Jetsettersblog

Following almost four years of conversion and restoration works, and spending a staggering USD 365 Million, the Dolder Grand, in Zurich, Switzerland will celebrate its grand re-opening in April 2008. Originally a “Curhaus” – health spa – the hotel has been transformed into a luxury-class city resort with 173 luxurious rooms and suites, and a 4000 square-metre spa area.

Zurich welcomes the return of one of its landmarks. April sees the beginning of the five-star hotel’s soft-opening phase after its closure for conversion in 2004. The Dolder Grand occupies a unique elevated position, set between the city and the surrounding woodland, and guests enjoy superb facilities, including tennis courts and a golf course.

Leading London architects Foster and Partners have combined the historic main building, dating from 1899, with the innovations of modern architecture. Two new wings, the Spa Wing and the Golf Wing, curve around the fully restored main building in a fusion of past and future. The Dolder Grand positions itself as a top-ranking international luxury hotel and is a member of the Leading Hotels of the World and the Swiss Deluxe Hotels.

The Dolder Grand offers guests all the amenities of a luxury-class city resort. The 173 rooms and suites range from single rooms to deluxe rooms. . Double room rates start at USD 780 per night. Four top suites aim to cater for individual extravagance. The largest of the top suites is the Maestro, housed in the tower of the historic Main Building. A stay here, on two floors covering 400 square metres, is bound to be a memorable experience. The rates for top suites are from USD 4,760 to USD 12,810 per night. The rooms and suites reflect the Dolder symbiosis of tradition and modernity.

Interior architects United Designers, also from London, shaped the new living spaces. In the Main Building, their refined, eclectic configurations instil a sense of history, while the two wings epitomize the spirit of the modern age. Features classified as historic monuments, such as the Stone Hall in the Main Building and six of the bedrooms, have been faithfully restored to their original splendour.

The inspiring wellness facilities of the Dolder Grand Spa cover an area of 4,000 square metres. European and Japanese influences have shaped this unique complex, created by the famed American spa consultant Sylvia Sepielli. It comprises of a pool with panoramic views, separate ladies’ and gentlemen’s spas, a state of the art gym, movement and mind-body studios, as well as 19 treatment rooms and two spa suites for exclusive, private relaxation.

The Dolder Grand offers a top-quality wining and dining experience combined with first-class service. The Restaurant offers fine dining, and the sophisticated Garden Restaurant has an unrestricted view of Zurich, the lake and the Alps; the menus consists of a wide variety of European-influenced dishes.

Dubai,… Dubai based luxury hospitality group, Jumeirah, has been recognised with 23 awards at the prestigious Salon Culinaire competition in London last week.

The Jumeirah culinary team was made up of ten chefs from Madinat Jumeirah, Burj Al Arab, Jumeirah Beach Hotel and the Emirates Academy in Dubai and Jumeirah Carlton Tower in London, and together they succeeded in bringing home 12 gold medals, 2 silver medals and 4 bronze medals, as well as 5 certificates of merit. The highlights of the competition included winning the gold medal in the Parade des Chefs competition, as well as being voted the Best Overall Team of the week.

The internationally recognised and highly respected Salon Culinaire is the UK’s largest chef competition. During the five day contest, 400 chefs from all over the world compete in three different competitions: The Live Theatre competition includes 30 competition classes in front of a live audience. The Salon Display competition showcases creative works in sugarcraft, marzipan, pastillage and chocolate and Le Parade Des Chefs competition requires a team of 6 members to prepare, cook and present a 3 course plated dining delights for 100 covers. These were then sold and served to the visitors at the show in fully operational restaurants.

Willi Elsener, Group Director of Restaurants for Jumeirah, commented: “We are thrilled to have won all of these awards and are very proud of our team. Receiving these prestigious awards further highlights Jumeirah Group’s commitment to excellence and culinary quality on a global scale. At Jumeirah, we have chefs from all over the world and we believe it is important to invest in talent and encourage passion and creativity for food.”

Dubai: Premier Inn, the UK’s largest and most successful hotel brand, has announced the opening of their first hotel in Dubai.

Owned by Whitbread plc, one of the UK’s oldest companies, Premier Inn currently owns and operates over 500 hotels with nearly 36,000 rooms in the UK and Ireland. This new hotel marks the beginning of a strategic partnership with The Emirates Group to develop the Premier Inn brand within the Gulf region. Premier Inn will introduce their high standard, “value” hotel model into the Dubai hospitality market with plans for at least a further 5 sites to be opened in the UAE in 2009.

Darroch Crawford, Managing Director of Premier Inn Middle East said, “What differentiates Premier Inn from the competition is our “value” hotel model, of bringing a 4 star product to the market at a 2 star price. In a Premier Inn this is achieved through streamlining the product to benefit our customers, delivering consistently outstanding service and investing heavily in the property and in staff training. We don’t have a concierge or valet parking, but if for example a customer needs assistance with their luggage then our people will always help. At Premier Inn we understand that our customers want the best value but will not compromise on quality.”

Located in Dubai Investments Park next to the Green Community, the hotel features 308 modern and stylish air conditioned rooms, each en-suite with bath, shower and bidet. Prices are fixed at Dhs450 per room per night, although a rate of Dhs650 may apply during very major events.

Darroch Crawford continued, “We are extremely excited about introducing the Premier Inn brand to Dubai and the Middle East. This hotel marks the first step in achieving our objectives of operating 6000+ rooms across the GCC by 2012. We’re confident that Premier Inn’s “value” model, of offering a 4 star product at 2 star prices, will be extremely successful in the region.”

Premier Inn at Dubai Investments Park Dubai opens on 30th March 2008.

For hotel bookings, visit www.premierinn.com or call +971 (0) 4 885 0999.

Premier Inn’s hotels in Dubai, its first international properties outside of the UK, are operated under a joint venture between the Emirates Group and Whitbread Plc.

About Premier Inn

Premier Inn is the UK’s biggest hotel brand with over 500 hotels and nearly 36,000 rooms. All Premier Inns feature: en-suite bathroom with shower and bath; beds with duvet; family rooms that sleep up to two adults and two children aged 15 and under; remote control TV/radio alarm; tea/coffee making facilities; spacious desk area; licensed restaurant and bar (except on Motorway Service Areas).

Premier Inn recently became the first Britain-wide hotel group to sign up with national tourist boards, VisitBritain, VisitScotland and VisitWales. This means that Premier Inn is now part of a new quality assessment scheme, specially created for budget accommodation. Premier Inn offers customers a ‘Good Night Guarantee’ of a good quality room, comfortable surroundings and friendly service, which is unique amongst Britain’s leading hotel chains. Further information is available from www.premierinn.com

Dubai, United Arab Emirates, March 3, 2008: Accor Hospitality Middle East continues its strong development in the Middle East with the launch of Ibis Salmiya Kuwait, the first Accor business economy hotel in Kuwait scheduled to open on 20th March 2008.

“Ibis Salmiya is a part of our continuing drive to expand economy hotels in the region. While we are committed to strengthening our position in the region, Ibis Salmiya opening is of paramount importance, as it will also be the first Accor hotel development in Kuwait”, said Christophe Landais, Managing Director, Accor Hospitality Middle East, who also disclosed that the construction of a second Ibis hotel in Kuwait Sharq district is already underway and due to open early 2009. “We currently have a range of Ibis hotels under development and plan to have a critical mass of 22 opened Ibis hotels by 2011 throughout the Middle East. “

Ibis Salmiya is one of a kind hotel in Kuwait and compliments Salmiya district area which holds prime commercial and residential areas.

The new Ibis Salmiya hotel holds 7 floors and accommodates 175 rooms of which will include double and twin standard rooms with 56 connecting rooms and will feature high speed internet and Wifi throughout. The ’Olivo’ restaurant will offers a scrumptious international buffet with Mediterranean, Spanish, Moroccan, Italian, French and Oriental dishes. Guests are also given an option 24 hours a day with ‘’Moka Café’’ which is the hotels informal lounge bar, and there is the sizzling La Terrazzo which offers BBQ and shisha pipes, all in a French ambience.

Satisfying the meeting needs of a business clientele, Ibis Salmiya comprises of 3 soundproofed meeting and board meeting rooms which include advanced high technology communication equipment along with a pre-function area (50 sqm). The hotel also has an internet and business center located in the lobby.

The hotel is conveniently located 20 minutes away from Kuwait International Airport and resides in a core business area. Ibis Salmiya is also a short distance away from tourist’s spots such as the Kuwait Zoo, Marine Museum, and Shaab Leisure Park.

Ibis is Europe’s leading budget hotel network and is designed to meet the needs and expectations of a broad spectrum of customers who travel regularly on business or leisure. With round-the-clock service and budget prices, Ibis has over 800 hotels worldwide and are always conveniently located in business districts, tourist spots and near airports.

As leading developer of all hotel market segments, from budget to upscale, Accor continues to expand its regional portfolio of four brands – Sofitel Luxury Hotels, Mercure, Novotel and Ibis. With 45 new properties under construction, Accor fully aims to reach its ambitious target of 70 hotels opened within 4 years in the Middle East.

Accor, the European leader and a major global group in hotels, the global leader in services to corporate clients and public institutions, operates in nearly 100 countries with 170,000 employees. It offers to its clients over 40 years of expertise in its two core businesses:

- Hotels, with the Sofitel, Pullman, Novotel, Mercure, Suitehotel, Ibis, All Seasons, Etap Hotel, Formule 1 and Motel 6 brands, representing more than 4,000 hotels and nearly 500,000 rooms in 90 countries, as well as strategically related activities, such as Lenôtre.

- Services, with 23 million people in nearly 40 countries benefiting from Accor Services products in human resources, marketing services and expense management.

About Ibis

Established in 1974, Ibis is Europe’s leading chain of economy hotels. Recognised throughout the world for its excellent service and competitive prices, Ibis has over 800 hotels in 38 countries, offering both business and leisure travellers quality comfort in a welcoming setting. Ibis is part of the Accor Group.

For more information about Ibis Hotels, please visit: http://www.ibishotel.com/

Al Raha Beach Hotel, Abu Dhabi’s premier five-star boutique hotel offers an exclusive and distinctive service set in the opulent charm of contemporary décor, perfectly blended with the traditional warmth of Arabian hospitality is entering 2008 with a flurry of distinctive new restaurants and facilities coming online.

The latest dining options will include Azur, a Mediterranean restaurant that will transport you gastronomically across the diverse cuisine of the region and the new ‘alfresco’ La Piscine terrace restaurant located alongside the picturesque pool, featuring an open kitchen and live cooking to celebrate food at its most natural and simplest

Already established as a much sought after destination, by both international traveller’s and UAE residents, the award winning hotel has marked a rapid growth in its short history since it first opened; ably keeping pace with the growing demand for quality tourist facilities in the Emirate, but still retaining its charm and unique personality that sets it aside.

Also a key destination for meetings, incentives, conventions and events in the GCC, the stunning property is ideally located for easy access; only 10 minutes from Abu Dhabi Airport, 15 minutes from Abu Dhabi Golf Course and just 20 minutes into the city. The resort is also just a 45 minute drive from Dubai’s Internet and Media City, the hub of ‘New Dubai’.

Set in landscaped gardens and situated on the Al Raha Corniche, overlooking 900 metres of private sandy beaches and the waters of the Arabian Gulf beyond. Both leisure and business guests will enjoy spending time in the truly luxurious surroundings.

With a selection of 110 spacious, elegantly appointed rooms and suites, a range of meeting rooms, banquet halls and conference facilities, superb amenities and a dedicated team providing guests with an unparalleled level of service, the hotel is equipped to take care of all your needs.

For guests seeking additional exclusivity and privacy, or those wishing to host VIP clients there are 24 two, three or four bedroom luxury villas; which offer a perfect alternative for those seeking five star hotel services in the privacy of their own home, or a more confidential lunch or dinner venue. The villas and their surrounding areas provide seclusion and privacy with their own clubhouse, outdoor swimming pool and beach.

As you would anticipate, for a property of its calibre, the hotel has an exclusive ‘Body & Soul Health Club & Spa’ the ideal get-away for guests to unwind, relax and be pampered by a team of specialists. However, if a more energetic solution is the answer, then just head-off for a workout in the gym.

WiFi is available throughout the property, enabling guests to connect to the worldwide web through high speed internet access. The procedure is simple and provides complete flexibility wherever you are in the hotel.

Enigma, the hotel’s nightclub and Abu Dhabi’s largest club, has a private VIP Mezzanine floor which is ideal for entertaining.The recently opened Al Raha Mall, adjacent to the property and easily accessed by a covered walkway between the two, houses a myriad of shopping options to satisfy the most seasoned shopper. Additionally, there is a multi screen cinema showing the latest movies.

Copthorne Hotel Dubai opened late January 2008 in the Port Saeed area of Deira with 163 luxurious rooms and suites. Ideally located for business guests, the hotel recently introduced Business Lunch Specials in the Crystal Restaurant from 12.30 – 2 pm Sunday to Thursday for a special rate of AED 70 net per person.

The Copthorne Hotel Dubai welcomed its first guests on 24th January 2008 and has enjoyed high occupancies since that day.

Situated on the Ground Floor with direct access from the elegant white marble lobby, the Crystal Restaurant is open all day long with a la carte menus as well as buffet breakfast, lunch and dinner daily.

For just AED 70 net per person, lunch guests can enjoy an excellent array of hot and cold dishes with separate soup, salad and dessert counters. The price includes one soft drink and coffee or tea at the end of your meal. Members of the Press enjoy a further 20% discount upon presentation of their business card.

General Manager, Mr Reda Moukhtar, commented:

‘Business people are often looking for more than a fast-food court but with convenience, speed and complimentary parking as well as value for money. At the Copthorne Hotel Dubai, we offer our guests underground parking free of charge, an extensive buffet lunch, quick service AND an excellent price.’ Located in Port Saeed in the heart of Deira, minutes from the Dubai International Airport and within walking distance of the shopping and entertainment complex, Deira City Centre, the Copthorne Hotel Dubai boasts 163 luxuriously spacious rooms and suites of 40 to 135 sqm in size, three restaurants, swimming pool, health and fitness centre, business centre, meeting rooms and Club Floor.

The Crystal Restaurant is ideal for entertaining, or a quick lunch on the run, alone or with a friend.

Restaurant and Room Reservations can be made direct with the hotel by calling +971 4 295 0500.

For information, contact the Sales Department direct on sales@cop-dubai.com

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates,– The Westin Dubai Mina Seyahi Beach Resort and Marina, scheduled to open May 2008, is set to offer the ultimate in team building activities with the recent acquisition of a stunning, Archambault 35 racing yacht.

The flagship Westin property will offer corporate groups the chance to take to the open sea and discover the adrenalin-rush of riding the waves at top speed aboard the stylish 35ft vessel.

Winner of the Maktoum Sailing Trophy in 2007, the Archambault 35 is the perfect sailing vessel to bring out the competitive streak in groups large or small.

“This fabulous new addition to our hotel facilities will enable us to offer a unique array of incentive programmes for event organisers,” explained Michael Scully, Complex General Manager, Le Meridien Mina Seyahi Beach Resort & Marina and The Westin Dubai Mina Seyahi Beach Resort & Marina.

“The Archambault 35 complements our existing fleet of racing yachts at sister property Le Meridien Mina Seyahi Beach Resort & Marina and means that the two hotels now offer a totally unique option for corporate groups looking for a team building exercise,” Scully stated.

Saeed Mohamed Ahmad Hareb, Managing Director and owner’s representative for Le Meridien Mina Seyahi Beach Resort & Marina and The Westin Dubai Mina Seyahi Beach Resort & Marina, said the new yacht would bring yet another exciting addition to the host of leisure facilities on offer at the two resorts.

“I am delighted to launch our new Westin 35ft Archambault boat. The fastest in its class, the Westin boat is a fantastic addition to the resort’s renowned watersports facilities that also include our existing Le Méridien 35ft Archambault boat that sailed to victory in last years Maktoum Sailing Trophy. Each year we add more and more world-class facilities for our guests to enjoy and we are confident that the arrival of our new Westin boat will help us to ensure we continue to provide truly unique experiences for our guests staying at the new Westin Dubai Mina Seyahi Beach Resort & Marina, when it opens soon this year,” Hareb remarked.

Group options include organising sailing regattas, whereby groups can race against each other in heats as they take part in an adrenalin filled America’s Cup style match race experience, while their colleagues watch in the luxury and comfort of Le Meridien Mina Seyahi’s catamaran.

Teams get to experience every aspect of crew and helmsmanship, helping colleagues to bond and learn to work together, as they battle it out for supremacy of the seas.

The Westin will offer full and half day delegate options, including safety briefings, team races, buffet lunch, team t-shirts and caps, prize giving ceremony, personalised awards, and branded gifts to take home.

“This is a wonderful way for groups to share a brand new experience, and can be enjoyed by all. Active team members will rise to the challenge, while others may prefer to cheer their colleagues on from the sidelines, soaking up the sun and enjoying refreshments on board our support boat.” Scully said.

“What’s more, with The Palm, Jumeirah just off shore, and the magnificent coastal backdrop of Dubai, groups are promised a sailing extravaganza that cannot be replicated anywhere in the world,” he added.

The new sailing adventures will complement The Westin’s extensive Meetings and Conference facilities. The hotel will boast state-of-the-art conference and banqueting facilities include an 8,999 square feet ballroom, an Italian designed conference centre with 7 meeting rooms, an outdoor beachside amphitheatre, and a variety of lawn locations accommodating up to 5,000 guests.

Opening early this summer, The Westin Dubai Mina Seyahi Beach Resort and Marina will offer the full array of Westin’s signature products, services and amenities including The Heavenly Bed®, WestinWORKOUT Gym®, Kids Club®, Express Checkout®, and the new Sensory Welcome®, comprising white tea scents, muted music, soft lighting and botanical products.

The Westin Dubai Mina Seyahi Beach Resort & Marina will feature 294 rooms, including 216 deluxe rooms, 52 Westin Executive rooms, and 24 suites, in addition to a spa, a health club, four bars and four themed restaurants. The resort is located on a stunning 1,200 metre private shoreline and will feature a 238-berth marina, a 150 metre pool with a lap pool and children’s shaded pool, a water sports centre, a sailing academy and facilities for deep sea fishing and boat chartering.

Tourism Ireland launches its new online campaign: Go Green – Discover Your Irish side in March to encourage Australians to explore their Irish side. The sense of fun, hospitality and relaxed nature which both nations share is one of the reasons why Australia remains the most Irish of nations.

Whether it’s family heritage or inner essence, there’s always something that ties each of us to the Emerald Isle. Australians can now find out what their connection is to Ireland through ancestral lineage or just shared personality traits. Those wanting to ‘Go Green” and discover their Irish side can visit www.gogreenireland.com.au site where they can find out about their Irish name or else just have fun and discover what they have in common with Irish culture and what type of ‘Paddy’ they are!

At the www.gogreenireland.com.au, visitors can also check out a range of travel offers to Ireland with partners Etihad Airways and Creative Holidays providing some fantastic deals. And with a little Irish luck, one could win a trip to Ireland for two, including return flights plus seven night’s accommodation.

With genealogy the third most searched term on the net, www.gogreenireland.com.au is a great starting point for those who want to begin researching their family history with tips on how to begin the investigation!

Its time to focus on the great connection between Ireland and Australia. Separated by such a long distance, the traffic between Ireland and Australia has been constant for over 200 years and it seems that it is not going to slow down anytime soon! Go Green and Discover Your Irish Side – www.gogreenireland.com.au

For more information about Ireland visit http://www.discoverireland.com  or for a free vacation planning kit call the NY office at 800/223-6470. Read Ireland feature stories from Jetsetters Magazine at this link:

The Open Air Theatre in London’s Regent’s Park is the only permanent professional outdoor theatre in Britain. Since it opened in 1932, the theatre has entertained thousands of people every summer with its successful seasons of Shakespeare, classics, opera, musicals and family shows. The steeply raked auditorium with 1,240 seats is one of the largest in London, yet somehow the theatre seems very intimate. Regulars turn up early to picnic on the lawns of the park, or to visit the theatre’s bar and café set among trees lit by fairy lights.

For 2008 the new Artistic Director, Timothy Sheader, has chosen Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet and Twelfth Night; a new production of Lerner and Loewe’s classic musical Gigi; and Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream re-imagined for young audiences. Golden Globe winner and Fiddler on the Roof Oscar nominee Topol will be making his grand return to the London stage to perform the role of Honoré in Gigi.

And the British weather? Sheader says: ‘Weather and climate add a thrilling contribution to our work, making the complicity between performer, text and audience a truly unique event at every performance. Regulars know to come prepared with rugs and raincoats – just in case.’

This year’s productions run from 2 June to 13 September, with ticket prices from £10 to £35.

Open Air Theatre
Inner Circle, Regent’s Park, London NW1 4NR
Tel: +44 844 826 4242
Website: http://www.openairtheatre.org/

Fujairah, United Arab Emirates – Le Méridien Al Aqah Beach Resort were the proud recipients of an award at ITB Berlin on 5th March 2008 having been the only hotel in the UAE to be selected by Holiday Check users as one of the 99 most favorite hotels world-wide in 2007. Exclusively based on opinions published by guests from all over the world, 99 hotels were awarded at a glittering awards ceremony held in Berlin recently, making the Holiday Check awards truly unique – nothing but the holiday makers’ experience counts.

“Since opening in 2002, we have been continually enhancing our facilities and services at the hotel, reinforcing our commitment to providing our guests with the highest standards of service at the best possible prices. Being selected as one of the most favorite hotels by Holiday Check users means a great deal to us as it comes directly from the guests without who the hotel would not exist,” said Patrick Antaki, General Manager, Le Méridien Al Aqah Beach Resort.

“I would also like to pay tribute and give recognition to the Al Aqah team’s valuable efforts and tireless dedication. It is this commitment from staff members that has made the hotel the success story it is, ensuring a steady stream of new guests and repeat visitors to the property and the area,” added Antaki.

According to award organizers, in order to qualify as one of the favorite destinations, hotels need a high recommendation rate along with a number of published reviews. Last season’s evaluation process was based on 214,881 hotel reviews submitted between November 2006 and October 2007.

The Holiday Check AG offers travelers the opportunity to publish their opinions and holiday experiences on the internet. With more than 200,000 visitors per day and a collection of more than 640,000 hotel reviews HolidayCheck.de is one of the leading German-speaking websites for hotel goers.

“What better way to kick-start 2008 than winning this award. We envision great opportunities for the year ahead where we have a wide range of CSR initiatives planned, in addition, of course, to providing the highest quality service offering,” concluded Antaki.