Jetsettersblog

AWARDED FOUR-STAR RATING FOLLOWING MULTIMILLION DOLLAR RENOVATION

Following the completion of a multimillion-dollar enhancement of product and services, Treasure Island Resort Fiji has been upgraded to a four-star resort rating by AAA Tourism. Over the past two years, Treasure Island Resort has significantly enhanced facilities across the resort. Highlights include:

• Three swimming pools designed for families, couples and children

• A new Kids Club Bure that forms the centerpiece of an extensive program of
children’s activities.

• Refurbishment of all 66 beachfront bures with new in-room amenities and eco
friendly toiletries

• A new-look for the restaurant and bar, offering a more contemporary feel

• Hosting world-famous international chefs to ensure that guests enjoy world class
cuisine

• The first Environmental Officer in the Mamanucas, who is responsible for providing
guests with the chance for some hands-on fun while contributing to the protection
of local flora and fauna
Information: Graeme Back, gm@treasure.com.fj

WINS HOTELCLUB.COM’S “BEST SERVICE HOTEL” AWARD

Outrigger on the Lagoon Fiji received over 120,000 nominations from over 70,000 consumers around the world before it was awarded HotelClub.com’s “Best Service Hotel” award.

The win, announced in Sydney on September 10, 2008, was significant given the competition of 300 other Australian, New Zealand and Pacific Islands hotels in the category. According to the Outrigger’s General Manager, Darren Shaw, “To be recognized by travelers who took the time to vote online was humbling and a great tribute to the 396 staff that work at the five-star resort.”

Information: Milika Taukei, sm@outriggerfiji.com.fj

The Port of Seattle kicks off its 2009 cruise season today, April 24, with the opening of its new $72 million Smith Cove Cruise Terminal at Pier 91. The first ship to arrive at the new terminal will be Holland America Line’s Amsterdam. The 143,000-square-foot terminal — located just north of downtown Seattle — provides quick vessel approach and views of the city skyline, Mt. Rainier and the Olympic Mountains.

Features of the terminal include concierge services, luggage storage, onboard airline check-in, rental cars and secure parking. The two-story facility offers mobile gangways and shore power at each 1200-foot berth.

The terminal will house Holland America, Princess Cruises, and Royal Caribbean International ships.

The cruise facility was relocated from its former temporary home at Terminal 30, which is being returned to cargo container use.

Per an agreement between the port and the cruise lines, all ships that homeport in Seattle will use shore power or low-sulfur fuel while docked, eliminating the need to run ship engines to generate onboard electricity.

That agreement is similar to one between the cruise lines, the port, and the Washington State Department of Ecology. “Seattle’s cruise industry demonstrates that economic growth and environmental protection are compatible, achievable goals,” said Port of Seattle CEO Tay Yoshitani.

“We are proud today to be opening the only cruise terminal in the world that can provide shore power to two ships at once.”

The Port of Seattle expects to welcome a record 211 vessels this season, bringing an estimated 801,000 passengers to Seattle. Seattle’s cruise industry is responsible for more than 3,700 jobs, $312 million in annual business revenue, and $16 million in state and local tax revenues. The port’s cruise business has grown steadily from just six ships and 6,600 passengers in 1999. In 2008, Seattle hosted 210 vessels and a record 886,000 passengers, nearly all destined for Alaska.

The 2008 season marks the first time Seattle surpassed Vancouver in passenger numbers.

Seattle homeport cruise lines and destinations in 2009 are as follows: Celebrity Cruises, seven-day Alaska cruises on the Celebrity Infinity and three- and four-day Pacific Northwest cruises on the Mercury; both vessels depart from Bell Street Pier Cruise Terminal; Holland America Line, seven-day cruises to Alaska on the Zaandam, Westerdam and Amsterdam, departing Friday, Saturday and Sunday from Smith Cove Cruise Terminal;

Norwegian Cruise Line, seven-day Alaska cruises on the Norwegian Star and the Norwegian Pearl, departing Saturdays and Sundays from the Bell Street Pier;

Princess Cruises, seven-day Alaska cruises on the Golden Princess and Star Princess, departing Saturday and Sunday from Smith Cove, and Pacific Princess, 14-day Alaska sailings every other Thursday from Smith Cove;

Royal Caribbean, seven-day Alaska cruises on the Rhapsody of the Seas departing Smith Cove Cruise Terminal every Friday.

For more information, visit www.portseattle.org/seaport/cruise

Le Spa at La Residence Hotel & Spa added an outdoor component in April, opening a garden space with a sunken bath and Thai massage beds.

Le Spa also published a new spa menu, featuring a Perfume River Mud Bath, a honey and milk bath and a three-hour couple’s treatment, entitled “Romancing the Perfume River.”

The spa also opened a salon as an adjunct to its core business.

“Nobody confuses the experience of a treatment at La Residence with a treatment anywhere else,” said Carmen Marienberg, general manager of La Residence. “It’s the architecture of this space, the deft personnel and something I can’t quite put my finger on, as well.

Call it the feng shui of Hue.” Located on the banks of the Perfume River, Le Spa at La Residence has established a reputation as one of Vietnam’s premier spas. Since its inception in 2006 and its elevation to the Conde Nast Hot List in 2007, Le Spa has deepened its commitment to the development of a completely individual experience.

Comfort Zone, winner of the Asia Spa award for “product of the year,” supplies Le Spa with a foundation of balms, muds, creams, fluids and other necessities. In an effort to create a Vietnamese experience, Le Spa has sourced many complementary products locally, including papaya, mango, aloe vera, Vietnamese coffee, honey, milk and herbs.

Le Spa’s 11 therapists bring a distinctly Vietnamese sense of responsibility, earnestness and ambition to their work.

In “Romancing,” the three-hour treatment begins with an herbal sauna and whirlpool bath before transitioning into Swedish massage, a facial and a foot treatment. With the addition of the Thai massage, La Residence will dispatch two therapists to Thailand for training in June.

In addition to 60- or 90-minute Royal Thai Massage treatments, Le Spa also offers a Vietnamese four-hand treatment and hot stone therapy.

Set on a five-acre site with 200 yards of frontage on the Perfume River, La Residence celebrated its grand opening in December 2005 after a restoration of the former colonial governor’s residence. The hotel’s bowed façade, its long horizontal lines and nautical flourishes are hallmarks of the streamline modern school of art deco architecture. In 2007, Conde Nast Traveler selected La Residence for its Hot List.

Inside, the hotel’s 122 rooms and suites, restaurants, lounges, bars and conference room are tricked out in complementary art-deco furnishings and décor that evoke both the 1920s and 1950s.

The hotel’s fine-dining venue, Le Parfum, serves Mediterranean and French cuisine, as well as dishes from a complementary Vietnamese menu.

The conference facilities, including board rooms, can accommodate 140 guests. The hotel provides complementary Wi-Fi Internet access in the ground floor lounges and in Le Gouverneur itself.

For more information, call 011-84 54 3-837-475, email resa@la-residence-hue.com  or visit www.la-residence-hue.com

The Honolulu Surfing Museum has opened next to Jimmy Buffett’s Restaurant and Bar at the Ohana Waikiki Beachcomber.

The museum explores the origins, evolution and current state of surfing, showcasing top surfing legends. The collection of surf memorabilia includes vintage surfboards, classic surfing footage, a Hollywood prop or two and a historic collection of musical instruments.

For more information, visit www.honolulusurfmuseum.com

Mexico’s Blue Tulum Resort & Spa announced become a member of Luxe Worldwide Hotels.

The addition of Blue Tulum brings to 13 the number of Luxe Worldwide Hotels properties in Mexico.

For more information on Luxe Worldwide Hotels, call 866-LUXE-411 or visit www.luxehotels.com

For more information or reservations at Blue Tulum, call 866-336-2213 or visit www.BlueTulumResort.com

Motel 6 announced a partnership with the Cat Fanciers’ Association to offer CFA registered cat owners a discounted price on Motel 6 and Studio 6 room reservations across the country.

Pet friendly since 1962 and with more than 1,000 properties across the United States, Motel 6 is now able to help CFA registrants save money on lodging and offer a clean, comfortable room during their travels.

To reserve discounted rooms at Motel 6, CFA registrants can log on to www.motel6.com  and enter access code CP542766.

For discounted rooms at Studio 6, registrants can visit www.staystudio6.com and enter the access code CP542767. For more information, visit www.motel6.com

The Royal Oak Foundation, the U.S. branch of the National Trust of England, Wales, and Northern Ireland, is granting privileged access to the finest gardens in the area through their New Gardens of the English Cotswolds tour, June 14 to 19.

The tour is led by the top garden gurus in the U.K., including renowned designers Arne Maynard (a Chelsea Gold Medalist), Dan Pearson and Jinny Blom. Over six days, guests will experience 17 of these mostly private gardens.

Not only can they tour the gardens, they will also lunch with the owners and designers in their exclusive spaces.

Dinners and accommodation are at Lords of the Manor, a 17th century former rectory with a Michelin-starred restaurant.

The cost for the six-day tour is $8,100 per person for double occupancy; there is a $600 single supplement.

Both include a $2,500, tax-deductible donation benefitting National Trust Gardens, while the remaining balance is commissionable (10 percent).

For more information,

visit www.royal-oak.org

Where To Stay, What To Do And How To Save On Your Next London Visit
Explore London hotels, neighborhoods and free attractions

Hyde Park, London

LONDON, ENGLAND – London is always a good idea as a travel destination as there are so many great deals available on London hotels and airfare. Some tips for saving money: Broaden your search for London hotels to include all neighborhoods within minutes of the center by London Underground. Buy an Oyster card for savings on all public transportation. And take advantage of the free things there are to do, including most art galleries and museums — from the Tate Modern to the British Museum.

For information about London visit www.visitlondon.com and www.visitbritain.com  and for obtaining Oyster cards, visit http://www.tfl.gov.uk

To check out London hotels in a variety of neighborhoods, visit Marriott’s London Hotels collections and follow links to deals at all 15 Marriott, Renaissance and Courtyard hotels — from Hyde Park to the West End, Westminster to Regent’s Park, Maida Vale to Kensington and from Twickenham to London’s two busiest airports, Heathrow and Gatwick.

Mayfair/Hyde Park/Marble Arch

Check out free sites in Hyde Park, Kensington Gardens, Green Park and St. James’s Park, and if you must spend, find retail legends like Selfridges and new designers in Saville Row, Bond Street and Oxford Street. Celebrate the restoration and 80th birthday of Grosvenor House, A JW Marriott Hotel on Park Lane, with the Birthday Celebration package (GBP370 per night inclusive, through December 31, 2009), including champagne and cake, GBP50 Selfridges gift certificate, quintessential British Afternoon Tea served in the Park Room and English Breakfast served in BORD’EAUX.(Tube stop: Hyde Park Corner) The luxe London Marriott Hotel Grosvenor Square, recently renovated top to bottom, offers the A-maze-ing Weekend package (GBP190 – GBP205 GBP; through: July 8, 2009) including London’s best hotel breakfast in Gordon Ramsay’s acclaimed new maze Grill restaurant.(Tube: Bond Street).

With the London Eye Package, you can experience the great views of London and combine your trip with a stay at London Marriott Marble Arch, with rates from GBP199 GBP (code ARN; valid through May 7, 2009). (Tube: Marble Arch) Another option is the London Marriott Hotel Park Lane, once a stately apartment building overlooking Hyde Park, now a luxury hotel with the feel of a boutique. (Tube: Marble Arch).

West End

The West End is London’s Theatreland, with theatres, shops and restaurants within easy reach of Soho, Piccadilly Circus or Leicester Square. A short walk away in Holborn, the Renaissance Chancery Court offers the Family Duck Weekend with rates from GBP395 GBP (code MAJ; valid August 31, 2009) including two nights for four, full English Breakfast, 70 Minute Duck Tour around London and Duck treats. (Tube stop: Holborn)

South Bank/Westminster

Many of London’s iconic attractions are here: the London Eye, London Aquarium and the Houses of Parliament and Big Ben. The 5-star London Marriott Hotel, County Hall, once a seat of government, has been restored but retains its history and breathtaking views of Westminster across the Thames. (Tube stops: Westminster or Waterloo)

Maida Vale

Experience the charming Maida Vale, with breathtaking canal views of London’s “Little Venice,” the Beatles’ Abbey Road Studios, and the shops and cafes of St John’s Wood and Maida Vale.

The London Marriott Hotel Maida Vale offers modern accommodation and Restaurant Fratelli serving specialty pizzas and a la carte Italian cuisine. (Tube stop: Kilburn Park)

Regent’s Park/Swiss Cottage

This is the London hotel for close proximity to Wembley Stadium, the London Zoo/Regent’s Park and the Lord’s Cricket Ground. The London Marriott Regent’s Park London Zoo Package, with rates from GBP143 – GBP160 (code ZOO; through December 31, 2009), includes a family pass to the Zoo, breakfast and access to Leisure Club. (Tube stop: Swiss Cottage)

Kensington

From a home-base in Kensington, explore the shopping area of Knightsbridge and the famous emporium, Harrods, as well as Kensington Palace, the Natural History Museum and Royal Albert Hall. The London Marriott Kensington offers the Harrods Shop ’til You Drop Package from GBP170 – GBP250.00 GBP (code PK9; valid through October 22, 2009), including GBP30 voucher to spend in Harrods and full English Breakfast. (Tube stop: Earl’s Court)

Canary Wharf

One of the busiest docks in the world, today Canary Wharf is a business and shopping district in East London, centered on the old West India docks. The O2 package at London Marriott West India Quay, has rates from GBP262 GBP (code ZJ8; through December 17, 2009), including breakfast in Curve Restaurant, two cocktails in the Manhattan bar and two London Underground travel cards. (Tube stop: Canary Wharf)

King’s Cross/St. Pancras

St. Pancras Station, the terminus for Eurostar high-speed trains, was recently restored and it, together with the red brick Grade 1 listed Gothic St. Pancras Chambers hotel, are popular with film and television productions, appearing in every Harry Potter film to date.

The hotel will reopen as the Renaissance London St. Pancras in 2010. (Tube stop: King’s Cross/St. Pancras)

Heathrow and Gatwick

The London Heathrow Marriott Hotel is an ideal hotel in London for exploring nearby Windsor Castle. And the Renaissance London Heathrow Hotel, close by terminals 1, 2 and 3, has spectacular views from many rooms. The new Courtyard by Marriott London Gatwick Airport is approximately an eight-minute walk from the South Terminal and just 30 minutes from London Victoria by Gatwick Express Train.

Twickenham

Just six miles from Heathrow Airport and 20 minutes from Central London, the brand new London Marriott Hotel Twickenham sits within the South Stand of the Twickenham Rugby Stadium and is perfectly located for visits to Hampton Court Palace and Kew Gardens.

Travelers to Israel this spring will be able to stay in one of the world’s most artistically imaginative hotels,

The Art + Hotel in Tel Aviv. The Art + Hotel features artworks by some of Israelis leading artists including Zadok Ben David, Sigalit Landau and Maya Attoun.

www.atlas.co.il