Jetsettersblog

In 2009, Perisher has stepped up its involvement in the ever-evolving realm of on-line and mobile media applications.

The aim is to keep resort guests, faithful supporters, new recruits and just about anyone that’s interested, informed about all that’s happening on and off the slopes and around the resort as it happens in real time, provided in formats that suit Perisher’s ever-changing consumers.

In addition to developing a new Facebook page this season Perisher has also joined Twitter, plus the Perisher Blog and the Fusion Blog are still going strong. Here’s a glimpse of Perisher’s on-line and mobile media activities, choose what works for you, log in and become a Perisher friend today:

NEW Perisher Facebook page: Designed to be a one-stop shop for all things Perisher there are links to snow conditions, parks and pipes, the Perisher Blog and the Fusion Blog, Twitter, events and entertainment and more. Catch snow reports and daily posts on the Wall from Perisher. Make sure you take a look and join this new page. Log in to: www.facebook.com and have your say!

Tweet on Twitter at Perisher Ski: This year you’ll be able to receive up-to-date information about what’s happening right now in Perisher.

Our aim is to provide you with regular updates throughout the day and season as conditions, events or just about anything noteworthy occurs or changes. Log in to: http://twitter.com/PerisherSki and follow what’s happening at Perisher right now!

The Perisher Blog: Updated regularly by Peter, Perisher’s official blogger, the Perisher Blog is a great source of information. Log in to: http://www.perisher.com.au/blog  and read about Perisher news and reviews plus have your say too.

The Fusion Blog: A forum for jibbers and grinders with regular updates and news from Adam, Perisher’s resident Terrain Park expert. Go to: www.perisher.com.au/blogfusion

Perisher Club: Join the Perisher Club and receive our informative Perisher E-News newsletters and Snow Reports via email. By signing up you can also assist Perisher in create a better experience for all our guests by completing customer feedback forms. There will also be the chance to win some cool prizes, play some trivia, enter some neat raffles and more.

To sign up go to: www.perisher.com.au

You Tube: Perisher’s video Snow Reports, brought to you by presenters Duane Strauss and Melissa Femia, are uploaded daily onto You Tube. Log on to: www.youtube.com and view the report’s today.

Perisher Mobile: Now you can access all vital Perisher information anytime, anywhere, from a mini-site designed for mobile phones, features include:

Today’s Highlights
Snow Reports
Snow Cams
Weather Reports from various locations within the resort
Lift Status Report
Trail Status and Grooming Report
Trail Maps
Skitube Timetable

To access: Type http://www.perisher.com.au/mobile/ into your phone’s web browser.

How much does it cost? The Perisher Mobile site is free; however you may incur data charges from your mobile phone provider.

Contact your mobile provider for data charges on your mobile plan. We suggest signing up for a mobile data plan for cost effective mobile web usage.

Blue Zone: Providing fun and FREE download mobile content. Just follow the three simple steps: (1) Activate your phone for Bluetooth receiving, (2) Accept the incoming message from Perisher, (3) Repeat this for any other content you would like, such as; video snow reports, screensavers, mobile game, m-vouchers and more. Blue Zone hotspots include: Blue Cow, Bullocks Flat, Perisher Skitube Building and Smiggin Holes Visitor Centre.

Perisher88: Perisher’s own radio station plays upbeat tunes from 7.00am each day with regular snow and weather reports direct from the Perisher Media Centre. Tune in to 88.0MHz FM, it’s the perfect sound track for anyone’s snow experience. Stream Perisher88 live, just go to: http://www.rawfm.com.au/perisher/audio

Plus, don’t forget to check out Perisher’s new website www.perisher.com.au  There’s loads of important information available to guests from special deals to bargain accommodation packages, events and entertainment. To find out about what’s happening around the resort right now either jump on-line, there’s plenty of sites to choose from, or call Guest Services on 1300 655 822.

A trio of Australian hotels proves there’s no match for designer style this month, as it takes the ambitious step to become completely independent.

Urban Hotels, which boasts a portfolio of three elegant properties in Sydney, Brisbane and Melbourne, is breaking away from tourism giant Accor on 30 June to establish itself as an exclusive stand-alone hotel group.

The team behind the luxury hotels, which have been crafted by famous Australian architects and interior designers, have built a unique brand which outgrew its original Accor roots, and the decision was taken earlier this year to break away and focus on establishing a completely independent entity.

Owned and operated by businessman Les Erdi, Urban Hotel Group was formed in 2007 and comprises Urban St Leonards on Sydney’s north shore, Urban Brisbane on Wickham Terrace, and Urban St Kilda on Acland Street. The chic properties draw a young, professional crowd, who are swayed by location – being in the coolest neighbourhoods – and the little touches that are truly unique.

Decadent delights satisfy the senses at each location – from the independent restaurants serving edgy Australian cuisine, the hip cocktail bars providing the perfect post-trip hang-outs, and Apple internet access throughout the properties, down to the subtle sounds wafting from Bang & Olufsen sound systems and the gentle scent of Urban’s signature lavender.

This is a brand that prides itself on providing ultra-chic designer havens, intimate atmospheres, with personal service and extreme attention to detail.

Urban Hotel Group will be flying solo – just days before the official ‘Independence Day’.

www.hotelurban.com.au

Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc.® (NYSE:HOT) and its high-tech, style at a steal AloftSM Hotels brand, today announced the launch of the newly expanded Aloft Web site, www.alofthotels.com/explore , featuring a range of interactive features never before developed by a hospitality brand. The site includes a guided insider’s tour of the hotel, maps and city guides for each location and engages visitors through a series of original, branded games that bring the Aloft experience to life.

The Aloft brand’s new online experience includes:

• An Insider’s Virtual Tour: Explore the look and feel of each area of the hotel and its unique design features with the click of a mouse.
• Destination Map and City Guides: Browse a map of Aloft’s global a-list locations and check out local hot spots, restaurants, cultural and off-the-beaten-path destinations, as well as staff picks and special city guide content provided by Travel + Leisure magazine.

• Gaming and Trivia: Immerse yourself in the Aloft experience by spinning tunes as the Aloft DJ, trying your hand at bartending, enjoying a game of online billiards or challenging yourself by playing travel trivia games on the site.
• Aloft Radio: Preview a sampling of the hotel’s carefully curated and eclectic music with the special Aloft playlist.

“Since Aloft’s groundbreaking virtual launch in cyberspace in partnership with Second Life, the brand has been leading the way in providing the most dynamic, high-tech experience for our guests,” said Brian McGuinness, Starwood’s Senior Vice President, Specialty Select Brands.

“With the new site we wanted to extend the same energy and vibrancy one finds at each Aloft property to our virtual home and provide a truly unique and memorable experience that resonates with the savvy, Gen Y traveler.”

To celebrate the launch of the new www.alofthotels.com, starting May 5 visitors can enter “Aloft Explore, Amuse + Win” for the chance to win a grand prize of one million Starwood Preferred Guest® Starpoints®, enough for over 25 roundtrip airline tickets, more than 140 free nights at Aloft hotels or other surprise rewards.

Playing “Click-to-Win” offers a chance at winning cool daily prizes, including the very latest tech and travel gadgets such as laptops, digital cameras,
GPS systems, MP3 players, Aloft hotel getaways and more.

Aloft Hotels Launches Ground-Breaking Online Experience

Technology has been a vital component of the Aloft brand since its debut in summer 2008. Every Aloft hotel features the brand’s signature self-serve aloha kiosk, a touch-screen power house located in the lobby that makes check-in and check-out intuitive and effortless, and complimentary, hotel-wide, high-speed wired and wireless Internet access.

Once inside their room, guests enter a calm oasis that is combination high-tech office and entertainment center, thanks to the plug & play system, a one-stop connectivity solution for multiple electronic gadgetry such as PDAs, cell phones, MP3 players and laptops – all linked to a large, 42” flat-panel HDTV-ready television for optimal sound and viewing.

The Discover Dominica Authority released a report on hotel developments on the island. On June 1, the Beau Rive Dominica celebrated its sixth anniversary with the completion of their 9th and 10th rooms.

Both of the rooms are individual cottages set below the main house, where guests will have ocean views from the verandas.

The cottages are the same size and design as the other guestrooms, but offer more privacy.

For more information, call 767-445-8992, email beaurive@cwdom.dm  or visit www.beaurive.com

The Calibishie Cove now offers daily bicycle and two-person dive kayaks rentals to their guests to explore Dominica’s coastline just downhill from Calibishie Cove. After guests are done exploring “the Nature Island,” Calibishie Cove offers to prepare a romantic candle-lit dinner served right on guests’ balconies.

For more information, call 813-417-8448, email calibishiecove@gmail.com  or visit www.calibishiecove.com

The Fort Young Hotel has teamed up with dive stores to allow dive groups to bank the complimentary rooms earned with groups for up to 12 months, making it easier to sell dive trips to the island.

In addition, the property has added a shore dive option to its dive program which enables divers to experience the best dive spots in Dominica.

The shore dive option is $45 per person and includes a dinner at Dive Dominica’s own restaurant “Barana Breeze” and transportation between the Fort Young Hotel and the dive sites.

For more information, call 800-581-2034, email reservations@fortyounghotel.com  or visit www.fortyounghotel.com

Located in Picard village, two miles south of Portsmouth, Comfortel De Champ was the recipient of “Accommodation Of The Year 2009 Award,” which was presented at the Dominican Tourism Awards, held on May 30. The hotel has five double rooms, with king/queen size beds and an excellent, modern design bathroom.

Each room has a private balcony offering a breathtaking view of Prince Rupert Bay and Cabrits National Park.

For more information, call 767-445-4452, email info@godominica.com  or visit www.comforteldechamp.com

Located on the west coast of Dominica, JC Ocean Adventures has introduced a new excursion and now offers their guests customized boat trips including; sport fishing, snorkeling, coastal cruises and whale watching. JC Ocean Adventures was also recently licensed by Fisheries to offer scuba diving tours and teach Discover Scuba Diving; a way for people to try scuba diving before committing them to advanced open water courses. Rates begin at $85 per person for a two tank dive and $110 per person for Discover Scuba Diving.

For more information, call 767-449-6975, email jcoal@1960@yahoo.com  or visit www.jcoceanadventures.com

Sunset Bay Club’s Seaside Dive Resort is now offering sport fishing as an excursion through their independent operator. Also, Seaside Dive Resort’s divemaster has been recently certified to teach Discover Scuba Diving; a way for people to try scuba diving before committing them to advanced open water courses.

For more information, call 767-446-6522, email sunset@cwdom.dm  or visit www.sunsetbayclub.com

For general destination information, contact the Discover Dominica Tourism Authority at 866-522-4057 or visit www.discoverdominica.com

Virgin America has upgraded its Linux-based Red system that allow for more content and even greater functionality and speed.

Guests flying at 35,000 feet can use the touch-screen at every seat to order menu items, play games, shop or watch content from the largest entertainment platform in the U.S. skies — at speeds up to 25 percent faster than before. In addition to an expanded entertainment lineup, the Red upgrades enable new shop offerings and more user-friendly functions like email receipts for onboard purchases.

Later this year, the upgrades will also enable Red to debut more new features, including a new TV channel lineup, a “Best of the Web” category, and an expanded shop platform.

It has a new Boing Boing video channel. It has expanded on-demand film library with more than 30 on-demand films ranging from the latest Hollywood blockbusters to indie favorites. Guests now can have purchase receipts emailed to them and guests playing any of Red’s video game favorites, including Doom, can now override game soundtracks and listen to their favorite songs from the more than 3,000 tracks in the airline’s MP3 library. Guests can stop, start, rewind and fast forward at three different speeds when they want for all video on-demand content like movies, premium TV and music videos.

For more information, visit www.virginamerica.com

Air Canada has released an Apple iPhone /iPod touch application. The free app will make it convenient for travelers with Apple devices to retrieve electronic boarding passes, track flight information in real time, receive notification of itinerary changes and obtain other details about Air Canada flights. Available free online from the Apple App Store on iPhone or iPod touch, the new app was developed for Air Canada by IBM Canada.

It will enable users of Apple iPhone and iPod Touch devices to keep track of and update all of their Air Canada and Jazz flights from a single location;

receive messages and link to their electronic boarding passes;

access Air Canada Mobile check-in to select a seat and retrieve an electronic boarding pass;

book flights using an Air Canada Flight Pass;

rent a car or access other convenient travel links; and find and track any Air Canada or Jazz flight.

For more information, visit www.itunes.com/appstore  or www.aircanada.com

RCI, a leader in vacation exchange and one of the Wyndham Worldwide family of companies, announced an affiliation agreement with Fairmont Resort Properties Ltd., the largest Canadian-owned developer and marketer of interval vacation ownership condominiums.

As part of this relationship, Sunchaser Vacation Club at Fairway Cottages on Oahu, Hawaii, and Fairmont Vacation Villas in Fairmont Hot Springs, British Columbia, join RCI’s network of more than 4,000 affiliated resorts worldwide. Sunchaser Vacation Club at Fairway Cottages, located at the Makaha Resort & Golf Club, offers Polynesian-style villa accommodations, an ocean view restaurant and lounge, and a host of on-site amenities for guests including a swimming pool, tennis courts and spa services. Fairmont Vacation Villas is located in the Columbia Valley and offers guests the opportunity to stay in fully-furnished villas surrounded by nature and wildlife.

The resort offers villas equipped with jetted tubs and decks with barbeques, while the area lends itself to many activities including hiking and biking trails, whitewater rafting, boating and horseback riding.

For more information, visit www.grouprci.com

Elegant Ireland is giving U.S. travelers a one-stop travel website to embrace their Irish heritage.

For 25 years, Elegant Ireland has provided luxury vacation homes and event planning. Groups seeking a decades-due family reunion, individuals craving a local Guinness on St. Patrick’s Day, or corporate clients planning the ultimate meeting find their every need cared for by Elegant Ireland. Elegant Ireland provides a one-stop shop for all vacation planning needs includes home rentals hotel reservations, car rentals, chauffeurs, guided tours, leisure activities, corporate functions and itinerary organization.

“Visitors to Ireland are constantly seeking the most authentic Irish experience possible, which is why that’s our ultimate goal,” said Geraldine Murtagh, CEO and founder of Elegant Ireland.

“If a clients’ dream is a weekend in an historic castle, a romantic honeymoon in a luxury thatched cottage, enjoying gourmet cooking in a magnificent stately home, or soaking in the decadent pleasures of a five star hotel, the Elegant Ireland team can make it happen in any of our favorite destinations.”

Vacation homes range from romantic self-catering cottages through elegant country and town homes to splendid fully staffed castles and private estates that come complete with staff. In a country with thousands of vacation homes, less than 100 meet Elegant Ireland’s exacting standards in any one year. It’s a quality-over-quantity selection, which thereby limits the number of properties to only the best within each category and location.

Elegant Ireland can plan customized tours with a personal driver-guide. A wide range of special interest tours are available for the themes of art, architecture, gardens, literature, archeology and antiques. Over the past 25 years, the company has designed and managed tours for many non-profit organizations including ‘once in a lifetime’ itineraries for the sponsors of leading U.S. museums, cultural societies and garden groups. Privileged access to private homes, private art collections and gardens is one of the keystones to Elegant Ireland’s success.

For more information, call 011-353 1 473 2505, email info@elegant.ie  or visit www.elegant.ie

Auto Europe is suggesting that all clients purchase an International Drivers License regardless of which country they are planning to drive in.

An International Drivers License is a permit that allows clients to drive rental cars abroad with a valid drivers license from their country of residence.

The International Drivers License is basically a multiple language translation of the client’s existing driver’s license.

It is not a license to operate the vehicle. The permit is valid for one year after being issued and for a nominal cost, it pays for itself to have peace of mind while traveling in foreign countries.

Auto Europe can assist clients with obtaining their International Drivers License through the American Automobile Association or the American Automobile Touring Alliance’s National Automobile Club as these are the only authorized companies to issue the permits.

For more information on obtaining a permit, visit the resource section of Auto Europe’s website.

For more information, call 800-223-5555 or visit the banner ad at right.

Dollywood’s Splash Country, the Smoky Mountains’ premier outdoor water adventure park, announces the addition of Slick Rock Racer, a multi-lane mat slide for the 2010 season.

Slick Rock Racer spans 300 feet and features four water-drenched lanes, each side by side. Positioned belly down on mats, each rider travels head first on a channel which includes an initial dip to build speed. Multiple bumps along the length of the slide allow riders to gain additional momentum which propels them to the finish.

The new attraction can accommodate approximately 600 guests an hour.

Slick Rock Racer joins Dollywood’s Splash Country’s more than 30 water adventure slides including The Butterfly, Mountain Scream, Mountain Twist, and the 70-foot-tall Fire Tower Falls, the state’s tallest twin speed slides.

Marking its tenth year of operation in 2010, Dollywood’s Splash Country is a 35-acre water adventure park located adjacent to Dollywood theme park.

Situated in a wooded mountain setting, Dollywood’s Splash Country operates from Memorial Day through Labor Day.

For more information, visit www.dollywoodssplashcountry.com