24 SPECIAL FEATURE
24 SPECIAL FEATURE ADVERTORIAL WELNESS & MEDICAL TOURISM Hidden Pond yoga Rock-lined lake at Chena Hot Springs Resort Wellness Made in America Hall 2.1 / Stand 480 Not all travelers want to climb high mountains, dance in festivals, or dine at famous restaurants. Sometimes customers want peace, relaxation and wellness. And the USA has plenty of that to offer in each of its 50 states. Here are the highlights from only a few of the choices. NEW YORK: OMEGA INSTITUTE A “spiritual summer camp for adults,” this holistic retreat sits on a 195-acre (79-hectare) campus in scenic Hudson Valley not far from New York City. Guests will find classes (meditation, stress reduction, body awareness) and treatments (massage, facial) -- and world-class speakers (Deepak Chopra, Maya Angelou). COLORADO: SHAMBHALA MOUNTAIN Sprawled across a 600- acre (243-hectare) valley in the Rocky Mountains, this Buddhist meditation retreat offers mindfulness, meditation, yoga, and tai chi. Special classes tackle Tibetan cranial training, Chinese qigong, psychotherapy as occasional treats. Guests can roam the shrinestudded campus or enjoy more typical Colorado fare: horseback riding, flyfishing, or river rafting. CALIFORNIA: POST RANCH INN Atop the cliffs of Big Sur, 1200 feet above the Pacific Ocean, sits Post Ranch Inn which blends rustic elegance, comfort and privacy with panoramic ocean or mountain views. Big Sur, one of the most healing places in the world, offers redwoods while the hotel adds spacious, ecosensitive rooms with ocean or mountain views-- as well as wood-burning fireplaces and private decks. Free activities include yoga and stargazing, and the acclaimed spa has shamanistic services including illumination, soul retrieval, divination, and fire and drum ceremonies. MAINE: HIDDEN POND Spread over 60 acres, the Hidden Pond resort features 36 suite-like bungalows and twobedroom cottages. The spa resembles a tree house. Free yoga classes are held at the organic farm (where guests may also pick fresh flowers and veggies), regular nature walks are offered, and the restaurant serves organic local cuisine from an acclaimed chef. An outdoor bar and grill sits on a “sand bar,” with chairs circled around fire pits. The hotel also provides a free shuttle to the beach, five-minutes away. ALASKA: CHENA HOT SPRINGS RESORT Built in the early 1900s for gold miners in Alaska’s pioneer days, this 440- acre (178-hectare) resort features 105°F (40.5˚C) mineral-rich hot springs. Guests dip in the waters in a rock-lined lake, soaking pool, or whirlpool. Shooting moose (with camera only), dogsledding, and nearby Fairbanks museums are added activities. ARIZONA: AJI SPA Native American healing traditions at this Sonoran Desert spa celebrate Pima and Maricopa tribal culture. Massages, facials, body wraps, and scrubs use traditional ingredients like red Gila River clay and Cholla cactus. Other activities: a tour of Sonoran Desert and the Gila River Indian Reservation. Isha Institute WEST VIRGINIA: THE GREENBRIER Located in the mountains, The Greenbrier is a National Historic Landmark and world-class resort, Welcoming guests since 1778, the natural mineral springs lures visitors to its 10,000-acre retreat with 710 rooms, including 33 suites and 96 guest and estate homes. Activities include championship golf, fine dining, more than 55 activities, designer boutiques, the worldrenowned mineral spa and a 103,000 sq. foot gaming and entertainment venue. TENNESSEE: ISHA INSTITUTE FOR INNER SCIENCES Only 45 minutes from Chattanooga, in the Cumberland Plateau, is the copper-coloured roof of the largest meditation hall in North America, the centre of the Isha Institute for Inner Sciences. Along with Ayurveda treatments, there are daily programs in yoga and meditation for beginners and advanced participants. More than 1,000 acres of nature belongs to the centre. Nearby are the Cumberland Caverns (an extensive cave system that you can tour in a Jeep) and the Collins River (where guests can rent a kayak for a relaxed paddle). ITB BERLIN NEWS • Saturday 12 th March 2016 www.itb-berlin-news.com
LGBT SPECIAL FEATURE 25 A Pioneering Partnership Argentina is first country in the world to become ITB Berlin LGBT travel strategic partner Rika Jean-François, Messe Berlin CSR Commissioner and Gustavo Santos, Argentina’s Minister of Tourism ITB Berlin and Argentina’s Ministry of Tourism have signed an historic partnership for the joint promotion of LGBT travel during ITB Berlin. A truly historical event: this is how Rika Jean- François, Messe Berlin CSR Commissioner, described the partnership signed on Thursday between ITB Berlin and Argentina’s Minister of Tourism. “We already have official partnerships with two cities, Berlin and Vienna. However, this is the first time that we have a country becoming an official strategic partner”, she explained during the official signature of the partnership. “We feel thrilled, as Argentina has been constant in promoting diversity in tourism for many years with the strong support of the government”. Expressing his satisfaction during the signature, Argentina’s Minister of Tourism Gustavo Santos delivered an emotional statement to the audience. “I appreciate ITB’s commitment for many years towards this important market. Argentina is a country not for one or another segment. It is a country for all. We are here talking of something more important than just LGBT travel. It is all about freedom, love and diversity”, said the Minister. How will the partnership translate now in the promotion of Argentina? “We are now working on a common promotional strategy”, explained Jean-François. “We will include Argentina in our workshops and presentation all across the world as they can be seen as a model of sustainable development for the LGBT tourism market. Argentina will also be present at ITB Asia in the pink pavilion”, explained Thomas Bömkes, Managing Director of Diversity Tourism GmbH. “Today’s partnership signing is the outcome of eight years of cooperation between the Camara de Comercio Gay Lesbica Argentina (Argentina’s Gay and Lesbian Chambre of Commerce) and Argentina Tourism officials,” said Gustavo Noguera, Vice President of the CCGLAR, adding, “We feel encouraged and we see now the opportunity with this partnership to reach new markets and serve as a model.” Hall 3.1 / Stand 202 A First in Japan Traditional Japanese weddings for international LGBT travellers While same-sex marriage is not yet legally possible in Japan, the Hotel Granvia Kyoto has nonetheless launched packages enabling Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, or Transgender (LGBT) couples from around the world to celebrate their wedding in a traditional Japanese setting. The Granvia Kyoto is a luxury property located in the heart of the ancient city, and at ITB Berlin is present in the Pink Pavilion with the aim of enhancing its reputation as it continues on its forward path towards satisfying the special and diverse needs of the LGBT market. The complete three-night package includes everything the couple will need for their wedding: a threenight stay in a luxurious Jr. Suite room, daily Breakfast, complete traditional Japanese wedding attire for two, a customised seasonal wedding bouquet, a traditional Buddhist wedding ceremony at the Shunkoin Temple, limousine service to and from the temple, and a traditional weddingnight dinner for two. The mystique and enchantment of exchanging vows at the historical Shunkoin Temple will be an extraordinary wedding ceremony that the couple will long remember. This Zen Buddhist temple was originally established in 1590 as one of the subtemples in the Myoshinji temple complex. The temple houses important historical artefacts that reflect the multifaceted religious and artistic atmosphere in Japan from the sixteenth century onward. It is the first temple in Japan to officially announce that it would perform same-sex wedding ceremonies. “As the very first Japanese hotel to become a member of the International Gay and Lesbian Travel Association (IGLTA) in 2006, we are proud to be a leading LGBT friendly hotel in Japan, and this package will attract not only international travellers but also domestic couples in Japan.” says Shiho Ikeuchi, Director of Overseas Marketing. Hall 3.1 / Stand 204b ITB BERLIN NEWS • Saturday 12 th March 2016
