Tourism, Organisations & Operators,

As the veil of night falls on Saint Lucia, the island’s celebrated nightlife emerges. From legendary “jump-up” street festivities to full-moon beach parties to club-hopping on bustling restaurant strips, there’s virtually no limit to the island’s nighttime entertainment options. Saint Lucia is renowned across the Caribbean for her exotic rhythms and flavors; her nightlife is an experience that is not to be missed.
RODNEY BAY VILLAGEDine and dance at Rodney Bay Village, the north island’s de facto “nightlife central.” Dinner is served at an array of excellent restaurants covering all tastes and budgets. Culinary options include authentic smoked barbecue, steakhouse, Mexican, Chinese and Indian cuisine, as well as other eclectic casual and local dining options.
Late night bars and clubs are a bustling mix of locals and visitors. As you walk down the strip, be sure to stop by one of the regular karaoke and live music nights at various venues to enjoy up-tempo soca and cool reggae. The party never ends as the Rodney Bay vibe goes on till late most nights of the week.

GROS ISLET STREET PARTYThe Gros Islet street party — perhaps Saint Lucia’s most famous “jump-up”— has taken place weekly for more than 50 years, come rain or shine. In fact, the town only takes a night off from hosting Saint Lucia’s most famous party on Good Friday.ADVERTISEMENTEvery Friday night starting at sunset, the residents of Gros Islet fire up their barbecues, ice down the Piton beer, set up table-top bars in the streets, and get ready to welcome thousands of enthusiastic revelers to the colorful fishing town’s narrow streets. Arts and crafts vendors lay out their stalls, and the town center becomes DJ central, as a giant sound system cranks up and keeps the street party moving until the early hours of Saturday morning.
And be sure to bring your appetite! On Friday nights, Gros Islet is lined with sizzling barbecues, grilling everything from zest chicken and pork to the freshest catch, landed just hours before by the town’s fishermen. Local cuisine is the ticket, and the adventurous should look out for the lambi or conch grills on the waterfront, or seasonal seafood favorites like spiny lobster and bwigo (whelks).

ANSE LA RAYE FISH FRYDuring the day, the beachside fisheries complex at Anse La Raye is a busy hive of activity, as the local fishermen take to the sea in their colorful boats or pirogues and return laden with the finest catch.
On Friday evenings, snapper, tuna, dorado, barracuda, Spanish mackerel, lobster, crab and a plethora of other delicious sea-dwellers makes its way to the villagers’ coal pots and grills, which line the beachfront, surrounded by brightly covered tables and impromptu street cafes. The aroma of freshly cooked seafood will surely excite your senses.
DJs and local musicians line the street, giving you ample opportunity to sample Saint Lucia’s local soundscape.

DENNERY SEAFOOD FIESTAThe sheltered village of Dennery lies almost exactly halfway down the east coast of Saint Lucia, where the Atlantic first makes contact with the island. The harbor is another busy fisheries complex, in a picturesque setting flanked by tall cliffs and overlooked by the charming hillside village.
On Saturday nights, the beachside becomes a community “lime” (or “hangout”), with street vendors setting up beside the surrounding rum shops and bars, and the pounding beat of Dennery’s festivities resonate the air. The vibe is laid back, friendly and authentic, as the Fish Fiesta is a favorite with many locals from the south of the island.

EXPERIENCE SAINT LUCIA’S NIGHTLIFEThe events described above are just a sampling of Saint Lucia’s nightlife scene. Ultimately, the range of nighttime activities as diverse as the island’s cultural heritage, and there are many dance clubs, lounges, street parties, pubs and more to be experienced. However, at all of them, you’ll find a celebration of island life and a hospitable atmosphere. A night out on the town at some of Saint Lucia’s best nightlife scenes is sure to provide you with fun and memories.
The magical island of Saint Lucia will host the World Travel Awards Caribbean & The Americas Gala Ceremony 2023 on 26 August 2023. The leading travel industry figureheads from across the region will attend the red-carpet reception at Sandals Grande St. Lucian.
Graham Cooke, Founder, World Travel Awards, says: “I am honoured to unveil Saint Lucia as the host of our Caribbean & Americas Gala Ceremony 2023, in this our landmark 30th anniversary. Saint Lucia is helping to spearhead the recovery of travel and tourism in the Caribbean, and I am delighted this captivating island will form a crucial part of our anniversary tour.”He adds: “World Travel Awards has maintained its position as the industry leader for the past 30 years, consistently proving its value as the global benchmark for recognising excellence in travel and tourism. I look forward to joining the most senior travel industry figureheads from across the Caribbean and The Americas for what promises to be a fabulous event, acknowledging those organisations spearheading the growth of the region’s travel and tourism sector.
For more detail visit https://www.stlucia.org/en_UK/experiences/nightlife/

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The famed Atlantic City Boardwalk will enter a new era this summer with the debut of ISLAND Waterpark at The Showboat Resort, which is scheduled to open on June 30, 2023
The Showboat Resort, developed by Tower Investments CEO and Showboat owner Bart Blatstein, is the world’s premier beachfront indoor entertainment experience and casts Atlantic City as an all-encompassing family destination, restoring its reputation as America’s Favorite Playground.
ISLAND Waterpark is the largest indoor beachfront waterpark in the world. Covering 120,000 square feet and holding more than 317,000 gallons of water, the waterpark features 11 slides, including the Electric Eel, Sonic Serpent and Barracuda Blaster tube slides, full of tight corners and banking turns; three Tidal Racers mat racer slides for head-first excitement; and five waterslides suitable for younger visitors at Slide Island.
Island Waterpark also features a 1,000 square-foot Wild Wave FlowRider surf simulator that will host surfing tournaments and is the only waterpark surf simulator in New Jersey to offer surf lessons; Blue Cascade Waterfall, a man-made waterfall that is one of the largest custom water forms in the world; a 30-foot-tall Indoor Tree House that can be booked for private parties; Adventure Pool, where guests can play various water sports; a 6,500 square-foot Island Drift Lazy River that extends nearly the entire length of the waterpark; and Kids Cove, a play area with interactive water activities designed for younger visitors. Each is designed according to the waterpark’s exotic island theme to make visitors feel like they’ve been swept away to a tropical paradise.
“Atlantic City has long been one of the most iconic destinations for entertainment geared for adults, but now the ISLAND Waterpark at The Showboat Resort will open up a whole new world of family entertainment on the boardwalk,” said Bart Blatstein, Tower Investments CEO and Showboat owner. “When people see this they will be blown away; it is truly like entering a tropical paradise and the best part is that people–both kids and adults–will be able to enjoy it all year round.”ADVERTISEMENT“ISLAND Waterpark, the largest indoor beachfront waterpark, is in a class of its own,” said Brandon Dixon, President of Tower Investments. “No matter the weather nor time of year, everyday will always be warm and sunny in the waterpark. At night it also will be hot year round with nightlife entertainment for adults. This opening rides on the success of the Lucky Snake Arcade and Raceway, and Showboat is so proud to continue to deliver the most dynamic and exhilarating non-gaming fun on the Atlantic City Boardwalk.”
For adults, the waterpark features a total of six bars where guests can enjoy craft beers, curated wines and signature cocktails; and Paradise Adult Island, a 10,000 square-foot space overlooking the waterpark and ocean that includes DJ entertainment and Bliss Pool, an adults-only pool facing the Atlantic Ocean with the only swim-up bar in Atlantic City. During the day these venues are an oasis for parents and adults to dance, escape, relax and socialize while the kids enjoy the waterpark; the adults-only area includes Peloton bikes, manicure stations, chair massages, work spaces, VIP cabanas and more. At night, ISLAND Waterpark transforms into a nightlife venue, also for adults only–the first of its kind at any waterpark.
In addition to the water features, ISLAND Waterpark also includes two attractions not available at any other indoor waterpark in the US: a more than 1,000-foot Coconut Zero-Gravity Coaster that takes guests on a ride suspended high above the waterpark and offers spectacular panoramic views of the ocean and boardwalk; and the 300-foot-long RipTide Zip Line.
The waterpark’s unique glass retractable roof will be open to allow ample sunshine and fresh ocean breezes during the warmer months and can be closed during inclement and colder weather making Island Waterpark a year round entertainment destination. The roof can also be used for projection displays, such as stars or island imagery, adding to the versatility of the waterpark’s ambience.
Summer admission rates start at $89 for daytime general admission. Twilight Admission starts at $69 from 4 – 8 pm. For those wishing to experience Island Water Park in style, All-Access VIP admission starts at $119, which includes admission into the exclusive and luxurious Paradise Adult Island, Bliss Pool, and the only swim-up bar in Atlantic City. Members of the military and Atlantic City’s first responders received a $10 discount. Children under three are admitted free. For more details on admission rates and special offers visit islandwaterparkac.com
Guests of the Showboat hotel are invited to enjoy Rise ‘n’ Shine – an hour of exclusive morning access to ISLAND Waterpark before it opens to the public.
ISLAND Waterpark builds on The Showboat’s existing entertainment platform, including the Lucky Snake Arcade–the largest arcade in the world. The more than 200,000 square-foot venue features the 40,000 square-foot Raceway Go Kart Indoor Track and more than 600 games, including pinball, virtual reality, bowling and more. As part of the launch of The Showboat Resort, the arcade expansion will include additional attractions rolling out over the summer including disco-themed roller blading, state-of-the-art, classic games-themed mini golf, a 40-foot-tall climbing wall, and the largest Zoltar fortune teller in the world.
The transformation into The Showboat Resort will also mark the completion of the iconic Showboat’s first phase of hotel renovations, including 477 guest rooms among which are 36 Balcony Suites – featuring the only balconies on the Atlantic City Boardwalk – two Super Suites and 16 Junior Suites. Further revamping of the additional towers’ rooms, suites, lobby and other common areas is expected to be completed by fall of 2023. 255 of these units will debut as Premier Lite Apartments that are available as long-term leased luxury dwellings.
The Showboat Resort has 11 food and drink offerings ranging from VIP cabanas with food and cocktail service at the waterpark to Island Plaza, an expanded outdoor boardwalk section featuring an amphitheater, classic boardwalk fare and a seasonal Festival Marketplace.

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The Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi (DCT Abu Dhabi) today outlined its roadmap for growth in 2023 that will promote, protect and progress Abu Dhabi’s culture and tourism sectors. This follows a strong 2022 performance driven by the innovation, resilience and integration of these sectors.
In conversation with members of the media, H.E. Saood Al Hosani, Undersecretary of DCT Abu Dhabi, emphasised that culture is at the heart of DCT Abu Dhabi’s plans and underlined the role it plays in creating innovative and resilient communities. As part of a strategic goal to foster a strong national identity, DCT Abu Dhabi continues its mandate to promote and disseminate Emirati heritage and cultural identity.
His Excellency Saood Al Hosani, Undersecretary of DCT Abu Dhabi, said: “With culture at the heart of everything we do, we have set bold and ambitious targets for 2023 as we promote, protect and progress the culture and tourism sectors in Abu Dhabi. We are proud to share some of our 2022 results, which powerfully demonstrate how we re-ignited the engine of growth – driven by these resilient sectors, visionary leadership and key partnerships across the different creative industries.
“We are progressing Abu Dhabi by creating new job and career opportunities and enabling growth across the culture sector throughout the culture and creative industries (CCI) while enabling business and leisure tourism to thrive. Our purpose is to share Abu Dhabi with the world and enrich lives,” he added.
2023 plans: enriching lives and fuelling growthWith the promotion and protection of culture central to its mandate, DCT Abu Dhabi is building on the legacy of the late Sheikh Zayed, the founding father of the UAE, to strengthen national identity, nurture talent, create better awareness of Emirati heritage and values, and develop a robust and innovative culture scene. The department continues to develop policies to preserve Abu Dhabi’s heritage, the emirate’s museums and culture sites and to curate visual and performing arts programmes, attracting a diverse audience from the UAE, the region and the world.ADVERTISEMENTDCT Abu Dhabi views culture and tourism as important enablers to the nation’s social and economic progress development and the Department’s support to the CCI reflects its commitment to building a diversified, dynamic, and sustainable economy for the emirate.
As a custodian of CCI and working with its partners, DCT Abu Dhabi will support the creation of more than 300 jobs in the fast-growing e-gaming industry. The target will be spread across more than 20 new companies with potential for significant expansion, to drive a successful gaming and esports ecosystem in the UAE capital.
DCT Abu Dhabi also promotes and protects the Arabic language, ensuring that its many initiatives are rooted in the emirate’s land and context. The Abu Dhabi Arabic Language Centre (ALC) continues to support Arabic proficiency among the UAE community, while facilitating the growth of the Arabic publishing industry through key projects like Kalima and Esdarat. ALC Abu Dhabi’s 2023 goals to attract increased visitation to book fairs and festivals have also been increased.
“All of these plans contribute to our position as a key platform for culture and creativity, where thought leadership, cross-cultural exchange, and innovation thrive. Central to this, we are proud to continue the development of key museums for Abu Dhabi, such as Zayed National Museum, Natural History Museum Abu Dhabi and Al Ain Museum, while also hosting cultural events such as the upcoming Culture Summit Abu Dhabi later this year. In this sixth edition we will once again convene leaders from the field of arts, heritage, media, museums, public policy and technology – identifying ways in which culture can transform societies and communities worldwide,” H.E. Al Hosani added.
Ambitious tourism targetsTo support the Department’s target of welcoming more than 24 million visitors in 2023 – from 18 million in 2022 – the destination offering continues to grow, with the recent opening of many new attractions such as SeaWorld Yas Island, Abu Dhabi, Pixoul Gaming, Adrenark Adventure and Snow Abu Dhabi, incentivising visitors to return to ensure they experience everything Abu Dhabi has to offer.
Experience Abu Dhabi, the destination brand of DCT Abu Dhabi, is activating the emirate as a year-round tourism destination that offers exciting, inspiring and restorative experiences that visitors can discover at their own pace. This includes showcasing the emirate of Abu Dhabi’s ‘living oasis’ of Al Ain, with authentic experience for regional visitors and culture-seekers.
Throughout 2023, Experience Abu Dhabi will reach more than 40 markets internationally, through 22 creative campaigns. As part of these efforts, Experience Abu Dhabi has introduced a series of market-specific campaigns in 2023, including an Arabic-first campaign video for the GCC starring Ahmed Helmy and Mona Zaki, and signed a two-year brand ambassadorship deal with Bollywood star, Ranveer Singh to resonate with Indian audiences.
Abu Dhabi’s year-round events and experiences are clustered together under the action-packed Abu Dhabi Calendar, with family-friendly entertainment and concerts, complemented by collaborations with global IP partners, such as the UFC, NBA and Formula 1. This also includes seasonal retail festivals, a rich culinary scene and other drivers of growth and visitation.
2022: a year of successful initiatives across Culture and Tourism sectorsDCT Abu Dhabi revealed details on 2022 visitor figures from the Department’s upcoming Annual Report, underpinning how Abu Dhabi achieved 18 million visitors throughout the year – a 17% increase in visitor numbers from the previous year, as part of the recovery from the pandemic. Growth across both domestic and international tourism demonstrates increased awareness of Abu Dhabi as a destination and widespread appeal of an expanded range of year-round cultural experiences, entertainment, sporting events, trade shows, and international roadshows.
Underpinning the importance of culture in building strong and innovative communities, UNESCO and DCT Abu Dhabi co-published Culture in Times of COVID-19: Resilience, Recovery and Revival, giving a global overview of the impact of the pandemic on the culture sector since March 2020, and outlining directions for its revival and strategies that will better shape the sector into a resilient and sustainable one for generations to come.
DCT Abu Dhabi organised key exhibitions and an impressive series of visual and performing arts programmes across its different museums and culture sites and welcomed more than 245,000 students to learn about Abu Dhabi’s cultural scene.
The Department, fulfilling its mandate to increase awareness of Emirati heritage, inscribed two new Intangible Cultural Heritage elements into the UNESCO ICH lists, including Alheda’a, the ancient art of camel calling and the date palm, and continued to organise major cultural events and festivals, such as Abu Dhabi Art, Al Hosn Festival, the Handicrafts Festival, the Maritime Heritage Festival, and Abu Dhabi and Al Ain Book Fairs.
The Department also announced the National History Museum Abu Dhabi to the world, through an introductory exhibition featuring “Stan” the 67-million-year-old Tyrannosaurus rex. The Department emphasised the role of the museum as a scientific research institution, presenting educational resource for learning about the evolving story of our planet, viewed through an Arabian lens and aiming to ignite a life-long passion for the natural world in visitors of all ages.
DCT Abu Dhabi subsequently built anticipation for the launch of teamLab Phenomena Abu Dhabi through an immersive art installation, allowing visitors to actively experience the digital art experience.
2022: promoting tourism in Abu DhabiDCT Abu Dhabi confirmed the growth of both leisure and MICE visitation, revealing that hotel occupancy rates for 2022 exceeded 70%, surpassing the Middle East average. That included a 24% increase in overnight hotel guests to 4.1 million, when compared with 2021, while the average length-of-stay per visitor was three nights, resulting in a significant 18% year-on-year increase in revenue per available room, compared with 2021.
With a long-standing reputation as a global centre for business, Abu Dhabi’s position as a premier destination for business events was reinforced as it welcomed more than 600,000 MICE visitors and hosted 1,210 MICE events in 2022, showcasing its world-leading venues, hotels, and supporting facilities.
The increase in MICE activity was empowered by DCT Abu Dhabi’s revamped Advantage Abu Dhabi 2.0 programme, which provides a unique opportunity for event organisers to gain destination-driven value by providing bespoke destination support. This all ensured the emirate was front of mind as a regional centre for doing business.
Regarding the future of MICE activity in the emirate, DCT Abu Dhabi recently won the bid to host the 13th Ministerial Conference (MC13) of the World Trade Organization. Hosting this biennial event in the UAE capital for the first time further positions Abu Dhabi as a destination of choice with the capacity and range of capabilities to host globally significant conventions.
DCT Abu Dhabi continues to work closely with Miral, Etihad Airways, ADNEC and other MICE partners to attract even more meetings and incentive groups to the emirate, with Abu Dhabi recently named the top Middle East City for Association Meetings by the International Congress and Convention Association (ICCA).

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The World Travel & Tourism Council’s (WTTC) 2023 Economic Impact Research (EIR) today reveals India’s Travel & Tourism sector is in strong recovery and will be within touching distance of the pre-pandemic peak this year.
Speaking today to Ministers at the G20 Summit in India, Julia Simpson, WTTC President & CEO, highlighted the sector’s resilience, growing at twice the rate of GDP not only in India, but across all G20 nations.
WTTC research forecasts Travel & Tourism contributing INR 16.5TN to the Indian economy this year, just 3.5% below 2019.
The sector is forecast to create over 1.6MN more jobs this year, recovering almost all of the jobs lost due to the COVID-19 pandemic to reach almost 39MN, with around one in 13 workers in India in the Travel & Tourism sector.
International visitor spend in India is forecast to reach more than INR 2TN with domestic visitor spend forecast to reach more than INR 12.6TN.ADVERTISEMENTJulia Simpson, WTTC President & CEO, said: “The G20 Presidency provides India with the opportunity to highlight the economic and social value of Travel & Tourism, at a critical moment for the global economy.
“Minister Reddy has shown great leadership, rallying the G20 Ministers under the Goa Roadmap, showing the world that Travel & Tourism boosts economies whilst meeting the UN Sustainable Development Goals.
“Travel & Tourism creates great job opportunities, providing exciting career opportunities for young people to be part of sustainable tourism under Travel for Life. WTTC has brought a panel of private sector leaders to the G20 to talk candidly about the opportunities and challenges facing the sector.
“Growth will be double GDP, but we need governments to focus on reliable energy and sustainable aviation fuel production”.
A look back on last year
Last year, the sector’s GDP contribution grew by almost 90% to reach more than INR 15.6TN, representing 5.9% of the economy, edging closer to the 2019 high of 7% of the economy.
The sector also created 14.6MN more jobs in 2022 to reach 37.2MN jobs nationally – one in 13 jobs across India.
Last year also saw a 125% increase in international visitor spending in India, reach more than INR 1.6TN.
Domestic visitor spend grew 86% last year to reach more than INR 12.3TN. It is now just 1% behind pre-pandemic levels.
What does the next decade look like?
The global tourism body is forecasting that the sector will grow its GDP contribution to INR 36.8TN by 2033, approximately 7% of the Indian economy and will employ over 58.2MN people across the country, with one in 10 working in the sector.
Asia-Pacific
In 2022, the Asia-Pacific Travel & Tourism sector contributed USD $1.6TN to the regional economy, but this is still 50% behind the 2019 peak. WTTC forecasts the region’s GDP contribution from the sector will reach more than USD $2.6TN in 2023 – just 16% below the 2019 highpoint.
The sector employed over 155MN people across the region in 2022, an increase of 8.7MN from the previous year but still 15% behind pre-pandemic levels. WTTC forecasts the sector will fully recover the jobs lost during the pandemic by the end of 2024.

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In 2022, Denver welcomed a record 36.3 million visitors, marking a 15 percent increase over 2021 and surpassing all historic tourism totals by a large margin.  A record number of visitors also spent more money in Denver than ever before, generating $9.4 billion in tourism revenue, far beyond the previous record of $7 billion spent in 2019.
“Tourism continues to be a key economic driver for our city, and we are pleased to see travel demand return in such a big way,” said Richard W. Scharf, president and CEO of VISIT DENVER. “In many regards, travel was a significant bright spot for our local economy in 2022, creating record spending at local businesses, generating millions in state and local taxes, and supporting tens of thousands of jobs.”
Overnight visitors totaled nearly 20 million, a 20 percent rise over the prior year. Growth was particularly strong in the domestic overnight leisure market, which rose by 13 percent over the prior year to a new high of 16.7 million visitors. 
The new tourism data was generated by the 2022 Longwoods International annual visitor profile study. Longwoods has been studying Denver visitors since 1994 and conducts research that provides a standard visitor tracking tool for many of the country’s top tourism destinations.
Longwoods also studies the impacts of VISIT DENVER’s efforts to target “marketable” visitors, the primary focus of the organization’s promotional efforts. In 2022, these marketable visitors increased by 18 percent over 2021 surpassing eight million for the first time.ADVERTISEMENTSpending by overnight visitors increased in 2022 to $8 billion, a 45 percent increase over 2021. Among all traveler types, marketable leisure visitors spent the most at $229 per day followed by business travelers at $152 per day.
Longwoods International also conducted Return on Investment (ROI) research for VISIT DENVER’s 2022 summer advertising campaign, its largest of the year. The study revealed the strongest ROI numbers VISIT DENVER has ever seen, showing that the campaign generated 1.8 million incremental trips, generating $641 million in incremental visitor spending and $72 million in state and local taxes. Measured against spending, the campaign generated an ROI of $167 in visitor spending and $19 in taxes for every $1 in advertising investment.
Key numbers for 2022 include:
Denver welcomed 36.3 million total visitors in 2022, including 19.9 million overnight visitors and 16.4 million day visitors.Overnight leisure visitors totaled 16.7 million in 2022, a 13 percent increase over 2021.There were 8.3 million “marketable” leisure visitors in 2022, an 18 percent increase over 2021. This segment has the most discretion on where to vacation and responds to tourism marketing. This audience is the primary focus of much of VISIT DENVER’s marketing efforts and spends more time and money in-market than any other leisure visitor type.Denver visitors spent $9.4 billion in 2022, including $8 billion from overnight visitors and an additional $1.4 billion in spending from day visitors. Total spending increased by 42.5 percent over 2021.Denver overnight visitors spent nearly $2.3 billion on accommodations, and $1.3 billion on food and beverages.Expenditures by overnight visitors on transportation reached nearly $2.7 billion. Retail purchases were $969 million, while overnight visitors spent nearly $685 million on paid attractions and other recreational and sightseeing activities.On average in 2022, the biggest spenders were marketable travelers, who spent $229 per day, followed by business visitors, who spent $152 per day. Day visitors spent $88 per day.Out-of-state overnight leisure travelers comprised 76 percent of visitors.The top five states sending vacationers to Denver in 2022, apart from Colorado itself, were:
CaliforniaTexasArizonaFloridaKansasThe top five cities from outside of Colorado sending leisure visitors to Denver in 2022 were:
Los Angeles, CA*Phoenix, AZ*Dallas-Ft. Worth, TX*Chicago, IL*New York City, NY**Denotes VISIT DENVER advertising market
Top 10 2022 Visitor Attractions*
Red Rocks Park & Amphitheatre**Denver ZooDowntown AquariumDenver Museum of Nature & Science/IMAX TheaterDenver Botanic GardensMeow WolfColorado RockiesDenver Art MuseumDenver Performing Arts ComplexDenver Union Station***Based on survey responses**Denotes a free attraction
Top 2022 Entertainment Areas*
“LoDo” Lower Downtown Historic District16th Street Mall*Based on survey responses
Top 2022 Shopping Areas
Cherry Creek area (shopping center and neighborhood)Outlets at Castle RockDenver Pavilions

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The Basketball Africa League (BAL) and the Rwanda Development Board (RDB) today announced a multi-year extension of their existing collaboration that will see the BAL continue to play games at BK Arena in Kigali, Rwanda each season, including the BAL Playoffs and Finals in 2024, 2026 and 2028. The BAL and RDB will also collaborate on youth development and social impact programs.
The extension will see “Visit Rwanda” – the country’s marketing and tourism initiative – continue as a Foundational and Host Partner of the BAL. Through the agreement, Visit Rwanda will continue to be showcased on BAL team uniforms and at the BAL Combine. [RwandAir – Rwanda’s national airline – will continue as the Official Airline Partner of the BAL and facilitate travel to and from Kigali for select BAL teams and staff.
“The Rwanda Development Board, as a Foundational Partner, has been integral to the launch and continued growth and success of the Basketball Africa League over our first three seasons,” said BAL President Amadou Gallo Fall. “Coming out of our most competitive and compelling season yet, we’re excited to renew our collaboration with RDB that will bring BAL games as well as youth development and social impact programs to Rwanda for years to come.”
“We are excited to extend our collaboration with the Basketball Africa League,” said RDB CEO Clare Akamanzi. “We have seen tremendous success and return on investment over the last three years and look forward to doing much more together. The BAL has proven to be a great unifier, and we remain committed to showcasing the best Rwanda has to offer in terms of tourism, investment opportunities, talent development, Made in Rwanda products and much more to the world. With the BAL and other major events, Rwanda is the home for sport in Africa.”
Yvonne Makolo, RwandAir CEO, said: “RwandAir is proud to be a partner of the Basketball Africa League and we are excited to see the Rwandan Development Board continue to bring world-class basketball to Rwanda.ADVERTISEMENT“We know how sport can bring communities together as teams compete to win and celebrate the power of teamwork and know the extended partnership will further strengthen those bonds.
“We are also focused on our goal of delivering world-class customer service as we bring people together through our extensive route network, and we look forward to flying fans and players over the coming years.”
On May 27, 2023, Egypt’s Al Ahly defeated Senegal’s AS Douanes 80-65 to win the 2023 BAL Finals, which took place at BK Arena and reached fans in 214 countries and territories in 17 languages.
In conjunction with the 2022 and 2023 BAL Playoffs and Finals, the BAL and NBA Africa held a variety of youth development and social impact programming in Rwanda, including in collaboration with RDB. Activities to date have included Jr.
NBA, Special Olympics and coaches clinics; an environmental day of service; innovation summits that brought together African leaders from business, entertainment, sports, social entrepreneurship and beyond to discuss the enormous growth opportunities on the continent; and a series of workshops for young women from the local community as part of BAL4HER, the league’s platform for advancing gender equality in the African sports ecosystem and celebrating women in the sports industry who serve as role models to young women across the continent.
The BAL’s Foundational Partners also include NIKE, Jordan Brand, Wilson and New Fortress Energy (NFE). The league’s roster of world-class marketing partners also includes the Attorney General Alliance (AGA-Africa), Envol City, Hennessy, SERTEM and Socieìteì Peìtroliere (SP).
The 23rd World Travel & Tourism Council Global Summit will take place in Kigali, Rwanda, 1st – 3rd November 2023.
WTTC’s annual Global Summit is the most influential Travel & Tourism event on the calendar, and this year, industry leaders will once again gather with key government representatives to continue aligning efforts to support the sector’s recovery and move beyond to a safer, more resilient, inclusive, and sustainable future.

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Today, the Outdoor Industry Association (OIA) and Outdoor Foundation (OF), longtime authorities on outdoor participation data, jointly released findings from the 2023 Annual Outdoor Participation Trends Report. The report reveals that the outdoor recreation participation base grew 2.3% in 2022 to a record of 168.1M participants, or 55% of the U.S population over the age of 6. The report also found that the new participant base is becoming increasingly more diverse in terms of ethnicity, race, age and sexual and gender identity.
“For any business that wants to succeed in today’s competitive marketplace, understanding the evolving consumer base and how they choose to spend their time outdoors is essential knowledge,” said Kent Ebersole, President of OIA. “Industry growth is dependent on attracting and retaining the “core” and increasingly diverse “casual” participant through innovation, valued sustainability practices and pursuing policies for increasing equitable access to the outdoors for everyone.”
Key findings in the report include:
The participation rate for Hispanic people increased from 34% in 2015 to 56% in 2022, the highest participant growth rate for any single group.The participation rate for Black people increased more than 5% in 2022 to 40.7%, the only group with increased average outings and the highest number of outings on average compared to any other ethnic or racial group.LGBTQIA+ participants make up 11% of the participants base and are the most active of any adult cohort.A significantly higher percentage of seniors are participating in outdoor recreation. At 35% of the base, seniors now represent 1 in every 5 outdoor participants.  Gateway activities, where new participants begin their outdoor recreation journey, continue to drive new entrant outings and frequency of participation.80% of outdoor activity categories experienced growth, including camping, fishing, sport climbing, skateboarding, and hiking.Record growth in the participant base does not translate to participation rates, which are down for the first time since the pandemic, especially amongst “core” and “youth” segments.“The findings of this year’s report underpin the critical need for initiatives like Thrive Outside that seek to address outdoor equity barriers,” said Stephanie Maez, Outdoor Foundation Executive Director. “While the growth in ethnic and racial diversity in the participant base is encouraging, we must strive to do better. Outdoor participation should reflect the diversity of the U.S. population overall and currently it does not.”
For over 15 years, the report has served as the most trusted and comprehensive source of insights and narratives around who’s doing what, when, and how outdoors. The Outdoor Foundation, the philanthropic arm of Outdoor Industry Association, funds the research and publishes the findings in partnership with OIA every year.ADVERTISEMENTThe 2023 report reflects data gathered during the 2022 calendar year and garnered a total of 18,000 online interviews consisting of people ages six and older. While the executive summary of the report is available to the public, the full report is available exclusively to OIA members and OF partners.

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Is that the sound of wedding bells we hear? If so, we should share a little secret about the region’s most breathtaking wedding venue. Perched atop scenic downtown Portsmouth, New Hampshire — in a spectacularly restored, circa 1905 gathering space — Jimmy’s Jazz & Blues Club is the perfect place to host the wedding of your dreams.The high-touch hospitality team at Jimmy’s is dedicated to delivering everything you need to host the most elegant, unforgettable wedding you can imagine. We invite you to explore the features and amenities that make Jimmy’s a one-of-a-kind wedding venue for up to 300 guests. 
The Wow FactorLocated in the heart of historic Portsmouth, New Hampshire this architecturally stunning local landmark is built to bring people together…and set your wedding apart with a rare, one-of-a-kind “wow factor.”
A towering glass-and-steel atrium. Intimate rooms with fireplaces and bay windows. Balconies overlooking the grand main stage. Opulently appointed rooms with captivating artwork. Original arched stained-glass features. And so much more.
The flexible, high-ceilinged spaces — alive with the vibrations of such world-class musical artists as Herbie Hancock, Pat Metheny, Mavis Staples, John Scofield, Taj Mahal, Robert Cray and Wynton Marsalis — can be configured to meet your needs.
Extraordinary Culinary ExperienceWedding dinners are also memorable at Jimmy’s, where our team works with you to design a delectable culinary experience that lives up to their flavorful motto, “The Pursuit of Deliciousness.”ADVERTISEMENTAt Jimmy’s, we cultivate personal connections with the local farmers and fishermen who supply the fresh local ingredients used to create a unique New England-inspired cuisine. That same personal touch extends to coordinating with you to create your ideal wedding day menu.
Wired to InspireEngineered with the leading-edge sound and lighting systems required to showcase world-class musical artists, Jimmy’s also offers in-house theater and projector capabilities, plus a seven-camera video system to capture key moments or record your entire ceremony for future viewing and sharing.
Making Your Special Day “Extra Special”Jimmy’s Jazz & Blues Club is a singularly spectacular, full-service wedding venue with a personality and charm unlike any other — a place where the hospitality team puts heart and soul into curating a truly memorable wedding day experience for you and your guests.
To start a conversation about hosting your special wedding event at Jimmy’s Jazz & Blues Club, please fill out our Event Request Form. Or contact 888-603-JAZZ.

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