Jetsettersblog

On the Move: Watch approximately 1,000 horses gallop into Scottsdale for the Scottsdale Classic Futurity & Quarter Horse Show (Sept. 30-Oct. 6).

Held at WestWorld of Scottsdale , this equine tradition offers $2,000 in cash and prizes as well as free parties, activities and a silent auction benefiting charities.

Want to do more than just watch the action?

Bike your way through the city at Scottsdale Cycling Festival (Sept. 30-Oct.3).

The event lineup includes a launch party where cyclists can mingle over food and drinks; the Criterium at DC Ranch, which offers races for bikers of differing levels; and the Tour de Scottsdale , a 70-mile bicycling event that winds through Scottsdale and neighboring cities like Cave Creek, Carefree, and Fountain Hills.

And finally, for all you runners, grab your sneakers and start training for the Women’s Half Marathon. Scottsdale’s newest running event starts in downtown Scottsdale and takes runners along the Arizona Canal before ending at neighboring Tempe Beach Park. The half marathon concludes with a lakefront party and all finishers receive a medal with removable center charm.

The Macdonald Aviemore Resort is set to host Highland Heartbeat, a series of live summer shows and talent workshops.

STIRLING, SCOTLAND — The Macdonald Aviemore Resort is delighted to announce a series of live shows and unique talent workshops featuring Highland Heartbeat this summer.

The Resort’s main auditorium will be home to Highland Heartbeat on 21, 22, 29, 30 July and 4, 5, 18, 19 August 2010.

Highland Heartbeat is a television and live concert music show, soon to be broadcast on BBC2, highlighting the best of Scottish talent. The live show consists of singers and musicians specialising in both traditional and contemporary Scottish Music which aims to touch hearts by weaving together audiences through beautiful songs, music and landscape.

Fiona Kennedy, daughter of the late and hugely popular singers Calum and Anne Kennedy and creator of the Highland Heartbeat show, said: “Highland Heartbeat is a vibrant showcase for Scotland, highlighting both traditional and contemporary music and aimed at a wide ranging audience who love a good night out! This small country of ours is brimful of talent and it’s very exciting to be involved with the Macdonald Aviemore Resort to produce this live show on home turf.”

Highland Heartbeat began in 2008 when the American television company, PBS, approached Fiona asking her to find outstandingly talented young singers from Scotland for a television special which would broadcast coast to coast across America. The singers come from Shetland, Aberdeen, Glasgow and Motherwell and are the winners of a Scotland wide auditioning process.

Phil Cunningham, musician, BBC presenter and judge said: “I am genuinely delighted and amazed at the talent on the show.”

Summer 2010 will also see Highland Heartbeat produce a series of special talent workshops. The workshops, which are open to the public, will offer attendees the chance to learn songs from the show, have professional singing tuition, choreography and breathing lessons. Everyone taking part in the workshops will have the opportunity to join the group on stage during one of the highly anticipated live shows.

Gerry McGee, chief executive, Macdonald Aviemore Resort, said: “We are thrilled that Highland Heartbeat will be performing at the Resort this summer. The hugely talented Scottish musicians are sure to put on a show to remember. The talent workshops are a fantastic way of showcasing young talent and we look forward to finding the next big thing at the Macdonald Aviemore Resort’s answer to The X Factor.”

The Macdonald Aviemore Resort lies in the heart of Aviemore and the Cairngorms National Park. Ideal for those looking to enjoy weekend breaks in the Highlands general Highland breaks, the Resort includes four hotels and 18 luxury woodland lodges, a selection of high quality restaurants, an Aviemore travel guide, The Spey Valley Championship Golf Course, The Vital Spa, Spey Valley Cinema, Gym and child friendly Spey Valley Leisure Arena with swimming pool, flumes, wave machine and the Aviemore Adventure Club.

About Macdonald Hotels:

First established in 1990 by Donald Macdonald and colleagues, Macdonald Hotels & Resorts operates over 40 hotels across the UK and 10 resorts throughout the UK and Spain, including Aviemore hotels and wedding venues in Aviemore. Macdonald Hotels employs over 4,400 staff and operates in excess of 4,500 hotel rooms.

Its focus is on developing its strong portfolio of four and five star hotels, with each offering its own character and individuality underpinned with the quality and attention to detail expected of the Macdonald brand. In particular, the company prides itself on the seasonality and provenance of its food within the hotels, from breakfast through to dinner, as well as its wide range of specially selected wines. As testament to the excellent level of service the Group provides, it has on numerous occasions won several prestigious accolades, most notably the AA Hotel Group of the Year 2007-08 and the National Customer Service Awards for Leisure and Tourism.

Website: http://www.macdonaldhotels.co.uk

AMANRESORTS ANNOUNCES THE OPENING OF AMAN SVETI STEFAN OFF THE COAST OF MONTENEGRO

From its 15-century beginnings as a fortified village through its 1960s heyday as a destination for Hollywood’s elite jet set, the island of Sveti Stefan has long been an icon of Montenegro’s coastline. Now, 50 years later, the island is undergoing its second renaissance: Its exciting and painstaking transition to become the second phase of Aman Sveti Stefan, following the launch of Villa Miločer across the bay in 2009.

Located in the center of Montenegro’s Adriatic coast, Aman Sveti Stefan incorporates one and a quarter miles of coastline including the pink sandy beaches of Sveti Stefan, Miločer Beach and the renowned Queen’s Beach.

The island itself measures about 40,700 square feet.While its historic exterior remains largely unchanged, the resort’s interiors have been restored and updated to meet contemporary expectations. Aman Sveti Stefan already offers Villa Miločer’s six suites and two one-bedroom Queen Marija Suites on the Villa’s grounds. The island’s 50 guest cottages and suites will unveil themselves in stages, welcoming the first guests this July.

“I have always been attracted to the natural beauty and elegant coastline of Montenegro,” says Adrian Zecha, founder of Amanresorts, “and it is a privilege to breathe new life into such storied properties as Villa Miločer and the island of Sveti Stefan.”

Three new restaurants have joined Villa Miločer’s existing dining venues–The Dining Room, Loggia and Living Room–on the mainland, including: Queen’s Chair, serving Pan-Adriatic fare every evening from 6pm, overlooking the Bay of Budva; Olive Restaurant, a casual beachside brasserie open for breakfast, lunch and dinner; and the Beach Café, offering informal al fresco dining all day long in a secluded spot near Villa Miločer.

And later this summer, the island of Sveti Stefan itself will offer diverse dining options in a uniquely atmospheric setting, reminiscent of its fabled past – The Piazza.

This open-air square is the heart and soul of the island’s village setting, featuring a number of dining venues including a Taverna, an Enoteca, a Pasticceria, an Antipasti Bar and a Cigar Room. Also located on the island away from the vibrant bustle of the Piazza is the Cliff Pool and Bar. Other facilities to open are The Aman Restaurant, Terrace and Pool Bars and the main swimming pool.

The island of Sveti Stefan will also offer spa treatment suites featuring a range of signature Aman Spa therapies. Farther afield, Aman Sveti Stefan provides guests with personalized guided excursions to natural and cultural attractions in the area – including boating on the Adriatic, visiting the town of Budva, the royal capital of Cetinje, and the beautifully preserved baroque city of Perast, discovering the peaceful Skadar Lake and exploring the Bay of Kotor, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

“Montenegro has the reputation of being one of the last unspoilt Mediterranean destinations – an extremely rare phenomenon in Europe,” says Zecha. “Combine this with Sveti Stefan’s exceptional heritage, outstanding environment, architectural merit and promise of privacy and you have a destination which is utterly unique. I have no doubt that we are launching Amanresorts’ new European flagship.”

Just as with Amanresorts’ recent transformations of heritage sites in China (Aman at Summer Palace, Beijing, and Amanfayun in Hanzghou) and Laos (Amantaka in Luang Prabang), the detailed restoration of Sveti Stefan has retained the island’s history, carefully preserving the cluster of original stone buildings with red tiled roofs set among the island’s evergreen trees.

Rates start from €600 through April 15, 2011, inclusive of roundtrip transfers from Tivat and Podgorica airports (exclusive of 7% VAT and 10% taxes and service charges).

For more information about Aman Sveti Stefan, visit:

www.amanresorts.com

Swissôtel Hotels & Resorts opened the Swissôtel Kolkata, the chain’s first foray into India, adding yet another key destination to its global network of 28 hotels in 25 destinations around the world.

To commemorate the opening, Swissôtel Kolkata is offering guests a welcome introductory package until Sept. 15.

Located in New Town, a few minutes from Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose International Airport, the five-star Swissôtel Kolkata will offer 147 guest rooms and suites, four restaurants and bars as well as meeting and banquet space.

The hotel features a spa and fitness center, rooftop swimming pool with unobstructed views of the skyline, as well as 11 exclusive Executive Club rooms and suites, each with a private outdoor whirlpool.

The hotel is fully integrated with the City Centre New Town mall that adjoins Swissôtel Kolkata.

Guests checking in until Sept. 15 will receive special rates starting from INR 7,500 ($161) per room per night for a Classic Room, inclusive of complimentary daily buffet breakfast and one complimentary buffet dinner with International, Swiss and Indian selections for one or two persons at Café Swiss (one time usage per stay) as well as a late check-out till 4 p.m.

For more information, email kolkata@swissotel.com

 or visit www.swissotel.com/kolkata

SAVE £1,000pp BOOKING 7 NIGHTS AT LA MAROMA

To coincide with the announcement that from 3 November, British Airways will operate the only direct scheduled flight to Cancun from London Gatwick, Cox & Kings is offering a 7 night stay at the luxurious Orient-Express owned La Maroma Resort & Spa from just £1,695 per person, saving £1,000 per person. The price, based on 2 people sharing including direct flights to Cancun, transfers, breakfast daily, a snorkelling excursion and a welcome cocktail.

La Maroma, an exclusive whitewashed hotel situated near Cancun, on Mexico’s Yucatan Peninsula, made the headlines in 2001 when Tony & Cherie Blair stayed there and took part in a mud-based rebirthing ritual.

The hotel is situated on a secluded white sandy beach, surrounded by turquoise seas and jungle, and features stylish white-stucco architecture with palm thatched roofs. Guest rooms overlook either lush, tropical gardens or the Caribbean Sea. Dining is a personalized experience at La Maroma, where the chef marries traditional Mexican techniques with the freshest local ingredients, and food is served in the restaurant, on the beach or on your private terrace.

For those wanting to relax, massage and beauty treatments are available.

From the hotel you can explore the nearby Mayan ruins of Tulum and Chichen Itza, discover the natural wonders of the Sian Ka’an biological reserve or just relax on the white beaches of the beautiful azure Caribbean Sea.

Alternatively, Cox & Kings recommends combining with a stay in a de luxe hacienda on the Yucatan Peninsula to allow for further exploration of the region.

Enjoy The Spa-Tisserie Experience From Two Of Northern Irelands Top Hotels.

June 2010… Summer is finally here and there is no better way to get that summer feeling than to treat yourself to a fantastic Spa-tisserie

Experience available at two of Northern Irelands top hotels, the Slieve Donard Resort and Spa and the Culloden Estate and Spa.

Both properties have excelled themselves in providing the most up-to-date treatments and facilities and their fantastic locations enable guests to unwind and rejuvenate in the beautiful surroundings of Northern Ireland.

Spa-tisserie Experience

It is well known that cakes and beauty go hand in hand! So with this in mind Hastings Hotels has created the new Spa-tisserie Experience.

Enjoy your choice of one 55 minute spa treatment

v ESPA Aromatherapy Full Body Massage
v ESPA Aromatherapy Facial
v Luxury Manicure
v Luxury Pedicure

With a delicious Morning coffee or Afternoon Tea, complete with a selection of mouth-watering finger sandwiches and savouries, cakes, pastries and scones and a choice of speciality teas, coffees and a glass of bubbly.

Perfect for winding down, looking good, and enjoying a cup of tea or spot of lunch with your girlfriends!

This offer is available between 10am -12pm and 2pm – 5pm, The Spa-tisserie experience costs from only £130 per person at the Slieve Donard and from £135 at the Culloden, these prices include 1 night’s accommodation on a bed and breakfast basis.

To book or for more information on the various spa treatments visit www.hastingshotels.com or call the Culloden 028 9042 1066 or Slieve Donard 028 4372 1066.

Slieve Donard, Resort and Spa

Superbly situated within this Victorian property, The Spa spans two floors with stunning views across the Irish Sea and the Mourne Mountains.

These fantastic views can be enjoyed from within the spa as large glass windows allow the summer sunshine to stream in flooding the 20 metre pool area with glorious natural light.

Moving up to the first floor of The Spa, guests are transported to a zone of complete peace and tranquillity.

There are 16 treatment suites to choose from, all with a luxurious range of ESPA holistic therapies that truly balance mind, body and soul. All of the treatment rooms have individual mood lighting, sensory showers and luxuriously comfortable treatment beds.

The Spa also specialises in a variety of thermal heat experiences, including single sex Rock Saunas, Amethyst Steam Rooms and Vitality Pools.

There are sumptuous Relaxation Rooms where guests can unwind on fully adjustable beds with personal lighting and music control whilst enjoying the range of refreshments that are on offer.

Culloden, Estate and Spa

The Spa at the five star Culloden Estate and Spa is one of Northern Ireland’s premier sanctuaries for both body and mind. Here you will find an oasis of tranquillity where the ancient rituals of many cultures are fused with modern holistic remedies.

This luxurious Spa has eight treatment rooms where a wide choice of reviving, rejuvenating, soothing and relaxing Spa treatments are available. The Spa also offers two pre and post treatment relaxation rooms; here guests can really unwind before and after their spa treatments! The Spa at the Culloden also offers specific treatments for men, after a hard day on the nearby Royal Belfast golf course guests can treat themselves to an array of treatments from the Sportsman’s Tonic to the Celtic Recovery. To heighten every clients Spa experience each treatment can be tailored to the individual needs, creating a truly rewarding and pampering experience.

Morgans Hotel Group Co. has relaunched a portion of its website called “My Account,” which now provides a new platform for guests to create a personalized, original experience at any of Morgans Hotel Group’s properties.

Guests can create a profile under “My Account” by answering an array of simple questions on things ranging from room-type preference to twitter handles and frequent flyer information.

The new and improved version of “My Account” aims to supplement the service and experience guests have while visiting the properties with a kind of at-home concierge and in doing so, also help employees find new ways to inspire travelers.

Users can login to access all booking information on existing and past reservations, cancel or change existing reservations and view any special offers that may apply to them based on their profile and interests.

“My Account” registrants will receive special offers via email or direct mail that will include exclusive promotions, invitations to events, partner promotions, and valuable announcements about the happenings on and around the properties.

Additional perks and possibilities apply to Morgans Hotel Group Global Card holders.

Register for an account and book online at www.morganshotelgroup.com  before Aug. 30, 2010 and receive complimentary in-room Internet access throughout the stay.

To explore the newly revamped site, visit www.morganshotelgroup.com  and follow the “My Account” link to register.

Book your Summer Lift discounts direct from your iPhone

PHOENIX – Need A Lift? With the new SuperShuttle App, booking your next ride to and from the airport just got even easier. Whether you’re home, at the office, in your hotel room, or at your airline’s gate, with the SuperShuttle App you can now conveniently get a fare quote, book, and or cancel your airport ride from your iPhone.

The new SuperShuttle App also provides you with the location of your assigned vehicle by incorporating the SuperShuttle “Where’s My Van?” Google map locator function.

What you can do with the SuperShuttle App:

Get A Fare Quote

Book reservations for SuperShuttle and ExecuCar airport rides

Cancel reservations

Locate your Vehicle – “Where’s My Van?”

Earn Airline Miles* *with select airline partners

iPhone users can also participate in the Summer Lift program featuring family discounts with five dollar rides and double airline miles on SuperShuttle.

SuperShuttle airline partners include Delta Airlines SkyMiles®, Frontier Airlines EarlyReturns®, United Airlines Mileage Plus®,or US Airways Dividend Miles® programs.

That means 100 airline miles earned on round-trip fares all summer.

SuperShuttle selected iPhone App developers MobiLaurus, a mobile commerce company, to design the first App for SuperShuttle.

They worked closely with the IT group at SuperShuttle to integrate with the internal booking engine and other proprietary technology developed by SuperShuttle.

For screenshots of the iPhone Apps, or other SuperShuttle visuals, please go to

this link.

BRADFORD, Pa. – The hot days and warm nights of summer are the perfect time to stake down a tent or pack up the RV and pull out the backpack to enjoy some family fun in the Allegheny National Forest region in Pennsylvania.

Temperatures in the higher altitude of the Allegheny Plateau provide cool breezes on those hot summer nights and the pristine shore line of the Allegheny Reservoir provides plenty of opportunities for water adventures.

The lush green forest lands of the Allegheny National Forest region draws thousands of visitors each year to experience life in the Pennsylvania Wilds whether you want to camp in the woods or stay in one of the many cozy cabins available in the region.

Allegheny Site Management handles all the camping within the Allegheny National Forest, including Willow Bay, which has access to the Allegheny Reservoir.

At Willow Bay, there are six primitive cabins with a porch swing, electric, nearby water and showers, parking and a fire ring. Cabins along the shoreline provide beautiful vistas of the Allegheny Reservoir. Boat and kayak rentals are available, along with a variety of nature hikes and programs.

There’s lakefront camping with 101 tent and RV sites. There are modern showers, electric hook-ups and paved roads. Pets are allowed on a leash and the fishing is great. There’s also easy boat launching from this campground and convenient parking for cars and trailers.

Reservations and Information can be obtained through www.alleghenysite.com and reservations can be booked online at via www.recreation.gov

Some of the most conveniently located campgrounds near the Allegheny National Forest and the Kinzua Bridge State Park include the Foote Rest Campground, Woodhaven Campground and Cabins, and Bettum’s Idlewood Family Campground.

Located along Route 59, in the midst of the Allegheny National Forest, just east of Kinzua Beach, is the Woodhaven Campground & Cabins. Kinzua Beach, located along the Allegheny Reservoir, offers free swimming.

The cabins, located on forested sites, are perfect for family getaways.

At the campground, there is a diner with a full menu for those who don’t want to do all their cooking over a open fire.

A convenience store is on site for last minute supplies and the on-site gift shop features items crafted by local artisans.

There is also a playground for children, storage and a heated bath house.

Firewood is available.

For more information on Woodhaven, please go to woodhaven155.tripod.com

The Foote Rest Campground, located at the intersection of scenic Route 6 and Route 219, can accommodate camper units of any size with 50 pull-through sites. The camper even has a choice whether to bask in the sun or chill out in the shade. There are also more than 160 water/electric sites available – some even include cable. Cabins are also available for rent.

The campground also hosts a variety of events throughout the summer, including a vendor and craft weekend on Aug. 7.

From 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., vendors will sell handmade products such as baked goods and wood products. For more information, log onto www.footerestcampground.com

The Bettum’s Idlewood Family Campground, located along Route 219 in Lewis Run, allows you to camp in a tent or in a cabin. Fishing is available nearby.

The campground also allows pets, has a swimming pool, pavilion, picnic tables, a basketball court plus Bingo and game room.

The owners have recently updated the bathrooms and laundry mat. There’s also a general store and propane filling station. Campground events include the Sixth Annual Tag Sale will be held from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the campground.

To find out more about Bettum’s campground, go to www.bettumcamping.tripod.com .

Along Route 6, traveling east from the Allegheny National Forest, the Allegheny River Campground offers RV and tent camping along the Allegheny River in Roulette.

This campground can be your home away from home with electric, water and sewer hookups.

There are also a recreation hall, cabins, planned activities, modern restroom, laundry facilities, picnic tables and fire rings and a playground.

And don’t forget the stocked river fishing. You will be hooked.

There are also kayak and tube rentals for more adventures in the Allegheny River. For more information, go to www.alleghenyrivercampground.com

For additional information on all the campgrounds, cabins and lodging and a complete list of events, contact the Allegheny National Forest Visitors Bureau at 800-473-9370 or info@visitANF.com

A free travel guide and map are available. The travel guide can also be viewed at www.visitANF.com

The United States is phasing out its requirement for visitors to manually complete the green CBP Form I-94W paper arrival/departure document. This applies to air or sea travelers who are citizens of countries included in the Visa Waiver Program (VWP), and who have received prior travel authorization via the Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA).

The work to eliminate the form started as a result of the 9/11 Commission Act of 2007. The U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) collaborated with the airlines, other federal agencies and industry partners to conform to the new requirements.

Since January 12, 2009 all nationals of VWP countries have been required to apply for a travel authorization via ESTA before traveling to the United States. This will affect over two-thirds of overseas travelers to the United States.

Information collected from other automated sources related to the passenger’s itinerary (APIS, US-VISIT, admission record, the machine readable passport, etc.) have enabled DHS to create an electronic I-94W record for travelers that seek admission at U.S. air and sea ports of entry.

In addition to the security features made possible by ESTA, as outlined in the DHS press release , the new electronic I-94W document will offer processing advantages:

Enhanced Data integrity (elimination of manual keypunching and interpretation of handwritten entries),

Quicker data turn-around for reporting purposes, in the long term,

Enhanced matching of arrival to departure records, and
Continued use of all data fields included in the current I-94W form.

After a successful pilot program, the automated processing is now being implemented for all carriers at all U.S. international gateway airports.

Total coverage is expected by the end of this summer.

The I-94W forms will continue to be required at land borders; in case of system outages; and when deemed operationally necessary.

Also, the I-94 white paper document, for citizens from non-Visa Waiver Program countries remains in effect for the foreseeable future.

As a result of DHS/CBP cooperation with airlines and all federal users there is currently a seamless transition to the automated system. OTTI and DHS/CBP will continue to deliver international arrivals data to industry users.