Jetsettersblog

FlyersRights.org has launched a new application that will provide real-time data on the status of their flights via GPS. Kate Hanni, executive director of FlyersRights.org, announced the new application and also expressed concern over the impact of a proposed ban on cellular communications and Voice Over Internet Protocol (VoIP) in the House version of the pending Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) reauthorization legislation that could curtail the rights of passengers to use new technologies while on board commercial aircraft.

Hanni said passengers in the U.S. should be allowed to avail themselves of in-flight connectivity and technology to capture, record and transmit information vital to the enforcement of their new rights.

With the new application, available on FlyersRights.org website, the GPS component of the iPhone will be able to pinpoint a passenger’s location and the passenger will confirm location.

The passenger will be able to input their airline and flight information into a centralized database and update their status in terms of delays or cancellations while in flight. Passengers will also be able to take photos, video and audio recordings and attach them to the record in real time.

The House of Representatives version of the FAA bill, passed last year, contains language that would ban the usage of cellular communications and VoIP on commercial aircraft in U.S. airspace.

The recently passed Senate version of the FAA legislation contains no ban. Currently, 20 international air carriers, flying to 72 nations around the world are equipped with in-flight cellular service — with over 2.3 million passengers a month flying on aircraft with the service.

For more information, visit

www.flyersrights.org

Virgin America has joined Points.com’s Partner Network. Virgin America’s 1.3 million Elevate members now can buy points for themselves, transfer or gift points to other Elevate members via Points’ industry-leading miles and points purchase platform.

Elevate members can purchase or transfer in 500 point increments, buy up to 20,000 or transfer up to 30,000 points each year.

Elevate offers one of the industry’s most generous and easy-to-redeem flight reward programs, as few as four roundtrips or 2,500 points can earn members a reward flight. Virgin America’s Elevate frequent flyer loyalty program offers guests the ability to redeem points for any unsold seat — on any Virgin America flight, at any time. Elevate offers Web-based redemption with no black-out dates and has grown to over 1.3 million members in just two years.

In addition, Elevate members receive exclusive offers that only the world-class Virgin brand could provide, such tickets to the star-studded in-flight premiere of HBO’s “Entourage,” and the chance to compete to earn a seat on a Virgin Galactic sub-orbital space flight. Virgin America flies to San Francisco, Los Angeles, New York, Washington, D.C., Seattle, Las Vegas, San Diego, Boston, Orange County (ends May 26), Fort Lauderdale, Toronto (starting June 23) and Orlando (starting August 19).

RCI, a vacation exchange company and one of the Wyndham Worldwide family of brands, announced the addition of seven affiliated properties to its worldwide exchange network including four resorts in Vietnam, two in Indonesia and a sea-villa resort in Malaysia.

The Registry Collection program, the world’s largest luxury exchange program and one of the three worldwide exchange programs under the RCI umbrella, also welcomed two newly affiliated resorts in Indonesia and Vietnam to its global portfolio.

The addition of these new resorts extends RCI’s footprint to nearly 150 affiliated resorts in Asia and over 4,000 resorts globally, offering 3.8 million RCI subscribing members a broad and diverse selection of holiday destinations and quality accommodations for superb and memorable vacation experiences.

The significant number of signings also marks the growing interest in fractional and vacation ownership products among consumers and the appreciation of its competitive advantage as a viable and attractive business and operating model for resorts by leisure real estate owners and developers in Asia.

Joining The Registry Collection program are delMango Villa Estate, Seminyak Gardens, Indonesia, and Six Senses Ninh Van Bay, Vietnam.

Joining the RCI exchange network are Evason Ana Mandara & Six Senses Spa, Nha Trang, Vietnam; Ana Mandara Villas Dalat Resort & Spa, Vietnam; Ana Mandara Resort Hue, Vietnam; Ana Mandara Resort Ninh Binh, Vietnam; Bali Island Villas & Spa, Indonesia; Golden Palm Tree Sea Villas & Spa, Malaysia; and Hawaii, A Club Bali Resort, Indonesia.

For more information, visit the banner below.

Riviera Nayarit, the newest golf destination on the Pacific Coast of Mexico, has announced two new championship golf courses designed by two of the most famous golfing celebrities in the world — Greg Norman and Jack Nicklaus.

Operated by Fonatur Operadora Portuaria with Luis Iriarte as club pro, Norman’s newly designed 18-hole Litibu Course is open to the public seven days a week and offers full golf services including a pro shop.

Jack Nicklaus’s Nayar Course in Nuevo Vallarta will open in July, operated by Grupo Vidanta Golf.

Originally designed by Jim Lipe, Nicklaus has completely redesigned the 18-hole (par 72), 6,936 yard course, creating an entirely new golf experience.

Nayar looks out on Banderas Bay as well as the Sierra Madre mountains and features a 129 slope rating, a signature par 3 153-yard 14th hole between the beach and a lake, and the latest technology, including GPS systems in golf carts.

For more information, visit

www.RivieraNayarit.com

The Huntington Spa at The Langham Huntington, Pasadena in California is has announced its grand reopening, following a month-long renovation.

With the addition of the Chuan Body + Soul element, the Huntington Spa is the only luxury hotel spa in Los Angeles offering treatments based on traditional Chinese medicine.

The 11,000-square-foot spa features a fitness center and 13 treatment rooms, including a couples’ room, and offers services such as massages, facials, body treatments, manicures, pedicures and hair services.

Among the Chinese medicine therapies are acupuncture, Ho Guan (cupping), moxibustion and ear seeds. Guests booking a spa appointment online will receive 25 percent off a second treatment through June 30.

For more information, call 626-568-6414 or visit www.thehuntingtonspa.com

New York-based G Worldwide launches the first-ever nationwide gay luxury hotel and hospitality brand.

This pioneering brand will cater to the LGBT community, their friends, families and supporters. The hotels with high-tech facilities and will launch in five major U.S. locations over the next two years. G Worldwide will begin with properties in New York, Florida, California and Las Vegas before setting sights internationally.

The G Worldwide brand will officially launch promotional activities on June 1 at Gay Pride Parades across the U.S., culminating at the legendary NYC Pride extravaganza where G Worldwide is a Gold sponsor of this year’s event.

For more information, visit www.gresorts.com

King Kamehameha’s Kona Beach Hotel has completed a two-year, $35 million renovation.

Besides internal systems upgrades including fire, safety, energy-efficiency and plumbing, improvements included a redesign of the hotel’s 452 rooms, including five oceanfront, one-bedroom suites.

The rooms now have a contemporary island décor that mirrors nostalgic Kona with burnt red, brown and celadon green hues and coffee motifs to celebrate Kona’s coffee history.

Hardwood furnishings are enhanced with embossed Polynesian tattoo patterns.

Additional accents include subtle hints of the colors and texture of lava.

Spacious bathrooms have new bathtubs, sinks, furniture and fixtures.

New in-room amenities include Bath & Body Works bath products, an iron and ironing board, a flat-screen television, complimentary coffee and coffee makers, complimentary wireless Internet, and a mini refrigerator.

In addition, hotel features a new lobby, an infinity-edged pool, the Billfish Bar, a lava-rock whirlpool, a renovated dining room and new retail shops.

Located at Kamakahonu Bay, King Kamehameha’s Kona Beach Hotel sits adjacent to Ahuena Heiau, Kamehameha the Great’s personal and final residence, and the center of political power in the Hawaiian Kingdom.

Toward the end of 2008, Ahuena Heiau Inc. began a project to restore the roof of Hale Mana, one of the buildings at Kamakahonu.

The completion of this project is slated for the end of May. Several original portrait paintings of Hawaiian royalty that have graced the lobby of the hotel for decades, as well as a feather cape ahu’ula, a feathered helmet mahiole, a feather lei, war weapons, and a lei niho palaoa (whale or walrus tooth necklace, usually made with human hair and worn only by royalty) are being restored as well.

And an original oil by notable historian/artist Herb Kawainui Kane that depicts Kamehameha I, his family and advisors at Kamakahonu, is being restored by the artist himself.

The hotel is offering an introductory nightly room rate of $129 through Dec. 19.

This rate is fully commissionable and includes a complimentary upgrade to next available category and a welcome amenity.

There is no minimum-night stay required.

Reservations and upgrades are subject to availability.

For more information, call 800-367-2111

or visit www.konabeachhotel.com

Construction has started on a new 240-seat theater for Treasure Tavern, a dining experience for adults.

Featuring comedians, acrobats and dancers themed to a Caribbean outpost for rum, Treasure Tavern is opening this summer in the International Drive tourist area.

The adventure begins as Gretta, the tavern’s bar maven, escorts guests through a two-hour show, including rum and a three-course dinner.

Through the night, guests are treated to artistic acrobats, singers, dancers and comedians from across the globe.

Shows will run five nights a week, with two shows on Friday and Saturday. Only adults aged 18 and up will be admitted.

Admission is $49.95 including a three-course dinner, featuring prime rib.

Admission to the show without dinner will cost $24.95.

Ala cart appetizers will be available as well.

Guests will be treated to a signature rum punch.

The show’s entertainment will rotate based on seasonal availability of entertainment acts.

The venue is located at 6400 Carrier Drive in the Pirate’s Dinner Adventure entertainment complex.

For more information, visit www.treasuretavern.com

New York Harbor’s Shark Speedboat offers a 30-minute thrill ride around the horn of southern Manhattan. Passengers breeze by The Statue of Liberty, stop for a photo opportunity and zip by again to catch views of famed landmarks including the historic Battery Park, the World Financial Center and Ellis Island, the gateway to America for millions of immigrants.

The sleek vessel races all the way up the Hudson River past Tribeca and Soho, long enough to catch a glimpse of decades-old cast-iron buildings.

On the return trip it passes by Governors Island, the former military outpost, and into the mouth of the East River.

Cruising under the Brooklyn Bridge gives a rare view of the magnificent structure: when completed back in 1883 it was the first steel-wire suspension bridge in the world.

The tour can carry 135 passengers and departs from Manhattan’s Pier 16.

Clients must be 40 inches tall to ride and children must be able to sit in their own seats.

The 45-minute Shark ride departs and returns at Pier 16 at South Street Seaport in Downtown Manhattan on weekends in May (hourly from noon through 5 p.m.) and daily from June through mid-September (hourly from noon through 7 p.m.).

Tickets are priced at adults, $23; children 12 and under, $16; and seniors, $20.

For more information, call 866-9CLINE1

or visit www.circlelinedowntown.com/shark.asp

Lakedale Resort at Three Lakes on San Juan Island in Washington State will reopen May 1 with two new vintage Airstream trailers.

Each of the fully equipped trailers includes bed and bath linens, Molton Brown bath products and a kitchenette with a four-burner stove and oven, a refrigerator, a microwave oven, a dinette table, ample closets, bath facilities, heat and air conditioning. Rates for the Airstream start at $199 per night and include a breakfast basket with scone mix, muffin mix, milk, orange juice and granola.

To celebrate the new season of “glamping” (glamour camping), Lakedale is offering three packages valid May 1 through June 17, excluding Memorial Day weekend.

The two-night Happy Glamper package includes a bundle of fire wood; graham crackers, chocolate and marshmallows; a bottle of Happy Glamper wine, created in collaboration with San Juan Island Vineyards; and breakfast.

The package is priced from $299.

The two-night Mommy May I? package for up to four people and a puppy includes log cabin accommodations; a breakfast basket with scone mix, muffin mix, milk, orange juice and granola; a one-hour, hot-stone massage at Afterglow Spa In Roche Harbor for mom; use of a rowboat and fishing gear for one hour; a seasonal bouquet of flowers; and a secret cake recipe and kit.

Rates start at $749.

The two-night Lure and Luxury package includes a lodge guestroom overlooking Neva Lake; continental breakfast each morning; use of a rowboat and fishing pole throughout the stay; a one-hour hot-stone massage; and a seasonal bouquet of flowers and bottle of sparkling wine on arrival from $549.

The resort pays 10 percent commission.

For more information, call 800-617-2267

or visit www.lakedale.com