Swapping your house with a someone for a holiday is growing in popularity. When this concept first came about, many people could not get their heads round it and it was often only a very few select group of people that would actually try it. Following on from Britain entering the recession, people needed to find different ways to have a holiday that cost very little money. House swapping seemed like the perfect answer with often no money having to exchange hands.
There are now many websites dedicated to this idea, allowing people to list their homes and areas in which they would be interested doing a swap in. Many people obviously have reservations about this concept, but there are is some very helpful information online which can help you get ready for a house swap. If you are lucky enough to have a home that is separate from your family home then you may want to look in to letting this out as holiday accommodation instead to possibly make an additional income instead of it being stood empty for 70% of the year.
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House swap holiday homes
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The St. Regis Mauritus Resort celebrates official debut
St. Regis Hotels & Resorts, component to Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc, proudly celebrated the highly-anticipated official opening of The St. Regis Mauritius Resort, marking the brand’s first hotel in Africa and the 30th St. Regis hotel on the earth.
The official opening ceremony was inaugurated by the Prime Minsiter of Mauritius, Dr The Hon Navinchandra Ramgoolam within the presence of Mr. Ashok Uttamchandani and Mr. Ashish Nurani, owners of The St. Regis Mauritius Resort, Mr. Frits van Paasschen, President and CEO of Starwood Hotels & Resorts, Mr. Hassan Ahdab, Vp Africa and Indian Ocean and Mr. Bernard de Villèle, General Manager. The celebration was attended by greater than 350 influencers and guests from Mauritius.
Hosted on the exclusive St. Regis Mauritius Resort across the Manor House, the festivities were designed to celebrate St. Regis hotels from 1904 to 2013 and opened with a dance performance and speeches by the Prime Minister and van Paasschen. The evening event included cocktails and an epicurean tour, followed by a spectacular fireworks show and live musical performances.
The St. Regis Mauritius Resort follows recent openings in Hainan and Shenzhen in China; Doha and Saadiyat Island, Abu Dhabi within the Middle East; and Bal Harbour within the U . s . a ., all in the last twelve months. Having greater than doubled its portfolio in only five years, St. Regis continues its dynamic global growth, further strengthening Starwood’s lead in luxury hospitality, offering guests exceptional levels of service and delightful experiences in exciting destinations all over the world.
“As we add new, must-visit destinations to our global portfolio of hotels and resorts, the hole of The St. Regis Mauritius Resort truly marks a great milestone for the logo,” says Paul James, Global Brand Leader St. Regis, The posh Collection, and W Hotels Worldwide. “Celebrating Mauritius’ rich and numerous cultural heritage, we glance forward to welcoming guests to the good address at the island, offering bespoke service and refined elegance both befitting of the destination and true to the St. Regis legacy.”
“We are excited to introduce a brand new luxury travel experience to Mauritius with the outlet of the highly-anticipated St. Regis Mauritius Resort,” adds Roeland Vos, President, Starwood Hotels & Resorts, Europe, Africa and Middle East. “It is our first St. Regis hotel in Africa and an important addition to our growing portfolio of luxury hotels world wide.”
Island Sanctuary
Situated on one of the crucial privileged locations at the southwestern tip of island, The St. Regis Mauritius Resort is found at the pristine white natural beaches on the UNESCO World Heritage site of Le Morne, bordered by a turquoise lagoon. The resort’s backdrop of Mauritius’ iconic Le Morne Brabant Mountain is defined by a lush green patchwork of sugar cane fields encircling a sequence of lofty peaks that overlook the Indian Ocean.
Designed by Stauch Vorster Architects with interiors by Trevor Julius of celebrated design firm dsgn, The St. Regis Mauritius Resort is modelled on a Victorian sugar-baron’s manor house set in a historical estate. With vast terraces, sumptuous rooms and colonnades, the resort provides guests with an idyllic island sanctuary similar to the destination’s unique colonial past.
The resort features 172 elegant guestrooms and suites, starting from 700 to 2300 square feet, all with expansive terraces and breathtaking views of the Indian Ocean. The lavish beachfront St. Regis Villa includes a private entrance, four luxurious bedrooms with private pools and gardens, stylish entertainment and dining areas, an infinity pool, a bar and personal spa consultation room. The resort features the famed hallmarks of the St. Regis brand, including signature St. Regis Butler Service.
Exquisite Culinary Experiences
The resort’s signature restaurant, Simply India, promises an unforgettable fine dining experience created by Michelin-starred celebrity chef Atul Kochhar and gives a latest interpretation of authentic Indian cuisine. Led by Executive Chef Olivier Belliard, The St. Regis Mauritius Resort offers six other distinct gastronomic experiences starting from Le Manoir Dining Room with a menu inspired by a mix of French and standard Mauritian cuisine, to the trendy Asian menu at Floating Market, and a chilled beachside spot for informal oceanfront dining on the Boathouse Bar & Grill. Inspired by the legendary St. Regis Ny Hotel which opened in 1904, The 1904 Bar offers elegant rum cocktails and vintage whiskeys alongside the St. Regis ritual of champagne sabering.
Luxury Leisure and the 1st Iridium Spa in Africa
The St. Regis Mauritius Resort is home to the region’s first Iridium Spa, offering 22,730 square feet of blissful surroundings including an entire-service salon, relaxation lounge, jacuzzi, sauna and steam rooms, in addition to a dedicated men’s grooming salon and a 24-hour fitness club. Featuring 12 treatment rooms with ocean views, the Iridium Spa works with renowned beauty and skincare brands Valmont and Bella Luccè to indulge guests with bespoke spa treatments.
The unique conditions at the windward side of the island allow for a variety of aquatic activities, including the exhilarating sports of wind and kite surfing in world-class conditions, in addition to deep-sea fishing, snorkeling and diving amid fascinating coral reefs. With direct access to 1 of the foremost sought-after kite surfing spots, “One Eye” at Le Morne, the resort offers the world’s first Club Mistral Prestige Kite Surf Club where guests gets expert assistance and an enhanced sporting experience. Other water recreational activities and facilities include the dive centre, canoeing and kayaking, in addition to catamaran and sunset cruises.
The Kite Flyers Club offers complimentary childcare services for kids from four to twelve years old, including recreational highlights corresponding to beach bonfires and kite-making, in addition to facilities like indoor and outdoor play areas, the children’s kitchen corner and a swimming pool. Optional activities include guided excursions to the zoo and sugarcane museum, cooking classes and horseback riding.
Situated inside the heart of the resort, the manor house comprises seven luxurious suites with in-room spa facilities, a non-public 24-seat cinema, a Drawing Room for indoor entertainment and games, a swimming pool, in addition to a library and conservatory. Other leisure facilities on the resort include a beachside swimming pool, a tennis court and a resort boutique. For personal celebrations, the Astor Room may be booked for events hosting as much as 100 people.
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News: Ritz-Carlton Riyadh redefines business travel in Saudi Arabia
The Ritz-Carlton Riyadh has redefined luxury business travel for global visitors inside the Kingdom’s capital with various services and facilities tailored to the high-end international business traveler.
Recognised because the home of commercial inside the city, the hotel aims to show its guests’ normal work journeys into memorable experiences through personalized touches that make sure that their every need is catered to even before they ask for it.
The experience begins with a warm welcome on the airport by a Ritz-Carlton gentleman member, followed by a limousine transfer to the hotel in a luxury Mercedes S350, BMW 5 or 7 Series, complete with the usage of a Wi-Fi-connected iPad.
As the limousine enters the palatial driveway that ends up in the grand entrance of the hotel, guests can see how The Ritz-Carlton, Riyadh can truly offer the greatest of both worlds.
While the hotel is conveniently located with regards to the busy Diplomatic Quarter and adjacent to the King Abdul Aziz Convention Centre, it still offers a grandiose retreat from the economic buzz of the town.
Once contained in the hotel, the elegantly-styled rooms and indulgent suites fuse luxury with practicality, and are available equipped with comfortable working desks, iPod docks, high-speed Internet access, flat-screen televisions and DVD players.
Created especially with business guests in mind, The Ritz-Carlton Club rooms and Executive Club suites provide a raft of added-value extras including complimentary wireless Internet and exclusive 12-hour access to The Club Lounge which offers a ‘hotel within a hotel’ experience.
Business travelers also are in a position to exploit the on-site expertise available within the hotel’s business center, which offers an A-to-Z of services from document binding to photocopying and printing.
For more formal appointments, the hotel’s extensive meeting and conference facilities include a suite of flexible-use meeting rooms in addition to two auditorium-styled theatres, both complemented by a dedicated restaurant.
“Many frequent business travelers the world over are becoming conversant in ‘living out of a suitcase’, and traveling from country to country or backward and forward in the same country as component of their work routine.
“We try and break that monotony by offering them an experience that they’ll never forget, from their exemplary surroundings and comfort services to the thoughtful extras that guarantee a continuing stay for them,” said Mikel Ibrahim, director of sales & marketing, The Ritz-Carlton, Riyadh.
Dining occasions are always a pleasure on the Ritz-Carlton, Riyadh with a call of six venues that commemorate the proper of international cuisine, whether it’s a hearty breakfast at Al Orjouan earlier than a morning meeting, a deal-concluding business dinner at fine dining Chinese restaurant Hong or Italian destination Azzurro, or a late night conversation at Turquoise, the Piano Lounge.
Equal attention is given to leisure downtime, with the hotel’s recreational facilities providing much-needed respite on the end of the business day, and including a whole-service men’s fitness center, dedicated male-only spa and indoor swimming pool.
For the frequent business traveler, The Ritz-Carlton Rewards program is a must for guests, offering access to more than a few memorable experiences around the hotel portfolio with members earning points or airline miles for stays at participating locations worldwide, in addition to similar benefits on the Marriott global family of participating hotels.
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Sheldon Adelson honoured at Jerusalem Summit
Sheldon Adelson has received an honorary award for his efforts to switch the face of tourism all over the world. The business magnet was praised for his contribution to travel and tourism on the second Jerusalem International Tourism Summit 2013 happening today.
Adelson’s career spans greater than six decades and includes the creation of over 50 different companies, including the Las Vegas Sands Corporation and the COMDEX tradeshow for the pc industry.
The Las Vegas Sands Corporation has become the leading global developer of destination properties that feature premium accommodations, world-class gaming and entertainment, convention and exhibition facilities.
In Las Vegas, Adelson is widely credited for helping transform the town from a gamingcentric regional location into the leading convention and exhibition city within the Usa.
Businessman, entrepreneur and philanthropist, Adelson could be the biggest draw on the two day Summit which opened today, bringing together world-class leaders from travel and tourism.
Taking place on the Jerusalem International Convention Center the development will feature leaders of the tourism industry, who will discuss the newest groundbreaking technologies and trends introduced by key players within the tourism world.
“This year, a unique emphasis might be put on urban tourism, in addition to innovative technologies on earth of tourism and travel,” the summit’s organizers said in a press release.
“Global leaders, academics and experts within the field of hospitality will conduct panels discussing a variety of issues affecting the tourism industry.”
Organizers said the summit would concentrate on innovative technologies that provide a “glimpse into the arena of application technologies and the way they are often used to expand urban tourism.”
The event will leverage Israel as a Start-Up Nation and Jerusalem as a pacesetter of technology.
A special panel will consider technology in tourism, including tourism-related apps.
Panel topics on the conference include: “Planning Models for Urban Tourism,” “Tourism as a device for Urban Economic Development,” “The Smartphone Revolution and the Impact on Users and executives of Urban Tourism,” “New Transportation Paradigms and the way forward for Urban Tourism,” “Follow the Asian Success Story,” “Intangible Heritage and concrete Tourism Development, Sport and concrete Tourism,” and “Hotel Development in Historic Cities.”
The summit can also be holding a contest for definitely the right tourism application, featuring app submissions from over 20 entrepreneurs.
Take a glance on the list of speaks signed up for the development, here.
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News: Etihad Airways launches flights to Washington, DC
Etihad Airways, the national carrier of the United Arab Emirates, has commenced non-stop daily flights between Abu Dhabi and Washington, DC, creating the primary direct air link between the 2 capitals.
The new service to Washington Dulles International Airport was introduced to fulfill strong demand for presidency and business travel, in addition to growing demand for leisure trips between and beyond the cities.
“Government and company customers in both markets have given us strong indication that the Abu Dhabi – Washington route can support a regular service from day one,” explained James Hogan, Etihad chief executive.
“We have confidently responded by committing 3,360 seats every week and already our forward bookings at the route are very encouraging in both directions,” Hogan added.
“In addition, we’re going to open a US$6.8 million premium lounge this week in Terminal A at Dulles Airport to profit our Diamond First and Pearl Business Class passengers.”
Flight EY131 departs Abu Dhabi International Airport at 10:00 every day for the 15 hour journey to Washington, DC, the fourth North American destination for Etihad Airways after Big apple, Chicago and Toronto.
To date, Etihad Airways has carried almost two million passengers between Abu Dhabi and North America, achieving 12.6 per cent growth in passenger numbers last year.
Etihad Airways serves the Abu Dhabi – Washington, DC, route with ultra-long range Airbus A340-500 aircraft, seating 240 passengers in a spacious three-class cabin – 12 in Diamond First, 28 in Pearl Business and 200 in Coral Economy Class.
In addition to providing much-needed flights between the capitals, the brand new services can even provide a further international connection to Abu Dhabi International Airport, that’s growing as a global air transport hub for passengers and load.
As portion of its global hub strategy, Abu Dhabi Airport will open a brand new terminal in 2017 increasing the once a year passenger capacity from the present 12.5 million to 30 million.
Provision can be being made for further expansion to house as much as 60 million passengers per year.