CAT at the EIBTM - The Global Meetings & Incentives Exhibition

The CAT Travel MICE Team will be represented at this months Global Meetings and Incentives Exhibition held in Barcelona, Spain. This is a Congresses, Conventions and Incentives travel show targeted to attract the European market.

Many of the most respected organizations and tour business professionals specializing in MICE-related travel will attend this convention which is being held December 2nd - 4th.

CAT Travel will be an exhibitor in this important fair meeting and greeting our clients, showcasing our products and discussing the latest trends in MICE travel. Visit us at the EIBTM, stand F570!

For further information: www.eibtm.com

APEC Leaders Commit To Quick Economic Action At Peru Summit

The United States, China, Japan and 18 other economies in Asia and the Americas have promised quick and decisive action to prevent a severe global economic downturn.

With recession gripping parts of the world and financial markets in chaos, leaders at the 21-member Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation forum, or APEC, said the slowdown is "one of the most serious economic challenges we have ever faced." They said free trade and higher government spending were key to resolving the crisis and supported a big push to revive long-stalled global trade talks by seeking agreements in the contentious sectors of farming and manufactured goods.

The leaders promised to "take all necessary economic and financial measures to resolve this crisis." Their declaration at the end of a two-day summit in Peru echoed measures called for by the Group of 20 major economies at a meeting in Washington a week earlier, and widened support for drastic action to stimulate lending and spending. They pledged to work together to ease the turmoil, agreed not to adopt new trade barriers for a year and called for better regulation of the financial industry.

They also supported overhauls of the International Monetary Fund and World Bank at a time when more countries need emergency bailouts to avert economic disaster. APEC, which groups some of the most open economies in the world, warned that countries should not be tempted to use protectionist measures even if job losses mount. Seven years of global trade negotiations have been hampered by disputes between the United States, China, India and other major players, and it is not clear what concessions they are prepared to make now. Major economies have slashed interest rates and spent hundreds of billions of dollars to help struggling banks after the meltdown in the U.S. housing market sparked a worldwide credit crisis.

Now countries are looking at stimulus plans that include boosting government spending and cutting taxes. APEC meetings over the last eight years have often been marked by anti-Bush protests and demonstrations against free trade, but protests were muted in Peru, perhaps because Bush is so close to leaving office.

Peru Ranked Among Worlds Most Important Tourist Destination

Peru ranks among the most important tourist destinations in the world thanks to the worldwide recognition that it has achieved throughout the years, Peru's Export and Tourism Promotion Board (PromPeru) reported Wednesday.

On this occasion, Peru won four out of ten prizes awarded by the Latin American Travel Association (LATA) based in the United Kingdom. PromPeru, whose main goal is to promote Peru's exports and tourist attractions, was chosen as the Best Tourism Promotion Office in Latin America.

In addition, the Inkaterra Reserva Amazonica Lodge, a hotel located in Perus Amazon Basin, was named the "Best Lodge in the Jungle. Perus Aqua Expeditions was also named the "Best Luxury Cruise" for its Amazon River voyages from Iquitos (Loreto) to the National Reserve of Pacaya Samiria.

Meanwhile, Orient-Express Hotels, Trains and Cruises, which has hotels in Lima (Miraflores Park Hotel), Cusco (Hotel Monasterio), Aguas Calientes (Machu Picchu Sanctuary Lodge) and the Colca Canyon in Arequipa (Las Pocitas del Colca), was named the Best Hotel Chain.

Seven Wonders of Costa Rica

Last year, thousands of Costa Ricans voted for the Seven Natural Wonders of Costa Rica. The resulting list encompasses the full range of Costa Ricas incredible geographic diversity: remote islands, mountains and volcanoes, untouched cloud forests, canals that slice though the rainforest and rivers so blue so as to appear unreal. In addition to their physical charms, each destination offers a unique way to experience the country through locally run hotels and restaurants.

The Seven Wonders are:

1. Coco Island: a tiny speck on the world map that looks so far removed from Central America that at first glance, you might not expect it to form part of Costa Rica.

2. Arenal Volcano: a perfect cone rising up out of the steamy rainforest, showing off its pyrotechnic prowess with constant eruptions.

3. Cerro Chirripo: Between Guatemala and Colombia, the Rooftop of the world belongs to Costa Rica. Cerro Chirripo, at 3820 meters above sea level, is the tallest mountain in Costa Rica.

4. Rio Celeste: This rivers natural splendor is a sensorial experience that every visitor to Costa Rica should experience firsthand.

5. Tortuguero: After a trip through Tortuguero canals, you will no longer believe that getting there is half the fun. Its all the fun.

6. Poas Volcano: Costa Ricas most visited national park certainly owes part of its fame to the fact that the densely populated Central Valley lies less than an hour away.

7. Monteverde: The Resplendent Quetzals main stamping grounds are Monteverdes perpetually cloudy highland forests.

New Hotel Posada Puerto Bemberg in Iguazu Jungle, Argentina

This December the surroundings of Puerto Iguazu will have another hotel to offer those who visit this area and want to live in close proximity to the Iguazu Jungle. The hotel is only thirty minutes away from the entrance to the Iguazu National Park, in the heart of a subtropical ecosystem.

Combining a turn-of-century style with amenities and facilities that will please the most demanding traveller, this history-filled inn of colonial tiles, wide spaces and autochthonous furniture is the hub of singular and intimate experiences with nature.
Spacious and luminous rooms, an exclusive restaurant offering local cuisine with gourmet influences, a natural pool, a wooden library offering 2500 books, "La Cave" and its variety of delicious wines, and the outdoor terrace overlooking the Parana River are some of the highlights. For more than a century, Puerto Bemberg has belonged to the prestigious Bemberg family, advocates of sustainable natural environments.

For further information: www.puertobemberg.com

Costa Ricas Southern Zone Sparkles in All its Unpolished Glory.

Miles of nearly deserted tropical beaches. Brightly dressed indigenous groups who have preserved their language and traditional customs.

A frontier and former banana town, an Italian colony, Botanical gardens, Virgin rainforests, crystalline waters and ocean views that crowd. Sound like an intrepid travelers dream? This oft-overlooked region of Costa Rica still retains all the authenticity of an undiscovered destination, while providing the trappings for a first class vacation.

The Port of Golfito is a good starting point for exploring the region. Golfito has a flavor all its own. You wont find mega developments here. An ideal spot, should you wish to explore the rainforest or do a horseback riding, canopy tour, rope swings that take you into the thick of the forest and myriad waterfalls where you can swim and feel the delicious pounding of a natural hydro massage. Welcome to Costa Rica Southern Zone.

Peru Listed Among World's Top Historic & Authentic Destinations

International consulting firm Future Brand has placed Peru seventh and ninth in its authenticity and history country brand category respectively, Peru's Export and Tourism Promotion Board (PromPeru) reported.

This was shown in the Country Brand Index survey that was presented in London (UK) in the international trade fair World Travel Market, which brings together 197 countries.

Currently, Peru is positioned globally as a genuine destination that offers unique experiences in a land of rich historical past. Peru, the only Latin American country on this list, shares this honor with India, Japan, Thailand, Australia, China, Greece, Italy, France and South Africa, among other countries.

The international consulting firm Future Brand based in New York surveyed 2,700 business and leisure travelers to gauge which countries they had visited, which they most wanted to visit and which they would recommend to friends.

Costa Rica, a new Initiative of Bio-alphabetization

The National Institute of Biodiversity (INBio) inaugurated an open biological station to the public in the Hotel Villa Blanca, located in the Silence of the Angels, in San Ramon.

This it is the first scientific laboratory in a hotel of the country. It will allow studying of the biodiversity of the zone and, simultaneously, to be part of the tourist offer that Villa Blanca supplies to his guests.

The station is small: approximately 100 meters square and six researchers. They are located 200 meters from the hotel.

Contact or information on: www.catdmc.com

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