Jetsettersblog

For the discerning traveler, Quincy offers a distinctive all-inclusive stay. The room rate includes a limousine transfer service from the airport – with free Wi-Fi access during the ride, all three meals at the hotel, high-speed Internet connections, all mini-bar amenities, and cocktails and drinks each evening.

The hotel is mere minutes’ walk from Orchard Road, Singapore’s main street which is considered one of the world’s foremost retail and entertainment thoroughfares.

Its location also means easy accessibility to the public transport network in the island – with the island’s business and commercial district just a few metro stops away.

Yet, tucked away as it is from the main road, Quincy still offers its guests privacy and exclusivity. With just 108 rooms, this new hotel on Mount Elizabeth will be the smallest amongst the stable of Far East Hospitality’s hotels, but it is big in redefining ‘a stay in Singapore’.

“We wanted a combination of the best international influences, lots of character – and to the mix, we have also added our own years of experience as one of Singapore’s leading hospitality groups with six existing hotels and 11 serviced residences,” said Mr Chia Boon Kuah, executive director in charge of Far East Hospitality’s business.

He pointed out that boutique hotels all over the world have been setting new standards in hospitality. Growth of travel sites and agents in the last three years, which specialize exclusively in this market such as tablethotels.com, mrandmrssmith.com and splendia.com is testimony to the interest and demand for accommodation that offers a distinctive, different stay.
For a start, Quincy departs from the norm with its distinctive façade. Dark grey metal, anodized steel and shimmering windows form large modular shapes – giving the building a strong, modern, almost monolithic air.

But breaking the almost severe lines is a whimsical, illuminated, glass-enclosed pool which is cantilevered from the 12th floor of the building.

Touches of this surprising quirkiness can be found throughout the hotel – from the distinctive furniture including peanut-shaped benches and illuminated torsos, to the surprising messages that appear each day in the lifts, and to the colour-changing LED lights dotting the pool deck.

This is combined with thoughtful hospitality – where 400 threadcount sheets, Molton Brown toiletries and 42-inch TV screens come standard. The hotel will even pick up the tab for two pieces of laundry per room, per night.

The latitude this approach offered allowed Quincy to become a distinctive destination, which serves real wants and needs said Mr Chia: “We unhampered ourselves of rules and set out to achieve what travelers wanted and liked.”

Two of Malaysia’s leading resorts have been voted into the top ten family resorts in Asia by Australian travellers in a recent survey conducted by Holidays for Kids Magazine.

The survey of over 40,000 Australians ranked the Shangri-La’s Rasa Ria Resort in Kota Kinabalu and Golden Sands Resort in Penang, as Asia’s fifth and ninth best family resorts in Asia.

In a tropical setting where jungle meets Pantai Dalit Beach, Shangri-La’s Rasa Ria Resort, Kota Kinabalu offers families a full Kid’s Club, a nearby nature reserve and Orang Utan education centre, a range of water sports and large pool area for active kids; as well as a lush golf course, spa and wellness centre and chic restaurants for parents needing to unwind.

Shangri-La’s Golden Sands Resort in Penang, has been voted as the ninth best resort for families after undergoing an AUD $17.8 million redevelopment.

The resort boasts a water sports centre, tennis courts, an executive golf course, swimming pools, an adventure zone and a family entertainment centre.

Set on Penang’s Batu Feringghi Beach and with easy access to the UNESCO World Heritage Georgetown, the Golden Sands Resort offers families the perfect base to explore one of Malaysia’s most popular regions.

Shahrin Mokhtar director Tourism Malaysia, Sydney says that Malaysia’s beautiful beaches, wildlife and landscapes along with exceptional resorts, safety and close proximity to Australia make it a popular choice for Australians.

“The success of these resorts reflect the increasing popularity Malaysia is enjoying with Australian families, who are drawn by the allure of jungles, beaches, mountains, wildlife and true Asian culture,” said Shahrin.

“With increasing family focused product, Malaysia has a lot on offer from world-class theme and wildlife parks, water sports, pristine beaches and snorkelling to fascinating history, Asian culture and of course delicious food.”

Five-night packages staying at the Shangri-La’s Rasa Ria Resort & Spa start from $615* per person twin share in a Superior Rainforest View room with breakfast daily and return private car airport transfers. Price is valid for sale until August 31, 2010 and valid for travel from September 1 to November 17, 2010.

Flight Centre also offers a seven night package to the 4-star Golden Sands Resort starting from $499* per person twin share which includes accommodation in a Superior Hillview room, breakfast daily and return private car airport transfers. Price is valid for sale until August 31, 2010 and valid for travel from August 11 to November 17,2010.

*Prices are subject to change and availability.

To book your next holiday to Malaysia visit www.flightcentre.com.au/world-travel/malaysia  or phone Flight Centre on 1300 939 414

For further information please visit www.tourism.gov.my

Travellers on the move can now easily book WORLDHOTELS accommodation on the go with a new website available exclusively through smartphones.

Users of Blackberrys and iPhones accessing www.worldhotels.com  are automatically linked to a splash page, enabling them to choose between easily make a booking or search the group’s full directory of more than 450 affiliate properties worldwide.

Commenting on the innovative new service, WORLDHOTELS Asia Pacific Vice President, Roland Jegge said:

‘We have responded to the massive growth in the use of smartphones and the degree to which both business and leisure travellers have come to rely on them.’

He added: ‘WORLDHOTELS always wants to make life as easy as possible for busy travellers.

By offering a dedicated website for smartphones, we are giving travellers on the move immediate access to our worldwide portfolio providing them with a quick and simple-to-use booking solution while away from their office or home.”

Claridge’s, one of the world’s most famous and glamorous hotels, is collaborating with legendary fashion designer Diane von Furstenberg to bring her signature style to a series of twenty guestrooms and suites, the first of which were unveiled.

For more than a century, Claridge’s, considered the Art Deco jewel of Mayfair, has stood as an emblem of timeless elegance in London and is the hotel where Diane von Furstenberg has been a loyal guest for the past three decades.

“Claridge’s is the most glamorous hotel in the world,” says von Furstenberg, “hotels like this don’t exist anymore and the legacy must be respected! It is very important to keep the original architecture and the formality of the layout of the rooms in order to preserve the old style of grand hotel life that I love so much. It has been a true privilege to design new furniture, fabrics and rugs to keep it relevant for today’s needs and taste.”

One of the world’s most celebrated designers, Diane exemplifies the modern global nomad, traveling the world for inspiration and drawing upon her own experiences in her designs. Travel is her muse and in 2008 von Furstenberg’s first cruise collection drew inspiration from Claridge’s, the hotel that has been her home away from home in London since the 1970’s.

“Our collaboration with the talented Diane von Furstenberg is the latest storyline within our history of forward thinking design,” commented Stephen Alden, CEO Maybourne Hotel Group. “Diane’s personal love and passion for Claridge’s provides a unique perspective which she has drawn upon in executing her creative vision.”

Designed in collaboration with longtime friend and interior decorator Olivier Gelbsmann, the hotel’s legendary Piano Suite will be one of the first to be unveiled. Each guestroom will boast its own DVF style whilst preserving the Art Deco heritage of Claridge’s. Beautiful contemporary prints, Chinese florals in big, bold scale and animal patterns are just a few of the styles presented in the chic, inspiring spaces. Each bedroom will have a Diane von Furstenberg custom designed cashmere blanket in sumptuous colour combinations.

Four star pieces including a dressing table, travelling trunk, desk and cocktail bar, all inspired by Diane von Furstenberg’s travels and the mobility of campaign furniture, were created for some of Claridge’s guestrooms and suites. The dressing table recalls trips to Italy, the traveling trunk evokes images of caravans and stylish steamer trunks, while the cocktail bar resembles jewellery boxes found in the Middle East.

Each room will also feature furniture handmade by British craftsmen and light fixtures that have been created in the UK and Paris using Murano glass.

The rooms will also display photographs taken by Diane von Furstenberg on her travels through Europe, Asia, Africa and the Middle East.

The window dressings, inset wall coverings and upholstery, feature DVF’s exclusive textile collection which will be available to interior designers and consumers in September 2010. Cotton canvas fabrics range from a black and white ikat print to a bold wide stripe. The contemporary selection of fabric combined with the elegance of Claridge’s sets the contemporary yet refined tone of the rooms.

The Piano Suite’s bedroom will be a light and dreamy compliment to the bold living room, featuring a pale thistle and off-white design scheme and a bleached solid oak four-poster bed. All glasswork found throughout the suite will be Murano and boxes and trays have been specifically hand-crafted in Bali. The floor coverings utilize Diane von Furstenberg’s handcrafted rugs from The Rug Company, a long time design partner. The handmade, luxurious wool and silk rugs feature signature modern animal patterns in dark chocolate brown and ivory, and will be inlaid within the suite’s hardwood flooring.

Since opening its doors in 1898, Claridge’s has been the destination of choice for discerning travelers. Diane von Furstenberg’s guestrooms and suites will compliment the bespoke design legacy of Claridge’s while celebrating the glorious future of the Art Deco jewel. Home to the legendary Claridge’s Bar and Fumoir, Claridge’s has played host to royalty, celebrities and heads of state who desire timeless elegance at London’s best address.

For more information on the Diane von Furstenberg guestrooms and suites at Claridge’s, please contact +44 (0)20 7107 8862 or www.claridges.co.uk

Maybourne Hotel Group

Maybourne Hotel Group whose headquarters is in Mayfair, London, owns and manages Claridge’s, The Connaught and The Berkeley three of the world’s most renowned hotels. Maybourne hotels are committed to delivering authentic and unique guest experiences that reflect the individual nature of its hotels, its guests and its people whilst maintaining a timeless elegance and intuitive service style that are the hallmarks of its properties.

Diane von Furstenberg

DIANE von FURSTENBERG, one of the premier names in American fashion, was founded in 1972 by the designer. Renowned for its iconic wrap dress and signature prints, DVF has grown into the global luxury lifestyle brand it is today. The company, headquartered in New York City, has expanded to a full comprehensive line of ready-to-wear, swimwear, handbags, footwear, luggage, accessories, fine jewelry, watches, fragrance, eyewear and rugs. Its distinctive collections are sold in over 71 countries and in 34 namesake retail boutiques worldwide.

The Radisson Blu Hotel, Muscat has announced that it will undergo renovation. The work will be carried out in 2 phases (block by block) seeing all 156 guest rooms & corridors changing. The hotel will be in full operation, all food and beverage outlets and other hotel facilities will be open.

“Radisson Blu stands for being different, innovative and for “Yes I can!”. The hotel earned the loyalty and love of guests over the past 10 years. Now it is time to bring the property to the next level. A modern business hotel fully focused on serving and hosting our guests. Being the leading first class business hotel in the city is our aim. Offering the best product, at a great location with our outstanding service is what our clients expect from Radisson Blu” said Michael Kuhn – Director of Sales & Marketing.

“Apart from upgrading our rooms a new facility will be introduced. Further details about this new facility is still kept a secret. “added with a big smile on his face Michael.

The Radisson Blu Hotel, Muscat is ideally located in the heart of the city’s commercial and diplomatic area and just 12 minutes drive from Muscat International Airport.

The hotel has a number of food & beverage outlets including: Al Tajin Grill; Muscat’s most popular steakhouse, Olivos restaurant, the Lazy Lizard, the Grind Floor, as well as the Coral Bar and the lively Cellar Bar.

Guests can relax in the temperature controlled swimming pool, set in beautiful gardens, and have access to the health club with fully equipped gym, sauna and steam room.

The Radisson Blu hotel, Muscat offers five fully-equipped meeting rooms, the largest of which can accommodate up to 180 people. Free high-speed Internet access is available in all guest rooms and wireless Internet access is available in select public areas of the hotel.

Lufthansa Airlines offers pets and live animals the world’s ultimate in luxury travel with a dedicated Animal Lounge. Echoing the luxury of first class travel, the Animal Lounge offers state-of-the-art care, handling, feeding and shelter facilities as well as veterinary expertise ensuring all animal ‘passengers’, ranging from polar bears to tropical fish, reach their final destination safe, happy and on-time.

Located at Lufthansa’s main hub, Frankfurt am Main Airport, the Animal Lounge is the world’s most modern animal airport facility and spans approximately 4,000 square meters.

Commenting on the Animal Lounge Kai Peters, General Manager Lufthansa Australia said: “At Lufthansa we believe it is very important to try and minimise the trauma and anxiety that many pets and live animals experience while travelling.

Our Animal Lounge provides individual care, professional expertise and an environment designed to ensure ultimate comfort for the 14,000 household pets and 1,500 horses and wild animals that pass through the Animal Lounge annually.”

Unlike most airports’ live animal facilities which are spread out over several terminals, the Animal Lounge is located in a single specialist facility building with distinct zones for export, import, transit, quarantine and health inspections ensuring that all animals transiting through Frankfurt have no chance of getting lost and are healthy enough to continue their journey.

All pets, including dogs and cats transported in the passenger cabin, are transferred to the Animal Lounge if a transfer or layover exceeds more than two to three hours. At the lounge there are thirty nine ‘small animal boxes’ that are climate-controlled and provide enough room for the animals to stretch their legs. Other live animals are transported in the climate-controlled and pressurised cargo hold.

Commenting further Kai Peters said: “The Animal Lounge facility came in particularly handy in October 2008, on a flight from Dubai to Frankfurt, when a passenger carried a pregnant dog onto the plane.

About thirty minutes before the plane landed, the dog started giving birth to several puppies! A veterinarian from the Animal Lounge was called to the aircraft upon landing and the little puppies were safely delivered.”

Lufthansa accommodates pets worldwide on their passenger planes as well as through their cargo division, Lufthansa Cargo.

Currently, Lufthansa, SWISS and Austrian Airlines operate flights via 12 getaways from five origins in Australia. Within Europe, the Group’s airlines fly to over 150 destinations, offering pet owners from Australia the most extended network of all airlines.

For more information about travelling with a pet please visit: www.lufthansa-cargo.info/animallounge/en  or please contact your country’s Lufthansa Reservations Office.

Valencia on Spain’s Mediterranean coast offers options for learning Spanish.

Throughout the year, Americans can choose between 15 schools offering intensive immersion courses for one or two weeks or even months at a time.

Spain receives more international Erasmus students than any other European country, and the region of Valencia is the second most popular destination for students.

The region of Valencia has schools and courses tailored for every level. Courses are on-going and usually consist of 20 class-hours per week with 10 students or less in a class.

Generally, six levels are offered, in accordance with the guidelines of the CEFRL (Common European Framework of Reference for Languages).

If 20 hours a week of class time (plus homework) isn’t enough, many schools offer an even more intensive course with up to 30 classroom hours per week.

All schools arrange a wide spectrum of lodging options from living with a host family (the true fast-track to learning a language) to shared apartments, hotel accommodation, and student residences.

In addition to classroom hours, all 15 schools provide a supplementary program of tours, outings for paella (Valencia is the birthplace of the dish) or tapas, weekend excursions, and themed evenings with film showings, cooking classes and dances.

Several schools help arrange internships and language exchanges. A student learning Spanish might be partnered for casual conversation with a Spaniard learning English. Besides the regular intensive Spanish language classes, most schools also teach specialty courses like business Spanish, conversation classes, Spanish for teachers of Spanish as a Foreign Language, and courses in preparation for the Instituto Cervantes D.E.L.E. exam.

With its sunny and mild year-round climate, the Valencian region is an ideal destination for vacation or study. Besides beautiful beaches, the region boasts charming villages, historic monuments, archaeological sites, nature preserves and colorful festivals throughout the year.

The city of Valencia has an old quarter full of Renaissance and Baroque monuments and modern architecture by Santiago Calatrava in the City of Arts of Sciences with its aquarium, planetarium, science museum and performing arts center. The region’s capital is also well known for its lively dining and nightlife scene.

Located in the old quarter, the Españolé International House Valencia has a large rooftop terrace where students can study or relax. Specialty courses include “Spanish & Sailing” — Valencia hosted the America’s Cup in 2007 and 2010.

Summer courses for 12 to 15 year olds are also available. Created by Vulture Magazine, the trendy magazine published by the region’s university, the Taronja school has the polka-dotted “Crazy Doctor” and “Kitsch Paradise” classrooms decorated by Valencian artists. Free cooking and Spanish culture classes are offered weekly.

In Alicante, the Enforex Valencia school offers students a view of the city’s beach and arranges weekly movie and dance nights. In Castellon, the Audio Gil-Spanish Institute features intensive courses from 15 to 30 hours per week which can be combined with specialty courses in design, marketing, programming and in the Valencian dialect.

The small coastal town of Dénia welcomes students to The Language Center (TLC Dénia) just a 15-minute walk to the beach, and the school will arrange accommodations there.

An option for families, TLC offers classes for kids ages 6 and older, and a Spanish and sailing school for ages 6 to 16. In July and August, parents and kids can take Spanish lessons together.

Located 20 minutes from Valencia between the coast and mountains, Caxton College in Puçol offers an academic year course, an intensive summer course and shorter stays for school group plus indoor and outdoor swimming pools, a fully equipped gym, tennis and basketball courts and there are classes in flamenco, Spanish cooking, chess, karate and drama.

For more information, visit
www.en.comunitatvalenciana.com/learn-spanish-region-of-valencia?k=2.

For general destination information, visit www.comunitatvalenciana.com

Le Bar du Plaza Athénée in Paris, the cocktail lounge at Hotel Plaza Athénée on Avenue Montaigne, launched Red and Blue Hours, two new nightlife concepts. Drenched in blazing thematic lighting, imaginative signature cocktails, and an authentic-yet-welcoming air of exclusivity, Red and Blue Hours usher in a completely new atmosphere and position the Dorchester Collection hotel.

Blue Hours at Le Bar du Plaza Athénée run from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. through the week. The concept is a play on the blue-lit sculpted glass bar and background music that create an atmosphere for loosening up and letting go. Bar Manager Thierry Hernandez will still be serving some of his signature cocktails for the Blue Hours and beyond, with “cocktail experiences” such as the rose petal-topped Love Mojito and the shimmering blue Bombay Bahia, a Bombay Sapphire concoction.

Red Hours arrive at Le Bar du Plaza Athénée with a rush of rhythm, transforming the space into a sizzling, electro-rock scene on Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights from 11 p.m. to 2 a.m.

The transformed atmosphere is ushering in a fresh scene to the already popular bar and drawing lots of attention from younger jetsetters.

Le Bar du Plaza Athénée is also running Thematic Evenings. Created by Artistic Director Lambert and playing out through Red Hours several evenings each month, the thematic occasions are reserved for the “Happy Few” to mark fashion weeks, artistic celebrations and high-caliber events.

Peopled by invitation only, the highly desirable Thematic Evenings are limited to privileged clients who receive notice via the updated Bar du Plaza Athénée website or on their personal Facebook account. Rates at Hotel Plaza Athénée run from 750 euros ($971) per night, pending availability.

For more information, call 800-650-1842 or visit www.plaza-athenee-paris.com

Tourists visiting Malaysia will now find it easy to bring their maids along for the trip with a new decision made by the Malaysian Government.

This decision, effective immediately from 21 May 2010, is expected to be met with positive response from tourists, especially those from the West Asia market who often travel with families and maids.

A special pass will be issued without fee to the maids upon entry at the Malaysian immigrations counter at all entry points in the country, subject to the terms and conditions below:

1. The employer must sponsor the maid’s visit by completing the form “Application for Visa on Arrival Imm. 47” at the entry point into Malaysia,

2. The maid is to enter Malaysia together with the employer and not at different times/dates/days,

3. A visa-on-arrival stamp has to be endorsed on the maid’s passport/travel document, and

4. The maid’s duration of visit to Malaysia is synchronized to the employer’s social visit pass.

For more information, kindly contact the nearest Malaysian Embassy / Immigration Attache or visit www.imi.gov.my

Development offers premium selection of 218 fully furnished apartments and a first-of-its-kind investment concept
Hamra Hotels and Resorts has announced the opening of Al Hamra Residences in Ras Al Khaimah, offering 218 fully furnished apartments. Hamra Hotels and Resorts has also introduced a first-of-its-kind investment concept in Ras Al Khaimah wherein investors owning or seeking to buy any of the residential units in Al Hamra Residences have the option to lease them back to Hamra Hotels and Resorts, which will manage and lease the property on the investors’ behalf.

All the apartments in Al Hamra Residences are equipped with plasma screen TVs, cable television channels, kitchen appliances and complimentary high-speed Wi-Fi internet access.

The residential units also feature a distinct modern Arabic design and are available in a variety of choices, including studios, 1-bedroom, 2-bedroom, 3-bedroom and four unique 5-bed duplex apartments.

Toufic El Hajj, Director of Sales and Marketing, Hamra Hotels and Resorts said: “The opening of Al Hamra Residences marks a valuable addition to Ras Al Khaimah’s array of residential developments that complement the emirate’s growing reputation as an exciting leisure and living destination in the region.

The residential complex, with its distinctive Arabic design elements, creates a unique character and identity of its own and ultimately offers an exclusive living experience for residents.”

“Moreover, we have introduced a novel investment concept wherein property owners at Al Hamra Residences have the option to generate additional income through a special management agreement with Hamra Hotels and Resorts. The world-class amenities and value-added benefits surely make Al Hamra Residences one of the most exciting residential and hospitality destinations in the region,” added El Hajj.

Hamra Hotels and Resorts further disclosed that Al Hamra Residences is also available for rental on a nightly basis or for longer periods spanning months and years.

Residents and guests will enjoy exciting views of ecological reserves, beaches, the Arabian Gulf and the towering Hajjar mountains, while the apartments are also equipped with a private entrance and reception.

Al Hamra Residences also features restaurants offering an array of culinary experiences.

The apartments also have access to a luxurious Spa offering saunas, Jacuzzis, fully equipped gymnasium, tennis courts, men’s and ladies salon, two swimming pools, a 1.2-kilometre private beach and waterfronted 18-hole championship golf course.

Nearby, Hamra Mall offers over 250 boutique and international shops for a premium selection of leading brands and specialty products and services.

Hamra Hotels and Resorts was established in 1996 with a mission to develop and operate unique hotels and resorts in Ras Al Khaimah and the United Arab Emirates.

It has today grown to become one of the leading hotel developers and operators in the region, with new hotel projects soon to be launched.