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| · July 9, 2003 · |
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· Exciting New Developments From Orient-Express Hotels (July 8, 2003) - The first half of 2003 saw Orient-Express Hotels expand into mainland Spain and open a mountain spa in Australia's Blue Mountains, and the rest of the year looks set to be just as exciting. September sees the inauguration of a luxury train service in Peru and the opening of a new restaurant in Argentina. A host of new services have been introduced from bath butlers and complimentary Mercedes convertibles to fireworks over Madeira and scouting for endangered turtles in South Carolina.
Venice may not be an obvious choice for golfers when considering their holiday options, but there is an 18-hole course in the Venice Lido and the Hotel Cipriani is encouraging guests to take advantage of the course with a golf package. Valid from October 1-November 1, 2003, the three-night package offers luxury accommodation on a half-board basis, free daily transportation by deluxe private launch to and from the Alberoni golf course, greens fees, an aperitif at the Golf Club's bar (luncheon at Golf Club optional in place of dinner at the Hotel), and full use of the facilities at the Cipriani, including swimming-pool with heated salt water; gym and an hour of tennis each day. The cost of the package is Euro 1,210 per room per night. The Hotel Splendido in Portofino opened a new Health and Wellbeing Center this June. Situated in the gardens below the pool, the spa area is an oasis surrounded by pine and olive trees offering a panoramic view of the Mediterranean. With state-of-the-art gym equipment and a complete range of beauty treatments devoted to physical and spiritual wellbeing and beauty, a sauna, Turkish bath, three treatment rooms and a salon round out the facility. Treatments include thalassotherapy, anti-ageing HSR slimming treatments, anti-stress programs and a range of relaxing massages, including the restorative technique known as ScenTao, the famed toning and stress-reducing massage using hot stones. Balmy summer days, cool pools and living history are on offer at Villa San Michele in Florence this summer with a new package aimed at families. The highlights of the three-night package are a free double room for two children up to the age of 14, the services of a babysitter for four hours, Sony Playstation(tm) in the children's room, toy box, complimentary mini-bar of soft drinks and a complimentary loan from the hotels video library. Valid from July 13 through September 4, 2003, the package offers deluxe double accommodation for mum and dad and full American breakfast daily. Cost is Euro 2,830 per family per day. Villa San Michele is offering guests the opportunity to extend their holiday in Tuscany by staying in the newly renovated farmhouse on the nearby Capannelle vineyard estate. Described as a "Vineyard with a Butler," the farmhouse is perched high on a hilltop overlooking the village of Gaiole in Chianti. Five guestrooms have been sympathetically modernized, each offering comfortable sitting rooms with open fireplaces. Outside are spacious terraces and gardens with spectacular views over Capannelle's olive trees and vineyards to the village below, which is just five minute walk away. The Capannelle Vineyard was established in 1975 and produces award-winning "Super Tuscan" style reds, including the famous "50&50", a delicious Chardonnay, as well as olive oil. The Villa San Michele will arrange full butler service for guests at Capannelle, who would be at the disposal of guests each day between 7am and 7pm. He will prepare morning breakfast, served either on one of the outside terraces or in the guest room, as well as serving light meals and refreshing cocktails by the dramatic infinity pool. Room rates at Capannelle start from Euro 190 per room per night. Hotel de la Cite in Carcassonne is offering a package called Gourmet Indulgence in Medieval France available from April 4 thorough November 1, 2003. Priced from O899 per couple, the two-night package features deluxe accommodation; flowers, sparkling wine and petit fours in-room on arrival, daily buffet breakfast, dinner for two at La Barbacane, including a selection of regional wines. A regional wine tasting is also part of the program. Lisbon's Lapa Palace has introduced a four-night Gastronomic Experience, showcasing the sights, sounds, tastes and flavors of the Portuguese capital. Itinerary highlights include private city tours to the Calouste Gulbenkian museum and Sintra, a port wine and cheese tasting; a visit to the famous pastry shop where the Pasteis de Belem were invented in 1852, and dinner at the Papa Acorda restaurant in the Bairro Alto district, which serves the finest regional dishes as they were once served to nobility. Also included are accommodation, airport transfers, port wine and chocolate truffles, and an a la carte dinner in the hotel's Ristorante Hotel Cipriani. Available now until May 31, 2004,l the package is priced from Euro 1,250 per person based on double occupancy. There are a whole host of reasons to visit the Hotel Quinta do Lago on Portugal's Algarve coast this summer. If a foot massage on the beach doesn't appeal, guests exploring the cool and shady corners of the hotel's extensive gardens will discover the iron and water sculpture exhibition of Swiss artist Housi Knecht being held all summer. On August 6 the Algarve Philharmonic Orchestra will perform a set of classical pieces with the Ria Formosa lagoon as a backdrop, followed by a sumptuous buffet in Brisa do Mar, where the concert will continue. The following weekend the Celtic Feet Irish Dance Company and Colin Dunne, former international star of the world-famous Riverdance Show, will perform in the gardens. The highlight of the summer is an August 16 performance of the spectacular "Cirque de la Lune" Show, choreographed by the famed Cirque du Soleil artists. Finally, from July 10 until August 31, the hotel is offering guests the opportunity to discover the Algarve in style with a Mercedes CLK convertible available on complimentary basis for half- or full-day drives to resident hotel guests on a first come first served basis. The whole of Madeira becomes a stage next June for the third annual Atlantic Firework Festival and guests at the cliff-top Reid's Palace will have ring-side seats to see the blaze of action. Valid throughout June 2004, the five-night package includes luxury accommodation with breakfast, welcome fruit basket, complimentary mini-bar set up, a visit to the Madeira Wine Company with wine tasting, and a "Menu Degustation" dinner at the al fresco Brisa do Mar restaurant with selected wines. Each Saturday evening the skies will be lit up with firework displays visible from the restaurant. The package is priced from Euro 778 per room for a standard double room. On April 15, 2003, Orient-Express acquired the 167-room Hotel Ritz, Madrid, located in the cultural heart of the historic center of Madrid beside the Prado Museum, opposite the Thyssen Museum and close to the Royal Palace, Botanical Gardens and Parque del Retiro. One of the original grand luxury hotels of Europe, the Hotel Ritz was inspired by the desire of King Alfonso XIII to build a luxury hotel to rival the Ritz in Paris. La Residencia, the idyllic hideaway in the north west of the Spanish island of Mallorca, opened three new super deluxe suites this past March that combine the ultimate in romance and seclusion. Created on the gentle slopes surrounding La Residencia, the suites have been rebuilt on the site of existing hotel buildings. Their elevated position allows for total seclusion while each private terrace takes advantage of the vistas below. The suites are nearly twice the size of an average hotel suite. Inside, each has been decorated and furnished in a traditional Mallorquin style with tiled flooring, antique wooden furniture and romantic open fireplaces. For those wanting to stay in touch with the outside world, there are plasma screen televisions and modem connections. Each suite has a swimming pool and very secluded outdoor seating area. Two of the three suites have pools measuring approximately 6m x 4m and the third has a plunge pool. A fourth suite has also been created which opens out onto a huge private terrace with sweeping views of the mountains and the village of Deia below. The new suites are priced from O800.00 per room per night on a bed and breakfast basis The annual migration of the Southern Right whales off the coast of Cape Town is a rare sight not to be missed. Add to this the spring blooms of the Cape Peninsula and you have an irresistible combination. The Mount Nelson Hotel has recently introduced a Seasonal Cape Celebration program so that guests can get up close to these natural phenomena. Based on a three-night minimum stay, the special program features accommodation in a superior room with breakfast and two privately guided tours along the spectacular coast of Gordon's Bay, through Betty's Bay and then on to Hermanus, which is the world's premier land based whale-watching spot. Available between September 1 and November 30, the three-night stay is priced from R11,600 (approx. US$1,530) based on two people sharing a superior room. Earlier this month, The Westcliff in Johannesburg unveiled Jacaranda Hill, a new conference center and meeting venue. Designed in a style reminiscent of the magnificent Sir Herbert Baker manor homes in the neighborhood, Jacaranda Hill opened in style with a lavish cocktail party on the terrace. Bookings for business and social events are already exceeding expectations. Designed to accommodate a range of functions from high-level board meetings for ten to conferences and galas for 150 guests, Jacaranda Hill features the latest in business and catering technology. Each of Jacaranda Hill's various venues - The Arcadia Ballroom, The Protea Room (Bar), The Strelitzia Room, The Bamboo Room and The Erica Room - have been named in celebration of the local flora and fauna reflected in the hotel's exquisitely landscaped gardens. Sir Herbert Baker's architectural style is as evident inside the conference center as it is from the exterior. With an impressive layout, lower and upper assembly lounges feature vaulted ceilings, columnar spaces, and chequered marble floors. An imposing staircase, a centrally located fireplace, and damask-covered walls evoke the splendour of a bygone era. Floor-to-ceiling windows celebrate the site's idyllic location. Located adjacent to the hotel's Business Wing, Jacaranda Hill also features a covered walkway to link the two, making access convenient. Previously known as Gametrackers, the three Orient-Express Safaris camps in Botswana - Khwai River Lodge, Savute Elephant Camp and Eagle Island Camp - have many exciting projects planned for the camps in 2003 and 2004. Exercise enthusiasts will soon find fully equipped mini gyms and massage rooms at all three camps. Recognizing parents' desire to entertain and educate their children, Charleston Place in South Carolina has come up with a series of unique summer camps with an aquatic theme to keep children amused while parents relax and enjoy spa treatments in luxurious and elegant surroundings. Parents can register their children, between the ages of five and 15, on five day sessions at the South Carolina Aquarium between 2nd June 2 and August 1, 2003. Kids will have the opportunity to scout for turtles on the beach, splash at a local water park, and work with the aquarium husbandry staff to learn about South Carolina's native animals. The Windsor Court Hotel in New Orleans has a novel new activity for kids this summer called the Little Prince and Princess Package. The royal treatment starts with a special welcome present of a castle building kit or tea set, child-sized bath robe and slippers for use while at the hotel, early afternoon tea in Le Salon with special tables, china and crumpets, and a Prince and Princess pass. The pass, which is a keepsake medallion on a royal purple ribbon, provides admission to the New Orleans' Aquarium, zoo or Children's Museum. In addition, private or group etiquette classes can be arranged that are designed to make the art of "please and thank you" fun, and include lessons on proper greetings, thank you cards, table manners and more. Parents stay in a spacious suite complete with separate living room and kitchen. The two-night package with children's present, prince or princess pass, and tea for one child, starts at US$595. Parents who prefer a separate bedroom for the children can reserve it for 50% percent off with their suite reservation. Across in Virginia, Keswick Hall at Monticello is encouraging families to get active with a Swing, Serve and Cast package featuring the opportunity to try their hand at tennis, golf and fly-fishing. The four-night package includes luxury accommodation, the rental of all sporting equipment, daily instruction in tennis, golf and fly-casting, breakfast and afternoon tea, plus temporary membership to Keswick Club. Packages start at US$995 per person or from US$1,730* for families (*price is based on a family of three - two adults and one child under 12 sharing a room and participating in group tuition). Ask any resident of St. Michaels and they will tell you that to experience this little Maryland town fully, you must get on the water. The Inn at Perry Cabin's Waterman Wonders package is a summer escape designed to embrace life on the Chesapeake - the bounty, the ecology and the beauty. This three-night package includes accommodation in a master suite with private balcony overlooking the Miles River and the Historic Town of St. Michaels. Included in the package is a sailboat tour up the Miles River to the Chesapeake Bay, fuelled by a gourmet picnic lunch, a visit to the Maritime museum to see the largest collection of wood boats in North America and their working Skipjack exhibit and a choice of fishing, crabbing or oystering excursion. Also included is a special five-course tasting dinner that celebrates the bounty of the region prepared by executive Chef Mark Salter of Sherwood Landing at The Inn at Perry Cabin. Price for the package is $1,980 per room based on two people sharing. Once an infamous speakeasy during New York's prohibition, '21' is now offering hungry New Yorkers and visitors a new reason to eat out. The Upstairs at '21', which opened on 12th November 2002, is an elegant new 32-seat alternative to the 150-seat a la carte Bar Room and is already scooping awards. It recently won the "Two Towers Award for Best Sequel" at the Time Out New York 2003 Eat Out Awards, and was hailed as 2002's Best New Restaurant in New York City by food critic John Mariani. "American Graffiti" had just hit the big screen, Calvin Klein was emerging as a top designer and Billie Jean King played Chris Evert at Wimbledon the year the elegant Caribbean resort of La Samanna, in French St. Martin first opened its doors in 1973. This summer, La Samanna is addressing the needs of families holidaying with teenagers by introducing facilities and programs from now until the end of August. Sports, spa treatments and excursions have been specifically designed to ensure visitors aged 12 to 17 enjoy their well-earned holiday as much as their parents. When parents book a one-bedroom suite, they get a second bedroom at 50% for children under 17. Teens can participate in weekly sailing, water-skiing, windsurfing and tennis clinics, or book one of the new spa treatments especially designed to address the unique skin and body image issues of teenagers. And in order to keep the hip generation entertained, the resort has stocked a library of the hottest CDs and movies available for their use. One-bedroom suites with separate living room, kitchen, outdoor terrace or beachfront patio are priced from US$895 per night. Orient-Express Hotels recently announced an exciting new project for 2003 - the recreation of La Cabana, once Argentina's most celebrated steak house. From the early 1920s it had the reputation of serving the best steak in Buenos Aires and was the preferred haunt of famous faces from Vivien Leigh to Omar Sharif. The restaurant's atmosphere was utterly distinctive - the dramatic French-Rococo style interior included large open fireplaces, enormous deer and boar heads mounted on candlelit walls and an entrance flanked by large stuffed bulls. When La Cabana finally closed its doors in 1996, Orient-Express Hotels' founder and chairman, James B Sherwood, decided to buy the name and contents of the original restaurant. Renovations have begun on a new site for the restaurant in the fashionable La Recoleta area of Buenos Aires and La Cabana is due to reopen in October 2003. Classics from the old La Cabana menu such as the finest cuts of Argentinean beef will be complemented with contemporary dishes and exciting South American wines. Open since 1923, the historic Copacabana Palace is Rio's most traditional and luxurious hotel, boasting a guest list of royalty, stars of stage and screen, and politicians and business leaders. Superbly located facing the famous Copacabana Beach, this jewel of a hotel offers an unforgettable Honeymoon Package, including four nights of deluxe accommodation, flowers and champagne in the room upon arrival, Brazilian buffet breakfast at the hotel's poolside restaurant, Pergula, romantic dinner for two at Cipriani, the hotel's renowned Italian restaurant, a panoramic helicopter tour of Rio and luxurious bed sheets and special gifts. Rates start at US$1,643 per couple. Discover Mexico's Riviera Maya and its rich culture this summer with special rates and tailor-made activities at the Maroma Resort and Spa. In addition to complimentary daily breakfast and a variety of free activities, including a snorkel exploration to the barrier reef, tequila tasting, demonstrations by local artisans on hammock, furniture and pinata making and evening performance by local musicians, guests can add a variety of unique activities. Maroma's hospitality anfitrionas (hosts) can put together any excursion on request or guests can select from a menu of favourites, including a guided tour of Maroma's nature reserve, a day trip with driver, gourmet picnic and guide to the Mayan ruins of Tulum, Coba or Chichen Itza, or diving adventures into a world of stalactites, darkness and underwater sunbeams that are the cenotes. Rates at Maroma during the summer start at US$225 per night for garden view room. Many people know that Machu Picchu Sanctuary Lodge is the closest hotel to the ancient Inca ruins of Machu Picchu, but not many realize that the mystical site is open at night exclusively for the hotels guests. Each night guests are taken to a special location within the ruins, where a local "shaman" weaves a story about the Incas and Machu Picchu under the glow of the moon. They then walk back to the Machu Picchu Sanctuary Lodge for champagne and dinner. On retiring, they will find their rooms scented with special essences and lit with giant candles decorated with native Coca leaves. Orient-Express Hotels' other two properties in Peru are the Hotel Monasterio in Cusco and the Miraflores Park Hotel in Lima, which boasts one of the finest presidential suites in Latin America. Offering more than 2,150-sq. ft. of living space, penthouse amenities include around-the-clock direct Internet access, fax, private telephone line and Bath Butler service, created to ensure that guests indulge in extreme relaxation and a bit of purely selfish pleasure. The service begins with a half-hour massage in the guest room while the Bath Butler draws the perfect bath, complete with a selection of fine bath salts, scented oils and milled soaps. Then the lighting is dimmed, scented candles are placed around the bath, and a pre-selected choice of music is played in the background. Many guests choose the 'Gentleman's Retreat,' aptly described as "a warm bath to relax, including a glass of cognac and the pleasure of a fine cigar," while honeymooners often go for 'Romance in the Air', where they can enjoy champagne and strawberries in the bath surrounded by rose petals and scented candles. Once the butler is certain guests' mind and body are totally relaxed, warmed towels and a choice of body lotions are prepared. Beds are turned down and a cup of hot chocolate is set upon the night table, so guests can fall into bed completely unwound. Rates for the penthouse suite are from US$1,400 per night plus tax. Linking Cusco to Machu Picchu are the train services operated by PeruRail, who have just announced that they will be introducing a new daily luxury service in September 2003. Using rolling stock purchased in Singapore and refurbished in Peru, the new service will consist of four carriages - two dining cars, a bar car and a kitchen car - decorated in similar style to carriages on PeruRail's service between Cusco and Puno in Southern Peru and with a capacity to host 84 passengers. Called the "Hiram Bingham," the service will operate alongside the existing Vistadome and backpacker trains, however it will depart Cusco later in the morning and return from Machu Picchu at 7pm. This gives passengers the unique opportunity to explore the ruins in relative solitude once the crowds on other rail services have departed. Passengers will be served brunch on the outbound service and upon arrival at Machu Picchu will be escorted around the site with a private tour guide. On their return journey, they will be served dinner from a five course a la carte menu. More information can be found on www.perurail.com . One of Australia's rising culinary stars, Mr Harunobu Inukai has recently joined the prestigious 100-room Observatory Hotel in Sydney as Executive Chef of Galileo Restaurant. With a reputation for innovation, Harunobu brings to the Observatory many years experience and a creative passion for marrying French cuisine with a Japanese influence. He has worked as a chef in exclusive restaurants and hotels in Sydney and internationally, cooking for a myriad of high profile names such as Bill Clinton and Keanu Reeves. Boasting two hats and an award for 'Best New Restaurant' in his previous role as Executive Chef at VII Restaurant, Harunobu plans to fuse the best of French cuisine with a Japanese influence for the launch of an innovative new menu on June 1 in Galileo Restaurant. Harunobu's ultimate goal is to create both enjoyment and a sensory experience not seen before in the kitchen. Lilianfels Blue Mountains in Katoomba is in the final stages of an AU$6.5million refurbishment due for completion later this month. Once finalized, the 85-room country retreat located in the World Heritage-listed Blue Mountains National Park, will have been entirely redone, including an expanded health club and spa within the hotel grounds. During the makeover, the hotel's spacious guestrooms and suites have been fully redecorated in a theme reminiscent of the area's Victorian heritage. Lavish pink, green and lilac/beige themed rooms predominate, featuring sumptuous floral designs. The guest areas, five conference rooms and lounge have also been fully refurbished, boasting new furniture and the introduction of a stylish bar setting. A more casual dining alternative to the hotel's award-winning Darley's Restaurant has been created with the introduction of 'Tre Sorelle' (Three Sisters) restaurant, which offers contemporary Italian cuisine. A highlight of the new design is the expansion of the health club to include four private treatment rooms, manicure and pedicure stations, and the transformation of the existing Cottage suite into an extensive gymnasium, with all new equipment. Additional outdoor guest activities include guided garden walks, tennis, bike riding, horse riding and soft adventure eco-tours. When the project is finished, there will be a stunning new outdoor heated pool overlooking the Jamison Valley. The enhanced Lilianfels is already winning recognition as an outstanding example of Australian luxury hospitality. At a ceremony held in Sydney this May 2003, awarded the retreat "Best Regional Property" and "Best Redeveloped Property in New South Wales" at the exclusive 2003 NSW Australian Hotels Association Awards for Excellence. Multi-hued blue waters, a fresh flower in your hair and being woken gently by the sound of waves lapping against your over-water bungalow. What could be better than summer in the South Pacific? The Bora Bora Lagoon Resort in French Polynesia is currently offering a South Pacific Aquatic Perspective Package which includes five night's accommodation, daily breakfast, and a choice of three aquatic activities for two (water skiing, submarine ride, jet skiing, shark-feeding, island snorkel tour or Aquascope excursion). Additionally, all guests have unlimited use of non-motorized water sports at the resort, as well as tennis courts, fitness room, and motorboat shuttle service between the Resort and its neighbouring village, Vaitape, Bora Bora. Package price starts at $2,728 for a garden bungalow rising to $4,508 for an over water bungalow. Orient-Express Hotels is probably best known for luxury hotels, trains and cruises, however they have added an exciting new dimension to their portfolio: private jets. The Orient-Express Private Jet Experience aims to remove the frustrations and restore the style to 21st century travel as chartering a private jet enables travellers to combine the very best experiences in a way impossible or too time-consuming on scheduled air services. Orient-Express is offering two types of service: private jet charter for individuals or groups and exclusive holiday itineraries in Europe and Latin America. Travel benefits of this new service include flexible travel dates and duration, local departure points, as flights are not restricted to commercial airports, direct access to new destinations normally inaccessible on conventional routes and increased privacy and security. A variety of aircraft are featured in the program from six-seater Lear jets to Boeing and Airbus aircraft ideal for larger groups or corporate events. All offer comfortable and stylish surroundings that put the thrill back into air travel. Orient-Express Hotels has announced that as from July 16, 2003, it will operate its own GDS code 'OE'. This development is a result of the company's significant expansion in recent years, which has positioned it at the forefront of the luxury travel industry. As part of this transition, Orient-Express is also establishing a private label voice reservations center. These numbers will become effective shortly and will mean that OEH properties that previously could only be booked by dialling the property directly such as the Machu Picchu Sanctuary Lodge in Peru and Orient-Express Safaris in Botswana, can now be booked on a local number. For more information or photography, please visit www.orient-express.com. Media Contact: Patricia Harper Director of Public Relations 212-302-5055 patricia.harper@orient-express.com Melanie Brandman or Kristin Vigrass The Brandman Agency 212-683-2442 melanie@brandmanpr.com Audra Poole The Creative Poole 407-599-9935 cr8poole@cfl.rr.com Diana Biederman 212-582-7200 dbiederman@21club.com |
| Produced by Judi Janofsky, Rich Steck and the Golf Press Association |