Nationwide Premier Passport Programme Provides Travellers With Exclusive Offers & Amenities at America's Premier Shopping Places

America’s Premier Shopping Places, a collection of tourism-oriented shopping centres owned and/or managed by General Growth Properties, Inc (NYSE: GGP), offers domestic and international travellers a nationwide incentive programme, Premier Passport.

The programme provides visitors with an array of exclusive shopping and dining offers, savings, amenities and added-value promotions from participating retailers and restaurants at each centre. With the variety of shopping and dining options available to both group and leisure travellers throughout America’s Premier Shopping Places, Premier Passport provides unique services and offers at each destination.

Whether travellers are visiting popular urban destinations like Chicago, Las Vegas, Miami, Baltimore and Honolulu, or regional destinations along America’s highways and byways such as Virginia Beach, St. Louis, Providence, San Antonio, or Tucson, they are treated to an exclusive Premier Passport welcome packet specially designed for that location.

A Premier Passport voucher is features eight languages, English, Spanish, Portuguese, Japanese, Mandarin, German, Italian and French. The four-colour pre-printed vouchers are available free of charge to travel professionals and distributed through participating travel agents, tour operators and meeting planners along with customers’ travel documents. In addition, travel professionals can request a PDF of the voucher, which can be emailed to their clients’ before departing on their trip. Visitors can print a “voucher on demand” before travelling by visiting www.AmericasShoppingPlaces.com. These vouchers are also available in eight languages.

Upon arrival at any one of America’s Premier Shopping Places, the visitor presents their Premier Passport voucher at Guest Services or a designated retail location noted on the Passport to receive their complimentary welcome packet. Offers vary at each center due to the unique assortment of stores and restaurants at each location.

For example, in addition to shopping and dining specials at The Grand Canal Shoppes in Las Vegas, Premier Passport offers include discounts to Madame Tussaud’s, Blue Man Group and more. Every Premier Passport visitor receives a welcome letter, store directory, coupon book or printed listing of discounts and/or exclusive offers from stores and restaurants which only are available to out-of-town guests upon presentation of their driver’s license or passport. Visitors are encouraged to retain their Premier Passport voucher to utilise in other America’s Premier Shopping Places destinations when travelling throughout the U.S.A.

Travel industry professionals appreciate the simplicity and convenience of the Premier Passport program and the added value it provides to their clients. The Passports are welcomed at all of America’s Premier Shopping Places across the country - from Honolulu to Baltimore, Miami to Portland - eliminating the need to store vouchers or coupon books for multiple destinations.

America's Premier Shopping Places is an award-winning collection of tourism-oriented shopping centers located throughout the United States which are owned and managed by General Growth Properties, Inc. The centers are located in the heart of America's best-loved cities as well as along America's scenic highways and byways, attracting millions of visitors annually from around the world.

American Cruise Lines Building Third New Riverboat

Construction begins as company plans to expand on U.S. Rivers.

American Cruise Lines (www.americancruiselines.com), the leader in small ship cruising, has announced it will be building another brand new riverboat due to the high demand for its U.S. river cruises. A contract has been signed and construction has already begun. The new riverboat will be slightly larger but similar in many respects to the 150-passenger Queen of the Mississippi, which is nearing completion at Chesapeake Shipbuilding in Salisbury, MD.

“We recognize a considerable strength in river cruising and have observed an increased interest in our U.S. river cruises over the last several years,” said Charles A. Robertson, CEO of American Cruise Lines. “We look forward to introducing yet another new authentic paddlewheel riverboat to meet this demand.”

Robertson attributes the success of the company’s river cruise business to its “newer, low-density vessels, each built to meet the highest industry standards in comfort, safety and technology.”

American Cruise Lines’ third new riverboat will feature a similar capacity to that of the Queen of the Mississippi and will also boast the most spacious staterooms in the industry, entirely private balconies – all with sliding glass doors, a center atrium with a grand staircase, various lounges and numerous amenities including:

▪ Fully-functioning authentic paddlewheel
▪ 300+ square foot staterooms
▪ Private balconies with sliding glass doors
▪ Various unique lounges, libraries, and cafés
▪ Fine hotel-style bathrooms
▪ Room Service
▪ Wi-Fi in all staterooms
▪ Satellite TV and DVD player in all staterooms
▪ Single sitting, open seating dining
▪ Complimentary cocktail hour

As of yet, no decision has been made as to where the new riverboat will operate other than on U.S. rivers. Additional details and information will be announced in the coming months.

American Cruise Lines offers more than 35 unique itineraries on inland waterways and rivers across the United States. Over the last several years, American Cruise Lines has continued to add new itineraries and ships to accommodate demand.

Its newest river itineraries are offered on two authentic paddlewheelers – the 120-passenger Queen of the West operating on the Columbia and Snake Rivers of the Pacific Northwest, and Queen of the Mississippi, American Cruise Lines’ brand new authentic paddlewheeler. With a capacity of 150 guests and offering numerous never-before-available amenities, the authentic paddlewheeler is set to debut on the Mississippi River this coming August and is the first new riverboat built for the Mississippi River in nearly 20 years.

FACTFILE:
American Cruise Lines, the largest U.S. cruise company, operates the newest fleet of small ships in the industry and offers more than 35 unique itineraries along the inland waterways and rivers of the Pacific Northwest, Alaska, the Mississippi River System and East Coast of the United States, from New England to Florida. To learn more about American Cruise Lines, visit our Website at http://www.americancruiselines.com or call (800) 814-6880. Also find us on Facebook and Twitter.

Bag A Boxing Day Bargain To America

BAmerican adventures in 2012 have just got cheaper with TrekAmerica and Grand American Adventures offering up to 20% off all tours between February and September.

Travellers can save up to £547pp with TrekAmerica on all bookings made before 6 January and up to £483pp on bookings with Grand American Adventures up to 13 January.

TREKAMERICA

Trailblazer: Save up to £547pp

- For those with a mission to take in all things stateside, holidaymakers can embark on this epic 64-day adventure from just £3,102pp. This two month circuit travels through 33 US states and Canadian provinces, crossing from New York to Vancouver and then back again from San Diego to the Florida Keys.

- Price: From £3,102pp land only (incl. 15% discount) including 53 nights' accommodation (camping & hotels), private transport, selected sightseeing and an experienced local leader.

NEW Westerner 3 BLT: Save up to £277pp

- On this brand new 21-day lodging tour, adventure lovers will head on a round-trip which starts and ends in Los Angeles, taking in the sights and sounds of the outback along the way. Crossing deserts, mountains, cities and canyons, the trip will take in San Francisco, Nevada, Yosemite, Monument Valley and Las Vegas.

- Price: From £1,572pp land only (incl. 15% discount) including 20 nights' accommodation, private transport, selected sightseeing and an experienced local leader.

Western Wonder: Save up to £119pp

- Travellers will discover the mystery of the open road on this seven-day tour as they head from Hollywood to the Grand Canyon through Las Vegas and San Francisco and on to LA. With a double dose of national park adventures, holidaymakers will spot the bears and coyotes of Yosemite National Park before exploring the natural wonders of the Grand Canyon.

- Price: From £479pp land only (incl. 20% discount) including 4 nights camping, private transport, a limousine tour of Las Vegas, selected sightseeing and an experienced local leader.

GRAND AMERICAN ADVENTURES

National Parks of the West: Save up to £483pp

- Taking in 11 national parks and monuments, this 28-day in-depth tour offers horse-back riding, a 2-night ranch stay and the chance to white-water raft on Snake River. Highlights include a view of the lava flows and volcanic cones in Idaho's Snake River Plain, the western-style saloons of Jackson, the panoramic views of Canyonlands National Park and the sunset over Grand Canyon.

- Price: From £1,935pp land only (incl. 20% discount) including 27 nights' accommodation (camping, hotels & ranch), private transport, most meals, white-water rafting, selected sightseeing and an experienced local leader.

NEW Northeastern Explorer: Save up to £349pp

- Travellers can share the spirit of the early settlers along Native American trade routes on this new 12-day tour of America and Canada. Starting in New York, holidaymakers take in cosmopolitan cities, small country towns and picturesque landscapes. With Colonial New England and French Canadian culture, people will experience the perfect combination of yesterday and today.

- Price: From £1,319pp land only (incl. 20% discount) including 11 nights' accommodation, private transport, selected sightseeing and an experienced local leader.

Southwest in Depth: Save up to £283pp

- For a 14-day cultural experience combined with the breathtaking Grand Canyon, holidaymakers will follow in the footsteps of the Navajo people and their ancestors. In southwestern Colorado guests will get a close-up view of the ancient Anasazi Indian cliff dwellings and in Utah travellers will experience two nights on an authentic Western Ranch.

- Price: From £1,135pp land only (incl. 20% discount) including 13 nights' accommodation (camping, hotels & ranch), private transport, most meals, selected sightseeing and an experienced local leader.

To find out more contact Grand American Adventures (0844 576 1406 / www.grandamericanadventures.com) or TrekAmerica (0844 576 1405 / www.trekamerica.com