Page 4 - Jeri Clausing News Today

| The Emerald Azzurra, which is to debut next year as the first yacht under the Emerald Cruises brand. River cruise line Emerald Waterways and sister company Emerald Yacht Cruises recently announced they were merging under one new brand, Emerald Cruises. The move comes as the company, which is owned by Australia-based Scenic Group, prepares to launch its first yacht, the Emerald Azzurra, next year. River cruise editor Jeri Clausing talked to the companys global brand manager, David Winterton, a...

Photo Credit: TW photo by Jeri Clausing Origins Luxury Lodge Costa Rica features and infinity pool with sweeping views of the valley and, on a clear day, Lake Nicaragua. Photo Credit: TW photo by Jeri Clausing The main lodge at Origins Luxury Lodge serves as an open-air restaurant, pool deck and gathering place. Photo Credit: TW photo by Jeri Clausing The villas at Origins Luxury Lodge all have private, wood-fire heated outdoor soaking tubs. Photo Credit: TW photo by Jeri Clausing Origins Luxur...

Folo, episode 23: Sustainability, travel and the pandemic Clockwise from top right: Senior editor Jeri Clausing, Folo podcast host Rebecca Tobin and Shannon Guihan of the Travel Corporation. Subscribe now using your favorite service: What does it mean to be green in travel, or to travel responsibility, or to practice sustainability in travel? As senior editor Jeri Clausing notes, sustainability is not a new discussion within travel, but its changed during the pandemic. At the beginning of the ...

Jeri Clausing One of the biggest post-pandemic travel trends weve been hearing about nonstop over the past year is the expectation that travelers will be looking to make bucket list trips to lesser traveled destinations. Meanwhile, studies show travelers will also be looking for destinations and accommodations with a focus on sustainability and wellness. One company, Songtsam, has long provided all three, with a group of luxury boutique lodges and land programs in some of the most remote region...

Its been a long, quiet year on the river cruise beat. Except for a few near-restarts last summer here in the United States, conversations during my regular check-ins with folks across the industry long ago turned into Groundhog Day-type chats about when and how sailings might resume. But if this past week is any indication, companies are gaining confidence about the seasons ahead and cranking up their marketing efforts. Monday, for instance, both AmaWaterways and Crystal River Cruises unveiled ...

Jeri Clausing With many travelers expected to remain close to home this year, the Dude Ranchers Association (DRA) has revamped its website to make it easy for travel advisors and consumers to find pandemic-era luxury in the great outdoors. While the site does not have a travel advisor portal, the groups public relations representative, David Wiggins of Widness & Wiggins PR, said most if not all of the member ranches work with travel agents and pay commissions. A page on the site speaks directly...

| Red Carnation Hotels, part of the Travel Corporation group of companies founded by South Africa natives Stanley and Beatrice Tollman, recently opened its first safari camp, the luxury Xigera in Botswana. Senior editor Jeri Clausing talked with the Tollmans son, TTC CEO Brett Tollman, about the new property and his outlook for travel. Brett Tollman Q: You are recently back from a trip to South Africa and Xigera. Tell me about the new property. A: Phenomenal. Its been a lifetime vision of the f...

Jeri Clausing Earlier this year, I wrote about how continued uncertainty surrounding near-term travel has pushed out river cruise bookings, with popular itineraries already filling up for 2022.  That strong, long-term demand, operators say, now is also spilling into 2023, prompting some lines to open up those sailing dates ahead of their usual schedule. Last week, American Queen Steamboat Company opened up 2023 bookings a year early, the farthest in advance it has offered a season.  "Cruisers...

Jeri Clausing While the pandemic forced many hotels to close for much or part of 2021, it didnt stop the Forbes Travel Guide from moving ahead with its annual Star Awards that recognize what it considers the best of the best in luxury hotels. It also prompted them to add some categories of recognition for luxury hotels, including one for outstanding pandemic-related health and safety responses and one for philanthropy. "In this unprecedented time for the travel industry, every persisting staff ...

Jeri Clausing American Queen Steamboat Company and Avalon Waterways have updated their health and safety protocols to include vaccine and testing requirements for guests. But other lines dont seem to be in any rush to follow suit. And given the uncertainty over whether and how Americans will be able to travel more freely, they certainly have time to mull their options. Most European river operators say they wont be able to sail until at least April, and most say they expect it could be summer b...