Ritz-Carlton Releases first branded credit card

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The Ritz-Carlton Hotel Co. has joined forces with JPMorgan Chase to offer a new credit card aimed at affluent travellers who normally use American Express. The card will offer the hotel’s clients a rewards program designed to combine luxury travel and good value. It will be branded as a Visa Card, so all the normal Visa benefits are included.

The card will carry an interest rate of Prime plus 11.99%, and require an annual fee of $395. Card holders will be rewarded with a points program as well as room upgrades and hotel services available in any of the chain’s 75 worldwide locations. In addition, cardholders will have access to JPMorgan’s exclusive Concierge Service, a service currently reserved for only the wealthiest in the banking industry, as well as significant reductions in airline baggage fees and use of hundreds of first-class lounges at airports around the world.

Currently, American Express is the world leader in credit card services for the affluent, and their customers tend to spend upwards of four times as much as Visa and MasterCard users. By introducing the new Visa Rewards Card, JPMorgan and Visa aim to take some of that business away and hopefully set the stage for future offerings. And just to make the point that they’re serious, the new credit card will instantly reward users with 50,000 points upon their first purchase; points that can be redeemed for a one-night stay at any Ritz-Carlton hotel.

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Welcome to the New Banyan Tree Macau Resort

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Macau’s first 5-star urban resort has just opened, much to the delight of the property’s namesake, Banyan Tree. The new Banyan Tree Macau is the Singapore-based company’s first offering in Macau, considered by many to be one of the top tourist destinations in Asia. The resort has been designed specifically to offer guests a truly unique and enjoyable experience in traditional Asian relaxation.

A brand-new Banyan Tree Spa will open at the resort later this summer as part of Banyan Tree’s USD $1.9 billion Macau investment. The spa features 21 luxurious treatment rooms staffed by therapists who have graduated from the renowned Banyan Tree Spa Academy. Treatments centre on ancient Oriental techniques that concentrate on touch over technology.

The spa is open daily from 10:00 AM to 11:00 PM and offers a full range of treatments exclusive to Banyan Tree. For example, the Harmonising Banyan Gui Shi combines natural substances like sesame oil, lotus, and rice with expert massage and heated stones to detoxify, balance qi, and condition the skin. Other Banyan treatments include the Royal Banyan Herbal Pouch Massage, the Tropical Rainmist, and an ancient Chinese foot massage.

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Announcing the Mr. C Beverly Hills Grand Opening

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Los Angeles California is the first city to welcome a brand-new signature hotel line with the grand opening of the new Mr. C Beverly Hills on June 1. The new hotel chain is being developed by internationally known restaurateurs Ignazio and Maggio Cipriani. The Cipriani’s carry-on a family tradition of luxury clubs, banquet houses, restaurants, and living spaces going back four generations.

The Mr. C. Beverly Hills offers 138 rooms, including 12 signature suites and classic suites. Rooms range in size from 365 sq. ft. to 800 sq. ft. and all include a private balcony. A tasteful mix of old world Italian charm and modern classic includes color schemes of Burgundy and gray with white accents, vintage artwork, well furnished bathrooms with teak flooring, and elegant bedrooms featuring rich, dark hardwoods. For those planning a longer stay, the property offers five residential bungalows with 3000 sq. ft. of living space on multiple levels. Each bungalow provides a private plunge pool, private garden, and its own gourmet kitchen.

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Groupon and Expedia Partner for Travel Deals

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Over the last 10 years online travel sites offering discounted deals have seen great success. And about three years ago, the new Groupon concept of group coupon shopping deals also hit the Internet, also to explosive success. Now the two industries have come together in a recently announced joint venture between Groupon and Expedia. The two companies are partnering to launch a brand-new website geared at connecting travellers with deeply discounted deals all across the globe.

The new website will be offered in the U.S. and Canada to start, then later in other countries. Right away users will have access to deals from more than 135,000 hotels and resorts already working with Expedia. The service will work similar to Groupon in a model that presents users with new deals at regular intervals. Users can claim those deals, within a limited time frame, in order to receive a voucher to be used sometime in the future. Dates for booking the actual travel are flexible.

It remains to be seen exactly what the final product will look like, but Groupon and Expedia both expect the site to be very successful. With millions of regular users already between them, the two companies are holding out hope that their partnership is one that will set the course for the future of discounted travel online.

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Marriott International Planning New Downtown L.A. Property

Michael
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Marriott International could be poised to take a larger slice of the downtown L.A. hotel pie if plans to build a new 377-room property come to fruition. Marriott would not own the property themselves, but they would operate the hotel under their Courtyard and Residence brand names. When complete, the 22-floor property would help meet a demand that grew by about 24% last year.

Marriott already operates two other hotels within the same general vicinity and a third only seven blocks away. However, company officials cite the fact that all of their different brands cater to a variety of travelers across a wide spectrum of tastes and financial means. For this reason it isn’t uncommon for Marriott properties to be clustered close together. Furthermore, the new hotel would be very close to the L.A. Live Center that, in tandem with the Staples Center now hosts as many as 300 events per year.

Building the $120 million hotel campus is Oregon developer Williams/Dame & Associates, the same company that developed three condominium properties in L.A.’s South Park district. Officials from the firm are quick to point out that hotel properties are less expensive and easier to construct because the rooms are uniform. They believe that investing in a new luxury hotel in downtown L.A., which they would own, is a fairly safe bet.

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Frommer's Top Airport Lounges for 2011

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Airport travel lounges are a godsend to frequent fliers who need a peaceful and relaxing environment while they wait for flights. So much so that even as employers are cutting expenses by eliminating club membership perks, many individuals are paying for it out of pocket. If you find yourself in this position, you might be interested to know Frommer’s Travel Guides’ top airport lounges for 2011.

The Wing, from Cathay Pacific Airways’ Hong Kong terminal earned the number one slot with a 1st-class lounge that offers individual privacy rooms complete with shower, toilet, and deck chair, as well as a 32-seat restaurant and library. The Upper Class Clubhouse from Virgin Atlantic at Heathrow took second place, with a roof-top garden, observation deck, TV room, and billiards.

The remaining three of the top five also went to lounges in cities outside the U.S., including Kuala Lumpur, Munich, and Tokyo. In the States, New York and Houston are tops. Lounges at several of their airports offer everything from massages to free food and drink. Most offer free wireless Internet access, real desks to work at, and plenty of peace and quiet.

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Starwood’s First All-Inclusive Resort: New Westin Resort & Spa, Playa Conchal

Michael
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Starwood’s First All-Inclusive Resort Westin Resort & Spa Playa Conchal
Latin America continues to be the target of an aggressive development campaign from Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc., as evidenced by the announcement of its first all-inclusive resort in a Costa Rica. The new Westin Resort & Spa, Playa Conchal, a renovation of what was previously the Paradisus Playa Conchal Resort, is already under way and should be completed by the end of the year. All of the hotel’s 406 rooms and public areas will get a complete makeover. In addition, Starwood plans to open three more Latin American hotels in 2011.

The exclusive Westin Resort & Spa experience begins for guests as soon as they enter the resort’s lobby. They are greeted with the brand’s Sensory Welcome which strives to create an awakening of sight, sound, smell and taste that will soothe and relax. Gentle music plays in the background while the eyes feast on beautiful botanicals and exquisite mood lighting. Subtle fragrance fragrances permeate the air, evoking a calm and peaceful feeling which is perfectly complemented by Westin’s subtle but captivating White Tea.

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The New Sheraton Milan Malpensa Airport Hotel

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Starwood Hotels & Resorts continues its tradition of world-class international hotels with the opening of the chic, new Sheraton Milan Malpensa Airport Hotel & Conference Centre. The new hotel is just 30 minutes from the city centre and provides direct access to the Malpensa Airport’s T1 terminal. Stunning views of the Italian Alps add the perfect backdrop for this amazing new property designed by King Roselli Architects and Saporiti Hotel Design.

Tourists to the area will have a choice of more than 400 rooms, 19 suites, and 58 club rooms; all spacious and well appointed, with Sheraton Sweet Sleeper Beds(R) and the latest in modern technology. The hotel also offers a 21,000 ft.2 Club Lounge with extra amenities for members of the Sheraton Club. For your weddings, banquets, and corporate gatherings, the Sheraton Milan Malpensa has you covered with over 21,000 ft.2 of space including meeting rooms and a large open space that can accommodate up to 1,000 people.

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Now Open: Balcones del Atlántico – Las Terrenas, Dominican Republic

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<img class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-760" title="Balcones del Atlántico – Las Terrenas, Dominican Republic" src="http://luxgetaway.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/05/Balcones-del-Atlántico-Las-Terrenas-Dominican-Republic.png" alt="" width="610" height="220" />

RockResorts welcomes you to the Dominican Republic and the newest luxury hotel in its family, the Balcones del Atlántico Las Terrenas. Set near the small and quaint fishing village of Las Terrenas, the property has all the charm and warmth you would expect from the Dominican Republic combined with the elegance and luxury RockResorts is known for. Just opened a few months ago, the Balcones del Atlántico includes all the Caribbean has to offer with its white sand beach, crystal-clear water, and views to die for. The resort is located at the north end of the Samaná Peninsula which is accessible through direct flights from several U.S. cities including Boston, Fort Lauderdale, Miami, New York, and a Philadelphia.

This newest of Caribbean resorts offers 86 well-appointed villa suites, each with two or three bedrooms. The natural Caribbean environment provides the design theme, which is both comfortable and stylish. For an extra special touch of luxury the hotel offers a Penthouse Villa that includes a private, rooftop plunge pool and 4000 ft.² of space to comfortably accommodate up to seven guests. All of the suites enjoy private terraces and kitchen facilities.

For your relaxation the Balcones del Atlántico offers you a RockResort spa providing well-being treatments and the highest level of relaxation and comfort. You’ll also enjoy a beachside bar and restaurant, gourmet deli, and two beautiful swimming pools. One of the pools even offers a swim-up bar for your poolside refreshment. And if you would prefer to go into town for local dining and shopping, it is just minutes away.

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London's Goring Hotel Plays Host to Future Duchess of Cambridge Katie Middleton

Michael
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The Goring
Beeston Place
London
SW1W 0JW

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