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Culinary Travelers Discover Vibrant Flavors of Authentic Mazatlán

Mazatlán (August 2, 2010) – Visitors to the coastal city of Mazatlán savor award-winning cuisine amid a scenic backdrop. The destination known as the “The Pearl of The Pacific” has long been renowned for its fresh seafood straight from the Pacific Ocean. Now, Mazatlán’s rich culinary tradition spotlights authentic flavors with gourmet flare, served up by acclaimed chefs and world-class restaurants. Travelers can also explore the region’s diverse culinary landscape with visits to colonial town haciendas and tours of Mazatlán’s brewery and a century-old blue agave distillery.

Culinary Tours Whet Travelers’ Appetites

For hands-on gastronomic adventure, a variety of new tours please the palate while serving up unique glimpses of Mazatlán’s history. One of the most popular is the Vintana de los Osuna, where visitors explore the 130-year-old Los Osuna Blue Agave distillery and plantation. Located in the mountain village of La Noria, the expansive estate was settled by the Osuna family soon after their arrival from Spain in 1864. Daily walking tours take guests through the agave fields, where plantation guides explain the growing process and demonstrate how the blue agave is harvested. Visitors then tour both the ancient and modern distillery, sample agave juice, visit the estate’s wine cellar and enjoy final tastings of blue agave at the Los Osuna Bar.

Mazatlán is also home to the Pacifico Brewery, where visitors are led through the bottling plant, distribution operations and quality control labs of the fully operating beer brewery. The Pacifico museum and tasting room is located at the top of the brewery’s tower. Here, guests learn about the brewery’s origins in the city’s early European influence and enjoy multiple tastings, surrounded by breathaking 360-degree views of Mazatlán’s scenic coastline and vibrant historical center.

Bounty of the Pacific

Set along 16 miles of golden-sand beaches, it’s no wonder Mazatlan enjoys an international seafood reputation. The coastal waters here teem with Pacific sailfish, marlin, yellowfin tuna, wahoo, and dorado. The city also boasts the largest shrimp fishing fleet in the Pacific, and fishermen are found every morning selling their catches of the along the oceanfront malecón promenade. Visitors can savor fresh seafood like plump shrimp and ceviches with conch, octopus or crab meat in outdoor markets or beachside palapa huts. 

In Old Mazatlán, the city’s lively historic district, charming sidewalk cafés offer al fresco dining and haute gourmet flavors against a colorful backdrop of neoclassical architecture. A favorite among locals and visitors, Restaurant Pedro Y Lola serves a mix of fresh seafood and international specialties as guests enjoy free outdoor jazz concerts from nearby Plaza Machado in the heart of town. The luxurious, beachfront district known as Zona Dorada (The Golden Zone) offers world-class cuisine and ocean views at premier restaurants like La Cordeliere and Angélos. Award-winning chefs here create signature dishes that range from chargrilled octopus to hearty marlin stews, lobster in garlic sauce or grilled red snapper.

Located just north in the area known as Nuevo Mazatlán, The Seafarer restaurant features an international menu and waterfront dining along the cosmopolitan Marina Mazatlán. Nightly music performances feature smooth jazz and soulful blues ensembles. For a more casual atmosphere, travelers head to Gus y Gus, also overlooking the new Marina. The open-air restaurant offers authentic Mexican fare and a lively bar with nightly entertainment.

Taste of Regional Tradition

Located near the foothills of the Sierra Madres, Mazatlán also boasts rich regional cuisine. The fertile valleys here offer plenty of lush pasture for livestock to roam, producing tender cuts of pork, lamb and beef. Local dishes also spotlight native spices and fresh ingredients harvested from neighboring farms. Among the region’s specialties: tender Mazatlán steak marinated in a spicy red chile broth. In Old Mazatlán, La Tramoya is a favorite for hearty and authentic Mexican meat dishes. Olas Altas Steak House spotlights a fine dining menu of steaks, seafood, tapas and Asian-fusion cuisine created by Mazatlán Best Chef Award-winner Ken Simon. Diners enjoy a romantic ambiance in the restaurant, housed in a lovingly restored private home that is more than a century old.

In Nuevo Mazatlán, the elegant Sr. Pepper is known for its refined atmosphere, succulent steaks and sophisticated wine list. Just outside the city, picturesque colonail villages and mining towns offer a taste of the area’s rich heritage amid panoramic mountain views. In quaint restaurants like El Meson De Los Laureanos in El Quelite, dishes are prepared in the honored custom of generations past. Travelers can savor handmade pork tamales, enchiladas sprinkled with grated queso cotija and pozole, a flavorful pork and hominy stew. For more information about Mazatlán’s culinary highlights, visit www.gomazatlan.com.

# # # About Mazatlán

Mazatlán is located on Mexico’s Pacific Coast at the foot of the Sierra Madre Mountains. As Mexico’s second largest coastal city, Mazatlán has nearly 600,000 inhabitants. The city is divided into two main areas: Old Mazatlán and Zona Dorada or Golden Zone, with a seven-mile coastal road between the two. Mazatlán has an international sport-fishing reputation. Sites of interest include: the Angela Peralta Theater, Archeological Museum, Republic Plaza, Ocean Museum, Botanic Garden, San Jose Chapel and the world’s second-tallest lighthouse. Transportation is available via the local “pulmonías” or four-person open-air vehicles that have become a symbol of the city. Visit Mazatlán on the World Wide Web at www.gomazatlán.com.

Sea of Galilee: Las Vegas style fountains

FOUNTAIN, MUSIC AND LIGHT SHOW WOWS SEA OF GALILEE VISITORS WITH BELLAGIO-STYLE PYROTECHNICS

New York - August 26, 2010: The ancient waters of the Sea of Galilee are now playing nightly host to a state-of-the-art multi-sensory display of music and light. The impressive spectacle takes place at the southern end of the Tiberias promenade and incorporates dancing fountains styled on those of the Bellagio Hotel in Las Vegas, pyrotechnics screened onto 30-foot-high jets of water, a laser show and a state-of-the-art sound and light system that moves with the tempo of the music.

Each performance includes the screening of four unique presentations onto two huge water screens, highlighting the history and development of the Sea of Galilee and its surroundings. The spectacle lasts 15 minutes, with shows starting nightly at 8:30pm, 9:30pm and 10pm.

Mexico City: FITA 2010 - Tourism Show of the Americas

MEXICO CITY WILL WELCOME THE FIRST EVER INTERNATIONAL TOURISM FAIR OF THE AMERICAS

The most important tourism event of the year reaches 95% capacity as it continues to prepare for its first edition Mexico City, Mexico (August 27, 2010) – The Mexico City Ministry of Tourism is excited to welcome the first ever International Tourism Fair of the Americas, FITA, taking place from September 23rd through 26th in the 349,000-square-foot Bancomer Expo Center Santa Fe in Mexico City.

FITA 2010 will also coincide with the Bicentennial celebration of Mexico's Independence and the Centennial celebration of the Mexican Revolution, making it an outstanding opportunity to host such an important event. FITA will also help reinforce Mexico City as a premiere travel destination. "We asked the World Travel Organization for strategy for how we can make Mexico City much better known as a destination, and the WTO had several conclusions," said Juan Carlos Arnau, manager of strategic projects for the Mexico City Tourism Board. "The main recommendation was to organize a world-class event, a very powerful event to make Mexico City important as a destination."

Mexico City’s Ministry of Tourism plans to make FITA an annual event that will gather a selected group of exhibitors from all over the world, as well as professionals within the national and international tourism sector, in an effort to promote the destinations and products of the tourism industry.

About FITA 2010

FITA 2010 is a tourism industry fair that focuses on the promotion and commercialization of products, services and travel destinations- with its main goal of generating new Business developments and investments within one of the largest cities in the world: Mexico City.

Pack Your Bag & Come to Real Resorts…It’s On Us!

Real Resorts Offers Guests up to a $50 Resort Credit for Airline Charges for Checked Baggage at All Four of its Cancun & Playa del Carmen Resorts Cancun

Riviera Maya, MX – Tired of paying those airline checked baggage fees? Real Resorts can help! Now through December 23, 2010, Real Resorts will offer guests up to a $50 Resort credit when they show their receipt for airline checked luggage costs upon check-in. The offer is available per guest suite and is limited to one credit per stay. The Resort credit is valid at the luxury-gourmet, all-inclusive, all-suite, adult-only THE ROYAL in Cancun and THE ROYAL Playa del Carmen, as well as the family friendly all-inclusive Gran Caribe Real Cancun and Gran Porto Real Playa del Carmen.

The Resort credit can be used to purchase suite upgrades, spa services, or for extras such as premium bottles of wine or private beach dinners. “Baggage charges have become a big inconvenience and expense to resort travelers and we want to help,” said Fernando Garcia, Managing Director of Real Resorts. “We want our guests to arrive happy and be relaxed so that they are ready to enjoy their vacation. Offering them the credit to help offset the baggage charges that are now routine with most airlines is just another gesture of many that guests experience at Real Resorts. We believe it helps show just how much we care about them and appreciate their business,” added Garcia. In addition, guests will enjoy spectacular savings on vacations booked for arrival now through October 31st, and early booking bonuses of up to 30% savings for 2011 vacations booked by October 31, 2010.

For reservations and more information visit a travel agent or online at www.RealResorts.com.

2,200-year-old gold coin was discovered in Israel

New York - August 23, 2010: A priceless 2,200-year-old gold coin was discovered this week during excavations at Tel Kedesh in northern Israel. The gold coin is believed to have been minted in Alexandria by Ptolemy V in 191 BC. The head of the coin depicts Arsinoe II Philadelphus, wife of Ptolemy II--the king of Egypt from 283 BC to 246 BC, and the tail side features an inscription of her name and two overlapping cornucopias decorated with fillets. The coin is believed to be a testament to the staying power of a cult established by Ptomely II in honor of his late wife due to the fact it was minted 80 years after her death.

"This is the heaviest gold coin with the highest contemporary value of any coin ever found in an excavation in Israel," says Dr. Donald T. Ariel, head of the Coin Department of the Israel Antiquities Authority. "It is possible the coin had a ceremonial function related to a festival in honor of Queen Arsinoe, who was deified in her lifetime. The denomination is called a mnaieion, meaning a one-mina coin, and is equivalent to 100 silver drachms, or a mina of silver."

Apple Vacations offers agent perks

By: Laura Del Rosso August 10, 2010

Travel agents who make any new Apple Vacations charter air/hotel booking to AMResorts' all-inclusive Now Jade Riviera Cancun or Now Sapphire Riviera Cancun can earn an iPod Shuffle, an underwater digital camera or a piece of 20-inch, hard-sided luggage. Agents earn a prize for every five bookings made through Sept. 30 for departures Nov. 1 to March 31. Travel agents can log on to www.travelagentcafe.com to download a scorecard and order form.

Unesco removes Galapagos from danger list

By: Michelle Baran - "Travel Weekly" - August 10, 2010

The World Heritage Committee has removed the Galapagos Islands from its list of World Heritage sites that are in danger, a decision that was made during the committee's 34th session in Brasilia, Brazil, July 25 to Aug. 2. The Galapagos Islands were inscribed on the List of World Heritage in Danger in 2007 "because of threats posed by invasive species, unbridled tourism and overfishing," according to Unesco, the World Heritage Committee's governing body.

"The committee found that significant progress had been made by Ecuador in addressing these problems," the committee said in a statement. "It welcomed the government's continuing efforts to strengthen conservation measures, especially in dealing with introduced species." The list, which currently contains 34 endangered sites, is meant to inform the international community of conditions which threaten the very characteristics for which a property was inscribed on the World Heritage List, and to encourage corrective action. "The listing of a site as World Heritage in Danger should in any case not be considered as a sanction, but as a system established to respond to specific conservation needs in an efficient manner," the committee stated.

ZOËTRY PARAISO DE LA BONITA wins 6th consecutive AAA FIVE DIAMOND award

Luxury Resort Brand Continues to Exceed Top Industry Standards as it Approaches First Year Anniversary

PHILADELPHIA (November 16, 2009) – Zoëtry Paraiso de la Bonita Riviera Maya, the first resort under Zoëtry Wellness & Spa Resorts brand, received the highly coveted AAA Five Diamond award from the travel industry authority for the sixth consecutive time for providing travelers with the highest levels of service and accommodations.

“This recognition validates Zoëtry Wellness & Spa Resorts’ updated approach to luxury travel and the rapid growth of the brand,” said Alex Zozaya, President and CEO of AMResorts, provider of sales, marketing and brand management services for Zoëtry Wellness & Spa Resorts, and Secrets and Dreams Resorts & Spas.

Zoëtry Paraiso de la Bonita Riviera Maya, the brand’s marquee property, offers guests a new type of luxury experience that combines elements of wellness, serenity and social and environmental responsibility treating every guest to an indulgent experience without the guilt.

Located just minutes from Cancun International Airport in Puerto Morelos, Mexico, the 90-oceanfront suite boutique resort offers the ultimate vacation experience with an array of Endless Privileges™. Accommodations and amenities include personalized in-suite services with such features as free worldwide calling, evening catamaran sails, complimentary daily laundry services and Wi-Fi throughout the resort, plus an exquisite award-winning culinary experience available at four on-site gourmet restaurants and a transforming spa experience at the first Thalasso Center & Spa in North America.

“Five Diamond establishments do more than provide luxurious surroundings; they consistently deliver a high level of personal attention to every guest,” said Michael Petrone, AAA director of Tourism Information Development. “Awareness and follow through are critical when dealing with the most discriminating guest expectations.

To achieve this level of hospitality is a rare accomplishment. AAA is pleased to honor Zoëtry Paraiso de la Bonita Riviera Maya with the AAA Five Diamond Award.” With two resorts operating under Zoëtry Wellness & Spa Resorts (Zoëtry Paraiso de la Bonita in Puerto Morelos, Mexico and Zoëtry Agua Punta Cana in the Dominican Republic) the brand is slated to open two additional properties by the end of 2009.

New resorts include Golden Bear Lodge & Spa Cap Cana: The Zoëtry Collection in the Dominican Republic and Zoëtry Casa del Mar Los Cabos in Mexico.

Saint Lucia ranked in top 10 for relaxation and romance

CASTRIES, Saint Lucia (June 28, 2010) – One of the world’s top sources for travel tips and advice has placed the Caribbean island of Saint Lucia among its 10 best destinations. The TripAdvisor 2010 Travelers’ Choice Best Destination Awards put Saint Lucia in the Top 10 Destinations in the Caribbean & Mexico region for two categories: Relaxation & Spa, as well as Romance.

“We are delighted to be recognized by travelers as tops in the Caribbean,” says Saint Lucia Director of Tourism Louis Lewis, who believes this latest award adds to an accomplished list of accolades earned by Saint Lucia and its hotel partners this year. Lewis disclosed that the Saint Lucia Tourist Board had placed strong emphasis on promoting the island as an ideal place for both relaxation and romance over the past few years. “We are comforted that more and more visitors are responding with feeling to our romance messaging and feeling the relaxing effect of the massaging they receive once they visit our shores."

In addition to the two popular travel categories, Saint Lucia was also named amongst the Top 25 destinations in the Caribbean and Mexico for 2010. Trip Advisor 2010 Traveler’s Choice Awards also gave top-ranking to a number of Saint Lucia’s inns, villas and resorts. TripAdvisor, an operating company of Expedia, Inc. and one of the world's largest travel websites, assists travelers with real information, advice, and opinions from millions of travelers. TripAdvisor.com is a place for insights and tips that is alive with experiences and opinions. A friendly and relaxed community filled with honest conversations between travelers, it's a place that feels like a local neighborhood coffee shop or café.

AMResorts: two new exclusive Zoëtry Wellness & Spa Resorts in Mexico and Dominican Republic

PHILADELPHIA, PA (June 2, 2009) – AMResorts, award-winning provider of resort sales, marketing and brand management services, today announced plans to launch two new exclusive Zoëtry Wellness & Spa Resorts later this year. Zoëtry Agua Punta Cana will open during Fall 2009 to become the brand's first offering in the Dominican Republic, followed by Zoëtry Casa del Mar Los Cabos, which is slated to open in Mexico's Pacific region in early December 2009. "We are very pleased to bring these two resorts into Zoëtry Wellness & Spa Resorts' growing portfolio,” said Alex Zozaya, AMResorts' CEO and president.

"Both properties already embody the ambience and service level our guests have come to expect from the Zoëtry brand and through specific enhancements, we plan to exceed expectations of new and returning guests. As Zoëtry Wellness & Spa Resorts continues to expand, we hope to raise the bar for luxury experiential vacations in Mexico and the Caribbean,” Zozaya added.

This news follows an announcement made earlier this year by AMResorts regarding the development of a Zoëtry resort in the Dominican Republic's Punta Cana region. With an estimated opening in late 2010, Zoëtry Pearl Sands Cap Cana will become the fourth resort operated under this newly-launched brand of luxury lifestyle resorts.

Cap Cana, AM Resorts Open Golden Bear Lodge & Spa

Monday, 04/01/2010

Cap Cana, S.A. and AM Resorts on Dec. 28 officially opened the Golden Bear Lodge & Spa at Cap Cana luxury golf resort development. Golden Bear Lodge & Spa, a 126-suite resort with two Jack Nicklaus-designed golf courses, is AM Resorts’ first golf property under its new Zoetry Collection of resorts and is part of its Preferred Boutique and Preferred Golf groups.

Focused on golf enthusiasts, the Golden Bear Lodge & Spa will offer a choice between two Jack Nicklaus Signature golf courses -- the world-ranked Punta Espada Golf Course, host of the PGA Tour’s Champions Tour, or Las Iguanas, currently under construction.

In February 2009, AM Resorts announced plans to develop two additional luxury resorts in Cap Cana, the Pearl Sands Cap Cana and Pure Secrets at Cap Cana. During the third quarter of 2009, Cap Cana delivered to AM Resorts the entire contractually required infrastructure for the development of these resorts.

Cap Cana is a 30,000-acre master-planned luxury resort and real estate community located on the eastern tip of the Dominican Republic in the Caribbean. The community is fully operational with championship golf and yachting facilities, a world-class hotel, pristine beaches, a variety of dining and retail establishments and numerous other amenities.

Since breaking ground in 2002, Cap Cana has invested approximately $800 million in infrastructure and other improvements and has entered into contracts with aggregate value of approximately $1.4 billion for the sale of approximately 1,500 units of real estate properties.