Jetsettersblog

Luxe Rodeo Drive Hotel in Beverly Hills and the Luxe Sunset Boulevard Hotel in Bel Air are offering a “Luxe VIP Airport Transfer Package” with pick-up at LAX or Burbank Airport in a luxury private town car.

Priced from $319 plus tax per night, the package includes superior room accommodations; airport pick-up; complimentary cocktails, fruit and water upon arrival; and complimentary continental breakfast for two people.

The package is offered through the end of 2010, based upon availability.

Taxes are additional.

Use promotional code VIPT when booking.

For more information, call 800-468-3541 or visit www.luxehotelrodeodrive.com  or www.luxehotelsunsetblvd.com

Fairfield Inn & Suites by Marriott is giving a boost to small business owners in the U.S. with the launch of the Small Business Road-to-Success Challenge.

To nominate a small business ( through Aug. 20, 2010), visit www.fairfieldchallenge.com

Fairfield Inn & Suites will select 10 small business owners who will be awarded 15 free nights for the sole purpose of traveling around the country to build their business.

After three months of working through their own set business challenges, one small business will be awarded a grand prize of $20,000 by the judging panel.

The winner will be chosen by a panel of judges comprised of four influential small business bloggers including John Jantsch of Duct Tape Marketing, Nicole Marie Richardson of Inc.com, Maisha Walker of Message Medium, and Drea Knufken of Business Pundit, as well as Shruti Gandhi Buckley, vice president, Global Brand Management, Fairfield Inn & Suites by Marriott.

To qualify for the challenge, each small business applicant must frequently travel on business and have fewer than 100 employees.

To learn more about the challenge and submit a nomination, visit www.fairfieldchallenge.com

The top 10 finalists will be announced on Sept. 9, 2010, and will begin the Small Business Road-to-Success Challenge on Sept. 13, 2010.

Over the course of three months, the finalists will share their journey by blogging, tweeting and posting photos as they travel the country. At the end of the challenge, one winner, judged to have been most successful in achieving his or her business goals, will be selected to receive the $20,000 cash grand prize.

For more information, call 800-228-2800 or visit www.fairfieldinn.com

Best Western International expands its presence in Africa with the opening of three new hotels, including the Best Western Premier Accra Airport Hotel in Accra, Ghana; the Best Western Island Beach Hotel in Lagos, Nigeria; and the Best Western Port Harcourt Hotel in Port Harcourt, Nigeria.

The Best Western Premier Accra Airport Hotel in Ghana is a newly built four-star hotel located in one of Accra’s most affluent areas, five minutes from the Kotoka International Airport.

With 89 rooms and 24 suites, each guestroom features free high-speed Internet access, mini bars, flat-screen LCD televisions and bathrobes.

The hotel’s centerpiece is its five-story atrium decorated with African art. It offers 24-hour concierge service, complimentary airport transportation and an on-site restaurant, bar and jazz club.

The Best Western Island Beach Hotel in Lagos, Nigeria, is also newly constructed. The property is located in the heart of Lagos’ financial and business hub on Victoria Island’s Bar Beach, which overlooks the Atlantic Ocean.

The hotel’s 142 guestrooms and suites offer free high-speed Internet access, mini bars and 32-inch flat-screen televisions. The hotel also offers an on-site restaurant and cocktail lounge with free breakfast and 24-hour room service.

Also in Nigeria, the Best Western Port Harcourt Hotel in Port Harcourt opened in 2008 and recently received significant upgrades that will help it earn Best Western’s “Premier” status this year.

The hotel offers 89 guestrooms and suites and meeting space for up to 200 people.

On-site amenities include a restaurant, cocktail lounge, fitness center, gift shop and outdoor pool. Guests receive complimentary high-speed Internet access and free breakfast.

Meldrum House Country Hotel and Golf Club has begun to reap the rewards of investing in a new greenkeeping centre which boasts a number of innovative eco-friendly technologies.

As well as providing secure storage for the resort’s fleet of mowers, tractors and aerators, the £750,000 development is also helping to reduce the resort’s fuel bills through highly-efficient wood pellet/log boilers which provide heating and hot water for the facility.

The new complex, which took 18 months to construct, has also been designed to collect rainwater which is then used to wash the machines.

Once used, the water is filtered and stored for further use. The eco-credentials of the 875m2 compound are also enhanced by a super-wall system which incorporates high-performance insulating materials that trap heat within the building and reduce heat loss.

The result is a new maintenance facility that has the potential of being entirely self sufficient within a year.

“At the moment we’re using pellets for the burners, but we hope to use wood only from the estate by this time next year,” commented Kenneth Harper, golf course and estate grounds manager.

“We think it is extremely important to adopt a responsible approach to energy and water usage and as a result, eco-planning has become an important part of our business.

It had an obvious bearing on the design of the new complex, which we’re delighted with.”

In fact, this considered approach extends throughout the resort. For instance, the golf club has a fleet of electric buggies, rather than using petrol carts, while the greenkeepers maintain buffer zones around ponds and lakes to protect the water from chemical contamination. It’s an attitude the resort’s managing director is extremely proud of.

“The grounds at Meldrum House are stunning not only because of the flora and fauna found here, but also due to 800 years of history,” said head of operations and development Andy Burgess.

“Our objective is to protect this special environment so it can be enjoyed for generations to come, but to do this we need to invest in new technologies that help us utilize the resources around us sustainably rather than relying on the national grid.

It saves us money and helps protect the environment, so everyone wins.”

Although the facility has only been in use since January, projected savings include reducing the complex’s £8,000 heating bill to nil.

Notes:

1) Meldrum House Country Hotel and Golf Course is renowned as one of the finest golf clubs in Scotland with its practice facilities and magnificent course situated in secluded grounds adjacent to the Aberdeenshire town of Oldmeldrum.

2) It includes an 18-hole private members golf course, extensive golf academy, 27 hotel bedrooms all of individual character, two conference suites, a marquee that holds weddings and corporate events, unique whisky bar and an award-winning restaurant.

3) Built on a 13th Century baronial estate, Meldrum’s strong links with the past have been complemented by a £2.5 million redevelopment plan which has introduced a new conference facility and a wing of stylish, contemporary rooms.

4) Meldrum House was recently awarded a Four-Star rating by VisitScotland as well as an EatScotland Silver Award and a coveted Taste of Grampian Award.

5) For more information, please visit

www.meldrumhouse.com

Southworth Development LLC has affiliated its new golf resort, The Village at Machrihanish Dunes, to The Registry Collection program, the world’s largest luxury exchange program and one of the Wyndham Worldwide family of brands under the RCI umbrella.

The Village at Machrihanish Dunes is located on the southwest coast of the Mull of Kintyre in Scotland, surrounded by natural beauty on the shores of the Atlantic Ocean.

The area has a true golfing heritage as home to The Machrihanish Golf Club, opened in 1876 with a course designed by Old Tom Morris.

Many regard its opening hole as the greatest in golf and the first tee lies across the road from the resort.

The resort itself is a haven for golfers, featuring a David McLay Kidd-designed 18-hole championship-standard links golf course that opened in 2009. Ronan Rafferty, professional golfer, European Tour Order of Merit Winner and a former European Ryder Cup team member, was among the first to buy at Machrihanish Dunes.

He will be welcoming guests at the first in a series of presentations to be held across several U.K. cities where attendees will be given the chance to sample the Southworth premier golf experience for themselves when they receive a certificate for a free round of golf at the Machrihanish Dunes Golf Club.

The development also offers many attractions, including a beach, biking and walking trails, wind surfing, fishing, a wildlife reserve and observatory.

Fractional properties at the resort will be cottages to be sold by the developers in four-week fractional use periods (one in each season) with prices ranging from £46,000 ($69,628) to £69,700 ($105,501), depending on the size and location of the cottage. The developers are also extending to qualified purchasers the chance to buy a Discovery Package, which offers two nights’ accommodation and golf for £139 ($210).

Affiliation to The Registry Collection program adds a further benefit, with more than 175 properties available through the program that are either accessible for exchange or under development. Other membership benefits include concierge services and access to luxury travel partner products.

For more information, visit

www.southworthdevelopment.com

Hilton Worldwide opened its first Doubletree by Hilton hotel in Greece, the Doubletree by Hilton Resort, Kos-Helona.

The opening marks the sixth European country in which the upscale, full-service hotel brand has debuted in the past three years.

The Doubletree by Hilton Resort sits on a hill overlooking Helona Beach and the Aegean Sea on the southern coast of Kos in the Greek Dodecanese Islands.

Rob Palleschi, global head for Doubletree Hotels, said, “With 11 Doubletree by Hilton hotels and resorts now open throughout Europe and more than 15 properties in the active development pipeline, we are providing more opportunities for the world’s travelers to experience Doubletree by Hilton in some of the most exceptional leisure and incentive destinations in the world.”

The hotel features 238 guest rooms, suites and villas. Standard guestrooms feature a furnished balcony, spacious bathrooms with separate bath and shower, 32-inch LCD TVs, high-speed Internet access, a large safe deposit box, tea/coffee making facilities, fine bath and body toiletries, a bottle of wine and water upon arrival.

Family suites provide an additional sleeping area for the kids. Complimentary breakfast in the hotel restaurant is available for all hotel guests.

One-bedroom suites feature all of the above amenities and services, along with a separate living room area and a private swimming pool.

On the ground floor of each two-story villa is a master bedroom and a living area with direct access to a wooden deck that leads to a private swimming pool and garden. On the first floor, a double deluxe superior bedroom with its own bathroom opens up to a veranda with sea views.

Resort activities include two tennis courts; children’s playground and club; windsailing and water sports; 21 pools (private or shared) include heated indoor and outdoor pools; and spa with four treatment rooms including two VIP cabins, a special chromotherapy room, a double ayurvedic suite and a wet room with a floating bed.

The spa also has a hamam and a sauna and provides manicure and pedicure services. In the spa premises there is also a heated swimming pool and a fitness room.

The Helona Restaurant offers indoor and terrace dining with freshly prepared buffet selections for dinner nightly, as well as the Doubletree Breakfast buffet daily. A leisurely lunch or dinner may be enjoyed at Thalassa Restaurant by the pool near the beach. Ammos Beach Bar provides light lunches, snacks and tempting beverages. Ulysses is the hotel’s veranda-area lobby lounge.

For more information, call 011-30-224-2045041 or visit www.doubletree.com

Hilton Hotels announced the opening of Hilton The Hague, the latest addition to the global Hilton portfolio.

The new upscale hotel is set within the restored 1950s shell of the former Royal Dutch Telecom headquarters.

Hilton The Hague is the fifth Hilton hotel to open in the Netherlands, where the brand has had a presence since 1962.

The Hague is the country’s third-largest city, seat of the Dutch government and home to Queen Beatrix of the Netherlands.

The new Hilton The Hague, prominently located in the embassy quarter of the city center, offers 195 bedrooms.

Launching at Hilton The Hague is Grand Café Pearl, offering locally sourced and seasonal dishes cooked in an authentic and simple French style.

The restaurant is inspired by Dutch artist Johannes Vermeer’s painting “Girl with a Pearl Earring,” which is on display at the local Mauritshuis Museum, a 15-minute walk from the hotel.

Grand Café Pearl also benefits from a large outdoor terrace, opposite some of The Hague’s most exclusive shopping boutiques, where coffee, light lunches and dinner will be served during the warmer months. Adjoining Pearl is the upscale Bar Lutine, named after the famous French Warship “La Lutine.”

Interior design influences for the hotel have been created by local Hague designer Angelika Kok (Barzileye Concept & Design).

Inspired by the geographic and historical roots of The Hague, the atrium has the atmosphere of the nearby dunes and seaside, with a six-meter-high sculpted sand wall.

The Grand Cafe is based on the paintings of Vermeer, realized with modern columns and a 17th century lace pattern with complimenting chandeliers.

The influences of another famous Dutch painter, Mesdag, play a key role in the design of the ballroom, where Mesdag “skies” and colors complement the functionality of the space.

The public areas reflect the splendor of the “Golden Age” and is realized with contemporary materials and design techniques. Hilton The Hague boasts 10 meeting rooms including the Mesdag Ballroom, with a maximum capacity of 400 guests, and an atrium designed for pre-event functions.

The Hague is conveniently linked by motorway and train to major European cities, including Brussels and Paris. Both Amsterdam Schiphol airport and Rotterdam-The Hague airport can be reached within 25 minutes.

For more information, call 800-HILTONS or visit www.hilton.com

The Paris Scribe Hotel, which is under the management of Sofitel Luxury Hotels, has obtained its fifth star, based on the reformed French hotel classification system.

The new classification put an end to the “French exception,” which previously limited the highest hotel classification to four stars.

In line with international standards, French hotels can now earn five stars. To earn its fifth star, the Paris Scribe Hotel had to meet stringent specifications, fulfilling more than 200 conditions, including infrastructure, facilities, service and reception.

In addition to Sofitel Paris La Défense, Sofitel Lyon Bellecour, Sofitel Marseille Vieux-Port, Sofitel Biarritz Le Miramar Thalassa and Sofitel Porticcio Thalassa, the Paris Scribe Hotel is the sixth Sofitel address to obtain the fifth star in France.

Following upgrades, Sofitel’s other hotels in France will apply for a fifth star. Today, the Sofitel network has 11 French addresses, including three Thalassa establishments.

The Paris Scribe Hotel is located near the Garnier Opera and the Place Vendôme. Erected in 1860, this year it celebrates its 150th birthday.

The headquarters of the Jockey Club, the birthplace of cinema in 1895, the headquarters for many post-Liberation writers and photographers and even the Parisian residence of Josephine Baker, the Scribe Hotel is an integral part of Parisian history.

For the first time ever, Mas Mateu, one of the finest privately owned properties in Spain, is available for rental. Owned by one of Spain’s most distinguished families, the property has undergone an extensive refurbishment led by a hand-picked team of architects, interior designers and landscape planners.

The house sleeps twenty, with additional staff quarters, making it ideal for a private family getaway, intimate wedding or an informal house party.

A graceful arched doorway leads into a series of inviting lounges, with magnificent views over the snow-capped Pyrenees, ideal for relaxing with friends.

Cool alabaster walls frame the grand salon’s majestic fireplace, making it the perfect place to curl up with your favourite book.

Each bedroom is uniquely decorated in delicate Catalan tones, complemented by locally sourced rugs, unique family heirlooms, and individual fireplaces, some opening on to their own private terraces with far-reaching views of the Costa Brava. Sink into a deliciously deep oval bath, surrounded by glass walls that open onto the surrounding forest, for the ultimate in tranquillity.

Dining is a truly Catalan experience at Mas Mateu. Enjoy a Spanish banquet, freshly prepared by the in-house chef, under the stars on one of the many open terraces or eat in the elegant dining room.

The region is also home to some of the most celebrated restaurants in Spain, including El Bulli and El Celler de Can Roca, ideal for those rare moments you feel like venturing outside the estate.

The property is home to Southern Europe’s leading equestrian facilities which has played host to Spain’s highly regarded national dressage team. One of the world’s finest facilities for training dressage horses, the centre can stable up to ten horses and houses a 70×30 metre all weather covered track, a 70×30 metre outdoor track, a round track for warming up and horse lunging, six paddocks, stands for up to 100 spectators, several acres of fields and living quarters for trainers.

Those who prefer not to ride can take advantage of Mas Mateu’s extensive facilities, including a dedicated swimming pool complex, spa, gym, football field, basketball court, paddle-tennis court, an outdoor barbeque, a summer kitchen housed in an ancient barn, and cinema.

Escape to your very own secluded estate, in one of Spain’s most breathtaking regions, at Mas Mateu.

Independent shopping advisors, a concept which has come directly from the United States, are on the rise in Paris, offering personalized accompaniment.

From makeovers to the discovery of fashionable addresses of the moment, these fashion and styling professionals lead clients through Paris to put together a made-to-measure profile. According to their specialties, independent personal shoppers take clients to the center of very varied fashion worlds.

The use of the expertise of a fashion advisor is gaining momentum among visitors shopping in Paris.

These advisors can book an appointment at prestigious stores or track down sales and private sales at any time of the year. More and more fashion stores are offering their clients personal shopping services. Department stores offer individual advice sessions with a stylist. By appointment, this fashion advisor accompanies the client through the store giving them their professional opinion.

At Galeries Lafayette (www.galerieslafayette.com), after an interview in a private room, the fashion expert guides participants around the most fashionable brands, shows them the latest new items and assists them while they try on clothes in an individual room, privatized for the occasion.

Printemps (www.printemps.com ) offers the services of a private stylist by appointment, who accompanies shoppers throughout the store, guiding them in their choices.

A personal room is made available to try on the clothes at leisure in a calm atmosphere.

Nadia Ronteix (www.personalshopperbyronteixnadia.com ) specializes in luxury labels and shops of Parisian fashion designers. She devises made-to-measure itineraries after a short interview with the participant.

Mixing shopping and culture, Promenade des sens (www.promenade-des-sens.com ) accompanies clients through the streets of Paris to explore the typically Parisian “art de vivre.”

From iconic labels to workshops of young designers, the itineraries are interspersed with interesting cultural anecdotes.

They offer a personal shopping service dedicated to luxury labels and designers on the French fashion scene.

Other agencies, such as Paris Upperside (www.parisupperside.com ), explore the elegance and the glamour of Parisian fashion, from young designers to department stores including vintage shops.

As a former editor for the Elle fashion magazine, Fleur Deslandes (www.stylismeprive.com ) shares her expertise through original shopping itineraries according to the needs and budget of clients.

For a diagnosis of their fashion image, clients can make an appointment with the makeover agency Allure (www.agenceallure.fr ) who offers to put together a personalized wardrobe adapted to clients’ professional and private life.

Designer Irène Adamian’s agency, French for a day/Shopping Plus (www.frenchforaday.com), offers a total immersion into Parisian life for a discovery of all the wealth the capital has to offer, including workshops of young designers, unusual and prestigious shops, new concept stores and more.

For more information, visit the Paris Tourist Office’s trends ection of its website at

www.arisinfo.com/uploads/30//Trends_49.pdf.