Jetsettersblog

Taj Hotels, Resorts & Palaces announced a new premium hotel, Vivanta by Taj – Panaji, Goa, slotted in the “upper upscale” segment. Combined with the Taj’s strong presence in both north and south Goa, Vivanta Panaji gives full coverage and multiple choices to this key tourist market for both domestic as well as international travelers.

The name Vivanta is drawn from vivacity, vividness and bon vivant, an appreciation of the good things in life.

Vivanta is designed to deliver vibrant experiences, combining the charming hospitality that is the hallmark of the Taj with a contemporary, vivacious twist.

Vivanta features 170 guest rooms and suites with views of Panaji City and the Mandovi River, entertainment and dining options, and technological enhancements. This new age hotel is 28 kilometers away from Dabolim airport.

The hotel has been inspired by the elements of Goa — sea, sand and sun and these elements have inspired various facets of the artwork that adorn the Atrium, Lobby and the even the guest floor landings.

Vivanta has Charm, Delight & Indulgence rooms and Allure, Temptation and Nirvana suites. And the resident lounge is Rhythm!

The rooms have a strong tech orientation like Internet Protocol (IP) telephones on the fifth floor and a multimedia panel in all rooms for the guest to work or play with top efficiency.

High bandwidth wireless Internet and home-theatre surround system also are available in all rooms. The rooms are adorned with artwork by local Goan artists featuring traditional Goan architecture.

Celsius is the outdoor pool and there is also a Jacuzzi on the rooftop.

Guests can also enjoy the hotel?s Jiva Spa.

Orchestrated by Chef Gyanendra Gupta, Latitude, the all day diner located within the Atrium experience the live theatre kitchen concept, called Tiatre (Theatre) in Goa. Guests can choose from Italian pizzas,

Goan cuisine and North Indian delicacies. Dining is available at Caramel-The Delicatessen.

The Pan-Asian restaurant Tamari serves Sushi, Sashimi and Tepanyaki.

The hotel also offers a suite of conferencing and banquet facilities.

For more information, visit

www.tajhotels.com

The Rezidor Hotel Group, the Brussels-based hotel management company, announced the opening of the Radisson Blu Le Metropolitan, Paris Eiffel. This marks the second Radisson Blu boutique hotel to debut in Paris this year.

French designer François Champsaur oversaw the renovation of the former private residence, giving the Haussmanian building contemporary interiors that contrast with the 19th Century structure and play with notions of space and perspective. Located in the 16th arrondissement, the 48-key boutique hotel features ten suites, five with unrestricted Eiffel Tower views. The signature Eiffel Suite is a 430-square-foot one-bedroom suite located on the sixth floor.

Features include an airy all-white palette, breath-taking Eiffel Tower views and private access to the hotel’s swimming pool and Hammam. All guestrooms offer complimentary unlimited WiFi, bathrooms made from Zimbabwean granite with Anne Sémonin bath amenities and LCD widescreen televisions with video on demand.

The hotel’s restaurant, the Metropolitan, is situated on the ground floor, giving guests a front-row seat to the Trocadéro and local street life.

Champsaur considered transparency the theme for the restaurant’s sleek interiors, using subdued lighting, voile curtains and glass walls to create a unique sense of space apart from the hotel but connected to street life. Chef Melina Allair, who recently worked with Alain Ducasse at the Domaine des Andéols in Provence, offers a neo-classical Mediterranean menu with an emphasis on seasonal ingredients.

Mid-day, the restaurant is open as a tea room, offering teas from French luxury tea salon The O Dor for up to 40 guests. The bar at the Metropolitan offers signature cocktails from Alain Duquesne, who has also worked with Hotel George V and the Ritz Paris.

The bar features a steel and brass bar, deep blue walls, and views of the Eiffel Tower. Additional hotel amenities include a wellness center offering Anne Sémonin treatments in a white Thassos marble massage room with a fireplace.

The wellness center also features a Hammam and indoor swimming pool. The Radisson Blu Le Metropolitan joins another recently opened boutique hotel in Paris, the Radisson Blu Le Dokhan’s, which debuted in February 2009.

For information and reservations, visit www.radissonblu.com

Shangri-La Hotels & Resorts will open Shangri-La’s Villingili Resort and Spa, Maldives, the first luxury resort south of the equator in the Maldives, on July 26, 2009. Located on Addu Atoll, the resort will encompass over six kilometers of coastline and nearly two kilometers of breathtaking white sandy beach. The three-kilometer- long island features 12 hectares of lush vegetation, 17,000 coconut trees and 45 species of plants. The island has over six kilometers of coastline and three natural freshwater lagoons, naturally tinged red, green or blue. The resort is just an eight-minute boat ride away from Gan, and is also accessible by private jet which can land at the newest Gan International Airport.

The resort will comprise 142 stand-alone villas, from private ocean retreats to tropical luxury tree house villas with panoramic views. All villas will feature both an indoor and outdoor shower, a private terrace leading to the beach and either a waterfront or lush garden.

Each villa will be equipped with two iPods and docking stations, a DVD player and an espresso machine. The villas will be a minimum of 133 square meters in size, while the two presidential villas will measure up to 957 square meters each. The resort will feature 16 luxury tree house villas, a first for the Maldives, perched on stilts offering a special three-meter high perspective of the island through tropical foliage.

The tree house villas, with separate bedroom and living room, will measure 218 square meters, each with its own private infinity pool.

Other distinct villa options available to guests will be the water villas with terraces and outdoor showers extending over the clear ocean water; beach villas with separate bedroom and living room, connected by a wooden deck to a private infinity pool; twin beach villas, comprising two bedrooms and an infinity pool; and water pool villas.

Two presidential villas will also be available for guests who prefer to indulge in ultimate luxury and exclusivity, one of which is constructed over water and featuring a 96 square meter private pool. Chi,

The Spa at Shangri-La — Shangri-La’s signature spa brand in the Lost Horizon novel – will offer treatments, therapies and well-being program based on Chinese, Himalayan and Asian healing rituals and traditions from across the region as well as “Kandu Boli” experience, unique indigenous treatments inspired by the cowrie shell and other natural treasures found in the Maldives. CHI will be located in its own spa village in the resort. Shangri-La’s Villingili Resort and Spa, Maldives will provide a selection of bars and restaurants.

The Khazaanaage Restaurant, meaning House of Treasure in Dhivehi, is inspired by Ibn Battuda, will serve cuisine from the regions he travelled to, including the Arabian Gulf, Indian Ocean and South China Sea. International culinary experiences at the Javvu Restaurant will provide guests with further variety.

In the heart of the natural island is a 30,000-square-metre Village Centre. The centre will encompass an eco-centre and a water sports centre featuring surfing, scuba diving, snorkeling and a variety of non-motorized water activities.

The Village Centre will also include a free-form pool, two tennis courts, a dedicated indoor and outdoor area for children, boutiques and an entertainment centre.

A medical clinic with international doctors and decompression chamber, fully equipped to deal with diving-related disorders will provide medical services for guests. The resort’s salon will also offer wedding gowns and wedding ceremonies for couples.

Hilton Hotels Corporation said the Boca Raton Resort & Club in South Florida has joined the Waldorf Astoria, continuing the luxury brand’s expansion into key leisure markets worldwide.

The Boca Raton Resort & Club is a private, full-service destination resort on 356 acres in South Florida, complete with a 32-slip marina on the Intracoastal Waterway and one-half mile of private beach on the Atlantic.

Halfway between Palm Beach International and Ft. Lauderdale International airports, the resort is easily accessible by plane, car or boat, and offers a wide array of accommodations, recreation and dining options infused with an enduring legacy of warm, genuine hospitality.

Following in the footsteps of recent Florida additions to the portfolio including the Naples Grande Beach Resort in Southwest Florida, the Boca Raton Resort & Club is the 13th hotel to join the Waldorf Astoria Collection, as the portfolio continues to expand into key indigenous destinations.

For more information or reservations, call 888-WALDORF or visit

www.waldorfastoriacollection.com

Ted Baker – Skinwear EDTS 60ml

SKINWEAR™ HAND CLEANER & SANITIZER KILLS GERMS THAT MAY CAUSE SWINE FLU, PROTECTS AGAINST GERMS FOR UP TO EIGHT HOURS

Revolutionary New Hygiene Product Provides Extended Efficacy for All Day Protection Against Deadly Bacteria

SKWPartners LLC announced today the extended U.S. launch of SkinWear, www.skinwearusa.com, the only extended-protection, all-in-one hand cleanser, sanitizer and moisturizer which has been proven to kill germs for as long as eight hours with a single application. This non-alcohol based product picks up where commonly available anti-bacterial soaps and “instant sanitizers” leave off. SkinWear not only kills 99.9% of all germs that can make people sick, including the germs that may cause the swine flu, it continues to kill bacteria for up to eight hours, drastically decreasing the potential spread of germs and contamination.

“SkinWear is a radical departure from hygiene products available to date,” said SKWPartners’ Tom Guzek. “Not only is SkinWear more thorough and cost-effective than current anti-bacterial soaps and alcohol-based hand sanitizers, SkinWear’s eight hour extended efficacy actually continues to kill germs between washings, reducing the spread of germs.”

As concern mounts regarding the spike in illnesses and deaths caused by the “swine flu” virus, everyone from parents to school administrators to hospitals and restaurants, are looking for new ways to ward off a potential crisis.

According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in Atlanta, Swine Influenza (swine flu) is a respiratory disease of pigs caused by type A influenza that regularly causes outbreaks of influenza among pigs. Swine flu viruses do not normally infect humans, however, human infections with swine flu do occur, and cases of human-to-human spread of swine flu viruses have been documented. With the current outbreak rapidly expanding, world governments race to avoid a possible global pandemic with more cases of the influenza discovered in the U.S.

How SkinWear works.

Through a unique encapsulating formula, SkinWear’s active anti-bacterial ingredient, IRGASAN DP 300, is enveloped and bonded to the skin surface. This allows for the extended germ killing action of the antibacterial component resulting in its remarkable ongoing effectiveness. This revolutionary formula creates an all-natural, non-slippery, silicon and alcohol-free weave which forms the bond with the skin that kills germs for up to eight hours with a single application while also maintaining the natural oils in the skin to keep hands moist and healthy.

“This is where SkinWear can make a critical difference,” said Guzek. “Traditional hand washing with soap or the use of alcohol-based instant hand sanitizers only kills germs on your hands for mere seconds. One application of SkinWear provides up to eight hours of germ-killing effectiveness,” he added, “Combining frequent hand washing along with the application of

SkinWear provides a proven safety net that continues to kill germs between hand washings, thereby reducing the potential threat of bacterial related illnesses.”

SkinWear is all natural and environmentally friendly. With no harsh chemicals or agents, the product is natural, safe and far removed from typical abrasive soaps. All of the ingredients in SkinWear were carefully selected with no harmful impact on the user or the environment. As a result, SkinWear is vegetable and citric-based, biodegradable, non-toxic, free of animal by-products, has not been tested on animals and is chlorine-free.

SkinWear provides an all-day healthy hand solution in a wide array of environments including home, work, play or school; on the road, in restaurants, health clubs, medical offices and cruise ships; and a variety of industrial environments where hands are exposed to harsh conditions daily.

SkinWear products and free samples may be ordered on www.skinwearusa.com   SKWPartners, LLC headquarters are located at 2263 W. 190th Street, Torrance, CA 90504. Tel (310) 324-9155 ext.11.

Virgin America said that it is now the first and only airline to offer Gogo In-flight Internet service on every flight.

Passengers on any of Virgin America’s 100 daily flights have the option to surf the Web, check e-mail, or log on to their corporate VPN — all from the comfort of their seats at 37,000 feet.

Virgin America marks this in-flight WiFi milestone with another first for an airline: an air-to-ground Skype video call with Oprah Winfrey, which was scheduled to air today (Thursday) on The Oprah Winfrey Show (check local listings).

Although Virgin America does not typically allow Voice-Over-IP (VoIP) products like Skype video call in-flight due to concerns about maintaining a quiet, restful cabin environment, guests can currently use Gogo to Skype via the instant message feature, in addition to e-mailing, tweeting, updating their Facebook pages and any of the myriad other ways the web is keeping people connected.

The early roll out of the Gogo service across the airline’s network makes Virgin America the first and only airline to offer consumers in-flight WiFi on every flight – regardless of route, aircraft type, or flight time.

Customers on Singapore Airlines flights now can check in anywhere in the world using their mobile phones, with the introduction of “SIA Mobile.”

Through the new mobile check-in functions, customers are able to select seats on any Singapore Airlines-operated flights, and check-in for many connecting flights operated by different carriers.

In addition, the airline plans to enhance the service later this year to include features such as booking tickets and accessing selected KrisFlyer services. To access mobile check-in and seat selection, customers can visit m.singaporeair.com from the web browser of their mobile phone2. They will then be given the option of either downloading “SIA Mobile” application software, or checking-in directly through their web browser.

For more information, visit www.singaporeair.com/mobile

A new visitor information centre at Glass House Mountains will be a delightful rest stop and gateway to the Sunshine Coast that will also promote the tourism products and services available in the region, says Caloundra Tourism president Mike Wilkinson.

The Glass House Mountains Visitor Information Centre in Settlers Rotary Park officially opened.

Mr Wilkinson said that the centre was ideally positioned an easy drive north of Brisbane and in the heart of the Glass House Mountains area on Steve Irwin Way.

“Drive market visitors have the opportunity to take a short break and learn more about what they can see and do during their stay on the
Sunshine Coast,” Mr Wilkinson said.

“The new centre provides the facilities to properly showcase the unique qualities of the Glass House Mountains while also providing information about the diverse experiences throughout the nearby coastal and hinterland areas,” he said.

The centre will have an interpretive centre for the region providing information about the Glass House Mountains and national parks. The centre provides a free booking service for accommodation, tours and activities.

Visitors can also learn more about local produce and enjoy the extensive landscaping, barbecue facilities and playground that surrounds the centre.

Sunshine Coast Regional Council, with the assistance of government grants, allocated $1.043 million for the construction and fit-out for the new centre. The project received $500,000 in funding support from the State Government and about $273,500 from the Australian Government.
The centre can be contacted on (07) 5438 7220.

For further information about Caloundra visit www.caloundratourism.com.au.

There is a network of 16 visitor information centres servicing the Sunshine Coast region

The best snowfalls and the most varied terrain combine to make Canterbury’s Southern Alps among the best heliskiing in the Southern Hemisphere. Now thrill-seeking skiers and snowboarders can combine a stay in the most exquisite luxury accommodation with heliski rides in some of the country’s highest peaks, for as little as $890 a day.

A HELiPRO-Southern Alps Heli Ski day will give you five thrilling runs in the South Island’s Southern Alps Heliski Area (average 19,000 feet vertical per day!), then you will return to cosy Otahuna Lodge to thaw, with its 15 open fireplaces and nightly five-course degustation après-ski dinners with matching wines and liqueurs.

You’ll enjoy one of seven exquisite private suites – some with an open fire in the bathroom to soak sore limbs after a big day on the slopes.

The Lodge is just 20 minutes from Christchurch International Airport. A helicopter from the Lodge’s lawn can transport you to the slopes in under an hour, taking in spectacular coastlines, mountain passes, ice-blue rivers and snow-capped peaks. Otherwise, ski fields can be accessed within 2 hours by car and then board your helicopter for an amazing day heliskiing or in the Helipark.

Southern Alps Heliski terrain is in the peaks of Two Thumb and Cloudy Peak ranges, near Mt Cook, allowing access to long runs and fantastic snow quality. The highest peak is 2546m, the longest run an awesome 3.16km and the average snowfall an impressive 4.8m per season.

HELiPRO-Southern Alps Heliski takes only 12 clients per day, so you get one-one-one time with guide and instructor and guaranteed clear runs.

Otahuna Lodge is one of New Zealand’s most impressive luxury venues, built in 1895 and reopened under new owners on 1 May 2007 after a huge four-month renovation of the house and 12ha gardens. UK society magazine Tatler has named it one of the World’s 101 Best Hotels.

Suites start at NZ$562.50 a night per person in winter, which includes breakfast, dinner and wines, plus use of the heated Jacuzzi, heated pool, tennis court and gym.

OTAHUNA LODGE & HELiPRO SKI 2009 PACKAGE

2 nights accommodation, 1 day helicopter transfer (2p), 1 day heliskiing for only $3712.50 pp. OR

DESIGN YOUR OWN HELISKI ADVENTURE

Add another day of heliskiing with 5 runs for $890pp. Additional runs for only $99 Additional helicopter transfer from Otahuna Lodge to Mt Potts (2p) – $3395 Or charter your own helicopter for $3500/hr, including lunch and guides.

*Package includes breakfast, canapés, five-course dinner with wines and mountain-top lunch and ski guide. Ski and equipment hire not included. Conditions apply.

Bookings: Phone Otahuna Lodge +64 3 329 6333 or email enquiries@otahuna.co.nz   Visit www.otahuna.co.nz

Sydney Harbour Foreshore Authority is inviting Sydneysiders and visitors to experience a spectacular outdoor festival unlike anything seen before in The Rocks.

From 6pm–9pm on Friday 12, Saturday 13 and Sunday 14 June, Fire Water will present a dramatic interpretation of the fire that devastated the nineteenth century convict ship the Three Bees which sank in Sydney Cove 195 years ago.

The stunning spectacle will be complemented with the live classical sounds of ARIA Award-nominated band Coda, as hundreds of lanterns float on Campbells Cove, representing descendants of the many convicts who arrived in Australia.

Three times each evening, a sculpture of the ship will emerge from the water at Campbells Cove before bursting into flame as fire sculptures, light installations, musicians, giant helium-filled lanterns and flame-grilled food transform The Rocks into a stunning, warm winter haven.

Fire Water is a free event that will bring history to life through a stunning interpretation of the ship that brought 210 male convicts to Sydney. During preparations for its return journey to England the ship caught alight and burned until the fire reached the lower cargo hold and it finally sank off Bennelong Point when the ship’s gunpowder store exploded.

Visitors, including descendants of the Three Bees convicts, can create their own floating lanterns at workshops and place them into the harbour. Five-piece band Coda, will blend classical strings and contemporary music to create a unique, serene soundscape that will echo around the cove.

Harbourside stalls will offer a variety of flame-grilled food, or visitors can choose from some of Sydney’s best restaurants around Campbells Cove.

Fire Water is part of Vivid Sydney and the climax to Smart Light Sydney’s Light Walk. Vivid Sydney is one of five anchor events in the first ever NSW Master Events Calendar created by Events NSW on behalf of the NSW Government.

Details on Fire Water is available at www.therocks.com or for more information on Vivid go to www.vividsydney.com

Lose Yourself In A Journey Of Health & Wellbeing On Phillip Island

One of Victoria’s most enticing holiday destinations is Phillip Island, a diverse and delightful regional destination just a stone’s throw away from Melbourne.

Escape the daily grind and give your body time to relax and revitalize on Phillip Island with a growing number of rejuvenation options — including day spas, relaxation sessions and fitness options.

Take advantage of Phillip Island’s developing personal health service industry which provides a wide range of services such as Health on Course Practice in Cowes which has a host of healthcare practitioners as well as fitness classes.

At the bridge end of the Island visit Island Healing Health Spa and Fitness Centre which provides early morning fitness, Pilates, massage and Bowen therapies. Both boast passionate Island staff members who are devoted to providing health services to locals, visitors and business groups.

Phillip Island is renowned for its natural attractions which provide the idyll background of endless sandy beaches to work-out on, oceans and bays for aquatic sports such as surfing and kayaking and endless walking and cycling tracks to explore. As well as having a pristine natural environment to work-out in Phillip Island also has day spa facilities where one can escape to relax and recharge the soul.

For the complete health & wellbeing experience it’s difficult to go past Aromatherapy in Action. Its aim is to pamper, care, treat and make your visit one of the most enjoyable and relaxing experiences possible.

Afterwards, take a relaxing stroll around one of the many untouched beaches in the area.

Phillip Island Eco Retreat & Day Spa also offers a fantastic array of services. Take a mini sea change and surrender yourself to the ultimate in relaxation and enjoy one of their many spa treatments.

Complemented by luxury accommodation Phillip Island also offers the chance to get active with some of the less everyday activities. Phillip Island offers the best of both water worlds – a choice of calm bays or wild ocean beaches. Grip a paddle in your hand and take a turn at sea kayaking or hire a bike and explore a coastal bike track.

Indulging in the outdoors on Phillip Island is made so easy with Island Surfboards which offer personal and group surf lessons with the team. For a full range of surf, kayak and mountain biking activities take part in an organised adventure with Out There Outdoors. These guys are passionate about their Island surf and the numerous surf beaches to choose from.

This coastal region’s relaxed pace and fresh sea air makes it perfect for a getaway to focus on your health & wellbeing and what better way to relax than by experiencing nature in this part of the world.

Do some dolphin spotting, check out the world famous penguins at the Phillip Island Nature Park or visit playful sea life on a Seal Rocks Wildlife Cruise.

Immerse, relax with a glass of wine at one of the many wineries in the region or perhaps dine at one of the region’s stylish restaurants. If you are looking for something soothing and stimulating at the same time, try a helicopter ride over Cape Woolamai, and experience memorable bird’s-eye views of the region.

There is no limit to the amount of rest and leisure you can experience in Phillip Island!

For more information please visit:

Island Healing Health Spa and Fitness Centre 6 Forrest Ave, Newhaven Phone: (03) 5956 7886 www.islandhealing.com.au

Health on Course 8/128 The Concourse, Cowes Phone: (03) 5952 5686 Email: bhavani@nex.net.au

Aromatherapy in Action Shop 2 First Floor, 134-138 Thompson Ave, Cowes Phone: (03) 5952 2771 www.aromatherapyinaction.com.au

Phillip Island Eco Retreat & Day Spa 181-189 Justice Rd, Cowes Phone: (03) 5952 6466 www.phillipislanddayspa.com.au

Healing Oasis Beauty Therapy 23 Alvina Cres, Surf Beach Phone: (03) 5956 7602

Island Surfboards and Surf School 225 Smiths Beach Rd, Smiths Beach Phone: 03 5952 3443 www.islandsurfboards.com.au

Out There Outdoors 10-12 Phillip Island Rd, Newhaven Phone: (03) 5956 6450 www.outthere.net.au

Ride on Bikes 85 Thompson Ave, Cowes Phone: (03) 5952 2533 www.rideonbikes.com.au  Phillip Island Helicopters:

Phillip Island Tourist Road, New Haven Phone: (03) 5956 7316 www.phillipislandhelicopters.com

Phillip Island Nature Park www.penguins.org.au

Wildlife Coast Cruises Cowes, Phillip Island Ph: 1300 763 739 www.wildlifecoastcruises.com.au

For all Phillip Island Information please see the official tourism industry website www.visitphillipisland.com