Fast-moving fires raced across the Hawaiian island of Maui last night and into this morning, forcing tourists and residents to flee through flames in Lahaina, North Kihei, and Kula.

Winds up to 60 mph from Hurricane Dora, 500 miles away, caused wildfires on the island to quickly spread.
Acting Gov. Sylvia Luke has activated the Hawaii National Guard and asked the airlines to halt all incoming flights. More than 2,000 travelers are in Kahului Airport.

The Federal Emergency Management Agency also on Tuesday approved the state’s request for a disaster declaration to provide assistance with “the wind-whipped Kohala Ranch wildfire on the Big Island,” along with two other fires on the Big Island, according to the governor’s office.

**Editor’s note: The Hawaiian Tourism Agency has released a statement noting that the best thing people can do to help is not travel to Maui at this time.

“You know, we talk about ‘aloha’ as this value that is reciprocal, and we’re just very thankful for those visitors who have heeded our call to leave at this time so we can focus on the recovery,” he continued. “It is truly an expression of their aloha for us and for this place.”, said Ilihia Gionson, HTA’s public affairs officer.

If you’d like to contribute to helping Maui recover from these wildfires please go to Maui Strong Fund.

Looking for a laid-back European experience that offers a UNESCO World Heritage town with cobblestone streets and friendly locals, bullfights and whale watching, dormant volcanoes to hike and sunken vessel to explore—and all without the hassle of big airports? Perhaps the Azores are the destination for you and your customers.

For a small archipelago, the Azores hold a large spot in history. Smack dab in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean, halfway between North America and Europe, they have offered dry land, potable spring water and fresh food to sailors and pirates, doughboys and explorers. For tourists today, they are a stepping stone to a fun and easy vacation that’s just four or five hours from New York by plane, with a time difference of just four hours that makes communication with home easy and keeps jet lag to a minimum.

To kick off its new direct service from JFK, SATA Azores Airlines flew a group of New York travel advisors and press to this Portuguese paradise in the North Atlantic last week. Read the rest of this entry »

Island vacations are a true escape, one that feels the furthest from our everyday lives. Nothing but you, the beach, and long stretches of ocean to create distance from the daily grind and worries of life. About 870mi west of Lisbon, Portugal is the opportunity to visit just that place—the Azores Islands. A place that not only provides a remote getaway, but prides itself on sustainable tourism.

Officially named the Autonomous Region of the Azores, the Azores is an archipelago of 9 islands. Being volcanic in nature, the fertile earth of the islands sprang up a paradise. Lush green fields, forests, and mountains cover the terrain. Particularly São Miguel, the largest island in Read the rest of this entry »

Welcome to…

The Royal Residence at The Raffles Maldives Merhadoo. A bespoke experience awaits the guest at Gaafu Alifu, one of the world’s most remote atolls, found in the southernmost parts of The Maldives. This incredible unit is a three bedroom that can be expanded into a six bedroom. The amount of space available makes it an ultra luxury experience. The unit comes with a resident butler who ensures all the Read the rest of this entry »