EUROPE

Anantara Grand Hotel Convento di Amalfi opens doors following renovations

As part of its ongoing expansion in Europe, Minor Hotels has opened Anantara Grand Hotel Convento di Amalfi on Italy’s Amalfi Coast following an extensive restoration that includes new-look accommodations and refreshed dining concepts. The heritage hotel, which occupies a 13th-century monastery and former Cappuccini Friars Convent, offers 52 rooms and suites with tiled flooring, vaulted ceilings and lime-washed walls that have been carefully preserved. The suites have retained their vast terraces with plunge pools and sweeping views of the coast, while the resort’s swimming pool area has been redesigned with custom-made furniture. The Bar and Lounge area has been updated with contemporary lighting, statement rugs and low-slung furniture, and the main restaurant serving traditional Mediterranean cuisine and wood-fired pizza now boasts dramatic latticed metal dividers for a more intimate atmosphere. Anantara Spa has also reopened with a total of three treatment rooms offering healing therapies and beauty treatments.

anantara.com

Wellness takes centre stage at JW Marriott’s first property in Spain

JW Marriott has landed in Spain with the grand opening of JW Marriott Hotel Madrid. Marking the brand’s first property in the country, the 139-room luxurious new hotel is located in Madrid’s Canalejas zone, next to the iconic Puerta del Sol. Highlights include El Patio JW Garden where ingredients used by the restaurant are grown, a fully-equipped fitness room and wellness area, and a fully holistic wellness experience launched in partnership with the Spanish Academy of Perfume that includes a choice of wardrobe scents, a perfumery exhibition in the lobby, and olfactory workshops. In addition, yoga mats and bath menus are available in all rooms and guests are given complimentary access to video workouts and meditation practices via QR codes. marriott.com

First Mondrian hotel opens in France

Ennismore has launched the first Mondrian hotel in France –Mondrian Cannes. Located just seven minutes from the famous steps of the Palais de Festival, the property sits on the site of the first luxury hotel in Cannes, opened in 1863. Guestrooms embrace Art Deco furniture and a colour palette inspired by the ocean. On the sea-facing side, rooms and suites enjoy views of the ocean via wide French windows that open out onto private terraces. On the 11th floor, the Panoramic Room offers an outdoor terrace with a whirlpool tub, a sea-view bathroom and stunning views of the Bay of Cannes, while next door the Signature Suite comes complete with a spectacular terrace accessible from both the bedroom and lounge.

Other hotel highlights include Mr. Nakamoto’s restaurant featuring a menu created by London Chef Alex Craciun, and photography by artist Mathilde de l’Écotais. Adjacent to the hotel is Hyde Beach Cannes, headed by Chef Gabriele Faiella who trained with Chef Gordon Ramsay.

ennismore.com

TTC Tour Brands to host responsible travel FAM in Switzerland

TTC Tour Brands and Switzerland Tourism have teamed up to offer travel advisors a unique travel experience this summer. Taking place July 22-28, 2023, the ‘Swisstainable’ FAM trip will showcase offerings from TTC Tour Brands including Trafalgar, Costsaver, Insight Vacations and Luxury Gold, all of which meet the sustainable standards of Switzerland Tourism and deemed ‘Swisstainable.’ Highlights include ‘MAKE TRAVEL MATTER’ Experiences across the brands such as a visit to the Swiss Transportation Museum courtesy of Luxury Gold, and a seasonal juice tasting with dinner at a sustainable restaurant with Insight Vacations. In Lake Geneva, advisors will also learn about Switzerland’s wine ecosystem with a tasting and lunch inspired by Luxury Gold.

agents.ttc.com

Air Transat announces year-round Marseille service

Air Transat is expanding its operations in the French market with two exclusive direct routes departing from Montreal. The airline is adding Marseille and the region of Provence to its roster of yearround destinations, and will also be extending nonstop service to Nantes. Flights that initially ended in the fall will now be operated until Jan. 24, 2024. Air Transat also annualized service to Lyon as demand for the French provinces increases. A total of seven French cities will be served nonstop this year, including three on a year-round schedule, namely Paris, Lyon and now Marseille. airtransat.com

Uniworld has new post-cruise extensions in Greece

Uniworld Boutique River Cruises is expanding its portfolio in Europe to a new destination, adding two postcruise extensions in Greece. Guests can select a three-night extension to Athens or a five-night extension to Athens and Santorini, available as add-ons to Uniworld’s Italian itineraries: ‘Milan, Venice & The Jewels of Veneto,’ ‘Venice & The Jewels of Veneto’ and ‘Cruise & Rail: Venice & The Swiss Alps.’ The new Greece offerings join Uniworld’s existing portfolio of pre- and post-cruise extensions, including land, rail and customizable options.

The three-night extension includes a stay at the 5-star Divani Caravel hotel, dinner with a local in their home, a trip up to the Parthenon and a foodie tour of popular Greek treats. The fivenight option splits its time between Athens and Santorini and includes a Santorini village tour and wine tasting, a cruise around Santorini’s caldera and an Athens city tour. uniworld.com

Intrepid launches first standalone trip to Albania

Intrepid Travel has announced its first standalone trip to Albania. The new nine-day expedition begins in the capital Tirana before heading north to Lake Koman and down the coast towards Divjaka-Karavasta National Park for bird watching. Guests will also visit Berat, also known as the ‘town of a thousand windows.' intrepidtravel.com

The itinerary is priced from US$1,600 per person and includes accommodation, ground transport, select meals and activities. Special highlights include two nights in a family-owned guesthouse by the Shala River, a farm-to-table dinner at Mrizi I Zanave farm, and a coffee reading in Babunje.

Auberge Resorts Collection now managing historic French chateau

Auberge Resorts Collection has been selected by Garance Primat to manage Domaine des Etangs. Located in the charming town of Massignac, France, the historic chateau is situated just three hours by TGV train from Paris Montparnasse, near Cognac and Angouleme, and served by the convenient Limoges airport nearby. The announcement kicks off Auberge’s expansion in Europe, which will be the brand’s main focus in 2023. The addition of Domaine des Etangs marks the second European property for the collection, which joins Grace Hotel, Auberge Resorts Collection in Santorini. In early 2024, Auberge will open Collegio all Querce, Auberge Resorts Collection in Florence, Italy, an iconic, Renaissance-era UNESCO World Heritage destination that will be reborn as an 82-room hotel located just three miles from the Duomo di Firenze. aubergeresorts.com

‘Stopover in Istanbul’ with Turkish Airlines

Turkish Airlines gives travellers the chance to discover one of the world’s most fascinating cities with its ‘Stopover in Istanbul’ program. Featuring lengthy transfer times, the program provides passengers connecting via Istanbul Airport with ample time to explore the city’s history and culture and free accommodation at partner hotels. It includes a one-night stay at a four-star hotel for those travelling in Economy class, and a two-night stay at a five-star hotel for those in Business class. Passengers looking to extend their stopover in Istanbul can take advantage of Turkish Airlines prices at contracted hotels.

Turkish Airlines offers six weekly direct service from Toronto, three weekly direct service from Vancouver, and three weekly direct service from Montreal to its hub in Istanbul, connecting Canadians to 128 countries worldwide. turkishairlines.com

New travel company GeoCultura offers geology-focused holidays

A new travel company, GeoCultura, has launched specialty holidays and geology tours for the curious traveller, all commissionable to travel agents at 15%. Founded by a group of well-travelled friends, the company, now in its first full year in business, offers expert- and scientist-led trips in the U.K., Europe and the United States that focus on the history of the earth and local culture. A total of 19 tour departures are scheduled to depart in 2023, with small groups of no more than 14 guests.

Graham McTavish tapped to host Avalon’s next Storyteller cruise

Avalon Waterways has announced a new Storyteller Series cruise for 2024. The eight-day ‘Kiltn’ It: Facts, Fiction & Fairytale Settings on the Rhine with Graham McTavish’ takes travellers through Switzerland, France, Germany and Holland on the Rhine River. It will be hosted by Graham McTavish, known for his roles in ‘Outlander’ and ‘The Witcher.’ ‘Highlights include special meet-and-greets, intimate lectures and performances.

agentlingo.ca

“GeoCultura are specialty holidays for travellers who want to delve deeper and broaden their knowledge of a destination. There is plenty of time for questions and discussion and with most meals included in the tour price, meeting new people and sharing new experiences is the core of the holidays,” says CEO Pamela Foden.

“Drawn from the fields of geology, science, communication and history, GeoCultura’s tour leaders encourage travellers to go deep – often all the way into the geologic substrate of ap lace, illuminating the role of earth history in culture and society.” geoculturaworld.com

Warrior Women

The Rockies

Join Indigenous women as they weave the stories of their heritage on this experience that brings together tradition, dance, music and culture.

Only with Luxury Gold.

Christina Heeren Foundation

Seville, Spain

Preserves local dance traditions, protects significant heritage sites and promote cultural pride, while supporting local educational access.

Only with Insight Vacations.

Ol

Pejeta Conservancy Visit Kenya

Home to the world’s last two Northern White Rhinos, over 110 critically endangered black rhinos and chimpanzees rescued from the black market. Only with Trafalgar.