Jetsettersblog

The islands of Tahiti will feature the first annual Bora Bora Liquid Festival this year, scheduled to take place at Matira Beach from Dec. 12 to 18. The Liquid Festival celebrates authentic Tahitian culture with an abundance of activities designed to transport attendees into the heart of French Polynesia.

The festival offers a week-long program filled with competitions and races featuring aquatic athletes, such as Alex Kostich, competing in events including long-distance swims, circle-island Va’a Polynesian outrigger races and SUP sprints. The event will also feature DJs spinning at beach parties, festive barbecues, traditional Tahitian dancing expositions, kids’ programs, water sports lessons, and deeply discounted tours and activities open to everyone, including guided Waverunner tours and unforgettable shark and ray feeding adventures.

The mid-December timing is also ideal for active and family travelers to experience a great getaway that doesn’t conflict with Christmas or the New Year’s holidays.

Known originally as the Bora Bora IronMana, the Bora Bora Liquid Festival began in 2000 as the only Va’a-1 (one-man traditional Polynesian outrigger) endurance paddling event in the world covering over 56 kilometers, or 34 miles. The brainchild of Bora-based aquatic athlete Stephan Lambert, the event has grown over the past decade into a much larger, inclusive event open to all that celebrates local culture as well as sporting excellence.

Packages are available starting at $1,650 for a full week (Dec. 12 to 18). Created by KainaluXT in partnership with Tahiti Legends, Sofitel Luxury Hotels and global travel blog www.wandermelon.com , the packages include inter-island air, hotel, a full Liquid Festival pass for all activities and partial meals.

For information, visit www.boraboraliquidfestival.com

Britain’s Virgin Trains unveiled plans to add thousands more seats to its service during next year following an announcement of an eight-month extension to its West Coast franchise. Virgin Rail Group (VRG), which operates Virgin Trains, has signed an agreement with Britain’s Department for Transport to extend the current West Coast franchise. The franchise was due to expire at the end of March 2012, but will now be extended until December 8, 2012.

The agreement means that new trains and carriages will be introduced to help continue growth England’s West Coast, where the number of customers has more than doubled in the last seven years, from 14 million in 2004 to around 30 million in the current year. Despite the recession, in the last three years Virgin Trains has been the fastest-growing operator, with annual growth above 10 percent, following major timetable improvements in 2008.

Under the extension agreement, Virgin Trains plans to add two Standard carriages to each of 31 existing Pendolino trains between April and December 2012, as well as four new trains. The agreement is based on a forecast of 11 percent year-on-year growth — more than three times the long distance operator average — and is very challenging given the current economic climate. Work on introducing longer and new trains is not due to complete until December 2012, with the full benefits not being realized until the start of the new replacement franchise starting on Dec. 9 2012.

The new trains and carriages will add 150 extra seats to the 294 standard seats currently on each of these trains. First class accommodation will remain the same as now. In addition, it is planned to commission four new 11-carriage trains into the Pendolino fleet next year, each providing almost 600 seats per train in Standard and First Class. The first of the extra carriages are set to be introduced next spring and more carriages will be introduced gradually during the eight months of the extension as they are delivered into the U.K. from Italy, where they are being built by train manufacturer Alstom.

When all 106 carriages are introduced, from the start of the new franchise in December 2012, the number of standard seats in the 56-strong Pendolino fleet will increase by more than 40 percent. Some 28,000 extra seats will be available every day — more than 10 million extra seats a year. Work will now begin to train and prepare staff for the new and longer trains.

The franchise agreement also means that Virgin Trains will continue its service beyond the 2012 London Games, maintaining the quality of service that has won 90 percent customer satisfaction ratings, the highest of any long-distance franchise. This month, Virgin Trains received its latest award, the British Quality Foundation’s Achievement Award for Customer Satisfaction. For more information, visit www.virgintrains.co.uk

Norwegian Cruise Line is extending the Nickelodeon family entertainment to a third ship, Norwegian Gem, beginning in February. Nickelodeon-themed shows and activities were first introduced in April 2010 on Norwegian Jewel and in July 2010 on Norwegian Epic.

Each Norwegian Gem cruise will feature a live Nickelodeon-themed show in the main theater, Nick Live Poolside! with games and activities by the pool, character breakfast with characters such as SpongeBob SquarePants, and Dora’s Dance Party. Other family activities include Nick Jr. Story Time, family trivia and arts and crafts sessions.

Norwegian Gem will begin offering Nickelodeon programming year-round beginning on the Feb. 19 cruise. The ship is sailing seven-day Bahamas and Florida voyages from New York City through Sept. 1. Ports of call include Port Canaveral, Great Stirrup Cay and Nassau.

Three of Florida’s golf resorts have united under the management of Salamander Hotels & Resorts. Sheila C. Johnson, Salamander’s owner and CEO, announced the formation of the Grand Golf Resorts of Florida , which features Innisbrook Resort near Tampa, Reunion Resort in Orlando, and Hammock Beach Resort in Palm Coast.

As a result of a partnership with Lubert-Adler, L.P., a real estate equity firm which owns the resorts, Salamander has assumed the management of Reunion Wyndham Grand Resort and Hammock Beach Resort. Salamander has owned and operated Innisbrook Resort since 2007.

The Salamander Collection has a new website at www.GrandGolfResorts.com  and offers 162 holes of golf designed by Jack Nicklaus, Arnold Palmer, Tom Watson and Larry Packard.

Salamander also unveiled the Legends of Golf Trail, which traverses 200 miles between the resorts and across the Sunshine State.

There is only a 90-minute drive between each multi-course location.

For more information, visit www.salamanderhotels.com

La Quinta Resort and Club in Las Quinta, Calif. (Palm Springs area) has announced the It’s a Wonderful Winter at La Quinta package, valid Nov. 28, 2011, through Feb. 29, 2012.

Included are a $50 resort credit, a basket of gingerbread cookies delivered at turndown, a holiday snow globe, and an “It’s a Wonderful Life” DVD. Nightly package rates start at $209 per room, per night.

The resort also is celebrating the holidays with a re-creation of Bedford Falls from the film “It’s a Wonderful Life” with live entertainment, screenings of the film, a free appetizer at Twenty6 for every gift valued at $25 or more for its Toys for Tots drive, holiday interactive cooking demonstrations, and holiday menus in its restaurants (including breakfast with Santa) and a New Year’s Eve celebration,, among other festivities.

To book the package, call 800-598-3828 and refer to promo code WW11.

For general hotel information, visit

www.laquintaresort.com

B Ocean Fort Lauderdale, the first hotel of the new B Hotels & Resorts brand, is offering nightly rates starting at $189 as well as special amenities that travelers can use to better enjoy the holidays.

The B Thankful (Promo Code: B Thankful) promotion features two complimentary Thanksgiving-inspired “B’licious” cocktails; a $20 B’stro on the Beach wine card; and a B’stro bag to-go with two gourmet hand-carved turkey sandwiches and an array of fall desserts.

Some restrictions may apply.

Subject to availability. The offer is subject to availability and must be booked by Nov. 20, 2011.

The B Cruisin’ (Promo Code: B Cruisin) promotion, designed for those embarking on a cruise, includes a B Beach Bag, B Flip Flops, one-way transfers to the Port Everglades (drop-off only) for two guests. There’s $10 fee for each additional passenger.

The offer is subject to availability and must be booked by Nov. 30, 2011.

The B Social Girlfriend Getaway (Promo Code: Getaway), available through the end of the year, includes complimentary upgrade to a Stunning/Captivating Curve Double guestroom; two sparkling pink sake welcome cocktails upon arrival, a$20 wine card for B’stro on the Beach, 50 percent off one 60-minute treatment in the hotel’s new B Indulged Spa Suite, coupon books for the nearby Galleria Mall.

B Ocean Fort Lauderdale features 240 guestrooms with views of the Atlantic Ocean. All rooms feature the Blissful Bed by B Hotels & Resorts, white leather-front designer furnishings, a 37-inch or 42-inch HD LCD television and more.

The hotel features SAIA, a signature sushi teppanyaki restaurant; B’stro on the Beach offering breakfast, lunch, dinner and wine bar; an infinity edge pool; Quench Pool & Patio Bar; free wireless Internet throughout all guestrooms and public areas and complimentary use of iPADs.

For reservations or more information, call 888-66-BHOTEL or visit www.boceanfortlauderdale.com

The Memphis Convention & Visitors Bureau announced the release of the Memphis Travel mobile application, which will be available to download for free in the iTunes Store and coming shortly to the Android Market. As the city’s official travel app, Memphis Travel is one of the most comprehensive tools of its kind, giving users access to hundreds of attractions, food, hotels, juke joints, exclusive deals and more.

Features of the new Memphis Travel app include a location-based system that acts as your guide through a musical journey of the Bluff City; articles and guides to help uncover more of Memphis’ authentic underground culture; hundreds of attractions, restaurants and points of interest, from Graceland to Beale Street and hidden gems; ability to sort by name, type, price range or those attractions closest to your location; coupons and special offers so you can get down to taking care of business; and photos, videos and in-depth descriptions give you all the information you need, right at your fingertips.

The Memphis Convention & Visitors Bureau partnered with Miles Media, a multimedia agency that specializes in hospitality and destination marketing, to create the app. It is currently available on all Apple iOS devices (iPhone, iPad, iPod Touch), and will be available for download in the Android market in November. Visitors can download the app by visiting www.memphistravel.com/app  or by searching “Memphis Travel” in the iTunes Store. For more information, visit www.memphistravel.com

The Acapulco Destination Marketing Office announced the launch of “This is My Acapulco,” their new social media contest. Hosted on the Visit Acapulco Facebook page, the contest encourages fans to share their favorite photo of Acapulco for a chance to win a trip for two to the popular Mexican resort.

Beginning Nov. 1, fans will have the opportunity to submit a photo and story showing off their favorite memory of Acapulco (i.e. a picture from their honeymoon, a family vacation or a recent weekend getaway.) After a four-week submission period ending Nov. 29, a public voting period will commence and run through Dec. 9 to determine the grand prize winner.

The entrant with the highest number of votes will receive a grand prize package including five-night stay for two at the iconic Las Brisas Acapulco, including roundtrip airfare, dinner for two at Zibu and a private dinner on the beach at Casa del Mar courtesy of one of Mexico’s top event planners, Susanna Palazuelos.

For more information, visit

www.visiteacapulco.com

Tall ship specialist Star Clippers (0845 200 6145, www.starclippers.co.uk ) is offering guests complimentary daily yoga and meditation classes in the middle of the Atlantic beneath 56,000 square feet of billowing sails, during the 2012 transatlantic crossing of the line’s flagship, the 227-passenger Royal Clipper, in April 2012.

Surrounded by vast, open expanses of ocean, yoga classes will take place on Royal Clipper’s sun-warmed teak decks under the guidance of qualified yoga teacher Christel Vollmer. Christel will be holding the daily sessions of Ashtanga yoga, also known as power yoga, in the cool morning air, with a second session of yoga and meditation just before sunset. Christel will also deliver lectures on the philosophy of yoga and advice for practice at home.

For those who want to follow a healthy or vegetarian diet during the cruise, Star Clippers’ usual sumptuous breakfast buffets, piled with fresh, seasonal fruits, and magnificent arrays of salads at lunchtime will be available, as well as vegetarian choices at dinner.

Ashtanga yoga is a dynamic and powerful style of yoga based on a sequence of easy-to-learn movements called asanas. Christel’s classes, which take place in English, will be suitable for all levels and no prior experience is required. There is no upper age limit for practicing yoga.

Christel will be on board Royal Clipper for the entire 21 night crossing, from Barbados to Civitavecchia, the port for Rome. Guests can complete the entire voyage, or choose between three sectors: Barbados to Malaga, departing April 7 and arriving April 23 (16 nights, from £1,100pp); Barbados to Rome, departing April 7 and arriving April 28 (21 nights, from £2,092pp) or the shortest segment, Malaga to Rome, calling at Palma and Mahon, April 23 – April 28 (5 nights, from £885pp).

Prices include a 20% early booking discount for reservations made before January 31, 2012, port taxes and full board on the ship. Prices exclude flights.

Tall ship sailing specialist Star Clippers has announced that it will carry a guest lecturer, German-born Steffi Adels, on board Star Flyer for the ship’s forthcoming 2011/2012 Costa Rica season.

Steffi, whose professional background was originally in healthcare, fell in love with Costa Rica at first sight when she travelled there on holiday a few years ago. She was offered the chance to stay on and work in the country and has never looked back, saying she ‘went native’ with great ease, learning fluent Spanish and replacing her passion for schnitzel and fries with one for arroz con pollo, the Costa Rican staple of chicken with rice.

During each voyage, Steffi will talk to the guests about her experiences in Costa Rica, where she worked for a year as a tour guide for German-speaking guests as well as visitors from the USA and Canada. She has guided and travelled in all the most beautiful and popular areas of the country, including the volcanoes, the cloud forests, the rivers and canopy trails, the rainforests and national parks, as well as being a regular visitor to neighbouring Nicaragua.

Steffi, who is known for her energy and enthusiasm, will offer lectures and Q&A sessions every day in both English and German, covering topics such as the flora and fauna of Costa Rica; natural resources; volcanoes; forests; and the people.

The 170-guest Star Flyer spends from November to March each winter sailing the tropical waters of Central America’s Pacific coast, visiting dramatic rainforests, sweeping beaches and secluded inlets and islands, with plentiful opportunities for spotting wildlife and birds, as well as snorkelling over the reefs and hiking the forest trails. Most itineraries include a day at sea so that passengers can enjoy the full experience of a magnificent tall ship under full sail, whether it’s from the crow’s nest or the comfort of a lounger on the sun-warmed teak decks.

Star Clippers offers a seven-night Costa Rica and Nicaragua cruise from £1,140, cruise-only, round-trip from Puerto Caldera, calling at San Juan del Sur, Playa del Coco, National Park Santa Rosa, Samara, Puerto Carrillo, National Reserve of Curu and Isla Tortuga. To book, call 0845 200 6145 or visit www.starclippers.co.uk