Wedding Takeovers: Couples Now Offered Exclusive Use Of Velas Resorts’ Boutique Hotels For Upcoming Social Distancing Nuptials

 

Socially-Distanced Weddings in Style Available

At Mar del Cabo in Los Cabos and Casa Velas in Puerto Vallarta

 

Puerto Vallarta, Mexico – Couples can now expect true social distancing this fall when getting wed at Mexico’s Velas Resorts in Puerto Vallarta and Los Cabos. Thanks to a new “Make It All Yours” wedding buyout promotion, the betrothed can elect to take over the resort collection’s boutique hotels for their wedding party’s exclusive use.

 

Available at Mar del Cabo and Casa Velas, the special offer invites wedding groups to live out the experience of having their own hacienda with private access to pool and beach areas, gardens and restaurants. A welcome cocktail party on arrival, 50-minute couples’ massage for the newlyweds and romantic turndown amenities are also included. Furthermore, while the hotels are traditionally adults-only, the promotion allows children to stay onsite if requested.

 

Velas Resorts have received the global safety stamp of approval from the World Travel and Tourism Council (WTTC) due to state-of-the-art safety and cleanliness protocols detailed in a 15-page Stay Safe with Velas program.

 

For a smaller group, the beachfront Mar del Cabo has 46 one- and two-bedroom suites and two penthouses. Elegant white-washed walls are accented by draping bougainvilleas in a boutique hotel that blends old Greek Isles charm with brilliantly accented colors and Mexican folklore. Exclusive wedding and event venues range from an oceanfront rooftop to a private pool or beach area.

 

Casa Velas is a luxury all-inclusive boutique hotel with 80 spacious suites. Nestled on the greens of Marina Vallarta's 18-hole golf course, the hotel offers guests golf at three nearby signature-designed 18-hole courses. ABJA Spa encompasses treatment rooms for singles and couples, a hydrotherapy area, garden-view fitness center equipped with state-of-the-art exercise equipment, and a beauty salon. Its serene, exclusive setting provides an ideal backdrop for a Puerto Vallarta wedding. Unique venues offered include an indoor-outdoor Beach Club and palm-tree lined botanical garden.  

 

Capturing and sharing moments for those unable to attend, Velas Resorts also offer ceremony live streaming, a dedicated social media coordinator to post real-time, an interactive live wedding painting for a unique keepsake, and more.

 

The nightly buyout rate is $9,960 at Mar Del Cabo and $11,400 USD at Casa Velas in European plan with a minimum booking of 60 suites. For more information, visit https://www.velasweddings.com.

 

About Velas Resorts:

Velas Resorts in Riviera Maya, Puerto Vallarta, Riviera Nayarit, and Los Cabos have earned 56 AAA Diamonds, including the prestigious Five Diamond Award. Other esteemed international awards for services and facilities include Virtuoso’s Best Family Program, Forbes Travel Guide Five Star Award for spa, and TripAdvisor’s Hall of Fame, among others. Offering unparalleled all-inclusive experiences, properties include Grand Velas in Los Cabos, with dramatic ocean views and unique spaces infusing every area of the resort; Grand Velas Riviera Nayarit, which enjoys a long stretch of pristine beach and a dramatic backdrop of the Sierra Madre mountains; and Grand Velas Riviera Maya, offering a sophisticated resort experience in the Caribbean with jungle and beach settings. In Puerto Vallarta, Casa Velas is a boutique adults-only hotel and beach club located on the Marina Vallarta Golf Course, and Velas Vallarta, a family-friendly all suites resort and spa located on Banderas Bay. Mar del Cabo, a boutique hotel on Mexico’s Baja Peninsula, opened in December 2018 as its only European Plan offering. Eduardo Vela Ruiz, founder and president of Velas Resorts, operates Velas Resorts with brother Juan Vela, vice president of Velas Resorts, by his side. Explore tips, recipes, lifestyle and travel trends, and the latest news about Velas Resorts on the digital mag: www.velasmagazine.com. 

 

Marriott To Require Guests To Wear Masks In Public Spaces Starting July 27th

Marriott hotels will require guests to wear masks in lobbies and other public spaces starting July 27.

The Bethesda, Maryland-based hotel giant — which has more than 7,300 hotels worldwide — has been requiring employees to wear masks for several months. But in a video message released Monday, CEO Arne Sorenson said the mandate is being extended to guests.

“Health experts have made it clear that wearing face coverings in public spaces is one of the easiest steps that we can all take to protect one another and reduce the spread of COVID-19,” Sorenson said in the video, after removing his own cloth mask.

Marriott’s announcement follows guidelines for travelers issued last week by the American Hotel and Lodging Association, a trade group. Those guidelines call on guests to wear masks and practice social distancing in hotel common areas. They also ask guests to go without housekeeping during their stays and use contact-less check-in and checkout when possible.

The association also applauded states that require masks in indoor public spaces.

Marriott is the largest hotel chain to issue a mask requirement. Hyatt Hotels already require guests to wear masks in public areas in U.S. and Canadian hotels. Hilton said Monday it plans to require guests to wear masks, but it hasn’t released a start date.

Explore The Magnificent Philadelphia Museum Of Art From Home

 

 

Elizabeth Catlett
During her lifetime, Elizabeth Catlett (1915–2012) achieved international fame for her powerful explorations of race, class, and her own African American female identity. As a young woman, she studied art in the United States during the Great Depression of the 1930s. At that time, art with a social message was highly relevant, and the US government supported public art through the Works Progress Administration and other programs. Learn more about Catlett's work in our online exhibition.

 

 

Coloring the Collection

 

 

 

Grab your crayons, markers, or colored pencils and download these coloring pages that feature works from the collection.

 

 

 

Talks
Hear from artists and scholars as they tackle hot topics.

 

Performances
Revisit past performances or re-create Friday Nights at home.

 

 

 

 

 

Explore the Collection

Notable for both its range and quality, our collection of arms and armor is a visitor favorite. Explore these works from home on our website.

 

 

 

Arms & Armor Book
Highlights from the Philadelphia Museum of Art

Through our exceptional collection, this book looks at arms and armor as art—from warfare to war games, from hunting to the pursuit of glory.

 

 

 

Interview with ​Dirk Breiding
Associate Curator of Arms and Armor

From display choices to how Star Wars and Game of Thrones have piqued interest in armor, read an interview with Dirk H. Breiding, our J. J. Medveckis Associate Curator of Arms and Armor.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The safety and well-being of our community is the highest priority as we respond to COVID-19. All of the museum buildings are temporarily closed to the public. Any changes and updates will be announced on our website, by email, and through social media.

 

 

For more information on the exhibitions and programs listed here, including generous donors, please visit our website.

 

Sharecropper (detail), 1952, by Elizabeth Catlett (Purchased with the Alice Newton Osborn Fund, 1999-135-1) © Catlett Mora Family Trust/licensed by VAGA, New York. Armor, around 1505, made by Matthes Deutsch, and Horse Armor, 1507, made by Wilhelm von Worms the Elder (Gift of Athena and Nicholas Karabots and The Karabots Foundation, 2009-117-1,2).

2600 Benjamin Franklin Parkway
Philadelphia, PA 19130
philamuseum.org

Kauai Businesses Using Deep Discounts To Attract Customers

LIHUE, Hawaii (AP) — Businesses on Kauai are offering large discounts to lure back customers after a near complete end to tourist visits to the Hawaiian island since the coronavirus outbreak in the spring.

The businesses are providing the discounts as a gesture to residents who also have felt the economic impact of lost visitors, The Garden Island reported Thursday.

No out-of-state travelers flew into Lihue Airport July 13, while only 2,533 people arrived in the state during a period when the Hawaii Tourism Authority said there were 35,000 arrivals last year.

Kauai businesses have offered discounts on products and services including horseback tours, shave ice and wedding ceremonies.

Some of the discount offers are posted on the Kauai Visitors Bureau website. The site was relaunched recently after Democratic Gov. David Ige approved the restoration of inter-island travel, visitor bureau Executive Director Sue Kanoho said in an email.

Donna Hunt, business manager of Silver Falls Ranch in Kilauea, said there have been 750 bookings for horseback-riding tours using a 60% to 70% discount.

“Three-fourths of our guests have been Kauai people,” Hunt said.

Daniel Soule, owner of Fresh Shave in Kalaheo, said offering a discount on flavored shave ice is a reminder for residents to “come out even during uncertain times.”

Joyful-Ceremonies and Weddings now offers 25% off beach wedding ceremonies through the end of the year.

Owner Dale Rosenfeld said 99% of her business normally comes from tourists and the discount is meant as a goodwill gesture to the community, where she said health should come before profits.

“I’m not in a hurry to see the island open even though the economy is devastating,” Rosenfeld said.

For most people, the coronavirus causes mild or moderate symptoms, such as fever and cough that clear up in two to three weeks. But for some — especially older adults and people with existing health problems — it can cause more severe illness, including pneumonia and death.

6 Vacation Ideas With Easy Access To Some Of America's Greatest National Parks

National parks across the country are in the process of reopening, with iconic destinations like the Grand Canyon and Old Faithful already accessible to visitors. In 2019, the National Park Service system received more than 327.5 million visits, and based on recent travel data, the parks could be even more desirable this summer as people look to get away after spending weeks under stay-at-home orders. Travelers are pivoting away from urban destinations to outdoor locations that they can road trip to and camp in. Below are 6 vacation ideas that include easy access to some of America's greatest national parks.

 

 

Hike & Bike North Rim of the Grand Canyon: Providing gently rolling terrain of lung-expanding dimensions, the North Rim of the Grand Canyon has been long-held as sacred ground to hikers and cyclists. Escape Adventures offers an amazing 5-day tour of the North Rim that includes mountain biking, trekking and camping. Trails brimming with wildflowers lead guests to exhilarating hikes along the rim. Crossing over to the west side of the plateau, guests camp alongside one of the most scenic mountain bike paths in the world, the Rainbow Rim Trail. https://escapeadventures.com/tour/grand-canyon-north-rim-mountain-bike-tour/

Play Cowboy at Luxury Ranch: Red Reflet Ranch is a 28,000-acre luxury resort and working ranch on the west slope of the Bighorn Mountains, just minutes from the Bighorn National Forest. It is a scenic three hour drive from Yellowstone National Park. The closest sign of civilization is Ten Sleep, Wyoming, with a population of about 260. Guests stay in their own private chalets, and family-friendly activities include horseback riding, ATVing, ziplining, swimming, fishing, shooting, and indulging in gourmet farm-to-table cuisine. The ranch is open for business now. http://redrefletranch. com/  

Grand Teton Tiny House Retreat:  Just minutes from Jackson Hole, Wyoming, Fireside Resort capitalizes on the tiny house craze and the classic appeal of rustic cottages by offering 25 pint-size, luxuriously outfitted tiny house rental units designed by Wheelhaus. The resort is located a stone's throw from Grand Teton National Park and the Jackson Hole ski slopes. It is a great place to post up for a ski trip or a summer getaway.  https://www. firesidejacksonhole.com
Big Sky Base Camp: If outdoor adventures like hiking, mountain biking, and fly fishing are your style, look to visit Big Sky, Montana and stay at The Wilson Hotel. Located on the edge of Yellowstone National Park, the town is home to Big Sky Resort and its 5,850 acres of ski terrain, as well as shaded forests, wildflower-filled meadows, rocky mountaintops and clear, cool rivers and streams. https:// thewilsonhotel.com/

Bryce & Zion by MTB: Soaring red stone spires and ancient citadels of rich Navajo sandstone give way to haunting hoodoos and curving arches of rock — a geologist’s dream and a mountain biker’s paradise. The rides on this 6-day Escape Adventures tour offer swift lines that wind and wend through deep Alpine meadows and Aspen forests only to spill out onto yawning mesas and buttes. The world-famous trails of Red Canyon’s Thunder Mountain, Cassidy, and Casto Canyon, symbolize but a few of this tour’s many highlights. https://escapeadventures.com/tour/bryce-and-zion-mountain-bike-tour/


Great Parks North: Join the Adventure Cycling Association on its Great Parks North Route. This tour follows the Rocky Mountains from Missoula, Montana, to Jasper, Alberta, exploring some the most spectacular national parks the U.S. and Canada has to offer. Great Parks North will highlight Glacier NP, Waterton NP, Banff NP, and Jasper NP, and jaw-dropping scenery will not be lacking on this once-in-a-lifetime adventure. https://www.adventurecycling.org/guided-tours/self-contained-tours/2020-great-parks-north/

Recommended Summer Skin And Healing Essentials

Recovery Aide: Healing Serum 

A traditional and complex formula of herbs crafted to reduce inflammation in the muscles and joints, and to increase circulation - easing pain and speeding recovery after workouts. For more details and how to order, please visit: https://yourvedicbotanicals.com/

BUM + BODY CREAM VANILLA ORANGE

Say hello to healthy, glowing skin.

Effective skin treatment that is gentle enough to be used as your everyday moisturizer. Formulated with a base of aloe and jojoba, this botanical cream features oregano to target blemishes, pearl to brighten and smooth your complexion and vanilla/orange to scent.

Good For: Soothing skin affected by shaving, waxing, swimwear, activewear, sweat and common skin concerns like folliculitis, acne, eczema, psoriasis, keratosis pilaris (chicken skin) + more.

Worthy of your Skincare Routine: Plant-based, vegan, cruelty-free, sulfate-free, paraben-free, phthalate-free, silicone-free, dye-free, fragrance-free...everything skincare should be. ncare should be.

How to Use: Apply a dime sized amount in the morning and evening to clean, dry skin. This 6 oz size will last 2-3 months with daily use on your bum + body For more details and how to order, please visit: https://miamibeachbum.com/

• A HEALTHIER SPORTS DRINK doctor formulated for sport, travel, illness, and hangover: Every serving of SOS is rich in nutrients, contains only 10 calories and has 50% more electrolytes and 75% less sugar than typical sports drinks.
• THE MIX YOUR BODY NEEDS: Keep the entire family hydrated with our special formula rich in sodium, potassium, magnesium, citrate, chloride, sugars, zinc and malic acid.
• EFFECTIVE AS AN IV DRIP: SOS is a hypotonic drink which allows you to absorb 3X more water, dissolves rapidly and is as effective as an IV Drip for combating mild to moderate dehydration.
• OPTIMUM BALANCE OF ELECTROLYTES: Medically formulated with no artificial ingredients or preservatives, SOS is the most effective formula for water-absorption with no GI distress and comes in 5 amazing flavors!
• COUNTLESS BENEFITS: Use our keto certified electrolyte powder to recover from viral illness, fight daytime fatigue, replace electrolytes during physical activity, speed up hangover relief or prepare for air travel.
• PREMIUM INGREDIENTS ONLY - Our formula uses no fillers, artificial ingredients or preservatives, and is TSA approved.
• keto Certified by Paleo foundation

For more details please visit: https://soshydration.com/

Disney World’s Last Two Theme Parks Reopened To Visitors On July 15

ORLANDO, Fla. (AP) — Days after reopening two theme parks amid a spike in coronavirus cases in Florida, Walt Disney World on Wednesday welcomed back visitors to two more theme parks that had been shuttered since March because of the new coronavirus.

The Florida theme park resort reopened Epcot and Disney’s Hollywood Studios, completing a rolling opening of Disney World’s theme parks that started last weekend with Magic Kingdom and Animal Kingdom welcoming back visitors.

The parks were the last of Orlando’s major theme parks to reopen after being shuttered since March. Both Universal Orlando and SeaWorld Orlando opened their doors last month.

All of the parks have new restrictions.

The number of visitors being allowed in has been capped to allow for social distancing. All visitors and employees must wear masks and get their temperature checked upon entering.

Disney is requiring reservations, and Disney employees won’t be allowed to take photos of visitors in front of Cinderella’s Castle since it involves touching the tourists’ cameras. Disney World posted on its website that “an inherent risk of exposure to COVID-19 exists in any public place where people are present.”

There will be no live shows at Disney World since the reopening has caused a labor dispute between Disney and its actors and singers.

The union that represents Disney World actors and singers has filed a grievance against Disney, saying their members faced retaliation for demanding coronavirus tests. The actors and singers initially were called back to work, but that invitation was rescinded after the union made public their concerns about the lack of testing for the actors and singers who can’t wear masks while performing, according to Actors’ Equity Association.

Despite the parks being reopened, not all of Disney World’s 77,000-member workforce has been called back to work because of the limits on attendance. A coalition of unions that represents about 43,000 workers says only about 20,000 members have been called back to work.

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Follow Mike Schneider on Twitter at https://twitter.com/MikeSchneiderAP.

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Follow AP coverage of the pandemic at https://apnews.com/VirusOutbreak and https://apnews.com/UnderstandingtheOutbreak.