Multicultural Travel News – News from St. Kitts, Mexico, AmaWaterways, Alexandria and Ft. Lauderdale News Briefs: - St. Kitts Tourism Authority Appoints Mia Lange as First Chief Marketing Officer
- Baja-Inspired Spa Treatments at Mexico Grand Hotels
- AmaWaterways Introduced ‘Soulful Epicurean Experience on the River,’ a Special Journey Celebrating Black History and Culture
- City of Alexandria’s Freedom House Museum Reopened with Three Powerful New Exhibitions
- Visit Lauderdale Launches VisitLauderdale.com Website with Accessibility Microsite
- Amawaterways Announces New 2023 Date For Popular Latin Touch Sailing
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St. Kitts Tourism Authority Appoints Mia Lange as First Chief Marketing Officer The St. Kitts Tourism Authority has announced the appointment of Mia Lange as Chief Marketing Officer (CMO). This is a new role at the Tourism Authority, created to further strengthen the destination’s presence in key international source markets. Lange will oversee the strategic direction and implementation of all global marketing and branding efforts and will manage St. Kitts’ various international agencies. She will also lead the on-shore public relations and marketing team in St. Kitts to ensure the seamless promotion of the island to citizens and residents. “Ms. Lange brings more than two decades of Caribbean destination messaging and marketing experience. She has proven success in launching key advertising and branding strategies that in turn have increased tourism and tangible economic development,” said Nick Menon, Chairman of the Board of Directors of the St. Kitts Tourism Authority. “Mia Lange’s experience working within the Caribbean and truly understanding our target audience will allow her to create destination campaigns that will keep St. Kitts top-of-mind among travelers,” added Ellison “Tommy” Thompson, CEO of the St. Kitts Tourism Authority. “Her distinctive insights and approach will bring St. Kitts to the forefront as travelers plan their long-awaited vacations.” Lange will lean on her knowledge, global experience, and her passion for the tourism industry and the region to build brand awareness for the island of St. Kitts. Throughout her career, she has worked closely with destinations to create branding and external messaging with the intent to increase awareness among key audiences, in addition to navigating multiple channels including digital, social and traditional media to drive consumer engagement. “I am eager to continue immersing myself in the island, getting to know the people and experiences while embarking on this new challenge,” said Lange. “St. Kitts has a strong foundation and is poised for continued growth. I look forward to showing the world the destination’s exceptional offerings.” Most recently, Ms. Lange served as Executive Director of Global Communications for The Bahamas Ministry of Tourism. In this role, she managed the Ministry’s key agencies of record, strategic planning, budget management, crisis communications, organizational messaging, and leadership of the Communication teams. She served several roles for The Bahamas Ministry of Tourism such as Senior Director of Global Communications, Senior Manager of Advertising and Branding, Manager of Cruise Development, Sales and Marketing Executive and more, and worked in The Bahamas, England, Germany, France and the United States. For more information about St. Kitts, visit www.stkittstourism.kn |
 Baja-Inspired Spa Treatments at Mexico Grand HotelsAs travelers are looking to make up for lost time, wellness on vacation is no longer a splurge – it’s a must-have. According to a survey by Expedia, 38% of travelers are prioritizing relaxation as they plan their next trip. This summer, vacationers can enjoy specialized Baja-inspired treatments at Milagro Wellness Spa at Vista Encantada Spa Resort & Residences and Amura Spa at Marina Fiesta Resort & Spa. Located at the Vista Encantada Spa Resort & Residences, the Milagro Wellness Spa has a variety of offerings based on Mexican rituals. Guests can book treatments named after the beautiful flowers of Mexico, including the dahlia, amaranth, sunflower, and cempasuchil. After a treatment, spa-goers can head to the spa’s open-air pool for views of the ocean and mountains. Treatments include a lava shell massage, an agave and tepezcohuite peel-off mask, an energizing xocolatt (chocolate) body wrap, and tequila & salt exfoliation. Another guest favorite is the Mayan Massage, a deep massage incorporating ancient Mayan techniques to heal the mind, body and energy. The Ancient Mayan practice of temazcal is another wellness ritual available through the Milagro Wellness Spa. The temazcal, a traditional steam house, can be found on the premises of Hacienda Encantada Resort & Residences. Guests can experience this ritual, led by a temazcalero, or shaman, that features singing, herbs, steam, and intentions, combined with the power of the four elements, to purify the body, mind, and spirit. Guests staying at Marina Fiesta Resort can visit the new Amura Spa, inspired by the Sea of Cortez. Visitors looking to immerse themselves in the sand and sea of Cabo San Lucas can schedule the Seashells of the Desert ritual. The innovative experience features a massage with warm seashells, filled with minerals, sea salt, and essential oils, all inspired by the gorgeous Mexican landscape. Amura Spa offers a range of other facial and body treatments ready to fit the needs of all guests. After a day by the pool, guests can enjoy the rejuvenating After Sun Facial to soothe, hydrate, and restore the skin. For more information and reservations, visit www.mexicograndhotels.com or call (624) 163-5555. |
AmaWaterways Introduced ‘Soulful Epicurean Experience on the River,’ a Special Journey Celebrating  Black History and Culture Leading river cruise line AmaWaterways announced the debut of A Soulful Epicurean Experience on the River, a unique, first-ever sailing experience paired with its Colors of Provence river cruise. In addition, AmaWaterways is offering a new, specially curated 3-night post-cruise land package in Paris, which commemorates the city’s Black history, heritage and culture. “Following ongoing dialogue between the AmaWaterways leadership team and our valued travel advisor partners in recent years, we identified significant demand for a curated experience that connects Black travelers both to each other and to international destinations rich with African-American history,” said Jazzmine Douse, director of national accounts at AmaWaterways and member of Northstar Travel Group’s Black Advisory Board. “We believe our Soulful Epicurean Experience on the River cruise is the perfect way to celebrate the heritage, traditions and cultures of our global family.” Setting sail on August 24, 2023 from Arles to Lyon, AmaWaterways’ special 7-night Colors of Provence itinerary invites guests to board the award-winning AmaKristina and begin their journey by exploring the cultural history of Marseille. A Soulful Epicurean Experience on the River also takes guests through the beauty of the South of France along the Rhône River to Lyon. The river cruise and land experience concludes in Paris, where many Black artists, writers and entertainers have made history. Unique to this new experience, guests will enjoy guided tours showcasing the region’s jazz, food and wine as well as live musical performances on board and ashore. Included in the package and exclusive to this departure is an excursion honoring Josephine Baker, the first Black woman inducted into France’s Pantheon mausoleum, and a “Black History of Paris” city tour, as well as a 3-night stay at a luxury hotel in the City of Light. On board the elegant AmaKristina, guests can look forward to the warm, personalized onboard service and locally influenced included fine dining for which AmaWaterways is known. The ship also boasts spacious staterooms with AmaWaterways’ signature twin balconies, a Sun Deck walking track, a swim-up bar, a Main Lounge and complimentary bicycles. “As we continue to innovate our offerings, we remain focused on providing vacation experiences that are just as diverse as our loyal family of guests,” added Kristin Karst, executive vice president and co-founder of AmaWaterways. “With so much positive attention around cultural awareness in light of Juneteenth, this was the ideal time to launch our Soulful Epicurean Experience on the River cruise, and we look forward to shining a light on the incredible Black history that exists along the beautiful rivers we sail through around the world.” Travelers with pent-up wanderlust who are eager to plan their next vacation can secure this immersive experience by September 30, 2022 to take advantage of AmaWaterways’ special introductory package pricing offer. For the most up-to-date information, visit AmaWaterways.com/Soulful. |
City of Alexandria’s Freedom House Museum Reopened with Three Powerful New Exhibitions The City of Alexandria, VA announced that the Freedom House Museum at 1315 Duke Street reopened in May, with three new exhibitions showcasing Alexandria’s Black history and the Black experience in America. The museum is open to the public Friday through Monday. Due to high demand and limited capacity, it is highly recommended that guests reserve tickets in advance online. The National Historic Landmark is what remains of a large complex dedicated to trafficking thousands of Black men, women and children between 1828 and 1861. The museum honors the lives and experiences of the enslaved and free Black people who lived in–and were trafficked through–Alexandria. This museum seeks to reframe white supremacist history and provide visitors opportunities to learn, reflect and advocate for change. The exhibits depict the roles of the historic site and Alexandria in the domestic slave trade, and share inspiring stories of African Americans in the community on three floors of the museum: 1315 Duke Street highlights the stories of those who were brought from the Chesapeake Bay area, moved through 1315 Duke Street, and forced into slave markets in the deep South; Determined: The 400-Year Struggle for Black Equality, a traveling exhibition from the Virginia Museum of History and Culture, traces four centuries of Black history in Virginia through stories of extraordinary individuals who struggled for equality and, in the process, profoundly shaped the nature of American society and the meaning of our collective ideals. Determined in Alexandria is a companion exhibition about Black Alexandrians who built the foundations of our community while fighting for equality; Before the Spirits Are Swept Away is a series of paintings of African American sites by the late Sherry Z. Sanabria. The third floor also includes a reflection space with a bronze model (or maquette) of Alexandria’s well known Edmonson Sisters sculpture by artist Erik Blome, a gift to the Office of Historic Alexandria from former City Manager Mark Jinks and his wife, Eileen Jinks. The Freedom House Museum site is integral to the understanding of Black history in Alexandria and the United States and is part of Alexandria’s large collection of historic sites, tours, markers and more that depict stories of the Colonial era, through the Civil War and Civil Rights eras, to today. Visit alexandriava.gov/FreedomHouse for more information. |
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Visit Lauderdale Launches VisitLauderdale.com Website with Accessibility Microsite Visit Lauderdale launched its new VisitLauderdale.com destination website that includes an accessibility microsite in recognition of the tourism bureau’s new focus on accessible travel as part of its well-established inclusion commitment. Visit Lauderdale, formerly known as Greater Fort Lauderdale Convention & Visitors Bureau, launched the new Visit Lauderdale name and brand slogan “Everyone Under the Sun” last year. The slogan is a nod to the destination’s residential diversity and lengthy involvement with inclusive travel marketing. Work has been underway with Simpleview since the brand launch on the new destination site. Meanwhile, Visit Lauderdale staff has been working to increase awareness of existing accessibility offerings in the destination and to help area businesses provide enhanced offerings for travelers with both visible and hidden disabilities. “Accessible tourism is not only about human rights, but also an opportunity to embrace and educate all visitors,” said Richard Gray, Visit Lauderdale’s SVP of Inclusion & Accessibility. “We embrace all visitors with wide open, welcoming arms and we are dedicated to increasing awareness of accessibility features throughout the destination.” Greater Fort Lauderdale hotels, restaurants and attractions create a welcoming space for every guest. Many provide accessible amenities including handicap accessible rooms – some specially equipped for the hearing-impaired – as well as wheelchair ramps, accessible outdoor dining spaces including spacious outdoor patios, special sensory-inclusive websites, and sensory-sensitive live performances such as those at Broward Center for the Performing Arts. Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport (FLL) utilizes the Hidden Disabilities Sunflower Program with a mission to provide a discreet way for adults and children with hidden disabilities to show they need additional support or just a little more time with airport processes. Free sunflower identifying lanyards and pins are available via advance email request at contactfll@broward.org. Area resources listed on the site include information on where to find wheelchair accessible beaches, and about the Fort Lauderdale-based Special Needs Group, which provides a wide range of equipment including rentals of wheelchairs, scooter, audio and visual aid necessities and other essentials. Equipment is delivered directly to cruise ship staterooms at Port Everglades, hotels, attractions, or the Greater Fort Lauderdale/Broward County Convention Center. Visit Lauderdale’s new brand identity and colors are now in use across the visitlauderdale.com website along with new user-friendly features. Find the accessibility microsite at visitlauderdale.com/accessibility. |
Amawaterways Announces New 2023 Date For Popular Latin Touch Sailing AmaKristina October 26, 2023 Sailing will Feature Bilingual Cruise Managers, Daily Tours with Spanish-speaking Guides and Other Distinctive Elements Based on the success of its previous sailings with a Latin touch and growing interest from the Hispanic market, AmaWaterways announced its October 26, 2023 Colors of Provence sailing aboard AmaKristina will cater exclusively to the Spanish-speaking market. The special 7-night itinerary cruising France’s scenic Rhône River from Lyon to Avignon will be hosted by a bilingual Cruise Manager, who will deliver briefings in English and Spanish. Additionally, the sailing will feature a daily tour with a Spanish-speaking guide, daily cruise programs in Spanish, Spanish menus for breakfast, lunch and dinner, and two evenings of Latin-inspired music to accompany the cruise’s other onboard entertainment. “We want to ensure all our guests feel right at home and provide the most exceptional and memorable river cruise experience possible, always with tailored and personalized touches. Our Latin touch sailing is the perfect example of this, and we are excited to once again be able to offer this opportunity to our Spanish-speaking guests,” said Kristin Karst, executive vice president and co-founder of AmaWaterways. “With a focus on excellent cuisine, immersive tours and personalized service for less than 150 guests on board, river cruising with AmaWaterways continues to capture the hearts of affluent travelers from around the world.” The elegant AmaKristina boasts spacious staterooms with AmaWaterways’ signature twin balconies, a Sun Deck walking track, a swim-up bar, a sunny Main Lounge and a complimentary fleet of bikes. Sister ship to the award-winning AmaLea and AmaSiena, the 156-passenger AmaKristina will delight Latin American travelers as they embark for their journey from Lyon, the gastronomic capital of France to Avignon, the heart of Provence. During this special sailing, guests will experience the high level of luxury for which AmaWaterways is known – including spacious staterooms, a wide variety of included tours, regionally inspired cuisine, award-winning service and amenities like the Wellness Program, which includes four expertly guided fitness classes per day. Guests will enjoy complimentary Wi-Fi throughout the ships and Entertainment on Demand system in each stateroom with the latest movies, a music library and more. Included in their cruise fare, guests on board can experience The Chef’s Table specialty restaurant – an intimate dining experience with an exquisite, multi-course tasting menu. Complimentary wine, beer and soft drinks are available with lunch and dinner, sparkling wine with breakfast, complimentary bottled water is provided daily in all staterooms and guests will also enjoy a daily Sip & Sail complimentary cocktail hour. “This is a totally different experience to other ocean cruises that you may have taken; it’s more exclusive and suited to the more demanding passengers. The best part about AmaWaterways experience is that you have basically everything included: all your land excursions, all your meals plus wine and beer with the meals and pre-dinner cocktail hour,” said Jose Falcón, theme travel producer and recent guest on board AmaSiena.“Thanks to my friends at AmaWaterways, river cruising is the best way to travel in luxury and visit towns and cities that you would never have thought possible to visit!” For full details, or to book an AmaWaterways’ sailing with a Latin touch for a client, email Jennifer@amawaterways.com or Jazmin@amawaterways.com or call 1.800.626.0126 x1489 or 818-436-9878. Follow AmaWaterways on Facebook at Facebook.com/AmaWaterways, Instagram @AmaWaterways, Twitter @AmaWaterways, and YouTube at YouTube.com/AmaWaterways. About AmaWaterways A family-owned company celebrating almost 20 years on the river, AmaWaterways offers unforgettable river cruises with 25 ships sailing Europe’s Danube, Rhine, Moselle, Main, Rhône, Saône, Seine, Garonne, Dordogne, Dutch and Belgian Waterways and Douro Rivers, Southeast Asia’s Mekong, Africa’s Chobe River, Egypt’s Nile River and Colombia’s Magdalena River (2024). Led by experienced river cruise co-founders Rudi Schreiner and Kristin Karst, the company is renowned for its innovative stateroom design featuring unique “twin balconies;” its wellness activities including a wide choice of included shore excursions featuring biking and hiking options for the active traveler; and its award-winning dining—including The Chef’s Table specialty restaurant as well as complimentary fine wine, beer and soft drinks with lunch and dinner. Modern, spacious and tastefully decorated, each ship features onboard amenities such as hair and massage salons and a fitness room, and many have heated outdoor swimming pools with swim-up bars. AmaWaterways leads the river cruise industry in innovation highlighted with the launch of AmaMagna, which at twice the width of traditional river ships, offers a new dimension in luxury river cruising. The company also offers a variety of themed sailings and brand relationships, with sailings geared towards active travelers and families as well as group and charter options. With the highest-rated ships in Europe according to the third edition of Berlitz: River Cruising in Europe & the USA, AmaWaterways has received countless honors and accolades including Travel + Leisure’s 2020 World’s Best Award for “Best River Cruise Line” and Departures’ 2020 Legend Award for “Best Luxury Cruising Experiences This Year.” In addition, 20 ships in AmaWaterways’ European fleet have received the prestigious Green Award certification for industry-leading safety, quality and environmental performance. |
To submit a press release for consideration for coverage (no charge) in Multicultural Travel News and Multicultural Entertainment News, send by email to editor Lisa Skriloff at lisa@multicultural.com.About This Newsletter Multicultural Travel News newsletter (MTN) covers travel news of interest to ethnic and niche travelers and those who market to them. We write about destinations that interest multicultural travelers or have outreach campaigns to travelers of Hispanic, African American, Asian American and other cultural backgrounds; women; LGBT travelers and people with disabilities. Multicultural Travel News is also written for leisure and business travelers looking for what to see and do and for marketing executives interested in ideas, best practices and the business case for targeting so-called “minority” travelers. We cover cities and countries, hotels, airlines, cruise lines, convention and visitor bureaus, tour operators and other travel marketers with a multicultural angle. Multicultural Travel News is written and edited by Lisa Skriloff. Multicultural Travel News is published by Multicultural Marketing Resources, Inc. (MMR). To view past editions click here. For a free subscription to Multicultural Travel News and its sister publication, Multicultural Marketing News, sign up here. Lisa Skriloff, Editor Multicultural Travel News Multicultural Entertainment News Multicultural Marketing News Dance Travel News Multicultural Marketing Resources, Inc. 212-242-3351 |
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