Executive And Group Travel

Win a Dream Family Vacation

2011-06-05T16:26:00.000-07:00

NO PURCHASE NECESSARY. Void where prohibited. Open only to persons who, as of the date of Entry, are legal residents of, and physically located within, the 50 United States or Washington, D.C, and are not minors. Sweepstakes starts 12:01 A.M. (PT) on 5/1/11 and ends at 11:59:59 P.M. (PT) on 6/30/11. To enter online for free, follow the instructions on this website.

LIMIT: ONE ENTRY ALLOWED PER PERSON/ADDRESS PER DAY.

Buck Island Reef National Monument off St. Croix, United States Virgin Islands

2010-03-27T14:50:00.000-07:00

Happy New Year Fireworks Around the World!

2009-12-29T13:53:00.000-08:00

Click here to get your own copy from pimp.myYearbook.com!!

Christmas Wishes to You and Yours!

2009-11-24T13:48:00.000-08:00

May You and Your Family Have
the Merriest of Christmases!

Oprah's Summer Giveaways

2009-08-01T12:55:00.000-07:00

Win a Nissan Altima . . .

2009-06-10T09:00:00.000-07:00

To enter for your chance to win a Nissan Altima, plus some of the hottest gear around, drop what you're doing and go check out www.MasterTheShift.com .

At the site you can also take a closer look at the four 2009 Nissan Masters: marathon champion Ryan Hall; NFL legend Eddie George; yoga teacher extraordinaire Tara Stiles; and elite cycling coach Chris Carmichael. You can also download their exclusive videos and training plans: These are insider secrets you won't find anywhere else.

So what are you waiting for?
Log on today: www.MasterTheShift.com

Win a Lenovo Desktop Bundle

2009-06-08T13:32:00.000-07:00

Click on picture for your chance to win.

Win a Trip for 2 to Chicago or New Orleans

2009-05-14T07:31:00.000-07:00

Win a $10,000 Family Vacation to Latin America!

2009-05-09T09:57:00.000-07:00

No purchase necessary
to enter or to win!

Purchase or payment of any kind will not increase your chances of winning!

The Passport To Flavor Game is open only to legal residents of the continental United States, Alaska, Hawaii and the District of Columbia who are at least eighteen (18) years of age or older as of September 1, 2008.

The Game ends on October 1, 2009.

Goya Foods, Inc. (the ”Sponsor“), Marketing Visions, Inc. (the ”Administrator“), their respective parents, subsidiaries, affiliates, advertising and promotion agencies, "Game Piece" print companies, suppliers (collectively, the ”Game Entities“), their respective employees, officers and directors and the immediate families (spouse, parents, siblings and children) and household members of each such employee, officer or director (whether or not related) are not eligible.

Subject to all applicable federal, state, and local laws and regulations. Void in Puerto Rico and where prohibited.

Participation constitutes entrant’s full and unconditional agreement to these Official Rules. Sponsor’s and Administrator’s decisions are final and binding in all matters related to the Game.

Winning a prize is contingent upon fulfilling all requirements set forth herein.

Win a Galapagos Adventure with Alex Trebek

2009-04-13T15:41:00.001-07:00

To register, click here.

Join Me in the Fun of Winning Prizes!

2009-04-02T07:44:00.000-07:00

Do your searches on Blingo and get a chance to win prizes! Each search (up to 25 per day) is a chance to win great prizes instantly.

To date Blingo has given away 94,926 prizes, and new prizes are announced on the site every day!

Click on banner above to enter.

Your Trip of a Lifetime Sweepstakes

2009-02-07T16:33:00.000-08:00

Deadline expired 31 March 2009!

Click on graphic for your chance
to win a trip of your lifetime.

Looking for Most Recent Specials?

2009-01-24T10:05:00.000-08:00

To search for auto, cruise, hotel, resorts, and vacation specials offers in travel buys, click on the icon below.

The next step is to change the TX Regional Special for your state or province before you select a specific destination to search or search all destinations. Click the search button.

A list of special offers will be displayed. Click on the description to view detailed information about your special offer.

Looking for a Day or Getaway spa?
Then click here.

Win an All-Inclusive Luxury Resort Stay at Wyndham Sugar Bay Resort & Spa, St. Thomas, US Virgin Islands!

2008-09-05T16:59:00.000-07:00

My friend, Morgan Nichole Scott, of Envi Consulting and Associates, is producing the Sheer Elegance Bridal Extravaganza on Sunday, October 26, 2008 from 1:00 - 4:00 pm at The Loft at Castleberry Hill located at 170 Northside Drive, Atlanta, Georgia 30313.

In addition to Atlanta's best wedding vendors, a live fashion show showcasing the latest in Bridal Fashion, and great giveaways and door prizes, there will be a dynamic Grand Prize Giveaway!

Register in advance to be entered to WIN an all-inclusive luxury resort stay at the Wyndham Sugar Bay Resort and Spa in St. Thomas, US Virgin Islands!

Find more videos like this on All Things Virgin

We would like to thank our friends and sponsors at the Wyndham Sugar Bay Resort for providing this great gift for one bride-to-be and her fiancé!

For more information call Envi Consulting and Associates at 678-558-6052 or visit them online to register at www.EnviConsulting.com

Admission is $5.00 in advance or $10.00 at the door. A portion of all proceeds will support the I Do Foundation.

Spirit Airlines Flies the Caribbean!

2008-05-09T13:03:00.000-07:00

Be treated like a star! Travel the Caribbean!

Click on the map to go to interactive map.

Although the FREE SPIRIT Red Carpet Treatment Contest is over, learn about the limo service, free trips, and more - all from Spirit Airlines.

Click here to learn what Spirit will offer you.

Let Black Enterprise Send You on a Cruise to Paradise.

2008-04-02T15:14:00.000-07:00

Win a cabin aboard Royal Caribbean's Freedom of the Seas, one of Royal Caribbean’s largest and most luxurious cruise ships, on the Tom Joyner Foundation's Fantastic Voyage - May 18-25, 2008, compliments of Black Enterprise Magazine!

Described as "the ultimate Party with a Purpose", raising more than $1M yearly to keep students in school at HBCUs, Tom Joyner and his crew are bringing you a party you won't want to miss.

Leaving from Miami, Florida, you're then off to the fabulous Caribbean islands, including Grand Turk; Turks and Caicos; San Juan, Puerto Rico; and the Virgin Islands.

The Fantastic Voyage 2008 will feature the best of the best accommodations and dining. There you'll find book clubs, art auctions, fitness classes, musical and comedic performances, beach parties and much more.

This ninth annual Fantastic Voyage Cruise promises non-stop entertainment, seminars, and excursions and includes headliner acts such as John Legend, Erykah Badu, and D.L. Hughley.

Enter for your chance to win today. And don't forget to send Black Enterprise a postcard!

Click the Contest Rules.

Welcome to St. Thomas, US Virgin Islands

2008-03-18T00:46:00.000-07:00

St Thomas

Are you the Next Phenomenally Smooth Brother?

2008-03-12T18:58:00.000-07:00

Sorry! The contest has ended.

Win a Trip for Two to Turtle Island!

2008-02-18T05:45:00.000-08:00

Are you looking for some special place to go to rekindle that spark or keep it burning bright? We've got you covered! Getmarried.com and Lifetime are giving away a romantic trip to Turtle Island for two — the perfect way to say "I love you" all over again!

Click the banner for more information.

The Latest Devlopments at El Dorado Casitas Royale by Karisma

2008-02-07T15:07:00.000-08:00

View the newest video featuring El Dorado Casitas Royale, by Karisma, a AAA Four Diamond Inclusive Resort in Rivera Maya, Mexico.

Become An Honorary Virgin

2007-11-17T14:10:00.000-08:00

Get Paid for What You're Already Doing

2007-10-18T03:03:00.000-07:00

Click the banner.

Win an iPhone from Local.com

2007-09-18T06:01:00.000-07:00

Enter every day until October 16, 2007.

Sorry! Contest's ended!

Open to persons 18 years of age or older
and is not valid in New York or Florida.

Two Great Sweepstakes from BP

2007-09-13T17:05:00.000-07:00

1. A Little Better Game

Sweepstakes starts at 12:00:01 A.M. CDT on September 5, 2007 and ends at 11:59:59 P.M. CST on November 6, 2007 (the “Sweepstakes Period”).

To enter, visit www.aLittleBetterGame.com and accurately complete the official entry form, as indicated, with your first name, last name, complete address, including zip code, daytime and evening telephone numbers, email address and date of birth. Once official entry form is completed, click on the “Enter Sweepstakes” button and you will be automatically entered into the Sweepstakes.

Limit one (1) entry per person/ email address per day of the Sweepstakes Period. If there is a dispute about to whom the email address or entry belongs, the entry will be deemed to be submitted by the authorized account holder. “Authorized account holder” is defined as the natural person who is assigned to an email address by an Internet Access Provider, online service provider, or other organization (e.g., business, educational institution, etc.) that is responsible for assigning email addresses for the domain associated with the submitted email address. No automatic, programmed, robotic or similar means of entry are permitted and individuals engaging in such practices will be disqualified. The use of automated or third party software or web site to enter is prohibited.

Winning BP Gas for a Year would be great! But imagine winning gas for life! Simply visit any participating BP location, pump a minimum of 5 gallons of any grade of BP gasoline and you'll automatically receive a game card. You could win BP Gas for Life or one of over 200,000 other prizes.

Hurry!
A little better game ends November 6th!
Visit your local BP today!

2. The Amoco Ultimate® Ride Sweepstakes

Click banner to enter.

Between 12:00 P.M. Central Time (“CT”) June 22, 2007 and 11:59 P.M. CT December 1, 2007, visit http://www.amocoultimate.com/ and accurately complete an Official Entry Form, as indicated, with your first name, last name, complete address, including zip code, day and evening phone numbers, email address and date of birth. Once official entry form is complete, click on “Enter Sweepstakes” and you will be automatically entered into the Sweepstakes.

If there is a dispute about to whom an email address or entry belongs, the entry will be deemed to be submitted by the authorized account holder of the email address associated with the entry and such individual must comply with these rules. “Authorized Account Holder” is defined as the natural person who is assigned to an email address by an Internet Access Provider, online service provider, or other organization (e.g., business, educational institution, etc.) that is responsible for assigning email addresses for the domain associated with the submitted email address. No automatic, programmed, robotic or similar means of entry are permitted and individuals engaging in such practices will be disqualified and all associated entries will be void. The use of automated or third party software or website to enter is prohibited and all associated entries will be void.

OR,

Between June 22, 2007 and close of business November 27, send a handwritten 3x5 card with first name, last name, complete address, including zip code, day and evening phone numbers, email address and date of birth in an envelope with proper postage affixed to:

Amoco Ultimate Ride Sweepstakes
P.O. Box 81588
Chicago, IL 60681-0588

Mail-in entries must be postmarked by November 27, 2007 and received by December 3, 2007. No mechanically reproduced entries permitted. Incomplete/illegible entries are void. All entries become the property of Sponsor and will not be returned. Limit one (1) entry per person/email address/household, regardless of method of entry. Void in NJ, Puerto Rico and other U.S. territories and possessions and where prohibited.

TV Land is Casting for 3 New Reality Shows

2007-08-30T03:00:00.000-07:00

1. Want to Change your Life?

TV Land is looking for 45-55 year old couples
who want to change their lives,
get away from the rat race and
start living the dream.

If . . . you put your dreams on hold
to bring up your family?

If . . . you can’t agree on a future
that you want to share together?

If . . . you dream of being a fisherman
but your wife hates the water?

If . . . you dream of running B&B
but your husband hates making beds?

TVLand has the answer.

To find out more call or e-mail
Michael Raptis - Casting Director
Phone: 646-747-7954
Email: beginnings@rdfusa.com

2. The Next Great Supermodel

TV Land and Wilhelmina Models are partnering
to findthe next great supermodel age 35 and older!

Documented in a television series
tentatively titled The Next Great Supermodel ,
TV Land andWilhelmina Models are scouring the country
to find their next star:
a woman 35 or over
who exudes sophistication, beauty and confidence.

The winner of the reality series competition
will receive a modeling contract with Wilhelmina Models.

If you are an aspiring model, age 35 or older,
TV Land wants you!

Open Call Information
Locations to be announced:

Thursday, September 27: Los Angeles

Sunday, September 30: Chicago

Tuesday, October 2: Atlanta

Thursday, October 4: New York

3. TV Land is seeking contestants
who plan to celebrate their 40th birthday
with a bang!
Send your application now!
If you are turning 40 in 2007, please send TV Land a video, where and when you are turning 40, and a bit about yourself.
Let TV Land know if you have already planned a party or event for your 40th and when the date is.
TV Land will document the experience and capture these memories forever on TV!
HOW TO AUDITION:
Fill out the official application.

MAKE A 5-10 minute videotape (DVD, VHS and mini-DV formats will be accepted). Tape should include you talking about turning 40 and what it means to you. Have fun and SHOW TV Land your personality! TV Land wants to see your current living situation and what your life is like. TV Land wants to hear what you are planning on doing to celebrate 40!

Mail the completed application and the videotape along with a photo of yourself to:

3Ball Productions
Attn: 40 Casting
1600 Rosecrans Ave
Manhattan Beach, CA 90266
Official Application:

Click to download, print and fill out the application

IMPORTANT INFORMATION: Applying is no guarantee of being picked. Any submitted materials can not be returned. If, for some reason, you cannot make a video tape, please send a photo with your application.
For more information,

Email: Castingrealityshows@yahoo.com

OR
Call 310-727-3337
Ask about turning 40 Show!

Webshots and Sonic Invite You to Take Your Best Shot

2007-08-22T19:05:00.000-07:00

No purchase or payment necessary to enter or win.

But you better hurry!
Contest ends on August 27, 2007.

Ringo Invites You to Vote for Your Favorite Photo!

2007-08-01T10:00:00.000-07:00

Hurry! Voting ends September 6, 2007!

US Virgin Islands, Your Vacation Destination!

2007-06-14T14:54:00.000-07:00

Planning your next trip to, or vacation in, the United States Virgin Islands? Then get relevant information before you go. Here's a great site to get all the info.

In 1999 a small team of St. Thomas residents started VInow.com with a visitors guide to St. Thomas. The goal was to provide U.S. Virgin Islands travelers with an online community where they could learn about the U.S. Virgin Islands, plan their trips and share their experiences on a well organized, attractive website.

Today the goal remains the same and VInow.com has grown to include a guide for St. Croix, St. John, and Water Island with a special section for cruise ship visitors.

VInow.com has two sister sites:

VIMovingCenter.com which focuses on relocating to and living in the US Virgin Islands, and
VITraders.com, an on-line store where you can find books, maps, and souvenirs from the US Virgin Islands.

And what will you find when you visist VInow.com? For a starter, how about these key features?

Visitor reviews of restaurants, hotels, beaches, and more!
First one of its kind Pod-cast for the U.S. Virgin Islands
Sections on culture, history, flora, and fauna
Extremely Popular Message Board
Dozens of E-cards to choose from
Monthly Local Event Calendar
Comprehensive Island Guides
Wallpaper Downloads
Photo Album

Win a $20,000 Work Escape to the Virgin Islands!

2007-05-29T15:24:00.000-07:00

Need a break from work now? Take advantage of 12 whole days full of rest, relaxation, and shameless pampering on St. Thomas, St. Croix, and St. John.

If you don't enter, you can't win!

Grand Prize: An Island-Hopping Vacation for Two.

Enter for a chance to win a $20,000 Work Escape in the U.S. Virgin Islands

Enter Now

BlogCatalog Bloggers for Good Fundraising Challenge

2007-05-26T06:32:00.000-07:00

The week of May 28, 2007 BlogCatalog members and other bloggers will be posting on their blogs to raise awareness about

Bloggers and their viewers will be raising and donating money for students and schools in New Orleans and other parts of the country. Won't you help meet the Challenge by choosing to fund a Specific Challenge?

ia a non-profit Web site that brings teachers and donors together to fund specific student projects that range from "Magical Math Centers" ($200) to "Big Book Bonanza" ($320), to "Cooking Across the Curriculum" ($1,100). Any individual can search such proposals by areas of interest, learn about classroom needs, and choose to fund the project(s) they find most compelling. In completing a project, donors receive a feedback package of student photos and thank-you notes, a teacher impact letter, and an expenditure report showing that their tax-deductible gift was spent as directed.

is a simple way to provide students in need with resources that our public schools often lack. At this not-for-profit web site, teachers submit project proposals for materials or experiences their students need to learn. These ideas become classroom reality when concerned individuals, whom they call Citizen Philanthropists, choose projects to fund.

To meet the challenge for this underserved non-profit organization that does so much good for our children and our schools, click the logo to pick the project you wish to support.

BP Gas Invites You to Win An All-New Ford Edge in Their Mania Giveaway Sweepstakes

2007-04-28T01:30:00.000-07:00

Hurry! Don't miss this sweepstakes that started at 03:00:01 PM, Eastern Daylight Time on April 4, 2007 and will end at 02:59:59 PM, Eastern Daylight Time on May 31, 2007.

This sweepstakes is offered only in the United States and the District of Columbia (DC) with the exception of Maryland, New Jersey, and Virginia.

To enter, you must be at least 18 years of age, have a valid driver's license and active email address as of April 2, 2007; and be a current resident of, and located in, an eligible state or Washington, DC.

The sweepstakes is void in Maryland, New Jersey, and Virginia; outside the remaining States/D.C.; and wherever prohibited.

The sweepstakes shall be construed and evaluated only according to the laws of the United States.

No purchase is necessary and doing so will not increase your chances of winning.

Now click the banner and enter before the deadline on May 31, 2007. Good luck!

Take Your Friends On An Aussie Adventure

2007-04-23T22:17:00.000-07:00

Enter for your chance to win in the Men’s Health Top of the World Down Under Sweepstakes.

You could win a week-long Australian vacation for you and three friends!

All work and no play makes the Men’s Health man a dull guy, so we’re offering you an amazing chance to soar to new heights in breathtaking Australia. Dazzle your sweetheart with a trip like no other, or make it the ultimate guy’s getaway and see how the other half of the world lives, down under.

Grand Prize package includes:

Round trip airfare for four, compliments of Qantas Airlines
3 nights in the luxurious Crowne Plaza Harbour Sydney (2 rooms)
Sydney Harbour Bridge Climb for four
3 nights in the fabulous Crowne Plaza Alice Springs (2 rooms)
Take a Camel to Breakfast adventure tour for four
Spirit of the Night Sky Tour, including dinner, for four
All the fun and adventure Australia has to offer!

All told, it’s a prize package worth approximately $13,658!

Hurry! All entries must be received by 11:59 p.m. EST on April 30th!

Enter now for your chance to win the vacation of a lifetime!

Celebratory Package Commemorates the 90th Anniversary of the United States Virgin Islands

2007-04-13T00:43:00.000-07:00

Complimentary fifth night at hotels on St. Thomas, St. John, and St. Croix, plus savings up to $500 on Experiential Activities, Tours, and Extras.

St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands, April 11, 2007 – In tribute to the 90th anniversary as a U.S. territory, the U.S. Virgin Islands Department of Tourism, in conjunction with the U.S. Virgin Islands Hotel and Tourism Association, is offering a special 90th Anniversary Celebration Package to guests who visit the islands between May 1 and August 31. This special offer recognizes “Transfer Day,” the historic period in 1917 when St. Croix, St. John, and St. Thomas shifted from Danish rule to a United States territory.

If booked between April 15 and July 15, the 90th Anniversary Celebration Package features a complimentary fifth night based on a five-night minimum stay at participating hotels, plus savings up to $500 on a variety of included experiential activities, tours and extras.

“The 90th anniversary of Transfer Day presents the perfect opportunity to remind travelers that they do not need a passport to travel to our three magnificent islands,” says Beverly Nicholson Doty, U.S. Virgin Islands Commissioner of Tourism. “We’re thrilled to be able to offer guests a complimentary night of accommodations this spring and summer, along with many activities that commemorate the past, present and future of America’s Caribbean.”

Guests who book the package with a St. John or St. Thomas hotel will receive two tickets to Coral World, Atlantis Submarine, VI Ecotours, and the Paradise Point Tramway; an island tour for two with Tropic Tours; use of a GPS unit for two days provided by Calabash Technologies; $90 off a purchase of $500 or more at Diamonds International; $90 off a purchase of $500 or more at Cardow Jewelers; and $90 gaming dollars compliments of Southland Gaming.

Guests who book the package with a St. Croix hotel will enjoy a welcome bottle of Cruzan rum and a special gift; $100 match-play at Divi Carina Bay Casino, plus two of the following complimentary options: Buck Island excursion for two; a sunset sail for two; a rental car for three days; an island tour for two; golf with greens fees and cart for two at The Buccaneer or Carambola Beach Resort; a scuba two-tank dive or dive lesson with one-tank dive for one; or a 50-minute spa treatment.

Participating St. Croix hotels include The Buccaneer, Hotel Caravelle, Carambola Beach Resort, Chenay Bay Beach Resort, Club St. Croix, Colony Cove and Divi Carina Bay, while St. Thomas and St. John hotels include Frenchman’s Reef Marriott, Bolongo Bay Beach Resort, Best Western Emerald Beach, Best Western Carib Beach, Secret Harbour Resort, Wyndham Sugar Bay Resort & Spa, Point Pleasant, Sapphire Beach, Sapphire Village, Crystal Cove, Anchorage and The Westin St. John Resort & Villas.

Guests must book the 90th Anniversary Celebration Package between April 15 and July 15 and travel between May 1 and August 31. For more information about the 90th Anniversary Celebration Package, visit www.usvitourism.vi/ or for reservations, call 1-877-LIB-USVI.

For information about the United States Virgin Islands, call 800-372-USVI (8784) and visit www.usvitourism.vi/.

As a United States territory, the U.S. Virgin Islands does not require proof of citizenship from U.S. citizens arriving from Puerto Rico or the U.S. mainland. Entry requirements for non-U.S. citizens are the same as for entering the United States from any foreign destination. Upon departure, a passport is required for all but U.S. citizens.

Karisma Hotels Offers You a Free Honeymoon and Wedding Anniversary Package in 2006 and 2007

2006-11-23T22:13:00.000-08:00

Enjoy all of the following amenities:

The Free Honeymoon and Wedding Anniversary Package is valid when booking a Jacuzzi Junior Suite.
It is also available in other categories at a cost of $150 + 10% tax per couple, per stay.
Private romantic candle light dinner on the beach for the couple.
Chilled bottle of champagne delivered to your room on arrival.
Guaranteed King-size bed when booking Jacuzzi Junior Suite.
Package inclusions may vary without previous notice.
Valid when booked in Canada, USA or Direct.
Marriage certificate required at check-in.
Must be requested at time of booking.
Couples 30 minutes massage lesson.
Special towel arrangement daily.
Bath robes for use during stay.
Restrictions Apply.
The Honeymoon and Wedding Anniversary Package can be reserved for use 30 days before and after wedding date for anniversaries and up to 30 days after wedding date for honeymoons.

Karisma Hotels & Resorts is a group of companies specialized in hospitality management. Karisma offers hotel management, sales, and marketing services to third party hotel owners and hotel asset managers. The company also owns and operates selected hotel properties. Currently, Karisma operates five properties in Mexico and the Caribbean.

Karisma was founded in 2000 by a distinct group of former Allegro Resort Corporation’s top executives. The experiences and backgrounds of the senior executives cover the four key strategic areas:

finance,
hotel operation,
sales and marketing, and
business development.

Karisma’s management is supported by a large team of professionals and employees, both in hotel operations and the corporate offices, handling various functions of day-to-day business.

Book your stay today!

Samsung Wants to Send You on a Vacation to Mile High City, Sin City, or the Big Apple.

2006-11-21T17:49:00.000-08:00

Enter Samsung Accessories' Bundle Up Sweepstakes for a chance to win a four-day and three-night vacation in Denver, Las Vegas, or New York City for free.

Enter today and you can win a vacation for two, a Samsung 32" LCD HDTV, or a Samsung Home Theater System.

Enter today!

38th Annual International Auto and Truck Show on San Antonio's Famous Riverwalk

2006-11-03T04:30:00.000-08:00

The 2006 Auto and Truck Show with more than 350 new cars, trucks, and concept cars has every possible dream on wheels under one roof! This cornucopia of highway technology offers a no-holds barred display of virtually every make and model available today.

Whether you are a 4-wheel off-road enthusiast, boutique two-seater guy or gal, import or domestic lover, high-end luxury collector, or entry-level economy buyer, the San Antonio International Auto and Truck show has your exciting choice. Get ready to get behind the wheel! That's right; this is not a "look only" show! This is a "feel it all around you" kind of show!

And this event is so much more than a Texas style hoedown of vehicles!

Bring the family and while the kids enjoy games, prizes, merchandise, and great entertainment, you can be off talking dreams with any of the knowledgeable and friendly manufacturer representatives.

But it doesn't stop there! Helpful financing folks, car care pros, safety specialists, and other interesting people, and topics will be available throughout the exhibit.

Make a day for you and your family at the San Antonio Auto and Truck Show! When the family gets tired, take a break in one of the convenient sitting areas and enjoy some refreshments. Once the family gets its wind back, head out to complete your journey through this most amazing display of engineering.

Owning a car or truck is the second biggest dream for all of us. After owning a home, it's the next in line. Don't just dream the dream of owning the vehicle you always wanted. Live the dream by getting behind the wheel at the 2006 San Antonio Auto and Truck Show, November 16-19 at the Henry B. Gonzalez Convention Center in downtown San Antonio, Texas.

Now click on the banner to get your discount coupon.

Lifetime TV Viewer Appreciation Sweepstakes Ends Nov. 30th

2006-10-14T06:00:00.000-07:00

Lifetime TV would like to thank their viewers with a chance to win $1,000! You can enter once a day from today through the end of November for more chances to win.

No purchase necessary. Void where prohibited.

So enter the Lifetime Viewer Appreciation Sweepstakes now!

Click for official rules. Must be a legal U.S. resident currently residing in the 50 United States and be 18 years or older. Sweepstakes ends November 30, 2006, at 9:59 am ET.

Click here to register for your sweepstakes entry.

AA.com Shows on the Go Sweepstakes

2006-10-10T08:00:00.000-07:00

AA.com and TiVo®, you’ll never have to miss your favorite TV shows or a great airfare again.

And now, the AA.com “Shows On The Go” Sweepstakes gives you the chance to win a TiVo Prize Package complete with a TiVo® Series3™ HD Box with product lifetime service *, plus prizes each week.

Grand Prize:

One lucky winner will get a complete HD Home Entertainment Center. The grand prize includes:

A Pioneer® PureVision 50” HD Plasma TV;

A TiVo® Series3™ HD Box with product lifetime service.* Never miss your favorite shows again with the world’s first, best, and easiest-to-use DVR; and
A Pioneer® Home Theater System with DVD player and Ultra Slim speakers.

Weekly Prizes:
They’re giving away eight (8) 80-hour TiVo Series2™ boxes each with a product lifetime service. *

Weekly winners also get a ZEN Vision: M portable media player - The 30 GB player has the widest array of music download and subscription services, holds 15,000 songs, 120 hours of video, or tens of thousands of photos so you can take your TV shows, pictures, and music with you when you travel.

Click here to enter before November 15, 2006,
for your chance to win!

* Product lifetime service is good for the life of the product, not the subscriber.

Share the Experience Photo Contest

2006-10-07T14:07:00.000-07:00

The Share the Experience Photo Contest is the official photo contest for the new America the Beautiful - The National Parks and Federal Recreational Lands Pass. We invite you to enjoy the great sites, places, and spaces managed by the Bureau of Land Management, the Bureau of Reclamation, the National Park Service, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, and the U.S. Forest Service. They make fantastic settings for photography - so bring your camera!

The Share the Experience Photo Contest is the official photo contest for the new America the Beautiful - The National Parks and Federal Recreational Lands Pass. We invite you to enjoy the great sites, places, and spaces managed by the Bureau of Land Management, the Bureau of Reclamation, the National Park Service, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, and the U.S. Forest Service. They make fantastic settings for photography - so bring your camera!

Enter the "Share the Experience™" Photo Contest for the chance to have your photograph featured on the 2008 Federal Recreational Lands Pass! Plus, you have the chance to win trips to America's Federal Recreation Lands, a Ford Escape Hybrid SUV, and CASIO Digital Cameras and Photo Gear.

Grand Prize Winner: The winning photo will become the image featured on the 2008 "Federal Recreational Lands Pass."

In addition, the Grand Prize Winner will receive a Ford Escape Hybrid SUV; a 5-day, 4-night trip for four including airfare to a federal recreation area of the winner's choice, a CASIO Exilim Zoom Camera; and a one-year Federal Recreational Lands Pass.

Second Prize: 3-day, 2-night trip for two to a federal recreation area, a CASIO Exilim Zoom Camera, and a one-year Federal Recreational Lands Pass.
Third Prize: 2-day, 1-night trip for two to a federal recreation area, a CASIO Exilim Zoom Camera, and a one-year Federal Recreational Lands Pass.
Fourth Prize: CASIO Exilim Zoom Camera, Trek Pack Plus, and a one-year Federal Recreational Lands Pass.

Ten Honorable Mentions: A Federal Recreational Lands Pass one day pack and a Recreation Survival Kit including a water bottle, LED Flashlight, Day pack and 10x26 Binoculars.

Family Fun Category - PRIZES: MORE CHANCES TO WIN!

First Prize: CASIO Exilim Zoom Camera, CASIO Disc Title Printer, 1GB SD Memory Card and camera carrying case.
Second Prize: CASIO Exilim Zoom Camera.
Third Prize: CASIO Fashion Watch.

Register now!

Enter the 2006 Logitech Football Challenge!

2006-10-06T15:51:00.000-07:00

Etienne Gibbs (eagibbs) is inviting you to participate in the 2006 Logitech Football Challenge.

Whether you pick consistent winners or side with the loser each time, you'll be eligible to win great prizes every time you play!

Play hard! You just might win!

Make great picks week after week and you'll have a shot at the Pro Bowl® Trip 4-2 to Hawaii. The player with the highest score at the end of the NFL® Season will get roundtrip airfare and 4 nights accommodations for 2, hotel and game day transfers, PLUS 2 tickets to the Official NFL® Tailgate party and Pro Bowl game on Saturday, February 10, 2007.

So be sure to play every week to accumulate the most points possible to be eligible for this prize!

Click here to register for the game and to be eligible to win great prizes including a trip to Hawaii!

Your Chance to Win An Adventure Vacation in New Zealand

2006-09-27T08:00:00.000-07:00

Here's your chance to get up close and personal with the creatures behind SmartWool ® products - the Merino Sheep - and experience everything New Zealand has to offer!

From the mountains to the sea, New Zealand is the ideal destination for outdoor enthusiasts and the perfect place to get off the beaten path!

Click on picture for your chance to win.

Take the 2006 Jeep 4x4 Geocaching Challenge!

2006-09-26T07:00:00.000-07:00

This year’s Jeep 4X4 Geocaching Challenge features new challenges, new 2006 Jeep Travel Bugs, and an opportunity to win an all-new 2007 Jeep Compass. It's freedom in a whole new dimension!

What is Geocaching?

Geocaching is an entertaining outdoor adventure where you use your GPS, or map, to search for hidden containers, called geocaches, that are hidden around the world by other participants in the activity. For more information about geocaching, visit the “Getting Started” section on www.Geocaching.com and be sure to bookmark the page for future reference!

What is 2006 Jeep Travel Bug?

This year, it’s a green die-cast Jeep Rescue Concept vehicle with an official metal tag attached. Jeep is enlisting geocachers nationwide to hide approximately 5,500 Jeep Travel Bugs in caches located in the lower 48 states. Find one and the adventure begins!

And when you find a green 2006 Jeep Rescue Concept Travel Bug, enter the unique tracking number into the Jeep Geocaching site at www.Jeep.Geocaching.com to log its movements in the real world. Then move it to the next cache you find so others can help it on its journey.

Enter the Jeep Geocaching 2006 Sweepstakes for your chance to win! From August 1st to December 31st, 2006, you will have the opportunity to win an all-new 2007 Jeep Compass.

It's freedom is a whole new dimension!

One Grand-Prize Jeep Compass vehicle will be awarded in a drawing taking place on or around January 15, 2007.

While you’re participating in the Challenge, be sure to enter the Jeep Geocaching 2006 Sweepstakes for your chance to win an all-new 2007 Jeep Compass.

Enter the Jeep Geocaching 2006 Sweepstakes Now!

Is Expedia's Giveaway Vacation for You?

2006-09-25T08:00:00.000-07:00

It's their 10th anniversary and they want you to join the celebration! What better way to honor 10 amazing years of travel than with incredible deals to their top 10 favorite destinations?

Enjoy the special sale rates on their website. And remember to check back often, because each week they'll feature a limited-time offer for one special vacation spot.

Plus, right now you can save an extra $100 on any destination! Just book your flight + hotel package of three nights or more by October 8 to save.

Sales this good only happen once a decade - so book your vacation today!

Enter for a chance to win a $50,000 vacation!

No purchase is necessary.
A purchase of any kind will not increase your chances of winning.

Fujitsu's Sleek Power Instant Win Promotion

2006-09-23T06:00:00.000-07:00

Hurry enter immediately!

Instant Win Game/Grand Prize Drawing ends September 30, 2006 at 11:59 p.m. ET.

Go to www.WinFujitsu.com and follow the links and instructions for entry. After you have fully completed the registration form and submitted the required information, you will automatically be entered into the Grand Prize Drawing and will also have an opportunity to play the Instant Win Game. Once you advance to the Instant Win Game page, follow directions to play the Instant Win Game.

In order to play, you must install Macromedia Flash on your computer (if you do not already have it) when prompted. Installation is free. Once on the Instant Win Game page, follow the instructions to play the game. The Instant Win Game results will be instantly displayed but hurry. The deadline is Saturday, September 30, 2006!

One (1) Instant Win Game Third Prize and one (1) Instant Win Game First or Second Prize per person.

Tell A Friend Program: After you play the Instant Win Game, you will be invited to submit the names and email addresses of up to three (3) friends who must be eligible to participate in the Promotion. Each person that you refer will receive an email solely notifying them about the Promotion. You may only refer persons with whom you have an existing relationship. For each referral of up to three (3) friends with valid email addresses, you will be given one (1) additional opportunity to play the Instant Win Game and one (1) additional entry into the Grand Prize Drawing for up to three (3) additional plays/entries per day during the Promotion Period.

You could win a 2007 Audi Q7 4.2!

Make a Short Film and Enter to Win a Trip to Australia!

2006-09-22T14:18:00.000-07:00

Are you a budding filmmaker or just want to share your Aussie experiences with the rest of world? Either way, here is your opportunity to do so - and win a trip in the process.

In partnership with the Independent Film Channel (IFC), Tourism Australia is inviting you to make a short film on Australia.

Tourism Australia will give you the footage and the rest is up to you. The contest is now live on www.ifc.com/medialab, with entries due November 9, 2006.

The winner will be announced at their G’Day USA NY event in January and the grand prize is a trip to Australia to film your own short film in the land of Oz.

For more information, watch the video from Tourism Australia.

Enter to Win a Prize a Day with Qantas!

2006-09-21T14:00:00.000-07:00

Come say "G’day to Vic", Qantas’ spokes-koala, who is giving away a prize a day through September 29. Enter to win prizes such as hotels, cruises, diving, dinners, seaplane tours and more. Or just come and have a chat about your vacation plans.

What?!? You’ve never heard of a talking koala?

Enter to Win a Prize a Day!

Win a Trip of Your Choice

2006-08-21T20:18:00.000-07:00

Welcome to the world of simplicity: You sign up with folks like Burton, the Outdoor Life Network, Aspen/Snowmass, Vail, and an army of other like-minded gear and travel gurus, you get the dish on their latest developments, AND you get entered into a drawing to win a $2,000 trip for two to a destination of your choice from hundreds of Orbitz.com vacation packages.

The ability to get the inside scoop on the latest premier travel options, gear, tech, electronics, media developments? The chance of winning a vacation for you and your partner in crime? It's all just a few clicks away.

Chance to Win Your Quest for Gold

2006-07-13T12:28:00.000-07:00

Captain Jack Sparrow has joined the crew of the newly-enhanced, classic Disney attraction, Pirates of the Caribbean at Disneyland® Resort in California and Walt Disney World® Resort in Florida.

And only from WeatherBug could you win:

6-night/7-day pirate family getaway for four at Walt Disney World® Resort, where you’ll come face-to-face with Captain Jack Sparrow.
Plus, you’ll attend a special party with a chance to win $50,000 in the Disney Quest for Gold Sweepstakes!

Win a Complete Entertainment Center and Navigation System!

2006-07-03T08:30:00.000-07:00

The Grand Prize will consist of: a DVD in-dash player, a GPS automotive navigator, a speaker system, wireless satellite radio with car accessories and a docking station to play the satellite radio anywhere, a one (1) year satellite subscription and $500 for installation of products.

Click here to visit the sponsor.

Sorry!
The contest is over;
the deadline is past!

It's Just Easier to Have a Spa Vacation in the US Virgin Islands' Sweepstakes

2006-06-27T14:04:00.000-07:00

The winner and a companion will travel on American Airlines, from the nearest gateway, to St. Thomas.

Wyndham Sugar Bay Resort & Spa is offering complimentary accommodations, his/her massages and a spa gift basket. Other prizes for the sweepstakes include a sampler session at Caneel Bay's Self Centre plus ferry transfer on their boat, lunch at the Westin St. John, a European facial at Frenchman's Reef & Morning Star Marriott, his/her massage from Holiday Inn’s Shangrila Spa, a sunset sail on Bolongo Bay Beach Resort Heavenly Days catamaran, complimentary entrance to Coral World Ocean Park, Paradise Point Tramway and Atlantis Submarine, and $1,000 for Duty Free Shopping.

The contest will run from June 15-September 30, 2006, for travel October 1-December 15, 2006 or April 15-September 30, 2007. Rules and restrictions apply. Click on logo to enter.

Puerto Rico: Where You Can Explore Beyond the Shore and the Virgn Islands Next Door

2006-06-26T09:27:00.000-07:00

Located on the east side of Puerto Rico, Fajardo is the boating center of the island where charters, rentals, and daily diving excursions and ferry service to nearby islands are available. An impressive seven ecological systems are represented in the area including coral reefs, beaches, lagoons, mangroves, and dry forest.

To learn more about Puerto Rico, click on the picture.

Win a Chance at a Hot 2007 Pontiac Solstice Roadster and more

2006-06-21T09:00:00.000-07:00

Want a chance at a hot 2007 Pontiac Solstice roadster and invites to the hottest Maxim parties?

What's better than a hot car and a hot woman? Maybe if that car is a sexy 2007 Pontiac Solstice personally delivered to you by equally as sexy Hot 100 Model Kelly Carlson.

It's all part of Pontiac's "The Ultimate Hookup."

And it could get you not only a hot new convertible roadster, but invites to Maxim's hottest parties of the year - like their Hot 100 Party, their legendary Pre-Game Bash, and the grand opening of the Maxim Lounge in Miami. You'll even get some very sexy wallpapers and ring tones just for entering.

Just click here to enter and for more information.

Magen's Bay Beach Cam Live from St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands

2006-04-30T07:00:00.000-07:00

Produced entirely by Virgin Islands residents,
www.GotoStThomas.com
has useful info, links, articles, maps, photos, and live webcams

to help make your time in the U.S. Virgin Islands a fulfilling one!

A group excursion on an Atlantis Submarine Tour is a great way
to highlight a meeting or conference on St. Thomas.

Get Your FREE Alaska Vacation Planner!

2006-03-03T07:00:00.000-08:00

With its extensive ocean coastline, rugged mountain peaks, awe-inspiring glaciers, rushing rivers, and abundant wildlife, Alaska is the perfect destination for the outdoor enthusiast. But how to decide what to do?

Get your FREE Alaska Vacation Planner, containing page after page of exclusive information on things to do, places to see, and other great adventures in the Great Land.

Plus, sign up today and you can download a free Alaska screensaver!

Simply register, answer a few quick questions, and begin planning your Alaskan adventure!

Now click here to register!

Bonus: While you're at it: You Could Win the Trip of Your Choice!

Simply sign up to receive free valuable information and deals, and you’ll be entered into a drawing to win an exciting trip for two to the destination of your choice. The lucky winner can select from hundreds of Orbitz.com vacation packages worth up to $2,000.00!

Just click here!

Black History Month Contest!

2006-02-07T15:31:00.000-08:00

Turn Your Buying and Selling
Into a Chance to Win An iPod!

During Black History Month, every listing, and every bid earns a chance to win a New Apple iPod supporting video (approximate value $299.00).

Make the switch from eBay to iZania Market.

iZania Market offers our communtiy a fast, easy, and secure way to buy and sell online within the Virtual Black Community and beyond.

Now is the time to begin shopping at iZania Market. Find great products and great deals, and become the lucky winner of an iPod.

Click here to begin selling Now!

Listing is FREE at iZania Market.

Find Your Virgin Islands Contact

2006-02-05T15:00:00.000-08:00

Looking for a hotel, resort,

or someone in the U. S. Virgin Islands?

Then click here or on book cover.

Seaborne Airlines: Serving the Virgin Islands and Surroundings

2006-02-03T07:00:00.000-08:00

Seaborne focuses on serving the Virgin Islands through its growing scheduled service operations. Now in its 12th year, Seaborne's brand of reliable, high quality air transportation serves more than 175,000 Virgin Islands passengers annually.

St. Croix, U.S. Virgin Islands

The largest of the 3 U.S. Virgin Islands, St. Croix offers the most diverse experience for the traveler. Don't forget to check out some of the best eateries is the Caribbean on St. Croix.

St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands

The Yachting and Cruising capital of the Caribbean, St. Thomas offers the shopper in you a run for your money. Duty free and great deals abound!

Old San Juan, Puerto Rico

Historic Old San Juan is a MUST for any island hopping experience! But visiting places like Rincon or Ponce are within a day's drive. Rent a Jeep and explore the island!

Contact Seaborne Airlines at
34 Strand Street
Christiansted, St. Croix
United States Virgin Islands 00820

To make reservations, call:

340-773-6442 or 888-359-8687.

Email Seaborne Airlines at

feedback@seaborneairlines.com

For more information visit their website:

www.SeaborneAirlines.com/

Been on a Cruise Lately? Then Get Rewarded!

2006-01-27T18:42:00.000-08:00

Super-Inclusive Packages Include:

Roundtrip airport/hotel transfers,
all meals, drinks and snacks,
hotel accommodations,
hotel tax and service,
all watersports,
entertainment,
and more

Click here for all the details!

All Hail to Miss Allison Bourne-Vanneck, Miss US Virgin Islands and Miss America Contestant

2006-01-22T06:00:00.000-08:00

Allison Bourne-Vanneck
St. Thomas, Virgin Islands
Age: 22

Education:
Antilles High School
The College of William and Mary-graduate-Business Administration

Platform Issue: Respect Us, Don’t Neglect Us: Transforming the Lives of Girls Emotionally & Physically through Sports

Scholastic Ambition: To obtain an MBA and a Masters Degree in Journalism

Talent: Instrumental: Steel Pan

Scholastic Honors: Hulen Willis Scholarship Recipient; Business Administration Dean’s Cabinet; The William and Mary Business Administration Excellence Award 2005

Career Ambition: To create a Television Network dedicated to women, sports, fitness and entertainment

State Competition Sponsor: Miss Virgin Islands Scholarship Organization, Inc.

Allison Bourne-Vanneck's commitment to athletics and service has been a constant theme throughout her life. She started playing golf at age 6 and went on to be the undefeated Virgin Island junior golf female champion, the 2001 Virgin Islands female amateur champion and three-time women's flight champion in the St. Thomas Open. As an honor student, she balanced academics and sports, as she co-founded Give Girls a Chance junior golf program. Through her accomplishments and service, Allison became in 2001 the first and only woman in Virgin Islands history to receive The Virgin Islands Daily News athlete of the year.

Allison continued competitive golf in college and became the first African-American woman to play collegiate golf at the College of William and Mary. Additionally, she served on the dean's cabinet in the business school, coordinated voter registration drives in low income neighborhoods and organized regional HIV/AIDS awareness fundraisers. During her senior year, she founded Girls in S.P.O.R.T.S. Enhancement Program. S.P.O.R.T.S. stands for Self-esteem, Perseverance, Optimism, Respect, Teamwork and Self-confidence.

Her nonprofit organization helps prepare youth to pursue their dreams and educates them on the benefits of athletic involvement and opportunities. In May of 2005, she graduated from the College of William and Mary, receiving a Bachelor of Arts in business administration. Allison was also chosen as the 2005 recipient of the College of William and Mary Bachelor of Business Administration Excellence award, an award for public service both to the university and surrounding community.

Allison cites her strong faith and concern for people as her driving force to enhance the lives of others. Currently, she spends her time running her Girls in S.P.O.R.T.S. Enhancement Program, being a motivational speaker at Virgin Island schools, speaking with parents, the community and writing her sports column, Let's Go, Girls!, for The Virgin Island Daily News.

Win a Four-Day Getaway to the Virgin Islands

2006-01-18T23:22:00.000-08:00

Welcome to "America's Caribbean in the Big Apple"

Vanderbilt Hall at Grand Central Terminal
January 17-19, 2006

Experience the rich culture and beautiful scenery of the islands, dance with a mocko jumbie and listen to the infectious rhythms of Quelbe music as the U.S. Virgin Islands warms up New York City, January 17-19.

The three-day exposition will showcase the rich culture, world-class hotels, quaint inns and attractions that make the U.S. Virgin Islands one of the most popular destinations in the Caribbean.

Visit "America's Caribbean in the Big Apple" NOW.

Looking for the Best in Caribbean Holidays?

2006-01-07T08:30:00.000-08:00

Explore this map then click on links below.

Aruba, Barbados, British Virgin Islands, Cayman Islands, Grenada, Guyana, The Islands of the Bahamas, Jamaica, St. Lucia, Tobago, Trinidad, U.S. Virgin Islands

Win a Free Trip to Puerto Vallarta

2005-12-28T07:00:00.000-08:00

Follow the directions to enter until 11:59:00 PM Eastern Time on April 30th, 2006.

El Día de Hot Salsa and Merengue

If you don’t know the steps, the rhythm will guide you. The sounds of Latin music, Mariachi, and disco will fill your nights as the city comes alive after sundown.

Get Away from the Cold; Visit Warm and Friendly US Virgin Islands

2005-12-16T10:30:00.000-08:00

There is so much to see and do!

View the official Calendar of Events!

Enjoy your Christmas vacation,
especially on St. Croix

during their Christmas Festival.

Photos courtesy of and used with permission of

www.GotoStCroix.com/.

Enter to Win A Hilton Escape to the Caribbean!

2005-12-14T09:30:00.000-08:00

Register NOW by clicking on banner

to beat the February 28, 2006 deadline!

Chicago Students: Win an "I Dream a City" trip to Washington, D.C.

2005-12-12T09:36:00.000-08:00

Win an "I Dream a City" trip to Washington, D.C. with the Mikva Challenge!

Win A Trip to Washington and Travel to Capital Hill with Barack Obama. Pass on to friends, family and others you know who have high school aged youth in their lives. It's a wonderful opportunity.

Here is your chance to travel to Washington, D.C. to tour Capitol Hill with Senator Barack Obama! Students who submit the best essay responses to the prompt below will win a 3-day trip to Washington, D.C. in Spring 2006. All high school students in Chicago schools are eligible. There will be 10 winners chosen. The winners will be announced on Martin Luther King Day, January 16, 2006.

Essays should be two pages typed. They will be judged based on boldness, creativity and practicality.

Submit your essay to your teacher or send it directly. Essays and cover sheets should be sent to Mikva Challenge by mail, fax (312-863-6341) or email.

Complements of:

400 West 95th Street
Chicago, Illinois 60628
Phone: (773) 962-5650

Web: www.TUCC.org/

E-mail: info@tucc.org

All predictions are due by Friday, December 23, 2005.

Have You Ever Longed to Own Your Personal Paradise in the Sun?

2005-11-19T07:30:00.000-08:00

On a tropical island or in an exotic perfect weather highland?

Do you want a second home for family vacations?

Are you looking for that extra special place to retire?

Or would you prefer investing in land
or a commercial business,
long- or short-term?

Create your own Paradise Tour!

Join us and learn how!

"How to buy property in Mexico" Seminar on:

December 6, 2005 from 11:30 AM to 5:00 PM

with a working Lunch

International Center
203 South St. Mary's Street, 3rd Floor
San Antonio, Texas 78205

RSVP: Orestes Hubbard at (210) 403-7052

Orestes.hubbard@interconbank.com

Americans can now take advantage of investing in Residential Real Estate in Mexico and live “The Good Life”. More and more, Americans are lookinginto Mexico as a destination for vacations or even for temporary or permanent living. Why? Mexico offers not only a perfect climate for everyone but also a way of living that is affordable as well as being close to the US.

A local group of entrepreneurs is gathering together all the pieces necessary to make this transition a smooth one for the ones interested in buying a property in Mexico.

Whether you want to buy a home as investment, as a second home or even your primary residence, this group is able to help you in all aspects of your investment.

Ms. Teresa Moreno, owner of Mexico Investment Tours, , will help you identify properties that fit your needs and lifestyle. www.mexicoinvestmenttours.com
Mr. Orestes Hubbard with Intercon Bank, , has a loan program called México Resort Loan Program, that is available to Americans willing to purchase an investment residential real estate property in México. www.interconbank.com
Mr. Steve Craig with LandAmerica International Services will help you with everything related to Title insurance in México. www.landam.com
Mr. Robert Barnett with the law firm of Cacheaux Cavazos & Newton will help you with the legal aspects. www.ccn-law.com

Mr. Hector Frietze, CPA with Padgett Stratteman & Co., LLP is an expert on foreign and domestic tax law. www.padgett-cpa.com
If you require Health Insurance while in México, you can arrange coverage with Mr. Alec Shaw from www.OptimaGroup.com

This alliance allows individual service providers to be available as a One-Stop Shop for individuals interested in investing in México without risking their lifetime savings.

Here is a peek at the 2006 Mexican Property Buying Tours:

San Miguel de Allende / January 14-17
Pacific Coast / February 19-26
Mayan Riviera / March 12-19
Los Cabos / April 23-30

To create your own Mexican Paradise Tour at any time and any place in Mexico, please contact Teresa Moreno at 210-979-6553 or visit their websites:

Finding Your Paradise Is Our Mission!

Free Spanish Language Adventures!

2005-11-16T15:00:00.000-08:00

Free! New Contest!

Use Language Link’s contest box to enter

to win a free Spanish language trip

to OAXACA, MEXICO!

Contact Language Link now at 800.552.2051

or info@langlink.com.

To celebrate over 17 years of service to many great people, Language Link started a series of contests giving away FREE Spanish Language Adventures. Five fortunate winners have already been notified. Congratulations to our latest winner, Jan Manis of Colorado!

Because of so much interest, Language Link is continuing with another contest, with the lucky winner receiving two weeks of free classes and stay with a host family at Becari in fascinating Oaxaca, Mexico!

To register for your chance to win, all you have to do is enter the contest with a brief comment. We are starting anew with entries for this contest, so even if you entered before, please do so again.

Register to Win! To get started, Click Here!

And ¡Buena suerte!

Is Your Identity Protected?

2005-11-09T12:14:00.000-08:00

In your business and vacation travels, it becomes necessary for you to pass your peronal information from person to person.

But then the question becomes,

"How protected is your identity?"

Click on the banner to get some answers that will give you peace of mind before, during, and after you travel.

What price are you willing to pay for peace of mind for youself, your family, and your relatives?

Unfortunately, in this terroristic world, we all pay a price, whether it is extra time for security search at the airport, restriced parking, or other inconveniences.

Sooner or later, we might pay the ultimate price of being the victim.

Think about it!

But don't wait too long to take action. The identity theft criminals don't waste any time stealing and using your identity.

Ms Cheri Harp Is Running to Make a Difference And Is Asking for Your Help!

2005-07-12T06:53:00.000-07:00

Ms Cheri Harp takes her running and causes seriously because she wants to make a difference in the quality of life of folks who are afflicted with leukemia, lymphoma, myeloma, and other blood-related diseases.

Cheri is running in a marathon to increase awareness of these diseases and to raise funds for research to improve the lives of patients.

The Leukemia and Lymphoma Society is a not-for-profit voluntary health organization whose mission is to cure leukemia and its related cancers.

Won't you help her see a happy outcome? For more information, please visit Cheri Harp here!

Join BlackNLA.com and Be A Part of the Caribbean Escape

2005-06-24T22:48:00.000-07:00

BlackNLA.com invites you to:

Summit

The Westin St. John Resort and Villas

In My Hometown,

St. John, US Virgin Islands

August 16 - 21, 2005

Join BlackNLA.com and African American professionals from across the USA for a great time, and leave your laptop behind . . .

Click below to begin:

Enter the dLife/Barton Camp Sweepstakes and Win a a 12-Day Adventure Camp Stay for Your Teen!

2005-06-20T06:32:00.000-07:00

Backpacking and wilderness adventure: Tackle high adventure rock climbing and master wilderness living skills. During this 12-day adventure, teenagers work as a team as they bushwhack their way to both group and personal success. Together with certified wilderness guides and diabetes professionals, campers cannot help but make lifelong friends as they reflect on their accomplishments standing atop some of the highest mountain peaks in the northeast.

Prize: A 12-day Adventure Camp program running in Summer 2006. Participants must be between the ages of 13 and 17 at the time of camp.

No purchase or membership necessary.

Joining dLife will not improve your chances of winning.

Enter to win by registering for dLife membership.

If you're already a member,
visit your dLife membership profile now
and check off the option for entering the Barton Camp Contest.

Deadline for entry is August 31, 2005.

Get the Info, Listen to Live Radio, Then Visit My Hometown in the United States Virgin Islands

2005-06-14T02:52:00.000-07:00

Looking for a business or someone in the Virgin Islands?

Then try the VI Phone Book.

Click here to listen to WSTA.

Win a Free Trip to Australia’s Outback!

2005-06-11T05:40:00.000-07:00

Create your own adventure from a list of 3-day options.

Pick the top 3 adventures you would like to take, and, if yours is the winning entry, you will win a vacation to Australia’s Outback, based on your top 3 choices.

Click here for all the details!

Note: You have until the deadline of August 1st, so don’t wait too long to enter.

Looking for Great Camping Deals in Canada or the United States This Summer?

2005-06-07T04:15:00.000-07:00

Planning to see North America this summer in your RV?
Then save big with Hot Deals offered exclusively to campers who visit KOA.com!

Also want to save money on your next stay at a KOA park or cabin?
Then take advantage of some tremendous offers
when planning your next camping trip.

Check out HOT DEALS now before you make your reservations and save big!

Go to KOA Kampgrounds for new HOT DEALS daily
so you won't miss out on any of the hot offers!

The 248-page 2005 edition of the famous Kampgrounds of America Directory
is destined to become your most important piece of camping equipment!

The regular cover price of the 2005 KOA Directory is $7.95,
but you can get yours FREE by ordering your copy online today
for a small $5 shipping and handling charge.

Just go to KOA Directory.

Enter The 4th Annual American Way Road Warrior Search and Win an Ultimate Travel Package, an Ultimate Sound Package, or an Ultimate Business Package

2005-06-06T05:36:00.000-07:00

(Click on banner to go to the entry form. )

The Grand Prize winner earns the Ultimate Travel Package:

2 Million Hilton HHonors® Bonus Points which can be used at any of more than 2,700 participating Hilton Family hotels worldwide, plus 1 million AAdvantage® Miles. That’s as many as 200 Hilton Family room nights, and 40 round trips on American Airlines!

The second-prize winner will receive the Ultimate Sound Package:

an unbelievable array of Bose® products, including a Lifestyle® 48 Home Entertainment System, a SoundDock™ Digital Music System for your iPod, and a pair of QuietComfort® 2 Acoustic Noise Cancelling® Headphones.

Three third-prize winners each take off with the Ultimate Business Package:

a durable Panasonic Toughbook® 73 laptop computer, and two years of T-Mobile HotSpot Wi-Fi Internet service for a PDA or laptop.

Looking for Cost-Effective Limousine, Shuttle, or Taxi Service to or from the Airport?

2005-05-22T09:04:00.000-07:00

Check out this new service, courtesy of Google, to find a taxi, limousine, or shuttle using real time position of vehicles to plan your trip. Search for and reserve your ride before you depart.

Services provided by most Limousine, Shuttle, or Taxi Services include:

Wheelchair-accessible cabs accommodating wheelchairs and scooters up to 31” wide.
Package pick up and delivery within minutes of your call. (A super convenience!)
Group Sales, Charters, and Conventions reservations. (Another convenience!)
Acceptance of major credit cards (a convenience and added security for you!)
Computer Dispatched cabs giving you dependable, fast, and reliable service!
Calls for pickups at the airport that are promptly and courteously answered!
Satellite tracking that provides safety and security for you, the passenger!
Flat rate fees for Business/Corporate accounts. (in most cases!)
Online reservations for pickups saving your most valued time.
Four passengers riding for the price of one. (in most cases.)

Visit Google Ride Finder to satisfy your departure and arrival transportation needs.

Win a Trip Just for The Two of You!

2005-05-16T12:44:00.000-07:00

Pick from your choice of:

Miami, New Orleans, New York City, or Seattle.

Or one of five $300 gift certificates to Spa Finder that is redeemable at thousands of spas worldwide.

Write a hotel review on Yahoo! Travel
and you could win a dream trip just for the two of you.
Click here to enter.

(Note: If you're not an existing Yahoo! ID holder, you'll be required to register for a free Yahoo! ID before you may submit your Review. The Sweepstakes began at 12:01 AM PT on May 9, 2005 and will end at 11:59 PM PT on June 11, 2005.)

Want to Get Best Travel Buy Specials at Your Convenience?

2005-05-14T14:22:00.000-07:00

Can’t wait for me to send you daily Best Travel Buy Specials by email?

Then put a link on your Windows desktop that will automatically link to you to the Specials. All you need to do is go to my Best Travel Buys site. Once there, all you need to do is click the image (shown above) and your link will be added to your desktop. (Scroll down to find the image in the left margin.)

Click here.

Your new "Travel Buys" icon is a constant reminder that you have been given access to hundreds of special offers. Benefits: You can "check out" the latest travel offers at any time, day or night and the site will always be ready when you are!

Please Note: The desktop link is only available for Internet Explorer browsers.

Caribbean Travel and Cruise Vacations Remain a Favorite Pastime

2005-05-13T05:52:00.000-07:00

Sunny Dey, Publisher of Guide to Caribbean Vacation Travel, says that Caribbean Travel and Cruise vacations remain a favorite pastime. Still, you worry about taking time off -- leaving your business, family or other social ties. Perhaps you're wondering who's going to take care of your German shepherd. Or will your sister water your plants. Don't shun your responsibilities.

Yet, a few days away from them will work wonders for your peace of mind.

You may already have decided to take a Caribbean travel and cruise vacation.

Congratulations! Your Caribbean travel and cruise vacation will be unforgettable.

Sunny, of Toronto, Ontario, Canada, and Publisher of the exciting Guide to Caribbean Vacation Travel, published my article about the 15 Reasons to take a vacation. Click here to read it.

Sunny also invites you to share The Shocking (Yet True) Story Of Your Caribbean Vacation on his website.

Also be sure to visit Sunny’s blog.

The Great State of Georgia Invites You to Their Georgia Getaway Giveaway

2005-05-12T11:03:00.000-07:00

Until June 5, 2005 the Georgia Getaway Giveaways are bringing you five different sweepstakes with five different Grand Prizes and hundreds of chances to win!

Come back every day to answer a new Georgia Trivia question and with every correct answer, you're entered. Just click on the Enter Now button.

Join the Friends of the Virgin Islands National Park and Share in Its Protection and Preservation

2005-05-09T12:26:00.000-07:00

The Friends of the Virgin Islands National Park is dedicated to the protection and preservation of the natural and cultural resources of Virgin Islands National Park.

Won't you help them promote responsible enjoyment of this unique national treasure? I extend an invitation to join in this quest.

Join as a Friend Now!

Got Freight to Ship? Want to Lower Your Transportation Cost and Improve Your Distribution Network?

2005-05-06T04:52:00.000-07:00

Then it sounds like you could use the services provided by Freightage.com. Here’s a list of what they have to offer. Click on any link to check them out.

3PL Consulting
* Lower Your Logistics Costs, Improve Your Distribution Network. Low Costs and Good Service are Valuable Competitive Tools.

Air Express & Parcel Shipments
* Cut Costs on Overnight Transportation and Priority Air Express

Customer Service Improvement
* We Can Fix Delivery and Customer Service Problems

Freight Cost Benchmarking for Shippers and Carriers
* How Freight Cost Comparison Can Lower your Freight Rates, Improve Your Competitiveness. How Do Your Rates Compare?

Freight Cost Reduction Services
* How Cost Benchmarking and RFP Management Can Boost Your Bottom Line

Freight Management Services
* Lower Your Freight Transportation Costs. Freight transportation costs are a big part of your company's operating budget.

Inbound Shipment Management
* Optimize Your Logistics Operations, Improve Your Freight Terms

Offshore Warehouse Logistics Services
* Lower Your Costs, Get Professional Warehouse Planning

Private Fleet Evaluations from Business Logistics
* Maximize the Value of Your Truck Fleet

Supply Chain Management Consulting
* Optimize your Supply Chain Logistics Activities and Boost Your Bottom Line. When your Supply Chain is well synchronized, your Company operates flawlessly.

Click on www.freightage.com/ for a Freight Quote and all your other Freight, Transportation, and Logistics needs.

Group Photo of 2005 Half Ironman Triathlon Athletes in St. Croix, U.S. Virgin Islands

2005-05-04T05:54:00.000-07:00

Here are the Triathletes in the 2005 Half Ironman Triathlon
who met in front of the live webcam for their group photo session.

Were you one of them?

Want to Find, Plan, and Enjoy Your Perfect Cruise Vacation - Whether or Not It's Your First Cruise?

2005-05-01T10:13:00.000-07:00

Mr. Chris Dikmen, Managing Editor of www.CruiseReport.com, shares his knowledge and experience in this exciting new guidebook.

Get your personal copy of the hottest new cruise guidebook and learn how you can travel like a Pro! Get the inside facts on:

how to avoid the most common mistakes that could ruin your cruise.

the pros and cons of booking your next cruise online.

how to get the best deal on your next cruise.

which cruise lines are the best in the world.
how to find and work with a travel agent.

Order your copy Now!

(At $19.95 it's a steal!)

Triathlon's Triathles to Face Beauty and the Beast on St. Croix, US Virgin Islands!

2005-04-20T07:50:00.000-07:00

Triathletes will once again be competing for
30 Ironman Qualifying Spots in 2005!

They will meet in front of this live webcam

for a group photo on Friday, April 29th at 5:00 pm.

Will you be one of them?

Click here for more information.

Watch it live... right here!

And for more information about the US Virgin Islands,

just click here.

Win a Las Vegas Vacation

2005-04-08T18:46:00.000-07:00

Get away from it all with a trip to lovely Las Vegas.

Spend 4 days and 3 nights at a luxurious hotel
on the Las Vegas strip.

Plus get $500.00 in spending cash.

(All entries must be received by July 1st, 2005 .
Winner will be notified by email or phone.)

Click here to enter.

Win a Caribbean Cruise

2005-03-11T09:38:00.000-08:00

from

Get away from it all for a whole week on this 7-day exotic Western Caribbean cruise visiting Cozumel, Mexico; Grand Cayman Island; and Ocho Rios, Jamaica. To enter click here. All entries must be received by April 1st, 2005.

All Spa-merican: An Editor's Note By Gary Walther of "Luxury SpaFinder Magazine"

2005-02-23T08:47:00.000-08:00

In the March/April, 2005 issue Mr. Walther wrote the following article:

“What do spas have in common with Arnold Schwarzenegger, Asian cuisine, Jean-Georges Vongerichten, and pizza?"

"They are all imports that have flourished here in ways they never could have on their native soil. Where but in America could a provincial Austrian weight lifter rise to become the governor of California? Or millennia-old cooking techniques end up sparking a wild new genre of cuisine, Asian fusion, and being championed by an Alsatian chef, trained on Escoffier, who transplanted himself to America? As for pizza, I’ll just say, “Wolfgang” (he’s an Austrian immigrant, too) and you’ll see my point."

And so it is with spa, a word that is derived from Latin (it’s thought to be an acronym of salus per aqua, or “health through water”) and a concept that came to America from Europe in the 19th century. Here, as there, spas grew up around mineral springs: Bath in Britain and Saratoga Springs in New York, Baden-Baden in Germany and Calistoga in California.

It took 1990s America to blow spa out of the water. In that decade, for reasons as varied as the desire for sanctuary and the burgeoning obsession with health and wellness, Americans took up spa in a way that only Americans do. In a decade, it has gone from lifestyle indulgence to lifestyle necessity: the spa-ification of America, trumpeted the January 2 headline of the Sunday New York Times travel section, summing it up.

But because this is a country in which innovation trumps tradition, we reinvented the spa, adding fitness, production values (music, candles, etc.), profit margins, and new treatments (hot stone massage, for example). Now the American spa scene is so diverse that people complain that the meaning of the word is as hazy as a steam room. To which I say, “Vive la différence.”

This issue is an homage to that pioneering spirit. Europe has spas with long pedigrees, and Asia has spas with ultralavish facilities and eons-old holistic healing traditions to draw on, but it’s in America that the spa envelope is being pushed hardest—and often through borrowing and reinvention. It’s innovation that defines American spas today.

Thus, the California spa on the cover has taken classic European hydrotherapy techniques and married them to fitness and the current American mania for customized experience. At the other pole is a New Mexico spa that eschews hydrotherapy in favor of out-there healing treatments, some of which seem to me like a spa version of a séance. We have a Texas property that has evolved from nudist camp to top destination spa, a small Wisconsin spa that has done what many big spas haven’t and gone almost completely organic with its food, and a Phoenix hotel whose interior designers consciously combined disparate old- and new-world elements in decorating the spa — a quintessentially American approach.

To read more about American spas, pick up the March/April issue of Luxury SpaFinder Magazine.

To subscribe to Luxury SpaFinder Magazine, click here.

You're Invited to the Double Birthday Bash!

2005-02-15T11:22:00.000-08:00

Webinar Technology Is the Way to Conduct Online Training

2005-01-23T05:28:00.000-08:00

I found new technology that is an excellent time- and travel-saver when conducting conferences or trainings. In fact, I believe that it’s an easy and economical way to bring many people to a meeting without having to travel or make long distance calls. Many online companies are turning to web-seminars (webinars) to conduct their long-distance meetings. I'd like to show it to you.

Try it free for 7 days. (Now trial period is extended to 30 days at the whopping cost of $1.00.)

See it here: Desktop Video Conferencing.

This Webinar System includes:

the use of variable size multicam video chat
the ability to send and receive files
text, voice and video chat
instant messaging pager
buddy lists

With this system you will be able to:

access using speeds from 26.4-56k, ISDN, Cable, DSL, T1, T3, and higher
illustrate training sessions with whiteboard drawing
browse the web at the same time if you wish
create chat rooms for public and private use
use plain text chat stand-alone if you wish
host your very own events and shows
save the cost of a long distance calls
participate in any sponsored events
present in superior audio quality
have unlimited access 24/7/365
create your own profile

Pager comes with:

instant messenger with telegram capability
the ability to transfer files
multiple buddy lists
portrait galleries
view of profiles

Download it here for a FREE 7-Day Trial.
(Now extended to 30 days trial period for only $1.00.)

Grab a Friend (or Ten) and Cruise for Free!

2005-01-19T08:36:00.000-08:00

Groups of 10 save 10%. Chances are you have friends with similar interests - interests like adventure travel. Consider this, if you arrange a group of 10 or more, everyone can save 10% off the cruise price and have you to thank. This is in addition to some of our other savings such as our Early Booking Discount.

And did we mention a FREE Cruise for you? As our special thanks for bringing 10 guests, we have a free cruise ticket for the 11th person - you!*

Coordinating a group is easier than you may realize, simply contact us for more information.

Consider these possibilities:

Family reunions, weddings, milestone birthdays & anniversaries
Church groups, alumni associations, singles groups
Elks, Lions, Eagles, Optimists, or Toastmasters

*Some details: This group discount is applied only to the cost of the sailing and does not apply to items such as port charges, taxes and fees, airfare, pre- or post-hotels, or extended land tours. Your entire group must travel on the same sailing.

To the Winner: One of Three Louis Vuitton Briefcases

2005-01-19T07:43:00.000-08:00

Hold your next meeting or event with Le Méridien Plus by 31 March 2005, and receive their best group rates on accommodation and complimentary use of a meeting room. There's even an upgrade for the event organizer and 100 bonus Moments points for Le Méridien Meetings Reward members. It's meetings, plus so much more.

Spa Etiquette: Tips to Get the Most Out of Your Spa Experience at Connoisseur Spas

2005-01-17T11:20:00.000-08:00

A trip to a spa should be a relaxing, rejuvenating experience, but if you're unsure of spa etiquette, it can be anything but. This guide will teach you how to make reservations, how to tip, what to wear, and much more

But bear in mind, each spa is unique, and you should always call ahead if you're unsure of anything. Also remember there are no "rules" when you go to a spa. Instead use these suggestions as a rough guideline to get the most out of your spa experience. Visit our spa page here.

In the weeks to come we will look at Destination Spas, Medical Spas, and Resort Spas.

Connoisseur Spas offer extraordinary ambience, luxurious accommodations, high staff-to-guest ratio, exceptional spa services, outstanding cuisine, and industry awards/recognition.

For example, in Hawaii Fire & Ice is the theme at the Mauna Lani Spa and the treatments reflect and incorporate the geographic wonders of the Big Island. Examples include mud wraps using volcanic ash, hot stone therapies and thalassotherapy with seaweed wraps and baths. Dedicated to the cultural traditions of Hawaii, every aspect of Mauna Lani Spa has been designed in accordance with Hawaiian methods and healing practices. Indigenous plants and material are used both in the landscape and architecture, which reflect the look and feel of Old Hawaii.

The 15,000 square feet of outdoor treatment space at the Mauna Lani Spa contains nine thatched hales, lush tropical landscaping and a fragrance garden. A lava rock aromatherapy sauna provides a stark, moon-like context to the lush tranquility of the spa grounds. Inside, the spa has nine treatment rooms - including four wet rooms, one a deluxe suite for couples with steam bath and whirlpool - one massage room, one manicure and pedicure room and three facial rooms, a fitness area, men's and women's lockers/saunas/steam rooms, an aerobics room, reception area and gift shop await your satisfaction. Visit our spa page.

Give $25.00 . . . and Get the Arts for Less!

2005-01-13T19:54:00.000-08:00

Support the Arts by contributing at least $25.00 per year to the Fund for the Arts and get an ArtsCARD – your ticket to saving up to 50% on your total admission price at select performances. Your ArtsCARD also entitles you to special discounts at slected organizations.

Donate today and receive your ArtsCARD at the Fund’s online Donation Center.
View this month’s list of ArtsCARD Events.
Receive an Majic, FFTA monthly electronic Arts journal, via email to your home or office.

Note: Tickets are available on a first-come, first-served basis and seating may be limited. Some events may be excluded from use of the ArtsCARD. Certain groups may limit the number of tickets purchased with an ArtsCARD and have restrictions. Please present your card at the time of purchase. To become an ArtsCARD holder; contribute at least $25.00 per year to the Fund for the Arts.

Arts-e-News: Be among the first to learn about special performances at Louisville’s most popular venues. Register to receive Arts-e-News from the Fund for the Arts and they will notify you of breaking arts-related news, current arts events, and current specials on tickets applied to the Fund for the Arts ArtsCARD via e-mail.

Rest assured: The Fund will not sell, distribute your e-mail to any outside entity.

Fund for the Arts
623 West Main Street, Louisville, KY 40202
Phone: (502) 582-0100, Fax: (502) 582-0149

Imagine Enjoying Your Cash-Creating Cruise Celebration and Fun Vacation with Joel's Inner Circle of Top Internet Marketing Masters

2005-01-11T20:52:00.000-08:00

Attention: Internet Marketers, Direct Marketers, Business Owners Entrepreneurs, Authors, and Speakers …

Imagine having breakfast, lunch, and dinner for a whole week with great gurus and millionaire maestros you have read and heard about! You could literally get thousands of dollars of FREE consultations during your vacation!

Hello Fellow Marketer,

I’d like to show you a fool-proof, paint-by-numbers marketing system GUARANTEED to generate more leads, sales and profits for your business.

It’s a revolutionary, connect-the-dots, step-by-step, short-cut profit-building SYSTEM to unleash the explosive profits hidden in your prospect & customer list- even if you're starting from scratch!

And I’d like to show it to you LIVE in person along with Joel Christopher's inner circle of top-gun internet marketing masters and direct marketing gurus while you have fun on the Carnival Funship Imagination!

Discover how you can join this ultra-exclusive, cash-creating cruise celebration and extra-special fun vacation…

Mark your calendars for October 29 - November 3, 2005

'Cuz we're going on a CRUISE...

...a week-long MARKETING Cruise to be exact!

Reserve your seat Now!

Win a Week for Two at a Breezes All-Inclusive Resort!

2005-01-10T11:47:00.000-08:00

HighBeam Research

2005-01-04T23:36:00.000-08:00

Search over 20 million profiles of executives, managers, and employees from over 1 million different public, private, and non-profit organizations. Save searches and executive profiles. Export profiles to Microsoft Office. Access all this information from one convenient interface. Visit HighBeam Research.

Spa Finder Offers Sneak Preview of Spa Trends to Watch in 2005:

2005-01-04T11:43:00.000-08:00

Spas on Wheels, Frozen Spa Cuisine, Diamond Massage Oil and Spa Living Predicted by Largest Spa Marketing and Publishing Company

New York, NY – December 13, 2004

During the past decade, spas have become an increasingly relevant cultural force, influencing not only how we manage our health, appearance and stress, but also how we shop, socialize, spiritualize, travel and work. According to Spa Finder, the largest spa marketing and publishing company, the spa's impact on many of our most important lifestyle pursuits will only continue to grow in the year ahead.

With the largest network of spa marketing partners and the largest consolidated spa consumer audience, Spa Finder sits at the center of the unfolding healthy living phenomenon. From this unique vantage, Spa Finder has compiled a listing of the top-10 spa trends to watch in 2005 — covering everything from the rise of online spa travel to the over-the-top opulence of the new ultra-luxury spa experience.

According to Spa Finder President Susie Ellis, "If 2004 was the year spas 'made a difference,' with the rise of the medical spa and broadening spa participation among men and teens, 2005 is shaping up to be the year 'the spa breaks out of the spa' — with 'spa' becoming a hot marketing buzzword, and spa-inspired tastes and trends becoming interwoven into daily American life."

Spa Finder's Top-10 Spa Trends to Watch in 2005:

* Spa Design Comes Home – Over the years, spas have become world-class interior design showcases. In 2005, more spa-goers will find decorating (as well as personal) inspiration during their spa visits and seek to re-create their favorite spa styles at home. While the focus of home-spa design will be the bathroom — courtesy of hydro-therapeutic showers and tubs, mosaic and glass tiling, etc. — spas will influence decorating decisions throughout the home, from furnishings and accessories to lighting and ambience. Look for "spa" to become a popular fashion/personal accessory niche as well, with high-end brands offering everything from "spa apparel" to "spa luggage".

* Live at the Spa, Literally – Just as golf communities offer recreation and relaxation for pre-boomer retirees, emerging "spa communities" will provide today's aging baby boomers with their most important lifestyle requirements — namely health and fitness, centered around spa-going. Taking their cue from the pioneering Canyon Ranch Living community in Florida, a slew of premier spas will offer residential properties built around healthy-living activities and amenities like hiking/biking trails, workout rooms, fitness classes, healthy cuisine, spa treatments, and health education. More generally, spas and healthy-living pursuits will become compelling marketing features for real estate ventures across the board.

* Luxury Becomes Ultra-Luxury – As spa participation continues to explode, the luxury end of the market will become even more luxurious, as spas raise the bar for the superior spa experience, whether that means A) a more exclusive-private-meaningful-tasteful experience, or B) a more extravagant-indulgent experience. Stay tuned for daily private spiritual and wellness counseling, ruby-diamond-emerald-sapphire massage oils, four-hour massages, three-therapist treatments, underwater spas, private hotel/spa rooms, and a slate of ultra-chic big-name designer spas.

* Spas Go Mobile – Can't find time to get away to a spa? Now you can have the spa come to you. Mobile spas, complete with therapists, massage tables, pedicure carts and other equipment, will offer roving relaxation in venues ranging from movie sets and airports, to hotel rooms and offices. Home spa parties, meanwhile, will become an increasingly popular alternative for baby and wedding showers, bachelorette parties, birthdays, and "just because."

* Spa-Goers Become Spa “Goalers” – Travelers will hit destination and resort spas to achieve increasingly focused personal goals, whether that means quitting smoking, grief recovery, achieving mindfulness or spiritual awareness, improving sexual health, or detoxing (which is shaping up to be an extremely popular spa pursuit in our toxic times). Men will continue to seek physical therapy and pain reduction treatments and will also discover that spa-grooming treatments can have a positive impact on their business and personal life. Spas, in turn, will ramp up their education programs and workshops while aggressively recruiting experts to lead focused seminars and/or retreats.

* Spa Travel Virtually Explodes Online – U.S. consumers now spend $52 billion on online travel1, a number expected to more than double by 2010. And 33% of leisure travelers cite access to a spa as a primary consideration while making their travel plans. In 2005, major travel portals will enable these spa-focused online travelers to book spa vacations (and, soon, spa treatments) as part of their dynamic travel packages, along with rooms, rental cars, etc. The advent of online spa booking will, in turn, fuel further growth in the spa travel segment — already the fastest growing segment in the hospitality/travel industry. For more information, visit our spa page or visit our travel page.

* Spa Rx, A Prescription for a Kinder, Gentler Medical Experience – Medical spas will continue to thrive as consumers seek a nurturing/caring environment and more control over their health regimes. Blending traditional medical expertise with spa luxury and innovation, medical spas are becoming trusted venues for executive physicals, health and wellness programs, cosmetic treatments, dentistry and dermatology. Medical spas will also continue to earn the respect of the traditional medical community as mainstream physicians continue to embrace proven alternative therapies, insurers continue to recognize the value of preventative spa therapies, and cosmetic procedures become increasingly valuable annuities for elite doctors.

* Stay Spas Continue to "Go Exotic" While Day Spas Get "Back to Basics" – Day spas, which of late had been racing to broaden their menus of services and treatments, will re-focus on massage, facials, and other maintenance/therapeutic mainstays. Some will embrace express, no frills and discount concepts. Resort spas, meanwhile, will continue to diversify their treatment offerings with indigenous experiences, with Thai massage, Ashtianga and Indian head massage joining Ayurveda, Shiatsu, acupuncture and hot stone massage as popular treatments. On the spa product front, the (juxtaposing) trends will continue to be high-tech cosmeceuticals and "no-tech" organics. In either case, increasingly savvy spa consumers will shop for proven results and specific ingredients above and beyond brands.

* Spa Cuisine Served up for Mass Consumption – With Nestle's new Spa Cuisine line leading the way, convenient spa-inspired food will became everyday fare in American homes, work places and perhaps even schools. A growing number of Americans, meanwhile, will look to spa cookbooks, spa cooking classes, and spa chefs (a new celebrity genre) for healthy recipe ideas. As for cuisine within the spas, customization and variety are the trends, with spas offering a range of diet options to meet each guest's needs (vegan/vegetarian, high protein, low carb, low fat, etc.)

* Eco Spas to Thrive in 2005 – Eco spas will flourish in the year ahead, providing visitors with a serene, 'green' spa experience. These environmentally-friendly destinations believe that personal health begins with global health — a belief that extends to the way they create spa products (all organic ingredients), wash dishes (vinegar instead of soap), light their rooms (solar panels and fluorescent bulbs), and process wastewater (bacteria, fish, snails, et. al.). Look for a growing number of traditional spas to hop on the eco spa bandwagon — both from an operational and marketing standpoint. For more information, visit our spa page.

Spa Etiquette: Tips to Get the Most Out of Your Spa Experience, Continued

2005-01-03T11:56:00.000-08:00

But bear in mind, each spa is unique, and you should always call ahead if you're unsure of anything. Also remember there are no "rules" when you go to a spa. Instead use these suggestions as a rough guideline to get the most out of your spa experience. For more information, visit our spa page.

This week we'll look at City (or Urban) Spas. In the weeks to come we will look at Connoisseur Spas, Destination Spas, Medical Spas, and Resort Spas.

City Hotel (or Urban Spas): spas located in and associated exclusively with hotels
Choose a City Hotel Spa when you are traveling, or when you wish to have a day spa experience with hotel amenities like a health club and a restaurant. Steam rooms, saunas, pools, exercise equipment, and fitness classes may also be offered. Located in metropolitan hotels, some of these spas are open only to hotel guests, while others are accessible to the general public.

Tsunami Corner: Our Small Contribution

2005-01-03T10:17:00.000-08:00

Go to any of the following links for the latest:

photos of the missing:
The Southeast Asia Tsunami - MISSING PERSONS Pool .
articles, maps, image galleries, and archives:
2004 Indian Ocean Tsunami .
news and information about resources, aid, donations and volunteer efforts:
The South-East Asia Earthquake and Tsunami Blog .
aka the SEA-EAT blog
audio report: UNICEF's Executive Director, Carol Bellamy, talks to CNN's Wolf Blitzer via satellite from Sri Lanka about the impact of the tsunami on children.
official UNICEF site.
American Red Cross Response To Southern Asia Disaster:
Official American Red Cross site.

Here are some additional news sites:

Google

MSNBC

Yahoo

… and some additional relief sites:

World Vision responds to tsunamis with aid to Asian families:
Official site of World Vision
When you give to the Canadian Red Cross Asia Earthquake & Tsunami Relief fund before 11 Jananuary 2005, the Government of Canada will generously match your gift!
Official site of the Canadian Red Cross