Jetsettersblog

Virgin America announced that it has partnered with The Hertz Corporation, the world’s largest general use airport car rental brand, to offer Virgin America’s Elevate loyalty program members exclusive deals on Hertz rental cars wherever the airline flies. Elevate members who rent with Hertz can earn one Elevate point per $1 spent on qualifying rentals and, for a limited time, Virgin America and Hertz are offering double points and up to 35 percent off for rentals of two days or more through Dec. 31, 2011.

“We’re pleased to partner with Hertz to offer our business and leisure travelers another great option for ground travel once they’ve arrived at their destination,” said Brett Billick, director of CRM at Virgin America.

“Our new partnership with Hertz provides our frequent flyers with an easy and seamless travel experience throughout their trip — both in the air and on the ground.”

The latest partnership with Hertz expands Virgin America’s rental car partners to three of the largest car rental companies in the U.S., giving the airline’s guests even more options for ground travel during their business trip or leisure getaway.

Virgin America’s Elevate frequent flyer loyalty program offers guests the ability to redeem points for any unsold seat on any Virgin America flight, at any time.

Elevate offers web-based redemption with no black-out dates and has grown to over 1.9 million members since the carrier’s 2007 launch.

Last year, Virgin America rolled out changes to Elevate in order to give flyers more flexibility to earn and redeem points for travel on the airline. Elevate members are also able to retain their Elevate points indefinitely, as long as they either earn or redeem points at least once every 18 months. For more information, visit www.virginamerica.com  or www.hertz.com

AmaWaterways has released a 128-page brochure detailing its offerings in 2012, the company’s 10th anniversary. In 2012, the line will operate nine vessels in Europe, all featuring French balconies or twin balconies, and amenities such as complimentary in-room Internet, ship-wide Wi-Fi and guided bicycle tours.

Popular European itineraries commence in the spring with “Tulip Time” cruises in the Netherlands and Belgium. The new 164-passenger twin balcony AmaCerto will make its debut with a departure in April. Making its debut in France in the spring is the AmaDagio, marking the first time an AmaWaterways vessel will operate on the Rhone River.

The 2012 brochure also details a number of new programs and distinctions. For example, all AmaWaterways vessels in Europe are members of Chaîne des Rôtisseurs, the only river cruise line to hold that honor. Chaîne des Rôtisseurs is a gastronomic society that dates back to the Middle Ages.

The brochure also details cruise departures that include a visit to the Floriade World Horticultural Expo, an event taking place every 10 years in the Netherlands.

Also new for 2012 are “Culinary Delights-Bites and Sights” walking tours that explore the culinary heritage of Europe.

Additionally, the brochure includes an overview of the line’s specialty cruises, including “In Celebration of Wine” cruises on the Danube, Rhine and, for the first time, the Rhone River in France. Details about the 2012 “Jewish Heritage” cruises are set forth as well, including itineraries, dates and prices.

Beginning in 2012, the line will offer its Russia, Vietnam and Cambodia itineraries under a new “AmaVoyages” product line. AmaVoyages consist of river cruises and land programs that are separate from the AmaWaterways experience in Europe.

The brochure includes descriptions, dates and prices for the “Russian Waterways” program on the newly redesigned AmaKatarina, and the “Vietnam, Cambodia and the Riches of the Mekong” program featuring Mekong River cruises on La Marguerite and the new AmaLotus.

For more information, call 800-626-0126 or visit www.amawaterways.com

Pleasant Holidays entered the guided vacations market, launching two new itineraries through Costa Rica for individuals, families and groups with guaranteed departures and no minimum number of travelers required to operate the tours.

These guided vacations depart every other Saturday from San José, Costa Rica, beginning Oct. 1, and operate throughout 2012. The ground operator for these guided vacations is Central American Tours (CAT) of Costa Rica.

The new “Marvels of Costa Rica” nine-day/eight-night guided tour features one night in San Jose, two nights in Arenal, two nights in Monteverde and three nights in Guanacaste.

Features include Arenal Volcano and Hot Springs Tour, Caño Negro Wildlife Refuge Tour, the Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve Tour, the Vida Aventura Nature Park Tour, 18 meals, private ground transportation, park entrance fees, and a local licensed and certified tour guide.

Travelers have a choice of superior or deluxe hotel accommodations with land-only packages starting at $1,083 per person double.

Highlights of the new 11-day/10-night “Jewels of Costa Rica” tour include two nights in San Jose, two nights in Tortuguero, two nights in Arenal, two nights in Monteverde and two nights in Manuel Antonio.

Features include boat tour through Tortuguero National Park, Arenal Volcano and Hot Springs Tour, the Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve Tour, the beaches of Manuel Antonio, Manuel Antonio National Park Tour, 18 meals, private ground transportation, park entrance fees and a local licensed and certified tour guide.

Accommodations are available in either superior or deluxe hotels with land-only packages starting at $1,378 per person, double occupancy. Pleasant Holidays offers all major airlines serving Costa Rica.

To celebrate the launch of Costa Rica Guided Vacations, Pleasant Holidays’ introductory offer features a $100 savings for travelers plus 1,000 Bonus TRIP Points for travel agents for bookings deposited by Sept. 15 for travel Oct. 1, 2011, to Dec. 15, 2012. TRIP is Pleasant Holidays’ Travel Reward Incentive Program where, in addition to their regular commission, travel agents earn points redeemable for personal travel.

For more information, call 800-448-3333 or visit www.PleasantAgent.com

Corsica, Umbria and a new self-guided walk in Tuscany are the newest destinations being added to a roster of more than 25 worldwide walking trips with Butterfield & Robinson.

The ongoing popularity of Europe and an increasing interest in luxury walking trips made the regions of Tuscany, Corsica and Umbria obvious choices to build on their other classic walks in Europe.

Corsica offers white cliffs, lagoons and ultramarine skies. Not quite France and not Italy either, Butterfield & Robinson’s guides lead explorations of Corsica’s many facets, including Calvi’s palm-shaded luxury, the Bronze Age ruins of Cucuruzzu, the impenetrable Citadel of Bonifacio and the gourmet cuisine of Porto Vecchio. Tread ancient pathways along seaside donkey trails and medieval pathways that weave through hilltop towns, culminating each evening in luxury accommodation and Michelin-starred meals.

Butterfield & Robinson’s Umbria walking trip uses new hotels in the well-known towns of Assisi and Spello after days of walking and sampling local wines, olives, truffle pasta and porchetta.

The Tuscany self-guided walking trip is the newest addition to a series of Butterfield & Robinson self-guided trips which include biking or walking in Burgundy, as well as biking in Tuscany.

Designed for the traveler who wants to be on their own schedule, this walking trip in Tuscany combines excellent hotels and beautiful walking routes — with the freedom to set your own pace. Luggage is transferred and local information is provided to help craft the perfect trip.

Browse the shops, walk an extra trail loop, have take-away pizza or a gourmet lunch, enjoy a walking tour of historic Cortona or relax in the piazza. With their Italian headquarters in nearby Arezzo, Butterfield & Robinson is available to share their support and insight into a region that they have been biking and walking in for more than 40 years.

For more information, call 800-678-1147 or visit www.butterfield.com

Adventure Center travelers will explore the diverse landscape of Southern Africa, from South Africa to Namibia, Botswana and Zimbabwe on its 22-Day “Deserts, Rivers & Wildlife” small-group tour — and give back to the African community while they do it.

For each booking made before Oct. 31 on any of Adventure Center’s diverse array of Africa tours, including those in Egypt and Morocco, the company will donate $10 to UNICEF’s “Horn of Africa” program.

As the tour makes its way from Cape Town to Livingstone, to its final stop at the Victoria Falls, it takes in the semi-arid Kalahari Desert, the Okavango River, and Augrabies Falls National Park, home to the Orange River and a remarkable gorge.

Other highlights are the Namib Desert, which forms part of Africa’s largest game reserve, Naukluft National Park; Etosha National Park, a reserve and game sanctuary that houses blue wildebeest, zebra, giraffe, elephant and kubu; and a visit with the semi-nomadic Himba tribesmen.

Pricing for the seven 2011 departures range from $4,889 to $5,039 per person; dates and pricing for 2012 departures will be available this fall.

For more information, call 800-228-8747 or visit

www.adventurecenter.com

Hyatt Hotels Corporation has entered into an agreement with ASB Tanzania Ltd., a wholly-owned subsidiary of Albwardly Investments, to manage Hyatt Regency Dar Es Salaam, The Kilimanjaro in Tanzania. The city center hotel commenced operating as Hyatt Regency Dar Es Salaam, The Kilimanjaro on Aug. 1, 2011.

Hyatt Regency Dar Es Salaam, The Kilimanjaro features 180 rooms, including 18 suites; two restaurants and three bars; more than 900 square meters of meeting and event space, including a 400-square-meter ballroom and nine banquet rooms; along with a spa, outdoor infinity pool and fitness center. Hyatt Regency Dar Es Salaam, The Kilimanjaro is located on Kivukoni Street in the heart of the city, the largest hotel in Tanzania, and has panoramic views of both the city and harbor, which is home to the country’s largest seaport. Originally built by the Tanzanian government in 1965, the hotel was purchased by its current owner in 2002 and underwent a $55 million renovation, officially re-opening in 2005, since which time the hotel had been operating as The Kilimanjaro Hotel Kempinski.

For more information, visit www.hyatt.com

Bath Tourism Plus (BTP) is organizing Bath’s first “TwiTrip” (Twitter Trip), which will be attended by 2011 Masterchef winner, Tim Anderson, who will visit Bath on Aug. 25 and tweet about his experiences. Anderson was invited to attend the TwiTrip — which will involve a journey around Bath using suggestions from Twitter users — and will see him exploring Bath, its attractions, restaurants and shops, while tweeting to his 10,000 followers about his experiences and asking for recommendations on what to see and do.

Two activities he will take part in are a chocolate making workshop at Minerva Chocolates and a sour dough making course at Bath-based cookery school Bertinet Kitchen. The day will end at the Royal Crescent Hotel where there will be a drinks reception and food prepared by Anderson with produce he purchases throughout the day for the TwiTrip participants.

BTP has been working with Electric Suitcase — a specialist PR Agency — to boost Bath’s profile on social media networks and has so far increased followers and friends on both Twitter and Facebook. In addition, the aim of the campaign is to generate interest in Bath by encouraging people to visit the official tourism website at www.visitbath.co.uk.

David Jackson, head of marketing at Bath Tourism Plus, said, “We have been really pleased with the boost to our VisitBath Facebook and Twitter pages. The number of people who have clicked through to the VisitBath.co.uk website from Facebook and Twitter has doubled since the marketing campaign began in May, when compared with the same period last year. We were delighted to hear that Anderson accepted the invitation to attend the TwiTrip and are looking forward to welcoming journalists and bloggers who will provide valuable coverage on Bath and its many attractions.” For more information, visit www.bathconference.co.uk

The Rezidor Hotel Group announced Radisson Blu Sobieski Hotel, Warsaw. Scheduled to open in the third quarter of 2011, the property will be Rezidor’s second hotel in Warsaw and ninth in Poland. Originally the Jan III Sobieski Hotel, Warsaw, the property is named after one of Europe’s greatest monarchs, Sobieski, who ruled Poland for 22 years during the 1600s.

Designed and built in 1992 by an Austrian-Polish team, the hotel was recently acquired by the Norwegian investment company Wenaasgruppen. The hotel will undergo an extensive renovation program to reopen as a Radisson Blu in the third quarter of 2011. By 2015, the property will comprise 467 guest rooms with Radisson Blu signature amenities including complimentary high-speed Internet, two restaurants, a lounge, a wellness area with Jacuzzis, sauna and gym, and a 15,000-square-foot conference center, making it one of the largest meeting locations in Warsaw. Situated in the southern part of Warsaw’s central business district, the property is easily accessible. Fryderyk Chopin International Airport is only four miles away, the city’s main railway station is less than one mile away.

Radisson Blu Sobieksi Hotel joins the 311-key Radisson Blu Centrum Hotel, Warsaw, as well as eight other Radisson Blu properties throughout the country. Other European hotels in the pipeline include Radisson Blu Midlands Airport, Great Britain (scheduled to open in the first quarter of 2012) and Radisson Blu Uppsala, Sweden (scheduled to open in the third quarter of 2012). For more information, visit www.rezidor.com

The art deco-style Taj Umaid Bhawan Palace in Jodhpur is featuring packages in conjunction with the fifth annual Rajasthani International Folk Festival (RIFF), Oct. 12 to 16. Guests who take advantage of the palace’s all-inclusive offer for two or more nights starting at $1,325 will receive an all-access pass to all festival events.

Rated one of the 25 best music festivals in the world, this five-day community-oriented festival takes place in Jodphur’s Mehrangarh Fort, a towering fortress of red sandstone. RIFF features performances by more than 1,200 musicians and artists, including master musicians from Rajasthan, nightly international headline acts and cutting-edge global dance grooves into the morning.

There are also dawn and dusk devotional concerts and interactive folk sessions with the musicians themselves. The annual event is designed to entertain while preserving Rajasthani community traditions, creativity and knowledge and fostering an inclusive and sustainable economy.

“I really like the way established names share the RIFF stage with folk artists,” said Sir Mick Jagger, one of three founder patrons for the festival with HH Maharaja Gaj Singhji Sahib of Marwar-Jodhpur and John and Faith Singh, founders of Anokhi. “It’s a great platform for folk artists in terms of exposure and economic benefits.”

Some of the best performers of Rajasthani, Indian and world music will participate. Past collaborations have included Pete Lockett, Ustad Sultan Khan, Yuri Honing Trio, Mumford and Sons, Rekha Bhardwaj, Sona Mohpatra and Jason Singh. Perched high above the desert capital of Jodhpur, Umaid Bhawan Palace is the last of the great palaces of India and one of the largest private residences in the world. Set amidst 26 acres of gardens, this member of Leading Small Hotels of the World offers 64 rooms and suites. All accommodations feature art-deco styling and distinctive architecture, such as the mortar-less interlocking stones that form the palace foundations.

Two nights’ luxury accommodations in a Palace Room start at Rs 60,000 ($1,325); final price based on selection of accommodations (Palace Room, Historical Suite, Royal Suite or Grand Royal Suite) and single or double occupancy, including buffet breakfast daily, dinner nightly at the client’s choice of Risala or Pillars; access pass to all RIFF events at Mehrangarh Fort; 20 percent discount on Jiva Spa treatments; and all additional food and beverage charges. Guests can add a third night from Rs 30,000 ($660 plus taxes). With a booking of three nights, they receive a complimentary upgrade to the next room category. The package is valid Oct. 12 to 16 and is commissionable to travel agents at 15 percent.

For more information, call 866-969-1825 or visit www.tajhotels.com

JAL Hotels Co., Ltd. will open Hotel Nikko Xiamen, a five-star hotel in Xiamen, China, on Sept. 8. The hotel is the company’s ninth in China. The 436-room Hotel Nikko Xiamen includes Japanese, Chinese and other restaurants; banquet rooms; spa; and fitness center with pool. Guests are offered 24-hour room service and complimentary use of the swimming pool and spa.

Rooms in the executive class and above provide bathroom TVs and complimentary amenities such as private check-in/check-out, breakfast, afternoon refreshments, late check-out and use of a conference room in the executive lounge. Hotel Nikko Xiamen is located in a large new urban real estate complex in the southeast part of Xiamen Island. Xiamen’s international exhibition and convention center is next door.

Other facilities in the new complex include the Xiamen Software Park and Guanyinshan Business Park with more than 400 companies, a new consulate zone, a luxury residential zone, yacht harbor, concert hall, theatre and other leisure facilities. Xiamen, on China’s east coast in southern Fujian Province, is one of China’s most rapidly growing cities. As the closest Chinese city to Taiwan, frequent ferries connect Xiamen and Kinmen, Taiwan. In addition to strong economic ties with Taiwan, Xiamen has increasing investment from the U.S. and Japan. JAL Hotels operates eight hotels in China, including properties in Beijing (two hotels), Shanghai, Dalian, Tianjin, Suzhou, Wuxi and Hong Kong. The company plans to open hotels in Guangzhou and Suzhou, China in 2013. For more information, call 800-NIKKOUS or visit www.jalhotels.com