Jetsettersblog

Sheffield’s hotel room count has increased by 259 with the opening of the city’s largest hotel, Jurys Inn Sheffield.

Located in the centre of the city along Eyre Street, the hotel is less than a ten minute walk from the train station, the main shopping district, theatres, nightlife and an abundance of tourist attractions.

Jurys Inn Sheffield represents an investment in excess of £18 million and has created 65 new jobs in the city. Recruitment at the hotel also featured the company’s renowned Pre-employment Programme that – in partnership with Sheffield Job Centre Plus – has found permanent work at the hotel for five long-term unemployed people.

The state-of-the-art Jurys Inn Sheffield features a new ground floor and lobby design incorporating a two-tier outdoor terrace – a stylish new direction for the chain as a whole. The hotel is also the first in the Jurys Inns estate to feature the brand new bedroom design with a new colour scheme, sleek, modern furnishings and refinements including high-speed internet access, flat-screen TV with free view channels, self control air-conditioning and a direct dial telephone.

The Jurys Inns fixed room rate pricing policy offers great value for money with introductory weekend rates starting from just £49. Don’t miss out and book now on www.jurysinns.com for the lowest rates guaranteed.

The Montagu Arms Hotel in Beaulieu has gone all starry eyed as it has just announced that it has gained a Michelin star, for its fantastic oak panelled dining room, The Terrace!

This impressive gain is thanks to Matthew Tomkinson, a super star chef in the making. The Montagu Arms’ objective has always been to achieve a Michelin star but it is true testament to Matthew’s cooking abilities that this dream has been realised in just 6 months of Tomkinson joining the hotel.

Matthew comes from good stock! He is a previous winner of the Roux scholarship, where he had to compete with 6 other chefs in front of a panel comprising Gary Rhodes, Rick Stein, Brian Turner, David Nicholls, Tamasin Day-Lewis and of course the Roux family! Needless to say he came out a winner and went onto achieve a Michelin star, as Head Chef at the Goose in Oxfordshire, just one year later.

Mr James Hiley-Jones, Area General Manager of both sister property, Careys Manor and The Montagu Arms Hotel says:

‘We are obviously delighted to receive a Michelin star. It has been the hotel’s aim for a number of years now. Head Chef, Matthew Tomkinson is a very deserving chef, his food is fantastic and to celebrate, we are running a special lunch promotion of £17.00 per person including a glass of Prosecco.”

Tomkinson says he is continuing to develop and grow a working vegetable garden at the property and his favourite aspect of cooking, is when the seasons change. Matthew says he loves the taste of fresh, beautifully cooked simple foods and this is reflected in his award winning menus. He continues ‘I enjoy foods that are familiar but with a few surprises!’

www.montaguarmshotel.co.uk

A unique opportunity to ride the classic road biking route from Geneva to Nice in the company of Scottish cycling legend Graeme Obree – the Flying Scotsman – with KE Adventure Travel.

KE Adventure Travel is delighted to announce their collaboration with Scottish cycling legend Graeme Obree. Graeme will be joining KE’s global biking guru Gav McDonald on their classic Geneva to Nice road cycling holiday, June 20 -28. Graeme will be riding with the group each day giving participants the rare opportunity to ride and chat with one of the most innovative figures in cycling.

Graeme says: “I’m really looking forward to the ride, especially as it’s across one of my favourite parts of the world. The route itself looks phenomenal – a real ride through cycling history”.

Graeme Obree was twice holder of the World Hour Record, cycling’s blue ribbon event. He was also World Pursuit Champion twice and World Pursuit Record Holder twice. He is famed as an original thinker and a cycling and training innovator. His autobiography ‘Flying Scotsman’ was published in 2003 and the film of his life to date released in 2006.

This brilliant cycling holiday makes a true journey across the heart of the French Alps, the ‘Route des Grandes Alpes’, and most certainly ranks as one of the world’s great cycle tours. Taking in some of the most famous Tour de France climbs, such as the Galibier and L’Iseran, we also cycle over the Bonette (2802m / 9193ft), Europe’s highest paved road.

To cycle 15,500 metres (51,000 feet) of ascent and descent through the French Alps is a real challenge and this Alpine road cycling holiday is surely a ‘must do’ ride for Sportive riders and cycling enthusiasts alike.

THE FLYING SCOTSMAN SPECIAL:

DEPARTS GENEVA – 20th JUNE

VIA
Col de L’Iseran
Col du Telegraphique
Col du Galibier
Col de Vars
Cimme de la Bonette

ARRIVES NICE – 28th June

51,000 feet of ascent and descent over 440 miles

Established in 1984 KE Adventure Travel Ltd. is one of the leading independent adventure tour operators in Europe specialising in trekking, climbing, family and adventure cycling holidays worldwide.

KE Adventure Travel Ltd. is a member of ABTA (W4341) a member of AITO and holds ATOL license (2808.)

www.Icelandgourmetguide.Com

Foodie travellers can now eat their way around Iceland with the help of a brand new online gourmet guide launched by the Icelandic Tourist Board and Iceland Naturally (www.icelandgourmetguide.com).

The new website features an interactive guide to Reykjavik’s vibrant restaurant scene, a video of Iceland’s top TV chef Volli cooking fresh scallops straight from the sea, traditional Icelandic recipes, and details of where you can sample a taste of Iceland a little closer to home in the UK.

Find out about who’s who in the kitchen with the guide’s personality profiles of Iceland’s top chefs – working both at home and abroad, such as 27-year-old Hrefna Rósa Sætran from Reykjavik’s hip eatery, Fish Market, and Agnar ‘Aggi’ Sverrison head chef and co-owner of Texture Restaurant in London.

The guide also features an introduction to Icelandic cuisine and local ingredients such as pure mountain lamb, seafood and the unique dairy product skyr. More notorious traditional delicacies such as the infamous hákarl (rotten shark) and svið (singed sheep’s head) are also included along with a calendar of gastronomic festivals such as January’s annual mid-winter Viking feast, Thorrablot, where traditional foods are on the menu.

Sigga Groa, Icelandic Tourist Board marketing manager for the UK commented: “Iceland has a rich culinary traditional of which we are proud but modern Icelandic cuisine is not all rotten shark and sheep’s head! Young experimental chefs are making waves in restaurants across the country and the aim of the Iceland Gourmet Guide is to invite visitors to come and sample it for themselves. Dining out in Iceland is now even more affordable for UK visitors with the current advantageous exchange rate.”

www.icelandgourmetguide.com

Help Specialist Rental Company Kamper Hire Defy The Economic Gloom

A specialist camper van rental company is enjoying a boost in bookings as the weak pound increases the popularity of holidaying in the UK.

Southampton-based Kamper Hire has already seen a 20 per cent increase on 2009 bookings for their Volkswagen ‘California’ camper vans compared to the same time last year.

And the weak pound is having a dual benefit for the company: more Britons are choosing to take their holidays at home; while travellers from Eurozone countries and the USA are attracted by their increased purchasing power.

“Renting a camper van is a really popular way to take a fun, affordable holiday, and at Kamper Hire we’ve experienced a surge in bookings, particularly from overseas visitors,” said Kamper Hire founder Mark Daysh.

“With the US dollar stronger than it has been for several years, we’re taking a lot of bookings from Americans. Many of them take big road trips all over the UK, often checking out family history and connections and meeting relatives. The US visitors tend to hire for longer periods – between two and four weeks – so the current exchange rates are great news for us. We even had one American who hired a ‘California’ for 84 days.”

With bookings strong, Kamper Hire have added five new Volkswagen ‘California’ camper vans to their fleet for 2009, making a total of 12 vans.

The campers have always been popular with UK renters, particularly with surfers keen to explore the beaches of the South West, and festival-goers looking to make their camping experience more comfortable.

The vans can sleep up to four people, and are equipped to the highest level of specification with all the equipment necessary for life on the open road. Smaller than a conventional motor home, the VW California’s efficient 2.5 litre turbo-diesel engine means the vehicle drives more like a large car.

And to play their part in tackling climate change, Kamper Hire have teamed up with ClimateCare to offset the greenhouse gas emissions from their rentals.

ClimateCare fund projects in energy efficiency and sustainable energy around the world to reduce global carbon emissions on behalf of Kamper Hire.

For more information visit www.jpmorganclimatecare.com

Kamper Hire’s Mark Daysh adds: “We’re keen to do our bit to minimise the impact of our business on the environment, and with this new initiative we can make our holidays a pleasurable – and guilt-free – experience for our customers.”

Rental prices start at £60 per day, inclusive of VAT, unlimited mileage (UK mainland), insurance for one named driver and roadside recovery. For more information visit Kamper Hire’s website at www.kamperhire.co.uk or call 0845 226 7869.

Rotana names 2009’s Middle East hot spots

The Middle East is emerging as a winner in the battle for holiday spend. Traditional holiday destinations are falling out of favour with the UK tourist as the weak pound hits their budget. As people ditch the Euro and the US dollar, Rotana predicts an explosion in visitor numbers to the Middle East in 2009.

But as Brits begin planning their 2009 sunshine breaks in the Middle East, it’s not necessarily Dubai that’s at the top of their wish-list.

Rotana is seeing a rise in interest from UK customers in its more ‘off-the-beaten-track’, lesser known destinations, including Fujairah (UAE), Beirut (Lebanon) and Latakia & Homs (Syria).

“Dubai has long been a favourite destination for sun-seeking Brits and our ten Dubai hotels are still proving very popular.” Selim El Zyr, President & CEO of Rotana, says, “However, we are noticing a shift towards the lesser known destinations and predict that in 2009 Britons, in particular, will be looking to try something new and different in the Middle East. Abu Dhabi has been increasing in popularity for a while now and this will increase dramatically when the first F1 Grand Prix is held in the city.”

“For visitors who are looking for an authentic Middle Eastern experience, destinations such as Syria, Lebanon or Kuwait will certainly fulfill that need more than Dubai and staying with a Middle Eastern company such as Rotana enhances that experience even more.”

Rotana says Fujairah, still a relatively unknown Emirate, will soar in popularity as UK holidaymakers realise its tranquil beaches and capacity for excellent diving. Fujairah is on the Indian Ocean, rather than The Gulf like Dubai and Abu Dhabi.

The Fujairah Rotana Resort & Spa is nestled between the Hajar Mountains and the Indian Ocean in tropical landscaped gardens. The resort’s leisure facilities include a golden private beach, a large swimming pool surrounded by beautiful landscaped gardens, luxury beach-side massage cabanas overlooking the Indian Ocean and a selection of free water sports. The newly-opened ‘Zen the spa at Rotana’ is the largest, most modern and best equipped on the Eastern Coast of the UAE.

The Lebanese capital of Beirut has undergone major reconstruction and the British are embracing it as a holiday destination. The city’s Mediterranean atmosphere, reputation for chic and lively partying, and re-designed marina district, are making their mark and returning this city to its former popularity.

Rotana has two hotels in Beirut; the Gefinor Rotana and the Hazmieh Rotana. Gefinor Rotana is conveniently located in the heart of Beirut and has easy access to the exclusive neighborhood of Verdun, the traditional winding streets of Achrafieh and the rebuilt Downtown area. Lebanese hospitality blends with international expertise at Hazmieh Rotana, a well-located hotel with a relaxing pool area and spa facilities.

Rotana says the wealth of architecture and culture is luring visitors to Syria in 2009. The incredible ruins are on a par with sites in Greece and Rome, and the relative unknown area means visitors can explore at an unhurried pace.

Antique buildings in Damascus are being given a new lease of life with revitalising renovations and the ‘Old City’ evokes the golden days of the capital with bazaars and blind alleys, minarets, mosques and fountain courtyards, street-cart vendors and coffeehouses.

The Queen Centre Arjaan is a stylish hotel in Damascus that has recently been rebranded as Rotana introduces its “Arjaan Hotel Apartments by Rotana” range of properties. Guests can enjoy the fitness facilities and the hotel’s great location, next to the Queen’s Shopping Centre, home to 85 international deluxe brands.

Rotana has identified other areas of Syria which are increasing in popularity. Rotana is expanding its portfolio rapidly in the country with hotels planned in Latakia and Homs.

Latakia is Syria’s main sea-port on the Mediterranean and its history dates back to ancient times, when Alexander the Great transformed it into a prosperous city. The beach at Latakia has soft golden sand and unpolluted sea, and the resort benefits from a warm and sunny climate. Latakia is a perfect base for excursions throughout Syria’s coastal regions and beaches, mountains, lush countryside and archaeological sites.

Homs is also an historically significant city and it was a stop on the famed ‘Silk Route’. Now Homs has many fascinating buildings and beautiful restaurants overlooking the Orontes River. Sites of cultural significance include a Crusader fortress, a tomb of a celebrated general and the Al Fadael Mosque, built in 1062.

For the best and most authentic hotel experience across the Middle East, the only choice is Rotana. For more information, please go to www.rotana.com

First Swiss Mr & Mrs Smith Hotel

Solís Cambrian is delighted to be the first hotel in Switzerland to be accepted into the ever-stylish Mr & Mrs Smith (www.mrandmrssmith.com) fold. The Smith reviewer highlighted the “Spa-sleek Swiss swish” style of the hotel and the fact that, “There’s nothing quite like basking in a bubbling hot tub overlooking an awe-inducing mountain panorama – and Solís Cambrian Hotel & Spa lets you do just that”.

Solís Cambrian Hotel & Spa opened in December 2007, following a complete refurbishment that has seen the property emerge as a relaxed but luxurious hotel, with a contemporary design focus. While touches of the early 20th century building remain, much of the hotel has been re-styled for modern living, including a gorgeous sun terrace, cosy winter garden,

Restaurant Nova serving delicious northern Italian food, Scott’s bar, a spacious 750 sq m spa using 100% natural Sodashi products from Australia and two games rooms (one for younger children with soft toys, Lego and Wii, the other for teenagers with a snooker table and board games).

Mr & Mrs Smith recognised Spa Solís as one of the hotel’s “real highlights”, noting that “you’ll be kicking yourself if you forget swimwear”.

With only 71 rooms (including 23 suites), the hotel is able to offer excellent levels of service with a personal touch, all part of the philosophy of Horst Schulze, the ex-CEO of The Ritz-Carlton who has created the Solís brand. Mr & Mrs Smith were particularly taken with the rooms whose numbers end in 14, as they are on the corner of the hotel and therefore have two balconies, rather than just the one.

The reviewer also mentioned the Family Suites, ideal for those with kids in tow as they have two bedrooms, one on a mezzanine level built into the eaves, giving these rooms a particularly cosy Alpine feel.

When it came to the wedding page, Mr & Mrs Smith attributed Solís Cambrian Hotel & Spa’s wow factor to “The Setting, pure and simple. There can be fewer more dramatic backdrops to your celebrations than that inimitable Alpine panorama”. The hotel certainly occupies an enviable location, which means that not only does it enjoy stunning panoramic views of the Swiss Alps, but it is also just 100 metres from the centre of Adelboden, a charming and unspoilt village of traditional wooden chalets.

Adelboden, renowned as the home of the first package ski holiday (over 100 years’ ago), has a 170km ski area, accessed via 55 lifts, with pistes to suit every level of skier, be they beginners, intermediates or off-piste experts – it even attracts the professionals, with FIS World Cup slalom events held in the resort every January. Boarders are also welcome.
Adelboden is easily accessible from the UK: during the winter season, Flybe operate flights from Southampton to Bern, which is a 40-minute road or rail journey away, and numerous airlines fly to Zurich and Geneva, from where there are easy, efficient train connections to the resort.

For more information on Solís Cambrian Hotel & Spa, please visit www. solísadelboden.com

Interesting facts about Adelboden

• Adelboden was the destination of the first ski package holiday organised by Sir Henry Lunn (one of the founders of Lunn Poly) in 1903.

• To mark the 75th anniversary of the Swiss Ski School, earlier this year a competition was set up to find the best-looking ski instructor in Switzerland. It was won by Andreas Beiser, one of the ski instructors in Adelboden.

Solís Cambrian Hotel & Spa notes

• 71 rooms (including 23 suites)
• the hotel has recently undergone a complete renovation, emerging as a relaxed but luxurious hotel with a contemporary design focus
• built at the turn of the 20th century, the hotel retains many original features, including a top floor of cosy eaves rooms that have been turned into duplexes

• the 750 sq m spa facility includes an outdoor heated pool with water jets from which to enjoy stunning mountain vistas, an indoor lap pool, a sauna, Turkish bath, Kneipp foot bath and relaxation area, and a well-equipped gym; the 100% natural Sodashi product line from Australia is used for treatments

• for young children, there is a play room, while teenagers will love hanging out in the snooker room
• the hotel has an excellent Italian restaurant Nova and a popular bar called Scott’s, as well as a winter garden lounge area with panoramic views and a sun terrace

• the hotel offers excellent levels of service with a personal touch, all part of the philosophy of legendary hotelier Horst Schulze, the ex-CEO of

The Ritz-Carlton who has created the Solís brand.

• the hotel occupies an enviable position just 100 metres from the centre of Adelboden, a charming and unspoilt village of traditional wooden chalets.

Click right for hotel bookings.

Cruise through the rich, deep waters of the Bay of Biscay keeping watch for an abundance of marine life from Basking Sharks to Blue Whales and Striped Dolphins, then explore the foothills of Northern Spain on foot in search of birds, butterflies and wild flowers.

Alternatively, explore the dramatic land and seascape of Shetland – home to Grey Seal, Arctic Hare, Otter, and the world’s second largest Great Skua colony before witnessing the amazing spectacle of thousands of breeding Puffins, Guillemots, Shags and Fulmars at Sumburgh Head – Out of the Blue offer two NEW wildlife tours…

Bay of Biscay – 4-day mini-cruise departing Portsmouth 6th and 27th August 2009.

Few locations in the world offer such an extraordinary diversity of marine life as the warm temperate waters of the Bay of Biscay. Search for whales, dolphins, seabirds and sharks from an exclusive viewing platform on the Pride of Bilbao and receive expert knowledge from professional naturalists during informative talks and slide shows.

The number and density of cetaceans is incredible and new species are continually being discovered for the region. On arrival in northern Spain, enjoy a guided morning walk into the surrounding foothills in search of birds, butterflies and wild flowers before lunch back onboard, followed by an afternoon of whale watching. Later, travel through the Southwest Approaches in to the English Channel, keeping watch for Basking Shark, Bottlenose Dolphin and Harbour Porpoise before disembarking late afternoon.

The mini-cruise costs £245 p/p (based on two sharing an inside cabin) including 3-nights accommodation aboard the Pride of Bilbao, guided walk in Spain and the services of two professional naturalist guides.

The Shetland Islands – 8-days, departing Sumburgh 18th July 2009.

Shetland offers beautiful rugged land and seascapes, coupled with an incredible diversity of wildlife and marine life.

Explore the islands by land and sea, searching out encounters with magnificent marine life, including Harbour Porpoise, Otter, Common and Grey Seal, and with luck Orca, White-Sided Dolphin, Minke Whale, Pilot Whale, Sperm Whale and Risso’s Dolphin. After a welcome meal enjoy a unique night time boat trip to Mousa Broch and experience thousands of Storm Petrels returning to the island under the cover of darkness.

The next few days are spent amongst the mystical islands of the Shetlands with plenty of opportunities for land-based wildlife watching during excursions to the National Nature Reserves at Sumburgh Head, Noss, and Hermaness – a birdwatcher’s paradise. Here, guided walks get up close with three large seabird colonies where tens of thousands of breeding Gannets Puffins, Guillemots and Fulmars can be observed.

Finally, a full day is spent exploring Unst, the most northerly-populated island of the British Isles.

The tour costs £950 p/p including all transfers, 4-nights accommodation at Sumburgh Hotel and 3-nights at Baltasound Hotel with all meals.

Out of the Blue
0845 290 3218
info@oceansworldwide.co.uk
www.oceansworldwide.co.uk

Aboriginal owned and operated Bookabee Tours Australia is taking a singular approach to familiar Adelaide sites and beyond.

In 2008 the company won Traveling in Australia magazine’s National Indigenous Experience Award and also were awarded Best Indigenous Tourism Company for 2008 at the South Australian Tourism Awards.

As the original inhabitants of Australia, Aboriginal people have a rich culture and history embedded in the arts, food, and land dating back over 45,000 years. Until recently, authentic Aboriginal cultural experiences were few and far between, usually accessible only to adventure travelers.

Indigenous people are now coming forward in greater number to offer a taste of their culture.

Haydyn Bromley, owner of Bookabee Tours, from the Adnyamathanha tribe in the northern Flinders Ranges, thrives on personal interaction. He commands enough respect among the local indigenous population to allow his guests special encounters with places and people who would be otherwise inaccessible.

For a short introduction to Aboriginal culture, visitors to Adelaide can take a two-hour stroll around the Botanic Gardens with Bromley to learn about bush foods, plants and medicines, and how boomerangs are made. The tour ends with a sampling of Outback cuisine amid the botanic landscape.

In addition to the Adelaide Botanic Gardens Bush Tour, guests can choose an all day cultural experience.

Following the morning at the botanic gardens, this tour includes a visit to Tandanya National Aboriginal Cultural Institute, lunch in Adelaide’s East End, and a private tour of the South Australian Museum Aboriginal Cultures Gallery, one of the largest collections of Aboriginal artifacts in the world.

The Cleland Wildlife and Culture Tour fuses indigenous cultural history with abundant native wildlife in the Adelaide Hills. Participants can walk among kangaroos and emus and listen to “dreamtime” creation stories of how the animals developed their unique characteristics.

Bookabee Tours also guides visits to traditional Aboriginal sites and teaches people about the relationships between indigenous people and the land and animals. Luxury tours into the Outback include chauffeured 4WD touring, stays at five-star Outback accommodation, and unique cultural experiences.

Aboriginal Cultural Tours is another recommended South Australian company that provides visitors with opportunities to visit remote areas. Owner Quenten Aguis takes guests for half day to five-day tours to Adjahdura Land on the Yorke Peninsula, an north of Adelaide.

 Here guests can visit such places as the Point Pearce Aboriginal lands, Innes National Park, and more. The Aboriginal lands, national parks and coastal areas of Adjahdura Land are remote with rugged cliffs, beaches and crystal clear sea water. It’s been a rich farming region ever since white settlement, in the mid 1800s. Aguis’s tours are enhanced by his dreamtime stories and the rich historical narrative he provides on his tours.

For more information, visit www.southaustralia.com

The newly opened 60-story Renaissance Shanghai Zhongshan Park Hotel can be seen from every part of Shanghai.

 The hotel occupies the top 35 floors of the complex with the lobby located on the 25th floor. Deluxe accommodations include executive one bedroom suites and duplex two bedroom suites.

A dual-level executive lounge offers wireless Internet access, high tea, concierge services and much more. Situated 15 minutes from Shanghai’s Hongqiao airport and housed directly above the Zhongshan Park metro station, the hotel’s location is ideal for business and leisure travelers.

For more information, visit www.rezidor.com