Jetsettersblog

Pullman hotels and resorts, hotels designed specifically for today’s business and leisure travellers, announced today that the Pullman Kuching will open on 17 November, 2009. Pullman Kuching will be Accor’s second Pullman in Malaysia.

Whether visiting Kuching for business or pleasure – ‘Check-in, Chill-out’ in any of the 389 spacious guest rooms at hotel, each boasting the latest technological in-room connectivity devices and other ‘PULLMAN ROOM’ signature features such as Pullman Bed, LCD Televisions with a large selection of international channels, high speed Internet access, in room safety box and Pullman in room fitness workout equipment.

Fabrice Mini – General Manager of Pullman Kuching said ”We are very much looking forward to welcoming our first guests to the hotel. The opening of the newest international hotel for Kuching is sure to welcomed by local residents and visitors to the picturesque city, the capital of Sarawak.”

STRATEGICALLY LOCATED

Nestled in the city’s golden triangle and atop the hill of Jalan Mathies, Pullman Kuching is just a mere 20 minutes’ drive from Kuching International Airport and adjacent to Hills Shopping Mall, a two-storey city lifestyle shopping centre also due to open in 2009.

Guests can easily venture on foot to discover the city’s diverse selection of shops, restaurants, temples and bazaars. Other attractions include Sarawak Cultural Village, Damai Beach, Bako National Park and Semenggoh Wildlife Centre to mingle with the orangutans of Borneo.

Located on the north western part of the island of Borneo, Kuching is a gateway city to visitors to the island with easy access to near by cities such as Sibu, Miri and Bintulu.

A PEFECT LOCATION FOR MEETING AND EVENTS

The hotel boasts a total of 3,660sqm of meetings and event space with 10 comprehensive banquet and conferencing venues.

The state-of-the-art ballroom is the largest hotel banquet space in the city, accommodating up to 1,500 people for a sit-down banquet.

FOOD AND BEVERAGE AT PULLMAN

Pullman Kuching is set to be popular with locals and visitors to the city with four food and beverage outlets;

Puzzle, the hotel’s all-day dining restaurant offers a relaxing al fresco dining experience as well as private dining rooms. International dishes with a focus on regional cuisine are available all day and into the night from interactive cooking stations or a la carte.

Nu Er Hong the hotels Chinese Restaurant, is a contemporary environment with an open concept kitchen filling the restaurant with atmosphere and energy. Nu Er Hong also offers private dining options.

Déjà Vu, the hotel’s relaxing and cosy lobby lounge, offers respite from discovering the buzz of the city and serving specialty coffee, cakes and beverages.

Liquid is the hotel’s superlative poolside venue with DJ’s each weekend evening and serving fresh juices and healthy snacks in a modern urbane lounge style – poolside daily.

Café Ch@t designed to keep guests connected while serving up home made pastries and cakes, ice cream and deserts.

BALANCE AND SERENITY

Guests can maintain regular workout routines while staying at Pullman Kuching. The hotels contemporary fitness centre, with knowledgeable support staff offers modern equipment and the latest body exercise programs.

Guests can also relax their mind, body and spirit in Pullman Kuching’s large spa facility with 7 treatment rooms and an outdoor swimming pool with sundeck.

Hygiene Excellent Hotel

Grand Mercure Hongqiao Shanghai was honorably awarded as “Food Safety Excellent Unit” and “Hygiene Credibility Excellent Unit” in Changning District recently.

The two awards were issued by Shanghai Food and Drug Administration Changning Brunch (SHFDA) and Shanghai Changning District Health Bureau respectively.

Only five hotels out of 100 hotels got this the award of “Food Safety Excellent Unit”, and 11 hotels out 109 hotels win the award of “Hygiene Credibility Excellent Unit”.

Being one of the outstanding hotels, the management of Grand Mercure Hongqiao Shanghai always pays special attention to food and hygiene safety and pursues to improve service quality.

The Implement Results on Food & Hygiene Safety Supervision and Inspection is a public notice system established by the Shanghai Food & Drug Administration.

It is a signification benchmark which not only answers the recent public query on food quality controls and hygiene standards but also aims to raise the industrial attention to the significance of public health.

As an excellent unit, the hotel has won good reputation among the community by improving services in the past two years since its opening, and it will surely continue to do its share and contribution to the community as usual.

Photos show the certificate of “Food Safety Excellent Unit” issued by SHFDA, and “Hygiene Credibility Excellent Unit” certificate issued by Shanghai Changning District Health Bureau.

Celebrates the Grandeur of Vietnam’s Former Imperial Capital and the Charm of Colonial Indochina

The 5-star Celadon Palace Hotel is opened in Hue, Vietnam paying tribute to the former Imperial capital’s rich heritage and French Indochina’s colonial past.

It is the first in a collection of new luxury hotels scheduled to open over the next year by Vietnam-based Celadon International, an emerging player in the country’s bourgeoning hospitality sector, headed by veteran hotelier Paul Stoll.

The 222-room Celadon Palace is inspired by an Indochine ‘Noble House’ and aims to “resurrect the romance and grace of a bygone era” according to Mr. Stoll.

Venues designed on the Indochine theme include La Brasserie, the hotel’s signature international restaurant; Au Rendezvous Lounge, reviving the colonial past with live music; Le Petit Café, a charming Vietnamese eatery; Le Bar, boasting a fine international wine list; and Le Grand Salon, a traditional ballroom accommodating up to 400 for prestigious weddings, conferences and events.

Hue’s first world-class hotel promises “A rare opportunity to indulge in the ‘Celadon Palace Experience’, the pinnacle of luxury, refinement, elegance and hospitality”, said Swiss General Manager, Matthias Wiesmann who brings with him a wealth of hospitality experience from a 30 year career with luxury hotels around the world.

Palace Floors from 4 to 9 are designed in Indochine opulence and elegance, with spacious and luxurious lounges tended by butlers and offering every guestroom an extended living room for groups of friends or families to socialise, or entertain visitors.

Deluxe guest rooms are spacious, starting from 35sqm and featuring 42-inch plasma TV’s, a new generation open bathroom concept, and exclusive cosmetics and toiletries created specifically for the Celadon Palace.

Celadon Club Suites from floor 10 to 16 feature state-of-the art technology, and are effectively a-hotel-within-a-hotel, with their own check-in facilities and a relaxing lounge incorporating a library and a pool table.

The Emperor’s Suite is the epitome of opulence and sheer elegance.

Conference, meetings, incentives and events facilities include indoor and outdoor exhibition areas for up to 1,000 visitors. Celadon Palace is the only hotel in Vietnam offering a complete menu for the MICE market, whether meetings, conferences, seminars and incentive theme parties or gala dinners and indoor/outdoor exhibitions. A Business Centre caters to business travellers; where small meeting rooms and board rooms are available on request.

Relaxation and recreation on the ground floor features Les Bains, an expansive pool area with wooded sundecks cooled by palm trees, and ‘cabana’ day rooms to complete a relaxing day at the pool.

Le Spa is the ultimate wellness destination in Hue, with a state-of-the-art Fitness Room and relaxing Health Spa with steam and sauna facilities that offer full body pampering, including massage, hair care, manicure, pedicure, facials and make-up.

On a grass lawn, unique for a city centre hotel, guests can indulge in the sports of the past such as archery, croquet, badminton and tai-chi.

A full calendar of entertainment includes classical and contemporary lounge music by an international live band, stage performances with singers, comedians and fashion shows.

Indochine-style barbeques and Sunday brunches every weekend are set to become popular social events.

The Celadon Palace is poised to become a popular choice for weddings and honeymoons, with L’Arcade serving as a one-stop showcase of shops offering wedding ensembles and accessories, in-house wedding consultants, innovative wedding themes, grand banquet facilities, and honeymoon packages.

Surrounded by lush exotic gardens, the city centre landmark holds court close to the Perfume River and historic Royal Citadel in downtown Hue City, a UNESCO-listed World Heritage site.

The hotel is only a short 20-minute drive from the airport, which is a 1 hour and 20 minutes flight from Ho Chi Minh City or 1 hour and 10 minutes flight from Hanoi.

Setting new standards of excellence in Vietnam, the world class Celadon Palace is designed to appeal to the affluent, up-market leisure and business travelers, with excellent facilities for MICE events.

The ancient royal city of Hue is rich in history and ancient culture, with two UNESCO World Heritage Sites, historical monuments and a tradition of Royal Court music. Its ancient royal cuisine is also reputedly the best in Vietnam.

It is a two-hour drive from the ancient Silk Route port of Hoi An, and two and a half hours drive from My Son Holy Valley, spiritual centre of the Cham civilization.

Famous as the entrance to “Inner Earth”, Phong Nha-Ke Bang National Park is one and half hours drive north of Hue. The giant mountain reserve is renowned for the spectacular Phong Nha Caves, buried within Vietnam’s largest primeval jungle, with grottos and passages extending for 44.5 km into a limestone mountain.

Paul Stoll, the CEO of Celadon International, is renowned for opening Vietnam’s first 5-star resort, The Furama Resort Danang, and has been honoured for heading numerous national tourism and hospitality initiatives, including The World Heritage Road.

Celadon International plans further hotel and real estate development and management in major destinations in Vietnam and Asia in the near future; “This coming year we will open our first three hotels as a showcase for Celadon International setting new standards of luxury hospitality in their respective locations,” added Mr. Stoll.

CELADON PALACE
105A Hung Vuong Street, Hue City, Vietnam
Tel: +84 (0)54 393 6666 Fax: +84 (0)54 393 6555
Email: info@celadonpalacehue.com
Sales: dos@celadonpalacehue.com
Website: www.celadonpalacehue.com

One of Scotland’s top island guest house retreats has been awarded 5 Gold Stars by VisitScotland reflecting the outstanding standards of hospitality, service and comfort on offer.

One of only six guest houses in Scotland to receive 5 Gold Stars, Broad Bay House in Stornoway on the Isle of Lewis has achieved the highest of standards in VisitScotland’s Quality Assurance scheme demonstrating consistent excellence in hospitality and customer care over an extended period of time.

Not only does 5 Gold Stars indicate that the service on offer is way over and above what is expected of such a property, but the food quality is considered excellent, and all other areas have an element of a ‘wow factor’ in what they offer guests.

Tony Mercer, VisitScotland’s Head of Quality & Standards, said, “I offer my warmest congratulations to Ian and Marion Fordham and their team on this latest achievement – all the more impressive when you take into account the short time it has taken to reach such a standard.

“In addition to this new accolade, we are delighted to reconfirm Broad Bay House’s coveted EatScotland Silver award, first achieved in 2007 – reflecting the particular care and attention paid to the dining experience. All in all a superb example of the best of Scottish hospitality.”

The luxurious five star guest house has already garnered a clutch of awards including TripAdvisor’s top Hebridean guesthouse, a coveted EatScotland Silver award for its food and Best Tourism Business 2008 from the Highlands and Islands Tourism Awards, since owners Ian and Marion Fordham opened their doors in May 2007.

The guest house occupies an enviable coastal position a stone’s throw from a sweeping sandy beach, uninterrupted views across to the mountains on the mainland beyond, and is decorated in contemporary neutral colours and striking original pieces by local artists.

All four of the individually decorated deluxe rooms open out onto their own personal decking area and feature flat screen TVs, home cinema and music systems, iPod docking stations and supremely comfortable beds made up with goose down duvets and silky soft Egyptian cotton linen.

Further fostering that welcoming feel, a beautiful vaulted guest lounge and dining area overlooks the panoramic vista and is furnished with plenty of comfortable armchairs, complimentary coffee and a comprehensive honesty bar.

Breakfast and evening meals are also served in this light and airy space, cooked by passionate foodie Ian, whose seasonal menus focus on the finest fresh local produce.

Guests also have free access to high speed wireless broadband, a guest laundry and drying room, a guest library, business room with computer and printer, a CD/DVD collection, bikes for loan, a new micro gym and air or ferry port collection.

B.R. Guest Restaurants and President Stephen Hanson announce the official opening of the Postcard Inn on The Beach, an affordable escape in St. Pete Beach.

The newest property from Stephen Hanson, president of B.R. Guest Restaurants and creator of the James Hotel, the Postcard Inn on The Beach features eclectic, unique design components in every room as well as a friendly bar and restaurant. PCI Beach Bar offers beers and spirits to sip poolside, plus gulf views, live music and rich local color.

Wildwood BBQ & Burger hits the spot after a day of catching waves.

From sun-up to sundown, Pit-Master “Big Lou” Elrose serves up world-class ribs, brisket and pulled pork. Co-designed by B.R. Guest Design Director Tara Oxley and SL Design Founder Chris Sheffield, the Postcard Inn on The Beach offers rooms that overlook the gulf, the garden or pool.

Select rooms boast private poolside patios, bringing the cool gulf breeze and rocking pool party right up to guests’ doorsteps.

Every room comes equipped with a work-station, flat-screen television and desk, but no two rooms are exactly the same.

The Postcard Inn on The Beach offers several dining options, available throughout the day. For a quick bite on the way to surf lessons, the hotel will offer guests a complimentary hot and cold continental breakfast, served adjacent to the lobby.

During lunch and dinner, Wildwood BBQ & Burger serves up slow-smoked BBQ favorites like ribs, brisket and pulled pork. Wildwood BBQ & Burger comes to St. Pete Beach via New York City, where it has received raves for its authentic BBQ and lively atmosphere. For drinks, PCI Beach Bar is the Postcard Inn on The Beach’s watering hole, where guests and locals mingle at the bar, catching local sports on the TV over beers and admiring the paraphernalia adorning the walls from its storied past.

For poolside snacks and bites, the PCI Snack Shack offers burgers, hot dogs, pulled pork sandwiches and other short-order dishes.

For reservations or more information, call 800-237-8918 or visit www.postcardinn.com

Wimco Villas, a leading villa rental company for St. Barts and the Caribbean, will run year two of their “Friend of the Island” dining card, available exclusively to clients booking a St. Barts villa or hotel through Wimco.

The card peels 10 percent off the cost of a meal at a growing list of island restaurants.

The card is valid for usage at participating restaurants from Jan. 5 through Dec. 14, 2010.

Participating restaurants range from casual yet sophisticated venues like Bouchon and Tamarin, to the harborside favorites like Route des Boucaniers, to the nightspot Le Ti St Barth, to the Relais & Chateaux dining experiences offered at Le Gaiac and Victoria’s.

“Enjoying outstanding food in a relaxed, unhurried and tropical setting is one of the main reasons our clients come to St. Barts,” said Stiles Bennet, Wimco Villas’ vice president of marketing.

“Typically a couple eating out at a top-notch restaurant could spend $150 or more a nice dinner out. If you eat out several times during your vacation, this card could save you $75 to $100 — it’s like getting a bottle of really good wine on the house.”

As of Nov 1, the dining venues included in the program include: Le Ti St. Barth, renowned steakhouse and hoping nightspot in Pointe Milou; Tamarin, highly regarded cuisine in a funky bohemian setting near Saline Beach; Route des Boucaniers, French bistro on the quai in Gustavia harbor; Nikki Beach, hip beachside restaurant on St. Jean Beach; Victoria’s, new four-star restaurant at hotel Carl Gustaf in Gustavia;

Le Gaiac, four-star Relais & Chateaux dining experience at Hotel Le Toiny; La Marine, seafood restaurant on the water in Gustavia harbor; Le Pecheur, relaxed beachside café at Le Sereno hotel in Grand Cul de Sac; Indigo, upscale beachside bistro; Barthelemeo, an elegant restaurant gastronomique, both located at Hotel Guanahani in Grand Cul de Sac; and Taino (dinner only) and Mango Bar (lunch), both located at the Christopher Hotel, Pointe Milou.

Several villas are throwing in a complimentary rental car for the week when you make a booking. Ask Wimco for the up-to-date list. In the Caribbean, Wimco represents a collection of villas on St. Barts, the U.S. and British Virgin Islands, Turks & Caicos, Anguilla, Barbados, Mustique, Nevis, St Martin, Jamaica and Grand Cayman.

In Europe, Wimco represents villas in Italy, the South of France and Mykonos. Wimco also recently introduced a selection of private villas in Maui, Oahu in Hawaii, and Punta Mita and Cabo San Lucas, Mexico. Per-bedroom villa rental rate can range from $100 to $1,000 a night, varying by season.

For more information, call 800-449-1553 or visit www.wimco.com

Located on a natural beach setting surrounded by lush forests, Shanti Ananda epitomizes the best of real Mauritius and highlights the beauty of the south and most unspoilt part of the island.

The luxury resort with its world class Spa will now be a perfect choice for families and couples in addition to offering the most magical setting and facilities for weddings and honeymoons.

Couples can enjoy tailor-made spa therapies in the Ananda Spa by day and blissful moonlight dinners on the beach at night. Other activities include shopping in local boutiques, enjoying a range of watersports and adventure activities, as well as Golf, which can be arranged at the nearby 18 hole championship course.

Shanti Ananda is the perfect backdrop for a truly memorable wedding experience.

Everything from the first enquiry to the Big Day will be handled seamlessly to ensure a hassle-free experience from coordinating the wedding service, à la carte menu, flowers and music to the wedding decorations.

Shanti Ananda endeavours to cater perfectly for families and include activities to give children a fun but also enriching holiday.

In addition to a dedicated Kids Club for the young ones, the Teens Club includes everything from kayaking, snorkelling and beginner’s windsurfing to specially designed yoga programmes.

Ananda Yoga for Kids is a specially created programme which combines simple yoga movements and postures with breathing exercises, designed to relax and trigger their imagination.

Ananda Active offers non-motorised sports on site and guided outdoor trips such as close encounters with turtles, visits to the nearby Chamarel adventure park with its exciting jungle walk, and gentle hikes bringing cildren in touch with nature. For the thrill-seeker, the zip-line or “flying fox” aerial rope slide is a must.

For couples or single travellers, the world-renown Ananda Spa is the perfect place to restore harmony and balance.

Two special packages have been designed to ensure wellness and nurturing using luxurious body and beauty treatments and Ayurvedic rejuvenation as well as targeting many other wellbeing benefits.

The extensive spa has 25 treatment rooms over an area of 75,000 sq ft and offers a choice of spa programmes in addition to a wide range of traditional Indian and international treatments.

Flavourful and authentic food is served in the resort’s two restaurants offering a wide range of international dishes including Indian Ocean specialities and a choice of wellness spa cuisine. Before or after dinner, the cocktail bar provides an ideal place to chill out whilst enjoying live performances and magnificent ocean views.

This picture-perfect property spread over 36 acres of tropical landscaped gardens, has unmistakable appeal.

Boasting some of the biggest private pools and villas on the island and one of the best beach locations, Shanti Ananda remains an intimate resort with only 61 villas and suites and promises every family member and individual guest the best experience that Mauritius has to offer – a promise which is evident by its many repeat guests.

For more information on Shanti Ananda, please call tel: +230 603 7200

or visit www.shantiananda.com

American Airlines is launching its new Wi-Fi Widget that enables customers to identify Wi-Fi-equipped flights 24 hours prior to departure.

The tool allows travelers to determine if their American Airlines flight will be scheduled with Wi-Fi-enabled aircraft. Customers can also embed the Wi-Fi Widget in their own blogs, websites, and social network sites. Simply enter your flight number or select your flight’s departure airport from a drop-down menu to find out in seconds if your flight is scheduled on a Wi-Fi-equipped aircraft.

Recently American completed the installation of Wi-Fi on 150 MD-80 aircraft. Combined with the 15 Boeing 767-200 aircraft that also have the service, American Airlines fleet now has 165 planes with Wi-Fi. For more information, or too use the widget, visit www.aa.com/wifiwidget

Pre-purchased and pre-paid carbon credits will be offered to all customers as proof one Australian tour company is aware of the environmental cost of its operation. Northern Territory tourism operator Wayoutback Desert Safaris will fully fund carbon credit payments for paying customers after the recent cessation of the successful Carbon Offset Pilot program operated by Tourism NT.

“We participated in the pilot during the 2008-09 financial year and successfully achieved carbon neutrality for that year.

“We are working towards this again for 2009-10 as it has had a highly successful outcome for our business, in particular with our European and American clientele who are highly focused on environmental sustainability and often choose safari operators who reflect these same values,” said Wayoutback Desert Safaris Managing Director Don Wait.

When a customer purchases one of the tours offered by the operator through any distribution channel, an amount of carbon credits equal to the emissions per passenger trip will be automatically paid for by Wayoutback Desert Safaris.

“We anticipate this will cost approx $20,000 per annum on current projections,” said Wait. Wayoutback are recognized pioneers in eco-tourism strategies.

They were one of the first Advanced Eco-Certified companies operating in the Northern Territory, and their operations manager/head guide Phil Taylor was winner of Eco Tourism Australia’s 2008 William Angliss National EcoGuide Award of Excellence.

The carbon credits are purchased by Wayoutback Desert Safaris from the LMS Generation Pty Ltd abatement project in the Northern Territory. The Shoal Bay waste disposal site services the Darwin area providing safe and environmentally friendly disposal of domestic and commercial waste.

The facility produces electricity from methane gas harvested from waste and is the first of its kind in the Northern Territory.

For more information, visit www.wayoutback.com

Searching for a quiet island getaway at an affordable price? Look no further than the easily accessible Great Keppel Island on Queensland’s Capricorn Coast.

A few years ago it might’ve been hard to find your own strip of sand on Great Keppel Island, but not anymore. With its 17 pristine beaches, some accessible only by boat, you don’t have to search too hard to find a spot on the island just for yourself.

This is all thanks to the staying power of people like Geoff and Dianna Mercer who have continued to run Great Keppel Island Holiday Village since the island’s main resort closed last year.

Geoff is quite the institution on the island, having operated his business for more than 20 years.

“Some people think that because the resort is closed that the whole island is off limits but that’s definitely not the case,” he said. “It’s a pretty amazing island we’ve got here and now when people come to stay it can sometimes feel like you’ve got the whole place to yourself.”

And that’s not bad for an island that’s just 30 minutes by boat from the Keppel Bay Marina near Rockhampton.

Nearby, Geoff also runs the island’s popular water sports centre to entice day visitors and overnight guests on Great Keppel out of their hammocks. Motorised canoes, glass-bottomed kayaks, snorkelling gear, banana and biscuit rides, waterskiing, and regular boat drop offs to secluded beaches are all on offer.

The main accommodation provider on the island is Keppel Haven, which can cater for 350 guests between a collection of beach houses, cabins, a bunkhouse and permanent tents, with prices starting at just $60 per night.

Joanne Pitt from Keppel Haven said their accommodation and popular Bistro and Bar reopened to guests in April this year after being closed for 18 months.

“We’ve got a couple of houses and cabins right on Fisherman’s Beach and Putney Beach and the others are just a short walk to the sand too,” Ms Pitt said.

But if you really want to feel a million miles away from civilisation, the private holiday home Keppel Lodge, or tent bungalows at Svendsons Beach are a good choice. Svendsens Beach Owners Carl and Lyndie can sell you some locally caught fish for your dinner, or you can cook your own supplies in the outdoor kitchen.

Another great spot for a meal on Great Keppel is Island Pizza, which is also one of the best spots to watch an island sunset. And if you need to stock up on supplies or pick up a memento from your stay head to the Rainbow Hut.

Getting to and from the island is made easy by Max Allen from Freedom Fast Cats who operates a 30-minute ferry service between the mainland and the island every day except Monday.

“Over these past decades, I have skippered charter boats up and down the Australian coast from New Guinea to Tasmania and way out into the Coral Sea,” Max said.

“Out of all the islands that I ever visited, Great Keppel Island is probably one of my favourites and that’s because of its coral reef, the clear water, diving and fishing and the white sandy beaches and how picturesque it is,” he said.

Speaking of diving, there’s another island institution in Peter Williams, who has operated Keppel Reef Scuba Adventures for more than 25 years from an old tin shed on Putney Beach.

“The Keppel Group is acclaimed for its great variety of dive sites and we have the highest density of fish life on the Great Barrier Reef,” Peter proudly claimed. “There are shallow fringing reefs so it’s really easy elementary diving but the surrounds are just fantastic.”

If a day trip to Great Keppel Island is all you’ve got time for, Sail Capricornia, Keppel Bay Escapes and Funtastic are still operating day sails, transfers and cruises amongst the 14 islands which make up the Keppel Bay Group.

Getting there:

• Direct flights are available to Rockhampton from Brisbane (Jetstar, Qantas, Virgin Blue), Sydney and Townsville (Virgin Blue) and Melbourne (Tiger Airways), with connections from other major cities. Rockhampton is an eight hour drive north of Brisbane.

Useful websites:

• Keppel Haven – (07) 4939 2050
• Great Keppel Island Holiday Village www.gkiholidayvillage.com.au
 • Svendsens Beach www.svendsensbeach.com
 • Keppel Dive www.keppeldive.com
• Freedom Fast Cats www.freedomfastcats.com
 • Other ideas: www.capricornholidays.info