Jetsettersblog

Hilton HHonors, the loyalty program for Hilton Worldwide’s 10 distinct hotel brands, announced its latest global promotion,

The Great Getaway. Guests can save up to 40 percent on stays between May 27 and Sept. 5, 2011, at any of the participating hotels within the Hilton Worldwide portfolio, which include Waldorf Astoria Hotels & Resorts, Conrad Hotels & Resorts, Hilton Hotels & Resorts, DoubleTree by Hilton, Embassy Suites Hotels, Hilton Garden Inn, Hampton Hotels, Homewood Suites by Hilton, Home2 Suites by Hilton and Hilton Grand Vacations.

For full terms and conditions, visit www.HHonors.com/TheGreatGetaway

Hyatt’s AAA/CAA Summer Promotion offers AAA/CAA members a 10 percent savings off the Hyatt Daily Rate and a complimentary full breakfast for two at participating Hyatt hotels and resorts in the U.S., Canada and the Caribbean for stays through Sept. 6, 2011.

For AAA/CAA members staying at participating Hyatt Place and Hyatt Summerfield Suites properties where breakfast is always complimentary, travelers can enjoy a 10 percent savings off the Hyatt Daily Rate for stays through Sept. 6, 2011.

To kick off the summer season, Hyatt Hotels & Resorts is offering AARP members 10 percent off the Hyatt Daily Rate plus a third night free for stays through Sept. 6, 2011, with offer code AARP at participating Hyatt Hotels & Resorts in the U.S., Canada and the Caribbean.

For AARP members who plan to stay at Hyatt Place and Hyatt Summerfield Suites hotels, they can enjoy a 10 percent savings off the Hyatt Daily Rate plus 50 percent off of the third night of their stay with offer code AARP for stays through Sept. 6, 2011.

Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc. launched a new digital extension to their Starwood Preferred Guest (SPG) loyalty program by tapping into location-based social networking. Guests can earn valuable Starpoints and Free Resort Night Awards for foursquare activity at Starwood hotels and resorts in nearly 100 countries.

This further allows for hotels to engage with guests and reward SPG members for their geo-social behavior, leveraging Starpoints as a form of “social currency.”

To get started, members can visit www.spg.com/socialcheckins to link their SPG and foursquare accounts.

SPG members can now earn bonus Starpoints by checking in via foursquare with a confirmed reservation at one of more than 1,000 Starwood hotels and resorts around the world. Plus, every day throughout the month of May, a Free Resort Night Award will be hidden across one of Starwood hotels and resorts, to be unlocked daily by one lucky check in.

Foursquare check-ins will also serve as an entry into SPG’s grand prize giveaway to win a five-night resort getaway plus airfare.

In August, new bonus opportunities will be introduced on an ongoing basis, allowing Starwood to optimize foursquare specials by brand or region of the world. Every month, the SPG member with the greatest number of foursquare check-ins across all Starwood hotels will be declared the SPG Mayor.

In addition to status and special SPG perks, the Mayor will be interviewed and featured within the specials landing page and will also be asked to contribute travel tips to the SPG foursquare tips page, www.foursquare.com/spginsider.

For more details on the program visit, www.spg.com/socialcheckins  To learn about the launch offer and new monthly SPG Mayor program, visit www.spg.com/foursquare

The Four Seasons Resort Hualalai at Historic Ka’upulehu has debuted the adults-only Palm Grove Pool.

The tension-edged, saline/chlorine pool measures approximately 40 feet from its steps to its ocean-facing edge, and 50 feet across.

The Jacuzzi measures 8 feet by 16 feet and is set against a 2,500-square-foot deck, made from Brazilian ipe hardwood and basalt planking. Seating areas are composed of 24 chaise lounges, seven day beds in semi-private areas off the deck, and two hammocks.

Miniature Zen gardens are set on all chaise lounge side tables, while gardenia and plumeria surround the pool. Hourly poolside pampering includes coconut water and aloe refresher shots; warm lava stone pressure point placement; thermal mud hand and body lotion; and organic, aromatherapy-infused oshiburi towels.

Additionally, organic eye pillows with essential oils are offered, along with a rotating selection of infused waters, sunscreen, reading materials and wooden board games.

The pool also features a swim-up bar and bench seating in the pool for sampling the resort’s “adult shave ice” cocktails. A locally sourced menu features sushi, salads, wraps and sandwiches.

The resort is offering its Sixth Night Free package and its Bring a Friend package (50 percent off of a second room for friends or family) through July 21.

For more information, call 888-340-5662 or visit www.fourseasons.com/hualalai

The Spa at Four Seasons Resort Provence is continuing to reinvent its wellness initiatives with the addition of a Personalized Well-Being Program.

This recently launched, six-day package experience focuses on a combination of daily fitness regimes, spa treatments that help slim down the body and healthy cuisine created for individual diets. The package also enlists the expertise of a nutritionist who offers guidance to guests in creating a balanced and complete approach to a renewed healthy lifestyle.

The Personalized Well-Being Program includes a six-day resort stay in an Executive Suite or One Bedroom Villa; three hours of fitness instruction and one hour of guided meditation per day; fitness programs include Body Sculpt, Aquafitness, Stretching, Fitball and Posture, Aquagym, and Pilates; healthy Mediterranean controlled diet, personalized to meet guests’ needs, for breakfast, lunch, and dinner; three spa treatments per day including therapies designed to slim and refirm the body such as Sodashi’s Contouring Body Wrap or L. Raphael’s Oxy Slim; and three specialized medical consultations per stay with an on-staff doctor.

Upon departure guests can stay in contact with the doctor for three months after their trip is complete to ensure healthy habits continue at home.

Rates for the package begin at 1,492 euros ($2,122) per night and include room and all well-being program activities. The program is offered through Dec. 31.

Package rates and inclusions are for one person. A minimum stay of six nights is required. The package is only available to guests arriving on a Sunday.

For more information, call 011 33 (0) 4 94 39 36 00 or visit www.fourseasons.com/provence

The Sheraton Nassau Beach Resort is offering a “Family Time in Paradise” Memorial Day package featuring rates staring at $249 per night, plus guaranteed connecting rooms or a suite when available, and a $50 daily resort credit. Also included are complimentary “Love Your Family” activities including “dive-in” movies by the pool; a fair featuring snow cones, cotton candy, pie-eating contests and a petting zoo; and a beach Olympics with a balloon toss, volleyball games and jump rope competitions.

A Bahamian Barefoot Beach Party will be held on May 29; the event is priced at $28 per adult, $14 per child ages 4 to 12 and is free for children under 4. When booking the package, mention rate code FAM50.

For more information call 866-716-8106 or visit www.sheratonnassau.com/memorial-day-activities

Grenada’s Blue Horizons Garden Resort is offering a seven-night adventure package featuring one rainforest hike; one waterfall hike; one river tubing excursion down the Balthazar, Grenada’s largest river; a complimentary in-pool scuba lesson; complimentary greens fees at the nine-hole Grenada Golf Club; and unlimited use of water sports equipment. Guests also have the option to substitute both hikes with a full-day Adventure Jeep Tour, which includes lunch.

All tours and hikes are guided.

The package also includes deluxe air-conditioned one-bedroom suite for two people with kitchenette, a welcome cocktail and an aromatherapy gift kit upon arrival. The lush tropical gardens at Blue Horizons have created an aviary for Grenada’s more than 21 species of tropical birds.

For more information, visit www.GrenadaBlueHorizons.com

Bermuda’s Elbow Beach resort is offering the “Gentlemen’s Journey,” the quintessential men’s getaway featuring sport, adventure and pampering.

The package includes one round of golf at the picturesque Port Royal Golf Course, home of the 2011/2012 PGA Grand Slam. Gentlemen will also enjoy a day on the water with a six-hour luxury fishing excursion aboard Mako Charters’ 56-foot luxury fishing charter boat.

After returning to Elbow Beach with one’s fresh catch, the chefs at Mickey’s Beach Bistro will specially prepare the fish for a delicious dinner at Bermuda’s only restaurant located directly on the beach.

A half-day Gentlemen’s Spa Journey at The Spa at Elbow Beach completes the experience.

The package also includes three nights’ accommodations in a premier ocean view room, a welcome amenity of cognac and cigars, plus daily breakfast for two.

The package is valid from June 1 to Aug. 15, 2011, and priced at $5,335 including taxes and gratuities.

For gentlemen travelling together, such as father and son, who would prefer two rooms, the package is priced at $7,648 based on double occupancy.

For more information, call 441-236-3535 or visit www.mandarinoriental.com/bermuda

More than 300 million people participate in faith travel annually, making it one of the fastest-growing travel segments in the United States. Church leadership, staff, volunteers, and travel agents are the primary planners of faith-based group trips, ranging from dozens to hundreds and even thousands of participants who travel nationally and internationally with a purpose.

Tapping into this emerging market, Unicomm, the leading travel industry show producer, has announced the inaugural Faith Travel Conference and Exposition (FTCE) will be co-located with the Atlanta Travel & Adventure Show on Oct. 22 and 23 at Atlanta’s Cobb Galleria.

Georgia is home to 80 mega-churches representing more than 350,000 church members, making Atlanta an ideal location for the FTCE.

The event is expected to draw hundreds of church group travel planners, faith travelers and an estimated 100 destinations and suppliers. Early FTCE sponsors include Tourism Ireland, Israel Ministry of Tourism and American Airlines.

“We are excited to bring this event to the Southeast region, and specifically open it up to the faith traveler,” said John Golicz, CEO of Unicomm.

“While the conference will be geared towards the church leaders in the region who plan mission, fellowship, youth and other church travel, the Expo will allow faith travelers a chance to find vacations that will offer unique spiritual and emotional experiences.”

Cindi Brodhecker, president of Faith Travel Development & Consulting and Priscilla Woman’s Tours, will join the event team as conference chair. Additionally, Infinity Concepts, a leading Brand Communications agency with considerable success in the Christian market, has been retained to provide strategic direction, marketing support and outreach. “Infinity Concepts’ knowledge of the Christian market will be vital to reaching and communicating our value proposition to church leaders in the Southeast region,” said Mike Boyce, director of new business development for Unicomm.

“Faith-based travel has been a solid part of the travel industry for many years with impressive statistics to prove the value in today’s market place,” said Brodhecker. “The Faith Travel Conference and Expo is a unique event because it will bring together the industry suppliers and agents with the church travel planner and consumer. As an industry it will allow us to sell group packages, custom programs and individual products.”

The FTCE will include a blend of informative sessions offering tools and best practices to develop effective mission, outreach and retreat group travel programs, with topics ranging from negotiation strategies to fundraising development. Participants will also hear from influential Christian pastors and leaders who have embraced the positive effect of travel on church ministries.

For more information, visit www.faithtravelexpo.com

The Alaska Railroad’s new, 10-day Rails and Trails package will take visitors to Anchorage, Seward, Girdwood and Talkeetna with a focus on backcountry adventure while relieving travelers of the logistical hassles of planning it themselves.

The itinerary includes hiking, kayaking and rafting in addition to rail travel from point to point throughout the trip.

The package includes hiking on a glacier and a ramble through Chugach State Park, the third-largest state park in America; a stay at a backcountry lodge in Denali, complete with mountain biking, photography and gold panning in the shadow of Mt. McKinley; a jetboat ride out of Talkeetna to navigate the waters of Devil’s Canyon and the Susitna River; a float trip down the Placer River; and a small boat cruise through Kenai Fjords National Park and Resurrection Bay, complete with a visit to Fox Island.

The new 10-day offering is one of many adventure packages available through the Alaska Railroad.

Alaska Railroad features modern rail cars with on-board dining and reserved seating while offering panoramic views from the railroad’s signature glass-domed cars. Travelers on any of the Alaska Railroad’s trains have the option to upgrade their trip by choosing the Alaska Railroad’s GoldStar Service, where riders can sit in bi-level dome cars with reserved seating, dining service, a full-time bar attendant and a private outdoor viewing platform exclusive to GoldStar coaches.

For more information, call 800-544-0552 or visit www.alaskarailroad.com