Jetsettersblog

The Beau-Rivage Palace, located in Lausanne on the shores of Lake Geneva, Switzerland, has formed an arrangement with Fondation de l’Hermitage to offer access to the private Hahnloser Collection. The Fondation de l’Hermitage, a 19th-century-home-turned-museum, is currently showcasing the private collection of Arthur and Hedy Hahnloser, which includes works by famous artists and personal friends of the Hahnlosers, such as Ferdinand Hodler, Giovanni Giacometti and Félix Vallotton.

The Fondation de l’Hermitage Cultural Package includes one night accommodation in a superior or deluxe room with a view of Lake Geneva and the Swiss Alps, or a comfort room with a garden view; daily buffet breakfast or in-room continental breakfast; two tickets to the Fondation de l’Hermitage; a voucher of CHF 80 per person (approximately $101) redeemable in any of the restaurants at the Beau-Rivage Palace; complimentary access to the hotel’s Cinq Mondes Spa, the fitness center and tennis courts. The offer is available on weekends through Oct. 23. It’s priced $761 per person double occupancy.

The Beau-Rivage Palace sits on 10 acres of private gardens, adjacent to Lake Geneva and with views of the Swiss Alps. The hotel’s 15,000-square-foot Cinq Mondes Spa contains a fitness room, indoor and outdoor infinity pools, a hot tub, and nine treatment rooms. Anne-Sophie Pic at the Beau-Rivage Palace, the hotel’s recently opened two-star Michelin restaurant, features France’s only female chef with three Michelin stars. Other restaurants include the Beau-Rivage Café and Le Miyako Lausanne, and amenities include two bars and terraces, two tennis courts and a special program for children. For more information, visit www.brp.ch

The Tourist Office of Spain launched a campaign to get Americans to experience its newest wave of hotel offerings, a selection ranging from rustic chic to boutique to grandiose in Madrid, Barcelona, Ibiza and Segovia. The country has more than 10,000 hotels scattered throughout the country, including 43 grand luxury hotels, 234 five star hotels and 1950 four star hotels. New additions offer luxurious lodging along the coast, in major cities and at other points of attraction.

Three of Spain’s hotels were recently recognized as top ten in the world for design and architecture by TripAdvisor. In second place, Silken Puerta America in Madrid is a five star space filled with lavish details and amenities located in the heart of the city. Hotel Porta Fira in Barcelona, a work by Japanese architect Toyo Ito, is in sixth place with its lotus-resembling shape that has become a recognizable part of the city skyline. In 2010, Porta Fira won the Emporis Skyscraper Award, the world’s most prestigious prize for high-rise architecture. Marques de Riscal in Elciego, received the eighth place honor. Located in the wine producing region of La Rioja, this resort property, designed by Frank Gehry, received the highest marks for its spa as well – Conde Nast Traveler recognized it as the top spa worldwide.

Among other recent redesigns and openings is Hotel Isabel de Farnesio in La Granja de San Idelfonso in Segovia, Castile and Leon region. Declared ‘Heritage of Mankind’ by UNESCO in 1985, Segovia provides a medieval backdrop to your historic findings with the famous Alcázar castle – the site where Queen Isabel offered to finance Columbus’ journey to discover America. Segovia is located 30 minutes away from Madrid and its international airport by car or train. Another renovated property, Ushuaia Ibiza Beach Hotel in Ibiza (Balearic Islands), puts you in the midst of world-famous nightlife and beautiful beaches. Ibiza is reachable either by plane or by ferries from Valencia and Barcelona. For more information on traveling to Spain, email the Tourist Office of Spain in New York at nuevayork@tourspain.es or visit www.spain.info

Hertz said it will be the first global rental car company to offer electric vehicles (EVs) on three continents as it expands to China. Hertz now offers EVs across the U.S. in such cities as New York, Washington, D.C., San Francisco, and Los Angeles, as well as in London and other cities in Europe. To help build a market for what is also the first EV rental service in China, Hertz has formed partnership with GE Industrial Solutions China to advance the rollout of EVs and charging stations, which includes the co-location of electric vehicles and GE EV Infrastructure as a combined offering.

Hertz also has agreed to participate in the China (Shanghai) International EV Pilot City to propel an EV rental program, building out the infrastructure across the Jiading district of Shanghai as a starting point to make EVs accessible to corporations, local government and the general public, as well as to promote and raise awareness of the benefits of EVs.

Hertz and GE Industrial Solutions will co-locate electric vehicles and GE EV Infrastructure across China. The two companies will bundle EV leasing and charging facilities as a solution, which will be offered to multinational companies and government agencies. Both Hertz and GE Industrial Solutions will leverage each other’s services, products and client bases to go to market together as business partners. GE Industrial Solutions will provide end-to-end integrated EV infrastructure solutions and electrical distribution products to support this ecosystem development. All three parties will collaborate to accelerate the pace of EV adoption in China.

British Airways is bundling two free hotel nights into roundtrip airfare for fares booked by Sept. 5 and valid for travel Oct. 29 through Dec. 14 and Dec. 24 through March 26. Travelers get two free hotel nights at select three and four star hotels when purchasing roundtrip airfares between the U.S. and London and select cities in Europe.

Cities on sale include Rome, Barcelona, Paris, Athens, Madrid, Prague and Amsterdam. Participating hotels in London include: Royal National, President, Best Western Burns, Best Western Phoenix, Astons Apartments and Hilton London Docklands. Participating hotels in Paris include the Paris Est Lafayette, Jardins de Paris Nation Bercy and Paris Eiffel Cambronne. In Rome, participating hotels include Kennedy, ESH and Duke Hotel. Participating hotels in Prague include the Duo, Ibis Old Town and Ibis Wenceslas Square.

Select Amsterdam hotels include Best Western Blue Tower and Nova Hotel and Apartments. In Barcelona, H10 Marina Barcelona and Agustin hotel are offered. In Madrid, Rafael Piramides and Silken Torre Garden are offered. Participating hotels in Athens include the Acropolis Hill and Philippos hotel. The two free hotel nights are based on double occupancy; single occupants are offered one free hotel night. Hotel accommodation must be booked with British Airways flights or British Airways codeshare services operated by American Airlines only during the promotional period. Other restrictions apply. For more information, visit www.ba.com/sale

North Dakota’s deer archery season opens Friday, Sept. 2 at noon, and bowhunters are reminded that additional concurrent season antlerless deer gun licenses can be used with a bow during the archery season in the designated hunting unit.

Bowhunters must follow all regulations of the managing agency when using tree stands on public hunting areas, including displaying the owner’s name, address and telephone number on tree stands left unattended on North Dakota Game and Fish Department wildlife management areas.

The Game and Fish Department annually receives inquiries from bowhunters regarding tree stands that are stolen, moved or tampered with.

Tree stands are private property and theft constitutes a criminal violation that should be reported to the local sheriff’s department.

Bowhunters are also reminded that hunting big game over bait is prohibited on both public and private land in deer unit 3F2.

The archery season is open through Jan. 8, 2012.

Hunters should refer to the 2011 deer hunting guide for season information and regulations.

ALBUQUERQUE – Anyone with a hankering to fire a muzzleloader, tie a fishing fly, shoot a bow and arrow or learn dozens of other outdoor skills is invited to a free weekend of family fun Saturday and Sunday at the annual New Mexico Outdoor Expo at the Albuquerque Shooting Range Park.

The 10th annual event will be from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. both days at the park just east of Albuquerque. Activities will focus on education and safe family outdoor fun with hands-on experience and one-on-one expert instruction in shooting, fishing and more. Dozens of organizations, sporting clubs and other groups will be on hand to promote outdoor recreation and conservation.

“This is a great opportunity for the Department of Game and Fish, our volunteers and partners to show people how to safely enjoy the lifetime sports of hunting, fishing and shooting,” said Jennifer Morgan, the Department’s Hunter Education Program Coordinator. “We’re hoping families will come out and learn new ways to enjoy the outdoors.”

Certified instructors will show participants of all ages how to safely shoot .22 rifles and pistols, shotguns and muzzleloaders. Expert archers will provide hands-on instruction with bows and arrows, and experienced anglers will teach fly and spin casting, and show how to tie fishing flies that really catch fish. Other activities include a climbing wall, a fishing pool loaded with lunker catfish, and fishing demonstrations in a huge aquarium filled with New Mexico game fish.

Thinking of taking an off-highway vehicle out for a spin this year? Learn the rules of the road and how to safely operate an OHV on the Department’s OHV simulator.

To get to the Albuquerque Shooting Range Park from Albuquerque, take Interstate 40 west to the top of Nine-mile Hill, exit and drive 4.2 miles north on Atrisco Vista Boulevard (formerly Paseo del Volcan), turn left at the park sign and drive 2.6 miles to the shooting range.

For more information about the Expo, please call (505) 222-4731.

Bike and Roll NYC Teams Up With NYC Century Bike Tour
to Provide Bikes and Support to Participants – Just Show Up on Sept. 18th, Your Bike is Waiting for You!

DETAILS: Anyone planning on participating in the NYC Century on Sept. 18th has a convenient option – rent a bike from Bike and Roll NYC and a bike will be waiting for you at either of the five route’s two starting points. Whether you’re planning to ride the 15-, 35-, 55-, 75-, or 100-mile route through the streets of New York City, Bike and Roll NYC’s support is behind you.

In addition to the convenience of not having to get a bike to either Start (in Central Park or Prospect Park), every renter gets a bike fit to their height, a helmet, and mechanical support.

“The NYC Century supports Transportation Alternatives, which supports bike lanes in New York City,” said Chris Wogas, President of Bike and Roll NYC. “This is one of the best ways I know to show everyone that biking around New York City is a great activity. This tour has something for everyone – from families to the most hard-core cyclist. We’re proud to be a part of it.”

More than 5,000 cyclists expected to participate in the event, many from outside the city. Knowing that a well-tuned bike will be waiting for you at the start means travelers have one less thing to worry about. Bikes are simply returned to Bike and Roll NYC at the Start when riders are finished with the tour.

Bike and Roll NYC has built its reputation on the quality of its bikes and the dedication of its mechanics – renting from them for this event means peace of mind.

Several different bikes are available for the day:

Comfort Bike: $69; Performance Bike: $79; Road Bike $89 (TA members get $5 off)

(Go to bikenewyorkcity.com or call 212-260-0400 for details on bikes and additional info on equipment for kids.)

Now Customers Can Bike and Eat!

DETAILS: Bike and Roll NYC has a new partner in Wendy Weston’s Perfect Picnic. Biking and picnicking – is there a better combination? Now Bike and Roll’s clientele can enjoy a delectable, locally-sourced spread when they find the perfect location as they explore NYC’s nooks and crannies on two wheels.

“We’re closing the loop and offering a complete experience,” says Bike and Roll NYC’s president, Chris Wogas. “There are so many idyllic spots you can find only by biking the parks and greenways. With Perfect Picnic our customers can take a bike AND a wonderful meal. When they find their perfect spot, they’re all set.”

“I love the idea of teaming up with a green company,” says Wendy Weston, Perfect Picnic’s founder and an avid cyclist. “Biking and picnics are a natural fit. You can ride New York and eat New York.”

Picnics are available at Bike and Roll NYC’s Pier 84 and Governors Island locations to start. Priced at $28, each picnic comes with plenty of food for two people and includes two types of cheeses, two cured meats from Salumeria Biellese, marinated olives, a fresh baguette, jam, salted dark chocolate caramels, bottled water, cutlery, plates, and a reusable picnic surface, all packed in a natural-cotton tote keepsake. And everything is locally-sourced, satisfying the locavore in all of us. The picnics fit easily on the bike’s rack. Buyers can even use the tote as an impromptu backpack.

“We hope to expand this program quickly,” said Wogas. “Many of our 11 locations are perfect for this product. And we’re convinced our customers will appreciate it and enjoy it.”

There’s lots of summer left – and lots of time to take a bike and a picnic and enjoy the great outdoors. Come to think of it, it’s a great autumn activity, too.

www.perfectpicnicnyc.com  www.bikenewyorkcity.com

It may seem like taking coals to Newcastle or selling ice-cream to the Eskimos, but Hawaiians are coming to Thailand to play golf. Just like their counterparts in Scotland, Ireland, the US mainland and the world’s other premier golf locations, Hawaiian golfers are keen to travel for new and different golfing experiences. Where better than Thailand, Asia’s premier golf destination?

A delegation headed by the chairman of the Thailand Tourism Authority (TAT), Khun Vichai Srikwan, and governor Khun Suraphon Svetasreni has returned from a six-day visit to Hawaii with high expectations of many more Hawaiian golfers visiting the Kingdom.

“Hawaiians have previously mostly gone to the US mainland to play golf away from home, but Thailand is a big attraction,” says Mark Siegel, president of Golf in a Kingdom -The Thailand Golf Experience (www.golfinakingdom.com ), a co-operative marketing program comprising golf courses, hotels and resorts in Thailand’s four major golf destinations – Bangkok, Phuket, Pattaya and Chiang Mai.

The 10-person delegation’s visit to Hawaii was organised by businessman and Oahu Country Club member, Randy Ho. The club hosted two tournaments for the visitors and local players, while a presentation night for 130 travel agents and tour operators provided an insight into the delights of playing golf in Thailand.

Mark Siegel said it was the most productive marketing trip he had experienced. “We were able to raise the knowledge and awareness of Hawaiian golfers about playing in Thailand,” he said. “The quality of the courses, food, entertainment and value for money make Thailand unique. A seven-nights package with four rounds of golf is about half the price of most other golf destinations.”

“It was a very successful trip,” said TAT’s America’s region director, Khun Santi Chudintra. “As a peer marketing exercise it was exactly the right approach and enabled us to talk directly with our target market. As an alternative to the US mainland, Thailand has much to offer – 260 courses and many other attractions.”

Member courses of Golf in a Kingdom: The Thai Golf Experience are Banyan and Black Mountain at Hua Hin, Thai Country Club and Muang Kaew in Bangkok, the Old Course and Plantation Course at Siam Country Club near Pattaya, and Chiang Mai Highlands in northern Thailand.

For more information on Golf in a Kingdom -The Thailand Golf Experience or to make golf travel plans in Thailand, visit www.golfinakingdom.com  or email info@golfinakingdom.com

To celebrate the re-launch of Dolphin Island, Fiji, following a lengthy period of re-furbishment and renovation, The Huka Retreats is offering a ’4 for 3 Package’. Guests who stay on Dolphin Island, on an exclusive-use basis for a three-night stay, will receive a fourth night – with the compliments of The Huka Retreats.

Dolphin Island is a stunning sister property to famed Huka Lodge, New Zealand and heritage Grande Provence Estate, South Africa.

The divine 13-acre private island has been the latest project of founder of The Huka Retreats, Alex van Heeren, who has once again collaborated with renowned interior designer Virginia Fisher, to create yet another extraordinary guest experience for the world’s most discerning travellers.

With accommodation for a maximum of just eight guests, Dolphin Island is truly exclusive in every sense and designed especially for island living. The thatched Main Bure pavilion holds centre court with an infinity pool, flanked by two pairs of guest bures either side and surrounded by fringed palm trees.

The white sand of the beach beckons, as does the crystal-clear azure water and the romance of the floating pontoon. Guests luxuriate in this nurturing haven of privacy and relaxation, where warm Fijian staff look after guests as little or as much as they require and each day seems to merge seamlessly into the next.

The ’4 for 3 Package’ is available until 12 December 2011 and includes accommodation, all meals, a standard bar, all vehicle transfers by private car to and from Dolphin Island, boat transfers and use of all Dolphin Island facilities.

Dolphin Island, Fiji, Huka Lodge, New Zealand and Grande Provence Estate, South Africa comprise The Huka Retreats. Sister properties, all sharing a passionate commitment to providing extraordinary hospitality experiences for their guests.

www.hukaretreats.com