Jetsettersblog

Fairmont Hotels & Resorts has announced an extension of its partnership with German automaker BMW to provide a complimentary hotel bicycle service featuring BMW Cruise Bikes.

Already present in Fairmont’s Canadian properties, Fairmont hotels across the United States will introduce the bikes as the newest benefit for guests this summer.

In addition to having a selection of regular BMW Cruise Bikes available, hotels will also boast some child-sized BMW Junior Cruise Bikes, allowing families to enjoy the great outdoors together.

The perfect companion for both busy urban streets and scenic trails, the BMW Cruise Bike promises a smooth ride on any surface, thanks to a distinctive design and a Suntour suspension system.

A striking frame, achieved through hydro-forming manufacturing, an advanced process using high-pressure water to allow the walls of the tube to expand inside a mold and free the aluminum of any shape restrictions, complements other original features including an integrated brake routing system that enables riders to stop on a dime.

The introduction of BMW Cruise Bikes acts as an extension of the company’s Fairmont Fit program.

Offered to members of Fairmont President’s Club (FPC), the brand’s guest loyalty program, Fairmont Fit also provides guests with easy access to Adidas training gear during their stay, delivering exercise apparel and footwear directly to guestrooms for use in-room, in the gym, or to enjoy outdoors.

In addition, guests are provided with pre-loaded mp3 players, offering a wide-range of tracks and genres, to use during their workout.

Afterward, the training gear can simply be returned or purchased through the hotel’s guest services desk. As part of the new bicycle initiative,

Fairmont is offering FPC members priority access when reserving the bikes.

Free to join, Fairmont President’s Club provides guests with special benefits and privileges designed to reflect individual travel preferences and offer an enhanced level of service.

Personalized travel profiles afford members customized stay experiences, while in-hotel benefits include private check-in, complimentary room upgrades, and high-speed and wireless Internet access.

Guests can enroll at time of booking or online at www.fairmont.com/fpc

For more information, call 800-441-1414 or visit www.fairmont.com

Hapag-Lloyd Cruises will return to the Great Lakes in fall 2011 with the Columbus after a four-year absence.

Built in 1997, the Columbus was specifically designed to navigate the locks of the Great Lakes and is one of the few ocean-going cruise ships that can successfully travel through the Great Lakes.

The 420-guest Columbus offers two Great Lakes itineraries in 2011, as well as a cruise along the eastern coast of North America.

The two German/English Great Lakes itineraries visit seven states, two Canadian provinces and all five lakes. A highlight is when the Columbus proceeds through the eight locks of the 28-mile long Welland Canal after tackling a height difference of almost 328 feet.

Optional outings include attending a real Pow-Wow and traversing the Agawa Canyon through a wilderness with waterfalls, ravines and steep passes.

The eastern U.S. and Canada itinerary travels from Toronto to Florida. This itinerary cruises through the St. Lawrence Seaway and stops at Boston, Newport, New York City, Philadelphia and Baltimore.

Also a dedicated golf cruise, this itinerary features a PGA golf professional and the chance to practice on a 21-course golf simulator onboard.

Additionally the golf package allows guests to tee off at five golf courses along the route at an additional cost.

Hapag-Lloyd is a German company, but on these cruises, travel documents and information is provided in English prior to their trip. Onboard, daily programs, menus, announcements, lectures/video presentations and safety drill instructions are offered in English, as are shore excursions at each port of call. The ship’s crew is fluent in English.

The 13-day Great Lakes cruise from Toronto to Chicago departs Sept. 5, 2011, and includes Welland Canal, Windsor, Tobermory, Parry Sound, Georgian Bay, Little Current, Lock Soo, Thunder Bay, Duluth and Mackinac Island.

Rates start at $3,540 per person cruise-only. A 5 percent early-booking discount applies if booked by Feb. 7.

The 13-day cruise from Chicago to Toronto departs Sept. 18, 2011, and visits Traverse City, Mackinac Island, Lock Soo, Thunder Bay, Little Current, Georgian Bay, Midland, Windsor and the Welland Canal. Rates start at $3,470 per person cruise-only with a 5 percent discount if booked by Feb. 20.

The 18-day East Coast cruise from Toronto to Miami departs Oct. 1 and visits Montreal, Quebec, Halifax, Boston, Newport, New York City, Philadelphia, Baltimore, Charleston, Savannah and Port Canaveral.

Rates start at $4,280 per person cruise-only with a 5 percent discount if booked by March 5.

The golf package is an additional $1,160.

For more information, call Air Travel Marketing Services at 800-888-0200,

Euro Lloyd Travel Group at 800-782-3924 or Kartagener Associates at 877-445-7447,

or visit www.hl-cruises.com  Read the Jetsetters Magazine feature about cruising the Great Lakes on Columbus.

Qantas has announced it would launch a new in-flight entertainment program on all Qantas domestic and international flights from August. As part of the refresh of its in-flight entertainment, Qantas introduced two new hosts to its in-flight program, Welcome Aboard — well-known Melbourne model and presenter Pia Miller and television travel presenter David Whitehill.

From next month, Welcome Aboard, the Qantas in-flight program which offers passengers the latest travel and lifestyle news from across the Qantas network, will have a new look and graphics, a new contemporary style and will feature more destinations across Australia.

Miller and Whitehill will present the latest lifestyle news, product innovations and special offers from Qantas each month. Qantas had previously worked with both Miller and Whitehill — Miller as ambassador for the 2010 Formula 1 Qantas Australian Grand Prix, and Whitehill, who brought us all the news from South Africa on the Qantas Socceroos.

Qantas has also commissioned young emerging artist Vanessa Jade to produce a theme song titled “My My” for its domestic in-flight entertainment.

Recorded this month in Sydney, the song is an acoustic style track, contemporary and upbeat.

Also new to the Qantas in-flight entertainment team is respected finance consultant Alan Kohler, who will present “Talking Business,” and one of Australia’s most versatile, well-known composers and conductors, Guy Nobel, will now host the symphony channel.

This month Qantas will also provide customers with the ability to enjoy Qantas’ in-flight entertainment on its A380 fleet for longer, making the entertainment system available from the moment customers board the aircraft until the moment they disembark. To accompany this offering, headsets will not be collected from passengers until after disembarkation. Qantas will roll out this offering to a number of international and domestic fleets in the future.

The Ritz-Carlton Shanghai, Pudong, opened on June 21 as the luxury brand’s second property in the city and seventh in China. Located in Shanghai, the prime real estate in Lujiazui financial trade zone, the hotel and development is the work of architect Cesar Pelli.

The 285-room Ritz-Carlton Shanghai, Pudong is Shanghai’s ultimate destination for luxury and style, and occupies the top 18 floors of the Shanghai ifc South Tower.

The design and style of the hotel is contemporary, with hints of new interpretations of 1930s Shanghai Art Deco. This gives a great sense of place to the hotel as guest rooms and restaurants embrace magnificent sweeping views over The Bund.

With interior designs by Richard Farnell, The Ritz-Carlton Shanghai, Pudong guest rooms and suites range in size from 50 square meters (500 square feet) to 400 square meters (4,000 square feet) for the Ritz-Carlton Suite and Chairman Suite.

There are three floors of Club accommodation, and each club room enjoys access to the hotel’s stunning Club Lounge on the 49th level, which will be open 24 hours a day.

The new hotel offers several luxury restaurants and a bar with views over The Bund and the Shanghai skyline. Restaurants include Aura Lounge and Jazz Bar, Jin Xuan, the fine dining Chinese Restaurant designed by Steve Leung; Scena Italian Restaurant and Flair Rooftop Restaurant and Bar, both designed by Super Potato.

Flair is Shanghai’s highest al fresco dining and wining venue. Featuring more than 2,500 square meters (25,000 square feet) of meeting and conference space on the third level, including a 1,135-square-metre (11,350 square feet) Grand Ballroom, the second largest ballroom among the city’s luxury hotels, the Ritz-Carlton Shanghai, Pudong can accommodate large and small meetings and gatherings All meeting space offers floor-to-ceiling windows and natural daylight.

Located on the hotel’s 55th floor, and occupying an area of more than 1,500 square meters (15,000 square feet), the Ritz-Carlton Spa by ESPA features 10 treatment rooms, including nine multi-function treatment rooms and a Harmony Suite where two guests may relax and enjoy treatments together. The Ritz-Carlton Spa by ESPA combines modern Chinese, Indian, European and Balinese spa cultures and uses luxury ESPA products that harness the best of nature’s essential oils, botanicals and marine supplements.

For more information, visit www.ritzcarlton.com

This November, Orient-Express is introducing the Chronicles of Southeast Asia — four new journeys that enable guests on the E&O to experience the region in greater depth.

The new itineraries will take passengers in comfort to places off the beaten track and essentially turn the train into a touring hotel. To ensure ultimate exclusivity and a more personalized experience, capacity on each trip will be limited to 60 guests and only presidential and state carriages will be in use.

The new routes include: Epic Thailand (six nights) — Bangkok/Isan/Chiang Mai/Lampang/Bangkok visiting sites in Northern Thailand. Highlights include a walking tour through a traditional village in Isan; a sunset candlelight reception at Prasat Sikoraphum (a restored 12th century Khmer Temple), lunch with the first female Thai oenologist at Khao Yai Gran Monte Vineyard, the opportunity to participate in a Bai Sii (sacred thread) ceremony, and touring the town of Lampang “wild-west style” in a traditional pony trap.

Fables of the Hills (six nights) — Singapore/Kuala Lumpur/Cameron Highlands (overnight)/Penang/Surat Thani/River Kwai/Bangkok.

Highlights include Kuala Lumpur city tour, including a visit to “The School of Hard Knocks” (for the history and facts of pewter), Strawberry and tea tastings in the Cameron Highlands and Surat Thani Monkey Training College.

Legends of the Peninsula (six nights) — Bangkok/River Kwai/Trang (overnight)/Penang/Kuala Lumpur/Singapore. Highlights include the River Kwai Bridge, a sojourn at Trang that offers the chance to take part in a range of water sports, Dugong trekking and Thai cooking classes.

Tales of Laos (three nights) — Bangkok/Pimai/Khao Yai/Vientiane/Bangkok. E&O passengers are among the few to travel this route. Highlights include stopping at Phimai to explore the Angkor-style Khmer temples, the vineyards of the Khao Yai hills and sampling the “new” latitude wines cultivated there.

Prices start at $3,900. For more information, visit

www.orient-express.com/web/eoe/chronicles_asia.jsp

Outrigger Laguna Phuket Resort and Villas in Thailand has launched a baby and child-sitting service to let parents enjoy their Phuket vacation.

Nannies With Heart teaches children about Thai culture for eight hours a day for four days.

Professional nannies occupy the kids with one-on-one ‘edutainment’ soft learning activities such as Thai language lessons, batik painting, leaf weaving, necklace making, coconut leaf designing, balloon animal making, plaster figurine making and activities in the outdoor play area.

At the beginning there is an introductory session to fully understand the child’s needs. At the end of each day, the parents will receive a daily written brief.

Nannies are trained hotel staff and the activities take place in the parents’ spacious villas and gardens. Each four-day nanny package is 4,000 baht ($121).

A minimum of four days must be booked (the days can be non-consecutive).

The service is for children between 12 months and 12 years old only.

Prices are valid until Dec. 31 and the service is subject to availability.

For more information, call 011-66 76 318 230; email laguna@outrigger.co.th  or visit www.outriggerphuket.com

Shangri-La Hotels and Resorts will welcome the group’s mid-market Traders Hotel brand to Hong Kong on Aug. 1, 2010.

To celebrate the debut, Traders Hotel, Hong Kong will offer special introductory rates from Aug. 1 to Sept. 30, 2010 of HK$950 (about $122), which will include daily buffet breakfast for two, complimentary Internet access, and late check-out until 3 p.m.

Traders Hotel, Hong Kong is located on Queen’s Road in the Western District.

The district retains a distinctive Chinese atmosphere, yet is only 10 minutes from Hong Kong’s Central business district, the Airport Express, and the nightlife of Soho and Lan Kwai Fong.

Previously operated as Hotel Jen, the hotel will become part of Shangri-La’s global sales and distribution network.

The integration into the Traders’ portfolio will enable guests to participate in Shangri-La’s Golden Circle guest recognition program and airline partner programs.

Renovated in 2008, Traders Hotel, Hong Kong has 280 guestrooms and suites. Café 508 on the second floor features extensive buffet selections for breakfast, lunch and dinner, perfect for time-sensitive business luncheons or a leisurely meal with the family.

The Traders Lounge on the 28th floor is available to Club guests during the day and offers a variety of benefits including private check-in/out, complimentary buffet breakfast, afternoon tea and evening cocktails.

The Lounge opens to the public after 7:30 p.m., an ideal spot to enjoy after-work drinks with a view.

The Lobby Bar and rooftop outdoor pool with adjacent gym complete the guest facilities.

Traders Hotel, Hong Kong will be the first hotel within the brand to launch the Traders’ Signature Scent in its public areas. The scent, a tropical fruit green fragrance supported by a warm musk, will be introduced gradually in the 11 Traders Hotels throughout Asia and the Middle East within the year.

For more information, call 011-852 2213 6663, email reservation.thhk@shangri-la.com

or visit www.shangri-la.com

or www.tradershotels.com

Ana Tzarev, the first Western artist to be featured at The Vietnam Fine Arts Museum, will be the subject of a solo exhibition opening on Sept. 25.

The exhibition will showcase the floral paintings on which Tzarev based her section of the Hanoi Ceramic Wall Project, comprised of mosaics covering the massive retaining wall that runs throughout the city.

Both the Vietnam Fine Arts Museum exhibition and the Hanoi Mosaic Wall are part of the events celebrating the upcoming 2010 Thang Long-Hanoi Millennium. Flowers played a powerful role in the peaceful resistance to the Vietnam War in the 1960s and ’70s and the Tzarev’s choice to use a floral design was her conscious decision to use this symbolism as a bridge to the past.

Vietnam has a population of nearly 90 million people. Tourism is a fast-growing industry and the Millennium celebrations will highlight the history and culture of Hanoi which is the capital of Vietnam with six million people and one of Asia’s most ancient cities.

The Tzarev exhibition will be on view at The Vietnam Fine Arts Museum from Sept. 25 through Oct. 4.

For more information, visit www.anatzarev.com

or www.vnfineartsmuseum.org.vn

The Langham, Hong Kong is set to continue its impressive refurbishment achievements with the launch of The Langham Club. Designed by the award-winning interior design company, Three Wise Monkeys, this project will be overseen by Vice President of Design for Langham hotels and resorts, Duncan Palmer; who also holds the dual role of Managing Director for The Langham, Hong Kong.

Set to open at the end of July, 2010, The Langham Club has been designed to suit the varying moods and requirements of visitors. Based upon a traditional Georgian home of late, The Langham Club will be divided into seven separate rooms:

The Ante Room, The private check-in area, named in reference to a true Georgian residence. The Ante Room is where guests were taken upon arrival before gaining access to the house.

The Bureau, an essential yet elegantly designed computer room, perfect for those who want to stay connected.

The Library, a quiet, sophisticated space for guests to hold private meetings and social gatherings. An array of carefully chosen antique books, including rare and intriguing titles, will complete this charming room.

The Dining Room, in the true sense of the word, this will be a smart dining area.

The Lounge, at the center of all the rooms lies The Lounge, a residential-like space, which allows one the opportunity to see, and be seen.

The Butler’s Pantry, as described efficiently in The Stand Magazine in 1891 as “a space that is located between the kitchen and dining room.” The Butler’s Pantry is stocked with an array of delicate food and beverage items, offering many little temptations.

The Salon, more feminine in style, the salon is a delightful backdrop for early evening cocktails, or even a romantic, quiet, corner to escape to during the day.

The Langham Club will be of European elegance in design and style, yet maintain a true sense of place, through carefully sourced artwork and accessories, from both Hong Kong and London.

Handmade furniture from artisan workshops and clever bespoke detailing, inspired by the fashion district the hotel occupies, are the subtle yet stunning finishing that leaves residents with a lasting impression of the very best luxury has to offer.

Three Wise Monkeys Creative & Managing Director, Tim Millar Shepherd says:

“The Langham Club is unique in its entirety. Guests will experience a design that is tailor-made, bespoke and utterly elegant, a true reflection of The Langham brand.”

Managing Director of The Langham, Hong Kong, Duncan Palmer says:

“We are incredibly proud of The Langham Club and very grateful to Three Wise Monkeys for their beautiful design. In this vibrant, bustling City of Hong Kong, The Langham Club offers guests a luxurious sanctuary away from it all, with a service level to make even the most frequent of travelers feel right at home”

The Langham Club is charged at a daily supplement rate of
HK$700 for single occupancy and HK$900 for double occupancy.

Any guests who book The Langham Club from August 1, 2010 until September 12, 2010, will be eligible for a complimentary upgrade to the next room or suite category (subject to availability).

Starting this month, Saigon’s Caravelle Hotel is featuring a new hotel-wide Wi-Fi system that reaches as far as the hotel’s fleet of cars, whether the chauffeur-driven vehicles are picking up guests at the airport or ferrying business travelers between appointments.

“This brand new complimentary hotel-wide service ensures that guests can touch base with work and stay in touch with family no matter where they are or what they’re doing,” said John Gardner, general manager of the Caravelle.

“Whether in the car on the way to the airport or sitting in the lobby, as long as you are with the Caravelle, you’re always online.”

Two years ago the Caravelle became the first five-star hotel to offer free access to the Internet in Ho Chi Minh City.

Now, the Caravelle has gone one step further by installing systems in the hotel’s half-dozen cars.

The four interchangeable Wi-Fi routers create hotspots using 3G and HSPDA technology that enables download speeds of up to 7.2MB per unit.

Within the hotel, fiber optic lines fuel hotspots from the hotel’s guests rooms, to the restaurants, bars and pool deck while copper lines service the hotel’s administrative back side.

At a single day’s notice bandwidth can be ugraded still further to meet any requirements. Guest rooms can accommodate wired and wireless demands. “Both business and leisure travelers today expect instant and easy access to the Internet – and here you don’t even need a password,” said Gardner. “Furthermore, with our hotspot connection in all hotel cars, you are online minutes after touching down.

That’s especially handy in a city famed for its chaotic traffic.”

The general manager said the hotel believes the benefits of the goodwill engendered by complimentary access outweigh the revenues, and complaints, that result from squeezing $10 to $20 per day fees from guests.

Call 011-84-8-823-4999, email mcexe@caravellehotel.vnn.vn  or visit www.caravellehotel.com