Jetsettersblog

Choice Hotels International, Inc. announced that the Cambria Suites hotel in Fort Lauderdale/Dania Beach, Fla., has opened.

The 119-suite Fort Lauderdale hotel is the first Cambria Suites in Florida and is owned by Dan Patel of DP Hotels. Patel, a Fort Lauderdale resident, owns a variety of properties and has been in the hospitality industry more than 25 years.

There are 20 Cambria Suites hotels open and nearly 30 under development nationwide. Every Cambria Suites suite features separate work and living areas with ergonomic chairs, movable desks, luxury linens and Bath and Body Works products.

The all-suites hotels offer the latest in technology, including a 52-inch television in the open, airy two-story lobby, and each suite includes two flat-screen LCD televisions and MP3 jacks.

Every suite offers MediaHub plug-and-play technology, allowing guests to connect their laptop, MP3 player, game console, digital camera or CD/DVD player hassle-free. Free high-speed wired and wireless Internet access is available throughout the hotel so that guests can stay connected when on the road. Like all Cambria Suites hotels, the Fort Lauderdale property features Reflect, a dining and gathering area serving a dinner menu, liquor, wine, beer, and a barista bar featuring Wolfgang Puck coffee, Cheesecake Factory desserts and a hot breakfast buffet; Refresh fitness center with a resort-style pool and hot tub/spa area; and Refill, a 24/7 convenience store that offers energy drinks, snacks and sundries, as well as freshly prepared grab-and-go gourmet salads and sandwiches.

For more information, call 954-889-8600 or visit www.CambriaSuites.com

Imanta Punta de Mita, set to be one of Mexico’s premier sustainable resorts, announced its opening on March 12, with an introductory package offering guests to stay four nights, and pay for three.

The offer, valid through Oct. 31, 2010, starts at $1,200 per night inclusive of daily breakfast, a $100 resort credit and complimentary morning activity (guests may choose from hiking, yoga or kayaking). Imanta features seven accommodations, each constructed with locally sourced and environmentally friendly materials.

Five free-standing one-bedroom Casas feature spacious living areas, indoor/outdoor showers, pools and terraces. Additionally, there are two two-bedroom Casonas, each including a full kitchen, living room, dining room, pool and terrace.

For casual dining, Catch of the Day offers beach fare and cocktails. For more formal dining, Tukipa features views of the jungle and ocean and offers a daily-changing menu.

Guests can also enjoy sunset cocktails at Observatorio, the resort’s rooftop terrace.

The resort also offers a full-service spa, with treatments in-room, by the beach or in the intimate spa facility.

Activities include biking, hiking, bird-watching, guided eco-adventure tours and horseback riding through Imanta’s natural reserve. Sailing, kayaking, snorkeling, yachting, kite surfing, windsurfing, surfing, diving and whale-watching are available. For golfers, six professional courses are located within 45 minutes of the resort.

In addition to the hotel, Imanta Punta de Mita offers 37 private signature lots subtlety interspersed throughout the property, making it the lowest density resort in the Country.

For more information, visit www.imantaresorts.com

Vacation exchange company RCI announced its plan to launch RCI Points Platinum membership, a new premium membership and the latest enhancement to its successful RCI Points program that will offer exclusive exchange and lifestyle benefits to subscribing members.

RCI Points Platinum will offer its members exclusive “first look” exchange access to specially acquired inventory around the world at upscale properties in highly sought after vacation destinations.

RCI Points Platinum will also provide members with free unit upgrades based on availability providing even more room to relax and Cash Back rewards for various RCI transactions.

In addition to these extremely exciting advancements in exchange, RCI plans to extend unique lifestyle benefits to RCI Points Platinum members that will include advance access to popular Broadway style theater experiences including select opportunities to attend pre-launch and producer shows.

For the golf and ski connoisseur, RCI Points Platinum members will receive preferred pricing or discounts of up to 50 percent at thousands of golf courses and dozens of the most popular ski mountains in North America.

Taking the member experience further than ever before, RCI Points Platinum plans to extend other significant savings benefits of up to 50 percent on spa experiences and much, much more allowing RCI Points Platinum members to get more out of their vacation experience. RCI plans to launch the RCI Points Platinum membership in the United States and Canada with other regions to follow. Member benefits may vary in other regions.

For more information, visit www.wyndhamer.com  or visit www.wyndhamworldwide.com

The Ocean’s Edge Resort in St. Kitts is offering villas from $359,000 for a one-bedroom beachfront to $1.5 million for villa including land and an ownership plan. Construction is currently in Phase 3 and has already built, and sold out Phases 1 and 2 which include 30 hillside apartments and 16 one-bedroom beachfront apartments.

Many of the completed apartments are already being rented out as part of Ocean’s Edge interim rental/management program which provides rental and property management services prior to the resort operator coming on board. This program is responding to the strong demand on the island for rental accommodation.

Located 180 feet above sea level, the 4,500-square-foot luxury villas include three bedrooms plus a guest house pavilion and a 25-foot-long infinity edge pool.

The villa, with its three terraces, offers views to the Atlantic Ocean, Caribbean Sea, the Royal St. Kitts Golf Course and St. Kitts’ mountains and rainforest.

Ocean’s Edge is being designed to meet the standards of Green Globe 21Benchmarking program, the globally recognized brand that assures commitment to improved environmental and social outcomes.

The designs also fully comply with Miami-Dade Hurricane certification.

Ocean’s Edge, a resort development with plans for 190 condominiums and 32 villa lots for bespoke villas, launched sales of Phase 3A in autumn of 2009, with construction slated to commence at the end of March 2010.

To date, of the 15 villa plots currently released for sale, nine have been sold with construction of four villas currently underway and commencement of a further two villas set to begin shortly.

Phases 1 and 2 at Ocean’s Edge featuring 30 hillside apartments and 16 one-bedroom beachfront apartments were completed in December, and are sold out.

Many of the completed apartments are already being rented out as part of Ocean’s Edge interim rental/management program which provides rental and property management services prior to the resort operator coming on board. This program is responding to the strong demand on the island for rental accommodation.

For more information, email info@oceansedgestkitts.com  or visit www.oceansedgestkitts.com

Visit Jacksonville announces a new way to save this spring on a family vacation to Jacksonville.

The Jax A-Z Family Pass bundles three of Jacksonville’s top family attractions — Adventure Landing, the Museum of Science & History (MOSH) and the Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens at a savings.

The one-stop admission ticket, available at Visit Jacksonville’s website, is $32.99 for adults and $25.99 for children (ages 3 to 12), a savings of up to $7 per person.
For more information or to purchase the Jax A-Z Family Pass, visit www.splashintospring.com

The bold stripes of the rainbow flag are brightening up Thomson’s website with the arrival of its new holiday range aimed at the gay market.

Thomson’s all-new Freedom Collection has now launched with a smart new e-brochure.

Designed with gay and lesbian travellers in mind, it’s the only collection of its kind to be offered by a mainstream tour operator.

Needless to say, all Freedom Collection holidays are ATOL protected and come with a full overseas service, but what does that mean?

Well a hand picked Holiday Advisor to give you all the inside information on the local area such as best beaches, best nightspots and the local ‘scene’, but also to be there for you should things go wrong.

The standout feature of the collection is the fact every single hotel, whether it’s a budget base or a boutique bolthole, will have had the GayComfort seal of approval before our customers arrive.

GayComfort is an online accreditation program which means that frontline hotel staff have had special training to help strip out the awkwardness that often creeps into same-sex holidays, such as the moment when a same-sex couple check in and it is assumed that they would want a twin instead of a double.

The GayComfort programme has been designed by Out Now, leaders in promoting gay and lesbian travel, and is the only IGLTA recognised endorsement on just how gay friendly a hotel actually is.

Thomson Innovation manager, Philippa Morgan, says: “This is a hugely exciting launch for Thomson. There’s definitely an appetite in the market for gay-friendly holidays that come with the security and peace of mind that only a big tour operator can offer.”

Philippa continues: “The reason we’ve taken this approach is because research has shown that three out of four gay or lesbian holidaymakers actively search out hotels they believe are genuinely welcoming.”

The hotels which include some Gay Exclusive properties are spread across seven ‘pink’ destinations, all of which have either well-established or blossoming gay scenes.

Plus, couples choosing the Freedom Collection can go one step further and organise their civil partnership through the tour operator. Thomson is offering same-sex ceremonies in Ibiza, with extras ranging from stretch limos to fire-swallowing showmen.

For further information on Freedom Collection holidays or to book, visit a Thomson or First Choice travel shop, call 0871 230 8777 or go online at www.thomson.co.uk/freedom

North Yorkshire wins a place in Harden’s Top Ten Restaurants 2010 with The Yorke Arms

The Yorke Arms in Ramsgill in Nidderdale, North Yorkshire is celebrating its latest achievement, reaching Harden’s Top Ten Restaurants in the UK 2010.

Harden’s is regarded as one of the UK’s top authoritative restaurant guides. It is run by brothers Peter and Richard Harden, who rank restaurants on the strength of customer reviews, considering the volunteered opinions of over 8,000 customers.

With Head Chef Frances Atkins at the helm, this Great Inn has become one of the UK’s Top Restaurants with Rooms, with a recent string of top awards and recommendations, including another reader’s award, as the North-East’s Restaurant of the Year 2009/10, voted by over 23,000 diners and readers of The Good Food Guide.

Raised in Ilkley and trained at Bradford College, Frances Atkins is widely recognised as one of the UK’s top female chefs.

With over 43 years experience, Frances is a fellow of the Masterchefs of Great Britain and one of only six female Michelin starred chefs in the UK. Her menus are based on simple ideas but with the introduction of new twists and original touches she strives to create memorable and inspired dishes.

Frances Atkins, Chef Patron at the Yorke Arms says:

‘It is always fantastic to win critical acclaim, but a reader voted award makes this extra special and we truly appreciate the support of our diners and guests who have helped us to win this Top 10 Restaurant award with Harden’s’.

‘With so many other amazing restaurants within the region, this award is a testament to the consistency, originality and high standards that we try to provide at The Yorke Arms.’

Founder member and Chair of the Great Inns of Britain, Sir Thomas Ingilby says:

“I am delighted that Frances’ hard work has been rewarded by Harden’s. Both Frances, her husband Bill and the whole team at The The Yorke Arms work tirelessly to produce exquisite dishes and a wonderful welcoming setting. We are very proud to have her as a member of The Great Inns of Britain.’

The Yorke Arms joined the exclusive collection of The Great Inns of Britain in 2007, where membership is by invitation only.
The 22 Great Inns are located across England, Scotland and Wales; other Yorkshire members include the Feversham Arms & Verbena Spa, The Boar’s Head at Ripley and The Blue Lion at East Witton.

www.greatinns.co.uk and www.yorke-arms.co.uk

We have just added 4 new B&Bs/Residences and 2 cute apartments to our collection. All centrally located in the historical centre of Florence. We are currently offering a 5% discount to introduce these new properties to our clients, for all bookings received before the 15th February. For further details please view the following links…

www.italian-connection.co.uk/italiancollection/details2.asp?propid=2447
  www.italian-connection.co.uk/italiancollection/details2.asp?propid=2448
www.italian-connection.co.uk/italiancollection/details2.asp?propid=2449
www.italian-connection.co.uk/italiancollection/details2.asp?propid=2450
www.italian-connection.co.uk/italiancollection/details2.asp?propid=2451
www.italian-connection.co.uk/italiancollection/details2.asp?propid=2452

North Queensland Heli WorX has begun helicopter adventure tours out of Mission Beach offering an exhilarating way to discover the hidden wonders of Tropical North Queensland.

The helicopter adventure specialists now provide a wide range of personalised heli-tours from Mission Beach to suit every budget including scenic flights, day tours, lunch tours, island transfers, beach picnics, photography tours and heli-sports.

On board the Robinson R44 Raven II Helicopter guests can experience the fastest and most thrilling way to discover destinations that would normally be inaccessible or take days of trekking or hours of driving to get there.

Whether it’s taking in spectacular views of Dunk Island and Mission Beach from the air, being dropped in the heart of the Misty Mountain trails on a heli-hiking adventure or embarking on a heli-fishing or camping experience of a life time, North Queensland Heli Worx has something for everyone.

The company also offers heli-white water kayaking for those more experienced adrenalin junkies.

www.nqheliworx.com.au

The Queensland Art Gallery (QAG) will be the only Australian venue to host Hats: An Anthology by Stephen Jones, a spectacular exhibition exploring the art of millinery.

From 27 March – 27 June, QAG will showcase more than 250 hats and iconic headpieces from London’s Victoria and Albert Museum. The exhibition was developed in collaboration with Stephen Jones, one of the world’s foremost milliners and features historical items such as a twelfth-century Egyptian fez to hats worn by Camilla Parker-Bowles, Mick Jagger and Kylie Minogue.

Audiences will enjoy the frivolity of hats and learn about their personal, cultural and historical significance.

Hot on its heels is another fashion inspired exhibition. In August, The Gallery of Modern Art will exclusively host Valentino, Retrospective – Past/Present/Future. This exhibition will present 100 garments tracing Valentino Garavani’s career, featuring dresses worn by Jackie Onassis and Julia Roberts. http://qag.qld.gov.au