Jetsettersblog

Rydges Gladstone has always boasted the best views in town and now it can lay claim to the best beds as well.

General Manager David Osborne said Rydges Gladstone’s 40 harbour view rooms had been revitalised and each now included a flat screen television and the popular Rydges dream beds with triple sheeting.

“The exclusive Rydges dream beds have received rave reviews from Rydges guests Australia-wide who rate them as the most comfortable hotel bed they’ve ever slept in,” Mr Osborne said.

“Designed by Australia’s oldest and most respected bed manufacturer, A.H Beard, the beds have the world’s best Talalay Latex mattress and Double Flex Edge Border Supports to give you the ultimate night’s sleep while supporting your body.

“New tasteful modern décor ensures the view of Gladstone Harbour is still the focal point of the refurbished harbour view rooms, but when the curtains are shut the flat screen television commands attention.”

Rydges Gladstone is located in the heart of the city close to major retailers and service providers and is Gladstone’s largest hotel complex, making it ideal for conferences or holiday makers.

Its proximity to Gladstone Harbour means guests have easy access to Heron Island and the Great Barrier Reef.

Quality accommodation facilities including a pool, laundry service, conference facilities and room service combine with the can-do Rydges service to ensure a quality stay.

The newly launched CBD Restaurant & Bar has an all-day dining menu featuring a great selection of steaks plus weekday lunches for only AUD$15 per person.

Skyrail Rainforest Cableway is Australia’s most sustainable tourism attraction, as recognised at the Australian Tourism Awards.

Skyrail Managing Director Dr Ken Chapman, said: “Skyrail is excited and honoured to receive the inaugural Qantas Award for Excellence in Sustainable Tourism”.

“Australia is internationally recognised as one of the world’s leading sustainable tourism destinations; to be named the nation’s best, sustainable attraction is an honour not only for our operation, but the entire Tropical North Queensland region,” he said.

“Cairns and Tropical North Queensland is home to two natural World Heritage listed wonders, the Great Barrier Reef and Wet Tropics Rainforests, and the operators of our region are some of the most sustainable in the country.”

“We are proud to present the Wet Tropics Rainforests of Queensland to our visitors, allowing them to experience and learn more about these ancient forests, on boardwalks and at the Rainforest Interpretation Centre, without impacting on them.”

“Providing a sustainable rainforest experience was the fundamental principle behind the concept of Skyrail Rainforest Cableway when it was first mooted back in 1987. Today, it continues to drive all areas of operation.”

The Qantas Award for Excellence in Sustainable Tourism is a new award, introduced at the state level last year.

Open to tourism operators who exemplify a strong commitment to sustainable and innovative business practices, the award was designed to:

 Recognise and reward tourism businesses that implement the principles of sustainable tourism;

 Inspire other tourism businesses to adopt new sustainable practices;

 Acknowledge tourism businesses that provide a unique travel experience and inspire visitors to promote Australia as one of the world’s leading sustainable tourism destinations.

As well as receiving the Qantas Award for Excellence in Sustainable Tourism, Skyrail:

 Was the first tourist attraction in Australia to receive ISO 14001 for its Environmental Management System;

 Achieved Advanced Ecotourism Accreditation from inception;

 Is the only company in Australia to have Green Globe Gold Certification;

 Was the first Australian attraction to win the British Airways “Tourism for Tomorrow” International Environment Award.

Skyrail’s commitment ensures visitors today and tomorrow can enjoy, appreciate and learn about the beauty and culture of the Wet Tropics Rainforests of Tropical North Queensland.

Jet Airways’ Frequent Flyer Program

Boosting its global airline partnerships to a total of 14, Preferred Hotel Group™ is pleased to announce a marketing partnership with JetPrivilege – Jet Airways’ frequent flyer program.

Jet Airways is the third airline partnership announced this year in addition to Singapore Airlines and Korean Air.

Preferred Hotel Group represents more than 700 of the world’s finest independent hotels and resorts in over 75 countries across five brands. JetPrivilege members can now earn 600 JPMiles at eligible hotels and resorts from its four participating brands: Preferred Hotels® & Resorts, Preferred Boutique™, Summit Hotels & Resorts™ and Sterling Hotels™. This includes The Metropolitan Hotel New Delhi, Ista Hotels, Royal Plaza on Scotts in Singapore,

The Landmark in Bangkok, Egerton House Hotel in London and The Tudor Hotel in New York.

“As India’s premier international airline with an excellent domestic connections and an expanding international network, this partnership complements Preferred Hotel Group’s recent membership growth in India, Asia and Europe,” said Ananya Narayan, Area Managing Director – India, Middle East & Africa, Preferred Hotel Group.

According to Mr. Rahul Kucheria-General Manager, Relationship Marketing, JetPrivilege, “As India’s largest frequent-flyer programme, Jet Airways’ JetPrivilege is always looking to enhance the travel experience for its members via innovative hotel and other partnerships, across a range of spectrums.

We are confident that this partnership with the Preferred Hotel Group, with its portfolio of stunning properties around the world, will be much appreciated by our members.”

About Preferred Hotel Group™
Celebrating 40 years of excellence, Preferred Hotel Group is a global leader in the hospitality industry, delivering high-performance sales, marketing, and technology solutions to more than 700 independent hotels and resorts in over 75 countries.

Its family of brands represents a collection of the finest hotels in the world and include: Preferred Hotels® & Resorts (www.PreferredHotels.com), Preferred Boutique™ (www.PreferredBoutique.com), Summit Hotels & Resorts™ (www.SummitHotels.com) , Sterling Hotels™(www.SterlingHotels.com)  and Historic Hotels of America® (www.HistoricHotels.org)

For more information, please visit www.PreferredHotelGroup.com

Incentives for Taekwondo Enthusiasts from Around the World.

Are you thinking of traveling to Korea and looking for a unique experience on your next holiday? Then why not experience the human power of taekwondo, Korea’s martial arts. The Seoul Taekwondo Tour Programs offer experience programs for foreign visitors in the grounds of an ancient Royal Palace in downtown Seoul.

Human Power, Taekwondo is an experience taekwondo program offering sessions Tuesday through Sunday which include basic techniques, self-defence and breaking skills. The program runs through to December 5, 2009. Participation fee is 20,000 Korean won (approx A$20).

If you are afraid to get a broken nose on your holiday then maybe you would prefer to just watch the Power Art Taekwondo program, a free demonstration program with traditional Korean music on Wednesday and Saturdays in the front garden of Gyeonghuigung Royal Palace.

This program runs through till 9 December, 2009.

More information on the Seoul Taekwondo Tour programs are available go to website:
www.taekwonseoul.org

Korea will host the 3rd World Taekwondo Culture Expo from 3 July to 10 July in Jeonju and Muju in Jeollabuk Province.

The Expo has been planned to promote true friendships among taekwondo enthusiasts from around the world and provide participants with diverse traditional cultural experiences as well as Taekwondo competitions.

Muju is the site of the World Takewondo Park which is due to be completeted by 2013. More information on the 3rd World Takewondo Culture Expo at www.wtcexpo.net

2009 is also a big year for Taekwondo championships in the country.

The 7th Chuncheon Open International Taekwondo Championships will be held from the 10 – 15 July, 2009. Information on the event can be found at the Championships website:
http://koreaopentkd.org

Korea Tourism Organization are offering incentives for taekwondo groups to visit Korea this year.

A group with a minimum of ten persons can receive free tickets to ‘JUMP’ Korea’s hit martial arts comedy theatre performance valued at approximately A$50 per person as well as free gifts.

For groups smaller than ten persons a free gift is also available.

Get your own group together now and contact Korea Tourism Organization for more information on the variety of incentives being offered.
Email visitkorea@knto.org.au  for further information.

Information on Taekwondo tour programs available to Australian travellers is available on the Lotte Travel website www.lottetravel.com.au  or email info@lottetravel.com.au for more information.

Making its debut in the heart of Shanghai is the city’s first urban resort, The PuLi Hotel and Spa (The PuLi). Managed by Urban Resort Concepts (URC), a Hong Kong based hotel management company, the superb location and unique concept of the hotel forms the basic foundation and vital ingredients towards the success of this luxury urban resort.

Not only does The PuLi benefit from its prime location by NanJing West Road in Jing’an District, it is part of the ambitious mixed-use development project,

Park Place. Developed and operated by Shanghai Cross Ocean Property Development Ltd, Park Place comprises of an international Grade-A office tower, a high-end retail and dining complex, as well as The PuLi.

The concept of “absolute lifestyle” begins at Park Place. With a tranquil Jing’an Park teemed with greenery, this multi-use development boasts the finest natural eco-environment and allows tenants to experience natural comfort and convenience for work, play and life.

Accessibility is a concern for everyone, especially in a bustling metropolis like Shanghai. Park Place provides that solution through its myriad of transportation choices for all tenants and guests with its premium location.

The PuLi’s unique concept is the brainchild of Urban Resort Concepts, founded by seasoned veterans in the hospitality industry, who believe that the running of a luxury hotel is as much an artisan craft as it is a business.

URC’s cohesive management structure embraces the homogenous integration of hotel development know-how and the appreciation of local context, paired with extensive global luxury hotel management expertise to ensure the delivery of a physical and service product previously unseen in Shanghai and beyond.

“Owners who may be looking for an alternative to tying up with multi-tiered and conventional management companies can turn to us to manage their properties, safe in the knowledge that their vision will be listened to.

This leads to a greater degree of trust between all parties,” says Markus Engel, Director and co-founder of URC.

The guest experience at a URC hotel is one that dispenses of the accoutrements of the generic product elements commonly found in conventional luxury hotels. Replaced with contemporary ingredients that exude a sense of understated luxury and elegance, this creates a blend between a contemporary urban space and its state-of-the-art amenities with soothing subtleties and accents of a resort.

“The result is an unparalleled spatial and guest experience, inspiring a personal satisfaction in our guests of knowing they have been touched by the essence of what luxury is meant to be,” says John G Laing, Managing Director of URC.

For more information about The PuLi Hotel and Spa, please contact us:

Proximity Live
Ms. Leona Zhang
Tel: +86 21 2401 8196
Cell phone: +86 136-6197-2918
Email: leona.zhang@proximitylive.cn

Cruise West is planning a 335-day circumnavigation of the globe, departing March 6 from Singapore and following the paths of the world’s great explorers.

The 120-guest, all-suite Spirit of Oceanus will sail westward, following the sun, and return to Singapore on Feb. 3, 2011.

The Voyages of the Great Explorers will follow routes inspired by the likes of Marco Polo, Odysseus, Leif Eriksson, Christopher Columbus, James Cook, Ferdinand Magellan and St. Augustine.

It will encompass six chapters of 24 individual segments ranging from nine to 18 nights. No other cruise linebig or small offers a journey as long or as varied as Voyages of the Great Explorers,” said Richard West, managing director and chairman of Cruise West.

“A true explorer knows that smaller is better. These voyages are designed to visit remarkable destinations, waterways and sites during the best time of the year, and only a small exploration ship can access many of these destinations.” West will host the inaugural departure from Singapore.

The voyage will visit 242 ports of call in 59 countries and 85 UNESCO World Heritage sites while crossing 14 seas and oceans and transiting three canals — Suez, Corinth and Panama.

One voyage will visit the Edinburgh Military Tattoo, Scotland’s military musical spectacular.

Further exploration will available by Zodiac rafts and included Ultimate Explorer experiences. The cruises will feature guest lecturers, local experts and onboard Exploration Leaders.

The first chapter, Marco Polo-Ancient Trade Routes of the Mystic East, operates March 6 to May 5 during four segments along the ancient trade routes from Southeast Asia to the Mediterranean Sea.

The itineraries include visits to Thailand, Burma, the Indian sub-continent, Sri Lanka, Iran, United Arab Emirates, Oman, and Jordan before concluding in Alexandria, Egypt.

The second chapter is Odysseus and the Phoenicians-Mediterranean Odyssey, which operates May 5 through July 20, 2010.

The voyages begin in Alexandria and sail on to Greece, Turkey, Tunis, Algeria, Italy, Sicily, Malta, Spain and Portugal before arriving in Honfleur, France.

The third chapter is Leif Eriksson-The Viking Sagas, from July 20 to Sept. 8, 2010. These itineraries explore Ireland, the Orkney Islands, Scandinavia, Tallinn, St. Petersburg, London, Edinburgh, Iceland, Greenland and the Faroe Islands before ending in St. John?s, Halifax.

Next up is the Christopher Columbus-The New World chapter from Sept. 8 to Oct. 25, 2010. Five segments will depart Halifax and cruise along the Atlantic coastline, island hop in the Caribbean and transit the Panama Canal. The cruise will explore Panama and Costa Rica before disembarking in Guayaquil, Ecuador.

Extensions are available to the Galapagos Islands and Machu Picchu. ?James Cook-Idylls of the South Pacific will operate Oct. 25, 2010 to Jan. 19, 2011, cruising the South Pacific from Guayaquil to Easter Island, Polynesia, New Guinea, the Cook Islands, New Zealand and Australia, ending in Darwin.

The final chapter, Ferdinand Magellan-In Search of the Spice Islands, operates Jan. 19-Feb. 3, 2011, sailing from Darwin to Singapore. For the entire voyage, fares start at $233,995 and include first-class airfare.

Prices per voyage start at $4,995 and include a pre-cruise hotel night. Those who pay in full by July 15 and save up to 35 percent, and those book more than one voyage save an additional 5 percent.

Regent Seven Seas Cruises and Artful Travelers, a specialty travel and entertainment firm, have planned a voyage featuring guests from the Public Broadcasting System (PBS).

The cruise will feature discussion of politics, current events and world affairs. Regent?s Public Television at Sea cruise, part of its Spotlight Series enrichment program, departs Dec. 4 on the 700-guest Seven Seas Voyager.

PBS personalities will speak on a variety of topics during the 14-night sailing from Rio de Janeiro through the waters of Latin America and the Caribbean to Fort Lauderdale Gwen Ifill, the moderator and managing editor of PBS Washington Week and a senior correspondent for The NewsHour with Jim Lehrer, will discuss current events, her career in the media and her new book The Breakthrough: Politics and Race in the Age of Obama. David Fanning, executive producer and founder of Frontline, will discuss the reporting on America’s longest-running investigative documentary series on television. Charlie Cook, leading political analyst and the publisher of The Cook Political Report, will provide analysis on the American political landscape.

Regent?s PTV at Sea cruise is offered in partnership with locally based PBS stations and Artful Travelers. PTV at Sea guests will be able to meet the personalities at dinners, cocktail parties, shore excursions and other organized events. While certain activities and events are available only to guests purchasing their cruise through Artful Travelers, some events will be open to all guests as part of Regent’s Spotlight Series program.

The Dec. 4-18 voyage will visit Fortaleza, Brazil; Salvador de Bahia, Brazil; Bridgetown, Barbados; St. John’s, Antigua & Barbuda; San Juan, Puerto Rico; and Fort Lauderdale. Special offers include free roundtrip economy-class air or one-way business-class upgrade for $999, free unlimited shore excursions, and 2-for-1 savings, with per-person rates starting at $5,795 including all savings.

For more information, call Artful Travelers at 800-645-8566 or visit www.ptvatsea.com  or www.RSSC.com

Crystal Cruises will make its final call in Antarctica this holiday season. Beginning in 2011, a proposed ban on the carriage of certain fuel oils onboard will effectively prohibit the sailing of most passenger vessels in the Antarctic.

Crystal Symphony’s Dec. 20 Christmas/New Year cruise is the only time Crystal will be cruising the region in 2009 and 2010.

The 19-day journey departs from Buenos Aires to Valparaiso with visits to several ports in Argentina, Chile and Uruguay, including the Chilean fjords and Cape Horn.

Ashore, guests can fly to King George Island and walk on the continent, take a helicopter to a humpback whale sanctuary, enjoy a 4-by-4 expedition to a King penguin colony, and trek the mountains of Chile.

The Crystal Symphony will boast more than $100,000 of seasonal décor, including handcrafted ornaments, decorated trees and toy soldiers. Holiday dinners, parties and entertainment are planned for Christmas Eve and Christmas Day, culminating in a black-tie gala on New Year’s Eve. Clergy will be onboard to conduct services.

Also during the holidays, Crystal’s junior activities staff will coordinate daily programming for children of all ages. Cruise fares start at $8,995 per person, double occupancy.

The Antarctic holiday cruise can be taken as part of a 62-day roundtrip from Miami that makes a circumference of South America, including an exploration of the Amazon.

Guests can customize their vacation with an All Inclusive-As You Wish spending credit of up to $6,000 per couple.

Westmark Hotels is celebrating the 50th anniversary of Alaska’s statehood with special room rates and promotions.

A subsidiary of Holland America Line, Westmark offers special celebrations at its collection of 10 hotels in Alaska and the Yukon.

The hotel collection is now showcased in a redesigned website. For example, the Westmark Fairbanks Hotel & Conference Center and Westmark Baranof in Juneau are enticing guests with an offer to stay three nights and then enjoy an additional fourth night for just $59. The Westmark Inn Skagway is offering a special 50th Anniversary

Rate of $95.59 and a bottomless cup of coffee for 59 cents. Westmark hotels in Anchorage, Fairbanks, Dawson City and Whitehorse (also home of Klondike Inn) are featuring fun vintage cocktails with 1950s nostalgia.

The Westmark Anchorage is offering an Alaska wild salmon dinner nightly for just $19.50 and a “Bite of Alaska” dessert, sprinkled with gold dust, for $1.95. The Westmark Inn Tok features a “Famous Big Margarita” for $19.59 and a distinctly Alaskan offer: guests can buy an Ulu (native knife) and get a second one for just 59 cents.

They can also purchase a handmade Alaskan clock for $19.59. For more information visit Westmark’s newly redesigned website, www.westmarkhotels.com

Royal Caribbean International is introducing a new Gotta Dance program designed to teach and perform hip-hop dance moves.

Based on the documentary film by Dori Berinstein, the guest-participatory Gotta Dance experience will be offered fleetwide this summer.

The documentary will be shown on big screens starting in July.

Gotta Dance chronicles the senior citizen, hip-hop dance troupe for the New Jersey Nets basketball team.

Each cruise will feature a screening of the film. Guests on select ships before the nationwide roll-out of the movie will get an advanced viewing. Participants will then be divided into teams and, over the course of their vacation, will learn choreographed routines with a member of the Royal Caribbean dance team in rehearsals during sea days.

The program will culminate with the main event –

a farewell show on the last evening of the cruise in the main theater. Each group will perform a different routine, all of which were choreographed by New Jersey Nets? dance coach Kimberlee Garris, who also appears in the Gotta Dance film.

www.GottaDanceTheMovie.com