Jetsettersblog

The Fattal Hotels Group became Israel’s largest hotel chain this month after acquiring 12 hotels from Azorim Tourism. Fattal owns and operates 27 hotels in Israel in such areas as Eilat, Tel Aviv, Jerusalem, the Dead Sea, the Galilee and Tiberias. www.fattal.co.il

www.EasyBusRental.com  makes it easy and cost-effective to access vehicles of all sizes in North America

American Bus Association Marketplace – EasyBusRental.com, in partnership with TravelManager (a software company specializing in the transportation industry), is pleased to launch the beta version of its platform for group transportation.

To this date, it has been a challenge to efficiently find vehicles nationwide and to guarantee success on booking the right vehicle and partner.

By using the latest technologies available, www.EasyBusRental.com created an online marketplace to faciliate the process of Searching, Comparing and Booking.

Search:

EasyBusRental.com presents the ease of one-stop shopping and searches over 3,000 bus companies. The technology finds the user the appropriate vehicle based on the geo location of their garages, their vehicle inventory and the customer’s budget.

“From my experiences as a Tour Operator, I know first hand how daunting and time consuming it can be to book buses when you don’t have the right tools or relationships”, says Charles de Gaspe Beaubien, President of EasyBusRental.com.

For years the market has been waiting for the bus industry to offer functionality and a user experience similar to other travel web sites. We therefore created an online marketplace to allow the user to make educated decisions and to connect bus operators and customers in a more effective manner. “EasyBusRental.com makes it ‘Easy’ for the consumer and the bus companies”, comments de Gaspe Beaubien.

Search and Compare:

EasyBusRental.com provides rich content and images of the operator’s fleet, whether it is deluxe motocoaches, minibuses, school buses, trolley buses, vans, limousines and more.

The web site offers tools to narrow the search results and to “coach” the user in making educated decisions based on fleet sizes, age of the vehicles, preferred vendors, onboard amenities, DOT safety rating, memberships and user generated feedback, as well as price.

Users can now base their decision on overall value, as opposed to basing it on price only, which is an overall benefit to the industry not to be commoditized.

Book:

EasyBusRental.com is more than a transactional web site. Bookings are supported by a 24/7 customer care center and account managers to guarantee peace of mind and superior service for our customers. The bus companies also have access to the TravelManager technology platform to manage the orders once they have been created and to operate their entire business should they want to.

Benefits:

• Save Time and Money. Let the technology do the work.
• Get the best Value for your budget and travelling experience
• Minimize Risk by working with the best companies
• Expert Advice
• Best Value on every Rental Guaranteed
• MORE Service from your first call until you return from your trip
• MORE Coaches in MORE Destinations. Access to 33,536 Buses in North America
• Peace of Mind and 24/7 Support
• MORE Resources to help plan your Group Experience
• Managed by seasoned executives with Tour Operator background
• Full service guidance with all elements of your groups travel reservations

IHG has begun the countdown to the opening of the newest InterContinental Hotels & Resorts property in Times Square. Slated to open in July, the InterContinental New York Times Square will join the InterContinental New York Barclay as IHG’s newest InterContinental Hotel in the city.

Situated on 44th Street just west of Times Square, the new-build hotel is a short stroll to the Broadway Theater District and Fifth Avenue shopping.

Wrapped with floor-to-ceiling windows, the 36-story InterContinental New York Times Square will total 607 guestrooms each averaging 350 square feet, including an oversized bathroom complete with walk-in rain showers.

The hotel boasts 29 corner suites with expansive views of the city that allowing guests to sightsee without moving their feet.

Additionally, the hotel’s 2,700-square-foot duplex Presidential Suite will showcase dramatic panoramic views of Times Square, Broadway, the New York City skyline and the Hudson River.

As one of the closest hotels to Javits Convention Center, the property boasts 10 meeting rooms totaling 10,000 square feet of flexible meeting and event space, inclusive of a 4,000-square-foot ballroom.

Additionally, there are 25 flexible suites that can be utilized as event space.

The hotel will showcase a new French bistro-inspired restaurant from Chef Todd English.

The restaurant includes an intimate dining space available for private events and a dynamic bar area overlooking Broadway that captures the energy of the Theater District and the urban appeal of historic Hell’s Kitchen.

Additional amenities include a Concierge Lounge, 24-hour business and fitness centers, wired and wireless Internet in guestrooms and public areas, 42-inch HDTV flat-panel televisions and touch-screen computers in all guestrooms, and a courtyard viewing garden in the lobby complete with reflecting pool and sculptures.

With interior design by Jeffrey Beers International (JBI), the InterContinental New York Times Square combines classic New York Art Deco heritage with contemporary and natural inspiration, providing a refreshing sanctuary from the bustling streets of Manhattan.

The Central Florida Visitors & Convention Bureau, located in Polk County, Fla., is offering visitors a special chance to save throughout 2010 with a “Passport to Adventure and Savings” card.

The savings card gives visitors the chance to save with more than 120 special offers and is available at the Central Florida’s Official Visitor Information Center.

With more than 120 different special offers, visitors can take advantage of multiple offers a day during their entire visit.

For more information, call 800-828-7655 or visit www.visitcentralflorida.org

The Distrikt Hotel opened this week in Manhattan, embracing the look of the borough’s many “distrikts” with neighborhood-themed floors from the Financial District to Harlem.

OTTE Architecture, the New York-based firm that designed the hotel, created full display with giant, back-lit collages of neighborhood scenes on each floor.

The collages were composed from over 10,000 photographs distilling the essence and style of Chelsea, The Village, Midtown West, Midtown East, Central Park, Soho, the Lower East Side, Tribeca, Harlem and the Financial District.

The New York-centric design theme continues in the hotel lobby, where an 11-foot green “living wall” representing Central Park, an installation inspired by Manhattan’s grid, and a subway-themed elevator bank.

Located at 342 West 40th St. between 8th and 9th avenues in Midtown Manhattan, the Distrikt Hotel offers 155 guestrooms with tech-savvy amenities including free wireless internet, flat-screen TVs and iHome docking stations, complemented with plush Frette bedding and robes as well as Ecru New York bath amenities.

Upper floors feature unobstructed views of the city, the Hudson River or both.

Collage, the hotel’s restaurant, offers New York-inspired cuisine.

For reservations or more information, call 646-831-6780 or visit www.distrikthotel.com

Imanta Punta de Mita, located on Mexico’s Riviera Nayarit, will make its debut to guests later this month. Situated on a 250-acre private reserve on the beaches of Mexico’s Rivieria Nayarit, this cliff-side property is a 45-minute drive from Puerto Vallarta.

Designed by San Antonio-based architectural firm Overland Partners, Imanta sets a new standard for “the Nature of Luxury.” With an emphasis on sustainability and luxury, each structure at Imanta was designed to take full advantage of the land and its setting — from the terraces that offer complete privacy, as well as a mix of sun and shade in each season, to the boulders found on the property and used for its stone walls, to the views of the ocean and jungle.

Resort guests have the option of staying in one of seven accommodations, each constructed with locally sourced and environmentally friendly materials.

Five free-standing one-bedroom casas feature living areas, indoor/outdoor showers, pools and terraces. Additionally, guests may choose from two two-bedroom casonas, each including a full kitchen, living room, dining room, pool and terrace.

Catch of the Day, Imanta’s casual dining option, is located under a beach palapa and offers beach fare and cocktails daily.

For a more formal dining atmosphere, Tukipa features views of the jungle and ocean and offers a daily-changing menu. Guests can also enjoy the sunset with cocktails at Observatorio, the resort’s rooftop terrace, offering a 360-degree jungle and Pacific Ocean view.

Private romantic dinners can also be arranged by the beach, in the jungle or in the comforts of the guests’ own casa or casona. The property also has a spa.

In addition to the hotel, Imanta Punta de Mita offers 37 private signature lots subtlety interspersed throughout the 250-acre property, making it the lowest density resort in the Riviera Nayarit area. Opening rates for the casas start at $1,200 per night, while the casonas start at $4,800 per night. Rates include daily breakfast either in-room or at Tukipa.

For more information, visit www.imantaresorts.com

Le Boat, a European self-drive boating company, this year opens a new base in Ghent, Belgium, introduces the new Minuetto in Italy and upgrades its Royal Magnifique cruiser.

Situated at the crossroads of the Rivers Lys and Escaut, Ghent makes for a starting point for a canal cruising itinerary of a week or more or a three-day short break.

The Ghent fleet includes a range of boats with accommodations for up to 10 passengers.

The Italian-built Minuetto has been purpose-built for cruising in the Venetian Lagoon and will be available for March charters.

The Minuetto sleeps six passengers and the saloon’s convertible settee creates room for two more. Additionally, the Minuetto can accommodate wheelchairs through an internal lifting platform and specially adapted wheelchair.

For parties of up to 10 passengers, the Royal Magnifique has new interior and exterior upgrades.

The boat has a sundeck and rear bathing platform. Two rear cabins feature en-suite facilities with electric toilets and two forward cabins share a bathroom with electric toilet.

The kitchen is complete with a large fridge and gas oven/range.

Other amenities include a saloon, flat-screen satellite TV/DVD player, multi-format music system, inside steering position and convertible settee to sleep two.

Le Boat operates a fleet of 1,000-plus self-drive cruisers from over 40 departure bases in France, Germany, Italy, Ireland, Belgium, Holland, England, and Scotland. Le Boat is owned by TUI Travel.

For more information, call 800-734-5491 or visit www.leboat.com

Just eight months after its grand opening, the four-star Hotel Andels in Lódz, Poland, has already received its fourth award with the Interiors Awards from U.S.-based Contract Magazine in New York for the hotel’s outstanding design.

The Andels Lódz won the award in the category of “Adaptive Re-Use” for the transformation of an existing historical building into an exclusive conference hotel.

The showpiece hotel project, built by Austrian developer Warimpex Finanz-und Beteiligungs AG and operated by Vienna International Hotelmanagement AG, had previously won several awards for architecture, design and development.

The Andels Lódz is located in a former factory, a weaving mill established in 1878 by textile magnate Izrael Poznanski, directly next to the Old Town.

After decades of standing empty, the building was transformed into an example of how historic industrial architecture can blend with modern design.

The interior design is the work of the London-based designers Jestico + Whiles, while Polish-Austrian architectural firm OP Architekten mastered the conversion of the historical building. With its 278 rooms and suites and seven flexible conference rooms, the andel’s Hotel is one of the most modern business hotels in Poland.

For more information, visit www.contractmagazine.com  or www.andelslodz.com

The 76-room Holiday Inn & Suites Surrey, in British Columbia, is a newly built 49,000-square-foot hotel accessible to Vancouver by highway and close to the U.S. border, Vancouver International Airport, Abbotsford International Airport, Ferry Terminals and the Trans Canada Highway.

The property is within walking distance of shops, restaurants, Fraser Downs Race Track & Casino and is just minutes from several businesses including Surrey School Board, Telus and International Paper Industries. Tourist attractions such as Downtown Vancouver, Historical Fort Langley and several golf courses are also a short drive from the hotel.

The hotel’s dining facility features the Holiday Inn Best-4-Breakfastâ menu, featuring signature items such as Cinnamon Supreme French Toast and Skillet Inspirations.

Kids 12 and younger eat free at Holiday Inn when ordering from the kids’ menu in the hotel restaurant and accompanied by a dining adult.

Room Service Right…On Time, also a standard at all Holiday Inn hotels, ensures that guests’ room service orders are accurate and delivered on time, every time. Guests can also enjoy the hotel’s lounge, which will offer a pub fare menu.

With more than 2,380 square feet of function space, the hotel will also be available for business meetings and banquets.

Standard Holiday Inn guestroom accommodations feature double queen or king-sized beds, deluxe suites with a mini kitchenette, a sitting area with a sofa bed and lounge chair, cable television, hairdryer, coffee maker, iron and ironing board.

Guest beds are made using crisp, white bedding with pillows that come in two comfort levels: soft and firm. Bathrooms include a specially designed showerhead that offers superior pressure, as well as a signature shower curtain with curved rod and new amenities.

Guestrooms provide a work desk and ergonomic chair, data ports and in-room check-out capabilities. Complimentary high-speed Internet access and free wireless is also available. The Holiday Inn & Suites Surrey offers a variety of amenities such as an on-site fitness centre, indoor swimming pool and restaurant.

Private Vatican tours led by Official Vatican Tour Guides.

No trip to Italy is complete without a visit to the Vatican and Sistine Chapel. Tour Rome and enjoy Skip the line Vatican private tour.

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Nancy Aiello Tours of the Vatican and Sistine Chapel are strictly private and led by qualified official Vatican tourist guide appointed by the Vatican State glad to share their knowledge and experience in an informative and fun way with the well traveled guests visiting the vatican and unveil the secrets of the Vatican Museums and the religious history behind the Holy Masterpieces.

Vatican Highlights include the Egyptian Museum, the Etruscan Museum, the Borgia Apartment and the Raphael rooms, before reaching the breathtaking Sistine Chapel home to Michelangelo masterpiece The Last Judgement and frescoes by the greatest Renaissance artists including Raphael, Bernini and Botticelli.

Since 1997 www.NancyAielloTours.com  offers its valuable guests visiting Rome, Italy the most comprehensive selection of private Rome city tours, walking Rome tours, Rome Museum Tours, Vatican and Sistine Chapel religious Rome tours, Rome by-night Rome tours,

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About Nancy AielloTours

Nancy Aiello Tours VIP Italy travel services include air-con fully insured deluxe Mercedes Benz limos, pick-up and drop-off at the doorstep of their Rome accommodation (hotel/apartment), Italy private transfers, Rome airport transfers, Rome transfer to/from Civitavecchia port of call with English speaking licensed drivers.

Professional Italy Tour Planning Company Nancy Aiello Tours provides comprehensive and enjoyable private Vatican and Rome Tours, Rome Day Tours, Rome Excursions with English, Spanish, French, German, Russian and Chinese speaking Licensed Rome Tour Guides.

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