Jetsettersblog

Business aviation provider XOJET, Inc. said that its fleet of Bombardier Challenger 300 and Cessna Citation X jets will feature high-speed Internet. In partnership with Aircell, the world’s leading provider of airborne communications, XOJET is currently installing Aircell High Speed Internet on all aircraft in the fleet. With more than 70 percent of the fleet installed by the end of June and the entire fleet scheduled for completion in July, XOJET will become the first business aviation operator to offer wireless service on every flight in the continental United States. Aircell High Speed Internet will provide the service. XOJET customers will be able to use any Wi-Fi enabled devices including laptops, netbooks and smartphones to access the Internet in flight.

For more information, call 800-759-6358 or visit www.xojet.com

The Hershey Company and Hershey’s Chocolate World announce the grand opening of their newest experience, Hershey’s Create Your Own Candy Bar, an interactive, hands-on attraction that immerses guests in the candy bar creation process.

The family-fun attraction marks the first time Hershey will give consumers the ability to select their favorite candy bar ingredients, see authentic equipment in operation and design packaging for their custom chocolate candy bar.

Wearing authentic outfits, including factory aprons and hairnets, guests will become the newest member of the Hershey innovation team.

Using similar equipment as Hershey factories, guests will create their custom candy bar by pulling a lever to activate the machinery and dispense ingredients.

Guests can select up to three inclusions in each bar, choosing from ingredients such as graham crackers crumbs, crisped rice, blueberry fruit gels, chocolate cookie bits, vanilla chips and rainbow jimmies.

After the inclusions are added, the candy bars are drenched in pure Hershey’s milk chocolate. Guests can even determine if they’d like to top their candy bar with Hershey’s Kisses-shaped sprinkles. After the bar cools, it is sealed, packaged and personalized with custom packaging that guests design at an interactive kiosk.

Unique to the chocolate industry, Create Your Own Candy Bar provides guests with the opportunity to track their customized bar in every step of the process, from start to finish, and watch as their name is transformed into its very own candy bar brand. Create Your Own Candy Bar officially debuts to the general public at Hershey’s Chocolate World attraction on June 12, 2010, and will have an admission price of $14.95 per person, which includes the 30-minute experience and custom bar.

For more information, visit www.HersheysChocolateWorld.com

The Walt Disney World Swan and Dolphin Resort has introduced Apple’s iPad into its sales function.

This new technology will now accompany sales professionals during meeting planner site visits, serving as a useful tool to help planners more thoroughly evaluate the property’s 329,000 square feet of meeting space.

As an added bonus, planners can also take home a free iPad after their site visit.

Meeting planners can tour the property with a sales team member equipped with an iPad. While on the tour, planners will be able to view diagrams and dimensions of meeting space, photos and menus of the restaurants, a map of the property, lists of amenities and much more from any location on property.

Planners on site visits presenting an RFP for 500 room nights or more can receive complimentary use of the iPad for the duration of their stay.

Those who contract the meeting will get to keep their iPad and can receive another for every additional 500 room nights booked. To further power the new technology, the resort’s technology team has developed a customized iPad application which offers simple-touch screen navigation for several categories of information including: arrival details, guest room configurations, meeting space layouts, restaurant overviews, hotel amenities,

Disney services and information on partner companies available for sub-contracting needs.

The iPad will help enhance the efficiency of the site visit for large meeting spaces like the Walt Disney World Swan and Dolphin.

Planners can immediately compare and contrast spaces, with a quick visual reference as they are moving along the property.

Additionally, the application will be available for download so that planners with their own iPads, can access the information at their convenience.

Opron cites it as another innovative way to better serve the customers and another testament to the resort’s commitment to being a leader in incorporating technology into their daily operations.

For more information, visit

www.swandolphin.com

London Pass, the “swipe” card for tourists wishing to visit top tourist attractions in London, is adding new attractions. Leisure Pass Group is giving agents the opportunity to grab a slice of the soccer fever hitting the globe this summer by signing up to sell its popular London Sightseeing Pass.

Clients can now take the insiders’ tour of the new flagship soccer stadium — Wembley — just built and completed and now open for action. The tour features a behind the scenes look — see the players’ changing rooms, the players’ tunnel and climb the trophy winner steps to lift a replica FA Cup.

The Wembley Stadium tour is a must-see for soccer and sports fans and joins 60 other top attractions including St Paul’s Cathedral, The Tower of London and the Churchill War Rooms which are offered with the London Sightseeing Pass.

In addition to the Wembley soccer tour, more new attractions joining the existing top attractions include such as the Design Museum for an insight into innovations in architecture and fashion and a major new exhibition at the Imperial War Museum called “The Ministry of Food.”

The pre-paid “smart card” pass gives tourists entry to the most-popular visitor attractions in London and the pass has, until recently, been mainly available direct and via large online travel agencies.

Leisure Pass Sales Manager Peter Muttitt explained, “When people travel to London and Paris they invariably go there to see the sights. Our passes effectively give agents commission on the entrance fees, while the customer benefits too.

London Sightseeing Pass allows users fast-track entry at a number of the busiest attractions as well as great savings when visiting a number of sights.

By paying upfront, users can plan their trip and budget accordingly.

Tourism specialist Leisure Pass Group creates and manages “smart card” pass systems for cities around the world.

The company was founded in 1998 and has established pass products in cities including London, Paris and New York.

Additionally Leisure Pass Group provides the technology (the “Leisure Pass Operating System” or LPOS) which powers other successful pass programs, amongst which are the

Stockholm Card, the Great British Heritage Pass and the York Pass.

Context has a new partnership with The Academy Hotel in London’s Bloomsbury district. The offer is being launched to coincide with the Open Garden Square Weekend on June 12 and 13. Context will offer its Bloomsbury Garden Square Tour in conjunction with one night at the Academy Hotel for £210 ($304). The offer lasts until Aug. 31. As part of the package, guests will receive a one-night stay at the Academy Hotel, including a full breakfast and glass of wine in the hotel private garden.

They will also have the opportunity to join a Context docent for a two-and-half-hour, informative walk of Bloomsbury. With an architecture historian or other expert leading the way, Context’s walk gives participants a sustainable way to appreciate and explore one of the greenest districts of London.

The Academy Hotel is offering the package under the title of “Garden Squares of Bloomsbury” as a way for visitors to London to experience the city.

The weekend package includes Saturday night accommodation, a full English breakfast for two, and two spaces on a Context Garden Squares of Bloomsbury tour. The package is based on two sharing, includes VAT, and is subject to availability.

For more information, visit www.theetoncollection.com or www.contexttravel.com

Finland’s Turku archipelago unveiled the Archipelago Trail, a 155-mile route that traverses two main roads, 12 bridges and nine ferries, joining hundreds of islands. Open only in the summer months, the trail offers an opportunity for a personalized summer adventure by car or bike.

The Archipelago Trail links the islands of the Turku archipelago and over 118 miles of public roads and 31 miles of waterways. Open from June 1 to Aug. 31, the circular trail gives travelers the opportunity to get to know the archipelago’s islands by land. Along the route are villages, beaches, harbors and other spots to stop for a quiet rest or picnic. The trail can be completed by car in a single day.

The Archipelago Trail starts from Turku and goes through Kaarina, Parainen, Nauvo, Korppoo, Houtskär, Iniö, Kustavi, Taivassalo, Velkua, Askainen, Merimasku, Naantali and Raisio. Clients can rent bikes from a number of outlets both in Turku and on the Ring Road itself.

Bike rental costs around 20 euros ($25) per day. Plenty of international car rental companies and local outlets can also be found in Turku.

For more information, visit

www.turku2011.fi 

www.saaristo.org

or www.visitfinland.com

Lying 8km or a 25 minute ferry ride from Townsville is World Heritage-listed Magnetic Island. With a range of accommodation available on the island from budget to five star resorts, Magnetic Island or Maggie as it’s affectionately known, is a great family holiday destination. www.townsvilleholidays.info/places-to-visit/magnetic-island.cfm

If 23 picturesque beaches and bays aren’t enough to keep the kids amused, what about spotting rock wallabies or koalas in the wild? More than-two thirds of Maggie is National Park and the island is home to northern Australia’s largest colony of koalas.

If you aren’t lucky enough to spot one in the wild then head to Bungalow Bay Koala Village where the whole family can hold a koala or crocodile, take a guided tour of the island’s diverse environments and even have breakfast with the koalas.

At Bungalow Bay’s popular bush tucker breakfast the kids will have fun cooking their own toast over an open fire and munching down a big brekkie while they are greeted by native wildlife. www.bungalowbay.com.au

With everything from sea kayaking to island jet ski tours, there are plenty of other family friendly activities on Maggie to keep everyone entertained.

Snorkel the fringing reefs surrounding the island, hire a cart for a nine hole round of golf, take the kids exploring in a traditional mini moke (minimum age 12 years) or spend the afternoon seeing Maggie on horseback.

Horseshoe Bay Ranch’s fully guided rides take you through the bush, onto the beach, and into the water and are a definite must do. www.horseshoebayranch.com.au

One of the best ways to see the island is on an Adrenalin Jet Ski Tour (Ph 07 4778 5533).

You can circumnavigate the island on a three hour tour or take in the top end on a 75 minute tour. Both tours showcase a different side of Maggie as you view spectacular granite boulders, secluded bays and spot a variety of marine and bird life all from the back of the latest Seadoo luxury watercraft.

For a holiday the kids will never forget, why not charter a catamaran or yacht and cruise the crystal clear and calm waters around Magnetic Island. Tropic Sail offers private self-skippered and skippered sailing holidays from Townsville. The whole family can learn the ropes on this sailing adventure as you spot turtles, dolphins and dugongs, snorkel straight off the boat in warm tropical waters and discover fringing coral reefs and the 13 unspoiled islands of the Palms Group. www.tropicsail.com.au

Back on the mainland, experience the wonders of the Great Barrier Reef without getting your feet wet at Reef HQ Aquarium. The attraction’s coral reef exhibit is the world’s largest coral reef aquarium and is home to 130 coral species and 120 fish species. Kids can learn about the Great Barrier Reef ecosystem and its inhabitants, see how the aquarium cares for sick and injured marine turtles at the Reef HQ Turtle Hospital, find Nemo as he swims amongst vibrant living corals, and chat to the divers as they swim with the sharks and other animals in the predator exhibit. www.reefhq.com.au

Right next door, the Museum of Tropical Queensland is bursting with exhibitions that will captivate visitors of all ages. Learn about the HMS Pandora, the ship sent by British Admiralty to capture the Bounty and her mutinous crew, explore a typical North Queensland rainforest environment in the Enchanted Rainforest or test your skills at the interactive science centre, Mind zone. www.mtq.qm.qld.gov.au

Townsville’s fantastic beachfront promenade, The Strand offers everything you need for a great family day out. A jetty for fishing, bike paths and walkways, restaurants, cafes, a free kid’s water park, picnic areas, swimming pools and enclosures. The popular foreshore stretches 2.5km and offers stunning views across Cleveland Bay to Magnetic Island. www.townsvilleholidays.info

While in Townsville don’t forget a visit to Billabong Sanctuary, one of North Queensland’s best wildlife parks featuring over 100 species of Australian animals. You can cuddle a koala, hug a wombat and if you’re brave enough wrap a python around your shoulders and hold a crocodile! www.billabongsanctuary.com.au

For more information on holiday ideas in the Townsville region visit www.queenslandholidays.com.au

Getting There
Townsville is a two hour flight from Brisbane. Virgin Blue offers direct flights to Townsville from Rockhampton, Cairns, Brisbane, Gold Coast and Sydney. Qantas and Jetstar also fly direct from Brisbane and Sydney with connections available.

Traveltrain’s Tilt Train provides two services a week. www.traveltrain.com.au

Magnetic Island is easily accessible via a 25 minute ferry ride from the Townsville Breakwater terminal. www.sunferries.com.au

North Star Cruises has announced a brand new opportunity for adventure with the new Solomon Sojourn itinerary on board the magnificent True North ship.

The inaugural eight-day Solomon Sojourn cruise will depart Brisbane in November 2010, with a second cruise running back-to-back.

North Star General Manager Peter Trembath said the stunning Pacific Island Solomon Island region was virtually untouched by tourism.

“We’re offering a truly unique opportunity to experience the beauty of this place and its people,” said Mr Trembath.

The Solomon Sojourn features an exciting mix of culture, vibrant coral reef, history and the stunning South Pacific – as well as True North’s revered line-up of snorkelling, diving, fishing and helicopter exploration.

Highlights of the eight day itinerary include:

• Exploring the volcanic Savo Island
• Fishing, diving and snorkelling at Russell, Uepi, and Kennedy Islands
• Discovering fascinating US war time history
• Soaking up the culture and vibrant atmosphere of local markets and villages
• Swimming in pristine lagoons
• Commercial return flights from Brisbane to Honiara

Mr Trembath urged anyone interested to book early.

“Our maiden adventures on board True North always sell out fast and cabins must be allocated on a first-come-first-serve basis,” he said.

Prices for the Solomon Sojourn start at $10,995 per person.

For more information visit:

www.northstarcruises.com.au/solomonsojourn.asp

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

Platinum Service, the new luxury service level on The Ghan, has been such a huge success that it is now also available on selected services of the Indian Pacific.

Launched in 2008, Platinum Service is the new world-class standard of rail travel in Australia. Designed to meet the needs of the discerning traveller, the spacious deluxe cabins rival those on the world’s most luxurious trains.

With a distinctly Australian style, the Tasmanian Oak paneled cabins are almost twice the size of a Gold Service cabin and feature double or twin beds, plush high quality fittings and a full ensuite bathroom.

“The introduction of Platinum Service on The Ghan has been met with overwhelming success,” said Chief Executive of Great Southern Rail, Tony Braxton-Smith.

“Guests accustomed to world-class accommodation are impressed with the quality, style and level of attention and service available when travelling in a Platinum Service cabin,” said Tony.

Over the last twelve months Platinum Service cabins have averaged an occupancy rate of around 70 per cent, which is impressive for a new product, with cabins often booked out well in advance during The Ghan’s peak season.

“A strong demand for Platinum Service on the Indian Pacific saw us introduce these world-class carriages to selected services of the Indian Pacific last year, and they have proved to be as popular on the Indian Pacific as they are on The Ghan,” said Tony.

From the comfort of a Platinum Service cabin guests can set their own pace.

The day beings with a continental breakfast served directly to the cabin.

From the comfort of plush lounge suites within the cabin, travellers enjoy panoramic views as the day and breathtaking scenery roll by.

In the famous Queen Adelaide Restaurant guests enjoy mouth-watering cuisine prepared by a team of on-board chefs, such as salt water barramundi and grilled kangaroo loin.

By night, the Platinum Cabin resembles a deluxe hotel room, transformed to accommodate either a double or two twin beds, complete with turndown service and nightcap.

With platinum cabins now available on two of the world’s greatest rail journeys,

The Ghan and the Indian Pacific, the hard decision for travellers is which journey to choose.

From the northern tropics to the red centre and the southern ranges on The Ghan, or through the breathtaking Blue Mountains and across the arid Nullarbor Desert on the Indian Pacific, a rail journey is not about the destination, but the journey.

For more information on Platinum Service or The Ghan and the Indian Pacific, contact Great Southern Rail on 13 21 47, visit www.greatsouthernrail.com.au  or contact your licensed travel agent.

Kings Canyon Resort is celebrating the arrival of clear autumn skies and cooler temperatures with the launch of a new gourmet Outback dining experience – Under a Desert Moon.

Imagine the romance of a table for two in a wilderness setting under a canopy of the Southern night sky. The only light comes from the moon and the flickering glow of the fire.

The only sound is soft music intertwined with the whispering of the breeze through the Desert Oak trees and the crackling flames.

‘Under a Desert Moon’ is a new experience offering guests a gourmet dinner for two, with a six-course menu accompanied by fine Australian wines. It is designed for intimacy, with no more than eight couples dining on any one night.

Nibble on smoked gorgonzola puffs, kangaroo blini and peppered prawns as you toast the setting of the sun across Carmichael’s Crag.

Then settle in at your private table for two for a delicately prepared menu of creations including beef tenderloin with foie gras and truffle oil or barramundi bouillabaisse with scallop, scampi and slipper lobster in a saffron bisque – accompanied by a matching selection of fine Australian wines. Other delicacies include a tantalising vermicelli laksa and a lemon myrtle and kiwi fruit sorbet.

Created by new Executive Chef Fia Takaia, under the guidance of new Resort General Manager Michael Sulser, the ‘Under a Desert Moon’ gourmet dining experience is designed to give guests the chance to really enjoy the magical experience of dining under the Outback stars, in a more intimate setting matched with an excellent menu.

Resort General Manager Michael Sulser said: “Our ‘Under a Desert Moon’ gourmet dining experience is receiving great reviews from our guests and praise for our new Executive Chef Fia Takaia.

“Kings Canyon is a beautiful destination, however the magic really starts when the sun sets, lighting up the deep reds and ochres of the Canyon range. The silence and space out here is breathtaking, and this is our way of rewarding guests with a very intimate and romantic special evening to mark the end of a day in the Canyon.”

New Zealand born Chef Fia Takaia took up the role of Executive Chef at Kings Canyon Resort in March, having been promoted from Sous Chef. Fia has a real love of the Australian outback and Kings Canyon, and her passion and creative flair is reflected in the finesse of her culinary skills. Prior to working at Kings Canyon Resort, Fia worked at Auckland’s Grand Chancellor Hotel as Sous Chef.

Swiss-born Michael Sulser has experience managing some of the most stunning nature-based properties around Australia, including Freycinet Lodge in Tasmania, Wilpena Pound Resort in South Australia, Karry Valley Resort and Rottnest Island Lodge in Western Australia and Long Island in Queensland. Prior to joining Kings Canyon Resort as General Manager, Michael Sulser managed the multi-award winning Tarraleah Highland Village and Lodge in Tasmania.

The six-course ‘Under a Desert Moon’ fine dining experience is priced at $148 per person and includes a selection of fine Australian wines.

Under a Desert Moon operates from April through to October. For more information go to this link.

About Kings Canyon Resort, Northern Territory:

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.

Kings Canyon Resort is owned by Delaware North Australia Parks & Resorts, new owners of iconic Australian experiential resorts including Heron Island, El Questro Wilderness Park, El Questro Homestead, Lizard Island and Wilson Island.