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South East Asia Hotel Investors’ Summit returns to Westin Grande Sukhumvit, Bangkok

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The South East Asia Hotel Investors’ Summit returns for its third edition in May and will again feature top executives from both hotel owning groups and management companies and a range of cutting-edge topics.

SEAHIS focuses heavily on the issues facing hotel property investors. What topics are top-of-mind at the moment? Simon Allison, Chairman of hotel owners’ alliance HOFTEL which organizes the Summit notes:

The market in South-East Asia is generally booming, but investors in hospitality properties still face numerous challenges. These include:

• The need to pay numerous fees and taxes, to the online travel agents, to the brands and to the governments which between them can take almost half of what a guest pays the hotel

• The challenge of the sharing economy and of new forms of accommodation

• Oversupply as new properties get built

• The one-sided contracts which some hotel brands impose on them

• The dangers of relying too heavily on a single inbound market, like China – as the fall-off in demand in Phuket after the boat disaster showed last year

• Acquisitions of boutique brands by the majors – can these make money for their buyers and for the owners of the properties they manage

The last point is very much a relevant topic at the moment given the vast sums recently paid by Intercontinental for a stake in Six Senses, by Hyatt for Two Roads and by GIC for a stake in CitizenM.

These issues will be addressed at SEAHIS by many of the region’s most senior hotel and travel executives including Suchad Chiaranussati, CEO of SC Capital; Dillip Rajakarier, CEO of Minor International; Thomas Willms, CEO of Deutsche Hospitality; Brian Williams, Deputy Chairman of Swire Hotels; Aron Harilela, CEO of Harilela Hotels; Stephan Vanden Auweele, Chief Hospitality Officer of Asset World Corporation (TCC); Piyaporn Phanachet, CEO of U City; Andrew Langdon, SVP Development Asia, Accor; Mike Orgill, Director, Public Policy, Airbnb and Jake Stein, Senior Director, Owner Relations at Expedia.

“Last year almost 50% of all attendees were from groups which own or develop hospitality real estate, said Simon Allison, CEO of HOFTEL. “They want exciting and sometimes controversial content and we aim to deliver that. Our speakers are senior and so are most of the audience, so it’s a highly informed debate.”

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Jordan sets itself up for European MICE audience

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Jordan, a country which is sheltered from the troubles of the region, is safe to travel in and around, independently or in a group. The country is presenting itself to the European MICE audience with fully-detailed proposals as well as a complete specializing catalogue thanks to the cooperation of The Platinum Services, a Rome-based event agency and DMC specializing in first class events in Italy, Europe and other selected areas, and Guarantee Travel Group, one of the biggest DMCs and event and travel agencies of the Country, benefitting from personal contacts with Jordan Minister of Tourism and Antiquities Majd Mohammad Shweikeh.

“Jordan’s MICE industry has come of age,” stated Regional Director Mr. Rami Qutishat. “It understands the particular demands of the meetings and incentive market and strives to exceed expectations. It has harnessed the ingredients needed to provide groups with a successful event that touches the hearts of most discerning delegates and resides in their memories». For nearly half a century, Late King Hussein was viewed as a respected world leader and a symbol of peace and reconciliation. Today, his son King Abdullah II echoes the same voice of moderation – not by chance, he’s been recently presented the Peace Lamp in Assisi, Italy.”

Jordan is located at the crossroads of three continents, making it an ideal meeting place for international events. Flying time from most European, African and Asian cities is around four hours, and there is easy and direct access from the USA and Canada. GMT +2 hours; US Eastern Standard Time +7 hours.

Aqaba’s King Hussein International Airport (KHIA) is a gateway to the Red Sea and is becoming an important regional hub for business and leisure travelers. It is the only airport in Jordan to operate an Open Skies policy.

The national carrier, Royal Jordanian Airlines, flies to 54 destinations and is a member of One World Alliance with code sharing alliances with many airlines. The country boasts a fine array of international hotels, with new investments constantly adding a number of exciting developments to the portfolio. The country is now embracing the concept of eco resorts and is increasingly supporting green initiatives.

Besides the wealth of meeting space available in all the major hotels, the opening of the King Hussein Bin Talal Convention Center in 2006 on the shore of the Dead Sea signaled Jordan’s commitment to this sector.

Jordan touches many senses – from spicy aromas and culinary pleasures to an invigorating mud wrap, first glimpse of Petra’s Treasury and the sound of desert silence. It is one of nature’s most unusual adventure playgrounds, containing some of the world’s best preserved Nabataean and Roman cities, as well as the Dead Sea, the lowest point in the world; and for an even greater adrenalin rush, it unveils the crags that tower over Wadi Rum or the waterfalls in Wadi Mujib.

“Jordan is a country with rich cultural heritage,” stated Loredana Chiappini, owner of The Platinum Services. MICE events are set against a spectacular backdrop of mountains, deserts and seas that have provided the stage for many of history’s most momentous dramas. When you combine world-class meeting facilities with an inspiring range of incentive activities in a dramatic setting, you will have the ingredients for a very special event. With easy access, value for money and highly experienced DMCs, success is assured.”

Click on the website for more information.

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Uganda Airlines firms up orders for two Airbus A330neo aircraft

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Uganda Airlines, the national carrier of Uganda, has firmed up its order for two A330-800 airliners, the latest version of the most popular A330 widebody airliner.

Fitted with the new Airspace by Airbus cabin, the A330neo will bring a range of benefits to Uganda Airlines and its customers, offering unrivalled efficiencies combined with the most modern cabin.

Uganda Airlines plans to use the A330-800 to build its medium and long-haul network with the aircraft offering cutting-edge technology along with more efficient operations

Launched in July 2014, the A330neo Family is the new generation A330, comprising two versions: the A330-800 and A330-900 sharing 99 percent commonality. It builds on the proven economics, versatility and reliability of the A330 Family while reducing fuel consumption by about 25 percent per seat versus previous generation competitors and increasing range by up to 1,500 nm compared to the majority of A330s in operation. The A330neo is powered by Rolls-Royce’s latest-generation Trent 7000 engines and features a new wing with increased span and new A350 XWB-inspired Sharklets. The cabin provides the comfort of the new Airspace amenities including state-of-the-art passenger inflight entertainment and Wifi connectivity systems, amongst others.

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Istanbul New Airport: First flight was to Ankara and a proud Turkish Nation is celebrating

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The Great Move to Istanbul Airport concluded. A proud city, a proud country and a proud airline are celebrating today in Turkey.

Turkish Airlines says that 10,000 pieces of equipment weighing 47,000 tonnes are to be moved to complete the shift later today from Ataturk Airport to the newly built Istanbul Airport

Turkish Airlines’ first flight from its new home, Istanbul Airport, after its final transfer operation, was to the capital, just like the first flight of the flag carrier 86 years ago.

Atatürk Airport was the witness to the flag carrier airline’s steady local and global rise since its founding and Turkish Airlines’ final passenger flight from this transfer hub was the Singapore flight that took place at 02:00 today.

After this significant final flight that will find itself in the annals of Turkish Airlines, another similarly important flight was the first one from Istanbul Airport following the “Great Move” process. Just like the first flight of the national flag carrier 86 years ago, the first flight from Istanbul Airport was bound for the capital. TC-JSY tail coded plane took off from Istanbul Airport at 14:00 to Ankara Esenboğa Airport with its 172 passengers and 8 cabin crew.

Sharing his thoughts about this first flight which followed the final moving operations, Turkish Airlines Chairman of the Board and the Executive Committee, M. İlker Aycı stated; “As we enter a new era where we will find to great successes as Turkish Airlines, we are happy start with a bit of nostalgia. You may know that, 86 years ago, our first domestic flight was bound for Ankara. Today in our new home, we open the doors of a new adventure and fly to our capital once again for our first flight. In the future, we will leave many 86 years behind us while feeling the pride of flying our flag in every corner of the world as the family of Turkish Airlines with the capabilities offered to us by our new home, this “Monument of Victory.”

After the last passenger flight from Atatürk Airport, which was bound for Singapore, both Atatürk Airport and Istanbul Airport were closed to all passenger flights between 02:00 and 14:00 today. Operations after the move began with the national flag carrier’s first flight from Istanbul Airport to Ankara Esenboğa Airport took off at 14:00. Following this flight, Turkish Airlines operations from Istanbul Airport will be increased in stages according to the set plan.

Earlier Turkish Airlines conducted its last passenger flight from Atatürk Airport with its scheduled Singapore flight on 02:00 today. Atatürk Airport, the longtime transfer hub was the immediate witness of Turkish Airline’s consistent local and global growth since its founding.

The farewell flight that concluded the successful adventure of the global carrier on Atatürk Airport was met with great interest of the passengers. The flag carrier’s TK54 Istanbul – Singapore flight, operated with TC-JJY tail coded aircraft with 319 passengers and 18 cabin crew, has already become a memorable milestone in the history of Turkish Airlines.

Sharing his views about this last flight from the Atatürk Airport, Turkish Airlines Chairman of the Board and the Executive Committee, M. İlker Aycı said; “As we bid farewell to the place that has been our home for the last 86 years, we send off our passengers on our Singapore flight from this special facility for the last time. They say that some places gain a voice of their own over time. This is exactly what we feel as we stand in Atatürk Airport today. As we experience these moments full of emotion, our singular comfort is that we will host our passengers in a state of the art facility from now and with that opportunity we will experience the unstoppable rise of our brand.”

Besides that, Turkish Airlines passed almost 24-hour mark of its moving process. Turkish Airlines’ move to its new home Istanbul Airport which is the biggest airport project of the world, will continue in the following hours. Unique in global aviation history, the moving operation will take 45 hours in total and it will be concluded on April 6 Saturday night at 23:59.

Ataturk Airport and Istanbul Airport are closed between 02:00 and 14:00 following the Turkish Airlines’ scheduled TK54 Istanbul – Singapore flight from Atatürk Airport which is the last passenger flight from this old home.

Operations with the “Great Move” will begin with the Ankara flight of the national flag carrier, which will depart from Istanbul Airport on April 6 at 14:00. Following that, the flights from Istanbul Airport will be increased in stages according to a set plan.

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African Tourism Board : First three source markets revealed

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The African Tourism Board is active in promoting the African Continent as one destination in the United States, Israel, and India. ATB invited three PR and marketing experts from these three source markets to speak at the ATB launch event on April 11 during WTM in Cape Town.

African Tourism Board Members will be invited to receive a full fledge representation through ATB offices in New York, Tel Aviv and Delhi on a national, regional or local basis Stakeholders including CVB’s, hotels and safari/ tour operators can also participate independently.

In addition,  ATB is already talking to partners in various European countries and China.

Services will include a phone hotline, effective media outreach,  sales missions, and local events. Each office will have the capacity to start with at least 10 African companies or destination and can expand as needed. Acceptance is based on a first comes first basis.

The cost-sharing concept should lower the investment for up to 90% compared to current models of independent and competing marketing representations. It would allow medium to smaller companies and destinations to stay competitive.

“The idea is not only to save money but also to offer Africa tourism without borders.  We are not planning to compete with national tourism offices, but like to enhance services and offer an effective outreach also for those that didn’t have the opportunity due to budget restraints.

Our connection with media, trade, and influencers is a win-win for Africa. We are excited,” said interim Chairman Juergen Steinmetz.

For more information on the African Tourism Board and on how to join or participate at the launch go to www.africantourismboard.com

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U.S. Travel applauds introduction to rename Visa Waiver Program

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U.S. Travel Association Executive Vice President of Public Affairs and Policy Tori Barnes issued the following statement on the introduction of a bill to rename the Visa Waiver Program to the Secure Travel Partnership:

“Rebranding the Visa Waiver Program will have a lot of downstream benefits for both U.S. security and the U.S. economy. For many, the program has had the connotation of relaxed security standards, when in fact the opposite is true: membership in the VWP subjects entrants to rigorous pre-travel vetting, mandates other security enhancements such as un-counterfeitable biometric passports, and enables invaluable intelligence-sharing with our partners in the program. Just as good, facilitating travel for citizens of our closest security allies also entails billions of dollars in proven economic impact.

“Renaming the program the Secure Travel Partnership will much more precisely describe its crucial role and allow policymakers to focus on policies aimed at enhancing and expanding it in order to maximize its security and economic potential.”

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Follow travel journalists of “The Bucket List Family”

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The Bucket List Family is a family of five, including three small children, who travel the world together documenting and sharing their adventures. The family will travel with LATAM Airlines throughout the South American region, checking off places from their bucket list with some of the most popular destinations in the region.

In addition, LATAM is bridging a partnership between The Bucket List Family and TECHO, a nonprofit organization that seeks to overcome the poverty situation that millions of people live in across Latin America through the joint work of its inhabitants and young volunteers.

During a yearlong adventure, LATAM will take the family to key destinations in South America to explore the variety of cultures, and via their partnership with TECHO, present the family with the opportunity to give back to the communities by collaborating with local leaders and share their efforts and accomplishments for building better communities.

“We are thrilled to fly with LATAM to amazing destinations and work with TECHO to help in its important mission of fighting poverty throughout the region, said Jessica Gee, matriarch of the Bucket List Family. “In every country we visit, we try to find local service opportunities where we can not only give back but impart valuable life lessons to our children. That’s why we feel this latest adventure is perfectly aligned with our mission and family values.”

Felipe Bogotá, General Director at TECHO added: “TECHO is proud to join LATAM in making The Bucket List Family´s tour an opportunity to build bridges and share on the disparate realities of life in Latin America with the world. Sharing stories is a substantial part of our work, which we have developed in part thanks to LATAM´s foundational contribution to our organization.”

The Bucket List Family will begin its tour in March of 2019, running through 2020. They are expected to visit Chile, Argentina, Colombia and Peru.

“LATAM is thrilled to take the Bucket List Family on this amazing adventure of discovery and purpose,” said Pablo Chiozza, Senior Vice President USA, Asia, Canada and Caribbean at LATAM Airlines.

Follow the journey and join the conversations at The Bucket List Family and use the hashtag #TheBucketListandLATAM.

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Marriott Hotels brings TED Fellows Salon to Cape Town

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Marriott Hotels in partnership with TED, hosted its first TED Fellows Salon in Cape Town, South Africa, sparking conversations around Africa’s beauty, rich heritage and innovative spirit. Held at the Cape Town Marriott Hotel Crystal Towers, renowned TED Fellows, Kenyan musician Bill Sellanga and South African conservation biologist Steve Boyes, led the innovative and thought-provoking discussion providing guests the opportunity to engage and be inspired.

“At Marriott Hotels, everything we do is guided by our belief that travel expands the mind and triggers new and creative ways of thinking,” said Sandra Schulze-Potgieter, Vice President Premium & Select Brands, Middle East and Africa, Marriott International. “Our partnership with TED brings together creative energy and distinct aesthetic. In recent years, Cape Town has shifted its focus to making the city more sustainable, encouraging citizens to innovate while maintaining its rich heritage. Hosting our first TED Fellows Salon at Cape Town Marriott Hotel Crystal Towers is an opportunity for us to spark intellectual conversations and inspire new perspectives for our guests.”

The speakers at this Marriott Hotels TED Salon represent some of the brightest thinkers of their generation who are working towards making positive, meaningful and lasting change in their communities. Steve Boyes explores, protects and restores some of the most remote wildernesses in Africa, including the threatened Okavango Delta, one of our last remaining fresh watersheds. Working with the Angolan government, Boyes recently established two of the largest protected areas in Sub-Saharan Africa amounting to twice the size of England. A trained ornithologist, he is the Executive Director of the Wild Bird Trust and a Fellow at the National Geographic Society.

Sharing the spotlight with Boyes was TED fellow Bill “Blinky” Sellanga. A prolific Kenyan producer and musician, Sellanga is the frontman of musical collective Just A Band, which mixes genres like hip-hop, electronica and funk to make music for popular radio and to give voice to the Kenyan youth. He recently released his first solo album, Everyone’s Just Winging It and Other Fly Tales, weaving African rhythms together with electronic cuts, hip-hop and funk for a unique-brand of “African cool.”

Held at the Cape Town Marriott Hotel Crystal Towers, the event was attended by thought leaders, innovators, members of the recently launched travel platform, Marriott Bonvoy and media. Overlooking the Grand Canal in Century City, Cape Town Marriott Hotel Crystal Towers formed the perfect backdrop for the Cape Town edition of the TED Fellows Salon. Whether you admire the view of Table Mountain from the exquisite outdoor swimming pool or settle down after a busy day in a guest room with sleek furnishings and ultra-soft, plush bedding, a stay at the Cape Town Marriott Hotel Crystal Towers promises to be a journey that inspires brilliance.

The ongoing global partnership between Marriott Hotels and TED is now in its third year, following its launch in 2016, and has been expanded to include more exciting and innovative programming at Marriott Hotels in key destinations worldwide. Marriott Hotels is a brand that’s geared towards a new generation of travelers, who continuously seek fresh inspirations and creative ideas during their own life-changing journeys around the world.

The Cape Town edition is the third TED Fellows Salon to be held within Middle East and Africa with two previous ones being held at Cairo and Abu Dhabi. TED Salons have been hosted in several Marriott Hotels globally, including Bengaluru, Bangkok, London, and Athens. Marriott Hotels also has an Instagram story series which offers viewers original, inspiring content and an inside look at their favorite idea engine.

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Marriott International appoints new member to Board of Directors

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The Board of Directors of Marriott International, Inc. said today it has appointed Margaret M. McCarthy, Executive Vice President at CVS Health Corporation, as an independent director of the company, effective March 19, 2019. Ms. McCarthy will also be included in the company’s slate of nominees for election at Marriott’s upcoming 2019 Annual Meeting of Stockholders.

Ms. McCarthy’s appointment expands the membership of the Board to 14, 11 of whom are independent. She will also serve on the company’s Audit Committee.

“Meg brings a wealth of leadership experience to our Board from her over 30-year career in business and her military service,” said Larry Kellner, Marriott International’s Lead Director. “We were drawn to Meg’s experience with consumer-facing companies undergoing transformational change as well as her knowledge of privacy and cybersecurity. Marriott has a strong and independent Board of Directors that provides critical guidance and advice to management. We are also committed to building a Board that has diverse perspectives and backgrounds reflecting the diversity of our guests, associates and owners. We are confident that Meg will be a valuable addition to the Marriott Board.”

As Executive Vice President at CVS Health, Ms. McCarthy is a leader in the company’s technology transition following its acquisition of Aetna. As previously announced, Ms. McCarthy is slated to depart CVS Health in May. She brings substantial experience in data management and security.

“We’re thrilled to welcome Meg to our Board,” said Arne Sorenson, Marriott International President and Chief Executive Officer. “Her experience and expertise promise to make Meg a terrific addition to the Marriott Board. I look forward to her insights and leadership as we work to build Marriott’s global hospitality brand.”

Ms. McCarthy joined CVS Health through its acquisition of Aetna Inc. in 2018, where she had been Executive Vice President of Operations and Technology since 2010. At Aetna, she also served as the company’s Chief Information Officer and Head of Business Solutions Delivery. Prior to joining Aetna in 2003, she was a senior Information and Technology executive at Cigna Corp., Catholic Health Initiatives and Franciscan Health System, and a Partner at Ernst & Young.

Ms. McCarthy currently serves on the Board of Directors of Brighthouse Financial, Inc. and First American Financial Corporation. She also serves on various advisory boards and councils, including the Financial Services Information Sharing and Analysis Center, MIT Center for Information Systems Research and the Board of Trustees of Providence College.

Ms. McCarthy holds a bachelor’s degree from Providence College and a master’s degree in public health, hospital administration from Yale University. She served in the U.S. Navy Medical Services Corps as a Lieutenant at Bethesda Naval Hospital and in the U.S. Navy Reserves as a Lieutenant Commander.

Marriott’s Board of Directors engaged Russell Reynolds Associates to assist in identifying and evaluating potential nominees.

With the addition of Ms. McCarthy, the 14 members of Marriott’s Board of Directors are as follows:
•J.W. Marriott, Jr., Executive Chairman and Chairman of the Board, Marriott International, Inc.
•Mary K. Bush, President, Bush International, LLC and Former Presidential Appointee as the U.S. Government’s representative on the IMF Board
•Bruce W. Duncan, Chairman of the Board and Former President and Chief Executive Officer, First Industrial Realty Trust, Inc. and Former Interim Chief Executive Officer and Director, Starwood Hotels & Resorts
•Deborah Marriott Harrison, Global Officer, Marriott Culture and Business Councils, Marriott International, Inc.
•Frederick A. Henderson, Former Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, SunCoke Energy, Inc.
•Eric Hippeau, Managing Partner, Lerer Hippeau
•Lawrence W. Kellner, President, Emerald Creek, Group, LLC, Marriott International’s Lead Director
•Debra L. Lee, Former Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, BET Networks
•Aylwin B. Lewis, Former Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer, Potbelly Corporation
•Margaret M. McCarthy, Executive Vice President, CVS Health Corporation
•George Muñoz, Principal, Muñoz Investment Banking Group, LLC
•Steven S. Reinemund, Former Chairman and CEO, PepsiCo, Inc. and Former Dean of Business, Wake Forest University
•Susan C. Schwab, Professor, University of Maryland and Former U.S. Trade Representative
•Arne M. Sorenson, President and Chief Executive Officer, Marriott International, Inc.

Marriott’s Board will nominate these 14 directors as its recommended slate at the company’s upcoming Annual Meeting.

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Hilton University of Florida Conference Center at Gainesville joins Benchmark Resorts & Hotels portfolio

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Benchmark has added the Hilton University of Florida Conference Center at Gainesville to the company’s Benchmark Resorts & Hotels brand portfolio. The recently renovated, 248-guest room property is located on the University of Florida campus, close to Gainesville’s Central Business District. The property serves a growing market of visiting alumni, parents and students, academics, and guests affiliated with the university. Its IACC-approved conference center, with 25,000 square feet of meeting space, attracts a significant number of meetings and events. The Hilton University of Florida Conference Center at Gainesville is Benchmark’s tenth property in Florida, and the third hotel located on a major college campus within the United States.

“We are honored to be chosen by Hilton Hotels & Resorts to manage this exceptional property,” says Benchmark CEO Alex Cabañas. “We are also delighted to again expand our presence in Florida, where both our Gemstone Collection and Benchmark Resorts & Hotels brands are represented throughout the Sunshine State,” he said. Benchmark recently added two hotels in St. Pete Beach to its portfolio, expanding its presence to Southwest Florida.

Mr. Cabañas also noted the growing importance of conference center hotels to a university. “These hotels serve as a campus ‘guest house’, providing an authentic, on-campus experience while sharing ideas and resources,” he said.

The non-smoking, pet-friendly hotel includes 248 guest rooms and suites featuring HDTV, desks for work/study-related activities, and complimentary WiFi. Guests can enjoy the property’s outdoor pool and whirlpool and a 24-hour fitness center.

The University of Florida is a prominent research university, set on 2,000 acres in Gainesville, in North Central Florida. It offers a wide range of undergraduate and graduate programs in law, medicine, business and engineering.

The University of Florida campus offers an array of services and attractions, including an art museum, concerts, lectures, theater, libraries and sports events. Guests can enjoy collegiate football at the nearby Ben Hill Griffin Stadium, home of the Florida Gators. Other local attractions include the Butterfly Rainforest, the Florida Museum of Natural History and the Gainesville Raceway. The surrounding region offers opportunities for biking, canoeing, paddle boarding, swimming and wildlife viewing at one of seven nearby Florida State parks.

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