150 Years - The Cliff House Survives, Rebuilds and Sets a New Standard

 The Cliff House celebrates its 150-year anniversary this year, having survived earthquakes, fires, and turbulent Pacific waves.

Constructed in 1863, the year of the Battle of Gettysburg, and renovated three times, the Cliff House is among a rarified number of U.S. restaurants still in operation.

General Manager Ralph Burgin, and proprietors Dan and Mary Hountalas, have run the eco-friendly landmark for 40 years, recycling, composting, and buying locally, and organically when possible “We are honored to be stewards of such an important landmark in San Francisco history,” says Mary Hountalas, who collected countless artifacts and four decades of research for her book, The San Francisco Cliff House.

To mark the anniversary, The Cliff House movie premieres April 12-18 at the Balboa Theater in San Francisco. The film, written and directed by Tom Wyrsch, and produced by Wyrsch and Strephon Taylor, features archival photographs, motion picture footage, and historian interviews.

The Cliff House property was purchased in 1881 by Adolph Sutro, later a San Francisco mayor. As the crown jewel of the Golden Gate National Recreation area, it is part of the largest urban national park west of the Mississippi. In conjunction with the National Park Service, it recently installed a wind turbine to further its sustainability.

Celebrations are planned, July 13-19, including seminars with local historians and antiquities collectors. The festivities will culminate July 19 with a celebration of tasting and dancing in the Terrace room. Price is $18.63 per person. Sutro’s will offer a $150 pre-fixe dinner for two with commemorative favors and the Bistro will feature an $18.63 dinner entrée, as well as Sutro’s serving an $18.63 lunch entrée offered throughout the end of the year.

Located at 1090 Point Lobos, the western-most point of the GGNRA’s historic Sutro Heights District, the Cliff House is open seven days a week for breakfast, lunch and dinner. Champagne Brunch Buffet is offered on Sunday in the Terrace Room, also available for private functions. The Cliff House Gift shop is open daily.

Complimentary parking is available in nearby park lots. Valet parking offered nightly. The Cliff House is operated by Peanut Wagon, Inc. and is a concessionaire of the Golden Gate National Recreation Area. Information, visit www.cliffhouse.com or call (415) 386-3330.

The Tai Pan Club At Mandarin Oriental, Washington D.C. Announces New And Exclusive Offerings

With luxurious hotel amenities and legendary service, the Tai Pan Club at Mandarin Oriental, Washington D.C. surrounds guests with a range of pampering experiences. 

Exclusively available to guests in rooms and suites on the hotel’s eighth floor, the Tai Pan Club now features a host of new services this spring, including expanded gourmet culinary offerings, secure access, private concierge service and expedited check-in/check-out options.

“The Tai Pan experience has been refined to reflect our guest preferences,” said General Manager Adriaan Radder. “Frequent Tai Pan patrons, as well as our first-time guests, will find exciting enhancements to our services as a result. The culinary offering alone will entice guests to add the Tai Pan experience to their next stay at Mandarin Oriental, Washington D.C.”

Rates for the Tai Pan Club experience begin at USD 395, and provide guests with the following amenities:

Luxury Overnight Accommodations

Members will delight in one of the hotel’s 49 guest rooms, including 5 suites, located on the eighth floor.  Rooms feature 480-thread count sateen linens, customized furnishings, high-speed Internet access, three dual-line phones with voicemail, two flat-screen televisions and lavish marble bathrooms, many with monumental views. 

The Club Lounge

Located on the eighth floor, the Lounge features an inviting modern décor with oriental

accents and can be securely accessed by members only.  The Club features daily breakfast, “Quick Lunch,” daily cocktail and hors d'oeuvre reception and a selection of sweets, savories and seasonal whole fruit.  The Club Lounge also includes a fully staffed bar, comfortable sitting area, views of the cityscape, business facilities and private library for meetings (complimentary in two-hour increments).

Dedicated Concierge and Private Check-in

Tai Pan guests have access to a dedicated staff who will provide express check-in/check-out, in addition to exclusive services obtaining theatre tickets, last-minute dinner reservations and site-seeing excursions to explore the nation’s capital.

The Tai Pan Lounge derived its name from the Chinese term “Tai Pan,” commonly used to refer to influential foreign businessmen and high-powered executives in the 19^th Century doing business in China and Hong Kong.

For Tai Pan Club reservations, please contact the hotel directly at +1 (202) 787-6140, toll free (888) 888-1778, or visit www.mandarinoriental.com/washington.

Dorsett Hospitality International Forges a Truly International Partnership with Diamond Resorts International

 Dorsett Hospitality International created another milestone in its history as the group formalises its exclusive partnership with Diamond Resorts International®.

At the signing ceremony held in Hong Kong marking the partnership between two global hospitality industry players, Ms. Winnie Chiu, President and Executive Director of Dorsett Hospitality International said: "Whilst we continue to pursue our 'Chinese Wallet' strategy, we also believe it is important to also focus on market segments in other continents which are of importance to us as well. Through this

affiliation, Dorsett Hospitality International will be able to strengthen and expand its brand presence at a faster pace as well as to increase the arrivals of US and Europe travellers into Hong Kong, by tapping into Diamond Resorts International®'s existing network of nearly 1.4 million owners, members and guests." According to the latest report from the Hong Kong Tourism Board (HKTB), visitor arrivals, which comprise of a diverse guest mix shows a steady year-on-year increase and recorded an arrival of 48.6 million visitor arrivals for 2012.

In October 2010, Dorsett Hospitality International (HKEx Stock Code 2266) attained its IPO and is one of the largest hotel developers, owners and operators in Asia focusing on the 3- to 4-star segments. The group with a portfolio of 25 hotels in different geographic location from Hong Kong, Singapore, Malaysia, and China to the United Kingdom is expected to increase the room inventory by approximately 80% by 2016, giving a total inventory of approximately 7300. The group has demonstrated strong revenue growth with a CAGR of 33.4% from FY2010 to FY2012, from HK$616mm to HK$1.1bn; and EBITDA has jumped from HK$198mm in FY2010 to HK$881mm in FY2012, representing a CAGR of 110.9%.

The group's first hotel in Singapore soft opened on 28 March 2013. Dorsett Grand Chengdu and Dorsett Tsuen Wan are scheduled to open within the 2nd quarter and the 3rd quarter of this year respectively. In 2014, Silka Tsuen Wan, Hong Kong and Dorsett Grand Zhuji as well as Dorsett Zhongshan are expected to commence operation. The group's first venture beyond Asia is the Dorsett Shepherds Bush in London which is expected to be operational in 2014, to be followed by Dorsett City, London located at Aldgate in 2015.

In the last two years, Dorsett Hospitality International has won numerous accolades such as Best Small Cap Company Award by Asiamoney under the Best Managed Company Awards - Hong Kong, the prestigious Hong Kong's Most Valuable Company Award 2012 accorded by Mediazone Group and the Outstanding High-Growth Company (Hotel) 2011 of "Quamnet Outstanding Enterprise Awards" by Quamnet.com to name a few. Between 2007 and 2013, the hotels owned and managed by the group received no less than 50 service industry awards including the 2012 Certificate of Excellence by TripAdvisor accorded to 9 of its hotels.

"Dorsett Hospitality International will embark on this exclusive agreement with Diamond Resorts International® and we believe this affiliation, the first part of our partnership with Diamond Resorts International®, will further bolster the hospitality bridge between Hong Kong and the United States, thus bringing more tourism related businesses into Hong Kong and at the same time allows Diamond Resorts International® to expand their geographical reach into Asia," explained Chiu. Dorsett Hospitality International is confident with this partnership and HKTB's aggressive marketing strategies, the total number of tourist arrivals for 2013 will definitely surpass that of 2012.

Diamond Resorts International®, with global headquarters in Las Vegas, Nevada, is one of the largest hospitality companies in the world. With a network of more than 260 vacation destinations located in 28 countries throughout the continental United States, Hawaii, Canada, Mexico, the Caribbean, South America, Central America, Europe, Asia, Australia and Africa, Diamond Resorts International® offers simplicity, choice and comfort to more than 490,000 owner-families through their branded hospitality service, and is dedicated to providing its guests with effortless and relaxing vacation experiences every time, for a lifetime.

Annually, nearly 1.4 million owners, members and guests enjoy the simplicity, choice and comfort Diamond Resorts International® offers through its branded hospitality experience.

Avalon to Explore the Amazon in 2014 Season

 Luxury river cruise specialist Avalon Waterways will operate its first itineraries on the mighty Amazon next year, introducing an 11-day Peruvian adventure in its newly released 2014 brochure.

The Amazon expedition is one of several new initiatives announced by Avalon as it celebrates its 10^th anniversary, including new ships, new itineraries and new theme cruises.

To mark the release of its new 2014 brochure, Avalon is offering earlybird savings of up to $1000* per couple on European cruises and $300* per couple on other cruises worldwide.

Joining Avalon’s program in 2014 is the 45m Amazon explorer Aria, a contemporary 16-suite ship designed for cruising South America’s greatest river in style. Exclusive to Avalon Waterways, it features floor-to-ceiling windows, an outdoor Jacuzzi, an exercise room, indoor and outdoor lounges, a bar, a boutique, an elegant dining room and an open-air sun deck.

From February, the Aria will offer three-night cruises as part of an 11-day itinerary from Lima, priced from $6099* per person twin share (earlybird offer).  Guests will venture deep into the Amazon jungle in search of wildlife including rare pink dolphins, as well as visiting indigenous communities and the remote Pacaya Samiria Reserve under the guidance of a local naturalist.

Other highlights include the ancient Andean city of Cusco, the Sacred Valley of the Incas and the extraordinary mountain-top ruins of Machu Picchu.  An optional two-day extension provides a chance to see the mysterious Nazca lines.

Meanwhile in Europe, Avalon will expand its successful Suite Ship concept further with the introduction of three new vessels next year - Avalon Impression, Avalon Poetry II and Avalon Illumination. The newcomers will give Avalon a total of eight Suite Ships, making up more than half its European fleet of 13 luxury ships.

Designed with Australian travellers in mind, each Suite Ship has two entire decks of all-suite accommodation and offers 30 per cent more cabin space than the average competitor.  They feature wall-to-wall panoramic windows that slide back to turn the entire cabin into an open-air balcony, allowing passengers to enjoy the outdoors without compromising space.

In addition to the new ships, Avalon will also expand its popular selection of themed cruises in 2014, introducing itineraries focused on beer tasting, golf, wellness and WWI history.  The special departures join existing themes based on art, food, wine, history, music and Jewish heritage, allowing travellers to indulge their personal passions while sailing with other like-minded guests.

In all, Avalon will offer 26 different European itineraries in 2014, sailing the Rhine, Moselle, Main, Danube, Seine, Saône and Rhône rivers. It will offer a further 12 itineraries worldwide, cruising the Nile, Yangtze, Mekong, Mississippi and Amazon rivers and among the Galápagos Islands.

Avalon’s new earlybird specials offer a choice of four different deals:

• Save $1000* per couple on the inaugural sailings of Avalon’s newest Suite Ships, Poetry II, Illumination and Impression. On sale to June 30, 2013 or until sold out. The eight-day Tulip Time Cruise aboard Avalon Poetry II departing Amsterdam on March 23, 2014, is now priced from $2552* per person twin share. 

• Save $1000* per couple on select departures of more than a dozen different European itineraries.  On sale to June 30, 2013, or until sold out. The eight-day Romantic Rhine cruise between Basel and Amsterdam is now priced from $1826* per person twin share. 

• Save $500* per couple on all other European cruises.  On sale to September 30, 2013, or until sold out.  The 15-day Magnificent Europecruise between Amsterdam and Budapest is now priced from $4249* per person twin share. 

• Save $300* per couple on any Nile, Yangtze, Mekong, Mississippi, Galápagos or Amazon cruise.  On sale to September 30, 2013, or until sold out.  The 11-night Inca Empire to the Peruvian Amazon is now priced from $6099* per person twin share. 

Further savings are available for early payments, additional tours and Journey’s Club members.

For full details and bookings see licensed travel agents, visit www.avalonwaterways.com.au or phone 1300 230 234.

*Prices and special offers subject to availability and conditions.

Free Wifi on Reef Endeavour

Captain Cook Cruises Fiji Executive Director, Jackie Haworth-Charlton today announced passengers could enjoy free Wifi on-board the MV Reef Endeavour operating the company’s three, four, seven and eleven night cruises in Fiji.

Free Wifi is now accessible in the ships Tabua Suites and Wifi is available in the Yasawa Lounge, Pool Deck and on the Sundeck.

Although Captain Cook Cruises itinerary involves visiting remote islands and villages, the company has found 3G is available from most of their anchorages.

“We can offer free WiFi to passengers due to a sneaky aerial on the upper most mast above the Sundeck.

It means passengers can connect with their loved ones and even just find out what is happening in the world on any of our three, four and seven night Yasawa Island and Discovery cruises.” Explains Jackie Haworth-Charlton, Executive Director, Captain Cook Cruises Fiji.

Captain Cook Cruises Fiji has also appointed Viti Water Sports, a five star PADI operator, to look after their passenger's diving and snorkelling activities on the MV Reef Endeavour and on their Tivua Island day cruise.

“Our Fiji cruise passengers normally get the opportunity to dive twice a day and our on-board PADI dive operator, Viti Water Sports manages and operates these dives. Dive opportunities are at an additional cost and are available for both certified and ‘first time’ divers.

Diving in Fijian water is an unforgettable experience. Divers are taken by Viti Water Sports experienced divers, who accompany passengers on every dive to amazing dive locations where divers swim through caves, coral bommies and see breathtaking coral gardens and sea creatures.” Says Ms Charlton.

Captain Cook Cruises Fiji operate three, four and seven night cruises on-board the MV Reef Endeavour. Early Booking Savers fares start from AUD$796 per person twin share for a three day cruise and all cruise prices include on-board accommodation, all meals, guided village and island tours, glass bottom boat excursions, snorkelling, Wifi, on board entertainment and use of the ship's facilities including swimming pool, spa, pool bar, sun deck, sauna, cocktail bar, day spa and library.

TripAdvisor Acquires Jetsetter.com

Two leading travel private sale sites, Jetsetter and SniqueAway, now under one roof

TripAdvisor®, Inc. today announced it has acquired Jetsetter.com, a leading members-only private sale site for hotel bookings. The Jetsetter brand will continue to operate out of New York City and will be incorporated into Smarter Travel Media.

"Jetsetter is an outstanding brand and I am absolutely delighted to welcome the Jetsetter team to the TripAdvisor family," said Steve Kaufer, co-founder and CEO TripAdvisor, Inc. "With Jetsetter and our own SniqueAway brand, we now have two leading travel private sale sites under one roof. We are excited by the opportunities this provides to continually help drive amazing value for our travelers staying at some of the world's most highly-rated hotels."

"In a short span of time, Jetsetter has emerged as a premier player in the travel space, and we are proud of what the team has accomplished," said Michelle Peluso, CEO, Gilt. "There are strong synergies between Jetsetter and TripAdvisor and we are confident that having Jetsetter be part of the TripAdvisor group will further accelerate its growth."

Terms of the acquisition will not be disclosed.

About TripAdvisor
TripAdvisor® is the world's largest travel site*, enabling travelers to plan and have the perfect trip. TripAdvisor offers trusted advice from real travelers and a wide variety of travel choices and planning features with seamless links to booking tools. TripAdvisor branded sites make up the largest travel community in the world, with more than 200 million unique monthly visitors**, and over 100 million reviews and opinions. The sites operate in 30 countries worldwide, including China under daodao.com. TripAdvisor also includes TripAdvisor for Business, a dedicated division that provides the tourism industry access to millions of monthly TripAdvisor visitors.

TripAdvisor, Inc. (NASDAQ: TRIP) manages and operates websites under 19 other travel media brands: www.airfarewatchdog.com, www.bookingbuddy.com, www.cruisecritic.com, www.everytrail.com, www.familyvacationcritic.com, www.flipkey.com, www.holidaylettings.co.uk, www.holidaywatchdog.com, www.independenttraveler.com, www.onetime.com, www.seatguru.com, www.sniqueaway.com, www.smartertravel.com, www.tingo.com, www.travel-library.com, www.travelpod.com, www.virtualtourist.com, www.whereivebeen.com, and www.kuxun.cn.

*Source: comScore Media Metrix for TripAdvisor Sites, worldwide, January 2013

**Source: Google Analytics, worldwide data, January 2013

First Commercial Flight for Air Pacific A330

Air Pacific Provides "Sneak Peek" of First New Airbus A330, 'Island of Taveuni

Air Pacific (soon to be Fiji Airways in June) operated an inaugural (pre-Fiji Airways) "sneak peek" commercial flight with its first new Airbus A330-220 and new branding to Auckland this morning (Tuesday 2 April), reflecting the commitment of Fiji's national carrier to one of its most important markets - New Zealand.

As Fiji's flying ambassador, Air Pacific flies tens of thousands of Kiwi holiday-makers and locally based Fijian nationals to the friendly Fiji islands every year.

"New Zealand is an essential part of our global network, and we are excited to be replacing our venerable B747s with new state-of-the art A330 aircraft that come equipped with the latest in passenger comfort and in-flight entertainment features," said Dave Pflieger, Air Pacific's Managing Director and CEO.

"With a history spanning more than 60 years, in June, Air Pacific will be returning to its 1951 roots with new 'Fiji Airways' branding as well as new service, new product, and new crew uniforms that are authentic, distinctive and true to our friendly Fijian culture and heritage," he said.

The airline is offering New Zealanders an early preview of just the plane at this point, since the remainder of the new branding and new service model will not be rolled out until June 2013.

The first aircraft, which has been designed exclusively for Fiji's national carrier, is named after one of Fiji's 333 beautiful islands, the Island of Taveuni, also known as 'The Garden Island' – a nod to the airline's heritage.

"Our new planes and stunning new branding is already a great source of pride among the Fijian community, in Fiji and here in Auckland. "Air Pacific punches well above its weight for a relatively small airline. It is one of only seven airlines to operate multiple international routes from New Zealand, and is the only airline that offers a daily business class service from New Zealand to Fiji and on to Los Angeles and Hong Kong."

"We already pride ourselves on our ability to deliver award-winning world-class service to our guests from New Zealand, Australia, the U.S. and beyond, and we think we will have a truly winning combination when we combine our superb people with fantastic new wide-body aircraft--the first wide-body planes our airline has ever purchased. As the only airline to offer a truly Fijian experience as soon as guests step on board, we believe our new aircraft will allow everyone to relax and start their vacation before they step foot in beautiful Fiji itself" added Pflieger.

As a full service airline that provides clients with complimentary beverages, snack meal, onboard entertainment and one piece of checked in luggage of up to 23kgs, Air Pacific's exceptional service is also evident in their daily Business Class product when guests fly from New Zealand to Fiji.

Fiji Airways will be operating daily connections from across 17 domestic New Zealand cities to feed into international flights for Auckland to Nadi. Further, a total of 13 flights a week from New Zealand to Fiji will take place in 2013 (including CHC-NAN, AKL-SUV & AKL-NAN).