Jetsettersblog

A new restaurant called deca Restaurant + Bar will open the first week of May in The Ritz Carlton-Chicago at 160 E. Pearson St.

Executive Chef Mark Payne will present menus that celebrate classic dishes with creative twists and feature locally sourced and fresh ingredients.

There will be “Plats de Jour” every day of the week, including such delicacies as Berkshire pork chop with buttered spaetzle, beef bourguignon and soft shell crab.

Side dishes include mac and cheese, Yukon Gold potato puree and truffle French fries.

The wine list features over 40 wines — half the entire list — served by the glass.

In celebration of the opening, all bottles (which range from $40 to $60) and glasses will be half price, Sunday through Thursday, from opening day through Labor Day.

The bar is situated behind the hotel’s fountain, with ceiling-to-floor windows.

The bar area is furnished with wing-back leather chairs, cocktail tables and upholstered ottomans, all resting on handmade area rugs.

The bar menu includes mini Kobe beef sliders, crispy calamari, crab gratin, and artisan cheeses with preserved walnuts and crispy fruit bread.

A restaurant website is being developed.

Beginning May 1, for more information and reservations, call 312-573-5160.

Westport, Conn.-based Golf Travel ETC is a new agent-friendly tour operator providing custom-designed golf vacations offering golf and other experiences and activities such as fishing, horseback riding, spas, cooking classes and wine tastings, music, museums, guided sightseeing and shopping — virtually any activity to help guests pursue their own interests and connect with the local culture.

Catering to the avid golfer, Golf Travel ETC provides everything expected on a golf vacation — tee times at all the best courses, advice on local, lesser-known courses, accommodations, dining, transportation and caddies. And, when traveling with friends or family, Golf Travel ETC tailor-makes a vacation that includes golf and other great experiences.

Golf Travel ETC is owned and operated by travel industry professionals with decades of experience in every facet of the Irish travel industry.

They now bring their extensive experience to Golf Travel ETC, where they create the perfect vacation that combines the sport of golf with just about everything.

The operator handles group from two to 200.

For more information, call 877-934-6531 or visit

www.golftraveletc.com

Greek Peak Mountain Resort, in Cortland, N.Y., has launched a corporate partnership program for Hope Lake Lodge & Indoor Waterpark, reaching out to businesses with a vacation discount that can be passed on to employees.

This introductory program offers guests a substantial 25 percent discount through the end of May 2010. Coordinating the Corporate Partnership Program is Michelle Kannus, assistant hotel sales manager for Hope Lake Lodge.

Kannus has been a concierge at the hotel since its opening in December 2009.

In addition to coordinating the Corporate Partnership Program, her newly created position includes assisting in the sales and coordination of banquets and events, hotel marketing, group sales, and guest service and satisfaction.

For more information, visit www.greekpeakmtnresort.com

The Lee County Visitor & Convention Bureau (VCB) is launching a next-generation consumer website at www.FortMyers-Sanibel.com  that will optimize the visitor’s experience by bringing the destination to life online.

The new site aligns what prospective visitors find important in their online information needs related to destination decision-making, as well as trip planning and booking once the destination has been solidified.

The organization markets the destination internationally to leisure and meetings travelers as The Beaches of Fort Myers & Sanibel.

The VCB created the site in partnership with its integrated marketing agency bvk, which enlisted help from digital marketing partner Miles Media.

As part of the site development, the VCB conducted two rounds of usability testing with consumers to guide the content, design and execution of the new site.

The VCB incorporated enhanced features, content and navigation to immerse potential vacationers in the destination’s unspoiled island sanctuary.

Heavy use of photography immediately communicates to users the breadth of the destination’s offerings.

Key features of the new site are interactive user interfaces, content ratings, social sharing, multiple paths to access content, full-screen videos, immersive maps, large backgrounds, and booking and planning tools.

Visitors who access the new site will view a 12-second introductory video that opens onto the home page, featuring two main ways to access information.

The experiential/left navigation returns featured experiences and destination highlights through articles and videos; while the “Plan Your Trip” right navigation returns comprehensive, detailed drill-down information on specific properties, activities or dining options.

There also are links along the bottom of the home page that offer quicker access to the same information for visitors who already are familiar with the destination and know the specific details they need for vacation planning.

Those who access articles on the experiential/left navigation can post comments about them, rate them using a five-shell rating system, and share them with others via a variety of avenues, including Facebook, Twitter, YouTube and Flicker.

Visitors also can sort the content by most recent, most favorited and most commented articles.

The VCB’s current consumer website, which has been in operation since 2006, garnered nearly 1 million visitors in 2009. While the new site is expected to increase traffic somewhat, the emphasis is on deepening visitors’ engagement with the destination through ordering Visitor Guides, opting into the e-newsletter, reading more articles, watching videos and searching for accommodations — all with the goal of building brand loyalty.

For more information, visit www.FortMyers-Sanibel.com

Chicago is promoting its eco-friendly attitude and tourism facilities. Chicago is home to 14 Green Seal-certified hotels, the most of any city in the U.S. The Earth-friendly and energy efficient properties are Essex Inn, Four Seasons, Hilton Chicago, Ritz-Carlton Chicago, Sheraton Chicago Hotel & Towers, Sofitel Chicago Water Tower, Silversmith Hotel & Suites, Westin Michigan Avenue, Hotel Monaco Chicago, Hotel Burnham, Hotel Allegro Chicago, InterContinental Chicago, the Talbott and the Fairmont Chicago-Millennium Park.

The city boasts several organic restaurants. Family-owned Nana, at 3267 S. Halsted St. in Bridgeport, is a breakfast and lunch spot serving all organic and sustainable fare.

Satko Ibrahimovic’s Sprout, 1417 W. Fullerton Ave. in Lincoln Park, features seasonal dishes and organic wines. Raw, 500 W. Madison St., offers healthy concoctions including noodles made from shredded zucchini and pizza crust made from sprouted wheat berries.

Chicago has over 300 miles of bikeways spanning the entire city and the nation’s second-largest public transit system. The Chicago Center for Green Technology, 445 N. Sacramento Blvd., is the first rehabilitated municipal building in the nation to receive the U.S. Building Council’s LEED Platinum rating. It is a resource for information about green technologies and environmental impact.

For more information, visit www.explorechicago.org/city/en/about_the_city/green_chicago.html

Amtrak passengers who book online at www.Amtrak.com can now change their travel schedule or class of service, as well as upgrade, downgrade and exchange tickets online instead of standing in line to speak with a ticket agent.

The online self-service feature can only be used for reservations made on Amtrak.com before a paper ticket has been printed. Passengers will still need to pick up printed tickets at the station prior to boarding the train.

Any reductions in fare will automatically be refunded while payment of fare increases resulting from reservation changes can be collected through the online system.

Passengers, who book through channels other than Amtrak.com, such as through the call center or at a station, will not be able to make changes to their bookings online.

This is the latest service improvement following the re-launch of Amtrak.com with added functionality, the introduction of Wi-Fi on the high-speed Acela Express trains and recent upgrades to long-distance train service.

Last fiscal year, Amtrak carried 27.2 million passengers, making it the second-best year in the company’s history.

With 21,000 route miles in 46 states, the District of Columbia and three Canadian provinces, Amtrak operates more than 300 trains each day to more than 500 destinations.

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

Loved up couples looking for a unique location for a destination wedding should head to Colorado to take advantage of some of the beautiful natural landscapes on offer.

Whether couples are planning an intimate ceremony or a huge family affair, Colorado has a range of stunning innate and unique locations to suit every taste for a destination ceremony.

With an average of 300 days of sunshine every year, warm summer temperatures and exceptional orange and red hues of the numerous rock formations, Colorado has a fairytale setting for any ceremony.

Take a look at some of Colorado’s top destinations for a unique ceremony.

Colorado Springs
Pikes Peak

For a wedding with a view Pikes Peak, located in the heart of Colorado Springs, offers a stunning backdrop for a romantic ceremony with unique photographs.

Just an hour south of Denver, the world’s highest cog railway transports guests 4,302metres to the summit of Pikes Peak. Here couples can say their ‘I dos’ above the tree line, or for those more adventurous a small hike up Barr Trail will take visitors to the peak. On a clear day, the eye can see as far as the state of Kansas.

Garden of the Gods Park

Garden of the Gods Park is a national natural landmark set against Pikes Peak.

Featuring dramatic towering red rock formations with hues of reds and oranges, the deep colours are a great contrast to any bride to be intending to wear a light dress.

With dramatic views, 300′ towering sandstone rock formations against a backdrop of snow-capped Pikes Peak and brilliant blue skies, these are scenes commonly found only in the movies.

Popular locations are the Central Garden area, the J.C. Plaza at the foot of Kissing Camels and the Three Graces/Cathedral Spires area at the western side of the Central Garden walkway which are all spectacular landscapes

There is no cost associated with marriage ceremonies, however the legacy is that it remains free and open to the public at all times.

Glenwood Springs

For a destination with plenty of r’n’r on hand, Glenwood Hot Springs resort is the perfect location for couples to distress and relax before the big day.

Boasting the world’s largest mineral springs pool and the new Spa of the Rockies, couples are encouraged to arrive in the region ahead of the wedding to take advantage of some of the relaxation treatments on offer.

The Spa of the Rockies at Glenwood Hot Springs offers brides and grooms a retreat where they can relax and indulge themselves – brides have access to a spa menu of signature treatments with this in mind. Of course with photos of the rings in every wedding album, hands (and feet) benefit from regular attention. Brides can also request a complimentary makeup application by one of the Spa’s trained estheticians.

For the ceremony itself, couples can either have their ceremony at the resort or in nearby Glenwood Canyon, a scenic gorge located above the mighty Colorado River.

Grand Junction

The naturally charming location is Colorado’s hot spot for summer adventure and home to Colorado’s wine country.

The local landscape is so diverse, with canyons, the Colorado River and excellent terrain meaning it’s a popular destination with visitors flocking to the town for adventure sports and wine tours from all over the world.

One of Grand Junction’s greatest local attractions is the Colorado National Monument, located just to the west of the town. This unsung wonder is a spectacular towering sandstone rock canyon, the envy of many a photographer with a breath-taking backdrop.

Weddings are conducted in four picturesque areas in the National Monument – Book Cliffs View Shelter, the Saddlehorn Picnic Area, the Devils Kitchen Picnic Area, and the Saddlehorn Amphitheatre. Each of the four locations is surrounded by beautiful views and dramatic red rock panoramic landscapes.

To round off the ceremony, Grand Junction boasts numerous reception venues including some of its finest vineyards and orchards newlyweds will never be without a bottle of Colorado’s fine wines to toast!

For more details about having a wedding in the Colorado National Monument and obtaining the necessary permits, please visit the Monument’s website at

www.nps.gov/colm/planyourvisit/specialusepermits.htm

For more information on Colorado and some of it’s fantastic locations for a destination wedding, visit:

www.colorado.com/english

This 100-mile heritage trail encompasses seven historically significant communities including Athens, Watkinsville, Madison, Eatonton, Milledgeville, Gray/Old Clinton and Macon.
During the Pilgrimage weekend, communities along the Trail will offer museum tours and special events as well as entrance into private historic homes not generally open to the public.

A flexible Antebellum Trail Pilgrimage Pass provides admission to a choice of seven events or attractions in any or all of the communities.

The April Pilgrimage dates will allow tourists to combine the Pilgrimage with spring festivals and annual events.

The northern gateway of the Antebellum Trail is Athens, (named a Distinctive Destination in 2009 by The National Trust for Historic Preservation).

Patrons can tour four house museums featuring four architectural styles from four different time periods.

One featured attraction is Athens’ oldest surviving residence, the Church-Waddel-Brumby house, which was influenced by the Federal style.

Watkinsville, a former frontier town on the edge of Creek and Cherokee Indian territories, is home to the Eagle Tavern.

The Eagle Tavern was built in the late 1700s and is one of the city’s earliest surviving structures. It served as a stagecoach stop and tavern throughout the antebellum period.

In addition to the Eagle Tavern, Pilgrimage patrons can experience eclectic shopping in the town centre which features antique shops, art galleries and specialty shops.

Madison, known as “the town Sherman refused to burn,” is a national treasure of antebellum architecture.

Featured stops on the Pilgrimage are the Rogers House, a fine example of Piedmont Plain style architecture and the Rose Cottage. Other highlights include Heritage Hall and private antebellum homes not usually open to the public.

Over 160 antique vendors plus 45 specialty shops grace the downtown square.

Participants will also visit Eatonton, the birthplace of Joel Chandler Harris, author of the famous Uncle Remus Tales. Patrons can tour the Uncle Remus Museum which contains many first editions of Harris’ work featured homes include the Adams-
Young-Rivers home, a Greek Revival cottage and Napier-Reid-Rainey-Stubbs-Eagle Tavern, a Greek revival remodelling of an original Piedmont Plain style home.

A self-guided walking tour is also available to see countless examples of Greek revival Queen Anne and Folk Victorian as well as Gothic Revival homes.

Milledgeville is known as Georgia’s Antebellum Capital. Featured on the Pilgrimage is the restored Old Governor’s Mansion, where Sherman himself slept!

Completed in 1839, the Old Governor’s Mansion is one of the finest examples of Greek Revival architecture in the nation. Georgia’s Old Capital Museum, which is housed in the first public building designed in the Gothic Revival style and location where Georgia legislators voted to secede from the Union.

The museum will hold re-enactments for Pilgrimage patrons. Milledgeville also boasts a Museum District that includes preserved mansions, haunted historic sites and eclectic art galleries, while the historic district boasts 20 architectural landmarks.

In the quiet, rural village of Gray/Old Clinton, visitors can get a glimpse back in time to the former bustling town on Georgia’s western frontier. Patrons can walk the grounds of Jarrell Plantation State Historic site, a 1850s cotton plantation and state park.

Only a half mile from the plantation, Hitchiti Nature trail offers hiking trails and a four-mile loop that follows Little Falling Creek to the Ocmulgee River.

The southern tip of the trail is Macon, home to the Hay House. Tour patrons can enjoy an intimate “tea party” hosted by period costumed docents in the formal gardens at Cannonball House.

Patrons will also re-live the Civil War era with recounts of the 1864 attack on this once privately-owned Greek Revival home. Patrons can end the evening with a scenic drive or a leisurely stroll through Macon’s town illumination tour, a unique, self-guided tour which showcases over 30 public and private mansions.

Vegas Meetings Online (VMOL) has launched Version 2.0 of a product directed at providing a digital booking solution for the small meetings segment for Las Vegas hotels.

The latest version provides a new user interface, easy-to-navigate solution for professional and non-professional planners, as well as those just requiring a block of sleeping rooms and no function space.

Planners can book up to 25 rooms live from a variety of hotels.

The site offers ease of use and built-in marketing applications.

The meeting tools allow marketers to upload and store contacts, broadcast emails and surveys, and track results of the campaigns or events.

Planners also can create build agendas, search and book hotel rooms and submit requests for proposal (RFP) to selected hotels.

In addition VMOL offers booking options for Las Vegas shows, restaurant reservations, sporting events and golf tee times via the site.

For more information, call 877-844-8665 or visit www.vegasmeetingsonline.com

American Airlines has enhanced its online flight check-in process that provides online check-in capability for passengers traveling internationally.

Through online flight check-in at AA.com, customers traveling both domestically, and now internationally, can check in for their flight and subsequently print or e-mail their boarding pass, from anywhere in the world.

Customers can access flight check-in via the AA.com homepage or by visiting www.aa.com/findreservation  and can check in two to 24 hours before international flights and one to 24 hours before domestic flights.

Customers can then locate their flight reservation using either their AAdvantage login or their full name as it appears in travel documents, along with their six digit flight record locator.

Passengers traveling to international destinations will also need their passport information and will only be able to check in for flights to destinations where they have met international travel requirements.

After customers locate their itinerary, the AA.com flight check-in process provides easy-to-use prompts for guidance through the appropriate steps.

Once the check-in process is complete, passengers will have the option to print their boarding pass immediately from the confirmation page, e-mail their boarding pass to print later, or receive their boarding passes electronically on their mobile phones or PDAs (available in select cities only).

For more information, visit www.aa.com/checkin