Jetsettersblog

Wyndham Hotel Group announced that its Ramada and Days Inn brands will enter Singapore with the development of two hotels — the 391-room Ramada Singapore at Zhongshan Park and the 405-room Days Hotel Singapore at Zhongshan Park.

Both new-build properties will be developed by HH Properties Pte. Ltd., a joint venture between niche property development group, Hiap Hoe Limited and SuperBowl Holdings Limited, an owner and manager of leisure and commercial properties.

Construction will begin early this year and the hotels are expected to open in 2014.

To be managed by Wyndham Hotel Group, the properties will be built at Balestier Road, just opposite Sun Yat Sen Nanyang Memorial Hall, a national monument that pays tribute to the father of the 1911 Chinese Revolution.

With a land area of approximately 17,600 square meters, the hotels will flank Zhongshan Park.

The 17-story Ramada Singapore at Zhongshan Park will include a full service restaurant, fitness center, swimming pool, business center and more than 600 square-meters of meeting space.

The 14-story Days Hotel Singapore at Zhongshan Park will feature amenities including a full service restaurant and fitness center.

This will be the first Days Inn property to be managed by Wyndham Hotel Group.

The company has a managed portfolio of nearly 30 hotels.

For more information, visit www.wyndhamworldwide.com

At a gala awards dinner attended by travel editors, writers and hospitality leaders held at The Ritz Hotel in London, Huka Lodge was honored as the recipient of the Tatler Enduring Excellence Award for 2010.

The international award honors Huka Lodge, New Zealand, for its outstanding consistency in maintaining the highest standards of excellence for the last 25 years.

On hand to receive this recognition was the owner of Huka Lodge, Alex van Heeren. Van Heeren purchased Huka Lodge in 1984 and shaped it into the exclusive retreat it is today.

Huka Lodge has been and continues to be ranked amongst the best in the world and the Tatler Enduring Excellence Award 2010 certainly bears testament to this. Huka Lodge is a sister property to Dolphin Island, Fiji and Grande Provence Estate in South Africa. All three properties comprise The Huka Retreats.

For more information, visit www.hukalodge.nz.co

Philadelphia-based AMResorts announced its newest all-inclusive resort brand, Now Resorts & Spas.

Mexico’s Riviera Maya, the brand’s first property, Now Riviera Cancun Resort & Spa, is the latest addition to AMResorts family of upscale resort brands, which also include Zoëtry Wellness & Spa Resorts, The Zoëtry Collection, Secrets Resorts & Spas and Dreams Resorts & Spas.

Now Resorts & Spas will treat every guest to Unlimited-Luxury, where everything is included.

The signature vacation concept caters to couples, friends and families with desirable locations, elegant accommodations with ocean views and first-class amenities and services.

While every property will offer a unique flavor, look and experience, overall brand features will be shared.

These include oversized guest rooms and suites with ocean views and private terraces, wireless Internet access, flat-screen TVs with surround-sound systems, daily refreshed mini bars, 24-hour room and concierge services, multiple gourmet dining offerings and full-service spa and fitness facilities.

Wedding services and honeymoon packages also will be available at every resort.

Now Riviera Cancun Resort & Spa will be located in Puerto Morelos, Mexico, 12 miles south of Cancun International Airport.

The property will feature 550 suites, with room categories including junior suites, family suites, and accommodations on the Preferred Club level.

Guests also can find seven a la carte gourmet restaurants.

Its five bars serve a varied selection of premium and local beverages (no reservations or wristbands required). Couples with children will appreciate the resort’s signature Explorers’ Club, which caters exclusively to younger guests age 3 to 12 with dedicated facilities and fully-supervised activities.

Daily, teen-focused activities also will be available.

The spa offers treatment rooms, multiple private massage rooms, a hydrotherapy area featuring indoor Jacuzzis and showers, sauna and steam bath to complete the stimulating and peaceful experience.

The spa also features a full-service salon offering hair treatments, waxing, and manicure and pedicure services. Other in-resort amenities include three swimming pools, six sport courts, motorized water sports, superior entertainment, meeting rooms, a theater, business center, and a variety of stores.

For more information, visit www.nowresorts.com

Marriott International launched the Marriott News Center, www.MarriottNewsCenter.com , featuring all global news and conversation. With this new social and multimedia hub on Marriott.com, which welcomes 12 million unique visitors a month, there’s just one single place to connect for all Marriott online news, photos, videos, blogs, Twitter feeds, and more. Plus, viewers can share breaking news with their own friends and followers, and share thoughts and opinions, too.

For more information, visit www.MarriottNewsCenter.com

My Exclusive Journeys, a new South American specialist tour operator, is offering a series of small ship cruises in Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Ecuador and Peru, with pre/post extensions in various cities.

The ships, which range from seven to 64 cabins, vary in accommodation and amenity levels.

Some are small and casual, just right for a family charter, while others are larger and more luxurious.

One has a helicopter on board. In Argentina and Chile, the five-deck, 64-cabin twin ships Mare and Via Australis, which were purposely built for cruises to Patagonia and Tierra del Fuego, sail from Ushuaia around Cape Horn to Punta Arenas on three-night voyages.

On the Beyond the End of the World journey, they are combined with Buenos Aires, Santiago and the Santa Cruz Wine Region (from $2,529).

Longer journeys from Buenos Aires to Santiago and vice versa include Bariloche or Iguazu Falls (from $3,933).

In Brazil, the four-deck, 15-cabin riverboat Premium has spacious cabins and public spaces, but is shallow enough to navigate remote tributaries.

It makes two-, three- and five-night cruises on the Amazon from Manaus, including Rio and Salvador de Bahia (from $2,941).

The larger, upscale Gran Amazon (which has two pools, a fitness room and Internet access) cruises along the Negro and Solimoes rivers, as well as the Amazon.

Nomads of the Seas’ Atmosphere carries 28 passengers on seven-night “Posh Patagonia” cruises deep into the wilds of Chilean Patagonia in great luxury, complete with spa, thalassotherapy pools, a gourmet restaurant and even a helicopter (from $10,928).

The operator offers a choice of small motor yachts, catamarans and expedition vessels plying Ecuador’s Galapagos Islands.

The star of the show, however, is the stylish motor sailer, Alta, which makes seven-night voyages through the Galapagos, often under sail.

They can be combined with a pre/post extension to Quito (from $6,995).

In Peru, cruising the northern Amazon from Iquitos, there are two beautiful cruise ships that look rather like large houseboats.

The Aqua, custom-designed in 2007 to the highest standards, has 12 cabins with panoramic windows, excellent Peruvian cuisine and all the comforts of home. The Delfin, a 19th century-style Amazon riverboat, has seven cabins with private bath and air conditioning. Both offer three-, four- and seven-night cruises plus visits to Cuzco and Machu Picchu (from $4,822).

All prices quoted are per person double occupancy, subject to availability and do not include flights, departure taxes, hotel taxes, Galapagos Park fees or gratuities. Cruise only rates are available upon request. In addition to small cruises, the Miami-based tour company features a wide range of “suggested itineraries” in Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Costa Rica, Ecuador and Peru.
However, it specializes in customized and personalized programs planned down to the smallest detail. Its CEO, Jaime Alvarez, has 30 years of experience in Latin American travel.

For more information, call 888-334-690 or visit www.myexclusivejourneys.com

InterContinental Hotels Group announced that the Holiday Inn Wall Street will open in April as the only full-service IHG property in the center of the Financial District in New York City.

This 20-story conversion property was newly built in 2009 and is located at 51 Nassau St.

The property will showcase the brand’s new sign, which is the seal of approval that this hotel exemplifies the standards of the $1 billion Holiday Inn brand relaunch program.

The Holiday Inn brand relaunch is the largest in the history of the hospitality industry, with more than 3,300 hotels around the world being updated — improving quality and driving consistency at Holiday Inn and Holiday Inn Express hotels around the world.

The global estate is expected to be relaunched by the end of 2010, and more than 1,700 hotels have already been relaunched to date.

Located directly across the street from the Federal Reserve Bank and a block north of the New York Stock Exchange, business travelers will be centrally located in the business capital of the world and only minutes from all of the major financial institutions on Wall Street.

Leisure travelers will also be conveniently located near attractions such as South Street Seaport, Battery Park and the ferry to the Statue of Liberty.

For those wanting to explore more of the city, subway access is just one block from the hotel.

The Holiday Inn Wall Street is owned by McSam Hotel Group and managed by Hersha Hospitality Management, LP, under a license agreement with a company in the InterContinental Hotels Group.

This is the 18th IHG property being managed by Hersha Hospitality Management in the United States.

The 113 guestrooms each feature a 32-inch flat-panel TV, a Herman Miller ergonomic desk chair, granite countertops, Speakman showerheads, cordless speaker phone and free high-speed wired and wireless Internet access.

Additional amenities include a 24-hour fitness center and a full service restaurant providing the Holiday Inn Best-4-Breakfast menu, featuring signature items such as Cinnamon Supreme French Toast and Skillet Inspirations.

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.

Miami-based Desires Hotels announced the latest international addition to their modern boutique collection, The Cliffs Ocean Resort, situated between Puerto Plata and Samana along the north coast of the Dominican Republic.

The project is the first in the Dominican Republic to be LEED certified and is set to open Summer 2011.

Room amenities at the eco-chic luxury resort include large living areas and private terraces with views to the ocean and the mountains while being completely surrounded by a tropical landscape.

The resort’s initial 102 rooms mark the first phase of development in which guests will have close proximity to the Robert Trent Jones Sr.-designed Playa Grande Golf Course.

The area along the north coast of Dominican Republic features 75 miles of beaches that were named to Conde Nast Traveler’s “Top 10 Beaches in the World.”

Built on 25 acres of ocean-side property, The Cliffs Ocean Resort will include a luxury spa featuring a wide array of Asian treatments.

There will be two salt-water infinity pools overlooking the sea with a Beach Club that has a bar and cigar lounge.

The club also consists of a food and beverage outlet and area for teenagers.

The resort has 24-hour room service, a fitness center, helipad, and commercial shopping area as well as a golf practice facility, sports center with tennis courts, and equestrian center.

The Cliffs Ocean Resort is 40 miles from Puerto Plata International Airport which has daily international flights to and from the United States.

For more information, call 809-334-5064 or visit www.desireshotels.com

Paso Robles, located on the Central Coast of California, is a region known for wine tourism.

“While more and more wine enthusiasts are discovering the 200-plus wineries of Paso Robles, families and travel fans are also finding the fun in Paso,” said Maryann Stansfield, marketing director of Travel Paso Robles Alliance, an alliance of 19 hoteliers formed so that travelers can discover the Authentic California experience of the Central Coast.

“The really exciting news is that travel fans can get insider news and updates through our TravelPaso Twitter, Facebook, Blog, and other social media channels.”

Located mid-way between Los Angeles and the Bay Area, Paso Robles is a tank of gas away for most Californians and a convenient flight to San Luis Obispo airport for the rest of the country.

Paso Robles has already revealed its calendar of events for 2010.

Here are a few highlights:

Pacific Cutting Horse Association Derby, March 6 to 14;

Paso Robles Zinfandel Festival, March 19 to 21;

Kitefest, April 17;

Balloon Festival at River Oaks Hot Springs, April 23 to 24;

Hospice du Rhone, April 29 to May 1;

Avila Wildflower Triathlon Festival, April 29 to May 2;

Paso Robles Wine Festival, May 21 to 23;

Paso Robles Festival of the Arts, May 29;

Lavender Festival, July 10;

California Mid-State Fair, July 21 to Aug. 1;

Olive Festival, Aug. 21;

OAKtoberfest, Sept. 25;

Harvest Wine Weekend, Oct. 15 to 17;

and Christmas Light Parade, Dec. 4.

For more information, visit www.TravelPaso.com

Marriott International, Inc. announced at the American Lodging Investment Summit that seven hotels from The Kessler Collection will be the first to join the Autograph Collection, the company’s newest brand, which features independent hotels and resorts from around the world representing upper-upscale and luxury properties with distinctive personalities.

All seven hotels, including the Bohemian Hotel Riverfront in Savannah, Ga. are set to join the Autograph portfolio by the end of April.

The seven properties are: The El Monte Sagrado, Taos, N.M.; The Grand Bohemian Hotel, Asheville, N.C.; The Mansion on Forsyth Park, Savannah, Ga.; The Bohemian Hotel Riverfront, Savannah, Ga.; The Casa Monica Hotel, St. Augustine, Fla.; The Grand Bohemian Hotel, Orlando, Fla.; and The Celebration Hotel, Orlando, Fla.

“We are thrilled to launch the Autograph Collection with such a distinguished group of hotels,” said Arne Sorenson, president and chief operating officer for Marriott International.

“Each Kessler property offers a truly unique guest experience and fits perfectly with the positioning of the Autograph Collection – independent hotels that represent an expansive range of categories for distinct life experiences in dynamic destinations.”

For his part, Richard Kessler, chief executive officer of The Kessler Collection, said the Autograph Collection gives his hotels a tremendous opportunity to leverage Marriott’s global reservations system and customer outreach through their ecommerce and sales and marketing platforms.

With plans to add more than 25 hotels in 2010 in locations throughout the world, the Autograph Collection provides Marriott with another platform for future global growth.

Comprised of independent properties maintaining their own brand name and personality, Autograph Collection hotels will be featured on Marriott.com and will participate in Marriott Rewards, Marriott International’s guest loyalty program.

The El Monte Sagrado in Taos, N.M., is an 84-room hotel set in the New Mexico landscape.

It offers guests a unique travel experience inspired by Native American culture, foreign lands and local artists. Visit www.elmontesagrado.com.

The Grand Bohemian Hotel Asheville is a boutique property in Asheville, N.C. This hotel blends an authentic Old-World, rustic ambiance with Tudor-inspired design and modern luxuries. It is located steps away from The Biltmore Estate.

Visit www.bohemianhotelasheville.com

The Mansion on Forsyth Park is a restored Victorian mansion set in Savannah’s legendary Historic District.

This intimate hotel also has a collection of more than 400 pieces of original artwork. Set just inside the legendary Historic District, the hotel allows guests to explore Savannah.

Visit www.mansiononforsythpark.com

The Bohemian Hotel Riverfront offers guests luxury accommodations on the Savannah waterfront.

The hotel echoes the atmosphere of Savannah’s historic River Street and is steps away from the town’s most historic sites.

The Bohemian Hotel is located on a historic 18th century cobblestone street along the famous Savannah River.

Visit www.bohemianhotelsavannah.com.

The Casa Monica Hotel is a restored 1888 landmark hotel in historic St. Augustine, Fla., America’s oldest city.

Listed on the National Register of Historic Places, the Casa Monica is the city’s only AAA Four Diamond hotel. Restored in 1999, the Casa Monica Hotel offers modern conveniences in a rustic setting.

Visit www.casamonica.com

The Grand Bohemian Hotel in Orlando, Fla., offers guests AAA Four-Diamond service in the heart of Orlando’s Business & Arts District. A downtown landmark of music, art and cuisine, the hotel is home to a collection of more than 150 rare works of art.

Visit www.grandbohemianhotel.com

The Celebration Hotel is an upscale boutique hotel located just five minutes from the Walt Disney World Resort in Celebration, a planned community with a nostalgic hometown ambience. The AAA-Four Diamond Celebration Hotel provides a peaceful lakeside oasis convenient to Orlando’s excitement.

Visit www.celebrationhotel.com

For more information, visit the banner below.

The island of Anguilla is a relatively new destination for incentive and meeting travel.

Anguilla, off the coast of Puerto Rico, has easy air access that is suited for executive retreats, intimate meetings and top-tier incentive programs.

Anguilla is hosting a no cost web event on Feb. 18 at 3 p.m. ET.

The one-hour webinar will have in-depth information on the island from representatives of the tourist board and individual properties.

All participants will be eligible to receive additional exclusive “participant only” discounts and exceptional offerings for group business booked in 2010.

Packages may include minimal guest minimums, complimentary networking events, spa and wellness treatments or even free rooms and upgrades.

Participants receive never before published rates for incentive and meetings groups through the “Anguilla 50/50” promotion that begins in April and runs through October.

Bring a minimum group of 50 guests, with a minimum booking of 25 rooms at participating properties, and receive 50 percent off peak room rates.

Sample room rates include $448 to $348 at Cap Juluca; $495 to $247.50 at CuisinArt Resort & Spa; and $335 to $247 at Malliouhana Resort & Spa. Additional offerings and discounts may apply; rates vary, are subject to change, and are based on availability.

For more information, visit www.anguilla-vacation.com/meetings-incentives