Bermuda’s first-ever “College Week Reunion,” runs March 15-18 and includes hotel stay and three-day special event passes. It’s a nod to Bermuda’s famed College Weeks of the 1960s and 1970s (see the nostalgic video below for some campy footage.)

“The College Week Reunion will be a great way for folks who may have visited Bermuda during the heyday of their youth to come back and enjoy the island as an adult,” Wayne Furbert, Minister of Business Development and Tourism, stated in a press release. “We felt it was about time that adults get to experience their own grown-up Spring Break in a setting that fits their desires for a relaxing, sophisticated experience.”

Doris Gallan, a travel blogger and author of “The Boomers’ Guide to Going Abroad to Travel * Live * Give * Learn,” said she sees a potentially hot market for boomer spring break reunions. But post 50s should be wary of deals that are marketed simultaneously to the current college crowd.

“Bermuda’s idea of combining a week away with a college reunion and some reminiscing is a great idea,” Gallan noted in an email. But what boomers don’t want is “actual college kids, loud and drunken parties, all-inclusive resorts that insulate them from the culture of the area (and) tours that shuttle them from one place to another without enough time to enjoy a site,” she added.

via Spring Break For Post 50s?.

Plan a trip, get rewarded, it’s as simple as that. Tour and travel professionals planning a group tour experience to Delaware and the visiting members of the group are eligible to receive a special advance gift as a thank you. To apply, complete the Delaware Motorcoach Reward Program application. Once the group verifies your information, your Delaware welcome gift will be mailed to you within 7 business days.

The visiting group must: Consist of more than fifteen 15 members Spend at least one 1 night in a Delaware lodging establishment Overnight groups will receive an extra special gift from Delaware Tourism Visit at least one 1 Delaware attraction as a day tripper

REQUIRED DOCUMENTATION: In order to determine eligibility, please provide the following documentation/information to the Delaware Tourism Office. Visit http://www.visitdelaware.com/group-tour/dmrp/ for more informatino.

“The new website is top-notch and we are sure it will be a great experience for those seeking the great culinary dishes our state has to offer,” said Lee Sentell, tourism director. “We think it offers something for every taste whether it’s fine dining, a meat and three buffet, or BBQ. It’s also a great way for folks to search the 300-plus food events happening in 2012.”

Alabama’s top restaurants can be explored from its small towns to its biggest cities. Visitors to the site can find a restaurant among the more than 250 listings by city or they can search by cuisine type. The site also introduces some of Alabama’s top chefs. The bios and stories include Wesley Tru in Mobile, Frank Stitt and Chris Hastings of Birmingham, and James Boyce of Huntsville.

For fresh produce a search feature on the site allows visitors to search for famers markets across the state, from Pepper Place in Birmingham to Mobile’s Market on the Square and Madison’s City Farmers Market. A click on the map will help locate more than 130 markets across 67 counties.

The website offers five culinary trails from each region of the state. The Coastal Cuisine trail offers fresh Gulf Coast seafood, while the Heartland Trails takes travelers from historic restaurants to college towns with down home cooking and BBQ. The Lower Alabama trail offers a variety of eats in the Mobile area, the Magic City Trail offers everything from meat and threes to fine dining in Birmingham, and the North Alabama trail takes diners through Huntsville and the Shoals with offerings from a Harvey milkshake to BBQ and steak.

The 12-minute video showcases the beauty of West Virginia’s Greenbrier Valley. From fairs and festivals to attractions, activities and The Greenbrier, more than 120 locations throughout the county are included. Nearly 200 locals participated in the project acting as models or providing voiceovers. Local musicians provided the music, including The Dueling Fiddlers, The Jarmovers, The Wild Rumpus, Patrick O’Flaherty and Leah Trent.

“The Greenbrier Valley has always been known as a getaway destination thanks to The Greenbrier,” said Kara Dense, executive director of the CVB. “Now with The Greenbrier Classic and Lewisburg’s win as America’s Coolest Small Town, our exposure is increasing in new markets like never before. This video is the perfect tool for showcasing the Greenbrier Valley as a premier tourist destination.”
Portions of the video will be featured on the CVB website, used for future commercials and distributed to travel writers and group tour planners.

The seven-month project was directed and produced by local videographers Russell Williams and Annamarie Visclosky.

View video at: http://greenbrierwv.com/press/videos/welcome_to_the_greenbrier_valley/

“Ohio Has IT! Is a great example of how public and private entities can partner to make the most of limited resources,” said State Tourism Director Amir Eylon. “This partnership will ensure the industry maintains a marketing campaign for one of our niche marketing sectors. We applaud the Ohio Has IT! leadership and members for their partnership and help promoting Ohio to groups.”

 Ohio Has IT! includes more than 80 group tour partners from all across Ohio, all of which are represented on www.OhioHasIt.com.  Each member has a rich profile and sample itineraries, as well as a direct link to its website.  By browsing the “Destinations” section of the site, group tour planners and operator can discover all of Ohio Has It’s partners, which are organized by region in order to facilitate easy tour planning. A dynamic photo gallery lets group tour professionals picture each tour and formulate ideas, allowing travelers to truly experience Ohio’s “IT” factor, first- hand.

 “All of the destinations represented in Ohio Has IT! are ideal for group tours, said Experience Columbus Tourism Sales Manager Alissa Preston, a member of Ohio Has It!  “The destinations and experiences represented offer a robust range of opportunities and activities, and the many skilled group tour professionals from around Ohio will offer unmatched support  to anyone planning or executing a group tour.  It’s just one more way we continue to excel as a destination.”

The 2012 guide offers enhanced maps offering a more comprehensive and user-friendly look at the destination and is also available online for easier access at visitorlando.com/trade. The manual also contains details on Visit Orlando services available to travel professionals, including providing collateral, the Official Visitor Center, special programs and promotional materials.

The Travel Professional section of the Visit Orlando’s website, visitorlando.com/trade, complements the Tour & Travel Reference Manual. The site features information on what’s new in the Orlando area; special programs and discounts for travel professionals; group services, incentive offers and a group service request form; an itinerary planner designed to assist in planning daily vacation activities in Orlando and a section offering special themed itineraries and excursions.

Another tool provided by the Visit Orlando to assist travel professionals is the Orlando Travel Academy, an online agent education program that provides a series of lessons on all aspects of Orlando to help agents expand their knowledge of the destination.

Upon completion of the six-course program, agents receive the designation of Orlando Travel Expert, four continuing education units from The Travel Institute and a variety of exclusive benefits. For example, a benefit offered to agents that graduate the academy is the usage of the Visit Orlando Travel Agent Passport, which provides discounted offers on attractions, museums, dining and more while visiting the destination. The program is available at orlandotravelacademy.com.

To request a copy of the 2012 Tour & Travel Reference Manual, contact Visit Orlando at 800-215-221; e-mail domestic.travel@orlandocvb.com; or order online at the Travel Professional section of visitorlando.com/trade.

The Lewisburg Chocolate Festival is set for Saturday, April 14, 2012. This popular event continues to grow in attendance and stature, offering the attendee a wide variety of activities from a tasting extravaganza to chef demonstrations to a mousse-eating contest.

White Sulphur Springs hosts the West Virginia Dandelion Festival during Memorial Day weekend, May 24-28, 2012. This event salutes the dandelion and includes art shows, live music, kids’ activities, fireworks and a parade.

The Top 20 Events list began in 1985 as a way to promote the best events in the Southeast. Nominations must be received by STS members and the two events were nominated by the Greenbrier County Convention and Visitors Bureau in early October.

Founded in 1983, Southeast Tourism Society is dedicated to the promotion and development of tourism to its 12 member states of Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia and West Virginia. The membership includes state travel offices, attractions, hotels, motels, resorts, convention and visitors bureaus, airlines, car rental agencies, newspapers, magazines and other travel-related organizations. Its headquarters are in Atlanta.

For a complete list of Greenbrier County events, visit www.greenbrierwv.com.

As part of the new measures, Angel Aguirre Rivero, governor of Guerrero, recently announced an investment from the state, designated for use in the purchase of new police equipment and training in advanced security techniques. This investment comes after the announcement of 400 new graduates from the federal Police Academy. These graduates will participate in a new, federally funded program designed to help eliminate corruption within the force.

The Acapulco Seguro program was designed to help visitors feel comfortable and secure during their visit. The program is made up of three sub-programs, Safe Nightlife, Safe Road and Safe Taxi, targeted to provide tourists with a safe way to enjoy all Acapulco has to offer.

For more information about Acapulco, visit www.visiteacapulco.com.

Take a little time to do a little research on events which evoke passion and touch travelers psychologically by visiting  Red Hot Celebrations -  the one-stop-shopping special event website for tour planners.

Grapevine Texas CVB

26th Annual GrapeFest – September 13 – 16, 2012

GrapeFest, the largest wine festival in the Southwest, celebrates Texas as a leader and trendsetter in the wine industry. The perfect spot for culinary and wine enthusiasts, festivities include Culinary Pavilion, GrapeStomp, The People’s Choice Wine Tasting Classic – the largest consumer-judged wine competition in the nation, and much including arts and crafts, carnival rides, and the Grapevine Vintage Railroad.

Christmas Capital of Texas – November 16, 2012 – January 6, 2013

Grapevine becomes blanketed with millions of lights, enormous decorations, animated characters and a whole lot more! This, plus great shopping for everyone on your list, Grapevine truly is the “Christmas Capital of Texas.” Festivities include “ICE”, at the Gaylord Texan Resort; Christmas on Main; North Pole Express and the largest lighted Christmas parade in North Texas. Not only this, but holiday shopping is a treat when strolling down Historic Main Street.

Trailing of the Sheep

The three-day Trailing of the Sheep honors the history, heritage and cultures of sheepherding in Idaho and the west.  Conducted on the second weekend in October annually in Hailey, ID, this unique festival includes a full-day Sheep Folklife Fair, a Fiber Festival, dancers, musicians, storytelling and culinary events featuring chefs, restaurants and American Lamb.  The event also includes workshops on fiber, cooking with lamb, photography, history, culture and a variety of other events.   A two-day National Qualifying Sheepdog Trial is held in conjunction with the Festival.  Additionally, there are exhibits, storytelling, hikes and the Big Sheep Parade with 1,500 sheep strutting lively down Main Street, Ketchum, Idaho. 

Port of San Diego – Chula Vista Nature Center

Traveling responsibly by selecting green options is rapidly becoming a trend for group travelers.  The Chula Vista Nature Center is touted as a green “living, breathing, flapping, buzzing and splashing home” to wildlife, taking part in the Port of San Diego’s Green Business Challenge.   The Challenge – the first of its kind on the West Coast – is designed to promote practices that reduce energy consumption, water use, minimize waste, as well as prevent pollution.  Located just six miles south of downtown San Diego, located at 1000 Gunpowder Point Drive in Chula Vista, the Nature Center combines a first class zoo and aquarium exhibits with live birds, reptiles and marine life that are native to San Diego Bay.

RMP Travel – Groups to the 9/11 Memorial

An attraction surely to evoke such connections is the New York City 9/11 Memorial.  Only 1500 guests per day can visit the attraction while the work continues on the site.  RPM Travel, Inc. suggests taking the New York Water Taxi which drops off at Battery Park and walking a few short blocks to the Memorial.  Combine this experience with a tailored itinerary for your group including hotel,  sightseeing, meals,  theatre, shopping, and a variety of unique experiences in the Big  Apple.  RPM Travel is ready to create a memorable experience for any size group. 

Dallas Texas CVB

State Fair of Texas – September 30, 2011 – October 23, 2011

As the largest State Fair in the country, the Texas State Fair is proud of its grand traditions with Big Tex, the newest epicurean fried goodies along with the traditional corny dogs, the Midway, the Livestock Show, the Auto Show, the entertainment includes free concerts and celebrity chefs demonstrations and so much more! 

The Fashion World of Jean Paul Gaultier:  From the Sidewalk to the Catwalk – Nov 13, 2011 – Feb 12, 2012

Jean Paul Gaultier, whose early work in the 1970s earned him the nickname “enfant terrible” of fashion, is unquestionably one of the most important fashion designers in recent decades. This is the first exhibition devoted to Gaultier, who draws inspiration from dance, pop-rock, cinema, television, photography, and world cultures. The exhibition highlights Gaultier’s eclectic and vibrant sources of inspiration through a selection of approximately 140 haute couture dresses and ready-to-wear pieces made between the early 1970s and 2010.

This manual is an essential resource tool for tour planners and offers assistance for multi-day and stop-over visits, scenic drives and motorcoach services.

The booklet highlights attractions, recreation, lodging facilities, eateries and events along with sample itineraries and suggestions for group planners to assist in creating a memorable group tour experience in the Lake George Area.

Itineraries for 2012 incorporate new area attractions such as the Saratoga & North Creek Railway, Railroads on Parade, Last of the Mohican Outdoor Drama, Explore History Walking Tours and The First Wilderness Heritage Corridor.

“It is our goal to present new ideas in the travel planner each year in order for tour operators to sell those ideas to their own clients or groups. With the ever-increasing number of new attractions, events, lodging and dining options in our area, it’s easy to see why the Lake George Area continues to be a versatile, accessible, and affordable destination for groups of all ages, interests and abilities,” said Group Tour Promoter Tanya Brand in a statement.

Brand attends national conferences and marketplaces of the American Bus Association, Pennsylvania Bus Association, National Tour Association, Ontario Motorcoach Association, Greater New Jersey Motorcoach Association, tour operator and group leader trade shows. She represents the Warren County Tourism Department as a DMO.

To receive a free copy of the 2012 Group Travel Planner, call (800) 365-1050 and ask for Tanya or go online to VisitLakeGeorge.com and click “Group/Group Touring.”