Jetsettersblog

With shopping a key attraction for visitors from the GCC to Geneva,

The Rocco Forte Collection’s Le Richemond hotel has introduced an intelligent new service which prospective watch buyers will find hard to resist.

The hotel is the first in the world to celebrate the art, craft and expertise of Swiss watchmaking by appointing a dedicated Watch Butler.

The Watch Butler, Pierre Jacques, is the head of the well-known luxury watch boutique Les Ambassadeurs, located in Geneva’s rue du Rhone.

He was previously owner and editor of the industry bible, GMT Magazine, and is an ‘Haute Horlogerie’ specialist.

With access to 24 elite luxury brands – mainly Swiss-made – and also to some rare and exceptional collectors’ timepieces, he is well-placed to share his knowledge and expertise with Le Richemond’s guests, either privately at the hotel or on a specially arranged visit by limousine to Les Ambassadeurs.

The watch butler service is complimentary to guests staying at Le Richemond, enhancing the luxury and leisure offerings.

It is tailor made and starts by inviting guests to peruse a brand list before requesting to view any particular timepieces. Most of the brands available are manufactured in or around Geneva and, for added interest; the Watch Butler is also able to arrange private visits to the manufacturing sites for Vacheron Constantin, Roger Dubuis and Franck Muller amongst others.

Geneva is nothing if not the best place in the world in which to invest in a luxury timepiece.

The Swiss watch and clock industry took root there in the 16th century, when Calvinist reforms banning the wearing of jewels forced the goldsmiths and other jewellers to develop a new, independent craft.

By the end of the century Genevan watches were already renowned for their exceptional quality, and in 1601 the Watchmakers’ Guild of Geneva was established, as the first of its kind. A century later, with Geneva becoming crowded with watchmakers, many decided to leave for the Jura Mountains, and their successors remain – and work – in La Chaux-de-Fonds and other ‘watch valley’ sites to this day.

Over four centuries, names like Abraham-Louis Perrelet, Adrien Philippe, Frederic Ingold and Georges Lechot honed their techniques and levels of craftsmanship, and never shied away from innovation and development.

As a result, Switzerland can claim an impressive array of firsts. The first wristwatch, the first quartz watch, the first water-resistant wristwatch, the thinnest, smallest or most expensive wristwatches: all came from the Swiss valleys.

It is a tradition which has kept the Swiss watchmaking industry at the forefront in the world.

Guests at Le Richemond are now invited to become part of this tradition through the expertise of the Watch Butler. Les Ambassadeurs, established in Geneva in 1964, specialises in high-end luxury Swiss watches. It has a collection of vintage and antique watches and can source rare timepieces if the collector wishes. It also has boutiques in Zurich, Lugarno and St Moritz.

Rooms at Le Richemond start at £294. The Art of Watch-making Package, including a welcome glass of Champagne, breakfast, the Watch Butler Service, private visit to a manufacturing site for one of Switzerland’s most famous watchmakers, visit to the Patek Philippe Museum and a dinner at Le Jardin, starts at £454.

For further information or to book, please call the UAE free phone reservations number 8000 650592 or visit www.roccofortecollection.com

Hotel expects to boost sales by 10 per cent in 2010 through new sales and marketing partnership with Preferred Hotel Group

April 1, 2010

Cristal Hotel and Resorts, a luxury hospitality company, has announced that it has signed a partnership agreement with Preferred Hotel Group (PHG), a global sales and marketing conglomerate, in a move that will significantly expand Cristal Hotel’s global market presence and boost sales by an estimated 10 per cent in 2010.

The agreement also makes Cristal Hotel and Resorts the first Middle East hotel to become a member of Sterling Hotels, as part of the Sterling Design category, which is a worldwide collection of fashionable, affordable hotels that appeal to both business and leisure travellers.

The partnership agreement was signed on the sidelines of Cristal Hotel and Resorts’ participation in the Gulf Incentive, Business Travel & Meetings Exhibition (GIBTM) that was held recently in Abu Dhabi.

Cristal Hotel and Resorts has revealed that it intends to leverage PHG’s 28 international sales offices, over 60 dedicated industry sales specialists and more than 300 major corporate accounts worldwide to cultivate new markets and broaden its target audience.

Furthermore, Cristal Hotel and Resorts disclosed that both parties have agreed to expand the partnership with upcoming projects.

Peter Blackburn, CEO of Cristal Hotels & Resorts, said: “The partnership with PHG provides greater leverage for Cristal Hotel and Resorts to sustain our market expansion program.

Being the first in the Middle East to be recognised as a Sterling Design Hotel will also greatly enhance our reputation as a world-class hotel destination, which is crucial in an increasingly competitive market environment. We are confident that the partnership will deliver immediate results, as we forecast an increase in sales of up to 10 per cent this year.”

John Ueberroth Chairman and CEO Preferred Hotel Group, said: “Cristal Hotel and Resorts exemplifies the ideals of the Sterling Design Hotel, which focus on modern and contemporary style, distinct architecture, bold interiors and state-of-the-art technology.

oreover, through this partnership, PHG will help enhance the business performance of Cristal Hotel by providing support in branding, global sales and marketing, and integrated reservation services, which are all designed to increase revenues and reduce overall costs.”

Cristal Hotel and Resorts has emerged as one of the top business hotel destinations in Abu Dhabi despite opening just under a year ago.

Cristal Hotel Abu Dhabi features 192 luxuriously appointed and spacious rooms, complemented by a complete range of business facilities and world-class customer service standards.

Rezidor opened the 506-room Radisson Royal Hotel Moscow. The hotel features a “Socialist Realism” art collection; five restaurants, one from famed Russian restaurateur Arkadiy Novikov; private yacht tours on the Moskva River; and the 34th-floor Troubador bar with panoramic city views.

Moscow’s Mayor Yury Luzhkov was on hand to celebrate the hotel’s opening, which follows an extensive, three-year renovation to the former Hotel Ukraina.

The structure is one of Moscow’s legendary “Seven Sisters” skyscrapers, built between 1949 and 1957 and combining neo-classical, Russian Baroque and Gothic architecture with the technology used to build Manhattan skyscrapers, standing 675 feet tall and with a total surface of nearly 330,000 square feet.

Hotel interiors feature meticulously restored ceiling frescoes and murals as well as over 1,200 original master works by Russian artists from the first half of the 20th century. Works on display include paintings by Vasily Polenov, Julius Klever, Alexander Deineka, Dmitry Nalbandian, Max Birstein, Michael Suzdal’tsev, Nicholas Romadin and Mikhail Kupriyanov.

On the ground floor, a 1977 diorama “Moscow: the capital of the USSR” presents a 1,312-square-foot, scaled representation of the historical center of Moscow from Luzhniki to Zemlyanoy Val.

The hotel’s 1,200-square-foot Presidential Suite includes two bedrooms, a spacious living room, full kitchen with Nespresso machine, dining room, and views of the Russian White House and Moscow skyline.

Presidential Suite guests receive private express check-in, two complimentary laundry items per stay and access to the Executive Lounge. The hotel also offers 38 fully serviced apartments. These one- and two-bedroom suites feature private check-in, kitchenettes, wireless Internet, and hotel services such as daily housekeeping, concierge and room service.

The hotel also offers culinary boat tours on the Moskva River. The hotel owns a small fleet of exclusively designed river yachts that can be reserved for two-hour, private excursions through Moscow’s central historical district.

On the first floor, Radisson Royal Hotel Moscow features the 11,000-square-foot Royal Wellness Club, which includes a 164- foot heated indoor pool, fully equipped gym, Turkish bath, Finnish sauna, beauty parlor and massage rooms. A sophisticated engineering system was used to infuse spa facilities with the fresh air and water of the Russian mountains.

Located in the city center, Radisson Royal Hotel Moscow is situated on the banks of the Moskva River, at the intersection of Kutuzovsky Prospect and Novy Arbat.

Attractions within walking distance include the Russian Federation, or Russian “White House,” as well as Red Square, the Kremlin, and the House of Government.

The opening of Radisson Royal Hotel Moscow marks the latest in Rezidor’s dedicated expansion in the region. Rezidor has 40 properties open or under development in Russia and the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS).

Existing Radisson Blu properties in Russia include the Radisson Blu Royal St. Petersburg and the Radisson Blu Lazurnaya, Sochi on the Black Sea coast.

Deere & Company will expand its John Deere-branded properties to include a tourist attraction in Waterloo, Iowa, focused on the history of tractor and engine design and manufacturing.

Construction on the John Deere Waterloo Tractor and Engine History Museum will begin later this year with opening scheduled for late 2011.

The museum will be an addition to John Deere attractions in Iowa, Illinois and Germany as well as visitor centers at John Deere factories around the world.

“The public is interested in learning more about the company’s past, present and future,” said Bill Becker, director-global brand management.

“This new museum will complement other John Deere-branded properties by amplifying the tractor and engine history of the company and enabling visitors to explore the development and capabilities of these products more in-depth.”

The tractor and engine museum will include artifacts and interactive exhibits to celebrate the history and growth of the tractor business at John Deere, which today is the world’s leading provider of agricultural equipment.

Deere currently operates a historic site in Grand Detour, Ill., where John Deere started his business in 1837.

In addition, Deere offers the John Deere Pavilion and John Deere Store in Moline, Ill.; the John Deere Harvester Works visitor center in East Moline, Ill.; the John Deere Forum in Mannheim, Germany; and visitor centers in other Deere facilities.

“The museum will celebrate not only the history of John Deere’s tractor and engine business but also the invaluable contribution of employees, customers, and the Cedar Valley,” said Dave Rodger, general manager of John Deere Waterloo Works.

“Tractors and engines are an important part of John Deere’s 173-year history, and Deere is looking forward to sharing our story of quality and innovation.” The John Deere Tractor and Engine Museum will be located on Westfield Avenue on the original site of the Waterloo Tractor Works. Financial details of the development were not disclosed.

For more information, visit www.deere.com

The Makena Beach & Golf Resort has opened the Makena Kai Day Spa.

The spa is the first on Maui operated by Hawaiian Rainforest Spa, which specializes in natural healing therapies.

The spa offers outdoor treatments in two thatched-roof cabanas.

The cabanas feature four treatment rooms, as well as a Thai-style outdoor private shower. Services include massage therapies, facials and body treatments that incorporate indigenous botanical products.

Specialty wellness treatments include a facial massage targeting sinus pressure points, TMJ (temporomandibular joint and muscle) disorders, and neck and shoulder stress, as well as intensive scalp therapy designed to ease chronic head and neck pain.

Spa packages include the two-hour Na Lani Mea (Heavenly Things) treatment with a choice of massage and custom facial; the two-and-a-half-hour Mana Aina (Spiritual Strength of the Land) treatment, including an 80-minute Hawaiian lomi lomi massage and choice of facial; and the three-hour Orchid treatment, which includes a 50-minute aromatherapy massage, a custom facial and a marine body wrap.

For more information, call 800-321-6284 or visit www.makenaresortmaui.com

The Amtrak Police Department is now periodically conducting random screening of Amtrak passengers and their carry-on baggage at Chicago Union Station.

The initiative is part of an ongoing commitment by Amtrak to improve safety and security at stations and on trains across its national network. It is not, Amtrak insists, in response to any threat.

Randomly selected Amtrak passengers and their baggage, handbags, backpacks or other personal items may be screened or inspected as they board trains.

The inspection will be completed as quickly as possible, usually less than a minute, in a manner designed to respect passengers’ privacy as much as possible.

Dangerous, hazardous and illegal items, including all firearms and other weapons, are prohibited in carry-on baggage. “Amtrak has been conducting these security screenings on a random basis along the Northeast Corridor and during special events elsewhere, in some cases in conjunction with the Transportation Security Administration,” said Amtrak Chief of Police John O’Connor.

In addition to the carry-on baggage screening, Amtrak Police explosive detection dogs will continue to patrol on the platforms, on-board trains, and throughout the station.

Some of these K9’s are trained to detect specific materials on or around passengers.

A passenger who does not consent to the inspection or other security procedures will be denied access to Amtrak trains. In such cases, an Amtrak police officer will accompany the passenger to the ticket office, where a full refund may be given, without fee or penalty, even if the ticket is ordinarily non-refundable.

The ticket may be refunded in cash, credit or travel certificate, depending on how it was paid.

Screening and other security activities are done on an unannounced and unpredictable basis. Therefore, no further public announcements regarding this type of screening are anticipated. An average of 55 Amtrak trains come and go from Chicago Union Station every day, with more than 8,500 Amtrak passengers using the station daily. With more than 1.5 million passengers, it is the fourth-busiest station in the Amtrak system.

For more information, call 800-USA-RAIL or visit www.Amtrak.com

MSC Cruises is offering savings of more than 50 percent to AARP members. With the savings, rates start at $859 per person on select “Distinctive Collection” repositioning itineraries.

Pre- and post-cruise stays and excursions are available at an additional cost. Kids 11 and younger cruise free when sharing a stateroom with two adults. These special AARP rates are available on the following sailings:

• A 16- or 17-night cruise from Barcelona or Genoa to Cape Town on the MSC Melody calling in Barcelona, Cadiz, Tenerife, Mindelo and Walvis Bay.

Departures are Dec. 1 or Dec. 2; rates start at $859 and with $44.30 per person in government fees and taxes.

• An 17- or 18-night cruise from Kiel or Copenhagen to New York on MSC Poesia calling in Southampton, Le Havre, Vigo, Lisbon, Ponta Delgada and King’s Wharf.

Departures are Sept. 4 or Sept. 5; rates start at $1,149 plus $65 in taxes and fees.

• A 16- or 17-night cruise from Fort Lauderdale March 6 to Barcelona or Genoa on MSC Poesia calling in San Juan, St. John’s, Port Castries, Funchal, Malaga and Alicante; rates are from $949 plus $84.43 and $82.85 in taxes and fees.

• An 18- or 19-night cruise between Venice and Rio de Janeiro on MSC Musica calling in Dubrovnik, Valletta, Malaga, Funchal, Tenerife, Fortaleze, Recife and Salvador de Bahia.

Departures are Oct. 31 and March 29; rates are from $919 plus $143.30 in taxes and fees.

• A 17-night cruise from Genoa to Santos or 19 nights from Santos to Kiel on MSC Orchestra calling in Barcelona, Lisbon, Casablanca, Tenerife, Recife, Salvador de Bahia, and Rio de Janeiro.

Ports are Funchal, Vigo, Southampton and Copenhagen on the 19-night cruise. Departures are Nov. 11 and April 12; rates start at $999 plus $187.20 in taxes and fees.

• An 18-night cruise from Venice to Santos or 17-night voyage from Santos to Southampton on MSC Opera calling in Katakalon, La Valetta, Malaga, Casablanca, Agadir, Arrecife, Recife, Salvador de Bahia and Rio de Janeiro.

Departures are Nov. 25 or April 20; rates are from $919 plus $206 taxes and fees.

The offer cannot be combined with any other offer or promotion including standard AARP member offers.

For more information, call 877-665-4655 or visit

www.msccruisesusa.com/aarp

Malibu Grapes, a collection of wine-tasting tours in Malibu, Calif., has launched scheduled departures of the Malibu Wine Trail Tour, which take visitors to family owned tasting rooms in the Santa Monica Mountains for tastings.

Pick-ups are available at designated hotels in Santa Monica and Malibu from Thursday through Sunday. Participants are picked up by 10:15 a.m. for tastings at three tasting rooms and lunch with paired wine at a Malibu restaurant, with a return time of approximately 4 p.m.

The tour is priced at $149 per person.

Specific pick-up points can be arranged upon request.

The company also offers Private Reserved Tours for occasions like birthday parties, anniversaries, bachelorette parties and weddings, as well as for visiting groups and corporate clients. These tours are available for groups of six to 24 people.

For more information, call 310-393-6555 or visit www.malibugrapes.com

Three dynamic, interactive media programs were recently launched in Denmark, each one capturing both the essence of the past and the energy of the present to create a chapter of history for future generations.

Copenhagen’s 1,001 Stories Project at this link.

is a new initiative from the Heritage Agency of Denmark, shares the stories of Denmark’s points of interest via downloadable audio and accompanying maps and photos.

The list includes well-known places such as “Hamlet’s Castle” at Kronborg and the freetown of Christiania in Copenhagen; lesser-known places with stories such as the 1970s Brutalist architecture of Odder Town Hall; and the historic lighthouses of Skagen and the Holmegaard Glassworks, built on the site of a medieval peat bog that provided the natural fuel used to heat the glass furnaces.

Users can listen to the stories (narrated in English) on the Internet, via mobile phones or PDAs or on their car’s GPS as they road-trip through Denmark. The archive of 1,001 Stories will continue to grow with input from more storytellers, everyone is invited to participate.

The Wall, at this link.

is a dynamic outdoor installation created by the Museum of Copenhagen and now standing in Kongens Nytorv square in the city center.

The Wall features four interactive touch screens with a total span of nearly 40 feet highlighting hundreds of audio-visual images and impressions of Copenhagen, past and present. Visitors set the screens in motion with a single touch, time-traveling through the city’s many neighborhoods for a look at life then and now.

The Wall is always evolving and each day brings something new as photos and commentary are added by locals and visitors at The Wall itself or via the Museum of Copenhagen’s website.

The project debuted in April and will continue for the next four years, relocating throughout the city.

The Museum of Copenhagen’s new Audiowalks in Vesterbro is located at this link.

The program focuses on this slice of true Copenhagen with a choice of six MP3-based audio tours presented by a group of young writers and artists who share their Vesterbro with visitors, from the places they go and the things they do today to the heritage that drew them to Vesterbro in the first place.

For more information, visit www.visitdenmark.com/usa  or www.visitcopenhagen.com

Portugal will open 29 new hotels this year, most with four- or five-star ratings, adding 7,000 new rooms.

Meanwhile, the average hotel rate fell by 15 percent to 82 euros per night (84 euros in Lisbon), according to the Hotel Price Index.

That made Portugal the fifth-most-affordable destination in Europe.

Half the new rooms will open in the southern Algarve and Alentejo regions.

For more information, visit www.visitportugal.com