Jetsettersblog

Hackney Heritage LLC, a subsidiary of Black Cab Heritage tours (London) announces the opening of its United States based business. Through its online site @ www.hackneyheritage.com

The company will be offering unique theme based and highly personalized tours within London and surrounding areas.

Additionally, the new company will be able to offer a full range of ground transportation services and complimentary offerings such as river cruises, London theater tickets and top restaurant dinner reservations. Hackney Heritage is focused upon providing a totally unique set of products and services to those American tourists who want the “true London experience”

Each of the companies tours are undertaken in a traditional London Black Cab, where the driver is also an accredited City of London tour guide.

Capitalizing upon the success of its parent, Hackney Heritage will offer tours such as the very popular Harry Potter tour, the “Classic” London tour and the “Royal London” tour.

This will be supported by an increasing number of very focused and unique offerings. Each tour can accommodate up to to five (5) passengers, which makes the whole experience very personal and highly interactive.

Commenting upon the launch. Robert Woodford, one of the company founders said “this is a very exciting time for our firm as we expand into the American market. Based upon our success to date, we are convinced, our future customers will be exposed to a totally unique tourist experience in one of the worlds greatest cities”.

About Hackney Heritage tours LLC Founded in 2010, Hackney Heritage tours is an online business that offers unique theme based tours and supporting tourist products in London and the surrounding areas. The company is totally focused upon the North American tourist, who want the “true London Experience”.

With its ease of booking and superior customer service, Hackney Heritage tours aims to be a leader in its market.

About Black Cab Heritage tours (London)
Founded in 2008, Black Cab Heritage tours provides one of a kind theme tours of the major London tourist sites. Each of its tours are built around specific well know themes and are undertaken in a traditional London Black cab. The company drivers are both certified and licensed cab drivers, who have also undertaken extensive training to become City of London guides. In the two years since its formation, the company has become the leading provider of bespoke tours in the London area.

U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood unveiled the first uniform technical standards for the manufacture of high-speed intercity passenger rail cars, a development that will enhance the ability of U.S. manufacturers to compete in what is set to become a burgeoning industry. “As part of the Obama Administration’s focus on maximizing manufacturing opportunities, these first-ever uniform standards will provide an unprecedented opportunity for manufacturers in the U.S., from rails to wheel bearings, to final assembly, to build a strong, stable manufacturing base,” said LaHood.

A uniform standard creates a level playing field and economies of scale based on a common set of designs and technical requirements allowing U.S.-based manufacturers to more effectively compete. Fostering healthy economic competition will drive down costs for rail owners and operators and the traveling public. Further, maintenance and repair costs will be lower because of lower parts acquisition costs. And, training can be streamlined with just one type of equipment, allowing faster turnaround for repairs.

The first technical standard will apply to bi-level passenger rail cars for use in high-speed passenger rail operations. “This is a milestone in the history of rail transportation,” said Federal Railroad Administrator Joseph C. Szabo. “These standardized bi-level passenger rail cars will be able to operate nationwide and are compatible with existing equipment.

A common design also makes it easier to train maintenance personnel, stock parts and perform repairs, which reduces costs.”

The standards will ensure that newly manufactured cars can be used with the current passenger locomotive fleet, either alone or with existing bi-level cars, and are designed to accommodate entry and departure from low-level platforms.

The new cars will also be compliant with the Americans with Disabilities Act. Similar standards for single-level passenger rail cars are expected to be adopted by the end of the year.

The establishment of technical standards for high-speed rail operations is required by the Passenger Railroad Investment and Improvement Act of 2008 and was developed by the Technical Subcommittee of the Section 305 Next Generation Equipment Committee.

Members include the Federal Railroad Administration, Amtrak and state Departments of Transportation. The subcommittee also received input and participation from rail industry manufacturers, freight railroads and transportation associations.

“This clears the tracks and provides strong direction so Amtrak and states can move forward with modern bi-level equipment designed with updated passenger comfort, conveniences and safety features to meet the ever-increasing demand for more rail service,” said Amtrak President and CEO Joseph Boardman.

Amtrak, the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA), and interested states approved the new design as part of a Next Generation Corridor Equipment Pool Committee established under Section 305 of the Passenger Rail Investment and Improvement Act (PRIIA) of 2008.

Host freight railroads, passenger railroad equipment manufacturers and other passenger rail operators participated in the technical discussions as well.

The bi-level passenger car specifications are the first to be issued by the Section 305 committee and include three car types for use in corridor intercity passenger rail service — coach car, cab/baggage car, and café/lounge car.

It is the third generation of the popular California Car design first introduced in the 1990s and subsequently advanced with Amtrak’s Surfliner equipment.

Boardman explained that the finalization of this design also supports Amtrak’s implementation of a comprehensive Fleet Strategy Plan to replace and expand its national fleet of locomotives and passenger rail cars.

This plan includes the priority replacement of approximately 250 of its bi-level Superliner 1 equipment that have been in service for nearly 30 years.

With the bi-level design specifications now in place for corridor service, Amtrak can move forward with using this design as the foundation for the development of new bi-level long-distance equipment to replace these aging Superliners.

For more information, call 800-USA-RAIL

or visit www.amtrak.com

Delta Air Lines, Inc. said its wholly owned private jet subsidiary, Delta Air Elite, will now operate under the new brand of Delta Private Jets. Delta is the only U.S.-based carrier with commercial and private jet service, enabling customers to design their travel plans with the combined reach and convenience of an on-demand charter service and the largest commercial airline network.

“This rebranding demonstrates Delta’s continued investment in and commitment to the private jet business,” said Wayne Aaron, Delta vice president corporate strategy and business development.

“This new name leverages the respected Delta brand and the worldwide resources behind it and clearly communicates to customers our comprehensive air travel offering.”

The rebranding is the latest in a series of investments Delta has made in its private charter operation this year. In January, Delta Private Jets doubled the size of its fleet with the acquisition of Kinston, N.C.-based Segrave Aviation, a leading jet charter and jet management company, and an innovator in online booking and flight management technology.

In June, Delta Private Jets introduced the Air Elite Card, which offers high-value customers several exclusive benefits, including the ability to book on-demand private jet service and commercial flights in a single call using a pre-paid Air Elite account.

Throughout the year, the company added nine of the most popular aircraft to its fleet — two Learjet 31A, three Beechjet 400A light jets, one Learjet 60, one Citation Excel, and two Citation X super-midsize jets.

“We believe the new name better conveys a seamless, quality air travel experience for all of our customers, while explicitly connecting us to the Delta brand,” said Jim Segrave, president of Delta Private Jets.

“With the resources of Delta Air Lines behind us, we are building a unique product and position in the private air travel market.

We offer what private jet customers are telling us they want: better value, more options and greater flexibility.”

For more information, call 877-541-3548

or visit www.DeltaPrivateJets.com

Smart Destinations the company behind Go Cards and Explorer Passes is pleased to announce the expansion of the Go Oahu Card with the addition of the Moanalua Golf Course.

The 18-hole course is located less than 25 miles from Waikiki hotels and the Go Oahu Card offer includes a golf cart as well as round trip transportation from the hotels to the course.

This course is a $125 value and is free as a bonus with the 3-5-7 day Go Oahu Cards.

“Our Oahu program has always been place we try out new things,” said Cecilia Dahl, President and Co-Founder of Smart Destinations.

“We’ve already have partnerships for a Luau, surf lessons, guided snorkeling expeditions, as well as the kinds of tours and museums that have been a staple of our other destinations.

“Golf was a logical next step for us and is just the latest example of how we are creating a better way for people to book the things they like to do on vacation.”

The Moanalua is a course that will please both golfers and history buffs.

“The greens and fairways are all of Bermuda grass and the course is a par 36 over 2,972 yards.

The Moanalua Golf Course is Hawaii’s first golf course and also the oldest golf course west of the Rocky Mountains. Amelia Earhart once landed her plane there and polo matches were once held on the back nine.

The addition of Moanalua Golf Course adds to the value of the Go Oahu Card which already has 35 attractions ranging from The Grand Circle Island Tour, Sea Life Park, the Makani Catamaran and the Pearl Harbor tour to name a few.

American Airlines announced a three-year renewal of its relationship with Roundabout Theatre Company for the American Airlines Theatre in New York City.

As part of the agreement, the Theatre will retain its name, and American will continue to receive hospitality and promotional benefits from Roundabout.

American has been a sponsor of Roundabout for the past 10 years and a strong supporter of arts and entertainment for decades. Roundabout is a cultural institution offering significant contributions to the New York community.

In celebration of the continued relationship, American is running a sweepstakes that will reward one lucky winner with a once-in-a-lifetime New York experience, featuring roundtrip air transportation to New York, exclusive tickets to a show at the American Airlines Theatre, hotel accommodations and dinner for two at New York hotspot, Aureole.

To enter the sweepstakes, participants can visit

www.aa.com/theatre  

and fill out the appropriate information for their chance to win a New York theatre experience with American Airlines.

Harrah’s Entertainment has announced a Buffet of Buffets deal across its Las Vegas properties, which include the Flamingo Las Vegas, Caesars Palace, Harrah’s Las Vegas, the Imperial Palace, Paris Las Vegas, Planet Hollywood Resort & Casino, and the Rio All-Suite Hotel & Casino.

Guests can experience all-day, unlimited access to dine in seven buffet restaurants with the Buffet of Buffets pass.

The pass is priced at $39.99 for Total Rewards members and $45.99 for non-members and is valid for a 24-hour period beginning at the time of purchase

. It is available for in-person purchase at the entrance to each buffet restaurant.

Soft drinks are included, but alcohol and line passes are not.

In conjunction with the pass, seven Las Vegas Harrah’s properties are offering three-night room and buffet packages that include two Buffet of Buffets passes.

For more information, call 800-427-7247

or visit www.harrahs.com

Norwegian Cruise Line is working with YouTube to power “YouTube Vacationer,” a travel-specific channel providing vacation ideas and advice from Lonely Planet, National Geographic and Travel Channel.

The “YouTube Vacationer” at www.youtube.com/vacationer,  is interactive, letting visitors post their own video.

When interacting within NCL’s section of the channel, visitors can select 60- to 90-second montages of Freestyle Cruising vacations. Visitors can then share their video through Facebook, Twitter or email.

“By working with YouTube on their first-ever travel-specific channel, we are giving visitors the opportunity to experience our brand and all the options that Freestyle Cruising offers,” said Maria Miller, NCL’s senior vice president of marketing.

“From a marketing perspective, this opportunity is compelling because it provides a truly organic user experience and represents another great way for brands to work with YouTube.”

For more information, visit www.youtube.com/vacationer  or www.ncl.com.

Ascend Collection from Choice Hotels International, Inc. builds its Caribbean presence with the announcement of a new member hotel on the exclusive island of Anguilla.

The Royale Caribbean Resort & Spa, currently under construction, is a high-end boutique hotel in Little Harbor on the island’s southern coast, slated to open in January 2011 as a member of Ascend Collection, the upscale network of historic, boutique and unique hotels from Choice Hotels International in the U.S., Canada and the Caribbean.

Royale Caribbean Resort & Spa is owned by Mr. and Mrs. Quincy Gumbs, local developers with businesses throughout Anguilla, including the Fairplay Group of Companies, comprised of Fairplay Insurance Agency, Fairplay Jewelry and Perfumes, and Fairplay Food Center. The resort’s location is set amidst tropical gardens.

Each of the property’s 80 guestrooms will offer views of the Caribbean Sea and the mountains and coastline of neighboring St. Maarten.

Among the onsite amenities, plans for Royale Caribbean Resort & Spa include three restaurants, a 10,000-square-foot spa, stretches of pristine beachfront, a gift shop, lush tropical gardens, tennis courts and a unique Caribbean-inspired conch-shaped pool.

With 28,000 square feet of meeting space, Royale Caribbean Resort & Spa is set to house one of the Caribbean’s largest convention facilities.

The resort will offer two banquet rooms, meeting rooms and boardrooms, accommodating up to 1,600 people. Activity options will include snorkeling, diving, sailing and fishing to dining, sunning, swimming and strolling along white-sand beaches.

For more information, visit www.ascendcollection.com  or www.choicehotels.com

Sol Melia announced plans to operate its first hotel in the U.S. with the Melia Atlanta, a 502-room hotel formerly operated by Marriott as the Renaissance Atlanta Hotel Downtown.

Marking the beginning of its strategy to develop additional properties in the continental U.S., the Spanish brand plants its flag on the Atlanta market taking over the hotel operations on Oct. 15, 2010.

The new Melia Atlanta will enjoy a $35 million renovation to be completed by 2013, allowing the property to feature proprietary elements of Melia Hotels & Resorts, Sol Melia’s largest brand.

Located at the edge of Atlanta’s downtown business district, the new Melia Atlanta will set the footprint for Sol Melia’s expansion within the continental U.S. It will enable the company to tap into a new market while gaining consumer and guest visibility in a major urban metropolis.

The Melia brand, known for combining the Spanish passion for service with cutting-edge design and contemporary elegance, chose this Atlanta landmark to be the first Melia experience within the continental U.S. due to its privileged setting.

Sol Melia is implementing an intensive expansion strategy, as a result of its brand equity policy, which has allowed its portfolio to expand in the world’s most dynamic markets such as Asia, where the company has been operating for the last 25 years, the Emirates and European capitals and coasts, where it is overall the third leading hotel company.

The Melia Atlanta will pave the way for the expansion plans of the Spanish company within the U.S. The hotel will be a modern urban property with great accessibility to public transportation via the Marta North Ave. Station, Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport, and conveniently located near the Georgia Tech campus.

The property will offer more than 30,000 square feet of meeting and conference facilities. Amenities which will be completed as part of the multimillion-dollar renovation include the fourth-floor pool deck featuring extraordinary city views and a fitness center, in addition to Melia’s renowned F&B concepts, as agreed between Fundus America, the hotel’s owner, and the Sol Melia Group.

For more information, visit www.solmelia.com

Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc. announced the launch of Shine for Sheraton, a global spa concept designed exclusively for Sheraton Hotels & Resorts.

On the heels of the brand’s recent $6 billion brand revitalization effort, Shine for Sheraton will debut in new properties across the globe and as a new spa solution for existing hotels and resorts.

Sheraton has selected Germaine de Capuccini, a leading global spa and skincare brand, as the preferred product partner for Shine spas.

Shine for Sheraton was developed exclusively for Sheraton by Starwood Hotels’ in-house spa team to offer both business and leisure guests an upscale, approachable spa experience.

In collaboration with Shine’s preferred product partner, Germaine De Capuccini, the spa offers five signature treatments — including a massage, facial, body treatment, manicure/pedicure and a treatment for two — to help guests find their glow.

Sheraton also utilized guest feedback when designing the spa concept.

Research reveals that the Sheraton guest values the quality of luxury, but not the pretense often accompanying it. Eight out of 10 Sheraton guests are likely to consider using spa services when traveling, including male guests — 54 percent only visit spas while traveling.

The brand’s signature new spa offering is currently available at select hotels in China, Vietnam, the Maldives and the Slovak Republic.

The global roll out of Shine for Sheraton will continue with l2 openings scheduled over the next 15 months including the Sheraton Shanghai Hong Kou, the Sheraton Beijing Dongcheng and the Sheraton Yantai Golden Beach Resort followed by further expansion in North and Latin America.