Destination News - Hotel, Resort & Spa Europe.

New York, Geneva (AirGuide - Destination News - Hotel, Resort & Spa Europe) Jun 19, 2011

Best Western Hotels The first Best Western PLUS hotel opened in Moldova's capital city, offering guests well appointed rooms with modern amenities that are designed to suit the needs of both business and leisure travelers. The iconic hotel chain has opened approximately 765 Best Western PLUS hotels around the world since launching its three-descriptor strategy in early 2011, 16 of which are in Europe. Located in the heart of Chisinau only 12km from Chisinau International Airport, the Best Western PLUS Flowers Hotel has 40 rooms including four suites, with available kitchenettes. It is located close to the financial and historical districts of the city, and to all major cultural attractions. In addition to a full-service restaurant and complimentary full breakfast, it offers a cocktail lounge, mobile phone rental, live entertainment, steam room and pool, a business center, free parking and a host of other services and amenities as listed on www.bestwestern.com/md/PlusFlowersHotel. Jun 16, 2011

Romantik Hotels Romantik Hotels & Restaurants received above-average guest satisfaction reports during recent external audits. The latest survey results were released at a recent Romantik Hotels & Restaurants International Shareholders' meeting in Mallorca, Spain. New guests tend to be younger (50 percent are under 46 years old) than the existing loyal guests (65 percent are over 47 years old), but the overall average age of guests remained steady. Many of these new guests tend to be female, which can be a direct result of the outstanding wellness offered at many hotels. In keeping with the romantic theme, 75 percent of guests are married or in a relationship. Referrals account for 40 percent of bookings. Not surprisingly, there has been continued growth in Internet bookings, and 30 percent now book via Internet. Some 90 percent of the quality checks showed above-average grades from existing guests. For more information, visit www.romantikhotels.com. Jun 14, 2011

Sofitel Hotels On June 21, 2011, every Sofitel location will temporarily become an ambassador of the Fte de la Musique. First held in France on June 21, 1982, the first day of summer in the northern hemisphere, the Fte de la Musique (Music Festival) was soon exported; today, it is an annual, international, unifying event. It is only natural for Sofitel, the international French hotel brand, to help celebrate this major cultural event around the world. From Paris to Washington, Melbourne, Buenos Aires and Marrakech, Sofitel locations on five continents will join the party with a natural blend of French elegance and the best of local culture. A piano soloist in the lobby, an intimate concert at the bar, a jazz band by the poolEeach hotel will offer its own themed event as a tribute to Music. In Greater China, Sofitel Macau Ponte 16 joins hands with Alliance Franaise for an evening French jazz and cuisine. The Greslebin trio will bring the audience a chic musical evening accompanied by a divine buffet dining experience at Mistral Restaurant, featuring live French Oysters, Foie Gras, Escargot, French cheese, desserts and free flowing French sparkling wine for guestsO enjoyment. In Sofitel Fiji Resort & Spa, Latin inspired music and Fijian melodies will be performed live at Breeze Bar and Salt Restaurant. Guests will be treated to a Kava Ceremony, an opportunity to taste the traditional Fijian beverage and enjoy complimentary nibbles at Salt Restaurant while a limited Latin inspired menu will be available at Breeze Bar. Jun 17, 2011

Voyages Jules Verne Voyages Jules Verne Launches Enhanced Service for Autumn 2011. Voyages Jules Verne has announced the introduction of scheduled flights to its popular program of escorted tours in Jordan. Replacing the charter arrangement from Gatwick to Aqaba, clients will now fly from Heathrow to Amman with British Midland International (bmi), enjoying a number of additional benefits that include Saturday departures, an extended season (which means a wider choice of departures over a longer peiord), free connecting bmi flights from Manchester (supplement for other regional airports) and an upgraded flight option where customers can fly in even greater comfort in Business Class (additional cost). Travelling on scheduled flights will also extend the duration of each itinerary, enabling Voyages Jules Verne clients to spend an extra night in Jordan, staying at an additional location. For example, VJV's 15-night Grand Tour of Jordan itinerary now includes a stay at the luxurious Evason Ma'in Hot Springs & Six Senses Spa as well as an upgrade to its standard accommodation in Tala Bay, which is now the five-star Radisson Blu Resort. The eight-night Discover Jordan tour now features a night at the Dead Sea - staying either at the four-star Holiday Inn Resort or the new five-star Mvenpick Resort & Spa (additional cost). Whilst it would be understandable to expect all these extra benefits to incur an additional cost, Voyages Jules Verne has managed to maintain prices across its Jordan programme - reinforcing the company's reputation for offering the best possible value to its clients. And there's even better news on the budgeting front in the form of an Early Booking Offer as customers can now reserve their place on a Jordan tour by 30 June 2011 and enjoy a [pounds sterling]50 pp reduction on advertised prices. 2012 promises to be a big year for Jordan, as it celebrates the 200th anniversary of the re-discovery of Petra by Swiss explorer Johann Ludwig Burckhardt as well as the 50th anniversary of the filming of Lawrence of Arabia. And, with the country currently experiencing a temporary drop in tourism, there really is no better time to see Jordan 'while the tourist crowds are away'. Voyages Jules Verne's 2011/12 Jordan holidays programme offers a choice of four itinerates including Petra to the Pyramids, Jordan's Red Sea & Petra, Discover Jordon and Grand Tour of Jordon. Jun 15, 2011

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