WORLD CUP FEVER STRIKES MOUNT NELSON HOTEL 

March 1, 2009 (Cape Town, South Africa) – Cape Town's legendary pink hotel got  into the World Cup spirit last week when dancers from the popular Afro-fusion band CODA taught hotel staff - from housekeeping to executive management - to 'diski' (the official World Cup supporters dance). Cape Town Tourism debriefed staff on how the city is gearing up to host eight of the World Cup matches, before handing the floor over to the energetic CODA dancers. After much stretching, kicking, laughing and bopping to the official diski anthem, the dancers selected five of the top diski dancers, and awarded them with 'vuvuzelas' (official World Cup noisemakers) and World Cup gear.

Within the next few weeks Mount Nelson Hotel will offer personalized diski lessons to hotel guests. And if you can’t make it to the hotel but would like to learn the art of the diski, you can check it out here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fML326GXJPY&NR=1.   

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About Mount Nelson Hotel:

Nestled at the foot of Table Mountain and set within nine acres of lush gardens, the 105-year-old Mount Nelson Hotel is Cape Town’s oldest and most distinguished hotel, offering unparalleled tradition, history and sophistication. The hotel’s combination of elegance, grace, grandeur and exceptional location ensures her guests a truly memorable experience.  Alongside the Librisa spa, the hotel houses 201 individually0styled guest rooms; the award-winning Cape Colony restaurant showcases fine Modern South African cuisine; Oasis Restaurant offering poolside alfresco meals; and the ultra-chic Planet Bar - the hotel’s stylish Champagne and cocktail bar. For more information visit www.mountnelson.co.za.

Media Contact:

The Brandman Agency

Iliana Carr / Katie Clark

212.683.2442

firstname@brandmanpr.com

New Delhi, India, 9 February 2010:  The Oberoi Group has announced the appointment of Ms. Elizabeth Schafer as Vice President – Corporate Sales, The Americas.  Effective 4^th January 2010, Ms. Schafer is in charge of overseeing The Group’s relationship with key corporate customers and all channels of corporate and business travel from the Americas.

Ms. Schafer is responsible to Mr. Alistair Ballantine, Senior Vice President, Sales and Marketing – The Americas.  Ms. Schafer’s immediate focus is to develop and implement a comprehensive corporate sales strategy in the Americas that encompasses the luxury ‘Oberoi’ and five-star ‘Trident’ hotels.  She is based at The Group’s office in New York.

Ms. Schafer’s experience in the hotel industry spans more than twenty years.  She joins The Oberoi Group from her position as Associate Regional Director of Sales, Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts.  In this position, Ms. Schafer managed select corporate sales relationships as well as top producing travel industry accounts while assisting in the management of the New York Worldwide Sales Office.  Prior to the assignment in New York, Ms. Schafer was Associate Regional Director in the Los Angeles Worldwide Sales Office of Four Seasons.  Before moving to Los Angeles, she held Sales Manager positions at the Four Seasons Chicago, Four Seasons Washington DC and the Four Seasons Clift Hotel, regularly receiving the President’s Club by achieving over 120% of her target.   

Ms. Schafer is a graduate of the School of Hotel Administration at Cornell University.

Mr. Alistair Ballantine, Senior Vice President, Sales and Marketing – The Americas said, “We are thrilled to have Liz join The Group.   Her exceptional relationships, professionalism and experience in the luxury sector are an excellent match for Oberoi Hotels & Resorts.”

“I am truly honored to represent this extraordinary collection of hotels and most important brand” said Ms. Elizabeth Schafer.

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Further notes to the Editor:

About Oberoi Hotels & Resorts

Oberoi Hotels & Resorts is the award-winning proprietor and operator of some of the world’s most luxurious hotels.  Luxury as a unique, memorable and personal experience is core to the Oberoi philosophy.  It encompasses every element of a guest’s stay at the hotels that creatively combine breathtaking locations, luxurious environs and the best of modern amenities with personalized service delivered with care. 

Presently, Oberoi Hotels & Resorts operates 16 luxury hotels and resorts in India, Mauritius, Indonesia, Egypt and Saudi Arabia.  It also manages two cruisers on the Nile in Egypt and one cruiser on the backwaters in Kerala, India.

About The Oberoi Group

The Oberoi Group, founded in 1934, operates 31 hotels and cruisers in India, Egypt, Indonesia, Mauritius and Saudi Arabia under the luxury ‘Oberoi’ and five-star ‘Trident’ brands.  The Group is also engaged in flight catering, airport restaurants, travel and tour services, car rentals, project management and corporate air charters.

www.oberoihotels.com | www.tridenthotels.com

For further information, please contact:

Ketaki Narain                                                 

Director – Corporate Communications

The Oberoi Group

Telephone: 91 11 2389 0505

Email: ketaki.narain@oberoigroup.com

Emily Venugopal/Stephanie Borris

The Brandman Agency

Telephone: 212-683-2442

Email: emily@brandmanpr.com / stephanie@brandmanpr.com 

NEW YORK, NY (FEBRUARY 4, 2010)  Whatever the occasion – Valentine’s Day, an engagement, a glorious honeymoon, notable birthday or special anniversary, Oberoi Hotels & Resorts has the perfect solution for you and your loved one.  Offering unique opportunities to savor splendid surroundings, luxurious interiors and personalized and gracious service, the Oberoi experience offers an ambience that is certain to create memorable moments for a lifetime.

Reignite the romance in the shadows of the greatest monument to love – the Taj Mahal with a stay at The Oberoi Amarvilas, Agra; on the banks of Lake Pichola in India’s most fabled and romantic city – Udaipur with a stay at The Oberoi Udaivilas; in a palatial Rajasthani fort-like setting with private villas and royal tents at The Oberoi Rajvilas in Jaipur; by staying at The Oberoi Vanyavilas the luxury jungle resort in Ranthambhore; or at Wildflower Hall, Shimla a  tranquil sanctuary in the majestic Himalayas.  Oberoi Hotels & Resorts offers some of the world’s most breathtaking settings.   www.oberoihotels.com 

The Oberoi Amarvilas - Agra, India  

Stay at The Oberoi Amarvilas, located a few hundred meters from the Taj Mahal, and revel in awe inspiring views of the greatest monument to love.  Enjoy champagne breakfast as dawn breaks over the dome of the Taj Mahal.  Luxuriate in a couple’s therapy at The Oberoi Spa followed by an intimate candle-lit dinner in the shadows of the most exquisite mausoleum in the world. Culminate the day with candles, flowers, fragrances and a rose petal bath.

If you would like to make your stay even more special, request the Royal Welcome – Elephants in full regalia will greet you while ladies dressed in traditional attire garland you and strew your path with fragrant rose petals.  You can also enjoy an intimate dinner in the poolside pavilion as the soft strains of live Indian classical music provide a soothing backdrop.  As a finale, renew your vows with a traditional Indian ceremony at a secluded temple on the banks of the river beside the Taj Mahal.

The Oberoi Udaivilas - Udaipur, India   

With spacious and richly appointed guestrooms leading onto private terraces, large marble bathrooms that overlook private walled courtyards, restaurants that serve traditional Rajasthani, Indian and international cuisine, a magnificent outdoor swimming pool and a luxurious Oberoi Spa - The Oberoi Udaivilas provides a setting that is in every way magical.

The Oberoi Udaivilas is the award-winning hotel for extraordinary celebrations.  Spread over an expanse of 30 acres on the banks of Lake Pichola, the hotel stands against the dramatic backdrop of the Aravalli Hills. It is designed as a seamless assimilation of spaces, recreating the luxurious ambience of a traditional Indian palace. Rambling elegantly around courtyards, private walkways, gentle rippling fountains, reflecting pools and verdant gardens, The Oberoi Udaivilas exudes grandeur and serenity.

The Oberoi Rajvilas - Jaipur, India 

Discover an idyllic retreat just outside the vibrant Jaipur. The Oberoi Rajvilas provides sumptuous seclusion evoking princely Rajasthan with private villas and royal tents in a fort-like setting.  

You can enjoy an exclusive poolside dinner with Rajasthani folk dance or Indian classical instrumental music. If you would  prefer a formal sit-down dinner, the hotel can arrange one in the magnificent surroundings of the restaurant’s courtyard, with the mesmerizing strains of the santoor filling the still night air.

The Oberoi Vanyavilas - Ranthambhore,India

At the luxury jungle resort, The Oberoi Vanyavilas in Ranthambhore, discover the joy of making memories. 

You arrive at a serene enclave with ladies in Indian attire welcoming you with the traditional aarti.  Spacious luxury tents at the resort are sumptuously furnished with four-poster beds, richly embroidered canopies, luxurious bathrooms and private sit-outs that offer complete privacy.  For a special honeymoon turndown service, the freestanding bathtub is filled with rose petals and scented water.  You may also choose to combine exhilarating jungle drives with pampering and rejuvenating therapies at The Oberoi Spa.  

As an unforgettable finale, enjoy a candlelit evening and cocktails at the Observation Tower on the edge of the resort. Watch the Aravalli and Vindhya mountains magnificently silhouetted at dusk and gaze at the changing moods of a restive jungle.

Wildflower Hall - Shimla in the Himalayas,  India

Gather memories to cherish for a lifetime in a setting that is breathtaking.  Wildflower Hall, Shimla in the Himalayas – an Oberoi Resort is swathed in palpable silence, broken only by birdsong and the rustle of pine and cedar.  At 8,250 feet above sea level, the resort is ensconced in 22 acres of dense woods at the foothills of the Himalayas mountains.  From its vantage point on top of a knoll, the resort looks out onto rugged mountains and snow-clad peaks of the Himalayas, verdant valleys and a dense forest.

Enjoy expansive views of the mountains and valley from your room, the restaurants, outdoor heated whirlpool and indoor heated swimming pool or take leisurely walks through the fragrant cedar forest, with a gourmet picnic hamper adding a special element to the explorations.  If you would like to be more adventurous, you can enjoy trekking, mountain biking, river rafting, horse riding, billiards and golf.  The luxurious Spa Pavilions and Spa Suites are tranquil havens and ideal is who wish to experience a unique holistic wellness program.  A tranquil location complements luxurious interiors and gracious and efficient Oberoi service to provide the perfect setting infused with a sense of natural connection and exclusivity.

Further notes to the Editor:

About Oberoi Hotels & Resorts

Oberoi Hotels & Resorts is the award-winning proprietor and operator of some of the world’s most luxurious hotels.  Luxury as a unique, memorable and personal experience is core to the Oberoi philosophy.  It encompasses every element of a guest’s stay at the hotels that creatively combine breathtaking locations, luxurious environs and the best of modern amenities with personalized service delivered with care. 

Presently, Oberoi Hotels & Resorts operates 16 luxury hotels and resorts in India, Mauritius, Indonesia, Egypt and Saudi Arabia.  It also manages two cruisers on the Nile in Egypt and one cruiser on the backwaters in Kerala, India.

About The Oberoi Group

The Oberoi Group, founded in 1934, operates 31 hotels and cruisers in India, Egypt, Indonesia, Mauritius and Saudi Arabia under the luxury ‘Oberoi’ and five-star ‘Trident’ brands.  The Group is also engaged in flight catering, airport restaurants, travel and tour services, car rentals, project management and corporate air charters.

For further information, please contact:

Emily Venugopal/Stephanie Borris

The Brandman Agency

Telephone: (212) 683 2442

Email: emily@brandmanpr.com / stephanie@brandmanpr.com

LONDON, UK (February 3, 2010) – Grosvenor International Partners, an executive search specialist guaranteeing clients the choice of high-level leadership and expert counsel, is pleased to announce the launch of its new global brand and website, www.GrosvenorInternationalPartners.com, focused on providing superior search capability and successful talent acquisition, particularly in the international hospitality sector.

The leadership group is three industry veterans who oversee senior executive search assignments. Grosvenor International Partners is led by David Walters, who has over 25 years experience in the international hotel industry and was former Vice President of Human Resources at InterContinental Hotels, Europe and Middle East; Andrew Price, who has held Human Resources Director positions with hotel brands in Asia and Europe such as Grand Metropolitan, InterContinental Hotels, and Exclusive Hotels of the World; and Jim Manley, a former Vice President Talent Acquisition and Human Resources, The Americas for InterContinental Hotels Group, who has extensive experience in the assessment of senior management talent for the organization.

The combined expertise of Grosvenor International Partners and the high-level HR backgrounds of its founders is strengthened by excellent international networks, strong research abilities designed to identify talent and drive quality results, and close communication with both executive candidates and clients alike – all of which are first-class, blue-chip companies in the hospitality and travel sectors.

Offering a strategic commercial and international focus, as well as personalized service, Grosvenor International Partners assists clients in fulfilling their executive job search, resulting in top-level placements at senior level across corporate, operational and functional divisions in global and regional luxury hotel groups, hotel real estate, and asset management.

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Contact:

Americas:  Jim Manley +1 770 331 5794

Europe, MEA, Asia:  David Walter    +44 (0)7764 413 703 or Andrew Price  +44 (0)7948 355 274

Before                                          After

February 2, 2010 (Chobe, Botswana) – The Savute Channel, one of the greatest mysteries and fascinations of Northern Botswana, is flowing again after nearly 30 years of lying dormant. The Channel now covers over sixty-two miles as it flows from the Linyanti River, through a gap in the Magwikhwe Sand Ridge, past Savute Elephant Camp.

Since November 2008, the river meandered at a painstakingly slow rate.  However, the guests of Savute Elephant Camp awoke one morning this January to the sight of a river flowing in the place of what was once a dry bed and a small, yet well frequented waterhole. Guests and staff alike are marvelling at the sudden reality of being in a riverside camp in the middle of the once bone dry Chobe Desert.  Herds of wildlife are delighting in the fresh new water source, celebrating the abundance of the Channel. 

History of The Savute Channel

The Savute Channel has only ever flowed intermittently. It last flowed from 1967 to 1981 but since then the Channel and the Savute Marsh have been dry, a phenomenon that has occurred on and off over centuries. Until recently, the Channel was open grassland, home to numerous animals such as large herds of Zebra, Impala and Wildebeests, and abundant predators such as Lion, Cheetah and Wild Dog. Gaunt skeletons of trees, now long dead, that grew in one of the earlier dry periods, line both the Channel and the Marsh.

Records show that the Savute Channel and the Marsh dried out during the 1880's. The Channel remained dry until the summer of 1957-58 when heavy rains in the catchment area of the Angolan highlands re-flooded the Chobe river system and the Channel flowed once again until 1966. Its irregular flowing pattern continued until 1981, when the Channel seemed to dry up completely.

This cyclical feature of wet and dry in the Channel is not completely understood, but it is generally believed that tectonic activity deep below the Kalahari's sand bed is responsible. Others argue that its flow is primarily dependent upon the rainfall in the Angolan highlands which feeds the Okavango and Chobe River basins as well as the Savute Channel.  However there have been times when its source has been flooded and the Channel remained dry. As Northern Botswana experienced very strong seismic activity in April 2008, as well as a super flood season, it is once again hard to distinguish whether both or just one of the factors are causing the Channel to flow again, or whether it is pure coincidence.

Please visit www.orient-express.com to view the various specialist tours on offer to visit Savute Elephant Camp, and be a part of this spectacular natural wonder.

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About Savute Elephant Camp:

Perched on the former banks of the Savute Channel in the heart of Chobe National Park, the Savute Elephant Camp by Orient-Express offers a spectacular birds eye view of elephant in their natural habitat.  The Savute is a dramatic area which is home to high concentrations of elephant and lions. The luxury accommodation at Savute Elephant Camp safari camp offers an oasis amid the beautiful plain. All of the luxury tents are housed on raised wooden platforms, offering great views, and shaded by a traditional African thatched roof. 

Media Contact:

Iliana Carr / Katie Clark

The Brandman Agency

212.683.2442

Firstname@brandmanpr.com