Avalon to offer Mississippi cruises
Avalon Waterways has partnered with the American Queen Steamboat Co. to offer Mississippi River sailings on the 436-passenger American Queen, making it the first European river cruise operator to offer cruises on the river. Avalon has a partial charter agreement for 2013 in which it has contracted up to 40 passengers per sailing on eight departures of a 12-day America's Heartland: From Music City to the Big Easy itinerary; and on two departures of an 11-day Fall Foliage Spectacular: From the Windy City to the Twin Cities itinerary. Avalon passengers will have a dedicated Avalon tour director, and they will also have the option to book pre- and post-cruise land packages in Nashville, New Orleans or Chicago.
Hilton debuts first Mexico all-inclusive
Hilton opened its first all-inclusive resort in Mexico, the Hilton Puerto Vallarta. The 259-room resort features five restaurants and a tapas lounge. The resort is close to the airport and cruise ship terminal.
Azamara creates evening excursions
Azamara Club Cruises has developed a series of signature night excursions in a bid to stand apart from its competitors. The two-ship line will include at least one shipwide nighttime shore event on every cruise, starting in 2013. The cost will be included in the cruise fare. Examples include a private ballet performance in St. Petersburg, Russia, and a sherry tasting and equestrian show at the Royal Andalusian School of Equestrian Art in Jerez, Spain.
Karisma to open at former Sandy Bay
Karisma Hotels & Resorts on Dec. 1 will open the all-inclusive Seashore Bay Beach Resort in Negril, Jamaica, its first property outside of Mexico. The resort had been the Beaches Sandy Bay. Karisma, operator of 11 all-inclusive resorts on the Riviera Maya under the El Dorado and Azul brands, acquired a majority interest in the 128-room Jamaica resort from owner Poinciana Resorts. The resort eventually will undergo a renovation to upgrade it to Karisma's signature Gourmet Inclusive standards, and it will be rebranded as an Azul resort.
Disney property in B Hotels' plans
Florida-based B Hotels & Resorts plans to open three hotels in the Sunshine State in 2013, including one at the Walt Disney World Resort. Situated within walking distance of Downtown Disney, the B in the Walt Disney World Resort is scheduled to open in the fall. It will feature a lawn for receptions and weddings, B Hotels said. The company also plans to open the B South Beach, a renovation of the Continental South Beach, and the B2 Miami Downtown, the first under the B2 flag. B Hotels currently operates one hotel, the B Ocean Fort Lauderdale.
Cabo to welcome first JW Marriott
JW Marriott will make its debut in Cabo San Lucas, Mexico, in 2015 with the opening of the 300-room JW Marriott Los Cabos. Located within the 2,000-acre Puerto Los Cabos master-planned community, the resort will be the fourth JW Marriott in Mexico, joining two properties in Mexico City and one in Cancun.
Friends & Colleagues
The luxury tour operator Cox & Kings has appointed Scott Wiseman as president of the company's Americas operation, effective immediately. Wiseman is the former president of Abercrombie & Kent USA who stepped down from that post at the start of 2012. He had been with A&K since 2006. Wiseman's appointment came as Thomas Stanley stepped down from his position as COO of Cox & Kings, the Americas "to pursue other interests outside of the company," according to the operator. • • • Jodi Ornstein has been named director of marketing at Cruise Planners/American Express, in Coral Springs, Fla. Previously she had been managing editor at the PPI Group, publisher of Porthole Cruise magazine. Ornstein succeeds Annette Hogan, who left to become managing director of Onboard.com. • • • Hilton Worldwide promoted John Rogers to global head of the company's Embassy Suites chain. Rogers was previously regional vice president at Hilton's U.K. operations and helped debut brands such as Hampton Inn, Hilton Garden Inn and DoubleTree by Hilton there. The former Ford Motor Co. executive joined Hilton in 2007.