Jetsettersblog

Club Med and Melco China Resorts Sign Agreement To Open The First Club Med Ski Resort On November 2010 In Yabuli, China

Club Méditerranée and Melco China Resorts (Holding) Limited (TSXV: MCG) (“Melco China Resorts” or the “MCR”) signed an agreement to open the first Club Med Snow Resort at MCR’s Sun Mountain Yabuli resort in November 2010.

The signing was attended by Club Méditerranée, Melco China Resorts and new shareholder Wisecord Holding Limited (WHL).

The upmarket resort that will be home to the first Club Med mountain Resort in China was extensively redeveloped in 2008 and reopened in early 2009.

It will be aligned with the Club Med’s standards by November. Club Méditerranée will operate and market the Resort under a ten-year renewable management contract, while MCR will manage all ski-related activities.

Club Med will cover the cost of aligning the resort for a maximum investment of US$3 million.

The future 4-Trident Yabuli Resort will be dedicated to families, couples and business seminars. It will boast a total of 284 rooms, comprising 27 120-square-metre suites, 22 52 square-metre deluxe rooms and 235 36-square-metre Superior rooms. The Resort is equipped with a spa, a swimming pool and a fitness room.

It has an array of conference rooms, which recently hosted the China Entrepreneur Forum, an annual event held in February that brings together 600 senior executives from leading Chinese companies.

When Club Med Yabuli opens officially in November 2010, families can also look forward to a slew of supervised activities dedicated to children from 2 to 18 years old.

Located in Heilongjiang Province in northeastern China, Yabuli is currently the country’s largest ski resort.

This region is also popular among the Chinese for its high-quality ski areas; the complex, which includes Asia’s longest mountain trail, is ideal for skiers of all levels. In 2009, Yabuli hosted the World University Youth Games.

Yabuli is located ideally near Harbin, a city of 10 million people that is home to the world’s largest ice festival. Harbin has an international airport from which travelers can reach Beijing in 1 hour 30 minutes and Shanghai in 2 hours 50 minutes.

In line with Club Med’s goal to become the leading provider of upmarket, all inclusive vacations for Chinese customers, three other resort projects at seaside and cultural destinations in China have either been identified or are in the planning stage.

Club Med will be strengthening its presence by opening five upscale resorts between 2010 and 2014.

The objective for 2015 is to attract 5 to 10 percent of China’s potential 4- and 5-star resort customers, the number of which is expected to quadruple over the next five years. This translates to about 200,000 Chinese customers that Club Med could expect by 2015.

The collaboration of Melco China Resorts and Club Med creates a perfect picture of synergy: Melco China Resorts possess an impressive portfolio of mountain resorts with a proven track record for developing and operating popular, sought after mountain resorts in the world, while Club Med enjoys a fine reputation for its expertise in operating ski resorts with a total of 23 ski resorts located worldwide.

Shangri-La Hotels and Resorts, Asia Pacific’s leading luxury hotel group, celebrates the opening of Shangri-La Hotel, Guilin.

The newly opened hotel is also offering guests a luxury cruise experience along the Li River — the only luxury hotel in the city to provide this exclusive waterborne journey.

From now until Oct.31, 2010, guests can book the Suite Cruise package and enjoy two nights in an Executive suite, a 90-minute morning or afternoon guided tour, a gourmet four-course meal cooked on board by the hotel’s executive chef, daily breakfast for two and full Horizon Club access and privileges. Sailing from Long Chuan Ping Jetty to Die Cai Mountain, guests can enjoy a classical Chinese guzheng (a Chinese plucked zither) performance as the boat journeys across a 10-kilometer natural river gallery, passing 10 of Guilin’s most famous mountains such as Elephant Trunk Hill, Fubo Hill, Seven Star Hill and Laoren Hill.

A stay in an Executive Suite overlooking the Li River and karst mountains completes the journey.

Shangri-La Hotel, Guilin is located on the banks of the Li River and features many of the city’s firsts and superlatives. These include the city’s largest guestrooms, the largest meeting and conference facilities, the only hotel to have a wedding pagoda and the first hotel to feature indoor and outdoor swimming pools.

Situated near Yushan Bridge, the seven-story Shangri-La Hotel, Guilin, is a 35-minute drive from Guilin Liangjiang International Airport and a 10-minute drive from the city center.

The 449-room Shangri-La Hotel, Guilin features the largest rooms in the city starting at 42 square meters. There are 17 suites, ranging from an 84-square-meter executive suite to the 210-square-metre presidential suite. The hotel also incorporates Shangri-La’s Horizon Club guestrooms and lounge, a haven where today’s traveler can experience an even higher standard of accommodation and personalized service complemented with a host of exclusive privileges and amenities.

For meetings, incentives, conventions and exhibitions, the 1,800-square-meter Grand Ballroom, the largest ballroom in Guilin, is the perfect venue for hosting high-profile events of up to 2,000 people.

With six additional private function rooms and a dedicated VIP room, Shangri-La Hotel, Guilin is able to cater to a diverse range of event needs, from small private gatherings to conferences or large social events.

In addition, Guilin’s first and only wedding pagoda makes the hotel a much sought after location for weddings. Shangri-La Hotel, Guilin also features a comprehensive range of recreational facilities including indoor and outdoor pools in addition to tennis courts and a health club.

The hotel’s dining includes Shang Palace Chinese restaurant, which offers Cantonese, Hunanese and Huaiyang cuisines as well as local Guilin specialties against a backdrop of the Li River.

Li Cafe features live food action stations showcasing both Western and Asian cuisine and U Bar offering an assortment of grills and beers.

For business or pleasure, the Lobby Lounge offers desserts and pastries, a Chinese influenced snack menu and high tea sets from afternoon to evening. Surrounded by lush gardens, the pool bar serves fresh and simple snacks and meals as well as a diverse range of cocktails and juices.

The Suite Cruise package is offered at RMB 8,888 for two and, also includes roundtrip airport and jetty transfers by hotel limousine.

The rate quoted excludes tax and service charge and is subject to availability. For reservations and enquiries, call Shangri-La Hotel, Guilin at (86 773) 269 8888 or e-mail reservations.slgl@shangri-la.com

Two weeks’ advance reservation is required. Now through April 30, 2010, guests can also take advantage of a special opening offer of RMB 688 ($100) per night for single occupancy and RMB 788 ($115) per night for double occupancy for Deluxe category rooms, including buffet breakfast, subject to 15 per cent service charge and prevailing government tax.

For more information, visit www.shangri-la.com

The third Renaissance and first Marriott Executive Apartments properties are scheduled to open in Tianjin, China, later this year.

The two hotels are the 368-room Renaissance Tianjin Lakeview Hotel and the 96-unit The Lakeview, Tianjin-Marriott Executive Apartments.

They will share the same lakefront building in Tianjin’s Hexi District.

A lively night life scene, high-end shopping and the offices of major financial institutions are located nearby.

For social events and conferences, the hotel will have a ballroom that will be divisible into three sections, a junior ballroom capable of being divided in two, and three additional meetings rooms in varying configurations, all of which will be divisible into two sections each.

The Lakeview, Tianjin-Marriott Executive Apartments will offer a range of one-, two- and three-bedroom units, all of which will be furnished and include a fully equipped kitchen; in-unit laundry and safe; flat-screen, high-definition television; and high-speed Internet access.

While residents will be able to use the recreational and dining options at the Renaissance hotel, they will have a dedicated restaurant and lounge of their own for breakfast as well as an on-premise sundry/delicatessen.

Other amenities will include, a multi-purpose game room, a children’s playroom, room service and on-property resident storage room.

The Marriott International portfolio in Tianjin currently consists of the 280-room Renaissance Tianjin and the 284-room Renaissance Tianjin TEDA. The 400-room Tianjin Marriott is planned to open in 2013.

The over-the-water suites project at Sandals Grande St. Lucian Spa & Beach Resort is proceeding with construction plans currently on-schedule to begin in early 2011.

These suites, which will be the first-of-their-kind in the Caribbean, are set to begin welcoming guests in 2012.

In addition to the newly opened, all-butler Sandals Emerald Bay, Great Exuma, Bahamas, the over-the-water suites will help further introduce guests to the next level of the Sandals Resorts Luxury Included vacation experience. Adam Stewart, CEO of Sandals Resorts said,

“Now, with these suites, guests will no longer need to travel halfway around the world to enjoy the popular over-the-water experience.”

The 26 over-the-water suites will be available to guests in three luxury categories.

The suites will feature see-through glass floors, over-the-water hammocks, outdoor showers and Jacuzzis, and lit water for night viewing.

All 26 over-the-water suites will also include butler service, courtesy of Sandals Resorts’ exclusive partnership with the Guild of Professional English Butlers.

Vail Resorts is offering the Epic Pass for the third season offering unlimited unrestricted skiing at Vail, Beaver Creek, Breckenridge, Keystone, Heavenly and Arapahoe Basin for $599.

The New Epic 7-Pack Gives Skiers and Snowboarders seven days of unrestricted skiing and riding at any one of Vail Resorts’ five mountain resorts plus Arapahoe Basin anytime during the season for a price of $449, or almost 35 percent off of a single day lift ticket price.

A $49 down payment now guarantees the lowest price through May 31 with the remainder due in the fall.

The Summit Pass is available for $409 and provides unlimited lift access at the top Summit County resorts — Breckenridge, Keystone and Arapahoe Basin — with no date restrictions.

New for 2010-11 is a Keystone and Arapahoe Basin pass, providing unlimited and unrestricted access to both resorts for $359.

Prices on all pass products are guaranteed through May 31, and are available to purchase on www.epicpass.com  starting March 15.

For more information, visit www.epicpass.com  or www.snow.com

City Running Tours will begin providing guided running tours in Philadelphia on March 15, making good use in its routing of local scenery, including the Liberty Bell, Independence Hall, Love Park, Ben Franklin’s court and the Betsy Ross house.

“Philadelphia is a great city to run in, with a beautiful blend of architecture, parks and American history all within a few square miles,” said Michael Gazaleh, founder and CEO of City Running Tours.
“A short tour can show you the well-known landmarks, while something a little longer can take you off the beaten path to the city’s lesser known jewels.

Visitors can choose between a number of pre-selected routes, or provide us with information on what they want to see and how far they want to run and let us do the planning — and after your run you’re free to eat as many cheese steaks as your doctor will allow.”

Customized routes are available to meet runners requests.

The Schuylkill River Arts Tour starts at Philadelphia’s City Hall, then runners pass through Love Park and past the Franklin Institute and Rodin Museum, the Art Museum, down Boathouse Row and out along the Schuylkill River Trail.

The Historical Tour starts on a musical note as you run by the Academy of Music and the Kimmel Center, then get an up close look at the War Memorials, Independence Hall and the Liberty Bell before heading in to Washington Square Park.

Cruise down Chestnut Street to Penn’s Landing before looping back around to Love Park.

The South Philadelphia route heads along South Street by some notable shopping and eating haunts, to Penn’s Landing by the Seaport Museum and Camden Battleship then to Gloria Dei Church and through the Italian Market and cheese steak eateries.

Running Tours in Philadelphia are available 24 hours a day, seven days a week, 365 days a year.

Tours begin at $60 for the first six miles and are $6 for each additional mile.

Each tour includes transit fare to and from the start of the tour, a bottle of water, digital photos along the route, an official City Running Tours T-shirt, and a City Running Tours goody bag filled with running essentials. A portion of the proceeds from each run is donated to St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital. Founded in 2005,

City Running Tours is a provider of guided running tours in major American cities, including Boston, Charleston, Chicago, New York, Philadelphia, San Francisco and Washington, D.C. The company offers both set tours and customized runs to accommodate any athletic ability, style, training regimen or specific landmarks.

For more information, call 877-415-0058 or 646-216-9989 or visit www.cityrunningtours.com

Amtrak introduced a new website designed to show travelers how convenient it is to travel by train to visit the country’s national parks.

With the theme “Parks in Your Backyard,” www.Amtraktoparks.com  allows users to see the nearest Amtrak route to featured national park sites, each of which can be reached using public transportation from an Amtrak station.

www.Amtraktoparks.com offers a trip wizard which allows users to customize their search based on geographic location and personal interests, including Monuments/Memorials, Revolutionary History or Water Activities.

Information on accommodations such camping sites and hotels is also provided. Once the user selects a national park, information on the park as well as which Amtrak route provides service to that park is shown.

The site also provides a direct link to www.Amtrak.com, allowing users to book rail travel.

Initially, the featured national parks include Glacier, Grand Canyon, Yosemite, Everglades, Sequoia & Kings Canyon, Rocky Mountain and 50 others located along the Northeast Corridor and in the nation’s capital.

These parks were selected due to their proximity to an Amtrak route.

There are plans to add more national parks to the site.

Eight routes are currently highlighted on the site. They are Acela Express (Washington-New York-Boston), Northeast Regional (Virginia Beach-Richmond-Washington-New York-Boston), Silver Service (New York-Miami), Palmetto (New York-Savannah), Empire Builder (Chicago-St. Paul-Portland/Seattle), San Joaquins (Bakersfield-Sacramento-Oakland), California Zephyr (Chicago-Denver-San Francisco Bay Area), and Southwest Chief (Chicago-Albuquerque-Los Angeles).

“Passenger rail and national parks have rolled through history in tandem since the 1880s,” said Dean Reeder, national tourism director of the National Park Service.

“By facilitating visitor access to the many wondrous experiences available in many of our nation’s parks, Amtrak helps us advance the values of sustainable tourism.”

In addition to the highlighted Amtrak routes, seven other routes are also included so users may see other Amtrak routes that offer service to stations near national parks.

Those routes are the Capitol Limited (Washington-Pittsburgh-Chicago), City of New Orleans (Chicago-Memphis-New Orleans), Coast Starlight (Seattle-Portland-Los Angeles), Crescent (New York-Washington-Atlanta-New Orleans), Lake Shore Limited (New York/Boston-Albany-Chicago), Texas Eagle (Chicago-St. Louis-Dallas-Los Angeles), and Sunset Limited (New Orleans-Houston-Los Angeles).

Under the Find a Park function, users may view a complete list of national parks that are accessible by train. Another link provides details on special fares and Amtrak Vacations packages which include rail travel, hotel accommodations and tour tickets.

 For more information, call 800-USA-RAIL or visit www.Amtrak.com

Free entrance to St. Paul’s Cathedral is now available with the London Sightseeing Pass.

Users can see the latest work by sculptor Antony Gormley as one of the many benefits of the Pass.

The new sculpture is on display in the geometric staircase of St. Paul’s, one of 55 top attractions in the city you get free access to with the London Pass.

Other attractions include the Tower of London,  The Churchill Museum and Cabinet War Rooms and HMS Belfast.

Users have priority access at the busiest sites to avoid queues, a free guidebook and over 40 additional deals and discounts.

A one-day London Pass costs £39 ($58) for adults and £26 ($39) for a child.

A two-day London Pass costs £54 ($81) for adults (£40 [$60] for children aged between five and 15 years), three-day passes are £65 ($97) for adults and £45 ($67) for children, and a six-day option costs £89 ($133) for adults and £62 ($93) for children.

For more information, visit the banner ad at right.

El Remanso Rainforest Wildlife Lodge
www.elremanso.com

OSA PENINSULA, Costa Rica—Tucked away in the jungle of the Osa Peninsula in Costa Rica, El Remanso Lodge beckons lovers for a relaxing and adventurous getaway in a 185-acre private, natural setting.

At El Remanso, guests will discover the magic of a tropical rainforest that acts as a buffer zone to the famous Corcovado National Park. Couples can enjoy activities like a canopy breakfast, waterfall rappelling, birdwatching, guided hikes through the reserve, surfing, kayaking, horseback riding, tree climbing, yoga, dolphin watching, or simply relaxing on the terrace of the luxurious cabins while watching monkeys swing through the surrounding trees.

Popular with honeymooners and couples celebrating special life events, the lodge’s spacious accommodations offer excellent opportunities to observe wildlife in its natural setting, combining absolute comfort with a tasteful rainforest décor.

Guests are afforded breathtaking views of the ocean waves crashing 350 feet below and soothing sounds of the rainforest at night.

Other highlights include gourmet tropical cuisine prepared with local, organic ingredients, eating meals from the top of the rainforest canyon, and soaking up the sun at the pool while enjoying unforgettable rainforest views.

To the management at El Remanso, running the lodge with ethical responsibility in mind is mandatory.

They feel that it is an obligation to act in a responsible manner both with respect to the environment and the local community.

The El Remanso team is conscious that any lodge in any destination creates an impact in its environment, and so it is imperative to minimize impact by making sure that the local habitat and local communities are kept protected over time.

For instance, all the electricity of the lodge is provided by the lodge own hydroelectric system.

To find out about El Remanso’s special packages, visit www.elremanso.com/packages

For holidaymakers who really do want to take the road less travelled, Round The World Experts has launched the ultimate itinerary.

Taking in places which up until now have been off the tourist map, Round The World Experts’ consultants have created a worldwide tour to some of the most exciting and least explored countries that have only recently opened their doors to tourism.

To book this specially designed deal please contact: 0844 815 7581 or visit www.roundtheworldexperts.co.uk

Round The World Experts itinerary – Intrepid Traveller
London – Algeria – Libya (via Amman) – Lebanon (via Amman & Delhi) – Kathmandu – Tibet (via Chengdu & Hong Kong) – South Korea (via Hong Kong, LA & Miami) – Surinam (via Miami) – London
Ref: RTWLON72
From £3,931 per person
This deal is valid for travel until 30 Jun 10, offer ends 30 May 10.
http://www.roundtheworldexperts.co.uk/intrepidtraveller

Algeria

The gateway between Africa and Europe, Algeria remains a tricky country to travel in. However, access has improved and for the true intrepid traveller a visit more than outweighs some of the difficulties that may be encountered.

Be sure to visit both the town of Tamanrasset to experience the tribal culture of the nearby regions, and Timimoun to view a true Saharan oasis. The capital Algiers still embodies a strong colonial past but it has embraced the modern too, offering a great place for tourists to base themselves during their visit.

Libya

Thanks to greatly improved relations between Libya and the West, travellers can now experience the country known as the ‘land of eternal treasures’.

The capital city Tripoli is a place where Islamic civilisation and Arab arts offer a showcase to the rest of the country. The old castle, Al-Saraya Al-Hamra, is the dominating feature of the city, and visitors can also enjoy the many bazaars and souks that line the streets.

Lebanon

For those wishing to combine both the ancient and the ultramodern, a visit to the most captivating country of the Middle East is a must.

For the historian, the Roman temple at Baalbek will be of great interest, while in contrast the capital Beirut is a hub of glitz and action. Formerly known as the ‘Paris of the Middle East’, Beirut enjoys a warm Mediterranean climate and has benefitted from substantial urban regeneration.

Kathmandu

Kathmandu was once one of the world’s most inaccessible destinations. As Nepal’s largest city, it is an exhilarating place to experience. Stay in the tourist orientated Thamel district with its modern amenities, but be sure to explore the backstreets of the Old Town. It is here that Kathmandu truly comes alive and where you will catch a glimpse of the real Nepal, much of it unchanged since the Middle Ages.

Tibet

Undoubtedly one of the most remarkable destinations in Asia, Tibet offers stunning scenery, beautiful mountain lakes, monasteries and some of the friendliest people you could hope to meet.

Take advantage of the opportunity to hike in the Yarlung Valley and enjoy high-altitude treks up some of the world’s highest mountains.

The best place to set up base is in Tsetang and from here you can enjoy the attractions at Gangpo Ri and walk the pilgrim path. But Tibet is changing fast so go soon to catch a glimpse of this incredible place while it still retains its charm.

South Korea

South Korea is developing at lightning speed and this is most evident in the capital city of Seoul; a non-stop city with a contagious energy. One of the most surreal trips a visitor to South Korea can take is to Panmunjom, a village on the border with North Korea where a truce has been called between the two countries. It has been described as ‘the only tourist site in the world where the Cold War is still reality’ and is as close as any visitor to South Korea will get to its northern neighbour.

Surinam

Deep in the South American Amazon, Surinam is a rarely visited country. This is a shame as visitors truly get the best of both worlds – a bustling city to explore along with the opportunity to try and navigate its main attraction, the tropical rainforest which covers nearly 80 per cent of the country. Traversing the rivers and dense forest of this country is challenging, but well worth the effort as there are few destinations in the world that offer such experience and adventure.