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Drop in to pay your respects by helicopter or enjoy some pasta after your loved one has passed on at some of Indonesia’s luxury cemeteries. The Straits Times reported on the growing trend for luxurious private ceremonies among wealthy Indonesians earlier this month. This trend first began back in 2007 with the construction of the San Diego Hills Memorial Park, the country’s largest luxury cemetry,…
A city in Georgia that is featured as a filming location in the TV show "The Walking Dead" is featured on the cover of the state's new tourism guide. State tourism officials say the city of Senoia has been featured in more than 25 movies and television programs, with the AMC zombie drama being the latest to shoot in its downtown area. Senoia is located about 25 miles south of Atlanta. Popular culture…
Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates – The St. Regis Saadiyat Island Resort Abu Dhabi introduced Dani García to 55&5th, The Grill as part of Gourmet Abu Dhabi, commencing from Wednesday 6 February through to Saturday 9 February. For four evenings Chef García will be showcasing culinary delights at 55&5th, The Grill with a selection of menus all individually priced as part of the annual festival showcasing…
With an additional 39 million international tourists, up from 996 million in 2011, international tourist arrivals surpassed 1 billion (1.035 billion) for the first time in history in 2012. Demand held well throughout the year, with a stronger than expected fourth quarter. By region, Asia and the Pacific (+7%) was the best performer, while by sub-region South-East Asia, North Africa (both at +9%) and Central…
DUBAI, January 28, 2013 – Thailand has achieved record-breaking visitor arrivals, crossing the 22 million mark for the first time in 2012. Figures tabulated by the Ministry of Tourism and Sports for January — December 2012 show total arrivals by nationality of 22,303,065, up 15.98 percent over 2011. Commenting on the performance, TAT Governor Suraphon Svetasreni said, “We are overjoyed to have achieved this…
In 2009, Shangri-La was the first international luxury hotel group to provide free Internet access at all its properties, and it continues to be at the forefront of customising technology to keep guests connected, even while they are on the move.
Thousands of foodies cast their votes and gave top nods to chef Joel Robuchon’s Robuchon au Dome in Macau, naming it the top dining destination in Asia. In The Miele Guide’s 5th annual Asia’s Top 20 Restaurants, Robuchon au Dôme took the top spot, knocking perennial favorite Iggy’s in Singapore off its perch. The win follows an extensive facelift and name change last year. As Robuchon a Galera, the…
News that the JW Marriott Marquis Hotel Dubai, the tallest hotel in the world, will be opening the doors to its dining rooms for guests next month is a reminder of Dubai’s many architectural and engineering wonders. Check out some of the city’s world record holders, including the largest indoor ski resort, the tallest building and the largest shopping mall in the world. Tallest residential…
British celebrity chef Gordon Ramsay has hinted of plans to return to Dubai with a new restaurant after pulling out of the city-state more than a year ago. In an interview with GulfNews.com, Ramsay said he’s looking at two potential locations for his latest Middle Eastern outpost, but otherwise remained tightlipped. Ramsay has a long history with the United Arab Emirates, having steered the restaurant…
British Airways has seen a boost in bookings to celebrity-favourite destinations such as Dubai as a result of stars uploading holiday photos to social media sites over the Christmas and New Year period. Proving that Dubai remains on-trend in the world of luxury travel, and a firm favourite among celebrities seeking respite from the freezing temperatures of Europe, famous faces…
The Chairman of the China National Tourism Administration (CNTA), Mr. Shao Qiwei, and UNWTO Secretary-General, Taleb Rifai, have agreed to strengthen cooperation between both organizations as a key step towards advancing China’s tourism development objectives. On the occasion of his visit to Spain to receive the UNWTO Award for Lifetime Achievement, Mr. Shao also met with the Minister of Industry, Energy and…
Washington, D.C. – David Huether, senior vice president of economics and research at the U.S. Travel Association, provides analysis on today's Labor Department report on December 2012 employment numbers: "After consistently adding jobs during the prior 12 months, travel industry employment edged down in December, falling by 2,900 jobs. However, one month does not make a trend and the travel industry…
Wikivoyage, a Wikipedia-style travel site, previously in Beta, launched in full on Tuesday, January 15. Do you think they'd be competition for Irhal? Wikivoyage is a Wikipedia-style travel-focused site operated by the Wikimedia Foundation. Like Wikipedia, the site is a collaborative effort with many writers contributing to closely monitored articles on practical information about travelling. The site…
Abu Dhabi: Yesterday marked a memorable day for the team at The St. Regis Saadiyat Island Resort with it playing host to the Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship opener and 2014 Ryder Cup Captain announcement. “This is an exciting week for all involved at the resort,” commented John Pelling, General Manager of The St. Regis Saadiyat Island Resort. “To have the world’s greatest players experiencing the St. Regis…
Boutique Asian hotelier, Alila Hotels & Resorts has revealed its plans to expand into Oman in late 2014 with the opening of Alila Jabal Akhdar. The resort will be set in the Jabal Akhdar mountain range, a region of the sultanate that has seen limited tourist development, two hours’ drive from the capital Muscat. Alila Jabal Akhdar will offer 78 rooms, 6 suites and 2 royal suites as well as a hillside…
Madinah has been selected as the Islamic cultural capital of the world for 2013. Madinah Gov. Prince Abdul Aziz bin Majed said his administration would organize year-long celebrations to mark the occasion, adding that the programs would start on Jan. 20. Muslim cities including Rabat, Isfahan, Dakar, Fez and Alexandria were declared the Islamic cultural capital in the past, but this year it's Madinah. A…
Dubai hosted 2,847 chefs last week, breaking the record for the largest gathering of chefs in one place. It’s a city that boasts a slew of world records, including the tallest building (Burj Khalifa Tower), the largest shopping mall (Dubai Mall) and the largest box of chocolates (a box filled with Kit Kats weighing 1,700 kg). And last week, the city played host to the largest gathering of chefs in one…
A Manhattan restaurant has created a pasta dish topped with fresh lobster and one ounce of black truffle to usher in the new year, for the princely sum of $2,013. BiCE, a posh Italian restaurant in New York, is confident that customers with deep pockets will be willing to shell out more than $2,000 (€1,530) for a dish of homemade tagliolini, two pounds (0.45 kg) of fresh Maine lobster, wild mushrooms and a…
