Jetsettersblog

Club Med will open China’s first all-inclusive resort in Heilongjiang in December, according to Xavier Mufraggi, CEO North America of Club Med.

The resort, to be located in the Yabuli ski resort region, is the first of five resorts the company will build in China by 2015, Mufraggi said.

Earlier this year, Fosun, China’s largest privately owned conglomerate, acquired 7.1 percent of Club Med’s share capital, becoming one of Club Med’s largest strategic investors, and announced a strategic partnership to build “comprehensive cooperation in upscale resort construction and operation.”

Mufraggi said the Club Med developments in China will make the country Club Med’s second-largest market, generating 200,000 visitors annually.

Fosun’s investment focus has always been industries and assets that are in line with China’s development trend.

It firmly believes that the collaboration between Club Med and Fosun will not only help to provide Chinese consumers with high-quality vacations, but also help stakeholders to share China’s growth opportunities.

For more information, visit the banner below

The Pasadena Convention & Visitors Bureau, in partnership with the City of Pasadena, has unveiled a free GoPasadena smartphone application.

Visitors can download the app by typing in GoPasadena at the iTunes App Store or Android Market.

www.GoPasadena provides access to detailed information on the city’s museums, shopping and entertainment areas, hotels, gardens, movie theatres, events, performing arts organizations, popular filming locations, colleges and universities and architectural tours, among other amenities.

Features include interactive, zoomable GPS maps that indicate a visitor’s current location and selected points of interest (must have connectivity for maps); a description of each location; video and audio (when available); images; and additional embedded information such as phone numbers, websites, directions, and text information.

www.GoPasadena was created using the GoExplore Tour Guides smartphone app software by BarZ Adventures.

The software allows any organization to create and update its own video tour guide applications for multiple smartphone platforms.

For more information, call 800-307-7977 or visit www.visitpasadena.com

Adrenaline junkies are in for a “Wild and Wonderful” ride on West Virginia’s famed

whitewater rapids renowned the world-over as “America’s Best Whitewtaer”

Starting on Friday, September 10th for only 22 days, the Summersville Dam is unleashed into West Virginia’s Upper Gauley River to create the most incredible, adrenaline inducing, whitewater rafting adventure. Selected as one of the “Best Adventure Travel Companies on Earth” in the 2009 National Geographic Adventure survey, Adventures on the Gorge (www.adventurewestvirginia.com) home of Class VI-Mountain River and The Rivermen, navigates these waters for six straight weekends offering an unforgettable ride on the peak-season rapids ranging in intensity from Class III (moderate) to Class V+ (Extreme).

Over 60,000 rafting enthusiasts from around the world converge on West Virginia during the weekends from September 10 – October 17 for full-day and multi-day trips lead by the seasoned Adventures on the Gorge staff who steer them through intense, breathtaking rapids. Surrounded by a beautiful canyon, lush local vegetation, and the changing colors of the fall leaves, this is a unique, exhilarating way to discover West Virginia and the power of Mother Nature.

“For adventure sports enthusiasts, Gauley season is like Baseball’s opening day or the first night of a favorite Broadway play,” comments Founding Director Dave Arnold.

“It’s our number one priority to have an extremely professional, highly trained, and experienced staff so our guests have an incredible time. That, combined with the wet summer season we just had, ensures we’ll have an ideal rafting season.”

Upper Gauley River release dates are:

• Friday, September 24 – Monday, September 27

• Friday, October 1 – Monday, October 4

• Friday, October 8 – Monday, October 11

• Saturday, October 16 – Sunday, October 17

From novices to experts, Adventures on the Gorge takes visitors through the many moods of the Upper and Lower Gauley with a history that dates back to the river’s first commercial raft trip in 1974. Its fleet of rafts can accommodate a variety of different sized groups ranging from five to nine people, plus a guide.

Upper Gauley River rafting includes five consecutive monster rapids:

Insignificant, Pillow Rock, Lost Paddle, Iron Ring, and Sweet’s Falls. Rafters must be 15 years of age or older to negotiate the gnarly, challenging steady stream of Class V and non-stop Class III & IV rapids.

The Lower Gauley River offers magnificent scenery and intense rapids with pools in between so adventurers can catch their breath.

For an unparalleled experience, guests can combine the Upper and Lower Gauley runs for an extreme weekend exploring West Virginia’s scenic outdoors.

Whitewater fans can also customize their experience by choosing to raft one section on a single outing, combine the experience for a marathon whitewater trip, or camp along the river between a multi-day trip.

All-inclusive vacation packages are also available with accommodation choices ranging from camping to platform tents and a variety of cabins.

Additionally, guests may choose to combine their whitewater rafting experience with one of the many other activities offered by Adventures on the Gorge including TreeTops Canopy Tours, the Bridge Walk, Kayaking, Fishing, Mountain Biking, Hiking, Mountain Climbing, Disc Golf, and Paintball.

Adventures on the Gorge offers these exciting rafting experiences with two operators—Class VI-Mountain River (www.class-vi.com ) and The Rivermen (www.rivermen.com).

For more information on Gauley Season and whitewater rafting with Adventures on the Gorge, please call 888.782.9982

or visit www.adventurewestvirginia.com

About Adventures on the Gorge

In 2008, Class VI-Mountain River and The Rivermen merged to create the outdoor adventure destination “Adventures on the Gorge,” operated by Adventure WV, LLC. The following year, Class VI-Mountain River was selected as one of the “Best Adventure Travel Companies on Earth” in the 2009 National Geographic Adventure survey.

Adventures on the Gorge is located on the New River Gorge in Lansing, West Virginia and borders three miles of the New River Gorge National River.

The destination covers more than 1,000 acres and includes a diverse selection of activities such as whitewater rafting on the New and Gauley Rivers, TreeTops Canopy Tour, Bridge Walk, Kayaking, Fishing, Mountain Biking, Hiking, Mountain Climbing, Disc Golf, and Paintball. Lodging options include tent and cabin selections from rustic to luxury, and the campus includes three restaurants

Stratos Jets now provides one-way and point-to-point air charter service to and from New York and London on new Stratos Jets-approved Gulfstream aircraft.

Stratos Jet Charters, Inc., a worldwide air charter agency, recently expanded its New York to London charter service by inviting one of the most reputable private jet operators in the Teterboro area to join its prestigious Stratos Jets’ Approved Vendor Program.

Stratos Jets can now provide one-way and point-to-point pricing for jet charter flights between New York and London on two Gulfstream long-range aircraft.

As the two leading centers for international finance, New York and London are frequent destinations for top business executives and worldwide financial leaders.

The large volume of charter aircraft that are transient between the international cities has resulted in an increase in demand for one-way and point-to-point charter flights to New York and London.

According to Joel Thomas, president of Stratos Jet Charters, his air charter agency has the ability to arrange one-way and point-to-point charter flights by utilizing the empty legs of its new approved vendor’s aircraft.

Thomas explained that the mission of the Stratos Jets’ Approved Vendor Program is to verify that every Stratos Jets vendor meets and exceeds with the strictest, most stringent standards in the industry to ensure passenger safety.

In order to become a member of this elite association of air carriers, the New York-based operator had to demonstrate its compliance with Federal Aviation Administration and Department of Transportation regulations as well as Stratos Jets’ own safety and maintenance standards. These high standards were established by Stratos Jets’ air charter professionals to ensure the safety and quality of every charter flight.

Stratos Jets’ newest addition to the Approved Vendor Program met with these requirements by maintaining a minimum of $50 million insurance on their two Gulfstream aircraft.

These aircraft include a Gulfstream III heavy jet and and a Gulfstream IV long range jet. In addition to being highly-insured, these aircraft have long range capabilities that allow the aircraft to travel from New York to London in less than six hours. Each aircraft cabin can seat up to 12 passengers comfortably and can be additionally configured to accommodate up to four beds.

This cabin arrangement is especially important during the long flight from New York City to London.

To become a Stratos Jets approved vendor, the New York City-based private jet operator was required to demonstrate its commitment to air charter safety standards by maintaining extremely high levels of aircraft insurance.

These insurance standards require a minimum of $25 million of insurance on all turboprop aircraft and $50 million on all other private jet aircraft. By maintaining a higher level of aircraft insurance, Stratos Jets can verify the aircraft operators’ commitment to passenger safety and aircraft maintenance.

To learn more about how to become a Stratos Jets approved vendor, contact a Stratos Jets representative at +1 (888) 478.7286.

Europcar’s new Roadside Gastro Guide takes motorists from roadside stands to converted cowsheds and stately homes to reveal Britain’s hidden foodie gems.

Europcar survey* reveals 95% of motorists believe the choice, price and quality of roadside food is unacceptable – with 80% saying they have previously gone hungry rather than eat from the selection on offer.

To escape the tyranny of the motorway service food offering and celebrate the diversity of Britain’s local, independently owned eateries, Europcar, the UK’s leading car hire company, has teamed up with The Guild of Food Writers to produce a free-to-download Roadside Gastro Guide.

Instead of offering yet another list of renowned, Michelin-starred, celebrity chef restaurants, The Roadside Gastro Guide tapped into the knowledge of some of the UKs finest food writers and broadcasters – including Anthony Worrall Thompson and Valentine Warner – to reveal 20 of Britain’s hidden culinary gems.

Stretching from the Scottish Highlands to the Dorset coast, the Europcar guide includes everything from country inns, to tea shops and stately homes, and all specialise in offering locally sourced, fresh, home-cooked fare.

A far cry yet a short distance from the motorway services, the guide reveals a foodie world of individual character, spectacular views, friendly service, converted barns, quirky decor, old-fashioned bone china and quirkily named dishes such as the Wortley Wedge – ‘a beast of a sandwich made from the roast of the day’.

According to Richard Ehrlich of the Guild of Food Writers; “Motorway catering may mostly be the pits for pit stops, but outstanding food can be found just a short detour from many main roads.

“The establishments here cover a fantastic range.

They cover much of the country, and include both celebrated restaurants and little gems known largely to locals.

I hope they convey the message that being in the car doesn’t mean giving up on good food.

You just need to know where to look – and downloading a free copy of the Roadside Gastro Guide is the perfect place to start.”

Catriona Kempston of Europcar added: “Whether it’s delivering a car to their door or simply helping them to avoid soggy chips and overpriced pies, we’re always looking for new ways for motorists to get maximum pleasure out of their driving experience”.

The full version of the Roadside Gastro Guide contains detailed, individual recommendations by Guild of Food Writers members, including background information, personal insights, recommended dishes, contact details, opening times and, most importantly, directions from major roads.

Turnberry, a Luxury Collection Resort, Scotland, has unveiled a new wedding reception suite that boasts one of the most inspiring and romantic backdrops in the UK.

AYRSHIRE, SCOTLAND– Turnberry, a Luxury Collection Resort, Scotland, has unveiled a new wedding reception suite that boasts one of the most inspiring and romantic backdrops in the UK.

The Turnberry Suite combines a five-star quality wedding destination for up to 200 people with stunning ocean views over the Irish Sea, Ailsa Craig and the mountains of Arran.

Direct access to a large private terrace offers space for wedding parties to enjoy an alfresco champagne reception while the sun sets.

This stunning wedding venue also offers an array of photo opportunities throughout the 800 acre estate, from dramatic locations at the Turnberry lighthouse and on the steps of the hotel to warm and intimate settings in front of the log burning fires in the The Grand Tea Lounge.

The venue is fresh, spacious and ideally suited for wedding receptions.

A series of floor-to-ceiling windows flood the venue with natural light and offer direct access to the terrace.

The choice of ocean-view suites are the perfect setting for the happy couple to relax in style after their big day.

Generous in size, opulent in design, the suites offer all the thoughtful touches you might wish for, including large, walk-in shower with separate bathtub and, enticing Arran Aromatics toiletries.

Offering special accommodation rates for wedding guests, Turnberry has 198 guest rooms including 42 newly renovated deluxe rooms and four lavish ocean-view suites in main hotel, as well as 12 lodges with eight bedrooms and six bedrooms on the estate.

Prices for weddings at Turnberry of 50 or more people start from only GBP80 per person, including:

• Turnberry Suite room hire

• Three course wedding breakfast

• Optional drinks package (half bottle wine and 2 glasses of sparkling wine per person)

• Bed & Breakfast accommodation for the Bride & Groom in a deluxe ocean-view bedroom with VIP amenity

• Flowers for table centre pieces, menu cards, place cards and table plans

• Table linen and chair covers

• Cake stand and knife

• Microphone and speakers

To speak to a member of Turnberry’s dedicated wedding team, please telephone 01655 333 996, e-mail turnberry@luxurycollection.com or visit http://www.turnberryresort.co.uk/meeting

For more information on Turnberry, a Luxury Collection Resort Scotland, please visit http://www.luxurycollection.com/turnberry

Turnberry, A Luxury Collection Resort, Scotland

Turnberry is located on the stunning Ayrshire coast, offering elevated views over the Irish Sea, Ailsa Craig and mountains of Arran and Kintyre.

First opened in 1906 as the world’s first golf resort, Turnberry quickly established itself as the premier destination for social and sporting events.

The five red star resort underwent a multi-million pound renovation programme prior to hosting the 2009 Open on its legendary Ailsa golf course and becoming part of Starwood Hotels & Resorts much acclaimed Luxury Collection.

The 198 luxuriously appointed guest rooms include four lavish ocean-view suites and offer a perfect blend of Edwardian tradition and timeless design.

The iconic Ailsa Course is currently ranked as Britain’s number one golf course by leading golf publications and consistently rated within the world’s best. For golfers, there is also the Championship Kintyre Course and the Arran Course, as well as The Colin Montgomerie Links Golf Academy.

Turnberry is the perfect setting for food lovers, with a choice of unique dining experiences, including the signature restaurant 1906, led by Executive Head Chef Ralph Porciani, which offers classic dishes with a modern twist and a unique Chef’s Table experience.

There is also the elegant Grand Tea Lounge, Ailsa Bar & Lounge, Duel in the Sun bar and Tappie Toorie restaurant overlooking the links golf courses and sea beyond.

Turnberry has a well-established reputation for top class meeting and events facilities, specialising in bespoke boardroom experiences.

There is also a luxurious spa offering a range of ESPA treatments.

The onsite Outdoor Activity Centre offers guests a variety of distinguished outdoor activities including quad biking, horse-riding, fishing and off-road driving.

For more information, please visit http://www.luxurycollection.com/turnberry

About The Luxury Collection Hotels & Resorts

The Luxury Collection is a selection of hotels and resorts offering unique, authentic experiences that evoke lasting, treasured memories.

For the global explorer, The Luxury Collection offers a gateway to the world’s most exciting and desirable destinations.

Each hotel and resort is a unique and cherished expression of its location; a portal to the destination’s indigenous charms and treasures. Magnificent decor, spectacular settings, impeccable service and the latest modern conveniences combine to provide a uniquely enriching experience.

Today, The Luxury Collection is a glittering ensemble of more than 70 of the world’s finest hotels and resorts in more than 30 countries in bustling cities and spectacular destinations around the world. The Luxury Collection includes award-winning hotels that continuously exceed guest expectations by offering unparalleled service, style and class in some of the most desired destinations in the world. Most recently, Mystique, a Luxury Collection Resort, was honored with the 2008 Travel + Leisure Design Award for Best Small Resort in the world.

All of these hotels, many of them centuries old, are internationally recognized as being among the world’s finest.

For more information, please visit http://www.luxurycollection.com

The Strawberry Train offers travellers a ride on a steam engine, while a team of stewardesses hand out strawberries.

MADRID, SPAIN — Rail enthusiasts may wish to make time in their schedules to see the Strawberry Train during their stay at Madrid hotels.

It travels between central Madrid and Aranjuez, with the old-fashioned steam train carrying tourists and residents between the two destinations.

The vehicle is a replica of the first Spanish steam-powered engine and the journey recreates the commercial trips taken by 19th century travellers.

For EUR26 (GBP21.70) – or EUR18 for children – individuals can take a ride on the Strawberry Train, get a free transfer to the monument area in Aranjuez and a guided tour of the Royal Palace, Faluas Museum and Parterre Gardent.

People hoping to book their tickets in advance can purchase them online from the Renfe website or head down to the station.

Since the train leaves Madrid from the Railway Museum, there are even more opportunities for train spotters to indulge their love of this mode of transport.

“Passengers enjoy a plate of plump Aranjuez-grown strawberries onboard, served by stewardesses in traditional costume,” explained What’s on When.

The website noted that the train leaves Madrid at 10:00 local time and arrives at 10:50 in Aranjuez, with the engine departing at 18:25 and returning to the Spanish capital at 19:15.

For more information on this event visit the Renfe website or contact the venue on +34 902 22 88 22.

LateRooms.com features a wide variety of accommodation in Madrid, including the Arturo Soria Madrid.

Warner Leisure Hotels is formally opening the gardens and restaurant of the historic Cricket St Thomas Hotel and taking it into a new era following a major landscaping and restoration project.

HEMEL HEMPSTEAD, HERTFORDSHIRE — The Warner Leisure Hotels owned historic grade-II Cricket St Thomas Hotel near Chard, Somerset, has formally opened its gardens following a major landscaping and restoration project.

GBP300,000 has already been invested in the project which has opened up the glorious vistas of one of Somerset’s most beautiful valleys.

Covering around 160 acres the gardens include designs by Chelsea Flower Show Gold Medal winner Kate Gould, and a rose garden maze in the shape of a rose bud.

The project forms part of a GBP3 million investment by UK Breaks specialist, Warner Leisure Hotels.

The formal opening of the gardens and lakes also sees the launch of an exciting new venture for the Cricket St Thomas Hotel with the introduction of an Italian style restaurant within the former walled gardens of the country house.

Representing an investment of around GBP200,000 the new Fenocchi’s restaurant will offer authentic Tuscan style cuisine prepared by award-winning chef Jason Eland for both hotel guests and visitors to the gardens.

Other major redevelopments at Cricket St Thomas include a stylish upgrade of the Tree Tops restaurant and refurbishment of the historic old house, with a new wing opening comprising 22 stylish new Signature rooms which are due in August.

The opening of the gardens and lakes marks a new era in the history of the estate, which dates back to the 12th century. Originally created in the 19th century by the second Lord Bridport the gardens feature a chain of lakes and cascades, as well as formal ornamental gardens. As part of the restoration the lakes have been drained and cleaned and a new water feature created at the entrance to the estate.

The lawns of the elegant Regency country mansion, which appeared in the TV sitcom ‘To the Manor Born’, still feature the large cedars under which Lord Nelson and Lady Hamilton are believed to have spent many happy hours.

Work on the gardens is scheduled to continue over the next three years with visitors voting on how they want to see the project develop.

Ian Gyte, General Manager of Cricket St Thomas hotel, said: “The new Lakes and Gardens are a stunning testament to the long heritage of Cricket St Thomas whilst taking the gardens firmly into the 21st century.

They offer a new opportunity for the thousands of visitors and local residents we are welcoming this year to enjoy one of Somerset’s most glorious landscapes.

“The garden project will last a total of three years and it will be fascinating to see how they evolve as the work progresses.

The opening of the new restaurant and the investment in the hotel are also hugely exciting and clearly demonstrate our continuing confidence in offering superb facilities for our guests and visitors to enjoy.”

Gardener Kate Gould commented: “What Warner Leisure Hotels are doing is no small feat and it will be fascinating to see the gardens develop as the plans take shape.”

The gardens are open daily until the end of September. Children under five go free and the gardens are free to hotel break guests.

About Warner Leisure Hotels:

Exclusively for adults, Warner Leisure Hotels enjoys an occupancy rate of 95% in its portfolio of 13 properties across the UK. Warner Leisure Hotels offers a wide choice and style of hotel breaks, each with its own personality.

Renowned for its Weekend Breaks and seasonal offers with Christmas Breaks and New Year Breaks, the chain is also known for its wide range of experiences, offering more than 600 additional activities and UK breaks from hot air balloon trips and antiques with TV’s Eric Knowles to trips on the Orient-Express and numerous dance breaks.

Website: http://www.warnerleisurehotels.co.uk

Experience The UK’s First Iyashi Dome Exclusively At Aquarias Spa, Whatley Manor Regenerating Purifying Slendering

Whatley Manor (01666 822 888 www.whatleymanor.com  , the beautiful restored private manor house hotel that nestles in 12 acres of Wiltshire countryside, has installed the UK’s first Iyashi Dome in the luxurious surroundings of its award winning spa Aquarias.

The Iyashi Dome was first developed in Japan and comes from the traditional Suna Ryoho technique of burying oneself in the warm sand by the seashore or near hot springs to detoxify the body through perspiration.

The modern Iyashi Dome allows the user to lie back and relax on a comfortable wooden bed, whilst listening to soothing Japanese influenced music.

The technology of the unique black carbon dome gradually heats up the body by emitting vibrations of far-infrared rays that are in line with the far-infrared rays which are naturally produced within the body.

The head remains uncovered during this process and the breeze from the state-of-the-art Dyson Air Multiplier refreshes the face whilst the dome cocoons the rest of the body for a purifying, regenerating and slendering treatment.

The Iyashi Dome initiates a deep cleansing session, lasting 30 minutes, in which a large volume of perspiration and toxins are eliminated from the body as it burns energy and starts to breakdown fats including cholesterol, fatty acids and subcutaneous fats as well as lactic acid and accumulated toxins.

This deeper level perspiration is equivalent to the same effect that might be achieved from a vigorous 20 Km run but without the aggressive effect on the body.

The Iyashi Dome has a number of health benefits; it aids in purifying and rebalancing the body to its natural state of equilibrium; it noticeably softens and smoothes the skin; the process may also aid in weight loss by reducing the size of the fat cells, and is good to use after a session in the gym to help rejuvenate the body.

It can help to energise the body in advance of a big sporting event or be used as power nap between work sessions.

A full consultation is given at the start of the first treatment and this includes a ‘Body Composition’ analysis reading, being taken to record an individual’s weight, muscle mass, water and fat percentages.

At the end of the 30 minute session these readings are taken again and a print out is provided showing the results before and after the session with the percentage changes.

For best results a series of sessions is recommended, although benefits can be gained from a single session.

However, due to the intensity of the treatment 48 hours must be allowed between each session.

The Iyashi Dome may be combined with a range of Spa Aquarias treatments.

These might include the 60 minute Aroma Purity Massage (£85), a deeply cleansing and detoxifying aromatic leg massage, which is a powerful combination of lymph drainage and body brushing designed to eliminate toxins and redefine the body contours. Alternatively, a session could be booked to follow a gym workout and Powerplate session or to completely unwind book a session in combination with a 45 minute (£75) or 60 minute (£85) Aroma Relax and Restore massage to uplift the mind and body.

An Iyashi Dome treatment including initial consultation and the 30 minute session costs £55 per person. A course of 10 sessions may be booked at a cost of £500 per person.

A one-night stay at Whatley Manor costs from £295 per room for a standard room including bed and breakfast and 10% discretionary service charge and VAT, plus use of the spa Aquarias.

For further information and to book call Whatley Manor on 01666 822 888 or visit the website at www.whatleymanor.com

The Only South African Hotel To Do So

Ellerman House Introduces In-Room iPads Cape Town Hotel is First in South Africa to Offer New Technology for Guest Use

Iconic Cape Town Hotel Ellerman House will introduce Apple iPads to each of its eleven luxurious rooms and modernist villa over the coming months – the only hotel in South Africa to offer iPads for guests’ use.

The iPad is fast becoming an indispensible item within the gadget market and a supremely useful tool in the hospitality industry, due to both its numerous practical uses and leading entertainment.

This is Ellerman House’s latest move in a drive to enhance the guest experience through contemporary themes, bespoke luxury experiences and new technology. The introduction of in-room iPads will give guests uninterrupted internet access; the chance to read their favorite books and magazines online; up to date information on Cape Town’s latest restaurant openings, events and activities and real time hotel updates such as interactive room tours, virtual tours of the hotel’s world renowned art collection and unique music compilations, tailored to guest’s preferences.

“The huge amount of news stories, hotel information and insider tips on Cape Town that can be loaded onto an iPad mean that every guest at Ellerman House will have a quick, easy, convenient and enjoyable way of enhancing their stay with us in line with their personal preferences.” says General Manager Nick Dreyer.

However, Ellerman House might have to find a way of reminding guests to look up from their iPads and enjoy the hotel’s spectacular Cape Town views every once in a while……