Jetsettersblog

Speaking of beer, guess how the folks at Fridheimer farm near Selfoss demonstrate the smooth tolting gate of the Icelandic horse?

During a horse show that you can visit from June through October, riders tolt by with steins of beer in their hand, spilling nary a drop. Nonetheless, we recommend you wait until after your ride before enjoy the local brew.

In only 12 minutes the show gives insight into one of the finest horse breeds in the world, a breed that has been intertwined with the culture and history of the Icelandic nation through the centuries.

After the show guests are invited to the stable where they can get a closer look at the horses, take pictures and chat with the show riders. If you’re there at the right time, you can visit an adjacent tomato greenhouse which is heated geothermally.

Knutur Ármann will likely be there to serve you Akavit in a tomato cup. It’s yet another delightful surprise you’ll find in Iceland virtually around every corner. Check their Web site for more information:

http://www.farmholidays.is/FarmDetails.aspx?No=688

Reykjavík’s Orange restaurant has made it to the prestigious Condé Nast Hot Tables list for 2009. According to the list, Orange is one of the most exciting restaurants in Europe, with its innovative menu and original service. The coverage reads, in part, “Despite the unremarkable concrete facade, Orange, in Reykjavík’s old harbor, is packed with playful surprises.

“A slushie machine dispenses potent neon cocktails named for Iceland’s glaciers; a mason jar holding a deer and goose terrine appears amid a cloud of dry ice; and the coconut-crusted prawns arrive via a helium-filled balloon. Presiding over this fun-through-dining experience is 29-year-old chef Thorarinn Eggertsson. He deftly incorporates aspects of molecular gastronomy into a menu heavy on locally sourced ingredients like gray duck, reindeer, and salted cod.” 


To learn more about Orange, log onto: http://www.orange.is

Savvy marketers at the Icelandic brewery Ölgerdin Egill Skallagrímsson have reintroduced a brew called Polar Beer which was initially produced for British troops based in the country.

“When British troops were sent to Iceland in WW II, they expected hardship, but they did not anticipate a lack of beer.

And although the Arctic island’s inhabitants were not allowed to brew, sell or drink beer for another 59 years, special provisions were made to make sure the soldiers would get their pint as usual,” described an Ölgerdin press release.

A recent teaser campaign involved placing claw marks throughout Reykjavik.

We think it’s a smart name; after all, what else would you drink up near the Arctic Circle, perhaps with broiled Icelandic sheep’s head (called svid), or a nice plate of nasty, foul-tasting hakarl – fermented shark meat?

The new Polar Beer is lighter and fresher than the original brew and is available in bars and Vínbúdin, the Icelandic state liquor stores.

You can buy it at Keflavik Airport, either coming or going.

The price is about $8 per six-pack

The truth is Iceland has quietly become one of the best fishing destinations in the world, and Fish Iceland is the land’s largest sport-fishing promoter. Freshwater and sea trout, Arctic char, and especially salmon (Iceland had its best salmon fishing year on record in 2008) can be enjoyed in the stunningly clean and clear Icelandic waters.

The island landscape varies from lava fields and glacial plateaus to verdant fields and farmland and provides a wealth of activities for the family to enjoy whilst you fish. Fish Iceland’s website, www.FishIceland.com, provides information about river levels, salmon catches, and advice on where to stay, as well information about the rivers themselves, and online booking with immediate issuing of permits for your trip.

To experience wild, unspoiled nature in an exotic setting, contact Fish Iceland today. (www.fishiceland.com)

The Gold Coast is jockeying to be Australia’s most popular backpacker / adventure travel destination as it works on its assets and directs its attention to this constantly growing travel segment.

In the past 12 months the Gold Coast has seen 132,749 backpackers visit the region contributing around $126 million dollars into the local economy. It is one of the few segments which have actually increased in visitor numbers and visitor spend over the past 12 challenging months. By comparison, the Gold Coast’s famous relationship with Japanese travellers only delivered 116,000 visitors last year.

Gold Coast Adventure Travel Group (GCATG) President Tim Groves said the natural growth of the backpacker segment for the Gold Coast has been positive, but with a concerted effort the tourism city could steal even more market share from other destinations.

“We have made headway in recent years by aligning the efforts of the Gold Coast Adventure Travel Group, Gold Coast Tourism and Gold Coast City Council but we are still an underappreciated destination for many backpackers and adventure travellers,” he said.

“Gold Coast has about a third of the total Queensland backpacker market share and almost a quarter of the total national figure but we are yet to really cement our position as the number one backpacker destination.”

“That will come as we are rapidly developing more product, better marketing and a clearer message for this segment.”

Long held industry misconceptions of backpackers as low yield, short stay visitors have been changed by the work of the GCATG. The segment which now includes the traditional backpacker, adventure traveller, flash packer and grey nomad is proving to be one of the most active tourist groups, importantly fulfilling every region’s desire to achieve dispersal of visitor spend.

The profile of backpackers has grown from just the traditional 18 to 26 year old European traveller to also include a strong Asian contingent, which suits the Gold Coast perfectly since the introduction and high popularity of direct flights from Malaysia and the wider Asian and European connections of low cost carrier AirAsia X into Gold Coast Airport.

Gold Coast Tourism CEO Martin Winter said the Gold Coast had an important position in the national backpacker landscape.

“We are a destination known for fun, entertainment, value and variety so we connect with adventure travellers very well, they know a complete mix of natural and man made experiences is waiting on the Gold Coast”, he said.

“Add to that our location along the east coast route, our low cost air access, our 60,000 bed spaces of all levels, our 70 kilometres of beach, our 100,000 hectares of world heritage rainforest, our 500 restaurants and bars, and our welcoming attitude.”

“Why wouldn’t you grab your kit and head to the Gold Coast for a few days of fun?”

Melbourne will be able to check in to its newest hotel in less than two weeks. Michael Bourne, General Manager of the new Hilton Melbourne South Wharf hotel, today confirmed that the new Hilton hotel will open its doors for business on April 16, 2009.

The highly anticipated new hotel will welcome over 200 new employees to work; up-scale dining destination Nuevo37 will also open to the public and the first guests will check-in to the hotel from 2:00pm.

Located in the city’s evolving South Wharf district (bordering Docklands and Southbank and directly alongside the new Melbourne Convention Centre), the hotel is set to be the ‘new Melbourne’ destination for visitors and locals. The hotel is the first major development to officially open in the $1.4 billion precinct, continuing Melbourne’s growth as a waterfront city.

Rising 20 storeys high, Hilton Melbourne South Wharf offers a view experienced from no other hotel in Melbourne. The hotel boasts unique views up the Yarra River, across the city and to the bay, creating a totally new perspective of the city.

“We are looking forward to showcasing the new Hilton Melbourne South Wharf. The food and beverage offering alone is so exciting in itself. We truly believe that as a dining destination, Nuevo37 and Sotano bar are set to be the next big thing to hit the Melbourne food scene,” Michael said.

“We have the honour of being the first development in the precinct to introduce the fabulous South Wharf location to Melburnians. Located directly alongside the Melbourne Convention Centre, convention visitors will be able to enjoy fabulous cuisine and walk through to the convention centre through the hotel lobby.”

Catalan inspired cuisine ready for tasting

Nuevo37 restaurant and Sotano wine and tapas bar will also open on April 16. Michelin star chef Ramon Freixa (from Barcelona) will showcase his new menu at the VIP opening event that evening. The restaurant will take reservations for lunch and dinner from April 17 onwards.

The food and beverage team behind the three new dining destinations (including café style bakery Caffé Cino) have been busy sourcing suppliers and working collaboratively to produce an innovative menu with a strong Spanish influence and distinct Melbourne flair.

The team, consisting of some of the most talented and internationally recognised chefs and sommeliers, has been working collaboratively on the menu, selecting all the food and wine by hand, perfectly matching flavours and exploiting the best local and international produce to promise a truly memorable experience for diners.

Michelin star chef Ramon Freixa has proved his creative genius in the kitchen. The menu includes a signature dish based on his famous “big duck”: duck hamburger with green mustard ice cream, Idiazabal cheese and poached red onion.

Dr Ron Georgiou, one of only 268 Masters of Wine worldwide, has personally selected and tasted the 5000 strong wine list. Highlights include a 2007 Chacra Cincuenta Cinco Pinot Noir from Patagonia. To ensure its arrival for the hotel’s opening, the bottles will take a slightly less conventional route – hand carried via a designated pilot from South America.

Laurent Shenck, Head Sommelier and dedicated Fromagerie, has sourced a cheese that has been aged in a sulphur cave in a remote town in Italy, called Sogliano al Rubicone. Cacio di Fossa is a cheese that Laurent promises to be unlike any other cheese Melburnians have ever tasted before.

The menu also includes a strong Victorian and Australian wine and cheese offering, which includes a selection from up-and-coming wine maker from Head Wines and Karimba soft brie from Victoria.

Checking in

All 396 rooms will be available from April 16. Each of the rooms (incorporating 338 oversized guest rooms, 26 suites and 32 one and two bedrooms and two bathroom fully serviced apartments) feature striking wood interiors complementing the floor-to-ceiling glass windows that will capture the exclusive ‘new Melbourne’ view of the city and the Yarra River. Every room is generously proportioned and includes a magnificent four-point bathroom, the latest technology, in-room entertainment and communication facilities.

To be one of the first to experience the new Hilton Melbourne South Wharf, visitors can book online now via www.newmelbourne.com.au  or call 1-300-Hilton. 

Menu and wine tasting can be arranged upon request.

About Hilton Hotels Corporation
Hilton Hotels Corporation is the leading global hospitality company, with more than 3,000 hotels and 500,000 rooms in 74 countries and territories, including 135,000 team members worldwide.

Enjoy the good life slope-side at the new Quay West Resort & Spa Falls Creek – a 5-star trans-seasonal apartment hotel opening on 5 June 2009 to deliver luxury accommodation and a vibrant retail mix to Falls Creek 365 days a year.

Managed by Mirvac Hotels & Resorts and located within the new St Falls precinct, Quay West Resort & Spa Falls Creek is Australia’s only drive-in, drive-out, ski-in, ski-out, 5-star alpine resort and spa, bringing the slopes to your doorstep, ensuring there’s no down time and more ‘you time’.

Promising to elevate your lifestyle and indulge your whole being, Quay West Resort & Spa Falls Creek offers an impressive array of guest services and amenities not previously seen in an Australian ski resort.

Holiday-makers visiting St Falls will be able to leave the mundane of everyday life behind and enjoy a true alpine village experience with exceptional facilities on offer including;

- Alta – Argentinean-style grill restaurant

- Tom, Dick and Harry’s – latest Apres ski bar and café

- The Pass – coffee and takeaway food server

- Mii Spa – award winning Day Spa

- Conference facility

- FoodWorks supermarket

- Largest ski and board hire in Falls Creek

- Apres Vous – fashion retail stocking designer ski-wear

- Concept store offering the latest snowboards and skis

- Information hub and ticket office

- Crèche (open for 2010 season)

- State-of-the-art gymnasium

Quay West Resort & Spa Falls Creek is brought to you by Zacamoco, a joint venture between Morry Schwartz’s Pan Urban and Callum Fraser of Elenberg Fraser – the team who delivered Huski at Falls Creek (winner of Wallpaper magazine’s ‘Best Ski Resort in the World for 2006’). Blending stunning contemporary architecture by Elenberg Fraser and inspired by Europe’s best ski resorts and the feeling of North America’s alpine villages, Quay West Resort & Spa Falls Creek provides everything you need to ensure a peak experience.

The 63 one, two, three and four bedroom fully furnished apartments boast modern interiors, under floor heating, open plan living areas, a European laundry and drying cupboard, amazing views overlooking the Kiewa Valley and over Falls Creek’s main ski runs and a toasty hot tub on apartment balconies.

A special Quay West feature that is sure to appeal after a day on the slopes is the Day Spa run by Australia’s premium spa operator Mirvac Hotels & Resorts under their award winning Mii Spa brand. Drawing inspiration from spas throughout Japan, Turkey and various Nordic countries, the spa uses different treatments of heat and water to relax the body and open pores including a sauna, steam room, indoor plunge pool and outdoor spa.

Quay West Resort & Spa Falls Creek will be a premier alpine destination throughout the year and an all season gateway to Falls Creek and surrounding areas.

As Victoria’s largest ski and boarding resort, Falls Creek is located in the heart of the state’s High Country, bestowing magnificent views of the Bogong High Plains and Kiewa Valley. With over 90 trails, Falls Creek offers skiing terrain for all levels.

To celebrate the launch of Quay West Resort & Spa Falls Creek, special accommodation packages will be available from late April 2009 on www.mirvachotels.com for the one bedroom apartments (two night stay, twin share) as well as the two and three bedroom penthouses (two night stay, and up to eight share). Five and seven night accommodation packages will also be available.

For further information on Quay West Resort & Spa Falls Creek, please visit www.stfalls.com.au

Le Meridien Unveiled First Night Bangkok “Destination Asia, An Active Discovery”

Le Méridien officially celebrated the opening of the new Le Méridien Bangkok, Le Méridien Chiang Mai and Le Méridien Chiang Rai recently with the brand’s signature event, FIRST NIGHT BANGKOK “Destination Asia, An Active Discovery.” As part of the evening’s event, Le Méridien unveiled the signature Le Méridien Arrival Experience at Le Méridien hotels in Asia Pacific.

“Le Méridien is committed to transforming the functional and transactional driven hotel experience into an emotional connection with our guests, delivering a new perspective in a relevant way in order to attract a new, aspirational audience – the creative minds,” said Eva Ziegler, Global Brand Leader, Le Méridien and W Hotels Worldwide. “We are proud to unveil Le Méridien’s transformation through Le Méridien Bangkok.

The curated approach of Le Méridien’s guest experience through Jérôme Sans, Le Méridien’s Cultural Curator, and the LM100 family lead to very inspiring solutions that can be experienced at Le Méridien hotels in Thailand and across Asia Pacific.”

Proprietary customer research shows that the first 10 minutes define the guests’ entire experience and establish their mindset. Le Méridien’s Arrival Experience was designed to reset the guest’s mind upon arrival, leaving the outside world behind for the world of Le Méridien.

“Going through the hotel entrances with the artwork of six very different emerging artists, installed in diverse locations across the globe, is a unique experience. It is a project that takes permanent contemporary art pieces to various unexpected locations and makes art accessible to a wide audience,” said Jérôme Sans, Cultural Curator for Le Méridien. “I am sure that Le Méridien guests will be stimulated by the discovery of these Transitional Portals around the globe.”

Examples of Transitional Portals can be found at all Le Méridien hotels in Asia Pacific, created by six international LM100TM artists including Ralph Gibson, Hisham Bharoocha, Joan Fontcuberta, Youssef Nabil, Younès Rahmouna and An Xiaotong. Guests attending the First Night event also the opportunity to discover the Transitional Portal artwork located at Le Méridien’s many other hotels in Asia Pacific.

As part of the unique Arrival Experience, the Le Méridien brand has created UNLOCK ART providing guests with unique access to artistic cultural centers through artist-designed key cards that offer guests complimentary admission to local cultural experiences.

The exclusive keycards at Le Méridien Bangkok have been created by artist Michael Lin, and provide access to the Thailand Creative & Design Center (TCDC), one of Asia’s largest cultural and design institutions. Using his signature floral motifs, Lin designed the first set of UNLOCK ART keycards. As Le Méridien Bangkok guests use these cards to open doors and access experiences at TCDC, the keycards will become works of art in and of themselves.

The UNLOCK ART program at Le Méridien Chiang Mai gives guests complimentary access to the Umbrella Making Centre, Borsang. Borsang is a village in San Kamphaeng district and is known for its hand-painted parasols made from mulberry paper (Sa paper) and silk. Upon presentation of Unlock Art keycard to the Centre, guests get to express themselves by painting their own designs for the umbrellas at the workshop.

For Le Méridien Chiang Rai Resort, the UNLOCK ART program provides guests with access to the Mae Fah Luang Art and Cultural Park. Mae Fah Luang Art and Cultural Park houses the royal collection of Lanna art, the finest collection of religious and secular art and artifacts in Thailand.

After Le Méridien was bought by Starwood in November 2005, the brand has upgraded its portfolio significantly through a range of renovations and currently has 26 hotels in the Asia Pacific Region, located in Cambodia, China, India, Indonesia, Malaysia, New Caledonia, Thailand and Vanuatu. Le Méridien will open six new hotels in the region by 2011, including three hotels in China, two hotels in India and one hotel in Taiwan.

Le Méridien, the French-born hotel brand currently represented by 105 properties in 50 countries, was acquired by Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc. (NYSE: HOT) in November 2005. Since then, Le Méridien has gone through a brand revitalization, which included appointing a full-time Cultural Curator – French arts-provocateur Jérôme Sans – and transforming numerous guest touch points, thus brining unique and interactive experiences to its guests. With close to 80 of its properties located in Europe, Africa, the Middle East, and Asia-Pacific, Le Méridien provides a strong international complement to Starwood’s primarily North American holdings.

Plans call for dynamic expansion of Le Méridien hotels and resorts within the next five years, concentrating in the U.S., Latin America, and Asia-Pacific, including destinations such as India, Thailand and China. Le Méridien recently opened new hotels in Bangkok, Chiang Mai, Chiang Rai, Shimei Bay (China), will open in Dallas and Philadelphia in the coming months, and has recently signed new hotel deals in Taipei, Xiamen, Chongqing Nan’an, and Qingdao (China).

Preferred Hotel Group Tops The Charts With Most Mobil Five Star Awards Of Any Independent Hotel Group

With the signing of Woodlands Inn, a Salamander Hospitality property, to its Preferred Boutique brand this month, Preferred Hotel Group now represents 10 Mobil Five Star award-winning hotels and resorts – more than any other independent hotel group. This record ties Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts for top honors overall on the 2009 list released by Mobil Travel Guide.

Preferred Hotel Group’s now represent almost one quarter of the total 44 hotels across the U.S. and Canada to earn the prestigious Five Star rating this year.

A Mobil Five Star recipient for both its hotel and restaurant, the Woodlands Inn, a historic 19-room property in Summerville, S.C., is one of the newest members of Preferred Boutique, one of five distinctive brands in the Preferred Hotel Group family.

The organization’s other nine Five Star winners are members of the Preferred Hotels® & Resorts brand.

Two members are further distinguished among their Five Star competitors. Of these particularly “stellar” hotels, the historic Broadmoor of Colorado Springs, Colo. is the longest-running Five Star winner, having earned the distinction for 49 consecutive years.

In addition, Sea Island Resorts of St. Simons Island, Ga. earned an impressive 20- star total this year, thanks to separate Five-Star ratings for The Lodge at Sea Island Golf Club, The Cloister at Sea Island,

The Cloister Spa and the Georgian Room restaurant.

“To have so many of our member hotels singled out by Mobil Travel Guide for its top award is a true honor,” said John Ueberroth, chairman and CEO, Preferred Hotel Group.

“This distinction speaks to the exceptional quality and rich legacy each of these outstanding hotels has to offer individually, as well as reflecting the common commitment to excellence required of them as members of the Preferred Hotels & Resorts and Preferred Boutique brands.”

Other Preferred Hotels & Resorts members who earned Five Star ratings include:

- The Sanctuary at Kiawah Island Golf Resort, S.C. (hotel and spa)

- The Peninsula Chicago (hotel)

- Boston Harbor Hotel (hotel)

- The Hermitage Hotel, Nashville, Tenn. (hotel)

- Stein Eriksen Lodge, Park City, Utah (hotel)

- The Jefferson Hotel, Richmond, Va. (hotel)

To earn Mobil Five Star status, hotels must meet or exceed more than 750 stringent service standards, making Mobil Travel Guide’s rating system the most rigorous and comprehensive in the industry. Hotels are evaluated via unannounced, undercover visits conducted by expert inspectors. Mobil Travel Guide originated the star rating system in 1958.

Gold Swiss-Belhotel Dubai has announced that the structural work on the soon to open hotel located in Bur Dubai is 100 per cent complete with the finishing touches being applied to the interiors for a July opening.

General Manager, Mr Nils Rothbarth said,

“The structural work is now complete and we are in the final stages of interior design and soft furnishing. We are on schedule for a soft opening in July.”

The 4-storey hotel located in Al Mina Road (nearby to Port Rashid, the cruise terminal and bustling Al Diyafah Street) will feature 184 rooms/suites and has been designed to appeal to a wide cross-section of market segments.

“We are positioning the hotel as the ideal choice for business travellers in close proximity to the Dubai Convention and Exhibition Centre and bustling Sheikh Zayed Road, as well as leisure travellers looking for an affordable alternative without compromising on service or quality.” said Mr Rothbarth

According to Mr Rothbarth the design brief for the hotel was contemporary classic.

“Leo International Design Group from Bangkok has worked very closely with us to achieve a modern, clean and fresh look in the hotel. The colour palette is very neutral but with some statement pieces which add personality, particularly in the guest rooms. However, in the cocktail lounge, there has been no holding back where colour is concerned. Expect rich purples and bright fushias.” he said.

“We are very excited about the opening and especially our restaurant selection. Without giving too much away, we will have a lobby lounge, an all day dining restaurant with international flavours, a lounge/bar with entertainment, and a specialty restaurant which is very different to what you usually find in hotels. In other words, it’s not Italian!” he added with a smile.

The Gold Swiss-Belhotel Dubai promises a strong mid-market niche product with business centre, meeting facilities and recreation facilities which include an outdoor rooftop swimming pool and day spa.

Swiss-Belhotel International will be exhibiting at the 2009 Arabian Travel Market on the Alpha Tours Stand No. UAE 1300

Swiss-Belhotel International manages hotels in Australia, China, Vietnam, Philippines, Indonesia, Kuwait and Oman. The group also has a Middle East development office located in Dubai, United Arab Emirates.

For more information on Swiss-Belhotel Hotels & Resorts please visit www.swiss-belhotel.com