Jetsettersblog

At Kowloon Shangri-La, Hong Kong Receives Michelin Two-Star Accolade

Kowloon Shangri La, Hong Kong’s Shang Palace restaurant is awarded a two-star rating in the debut edition of the Michelin Guide for Hong Kong and Macau. The rating is based on the five criteria of quality of the products, value for money, mastery of flavour and cooking, ‘personality’ of the cuisine and consistency between visits. The Michelin two-star accolade denotes excellent cooking worthy of a detour.

Renowned for its Cantonese cuisine, Shang Palace delivers to every guest traditional and innovative dishes artistically prepared by Chef Ip Chi-cheung and his team. In 2002, the restaurant was honoured as one of only “Ten Great Hotel Restaurants” worldwide by the USA’s HOTELS magazine. The chef’s signature dishes are Lobster Dumpling in Supreme Soup; Traditional Stewed Fresh Coral Trout with Garlic and Pork; Fillet of Lobster sautéed with Dragon Fruit in Hawthorn Sauce; Sautéed Scallops and Fresh Milk with Crab Roe; Assorted Rice sautéed with Crab Meat, Egg White, Wolfberries and Diced Mushrooms; and Chilled Sago Cream with Fresh Mango and Pomelo.

“We are very proud to be honoured by Michelin Guide with a two-star rating. It is truly a wonderful recognition for our dedicated team to have their efforts recognised and rewarded. I would especially like to congratulate Chef Ip for his continued commitment and creativity, and for ensuring Shang Palace’s culinary excellence. This laurel signifies that we will have to not only maintain standards but always improve to meet the even higher expectations from our local supporters and international travellers,” said Mr Stefan Bollhalder, the hotel’s general manager.

Decorated in auspicious red and gold with traditional motifs imported from China, Shang Palace offers a range of dim sum, set lunch and à la carte menus for lunch from noon until 3:00 p.m. Monday to Saturday, and 10:30 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. on Sunday or public holidays. An à la carte menu and a range of set dinner menus are available for dinner from 6:30 until 11 p.m. daily. Seating a total of 180, there are four function rooms available for private parties.

For reservations, please call 2733 8754.

Hong Kong-based Shangri-La Hotels and Resorts currently owns and/or manages 58 hotels under the Shangri-La and Traders brands with a rooms inventory of over 28,000.

Shangri La hotels are five-star deluxe properties featuring extensive luxury facilities and services.

Shangri-La hotels are located in Australia, mainland China, Fiji, Hong Kong, India, Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore, Sultanate of Oman, Taiwan, Thailand and the United Arab Emirates. The group has over 50 projects under development in Austria, Canada, mainland China, France, India, Japan, Macau, Maldives, Philippines, Qatar, Seychelles, Taiwan, Thailand, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom and the United States.

Apollo Motorhome Holidays has defied tourism industry expectations with its rapid expansion, announcing three new rental branches and a state of the art upgrade to an existing branch over six months. The leading recreational vehicle operator’s move has been lauded as a positive market trend in light of the burgeoning global financial crisis.

Operating in Australia, New Zealand and the USA, the motorhome, campervan and car rental business has invested in all markets. Apollo opened its 10th Australian branch in November 2008, while its Christchurch branch moved to a deluxe custom built property in December 2008.

New branches in Las Vegas and San Francisco will open before April 2009, bringing Apollo’s USA depot numbers up to three. Apollo’s Los Angeles branch will likewise move to new premises. Apollo CEO Luke Trouchet said the expansions were “great news for Apollo clients and staff alike,”

“While many of our competitors are experiencing a significant downturn, we have been fortunate enough to not only weather the storm, but continue our legacy of strong growth in the new season.”

Trouchet said the company was also adding new, unique vehicles types to its fleets in all three countries, as well as renewing its focus on subsidiary brands Cheapa Campa and Hippie Camper, and manufacturer Talvor Motorhomes.

“Diversifying our market presence and maintaining our philosophy of great customer service and competitive rates has helped us grow the business throughout previous crises,” he said. Operating in more countries than any other privately owned recreational vehicle operator,

Apollo was founded in 1985.  

Web: www.apollocamper.com

The Banyan Tree Residences Mayakoba on Mexico’s Riviera Maya, which is slated to open March 1, is offering prospective buyers the opportunity to preview the completed property and stay in a residence before they buy. Located within the Mayakoba integrated development, a community composed of four leading hoteliers — Rosewood, Fairmont, Viceroy and Banyan Tree — the Banyan Tree Residences Mayakoba will provide owners with access to luxury spas and fitness centers, top chefs serving wide-ranging cuisine at more than 15 dining establishments, and El Camaleon, a PGA Tour golf course designed by Greg Norman, among other perks.

For more information, call 800-591-0439 or visit www.banyantree.com

CATALONIA ROYAL TULUM BEACH & SPA RESORT AND CATALONIA ROYAL BÁVARO OFFER COUPLES DESTINATION WEDDINGS IN PARADISE

– From Simple Barefoot Elegance on the Beach to Traditional Nuptial Ceremonies –

The Caribbean’s premier all-inclusive, adults-only resorts, Catalonia Royal Bávaro and Catalonia Royal Tulum Beach & Spa Resort, have created customized wedding packages for discerning brides and grooms. Whether a couple dreams of a romantic sunset ceremony on the beach or a Caribbean-inspired celebration, these two romantic resorts located in the Riviera Maya and Dominican Republic can accommodate the bridal party, family and friends with the perfect wedding in paradise.

The Dominican Republic’s Catalonia Royal Bávaro and Catalonia Royal Tulum Beach & Spa Resort located in the Riviera Maya, offer brides and grooms choices and creative wedding options that are unique to the Caribbean at significant savings. Beginning at basic package rates of $925 and $2,583, couples may choose their ideal way to say “I do” in paradise. Under the expert guidance of a wedding coordinator, brides and grooms will rest assured that every aspect of their nuptials meets the highest expectations and every detail is expertly handled.

Couples wishing to get married on the white sandy beaches of Playa Bávaro in Punta Cana, can book the Caribbean Souls Wedding Package at Catalonia Royal Bávaro starting at just $925. This wedding in paradise package includes the following:

Personalized assistance from the resorts wedding coordinator

English translation of the wedding ceremony
Set-up of the wedding ceremony on the beach or alongside the properties lagoon

All decorations, tables and chairs for the wedding party and guests
Two-tier wedding cake for up to 20 guests
Music during the ceremony
Flowers for the bride and groom
Chilled bottle of sparkling wine

Two tickets for nine holes of golf at Catalonia Caribe Golf Club or Catalonia Cabeza de Toro Golf Club

Witnesses for the legal ceremony – if required

Dinner reservation for the wedding party in one of the resort’s 5 thematic restaurants

The bride and groom will receive the following in-room amenities on their wedding night:

Free upgrade to King Suite
Special towel decoration upon arrival to the suite
Morning-after continental breakfast
Chocolate surprise and bottle of sparkling wine
Late check-out

Couples can also book the Caribbean Souls Deluxe Package which includes all the services of the above plus the following for $1,350:

Deluxe flower decoration of the wedding location
Manicure and pedicure for the bride and groom
In-room or on the beach couples massage
Romantic dinner on the beach for two
Surprise welcome gift
The bride and groom will receive the following in-room amenities on their wedding night:

Seven-night stay in an ocean-front suite with a private jacuzzi
Tropical fruit basket upon arrival
Tropical in-suite decoration

DISCLAIMER: No minimum nights required. Bride and groom plus their four witnesses must arrive at the resort at least five working days prior to the wedding day. This is a requirement for the preparation of all legal documents required for a legal wedding ceremony.

This offer cannot be combined with other promotional offers. Rates vary and are subject to availability

Catalonia Royal Tulum Beach & Spa Resort, located in Xpu-Ha, Riviera Maya on the Caribbean coastline offers brides and grooms the Sunset Dreams Wedding Package starting at $1,485. This wedded-bliss experience includes the following:

Personalized assistance from the resort’s wedding coordinator
Judge fees
English translation of the wedding ceremony
Set up on the beach for the ceremony

Two-tier wedding cake for up to 20 guests
Music during the ceremoy
Chilled bottle of sparkling wine
Dinner reservation for the wedding party in one of the resort’s six restaurants
Surprise wedding gift
Bride and Groom will receive the following in-room amenities on their wedding night:
Preferential accommodations with guaranteed king size bed
Special towel decoration upon arrival
Strawberries, chocolate and a bottle of sparkling wine
Late check-out

Additionally, couples may book the Sunset Dreams Deluxe Package which includes all the services of the above plus the following for $2,583:

Deluxe flower decoration of the wedding location

Live music from a Mexican Trio during the ceremony
Spa Alegria Package which includes – an Aromatherapy Jacuzzi bath, 50-minute couples massage, manicure for the bride and pedicure for the groom and a 20 percent discount on any spa service

Romantic candelit dinner for two

The bride and groom will receive the following in-room amenities on their wedding night:

Upgrade to a King Junior Suite
Tropical fruit basket upon arrival
Strawberries, chocolate and a bottle of sparkling French champagne.

No minimum nights required. Bride and groom plus their four witnesses must arrive at the resort at least five working days prior to the wedding day. This is a requirement for the preparation of all legal documents required for a legal wedding ceremony. The Sunset Dreams Wedding Package is free with group reservation of 20 double rooms for a minimum of five nights. The Sunset Dreams Deluxe Wedding Package is free with a group reservation of 40 rooms for a minimum of five nights. These offers cannot be combined with other promotional offers. Rates vary and are subject to availability.

For reservations and information contact Catalonia Royal Bávaro at 1-809-412-0000 ext: 7008, Catalonia Royal Tulum Beach & Spa Resort at 011-52-984-875-1800 or www.hoteles-catalonia.com

Rates include all meals, beverages and hotel accommodations and are subject to availability.

American Airlines recently named Brand Connections as its new in-flight advertising provider, allowing national brands to reach consumers in-flight.

Beginning April 1, ads will be featured prominently alongside American’s in-flight programming, “NBC Universal on American Airlines.” All content — including “Today,” “On the Money,” “The Office,” “30 Rock” and more — will be available complimentary to every traveler aboard American Airlines flights.

Brands advertising on board American Airlines will have access to more than 3.4 million customers per month on 360 planes via 17,000 TV screens. This relationship marks the first time American Airlines is utilizing a dedicated third-party specializing in venue-based advertising to bring brands into its digital network. Through Brand Connections, ads will now be strategically integrated into corresponding NBC Universal content to maximize brand recall and increase purchase intent.

Brand Connections will have the ability to measure this recall after flights, and provide brands with statistics that illustrate their ad’s effectiveness.

For more information, visit www.brandconnections.com

Brings Swiss Hotel Group To A Total Of Five In Jordan

Mövenpick Hotels & Resorts are expanding their portfolio in Jordan: having been represented in the kingdom with four hotels for many years, the international hotel group has now signed a management agreement for a new holiday resort with 456 rooms and suites at Tala Bay in Aqaba. Construction work on Mövenpick Resort Tala Bay is completed which means the resort will open in summer this year.

Tala Bay is a new and exclusive residential community on the southern shores of the Red Sea destination Aqaba where various hotels and apartments, a marina, restaurants, shops, and boutiques are being built. The area is situated 10 minutes from the city centre of Aqaba, while King Hussein International Airport is only 20 minutes away.

The owner of the hotel is the Zara South Coast Development Company with whom Mövenpick Hotels & Resorts has collaborated successfully for the past decade.

“We are very pleased that we have the opportunity to open another hotel, the fifth in Jordan and the second in Aqaba, together with the Swiss company”, says Yassin K. Talhouni, Chairman of Zara South Coast Development Company. “Mövenpick Hotels & Resorts enjoys an excellent reputation in the region in general and in Jordan in particular. Guests will certainly be enthusiastic about the high standards and quality that the addition of Mövenpick Resort Tala Bay will bring to this prestigious new community.”

“We are very proud that Zara South Coast Development Company put their complete trust in us again with this unique project”, explains Jean Gabriel Pérès, President & CEO Mövenpick Hotels & Resorts. “The new holiday resort will be an excellent addition to our portfolio in Jordan.”

The 456 rooms, including 145 family rooms, nine Junior Suites and two Executive Suites, all share a generous and modern design and light-coloured furnishings. The guests’ culinary needs are taken care of by a main restaurant, an Italian speciality restaurant, a seafood outlet, as well as various bars. The wide range of leisure amenities includes the hotel’s own diving centre as well as a 1500 sqm spa and wellness area. With their generous public areas such as an amphitheatre and state-of-the-art meeting facilities, the hotel is suitable for all sorts of events. The unique pool and water features perfectly round off the image of a modern holiday resort.

There are no pictures available yet of the new project.
Visit our Media Lounge for further news, information and pictures: http://www.moevenpick-hotels.com/en/pub/service/media_lounge.cfm

Mövenpick Hotels & Resorts, an upscale hotel management company with over 12,000 employees, is represented through over 90 hotels existing or under construction in 26 countries with a concentration on its core markets in Europe, Africa, the Middle East and Asia. The international hotel group with roots in Switzerland is expanding and has a stated objective of increasing its hotel portfolio to 100 by the year 2010. With two hotel types, business and conference hotels, as well as holiday resorts, Mövenpick Hotels & Resorts has clearly positioned itself in the upscale segment and stands for quality, reliability and care with a personal touch. The hotel group is owned by Mövenpick Holding (66.7%) and the Kingdom Group (33.3%).

Casale Villarena – the ideal accommodation for an holiday on the Sorrento Coast with friends. Perched on a hillside overlooking the sea the Casale Villarena sits amidst lemon groves and below the delightful little village of Nerano on the Sorrento Peninsula.

The residence is made up of 4 independent apartments superbly appointed with terraces overlooking the bay of Marina del Cantone. A 15min walk or a short spin in the car will take you down the hill to its lovely beach and waterfront cafes.

The Marina is a great spot to kick back and watch the world go by and there are some excellent restaurants to try out, and plenty of places to visit by boat from there.
The larger towns of Positano, Sorrento, and Amalfi are close enough to visit and so this area is well placed to explore them all

The apartments in the villa are beautifully decorated, fully equipped with kitchen essentials, and have wonderful patios with breathtaking views.

The pool nestled amongst the lemon trees is refreshing after a day trip and is accessible at all times, the view of the Gulf of Salerno are awe inspiring.

This is also the perfect place to stay if you want to share your holiday with close friends. It is like having our own villa but with 5 star services.

Casale Villarena is an excellent value, a beautiful property and a wonderful place to spend your time when you want to visit the Sorrento Peninsula. It is a must!

For all bookings made before 28th of February, Lai Holidays is pleased to offer a 15% discount

Travel specialist Journey Latin America has announced details of three new hotels opening in Peru throughout 2009, all of which will be added to the tour operator’s bespoke portfolio. The luxury properties are based in Cusco, Chincha and Paracas and all include spa facilities.

FEBRUARY 2009

La Hacienda Bahia Paracas, Peru
Just a few hours south of Lima on the Pacific Coast, Paracas is home to Peru’s only marine reserve, and is a popular bird watching destination. Its close proximity to the Nasca Lines makes the destination a good base for cultural excursions and visits to the Ballesta Islands. Consisting of 80 rooms and seven bungalows, the luxury Hacienda Bahia Paracas retreat will feature a gym, football and volleyball fields and swimming pool.

A separate area, known as ‘El Santuario’ (the sanctuary) will feature six rooms designed for those looking for the ultimate private getaway.

JULY 2009

Aranwa Hotels and Wellness Boutique, Cusco, Peru

As the gateway to Macchu Piccu, Cusco is one of the most popular destinations for travellers to Peru. This boutique hotel will occupy a XVI-XVII century mansion located in the core of the city.

 It will consist of 42 rooms and will be equipped with oxygen systems for altitude, air conditioning units, Jacuzzi in each room as well as an individual massage room. A permanent exhibit of original paintings from Cusco’s famous school of painting, Escuela Cuzquena, and colonial sculptures will be displayed within the hotel.

NOVEMBER 2009

Casa Andina Private Collection San Jose, Chincha, Peru
Less than 200km south of Lima, the coastal town of Chincha is home to Peru’s Afro-Peruvian culture and is a relaxing destination popular with music lovers. Consisting of 50 rooms and 15 suites, Casa Andina will start operating the Haciena San Jose in Chincha from November, becoming its seventh top class Private Collection property in Peru.

The hotel will house a gourmet restaurant and bar as well as two swimming pools, a luxury spa and stables.

Laura Rendell-Dunn, Journey Latin America’s Peru specialist, comments: “The main draw for travellers to Peru is still Macchu Piccu and nearby Cusco, but we are noticing that more and more travellers are branching out to the more undiscovered areas of the Pacific Coast, such as Chincha and Paracas, both of which offer excellent hiking and bird watching opportunities.

“Peru is one of the most popular tourist destinations in Latin America and the last few years has seen a growing trend towards high-end boutique hotels and luxury accommodation,” she added.

The Yorkshire Moors and Coast Tourism Partnership (YMCTP) has launched a search for ‘Fifty Friendly Faces and their Favourite Places’.

“There’s been too much negative news recently, and we think the Moors and Coast area has a lot worth celebrating,” says David Shields, YMCTP Operations Director.

“We’re looking for the people who are always smiling, who make an extra effort for others and who make people feel particularly welcome.

We want to give them the recognition they deserve, and will also be asking them to share with us their favourite place which brings a smile to their face.

Hopefully we’ll find some inspiring places which we can pass on for others to visit and see if it makes them smile too.”

If you know someone you think should be part of ‘Fifty Friendly Faces and Favourite Places’ (or if you’d like to nominate yourself) please contact Carolyn Sims at carolyn@tourismnetwork.co.uk

 07855 501758.

Successful candidates will be those who best reflect and represent the welcoming nature of the region, a ‘friendly face’ living or working in the Yorkshire Moors and Coast area.

No Previous Experience Or Licence Required!

Families and groups of friends with a keen sense of adventure can now hire motor cruisers to independently experience the beauty of Europe’s largest inland waterway, created by the Alqueva Dam on the Guadiana River, in the Alentejo region of Portugal.

EHS Travel and Destination Portugal have been appointed as exclusive sales agents for UK and Ireland for the motor cruisers which allow visitors to travel around this beautiful 250 km area of calm, fresh and warm water which has long been a major attraction for sailors, windsurfers, fishermen and wildlife observers alike.

No license or previous experience is required to hire the cruisers which come in seven sizes, sleeping between two and 12 people in double bedded cabins. A thorough briefing is given in advance of setting sail, and navigation equipment, a sonar depth monitor, lifejackets and an emergency mobile telephone are all provided on board.

All boats have gas cooking facilities including an outdoor gas barbecue, fridge/freezer, TV with DVD player, shower and bathroom facilities and a radio and CD player.

Several historic and relatively unknown villages are easily accessible from the lake where shops, bars and local restaurants allow you to taste life in the Alentejo, enjoy the robust flavours of the region’s cuisine and sample the fine wines of many local growers.

Each boat has large areas for sunbathing, al-fresco eating and fishing. Added fun can be rented in the form of kayaks, bicycles, and fishing kits.

The season is 12 months long with the peak period in July and August when temperatures reach 30 degrees celsius.

Prices from EHS Travel and Destinations include transfers, boat rental, kitchen equipment, bedding and cooking gas, as well as air fares from the UK. All holidays are fully protected by ATOL license and ABTA membership.

Bookings can be made through:

EHS Travel:
Mary Anne Popoff – 01993 700 600 map@ehstravel.co.uk

Destination Portugal:
John Perriss – 01993 773 269 jrp@destination-portugal.co.uk

ATOP

An excellent general information resource on special offers and regional information about visiting Portugal, as well as a list of members who are specialists in Portugal holidays can be found at the ATOP website – The Association of Travel Organisers to Portugal)
www.discoverportugal.org.uk