Travel Agent - February 4, 2008 - (Page 43)

plazasf.org), a pedestrian-only area that came with a price tag of $3.5 million. The 18,000square-foot portion of Jessie Street showcases new restaurants and cafés offering both indoor and outdoor dining, farmer’s markets and street fairs. The space will also have regular arts and cultural programming, including music festivals and alfresco cinema. Later this spring, the Contemporary Jewish Museum (www.thecjm.org) will open its new 63,000-square-foot facility. The expansion will allow the museum to present an array of programming including art exhibitions, live music, film screenings, lectures and educational activities. Where to Stay The 32-story, 550-room InterContinental San Francisco is poised to open February 28. Construction started in 2005 on the $200 million-plus property, the largest hotel to be built in San Francisco in almost 20 years. The hotel is adjacent to the Moscone Convention Center in the South of Market area (sometimes referred to as SoMa), a hub for museums, performance spaces and nightlife. Dining and drinking at the hotel can be done at a street-level restaurant and bar that wraps around the corner of Fifth and Howard streets in an L shape, and at a restaurant with a grappa bar, show kitchen, fireplace and outdoor seating. Guest rooms start on the seventh floor, and floor-to-ceiling windows in guest rooms and suites provide views of the city, the bay and the Golden Gate Bridge. Optimal views are attained at floors 15 and above. Guest rooms feature natural wood, glass, marble accents, plush bedding and large work areas. The hotel has 14 suites, including the 2,000foot Presidential Suite. The bi-level suite has an indoor fireplace and two outside terraces with an outside firepit. The second-level master bedroom has circular windows and a TV that rises out of the floor. Clients will find a full-service fitness center, indoor swimming pool and a spa with 10 treatment rooms at the InterContinental. For clients traveling on business, the property has more than 43,000 square feet of flexible meeting space. Staff is still coming onboard. For the time being, travel agent inquiries can be directed to Gail Gerber, director of sales and marketing (gail.gerber@ihg.com, 415-616-6622). A short walk from the Moscone Center and the financial district, the 553-room Hotel Nikko San Francisco (www.hotelnikkosf.com) is often referred to as a Japanese-style oasis in the heart of the city. Look for the property to open a full-service spa with 10 treatment rooms later this year. Meanwhile, guests can use the hotel’s health club, which has an atriumenclosed pool, outdoor sundeck, meditation rooms, saunas and shiatsu massage rooms. The Plush Room, a famous San Francisco entertainment venue known for its cabaret and comedy, has moved from its old digs to the Nikko and had its first show there last month. For picture-perfect views, opt for the hotel’s Imperial Club rooms and suites on the 22nd through 24th stories—the top floors of the hotel—which have the best bay and city views. These rooms also have added amenities, such as complimentary Wi-Fi, secure key access to the floors and Vibe TV in the bathrooms (it’s viewed through the bathroom mirror). Imperial Club guests have exclusive access to a lounge, where CONTINUED ON PAGE 44 The Golden Gate Bridge is one of several attractions your clients will see when visiting San Francisco AGENTADVICE “Since there are so many great choices in San Francisco, it’s first important to get a good idea of what your client is looking for,” says Bob Romano, a partner with San Francisco-based Fugazi Travel. “If they want the very best, I recommend the St. Regis, the Four Seasons Hotel or the Ritz-Carlton. The St. Regis and Four Seasons are a little more contemporary, while the Ritz-Carlton is more traditional and has an excellent restaurant and service.” Romano is fond of the Compton Place Hotel for clients in search of a more intimate property. “It’s very cozy, with a great bar—you feel very safe and secure there,” he says. He finds the city’s selection of Kimpton Hotels—especially the Hotel Monaco, Prescott Hotel and Argonaut Hotel—to be a good bet for travelers on a budget. “Rooms are between $150 to $290, which is an excellent bargain in San Francisco,” says Romano. Business travelers have a need for convenience, and Romano regularly recommends the Mandarin Oriental near Union Square. “The hotel’s rooms are on the 38th to the 48th floor and have fantastic views of San Francisco Bay and the Golden Gate Bridge,” he says. February 4, 2008 TravelAgent | 43 http://www.hotelnikkosf.com http://www.mintplazasf.org http://www.thecjm.org

Table of Contents Feed for the Digital Edition of Travel Agent - February 4, 2008

Travel Agent - February 4, 2008 Online Now Contents From the Editor From the Publisher Contributors Europe: Mid-Priced Hotels in Paris Europe Briefs Africa: Morocco’s Must-See Cities of Fez and Marrakech Africa News & Notes Pacific/Asia: What's New in Tokyo Pacific/Asia Briefs Hawaii: Lanai, Famous for its Pineapple Production, Repositions as “The Private Island” Oahu Hotels and Activities Las Vegas: New Nightclubs in Sin City California: San Francisco Keeps Pace with Demand Ski/Snowboard: The Ritz-Carlton Denver, Luxe Gateway to the Rockies Central & South America: North American Travelers are Discovering Brazil Latin America News & Notes Caribbean News & Notes Caribbean: Three Smaller U.S. Virgin Islands Resorts Cruises: Wave Season Rolls In Cover Story: Cayman Islands Transportation: Airline Issues Facing Agents Agent Profile: New Tzell VP Lisa Benzakein Aims to Pump Up the Agency’s Leisure Sales Technology: TRAMS Marketing Alliance Agenda: Fam Trips, Deals & Incentives, Calendar ASTA's Key Issues State of the Cruise Industry Caribbean Hotel News Australia Promotes Shorter Visits In the Spotlight Classified Marketplace Editorial Index Advertising Index Trendwatch Victoria Clipper/Clipper Vacations Special Outsert

Travel Agent - February 4, 2008

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