Hotels Prepare for World Cup Festivities

With the FIFA World Cup in Germany just weeks away, Korean sports fans are charged up, wondering whether their national football team will repeat its performance of four years ago, when it finished fourth in the world cup tournament.

Seouls five-star hotels are also hoping for a long and successful run for the Korean football team this year, as they prepare special room packages and other festivities at their restaurants to lure guests ahead of the worldЎЇs most anticipated sporting event.
Should the Korean team survive the first round and advance to the knock-off stage, football fever could sweep the nation, providing a needed cash injection for hotels at a time when business is slower than usual.


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Nine local hotels, restaurants win 'Four Diamond' rating

Four hotels and five restaurants in the Tri-State have received AAA's Four Diamond rating, the highest designation the automobile and travel organization awards.

The four-diamond-rated restaurants are: Jean-Robert at Pigall's, (third year); Orchids at Palm Court (first year); Daveed's (second year); the Palace Restaurant (18th year); and the Celestial (eighth year). Jean-Robert, Orchids and the Palace are downtown; Daveed's and the Celestial are in Mount Adams.

Three downtown hotels won four diamonds: the Westin Cincinnati (third year); Hilton Cincinnati Netherland Plaza (third year); and the Cincinnatian (ninth year). Also winning a four-diamond award was the Cincinnati Marriott at Rivercenter in Covington (seventh year).

AAA rates lodgings and restaurants according to customer service, amenities and environment. About 3.4 percent of the 32,000 lodgings and 3 percent of the 25,000 restaurants the organization rates received four diamonds

Ex-Hilton chief plans 1 billion hotels fund

The former head of hotel chain Hilton Group is planning to raise about 1 billion pounds to invest in European hotel properties, newspapers said on Saturday.
David Michels, who stepped down as Hilton chief executive after the 3.3 billion pound sale of the company's hotels business to U.S. namesake Hilton Corp. (HLT.N: Quote, Profile, Research), has approached city institutions about the fundraising, The Times said.

It said he had appointed Citigroup as an adviser and planned to float the fund on the junior AIM market.

The Financial Times said Michels could create a multi-billion-pound European fund to rival successful U.S. hotel real estate funds.
If confirmed, the fund would provide further evidence of growing interest in hotels as an asset class.

Blackpool City Guide, Including Blackpool Hotels

Blackpool is one of Britain's most popular holiday destinations. It is a town full of roller-coasters, clubs, and even the biggest mirror ball in the world. Add this to the world-class shows, cosmopolitan restaurants, vibrant nightlife, an active sports scene and breathtakingly beautiful scenery on Blackpool's doorstep you begin to understand why Blackpool is so popular.

Blackpool is one of Britain's most popular holiday destinations. It is a town full of roller-coasters, clubs, and even the biggest mirror ball in the world. Add this to the world-class shows, cosmopolitan restaurants, vibrant nightlife, an active sports scene and breathtakingly beautiful scenery on Blackpool's doorstep you begin to understand why Blackpool is so popular. If you feel you really need to get away from it all, have a leisurely stroll through the leafy Stanley Park, Blackpool's award-winning horticultural and wildlife treasure. Spot the cute, inquisitive, squirrels and take in the showpiece Italian Gardens or hire a boat and float away lazy summer afternoons beside the swans on Stanley Park's boating lake.

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WhataHotel.com Offers Complimentary Exclusive Amenities at Luxury Hotels & Resorts

Imagine a website featuring the world’s most luxurious hotels and resorts that goes beyond giving you what you’re looking for. When travelers make a reservation using WhataHotel.com, they find the room rates are the same, or even lower, than the room rates offered by the actual property. What's more, WhataHotel.com users will also receive exclusive, complimentary amenities with each booking. Created by Coral Gables, FL based Lorraine Travel, WhataHotel.com is an invaluable resource for finding the most luxurious properties on earth and receiving extraordinary amenities. Be it a rose petal-covered king size bed or a butler-drawn bath, WhataHotel.com utilizes its colleagues on-site at each property to provide its clients with special treatment to make each stay even more memorable.

Travelers have been trusting WhataHotel.com’s parent company, Lorraine Travel, with their travel arrangements for over 50 years. They can be assured to find the same service and accountability with WhataHotel.com.

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Business booming for Kuwait hotels

Kuwait’s hotel industry continues to prosper as more hotels open up in the state to take advantage of the recent business boom being brought about by the reconstruction of Iraq. The InterContinental Hotels Group opened its latest addition, Holiday Inn Downtown, last month, adding 169 rooms to the cities inventory.

Strategically located close to Kuwait’s financial and business district, Holiday Inn Downtown offers a variety of conference facilities that accommodate up to 400 persons. It also provides eight private offices with sea and city views, secretarial offices and guest work stations.“Our main markets will be local corporate, long staying guests, and corporate meetings as well as frequent individual business travellers,” said Laurent Rigaud, general manager, Holiday Inn Downtown.

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Stein Group aims for 50 hotels

European boutique hotel operator the Stein Group plans to expand to 50 properties within the next 10 years, more than doubling its current portfolio.

Founder David Stein had previously announced a target of 25 hotels by 2008, but with 15 properties operational and a further five in the pipeline, targets have been increased.

"We have hotels under development in Spain, Italy and Ireland and have verbal contracts with projects in Eastern Europe," Stein said. "We will also be looking at sites in Scandinavia, Canada and the Caribbean as well as in US cities such as New York, Miami and Chicago."

New hotels will be a mixture of owned and managed properties.

The latest addition announced this week, the 41-bedroom Cliffhouse in Ardmore near Cork, Ireland, is due to open next year.

Meanwhile, the restaurant at London's Cadogan hotel, acquired by the group last year, will be relaunched as Langtry's next month. Robert Lyons, from the Millennium Baileys hotel in Kensington, will take over as head chef from Jeroen Pruijssers next month.

Beijing to build over 100 star hotels for 2008 Olympic

Beijing will build 110 star hotels to cope with the demand for accommodation during the 2008 Olympic Games.

"The planned 110 hotels will range from one star to five stars, with a majority of them targeting high-end guests," Du Jiang, director of Beijing Tourism Bureau, said at a seminar on economy hotels on Friday.

Although there is a great demand for economy hotels in Beijing, the trend is to develop high-end hotels, Du acknowledged.

During the 2008 Olympic Games, most guests will be accommodated in Beijing hotels, Du said. "But the hotels in neighboring Hebei Province, which are about 100 kilometers away from Beijing, will be on stand-by."

According to the official, there are 56 hotels, including 8 four or five stars hotels, within 100 kilometers of Beijing.

By 2007, the number of star hotels in Beijing is expected to reach 800, providing approximately 130,000 rooms, Beijing's Vice Mayor Zhang Mao said at the seminar.

According to an estimate, about 250,000 foreign tourists, regular tourists and Games viewers will make Beijing hotels accommodate 550,000 people per day during the 2008 Olympic Games.

Currently, Beijing has 658 star hotels with a total of 109,000 rooms

Discover Unspoiled Indochina with Victoria Hotels & Resorts

A range of packages for honeymoons, adventure and pampering along with unique discovery tours to the Mekong Delta and Indochina’s two premier World Heritage sites are on offer from Victoria Hotels & Resorts.

The boutique group’s package deals embrace six luxury retreats – from off–the-beaten-track mountain and beach spa resorts in Vietnam to a colonial-style hotel and resort in the Mekong Delta, and an elegant resort and spa at Angkor Wat in Cambodia.
A ‘World Heritage Connection’ package including both Hoi An, the historic capital of Vietnam’s ancient Champa civilization, and Angkor Wat is priced from US$469 for five days and four nights – staying at Victoria Hoi An Beach Resort & Spa and Victoria Angkor Resort & Spa.


The ‘Mekong Delta Experience’ priced from US$695 for seven days and six nights includes Angkor Wat along with stays at the Victoria Can Tho Resort, the first luxury colonial-style hotel in the Mekong Delta, and the Victoria Chau Doc Hotel, deep in the delta close to the Cambodian border.


‘Relaxation Packages’ starting at US$175 for three days and two nights include spa and massage treatments at all six resorts – which also include the Victoria Sapa Resort in the remote north-west highlands of Vietnam and the Victoria Phan Thiet Beach Resort & Spa, at one of Vietnam’s most idyllic seaside resorts 200km north of Ho Chi Minh City.
All six resorts also offer ‘Adventure Packages’, including excursions, from US$195 for three days and two nights, plus three day / two night ‘Honeymoon Packages’ that include romantic candle-lit dinners and excursions, from US$219.

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See Croatia's Adriatic pearls from $20/night

Visit World Heritage sites, sleep in a lighthouse, take a kayak tour

Long gone is the time when Croatia was a no-go war-ridden zone. In fact, the country's comeback has been so glamorous that it currently ranks as one of Europe's hottest summer vacation spots. Since its economy doesn't rely on the euro, a visit here is definitely great value, but peak-season airfare can still be known to break the bank.

You'll be able to discover this new "it" destination with the four deals we've found, ranging from an escorted eight-night air-and-hotel Adriatic combo from $2,199 to a historic lighthouse overnight from less than $20/night.

Hilton Hotels Corporation Recognizes 2005 Development Champions

Hilton Hotels Corporation Recognizes 2005 Development Champions for Hilton(R), Doubletree(R) and Embassy Suites Hotels(R)

The Hilton, Doubletree and Embassy Suites Hotels brands recognized the top development champions of 2005 during the Hilton Hotels Corporation Full-Service Brands Owners Summit, held May 3-5 in Cabo San Lucas, Mexico. Hotel development awards across the three brands were presented in four distinct categories: Best Conversion, Deal of the Year, Developer of the Year and Outstanding Achievement.

"Following a year of remarkable achievement for our company, we are proud to recognize our 2005 development award winners, who have truly embraced our Hilton Family brand promise to 'be hospitable' and have proven their commitment to our communities and industry," said Tom Keltner, president - brand performance and development group, Hilton Hotels Corporation. "Together with our hotel developers and combined with our turnkey programs that give them the tools to achieve success, we will perpetuate the Hilton Family momentum of having the largest development pipeline within the industry." ...

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Free Hotel Discounts & Travel Coupons for Las Vegas!

Free Hotel Discounts & Travel Coupons for Las Vegas!

Las Vegas is one of the most unique and exciting cities in the world. Known for its star-studded entertainment, non-stop gaming and great restaurants. Save thousands of dollars by using these free discounts and coupons for Las Vegas!

Find a hotel room in the destination of your choice on RoomSaver.com

Where can you find the very best rate for a hotel room? At the hotel’s website! RoomSaver.com takes you directly to the hotel’s website where you can find the best rates and book your hotel room online.

Knowing ahead of time that your hotel room is booked, ready and waiting is one less thing you’ll have to worry about on your next trip. RoomSaver.com is an online portal to the best hotel room rates. We make it simple for you to find a property in the destination of your choice and then book your hotel room in advance.

Many of our Featured hotel properties offer you a toll-free number to their reservation phone line, or if you prefer to book your hotel room online, we take you directly to their reservation website where you'll find the best rates on the Web! Let RoomSaver.com help you find the best rate for your hotel room today.

Hotel Galeon, San Miguel, Ibiza.

Hotel Galeon, San Miguel, Ibiza.

Located near the sea overlooking the beach of San Miguel (Special Architecture Award 1970). Distance from San Miguel 5 Km. Distance from the beach: less than 200 m.

FACILITIES:

- Swimming pool.
- Sun terrace.
- Mexican corner.
- Lounge bar.
- Panoramic bar.
- Entertainment.
- Water sports.
- Children facilities.

ROOMS:

- TV. SAT.
- Air-conditioning.
- Telephone.
- Safetu box.
- Room service on a daily bases.
- Private bath.
- Balcony with sea view.
- Possibility of extra bed in double-rooms.
- Possibility of a cot.

WATER SPORTS:

-Sailing and windsurfing school.
-Canoing.

Other sports facilities at the beach (not from the hotel), water ski, Banana boat, diving facilities, and zodiac hire.

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Hotel Torre del Mar, Playa d'en Bossa, Ibiza

Hotel Torre del Mar, Playa d'en Bossa, Ibiza.

With amazing views up the coast to the fortress city, and down, along the beach of D’en Bossa, the longest on the island, this popular International 4 star hotel has one of the best locations on Ibiza.

Within minutes by taxi you will be able to walk around historic Ibiza Town, shop in the modern area and, by night, experience the famous ‘Port Parade’, the most famous scene in the Mediterranean. All the big clubs are also within easy reach.
But then, after you have enjoyed the rarely equaled service, amenities and facilities of the hotel, especially in daytime, you may find it hard to tear yourself away at times.

The setting around the pool is idyllic. Wonderful views, gardens with palm trees, a tower surrounded by a huge swimming pool and a smaller one for children; abundant sun loungers and parasols on terraces, towels provided and waiter service from the pool snack/bar (a very social place to be).

If you have young children or like an uninterrupted swim in the briny, here it is, with direct access from the terrace to a virtually a private sandy beach!

Early or late season you can still swim, the large heated indoor pool is always available.