The Future of Luxury Travel: Highlights From Virtuoso® Travel Week 2022

THE FUTURE OF LUXURY TRAVEL: Highlights From Virtuoso® Travel Week 2022

New York (October 19, 2022) – This year, more than 5,000 luxury travel professionals (from 100+ countries!) gathered in Las Vegas at Bellagio, Aria, and Vdara resorts for Virtuoso Travel Week. Virtuoso is a global network renowned for creating meaningful experiences in luxury travel, and its annual Virtuoso Travel Week serves as the pinnacle by bringing together the group’s world’s-best travel partners and the industry’s most influential travel agencies and advisors. With a laser focus on driving future sales while establishing the latest travel trends from around the world, the event sets the stage for the future of travel. Judging by the numbers, the 2022 Virtuoso Week was a tremendous success, providing measurable value to the group’s members, advisors and preferred partners. Some statistics from this year’s event:

  • 98 percent of Virtuoso Week attendees said the event achieved the primary business objective of offering Virtuoso members the opportunity to network and build/further relationships with preferred partners
  • 97 percent of people said that attending Virtuoso Week was a good investment of their time.
  • 90 percent of attendees felt that the new eight-minute meetings were the right amount of time for the one-to-one appointments
  • Globetrotting was among the highest rated events, achieving a score of 9.1 out of 10

New additions featured at this year’s event proved successful as well. For the first time, Virtuoso introduced a Technology Summit featuring speakers from well-known tech entities such as Hopper and Expedia and Virtuoso’s own Senior Vice President, Digital & Consumer Products Travis McElfresh, while also including venture capitalists that fund travel technology. Virtuoso also joined forces with Condé Nast Traveler for the first time, revealing research each brand had conducted during an hour-long panel featuring Condé Nast Traveler Senior Features Editor Rebecca Misner and Virtuoso Senior Vice President, Marketing Helen McCabe-Young.

Additional features included the first-ever Pinnacle Lounge, a by-invitation-only setting for Virtuoso’s top producing advisors to meet with select partners, the Cruise Café, and partner lounges that invited advisors in for a glimpse at various experiences they can offer. Virgin Galactic was a standout as it brought in an actual seat from its spacecraft and provided attendees with a feel for what suborbital space looks like.

As an added nod towards sustainability, this year’s event totes were responsibly made from recycled plastics pulled from oceans. Attendees also had the ability to opt out of receiving the bag and everything in it, and instead make a donation (paid for by Virtuoso) to one of three charitable organizations: World Central Kitchen, Fairtrade International and Natural Resources Defense Council.

Sustainability remains top of mind, not just for the organizers behind Virtuoso Week, but for travelers as well. Below, five other trends from this year’s event, plus the destinations to watch and must-know insider news.

This Year’s Top Travel Trends

Sustainability Remains a Top Priority

In a recent survey, 74 percent of Virtuoso travelers said they’re willing to pay more to travel sustainably if they know where their money is going. And 70 percent agreed that traveling sustainably actually enhances their vacation experience. Travelers are increasingly committed to purposeful travel, and not just in a strictly ecological sense. They’re also seeking out companies and experiences that focus on “benefitting local people and the economy” and “preserving natural and cultural heritage.”

Travelers of All Ages Are Willing to Splurge on Value-Added Services – Like a Good Travel Advisor

According to a recent Virtuoso survey, 76 percent of travelers have accepted that we’re living in a “new normal,” which explains the growing demand for – and increased value of – an expert advisor who can save travelers time, energy and the headache of sitting on the phone for hours with customer assistance. Even Millennials and Gen Zers are turning to travel advisors. “My daughter is 25 years old and she’s an advocate of using a travel professional,” said Virtuoso travel advisor Susan Bowman. “She tells everyone and her friends also agree. They appear to be a generation that gets it, and they’ve figured out that we add value.” Between navigating airport travel and handling trip logistics, many travelers are opting to work with a dedicated travel advisor. “One of the simplest definitions of luxury goes like this: ‘Of course I can do it myself. I don’t want to’,” said Matthew D. Upchurch, Chairman and CEO of Virtuoso. “Travelers want to find someone who really knows what they’re doing, has great connections, saves time and has their back.”

Travelers are Back to Planning Ahead

With people hitting the road in record numbers, there’s never been so much frenzy around booking flights and hotels. In response to this pent-up demand, travelers are now booking their trips an average of 58 days in advance for domestic hotel stays, and 80 days for international trips (compared to 2019’s 44 and 60 days, respectively). “We’ve seen so much last-minute demand and literally the space is not there,” said Virtuoso advisor Beth Washington. “We’re seeing people now willing to think about things for 2023 instead of planning so last-minute.”

Off-Season Travel is Gaining Steam

If it seemed like everyone was in Europe this summer that’s because they were. According to a Virtuoso poll, seven of the top ten international destinations this summer were in Europe, with Italy and France leading the way. The surge in bookings has some destinations, like Italy, concerned about the effects of overtourism. As a result, travel professionals in Italy – the second-most popular spot for fall travel – are urging travelers to visit in the off-season. It’s a win-win for destinations and for travelers who get to see beloved places without the crowds. In a recent survey, the majority of Virtuoso travelers said they’d be willing to visit a popular destination during the off-season. Virtuoso’s own editors suggest booking a room at Passalacqua, the new Lake Como villa from hotelier Valentina De Santis and the Grand Hotel Tremezzo team, which is open year-round – a rarity in the Lake Como region.

The Destinations to Watch

Palm-fringed beaches, crystal clear turquoise waters, island-hopping. No, we’re not talking about the Maldives, but India’s Andaman and Nicobar Islands. Located on the southeastern edge of the Bay of Bengal, the archipelago is known for its spectacular diving and bioluminescent waters, which travelers can experience with nighttime kayaking off Havelock Island.

About a 45-minute drive north of Cabo San Lucas is the East Cape, a relatively unknown stretch on the Sea of Cortés where a new Four Seasons resort has just landed. According to the tourism board, the destination is a nature lover’s dream, situated near the Cabo Puma National Marine Park, a UNESCO Marine World Heritage site.

All eyes are on Greenland! Silversea is set to launch new itineraries in the Arctic country—the world’s largest island—next year, with other cruise lines, including Quark and Lindblad, set to expand their offerings.

Virtuoso on-site tour connection Access Italy let Virtuoso in on one of their hidden gems: the beautifully preserved hilltop village of Civita di Bagnoregio. Located between Rome and Florence, the medieval town is only accessible by a pedestrian bridge. And as for right now, it remains blissfully under-the-radar.

More Insider News from the Week

One of the best ways to plan for future travels is by creating a Wanderlist and sharing it with a Virtuoso advisor, who can make dreams of pearl harvesting in Australia or taking a private tour of Georgia O’Keeffe’s home and studio a reality. Virtuoso tapped into its worldwide network to find out what else was on the experiential horizon for its global citizens.

A new camp inspired by astronauts is touching down in Antarctica in December. Echo, from super high-end tour operator White Desert, will comprise six futuristic sleeping pods and a common area inspired by a visit from Buzz Aldrin and co-founder Patrick Woodhead’s love of Star Wars. The experience runs $104,000 per person and includes an excursion to the South Pole and private flights to and from the ice landing strip on the property’s doorstep.

On November 3, Auberge Resorts will open a relaxed surf retreat in Punta de Mita, on Mexico’s Pacific Coast. Susurros del Corazón will feature 59 rooms and 30 villas clustered around a three-tier infinity-edge pool, which fronts a glorious white-sand beach. Activities include a “surf safari” that will take guests to lesser-known beaches with consistent breaks and little-to-no crowds.

Fiuggi, Italy is the setting of The Ranch’s newest outpost. The wellness retreat will offer weeklong detoxes and hikes along ancient trade pilgrimage routes.

Armendaris is the newest addition to Ted Turner Reserves, known for its sustainable wildlife preserves in the American Southwest. The four-bedroom hacienda is situated on 360,000 acres in New Mexico’s Chihuahuan Desert and comes with a private chef plus experiences like nature photography workshops, wildlife tours and mountain biking.

Iceland is due to get its first rooftop bar! Next spring, the Reykjavik Edition will debut a rooftop perch where guests can sip cocktails while taking in the Northern Lights.

In November, Abu Dhabi’s Emirates Palace will unveil six vegan suites, constructed without animal products and featuring vegan menus and amenities.

Starting this fall, guests of Four Seasons Resort Jackson Hole can hop a private plane and discover a remote corner of Yellowstone National Park, where they’ll meet with an expert naturalist to learn about the area’s elusive gray wolves – and maybe even see a few up close.

Safari operator Singita has created art galleries at its Sabi Sand and Kruger National Park Lodges. These spaces will showcase the work of pre-eminent and emerging African artists. The initiative is part of Singita’s overarching mission to celebrate and incorporate local culture into its offerings.

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About Virtuoso

Virtuoso® is the leading global travel agency network specializing in luxury and experiential travel. This by-invitation-only organization comprises over 1,200 travel agency locations with more than 20,000 travel advisors in over 50 countries throughout North America, Latin America, the Caribbean, Europe, Asia-Pacific, Africa and the Middle East. Drawing upon its preferred relationships with more than 2,200 of the world’s best hotels and resorts, cruise lines, airlines, tour companies and premier destinations, the network provides its upscale clientele with exclusive amenities, rare experiences and privileged access. Normalized annual sales of (U.S.) $25-$30 billion make Virtuoso a powerhouse in the luxury travel industry. For more information, visit www.virtuoso.com.

 

Fall is the New Summer on Nantucket

There’s no denying that Nantucket is the quintessential summer destination, but true insiders know that fall is when the island really shines. The crowds disperse and beachcombers can spread out across the island’s 82 miles of coastline to make the most of the last summer days. Food-lovers will rejoice at the arrival of autumnal treats such as fresh, local cranberries from the largest certified organic bog in the country; and Nantucket Bay scallops, only available during the cooler months. From new suites to private tours and holiday cheer, here’s everything you need to know to close out 2020 on island.

New Suites at Jared Coffin House
Jared Coffin House, a former whaling merchant’s home located in the heart of town, unveiled new accommodations on August 15, 2020. While retaining the historic architecture of the 19th-century building, portions of the ground floor were transformed from a former restaurant space into four suites and one guestroom. Each of the suites are named after historic female figures on Nantucket, including Anna Gardner, who was instrumental in organizing an anti-slavery meeting in 1841 during which Frederick Douglass gave his first speech as an abolitionist speaker.

Throw it B(ACK) to the Whaling Days
Nantucket has a centuries-old history as one of the world’s most important whaling ports. November 20, 2020 will mark the 200th anniversary of the sinking of the Essex, the Nantucket-based whale ship that inspired Herman Melville’s Moby-Dick. Today, visitors can explore the island’s rich history on foot with a self-guided walking tour past the Jethro Coffin House, the sole surviving structure from the island’s original seventeenth-century English settlement; and to the Brant Point Lighthouse, which became a fixture for navigating whaleships safely back to port. The Whaling Museum, housed in a 19th-century candle factory, tells the story of the rise and fall of the industry, and is a must visit for all travelers. New for 2020, White Elephant Resort’s Pre-arrival Concierge can assist with arranging private tours each Sunday while the museum is closed to the public.

Ho Ho Holiday Celebrations
The 47th annual Christmas Stroll, November 28-December 6, 2020 feels like you’re stepping into a Charles Dickens backdrop with every corner of Nantucket’s historic downtown transformed into a winter wonderland. As an ode to its original roots, the theme of this year’s event will be centered around shopping local for the holidays. Stroll originally started over four decades ago as an effort to keep residents from leaving Nantucket to buy gifts on the mainland. Today, boutiques remain open through early December and will have elaborately designed storefronts outfitted with twinkling lights. Downtown’s cobblestone streets will also be lined with hundreds of seven-foot fit lit trees decorated by locals. Festive attire and ugly sweaters are encouraged.

Zoom from Here
Those looking for a last dose of sunshine before winter – and a change of scenery for your Zoom meetings – can make White Elephant Resorts their new home. Parents and children alike can set up their new remote station in either a King Room or one-bedroom residence at White Elephant overlooking Nantucket Harbor or in a room or suite at the historic Jared Coffin House. With the offer, families will enjoy a dining credit at Brant Point Grill or Nantucket Tap Room with all-day room service delivery, complimentary WIFI and a welcome kit stocked with a Swell bottle, notebooks, and snacks to keep you going – including beloved Aunt Leah’s Fudge – a staple on island for more than 40 years. Rates at White Elephant begin at $2,095 per week and $1,365 per week at Jared Coffin House.

Extra! Extra!
In addition to the miles of sand and sea, Nantucket is host to a variety of cultural offerings. Here are a few of our favorites to add to the autumn calendar.

  • The Nantucket Historical Association debuted a new exhibition, “The Road from Abolition to Suffrage,” at the Whaling Museum this season. Detailing the civil rights leaders on Nantucket, the new exhibit tells the story of the island’s journey toward a more just and equitable distribution of political power. It begins with a will written in 1710 that endowed a formerly enslaved man with property and continues through Nantucket’s history with race and gender relations until the enactment of the 19th Amendment in 1920 granting voting rights to women.
  • Witness the rare Blue Moon on October 31, 2020 from the Loines Observatory, home to the largest public telescope on the East Coast. Visitors will also learn about Nantucket native Maria Mitchell, the first female astronomer who discovered a comet in 1847 and the first women to ever be elected to the American Academy of Arts and Sciences.
  • After a successful community fundraising effort for a drive-in movie theater, the NantucketDreamland opened to the public this summer. The whole family can enjoy the classics on the program for this fall including Dirty DancingThe Graduate, When Harry Met Sally and Casablanca. Through White Elephant Resort’s partnership with BMW, complimentary vehicles are available to guests.

How to Get There
JetBlue offers direct flights from New York City through October 19 and from Boston through September 27. Seastreak Ferry’s seasonal service between Manhattan and Nantucket is available through October 8. Cape Air flights connecting from Boston are available to the island year-round, as is ferry service from Hyannis, MA.

P.S. The Elephant is Migrating This Winter…
As the Nantucket season closes for the winter, travelers will look south for warmer weather. Welcomed by the beloved elephant statue, White Elephant Palm Beach will open its doors for the first time on November 4, 2020. The brand new 32-room hotel is housed in the former Bradley Park Hotel – originally constructed in 1924 as one of the first resorts on Palm Beach’s Main Street. Given it’s listed with the Landmark Preservation Commission, the footprint of the structure and the facade remained, while the interiors have been stripped to the bones and rebuilt by Boston-based Elkus Manfredi Architects.

 

how to vacation like donna karan

Donna Karan, fashion designer and founder of the Urban Zen Foundation, is constantly on the run – from meetings, to fittings and events. How does she escape her hectic schedule? By jetting down to her private Parrot Cay residence in the Turks & Caicos, of course!  She tells Vanity Fair what she loves most about her relaxing getaways.  http://www.vanityfair.com/culture/where-i-go/2012/08/donna-karan-home-turks-caicos-parrot-cay

 

anantara debuts first city hotel in abu dhabi, uae: eastern mangroves hotel & spa

Opening in June, Anantara Hotels, Resorts & Spas will welcome the brand’s first city hotel in the Middle East, Eastern Mangroves Hotel & Spa by Anantara. Located along a three-quarter mile stretch of Abu Dhabi’s protected Eastern Mangroves District, the hotel will be home to the United Arab Emirates’ largest Hammam and VIP suite, The Royal Mangroves Residence.

A quiet retreat from the bustle of the city center, this new luxury five-star hotel will be an integrated hotel, marina, retail, and residential destination, offering stunning views of the lush mangroves that surround the area.  The hotel will feature 222 guest rooms and suites; three restaurants and bars, including a Thai specialty restaurant and a rooftop lounge with Technicolor LED roofline; a luxury spa with a traditional Arabic Hammam; a ballroom; and state-of-the-art conference facilities.

Accommodation options vary from the Deluxe Balcony rooms to the Royal Mangroves Residence. All rooms are spacious and outfitted with the latest in modern technology, including in-room entertainment systems and WiFi.  Interconnecting rooms are available on every floor, with connecting doors from the corridors to provide additional privacy.

The luxurious Royal Mangroves Residence, touted as the largest VIP suite in Abu Dhabi, offers a lavish but residential feel with room configurations of three to seven en-suite guest rooms that can be modified depending on guests’ requirements. The Residence also features a rooftop terrace overlooking the mangroves, a 33-foot swimming pool, a rooftop BBQ entertaining area, a private gym and a dedicated private entrance. Guests will also have access to a private limousine service, chef, butler, massage therapist, and beauty therapist during their stay.

The Anantara Spa at Eastern Mangroves will be home to the largest traditional Arabic Hammam in Abu Dhabi, totaling an impressive 1,420 square feet. The exclusive spa will also feature ten treatment rooms and separate lobbies and check-in areas for men and women.

Ideal for corporate meetings and social functions, Eastern Mangroves will offer state-of-the-art conference and catering facilities, including a banquet and bridal consultation office, with a ballroom capacity for 320 guests seated banquet style, plus five dedicated and fully equipped breakout and board rooms with a VIP majlis, a traditional Arabic meeting place.

no white after labor day, but nantucket reds can stay

After Labor Day we’ll be putting away all our summer whites but not so fast with those Nantucket Reds, they’re alright! While Nantucket conjures images of quintessential New England summers and those famed weathered-looking pants, we recommend donning the slacks this autumn and heading to the Grey Lady. Forget high season crowds, in the fall the masses have dispersed and the rates have dropped. If that alone is not reason enough, here are another 14 Reasons to visit Nantucket in the fall.

1.       Value

Fall rates at hotels on the island are greatly reduced in September, October, and November. For example, at the iconic White Elephant the lowest midweek July rate available is $550, while in September guests can stay overnight for as little as $375 with the Hot Dates, Cool Rates promotion.

2.       Nantucket Restaurant Week , September 26-October 2, 2011

For a small island, Nantucket has a wide variety of renowned culinary establishments that include the new Brick Bistro, award-winning TOPPER’S, and the harborside Brant Point Grill, home to the Lobster Bloody. During restaurant week, three course dinners will be offered at these and other top Nantucket eateries from $25 – $45.

3.       Nantucket Historical Association’s Harvest Fair, October 2011

Celebrate fall harvest at the Old Mill and learn about Nantucket’s agricultural heritage, play lively colonial games, and make traditional crafts such as cornhusk dolls or beeswax candles.

4.       The Nantucket Project, September 30-October 2, 2011

Unlike crowded, impersonal meetings-of-the-minds like TED and the Aspen Institute, the first Nantucket Project will gather amazing speakers including Ed Crane, founder and President of the CATO Institute, a libertarian think tank, and Craig Ventor, biologist and entrepreneur best known for being among the first to sequence the human genome, for an intimate weekend of stimulating lectures and conversation held at the White Elephant.

5.       Nantucket Conservation Foundation’s Cranberry Festival, October 8, 2011

Visit Nantucket’s famous cranberry bogs, generally closed to the public but open for a short time in October just when the berries are harvested. Partake in bog tours, hay rides, sheep-shearing, and, of course, fresh berries and delicious cranberry confections.

6.       Golf

Nantucket’s top-notch Sankaty Head Golf Club’s coveted ocean views and links-style holes are usually only available to members. In the off season (October-May), for a fee, anyone can tee off.

7.       Nantucket Slam, Cystic Fibrosis Benefit, September 11-13, 2011

This all-inclusive, two-day, competitive catch and release tournament is two days of competitive fishing for Bluefish, Bonito, Striped Bass, and Atlantic Bonito/False Albacore. To get a “Slam,” one must catch three of a designated species in the same day. All proceeds benefit the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation.

8.       Scenic Hiking and Biking

Rent a bike and roll down the recently resurfaced 6.4 miles of bike paths of Nantucket and check out the beautiful fall foliage. Bike rentals typically cost around $30/day; complimentary bikes are available for guests of White Elephant Hotel Residences, The Cottages & Lofts at the Boat Basin, and The Wauwinet.

9.   Spooky Halloween at haunted Jared Coffin House

Every year kids can dress up and go trick-or-treating at the shops and stores lining Main Street. Enjoy a super spooky stay on Nantucket at the Jared Coffin House, said to be haunted by the ghost of the successful 19th century ship-owner after whom the house was named. Other ghosts are rumored to roam the halls and rooms of this historic property – room rates start at $125 October 23-31.

10.   ACK Pink with Nantucket Island Resorts for Breast Cancer Awareness Month, October 2011

For the month of October, Nantucket Island Resorts will be donating $1 from every room night bought to the American Cancer Society’s Making Strides against Breast Cancer charity.  In addition, guests booking a stay during the weekend of October 14-16 will have the opportunity to participate on the Nantucket Island Resorts-sponsored team during Nantucket’s Making Strides against Breast Cancer Walk on Sunday, October 16. Nantucket Island Resorts has committed to a $1000 donation for the Breast Cancer Walk. Those who join the team will receive a complimentary team tee-shirt. Additionally, proceeds from themed cocktails and treats on offer at The Wauwinet, the White Elephant, the White Elephant Hotel Residences, and Jared Coffin House will be donated to the cause.

11.   Inexpensive Airfare

Think getting to Nantucket is difficult and pricey?  Phooey!  Fly Jet Blue direct from New York City to Nantucket starting at $69 this September.

12.   Romance

If you took the kids to Nantucket this summer, come back in the fall without the little ones and stay at the romantic Wauwinet (open until October 29).  The 32-room inn doesn’t allow children under 12, so there’s no chance of having a screaming baby just down the hall.  Rates at this luxury inn start at just $225 in October.

13.   Traditional New England Thanksgiving

Visit the state where the original Thanksgiving took place.  The White Elephant’s Brant Point Grill hosts a special Thanksgiving buffet with all the comfort foods you’d expect at your grandmother’s house without all the cooking and dirty dishes. Brave souls can participate in the 10th Annual Turkey Plunge on Children’s Beach, where hundreds jump into cold Nantucket Harbor on Thanksgiving morning.

14.   Fall isn’t all… Come in December for Christmas Stroll! December 2-5, 2011

Nantucket Island celebrates the entire holiday season with Nantucket Noel, a month-long celebration organized by the Nantucket Island Chamber of Commerce that runs November 25-December 31. The highlight event is the Annual Christmas Stroll Weekend.  Stores, shops, and restaurants open their doors for holidays shoppers, carolers sing favorite holiday tunes, and Santa Claus arrives via a Coast Guard Vessel.  This is an authentic experience not to be missed! Several Nantucket Island Resorts properties are open for the Stroll Weekend, including the historic and centrally located Jared Coffin House, the iconic White Elephant, and the luxurious White Elephant Hotel Residences.   These properties offer a variety of cozy accommodations for visitors to the island.

cooking program provençal

Nestled in the heart of Provence, the refined-rustic Hotel Crillon le Brave is offering an all-inclusive package of a five-day (six-night) cooking program, that combines the spectacular culture and cuisine of the region.

Led by new Head Chef, John Ellis, guests learn to cook authentic Provençal fare and embark on excursions through the local area, including meetings with local purveyors and wine tastings. After the chef hat comes off, guests can relax with a treatment at the hotel’s open-air spa, tour the historic village on complimentary bikes, or play on the tennis and boules courts.

Package Details

When: October 9 – 15 and October 23 – 29

Ingredients:

  • Six nights of accommodations
  • All meals (including wine), as well as cocktails upon arrival
  • Four intensive half-day cooking classes, with recipes for four complete menus to take home
  • Local explorations including truffle hunting near Mont Ventoux, wine tasting at Chateau Pesquié, and cheese sampling with Madame Vigier, a maître fromager
  • Tour of Carpentras Market, which has been in existence since 1155 and is known for being one of the best in France
  • Transportation and entry fees for all excursions included

Price

  • €2900 per person based on double occupancy; €700 single supplement fee
  • For “non-cooking” companion, the cost is €1900 if sharing a room with a “cook”. “Non-cooks” may participate in all events and meals outside of the cooking classes.

*Space is limited to eight participants per group.

To make a reservation, call +33 (0)4 90 65 61 61 or email reservations@crillonlebrave.com.

Next Up: Truffle & Wine weekends! Join a hunting excursion with an expert truffle hunter and see how dogs sniff for the black diamonds, sip local wines, and visit Isle-sur-la-Sorgue – Provençe’s antique capital. Stay tuned for dates and details!

new hotel for asia’s city of angels

Were you just saying to yourself: ‘If only Anantara had a city hotel in addition to its amazing hidden getaways?’ Of course you were!

Well, your prayers have been answered.

Anantara Bangkok Sathorn, just opened this March, is Anantara’s first urban hotel and the perfect home base from which to explore all the street food, shopping, and nightlife eastern City of Angels has to offer. Located in the heart of the business and entertainment district, it’s convenient for every type of traveler. The two 37-floor towers of 425 chic rooms and suites range from 430 to 1,302-square-feet, with balconies overlooking either the Bangkok cityscape or Chao Phraya River.

Anantara’s new Meetings by Design program offers three flexible, state-of-the-art meeting venues and planning help from the hotel’s conference and events service team. Trying to stimulate those creative juices? Recharge between meetings at the hotel’s tennis court, fully equipped fitness center, or hit some digital balls in the Nintendo Wii game room. Be sure to take a dip in one of Bangkok’s longest hotel pools or enjoy a holistic spa treatment at the Senses spa.

Rates: Anantara Bangkok Sathorn is offering a special promotion of 3 nights for the price of 2 for stays from now till May 31.  Deluxe room rates begin at 2,600THB (approx. $86) before applicable tax and service charge.

wedding wheels at white elephant

The White Elephant on Nantucket is introducing its latest guest amenity for the 2011 season in the form of a 1939 LaSalle convertible, manufactured by General Motors. This unique white LaSalle, featuring suicide doors, is one of only 185 of its kind built during that year. The antique automobile will be available to transport brides to and from the White Elephant hotel on their special days.

The LaSalle will debut during the Nantucket Daffodil Festival’s Antique Car Parade, an annual tradition where over 100 antique cars parade down Main Street decked out from tire to windshield in yellow daffodils. The Antique Car Parade begins at 12 pm on Saturday April 30, 2011.

The White Elephant, which opens for the 2011 season on Thursday April 21, offers all guests a one-of-a-kind experience, whether staying in one of the resort’s 54 guestrooms and suites, 11 garden cottages, or the White Elephant Loft. Located directly on the harbor and just steps from the boutiques of Nantucket Town, the White Elephant is the perfect spot to stay during a Nantucket vacation and a premier location to hold meetings, events, and other celebrations. The harbor side Brant Point Grill offers steak and seafood specialties and the serene White Elephant Spa offers a selection of signature massages and facials available in intimate treatment rooms overlooking Nantucket’s waterfront.

An award-winning property, the White Elephant recently received the top honor of #1 resort in Massachusetts in Travel + Leisure’s World’s Best Awards in 2011; this is the second year in a row that the White Elephant was included on the list.

The White Elephant is part of Nantucket Island Resort’s unique collection of premier hotels, cottages, lofts, hotel residences, and marinas. The collection also includes The Wauwinet, White Elephant Hotel Residences, Jared Coffin House, The Cottages & Lofts at the Boat Basin, and the Nantucket Boat Basin.  For more information please visit www.nantucketislandresorts.com.

where will you go in india, mr. president?

Recent reports detail President Obama’s busy schedule preparing for his upcoming trip to India. Outside of delegation meetings and state dinners (will there be any crashers this go-round?), we have compiled a few things the President shouldn’t miss!

Need a quick pick-me-up between appearances?

ESPA

President Obama will be in Mumbai November 6 and 7.  May we recommend, Mr. President, visiting the ESPA Spa at The Leela Kempinski Mumbai as a spot for an instant pick-me-up after a day of demanding meetings.  For the United States’ top executive, the Executive Stress Tonic treatment is suggested.  An hour and a half of back, neck, shoulder, hand, arm, and scalp massage will relieve tension caused by hours hunched over a desk and long periods of time spend on a plane. 

Looking to unwind after a jam-packed schedule (diplomatic, or otherwise)?

Park Hyatt Goa

Park Hyatt Goa will instantly relieve stress and offers the perfect place to get a Presidential tan. A true escape, the resort was designed to replicate ancient Indian villages and is set amid 45 acres of lush beachfront gardens. The property is divided into five courtyards, each distinctive in theme, architecture, and landscape, creating a series of individual guestroom clusters within the resort, set apart from one another by lagoons, tropical gardens, bridges, and interconnected with cobbled village streets.  The Sereno Spa offers daily yoga and meditation classes designed to reconnect the body and mind – something every leader and fellow traveler can appreciate. Sessions are designed to improve energy and creativity, steadiness of mind, improve breathing and lung capacity, and relieve fatigue in the eyes.  As a final addendum, Park Hyatt Goa is also home to India’s largest swimming pool with water slides!

Escape the election fever…

Shakti 360 Leti

After recent mid-term elections, the President might be feeling the urge to truly disconnect for a few days. Shakti’s Kumaon village experience in Uttarakhand provides the chance to take in the stunning mountain scenery and rich culture of the remote, unspoiled, and undiscovered North Indian state. Take in staggering views that include the snow-tipped twin peaks of Nanda Devi, India’s second highest mountain.  Guests take daily walks through the forests of grey pine, cedar, and rhododendron, and overnight in village homes that have been gently retouched to include Western creature comforts. The nearby four-room retreat, 360˚Leti, is a true escape perched at an impressive 8,000 feet.  It lives up to its name, with 360° panoramic views and floor-to-ceiling glass windows. There is no Internet, no cell coverage, and only solar power — a real opportunity to unplug.  A 90-minute trek along a narrow trail to the hotel takes guests past waterfalls, brooks, and terraced hills lined with rice paddies and rows of wheat.

Appeal to the activists…

Shakti Sikkim

To increase those ever-important approval ratings, it’s crucial to reach out to a cross-section of interests. A trip to Sikkim with Shakti offers a sure-fire boost. This tiny, Northeastern India state finds itself sandwiched between friendly neighbors Bhutan, Nepal, and Tibet, and is the least populous and second smallest in all of India. Sikkim is culturally and topographically not unlike its neighbors and the only state in India to share an open border with China (very global). Sikkim also offers a dose of natural beauty sure to perk up environmentalist curiosity. With over 4,000 plant species and 450 exotic orchids, virgin rhododendron forests, indigenous birds, 650 kinds of butterflies and endangered species like red pandas, snow leopards, and blue yaks, it’s as far from Pennsylvania Avenue as you can get. Catch views of Mt. Kanchenjunga, the world’s third highest mountain, while passing fluttering Buddhist prayer flags on the trail to Rinchenpong Monastery.  Explore this remote but enchanted land, learning about the region’s religious history and present day Buddhist and Hindu cultures as you go.

To experience a Presidential quick-trip…

Crystal Symphony

As a traveling world leader, schedules rarely allow time for extended stays anywhere outside the Oval Office.  Crystal Cruises’ 2011 World Cruise line up features two itineraries next March that visit India, with two overland excursions full of adventure and sightseeing.  The Ajanta & Ellora Caves excursion explores the wonders of ancient India, following part of the Silk Road with stops at the famous Buddhist caves at Ajanta and the magnificent carved rock temples of Ellora, both UNESCO World Heritage Sites. For the classicist, the Journey to the Fabled Taj Mahal excursion offers an overview tour of Delhi’s highlights, sunrise and sunset visits to the Taj Mahal, and a visit to Agra Fort.  The two excursions can help split the 23-day Asia cruise, and provide your own version of Obama’s upcoming Asia tour!

park hyatt moves into the middle east, again

Park Hyatt just announced the opening of Park Hyatt Jeddah – Marina, Club, and Spa, the second in the Middle East for the hotel chain, and the first five-star property to open in the city since 2004.

The second largest city in Saudi Arabia after the capital, Riyadh, Jeddah is a major center for Middle East commerce. Business travelers will love the convenient location, just a quick five-minute drive to the financial district (traffic jams abound on the congested streets).  Organizations can hold massive conferences, and companies can seal the deal at the adjacent Lazurde Meeting and Conference Center that boasts an over 8,600 square foot ballroom that can be divided up for meetings, an outdoor reception area by the sea, and all the high-tech multimedia gadgets needed for an A+ presentation.

Practically built in the Red Sea itself on the Corniche of Jeddah, it’s hard not to appreciate the view as well. The resort is a remarkable engineering feat that reclaimed prime waterfront land from the Red Sea while retaining the delicate surrounding marine life. It’s the closest hotel in the city to the jaw-dropping King’s Palace, which is located on its own island. It also faces the iconic King Fahd’s Fountain, the world’s tallest fountain, which shoots up water at 233 miles per hour and is illuminated by over 500 spotlights at night.

The restaurant, Nafoura, faces this scene (as do most of the guest rooms) and serves up mouth-watering mezzes and grilled Mediterranean dishes from the open kitchen.   Sipping tea (no alcohol allowed) and smoking shisha on the outdoor terrace (the menu has over 20 varieties of the flavored tobacco) will undoubtedly be a popular activity.  Cigar aficionados can light up in a separate cigar lounge.

Keeping in line with Park Hyatt’s chic and modern  yet understated aesthetic , French interior designer Gilles Quiffet and architect Patrice Hart designed the 142 guest rooms and public spaces to fuse a sleek European style with Arab-Andalusian architecture.  Native artwork and crafts adorn the rooms, while intricately landscaped gardens surround the complex. Spa facilities are on the way and will feature separate ladies’ and gentlemen’s areas including the region’s first Hydrotherapy center.

Rates start at 1350 Saudi Riyals.

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