Jetsettersblog

MuHKA, Antwerp’s Museum of Contemporary Art, is situated in one of the liveliest neighborhoods of Antwerp (Het Zuid — The South), midway between the Royal Museum of Fine Art and the Museum of Photography.

The MuHKA’s exhibition space is devoted to art from 1970 to the present day.

Housed in a converted grain silo and adjoining warehouse, the museum’s permanent collection is exhibited extensively in displays that change every few months.

Moreover, the MuHKA also regularly invites artists to make an intervention in the collection when both the collection and the artist’s own work is put in a new light.

The museum is easy to reach by public transport as several buses and trams stop nearby.

For more information, visit www.muhka.be

The Sheraton Seattle has received an eco-rating of four Green Leafs by Audubon International in 2010, making it the first eco-rated lodging facility in Washington State.

The rating demonstrates the hotel’s environmental commitment through a corporate environmental ethic and innovative programs designed to involve staff, guests and vendors.

In 2008, the Sheraton Seattle introduced a comprehensive Green Strategy that focused on building three major areas — infrastructure and physical enhancements, guest participation, and associate awareness and involvement. In addition to initiatives for water conservation, energy efficiency and waste management, the Sheraton Seattle has educated hotel guests, staff and vendors to further enhance a corporate environmental ethic and an environmental message.

Embassy Suites Hotels opened the Embassy Suites by Hilton Valencia-Downtown, the company’s second Venezuela property. The new 203-suite hotel is located in “El Viñedo,” a cosmopolitan area in North Valencia’s financial and commercial center.

The property is close location to beaches and historical and cultural sites including the Parque Nacional Morrocoy, Forum de Valencia, Sambil and Metropolis shopping centers and Parque Negra Hipolita.

The new hotel offers guests upscale two-room suites, complimentary cooked-to-order breakfast and an evening Manager’s Reception.

Guest amenities also include complimentary high-speed Internet and Wi-Fi access, a daily newspaper, use of the gym and outdoor swimming pool, airport pick-up, 24-hour room service and guest laundry.

“We will be further strengthening the brand’s presence throughout Latin America, with plans to open hotels in San Jose, Costa Rica, and Panama City, Panama, over the next few years,” said Jim Holthouser, global head, Embassy Suites Hotels and Full Service Brands, Hilton Worldwide.

Lodging Econometrics (LE) is releasing for the first time its 2012 Forecast for New Hotel Openings in the Americas, as well as making minor revisions to year-end totals for 2010 and 2011.

According to the report, 149 hotels with 21,701 rooms are expected to open in the Americas in 2012.

The 2012 forecast is part of a three-year topping formation, as 162 new hotels/22,839 rooms will come online in 2010, followed by 153 hotels/22,780 rooms in 2011.

New Openings in South America will surge to cyclical highs over the next three years, with 67 hotels/9,763 rooms are expected to open in 2012, preceded by nearly identical new supply additions of 64 hotels/9,014 rooms in 2010 and 67 hotels/10,145 rooms in 2011.

Sixth-two percent of the New Openings will be in Brazil, one of the fastest-growing global economies and having the world’s seventh-largest Pipeline.

Mexico’s New Openings are on the rise from a cyclical low of 20 hotels/3,009 rooms in 2010 to 26 hotels/4,029 rooms in 2012. Mexico has the eighth-largest Pipeline globally.

Conversely, New Openings in Canada have been declining since the 2008 cyclical peak when 66 hotels/7,784 rooms opened. A new bottom of 31 hotels/3,727 rooms is forecasted for 2012.

Having the ninth-largest global Pipeline, Canada shows declining Pipeline and New Opening trends similar to those seen in other developed countries worldwide.

Aided by a rebound in Construction Starts for projects already in the Pipeline and a strong uptick in recent New Project Announcements into the Pipeline, New Openings in South America will surge to new highs over the next three years, with 64 new hotels scheduled to open in 2010, 67 hotels in 2011 and 67 hotels in 2012.

At the end of the second quarter, the region has a Total Construction Pipeline of 233 projects/38,215 rooms, down 37 percent and 39 percent, respectively, from the peak in the first quarter of 2008. This is largely due to a reduction in European-based investment capital.

Sixty percent of New Openings in South America are in Brazil, where government-directed lending and incentives for developers are strong.

This is also true for Argentina and Colombia. Brazil will be the host nation for the World Cup in 2014 and the Summer Olympics in 2016. These are significant global events and will serve as an investment catalyst, likely propelling Pipeline totals well into the new decade.

New Hotel Openings for Central America are projected at 12 hotels/2,134 rooms in 2012, preceded by eight hotels/1,987 rooms in 2011, and eight hotels/1,261 rooms in 2010.

New Hotel Openings for the next three-year period represent the unfolding of over 60 percent of the current Pipeline, consisting of 44 projects/8,907 rooms. Panama, with 24 projects, and Costa Rica, with 13 projects, combine for 84 percent of total Pipeline projects in Central America.

In Mexico, New Hotel Openings have fallen far from the 2008 peak, but are set to bounce back slightly. The chain scale mix within Mexico’s Construction Pipeline has changed markedly. Earlier, it was populated primarily with large, beachfront resorts with a residential component.

This has now changed to smaller-sized, select service projects in the interior of the country.

With the country’s total Pipeline at 120 projects/19,040 rooms, 65 percent of these projects are now in the Upscale and Midscale chain scales, which have less difficulty securing financing.

Only one-fifth of today’s projects are traditional full service, most of which are scheduled to exit the Pipeline as New Openings over the next three years.

In the Caribbean, just 13 hotels/2,048 rooms are forecasted to open in 2012. For 2010, 18 hotels/3,873 rooms will open, then 12 hotels/2,413 rooms in 2011. Sixty-five percent of current projects will exit the Pipeline in the next two and a half years.

With a total of 66 projects/14,141 rooms, the Caribbean Pipeline is now in a bottoming formation and is expected to remain there for some time. Over the past several quarters, the global recession, its attendant financing difficulties and the collapse of the vacation home market globally led to many Cancellations/Postponements of projects in the Pipeline and dampened new development initiatives.

As a result, New Hotel Openings will remain in a steep downward trend. This is good news for operators. As hotel demand and rates improve, new supply coming online will be much easier to absorb and should aid in the operating recovery.

Like most developed countries, New Openings in Canada will continue to fall through 2012. After nine consecutive quarters of decline, the total Pipeline in Canada is at a record low of 141 projects/16,857 rooms.

Development continues to be hampered by the global recession, with financing still difficult to obtain. As a result, New Project Announcements into the Pipeline will remain at cyclical lows, causing total Pipeline trends to decrease further.

For more information, visit www.lodging-econometrics.com

The Gem Spa, located at the Fiesta Americana Grand Coral Beach Cancún Resort & Spa, was unveiled.

Built as a new annex to the hotel, the 40,000-square-foot spa features gem-inspired treatments and a 10-step hydrotherapy ritual.

A flowing spa design integrates the use of rich woods, Italian mosaics, sand marble and expansive water features over black granite.

The spa’s 10-step Hydrotherapy Ritual detoxifies skin through contrasts of warm and cool temperatures combined with high and low water pressures.

The healing effects are achieved with a guided “circuit” through a sauna, aromatherapy and clay steam room, rain shower, bubbling whirlpool, lagoon pool and a “pool of sensation” filled with bubble and floor geysers, water cascades and cervical neck jets.

The ritual is complimentary to spa guests prior to or after treatments.

The spa’s treatments are inspired by three regions of the world — the Mayan Riviera, South Pacific and Asia, and the Baltic.

Various gem stones indigenous to these regions such as tiger’s eye, amber, amethyst, jade and obsidian are utilized in certain treatments.

A signature collection of treatments integrates the use of diamond dust, including the diamond dust body exfoliation and massage, diamond perfection luxury facial and diamond magnetism ritual.

The Gem Spa features 26 treatment rooms including ten multi-functional rooms, six massage and facial rooms and five couples’ treatment rooms.

It also features two spa master suites with hydro massage tubs and color therapy, one VIP spa couples suite with a double Jacuzzi tub and steam room and two shiatsu and Thai massage rooms.

For those who wish to enjoy a complete wellness getaway, 20 exclusive all-suite accommodations are located adjacent to the spa.

Guests who reserve these accommodations will have complimentary access to the spa’s amenities as well as special aromatherapy essences and Thierry Mugler bath products in their suite.

In addition, the spa features a Gem Spa Café with a menu boasting gourmet, healthy culinary selections.

A full service salon offers services for both and women including hair styling, manicures and pedicures.

It also includes luxury pedicure thrones and special areas dedicated to foot massages. In the Gem Spa boutique, guests will find gem stones to use for healing or adornment as well as beauty and skin care products from Natura Bissé, Decléor, Germaine de Capuccini and indigenous local products.

Beginning in September, a dedicated fitness program will offer guided meditation and group yoga lessons.

Also offered will be seminars on gemstone healing properties, balancing chakras and how to take the spa experience home.

The Gem Spa is located within the Five-Diamond oceanfront Fiesta Americana Grand Coral Beach Cancún Resort & Spa.

Located on Cancún’s most stunning private beachfront, the all-suite resort’s accommodations each boast oceanfront views, ensuring that sun, sand and sea paint a picture-perfect vista for all guests. The hotel features five restaurants including the Five Diamond Le Basilic and the oceanfront fresh seafood restaurant Isla Contoy, canopied by a grand palapa.

For reservations or more information, call 011 (52-998) 881-3200, email resfacb@posadas.com or visit www.fiestamericana.com

Carlson, a privately held global hospitality and travel company, has launched comprehensive new product and service offerings around the concept of “travel empathy.”

The announcement was made at the National Business Travel Association’s (NBTA) annual International Convention and Exposition.

The World of Radisson, a series of globally consistent services and amenities, was designed with guests’ unique requirements in mind. Already available at Radisson hotels in Europe, the Middle East and Africa, the amenities are being introduced at Radisson hotels in the Americas.

The Business Class Upgrade features include free, high-speed Internet access, which was previously introduced and is highly valued by business travelers.

Radisson also is providing free breakfast in the hotel restaurant, complimentary newspaper delivered to guest rooms each day, a drink credit, upgraded room amenities, turn-down service, early check-in, plus 1,000 bonus Gold Points per night.

The complimentary breakfast is perfect for the business traveler on the go.

Now, travelers can simply grab a cup of tea or coffee, along with fresh fruit and energy bars right in the lobby. Three-hour express laundry is available all day and is the perfect solution for guests who need to look their best on short notice.

These global services have already been rolled out at more than 70 percent of the Radisson hotels in the Americas. Carlson expects to fully implement the services at all Radisson hotels in the Americas by the end of 2010, with more on the way.

In support of both the business and leisure traveler, Country Inns & Suites By Carlson is launching its new Be Our Guest Breakfast, offering an enhanced and redesigned complimentary breakfast. Beginning in September, Country Inns & Suites will introduce enhancements rarely found in the midscale segment with a new “Hot & Fresh” rotating menu to its breakfast buffet.

The Be Our Guest Breakfast also responds to guest feedback by offering an extensive array of healthful breakfast options.

For guests on the run, a new To Go station also is available.

For more information, visit www.carlson.com

Plans are underway for a milestone birthday celebration as John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park, America’s first underwater preserve, turns 50 years old.

The historic event is set for Dec. 1 through Dec. 11, 2010, offering an ideal occasion for divers, snorkelers and other visitors to discover or rediscover the Key Largo park.

The park was dedicated Dec. 10, 1960, capping efforts by the late Miami Herald editor John Pennekamp to create the Florida Keys jewel that lies just 90 minutes’ drive from Miami.

Today, the park named for Pennekamp draws more than one million visitors annually to explore its nature trails and beaches and observe the abundant underwater wildlife that inhabits its 70 nautical miles.

Celebration highlights will include an underwater birthday celebration at one of the park’s most famous offshore attractions, the nine-foot bronze “Christ of the Deep” that rests gracefully in 20 feet of water.

The iconic statue, a replica of the like-named statue in the Mediterranean Sea, was donated to the Underwater Society of America in 1961 by industrialist Egidi Cressi.

Visitors to Key Largo also can participate in community-wide land- and water-based events for the whole family, including a planned world-record snorkel attempt and informational and educational activities in conjunction with Key Largo’s Protect the Reef Days.

An educational expo is scheduled for Dec. 11, at the park with conservation-minded educational vendor booths as well as nationally renowned guest speakers.

Several independently owned dive shops in the Key Largo area are to offer special diving and snorkeling trips during the 11-day celebration, while local restaurants are concocting signature “Pennekamp 50th” culinary dishes and cocktails. Specially priced accommodations and activities are planned throughout Key Largo.

For more information, visit www.fla-keys.com/pennekamp50

The Omni Chicago Hotel Cafe 676 on Aug. 9 opened Café 676, a fresh outdoor dining venue from executive chef Daven Wardynski.

The fare focuses on local purveyors and can be described as Modern Midwest American Cuisine.

Menu items will change by season and consist of light snacks, starters, entree salads and specialty sandwiches.

Cafe 676 is located at 676 N. Michigan Ave. on the northeast corner of Huron and Michigan. The cafe is open is daily from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. and reservations are not accepted.

Domestic and imported beers are available as well as a full wine menu. For more information, call 312-944-7676 or visit www.676restaurant.com  or www.omnichicago.com

SmarterTravel has released its list of the World’s Scariest Airports for take-off and landing. Highlights — or lowlights — include limited visibility landings, inconveniently placed volcanoes, and runways formed when the tide goes out.

The list includes Barra Airport, Barra, Scotland, where it’s always a beach landing and runways form when the tide goes out; Gibraltar Airport, Gibraltar, where the main road to Spain intersects the runway; Toncontin International Airport, Tegucigalpa, Honduras, where there’s a 45-degree bank and quick drop in altitude; Nantucket Memorial Airport, Nantucket, Massachusetts, where fog often forces pilots to rely solely on instruments; Paro Airport, Paro, Bhutan, where mountainous terrain means every flight is an aeronautical feat; Yeager Airport, Charleston, W.V., which is located on a flattened mountaintop, so overshooting the runway means dropping over a cliff; La Aurora International Airport, Guatemala City, Guatemala, known for a startling approach that weaves through volcanoes and mountains; LaGuardia Airport, New York City, New York, which has crowded airspace (JFK and Newark airports are nearby) and main runways extend over water; Wellington International Airport, Wellington, New Zealand, where it’s windy and the northern approach threads local hills and trolley lines, and John Wayne Airport, Santa Ana, Calif., where noise ordinances force pilots to quickly reduce throttle on takeoff.

Porsche Cars North America, Inc. and the Gansevoort Hotel Group in New York City are redefining the concept of “room with a view” through an exclusive new transportation partnership.

Guests at both the Gansevoort Hotel in Manhattan’s Meatpacking District as well as the newest location on Park Avenue South can enjoy the journey and the views en route to the city’s legendary locales in Porsche’s roomy “sports car for four,” the 2011 Porsche Panamera 4S.

Both locations will offer guests complimentary in-town car service and VIP airport transportation — a breeze for the first true sports car to easily accommodate four people and their travel gear.

With Porsche’s race-bred performance on tap, guests will be whisked to their destinations as fast as New York City traffic allows — or as leisurely as they wish for a memorable, fashionably late arrival.

For more information regarding the new 2011 Porsche Panamera, visit www.porsche.com/usa 

To make a reservation at any of the Gansevoort Hotel Group locations, visit www.gansevoorthotelgroup.com