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Travel Expert Stephanie Abrams, host of the nationally syndicated “Travel with Stephanie Abrams!” radio show remarks that when a hotel is wrapped in historical significance it heightens the visitor's experience. She says it is better still when the staff of that hotel knows how to pamper you. She sites the Omni Parker House Hotel in Boston, Massachusetts as embodying both these traits. The Omni Parker House Hotel is the longest continuously operated hotel in the United States. Its doors opened in 1855. The building was initially much smaller but Harvey Parker, founder and owner of the property, added additional buildings. In 1925 a large portion of the original building was demolished by the current owners and a new structure was built on the site. Everything has been preserved since that time. The brass features on the exterior are maintained on a monthly basis. John Murtha, General Manager of the Omni Parker House Hotel says that maintaining “old buildings are often a labor of love” as they require much attention and care.
Stephanie was recently a guest of the hotel and commented on the beautiful display in the lobby. When she walked in she first took note of the European style of the property, rich in dark woods, carvings, and classic ornamentation. She then saw a table with a gorgeous floral arrangement of sunflowers and Howden pumpkins. Murtha states that this display is appreciated by most guests. As general manager he is often “checking the pulse” of the property and speaking to visitors. Another example of a small added feature is that the hoteliers have provided a scent diffuser in the lobby.
Charles Dickens was a frequent guest of the hotel in the late 1800's. He stayed on the Mezzanine Level at the Parker House to read aloud “A Christmas Carol” to a US audience for the first time. There was a large mirror in his quarters which he used to rehearse. It is hung in a public space of the hotel today and is called the “Dickens mural”. Several other major figures who were frequent guests of the hotel include Hawthorne, Emerson and Longfellow. The three men met during the last Saturday of every month at the Parker House in what became known as the “Saturday Club”. This was a tradition they shared for decades and was an opportunity for them to share projects with one another. The idea for the Atlantic Monthly magazine was born out of this. Drafts of “Paul Revere's Ride” were also shared during these meetings.
The tremendous history of the hotel extends into the 20th century. The Parker House was situated across from Old City Hall (the building home to the Boston city council from 1865 to 1969) and was often used for political events. Notable politicians include James Michael Curley and JFK's grandfather when he was mayor of Boston. John F. Kennedy made his first public speech at his grandfather's birthday party at the Parker House. The Parker House was also where he proposed to the then Jaclyn Bouvier (the table location of the engagement is still noted in the hotel's restaurant), had his bachelor party and announced his first run for congress.
Beyond iconic American history the Parker House is also a pilgrimage site for foreign diplomats from Vietnam. Ho Chi Minh worked at the Parker House circa 1912 as a baker making Parker House rolls and Boston cream pies prior to moving on to the role of Prime Minister of Vietnam and later President. Every three years Vietnamese executives or politicians still come to the hotel. The property still houses the marble table top Ho worked on.
The Parker House is renowned for a couple of other unique features. Its restaurant proudly provides Scrod (or schrod) describing the fresh fish of the day usually a meaty white fish. This term is linked to early Parker House history as well. The hotel also has become a site for those interested in ghost sightings. The Parker House staff noticed on trip advisor that a couple had documented a recent sighting. The husband had a sensation at the hotel in the middle of the night. At dinner with his wife the next day he described the feeling. She admitted she had the same feeling around the same time. The two independently made drawings on two separate cocktail napkins of what they thought they had seen. When they compared them, the drawings were nearly identical. Murtha states this kind of story is consistent with what they heard from other people.
Travelers411 Community Forums - This interview's thread
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For more information visit http://www.omnihotels.com
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“Travel with Stephanie Abrams!” will be broadcasting live from the Riviera Nayarit region of Mexico during the end of October and Stephanie will be in the Riviera Maya the following week to attend a wedding that was postponed due the health advisories issued by the US in regards to travel to Mexico during the initial reports of Swine Flu. The listener had heard about the Blue Bay Resorts' Riviera Maya Grand Esmeralda on her show.
Stephanie highlights a recent news item she read: “British Air Launches JFK/London Route”. The article said that the new passage was aimed at high-fair paying financial industry executives. In addition to opening terminal five at Heathrow (in which all British Air flights visit) the new plan also controls the environment for the traveler. Stephanie says that Heathrow is a difficult airport to navigate and this route allows for customers to fly direct. The Airbus Model # A318 the company uses normally holds one hundred and twenty three seats. They took out all seats and reconfigured the aircraft to hold only thirty two seats that lie flat. There was recently an essay contest with ten winners who wrote on why they deserved roundtrip tickets to help their business grow in London. They will be flying the JFK/London route.
For more information visit http://www.airbus.com
The Fairmont Miramar Hotel and Bungalows is a chic and elegant, yet casual hotel with beach surroundings. Los Angeles is a spread out city and visitors often have to travel long distances between locations. Santa Monica offers beaches, chic shops and a centralized community rather than the urban sprawl of many LA county communities. Sam Jagger, Director of Sales and Marketing for the Fairmont Miramar Hotel and Bungalows, previously worked with a boutique hotel company. He had also briefly worked in Las Vegas and says he has now moved to one of the most beautiful cities in California and to what is basically the “center of LA”.
The property was originally owned by Senator Jones of Nevada who along with his wife came to the city when there was very little development. The property also has strong ties to Hollywood. It was the summer home of movie stars from the 1930's and 40. The Fairmont is meant to compliment a sprawling property line with private residential quarters, what Jagger refers to as, the “quintessential California bungalows”. Notable celebrities include Greta Garbo and Doris Day as well as American presidents from each decade of the 20th century.
Jagger states that the bungalows are extremely exclusive and discreet. They reside on a five acre site and provide an “urban oasis”. All Bungalows overlook the garden of the hotel. The four unique bi-level bungalows have their own saunas, two bathrooms, and bedrooms which have views of the Pacific.
The Fairmont has teamed up with Raymond Garcia to open Fig, a seasonal bistro and independent restaurant. Fig is partnered with local farmers markets to obtain fresh, organic, local product. The hotel also has a “regional forger” on staff who sources out the finest organic products throughout California. As a result the menu changes seasonally (depending on what's available). The restaurant has become a big hit with the community. Eighty-five percent of customers are locals. The restaurant offers “Fig at 5”, a sampling of wine and cheese. The restaurant offers cheese & charcuterie plates at $5 USD each.
An upcoming event in Santa Monica is Cirque du Soleil. The famous circus art performance act is returning to the city after an interim of twenty five years.
Travelers411 Community Forums - This interview's thread
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For more information visit http://www.fairmont.com/santamonica
Fun Facts:
Howden Pumpkins were developed by John Howden in the early 1970's at Howden Farm in Sheffield, Massachusetts.
French chef M. Sanzian invented Boston cream pie at Boston's Parker House Hotel. It is the official dessert of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
The etymology of scrod is not exactly known but one theory holds that Guy Perry, Maitre D at the Parker House Hotel in Boston, used the term to describe the restaurant's “fresh catch” dish that would be served.
Guests Include:
John Murtha, General Manager, Omni Parker House Hotel, Boston, Massachusetts.
www.omnihotels.com
Sam Jagger, Director of Sales & Marketing, Fairmont Miramar Hotel & Bungalows, Santa Monica, California.
www.fairmont.com/santamonica
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The Platanitos Turtle Camp at Playa Las Tortugas is a destination on the north end of 11 miles of beach branded as “Costa Tortuga” on Mexico's Riviera Nayarit. It is two hours north of the Puerto Vallarta airport but at a distance from all major cities. It is close to some small villages and is just outside the town of Otates. Travelers heading off of Highway 200 will see signs for it and though the site is remote it is easily accessible. Six kilometers of the road to the site run parallel to the beach. This road leads to Playa Las Tortugas' gates and its beautiful villas.
The Costa Tortuga Beach is inhabited this time of year by nesting turtles. Staffing is provided by the government as well as volunteers who come to the camp during hatching seasons. The turtles nest a night. At approximately 9pm every night staff patrols the beach and finds turtles nesting or follows tracks to the nests where eggs have already been laid. They then collect the eggs and take them back to their camp to put in climate controlled incubation sheds. Forty five months after this initial incubation the baby turtles are ready to be released in the ocean. After they swim out it will be another eight years before the females return to nest again.
The Turtle Camp's home is an exceptional place. It lies between the beach and over 1,100 acres of pristine salt-water tidal estuary. Nearby are channels and pools filled with mangroves that are surrounded by a wide variety of flora and fauna. The area is also the home of many species of birds. Just east of the estuary is the beginning of Sierra Madre range, home to native Indian tribes.
Guests of Playa Las Tortugas are given the opportunity to go on a turtle walk or participate in a release. Whoever is on their property always has the opportunity to engage in activities on any given day. The site is built on an old coconut plantation and coconuts are still harvested there. The property is now designed to have a common area with gardens which give an incredible feeling of lushness all around you. Guests are able to walk fifty yards out from the garden area onto an incredible pristine beach. The location is the end of the road so there is no traffic coming through. Property management provides meal service for guests. Suzanne Simmons, Marketing Director for Platanitos Turtle Camp says that the location is an “incredible space to bird watch, whale watch or just lay on the beach reading a book”. It has the both the tranquility and amenities of a tropical resort alongside an environmentally friendly and eco-focused program. Guests do have the option to overnight in one of the property's eleven villas.
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For more information visit http://www.playalastortugas.com and http://www.seaturtlecamp.org
Stephanie has been dismayed by the political pressure on businesses to cut back on business travel. Though business can operate remotely and accomplish many things via fax, video conference, email or by sending documents by courier, none of it is as useful as in person meetings facilitated by travel. Furthermore, for large corporate gatherings away from home representatives need to be restored and revitalized before entering a meeting. Stephanie says a wonderful destination to have a sales meeting, reunion or special event is one of the properties in the Harbor Magic line. “Travel with Stephanie Abrams!” is joined by recent past president of the Boston chapter of SKAL, Bruce Leaver General Manager of Harbor Magic Hotels in Baltimore.
At the 3rd annual Stephanie Abrams Travel Expo at the Colonial Theatre in Pittsfield Stephanie met with Tom Crowley of the Liberty Fleet of Tall Ships based in Boston. In October, Liberty Fleet's featured 125 foot schooner “the Liberty Clipper” will sail out of Boston headed for Baltimore. While in the city the ship will partake in the Great Schooner Race which begins at Fells Point.
Fells Point is a historic maritime section that was the site of much shipbuilding in the 18th century. It was also the center of early 20th century immigration and is the birthplace of the Clipper ship. Baltimore Magic's Admiral Fell Inn is an eighty room historic property located in Fells Point, six blocks west of the group's Pier 5 hotel. It has what Bruce Leaver refers to as the “brick and ivy look”. Every evening there is a Fells Point ghost walk tour available at 7pm. It is a two hour tour and part of which includes discussion of the Admiral Fell's in-resident ghosts. The hotel also hosts ghost tours each Friday and Saturday evening as well as daily afternoon tea and the occasional wine and cheese reception.
Harbor Magic is a marketing brand for several unique boutique hotels located throughout Baltimore's famous Inner Harbor section. The three hotels are incredibly different from one another. The Pier 5 hotel is located on a pier adjacent to the National Aquarium, which is the number one attraction in Baltimore. The hotel has a surf and turf restaurant, a Tuscan grill and a lot of meeting and function space. Pier 5 hosts over 100 weddings a year. There is an outdoor grassy knoll area ideal for ceremonies and a ballroom on the third level of the hotel that looks out over the harbor.
The Brookshire Suites property is an all-suite hotel with 90 guestrooms located at the heart of the Inner Harbor in the business district, three blocks east of the Pier 5. There is an on-site rooftop area called the Cloud Club where guests receive full complimentary breakfast buffets and evening cocktail receptions. On weekends the hotel hosts character breakfast for the kids. The current theme relates to Waterfront Invasion which refers to the current jellyfish exhibit at the aquarium and dinosaur exhibit at the Maryland Science Center.
If you stay at one hotel you can take advantage of the activities available at the other two as well. There is a complimentary shuttle service between all three properties. Guests can choose from certain personalized touches including Godvia chocolates on the pillow and a rose petal turn down service.
Travelers411 Community Forums - This interview's thread
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For more information visit http://www.harbormagic.com
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Newport Rhode Island's Hotel Viking has been described as “Newport's quintessential hotel”. The city attracted a great amount of wealth for more than a century. Today it is an international destination and the sailing capitol of the world. There is much to do and see in the fall season. Newport is easy to get to from all the New England destination points. The city offers many layers of history. It was the playground of the rich and famous and has beautiful marble mansions open to the public. These have only recently been classed as museums. The buildings have retained their original furnishings. The Marble House's ballroom is made entirely of 24 carrot gold leaf. Newport was also a colonial seaport, very important during the peak of seafaring days. Pirates traded in Newport and there are still remnants of pirates' gallows out on Goat Island.
Newport hosts many concerts and art festivals year round as well as many activities specially geared to children. There is an 1950's carousel on Easton's First Beach. The city also lets visitors “decompress” by enjoying the beaches, the cliff walks and the waterfront shops. The wealthy members of the community brought specimen trees from around the world when they moved to Newport. Bellevue Avenue is the longest street in Newport lined with beautiful two hundred year old trees. Marlen Scalzi, Director of Sales and Marketing for the Hotel Viking, says that “to see them in crimsons, golds and oranges is pretty spectacular”.
The Hotel Viking is eighty three years old. Marlen Scalzi says that recent renovations have returned the property to its turn of century grander. The hotel also has a marvelous spa which was added in 2003. SpaTerre is a destination spa that offers Thai and Indonesian ritual treatments. The spa is also open to children between 6 and 13 who wish to try treatment options off of the “Prince and Princess” menu. Older teens get more in-depth skin care advice. Adults soak in tubs full of rose petals.
The property has two hundred and nine rooms; four of these are fireside rooms with working fireplaces. There are also sixteen suites which Marlen Scalzi says “are great for families”. The Viking Hotel is a member of historic hotels of America and is rooted in the history of the community that it serves.
There is the section of the website for booking which offers last minute deals. There are also falls saving packages which include a percentage off the room rate, complimentary breakfast and complimentary parking. These rates are available through November.
Travelers411 Community Forums - This interview's thread
http://www.travelers411.com/forums/showthread.php?t=663
For more information visit http://www.hotelviking.com
Fun Facts:
Baltimore is affectionately known as “charm city”. "Charm City" is a nickname coined by advertiser Bill Evans. The phrase has sometimes falsely been attributed to Baltimore magazine editor H. L. Mencken. It first appeared in 1974 in a mass advertising campaign. The city put up signs that year that said "Smile, you're in Baltimore” and the Baltimore Promotion Council also launched a campaign to promote the term "Charm City, U.S.A.”
Francis Scott Key wrote “the Star-Spangled Banner” after witnessing Royal Navy ships attack Fort McHenry during the Battle of Baltimore. The flag that was flown at the fort remains in a museum in Baltimore today.
Kinsale, Ireland is a sister city of Newport, Rhode Island, USA.
Guests Include:
Suzanne Simmons, Marketing Director, Platanitos Turtle Camp & Playa Las Tortugas.
www.playalastortugas.com
www.seaturtlecamp.org
Bruce Leaver, General Manager, Harbor Magic Hotels, Baltimore, Maryland.
www.harbormagic.com
Marlen Scalzi, Director of Sales & Marketing, Hotel Viking, Newport, Rhode Island.
www.hotelviking.com
Topics Include:
Breezes Resorts is a line of super-inclusive holiday destinations. Breezes resorts include: Breezes Costa do Sauipe in Brazil, Breezes Grand Negril in Jamaica, Breezes Rio Bueno in Jamaica, Breezes Trelawny in Jamaica (formerly a Starfish property) Breezes Runaway Bay in Jamaica, Breezes Bahamas, Breezes Curacao in the Southern Caribbean, the recently launched Breezes Buzios in Brazil and Breezes Panama which had its world opening October 1, 2009. Paul Pennicook, President of International Lifestyles says that “Breezes have arrived in the Pacific Ocean”.
SuperClubs resorts properties have recently been rebranded to Breezes properties. The rebranding has meant dropping some services that the group formerly carried. These include providing manicures and pedicures, dry-cleaning and laundry and 24 hour room service. The group will however provide 24 hour room service to all suites at Breezes Rio Bueno and Breezes Grand Negril. Pennicook says that service standards at the rebranded properties will be the same as those guests have become accustomed to at SuperClub resorts.
The brand is also meant to be more upbeat and uses the tagline “the playful side of paradise”. The group is still catering to everyone including families, singles and couples. Breezes Costa do Sauipe in Brazil, Breezes Panama, Breezes Curacao in the Caribbean, and Breezes Trelawny in Jamaica are all family-friendly resorts. The remaining resorts do not accept people under the age of fourteen. SuperClubs is to be considered like a holding company. The brand Breezes has been operating for several years so the shift is not drastic but is intended to make marketing more efficient. The exception to this is with the two Hedonism brands. These will remain under SuperClubs. They are uniquely different properties because they focus on the constant pursuit of pleasure and practicing a hedonistic lifestyle.
Travelers411 Community Forums - This interview's thread:
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For more information visit http://www.breezes.com
President and CEO of InsureMyTrip.com Jim Grace recently visited Ireland with his family. He joins “Travel with Stephanie Abrams!” to give a full account of the experience. Grace states that the three week vacation was an “Irish immersion”. The Grace family started out in Belfast and worked their way south. Outside Derry they stayed at the Beech Hill Country House which was Jim's wife's favorite hotel of the trip. Grace states that the rooms were absolutely gorgeous, comfortable and a nice size. Before dinner the staff sat the family in a parlor with a live fire. When dinner was ready they walked them to their seat. Grace says that both the service and food were excellent. The history of the Beech Hill Country House is also phenomenal. The property was the European headquarters of the United States Navy during the Second World War. Marines guarded the whole North Sea area from the estate and their barracks were located down by the water.
Stephanie is writing a guide book about Ireland and she recently sat down at a book store with a bunch of guide books to thumb through. She read a fairly negative review of the Saint Patrick Centre which stated that the exhibit overcharged and was a waste of time. Stephanie found this outrageous. She asks Jim about his own experience at the center. Grace states that the facility is beautiful and representatives offer a great walking tour that details Saint Patrick's life. The center and the tour give perspective to the richness of the history. Grace jokes that what Americans know about Saint Patrick's Day is limited to idea of green beer. He says the center steps you through time and Saint Patrick's mission.
The Grace family concentrated their visit in the western parts of Ireland with the exception of Kerry and Limerick. They also spent time in Northern Ireland and the northern part of the Republic of Ireland in the peninsular region of Inishowen. Inishowen is the County of Donegal and its most northern part is Malin Head. While they were there they stayed at Inishowen Gateway Hotel.
From the Beech Hill Country House the Graces spent part of the day with John Thompson, Director of the Amelia Earhart Centre. This museum is located on the site of Earhart's crash landing in Derry during her transatlantic crossing. Local government is talking about closing the museum and Thompson is fighting hard to keep it open as he recognizes its potential as a tourist draw.
Martin McCrossan of Derry City Tours gave the Graces a tour of Derry and explained the history of the city. McCrossan also does tours of other places in Northern Ireland. The family also stopped at Fort Dunree which was the base for the Grand British Fleet during World War II where they protected waterways from incoming U-Boats. The family next went to Lough Eske Castle which Grace describes “5-star all the way”. They took pictures of the unusual sculptures in the garden. After Lough Eske they visited Lough Inagh and the village of Cnocsuin. Lough Inagh is set in the beautiful mountains of the Connemara Valley. The Grace family went on a hike through the mountains and encountered two wild white horses and later two donkeys. They were followed three quarters of the way up their hike by the horses. Grace says that there are a lot of wildlife and a lot of sheep in Ireland.
Stephanie recommends returning to Ireland in early December. The Belvedere House Gardens and Park in Westmeath Ireland have a Chronicle of Narnia event. Doors of a wardrobe at the property open up and guests can step into a Narnia recreation.
Travelers411 Community Forums - This interview's thread
http://www.travelers411.com/forums/showthread.php?t=665
For more information visit http://www.insuremytrip.com/, http://www.belvedere-house.ie/ and http://www.discoverireland.ie/west
Fun Facts:
Road signs in Northern Ireland use the city of Derry's official name “Londonderry”. The Republic of Ireland use “Derry” on its official road signs.
Guests Include:
Paul Pennicook, President, International Lifestyles.
www.breezes.com
Jim Grace, President & CEO, InsureMyTrip.com.
www.insuremytrip.com
