Jetsettersblog

LAS VEGAS – Elevating personal service and customized experiences to new heights, SKYLOFTS at MGM Grand is teaming with Porsche Cars North America to inject the unique and indulgent Porsche driving experience into the resort’s already extensive array of “Maximum Vegas” possibilities. The SKYLOFTS’ Inspired Escapes are distinctive packages designed especially for the adventurous, yet luxury-minded traveler. Guests on an Inspired Escape will enjoy AAA Five Diamond award-winning accommodations combined with the high-performance power of a Porsche sports car or 2008 Cayenne SUV – complete with an Inspired Escapes Butler to plan every drive. Reservations for this exhilarating new package begin today for bookings starting May 1, 2007.

“SKYLOFTS’ guests expect the best in world-class travel amenities,” said Anton Nikodemus, MGM Grand Senior Vice President of Hotel Operations. “With our new Inspired Escapes program, we will offer an unparalleled experience in opulence, adventure and high-performance.”

SKYLOFTS, located at the top of MGM Grand, offers distinctive personal service in 51 two-story accommodations featuring expansive views of the Las Vegas skyline. Once a SKYLOFT stay is booked, a concierge begins preparing for the visit, contacting guests to discuss transportation, preferred restaurant and event seating, as well as special requests. Upon check in, a butler takes care of every guest need, from unpacking and packing luggage to customizing the in-loft bar and arranging for special amenities, such as linen and pillow selections, spa services, personalized stationery and much more.

A SKYLOFTS’ Inspired Escape takes that magnificent experience and steps on the gas. In addition to the existing top-notch service and amenities, a SKYLOFTS’ Butler will present Inspired Escapes guests with a tailored menu of thrill-seeking adventures created around the luxurious design, power and world-class sports car handling of Porsche vehicles.

Inspired Escapes destinations will be designed for specific Porsche models, including the new generation 2008 Cayenne SUV which boasts a fresh design and more powerful engine, offering the 500 horsepower top-of-the-line Cayenne Turbo. Capable of carrying five people in complete luxury while touring varied Vegas terrain, new dynamic technologies have heightened this Porsche SUV’s nimble sports car performance.

“Porsche is very discriminating about the relationships it seeks to establish with other brands. We consider this a unique opportunity to reach an exclusive audience because SKYLOFTS at MGM Grand takes the Las Vegas experience to a completely new level of luxury and sophistication,” said David Pryor, Vice President of Marketing, Porsche Cars North America. “We think SKYLOFTS is the ultimate travel experience in Las Vegas, and Porsche is the ultimate sports car driving experience.”

Each escape will be personally planned and organized by an attentive SKYLOFTS’ Inspired Escapes Butler, who provides for every detail –from route maps to gourmet snacks and meals, as well as reservations, services or equipment needs along the way. Highlighted adventures will include:

• A Hill Climbers’ Paradise at Mt. Charleston – At 11,918 feet above sea level, the winding road up Mt. Charleston represents a driver’s dream. A refuge from the heat for hikers and campers in the summer, in the winter, there’s hot chocolate by the fire, ski trails and snowballs. As part of the Porsche package, SKYLOFTS will facilitate ski rental for the winter months.

• The “Valley of Fire” Photo Expedition – A scenic drive to Nevada’s oldest and largest state park leads to world-class picnicking, camping, hiking and photography opportunities. The Valley of Fire represents an unforgettable experience to view the extraordinary natural forces that shaped Nevada.

• Sightseeing Tour of Hoover Dam & Lake Mead – Twists and turns highlight the drive to Hoover Dam at Lake Mead, where boating, swimming, hiking, nature viewing and sightseeing await. Hoover Dam provides the unique juxtaposition of one of man’s most amazing creations with one of nature’s natural wonders.

Other Las Vegas-based adventures will be available and all experiences will feature Porsche’s 2008 Cayenne and sports cars, which will be rotated through the private fleet.

SKYLOFTS’ Inspired Escapes will be available beginning May 1, 2007 to guests staying in one-, two- and three-bedroom Lofts and are subject to availability at the time of booking. Dependent on Loft size and model of car, Inspired Escapes start at $1,200 per night. For additional information or to secure reservations, please call (877) 646-5638.

Porsche Cars North America, Inc. (PCNA), based in Atlanta, Ga., and its subsidiary, Porsche Cars Canada, Ltd., are the exclusive importers of Porsche sports cars and Cayenne sport utility vehicles for the United States and Canada. A wholly owned, indirect subsidiary of Dr. Ing. h.c. F. Porsche AG, PCNA employs approximately 250 people who provide Porsche vehicles, parts, service, marketing and training for its 214 U.S. and Canadian dealers. They, in turn, provide Porsche owners with best-in-class service. Porsche Cars North America, Inc. (PCNA), based in Atlanta, Ga., and its subsidiary, Porsche Cars Canada, Ltd., are the exclusive importers of Porsche sports cars and Cayenne sport utility vehicles for the United States and Canada. A wholly owned, indirect subsidiary of Dr. Ing. h.c. F. Porsche AG, PCNA employs approximately 250 people who provide Porsche vehicles, parts, service, marketing and training for its 214 U.S. and Canadian dealers. They, in turn, provide Porsche owners with best-in-class service. Porsche Cars North America, Inc. (PCNA), based in Atlanta, Ga., and its subsidiary, Porsche Cars Canada, Ltd., are the exclusive importers of Porsche sports cars and Cayenne sport utility vehicles for the United States and Canada. A wholly owned, indirect subsidiary of Dr. Ing. h.c. F. Porsche AG, PCNA employs approximately 250 people who provide Porsche vehicles, parts, service, marketing and training for its 214 U.S. and Canadian dealers. They, in turn, provide Porsche owners with best-in-class service.

SKYLOFTS at MGM Grand, one of only five Las Vegas hotels to earn the 2007 AAA Five Diamond honor, debuted in January 2005 as a rare and private sanctuary of 51 two-story accommodations with expansive views of the Las Vegas skyline. SKYLOFTS provides the quintessential Loft environment and the height of personalized attention including Dream, Spa and Music Butlers, 24-hour concierge service, luggage packing and unpacking services and pre-engraved stationery. For additional information and to secure reservations at SKYLOFTS, please visit http://www.skyloftsmgmgrand.com/ or contact (877) 646-5638. All reservations are based on availability and blackout dates apply.

The pace of modern life would seem to afford precious little time for contemplative ceremonies or stylized rituals.

In Japan, however, many aspects of ancient life permeate an otherwise hectic society. Whether participating in a three-hour tea ceremony, lodging at a ryokan (classical guest house in the Zen tradition) or indulging in the cleansing effects of an onsen (natural hot springs), in order to fully absorb Japan one must experience the elaborate rituals and stylized ceremonies that manifest their philosophies and define the culture.

Asia Transpacific Journeys knows that delving into these traditions is intrinsic to a rich travel experience and to understanding the culture as a whole. They offer a 13-day Small Group (up to 16 travelers) trip called Quintessential Japan that features an in-depth survey of the arts and traditions that defined ancient Japan, and that continue to be practiced today.

Through extensive connections nurtured for the past two decades, travelers will enjoy private meetings with the priests, dancers and craftspeople practicing the ancient arts. Zen gardens, Shinto architecture, a geisha dance performance and a tea ceremony will illuminate this hyper-modern country’s connection to its revered past.

“Even with the press of modern life, the Japanese retain many of the rituals that add meaning and substance to our hectic lives,” says Marilyn Downing Staff, CEO of the company that is the definitive expert in travel to Asia and the Pacific Rim for the past 20 years.

Autumn departures feature beautiful fall foliage and the extraordinary temple town of Koya-san. In April guests will join local revelers at the Takayama Spring Festival, one of Japan’s most beautiful, to watch a parade of traditional floats and ancient puppets. With luck this will coincide with the cherry blossom season.

Quintessential Japan departs on Oct. 27, 2007, and April 8 and Oct. 25, 2008. For those who can’t travel on these days, Custom Journeys can be arranged through Asia Transpacific Journeys. The featured destinations include Tokyo, Kamakura, Hakone, Takayama and/or Koya-San, Kyoto and Nara.

Included in the per-person (double) land costs of $7,395 ($1,200 single supplement) are highest end accommodations, nearly all meals, transfers, visa fees, tips, entrance fees, medical and emergency insurance and a comprehensive pre-departure packet. Asia Transpacific Journeys can also arrange international air through its in-house air department.

Asia Transpacific Journeys has been crafting private Custom Journeys and Small Group Trips to the Asia/Pacific region since 1987. Their regional expertise also makes them the operator of choice for dozens of America’s most demanding universities and museums.

For 2007 Asia Transpacific Journeys itineraries of Small Group Trips and Custom Journeys encompass over 20 countries in North Asia, South Asia, SE Asia and the Pacific. Some trips also support global conservation and cultural preservation. Asia Transpacific Journeys own non-profit Asia Transpacific Foundation, established in 1998, works with rural Asian communities

to provide clean drinking water through locally made ceramic water filters. 

National Geographic Traveler (Oct 2006) has selected Asia Transpacific Journeys’ Myanmar Trip as one of “50 Tours of a Lifetime”

For more information please see http://www.asiatranspacific.com/ or call toll free 800-642-2742.

Travelers in Holland looking to stay in a unique hotel in a beautiful location, can now get help from three organizations that specialize in hotels in cultural heritage buildings and quality hotels in special settings.

Erfgoed Logies offers the traveler a variety of off-the-beaten-path accommodations, such as a medieval castle, an old manor house in the middle of a forest, a 14th century country estate, a convent, a former corn mill, a lock keepers house and a national heritage farm dating from 1273. You can even spend the night aboard an antique sailing ship. For information on these cultural heritage buildings and privately owned accommodations, visit www.erfgoedlogies.nl Prices range from approx. Euro 70 to 150 per night and include breakfast.

Quality Lodgings is a group of 39 individual quality hotels. All of the hotels are unique and are situated in the most beautiful locations in Holland. Hotels include a town inn where Prince Willem of Orange had his wedding feast in 1575, a castle hotel, farmhouse, and a boutique hotel. Visit www.qualitylodgings.nl

Many of the above mentioned hotels feature Michelin-star restaurants and beautiful gardens. Prices range from approx. Euro 135 to 415 per night and include breakfast.

In the South of Holland, in the province of Limburg, you can find Chateau Hotels & Resorts. Limburg is famous for its rolling hills, exquisite cuisine, timbered houses, international ambiance and the city of Maastricht. Chateau Hotels & Resorts offers deluxe accommodation in five chateau and manor hotels and the latest hotel is situated in a former cloister dating from the 15th century. The hotels are not only known for their luxury and style but also for the excellent cuisine. Visit www.chateauhotels.nl

For more information on Holland, go to www.holland.com

Wyndham Hotel Group International today announced the launch of its TripRewards® loyalty programme in Germany, a move company officials said would support travel agents and other intermediaries by enhancing the value proposition of Ramada® stays for their clients.

Participating Ramada hotels in Germany now offer 10 TripRewards points for the equivalent of every U.S. dollar spent, free room upgrades and early check-in and late check-out, based on availability. Members also receive a complimentary snack and beverage upon arrival.

Members may elect to earn either TripRewards points or miles in several airline frequent flyer programmes. The number of miles received per stay varies by airline program.

TripRewards points also can be earned for car rentals at participating Avis®, Budget® and Sixt® car rental locations worldwide and stays at all Outrigger® and OHANA® hotels and resorts in Hawaii. Members may choose to earn miles through Aeroplan, a Canadian frequent traveller program.

TripRewards points may be redeemed for free-night hotel and resort stays and car rentals. Members also may elect to donate points to selected international charities including Habitat for Humanity International and The Miracle Foundation.

Sean Worker, Wyndham Hotel Group International senior vice president and managing director, international operations, said the TripRewards programme was customized for Germany based on research that showed travellers in those countries value personal recognition above all other benefits. “We regionalized the TripRewards programme to meet the specific preferences of German travellers,” he said. “The combination of our guest recognition elements with the ability to earn TripRewards points or airline points will enable our travel agent and intermediary partners to better serve their frequent-traveller clients.

Since its introduction four years ago, the TripRewards programme has become the largest lodging loyalty programme in the world by virtue of the number of participating hotels, with 5.2 million active members and members enrolling at a rate of about 240,000 every month.

German residents may enrol online at www.TripRewards.com/de or calling 00-800-367-87477. New members will receive a welcome kit containing a TripRewards card and membership guide. Members will also receive programme updates and information on new promotions.

The TripRewards program is offered at Ramada and Days Inn hotels in the United Kingdom, Ireland, Germany, United States, Canada and China. Members also may earn TripRewards points or airline miles for stays at Super 8 and Howard Johnson® properties in North America and China; Wingate Inn, Baymont Inn®, Knights Inn and AmeriHost Inn® properties in North America; and Travelodge hotels in the United States.

Wyndham Hotel Group, one of three principal components of Wyndham Worldwide Corporation (NYSE: WYN), encompasses nearly 6,500 hotels and more than 539,000 hotel rooms on six continents. All hotels are owned and operated independently or by a Wyndham Hotel Group subsidiary.

Do you want to know how it feels to be balanced and revitalised? Perhaps you would like to learn the art of happiness, take up yoga, or are simply looking for a health holiday in stunning surroundings. If any or all of these appeal, then Prestige Holidays’ health and well being package at the award winning Choupana Hills Resort and Spa in Madeira this September is for you.

The package features a five day master programme including:

• daily yoga classes by Rajendra Pandey , a renowned HathaYoga teacher
• daily relaxation and meditation sessions
• a one hour spa therapy per stay
• 3 healthy gourmet meals a day
• 5 interactive workshops covering the following topics: Your are what you eat / Supplements, Vitamins, Minerals and Herbs –what are your needs? / Brain Fitness / How to survive in overdrive / The Art of Happiness and the15 Steps to Wellness
• Hands on cooking class
• Unlimited access to spa and exercise facilities

Prestige Holidays’ seven night health and well being package at Choupana Hills costs from £2399 per person. The package includes: return scheduled flights with TAP Air Portugal (departing from London Gatwick on 3 September and returning on 10 September), private taxi transfers, all of the activities listed above and seven nights BB accommodation in a double?? room For further information and reservations call Prestige Holidays on 01425 480400 or consult the web site www.prestigeholidays.co.uk.

The programme will be lead by Dr Geraldine Mitton an internationally acclaimed author and lecturer, a former emergency physician and a leading pioneer in preventive medicine and wellness.

Dr Geraldine Mitton combines scientific medical knowledge with complementary therapies. As a result of her studies and research throughout the world, she presents cutting edge information on nutrition, diet therapies, women’s health, men’s health, stress management, executive health, mind-body therapies and complementary medicine including traditional Chinese medicine.

Dr Mitton’s workshops will be packed with easily absorbed “take home” information, with additional customised lifestyle recommendations for men and women of all ages.

Rajendra Pandey, Yoga Master was born and brought up in Rishikesh India, the birthplace of Yoga. Rajendra Pandey has learned Yoga based on Patanjali`s Yoga Sutra from different classical Yoga Masters in India. He has a Yoga degree from the Jawaharlal Nehru University in New Delhi and is a leading Yoga Master teaching Yoga worldwide.

He has been the Yoga teacher at the Anandain the Himalayas, voted the best destination spa in the world, for several years and is currently presenting Yoga on the TV Channel “ Life style network” in the Philippines.

Next year is going to be quite significant for the tourism industry in Singapore, as the city is all set to host the grand event – F1 race 2008.

As per the key findings of RNCOS report “Opportunities in Singapore Tourism Industry (2007-2009)”, “Innovative products & concepts often catch the fancy of youths. Owing to this reason, the tourism industry considers youths – population falling in the age group between 15 and 64 years – as its potential customers. And, this youth population is expected constitute almost 77% of the total population in Singapore by the year 2011. Therefore, targeting this particular age group can be a great opportunity area for tourism industry.”

Happening events such as F1 race are something that can drive the youth crazy. With Singapore all set to host F1 race in 2008, retail industries, nightspots, and hotels are in celebration mood. The main reason behind this is that during the event, there’s going to be parties galore – virtually by each participating team & its sponsors. Also, the tourism industry will likely earn above US$ 100 Million from this event.

Hoteliers are expected to benefit from this because room rates should multiply during the event as a direct result of tourists’ and spectators’ influx. Govt. will also benefit from this, as it will impose an exclusive F1-cess on the revenues earned by the hotels, not more than 30% during the event so that hosting costs are defrayed.

“I believe F1 is going to bring a lot of people here, the right people, the right tourists…the world’s paparazzi will be here, it will put us on the world map alongside major sporting venues. It will not just make Singapore a destination for nightlife, it will propel Singapore to be a world-class lifestyle destination”, Dennis Foo, The St James’ CEO said this, as reported by CHANNEL NewsASIA on May 12, 2007.

As per the RNCOS report on “Opportunities in Singapore Tourism Industry (2007-2009)”, “Singaporean tourism industry has observed tremendous growth in terms of inbound tourism, outbound tourism, and revenues generated through tourism over the past few years. Tourism arrival is expected to grow at a CAGR of roughly 4% during 2007-2011, departure will grow at approximately 6.20% during the same period, also per head inbound tourist expenditure should reach 865.49 by 2011.”

Key issues analyzed in this report include: emerging trends in the tourism industry in Singapore, future outlook of the tourism industry in Singapore in terms of Inbound Tourism, Outbound tourism, expenditure by Inbound tourists, expenditure by outbound tourists, and so on.

About RNCOS E-Services Pvt Ltd.:

RNCOS, incorporated in the year 2002, is an industry research firm. It has a team of industry experts who analyze data collected from credible sources. They provide industry insights and analysis that helps corporations to take timely and accurate business decision in today’s globally competitive environment.

For more information visit: http://www.rncos.com/Report/IM504.htm

Renowned chef Gray Kunz to envision the resort’s three restaurants

TURKS & CAICOS ISLANDS, BWI – Molasses Reef on the island of West Caicos in the Turks & Caicos will be the first property in The Reserve, an exclusive new Ritz-Carlton brand. With an emphasis on sense of place, The Reserve brand will offer a singular resort experience blending sophistication and seclusion. Also announced is a partnership with lauded chef Gray Kunz of Café Gray in New York City, who will create the resort’s three dining options, including a signature oceanfront restaurant.

Uninhabited for over 100 years, the island of West Caicos is opening its shores to a new development that will include the 125-room resort, Molasses Reef, a Ritz-Carlton Reserve; a variety of real estate options including Ritz-Carlton branded Island Villas and Cottages; a world-class marina; two national parks and a variety of cultural heritage sites. The hotel and first phase of Island Villas will open in late 2008.

The Reserve

A departure for The Ritz-Carlton in size and scope, Molasses Reef marks the beginning of a new breed of Ritz-Carlton resorts that features signature, one-of-a-kind boutique resorts located in choice settings, each with a distinctive personality and sense of place.

“With some of the most sublime, virgin beaches and brilliant azure water in the Caribbean, a 500-acre natural wildlife sanctuary, unspoiled natural beauty, and reachable only by boat, small plane or helicopter, West Caicos is a natural choice for the first ‘The Reserve’ resort,” said Simon F. Cooper, president and chief operating officer of The Ritz-Carlton Hotel Company, L.L.C.

A refuge from the expected, The Reserve is for travelers seeking a peerless resort that, through its design and services, has a distinctive personality while encompassing the culture, history and heritage of its setting. The Reserve brand will be distinguished from other award-winning Ritz-Carlton resorts by offering exotic, hand-selected “hideaway” destinations; a relaxed, casually elegant atmosphere and an even greater level of individualized service through a higher staff-to-guest ratio.

Named for the reef which surrounds it, Molasses Reef will include a main lodge, free-form ponds and pools, a spa, 125 guest villas and three restaurants set along a half-mile of pristine beachfront on the island’s northern shore.

Guest villas will be housed in one- and two-story clusters, each offering expansive ocean views and private terraces. Throughout the resort, traditional Caribbean design is blended with colonial influences in trellised balconies and gardens, steeply-pitched roofs punctuated by dormers, arched openings, Bahamian shutters, verdant garden courtyards and secluded plunge pools.

The estate-style main lodge features an oceanview open-air lobby and formal dining room and leads to one of the resort pools and a beachfront restaurant. The spa is designed as a series of open-air pavilions complete with private decks, gardens and showers.

Home to a bevy of natural wonders including two national parks, archaeological and cultural sites and a resident population of pink roseate flamingos and sea turtles, West Caicos and Molasses Reef are being developed under a comprehensive ecotourism study that includes low-density building, a transportation system that includes only electric vehicles and bicycles and an environmental stewardship program for both guests and residents to ensure the island remains unspoiled.

Chef Gray Kunz Brings Culinary Luster

Molasses Reef will be home to three restaurants envisioned by Chef Gray Kunz, his first work in the Caribbean. Celebrated for his heralded work at Lespinasse in New York City in the 1990s, Chef Kunz opened the Michelin-starred Café Gray in The Time Warner Center in New York in October, 2004.

The 114-seat main restaurant will reflect the island’s barefoot luxury look and feel with Plantation-style design and several intimate indoor/outdoor terraced dining pavilions. Complementing the expansive ocean views will be a large display kitchen and design elements including pitched plantation style ceilings, wide plank dark wood floors, polished nickel edge detailing, and antique fixtures. Outside, wraparound terraces with sofas and ottomans create intimate seating areas.

Chef Kunz’s menu will blend Asian and Western ingredients along with foods native to the region to create a signature cuisine reflective of the island’s local tastes. Additional dining options include a more casual grill and poolside dining.

About West Caicos Reserve

Previously uninhabited, the island of West Caicos will be home to an exclusive residential community, West Caicos Reserve and Molasses Reef, a Ritz-Carlton Reserve, in 2008. The 11-mile-long, 6,000-acre island of West Caicos features some of the Caribbean’s most stunning, untouched beaches as well as the 500-acre Lake Catherine, a natural wildlife sanctuary, and Molasses Reef, rumored to be the final resting place of Columbus’ Pinta and ranking among the top dive sites in the world. For more information, call (649) 941-7480 or visit http://www.westcaicosreserve.com/  or http://www.molassesreef.com/

In November, experience the undeveloped, uncrowded and unmatched in beauty, Panama. Central America’s hidden gem, Panama was the undiscovered paddling gem of Central America.

This Nantahala Paddling vacation will begin after a flight into Panama City on Saturday. Nantahala’s expert guides will meet and greet kayakers at the airport, and escort kayakers to the downtown hotel. Early the next morning, everyone will be whisked away on a short flight to the gateway of the Panamanian Highlands, David City.

Kayakers will be impressed by the picturesque scenery during the drive to the highlands town of Boquete, which is the home base for the week. Boquete is a beautiful mountain town (elevation 3,500 feet) nestled at the base of the continental divide. The weather is mostly gentle, with temperatures around 67-75 F.

Because of its rich volcanic soil, Boquete is the center of the coffee and flower growing in Panama. Flanked by the highest mountain in Panama, Volcan Baru (elevation 11,400 feet) and La Amistad International Park, it provides a wonderfully relaxing and scenic place to enjoy some of the best Class II paddling you will ever find. For more information, contact

Charles Conner of Nantahala Outdoor Center at 888-590-9270 or by email at media@noc.com  Read the Jetsetters Magazine feature about Panama Kayaking and Rafting.

OCOTAL BEACH, Nicaragua—Morgan’s Rock Hacienda is designed for discerning travelers in search of a brand new venue. A pristine beach, complete with boats and a unique protected primary dry forest environment surround the resort, which represents one of Latin America’s outstanding agro-tourism operations.

Learn about tree farming, reforestation, sustainable agriculture and traditional farming on special tours or just relax on the beach, fish or horse ride. Accommodation includes fifteen hand-detailed private bungalows made of exotic tropical hardwoods with decks open to spectacular views of the ocean and forest with locally-grown and produced food.

Fascinating day tours explore active volcanoes, national parks, handicraft markets, the picturesque cities of San Juan del Sur and Granada. Special rates are available from late summer until the winter high season. Morgan’s Rock is easily reached by American Airlines who fly to Managua with arranged transfer by rental car, bus or taxi.

Best Hikes – Grand Canyon remote North Rim, Bryce and Zion

SCOTTSDALE, AZ—Discover the secrets of the secluded and mostly undiscovered, bottomless view of the Grand Canyon’s North Rim and nearby Zion and Bryce Canyons with the ultimate specialists, Arizona Outback Adventures.

These are the gems of the National Park System. Hike these demanding canyons with expert, naturalist guides and experience the sheer walls of red rock of Zion and the “hoodoos” of Bryce. Overnight stays are in comfortable lodges in stunning, remote locations. 6 days/ 5 nights costs $2399 double occupancy with a $490 single supplement; start from Las Vegas and includes all meals, entrance fees and permits, equipment and guides, daily snacks and water.

www.AOA-adventures.com