Jetsettersblog

The Legendary Pacific Coast has released an iPhone App this summer to put travellers in touch with a host of activities in some of our top holiday spots along the pacific coast.

The clever App locates a traveller‟s location and displays their nearest tourist activities. So travellers can be located in the main street of Terrigal, Warners Bay, Coffs Harbour or Ballina etc and make direct contact or plan their holiday activities from their local holiday spot!

Downloaded from the App store or www.pacificcoast.com.au, travellers can check out the nearest holiday activities from tourist attractions, outdoor and water activities, sightseeing, National Parks and other categories or the closest 20 things to do.

The Legendary Pacific Coast iPhone App also displays a host of places to stay and lists travellers nearest Visitor Information Centres, to find out more the legendary coastal and hinterland towns this Summer, in each of four tourism regions from Sydney to Brisbane – Central Coast, Hunter, Mid North Coast and Northern Rivers.

Project Chair, Sheridan Ferrier said The Legendary Pacific Coast iPhone App had proved a popular choice, with 73% of downloaded and installed apps relating to maps and navigation*. This iPhone App provides these solutions with clear directions and location details, for the host of tourism products listed on the App”.

Sheridan commented “the iPhone App is ideal for the traveller market, with statistics highlighting a greater uptake by older generations with „one in five (22%) smartphone owners are over 50 and 41 per cent are over 40‟*. These statistics released from the Telstra Smartphone Index 2010 Fact Sheet support a growing trend for the tourism industry to meet the online and mobile needs of today‟s travellers”.

The Legendary Pacific Coast iPhone App was recently launched during a Road Trip with Triple MMM and is part of a touring campaign to encourage travellers to travel the pacific coast and plan their own road trip or holiday. Designed by Enigma, the App is a first for a touring drive that brings together over 210 tourism products including 38 National Parks.

Download the App today www.pacificcoast.com.au/iphone it‟s easy to use and what a fantastic way to discover The Legendary Pacific Coast. All content is linked to the website.

This campaign is a collaboration between the tourism industry and the four NSW North Coast Tourism Organisations. The Legendary Pacific Coast project is made possible and supported by funding of $500k from the Australian Government‟s TQUAL Grants program and $70K from the NSW Government Industry & Investment‟s Enterprising Regions Program (ERP).

For more information visit www.pacificcoast.com.au for great deals and exciting places to stay and see. See Where It Takes You – on The Legendary Pacific Coast.

*Source Australian Interactive Media Industry Association’s annual mobile lifestyle index study, October 2010 & Telstra Smartphone Index 2010 Fact Sheet

Chapter Hotels – local hotels at the heart of great British Towns and Cities.

Building on the successful launches of the “House” and “EAST” brands with the openings of The Opposite House in Beijing, The Upper House and EAST in Hong Kong, Swire Hotels announces the launch of “Chapter Hotels”, their new British hotel brand.

Chapter Hotels will operate superb quality, excellent value contemporary hotels, each drawing inspiration from their location in the heart of great British towns and cities, as well as the individual skills and passions of the architects, artists and artisans who have collaborated in their creation.

Managing Director Brian Williams says: “In creating Chapter Hotels, we have been fortunate to work with a truly great team who share our passion for Britain, the rich history and culture of its regions and our belief that quality and value are not mutually exclusive. It has been uplifting and at the same time humbling to see cutting-edge architects like Ken Shuttleworth and culinary geniuses like Chef Consultant Simon Hopkinson working alongside leading curators and local craftsmen towards a common goal. We truly hope that our guests feel the energy and genuine enthusiasm that has gone into the creation of what we believe to be unique Hotels.”

Guests at Chapter Hotels can expect historic buildings, beautifully restored and artfully extended by leading architects; subtle contemporary interiors using the finest materials; extraordinarily comfortable beds and superb linens; beautifully crafted spas; intimate bars and restaurants featuring daily menus, locally sourced produce and carefully chosen, good value wine lists.

Chapter Hotels are about simplicity, honesty and quality; about pride in local skills and crafts and respect for regional culture and traditions.
The first Chapter Hotel unveiled by Swire is The Montpellier Chapter, which opened in late November 2010 in Cheltenham. Room rates will start at $198 (AUD)

http://www.chapterhotels.com/

About Swire Hotels
Swire Hotels has been created to manage intriguing urban hotels in Hong Kong, Mainland China and the United Kingdom, providing a luxury experience for travellers who seek individuality, style and personalised service.

The award winning hotels, The Opposite House, Beijing, and The Upper House, Hong Kong, opened in 2008 and 2009 respectively. A 345-room lifestyle business hotel called EAST opened in Hong Kong’s Island East, on 25 January 2010.

In the UK, Swire Hotels has created a new brand: Chapter Hotels, locally inspired, stylish hotels in the heart of great British towns and cities. Chapter Hotels will open its first hotel, The Montpellier Chapter in Cheltenham at the end of November 2010.

Hong Kong – From January to March 2011, Plateau Residential Spa is introducing a luxurious spa holiday for a pleasant stay and spa relaxation.

Priced at HK$ 4,700 + 10% for two, Plateau’s luxurious spa holiday features:
- a one-night accommodation in a Plateau Room with complimentary upgrade to a Plateau Room with terrace
- breakfast
- Plateau spa meal
- 75-minute Plateau Facial for two
- 60-minute Plateau Massage for two
- access to the hotel’s 50-metre outdoor heated pool, fitness studios, sauna facilities and the 400-metre jogging track

About the treatments:
Plateau Facial – for skin types which desire revitalization, hydration and suppleness

Plateau Massage – using a combination of Shiatsu, Thai and Swedish massage techniques and essential oils, this massage will relieve tired muscles and soothe the mind.

About the room:
Plateau Room with terrace enjoys stunning views of Victoria Harbour and Central skyline. The room features custom-designed futon bed, oversized infinity bath with rain shower, LCD

For reservations, please call Plateau at +852 2584 7688 or email to plateau.hkggh@hyatt.com

Note: may not be enjoyed in conjunction with any other promotions
Plateau Residential Spa is located on the 11th floor at Grand Hyatt Hong Kong.

Cambodia’s newest hotel, the 201-room Sofitel Phnom Penh Phokeethra has launched unveiling eight restaurants and bars, expansive meetings facilities, a captivating new spa and fitness complex and a bold vision for Phnom Penh as the emergent hub in a country that has long lacked one.

The city’s first new five-star debut since the 1990s, the Sofitel Phnom Penh Phokeethra melds classic European design and contemporary Cambodia elegance. Wooden floors, high coffered ceilings and wooden lattice are tone setters in one of the region’s most eagerly awaited properties.

The USD 50 million hotel development claims a number of firsts in Phnom Penh and the region. Its 1,800-square-meter ballroom ranks as the largest in Cambodia. And its So Spa and the executive club, Club Millésime, are the first purpose-built facilities of their kind in Southeast Asia.

“This is a big step for Phnom Penh, and a big step for Cambodia,” said Didier Lamoot, the general manager of the hotel, who worked five years previously as general manager of a sister property, the Sofitel Angkor Phokeethra Golf and Spa Resort in Siem Reap. “This hotel should move Phnom Penh from maybe-visit to must-visit for upscale travellers who’ve wondered whether it’s possible to be catered to appropriately beyond Siem Reap.”

Eighty percent of the hotels’ rooms boast views of both the Bassac and the Mekong River. The hotel’s cityside front nestles against Phnom Penh’s charming old French quarter, itself in the midst of a district-wide residential makeover. Within walking distance is the Royal Palace, the National Museum and Sisowath Quay, one of Southeast Asia’s most accessible and attractive waterfront café scenes.

Accommodation ranges across seven classes, from 121 Superior rooms to 45 Luxury, 23 Junior Suites, 11 Prestige Suites and one Opera Suite. Wooden floors, glass-walled baths and classic appointments distinguish every option. More than 150 of the hotel’s rooms overlook the Mekong.

Diners at the hotel can choose from a plethora of possibilities, spanning a range of culinary traditions and styles. La Coupole features Indochinese and French cuisines. Do Forni is Italian. Fu Lu Zu is the Chinese restaurant. Hachi offers up Old World Japan. And Chocolat is a Belgian patisserie.

A team of five internationally schooled chefs constitute a ‘dream team’ of culinary expertise, according to the hotel’s food and beverage manager, Giuliano Callegaro. “To have eight new restaurants and bars open all at once in a city like this is something special,” said Callegaro.

Estimates suggest that as many as 10,000 expatriates live in Phnom Penh. As many as 3,000 of these ex-pats are French, roughly the same number of expats who were living in Phnom Penh 40 years ago. But expats are by no means the greatest potential pool in the local market. The hotel reckons the total local market at 50,000 to 60,000 Cambodian nationals and expats alike.

In addition to leisure travellers, the hotel is also firmly focussed on attracting the regional market for conferences. The hotel’s 1,800-square-meter ballroom anchors a facility that’s equipped to produce sit-down dinners for 1,100 at a time. A grassy lawn by the pool can accommodate 2,000 in an outdoor setting. The hotel invested nearly USD 2 million in audio-visual technology alone.

And when the meetings are over, recreational opportunities extend from utter relaxation to utter exhaustion.

The hotel is the first location in Southeast Asia to deliver Sofitel’s ‘So Spa,’ a new wellness concept that debuted in London last year. So Spa features French cosmetology, a menu that reads like a restaurant menu and a blending of private and public space. Five of the spa’s 10 private treatment rooms are designed for involved Khmer and Thai treatments; the other five rooms, each an ample 30-square meters, are to be used for various beauty treatments.

In addition to two squash courts, the grounds feature four, floodlit tennis courts and two locales for workouts — So Fit, a haven for fitness and well-being exclusively for in-house guests, and the Phokeethra Sports Club, a sophisticated gym for guests and local members alike. Likewise, the hotel’s two pools – one in the hotel building itself and the other in the adjacent sports complex — cater exclusively to guests and to both guests and members, respectively.

On the 12th floor, Club Millésime caters to the hotel’s executive guests in the first purpose-built facility of its kind in the region. The lounge’s stunning views of the city and the river, and a combination of outdoor space and sophisticated décor, elevate this meeting space to great new heights.

At present, Phnom Penh lacks a direct air connection to the major cities beyond Southeast Asia. In March, Air France will initiate Cambodia’s first direct air link to Europe since 1974. For the hotel’s general manager, this is but a beginning. He envisions a day in the next couple of years when all the charms of Cambodia will route through Phnom Penh.

“The city’s ready,” he said. “People are coming, for leisure and for meetings, and increasingly for a mixture of both. That’s one of the most exciting new segments of the market, a traveller with intertwined intentions. This hotel was designed with exactly that traveller in mind.”

Rates at the hotel start from AUD$162 per room per night. To book visit www.sofitel.com

Sofitel, World Class Hotels & French Elegance
Sofitel is the only French luxury hotel brand with a presence on five continents with 120 addresses, in almost 40 countries (more than 30 000 rooms). Sofitel offers contemporary hotels and resorts adapted to today’s more demanding and more versatile consumers who expect and appreciate beauty, quality and excellence. Whether situated in the heart of a major city like Paris, London, New York or Beijing, or nestled away in a country landscape in Morocco, Egypt, Fiji Islands or Thailand, each Sofitel property offers a genuine experience of the French ” art de vivre”.

Discover Sofitel on www.sofitel.com

Join Aurora Expeditions’ specialist photography expedition to Antarctica.

Aurora Expeditions has created a special photographic expedition for just 27 passengers. Accompanied by two professional photographers, David Burren and Martin Bailey from LuminOdyssey, this voyage is for all levels of photographers.

This 25-day trip begins in Ushuaia at the Southern tip of Argentina and cruises south over the Drake Passage to spend a week on the Antarctic Peninsula. Time will be spent exploring the historic and rich wildlife at Vernadsky Station, taking in the spectacular rugged coastline from Lemaire Channel to the Gerlache Strait as you head northwards to King George Island. You will be greeted by fur and elephant seals as well as adelie, gentoo and chinstrap penguins. As you continue north, you will witness the spectacular cliffs of the Falkland Islands, home to an abundance of breeding birds and the world’s largest black browed albatross colony at Steeple Jason Island as you steam towards Atlantic Patagonia. Following the steps of Darwin, you will explore the abundant wildlife, visiting Puerto Desaedo, Bahia Bustamante and the waters around Peninsula Valdes. Enjoy the spectacle of majestic orcas feeding on young sea lions at Punta Norte before you sail into the port of Mar del Plata.

Whether you’re using film or digital, a compact camera or an SLR, you will return with the essence of Antarctica captured by your lens. This may be an iceberg shining on a slate grey sea, minke whales spouting beside the ship, and clouds, pre-dawn pink, which morph into ice-draped mountains.

For digital camera photographers, resident experts, David and Martin will explain how to process and organise images with Adobe Photoshop Lightroom 3. Prior to the voyage David and Martin will be available to advise you regarding your photography equipment. During the passage to Antarctica they will present classes and seminars to help prepare you for the Peninsula & Falkland Islands, and these will continue throughout the voyage.

Background

David Burren: David is a renowned photographer and teacher. He teaches colour management and digital processing at Photography Studies College in Melbourne. David has photographed the natural world on all seven continents, from the deserts of outback Australia to the cold of the Antarctic summer and the Arctic winter. David’s personal site: www.davidburren.com

Martin Bailey: Martin is a British nature and wildlife photographer based in Japan, and is known to many photographers through his popular podcast, blog and workshops. Martin’s personal site: martinbaileyphotography.com

Aurora Expeditions pioneered ship-based adventures and remain committed to small, low-impact groups keen to experience Antarctica in many ways, whether it is climbing, scuba diving, sea kayaking, photography or sitting quietly and absorbing the surrounding magnificence.

Aurora Expeditions is proud to be the first Australian member of the International Association of Antarctic Tour Operators (IAATTO), dedicated to leading expeditions that respect the environmental guidelines and codes of conduct.

Prices start from US$9350 and include ship accommodation, all meals onboard, all shore excursions, lectures, medical services, port charges and taxes

For further information contact Aurora Expeditions or your local travel agent. www.auroraexpeditions.com.au  or 02 9252 1033 www.facebook/auroraexpeditions

Share your love with someone special this Valentine’s Day. Discover the Romance Journey Package at Anantara Seminyak Bali and lose yourselves together in elegant luxury, unrivalled hospitality and perfect serenity. This three night experience comes complete with range romantic additions you won’t want to leave.

Arrive at your suite to discover strewn rose petals and flowers adorning your bed and bathtub. Holding hands in an early-morning walk amidst landscaped gardens, surrounded by the natural beauty of Bali’s pristine Seminyak beach, your romantic journey continues with an intimate Jacuzzi experience for two overlooking the Indian Ocean. Indulge in an invigorating 90-minute spa treatment at Bali’s first Anantara Spa to rejuvenate your body and soul.

Celebrate the night by discovering our Dining by Design. The laid back spirit of Bali creates an idyllic setting for an unforgettable romantic dining experience, tailor made exclusively for you and your loved one.

Discover the Romance Journey Experience at Anantara Seminyak Bali with lots of romantic touches starts from USD528++/night for minimum of three consecutive nights over Valentine ‘s Day, which include daily breakfast and round trip airport transfer.

The most romantic stories have no script…

And some of your greatest love tales happen at Anantara…

Airport retailer Dubai Duty Free signed a management agreement with Jumeirah Group, the Dubai-based luxury hotel company and member of Dubai Holding, to operate a luxury hotel at The Aviation Club which is situated close to the Airport on the north side of Al Garhoud Bridge overlooking Dubai Creek Golf and Yacht Club.

The hotel will have 293 guestrooms, two restaurants, two bars and two lounges, as well as a spa and health club, and conference and banqueting facilities. The hotel sits within the grounds of The Aviation Club, the sports and leisure complex, home to the Dubai Tennis Championships and the award-winning Irish Village. The hotel is currently under development and is expected to open during 2011. Jumeirah Group expects to open at least six other hotels in 2011, including Jumeirah Zabeel Saray in Dubai, Jumeirah Etihad Towers in Abu Dhabi, Jumeirah Himalayas Hotel Shanghai, Jumeirah Dhevanafushi and Jumeirah Vitavelli in the Maldives, Jumeirah Frankfurt as well as potential openings in Azerbaijan and Kuwait. For more information, visit www.jumeirah.com.

The Safari Collection is now offering a nine-night circuit combining all the best that Kenya has to offer. This journey combines Nairobi’s colonial history, Samburu culture, safari game excursions and the beauty of Mount Kenya.

Nairobi’s Giraffe Manor is the starting point for an East African adventure. Reminiscent of the early days of European settlement in East Africa, the property is now an exclusive boutique hotel. A journey of 11 resident Rothschild giraffe give the manor its name and character, as they tend to visit in the mornings and evenings to greet guests and roam the manicured grounds. The new Solio Lodge is located in the valley of Mount Kenya. As one of the most successful rhinoceros breeding reserves, it is home to a huge population of both black and white rhino. At Sasaab, guests can view Grevy’s zebra, reticulated giraffe, Somali ostrich, gerenuk and Beisa oryx. Community involvement, environmental friendliness, and cultural interaction with the Samburu people are central to the lodge’s operation.

Sala’s Camp, located in the less known southern area of the Masai Mara and overlooking the Northern Corridor, is the perfect spot to watch the great wildebeest migration unfold. Following a long tradition of safari under canvas, the accommodation is stylish but unfettered, while just outside the reserve, the red-cloaked Masai people welcome Sala’s visitors into their manyattas or villages. The Safari Collection Circuit starts at $5,392 per person including all accommodation, food and beverage as well as flights within Kenya and is available between mid-June and mid-October and from the middle of December through the middle of March. The Safari Collection is also offering free seventh night for every six paid nights spent at any of these Kenya properties. For more information, visit www.thesafaricollection.com

Shangri-La’s Rasa Sentosa Resort, Singapore re-opened earlier this week after completing a 10-month, extensive refurbishment. The resort, which is the only beachfront hotel in Singapore, now offers additional room options designed specifically to suit the needs of different travelers. Rather than choosing from a traditional room category list, guests with children can choose to check into a larger Family Room instead of having two connecting rooms, and honeymooners can choose to stay in the Panorama Room, which offers is romantic views of the South China Sea. All rooms feature views of the hill, garden, pool or sea, with balconies for guests to enjoy the natural surroundings.

Shangri-La’s Rasa Sentosa Resort features seven dining options. Dine On 3 is a new destination-dining concept that includes the Bubble bar and three restaurants — Casserole, Silver Shell Café and 8 Noodles. Casserole offers group dining experiences with a selection of family style sharing portions of Western, Indian, Moroccan and South East Asian casserole dishes. Silver Shell Café features chefs in action at live cooking stations, as well as international à la carte menus and themed buffet dinners. For a more casual meal, 8 Noodles is a traditional Chinese noodle house that serves eight different value-for-money noodle selections. Other options include Barnacles Restaurant, which serves seafood and grill by the waterfront, and Trapizza, offering crispy, thin-crust pizza baked in a traditional wood-fired oven. Siloso Beach Bar offers the ideal place to relax at the end of day, located next to the swimming pool, serving exotic cocktails and featuring a soda fountain and ice cream bar.

Spanning 1,076 square feet over two stories, Cool Zone is the largest children’s club provided by a hotel in Singapore. Free for hotel guests ages 4 to 12, Cool Zone offers children’s meals and three activity centers — Toots Club, Craft Zone and Game Zone — that are fully supervised by an experienced recreational team. Activities include a slide that winds all the way from level three of the resort down into a pool of colorful balls on level one. There are also water slides and a splash pad play area at the children’s pool, along with a Flying Trapeze and water-based activities at the Sea Sports Centre.

Corporate guests can look forward to holding meetings in newly refurbished function rooms, each featuring soundproof double walls and the latest audio-visual equipment. The resort’s beachfront location offers guests the opportunity to host dinner events on the beach or outdoor team-building activities. Sentosa is located 15 minutes from the main shopping and business district of Orchard Road and 25 minutes from Changi International Airport. Attractions include a 1.24-mile-long sheltered beach, Fort Siloso, Universal Studios theme park, golf courses and spa retreats. For more information, visit www.shangri-la.com

Hyatt Regency Sanctuary Cove is delighted to announce they have just finished upgrading the beds in all of their Regency Club accommodation rooms to offer Regency guests even more comfort.

Brand new Sealy “Hyatt Grand” Pillow Top mattresses and bases have been installed in all Regency Club rooms.

General Manager Patrick Hardy is very pleased with this upgrade.

“The installation of the new pillow top mattresses is a huge boost for the hotel and our Regency Club offer.

“We can now offer our premium guests even more quality and comfort, making Hyatt Regency Sanctuary Cove even more attractive,” said Patrick.

Regency Club accommodation at Hyatt gives guests even more luxury including premium rooms, full buffet breakfast daily; all day access to the Regency Club lounge for refreshments; beverages and canapés in the evening.

For more information on Regency Club accommodation at Hyatt Regency Sanctuary Cove, visit www.sanctuarycove.regency.hyatt.com or call Reservations on 13 1234

About Hyatt Hotels Corporation
Hyatt Hotels Corporation, headquartered in Chicago, is a leading global hospitality company with a proud heritage of making guests feel more than welcome. Thousands of members of the Hyatt family in 45 countries strive to make a difference in the lives of the guests they encounter every day by providing authentic hospitality. The company’s subsidiaries manage, franchise, own and develop hotels and resorts under the Hyatt®, Park Hyatt®, Andaz™, Grand Hyatt®, Hyatt Regency®, Hyatt Place® and Hyatt Summerfield Suites™ brand names and have locations under development on five continents. Hyatt Vacation Ownership, Inc., a Hyatt Hotels Corporation subsidiary, develops and operates vacation ownership properties under the Hyatt Vacation Club® brand. As of September 30, 2009, the company’s worldwide portfolio consisted of 415 properties. For more information, please visit www.hyatt.com