(PRESS RELEASE)_GUANACASTE, COSTA RICA, May 23, 2023 — Since 2012, Global Wellness Day is celebrated on the second Saturday in June in over tens of thousands of locations around the world. A day to raise awareness about the importance of living well and striving for a healthier life, Global Wellness Day reaches over half a billion people internationally with complimentary in-person and virtual activities. According to the Global Wellness Institute (GWI), wellness tourism is expected to see a 21% annual growth rate through 2025 making it one of the fastest-growing travel categories in the world, if not the fastest. Industry experts project wellness tourism to grow at a yearly growth rate of more than 10% globally, doubling its valuation to $1.97 trillion by 2031. Although travel associated with the pursuit of maintaining one’s wellbeing has been popular for quite some time, the pandemic shifted travelers’ perspective of wellness travel to view it more as a priority rather than a luxury. In January of 2023, the GWI released its 2023 Global Wellness Trends identifying 12 main trends projected to impact the wellness space this year and beyond. Topping the list at number one, an interesting trend shines a spotlight on the relationship between wellness and gathering and the importance of social connections. New experiences and spaces that bring people together in healthier social spaces emphasize putting people with people and brings connectedness to the forefront of the wellness conversation. Connecting and engaging with others within communities in meaningful ways is a cornerstone of this concept, linking people to each other through a lifestyle that promotes engagement. Building a more socially connected network can start with reimagining towns, neighborhoods, and destinations to focus on the values of community and ways to encourage connections among the people who live there and visit. Higher density neighborhoods with public plazas and parks, mixed-use spaces, walkable and pedestrian-friendly roads and walkways, outdoor dining are all ways to create greater connections among people. According to GWI, “designing neighborhoods and cities so that people can spontaneously meet up or gather around shared interests is the most natural, powerful way to create greater connections”. This is the vision behind the car-free, coastal town of Las Catalinas in Guanacaste, Costa Rica when the innovators began conceptualizing a compact master plan in 2006 that set out to implement a better way of living for its visitors and residents. Almost totally car-free, the town and its textured hardscapes encourage maximum human-to-human interaction in a setting that harmonizes the people with nature. Taking cars out of the equation means people spend more time outdoors on foot (or on bike) getting from one place to the next lending opportunities for spontaneous interactions, more conversations and impromptu socialization. Since its inception, Las Catalinas has been influenced by the New Urbanism movement of building highly walkable neighborhoods, towns, and cities. Car-free public realms invite natural sociability offering chances to get to know your neighbors, interact with visitors and connect with the community. In 2022, The Congress for New Urbanism celebrated Beach Town, the first neighborhood within Las Catalinas, with a Charter Award recognizing the town for achieving “more equitable, sustainable, connected, healthy, and prosperous communities.” Most activities, conversations and meals are enjoyed in the fresh air under shade trees or on the outdoor covered terraces within the timeless tropical architecture. The value placed on walkability and relationship to nature creates an engaging place to live and visit. With a natural progression towards linking people to living well, the town introduces Well-Living by Las Catalinas, a wellness platform combining lifestyle and wellbeing. Its mission is to create a community of like-minded people whose main intention is to live a healthier life in a better environment by offering its visitors and residents experiences and services to support one’s overall wellbeing through group retreats, holistic therapies, day events and valuable content. During these experiences, people can relax, recharge and rebalance in a community setting. The town’s wellness gathering hub, Center of Joy, offers a full range of activities including yoga, meditation, breathwork, sound healing, ceremonies, workshops, cooking classes, and more. Well-Living by Las Catalinas focuses on five pillars: movement through sports and recreation, nourishment for the body, mind and spirit, meaningful connections with others, with nature, with ourselves, simplicity through rituals, habits, openness and availability to all, and beautiful surroundings encouraging sociability and awakening inspiration. In celebration of Global Wellness Day, Well-Living by Las Catalinas launches a full month of complimentary virtual content to its online community with a series of weekly programs based on these five pillars. Starting in June, subscribers will have access to a Presence and Mindfulness Webinar (Week 1), a guided meditation (Week 2), a recorded yoga class (Week 3) and a recorded cooking class (Week 4). Anyone interested in joining the online community can subscribe here. With 42 kilometers of world-class, single-track trails that feature stunning views of the coastline and valley vistas, Las Catalinas offers an array of outdoor activities where people can share adventures on the trails or in the water. Trails vary in difficulty and length, from high-intensity hills to low-impact flatter tracks. The town is also flanked by two of the best beaches on Costa Rica’s Pacific coast. Sheltered just enough from the southern swell, Las Catalinas is a haven for water sports enthusiasts, and consistent moderate waves make it ideal for body surfing and boogie boarding as well as standup paddle-boarding (SUP) and sea kayaking. Stay in town at Santarena Hotel or book a villa through Beach Town Travel with an array of villa options including daily housekeeping and laundry service, a fully equipped kitchen, free Wi-Fi, use of the Las Catalinas Collection resort facilities and more. While not on the trails or in the water, enjoy the convenience of the cardio classes and private training at CORE by Chakfitness outdoor gym, massage and facials at WAKE Day Spa, wellbeing treatments, pilates and art classes at Center of Joy, mountain bike, kayak and SUP rentals at Pura Vida Ride, healthy food to go, private chef dinners or wine tastings at Copper & Stone gourmet market, fresh smoothies and made from scratch organic dishes for all dietary restrictions at Pots & Bowls and more. (PRESS RELEASE)_Azamara – the upmarket cruise line and pioneer in Destination Immersion® experiences – is making European travel dreams come true with a special limited time offer, giving travelers three free nights, 50 percent savings on one guest, and a $750 onboard credit. The three free nights alone, valued at $3,300 in a Club Continent Suite, add exceptional value to this remarkable offer. Three Nights Free will provide more value to current and future guests of Azamara, with more time to wander and explore a destination on a traveler’s own terms. (PRESS RELEASE)_Miami, FL, May 23, 2023 - SeaDream Yacht Club’s 2025 holiday Caribbean season will sail to the most secluded destinations, visiting small, intimate harbors ideal for their 56-stateroom luxury twin yachts, SeaDream I and SeaDream II. Perfect for travelers who wish to explore the far reaches of the Caribbean, these itineraries carry guests to the unspoiled island gems of St. Barths, Prickly Pear, Anguilla, Lovango Cay, and Mayreau, among many others. Open for bookings now, SeaDream’s Holiday 2025 Caribbean voyages sail November 2025 through New Year’s week of January 2026 and feature 14 delightfully different itineraries. Whether the pristine British Virgin Islands, the flavorful Spanish and French West Indies, the islands of the Puerto Rico Archipelago, or rarely accessed Guadeloupe and Martinique, each voyage offers a remarkably different yachting experience. (PRESS RELEASE)_MIAMI (May 22, 2023) - Crystal has revealed four new Grand Journeys Itineraries for 2024. Designed to foster discovery, these extended itineraries offer longer port stays and overnight calls to iconic and off-the-beaten-track destinations in every corner of the globe. To complement Crystal Serenity's 2024 World Cruise, which will visit 29 countries and 62 destinations over the course of up to 141 nights, the 2024 Grand Journeys Itineraries range from 37 to 68 nights, offering guests exclusive opportunities to immerse themselves in the rich cultural heritage of each locale. Crystal’s pioneering partnership with Abercrombie & Kent will further expose passengers on these voyages to the unseen side of some of the world’s most sought-after destinations, with exclusive experiences curated by local experts and tastemakers. (PRESS RELEASE)_SANTA CLARITA, Calif. (May 18, 2023) – An expert in the Panama Canal, Princess Cruises has been bringing guests to this sought-after region since 1967. On sale now, the upcoming 2024-2025 season offers guests the incredible opportunity to experience this marvel of modern technology and engineering, known as the “world’s greatest shortcut,” and a gorgeous destination that is best seen by ship. “Three ships will transit the historic Panama Canal during our upcoming 2024-2025 season offering full transit sailings, ocean-to-ocean or roundtrip options from Ft. Lauderdale,” said John Padgett, Princess Cruises president. “We’re excited to bring Coral Princess back to the region, returning the ship to her roots where she was christened in the Panama Canal in 2003, by the then president of Panama, Mireya Moscoso.” (PRESS RELEASE)_CALABASAS, CA – (May 18, 2023) – Just in time for National Wine Day (May 25), award-winning luxury river cruise line AmaWaterways shares details on its newest French itinerary debuting in 2024, Flavors of Burgundy, embarking guests on a tasty journey along the Saône River visiting a collection of France’s most prestigious vineyards. This announcement comes along with the unveiling of eminent wine hosts who will welcome guests on AmaWaterways’ 2023 and 2024 series of Celebration of Wine River Cruises. Guests are invited to choose from over 60 hosted departures each year designed to delve deeper into the flavors of Europe through a menu of exclusive wine and culinary experiences. “Since the debut of our Celebration of Wine River Cruises in 2010, we’ve continued to see increasing demand for these epicurean experiences giving our guests the opportunity to sip local wine while sailing through breathtaking wine regions of the world alongside acclaimed North American and European wine hosts,” said Kristin Karst, co-founder and executive vice president of AmaWaterways. “The interest for the fascinating world of French wines is such that we decided to specially curate this new Flavors of Burgundy itinerary, that will take our guests on an unforgettable journey through the beautiful vineyards of this renowned wine producing region of France.” (PRESS RELEASE)_NEW ORLEANS (May 18, 2023) -- To commemorate the 80th anniversary of D-Day — the greatest amphibious landing in history — The National WWII Museum will set sail on an 11-day cruise across Europe that will converge at the official commemoration event in Normandy on June 6, 2024. Embarking May 29 on the exclusively chartered Seabourn Ovation, guests on the 80th Anniversary of D-Day Cruise: D-Day & The Bomber War will travel across four countries and experience a custom itinerary emphasizing the land, sea and air campaigns of World War II. This once-in-a-lifetime luxury cruise featuring world-renowned historians will allow guests unique access to top WWII sites and events both on board and ashore during this major commemoration. (PRESS RELEASE)_SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA (May 18, 2023) – Today, Aurora Expeditions, announced a competition where one lucky person will have the opportunity to win* a trip for two valued at US$37,390 on board one of its purpose-built intimate ships, the Greg Mortimer and recently launched Sylvia Earle in its Life-Changing Arctic Competition. Running from May 18 to July 19, 2023, the competition is open to anyone globally over the age of 18. Consumers may enter to win here. The winner can choose between three incredible departures: Iceland Circumnavigation, Jewels of the Arctic or Svalbard Odyssey, each departing in 2024. To apply, they need to share their dream Arctic voyage with Aurora Expeditions and why in 25 words or less. The prize package* includes airfare and their selected voyage in a Balcony C Stateroom. More information on each voyage below: Jewels of the Arctic - 15 days departing June 23, July 7 or August 21, 2024 Explore the Arctics highlights Svalbard, with its rare Arctic wilderness and where a polar bear may have your pulse racing; East Greenland, sail into the world’s largest fjords, Scoresbysund and call on Ittoqqortoormiit, one of the world’s remotest Inuit settlements before ending in Iceland. |
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