THE PREZ BOX
Airline travel isn't getting any better
By Dan Schlossberg
US Airways announced March 1 that it is bringing back free drinks in its coach cabins. Bringing back? "We believe in our pay-for-what-you-choose-to-use," the discount carrier said in a press release, "but it's a work in progress. We are committed to remaining competitive and that's the main reason we decided to bring back free drinks. You still have the choice to only pay for the things you want - like checked bags, choice seats, or first class upgrades. And those services will continue to be free for our preferred members."
Wanna know the real story? US Airways faced a revolt from passengers incensed by the carrier's constant nickel-and-diming. Continental, to cite one competitor, still gives all passengers free drinks and free snacks, while allowing them to book exit row seats at no extra charge. Sure, first-class upgrades should cost something - just as exit row seats, soft drinks, snacks, and checked luggage should not. Their inflight entertainment system is free too, at least for those who bring their own headsets.
If airlines don't want passengers lugging oversized bags onto the plane - delaying the boarding process and wreaking havoc with flight schedules - they should check them without charge.
STORMY SKIES: With a Nor'easter scheduled on the same day as his five-hour flight home from Arizona, a lifelong NATJA member tried to catch an earlier flight. Virgin America, which bills itself as the most innovative carrier, wanted $450 for the change, while jetBlue would not honor the writer's free one-way certificate - even though it had six empty seats. It too wanted more than $400 for the last-minute, one-way ticket. Forced to stick with his original plans, the writer found his Virgin flight delayed repeatedly. The pilot even appeared and suggested a diversion to Allentown, with bus transportation for the rest of the ride to JFK. Eventually, however, the flight went - four hours later. Most other airlines, including jetBlue, cancelled many of their flights into the northeast that same evening.
HOW TO CUT COSTS: Miami-based publicist Jim Ferri says airlines can save money by adopting his ideas. They include (1) shipping children under age 10 as baggage; (2) adding pay toilets; (3) serving free food but selling the air sickness bags; (4) getting rid of expensive radar systems. Ferri is fine with the final concept. "Say you need to fly from New York to Los Angeles," he says. "Just point the plane to take off heading directly west and in mid-country - say at about Kansas or Nebraska - you can have big arrows cut into the corn and wheat fields pointing in the direction of Los Angeles, San Francisco, Portland, or Las Vegas. Before we had a GPS navigation system in our cars, isn't that how we found our way around?"
RAILS THAT BIND: With the airline industry still wobbly, the second annual National Train Day, which took place May 9, was a great success. Events at Union Station in Dallas included displays of engines and cars, including a 1920 Pullman. Amtrak, which actually got a boost in its federal subsidy from the new administration, posted photos and videos from Train Day events that took place in Chicago, Los Angeles, Philadelphia, and Washington. "Thousands joined us across America to Discover the Rail Way," Amtrak boasted in a press release, "proving that we are a train nation." A half-dozen new high-speed rail lines are in the planning stages. People like trains, said Bob LaPrelle, president and CEO of the Texas-based Museum of the American Railroad. "The auto gave us independence. The plane gave us speed. But people are looking for comfort. People are willing to slow down and travel when there's less of a headache to get there."
TRAVEL NOW: Roger Dow, president of the U.S. Travel Aassociation, says now in the best time to travel. Deals are good because business is bad, he told delegates at International PowWow in Miami. Of 4.5 million U.S. hotel rooms, occupancy is expected to fall below 56% this year, down from 60% in 2008. PowWow's trade show effectively put the U.S. on sale to the international market, producing the biggest buyer's market since New Orleans hosted PowWow in 2002.
DUMB AND DUMBER: Travel journalists have a right to raise their voices against PR firms, CVBs, and other suppliers who base FAM trip invitations on ad value return. According to NATJA co-founder Bob Nesoff, that is unethical because it smacks of a quid-pro-quo payoff in return for a trip - and takes the ability to write an unbiased story out of the mix. He specifically cited an e.mail from Monee Cottman of the Baltimore Area Convention and Visitors Association that said, "I will be happy to start working on your itinerary. All that is left to supply us is your official letter of assignment from the publications you are representing as well as documentation of the ad value and circulation you previously referenced." Nesoff asks writers who receive similar communications to contact him at bobmetnews@aol.com. He's starting a file on the subject.
HOTEL FROM HELL: Armchair travelers don't know whether to laugh or cry at the hotel horror stories on tripadvisor.com. Writing of Baru Lodge in Panama City, one guest called it "a total disappointment." But that wasn't all. "From the street, it has no visible sign so we had a very hard time finding it, even though our cab driver was a local Panamanian. The street is extremely noisy, with cars honking all day and all night long. Thank God I took my ear plugs with me or I couldn't sleep at all. There was a missing shade in one of the windows so the light was bright inside the room with the first ray of sun. There weren't any electric plugs so there was no way to use my hair iron. I asked for extra pillows but they didn't have any. They didn't have any extra towels. They didn't have an iron press. They didn't have a hair dryer. I asked for an open line to make a call to a cell phone but they couldn't. They didn't even have drinking water! They fill you a little jar when you check in and that's it. They had no fax machine, no printer, the breakfast was terrible. Oh my gosh, the list never ends. The girl at the reception was completely unhelpful. Whatever I asked for, the answer was ‘No, I can't,' ‘No, I don't know,' or "No, I don't have.'" I couldn't wait to get out of there. I hated everything!"
KOSHER INN: Lathrop House B&B of Springfield, MA claims to be the only Kosher bed & breakfast in the United States. Guests can attend Friday night and Saturday services without leaving the premises. The inn's structure once served as a Yeshiva (school of Jewish studies) and Reform temple. For more information, contact Marti.Mayne@BedandBreakfast.com.
Dan Schlossberg of Fair Lawn, NJ is the president and co-founder of NATJA as well as a prolific freelance writer, speaker, broadcaster. He is the author of 34 baseball books.
CARLA'S CORNER-----------------------------------------Miami puts the ‘wow' in PowWow
-------------------------------------------By Carla Marie Rupp
More than 400 media members were among the 5000 delegates who came to Miami for the 41st annual International PowWow, a four-day mix of meetings, seminars, and social events.
Miami Herald travel editor Jane Woolridge called it "a learning experience."
"I find story ideas that are useful for us down the road," she said. "Sometimes I connect with people I already know but it makes me happy to meet new people. We still have one of the largest travel sections in the country, focusing on Latin America, the Caribeban, New York, the American West, and anywhere cruise ships go, and still do some Europe stories."
Woolridge accepts freelance material that fit her focus. Her e.mail address is travel@miamiherald.com.
Speakers at the conference included Gary Locke, the new U.S. Secretary of Commerce; Eric Danziger, president and CEO of the Wyndham Hotel Group; and Roger Dow, president of the sponsoring U.S. Travel Association, formerly the Travel Industry Association (TIA). The mayors of Miami and Miami Beach also spoke, along with William Talbert, president and CEO of the Greater Miami CVB.
In his first major appearance since President Obama appointed him, Locke warned that inefficient visa processes are costing American companies billions of dollars per year.
On a more positive note, Danziger praised the American tradition of service. "One thing we've done right," he said, "is to develop a tradition of service respected around the world. It's a spirit of hospitality and welcome."
Dow praised Obama for caring enough about travel and tourism to the U.S. to meet with representatives of the Washington-based association, as well as key travel and hotel executives.
The largest generator of travel to the U.S., PowWow produces an estimated $4 billion in future travel anticipated because of business initiated at the conference.
There were plenty of press conferences too, with Miami, New York, Orlando, Texas, Univeral Studios, and even Homeland Security getting into the act. Miami's media meeting ended with journalists posing for pictures with a myriad of animals, from a lemur and baby kangaroo to a Capuchin monkey. Other animals, including parrots, snakes, and alligators, posed with people at a lavish South Beach party on the same beachfront where fashion models strutted their stuff during the day.
Media delegates often had to make choices, with dozens of local tours to choose as well as where to spend the dinearound night: tony Coral Gables or trendy Coconut Grove. Even a monsoon-like rain couldn't dampen their spirits.
Since my tour selection was Extreme Oceans, I got to operate a waverunner for nearly a half-hour off the sands of South Beach. Jet-skiing might become my newest sport. The tour also touched down at Nikki Beach Club, a local hot spot where a jazz flutist and Miami dancers competed with barely-covered local lovelies as the entertainment venue.
PowWow also included a waterfront press brunch in Bayfront Park, a lunchtime performance from the country group Asleep at the Wheel, and a night of private parties, with Loews Hotels, Napa Valley, San Francisco, Starwood, and Hilton all competing for media attention.
Jose Feliciano closed the event with a private performance at the Miami Arts & Culture Showcase, held at the Arsht Center in downtown Miami. He laughingly suggested between sets that airloines should provide braille reading material on flights. The hot salsa sounds of Celia Cruz also permeated the tropical air. PowWow delegates seemed to do as much dancing as paid street entertainers.
But they worked too. Helen Anders, staff writer from the Austin American-Statesman, said she found PowWow helped generate story ideas. She said she chooses to work part-time so that she can spend more time on stories that interest her during her travels. Another writer, prolific freelancer Jim Winnerman of St. Louis, said he sells dozens of stories per year to newspapers and magazines.
They are just two of the faces I will remember, along with Miami CVB blogger and calendar editor Carolyn Keating, whose smile and enthusiasm made her a memorable presence, both at the Marriott Biscayne Bay and at the South Beach function. I also won't forget sweet Joan Cronson, Carlson Hotels public relations director, who invited me to meet other writers and executives at her luncheon table. And I will not soon forget personable publicist Ashley Norman, spokesperson from Coral Gables, pitching her region to journalists at the Coconut Grove / Coral Gables exhibit.
The media managed just fine, even though they dodged some lightning bolts near the end of the conference. "You, the media, inspire people to travel," said Mike Gallagher, president of CityPass, at the closing reception of the media marketplace. "People travel because they want to see things. But you journalists can think about how to bring many more people back to travel."
Miami certainly made friends during the hectic mid-May week. If you haven't been down for awhile, check out the People Mover, the colorful Port of Miami, and the inviting website, http://www.miamiandbeaches.com./ To read about the U.S. Travel Association, try http://www.tia.org/ and http://www.discoveramerica.com,/ starting its second year.
PowWow plans to return to Florida next year, when it will be held in Orlando May 15-19. Then it's on to San Francisco for 2011, when the dates are May 21-25.
Carla Rupp is a freelance journalist who lives in Lower Manhattan. Her e.mail is carla@visarun.com.
TRAVEL WITH KAL
Thefts plague passengers
at Hartford, CT airport
By Kal London
After Sept. 11, passengers were told to check only unlocked bags - but were assured they were safe. Not surprisingly, some voiced concern over that policy. It turns out they were right.
At Connecticut's Bradley International, serving the Hartford market, 11 Delta Airlines baggage handlers were arrested in March for stealing cameras, laptops, cellphones, jewelry, and other items since 2006. Even flat-screen televisions were taken - and hidden at the airport until they could be removed from the premises at a later date. So were five-foot-tall African masks.
With the case still pending in the Connecticut court system, we should all be concerned. Not only are the contents of our suitcases not safe but what about airport safety and security?
Mind you, the Hartford heist was happening while Delta and virtually all other major carriers started charging special fees for checked bags. The airlines, rattled by rising fuel costs, claimed to be making "huge" profits from those fees. What they won't admit, however, is how much business they are losing from irate passengers who are not traveling because of the extra costs (up to $80 a round trip per passenger). Only Southwest is not charging for the first two checked bags.
Another charge I can't fathom is how state legislators allow destinations to add to local hotel taxes at a time when visitor traffic is decreasing. Empty rooms do not add revenue to state budgets.
Look at Hawaii: the state, where tourism is the No. 1 product, is suffering. So while less people are traveling to Hawaii and staying in Hawaiian hotels, the legislature overrules the governor's veto and increased the hotel tax by 1 per cent in the first year and 2 per cent in the second. Since Southwest does not fly to Hawaii, that meant all air passengers to the islands had to pay up to $80 extra roundtrip to check their bags - and also pay additional fees for checked bags for inter-island flights in the 50th state. With both Hawaii and the airlines imposing extra fees, the downward spiral in tourist numbers will probably continue. That's crazy.
One final note: kudos to the U.S. Travel Association (formerly TIA) for leading the fight to imcrease the number of international travelers coming to this country. Thanks to Roger Dow and the rest of the organization's leadership, foreign visitors are looking more favorably at coming to America.
It was exciting to hear the new Secretary of Commerce speak at the 2009 International PowWow in Miami and I know his talk was well-received by more than 1,000 international attendees at the annual conference. The Greater Miami CVB, headed by William Talbert, helped the U.S. Travel Association stage an outstanding event. I found Miami and its beaches a great place to visit.
Kal London of Wethersfield, CT is the host of ‘Travel With Kal,' heard weekday mornings on simulcasting AM stations WLIS Old Saybrook and WMRD Middletown. He formerly owned the largest travel agency in Connecticut.
GET IN GEAR
By Karen Hamlin
James Bond would love this pen
[Editor's Note: This is the first of a regular column on travel products and gear.]
Technology is amazing, isn't it?
Livescribe has developed a SmartPen or PulsePen that records everything you write through a tiny infra-red camera encased inside. The pen also has a recording device that produces crisp, clear sound that is amazing considering its size.
The pen, which comes with a Livescribe notebook, is so good that I don't know how I traveled without it.
If you're listening to a guide on a press trip, just tap the pen on the notebook, write the date or topic, and it is all recorded. Downtown to your computer later and play it back. It will even write it into a Word document.
This is a godsend: no more tiny notebooks to scribble in. Livescribe's well-selected slogan is "Never miss a word." With this product, you won't.
The pen starts at $149.95 for 1 GB, while notebooks are $19.95 per pack.
For further information, check out http://www.livescribe.com./
Long-time NATJA member Karen Hamlin of Alexandria, VA is a freelance photojournalist.
TRIPS FOR MEMBERS
Summer sends siren call to story-seeking writers
ALASKA: Fairbanks is home to three Fountainhead hotels, Sophie Station, Wedgewood Resort, and the Bridgewater Hotel. Guests of all three have access to new trolley service, also stopping at Pioneer Park, the Alaska Salmon Bake, downtown Fairbanks, and the University of Alaska's Museum of the North. To arrange a stay, contact Becky Kunkle, Wedgewood Resort (Tel. 907-452-1442, hotels@fdifairbanks.com).
ALEXANDRIA: Lorien Hotel & Spa, a 107-room Kimpton property, opened in February in this Washington suburb. Located in Old Town Alexandria, the urban retreat features a full-service spa and fitness center and three culinary venues. Press rep for the King Street property is Ashley Castro, Quinn & Co., 21st floor, 520 Eighth Ave., NY, NY 10018 (Tel. 212-868-1900 x245, Fax 212-465-0849, acastro@quinnandco.com).
ARIZONA: Open only since November 2008, InterContinental Montelucia Resort & Spa features 253 hotel rooms, 40 suites, 34 detached single-family villas, a signature restaurant, and a Spanish-inspired wedding chapel, all tucked into the foothills fronting Camelback Mountain. There are five pools and a fitness center on the 34-acre Paradise Valley site. Contact PR director Kirsten Schaefer, InterContinental Montelucia Resort & Spa, 5641 E. Lincoln Dr., Paradise Valley, AZ 85253 (tel. 480-627-3141, kirsten.schaefer@ihg.com).
BARGING: A new vessel, the Enchante, has joined the fleet of Go Barging, Europe's largest barge cruising company, and is cruising the South of France. The double-decked barge/hotel accommodates eight passengers in its four double-bedded suites. The vessel also features onboard TV, DVD player, and WiFi, plus a hot tub and sun deck. Go Barging is a subsidiary of European Waterways, which offers vacations in seven countries and carries 2000 passengers per year. Press rep is Chris Gant (Tel. 01784 482439, chris@gobarging.com).
BEVERLY HILLS: Travel journalists are invited to experience this plush Southern California enclave, home of six five-star hotels as well as art exhibits and cultural attractions. To schedule a visit, contact Kimberli Partlow, communications manager, Beverly Hills Conference & Visitors Bureau, 239 S. Beverly Dr., Beverly Hills, CA 90212 (Tel. 310-248-1015 x127, Fax 310-248-1020, partlow@beverlyhillsbehere.com).
BOSTON: The 28th Boston Chowderfest is set for Sunday, July 6. This is also the 30th birthday of the John F. Kennedy Presidential Library & Museum and the 40th anniversary of the New England Aquarium. Hotels on the horizon, or just opened, include the Fairmont Battery Wharf, W Hotel Theater District, and the Morgan Hotel Group's Ames. On tap for next year? The 125th anniversary of the Boston Pops. Wanna know more? Contact Larry Meehan, VP, media relations, Boston CVB (Tel. 617-867-8231, lmeehan@bostonusa.com).
CALIFORNIA: The newest luxury property in the West, opened this June, is Terranea Resort, a 102-acre resort with 270-degree oceanfront views. Perched on the Palos Verdes Peninsula along the scenic Southern California coastline, the 582-room resort includes a 360-room hotel with 30 suites, 20 bungalows, 50 oceanview casitas, 32 villas, three pools, and a nine-hole, par-3 oceanfront golf course. The property was once home to the Marineland of the Pacific theme park. The resort's press rep is the always-delightful Wendy Haase (Tel. 310-265-2807, Whaase@destinationhotels.com).
CHARLOTTE: The largest city between Washington and Atlanta, Charlotte still has plenty of Southern charm. The home of NASCAR and the U.S. Whitewater Center also has a light-rail line, arts district, historic neighborhoods, museums, resorts, a myriad of golf courses, and a wide variety of restaurants. To arrange a visit, contact press rep Amy Rieth, PR assistant coordinator, Charlotte Regional Visitors Authority, Suite 300, Charlotte, NC 28202 (Tel. 704-331-2715, Amy.Rieth@crva.com).
CLEARWATER: The "new" Clearwater Beach includes Beach Walk, a half-mile beachside promenade that opened last July, and Sandpearl Resort, the town's first new beachfront resort in more than 25 years. Hyatt's Aqualea opening is also right around the corner, while the Clearwater Beach Resort & Hotel begins construction soon. The Tampa Bay History Center, also new in town, is already drawing rave reviews. To arrange a visit, contact Gerri Raymond, VP of tourism, Clearwater Regional Chamber of Commerce, 1130 Cleveland St., Clearwater, FL 33755 (Tel. 727-461-0011 x115, Fax 727-449-2889, graymond@clearwaterflorida.org).
COUNTRY INNS & SUITES: Guests get a pretty good deal at this select brand, which features residential-style architecture and home-like design concepts, including a guest lending library.
Complimentary to all guests are a hot breakfast, high-speed Internet access, morning newspaper, pools & working facilities, and freshly-baked cookies daily. The brand, part of Carlson Hotels Worldwide, has 465 locations in the Americas, Europe, and India. To learn more, contact Carlson director of public relations Joan Cronson, (Tel. 763-212-1418, jcronson@carlson.com).
DESTINATION HOTELS & RESORTS: The list includes Aspen, Charleston, Denver, Houston, LaJolla, Lake Tahoe, Los Angeles, Maui, Palm Springs, Phoenix, Portland, San Diego, Santa Fe,
Snowmass, Stowe, Tampa, Telluride, Tempe, Vail, Washington, and more. For travel industry rates starting at 25% off, see www.destinationhotels.com/travel-professionals. Otherwise, contact Leslie Connar, director of national sales, travel industry (Tel. 469-892-6214, lconnar@destinationhotels.com).
DETROIT: Greektown Casino Hotel, the third downtown casino property, is a 30-story structure that changes the city's skyline. Open since February, the Greektown casino joins MGM Grand Detroit and MotorCity Casino Hotel, both 400-room properties that opened in 2007, as downtown casino resorts. The city is also celebrating the success of the 453-room Westin Book Cadillac Detroit, a 1924 landmark that reopened last fall after a $200 million renovation. To learn more, contact VisitDetroit.com, Suite 1000, 211 W. Fort St., Detroit, MI 48226 (Tel. 313-202-1800, Fax 313-202-1808, http://www.visitdetroit.com)./
DOUBLETREE HOTELS: New from Doubletree, which has 200+ locations, is a 27-story modern luxury tower in Chicago's theater district. The Wit - a Doubletree Hotel features an indoor/outdoor bar on the top floor plus proximity to Ford Center, the Chicago Cultural Center, the Civic Opera House, the Art Institute, and more. There are also new Doubletree locations in Seattle, Detroit, London, and Milan, with $2 million in renovations targeted for Boston, Atlanta, Chicago, New York, and Palm Beach Gardens, FL. To learn more, contact PR director Thomas Wingham (Tel. 310-205-4545, thomas.wingham@hilton.com).
EAGLE ISLAND: One of America's most secluded private islands, Eagle Island is a 10-minute
boat ride from Darien, a small Georgia fishing town 60 miles south of Savannah. The luxurious Eagle Island Lodge, which accommodates up to 10 people, is surrounded by 10 acres of wildlife and flora in their natural environment. Owner Andy Hill provides roundtrip boat transportation to and from the lodge. To visit this gem of the Georgia coastal marsh, contact Leigh Cort (Tel. 904-806-3613, leighcort@bellsouth.net).
FLORIDA: Loews Portofino Bay Hotel at Universal Orlando has 750 rooms and suites in an environment marked by European luxury and Old World charm. A re-creation of the Italian seaside village of Portofino, the hotel offers guests the chance to bypass lines at Universal Studios by showing their valid hotel room key card. Want to know more? Contact Jennifer Hodges (Tel. 407-503-9090, jhodges@loewshotels.com).
HAWAII: Celebrate the 50th anniversary of the 50th state at Hotel Hana-Maui, on the eastern shore of Maui. A luxury resort that blends into its lush environment, the resort has no radios or TVs but proximity to rainforests, views of Hana Bay, and a restaurant that gets 90 per cent of its ingredients from the island's natural bounty. Sound like a charmed place? See for yourself by contacting Simone Rathle (Tel. 703-534-8100, simone@simonesez.com).
HAWKINS INTERNATIONAL CLIENTS: The extensive list ranges from the White Rose Inn (Kennebunkport, ME) to Hyatt Hotels & Resorts, Denver's Curtis and Oxford hotels, and the Yachts of Seabourne, with the $250 million Seabourn Odyssey primed for launch in June and two other vessels to follow. Jennifer Hawkins can be reached at jennifer@hawkpr.com.
HAYWORTH CREATIVE PR: Clients of this Florida-based firm include Amelia Island, Dayton Beach International Festival, Florida's Gulf Islands, The Inn on Fifth (Naples), InterContinental Tampa, Jupiter Beach Resort & Spa, Daytona Shores Resort & Spa, Steinhatchee Landing Resort, TradeWinds Island Resorts, Universal Orlando Resorts, and Wyndham Sugar Bay Resort & Spa (St. Thomas, USVI). To arrange press visits, contact Maria Hayworth (Tel. 386-677-7000, maria@hayworthcreative.com).
HILTON PRESS REPS: Writers needing help from Hilton corporate should contact Robert Allegrini (Tel. 312-663-6516, Robert. Allegrini@hilton.com). The main guy for the Western Region is David Trumble (Tel. 602-870-2721, David.Trumble@hilton.com), while Cynthia Rankin (Tel. 808-947-7817, Cynthia.Rankin@hilton.com) handles Hawaii and Marc Ricci (Tel. 212-261-5836, Mark.Ricci@hilton.com) is the top man in the North and Northeast. Among Hilton hotels are Hilton, Conrad, Doubletree, and Embassy Suites properties.
IRELAND: Castles, lighthouses, and romantic inns are among the reasons writers come to Ireland. Visitors to the southeastern part of the island should join the Waterfront Crystal tour, featuring pieces crafted for movie stars and other celebrities. Waterford even designed the crystal ball that slid down the Times Square pole on New Year's Eve and has recreated that stunning piece in its visitors center. To arrange a trip, contact Ruth Moran (rmoran@tourismireland.com).
ISRAEL: Tel Aviv kicked off its centennial celebration at Rabin Square on April 4 with performances by top Israeli and international artists. At the same time, airlines increased their schedules to the Israeli metropolis. More than 70 carriers now offer service to Ben Gurion International Airport, with more than 20 flights per day between Israel and North America. The 18th annual Maccabiah Games run from July 12-23. For more information about Israel tourism, contact Mark Liebermann, Geoffrey Weill Associates, Suite 305, 27 W. 24th St., NY, NY 10010 (Tel. 866-PR-WEILL, mailto:nlarabaeza@geoffreyweil.com.).
JEKYLL ISLAND: The Jekyll Island Club Hotel is a Victorian landmark, draped in Spanish moss, on a barrier island off the southeastern tip of Georgia. Once the winter home of famous millionaires, the resort and its fivge buildings are a national historic landmark. Contact press rep Sue Andersson (Tel. 912-635-2600, Fax 912-635-2818, sandersson@jekyllclub.com).
LAKE LAS VEGAS: With 4,000 acres and a Moroccan-inspired dfesign, Loews Lake Las Vegas is close enough to the Strip (20 minutes) to enjoy it but far enough away not to be bothered by it.
The Henderson, NV property has two championship golf courses, proximity to Hoover Dam and Lake Mead, plus a fully-supervised Kids' Camp. Contact Jennifer Duffy (Tel. 520-529-7936, jduffy@loewshotels.com).
LOEWS HOTELS: At its 17 hotels and resorts in North America, Loews continues to roll out the welcome mat for pets. The first national chain to encourage pets as guests, the Loews Loves Pets campaign began in 2000 and never looked back. The program treats four-legged friends as VIPs (Very Important Pets) and provides such amenities as toys, bedding, and a pet-friendly room service menu. Coming soon from Loews is the 414-room Loews Atlanta Hotel, at 12th & Midtown, in April 2010. It will be the first Loews property in the home of the Braves. Press rep is Emily Goldfischer (Tel. 212-521-2833, egoldfischer@loews.com).
LONGBOAT KEY: With only 11 rooms, Sandpiper Inn brings guests back to a time when vacations meant relaxing with a good book, finding more birds than people, and reveling in breath-taking sunsets. Located on this slender barrier island between Sarasota Bay and the Gulf of Mexico, the inn features fishing, swimming, boating, beachcombing, hiking, and nature photography. To arrange an individual press visit, contact Leigh Cort (Tel. 904-806-3613, leighcort@bellsouth.net).
MAINE: Wende Gray handles PR for the Bethel Inn Resort, Magic Falls Rafting Company, Upper Andro Anglers Alliance, Portland Shellfish Company, and Cliff House Resort & Spa, an Ogunquit landmark that is the oldest U.S. resort continually owned and operated by the same family. To learn more, contact Wende Gray, Gray Marketing, P.L. Box 3, 331 Paradise Rd., Bethel, ME 04217 (Tel. 207-824-3694, wende@graymktg.com).
MORE MAINE: Camden Harbour Inn, an 18-room European-style property with a contemporary spin, sits on a hill overlooking Camden Harbour, Mount Battie, and Penobscot Bay. Built in 1874, it has emerged from a $2 million refit that remade the property into a boutique hotel. The inn is best known for its classic ocean views, modern rooms, and AAA four-diamond French restaurant, plus the hospitality of its owners, Netherlands natives Oscar Verest and Raymond Brunyanszki. To arrange a stay, contact Teresa Delaney, TESS Communications (Tel. 212-683-4343, tdelaney@tesssci.com).
MANHATTAN: The Rock ‘n Roll Hall of Fame Annex opened in Soho in December 2008 and has been getting rave reviews since. The museum houses Bruce Springsteen's 1957 Chevy and features New York sites of musical significance. Further info is at http://www.rockhall.com./
MARTHA'S VINEYARD: Winnetu Oceanside Resort, a 53-room property with 80 additional townhouses and single-family homes available for rent, sits beside natural dunes at the head of world-class biking and walking trails. Peak season at the Vineyard runs from mid-April through October. To book a stay, contact press rep Meaghan Calnan, Conran Communications, Suite 805, 192 Lexington Ave., NY, NY 10016 (Tel. 212-447-1010, mcalnan@conrancommunications.com).
MARYLAND: Calvert County, the smallest county in the state, offers a myriad of attractions that belie its size. Lighthouses, trails, museums, festivals, wineries, shops, and galleries combine for plenty of summer fun on the western shore of the Chesapeake. A peninsula with 140 miles of shoreline, Calvert was rated among the nation's Top 10 places to find shells in the U.S. and Caribbean (CNN, 2007). To arrange a visit, contact press rep Erica L.M. Stone, Calvert County Dept. Of Eco. Development, Courthouse, Prince Frederick, MD 20678 (Tel. 410-535-4583, Fax 410-535-4585, http://www.ecalvert.com)./
MONTANA: The 320 Guest Ranch is rated among 100 of the world's best vacation targets in Dream Destinations, published by LIFE books last fall. A historic property along the Gallatin River near Big Sky, it has 87 rooms (accommodataions in cabins, log homes, and mountain chalet) and a steakhouse that specializes in big-game cuisine. Five miles from Yellowstone National Park, the resort is 52 miles from Bozeman, the nearest air gateway. The resort traces its roots back to 1898. To arrange a visit, contact the affable Ken Ellens (Tel. 201-758-2864, KenEllens@aol.com).
MONTEREY COUNTY: For a true walk on the wild side, bed down in one of four safari tents at Vision Quest Ranch, a B&B where resident elephants deliver breakfast. This 50-acre site, deep in Steinbeck country, is home to Wild Things, an exotic animal training facility with more than 100 residents. Golf, inns, and ocean vistas are just three of the other charms in this picturesque California community. To learn more, contact Celeste C. White, director of communications, Monterey County CVB, 765 Wave St., Monterey, CA 93940 (Tel. 831-657-6402, celeste@mccvb.org).
MONTREAL: Want to spend a weekend at Opus Montreal Hotel? Just give three weeks notice to their press rep and visit both the hotel and North America's "New Design City." Individual press trips include airfare, two nights at the hotel, dining at Koko Restaurant, a round of golf at the Royal Montreal Golf Club, a guided tour by Tourisme Montreal, and more. Contact Norah Lawlor, Lawlor Media Group (Tel. 212-967-6900, norah@lawlormediagroup.com).
NEW YORK: Since opening its doors in September 1997, the three-story Museum of Jewish Heritage has welcomed more than a million visitors. Located on the waterfront at Battery Park City, the six-sided structure stands in tribute to the six million victims of The Holocaust. Its collection contains more than 15,000 artifcats, including photographs, documents, and films - all reflecting the devastation wrought by cultural intolerance to the power of hope. To arrange a visit, contact Betsy Aldredge (Tel. 646-437-4337, baldredge@mjhnyc.org).
HIGH IN NEW YORK: The High Line, a mile-and-a-half public walkway on an old elevated railroad route, became a public promenade in June. The city's Meatpacking District will be the most immediate beneficiary of the pedestrian passageway, which spans 22 blocks from 34th to Gansevoort Street. See http://www.thehighline.org./
HUKA RETREATS: This trio of international resorts has hired a New York publicity firm. Huka Lodge of Taupo, New Zealand and its sister properties, Dolphin Island in Fiji and Owner's Cottage at Grande Provence in Franschhoek, South Africa are all represented by Widness & Company. Contact Rebecca Widness, Widness & Co. Public Relations, Suite 500, 116 W. 23rd St., NY, NY 10011 (Tel. 646-375-2239, rebecca@widness-co-pr.com).
OGUNQUIT: This picturesque community on Maine's southeastern coast is making the world's biggest postcard - filled with images supplied by both amateur and professional photographers. Images for the postcard are being collected over the course of a year. Best known for Perkins Cove, Marginal Way, and its playhouse, the town has many inns, resorts, and restaurants. To arrange a visit, contact Chamber of Commerce director Karen Abel (Tel. 207-646-2939, Karen@ogunquit.org).
OREGON: Klamath County has great fly fishing, hiking, biking, and museums, plus Crater Lake National Park and Volcanic Legacy Scenic Byway, an All-American Road. To arrange a look-see at the lava, contact Dawnn E. Brown, executive director, Travel Klamath, 205 Riverside Drive, Klamath Falls, OR 97601 (Tel. 541-882-1501, office@travelklamath.com).
PHILADELPHIA: The restored 581-room Loews Philadelphia, a blend of historic architecture and mdoern amenities in the landmark PSFS building, is a modernist skyscraper cited as one of the greatest works of 20th century architecture. It has three concierge levels, with private key access, and a special "Star Trek Premier Hotel Package," offering untimed, undated tickets to the special exhibit at The Franklin. Contact Ellen Gale (Tel. 202-587-2686, egale@loewshotels.com).
RALEIGH: The North Carolina capital has a thriving arts scene, a state history museum, and a new 400-room Marriott City Center to match its new convention center. The North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences is often called "the Smithsonian of the South." The hotel, which features an indoor pool with sweeping city views, also has an Italian restaurant run by former residents of Tuscany. To arrange a visit, contact Lindley Thornburg, Heather Freeman Media & Public Relations (Tel. 703-593-5503, Lindley@heatherfreeman.com).
ST. SIMONS ISLAND: One of Georgia's Golden Isles, between Savannah and Jacksonville, this island is the home of the King and Prince Beach & Golf Resort, a 110-room resort that opened in 1935. It offers a complete resort experience, from beach activities to tennis, biking, fishing, and horseback riding, as well as island tours. Contact press rep Bud St. Pierre (Tel. 912-268-5003, Fax 912-638-7699, bstpierre@mmiemail.com).
SANTA FE: The Inn of the Five Graces, whose name derives from the Tibetan celebration of the five senses, features rose-colored adobe structures, intimate courtyards, and a spa that offers a high-altitude tonic. Operated by the Garrett Hotel Group, which also runs The Point and Lake Placid Lodge, the property is represented by Simone Rathle (Tel. 703-534-8100, simone@simonesez.com).
SCOTTSDALE: Arizona's first W Hotel, opened last September, is thriving. The 224-room, seven-story property features an infinity-edge pool with a glass bottom, allowing guests to sneak a peak at swimmers above. To learn more, contact Laura McMurchie, VP of communciations, Scottsdale CVB, Suite 170, 4343 N. Scottsdale Rd., Scottsdale, AZ 85251 (Tel. 480-429-2253, Fax 480-421-9733, LM@scottsdalecvb.com).
VIRGINIA: Boar's Head Inn, a 170-room resort on 573 country acres, features golf, tennis, four-star dining plus proximity to Monticelli, the Blue Ridge Mountains, and numerous wineries. To arrange a visit, contact Pat Flesgman Burnett, marketing and communications manager, Boar's Head Inn, 200 Ednam Drive, Charlottesville, VA 22903 (Tel. 434-972-6011, pat_burnette@boarsheadinn.com).
WHISTLER, B.C.: For those who don't wish to wait until Feb. 10, there are many ways to get a whiff of Whistler before the 2010 Winter Olympics. Self-guided tours of Olympic Park, tours of the Whistler Sliding Center, and rides on the new Peak 2 Peak Gondola are just three of the lures. Located 75 miles north of Vancouver, Whistler has 3,200 hotel rooms and 5,000 other accommodations. To arrange a visit, contact Patricia Westerholm, coordinator, corporate and member communications (Tel. 604-938-2798, pwesterholm@tourismwhsitler.com).
PR REPS: Mention in this column is free. Please send one-graf blurbs containing complete contact information to dan@natja.org or fax 201-791-3349.
