Travel agency owners and industry advocates met in Washington, D.C. under the banner of the American Society of Travel Advisors’ (ASTA) Legislative Day 2023. Over 225 travel advisors plus supplier partners registrants from all 50 states took their message to Capitol Hill this week, sharing ASTA’s stance on critical issues facing the leisure and corporate travel economy. The event included over 200 meetings with members of Congress and staff.
Said Eben Peck, ASTA’s executive vice president of advocacy: “Our goal is to raise awareness about the critical role travel advisors play in the broader travel and tourism industry, and to secure support from as many legislators as possible for policies that will help our members’ businesses recover post-COVID.”
Tour Operator Updates
Scott Dunn is expanding its presence in the U.S. this summer with the opening of a New York office in August 2023. Building on a year of record sales in the U.S., Scott Dunn will now offer a bi-coastal operation in the U.S., having established its presence in San Diego, CA since 2016. Located on Bryant Park, the Scott Dunn New York office will be the East Coast Hub for sales, marketing and business development and will open with a number of team members transferring from the company’s existing global offices in London, Singapore and San Diego, with plans to grow the team through local recruitment.
Good to know: As part of a new approach in its distribution strategy, travel advisors will be engaged for the first time to tap into a high growth area, which will enable the brand to reach more guests on a larger scale.
Elsewhere, Intrepid Travel has launched over 300 new departures for its most sought-after destinations around the world. With 26 on-the-ground destination management companies (DMCs), Intrepid has further developed its scope of operations in booming locations including Europe, Japan and Morocco. These added tours were designed to increase travel options to destinations where industry supply often hasn't caught up to the exceptional demand for 2023 summer travel.
In Spain, GetYourGuide has launched an exclusive tour of Barcelona’s Basilica de la Sagrada Familia. In a private, after-hours tour, visitors will get to explore Gaudí’s masterpiece. As the sunset fills the basilica and a symphony of color is revealed through its stained-glass windows, travelers will witness the architectural gem come to life, set to the live soundtrack of the Sagrada Familia’s Grammy-nominated principal organist, Juan de la Rubia.
U.S. Hotel News
Plenty was also going on this week in the realm of domestic travel destinations.
Dollywood’s second resort, Dollywood’s HeartSong Lodge & Resort, located in the Smoky Mountains of East Tennessee, will soon be accepting reservations for stays from November 3, 2023. The 302-room lodge offers accommodation options for multi-generational families and couples: Guests can choose from spacious guestrooms, including bunk rooms, themed suites and loft rooms situated in dormers.
Resort guests will receive priority access to Dollywood parks, as well as early park entry on Saturdays for exclusive ride time on one of Dollywood’s world-famous attractions, including the park’s newest and longest roller coaster, Big Bear Mountain. Resort stays also include complimentary Dollywood TimeSaver passes, door-to-door transportation and package delivery for items purchased inside the theme park.
In Florida, The Pensacola Beach Resort, an independently branded property on the "Emerald Coast," has made its debut. The property offers 161 waterfront guestrooms, including 24 Executive King rooms with wrap-around balconies, plus coastal-inspired public spaces, a pool deck, new restaurant concept, retail offerings, a beach bar, and a curated art collection of impressionist maritime images.
Guests have access to a private boardwalk out to the beach with beach chairs and umbrella rentals available. They also have access to a private dock on Little Sabine Bay from which they can kayak or paddleboard. Guests can also reserve one of the daytime or sunset dolphin cruises aboard an open-air powerboat to see one of the largest populations of Atlantic bottlenose dolphins in their natural habitat.
Two resorts in New England also received updates.
Greyfinch Chatham Inn, located in Chatham, MA, has unveiled its property-wide renovation. Formerly known as the Chatham Highlander Village Inn, Greyfinch Chatham Inn has debuted with a new name; four new room categories designed for travelers of all sizes; enhanced and fenced-in outdoor spaces (perfect for families with small children); a private pool as an alternative to the beach; and new offerings such as Priority Bicycles for guests.
In addition to the hotel’s revamped spaces, Greyfinch guests have a range of new programming on property that will be brought to life through pop-ups and partnerships with local businesses, from art and floral workshops to food tastings and wellness offerings.
Further north, The Wentworth—located in the White Mountains of Jackson, NH—announced the completion of a hotel-wide renovation as the peak summer season approaches. The $4 million investment project touched all aspects of the 150-year-old inn including 61 guestrooms and suites, the lobby, exterior public and event spaces, new Alpine tavern, and more.
In the warmer months, guests are treated to a variety of outdoor amenities including a heated pool, clay tennis court, volleyball, croquet, badminton, ladder rung toss and cornhole. Access to mountain bikes, and electric bike rentals are also available.
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