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Major Renovation Completed at Pueblo Bonito Mazatlan Beach Resort

Opened in 1987 as the very first Pueblo Bonito property, the celebrated Pueblo Bonito Mazatlán Beach Resort recently completed an extensive $27 million renovation project intended to boost the landmark hotel’s status as an international travel and hospitality industry leader. Located along the famous Zona Dorada, or Golden Zone of Mazatlan, the original Pueblo Bonito (“Beautiful Village”) hotel set the bar for luxury travel in Mazatlan more than 30 years ago, effectively launching one of the most successful resort brands in Mexico. The transformation pays homage to the hotel’s Old World charm while elevating all elements of the property, including totally upgraded guest suites, restaurants, lobbies, and pools. The remodeling and renovation project has also greatly enhanced the building’s exterior and amenities while retaining the unique appeal of a hotel that been a favorite of guests for decades. “We are very excited to have undertaken this major renovation, which has revitalized, revamped, and reinvented the pioneer resort of the Pueblo Bonito collection,” said Alberto Coppel, CEO, Pueblo Bonito Golf and Spa Resorts. “Our beloved Pueblo Bonito Mazatlan has retained its charm, while attaining a new level of luxury, enhancing the already unique experience our guests have always treasured.” Coppel added, “The early success of this property—the best resort in town from the day it opened—allowed Pueblo Bonito Resorts to expand to Los Cabos. This renovation is our way of giving back to Mazatlan a little bit of what Mazatlan has given to us.” All accommodations, totaling 248 guest suites, were completely remodeled, with new artwork and fresh touches added throughout the property. A new restaurant was added, Pescados, a casually elegant space that serves fresh sashimi, maki, nigiri and sushi. The dining outpost doubles as a snack bar during the day. In addition, a new oceanfront bar was also installed, while Cilantro’s restaurant was totally reimagined. Las Palomas restaurant was also redesigned and expanded. This popular dining spot features new décor finishes and furniture. For business groups and small conventions, new meeting facilities capable of accommodating up to 300 attendees were built. The resort now offers beautiful, outdoor event space next to the swimming pool. From enhanced cleaning protocols to new contactless services, Pueblo Bonito Mazatlan has taken all of the necessary steps to ensure the safety of guests and team members alike, through the company’s own CARE Pledge. CARE translates to Conscientious Service, Advanced Standards, Rigorous Sanitation, Elevated Hygiene. On-site testing services are available at all Pueblo Bonito Resort properties so that guests can easily comply with CDC requirements that travelers get a viral test within three days of flying to the U.S. Testing services are included with all-inclusive packages for stays of three nights or longer.

Create: Apr 24, 2021 Edit: Apr 24, 2021 Regional News

Iran suspends flights to and from France

All flights to and from France have been suspended due to the outbreak of the coronavirus, the spokesman of Iran’s Civil Aviation Organization (CAO) has announced. Flights to and from 39 countries with special conditions are also canceled until further notice, Mohammad Hassan Zibakhsh said on Wednesday. However, Iran’s flag carrier IranAir is set to resume flights to and from the United Kingdom after months of suspension imposed to curb the spread of a novel coronavirus variant into the Islamic Republic, the official added. Back in February, Iran suspended flights to and from 32 countries including Angola, Bolivia, Botswana, Burundi, Cape Verde, Chile, Colombia, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Ecuador, Eswatini, French Guinea, Lesotho, Guyana, Malawi, Mauritania, Mauritania, Rwanda, Sicily, Suriname, Tanzania, Uruguay, Venezuela, and Zambia. Earlier, Iran announced it would reduce the validity of negative COVID-19 PCR test results from 96 hours to 72 hours for inbound and outbound passengers. The new regulation replaced a role that required to bar passengers from boarding if they do not have a negative COVID test within 96 hours of departure. All passengers are subject to the medical screening on arrival, and if they are suspected of having the disease, non-Iranian nationalities will be quarantined at a place specified by the Health Ministry at their own expense and Iranian citizens will need to self-isolate for 14 days. The worldwide outbreak of COVID-19 has brought the world to a standstill, and tourism has been the worst affected of all major economic sectors. World tourist arrivals fell by 72% over the first ten months of 2020, according to data compiled by the World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) in December. Restrictions on travel, low consumer confidence, and a global struggle to contain the coronavirus pandemic are amongst factors contributing to the worst year on record in the history of tourism. Iran has also suffered the same fate as its foreign arrivals plunged 72% during the first eight months of 2020 when compared to 2019.

Create: Apr 15, 2021 Edit: Apr 15, 2021 Regional News

The Goodtime Hotel — A New Hospitality Endeavor Between David Grutman and Pharrell Williams — Opens on South Beach

The Goodtime Hotel — the first collaborative lifestyle hotel brand from David Grutman of Groot Hospitality and Pharrell Williams — has officially opened its doors on Miami Beach’s Washington Avenue and 6th Street. The 266-room property promises an escapist, transportive atmosphere through its reimagined Art Deco aesthetic, which unwinds over nearly 100,000 square feet of public space. Together, Grutman and Williams worked alongside the real estate developers Michael Fascitelli and Eric Birnbaum of Imperial Companies who assembled, and ultimately developed, the full square block between 6th and 7th Streets on Washington Ave. The Goodtime Hotel’s architect Morris Adjmi, designer Ken Fulk and landscape architect Raymond Jungles breathed life into its spaces and rooms. Ultimately, this team has created a unique marquee concept in Miami Beach’s hospitality scene: The Goodtime Hotel promotes an active, balanced lifestyle of equal parts happy pursuits and relaxed escapism, all within an everything-at-your-fingertips tropical oasis. The result? The Goodtime is a place for both hedonistic revelry and laidback R&R. “My first hotel needed to break the mold,” says David Grutman. “I wanted to provide the 360-degree Groot Hospitality experience that our other venues are known for, but I also wanted to add more. This is about providing a getaway within a town that’s already known as a vacation spot. When you arrive at the hotel, and walk through our doors, it becomes a full on experience. When you’re at the Goodtime, we want you to feel like your worries and anxieties have been left outside. I am proud to have worked closely with Pharrell, Michael, Eric and Ken Fulk on bringing this hotel to life.” “We want The Goodtime Hotel to impart a feeling of both revitalization and that rare, exciting thrill that takes over when you discover something special,” says Pharrell Williams. “It’s that adrenaline-fueled sensation of entering a whole new setting and a whole new mindset. This place will provide a natural good time, for all who come through.” The Goodtime Hotel stands in a central, historic section of South Beach. Its corrugated facade, airy atrium entryway, hand-painted hothouse murals and Deco plasterwork recall the opulence and nostalgia of a time gone by, but this building has been entirely designed for modern travelers’ tastes. Its 266 guest rooms range from majority individual Queen bed accommodations to a handful of Suites. Many rooms hold direct views east to the Atlantic Ocean or west to Biscayne Bay, which guarantee Instagram-worthy sunrises and sunsets on a regular basis. Moreover, each of The Goodtime Hotel’s guest rooms features custom bedding, bespoke drapes (including a blackout option, in the event you need a few more hours to recharge), leopard-print benches, Ortigia bath amenities, and a signature pink rotary dial phone. In the guest corridors, a carpet woven with mock wet footprints amplifies the playful charm of Miami Beach. The Goodtime will also be home to vibrant F&B options, retail and more, all of which have been curated to create experiences synonymous with the property’s namesake. Grutman’s Strawberry Moon, a restaurant and 30,000 square foot pool club, will serve up classic and casual Mediterranean fare and a full array of specialty cocktails for lunch and dinner, inside or poolside. Strawberry Moon amplifies modern Miami’s crossroads of culture and energy, with Fulk’s design concept channeling mid-century Caribbean and Central American resort towns (such as Havana and Acapulco in their throwback days). Think: broad stripe pastel tiling, vintage scalloped bar seating, pinstriped awnings, and more. The Goodtime Hotel holds additional key aspects, such as its 45,000 square feet of ground floor retail, its gym, featuring MyBeast and Peloton equipment, and its Library, a glossy peach-hued and natural oak-clad room meant for anything from coffee to cocktails to casual business meet-and-greets. The Library is a sociable meeting ground within the hotel, where guests may seamlessly transition from work mode to weekend mode, if and when they so choose. The Goodtime Hotel opens for guest stays on April 15, 2021. Additional details about schedule programming will be made available, soon.

Create: Apr 15, 2021 Edit: Apr 15, 2021 International News

Iran to resume UK flights as of May 6

Iran’s flag carrier IranAir is set to resume flights to and from the United Kingdom as of May 6 after months of suspension imposed to curb the spread of a novel coronavirus variant into the Islamic Republic. “IranAir will resume flights between Tehran and London on May 6,” IRNA quoted Hossein Jahani, who presides over the airline’s public relations department, as saying on Sunday. Jahani said the flights to London will be operated on Sundays and Thursdays every week due to the lifting of the COVID-19 restrictions in the UK. In December, the Islamic Republic halted flights to and from the United Kingdom, preliminary for two weeks, and then the ban was initially extended for one month at the discretion of the Health Ministry to prevent the transmission of the ‘British’ variant and to try to maintain public health. At that time, an ensuing wave of travel bans cut off UK travelers from much of Europe and other parts of the world. Some experts believed that there was no evidence the new variant was more deadly or would react differently to vaccines, but it was proving to be up to 70% more transmissible.

Create: Apr 15, 2021 Edit: Apr 15, 2021 Regional News

Iran hotels remain open as fourth coronavirus wave gains momentum

Iranian hotels and other accommodation units remain open as the fourth coronavirus wave gains momentum across the country. To curb the outbreak, President Hassan Rouhani on April 8 announced plans to close down all non-essential businesses, including bazaars and malls in cities color-coded 'red' or very high-risk for a ten-day period as of Saturday. “Hotels and other accommodation unite will be remaining open during the fourth coronavirus wave,” according to the Iranian Hoteliers Association, ISNA reported. The total number of coronavirus cases surged past the two million on Thursday as the new wave of infections has overwhelmed hospitals in all major cities. “We are expecting even more hospitalizations caused by the viral disease over the next few days,” Health Minister Saeed Namaki said on Friday. ICU beds are filled in many cities and the government is to set up makeshift hospitals to make room for more patients and advising patients to visit hospitals only if it is necessary. The number of coronavirus cases rose after millions traveled across the country during the Noruz holiday, which officially began on March 20. The Islamic Republic reported its highest number of daily coronavirus infections in more than three months period after millions challenged government guidelines and traveled during the two-week holiday. Before Noruz, health officials voiced concerns about the fourth COVID wave due to the traditional travels, mostly to visit family and loved ones. Authorities had urged people to limit travel and in-person visits, saying that travels during the Noruz festival could lead to another wave of infections across the country. President Hassan Rouhani declared new travel bans for cities situated in the “red” and “orange” zones to combat the new COVID-19 variant. Rouhani called on people to avoid traveling during the Iranian New Year holidays to help contain the spread of coronavirus. He said it would be forbidden to make trips to cities marked as “red” and “orange” in terms of the prevalence of COVID-19. “We request people to avoid traveling during Noruz holidays for the sake of their own health… It will be forbidden to travel to red and orange towns and cities,” he said. “No one should make any plans to travel to these cities,” he stressed. The Ministry of Health has classified districts based on the rate of coronavirus infections with red color indicating high risk, orange meaning medium, while yellow implied low risk and blue being the least.

Create: Apr 11, 2021 Edit: Apr 11, 2021 Regional News

Over 1m visits to Kordestan sites recorded in Noruz

A total of 1,010,000 visits to the historical sites and tourist attractions of the western province of Kordestan was registered during the two-week New Year (Noruz) holidays (March 20-April 2), the provincial tourism chief announced on Monday. Travelers also made some 20,906 overnight stays in the official accommodation centers across the province during the mentioned time, Yaqub Guylian said. Some handicrafts exhibitions were also held during the period to promote the handmade products of the local artisans, the official added. He also mentioned that online visits and virtual tours of some of the province’s popular tourist attractions have been launched as well. Before the national holiday, President Hassan Rouhani declared new travel bans for cities situated in the “red” and “orange” zones to combat the new COVID-19 variant. Rouhani called on people to avoid traveling during the Iranian New Year holidays to help contain the spread of coronavirus. He said it would be forbidden to make trips to cities marked as “red” and “orange” in terms of the prevalence of COVID-19. “We request people to avoid traveling during Noruz holidays for the sake of their own health… It will be forbidden to travel to red and orange towns and cities,” he said. “No one should make any plans to travel to these cities,” he stressed. Late in February, the tourism minister said despite all the obstacles and issues and the outbreak of the coronavirus, the country’s tourism sector is still alive and dynamic. Noruz ceremonies and trips, if practiced under health protocols, could be beneficial for the revival of the tourism industry and handicrafts, which have been severely affected by the coronavirus pandemic in many provinces, the minister explained. Iranians traditionally make hundreds of thousands of domestic trips during the New Year holidays, when most businesses and workplaces are closed, as are schools.

Create: Apr 10, 2021 Edit: Apr 10, 2021 Regional News

Noruz visits to Iranian museums falls by one-fifth due to virus

Visits to Iranian museums fell by one-fifth during the recent Iranian New Year (Noruz) holidays (March 19-April 2) in comparison to the same period two years ago, when the new coronavirus was not yet an issue. “Visits to cultural heritage museums fell by one-fifth during the Noruz holidays of the current year (1400) in comparison to the same period in the year 1398,” Mohammadreza Kargar, the director of museums and historical properties at the tourism ministry, announced on Saturday. “1,246,102 people visited cultural heritage museums [and sites] during this Noruz,” the official said without mentioning the number of visitors during the same period in 1398. Cultural heritage museums were closed during the Noruz holiday last year (1399) due to strict social distancing measures, the official said. Currently, 740 museums are active across Iran, of which 285 have been established since August 2013, when President Hassan Rouhani began his first administration, Kargar said in March. Back in 2018, he publicized that some three million historical objects were being kept at museums affiliated with the Cultural Heritage, Handicrafts, and Tourism Ministry. Iran is home to one of the world’s oldest continuous major civilizations, embracing settlements dating back to 4000 BC. It also hosts some of the world’s oldest cultural monuments including bazaars, museums, mosques, bridges, bathhouses, madrasas, gardens, rich natural, rural landscapes as well as 24 UNESCO World Heritage sites. The name of Iran, formerly known as Persia, mostly conjures up the first Persian Empire, ruled by the Achaemenids (ca. 550 – 330 BC) and sites such as Pasargadae and Persepolis. However, there are tens of prehistorical sites as the Burnt City in Sistan-Baluchestan, Tepe Sialk in Kashan, Susa and Chogha Zanbil in the Khuzestan province, and Ecbatana in Hamedan which predate the Achaemenid period. From a wider point of view, Iranian history can be divided into Pre-Islamic and Islamic eras. The Medes unified Iran as a nation and empire in 625 BC. The Islamic conquest of Persia (633–656) that put an end to the mighty Sassanid Empire (224–651) was a turning point in the history of the nation.

Create: Apr 5, 2021 Edit: Apr 5, 2021 Regional News

Over 1.1m visits to Khorasan Razavi sites registered in Noruz

A total of 1,176,415 visits to the historical sites and natural sights of the northeastern Khorasan Razavi province was recorded during the two-week New Year (Noruz) holidays (March 20-April 2). Historical city of Tus, the mausoleum of the epic Persian poet Ferdowsi, the mausoleums of poets Attar and Khayyam, and Naderi Garden were among the most visited sites, the deputy provincial tourism chief said on Sunday. Strict health protocols were demanded to be observed by the travelers during their visits, Marjan Akbari added. The capital city of Mashhad is home to the holy shrine of Imam Reza (AS), the eighth Shia Imam, which attracts thousands of pilgrims from various Iranian cities, neighboring countries, and even across the globe. According to official statistics, some 37 million Iranian pilgrims and travelers visited the shrine city of Mashhad during the first ten months of the Iranian calendar year 1398 (March 21, 2019- March 20, 2020). Dozens of five-star hotels and hostels are dotted around the holy shrine. The metropolis has the highest concentration of water parks in the country, and it also embraces a variety of cultural and historical sites that are generally crowded.

Create: Apr 5, 2021 Edit: Apr 5, 2021 Regional News

1.3m overnight stays registered across Iran within week

Iranians made some 1.3 million overnight stays in the official accommodation centers across the country during the first week of the Persian New Year (Noruz) holidays, which started on March 20, the deputy tourism minister has announced. The average occupancy rate of the residential centers has reached around 30 percent during the mentioned period, ILNA quoted Vali Teymouri as saying on Sunday. Appreciating tourists and travelers who followed health protocols during their trips, the official also thanked those who delayed or postponed their travels to help the tourism industry deal with the coronavirus outbreak. Last year the country went into lockdown during Noruz holidays due to the coronavirus pandemic. Iranians made over 74 million overnight stays during the two-week Persian New Year holidays in 1398 (March 21-April 2, 2019). Early in March, President Hassan Rouhani declared new travel bans for cities situated in the “red” and “orange” zones to combat the new COVID-19 variant. Rouhani called on people to avoid traveling during the Iranian New Year holidays to help contain the spread of coronavirus. He said it would be forbidden to make trips to cities marked as “red” and “orange” in terms of the prevalence of COVID-19. “We request people to avoid traveling during Noruz holidays for the sake of their own health… It will be forbidden to travel to red and orange towns and cities,” he said. “No one should make any plans to travel to these cities,” he stressed. Late in February, the tourism minister, Ali-Asghar Mounesan, said despite all the obstacles and issues and the outbreak of the coronavirus, the country’s tourism sector is still alive and dynamic. Noruz ceremonies and trips, if practiced under health protocols, could be beneficial for the revival of the tourism industry and handicrafts, which have been severely affected by the coronavirus pandemic in many provinces, the minister explained. Iranians traditionally make hundreds of thousands of domestic trips during the New Year holidays, when most businesses and workplaces are closed, as are schools.

Create: Apr 3, 2021 Edit: Apr 3, 2021 Regional News

Tourism ministry to monitor Noruz travels

People who would go on a trip during the Noruz holidays, which begins on Saturday, will be strictly supervised by the committee of travel services coordination, the deputy tourism minister has said. The committee, which includes members from the tourism and health ministries as well as the police personnel, will monitor the implementation of the health protocols by the tourists and travelers during the holiday, IRNA quoted Vali Teymouri as saying on Tuesday. As people have been prevented from traveling for more than a year due to the outbreak of the coronavirus, it has been decided to ease the travel restrictions to improve society’s vitality, the official added. However, following strict health protocols on the way and in the destinations is necessary and will be monitored, he noted. Earlier this week, the Transport and Urban Development Minister Mohammad Eslami announced that no ban on Noruz travels has been imposed for people who would use public transport. Earlier this month, President Hassan Rouhani declared new travel bans for cities situated in the “red” and “orange” zones to combat the new COVID-19 variant. Rouhani called on people to avoid traveling during the Iranian New Year holidays to help contain the spread of coronavirus. He said it would be forbidden to make trips to cities marked as “red” and “orange” in terms of the prevalence of COVID-19. We request people to avoid traveling during Noruz holidays for the sake of their own health… It will be forbidden to travel to red and orange towns and cities,” he said. “No one should make any plans to travel to these cities,” he stressed. Late in February, the tourism minister, Ali-Asghar Mounesan, said despite all the obstacles and issues and the outbreak of the coronavirus, the country’s tourism sector is still alive and dynamic. Noruz ceremonies and trips, if practiced under health protocols, could be beneficial for the revival of the tourism industry and handicrafts, which have been severely affected by the coronavirus pandemic in many provinces, the minister explained. Iranians traditionally make hundreds of thousands of domestic trips during the New Year holidays, when most businesses and workplaces are closed, as are schools.

Create: Mar 19, 2021 Edit: Mar 19, 2021 Regional News

Noruz travels authorized via public transport

No ban on Noruz travels has been imposed for people who would use public transport, Transport and Urban Development Minister Mohammad Eslami announced on Sunday. No ban has been imposed on inactivity travels via public transport. And the criterion for the activity of the air, rail, and road fleets of the country is the observance of health protocols concerning the coronavirus pandemic, the minister explained. Earlier this month, President Hassan Rouhani declared new travel bans for cities situated in the “red” and “orange” zones to combat the new COVID-19 variant. Rouhani called on people to avoid traveling during the Iranian New Year holidays to help contain the spread of coronavirus. He said it would be forbidden to make trips to cities marked as “red” and “orange” in terms of the prevalence of COVID-19. “We request people to avoid traveling during Noruz holidays for the sake of their own health… It will be forbidden to travel to red and orange towns and cities,” he said. “No one should make any plans to travel to these cities,” he stressed. Late in February, the tourism minister, Ali-Asghar Mounesan, said despite all the obstacles and issues and the outbreak of the coronavirus, the country’s tourism sector is still alive and dynamic. Noruz ceremonies and trips, if practiced under health protocols, could be beneficial for the revival of the tourism industry and handicrafts, which have been severely affected by the coronavirus pandemic in many provinces, the minister explained. Iranians traditionally make hundreds of thousands of domestic trips during the New Year holidays, when most businesses and workplaces are closed, as are schools.

Create: Mar 16, 2021 Edit: Mar 16, 2021 Regional News

Iranian president declares travel ban for ‘red’, ‘orange’ zones to combat new COVID-19 variant

Iranian President Hassan Rouhani on Saturday declared new travel bans for cities situated in the “red” and “orange” zones to combat the new COVID-19 variant. Rouhani called on people to avoid traveling during the Iranian New Year holidays to help contain the spread of coronavirus. He said it would be forbidden to make trips to cities marked as “red” and “orange” in terms of the prevalence of COVID-19. We request people to avoid traveling during Noruz holidays for the sake of their own health… It will be forbidden to travel to red and orange towns and cities,” he said. “No one should make any plans to travel to these cities,” he stressed. The president said the tolerance of the country’s health system “has a limit,” urging the public to cooperate when it comes to observing health protocols. Late in February, the tourism minister, Ali-Asghar Mounesan, said despite all the obstacles and issues and the outbreak of the coronavirus, the country’s tourism sector is still alive and dynamic. Noruz ceremonies and trips, if practiced under health protocols, could be beneficial for the revival of the tourism industry and handicrafts, which have been severely affected by the coronavirus pandemic in many provinces, the minister explained. His deputy for tourism, Vali Teymouri, in February announced that the tourism ministry has gained official permission for organizing limited intercity travels during the Iran New Year vacations from the National Headquarters for Coronavirus Control. Well-planned travels during the Noruz holidays, which will start on March 20, would be possible in close coordination with the National Headquarters for Coronavirus Control, Teymouri said. “In order to create social vitality during the holidays, the ministry has set some rules for possible Noruz trips to control and monitor them carefully,” he said. “The trips will be possible only within the framework of planned tours through licensed travel agencies and under the supervision of the tourism ministry.” For people, who travel individually and outside of the tours, a reservation for an authorized accommodation center will be necessary, the official added. He also emphasized that all travelers and tourists need to follow strict health protocols during their trips and stays. With less than a month to go till the start of the Iranian New Year, which has long been associated with millions of domestic travels, the ministry wants to find a way to partially revive the already-slumped travels in the face of the COVID-19 pandemic, he noted. Iranians traditionally make hundreds of thousands of domestic trips during the New Year holidays, when most businesses and workplaces are closed, as are schools.

Create: Mar 8, 2021 Edit: Mar 8, 2021 Regional News