrations have featured everything from Elmo to Cookie Monster to a soccer ball to a subway train to a ';Star Wars'; cake featuring Darth Vader. While not every mom can create cakes like ...

TODAY throws a luau Hula Kahlua pig and poi

Mon, 20 May 2013 10:39:52 -0400

The TODAY anchors learn about traditional Hawaiian luaus, get classes in hula and blowing conch shells, which signals the beginning of a luau, and taste-test luau staples like poi and Kahlua ...

Extreme photographers capture Hawaiian lava waves

Mon, 20 May 2013 09:36:37 -0400

The TODAY anchors talk to "extreme" photographers CJ Kale, Clark Little, and Nick Selway about the risky moves they make to capture all of Hawaii's natural beauty and take a look at some of their most stunning ...

Hang 10 Natalie gets a lesson in surfing

Mon, 20 May 2013 09:36:36 -0400

TODAY's Natalie Morales heads to North Shore of Oahu, the center of the surfing universe, to get a lesson in catching waves from surfing veteran Freddy Pattachia, Jr. and 20-year-old champ Carissa ...

Taking in the sights and sounds of Hawaii

Mon, 20 May 2013 09:36:34 -0400

From Oahu, the heart of Hawaii and home of Honolulu, to Kauai, the oldest island in the Hawaiian chain, TODAY's Matt Lauer takes a look at the lush tropical forests, dramatic cliffs, and rich cultural history of the ...

10 new jewels on must-see national parks list

Mon, 20 May 2013 09:25:59 -0400

Among the annual rites Americans undertake in spring -- from cleaning the garage to prepping the garden to analyzing baseball team schedules -- we'd like to suggest one more: Visit national ...

Boeing Dreamliners back in the air after lengthy grounding

Mon, 20 May 2013 09:25:12 -0400

A newly delivered Boeing 787 Dreamliner touches down at the Haneda International airport in Tokyo on May 16, 2013. After 123 days being grounded and then repaired to ensure its battery systems do not catch ...

Gambia Incorporating Tourism in Education

Mon, 20 May 2013 09:10:20 -0400

As the world economy continues to grow, so also is tourism. It is worth noting that tourism was already reaching new heights in 2012 and continued to grow robustly in 2013. The United Nations World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO) noted that in 2012, arrivals grew more rapidly in the emerging than in the advanced destinations. Worldwide tourism is considered to be a viable and income-generating ...

With new tool fewer planes forced to circle airports

Mon, 20 May 2013 08:36:47 -0400

A Southwest airlines arrives to land at the San Diego International Airport in San Diego, California, April 22, 2013. Extra go-arounds are welcome if you're on a carousel, but not so great if you're on an airplane hoping to make an on-time landing and a connection at an airport. Now, air traffic controllers have a new computer software tool that's helps significantly reduce when ...

Hollywood’s love affair with Hawaii

Mon, 20 May 2013 08:36:46 -0400

Over the last century, countless movies and TV shows have been filmed on the sands of Hawaii, from Elvis' "Blue Hawaii" to "Mad Men," making it one of Hollywood's hottest destinations. TODAY's Natalie Morales ...

Hawaii history Remembering Pearl Harbor

Mon, 20 May 2013 08:36:46 -0400

Hawaii is full of history, especially at one of its most popular and humbling sites, Pearl Harbor. TODAY's Matt Lauer pays a visit to the place where a very dark day in American history ...

TODAY anchors race traditional Hawaiian canoes

Mon, 20 May 2013 08:36:45 -0400

The TODAY anchors engaged in a friendly battle of the sexes in Hawaii, as Al and Matt raced Natalie and Savannah in hokulea - traditional Hawaiian sailing ...

Hawaii living Sun surf in paradise

Mon, 20 May 2013 08:36:44 -0400

Hawaii may be an oasis of beautiful weather, but life on the islands isn't all that different from the mainland. TODAY's Savannah Guthrie reports on what it's like to live in paradise 365 days a ...

Foreign correspondence The allure of Provence brings visitors back again

Mon, 20 May 2013 08:36:32 -0400

What's it like to live in a far-off place most of us see only on a vacation? Foreign Correspondence is an interview with someone who lives in a spot you may want to visit. Judi Janofsky, 64, is an Asheville, N.C.-based travel writer who with her husband, Rich Steck, operates Provence Escapes (www.ProvenceEscapes.com), a company that organizes small-group tours in southern France. The couple ...

New hotels adding to South Beach scene

Mon, 20 May 2013 08:36:31 -0400

MIAMI - You know your backyard has really arrived when the new Philippe Starck-designed hotel and the hostel about 10 blocks north get serious national ink. The past couple months have seen the arrival of a new-to-Miami chain, Starwood's Aloft brand, which opened in Doral, as well as a totally new value-oriented brand, b2 in downtown Miami. But most of the action has been centered - where ...

A weeks worth of South Florida summer fun

Mon, 20 May 2013 08:36:31 -0400

MIAMI - Summer is when the stream of tourists to South Florida slows, deterred by hot, wet weather and the threat of hurricanes. It's when rates at beachfront hotels plummet, spas and restaurants offer special deals, traffic eases and locals can enjoy discount staycations. But how can we spend those leisure days when we've logged out of the office email and need an alternate source of ...

Craft-brewing boom changes Grand Rapids culture economy

Mon, 20 May 2013 08:36:30 -0400

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. - Greg Brown "can't claim to be a super connoisseur" of craft beers, but he does like to think he knows more than a little about the subject, and he has been a fan of Michigan brewers such as Founders Brewing and New Holland Brewing for a while now. Still, the 26-year-old Ferndale, Mich., resident was taken aback in February when he made his first trip to Grand ...

Create a battle plan to visit Gettysburg during 150th anniversary weeks

Mon, 20 May 2013 08:36:29 -0400

GETTYSBURG, Pa. - In July 1863, the 2,400 residents of Gettysburg had little time to prepare for 170,000 Confederate and Union soldiers who advanced on the town. The soldiers clashed in a three-day battle that would paint its streets and pastoral farmlands crimson in the bloodiest encounter of the Civil War. Today, the town of 8,000 braces for another invasion of as many as 70,000 Americans on ...

Grand Rapids craft beer scene Touring 8 top breweries

Mon, 20 May 2013 08:36:29 -0400

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. - With Grand Rapids' craft beer scene getting barrel-fulls of national and international attention, several of my pals and I decided to put the city's breweries to the test. None of us are what you'd call beer elitists, but we all spent a fair amount of time studying the fermented arts during our years at Michigan State. We figured to be up for whatever ...

United Airlines No discounted fares for Aspen folks

Mon, 20 May 2013 08:34:54 -0400

United Airlines, which last year offered discounted airfares for residents of the Roaring Fork Valley flying out of the Aspen airport, won't be repeating that promotion this year, the Aspen Daily News reports. The airline isn't saying why, and won't say how many people took advantage of the specially priced tickets last summer. To buy the tickets to Denver, area residents had to ...

Most iconic Titanic artifact coming to USA

Mon, 20 May 2013 08:27:09 -0400

One of the most iconic artifacts associated with the world's most famous ocean disaster is coming to Pigeon Forge, Tenn., this week. The rosewood violin that belonged to RMS Titanic bandmaster, ...

United Airlines new small business loyalty program

Mon, 20 May 2013 08:19:08 -0400

United Airlines is introducing a loyalty program designed for small businesses. Attention small businesses. United Airlines wants you to know your business is important to the carrier. Chicago-based United (NYSE: UAL) is launching a new United States travel loyalty program that will enable small businesses to earn and redeem miles. Participating businesses will earn award miles by purchasing ...

Army Wife Surprises Husband With 96-Pound Weight Loss on His Return From Afghanistan

Mon, 20 May 2013 08:13:04 -0400

May 20, 2013 8:00am Misty Shaffer has struggled with weight all her life. When her husband was deployed to Afghanistan for a year, the Leland, N.C., woman decided to use his absence to re-commit herself to losing weight so she could surprise him when he came home. In the year that Army Spc. Larry Shaffer was gone on his second deployment abroad, his wife changed the way she ate. She switched to ...

Uganda Kagulu Opens Tourism Doors

Mon, 20 May 2013 08:11:40 -0400

Well, multitudes of people recently converged at Kagulu rock for the unveiling of the site as yet another tourist attraction in Busoga. The landmark event, sponsored by The Observer, among other entities, was graced by President Yoweri Museveni, who pledged Shs 100m towards the development of the site. Kagulu rock is one of the three sites the government intends to develop to add on the Busoga ...

New medical tourism project in Dubai laucnhed

Mon, 20 May 2013 07:30:13 -0400

The City Hospital in Dubai Medical tourism has been brought to the fore with renewed optimism and a host of projects as announced by the Dubai Health Authority (DHA) on Sunday.The projects are part of the authority's strategy for 2013-2025, which build on His Highness Shaikh Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai's long-term ...