Jetsettersblog

To supplement its 2009 Free Birthday admission campaign, which has motivated more than 275,000 guests to register for the offer, Walt Disney Parks & Resorts has developed a series of ticket alternatives associated with the campaign that are designed to help travel agents recommend the best packages to suit client needs. Clients booked on a vacation package that includes multi-day tickets can choose one of the following birthday perks instead: a birthday fun card with a value equivalent to a free birthday ticket, valid only on the client’s date of birth, which can be used in the theme parks for merchandise, Disney’s PhotoPass onsite services and recreation activities;

 a Birthday Fastpass ticket, which provides four Fastpass entitlements to select attractions for every person in the birthday party (maximum of six guests per party); and a One Day/One Park ticket that can be used anytime within the next 12 months from the client’s date of birth.

This ticket may be used by the birthday celebrant only. Clients should register at www.disneybirthdaytreats.com to help expedite the process for receiving any of these options. Clients make the selection of these options once they arrive at the theme park of their choice.

Disney will market its “What Will You Celebrate?” campaign with advertising in consumer newspapers, television and radio across the country to help drive additional clients to their travel agents.

Television ads airing during top-rated shows, such as “Grey’s Anatomy,” “Desperate Housewives” and ”Dancing with the Stars,” as well as promotional partners like Kellogg’s and Orbitz, are expected to generate further buzz and excitement for the campaign.

Disney also will conduct a 30-city U.S. tour with characters, balloons and interactive kiosks, where clients can register their birthdays online.

AARP Services Inc. and Grandtravel have announced a new relationship that will provide AARP members with vacations, discounts and experiences that enrich the special bond between grandparents and their grandchildren. Grandtravel is a premier provider of luxury vacations for grandparents and grandchildren and is committed to enriching multigenerational bonds through hands-on adventures.

Under the agreement, AARP members will receive a $200 per person discount off Grandtravel ’s escorted tour vacations, which, in 2009, include trips to Alaska, Italy, London/Paris, New Zealand and Washington, D.C./Williamsburg. Grandtravel offers smaller, intimate group travel experiences. Activity directors, who are certified teachers, accompany each group, enhancing the educational component for children.

For more information, call 800-247-7651 or visit www.grandtrvl.com/aarp

Choice Hotels International, Inc. has announced a new, permanent U.S. Armed Services program as part of its Choice Privileges rewards program. Effective immediately, active duty or reserve military members, retired military, National Guard, U.S. Coast Guard, and eligible spouses and dependents can join the Choice Privileges rewards program at the Elite Gold level, a level that normally requires stays totaling 10 hotel nights per year. As part of the new program, members receive a 10 percent point bonus on qualifying stays at more than 5,000 locations across the 10 Choice Hotels brands, Elite customer service and reservations phone numbers, and Elite member offers.

For more information, visit www.choiceprivileges.com/armedservices

Clients will save up to 35 percent when they book a 2009 winter getaway with Spirit Vacations to a Couples Resort in Jamaica. Clients enjoy free value-added inclusions such as off-site excursions, scuba diving, glass-bottom boat tours and more. Sample deals to the all-inclusive Couples Resorts with Spirit Vacations include Couples Tower Isle, where guests receive 35 percent off all-inclusive rates in a deluxe garden room on Monday departures, March 16 through 30. A three-night stay is priced at $991 from Fort Lauderdale; $1,009 from Orlando or Tampa; and $1,048 from Atlanta, Atlantic City, Boston, Chicago, Detroit, Myrtle Beach, New York/LaGuardia or Washington, D.C./Reagan National.

Couples Negril guests will get 25 percent off in a deluxe garden room on Monday departures, Jan. 5 through Feb. 9 and Feb 23 through March 30, on three-night stays of $1,016 from Ft. Lauderdale; $1,034 from Orlando or Tampa; $1,073 from Atlanta, Atlantic City, Boston, Chicago, Detroit, Myrtle Beach, New York/LaGuardia or Washington, D.C./Reagan National.

At Couples Sans Souci, guests will receive 25 percent off an ocean suite on Monday departures, Jan. 5 through Feb. 9 and Feb. 23 through March 30, on three-night stays: $1,046 from Ft. Lauderdale; $1,064 from Orlando or Tampa; $1,099 from Atlanta, Atlantic City, Boston, Chicago, Detroit, Myrtle Beach, New York/LaGuardia or Washington, D.C./Reagan National. At Couples Swept Away, guests will receive 20 percent off a garden suite on Monday departures, Jan. 5 through Feb. 9 and Feb. 23 through March 30, on three-night stays: $1,098 from Ft. Lauderdale; $1,116 from Orlando or Tampa; $1,155 from Atlanta, Atlantic City, Boston, Chicago, Detroit, Myrtle Beach, New York/LaGuardia or Washington, D.C./Reagan National.

Spirit Vacations offers complete vacation packages to destinations throughout the Caribbean, Latin America, Central and South America, Mexico and the United States.

Delta Air Lines customers flying business class between the U.S. and London’s Heathrow Airport will enjoy the comfort of a 180-degree full flat bed on every flight beginning summer 2009. Delta customers also will have the convenience of a third daily nonstop flight between New York’s John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) and London-Heathrow, operated by joint venture partner Air France. The service will complement Delta’s two existing flights between New York and Heathrow and one flight between Atlanta and Heathrow and will give customers the scheduling flexibility of a morning, early evening or late evening departure. “The introduction of full-flat service onboard the Delta 767 fleet will enhance our position in the highly competitive U.S.-to-Heathrow market,” said Glen Hauenstein, Delta’s executive vice president-network planning and revenue management.

Effective summer 2009, Delta’s flights between the United States and Heathrow will be upgraded to feature Boeing 767-400ER aircraft with 40 new 180-degree full flat beds in the aircraft’s BusinessElite cabin. The seats, designed by Thompson Aerospace and engineered and manufactured by Contour Premium Aircraft Seating, recline to 77-inch-long beds in a one-two-one configuration giving every BusinessElite customer direct aisle access.

Delta is reconfiguring seven of its 767-400 aircraft with the full-flat beds.

In total, Delta and Air France plan to offer customers four daily nonstop flights between the United States and London-Heathrow next summer – one from Atlanta and three from New York-JFK. Delta also currently offers service between London’s Gatwick Airport and Atlanta twice daily and between London-Gatwick and Cincinnati once daily. Air France has announced that it intends to discontinue service between Los Angeles and Heathrow as it adds the new nonstop Heathrow flight from New York.

American Express Travel is partnering with Royal Caribbean International for the unveiling of the final “neighborhood” aboard RCI’s Oasis of the Seas, which the cruise line will launch in November 2009. The cruise ship’s design features “neighborhoods,” which will provide an array of experiences to cater to guests’ personal style, preferences or moods. The unveiling of the final neighborhood, available exclusively to American Express cardmembers, customers and travel agents, will take place Oct. 21 from 8:30 to 9:30 p.m. Eastern Time, via a live WebEx webcast.

The webcast will be co-hosted by Adam Goldstein, president and CEO of Royal Caribbean International, and Lynne Biggar, senior vice president and general manager of the American Express Consumer Travel Network. Oasis of the Seas’ neighborhoods already announced include Central Park, Boardwalk, Royal Promenade, the Pool and Sports Zone, and the Vitality at Sea Spa and Fitness Center.

 For more information, call 800-297-2977 or visit www.americanexpress.com/travel

Costa is letting kids sail for free when traveling with their parents in the Caribbean this winter.

This offer is available on 12 sailings — including Christmas and New Year’s — aboard the Costa Fortuna, which departs from Fort Lauderdale on alternating Eastern and Western Caribbean routes each Sunday.

 Fares for parents begin at $669 per person. Costa features a children’s program, or “Squok Club,” structured to accommodate younger guests from a variety of backgrounds.

Squok is the plush mascot of the club, a mix of dolphin and shark.

The 105,000-ton Costa Fortuna has a double-occupancy capacity of 2,720, 11 bars, four restaurants, a theater extending over three floors, three swimming pools, a casino, disco, ballroom and a gym.

Panama City Beach is offering a mega-weekend of fall events to suit all styles. Most of the action takes place Nov. 7 to 9 and include Emerald Coast Cruizin’, Nov. 3 to 9, a classic car and hot rod show at Frank Brown Park; Holly Fair, Nov. 7 to 9, a gift fair at Boardwalk Beach Resort & Conference Center; and Taste of The Beach: International Food & Wine Experience on Nov. 7 at Pier Park.

Additional fall events can also be found by calling 800-PCBEACH or visiting www.visitpanamacitybeach.com

TACA, the international airline with a 77-year history in Central, South and North America, unveiled a new brand image and a series of new services on board and on the ground as it seeks to provide a new customer experience and compete in a demanding and competitive airline industry. The new brand identity was developed by TACA’s marketing team with the help of New York-based Lippincott, one of the world’s leading brand management consulting firms. With 39 destinations to 22 countries in North, Central and South America, as well as the Caribbean, TACA will begin to offer passengers a new experience that includes improvements to onboard services, fleet upgrades and an overhaul of the airline’s customer service philosophy.

This new repositioning strategy has been a collaborative process. The new brand identity was developed by TACA’s marketing team with the help of New York-based Lippincott, one of the world’s leading brand management consulting firms. The new uniforms were created by Colombian designer Isabel Henao. TACA’s fleet is made up of the latest aircraft available in the Americas and includes 38 Airbus 319s, 320s and 321s, as well as two Embraer E190 jets, with the latest in aerospace technology, safety features and amenities for its passengers.

For more information, visit www.TACA.com

Costa is featuring two trans-Atlantic sailings aboard the Costa Fortuna at fares starting at $699.

Offered are a 15-night positioning voyage departing Savona, Italy, on Dec. 6, to Fort Lauderdale, and a 17-night sailing departing Fort Lauderdale on March 17 en route to Savona.

The first voyage visits Barcelona; Santa Cruz de Tenerife, Canary Islands; Pointe-A-Pitre, Guadeloupe; St. Maarten; Catalina Island; Dominican Republic; and Nassau, Bahamas.

The March 15 voyage stops in Nassau, Catalina Island, St. Maarten, Pointe-A-Pitre, Barbados, St. Cruz de Tenerife, Funchal, Barcelona and Savona.

The 105,000-ton Costa Fortuna features 1,359 cabins — 857 ocean view and 458 with large verandas. The ship offers 11 bars, four restaurants, a theater, three swimming pools, a casino, disco, ballroom and a gym.