Jetsettersblog

A spectacular new hotel is about to make its mark in Melbourne. Crown Metropol www.crownmetropol.com.au  will be Australia’s largest hotel – yet it promises to be distinctive, fresh, vibrant and unmistakably modern.

Located opposite the brand new Melbourne Exhibition Centre, the 658-room hotel features a wave-like unique shape and boasts a striking futuristic design, created by internationally renowned Bates Smart, the architecture team behind Melbourne’s ultramodern Federation Square.

The stunning, futuristic podium entry will prominently feature a bluestone, diamond-shaped pattern in the floor of the lobby, while all hotel rooms will have a Manhattan, boutique-style feel; the suites will enjoy dramatic city views and the studios sweeping views across the bay.

Crown Metropol will also be home to Melbourne’s only sky-high day spa, relaxation and rejuvenation floor on level 27, while on the top floor the open-to-the-public 28 Sky Bar is expected to soon become a favourite city oasis.

Crown Metropol will also have its own exclusive restaurant offering: the much-anticipated Gordon Ramsay’s Maze restaurant, the chef’s first venture in Australia.

The 300-seat signature venue will be situated on level one, with guests also able to enjoy the Gordon Ramsay experience in their room, selecting from an impressive room service menu designed by the chef and prepared by his esteemed team.

Estimated to cost AU$300 million (£150 million), Crown Metropol will enjoy more than 340,000 guests annually and is scheduled to open in early 2010.

The new hotel is a demonstration of the confidence in the future of Melbourne as one of the world’s leading tourist destinations and is the latest in a series of world class, five-star properties to open in the city. Already this year Hilton South Wharf, InterContinental The Rialto and the massively refurbished Grand Hyatt Melbourne have expanded Melbourne’s luxury hotel portfolio.

For more information on visiting Melbourne and the Australian state of Victoria please go to www.visitmelbourne.com/uk  To see for yourself what Melbourne and Victoria have to offer please go to www.visitmelbourne.com/uk-tv

The finishing touches are being made to the Jayavarman, a small luxury boat which will be the first of its kind to offer short river cruises on the Mekong that can easily be included within more extensive tours of the region.

Named after the Khmer king who ruled Angkor at its zenith, this newly built vessel has been designed to blend French colonial flair with enchanting Indochinese touches to create a sanctuary of style and space.

The 27 meticulously designed staterooms feature floor to ceiling sliding glass doors leading on to spacious private balconies, and there is ample public space and facilities spread over 4 decks.

The Jayavarman offers a selection of journeys on the waterways between Saigon and Siem Reap, ranging from 3 to 8 days in length, taking in World Heritage sites, floating Mekong towns and cruising through rural areas giving an insight into local life.

The full but relaxed itineraries combine well with the onboard activities and luxurious facilities which include early morning Tai Chi, Vietnamese cooking classes, traditional Khmer music and dancing, and treatments at the “Apsara” Spa.

To coincide with the inauguration of the Jayavarman, Bamboo Travel is launching the following luxury tours that include the cruises within varied and exciting itineraries of the Indochina region.

Pearls of the Orient: Vietnam & Cambodia

A magnificent introduction to the delights of Indochina, combining the highlights of Vietnam with a luxurious cruise on board the Jayavarman through the Mekong Delta to Phnom Penh, and finishing at the majestic temples of Angkor in Cambodia.

UK – Hanoi (2 nights) – Halong Bay (1 night) – Hue (1 night) – Hoi An (2 nights) – Saigon (2 nights) – Jayavarman Cruise (3 nights) – Phnom Penh (1 night) – Siem Reap (3 nights) – UK

17 Days / 15 Nights from £3,095 per person. The tour includes return international flights, 4 and 5 star accommodation in heritage / character hotels, 3 nights aboard the Jayavarman in a Superior Cabin, comprehensive private sightseeing, domestic flights and airport transfers.

Serenity: Laos & Cambodia

A leisurely tour of Laos and Cambodia following the course of the Mekong from Luang Prabang to Phnom Penh, including a 4 night cruise onboard the Jayavarman from Siem Reap to the capital across Lake Tonle Sap and through unspoilt Cambodian countryside. The tour ends with 3 nights at the luxurious French Villa Knai Bang Chatt at the charming seaside town of Kep.

UK – Luang Prabang (3 nights) – Siem Reap (3 nights) – Jayavarman Cruise (4 nights) – Phnom Penh (1 night) – Knai Bang Chatt (3 nights) – UK

17 Days / 15 Nights from £2,995 per person. The tour includes return international flights, 4 and 5 star accommodation in heritage / character hotels, 4 nights aboard the Jayavarman in a Superior Cabin, comprehensive private sightseeing, domestic flights and airport transfers.

Vietnam in Style

See many aspects of Vietnam on this luxurious tour travelling the length of the country from the wild mountainous north to the tropical island of Phu Quoc in the far south. Along the way soak up the atmosphere of the ancient port of Hoi An, and indulge on a 2 night cruise travelling deep into the Mekong Delta on the Jayavarman.

UK – Hanoi (2 nights) – Mai Chau (1 night) – Hoi An (3 nights) – Saigon (2 nights) – Jayavarman Cruise (2 nights) – Rach Gia (1 night) – Phu Quoc (3 nights) – UK

17 Days / 14 Nights from £2,495 per person. The tour includes return international flights, 4 and 5 star accommodation in heritage / character hotels, 2 nights aboard the Jayavarman in a Superior Cabin, comprehensive private sightseeing, domestic flights and airport transfers.

Bamboo Travel also offers a relaxing 8 day cruise with 2 nights in both Siem Reap and Saigon from £2595 per person sharing which includes international flights.

MAKES PLANNING YOUR VEGAS TRIP EASIER THAN EVER BEFORE WITH EXCLUSIVE OFFERS FOR TRAVELERS

Vegas Attractions Combine Resources, Databases, Marketing Dollars and More,
Maximizing Outreach to Both Consumers and Travel Partners

LAS VEGAS – Cooperation versus competition: that is the new mantra for a group of Las Vegas-based tourist attractions banding together to form Best Vegas Attractions.

For consumers, Best Vegas Attractions helps makes travel decisions easier than ever before with incredible discounted values.

For businesses, the groundbreaking consortium is setting new rules for conducting business in the tourism industry.

Currently included in the group (in alphabetical order):

“BODIES…The Exhibition”: Showing at Luxor Hotel and Casino, this exhibition features actual human specimens and allows people of all ages access to sights and knowledge normally reserved for medical professionals.

Fashion Outlets of Las Vegas: Located 36 miles south of Las Vegas in Primm, Nev., the outlets feature more than 100 stores with up to 75 percent off designer fashions.

Hard Rock Café: This summer, expect Las Vegas’ second Hard Rock Café location. The new café will feature an extensive retail shop, a “LIVE” venue, private function and meeting rooms and a grand cafe restaurant with patio dining and entertainment overlooking the Strip. The (original) Paradise location will keep on “rockin’ away” with Hard Rock Café’s classic dining and retail items.

Las Vegas Monorail: The Las Vegas Monorail is a quick and convenient connection to the Las Vegas Strip, linking riders to the city’s world-class restaurants, shows, shops, clubs, hotels and casinos. In just 15 minutes,

Monorail riders can travel from one end of the Strip to the other in a safe, clean and climate-controlled environment – without the hassles of traffic or wasted time.

The Monorail’s electric, zero-emissions trains arrive every few minutes at each of the seven stations: MGM Grand; Bally’s/Paris Las Vegas; Flamingo/Caesars Palace; Harrah’s/Imperial Palace; Las Vegas Convention Center; Las Vegas Hilton and Sahara.

Madame Tussauds Las Vegas: Located in front of the Venetian Resort Hotel Casino, Madame Tussauds Las Vegas offers guests the unique opportunity to ‘interact’ with incredibly life-like iconic figures from the celebrity worlds of film, TV, music, sports and politics.

Guests can ‘grab hold’ of their favorite stars with our many interactive experiences.

With more than 100 wax figures, guests can take pictures, touch and get up close and personal in a themed setting. The attraction is open 365 days a year starting at 10 a.m.

Papillon Airways, Inc.: Founded in 1965, Papillon Airways, Inc. (French for “butterfly”) and Grand Canyon Airlines/Scenic Airlines since 1929 are the largest “flightseeing” companies in the world, with nearly 70 state-of-the-art helicopters and airplanes, specifically designed to reveal panoramic views beyond imagination.

The Halvorson family recently acquired Kenai Helicopters (now known as Grand Canyon Helicopters), Grand Canyon Airlines, Grand Canyon Coaches and Scenic Airlines. These companies are the only companies that fly the entire Grand Canyon including the South and West rims, in addition to tours of Las Vegas, Page/Lake Powell and Monument Valley.

Tours afford maximum flight time, enabling guests to fully discover Grand Canyon’s great wilderness and scenic attractions.

During busy months, the Halvorson companies fly more than 3,500 passengers daily.

“Titanic: The Artifact Exhibition:

Featuring more than 300 artifacts, as well as breathtaking replicas from the famous ship, the Titanic exhibit truly brings history to life inside Luxor Hotel and Casino.

BUSINESSES BANDING TOGETHER

“We were all going after the same consumers, practically tripping over one another to secure business. We are like-minded businesspeople and had all thought at one point or another, ‘there has to be a better way to do this.’

Ultimately, we realized we are stronger together,” says Robert Graff, vice president of marketing, Papillon Airways, Inc. “This partnership provides us with a platform to implement marketing, advertising, databases and sales strategies in an impactful and cost-effective way, expanding our reach beyond what we could accomplish as individual companies.

Through this consortium, we are targeting customers through wholesale and tour operators, travel agents, airline partners, concierges and many more.”
The group developed rack cards discount and referral booklets, all branded as Best Vegas Attractions.

The referral program officially began in May 2009 and provides cash incentives to concierges and front desk representatives’ and discounts to visitors.

More than 40,000 booklets are being distributed to more than 113 resorts. To incentivize both visitors and tour and travel representatives, the program is designed to save visitors up to $500 and concierge and front desk representatives to receive up to $100 per booklet in cash-back incentives.

CONSUMERS CASH IN ON VALUE

Consumers who patronize participating attractions will save anywhere from 15 to 50 percent off the regular prices.
“We know visitors who come to Las Vegas are searching for value,” concludes Graff.

“Best Vegas Attractions clearly lays out guest options, making it easier than ever to decide what to do while they are in the destination. Top that with incredible savings they will not be able to find anywhere else. We created this group because of the guests and for the guests.
”
ABOUT BEST VEGAS ATTRACTIONS

Best Vegas Attractions (BVA) is a collaborative partnership among several Las Vegas visitor attractions, developed to increase awareness about the organization that will ultimately drive leisure and convention business to participating attractions. BVA’s objective is to provide value-added opportunities for travelers and visitors through special offers and values. By partnering on marketing, public relations and advertising efforts that include strategic branding, Web site production, collateral production and distribution, BVA attractions combine resources on activities at a fraction of the cost, which saves their respective companies time and money.

For more information, go to www.bestvegasattractions.com

Offering Ocean-Inspired Treatments and Stunning Ocean-Front Setting

Kapalua Resort’s all-new 30,000 square foot spa offers world-class facilities including 10 outdoor hales, infinity saline lap pool, full service salon and state-of-the-art fitness center with Maui’s only Kinesis Circuit Training System

KAPALUA RESORT, MAUI, HAWAI`I –

Spanning over five acres in the heart of Kapalua Resort, the brand new Kapalua Spa will celebrate its highly-anticipated opening.

Kapalua Spa pays respect to Kapalua’s unique sense of place and incorporates the healing benefits of the ocean in everything from its signature treatments to tranquil seaside décor.

“Kapalua Spa embraces the healing properties of the ocean and our beautiful natural surroundings.

Walking into the spa is like entering an elegant, open air beach house – everything from the tropical wood and sea glass interiors to the expansive views and personalized amenities — the beauty of the ocean and its calming properties are seen in details big and small,” said Spa Director, Crystal Poe-Cabatbat.

Overlooking serene Kapalua Bay, Kapalua Spa’s 30,000-square-foot facility mirrors its environment with 19 treatment rooms, including 10 outdoor hale (bungalows), three private stone soaking tubs and dual treatment space for couples.

At Kapalua Spa guests can take advantage of sauna, steam room, whirlpool and a cold rain shower in each of the men’s and women’s relaxation lounges. In addition, guests will enjoy the services of a beauty salon, spacious movement studio, the island’s only spa-dedicated saline lap pool and sunning deck as well as fitness facilities with state-of-the-art cardio, strength and full-range-of-motion Kinesis Circuit System.

A juice bar – which will feature natural and organic beverage and snack selections– as well as a spa boutique with skin care lines and gifts, will also be available for visitors.

“Guests will find that Kapalua Spa is a gathering place where they can focus on wellness, healing and balance,” said Sylvia Sepielli, Kapalua Spa’s renowned spa visionary.

“Kapalua Resort has created a timeless product, which can be enjoyed and embraced by Hawai‘i visitors and residents, time and time again.”

One of the many aspects that set Kapalua Spa apart is its signature treatments and products.

The ‘Awa and Cacao Lomi Wrap treatment is an 80-minute skin treatment, designed exclusively for Kapalua Spa by Hawai‘i Island resident, Darrell Lapulapu.

The treatment features a lomi lomi technique to gently exfoliate the skin with a unique blend of Hawaiian ‘awa, cacao, ginger, sandalwood and oats – all made with local and natural ingredients to aid in cleansing impurities from the body.

Other signature treatments include the Hawaiian Spirulina Wrap, Pōhaku Brown Seaweed Facial, and the one-of-a-kind Journey Through the Ocean dual therapist massage, featuring warm stones, Hawaiian lomi sticks and a nutrient-rich spirulina exfoliant that prepares the skin.

Natural and island-based product lines such as Pure & True Organic Beauty, Lapulapu Natural Skin Integrity, Osea, Aromatherapy Associates and Phytomer to name a few will be featured at Kapalua Spa.

For more information on Kapalua Spa, please visit www.kapalua.com  or call 1-866-941-KSPA (5772).

ABOUT KAPALUA SPA

Overlooking serene Kapalua Bay, Kapalua Spa is located on five lush acres in the heart of the world-class Kapalua Resort.

Featuring 19 treatment rooms, including 10 outdoor bungalows – allowing visitors to experience the resort’s scenic natural surroundings.

Kapalua Spa offers a number of exclusive, signature treatments that incorporate the healing properties of the sea and feature locally-sourced, natural treatment products.

Guests will relax and rejuvenate at the spa’s world-class amenities, including private stone soaking tubs, relaxation rooms with sauna, steam, whirlpools and rain showers, a luxury beauty salon, movement studio, infinity saline lap pool and sunning deck as well as an ocean-view fitness center with state-of-the-art cardio, strength and Kinesis Circuit System.

For more information on Kapalua Spa, visit www.kapalua.com  or call 1-866-941-KSPA.

ABOUT KAPALUA RESORT

Kapalua Resort is a 22,000-acre, master-planned community set amidst two nature preserves and pineapple fields on Maui’s northwest coast.

The resort is renowned for its world-class golf courses,

The Bay and The Plantation; 11 residential communities; premier accommodations at The Ritz-Carlton, Kapalua and The Ritz-Carlton Club and Residences, Kapalua Bay; The Kapalua Gold Villas, a condominium rental program; Kapalua Luxury Homes, a vacation home rental program;

a tennis complex; three white sand beaches, including two of America’s Best Beaches, and a variety of restaurants and shops. Nearby Kapalua Farms offers organic farm-to-fork produce and eggs to resort restaurants and the Maui community. Kapalua Resort hosts a signature event series each year: the PGA TOUR’s season-opening SBS Championship in January, Whale Quest Kapalua in February, The Ritz-Carlton, Kapalua’s Celebration of the Arts in April, Kapalua Wine & Food Festival in June and the Kapalua LPGA Classic tournament in October.
For more information, visit www.kapalua.com  or call 1-800-KAPALUA.

Amathus Hotels are delighted to announce the launch of their brand new Spa & Wellness concept at their five-star Limassol and Rhodes properties. Both properties have been undergoing improvements for some months and the opening of a new Amathus Spa & Wellness Centre at each hotel puts the finishing touch to two ambitious projects.

The new luxury Spas bring a modern, fresh approach to beauty and wellbeing in the Mediterranean and are now fully open.

Amathus Spa & Wellness Centre at Amathus Beach Hotel Limassol, Cyprus

At its time of inception in 1995, the previously existing spa was the first hotel spa in Cyprus, had the largest indoor hotel pool on the island (a title that it still holds to this day) and measured 460 square metres.

 The new Spa now stretches over 1,500 square metres and is equally ground-breaking in its design and vision.

Bringing new heights to spa pampering in Limassol, design company JH Hallwachs and partner GMBH have drawn upon global spa practices and the four elements of air, earth, fire and water for inspiration.

Access to all treatment rooms is along “floating” boardwalks and decks surrounded by peaceful reflective pools.

Tino stone marble, iron Travetin, American walnut “Geopiera”, leather, glass and stainless steel are all used in the design.

Relax in the “Garden of Senses”, where guests rest in semi-private decks surrounded by tranquil pools, plants, soothing lighting and the sounds of cascading water from the surrounding waterfalls in this area after enjoying a treatment.

There are a total of 13 treatment rooms within the Spa, ranging from Asian suites for Thai massage to a romantic bath for couples.

The Spa also offers a “Mens World” treatment area where the decor is centred around more masculine designs and colours, and the treatments available are specific to the growing male spa clientele, with body scrubs, massage and facial treatments designed especially for male skin.

The Spa features products and facial and body treatments by elite all-natural skincare specialists Pevonia Botanica. Offering a personal touch, guests undergo an in-depth skin analysis enabling treatments to be adapted to suit all skin types, ensuring that guests leave the spa seeing a noticeable difference in the way they look and feel. The Spa also features a range of luxury treatments from French skincare brand Carita.

A separate newly built gymnasium with a panoramic glass wall overlooking the hotel’s pool and beach includes state of the art Life Fitness circuit-training and cardiovascular equipment.

In the centre of the gymnasium an “Indian Body and Mind Temple” (Dojo/studio) offers step classes, yoga, Tai Chi and cardio boxing.

Must Try Treatment! A highlight from the Spa menu is the Pevonia Caviar & Pearls Facial, an extravagant anti-aging treatment that features lavish ingredients such as Russian Caviar Extract and Pearl Extract, which greatly improve skin elasticity and dramatically reduce lines and wrinkles.

Amathus Spa & Wellness Centre at Amathus Beach Hotel Rhodes, Greece

Amathus Beach Hotel Rhodes has brought sophisticated luxury to the island in the form of a new Elite Suites wing which opened on the 24th April 2009.
In addition to housing 37 dazzling new guest suites, the wing is also home to an impressive new Spa.

The Amathus Spa & Wellness Centre is the only one of its kind in Rhodes.

With a total area of 1,300 square metres it provides a hammam, steam bath, sauna, Jacuzzi, as well as 12 luxuriously appointed treatment rooms including a couple’s “aquaveda” room. Also designed by JH Hallwachs, the Rhodes Spa draws upon indigenous influences and spa practices around the world in the same way as its Limassol sister and also features luxurious products and treatments from Pevonia Botanica.

Unwind before your treatment in the three relaxation pools – the reflective pool, the salt water pool and the romantic bath.

One luxury treatment room is designed especially for couples’ treatments while the multi-function massage room is designed for Ayurveda, Shiatsu, and Indian head massage. Hydro-therapy, mud wraps, algotherapy, Swedish massage, aromatherapy, pregnancy massage, reiki, reflexology and hot stone massage are all on offer as well as a complimentary mani/pedi for all Elite Suite guests, who are able to waft from the spa to their room with ease as they are a stone’s throw away.

Must Try Treatment! One of the more unusual treatments offered is “Cupping”, an ancient Chinese practice made famous by celebrity advocate Gwyneth Paltrow. A method of relieving congestion, it involves cups being placed onto the skin to create a partial vacuum, opening up the body’s energy lines.

Nightly rates at Amathus Beach Hotel Limassol start from 170 Euros per night in a Twin Inland View Room, based on two adults sharing, including Buffet Breakfast, all taxes and service charge.

For reservations call +35 72583 2000; www.amathus-hotels.com/limassol

Nightly rates at Amathus Beach Hotel Rhodes start from 88 Euros per night in an Inland View Room and 220 Euros per night in an Elite Suite, based on two adults sharing, including Buffet Breakfast, all taxes and service charge.

For reservations call +30 22410 89900;
www.amathus-hotels.com/rhodes
www.amathus-hotels.com

The Skansen zoo and open-air museum, Åre/Skistar, Säfsen Resort, Häckeberga Castle, the Vasa Museum, the Millennium Tour city walking tour and Wilderness in Värmland are the seven best experiences in Sweden according to French, German, British, Dutch, Italian, Russian and American tour operators.

A decision will be made on Oct. 22 as to which one will receive the “Best Experience in Sweden” award.

The international “TRIP Global Award” will be presented for the second time this year to the “Best Experience in Sweden.” Last year’s winner was the Ice Hotel.

The initiators of the award are the Swedish Travel and Tourist Industry Federation, in cooperation with Visit Sweden. The aim is to establish what experiences foreign visitors want to book through tour operators and to highlight those who offer Sweden’s best experience.

“The nominations reflect the global demand for experiences related to winter, wilderness and nature. What we as Swedes take for granted turns out to be exotic experiences for our foreign visitors.

“It is exciting that the walking tour of the city known as the Millennium Tour is nominated since it shows a new trend in which Swedish literary successes are also attracting visitors to Sweden,” said Jan Lundin, CEO, Swedish Travel and Tourist Industry Federation.

The selection process was expanded from five to seven key foreign markets for Sweden: Germany, the Netherlands, Italy, France, the U.K., Russia and the U.S. The jury was appointed by Visit Sweden and comprises tour operators from each country, with a total of 35 operators participating.

“The tour operators’ selection shows what is popular in Sweden for many travelers. Through our foreign offices, we can directly identify what the local tour operators prioritize, such as a high level of service, the right hotel standard and a focus on customer satisfaction,” said Thomas Brühl, CEO of Visit Sweden. The Swedish Travel and Tourism Gala is an annual inspiration and knowledge day, with a conference, award ceremonies and gala dinner. The Gala was established as a meeting place for the industry’s players and associates.

For more information, visit www.rts.se  or www.visitsweden.com

DK Eyewitness Travel announced that its best-selling Top 10 Travel Guides are now available as easy-to-navigate digital guides for iPhone and iPod touch users on the Apple App Store.

The DK Top 10 Travel apps have been developed in association with Coolgorilla and feature trusted DK content from the bestselling Top 10 city guidebook series.

Users will be able to browse top sights, places to eat, maps, shopping, museums and many others things to do for each destination. There is also the added functionality of a “Favorites” tool and a currency converter.

The 10 destinations covered are: New York, London, Los Angeles, Las Vegas, Paris, Rome, Dubai, Barcelona, Cancun and Bangkok

Tom Hall, Head of Digital Licensing for DK Publishing, said: “We are delighted to be launching DK’s Top 10 guides for iPhone and iPod touch users. The series is hugely successful in print, and the clear, structured format of its content lends itself perfectly to digital platforms in this manner. iPhone offers a user-friendly, streamlined route into our trusted content, providing travelers with exactly what they need to know, right when they need to know it.”

Roy Forsdick, Managing Director of Coolgorilla noted: “Mobile phones are, for many people, the number one essential travel item and we’re confident the DK Top 10 apps will help iPhone and iPod touch travelers enjoy their hard-earned vacations to the absolute max.”

The DK Top 10 Travel apps are available ($7.99/£4.99) from Apple’s App Store on iPhone and iPod touch or at www.itunes.com/appstore

For more information visit www.traveldk.com/iphone

During the past three years an outdoor aquarium has been built along Highway 55 in Cascade.

The outdoor viewing aquarium was built to allow people to see aquatic organisms in a natural looking setting. Educational information about fish life cycles and fish species identification is also available in a fun, entertaining setting. So what is the aquarium, and how was it constructed and funded?
The Cascade Aquarium sits in Fischer Park on the southeast side of Cascade just north of the North Fork Payette River Bridge. The aquarium can be reached on a blacktop path connecting to a trail system. The viewing area and trail system are handicapped accessible.

The aquarium consists of a concrete wall, with special viewing glass, and an earthen berm with a rubber liner to hold the water. On top of the liner, boulders, river rock and tree stumps have been placed to create fish habitat.

The 52-degree ground water is supplied via a pump and pipeline, and the aquarium’s 10,000 gallon water volume is exchanged about every four hours.

Excess water cascades from the aquarium into a manmade creek channel running into Fischer Pond.

The water is fed through an aeration column before it is introduced to bottom of the aquarium.

Project funding was an adventure in time and volunteer help.

A significant amount of funding came through the Fish America Foundation, specifically from a donation from Pro-Line. The Idaho Department of Fish and Game used license funds, Cascade residents donated money, and local contractors contributed equipment, time and labor.

The Idaho Department of Transportation donated boulders and rock fill, and local contractors hauled the material.

Students in the advanced biology class at Cascade High School wrote grant applications for funds, contacted contractors for equipment donations and provided much of the hand labor. And the City of Cascade’s maintenance crew took on the project above their other duties to create something special for the city.

Vermont is known for its farm fresh foods and regional craftsmanship.

To celebrate this distinction and bring the best local artisans together, Spruce Peak at Stowe Mountain Resort is hosting a series of Friday Farmer’s Markets beginning July 3.

This first event will be part of a gala day filled with activities, live music, food and fireworks.

The Farmer’s Market will take place from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. in the Spruce Peak Plaza at the base of Stowe Mountain Resort.

In addition to over 30 purveyors on-site there will be U-Paint-It Pottery all day, Cooking & Garden Care demos from 1 to 2 p.m.,

Learn how to fly cast at 3 p.m., Hillbilly Horseshoes, fireworks to music at 8 p.m. and Stowe’s full array of summer attractions open late ‘til 7 p.m.

Attractions include the Alpine Slide, Bungee Trampolines, Climbing Wall and Gondola Ride.

On-mountain restaurants available for lunches and dinners filled with native cuisine are the Cliff House, Golf Cottage, Schuss gourmet takeout shop, Solstice Restaurant and Hourglass Bar.

The markets will take place Fridays July 3 and 24, Aug. 7 and 21 and Sept. 4 and 25. Vendors include Green Seed Herbals, Farmer Sue, South Mountain Crepes, Rory Jackson Art, William Boote & Corrine Chatelan Wood Fired Artisan Breads, Vermont Birchbark Arts, The Nutty Vermonter, Storm and Sunrise Jewelry, Sage Farm Goat Dairy, Shelmandine Design Sauces, Clear Light Art, Tony’s Old Style Maple Syrup, Lana Parkhurst Pies, Gizmos Pickled Plus, Deborah Aschenbach Baked Goods, Peter Kitonis Furniture, Boyden Valley Winery and more.

For more information, call 800-253-4754 or visit www.stowe.com

The Rezidor Hotel Group announced Park Inn Tete in Mozambique.

The property featuring 116 rooms is scheduled to open in the fourth quarter of 2010. Rezidor’s portfolio on the African continent now comprises close to 30 hotels and 6,855 rooms in operation and under development. This will be Rezidor’s second in Mozambique as the company will also open the Radisson Blu Hotel, Maputo in the second quarter of 2010.

For more information, visit www.rezidor.com