Page 5 - Jeri Clausing News Today

Jeri Clausing With travelers expected to embrace more immersive and so-called "slow travel" experiences post-pandemic, luxury operators continue to add more options for exploring Europe and North America by rail. Belmond, which operates the legendary Venice Simplon-Orient-Express that is synonymous with luxury train travel, recently announced new routes and three new grand suites. The company said it has added five new boarding points in Rome, Florence, Geneva, Brussels and Amsterdam. Itinerari...

Jeri Clausing One of the biggest pandemic-related changes river cruisers will likely notice when they return to the waterways -- other than, of course, the masks, social distancing and other adaptations that have become the new norm -- will be in food service. While most of the lines dont have the large buffets that are common on oceangoing ships, even the most luxe of the river lines usually have salad bars and a host of other preprepared hot and cold self-serve choices in addition to full ser...

Matthew Daly President Joe Biden answers questions from reporters in the South Court Auditorium on the White House complex, Monday, Jan. 25, 2021, in Washington. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci) January 26, 2021 - 8:03 PM WASHINGTON - President Joe Biden is set to announce a wide-ranging moratorium on new oil and gas leasing on U.S. lands and waters, as his administration moves quickly to reverse Trump administration policies on energy and the environment and address climate ch...

Jeri Clausing If theres one thing 2020 -- and the first weeks of 2021 -- have taught us, its the need for resilience. But that doesnt mean we couldnt all use a little help to get through. So as travelers begin to venture back out in the world, wellness-focused resorts are increasingly developing programs to help them deal with the fallout. Last week, Rosewood Hotels & Resorts announced a new Journey to Resilience series of multiday wellness programs to help guests recover and adapt to the stres...

Jeri Clausing With a global vaccine rollout expected to take much of the next year, easy, fast access to Covid-19 testing has become the newest luxury travel amenity. From Miami Beach to the remote riverbanks of Botswana, travel companies are increasingly bringing testing services directly to their guests. W South Beach, for instance, this month became one of the first high-end hotels in the U.S. to offer guests PCR tests with a 24-hour turnaround under a partnership with Sollis Health. Onsite ...

| With the rollout last week of Covid-19 vaccinations in the U.S. and ongoing advancements in testing, domestic river and small-ship operators are increasingly optimistic about the year ahead. River cruise editor Jeri Clausing spoke with American Queen Steamboat Co. CEO John Waggoner about his companys newest timeline as well as the expansion plans of its parent company, the Hornblower Group. John Waggoner Q: 2020 was a chaotic year for domestic travel companies, with a lot of almost-restarts. ...

Jeri Clausing The rollout of Covid-19 vaccine programs and advancements in testing are fueling renewed optimism about a return to river cruising in 2021. While a weak appetite for long-haul travel and ongoing travel restrictions could push the start of European river cruising for Americans into the summer, domestic operators say they are currently moving ahead with plans to sail again in March. "Things are changing so quickly," said John Waggoner, founder and CEO of American Queen Steamboat Com...

Jeri Clausing Pandemic-era travel has been all about getting outdoors and as far away from others as possible. And New Mexico has long offered many easy ways to get far off the beaten path. With just 2 million people in what is the fifth-largest state, the Land of Enchantment has a diverse range of remote mountain, desert and broken mesa landscapes that offer a range of outdoor activities. Whats always been largely missing, however, has been luxury offerings that capitalize on those beautiful w...

| With its proximity to the U.S. and lack of pretravel Covid-19 tests and other entry requirements, Mexico took an early lead this year in tourism recovery. The CDC, however, recently warned travelers not to visit. Senior editor Jeri Clausing spoke with Los Cabos Tourism managing director Rodrigo Esponda and asked him whether the warning and a recent surge in cases globally have impacted his outlook for the year ahead. Rodrigo Esponda Q: When we last spoke, you were very optimistic. And an Octo...

Jeri Clausing One of the biggest trends coming out of the pandemic has been what I like to call the luxification of luxury travel. Whether its adventure companies, four-star players or long-standing traditional luxury tour operators, most are upping their game in order to meet the demands of post-pandemic travelers looking for the privacy and safety of higher-end accommodations over a bargain. Among those expanding their luxury offerings is the active travel company Backroads, which has just an...