Jetsettersblog

Need a break? Concerned about your carbon footprint? No worries. Tofino’s Wickaninnish Inn, one of British Columbia’s first eco-lodges, offers a guilt-free, earth-friendly getaway. The Tread Lightly Package, available year round, includes two nights’ accommodation at the inn, a welcome plate of locally harvested treats, and a nature watching safari with local photographer and guide, Adrian Dorst.

More goodies include a posh picnic packed by the Wick’s culinary team, and copies of David Suzuki’s Green Guide, and The Trees of British Columbia to take home.

Oh, and to top it off, the inn will make a donation in your name to the Surfrider Foundation, a non-profit dedicated to the protection of the world’s beaches and oceans.

Treading lightly is nothing new at the Wickaninnish Inn, where Managing Director Charles McDiarmid and his team have been minding their footprint since surveying the oceanfront site in 1995.

Raised in Tofino, McDiarmid designed the inn to minimize its impact on his hometown’s pristine beaches and ancient cedar forests, building with reclaimed wood, driftwood, and trees from the site; siting the inn to save the most trees, and even clearing the underbrush by hand.

From opening day in 1996, the oceanside eco-resort has been completely non-smoking, has sourced local fare for its Pointe Restaurant, and used eco-friendly spa products.

Recent footprint shrinking innovations include a Worminator compost bin to deal with kitchen waste (affectionately referred to as The Organic Temple of Transition by inn staff) and high efficiency boilers installed to cut carbon emissions. The results? A four (out of a possible five) rating from the Hotel Association of Canada’s Green Key Eco-Rating Program.

The biggest kudo of all, though, went not to the inn, but to the wilderness McDiarmid and his team have been working to protect: In 2000, Clayoquot Sound was designated a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve by the United Nations, meaning that the area, including Tofino and its beaches, is considered to be one of the planet’s most precious places.

And that’s exactly what the people at the Wickaninnish have been saying all along. www.wickinn.com ; www.surfrider.org

To read more story ideas from the Vancouver Island region, visit www.hellobc.com/vancouverislandmedia

Two leading companies say a four-step approach is vital in order to achieve considerable cost savings in rail travel.

Leading online rail retailer www.thetrainline.com and global risk advisor and the World’s leading insurance broker Marsh say a strong working partnership, an efficient booking tool, smarter buying techniques and a robust travel policy is needed to significantly drive down the spend on train travel.

This approach has enabled Marsh to achieve 57% savings on its purchase of rail tickets between February and July 2009* alone, and reduce its average ticket price by 33% over the four years its rail service has been managed through www.thetrainline.com.

To keep the spend down and savings up Marsh’s company travel policy encourages train bookers to buy smarter through purchasing advanced tickets, comparing the cost of singles over returns, selecting specific times and dates to travel, travelling off-peak where possible and taking advantage of the money saving options on the Self Book Tool.

Lynne Lawrence, MMC UK Travel Director says “Our proactive approach with thetrainline.com has enabled us to reduce the average ticket price every year.

“We have actively driven a ‘best practice’ strategy, regularly communicating with colleagues about smart buying techniques, and this, combined with the easy-to-use Self-Book Tool is clearly leading to smarter buying as 61% of all tickets booked last month were advanced tickets.

“We are actively monitoring our buying behaviour and identifying further opportunities to deliver savings to the business.”

Marsh’s rail travellers use Self Book Tool not only to find the cheapest available fare for a specific journey but also to access Best Fare Finder, Ticket Alert, Savings Calculator and a Carbon Calculator.

Clare Morrissey, head of corporate account management, said: “thetrainline.com has been actively managing Marsh’s rail account for over four years and in that time the relationship has gone from strength to strength – along with the savings achieved.

“We have a collaborative approach and a clear long term vision which has delivered an effective and successful rail solution to our client.”

* compared to travellers buying at the station.

Travelers looking for an exotic location, with miles upon miles of white sand beaches, plus an unbelievable rainforest and mountains, they go to Puerto Rico. Puerto Rico is a modern, progressive and civilized vacation spot that still maintains the charm and hospitality of days gone by.

On the iExplore Puerto Rico: Active tour, explorers will find everything the Caribbean has to offer in this all around family destination- and with it a people whose warmth is equaled only by the sunshine that gently kisses its shores.

Vacationers start in the capitol of San Juan, where they can enjoy at little “R & R” in their luxurious accommodations at the Hilton Caribe.

The Hilton offers a secluded beach, oceanfront swimming pools, spa treatments, and even a bird sanctuary.

The adventure kicks off with a sailing session off the coast of Puerto Rico.

Travelers spend the day boating through the tropical waters while sipping piña coladas and soaking up sun. Following lunch, the captain halts the cruising for travelers to go snorkeling and view some of the stunning underwater marine life the coast of Puerto Rico has to offer.

The next day, travelers are atop horseback riding through El Yunque National Forest exploring the inland of this majestic island.

The tour finishes off with a day of adrenaline pumping activities. The trip heads on a private zip-lining tour through the jungle canopies in the morning and then sea kayaking by night through sparkling waters that glow with bioluminescent microorganisms.

Named as one of National Geographic’s “Best Adventure Travel Companies on Earth”, the iExplore team prides themselves on catering to every traveler’s needs and concerns as well as offering supreme flexibility on each of their itineraries. There are multiple departure dates year round in 2010. Prices start at $2,295 per person and include lodging, planned activities, and most meals.

www.iexplore.com

Groupe Germain offering a special limited-time launch rate of $199 a night for its Superior Rooms in celebration of Hôtel Le Germain Calgary’s opening in January 2010.

Calgary, AB: Canada’s boutique-hotel innovator, the family-led Groupe Germain extends its unique brand of hospitality nationally, to Western Canada, as the 143-room Hôtel Le Germain Calgary opens in January.

“We are thrilled to introduce our unique approach to genuine hospitality in Calgary with this remarkable opening rate,” says Hôtel Le Germain Calgary General Manager Christopher Vachon.

“Everything we do aims to create a warm, comfortable ambiance for guests, where the attentive and personalized service is always considerate without ever being indiscreet. These are the little touches that are part of the Germain difference, making you feel like a special guest, each time you visit.”

The exquisite boutique accommodations offer the high standards in comfort, hospitality and commitment to excellence Groupe Germain’s discerning clientele has come to expect.

To celebrate it’s grand opening and for a limited time only, rates for Superior Rooms with a King size bed are offered at $199.00 CDN (per night based on double occupancy plus tax) and can be reserved via www.germaincalgary.com  or at 877.362.8990.

This exclusive offer gives you the opportunity to discover Hôtel Le Germain Calgary before reverting to its regular prices, starting at $279.00 CDN.

Hôtel Le Germain Calgary offers a private sanctuary in the middle of one of Canada’s most vibrant cities. Vistas allow guests to savour the dynamic Calgary skyline.

Oversized hotel windows allow plenty of natural light – and, of course, they open.

Rooms feature naturally lit, spa-like bathrooms with rainfall showers, the most comfortable mattresses, FRETTE linens, goose-down duvets, feather pillows and comfy seating designed to make you feel pampered, relaxed and rejuvenated.

State-of-the-art ecological features have been incorporated throughout the construction, including a geothermal heating and cooling system, energy-efficient lighting controlled by occupancy card reader, and the recycling of heat from the air conditioning system to produce the hotel’s hot water.

About Hôtel Le Germain Calgary

With 143 rooms and suites, Hôtel Le Germain Calgary is a bold new landmark at the centre of one of Canada’s most sophisticated cities. Located downtown at 899 Centre Street SW, Hôtel Le Germain Calgary is steps away from the EPCOR Centre for the Performing Arts, the Glenbow Museum, the Calgary Tower, the TELUS Convention Centre, Olympic Plaza and the popular Stephen Avenue pedestrian walk. Nearby Hôtel Le Germain Calgary, you can find nine major shopping centers and department stores, retro cinemas, some of Calgary’s finest restaurants, pubs, cafés and bars, as well as an eclectic mix of boutiques and galleries. www.germaincalgary.com

Each year over 1,000 hopeful mountaineers travel to Talkeetna to attempt to scale North America’s great one: Mount McKinley. But Talkeetna is also renowned for its fun and quirky festivals that draw Alaskans and visitors alike to the small town located 113 miles north of Anchorage.

Talkeetna Winterfest takes place each December and includes a full month of events, kicking off with the Bachelor Auction and Ball and the Wilderness Woman Contest. During the Wilderness Woman Contest, single Alaskan women demonstrate their proficiency at a variety of tasks necessary for life on the Last Frontier — all in good fun, of course.

Competitions include firewood gathering, driving a snow machine, salmon catching, sandwich making and more. After the crowning of the Wilderness Woman, the bidding begins at the annual Bachelor Society Benefit Auction and Bachelor Ball. Talkeetna bachelors spruce up and entertain the crowd to raise money for local charities.

The 2009 festivities kicked off Dec. 5.

For more information, visit www.alaskavisit.com

Travelers stopping by Talkeetna to take part in the hubbub can explore the surrounding wilderness on a snowshoe tour with Alaska Nature Guides.

Visit www.alaskanatureguides.com  to learn more.

Break out the Rod, Reel…or Ice Auger
– Scenic Colorado mountain towns host mid-winter ice fishing contests –

Granby, Colo – After the last holiday decoration is stored away, the last Christmas cookie has been wolfed down and the last holiday bill (hopefully) paid off, winter settles in. Want to spice things up and try something new? Head to the Colorado Mountains and break out the ice auger.

It’s time for ice fishing. Grand County, Colo. – located just 70 miles west of Denver – is home to wide-open spaces, the frontier spirit and world-class and year-round fishing. This winter, it will play host to two major ice fishing contests.

Three Lakes Ice Fishing Contest (Jan. 29-31, Granby, Colo.) – The contest takes place over three days on three popular fishing lakes in the Granby area: Lake Granby, Shadow Mountain Reservoir and Grand Lake. Participants can fish one, two or all three days, and are eligible for daily cash prizes of more than $5000 daily as well as raffle prizes that include two snowmobiles.

For Three Lakes’ Grand Slam prize, fisherman work to catch one fish from each of the following species:

Kokanee, rainbow, brown, and Mackinaw. After weighing all four fish, the prize is awarded to the heaviest creel, or basket.

The Three Lakes Ice Fishing Contest is open to all fishermen, not only the serious. Fees for adults range from $25 for one-day participation to $45 for all three days. Anglers 17 and under are free.

For more information, contact the Granby Chamber of Commerce at 970-887-2311, grcoc@rkymtnhi.com  or www.granbychamber.com

13th Annual Wolford Mountain Reservoir Ice Fishing Contest (Feb. 20, Kremmling, Colo.) –

Prizes abound at this one-day contest: $13,000 for the winning tagged-fish competition; $5,000 cash purse for the top 10 largest fish (length plus girth); and hourly “big-fish” prizes for adults and youth.

Registration cost is $35 for adults and $30 for youth 15 and under who want to compete for the cash prizes.

Otherwise, there is no charge for anyone 15 and under; the contest also features a free youth division with prizes for the top 10 largest fish.

For more information, contact the Kremmling Area Chamber of Commerce and Visitor Center at 877-573-6654 or 970-724-3472, or visit www.kremmlingchamber.com .

For additional information on Grand County, events, lodging, and other activities, contact the Grand County Tourism Board at www.grand-county.com  or 800-729-5821.

If the latest wave of Beatlemania has got you harking after the days of your misspent youth, or perhaps rueing the lack of them, then the time has arrived to hang up your suit and jump on board the Hippie Trail bus – the latest epic travel adventure from the beautiful people at Oz-Bus.

Ready for a Ticket to Ride? If the latest wave of Beatlemania has got you harking after the days of your misspent youth, or perhaps rueing the lack of them, then the time has arrived to hang up your suit and jump on board the Hippie Trail bus – the latest epic travel adventure from the beautiful people at Oz-Bus.

Half a century on since the formation of the Beatles and the birth of the hippie subculture, the 21st Century Hippie Trail will depart Istanbul and follow in the footsteps of the free-spirited westerners who set off in search of spiritual enlightenment and a better world.

The first Hippie Trail of 2010 gets underway on 8th March with up to 15 re-born hippies boarding a bus to head east over 7 weeks. Together, staying in simple, authentic accommodation and enjoying adventures along the way, the intrepid travellers will relive the legendary overland journey through the cradle of civilisation, crossing Turkey, Iran, Pakistan, India and Nepal, finally arriving in Kathmandu.

A quick glance at the 46 day itinerary evokes hazy memories of clapped out VWs, magical faraway kingdoms and the heady days when travellers still had the feeling of being true pioneers and explorers.

Departing Istanbul, the bus heads to Ankara and onto the spectacular terrain of Cappadocia, where possible tours include the underground cities, or a hot air balloon flight, followed by a sun-downer in the cave bars in Goreme; The next stop is Mt Nemrut, famed for its giant statues built before Christ, and well worth the hike to the summit to greet the sunrise;

The bus crosses the border into Iran to Tabriz, where people still inhabit 3000 year old caves, followed by Tehran, Qom and Esfahan, once the capital of Persia, before arriving in Shiraz, the city of poets, wine and flowers.

The Hippie Trail heads north to Lahore, ‘heart of Pakistan’, and onto the hustle, bustle and culture shock of Delhi, sharply contrasted by the ‘pink city’ of Jaipur, the wondrous Taj Mahal, and the Ganges. Nepal is the hotly anticipated highlight on this Hippie Trail, and especially a visit to Dharamsala, the abandoned colonial hill station in the foot of the Himalayas, and the nearby village of McLeod Ganj, the Tibetan leader’s exile home.

This is without doubt the greatest opportunity to experience Tibetan culture firsthand in all its vibrancy. The Royal Chitwan National Park will blow the minds of even the most world-weary hippie.

This World Heritage listed site is testimony to successful nature conservation in South Asia, with 43 species of mammals to be found in the park including the endangered one horn rhino, tiger and crocodile, and over 450 species of bird.

Kathmandu is the final and much vaunted resting place for the Hippie Trail bus.

In a nod to 21st century ideals, Oz-Bus implements its strong belief in a responsible and sustainable travel ethos to ensure that local services, guides and meals are provided. Hippie Trailers stay in authentic roofed accommodation with breakfast provided each morning, and some evening meals.

Local guides, drivers and adventurers work hand in glove with the tour leader to give Hippie Trailers the best experience possible. Thanks to their local knowledge, the Hippie Trail can visit the lesser known gems and interact more with the local communities. The cost of the 46 day Hippie Trail is £2750 per person, exclusive of international flights.

For further information visit www.hippie-trail.com  or call the beautiful people at Oz-Bus on 0800 7319427 or for calls from outside the UK: +44 1480 810080 or visit www.oz-bus.com

Quick facts about Oz-Bus

The 92 day London to Sydney journey costs £4399 per person.

From February 2010 it will be a regular ‘hop on hop off’ service running eight times per annum.

The New Year’s Eve Special takes one week longer, and arrives on Sydney on 31 December, costing £4799.

The first ever Sydney to London departure will run in 2010 with two departures planned in April and May.

The first ever London to New York bus departs London in March 2010, early booking price from £5999.

The Oz-Bus price is inclusive of all travel, accommodation, breakfast, some meals, tour leader, local guides and national park entry fees.

Any addition flights taken by Oz-Bus due to unforeseen circumstances will not be charged for.

Premier Inn opens its first property in Bangalore, India

Premier Inn, the UK’s biggest hotel chain, has launched its first hotel in India and announced plans to open nine further hotels in India in the next five years.

Premier Inn is expanding in India to capitalise on the country’s developing business traveller market. Currently there are a limited number of budget brands providing hotels in India – and this represents an excellent opportunity for Premier Inn, with its strong budget hotel model.

Premier Inn India Managing Director, Aly Shariff, said: “Large Indian corporates, multi-national companies, SME’s and small privately owned firms are the kinds of customers we are targeting – there is a huge and rapidly growing junior and middle management population that represent an excellent opportunity for us. We have planned 10 hotels in five years, with Bangalore now open, following this will be properties in Delhi (2010) and Pune (2011), as well as looking at other potential sites.”

Patrick Dempsey, Managing Director of Premier Inn UK, said: “India represents one of the fastest growing economies in the world today, and we are confident that Premier Inn will be successful in India. Our strong budget hotel model of great quality combined with excellent value will no doubt be an attractive proposition for business and leisure travellers alike.”

Premier Inn Bangalore will cater for its guests with 105 rooms, a multi cuisine restaurant, bar, gymnasium and a conference room.

Premier Inn’s development in India comes just 18 months after Premier Inn launched its first international hotel in Dubai. Premier Inn Dubai now has two hotels, with the third site opening in December 2009.

About Premier Inn

Award-winning Premier Inn is the UK’s largest and fastest-growing hotel brand with 580 budget hotels and more than 40,000 rooms across the UK and Ireland. Premier Inn bedrooms feature en-suite bathroom, TV with Freeview, and WiFi internet access.

Premier Inn offers customers a money-back ‘Good Night Guarantee’ of a good quality room, comfortable surroundings and friendly service, which is unique amongst Britain’s leading hotel chains.

All Premier Inns feature a bar and restaurant; situated inside the hotel or adjacent, offering a wide range of food choices.

Premier Inn was the first Britain-wide hotel group to sign up with national tourist board VisitBritain; this means Premier Inn is now part of a new quality assessment scheme, specially created for budget accommodation.

In 2008 Premier Inn launched in Dubai and in 2009 opened its first hotel in India. On a domestic front, Premier Inn is set to be the largest provider of budget hotels in London by the 2012 Olympics.

Website: http://www.premierinn.com

Planning a trip to Hawaii? To-Hawaii.com, a popular and free online Hawaii travel and vacation guide is now available in Russian.

To-Hawaii.com has just launched a Russian version of its popular online Hawaii travel and vacation guide. The website features insider information about all six main Hawaiian islands, visitor attractions, beaches, maps, plus hundreds of photos and videos.

“Since many people from Russia travel to Hawaii or are interested in learning more about the islands, we thought it was time to translate our website into Russian,” says Iva Ivanova, marketing manager of To-Hawaii.com.

The Hawaii travel guide was created by two local residents who have personally visited the places they wrote about. It features detailed and unbiased insider information about the eight main Hawaiian islands of Oahu, Maui, Kauai, Molokai, Lanai, Niihau, Kahoolawe and the Big Island of Hawaii.

To-Hawaii.com has informative articles, pictures and videos of Hawaii’s attractions, island maps and interactive features, such as a discussion forum with several different categories. The website includes information on everything people would want to know to plan a Hawaii vacation, business trip, or move to the islands – or to just learn more about Hawaii.

Website visitors will also find an extensive information section about Hawaii’s beaches and ocean safety. From worldwide-known Waikiki Beach and Waimea Bay to lesser-known hidden jewels like Polihua Beach on the island of Lanai, there are detailed reviews, maps and driving directions how to get to these places.

For detailed information about the Hawaiian Islands, visit

www.to-hawaii.com .

About To-Hawaii.com:

Launched in 2006, To-Hawaii.com was created by two local residents based in Honolulu on Oahu, who have personally visited and researched the locations they wrote about.

The Hawaii travel guide serves as an information portal for visitors to the islands and all people who are interested in learning more about the Hawaiian Islands.

To-Hawaii.com is now available in Russian, as well as in seven other languages.

Website: http://www.to-hawaii.com

(Dubai, United Arab Emirates –The Image Maker, a United Arab Emirates headquartered, business development company has announced EmiratesRevealed.com in honour of the seven Rulers of the Emirates and the President of the United Arab Emirates, His Highness Sheikh Khalifa Bin Zayed Al Nahyan for the incredible achievements of the nation.

The new interactive online photography portal is the largest photo and video interactive portal ever created that is dedicated to images of the United Arab Emirates.

The announcement coincides with UAE National Day on 2 December. EmiratesRevealed.com forms part of a global trilogy comprising Emirates Revealed – The TV documentary being produced by the prestigious Discovery Channel and Emirates Revealed – The Book, all launching in 2010.

The brainchild of Ms Yasmeen Stewart, Chief Executive Officer, The Image Maker, EmiratesRevealed.com provides a user-friendly site where visitors can both download and upload images and participate in chat forums with instant sharing of these images.

“The site was created out of exhaustive research on what communicates best on a global level. Images and film speak a thousand words and cross all cultural boundaries,” said Ms Stewart.

According Ms Stewart, the site is intended for use by both consumers and professionals.

“The aim is to stimulate the economy of the UAE with this site. First, by showing the diversity of the country by covering all seven Emirates. Further, the site is broken down into all areas of life in the UAE from culture to the UAE global charity vision.” she explained.

Advertising agencies and marketing professionals experience day to day challenges locating high quality images for the development of campaigns and branding. EmiratesRevealed.com simplifies the process, offering a wide selection of only the highest quality images all in one place.

This unique interactive ecommerce portal has been designed to showcase the culturally rich and diverse United Arab Emirates, its extraordinary standard of living and lifestyle, as well as its rapid economic development which promises a future even more exciting and dynamic than its past.

Visitors to the site will be immersed in the visual panorama of the Emirates. Whether a traveler, planning to visit the Emirates who is researching online to get a feel for the destination, a student sourcing images for an assignment or an advertising agency, EmiratesRevealed.com is poised to become the most recognized image library on the UAE globally.

“We are including images of not only Dubai but all of the Emirates equally. There is a focus on the everyday life of the people and as well as art, architecture, history, famous landmarks and cultural events.”

On launch (slated for 31 March 2010) EmiratesRevealed.com will be the most comprehensive collection of images made available at the click of a mouse.

“We are also promoting local talent on the site with direct links to the local photographers, developers and government agencies responsible for the work in the images and footage.” said Ms Stewart.

EmiratesRevealed.com is actively utilizing social viral media as a platform to drive awareness, with links to social networking sites such as Facebook and Twitter.

“Search engine optimization is a crucial part of our roll out plan, ensuring a high ranking when users search for the UAE or UAE-related topics; when you use Google search or any other search engine all the UAE images will cover the page. Through this project we aim to introduce an accurate image of the UAE to a global audience, both media and individuals, making the UAE a vision of inspiration in the new Middle East.” she added.

EmiratesRevealed.com has teamed up with industry leaders such as Corbis and local representatives Graph East.