Jetsettersblog

Conservancy Safaris launched its new safari circuit operated in five conservancies in the Kunene region of Namibia, on the south west coast of Africa.

While on safari, guests get to share the world of the Himba and Herero people.

This tourism initiative is supported by the IRNDC and WWF and the local people have done much to protect the region with the long term goal of conservation.

The new safari experience is 100 percent owned by the local Himba/Herero communities, which signals an exciting new business model for the safari industry.

“Conservancy Safaris appeals to the discerning traveler who wants to make his or her ecological footprint count by taking part in one of the most successful community conservation initiatives in Africa,” said Russell Vinjevold, CEO of Conservancy Safaris.

“Our guests are looking to avoid a pre-packaged holiday and seek a real African experience.

“The combination of exceptional quality, wildlife, and authentic cultural interaction combine to create a totally new Southern Africa safari experience.”

The extensive partnering during the product development process and the local empowerment through the safari experience has created an open environment in which the local community is thrilled to share their world with travelers.

Activities include exploring these remote areas both on foot and in vehicles; searching for desert adapted lions and elephants; joining wildlife releases; rhino tracking; visit local traditional leaders and villagers and participating in their everyday activities and celebrations.

The participating conservancies are Puros, Orupembe, Sanitatas, Okonjombo and Marienfluss. When Conservancy Safaris’ grows and accumulates wealth, it is the conservancies, not outsiders, who are the beneficiaries.

A registered trust structure ensures that maximum income goes to the conservancies. The Conservancy Safaris’ business model builds on Namibia’s community-based natural resource management successes, linking conservation to economic and social development.

For wildlife and the environment to be protected meaningful benefits have to be generated for the people and local capacity has to be built.

Conservancy Safaris presents an array of routes and options, including a mix of high quality bush camping with some lodge nights. A main goal of all Conservancy Safaris’ tours is to help offset the cost of living with wildlife for these isolated communities.

These are the people who have lions and elephants in their backyard. For them wildlife is not a recreational focus but harsh reality that affects their survival. Conservancy Safaris never compromises on safety, quality or comfort.

For more information, visit www.kcs-namibia.com.na

The new Air France Premium Voyageur cabin is now in service.

The new cabin gives passengers 40 percent more space and a seat that reclines inside a rigid shell.

Premium Voyageur cabin reservations have got off to an excellent start among leisure passengers seeking greater comfort on long-haul flights.

Fares for a roundtrip flight to and from New York in Premium Voyageur start at $1,303 including taxes, beginning Oct. 25, 2009.

Premium Voyageur will go into service from Nov. 16 on flights to Tokyo from Paris, on Dec. 28 to Beirut and Singapore from Paris, and on Jan. 18, 2010, on services to Beijing and Hong Kong. 

second daily flight will be added to the New York-Paris route on Dec. 9.

By the end of 2010, all the Boeing 777s, Airbus A330s and A340s in Air France’s long-haul fleet, excluding the Caribbean-Indian Ocean network, will be fitted with the Premium Voyageur cabin.

For more details, click the banner ad at right for Air France.

Brussels Airlines successfully completed the switch from its frequent-flyer program, Privilege, to Lufthansa’s loyalty program, Miles & More. More than 200,000 customers have transferred to Miles & More since May 2009.

Most of the new Miles & More members in Belgium have already received a Miles & More card with the respective status and the Brussels Airlines logo.

The full integration of Brussels Airlines into the Miles & More program will also benefit existing Miles & More members.

Since March 29, they have been able to earn award miles, status miles and HON Circle miles on Brussels Airlines flights and have also been eligible for numerous privileges such as priority check-in, a 25 percent Executive Bonus on miles earned and access to Brussels Airlines lounges at airports.

These privileges will naturally continue to apply. In addition, all additional Miles & More benefits are also available on Brussels Airlines flights.

These include, for example, booking guarantees for Senators and HON Circle members, guaranteed flight awards for HON Circle members as well as such offers as the Senator Companion Award, which enables an accompanying person to book an award flight for half the usual number of miles required, as the One Way Award or as the Child Award (special award for children). Brussels Airlines is the ninth carrier after Lufthansa, Adria Airways, Air Dolomiti, Austrian Airlines, Croatia Airlines, LOT, Luxair and Swiss to offer its customers Miles & More as its own frequent flyer program.

Rendezvous Hotels & Resorts International is proud to announce its newly formed partnership with KrisFlyer, Singapore Airlines’ frequent flyer programme, offering KrisFlyer members great rewards with any stay at a Rendezvous or Marque hotel.

Michael Meade, Senior Vice President of Sales and Marketing at Rendezvous said; “We are thrilled to be in partnership with such a well-renowned rewards program that operates across so many destinations.

KrisFlyer members will now be able to earn 500 miles per stay at any Rendezvous hotel and 300 miles per stay at any Marque hotel.”

To celebrate the launch of the partnership, Rendezvous will be offering KrisFlyer members 10 percent off the best available room rate and triple KrisFlyer miles when booking any Rendezvous or Marque hotel from the 1st of October 2009 to the 31st of January 2010.

In addition, KrisFlyer members will also receive complimentary late checkout and a complimentary room upgrade, with any two night consecutive stay booking.

Rendezvous Hotels and Resorts International operates 13 hotels in 10 destinations across the Asia-Pacific region. Full service Rendezvous Hotels are located in Auckland, Port Douglas, Brisbane, Sydney, Melbourne, Adelaide, Perth, Singapore and Shanghai.

The smaller Marque Hotels, in central city locations, can be found in Brisbane, Sydney, Canberra and Perth.

KrisFlyer is the frequent flyer program of Singapore Airlines and has over 90 global partners. KrisFlyer members can redeem their miles for free flights on over 20 world-class airlines, including Star Alliance carriers, to more than 890 destinations in 160 countries.

Miles can also be redeemed for upgrades to First or Business Class on Singapore Airlines, and Business Class on Singapore Airlines’ regional carrier, SilkAir.

For more information, please visit www.krisflyer.com

Singapore Airlines is the world’s most awarded carrier and flies to 64 destinations, including eight of the 10 destinations where Rendezvous and Marque operate.

For reservations visit www.rendezvoushotels.com/krisflyer

 or www.marquehotels.com/krisflyer

KrisFlyer membership details will need to be quoted both when making a booking and upon check-in.

Terms and Conditions:

Offer is not valid with any other promotions or programs. Late check out and room upgrade is subject to availability.

A minimum of two nights’ stay is required to qualify for the offer. Members must pay an eligible rate for the stay. KrisFlyer terms and conditions apply.

The Hertz Corporation – the world’s largest general use car rental brand, has entered Sri Lanka with a multi-faceted approach to offering car rental within the country.

The Company has signed a licensee agreement with Andrew The Car Rental Company Pte Ltd., is working with Discover the World Marketing to handle international car rental reservations, and has joined forces with SriLankan Airlines’ FlySmiLes frequent flyer program.

“Hertz has entered Sri Lanka with a three-pronged approach – we signed a license agreement with Andrew The Car Rental Company which is part of Andrews Travels, one of the oldest tour operators in the country; we appointed Discover the World Marketing Sri Lanka to handle outbound; and we are the exclusive car rental partner in SriLankan Airlines’ FlySmiLes frequent flyer program,” commented WONG Soon Hwa, HERTZ Vice President and General Manager, Asia and Japan

“The integrated approach has been engineered to position Hertz to fully maximize the Sri Lankan market’s potential in leisure as well as corporate rentals.

Hertz is dedicated to this region and believes that our induction into the TTG Travel Awards Travel Hall of Fame is a testament to our commitment to excellence.”

“Andrews, a pioneer in the Sri Lanka tourism industry, is delighted to be the latest addition to the Hertz global network. As Sri Lanka spears ahead in its nation building on the threshold of a new dawn, we see a new era in tourism.

Hertz Sri Lanka will be the first choice brand for vehicle rental in Sri Lanka, delivering the best service and products that Hertz is known for by both corporate and leisure customers”, said Maahen Kariyawasan, Managing Director of Hertz Sri Lanka.

Sri Lanka is famous for its tropical forests, beaches, landscape and its rich cultural heritage.

Economically, it is poised for growth and expansion, after the government successfully rooted out a separatist group earlier this year winning a long civil war.

The Licensee Agreement with Andrew The Car Rental Company Pte Ltd. provides Andrews the right to operate the Hertz brand throughout Sri Lanka. Hertz Sri Lanka will initially be operating from Colombo the capital and gradually expand country-wide; driven by demand.

Self-drive, chauffeur drive and airport transfers on compact and midsize cars are available.

A fleet of brand new Nissan vehicles is offered. Hertz is the only car rental company in Sri Lanka that offers brand new vehicles.

Driver-cum-Guide packages, which incorporate sightseeing opportunities and local area attractions, are available. Chauffeur service is provided by highly experienced, professionally trained English-speaking drivers. Chauffeurs speak fluent English, are equipped with mobile phones and are licensed by the Sri Lanka Tourist Board.

As the exclusive car rental partner of SriLankan Airlines FlySmiLes frequent flyer program, Hertz offers program members discounted Hertz Affordable Rates when they rent with their FlySmiLes corporate discount number and offers members mileage with each qualified rental at participating locations worldwide. SriLankan Airlines is the national carrier of Sri Lanka.

To celebrate its entry into Sri Lanka, Hertz is offering SriLankan Airlines’ FlySmiLes members triple miles for qualifying rentals at participating locations worldwide as well as contributing US$1 to the “Sinha Salsevana” Girls Orphanage for every domestic and international rental.

The Hotel Wailea Maui is offering all 72 one-bedroom suites in an Own Your Own Resort buyout opportunity for $25,000 per day.

The deal includes daily continental breakfast, valet parking, services of all resort personnel, use of the restaurant kitchen for personal chefs, exclusive use of the spa facilities, a personal trainer upon request, use of the resort’s shuttle, exclusive use of the Beach Club, and manager’s contacts for activities off the normal track.

For more information, call 800-800-0720 or visit www.hotelwailea.com

In anticipation of the opening of Australia’s largest private museum, the Museum of Old and New Art (MONA), in late 2010, four new deluxe accommodation pavilions have been added to Tasmania’s Moorilla Estate accommodation offering.

These four new MONA pavilions open Nov. 1 in a vineyard setting on the banks of the Derwent River, a 15-minutes drive north of Hobart. Three are translucent glass-and-steel cubes that appear suspended on their apex, while the fourth is a diamond-shaped three-story building enclosed in a silver metallic skin.

Guests can choose from one- or two-bedrooms configurations and each self-contained pavilion is completely private. All have access to an enclosed, heated lap-pool, sauna and gymnasium.

The original four pavilions, featuring works by major Australian artists Brett Whiteley, Sidney Nolan, Arthur Boyd and Charles Blackman, are being refurbished to reflect the new look and feel.

The contemporary design furnishings include Arflex Marenco sofas, Fatboy bean bags, B&B Italia UP1 “doughnut” chairs, Zanotta wire coffee tables, bespoke furniture by some of Tasmania’s top furniture designers, and pieces from Walsh’s furniture collection.

State of the art bathroom fittings include Kaldewei spa baths; a Zucchetti Roca Vythos bath and spa system outdoor spa.

Kitchen equipment is by top European manufacturers and guests will find their in-room Moorilla wine collection stored in under-bench, two-temperature zone wine cellars.

For more information,

visit www.mona.net.au

 or www.aboutdci.com

Terra Incognita Ecotours
CONTACT: Ged Caddick
TEL: 813-476-2810
E-MAIL: ged@ecotours.com
WEB: www.ecotours.com

Terra Incognita Ecotours, an adventure travel company that specializes in wildlife-focused ecotours that give travelers the chance to “make a difference” while vacationing is offering a new ecotour of New Zealand for 2010. This unique adventure takes visitors to both the North and South Islands of New Zealand for an up-close and personal exploration of the incredible wildlife, scenery, and culture of the region.

Travelers will experience things like newly-hatched penguins, the flightless kiwi, keas and kakapo, spectacular marine life, Maori culture, high altitude sheep farming, majestic fjords, seals, dolphins, rainforest, glaciers, and so much more.

Travelers also have the opportunity to have a positive impact on the local community as Terra Incognita Ecotours donates part of the booking fee to the Tiritiri Matangi Conservation Project, a program that involves protecting indigenous plants and animals on a small island off the coast of New Zealand.

Other highlights of this journey include:

Taking a ride on the TranzAlpine train, considered one of the top six train journeys in the world.

Hear private lectures given by local ecotourism experts

Taking an overnight cruise on the pristine and uncrowded Doubtful Sound, which is three times longer than Milford Sound and has a surface area 10 times larger.

Take a private cruise to Maud Island in the Marlborough Sounds – a private cruise that can’t be found elsewhere

Hear a private talk given by Dr. Hamish Campbell, a geologist in residence at the Te Papa National Museum of New Zealand
Private, expert guides offer unique insight on the Maori culture
Learning about how New Zealand has harnessed the unique geothermal energy for electricity

Accommodations one night at the Millennium Hotel in Christchurch and the Copthorne Hotel in Wellington; two nights at Arthur’s Pass Wilderness Lodge, Lake Moeraki Wilderness Lodge, Novotel Lakeside in Queenstown, Heartland Hotel in Marlborough, and the Hyatt Regency Auckland

Dates: November 28th-December 11th, 2010. $8,600 per person, Single Supplement is $1,299. For more information, visit www.ecotours.com  or call Call 1-877-GO EXPLORE (877-463-9756) to reserve your space.

This month, La Résidence d’Angkor opens both its Kong Kea Spa and eight luxury suites in a new wing of the boutique city resort.

The spa focuses on the healing aspects of water, both visually and physically. The four new “Spa Suites” and four new “La Résidence Suites” feature original works of art by an aspiring Cambodian artist.

The water element of the Kong Kea Spa is constantly present, from a bridge crossing a lotus pond at the entrance to an aquarium in the reception area and illuminated water walls.

The signature treatments are based on a formula of cleansing, heating, treating and resting experiences, using locally sourced organic products such as lotus flower, natural sea salt from Kampot and Cambodian virgin sunflower oil.

The Kong Kea spa is spread over 5,100 square feet and includes six wet and dry treatment rooms, two of which feature private bamboo gardens.

There is a relaxation area with a refreshing, indoor cold plunge pool overlooking the garden, which is available to spa guests pre- and post-treatment.

There is also a fitness center and a spa boutique.

In the same wing as the spa are four new “Spa Suites” and four new “La Résidence Suites.”

Spa Suites are accessed by a dedicated elevator and each are over 1,080 square feet. Each incorporates a large bedroom with a flat-screen satellite television together with adjacent lounge.

Sliding opaque glass doors lead into a spacious bathroom, with an enamel free-standing bathtub, separate walk-in rain shower, dual basins, dressing and storage areas.

A private 290-square-foot external garden terrace provides a natural setting for al fresco dining, or for simple relaxation.

La Résidence Suites offer the same luxurious amenities, but are located on the second floor above the Spa Suites in the quietest area of the property, ensuring maximum privacy.

Each suite is 970 square feet and also includes a large balcony or terrace. All feature silk bed throws, cushions and curtains which have been made locally by Artisans d’Angkor and weaved to the hotel’s bespoke specifications and design.

Local art is further supported, with each suite featuring sculptures representing Khmer divinities.

Each suite also includes colonial architectural drawings by Mao Soviet — a Cambodian graduate who has made a name for himself in the contemporary art scene in Cambodia.

Spa Suites are priced from $400 and La Résidence Suites from $330.

Prices are per room per night including breakfast and tax. The new suites bring the total room count of La Résidence d’Angkor to 62.

Situated in the heart of Siem Reap and near the temples of Angkor Wat, the hotel sits beside the Siem Reap River, situated within a walled garden among many trees, and accessed by a bridge over a lotus pond.

La Résidence d’Angkor has also recently opened a large alfresco Martini Lounge area on the first floor, overlooking the pool and the river.

For more information, visit www.residencedangkor.com  or www.orient-express.com

Hyatt Hotels & Resorts opened the Grand Hyatt Macau on the Cotai Strip in the new City of Dreams development.

The 791-guestroom hotel houses one of the largest event spaces in Macau. With 15 individual function areas spanning more than 968,000 square feet, Grand Hyatt Macau is set to become a leading MICE (meetings, incentives, conferences and exhibitions) venue in the region. Grand Hyatt Macau, a non-gaming hotel, is a five-minute drive from Macau International Airport and an eight-minute drive from Macau Ferry Terminal.

The hotel offers complimentary shuttle service to all of the territory’s major transport terminals and to the city center, where guests can explore the colonial Portuguese architecture and other historic elements of the UNESCO-listed World Heritage site.

There are 424 rooms and suites in the Grand Tower and 367 rooms and suites in the premium Grand Club Tower. Each tower has dedicated check-in areas and provides uninterrupted views of the Pearl River or the Cotai.

Photographic art of Macau is featured prominently in Grand Tower rooms, while original artwork inspired by nature and created by an Australian artist is a distinctive characteristic of the Grand Club Tower rooms.

Guestrooms at Grand Hyatt Macau are equipped with the latest technology for guests’ needs, including bedside lighting and curtain controls, and an AV control panel transmitting iPod, camera and laptop data through two 40-inch LCD TVs.

For more information, call 011-853 8868 1234, email macau.grand@hyatt.com  or visit macau.grand.hyatt.com