First Italian Curio Hotel To Open In The Heart Of The Tuscan Hills

The resort includes the Buddha Spa by Clarins and is connected to an 18-hole golf course. Credit: Curio Collection by Hilton.

SIENA, Italy - Hilton (NYSE: HLT) has reached a management agreement with Agricola Merse Srl to bring Curio - A Collection by Hilton to Tuscany. The 101-guestroom La Bagnaia Golf & Spa Resort Siena is set to welcome guests from March 2017.

Patrick Fitzgibbon, senior vice president, development, EMEA, Hilton said, "La Bagnaia Golf & Spa Resort Siena is a stunning, one-of-a-kind hotel and, in joining the Curio Collection, this remarkable property will keep its unique identity whilst benefiting from Hilton's support as a leading global hospitality company. With over 11 million tourists visiting Tuscany every year, there continues to be strong demand in the region for an upscale, full service hotel, and we're absolutely delighted to welcome La Bagnaia into the Curio Collection."

Surrounded by the beautiful Sienese countryside, La Bagnaia is a tranquil oasis set against a landscape scattered with charming medieval hamlets and towns. Spread over 1,100 hectares, the upscale hotel has a village-like look and feel, divided across a number of buildings and featuring two main 'hamlets' - Borgo  La Bagnaia and Borgo la Filetta. The resort includes the Buddha Spa by Clarins and is connected to an 18-hole golf course. The range of facilities provided by the hotel for leisure and business travellers include two restaurants and two bars, three swimming pools, 12 treatment rooms, a tennis court, and conference rooms which combined cater for almost 1,000 delegates.

Situated just 12km from the city of Siena - a World Heritage Site and one of Italy's most popular tourist destinations - the hotel is conveniently located for guests wishing to access the city's many attractions including the Piazza del Campo, the Mangia Tower and the Santa Maria Assunta Cathedral. Steeped in history, culture-rich Siena and its surrounding areas offer multiple attractions including exquisite Italian cuisine and world-famous vineyards.    

Marisa Riffeser Monti, president of INFI, said: "Our collaboration with Hilton will allow La Bagnaia to expand its customer base, attracting tourists from around the world. The resort's unique structure allows it to cater for a wide range of requirements without sacrificing the quality of any individual customer's service. La Bagnaia can meet the needs of those seeking a vacation dedicated to well-being thanks to the Buddha Spa and its precious thermal waters, but also the needs of sports lovers with the panoramic Royal Golf Bagnaia designed by the famous golf course architect, Robert Trent Jones, Jr. The hotel's strategic location allows visitors to explore some of the most important destinations of Italian cultural heritage, while modern facilities make it an ideal location for conferences at the highest level, as demonstrated by significant events previously hosted by the hotel. My family will continue to invest in this Region: other property improvements include the purchase of approximately 23,000 square meters worth of real estate including restored historic buildings such as a 15^th Century castle, and new-build developments."

La Bagnaia Golf & Spa Resort Siena can be reached from a number of international airports, and also has excellent car, bus and rail links. The resort is 95km from Florence Peretola Airport and 130 km from Pisa International Airport, both of which provide regular domestic and international flights. Siena-Ampugnano Airport is only 7km away, while Siena's main railway station is 30km from La Bagnaia and also offers access to a number of national rail services. Many frequent bus services are also available, and the hotel is easily accessed by car and holds 360 car parking spaces.

Mark Nogal, global head, Curio - A Collection by Hilton, said: "La Bagnaia has such a wonderful, distinctive character - not to mention a stunning setting in some of the most beautiful Tuscan countryside. A charming property, the resort has a compelling identity and provides a peaceful sanctuary in a location rich with history, culture and extraordinary scenery. We are thrilled that it is set to become Italy's first hotel in the Curio Collection."

Curio - A Collection by Hilton is a global set of remarkable upscale and luxury hotels hand-picked for their unique character and personality; each one embedded with local history and culture. La Bagnaia Golf & Spa Resort Siena will join the collection of more than 80 properties open or in various stages of development across the world, in locations including Hamburg, Reykjavik, London, Paris and Ibiza.

La Bagnaia Golf & Spa Resort Siena is located at S.S. 223 Siena-Grosseto, Km 56, 53016 Sovicille, Province of Siena, Italy. More information about Curio - A Collection by Hilton may be found at curio.com.

Airbnb Threatens To Sue New York If Governor Signs New Law Curtailing Its Service

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  By Andrew J . Hawkins
  

‘More in sadness than in anger’

Airbnb says a bill that would outlaw advertising short-term rentals on its platform in New York is unconstitutional and is threatening to sue the state if Governor Andrew Cuomo signs it into law.

Airbnb has been fighting an uphill battle for legal status in New York, which prohibits landlords and homeowners from renting out apartments for less than 30 days at a time. The bill to prevent advertising these rentals would essentially cripple the company’s operations in New York, which is among its most lucrative markets.

In a letter to Cuomo and other state leaders, Airbnb outlines the legal action it says it would be forced take should the governor sign the bill, AB 8704-C, into law. “As this unlawful bill would impose real harm on our community, out of respect for the process and to inform your considerations, we want to formally notify the State that if it is signed into law by Governor Cuomo, Airbnb would have no choice but to immediately file suit against the State of New York and ask a court to declare the statute invalid and unenforceable as well as to award any damages and fees as appropriate,” Rob Chesnut, general counsel of Airbnb, writes in the letter.

“AIRBNB WANTS TO BE CLEAR THAT IT DOES SO MORE IN SADNESS THAN IN ANGER”

Chesnut adds, “In making such a formal notification, Airbnb wants to be clear that it does so more in sadness than in anger, as the company believes that there are clearly available lawful alternative legislative options to meet legitimate policy objectives while still protecting the right of everyday New Yorkers to share the homes they live in order to help make ends meet.”

Airbnb has been accused of exacerbating New York’s housing crisis by housing advocates, the state’s powerful hotel union, and members of the state legislature and New York City Council. Some unscrupulous landlords have been known to push out their tenants, many of them low-income, so they can turn their apartments into illegal hotels, which they advertise on Airbnb.

Last year, the New York attorney general released a report that found that from 2010 through early June of 2014, $168.3 million, or 37 percent percent of revenue generated by Airbnb hosts, came from hosts with three or more listings.

AIRBNB HAS SCRUBBED THOUSANDS OF LISTINGS OFF ITS SITE

In response, Airbnb has scrubbed thousands of listings that are known to be illegal hotels off its site. Last July, it kicked 2,233 listings — 5 percent of the total — off its New York City platform. It also released a new dataset of its listings in each of New York City’s 195Neighborhood Tabulation Areas, a geographic designation used by the city’s Department of Planning to describe the neighborhoods in a way that aligns with US Census tracts. This data proves that “96 percent of the hosts on the Airbnb platform in New York City have only one listing,” the company says.

The bill to restrict Airbnb’s advertising passed both the New York State Assembly and Senate earlier this summer, and is now headed to Cuomo’s desk for his consideration. A spokesperson for the governor says no decision on whether to sign the bill has yet been made. “This is one among more than 500 bills that was passed by the Legislature in the last weeks of the legislative session,” the spokesperson said. “It remains under review by Counsel’s Office.”

The Venetian Las Vegas Hosts 'An Evening With Al Pacino' On October 15th

LAS VEGAS, NV - Actor, screenwriter, producer and director Al Pacino will bring his acclaimed "An Evening with Al Pacino," to the Opaline Theatre inside The Venetian Las Vegas on Saturday, October 15. "An Evening With Al Pacino" will explore a myriad of highlights from Pacino's career on stage and screen.

Attendees will get a rare glimpse at Pacino's life while he shares intimate backstage tales from Hollywood to Broadway. This special event will also give audience members a special chance to speak directly to Pacino in a question and answer session.

Pacino has starred in more than forty films, including The Godfather Trilogy, Dog Day Afternoon, Serpico, Dick Tracy, Heat, Scarface, Any Given Sunday, Carlito's Way and Scent of a Woman, for which he won an Oscar for in 1992. He is one of the rare winners of the triple crown of acting: the Oscar, Tony and Emmy Award and received a National Medal of Arts for 2011 from President Obama.

"Al Pacino is certainly one of the most gifted actors of our time. This is an opportunity for our guests to be part of something truly special – a night they soon won't forget," said George Markantonis, president and chief operating officer of The Venetian, The Palazzo and The Sands Expo.

Canadian Passport Required: Canada Changes Entry Rules For Dual Citizens

OTTAWA, Canada - Dual citizen Canadians must show a Canadian passport to enter the country under tightened entry rules effective September 30.

In years past, the government said that dual citizens often entered Canada using their foreign passports backed up by a citizenship card or a provincial driver’s licence to confirm they were Canadian citizens. Now, this practice will end for dual citizens flying into Canada.

Without a proper Canadian passport, Canadian citizens will not be allowed to enter the country as part of a new electronic travel authorization system.

In a new advisory, the Canadian government warned that “Canadian citizens will need to have appropriate documents to travel to Canada before they can board their flight. A valid Canadian passport is the only reliable and universally accepted travel document that provides proof that you are a citizen and have the right to enter Canada without being subjected to immigration screening. Make sure that the expiry date of the passport is well beyond your planned return date”.

Travelers were advised that the only valid documents to enter the country are “a valid Canadian passport, a Canadian temporary passport, or a Canadian emergency travel document”.

The government also noted that although the electronic travel authorization system was put into effect earlier in 2016, it hasn’t been fully strictly enforced until now.

Visa-exempt foreign nationals, meanwhile, traveling to Canada have been shown leniency until the new system is fully online.

“A new entry requirement, known as an Electronic Travel Authorization (eTA), is now in effect for visa-exempt foreign nationals traveling to or transiting through Canada by air. To make sure travelling to Canada stays easy and stress-free, leniency will be shown to travelers who are caught unawares until September 29, 2016.”

American-Canadian travelers will be exempt from the Canadian-passport-only rule and can enter Canada with a United States passport.

“American citizens, including American-Canadian citizens, must carry proper identification and meet the basic requirements to enter Canada. You do not need a Canadian passport, a Canadian visa or an eTA to fly to Canada if you are travelling with a valid US passport.”

How to renew your Canadian passport

To renew your Canadian passport, your current passport must:

• Be valid or expired for no more than one year maximum,

• Have the same name, sex, date of birth and place of birth that you would like to appear on your new passport,

• Have been issued with a 5-year or 10-year validity,

• Not be damaged,

• Not have been reported lost or stolen, and

• Have been issued when you were at least 16 years of age.

10 Things To Know Before Your First European River Cruise

Photo by Valerie Marino

Well hello, Danube.

For the first-time Europe traveler, a river cruise is an attractive option.

River cruising has been enjoying a recent surge in popularity, and it’s easy to understand why: Unpack your bags once and enjoy the changing scenery from your stateroom balcony as you sail through multiple countries and charming European towns. Could river cruising be the sweet spot between guided land tours and sailing on a cruise ship? My husband and I set sail on the Danube River this summer for a week full of firsts: our first time aboard a cruise ship, and our first visit to any of the countries on the route, including Hungary, Slovakia, Austria, and Germany. Here’s what we learned along the way—and what we'll know for next time.

THEY’RE NOT JUST FOR BABY BOOMERS

While river cruising is still quite popular with travelers of a certain age, the market is opening to younger couples and multigenerational families. One example? Adventures by Disney this summer teamed up with AmaWaterways to sail the Danube River, with the Rhine coming in 2017, aboard custom-designed ships featuring connecting staterooms and suites that accommodate up to four passengers each. Disney guides lead so-called Junior Adventurers on special excursions and host a kids-only dinner in the ship’s lounge nightly, so you may even forget they’re on the ship at times.

OVERPACKING IS BAD, BUT BEING UNDER-PREPARED IS WORSE

With the average stateroom size under 200 square feet, it’s important to pack smart for a river cruise. That said, you will need to be prepared for a variety of situations—everything from strenuous hiking to dinner at the ship’s chef’s table to getting caught in the rain in Salzburg. Take advantage of your ship’s laundry service as a way to cut back on what you bring. It’s worth repeating an outfit or two if that leaves precious room inyour luggage for souvenirs.

YOU WILL ABSOLUTELY BREAK A SWEAT

Try not to feel too guilty about the lavish four-course dinners plated before you each night: After all, gelato every day for a week feels like a reasonable indulgence when you’re averaging 20,000 steps a day. Popular shore excursions in Austria’s Wachau Valley include climbing to the ruins on Dürnstein Castle (1,023 feet straight up) and a 22-mile bike ride between the riverside towns of Melk and Krems. But if you feel like that’s not enough, you can always power-walk a few laps on the sun deck or sneak a workout in the exercise room before dinner.

IT'S A GOOD WAY TO VISIT EUROPE FOR THE FIRST TIME

With a day in each port, river cruising provides a “best of” when it comes to all the sights and experiences the region has to offer, with the intimidation-lowering factor of your own semi-private guide. If you take advantage of all the excursions your cruise provides, you’ll be kept busy from just after breakfast until dinner—and still feel like there’s so much more to see.

FREE TIME IS PRICELESS

The downside of trying to take in a city in a single day is feeling over-scheduled. Remember that everything on your daily itinerary is optional. (Except for the port departure time—you won’t want to miss that.) Discover on the first day that you absolutely despise guided walking tours? Take the charter bus with your group and then tour on your own. Hear great things about a local restaurant, but your dinner is scheduled on the ship for that night? Ask the front desk to help you book a reservation and a cab. Plan an itinerary that makes sense for your interests and preferences, not just what the cruise line thinks you should do.

Written by Valerie Marino

 www.cntraveler.com

Travelore Cruise News: MSC Cruises Reveals Name Of Second Meraviglia-Generation Mega Ship

GENEVA, Switzerland - MSC Cruises – the Swiss-based world's largest privately-owned cruise line and market leader in Europe, South America and South Africa – revealed the name of its second STX France-built Meraviglia-generation ultramodern mega cruise ship. She will be called MSC Bellissima and will come into service in the Spring 2019.

"MSC Bellissima is a name that embodies the beauty and the magnificence of this entire next generation of MSC Cruises ultramodern mega-ships, so rich with new features and amenities for guests of all ages and interests," said Gianni Onorato, chief executive officer of MSC Cruises. "We are so pleased to be able to make this announcement on the very day that her sister ship MSC Meraviglia is touched for the first time by water, a moment that symbolizes the real 'birth' of a ship."

The announcement was made earlier today at STX France's shipyard in Saint Nazaire, as the Company celebrated the float out of MSC Cruises' first next-generation ultramodern mega-ship, MSC Meraviglia, due to come into service in June 2017. The ceremony was attended by, amongst others, esteemed MSC Cruises and STX France guests, Senator of Pays de la Loire Region, Bruno Retailleau, General Council President of Loire Atlantique, Philippe Grosvalet and the Mayor of Saint-Nazaire, David Samzun.

"Since we opened sales last year for MSC Meraviglia's inaugural season in the Western Mediterranean, from the very beginning demand has been extremely encouraging," said Onorato. "This make us believe that this is a generation of ships with a bright future ahead, that has already caught the attention of vacationers from all markets."

"We are extremely proud to design and build MSC Cruises' next generations of cruise ships," said Laurent Castaing, president of STX France. "We are aware and thankful for the trust this amazing company has in our innovation ability. It's been more than 12 years that our industrial partnership has started, and we are always excited by the challenges of fulfilling MSC ambitions."

The float out is a key milestone in the construction of a ship: the dry dock is flooded, the ship is moved to a wet dock, where she then enters the final phase of her construction. Today's event presented a unique opportunity to showcase guests and global media alike the cutting edge design that makes the Meraviglia generation of MSC Cruises ultramodern mega-ships uniquely innovative, and a true destination in itself. This includes, amongst her many on-board features, the specially designed Carousel Lounge where Cirque du Soleil artists will perform shows created exclusively for MSC Cruises guests; a 315 foot long Mediterranean-style promenade with a 262 foot LED sky that runs through the center of the ship; and an enhanced MSC Yacht Club, MSC Cruises' exclusive ship within a ship luxury concept, with its own private facilities spanning three decks.

Lufthansa Is First European Airline To Offer TSA Pre✓®

Eligible passengers flying Lufthansa now able to have expedited screening at security checkpoints of participating U.S. airports / Trusted-traveler program participation adds to air carrier’s quality promise to its customers

On August 31, 2016, Lufthansa German Airlines became the first European air carrier to participate in the U.S. Transportation Security Administration’s TSA Pre✓® program. As a result of this initiative, Lufthansa customers that are eligible will experience an expedited and efficient screening process at the security checkpoint of participating U.S. airports.

The safety of Lufthansa German Airlines’ customers is of utmost importance and is of paramount priority. Following this, the airline’s main focus is on a premium customer experience and quality promise. With TSA Pre✓®, both initiatives are addressed in that all program participants are closely vetted and held to high security standards, and once they are part of the program, will undergo an optimized travel experience with faster and more convenient passenger security facilitation at more than 180 airports nationwide.

“Lufthansa strives to maintain its role as one of the leading airlines in the aviation industry, and in doing so, continually aims for improvement and innovation advancements,” said Juergen Siebenrock, Vice President, The Americas, Lufthansa Group. “Together, we are pleased in advancing this important U.S. government trusted-traveler initiative, the TSA Pre✓® program. This is one of several new initiatives that adds to our commitment towards constantly enhancing the quality level of the customer experience on the overall journey with Lufthansa.”

If TSA determines a passenger is eligible for expedited screening, information is embedded in the barcode and the TSA Pre✓® imprint will appear on the passenger’s boarding pass. When TSA scans the barcode at the security checkpoint, the passenger may be referred to a TSA Pre✓® lane. Expedited screening may allow passengers to keep on shoes, belts and light outwear, as well as leave laptops and 3-1-1 compliant bags in carry-on baggage.

Currently, U.S. citizens, dual citizens, and lawful permanent residents are eligible to apply to the TSA Pre✓® Application Program, as well as members of U.S. Customs and Border Protection’s Trusted Traveler programs such as NEXUS for Canadian Citizens, as well as Global Entry which is currently available for eight nationalities including Germany.

TSA Pre✓® is also available for U.S. Armed Forces service members, including those serving in the U.S. Coast Guard, Reserves and National Guard.