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☆ How my group of 8 spent $5,000 on a bachelorette weekend at Disney World — and which parts were the best value
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-12 | by ( Carly Caramanna | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +1 min

We booked one of Disney World's most affordable hotels. Carly CaramannaI've stayed at every Disney World hotel, and to keep within budget for this trip, we stayed at my favorite affordable resort, Wyndham Lake Buena Vista. Even though it's one of the cheapest Disney World hotels, I found it to offer a complete resort experience, like on-site dining, bars, a coffee shop, and an expansive pool complex. As an official Disney World hotel, our stay came with free transportation to the theme parks, which saved us money on costly ride-share services. We booked three rooms to share for two nights, and each night only cost about $100.

Persons: Carly Caramanna I've, I've Organizations: Disney, Disney World, Disney Springs Locations: Lake Buena Vista, Disney

☆ Airbnb Bans All Indoor Security Cameras
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-12 | by ( Christine Hauser | More About Christine Hauser | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

Airbnb said this week that it was banning the use of all indoor security cameras in its listings worldwide, an update to its current policy allowing the devices to be installed in common areas such as hallways and living rooms. In an statement on Monday, the company said that most of the listings on its site do not have indoor security cameras, but that it was making privacy a priority. Previously, security cameras were allowed in common areas so long as hosts disclosed them to guests before booking. Airbnb said the policy update, which takes effect April 30, prohibits security cameras anywhere inside the properties, even if they are visible. It was not immediately clear why the company made the change, but the widespread use of indoor security cameras has raised concerns about privacy in vacation rentals, hotels, public bathrooms, locker rooms and on cruise ships.

Persons: Airbnb

☆ Kyrsten Sinema is still sitting on over $11 million in campaign cash — and she could easily use it to fuel her post-Senate life
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-11 | by ( Bryan Metzger | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +8 min

At the end of January, the Arizona senator reported holding nearly $10.6 million cash on hand in her campaign account and another $466,000 in her leadership PAC. AdvertisementNow, it's far from clear what will happen to those "resources" — Sinema's campaign did not respond to Business Insider's request for comment last week on the matter. There are a few different ways this could play out if Sinema decides to keep a "zombie PAC" running. Elizabeth Warren and Michael Bennet once introduced a bill to crack down on "zombie PACs." Advertisement"A lot of people use that to stay in the game because a leadership PAC is kind of a slush fund.

Persons: —, What's Sen, Kyrsten Sinema, Ruben Gallego, Kari Lake, Sinema, Arizonans, Saurav Ghosh, Ghosh, That's, Republican Sen, Rob Portman, Portman, Matt Dolan, Anna Moneymaker, he's, Kelly Ayotte, who's, Aaron Scherb, it's, She'd, she'd, Democratic Sens, Michael Bennet of Colorado, Elizabeth Warren of, Elizabeth Warren, Michael Bennet, Bill Clark, Bennet, she's, airfare, Jordan Libowitz Organizations: Service, Senate, Democrat, Democratic Rep, Business, Bloomberg, Republican, American Enterprise Institute, US, Republicans, Democratic, Daily Beast, Citizen, Washington, Commission, PAC Locations: Arizona, Ohio, New Hampshire, Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts, Washington, Europe

☆ Here are Monday's biggest analyst calls: Nvidia, Tesla, Netflix, Adobe, Amazon, Eli Lilly, Procter & Gamble & more
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-11 | by ( Michael Bloom | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +7 min

Here are Monday's biggest calls on Wall Street: Morgan Stanley reiterates Nvidia as overweight Morgan Stanley said the stock is a top idea after coming out of the company's recent TMT conference. " Morgan Stanley downgrades Hyatt to equal weight from overweight Morgan Stanley said in its downgrade of the stock that risk/reward is more balanced. Morgan Stanley reiterates Eli Lilly as overweight Morgan Stanley said the next catalyst for Eli Lilly is the results from the company's sleep apnea trial. Morgan Stanley initiates Phinia as overweight Morgan Stanley initiated the auto components and supplier company and says it's a "key beneficiary of the EV reset." Morgan Stanley reiterates Meta as overweight Morgan Stanley said it's standing by shares of Meta.

Persons: Morgan Stanley, Oppenheimer, underperform Jefferies, Jefferies, Tesla, Evercore, Tesla's, Tesla's Austin Gigafactory, Wolfe, XEL, Morgan Stanley downgrades Hyatt, JPMorgan, Stifel, Eli Lilly, Truist, Guggenheim, it's, PDD, Locker, Meta, Goldman Sachs, Goldman Organizations: Netflix, Jefferies, Wyndham, Underperform, Wyndham Hotels, Adobe, & Highland, JPMorgan, Energy, Hyatt, Petrobras, Procter, Gamble, Guggenheim, Nike, ICE, UBS, Apple, Meta, & & / Locations: Tesla's, Texas, bullish, China, Kazakhstan, America

☆ Choice Hotels surrenders its $8 billion hostile takeover attempt of rival chain, Wyndham
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-11 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

A screen displays the logo for Wyndham Hotels & Resorts, Inc. at the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) in New York City, U.S., June 5, 2023. Choice Hotels is abandoning its hostile $8 billion takeover bid for Wyndham Hotels & Resorts . Choice launched a hostile takeover offer for Wyndham in December after repeated attempts to reach a deal with the rival hotel chain were rebuffed. Choice's exchange offer expired on Friday. "The Wyndham board is pleased that Choice has ended its hostile pursuit and proxy contest, following the expiration of its unsolicited exchange offer," Wyndham Chairman Stephen Holmes said in a news release.

Persons: Wyndham, Stephen Holmes Organizations: Wyndham Hotels & Resorts, Inc, New York Stock Exchange, Choice, Wyndham, Ramada Locations: New York City, U.S, La Quinta

☆ How Wealthy Investors Got Rich Looting America's Needy Hospitals
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-11 | by ( Bethany Mclean | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +21 min

That added to the massive debt burdens already placed on the hospitals by their for-profit owners, deepening their financial woes. In January, MPT reported that its biggest tenant, a nationwide chain of 32 hospitals called Steward, could no longer pay its rent. The core idea was simple: to buy hospital real estate, pocket the lease payments, and use the money to reward investors. The more hospital real estate that MPT buys, the more money it makes in rent payments from the hospitals. But that doesn't mean that MPT's leaders didn't get rich off its hospital deals.

Persons: Leonard Green, Sherman Cahal, Rob Simone, Hedgeye, MPT, Steward —, Justin Simon, Jasper Capital, they've, Ed Aldag, Eddie Lampert's, Eileen Appelbaum, Rosemary Batt, MTP, Marc Rowan, Richard Mortell, Leonard Green couldn't, they'd, Stephen Feinberg, Ralph de la Torre, Steward, Simone, Cerberus, Chandan Khanna, That's, de la, de la Torre, la Torre, Amaral, Aldag, Apollo, Eileen O'Grady, Moody's, didn't, Sen, Chuck Grassley Organizations: Northside Regional Medical Center, Ohio Valley Medical, East Ohio Regional Hospital, Luke's Medical, Glenwood Regional Medical Center, Medical Properties Trust, Jasper, Sears, Bain Capital, Affordable, Cornell University, Business, Third Coast Real Estate Capital, Cerberus, Health Care, Boston Globe, Bloomberg, Getty, Easton Hospital, Local, de la Torre, la, MediaNews, Boston Herald, Prospect, Private, Yale New Haven Health, Yale, Apollo, MPT, SEC, Republican, Senate Finance Locations: Youngstown , Ohio, Ohio, Wheeling , West Virginia, Martins Ferry , Ohio, St, Luke's, Phoenix, Massachusetts, West Virginia, California , Pennsylvania, Texas, Pennsylvania, Louisiana, America, Alabama, MPT, Greater Boston, Steward, Easton, Lehigh, Elizabeth's, Boston, Connecticut, it's

☆ Bali Nyepi: Why one of the world’s most popular islands falls completely silent for a day
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-10 | by ( Lilit Marcus | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +5 min

This is Nyepi, Balinese New Year. Amanda Syrowatka, owner of the Viceroy Bali, helps manage expectations for hotel guests during Nyepi. The day before Nyepi is Ngrupuk, when giant monster effigies called ogoh ogoh, representing evil spirits, are paraded around by local children. While some tourists plan to come to Bali for Nyepi specifically to witness or take part in the holiday, some find themselves there unexpectedly. “While I might not plan a trip around Nyepi,” says Bigg, “I certainly wouldn’t mind being in Bali for it again.

Persons: CNN —, Amanda Syrowatka, Viceroy Bali, Nyepi, ”, Wayan Ari, Putu Sayoga, Agung Parameswara, Margot Biggs, “ Organizations: CNN, Local, School for International Training, Viceroy Locations: CNN — Bali, Indonesia, Bali, Putu, India, Viceroy Bali ., Nyepi, American

☆ Gabriel García Márquez’s Hometown Awaits His Last Book and More Visitors
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-10 | by ( Genevieve Glatsky | Nathalia Angarita | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: 1 min

Hotels, barbershops, nightclubs and bike repair stores carry references to his work. In the sweltering Colombian mountain town of Aracataca, it is impossible to walk down a single street without seeing allusions to its most renowned former resident: the winner of the 1982 Nobel Prize in Literature, Gabriel García Márquez. Yellow butterflies are seen all over town, a nod to one of his famous literary images. The house where he lived as a child has been turned into a museum filled with its original furniture, including the crib where he slept. The library, named Biblioteca Pública Municipal Remedios La Bella, after the character Remedios the Beauty from his novel “One Hundred Years of Solitude,” features a glass case of his books translated into various languages.

Persons: Gabriel García Márquez, Biblioteca Pública Municipal Remedios La Bella, Remedios Organizations: Biblioteca Pública Municipal Remedios Locations: Colombian, Aracataca, Biblioteca Pública Municipal Remedios La

☆ A veteran chartmaster calling for a continued market rally says it's time to diversify away from mega-cap growth by making these 6 investments now
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-10 | by ( James Faris | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

Wall Street was mostly upbeat about equities heading into 2023, though even the most bullish investment firms thought the S&P 500 would finish this year at 5,100 — a level it has exceeded already. Resisting this rally is a fool's errand, according to David Keller, the chief market strategist at StockCharts.com. The long-time chartmaster warned of a near-term pullback as the S&P 500 approached its previous record high but has since abandoned his cautious call. AdvertisementFast-forward to early March, and many of those mega-cap growth names remain hot, especially Nvidia and Meta. "I like that idea, at this point, of diversifying away from mega-cap growth," Keller said.

Persons: —, David Keller, chartmaster, Keller, I'm, they've, StockCharts.com Organizations: Service, Business, Nasdaq, Nvidia, Meta, Microsoft, Apple, Companies, Hilton, Marriott, Restaurant Brands, Burger King ., Biotechnology Locations: Burger

CNN —Miami Beach may be breaking up with spring break, but spring break isn’t moving on just yet. Video Ad Feedback Miami Beach wants to break up with spring break 00:50 - Source: CNN“This isn’t working anymore,” a young actor says in a viral YouTube video announcing the “breaking up” campaign. So you become hopeful again.”‘We hope it’s an amicable separation’On a visit to Miami Beach on Tuesday, the Republican governor stood with Miami Beach Mayor Steven Meiner to announce the deployment of state troopers to enhance security. In 2022, the City of Miami Beach similarly imposed a midnight curfew after two spring break shootings left five people injured on Ocean Drive. The area seemed tame, she said, compared to previous “crazy” spring break stays in Fort Lauderdale, about 35 miles north.

Persons: Ron DeSantis, ”, David Wallack, ” Wallack, Miami Beach’s, Wallack, Miami Beach Mayor Steven Meiner, ” DeSantis, “, “ We’ve, ” Meiner, Wayne Jones, ” Jones, Jones, Black Floridians, weren’t, Katie Ryan, Marta Lavandier, ’ ” Ryan, Avery Caimes, marveled, Mark Evenson, it’s Organizations: CNN, Miami, Florida Gov, Sunshine State, Miami Beach, Republican, Miami Beach Mayor, Miami City Commission, Miami Beach Police Department, Miami Beach police, Black Locations: Florida, Miami Beach, Miami, South Beach, Panama City, Daytona Beach, Fort Lauderdale, City of Miami Beach, South Florida, City, Biscayne Bay, Connecticut, Minnesota

☆ US, Germany and EU embassies begin evacuating staff as violence spirals in gang-plagued Haiti
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-10 | by ( Caitlin Stephen Hu | Helen Regan | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +7 min

Dajabon, Dominican Republic CNN —The United States and other diplomatic missions have begun evacuating personnel from Haiti, as gang violence in the Caribbean nation’s capital Port-au-Prince continues to spiral. US Southern Command said the move was consistent with “standard practice for Embassy security augmentation worldwide.” No Haitians were on board the military aircraft, it added. Another source with knowledge of the operations told CNN there have been at least 12 helicopter evacuation flights into Port-au-Prince over the past three days, all evacuating diplomatic and humanitarian staff. However, shots fired nearby after the last flight’s take off on Sunday have called into question the viability of continuing the evacuation flights, the source said. The World Food Programme suspended its maritime transport services in Port-au-Prince from distributing aid across Haiti due to the instability.

Persons: Dajabon, ”, Joe Biden, Peter Sauer, Stefano Gatto, —, Prince, Gang, Jimmy Cherizier, Ariel Henry, Stephane Dujarric, Henry Organizations: Dominican Republic CNN, CNN, US State Department, US Southern Command, Southern Command, National Security Council, CNN Helicopter, European Union, EU, Caribbean Port Services, Dominican, United Nations, US Department of Treasury, Food, UN, OCHA, Kenya, Kenyan, Caribbean Locations: Dominican Republic, United States, Haiti, Caribbean, Port, Dominican, Haitian, Santo Domingo, Petionville, Haiti’s, Puerto Rico, CARICOM, Kingston

☆ I've been a tour guide in Rome for 16 years. Here are 9 of the biggest mistakes tourists make.
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-09 | by ( Sarah May Grunwald | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

Read previewMy husband and I have 25 and 16 years, respectively, of guiding experience in Rome. As we say in Rome, "Roma, non basta una vita" ("In Rome, a lifetime is not enough"). One of my favorite websites for up-to-date advice for travelers planning trips to Rome is Rome Wise. Italian food is seasonal. I recommend following advice from the local food experts at Casa Mia.

Persons: —, He's, we've, Kirk Fisher, it's, Trevi, doesn't, It's, Vasilii, Rome Wise Organizations: Service, Business, Chapel, Galleria Nazionale d'Arte Moderna, Rome, Roman, Casa Locations: Rome, Italy, Ostia

☆ Photographer steps inside Vietnam’s shadowy ‘click farms’
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-08 | by ( Bibek Bhandari | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +7 min

“With social media, our attention is a product for advertisers and marketers.”Jack Latham’s project took him to five click farms in Vietnam. Though it is unclear when click farms began proliferating, tech experts warned about “virtual gang masters” operating them from low-income countries as early as 2007. In the following decades, click farms exploded in number — particularly in Asia, where they can be found across India, Bangladesh, Indonesia, the Philippines and beyond. The photographer added that TikTok is now the most popular platform at the click farms he visited. He included them in the book to represent the kind of content he saw being boosted by click farms.

Persons: Jack Latham, Vietnam —, ” Latham, Jack Latham’s, Latham, ”, Cambodia’s, Hun Sen, Donald Trump, — Organizations: CNN, Facebook, Twitter, China Advertising Association, “, BBC, Here Locations: Vietnam, Hanoi, Asia, India, Bangladesh, Indonesia, Philippines, China, Silicon, Hong Kong, —, North Macedonia, Vevey, Switzerland

HONOLULU (AP) — Local officials in Hawaii next month plan to open an office that will speed up Maui County's notoriously slow processing of building permits to help the town of Lahaina to recover from last year's deadly wildfire. The new permitting center will help private developers building five separate projects with a combined total of more than 500 housing units. The Federal Emergency Management Agency is building 169 temporary housing units for displaced residents and is renting 1,300 units from landlords. The state of Hawaii is building about 450 temporary housing units, including 270 that will be ready by July or August. The state's temporary units are expected to be used for three to five years.

Persons: Keanu Lau Hee, Lau Hee, “, ” Organizations: —, Maui, University of Hawaii, Federal Emergency Management Agency Locations: HONOLULU, Hawaii, Lahaina, we’re, Maui County

☆ 4 Slack communities helping creators of color and women land paid deals and discuss obstacles they face building businesses
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-08 | by ( Shriya Bhattacharya | Marta Biino | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +7 min

For creators and influencers, working online means it's not always easy to build community. TikTok creator Morgan Gadley started the Slack workspace OohhMG in early January because she wanted other BIPOC creators to have access to the brand deal opportunities that were constantly flooding her inbox. Here are four Slack workspaces helping women and creators of diverse backgrounds build their brands, as well as three other groups for influencers. After that, she started introducing creators of color with smaller followings into the group. Other Slack groups for influencersHere are three other Slack groups that influencers told BI have helped them make industry connections or land deals:

Persons: Slack, TikTok, Morgan Gadley, Jessy Grossman's, —, I've, Florence Howard, Shaakira Molisho, they've, Gadley, Grossman, she's, Calveiro, Ogilvy, Naimeesha Murthy, influencers Organizations: Business, Walmart, LinkedIn, Products, Women Locations: New York, India

☆ I pay $18 a month for a membership that gets me 50% off stays at new luxury hotels and a free coffee drink every day
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-08 | by ( Sydney Edwards | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

The membership comes with half-off discounts for stays at select new hotels and free coffee drinks. For $216 a year or $18 a month, members are promised deals on hotel stays, discounted meals, and free coffee at Ennismore partner brands. The membership also comes with a free barista-made drink every dayI've taken advantage of the free coffee and dining discounts offered through the membership. AdvertisementBeing able to work from a trendy spot while using my membership to get free coffee and dining discounts is pretty great. Since I live near some of the participating properties and eateries, I already feel like I'm getting a lot out of my membership.

Persons: Ennismore's, —, Ennismore, haven't, I'm, Sydney Edwards, I've, There's Organizations: Service, Hoxton Locations: Here's, Hoxton Vienna, London, Jakarta, Edinburgh, Perth, Nice, Copenhagen, Hoxton Williamsburg, Brooklyn, New York, Hoxton

☆ Sweeping EU rules for tech giants take effect today. Here’s what’s changing
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-07 | by ( Brian Fung | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +11 min

The new EU regulations force sweeping changes on some of the world’s most widely used tech products, including Apple’s app store, Google search and messaging platforms, including Meta’s WhatsApp. Its broad obligations affect six of the world’s largest tech companies: Amazon, Apple, Google, Meta, Microsoft and ByteDance, the parent company of TikTok. While the law could increase demand for tech companies to extend EU-specific features to other markets, few platforms have shown signs they plan to do so. Tech pushes backBut some tech companies have pushed back on the DMA, warning that it could lead to unintended consequences. “The changes the DMA requires will inevitably cause a gap” between EU users’ security and the security Apple users enjoy outside the EU, it added.

Persons: Meta’s, Apple, Bing, Elon Musk’s, “ Fortnite, ”, Agustin Reyna, “, Apple’s, ” Apple, Reyna, ” BEUC, Tim Sweeney, Meta —, Daniel Friedlaender, CCIA, Friedlaender, Olesya Dmitracova Organizations: Washington CNN, Apple, Google, Union citizens, Big Tech, Spotify, Netflix, Digital Markets, Meta, Microsoft, European Commission, EU, YouTube, Epic, Consumer, Tech, Games, CNN, Computer, Communications Industry Association Locations: United States, Europe

Our experts answer readers' credit card questions and write unbiased product reviews (here's how we assess credit cards). The information for the following product(s) has been collected independently by Business Insider: Wells Fargo Autograph Journey℠ Visa® Card. The new Points Transfer program launches April 4, and is available to all points-earning Wells Fargo credit cards, including the current Wells Fargo Autograph℠ Card. The Wells Fargo Autograph Journey℠ Visa® Card will be available for in-person applications at select Wells Fargo bank locations on March 9. Be the first to read our full Wells Fargo Autograph Journey credit card review here, or check out Business Insider's guide to the best travel credit cards, the best Wells Fargo credit cards, and other Wells Fargo products.

Persons: lifemiles, —, Wells, Wells Fargo Organizations: Business, Air France, KLM, British Airways Executive Club, AerClub, Read, Service, Airlines, British Airways Executive Club Iberia, Sapphire, Capital Locations: Iberia, Wells Fargo, Wells

☆ $1,780 to Spend the Night in a ‘Cocoon’? Hotels Are Betting on Sleep Tourism.
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-06 | by ( Carla Sosenko | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: 1 min

To sleep, perchance to dream. Or if not dream, at least to feel vaguely rested the next day, especially on vacation. The United States is tired, according to the National Sleep Foundation, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the National Institutes of Health, and there is a link between poor sleep and depression, the N.S.F.’s 2023 Sleep in America poll found. In the hospitality world, that’s a business opportunity. Hilton’s 2024 trends report revealed that the main reason people currently travel is to rest and recharge.

Persons: Airbnb, ”, Chekitan Dev Organizations: National Sleep Foundation, Centers for Disease Control, National Institutes of Health, Cornell University Nolan School of Hotel Administration Locations: United States, America

☆ I worked at a popular hotel chain for 3 years. Here are 10 common mistakes I saw guests make.
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-06 | by ( Dani Quesnel | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +8 min

Read previewI worked at a hotel chain that was always busy — during peak tourist season, we were sold out most nights. Companies like Marriott, Hilton, Choice Hotels, and IHG have thousands of hotels worldwide that you can earn points to redeem for free hotel rooms and gift cards at popular retailers. AdvertisementTrying to use someone else's credit cardYou need a credit card to check in, and it should ideally be your own. Monkey Business Images/ShutterstockHotels only allow you to use someone else's credit card if the card owner has provided the hotel with a credit-card-authorization form. AdvertisementShowing up without a credit card or IDHaving an ID is crucial for a smooth check-in process.

Persons: —, you've, I've, That's, Marriott, Justin Sullivan, there's, I'm, John Smith's, John Smith, they've Organizations: Service, Business, Companies, Marriott, Hilton, Choice, Getty Locations: It's

Our experts answer readers' credit card questions and write unbiased product reviews (here's how we assess credit cards). The information for the following product(s) has been collected independently by Business Insider: Wells Fargo Autograph Journey℠ Visa® Card. The new Point Transfer program launches April 4, and is available to all points-earning Wells Fargo credit cards, including the current Wells Fargo Autograph℠ Card. The Wells Fargo Autograph Journey℠ Visa® Card will be available for in-person applications at select Wells Fargo bank locations on March 9. Be the first to read our full Wells Fargo Autograph Journey credit card review here, or check out Business Insider's guide to the best travel credit cards, the best Wells Fargo credit cards, and other Wells Fargo products.

☆ I stayed at a luxurious Moroccan hotel with my 2 kids for only $280 a night, and we felt totally pampered
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-05 | by ( Jamie Davis Smith | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +1 min

I booked a three-night stay for me and my two kids at the AnaYela riad for $280 a night. The experience was luxurious from start to finish, and I'm glad I splurged a little on the lodgings. NEW LOOK Sign up to get the inside scoop on today’s biggest stories in markets, tech, and business — delivered daily. download the app Email address Sign up By clicking “Sign Up”, you accept our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy . This story is available exclusively to Business Insider subscribers.

Persons: — Organizations: Service, Business Locations: Morocco

☆ For years, I dreamed of overwater bungalows in destinations like the Maldives and Tahiti. Then, I found one just a 6-hour flight away in Belize.
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-05 | by ( Monica Humphries | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +7 min

I dreamed of overwater bungalows in places like the Maldives but dreaded the long flight there. And I believed the best place to create that experience would be in an overwater bungalow — the epitome of a luxury tropical vacation. Levente Bodo/Getty ImagesThere's a reason overwater bungalows aren't as popular in the CaribbeanOverwater bungalow resorts are more than 55 years old. And Ra'iātea's calm waters made it the ideal place for an overwater bungalow, Kelley said. My first overwater bungalow stay reminded me I don't need to hop on an all-day flight to experience the accommodation.

Persons: —, Levente Bodo, — Jay Carlisle, Hugh Kelley, Donald McCallum —, Hugh Kelley's, Vaihiria Kelley, Kelley, Condé, hasn't, Monica Humphries Organizations: Service, Levente, Muy'Ono Locations: Maldives, Central America, Caribbean, Belize, Tahiti, Polynesia, Moorea, Bali, Ra'iātea, South Pacific, Montego Bay, Jamaica, Aruba, Panama, Antigua, Mexico, St, Lucia, Vincent, Turks, Caicos, Denver , Colorado

☆ Debate heats up as Singapore prime minister says exclusive Taylor Swift deal isn't 'unfriendly'
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-05 | by ( Monica Pitrelli | Marylou Costa | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +4 min

Singapore Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong said Tuesday that a closed-door deal for Taylor Swift to perform in the city-state ensured she would not perform in other Southeast Asian countries during her Eras tour. The statement is the first confirmation from the city-state that the agreement for Swift to perform in Singapore contained exclusivity terms preventing her from performing in other countries. He also did not reveal the size of the grant to Swift, but stated the amount is "not anywhere as high as speculated." During her first three concerts in Singapore, Swift asked her audience to applaud — first the locals, then those who had traveled from overseas to come to the show. Edwin Tong Singapore Minister for Culture, Community and YouthSome liken the deal to how cities vie to host major sports events, such as the Olympics, the Super Bowl and the World Cup.

Persons: Lee Hsien Loong, Taylor Swift, Swift, Edwin Tong, Srettha Thavisin, Joey Salceda, Lee, Ashok Kumar, —, Selena Oh, de Boer, Irene Hoe, — haven't Organizations: Singapore, Reuters, Thai, Swift's, Philippine, Getty, Edwin Tong Singapore Minister, Culture ,, Super Bowl Locations: Singapore, Southeast Asia, Melbourne, Bangkok, ASEAN, Tokyo, Asia, Malaysia, Thailand, Indonesia, Asia — Tokyo, Shanghai, Hong Kong, Philippines, Cambodia, what's, Edwin Tong Singapore

☆ Singapore InterContinental Hotel will pay you if it rains on your vacation
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-04 | by ( Lilit Marcus | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

But one hotel in the Lion City is taking a gamble to ensure that rain doesn’t spoil its guests’ holidays. The InterContinental Singapore’s “Rain Resist Bliss” package will reimburse one night of a guest’s stay if one of their planned activities ends up getting rained out. The money comes in the form of a voucher, which must be spent at the InterContinental Singapore within one week, and the amount you get is equivalent to one night’s stay in your room category. Special packages like these can be a way for an established hotel to stand out from the pack. In Bali, one hotel banned smartphones and other electronics by the pool as a way to encourage guests to unplug and relax.

Persons: “ , what’s, Andreas Kraemer, Organizations: CNN, InterContinental, Asian Civilizations Museum, Tiger Brewery, Hyatt Locations: Singapore, Lion, InterContinental Singapore, Bali, Hyatt New York

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