Monday, January 24, 2011

11 Travel Trends for 2011








  • Civil War Sesquicentennial
  • Royal romance in London
  • South of the border bargains
  • Iceland heats up
  • Cloudy forecast for airfare transparency
  • Checking into higher hotel rates
  • Online travel gets more social & mobile
  • Travel agents make a comeback
  • Digital detox vacations
Read the full article online via travel.usatoday.com

Tuesday, January 18, 2011

LDPR Internship Opportunity!

LDPR seeks an intern to assist with writing press releases, research, reporting, media lists, editorial calendars and distributing press materials. The position requires the following:
  • Completion of a minimum of two full years of college in pursuit of a PR, journalism, communications or related degree
  • Some PR coursework or experience
  • Strong organizational, oral and written communications skills
  • High level of dependability, maturity and professionalism

We seek an intern for 2-5 days per week (9 AM to 5 PM) from February through May 2011. Internship is unpaid but offers a stipend to cover public transportation expenses to and from work.

For more information, contact info@ldpr.com

Monday, January 17, 2011

World-Famous Game Lodge in Zambia’s South Luangwa Park Re-Opens
















Sanctuary Chichele Presidential Lodge will re-open February 1 after an impressive refurbishment. The iconic property was originally built in the 1970s for former Zambian president Kenneth Kaunda. The original colonial style has been retained in the furnishings following the renovation. A long veranda stretches outside the dining room, from which guests are afforded views down the valley to the Luangwa itself. Each of the ten elegant suites at Sanctuary Chichele comprise of four-poster beds, air conditioning, and private veranda.

To celebrate the re-opening of Sanctuary Chichele Presidential Lodge, the historic hilltop game lodge is offering three nights for the price of two. This property is open year round, with rates starting from US$320 per person per night all inclusive. In addition the lodge, which has one interconnecting suite and two triple rooms, will now be accepting children of all ages – making it the ideal destination for the family holiday of a lifetime! Valid for travel February 1-June 15, 2011.



Friday, January 14, 2011

Preferred Hotel Group Welcomes 19 New Hotels This January










Makena Beach & Golf Resort, A Summit Hotel



Preferred Hotel Group announced the addition of 19 hotels worldwide this January. The hotels include:
  • Camino Real Club & Suites – Mexico City, Mexico
  • Camino Real Club Santa Fe México – Mexico City, Mexico
  • Suryagarh – Jaisalmer, India
  • Divan Çukurhan – Ankara, Turkey
  • Villa Didon – Carthage, Tunisia
  • The River Rock Casino Resort – Richmond, British Columbia, Canada
  • Emporio Mazatlan – Mazatlan, Mexico
  • Emporio Zacatecas – Zacatecas, Mexico
  • Palm Beach Palace, Djerba – Djerba, Tunisia
  • Palm Beach Palace, Tozeur – Tozeur, Tunisia
  • Divan Ankara – Ankara, Turkey
  • Divan Antalya – Antalya, Turkey
  • Makena Beach & Golf Resort – Maui, Hawaii, USA
  • Divan Çorlu – Corlu, Turkey
  • La Quinta Resort & Club – La Quinta, California, USA
  • The Omni Severin – Indianapolis, Indiana, USA
  • The Omni Royal Orleans – New Orleans, Louisiana, USA
  • The Omni Parker House – Boston, Massachusetts, USA
  • Radisson Martinique on Broadway – New York City, New York, USA
About Preferred Hotel Group™
Celebrating over 40 years of excellence, Preferred Hotel Group™ is a leading provider of business solutions for independently owned and operated hotels and resorts around the world. Services include sales, marketing, technology, distribution, and quality assurance. Comprised of more than 800 best-in-class hotels in over 70 countries, Preferred Hotel Group encompasses five distinct brands: Preferred Hotels® & Resorts (www.PreferredHotels.com), Preferred Boutique™ (www.PreferredBoutique.com), Summit Hotels & Resorts™(www.SummitHotels.com), Sterling Hotels™ (www.SterlingHotels.com) and Historic Hotels of Americas® (www.HistoricHotels.org). Preferred Hotel Group also offers I Prefer™ (www.iprefer.com), an exclusive global guest benefits program, as well as Preferred Golf™, a membership program with entrée to the world’s most spectacular luxury golf resorts (www.preferredgolf.com). For more information, visit www.PreferredHotelGroup.com.

In Fall 2007, the company entered the luxury real estate market with the launch of Preferred Residences™ – a membership and exchange program for luxury shared ownership resorts that provide an exceptional level of service and amenities. Preferred Residences are held to exacting standards derived from the same Preferred Global Standards of Excellence™ on which the company has built its 41-year heritage in the hospitality industry. For more information, please visit www.PreferredResidences.com.

For high-resolution imagery of our properties, please visit the Preferred Hotel Group Image Library at www.preferredhotelgroupimages.com.

ATLANTIS, PARADISE ISLAND REVOLUTIONIZES THE TEEN CLUB WITH THE OPENING OF HOTSPOT – CRUSH



















For teenagers at Atlantis, Paradise lsland, Bahamas, the new $11 million cutting-edge CRUSH that opened on January 1, 2011, takes the traditional teen club concept to new levels of imagination and innovation. The exclusive nightspot welcomed teens during a pre-opening New Years Eve party hosted by mashup master DJ Earworm. Designed by renowned architect and interior designer, Jeffrey Beers, the 14,000 square-foot mod-inspired space boasts; an interactive Internet Lounge complete with multi-touch computers and surface tables with photo editing and publishing interfaced to Facebook; a Gaming Stadium boasting a 22-foot floor-to-ceiling Gaming Tree and private cabanas stocked with state-of-the-art technology including the newly launched Microsoft flagship motion sensor product Kinect for Xbox 360; and a 1500 square-foot Dance Club complete with multi-purpose video walls, performance stage, VIP sections and doormen all worthy of paparazzi.

Priced at $25/person, CRUSH is open from 5:30PM – 1AM for teens ages 13-17. The new club joins a comprehensive teen and tween offering on property including Club Rush, a fully-supervised “No Adults” private club setting where ‘tweens ages 9-13 can socialize and enjoy their own evening entertainment and the Atlantis LIVE concert series featuring teen acts like: Justin Bieber, Taylor Swift, Miley Cyrus and the Jonas Brothers.

For more information about CRUSH or to make a reservation, please call 1-800-ATLANTIS or visit Atlantis.com

Tuesday, January 11, 2011

LAURA DAVIDSON PUBLIC RELATIONS NAMED PR AGENCY FOR TRUMP SOHO™ NEW YORK



























Laura Davidson Public Relations has been named the new PR agency for the Trump SoHo hotel in New York City. A world-class hotel in one of Manhattan’s most sought-after neighborhoods, Trump SoHo New York opened last April and, at 46 stories tall, boasts one-of-a-kind views of the city. The hotel’s signature services cater to all travel styles, from executive trips to weekend getaways, raising the bar for customer service in SoHo. And the next trend in spa services starts right here at Trump SoHo with an 11,000-square-foot Turkish spa inspired by Ivanka Trump, featuring luxury hammam treatments -- forget about "hot stone massage"; we're talking rubies and emeralds here...

For more information about Trump SoHo New York, visit www.trumpsohohotel.com or call LDPR at 212-696-0660.

Monday, January 10, 2011

THE 13th ANNUAL BEAVER CREEK MASTER CHEF CLASSIC PRESENTED BY BON APPÉTIT BRINGS THE HEAT TO THE SNOWY SLOPES














Bon Appétit
and Beaver Creek Resort will join forces Jan. 27 – 29, 2011 for the much-anticipated 13th Annual Beaver Creek Master Chef Classic. Highlights of the three-day epicurean affair include an awe-inspiring Master Chef Challenge at the Vilar Performing Arts Center in Beaver Creek Village, intimate cooking classes, an après-ski cocktail seminar and a Grand Tasting at the luxurious Ritz-Carlton, Bachelor Gulch. With world-class skiing and epicurean festivities in such close proximity, attendees can ski exhilarating vertical runs in the morning and sample delectable cuisine in the evening. The Beaver Creek Master Chef Classic is highly-anticipated by both ski enthusiasts and food lovers alike, as it marks the first celebration of the year where two favorite pastimes join forces to “peak” the palate.

Celebrated Beaver Creek chefs will be joined by the following guest chefs selected by Bon Appétit magazine:

John Besh – Chef: August, Besh Steak, Luke, La Provence, American Sector, and Domenica (New Orleans)
Joey Campanaro – Chef/Owner, The Little Owl (New York); Chef, Kenmare (New York), Owner, Market Table (New York), Village Bele (Philadelphia)
Stephanie Izard – Executive Chef/ Partner, Girl & The Goat (Chicago)
François Payard – Pastry Chef, FPB (New York, Las Vegas, Japan and Korea), Payard, François Chocolate Bar
Jacques Van Staden – Chef, London Club (Las Vegas); Vice President of Food & Beverage Operations, Celebrity Cruises and Azamara Cruises
Jose Garces – Executive Chef, Mercat a la Planxa (Chicago); Owner/ Executive Partner, Garces Restaurant Group (collection of restaurants in Philadelphia)
Marco Canora – Co-Owner/Chef, Hearth and Terroir (New York); Finalist on “Next Iron Chef”

Due to an overwhelming response last year, the 2011 Classic features additional Master Chef cooking classes, allowing participants to get up close and personal with some of the hottest chefs in the industry. Bon Appétit’s Editor-in-Chief Adam Rapoport and Restaurant Editor Andrew Knowlton will be in attendance.

Master Chef Classic lodging event packages are available starting at $522 per person, which includes two nights of lodging, two days of lift tickets and one ticket each for the Master Chef Challenge and the Grand Tasting. This package is available Jan. 27-31, 2011. Additional lodging options are available and additional restrictions may apply. Event-only ticket packages are also available including a Master Chef Package for $475, which provides one ticket to the Master Chef Dinner, Master Chef Challenge, Grand Tasting, one Seminar (choice of Chophouse/Wine Seminar or Osprey/Cocktail Seminar) and one Cooking Class (Marco/Splendido or Joey/Park Hyatt). The VIP package is $575 and includes the Master Chef Package offerings plus early admittance to the Grand Tasting for exclusive access to the Chefs. The Just a Taste Package for $165 includes tickets for the Master Chef Challenge and the Grand Tasting. A portion of proceeds from the Master Chef dinner on Jan. 27 benefits the Bright Future Foundation. To purchase tickets and for information on lodging packages, visit
http://www.beavercreek.com/masterchefclassic or call (800) 404-3535 (lodging packages) or (888) 920-ARTS (event tickets only).



LDPR

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For over 20 years LDPR has guided some of the world’s most prestigious travel brands through an evolving media landscape with creativity, professionalism and enthusiasm. We are a highly driven and innovative travel and lifestyle public relations agency based in New York City with a global roster of clients from destinations and tour companies to exclusive private islands, hotels and resorts. Our unique culture is defined by our collaborative and strategic approach to working with clients, media and our staff, leading to a strong partnership with measurable results.