PLYMOUTH TO HOST A COLOURFUL CALENDAR OF EVENTS THIS SUMMER

This summer, Plymouth kicks off a busy calendar of events with the brand new Plymouth Festival of Sail (26th June to 7th July 2013) which includes a number of sailing races such as the Route des Princes and Plymouth Race Week, live entertainment and local food markets. The British Firework Championships (13th and 14th August 2013) is believed to be Britain's most spectacular fireworks display and takes place at Plymouth's Hoe. The city's Flavour Fest (17th to 19th August 2013), celebrating its 10th anniversary this year, is the largest free food festival in the South West, whilst Plymouth's second annual Ocean City Festival (9th to 22nd September) is returning for a second year. The full event calendar can be viewed at www.visitplymouth.co.uk.

NYC & COMPANY ANNOUNCES WHERE'S WALLY?® AS NEW YORK CITY'S OFFICIAL FAMILY AMBASSADOR

NYC & Company has announced that Where's Wally?® will serve as New York City's fifth official Family Ambassador helping visitors explore child-friendly neighbourhoods, cultural institutions, parks, attractions and hotels across all five boroughs. During his yearlong collaboration with New York City, Wally, the iconic world traveller, will take to the streets of New York City's neighbourhoods to highlight the best ways for families to discover, experience and enjoy the city. Wally has already been spotted boarding the Staten Island Ferry and visiting the National Museum of the American Indian in Lower Manhattan for NYC & Company's new blog, A British Guide to NYC, while users on twitter and Instagram have been posting photographs of the striped-shirt adventurer in locations including Brooklyn Bridge, Fifth Avenue, Times Square and the Rockefeller Center using the hashtag #WaldoNYC. For more family travel ideas from Where's Wally?, including details on where to find the best beaches, ice creams and indoor activities in New York City - and special deals for families on attraction passes and hotels, see www.nycgo.com/waldo.

ONYX HOSPITALITY GROUP CREATES A BUZZ WITH 'PLAN BEE'

The latest Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) programme from ONYX Hospitality Group focuses on the conservation of natural biodiversity in a bid to save the Asian honeybee (Apis Cerana) from extinction. The launch of Plan BEE focusses on two ONYX properties in Bangkok - luxury serviced residence Oriental Residence Bangkok will become the first serviced residence or hotel with an urban beekeeping initiative in Bangkok. Shama Sukhumvit Bangkok is also planning to introduce a programme to educate the farming community on the benefits of Asian honeybee husbandry. For more information visit www.onyx-hospitality.com.   
 

COSTA NAVARINO LAUNCHES THE FIRST "SUMMER JUNIOR GOLF CAMPS" IN GREECE

Costa Navarino, the prime sustainable destination located in the Greek region of Messinia, southwest Peloponnese, is introducing a new golfing experience set in the unique seaside landscapes. Costa Navarino will encourage the next generation of golfing professionals to step up to the tee and experience the destination's signature courses through the Summer Junior Golf Camps. Programmes will run 17th to 21st June and 2nd to 6th September 2013, aimed at children and adolescents from eight to 17 years old. For those attending the camps, there are two accommodation
options, either to stay with their parents at The Westin Resort Costa Navarino or to stay independently or with friends at the unique Sandcastle children's facility. For more information visit www.costanavarino.com.

COSTA NAVARINO LAUNCHES CONTEMPORARY ART PLATFORM: "COSTA NAVARINO: ENGAGING ART"

Costa Navarino is encouraging guests to enhance their artistic knowledge by experiencing the destination's new contemporary art platform, which was officially launched on 8th June 2013. "Costa Navarino: Engaging Art" is an innovative art concept, which aims to become a permanent platform for contemporary visual arts, whilst also being an international meeting point for artists and art enthusiasts. During their stay at The Romanos, a Luxury
Collection Resort or at The Westin Resort Costa Navarino, guests can explore and actively participate in the world of contemporary art. Four in-residence artists are showcased in the first exhibition, entitled "60 picks per minute". The exhibition is now open and will run until the beginning of October 2013. For more information visit www.costanavarino.com.   

WORLD'S FIRST 12 HOUR UNDERWATER LIVE DIVE BROADCAST: A RARE CHANCE TO EXPLORE THE GREAT BARRIER REEF LIKE NEVER BEFORE ...

On 7th June 2013 millions across the globe had the unique opportunity to embark on a guided underwater tour of one of the world's greatest natural wonders, the Great Barrier Reef - all from the comfort of their own homes. The ReefLive event, held by Tourism and Events Queensland, to time with World Oceans Day, aimed to educate a global audience through an innovative live broadcast, highlighting the importance and vibrancy of our oceans. The 12-hour interactive broadcast was hosted by internationally-acclaimed marine biologist and underwater cinematographer Richard Fitzpatrick, who gave live commentary from underwater at one of his favourite dive sites on the Great Barrier Reef. For more information visit www.tq.com.au.

THE GROVE PARK INN, NORTH CAROLINA, OFFERS SPECIAL PACKAGES TO CELEBRATE CENTENNIAL MILESTONE

The Grove Park Inn, a luxury lodge built of stone quarried from the mountain where it stands, will pass its centennial milestone this July, and is offering special event packages for 2013 to celebrate. The property is home to a world-class subterranean spa, a Donald Ross-designed golf course, a sports complex as well as celebrated dining options. Since its opening on 12th July 1913, the historic hotel just north of downtown Asheville has played host to 10 presidents plus famous inventors, celebrity writers, athletes and entertainers. For more information on the available offers visit www.groveparkinn.com.

SAVE 35% ON A STUNNING BEACH GETAWAY AT KIPUNGANI EXPLORER, KENYA

For a limited period Heritage Hotels, Kenya is offering a fantastic 35% discount on stays at its luxurious Kipungani Explorer property on the southwestern tip of Lamu Island. Full board palm-thatched banda accommodation starts from just $175 per person (approximately £112) - a saving of $94 per person per night (approximately £60). This offer is available for travel between the 1st and 31st October 2013 and can be booked from now until 30th June 2013. For more information visit www.heritage-eastafrica.com.

FIVE-STAR PESTANA COLOMBOS SET TO OPEN ON THE ISLAND OF PORTO SANTO IN JULY

The Pestana Group plans to open Pestana Colombos Premium Club All Inclusive & Beach Resort on the island of Porto Santo in July this year. The Pestana Colombos will have a total of 72 classic premium rooms, 24 superior rooms and four suite premiums. The property includes an outdoor pool, an indoor pool plus a modern spa, and four restaurants offering both typical Madeiran and Italian cuisine. For more information visit www.pestana.com/en/pestana-colombos.

THE FIRST CORK HOTEL IN PORTUGAL OPENS IN THE ALENTEJO

Opened to the public in May 2013, the four-star Ecorkhotel Suites & Spa, Evora has an exterior of cork, something never before seen in the cork producing country of Portugal. The use of cork in the main building, used for thermal and acoustic insulation, is extremely energy efficient. The hotel was built with energy efficiency in mind; it uses geothermal heating for the main building and solar panels to heat the hot water in the rooms and pools. For more information visit www.ecorkhotel.com.
 

WORLD'S FIRST BARBIE® DREAMHOUSE EXPERIENCE™ OPENS IN SAWGRASS MILLS, FORT LAUDERDALE  
The city of Greater Fort Lauderdale is excited to announce that for the first time ever Mattel, the company behind Barbie®, is opening a to-scale model of the original Barbie® Dreamhouse® at the largest outlet retail shopping destination in the US, Sawgrass Mills. Giving families yet another reason to visit the sun kissed region of Fort Lauderdale, fans worldwide can now literally step inside the world of Barbie®. The 10,000 square-foot interactive Dreamhouse Experience™ opened earlier this year and houses pink elevators, a walk-in "glitterizer," an endless closet and a dazzling "diamond" ring display. For more information visit www.barbiedreamhouse.com and www.sunny.org.   

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For further information please contact: Natalie Schofield natalies@hillsbalfour.com