Jetsettersblog

Members of Best Western Rewards, the company’s global frequent-stay program, can now contribute Rewards points to earthquake and tsunami relief efforts underway in Japan. Best Western Rewards members can go to www.bestwestern.com/japanrelief to make a donation of 4,000 points, equal to $15, or more to World Vision, Best Western’s official charity partner. Best Western is the second-largest international hotel group in Japan. At this time, there have been no reports of guest or employee injuries or significant damage to any of the 13 Best Western hotels in the country. For more information or to make a reservation, visit www.bestwestern.com

The Hyatt Regency Waikiki Beach Resort and Spa has launched Lokahi Group Meetings. Inspired by the success of the Lokahi Package tailored to leisure travelers, the new package combines philanthropy with volunteering. (The leisure package raised nearly $30,000 for the Waikiki Community Center in 2009 and 2010.)

With the group package, the hotel donates 5 percent of the master bill to an Oahu non-profit organization or the non-profit organization of the group’s choice. There are also optional volunteering opportunities with local organizations, such as the Hawaii Nature Center, the Sierra Club, Reef Watch Waikiki and Waikiki Beach Cleanup. Attendees receive free wireless Internet access in guestrooms, 15 percent off treatments at Na Ho’ola Spa, a lei greeting, and the group’s nightly room rate available for five days prior to and after the meeting. The meeting planner receives double Hyatt Gold Passport bonus points (up to 100,000) and a Pohaku Lomi Massage (one per 50 rooms paid).

The offer is valid for new events held between Jan. 1, 2012, and Dec. 24, 2012. To book a group, call the sales department at 808-237-6200 or email saleshnlrw@hyatt.com and request offer code Lokahi. For more information on the package, visit www.waikiki.hyatt.com/hyatt/hotels/events/offers.jsp.  For general hotel information, call 800-323-7249 or visit www.waikiki.hyatt.com

The fourth annual Fresh Paint Festival will take place in the Reality Foundation’s Botanic Garden in Tel Aviv, April 5 to 9. More than 30 galleries as well as Tel Aviv’s Independent Artists’ Greenhouse will showcase the works of 60 up-and-coming Israeli artists, all of whom have been selected by a professional artist panel. The fair will also include a solo exhibition featuring the work of Bivi Alroy, winner of the Most Promising Artists award for 2010. For more information, visit www.freshpaint.co.il   For more information on travel to Israel, visit www.goisrael.com

The Cayman Islands’ Cotton Tree resort is offering travelers a new three-day wellness package featuring upscale accommodations in a Caymanian-inspired two-bedroom beach cottage featuring spa bathrooms with Jacuzzi, fully equipped kitchens, plasma TVs, and complimentary Wi-Fi, local calls and daily housekeeping services, plus media library of books, music and DVDs; fresh-cut fruit and herbal teas replenished daily and dinner prepared daily by a local chef; two one-hour spa massage treatments given in open-air pavilions surrounded by seagrape trees; a personal trainer for beach workout; and roundtrip airport transfers. Rates for the package are $3,025 for up to two persons (one bedroom) and $4,445.00 for three to four persons (two bedrooms). For more information, call 345-943-0700 or visit www.caymancottontree.com

This spring, members of the Ritz-Carlton Rewards program have an additional privilege, for a limited time. Members staying five nights at participating Ritz-Carlton hotels around the world will receive a $100 Ritz-Carlton Gift Card or if members stay 10 nights they will receive a Gift Card valued at $250. This promotion is valid through June 30, 2011, and Gift Cards can be redeemed for a wide range of options from dining in celebrity chef restaurants and playing on PGA golf courses to pampering spa services.

First introduced in fall 2010, The Ritz-Carlton Rewards offers members the benefits of program partners including Abercrombie and Kent, National Geographic Photo Expeditions and Neiman Marcus. The Ritz-Carlton Rewards is free to join and points can be earned and redeemed Ritz-Carlton hotels & resorts as well as at 3,300 partner hotels around the world. Members can also earn and redeem points with 33 international air carriers. For more information about the offer, or to become a member, visit www.ritzcarltonrewards.com

The Kids Stay, Play and Eat Free deal available at Barceló Hotels & Resorts’ Riviera Maya locations is now being extended to several additional resorts. When guests stay with Barceló Los Cabos Palace Deluxe, Barceló Karmina Palace Deluxe, Barceló Ixtapa Beach, Barceló Huatulco Beach or Barceló Puerto Vallarta, kids 12 and under stay, play and eat free. This limited-time offer is available for booking through April 30, 2011, and includes free nightly rates and daily meals for up to two children staying with two adults. The promotion is redeemable May 1 through Dec. 23, 2011. As previously released, the Riviera Maya locations that follow are also continuing the Kids Stay, Play and Eat Free deal which is available for booking now through April 30, 2011, and redeemable May 1 through Aug. 14, 2011, at Barceló Maya Palace Deluxe, Barceló Maya Tropical, Barceló Maya Colonial, Barceló Maya Beach and Barceló Maya Caribe. For more information, visit www.barcelo.com

Beaches Resorts is offering groups who book five or more rooms at any four Luxury Included Beaches resorts in the Caribbean exclusive added incentives including a private family picnic, a group dinner gathering, a family portrait session with a 5-by-7-inch family photograph, private check-in, a surprise family reunion gift, a farewell cake, a family reunion concierge and additional exclusive family reunion activities. The offer is valid for stays of three nights or more booked by Dec. 31, 2012.

Groups traveling in September and October of 2011 and 2012 will also receive one room category upgrade for a VIP or group leader, and a 20 percent discount for the entire group on an Island Routes Catamaran cruise. The Family Reunion Package is available at all Beaches Resorts in Jamaica and the Turks & Caicos. Families can also book the Unique Family Bonding Moments package at an additional cost. The packages include a family snorkel trip, a bonfire on the beach, a catamaran cruise, a beach BBQ, a party at Liquid nightclub at Beaches, a Sesame Street party and more. Family Reunion Package and Unique Family Bonding Moments Package are commissionable to travel agents and tour operators. For more information, call the Groups Department at 800-327-1991, ext. 4-6172, or visit www.beaches.com

Grammy-award winning multi-Platinum artist John Legend will headline this year’s Saint Lucia Jazz Festival from April 30 to May 8, 2011, and several St. Lucia resorts are offering special packages in conjunction with the event. The properties include the Bay Gardens Hotel, Bay Gardens Inn, C’est La Vie, Cotton Bay Village, Fond Doux Holiday Plantation, Habitat Terrace, Harmony Suites, Juliette’s Lodge Hotel, Mango Beach Inn, Marina Haven Villa, Stonefield Villa Estate Resort & Spa, The Downtown Hotel, Village Inn & Spa, Windjammer Landing Villa Beach Resort and Zamacà Saint Lucia Bed & Breakfast. For a full concert schedule, festival tickets and updates, visit the official Saint Lucia Jazz website at www.stluciajazz.org . For more on St. Lucia and the participating properties, visit www.saintlucianow.com

The Telluride Tourism Board has introduced Experiential Development Tracks for groups, designed to allow organizations to align their goals, objectives and participant interests with local offerings. The five tracks are Collaboration and Relationship Growth, with collaboration team-building challenges like Historical Telluride GPS Orienteering, Box Canyon Amazing Race, San Juan Off-Road Rally, Snowmobile Explorer and Slopeside Scramble; Once in a Lifetime Motivators, including Heli-Heaven, Artistic Expression, Fresh Tracks, Into the Wild and Above the Clouds; Engagement and Loyalty, with Snapshot of Nature, Arts and Literature, A Step Back in Time, Spiritual Wellness and Experiential Marketing; Leadership Development, including Leadership on the Fly (fishing), Five Ring Insight, Winter Rescue Challenge, Command Central GPS and Surviving as a Leader; and Social Responsibility, with outreach opportunities like Trees, Trails and Trash, Create for a Cause, Angel Baskets, Dream it. Make it. Do it., and Outreach in Action. For more information, call 888-355-8743, email groupsales@visittelluride.com  or visit www.visittelluride.com

Tourism Australia and Quiksilver launched a Facebook contest, “Surf, Sun and Social Networking in Australia,” that will send one winner to Australia to be the official blogger for the 2012 Quiksilver Pro Gold Coast. Beginning March 14 and ending April 8 contestants will have the opportunity to upload their best adventure photo to either www.Facebook.com/AustraliaWorkandPlay or www.Facebook.com/Quiksilver and describe in 100 words or less what they think is the best adventure Down Under. Whether it’s hiking in search of wildlife, on a quest for the perfect break, or discovering a new world underwater, Australia’s got it all. And for those who aren’t familiar with Aussie adventures, they can get inspired by visiting www.australia.com or www.quiksilver.com. The winner will be determined by who has the most “likes” at the end of the contest period.

The winner will receive a two-week trip to Australia including roundtrip international economy airfare from Los Angeles, Dallas, San Francisco or New York to Australia; one week in Queensland attending and blogging from the 2012 Quiksilver Pro; and vacation and blogging for one week in another Australian state of their choice.

Tourism Australia is the Australia government agency responsible for the international and domestic marketing of Australia as a destination for leisure and business travel. Quiksilver is committed to providing tools for uncovering, expressing and expanding your personal style. For more information, visit www.quiksilver.com or www.australia.com