Friday, November 21, 2008

The Donald Goes to Scotland

Despite protests and opposition from environmentalists, the Scottish government recently approved a 1.6 billion dollar project designed by Donald Trump to build a luxury resort on the country's east coast just north of Aberdeen. Trump was honored by the decision and felt it would bring a positive impact to the people of Scotland. The project will include a 1400 acre resort with 2 championship golf courses, a five star hotel, golf school, 500 private homes and 1000 holiday type homes with the total site encompassing more than 15000 acres. The resort will create more than 1200 permanent employment positions and almost an additional 6000 jobs in relation the golf course development.

Talbott Hotel Goes Green

Go Green is all the rage these days in the travel industry and Obama's hometown hotel, The Talbott, is one of the first Green Seal Certified hotels in the United States. The Talbott is a luxury boutique hotel with 149 rooms and was built in 1927 offering the amenities and charm of an era that focused on luxury. The Hotel and staff worked incredibly hard to achieve the award in less than 9 months. The Green certification focuses on waste management, energy efficiency, water conservation, wast water management and green procurement. Only 5 of 25 applicants received the award.

Thursday, November 20, 2008

Does your meeting have Karisma?

Karisma Hotels is offering an exceptional package for meetings, incentives and group opportunities. Groups can save up to $5000 and receive a complimentary reception, welcome dinner, farewell dinner and much more. In addition, groups that book 10 or more suites receive a private check-in area with welcome drinks and appetizers, a gourmet inclusive welcome reception, and gourmet petit fours and fine sparkling wine in each suite upon arrival. If you reserve 10 or more suites, the resorts will offer $150 towards upgrade per suite, 16 or more suites you will also get an additional $50 resort credit and 26+ suites you will get $200 towards an upgrade per suite plus a $100 resort credit. Travel can begin as early as January 2009 through the end of December 2010!

Dreams Delight

Dreams Resorts and Spas are offering an unlimited luxury steal of deal if you book before the end of November. Rates are as low as $139 per person per night and valid at any of their 5 newest locations including Nuevo Vallarta, Hautulco, Puerto Aventuras, Las Romana and Punta Cana. In addition, you can receive a guaranteed room upgrade upon arrival and up to $100 in resort credit to use towards the spa, speciality wines, or romantic beachfront dining. Dreams Resorts are perfect for the family getaway or romantic retreat.

Tuesday, November 18, 2008

Kimpton Hotels - Gotta Love 'Em

You have to love Kimpton Hotels, I mean where else can you request a goldfish to keep in your room during your stay? Not to mention, if you book a stay now through March 1, 2009, at one of their select properties you can add breakfast on for just a $1 more. Ask about it today!

Monday, November 17, 2008

Free Air to Antigua!

Ok, this is a not-to-miss opportunity to fly free to Antigua this winter. Well as long as you can get to Antigua under $800 it will be free, but its still a great incentive offer by Elite Resorts. Elite Resorts is offering an amazing deal with a $800 airfare credit for travel any time in January plus receive a 7th night free. The offer is good for their Verandah Resort and Spa, St. James Club and Villas and the Galley Bay Resort and Spa. The Verandah is great for families as it has junior suites, kids meals in all restaurants, a beautiful new Kids Center, and fantastic beaches. St. James is a private 100 acre peninsula located on Antigua's southeastern coast. Their are options for every member of your family with 2 white sand beaches, multiple dining venues, Kidz Club, teen activities, and full service spa. The Galley Bay is nestled on almost 40 acres of secluded tropical gardens with a private beach, terrific dining locales and a brand new spa.

Friday, November 14, 2008

Cabo Wine & Food Fest

Cabo San Lucas is definitely one of my favorite destinations in Mexico. You can't beat the location, the sun, the sand, the water, the off shore fishing, not to mention the plethora of new resorts and all the money dancing around town makes it the hippest spot in all of Mexico. But the best news is there is now a Wine and Food Festival in January - what better way to beat the winter blues than by heading off to warmer climates to imbibe and socialize with North America's best chef's and wine sommeliers.

Pueblo Bonito Resorts and Spas are the hosts of this international culinary delight beginning January 14-19th at their Pueblo Bonito Sunset Beach property. The Resorts just announced Michael Schlow will be the featured guest chef joining their already acclaimed chef Antion de Livier and wine pairings by their National Champion Sommelier Juan Carlos Flores. Pueblo Bonito has a great collection of resorts through the Cabo shoreline and I would recommend just about all of them. I prefer their Holistic Spa and Resort that is located on the pacific side of Cabo, but all the others are within walking distance of town.

Conde Nast Traveler recently named Pueblo Bonito's Sunset Beach Resort to their Gold List in 2008 and it received the Best Hotel in Food in the Americas. Check out some of these photos of Sunset Beach:





Wednesday, November 12, 2008

Florida Meetings

Florida has an overabundance in locales for all types of meetings regardless if you are looking for an intimate corporate retreat or a convention center for 2000 guests. Several new venues have just been announced by the Florida Meeting Professionals program.

The new Charlotte Harbor Convention Center will be opening January 2009 and will bring a new waterfront convention center to the Southwest area of Florida.

Looking for a green option, Saddlebrook Resort has many shades of green from its championship golf courses to be rated in the Florida Green Lodging program.

And Key West's Southernmost Hotel Collection is almost ready to debut its new oceanfront rooms with amazing rates of only $119 a night.

If you needs lots of meeting space, don't forget about the Marriott World Center in Orlando. Its an amazing location with the theme park attractions for those that want to bring the loved ones, championship golf courses, luxury spa, close to an international airport, more than 450,000 square feet of meeting space and it offers the nation's largest pillar free resort ballroom.

Spa-tastic Savings

It doesn't matter where you are in the country, spas everywhere are offering amazing deals that will revive your soul and appease your piggy bank. From Texas to Canada and California to Pennsylvania you can find an offer that will make the most uptight economist unwind.

Check out these getaways and for more information call your travel consultant....

Red Mountain Spa in Utah is located just a short drive from Las Vegas and is an all-inclusive retreat where you can save more than $180 per person per night.

Hyatt Regency Maui is offering a 20% savings on the Balance package plus a spa treatment as well as daily breakfast for two.

The Huntington Hotel and Nob Hill Spa in San Francisco is not only perfectly located perched at top the infamous Nob Hill (personally one of my favorites) but offers an incredible savings of 25% on their Romance and Relaxation package. This property is Virtuoso preferred so your consultant will have additional amenities like breakfast for two, room upgrades and more.

The Lodge at Woodloch in Pennsylvania currently has a 4 night stay with a savings of more than $150 per person per night.

The Fairmont Banff Springs and its renowned Willow Stream Spa have a savings of $180 per person per night when booking the Willow Stream package.

Devon Hiking Spa in Tuscon has a buy one package and get one half off.

The Greenhouse in Arlington Texas offers savings of 30% or more on seven night holiday packages.

Monday, November 10, 2008

Hyatt Regency Monterey Resort

Monterey, California is a beautiful destination and one of my favorites, you have the Pacific ocean, the touristy but ever so fun Fisherman's Wharf, the amazing aquarium and just the all around beautiful views in every direction. While my heart is always in Carmel, I do have to say the Hyatt Regency Resort and Spa in Monterey is a an amazing property. What makes it even better, is that it recently endured a $60 million renovation that transformed every aspect of the hotel.


All 550 rooms are complete with the plush Hyatt Beds, flat panel TVs, and iHome Stereo. There is a new restaurant and lounge, the championship course at Pebble Beach Company's Del Monte, the all new Regency Club featuring private lounge, concierge services, continental breakfast and evening receptions and the resort will soon be opening its 12000 sq ft spa.


The hotel is offering a "Book Three for Free" special that includes a 1 category room upgrade and full breakfast for 2 daily for stays through December 19th!


Check out the new Fireplace Lounge photo:

Cruise Lines to Drop Surchages

Three crusie lines announced additional savings to the customer by agreeing to drop their fuel surcharges. Norwegian Cruise Lines said effective November 10, 2008 the existing surchage will be eliminated on all new bookings on 2010 departues. NCL joined both Royal Caribbean and Carnival in rescinding the fuel surcharges for their 2010 departures.

Disney Destination Discounts

The Walt Disney World Company is certainly rallying around those that want to have unique travel experiences during this somewhat sluggish down turn in our economy. Just recently they announced a 2 for the price of 1 cruise, a complimentary character breakfast at Disneyland and a buy 4 get 3 free at Walt Disney World.

The Disney Cruise line is offering a great special for those who want to purchase either a 4 or 7 night cruise for sailings this winter they will get a 3 night cruise for only $99 to use next fall. In addition, Disney has reduced its deposit requirements by 50% on all new bookings for select categories.

Guests booking a stay at one of the 3 Disneyland Resort hotels will receive a complimentary Disney Character Breakfast they buy a vacation package with tickets for 3 nights or longer. The special is offered on all arrivals through December 16th!

The best news is Walt Disney World is offering an amazing new package to kick off 2009! For all guests that purchase a 4 night 4 day Walt Disney Travel Company magic Your Way package, they will get an additional 3 nights with tickets free. The package is valid for most stays January 4-April 4, 2009 and April 19-June 27, 2009. All packages must be booked by December 20th!

Tuesday, November 4, 2008

Airline Achievements

Well the title is a bit of a misnomer, in that it is more like achievements in making air travel a bit easier on the passengers. I know, kind of hard to believe, but its true....Continental has introduced a paperless boarding pass pilot program and word on the travel street is that the ban for carry-on liquids will be lifted some time next year. Hooray for air travel again!

Continental launched its paperless program at La Guardia, in direct competition to a program already instituted by Delta a few months ago. Continental allows passengers to receive electronic boarding passes on their cell phones or PDA's which will then be scanned by bar code readers at the airport. Continental is testing the program in Boston, Cleveland, Newark, Washington DC, Austin, Houston and San Antonio. Northwest has a similar program in Indianapolis and soon in Detroit. Alaska Airlines offers paperless boarding in Seattle. Check with your carrier's website to determine if it is available for your city.

Our country's wonderful TSA department is working hard to lessen the restrictions on carry-on liquids by next fall. It is their hope, that within a year most airports will be using the more advanced AT X-Ray units and software which will enable security agents to determine liquid threats vs. non-threats. Unfortunately, your liquids will still have to be in a separate bin so it may not save all that much time in your security checkpoints. But hopefully by 2010 the restriction will be lifted as well.

And in case you want to know what it costs to fly these days, here is a great website to find out the additional fees once you have purchased that precious airline ticket. Check it out: http://flyingfees.com/

Monday, November 3, 2008

Economy Driven Getaways

Unbelieveable travel offers are literally busting the seams of my inbox on a daily basis. As the economy sags so do the prices to travel. Not only has gas dropped, but so has airfare, hotel rates and supplier deals. Just because our country is facing few a political and economic issues, doesn't mean your soul has too endure it too. Readjust your attitude with a quick trip away from reality, especially if its easy on the wallet and it involves some fun, sun and relaxation. Check out these properties....

El Conquistador Resort and Golden Door Spa want you to experience all Puerto Rico has to offer with an amazing offer for room rates of $189 per night. The resort recently opened their newest feature the Coqui Water Park, which is completely state of the art when it comes to splasdown fun. The resort offers every activity possible from crystal aquamarine Caribbean waters, its own private Palomino Island, horsback riding, every type of watersport under the sun, a state of the art casino and the world renowned Golden Door Spa. Airfare from Denver is averaging just $450 per person, holidays exculded.

Virtuoso has teamed with Classic Vacations to offer an escape away to Tahiti starting as low as $679 per person. This deal is actually well within reach of many who dread the shorter, colder days that come with the time changes each year. Several of the packages offer amazing extras like complimentary spa services, room upgrades, free roundtrip airport transfers and so much more.

Las Vegas isn't far behind in jumping on the deal of century bandwagon. They are offering everything from room upgrades, $50 in free play, VIP club services and majorly discounted shows for locals. The Venetian is offering luxury suite rooms as low as $119 a night plus a gaming credit, drink voucher and access with a line pass to one of the hottest new nightclubs on the strip - LAVO. The Signature at MGM grand is offering a book 2 get the third night free when booked by November 16th, plus check with your Virtuoso agent on special amenities. Both Mirage and TI (Treasure Island for those of you not in the know) are revealing their revamped, and hip new rooms at incredibly low prices. Airfare from Denver is as low as $157 on most carriers, excluding major holiday weekends.