MANAGUA, Nicaragua, Oct. 23 /PRNewswire/ — The fifth annual Central American Travel Market (CATM) came to a successful close on Sunday, October 12, 2008 after three days of showcasing the region’s best travel offerings. More than 460 buyers and suppliers and 70 journalists came together for the exposition, which took place for the first time in Nicaragua’s capital, Managua. More than 980 business meetings took place during the event.

The international expo was open to wholesalers, outbound tour operators and travel buyers from Europe, Asia, North and South America & the Caribbean with proven interest in Central American tourism.

Participants experienced the best of Nicaragua during hosted pre-tours throughout the country and at VIP events in Managua and Granada. The inaugural ceremony showcased folkloric performances in one of Managua’s most spectacular venues – the Ruben Dario National Theater – a 1,200-seat concert hall named after the country’s renowned poet. Other events included a dinner in the colonial city of Granada, at an 18th-century restored fortress, with live music from one of Nicaragua’s most celebrated musical groups. Sunday evening’s closing celebration was sponsored by El Salvador, the host country for CATM 2009.

“The great success of CATM 2008 reinforces Nicaragua’s appeal as a site for major corporate meetings and events,” says Nicaragua’s Minister of Tourism, Mario Salinas. “Nicaraguans are renowned for their hospitality and warmth,” he adds. “Combined with a much improved infrastructure and incredible value, Nicaragua is a competitive and attractive offering for organizations seeking world-class services, venues and amenities at affordable prices.”

“In addition,” he adds, “Nicaragua is making significant strides in the areas of sustainable and rural tourism. During 2009 we will be placing great emphasis on helping local communities develop their travel offerings.”

CATM’s trade show days took place October 10-12, 2008, with pre-tours starting on the 7th and post-tours of the other member countries commencing on the 13th.

From March 24-26, 2009, the Central America Tourism & Hotel Investment Exchange (CATHIE) will gather hotel and tourism industry leaders in Managua to discuss investment opportunities in Central America. The event will incorporate a conference program, exhibit hall and one-on-one meetings, and will be sponsored by the Foreign Investment Advisory Service (FIAS). For more information, visit www.cathieconference.com .

Source: Nicaragua Tourism Board

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MILWAUKEE, Oct. 15 /PRNewswire/ — With the bustle of the holiday season just around the corner, travelers can book a Funjet Vacation to Mexico or the Caribbean, with prices for airfare starting at $199 when booked with a hotel stay. Vacations can be purchased now through Oct. 30, 2008 with departures valid Dec. 13, 2008 through Jan. 5, 2009. Families have additional savings opportunities with holiday vacation packages at participating hotels where kids stay, play and eat free**.

Vacations to Mexico and the Caribbean depart from cities around the country. With vacation packages starting at just at just $352.99 — saving up to $1,300 per couple — there’s still plenty of money left over for gifts. Travelers can save up to an additional $200 on holiday travel packages by entering the applicable Funjet Vacations promo code* when booking.

Sample packages to Cancun include:

– Fly out of Dallas/Ft. Worth International Airport and stay seven nights at the five star Riu Las Americas, starting at $1,599.99 per person, saving more than $1,300 per couple.

– Fly out of Washington Dulles International Airport and stay three nights at the four star Grand Rivera Princess, starting at $429.99 per person, saving $200 per couple.*

It’s no secret that the end of the year is a busy time for travel and locking in now secures prices and seats, giving travelers peace of mind that their vacation is there waiting for them. As recently reported by MSNBC.com’s Christopher Elliot, “The fall of 2008 and Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year’s might be among the best for travel in recent memory.”

To purchase, travelers can call their local travel agent or visit funjet.com to see the entire selection of exciting destinations and hotels.

* Promo codes and additional disclaimer information can be found on Funjet Vacations online (http://www.funjet.com/specials/index.asp?xmlFile=fs0804&Rank=24&plCode=&linkI D=L1_fs0804). Roundtrip flights can be purchased from $199 when booking a hotel + air vacation package. Fares may vary by airline, class of service, departure and travel dates. Only valid on new reservations. Not valid on group or air-only bookings.

  **Kids stay free offers vary by hotel and restrictions may apply.

  About Funjet Vacations

Funjet Vacations is the flagship brand of the family-owned Mark Travel Corporation, headquartered in Milwaukee. Operating for more than 30 years, Funjet Vacations specializes in flexible, personalized vacations for individuals and groups via nonstop charters and scheduled airlines to some of the most popular vacation destinations, including Mexico, the Caribbean, Las Vegas, Hawaii, Ski, California, Florida, Europe and spring break getaways. Travelers can choose from air-inclusive, land-only or air-only vacations. With Funjet Vacations, travelers can enhance their vacation through a wide variety of experiences such as tours, attractions, shows, sporting events and more. In addition, Funjet Vacations demonstrates its “end-to-end” customer service philosophy by being available to customers throughout the entire vacation experience, from planning to in-destination to post-travel communications.

Source: Funjet Vacations

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In zoos, but there is also a great alternative and that is the High Delta Safari Park close to Monroe and Shreveport.

The High Delta Safari Park is located on a beautiful landscape in the country and Louisiana has been a vacation destination for many people with children who love experiencing the wagon tours, birthday parties in the zoo-like park and field trips have been an awesome experience for countless school classes, church groups and scouts. The coloring pages to print out and paint.

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Cancun has become a little version of America and the Mexican culture is trapped in inanimate sculptures and hotel decorations. There must be more to Mexico than what Cancun can offer. In fact, just a few miles beyond Cancun, travelers will find what they are seeking, the coastal strip of natural paradise of the Riviera Maya and the mysteriously romantic walled city of Tulum. There are many Mexico vacation packages for these areas, which offer a robust and natural array of activities for couples, families or the lone traveler.

The Grandeur of Tulum and Riviera Maya

Guarded by the warm tropical sun, the white sand< coastline of the Riviera Maya (alternatively called Mayan Riviera) merges with the Caribbean Sea. The tourists may opt to explore the sea first and have fun with various types of water sports. They will also find the Great Meso-American Barrier Reef, a fragile ecological site where colorful fishes and other aquatic animals continue to thrive. This reef is a diver’s delight. If the tourists are not a diver, then perhaps they can be invited to swim with the dolphins. Believed to be one of the most intelligent mammals living in the ocean, the dolphins appear to be trying to communicate with humans. Are you the one who can create a meeting of minds with them?

Thereafter, the tourists can go inland and explore the ecological reserves of Sian Ka’an, a World Heritage Site that protects Mexico’s unique and endemic flora and fauna. In Sian Ka’an (the phrase means “where the sky is born”), you will begin to believe that you have found the birthplace of paradise.

While in the area, the visitors are encouraged to visit the Xcaret Park. The Xcaret Park is the only one of its kind because it is a small galaxy of attractions that include a Butterfly Pavilion, a Botanical Garden, a Mushroom Farm, a Wild Bird Breeding Aviary, an archaeological Museum, and an authentic Mayan village.

The archaeological museum features scale models of the ancient Mayan culture. But if the visitors wanted the real thing, they can explore further south and find Tulum, a Pre-Columbian walled city where tourists will find one of the most well-preserved Mayan sites. The ruins included the Temple of the Descending God, the Temple of the Frescos, the Temple of the God of the Wind, and more. In the midst of these structures, you can imagine how alive and vibrant it was, thousands of years ago.

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NEW YORK, Aug. 8 /PRNewswire/ — ShermansTravel.com has launched the Beijing Insider (http://beijinginsider.blogs.shermanstravel.com/), the ultimate Olympic blog covering all of Beijing’s buzz-worthy news from beyond the Olympic Games. The Beijing Insider (http://beijinginsider.blogs.shermanstravel.com/) will be updated twice daily by China expert Gary Bowerman, a local writer who’ll be dishing insider information on China’s capital city and its cultural diversions, the latest celebrity sightings, the city’s new shopping district, entertainment, restaurants, and nightlife — basically, everything making news outside the Olympic stadium.

“Whether you’re traveling in Beijing or just want to feel like you’re there during the Olympic Games, you’ll want to check out our Beijing Insider (http://beijinginsider.blogs.shermanstravel.com/) every day for the next two weeks,” said Arabella Bowen, Vice President of Editorial, ShermansTravel Media. “Our new blog is for those who want inside information on what’s generating the real buzz in Beijing right now. If you’re looking to see how many gold medals swimmer Michael Phelps has won or how LeBron James and other NBA all-stars are doing in the basketball competition, you can tune into the local news,” she added.

ShermansTravel Media pegged Gary Bowerman as their on-the-ground Beijing expert as he’s been covering China since 2004 from both lifestyle and business perspectives. When he’s not posting updates on Beijing Insider (http://beijinginsider.blogs.shermanstravel.com/), he serves as the editor of BizChinaUpdate.com, is the resident co-editor of ZAGAT Shanghai Restaurants & Hotels Guide, and resident editor for LUXE Guide Shanghai. He is also founding partner of Scribes of the Orient, an online China travel and lifestyle publisher.

For travelers feeling inspired to travel to Beijing for the games or even afterwards, check out editor-reviewed deals on ShermansTravel.com at http://www.shermanstravel.com/travel_guides/v1/beijing/hotels.

ABOUT SHERMANS TRAVEL MEDIA

ShermansTravel Media is a leading travel media company that publishes ShermansTravel.com and Sherman’s Travel magazine. Founded by James Sherman in 2002 to help travelers make sense of the overwhelming number of online travel specials, ShermansTravel.com is now the web’s most trusted source for editor-screened travel deals and destination advice. Sherman’s Top 25, a free weekly e-newsletter published every Wednesday, has surpassed four million subscribers. The company also has syndication partnerships with leading web sites, including MSNBC.com, MSN.com, USAToday.com, and Yahoo!. Building on its trusted online brand, ShermansTravel Media launched Sherman’s Travel, the first magazine serving sophisticated, value-conscious travelers, in October 2006.

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