Jetsettersblog

Best Western has added a new property in Cairns, growing its market share in Queensland.

The Best Western City Sheridan is an easy 10 minute walk to the city centre, Reef Hotel Casino, Convention Centre and the popular esplanade area with its restaurant precinct. It also makes the perfect base to explore the tropics of far North Queensland, Daintree Rainforest, the Great Barrier Reef and offshore islands.

The motel features a licensed restaurant offering fresh local seafood and delicious pasta dishes; cocktail bar; and outdoor swimming pool with cascading waterfall. The modern and spacious rooms boast private balconies, Austar channels, free in house movies, mini bar, airconditioning, room service, and free wireless internet.

As part of the Best Western brand, Best Western City Sheridan features BestRequests™, frequently requested guest amenities and services including: iron and ironing boards, hair dryers, coffee/tea makers in all rooms, designated non-smoking rooms, complimentary toiletries available upon request, bottled water available on-site, photocopy facilities on-site during reception hours and much more.

Best Western Chief Executive Rob Anderson said, “Cairns is a destination already popular with leisure guests, and growing its corporate business. We’re pleased to offer this quality hotel to domestic and international visitors”.

For more information or, to book accommodation at the Best Western City Sheridan, call 131 779 (from Australia), 0800 237 893 (from New Zealand) or log on to www.bestwestern.com.au/citysheridan

National airline, Air Niugini today welcomed the arrival of its first brand new Q400 Next Generation aircraft to Port Moresby and Papua New Guinea.

The aircraft under the registration P2-PXU, resplendent in Air Niugini’s new livery featuring a magnificent plumed bird of paradise arrived to a traditional wash down ceremony as it taxied into Jacksons airport. A water cannon spray arch was unleashed by the Fire Trucks, saluting the arrival of the aircraft.

On arrival to welcome the new aircraft was Public Enterprise Minister, Hon. Arthur Somare, Air Niugini Board & Management, representatives from corporate and business houses, diplomatic Corp, industry partners and the media.

Minister Somare in his welcome address said the arrival of the Q400 NextGen aircraft marks a new era in Air Niugini’s operations, adding that it will further enhance and boost the airline’s domestic operations.

The Q400 NextGen is the first of the two aircraft ordered by Air Niugini from Bombardier. It is also the first of its aircraft type to be operating in Papua New Guinea under the P2 registration. Both aircraft were funded by PNG Sustainable Development Program.

He said “This begins a new era at Air Niugini with one of the world’s most advanced turboprop aircraft that will meet Air Niugini’s requirements for many years to come. We are pleased with Q400 aircraft’s hot and high capabilities as well as its ability to operate from the shorter runways on our routes.”

He said as a commercial entity, Air Niugini is also keen to capitalize on the potential business opportunities and developments arising from the multi-billion dollar LNG project.

“ There will be increased number of people and cargo movements during the various stages of the project and having additional aircraft ensures that Air Niugini is in a better position to handle such movements.” Minister Somare said.

The Q400 NextGen is a brand new aircraft specifically configured to suit Air Niugini’s requirement. The 74 seat capacity aircraft has the ability to operate from shorter runways and delivers the quietest and most vibration free passenger cabin of any propeller driven aircraft.

The aircraft features an enhanced cabin environment with the introduction of LED lighting, new ceiling panels, dished window sidewalls and larger overhead luggage bins. These features combined with the Active Noise and Vibration Suppression (ANVS) system provide an excellent cabin experience for passengers.”

It also has two class cabin and a hot galley, allowing for hot meals to be served on board.. Apart from that, the Q400 NextGen aircraft is fast with the speed that’s close to that of a jet aircraft and is fuel efficient with low emissions.

The addition of Q400 gives Air Niugini the opportunity to reassess some of its jet routes.

The Q400 NextGen aircraft follows in the footsteps of a long line of robust and reliable de Havilland and Bombardier turboprops that have served Air Niugini very well over the years.

The second Q400 NextGen aircraft is expected to arrive in September this year. Air Niugini is also expecting its second Boeing 767 aircraft next month. This will bring the total aircraft in ANG’s fleet to 20 aircraft before the end of the year.

Air Niugini Chief Executive Officer, Mr Wasantha Kumarasiri said the airline is proud of its achievement, comparing to only 11 aircraft four years ago.

He said “ With the additional aircraft in the fleet, we are confident; this will provide operational flexibility for both our cargo and passenger movements.

The extra capacity and frequencies would ensure flexible travel options for valued customers.

It also places Air Niugini in a better position to take advantage of the resource development that’s currently taking place in the country, especially the multi-billion dollar LNG project.”

The Q400 NextGen aircraft have been manufactured by Bombardier, a world leading manufacturer of innovative transport solutions from commercial aircraft and business jets to rail transportation equipment, systems and services. Bombardier’s headquarter is based in Toronto, Canada.

Both Minister Somare and Mr Kumarasiri thanked everyone involved in ensuring the successful acquisition of the aircraft including the PNG Sustainable Development Program, Department of Transport, PNG Civil Aviation Authority, Internal Revenue Commission, ICCC, the board, management and the Q400 project team at Air Niugini.

Notes:

Air Niugini’s represresentative in the UK is Gatwick based, Flight Directors. UK telephone reservations number is 0871 744 7470.

Lavish accommodation crops up across Western Australia’s coast

Australia’s North West coast is experiencing a huge boom in its five-star accommodation, boosting Austravel’s high-end offering and enticing luxury seekers.

Throughout the past year, a number of top-end hotels have opened in the area, an investment of more than AUD $100 million, and are bookable through Austravel.

The new properties include:

• Pinctada Cable Beach, Broome’s first five-star resort for more than 20 years. The luxurious retreat boasts a tropical setting and a 72-room and suite hotel, including a sumptuous spa offering Aboriginal treatments.

Prices for Pinctada Cable Beach start from £105 per person per night with Austravel, based on two people sharing a room in October 2010.

• Cable Beach Club, which was Broome’s first ever luxury resort built in 1988,has undergone an AUD $20 million refurbishment adding another restaurant and a day spa.

Prices for Cable Beach Club start from £115 per person per night with Austravel, based on two people sharing a room in October 2010.

 Eco Beach Wilderness Retreat, which is located about an hour south of Broome and opened in July 2009. The glorious resort aims to provide guests with a unique wilderness experience and offers solar powered eco villas and luxurious eco tents, complete with king size beds and private verandahs.

Eco Beach Wilderness Retreat is also home to a new voluntourism project, which allows guests to monitor flatback turtles.

The experience aims to help boost knowledge of the endangered amphibians and will be open throughout November 2010.

Prices for Eco Beach Wilderness Retreat start from £75 per person per night with Austravel, based on two people sharing a room in October 2010.

Australia’s south-west coast is home to Cape Lodge, a fabulous five-star boutique hotel which is sat on its own secluded vineyard in the heart of the Margaret River Wine Country.

This resort was voted Luxury Travel Magazine’s Best Boutique Hotel in Australia 2009 and has a gourmet restaurant that was ranked in the Top Ten in the World for Food.

Prices for Cape Lodge start from £155 per person per night with Austravel, based on two people sharing a room in October 2010.

The Margaret River area will also see the opening of the Munda Biddi Trail, which has already been named by National Geographic as one of the world’s top ten cycle routes – before it has even been finished.

The long distance cycling trail, whose name means “path through the forest” in the local Noongar Aboriginal language, is currently 500km but will eventually be 1,000km, linking Perth with Albany.

The next section of the track is due to open in September 2010, but the full trail is due for completion in 2012.

Austravel can offer packages to all of the above accommodation, including the following example that spends ten nights in Western Australia:

Five-star holiday in Western Australia
10 nights from £2,289 per person
Price includes:
• Three nights at the five-star Hilton Parmelia, Perth
• Three nights at the five-star Cape Lodge, Yallingup, Margaret River
• Seven days’ car hire
• Internal flight from Perth to Broome, flying with Qantas
• Four nights at the five-star Cable Beach Club Resort
• Return flights with Qantas departing from London Heathrow

Prices are based on departures from London on 12 October 2010

For more information on Austravel please visit www.austravel.com  or phone 0800 988 4834.

For further information about Western Australia visit www.westernaustralia.com

The family-owned tourist attraction, which sits on cliffs above a rainforest in the Jamison Valley, has produced a flyer called ‘Even better in the wet … the rainforests of the Blue Mountains, NSW’.

The flyer is designed to give hotel concierges, travel planners and accommodation providers something to recommend to their guests and clients when the weather isn’t sunny and bright.

“There’s a reason for the word rain in rainforest,” says Scenic World’s Marketing Manager Rob Weaver.

“The birds become more vocal, the colours change and everything smells fresher and at the same time older. There’s a far better chance of seeing some of the birds that live here, including the Superb Lyrebird.”

Weaver points out that because Katoomba enjoys a mountain climate, the weather can change from sun to rain and back again in minutes. “If you’re lucky you can see it in both rain and sunshine – the best of both worlds.”

Scenic World is the home of the world’s steepest passenger railway, Australia’s steepest cableway, the famous glass-floored Skyway and the longest elevated boardwalk through a rainforest in the southern hemisphere.

The site includes three restaurants, a kiosk and a cinema where visitors can watch a movie or 3D presentation about the history of the area.

“Regular bus and trolley services connect us to Katoomba railway station and other tourist spots – and when you’ve visited Scenic World there’s plenty of wonderful cafes, galleries and shops in nearby Katoomba and Leura.”

Scenic World is open every day of the year from 9.00am to 5.00pm.

Rockwood Palace Resort & Spa Re-branded as Sheraton Udaipur Palace Resort & Spa from 1st August 2010

UDAIPUR  – Sheraton Hotels & Resorts continues its expansion momentum in Asia Pacific, announcing an agreement with Rockwood Hotels & Resorts Ltd. to debut the Sheraton brand in the city of lakes, Udaipur in India (voted Best City in the World in the Travel + Leisure USA World’s Best 2009 Awards).

The Rockwood Palace Resort and Spa has been re-branded as Sheraton Udaipur Palace Resort & Spa from 1st August, 2010 and is managed by Starwood Hotels & Resorts, with another five Sheraton hotels to open in India over the next three years in Bengaluru, Visakhapatnam, Chandigarh, Mysore and Amritsar.

“The debut of Sheraton brand in Udaipur is indeed great news for international travelers and fans of India.

Sheraton Udaipur Palace Resort & Spa captures the romance and splendor of the royal era with its magnificent architecture and grandeur,” commented Don Elliot, Regional Vice President for Starwood Hotels & Resorts in India, Bangladesh and the Maldives.

“We are thrilled that Rockwood Hotels & Resorts Ltd. has selected the Sheraton flag for this outstanding resort in an agreement that dramatically enhances Sheraton’s already impressive portfolio in Asia Pacific. We are delighted to extend a warm Sheraton welcome to travelers to Udaipur, offering them Sheraton’s distinctive amenities and services.”

The 240-room Sheraton Udaipur Palace Resort & Spa is located on the banks of picturesque Fateh Sagar Lake in one of India’s ancient cities. Located only three kilometers west of the city centre, Sheraton Udaipur is close to many of this historic city’s cultural, historic and natural attractions. There are also many fascinating museums and art galleries to explore, as well as diverse restaurants and shopping.

Other resort facilities include approximately 600 square meters of meeting space and three lush gardens, four restaurants and bars, a spa and an upcoming club floor.

The scenic location has made the resort an extremely popular destination for weddings. Udaipur, known as both the city of lakes and the “Venice of the East”, is the historic capital of the former kingdom of Mewar in Rajasthan.

Apart from its history, culture and scenic location, it is also known for its stunning palaces. The city is also a popular venue for Bollywood and international movies and TV series, including James Bond in India, Octopussy, and The Jewel in the Crown, among many others.

Visitors to Sheraton Udaipur Palace Resort & Spa will be enveloped in warmth and comfort from the moment they step foot into the lobby. In their rooms, guests will delight in Sheraton’s signature services and amenities, including the Sheraton Sweet Sleeper Bed®, a cozy array of sensuous linens, plush down pillows, and signature duvet.

Each luxuriously-appointed room is also outfitted with LCD flat-screen televisions, walk-in showers, roomy desks, ergonomic chairs and wireless high-speed Internet access.

The hotel will also be adding 9 private pool rooms as well as three family suites with direct access to lush green gardens.

For more information, please visit www.sheraton.com/udaipur

The Ritz-Carlton Hotel Company, L.L.C. will make a return to Hong Kong when it opens the world’s highest hotel in the city in the first quarter of 2011.

The Ritz-Carlton, Hong Kong, which will occupy floors 102 to 118 of the International Commerce Centre (ICC) in Kowloon, will offer 312 guest rooms, all providing city and harbor views, starting at 50 square meters for a deluxe room, and reaching 365 square meters for the Ritz-Carlton Suite.

All rooms include Wi-Fi, iPod docking stations and flat-screen TVs.

In addition, Club room guests will enjoy the panoramic Ritz-Carlton Club Lounge with complimentary food and beverage presentations 24 hours a day, as well as a dedicated Club Concierge, work stations, meeting rooms and Wi-Fi throughout.

One of the unique aspects of the hotel, which reflects a move to more casual elegance of The Ritz-Carlton brand, will be its bars and restaurants, which have been designed by Japan’s Spin Studio and Wonderwall.

With six dining venues starting on the 102nd floor, including designer Chinese and Italian restaurants, and lobby lounge, the alfresco rooftop bar will be a venue at 490 meters above sea level with views over Hong Kong. Asian-style tapas and cocktails will be served on the roof terrace, where fire pits will be located.

The Ritz-Carlton, Hong Kong will boast one of the largest ballrooms in the city at 930 square meters.

Elaborately decorated with a sea of crystal chandeliers, the décor is suited to weddings, meetings and gala events. Complimented by an additional four meeting rooms, the total of 1,300 square meters of meeting space will set the benchmark for events in the region.

The ESPA located on 116th floor will consist of 860 square meters of treatment rooms and relaxation area. Featuring nine deluxe treatment rooms and three couples’ suites, every treatment room offers floor-to-ceiling windows with views.

The hotel also features a fully equipped fitness center and an indoor pool on the 118th floor with a 28-meter-by-7-meter LED screen on the ceiling that can display images.

In the podium of the ICC tower, the 1 million-square-meter Elements shopping mall offers luxury brands.

The ICC will also host an Observation Deck on the 100th floor and offer direct connections to Hong Kong International Airport in 20 minutes and Central Hong Kong in five minutes. The Ritz-Carlton, Hong Kong will be very much at the heart of the city and will become a must-see tourist attraction when it opens in the first quarter of 2011.

The Siegel Group has opened Rumor, an all-suite, non-gaming hotel, in Las Vegas as part of its Boutique Chic Retreats collection. Formerly the St. Tropez Hotel, the two-story Rumor offers 150 suites and a Las Vegas-meets-Palm Springs ambience.

Its unconventional design includes elements like Chinese foo dog sculptures hand-carved from solid slabs of cantera stone, flowing draped in the porte cochère, an ultra lounge-like lobby accented with criss-crossing metallic lines on the pavered floor, and splashes of lavender throughout the property, against a white color palette.

The property’s restaurant, Addiction, incorporates classic dishes with a modern flair for breakfast, lunch, dinner and room service. Helmed by Chef Vic Vegas,

Addiction’s signature dishes include crème brûlée oatmeal, the Cuban Reuben, sea bass satays and Kurobuta karmal pork. A private dining room seats 12 with dripping chandeliers and a high, communal table. The main restaurant spills out into the courtyard with indoor and outdoor seating.

The courtyard features a pool area, wet deck and lawn, all framed with matured palm trees. At night, this area transforms into an outdoor nightclub with DJs and live musicians.

Rumor welcomes pets, offering an outdoor dog run, customized in-suite bowls and plush dog beds.

Half of Rumor’s 150 suites face into the courtyard and feature either a balcony or a patio.

The suites feature gray-hued walls and splashes of lavender patterns, and a carved wall medallion is situated above the bed. In-suite amenities include a basket of sugar confections and Warhol-inspired chandelier art.

Many suites feature oversized tubs that are surrounded by mirrors and come with scented bubble bath.

Later this summer, Rumor will unveil the Fantastic Four Suites, which will feature with bold, square lines in the flooring, beds and ceilings.

Utilizing a basic color palette of gray, black and silver base tones, the suites will be punctuated with accents of pink and purple.

For more information, call 877-997-8667 or visit www.rumorvegas.com

Viceroy Hotel Group announced a new partnership between its Viceroy Hotels and Resorts collection and Topguest, a new online members-only service that provides users with reward programs for virtual “check-ins” at hotels, restaurants and lounges.

By joining Topguest, members will be awarded 20 percent off at Viceroy’s restaurants, bars, or spas after five geo-location check-ins at the Viceroy properties in Santa Monica, Miami, Palm Springs, Snowmass and Anguilla. Topguest users can check in with any major location-based-services (LBS) application, including Foursquare, Twitter and Gowalla.

Guests don’t need to stay overnight at the hotel to qualify for rewards points. Whether dining at Viceroy Miami’s Eos Restaurant or enjoying the popular Cameo Bar at Viceroy Santa Monica, it is simple for individuals to check-in right from their cell phone.

After five check-ins, Topguest members will receive the 20 percent discount reward to be used during their next visit to the spa, restaurant or lounge of any Viceroy Hotel or Resort.

For more information, visit www.viceroyhotelsandresorts.com.

For more information on how to earn Viceroy Rewards for geo-location check-ins, or to join Topguest, visit www.Topguest.com  from a laptop, mobile device or iPad.
Membership to Topguest is free, with no installation or downloading required.

Associated Luxury Hotels International (ALHI) has launched the “ALHI U-200 Gems” collection, which is a new specialty segment within ALHI’s worldwide portfolio that consists of ALHI members with 200 rooms or under, which specialize in serving meeting and incentive programs.

The “ALHI U-200 Gems” currently consists of 18 ALHI member hotels and resorts, from ALHI’s worldwide portfolio of over 125 Four- and Five-Diamond quality hotels and resorts.

To make it easy for planners to access options within the “U-200 Gems” collection, there is a “View All Specialty Segments” quick reference button on the www.alhi.com website.

This button provides easy access for planners to see the options available in each specialty segment. On the site, planners can quickly see details of the properties’ meeting, accommodation, recreational and dining offerings, as well as destination information and “Luxury on Sale” value opportunities.

A photo gallery, meeting floor plans and specs, and a location map for each property are also easily accessible.

The “U-200 Gems” collection features a diversity of options throughout the country, as well as properties in international locales.

For more information, visit www.alhi.com

Auto Europe has expanded its chauffeur services and now offers Transfers, Executive and Premium Chauffeur Drive services in over 38 countries.

In addition to servicing countries throughout Europe, Chauffeur Services are now available in South America, including Argentina, Brazil, Chile and Mexico.

East Asia is also covered in China, Hong Kong, Japan, Singapore, South Korea, Taiwan and Thailand.

Locations in the Caribbean include Bahamas, Cayman Islands, Barbados, Bermuda and Jamaica.

Services are also available in Australia and South Africa.

Auto Europe offers chauffeured transfer services between airports, hotels, rail stations, and piers and within the same city or between cities.

Chauffeur drive services are also available at disposal for service based hourly, half day, full day, overnight or even longer.

The drivers are experienced, multi-lingual professionals with an excellent knowledge of the local area.

In addition to servicing over 6,000 car rental locations in over 60 countries worldwide, Auto Europe also offers coach and business class airfare to Europe and services three-, four- and five-star hotels worldwide through their tour division Fly International.