Travel Agent - October 27, 2008 - (Page 39)

drew about 2,500 visitors over two days, 30 percent of whom were guests from other states and countries. The crowd cheered Hawaii’s bronco busters in nonstop calf roping, bull riding, horse jumping and other events at the outdoor Parker Ranch rodeo arena. The 2008 event celebrated the 100th anniversary of the three paniolos who put Parker Ranch on the national map in 1908 by taking first, third and sixth place finishes at the famed Frontier Days U.S. championship rodeo in Cheyenne, WY. Today, Parker Ranch, founded by New Englander John Parker in 1809, is the fifth-largest working cattle ranch in the U.S. with 33,000 head of cattle. The same weekend the cowboys were in competition, 1,800 representatives from canoe clubs around the world were competing in the world’s largest canoe-racing event in KailuaKona harbor. Over the course of two days, teams of 16 rowers each competed in 18-mile men’s and women’s distance races up and down the Kona coast. These were followed by highspeed short races for teams of six and two and solo canoers, all cheered on by locals and visitors gathered around Kailua’s town harbor area. A highlight was a Saturday night ceremonial torchlight parade in which hundreds of the canoe racers marched through the main street of Kailua-Kona carrying fiery, oil-fueled bamboo torches toward their celebratory evening luau near the King Kamehameha Hotel. According to “Uncle” Bo Campos, president of Kona’s Kai Opua Canoe Club, which hosted the event, the canoe races drew 67 clubs from Hawaii and others from Hong Kong, Japan, California, Canada and elsewhere, as well as an estimated 6,000 spectators. “This is a growing sport, and canoers love to get together and compete,” said Campos. “They also love the Big Island and this event is the perfect excuse for them to come here every year.” Kona visitors, however, can look forward to viewing exciting local canoe club races in Kailua-Kona harbor during many weekends throughout the year. When we visited the Big Island in 2005, local Hawaiian clubs were competing in equally thrilling sprint races during weekends in the month of May. 30 Days of Aloha The Waikoloa Land Company, operators of the Waikoloa Beach Resort (www.waiko loabeachresort.com), including the Marriott Waikoloa (www.marriott.com), stepped up this year to pick up sponsorship of the Hawaii Island’s 30 Days of Aloha Festival from the previous, now-departed sponsor, Aloha Airlines. A committee selected a “royal court” and entourage from among community leaders. This court appears annually at each festival event in colorful royal costumes accompanied by traditional chanters and musicians. Over the course of a weekend, it was possible to watch a “Ms. Aloha Nui” [Ms. “Big Aloha”] contest showcasing the large-sized Hawaiian beauties favored by generations of the island’s traditional royal courtiers and leaders. This was followed by a hotly contested falsetto singing contest event in which male singers and tellers of traditional Hawaiian songs and stories competed for cash prizes and a recording contract. Following the music and beauty competitions was a cooking contest in which the island’s leading makers of “poke,” a favorite Hawaiian combination of raw fish and local spices, vied for more prizes and the accolades of an island-wide population of poke lovers. More music took place on Labor Day weekend at the Sheraton Keauhou Resort (www. sheratonkeauhou.com), which hosted the 16th annual Hawaiian Slack Key Guitar Festival (www.slackkeyfestival.com). Producer Milton Kau of the Honolulu record company Kahoku Productions organized the event on the lush green, palm-fringed lawns of Sheraton’s luxury hotel just south of Kailua-Kona town. Some of the top traditional guitar players in Hawaii, a total of 15 recording groups, were introduced in successive performances at the four-hour concert event. “We are working with Brad Doyle, the sales and marketing director at the Sheraton, who has created weekend packages for festival guests and is hosting the performing guitarists,” said Kau. “We are also hoping to create a festival DVD to promote the event. We are trying to do what we can to help [bring] visitors to the out islands, which have been suffering this year.” Kau noted that attendance was noticeably lighter than in recent years. Travel agents with gourmet food fans bound for Hawaii should check with the Big Island Visitors Bureau to ask about frequent charity events featuring top chefs from around the island and the state. There were at least three major events in the first two weeks of September. We attended the spectacular “Evening in Paradise” for the United Way of Hawaii at the Mauna Lani Resort (www.maunalani. com) on the Kohala Coast. The event featured 15 chefs, each with their own booth serving oversized appetizers of their signature dishes, as well as several wine distributors and island microbreweries. Island musical entertainment ran throughout the evening, which allowed a prime opportunity for visitors to meet both local residents and discover favorite hotel and island restaurant chefs, all anxious to discuss their food creations and wine pairings with the CONTINUED ON PAGE 40 OPPOSITE LEFT: The Queen Lili’uokalani Canoe Races attracted 1,800 participants and thousands of spectators RIGHT: Canoe Race competitors march through downtown Kailua-Kona in the Torchlight Parade October 27, 2008 TravelAgent | 39 http://www.waikoloabeachresort.com http://www.waikoloabeachresort.com http://www.marriott.com http://www.maunalani.com http://www.maunalani.com http://www.sheratonkeauhou.com http://www.sheratonkeauhou.com http://www.slackkeyfestival.com

Table of Contents Feed for the Digital Edition of Travel Agent - October 27, 2008

Travel Agent - October 27, 2008 Online Now Contents Contributors From the Editor Europe Hawaii Pacific/Asia Pacific Northwest Las Vegas Mexico Cover Story: New Caribbean Resorts Cruises The Danube Express Tours Agent Profile A Marketing Edge Agenda Luxury Travel Expo American Express Offers Agents Advantages Japan Opens New Tourism Agency News and Notes from the Caribbean In the Spotlight Editorial Index Advertising Index Trendwatch

Travel Agent - October 27, 2008

Travel Agent - October 27, 2008 - Travel Agent - October 27, 2008 (Page Cover1) Travel Agent - October 27, 2008 - Travel Agent - October 27, 2008 (Page Cover2) Travel Agent - October 27, 2008 - Travel Agent - October 27, 2008 (Page 1) Travel Agent - October 27, 2008 - Online Now (Page 2) Travel Agent - October 27, 2008 - Online Now (Page 3) Travel Agent - October 27, 2008 - Contents (Page 4) Travel Agent - October 27, 2008 - Contents (Page 5) Travel Agent - October 27, 2008 - Contents (Page 6) Travel Agent - October 27, 2008 - Contents (Page 7) Travel Agent - October 27, 2008 - Contributors (Page 8) Travel Agent - October 27, 2008 - Contributors (Page 9) Travel Agent - October 27, 2008 - From the Editor (Page 10) Travel Agent - October 27, 2008 - From the Editor (Page 11) Travel Agent - October 27, 2008 - From the Editor (Page 12) Travel Agent - October 27, 2008 - From the Editor (Page 13) Travel Agent - October 27, 2008 - From the Editor (Page 14) Travel Agent - October 27, 2008 - From the Editor (Page 15) Travel Agent - October 27, 2008 - Europe (Page 16) Travel Agent - October 27, 2008 - Europe (Page SCover1) Travel Agent - October 27, 2008 - Europe (Page SCover2) Travel Agent - October 27, 2008 - Europe (Page S1) Travel Agent - October 27, 2008 - Europe (Page S2) Travel Agent - October 27, 2008 - Europe (Page S3) Travel Agent - October 27, 2008 - Europe (Page S4) Travel Agent - October 27, 2008 - Europe (Page S5) Travel Agent - October 27, 2008 - Europe (Page S6) Travel Agent - October 27, 2008 - Europe (Page S7) Travel Agent - October 27, 2008 - Europe (Page S8) Travel Agent - October 27, 2008 - Europe (Page S9) Travel Agent - October 27, 2008 - Europe (Page S10) Travel Agent - October 27, 2008 - Europe (Page S11) Travel Agent - October 27, 2008 - Europe (Page S12) Travel Agent - October 27, 2008 - Europe (Page SCover3) Travel Agent - October 27, 2008 - Europe (Page SCover4) Travel Agent - October 27, 2008 - Europe (Page 33) Travel Agent - October 27, 2008 - Europe (Page 34) Travel Agent - October 27, 2008 - Europe (Page 35) Travel Agent - October 27, 2008 - Europe (Page 36) Travel Agent - October 27, 2008 - Europe (Page 37) Travel Agent - October 27, 2008 - Hawaii (Page 38) Travel Agent - October 27, 2008 - Hawaii (Page 39) Travel Agent - October 27, 2008 - Hawaii (Page 40) Travel Agent - October 27, 2008 - Hawaii (Page 41) Travel Agent - October 27, 2008 - Pacific/Asia (Page 42) Travel Agent - October 27, 2008 - Pacific/Asia (Page 43) Travel Agent - October 27, 2008 - Pacific/Asia (Page 44) Travel Agent - October 27, 2008 - Pacific/Asia (Page 45) Travel Agent - October 27, 2008 - Pacific/Asia (Page 46) Travel Agent - October 27, 2008 - Pacific/Asia (Page 47) Travel Agent - October 27, 2008 - Pacific Northwest (Page 48) Travel Agent - October 27, 2008 - Pacific Northwest (Page 49) Travel Agent - October 27, 2008 - Las Vegas (Page 50) Travel Agent - October 27, 2008 - Las Vegas (Page 51) Travel Agent - October 27, 2008 - Las Vegas (Page 52) Travel Agent - October 27, 2008 - Las Vegas (Page 53) Travel Agent - October 27, 2008 - Mexico (Page 54) Travel Agent - October 27, 2008 - Mexico (Page 55) Travel Agent - October 27, 2008 - Mexico (Page 56) Travel Agent - October 27, 2008 - Mexico (Page 57) Travel Agent - October 27, 2008 - Mexico (Page 58) Travel Agent - October 27, 2008 - Mexico (Page 59) Travel Agent - October 27, 2008 - Mexico (Page 60) Travel Agent - October 27, 2008 - Mexico (Page 61) Travel Agent - October 27, 2008 - Cover Story: New Caribbean Resorts (Page 62) Travel Agent - October 27, 2008 - Cover Story: New Caribbean Resorts (Page 63) Travel Agent - October 27, 2008 - Cover Story: New Caribbean Resorts (Page 64) Travel Agent - October 27, 2008 - Cover Story: New Caribbean Resorts (Page 65) Travel Agent - October 27, 2008 - Cover Story: New Caribbean Resorts (Page 66) Travel Agent - October 27, 2008 - Cover Story: New Caribbean Resorts (Page 67) Travel Agent - October 27, 2008 - Cruises (Page 68) Travel Agent - October 27, 2008 - Cruises (Page 69) Travel Agent - October 27, 2008 - Cruises (Page 70) Travel Agent - October 27, 2008 - Cruises (Page 71) Travel Agent - October 27, 2008 - The Danube Express (Page 72) Travel Agent - October 27, 2008 - The Danube Express (Page 73) Travel Agent - October 27, 2008 - Tours (Page 74) Travel Agent - October 27, 2008 - Tours (Page 75) Travel Agent - October 27, 2008 - Tours (Page 76) Travel Agent - October 27, 2008 - Tours (Page 77) Travel Agent - October 27, 2008 - Agent Profile (Page 78) Travel Agent - October 27, 2008 - Agent Profile (Page 79) Travel Agent - October 27, 2008 - A Marketing Edge (Page 80) Travel Agent - October 27, 2008 - A Marketing Edge (Page 81) Travel Agent - October 27, 2008 - Agenda (Page 82) Travel Agent - October 27, 2008 - Agenda (Page 83) Travel Agent - October 27, 2008 - Luxury Travel Expo (Page 84) Travel Agent - October 27, 2008 - Luxury Travel Expo (Page 85) Travel Agent - October 27, 2008 - American Express Offers Agents Advantages (Page 86) Travel Agent - October 27, 2008 - American Express Offers Agents Advantages (Page 87) Travel Agent - October 27, 2008 - Japan Opens New Tourism Agency (Page 88) Travel Agent - October 27, 2008 - Japan Opens New Tourism Agency (Page 89) Travel Agent - October 27, 2008 - News and Notes from the Caribbean (Page 90) Travel Agent - October 27, 2008 - News and Notes from the Caribbean (Page 91) Travel Agent - October 27, 2008 - In the Spotlight (Page 92) Travel Agent - October 27, 2008 - In the Spotlight (Page 93) Travel Agent - October 27, 2008 - Editorial Index (Page 94) Travel Agent - October 27, 2008 - Advertising Index (Page 95) Travel Agent - October 27, 2008 - Trendwatch (Page 96) Travel Agent - October 27, 2008 - Trendwatch (Page Cover3) Travel Agent - October 27, 2008 - Trendwatch (Page Cover4) http://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/questex/ta-120709http://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/questex/ta-112309_v2http://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/questex/ta-083109_tsphttp://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/questex/ta-112309http://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/questex/ta-jamaicahttp://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/questex/ta-europehttp://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/questex/ta-110909http://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/questex/ta-102609http://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/questex/ta-101209http://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/questex/ta-101209_skihttp://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/questex/ta-092809_cshttp://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/questex/ta-092809http://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/questex/ta-091409http://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/questex/ta-083109http://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/questex/ta-081709http://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/questex/ta-080309http://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/questex/ta-072009http://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/questex/ta-070609http://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/questex/ta-060809http://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/questex/ta-062209http://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/questex/ta-052509_weddingshttp://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/questex/ta-052509http://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/questex/ta-051109http://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/questex/ta-042709http://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/questex/ta-041309http://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/questex/ta-033009http://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/questex/ta-030209http://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/questex/ta-021609http://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/questex/ta-020209http://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/questex/ta-011909http://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/questex/ta-010509http://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/questex/ta-122208http://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/questex/ct_2009winterhttp://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/questex/ta-120808http://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/questex/ta-112408http://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/questex/ta-111008http://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/questex/ta-102708http://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/questex/ta-skiuhttp://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/questex/ta-101308http://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/questex/ta-092908http://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/questex/ta-091508http://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/questex/ta-091508_tsphttp://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/questex/ta-090108http://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/questex/ta-dw08http://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/questex/ta-080408http://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/questex/ta-072108http://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/questex/ta-070708http://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/questex/ta-062308http://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/questex/ta-060908http://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/questex/ta-052608http://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/questex/ta-051208http://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/questex/ta-041408http://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/questex/ta-033108-dshttp://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/questex/ta-031708-barbadoshttp://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/questex/ta-033108http://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/questex/ta-031708http://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/questex/ta031708-HShttp://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/questex/ta-030308http://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/questex/ta030308-sshttp://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/questex/ta030308-phhttp://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/questex/ta-021808http://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/questex/ta-020408http://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/questex/ta-012108http://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/questex/ta-010708http://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/questex/ta-122407_bfchttp://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/questex/ta-122407http://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/questex/ta-121007http://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/questex/ta-112607http://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/questex/ta-111207http://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/questex/ta-portugalhttp://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/questex/ta-102907http://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/questex/ta-101507_ski-univhttp://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/questex/ta-101507http://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/questex/ta-100107http://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/questex/ta-092407http://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/questex/ta-091707http://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/questex/ta-comphttp://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/questex/ta-091007http://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/questex/ta-090307http://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/questex/ta-091007-tsphttp://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/questex/ta-082707-dw0807http://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/questex/ta-082707http://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/questex/ta-082007http://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/questex/ta-081307http://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/questex/ta-080607http://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/questex/ta-073007http://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/questex/ta-072307http://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/questex/ta-071607http://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/questex/ta-070907http://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/questex/ta-070207http://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/questex/ta-062507http://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/questex/ta-061807http://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/questex/ta-061107http://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/questex/ta-060407http://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/questex/ta-052807http://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/questex/ta-indiaplannerhttp://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/questex/ta-052107http://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/questex/ta-051407http://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/questex/ta-050707http://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/questex/ta-043007http://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/questex/ta-042307http://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/questex/ta-041607http://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/questex/ta-040907http://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/questex/ta-040207http://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/questex/ta-032607http://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/questex/ta-lv031207http://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/questex/ta-031907http://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/questex/ta-031207http://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/questex/ta-030507http://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/questex/ta-destinationgermanyhttp://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/questex/ta-022607http://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/questex/ta-021907http://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/questex/ta-021207http://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/questex/ta-020507http://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/questex/ta-azsales011507http://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/questex/ta-012907http://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/questex/ta-012207http://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/questex/ta-011507http://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/questex/ta-010807http://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/questex/ta-010107http://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/questex/ta-121806http://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/questex/ta-121106http://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/questex/ta-120406http://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/questex/ta-112706http://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/questex/ta-112006http://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/questex/visitsouthafricahttp://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/questex/ta-111306http://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/questex/ta-110606http://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/questex/ta-103006http://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/questex/ta-102306http://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/questex/ta-101606http://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/questex/ta-100906http://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/questex/southafricahttp://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/questex/ta-100206http://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/questex/ta-092506http://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/questex/ta-091806http://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/questex/ta-091106http://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/questex/talv090406http://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/questex/ta-090406http://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/questex/ta-082806http://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/questex/ta-082106http://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/questex/ta-081406http://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/questex/ta080706http://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/questex/ta073106http://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/questex/ta-072406http://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/questex/ta-071706http://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/questex/ta-071006http://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/questex/ta-070306http://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/questex/ta-062606http://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/questex/ta-061906http://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/questex/ta-061206http://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/questex/lasvegas060506http://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/questex/ta-060506http://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/questex/destinationweddingshttp://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/questex/ta-052206http://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/questex/Wynn-LasVegashttp://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/questex/ta-051506http://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/questex/ta-050806http://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/questex/ta-041706http://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/questex/ta-041006http://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/questex/ta-040306http://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/questex/hbta0406http://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/questex/ta-032706http://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/questex/ta-032006http://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/questex/ta-031306http://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/questex/ta-030606http://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/questex/hbta0306http://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/questex/ta-022706http://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/questex/hbtaehttp://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/questex/ta-022006http://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/questex/portugalsalesplannerhttp://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/questex/ta-021306http://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/questex/ta-020606http://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/questex/ta-013006http://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/questex/ta012306http://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/questex/ta-011606http://www.nxtbookMEDIA.com

For optimal viewing of this digital publication, please enable JavaScript and then refresh the page. If you would like to try to load the digital publication without using Flash Player detection, please click here.