Valen-Find Sweepstakes Winners Announced

Congratulations go out to Valen-Find Sweepstakes winners of $100 Visa Gift Cards!

The winners were:

Patty H of Breckenridge, MN
Iain M of Woodbridge, VA
Linda F of Middletown, CT
Austin B of Macomb MI 
Sharon H of Medina, OH
Lucy M of Pierrefonds, QB
Anne D of St Fenton MI
Janet P of Oshawa, ON
Natasha S of Webbwood, ON
Sharyn B of Coral Springs, FL
Pierre G of Rouyn-Noranda, QB

Winners, check your mailboxes, as your Visa gift cards will be arriving soon!

Thanks to all who entered and keep checking in with our Facebook page for the next contest!

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Claridge's Says So Long to Gordon Ramsay

Come June, London luxury hotel Claridge's will say so long to Gordon Ramsay's iconic restaurant after a long-term relationship. According to the Financial News, the hotel has said "the time has come...for a new dining direction for Claridge's." The restaurant was part of the first wave of celebrity chef-helmed restaurants,  and was a big hit when it opened in 2001.  Recent days have seen a decline, with the restaurant losing its Michelin Star in 2010. 

But don't worry about Gordon. The explosive host of Hell's Kitchen still has 26 restaurants world-wide.

See details, rates, and more photos of Claridge's >>

Spa Nautica at the Ritz Carlton Marina del Rey

Five Star Alliance's sister publication, Luxury Travel Advisor, recently wrote an article about Ritz-Carlton's Marina Del Ray's new Spa Nautica:

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The Summer Houses of Dar Al Masyaf at Madinat Jumeirah

Dar Al Masyaf is one of the three properties of Madinat Jumeirah Resort. Literally translated, Dar Al Masyaf means summer houses and the property features 29 summer houses comprising 283 rooms and suites with private balconies or terrace areas.

Beautifully appointed, all 283 rooms and suites portray an Arabian theme in keeping with the overall style of the resort. An integrated design means that guests can take either one room or even an entire summer house. Designed for the guest who seeks added privacy within intimate enclaves yet with easy access to all Madinat Jumeirah resort facilities,  the summer houses of Dar Al Masyaf are an ideal refuge. Offering two house types (Gulf and Arabian), each with luxurious guest rooms and suites, the Gulf summer houses offer superb access to the beach and all houses benefit from privileged locations within the resort.

View more photos, read more, or check rates and availability at Dar Al Masyaf at Madinat Jumeirah >>

Eco-Adventures at The Ritz-Carlton Laguna Niguel

Why have an ordinary hotel stay when you can have an eco-adventure?

The Ritz-Carlton, Laguna Niguel, which premiered as the first luxury beach resort along coastal Orange County, is located halfway between San Diego and Los Angeles.  It sits high up on a 150 foot bluff that features cascading views of the Pacific Ocean. 

Set amidst such a beauty, it's not surprising that the luxury hotel has an Eco-Adventure Center that turns the local surroundings into a natural classroom and living laboratory.  The Center offers adventures for all ages, with the aim to encourage sound environmental practices and a deeper respect for nature. 

Sample events and adventures include:

-Garden tours where guest will learn about sustainable gardening practices and about the indigenous flora and fauna of Southern California.  

-Whale-watching excursion to Dana Point, which is the Whale Capital of the West. Blue, Humpback, and Gray Whales are all visible as they migrate along the Pacific Coast.  

-Exploration of Strands Beach. Guests will investigate the local foliage and wildlife of the Dana Point Headlands and learn how they adapt to the ever-changing coast.

-Body Boarding at Salt Creek Beach.  Learn how waves are created, study the effects of a rip current, and discover the longshore drift.  Then cap off all that learning with some body boarding. 

-Snorkeling the kelp forest. Learn about the harmonious and diverse kelp forest and learn what can be done to protect it. 

-Customized programs for groups, including unique team building activites that bring individuals in touch with the ocean, planet, and themselves. 

See rates, details, and more photos of Ritz-Carlton Laguna Niguel >>

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The Kessler Collection Announces Plans for The Grand Bohemian at Historic Power Plant in Savannah

Original article written by Adam Van Brimmer and posted at Savannahnow.com, Savannah Morning News

Richard Kessler's Kessler Collection of hotels has a grand vision for remaking the west end of Savannah, Georgia's River Street.

The hotel developer and Savannah native unveiled his preliminary plans for the Plant Riverside site Thursday during a Savannah City Council workshop. The Grand Bohemian at Historic Power Plant will anchor the $100 million-plus redevelopment of the waterfront property, which straddles the intersection of Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard and River Street.

Redevelopment of the site, which Kessler bought for $9 million on New Year’s Eve, won’t begin for at least a year. Construction will take between 18 months and two years, meaning the hotel will open no earlier than 2016.

The 160-room Grand Bohemian is just one piece of the project. The hotel will be housed in the historic power plant, along with a café, a restaurant and bar, a 3,500-seat ballroom, a 3,000-square-foot art gallery and other upscale retail.

Kessler proposes to build a combination exhibition hall/parking garage to the west of the power plant along the riverfront. The cleared lot east of the power plant, which once was home to the transformer farm, initially will be converted to a grassed plaza and reserved for future development.

Kessler’s project was warmly received by council, a testament to the success of his past development work in Savannah. The Grand Bohemian will be the seventh hotel he’s built in the Historic District since launching his development career in 1970.
 

The Kessler Collection of Hotels:

The Mansion on Forsyth Park in Savannah, GA
Beaver Creek Lodge in Beaver Creek, CO
Kessler Canyon in DeBeque, CO
Grand Bohemian Hotel Orlando in Orlando, FL
The Castle in Orlando, FL
Casa Monica Hotel in St. Augustine, FL
Bohemian Hotel Celebration in Orlando, FL
Bohemian Hotel Savannah in Savannah, GA
El Monte Sagrado in Taos, NM
Grand Bohemian Hotel in Asheville, NC

Image of the Day: Rocpool Reserve Hotel

 Red, not Scottish plaid, is the color du jour in this sitting room at Rocpool Reserve Hotel. 

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Image of the Day: The Raj Palace

Just one of the many majestic rooms at The Raj Palace in Jaipur, India

See rates, details, and more photos of The Raj Palace >> 

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Image of the Day: Art Series The Cullen

One of the many pieces of whimsical art found at Melbourne's Art Series The Cullen

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Grand Hotel Tremezzo Opens for the Season

Five Star Alliance's sister publication, Luxury Travel Advisor, recently wrote an article about Grand Hotel Tremezzo's season opening:  

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