The book, which is scheduled to emerge as a movie starring Julia Roberts this summer, paints shimmering pictures that stay with the reader. India is intense and chaotic, yet deeply absorbing, and, for Gilbert, life-changing. One of the world’s most ancient cultures, it indeed seems to possess a special wisdom that Gilbert is not alone in seeking.

Bali is altogether different, a soft-spoken, gentle, lush, green and tranquil island of great natural beauty. It was in Bali that love came the author’s way, and whether romance lies in store or not, the island casts a spell on all visitors with its quiet spirituality.

Asia Transpacific Journeys offers a 16-day journey featuring travel to India, In the Realm of the Spirit that focuses on the contrasting spiritual traditions in the region. Travelers visit sacred temples, join pilgrims at holy sites, and practice yoga at a world-renowned retreat in the Himalayas.

On Bali and Beyond travelers discover hidden gems on an incredible 17-day exploration of this magical land. The journey features sailing, snorkeling, dance and the arts, wildlife, ancient cultural traditions and UNESCO temples sites.

Asia Transpacific Journeys can also create private Custom Journeys to India and Indonesia for individual travelers, their family and friends. These depart on your timeframe and incorporate special features completely tailored to each traveler’s unique interests.

Asia Transpacific Journeys is a Boulder, Colorado-based luxury Asia travel company and Asia tour operator specializing in Custom Journeys and Small Group Trips to Asia and the Pacific region since 1987. Outstanding service, long-standing connections in Asia and deeply insightful cultural interpretation make them the Asia travel company of choice for the American Museum of Natural History, The Harvard and Yale alumni associations, the World Wildlife Fund, as well as discerning individuals, their families and friends.

In November 2009 Asia Transpacific Journeys received Travel + Leisure magazine’s Global Vision Award to the Asia Transpacific Foundation for its clean water project in Burma and featured their Insider’s Vietnam Small Group Trip among “15 Trips to Change Your World.” National Geographic Adventure magazine gave the company star billing in its “25 Best New Trips for 2010” feature story, recognizing Asia Transpacific Journeys exploration of Laos. http://www.AsiaTranspacific.com

New York, NY – June 2010 – With so many reasons to celebrate in the summer, whether it is a birthday, anniversary, graduation or simply the sunshine itself, a weekend getaway is the perfect way to recharge. At the new Strand hotel in Manhattan, pamper your partner or friend with a special summer getaway package available on weekends through September 6, 2010.

Rates for the package start at $599.00 for two nights, based on single and double occupancy, and are available on Friday, Saturday and Sunday evening. Package is valid from June 27, 2010, through September 6, 2010, based upon availability and tax is not included.

For more information or to book please call reservations at 212-448-1014 or e-mail info@thestrandnyc.com. Restaurant reservations must be made at time of booking. The Black Duck restaurant is located at 124 E. 28^th Street; more information at www.blackducknyc.com. Eruan Salon & Spa is located at 6 W. 37^th Street at 5^th Avenue; more information at www.eruan.biz. Spa treatments are only available on Fridays and Saturdays. Offer is not applicable to group of five rooms or more and cannot be combined with any other special promotions.

Fresh and innovative guestrooms feature floor to ceiling windows framing Empire State Building views. The Strand’s lobby with staircase of stone and glass and a two-story waterfall engages the ear and helps guests leave the city’s cacophony at the door. Fashion photographs from Conde Nast archives are found throughout the common areas and guestrooms and may be purchased.

The hotel’s new rooftop lounge, Top of the Strand, was recently named Best New Rooftop Lounge in NYC in New York Magazine’s annual Best of New York issue. The lounge features a retractable glass ceiling and walls – one of only two hotels in Manhattan that offer this design element - allowing guests to enjoy four seasons worth of Empire State Building views and a private lounge ambiance. The lounge was designed by Lydia Marks, known most recently for creating the set designs for both Sex and the City movies. The Top of the Strand is open to both guests and the general public and features a full-service bar.

It’s on every cruise vacationer’s mind – book direct or through an agent / broker?

Tahoe City, CA, May 11, 2010 – People embarking on a search for a small ship adventure cruise that fits their pocketbooks, touring interests and on-board requirements may be best served by securing a cruise vacation through an unbiased resource such as a booking agent, rather than direct through a cruise company itself.

(http://www.adventuresmithexplorations.com/), the active travel company that secures matches between adventure-seeking clients and a treasure trove of small, expedition ships, shares seven reasons why the client might be better served reserving their vacation through a booking agent:

1) Selection – Clients have a selection of pre-vetted adventure cruises to choose from, many of which may not be on the client’s radar because the companies are so small.

2) Style – The hallmark of an adventure cruise is the ability to explore off the ship, in small groups, in the company of trained expedition leaders. There exists a wide variety of specially outfitted small ships and yachts that can actively explore regions that would otherwise be inaccessible to most travelers, all without sacrificing comfort and safety -- or the environment. Choosing the style that’s right is key.

3) Value – Clients usually do not pay more and may often pay less through a booking agent because of the agent’s buying power. The agent is also always on top of what’s out there in the marketplace as regards to special offers, early booking discounts and on-board credits that may not be available by booking direct.

4) Knowledge – A booking agent that serves its clients professionally very often has more hands-on experience and knowledge of a ship and its itinerary than the ship’s own phone reservationists.

5) Service – Instead of calling into a ship’s reservation center and possibly being shuffled to various voices, a good agent provides one contact throughout for unbiased information and service in selection, booking, preparation, travel and the post-cruise experience including transportation, extensions and accommodations.

6) Relationships – Ongoing, mutually successful relationships begin with travel partners and employees and are then shared with the client to his or her benefit.

7) Sustainable Travel – A booking agent can offer a portfolio of small ship adventure cruises that meet the sustainable travel expectations of its clients. This can mean favoring locally owned boats, accommodations, guides and operations; conservation projects and, most important, communicating between the values of the client and the meanings inherent in the destination.

Smith relayed experiences when he was an adventure guide. In two instances bookings were made through an individual cruise company, without taking the client’s complete needs into consideration. A honeymoon couple was booked onto a small ship that offered only bunk beds – and they were never informed of the cabin configuration. In a scenario of mixed physical abilities amongst a group of friends and family, he has seen some passengers push themselves beyond their physical abilities just to keep up with everyone else, or sit back twiddling their thumbs because they couldn’t or didn’t want to participate in a particular activity.

In other cases, he said, “You find travelers who arrive on board a small ship expecting an active program of hiking and kayaking every day, when in fact the ship does not offer any off-vessel activities. Many small ship companies promote their products as adventure experiences when they are really just wilderness cruising. Similarly you will find travelers arriving on board a small yacht unaware that they have to share a bathroom. Obviously this can create frustration at the beginning of a trip which may fester throughout. We present all the options and ensure our clients know exactly what to expect when they book a trip and when they arrive at their destination.”

AdventureSmith Explorations is the global leader in small ship, adventure cruise vacations. Company founder Todd Smith helped pioneer the concept of wilderness cruising that combines the comforts of a small cruise ship with the adventure of sea kayaking, hiking and exploring remote wilderness areas ashore. The company matches guests with the top names in small ship cruising as well with intimate, boutique ships that may not make the radar of most travelers.

In moving through exotic natural environments and exploring vibrant native cultures seldom associated with more mainstream cruise itineraries, AdventureSmith Explorations dedicates its efforts to small footprint, sustainable travel and has launched a carbon free cruising initiative. Its off-the-beaten-path destinations include Alaska, Baja, Costa Rica, Belize, Ecuador and the Galapagos, Peru, the Arctic, Antarctica and Australia.

The company's mission is to give back to the individuals, communities and environments touched by AdventureSmith Explorations trips by connecting travelers with a network of grassroots and global nonprofit partners worldwide including the Alaska Natural History Association, Neotropica Foundation and Galapagos Conservancy. The company was named by National Geographic Adventure as one of “The Best Adventure Travel Companies on Earth” and is the recipient of Conde Nast Traveler’s prestigious “World Savers Award.”

CALLING ALL MOMS: MANHATTAN'S NEW STRAND HOTEL SHARES LOVE AND GRATITUDE THIS MOTHER'S DAY WITH SPECIAL 'MOM KNOWS BEST' PACKAGE

NEW YORK, NY - APRIL 2010 -- The Strand hotel, New York City's newest hot spot, is sharing the love this spring with all moms seeking a little R&R and much-needed pampering. The Mom Knows Best package, available weekends from May 7 through June 6, 2010, features luxe accommodations and an array of special treats and amenities guaranteed to bring all moms to a state of bliss. The package includes:

- Two nights in an upgraded Deluxe room with a breathtaking Empire State Building view

- Gift certificate for a manicure & pedicure or blow dry at "Eruan Salon and Spa"

- Car service to the Black Duck Bistro, a Murray Hill favorite, where dinner for two will be enjoyed

Rates for the Mom Knows Best package are from $599.00 for two nights, based on single and double occupancy. Package is based upon availability and tax is not included. For more information or reservations please call (212) 448-1024, visit www.thestrandnyc.com or email info@thestrandnyc.com. The Black Duck restaurant is located at 124 East 28^th Street. www.blackduckny.com. Eruan Salon and Spa is located at 6 West 37^th Street at 5^th Avenue www.eruan.biz. Gift certificate is valid for Friday or Saturday service only.

The Strand, which enjoyed a December 2009 opening, is a member of the Green Hotel Association and is a new, modern tower featuring 20 intimate floors housing 177 deluxe guest rooms and junior suites at 33 W. 37th St. just off Fifth Avenue. The hotel is the newest addition to the Atlantic Stars Hotels & Cruises portfolio which operates boutique hotel and cruising experiences in New York City, Newport, RI, Martha's Vineyard, South Beach and the Caribbean.

Fresh and innovative guestrooms feature floor to ceiling windows framing Empire State Building views. The Strand's lobby with staircase of stone and glass and a two-story waterfall engages the ear and helps guests leave the city's cacophony at the door. Fashion photographs from Conde Nast archives are found throughout the common areas and guestrooms and may be purchased.

The hotel's new rooftop lounge, Top of the Strand, was recently named Best New Rooftop Lounge in NYC in New York Magazine's annual Best of New York issue. The lounge features a retractable glass ceiling and walls -- one of only two hotels in Manhattan that offer this design element - allowing guests to enjoy four seasons worth of Empire State Building views and a private lounge ambiance. The lounge was designed by Lydia Marks, known most recently for creating the set designs for Sex and the City the movie. The Top of the Strand is open to both guests and the general public and features a full-service bar.

TORONTO, April 8, 2010 – Celebrating sustainable communities around the world and travelers’ opportunities to give back globally, Planeterra Foundation (http://www.planeterra.org/), a global non-profit dedicated to sustainable community development through travel and voluntourism, announced an Earth Month campaign that provides a 10 percent discount on all new bookings for its voluntourism programs made from now through April 30 for travel departing before Dec. 31, 2010.

The non-profit also believes in supporting organizations that foster the well being of global tourism. Planeterra was recently announced as the Gold Sponsor for the upcoming 2010 Tourism for Tomorrow Awards http://www.tourismfortomorrow.com/ to be presented at the Global Travel & Tourism Summit in Beijing, China www.globaltraveltourism.com/Beijing2010 May 25-27.

In 2009, Planeterra, together with its founding organization, Gap Adventures, (http://www.gapadventures.com/), were finalists for the coveted award in the category of Global Tourism Business.

“We have tremendous respect for the Tourism for Tomorrow Awards. With our ongoing mission to present our own triple bottom line business as a successful model that mainstream tourism can emulate on a larger scale, we’re continuing to reach out to the largest tourism organizations with that message through our major Gold Sponsorship this year,” said Planeterra’s Director Richard G. Edwards.

The Tourism for Tomorrow Awards, now in their sixth year under the World Travel & Tourism Council’s (WTTC) stewardship are aimed at recognizing best practice in sustainable tourism within the Travel & Tourism industry worldwide. Given the growing concern about natural and cultural resources, these Awards are particularly important to WTTC and provide the Council with the opportunity of promoting and partnering with the industry leaders in responsible tourism, highlighting the prime examples of best practice.

Each year, winners and finalists are honored at a special ceremony during the Global Travel & Tourism Summit - one of the highest-profile events in the industry, facilitating dialogue between decision-makers, and thus influencing future action in one of the world's largest industries - Travel & Tourism.

In observance of Earth Month and to stimulate travelers to experience the benefits of voluntourism, Planeterra will be offering a special 10% Discount promotion for any voluntour booked during April.

A complete listing of the 19 global projects offered in 2010 can be found at: http://www.planeterra.org/pages/voluntours/4.php. Programs are offered in 15 different countries in the regions of Africa, Asia and Latin America.

Planeterra Foundation is a global non-profit dedicated to sustainable community development through travel. It was founded in 2003 by Gap Adventures. Planeterra evolved out of a long history of travelers committed to finding ways to give back to the people and places they visit.

Ellie Hernaman

joriwhite_sig

Jori White Public Relations Ltd
Studio 2, 12 Bourchier Street
London W1D 4HZ
Tel: +44 (0) 20 7734 7001

Mob: 07828307172
Fax: + 44 (0) 20 7734 0042

Website: http://www.joriwhitepr.co.uk

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NAPLES GRANDE BEACH RESORT CELEBRATES MOMS WITH THREE GOLDEN DOOR SPA PACKAGES

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

NAPLES GRANDE BEACH RESORT, THE WALDORF ASTORIA COLLECTION,
CELEBRATES MOMS WITH THREE GOLDEN DOOR SPA PACKAGES SPECIFICALLY DESIGNED WITH MOTHER'S DAY IN MIND FOR THE ENTIRE MONTH OF MAY
Select Mother-Daughter Togetherness, Mother's Day Appreciation or Mother's Day Mini Special

NAPLES, FLA. (March 17, 2010) - This Mother's Day, give the gift of relaxation and rejuvenation to the women you love most with specially designed spa services from the Golden Door at Naples Grande Beach Resort, the Waldorf Astoria Collection. Whether you plan an intimate getaway, a family retreat complete with mother-daughter bonding time or want to provide an "indulge yourself" gift certificate, the women you gift may enjoy the spa's indoor and outdoor relaxation areas, and outdoor co-ed whirlpool, sauna and steam chambers before or after their Mother's Day treatments.
Make it a Mother's Day celebration to remember filled with restorative walks along the resort's three miles sugar sand beach adjoining 200 acres of nature preserve and mangrove estuary on Southwest Florida's Paradise Coast, and options for championship golf and tennis, delectable dining and more. The spa packages are available from May 1 through May 31, or for one year if purchased as a gift certificate. Spring rates for overnight resort stays begin at just $109 per night.

Naples Grande Beach Resort 2010 Mother's Day special spa offers include:

Mother Daughter Togetherness Package

Rekindle that special mother-daughter bond by reconnecting and creating shared memories while you relax, rejuvenate and beautify
Enjoy a blissful 50-minute Artisan Massage, a refreshing and cleansing 50-minute Timeless Reflections Facial, and then conclude the day with a 50-minute Foot Ritual as you sit side by side on a pedicure throne while sipping herbal tea
Three hours, $345 per person (not inclusive of 20% service charge)

Mother's Day Appreciation Package

Pamper your favorite woman with a day of relaxation and rejuvenation that will leave her glowing
The 50-minute Tranquility Massage will induce a soothing sense of serenity, then her complexion and spirit will be refreshed with a 50- minute Timeless Reflections Facial, and she'll emerge walking on air after enjoying the 75-minute combination Manicure and Pedicure
Three and one-half hours, $350 per person (not inclusive of 20% service charge)

Mother's Day Mini Special

Help that special someone renew her mind, body, and spirit in the sanctuary of an indoor/outdoor spa set amidst tranquil gardens
Give her the gift of inner peace with a 25-minute Artisan Massage encompassing different styles of body work techniques to create overall balance, followed by a 25-minute Timeless Reflections Facial to pamper and enhance her natural glow
One hour, $140 per person (not inclusive of 20% service charge)

For more information and to reserve Mother's Day spa services or to purchase a gift certificate, please consult the Naples Grande Spa Concierge at Golden Door by phone 239-594-6321 or visit www.naplesgranderesort.com. To reserve a resort stay, contact your travel planner or call 888-722-1266 or 888-WALDORF (1-800-925-3673) or visit www.naplesgranderesort.com or www.waldorfastoriacollection.com.

About Golden Door at Naples Grande Beach Resort
Opened in 2007, Golden Door at Naples Grande Beach Resort is an intimate indoor/outdoor contemporary spa village that features innovative spa treatments and salon services in restful treatment pavilions with the Zen-like ambiance of the original Escondido Golden Door. Exclusive new treatments include the Invigorating Avocado Citrus Wrap or Tropical Fusion Facial with indigenous organic ingredients. The Golden Door Villa is a private retreat within this spa sanctuary that is ideal for couples or bridal parties, with its own private vanity, soaking tub, whirlpool bath, indoor treatment and lounge areas, and outdoor sundeck and patio. The spa also includes a separate "floating" hair and nail pavilion with a four-station "buff bar" for vegan manicures, a pedicure banquette for four, and hair designs by a master stylist. Additional amenities include outdoor co-ed whirlpools, sauna and steam chambers, separate men's and women's locker rooms with rain showers and a signature meditation labyrinth. The spa offers services to resort guests and day visitors. Children ages 12-15 are welcome to enjoy massages, facials and body treatments when accompanied by an adult.

About Naples Grande Beach Resort
Naples Grande, a member of The Waldorf Astoria Collection, is Southwest Florida's insider secret for couples, families and business groups looking for an eco-smart beach retreat with panoramic views of the Gulf of Mexico. Just 27 miles from the international airport in Ft. Myers (RSW), the resort sits on 23 waterfront acres complete with three miles of sugar sand beach amidst 200 acres of nature preserve and mangrove estuary that recall old-style Florida. Key features, such as 474 spacious guestrooms, bungalows and suites, three signature pools, inventive restaurants and lounges, championship golf and tennis, the first Golden Door spa on the East Coast, and a genuinely friendly staff who embody the highly hospitable philosophy of "The answer is yes; what's the question?" set Naples Grande apart. It's a comfortable stroll or bike ride on palm-lined streets to unique shops, restaurants, galleries and the celebrated Naples Philharmonic and Art Museum. Naples Grande also offers the unparalleled benefits of the Hilton HHonors® Program and reciprocal privileges at its all-suite beachfront sister hotel in Naples, Edgewater Beach Hotel. For reservations, contact your travel planner or call 888-722-1266 or 888-WALDORF (1-800-925-3673) or visit www.naplesgranderesort.com or www.waldorfastoriacollection.com.

About Hilton Worldwide
Hilton Worldwide is the leading global hospitality company, spanning the lodging sector from luxurious full-service hotels and resorts to extended-stay suites and mid-priced hotels. For more than 90 years, Hilton Worldwide has been offering business and leisure travelers the finest in accommodations, service, amenities and value. The company is dedicated to continuing its tradition of providing exceptional guest experiences across its global brands. Its brands are comprised of more than 3,500 hotels in 81 countries and include Waldorf Astoria Hotels & Resorts, Conrad Hotels & Resorts, Hilton, Doubletree, Embassy Suites Hotels, Hilton Garden Inn, Hampton Inn & Suites, Homewood Suites by Hilton, Home2 Suites by Hilton and Hilton Grand Vacations. The company also manages the world-class guest reward program Hilton HHonors®. For more information about the company, please visit www.hiltonworldwide.com.

# # #
Media Contacts:

Jillian Merschat
Naples Grande Beach Resort
239-594-6363
Jillian.Merschat@hilton.com

Sheila Donnelly & Associates
Babs Harrison
212-851-8425
Babs@sheiladonnelly.com
Aubrey McGovern
808-949-4131
Aubrey@sheiladonnelly.com

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PR Firm Serves Clients with Heart

From W² (Sara Widness and Dave Wiggins) comes our current client list including a brand-new client, AdventureSmith Explorations (see details below). Please note that each of our clients melds sustainability and/or voluntourism and/or charity outreach into itineraries.

Ecoventura – the pacesetter for responsible tourism in the Galapagos Islands – www.ecoventura.com. A family-owned company based in Guayaquil, Ecuador. In operation since 1990, Ecoventura transports 4,000+ passengers annually aboard three expedition vessels, identical, superior first-class 20-passenger motor yachts, plus a 16-passenger dedicated dive live-aboard. The vessels are all being purposefully retrofitted to meet or exceed the highest possible environmental standards.

Maverick Business Adventures – changing the way business is played – www.maverickbusinessadventures.com. Bringing together business owners, entrepreneurs and CEOs for ultra exclusive access to high adrenaline, life-transforming adventures; engaging business sessions leading to high level networking and business building breakthroughs; charitable and educational outreach to help empower future business leaders.

Planeterra Foundation – sustainable communities through travel – www.Planeterra.org. A global non-profit dedicated to sustainable community development through travel; founded in 2003 by Gap Adventures, the largest independent adventure travel company in the world. Planeterra identifies needs, develops projects and works with Gap Adventures to arrange voluntour travel programs worldwide.

Tour d’Afrique – a small, socially responsible bike tour company with huge intentions – www.tourd’afrique.com. Benefits third world countries by organizing and staging transcontinental bicycle tours and races of 10 days to four months, with cycling events for amateurs and professionals traversing all or part of four continents and over 30 countries. Its mission is to give back to the communities touched by their tours and raise consciousness about the many benefits of bicycles as a means of sustainable transportation.

Trusted Adventures – a partnership of seven distinguished, award-winning travel companies – www.trustedadventures.com. Recognized worldwide for uncompromising quality, exceptional guest care and sustainable travel ethics, the Alliance represents the industry’s top experts who carefully craft tours and itineraries designed to enrich the travel experience while preserving the planet and its cultural heritage.

Africa Adventure Consultants – carbon neutral safari adventures in East and Southern Africa – www.adventuresinafrica.com. Serving African destinations they know personally and offering guests an assurance of strong on-the-ground partnerships with only the best local companies; supports a variety of African conservation organizations, community-based tourism programs and humanitarian causes; customized soft-footprint safaris for individuals, couples and small groups.

AdventureSmith Explorations – enjoying nature and wildlife intimately and up close – www.adventuresmithexplorations.com. Based in Lake Tahoe, California, AdventureSmith Explorations is the global leader in small ship, expeditionary cruise vacations. Founder Todd Smith pioneered the concept of wilderness cruising that combines the comforts of a small cruise ship with the adventure of sea kayaking and exploring ashore in remote wilderness areas. AdventureSmith Explorations matches its portfolio of stellar expedition cruising companies to the needs of its clients, sometimes steering them to boutique ships that are off the radar of even the most seasoned travelers.

Dedicated to sustainable travel, AdventureSmith Explorations orchestrates connections with the world's most exotic natural environments and vibrant native cultures through small ship cruising. Voyages combine intimate cruising with rewarding and exciting activities such as sea kayaking, hiking and rafting in exotic locales not normally accessible to mainstream itineraries. The company specializes in extraordinary, off-the-beaten-path destinations in Alaska, the Caribbean, Costa Rica, Belize, Ecuador and the Galapagos, Guatemala, the Arctic, Antarctica and New Zealand.

In addition to the company’s ground-breaking Carbon Free Cruising initiative, AdventureSmith Explorations connects travelers with altruistic opportunities through a network of grassroots and global nonprofit partners worldwide. The company was named by National Geographic Adventure as one of “The Best Adventure Travel Companies on Earth” and is the recipient of Conde Nast Traveler’s prestigious “World Savers Award.”

Please call on us for interviews, photography and additional information. Press trips are often an option for writers on assignment. Please visit our website - www.travelnewssource.com/ for past press releases and additional details. Follow us on Twitter for timely news and events: http://twitter.com/BoulderDave.

We look forward to working with you!

Sara Widness & Dave Wiggins

Sara - 802-234-6704 / sara@widnesspr.com

Dave - 303-554-8821/ d.wiggins@comcast.net

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Adventure Travel Stew Pot Bubbles with Families

For Immediate Release

Contact:

Brad Moss, Director

Trusted Adventures

Phone: 800-451-6034 / 208-770-2518

Email: bmoss@trustedadventures.com

http://www.trustedadventures.com/

Trusted Adventures Members Stir Families

To Experience New Worlds, Joyful Tears

Multi-Generational Travel Is Growing Trend

For North America’s Leading Alliance of Active Travel Experts

Coeur d'Alene, ID, March 11, 2010 – Trusted Adventures, an alliance of seven award-winning, owner-operator active travel companies, speaks directly to multi-generational families when it comes to opportunities to experience new worlds and joyful emotions.

“Trusted Adventures companies are adept at recognizing varied components of a family group, be they kids, uncles, grandmas, parents and others who invariably end up mixed into a family stew bubbling with age-specific expectations of what an adventure vacation should be,” said Brad Moss, executive director of Trusted Adventures with tour itineraries embracing the entire globe.

Many of the over 400 itineraries found on the alliance website (http://www.trustedadventures.com) either encourage or are specifically designed for family participation, said Moss, with some alliance members reporting that multi-generational family bookings account for 70 percent of their total business.

Moss cites the successful utilization of social media such as Facebook and Twitter as one of the reasons members have seen growth in family bookings. Trusted Adventures members are able to cross traditional channels of marketing, reach varied age groups and deliver real-time information, vacation stories and inspiration by encouraging past guests and fans to join the conversation, share and make personal recommendations.

“It’s one thing to have a parent write us about how much their family enjoyed a trip; it’s another world to have little Johnny posting to his Facebook page and Tweeting about seeing a lion or getting white knuckles rafting a river. Then word and images spread exponentially,” said Moss.

He cited one emotional post from a family member from Virginia: “I am a 15 year-old girl and I had doubts about doing a rafting trip for five days in the middle of nowhere without the comforts of home like a toilet, etc. But I came out of the canyon crying because I had the most fun of my life!!!”

“Providing a platform for families to talk to other families and share experiences, recommendations and cautions helps us transcend old forms of promotion with new, reality marketing,” claims Moss.

See: http://www.trustedadventures.com/about-us.php?aboutID=4 for more guest comments and a sampling of popular family adventures from the members of Trusted Adventures.

Family-specific itineraries offered by members of Trusted Adventures range from just two days rafting or mountain biking in the American West to over two weeks on culturally immersive expeditions and safaris in Asia, South America and Africa. While all member companies offer set departure dates for pre-packaged, small group tours, most offer the option to put together custom-designed, family-specific dates and itineraries.

Please visit the Trusted Adventures’ Facebook Fan Page located at http://www.facebook.com/trustedadventures. You can also sign up to follow alliance Tweets at: http://twitter.com/trustedtravel.

About Trusted Adventures

Recognized worldwide for uncompromising quality, exceptional guest care and sustainable travel ethics, the Trusted Adventures alliance is a partnership of seven distinguished, award-winning companies; Austin-Lehman Adventures, Wildland Adventures, Western River Expeditions, Myths and Mountains, The Wayfarers, ROW Adventures and Great Alaska International Adventure Vacations. United under a common mission to provide authentic, transformational travel experiences, Trusted Adventures offers the world’s finest collection of active vacations showcased online in a richly textured, easy to use website: www.trustedadventures.com.

The alliance helps individuals, families and groups find active walking, rafting, cycling and trekking trips throughout the Americas, Europe, Asia, Australia and Africa. With a Trusted Adventures company you travel with the experts on carefully crafted itineraries designed to enrich your experience while preserving our planet and its cultural heritage.

# # #

For more information, interviews and photos please contact:

Sara Widness / 802-234-6704 / sara@widnesspr.com or

Dave Wiggins / 303-554-8821/ d.wiggins@comcast.net

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MONTAGE LAGUNA BEACH OFFERS FESTIVE SPRING DINING OPTIONS FOR EASTER & MOTHER'S DAY

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

MONTAGE LAGUNA BEACH OFFERS FESTIVE SPRING DINING OPTIONS
FOR EASTER & MOTHER'S DAY
Fun-Filled Children's Activities & Special Treats Also Available for Easter Weekend

Paintbox at Montage Laguna Beach
LAGUNA BEACH, CALIF. - (March 11, 2010) - Montage Laguna Beach is offering an array of festive spring dining options for Easter and Mother's Day. Easter weekend is also bursting with a complete calendar of activities for children ages 2-12 and several special treats from the Easter Bunny himself.

WHAT:
Celebrate Spring's holidays with a special brunch, lunch or dinner, or make it a memorable family getaway in oceanfront accommodations with something fun for every age and interest, including adventures designed just for ages 2-12 by the resort's exclusive children's clubs, Paintbox and Paintbox Petite. Rates for accommodations begin at $695.

WHY:
Share festive times with those you love for Easter and Mother's Day

HOW:
Select your preferred Spring Montage experience: For Dining Reservations please call 949-715-6420. For Paintbox or Paintbox Petite, please call 949-715-6005. For accommodations, please call 949-715-6000, or toll-free 1-888-715-6700 or visit www.montagelagunabeach.com.

Easter Holidays

Easter Sunday, April 4, 2010
• Join us for Easter Brunch in the Grand Ballroom, complete with a delectable 12-station holiday buffet, a jazz trio, a visit by the Easter Bunny and complimentary family photography ($95/adult, $40/children ages 4-12), from 10:30 a.m. - 4 p.m.
• Celebrate Easter at The Loft, the resort's bistro-style restaurant with panoramic ocean views, with a four-course prix fixe luncheon menu with choices of appetizer, entrée, cheese and dessert from 12 p.m. - 3 p.m. ($85/adults with sparkling wine, $30/children ages 4-12) or a la carte dinner service from 5 p.m. - 9:45 p.m.
• Treat Yourself to Easter dinner at Studio, the resort's signature restaurant perched atop a Pacific bluff, featuring Executive Chef Craig Strong's inventive cuisine, with your choice of chef's five-course tasting menus ($115/person or $165 with wine pairings), or a la carte selections, from 4 p.m. - 9 p.m.
• Tax and gratuity not included

Fun For The Children For Easter Weekend, Friday, April 2 - Sunday, April 4, 2010
Paintbox hosts daily complimentary activities for young resort guests of all ages and their families, from games on the lawn and marine life-inspired fun, to Easter crafts and hip hop dancing, and a spring petting zoo and two grand egg hunts on Easter Sunday, one in the morning and one in the afternoon
• Paintbox half- or full-day supervised adventures for ages 5-12, $60/child from 9 a.m. - 1 p.m. or 1 p.m. - 4 p.m.; $90/child, 9 a.m. - 4 p.m.; all sessions include lunch and snacks
• Paintbox Petite pint-sized fun for ages 2-5, $20 per child per hour, 9 a.m. - 4 p.m.; 24-hour advance reservation required
• Children's Night Out, Friday, April 2, debuts with an Easter Egg Scavenger Hunt and then dinner and a movie, $60/child ages 5-12, 6 p.m. - 10 p.m.
• Children's Night Out, Saturday, April 3, features a Magic Show & Candy Buffet plus dinner and more, $60/child ages 5-12, 6 p.m. - 10 p.m.
• Easter Bunny will visit your child in-room with cookies and carrots to nibble while he reads "his" story of the Easter Bunny; $50/visit, 24-hour advance reservation required
• Personalized Easter Basket filled with festive goodies delivered to your child, $85/basket, 48-hour reservation required

Mother's Day

Mother's Day, Sunday, May 9
• Enjoy Mother's Day Brunch in the Grand Ballroom, complete with a delectable 12-station holiday buffet, a jazz trio, complimentary family photography and a special gift for Mom ($95/adult, $40/children ages 4-12), from 10:30 a.m. - 4 p.m.
• Celebrate Mom at The Loft, the resort's bistro-style restaurant with panoramic ocean views, with a four-course prix fixe luncheon menu with choices of appetizer, entrée, cheese and dessert from 12 p.m. - 3 p.m. ($85/adults with sparkling wine, $30/children ages 4-12) or a la carte dinner service from 5 p.m. - 9:45 p.m.
• Treat Mom to Mother's Day dinner at Studio, the resort's signature restaurant perched atop a Pacific bluff, featuring Executive Chef Craig Strong's inventive cuisine, with your choice of chef's five-course tasting menus ($115/person or $165 with wine pairings), or a la carte selections, from 4 p.m. - 9 p.m.
• Tax and gratuity not included

WHERE:
Montage Laguna Beach, 30801 South Coast Highway, Laguna Beach, CA

About Montage Laguna Beach
Montage, set on a coastal bluff overlooking the Pacific in the heart of the vibrant arts community of Laguna Beach, offers 30 acres of oceanfront luxury. The 250-room craftsman-style resort features beachfront accommodations; a 20,000-square-foot spa; destination dining at Studio; a wealth of outdoor recreation, including three pools, beach and water sports; a fine art collection; and more than 20,000 square feet of indoor and outdoor meeting space. For information and reservations, please contact Montage, toll-free, at 1-888-715-6700; or visit the Web site at www.montagelagunabeach.com.

About Montage Hotels & Resorts
Montage Hotels & Resorts is a hotel and resort management company founded in 2002 by Alan Fuerstman. Designed to serve affluent travelers and homeowners, the company features an artistic collection of distinctive hotels, resorts and residences in stunning settings that offer comfortable elegance, a unique sense of place and spirit, impeccable hospitality and memorable culinary, spa and lifestyle experiences. Montage Laguna Beach, the company's flagship oceanfront resort, opened in the vibrant arts community of Laguna Beach, California, in 2003. Montage Beverly Hills, the company's second hotel, opened in Beverly Hills in 2008 and was the first Gold LEED certified hotel and residences in Southern California. The newest property under development is Montage Deer Valley® in Park City, Utah, scheduled to open in 2010. www.montagehotels.com.

# # #
Media Contact:
Sheila Donnelly & Associates
Babs Harrison
Phone: (212) 851-8425
babs@sheiladonnelly.com

Jeong Ku Hwang
Phone: (808) 949-4131
jeong@sheiladonnelly.com

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SDA SHORT TAKES: GETAWAY WITH THE FAMILY

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Thursday, March 4, 2010

SHORT TAKES S h e i l a D o n n e l l y & A s s o c i a t es www.sheiladonnelly.com
Follow us on Facebook or Twitter
Meaty Briefs and Tight Shorts for Journos, Editors, Freelancers

The family getaway is one of the most difficult escapes to perform. It requires timing, preparation, patience, conflict resolution, spontaneity and genuine enthusiasm. SDA clients know what a balancing act it is to acomplish a multi-generational retreat. They offer the following packages to lend a hand or two so planning parents can keep all their plates spinning.

DOLPHINS, STAND-UP PADDLING, SURFING AND MORE FOR KIDS AT THE KAHALA

The Kahala Hotel & Resort, on the beach between Diamond and Koko Head at the end of Kahala Avenue, is one of the safest family resorts on Oahu with the island's only dolphin lagoon and hotel swim program. New beach activities include stand up paddling, outrigger canoe surfing, fly fishing and more. Wi-Fi on the beach and by the pool keeps everyone connected. The Early Spring Special includes daily breakfast buffet at Plumeria Beach House, valet parking, free internet and fifth night. Kids 12 and under dine free on the Keiki Menu, available through July 15. For more information visit www.kahalaresort.com.

Media Contact:
Kathy Ho, 808-949-4131
Email: kathy@sheiladonnelly.com

CHERRY DEAL FOR FAMILIES AT TIDES INN

For a Chesapeake experience families from DC and the Mid-Atlantic have enjoyed for 60 years, the Tides Inn has a family package two-night getaway with deluxe accommodations with two queen beds for four and family style breakfast. Includes Premier Sailing School family lesson, daily Crab Net Kids, tennis, canoes, kayaks, paddle boats and bikes. Pricing based on 2 adults, 2 children starting at $139 per person per night, per guest in George Washington's hometown. Tides Inn is #35 of the Top 50 Resorts in the U.S. and the Best Resort in Virginia according to readers of Travel + Leisure for 2009. For more information visit www.tidesinn.com.

Media Contact:
Jeong Ku Hwang, 808-949-4131
Email: jeong@sheiladonnelly.com

SEDONA BECKONS THE FAMILY TO GATHER

Enchantment Resort dazzles kids with Camp Coyote and Pink Jeep Tours. The Family Getaway Package includes two nights, breakfast for the whole family and the best resort amenities in the Southwest. Mountain biking with the family around Sedona is a liberating experience. Casita Guest Rooms start at $1,434, one-bedroom suite starts at $2,094 based on two adults and two children. For more information visit www.enchantmentresort.com.

Media Contact:
Jeong Ku Hwang, 808-949-4131
Email: jeong@sheiladonnelly.com

THE LONDON FLAT IS PHAT AT 51 BUCKINGHAM GATE

The all-suites 51 Buckingham Gate is a haven for families in London. These suites come with their own kitchens and living areas with plenty of room for teens, tweens and toddlers. Kid's amenities are pre-arranged including books and socks, child-size bathrobes and slippers, Burt's Baby Bee toiletries, children's menus and Cartoon Network. By request, they have everything from bottle warmers to PlayStations. 51 Buck provides their own "super-nannies" and even has an exclusive partnership with the world's finest toy store and London icon, Hamleys, including toy basket and cooking class. For more information visit www.51-buckinghamgate.com

Media Contact:
Kathy Ho, 808-949-4131
Email: kathy@sheiladonnelly.com

LE PETIT PIERRE IN NEW YORK CITY

Families will feel comfortably at home in one of the 10 newly re-designed Grand Suites at The Pierre, the largest and most luxurious of all the Pierre suites. Each has its own distinctive design, and can connect to a second or third bedroom. With an excellent location overlooking Central Park, it's an easy walk to see the new penguins at Central Park Zoo, the Space Show at Museum of Natural History, legendary FAO Schwarz and Dylan's Candy Bar. Le Petit Pierre program includes daily family breakfast, a welcome gift for each child with coloring book and crayons, stuffed animals and complimentary pay per view. The staff speaks more than 35 foreign languages so young guests from around the world will feel at home. Rates from $1,350 for two rooms for two nights, valid until March 31, 2010. For more information visit www.tajhotels.com/pierre.

Media Contact:
Aubrey McGovern, 808-949-4131
Email: aubrey@sheiladonnelly.com
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Do Good, Feel Good African Safaris

For Immediate Release

Contact: Kent Redding, President

Africa Adventure Consultants, Inc.

Phone: 866-778-1089 / 303-778-1089

Email: kent@adventuresinafrica.com

Website: http://www.adventuresinafrica.com/

Africa Adventure Consultants Explores New Directions in Sustainable Travel

Taking the commitment to people and planet seriously, AAC walks the talk with 100% carbon-offsets on all safaris, new “green” safari itineraries, responsible travel practices for ground partners, and per guest donations to humanitarian projects

DENVER, CO Feb. 25, 2010 – Africa Adventure Consultants (AAC - http://www.adventuresinafrica.com/), takes corporate social responsibility to heart both at home and on safari. The Denver-based purveyor of hand-crafted, luxury safari adventures is dedicated to leaving a small ecological footprint and making a large impact socially wherever they go.

“In our increasingly threatened and fragile world, to know and not to act in the best interests of people, communities and the environment is totally unacceptable. If the world is to survive and thrive, a business must look beyond the bottom line and place equal importance on humanity and sustainability,” said Kent Redding, AAC co-founder and president.

True to Redding’s beliefs, AAC is green and getting greener at home and abroad. New this year, AAC will now offset 100% of each trip through the purchase of carbon credits.

“Based on the success of past years where we offset 50% of each trip, we decided to go all the way and now offer 100% carbon-neutral safaris across the board,” says Redding.

In the field, AAC’s African partners are selected on the basis of sound environmental records and policies. With these partners AAC helps to implement solar and wind power projects, reduce wood burning, protect land to create carbon sinks, and more.

At home in their Denver office AAC has reduced its use of printed materials by 75% by going nearly paperless, is committed to the reuse-recycle of all office paper, disabled the majority of unneeded office lights and installed long life/low energy use bulbs wherever feasible.

Redding explains that ACC ground partners are expected to follow these guidelines:

• Employ local people and offer solid training and education programs for these employees.

• Institute and maintain business practices that minimize negative impacts on the environment and promote healthy and responsible use of resources.

• Provide environmentally friendly accommodations that utilize conservation methods such as solar-powered lights and local, low-impact construction materials.

• Procure supplies from local sources thereby supporting the local economy.

“We’re always on the lookout for ways that ACC and our partners can positively impact the communities and individuals we encounter,” said Redding. ACC makes a $25 donation on behalf of each guest to support a variety of African conservation and humanitarian organizations.

AAC recently donated $3,700 to the non-profit organization Mwangaza (www.mwangaza.org). Formed in 2000, it spearheads an effort to improve the quality of life for individuals in underserved communities in Tanzania supporting health-related projects, particularly those impacting the physically disabled. Donations are used to fund responsible development through the support of grassroots, community-based projects that foster long-term self-sufficiency.

Another effort supported by company donations is the Serengeti Cheetah Project, the only continually running long-term study of wild cheetahs in the world. The Serengeti Cheetah Project is dedicated to furthering knowledge about this endangered species. Funds go to support basic research and conservation. For more information please download: www.serengeti.org/deutsch_neu/download/Cheetah_Project.pdf

New for 2010 will be a series of carefully designed, low-impact safaris utilizing small-footprint camps and lodges that have innovative eco-friendly programs and social projects. The first to launch this year is the Tanzania Green Safari, a 10-day eco/socially responsible safari to Tanzania’s best parks (http://www.adventuresinafrica.com/adventures.trips.aspx?trip_id=204). The trip will also benefit the Tanzania Land Conservation Trust with a $100 per guest donation.

About Africa Adventure Consultants

“We have an edge doing business in Africa as an American company because we serve as a bridge between these two distinct cultures. Our staff knows what North American travelers expect and can deliver on target. We know the travel obstacles and best practices as well as those very special places off the tourist track.” —Kent Redding, Africa Adventure Consultants

Denver-based Africa Adventure Consultants, Inc. (AAC) organizes exclusive, customized, 100% carbon-neutral safari adventures throughout East and Southern Africa. The company conducts business only in destinations they know intimately and offers Africa’s best local camps, lodges and guides. They are definitive experts with years of relationship building and travel in the countries where they orchestrate safaris. This in-country expertise and depth of knowledge differentiates ACC from other safari providers. AAC offers full service trip planning, from flights and safaris, to travel insurance and safari gear.

AAC organizes safari adventures in 13 countries across East and Southern Africa: Tanzania, Kenya, South Africa, Uganda, Namibia, Botswana, Malawi, Mozambique, Rwanda, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Ethiopia, and The Seychelles.

Recent company accolades include:

· National Geographic Adventure Best Adventure Travel Companies on Earth 2009/2008

· National Geographic Adventure Best 25 New Trips for 2009

· Conde Nast Traveler Top African Travel Specialist 2007/2006

· Tanzania Tourist Board Tour Operator Humanitarian Award 2004

For more information please go to: http://www.adventuresinafrica.com/ or call 303-778-1089, toll-free at 866-778-1089 or email info@adventuresinafrica.com.

# # #

For media inquiries, interviews and photos please contact Widness & Wiggins PR:

Sara Widness: 802.234.6704 / sara@widnesspr.com

Dave Wiggins: 303.554.8821 / dave@travelnewssource.com

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PRESS RELEASE

A FESTIVE EASTER AT ASHFORD CASTLE IN IRELAND

There's Still Time to Plan an Irish Holiday Escape

easterrelease

Cong, Ireland - March 3, 2010: For a quick Easter weekend break or family adventure, head to the Emerald Isle, the easiest hop across the Atlantic. Ashford Castle's three-night Easter Package, available on Friday, Saturday and Sunday, April 2, 3 and 4, 2010, is the perfect way to have some holiday fun with a lively Irish flair.

The package includes three nights accommodation, full Irish breakfast each morning, a five-course dinner in the elegant George V Dining Room on one evening and dinner at more casual Cullen's @ the Cottage on another evening, starting at €605 (approximately $824) per person in a double Corrib room with lake view. There's no charge for Ashford Castle's warm Irish welcome or the beauty of its sprawling country estate where you might just spot an Easter bunny or two.

To know more about Ashford Castle and to make reservations, visit www.ashford.ie.

ABOUT ASHFORD CASTLE:
Ashford Castle, which dates back to 1228, is set on 350 acres of County Mayo, on the shores of Lough Corrib and the River Cong, with a spectacular backdrop of woodlands, lake, river, and mountains. It features 83 guestrooms and is renowned for a range of country sports including an equestrian center, fly fishing, an exclusive nine-hole golf course, Ireland's first school of falconry and sporting clay shooting.

Media contacts:
Anita Cotter at WEILL
E-mail: acotter@geoffreyweill.com
Tel: 1-866-PR-WEILL
www.geoffreyweill.com

Suzanne Meyers at WEILL
Email: smeyers@geoffreyweill.com
Tel: 1-866-PR-WEILL
www.geoffreyweill.com

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
March 2010

www.brendanvacations.com

CONTACT:
Whitney Ramirez

Tel: (818) 428-6000
Email: wramirez@brendanvacations.com

FOR MORE INFORMATION
Contact Arnelle Kendall at:

Tel: (561) 659-2174
Email: arnellek@aol.com

BRENDAN'S LAST MINUTE DEALS MARCH 1-15, 2010
EUROPE AND USA ESCORTED

Brendan Vacations is happy to offer its last minute deals for escorted tours to Europe and the US. These itineraries must be booked by March 15, 2010. Please mention promo codes when booking.

LAST MINUTE SPECIALS!
Save up to $620* per couple in Europe and $352** per couple in the US

Last Minute Europe Deals	Departure Date	Brochure Price	Special Price	Savings per Couple	Promo Code
EUROPE
Gladiators, Gondolas and Gold	01-Apr	$2,525	$2,270	$255	LMD152
Best of France	03-Apr	$3,075	$2,765	$310	LMD153
Britain and Ireland Highlights	08-Apr	$1,825	$1,645	$180	LMD154
European Splendor	14-Apr	$2,935	$2,639	$296	LMD156
Highlights of France and Spain	06-May	$2,499	$2,249	$250	LMD161
USA
Californian	20-Mar	$1,775	$1,599	$176	LMDUSA152

About Brendan Vacations
Brendan is a professionally operated travel company that has been introducing travelers to the world since 1969. Through the use of innovative travel technology and strengthened close partnerships with thousands of travel professionals, Brendan delivers quality service, reliability and value for money by providing the most exceptional and memorable vacation experience possible, to every client.

By offering over 800 packages to over 60 countries, Brendan offers one of the widest selections of both independent and escorted vacations.

To request the new brochure or for general questions, please call 800.421.8446 or visit www.BrendanVacations.com.

Our brochures feature: Europe, Ireland & Britain, Egypt, USA & Canada, South & Central America, Tahiti, Fiji, Australia & New Zealand and Asia.

Terms and Conditions
*Price is per person, land only and based on double occupancy. The above tours are "Definite Departures" and discounts are valid on new bookings made from 3/01 to 3/15/10. Savings of $620 per couple are based on $310 per person off Brendan's "Best of France" Escorted Vacation departing 4/03/10. Offer is combinable with applicable Brendan brochure discounts, but cannot be combined with any other promotions. Not valid for groups. Other conditions may apply. For bookings, ask for respective promo codes. For full terms and conditions, please visit BrendanVacations.com. CST#2084503-20

**Price is per person, land only and based on double occupancy. The above tours are "Definite Departures" and discounts are valid on new bookings made from 3/01 to 3/15/10. Savings of $352 per couple are based on $176 per person off Brendan's "Californian" Escorted Vacation departing 3/20/10. Offer is combinable with applicable Brendan brochure discounts, but cannot be combined with any other promotions. Not valid for groups. Other conditions may apply. For bookings, ask for respective promo codes. For full terms and conditions, please visit BrendanVacations.com. CST#2084503-20

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
February 2010

www.brendanvacations.com

CONTACT:
Whitney Ramirez

Tel: (818) 428-6000
Email: wramirez@brendanvacations.com

FOR MORE INFORMATION
Contact Arnelle Kendall at:

Tel: (561) 659-2174
Email: arnellek@aol.com

BRENDAN'S HOT DEAL - MAGICAL COSTA RICA AT THE VILLA SOL HOTEL AND RESORT
PLUS THE COSTA RICA ADVENTURE

Brendan Vacations is pleased to announce that it's Sizzling Costa Rica special is now available.

Magical Costa Rica at the Villa Sol Hotel and Resort
6 days / 5 nights
From just $529* per person land only

Explore all Costa Rica has to offer at the Villa Sol Hotel and Resort. A wonderful 6-day vacation complete with all meals including snacks, alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages, themed dinners, non-motorized water sports, entertainment and so much more!

Your Travel Value Includes:

Round-trip airport transfers from Liberia, Costa Rica, airport
5 Nights at the Villa Sol Hotel and Resort, 4-star property - standard room
All meals including snacks and beverages (alcoholic and non-alcoholic)
All hotel taxes included

Costa Rica Adventure
8 days / 7 nights
From just $973** $799** per person land only

Begin your trip in San Jose where you will start your expedition deep into the jungle toward Tortuguero National Park and its vibrant wildlife and scenery. Visit Costa Rica's largest volcano, Arenal, and relax in the soothing warmth of the Tabacon Mineral Hot Springs. Additional highlights include a rainforest canopy tour and a guide through the town of Sarapiqui, famous for its diverse vegetation and wildlife.

Your Travel Value Includes:

Round-trip transfers between the airport and hotel
All transfers between hotels
Choice of hotels in twin-bedded rooms with private bath or shower
Breakfast (B), lunch (L) and dinner (D) as indicated in the itinerary
Services of an English-speaking local guide in each destination
Sightseeing with local guides including admission charges where applicable
Boat transfer to Tortuguero
Hotel taxes and service charges
Portfolio of travel documents

Terms and Conditions
*Price is per person, land only, based on double occupancy in a standard room.. . Upgrades available. Valid for travel from May 1, 2010, to September 30, 2010. Hotel taxes and service charges are included. Seasonal and weekend surcharges apply. Offer valid on new bookings only. Rates are subject to availability. Black-out dates and holiday surcharges may apply. Rate subject to change at any time. Not valid for group travel. Additional restrictions may apply. Package must be booked and paid in full by March 31, 2010.

**Price is per person, land only, based on double occupancy. Costa Rica Adventure is based on travel from May 15 to May 22, 2010, using First Class Accommodations. Upgrades available. Valid for travel any day. Hotel taxes and service charges are included. Seasonal and weekend surcharges apply. Offer valid on new bookings only. Rates are subject to availability. Black-out dates and holiday surcharges may apply. Rate subject to change at any time. Not valid for group travel. Additional restrictions may apply. Package must be booked and paid in full by March 31, 2010.

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Fairmont Monte Carlo Grand Prix Package

For more information, please visit www.fairmontmontecarlogp.com

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New York's Sun-Splashed Address

CONTACT:

Rebecca Widness

Widness & Company Public Relations

T: 646-375-2239

E: rebecca@widness-co-pr.com

THE MOST DESIRABLE ADDRESS AT JAVITS CENTER’S

NEW YORK TIMES TRAVEL SHOW IS CARIBBEAN BOOTH 415

WHERE WIMCO VILLAS EXHIBITS FEB. 26-28

NEWPORT, Feb. 17, 2009 -- The most desirable address at the New York Times Travel Show Feb. 26-28 in New York will be Caribbean Booth 415 where Wimco, the international luxury villa rental specialist, invites guests to sign up for a drawing for VIP tickets and meet-the actors evening to the smash musical, Rock of Ages, plus a $300 gift certificate for dinner at Jean-Georges, the stunningly delicious Central Park West restaurant of Jean-Georges Vongerichten.

The show is open to the public at the Javits Center at 655 West 34th St. in Manhattan on Saturday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

At this distinctive booth Tim Warburton, Wimco president, and other senior staff will offer a glass of champagne along with information on a new villa destination, Nantucket, a North American first, plus details on villas in Hawaii, Mexico, France, Italy, Greece, and 12 Caribbean islands.

The team can also discuss the alluring villas of St. Barthelemy, as Wimco is the exclusive representative of Sibarth Real Estate, the pre-eminent villa management company on St. Barthelemy.

About Wimco Villas

Wimco Villas is an award-winning luxury villa rental company, providing access to some of the world's most beautiful and exceptional private villas. In the Caribbean, Wimco represents over 270 villas on St Barts and offers an expansive selection of privately owned villas throughout the region including the US and British Virgin Islands, Turks & Caicos, Anguilla, Barbados, Mustique, Nevis, St Martin, Jamaica and Grand Cayman. In Europe, Wimco represents villas in Italy, the South of France, and Mykonos. In the Americas there are villas in Maui and Oahu, Hawaii, and in Punta Mita and Cabo San Lucas, Mexico.

Voted 'Best Presented Villas' by the readers of Condé Nast Traveler, Wimco Villas’ inspection process of visiting and evaluating each villa insures that a match is made for each client's expectation of value. As well as providing accommodation and destination information, Wimco Villas can tailor make the villa holidays to suit each client's needs, whether it be arranging for private chefs, yoga instructors, yacht charters or simply a restaurant reservation.

For additional information on Wimco Villas please visit www.wimco.com or call 800-449-1553.

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Small Ship Expedition Cruise Company Ecoventura Announces “Give Back to the Galapagos” Promotion

For Immediate Release

Ecoventura / Galapagos Network
CONTACT: Doris Welsh
Email: doris@galapagosnetwork.com
Website: www.ecoventura.com/
Phone: 800.633.7972

Small Ship Expedition Cruise Company Ecoventura Announces “Give Back to the Galapagos” Promotion

MIAMI, Feb. 18, 2010 – Here’s a new twist on added value. The visionary, small-ship travel company Ecoventura (http://www.ecoventura.com/) announces a new “Give Back to the Galapagos” promotion that offers guests a rate reduction matched by company dollars to assist important environmental initiatives. See: http://www.ecoventura.com/expeditionyachts/specialoffers.aspx

“Our clients always want to know how they can help our efforts to create a positive level of sustainability for this fragile eco-system called the Galapagos,” said Santiago Dunn, president and owner of Ecoventura. “This is a way they for them to benefit twice: once by receiving a rate reduction and once by giving something back to the islands.”

Dunn explained that the new give-back program is a 10 percent discount on rates on certain departures with 5 percent applied to the cruise rate and 5 percent assisting the Galapagos Marine Biodiversity Fund (GMBF) (http://www.ecoventura.com/aboutus/ourgalapagoscommitment/galapagosmarinebiodiversityfund.aspx) administered by the World Wildlife Fund.

The fund was established in 2006 in partnership with WWF that supports environmental education and marine conservation by strengthening the local community’s abilities to manage natural resources. The biodiversity fund has provided funds for scholarships for local students to study at the university level, loans to micro-enterprise businesses creating sustainable sources of income, helped control illegal fishing activities through a permanent floating station at Darwin Island and a refit of National Park patrol boats.

“It’s the reality of paradise being pushed to the edge. Our partnership mission with GMBF is to safeguard the Galapagos environment so that we and other responsible tour operators can continue to bring conservation-minded visitors here for many generations to come,” said Dunn.

Since the fund was created, it has raised over $170,000, of which $160,950 has gone directly to the various projects now in operation.

The 2010 trip dates when the give-back program applies are Aug 22-29, Aug 29-Sep 05, Sep 5-12, Sep 12-19, Sep 19-26, Sep 26-Oct 03, Oct 10-17, Oct 24-31, Oct 31-Nov 07, Nov 7-14, Nov 14-21, Nov 28-Dec 05, Dec 5-12 and Dec 12-19. There are also other special offers and dates to be found on the company website.

About Ecoventura: Ecoventura is a family-owned company based in Guayaquil, Ecuador, with sales offices in Quito and Miami. In operation since 1990, the cruise company transports 4,000+ passengers annually aboard a fleet of three expedition vessels; identical, superior first-class 20-passenger motor yachts with 10 double cabins. The company also operates the Sky Dancer, a 16-passenger dedicated dive live-aboard offering 7-night weekly itineraries visiting the northern islands of Wolf and Darwin. All of its vessels have been purposefully retrofitted to meet or exceed the highest possible environmental standards.

To reserve a cabin or to receive a copy of Ecoventura’s 2010 catalog please call toll-free 1.800.633.7972, or e-mail info@galapagosnetwork.com.

To access current rates, schedules and itineraries you can log onto:
http://www.ecoventura.com/.

# # #

For photos and/or more information on how Ecoventura is making a difference in the Galapagos Islands please contact:

Sara Widness / 802-234-6704 / sara@widnesspr.com or Dave Wiggins / 303-554-8821 / d.wiggins@comcast.net

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Boca Raton Resort, The Waldorf Astoria Collection

Naples Grande Beach Resort, The Waldorf Astoria Collection


	ESCAPE AND RECEIVE UP TO US$200 IN RESORT CREDIT**		From the grounds of Walt Disney World to the warm Atlantic Ocean, discover the Waldorf Astoria Hotels & Resorts of Florida. Book your Winter Escape by February 28, 2010, and receive daily breakfast for two,* up to US$200 activity credit and a complimentary one-night certificate redeemable with a future three-night paid stay.† To discover additional Florida destinations or learn more, click here.

Waldorf Astoria Orlando	Escape from US$289 per night
Boca Raton Resort	Escape from US$209 per night
Naples Grande Beach Resort	Escape from US$209 per night

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Eco-Friendly Lodging Near Killington, VT

Pittsfield, VT's Amee Farm Announces Twelve Guest Rooms Now Open to Sporting / Vacationing Public

Recently Renovated, Historic Homestead Welcomes Corporate Meetings, Themed Retreats

PITTSFIELD, VT, Jan 2010 -- A highly eco-friendly 12-room lodge called Amee Farm is now open to the sporting and vacationing public in Pittsfield, VT on scenic Rt. 100, announced Jerry Hall, manager.

Amee Farm http://www.ameefarm.com is designed for sustainable yet luxurious living with such touches as hand-selected antiques in guest rooms that are dressed with organic bed and bath linens and organic toiletries. Rooms offer king, queen and double beds.

The structural refurbishment of the lodge was executed in a sustainable manner. On-site operations are fueled with hydroelectric, geo thermal and solar; there is soy insulation throughout and the interior is dressed with milk paint.

There is also a solar green house across the road servicing Amee Farm's organic gardens. In season produce is available at an on-premise farm stand. A new working barn is designed to accommodate a herd of Scottish Highlanders, sheep and chickens.

Amee Farm is available to host luxurious weddings, corporate events, themed retreats and competitive, high-quality sporting events http://www.peak.com and http://www.peakcamps.com with 4,000 square feet of flexible and versatile event space that includes a country-style private dining room staffed by its own kitchen on premise. Food preparations focus on Vermont fresh, organic and local.

The original homestead dates to 1793. The grounds once housed a whiskey distillery and equipment for producing potash, highly regarded for its chemical qualities and today as a staple ingredient of fertilizers.

Farming came to Pittsfield, VT in 1781. Today this scenic Green Mountain valley on Rt. 100 under 10 miles from Killington is a hiking / biking mecca and home to Riverside Farm's http://www.riversidefarmweddings.com gentlemanly acres that support elegant country weddings for up to 175.

For more information please go to http://www.ameefarm.com or http://www.ameefarmweddings.com. The email is ameeinnkeeper@gmail.com. The telephone is (802) 746-8196.

PRESS CONTACT
Sara Widness
Widness Public Relations
sara@widnesspr.com
802 234 6704

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PRESS RELEASE

PARIS' HOTEL FOUQUET'S BARRIÈRE ANNOUNCES NEW
VIP ("VERY IMPORTANT PLANET") PACKAGE

100% LUXURY - 0% ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT

New York - January 20, 2010: Hotel Fouquet's Barrière, Paris' most ecologically responsible five-star hotel, has created a new offer centered entirely around environmental awareness and its very own concept of Dignified Luxury©.

"For us Dignified Luxury© means living in an eco-friendly manner while focusing on environmental issues," says Eric Boonstoppel, Managing Director of Hotel Fouquet's Barrière. "Our idea of luxury is far from ostentatious or shameless waste. We aim to offer guests credible and reasonable environmental options that they may adopt whenever they wish. Because luxury is above all a question of having the choice."

Hotel Fouquet's Barrière's "Very Important Planet" package includes:

Accommodation in a luxurious room or suite
Special "Fitness Breakfast" for two (includes freshly squeezed fruit or vegetable juice, an egg white omelet, multi-grain bread and a blend of pumpkin, linseed, sunflower and sesame seeds)
One 50-minute natural oil treatment at the hotel's U Spa, per person
Organic lunch for two at the hotel's Joy Gallery

A bottle of eco-friendly Pop Earth Champagne in-room upon arrival
Carbon off-setting (through the non-profit organization "Action Carbone").

Based on double occupancy, the package is available through December 28, 2010 and is priced from €990 (approximately US$1,436), with a room upgrade and transfer in the hotel's hybrid limousine available upon request.

In addition to this offer, Dignified Luxury© at Hotel Fouquet's Barrière can be experienced by dining on organic produce at Le Diane, whisking around the city on one of the hotel's electrically run E-solex bikes or enjoying the hotel's fair trade flowers and fruit juices. Fouquet's Barrière takes part in various environmental events as well, such as the Sustainable Luxury Fair at Palais de Tokyo and the Domaine de Villegeorge grape harvest (which raises money to plant trees in the Landes area of southwest France), and partners with Neoplanet, the internet's first radio show dedicated to sustainable luxury. Additionally, world-renowned aerial photographer Yann-Arthus Bertrand recently exhibited at the hotel, with all proceeds going to GOODPLANET Association, his environmentally-focused non-profit organization.

Hotel Fouquet's Barrière is also a proud forerunner in obtaining a triple ISO certification in Service Quality, Environmental Commitment and Safeguarding Human Rights and Children's Rights -- a groundbreaking achievement in the French and international hotel industry.

ABOUT HOTEL FOUQUET'S BARRIÈRE:

The first Parisian "palace" hotel to have been awarded a 5^th star, Hotel Fouquet's Barrière opened its doors at the corner of the Champs Elysées and Avenue George V in November 2006 and is the first of its caliber to open in Paris in almost 80 years (the George V, unveiled in 1928, was the last). A unique combination of modern-chic and fin-de-siècle grandeur, Fouquet's Barrière was designed by architect Edouard François in traditional Paris "Haussmann" style, with Jacques Garcia overseeing the interior design. Decadent materials of velvet, mahogany, marble, silk and embroidered leather fuse beautifully with high tech digital equipment -- such as wall mirrors that amazingly turn into televisions -- and a special emphasis is put on service, with personal butlers being assigned to each guest upon arrival.

Media Contacts:

Tania Philip at WEILL Suzanne Meyers at WEILL

Email: tphilip@geoffreyweill.com Email: smeyers@geoffreyweill.com

Tel: 1-866-PR-WEILL Tel: 1-866-PR-WEILL
www.geoffreyweill.com

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Israel Ministry of Tourism, North America

PHOTO RELEASE

ROCK MUSIC ICON CARLOS SANTANA
TO PERFORM IN TEL AVIV, JUNE 3

santana

New York - January 19, 2010: Grammy-award winning musician Carlos Santana will perform in Israel as part of his "Supernatural Santana" 2010 Summer Tour at Tel Aviv's Blumfield Stadium, June 3. The rock legend will perform hits from his entire music collection alongside a ten-member band. The concert follows performances by Beyonce, Paul McCartney and Madonna this past year.

For more information, visit www.goisrael.com.

Media contacts:

Mark Liebermann at WEILL Gail Barzilay at the Israel Ministry of Tourism
E-mail: mliebermann@geoffreyweill.com E-mail: gailbarzilay@imot.org

Tel: 1-866-PR-WEILL                                    Tel: 212-499-5647

Joe Diaz             Julie Cooper
Israel Ministry of Tourism - Southern Region       Israel Ministry of Tourism - Midwest Region
E-mail: joediaz@imot.org                E-mail: juliec@imot.org
Tel: 404-541-2770               Tel: 312-803-7077

Dan Manor
Israel Ministry of Tourism - Western Region
E-mail: danm@imot.org
Tel: 323-658-7463

ISRAEL GOVERNMENT TOURIST OFFICES ? NORTH AMERICA
New York ? Director: Michal Itzik ? 212-499-5650
Atlanta ? Director: Joe Diaz ? 404-541-2770
Chicago ? Director: Uri Steinberg ? 312-803-7080
Los Angeles ? Director: Eliezer Hod ? 323-658-7463
Canada ? Director: Oded Grofman ? 416-964-3784

Geoffrey Weill Associates
Informational material is disseminated on behalf of the Israel Ministry of Tourism.
Additional information available at the Department of Justice

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PRESS RELEASE

WEILL LAUNCHES NEW WEBSITE

Site underscores the romance of travel and realities of PR

New York, January 11, 2010:- WEILL has launched a brand-new website at www.geoffreyweill.com, it was announced today by company president, Geoffrey Weill.

"We're thrilled with the look and tenor of the new site," says Weill, "because we wanted it to convey not only the romance of travel but also the fact that public relations is a complex art, not some kind of faux science executed by spread sheet."

The new site devotes sections to WEILL's ethos, services and clients and also devotes considerable space to the organization's collection of vintage travel posters. Another feature is a blog containing timely thoughts on travel by members of the WEILL staff, to which interested visitors can subscribe.

The site was developed by Dimitrious II of New York, www.dimitrious.info.

Media contacts:
Geoffrey Weill
E-mail: gweill@geoffreyweill.com
Tel: 1-866-PR-WEILL
www.geoffreyweill.com

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New Client With International Wheels

Part of repairing the broken world, part of repairing broken capitalism,

is creating a more ‘hygienic capitalism’

and encouraging others to act when they see corruption and injustice.

Henry Gold, founder, Tour d’Afrique

Dear Friends,

Widness & Wiggins has some exciting news to share with you but first, a Happy New Year wish for a perfect ’10 (and much kinder decade as well)!

We are very pleased to announce our newest client, Toronto-based Tour d'Afrique (http://www.tourdafrique.com/), a small, socially responsible bike tour company that thinks big. Named for its 2003 flagship cycling adventure that annually traverses the African continent from Cairo to Cape Town (7,500 miles in 120 days), the company organizes epic transcontinental bicycle tours and races lasting ten days to four months that currently traverse four continents and over thirty countries. They also manage a nonprofit foundation that promotes giving back to the communities touched by their tours and raises consciousness about the many benefits of bicycles as a means of sustainable transportation.

Tour d’Afrique’s mission is to create cycling events that appeal to amateurs and professionals alike. Participants range from 18 to 80 and the common thread is a spirit of high adventure and a desire for truly transformational travel experiences.

We encourage you to check them out. Please look for our news releases in the weeks to come.

We also are pleased to continue working on behalf of:

Planeterra (http://www.planeterra.org/), the world leader in voluntourism
Ecoventura (http://www.ecoventura.com/), setting the bar for responsible and sustainable tourism in the Galapagos
Maverick Business Adventures (http://www.maverickbusinessadventures.com/), inspiring high-powered entrepreneurs to reinvent the way business is played

Stay tuned. We have another new client announcement to make in a few days.

Best Wishes, Sara and Dave

For more information, interviews and photos please contact:

Sara Widness / 802-234-6704 / sara@widnesspr.com or

Dave Wiggins / 303-554-8821/ d.wiggins@comcast.net

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Lover's Lane at Manhattan's New Strand Hotel

CONTACT: Rebecca Widness

Widness & Co. Public Relations

T: 646-375-2239

E: rebecca@widness-co-pr.com

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Lover’s Lane at the Strand…

MANHATTAN’S NEWEST LUXE HOTEL CELEBRATES

THE GODDESS OF LOVE THROUGHOUT THE MONTH OF FEBRUARY

NEW YORK, Jan. 12, 2009 –The Strand, Manhattan’s newest midtown hotel, is offering all lovers a Valentine each weekend during the month of February. A package called Lover’s Lane at the Strand is being offered starting from $498 for two nights in a deluxe room overlooking the Empire State Building, daily European continental breakfast, a candlelight dinner at the Black Duck Bistro, including round-trip limo transfers and - to top it off - champagne and truffles at Top of the Strand, a stunning, full-season rooftop lounge with unparalleled views of the Empire State Building. Additionally, guests can snuggle in bed and enjoy a special 3 p.m. late checkout.

The package is based upon availability and tax is not included. For more information or to book please call 212-448-1024 or email info@thestrandnyc.com. The website is www.thestrandnyc.com. Please ask for Lover’s Lane at the Strand. The Black Duck Bistro is located at 124 East 28^th Street. www.blackduckny.com.

The Strand, a member of the Green Hotel Association, is a new, modern tower featuring 20 intimate floors housing 177 deluxe guest rooms and junior suites at 33 W. 37th St. (between 5th and 6th avenues). The hotel is the newest addition to the Atlantic Stars Hotels & Cruises portfolio which operates boutique hotel and cruising experiences in New York City, Newport, RI, Martha’s Vineyard, South Beach and the Caribbean.

The Strand’s lobby with staircase of stone and glass and a two-story waterfall engages the ear and helps guests leave the city’s cacophony at the door. Fashion photographs from Conde Nast archives remind guests that while they’re at The Strand they too can be fashionistas.

Top of the Strand features a retractable glass roof – one of only two hotels in Manhattan that offer this design element - allowing guests to enjoy four seasons worth of Empire State Building views and a private lounge ambiance. The lounge was designed by Lydia Marks, known most recently for creating the set designs for Sex and the City the movie.

Arriving at The Strand in March 2010 will be a restaurant with a signature alabaster bar and lounge with fireplace. In addition to delicious fare, guests will enjoy year-round greenhouse dining featuring a second retractable glass structure and sidewalk cafe seating. The lounge will be playfully decorated with a variety of captivating objects.

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Travel Company Says Facebook Works

Ciclismo Classico (http://www.ciclismoclassico.com/), an active bicycle vacations company, recently lent its year-long expertise in using Facebook as a marketing tool to a colleague, Austin-Lehman Adventures (http://www.austinlehman.com/) who was brand-new to the concept.

Facebook is all the latest buzz in this heavily personal and experiential sector of the travel industry and more than Twitter, blogs and other social media tools, it is being leveraged successfully to gain expanded brand awareness, a fan following, sizzle and excitement, compelling story telling and what everyone’s looking for -- trip bookings.

Dan Austin, co-founder and director of Austin-Lehman Adventures, reports that within a week on Facebook their fan following grew by over 300 percent.

Following is a Q& A with Dan Austin and Lauren Hefferon, founder and director of Ciclismo Classico. (As of this writing, ALA was just three weeks into using Facebook and Ciclismo Classico had been using it for a year). Both companies welcome queries from the media who are pursuing stories on Facebook and social marketing for small businesses. To contact Dan Austin please email him at dan@austinlehman.com; to contact Ciclismo’s Lauren Hefferon please email her at lauren@ciclismoclassico.com.

Q: How are you applying and using Facebook?

Austin: Daily we’re posting pictures from old, new and groundbreaking exploratory trips. Guides are posting pictures and asking “who knows where this is?” We are sharing breaking news, like our new fleet of bikes. Our growing community is sharing trip experiences, asking questions and telling their own unique stories.

Hefferon: When I was a tour guide I was always with guests, getting to know them and directly experiencing them as individuals. But that ended when I became bound more to my office. The people magic was gone for me and I missed it. With the advent of Facebook I am now seeing pictures of their families, getting to know their interests, seeing their ups and downs. I am getting to know them as people, rather than just as database "prospects" or "alumni". I am also getting direct feedback from them. If I post something about an adventure I just had, one of my alumni might chime in and share in that experience. The sharing is real, authentic and live. On our Facebook Fan Page I try to post items that not only have to do with Ciclismo but have to do with our customers’ general love for travel, bicycling, culture and personal development. I am developing a keener understanding to what our guests like and don’t like by how they respond to my posts. I am letting them guide me to exp!
eriences that turn them on!

Q: What results have you gotten?

Austin: In just the first week of our Facebook campaign we tripled our fan base therefore boosting our brand awareness. We are seeing five to six percent growth in followers each day and close to 300 percent in the last week alone.

Facebook allows us one more way to listen to and interact with our guests. It’s not so much a marketing tool as it is a communication tool. I keep coming back to the fact that conventional websites are one-dimensional; with Facebook it’s all three-dimensional. The point is to build a community of guides, guests and staff who are all talking up the experience and opportunities. We see the exchanges and excitement growing along with the number of fans we now have. It’s really viral and quite impressive.

Hefferon: We have seen spikes in our website visits due to spikes in our fan count. We know that there are multiple drivers in inspiring people to book a trip. At Ciclismo we believe in the high touch approach and Facebook fits perfectly into this strategy. We know it takes time and effort on our part but if you want to succeed in today’s marketplace you have to spend time to get to know your customers better!

My attachment and interest in Facebook reminds me of how I started my business. While I love Italy and cycling, it is the sharing with people that gets me excited! In the early days I not only knew my customer's "face" (because I had been on a tour with them) I also got to know what made them tick through personal visits, talking on the phone and sharing pictures. Facebook feels very much like that experience. It is simple, basic and the direct feedback allows me to shift and build my relationship with each customer in a very customized way. With direct mail campaigns and ads, the owner looses touch with the customer experience which is paramount to growing a service business that is all about that experience.

Q: How are you building followers/fans?

Austin: The fastest way we have been able to gain new fans is via our trip leaders and guide community. They are reaching out and sharing personal stories on Facebook and then inviting past, current and prospective guests to share their own experiences, photos, questions and suggestions with them. Guests love being able to vicariously travel and go adventuring through the posts from our guides, and then share (or brag) about their own personal exploits.

Hefferon: The best way to build fans and followers is to invite people one by one to share our Facebook fan page with their friends. I think this is the most authentic, caring way to do this.

Q: Can you provide any case studies or examples of people who have benefited one way or another from exchanges and info seen on your Facebook pages?

Austin: We are seeing fans creating exchanges between one another and a guide. It’s amazing to now see complete strangers planning future trips together for next season.

Hefferon: We always try to ask questions on almost every post. We try to get the readers interacting. One interesting example was a post I did about Truffle Hunting Dog Laura that is on our Piedmont tour. We had about 15 responses from people who loved that dog and wanted to share their own experiences. This post launched a whole discourse about truffles and dogs, a wonderfully interactive bit of storytelling shared with a large fan base bringing the power of the testimonial to new heights. We used the theme in a recent press release. I also discovered that this experience was a magical one for our guests and that it should be highlighted in corresponding promotional materials.

Visit the Facebook Pages for Austin-Lehman Adventures and Ciclismo Classico and join the fun! And be sure to contact Dan or Lauren for more details on their Facebook experience.

Austin-Lehman Adventures: http://www.facebook.com/AustinLehmanAdventures

Ciclismo Classico: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Ciclismo-Classico/47442513274

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IGUAZÚ GRAND VOTED "ARGENTINA'S LEADING RESORT" IN 2009 WORLD TRAVEL AWARDS

PRESS RELEASE

IGUAZÚ GRAND VOTED "ARGENTINA'S LEADING RESORT" IN 2009 WORLD TRAVEL AWARDS

New York - December 1, 2009: Iguazú Grand Resort, a member of the Leading Hotels of the World, was voted "Argentina's Leading Resort" last month at the 2009 World Travel Awards in London.

The World Travel Awards recognizes excellence in the hospitality and tourism industry worldwide. More than 150,000 travel agents and professionals in 150 countries select the best properties and destinations around the world.

"We are extremely honored to be recognized as Argentina's leading resort by such a prestigious organization," says Leslie Shasha, Iguazú Grand Marketing and Sales Representative, U.S. "I am deeply proud of our staff and we will continue working hard to provide excellent service and accommodations to our guests."

Iguazú Grand was also nominated in the "South America's Leading Casino Resort" and "South America's Leading Conference Center" categories.

For more information, visit www.iguazugrandhotel.com.

ABOUT IGUAZU GRAND HOTEL, RESORT AND CASINO:

A member of the The Leading Hotels of the World, Iguazú Grand Hotel is the only hotel on either side of the Brazil-Argentine border to offer a casino, gourmet dining and live theatrical entertainment. The 107-room hotel is considered the most luxurious hotel at Iguazú Falls, a UNESCO World Heritage Site with the most spectacular waterfalls on earth.

Media contacts:

Ann-Rebecca Laschever at WEILL

E-mail: arlaschever@geoffreyweill.com

Tel: 1-866-PR-WEILL

Nestor Lara-Baeza at WEILL
E-mail: nlarabaeza@geoffreyweill.com

Tel: 1-866-PR-WEILL

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Welcoming back an old friend: the Alberta Hotel

Hotel rebuilt after 25 years in pieces; Project underway for 14-room Edmonton inn

Mon Nov 30 2009
Byline: Gordon Kent
Source: Edmonton Journal

In what could be a Canadian first, work is underway to rebuild the old Alberta Hotel from pieces lying in storage since the historic structure was demolished 25 years ago.

The five-storey building was torn down in 1984 to make way for Canada Place in downtown Edmonton, but its distinctive turret, metal balconies, exterior sandstone blocks and bricks were numbered and put into crates.

Now they're set to go back up metres from their original location after architect Gene Dub started foundation work this fall on land west of the federal office tower.

"There are pictures of the inaugural parade from 1905, when Alberta became a province, running right past the building," Dub said late last week.

"There are rumours that the prime minister at the time,(Wilfrid) Laurier, stayed there."

He plans to create a 14-room bed and breakfast style boutique hotel with a restaurant, office space and perhaps a spa at the Jasper Avenue site, which has been used as a park.

The west entrance will incorporate the facade from the Rothsay Apartments, which stood at 97th Street, and the hotel might also use a remnant from 101st Street's Tegler Building, which was spectacularly blown up in the 1980s.

The north side facing the Citadel Theatre will be a wall of glass, but from the south the new hotel will look identical to what was erected in 1903, Dub said.

"It's quite an important structure in the history of Edmonton. I thought it would be important that we try and keep it and bring it back."

There will be challenges. The material has been kept outside in crates covered with plastic in the city's Kennedale works yard, and over the years much of the paint used to number the pieces has fallen off.

The Rothsay remnants were taken down in sections, but at some point these chunks were broken into individual bricks, Dub said.

He bought the land from the city in 2005, half of which will remain as park when he's done, and has paid a storage fee for the fragments, which he received for free.

Construction was delayed by negotiations over parking access and Dub's unsuccessful proposal to use the building for a national portrait gallery.

He hopes the $15-million project will be finished by the end of 2010.

Robert Geldart, Edmonton's principal heritage planner, said specialists today probably wouldn't keep such remnants because they can't be reused in the proper context, especially when several buildings are joined together in one.

Instead, the structure would simply be documented and photographed to keep a record for the future, he said.

Artist's drawing of how the reconstructed Alberta Hotel beside Canada Place will look after the project is completed at the end of 2010.
Photograph by: Handout photo, Dub Architects Ltd.

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Manhattan Welcomes the New Strand Hotel

CONTACT: Rebecca Widness

Widness & Co. Public Relations

T: 646-375-2239

E: rebecca@widness-co-pr.com

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

MANHATTAN’S NEWEST LUXE HOTEL, THE STRAND,

CELEBRATES GRAND OPENING TODAY IN THE HEART OF MIDTOWN

NEW YORK, Dec. 1, 2009 -- A new spirit emerges in Manhattan today as The Strand, the city’s newest bright star, opens its midtown hotel doors and guests begin to jockey for position in its year-round rooftop lounge.

The hotel’s new rooftop lounge, Top of the Strand, features a retractable glass ceiling and walls – one of only two hotels in Manhattan that offer this design element - allowing guests to enjoy four seasons’ worth of Empire State Building views and a private lounge ambiance. The lounge was designed by Lydia Marks, known most recently for creating the set designs for Sex and the City, the movie. The Top of the Strand is open to both guests and the general public and features a full-service bar.

Rooms at The Strand are modern, fresh, and spacious and bring the Manhattan skyline inside through floor to ceiling windows that frame exceptional views of the Empire State Building and other city landmarks. Designed by Lisa Knight, guestrooms highlight elegant décor featuring dark mahogany furnishings mixed with colorful fabrics. Bathrooms are outfitted with European tiles and granite counter tops with custom wood cabinetry. Guests will enjoy personalized services and in-room amenities that include room service, fully-stocked mini bars, slippers and bathrobes, bamboo cotton linens, HDLCD TVs, iPod docking stations and complimentary all-over WiFi. Morning begins with a complimentary newspaper delivered to your door followed by a European buffet breakfast.

Additional guest amenities at The Strand include a cardio fitness room with an area dedicated to massage and spa treatments, a state-of-the-art meeting and conference floor with capacity for groups up to 250, a business center and a reading lounge with fully-stocked library. The Strand’s Lifestyle Consultant will be on hand to assist guests in securing reservations at coveted dining spots, theater and sports tickets, private tour guides and anything from A to Z in between.

Arriving at The Strand in winter 2010 will be a restaurant with a signature alabaster bar and lounge with fireplace. In addition to delicious fare, guests will enjoy year-round greenhouse dining featuring a second retractable glass structure and sidewalk cafe seating. The lounge will be playfully decorated with a variety of captivating objects.

The hotel throughout will demonstrate best practices of green and eco-friendly hospitality including the use of natural bath amenities and extensive in-house recycling programs.

For additional information and reservations please call (212) 448-1024 or visit www.thestrandnyc.com.

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ANDREW HARPER TAKES MANHATTAN

Inimitable travel guru details new hotels,

restaurants and shops in the Big Apple

New York - November 23, 2009: The Hideaway Report, Andrew Harper's famed travel newsletter that strives to uncover authentic, sophisticated travel experiences, and this month tackles "The city that never sleeps." Focusing on Manhattan, Mr. Harper details hotel openings, re-openings, new restaurants of note, and a shopping tour of Soho.

Andrew Harper With particular attention paid to new properties and old favorites fresh from renovations, Mr. Harper visits The Crosby Hotel, The Plaza and The Pierre, along with a handful of recently opened restaurants. "I'm glad to report, although battered by the financial meltdown, the city has lost none of its incomparable gift for self-reinvention," Mr. Harper remarked.

However, with much of Harper's coverage keying on the far-flung and little-known, Manhattan provided a bit of a challenge for the globetrotter. "So much has been written about the city and so many opinions are widely available," Mr. Harper said, "It forced us to work even harder to try and present some unique viewpoints."

Unearthing independent boutiques in Soho, breaking news on future hotel openings and dishing on top recently opened dining spots, Mr. Harper stepped up to the challenge ably.

For more information about Andrew Harper, visit www.AndrewHarper.com.

About Andrew Harper
Disappointed by out-of-date guidebooks, in 1978, Andrew Harper created an independent, monthly publication for sophisticated travelers, Andrew Harper's Hideaway Report. Traveling incognito and always paying his own way, Mr. Harper's unbiased reviews detail the world's finest hotels, villas, resorts and culturally authentic travel experiences. Now, 30 years after the launch of his publication, Mr. Harper oversees a full-fledged, private membership program, offering his loyal readers highly personalized travel planning assistance, bespoke tours, exclusive trips, and other VIP services that allow members to step into his extraordinarily well-traveled shoes.

Media Contact:
Eric Goldberg at WEILL
E-mail: egoldberg@geoffreyweill.com
Tel: 866-PR-WEILL

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THE WEILL [Truffle] DIGEST

A quick guide to the most indulgent truffles
from around the WEILL world

New York, November 20, 2009: Truffles, once in abundance and widely used, have become one of the most rare and exclusive natural foods in the world, and several WEILL clients are currently offering these delicacies to guests in various forms:

Beau-Rivage Palace beaurivageannsophiepic

, Lausanne
Anne-Sophie Pic, the new star chef at Lausanne, Switzerland's Beau-Rivage Palace and France's only female chef with three Michelin stars, has created a special New Year's Eve menu around truffles, available only December 31, 2009 at Anne-Sophie Pic at the Beau-Rivage Palace (pictured, at right). Using the inventiveness and refinement for which she is renowned, Pic's creations include fondue with white truffles from Alba, Brittany scallops cooked with black truffles, and for dessert, black forest cream cake with black truffles.

For more information about the Beau-Rivage Palace, visit www.brp.ch.

Hotel Hassler Roma Chef Apred at at Imago

, Rome
Using the rarest and most expensive white truffles from Italy's Alba region, Imago's Michelin-star Chef Francesco Apreda (pictured, at right) has created a Tartufo Bianco menu devoted entirely to white truffles--appetizers, first courses, main courses and desserts. The menu includes home-made tagliolini pasta with artichoke cream and truffles, warm scallop carpaccio, goat cheese risotto with pumpkin, bitter almonds and truffles, and, for dessert, caramelized walnut ice cream with mango, chocolate and white truffles. The menu is currently available, but will only last through the end of Italy's truffle season, around mid-December.

For more information about Hotel Hassler Roma and Imago, visit www.hotelhasslerroma.com and www.imagorestaurant.com.

Algodon Wine Estates

, Mendoza
Algodon Wine Estates (AWE), Argentina's premier wine and golf estate, will soon be among the first truffle harvesters in Argentina. Producing truffles in Latin America is extremely rare, with the only large truffle plantations in the Talca region of Chile. AWE (located in San Rafael, Mendoza, an area with the same latitude and climate as Talca) will plant 25 acres of oak trees, with a full crop of truffles estimated to be ready in five years. Once harvested, the truffles will be supplied to the national market in Argentina and will also be used in dishes on site at AWE's restaurant and at Chez Nous, the restaurant at AWE's sister property in Buenos Aires, Algodon Mansion. Additionally, owners at AWE will have the choice to own a section of the truffle plantation and essentially become truffle producers themselves. The main truffles harvested will be winter black truffles, with summer black truffles to follow.

For more information about Algodon Wine Estates, visit www.algodonwineestates.com.

Baur au Lac Donald Duck Chocolates

, Zurich
When speaking of the richness and uniqueness of truffles, it just wouldn't be right to leave out the chocolate variety. Packaged in a special box that Mr. Walt Disney himself manufactured for the hotel after a stay in 1969, the Baur au Lac's ganache-truffles are made by the renowned Swiss factory, Sprüngli, and are rated "number one" out of all the factory's candies. In the cartoon (pictured, at right) Donald Duck and his uncle come for lunch to the Baur au Lac and, in the spirit of Donald Duck, end up fighting when the check arrives.

For more information about the Baur au Lac, visit www.bauraulac.ch.

For a full listing of Geoffrey Weill Associates' clients, visit: www.geoffreyweill.com/Clients.asp.

Media Contact:
Suzanne Meyers at WEILL
E-mail: smeyers@geoffreyweill.com
Tel: 1-866-PR-WEILL

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PRESS RELEASE

TWO MICHELIN STARS FOR ANNE-SOPHIE PIC AT THE BEAU-RIVAGE PALACE

Lausanne, Switzerland - November 20, 2009: Chef Anne-Sophie Pic has been awarded two Michelin stars for her restaurant Anne-Sophie Pic at the Beau-Rivage Palace in Lausanne, Bea-Rivage Palace

Switzerland, it has been announced by the Michelin Guide. This distinction brings Chef Pic's total number of Michelin stars to five, including a coveted three-star rating for her restaurant Maison Pic in Valence, France.

Though open for less than a year at the Beau-Rivage Palace, Anne-Sophie Pic's restaurant has already redefined dining in Lausanne and added an exciting dimension to Switzerland's most legendary palace hotel.

Anne-Sophie is the third generation of her family to hold the coveted 3-star rating and is currently the only female chef in France with the distinction. Now she has taken her culinary recognition to an even higher level by adding Michelin stars in Switzerland.

When embarking on her Swiss adventure, Anne-Sophie Pic became expert on local produce, met with highly qualified Swiss artisans and assembled a stellar team, all of which has elevated the cuisine at Anne-Sophie Pic at the Beau-Rivage Palace to meet the chef's standards and expectations.

The Menu beaurivageannsophiepic

For Anne-Sophie Pic at the Beau-Rivage Palace (pictured, at right), Anne-Sophie has created an à la carte menu and three prix-fixe menus that naturally combine the exacting simplicity that is characteristic of her work with the high standards of the Beau-Rivage Palace. Inspired by nature, the menu tells the story of purity of ingredients, balance of flavors and sophistication of textures.

The à la carte menu is composed of five appetizers, four fish and crustacean selections, and five roast meat selections. The selections change constantly to make each dining experience a new adventure. As for the three prix-fixe menus: "Emotions" represents the chef's imaginary escapade; "Pic Collection" reveals the family's classics and a rich inheritance of shared flavors and values; and lastly a "Business Lunch" confirms that quality can be simple and straightforward.
Brp2

About the Beau-Rivage Palace:
The Beau-Rivage Palace (pictured, at right) is situated on 10 acres of private gardens with spectacular views of Lake Geneva and the Swiss Alps. The property also features the award-winning Cinq Mondes Spa, an indoor/outdoor pool, two tennis courts, three restaurants, two bars, terraces overlooking Lake Geneva and special programs for children.

For information and reservations, visit www.brp.ch.

Media contacts:
Anita Cotter @ WEILL

Email: acotter@geoffreyweill.com

Tel: 1.866.PR.WEILL

Suzanne Meyers at WEILL

Email: smeyers@geoffreyweill.com

Tel: 1.866.PR.WEILL

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Wimco Villas Kicks Off St. Barts Dining Deals Program

CONTACT: Rebecca Widness

Widness & Company Public Relations

T: 646-375-2239

E: rebecca@widness-co-pr.com

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

WIMCO VILLAS UNVEILS THE EXCLUSIVE 2010

ST. BARTS ‘FRIEND OF THE ISLAND’ DINING CARD

NEWPORT, RI, – Thanks to Wimco Villas, the leading villa rental company for St. Barts and the Caribbean, sampling this island’s exceptional restaurants will be easier on the wallet in 2010.

Wimco Villas is pleased to announce year two of their popular “Friend of the Island” dining card, available exclusively to clients booking a St. Barts villa or hotel through Wimco. The card peels 10% off the cost of a meal at a growing list of island restaurants. The card is valid for usage at participating restaurants from Jan 5, ‘10 through Dec 14, ‘10.

Participating restaurants range from casual yet sophisticated venues like Bouchon and Tamarin, to the harborside favorites like Route des Boucaniers, to the infamous nightspot Le Ti St Barth, to the classic Relais & Chateaux dining experiences offered at Le Gaiac and Victoria’s.

“Enjoying outstanding food in a relaxed, unhurried and tropical setting is one of the main reasons our clients come to St. Barts,” says Stiles Bennet, Wimco Villas’ vice president of marketing. “Typically a couple eating out at a top notch restaurant could spend $150 or more a nice dinner out. If you eat out several times during your vacation, this card could save you $75 to $100 – it’s like getting a bottle of really good wine on the house!”

As of Nov 1, ‘09, the dining venues included in the program include:

Le Ti St Barth – Renowned steakhouse and hoping nightspot in Pointe Milou
Tamarin - highly regarded cuisine in a funky bohemian setting near Saline Beach
Route des Boucaniers – French bistro on the quai in Gustavia harbor
Nikki Beach - hip beachside restaurant on St Jean Beach
Victoria’s – new 4 star restaurant at hotel Carl Gustaf in Gustavia
Le Gaiac - 4 star Relais & Chateaux dining experience at Hotel Le Toiny
La Marine – Seafood restaurant on the water in Gustavia harbor
Le Pecheur – relaxed beachside café at Le Sereno hotel in Grand Cul de Sac
Indigo - upscale beachside bistro and Barthelemeo, an elegant restaurant gastronomique, both located at Hotel Guanahani in Grand Cul de Sac
Taino (dinner only) and Mango Bar (lunch), both located at the Christopher Hotel, Pointe Milou

Island Tip

Several villas are throwing in a complimentary rental car for the week when you make a booking. Ask Wimco for the up to date list, and you can save hundreds off your next vacation!

About Wimco Villas

Wimco Villas is an award-winning villa rental company, providing access to beautiful and exceptional private villas in the Caribbean and Europe. In the Caribbean Wimco represents an exclusive collection of villas on St Barts and offers an expansive selection of privately owned villas throughout the region, including the US and British Virgin Islands, Turks & Caicos, Anguilla, Barbados, Mustique, Nevis, St Martin, Jamaica and Grand Cayman. In Europe, Wimco represents villas in Italy, the South of France, and Mykonos. Wimco also recently introduced a selection of private villas in Maui, Oahu in Hawaii and Punta Mita and Cabo San Lucas, Mexico. Per-bedroom villa rental rate can range from $100 to $1000 a night, varying by season.

Voted 'Best Presented Villas' by the readers of Condé Nast Traveler, Wimco Villas’ inspection process of visiting and evaluating each villa insures that a match is made for each client's expectation of value. Wimco Villas can tailor make each vacation to suit each client's needs, whether it be arranging for private chefs, yoga instructors, yacht or plane charters or simply a restaurant reservation and car rental. To browse Wimco Villas’ collection of exclusive villas, please visit www.wimco.com , or call 800-449-1553.

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The Five-Star Ashford Castle and g Hotel Galway Join Together to Take Guests "Back to the Future"

PRESS RELEASE

THE FIVE-STAR ASHFORD CASTLE AND g HOTEL GALWAY JOIN TOGETHER TO TAKE GUESTS
"BACK TO THE FUTURE"

Ashford Castle The g Galway

County Mayo, Ireland - November 4, 2009: In Steven Spielberg's 1980s classic movie Back to the Future, a journey into the future or back to the past was made simple with the one-of-a-kind DeLorean time machine. Although Ashford Castle and the g Hotel Galway can't put that kind of a trip together, they do make the journey to two distinct eras of Ireland's history possible. Ashford Castle, which originally dates back to 1228, and the g Hotel Galway, which is eclectically modern, have joined together to offer a special Back to the Future Package showcasing the best of both worlds.

Valid through December 22, 2009, the four-night promotion is priced at US$888 (movie trivia: The DeLorean had to go how many miles per hour to travel through time?*) and includes two nights' accommodation at each hotel (in any order) and a full Irish breakfast each morning.

For more information and to make reservations (through either hotel), visit www.ashford.ie or www.theghotel.ie.

About Ashford Castle:
Ashford Castle is set on 350 acres in County Mayo, on the shores of Lough Corrib and the River Cong, with a spectacular backdrop of woodlands, lake, river and mountains. It features 83 guestrooms and suites and is renowned for a range of country sports including horseback riding, fly fishing, golf on an exclusive nine-hole course and Ireland's first school of falconry.

About the g Hotel Galway:
Located in the heart of Galway in western Ireland, the g Hotel Galway is one of Ireland's top five-star city hotels, combining modern and colorful interiors by designer Philip Treacy with classic hospitality and personalized service. Amenities include the contemporary ESPA and MATZ at the g restaurant, three individually-styled lounges and a cocktail bar.

* 88 miles per hour

Media contacts:
Anita Cotter at WEILL
E-mail: acotter@geoffreyweill.com
Tel: 1-866-PR-WEILL

Suzanne Meyers at WEILL
Email: smeyers@geoffreyweill.com
Tel: 1-866-PR-WEILL

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Contest Still Open for Last Legs of Seven-Part Around-Australia Journey

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contest Still Open for Last Legs of Seven-Part Around-Australia Journey

Two American Girls from Florida Are Fourth Winning Team

In WorldNomads.com Van-Tastic Adventure

SYDNEY, Oct. 30, 2009 – The Aussies have taken online adventure to the next level. They’ve invited folks around the globe to throw their hats in the competition ring to win an all-expenses-paid journey through Oz by submitting a two-minute online video that’s assessed by sponsor judges from WorldNomads.com on merits of desire and creativity.

The program called Van-Tastic Adventure http://vantastic.worldnomads.com/ still has three legs of seven to go, which means that three teams of two each from anywhere in the world can still post their two-minute contest video online. The last winners announced are two young women from Florida who are taking on the Tasmanian leg of the journey. The 11-month adventure began Aug. 3, 2009 in Cairns and will end in Perth on Jun. 17, 2010.

Applications are still open for the Van-Tastic Adventure, a competition designed for enthusiastic and adventurous travelers who are willing to tackle – and capture on video – one leg of an Australia-wide road trip. Three legs are still on offer, where teams of one or two travelers can win a trip to Australia and spend six weeks driving across the country, capturing their adventure on video and in blogs, with a chance to win $10,000 (Australian) cash grand prize and flights from Virgin Blue. Applications for the Van-Tastic South Australia leg close on Nov. 29. To apply for the remaining legs, and to see how the first teams fared on their trip of a lifetime, visit: http://vantastic.worldnomads.com

“We’ll fly seven teams of up to two people to Australia and give them the Van-Tastic van to drive one stage of seven across the country for six weeks. They’ll share their adventure online, making videos, stories, and posting photos, and ultimately creating a mini-video documentary of their trip,” explained Tara Parsons, WorldNomads.com program manager. She said the van is loaded with camping gear, video camera, laptop, editing equipment and wireless broadband access.

Between now and Jun. 17, 2010, WorldNomads.com will have completed a project of flying seven pair of travelers to somewhere in Australia and then supporting them in a travel adventure. The arrival of each team is staggered with each team taking on the challenge of completing one of seven legs an around-Australia journey called The Van-Tastic Adventure.

Teams are flown to their point of debarkation in Australia. Here they are briefed and supplied with fuel and all the technical gear they need to blog, video and podcast their trip along the way. State Tourism Offices and local tour operators in each state have put together a swag of adventures and outdoor experiences including scuba diving and sky diving for the teams to sample en route.

The first Americans to win a leg on this adventure, Dara Simkin and Catherine Fleming, friends from Florida, depart Dec. 19 for a six-week adventure around Tasmania that will end in Melbourne on Jan. 30. Theirs is the fourth of seven legs of the adventure which started in Queensland and will see seven teams of travelers drive Geoff ( the van) more than 10,000 miles through every state and territory of Australia.

The Floridians won their free, six-week adventure on the basis of their YouTube application video. They’ll fly to Melbourne to pick up Geoff and then it’s their task to showcase Tasmania through their blogs and videos, which will be posted on the Van-Tastic Adventures website http://vantastic.worldnomads.com.

Tourism Tasmania, Van-Tastic and the Tasmanian tourism industry have teamed up to provide Dara and Catherine with a host of adventures to report on during their trip. Although it’s Australia’s smallest state, the girls will have their hands full covering kayaking on the gorgeous Freycinet Peninsula; mountain-biking Mt Wellington; exploring some of the famous walking trails, such as Cradle Mountain, and a dozen other adventures, including coming face-to-face with a Tasmanian Devil! They’ll be in Hobart in time for the Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race – one of the world’s great ocean races – and the Hobart Summer Festival.

# # #

WorldNomads.com provides global travel safety products and services to travelers from over 150 countries around the world. From great value travel insurance, travel safety advice, language guides and free online travel journals, WorldNomads.com provides the tools to keep clients travelling safely. All clients can donate to a community development project when purchasing travel insurance through the Footprints Charity program. WorldNomads.com is backed by a suite of strong, secure, specialist travel insurance companies. For more information visit http://worldnomads.com.

MEDIA INQUIRIES:

Dave Wiggins, Widness & Wiggins PR, 1.303.554.8821, dave@travelnewssource.com

Alexia Nestora, Lasso Communications, 1.303.898.3376, alexia@lassocommunications.com

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Widness & Co. Public Relations Clients Top Readers Choice Awards

Clients of Widness & Co. Public Relations topped lists of the 2009 Conde Nast Traveler Best in the World Readers Choice awards published in the November issue.

The best hotel in the Caribbean is The Peninsula House in # 1 place. This six-suite Dominican Republic star also ranks #2 in the best hotel in the world category. Please see www.thepeninsulahouse.com.

Vermont’s The Pitcher Inn is #5 in the best US small hotel ranking. Please see www.pitcherinn.com.

As always, we welcome press to contact us should your travels be taking you to one of these destinations.

Rebecca Widness, Founder

Widness & Company Public Relations, LLC

116 West 23rd Street, Suite 500, New York, NY 10011

T: 646-375-2239 F: 212-851-8405

E: rebecca@widness-co-pr.com

Visit us at www.widnesspr.com

Keep up with us on Twitter! http://twitter.com/widnesstravels

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Wimco Villas Announces Photo Contest Winners

CONTACT:

Rebecca Widness

Widness & Company Public Relations

T: 646-375-2239

E: rebecca@widness-co-pr.com

Wimco Villas Announces Photo Contest Winners:

Complimentary Week in St. Barts Villa Grand Prize

NEWPORT, RI, Oct. 20 – Wimco Villas launched a vacation photo contest last summer inviting clients and their friends to submit photos from recent vacations. Over 2,000 vacation photos flowed in featuring shots from family vacations taken that spanned the world, from St Barts to St Tropez, and from Tuscany to Hawaii.

Please click HERE to view THE WINNER OF our VACATION PHOTO CONTEST.

Wimco staffers chose the top 10 photos then invited all their clients to cast votes for the winning photo. Some 1,027 voters went on line, selecting Haluk Emiroglu’s other-worldly, wet-hair-flipping mermaid, photographed in an ocean side pool in St. Barts, as the first prize.

The photographer is from New York. Haluk and his good friend Denise are clients of Wimco Villas reservation agent Ellie Bettle, and they took the photo while on vacation earlier this year. The picture was taken at Wimco’s Villa SIB GUS in St Barts and the woman in the pool is Denise.

The winner received a complimentary week in Wimco’s Villa SIB VEL in St Barts and a free rental car from Welcome Car Rental on St. Barts. Second and third prizes went respectively to Tracey Morrell, capturing a family jumping into a pool together on Anguilla, and a silhouette of three brothers taken on Maui by Kyle Roe. Morrell will receive a three-night stay in a beautiful suite with private plunge pool at Hotel Carl Gustaf in St. Barts plus the rental car, one dinner for two and other extras. Roe will receive complimentary first night grocery provisioning the next time he travels with Wimco.

The winners also received a $50 gift certificate to MyPublisher.com so they can create their own vacation photo book, travel guide books and beach bags.

Photos submitted needed to be of destinations served by Wimco Villas: Caribbean islands, sun-splashed locales around the Mediterranean, Hawaii and Mexico.

About Wimco Villas

Wimco Villas is an award-winning luxury villa rental company, providing access to some of the world's most beautiful and exceptional private villas. In the Caribbean, Wimco represents over 270 villas on St Barts and offers an expansive selection of privately owned villas throughout the region including the US and British Virgin Islands, Turks & Caicos, Anguilla, Barbados, Mustique, Nevis, St Martin, Jamaica and Grand Cayman. In Europe, Wimco represents villas in Italy, the South of France, and Mykonos. Wimco recently introduced a selection of private villas in Maui and in Punta Mita, Mexico.

For additional information on Wimco Villas please visit www.wimco.com or call 800-449-1553.

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ANDREW HARPER REVAMPS HARPER COLLECTION & INTRODUCES MICHELIN-STYLE RATING SYSTEM FOR HOTELS

New York - October 7, 2009: Andrew Harper, the anonymous travel legend, has redesigned and reorganized his one-of-a-kind Harper Collection and introduced a new rating system for the famed Hideaway Report.

"In the past few years, with the staggering number of new hotels and resorts opening around the world, The Harper Collection was growing steadily and our members began to ask me, 'Which hotels do you really like?'" Mr. Harper said. The Collection is now reorganized into Harper's "Favorite 500" hotels and resorts and a maximum of 500 additional "Recommended" properties. "I needed to be more discriminating for the Collection to be a true representation of the best of the best," he continued. "I also intend to give greater priority to the small, distinctive hideaways that are our specialty."

Part of this program of improvements will be expanded restaurant coverage, especially in the world's gastronomic capitals of New York, San Francisco, Paris, London, Milan, Tokyo and Sydney. Design enhancements will include more full-color photography and crisp typographic treatments. The full collection will be finalized over the next 12 months, with updates sent out six times a year to Premier members of Andrew Harper's private travel club.

In another sweeping initiative, Mr. Harper has refined the rating system in his famed Hideaway Report, moving away from only providing points on a numerical scale with the introduction of awarding truly astounding properties...hummingbirds. "These properties, in my estimation, represent the crème de la crème worldwide," Mr. Harper said. "And awarding these properties with a hummingbird will more easily acknowledge their excellence," he continued.

The hummingbird symbol has been the iconic logo of Andrew Harper for 30 years and henceforth, hotels and resorts that score 92 points or higher will receive one, two or three hummingbird symbols.

For more information about Andrew Harper, visit www.AndrewHarper.com.

About Andrew Harper
Disappointed by out-of-date guidebooks, in 1978, Andrew Harper created an independent, monthly publication for sophisticated travelers, Andrew Harper's Hideaway Report. Traveling incognito and always paying his own way, Mr. Harper's unbiased reviews detail the world's finest hotels, villas, resorts and culturally authentic travel experiences. Now, 30 years after the launch of his publication, Mr. Harper oversees a full-fledged, private membership program, offering his loyal readers highly personalized travel planning assistance, bespoke tours, exclusive trips, and other VIP services that allow members to step into his extraordinarily well-traveled shoes.

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Vegas on High

For Immediate Release

MaverickBusinessAdventures.com
CONTACT: Yanik Silver
Email: yanik@maverickbusinessadventures.com
Website: www.MaverickBusinessAdventures.com
Phone: 240.744.0165

The Sky's the Limit: Entrepreneurs to Fly Italian Fighter Planes, Dine 180 Feet Above Vegas Strip and Learn from $1B Zappos CEO

Maverick Business Adventures is Changing the Way Business is Played: Think Adventure, Networking and Philanthropy POTOMAC, MD, Oct. 5, 2009 - Maverick Business Adventures(r) (MBA) will introduce ambitious entrepreneurs to a series of high-adrenaline adventures Nov. 5-8 in Las Vegas, NV. Participants get to fly an SF-260 Marchetti Italian, aerobatic fighter plane, dine 180 feet above the Vegas Strip at a table suspended by a 200-ton crane, and sip cocktails at the only club where everything is made entirely of ice. On the business side, members take part in a private field trip and strategy session at Zappos headquarters where they'll ask questions of Tony Hsieh, the 35-year-old Harvard grad and CEO of Zappos.com that in 2008 grossed over 1 billion in sales by focusing on company-wide customer service. The program is priced at $7,995 per person and includes deluxe accommodations (single occupancy), most meals, Air Combat Experience, VIP nightlife, Breakthrough Business Sessions and a private tour of Zappos.com headquarters. For more info go to: http://www.maverickbusinessadventures.com/skysthelimit/

A component of every MBA outing (several are held each year) is a pay-it-forward focus on aspiring entrepreneurs. The Young Entrepreneurs session on Nov 7 will involve Maverick members discussing pertinent issues, filmed and broadcast live to high schools and colleges via ustream.tv. Interested viewers can sign up and watch it on http://www.ustream.tv/channel/maverick-entrepreneur-success-coaching-from-millionaires

As MBA founder Yanik Silver explains, "Nobody looks back on their life and wishes they had spent more time at the office. Your life is quite literally the sum of your experiences. A collection of rich experiences equals a rich life. MBA adventures such as this are a chance to create the kind of memories and friendships that will stay with you forever!" Sandwiched in-between flying, dining and nightlife will be numerous networking and business building sessions addressing key member-driven topics and issues. Said one entrepreneur, Mike Filsaime, an online business specialist from New York who has attended previous MBA trips: "The total that I got from meeting just two guys on these trips was worth $283,000 to me. So I think I'm paid from Maverick until the year 2416."

MBA is structured to be an exclusive group and membership is by-application-only, limited to forward thinking business men and women with proven abilities and success. Silver stresses that the focus is not on corporate team building or motivational development. Instead, members will be invited to join all-inclusive adventure outings that encourage high-level brainstorming and networking.

MBA members are recognized as top performers in their respective professions ranging from Internet marketing pioneers, INC 500 companies, multi-national manufacturers, and heads of financial institutions, to international real estate developers and restaurateurs.

Please see http://www.MaverickBusinessAdventures.com or call 240.744.0165.

For more information on Maverick Business Adventures(r), interviews, or jpegs please contact:

Sara Widness 802-234-6704 sara@widnesspr.com or Dave Wiggins 303-554-8821 d.wiggins@comcast.net

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Widness & Company Adds New Brazilian Property

We are delighted to announce that Widness & Company Public Relations has added a spectacular new client to its roster of intimate and luxurious properties. We are thrilled to introduce you to UXUA Casa Hotel, an exceptional new boutique property located in Bahia, Brazil, in the coastal village of Trancoso. Feel free to visit www.uxua.com to get a feel for the hotel and we look forward to sending you more exciting news on the property in the coming weeks.
Visit us at www.widnesspr.com
Keep up with us on Twitter! http://twitter.com/widnesstravels

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PRESS RELEASE

NEW MENUS AND GOURMET SPECIALTIES
"SIGNAL" A NEW SEASON AT CAPE GRACE

New York - November 6, 2009: More changes are afoot at Cape Grace, the leading hotel in Cape Town, where Executive Chef Malika van Reenen is putting a fresh spin on menus at the hotel's year-old restaurant, SIGNAL.

Having gained international acclaim and a loyal local audience of Capetonians for her signature Cape Malay-spiced take on contemporary global cuisine, Chef Malika van Reenen is breathing new life into both the a la carte and special chef's tasting menus at Signal. On the new dinner menu, starters range from Smoked Crocodile Niçoise with Quail's Egg, Marinated Fine Beans, Potato Wafers and Olive Tapenade to Pate of Smoked Snoek, Melba Toast and Apricot Chutney. Main courses similarly combine local ingredients and culinary traditions with an international fine-dining flair, resulting in unique offerings such as Lentil and Butternut Bobotie with Cinnamon Roasted Sweet Potato, Cucumber, Chili and Pinenut Salad with Minted Yogurt and Malay-Spiced Ostrich with Saffron Cream Potato, Braised Red Cabbage and Roasted Coriander Jus.

SIGNAL has also introduced a brand-new "Simply Fresh From the Sea" menu with diners creating their own fresh seafood platters from a choice of giant tiger prawns, langoustines, whole crayfish, fresh local fish, squid and steamed mussels - all grilled, basted with fresh herbs and lemon, and paired with a selection of sauces that includes lime hollandaise, smoked tomato and sweet chili.

capegrace

And in the Cape Grace library, where guests relax with a good book and a complimentary glass of port, Chef Malika has also launched two innovative new "buffet" menus. Each day from 11:30am-3pm, guests can sample the Cape Grace Soup Buffet which might include Roasted Turnip and Spicy Apple Soup or Pea, Mint and Ham Soup, along with fresh-baked breads. And from 3-6pm each afternoon, Chef Malika's Sugar Buffet of housemade confectionary treats includes meringues, pink and white marshmallow squares, toffee apples and pistachio-laden chocolate fudge washed down, perhaps, with a glass of Graham Beck rose and augmented by hot Malay-spiced savory snacks.

For more information about SIGNAL and to know more about all of the culinary offerings at Cape Grace, visit: www.capegrace.com.

Media contact:

Mark Liebermann at WEILL Ann-Rebecca Laschever at WEILL

E-mail: mliebermann@geoffreyweill.com E-mail: arlaschever@geoffreyweill.com

Tel: 1-866-PR-WEILL Tel: 1-866-PR-WEILL

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THE WEILL [Holiday] DIGEST

Unique Travel Gift Ideas That Span the Globe

New York, November 9, 2009: For those with travel in mind this holiday season, many WEILL clients have come up with one-of-a-kind escapes and travel-related gift ideas. From a South African Christmas safari to a cozy Irish Christmas in a castle, or even a personalized barrel of wine from abroad, these ideas are bound to take this holiday season to new heights (literally).

LATIN AMERICA

BUTLERS AND CHAMPAGNE

Algodon Mansion
Buenos Aires' newest luxury boutique hotel, Algodon Mansion, is offering a special three-night New Year's Eve package, with special introductory rates. More like a sophisticated, intimate house party than a celebration at a hotel, the festivities in the 10-room mansion will include a special New Year's Eve dinner at the hotel's Argentine-French restaurant, Chez Nous, along with a romantic tango show for two at the famous El Almacen, a welcome drink upon arrival, a bottle of champagne in-room upon arrival, early check-in, complimentary upgrade (subject to availability), daily breakfast, 24-hour personalized butler service, a 15-minute quick revival massage at 95° Spa and a bottle of private collection Algodon Wine and wine tasting set. Priced at US$1,400 (excluding tax) and based on double occupancy, the package is valid from December 29 through January 3, 2010. www.algodonmansion.com

A GAUCHO ESCAPE Algodon Wine Estates

Algodon Wine Estates
Located in San Rafael, Mendoza, Argentina, Algodon Wine Estates (AWE) offers personalized wine barrels that can be custom-designed with the owner's private wine label and shipped to a location of choice. French or American oak barrels and grape varieties of Malbec, Syrah, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Bonarda and Chardonnay are available, and each barrel provides approximately 300 bottles of wine and can be filled up to three times. The bonus: The program includes a two-night stay at the boutique winery. Additionally, a special three-night Holiday Getaway Package is available, with daily breakfast, a guided horseback tour through the estate's vineyards, a personal winery tour and tasting with the estate's sommelier, choice of one round of golf or a complimentary lesson, a personal golf cart to explore the 2,000-acre property, an empanada cooking class with the estate's chef and a gourmet Asado dinner with a bottle of Algodon wine at the estate's award-winning restaurant. Priced at US$560 (including taxes) and based on double occupancy, the package is valid from December 18 to January 3, 2010. www.algodonwineestates.com

A VENETIAN BALL...DOWN SOUTH Iguazu Grand Hotel Resort & Casino

Iguazu Grand Hotel Resort & Casino
Set near some of the most spectacular waterfalls in the world, Iguazu Grand Hotel Resort & Casino is holding a special New Year's Eve Venetian Gala at the hotel's Café Magic restaurant. The gala will be reminiscent of Venice's Piazza San Marco, with an elaborate Venetian show during dinner followed by a parade of people in Venetian masks and costumes and typical Italian street actors (who will pull guests into the action!). Guests will receive their own handmade Venetian masks to use during the gala and to take home as a souvenir, and the gala will also include pre-dinner cocktails and after-dinner fireworks in the property's sprawling gardens. For reservations, please email reservations@iguazugrand.com or Econcierge@iguazugrand.com, or call 54 3757 49 8050. www.casinoiguazu.com

EUROPE

THE CELEBRATION THAT NEVER STOPS
Orient-Express - British Pullman
Orient-Express' British Pullman is chugging full steam ahead this New Year's Eve with a gourmet five-course champagne dinner (includes wine and liqueurs, as well), along with various musical performances, including a midnight act from a lone piper. Guests will journey on a circular tour aboard the lavishly appointed carriages, departing from and returning to London Victoria. The journey is priced from US$560 per person, and departs Dec. 31 from Victoria Station at 6:30 PM. A similar celebration is available on the British Pullman's sister train, the Northern Belle. www.orient-express.com

A FIVE-STAR IRISH CHRISTMAS The Merrion, Dublin

The Merrion Hotel, Dublin
The Merrion Hotel, a collection of four Georgian townhouses, invites guests to a Post-Christmas Racing Break that includes tickets to the Leopardstown Race Festival, a cherished Dublin tradition. Rates start at €160 (approximately US$236) per person per night in double accommodations from December 26 to 29. The package also includes double or twin room accommodations and full Irish breakfast. A New Year's Eve Getaway Celebration is also available, which includes two nights in a luxurious Garden Wing room, full Irish breakfast each morning, a bottle of champagne, seasonal treats on arrival and a New Year's Eve Jazz Dinner for two for €405 (approximately US$596) per person in a double or twin room. www.merrionhotel.com

CHRISTMAS IN A CASTLE

Ashford Castle, County Mayo
The new Christmas à la Carte program at Ashford Castle in County Mayo, Ireland, transforms a guest room or suite into home sweet home with a Christmas tree, traditional ornaments and even "music to trim by" for €200 (approximately US$287). Guests can choose the tree variety (Brunswick, Noble Fir, Norway Spruce, Richmond Fir) and the colors of the ornaments, there are white lights that are "green" energy-saving LED, and for guests who aren't the decorating kind, the tree can be delivered all dressed up. For an additional charge, ornaments can be sourced from around the world and room service can deliver a Seasonal Afternoon Menu including Spiced Mulled Wine, Lady Ardilaun's Christmas Mince Pies, Plum Pudding and Valrhona Hot Chocolate. Christmas à la Carte is the perfect add-on to Ashford Castle's three-night Christmas Package, which includes a visit by Santa Claus on Christmas Eve, a festive Christmas dinner, breakfast each morning and much more for €1,850 (approximately $2,749) per person. www.ashford.ie

A ROMAN RETREAT
Hotel Hassler Roma, Rome
This holiday season, Rome's esteemed Hotel Hassler Roma is offering a special three-night Christmas package, which includes deluxe accommodations with daily buffet breakfast, a Christmas Eve dinner at the panoramic Michelin-starred restaurant Imago and a Christmas surprise. Based on double occupancy, the package is priced at €1,395 (approximately US$2,095) and is available for arrivals from December 22 to December 24. A three-night New Year's Eve celebration is also on offer, which includes deluxe accommodations for two with daily buffet breakfast, a special New Year's Day gift and a New Year's Eve Gala dinner at Imago. Priced at €3,195 (approximately US$4,794) this special is available for arrivals from December 29 to December 31. www.hotelhasslerroma.com

A FOODIE'S PARISIAN PARADISE

Hotel Fouquet's Barrière, Paris
Located on the Triangle d'Or at the intersection of the Champs Elysées and Avenue George V, Hotel Fouquet's Barrière is offering Christmas and New Year's Eve dinners at both Fouquet's and Le Diane restaurants. Specially created menus include dishes such as Brittany langoustines with roasted truffles and melted artichokes and turbot infused with Royal Osetra Caviar, with the choice of various beverages including Hotel Fouquet's Barrière's signature organic Pommery Pop Earth Champagne. Additionally, a special New Year's Day brunch will be offered at Le Diane, offering a wide variety of organic and locally sourced French specialties.

www.fouquets-barriere.com

PIROUETTES AND A GRAND PALACE
Beau-Rivage Palace, Lausanne
A special package this holiday season from the Beau-Rivage Palace combines tickets to Lausanne's world-famous Béjart Ballet, one of the area's most celebrated attractions, with accommodations at the city's best hotel - plus, a special Béjart Ballet gift, complimentary access to the Beau-Rivage Palace's Cinq Mondes Spa and fitness room and a buffet breakfast. The package is valid from December 19-23, and prices start at CHF 320 (approximately US$318) per person per night. Special rates at the Beau-Rivage Palace are also available from December 12 through January 10, 2010, starting at CHF 415 (approximately US$412) for a double room. An additional discount will be added to children's rooms, starting at CHF 260 (approximately US$258) per night. www.brp.ch

SWISS BLISS
Baur au Lac, Zurich
Fresh off an approximately $50-million dollar renovation, the Baur au Lac in Zurich has extra reason to celebrate this holiday season. A special package will include an all-out New Year's Eve Gala dinner at the newly renovated Pavillion restaurant, as well as accommodation in a double room with daily breakfast, fresh fruit on arrival, complimentary WI-FI and minibar access. After the gala dinner - with dishes such as fine cream soup of Breton lobster and fried herbs and sea bass fillet with jus of shallots and tarragon - guests are invited to ring in the New Year at the Baur au Lac's annual Rive Gauche New Year's Eve Party. The package, available December 31 through January 3, 2010, is priced at CHF 660 (approximately US$655) per night, and, for the night of December 31, CHF 1,440 (approximately US$1,433). www.bauraulac.ch

AFRICA AND ASIA

THE VOYAGE OF A LIFETIME
Orient-Express - Road To Mandalay
Road to Mandalay is offering a seven-night New Year's Celebration Cruise aboard the newly renovated ship, traveling through the heart of Burma along the Irrawaddy River. In addition to numerous unexpected surprises along the way, activities while aboard will include sunrise yoga and meditation deck-top or at a local pagoda, massages, deck-top pedicures and manicures, an indigenous musical performance, lectures on Burmese culture and history, a Burmese tribal costume show and eight days of gourmet cuisine, including one lunch with a local supplier to learn about local ingredients. On December 31, guests will ring in the New Year with a special New Year's Eve Cocktail Party with live jazz and a gourmet feast. At midnight, special shan balloons will be released into the sky, granting each guest one New Year's wish. Priced from US$3,250 per person based on double occupancy, this journey departs December 26 and includes all of the above as well as economy class flights, transfers and sightseeing in Myanmar. www.orient-express.com

A WILD WILD CHRISTMAS
&Beyond
For those with an adventurous spirit, &Beyond is offering a special Christmas safari at Kichwa Tembo in Kenya's Masai Mara. The morning starts out with a tray of African coffee, tea and gourmet treats alongside a Christmas stocking full of surprises, followed by an early-morning game drive and a surprise stop overlooking the beautiful Mara River for a champagne breakfast. Santa has a way of popping up everywhere, even in the middle of the bush, and after breakfast all guests will receive gifts from Mr. Claus himself. A Christmas roast lunch will be served on the camp lawns with sprawling views of the Mara plains, and, after a midday siesta, guests will embark on an afternoon safari with a sundowner stop at a surprise location in the reserve. Upon return to the camp, guests will relax with a Christmas cocktail aside a luminous swimming pool lit by hundreds of lanterns and candles, while the Kichwa Tembo 'Sing for Life' choir sings traditional carols and African songs. The day ends with a dinner on the lawn under a carpet of stars. www.andbeyond.com

CHRISTMAS ON THE CAPE

Cape Grace, Cape Town
As summer descends on Cape Town, South Africa, the city's leading hotel, Cape Grace, is heating things up for the holiday season. At the hotel's award-winning SIGNAL restaurant, guests can celebrate Christmas Eve and Christmas Day with such traditional holiday specialties as honey-glazed gammon, herbed butter-basted turkey, sweet potato bake and warm caramel pudding. And when it comes time to ring in the New Year, guests can choose between a festive Masquerade Ball and five-course gourmand menu at SIGNAL, and a dance party and South African barbecue buffet of grilled prawns, ostrich burgers and roast quail at the hotel's popular Bascule Bar - home to the largest collection of whiskies in the Southern Hemisphere. www.capegrace.com

NORTH AMERICA

A HELI OF A CHRISTMAS
Canadian Mountain Holidays
Canadian Mountain Holidays (CMH), the company that brought Heli-Skiing to North America almost 50 years ago, brings Christmas to new heights with three Family Trips for Christmas and New Year's. From December 21-28, guests at the Bugaboo and Cariboo Lodges (and their 12- to 17-year-old kids) can ski the pristine slopes of Canada's Columbia Mountains, and return to the lodge for luxurious spa treatments, grand family dinners and gifts under the lodge tree on Christmas morning. And from December 28-January 2, guests at the Adamant and Gothics Lodges can ring in the New Year chest-deep in powder with their families! Family trips are priced from CAD $4,930 per adult and from CAD $2,595 for children, 12-17 years of age. www.cmhski.com

For a full listing of Geoffrey Weill Associates' clients, visit: www.geoffreyweill.com/Clients.asp.

Media Contact:
Suzanne Meyers at WEILL
E-mail: smeyers@geoffreyweill.com
Tel: 1-866-PR-WEILL

###

Inn at Dos Brisas Receives Most Prestigious Five Stars in Hospitality

The Inn at Dos Brisas Once Again Receives Most Prestigious Five Stars in Hospitality

Since 1958 they have been the most definitive five stars in the hospitality industry, and whether they are called Mobil or Forbes, they set the gold standard to which all destinations aspire to reach. For the third consecutive year, The Inn at Dos Brisas in Washington, Texas, has received the prestigious Forbes (formerly Mobil) Five-Star honor for 2010.

Situated on 300 acres of rolling Texas plains, The Inn at Dos Brisas first opened its doors in October 2004 as a luxury culinary destination boasting a collection of vegetable and flower gardens, horse barn and stables, and an extra dose of wide open spaces. With chef Jason Robinson, a Relais & Chateaux Grand Chef, at the helm of the kitchen, The Inn at Dos Brisas quickly became known as an epicurean retreat, and in 2008 received its first Mobil Five Star Award.

The Inn at Dos Brisas is one of only 21 restaurants in the United States to be named a Five Star restaurant in the 2010 Forbes Travel Guide. In order to receive the prestigious five stars, a restaurant must deliver a flawless dining experience, consistently providing exceptional food, superlative service, elegant décor, and exquisite presentations.

The Inn at Dos Brisas – Washington, Texas – www.dosbrisas.com – 979.277.7750

For more information:

Simone Rathlé

simone@simonesez.com

703.534.8100

Melissa Harris

melissa@simonesez.com

###

Contact: Rebecca Widness

Widness & Company Public Relations

E: rebecca@widness-co-pr.com

T: 646-375-2239

THE
HUKA RETREATS
Intimate ` Sential ` Elegant

NEW ZEALAND ` FIJI ` SOUTH AFRICA

Huka Lodge amongst Best in the World.

Condé Nast Traveler magazine has just released its 2009 Readers’ Choice Awards. Here you can see who 25,000 of the most discerning global travelers rank as the Best in the World.

Within the extensive lists of winners there is just one New Zealand property – Huka Lodge, Taupo within the Top 20 Oceania Resorts. Huka Lodge is ranked as No. 2 within this category which comes as no suprise considering the property has been consistently ranked amongst the best in the world from 1984 onwards.

Since entrepreneur Alex van Heeren purchased Huka Lodge, he has driven standards of excellence for the property that have seen it in the limelight internationally ever since.

Other New Zealand properties to make the Readers’ Choice Top 20 Oceania Hotels List were Blanket Bay Queenstown, Treetops Luxury Lodge & Estate, Rotorua and The George. Reaffirming and uniquely positioning New Zealand as a luxury lodge destination.

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MANHATTAN’S NEW STRAND HOTEL OFFERS EXTRA DELIGHTS ON SUMMER WEEKENDS

South Africa's Bushmans Kloof on Travel+Leisure's World's Best for Service List

Tips on Securing Small Ship Cruise

The Strand NYC Celebrates All Moms

Summer Barbecues and Al Fresco Dining at The Montague on the Gardens

Uniworld's Newly Remodeled Ships Grace European Waterways

Planeterra Applauds Earth Month

STOKE PLACE INVITES YOU TO RULE BRITANNIA THIS ST GEORGE'S DAY 23RD APRIL - AN ALTERNATIVE HEN NIGHT

NAPLES GRANDE BEACH RESORT CELEBRATES MOMS WITH THREE GOLDEN DOOR SPA PACKAGES

PR Firm Serves Clients with Heart

Adventure Travel Stew Pot Bubbles with Families

MONTAGE LAGUNA BEACH OFFERS FESTIVE SPRING DINING OPTIONS FOR EASTER & MOTHER'S DAY

SDA SHORT TAKES: GETAWAY WITH THE FAMILY

Do Good, Feel Good African Safaris

Fairmont Monte Carlo Grand Prix Package

New York's Sun-Splashed Address

Small Ship Expedition Cruise Company Ecoventura Announces “Give Back to the Galapagos” Promotion

Eco-Friendly Lodging Near Killington, VT

New Client With International Wheels

Lover's Lane at Manhattan's New Strand Hotel

Travel Company Says Facebook Works

IGUAZÚ GRAND VOTED "ARGENTINA'S LEADING RESORT" IN 2009 WORLD TRAVEL AWARDS

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