Jetsettersblog

Orleans Arena will host Superior Cage Combat 2 — a mixed martial arts (MMA) event with a fight card stacked with top pro MMA fighters, and headlined by the welterweight clash between Josh Neer (30-10) and Blas Avena (7-4). This fight will be preceded by a co-main event featuring John Alessio (31-14) and Waachiim Spiritwolf (9-8). The card, with a total of 11 bouts, features UFC, WEC, Strikeforce and M1 vets.

Complete fight card:
Josh Neer vs. Blas Avena
John Alessio vs. Waachiim Spiritwolf
Justin Buchholz vs. Thiago Meller
James Birdsley vs. John Gunderson
Victor Moreno vs. Bristol Marunde
Elvis Mutapcic vs. Cezar Ferreira
Kyle Griffin vs. Zach Bunnell
Brice Ritani vs. Beau Tribolet
David Bollea vs. Jimmy Jones
Ian Omalza vs. Nate Williams
Dustin Chevalier vs. Matt Conte

WHEN:
Saturday, August 20 at 7 p.m.

WHERE:
Orleans Arena at The Orleans Hotel and Casino
4500 West Tropicana Avenue
Las Vegas, NV 89103

TICKETS:
Tickets are $35, $50, $75 and $125 and can be purchased at all Coast Casino Box Offices, by visiting www.orleansarena.com or by calling 702.284.7777.

Avalon Waterways will use Victoria Cruises’ Executive Suites on the Victoria Anna and Victoria Jenna for its 2012 Yangtze River programs, exclusively. Avalon offers three China journeys starting at $3,079 per person and ranging from 11 to 16 days.

Victoria’s Executive Deck program includes concierge service, enhanced accommodations and ship placement, access to VIP areas, à la carte meal services, private cultural lessons and reserved seating for evening entertainment.

Avalon’s China programs include excursions to the Ghost City of Fengdu and passage through the Three Gorges with a visit to the massive Three Gorges Damn. The program also includes a sailing through the Small Gorges of the Daning River with a sampan journey through the Mini Gorges of the Ma Du River, itself a tributary of the Daning.

Each program also includes Beijing, Xian, Chongqing and Shanghai, allowing guests to see The Great Wall, Forbidden City and Tiananmen Square in Beijing, Terra Cotta Warriors of Xian, pandas at the Chongqing Zoo and Shanghai’s waterfront promenade, The Bund.

Avalon Waterways’ 11-day “Magical China & Yangtze River” program is priced from $3,079 per person, based on double occupancy. The package includes hotel accommodations at Westin properties in Beijing and Shanghai as well as the Shangri-La Golden Flower Hotel in Xian, daily American breakfast, eight lunches and dinners, and intra-China air transportation and transfers. International airfare is not included, but can be purchased from Avalon.

Avalon’s 15-day “Cultural China & Tibet with Yangtze River Cruise” incorporates Lhasa, while the 16-day “Heart of China & The Yangtze River” program includes visits to Guilin and Hong Kong in addition to the areas covered on the “Magical China” itinerary. Avalon has space remaining on several of its late summer and fall departures. For more information, call 877-797-8791 or visit www.avalonwaterways.com

Historic Hotels of America has unveiled enhancements to its new interactive website featuring more than 100 Civil War hotel packages and Hot Deals plus 500 experiences. Whether clients are taking a journey to a Civil War event in South Carolina or experiencing a Civil War getaway to Pennsylvania, Historic Hotels of America’s Civil War Hot Deals section features packages closely linked to this important period in history.

When searching through the Experiences section on www.historichotels.org, visitors will find Civil War packages at hotels near more than 100 Civil War Battlefields, including Antietam, Maryland, and Gettysburg, Pennsylvania; 180 Civil War Programs with topics such as art and music; 150 Civil War Tours through Manassas in Virginia or Fort Sumter in South Carolina; 140 Civil War Re-Enactments from battles to living history demonstrations; and 60 Civil War Lectures ranging from clothing to weapons.

“These website enhancements allow travelers to have fun navigating and exploring Civil War packages while learning more about battlefields, historic homes, the Underground Railroad, and more,” said Thierry Roch, executive director of Historic Hotels of America.

Guests who book on historichotels.org through Sept. 30, 2011, will receive a one-year family membership to the National Trust for Historic Preservation. Benefits include: 10 percent discount at participating Historic Hotels of America, discounted admission to over 600 historic places worldwide, subscription to Preservation magazine, and advance notice of special offers and historic experiences. For more information, visit www.historichotels.org

Virgin America said that it has filed to fly from San Francisco International Airport (SFO) to Puerto Vallarta International Airport (PVR) in Mexico. This will be the airline’s third U.S.-Mexico route. In the past eight months, it has added Dallas-Fort Worth, Los Cabos, Cancun and Chicago to its route system. For more information, visit www.virginamerica.com

AMResorts, which offers sales, marketing and brand management services for Zoëtry Wellness & Spa Resorts, and Secrets, Dreams, Now and Sunscape Resorts & Spas, is celebrating its 10th anniversary of Endless Privileges, Unlimited-Luxury and Unlimited-Fun getaway concepts by offering guests a series of special promotions. Earlier this month, the company launched 10 weeks of special promotions for guests and travel agents to join in the excitement of the milestone celebration, and have a chance to experience presidential treatment.

All guests who book a minimum of three nights and register them at www.amresortsanniversary.com will be entered to win a Presidential Suite upgrade applicable to their stay. The contest winners will enjoy the resort’s best ocean views, most spacious accommodations, upgraded amenities and room features, as many celebrity guests have in the past. The weekly drawing will run through Sept. 12, 2011, with a total of 10 winners.

In addition, anyone can enter the 10 Year Anniversary sweepstakes at www.amresortsanniversary.com and have the chance to win a seven-night Presidential Suite vacation for two including air. The grand prize winner will be selected on Sept. 19, 2011. Also starting this month, AMResorts will reward the travel agent community with a dedicated sweepstakes promotion featuring weekly drawings for cash bonuses or free stays. Every agent who registers their bookings (three-night minimum) at any of AMResorts’ five brands on www.AMRAgents.com will be entered to win one of five, three-night stays. Agents also will be entered to win a $500 bonus commission every other week between July 11 and Sept. 12, 2011. A grand prize winner selected on Sept. 19, 2011, will receive one seven-night, presidential suite vacation for two including air.

Since its 2001 start, AMResorts has expanded into a company offering five brands and 24 properties throughout Mexico and the Caribbean. During its first year, the company introduced Sunscape Resorts & Spas. AMResorts’ expansion continued in 2002 with the introduction of its adults-only brand, Secrets Resorts & Spas. An affiliation with Preferred Hotels & Resorts, which brought the respected brand’s stamp of approval, further validated AMResorts’ standards of excellence and foray into the luxury travel space. In 2004, the family friendly Dreams Resorts & Spas made its debut.

The company launched its Unlimited-Luxury model in 2006 featuring limitless a la carte dining and unlimited premium beverage program (no reservations required), 24-hour room and concierge services, comprehensive day and nighttime activities, and more, all without wristbands. Also, in 2006, the Sunscape Resorts & Spas Unlimited-Fun concept was born.

By 2008, the company had established a solid footprint in the resort arena with 14 resorts in eight destinations throughout Mexico and the Caribbean. That same year, AMResorts launched its fourth brand Zoëtry Wellness & Spa Resorts and the Endless Privileges program. The resort concept offered an AAA Five Diamond experience in a boutique setting with the carefree convenience of the all-inclusive model. Standout program features include 24-hour concierge, room and laundry services, no check-in or check-out time, unlimited international calls and more.

In 2010, AMResorts announced the development of its largest project to-date, Gems of Cap Cana. The $400 million resort complex will bring four newly built properties to the Cap Cana destination in the Dominican Republic in 2013. Also in 2010, the company entered the Jamaica market with two new Secrets Resorts & Spas. The same year, it introduced its fifth brand, Now Resorts & Spas, to cater to guests looking for a more active experience.

AMResorts has already opened two new resorts in 2011, and will see the opening of two additional properties by the end of the year — the Secrets Huatulco Resort & Spa and Sunscape Dorado Pacifico Ixtapa, bringing the company’s resort count to 26. The opening of Sunscape Dorado Pacifico also marks the entry of AMResorts into Ixtapa, a new Mexico destination for the company, as well as its reintroduction of the Sunscape Resorts & Spas brand. By 2013, AMResorts is anticipating a portfolio of 34 resorts, more than 12,550 rooms and entry into new destinations including Costa Rica. For more information, visit www.amresorts.com

The Best of Fall in New England Under a Single, Easy Rate

Two of New England’s iconic, independently owned hotels have partnered to offer guests a luxurious new way to experience the best in urban sophistication and coastal charm. Offered under a single rate, and starting at $1919 for a total of four nights, the City and Sea Package includes two nights each at Boston’s historic Fifteen Beacon and Inn by the Sea in Maine.

Perfectly timed to launch for Fall Foliage season, the new City and Sea Package offers guests a quintessential New England holiday with streamlined one-stop booking, exclusive rates and a range of bespoke luxury services at two leading Preferred Boutique properties.

City and Sea Package guests will discover the best of both worlds: Fifteen Beacon is Boston’s top urban oasis, located in an historic 1903 Beaux Arts landmark building just steps from the gold-domed Statehouse, legendary Boston Common, Public Garden and elegant shopping boutiques of legendary Newbury Street and nearby Faneuil Hall. Inn by the Sea, as its name rightfully implies, is the scenic, coastal counterpoint to the city experience. The Inn provides an unparalleled seaside New England setting on the scenic coast of southern Maine with stunning oceanfront views, fine cuisine and an abundance of local activities, yet within easy reach of downtown Portland.

City and Sea Package

Features luxurious accommodations for two nights at each property, plus a number of inclusions, under a one inclusive rate, based on double-occupancy.

$1919.00 September 5 – October 30, 2011
$1665.00 October 31 – December 23, 2011
Fifteen BEACON, Boston, Massachusetts

Two night accommodations in a Deluxe Classic Room.
Upgrade to next available room type at time of check-in, based on availability.
Daily Continental Breakfast for two in Mooo…. Restaurant or room service.
Two Museum of Fine Arts Tickets, with complimentary Lexus car service transfer.
INN BY THE SEA, Cape Elizabeth, Maine

Two night accommodations in a Traditional guestroom with a gas burning fireplace.
Upgrade to next available room type at time of check-in, based on availability.
Daily Breakfast for two overlooking the Atlantic Ocean in Sea Glass Restaurant .
Signature fresh Maine Blueberry Martinis for two in the Fireside Lounge.
$50 Spa Credit toward a signature Sea Waves Massage or any treatment.
*Package prices are inclusive of tax, service fees and gratuities. Based upon availability, blackout dates may apply.

How To Book: Consumers may book the full package in one easy phone call to either hotel- at the numbers listed below. Package information is available on the hotel websites, however reservations must be placed by telephone.

Inn by the Sea, Reservations 207-799-3134, www.innbythesea.com

XV Beacon, Reservations 617-670-1500,www.xvbeacon.com

Some of you knew, some of you didn’t – so here is a little bio about him…
Thanks!

Matt Nathanson is one of the most dynamic performers and premier songwriters on the music scene today. In 2007, his release Some Mad Hope produced the smash hit single ‘Come On Get Higher’ which has sold over 2 million copies to date and subsequent hit singles ‘Car Crash,’ ‘Falling Apart,’ and ‘All We Are.’ The success of Some Mad Hope earned Nathanson the coveted spot as a VH1 ‘You Oughta Know’ artist and he has graced the stages of such national television shows as David Letterman, Ellen, Conan O’Brien, Jimmy Kimmel and Craig Ferguson. His songs have been featured in numerous film and television programs including Good Morning America, NCIS, Private Practice, American Idol, Vampire Diaries, American Pie and 90210. His legendary live shows have resulted in sold out tours across the U.S., Canada and Australia. Nathanson’s eighth studio recording, Modern Love, was released on June 21st.

The Spa Great Room

WOODSTOCK, VT (July 18, 2011) – For couples looking for a romantic weekend escape or friends who want to leave behind the stresses of everyday life, The Woodstock Inn & Resort is offering two new packages that promise pampering and relaxation along with culinary indulgences. The S.O.S. Spoil Our Selves and Girlfriend Getaway packages include $50 or $100 spa credits per person to use at the new 10,000 square-foot LEED-designed spa. In addition, each package includes complimentary food and beverage to enjoy Woodstock’s delectable signature Vermont cuisine.
Available through 2011, Woodstock’s indulgent packages include:

S.O.S. – Spoil Our Selves
One night luxury accommodations (or add additional nights)
$100 spa credit per person
Wine amenity in room upon arrival
Dinner for two in the Red Rooster or Richardson’s Tavern restaurants
Prices start at $549 per night based on double occupancy*

Girlfriend Getaway
One night luxury accommodations (or add additional nights)
$50 spa credit per person
Welcome martini (or drink of choice)
Prices start at $354 per night based on double occupancy*

* Rate does not include tax and gratuities. Other restrictions may apply.

The Spa, offering a nature-inspired ambiance featuring nourishing treatments and organic products, is set against the resort’s private green and is comprised of 10 treatment rooms, tranquil men’s and women’s lounges, a light-filled Great Room, luxurious Woodstock Suite, spacious lockers and shower areas, and a salon. The expansive Great Room provides guests entrance to a four-season, secluded outdoor courtyard featuring a Scandinavian-style sauna, a fire pit, hot soaking pool, and meditation tree. Each season, a different signature treatment takes center stage among the sizeable array of year-round spa offerings. Mirroring the four seasons of Vermont, each 100-minute treatment (pumpkin spice, deep forest, vanilla maple and berry bliss) draws upon natural outdoor elements to apply restorative ingredients to sooth, rejuvenate, and heal the body.
The Inn provides guests with a number of recreational and dining options to enhance their stay. The Red Rooster, the resort’s award-winning fine dining restaurant emphasizes a menu using fresh, local ingredients sourced from the best purveyors in New England. Richardson’s Tavern offers a cozy old-world atmosphere with a full bar and live music. Resort activities include an 18-hole Robert Trent Jones designed golf course, a 41,000 square foot Racquet & Fitness Club, which includes indoor and outdoor tennis courts, indoor racquetball courts, a 30-by-60 foot indoor lap pool, a whirlpool, workout equipment and a steam room and sauna. Guests can also enjoy downtown Woodstock filled with antique shops, art galleries, boutiques, restaurants, specialty food markets and more.
For more information, visit www.woodstockinn.com  or call (888) 481-8802.

About The Woodstock Inn & Resort
Located in idyllic Woodstock, Vermont, The Woodstock Inn & Resort defines country sophistication in one of New England’s most charming and popular year-round vacation destinations. The 142-room, AAA Four Diamond Resort and member of Preferred Hotels & Resorts, offers award-winning dining in three restaurants, ranked among the finest in New England. The Woodstock Inn & Resort is owned and operated by The Woodstock Foundation, Inc. Proceeds from Resort operations support The Woodstock Foundation and Billings Farm & Museum education and conservation programs.

The Transportation Security Administration announced that it will launch a “trusted traveler” pilot program generally aligned with the U.S. Travel Association’s March 2011 recommendations. TSA’s program is expected to test enhancements to TSA’s pre-flight, identity-based screening capabilities through a partnership with U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) and U.S. air carriers.

“We applaud Administrator Pistole’s courage to find a better way to conduct air travel security screening,” said Roger Dow, president and CEO of the U.S. Travel Association. “While this program will be limited at the outset, it is a strong start. We look forward to working with TSA to move our nation’s air travel security away from today’s one-size-fits-all approach.”

According to the TSA, certain frequent travelers of American Airlines and Delta Air Lines and certain members of CBP’s existing trusted traveler programs traveling through Atlanta, Dallas-Fort Worth, Detroit and Miami will be eligible to participate in the pilot program. TSA is expected to expand the pilot program to include United Airlines, Southwest Airlines, JetBlue, US Airways, Alaska Airlines and Hawaiian Airlines, as well as additional airports, once operationally ready.

In March, the U.S. Travel Association partnered with Tom Ridge, former secretary of Homeland Security; Jim Turner, former Democratic congressman and chairman of the House Homeland Security Committee; and Sam Gilliland, chairman and CEO of Sabre Holdings, to recommend a risk-based trusted traveler program where travelers could voluntarily provide background information to qualify for expedited screening, similar to trusted traveler programs operated by CBP. For more information, visit www.ustravel.org/betterway

Tweet line: New Paddling Routes Added to Arkansas Water Trails: http://tiny.cc/t0zqn
The aim of Arkansas Water Trails, a program initiated by the Arkansas Game & Fish Commission (AGFC), is to highlight Arkansas as prime paddling territory. The project is at the forefront of creating a system of water trails throughout the state.

So what exactly is a water trail? “A lot of times people think it’s a trail along the water,” said Kirsten Bartlow, director of the program and Watchable Wildlife Coordinator for AGFC. “It’s kind of a new concept. Some states call them blue trails, some call them paddle trails. Basically it’s paddling some kind of riverway or bayou. And it’s such a great way to view wildlife. We can be so much quieter in a boat. And really ease up on wildlife. Hiking, you might make a lot of noise on the rocks or crunching through the leaves. Also you can paddle in the heat of summer…it opens up a longer season for folks to get outside.”

Trails are added to the program, which was created in 2009, as site assessments are completed and maps developed. According to Bartlow, unlike hiking or biking trails that have to be built, water routes are already there and “our job is to get the infrastructure in place.” This includes providing route signs and maps for the trail. Once a route is part of the program, “we need people to be the eyes and ears of the trail,” she said. “We want the communities to be involved—it’s their trail.”

Arkansas has more than 90,000 miles of rivers, streams, and bayous. “I have led groups of paddlers on trips through some of the most amazing waters in the nation right here in Arkansas,” said Debbie Doss, Conservation Chair of the Arkansas Canoe Club. According to Doss, marked trails will make some of these areas accessible to people seeking quiet places to enjoy the forest and view or photograph wildlife without the risk of getting lost. “Large tracts of flooded forest can be a challenge for even the best backwoods tracker,” Doss said.

According to Doss, the Roanoke River Trail in North Carolina is one of the most successful water trail systems in the nation. “I spent four days camping along the Roanoke and all I could think was, the Big Woods of Arkansas has no rival,” said Doss. “If we get behind this idea we can build the best water trail system in the nation.”

There are currently two official Arkansas Water Trail routes open: the Wattensaw Bayou near Des Arc and the Arkansas Post Water Trail.

Bartlow said they are close to adding three other trails. Two (which have tentative opening dates of fall of this year) will be on the Dagmar Wildlife Management Area (WMA) near Brinkley at Robe Bayou and Bayou De View. “Dagmar has cypress trees that are more than 850 years old,” said Bartlow. “And Bayou De View is where the woodpecker was spotted. Whether you believe in the Ivory-billed Woodpecker or not, it is that classic bottomwood hardwood forest that supports really neat wildlife. Both trails are flat-water paddles in cypress and tupelo and bottomwood hardwoods.”

So how do they choose which trail to add? “We definitely are trying to pick places that are good wildlife viewing opportunities,” said Bartlow. “Places that have fishing and unique habitat. We want to introduce new paddlers to the sport. That’s not to say advanced paddlers aren’t going to enjoy this. For instance, at Bayou De View beginners can just do the part that we sign and those that are more advanced and have good GPS skills can continue on.”

Bartlow added that at this point they aren’t planning on developing any whitewater streams since white water is a seasonal sport and they are trying to focus more on the wildlife viewing aspect. One of the overall goals of the project, she said, is to help smaller communities. “The whole goal of the Watchable Wildlife program, which encompasses these water trails, is getting people out to our rural communities,” she said. “We really hope to see some sustainable economic development happen in conjunction with these projects.”

Another trail in the works is located on 24 miles of Crooked Creek. “I’m excited about Crooked Creek. People love to paddle those Ozark streams,” said Bartlow. “For the most part I just see anglers out there. So I think it’s going to be a new opportunity for paddlers that they might not be aware of.”

Other planned routes include Grassy Lake on Bell Slough WMA in Mayflower, St. Francis Sunken Lands WMA and Cutoff Creek WMA.

“I don’t think that many people realize the treasures we have in eastern and southern Arkansas or why trails are needed,” said Doss. “Because of the well known struggle to save the Buffalo River, many people realize the importance of Ozark Mountain streams. However, few know the White River National Wildlife Refuge (NWR) and its surrounding Wildlife Management Areas are listed by the Ramsar treaty as a wetland of international importance for the preservation of the largest mature intact bottomland hardwood forest in the U.S. It is completely unique in the world. Going into these areas is like stepping back in time to a period before the arrival of Europeans. Until recently it has only been accessed by hunters and fishermen.”

Doss said the best way of getting into these areas to view or photograph wildlife is by paddling a canoe or kayak. “Within the Cache River NWR, Bayou De View, the White River NWR, the Felsenthal NWR, the lower Arkansas River and many other wildlife management areas are hundreds of miles of potential water trails,” she said. “For many of those who have been there it is easy to envision a network of water trails stretching across eastern and southern Arkansas with local events promoting the trails, bringing much needed business to delta communities.

Bartlow added that the project naturally promotes exercise, getting people more involved in conservation and helping the state’s rural economies. “I think it’s a pretty neat program that benefits different aspects of our lives,” said Bartlow. “Paddling is one of the fastest growing sports and there are more people getting into canoeing and kayaking. And we want them to get out and enjoy Arkansas.”

If you’d like to become a partner with the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission and create a water trail in your community, visit the Arkansas Water Trails homepage for more information at: www.agfc.com/education/Pages/EducationProgr