TBA Newsbytes – The November 2009 Issue

NEW CLIENT! Qantas Airways – one of the first airlines to operate between Australia and the United States, Qantas invented Business Class in 1979, and in October 2008 introduced A380 service from Los Angeles to Sydney and Melbourne. The only airline offering A380 service from the U.S. to Australia, by late 2009 Qantas will operate daily A380 flights between LA and Sydney and three A380 flights per week between LA and Melbourne.  Providing over 40 flights per week from the U.S., Qantas offers more than 30 nonstop flights from Los Angeles (to Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane and Auckland), five from San Francisco, a daily direct service from JFK and three from Honolulu. A leader in safety, Qantas also holds one of the industry’s most stringent standards for crew training programs. www.qantas.com  

NEW CLIENT! Paul Gauguin Cruises – Now representing the luxury cruise ship, m/s Paul Gauguin, The Brandman Agency is pleased to introduce one of the most highly awarded luxury cruise ships in the world. Built in 1998, the 332-guest m/s Paul Gauguin is designed to allow unhindered exploration of the exotic ports of Tahiti, French Polynesia and the South Pacific and is currently the longest continually operating luxury cruise ship in the South Pacific. www.pgcruises.com

NEW OPENING! InterContinental Huizhou Resort is now open - located 90 minutes from Shenzhen and 120 minutes from Hong Kong, the resort offers 220 executive club guest rooms and villas with contemporary Asian design and breathtaking views of the landscape from private balconies or terraces. For an especially tranquil and private escape, 20 villas offer a dedicated personal butler, private plunge pools and individual pavilions. Five restaurants and bars include Cantonese delicacies (Zhuyuan) and Mediterranean flavor (Olives & Herbs). SPA InterContinental offers both Traditional Chinese Medicine and Western therapies by only using natural products, and the resort also includes a scenic 18-hole Golf Course. www.intercontinental.com

NEW OPENING! InterContinental Hua Hin Resort, Thailand is located on prime beachfront along Petchakasem Road – known for the mix of beach, historical attractions and great golf. Opening Dec. 1st, the resort is 2.5 hours outside Bangkok, and features 119 rooms, including 3 beachfront villas with private plunge pools and a range of suites. Golfers will flock to one of the spectacular surrounding courses: The Royal Hua Hin Golf Course - Thailand’s first championship course, the challenging Palm Hills Golf Resort and Country Club in nearby Cha-Am, or the Springfield Royal Country Club designed by Jack Nicklaus. A royal retreat since the 1920’s and Thailand’s first resort town, Hua Hin remains a favorite for a classic relaxation vacation. www.intercontinental.com

The Chatwal New York to open Spring 2010 – Occupying top billing on the “Great White Way,” the landmark Stanford White-designed building once host to America’s first professional theater club, the Lambs Club – the haunt of Fred Astaire, W.C. Fields and John Barrymore – announces its reopening as a hotel for Spring 2010. Meticulously restored and modernized in Empire Art Deco style by Master Architect and Designer Thierry Despont, the circa-1905 building will be the first member of the prestigious Leading Hotels of the World in Manhattan’s theater district. Up to the moment news can be found at the hotel’s Facebook page, www.tinyurl.com/thechatwalny; on Twitter, at www.twitter.com/thechatwalny. Further information is available at: www.thechatwalny.com

Angsana Riads Collection Morocco introduces new excursions for guests to discover the wonders surrounding Marrakech: The Oasis Excursion is a two-night stay tucked away in the Moroccan Atlas, a traditional Berber experience - leisurely walks to kasbahs and gardens to classes in preparing Berber cuisine, with indulgent Moroccan massages. Horseback excursions can also be arranged. The two-night Desert Excursion visits the UNESCO World Heritage Site of the Kasbah Ait village for a night, a collection of Berber villages the following day, ending in a  desert camp on the site of an ancient nomadic encampment for a Moroccan meal in one of the caïdal tents on sand dunes. Rates from US$636.00 per excursion, per person, inclusive of 3days 4x4 land cruiser use with driver, 2 nights full-board accommodation and round-trip transfers. From November 1, 2009 - April 30, 2010. www.angsana.com

Tennis, anyone? Upgrade your backhand while on holiday: two clay tennis courts are available for guests’ play at La Mamounia, and exclusive to the resort, international tennis legend Henri Leconte is developing “Tennis by Henri Leconte” to organize year-round tennis clinics featuring himself and other global tennis stars. www.lamamounia.com. At tennis courts in Mallorca (La Residencia), Rio de Janeiro (Copacabana Palace) and Portofino, Italy (Hotel Cipriani), Orient-Express can arrange a tennis pro for group or individual lessons. www.orient-express.com Tennis facilities and lessons available at a selection of Orient-Express Hotels worldwide.

Orion Expedition Cruises, the Australia-based five-star, luxury expedition cruise line offering access to otherwise inaccessible unexplored destinations, is adding the 2010 Papua New Guinea itinerary. Featuring voyages to new ports-of-call in the land of 800 languages - Tingwon, Manus, Wuvulu, Sissano, Hansa Bay and Bagabag - the cruise line’s only vessel, the luxuriously appointed MV Orion, will explore geographically and culturally diverse areas - the rugged terrain of Manum Island in the volcanic “Pacific Ring of Fire,” and the exotic Tufi, surrounded by lush rainforest and an ideal destination for scuba diving. Highlights include guest interaction with the region’s friendly villagers and local artisans. Rates for Papua New Guinea sailings start at AUD$6950. www.orionexpeditions.com  

La Samanna, the Orient-Express beachfront hideaway in St. Martin is now open for the upcoming season. The celebrated Caribbean hotel welcomes award-winning Chef René Bajeux, creating exciting new menus for each of the hotel’s restaurants and room service. Mission accomplished? Try the try the Carpaccio of local tuna and conch with green papaya salad and garden herbs plantain crisp with rum. La Cave, one of the Caribbean’s largest wine cellars, has been expanded, and now offers exclusive five- and nine-course private dining options, as well as “The Chef’s Table” - a weekly dinner + wine pairings for 10. The La Samanna Spa has a fresh new look and line of products… and last but not least, introducing La Samanna’s privately made oak-barrel aged rum.  www.lasamanna.com 

La Résidence d’Angkor, in Siem Reap, Cambodia opens the impressive 5,000+ square foot Kong Kea Spa in a new wing of the boutique city resort - along with the introduction of eight new luxury suites. Meaning “water for the god” in the Khmer language, the Kong Kea Spa focuses on the visual and physical healing aspects of water, including a cold plunge pool, private bamboo gardens and six treatment rooms.  www.residencedangkor.com

Last-minute escape before the holidays? The newly opened Banyan Tree Mayakoba, on Mexico’s Riviera Maya, is offering travelers a 50 percent discount off regular Garden Pool Villa via a Limited Online Special through the resort website – book now through December 18, 2009. Regular rates begin at $655.00USD, which means a private villa + breakfasts + one complimentary 90 minute massage for only $328.00USD++ per villa per night. (Three night stay required). www.banyantree.com/en/mayakoba  

A few gems from this month’s Virtuoso-exclusive deals, offered to travelers who book through the leading luxury travel network:   Paying in pence? There’s a deal for you: Through 2010, Virtuoso celebrates the 100th anniversary of London's famed Goring Hotel - stay 3+ nights, and Virtuoso guests pay 1910 rates for the first night - just 37 pence (about $.60) – Starting rates from $395.  In Napa, CA, Virtuoso guests booking 4+ night stays at a selection of BeautifulPlaces' private Napa and Sonoma villas by February 8, 2010 (for travel by March 31) receive a $500 credit – think private dining at Thomas Keller’s The French Laundry. Villas from $759.   Seeing the view in Peru? A new 10-day adventure exclusively for Virtuoso travelers from Big Five Tours & Expeditions includes flights over the Nazca Lines and a yacht outing to the Ballestas Islands, followed by a five-day trip down the Amazon River, complete with piranha fishing. Through December 15, 2010; from $6,350. www.virtuoso.com

InterContinental Paris Le Grand Hôtel appoints Christophe Raoux as Executive Chef, overseeing a team of 110 in the kitchen, the legendary Café de la Paix, restaurant La Verrière, and Le Bar, along with catering and banqueting. Formerly Executive Chef for the Alain Ducasse Group, Raoux’s career is peppered with collaborations with exemplary chefs, from Michel Roth to Gérard Besson. Serving the luxury hotel with 470 guestrooms, two restaurants and 21 reception rooms – Chef Raoux intends to offer Parisian cuisine at its finest - simple, delicious and unpretentious.  www.paris.intercontinental.com

THE BARBADOS BEAT:

Hip, hip hooray: The Sandpiper Hotel, Barbados  has been voted one of the Top Ten Caribbean hotels in the 2009 Conde Nast Traveler Readers’ Choice Awards! Book a stay or find out more at: www.sandpiperbarbados.com

For a jaw-dropping experience, try one of the island’s newest attractions – Aerial Trek Zipline Adventures. Experienced guides lead groups over a total of eight platforms, providing fascinating information on the environment around you.  The tour includes over eight platforms. From US $90 per person.  For booking information, call (246) 433-8966.

Still in need of some heart-pounding island adventure? Island expert Melanie Pitcher, of SurfBarbados.com offers lessons and surf tours, regardless of ability level, all year round. www.surfbarbados.com

Adventure abounds on-ground, too - learn with the Barbados Polo Club, formed in 1884, ensures polo is played to the highest level in Barbados – and what better place to learn than on the four fields on-island? Instructor Jeff Evelyn at Rugby Plantation in St. Thomas will ensure you can “check and turn” through the chukkers! (246) 230 -5370.

NEW OPENING! Announcing the addition of Hotel Das Cataratas to Orient-Express Hotels – On the border of Brazil and Argentina, next to the breathtaking Iguaçu Falls (275 waterfalls over 3 miles), the elegant two-story Portuguese colonial building is the only hotel within the national park  – allowing guests of the 193 rooms (+ 15 suites) exclusive access before the park officially opens at 9am. Brazilian cuisine is available at Restaurante Itaipu and the Ipê Bar & Grill serves churrascaria (South American barbecue) with live music for dinner poolside nightly. Opening in late October, the spa will feature products using Brazilian tropical fruits and Amazon ingredients by Natura. Adventurous types can explore via helicopter tours over the falls, boat rides through the rapids and four-wheel drive jungle adventures. Hotel Das Cataratas re-opens October 1 after thorough renovations. Rates begin at US$375* per room per night, including breakfast. www.hoteldascataratas.com 

NEW OPENING! InterContinental Huizhou Resort opens next month, October 2009 - located 90 minutes from Shenzhen and 120 minutes from Hong Kong, InterContinental Huizhou Resort offers 220 executive club guest rooms and villas with contemporary Asian design and breathtaking views of the landscape from private balconies or terraces. For an especially tranquil and private escape, the resort’s luxurious 20 villas offer a dedicated personal butler, private plunge pools and individual pavilions for outdoor relaxation. Five restaurants and bars include Cantonese delicacies (Zhuyuan), Mediterranean flavor (Olives & Herbs) and all-day-dining at Café Veranda. SPA InterContinental offers both Traditional Chinese Medicine and Western therapies by only using natural products. The resort also includes scenic 18-hole Golf Course. www.intercontinental.com

NEW OPENING! InterContinental Kiev opens this month, offering 272 deluxe rooms in the heart of the Ukraine’s capital city – overlooking St. Michael’s Square, and located between three of the most famous churches in ancient Eastern Christendom. Surrounded by the golden cupolas of the cathedrals, the doors open to some of the city’s best-know landmarks in the city. The hotel’s French restaurant, Comme il faut , is inspired by the legendary Café de la Paix at InterContinental Paris Le Grand, and later at night, b-hush, the ultra-modern rooftop Champagne, caviar and seafood bar offers panoramic views from the outdoor mahogany sky terrace overlooking St. Michael’s Square - a nightly destination for both well-heeled residents and hotel guests.  www.intercontinental.com

La Mamounia, Marrakech’s iconic hotel, re-opens its doors on September 29, 2009, and invites travelers around the world to experience the magic of La Mamounia with a series of Unique Experiences, giving guests their own personalized Moroccan journey. Including airport transfers, spa treatments upon arrival, breakfast and lunches, choose from the Very Morocco Experience, the Beauty Experience, the Flavors of the World Experience – and our favorite, the all-encompassing the Sensory Experience, with different signature scent and iPod along with nightly turndown service, guided tour of Marrakech with photographer, full day trek in the high Atlas & recovery dinner in suite, 90-min massage, 90-min hamman ritual, Hot Stone massage, private yoga lesson, “Flavors of Marrakech” guided tour, dinners at L’Italien Le Français and Le Marocain, and a Moroccan wine tasting with sommelier.www.mamounia.com

La Mamounia also welcomes Margaret Bell of Boca Raton, Florida as the resident performer at Le Bar Churchill for the next six months. Evoking the charm of bygone days (when Winston Churchill was a regular) with a distinctive speakeasy/hidden jazz club, Ms. Bell’s live musical performances will keep the festive spirits (no pun intended) high for guests in the evening. Ms. Bell has toured with Carly Simon, Bebe and Cece Winans, recorded with Whitney Houston and Luther Vandross and has performed on Broadway.

Orion Expedition Cruises has released their 2010 sailing schedule, adding shorter sailings (7-nights) to the cruise line’s popular expeditions – allowing travelers to “access the inaccessible” - including the Antarctic, the Kimberley region of Australia, Arnhem Land, Papua New Guinea and New Zealand. New itineraries visit six new destinations in Papua New Guinea, as well as new parts of the exotic Spice and Tanimbar Islands and for the first time, an expedition that includes Irian Jaya, famous for Asmat art woodcarvings. Standouts include: Australia’s Wild Southeast – Voyage of Discovery (7 nights): Orion’s East Coast expedition embarks from Sydney, sailing down the coast to Jervis Bay and the surrounding natural bushland, continuing south to visit Phillip Island’s famous penguins, ending in Melbourne for the first time ever; and Scott & Shackleton’s Antarctica – Ross Sea (20 nights): Leaving from Tasmania, the voyage covers polar regions famously charted during the first race to the South Pole by pioneering explorers Scott and Shackleton and The Ross Sea coast to the tip of Victoria Land and Cape Adare. www.orionexpeditions.com 

Another reason to toast at Hôtel de la Cité, in Carcassonne – the hotel celebrates 100 years of hospitality since opening in September 1909 with just eight rooms, instead of the 47 offered today. Guests included: Buster Keaton, Walt Disney, Princess Grace of Monaco and Johnny Depp. The Centennial Accommodation Package commemorates the  valid for stays from November 1, 2009 to January 16, 2010, offers guests a special rate for their first night at the hotel - €100 (approx. $143!) when staying two nights or more, and a menu at the Michelin-starred La Barbacane. Standard rates start at €285 per room per night (approx. $407*). To book, enter the promotional code “Century.” www.hoteldelacite.com

InterContinental Paris Le Grand Hôtel announces the third and final pastry in the Love Bites culinary fashion collection. Love3 (love cube), was designed by Marithé and François Girbaud and is prepared by Café de la Paix pastry chef Guillaume Caron. The sweet treat resembles a cubic heart, and has layers of soft white cheese mousse, almonds, chocolate, segments of half-dried grapefruit and raspberry sauce, topped by two sheets of Madagascar chocolate. Shopping after? Have no fear, fashionistas – Love 3 contains only light and low-sugar ingredients. Available exclusively at Café de la Paix from September 16, 2009 – January 12, 2010. www.intercontinental.com

The Perfect Golf Excursion at South Carolina’s Charleston Place joins a round of oceanfront golf for two at South Carolina’s challenging Tom Fazio Links Course at Wild Dunes with two nights at the incomparable Charleston Place Hotel. The package also includes a $50 Gift Card toward use in the Palmetto Cafe, Charleston Grill, Thoroughbred Club, or In-Room Dining. Rates from: $375.00 per room, per night exclusive of taxes, gratuities and transfer to golf course, valid from 9/13 to10/31/09. www.charlestonplace.com

Porto Cupecoy, the Mediterranean-inspired luxury 181-residence development on Saint Maarten announces the completion date of the highly-awaited luxury marina for November 2009. On the western end of Simpson Bay Lagoon, the marina will be the newest and one of the most upscale in the Caribbean. Homeowners and visitors can dock or moor sailboats and yachts (30 - 300 feet in length) in one of white-glove marina’s 54 slips, with 11 available for mega-yachts. Slip purchase includes yacht provisioning, onsite car and tender rental, water shuttles to the airport and through the lagoon. All clients have VIP-vessel concierge services, with electrical, fuel and standard maintenance assistance, and access to the village’s European restaurants and cafes, galleries, designer boutiques, village pool, fitness centre, tennis courts and a grocery store, pharmacy, and banking services. Richly-appointed one- to four-bedroom residences are listed from USD $450,000 to USD $2.5 million, slips from USD $100,000 - $160,000, mega-yacht slip pricing on request. www.portocupecoy.com

Virtuoso® announces the winners of the third-annual Best of the Best Awards – selected by Virtuoso member travel advisors from over 800 world-class properties, these hotels, professionals and chains set new standards in luxury travel: SLS Hotel at Beverly Hills for Best Acheivement in Design; Rossellinis at Palazzo Sasso, Ravello, Italy for Best Culinary Experience – breathtaking water views plus ingredients grown in the kitchen garden; Six Senses Hideaway Zighy Bay, Musandam Peninsula, Oman for Most Innovative Guest Experience – guests can arrive to one of the “rustic chic” pool villas by paraglide;  Park Hyatt Shanghai, Shanghai, China for Hotel of the Year – on the 79^th to 93^rd floors of the Shanghai World Financial Center (one of the world’s tallest buildings) towering ceilings, minimalist decor, and 750 staff for 174 guest rooms set the property apart, along with the world’s highest restaurant, 100 Century Avenue; Fairmont Hotels & Resorts for Most Socially Responsible – outlining their leading implementation in several ‘green’ initiatives; and finally, Singh Kang, Taj Mahal Palace & Tower for Hotelier of the Year -  While under siege in the November 2008 Mumbai terrorist attacks, Mr Kang led his staff courageously to help guests flee danger – despite having lost his wife and two sons in the attack. Best of the Best award winners were revealed at the Hotels & Resorts dinner at Virtuoso’s annual TravelMart conference on August 19 and will be featured in the September/October 2009 issue of VIRTUOSO LIFE magazine (www.virtuosolife.com)

THE BARBADOS BEAT:

The 26^th Annual Powerade Run Barbados Festival takes place from December 4-6, 2009 – hundreds of competitors travel to Barbados to compete in the marathon, half-marathon, 10K and a 5k Fun Run and Walk, followed by a Finishline Party at the Esplanade, with water sports and the best local food, art, and entertainment. Complete schedule at: www.runbarbados.org

It’s not too late to book a Barbados getaway for the holiday season - fantastic package deals are available at: Cobblers’ Cove through 12/19 (www.cobblerscove.com) and The Crane Resort & Residences through 12/20 (www.thecrane.com). For a last-minute Fall escape, the Sea-U Guest House offers rates starting at $109 per night through 10/31 (www.seauguesthouse.com). Daily non-stop flights depart from a number of US cities on American, and JetBlue and US Airways starting 10/1 – book now!

· NEW OPENING! InterContinental Asiana Saigon opens next month (September 2009), featuring 305 elegantly-appointed rooms, including 19 suites and a stylish Presidential suite, the 21-story hotel is minutes from the Notre Dame Cathedral, Old Saigon Post Office and the esteemed Opera House. With spectacular city views from the floor-to-ceiling windows in every room, an InterContinental Spa, daily yoga classes and two restaurants boasting open kitchens and world renowned cuisine, the InterContinental Asiana Saigon is the perfect choice for a cosmopolitan getaway. www.intercontinental.com/saigon

· Virtuoso Vacations – Procrastinating on taking that vacation time? Productivity increases with less-stress, so pencil in a few days away to hype up the in-office activity... with the family: head to InterContinental Paris LeGrand, where a room for the kidlets (under 19) is 50% off. Virtuoso visitors get complimentary Club Lounge access, breakfasts and late checkout (from EUR 506 per two rooms, per night). At Jamaica’s Half Moon Resort, +4 nights on Montego Bay gets Virtuoso guests get a $150 resort credit per room, breakfast daily and round-trip airport transfers...and, kids stay free. (Virtuoso rates from $250 per night, through 9/1/2009.) Or, get Icy Hot: Holland America sails to Alaska – Glacier Bay + Sunny skies = cool times in hot weather. Virtuoso guests can dine on a complimentary lunch at the onboard Pinnacle Grill and a $25 shipboard credit per person (Oceanview fares from $749 per person – departing through September 13, 2009). In County Clare, Ireland, The Lodge at Doonbeg starts for Virtuoso guests with a bottle of champagne in suite, with breakfast and dinner the following day – in between rounds on the Greg Norman golf course – or, treatments at the White Horse Spa. (Virtuoso rates from $170 per person, per night – through September 30). www.virtuoso.com

 

· Chic and Sheik - French fashion design team Terre & Ciel Conseil is sewing on the final sequins and buttons on La Mamounia’s tailor-made uniforms – set to clothe all 777 employees in preparation for the highly-anticipated Marrakech landmark re-opening next month. Over 150 different exquisitely detailed uniforms have been hand-made in Europe and embroidered in Morocco for every hotel role, including distinctive designs for airport collection staff, bellmen, concierge, F&B staff, guest services and garden staff uniforms. La Mamounia re-opens its doors on September 29^th after an extensive restoration project led by internationally acclaimed interior designer, Jacques Garcia. www.mamounia.com

· Celebrating the 20^th anniversary of the fall of the Berlin Wall (Nov 9, 1989), in remembrance of this historic occasion, InterContinental Hotel & Resorts has designed a website (www.intercontinental-germany.com/20-jahre-mauerfall/en) on which people can share their special memories. The names of all participants will be written on a piece of wall that will travel through Germany to all six InterContinental Hotels & Resorts. The last station is Berlin, where the wall segment will be one of the 1,000 stones which will symbolize the border that separated the city. Finally, they will be pushed over just like domino stones, reuniting the city once again. All participants have the chance to win a night at the InterContinental Berlin on this historic date. 

· On the French Polynesian atoll of Tetiaroa, construction of The Brando - a luxury eco-resort with 47 deluxe bungalow villas - has been officially authorized by the Tahitian government after several years of studying the impact of construction to the environment, with an anticipated opening date in late 2011. Purchased by Marlon Brando in 1965, the 13-island chain circled by a coral reef is 35 miles from the island of Tahiti, and this resort will be the only located on the atoll – and will feature eco-friendly ideas Brando had to minimize impact to his much-loved island, such as a sea-water air conditioning system (SWAC), pumping deep sea water to chill the hotel’s air. Luxury amenities will include private plunge pools, a spa, fitness center, resort pool and activities including scuba diving and archaeological tours of royal Tahitian sites. www.thebrando.com

· Faberge, Stravinsky, Pavarotti, Dostoevsky are among those who left their mark on St. Petersburg’s Grand Hotel Europe – now, 10 new historic suites on the hotel’s Historic Floor pay homage with an interior design preserving the original 19^th Century features, and adding an individual elements recalling the illustrious figures in Russian history the hotel has played host to. The Pavarotti Suite (No. 105) includes an antique grand piano in the living room – decorated in opera house style, while the Faberge Suite (No. 112) is decorated in jewel tones, with light furniture encrusted with precious stones and patina. The historic suites start from RUB 51,480 (approximately USD$1,677) per room per night. www.grandhoteleurope.com

· Yabu Pushelberg will be the driving force behind the restoration of Printemps, the iconic Parisian department store (dating back to 1865) located on Boulevard Haussman. With past credits including the renovation of Bergdorf Goodman in New York and the Lane Crawford Home store in Hong Kong's Pacific Place mall among other retail projects, Yabu Pushelberg’s role in the Printemps store relaunch includes architectural design of the store fronts and shop in the departments of prestigious brands of luxury goods - jewelry, luxury leather goods, watches and luxury gadgets, accessories and trendy products on Level 0 and +1. Initial renovations began in August 2008 and YP expects the entire renovation to be completed by Spring 2010. Currently, level -1 is complete under a soft opening and will be officially launched with an in-store event this fall. In November, the opening of half the ground floor and half the 1st floor will be showcased through a series of Christmas events and window displays. Yabu Pushelberg combines traditional Parisian chic with a fresh contemporary environment for the historic Printemps Department Store, with the overall store plan to replace the “department store” aspect with freshness and energy in subtle, elegant design. www.yabupushelberg.com

· Getting in touch with the hunter-gatherer inside of us all is fun and fast-paced during morning crabbing excursions on Maryland’s Eastern Shore. Available through October 1^st, guests of the Inn at Perry Cabin can hop aboard the “Fun4U,” a 25-foot sport boat, for a 3.5-hour long crabbing excursion. Running a trotline and dipping for crabs, a Chesapeake delicacy, is a truly quintessential Maryland experience. Cruises departing from The Inn’s own dock are $125 per person for a minimum of two people or $450 total for a maximum of 6 people. Guests may also request a Miles River Crab Feast to enjoy their catch. The Inn a Perry Cabin will prepare and serve the crabs in the traditional Eastern Shore manner, an outdoor crab feast complete with all the fixings – corn on the cob, potato salad, cole slaw, local micro brews, etc. – to complete the Maryland culinary experience ($110 per person plus taxes and gratuity).www.perrycabin.com  

· In the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains, the heart of Virginia’s wine country, Keswick Hall Sommelier Richard Hewitt and his staff turned10 months, 2 tons of grapes and French Oak barrels into 50 cases of custom-made, private-label Chardonnay and Petit Verdot available exclusively at Fossett’s Restaurant at Keswick. Plans are made to expand the custom cellar wines next year with further varietals. The name, Edith’s Chardonnay and Edith’s Petit Verdot, pays tribute to Edith Fossett, Thomas Jefferson’s chief cook at Monticello during his retirement years. www.keswick.com

· Riviera Maya Rates: At Mexico’s Banyan Tree Mayakoba, Riviera Maya’s newest property in the ecologically sound resort development, and the only all pool villa resort, book a Garden Pool Villa online before September 30 for travel before December 18, 2009 (no minimum stay required) and receive 50% off rack rates (starting rack rates from USD $655), along with a complimentary 90-minute spa treatment for one when staying three nights, and a full breakfast buffet at Oriente restaurant for two. Fusing the Asian spa and wellness philosophy with a beach club, Banyan Tree Mayakoba also offers a Greg Norman-designed golf course, signature restaurants and the privacy of freestanding villas with the lagoons, canals, flora and fauna of the Riviera Maya. http://banyantree.com/en/mayakoba/index.html

THE BARBADOS BEAT:

· The Best of Barbados package has been extended, to book through August 15, 2009 for travel from September 1 – December 18, 2009. Best of Barbados offers visitors incredible advantages: Air credits of up to US $300 per person; complimentary first hotel nights; Complimentary breakfasts; Receive half off a second ground activity when one is purchased; a US$25 Oistins Fish Fry voucher per booking; the Barbados Gourmet Card – 25% off at restaurants per booking: a US$100 pre-loaded debit card for spending in Barbados per booking. (7-night minimum stay, 5-night minimum stay at all-inclusive hotels). www.visitbarbados.org

· Wondering where to find exclusive deals on the best Barbados experiences? Guests can access exclusive deals via social media – from discounts at top hotels, airfare alerts and spa and restaurant additions, The Barbados Beat page on Facebook (http://tinyurl.com/BarbadosBeat) and Twitter (http://Twitter.com/BarbadosTourism) give up-to-the-minute reports on where to stay, what to eat and when to spa on island.

· JetBlue will begin service to Barbados this fall with daily nonstop flights between Grantley Adams International Airport in Bridgetown and New York's JFK on Oct. 1 with the150-seat A320 serving the route. Book now at www.jetblue.com. Also on Oct 1, US Airways resumes nonstop service to Barbados from Philadelphia four times a week, increasing to daily service from Dec. 19 through Apr. 7, 2010. Book now, via www.usairways.com.

 

 

TBA News Bytes ~ January 2009

• NEW OPENINGS! Molori Private Retreats, a new hospitality brand comprised of small luxury retreats, has added two more properties to the collection: a stunning home in tropical Port Douglas, Australia and a posh harbour-side apartment in Sydney, Australia. Molori Mirage is a five-bedroom estate located between the Great Barrier Reef and the Daintree Rainforest in Port Douglas, opening this month. Once the owners’ private home, the property includes three king suites with private baths, two queen rooms, an office/media room, TV room, a steam room. Need a breeze? The rear walls are made of retractable floor-to-ceiling glass, opening to reveal a private infinity pool, Jacuzzi, several deck lounging areas, and views of the adjacent golf course. Molori Mirage accommodates up to 10 guests, and includes the services of a private chef and housekeeper.

• Molori Sydney, a three-level waterfront retreat, overlooks Double Bay and borders a small beach and harbor. Features include a lower-level infinity pool + Jacuzzi, a large living room, dining rooms, a gourmet kitchen, media room, gymnasium, and steam room on the main level, opening onto a furnished terrace with Jacuzzi, outdoor dining space and a gourmet barbeque framed by palm trees, frangipanis and harbor views. On the third level, three king suites have private balconies, baths, walk-in dressing rooms, and plasma TVs. Molori Sydney accommodates six guests, and includes a personal chef, housekeeper and use of the owners’ three boats (with captain). www.molori.com

• NEW OPENING! Playhouse and Sweet Love Hangover by ICRAVE opens in Los Angeles. Shuttered for almost three decades, the iconic Fox Theater building on Hollywood Boulevard will play host to a nightclub and 24-hour restaurant. Playhouse, the three-level nightclub, pays homage to the authenticity of vintage Hollywood, The retro-chic Sweet Love Hangover mixes an oversized “Lite Brite” back bar and bright colors to cater to the midnight-upscale comfort food cravings of Angelinos. www.icravedesign.com

• Food  Network South Beach Wine & Food Festival, from February 19-22? Stop by! The Brandman Agency is one 2009’s Platinum Level Sponsors and the Presenting Sponsor of the Festival Online Auction, bringing together taste-makers in every sense of the word. The 2009 Food Network South Beach Wine and Food Festival Online will feature luxury getaways, insider experiences, gourmet dinners, rare selections of fine wine and other luxury goods, all of which will benefit Florida International University’s Teaching Restaurant and the Southern Wine & Spirits Beverage Management Center. The Online Auction officially kicks off on January 19^th and continues with new items added each week leading up to the Festival. Visit the auction at: http://tinyurl.com/6um7rk

• Casa de Sierra Nevada announces the opening of Casa Palma, the newest addition to its collection of historic Spanish colonial mansions. Just a brief stroll from El Jardin, the town’s center, and located directly beside the hotel’s swimming pool, the 18^th century former private mansion offers six elegant suites, each with copper tubs, heated floors, flat-screen TVs, and outdoor heated plunge pools. Guests of the Casa’s Presidential Suite have access to a 900 square-foot roof top terrace with barbeque grill, vast granite counters and a bar area, plus breath-taking views of the city center and the Parroquia. www.casadesierranevada.com

• La Samanna in St. Martin, is offering two exclusive offers to celebrate the opening of The Villas at La Samanna, available through December 21, 2009. These brand new three- and four-bedroom villas include stunning views, VIP airport transfers, daily private breakfasts, a private concierge, twice daily housekeeping service, a private pool and garden, a private beach cabana with beach butler service (holidays only). A complimentary extra night is offered when booking four, or two complimentary nights when booking five. Automatic upgrades are also available from a three-bedroom cottage to a four-bedroom villa. Reservations are available via La Samanna’s Villa Concierge at 800.780.4028. www.lasamanna.com

• Opening doors worldwide, FOLIO Collection owners now have access to the entire Ultimate Resorts portfolio – 21 worldwide destinations, from skiing in Deer Valley, Utah and exploring wine country in Tuscany to surfing in Maui and shopping in Paris. In addition, Ultimate Resort members now have access to FOLIO’s Isle de France Club, located on the private beachfront enclave of St. Barth’s Flamands Bay, and, coming this year, Pond Bay, on St. John, in the US Virgin Islands. www.foliocollection.com

• In Madeira, Portugal, Reid’s Palace offers guests a chance to skip the learning curve with intensive instruction in one of five week-long courses. The Churchill Painting Class offers lessons from one of the UK’s leading impressionists, and follows Winston Churchill’s memories of Madeira ~ painting in the hotel and on excursions to fishing village Camara de Lobos, local flower markets and the Levada Mountains. The Reid’s Perfume Master lets guests explore Madeira’s gardens with a Maître Parfumeur, and learn how to make bath salts, perfumed paper and their own unique fragrance. (March and April 2009) Other options include instruction in Ballroom Dancing, Botanical Painting, and Bridge. www.reidspalace.com

• In Eco News ~ InterContinental is proud to announce Green Globe Certifications for each of the brand’s four French Polynesian resorts – InterContinental Tahiti Resort, InterContinental Bora Bora Resort & Thalasso Spa, InterContinental Bora Bora Le Moana Resort, and InterContinental Moorea Resort & Spa. The Green Globe Advisory board granted the prestigious certification for the effort put forward by each on environmentally, socially and economically sustainable practices – from Moorea’s Sea Turtle Rehabilitation Center, to Thalasso’s groundbreaking use of sea water 3 miles under the surface to cut energy use by over 90%. Each property features a “Green Team” of staffers, and all four were founding members of the World Ocean Network – committed to building environmental awareness. www.tahitiresorts.intercontinental.com

THE BARBADOS BEAT:

• Call it a Web 2.0 Rum Punch ~ Barbados is now hosting a page on Facebook, with daily updates, photo galleries, a calendar of events and links to the latest offering on the island. Visit and become a fan to get up-to-the-minute insider tips on hot flight prices to the latest anthropologic finds on island...http://tinyurl.com/8alw6r.
  

• The island’s “Biggest Social Event of the Year,” arts aficionados, celebrities and socialites flock to the 2009 Holders Season event, coinciding with peak Polo season on Barbados. From March 14 – April 4, 2009, world-class music and arts performances, from opera to comedy will be hosted by the gracious Wendy Kidd (mother to Jodie & Jemma – the UK’s sweetheart supermodel) at the breathtaking 17^th century plantation-style Holders House estate. 2009 brings a record number of American artists and introduces Café Holders, a relaxing garden party with live jazz, food & drink. Ticket prices start at $15 USD ($30 BBD) per person. For more information (and reservations) visit: www.holders.net. For information on Barbados visit www.visitbarbados.org

• Barbados is host to 2009’s Black Diaspora Visual Arts Symposium, part of the celebration of the Abolition of the Trans-Atlantic Slave Trade. Presented from February 13-14, 2009, the symposium will include leading international scholars, curators and artists participating in this dialogue on black modern artists, from the Post-War period to today’s Caribbean contribution to the art scene. A tour through Bridgetown’s galleries, exhibitions and installation sites is planned as part of the program. www.visitbarbados.org

• Virtuoso’s Return on Life^TM campaign is focused on experiences that offer the best return on investment for travelers. Through new travel packages, travel specialists comprising the Virtuoso network use their extensive connections to craft a more satisfying travel experience. Recession-conscious as well, planning a trip through Virtuoso’s network means more activity for your travel dollar, more enriching activities and opportunities to simply spend less. An example? The 9-night Highlights of Singapore & Vietnam package takes guests through city tours of Singapore, Hanoi and Saigon, including a private full-day cruise on the Mekong Delta and a water puppet theater performance, all in addition to accommodations, internal airfare in Asia and some meals, all for under $3K. Closer to home in South Carolina, The Sanctuary at Kiawah Island Golf Resort gives guests booking through a Virtuoso advisor a complimentary third night when booking two. www.virtuoso.com