Jetsettersblog

OPENS AT YAD VASHEM IN JERUSALEM

A new exhibition, entitled Virtues of Memory: Six Decades of Holocaust Survivors’ Creativity, opened this month at the Yad Vashem Holocaust Memorial Museum in Jerusalem.

The exhibition will showcase the creative works of more than 300 Holocaust survivors, including Samuel Bak, Marcel Janco, Paul Kor and Friedel Stern, in addition to pieces created by amateur artists.

www.yadvashem.com

The Westin Melbourne has welcomed distinguished Les Clefs d’Or member and treasurer Steve Ciric as its new Chief Concierge.

Ciric’s hospitality career has seen him work in a number of Melbourne hotels including Novotel Melbourne on Collins, Hotel Ibis, Rydges Riverwalk and Grand Hotel Melbourne.

He joins The Westin Melbourne from Hilton on the Park, where he held the role of Chief Concierge for the past six years.

“To join such a well regarded hotel is indeed an honour and I am looking forward to providing our guests with inspiring and unforgettable service.” comments Mr Ciric.

Ciric is also a member and treasurer of the prestigious Les Clefs d’Or Concierge Society, a testament to his experience and abilities. The distinctive gold crossed keys worn by members are recognized by travelers around the world and identify the bearer as a true professional in their chosen career.

Each and every member of the Les Clefs d’Or strives to provide the utmost in caring, attentive service to their hotel guests, and the Society motto “In Service through Friendship” reflects the manner in which this is achieved.

Established in 1981, Les Clefs d’Or Australia currently has 38 members represented in every state of Australia. The organization is an affiliate of the Union International des Concierge d’Hotels (UICH) based in Paris with a worldwide membership in excess of 3000.

The Westin Melbourne – This is how it should feel  Surrounded by theatres, designer boutiques, galleries and the city’s finest attractions, The Westin Melbourne combines stylish accommodation, luxurious facilities and intuitive service with the most commanding Melbourne address.

Modern, chic and elegantly understated, the hotel’s dramatic staircase and light filled lobby overlooking City Square sets the tone for one of Australia’s premier hotels. The Westin Melbourne is celebrating 10 luxurious years of service this year.

For more information visit www.westin.com.au/melbourne

Tahiti’s Pacific Beachcomber will add the 38-bungalow Maitai Rangiroa to its portfolio. Located on one of the largest lagoons in the Southern Hemisphere, the Maitai Rangiroa offers quick access to one of the top five dive destinations in the world.

A one-hour flight from Tahiti, the recently rebranded resort is set amid gardens and overlooks the lagoon.

The hotel’s restaurant and bar, the Lagoon, offers French, International and Polynesian specialties for lunch and dinner in a traditional Polynesian setting.

Joining the Maitai Polynesia on Bora Bora, a Silver Green Globe certified property, the Maitai brand now offers great value for money within two of the region’s most breathtaking locations.

Pacific Beachcomber’s next resort project is The Brando, a luxury eco-resort featuring 47 deluxe bungalow villas scheduled to open in 2012 on the eponymous actor’s remote private island, ten minutes by air from Tahiti.

The project will be constructed to the most exacting requirements of environmental design and will be fully self sustaining with renewable sources of non-fossil energy.

Visit www.hotelmaitai.com  or

www.pacificbeachcomber.com

Located On The Northwest Coast Of Bintan Island, Nirwana Gardens Offers Five Different Vacation Options

K Hotels, the voice of knowledge for independent hotels, is pleased to announce Nirwana Gardens Resort in Bintan Island, Indonesia, as its newest member property. The resort encompasses five individual vacation destinations: the Nirwana Resort Hotel, Mayang Sari Beach Resort, Nirwana Beach Club, Banyu Biru Villas and Indra Maya Villas. Nirwana Gardens is the second K Hotels member property in Indonesia, joining the Bali Island Villas & Spa, demonstrating the collection’s desire to expand in Southeast Asia.

Nirwana, which translates into “perfect bliss”, is an apt name for these picturesque island properties, each with its own distinct personality.

The Nirwana Resort Hotel, designed for active, fun-seeking vacationers, is situated on 330 hectares of lush, tropical grounds and powder-soft beaches, while the Mayang Sari Beach Resort offers more rustic, reclusive charms in 50 thatched-roof chalets designed to serve as an escape from urban woes.

The Nirwana Beach Club is perfect for water sports enthusiasts, as jet skis, ocean kayaks, water skiing trips and the like are available to their active guests.

On the opposite side of the spectrum, the Indra Maya Villas are created with the ultimate relaxation in mind. The Banyu Biru Villas, geared towards families or group gatherings, are fully-furnished and equipped with kitchen facilities for a taste of home while on vacation in the South China Sea. All resort guests are able to use the facilities of each property within Nirwana Gardens.

“We are thrilled to welcome Nirwana Gardens as a member of our ever-growing hotel collection,” said Lara Weiss, Managing Director of K Hotels.

“Due to its proximity to Singapore, a major world financial hub, the Nirwana Gardens will become an important property for K Hotels.

Adding this beautiful, diverse resort collection will expand our presence in Indonesia, which will make a huge impact in the Southeast Asian market. With the addition of the Nirwana Gardens, K Hotels will be able to further provide our clients with the very best in worldwide hospitality expertise.”

“By becoming a member of K Hotels, we will benefit from their marketing and sales expertise in order to expand our business opportunities around the world,” said Mr. Abdul Wahab, General Manager of Nirwana Gardens.

“We are so pleased to embark on this exciting new partnership with them.”

The Nirwana Gardens Resort will receive sales and marketing representation from K Hotels, effective immediately.

For more information on the Nirwana Gardens Resort, please visit http://nirwanagardens.com

For more information on K Hotels, around the world locations and services, please visit

http://www.k-hotels.com

K Hotels, the voice of knowledge for independent hotels, is an international representation company that provides expert knowledge for its more than 50 member properties worldwide.

Each member of K Hotels is unique and incredibly special, with its own individual story. K Hotels has taken on the responsibility to let the world know about these stories and create opportunities for world travelers to know these properties and important information that may otherwise might be overlooked.

K Hotels consistently sets the industry standard in travel knowledge, both for its member properties and in the hospitality world at large.

For more information about K Hotels and their member hotels, please visit http://www.k-hotels.com

High-end Resort Management Company expands international presence by entering Asian travel market.

Jet Luxury Resorts, a rapidly growing and leading national high-end Resort Management Company, has partnered with the Lexington Group by opening offices in Tokyo and developing a Japanese website to represent the Asian travel market. This expands Jet Luxury Resorts’ footprint in the international marketplace, following the addition of Italian and Costa Rican resorts to its luxury high-end roster.

The Japanese version of the Jet Luxury Resorts website mirrors the existing English version, offering the same online booking capabilities along with a Japanese reservation line and email inquiry system in place to capture the new segment of potential business for Jet Luxury Resorts’ line of properties.

The Asian travel market is one of the fastest growing segments with over 15 million outbound tourists leaving Japan in 2009. According to data compiled by the Japan National Tourism Organization, travel climbed by 8.9% in January of 2010 over last year’s figures. It is the sixth straight month of outbound travel gains.

“We are very fortunate to have a great partnership with the Lexington Group in Tokyo,” states Richard Brosal, President of Jet Luxury Resorts.

“In addition, by having an office in Tokyo we have now gained a stronger footprint for our company not only domestically but Internationally as well. We feel that this new marketplace is another step in the right direction in making Jet Luxury Resorts a main player in the travel industry.

Our staff in Tokyo speaks Japanese and English so we have the best of both worlds regarding our capabilities in helping not only the owners that we manage their units for but the guests as well.”

This emergence into the vastly untapped Asian travel market is a direct reflection of Jet Luxury’s meteoric growth and success.

Properties recently added to the Jet Luxury Resorts collection include the Trump SoHo NY, the Trump Waikiki in Hawaii, Kalia Modern Eco-Living in Costa Rica, JK Place Hotels in Italy and The Setai in Miami Beach, Florida.

To learn more about Jet Luxury Resorts, click: http://www.jetluxuryresorts.com  and to visit the Jet Luxury Resorts Japanese website, click: http://www.jetluxuryresorts-japan.com

About Jet Luxury Resorts:

Jet Luxury Resorts is the premiere national 4 and 5 star management company that provides truly affordable luxury.

Jet Luxury Resorts is able to offer exclusive, luxurious yet affordable inventory to the rental community through honest, lucrative and dedicated service to condo hotel, estate and fractional owners.

Jet Luxury Resorts is at 15 hotels in 8 destinations worldwide including New York, NY, Aspen, CO, Las Vegas, NV, Malibu, CA, Italy, Costa Rica and Honolulu, HI.

Find out more at http://www.jetluxuryresorts.com

Jet Luxury Resorts can be found on Twitter (Jetset9) and Facebook.

Vanuatu’s Warwick Le Lagon Resort & Spa recently opened the Oasis Spa using such skincare brands as Anesi, Pure Fiji and Biodroga systems.

Oasis Spa features some of the largest and most luxurious private spa rooms on the island. These extra large rooms draw on a combination of contemporary and classic ambiance, which encompasses a water and lake spa experience that is in keeping with the resort’s image. The Oasis Spa includes four spacious treatment rooms, with private patios and a manicure and pedicure room facing the water flow from the rocks.

The spa has a dipping pool and a private whirlpool, lit by fiber optics to accentuate the effect.

Spa meals are also available as part of the various Spa packages. Spa rituals are tailored for specific needs and provide an opportunity for private escapism, shared quality time with a loved one, or special group celebration.

For home use, there’s a beauty shop which stocks a comprehensive range of Anesi and Pure Fiji products. All treatment rooms are fully equipped with the latest in spa technology.

For more information, visit

www.warwickhotels.com

or www.lelagonvanuatu.vu

The famed Kimberley Waterfall Season is just around the corner – and the luxury adventure cruise ship, True North, is giving guests the opportunity to experience the Kimberley at it’s very best!

The True North kicks off the 2010 Kimberley Wilderness Season.

North Star Cruises’ General Manager Peter Trembath said the period immediately following the monsoons presented as the best opportunity to see iconic waterfalls such as Mitchell Falls and King George Falls at their thundering best.

“In fact, there’s no better time to see the Kimberley,” said Mr Trembath.

“The whole region is transformed by rivers in flood, towering waterfalls and an abundance of wildlife,” he said.

“Billabongs are swollen, massive wetlands are alive with birdlife, and let’s not forget the barramundi will be biting!”

“True North’s guests enjoy unique experiences you just can’t find anywhere else, including helicopter flights to secluded locations every day of the cruise.”

“This is always one of the most popular times of the year and the remaining cabins won’t last long.”

As an added bonus, this year’s Kimberley Wilderness season will feature a range of special guests including:

• Guitarist Phil Ceberano provides classic accompaniment on board Kimberley Wilderness Cruises 2A Wyndham to Hunter River (27 March – 3 April) and 2B Hunter River to Broome (3 April – 9 April)

• Kimberley Artists Mark Norval & Donny Woolagoodja introduce the oldest paintings known to man on board Kimberley Wilderness Cruises 4A Wyndham to Hunter River (24 April – 1 May) and 4B Hunter River to Broome (1 May – 7 May)

• Renowned artist Douglas Kirsop unlocks the secrets of landscape painting on board Kimberley Wilderness Cruise 5 Broome to Wyndman (8 – 21 May)

• New talent Andrew Tischler will astound with his life-like paintings on board Kimberley Wilderness Cruise 6 Wyndham to Broome (22 May – 4 June)

• Geologist Phil Playford presents his theories on global warming and more on board Kimberley Wilderness Cruise 7 Broome to Wyndham (5-18 June)

• Celebrity Chef Ryan Carey cooks up a storm on board Kimberley Wilderness Cruise 8 Wyndham to Broome (19 June – 2 July)

Other highlights of a Kimberley Wilderness Cruise include:

- Ancient rock art
- A panorama of rugged mountains
- Spectacular gorges
- Barramundi fishing
- Mud crabbing
- Croc-spotting
- Champagne heli-flights at dawn
- Helicopter picnics to remote locations

North Star’s two week Kimberley Wilderness Cruise operates between Broome and Wyndham. Guests can stay onboard for the entire cruise or, they can opt for a one week itinerary either disembarking or embarking in the Hunter River.

Helicopter & light aircraft transfers (via Broome) are included in the one week itinerary.

Kimberley Wilderness Cruise prices start from $10,495.

For full itineraries, departure dates and prices visit www.northstarcruises.com.au

El Questro Wilderness Park and Homestead, set over a million acres of rugged landscape in the heart of Western Australia’s ancient Kimberley region, is preparing to open for the 2010 season under new ownership.

Delaware North Australia Parks & Resorts have taken ownership of El Questro Wilderness Park and Homestead – thereby completing the first stages of Delaware North’s expansion in Australia – just a few weeks before the re-opening of El Questro on April 1, after the annual wet season.

In November last year, Delaware North Australia Parks & Resorts acquired Lizard Island, Heron Island and Wilson Island in Queensland’s World Heritage-listed Great Barrier Reef Marine Park, and Kings Canyon Resort in the Northern Territory.

Wayne Kirkpatrick, Managing Director of Delaware North Australia Parks & Resorts, said: “We are delighted to have finalised the acquisition of El Questro and to be the new custodians of this very unique and special place.”

“Spread across a vast area of land, nearly a million acres in size, El Questro Wilderness Park offers visitors a truly magical experience and we are looking forward to refining the guest experience and welcoming holidaymakers for the forthcoming 2010 season.”

El Questro Wilderness Park is situated in Western Australia’s East Kimberley, 110 km from Kununurra, almost half of which demands 4WD vehicles thanks to the Gibb River Road, recognised as one of Australia’s great 4WD tracks, extending 700km to Derby near the West Australian coast above Broome.

El Questro was first owned by Torrance McMicking who, in 1958, lodged a pastoral claim and named the property.

Several owners later, Will and Celia Burrell purchased the lease in 1991, opening Emma Gorge after the wet and launching it as a wilderness resort in May 1992. The now-famous Homestead, with its spectacular location overlooking the Chamberlain River, was opened in September 1992 followed by the Station Campground and Bungalows a year later in May 1993.

Today, around 3,500 head of cattle still roam the northern flats of the property while tourists can enjoy a range of accommodation and experiences suited to any style or budget: from the Station Campground and Bungalows, to tented cabins at Emma Gorge and the luxurious Homestead overlooking the Chamberlain River.

Touring experiences include cruises along the Chamberlain River, barramundi fishing, scenic helicopter flights, Zebedee Thermal Springs, bird watching, 4WD tracks, gorge hikes and bush walks, history and bush tucker tours, horse riding and much more.

El Questro Wilderness Park opens from 1 April to 31 October every year, allowing for the dramatic thunderstorms to pass over the Kimberley and replenish its numerous gorges and waterfalls during the annual wet season.

El Questro, Lizard Island, Wilson Island, Heron Island and Kings Canyon Resort were previously owned by the GPT Group and operated under the Voyages brand.

Delaware North Australia Parks & Resorts have chosen not to rebrand or rename the properties, but allow each property to retain its individual nature and unique attributes.

Kirkpatrick added: “We’re delighted to have taken ownership of these properties which are all located in spectacular locations around Australia, from the Red Centre, to the Kimberley region and the Great Barrier Reef. We look forward to enhancing the guest experience and delivering special and memorable holidays across Australia.”

AT A GLANCE:

El Questro Wilderness Park & Homestead, WA

A jewel in the Kimberley, El Questro Wilderness Park and Homestead is set in over a stunning million acres of rugged terrain, offering a true last frontier Outback experience. The Homestead was listed on Conde Nast Traveller’s Gold List in January, receiving praise for its location, outdoor activities, excellent cuisine and rustic-chic decor.

Heron Island, Great Barrier Reef, Gladstone, QLD

A coral cay island on the Great Barrier Reef, Heron Island has long been a favourite for divers, snorkellers and families looking to immerse themselves in a truly natural island with sensational marine life. A breeding ground for mutton birds and black noddy terns, Heron Island is also home to green and loggerhead turtles.

Wilson Island, Great Barrier Reef, Gladstone, QLD

Just five acres in size, Wilson Island is a tiny coral cay island with a big personality. Wilson Island can accommodate just 12 adults at any one time (six couples) in castaway themed tented cabins and offers guests sumptuous cuisine, premium beverages and snorkelling over coral gardens.

Lizard Island, Great Barrier Reef, Cairns, QLD

Also appearing on Conde Nast Traveller’s Gold List in January, Lizard Island is a regular award winner, consistently gaining praise for its unrivalled Great Barrier Reef location, its natural beauty, incredible diving and exceptional service and style. Fringed with colourful coral reefs and 24 powdery white beaches, Lizard Island is a picture-perfect island for discerning travellers.

Kings Canyon Resort, NT

Located in the Australian Outback, between Alice Springs and Uluru, Kings Canyon Resort is the perfect starting point from which to explore the wonders of Kings Canyon, with its ‘Lost City’ of rock domes, dramatic 270m sandstone vertical gorges and Garden of Eden oasis. Tracks and bush walks are dotted in and around the Canyon, offering keen bush walkers a real taste of adventure in the Outback.

Opens With A Diamond, A Date And A ‘Double-First’

Robert Dimitriev of Shell Harbour, NSW, scored a double-first on his visit to Château Élan at the Vintage: he was among the first guests to stay at the luxury spa and golf resort in Hunter Valley, enjoying a two-night indulgence after the opening on 12th February. He was also one of the first to use the elegant surroundings in which to pop the question to his girlfriend…

“I think Château Élan really got Katerina in the mood!” laughs Robert. “I mean, it’s so relaxing and they’ve done it out beautifully. On the first day we had a drink at the Clubhouse and played a round of golf. Then we ordered room-service for dinner in our suite, and after that we opened a bottle of Moet & Chandon and jumped in the spa…”

Regarding the often tricky business of proposing, Robert says he never had ‘a plan’ except he wanted it to be ‘somewhere special’ and he didn’t want to propose on Valentine’s Day. “I like to keep everyone guessing and Valentine’s Day is just too predictable,” he says.

Just before midnight on Saturday 13th February, he asked the question. “We were sitting on the bed and I pulled out a 1.1 carat round-cut diamond. I asked ‘So – will you marry me?” He’s pleased to say Katerina said yes – although not straight away. “She actually stared at the diamond and said: ‘Is that real?!’” Katerina is currently having an engagement ring designed around the stone. Both she and Robert say they will be back to Château Élan – on 13th February, 2011.

Château Élan CEO Erik Stuebe said that the resort heralds a new era in luxury tourism in the Hunter. Mr Stuebe said Château Élan will provide a boost to the region and its economy as it becomes another reason for people to visit. “We aim to make Château Élan, Australia’s finest destination spa and golf resort,” Mr Stuebe said. “No expense has been spared and no detail has been overlooked in creating this jewel in the crown of Hunter tourism.”

He said the luxurious spa is one of Australia’s largest and is dedicated to exclusive spa rituals, traditional hydrotherapies and social relaxation. “Château Élan is the first place in Australia, and one of only a handful around the world, where people can experience Terraké treatments supplemented by products from prestige group, Thalgo.

As well as a comprehensive range of spa treatments there is also a Hydrolounge (a comfortable, fire-warmed ‘wet’ area) and a social spa area complete with bar and catering facilities.”

About Château Élan at The Vintage Hunter Valley, NSW

Château Élan at The Vintage is Australia’s finest golf and spa resort. It is located in the heart of the Hunter Valley. Offering a luxury escape for up to 200 guests, the resort comprises a spa with 18 treatment rooms, 20 super-luxury spa suites and a series of private lifestyle villas.

The $40m development, just two hours north of Sydney, opened in February 2010. It has been co-conceived by the group behind Château Élan in Atlanta, Georgia.
The Vintage is the Hunter Valley’s premier residential lifestyle community. At its heart is a Greg Norman-designed course which is ranked #2 in New South Wales and host of the NSW Open.

The Vintage has bar, conference and full dining and catering facilities; the Clubhouse is home to the renowned Legends Grill restaurant.

For more details, visit: www.chateauelan.com.au

Adventure travel and luxury no longer need be mutually exclusive experiences.

Seven Skies is a new travel company which recognizes the niche that exists between genuinely exhilarating travel experiences and the desire to enjoy genuine comfort at the end of the day, dining on fine wine and sumptuous regional cuisine in luxurious accommodation.

Founder Nathan Wedding created Seven Skies in November 2008 when he realized the growing demand of a new breed of educated, discerning travellers for adventure travel which trades spartan digs for creature comforts. Espressos at dawn and sundowners at dusk, the best local cuisine available, luxury boutique hotel accommodation and the promise of being immersed in some fascinating ethnic cultures are a trademark of Seven Skies trips.

These intimate hosted trips of four to eight people offer sea kayaking, cycling, mountain climbing, gentle trekking and river and jungle safaris in some of the world’s most exotic and culturally diverse locations such as Cambodia, Vietnam, Borneo, Sri Lanka and remote South West Tasmania.

As a former university academic teaching environmental philosophy and professional sea kayak guide himself, Nathan wanted to create intimate adventures which enrich on every level – physically, intellectually, culturally and socially. Most importantly, this takes place within a holiday that offers fantastic luxurious accommodation in unforgettable places with like-minded people.

“The name ‘Seven Skies’ originated from our philosophy – ‘explore the seven continents, see the seven skies, and be inspired by the experience’. The ultimate aim of Seven Skies is to offer the best luxury adventure holidays on each of the world’s seven continents,” said Nathan.

“After travelling extensively throughout the world’s best adventure destinations, my vision is to blend unforgettable activities with the most luxurious and stylish places to stay and the best regional cuisine I can source.

This embodies our philosophy of actively exploring the world in style and being inspired by the experience,” he said.

Bookings and further information: http://www.sevenskies.com.au  Mobile: 0488 433 300 Email: nathan@sevenskies.com.au