Jetsettersblog

Located approximately eight miles off the eastern coast of mainland Puerto Rico, Vieques Island is home to the future W Retreat & Spa-Vieques Island.

The resort will feature 157 rooms featuring 136 guestrooms with ocean views, eight suites with a garden view, six suites with an ocean view, six ocean front suites and one “Extreme WOW suite.”

Chef Alain Ducasse will bring his culinary experience to the island with “Mix on the Beach” as well as several other dining options. The resort will include worldwide luxury spa company, Spa Chakra, which will offer over 60 health and beauty therapies in both indoor and outdoor treatment rooms.

For more information, visit www.whotels.com

Explore Himalaya is taking travelers to the top of the world. Everest Skydive takes clients to 29,500 feet before so they can skydive past Mount Everest to land on the highest drop zone in the world at some 12,350 feet.

The experience is the brainchild of U.K. travel boss Nigel Gifford, and he’s delighted that the skydive program will continue in 2009 with partners Explore Himalaya.

Gifford said, “Clients are in great hands with world champion skydivers Wendy Smith and Omar Alhegelan, jump pilot Henri Schurch and his team.

There were several world records broken during last year’s Everest Skydive program and I’m sure we’ll see many more.”

For more information, visit www.explorehimalaya.com

Bmi, which flies out of London Heathrow’s Terminal 1, launched  a pre-flight Lounge Dining service for Business Class customers flying on bmi’s evening flights to Moscow and Tel Aviv.

Customers heading to Tel Aviv or Moscow can enjoy three-course meals in the new bmi international lounge — bmi Number One Heathrow — before they fly, meaning that they can then relax or sleep on the flight without being disturbed for meals. Once on board, customers can also choose a lighter meal or a nightcap from bmi’s new Night-Time Supper menu.

The move comes as bmi continues to improve services and benefits for those traveling in Business Class.

Earlier month, bmi opened its flagship international lounge, bmi Number One Heathrow, which offers a quintessentially British environment in which to work, relax, dine and refresh.

Lounge Dining will be available daily to all customers using the international lounge from 8.30 p.m. and is ideal for customers who are taking the night-time flights to Tel Aviv and Moscow, or connecting via London Heathrow.

Discover the Ultimate TNQ Experience with this Sensational Package Deal!

Leading Queensland, Australia tourism operators Undara, The Canopy Treehouses and Reef Encounter have launched the Ultimate Tropical North Queensland, Australia Experience Package that will enable travellers to experience the very best of Tropical North Queensland’s rolling eucalypt savannah, lush rainforests and unforgettable underwater scenery in one extraordinary trip.

From just $AUD1,950 per person twin share, this five day/four night package includes the following:

All meals and transfers to/from Cairns All accommodation including one night outback accommodation, two nights in a private rainforest treehouse and one night in a private suite onboard a luxury vessel on the Great Barrier Reef.

A half day tour of the Undara lava tubes, half day rainforest tour and snorkelling/diving equipment hire. This package is valid until 31 March 2010 and is subject to availability, conditions apply.

This unique package is a fantastic opportunity for people to truly immerse themselves in Tropical North Queensland and explore the diverse luxury tourism experiences that the region offers the discerning traveller.

The Undara Experience typifies the Australian Outback with rich reds, colourful characters and native wildlife combined with the natural splendour of the world’s longest lava tubes.

In the rugged and beautiful Gulf Savannah southwest of Cairns, guests experience the real Australian outback firsthand; sleeping overnight in charming antique railway carriages, bushwalking, partaking in campfire activities at night, and indulging in wholesome bush tucker meals.

From here, guests can immerse themselves in the ancient rainforests of the Wet Tropics World Heritage Region, where they will stay two nights in a secluded master-built treehouse, and discover the amazing wildlife of The Canopy Treehouses and Wildlife Sanctuary.

Each private treehouse offers a spectacular retreat from the everyday, with king beds, double spas and spacious balconies with hammocks.

The stay also includes a visit to the stunning Millaa Millaa falls and MaMu Rainforest Canopy Walkway.

Guests complete their Ultimate Tropical North Queensland Experience in style, staying overnight on the Great Barrier Reef, where they can indulge in personalised service on Reef Encounter’s luxury air-conditioned catamaran that is designed for the utmost stability and comfort at sea.

Time spent snorkelling and scuba diving with the experienced dive crew will see guests come face-to-face with schools of tropical reef fish and spectacular coral formations.

For more information on the Ultimate Tropical North Queensland Experience, to view a detailed itinerary or to make a booking, please telephone +61 7 4096 5364 or visit www.ultimatetnq.com.au

There are a couple of “extra large” new reasons to visit Peppers Guest House this winter with popular local foodies the Two Fat Blokes teaming up with the retreat to offer the ultimate in gourmet escapes.

Visitors can enjoy an elegant guest house experience at one of the Hunter’s best loved retreats and a complementary all day gourmet food and wine tour hosted by the affable pair for a gastronomic getaway with a difference, valid to August 31, 2009.

Priced from AUD$470* per person mid week and AUD$544* per person on weekends, the package includes two nights accommodation at Peppers Guest House in a Vintage or Classic Room, full buffet breakfast and complementary all day Hunter Valley tour with the Two Fat Blokes.

Restricted to just eight guests to ensure an intimate sharing of knowledge from the acclaimed authors and food aficionados, the tour itinerary includes a champagne start with local pastries, the opportunity to make your own wine, two course lunch at one of the Hunter’s best restaurants, private winetasting, museum wines and barrel samples at up to four wineries, afternoon tea and more.

Featuring 48 guest rooms including a four-bedroom homestead, Peppers Guest House offers the ideal getaway from the stresses of everyday life, an easy two hour drive north of Sydney on the F3 highway.

The retreat provides the perfect environment for guests to do as much or as little as they please, with onsite facilities including the acclaimed Chez Pok restaurant, indulgent endota retreat spa, tennis court and indoor pool and spa all set on 20 hectares of delightful country gardens.

The many delights of the Hunter Valley are only moments away including winery tours, hot air ballooning, cheese tasting, golf, horse and camel riding, carriage rides, sky diving and 4WD adventures to name but a few.

Peppers Retreats, Resorts & Hotels manages a collection of premium retreats, resorts and hotels in beautiful locations throughout Australia and New Zealand, including NSW, VIC, QLD, SA, NT, TAS, North and South Island.

For reservations or further information please contact Peppers Guest House on (02) 4993 8999 or email guesthouse@peppers.com.au

*Conditions apply. Subject to availability.

Palm Royale Cairns has recently become a member of the Golden Chain Motor Inns accommodation group.

The Golden Chain network has over 330 properties and over 7,500 rooms throughout Australia, with an expanding network which reaches from Cape Tribulation in Northern Queensland to Perth in Western Australia.

In recent years the group has enjoyed unprecedented growth in numbers and established a reputation for quality facilities and high levels of service.

Spokesperson for the Golden Chain group, General Manager Stephen Drew, attributes their success to the consistently high standards that are maintained across the network.

All properties are individually owned and operated and must meet our qualifications in the medium to high quality range

“Patrons appreciate our friendly ‘family’ hospitality and some of the other initiatives which Golden Chain has taken over the years. We introduced, and still are the only group that offers, toll-free person-to-person reservations direct to the front desk of every individual property.

And this is backed up by a twenty-four hour service where customers can also phone a central toll-free number and be transferred direct to any property of their choice.

We find that this gives us that first important contact with the customer and we can be sure that we understand their exact needs.

In this way we can add those little personal touches that help them feel at home whenever they are away from home.

As another consideration for our guests’ personal preferences, we were also the first group to introduce the choice of smoke-free rooms at every location.”

“Another way we help guests to plan their trips and get the most out of their stays with us, is to include a list of things to see and do in all of the locations where we have properties. Golden Chain was the first, and probably still the only group, to provide this information in their own Directory.”

As owner/operators of Palm Royale Cairns, Goodearth Hotels and Resorts, describes its property as a 150 room, Mediterranean style boutique resort located within close proximity of Cairns city and airport.

In announcing their decision to join a national marketing group, General Manager of Palm Royale Cairns, Peter Blackburn said he sees great potential for their affiliation with Golden Chain to attract customers in to Cairns from all over Australia.

To find out more, visit the website: www.palmroyalecairns.com.au

Getting to the airport early to avoid rushing and thus being relaxed for a flight has always presented a small dilemma.

There’s the choice of waiting at the gate while watching the clock or indulging in take away food and overpriced drinks while watching the clock.

At Melbourne Airport there is another option. A short stroll across the covered walkway from the main terminals will take you to the Hilton Melbourne International Airport and the soothing atmosphere of Airo.

Airo Restaurant is sleek and comfortable, offering modern global cuisine. A pizza oven and a Tandoor are innovative additions to the full kitchen, which turns out simple snacks or complete meals well worth the one-minute walk. It’s a great option for a quick dinner for two or even an extended business luncheon.

It’s also the perfect venue for a get together with family and friends before your flight.

Chef Mark Bowering sources the finest of local produce and some of the best ingredients in Australia to tempt diners.

The new autumn menu takes you away from Melbourne before you’ve even stepped foot on a plane, with fresh Morton bay bug tail and tobiko cocktail, lemon white baslsamic sorbet which demand a glass or two of a Sauvignon Blanc.

India beckons with an authentic Uttapam with samber & cocunut chilli, lentil & rice flour pancake, fresh vegetable and green chilli. Perfect with a full bodied beer.

If you’ve time for a steak, you’ll find none better in the area. Aged grass fed Gippsland beef is elegantly matched with a Leasingham Bin 61 Shiraz from Clare Valley in South Australia.

Airo Restaurant is styled in keeping with the hotel’s contemporary design, with a private dining room available for those special occasions.

The bar offers a comfortable mix of seating arrangements, from deep club chairs that overlook the terminals to private corners that provide the ultimate escape from the hustle and bustle of the airport.

There’s simply no better venue from which to say “Bon Voyage” to Melbourne.

Traveltrain Holidays’ premium Queenslander Class on The Sunlander rail journey, named one of the ‘World’s Top 25 Trains’ and ‘Australia’s Best Rail Journey’ by the Society of International Railway Travellers is sparking a renaissance in rail travel.

The Sunlander was selected for its exceptional service and accommodation standards, providing travellers with a unique holiday experience, being the only provider of a premium overnight rail experience in Queensland.
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Executive General Manager QR Passenger Services Paul Scurrah said not only does the journey pass through some of Queensland’s most spectacular coastal scenery,

Queenslander Class is an indulgent rail journey, from five star wining and dining to premium accommodation – it’s a complete travelling experience.”

Passengers travelling Queenslander Class enjoy first class accommodation, fine dining in an exclusive restaurant car, entertainment and commentary, and a host of special touches such as bathrobes and slippers.

The dining experience is a highlight onboard Queenslander Class, with all passengers enjoying sumptuous three-course meals featuring the freshest local produce. The seafood platter served between Townsville and Cairns is undoubtedly the culinary highpoint of the journey.

Mr Scurrah said travelling from Brisbane to Cairns twice weekly in Queenslander Class against the moving backdrop of 1681km of spectacular Queensland coastal scenery, creates the perfect atmosphere to relax in an environment conducive to making new friends both on and off the train.

“The Sunlander is the gateway to some amazing eco-friendly Queensland tourism destinations and provides access to World Heritage-listed destinations such as Fraser Island, the Great Barrier Reef and Daintree Rainforest.”

“Tourism is one of our greatest environmental ambassadors as it provides people from all over the world with the opportunity to see first-hand some of our most valuable natural areas.”

“There is real potential for Traveltrain Holidays to capitalise on the growing climate change movement by promoting the environmental benefits of travelling by rail over other methods such as driving or flying.”

For more information on your Queenslander Class on The Sunlander rail experience, visit www.traveltrain.com.au

Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc and Tata Communications, a provider of the new world of communications, announced a partnership agreement as part of a plan to roll out public telepresence rooms worldwide.

The agreement will significantly increase Tata Communications’ network of public Cisco telepresence rooms with 10 new facilities opening in Starwood hotels by the end of 2009.

The first telepresence suites are planned for Sheraton New York Hotel & Towers, Sheraton on the Park in Sydney, Sheraton Centre Toronto Hotel, The Westin Los Angeles Airport and W Chicago-City Center.

Looking ahead, Starwood anticipates expanding the offering to hotels in key international business markets including Brussels, Paris, Hong Kong, Singapore and Tokyo. Tata Communications Telepresence Service will provide Starwood and its guests an “in person” meeting experience with participants in rooms around the world. Cisco telepresence provides high-definition conferencing facilities with superior audio, video and environmental qualities allowing participants to meet their colleagues, customers and business partners across a virtual table.

The public facility offers users who do not have telepresence rooms in their companies access to this cutting-edge technology at an affordable per hour rental rate. Tata Communications has several operational public rooms in India (Mumbai, Bangalore, Chennai, Hyderabad, Delhi and Gurgaon), the U.K. (London) and U.S. (Boston), and has recently announced an agreement to manage a public room in Manila for PLDT in the Philippines.

For further information on Tata Communications Telepresence Services and Starwood, visit www.tatacommunications.com/telepresence or www.starwoodhotels.com.

Club Med has developed its first loyalty program — Club Med Great Members.

With 80 resorts worldwide, the brand’s new program rewards loyal guests with benefits such as complimentary upgrades, private resort transfers, late checkout and boutique and excursion discounts.

Club Med Great Members loyalty program offers free enrollment and features three levels of membership: Gold, Silver and Turquoise.

Exclusive Gold level benefits include guestroom upgrades, personal resort transfers, priority resort check-in and late check-out.

Gold and Silver members will receive 15 percent off resort boutique purchases, 10 percent discounts on all excursions and priority reservation service.

Guest’s membership status is based on the number of days spent at Club Med resorts worldwide or the amount spent at Club Med properties within the past three years as follows:
Gold Level — 110 days at Club Med, $20,000 or CAD $30,000 spent with Club Med;

Silver Level — 50 days at Club Med, $8,000 CAD $12,000 spent at Club Med; and Turquoise Level — all guests who have vacationed at Club Med within the past three years.

For more information, to make a reservation or to enroll, call 800-CLUBMED or visit www.clubmed.us