Travel Agent - December 24, 2007 - (Page 33)

Resources Getting there: Singapore Airlines flies nonstop from Los Angeles and New York. Transpacific flights are operated by All Nippon Airways, Asiana Airlines, Cathay Pacific, China Airlines, Eva Airways, Japan Airlines, Korean Air, Malaysia Airlines, Northwest Airlines, Singapore Airlines, Thai Airways International and United Airlines. Transatlantic flights are offered by British Airways, Cathay Pacific, Emirates Air, Finnair, KLM, Lufthansa, Malaysia Airlines, Singapore Airlines and Swissair. The two terminals at Singapore’s Changi Airport (www.changi.airport. com.sg) contain comprehensive facilities as well as hotels. The Ambassador Transit Hotel (www. airport-hotel.com.sg) can be booked for transit passengers not clearing customs and immigration in Singapore. Guests would be remiss if they didn’t try the famous Singapore Sling, a drink that originated at Raffles, at the hotel’s Long Bar. Highly praised dishes include the Singapore Chili Crabs at Raffles Courtyard and the North Indian curries at Tiffin Room. Raffles Hotel Wine, Food & Arts Experience (www.rhwfae.com) is an annual culinary, wine and art festival attracting prestigious vintners and Michelin-star chefs. The event will celebrate its 13th anniversary from January 30 to February 3, 2008. For more information, call 01165-6412-1007 or e-mail wfae.rh@raffles.com. The travel agent liaison is Sharie Rajaratnam, sales manager (011-65-6412-1269, sharie. rajaratnam@raffles.com). Four Seasons Hotel Singapore (www. fourseasons.com) will embark on a room refurbishment next March, scheduled for completion by the end of July. Refurbishments will take place in stages, involving only two guest room floors at a time. The new Asian-influenced decor will entail plum-blossom patterned carpets and lacquered chinoiserie tables. Technological advancements include high-speed Internet access with Cat 6 cabling and 42-inch LCD-screen TVs. When it comes down to which rooms have the best views, deciding between the city views or the greener boulevard views depends on guest’s preference. The city-view rooms end with odd numbers, while the boulevard-view rooms end with even numbers. Premier Rooms in the Four Seasons have a wide window bay that lets in more light. These corner rooms are larger than the Deluxe Rooms. The most requested premium accommodation is the Executive Suite, which has a living room and bedroom with separate entrances. A good recommendation for families is the One-Bedroom Suite, which also has a powder room. The hotel’s Theme Suites—the Ambassador, Royal, Governor and Presidential—each has a dining room with a table that seats eight, living room, powder room and choice of one or two adjoining guest rooms. The hotel has 35 sets of connecting rooms in various categories. The hotel’s spa has six treatment rooms, including a suite. The most popular treatment is the Aroma Energizing Massage. Eloise Sanson is the director of club and spa services (011-656831-7409, eloise.sanson@fourseasons.com). Signature dishes at the One-Ninety restaurant in the Four Seasons are the Wagyu beef burger and chef Philip Mimbimi’s Kurobuta pork chops with sultana reduction. Dim sum lunch and weekend Oriental brunch are popular options at the hotel’s Jiang-Nan Chun Cantonese restaurant. Agents can contact the hotel’s executive office (011-65-6734-1110) to make special requests for VIP clients. Ignacio Gomez-Tobar is the hotel’s regional vice president and general manager. He can be contacted at 011-65-68317000 or ignacio.gomez@fourseasons.com. I Time: Singapore is 13 hours ahead of the Eastern U.S., 12 hours during daylight savings time. Currency: At press time, one Singapore dollar equals 69 U.S. cents. Tour operators: Here’s a partial list of tour operators and wholesalers with Singapore programs: Abercrombie & Kent (www.abercrombiekent. com, 800-323-7308), China Travel Service U.S.A. (www. chinatravelservice.com, 800-8998618), GTS Globotours (www. globotours.net, 800-988-4833), Globus (www.globusjourneys. com, 866-755-8581), Mayflower Tours (www.mayflowertours.com, 800-323-7604), Orient Flexi-Pax Tours (www.orientflexipax.com, 800-545-5540), Pacific Delight Tours (www.pacificdelighttours. com, 800-221-7179), Pleasant Holidays (www.pleasantholidays. com, 800-377-1080), Ritz Tours (www.ritztours.com, 800-9002446), SITA World Travel (www. sitatours.com, 800-421-5643), Travcoa (www.travcoa.com, 800-992-2003). CONNECTING YOU For a report on Singapore Airlines’ business class, visit www.travelagentcentral.om/singapore December 24, 2007 TravelAgent | 33 http://www.changi.airport.com.sg http://www.changi.airport.com.sg http://www.airport-hotel.com.sg http://www.airport-hotel.com.sg http://www.rhwfae.com http://www.abercrombiekent.com http://www.abercrombiekent.com http://www.chinatravelservice.com http://www.fourseasons.com http://www.chinatravelservice.com http://www.fourseasons.com http://www.globotours.net http://www.globotours.net http://www.globusjourneys.com http://www.globusjourneys.com http://www.mayflowertours.com http://www.orientflexipax.com http://www.pacificdelighttours.com http://www.pacificdelighttours.com http://www.pleasantholidays.com http://www.ritztours.com http://www.sitatours.com http://www.sitatours.com http://www.travcoa.com http://www.travelagentcentral.om/singapore

Table of Contents Feed for the Digital Edition of Travel Agent - December 24, 2007

Travel Agent - December 24, 2007 Online Now Contents From the Editor Letters to the Editor Contributors Europe: Lyon, the Center of France Two Iconic London Hotels Jazz Up their Top Suites Europe Briefs Mexico: Puerto Morelos on the Riviera Maya Mexico News & Notes Pacific/Asia: Large-Scale Developments Strengthen Singapore’s Appeal to Families, Meetings and Other Travelers Caribbean: Old San Juan’s New Hotel The Cervantes Ritz-Carlton Upgrades, La Concha Reopens in San Juan Peter Island Resort Hawaii: Maui Enhances its Allure for Active and Luxury Clients Las Vegas: Hoteliers and Wholesalers Go Beyond Gaming Las Vegas Briefs Tours: Pacific Northwest Briefs Hotels: News and Packages from All-Inclusives in Mexico and the Caribbean Cruises: Luxury Lines’ Shore Excursions Cover Story: Gerry Cahill Agent Profile: Nancy Nicol, Hawaii Specialist and Hyatt Award Winner Technology: Mailpound’s Customized Marketing Transportation: Boeing’s Anticipated Next Arrival: the 747-8 Intercontinental New York: The Mandarin Oriental Hotel Agenda: Fam Trips, Deals & Incentives, Calendar Vegas Travel Week Sofitel’s Two New Brands Travelport Rolls Out Leisure Product Expedia CruiseShipCenters Debuts U.S. Tourism to Israel In the Spotlight Editorial Index Advertising Index Classified Marketplace Trendwatch Special Supplememt: 2008 Portugal Travel Guide

Travel Agent - December 24, 2007

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