Travel Classics Media News
January - March 2024
Get ready for the Big 30 Celebration - 30 years of connecting the best editors with the best writers in the land!
Announcing Travel Classics West, November 21-24, 2024 at the JW Marriott Scottsdale Camelback Inn Resort & Spa. What better place to celebrate than in Scottsdale, AZ, host to more TC conferences (a whopping 13), than any other city! Featuring 20 editors and no more than 45 freelancers, spaces will fill fast. Writers register here. For sponsorship information, contact Maren Rudolph.
Offbeat Colorado Snowventures
There has been an emergence of off-beat and dynamic winter adventures for visitors to enjoy Colorado's snowy terrain, both on and off the slopes including new mountain coasters, curling, fat biking, new Via Ferrata offerings across the state, winter Jeeping, heliskiing, dog sledding, winter fly-fishing, snow kiting and more. More info and ideas at Colorado Tourism. Media contact: Caitlin Johnson, 720-233-8520.
Celebrate Little House on the Prairie’s 50th in "Little Town on the Prairie"
Few experiences are left on earth where nature is offered unencumbered by others, but that is the rare reality of the outdoors in South Dakota. Featuring 63 state parks and recreation areas, and six National Parks – including epic Badlands National Park who celebrates their 85th anniversary (January 25, 1939), South Dakota invites travelers to get outside and reconnect in 2024. Learn more. Visit Travel South Dakota. Media contact: Katlyn Svendsen, 605-773-3301.
Phoenix Desert Ridge Opens New Restaurant
Acclaimed Chef Angelo Sosa opened his second restaurant at Desert Ridge in December 2023. Kembara is a reflection of Chef Sosa's culinary odyssey traveling, cooking, and tasting across the broad continent of Asia throughout his career, pulling inspiration from Chiang Mai to Hanoi to Tokyo to Penang and beyond. Kembara warmly embraces the rich tapestry of Asian street food culture, while also playfully innovating upon familiar flavors and techniques. Learn more. Visit JW Marriott Phoenix Desert Ridge Resort & Spa. Media contact: Terri Worthington, 480-596-7021
Theme Cruises for Holidays
Warmest Wishes and Holiday Cruises go together at this time of year. Did you know that CruiseCompete offers many holiday cruises throughout the year? Cruise lines provide such theme cruises as: Cinco De Mayo, Christmas, Easter, Father's Day, Mother's Day, New Year's, Spring Break, and many, many more. A holiday cruise is always a good idea! Visit CruiseCompete. Media contact: Heidi Allison-Shane, 248-935-3244.
Caesars Republic Scottsdale Debuts March 2024
Caesars Entertainment Corporation will launch Caesars Republic Scottsdale, its first non-gaming hotel in the United States, in March. The 11-story glass structure will house 265 rooms, two pools, two restaurants from Chef Giada De Laurentiis, and a modern fitness center. SEVEN – the seventh-floor rooftop pool deck, restaurant, and bar – will be set to stun, with premium views of Camelback Mountain. Visit Scottsdale Press Room. Media contact: Laura McMurchie.
Four Seasons Whistler and The Macallan present "The Library By The Macallan"
Drawing from the refined charm of an authentic library and the beauty of The Macallan Estate in Scotland, this space is intimate and exudes an air of timeless elegance with a speakeasy vibe. Complete with open fireplace, cocktail seating, bespoke bar and an exceptional collection of bottlings, The Library by The Macallan is warm and sophisticated – perfect for enjoying the world’s most luxurious Single Malt whisky. Learn more. Visit Tourism Whistler. Media contact: Mary Zinck, 604-938-2702.
New Nordic Spa at Fairmont Pacific Rim
Located on hotel’s sixth-floor pool deck, Fairmont Pacific Rim offers an outdoor thermal spa that guides guests through a true hydrotherapy experience, with one of two state of-the-art cold plunge tubs and a therapeutic cedar plank sauna. After the self-guided cycle, guests are invited to wrap themselves in plush robes and relax in sofa lounges surrounded by fire pits, patio heaters and Vancouver’s natural landscape. For individual growth, wellness-focused classes are available for a post-spa session with a variety of offerings from meditation to breath work. Learn more about the new Nordic Spa. Media contact: Kaylyn Storey.
Newest Urban Night Sky Place - Saguaro National Park
JSaguaro National Park is now certified as the newest Urban Nighty Sky Place. This certification recognizes sites that are near or surrounded by large urban areas, and whose planning and design actively promote an authentic nighttime experience amid significant artificial light at night. Saguaro National Park joins eight other Urban Night Sky Places around the world and is only the second National Park Service unit to receive this coveted certification. Check out Visit Tucson. Media contact: Cindy Aguilar, 520-770-2145.
AlUla - Saudia Arabia’s Ever-Evolving Heritage Gem
A desert oasis bursting with undiscovered heritage sites tucked away in the northwestern deserts of Saudi Arabia, AlUla is a region where 200,000 years of human history meets contemporary architecture, art, wellness exploration, and luxury hotels. The destination is welcoming the return of Desert X for the 2024 Arts Festival, as well as two new hotels for Q1 including the upscale mudbrick ecolodge, Dar Tantora, and Hegra Hotel, a 33-room boutique property at the spectacular UNESCO World Heritage Site of Hegra. Learn more. Visit Experience AlUla. Media contact: Maïté Conway Ross, 310-980-0027.
Major Update at Four Seasons Houston Speakeasy
Bandista, the acclaimed speakeasy bar and lounge at Four Seasons Hotel Houston, introduces its first major menu update since opening "behind the bookcase" in February 2022. The menu features eight new inventive cocktails, artistically created by the Bandista team. Bandista is a cocktail laboratory that pushes boundaries while still paying homage to the classics. Guided by expert drink makers, guests enjoy inventive creations, colorful and celebratory in nature, and often with unexpected elements. Visit Four Seasons Hotel Houston. Media contact: Brad Packer, 310-634-2452.
Aqua-Aston Introduces New Residence Tower in Costa Rica
Costa Rica's luxury eco-resort, Botánika Peninsula, Curio Collection by Hilton, has introduced a third residence tower with 55 accommodations for a total of 124. There is a new beach club, Sunset and VIP Sky Club Lounges. Guests can also enjoy new amenities like electric bikes, birdwatching, GORUCK fitness classes and a jungle tour vehicle. In March 2024, a larger Insectopia museum from BioSur will open on property, thanks to a recent grant from Hilton. Learn more. Visit Aqua-Aston Hospitality. Media contact: Theresa Van Greunen, 808-202-5756.
See and Learn About Elephant Seals in San Simeon, CA
The Piedras Blancas Elephant Seal Rookery in San Simeon, CA is the only elephant seal rookery in the world that is easily accessible, free and open to the public every day of the year. New for 2024, Hearst San Simeon State Park will be launching guided educational elephant seal tours from January through March. On the tour, learn about the elephant seal lifecycle while overlooking battling bulls, birthing cows, and cackling pups. Visit Highway 1 Roadtrip. Media contact: Kirstin Koszorus, 309-846-4456.
Multitude of Train Travel Experiences With Rocky Mountaineer
Rocky Mountaineer offers luxury train journeys showcasing some of the best scenery North America has to offer. The Rocky Mountaineer experience embodies the biggest travel trends of 2024: train resurgence, intergenerational travel, wellness, dry-tripping, solo travel, slow travel, and seamless planning. To learn more, visit Rocky Mountaineer. Media contact: Carolyn Rohaly.
Boulders Spa Offers New Ayurvedic Wellness Service
The Spa at the Boulders, recognized as a place for spiritual rebirth, introduces a new wellness service for the spring season -- a time for renewal. "Spirit of Life" is the ultimate Ayurvedic ritual that combines the grounding Shirodhara and Bindi Balancing (translated to "rebirth") using warm crushed herbs to uplift the spirit while soothing the body, for a complete head-to-toe experience. Visit Boulders Resort & Spa. Media contact: Debbie Bridges, 480-720-7778.
World Design Capital San Diego/Tijuana A Binational Coup
San Diego and Tijuana will host several events as World Design Capital 2024, having jointly received the honor. San Diego is the first U.S. city to receive the honor as World Design Capital. The two cities will mark WDC24 with an extended series of events and happenings centered around art, music, and design. Visit San Diego Tourism. Media contact: Paul M. Garcia, 619-557-2821.
Free 2-Bedroom Upgrade at Four Seasons Bora Bora
With the Beachfront Bliss-Villa Upgrade offer, guests booking a One-Bedroom Beachfront Villa Estate will enjoy a complimentary upgrade to a Two-Bedroom Villa during their stay in paradise. Complete with private pool, expansive beachfront lawn, white-sand beach and unmatched views of Bora Bora's famous lagoon and Mount Otemanu, these accommodations also include an array of amenities and special services, providing the perfect, personalized getaway for multiple couples, small groups or families. Visit Four Seasons Resort Bora Bora. Media contact: Brad Packer, 310-634-2452.