As part of our week-long coverage of the ninth annual SMART tradeshow in St. Maarten, Travel Agent learned that the popular Sirena Hotel in Anguilla will close on September 1 and reopen on October 15 with a new name.
Hilton Worldwide, which hosted its fifth annual development forum in Mexico City recently, said it plans to expand throughout the country, including the Home2 Suites brand by Hilton, a mid-tier, extended-stay hotel concept.
The arrest of Cancun’s mayor on suspicion of protecting two violent drug gangs as he campaigned for governor has heightened fears that cartels are muscling their way into Mexican politics. There are also worries the gangs are tightening control over the country’s most important tourist resort.
The 27-room Anacaona, formerly the Sirena Resort, will debut Oct. 15 on Anguilla. The boutique resort is located on the mile-long Meads Bay.
Paul Gauguin Cruises named Rita Sandy as director of sales-Southwest region. Sandy will be responsible for developing business opportunities with travel companies in Southern California (from West Los Angeles, including Malibu, to San Diego County), Arizona, Nevada, Colorado and Hawaii.
Yell has acquired Trusted Places Limited, the company behind community website trustedplaces.com. The purchase means that Yell will, for the first time, enable consumers to recommend a local business through its Yell.com website. Marketing and social media for the travel industry conference