Jetsettersblog

London & Partners, the city’s promotional agency, unveiled a calendar of “Limited Edition London” events and experiences. The calendar was launched as part of the Limited Edition London campaign, the first international marketing campaign to be launched by London & Partners since its launch in April. The aim of the campaign is to encourage visitors to London to enjoy unique and one-off events that will be happening around the city from now until the start of the 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games.

The campaign was brought to life by London’s most famous diarist Samuel Pepys, who kept a diary of his life through the 1660s. For one day only, the Pepys Show installation will be on located in Trafalgar Square to give visitors to the capital a sneak peek into some of the incredible coming up in the London diary. Through the “pepys” – or holes — on the installation, visitors can see each event brought to life with a bespoke scene and get a taste for what’s to come.

The events include an exclusive Leonardo da Vinci exhibition at the National Gallery, sleeping under the stars at ZSL London Zoo, celebrating the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee at a sparkling exhibition at Buckingham Palace, a jewel-inspired afternoon tea, an evening of 1940s glamour and champagne at the Churchill War Rooms and welcoming the Year of the Dragon in China Town.

Last year, London welcomed 26.2 million domestic and international visitors who contributed over £11 billion ($17 billion) to the London economy. In 2010, London welcomed 14.6 million international and 11.6 million domestic visitors. As the capital approaches the 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games, the Limited Edition London campaign will harness the opportunity to showcase everything the capital has to offer from theatre and retail to attractions and events from now until the start of the Games. For more information, visit www.visitlondon.com  or www.londonandpartners.com

The ROYAL Cancun & Gran Caribe Real Acknowledged at the 7th Annual Clean Beaches National Meeting

Cancun, MX — Real Resorts’ two Cancun resorts, THE ROYAL Cancun and Gran Caribe Real Cancun, were awarded with the prestigious recognition of having the greatest, cleanest and most pristine beaches in Cancun and the entire Riviera Maya — a region acclaimed for having some of the world’s best beaches!

The recognition was presented during the 7th Annual Clean Beach Conference held in Mazatlan and organized by the Mexican Federal Government, the National Water Commission (Conagua), the National Environment and Natural Resources Ministry (Semarnat), the Ministry of Tourism (Sectur) and Ministry of Health.

Because of the beauty of all of the Riviera Maya’s beaches, this recognition is only awarded to those who go above and beyond normal stewardship and adhere to the strictest guidelines including the following criteria:

Absolutely no trash on the sand, even a few small pieces of paper will disqualify a beach.

Appropriate signage on the beach indicating resort services and information.

The water must be clean and ecologically correct without any signs of pollution.

The resort that maintains the beach must practice sustainability including waste separation and other green initiatives

Beaches must have trained life guards, warning flags indicating surf condition, and security
The resort must demonstrate best practices to protect the natural wildlife including pelicans, seagulls, and sea turtles.

Real Resorts has an extensive sea turtle protection program.

Real Resorts has worked diligently to achieve this recognition which is one of the highest accolades in Mexico.

It assures guests that they are enjoying the most beautiful and highest quality beach experience with the cleanest sand and water while protecting the environment and respecting the natural habitat.

THE ROYAL in Cancun is also the recipient of the Green Diamond recognition for its commitment to ecology and the environment.

The recognition is awarded by The American Academy of Hospitality Sciences to select five star leading hospitality luxury hotels that exceed a selection of criteria for superior facilities and service.

About Real Resorts

Real Resorts is a privately owned hotel company in Mexico. It owns and operates four all-inclusive resorts in Cancun and Playa del Carmen under THE Royal, and Gran brands, which appeal to a wide range of lifestyles. THE Royal Cancun and Playa del Carmen offer luxury-gourmet, all-suite accommodations and attentive service for adults.

THE ROYAL Cancun and THE ROYAL Playa del Carmen are recipients of the prestigious International Star Diamond Award, a recognition awarded by The American Academy of Hospitality Sciences to select five star hotels that exceed a selection of criteria for facilities, operations and service.

The Gran Caribe Real in Cancun and the Gran Porto Real in Playa del Carmen offer personal service and upscale accommodations appropriate for families and travelers seeking a casual vacation experience.

Reservations can be made through a travel agent or by calling 800-543-7556. For more information visit online at: www.RealResorts.com

Beach Boomers Package for Thrill-Seekers, Multiple Generations

JUPITER, Fla.- When nearly four million baby boomers turn 65 this year, they can expect an early “retirement package” from the AAA Four-Diamond Jupiter Beach Resort & Spa. Designed for adventure, family fun and reconnection, the resort’s new Beach Boomers package, valid November 1, 2011 through April 30, 2012, includes much more than just luxury accommodations and outstanding amenities. According to the U.S. Travel Industry Association, at least five million U.S. family vacations a year span three generations, with grandparents often footing the bill.

“By the time you reach your 50th or 60th birthday, you understand that happiness is likely to come from having a great dinner with friends, a fabulous vacation, or discovering a new aspect of yourself,” said Ken Dychtwald, founder and CEO of Age Wave in Emeryville, CA. And boomers are “a force with tsunamic proportions who have a deep thirst for experiences, and that holds true across income levels.”

Jupiter Beach Resort & Spa’s Beach Boomers package, starting at just $229* per night, includes overnight luxury accommodations, daily breakfast for two, a 10 percent discount in The Spa and Sinclairs Ocean Grill as well as bicycle rentals and daily beach chair and umbrella rentals. Encouraging multi-generation travel, the package also allows guests to enjoy a second room at a 25 percent discount, perfect for bringing the kids and grandkids.

Jupiter Beach Resort also works closely with several popular local attractions where guests can book additional adventures on their own including Jupiter Fishing Charters offering deep sea fishing excursions with Captain Dick Dickinson; Skydive Sebastian offering that once-in-a-lifetime tandem experience; and Harley Davidson of Palm Beach with motorcycle rentals for a cruise along the Atlantic.

The discounts apply to numerous watersport activities as well, from kite boarding, paddle boarding and wakeboarding with Jupiter Kite Boarding and Jupiter Paddle Boarding to SCUBA diving lessons with Jupiter Dive Center in Jupiter Inlet.

And for those interested in voluntourism opportunities, the Loggerhead MarineLife Center offers beach clean ups and Safe Harbor Animal Rescue is always seeking pet walkers.

To book the Beach Boomers package, call (800) 228-8810 or visit

www.jupiterbeachresort.com  and use promo code, BOOMER.

*For Baby Boomers born between 1946 and 1964. Second room discount is for room only and does not include breakfast.

Rates start from $229 November 1, 2011 to January 31, 2012 and are from $329 from February 1 to April 30, 2012.

Package rates are subject to availability.

Certain restrictions may apply.

About Jupiter Beach Resort & Spa

Located at the northern tip of Palm Beach County in Jupiter, Florida, the 168-room AAA Four-Diamond Jupiter Beach Resort & Spa is treasured for its effortless blend of classic Caribbean-style and barefoot elegance.

The nine-story resort features renovated guest rooms and suites with designer Mahogany furnishings, marble bathrooms, and private seating balconies to showcase stunning ocean views.

A full range of guestroom upgrades includes fully-stocked honor bars, plush robes and slippers, in-room safes, and a VIP evening turndown service.

Resort amenities include a heated oceanfront swimming pool and whirlpool spa, an outdoor lounge area complete with cabana-style chairs, fire pit and dive-in movies, a fitness center offering private instruction, lighted tennis courts, game room, full-service 7,500-square-foot Spa, Little Loggerheads Kids’ Club, and three award-winning restaurants and dining options. Just minutes from the Palm Beach International Airport and the area’s renowned shopping, dining, entertainment and golf, the Jupiter Beach Resort & Spa is also a member of Summit Hotels & Resorts, a Preferred Hotel Group.

(BRANSON, Missouri) – Robin-egg-blue skies, low humidity, average temps in the 60s and 70s, stay-and-play golf specials, seasonal festivals, and off-course attractions are what visitors can expect this fall in the Ozark Mountains oasis that is Branson.

Party for Eight… or More

Get two foursomes together and you can save nearly 50% on a unique stay-and-play special being offered by Thousand Hills Golf Resort through its new “League Partner Package”.

This is a progressive discount package based on a minimum of eight people for as little as one night (more players are welcome and can take advantage of this opportunity). If the group of eight stays for three nights and plays three rounds of golf, the package price can drop as low as $50 per golfer per night (and one round per day). Several styles of accommodation are available, depending on preference (2-bedroom condos or Queen Suites).

Thousand Hills will customize the packages to fit each groups needs, and will be flexible as long as the minimums are met (8 people, 1 night stay, 8 rounds of golf). The resort will even book other Branson courses in conjunction with this package and staying/playing at Thousand Hills.

Thanksgiving weekend is not available and the package is based upon room availability. This package cannot be used in conjunction with any other offer.

For more information, contact Thousand Hills Golf Resort (www.thousandhillsgolf.com) at 800.487.0769 or 417.334.4553.

National Harvest Festival

Silver Dollar City celebrates outdoor adventures with the National Harvest Festival this fall. One of the country’s most recognized craft festivals, the two-month event is a bounty of American crafts with over 125 demonstrating artisans, all-new shows, and fall specialty foods at the Branson theme park, September 10 – October 29.

Outdoor artistic performances take stage on Silver Dollar City’s Main Street with internationally-recognized craftspeople who create works of art completely out-of-the-ordinary – chalk street artists drawing in 3D and full color, a sand sculptor who will take 50-tons of sand to create a massive display, recognizing the special elements of the Harvest Festival such as lumberjacks and eagles.

The Harvest Festival entertainment includes an invitation to bring dancing shoes to join in Missouri’s Biggest Barn Dance with live music by much-loved bands like Texas in the Swing, Missouri Travelers, Les Gilliam & His Silverlake Band, and Silver Dollar City’s own legendary Horsecreek.

The Opera House production show Headin’ West, winner of the theme park industry’s World’s Best Overall Production (“Big E” Awards), returns to tell the story of the American pioneer spirit in the 1870s west.

Fall harvest foods are served up throughout the park, with favorites such as smoked turkey legs and hearty skillet meals cooked on open grills. Tastes of America features festival dishes throughout the park, such as Indian Tacos and Wrangler’s Buffalo Chili.

Fall specialty desserts include an array of pies: Pumpkin, Peach, Pecan, Peanut Butter, Strawberry, Blackberry Cobbler and more.

The festival runs September 10 – October 29, open Wednesdays through Sundays, 10 a.m. – 6 p.m., and on Saturdays, 9:30 a.m. – 6 p.m. Information: 800-831-4FUN(386) or www.silverdollarcity.com.

LedgeStone’s ‘Golf-and-Shop’ Couples Tournament

LedgeStone Golf Club, in conjunction with Tanger Outlets in Branson, is hosting a 2-Day Couples Scramble Oct. 8-9. Tanger Outlet Gift Cards will be awarded to couples who win their flights, and prizes are awarded on each hole both days. Prizes include watches, jewelry, tools, and clothing. Many other events are involved, including prime rib dinner, silent Calcutta with 20% going to fight breast cancer, pre-event practice rounds available for cart fee only, and more.

Call 417.335.8187 or visit www.ledgestonegolf.com  to sign up.

About Golf Branson

The award-winning courses comprising the golf destination – known collectively under the brand promise “Branson: Discover Golf’s Ozark Mountain Oasis” – are:

Pointe Royale Resort & Golf Course, www.pointeroyale.com , 417.334.4477

Thousand Hills Golf Resort, www.thousandhillsgolf.com,  800.487.0769, 417.334.4553

Murder Rock Golf Club, www.murderrock.com,  417.332.3259

Payne Stewart Golf Club, www.paynestewartgolfclub.com,  417.337.2963

LedgeStone Golf Course, www.ledgestonegolf.com, 417.335.8187

Branson Creek Golf Club, www.bransoncreekgolf.com,  417.339.GOLF (4653)

Holiday Hills Resort and Golf Club, www.holidayhills.com,  417.334.4838

Top of the Rock Golf Course, www.bigcedar.com,  417.339.5085

With more than 22,000 lodging and hotel rooms, Branson matches every style and budget, and there are many golf stay-and-play packages available.

Known as the “Live Music Show Capital of the World,” Branson, MO is a one-of-a-kind family vacation destination — and incredible value — with 50 live performance theaters, three pristine lakes, 12 championship golf courses, an international award-winning theme park, dozens of attractions and museums, an historic downtown district, shopping galore, and full range of dining options, hotels, motels, resorts, RV parks, campgrounds and meeting-and-conference facilities.

The Lodging page at www.explorebranson.com includes a directory of accommodations, resorts and spas. For assistance planning a golf vacation to Branson: 800.296.0463

Branson is less than a day’s drive for one-third of Americans, and with low-cost flights to the new Branson Airport (served by AirTran and Frontier airlines) and Springfield-Branson National Airport, it has never been easier for families and groups to get to Branson.

Travelers who book now through Oct. 16, 2011, will receive up to 40 percent off published rates at 49 all-inclusive resorts in the Caribbean, Mexico and Brazil through American Express Travel’s September “Everyday Hotel” program. The offer can only be booked online and travel must be completed by Feb. 28, 2012.

In addition to the reduced rates, travelers will also receive a $100 spa credit, shopping tours, a room upgrade and free breakfast. Participating properties include the Almond Morgan Bay in St Lucia (rates begin at $174 per night); Jamaica’s Half Moon Resort ($172 per night); Brazil’s Sauipe Club All Inclusive ($276 per night); and the Melia Cabo Real All Inclusive in Los Cabos, Mexico ($170 per night). For more information, visit http://leisure.americanexpress-travel.com

Southwest Airlines Vacations is offering $100 savings on four-night or longer vacation packages to San Diego. The discount will be reflected in the package price shown at the time of booking.

The operator is offering additional savings at participating hotels. Sheraton San Diego Hotel and Marina is offering one night free; Hilton San Diego Resort, La Costa Resort and Spa and Paradise Point Resort and Spa are offering reductions of 25 percent; Hyatt Regency Mission Bay Spa and Marina is offering a price reduction and a $25 spa credit per reservation; Holiday Inn San Diego-On The Bay is offering one night free; and Holiday Inn Hotel and Suites is offering a fourth night free.

Commissionable activities can be booked as part of the packages, including SeaWorld San Diego, Legoland California, San Diego Zoo and USS Midway Museum. Packages must be booked before Oct. 20 by 6 p.m. CT for travel  through March 31, 2012.

One-day advance purchase is required.

Southwest Airlines Vacations offers vacation packages to more than 80 destinations with flight service available from every scheduled Southwest Airlines departure city.

Customized vacation package may include flight, hotel, car rentals, show tickets, attraction passes or tours. Southwest Airlines Vacations is located in Orlando and operated by The Mark Travel Corporation (TMTC).

For more information, call 800-423-5683 or visit www.southwestvacaciones.com

Norwegian Cruise Line is launching a four-day “Freestyle Dash” on Sept. 27 with shipboard credits, reduced deposits and upgrades on select Caribbean sailings. The eligible cruises range from a three-day Bahamas getaway to 11-day Southern Caribbean voyages from five embarkation ports — Miami, Port Canaveral, Tampa, New Orleans and New York City.

The four-day offer provides up to $250 shipboard credit per stateroom, reduced cruise deposits and upgrades on select sailings. Travel agents can use the Marketing Headquarters website at www.partners.ncl.com to access content to support the “Freestyle Dash” limited time offer. New additions include a Caribbean-specific tool kit with flyers, emails, banner ads and social media messaging. For more information, call 888-625-2784.

Newly transformed galleries offer close encounters with seabirds, sharks, jellies, turtles and more

California’s Monterey Bay Aquarium is transforming the way people see the oceans with a new perspective on the vast, virtually unexplored waters of the open sea. On July 2nd, the aquarium’s acclaimed Outer Bay galleries re-open as The Open Sea —shining light on epic migrations of ocean animals across the Pacific and the constant motion of life in the open ocean.

The dramatically reinvented Open Sea galleries carry visitors beyond our coasts to a vast world of deep, open water. Immense swirls of schooling fishes, pulsing jellies, skilled predators such as sharks and tunas, and seasoned travelers like sea turtles and seabirds share this wild territory. In one instant the water appears empty; in another, it teems with life.

“The open sea is a dynamic place where life is in constant motion,” says Senior Exhibit Developer Jaci Tomulonis. “Complex forces drive currents that, in turn, influence living conditions for ocean animals. The Open Sea galleries bring our visitors into the heart of this extraordinary environment through transformed live exhibits, new multimedia experiences and surprising artistic elements.”

In three different galleries, remarkable new species including tufted puffins, sandbar sharks and deep-sea jellies join aquarium favorites such as tunas, stingrays, sea turtles and the occasional great white shark to introduce visitors to life in this sweeping realm.

The “Out to Sea” gallery carries visitors into the ebb and flow of powerful currents where microscopic plankton and delicate jellies thrive. Get an up-close view of tiny phytoplankton that form the base of a food web on which everything from sharks and whales—and even people—depend.

Drift into the heart of a massive bloom of jellies and investigate how changing ocean conditions, some possibly influenced by human activities, may be causing jelly populations to explode. Currents rule in the open sea and a wide range of invertebrates—from microscopic copepods to black sea nettles with lacy oral arms up to 20 feet in length—flourish in this ever-shifting world.

But it’s not just drifters that prosper here; some animals live fast in the open sea. In the million-gallon Open Sea exhibit visitors will meet animals that are built for speed, agility and endurance. Tuna, mackerel, barracuda and sardines flash through the water in streaks of silvery scales. Scalloped hammerhead and sandbar sharks appear to be languid swimmers until they spring into action and turn their supple bodies on a dime. The sandbar sharks, a new species for the aquarium, are easily identified by towering dorsal fins that slice effortlessly through the water.

The aquarium’s pioneering white shark research project resumes in 2011, and a young great white shark is currently on exhibit. The field research team is also tagging and tracking juvenile great white sharks in the wild, gathering information vital to the protection of these top ocean predators as they move through coastal waters in southern California and Mexico.

Joining the frenetic pace of The Open Sea are slow-moving sea turtles, pelagic stingrays and ocean sunfish (Mola mola), which have evolved their own methods of survival in this deep blue world.

The “Ocean Travelers” gallery brings some new animals to the aquarium, as it tells the story of marine animals that make long journeys on the ocean’s migratory highways. Several exhibits are paired with art installations designed to connect visitors with ocean conservation threats that imperil open sea animals.

Perhaps some of the most accomplished ocean voyagers are sea turtles, many of which swim thousands of miles each year. The Ocean Travelers gallery is home to juvenile green sea turtles in a new exhibit. Tufted puffins, striking seabirds that sport distinctive sweeping yellow plumage on their heads during breeding season, make their aquarium debut, too. Dubbed “sea parrots” by early sailors for their stout bodies, short wings and orange or red webbed feet, these engaging birds are expert divers and spend most of their lives in the water. Their new exhibit home gives visitors the opportunity to watch them dive, preen and swim.

“The open sea is one of the few truly wild places left on the planet,” says Tomulonis.

“In addition to introducing visitors to the diverse species that make their homes here, The Open Sea exhibit will offer simple ways to help protect ocean animals so they’re around for generations to come.”

The aquarium is located on historic Cannery Row in Monterey and is open daily except Christmas Day. Hours of operation vary by season.

Daily schedules and aquarium information are available online at

www.montereybayaquarium.org

or by calling (831) 648-4800.

Advance tickets can be purchased online or toll-free by calling (866) 963-9645.

Seasonal specials, details about special events and programs, family activities and live web cams can all be found online at

www.montereybayaquarium.org

The mission of the Monterey Bay Aquarium is to inspire conservation of the oceans.

The former Se Hotel in San Diego has relaunched as Kimpton Hotels and Restaurants’ Hotel Palomar San Diego.

The property offers 183 guestrooms, including 17 skyline suites and 20 luxury flats, all with a contemporary design. The hotel also offers a roof deck lounge, an infinity-edged pool, a spa, a ballroom and more than 20,000 square feet of event space decorated with art from San Diego artists.

Its new restaurant, Saltbox Dining and Drinking, is an American “gastro-lounge” helmed by Executive Chef Simon Dolinky. The restaurant features fresh, seasonal ingredients in “social plates” meant for sharing.

The hotel is also partnering with local cultural organizations to offer special programs. For example, it is partnering with the Museum of Contemporary Art San Diego to offer customized packages featuring museum tickets. For more information, call 800-546-7866.

Blount Small Ship Adventures is offering savings of up to $400 per couple on select 2012 cruises when booked by Nov. 1.

Cruise itineraries eligible for the discount include an 11-night Belize cruise departing Jan. 6, Jan. 20, Feb. 3 and Feb. 17; an 11-night New Orleans-to-Nashville cruise departing March 23; and the 11-night cruise between New Orleans and Chattanooga departing May 9, May 22 and June 4.

For more information, call 800-556-7450, email info@blountsmallshipadventures.com  or visit www.blountsmallshipadventures.com