April 2016

Culinary tourism seems to be about the most popular ingredient in the travel demand for new and involving experiences.

There are definitely clients on your roster who binge-watch the Food Network or have pretended to be a contestant on “Top Chef” when cooking at home. Why not help them bring these fantasies to life? Culinary travel is on the rise, and according to chef Russell Michel of The Westin La Paloma Resort & Spa in Tucson, Arizona, “The rise of food shows and culinary competitions on TV have definitely influenced a growth in culinary travel. The culinary aspect of a trip is now just as important as the local activities and sights explored during a vacation.”

Recommend’s December issue declared that “dark chocolate is the new black,” thanks to the trend of Caribbean hotels to offer more sophisticated chocolate desserts, chocolate-infused spa treatments, cacao plantation tours, and festivals. Leading the charge has been Saint Lucia, known for its scenic Pitons, beaches, and brides. But this island has other bragging rights, too: It’s been growing exceptional cacao for more than 300 years.

A bevy of new to-do's for clients headed to Las Vegas.

It’s just after Sukkot, the 7-day Jewish harvest holiday, and the hooks holding the traditional tents are still hanging from the atrium of Jerusalem’s newest five-star hotel. Strolling through the courtyard at the Waldorf Astoria Jerusalem feels just as if you’re walking through the Old City, the lamps and Ottoman-style arches bringing elements of Jerusalem’s streets indoors.

Dining in Mexico is always a treat—whether one is on the hunt for the very best culinary experience in Mexico City’s affluent neighborhoods or enjoying a romantic dinner at one of the country’s many beachfront resorts.

Valencia, Spain’s third largest city, after Barcelona and Madrid, has plenty of cultural and family-friendly activities, as well as great eats.

In the rapidly expanding world of all-inclusive resorts Hyatt Ziva Cancun is finding new ways to up the all-inclusive ante.

From street vendor fare to fine dining, the New Asia is an Old World of great tastes.