Jetsettersblog

Mercure gives visitors to Queensland a true taste of the ‘Sunshine State’

19 May 2010: The Mercure hotel group is the first major hotel group in Queensland to take the State’s local wines seriously, with the launch of the 2010 “Grands Vins Mercure”, a wine list dedicated to showcasing Queensland’s increasingly attractive wines.

The new Queensland Grands Vins selection is available at Mercure hotels in Brisbane, Townsville and Cairns, giving visitors a true taste of the Sunshine State. The wine list is changed twice yearly.

Wines come from a number of boutique wineries in the Stanthorpe region, recognised as Queensland’s premier wine area, as well as from emerging wine regions such as South Burnett, the Darling Downs and the Gold Coast Hinterlands.

Reflecting Queensland wineries’ experimentation with grape varieties and styles, the list includes varietals such as sylvaner and verdelho amongst the whites, along with more traditional chardonnay, sauvignon blanc and semillon selections. The reds include straight tempranillo and cabernet franc wines as well as merlot, shiraz and cabernet sauvignon.

Accor Regional General Manager Queensland, Neil Scanlan, said that the launch of the new Queensland wine list was not only a vote of confidence in the Queensland wine industry, but also for Queensland tourism.

“Queensland wines have improved dramatically in recent years – and we have had a great reaction from guests since introducing the Queensland Grands Vins wine list a few years ago – but there is still reluctance by most hotels and restaurants to fully represent the State’s wine produce,” he said.

“When visitors come to Queensland they want to get an appreciation of the destination in many ways, and wine and food is very much part of the travel experience. While Queensland doesn’t have the size of wine industry as its southern counterparts, it is really working hard to bring the wine and tourism experience together, as can be seen by the creation of the Strange Bird wine trail up to the Granite Belt. Even if visitors can’t get to these wine areas, they can at least try them at a Mercure hotel.

“What is really important with the Grands Vins wine list is the pricing. We want to dispel the myth that good wine is only associated with high-end restaurants and high-end prices. Mercure’s Grands Vins shows it is possible to enjoy great wines – many from smaller vineyards – at very attractive prices, by both the glass and by the bottle.”

The Grands Vins wine list is designed to make wine selection easier, grouping wines in four particular styles – fresh and tasty; fruity and light; balanced & elegant and spicy and full bodies – to help guests choose the most suitable wine for every occasion and for every dish, while introducing wines from a range of distinctive wineries that guests might not otherwise have a chance to experience.

Every wine offered has been selected by an expert tasting panel comprising sommeliers, wine connoisseurs and food and beverage professionals, and, importantly, final judging is conducted with appropriate food courses to ensure the wines are “food friendly”.

Some 80% of wine sold at Mercure hotels is consumed with food, so compatibility with food was a major judging criteria.

The Mercure Grands Vins regional lists complement each hotel’s standard wine list, which together provide a comprehensive range of Australian and international wines.

The launch of the Queensland Grands Vins list is part of a national roll-out of the concept, with State-based lists prepared for NSW, Victoria, Tasmania, South Australia and Western Australia. Internationally, Mercure has been offering Grands Vins selections in Europe since 1983.

Within Accor, Mercure embodies the hospitality know-how that makes every stay unique.
For both business and leisure travels, the 650 Mercure hotels form a family united around common values: the specific personality of each establishment, the quality of the attention reserved to each client, its cultural reflection of the city and the region, the Grands Vins Mercure…

Comfort, service quality and hospitality are the foundations of the reputation of all Mercure hotels in 49 countries.

For more information go to the Mercure banner  below.

Accor, a major global group and the European leader in hotels, as well as the global leader in services to corporate clients and public institutions, operates in nearly 100 countries with 150,000 employees.

It offers to its clients over 40 years of expertise in two core businesses:

- Hotels, with the Sofitel, Pullman, MGallery, Novotel, Mercure, Suitehotel, Ibis, all seasons, Etap Hotel, Formule 1 and Motel 6 brands, representing 4,000 hotels and nearly 500,000 rooms in 90 countries, as well as strategically related activities, such as Lenôtre;
- Services, with 32 million people in 40 countries benefiting from Accor Services products in employee and public benefits, rewards and motivation, and expense management.

Best Western International – The World’s Largest Hotel Chain® – has signed on its newest resort in Thailand and in doing so, also added a new destination to its growing portfolio around the Kingdom. Following a renovation project, the Phanganburi Resort & Spa on Koh Phangan is set to open in November 2010.

The 105 room resort is wonderfully situated on popular Haad Rin Beach at the south of Koh (Island) Phangan, close to shopping, entertainment and nightlife enclaves and in the heart-of-the-action when it comes to the island’s world-renowned Full Moon Parties.

“Our newest resort is ideal for party-goers who want to enjoy a peaceful sanctuary after a wild night. The Best Western brand is the perfect match for the resort, as the market to Phangan seeks comfortable and affordable, value-for-money resorts.

Best Western International’s standards will also position the property well to entice guests from Germany, France, Sweden, Switzerland, the United Kingdom, Israel, Australia and the US which are the main markets to Phangan,” commented Best Western International’s Senior Manager for International Development – Asia, Mr. Rashane Sala-Ngarm.

The resort boasts its own tropical beach front, while facilities include two swimming pools, on-beach restaurant, outdoor pool bar, spa and traditional Thai massage service, tour desk, mini mart, currency exchange service and a function room catering to a range of meetings and events in a stunning tropical ambience.

Offering welcoming and comfortable accommodation, all 105 guestrooms and cottages feature a private balcony and are fully equipped with satellite TV, broadband internet, telephone, in-room safety box, mini bar, refrigerator, individually controlled air conditioning and private bathroom with hot and cold shower.

Rothschild Safaris, a boutique operator based in Denver, announced the addition of India Wildlife Safaris to their portfolio of custom-designed journeys in East and Southern Africa.

India Wildlife Safaris include trekking for Bengal tigers, visits to New Delhi, the cities of Udaipur and Jaipur, and the Taj Mahal.

Leora Rothschild, owner and president of the company, personally researched and traveled to destinations in India to create a safari mix of wildlife sightings and cultural experiences in a plush travel setting.

Rothschild Safaris is launching their new India product with a grand tour led by a Rothschild team member designed to introduce travelers to this diverse and stimulating country.

The trip will take place from Feb. 11 to 24, 2011, focusing on the highlights of India including Delhi, Agra, Jaipur, Varanasi, and the tiger wildlife reserves.

Optional extensions are available to other parts of India or Bhutan.

Those interested can contact Leora Rothschild at

info@rothschildsafaris.com

For more information, call 800-405-9463 or visit

www.rothschildsafaris.com

Oberoi Hotels & Resorts introduced the new “Oberoi Advantage” offer, rewarding loyal guests with an exclusive Oberoi leisure hotel experience.

Guests staying at participating Oberoi city hotels on five separate occasions will receive a complimentary two-night stay at the leisure hotel of their choice.

To qualify, guests must stay at a participating business property prior to Oct. 31.

Redemption of stays at leisure hotels is valid on visits now through Oct. 31 and Dec. 1 to 15.
Business hotels participating in the Oberoi Advantage offer include The Oberoi, Mumbai; The Oberoi, New Delhi; The Oberoi, Bangalore; and The Oberoi Grand, Kolkata. Leisure hotels and resorts participating in the Oberoi Advantage offer include The Oberoi Amarvilas, Agra, India; The Oberoi Rajvilas, Jaipur, India; The Oberoi Vanyavilas, Ranthambhore, India; The Oberoi Udaivilas, Udaipur, India; The Oberoi Cecil, Shimla, India; Wildflower Hall, Shimla in the Himalayas-An Oberoi Resort, India; The Oberoi, Lombok, Indonesia; The Oberoi, Bali, Indonesia; The Oberoi, Sahl Hasheesh, Red Sea, Egypt; Mena House Oberoi, Cairo, Egypt; and The Oberoi, Mauritius.

The Park Hyderabad, which opened in March, has introduced four signature bath treatments for in-house guests to enjoy in the privacy of their luxury hotel accommodations. Baths are specially designed with herbs and essential oils to help guests relax and de-stress.

The bath menu was created by the staff of The Park Hyderabad’s Aura Spa to provide guests with an inexpensive way to indulge in a rejuvenating spa experience. These treatments are set-up in the deep-sink bathtubs in each hotel room’s bathroom. The menu of signature bath treatments is as follows:

Subah Revitalizing Bath — The essence of rosemary, mint and lemongrass in this bath will combat fatigue and instill freshness while keeping the effects of travel at bay.

Henna & Khus Khus Healing Bath — The sedative blend of henna powder and khus-khus (vetivert aromatherapy oil) will boost one’s immune system while inducing a peaceful sleep. A long list of benefits includes skin rehydration, skin firming and antibacterial effects on the body. This bath will leave guests enriched for days afterwards.

Gul-afshaan Beauty Bath — Incorporating rose petals, aloe vera and milk, this bathing ritual transports guests to the royal courts of Nizam (the native sovereigns of the state of Hyderabad).

Nargis Soothing Bath — This blend of freshly powdered vanilla beans and jasmine instills positive emotions while taking care of the needs for lustrous skin.

Signature baths are recommended for a luxuriating soak of 20 minutes. Each one costs Rs 950 ($21). The Aura Spa also features an extensive menu of treatments that guests can enjoy in the new facility. Aura Spa has locations at The Park properties in New Delhi, Chennai, Kolkata and Hyderabad, where the vision is to provide a sense of calm and revitalization during the entire wellness experience.

For more information, email sales.usa@theparkhotels.com  or visit www.theparkhotels.com

VisitEngland, the official tourism body for England, is highlighting how travelers can explore Harry Potter’s England at www.visitengland.com/harrypotter. As Harry Potter fans prepare for The Wizarding World of Harry Potter at Universal Orlando Resort set for a grand opening on June 18, these fans may be inspired to visit England. Visitors to England can tour a number of the film locations from the Harry Potter movies, including some of the countries most historic sites, many of which are likely to have inspired the writings of J.K. Rowling.

Known as the bewitching Hogsmeade Station in “Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone,” Goathland Station in Yorkshire on the North Yorkshire Moors Railway is a countryside station almost unchanged since its construction in 1865. Situated in the North York Moors National Park, the station has been restored to represent a post-World War 1 station, featuring a 1922-style tea room and original classic steam locomotives taking visitors through 18 miles of stunning countryside through the park, stopping at stations along the way.

For the film, the railway’s shop on the platform was transformed into the “Prefects Room” and the ladies toilets became the “Wizards Room.” The countryside of the Yorkshire Dales National Park is featured in the new Harry Potter film, “The Deathly Hallows,” due for release in 2010.

Oxford is where visitors can see the real-life locations for Hogwart’s. The city is home to Oxford University’s striking Gothic structure, Christ Church College, which is the site of the Hogwart’s dining hall, and also provided many of the school’s famous moving staircases.

Additionally, Hogwart’s hospital can be found in the elaborately fan-vaulted Divinity School, while the university’s circular Bodleian Library also supplied a location in the films.
In the South West of England, the richly vaulted cloisters of Gloucester Cathedral, one of England’s architectural gems, became the corridors leading to Gryffindor House in “Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone” and “Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets.” Further South, Lacock Abbey, a Gothicized 13th century abbey in Lacock, Wiltshire, provided many of the classrooms.

At King’s Cross Station in London, featured in the Harry Potter series of movies, between platforms 9 and 10 — the enchanted “Platform 9-3/4” at King’s Cross Station for fans in the know — is otherwise known as the portal to the wizarding world.

Recently completed, the new St. Pancras International station is Europe’s first “destination station” including shopping, Europe’s longest champagne bar, a fresh daily farmers market and top restaurants and bars.

Also in London, the Reptile House of Regent’s Park Zoo is where Harry learns he can speak to snakes and the optician store in Leadenhall Market in the city of London, previously an empty shop, doubled as the entrance to the Leaky Cauldron in “Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire.”

The Outer Bailey of Alnwick Castle, a medieval castle in Northumberland, is the site of Madame Hooch’s flying lesson, while also in the North East of England the cloisters of Durham Cathedral became the snowy quadrangle of Hogwarts, where Harry sets the owl flying. Durham Cathedral is considered one of the finest examples of Norman architecture and has been designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site along with nearby Durham Castle.

For more information, visit www.visitengland.com

American Airlines has completed extensive renovations to both the Admirals Club Lounge and the Flagship Lounge at London Heathrow Airport. Located in Terminal 3 at Gate H, the state-of-the-art facilities cover more than 19,000 square feet and offer customers a relaxing oasis.

The new furnishings sit atop terrazzo, carpet, stone and porcelain tile flooring. The remodeled Admirals Club lounge offers seating for 237 visitors and the Flagship Lounge, which doubled in size, offers seating for 134. An abundance of natural light complemented by specialty fixtures provide the space with a brighter appearance.

There is now and improved multi-functional business center with new HP personal computers with complimentary high-speed Internet access.

There’s a cyber cafe, complimentary high-speed Internet access, portable laptop tables and a “sit-down” laptop counter in the bar/TV area featuring Ethernet ports with complimentary high-speed Internet access.

There are both U.K. and U.S. power outlets and flat-panel televisions. There are spa-like shower facilities with private showers, complete with towels, shampoo, body gels and blow dryers, as well as shower caps and razors upon request.

There is a children’s room with a flat-panel TV, computers and age-appropriate software inside the Admirals Club lounge and an enhanced food and beverage offering.

Premium Services Representatives provide assistance with reservations, seat selection, upgrades and boarding passes. The Heathrow Admirals Club lounge is open daily from 5:45 a.m. to 8 p.m., and the Flagship Lounge operates daily from 6 a.m. to 8:45 p.m. One-year Admirals Club individual memberships for new members range from $350 to $500.

AAdvantage miles can also be used to purchase Admirals Club memberships. One-day passes are available for $50 and may be purchased online, at self-service check-in machines, or any Admirals Club location.

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

To celebrate the release of Ridley Scott’s “Robin Hood,” VisitEngland is bringing together some of England’s most fascinating myths and legends in a user-friendly online map, Facebook character quiz and downloadable podcast series, available at www.enjoyengland.com/mythsandlegends

This activity comes as part of a partnership with Universal Pictures, VisitBritain and Experience Nottinghamshire.

England is known for its history and storytelling heritage but sometimes it’s hard to know what once was truth or just a tale. Inspired by Robin Hood, the Myths & Legends map leads visitors through stories of beggars who aren’t what they seem, fairies seeking revenge for broken promises, lost treasure, giants, doomed lovers and heroes in hoods. Facebook fans can get involved by taking the “Which Mythical Character Are You” quiz, while families can download podcasts available online to make car journeys more exciting.

Some of the Myths & Legends included are Robin Hood, The Pendle Witches, The Schooner Hotel, Dick Turpinand, and The Mermaids of Zennor.

“Films, and the stories behind them, provide some of the most potent inspiration for people planning holidays in this country,” said Amanda Smyth, head of marketing for VisitEngland.

“With the release of Ridley Scott’s ‘Robin Hood,’ this is a perfect time to showcase not only Nottinghamshire but the whole of England through the many myths and legends that have been passed down through the ages.

As a country, we are blessed with a rich storytelling heritage and many of the places featured in these tales can still be visited today.”

For more information, visit www.enjoyengland.com/myths or www.enjoyengland.com/mythsandlegends

Dreaming of Golf at Night, so did we? Come out to Play

- Faldo Course lights up Dubai Night Golf Arrives at the Emirates-

Dubai, UAE: Emirates Golf Club, the UAE’s premier golfing destination, has officially launched night golf on the championship Faldo Course. Today’s opening enables golfers to enjoy a full round of championship golf in the heart of Dubai for the first time, as the Faldo course becomes the only fully floodlit 18-hole course in the UAE.

Open to public and members alike with highly competitive rates for 18 holes and 9 holes, the exciting development will extend play until midnight everyday of the week, with players able to tee off as late as 8pm for 18 holes and 10pm for 9 holes on the championship course.

“Since opening the first grass golf course in the region the Emirates Golf Club has played a leading role in promoting the game and helping to develop Dubai as a world class golfing destination.

The launch of night golf will bring the enjoyment of the game to even more people, offering a truly unique and memorable golfing experience for all,” said Chris May, General Manager, Emirates Golf Club and Dubai Creek Golf & Yacht Club.

The Faldo, a 7348 yards Par 73 championship course, opened in 2006 following the redesign of the Wadi Course by golfing legend Nick Faldo, will be brought to life in the Dubai evenings by the very latest in lighting technology, adding further to the unrivalled facilities at the Emirates Golf Club.

“Night golf has the potential to revolutionize the game within the UAE. Typically work constraints and limited tee off times means securing a round on a quality course in Dubai is a constant challenge. But with night golf we hope to make golf more accessible, especially in the summer months for those wishing to play in the cooler evenings”, Andrew Whitelaw, Club Manager, Emirates Golf Club explained.

With demand and interest in golf continuing to grow in the region, the introduction of night golf is a practical response by the iconic Emirates club to meet the increased demand by providing enjoyable year-round golf regardless of the climate and hectic pace of modern life in Dubai.

“The Faldo is a true test of golf for all players. Whether you’re a serious amateur wanting to regularly play on a championship course or you’re simply after a social 9 holes with friends after work, Emirates Golf Club has created new opportunities to play 7 nights a week offering great value for money and increased convenience for players ”, continued Whitelaw.

The green fee rates announced have been set to encourage regular night play by the local golfing community, visitors to the region and juniors with 18 holes varying from Dhs. 425 for visitors, Dhs.395 for UAE residents, Dhs.385 for Emirates Golf Federation (EGF) members.

For those wishing to play 9 holes in the evening, rates vary from Dhs.255 for visitors, Dhs.240 for UAE residents, Dhs.230 for Emirates Golf Federation (EGF) members and only Dhs. 190 for juniors.

The Emirates Golf Club selected global leaders in lighting, Abacus, to provide the on-course floodlighting system, with the environmental impact a key consideration in the system installed, as Whitelaw explained;

“The Emirates Golf Club has always set the standard for golf in the region so it was important a lighting system was installed to complement our existing world-class facilities and bring out the best of the Faldo course at night. We required a system that ensured energy use and light-pollution would be maintained at a minimum whilst providing the best possible conditions for players enjoy. Without doubt that has been achieved with the Faldo course ready for play against the backdrop of the spectacular Dubai skyline”.

John Anthony, Export Sales Director of Abacus said: “For over 50 years Abacus has been dedicated to lighting engineering and design excellence. Our sports lighting systems have been installed in the finest facilities worldwide, making us the leading providers in the industry. The Faldo course represents our greatest achievement yet in golf lighting and we are proud to have been involved in this project from the very beginning. The right lighting has the potential to completely revolutionize sport by enhancing the experience for players, spectators and sponsors.”

All rates are inclusive of shared cart and range balls prior to play, with hot food available on the course for those coming from the workplace to the course. Rates are valid 7 days per week. Bookings can be made by contacting Golf Reservations on Tel: +9714 380 1999 or Email: ereservations@dubaigolf.com