Travel Agent - May 12, 2008 - (Page 58)

CRUISES CONTINUED FROM PAGE 56 US Grant (www.luxurycollection.com/us grant), a luxurious grande-dame property that’s only a five-minute cab ride from the cruise pier. A fixture in downtown San Diego for nearly a century, the US Grant reopened in 2006 with $56 million in upscale renovations. Now a Starwood Luxury Collection property, the hotel boasts elegant and comfortable public areas; a highly rated 95-seat restaurant, the Grant Grill; and rooms and suites with sumptuous style and amenities. A new high-end art gallery just opened off the lobby, and, later this year, the hotel will open a full-service spa. “When I first walked into the US Grant, I looked at the grandeur of the structure and the appointments, and I realized this was not something traditional from the West Coast standpoint,” says Anderson. “It does carry a special ambiance.” Anderson says the US Grant recreates the aura of elegant, historic properties more commonly found in major East Coast cities. A treasure trove of original art, the US Grant showcases everything from an original portrait of President Ulysses S. Grant to modern “drip” paintings by French artist Yves Clement. His paintings (no two are alike) grace the headboards in each room or suite. Clients who want to splurge a bit might opt for a Signature Suite; ours—number 426—featured a six-jet rainforest shower; a living and dining parlor and separate bedroom area; minibar and coffee machine; two large flat-screen TVs with DVD players; and an Xbox player. For spa enthusiasts, agents might consider A Signature Suite at the US Grant Hotel Insider Advice Seeking a pre-cruise hotel package for your clients in San Diego? One helpful agent resource can be found on the San Diego Convention & Visitors Bureau’s booking a pre-cruise stay at the Hyatt Regency Mission Bay Spa & Marina (www.missionbay. hyatt.com). This property boasts $65 million in recent renovations, including a new conservation-focused Blue Marble Spa. Beyond savoring the eco-friendly treatments, clients may stroll in a new private earth garden and work out in a new waterfront fitness center. Some major new properties in San Diego include: I The $300 million Grand Del Mar (www. thegranddelmar.com) is a magnet for golf buffs with its Tom Fazio-designed golf course. I The Hard Rock Hotel San Diego (www. hardrockhotelsd.com) features 420 rooms and suites, high-octane nightlife and a signature Nobu restaurant. I The 129-room Sheraton Carlsbad Resort & Spa (www.starwoodhotels.com) has opened and will expand to 250 rooms by early summer and to 350 rooms by 2010. I The Setai San Diego (www.setaisandiego. com), is slated to open in late July/early August. I Opening later this year is the 32-story Hilton San Diego Convention Center Hotel (www. portofsandiego.org/projects/hiltonhotel) with a 23,082-square-foot health club. website (www.sandiego.org/article/Visitors/780). This page lists area properties in all price ranges with cruise packages. Many packages field free airport and cruise pier transportation. Others include free parking, breakfast or other perks. Attraction Action Cruisers who are also culture lovers might take in a performance at the rehabilitated 1920s vaudeville Balboa Theatre (www.thebalboa. org). Families visiting in May or beyond can check out the newest version of the Children’s Museum of San Diego (www.sdchildrens museum.org), launching at its former site with art galleries, paint and design studios, a sitdown café and an adjacent museum park with outdoor art pieces and space for creating art. SeaWorld San Diego (www.seaworldsan diego.com) just debuted Big Bird’s Beach Party, a musical production, as well as a new movie, Sesame Street Presents Lights, Camera, Imagination! On May 24, the park will open three kidfriendly, Sesame Street-focused rides: Elmo’s Flying Fish, Abby’s Sea Star Spin and Oscar’s Rocking Eel. LEGOLAND California (www.legoland. com) has opened its new Land of Adventures area with four new attractions and rides. Lost Kingdom Adventure transports families back to ancient Egypt, Beetle Bouncers boosts children nearly 15 feet into the air and the Pharaoh’s Revenge play area is filled with catapulting foam balls. Opening this summer (but with a separate admission from LEGOLAND California) is the $20 million Sea Life LEGOLAND California. Guests visiting this two-story, 36,000-squarefoot aquarium will enjoy an interactive tide pool along with a 360-degree ring of stingrays and fish. Construction is under way at the San Diego Zoo’s (www.sandiegozoo.org) $44 million Harry and Grace Elephant Odyssey. Opening in spring 2009, this seven-acre exhibit will become the zoo’s largest multi-species habitat. Getting There Most major U.S. airlines serve San Diego. One new market entrant is Virgin America (www. virginamerica.com), which began low-cost daily flights between San Diego and San Francisco in February. For airport information, visit www.san. org. For details, contact the San Diego Convention & Visitors Bureau (www.sandiego.org). I 58 | TravelAgent May 12, 2008 http://www.luxurycollection.com/us http://www.missionbay.hyatt.com http://www.seaworldsandiego.com http://www.missionbay.hyatt.com http://www.seaworldsandiego.com http://www.legoland.com http://www.legoland.com http://www.thegranddelmar.com http://www.thegranddelmar.com http://www.hardrockhotelsd.com http://www.hardrockhotelsd.com http://www.starwoodhotels.com http://www.portofsandiego.org/projects/hiltonhotel http://www.portofsandiego.org/projects/hiltonhotel http://www.sandiegozoo.org http://www.sandiego.org/article/Visitors/780 http://www.sandiego.org/article/Visitors/780 http://www.thebalboa.org http://www.virginiaamerica.com http://www.thebalboa.org http://www.virginiaamerica.com http://www.sdchildrensmuseum.org http://www.sdchildrensmuseum.org http://www.san.org http://www.san.org http://www.sandiego.org

Table of Contents Feed for the Digital Edition of Travel Agent - May 12, 2008

Travel Agent - May 12, 2008 Online Now Contents Contributors From the Editor From the Publisher Europe: Bruges Might be One of Belgium’s Best-Kept Secrets Hawaii: Condo Resorts Provide a Plethora of Vacation Choices Pacific/Asia: Manila has Plenty to Offer Visitors of Every Taste Alaska: Icy Strait Point Offers Authentic Alaskan Adventure Pacific Northwest: Airplane Buffs and Wine Aficionados Enjoy Washington Las Vegas: Let Your Hair Down at Some of these Casual Bars Central & South America: History and Culture Beckon in Guatemala Caribbean & The Bahamas: Recent Renovations Have Made the Westin Aruba Resort a Jewel of the Island Cruises: A New Musical is Making Waves on Disney Wonder San Diego Becomes a Major Cruise Port Cover Story: Top Tips for Selling in a Down Economy Rail Travel: Sightseeing and a Gourmet Meal on the Royal Livingstone Express Hotels: There is Plenty to Do at Ski Resorts in the Summer Tours: Photos from the 33rd Annual Mountain Travel Symposium Agent: Eric Ardolino has Won the Technology War Customer Relations: Ensemble Agents use CRM tools Agenda: Fam Trips, Deals & Incentives, Calendar Luxury Travel Expo Jamaica Will License Casinos Enormous Cruise Ships are Planned ResortQuest Hawaii Continues to Grow 2008 TMU Conference Recap In the Spotlight Agent Access Classified Marketplace Editorial Index Advertising Index Trendwatch

Travel Agent - May 12, 2008

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