Travel Agent - September 15, 2008 - (Page 20)

DESTINATIONS Café Imperial at Hotel Imperial CONTINUED FROM PAGE 18 Of course, your clients can’t miss partaking in the Viennese café scene with an espresso and slice of Sacher-Torte, and the wine taverns outside the city are also hopping. Clients looking to discover the very heart of Europe will relish this cosmopolitan city on the blue Danube. Travel agents should note that the city’s accommodations fill up during New Year’s Eve and the Opera Ball (the week before Ash Wednesday), and it’s best to reserve rooms at least six months in advance during those times. State visitors are put up at the Hotel Imperial (www.starwoodhotels.com), the official hotel of the Republic of Austria, and your VIPs will likewise enjoy a royal welcome there. A member of Starwood’s Luxury Collection, the Hotel Imperial is a fabled landmark on the Ringstrasse. It was originally built as the luxurious, private residence for the prince of Wurttemberg, and since its debut as a hotel in 1873, has hosted kings, queens and the crème de la 20 | TravelAgent September 15, 2008 crème of Viennese society. In fact, the Imperial’s guest book boasts more than 1,000 celebrity entries. The hotel is managed by Oscar del Campo (oscar.delcampo@luxurycollection. com, 011-43-1-50-110-425), who is happy to help with VIP bookings. The best rooms to book are the Royal Suites #122/123 and #101/102, the former private apartments of the Prince of Wuerttemberg. Along with the Imperial Suites, these are the most requested accommodations at the Imperial. The ceilings are 23 feet high, ornately decorated with stucco and gold leaf. A sense of history is almost tangible here. Accessed via a princely staircase, the two Royal Suites are appointed with antiques, silk wall upholstering and exquisite crystal chandeliers. These suites have three bedrooms each, sprawling over 1,722 square feet on the Imperial’s belle étage. Note: The Royal Suites can each connect to three more bedrooms—ideal for large families traveling together—and Imperial Suite #103/104 can connect with two more bedrooms. For the best views, book the Maisonette Suites and two Executive Junior Suites (rooms #506, 507, 508, 509 and 510), overlooking the baroque cupola of the nearby church of St. Charles Borromeo and the angels that adorn the roof of the Musikverein, one of the most celebrated concert halls in the world. Spread out over two floors, the Maisonette Suites have private terraces. All rooms are bookable via GDS. No request is too small for the concierge team, overseen by Michael Moser (michael.moser@ luxurycollection.com, 011-43-1-50-110-416). They’ve been known to secure tickets for soldout performances at the Opera Ball, and arrange shopping trips on private jets to any European metropolis. Horse-drawn carriage rides, picnics in the Schoenbrunn Castle’s garden and private cooking lessons with the hotel’s chef are popular activities. Another nice perk is that the Hotel Imperial provides private limousine service for city tours and for transfers. Lunch at Café Imperial is an absolute must. Recommend the Viennese specialty Wienerschnitzel, rumored to be the best in town here. For dessert, the Imperial Torte is gastronomic bliss. This mythical delicacy is said to date from 1873 when it was first concocted to honor Emperor Franz Josef I. The Best Western Premier Schlosshotel Römischer Kaiser (www.bestwestern.com) provides the creature comforts that American hotel guests have come to expect (think high-speed Internet access, air conditioning, 24-hour concierge service) in a beautiful palace setting. This baroque masterpiece was built in 1684 by Johann Hueber, the imperial minister of finance. When it opened as a hotel in 1907, it was given the name “Römischer Kaiser” to honor the Habsburg dynasty, the former emperors of the Holy Roman Empire. The hotel has been family-owned ever since. Owned and managed by Dr. Gerhard Jungreuthmayer (info@rkhotel.bestwestern.at, 011-43-1-51-277-510), this four-star hotel has a prime address within the Ring at Annagasse No. 16, just a stone’s throw from the State Opera, St. Stephen’s Cathedral and the shops on the busy Kärntnerstrasse. With room rates starting at $175 per night, this Best Western Premier is also affordable. There are 24 individually decorated rooms with period-style furniture, spanning four room categories: La Boheme (six rooms), Superior (five), De Luxe (six) and Junior Suite (seven). The most requested accommodations are La CONTINUED ON PAGE 22 http://www.bestwestern.com http://www.starwoodhotels.com

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Travel Agent - September 15, 2008 Online Now Contents Agent Insider From the Editor Hawaii Europe Pacific/Asia Las Vegas US Airways Vacations - Atlantis, Paradise Island Specialist Central & South America Mexico Caribbean Cruises Cover Story: Merge Mania France by Rail Weddings & Honeymoons Gay & Lesbian Travel Tours Agent Profile Triptailor Vacations Agenda: Fam Trips, Deals & Incentives, Calendar Vegas Week Insights on Singapore Travel Leaders Builds New Alliances The Latest from the Caribbean A Sneak Peek at a New Ship Classified Marketplace In the Spotlight Editorial Index Advertising Index Trendwatch Special Supplement: Thailand Travel Planner

Travel Agent - September 15, 2008

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