Santa Barbara Vintners Spring Weekend Set For April 10-13

Santa Barbara Vintners Spring Weekend Lures Food Fans with Three Exclusive “Signature” Wine Pairing Dinner Events, during April Wine Festival

 -- Event Production Company, Relevé Unlimited, and Santa Barbara Vintners Announce Details of Signature Wine Pairing Dinners: April 10 at Hot New Wine Country Eatery, Industrial Eats; April 11 at Santa Barbara Ocean View Resort, The Fess Parker Doubletree; April 12 among the Vines at Private Winery Estate, Grassini Family Vineyards --

The Santa Barbara Vintners (SBV; #SBVintnersFest) and Santa Barbara- and Solvang-based event production firm, Relevé Unlimited, have enhanced the gourmand element of this year’s “Santa Barbara Vintners Spring Weekend”, with the addition of three separate, “Signature” wine pairing dinners to be held during the wine festival weekend of April 10-13, 2014.

The first culinary event is a Thursday, April 10 Sta. Rita Hills AVA wine pairing dinner at Buellton’s newest restaurant destination, Industrial Eats (6:30 PM to 9:30 PM). The event will open with a Clos Pepe Vineyards sparkling wine reception, followed by a multi-course menu to include the likes of a Dry Cured Ham Tasting, Sea Urchin Crostini, Raw and Cooked Oyster options, Pizza with Duck Prosciutto, Roasted Rabbit, and Confit Duck Leg, paired with wines – and some of the people behind each label – from Sta. Rita Hills wineries including Wes Hagen and Steve Pepe of Clos Pepe Vineyards, Auggie Rodriguez and Laura Roach of Sanford Winery, Ken Brown of Ken Brown Wines, and Jeff Connick of Dierberg Estate Vineyard. Tickets for the April 10 Industrial Eats dinner are $175.00 per person, and may be purchased at www.sbvintnersweekend.com.

Friday, April 11 brings the 90+ Points Top Rated Wine & Dine Event at The Fess Parker, A Doubletree by Hilton Resort, in Santa Barbara (6:00 PM to 9:00 PM). The “90+ Points” Signature event will only feature 90+ point-rated wines from Santa Barbara County, based on scores from Robert Parker, Wine Spectator, Wine Enthusiast, Stephen Tanzer, Wine and Spirits, Anthony Galloni, James Suckling and Wine Advocate, alongside culinary creations prepared by some of Santa Barbara's top food businesses.

The April 11 walk-around wine and food pairing event, to include more than 20 wineries, will feature Jaffurs Wine Cellars, Kaena Wine Company, Margerum Wine Company, Tercero Wines, Fess Parker Winery & Vineyard, Ampelos Cellars, Melville Vineyards and Winery, Vogelzang Vineyard, Buttonwood Farm Winery & Vineyard, Tantara Winery, Longoria Wines, Larner Winery, Pali Wine Co., Blair Fox Cellars, Brewer-Clifton, Solminer Wines, Refugio Ranch, Foxen Winery, Sanford Winery, Alta Maria Vineyards and Native9 Wines, Transcendence Wines, and more.

Gourmet edibles at the 90+ Points event will be provided by Village Modern Foods Catering, Global Gardens & The Caliterranean Café, Catering Connection, Marmalade Café of Santa Barbara, Rodney’s Grill at The Fess Parker Doubletree Resort, Alfresco Picnic, Miró Restaurant by Bacara Resort, Blush Restaurant + Lounge, and more to be announced. A Sparkling Wine Reception is also available prior to the main event, for an additional fee. Tickets run $150.00 or $175.00 per person, and may be purchased at www.sbvintnersweekend.com.

The third and final Signature dinner event, on Saturday, April 12 (6:30 PM to 9:30 PM), will offer guests a rare and ultra-exclusive opportunity to be hosted at the Grassini Family Vineyards, where attendees will feast on creations from Santa Barbara's foremost caterer, Village Modern Foods, paired with Santa Barbara County wines from Grassini Family Vineyards, Dierberg Estate Vineyard, Margerum Wine Company, Kaena Wine Company, Andrew Murray Vineyards, Fiddlehead Cellars and Sea Smoke Estate Vineyard. The multi-course dinner, including live entertainment, will be served lakeside with vineyard views of the Happy Canyon AVA.

The April 12 Grassini Family Vineyards Dinner will consist of innovative plates like a Carrot Salad with Edible Spring Flowers; Seabass with Roasted Fennel and Blue Cheese Beignets; Roast Pork Loin with Smoked Bacon Jam; and Double Chocolate Bread Pudding Brûlée with Whiskey Smoked Sugar Cream. Tickets for the April 12 dinner are $275.00 per person and in limited supply, and may be purchased at www.sbvintnersweekend.com.

In addition to the three Signature Dinner Events are four days’ worth of Santa Barbara Vintners Spring Weekend activities, encompassing a total of 12 total Signature events and more than 15 SBV winery member ancillary events. The headlining Weekend events are the Saturday, April 12 Grand Tasting at Buellton’s River View Park, and the Sunday, April 13 Farm-to-Table Picnic and Concert at Fess Parker Winery & Vineyard, featuring indie rock / Americana music band, Jamestown Revival – the proceeds of which will benefit local charity, Santa Ynez Valley People Helping People.

Spring Weekend will also feature an April 10 celebrity Golf Tournament, hosted by “Sideways” author and playwright, Rex Pickett, with a portion of sponsorship and 100% of raffle proceeds to also benefit Santa Ynez Valley People Helping People. Celebrities scheduled to appear at the Spring Weekend Golf Tournament are Richard Karn of “Home Improvement”, Kathleen Bradley of “The Price Is Right”, Lydia Cornell of “Too Close for Comfort”, and Santa Barbara resident and former Los Angeles Lakers NBA pro, Don Ford.

Spring Weekend also entails a Wine Education Seminar Series at Solvang’s Hotel Corque, moderated by Clos Pepe Vineyards’ Wes Hagen; multiple guided vineyard hikes; and a Barrel Toasting Seminar and Tasting – complete with music, bonfires and dinner – at Michael Larner’s new wine co-op, Buellton Bodegas, which houses the winery operations for Carivintâs Winery, Casa Dumetz Wines, Larner Winery, Municipal Winemakers, Coquelicot Wines, and others. Andrew Murray Vineyards will also be pouring at the Barrel Toasting event.

Additional wineries and food vendors scheduled to participate in the various Spring Weekend events, will be announced in the coming weeks, as well as further details about the Spring Weekend Signature events. Updates will be published at www.sbvintnersweekend.com, and announced via posts with the hashtag #SBVintnersFest. For more information surrounding the full line-up of Spring Weekend events, and to purchase tickets for any portion of the Spring Weekend, please visit: www.sbvintnersweekend.com.

SAA Vacations® Showcases SA's Kwa-Zulu Natal Region

8-Day Immersion in the Region’s Rich History Includes Stay Overlooking Durban’s Famed Golden Mile Beachfront plus Tours, Starting at Just $1,999* (restr. apply)

Fort Lauderdale, FL (March 25, 2014) - South African Airways Vacations® (SAA Vacations) is showcasing South Africa’s vibrant and diverse Kwa-Zulu Natal region, also known as the “Sunshine Coast,” with a specially-priced package that starts at just $1,999* (restrictions apply). The “Sunny South Africa” air-inclusive package features five nights at the Southern Sun Elangeni Hotel, located on Durban’s famous Golden Mile beachfront. A half-day city tour of Durban is complemented by a full-day tour of Shakaland, for an immersion in the culture of the region’s storied Zulu tribe. Time spent at leisure will encourage travellers to explore and discover this city’s rich history and beautiful beaches that overlook the Indian Ocean. Plan on having the experience of a lifetime with this 8-day journey to a region of South Africa that is filled with unique cultural experiences and famous South African hospitality. For more information on the “Sunny South Africa” package, please call 855-FLY-SAAV, visit www.flysaavacations.com, or call your travel professional.

“The Kwa-Zulu Natal region and its main city of Durban are South Africa’s undiscovered gems, with a melting pot of cultures and a rich history, all overlooking the Indian Ocean,” said Terry von Guilleaume, president of SAA Vacations. “Whether discovering the history of the famed Zulu warriors, the city that shaped Ghandi’s views before returning to India or the mix of Indian and African cuisine that has evolved, Durban and its surrounding areas will satisfy first-timers and South Africa enthusiasts alike.”

The “Sunny South Africa” package includes flights on South African Airways, Africa’s most awarded airline, plus accommodations on a bed and breakfast basis, tours, ground transfers and meet and greet by SAA Vacations professionals. For more information, visit http://www.flysaavacations.com/south-africa-travel/sunny-south-africa/.

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

Price is per person based on required double occupancy. Valid as of March 07, 2014 for departures from New York or Washington, D.C. between April 01 - May 09, 2014; May 13 - 31, 2014 and August 11 - 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 include all government and airline imposed taxes and fees.

Airport Council International Continues Its Growth In Montreal

Montréal, March 20, 2014 – Angela Gittens, Director General of Airports Council International (ACI), and Dominique Anglade, President and CEO of Montréal International, announced that ACI would expand its activities in Montréal to develop its Airport Excellence (APEX) Programme. The expansion will create nine permanent jobs and economic spin-offs of $1.7 million a year.

"Our relocation to Montréal in 2011 facilitated a closer alignment with the International Civil Aviation Organization and other aviation industry stakeholders based here in Montréal. We increased the quality and range of services to our members particularly with the APEX in Safety programme, which was launched in September 2012. APEX has attracted a great deal of interest and we have entered into agreements with several international ACI member airports. The city has everything our organization needs to grow, so the decision to expand our facilities was a logical one," said Gittens.

Passenger numbers and air traffic volume are increasing steadily. ACI's recent forecasts indicate that there will be more than 12 billion passengers and over 135 million aircraft movements per year in 2031. "To better manage this growth we are looking at expanding the scope of APEX to cover other disciplines in airport management including service quality, operational security and environmental management. ACI has unique expertise in these areas and we will strive through our APEX expansion programme to make Montréal a global centre of airport management excellence," added Gittens.
"ACI's global role is fundamental to the aviation industry and Aéroports de Montréal has played an important role in the worldwide rollout of the APEX programme which has enabled a large number of airports to enhance the safety of operations," explained Anglade. "We are therefore delighted with ACI's success in Montréal and are honoured to have played a part. We believe in supporting our international organizations community, which is part of what makes Montréal such a unique multicultural and outward-looking city."

Montréal is host to 62 international organizations, including 10 in the aerospace sector.

About ACI (www.aci.aero)
Airports Council International (ACI) is the only global trade representative of the world's airports. Established in 1991, ACI represents airports' interests to governments and international organizations, develops standards, policies and recommended practices for airports, and provides information and training opportunities to raise standards around the world. ACI has 591 regular members operating 1,861 airports in 177 countries and territories. Its members account for more than 95% of the world's airport traffic.

About APEX (www.aci.aero/apex)
The programme provides assistance for airports to enhance their level of safety. The programme's cornerstone is the airport safety review, which analyzes gaps in airport operation and infrastructure in comparison to International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) standards and safety best practices. ACI organizes and dispatches a team of experts from ICAO and other airports to conduct the peer review. The APEX programme is designed for all airports, regardless of size or location.

About Montréal International (www.montrealinternational.com)
Created in 1996, Montréal International (MI) is the result of a private-public partnership. Its mission is to contribute to the economic development of Greater Montréal and enhance its international status. Its mandates include attracting foreign direct investments, international organizations and international strategic workers as well as promoting the competitive and international environment of Greater Montréal. Montréal International—a non-profit organization—is funded by the private sector, the governments of Canada and Québec, the Communauté métropolitaine de Montréal (Montréal Metropolitan Community) and the City of Montréal.

Since its creation, Montréal International has helped to attract $10.6 billion in foreign direct investments to Greater Montréal. From these investments, 52,000 jobs have been created or maintained. To date, MI's activities have also allowed almost half of some 60 international organizations to establish themselves in the city and attract and retain more than 9,000 international strategic workers.

RC Announces Ships For Winter 2015-16 Season

Four of the Regions Largest and Most Innovative Cruise Ships 

to Sail from Port Everglades and Port Canaveral

MIAMI, March 19, 2014 – With more innovative onboard amenities coupled with award-winning entertainment and world-renowned GOLD Anchor Service, Royal Caribbean International is the perfect cruise line for an unforgettable Caribbean vacation. The cruise line today announced that Allure of the Seas, Oasis of the Seas, Freedom of the Seas and Serenade of the Seas will sail the Caribbean from convenient Florida homeports for the winter 2015-16 season, which are now open for sale.
        The world’s largest and most innovative sister-ships Allure of the Seas and Oasis of the Seas will offer vacationers still-matched Caribbean cruises in the 2015-16 winter season. Both ships will homeport at Port Everglades in Fort Lauderdale, Fla. and alternate a seven-night Eastern and Western Caribbean itineraries. Eastern Caribbean ports of call include Nassau, The Bahamas, St. Thomas and St. Maarten, while Western Caribbean ports include Falmouth, Jamaica; Cozumel, Mexico; and Labadee, Royal Caribbean’s private beach paradise on the north coast of Haiti.
        Oasis of the Seas and Allure of the Seas individually offer the widest array of onboard amenities of any ship in the industry. The ships seven themed neighborhoods that exclusively offer a zip line, a park open to the skies with more than 12,000 plants and trees, a handcrafted carousel, and an Aquatheater for high-diving, aerial-acrobatic productions. Guests also can enjoy Royal Caribbean’s exclusive DreamWorks Experience as well as Broadway musicals. Oasis of the Seas and Allure of the Seas also offer 24 onboard dining options, including the only official Starbucks coffee stores at sea. Guests also have Royal Caribbean signature onboard amenities such as twin FlowRider surf simulators, ice-skating rink, oversized cantilevered whirlpools, and an expansive Royal Promenade, flanked by restaurants, lounges and boutiques and where parades and dance parties are held.
        Freedom of the Seas will continue its seventh consecutive year sailing from Port Canaveral along Florida’s Space Coast, alternating seven-night Eastern and Western Caribbean itineraries. The Eastern Caribbean itinerary calls at St. Thomas, St. Maarten and CocoCay, Royal Caribbean’s private Bahamian-island paradise. The Western Caribbean itinerary calls at Grand Cayman, Falmouth, Cozumel and Labadee.
        For its part, Serenade of the Seas will sail a 10- and 11-night Southern Caribbean itineraries, roundtrip from Port Everglades. The 10-night itinerary calls at Tortola, St. Kitts, Dominica, Antigua and St. Maarten, with the Dec. 4, 2015, and Feb. 26, 2016, sailings replacing Dominica with Martinique. On the 11-night itinerary, guests will call at Aruba, Antigua, Barbados, Bonaire, Grenada and St. Lucia. A special 12-night holiday sailing includes all the ports from the 11-night itinerary, plus calls at St. Thomas and Labadee. And a once-only, nine-night itinerary will call at the Aruba, Bonaire, Curacao and Key West, Fla.
        Royal Caribbean International is an award-winning global cruise brand with a 45-year legacy of innovation and introducing industry “firsts” never before seen at sea.  The cruise line features an expansive and unmatched array of features and amenities only found on Royal Caribbean including, jaw-dropping, Broadway-style entertainment and industry-acclaimed programming that appeals to families and adventurous vacationers alike. Owned by Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. (NYSE/OSE: RCL), the cruise line sails 21 of the world’s most innovative cruise ships to the most popular destinations in the Caribbean, Europe, Alaska, South America, the Far East, and Australia and New Zealand. World renowned for its friendly and engaging Gold Anchor Service, delivered by every staff and crew member, Royal Caribbean has been voted “Best Cruise Line Overall” for 11 consecutive years in the Travel Weekly Readers Choice Awards.

Israel Boasts 3.54 Million Visitors, A Record For Tourism

 

UZI LANDAU, ISRAEL MINISTER OF TOURISM

By Darlene Donloe

This week, Israel’s Tourism Commissioner Haim Gutin, North & South America and Uzi Landau, Israel’s Minister of Tourism, were in Los Angeles to promote a tourism film on the Holy Land called, Israel: The Royal Tour and to announce that their country recently set an all-time record for tourism to Israel.

Gutin revealed that in 2013, Israel, which celebrated its 65 Years of Independence, had 3.54 million visitors from around the world. The U.S. is the number one source of tourism to Israel (20% of tourists to Israel come from North America) followed by Russia, France, Germany and the U.K.   About 700,000 North American visitors were from the United States. Neither Gutin nor Landau was sure what percentage of that number were African Americans.

Landau called the U.S., “the most important source of visitors who come to visit.” He added it was because of “the freedom of religion and speech that is shared by Israel and the U.S.”

The tourism industry contributed about $11.4 billion into the Israeli economy last year, according to the Tourism Ministry.

“Some of the visitors came for mystical reasons, some for religious reason and some just to find inner truth,” said Landau.

As well as the country is doing with tourism and even though they hit a record last year, both Gutin and Landau, who was appointed Israel Minister of Tourism in March 2013, insists their country has higher goals.

Both Gutin and Landau said the plan is to increase the number of visitors to Israel by 200,000 this year and to increase the volume of visitors to one million in 2017.

“Part of our goal is to reach the evangelical market and tour operators,” said Gutin.

Landau admitted that the number of visitors could be hampered by the long flights and the cost.

“We understand that both of those could be reasons for people not to travel to Israel,” said Landau.

Landau said he is working vigorously to try to get more flights into Israel, which would automatically “bring prices down.”

HAIM GUTIN, ISRAEL TOURISM COMMISSIONER, NORTH & SOUTH AMERICA

In 2013, the Ministry of Tourism undertook a multimillion dollar advertising campaign based upon the concept that Israel is ‘Beyond Belief.’  

Print ads appeared in leading travel publications and newspapers in the New York Tri-State area.  There was also a web-based destination campaign that appeared on travelzoo.com.

In spite of the pronouncements that Israel is unsafe and in fact, that the country is dangerous, the campaign paid off.

Landau admitted that one of the obstacles for visitors traveling to Israel was security.

“There is much security on people who come to Israel and those who leave,” said Landau.  “We are concerned about the people who come in and the people who leave.”

Landau added that security in Israel is no different than in any other country. The prevailing concern, he says, is “safety”.

“Despite regional turmoil and the ongoing worldwide economic crisis, travelers remained steadfast in their commitment to travel to Israel,” said Gutin. “It confirms what the Ministry has always believed – that visiting Israel is seen by many as a ‘must.’  And there is a growing number of North Americans eager to explore our historic and holy sites, our resorts, our burgeoning culinary scene and our breathtaking natural landscapes.”

Gutin added that is was an “unheard of phenomenon” that any country’s largest and highest-spending source of tourism comes from 6,000+ miles away.

“Which underscores the importance of the work we do in North America,” he said.

The month of December 2013 also set a new record high, with the arrival of 24% more tourists (visitors who stayed more than one night) than in 2012. Cruise travel to Israel also increased in 2013 with the arrival of a record 257,000 cruise visitors.

In 2013, the sources of tourism included religious tourism and pilgrimage, vacation travel, culinary, spa and adventure tourism, Jerusalem (with its mix of historic and holy sites) and Tel Aviv (considered one of the world’s ‘hottest’ destinations).

Gutin said he hopes to welcome “repeat visitors along with a new wave of Christian travelers to the Holy Land this year to experience first hand where the Scriptures come to life.”

According to Gutin, 2014 is already off to a great start. The country will host the Pope, major new hotels are opening and international superstars are expected to perform.

Israeli Prime MinisterBenjamin Netanyahu visited Los Angeles this week for the premiere of Israel: The Royal Tour.

He attended the premiere of the one-hour public television special at Paramount Studios.

QUICK FACTS:

Israel’s Ben Gurion Airport in Tel Avis is the best hub to enter the country.  There are nonstop flights from New York (JFK) and Newark (EWR). 

Major airlines that fly to Israel from the U.S. are Delta Airlines, US Airways, United Airlines and El Al Israel Airlines.

The climate is the summer (April-October) is warm and dry, while winters (November-March) are mild with drier, cooler temperatures.

The New Israeli Shekel (NIS) or shekel is the currency. It is recommended for U.S. visitors to carry a small amount of U.S. dollars since certain tourist sites accept is as legal tender.

The electricity is 220 volts 50 HZ.

Languages spoken include Hebrew, Arabic and English.

The holy day of Shabbat starts on Friday afternoon and ends on Saturday evening. During Shabbat all public offices are closed, as well as most private businesses, public transportation and restaurants. In Tel Aviv and other secular areas of Israel, many restaurants and cafes remain open.

Photos by Darlene Donloe

SAA Vacations® Offers 10% Off 'Cape & Safari Escape'

Fort Lauderdale, FL (March 6, 2014) - South African Airways Vacations® (SAA Vacations) is offering 10% off of its 8-day “Cape and Safari Escape” air-inclusive vacation package for bookings made by April 15th. The discount represents a minimum of approximately $380 discount per person off of the package’s starting price of $3,820* (restr. apply).  “Cape and Safari Escape” includes flights on South African Airways, Africa’s most awarded airline; three nights at the Vineyard Hotel & Spa in Cape Town on a bed and breakfast basis; a full-day Cape Peninsula tour, and two nights at the luxurious Lion Sands River Lodge for safari with meals and game drives, plus transfers during the trip. To take advantage of the 10% discount or for more information, travellers should call 855-FLY-SAAV and mention code “CSE10,” call their travel professional, or visit http://www.flysaavacations.com/south-africa-travel/cape-and-safari-escape/.

“The ‘Cape and Safari Escape’ is a popular vacation package that offers the perfect mix of planned activities and free time to explore Cape Town, along with a luxurious safari at one of the most sought-after safari lodges known for its outstanding game viewing,” said Terry von Guilleaume, president of SAA Vacations. “We’re pleased to offer such a substantial discount for what will undoubtedly be a dream vacation.”

The discount applies to new bookings made by April 15^th. For more information, call South African Airways Vacations at 855-FLY-SAAV, or visit http://www.flysaavacations.com/south-africa-travel/cape-and-safari-escape/.

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

“Cape and Safari Escape”

Price is per person based on required double occupancy. Valid as of March 05, 2014 for departures from New York or Washington, D.C. between May 01 - 31, 2014 and August 11 - 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 include all government and airline imposed taxes and fees.