Jetsettersblog

The Pan Pacific Hotel Seattle has partnered with CondoInternet.net, the fastest Internet service provider in the country, to supplement the hotel’s other tech offerings, providing free access to guests.

The service runs at 100 megabits per second.

For meetings and events, Condointernet.net can, on short notice, provide competitively priced connectivity for up to one gigabit per second (1,000 megabits).

For more information, call 877-324-4856 or visit www.panpacifichotel.com/seattle. 

Read the Jetsetters Magazine feature about Pan Pacific Seattle.

The state of Chihuahua, in Mexico, is gearing up to inaugurate the world’s third-largest cable car in Copper Canyon, one of the largest canyon systems in the world.

Located in the canyon’s new Adventure Park, this unique mode of transportation is poised to dramatically change the face of Chihuahua’s tourism industry.

Opening in September 2010, Adventure Park will allow travelers to experience Copper Canyon in new and exciting ways.

One will soon be able to view the canyon from the comfort of their cable car seat, or at high velocity as they zip-line their way across. The multi-million dollar cable system consists of two cars running simultaneously, each moving in a different direction.

Each car has a maximum capacity of 60 passengers, allowing 510 passengers to be transported per hour.

The system also includes an intermediate station where passengers can board smaller cars that run in the same way as a carousel. Here, travelers can also visit a restaurant, offering one of the most beautiful views in the world.

Along with Copper Canyon, Chihuahua is also the home to many unique historical locations. From mansions standing during the time of the Mexican Revolution, to the Palacio Federal (now known as Casa Chihuahua) to Pancho Villa’s grave, Chihuahua tells Mexico’s story better than any history book.

The city is also one of the stops in The Millenary Tarahumaras route, one of Mexico’s 10 new Routes of Mexico, a tourism program created to show travelers all that Mexico has to offer.

For more information about Chihuahua or its new cable car system in Copper Canyon, visit www.ah-chihuahua.com

Visitors will start to notice substantial upgrades to the ferry terminals in several communities along Alaska’s Inside Passage.

One project will bring regular ferry service to Gustavus for the first time in years. Located 50 miles northwest of Juneau, Gustavus is know as the gateway to Glacier Bay National Park and Preserve, offering visitor services and accommodations to travelers wishing to explore the surrounding wilderness.

“The new dock will add Gustavus as a stop along the Alaska Marine Highway System and provide regular passenger and ferry service from Juneau beginning in late fall 2010.

The terminals in the villages of Hoonah and Angoon are also scheduled for improvements over the next two years.

The upgrades made in Angoon will allow for the introduction of fast ferries at this port.

For more information on the Alaska Marine Highway System, visit www.ferryalaska.com

Hyatt Hotels Corporation and Chase Card Services, a division of JPMorgan Chase & Co., announced the launch of the first Hyatt Card, a simple and rewarding Visa credit card.

The introduction of this co-branded credit card, through Hyatt subsidiary HyCard, Inc. and Chase Card Services, demonstrates the companies’ commitment to provide Hyatt guests with even more of the benefits and simple luxury they have come to expect.

After the first use of the credit card, members will receive, courtesy of Chase and Hyatt, two nights at any Hyatt anywhere in the world which are redeemable within one year.

This benefit makes the Hyatt Card unique among hotel reward cards, which typically require the translation of award points into stays and have limitations on the properties where the points can be redeemed.

A key feature of the Hyatt Card is no foreign transaction fees. Hyatt stays earn more — three Hyatt Gold Passport points for every $1 spent at any Hyatt property, one point for every $1 spent on purchases elsewhere and there are no limits to the points you can earn, with no black-out dates, no limit on available standard rooms and no resort fees.

Hyatt Gold Passport Platinum membership offers a 15 percent point bonus on each stay; the best room available within the category booked; complimentary Internet service; expedited check-in at a dedicated area for members; guaranteed 72-hour room availability; Visa concierge service and acceptance at millions of merchants in more than 200 countries; travel protection, including trip cancellation, lost luggage and trip delay; and an annual fee of $75.

For more information, visit www.hyattcard.com

The first of London’s low-cost Tune Hotels is located on Westminster Bridge Road, a stone’s throw from Waterloo station and a short walk from London’s culturally rich South Bank.

With room rates starting from £35 ($54), the Tune Hotels business model is based on the low-cost airline structure with low-cost rooms focused on offering high-quality basics — excellent beds, powerful showers, air-conditioned rooms, central locations, a clean environment, and 24-hour security with guests paying extra only for the facilities and services they use.

Like low-cost airlines, guests are encouraged to book early online to secure the regular lower promotional prices, which in London will start from £9 ($14) per night.

In addition to the five-star beds — the same used by many five-star hotels — and powerful “wake-up” showers, the hotel provides electronic keycard access to rooms, CCTV systems and no access to the main lobby without a keycard past midnight. Mark Lankester, group CEO of Tune Hotels, said, “Tune Hotels’ first hotel in London is the 10th in our network.

“We have indeed come a long way since first opening our doors in Kuala Lumpur three years ago. This is a very exciting development that goes to show that our limited service, pay-as-you-use concept is fast gaining worldwide acceptance.”

“For non essential items such as TV, Wi-Fi, tea and coffee and hairdryers, guests only pay if they need them.

“This means that unlike other hotels, guests not using the extra facilities won’t be charged for them as part and parcel of the room price. It’s about low prices, great central locations and our guests having more in their pocket to spend out and about in London,” Lankester said.

The Tune Hotel in Westminster is the first of 15 locations scheduled to open across the Greater London area by 2017, creating 1,500 rooms and representing a total investment of £150 million ($231 million) for the capital’s hospitality sector.

Already a success in Asia with nine hotels in destinations including Kuala Lumpur, Penang and Bali having already accommodated close to a million guests, Tune is aiming for 100 hotels in its global portfolio by 2015. Tune Hotels is part of the Tune Group, the private investment group of Tony Fernandes, founder and group CEO of low-cost airline AirAsia and team principal of the Lotus F1 Racing Team.

For more information, visit www.tunehotels.com

London’s Savoy, A Fairmont managed hotel, will reopen its doors on Oct. 10 after undergoing an ambitious restoration. The hotel closed in December 2007 for a restoration that encompasses the entire building. Designer Yves Rochon is leading the restoration’s project that will revitalize the hotel’s core Art Deco style while infusing a modern touch with the integration of modern facilities.

The famous Savoy Grill is due to be taken over by Gordon Ramsay Holdings. The lobby and public areas will retain their traditional Edwardian heritage.

Hilton Worldwide is now managing Jordan’s Dead Sea King Hussein Bin Talal Convention Centre, one of the largest convention centers in the Middle East region.

The reflagged convention center will now operate under the Hilton Hotels & Resorts brand.

With almost 5,000 square meters of meeting space and 23,000 square meters of build-up area spread over 25 conference and meeting rooms and three floors, King Hussein Bin Talal Convention Centre is one of the largest in the region.

It can accommodate approximately 5,000 guests. Hilton Worldwide manages the Convention Centre through an agreement with Dead Sea Resorts PSC Company.

The Convention Centre is adjacent to the 285-room Hilton Dead Sea Resort & Spa that is currently under development and is scheduled to open in the fourth quarter of 2014.

As part of Jordan’s strategy to capture MICE (meetings, incentives, conventions, exhibitions) business, the convention center has hosted and will host international conferences such as the World Economic Forum (WEF) in 2007, 2009 and May 2011; the International Monetary Fund; as well as local and regional conferences, workshops and exhibitions.

With fully-equipped conference and meeting halls that vary in size and capacity, the center is able to accommodate numerous events with different capacity requirements simultaneously. KHBTCC will further strengthen the Hilton portfolio in Jordan, becoming the first project managed by the Hilton brand in Jordan, as one of five other new developments for Hilton Worldwide in the country. KHBTCC will join three new Hilton brand hotels in Aqaba, Amman and Dead Sea areas as well as the first Doubletree by Hilton hotel in Aqaba.

Imagine a tasty rural escape this autumn, staying in a historic cottage in the romantic setting of an 875-year old country estate in Cheshire’s verdant farmlands?

Award-winning Combermere Abbey Cottages are the result of a conversion of the original stables.

Positioned around a cobblestone courtyard, each cottage accommodates up to 5 guests each (up to 27 guests collectively). Individually designed and decorated by owner Sarah Callander Beckett, they are popular with couples, groups of friends and families alike. Dogs are welcome.

Discerning food lovers will appreciate the vast array of food producers in the locality such as millers, bakers, brewers and cheese makers. This fertile county is famous for dairy farming, fruit, honey, meat and game. Cheshire cheese is of course world famous.

Foodie events are popular in the region, and include the ‘Nantwich Food & Drink Festival’ (September 24-26 ), held in the centre of this picturesque Roman market town; also the North West Food Lovers Festival at Tatton Park, near Knutsford (October 22 – 24).

Local retailer, Olio E Farina located in the city of Chester, are also staging a series of foodie events this autumn, including a Roman feast as well as a Wild Food Evening. (www.olioefarina.com)

Award-winning local farm foods shops abound, including Cheerbrook, near Nantwich, Hollies, near Tarporley, Maynard’s, The Granary at Weston Park and Battlefield 1403, all near Shrewsbury. Farmers markets nearby include Rode Hall (on the 1st Saturday each month) and Nantwich (on the last Saturday each month). Guests will receive a copy of the ‘Taste Cheshire Food Trail’ to help them pinpoint the best places to visit (www.tastecheshire.com)

Nearby country gastro pubs include the recently refurbished Egerton Arms (exclusive dining offers available for Combermere guests) and also The Combermere Arms, which is only a few yards away from the Abbey’s entrance, to enjoy quality local dishes in a traditional setting, without the washing up!

Four nights in September and October midweek from £399 or (or as little as £99.75 per person); Price includes complimentary bottle of wine and welcome tea tray. Optional extras include local foods breakfast hamper at £30 which includes preserves and juices from the Abbey’s unique fruit tree maze.

For bookings contact: Jean McIlroy

Website: www.combermereabbey.co.uk
Email: cottages@combermereabbey.co.uk
Phone: 01948 662876
Address: Combermere Abbey, Whitchurch, Shropshire SY13 4 AJ

Combermere Estate lies on the Cheshire/Shropshire border and features a 143 acre lake, the largest in private ownership in Cheshire, and a total of 1,000 rolling acres. The medieval Cistercian Combermere Abbey is set in the heart of the Estate and was founded in 1133 by Hugh de Malbanc, Lord of Nantwich.

It once had 22 monks in residence.

During the Dissolution of the Monasteries in 1536 by Henry VIII, most of the monastic buildings were destroyed leaving only the Abbot’s Hall and in 1820 it was re-designed as a gothic mansion.

Famous occupants of Combermere Abbey include Elizabeth, Empress of Austria; William of Orange, Dr. Johnson and Mrs Thrale and Sir Stapleton Cotton, a brilliant General, who fought under Wellington at the Battle of Salamanca.

The present occupants are Sarah Callander Beckett, who inherited the estate from her great grandfather, Sir Kenneth Crossley Bt, and her husband, Peter. In 1994, the restored 1837 Stables were opened as luxury holiday cottages and have since won awards and acclaim for their high standards.

Farmers’ Food Markets

Farmers’ or regional produce markets regularly take place across the county. These markets are the ideal way to discover the best quality food at the best prices.

Produce includes fruit and vegetables, meats and dairy produce to wine, jams, chutneys, pies, herbs and even speciality rare breed meats.

RODE HALL – first Saturday of every month, 9.30am – 1.30pm
Rode Hall, Scholar Green, Cheshire, ST7 3QP

CHESTER – the first Wednesday of every month, 9am – 4pm. Town Hall Square, Chester.

NANTWICH – last Saturday monthly (except December when it takes place on the Saturday before Christmas). 9am – 3pm. Nantwich Town Square

LOCAL FARM SHOPS

Nantwich – Cheerbrooks (www.cheerbrook.co.uk)
Tarporley – Hollies (www.theholliesfarmshop.co.uk) 
 
Shrewsbury region :-
Maynard’s (www.maynardsfarm.co.uk)
Battlefield 1403 (www.battlefield1403.com)

The Granary at Weston Park (www.weston-park.com)
THE NANTWICH FOOD FESTIVAL – an annual celebration of food excellence and offers a mouth watering selection of regionally produced food and drink. www.nantwichfoodfestival.co.uk

Festival Hotline – 01270 537359.

NW FOOD LOVERS FESTIVAL – 120 stands crammed with NW goodies and also celebrity chef guests Simon Rimmer and Andrew Nutter. www.nwfoodloversfestival.com

Tel 01244 355 474

TASTE CHESHIRE FOOD TRAIL

www.tastecheshire.com

- For visitors to Cheshire, this campaign created by Visit Chester and Cheshire, highlights various trails to visit some of our county’s many farm shops, markets and festivals, but not forgetting to take refreshment at one of our many country pubs, perhaps lunch in one of our historic stately homes or even a local brewery!

CHESHIRE CHEESE

Cheshire Cheese can be dated back to Roman Britain and is also mentioned in the Domesday Book of 1086.

In the 16th century it was reputed to be the best cheese of Europe and was a favourite at the Court of Elizabeth I. Originally, Cheshire Cheese was made near Chester; then a village, on the River Dee, but it soon spread to farms throughout the county of Cheshire, with its mild climate, vales and undulating hills.

Cheshire Cheese is usually white or red in colour but there is also a blue Cheshire.

The distinctive flavour of Cheshire Cheese is due to salt springs which run under much of the pasture land.

These give the milk, hence the cheese, a slightly salty tang, which is still a characteristic of Cheshire Cheese today.

For the real flavour of Cheshire Cheese, why not go to farmers’ markets, specialist cheese shops, or visit Cheshire’s cheese-making farms and buy direct.

The Bourne family of Malpas are among Cheshire’s best-known cheesemakers and have won countless awards for their own varieties of cheese.

Aircell said that it has installed Gogo Inflight Internet on its 1,000th aircraft. The Delta Air Lines DC-9 made its first connected flight from Detroit. Gogo will continue to roll out on additional aircraft and airline partners throughout 2010 and beyond to provide consumers with Internet access to their wireless devices whenever they are in the air.

Gogo, powered by Aircell, turns a commercial airplane into a Wi-Fi hotspot with true in-flight Internet access.

For more information, visit www.gogoinflight.com

NEWPORT, Wales, United Kingdom — The Celtic Manor Resort – host of golf’s 2010 Ryder Cup and premier luxury retreat less than two hours outside London – has acquired an historic country inn adding to its roster of award-winning accommodations and restaurants.

Newbridge on Usk is situated six miles upriver from Celtic Manor in an idyllic rural location in the hamlet of Tredunnock.

The restaurant and six-bedroom inn is the first acquisition made by the five-star resort outside its 1,400-acre estate near Newport, South Wales.

“Over the years the Newbridge on Usk has earned a deserved reputation for the quality of its food and drink and we look forward to building on that success,” says Dylan Matthews, Chief Executive of Celtic Manor.

“The restaurant has a very loyal following and we want to reassure regular customers that it is very much business as usual.”

Wholesome gastro-pub fare, made from locally sourced produce, will be served in an 80-seat restaurant which features rustic wooden floors, fireplaces, traditional bar, a spacious mezzanine and terraced gardens for al fresco dining alongside the river.

The property’s stylish bedrooms all boast oak and teak furniture, oak floors, digital TV and internet connection. Bathrooms feature marble and limestone tiles, storm showers and roll-top baths.

“The Newbridge is in a wonderful position right beside the river and I am sure it will prove very popular with guests staying at Celtic Manor,” adds Matthews.

“It also offers us a fantastic alternative venue to host corporate events and weddings.”

Anglers are also a prime guest target, as Celtic Manor and the local fishing club have made arrangements to permit river access at certain times of the year.

For more information, email Reservations at bookings@celtic-manor.com; call 866.789.5779 (U.S.) / 877.354.2003 (Canada); or visit www.celtic-manor.com/newbridge.

About Celtic Manor Resort

Located less than two hours outside London, Celtic Manor Resort will host golf’s 2010 Ryder Cup and is the UK’s foremost luxury retreat.

Featuring 1,400-plus acres of panoramic parkland and wooded hills, it is recognized as the “Gateway to Wales.”

A popular destination among business and leisure travelers, golf-tour operators and corporate incentive agents, five-star Celtic Manor offers myriad amenities.

These include three championship golf courses (the Twenty Ten, Roman Road and Montgomerie), two lavish hotels (the majestic, 330-room Resort Hotel and historic, 70-room Manor House), five savory restaurants, two tranquil spas and state-of-the-art health clubs, a golf academy and miles of hiking trails.

A convention center, exhibition hall, array of well-appointed suites, meeting rooms and large ballrooms are also available to host groups up to 1,500 for conferences, weddings and other special events.

Celtic Manor is privately owned by founder Sir Terry Matthews, the Ottawa, Canada-based telecommunications entrepreneur who was born on the Celtic Manor site when the original Manor House was a maternity hospital.

Getting There: Celtic Manor is 45 minutes from Bristol International Airport (BRS) and Cardiff International Airport (CWL). Daily, non-stop flights are available from Newark, New Jersey (EWR) to Bristol on Continental. Daily, one-stop flights are available from New York to Cardiff on KLM via Amsterdam; and from New York, Chicago, Boston and Orlando on Aer Lingus via Dublin. London Heathrow Airport (LHR) is a two-hour shuttle drive, with rail service from Paddington Station (London) to Newport, Wales also available.