Russia’s first casino in a special gambling zone opened on Saturday in southern Russia, seven months after all gambling establishments had to close or relocate to four designated areas. Under a 2007 law, casinos and other gaming establishments can operate only in four far-flung areas
Russia celebrated the 150th birthday of Anton Chekhov on Friday with a series of events in remembrance of the writer and playwright who had an immense influence on world literature and theater. Moscow hosted the Chekhov Days theater festival until January 31, with theaters showing productions based on Chekhov’s plays and short stories.
Growth returned to international tourism in the last quarter of 2009contributing to better than expected full-year results, according tothe latest edition of the UNWTO World Tourism Barometer. International tourist arrivals fell by an estimated 4% in 2009. Prospects have alsoimproved with arrivals now forecast to grow between 3% and 4% in 2010.
The W Hollywood Hotel & Residences opened this morning after a ribbon-cutting ceremony that included celebrities Jimmy Kimmel, Robin Thicke and of course Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa. The hotel is part of a $600-million complex that most notably, and conveniently, surrounds a public plaza that leads to the Hollywood and Vine Metro stop across from the landmark Pantages Theatre.
In its revised forecast for 2010, Lodging Econometrics predicts that just 717 hotels, representing 82,620 rooms, will open in 2010. This is a 56% drop from 2009, when 1,301 hotels with 146,929 rooms opened. New Openings peaked for the cycle in 2008 at 1,345 hotels/154,667 rooms.
Earlier this month, the Royal Cliff Beach Resort in Jomtien-Pattaya was privileged to welcome H.E. Ahmed Ali Al-Meel Al-Zaabi, Ambassador of the UAE to Egypt as well as his family for their brief stay at the luxurious multi-award winning Royal Grand Hotel & Spa.
The 14th edition of MITM Euromed, Meetings and Incentive Travel Market, will be held in the Spain’s Costa Brava resort city of Lloret de Mar, June 9th, 10th and 11th, 2010. MITM will be sponsored by Lloret de Mar-Costa Brava, Olympic Congress Center, Evenia Hotels, and it will take place in the award winning “Olympic Congress Center”.
Paris’s 16th arondissement, home to the Arc de Triomphe and Champs-Elysees, embraced the opening of the new Villa & Hotel Majestic on January 12, 2010. This contemporary interpretation of French luxury offers a choice of 52 guestrooms and suites, the MajClub Wellness Centre, Le Premium Bar and a restaurant.
Подсчитан российский турпоток 2009. В плюсе остались такие страны, как: Чуджу- за 11 месяцев прошлого года южнокорейский остров посетило более 6 млн. человек – на 11,2% больше, чем за аналогичный период 2008-го; Швейцария- в 2009 году турпоток в Швейцарию из России вырос на 10,4%; Малайзия – поток туристов в Малайзию вырос на 11%
“I came in with Halley’s Comet in 1835,” Mark Twain wrote in 1909. “It is coming again next year, and I expect to go out with it. The Almighty has said, no doubt: ‘Now here are these two unaccountable freaks; they came in together, they must go out together.’”
