Jetsettersblog

PARK CITY, UT - Following up one of its most successful seasons in 25 years isn’t the easiest of milestones to beat. But the 2009 U.S. Cross Country Ski team is four competitions into its World Cup season and ready to hit its stride to compete for another page in the annals of history.

“We had our best winter in 25 years of U.S. cross country skiing, and this past summer was even better than the summer before for training. We had great camps, great head-to-head training sessions, and all of our athletes were obviously at a higher level than before,” said Cross Country Head Coach Pete Vordenberg. “So, we have higher expectations this season to have some podium results on the World Cup and a podium at World Championships.”

The Team, which experienced a good amount of World Cup podium success in the 2008 season, has focused on training throughout the summer months to prepare for what it feels can be another monumental season.

“Our World Cup skiers have had tremendous off season training, they are fit, healthy and fired up to test themselves against the rest of the World Cup athletes,” Nordic Program Director John Farra said. “While training can be perfect and testing results point to improved results, the only true measure is the weekly battles with the rest of the world’s best.”

According to Vordenberg, on the whole, the focus for the Team is to pace itself for success.

“This year we are looking at being in Europe, adjusting, training well, and hitting the World Cups with performance at the forefront of our minds. It’s the same for World Championships,” Vordenberg said. “Our preparation has been focused on achieving great results at specific events mostly because looking toward the Olympics, it’s one race on one day and we have to learn to peak for specific events.”

Among the athletes to watch are World Cup performers Kris Freeman (Andover, NH), Andy Newell (Shaftsbury, VT), Torin Koos (Leavenworth, WA), Chris Cook (Rhinelander, WI) and Kikkan Randall (Anchorage, AK).

Geared up and ready to put on a show for the women is Randall who, last season, became the first woman to win a modern day FIS World Cup in a sprint at Rybinsk, Russia December 2007. It also was the first U.S. victory in cross country since Bill Koch in 1983. American Allison Owen-Spencer last won in 1978, before the FIS established the permanent World Cup series.

“I’m looking forward to making sure I am prepared for all the sprints on the schedule this year. Last year there were three skate sprints and this year there are six and one at World Championships,” Randall said. “The fact that I did well in the skate sprints and won makes me feel strongly that I can win. I’m looking forward to winning some more World Cups this year.”

Randall began her World Cup season in Kuusamo, Finland, finishing 33rd in her first sprint and 23rd in a 10K. Her competition travels then took her to Davos, Switzerland, where, after an unlucky tangle with another athlete, she was 26th. She will be one of the favorites in this weekend’s Dusseldorf sprints.

Another athlete who has been preparing heavily after landing on the World Cup podium in Finland last March is Newell who aims for the top of the podium each weekend.

“Last year’s second place finish has motivated me a lot because I know I have what it takes, but this year I’m going for a win,” Newell said. “It’s hard to say how I will stack up in the overall, but I’m going to try to take it one World Cup at a time and see what I can do. If it’s classic or skate, I’m going to try to win each weekend.”

Newell kicked off the season with some good momentum, finishing 11th in a sprint in Kuusamo, but an unexpected slip as he was in the lead at the top of the race hill in Davos, Switzerland, pushed him back to 26th.

With World Championships coming over the horizon, Newell also says that part of his plan is to hit a stride that has him at his best for the title event - a competition he has spent his whole training period focusing on.

“My preparation for this season has been more focused than ever before. My coaches and I have tried to simplify our training a little bit to try and figure out what kind of intervals work best for me and how to peak best for World Champs,” Newell said. “That’s the main focus for the year - the sprint at World Champs.”

Backing up the World Cup Team in its pursuit of success is the Continental Cup Team, which features athletes Liz Stephen (East Montpelier, VT), who took the bronze medal at the U23 World Championships, marking her first international medal, and Garrott Kuzzy (Hayward, WI), who had back-to-back wins during the Madison, WI, SuperTour.

For now, however, the athletes plan to take it one day at a time as a Team.

“This is going to be an exciting year. I think our team has come a long way as a whole.” Randall said. “As well as my individual World Cup, I’m just excited for a year as a team because I think we’re going to have a lot of success on all levels. I’m just excited to be a part of it.”

15 Trophy-winning Properties, 4 New Grands Chefs Relais & Châteaux

In exclusive partnership with prestigious brands, Relais & Châteaux has just revealed the list of the winners of the Relais & Châteaux Trophies which are awarded every year in recognition of expertise and excellence in the art of hospitality and fine dining.

Welcome Trophy with Moët & Chandon
The art of receiving is one of the fundamental virtues of Relais & Châteaux; ensuring your stay is unforgettable is always the priority in these properties.

Hotel Jagdhof Glashütte - Germany

Grand Chef Trophy with Taittinger
Amongst the Relais & Châteaux members, the contemporary elite of fine dining are grouped within the family of the Grands Chefs Relais & Châteaux. Passion, creativity, experience and expertise are the essential criteria for admission to the highly select circle of these Grands Chefs.

Firmin & Philippe Arrambide
Les Pyrénées - France

Jonathan Gushue
Langdon Hall Country House Hotel & Spa - Canada

Christopher Brooks
Blantyre – United States

Jason Robinson
The Inn at Dos Brisas – United States

Rising Chef Trophy with All-Clad
We single out young chefs whose creativity, imagination and commitment earmark them as the future grand masters of fine dining in the world.

Davy Tissot
Villa Florentine - France

Art de la Table Trophy with San Pellegrino
The arts of the table, atmosphere and decoration are all part of our philosophy of “receiving well”. They reflect the soul of our properties and express their personality.

Ristorante Le Calandre - Italy

Spa Trophy with Laurent Perrier
There are 5 categories of spa: Spas de Charme, Spas de Rêve, Thalassotherapy, Thermalism and Beauty.

Georges Blanc & Spa - France

Woman of the Year Trophy with Pommery
A disciplined approach to work organisation, exacting standards, the giving of themselves and a sense of welcome and detail make these women the flagship ambassadresses of our family.

Johanna Maier
Hotel Hubertus - Austria

Passion Trophy with Hennessy
Launched in 2004, the Passion Trophy is awarded to Relais & Châteaux owners who know how to make your stay truly unique: harmonious setting, perfect service, remarkable style.

Sam Beall
Blackberry Farm – United States

Corporate Trophy with Glenmorangie
Relais & Châteaux launched this trophy in 2005 to single out property owners who have distinguished themselves through their high-performance meeting facilities and the quality of the welcome afforded to business meetings or residential seminars.

Sheen Falls Lodge – Ireland

Lounge Trophy with Grand Marnier
With the Lounge Trophy, Relais & Châteaux pays tribute to the expertise of these friendly settings, a real invitation to tasting.

Eden Rock - St Barthélémy - France

Environment Trophy with Orlane
This award pays tribute to properties which have shown tenacity, commitment, impressive initiatives and respect for the environment and the natural setting.

Longueville Manor – United Kingdom

Garden Trophy with Rozes
This pays tribute to properties which have succeeded in reconciling abundant nature, expertise in enhancing the horticultural heritage and respect for the original beauty of the landscapes.

Las Mañanitas Hotel Garden Restaurant & Spa - Mexico

Innovation Trophy with Nespresso
To guarantee unique experiences and intense moments of discovery, each Relais & Châteaux member must know how to reinvent itself and be innovative.

Thierry Marx
Cordeillan-Bages - France

About Relais & Châteaux

Relais & Châteaux is an exclusive collection of 480 of the finest charming hotels and gourmet restaurants in 56 countries. Established in France in 1954, the Association’s mission is to spread its unique art de vivre across the globe by selecting outstanding properties with a truly unique character.

Furthermore, Relais & Châteaux is also a family of hoteliers and Grands Chefs from all over the world who share a passion for and a personal commitment to ensuring their guests are privy to moments of exceptional harmony, an unforgettable celebration of the senses.

From the vineyards in Napa valley to the beaches in Bali, from the olive trees in Provence to the lodges in South Africa, Relais & Châteaux offers all the stops on the finest route for discovering each special place and country.

Lake Placid Lodge is offering special rates for the first two months of 2009. Tucked into the Adirondacks, Lake Placid Lodge offers guests luxurious accommodations for $950 per night in one of the 19 cabins, each featuring a luxurious feather bed, piled high with down pillows, a deep soaking bathtub, and an impressive wood-burning stone fireplace.

Additionally, the lodge will provide all of the ingredients for guests to savor their own Norman Rockwell-esque moments, whether perched in front of the crackling wood fire, toasting marshmallows and making s’mores, or constructing that perfect snowman — corncob pipe and all.

The rate includes accommodations in a Lake View Cabin, full American breakfast, lunch, afternoon tea, four-course dinner, evening bonfire with made-to-order s’mores, complimentary onsite activities including cross country skiing, snow shoeing, hiking trails; and daily ski passes to Whiteface Mountain or Mt. Van Hovenberg. Rates are subject to availability.

For more information, visit www.lakeplacidlodge.com

Mohegan Sun announces the newest culinary star to call Mohegan Sun home: chef, author and television personality Bobby Flay. The Food Network talent will open two new restaurants in partnership with Mohegan Sun — Bobby’s Burger Palace in Casino of the Earth and Bar Americain in Casino of the Sky. Both restaurants are scheduled to open in summer 2009. Bobby’s Burger Palace (BBP) offers an array of burgers inspired by Flay’s extensive travels throughout America.

This new burger restaurant will be approximately 4,100 square feet and will pay tribute to America’s regional flavors and traditions.

  Flay opened his first BBP in Long Island, N.Y., in July 2008 and a second opened in New Jersey earlier this month. Flay will open his second Bar Americain just outside of the hotel lobby in the space currently occupied by Fidelia’s.

The restaurant blends the intimacy of a brasserie, injected with authentic American flavors and styles. Flay’s current Bar Americain in New York, which opened in March of 2005, rejuvenates old classics and celebrates the abundance of America’s diverse heritage.

For more information, call 888-226-7711 or visit www.mohegansun.com

JetBlue Airways announced a multi-year partnership with one of the charter teams in the American League of Professional Baseball, becoming the official airline of the Boston Red Sox and partner of Fenway Park. Red Sox Executive Vice President/General Manager Theo Epstein, Red Sox Manager Terry Francona and JetBlue’s CEO Dave Barger along with Wally the Green Monster celebrated the announcement last week with hundreds of JetBlue crewmembers and fans of Red Sox Nation at Logan International Airport.

To further celebrate the launch of its partnership in 2009, with a nod to the Red Sox’s completion of 109 regular seasons of professional baseball, and in honor of Ted Williams’ number 9, JetBlue held a nine-hour sale last week, with fares starting as low as $9 between Boston and the cities it serves in the American League, including Buffalo, N.Y. (Toronto); Chicago; Los Angeles/Long Beach; New York/JFK; Oakland; Seattle; and Tampa.

CONCORD, N.H. - New Hampshire fishing and hunting licenses for 2009 are here. Get yours today and be ready to enjoy a full year of outdoor adventure, from winter ice fishing to hunting next fall. Licenses are good for the calendar year, from January 1 through December 31, 2009, so the sooner you get yours, the more days of outdoor recreation you’ll be able to enjoy. Licenses can be purchased online at http://www.WildNH.com or from Fish and Game license agents statewide.

Your hunting or fishing license - or, best of all, your “combo” license — is your year-round ticket to the Granite State’s great outdoors. For New Hampshire residents, an annual fishing license costs $35; a basic hunting license is $24.50; and a combination (hunting and fishing) license is $48.50. Nonresidents can buy an annual fishing license for $53; a hunting license for $105.50; or a combination license for $143.50. Residents can buy a one-day fishing license for just $10. Nonresidents have the option of buying one-, three- or seven-day fishing licenses.

For hunters and anglers concerned about maintaining access to pursue their sports, the $10 Wildlife Legacy donation (a check-off on the multiform license) provides an opportunity to support Fish and Game’s Landowner Relations Program. A decrease in access is one of the most significant threats to the future of hunting and fishing in New Hampshire. The Landowner Relations Program works in partnership with hunters, anglers and landowners to maintain hunting and fishing access to private lands. Learn more at

www.wildlife.state.nh.us/Inside_FandG/Wildlife_Legacy_Initiative.htm

Make getting outside a family affair in 2009! New Hampshire fishing and hunting licenses are a great deal for families. Youths under age 16 fish free. They can also hunt for some species without a license, but only under the direct supervision of a licensed hunter over age 18.

Fishing and hunting license fees directly support wildlife and fisheries management and education. For a link to online license sales and a list of local license agents, visit New Hampshire Fish and Game’s website at http://www.WildNH.com

THE ULTIMATE HOLIDAY GIFT

Providing access to an unrivalled world of privileges, benefits, expert knowledge and a global network of insider information, a Quintessentially membership offers the perfect present this Christmas.

Quintessentially is a unique private members’ club and global luxury lifestyle group committed to delivering nothing but the best in high quality services. Available 24 hours a day and 365 days a year, by telephone or email, Quintessentially provides unlimited access to an unrivalled package of privileges, preferential rates and bespoke services, and acts as your very own PA – any time, anywhere.

With three tiers of membership available, starting from $1500 per year Quintessentially provides an affordable and long-lasting support to help guide you through to 2009. From securing last minute hotel reservations and travel deals, to restaurant bookings and access to events and galas around the world, Quintessentially is here to help. Offering an excellent benchmark of service and a unique network of insider information and benefits, Quintessentially aims to bring you nothing but the best, making it not only an invaluable resource but, more importantly, an easily accessible time and money saving solution.

Membership also includes access to the growing number of expert Quintessentially sister companies which can cater to all your needs including the dedicated personal shopping service Quintessentially Gifts, the bespoke experience company Quintessentially Escape, the bespoke wine service Quintessentially Wine and many more including Quintessentially Art, Quintessentially Events, Quintessentially Estates and Quintessentially Flowers. Members are also sent a weekly Quintessentially newsletter, packed full of the latest news, views, events and benefits, as well as the Quintessentially Magazine, published quarterly.

Quintessentially now encompasses a staggering 44 offices in a host of major cities worldwide, in destinations as diverse as Hong Kong, Cape Town, Istanbul, Mozambique, Cairo, Panama, Los Angeles and Sydney with a number of new office launches planned in the coming months, including those in Amsterdam, Auckland, Chicago, Luxemburg and Kuala Lumpur.

Goes Farther And Faster To Achieve Top Results

New travel search engine nowfly.co.uk launches today, looking set to overhaul the standards of speed and accuracy established by other well-known market leaders. At a time when finding the best value option is more important than ever to travellers, nowfly.co.uk delivers equal or better fares than its rivals. And it is seriously quick, too.

Cleanly designed and easy to use, nowfly.co.uk was started by a group of online and travel experts with a clear objective to provide an easy, fun, and best priced way of finding a flight, hotel or car rental. The business is headed by Dan Hart, who has extensive experience in the online and travel sectors.

There are a number of factors which set nowfly.co.uk apart from its competitors:

• The site has gone through extensive usability testing and the results have shown that the site is clearly presented and easy to navigate.

• The content is broad and wide, searching more than 340 airlines with routes, fares and availability and giving the user essential information about booking their flight, hotel or car rental.

• The team studied the way flight results are presented with other travel and airlines websites and recognised that the user wants maximum flexibility when booking their flight itinerary. nowfly.co.uk uses an airline-style search, presenting results for each sector rather than lumping outbound and inbound options together.

• nowfly.co.uk searches low-cost, charter and scheduled airlines, giving a well-informed choice to the traveller, along with the flexibility to choose the best departure and arrival times.

• The site has third-party integration with leading, well-known travel sites as well as airlines, hotels and car rental suppliers.

• The website has geo-coded results for all the leading hotel chains and major consolidators, using the Google Maps Application Programming Interface (API) to visually place hotel results.

• Car rental options are found by using the leading car rental suppliers and consolidators globally.

• nowfly.co.uk uses the Ajax web application, retrieving data from the server asynchronously in the background. This means it loads before the user’s very eyes, without the need for a separate wait page.

Utilising cutting-edge technology, nowfly.co.uk is the first site in the UK to employ the full suite of the TRAVELfusion API. Dan has worked closely with TRAVELfusion over the past year. “I knew they were a great, innovative travel technology company and felt that they were the right people to work with,” Dan comments. “I believe that the combination of good content from TRAVELfusion, matched with a great user-face, is a compelling proposition for travellers booking trips online.”

Comments Moshe Rafiah, TRAVELfusion CEO: “This is exactly the kind of partnership that we envisioned when we created our XML API programme. By combining the most advanced travel search technologies developed by TRAVELfusion with innovative applications such as nowfly.co.uk, we have created a winning formula for success.”

TRAVELfusion is a world leader in constructing powerful travel search and web fare booking tools which search, aggregate, compare and book travel content from the web. Based around the company’s patented TRIPplannerXML platform, TRAVELfusion has integrated hundreds of travel suppliers including air, hotel, car, rail and ferry as well as adding its unique content generated directly by travel suppliers.

Money-saving price comparison websites have grown in reach and reputation over the last few years. According to a 2008 study undertaken by e-consultancy.com, Comparison Shopping Engines (CSEs) contributed to around 10% of online sales for retailers. Approximately 43% of these retailers claimed that their sales had increased in the last 12 months.

The next phase for nowfly.co.uk is to introduce further useful travel tips as well as community-based content to help users make better informed decisions.

The company will also run a number of marketing campaigns to keep users abreast of great travel offers, including ancillary products such as travel insurance, car parking and foreign currency. Product innovation and enhancement is key and will be driven forward to keep nowfly.co.uk looking fresh, without losing sight of the founding principle – fast and highly competitive travel search results every time.

About www.nowfly.co.uk:

nowfly.co.uk was established at the beginning of 2008. The management team comprises a mix of travel and online experts with extensive experience within these fields. The business is headed by Dan Hart, who has worked within the travel and online sectors for over 15 years. Dan worked within the Virgin Group for 12 years, initially starting his career at Virgin Atlantic and most recently with thetrainline.com.

The new 2009 brochure from Walks Worldwide, the walking holiday specialists, offers a superb portfolio of private guided treks, guided and self-guided, open-dated departures and ‘In Style’ walking tours (the connoisseur’s choice).

 For 2009, Walks Worldwide has added 54 new tours, including a greatly expanded programme in Eastern Europe and South America, plus a whole new section dedicated to their increasingly popular ‘In Style’ tours – great for trekkers who prefer a bit of luxury at the end of a day! Many guided tours are now open-dated, offering greater flexibility and, unlike many ‘rival’ operators, available for a minimum of two travelling together. Perfect for those who want independence with the benefit of their very own local guide.

The dedicated team at Walks Worldwide combines years of firsthand experience and is genuinely enthusiastic about each of the countries they visit - all keen walkers too! Want to know the best Inca route to Machu Picchu, be one of the first to try Husky Trekking in Finland – walkies here takes on a whole new meaning, unravel the secrets of Romania’s mythical Maramures – an ancient land of wooden churches, or visit the only town in the US where the mail is still carried by mule? Ask Walks Worldwide, they’ve been there, done that…

Headliner trips for 2009 include:

FINLAND - Husky Trekking: 8-day guided tour with scheduled departures in June & Aug 09 - £895 p/p (land only).

A brand new tour exclusive to Walks Worldwide - dog-assisted walking with your very own Husky in Finland’s wild forests. Arctic dogs have traditionally been used for many purposes, and when there is no snow, they’re used for carrying packs and also to help humans walk faster by utilising a special leash tied to a harness. It’s not a walk in the park, and to fully enjoy this incredible experience, you need to be strong and a dog lover – Nordic Hiking is sooo last year!

ROMANIA – Mythical Maramures: 8-day guided tour departing May-Oct 09 (min 2 persons) - £1,095 p/p (land only).

A new walking holiday in the remote Maramures region of Romania, offers a journey back in time into a rural medieval life that will enchant even the most jaded world traveller. Visit the ‘Merry Cemetery’ as seen on Michael Palin’s BBC TV series New Europe, and the ancient hand-built wooden churches, many of which are now World Heritage sites.

USA – Canyons of the South West: 14-day self-drive tour with guided walking departing 09 daily - £2,895 p/p (land only).

This itinerary combines the independence of a self-drive tour with guided off-trail trekking in some of the country’s best national parks. Explore the Grand Canyon, Escalante River and famous ‘Grand Staircase’, Navajo and Havasupai Indian Reservations, Bryce and Zion NPs. Later, visit the only town in the US where mail is still carried by mule and stay in ‘The Most Beautiful Place in America’ – Sedona.

PERU – Salkantay Luxury Lodge Trek: 17-day guided group tour departing March-Dec 09 – from £2,995 p/p (land only).

Why follow in the footsteps of the Inca Trail hordes when you can trek to Machu Picchu along the magnificent Salkantay Trail? With breathtaking views around every corner this tough trail is hugely rewarding, even better when trekking ‘In Style’, from one luxurious eco-lodge to another. Take a dip in the stunning glacial lagoon at the foot of mystical Salkantay (6,271m), the second most important Inca peak, or enjoy the scenery amidst the bubbles of an outdoor Jacuzzi, just one of the little luxuries available on a superb new tour.

Country Walkers’ new program, Walking à la Carte, is designed for consumers who are being extra careful about where they spend their vacation budget because of the lagging economy.

Through the new program travelers can tailor their adventures with cultural sites, kayaking, wine tasting or private museum visits in destinations such as Italy and Hawaii. Country Walkers launched the innovative program in spring 2008 in response to recommendations from past and prospective guests. The program includes 12 unique itineraries in 2009. Each of the following adventures — including a brand new tour in India for 2009 — offers several Walking à la Carte options.

India: Magical Rajasthan à la Carte — While India’s cities have made headlines recently, the country’s Golden Triangle of the north offers a tranquil and vibrant escape. Bird-watch in Keoladeo National Park, stroll through small villages and countryside, and take in a safari in Ranthambore National Park. Walking à la Carte options include a walk in and around Ranthambore Fort, a visit to local tribal villages, the Johari Bazaar in Jaipur, and cultural immersion in Samode.

The package is priced from $5,998 per person.

Holland: Windmills & Waterways à la Carte — Step lively amid the windmills, waterways, and beautiful spring tulips of Holland. This seven-day escape includes Walking à la Carte options throughout Haarlem, including a visit to the Frans Hals Museum, a guided tour of the Amelisweerd Estate along the Rhine River, and a stop at the Centraal Museum, located in an Augustine monastery.

The package is priced from $4,198 per person.

California: Sonoma & Point Reyes à la Carte — From vineyards to the sea, this six-day amble reveals the beauty of northern California through winery tours, kayaking, cultural tours and springtime whale and elephant seal spotting along the coast. Walking à la Carte options include sea kayaking on Tomales Bay and guided horseback riding at Point Reyes National Seashore.

This package is priced from $2,498 per person.

Maine: Coastal & Island Exploring à la Carte — Experience the beauty of the shore and the enduring fascination of maritime life on this five-day coastal adventure. Walking à la Carte options include an exploration of Camden — a.k.a., the “Jewel of the Maine Coast” — a visit to the Farnsworth Art Museum and Wyeth Center, and a personalized visit to a local artist’s studio.

This package is priced from $2,298 per person.

For more information, see www.countrywalkers.com