The New York Times has reported that the state of New York has reached a deal that would legalize recreational marijuana. According to the newspaper, this could create a $42 billion dollar industry, and create thousands of jobs for the state. In the deal, delivery of marijuana would be legalized, as would lounge-like spaces where pot could be consumed (although alcohol wouldn’t be served). It would also let residents grow up to six plants at home for personal use. Like alcohol, the law would make it legal for those over the age of twenty-one. One of the most high-profile benefits…
Author: Keith Langston
In our previous post, we talked about how Shanghai Disney was able to reopen on May 11, and that it could provide a blueprint for America’s Disney parks to follow. Yesterday, it was announced that Disney World will reopen. On July 11, Magic Kingdon and Animal Kingdom will reopen. On July 15, Epcot and Hollywood Studios will reopen. After the success of Shanghai Disney’s reopening scheme, Disney World will require a few things to ensure the safety of everyone: ~ Guests must wear a face mask ~ Guests will have their temperature checked before entering the park ~ There will…
Manhattan is often considered the center of the universe, at least by the people who live there. The city has over 6,000 high-rise buildings and one of the most beautiful skylines on the entire planet. Could there be a better experience than viewing the gorgeous, glowing New York landscape at over 1,131 feet in the air? If you want to experience the views firsthand, head for The Edge. To celebrate the holidays, The Edge, the tallest outdoor observation deck in the city, is decking the halls and trimming the trees. They’ve lit up more than 50,000 Christmas lights, have…
The term “Big 5” was originally coined by hunters, referring to the five hardest animals to hunt in Africa. Sometimes called “big-game hunters,” these groups of people were determined to track and kill the world’s largest, fiercest animals. Tragically, this history of hunting and poaching has led to a significant population decline of all five animal species. Thankfully, in recent years, many African countries have come to embrace their big game species as symbols of pride and beauty, and laws have been placed to keep the animals protected. South Africa even features the Big 5 on its currency. Can you…
MGM Resorts, which owns numerous properties in Vegas, across America, and around the globe, has announced the launch of their new 100-megawatt solar farm, aptly named the Mega Solar Array. The new project is currently powering 90% of daytime needs for all of MGM’s Vegas resorts, including the MGM Grand, ARIA, Bellagio, Mandalay Bay, and more. The Mega Solar Array consists of 323,000 solar panels, The array’s renewable electricity production will be equivalent to the amount of power used by approximately 27,000 average U.S. homes annually. The new solar farm is just step one of MGM’s grand vision for a sustainable…
The Duke of Sussex, Prince Harry, has teamed up with the biggest names in travel to create the think-tank, Travalyst. The organization is determined to make travel more ethical for both the environment and local communities around the world. Along with Prince Harry, the other founding members are Booking.com, Skyscanner, TripAdvisor, VISA, and the Chinese travel site Ctrip. Together, they have started examining the fact that travel is a growing industry, and will only continue to grow. And with that continued growth, comes continued strain on the environment and local communities. Examples of this include the story from earlier this…
Expedia Group, the largest online travel agency, just released the finding from their annual travel survey, the Traveler Value Index, and the results look very promising for the future of sustainable travel. According to the findings: ~ 59% of travelers are willing to pay more for sustainable travel options ~ 49% of travelers are willing to visit less crowded destinations to reduce the effects of overtourism ~ 43% of travelers want to journey closer to home in order to lessen their carbon footprint The fact that almost 60% of travelers are willing to pay for sustainable options is a very…
For a few years, Disney has been working on a unique and somewhat controversial resort concept: The Star Wars Galactic Cruiser. It’s a resort like no other, completely transporting guests into an epic story (and sequestering them away from the world for two days). It’s not just a hotel…it’s an experience. Now, Disney has announced that after much testing, the Galactic Starcruiser is finally open to the public. Guests will board a launch pod near the entrance of Disney’s Hollywood Studios that will take them to the Halcyon Starcruiser. Once onboard, their two-night adventure begins. It’s a completely immersive experience…
Trains used to be the main means of travel between cities in the USA. They were also exciting experiences filled with ornate interiors, fine dining options, and even entertainment. To greet visitors, cities used to build opulent train stations. In more recent years, with the rise of cars and airplanes, train travel took a nosedive. Both the amount of passenger trains, and the hospitality they provided dwindled until trains became nothing more than slow-moving buses. With that, the train station went from being a city’s shining jewel, to a dusty, unused relic of the past. But that’s all starting to…
Many airports and airlines are starting to offer pre-flight COVID tests to help build confidence among travelers. According to the Washington Post, over 100 countries already require a negative COVID test before entering, and now, domestic interstate travel in the US could mimic those practices. The travel industry (especially airlines) is desperate to rebuild the assurance of safety among travelers. Pre-flight COVID tests could be the answer. Currently, United and Hawaiian offer COVID testing on select routes and JetBlue created a program that allows all passengers to partake in at-home testing. There are also airports that have their own testing programs,…
These days, it’s normal to meet someone with special dietary needs: gluten-free for health reasons, Kosher for religious reasons, or vegetarian for environmental reasons. Everyone with a special diet, however, still loves to dine out, and they especially love dining out at restaurants that cater to their culinary requirements while still creating stunning, delicious meals. Luxury travel operator, Scenic, has put together a list of the best cities for those dining out with special dietary needs. Can you guess which city took the #1 spot? 9.) Amsterdam Vegetarian options: 1823 ~ Gluten-free options: 667 ~ Kosher options: 4 While…
Sonoma County, America’s premier wine region, just launched a new social campaign to help inspire and motivate people around the world. The county, which is constantly ranked as one of the best places to visit in North America, brought together many of their local businesses to celebrate in a virtual toast with travelers from all over the world who have visited Sonoma. Cheers! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WLvryElsfWs&feature=youtu.be Todd O’Leary, vice president of marketing and communications at Sonoma County Tourism stated, “We may come from different places, and have different cultures, customs, and languages, but the act of toasting is universal. The act of raising…
Relaxing, quiet, quaint beachside towns can be nice…but sometimes you want a little more. You want all the beauty of the beach, while also being able to experience the shopping, the food, and the culture of a major city. What to do then? Well my friends, that’s when you head to one of the world’s best beachside cities! By Keith David Langston SAN DIEGO USA San Diego is one of the most dynamic beachside cities around. With a thriving city center, a world-famous zoo, multiple theme parks, and it’s very own island, Coronado, there literally isn’t anything you can’t do. Head into…
When the pandemic ends, will travel be different? Will travelers themselves be different? Some travel experts believe so, and they think it could be a game changer for protecting the beauty and health of our planet. Sven Lindblad, founder and CEO of Lindblad Expeditions was speaking with Travel Weekly when he described the new movement, called regenerative tourism. He stated, “Sustainable tourism was largely defined on the concept of doing no harm. The concept is to ensure that when we go someplace, we don’t damage it and we make sure it’s available for future generations to also enjoy…With regenerative tourism,…
Baymont, part of the Wyndham brand, is launching a new ad campaign showcasing the fact that the hotel chain is pet-friendly. After the wave of pet adoptions during the COVID-19 pandemic, Baymont says it recognizes the need for more pet-friendly hotels to meet the growing demand of families who travel with their pets. To herald in this new campaign, Baymont says it’s looking for a canine ambassador, who will be known as “Buddy of the Year”. This new spokespup will star in the hotel’s new digital ad campaign focusing on the brand’s pet-friendly nature. The winning dog’s owners will also…
The hope of creating a reliable “vaccine passport” started in April of 2020. In theory, it would be a document that showed whether you’ve been vaccinated, and are therefore (most likely) immune to the current strains of the novel coronavirus. The questions everyone is asking are: Who will be in charge of making the vaccine passports? Who will accept them? How will people get one? And how do we prevent people from making counterfeits? Sadly, the answers are not clear. Like all things during the COVID-19 pandemic, the process of creating a universal, efficient vaccine passport is going to challenging.…
AAA’s coveted diamond awards aren’t easy to obtain. And for those who do, getting awarded five diamonds is even tougher. In fact, AAA states that out of the 27,000 properties awarded AAA diamonds, only .4% of those achieve five. Here are four hotels that have just earned the top spot in the world of travel and hospitality. by Keith Langston BOSTON HARBOR HOTEL Boston, Massachusetts It’s always great when a hotel can give you views of both a city skyline, as well as a bustling harborfront. The Boston Harbor Hotel delivers not only on the views, but the amenities as…
Within the last week, a massive wave of cities, states, and nations have begun lifting their pandemic restrictions, leading many to ask, is this the end of COVID? The short answer is no. With how low the vaccination rates are (CNBC states that only 54% of the global population is vaccinated) it’s highly unlikely that we will ever live in a world without COVID again. However, that 54% combined with the fact that 406 million people across the planet have been infected (and that’s only reported cases, there are millions more that were never reported) it’s likely that we will…
Premium Economy is the bridge between Business class and Economy. The cabin configuration is known for slightly wider seats with a few extra inches of legroom, as well as bigger IFE systems, footrests, and improved dining and drinks (most PE cabins serve meals using real silverware, linen napkins, and actual dishware.) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yVVNFFzU4kY In general, the new seating class has been hailed by travelers as being a more affordable option for those who want more room and comfort (especially while making journeys on ultra-long-haul routes like Los Angeles to Melbourne or Auckland to Dubai). However, a new start-up, Zephyr Aerospace, wants…
Stop signs, yield signs, speed limits—road signs can be so dull…but that isn’t true everywhere. In some places around the world, driving can be filled with more adventures than you can imagine. In certain areas, fascinating encounters lurk around every corner. Luckily for us, these handy road signs are there to let us know exactly what strange and mysterious things lie ahead! By: Keith Langston AUSTRALIA BEING…AUSTRALIA Nullarbor Plain, South Australia Forget about a deer running in front of your car. When driving in the open South Australian plains, you’ve got bigger problems, literally. Camels, wombats, and of course, kangaroos can…