Jetsettersblog

Beginning now through Feb. 19, 2011, value-seeking vacationers can receive a fourth night free when travel agents book clients on a three-night, four-day Disneyland Resort vacation package through the Walt Disney Travel Company, which includes theme park hopper tickets and hotel accommodations. Enhancing the value and fun of their vacation, clients receive an ESPN Zone Game Card (one per package) valued at $20 when they book the package. The special offer is available for arrivals from Jan. 4 to April 11, 2011.

For clients who already have their Disney theme park tickets and are simply seeking hotel savings, the Disneyland Resort features special offers at all three of its on-site deluxe hotels. When booked between now through Feb. 19, 2011, travel sellers can help clients take up to 35 percent off their room rate at Disney’s Grand Californian Hotel & Spa, 30 percent off at Disneyland Hotel, or 25 percent off at Disney’s Paradise Pier Hotel. Resort hotel room only offers require a two-night minimum stay and are not valid with previously booked rooms. The resort hotel room only offers are available for arrivals most nights, Jan. 2 to April 13, 2011.

Clients who have accommodations already secured can still relish in the Disney magic at a great price with the purchase of a 3-Day Park Hopper Ticket for $169.

That’s a savings of more than 15 percent off of box office prices.

A Disneyland Resort Park Hopper Ticket includes entrance into both Disneyland Park and Disney California Adventure Park on the same day with a valid hand stamp.

A Park Hopper Ticket is a client’s key to flexible fun to experience classic attractions including Space Mountain and Pirates of the Caribbean at Disneyland and immersive experiences such as Toy Story Mania! and Soarin’ Over California at Disney California Adventure.

The specially priced three-Day Park Hopper Tickets can be purchased now through April 14, 2011, and must be purchased before clients arrive to the theme parks.

First use must be between Jan. 4, 2011, and April 14, 2011.

For more information, call 800-854-3104 or visit

www.disneytravelagents.com

Wyndham Hotels and Resorts, LLC, a subsidiary of Wyndham Worldwide Corporation, announced the addition of Pittsburgh’s largest and most recognizable hotel to the brand’s Wyndham Grand Collection portfolio — the 712-room Wyndham Grand Pittsburgh Downtown.

Located on Commonwealth Place at the gateway to Pittsburgh’s Golden Triangle — the city’s downtown business and cultural hub — the Wyndham Grand Pittsburgh Downtown, previously the Hilton Pittsburgh, becomes the second Wyndham property in the Pittsburgh area, joining the Wyndham Pittsburgh-University Place on Forbes Avenue in the city’s Oakland academic and health-care district.

The 24-story luxury Wyndham Grand Pittsburgh Downtown, a prominent landmark since 1959, is owned by Florida-based cardiologist, entrepreneur and philanthropist Dr. Kiran Patel and managed by Dallas-based Prism Hotels and Resorts, which will oversee the hotel’s day-to-day operations.

The property recently completed a $30 million interior renovation which updated all guest rooms and bathrooms as well as the hotel’s heating, ventilating, air conditioning and plumbing systems.

A second phase of renovations, currently under way, includes a new full-service spa and indoor pool, updated conference space, expanded fitness center and redesigned building façade, which will feature a dramatic wave-like exterior that pays tribute to the city’s three rivers. Renovations are expected to be complete by fall 2011.

The hotel will introduce signature brand elements including the free-to-join Wyndham ByRequest guest recognition program, which offers perks including complimentary high-speed Internet access, welcome snack and beverage, as well as Wyndham’s Count On Me! service culture whereby all employees pledge to be responsive, respectful and deliver great customer experiences.

The hotel offers more than 40,000 square feet of flexible function space including a 17,000-square-foot grand ballroom, Pittsburgh’s largest hotel ballroom, and a conference center. Several full-size, elegant rooms are ideal for weddings or formal galas, while more than 20 additional break-out rooms of varying sizes provide additional meeting space options. The property’s newly renovated guest rooms provide greater comfort and conveniences for guests while offering breathtaking city or river views.

Each of the hotel’s 712 guest rooms — including 43 suites — features flat-screen televisions, work spaces, coffee makers, in-room dining and high-speed Internet access.

Three Rivers Restaurant serves three meals daily. Three Rivers Bar, the renovated cocktail lounge adjacent to the restaurant, serves a specially tailored food menu, a selection of wines by the glass and bottle, imported and domestic beers, martinis and signature cocktail creations. For more information, visit the banner below.

Chicago’s Hotel Blake, a landmark boutique hotel in the city’s South Loop, on Dec. 8 will become The Wyndham Blake Chicago as it joins Wyndham Hotel Group.

The hotel will then offer the Wyndham Rewards loyalty program and the Wyndham ByRequest guest recognition program offering complimentary benefits, including high-speed Internet access, welcome snack and beverage, Wolfgang Puck coffees, preferred pillow type, express check-in, guaranteed late check-out, local and long-distance calls within the 48 contiguous United States, best available room upon arrival, photocopies, faxes and online receipts. The rooms will be stocked with True Blue Spa Amenities created by Bath & Body Works for Wyndham.

For more information, call 312-986-1234 or visit www.hotelblake.com

The Aston Lakeland Village in South Lake Tahoe, Calif., is offering a Kids Ski Free package from $219 per night for a one-bedroom loft townhouse.

Included are Sierra-At-Tahoe lift tickets for two adults and two children (ages 5 to 12) per day and continental breakfast.

The rate is valid for travel Sunday to Friday nights.

For more information, call 866-774-2924 or visit www.astonhotels.com

Two hotels at CityCenter Las Vegas — Aria Resort & Casino and the Mandarin Oriental, Las Vegas — have received the AAA Five Diamond award within their first year of operation.

“It takes an incredibly special hotel or resort to earn the Five Diamond distinction after being open less than a year.

“We congratulate CityCenter for accomplishing this feat with not only one property, but two,” said Michael Geeser, AAA Nevada spokesperson.

“The AAA Five Diamond Award represents the upper echelon of hotels and resorts. Recipients account for just 0.27 percent of the rated venues throughout the United States, Canada, Mexico and the Caribbean.

For Aria, call 866-359-7111 or visit www.arialasvegas.com

For the Mandarin Oriental, call 888-881 9578 or visit www.mandarinoriental.com/lasvegas

The United States Tennis Association’s Hawaii-Pacific Section named the Royal Lahaina Tennis Ranch on Maui as the Facility of the Year for 2010.

The announcement was made at the USTA’s Annual Awards Banquet held in Honolulu. For nearly 50 years, the tennis center has been providing visitors and the local community with a variety of tennis programs and events. The Maui site has also played host to numerous junior and USTA Sectional League championships and tournaments.

The Royal Lahaina Tennis Ranch hosts two, large, USTA-sanctioned tournaments annually — the Royal Lahaina Spring Doubles in April and the Royal Lahaina Fall Classic in October. One of the most popular events of the year is the Christmas Day Round Robin and Lunch Buffet Tournament.

Located on Kaanapali Beach, the facility’s amenities include two oceanfront swimming pools, the Tennis Ranch, two restaurants, three bars, a nightly torch-lighting ceremony, and an oceanfront luau.

There are two adjacent golf courses, with snorkeling, shopping, and additional dining and entertainment nearby.

For more information, call 800-222-5642 or visit

www.royallahaina.com

The Garden Court Hotel in downtown Palo Alto, Calif., is offering a Holiday Shopping Getaway package. Included are two Sprinkles’ holiday cupcakes upon arrival, a $50 gift certificate for the Stanford Shopping Center, transportation to and from the shopping center, overnight gift wrap service provided at the hotel, two “Gardini” cocktails, 4 p.m. check-out (subject to availability and must be confirmed 48 hours prior to stay), and overnight parking.

Nightly room rates start at $399 through Dec. 24.

The package is available on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays only.

For more information, call 800-824-9028 or visit www.gardencourt.com

The American Club in Kohler, Wis., is promoting an “Americana Christmas at Kohler” package, Dec. 1 to 30.

The package is for one night Sunday through Thursday or two nights Friday and Saturday.

The package includes breakfast in The Wisconsin Room or, on Sunday, breakfast in The Horse & Plow or brunch in The Wisconsin Room. It also includes a family photograph, ornament decorating, a scavenger hunt, and a 20 percent discount on services at Kohler Waters Spa.

The one-night Sunday through Thursday package in a standard guest room starts at $142 per person.

The two-night weekend package in a standard guest room starts at $311 per person. Hotel packages cannot be reserved online.

Call 800-344-2838 or visit www.destinationkohler.com/packages/tac/kohler_holiday_packages

Hurtigruten has expanded its roster of theme cruises for 2011 with eight voyages focusing on classical opera, photography, astronomy, birding and polar explorers. Early-booking prices on reservations made by Dec. 31, available on most voyages, offer savings of up to 20 percent and range from $722 to $4,989 per person, double.

Voyages booked after Dec. 31 range from $722 to $5,252; suites are priced higher.

The “Astronomy Voyage” will focus on the Arctic night sky and the Aurora Borealis, with guest lecturers and a visit to the Northern Lights Planetarium in Tromso. High demand led to three departure dates: Jan. 29, Feb. 20 and March 25.

The “Winter Digital Photography Voyage” will include a seasoned photographer to offer advice. A beginner’s cruise will depart Jan. 11, while an intermediate level cruise departs March 8.

“Celebrations in the Arctic” will ring in the New Year on the North Cape, Europe’s most northern point. The cruise departs Dec. 26, 2011.

The “Opera Voyage,” which departs Jan. 6, will feature daily concerts onboard and a New Year’s Concert at Oslo’s Concert Hall with a tour of the Opera House.

“Birds of the Nordic Coast” takes place as millions of migrating birds return to the Arctic for nesting. Lectures and stellar bird-watching opportunities are included on the cruise, which departs May 20.

The “Norway’s Big Day Out” voyage celebrates Norway’s Constitution Day and gives guests a deeper understanding of the Norwegian culture that Hurtigruten has been a part of for more than 100 years. This theme cruise departs daily May 6 to 16.

The “Hall of the Mountain King” voyage immerses passengers in the music and background of Edvard Grieg, Norway’s best-known classical composer, and a program of onboard lectures and piano recitals.

The voyage departs Oct. 9 and Oct. 15.

“The Ice-Breakers” delves into the history of polar explorers, their voyages and the culture and inhabitants of the Polar Regions. Lectures and optional excursions range from a Viking feast to the Polaria Centre. Departure is Oct. 14.

For more information, call 800-323-7436 or visit

www.hurtigruten.us

Ireland’s Ashford Castle’s staff and management were awarded Ireland’s Excellence through People award, it was announced recently at the National Library in Dublin. Excellence through People is Ireland’s national standard for human resource management.

More than 700 organizations throughout Ireland currently participate in the program, and it is the country’s only organization dedicated to the role of people and their impact on business.

Ashford Castle, which dates back to 1228, is set on 350 acres of County Mayo, on the shores of Lough Corrib and the River Cong.

For more information, visit www.ashford.ie

For more information about Ireland visit http://www.discoverireland.com or for a free vacation planning kit call the NY office at 800/223-6470. Read Ireland feature stories from Jetsetters Magazine.