An Insider Guide To Washington, D.C. By Popal Restaurant Group’s Fatima Popal

“He’s in here, in the kitchen every night and he’s smiling. He’s so happy to be doing this,” explains one of the managers of Café Carmellini. He is chef Andrew Carmellini, well known around New York the past 15 years for his respected but more casual restaurants Locanda Verde, Lafayette, The Dutch, Carne Mare and Bar Primi. This restaurant, which opened November 1st in the new Fifth Avenue Hotel, marks his return to fine dining with reinterpretations of French and Italian classics and as his most personal restaurant is the first one that bears his name. It’s been packed since opening night and looking around the Gilded Age style dining room with its oversized bronze and seeded glass chandeliers suspended from double height ceilings, plush blue banquettes and sculpted trees in the middle of the floor, the chef isn’t the only one smiling.

Looking for destinations that promote cultural diversity and sustainable travel? The United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) recently released its annual list of the Best Tourism Villages, a compilation of authentic, lesser-known places to travel. Consider it your new travel bucket list.

It's a new, or neo, day for United.

Culinary powerhouses from throughout Latin America gathered yesterday at the Copacabana Palace, A Belmond Hotel, in Rio de Janeiro, to hear which restaurants would be honored as the very best in the region in 2023, according to World’s 50 Best.

While tequila has cemented itself as an all-time top seller in the global spirits industry, its close relative mezcal has enjoyed skyrocketing popularity across the globe since the dawn of the 21st century—and for any hardcore agave aficionados hoping to learn more about the history of tequila, it’s best to pay a visit to where it all began. Roughly 400 years ago, the first large-scale agave distillery made its debut in the town of Tequila, and in the modern era, this vibrant community comes complete with luxurious hotels, a stellar food scene and—of course—more delicious distillate than you could possibly dream of.

The travel and tourism industry has been busy the past few years acknowledging and coming to terms with the worsening effects of climate change and the environmental destruction that’s being laid bare the world over. From dramatic biodiversity loss to the scourge of plastic pollution, the planet is grappling with a long list of daunting challenges.Addressing these issues, as more than a few industry conversations have made clear, will take participation at every level—from the destination managers to the corporate offices of travel brands down to suppliers, transportation companies, and travel agents.But there’s yet another key player in the industry who also has a vital role to play in advancing sustainable travel and the proactive protection of the planet, as well. And these individuals are on the front lines of travel every day: Tour guides. Often overlooked in conversations surrounding the industry-wide transformation that needs to take place, tour guides are an essential part of realizing a better future.“Tour guides, through their direct interactions with tourists, have the power to influence behaviors and shape the tourism experience,” says Brian Raffio, senior adventure travel consultant for the travel company Climbing Kilimanjaro. “By embracing their role as ambassadors and change-makers, they can contribute significantly to the shift towards a more sustainable and responsible tourism industry.”Indeed, a tour guide’s actions, practices, and interactions with tourists can significantly impact the environmental, social, and economic well-being of a destination and ultimately the planet and its people.The good news is that many travel stakeholders have already been thinking about the increasingly important role that tour guides play. Including the tour guides themselves.TravelPulse talked with individuals from every level of travel and tourism about the role of tour guides as the industry attempts to shift toward more sustainable business models that will better protect nature, wildlife, and local communities for generations to come. Here are outtakes from those conversations and tips from these same individuals about how tour guides can actively advance sustainability and environmental stewardship on a daily basis.

Berlin-based hospitality brand Numa Group has acquired Dutch aparthotels operator YAYS Group from Proprium Capital Partners. The companies did not disclose details of the deal. 

London’s thriving food scene is fueled by a constant influx of innovative chefs and restaurateurs and its diverse multicultural influences. Here are ten of the newest dining experiences that contribute to London’s well-deserved reputation as a global culinary destination.

With their centuries-old Alpine towns surrounded by farmland and their cosy chalet hotels offering open fires and comfort food, Austrian ski regions are the postcard perfect counterpoint to the big, purpose-built resorts in neighbouring France. And yet the skiing is as good as it gets, with some of the world’s most advanced lifts and huge, linked areas. 

During a two-and-a-half-week backpacking trip across Europe last summer with two friends, Jess Braun was delighted and a little perplexed to discover upon touching down in Vienna, Austria, that her hostel was located inside an Ikea.

Gifts that make a bedroom feel like a five-star hotel can help a jetsetter feel like they’re on a perpetual vacation. From plush bedding to posh amenities, these holiday gift ideas for travelers bring hotel magic into the home, conjuring the atmosphere of a high-end guest room. And with the hotel-inspired ambience might come that spark of curiosity and deep relaxation every traveler feels on a trip. All that’s missing is daily housekeeping.

One of the most delightful holiday traditions is counting down the days to Christmas with an advent calendar, especially with one filled with chocolate. The tradition of advent calendars dates back to 19th-century Germany, where people marked the days leading up to Christmas with daily small treats. The first printed advent calendar appeared around 1903, with religious images behind small numbered doors. Over time, the concept evolved to include a variety of themes, from chocolates to toys and was adopted outside of Germany too. Here are ten of the finest luxury chocolate advent calendars, created by the world’s top chocolatiers.