Small Hotels in Nicaragua included in Tourism Circuits
History, gastronomy and culture are a few of the tourism attractions of a new initiative to promote the small hotels of Nicaragua. Negocios y Turismo of Nicaragua S.A (NTUR) in conjunction with the National Rural Fund (CARUNA), developed a program for vacation oriented tourism in small hotels; the latter in aims of increasing hotel occupancy through diversification of its products and services. In this regard, alliances have been developed with tour operators, select tourism service providers and the Nicaragua Tourist Board.
The project relies on a mechanism of vacation financing that is based upon prepayment, in low monthly quotas. A group of tour operators organize packages for vacationers to select and a catalogue of tourist destinations is available. The product offering is diverse, with excellent quality and low rates. It is conceived with the intent of strengthening the economy of small and medium sized companies, within the framework of sustainable tourism and social responsibility; given that it maximizes local resources while generating profits.
Packages such as the “Gastronomy of Leon", cater to groups interested in the typical cuisine of the city of Leon, including the traditional ‘quesillos’, enchiladas, sweet rolls, ‘cajeta’ and many others. Or try, "Leon, a Destination to Discover” which consists of a day in this colonial city to explore its history, culture, nature, revolutionary past and its religious traditions.

Judas Tadeo Ecotourism Farm promotes rural tourism in Panama
The Judas Tadeo Ecotourism Farm in Panama is recognized in Central America as a novel tourism enterprise, based on the concept of rural tourism. This family project is located near the Panama Canal and within its environs offers a variety of tourism services such as agricultural and ecological tourism; a training center; sale of agricultural and organic products; souvenirs and handcrafts as well as lodging and restaurant.
The project opened to tourism in February 2005 and among its impacts to date, is the creation of jobs and added value to community produced products; the inducement of artisans and local traditions; increased awareness of property and the family unit. This small hotel recognizes that rural tourism implies a new understanding of travel and the sensitivity towards local cultures, nature and people.

Hotel El Bambú, of Costa Rica, produces clean energy
In the past year the Hotel Bambú, located in the Northern zone of Costa Rica at the heart of Sarapiquí, has developed a novel, efficient and environmentally friendly, bio-gas production project.
The project consists of a system of waste water treatment with two bio-digesters that function to ferment human waste in an anaerobic process (without oxygen), for the production methane gas.
This bio gas can then be used to generate heat for cooking, as well as energy for illumination and refrigeration. It can also function as a fossil fuel substitute for diesel and gasoline, in internal combustion engines

A small executive hotel in Honduras
The Minister Suites Hotel in Honduras is a property that well knows the type of client it wishes to attract. It has not only taken advantage of technology in its marketing, as a means of overcoming the difficulties of direct advertising (among them travel expenses and time spent on sales blitzes); but it has also sought differentiation. The latter by personalizing the rooms and designing them to make the guest feel in a home like atmosphere, including a relaxation system for sleeping as well as facilities for the business traveler that include the executive suites with an office and free internet connection. The principal means of promotion for this hotel are word of mouth recommendations, internet, strategic alliances and publications.
Small hotels of Costa Rica embark on new technology training
On this past 4th of April, the small hotels of Costa Rica received training in relation to the “System of Distribution and Advantages of the Electronic Reservation Systems of Today”. This training was sponsored by the Assistance Program for Central America Small Hotels and the Costa Rica Tourist Board. The course was given by international hotel and technology experts including: Mr. Ricardo Senn, Director for Marketing & Development for-LAHRES-Argentina and German Padilla Moreno-LAHRES-México. Thanks to this cooperation, the small hotels of Costa Rica evolve on a path of new technology that will improve their presence and efficiency in travel markets.

In Costa Rica, 57 beaches have obtained the Ecological Blue Flag
During 2006, fifty seven additional Costa Rican beaches will display the Blue Flag that recognizes the efforts of costal communities towards the protection of these areas of tourism interest, an increase of 7 beaches versus 2005. The beaches best listed are Manuel Antonio, Espadilla Sur, Puerto Escondido and Gemelas, located in Manuel Antonio National Park, Puntarenas. Additionally, playa Blanca in Punta Leona, obtained the highest qualification. Simultaneously, the beaches of El Roble de Puntarenas, Santa Teresa de Cóbano and Puntarenas; together with Tamarindo and Playa Buena, in Guanacaste recovered this environmental seal. The Ecological Blue Flag Program is a system of annual evaluations created in 1996 as recognition and incentive to hoteliers, coastal Chambers of tourism and communities, for their efforts in protecting Costa Rican beaches.

Disney chooses Costa Rica.
Together with Rome, Venice, London, Paris, Hawaii and Canada; Costa Rica was chosen as the Latin-American tourism destination for the Adventures by Disney project, to be launched next month. News sources confirmed that Disney initiated this program to strengthen its Brand and positioning, without the need to build theme parks. In Costa Rica, Disney’s clients will stay at the Marriott in San Jose; the Parador Hotel in Manuel Antonio, Quepos; and the Kioro Arenal during their visit to La Fortuna in San Carlos. Horizontes Nature Tours is the ground operator of record.