Photos and Videos

Hard Rock's signature 21 Guitar Smash was held at the grand opening of the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Punta Cana in the Dominican Republic, marking the brand's debut in the Caribbean.

Xavier Mufraggi, CEO Club Med North America; artist Romero Britto; and Henri Giscard D'Estaing, chairman and CEO Club Mediterranee, celebrate the opening of the BRITTO Art Center for children at Club Med Sandpiper Bay in Port St. Lucie, Fla.

Seabourn welcomed agent partners to the Seabourn Sojourn late last year. Bryan Leibman, president of Frosch Travel, third from left, posed with members of the Seabourn sales and marketing team, from left: Darren Dolan, President and CEO Pamela Conover, Sheila Bielich, Doug Seagle and Jack Anderson.

While in Antarctica on a 14-day voyage with Lindblad Expeditions over the New Year's holiday, Jeopardy! host Alex Trebek made a special visit to Palmer Station, a U.S. Antarctic Research base. Photo Credit: Richard Maack, Lindblad Expeditions

Celebrating the launch of the Walking Tall Trail at Graceland are (from l-r) Tennessee DOT rep Paul Degges; Shelby County rep Phyllis Fickling; Dwana Pusser, daughter of Sheriff Buford Pusser; Tennessee Commissioner of Tourist Development Susan Whitaker; and Memphis CVB President and CEO Kevin Kane.

Travel Impressions' President and CEO Steve Gorga joins Richard and Sharon Gordon from Let's Go Travel and Donna DeVore from Pro/Rich Worldwide Travel at the recent Travel Impressions "Best of the Best" event.

Old North Foundation honored Kenneth Chenault, CEO of American Express, with its third Lantern Award for individual commitment and dedication to public service. Robin Tauck, a member of the Old North board and the founder of Robin Tauck and Partners, introduced Chenault at the awards ceremony.

Tara Tours took a group of 35 top-producing travel agents from nine states on a tour of Panama in the fall.

CIE Tours celebrated a successful 2010 at the 21 Club in New York. Shown (l-r): Noel Kilkenny, Consul General of Ireland in N.Y; Niall Gibbons, Tourism Ireland; Ireland Tourism Minister Mary Hanafin; Brian Stack, president & CEO of CIE Tours; and Joe Byrne, EVP, US & Canada, Tourism Ireland.

(L-R): Sponsors Janine Imbriaco, International Herald Tribune; and Tony Potter, Corinthia Hotels; honorees of the 2010 World Tourism Awards Elsie McCabe Thompson, president, Museum For African Art and Betsy O'Rourke, SVP marketing, Royal Caribbean International; and sponsor Greg Hybl, American Express.

Tom Smith, vice president of rooms, Hyatt Hotels & Resorts and Brian Brault, CEO, PURE Solutions NA stand outside the Respire by Hyatt Room on wheels for the launch of Hyatt Hotels and Resort's hypo-allergenic rooms at the Grand Hyatt New York on 42nd Street.

The Pierre, a Taj Hotel in New York, marks its 80th anniversary on Oct. 1 with a gathering of more than 100 employees in the Grand Ballroom. Cake designer Sylvia Weinstock created a 40-inch-tall hotel replica, which was served by GM Heiko Kuenstle.

Boston's Seaport Hotel set up a temporary mini-park in two parking spots along Seaport Boulevard as part of national PARK(ing) Day.

South Africa's Mantis Group, South African Tourism USA and South African Airways USA played host to "Jungle Jack" Hanna at the launch of Hanna's "Into the Wild" television series.

More than 25 Vacation.com employees participate in Tourism Cares for America Volunteer Day to paint park benches, posts and chains that line the walkways around key monuments along D.C.'s National Mall and Tidal Basin.

Sammy Hagar celebrates the grand opening of Sammy's Beach Bar & Grill at JFK's British Airways Terminal 7. Pictured (from left): Minerva Delgado, Food Bank for New York City; Maureen Borrell, British Airways; Sammy Hagar, The Hagar Family Foundation; and Joe Waller, HMSHost Corp.

ACTE awards Aileen London, senior man., global meetings Asia Pacific, for Oracle Corp., with its President's Award. Pictured with London, Georgie Farmer, ACTE regional chair, Asia-Pacific and Asia travel manager, Microsoft Corp.; Ron DiLeo, executive director, ACTE.

Hotel Hana-Maui holds a blessing to celebrate a new beginning for the hotel under the management of Green Tea, LLC.

Marriott International associates help rebuild New Orleans neighborhoods.

Family owners celebrate the signing of the MOU that outlines the intentions of Lan Airlines and Tam merge. (L-R): Mauricio Rolim Amaro, vice chairman of the TAM board of directors; Enrique Cueto, LAN CEO; Maria Claudia Amaro, chairman of the TAM board; and Ignacio Cueto, LAN president/COO.

The Corinthia Hotel Budapest hosted three of the teams for the 2010 Formula One Grand Prix held Aug. 1 at the Hungaroring, just outside Budapest. Pictured: Hotel GM Adrian Ellis with Timo Glock, driver for Virgin Racing.

(L-R): Simon Scoot: VP global brand management, InterContinental Hotels & Resorts; Jim Anhut, SVP & chief dev. officer, IHG; Dan Tishman, vice chairman, Tishman Hotel & Realty; Mayor Bloomberg; Drew Schlesinger, GM, celebrate the opening of InterContinental Hotel Times Square.

Hard Rock International's President and CEO Hamish Dodds (left) and rocker Ringo Starr celebrated Starr's 70th birthday at Hard Rock Cafe New York on July 7.

Chef and TV celebrity Guy Fieri helped to kick off Hampton Hotels' new breakfast program in New York's Herald Square Park on June 17. Here, Fieri serves waffles to New York residents Patricia Dyett and Jay Silva.

At the opening of the Best Western Plus Windsor Hotel (L-R): President Jimmy Carter and Mrs. Rosalynn Carter; Ila and Sharad Patel, hotel owners; Mark Williams, VP of North American development for Best Western International.

Platinum Seminars awarded Terry Dale, president and CEO of CLIA, its Continuing Hearts Award in June at the Platinum Luxury Society Symposium in Vancouver. Pictured are: Dana McPherson, senior VP, Platinum Luxury Society and Platinum Seminars; Terry Dale; and Bill Brown, CEO and founder of Platinum Luxury Society and Platinum Seminars.

(L-R): Evan Stein, president of MD Carlisle Construction & JD Carlisle; Niki Leondakis, COO, Kimpton Hotels; Jules Demchick, chairman, JD Carlisle; Thomas Mathes, Eventi GM; Robert Lieber, NYC Dep. Mayor; Bebe Neuwirth, Actress; and Michael Depatie, CEO and president, Kimpton Hotels.

Rain Forest Aerial Trams Costa Rica Atlantic and Pacific parks recognized World Environment Day on June 5 by planting 200 trees each with the help of local government personnel, students and residents.

NBA Hall of Famer Rick Barry coached local kids in Cancun, Mexico, during a basketball camp he hosted, co-sponsored by the Cancun CVB, in early June.

Over 250 people helped Visit Baltimore set a world record for the largest human smiley face on May 13 to kick-off the city's "Find Your Happy Place in Baltimore" tourism campaign.

In May, the Corinthia Hotel Budapest hosted a group of 38 American travel agents, all members of NACTA, on a fam trip to Hungary organized by the Hungarian National Tourist Office.

In celebration of Arbor Day, dozens of Hilton New York team members, friends and families gathered at Randall’s Island in New York City on May 1 to plant more than 60 trees. Photo courtesy of graylock.com

"Meet the Browns" co-stars David and Tamela Mann; Vernice Walkine, director general of the Bahamas Ministry of Tourism and Aviation; U.S. Ambassador to the Bahamas Nicole Avant; and actor Michael Jai White attended the international premiere of "Why Did I Get Married Too?" in Nassau.

Archbishop Desmond Tutu, flanked by Captain Nick Bates and Cunard Line President Peter Shanks, commemorate the maiden call of the Queen Mary 2 in Cape Town, South Africa, on March 25.

The Epic Hotel in Miami took part in the filming of the season finale of USA Network's Burn Notice, which aired on March 4, 2010.

Designers Ricardo Covalin, Agatha Ruiz de la Prada, Erika Flores and Cristina Pineda with Director of the Cancun CVB, Jesus Almaguer, and founder/owner of Grupo Ultrafemme, Elena Villarreal, at La Amada Hotel, in Playa Mujeres, Cancun, for the launch of the Cancun CVBs "Cancun & the Treasures of the Caribbean" campaign.

Garrett Hartley, place-kicker for the Super Bowl XLIV champion New Orleans Saints, kicks a football Feb. 25, 2010 over the entrance archway to the newly rebranded ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex in Lake Buena Vista, Fla.

Anderson Vacations partnered with Rocky Mountaineer and Travel Alberta to bring some of their preferred travel agent partners on an Olympic-themed rail trip through western Canada.

Golf legend Jack Nicklaus was spotted at Zoëtry Los Cabos Casa del Mar in Los Cabos, Mexico, for the inauguration of his new course, Puerto Los Cabos Golf Course.

"Win a Wedding" contest winners (L-R): Darcy Miller, Martha Stewart Weddings; contest winner Colin Van Dervort of Metairie, La.; Martha Stewart; contest winner, Elizabeth Wilks of Metairie; and Kevin Froemming, president of Unique Vacations. Photo credit: Nick D./'The Martha Stewart Show'

Steve Joyce, president and CEO, Choice Hotels International (left), and Brandon Jones, San Francisco 49ers, lend a hand with landscaping at Kickoff To Rebuild 2010.

The National Trust for Historic Preservation named St. Louis one of its 2010 Dozen Distinctive Destinations. Pictured (L-R): Bill Hart, Missouri Preservation and the National Trust for Historic Preservation; Francis Slay, St. Louis mayor; Kathleen Ratcliffe, president, St. Louis Convention & Visitors Commission. Photo courtesy of Gentry W. Trotter

San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom declared Jan. 27 as "Cunard Queen Victoria Day" as the vessel made its inaugural visit to the city. Pictured: Mayor Gavin Newsom and Captain Paul Wright.

Kimpton's Epic Hotel was selected as design inspiration for HGTV's "Color Splash." Pictured (L-R): Eric Jellson, area director of sales and marketing, Kimpton Hotels; David Bromstad, host, HGTV "Color Splash;" Wendy Zane, sales manager, Epic Hotel.

David Matusiewicz and his family enjoy the first of 12 stays at the KeyLime Cove hotel in Gurnee, Ill., as the hotel's 2010 Family of the Year.

Silvia Lefebvre, sister of Silversea chairman Manfredi Lefebvre, christens the Silver Spirit in Fort Lauderdale.

Jesson Church, Ryan Hopkin, Fabian Mitchell, Royston Hopkin, Wendy Charles, Brian Hardy and Seymour Thompson celebrate Spice Island Beach Resort receiving its Green Globe Certification Award.

Pictured at the United Vacations 2010 Product Launch and Educational Retreat in Las Vegas are (L-R): Victor Fernandez, LVCVA; Bill Byrne, United Airlines; and Art Jimenez, LVCVA.

Virgin America pilots welcome Rebecca Katz of San Francisco's Animal Care and Control and Chihuahua pups being flown to New York so they can be adopted as part of Operation Chihuahua airlift.

Sandals Grande Ocho Rios Beach Resort hosted the first Sandals Wedding by Martha Stewart as Steven and Toffamu Rollman were married Jan. 2.

Doug Parker, US Airways CEO; Jamaica's Min. of Tourism Edmund Bartlett; JAMVAC rep Lionel Reid; Mayor of Phoenix, Phil Gordon; and JTB rep Dian Holland, at the launch of Phoenix-MoBay service.

Casa de Campo's Martha Richardson welcomed Lonn Trost, COO of the New York Yankees, and his wife, Carol, as the hotel's first guests.

Hilton executives at the groundbreaking of the Home2 Suites by Hilton Fayetteville, N.C. (from third from right): Chris Nassetta, Paul Brown and Bill Duncan.

Breezes Resort & Spa Panama opened its doors Dec. 12 with a ceremony attended by Ricardo Martinelli, president of the Republic of Panama, and John Issa, chairman of SuperClubs.

Clifton Reader, GM of Sunset Jamaica Grande Resort & Spa (left) Charmaine Deane, the hotel's dir. of corporate communications (right) welcome Usain Bolt to the property.

Santa Claus took some time off before Christmas and visited the Walt Disney World Swan and Dolphin Resort.

Royal Caribbean International's Oasis of the Seas was officially named in a ceremony in the ship's AquaTheater. An unprecedented seven godmothers presided over the event.

The BVI Kite Jam Team (L-R): Abigail O'Neal, communications dir.; Scotty Wilson, events dir.; Richard Branson; Charlie Smith, founder and director.

Makena Beach & Golf Resort hosted Philadelphia Phillies outfielder Shane Victorino and his Second Annual Celebrity Golf Classic at the resort on Nov. 21, 2009.

Julio Bocca, classical ballet dancer; Laura Canepa, sr. dir. of PR for Starwood Latin America; and Osvaldo Librizzi, pres. of Starwood Hotels & Resorts Latin America, at the opening of the W Santiago.

The 2009 World Tourism Awards were presented to Nuri Shadi, Cyrene, Libya; Bruce Poon Tip, Gap Adventures; and Bruce Beckham, Tourism Cares. They are joined by Wendy Hartley and Glenn Carroll.

Antigua's Sugar Ridge hosted a reception at World Travel Market. (L-R): Dan McCauley, Vivian Richards, Minister of Tourism John Maginley, Ritchie Richardson and Aidan McCauley, owner of Sugar Ridge.

Former Miss Universe, Trinidad and Tobago's Wendy Fitzwilliam and model-TV host Tyson Beckford promote the island nation's upcoming Carnival season.

The Santa Monica (Calif.) Pier was designated the western terminus of the famous Route 66 highway by the Route 66 Alliance, which promotes and preserves the road between Chicago and Santa Monica.

Peter Shanks, president of Cunard Line (middle) accepts a World Travel Market Global Award on behalf of the Carnival Foundation.

Celebrity teammates play a friendly game of volleyball at the Iberostar Jamaica Sports Invitational, hosted by Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. (first on left).

Sheikh Bin Saeed Al Makthoum and Sol Kerzner, CEO and Chairman of Kerzner International, celebrate the opening of the One&Only The Palm in Dubai.

Posing with a Florida Keys & Key West-decorated taxi in London are Yves Vrielynck, Monroe County Tourist Development Council DSM; Lauren Sycamore, UK rep; and Stacey Mitchell, director of sales.

Donna Flora, Vice President, Travel Industry Relations. American Express, center, plants a tree at the Tourism Cares Climate Forest as part of the American Tourism Society 2009 Fall Conference.