Vincent Van Gogh's "Sunflowers" Paintings Vandalized Hours After Activists Sentenced For Similar Incident

A pair of paintings by Dutch maestro Vincent van Gogh at London's National Gallery were vandalized Friday when climate activists splattered what appeared to be tomato soup on them. The incident came just hours after two activists with the Just Stop Oil environmental group were sentenced to at least 20 months in prison for a similar act two nearly two years ago.

Tourists and visitors queue outside the National Gallery in London where the "Van Gogh: Pets and Lovers" exhibition is being held. Peter Nicholls / Getty Images

The paintings from Van Gogh's "Sunflowers" series, which he painted in Arles in the south of France, were not damaged on Friday thanks to protective glass coverings. The gallery identified the two paintings as its own "Sunflowers" from 1888 and "Sunflowers" from 1889 on loan from the Philadelphia Museum of Art.

The three activists – also with Just Stop Oil – involved in Friday's incident were arrested while the paintings were removed, examined and then returned to their location. The gallery said the exhibition would reopen later on Friday.

The group posted a video of the attack on social media, showing three people throwing soup at the paintings. The action was apparently in protests against the sentencing earlier Friday of two other activists from the group, Phoebe Plummer, 23, and Anna Holland, 22.

Eco-activists sentenced to prison

Plummer received a two-year sentence while Holland was sent to prison for 20 months earlier Friday.

In October 2022, the pair threw two cans of Heinz tomato soup over the artwork at London's National Gallery before kneeling in front of it. They then glued their hands to the wall beneath the painting.

According to Just Stop Oil, the pair were demanding the U.K. government halt all new oil and gas projects.

Climate protesters hold a demonstration as they throw cans of tomato soup at Vincent van Gogh's "Sunflowers" at the National Gallery in London, United Kingdom on Oct. 14, 2022. Just Stop Oil / Handout/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images

In a post on X at the time, the activist group blamed the current economic turmoil and the climate crisis facing the world on fossil fuels, asking: "Is art worth more than life? More than food?"

The pair were found guilty of criminal damage by a jury in July.

In sentencing the two activists Friday, Judge Christopher Hehir said the artwork could have been "seriously damaged or even destroyed."

Hehir was also the judge in the case against Roger Hallam, the co-founder of Just Stop Oil and Extinction Rebellion, another environmental campaigning group, and had sentenced him to five years.

On Friday, he took aim at Plummer.

"You clearly think your beliefs give you the right to commit crimes when you feel like it," he said. "You do not."

Plummer, who represented herself and who had pleaded guilty, told the hearing that she would accept "with a smile" whatever verdict came her way.

"It is not just myself being sentenced today, or my co-defendants, but the foundations of democracy itself," she said.
Five days after her guilty verdict in July, Plummer was arrested for spraying paint on departure boards at Heathrow Airport.

Lawyer Raj Chada, defending Holland, said the two women checked that the "Sunflowers" was protected by a glass cover before throwing the soup.

A number of Just Stop Oil supporters gathered outside the court, some holding posters of historical figures jailed for activism.

Supporters of the two Just Stop Oil environmental protesters outside Southwark Crown Court in London during their sentencing. HENRY NICHOLLS/AFP via Getty Images

Over the past few years, Just Stop Oil has been behind a series of high-profile stunts, including at major sporting events and on Britain's transport networks. The attack on "Sunflowers" was the second artwork at the National Gallery targeted in 2022, after two Just Stop Oil activists glued themselves to John Constable's "The Hay Wain."

Van Gogh's 1888 masterpiece, painted in Arles in the south of France, was not damaged in the 2022 attack as it was covered by protective glass.

However, the gold-colored frame suffered $13,000 worth of damage. Museum staff had worried that the soup could have dripped through and caused immeasurable damage to the painting.

In June, activists with the group sprayed several of the ancient stones of Britain's iconic Stonehenge site with an orange substance. A video released by the group showed two activists running toward the prehistoric stones of the UNESCO World Heritage Site with what looked like fire extinguishers and then spraying them with what the group said was "orange paint powder." Two people were arrested.

https://www.cbsnews.com/

Southwest Plans To Cut Flights In Atlanta While Adding Them Elsewhere. Its Unions Are Unhappy

Southwest Airlines plans to eliminate about one-third of its flights to Atlanta next year to save money as it comes under pressure from a hedge fund to increase profits and boost the airline’s stock price.

The retreat in Atlanta, where Southwest is far smaller than Delta Air Lines, will eliminate more than 300 jobs for pilots and flight attendants, although they will have a chance to relocate, according to the company.

A Southwest official said Wednesday the airline needs to cut unprofitable routes, and “demand for Atlanta doesn’t support our level of flying.”

While the airline’s planners “try everything they can before making hard decisions like this one, we have to make this change to help drive us back to profitability,” the Atlanta-based official, Tiffany Laurent, said in a memo to employees.

Southwest executives are expected to detail other changes that it plans to make when it holds an investor meeting Thursday. The session is in response to Elliott Investment Management’s campaign to shake up Southwest’s leadership and reverse a decline in profits over the past three years.

Southwest will cut 58 flights per day and reduce its presence at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport from 18 to 11 gates, according to the Southwest Airlines Pilots Association, which says the news is painful for Atlanta-based employees.

“It is simply amazing that the airline with the strongest network in the history of our industry is now retreating in a major market because this management group has failed to evolve and innovate,” the union said in a memo to pilots.

Bill Bernal, president of the Transport Workers Union local representing Southwest flight attendants, said his union is outraged by the reduction of Atlanta jobs. He said Southwest assured the union that it would grow in Atlanta.

“This is gaslighting at its finest,” Bernal said in a memo to union members. “Yet again, flight attendants are paying the price for poor management decisions.”

A Southwest spokesperson responded, “Decisions like these are difficult for our company because of the effects on our people, but we have a history of more than 53 years of ensuring they are taken care of.”

While retreating in Atlanta, Southwest published its schedule through next June on Wednesday, and it includes new routes between Nashville and six other cities along with five new red-eye flights from Hawaii to Las Vegas and Phoenix. Those additions start in April.

Earlier this year, Southwest pulled out of four smaller markets and announced it would limit hiring in response to weakening financial results and delays in getting new planes from Boeing.

More notably, CEO Robert Jordan said in July that Southwest will begin assigning passengers to seats and set aside nearly one-third of its seats for premium service with more legroom.

AP

Travelore News: A New Country Is About To Be Created And It’s Going To Be The World’s Smallest

Ever heard of the ‘Sovereign State of the Bektashi Order’?

The Bektashi Order has been headquartered in Albania since the 1930s (Picture: Getty)

You most likely haven’t, at least not yet. But if all goes to plan, it will soon become the world’s smallest microstate — a Muslim version of the Vatican City (but just a quarter of its size).

Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama plans to transform Tirana’s Sufi Bektashi Muslims into a sovereign state to promote ‘moderation, tolerance and peaceful co-existence’.

The 10-hectare patch of land in Albania’s capital will have its own passport, borders, and administration governing religious issues, without Tirana’s involvement.

Albania is roughly 50% Muslim, but just 10% of that population are part of the Bektashi Order. Bektashi Muslims are the fourth largest religious community in Albania, after Sunni Muslims, Catholics and Orthodox Christians.

Reflecting the Order’s tolerant Islamic practices, the microstate would permit alcohol and allow everyone to wear what they want.

Speaking at the United Nations, Rama noted that his tiny Balkan nation of 2.8million sheltered Jewish refugees from the Nazis during World War II and gave asylum to Afghans after the Taliban took power in 2021.

The Vatican-like city state would be in Tirana (Picture: Wikimedia)

What is the Bektashi Order?

The Bektashi Order is a mystic Muslim order founded in the Ottoman Empire (modern day Turkey) in the 13th century. It’s an offshoot of Sufism, a branch of Islam that focuses on spirituality and direct connection with God.

Bektashis are regarded as tolerant, accepting of other religions and philosophies.

The Bektashi Order has been headquartered in Albania since the 1930s after it was banned in Turkey. Estimates vary, but today there are said to be between 7 and 20 million Bektashis around the world.

Haji Edmond Brahimaj Mondi is the leader of the Bektashi Muslims (Picture: Godong)

Albania’s Prime Minister Edi Rama said the goal of the new microstate was to promote the ethos of religious tolerance Albania prides itself on.

The country is proud of its link to Mother Teresa, whose family was of Albanian descent.

The Order praised the plan, saying: ‘Such a historic step aims at recognizing the Beltashi Order as a sovereign, self-governing state, committed to supporting its century-old culture of moderation and spiritual involvement.

‘The new state will aim at nothing but the spiritual leadership.’

How would the proposed microstate work?

If the plans for a Bektashi microstate go ahead, it’s likely that it will be ruled theocratically, similar to the system in the Vatican — the headquarters of the Roman Catholic Church.

The Vatican is headed up by the Pope, who leads both state and government.

In Albania, the Bektashi microstate would likely be led by the leader of the Bektashis, Haji Edmond Brahimaj Mondi, known as Baba Mondi.

Citizenship of the state will be limited to members of the clergy and people working in the administration, Barron’s reports.

Edi Rama announced the plans this month (Picture: AP)

Baba Mondi said of the proposed microstate: ‘For our followers, this isn’t about political power or land acquisition; it’s about solidifying the Bektashi Order’s mission of spiritual moderation and protecting our religious practices.

‘Albania has historically been a beacon of religious coexistence, and this step is a testament to the forward-thinking nature of the Albanian government under visionary leadership of Prime Minister Edi Rama, who recognized the importance of granting us the space to continue promoting peace.

‘For our community worldwide, it is a moment of pride and renewal, strengthening our identity and presence on the global stage.’

https://metro.co.uk/author/sarah-hooper/

New Travel Options For North Americans Going To Switzerland

New travel options for North Americans going to Switzerland - SWISS expands network with four destinations in Canton Graubünden due to SBB cooperation SWISS and SBB, the largest railway in Switzerland, have steadily expanded their partnership connecting air and rail travel since it was first established in 2019. This is certainly great news for those travelers on long-haul flights from North America that want to go beyond the SWISS hubs of Zurich and Geneva and explore the entire country. The SWISS and SBB joint travel network provide easy and convenient transfers from plane to train, all on one reservation. Furthermore, four additional destinations have recently been added: Chur, Davos, Klosters and St. Moritz in Canton Graubünden.

Swiss International Air Lines (SWISS) and the Swiss Federal Railways (SBB) have steadily developed and expanded their joint product and service offer, linking air and rail travel, since it was first established in 2019. What began with a strategic partnership on the Zurich Airport-Basel route has evolved into today’s network of more than 20 SWISS Air Rail destinations. The concept has proved very popular with travelers, and SWISS and SBB expect to report further growth of approximately 15% in demand for these services this year. The partnership was initially limited to a five-year period, but Switzerland’s two leading transport companies have decided to extend their successful collaboration indefinitely.

For travelers from North America, much of the allure of Switzerland lies within the entire country, from larger cities, such as Zurich and Geneva, to the quaint villages and mountainous regions that are found scattered throughout. As a result of the SWISS and SBB air/rail partnership, it is easier than ever to travel to Switzerland’s many Canton regions that may be, at times, more challenging for visitors to reach.

“SBB and SWISS are both bywords for Swiss values, quality and reliability,” said Heike Birlenbach, Chief Commercial Officer at SWISS. “This partnership enables us to offer our customers an overall travel experience that seamlessly combines the strengths of air and rail travel and, in doing so, sets new benchmarks in comfort and convenience terms.”

The partners are also further expanding their present joint product offer through the addition of four attractive destinations in Canton Graubünden. By linking the corresponding SBB services with the SWISS route network, Chur and (via the Rhaetian Railway) Davos, Klosters and St. Moritz will now also be more easily reachable for international travelers. The new routes are bookable for travel on or after 2 October 2024. “I’m especially pleased,” CCO Birlenbach continued, “that our now-extended collaboration with SBB will enable us to offer even more convenient connections within Switzerland that optimally meet our air travelers’ needs.”

“The open-ended continuation of our collaboration and the addition of these new connections to Chur, Davos, Klosters and St. Moritz tellingly demonstrate how SBB and SWISS are jointly developing a broad range of viable travel solutions,” added Véronique Stephan, Member of the SBB Management Board and Head of Passenger Services Markets. “And the benefits for all our customers are seamless connections and an expanded network of travel services that bring the world and Switzerland even closer together. We’re teaming up to bring people on board!”

Flexible travel planning

With the overall aim of optimally linking further points in Switzerland (and tourist destinations in particular) with its global route network, SWISS puts a particular focus on providing direct connections and on optimizing its customer services in the event of operational irregularities.

SWISS Air Rail can be booked in combination with a SWISS flight on www.swiss.com or at any travel agency. In doing so, customers can select any of the rail stations offered as their point of origin or destination and book both their air and their rail travel in a single step. SWISS Air Rail travelers need only check-in once and will obtain all their boarding passes directly from SWISS. They also have the option of using their rail ticket the day before their air departure or the day after their air arrival, to give them greater planning flexibility.

SWISS further offers its customers a connection guarantee in the event of delays on all SWISS Air Rail routes. SWISS First and SWISS Business passengers are further entitled to first-class rail travel on their SWISS Air Rail connection. This further expansion brings the SWISS Air Rail network to a total of 21 destinations. The network already extends to Basel, Bellinzona, Bern, Brig, Fribourg, Geneva Cornavin (main station), Interlaken, Lausanne, Lucerne, Lugano, Montreux, Sierre, Sion, Vevey and Visp in Switzerland, and to Munich in Germany and Bregenz in Austria.

Full details of the SWISS Air Rail services offered in partnership with SBB are available here: https://www.swiss.com/ch/de/book-and-manage/partner-offers/swiss-airrail

Kimpton’s New Riviera Maya All-Inclusive Is Now Taking Bookings — And Has An Opening Date

The wine hour. The yoga mats. The food. The coffee and tea service. There’s a reason Kimpton has such a devoted following: it’s been taking the boutique experience to luxury resorts and city hotels across the US and, in recent years, the Caribbean.

But now Kimpton, which just opened its first urban hotel in the Caribbean in Santo Domingo this past summer, is taking its boutique hotel pedigree into a new concept: all-inclusive.

All-inclusive has been attracting big brands in the Caribbean, and now Kimpton is set to debut its own take on all-inc with the upcoming debut of the Kimpton Tres Rios in the Mexican Caribbean. It’s the first-ever all-inclusive Kimpton, managed by leading owner and operator Playa Hotels and Resorts, which has a growing list of top all-inclusives in the wider region.

The Gibson lobby bar.

The property is set on 326 acres, bridging beach, jungle and mangroves, within a nature park that has everything from cents to eco-trails.

So what else do you need to know?

The Kimpton Tres Rios will have 355 rooms, with everything from adults-only rooms to plunge-pool suites, all with amenities like 24-hour room service and free Wi-Fi, among others

The property is set on 326 acres, bridging beach, jungle and mangroves in a nature park.
You’ll get access to store four pools, along with a fitness center, kids programs and a spa called Kej, which has local Mayan-inspired eatments.

The dining program has seven different concepts: Italian, Asian fusion and Mediterranean, to name a few. That’s along with five bars and lounges, including an adults-only poolside spot called Del Mar.

The new property is an “all-inclusive retreat where every detail has been carefully designed to provide tranquility, comfort, and an intimate connection with nature,” said Fernando Mulet, EVP and chief investment officer at Playa, in a statement provided.

This eatery is focused on Mexican street food. It’s called De la Calle.

So when is it actually opening?

The hotel is now taking bookings for stays beginning on March 20, 2025, Caribbean Journal confirmed.

What about cost?

Entry-level rooms with mangrove views and two queen beds stat at $499 per night, according to Kimpton’s Website.

For more, visit the Kimpton Tres Rios.

By Alexander Britell

Pan Am Returns To The Skies In 2025

During its heyday, Pan American Airlines was known for style and luxury at altitude. Fashionable flight attendants served restaurant-quality meals, and comfortable seating made flights enjoyable. The company’s run lasted from 1927 to 1991 and represents a lost era in air travel.

Pan Am 707 Jet Clipper, 1958 Joe Haupt via Flickr

In the summer of 2025, the storied airline is set to return for a commemorative journey covering many of its past transatlantic routes. Two 12-night journeys will depart from New York (JFK), making stops in noted destinations and staying at luxury hotels.

Pan American World Airways originally planned a single 12-day trip from June 27, 2025, to July 9. Now, it’s added a second, from June 15, 2025 to June 27. Along the way, travelers will stop in Bermuda; Lisbon, Portugal; Marseille, France; London, England; and Foynes in Ireland. Though the voyage isn’t cheap, it offers an experience to remember.

On each trip, 50 guests will fly on a privately chartered 757-200. Amenities include continental cuisine, an open bar, and lie-flat seats. Though some flights take up to 5.5 hours, most are under 90 minutes.

After the wheels hit the tarmac, guests stay at noted hotels like the Four Seasons Ritz in Lisbon and The Savoy in London. Bespoke experiences include a private tour of Kensington Palace in London and visiting a full-size Pan-Am Clipper replica in Ireland.

Pricing for the trip starts at $59,950 per person (double occupancy) or $65,500 (single occupancy). That includes flights, most meals and beverages, a branded swag bag, and accommodations.

Craig Carter, CEO of Pan American World Airways, said: “Since 1927, Pan Am has left an indelible mark on the world. From humble beginnings as the first commercial carrier for the U.S. Air Mail, Pan Am’s founder Juan T. Trippe went on to create a vast aviation empire across the globe, literally bringing the world closer together one flight at a time.”

https://www.themanual.com/users/mreif/

Travelore News: JetBlue Opening Airport Lounges At JFK And Boston

JetBlue Airways will open its first airport lounges next year in New York and Boston in a bid to compete with larger airlines for premium travelers.

The airline said Thursday that it will open an 8,000-square-foot lounge at John F. Kennedy International Airport in New York late next year, followed shortly by an 11,000-square-foot one at Boston Logan International Airport.

JetBlue said the lounges will primarily be for top-level members of its TrueBlue frequent-flyer program and those who get a new, premium JetBlue-branded credit card that is not yet available. The airline will also sell day passes if space is available.

Jayne O’Brien, head of marketing and customer support for the New York-based airline, said the lounges are part of building stronger service for premium leisure travelers on the East Coast.

“The lounges are something we have been looking at for a while, and now is the right time to put in these extra benefits for our most valuable customers,” O’Brien said in an interview.

JetBlue declined to say how much it will cost to build and operate the lounges, which are a staple at key airports for American, Delta and United.

Delta and United have reported that revenue from premium passengers is growing faster than other segments.

O’Brien said JetBlue will consider whether to open lounges at other airports after it sees results from JFK and Boston.

AP

Tongcheng Travel's HOPEGOO Offers Limited-Time Hong Kong To Ganzhou High-speed Rail Ticket Discounts, Expanding The 3-hour Travel Ecosystem In GBA

As the "Golden Week" approaches, Tongcheng Travel through its global travel booking platform, HOPEGOO, has joined hands with the Ganzhou Municipal Bureau of Culture, Radio, Television, and Tourism to launch a special program titled "High-speed Rail Journey to Discover the Beauty of Ganzhou" to offer a range of discounts on high-speed rail tickets, hotel accommodations, and scenic area entrance tickets. Travelers from Hong Kong can purchase Hong Kong-Ganzhou high-speed rail tickets, hotels, and scenic spots tickets through the HOPEGOO platform using WeChat Pay and Alipay HK mini-programs. HOPEGOO is offering discount vouchers of HK$30 to HK$50 for Hong Kong–Ganzhou high-speed rail tickets as well as accommodation discounts of HK$30 for hotel bookings over HK$300, along with additional HK$10 vouchers to fully meet travelers' needs.

Short trips to mainland cities have become a popular holiday choice for many residents in Hong Kong, and cities within the "3-hour" travel ecosystem has emerged as primary short-distance leisure destinations for travelers in the Greater Bay Area. Among these, Ganzhou in Jiangxi Province is a popular city. According to data from Tongcheng Travel, almost all direct high-speed rail tickets from Hong Kong West Kowloon Station to Ganzhou for the period from September 26 to October 3 have sold out, highlighting the booming tourism demand to visit Ganzhou.

Ganzhou is the largest city by area and population in Jiangxi Province. It is recognized as a national historical and cultural city, an excellent tourist city in China, a national civilized city, and a national forest city. It is also one of the main settlements of the Hakka people, often referred to as the "Cradle of Hakka Culture." Hong Kong travelers interested in exploring Ganzhou can plan their trips and make reservations early on the HOPEGOO platform.

The Ganzhou Municipal Bureau of Culture, Radio, Television, and Tourism has stated that the city is actively developing its cultural and tourism resources, represented by themes such as "Red Historic Capital, Cradle of Hakka Culture, Jiangnan Song City, and Sacred Place of Yangming." The Bureau aims to combine these cultural and tourism resources with the travel habits of visitors from the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macau Greater Bay Area. By leveraging the HOPEGOO platform, they are creating themed travel products under the banner of "High-speed Rail Journey to Discover the Beauty of Ganzhou."

HOPEGOO is Tongcheng Travel's international online travel booking platform, offering services in six major domains: flight tickets, hotel bookings, train tickets, attraction tickets, ferry tickets, and local activities. The platform supports payments in 16 different currencies and provides multiple operating languages to cater to a global audience.

About Tongcheng Travel Holdings Limited

Tongcheng Travel is a one-stop shop for users' travel needs. With the mission "make travel easier and more joyful", Tongcheng Travel offers a comprehensive and innovative selection of products and services covering nearly all aspects of travel, including transportation ticketing, accommodation reservation, tourist attraction ticketing, and products including package tour, self-guided tour and cruise, including a wide array of transportation and leisure travel scenarios primarily through its online platforms, which comprise its Tencent-based platforms, its proprietary mobile apps, quick apps and other channels.

As a technology-driven company, Tongcheng Travel leverages big data and AI capabilities to better understand the preferences and behaviors of users, thereby offering users customized products and services. Tongcheng Travel has a strategic focus on lower-tier cities in China and seized opportunities there supported by its diversified traffic sources, product innovation capability and flexible operation strategies. Through the in-depth understanding of user experience and advanced technological capabilities, Tongcheng Travel has been revolutionizing what consumers expect from the online travel industry, making the entire travel process more convenient, personalized and enjoyable than ever. Tongcheng Travel aims to develop and apply its advanced technology to transform from an online travel agency to intelligent travel assistant.

For more information, please visit the Group's website at https://www.tongchengir.com

United Airlines Is Planning A Big Expansion Of Its Nonstop Cayman Islands Flights

Seven Mile Beach. The buzzing culinary scene. The shopping. The Sister Islands.

There’s a bit of everything in the Cayman Islands, whether you’re looking for a foodie retreat to one of the Caribbean’s culinary capitals or a castaway-fantasy beach stay on Little Cayman.

The destination is as popular as ever, with continued arrival growth and some sparkling new hotels, including the outstanding Hotel Indigo we reviewed last week.

And now it’s about to get even easier to fly here, with a big expansion in service on United Airlines.

United is adding more flights to Grand Cayman from Chicago, Houston and Washington, DC for the peak winter season and beyond, officials revealed to Caribbean Journal.

The new Hotel Indigo in Grand Cayman.

That includes new daily service between Chicago O’Hare and Cayman beginning in mid-December — and continuing as daily service in March 2025.

From Houston, you will soon be able to fly daily to Grand Cayman in November and December — a significant jump from what had been only once-weekly service. That route will also become fully daily beginning next March.

From the nation’s capital, United will be increasing its flights to Grand Cayman to a total of four times every week, with service on Tuesdays, Thursdays, Saturdays and Sundays.

United’s big ramp-up is part of a continued increase in air capacity for the destination in 2024, one that included an extra 365 flights in the first half alone.

The Southern Cross Club boutique hotel in Little Cayman.

If you’re going to book on United, seats are now bookable, for about $600 (according to a sample itinerary from Washington), for example.

You can learn more at: https://www.visitcaymanislands.com/en-us

By Alexander Britell, editor-in-chief of Caribbean Journal

Cancun International Airport Expands Flight Routes And Sustainability Efforts, Boosting Tourism Across The Mexican Caribbean

Cancun International Airport (CUN) is fueling tourism growth in the Mexican Caribbean with a wave of recent developments. The airport's new direct flights from key U.S. and Canadian cities, combined with major infrastructure upgrades and sustainability-focused initiatives, are transforming travel to the region. These advancements, made in collaboration with Quintana Roo's tourism officials, are designed to open access to world-class destinations like Playa del Carmen, Costa Mujeres and Cozumel while preserving the region's stunning natural environment. With millions of international travelers passing through Cancun International Airport in 2024, the airport continues to be the busiest hub in the region, reinforcing its status as the primary gateway to the Mexican Caribbean.

"Our goal is to provide seamless access to the full range of experiences the Mexican Caribbean offers, from its iconic beaches to its rich cultural heritage," said Bernardo Cueto, State Secretary of Tourism for Quintana Roo. "Cancun International Airport is at the heart of this growth, ensuring that millions of travelers can enjoy a more efficient and environmentally responsible visit."

NEW FLIGHT ROUTES STRENGTHEN NORTH AMERICAN CONNECTIVITY

Cancun International Airport connects to major carriers across the U.S. and Canada, contributing to North America's dominant share of international travel to Mexico, which accounted for 87 percent of all departures in the first quarter of 2024. U.S. flights alone carried 10.35 million passengers during this period, reflecting an 8.4 percent increase over 2023. Two-thirds of the flights arriving in Cancun are international, with a high volume of daily arrivals from major hubs in the U.S. and Canada.

The airport continues to expand its North American network with several new direct routes. Ahead of the peak holiday season, American Airlines will increase its Phoenix-Cancun service to two daily flights starting November 5, while boosting its Miami-Cancun service to six daily flights from December 19 to January 6, 2025. Aeromexico will also launch daily service from Miami to Cancun on December 19, and Avelo Airlines will introduce bi-weekly international flights from Bradley International Airport (BDL) in Connecticut this November. Volaris has further expanded connectivity by adding direct flights from McAllen International Airport (MFE) in Texas, offering more affordable travel options to Cancun.

INVESTMENTS IN SUSTAINABILITY AND INFRASTRUCTURE

Cancun International Airport has made significant investments to improve its infrastructure, focusing heavily on sustainable practices. The expansion of Terminal 4 will increase the airport's capacity to accommodate more flights and passengers, with eco-friendly design elements such as energy-efficient lighting and renewable energy systems. Water conservation efforts and eco-friendly ground transportation options are also part of the airport's plan to align with global sustainability standards. These efforts underscore the airport's commitment to preserving the natural environment of the Mexican Caribbean while supporting the region's economic growth through responsible tourism.

ENHANCED VISITOR EXPERIENCE AND ACCESSIBILITY

Improvements in customs processing and ground transportation have reduced wait times and streamlined connections. Newly installed self-service kiosks in Terminal 3, costing $7.6 million, are speeding up the check-in process for U.S.-bound travelers, allowing them to complete check-in and baggage handling in under five minutes. Additionally, 60 immigration agents at the airport received public relations training from the Cancun Hotel Association tourism sector over the summer, ensuring top-tier customer service for the growing number of visitors.

"Cancun International Airport is among the 50 busiest airports worldwide, efficiently serving a high volume of tourists, business travelers and residents year-round including more than 6.9 million American travelers to-date in 2024. Significant investment has enhanced the overall airport experience as popularity of the Mexican Caribbean has increased," said Andres Martinez, Director of the Tourism Promotion Council of Quintana Roo (CPTQ). "Since 2022, the volume of U.S. travelers at Cancun International Airport has been up a minimum of 35% annually in comparison to pre-pandemic numbers from 2019, and we are anticipating a strong winter season in 2025. As we continue forward in our 'New Era' of tourism, we have made notable progress in expanding capacity and new routes to welcome even more visitors to discover what makes our region one of the most desired travel destinations in the world."

For more information on the Mexican Caribbean, please visit www.mexicancaribbean.travel/

The Time Is Always Now: Artists Reframe the Black Figure, November 9, 2024–February 9, 2025 At The Philadelphia Museum Of Art

November 9, 2024–February 9, 2025

Kind of Blue by Claudette Johnson (2020) © Claudette Johnson. Courtesy of the artist and Hollybush Gardens, London. Photo: Andy Keate.

This exhibition features 27 Black and African diasporic contemporary artists who use figurative painting, drawing and sculpture to illuminate and celebrate the nuance and richness of Black contemporary life.

Curated by Ghanaian-born and U.K. based writer and curator Ekow Eshun, The Time Is Always Now takes its title from an essay on desegregation by American writer and social rights activist James Baldwin. It highlights a sense of urgency around contemporary artistic expression, while acting as a reminder that Black artists exist within an always-evolving artistic lineage.

The more than 60 contemporary works featured in this exhibition unfold around three core themes: Double Consciousness, The Persistence of History and Our Aliveness. Double Consciousness, a theory first introduced in 1897 by the African American sociologist W.E.B Du Bois, explores concepts of being, belonging and Blackness as a psychological state. The Persistence of History explores the absence of Black figures in many mainstream narratives and shows how artists have responded. Our Aliveness features assertions and celebrations of Black assembly and gathering.

Traveling to the Philadelphia Museum of Art from the National Portrait Gallery in London, the Black and African diasporic artists in this exhibition work in the U.S. and the U.K. They include Michael Armitage, Claudette Johnson, Kerry James Marshall, Toyin Ojih Odutola, and Amy Sherald. For the show’s U.S. premiere, additional artists working in Philadelphia, London, and New York have been added, including Jonathan Lyndon Chase, Kudzanai-Violet Hwami, Danielle Mckinney, and Arthur Timothy.

Organizers

This exhibition is organized by the National Portrait Gallery, London, in collaboration with the Philadelphia Museum of Art.

For tickets, please visit: https://philamuseum.org/

Nayarit Starts Flight Between Tepic-Islas Marías This October

The state of Nayarit has announced that starting in October of this year, Cessna® Grand Caravan® EX aircraft will be operating a 13-passenger commercial air route from the Riviera Nayarit International Airport in the state capital of Tepic, offering a new way to reach the Islas Marías Biosphere Reserve. This marks a significant step towards increased accessibility for the previously remote islands.

Departures from Tepic to the Islas Marías will be from Wednesday to Sunday, at 8 in the morning and the trip lasts approximately 45 minutes, landing in Puerto Balleto. The cost of the trip will be $8,250 pesos per person and includes lodging on the island as well as meals and tours.

In addition, Juan Enrique Suarez del Real Tostado, Minister of Tourism of the State of Nayarit, explained that during their stay in the Islas Marías, patrons will tour the urban area known as Puerto Balleto which is also where visitors will find accommodations for Islas Marias, as well as the Plaza Juarez, which is the town center home to the Guadalupe Temple and the Muros de Agua Jose Revueltas Auditorium. The auditorium is plastered with murals created by the former prisoners. The island is a haven for outdoor adventure, as well, from hiking and biking to bird watching.

Other riches of the Islas Marías Biosphere Reserve are healthy reefs and corals. Divers and snorkelers will appreciate the diversity of marine life, with coral reefs, an abundance of colorful mollusks, over 21 shark species and 10 different kinds of rays.

A paradise for birdwatchers, the Marias Islands are home to the Tres Marias Amazon, an endemic parrot that cannot be found anywhere else in the world. Other endemic birds include blue-footed boobies, blue mockingbirds, broad-billed hummingbirds, and migratory birds such as the hook-billed kite, Caspian tern and blue-winged teal.

Another way to access Islas Marias, is to take a ferry from San Blas to Puerto Balleto on Isla Maria Madres. Long a hotspot for bird watchers and nature enthusiasts along the Riviera Nayarit, San Blas is a Pacific Coast jewel. The sleepy seaside community is along the northern coast of the state, featuring four miles of fine sand beaches. San Blas is rich in natural beauty, from its navigable canals and mangrove forests to the small islands offshore that welcome more than 300 migratory bird species every year. San Blas dates back to the 17th century when it was developed as a shipyard and departure point for the Spanish Crown. It was here that the first maritime customs house on the Pacific was established. Today, visitors can tour the Contaduria stronghold, as well as the ruins of the Nuestra Señora del Rosario Temple.

The Franklin Institute In Philadelphia To Unveil Reimagined Exhibits In Its Bicentennial Year

As part of its bicentennial celebration, The Franklin Institute, one of the nation’s premier science museums and a national leader in science education, is set to unveil two new exhibits around its most celebrated artifacts: the Baldwin Locomotive and the Giant Heart. Opening to the public on Saturday, November 23, 2024, Hamilton Collections Gallery and Body Odyssey represent a major milestone in the museum’s multi-year transformation, setting the stage for a new era of exploration and discovery as it enters its third century.

“As we celebrate The Franklin Institute's bicentennial year, unveiling these iconic exhibits marks an exciting chapter in our history. With the Hamilton Collections Gallery and Body Odyssey, we're not just showcasing our two most celebrated artifacts but reimagining the exhibits surrounding them,” said Larry Dubinski, President and CEO of The Franklin Institute. “Body Odyssey is a state-of-the-art exhibit on the human body with immersive experiences that not only educate but also inspire, while the Hamilton Collections Gallery offers unprecedented access to hundreds of artifacts from our storied collections, showcasing the rich history of innovation and discovery at the museum.”

Hamilton Collections Gallery

A magnificent two-story showcase of the museum’s vast collections, curated for public view on a scale never before seen in its 200-year history. At the heart of the $12 million gallery is the Baldwin 60000 Locomotive, a cornerstone of its collections since 1933, now overlooking hundreds of historically significant artifacts spanning two centuries of science and technology breakthroughs, including Benjamin Franklin’s Glass Armonica and Lightning Rod, the Light Bulb and other inventions by Thomas Edison, and wing models from the Wright Brothers Aeronautic Collection.

Designed by the award-winning architectural firm SmithGroup, the innovative two-story gallery integrates storytelling with interactive elements to bring the museum’s artifacts to life. It also offers guests a rare glimpse into the inner workings of a museum collections center, providing a unique insight into how these historical objects are preserved.

The gallery unveiling will reveal the Baldwin atop a modern architectural design—a cutaway floor with a two-story storage system rising from the foundation level, equipped to showcase thousands of artifacts now visible to the public for the first time. The cutaway provides an overhead view of the five original steel and concrete bridge structures supporting the 350-ton locomotive, a striking example of 19th-century engineering, now fully visible for the first time in decades. The gallery overlooks a collections studio, offering opportunities for researchers and advancing the museum’s digitization efforts to make its collections accessible to a global audience.

Inaugural Exhibit: 200 Stories for 200 Years

The Hamilton Collections Gallery’s inaugural exhibit, 200 Stories for 200 Years, showcases a curated selection of the museum’s vast collections, offering interactive elements that reveal unexpected connections between objects from diverse scientific fields. Artifacts such as the Weigel Celestial Globe, Franklin’s Printing Press, and Wax Cylinder Records are brought to life through immersive storytelling, weaving together narratives that capture the pioneering spirit of The Franklin Institute and its namesake as the museum celebrates its 200th anniversary.

The gallery marks a significant milestone in the museum’s long history of support from four generations of the Hamilton family, beginning with Samuel M. Vauclain's donation of the Baldwin Locomotive in 1933—now a Philadelphia landmark. In 2017, a $6 million gift from The Hamilton Family Charitable Trust made the gallery possible, and additional support received during the project brought the total contribution to $8.1 million.

Body Odyssey

Curiosity meets discovery in an imaginative new $8.5 million exhibit, Body Odyssey, featuring the iconic Giant Heart. The exhibit is a fascinating journey through the intricacies of the human body in a quest to achieve balance in life and well-being. The 8500-square-foot exhibit features larger-than-life installations, ultramodern simulations, and transportive experiences designed for collaboration and synchronization across three distinct areas: biological systems, biotech innovation, and personal health. Guests will explore the body’s network of structure and function, discover actionable ways to promote mental and physical health, and learn, hands-on, how cutting-edge technologies in AI, robotic surgery, and wearable tech—as well as rising industry leaders—are shaping the future of healthcare.

Body Odyssey and the Giant Heart

Originally beating as "The Engine of Life" in 1954, the papier-mâché sculpture was giant enough to walk through, 15,000 times larger than a real heart, enhanced with the sound of a beating heart, and beloved by millions. Now in its 70th year, the Giant Heart is the centerpiece of this comprehensive exploration of health and the human body, and, in an immersive new addition, generations old and new can experience their own heartbeat pulsing from the Heart in a stunning new display of light and sound, energized through movement and synchronization with others.

The award-winning experiential design firm MDSX spearheaded the exhibit, with direction from Abby Bysshe, TFI's Chief Experience and Strategy Officer, and Jayatri Das, Ph.D., TFI's Chief Bioscientist and Director of Science Content. The experience was shaped by input from an expert advisory board and insight gathered from student workshops, which guided the focus toward mental health, the future of the human body, and the interconnectedness of its systems.

Body Odyssey joins the multi-award-winning Wondrous Space as the first two of six all-new exhibits of a multi-year master plan. This ambitious vision encompasses upcoming new exhibits on earth systems, advanced machines and robotics, the built environment, and computer science. All aim to create a holistic and engaging educational experience for guests, and together, they will set the stage for the new Franklin Institute experience.

The Morel Family Foundation is the Lead Supporter of Body Odyssey, with additional support from Mrs. Sandra K. Baldino, Tobey and Mark Dichter, Independence Blue Cross, Marvin Samson Foundation, and Merck Foundation.

The Franklin Institute received funding from the Pennsylvania Tourism Office, housed within the Department of Community and Economic Development, to promote the Hamilton Collections Gallery and Body Odyssey exhibits. Additionally, through the Redevelopment Assistant Capital Program, financial assistance has been provided by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, Honorable Josh Shapiro, Governor.

Conservation of the Baldwin Locomotive is by the Heritage Conservation Collective. Daniel J. Keating is the general contractor for the transformation of the Hamilton Collections Gallery, and Becker & Frondorf is the project manager.

About The Franklin Institute

Located in the heart of Philadelphia, the Franklin Institute is a renowned and innovative leader in science and technology learning and a dynamic center of exploration. As Pennsylvania's most visited museum, it is dedicated to creating a passion for learning about science by offering access to hands-on science education. For more information, visit www.fi.edu.

Battery-Powered Devices Are Overheating More Often On Planes And Raising Alarm

Devices powered by lithium-ion batteries are overheating more often during airline flights and passengers often put them in checked bags that go into the cargo hold, where a fire might not be detected as quickly.

Overheating incidents rose 28% from 2019 to 2023, although such events remain relatively rare, UL Standards & Engagement said in a report released Monday.

E-cigarettes overheated more often than any other device, according to the report.

In 60% of the cases, the overheating — called thermal runaway — happened near the seat of the passenger who brought the device on board.

In July, a smoking laptop in a passenger’s bag led to the evacuation of a plane awaiting takeoff at San Francisco International Airport. Last year, a flight from Dallas to Orlando, Florida, made an emergency landing in Jacksonville, Florida, after a battery caught fire in an overhead bin.

More than one-quarter of passengers surveyed for the study said they put vaping cigarettes and portable chargers in checked bags. That is against federal rules.

The Transportation Security Administration prohibits e-cigarettes and chargers and power banks with lithium-ion batteries in checked bags but allows them in carry-on bags. The rule exists precisely because fires in the cargo hold might be harder to detect and extinguish.

UL Standards & Engagement, part of a safety-science company once known as Underwriters Laboratories, said it based its findings on data from 35 passenger and cargo airlines including nine of the 10 leading U.S. passenger carriers.

The Federal Aviation Administration reports 37 thermal-runaway incidents on planes this year, through Aug. 15. There were 77 reports last year, a 71% increase over 2019, according to the FAA numbers. Considering that airlines operate about 180,000 U.S. flights each week, incidents in the air are relatively uncommon, and lithium batteries can overheat anywhere.

“We also know that one of these thermal-runaway incidents at 40,000 feet does present unique risks,” said UL’s David Wroth.

Those risks have been known for many years.

After cargo planes carrying loads of lithium-ion batteries crashed in 2010 and 2011, the United Nations’ aviation organization considered restricting such shipments but rejected tougher standards. Opponents, including airlines, argued that the decision on whether to accept battery shipments should be left up to the carriers, and some no longer take bulk battery shipments.

The most common lithium-ion-powered devices on planes are phones, laptops, wireless headphones and tablets. About 35% of reported overheating incidents involved e-cigarettes, and 16% involved power banks.

By DAVID KOENIG

Princess Cruises Extends Cruise Industry's Best Price Guarantee On 2025 & 2026 Cruises

After a successful launch earlier this summer, Princess Cruises is extending its "Better than Best Price Guarantee" offer through December 15, 2024, so guests can continue to book their ultimate 2025 or 2026 cruise vacation with the added confidence they are securing the absolute best cruise fare available.

With the "Better than Best Price Guarantee" guests are assured that if they find a better fare for the same Princess cruise, stateroom category, and sail date at any time before their final payment, Princess will honor the lower rate and provide 120% of the difference in the form of an onboard credit.

"Now is the best time to secure preferred itineraries to spectacular destinations in the accommodations you prefer – from balconies, suites and more – all at the best pricing," said Terry Thornton, Princess Cruises chief commercial officer. "Plus, our exclusive guarantee covers the extended period from the initial booking all the way to final payment – a perk not always offered by other cruise lines."

How it Works

If a guest who books a cruise between now and December 15, 2024, for any 2025 or 2026 departure, finds an active, publicly available lower cruise fare for the identical verified booking on princess.com prior to the final payment of the cruise, guests can submit a Guarantee Claim Form and Princess will give the guest an onboard credit (OBC) with a value of 120% of the difference between what the guest actually paid for the original booking and the located cruise fare*.

Compared to land-based vacations, Princess Cruises offers exceptional vacation value to more than 335 destinations, more than 90 countries and all seven continents.

The Princess fleet, renowned for its well-appointed staterooms, world-class dining, grand performances, award-winning casinos and entertainment, luxurious spas, imaginative experiences, and boundless activities, expands to 17 ships in fall 2025 with the addition of Star Princess, the second ship in the innovative new Sphere Class.

No matter the cruise, Princess delivers a premium vacation with the line's award-winning, signature Princess MedallionClass experience which offers unparalleled service and personalization. Guests booking can take advantage of inclusive packages like Princess Plus and Princess Premier which add popular amenities like WiFi, beverages, desserts, fitness classes, crew appreciation and more at an even greater savings of up 65% when the inclusive package amenities are purchased separately.

Additional information about Princess Cruises is available through a professional travel advisor, by calling 1-800-Princess (1-800-774-6237) or by visiting www.princess.com.

The Bells Are Back At Notre Dame Cathedral In Paris. They’ll Ring For The Post-Fire Reopening

Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris is getting its bells back, just in time for the medieval landmark’s reopening following a devastating 2019 fire.

A convoy of trucks bearing eight restored bells — the heaviest of which weighs more than 4 tons — pulled into the huge worksite surrounding the monument Thursday on an island in the Seine River.

They are being blessed in a special ceremony inside the cathedral before being hoisted to hang in its twin towers for the Dec. 8 reopening to the public.

Cathedral Rector Olivier Ribadeau Dumas, wearing a hardhat as he prepared to enter the cathedral and bless the bells, called them ‘’a sign that the cathedral will again resonate, and that its voice will be heard again. A sign of the call to prayer, and a sign of coming together.”

The bells will be raised one by one and tested out, but they won’t ring in full until the day of the reopening, said Philippe Jost, overseeing the massive Notre Dame reconstruction project. He called the bells’ arrival ‘’a very beautiful symbol of the cathedral’s rebirth.’

While construction on the cathedral started in the 12th century, the bronze bells damaged in the fire are from the 21st century. They were built according to historical tradition to replace older bells that had become discordant, to mark the monument’s 850th anniversary.

The cathedral’s roof and spire, which collapsed in the fire, have been replaced, and scaffolding is being gradually removed from the site.

PARIS (AP)

The Ancient Jar Smashed By A 4-Year-Old Is Back On Display At An Israeli Museum After Repair

A rare Bronze-Era jar accidentally smashed by a 4-year-old visiting a museum was back on display Wednesday after restoration experts were able to carefully piece the artifact back together.

Last month, a family from northern Israel was visiting the museum when their youngest son tipped over the jar, which smashed into pieces.

Alex Geller, the boy’s father, said his son — the youngest of three — is exceptionally curious, and that the moment he heard the crash, “please let that not be my child” was the first thought that raced through his head.

The jar has been on display at the Hecht Museum in Haifa for 35 years. It was one of the only containers of its size and from that period still complete when it was discovered.

The Bronze Age jar is one of many artifacts exhibited out in the open, part of the Hecht Museum’s vision of letting visitors explore history without glass barriers, said Inbal Rivlin, the director of the museum, which is associated with Haifa University in northern Israel.

It was likely used to hold wine or oil, and dates back to between 2200 and 1500 B.C.
Rivlin and the museum decided to turn the moment, which captured international attention, into a teaching moment, inviting the Geller family back for a special visit and hands-on activity to illustrate the restoration process.
Rivlin added that the incident provided a welcome distraction from the ongoing war in Gaza. “Well, he’s just a kid. So I think that somehow it touches the heart of the people in Israel and around the world,“ said Rivlin.

Roee Shafir, a restoration expert at the museum, said the repairs would be fairly simple, as the pieces were from a single, complete jar. Archaeologists often face the more daunting task of sifting through piles of shards from multiple objects and trying to piece them together.

Experts used 3D technology, hi-resolution videos, and special glue to painstakingly reconstruct the large jar.

Less than two weeks after it broke, the jar went back on display at the museum. The gluing process left small hairline cracks, and a few pieces are missing, but the jar’s impressive size remains.

The only noticeable difference in the exhibit was a new sign reading “please don’t touch.”

https://apnews.com/author/melanie-lidman

JetBlue Is Launching New Flights From San Juan, Puerto Rico To St Croix This Winter

JetBlue is set to kick off a brand-new route to St Croix in the US Virgin Islands, Caribbean Journal has learned. It’s the newest way to get to the culinary capital of the US Virgin Islands, which is hotter than ever thanks to a renewed tourism branding push and a buzzing gastronomic movement.

The new service is set to launch on Dec. 12, 2024, JetBlue confirmed. Flights will be operating every day of the week.

So what else do you need to know about the low-cost-carrier’s new route?

The King Christian hotel in Christiansted.

The San Juan-St Croix flight takes just 45 minutes (it’s just 94 miles between the two islands, after all). JetBlue is running the service on Airbus A320 aircraft.

And what about cost?

Right now, flights start at about $131.70 round trip, according to an analysis by Caribbean Journal. That is for fares booked in JetBlue’s Blue Basic entry-level fare.

For more, visit https://www.jetblue.com/
https://www.caribjournal.com/

What's New In San Diego This Fall & Winter 2024-25

Arts & Culture

Artist(s): Memo Akten, Katie Ppeyton Hofstader + SOARS

The Getty Foundation’s major arts event, PST ART, returns in September 2024, with several San Diego County museums and institutions participating. The latest edition, PST ART: Art & Science Collide, will explore the connections between art and science through exhibitions on topics like ancient cosmologies, Indigenous sci-fi, environmental justice, and artificial intelligence. These exhibitions are part of a series of interconnected exhibitions across Southern California that aims to spark civic dialogue on urgent issues like climate change, AI, and alternative medicine, offering new research, unforgettable experiences, and fresh insight. Events will include exhibition openings, artist talks, panel discussions, and interactive workshops.

Museums participating include:
The San Diego Museum of Art will present Wonders of Creation: Art, Science, and Innovation in the Islamic World from September 7, 2024, to January 5, 2025. This exhibition explores the intersections of art and science in Islamic culture from the 7th century to the present, featuring over 100 works, including manuscripts, maps, and scientific instruments, alongside contemporary commissions that reflect the enduring spirit of wonder and curiosity.

Oceanside Museum of Art, in collaboration with Orange County Museum of Art and Crystal Cove Conservancy, will present Transformative Currents: Art and Action in the Pacific Ocean from September 7, 2024, to January 5, 2025. This exhibition features works by 20 contemporary artists that explore the environmental and cultural challenges facing the Pacific Ocean, emphasizing the interconnectedness of its ecosystems and the power of art to inspire positive ecological change.

Mingei International Museum will present Blue Gold: The Art and Science of Indigo from September 14, 2024, to March 16, 2025. The exhibition will delve into the complex history and global significance of indigo, exploring its roles in botany, chemistry, and economics, as well as its cultural impact and problematic legacies, while featuring contemporary works by artists like Porfirio Gutiérrez and Laura Kina.

The Museum of Contemporary Art San Diego (MCASD) will present For Dear Life: Art, Medicine, and Disability from September 19, 2024, to February 2, 2025. This is the first historical survey of artistic responses to sickness, health, and medicine in the United States. It features works by 80 artists, including Lynn Hershman Leeson, David Hockney, and Simone Leigh, exploring how health issues shape artistic processes and subject matter.

La Jolla Historical Society with additional venues at California Center for the Arts Escondido, San Diego Central Library, and the Mandeville Art Gallery at UC San Diego will present Helen and Newton Harrison: California Work from September 19, 2024, to January 19, 2025. The first to focus exclusively on the Harrisons' California projects, showcases nearly 20 groundbreaking ecological artworks created between the late 1960s and 2000s, including re-staged performance pieces, archival materials, and The Lagoon Cycle, displayed for the first time since its acquisition by the Centre Georges Pompidou in 1997.

UC San Diego Visual Arts, in partnership with Birch Aquarium at Scripps Institution of Oceanography, will present Embodied Pacific from September 21, 2024, to February 5, 2025. This exhibition features 18 artworks created by artists in collaboration with UC San Diego scientists, spanning three locations, including Birch Aquarium and the Indigenous-run Kosay Kumeyaay Market, and explores the intersection of oceanography and Indigenous knowledge, offering a collective vision for sustaining our oceans during a time of critical change.

Vanguard Culture’s ENVZN24: Urban Art Takeover festival returns for its second year on September 14. ENVZN24 is a one-of-a-kind visual and performing arts festival that will transform urban areas of the Commercial Street corridor in Logan Heights with multi-sensory art interventions by creatives from both sides of the U.S.-Mexico border.

The La Jolla Playhouse has announced its fall lineup, featuring the world premiere of “Velour: A Drag Spectacular,” starring RuPaul’s Drag Race winner Sasha Velour, and directed by Moisés Kaufmanis running now through September 8; The west coast premiere of Pulitzer Prize-winner and New York Times Critic’s Pick “Primary Trust,” created by Eboni Booth, directed by Knud Adams, runs September 24 through October 20; A production of “Your Local Theater Presents: A Christmas Carol, by Charles Dickens, Again,” created by Anna Ouyang Monech and directed by Les Waters, runs November 19 through December 15.

New Hotels & Renovations

Hotel La Jolla has completed a multi-million-dollar property renovation with the introduction of the penthouse level restaurant concept, Sea & Sky, helmed by executive chef Anthony Wells, James Beard Awards 2022 semifinalist for Best Chef. Previously enclosed, the 100-seat dining room and bar area on the property’s 11th floor now feature retractable windowpanes allowing the wafting in of refreshing salt-tinged sea breezes, and a newly enclosed show kitchen allows guests a front row seat to the culinary action.

Sheraton San Diego Hotel & Marina has completed the next installment of its over $100 million property-wide renovation with a newly transformed lobby and the opening of three onsite dining concepts. Rumorosa presents Cali-Baja cuisine with sweeping views of the marina. Brewery X Harbor Island is the first San Diego location of the Orange County-based brewery and features a menu of wild and whacky named dishes. Along with the refresh of the property’s three pools, Sunglow Cabana Bar offers frozen drinks for all ages.

Estancia La Jolla Hotel & Spa has unveiled two new on-site eateries following the completion of its $26 million renovation and redevelopment this summer. On its pool deck, guests can visit The Palma Bar & Grill, offering cocktails and light bites. The Trading Post Café & Bar offers a slightly more elevated dining experience on an outdoor patio with menu items made with locally sourced ingredients.

Just in time for its 20th anniversary, the Omni San Diego Hotel in the Gaslamp Quarter has announced the completion of its top-down renovation. This includes a redesigned poolside experience, two new food and beverage concepts, refreshed meeting and event spaces, and reimagined lobby and guest rooms.

Awards & Recognitions

The Outsiders, a hit show during the 2022-2023 season of The La Jolla Playhouse, was named Best Musical at The Tony Awards. The musical, a classical literature adaptation, debuted on the La Jolla Playhouse stage before it was brought into the national spotlight on Broadway. The Outsiders also took home wins for Best Direction of a Musical, Best Lighting Design of a Musical and Best Sound Design of a Musical.

Recently, the American Institute of Architects (AIA) recognized local architect Jennifer Luce with the prestigious Honor Award for Interior Architecture. The Honor Award was given for Luce’s work in transforming the Mingei International Museum.

Several hotels throughout the San Diego region have been selected by readers of Smart Meetings Magazine to be named 2024 Smart Stars. Smart Meetings is a trade publication for event professionals, and each year, they honor some of their readers’ best experiences and favorite meeting partners with a Smart Star award.

Best Incentive Hotel – Rancho Bernardo Inn

Best Ballroom – Marriott Marquis San Diego Marina

Best Coastal Hotel – Hyatt Regency Mission Bay Spa and Marina

Best Coastal Hotel – Sheraton San Diego Hotel & Marina

Best Conference/Convention Center Hotel – Omni San Diego Hotel

Best Historic Hotel – The US Grant, a Luxury Collection Hotel, San Diego

Best Island Hotel – Kona Kai San Diego Resort

Best Outdoor Event Space – Estancia La Jolla Hotel & Spa

Best Golf Resort – Fairmont Grand Del Mar

For more information on San Diego’s offerings, including exciting vacation packages and valuable coupons for attractions, restaurants and more, visit the San Diego Tourism Authority’s website at www.sandiego.org.

Oceania Cruises Includes Gratuities For All Guests As It Unveils Your World Included New Value Promise

Oceania Cruises®, the world's leading culinary- and destination-focused cruise line, has unveiled Your World Included™, its new brand value promise that features an updated selection of always included amenities for all guests across the globe, cementing its brand promise, Your World. Your Way.®

As part of Your World Included, all guests will now receive included shipboard gratuities for stateroom attendants, butlers, and dining waitstaff automatically in their cruise fare. Previously, gratuities had been included selectively as travel partner or loyalty club amenities or for guests from certain regions of the world.

Gratuities are in addition to other Your World Included amenities: dining at all gourmet specialty restaurants; sodas, juices, specialty coffees and teas; still and sparkling Vero Water®; unlimited Starlink® WiFi; in-room dining; fruit smoothies, gelato and artisan ice cream; group fitness classes; and laundry services.

The updated inclusions will begin on October 1, 2024, for all new reservations on sailings departing on or after January 1, 2025. The line's current simply MORE™ offering will end on September 30, 2024, meaning that a shore excursion credit and beverage package will no longer be automatically included.

The change has come following guest feedback highlighting that while they enjoyed the simply MORE inclusions, they would rather global guest inclusions focused on what mattered most. At the top of this list was always included gratuities for all guests.  
  
"Oceania Cruises' promise to show our guests Your World. Your Way has been at the heart of our business since we launched more than 20 years ago. The change has come following feedback from guests, highlighting that they would prefer that we include amenities valued by all versus amenities valued by some. Not surprisingly, our guests place the greatest value on our core inclusions such as free specialty dining and free WiFi; including gratuities creates the richest possible array of amenities and benefits for our guests globally," said Frank A. Del Rio, President of Oceania Cruises. "It also gives us a clearly defined position in the cruise sector as the leading ultra-premium line of choice, offering outsized value to our guests."

Based on a 10-day cruise, guests will receive always included amenities valued at more than $1,800 per stateroom when compared to premium cruise lines. This figure is based on average charges made for gratuities, WiFi, non-alcoholic beverage packages, and specialty dining reservations.

"Here at Oceania Cruises, we've always been renowned for our warm and authentic service; it's part of the intangible magic of sailing on board one of our small, luxurious ships. I'm delighted that we are adding in gratuities for all guests, as our dedicated onboard team is working for guests' smiles – not their tip. Making every interaction with our guests count is our service culture mantra," said Del Rio.

The generous suite of always included amenities through the new Your World Included brand value promise in full:

Gourmet Specialty Restaurants: A variety of distinctive, open-seating restaurants, all at no additional charge.

In-Suite and In-Stateroom Dining: Our hot and cold in-room dining selections are sublime and complimentary.

Unlimited WiFi: Starlink® connectivity affords much quicker upload and download speeds.

Sodas, Specialty Coffees & Teas: Whether at a restaurant, lounge or Baristas coffee bar, it's always free.

Still & Sparkling Vero Water®: Unlimited, eco-friendly and great tasting, the gold standard of still and sparkling water.

Juices, Smoothies & Gourmet Ice Cream: Cold-pressed juices, fruit smoothies, homemade gelato and gourmet ice creams are always included.

Group Fitness Classes: Choose from a selection of free classes at Aquamar® Spa + Vitality Center.

Laundry Services: With free launderettes included along with laundry services and pressing for Concierge and Suite levels, you'll always look your finest.

Shipboard Gratuities: Our people make the difference – they work for your smile, not for your tip.

Guests can personalize their vacation experience with extras such as air transportation and transfers, shore excursions, or a beverage package, to be added according to preference.

For additional information on Oceania Cruises' small-ship luxury product, exquisitely crafted cuisine and expertly curated travel experiences, visit OceaniaCruises.com, call 855-OCEANIA, or speak with a professional travel advisor.

A Wish At Rome’s Trevi Fountain Could Soon Cost More Than The Coin You Toss

Seemingly every tourist in Rome knows the key to returning to the Eternal City is to toss a coin into the Trevi Fountain and make a wish. The result: Hoards of visitors packing the Baroque monument any given day, taking selfies and betting on a return trip.

Officials are now considering a plan to manage tourism to one of Rome’s most-visited sites: A 2-euro ($2.25) ticket to access an open-air fountain that has always been free of charge.

The proposal by city’s top tourism official, Alessandro Onorato, comes after the Italian lagoon city of Venice tested a controversial 5-euro daytripper access fee to the city this summer. It must be deliberated by the City Council before it takes effect, but the city’s mayor, Roberto Gualtieri, has already voiced support.

“Two euros is more or less the same amount that people toss into the fountain to make a wish,’’ Onorato told The Associated Press Friday.

Cities across the globe are grappling with how to manage the ever-growing number of tourists, who fuel the economy but can create inconveniences to residents by converging on the same top sites.

“We have to avoid, especially in a fragile art city like Rome, that too many tourists damage the tourist experience, and damage the city,’’ Onorato said. “We need to safeguard two things, that tourists don’t experience chaos and that citizens can continue to live in the center.”

Onorato said he hopes to test the entrance fee, which would be managed through a reservation system and a QR code, in time for the 2025 Jubilee Holy Year, and have the system operational by spring.

Passersby in the piazza overlooking the fountain will not have to pay. The fee would be charged only to those entering the nine stone steps leading up to the fountain’s edge. It would be free to Romans.

Onorato said the system would also help discourage people from eating on the steps overlooking the fountain and feeding pigeons or, worse, from reenacting Anita Ekberg’s plunge into the fountain in Fellini’s “La Dolce Vita,” a frequently repeated offense that carries a fine.

“It would happen less, or maybe it wouldn’t happen at all, because whoever would enter, we would know their names and where they live. It becomes more complicated,’’ he said.

By LEILA EL ZABRI