Jetsettersblog

The Tropicana Las Vegas will unveil the first of its redesigned guestrooms and luxury suites in the property’s 569-room Paradise Tower.

The new rooms are part of the $165 million transformation of the property, designed to capture a South Beach vibe. The suites will be completed May 17.

This is the first major redesign at Tropicana Las Vegas since 1985.

The rooms will feature a comfortable and casual setting accented by soft-colored furnishings, white plantation shutters, white decorative ceilings and canvas artwork commissioned from Aldo Luongo.

Each room will feature a pillow-top bed, a flat-panel TV, a work desk or chaise lounge, an iHome clock radio with a universal docking station, wireless Internet, Kohler sink features, and a curved shower rod.

The Premier Suites will feature natural light and organic materials.

The Miami-inspired design is meant to evoke nature and bring a sense of the tropics indoors.

And the features are custom-designed furniture, carpeting, wood flooring, plantation shutters, Roman shades and original artwork.

The rooms are the first public-facing example of the $165 million transformation taking place at Tropicana Las Vegas, including the redesign of 1,658 hotel rooms and 140 luxury suites in two towers, the 50,000-square-foot casino and four-acre tropical pool.

Additionally, the resort will feature several new restaurants, bars and lounges, a full-service spa, retail offerings, a new poker room, entertainment options a conference center and a nightclub.

For more information, call 888-826-8767 or visit www.troplv.com

Set on the beaches of Playa Solmar at the southernmost tip of the Baja California peninsula, phase one of the new Grand Solmar Land’s End Resort & Spa is expected to debut in January 2011, with the second and final phase to be completed two years later.

Upon completion of the Grand Solmar, the resort will have 291 suites including junior, one-bedroom, two-bedroom and penthouse suites.

The property will also feature a Thalassotherapy spa, three restaurants and three bars.

Guests at the Grand Solmar Land’s End Resort & Spa will have the added option of enjoying the other six restaurants that are part of the Solmar Hotels & Resorts collection. These restaurants are located within the other resorts as well as off-site.

With such close proximity to the Sea of Cortes and other Los Cabos attractions, guests at the Grand Solmar Land’s End Resort & Spa will have access to land and sea activities such as golf, deep sea fishing, scuba diving, kayaking, horse back riding, shopping in downtown Cabo San Lucas and sunset boat rides.

All activities can be booked directly through the hotel.

Grand Solmar Land’s End Resort & Spa is located 35 minutes from the San Jose Del Cabo (SJD) Airport.

For more information, call 800-344-3349 or visit www.solmar.com

InterContinental Hotels Group announced the global launch of its Priority Club Rewards iPhone app.

The app complements IHG’s worldwide strategy which includes its enhanced mobile websites that provide customers with the functionality to find and book hotel rooms, check rates and view or cancel reservations for all seven of its brands — InterContinental Hotels & Resorts, Hotel Indigo, Crowne Plaza Hotels & Resorts, Holiday Inn Hotels and Resorts, Holiday Inn Express, Staybridge Suites and Candlewood Suites.

The iPhone app is the latest entry into the mobile space from IHG following the release of its enhanced mobile websites more than a year ago.

The websites are currently generating more than $1 million per month in revenue for IHG’s hotels globally, with growth of more than 600 percent in the past year.

As part of the iPhone app launch, IHG is offering users 1,000 Priority Club Rewards bonus points for all bookings and stays for the rest of April through June 15, 2010, made using the iPhone app.

The Priority Club Rewards iPhone app contains the features Priority Club Rewards members expect when booking and managing reservations.

The features for the initial release include find and book hotel; use the GPS functionality of the iPhone to find nearby IHG hotels; view photos and amenities for each hotel; get custom directions using the iPhone’s GPS;

click-to-call front desk for each hotel; use Priority Club Rewards account information to facilitate bookings;

view Priority Club Rewards member details (number, level, points balance); view and cancel upcoming reservations; quick enrollment into Priority Club Rewards; manage account profile; and view special offers. IHG’s Priority Club Rewards iPhone app is now available in English at the iPhone app store. BlackBerry and Android app will follow in the coming months.

Finland is home to half a million holiday cottages, or “mökki” as they’re called in Finnish.

Now, a selection of holiday cottages is being made available for rent to foreign visitors.

The cottages are located on lakes and by the sea. Some cabins are basic, while others have all the modern amenities of a luxury villa. Country Holidays represents more than 4,000 inspected and classified holiday cottages all over Finland.

Most of the locations are situated right on the lakeshore and all have a private sauna.

The weekly rates range from 500 euros ($665) to 2,000 euros ($2,660), depending on the season as well as on the size, location and standard of the cottage.

The smallest cottages offer room for two people, while the largest villas can accommodate up to 20 people.

For more information, visit www.lomarengas.fi

Three distinct examples of Finnish holiday cottages include a private island, a wilderness dugout and an old fire station.

The Villa Fregatti sits on a private island located in Lake Nauasjärvi with views of Vuokatti, an outdoor sports resort 350 miles north east of Helsinki.

The villa is equipped with three bedrooms, a fireplace, sauna, whirlpool, home entertainment centre and heated, glazed-in terrace. The ships Princess Vilma and General Jermu take guests to the island. General Jermu is also available for rent and can serve as extra accommodation, or it can be used for fishing, surfing and other water activities.

A heliport on the island makes it possible to arrive by aircraft or helicopter.

The price for a weekend at the villa varies between 1,295 euros ($1,722) and 1,475 euros ($1,961), while the rent for the entire week is 8,950 euros ($11,903). Catering and cleaning services are tailored to suit individual needs.

For more information, visit www.vuokatinaateli.fi

The Koron Korsu sits in the middle of Lapland’s wilderness. Located in Posio, 80 miles southeast of Rovaniemi, Koron Korsu is a cabin hidden inside a sandy ridge on the shore of the clear-watered Korsulampi pond.

It contains one room, three bunk beds and a sauna. The cabin is lit by candle light and equipped with only an outdoor toilet, making for a total nature adventure.

Drinking water comes straight from the pond, or from the spring next to the cabin.

The nearby Korouoma Canyon offers hiking and fishing. The rent for Koron Korsu is 70 euros ($93) per night.

For more information, visit

www.villipohjola.fi/item.asp?Section=987&Item=1044

The Wanha Paloasema is an old district fire station converted into a villa. “Wanha Paloasema,” Finnish for Old Fire Station, is located on the grounds of Hotel Patruunantalo, 70 miles east of Helsinki in the historic ironworks area.

From the outside, Wanha Paloasema still resembles a fire station, but the interiors have been completely refurbished and only old photos remind residents of the cabin’s days as a fire station. The cottage sleeps 10 people, and has a living room, kitchen, and bathrooms. A lakeshore sauna and large bathtub are available for an extra charge.

The villa stands 164 feet from Hotel Patruunantalo with a restaurant and wine cellar, and the nearest village with more shops is less than a mile away. The weekly rate for this fully equipped villa is 1,106 euros ($1,470), and the weekend rate is 422 euros ($560). For more information, visit

www.lomarengas.fi/ServiceInfo.action?siteName=lomarengas&id=5608

For general destination information, visit www.visitfinland.com

Mexico’s National Anthropological and Historical Institute will soon open a new archaeological site located near Huatulco to the public — Bocana del Rio Copalita, constructed 2,600 years ago. Discovered in 1996 and named for its proximity to the river Copalito, the site has since undergone renovation work carried out by the INAH and is due to be opened to the public later this year.

This is the first archeological site along the Oaxaca coastline to be opened to the public.

Since its discovery, archaeological work has shows that the site was built by settlers from the Mexican Gulf who arrived around 500 BC.

The city was once inhabited by up to 10,000 people who lived on 14 hectares.

For more information, go to www.visitmexico.com

Located on the island of Koh Samui, Banyan Tree Samui will open in mid-2010.

This marks the third destination for Banyan Tree Hotels and Resorts in Thailand since the birth of its flagship resort Banyan Tree Phuket in 1994.

Banyan Tree Samui will feature 78 pool villas, dining venues, meeting facilities and Koh Samui’s first hydrotherapy wellness facility, The Rainforest.

Banyan Tree Samui offers large infinity pools in each villa that are clustered on a private hill cove within Lamai Beach and overlook the Gulf of Thailand.

Exclusively designed by Banyan Tree’s in-house design team, Architrave, each Deluxe Pool Villa, measuring from 2,055 square feet to 4,607 square feet for the Sanctuary Pool Villa, has an individual pool that is amongst the largest private pools on Koh Samui, measuring either 376 square feet or 419 square feet, and accessible from the living room and the bedroom of each villa.

Two signature cliff-hugging restaurants,

The Edge and Saffron, will offer contemporary Asian and international cuisine. The resort’s main infinity swimming pool and children’s pool offer more dedicated areas for leisure and entertainment.

Banyan Tree’s signature touches include complimentary poolside treats, where guests will be surprised with items du jour, such as ice cream cones.

Meeting facilities combine work and play, as a ballroom and two meeting rooms can accommodate groups of up to 180 people. The hallmark of Banyan Tree Samui will be Banyan Tree Spa and its exclusive hydrotherapy facility, The Rainforest, designed as a hydrothermal circuit, comprising alternating hot and cold thermal cabins and offering 10 different hydrothermal therapy experiences.

Guests can celebrate Banyan Tree Samui’s opening with a complimentary hotel credit of $270 on in-house food and beverage, spa packages and gallery shopping, with minimum two nights’ consecutive stay.

An additional complimentary 90-minute Banyan Tree Spa massage session is included for stays of three consecutive nights. As an introductory perk during their stay, each guest is invited for one session of The Rainforest.

This introductory offer starts at $500 per night, inclusive of daily breakfast for two in a Deluxe Pool Villa and is valid for reservation to Sept. 30, 2010.

For reservations or more information, call 011 66 77 915 333, email reservations-samui@banyantree.com  or visit www.banyantree.com

JAL Hotels Co., Ltd. has announced the launch of the My JALHotels frequent guest program.

The program is free to enroll in and offers guests three different levels of membership, Standard, Silver and Gold.

All guests are eligible to receive the Standard benefits, while the Silver and Gold levels require members to stay a certain number of nights before they can receive additional benefits.

Depending on the level of membership, benefits for guests may include complimentary newspapers, discounts at Nikko Hotels International and Hotel JAL City restaurants, early check-in/late check-out, room upgrades and local privileges at each hotel. JAL Mileage Bank (JMB) Members belonging to the Silver and Gold membership levels also receive JMB Hotel Bonus miles. Benefits can be used at all Nikko Hotels International and Hotel JAL City properties around the world.

Enrollment is until December 2011, all subscribers can register to receive Silver members’ privileges.

Benefits will start taking place on May 1, 2010.

To find out more information about membership benefits and online enrollment, visit www.jalhotels.com/myj.

For reservations or general hotel information, visit www.jalhotels.com

Buoyed by the improvement in the global economic environment and the resultant upswing in air travel demand, particularly business travel, Jet Airways Konnect, Jet Airways’ all-economy service, will launch the all new “Konnect Select,” a premium cabin on several domestic routes.

“Konnect Select” is specifically targeted at business and leisure travelers who desire more flexibility, comfort and benefits.

The new Jet Airways “Konnect Select” will feature wider and more comfortable seats similar to Jet Airways (Business Class) seats with a 40-inch seat pitch, in a front cabin separated from the all-economy cabin by a divider offering enhanced privacy on Jet Airways Konnect Boeing 737 flights.

The services also include complementary in-flight reading material, a welcome drink, and complimentary hot meals on board.

Priced attractively, Jet Airways “Konnect Select” will offer guests lounge access, priority check-in at dedicated counters, as well as priority baggage tagging and baggage allowances.

For more information, visit

www.jetairways.com

The AETAS Bangkok, located on Sukhumvit Road, Soi Ruamrudee, will open on May 16 as a high-end hotel that offers both business and leisure travelers 214 rooms and suites as well as a “smart anywhere” wireless network and IP phones.

Facilities include an outdoor pool, spa, fitness center and dining.

The AETAS bangkok is inviting guests to take advantage of its “Special Opening” promotion with stay in a Superior Room for BHT 2,750 ($85) per night (complementary upgrade to Deluxe Room when staying at least three consecutive nights) and BHT 4,750 ($147) per night in an Executive Suite. Benefits include daily breakfast for one person, complimentary unlimited local calls, 15 percent discount at all restaurants and food outlets, 10 percent discount on laundry services, late check-out until 4 p.m. and double A+ points.

Some terms of this offer, which is valid until Oct. 31, depend on room availability and rates are subject to 10 percent service charge and 7 percent VAT.

For more information, visit

www.aetashotels.com

Diane von Furstenberg’s signature style and flair will be the talk of London in June 2010 as the designer and Claridge’s unveil her first interior design project with a series of rooms and suites.

Claridge’s, the Art Deco jewel in Mayfair, has always been at the forefront of design and Diane von Furstenberg, a longtime guest and friend of the hotel, will bring her iconic prints and bold colours as well as original pieces of furniture to the legendary landmark.

Claridge’s and Diane von Furstenberg have enjoyed an intimate relationship since the 1970’s and some of her past collections have even been inspired by the renowned hotel. “One of my fondest memories was when I was in London as a young, independent businesswoman and stayed at Claridge’s. I knew I had made it. To me, Claridge’s is the most glamourous hotel in the world; I regard it as my home away from home,” commented Diane von Furstenberg. ‘I am honoured to become part of the hotel’s legacy and rich design history.’

“For more than a century, Claridge’s has stood as an emblem of timeless glamour,” commented Stephen Alden, CEO Maybourne Hotel Group.

“Our collaboration with the talented Diane von Furstenberg is the latest storyline within our history of forward-thinking design. Diane’s personal love and passion for Claridge’s provides a unique perspective which she will draw upon in executing her creative vision.”

About Maybourne Hotel Group

Maybourne Hotel Group whose headquarters is in Mayfair, London, owns and manages, Claridges, The Connaught and The Berkeley three of the world’s most renowned hotels. Maybourne hotels are committed to delivering authentic and unique guest experiences that reflect the individual nature of its hotels, its guests and its people whilst maintaining a timeless elegance and intuitive service style that are the hallmarks of its properties.