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December 27, 2006

W Hotels to Offer Eco-Friendly Concept

Guests concerned about the environment don’t have many more options for showing their green tendencies than deciding to go a day without having housekeeping change the sheets. As recently reported on The Stylephile.com, W Hotels is re-imagining the eco-hotel with ALOFT, its new division with a vision. The brand, to open in 2008, will boast a "see green" program that includes a shrubbery-enshrouded outdoor parking garage with preferential parking for hybrid cars. Compartmentalized shower dispensers for shampoo and lotions will eliminate the need for plastic bottles, and recycled building materials will be used throughout the properties.

To read more about ALOFT hotels, visit www.alofthotels.com.

December 20, 2006

Hawaii’s New Clean Environment Policy—Still a Smoking Ban
 

Los Angeles did it in its restaurants. Westin and Marriott did it in their hotels. As of November 2006, Hawaii has done it in public places. Smoking on the islands is definitely out—in eateries, bars, bowling alleys, shopping centers and airports. In a recent online article on Yahoo!, a tourism liaison for the state insisted that the law is being viewed as a clean environment policy and not as a smoking ban. But many in the hospitality industry see the law, whatever its emphasis, as a possible deterrent to tourism.

The 2005 Annual Visitor Research Report rendered by the Hawaii Tourism Authority indicates that visitors from the U.S. West make up the state’s highest primary visitor market. The U.S. East ranks second, and Japan ranks third. While Americans are used to smoking restrictions, the smoking culture in Japan is popular among Japanese men—45% of whom smoke. Ironically, according to a 2006 Tobacco Trends report by the American Lung Association, smoking by race is lowest among Asians due to the low rate of women who smoke. Special efforts to make Japanese tourists aware of the ban will be in place.

For more information, visit www.hawaiitourismauthority.org.

December 13, 2006

Airports the New Downtown

Tom Hanks lived in one in the film, The Terminal. Apparently, the film’s premise wasn’t that far-fetched.

An airport planned as a city is known as an “aerotropolis,” a term coined by John Kasarda of the Frank Hawkins Kenan Institute of Private Enterprise at the University of North Carolina. This new type of architectural community represents a sociological trend whose time has come, Kasarda claims, according to a recent article published on fastcompany.com.

The article details that construction has begun on the multi-billion dollar master-planned Beijing Capital Airport City. Korea, India, the Netherlands—cities in these countries are following suit. The new Suvarnabhumi Airport complex in Bangkok, when finally completed, will include hospitals, hotels, golf courses, shopping malls and schools. These days, people even patronize art—rotating exhibits hang in concourses at airports in Philadelphia, Denver, Edinburgh, Tucson, London, Seattle, Stockholm, Raleigh-Durham, San Francisco and more.

A USA Today article claims that aerotropolises are the new downtowns. Development is burgeoning at Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport with a vast retail, commercial, hospitality and residential community. The Albuquerque International Sunport is in the midst of construction of one of the largest developments in the world near an airport.

You may wonder, what about noise levels? Seems that nobody’s talking....

To read more, please see www.fastcompany.com.

*Image by Boonlert Tangtaveevech,
Copyright Airports of Thailand Public Company Limited

Drug profiling is old news. It’s likely you’ve heard about drivers traveling along established drug routes, from Florida to New York or from Mexico to California and beyond, who are observed and identified for the purpose of determining whether or not they might be trafficking drugs. Is the person traveling alone? Is the car a late model vehicle? Are there children inside? Does the driver have that drug trafficker “look”?

Now we know that Homeland Security is doing the same thing with Americans and foreigners who enter the U.S.—only it’s being done by a computer program called the Automated Targeting System (ATS). Personal information being evaluated includes your departure and arrival destinations, how you paid for your ticket, and if you’ve ever traveled one-way. A traveler is then assigned a risk number. What that number means is known only to Homeland Security according to The Associated Press, which last week reported that the system has been in place for the past four years in an attempt to identify criminals, terrorists and other security threats.

According to the Homeland Security Department’s website, the ATS was originally designed to help identify illegal narcotics in cargo containers. The American Civil Liberties Union has condemned the program in a press release posted on its website. Government officials could not say whether the ATS has led to the apprehension of any terrorists.

For more information, visit the Homeland Security Department's website at www.dhs.gov.

The economic boom in India officially includes the travel industry, which is scrambling to keep up with the demand for more hotels. Though Hilton, Four Seasons and Sheraton—which weighs in with a whopping twenty hotels—already have a presence in the country, there’s a critical shortage of mid-range venues due to an influx of mostly business travelers.

Hotel rooms at bargain rates until only a few years ago were plentiful in all of India's big cities. A night at a five-star establishment, which ranged from $50 to $60, today has escalated to an average of $325. According to official tourism stats for 2005, achieving a 13.2% growth rate over 2004 (which saw a 26.8% growth rate over 2003), India has enjoyed its third successive year of positive growth in foreign tourist arrivals.

According to a tourism ministry official, as reported this week by the Associated Press, a total of 300 hotel projects have been approved by the government. Luxury hotels represent almost half that number. Aided by recent changes to Indian law that allow full foreign ownership of hotels, foreign hotel operators are eager to invest. In addition to New Delhi, cities being targeted as outposts for new hotels include Agra, Bangalore, Goa, Jaipur, Rajasthan and Mumbai.

See also hotel trends in China

November 22, 2006

Travelers Entering the United States Must Follow New Mandate

Under the Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative (WHTI), travelers heading into the United States must comply with new requirements. Starting Jan. 23, 2007, all persons, including U.S. citizens traveling by air between the United States and Canada, Mexico, Central and South America, the Caribbean and Bermuda, will be required to present a valid passport, Air Nexus card (enrollment is limited to citizens of Canada and the United States, lawful permanent residents of the United States and permanent residents of Canada) or U.S. Coast Guard Merchant Marine Document. The WHTI will not affect travel between the United States and its territories. U.S. citizens traveling directly between the United States, Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands and American Samoa will be able to use established forms of identification (valid driver’s license or government-issued ID card) to board a flight and for entry. The new mandate is a result of the Intelligence Reform and Terrorism Prevention Act of 2004, which requires the Department of Homeland Security and Department of State to ask all travelers to present documents that denote identity and citizenship when entering the United States. By standardizing documentation, it allows the Department of Homeland Security to accurately identify a traveler and facilitate entry into the country. For more information, visit www.travel.state.gov.

They’re jamming in the Bahamas. Rita Marley, Bob Marley’s widow, will open the sixteen-suite Marley Resort and Spa on Cable Beach in Nassau Feb. 6, 2007---the day would have been the musician’s 61st birthday. The resort, formerly a governor’s mansion, is located in an area known as the “Bahamian Riviera” and had been used as a summer getaway by the Marley family for years. Thirteen master suites will be named after Marley’s songs such as “Jammin” and “Three Little Birds.” The three royal suites will feature specific themes and furnishings, such as Rita Marley furniture in the Royal Rita suite, a separate living room and bar in the Legend suite and an in-room Jacuzzi and two rainfall showers in the One Love honeymoon suite. The menu at the resort’s restaurant, Simmer Down, will offer some of Marley’s favorite dishes accompanied by the sounds of acoustic reggae rhythms and live performances. Pricing starts at $495 per room, per night. For more information, visit www.marleyresort.com.

November 8, 2006

Even More Friendly Skies: Join United Airlines' Luxury Travel Club

Elite travel clubs are for discriminating professionals who expect the best but also love a bargain. United Airlines' luxury travel club Ameniti is currently offering great deals on car rentals. Now through Dec. 31, 2006, members can receive Special Rates plus Triple Mileage Plus Miles for the Jaguar X-TYPE ($95/day), Jaguar S-TYPE ($101/day), Jaguar XJ-8 ($105/day) and other posh rides. This is just one example of the many services and bargains offered to members of Ameniti, part of United Airlines. Other exclusive membership benefits include: free companion tickets on United or Singapore Airlines, double miles from top hotel (such as Shangri-La Hotels & Resorts and Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide), car rental and cruise partners, up to 25,000 additional bonus miles on qualifying cruise lines, two single-use United Red Carpet Club airport lounge passes and much more. For more information or to join, call 1-877-AMENITI or visit www.ameniti.com.

November 1, 2006

Miami's Designer Hotel

Todd Oldham, former runway designer turned furniture and home accessories designer, and chef Tony Mantuano from Chicago’s Spiaggia Restaurant are teaming up to open The Fairfax, a luxury boutique hotel on a swank strip in South Beach, Miami. Located on 18th Street and Collins Avenue, the 53-suite fractional ownership hotel is scheduled to open in 2007 and will feature Enoteca Spiaggia, the first expansion of the acclaimed Chicago eatery.

Inspired by chef Mantuano’s unique take on Italian cuisine, Oldham is custom-designing all aspects of the hotel and restaurant—including everything from the bedding to the plates and cutlery—to reflect the whimsical yet sophisticated flavors in Mantuano’s cooking. Spiaggia, which means beach in Italian, will feature a coral bar that will serve Italian artisan mozzarella and crudo.

This Halloween, you don’t have to be a guest at your local Doubletree hotel to receive one of their freshly-baked cookies. On Oct. 31 from 12:01 a.m.-11:59 p.m., Doubletree hotel locations across North America will provide a complimentary chocolate chip cookie to anyone who walks in the door, from costumed treat-seekers to parents in plainclothes. On an average day, Doubletree hotels hand out 30,000 freshly-baked cookies to customers, but you won’t have to pay to get one this time. After one of these tasty treats, you’ll be hungry for more, but don’t go knocking on any hotel room doors—trick-or-treat only extends to the hotel lobby.

Winnie the Pooh’s honey pot may soon be replaced by a cup of apple sauce and carrot sticks. The Walt Disney Company announced this week that the menus in their American theme parks will now be comprised of healthier foods. The amount of calories, fats and sugars will be reduced in the park’s new food choices, while trans-fats will be eliminated entirely by the end of 2007. Even candy and bakery goods will be made healthier. In kids’ meals, Disney will replace soda with low-fat milk, 100-percent fruit juice and water, while unsweetened apple sauce and baby carrots will substitute for French fries. Parents will still be able to order the unhealthier items if they wish. In addition to in-park foods, Disney will gradually remove its name and licensed characters from foods that do not meet its new health guidelines.

“This is a terrific initiative because it makes it easier for parents, even while on vacation, to provide their children with a well-balanced meal with kid appeal,” said Jay Rasulo, chairman of Walt Disney Parks and Resorts. “An overwhelming majority of parents tell us they prefer the more nutritious meals for their children over other options.”

October 11, 2006

A Southern California Landmark Reopens

On your next visit to the City of Angels, make sure to visit Griffith Park Observatory, the legendary cultural landmark atop Mount Hollywood. After five years and a $93 million renovation, it is ready to offer close-ups of the universe when it reopens November 3. This 1935 Art Deco masterpiece has been a star in its own right, immortalized by James Dean in the movie “Rebel Without a Cause” and is the place where Arnold Schwarzenegger emerged as a cyborg from the future in “The Terminator.” Visitors can now experience this state-of-the-art facility which features exhibits where you can touch a 395-pound meteorite and learn about the seasons, tides and phases of the moon. There’s also the main event planetarium which has been upgraded with plush seats, a new dome and a Zeiss projector from Germany. Wolfgang Puck’s Café at the End of the Universe offers nourishment and special presentations will take place at the Leonard Nimoy Event Horizon theatre. But mostly, the Griffith Park Observatory is a place where you can gaze at stunning 360 degree views of the city. Reservations are now required both for the Observatory and for seats on the shuttle to and from the park. For more information and to make reservations, call 888-695-0888 or visit, www.griffithobservatory.org.

October 4, 2006

Stardust Vegas Razed to Make Way for Luxury Resort

Come November 1, the Stardust Resort and Casino, a hold-out from the 1950s Vegas hey-day, will cease to exist. For stalwart Stardust fans, that means no more dynamic duo performances by Steve (Lawrence) and Eydie (Gorme) or Tim Conway and Harvey Korman. The property, located at the northern end of the strip, will be razed to make way for a $4 billion Echelon Place development slated for completion in 2010. The new mega-complex will include four hotels—the Echelon Resort and three other Vegas-style versions of well-established luxury brands. The Shangri-La Hotels, which includes some of Asia’s premiere properties, will open a 400-room hotel and spa. Morgan’s hotel group known for their popular boutique brands, will launch in Sin City with a Vegas version of their Miami hotel, the Delano (600 rooms) and their West Hollywood hot spot, the Mondrian (1,000 rooms). Included with development is Echelon’s Las Vegas ExpoCenter, a proposed 140,000-square-foot casino and retail promenade. For more information, visit www.echelonresort.com.

September 27, 2006

TSA Partially Lifts Liquid Travel Ban

The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) announced that starting Sept. 26, it is lifting the total ban on liquids, gels and aerosols in baggage carried on board. Travelers will be allowed to carry travel-sized toiletries (three ounces or less) that fit comfortably in one quart-size, clear-plastic, zip-top bag. Once through security, they will be able to buy items, like beverages, from secured airport areas and take them on-board.

“After the initial, total ban, we have learned enough from the UK investigation to say with confidence that small, travel size liquids are safe to bring through security checkpoints in limited numbers,” Assistant Secretary for TSA Kip Hawley said. “We have also taken additional security measures throughout the airport that make us comfortable allowing passengers to bring beverages and other items purchased in the secure area on board.” For more information visit www.tsa.gov.

September 20, 2006

LAX Introduces Remote Check-In to Shorten Lines

With recent security measures causing more passengers to check their luggage, the already long check-in lines at Los Angeles International Airport have gotten even lengthier, sometimes snaking outside the terminals. In an attempt to combat these long queues, Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa has announced the creation of remote check-in, a program that allows passengers to drop their bags off and pick up their boarding passes at one of four locations before arriving at the airport. These locations are Van Nuys FlyAway, Union Station FlyAway, the Los Angeles Convention Center and the Port of Los Angeles World Cruise Center in San Pedro. From there, the bags are transported to an LAX facility where they are inspected by the Transportation Security Administration and placed on passengers’ flights. Bags are accepted up to two and a half hours before take-off. The $5 service is only for domestic flights operated by American, Alaska, Continental, Delta, Horizon, Northwest and United. Although this program is in theory a useful way to ease airport line times, it seems more remote locations are needed before a significant difference will be noticed. Only the Van Nuys location is in a convenient residential area, while the others cater to a very specific type of traveler. For more information, visit www.lawa.org.

September 13, 2006

Celebrate the Fall Harvest by Picking Your Apple a Day

With the fall harvest upon us, now may be the ideal time to plan a visit to one of the many apple festivals happening in October across America. Taste test apple butter, apple pie, apple sauce, apple cider and maybe even take a few recipes home with you. Learn the difference between a Blushing Gold and a Melrose and, if you like, go into the orchards and pick familiar favorites like Fuji and Granny Smith. If you’re lucky, maybe you’ll stumble upon some Applejack, a strong alcoholic beverage made during the Colonial Period from—you guessed it—apples.

To learn more about all the apple festivals in the U.S., as well as in Britain, Canada and Australia, go to www.pickyourown.org/applefestivals.

September 7, 2006

The New Eco-Friendly Fleet at Hertz

With gas prices soaring and the threat of global warming looming, Hertz is making it easier for travelers to help save the environment and money on fuel with their new Green Collection. All of the 35,000 cars in this fleet are EPA highway rated at 28 miles or more per gallon, including models such as Toyota Camry, Ford Fusion, Buick LaCrosse and Hyundai Sonata. Most carry the EPA's Smartway certification and are available at 50 major airports nationwide.

For more EPA-certified tips on improving gas mileage while driving your rental or personal car, visit www.fueleconomy.gov.

August 24, 2006

New Electronic Passports to Contain Computer Chips

From now on, would-be spies looking to forge a passport are going to need a lot more than a photo and Elmer’s glue. By the end of this year, all American passports will be issued with a highly secure integrated computer chip that will possess all of the physical document’s information. Not only will the new chip made by Infineon speed up inspection times, but more importantly, with more than 50 individual security mechanisms, it will significantly improve the passport’s privacy and resistance to forgery. The U.S. government estimates that 15 million of these new electronic passports will be issued in its first year, joining or replacing the more than 67 million already in circulation. The 27 countries that participate in the U.S. Visa Waiver Program (most Western European countries, plus Japan, Australia, New Zealand and Singapore) will be required to start issuing electronic passports by October 2006, and many have already done so. The chip itself is read by a scanner operated by an immigration officer and contains the bearer’s name, date of birth, validity period and a digital photo that is compatible with facial recognition technology. The electronics passports will also incorporate a new colorful design that includes background photos of Mt. Rushmore, the Liberty Bell and a satellite orbiting the Moon.

For more information on the new passport, visit travel.state.gov

August 18, 2006

Fairy Tale Flights of Fancy in Frankfurt

Should you find yourself in the Frankfurt, Germany, airport, the guy on a stage spouting gibberish in Hungarian is not crazy. Rather, he is one of nine story tellers from across Europe who have been invited by Lufthansa to recite and perform fables, legends and fairy tales in their mother tongue. Stories from Germany, Denmark, Finland, France, Ireland, the Netherlands, the Czech Republic and Hungary will be orated for passengers without props, relying simply on their voice and gestures.

“We want to span a bridge with this event between languages, cultures and countries,” said Andreas Döpper, Lufthansa station manager at Frankfurt Airport. “Our aim is to stimulate the curiosity of our passengers and encourage them playfully and imaginatively to take an interest in foreign languages.”

One has to wonder if seeing these fairy tale orations will be like watching a foreign film without subtitles, but without any accompanying images. Regardless, it should make waiting for your Lufthansa flight a little more interesting.

August 9, 2006

New Manhattan Bohemian Hideaway

Entrepreneur Ian Schrager has opened the bohemian Gramercy Park Hotel, with design help from painter Julian Schnabel. The lobby hosts a fusion of design schemes, furnished with hand-woven rugs, Moroccan tiles and 3-D paintings. The guest suites are intended to mirror European hotel rooms through their use of Renaissance color palettes and unique art, while the private roof club and landscaped garden are inspired by turn of the century rooftop entertaining. Says the man behind the Delano in Miami Beach and the Mondrian in West Hollywood, Calif., “The Gramercy Park Hotel is the ultimate anti-brand and anti-design hotel. It is a celebration of the idiosyncratic.”

August 9, 2006

New Barrière Hotel Opens on the Champs Élysées

Experience all the lights and romance of Paris this fall at the Hôtel Fouquet Barrière, a new hotel located just steps from the culture, fashion and luxury of the Champs Élysées. Copying the nearby Hausmanian building’s exterior, architect Edouard François transformed a block of historic buildings into one hotel built around an indoor garden. This was done to accommodate Paris’ strict historic building protection laws. The landmark Fouquet’s restaurant not only serves as the inspiration for the hotel’s name, it’ll also serve its guests a taste of classic Paris with its French cuisine and turn-of-the-century décor. For private functions, a rooftop terrace will be available that affords sweeping views of Paris, including the Eiffel Tower. Its 120 luxury rooms will be complimented with a trendy bar, spa, fitness center, steam room, an indoor swimming pool and Le Diane restaurant set in the indoor garden.

August 2, 2006

San Diego’s Keating to Blend Historic and Modern Italian Design

Opening this fall in the heart of San Diego’s Gaslamp Quarter is The Keating, a chic boutique hotel. Conceived by Italian design house Pininfarina, which is famous for creating Ferraris, The Keating will feature a sleek, modern Italian interior contrasted by a Romanesque Revival façade. The 35 guestrooms or “stanzas” will boast high ceilings, exposed brick walls and oversized windows in combination with color and modern, custom furnishings to create a thoroughly chic environment. Walls that traditionally separate “warm and wet zones” (bedroom and bathroom to you) have been omitted to provide an open feeling. The hotel’s small size will also lend itself to a greater amount of personalized service, as well as a guests-only lounge under the hotel.

“The Keating is one of San Diego’s oldest buildings, which will now become one of San Diego’s newest attractions…combining historical architecture, cutting edge design and innovative services, to evoke a modern destination with subtle sex appeal,” said Robert Watson of the hotel’s operator BOND Urban Habitat.

For more information, visit www.thekeating.com.

July 26, 2006

Hilton Sisters Dive Into the Family Business

They got their fame and fortune from the hotel business (well, maybe not the fame). Now Paris and Nicky Hilton are carrying on the family legacy with new hotels of their own. The younger and less notorious sister announced her new luxury brand Nicky O first, an all-suite hotel/condo concept debuting in South Beach, Miami, and later Chicago. Both will be renovated existing hotels and will feature a look described as French Regency meets modern Hollywood. Nicky has been involved with much of the design elements, from all common areas to the guestrooms and even the staff’s uniforms. “Having grown up in the family business, I certainly have an understanding of the day-to-day operations at a successful property,” Nicky said.

Paris, meanwhile, announced she will be starting her own chain. "It's going to be lots of fun," Paris told SFgate.com. "My hotels will be like the Sanderson…The first one will be in Las Vegas. I love poker and blackjack. And I always win—I've played it since I was 12, when I won $15,000." There’s no word about what Paris' hotel will be called, but it’s a safe bet it’ll be something "hot."

July 19, 2006

Marriott Hangs No Smoking Sign on All Hotels

Where there’s smoke…there’s certainly no Marriott hotel. In September, every hotel and corporate apartment in the Marriott International, Inc. group in the United States and Canada will be completely smoke free, from the guest rooms to the restaurants, lounges, meeting rooms, public spaces and even the employee work areas. Ninety percent of Marriott’s guest rooms are already non-smoking, but reacting to new information from the Surgeon General on the hazards of second-hand smoke, the company decided to go completely smoke free: “Our family of brands is united on this important health issue and we anticipate very positive customer feedback,” said J.W. Marriott, Jr., chairman and chief executive officer of Marriott International, which operates and franchises hotels under the Marriott, JW Marriott, The Ritz-Carlton and Renaissance brand names, among many others.

July 12, 2006

Bermuda Hotels Offer Hurricane Guarantee

Grotto Bay Beach Resort

Their national drink might be the Dark ‘n Stormy, but Bermuda’s taking steps to make sure its tourists’ vacations are anything but. Sixteen Bermuda resorts are offering a “Hurricane Guarantee” that gives travelers refunds and rain checks should their trips be cut short or cancelled by a hurricane.

• If a storm is predicted to pass within 200 miles of the islands, guests will be able to cancel their reservations without penalty within five days.
• Should a hurricane strike during a stay, room, food and beverages will be provided gratis until the hotel’s normal operations can resume.
• If the hotel is damaged and unable to resume normal operations, guests have one year from the property’s reopening to resume their vacation.

Participating hotels include: Cambridge Beaches, Coral Beach & Tennis Club, Elbow Beach Bermuda, Fairmont Hamilton Princess, Fairmont Southampton, Fourways Inn, Granaway Guest House & Cottage, Grape Bay Hotel, Grotto Bay Beach Resort, Harmony Club, Horizons & Cottages, The St. George’s Club, Rosedon, Surf Side Beach Club, Waterloo House and Wyndham Bermuda. For more information, visit www.bermudatourism.com or check out our Bermuda Travel Guide.

July 5, 2006

James Bond Hooks Up with Virgin...the Airline

The last virgin James Bond allied with was Jane Seymour's Solitaire in 1973's "Live and Let Die." Thirty-three years and three Bonds later, 007 has gotten together with an entirely different type of Virgin: the airline. Along with its founder and chairman Sir Richard Branson, Virgin Atlantic will make an appearance in "Casino Royale," the newest Bond adventure starring Daniel Craig as the timeless British spy. Branson (pictured with film co-star Caterina Murino) will make a cameo during a check-in scene at the Miami airport.

"James Bond is original, cool and sophisticated—just like an airline I know," Branson said. "Having met Daniel Craig and the rest of the team on set, I have no doubt 'Casino Royale' will be one of the most successful James Bond films ever."

Bond movies practically invented the art of product placements, and Virgin's participation is only one of the new film's partners. Ford will debut its new Aston Martin DBS in the movie, along with the 2008 Ford Mondeo. Bond changes airlines almost as often as women. In the past, 007 has flown Pan Am, British Airways, Lufthansa, and an Air France Concorde.

June 21, 2006

Heralding Holistic Wellness at Jamaica's Half Moon Resort