Jetsettersblog

OPTIONS TO SUIT EVERYONE

With more than 70 miles of coastline, South Devon boasts mile after mile of glorious beaches, ranging from tiny sheltered coves to great swathes of golden sand and long stretches of pebbles and shingle.

Whether its beaches with safe bathing, family facilities, energetic watersports, a wildlife haven, access for dog walkers or top quality awards, South Devon is able to offer them all.

Twenty of the best beaches are listed in the 2009 South Devon Guide, which may be obtained free of charge by calling 01626 215674 or visiting www.visitsouthdevon.co.uk

Among the best and most well-known of the region’s beaches is Dawlish Warren.

A winner of the European Blue Flag award no less than ten times, it is internationally recognised as a nature reserve and home to hundreds of species of insects, birds, animals and plant life, some of which were new to science when they were discovered there.

For a secluded hideaway, Coryton Cove, Dawlish, is a perfect, picturesque location, complete with rock pools, brightly-coloured beach huts and the occasional sighting of dolphins, while Ness Beach at picturesque Shaldon sits between impressive red cliffs and is accessed via an original smuggler’s tunnel.

Families searching for a long stretch of sandy beach, with shallow water for paddling, rock pools for exploring, a beach shop and café, would be hard pushed to find anywhere better than Bigbury on Sea. Located in an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB), the Blue Flag beach is joined by a causeway to Burgh Island, which can be visited by sea tractor or on foot at low tide. The beach is also ideal for windsurfing and kite surfing.

Other sandy beaches popular with families include Dawlish Town and Teignmouth Town, both of which offer free entertainment during the summer months and the crescent-shaped beach of Blackpool Sands, with its sheltered bay and backdrop of evergreens and pines.

Regarded as the region’s best beach and a great base for a variety of watersports including surfing, windsurfing, kayaking and boogie boarding (equipment hire and instruction available),

Blackpool Sands also has a Blue Flag award and is home to the Venus Café which serves local and organic food. Also popular are Salcombe South Sands, which is accessible by road, coastal footpath and passenger ferry from the town centre; and the less busy East Portlemouth on the opposite side of the estuary from Salcombe.

Traditionalists will be delighted to stumble across River Beach on the estuary side of Teignmouth, where time seems to have stood still as fishermen mend their nets in the age-old fashion, sand eels are caught, boats bob up and down in the harbour, waterside inns thrive, visitors hire boats and beach huts, and children splash around in the water.

Bantham, a fine sandy beach at the mouth of the Avon estuary, is among the most popular on the south coast for surfing.

Also a hit with surfers and body boarders for its swells and shore breaks is Challaborough, a sheltered cove in an AONB just along from Bigbury on Sea which has also been awarded a Blue Flag.

The National Trust owns the beach at Wembury, together with its Marine Centre, which runs guided rock pool rambles and other events during the summer, and the historic water mill, now home to a cafe serving delicious home-made food.

Also owned by the National Trust are Thurlestone and South Milton Sands. Thurlestone Rock, a natural red sandstone arch created by erosion caused by wave action, was famously captured on canvas by William Turner, the celebrated 19th century landscape painter.

Disabled holidaymakers will also find a good selection of beaches to suit them in South Devon, with many offering wheelchair access.

These include Dawlish Warren, Teignmouth Town Beach and Bigbury on Sea, all of which also have toilets for the disabled and beach wheelchairs available for hire.

There are also a wealth of fantastic beaches in South Devon that are dog friendly all year round while others welcome dogs for parts of the year. Amongst those without restrictions are East Portlemouth, Mill Bay, Ness Cove, Salcombe North Sands, Slapton, Strete Gate, Teignmouth River Bridge, Torcross and Thurlestone.

For further information about beaches in the region, together with details about the wealth of other things to see and do, plus places to stay, contact the South Devon holiday line on Tel: 01626 215674

or visit www.visitsouthdevon.co.uk

The Leading Luxury Car Rental Company In Europe

Perfectly timed for the 2009 F1 season, Elite Rent-a-Car is now officially available to the UK market and offers British travellers flexible options to enjoy the world’s most sought-after cars.

Many of the vehicles arrive at Elite before they are available commercially, with some never featured by the usual auto rental companies.

The thrill of test driving a Ferrari or Maserati before anyone else is only matched by the concierge-led service, the pick-up and delivery of cars anywhere anytime, 24/7 support, bi-lingual staff and a flexible ‘can do’ attitude.

With the recession biting down on luxury car buyers in the UK, Elite may be the answer to nourish the passion for the power of the supercar, without breaking the bank.

Elite Rent was founded in 1987 in Geneva by Graziella Zanoletti, who still hand-picks Elite’s 400-
strong fleet to exceed the expectations of her most discerning customers.

There are six ranges of cars to choose from – the Exceptional range (featuring Ferrari, Lamborghini, and Maserati): the Luxury range (Maserati, Audi and Mercedes): the Sports range (Porsche, BMW, Audi and Alfa Romeo); the 4WD range (Porsche, Range Rover, BMW, Audi and Mercedes); the City range (Smart Car, Mini and BMW); and the Executive range (BMW, Mercedes and Audi).

In addition to the core rental service, Elite has recently launched a collection of superlative road tours – Elite Driving Experiences (EDE).

These pre-planned driving journeys combine the finest open roads of that region with luxury four and five star hotels to relax in and one or two unique ‘behind the scenes’ experiences to enjoy along the way (private tours of the Ferrari factory or a leading watchmaker’s showroom, for example). Lasting one to seven nights, customers are completely ‘cocooned’ by Elite with a team to look after their needs 24/7.

They can choose to drive alone or with a chauffeur (and even a guide if need be), which may suit families and corporate parties wishing to get under the skin of a destination, without ever having to push a pedal.

Now Open

- An oasis of contemporary luxury on the Corniche of Jeddah, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia -

Dubai, United Arab Emirates (June 15, 2009) – Hyatt Hotels & Resorts announced today the opening of Park Hyatt Jeddah – Marina Club and Spa, marking its entry into the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

Set among beautifully landscaped gardens on the Corniche of Jeddah, Park Hyatt Jeddah – Marina, Club and Spa is an innovative five-star sanctuary where contemporary luxury and exceptional service meets unrivalled views of the Red Sea and King Fahd fountain. The hotel enjoys a prime location in the very heart of the city, within the esteemed Al Hamra District at the Equestrian Club of Jeddah, and just minutes away from the central business district.

Business and leisure travelers will be welcomed with state-of-the-art meeting and business facilities as well an impressive array of sport and leisure pursuits. The commercial and financial districts, as well as the main shopping and entertainment areas of Jeddah are nearby, making Park Hyatt Jeddah the ideal launching point from which visitors can conduct business or explore the relaxing activities of the destination.

The multi-faceted resort is a remarkable engineering feat that reclaimed prime waterfront land from the Red Sea, while retaining the delicate surrounding marine life. The 34.5-acre (140,000 square meter) complex overlooks sweeping views of the sea and the world-famous King Fahd fountain with its more than 1,000-foot-high (312 meters) plume of water.

Design

Park Hyatt Jeddah is an intimate and residential-style hotel where French interior designer Gilles Quiffet and architect Patrice Hart fashioned rooms that fuse a sleek European style with Arab-Andalusian architecture.

The beautiful gardens and striking interior design create a haven of understated elegance. Modern artwork and designs merge with traditional Arab-Andalusian features, setting a new standard for contemporary luxury.

The surrounding resort complex will feature a built-up and impressive 2.5-acres (10,000 square meters) of spa and wellness facilities, the Lazurde Meetings & Events Centre, a yacht marina, as well as a variety of innovative restaurants and stylish lounges.

Guestrooms and Suites

The 142 spacious guestrooms, including 15 suites, are luxuriously appointed with the highest quality of fixtures and designs.

All rooms feature exclusive home comforts combined with business and entertainment gadgetry. Guestrooms are generously sized for complete wellbeing measuring 430 square feet (40 square meters) while the suites range from 860 square feet to more than 2,100 square feet (80 to 200 square meters).

Lavish bathrooms offer indulgences such as deep-soaking baths and rain showers for total pampering. Additionally, a majority of the rooms enjoy unrestricted views of the sea.

Meetings and Events Space

Opening soon, the Lazurde Meetings & Events Centre will feature 26,000 square feet (2,500 square meters) of meeting and banquet facilities adjacent to Park Hyatt Jeddah. The Lazurde Centre is accessible by a dedicated entrance for total discretion and convenience. This elegant facility is set to play host to wedding parties, product launches, corporate meetings and conferences for up to 800 guests.

The 8,100-square-foot (756 square-meter) Ballroom can be divided into three separate spaces, and additionally, the exclusive Palm Courtyard is able to accommodate up to 900 guests for outdoor events by the Red Sea.

Incorporating the latest multimedia and lighting technology, as well as a private car park, the Lazurde Meetings & Events Centre will be a focal point of Jeddah’s business and social activities.

Restaurants and Lounges

The Lounge, the central Lobby Lounge, is an elegant hub at the heart of the hotel, with a modern design featuring high ceilings and deep, relaxing armchairs. Striking views across the Red Sea and King Fahd fountain provide the perfect backdrop for a light business lunch or relaxing evening. The Lounge also includes the Cigar Room, which will serve a variety of high quality cigars from around the world.

Nafoura Restaurant offers the finest in Mediterranean cuisine with a menu of mouth-watering mezzes and à la carte delicacies. In the evenings, Nafoura’s open-show kitchen offers specialities from its traditional charcoal grill station where alluring aromas are added to the dining experience.

The luminous design concept of Nafoura offers a combination of high ceilings, stone floors and breathtaking views of the sea.

An additional four food and beverage outlets will open soon adding to the entertainment and dining experience at Park Hyatt Jeddah.

Sports, Spa and Wellness Facilities

Opening soon, the spa and wellness facilities at Park Hyatt Jeddah will offer an impressive 2.5-acre (10,000 square meters) complex for an array of sports and leisure pursuits divided into separate ladies’ and gentlemen’s areas including the region’s first Hydrotherapy center.

Stemming from the true meaning of spa, or Sanitas per Aquas, Latin for “healing by water”, hydrotherapy draws upon the healing benefits of heated mineralized waters to revitalize the body and alleviate circulatory and stress-related ailments. An extensive range of massage therapies and the latest restorative and therapeutic treatments will be available for total pampering and wellbeing.

Evania Ladies’ Spa and Seba Gentlemen’s Sports and Wellness Centre will open soon to offer guests and members a host of sporting, fitness, beauty, and relaxation facilities.

Other Facilities

Non-Hyatt managed facilities to open soon will include a Commercial Gallery with a host of prestigious boutiques and a Marina that can berth 140 yachts of 26 to 82 feet (8 to 25 meters) in length.

The marina will offer a main quay, a floating walkway, secondary pontoons, boarding facilities and fueling stations. Diving and sailing facilities may be added in the future.

Hyatt in the Middle East

The opening of Park Hyatt Jeddah – Marina, Club and Spa will mark the entry of Hyatt into the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia further strengthening the presence of Hyatt Hotels & Resorts in the fast-growing Middle East region. In addition to the recently opened Grand Hyatt Doha in Qatar, the Hyatt hotels in Egypt, Jordan, Oman, and the United Arab Emirates have established themselves as leading hotels in the region, winning international awards for service and style.

Jeddah Points of Interest

A variety of sights that can be visited in Jeddah represent its rich heritage as a cosmopolitan port and trading city of Saudi Arabia.

The hotel concierge at Park Hyatt Jeddah can arrange for personalized sightseeing tours and activities of historical and cultural sights, such as Al Balad (the Old Town) or the museums and parks. Modern Jeddah also is well known locally for its luxury shopping outlets.

Park Hyatt Jeddah – Marina, Club and Spa is the ideal base for Hajj or Umrah pilgrimages to Mecca or Medina. Located just 30 minutes away from the King Abdullaziz International Airport, Park Hyatt Jeddah is a well-situated stopover upon entering or leaving the region. Mecca is a convenient 45-minute drive from the hotel.

About the Hotel
Park Hyatt Jeddah – Marina, Club and Spa
At the Equestrian Club of Jeddah
Al Hamra District, Southern Corniche
P.O. Box 5863
Jeddah 21432
Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
Tel: +966 2 263 9666
Fax: +966 2 657 2747
Email: jeddah.park@hyatt.com
www.jeddah.park.hyatt.com

Bus Pass is a ticket specifically designed for holiday travel in Finland and can be used for unlimited travel on all bus routes throughout Finland.

Bus Pass is valid either for seven days (€ 149) or 14 days (€ 249) and is available throughout the year.

The Bus Pass is available at Matkahuolto service outlets and it is activated at the moment of purchase. It does not include travel in local transport in the Helsinki area and Turku.

For more information:
http://www.matkahuolto.fi/en/travel_services/ticket_products/bus_pass

Ruunaa Hiking Centre has been awarded the best Finnish recreational destination of 2009 by the Finnish Expo Foundation. The 7600+ acre hiking center is located in Lieksa, in Eastern Finland, close to the Russian border.

It also runs area along the Lieksajoki River and contains seven rapids within a 16 km stretch.

Ruunaa offers fishing, paddling, rapid shooting, and hiking.

Nature lovers can see many wild deer, beavers, otters, bears, wolves, wolverines, and other typical forest and bird species in this area. The area is well-equipped for visitors with 10 restaurants, accommodations, and recreational service providers.

For more information:   www.ruunaa.fi/en/main

The City of Helsinki Tourist & Convention Bureau has launched a network for gay-friendly companies which offer services for gay-, lesbian-, bisexual- and transvestite travelers. The Tourist & Convention Bureau offers the service of the network to international travel organizers, companies and travel agencies whose customer base consists mainly or partly of GLBT customers.

Companies providing accommodation, transport, and event services currently include LSS Long Special Services, Helsinki Expert, Sun Lines Oy, Klaus K, ME-Taksi, TaksiOne, The Travel Experience, Blue1,Tero Saarinen Company, Q-life, Tumlare Corporation, Northern Star Tours, Scandic Hotels, Archtours Ltd, Royal Line Oy, Best Western Premier Hotel Katajanokka.

Social and corporate responsibility is a strong trend in the travel industry and part of Helsinki’s tourism strategy. Helsinki is a friendly and hospitable city towards any visitor and tourist. Helsinki office for tourism and congresses has become a member of the International Gay & Lesbian Travel Association.

www.visitthelsinki.com

Planning a holiday in the heart of the south has never been so easy!

Christchurch & Canterbury Tourism has revamped its website www.christchurchnz.com to provide visitors with a series of innovative new trip-planning tools including interactive maps, regional itineraries, traveller recommendations, and a seamless real-time online booking system for flights, car hire and accommodation in the South Island.

Visitors to the website will also be able to access exclusive on-line deals, unique offers and quality destination information.

“This new site responds to travellers’ imaginations – it’s a showcase of ideas, recommendations and powerful imagery that captures the heart of a region that stretches from Kaikoura to Aoraki Mt Cook,” says Christchurch & Canterbury Tourism chief executive Christine Prince.

“Essentially no trip to New Zealand is complete without seeing the iconic South Island and as the heart of the South, Christchurch is a must-see destination.”

Demand from travellers for quality information about the South Island has been steadily growing over recent years as the island has emerged as a destination in its own right. The world’s leading publisher of travel books, Lonely Planet, has just released its first travel guide dedicated to the South Island in response to the demand.

“The richness and diversity of the South Island is all captured in our new portal. Once you log onto www.christchurchnz.com we’ll be able to give you a wealth of choices, with everything you need to book and plan your South Island trip.’’

Summit Hotels & Resorts™, a brand of Preferred Hotel Group™, is pleased to announce its newest member in Hong Kong – Harbour Grand Hong Kong. The collection includes more than 150 internationally acclaimed hotels and resorts that celebrate local luxury.

Situated on the waterfront in the heart of Hong Kong Island’s commercial and shopping district near Causeway Bay, Harbour Grand Hong Kong is within 5 minutes walking distance to the convenience of the subway MTR system. A number of striking Swarovski chandelier’s, some of the largest in Hong Kong, welcomes guests as soon as they step into the hotel’s oval-shaped lobby with Art Nouveau elements.

Just opened in June 2009, all 828 contemporary designed guest rooms feature stunning views of the world-renowned Victoria Harbour.

Selected rooms even have private patios with heated Jacuzzis to enjoy the view. The five restaurants and lounge offer an exquisite dining experience with the backdrop of a the spectacular Hong Kong harbour.

The signature Le 188° Restaurant & Lounge offers a 188-degree view of the harbour, Hong Kong Island and Kowloon from the top level of the hotel.

Boasting 12,685 square feet of meeting and function facilities, the hotel prides itself with the 6,200 square feet pillar-less Grand Ballroom that can accommodate up to 600 guests.

The seven function rooms are flexible with adjustable partitions and all feature more dazzling floor-to ceiling window sea views. Recreational facilities include a state-of-the-art Fitness Centre as well as a 27-metre outdoor heated swimming pool, Jacuzzi, children’s pool and spa.

“The worldwide famous harbour views of Hong Kong which are guaranteed in every guest room and throughout the hotel will certainly be one of its crucial selling points in addition to the wonderful hotel product and Hong Kong’s five star service. Harbour Grand Hong Kong is a great addition to our portfolio for all markets, whether it be business, leisure or MICE , ” said Mark Simmons, Area Managing Director, Asia.

Benedict Chow, General Manager adds, “As a new luxury hotel, Harbour Grand will need to gain exposure internationally and I believe Summit Hotels & Resorts is the perfect business partner to help us build market awareness and reach the global audience.”

About Summit Hotels & Resorts

Summit Hotels & Resorts is a member of the Preferred Hotel Group™ family of brands which also includes: Preferred Boutique™, Preferred Hotels® & Resorts, Sterling Hotels™ and Historic Hotels of America®. For reservations and a complete description of the Summit Hotels & Resorts collection, please visit www.summithotels.com

Summit Hotels & Resorts guests are eligible to enroll in the I Prefer™ Guest Benefit Program, featuring benefits such as early check-in/late check-out, space-available upgrades and more. For more information, please visit www.iprefer.com

Accor operates 52 Mercure hotels throughout the Asia Pacific and 690 Mercure hotels throughout the world. The Mercure hotel brand is experiencing significant expansion during 2009 throughout Asia Pacific.

In addition to the Mercure Sapporo, the Mercure Bangalore, Mercure Samui Fenix and Mercure Samui Buri have all opened in the past weeks. Additionally 14 further Mercure hotels are committed for development throughout the region, including hotels in Chengdu x 2, Zhangiajie (China) Pontianak, Bali, Manado, Solo (Indonesia), Hanoi x 2, Hue (Vietnam), Caroline Springs and Liverpool (Australia).

Special offer

Stay with Mercure Sapporo until October 31, 2009 and for 19,000¥ which includes daily breakfast as well as airport collection for 2 persons.

For reservations or enquiries online: visit the Mercure banner below.

Mercure Hotel Sapporo
2-4, Minami 4-jo, Nishi 2-chome,
Chuo-ku, Sapporo Hokkaido, 064-0804 Japan
tel. (81) 011-513-1100 fax. (81) 011-513-7575
Reservations email: H7023-RE1@accor.com

A Winner with Total Customer Value

Property leverages revenue management software to strengthen marketing promotions, maintains leadership in Harrah’s portfolio

It is one thing to be the star performer in your hotel company’s portfolio. It is another to keep the title in today’s challenging environment. But the hotel at Harrah’s Cherokee Casino in North Carolina, which is posting overall occupancy of 100 percent with brand-leading gaming revenue per room night, is holding its own thanks to a heads-up business strategy and the revenue management system that supports it.

Even though the Harrah’s Cherokee gaming operation has been impacted by the national economic downturn, the hotel itself continues to perform on par with previous years. Much of the credit goes to a savvy executive team that is readily handling the challenges of a changing economy and to Rainmaker’s revolutionSM revenue management system used by all of Harrah’s properties and which the Cherokee Casino hotel implemented at its 2002 opening.

The 576-room property is fortunate that convention business is not its primary segment. Thanks to its primarily leisure guest mix, it has avoided the downturn affecting corporate travel although leisure travel is softer than normal.

“During the months of February, March and April 2009, our admissions and day-trip traffic are improving, but people are playing below their average gaming revenue level,” said Jeremiah Wiggins, director of planning and analysis for the Harrah’s Cherokee property. “It throws a curve ball at our revenue managers tasked with predicting total guest value and setting criteria for the rooms we have available, but we are still performing well.”

Accurate short-term forecasting is essential

The Rainmaker system forecasts hotel demand and then recommends the best room rate each night for guests based on their total customer value to help ensure that there is always availability for high-value guests. Tight integration with the hotel’s property management system ensures the most current data is used and makes the rate optimization process fast and efficient.

The system uses the previous year’s performance as a baseline and considers recent gaming revenue trends and input from Wiggins and his team. Wiggins acknowledges that a year ago he would have named revolution’s long-term (13 months out) demand forecasting capabilities as the system’s most important feature, but today it is the short-term forecasting capabilities that matter most.

“We are sitting down now planning for the summer, when we rely more on retail, unrated guests, and passers-by,” he said. “We do not have any reliable indicators whether those guests will be here or not, so the more our revenue management models can adjust to short-term trends, the better off we are.

Tightly focused marketing

Wiggins noted the Rainmaker solution is also valuable creating and tracking promotions that attract guests. “My team works with our marketing group to identify softer periods that will benefit from a promotion to stimulate demand.

With the help of more accurate forecasting we can create promotions that are more strategic. Last year we were hunting with dynamite, and this year we are focused and able to identify the most likely guest segments that will respond to our promotions.” Additionally, the North Carolina Travel Gaming Commission’s requirement that guests use a player card on 60 percent of the games at Harrah’s Cherokee, enables more accurate tracking of player value—information that can be entered into revolution as it creates optimized room rates based on total customer value.

“We are completely committed to the revenue management process, and how it can benefit our entire property” said Wiggins. “The RM staff monitors demand every hour 24×7 to make adjustments to room availability, promotions and pricing. That dedication is what takes revenue management to the next level and makes it more effective.”

About Harrah’s Cherokee Casino and Hotel

Harrah’s Cherokee Casino & Hotel is an enterprise of the Eastern Band of Cherokee, located 50 miles west of Asheville at the entrance to the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Harrah’s Cherokee Casino is open 24-hours-a-day to guests who are 21-years-of-age or older.

For more information about Harrah’s Cherokee or to follow its $633 million expansion, please

call 1-800-HARRAHS

or visit our website at

www.harrahs.com