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HOTEL HAPPENINGS & PROGRAM PROMOTIONS –NOVEMBER 2024

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Universal Epic Universe Opens May 22 2025

Universal Orlando Resort’s fourth theme park – Universal Epic Universe – officially opens May 22, 2025. More than 50 incredible experiences, Epic Universe will present a level of theme park immersion and innovation unmatched across five themed worlds: Celestial Park, The Wizarding World of Harry Potter – Ministry of Magic, SUPER NINTENDO WORLD, How to Train Your Dragon – Isle of Berk and Dark Universe. Anchoring the park is Universal Helios Grand Hotel, a Loews Hotel – a majestic 500-room property with one-of-a-kind views of the park and will feature

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HOTEL HAPPENINGS & PROGRAM PROMOTIONS –OCTOBER 2024

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NO CAR, BUT HOTEL CHARGED MANDATORY VALET PARKING FEE!

No car, but parking fee charged anyway.

Robert Kraus, travel professional, event planner, and owner of Small Conferences LLC took an “expensive van service from the airport to a Florida hotel for a three-day educational conference aimed at meeting planners,” he explains. In his LinkedIn post, Kraus said the property was “near a beach that literally brags about how most of the properties there do not charge a “resort fee” and even offer free parking. The actual town I stayed in offers a surplus of complimentary parking along the main strip with no parking restrictions – welcoming guests to drive and stay there (as they are an hour away from the closest regional airport).” Along with his key and information about the complimentary breakfast

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HOTEL HAPPENINGS & PROGRAM PROMOTIONS –SEPTEMBER 2024

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Gran Acuario Mazatlán (Mazatlán, Mexico) became the largest aquarium in Latin America, and the only one in the world dedicated to the Sea of Cortéz, when it opened in May, 2023. Now the tourist attraction and research institute has added snorkeling and diving experiences.  (September 4, 2024) – The recent debut of snorkeling and diving experiences at the world-class add an exciting new interactive dimension to the already popular tourist attraction and research institute. The minimum age to snorkel is 12 years old and to scuba dive, a patron must be a certified diver. The Gran Acuario Mazatlánanchors Mazatlán’s 75-acre Central Park. The facility houses some 260 marine species, including 36 species of mammals, 31 cetaceans, five of the seven global species of sea turtles as well as sharks, jellyfish, and manta rays. Overall, its exhibition tanks hold more

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HOTEL HAPPENINGS & PROGRAM PROMOTIONS –AUGUST 2024

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The Wizarding World of Harry Potter – Ministry of Magic is coming in 2025

I am a huge Harry Potter and Fantastic Beasts fan. Excited for the Universal Epic Universe (Orlando, FL) opening in 2025. Debuting in 2025 with the new park will be The Wizarding World of Harry Potter™ – Ministry of Magic™. Beyond the world’s ornate portal, guests will first journey from a Muggle park in Paris into the breathtaking spectacle of 1920’s Place Cachée, a hidden, bustling shopping district in wizarding Paris lined with  aussmannian buildings, shops, sidewalk cafés, and historic Parisian domes rising in the distance. A new ride will

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HOTEL HAPPENINGS & PROGRAM PROMOTIONS –JULY 2024

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Monsters are coming to Orlando, FL and let’s just say it will be Epic! In fact, five new immersive worlds inhabited by legendary resident such as Dracula, The Wolf Man, Frankenstein’s Monster, and the Bride of Frankenstein will provide an appropriate measure of screams, thrills, and chills when Universal Epic Universe debuts in 2025. Created by the award-winning Universal Creative

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HOTEL HAPPENINGS & PROGRAM PROMOTIONS –MAY 2024

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THEY SERVE UP DEALS! YOU SAVE!

Sea World Discovery Cove (Orlando, FL)

Have you swum with a dolphin or snorkeled among tropical fish? If not, this Memorial Day special may be the lure to get you into the water at Discovery Cove (Orlando, FL). If you book by May 27 for use through the rest of 2024, you will receive 20% off your reservation, plus a complimentary premium drink package (a $40 value per person). As part of the all-inclusive experience, guests also enjoy a freshly prepared breakfast and lunch, limitless snacks throughout the day, and unlimited

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HOTEL HAPPENINGS & PROGRAM PROMOTIONS –APRIL 2024

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WELLNESS WINS DURING A TOTAL ECLIPSE OF THE SUN

See the eclipse at Pueblo Bonito Mazatlán

It’s not every day that a solar eclipse passes over North America and peaks in Mexico, but it does this year on April 8. To celebrate the extraordinary event, Pueblo Bonito Resorts’ ARMONÍA Wellness Collection has created a three-day “Solar Rebirth: Eclipse and Well-Being in Mazatlán” program, running April 6 – 8. Mazatlán, which sits squarely on the path of totality, will be the best place in the world to glimpse the full glory

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HOTEL HAPPENINGS & PROGRAM PROMOTIONS –LATE JANUARY 2024

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HOT DEALS!

Decorated Grand Ballroom at the recently renovated Woodlands Resort (Houston, TX)

Book the recently renovated Woodlands Resort (Houston, TX) with new business by April 15 and receive double points and up to 1% rebate to the master bill for up to 100 total room nights. The more room nights, the better the incentives. Woodlands Resort is

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HOTEL HAPPENINGS & PROGRAM PROMOTIONS – FEBRUARY 2017

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Crew Café in Canada offers dedicated co-working space for rent

Crew Café in Canada offers dedicated co-working space for rent


Whether you reside in the United States or anywhere else in the world where there are newspapers, magazines, radio, television and access to social media, you are likely aware of the turmoil that has beset America since the 2016 presidential election. As an active participant in the hospitality, entertainment, meetings and events, and yes, even in the world of journalism, the discussions have been pervasive as to the ramifications on travel, meetings, and tourism.
I know how recent upsets affect me personally. I find myself more assertively political, whereas before I sat back on the sidelines and strove to be merely objective as I covered events. As an entertainer, I am concerned events will be smaller, less frequent, or hosted last minute while planners survey how visas will be honored or rejected for international attendees or whether the unstable nature of business will create havoc on budgets and extraneous expenditures. I live in the Orlando area, so tourism and conferences are huge to the area’s bottom line. I’m near the bottom of that trickledown effect, but nonetheless, personally impacted.
I want to know about you. Are you impacted? How? How do you see our future industries evolving to cope with current and future Read more

HOTEL HAPPENINGS & PROGRAM PROMOTIONS – JUNE, 2013

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Family fun in the Despicable Me Kids Suite at Portofino Bay Hotel

Family fun in the Despicable Me Kids Suite at Portofino Bay Hotel

June: the time of replenishment, relaxation, and revving up for the (hopeful) onslaught of fall corporate business, unless you happen to be immersed in the tourism market or taking an overdue family vacation. For any, and all of the above, here are some deals to be done, places to ponder, and events to excite.

RESORTS AMP UP FUN FACTOR FOR FAMILIES

How cute are the new Despicable Me-themed kid suites at Loews Portofino Bay Hotel at Universal Orlando Resort? It was a no-brainer to renovate all 18 kid suites in time for occupancy on October 1. Holidays will fast approach. The Despicable Me 2 will have opened July 3, and Universal’s Despicable Me Minion Mayhem attraction has already proven to be a hit for the family. What fan of the animated movie wouldn’t love to sleep in missile beds on Minion-inspired bedding just like Gru’s three adopted girls: Margo, Edith and Agnes? The two-room suites keep the parents happy with a luxurious Italian design. Save 30% with the Stay More, Save More promotion. On-site hotel guests receive early park admission and free Universal Express Unlimited ride access. http://universalorlando.com/portofinobay; (888) 273-1311.

It’s going to be a happening summer in Central Florida. The theme park-aphile in me is ready to check out Busch Gardens’ annual Summer Nights programs, now through Aug. 18. (Hey… that’s my birthday. Wouldn’t that make an awesome birthday gift?) The event includes Cheetah Hunt (which I have yet to brave) with an after-dark twist, Kinetix music and acrobatics show on the Gwazi Park Stage, and the nightly fireworks finale. For a more “natural” adventure, you might want to get in on The Florida Aquarium’s Summer Fun Nights program. The mermaids do what mermaids do in a spectacular show, or you can hop aboard the Wild Dolphin Cruise for a sunset cruise. Love Lowry Park Zoo, especially now that summer hours go til 8 pm. The June 29 Read more