Los Angeles Travel & Adventure Show Sets A New Record

(Long Beach, CA) - Unicomm LLC, organizers of the nation's largest series of travel shows, announced today that its 9th Annual Los Angeles Travel & Adventure Show® held at the Long Beach Convention Center February 8-9, set a new record with over 33,000 travel enthusiasts and travel trade attending to meet with over 3,000 travel experts manning the show's 450 exhibitor booths, making it the largest travel show in the United States.

Says John Golicz, CEO of Unicomm, "We were simply blown away by the reception we received from the LA metro marketplace this year. We know LA travelers have a choice of shows and we are thrilled that they chose ours. It's exciting to see the tens of thousands of travelers who come to hear speakers, talk to experts and gather information about the places they are interested in, especially since so many of them book great show-only trip deals."

For the exhibitors, attendee quality is as important (if not more so) as the quantity of the show-goers. The Long Beach show continues to attract a higher quality demographic due to its strategic location, drawing both L.A. and Orange County consumers.  Many exhibitors reported active bookings, hot leads and expected future business.  Early survey results show an increase in median household income of 4% to $115,323, with over 89% of attendees finding a vacation option to book, or that they intend to book, with an exhibitor at the show. Average time spent at the show increased to 4.93 hours per attendee with a record 1,300 person standing room only attendance at many main stage sessions.  "This has become the nation's 'go-to' event for travel marketers and a valuable sales channel," added Golicz.

Many of the Golden State's own destinations return to the LA Travel & Adventure show year after year because of one thing - results! Says Yosemite Sierra Visitors Bureau Director of Sales Julie Fullmer, "This is one of the best shows of the year and the Los Angeles show is not to be missed.  The attendees seem to be the types that are ready to go on a vacation.  All different ages were represented, and the Long Beach show seems to draw out a better quality and better educated consumer."

Other exhibitors echo the sentiment. Leisa Carr from the Belize Hotel Association had this to say; "We didn't have time to breathe or eat because it was so busy... The visitors to our booth were totally serious shoppers - that's why we choose this show over any other in L.A."

Matt Greenham, Air New Zealand Vacations adds, "This was a brilliant show!  The quality of leads and the audience have been great!   We will be following up on hundreds of hot leads for people ready to travel to the South Pacific."

Exhibitors voted with their pocketbooks as the 2014 Los Angeles Travel & Adventure Show® enjoyed a record 2015 exhibitor renewal program with many exhibitors increasing the size of their booths to allow for the increased attendee volume and interaction - ensuring the return of top quality travel providers, destinations and sponsors in 2015.

Exhibitors like Loren Knowles from the Kern Co. CVB can attest to type of attendee the Los Angeles show attracts. "People who come to this expo are 'doers.'  They are more specific in what they are looking for - people come to the show looking to find destinations to visit."

The Los Angeles Travel & Adventure Show's® four stages were filled to attendance capacity at every session, many with standing room only.  On the 1,000 seat main stage sponsored by Travel Channel, legendary travelers Rick Steves, Samantha Brown, Peter Greenberg, Pauline Frommer, Patricia Schultz, and Don Wildman  were on-hand to offer inspiration and detailed travel information.

The Show Organizers announced that they have contracted the entire convention center floor for the 2015 LA Travel & Adventure Show. "The exhibit floor sold out three weeks ago, and we simply could not add more exhibitors and left quite a few on a waiting list, " stated Jim Forberg, COO of Unicomm. " We are very engaged with our attendees and exhibitors year round.  They are asking for more exhibits from different parts of the world, more content, and even wider aisles to better navigate the show.  And exhibitors are asking for larger booths. So in 2015, our plans include an expanded show floor, new regional pavilions and an additional education theater geared to smart travel tips."

In 2015, The Los Angeles Travel & Adventure Show will return to the Long Beach Convention Center February 21-22 with the same caliber of high-quality speakers and the largest exhibit floor in the U.S.

ABOUT UNICOMM LLC

Unicomm LLC is an independent business-to-business communications company specializing in originating and managing world class trade shows and conferences. Unicomm's properties include the nation's largest and longest running series of travel events, the Travel & Adventure Show™ in Los Angeles, Chicago, Dallas, San Francisco Bay Area, Washington, D.C., Philadelphia and San Diego.

Celebrity Cruises Set To Unveil 'Suite Class' In April

MIAMI, FL – February 12, 2014 – Discerning guests who desire the very best in modern luxury vacations will soon be able to indulge in Celebrity Cruises' new 'Suite Class' experience. This will be fully introduced on Celebrity's state-of-the-art ships during April 2015. With exclusive new benefits including a suites-only restaurant, VIP lounge, complimentary premium beverages, plus more, the newly launched Suite Class is designed to create the ultimate luxurious experience. Guests will enjoy incredible service from the moment they arrive with their personal butler taking care of every detail. This is the only way to travel.

From the one-of-a-kind Reflection Suite, with its jaw-dropping ocean views and unique cantilevered shower, to the stylish Sky Suites, Celebrity's exceptional Suite Class experience is designed to set the standard in modern luxury vacations around the world.

The new Suite Class will include:

Private dining - A dedicated private restaurant reserved exclusively for all Suite Class guests will be available morning, noon and night. Each meal will feature unique menus that offer sumptuous dishes not available anywhere else onboard. Guests can truly immerse themselves in the local culture with specially crafted menus inspired by the local destination, and enjoy the world's best ingredients. Memorable and inspiring dishes will be served, from locally caught seafood, to the freshest pasta. The Suite Class chef can provide a tailor-made experience to suite guests and prepare a dish to their liking, and the Cellar Master - Celebrity’s head sommelier - will select from more than 450 wines to provide the perfect pairing.

Premium 'all in' benefits - Premium beverages, dining across all specialty restaurants, unlimited internet access and a private bar with water, sodas and beers will all be complimentary for guests staying in Royal, Penthouse and Reflection suites.

VIP lounge - A private VIP lounge, Michael's Club, will be available to guests staying in Celebrity, Signature, Royal, Penthouse and Reflection suites. A dedicated Concierge service and unique food and beverage experiences by Celebrity's James Beard-featured chef will be provided to guests.

"Our guests are accustomed to exceptional quality and service, and for those wishing to further indulge in the very best while on vacation we have launched 'Suite Class', specially designed to appeal to the most discerning vacationer,” said Michael Bayley, President and CEO, Celebrity Cruises. “We know that suite guests value privacy, personalized service, exclusive access and flexibility, and providing them with their own unique benefits, such as a dedicated restaurant with a dining experience like no other, is just another way that we are significantly elevating the guest's vacation with us."

Suite guests will also continue to enjoy a large number of benefits including:

The Celebrity 'Suite Class' welcome - Guests will receive priority check-in and embarkation

Legendary butler service - From unpacking guests' luggage to booking the best destination experiences on land, the Suite Class butler will be on hand 24 hours a day to ensure seamless, dedicated and personalized service.

The Suite Class experience will also include a daily high-end afternoon tea service served in the guest's spacious and beautifully-designed suite.

Luxurious stateroom amenities and benefits – As well as enjoying spacious suites with verandas that showcase sweeping ocean views, guests can indulge in a variety of luxury amenities including deluxe Bulgari bathroom amenities, plush robes, premium bedding and an indulgent pillow menu. A host of other extras will also be provided during the guest's vacation including reserved theater seating for all Suite Class guests.
About Celebrity Cruises:
Celebrity Cruises’ iconic “X” is the mark of modern luxury, with its cool, contemporary design and warm spaces; dining experiences where the design of the venues is as important as the cuisine; and the amazing service that only Celebrity can provide, all created to provide an unmatchable experience for vacationers’ precious time. Celebrity Cruises' 11 ships offer modern luxury vacations visiting all seven continents. Celebrity also presents immersive cruisetour experiences in Alaska, Australia/New Zealand, Canada, Europe and South America. Celebrity is one of six cruise brands operated by global cruise vacation company Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. (NYSE, OSE: RCL). For more information, dial 1-800-437-3111, visit www.celebritycruises.com, or call your travel agent.

SAA Vacations® Introduces 'Sommelier's Choice'

Wine and Culinary Vacation Focuses Exclusively on the Cape Wine Region and Provides Experiences with Celebrated Winemakers;

8-Day Package Priced Starting at Just $3,450* (rest. apply)

Fort Lauderdale, FL (February 3, 2014) - South African Airways Vacations® (SAA Vacations) has developed a wine and culinary-themed package designed to satisfy the most ardent oenophile. Priced starting at just $3,450* (restr. apply), the 8-day “Sommelier’s Choice” air-inclusive vacation package immerses wine lovers deep into the Cape Wine region and behind the scenes of a master winemaker’s creative process.  The package was created by region experts and for those who truly love wine and wish to study its origins and development. The experience will meld the beauty of South Africa’s Western Cape and its celebrated wine region with an education in wine that only celebrated wine masters can provide.

The wine experience begins on South African Airways, Africa’s most awarded airline, which features an exclusively South African wine cellar in the sky, chosen from among hundreds of the country’s finest vintages. The package also includes stays at the Vineyard Hotel & Spa in Cape Town, and the Lanzerac Hotel & Spa in Stellenbosch.  A full-day Cape Peninsula tour is complemented by an evening of private wine tastings, as well as a dinner with the perfect cuisine and vintage pairings, overseen by some of Cape Town’s most innovative chefs. The highlight of the package is a “backstage” engagement and interaction with a wine master within their private wine formation spaces that are closed to the public. Visitors will feel as if they are part of the winemaking process, and will learn insights that the average person will never have the opportunity to enjoy.

“The South African wine region continues to gain prominence as a world-class destination and one that should be on every wine-lovers bucket list,” said Terry von Guilleaume, president of SAA Vacations. “We offer a number of wine-themed packages, but the ‘Sommelier’s Choice’ takes it to a whole other level, providing private experiences that are not open to the public, and that would be of interest to those wine enthusiasts who are looking for a more in-depth experience. This package certainly fits the bill.”

For more information on the Sommelier’s Choice package, call South African Airways Vacations at 855-FLY-SAAV, or visit http://www.flysaavacations.com/south-africa-travel/sommeliers-choice/.

About SAA Vacations^®

A division of South African Airways (SAA), the national airline of South Africa and Africa’s most awarded airline, SAA Vacations^® is highly regarded for its wide array of affordable luxury packages to Africa, and uses SAA’s extensive route network to create packages for travel throughout South Africa, Botswana, Victoria Falls, Namibia, Mozambique, Zambia, Zimbabwe, and East Africa. The program is managed and fulfilled by Destination Southern Africa (DSA), which was founded in 2001 and offers an extensive portfolio of tour programs with a variety of hotels, game lodges and safari companies throughout Southern Africa.  DSA was one of three tour operators in the U.S. that was officially appointed by MATCH to develop and sell travel packages for soccer fans visiting South Africa for the FIFA 2010 World Cup, making it a partner with extensive knowledge and know-how in planning the perfect African vacation.

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Terms & Conditions

Sommelier’s Choice

Price is per person based on required double occupancy. Valid as of November 01, 2013 for departures from New York or Washington, D.C. between January 10 - May 31, 2014 with the same itinerary available at higher prices during other travel periods. Price for other departure cities and/or travel dates may vary. Subject to availability and currency exchange rate fluctuations. Prices are valid for new bookings only, are not retroactive and may change without notice. Baggage and optional service fees, cancellation charges and other restrictions may apply. Package includes all government and airline imposed taxes and fees.