ESTA BECOMES MANDATORY FROM JANUARY 20

US Customs and Border Protection has advised all airlines that from January 20, 2010 it will be mandatory for all passengers travelling under the Visa Waiver Program to receive approval to travel through the Electronic System for Travel Authorisation (ESTA) scheme. More

US visitor figures start to improve

The latest US arrival figures to the end of October show a slowly improving trend from the UK since the end of March when the full impact of the recession was hitting hard. More

AIRLINES

US Airways' suite way to travel

US Airways has introduced 'the next generation of business class travel' which includes a new fully lie-flat bed on its transatlantic routes.More

American Airlines New Year Sale

American Airlines has launched a new year’s sale with prices to the US from £288pp. More

HOTELS

Ritz-Carlton hits the highlands

Ritz-Carlton has opened a new property in Northstar-at-Tahoe. It is the first new-build resort development in the Lake Tahoe area in decades and is anticipated to be Northern California's premier mountain retreat. More

Culinary deals from Mandarin

Mandarin Oriental, New York, and the Time Warner Center have joined forces to offer visitors to the city some top culinary packages this winter.More

ATTRACTIONS

Attraction World adds new options

Theme parks and attractions specialist, Attraction World, has added a range of new pre-bookable options for those travelling to the US in its 2010 brochure.More

Arizona opens a fear factor

A spine-chilling new exhibition will open at the Arizona Science Center in Phoenix this month.More

TOUR OPERATORS

Free activities with TrekAmerica

Tour operator TrekAmerica is spreading some New Year cheer by throwing in free activity vouchers on tour bookings made during January 2010. More

 

 

 

 

Gold Medal pushes Los Angeles

Gold Medal has turned the spotlight onto its Los Angeles offering with a Hyatt hotel deal available until the end of March.More

TOURIST OFFICES

Branding makeover for Florida Gulf Islands

Florida's Gulf Islands in the Bradenton area have been rebranded for promotion in the UK as: 'Anna Maria Island and Longboat Key'. More

Santa Fe launches visitors' guide

Santa Fe Convention & Visitors Bureau has launched a free guide of vital information for visitors to Santa Fe.More

The White Stuff is the Right Stuff in Colorado!

One place where the snow is warmly welcomed is Colorado where its ski resorts boast fine powder and well-groomed pistes.More

ON THE GROUND

Alaskan cruise options open up

Two cruise operators are this year upping their Alaskan itineraries.More

Hertz offer for the US

Hertz rental car is offering a 10 per cent discount on its Hertz Affordable Rates for travellers to the US, as well as two free days of NeverLost GPS with each booking. More

AND ANOTHER THING

Alaskan pies

Travellers can perfect their pie-making skills with a new weekend package from Talkeetna Roadhouse in Alaska. More

The Pony Express returns for a day

The Pony Express may have existed for only 19 months but it has become a key part of America's Wild West folklore and this year celebrates its 150th anniversary. More

Culinary curriculum in the Biltmore

The 276-room Biltmore Hotel's Culinary Academy in Miami has launched a Culinary Boot Camp which offers guests the opportunity to combine a luxury holiday while learning culinary arts along such masters as Chef Philippe Ruiz who oversees the resort's Palme d'Or, named the top restaurant for food, décor and service by Zagat in its 2010 Miami / South Florida Restaurants survey.More