Jetsettersblog

Compagnie du Ponant, a French company that recently opened a U.S. office, is introducing a new $150 million mega-yacht, the 264-guest Le Boréal, this spring. The 466-foot mega-yacht was designed by Jean-Philippe Nuel and built at the Fincantieri shipyard in Italy. A sister ship, L’Austral, will debut in spring 2011.

Le Boréal will have a staff-to-guest ratio of 1:2. Public spaces include a theater for performances and lectures, the Main Lounge with a dance floor and live music, the Panoramic Lounge for live entertainment and Internet access, a library, two open-air bars and two restaurants.

Serving French and international cuisine, La Licorne will offer three meals a day in an elegant setting.

At the more casual La Boussole, guests can dine inside or in the open air on lighter meals for breakfast, buffet lunch and themed dinners. The yacht also provides 24-hour room service.

The vessel will have a Carita spa with a hammam and a hydrotherapy room.

The fitness center will be equipped with treadmills, bicycles and kinesis equipment.

The ship also has an expansive Sun Deck with a swimming pool and terrace with panoramic views.

Le Boréal has will carry a fleet of Zodiac rubberized rafts that allow guests to explore as well as a marina platform that allows access to the water for swimming or water sports.

All but eight of Le Boréal’s 132 suites and staterooms have verandas.

Measuring between 484 to 200 square feet, the suites and staterooms have king or twin beds, bathtubs or showers, L’Occitane amenities, flat-screen satellite TV, DVD, CD and iPod players, satellite telephone and Wi-Fi. Suites also have Nespresso machines and Carita amenities.

Le Boréal has the flexibility to reconfigure 40 staterooms into 20 suites, making a total of 24 suites and 88 staterooms.

Capt. Jean-Philippe Lemaire and his officers are French and all speak fluent English, as does the rest of the crew, which is a mix of European and Asian.

The yacht’s open-bridge policy means guests can visit the captain any time.

Compagnie du Ponant is committed to reducing its impact on the environment. Le Boréal has the “Green Ship” label for its advanced waste water treatment, reduced fuel consumption and lower exhaust emissions.

The electric propulsion system is quiet and economic, and the diesel engines use a lighter, less-polluting bio fuel.

The mega yacht’s dynamic positioning means no anchor will destroy coral reefs or sea beds and its optimal underwater detection system avoids collision with whales and ice floes.

The yacht’s itineraries include ports and out-of-the way islands not accessible to large cruise ships. Two “Secrets of the Adriatic” itineraries departing May 20 and May 27 will sail to and from Venice along the Dalmatian Coast, stopping at eight ports and islands in Croatia and Montenegro. On June 8, “Cruising to the Rhythms of Jazz and Gospel” takes guests around Italy from Venice to Nice.

The June 18 Nice-to-Honfleur cruise has a wellness theme, so guests can practice yoga and Pilates and visit ports in France, Spain and Portugal.

The ship will offer two Baltic sailings before heading to Iceland for two cruises on July 22 and July 29.

Starting Aug. 23, Le Boréal will return to the Mediterranean with three Greek Island and Turkey itineraries and two cruises to the Black Sea, and then makes its way to the Western Mediterranean at the end of October.

On Nov. 1, the yacht departs Nice for Rio on a 15-day repositioning voyage for its first season in Antarctica, where it will remain until the end of February.

All but two cruises for the spring, summer and fall season are seven-day itineraries.

Prices start at $2,885 per person, double occupancy, and include all wine, beer, mineral water, soft drinks and specialty coffees served with meals.

Established in 1988 by Jean Emmanuel Sauvée and Philippe Videau, Compagnie du Ponant launched its first vessel, Le Ponant, in 1991. Le Levant was added in 1998, and Le Diamant, the former Song of Flower, was purchased from Radisson (now Regent) Seven Seas in 2004. Compagnie du Ponant is a division of CMA CGM, the world’s third-largest container shipping group.

The company’s North American sales office is at 2 Biscayne Blvd., Suite 2000, Miami, FL 33131. For more information, call 888-400-1082, email USreservations@ponant.com  or visit www.ponant.com

Olivia, a company specializing in lesbian travel, is celebrating its 20th year of chartering cruises and resort vacations.

Olivia has morphed from a record label in the 1970s to the largest company catering solely to lesbians today.

“Olivia was created to serve a lesbian market that ranges from women who must live quietly in suburbia, to women who have the freedom to walk the streets holding hands,” said Judy Dlugacz, president and founder of Olivia.

“I am extremely blessed to have been part of this amazing experience. When the company launched 35 years ago, I never dreamed Olivia would become the company that it is today.”

Olivia chartered its first cruise in 1990, a 600-passenger ship with Dolphin Cruise Lines. “When we first began, no one wanted our business,” said Jill Cruse, Olivia’s vice president of guest experience. “They were afraid of a backlash.

Now we are one of the biggest clients of Holland America and Club Med resorts. We have over 2,000 passengers on our Caribbean ships and go everywhere from the Galapagos Islands to Africa.”

Unlike other travel companies which have suffered in this past year’s recession, Olivia is going strong.

Five of this year’s trips are already sold out and many others are edging towards 100 percent occupancy.

While lowering the prices and adding new trips, Olivia has 14 vacations on the schedule and more to come.

“There is a ‘love fest’ between Olivia and the women we serve,” Dlugacz said. “That doesn’t happen very often between a company and its customers.”

Because Olivia serves a niche market, it has a special connection to their community.

“It’s amazing to see what happens when a happy, fun-loving, appreciative group gets together and experiences this level of freedom. … It’s nirvana!” Cruse said.

“Some take for granted being able to dance together or hold hands in public. But for our clientele it remains special.”

Olivia also helps the communities it visits, founding, for example, the LGBT Haiti Relief Fund of the Red Cross, for which it raised over $200,000 in the first two weeks following the earthquake.

“We visit the Caribbean all the time and our friends in Haiti are suffering in unimaginable ways,” Dlugacz said.

“As a community, we believe showing our support through this effort will help strengthen the bonds we have created in the region as LGBT people. We may not always be welcomed on some islands, and we hope that by bundling together our resources and using our gay dollars, we will show the compassion and love we have for the people of the region.”

For more information, call 800-631-6277

or visit www.olivia.com

Homewood Suites by Hilton, the international brand of all-suite, residential-style hotels, and Hampton Hotels, the international brand of nearly 1,800 hotels, announced the opening of their first dual-branded development in Canada.

Located minutes from Toronto’s Pearson International Airport, the two buildings boast 126 Hampton rooms and 128 Homewood brand suites and are joined by a shared common area, pool and fitness center.

The hotel is owned by Bayview Toronto Airport Corporate Centre Ltd and managed by Bayview Hospitality, Inc.

Located at 5515 Eglinton Avenue West, on the Mississauga/Toronto border, the hotel offers two separate check-in desks and lodging/dining areas — each catering to the needs of their respective customers.

The shared areas include the meeting rooms, business center, pool, putting green and fitness center.

Homewood Suites guests enjoy a range of complimentary services and amenities, including a daily full hot buffet breakfast in the hotel’s hospitality center — the “Lodge” — an evening reception featuring a light meal and non-alcoholic beverages Monday through Thursday, an executive business center and a 24-hour on-site pantry.

The brand’s spacious studio, one- and two-bedroom suites feature separate living and sleeping areas and fully-equipped kitchens with full-size refrigerators, a microwave, two-burner stove and a dishwasher.

Guests receive enough space for work, study or entertaining with all the comforts of home including a HD LCD TV, complimentary high-speed internet access and two phones with voice mail.

This property marks a milestone for Hampton as its 30th opening in Canada. Hampton Hotels offers guests free On the House hot breakfast seven days a week and a 24-hour hot tea and coffee station.

All guest rooms feature amenities such as free high-speed Internet access, and Hampton’s signature Clean and Fresh bed. Hampton Hotels is dedicated to offering the best customer service and value to leisure and business travelers alike, backed by its unconditional satisfaction guarantee in addition to its complete support for Hampton franchisees.

The hotel is close to shopping, dining and entertainment including the Centennial Park & Golf Course and Etobicoke Olympium.

For guests’ convenience, the hotel offers a pre-arranged complimentary shuttle service to and from Toronto’s Pearson International Airport, and to the neighboring business parks within a five-mile radius of the property.

For more information on Homewood Suites, call 800-CALL-HOME or visit www.homewoodsuites.com

For more information on Hampton Hotels, call 800-HAMPTON or visit www.hampton.com

The Villa By Barton G., known throughout the world as the former residence of fashion designer Gianni Versace, debuts in March in South Beach with 10 suites and The Dining Room, a fine dining restaurant located in the mansion at 1116 Ocean Drive. Transformed by events impresario and restaurateur Barton G. Weiss, The Villa By Barton G. remains true to Versace’s vision with private British-trained butlers for hotel guests and amenities such as Frette sheets and towels,

Kindle e-readers and custom nightly nibbles as turndown treats. Accommodations range from the 434-square-foot Medallion Suite overlooking one of the mosaics in the mansion to the 1,428-square-foot Venus Suite with two private balconies perched above Ocean Drive and the mansion’s Thousand Mosaic Pool.

The 1,174-square-foot Villa Suite, Versace’s one-time bedroom, boasts a nine-foot double king-size bed, two balconies, seven closets and a custom oversized shower.

Guests are welcomed to The Villa By Barton G. by their dedicated British-trained and certified butlers who personally attend to them throughout their stay.

In-room, poolside and rooftop spa services are available, as is open access to the mansion’s two private lounges, lush Mosaic Gardens and the Thousand Mosaic swimming pool.

The Dining Room at The Villa By Barton G., open from 7 p.m. to late seven nights a week, opened to capacity.

The Dining Room at The Villa By Barton G. offers European cuisine presented by Barton G. Signature dishes at The Villa — served on Versace-Rosenthal china in the pebble mosaic dining room — include The Villa Salad, with its smoking nitro Caesar dressing, and rack of lamb with Greek yogurt jelly cubes.

The Dining Room’s Parisian-trained pastry chef begins the meal with freshly baked truffle bread, and ends with memorable desserts ranging from the Tower of Profiteroles to Les Trois Pommes.

Additionally, The Villa By Barton G. will host Miami Beach’s only afternoon tea, launching on April 15.

The Saturday and Sunday Tea at The Villa will feature a variety of the world’s most exotic teas, pastries and finger sandwiches served by The Villa’s British-certified butlers. Rates at The Villa By Barton G. start at $2,100 per night.

For more information, call 305-576-8003, email info@TheVillaByBartonG.com  or www.TheVillaByBartonG.com

Chef Rick Moonen has unveiled Rick Moonen’s rm Seafood Upstairs, the fine dining element of his two-story restaurant at Mandalay Bay in Las Vegas.

Moonen was honored with a James Beard semi-finalist nomination for Best Chef Southwest, and announced that he will be return to Bravo’s “Top Chef Masters” as a contestant.

The restaurant focuses on sustainable seafood and is open Tuesday through Saturday from 5:30 p.m. to 10:30 p.m. Season Two of Top Chef Masters premieres April 7 on Bravo. Moonen will make his debut on the April 21 episode at 10 p.m. EST/PST.

For a sneak peek, visit www.bravotv.com/top-chef-masters/videos/the-masters-are-back .

For restaurant reservations, call 702-632-9300. For hotel information, call 877-632-7800 or visit www.mandalaybay.com

ANA InterContinental Tokyo opened Japan’s only Pierre Gagnaire restaurant and unveiled bespoke uniforms made exclusively for the restaurant by Japanese designer, Junko Koshino.

Offering guests a contemporary culinary and design forward experience,

Pierre Gagnaire combines high fashion and innovative cuisine set against the backdrop of Tokyo atop the 36th floor of the ANA Intercontinental Tokyo.

The ANA InterContinental Tokyo is situated in Tokyo’s Akasaka area.

The restaurant overlooks the city with a view that includes Tokyo Tower.

ANA InterContinental Tokyo has 843 rooms including 43 suites, over 20 meeting venues for up to 2,000 delegates in cocktail style and endless dining choices in 11 restaurants and bars.

Newly opened the Club InterContinental with Tokyo’s largest Club lounge on the 35th floor offers new facilities and views of Tokyo’s major landmarks and Mount Fuji.

For more information, call 888-424-6835

or visit the banner at right.