Jetsettersblog

Aria Resort & Casino at CityCenter in Las Vegas has debuted a concierge service to provide guests with personalized assistance, including transportation bookings, tee times, and dining, spa and show reservations.

Available to all Aria guests, the concierge staff is available seven days a week and may be reached by calling 877-347-2742 or 702-590-9520 or by emailing concierge@arialasvegas.com

For general hotel information, call 866-359-7757 or visit www.arialasvegas.com

Hilton Worldwide is launching new iPhone and iTouch applications. The company unveiled the new applications across seven hotel brands including its Conrad, Hilton, Doubletree, Embassy Suites, Hilton Garden Inn, Homewood Suites and Hampton Inn brands in the United States.

The new applications have features that are a first for the hotel industry including a “Request Upon Arrival” service that enables a traveler to place an order for room service and have a meal in the guestroom upon arrival at the Hilton, Doubletree and Embassy Suites brands.

The new applications also offer “e-check in,” a feature that provides remote check-in up to 48 hours in advance.

The announcement comes as the industry is experiencing an increase in hotel reservations made on mobile devices.

Hilton Worldwide reports a 59 percent increase in mobile revenue, during the third quarter of 2009 compared to the first quarter of 2009, generated primarily from the company’s mobile-enabled website. The company’s mobile revenue has increased every quarter in 2009.

The Hilton and Doubletree brand’s iPhone and iTouch applications will be available first, and the other brands launching applications during November and December 2009.

The new applications enable guests to manage their hotel experience from the palm of their hand and provide the following features: search for hotels nearby via address, city, airport or even GPS mapping; make a new hotel reservation at any of Hilton Worldwide’s 3,400 hotels; view, modify and cancel existing reservations; check-in online up to 48 hours in advance for gold and diamond members of the Hilton HHonors frequent-guest program; order food and/or services to be available “upon arrival” at the Hilton, Doubletree Embassy Suites and brands; redeem points and stays for members of the Hilton HHonors frequent-guest program; and check point balances for members of the Hilton HHonors frequent-guest program.

In addition, the company has already launched an iPhone application for the Hilton brand in the United Kingdom.

Additional markets are being evaluated for mobile applications with a focus on countries such as Germany and Japan that have high concentrations of people who use mobile devices.

For more information, visit www.hiltonworldwide.com

‘Islands in the Stream’ is widely recognised as a first dance for many a couple across the UK. Cornish bolthole hotel, Barclay House, is quite literally putting the lyrics into action with the chance for couples to take their vows on their very own private island.

In collaboration with the Cornwall Wildlife Trust, Barclay house is offering a once in a lifetime opportunity to marry on legendary St.George’s Island. The island is known to date back to 1139 and includes the ruins of a Benedictine chapel, legend also states that Joseph of Arimethea landed here with the child Christ. The island was inhabited by two sisters who lived in the stunning surroundings until 2004. Channel 4 recently featured St George’s Island on Time Team due to its significant archaeological appeal.

The 22 acre island is now preserved as a nature sanctuary with weddings limited strictly to 12 per year, making it one of the most coveted venues in Cornwall.

The unique package means that guests can take advantage of the awe-inspiring scenery of their own private island, with the bride and groom arriving separately by boat from the mainland historic fishing town of Looe. Ceremonies are especially intimate, with numbers strictly limited to no more than 32 guests.

After the ceremony, couples can celebrate with friends and family and keep in the Cornish spirit with a sparkling wine toast from Camel Valley vineyard. Guests are then escorted from the island to the reception and wedding breakfast at Barclay House in Looe which boasts an AA rosette award winning restaurant, six acres of ever changing gardens and woodlands, accommodation of 11 bedrooms and eight luxury self catering

Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc. and its eco-friendly brand, Element Hotels, announced a partnership with Nintendo to provide Nintendo DS systems pre-loaded with “Personal Trainer: Cooking” software to hotel guests.

The software, which acts as an interactive culinary coach, makes it easy for travelers to choose recipes, prepare shopping lists and cook meals in the comfort of their fully equipped in-suite kitchens.

This is the latest in a series of initiatives being launched by Element Hotels to cater to eco- and health-conscious travelers looking to maintain a well-balanced, healthy lifestyle on the road. Guests at all Element hotels have the option of checking out a complimentary hand-held Nintendo DS system that comes with a copy of the “Personal Trainer: Cooking” software.

After selecting recipes based on cooking requirements such as calorie count, cooking time or skill level, guests can view ingredients, watch how-to videos and even set an on-screen timer.

The intuitive software provides help every step of the way through voice-led instructions, text, images and video. Users can choose from more than 245 recipes from a variety of regions around the world.

The touch-screen controls of the Nintendo DS system let users browse recipes or mark ingredients to buy with a tap of the stylus. If your hands are busy with cooking, “Personal Trainer: Cooking” also accepts voice commands to continue to the next page, repeat a step or go back.

For more information, visit www.elementhotels.com

Austin-Lehman Adventures, traditionally a multi-sport adventure tour provider, is introducing for 2010 a mixed portfolio of domestic and international vacations with new single sport itineraries featuring hiking or biking as the primary activity.

The new hike and bike destinations in ALA’s 2010 catalog include U.S. and Canadian national parks in addition to select European and South American locations.

“Our alumni guests asked for it and we responded,” said Austin-Lehman Adventures Director of Operations Dan Austin.

“Cycle-only trips are not new to Austin-Lehman. In fact that is where we got our start. Just last year we returned to our roots when we launched a program of first-class European trips with our acquisition of Euro-Bike. What is new are the four tour itineraries we just added in North America.” The new 2010 catalog now features 17 biking vacations throughout Europe and now in the U.S. and Canada.

Aside from Austin-Lehman’s portfolio of European bike adventures, ALA now offers four new trips in Western U.S. and Canada: Grand Teton — Valley Floors to Jagged Peaks; Black Hills — The Great Plains of South Dakota; Utah — Canyonlands National Park; and Canadian Rockies — Rocky Mountain Treasures. Austin-Lehman Adventures also added two new hike-only trips for 2010: Canadian Rockies — Ultimate Rocky Mountain, and France — La Provence Complète.

Austin-Lehman Adventures, which dates back to 1974, defines its niche as providing adventure vacations on four continents, offering small-group active travel, limited to 12 guests (18 on family departures), exceptional dining, distinctive accommodations and all-inclusive rates and services in North, Central and South America, Europe and southern Africa.

Founders Dan Austin and Paul Lehman believe the best way to enjoy the natural beauty, culture and history of a place is to experience it as a local; close-up, at one’s own pace far off the usual tourist track. In addition to its scheduled group departures, ALA also offers customized trip planning for families, solo travelers and adults-only. To back up its strong commitment to the highest levels of guest service, ALA offers all its travelers a money back guarantee.

For more information, call 800-575-1540 or visit www.austinlehman.com

Set Sail On A ‘World First’ With The Great Adventure People

From November Gap Adventures travellers can sail by catamaran around the waters surrounding Thailand’s world renowned beaches.

Each shipmate can learn the ropes by actually skippering the comfortable 8-person catamaran.

For the less energetic, simply snorkel, swim and soak in the beauty of the Phi Phi islands, backdrop for Alex Garland’s ‘The Beach’ and James Bond’s ‘The Man with the Golden Gun’.

“Our travellers are constantly seeking new & innovative ways of exploring the world.

This programme showcases some of the delights of Thailand’s most famous islands whilst also providing a unique nautical adventure” said John Warner, Managing Director EMEA.

The new Thai sailing programme is in addition to Gap Adventures existing 50+ South_East Asian Tours. With both 4 & 7 day sailing itineraries as well as expanded 12 and 15 day itineraries encompassing Northern Thailand, John Warner added

“We are hopeful this original programme will provide a unique twist to the traditional Thai beach holiday and will see the start of further sea-based Gap Adventures in South East Asia”.

For booking and further information please visit www.gapadventures.com  or call 08444 10 10 90.

Northern Thailand and 4-day sailing programme
Length of trip: 15 days
First departure: 27 November 2009
Price: £1029 pp

Summary: Experience thirteenth century temples and pagodas, elephant rides through tropical climes, historical tours of the Golden Triangle, local handicrafts of hill tribe markets and extraordinarily tasty Thai foods.

Cap it off with 6 days sailing through the marine paradise of the Southern Thailand Islands and feast on amazing Thai cuisine.

Price includes: activities detailed in itinerary, accommodation, ground transportation and some meals

Northern Thailand and 4 day sailing adventure
Length of trip: 12 Days
First departure: 27 November
Price: £649 pp

Summary: Thirteenth century temples and pagodas, elephant rides through tropical climes, historical tours of the Golden Triangle, local handicrafts of hill tribe markets, extraordinarily tasty Thai foods and 4 days sailing through Southern Thailand’s marine paradise

Price includes: activities detailed in itinerary, accommodation, ground transportation and some meals

Thailand Sailing – Phuket to Koh Phi Phi
Length of trip: 4 days
First departure: 5 December 2009
Price: £359 pp

Summary: On a private catamaran, sail your way between some of Southern Thailand’s most beautiful islands. Picnic on secluded beaches, feast on scintillating Thai cuisine prepared by a local cook, snorkel in hidden bays, and spend four days blissfully relaxed on the water, sailing under the Southeast Asian skies.

Price includes: Sailing trip, accommodation and some meals

Thailand Sailing – Koh Phi Phi to Phuket
Length of trip: 4 days
First departure: 1 December 2009
Price: £359 pp

Summary: Enjoy three days sailing the crystal waters of the Southern Thailand Islands, stopping for snorkeling, swimming, sunning, and feasting on scintillating Thai cuisine prepared by a local cook.
Price includes: Sailing trip, accommodation and some meals

Thailand Sailing Adventure
Length of trip: 7 days
First departure: 5 December 2009
Price: £649 pp

Summary: Island hop in Southern Thailand to some of the best snorkeling and diving locations in the world. Enjoy a week aboard a sailing catamaran, swim in deserted waters among turtles, manta rays, and beautiful fish and feast on scintillating Thai cuisine prepared by a local cook.

Price includes: Sailing trip, accommodation and some meals

A new collection of exclusive, highly personalised pavilions is to open in Sri Lanka.

Serene Pavilions (Pvt) Ltd presents 12 highly styled, luxurious pavilions positioned on the West coast offering a new dimension to luxury hospitality on the island.

Serene Pavilions will be opening on October 1st, 2009. This new boutique hotel will accommodate up to 30 guests and will welcome young adults over 16 years. Conveniently located on the west coast in Wadduwa, just a 45 minute drive from the capital city of Colombo, this beachside luxury hideaway will make an ideal Sri Lankan holiday experience, an incentive add-on to business trips, and perfect for honeymoons or for pure luxury escapism and indulgence.

At a cost of $US5.5 million, construction on Serene Pavilions commenced in November 2007, with an emphasis on space, tranquillity and peace of mind, using Balinese and Sri-Lankan architecture interlaced with walkways and water channels, pavilion-style accommodation, landscaped gardens, and outdoor decked living areas.

The Serene Pavilions offers the Amritha Bar and The Pavilions Restaurant enjoying uninterrupted ocean views and a Club House reception area housing a library, spa, gym and jacuzzi swimming pool.

A tennis court amidst the gardens is also available.

This new venture in luxury hospitality in Sri Lanka is owned and controlled by British entrepreneur, Clive Leach CBE, Chairman of Serene Pavilions (Pvt) Ltd. Sri Lankan hotelier Anura Lokuhetty is a major shareholder and holds the position as Deputy Chairman and Chief Executive.

He is presently also the Vice President of the Tourist Hotels Association of Sri Lanka and Director of the Sri Lanka Institute of Tourism & Hotel Management.

On this investment in Sri Lanka, Clive Leach comments, “With renewed stability in the country, comes growth in tourism and a healthy outlook. Sri Lanka offers a range of diversity all in close proximity – beaches, archaeology, city, culture and natural environment as well as the warmth of the people.

The demand for boutique hotels offering fine hospitality has always remained and we have designed and built on this premise, but with the added uniqueness of privacy and space in the form of Pavilions and butler service.

Serene Pavilions offers lavishly appointed and spacious “homes” to provide unrestrained luxury, total privacy with a highly personalised service.

Each Pavilion has been designed to meet exacting criteria and loving christened with a Sanskrit name.

Thus we have blended Sri Lankan culture with the highest levels of service and hospitality to showcase this area of the country”.

With over 30 years of experience in Sri Lankan hospitality and tourism, Anura Lokuhetty is optimistic for increased growth in this sector of the market:

“There is demand for a high quality product. We aim to capture new niche markets which have been created through pro-active marketing in key markets such as post recessionary incentive programmes, corporate R&Rs, renewals of marriage vows celebrations and by maintaining high levels of service and privacy for our guests”

Set amidst a 7-acre coconut grove with direct access to its sandy beach facing the Indian Ocean, all pavilions have their own private plunge pools surrounded by a large ground floor pool decking area with Bali designed sun protection cover with outside shower and facilities as well as 24 hour private butler service.

Each pavilion consists of either one or two elegant bedrooms with attached dressing room, a spacious sitting room and dining area, a furnished kitchenette, a butler’s pantry, a private bar and a large bathroom featuring 2 vanity units, separate shower room and Jacuzzi.

They are equipped with flat TV, DVD/CD player, safe, hairdryer, tea and coffee makers and other items to pamper the most sophisticated of guests.

Eight of the one-bedroom pavilions are two storeyed and positioned on the ocean front with spacious first floor balconies offering unrivalled views. The four garden and central pool pavilions (one with one-bedroom and three with two-bedrooms) are spread across 225 square metres on the same level, wrapped around by a private garden and decking. All have been built 12 feet above sea-level.

The Serene Pavilions’ signature centrepiece is its Amritha Bar and The Pavilions’ Restaurant, which links the garden and pool area to the beachfront.

The bar is situated on the ground floor overlooking the ocean, surrounded by a timber deck stretching onto lush gardens and the beach.

The Pavilions Restaurant, on the first floor, offers a panoramic view of the Indian Ocean, and provides an á la carte menu including Eastern, Asian, International and Western cuisine.

A wine cellar with a range of fine wines is also available for the discerning palate. The gourmet Executive Chef offers world-wide experience and will create a choice of menu at the guests’ choice of location.

Warwick International Hotels completed an extensive refurbishment of villas and suites at the Warwick Ibah Luxury Villas & Spa in Ubud, Bali, including the addition of two new “Treetops Suites.”

The new accommodations at Warwick Ibah Luxury Villas & Spa represent up-to-date Balinese hospitality and style in a lush and historic setting. The Treetop Suites are decorated in colonial antique-style furniture with Balinese touches.

The rooms include an air-conditioned bedroom/living room area, an outdoor living room/terrace, a dressing room with a large en suite bathroom and separate toilet, a spacious private entrance and stunning views into the forested river valley.

The new appointments throughout the other villas and suites include beautiful solid teak beds and desks, fresh living room furniture, new fabrics, art, and décor in the colonial style of British designer Sally Clarke-Richardson. The living spaces are decorated with day beds in exotic wood, ceramics and Javanese glass paintings.

Large terraces with sofas, immense bathrooms, and open air showers are just some of the luxury features.

Some of the lodgings have private pools and outdoor showers.

For more information, visit www.warwickhotels.com

Amanresorts plans the opening of Amanfayun, its 24th property worldwide and second resort in China, in January 2010. Amanfayun is a rural retreat on the outskirts of Hangzhou.

Together with the Aman at Summer Palace, Beijing, which opened in 2008, Singapore-based Amanresorts is now offering travelers its unique version of Town and Country China.

One of the seven ancient capitals of China, Hangzhou was founded 2,200 years ago during the Qin Dynasty. Marco Polo called it “the city of heaven” and it is still regarded as China’s most beautiful city, with its picturesque West Lake, pagodas, historic temples, botanical gardens and tea plantations.

Twenty minutes from the heart of Hangzhou, Amanfayun is in a hidden valley amid fields, temples, bamboo groves and dense forests.

The hotel is housed in what was once a complete village and comprises 47 stone courtyard houses once home to tea farmers. Amanfayun lies within a pilgrimage circuit of five Buddhist temples currently under review by UNESCO for World Heritage Site status.

Amanfayun offers 16 rooms, 21 suites and five villas. The “Village Villas” are duplexes with private double spa treatment rooms, and the “Amanfayun Villa” has two king-size bedrooms, a courtyard and a private spa treatment room.

No two rooms are identical and while the integrity of the original homes has been preserved, all accommodations have radiant under-floor heating, air conditioning and iPod and Wi-Fi connections.

All feature the highest quality open-grain elm furniture, Chinese lattice screens that separate living spaces, fine calligraphy artworks and lavish bathrooms.

Most accommodations open onto private or semi-private courtyards with informal outdoor dining and lounge areas.

For more information, visit www.amanresorts.com

For a nostalgic journey on a steam locomotive and a bicycle tour around Ayutthaya Historical Park, SpiceRoads Cycling Adventures is calling all train buffs aboard for a special train excursion on Dec. 5, in honor of the king’s birthday.

The 1950s Japanese-built Pacific steam locomotives are only pulled from their home at the Thonburi depot four times a year.

The ride begins at 8 a.m. from Hua Lampong train station and arrives in Ayutthaya at 10:10 a.m., where riders start a leisurely bicycle ride through the towering chedis amidst crumbling ruins of the ancient city of Ayutthaya, a UNESCO World Heritage site since 1991.

This is a special day trip that combines a sentimental steam train journey with the cultural heritage of Ayutthaya with an easy going 15-mile bicycle ride that is suitable for any riding level.

Due to limited space on the train, this tour is limited to 16 people. And is priced at THB 2,900 ($87) per person (25 percent discount for children 12 to 16 years old) and pick up at 7 a.m. and drop off at 5 p.m. to Bangkok hotels by minivan is included, as are refreshments, lunch, a mountain bike and helmet and a guided tour by bicycle.

For more information, call 011-66 2-712-5305,

email patricia@spiceroads.com

or visit www.spiceroads.com