Hard Rock To Purchase The Mirage Las Vegas Hotel and Casino

Above, The Mirage Hotel and Casino. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

It appears that The Mirage Hotel and Casino will soon be a thing of Las Vegas history. Say goodbye to the volcano.

From Travel Agent Central:

Hard Rock International (HRI) on Monday, December 13, announced its agreement to acquire the operations of The Mirage Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas from MGM Resorts International, subject to regulatory approvals and other customary closing conditions. Through the acquisition, Hard Rock plans to build a guitar-shaped hotel, which will be located on the Las Vegas Strip. When it opens, the hotel will be named Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Las Vegas and will cover an 80-acre plot.

According to a press announcement, Hard Rock International will pay $1.075 billion in cash for the operating assets of The Mirage Hotel and Casino, subject to customary working capital adjustments. The hospitality and entertainment brand will enter into a long-term lease agreement with VICI Properties Inc. for the real estate property of The Mirage.

I've stayed at The Mirage once and attended "The Beatles LOVE" show. The hotel is noted for the volcano in front that erupts periodically.

To read more, go here.

From USA Today:

Hard Rock said it plans to build a 1,000-room guitar-shaped hotel on the Las Vegas Strip, but chairman Jim Allen would not confirm whether that means the company would demolish the Mirage or add new construction.

 

Above, yours truly in front of The Mirage in 2015.

Hawaii Welcoming Vaccinated Tourists Starting November 1

Above, evening at the Sheraton Waikiki infinity pool. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

A few months ago, Hawaii Gov. David Ige asked that people refrain from traveling to Hawaii.

Now that cases of COVID-19 are subsiding, he says all are welcome starting November 1. That is, people who are vaccinated are welcome.

Travel Agent Central reported:

Hawaii will allow for vaccinated residents and domestic visitors to travel to and between the islands starting November 1. Hawaii Governor David Ige made the announcement earlier this week at Ellison Onizuka Kona International Airport, according to the Star Advertiser.

“I think we are all encouraged by what we’ve seen over the last several weeks with the continuing trend of lower case counts,” Ige said at the time. “Our hospitals are doing better, and we have fewer COVID patients in them. Most importantly, our health care system has responded, and we have the ability to move forward with economic recovery. Because of this, it is now safe for fully vaccinated residents and visitors to resume non-essential travel to and within the State of Hawaii.”

To read more, go here.

Foreign Visitors To Japan Set New Record In 2018

Above, Tokyo Skytree from Mori Tower in Roppongi Hills. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

More visitors are going to Japan each year, and each year a new record in the numbers of foreign visitors increase from the year before.

Travel Agent Central has posted an article on the new record set by Japan and what lies ahead in tourism.

They begin it with:

More than 30 million overseas travelers visited Japan in 2018, an all-time record, the Japan National Tourism Organization (JNTO) reports. That represents an 8.7 percent increase over 2017 — the previous record year. Tourism from the United States rose 11 percent, accounting for about 5 percent of all visitors.  

Naohito Ise, the JNTO’s New York-based executive director, said in a written statement that, “American tourism to Japan is expected to continue to rise in 2019 as the country builds up to host major international sporting events,” adding that, “more and more Americans [are] seeking beyond the classic tourism destinations of Tokyo and Kyoto to discover lesser-known parts of the country.” 

To read more, go here. 

Osaka Earthquake Disrupts Transit Systems

Above, restaurant signs in Osaka's Dotonbori district. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Today's 6.1 magnitude earthquake that struck Osaka Prefecture has disrupted transportation services in the region.

Travel Agent Central reported:

A magnitude 6.1 earthquake hit Japan at approximately 8:00 a.m. local time Monday morning. The earthquake struck north of Osaka and affected large parts of western Japan, including Kyoto, ABC News reports. The earthquake poses no tsunami risk, according to The Japan Meteorological Agency. 

According to the latest update from the Japan National Tourism Organization, there are still flight delays and cancellations to and from Osaka International Airport, but all highways in the Kansai region are passable and ferries are “mostly” on schedule. 

The tourism organization also stated that the Tokaido Shinkansen train station has resumed operations, though some routes on the Sanyo Shinkansen, JR, Osaka Metro, Hankyu Railway, Hanshin Electric Railway, Kintetsu Railway, Keihan Railway, and Nankai Electric Railway are still under suspension, causing cancellations and delays.

To read more, go here. 

Hawaii Visitors Spent $1.29 Billion In November

Above, waterfalls on the Big Island. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

The state of Hawaii had a very good month of November as visitor spending increased 4.5%.

Travel Agent Central reported:

Visitors to the Hawaiian Islands spent a total of $1.29 billion in November 2017, an increase of 4.5 percent compared to a year ago, according to preliminary statistics released today by the Hawaii Tourism Authority (HTA). 

Total visitor arrivals grew 7.3 percent to 748,303 visitors, comprising of arrivals from air service (up 7.5 percent to 738,519) and cruise ships (down 1.2 percent to 9,784).

To read more, go here. 

Hawaii 2018 "Storylines" To Follow

Above, a crescent moon over Waikoloa on the Big Island. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

For those who are contemplating a vacation in Hawaii in 2018, there are some "storylines" that they should keep an eye out in order to get the most vacation out of their dollars.

This includes what travel agents are saying to one another and what developments that are occurring.

Travel Agent Central posted:

As we head into the new year, it’s time for Hawaii specialists to begin compiling a business strategy for selling the Aloha State in 2018. 

Allow Travel Agent to assist as we tip you off to the hottest storylines advisors should be following in order to fully capitalize on Hawaii sales.

To read more, go here. 

2018 Hawaii Travel Trends

Above, Honolulu's Big Kahuna Luau. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

What are the trends for Hawaii travel as we go into 2018?

Travel Agent Central spoke with several travel specialists and they gave their opinions on what trends we should expect to see in 2018.

They start with:

Travel Agent chatted with some Hawaii travel specialists about the hottest Hawaii travel trends of the year and how to turn them into sales heading into 2018. 

We spoke with tour operators, Scott Wiseman, president of Travel Impressions and Dave Ferran, head of sales for Classic Vacations. And from the advisor side, we interviewed Katie Rahr Kapel of Mode Travel Agency, Inc.; Lena Brown of Largay Travel; and Danielle Stephens of Harmon Travel. 

To see what they have to say, go here. 

Hawaii Tourist Spending Up 8.7% In May

Above, a hillside view of Honolulu with Diamond Head in the background. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

May tourist spending is up 8.7% over last year, according to the Hawaii Tourism Authority.

Travel Agent Central reported:

Visitor spending in Hawaii rose 8.7 percent year over year in May for a total of $1.3 billion, according to the latest statistics from the Hawaii Tourism Authority (HTA). 

Total visitor arrivals also rose 4.5 percent, fueled by growth in air arrivals (up 3.9%) and cruise arrivals (up 49.1%). 

Hawaii’s four largest visitor markets -- the western United States, eastern United States, Japan and Canada -- all reported year-over-year increases in visitor spending and arrivals for the third straight month in May. Spending from the western U.S. rose 9 percent, while spending from the eastern U.S. was up 16.4 percent. Visitor spending from Japan rose 9.7 percent, buoyed by the introduction of direct air service to Kona and increased air service to Honolulu, while the Canada market continued to rebound with an increase in visitor spending of 19.2 percent. Visitor spending from all other international markets combined declined in May by 3.9 percent due to a drop in visitor arrivals and lower daily spending.

To read more, go here.