Luxury Travel Advisor - March 2008 - (Page 24)

Isla, Cancun’s most sought-after shopping village, which is five minutes away. Tip: Suggest that “scene”seeking clients head to Maxim Beach at the resort’s pool and beach area, where they’ll find an open-air, all-day lounge complete with Bali-Beds (professional DJs spin here on off-season Friday nights). If a relaxing rubdown is more likely to inspire a winning business plan, contact Carlos Luis Bauque Friscione (carlos.bauque @solmelia.com; 52-998-88126-02/12), who oversees ME’s 10,200-square-foot Yhi Spa and can suggest specific treatments and services. We hear that Julissa Martinez is known for her expert techniques in shiatsu, shirodara, sports and deep-tissue massages, as well as reflexology and facials. For a not-so-average group dinner, ask Aleman to arrange a Bali-Bed Dinner Experi- ence or an alfresco torch-lit dinner on the beach; request a private group reservation at Beach House (modern Mexican cuisine), Salt (Mediterranean) or Silk (modern Asian), ME’s signature restaurants, for a more traditional meal. The best rooms to book for your business-savvy VIPs are the 52 rooms and four suites on floors 10 and 11 (a.k.a. THE LEVEL); the floors offer an exclusive check-in area and guests are tended to by a personal Guest Experience Agent. Insiders say the views from these rooms and suites are the best in the house. Alternately, 32 Loft Suites and four Passion Suites are advisable options for groups. High season lasts from Thanksgiving until Easter; plan to book 30 to 45 days in advance for a meeting or stay during those months. If you’re working with clients whose purpose is politics, set up their meetings and accommodations at the St. Regis Washington, D.C. (www.stregis.com), which completed a 16-month renovation in February. Chief Concierge Lida Small (lida.small@stregis.com; 202638-2626) can assist with every detail of your clients’ stay, starting with their arrival in a private jet at Reagan National Airport and limo or Town Car transfer to the hotel (Reagan is five miles from the hotel, Dulles 27). The hotel’s signature restaurant and spa have yet to open—they’re slated to debut this spring and by early 2009, respectively—but Small can arrange a number of exclusive dinners, outings and special events for your VIPs, including ballroom dance lessons in the hotel’s Astor Ballroom, a private dinner with a celebrity chef, a private tour of the U.S. Capitol and a private tour and tea at Hillwood Museum. Some GUEST ROOMS at the recently renovated St. Regis Washington, D.C., are outfitted with ornate tapestries and upholstery, a classic look that’s the perfect backdrop for a politically minded client (below). other ideas we love include a private tour of the District—think presidents’ homes and sites of major scandals, among other topics—and a private fashion show at Rizik’s, a deluxe ladies’ clothing store, showcasing jewelry by famous Washington designer Anne Hand. If your clients want to escape the typical restaurant and boardroom scene, ask Small to plan a cocktail party aboard the USS Sequoia, the decommissioned Presidential Yacht, as it sails down the Potomac River, or a dinner cruise aboard the Odyssey, a glass-enclosed low boat that comes upriver to Georgetown, for wonderful views of the memorials (dinner, dancing and a nightclub act enhance the tour). Be sure to place your top execs in one of the hotel’s many suites, particularly the John Jacob Astor, Empire and Presidential Suites. The Presidential Suite is the perfect pick for a CEO who wants to hole up in complete privacy, but, at 2,510 square feet and with a huge living room, private dining room and high-tech amenities, we say it’s also ideal for a top-secret meeting. Regardless of tier, all accommodations at the St. Regis are provided with Signature St. Regis Butler Service. Tip: St. Regis Suites with connecting options are perfect for clients who plan to burn the midnight oil. What to know before booking? The John Jacob Astor Suite offers the best views of 16th Street and the Empire and Presidential Suites offer separate or multiple entrances, perfect for keeping everything under wraps. To book, contact Account Director Anita Cowen (anita. cowen@stregis.com; 202-8796953) or, in reservations, Diego Figueroa (diego.figueroa@stregis. com; 202-879-6962). 24 LUXURY TRAVEL ADVISOR | March 2008 http://www.stregis.com

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Luxury Travel Advisor - March 2008 Contents Editor's Letter Dublin: We Tour the Irish Capital’s Top Offerings Puglia, Italy: Where to go for Complete Tranquility Small Meetings: Inspiring Settings for your Corporate Client The Thompson Beverly Hills: Bold New Style Arrives in Southern California US Grant: Unabashed Luxury in Downtown San Diego Sailing the Danube: Low-Key Luxury on River Cloud II Sin City Spas: The Latest From Some of our Favorite Las Vegas Retreats Bob Boulogne: Rosewood Hotels & Resorts' COO Targets Elite Travel Advisors The Pulse Exotic Car Rental Jetset Report Sightings Source List

Luxury Travel Advisor - March 2008

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