Hotel News We Noted: February 9, 2013

Welcome to this week’s edition of “Hotel News We Noted,” where we round up the week’s best, most interesting and just downright odd news of note in the hospitality world. Have a tip? Send us a note or leave a comment below.

It’s Valentine’s Day: Kindle The Romance With One of Travel’s Richest Names
We’ve been tracking all things over-the-top this Valentine’s Day in an ongoing series, but we couldn’t resist passing on just one more piece of information we came across this week. Enjoy this Business Insider article about 2013’s wealthiest hotel owners in America. No word on the relationship statuses of these wealthy ladies and gentlemen, but we’re sure that girls (and guys) could dream.

Snap a Shoe: Four Seasons Gets Down At Fashion Week
Four Seasons Hotel New York is celebrating New York Fashion Week (now through Valentine’s Day) by offering up #FSShoeCam. The first-ever shoe photo booth will snap photos of the most fabulous shoes seen at fashion week – from booties to heels – worn by bloggers, fashion enthusiasts, Four Seasons guests, and just about anyone who wants to submit a photo. Of course, you could also tweet your own using the hashtag. We’re pretty sure that it’s a good excuse for you to don your most fashion-forward shoes, even if you’re watching live from Topeka, Kansas. Photos will be Instagrammed and Tweeted from @FSNewYork and @FourSeasons.

Haute Hotel Deal of the Week: Loews’ Academy Award Package
Loews Hotels & Resorts is joining in on the Oscar fun by offering guests the Hollywood treatment. Their “Red Carpet Room Service” package would make a great staycation at any of their numerous properties around the country. The package features Loews’ best available rate; a complimentary in-room film, which includes many of this year’s Best Picture contenders like “Life of Pi,” “Argo,” and “Silver Linings Playbook”; a $25 food and beverage credit; and buttered gourmet popcorn delivered to your room. It’s available through the end of the month.

[Image Credit: Loews Hotels]

Loews Hotels help kids eat healthy, build a better lunchbox

Loews Hotels is helping kids eat a little healthier (and give parents some piece of mind.) To celebrate the 20th anniversary of its Good Neighbor Policy, the hotel group launched the “Build a Better Lunchbox” program to promote healthy eating habits and raise funds to support projects in local schools.

Loews Hotels across the U.S. are hosting fundraising events where children and parents will have the opportunity to learn how to build a healthier lunch together, and at the same time support community schools through DonorsChoose.org, Loews’ newest charity partner, a web-based not-for-profit that supports local school projects for individual sponsorship. As the first national hotel partner for DonorsChoose.org, Loews hopes to raise more than $200,000 in total for DonorsChoose.org in 2010.

At the events, each child will receive a specially created Loews Loves Kids lunch bag, an organic cotton lunch bag filled with a coupon for a nutritious berry smoothie at a Loews Hotels, healthy lunch and snack recipe cards, fruit-shaped silly bands, crayons and a $20 donation card for DonorsChoose.org.

Loews Hotels is also partnering with Driscoll’s, a family owned company that has been growing berries for more than 100 years, to educate and introduce kids to the wonderful world of blueberries, raspberries, strawberries and blackberries grown by independent farmers.

What’s in the better lunchbox? We asked Loews for a few of their healthy recipes for kids and received some delicious options! Keep reading for more…
Whole Wheat Turkey-Hummus Wrap Ingredients:

1 Large whole wheat tortilla

¼ Cup Hummus (see Hummus recipe)

¼ Cup crumbled Feta cheese

½ heart of Romaine lettuce

1 4 ounce package of sliced turkey

Method:

1. Cut half inch strips of lettuce using all lettuce.
2. Warm tortilla slightly to make easy to roll.
3. Spread hummus over half of the tortilla.
4. Sprinkle feta on top of hummus.
5. Distribute cut lettuce evenly over hummus and feta.
6. Place sliced turkey over lettuce.
7. Roll the tortilla from the edge closest to you half way through, then fold up both ends and roll the rest of the way.

Hummus

Ingredients:

1 16 oz can of chickpeas or garbanzo beans

1/4 cup liquid from can of chickpeas

3-5 tbsp lemon juice

1 1/2 tbsp tahini

2 cloves garlic, crushed

1/4 tsp of cayenne pepper

1/2 tsp salt

2 tbsp olive oil

1 tsp Chopped parsley

Method:

Drain chickpeas saving the liquid from the can aside. Combine remaining ingredients in blender or food processor. Add 1/4 cup of liquid from chickpeas. Blend for 3-5 minutes on low until smooth. Place in a serving bowl; create a shallow well in the center of the hummus. Add a small amount (1-2 tablespoons) of olive oil in the well. Keep refrigerated.

Very Berry Smoothie

Makes 2 cups

Ingredients

1 ¼ cup Driscoll’s strawberries and blueberries

¾ cup full-fat organic vanilla yogurt

½ cup freshly-squeezed orange juice

1 tablespoon wheat germ

1 tablespoon agave nectar

½ teaspoon vanilla extract

Procedure
1. Place all ingredients into a blender.
2. Whirl until smooth.
Garnish with a strawberry and serve with a curly straw

Eat-‘Em-Up Fruit Kabobs

Makes 8 Kabobs

Ingredients

1 soft, unsalted pretzel cut into eight (8) cubes

8 cubes smoked Gouda (or a child’s specified favorite!)

8 Driscoll’s strawberries

8 cubes ham (optional)

8 Driscoll’s blackberries

8, 12-inch bamboo skewers

Procedure

1. On each skewer, thread one cube of pretzel, cheese, strawberry, ham and blackberry.
2. Repeat with remaining skewers.
3. Can be served with various dips, if desired.

Loews Hotels offers Whoopie Weekends to help sweeten up romance

I love a story with a little sass and sex appeal, so when Loews Hotels’ latest promotion, the Whoopie Weekend, came through my inbox, I was immediately intrigued.

The hotel company is offering those needing a little flicker in their fire a bit of a discount that includes everything from accommodations to marshmallow creme. Here’s what you get with the “Whoopie Weekends” romance package:

Luxury accommodations Indulgent welcome amenity: a make your own Whoopie Pie with marshmallow crème, chocolate mousse and dulce de leche fillings; “Making Whoopie for Two” breakfast in bed or the hotel restaurant; Two “Make Whoopie at Loews” t-shirts; Late checkout

The “Whoopie Weekends” package is based on double occupancy and is valid for one-night stays, Thursday through Saturday nights, now through February 2011. Pricing ranges from $124 at the Loews Ventana Canyon in Arizona to $294 at Loews Santa Monica Beach Hotel in California.

Loews Regency Hotel teams up with NY Yankees to offer hotel packages

Who needs Yanks tickets? If you didn’t get your pick this season, Loews Regency has a deal for you. The Loews Regency Hotel on Park Avenue has two new “Pinstripes on Park” offers perfect for Yankee fans wanting to see their champions at Yankee Stadium this season.

The hotel’s line up of packages range from $489 for the “Home Base” package (includes luxury accommodations and main level tickets) to $1,665 for the deluxe “Suite Steal”, which includes field level seats and luxury accommodations in a one bedroom suite.

Pinstripes on Park — Home Base $489

  • Accommodations for two in a Luxury King room
  • Beer and pretzel welcome amenity
  • Two “Light Green” Main level tickets at Yankee stadium
  • $10 Metrocard and directions to and from Yankee Stadium via NYC Transit

Pinstripes on Park – Suite Steal $1,665

  • Accommodations for two in a luxury One Bedroom Suite
  • Beer and pretzel welcome amenity
  • Full American Breakfast for two in 540 Park or from Room Service
  • Two “Red” Field Level tickets to Yankee Stadium
  • Luxury sedan to and from Yankee Stadium from Capricorn

Packages are available from July 1 – Sept. 23, 2010, and must be booked a minimum of 14 days prior to the selected game.

Loews Hotels launches ‘romantic’ Twitter contest

If you’re not on Twitter and haven’t reaped the benefits of Twitter-only travel deals that hotels and airlines are continually promoting, you’re missing out on some great offers. This latest one comes courtesy of Loews Hotels and it’s for romantics-only (not really, but play along for the prize).

The Loews Hotels Twitter-only contest offers hopeless romantics the opportunity to win a variety of romance-themed prizes, just in time for Valentine’s Day. Starting Monday, Feb. 8 through Friday, Feb. 12, one romantic movie trivia question will be posted on @Loews_Hotels Twitter page at 11am EST. The first follower to answer the trivia question correctly will win a DVD and a $50 food and beverage credit good for use at participating Loews Hotels. Of the five daily winners, Loews will choose one Grand Prize winner at random to receive Loews Hotels’ new “Drive-In Movie” package, which includes: 2-night weekend stay at a Loews city property of his/her choice; complimentary parking; daily in-room movies and popcorn from the lobby “concession stand.”

Daily winners and the Grand Prize winner will be announced on the @Loews_Hotels page. More information and official contest rules can be found here.