Travel Agent - January 7, 2008 - (Page 24)

DESTINATIONS EUROPE NEWS & NOTES BY JENNIFER MERRITT Honeymoon Like Royalty Irish eyes are smiling about Sceptre Tours’ (www.sceptre tours.com) customizable honeymoon stays throughout Ireland. Dubbed “Emerald Castle” packages, the seven-day vacations span various budgets and culminate in a night’s stay in a castle. Clients can choose from the Adare Manor Castle (pictured), which is near Ring of Kerry, the Blarney Stone and many golf courses; Ashford Castle, a 13th-century relic originally owned by the Guinness family; Dromoland Castle, once the royal seat of the O’Brien clan; and Waterford Castle, in the sunny southeast of Ireland. Air-inclusive rates start at $849 per person and include an economy car rental with the option for a chauffeur upgrade, daily breakfast and a guided tour of the Waterford Crystal Factory, plus a 10 percent discount on its gift shop purchases. Sceptre Tours pays a 10 percent commission. Agents can contact any reservationist at 800-221-0924. VisitDenmark Welcomes New Director This month, Susanne Nordenbaek begins her new role as director for North America of VisitDenmark (www.visit denmark.com). Nordenbaek previously served as international project manager of global marketing for VisitDenmark in London. She has since moved across the pond and is based in New York. Agents can contact her at 212-885-9700. A New Place to Renew in ’08 SWISS CATERING TO KIDS Sometimes it’s hard to find an upscale, kid-friendly property, but in Switzerland, the 150-year-old lakeside Beau-Rivage Palace (www.brp.ch) in Lausanne, a member of The Leading Hotels of the World, is running a “Kids Are Kings” program for guests ages 3 to 16. It begins at check-in, where children receive an age-appropriate gift bag; every one includes a toy fox named “Bori.” (Visitors often catch glimpses of the real-life Bori in the hotel’s 10-acre gardens.) Children 3 to 11 can take part in a treasure hunt board game, with clues taking them throughout the recently renovated hotel to obtain stickers to place on the board. Once completed, a gift awaits players at the front desk. Children ages 6 to 16 can participate in a one-hour baking lesson, hosted by the hotel’s pastry chef, in making cookies and cakes that are later delivered to their rooms. Kids in this age bracket also can choose to attend a one-hour flower-arranging class, conducted by one of three on-staff florists. The young guests then present their creations to their parents. Other perks include free stays for children under 12 in their parents’ room, children’s-size bathrobes and slippers en-suite and a special kids’ menu at the hotel’s café. Contact Simon Schenk, guest relations manager, at 011-41-21-613-3383 or s.schenk@ brp.ch. The hotel pays agents 10 percent commission. Ritz-Carlton (www.ritzcarlton.com) has debuted ESPA at its property in Powerscourt, Ireland, outside Dublin— the first time the luxury hotelier has partnered with the renowned, all-natural spa line. At 3,000 square feet, the new spa offers 20 treatment rooms and two suites, which include Emerald Crystal steam rooms, tepidariums (like saunas, but with more moderate temperatures) and showers. To relax guests, the environment uses fiber-optic lighting and essential oils diffused into the air, complemented by treatments based on ancient Eastern philosophies. The pool (pictured) is perhaps the most extravagant amenity, featuring Swarovski crystal lighting and views of nearby Sugarloaf Mountain. Contact Jill O’Hare, director of sales and marketing for The Ritz-Carlton, Powerscourt, at 011-353-1-274-9600 or jill.ohare@ritzcarlton.com. 24 | TravelAgent January 7, 2008 http://www.sceptretours.com http://www.sceptretours.com http://www.visitdenmark.com http://www.visitdenmark.com http://www.brp.ch http://www.ritzcarlton.com

Table of Contents Feed for the Digital Edition of Travel Agent - January 7, 2008

Travel Agent - January 7, 2008 Online Now Contents From the Editor From the Publisher Contributors Europe: Top Hotels in the Czech Capital, Prague Europe News & Notes Pacific/Asia: India's Tourism Boom Hawaii Spas: Send Your Spa-Loving Client to these Havens of Relaxation in the Islands Hawaii Briefs Las Vegas: Restaurants are Taking Center Stage as Vegas Becomes a Destination for Foodies California: San Diego, La Jolla and Coronado Offer a World of Options Close Together Ski/Snowboard: Mont Tremblant in Quebec, Canada New Orleans: Hotels for All Types of Travelers and Can’t-Miss Events to Consider Central & South America: Selling Santiago, Chile Caribbean & Bahamas: The Reef Atlantis, Cape Eleuthera Debut in the Bahamas in Time for the New Year Caribbean News & Notes Cruises: Onboard Enrichment Programs Grow as Cruisers Seek to Work on More than their Tans Cruise Lines Expand the Variety in their Shore Excursions with Special Activities and Adventures Cover Story: A New Era for Classic Luxury Travel Expo & Home Based Travel Agent Expo: Photos and a Recap of the Events Rail: Company Books Private Train Trips Agent Profile: Dave and Christa Krick, Advantage Cruise & Travel in Northern California Technology: XML Enhances Sabre and Amadeus Agenda: Fam Trips, Deals & Incentives, Calendar Onsite Reports from Queen Victoria Christening and Marriott Headquarters Funjet Vacations NCL’s New Ship, Norwegian Gem The African Country of Djibouti In the Spotlight Editorial Index Classified Marketplace Advertisers Index Trendwatch

Travel Agent - January 7, 2008

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