For aquatic nature lovers, the majestic sea turtle’s nesting patterns are awe-inspiring. Each year between April and October, endangered and threatened sea turtles get their annual chance to expand their shrinking populations and perhaps ensure their presence in our oceans for another of its generations.
A key nesting ground for many sea turtle species, the Panama coastline’s warm, equatorial waters are home to five different types: the hawksbill, loggerhead, green, leatherback and olive ridley species.
This time of the year, newly hatched turtles can be seen struggling across Panama’s sandy beaches towards the sea.
“People occasionally come across a nest of sea turtle hatchlings on some of the area beaches,” said Ben Loomis, President of Amble Resorts and their Panama real estate project, The Resort at Isla Palenque. “The sight of these rare little sea monsters really heightens your sense of responsibility and protectiveness.” Loomis and his development …
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Adventure travelers may just have a cool, new go-to site for both searching and booking authentic, transformational travel experiences around the globe.
A new online booking site, AvidTrips.com, has just launched a public BETA in an effort to establish a “next generation online adventure travel marketplace.” The site features a rapidly growing inventory of horseback riding, bicycling, mountain climbing, hiking/trekking and safari tours.
All-in-one adventure resource
AvidTrips offers the rare opportunity of connecting travelers directly with local tour operators, providing a trustworthy platform to ask technical questions on everything from gear and equipment to local conditions.
Users will also find side-by-side comparison of rates, difficulty levels and routes among different operators, and can easily book on AvidTrips.com – at no service charge.
“We’re excited to bring transparency and efficiency to one of the fastest-growing segments of the travel…
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The Aquarium of the Bay has just added a HUGE Sevengill Shark to its many exhibits, setting an example for ongoing shark research and marine conservation.
The 9.5 ft. long, 319 lb. female Notorhychus cepedianus is one of the largest sharks the facility has ever exhibited.
A nonprofit marine nature center, the Aquarium conducts extensive research on sharks in the San Francisco Bay. Staff will eventually tag the animal and release it back to the exact point in the Bay where it was collected.
“The new sevengill, which was collected as part of our ongoing shark research program, is swimming comfortably in one of our 350,000 gallon exhibits,” stated Aquarium of the Bay’s husbandry director, Christina Slager.
Learning life patterns
While sevengill sharks are common in San Francisco Bay (though rarely seen by the public), very little is actually known about their behavior and ecology.
Working with UC-Davis’ Biotelemetry Lab, Aquarium of the Bay staff has implanted transmitters…
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There is a lot of talk and rumor these days over whether or not President Obama will ease travel restrictions with regard to Cuba, our southern-outcast neighbor.
The Obama Administration is deliberating the Freedom to Travel to Cuba Act – a bill that was introduced into the U.S. Congress in February 2009 – that would allow U.S. citizens to engage in unrestricted travel to Cuba for the first time since 1963.
According to a recent article in the Miami Herald, “The Obama administration will soon ease some restrictions on U.S. travel to Cuba and other sanctions following Havana’s promise to free political prisoners, according to growing but unconfirmed reports.”
“If Americans don’t like the policies of the government of a country, they can choose not to go,” said Bob Whitley, president of the United States Tour Operators Association. “But a lot of people want to see Cuba because they’ve been denied the right.”
On April 13, 2009, President Obama eased the travel ban…
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Last January, a record-breaking earthquake destroyed the already dismal way of life for large populations in Haiti. Since then, an outpouring of international support – specifically from within the travel industry – has been instrumental in helping the small nation in its recovery efforts.
After the catastrophe, the Boeing corporation in conjunction with the Interim Haiti Recovery Commission (IHRC) set in motion plans to commit $2.2 million to help those affected by the earthquake, immediately handing over $1.3 million to The American Red Cross for post-event relief efforts. Now, the world-renowned airline manufacturer is dedicating the remaining $900,000 to help support and rebuild the country’s public education system.
Boeing, the world’s largest aerospace company and leading manufacturer of commercial airplanes and defense, space and security systems, is a top U.S. exporter; the company supports airlines and U.S. and allied government customers in more than…
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Last spring, Adoba Eco Hotel & Suites announced its upcoming debut as “a mid-tier, full-service, energy-saving, independent hotel targeting the social, value-wise guest who is traveling with a modern lifestyle purpose”.
Managed by Denver-based Atmosphere Hospitality Management Services, LLC, the brand has now been officially recognized as a leader in sustainable hotel design and green travel operations by way of an invitation to appear on Moving America Forward with TV and film icon William Shatner.
The story will be told of how this hotel design will make history as the first independent LEED certified brand design “Green from the Get Go” in its entirety and creating a greener future for the next generation of travelers.
Proof of concept
“The [hotel’s] design includes sustainable elements such as xeric landscaping plans, a smart solar roofing system, wind-turbine options, recycled building materials and purposeful upscale amenities”, said James Henderson,…
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Over one hundred travel and tourism companies, large and small, have registered to participate in some shape or form in the upcoming World Travel Market (WTM) World Responsible Tourism Day (WRTD).
Slated for November 10, 2010, WRTD is a global campaign, in association with the United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO), designed to inspire and educate the industry to actively help save the planet.
Show your colors
Regardless of whether they are able to attend the occasion at World Travel Market in London, many travel companies are planning to mark the day in their own special way with press conferences, exhibitions, trade fairs, presentations, fun runs, family competitions, and picnics.
“The industry faces extremely difficult and challenging times, not only economically, but also on core issues such as sustainability, climate change, conservation, and poverty reduction,” said Fiona Jeffery, chairman of World Travel Market and a responsible tourism pioneer…
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Hotel Felix Chicago – a 225-room boutique hotel located in the heart of Chicago – is an exceptional contemporary-style reinvention of a historic 1926 apartment hotel. Having opened its doors in April 2009 after an extensive redevelopment, the property has meet Silver LEED certification standards or Commercial Interiors to become the city’s first-ever hotel property to hit this goal.
“Participating in this comprehensive certification process supports our core philosophy and commitment to lessen our environmental impact,” said George Jordan, area general manager for Hotel Felix Chicago. “We’re honored to have achieved LEED Silver certification status and we will continue to extend our green values to our guests through our daily operations.”
Moving beyond design conventions
Designed by Chicago-based Gettys, whose design and procurement team is largely staffed by LEED Accredited Professionals, Hotel Felix meets LEED standards for its adaptive reuse of an…
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Thanks to modern, social technology, the world is becoming smaller.
We are achieving deeper and richer connections to the world around us and everything it has to offer – including destinations, cultures and communities foreign to our own.
But, with these connections often become muddled; the path has become a complex maze of information. Finding the right guide to help our minds navigate is often a daunting task. While so many tend to be commercially biased, there can be no limit to the amount of responsible travel resources available to the public at large.
Enter TheTravelWord.com – a new blog and online newsletter aimed at showcasing the virtues and benefits and even “how-tos” of responsible, sustainable and local travel.
Aside from having quite possibly one of the best travel blog domain names ever, the site is a veritable hub for travelers and businesses that value an “off the beaten path” approach to making responsible decisions about their…
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The Backwaters of Kerala is unique and is found nowhere else in the world. Backwaters are a network of lakes, canals and estuaries and deltas of forty-four rivers that drain into the Arabian Sea. The backwaters of Kerala are a self supporting eco-system teeming with life. The canals connect the villages together and are still used for local transport. Over 900 km of this labyrinthine water world is navigable.Kumarakom and Alleppey (new name Alappuzha) are the prominant Backwater tourist attractions in Kerala.
Kuttanadu is the one rare places in the world where farming is done below sea level (1.5 -2 meters below sea level). Inland waterways that flow above the land level is an amazing feature of this land. Kuttanad lies in heart of the backwaters of Kerala. This beautiful countryside with its waterways also is rich in crops like rice, banana, Cassava and yam.
The most exciting aspect of Kuttanadu is the Kettuvallam (traditional Houseboat) which has become the most popular tourism…
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