Virtuoso Travel Network sees travel market comeback

by Tom Johansmeyer on

The latest study from the Virtuoso Travel Network sees international leisure and luxury travel on a pleasant trajectory, providing a glimmer of hope for the beleaguered travel market. Corporate travel, on the other hand, continues to lag, but that’s a function of the economy and companies that will err on the side of fiscal conservatism for a while.

The member survey by Virtuoso, which consists of travel retailers, reports that 39 percent of respondents se international leisure travel as most insulated from broader econmic pressures, and stays of three-to-five days have continued to go strong (according to 21 percent of respondents). Few see the long vacation and corporate segments as resilient – only 18 percent and 13 pecent, respectively. But, more than half see both the corporate and leisure markets bouncing back in the next six months.

“Many people are not aware that travel represents the world’s largest service industry; that it makes up 9.4 percent of the world’s GDP and 220 million jobs worldwide. Travelers benefit the world economy and deepen world understanding. We are happy to help people travel again while benefiting countries that rely on tourism revenue,” said Virtuoso CEO Matthew D. Upchurch, CTC.

Eighty-one percent of Virtuoso members have reported a year-over-year increase in future bookings, and 80 percent report that sales are up over the last three month.

Daily Pampering: Four Seasons Beirut

by Tom Johansmeyer on


If you aren’t planning to go to Beirut this year … change your flights. After a decade of preparation and five years of construction, the Four Seasons Hotel Beirut has opened its doors. The latest property from this luxury chain may seem to be opening in an unusual place, but guests are already voting for it with their room-nights, lured by the taste of prime cuts of Charolais beef and pairing with local wine on the terrace of The Grill Room. Or, you can relax up on the 26th floor terrace, sitting by the rooftop pool.

Of course, nothing beats the hotel’s spa, a creative statement of white marble and gold mosaics, with a suede-paneled couples suite that boasts a private terrace and Jacuzzi. Back at your guestroom, one of only 230 rooms and suites in the hotel, you’ll have both space and comfort … not to mention a private terrace where you can soak up the Beirut ambience.

Perhaps the greatest benefit to a stay at the Four Seasons Beirut is the insider access that comes from a conversation with the concierges. You’ll be able to gain admittance to art exhibitions and art shows all over the city. The concierges will also help you find religious architecture, Phoenician ruins … and nightclubs and beachside bars.

According to the hotel’s general manager, Stefan Simkovics, Beirut is “one of the sexiest cities in the world: enticing, vain, scarred, beautiful, complex and exciting.”

Get your daily dose of pampering right here.

[Photo by Paul Thuysbaert]

Daily Pampering: Welcome massages in Puerto Vallarta

by Annie Scott on


Villa Premiere Hotel & Spa, a luxury boutique hotel in the paradise that is Puerto Vallarta, Mexico, is offering a few extra free perks to make their property stand out from the crowd. Our favorite? Complimentary welcome massages.

“Getting to paradise for a vacation can often be long and frustrating,” says a rep for the hotel. That’s why when you arrive, they hand you a welcome cocktail and give you a a relaxing anti-stress hand and neck massage. Then, you choose what kind of pillows you’d like in your room and decide whether or not you’d like butler service. The butlers will do everything from unpacking and ironing your clothes to making your dinner reservations and bringing you your morning coffee — just be sure to tip them well.

Complimentary yoga and meditation classes take place all year on the beach, so if you find yourself having a difficult time unwinding (it’s hard to let go of the stress of the work you did to get to your vacation), there’s help.

The AAA Four Diamond, Bahia de Banderas beachfront Villa Premiere Hotel & Spa has 83 elegantly appointed rooms and suites with Mexican art and furnishings, private terraces, generously sized whirlpool tubs and superb ocean views. Rates start at $270 (based on double occupancy). Click here to book.

Want more? Get your daily dose of pampering right here.

Daily Pampering: Spend Valentine’s Day at Turtle Island in Fiji

by Tom Johansmeyer on

There’s only one way to go to Fiji: Turtle Island. The Valentine’s Day deal from this luxury resort is nothing short of incredible. Book five nights in paradise, and you’ll get two more nights free … in beachfront accommodations in a two-room “bure.” And, all meals are covered, including any romantic lunches you want to enjoy on the beach — they’ll be packed to order! The other activities are covered, as well, including sport fishing and SCUBA diving, and once you’re finished exerting yourself, you can relax with two one-hour lomi-lomi (that’s four-handed) massages.

The Turtle Island resort has 14 private beaches, five-star gourmet dining … and those lomi-lomi massages, along with other spa treatments. Personal “bure mamas” will attend to all your needs as you sip top-shelf liquors and champagnes. Only 14 couples are allowed in Turtle Island at a time … one for each private beach!

Here’s where it gets really interesting: if you book by March 31, 2010, you can travel any time by Valentine’s Day in 2011.

Get your daily dose of pampering right here.

Daily Pampering: The Curtain Bluff Babymoon

by Tom Johansmeyer on

Pregnancy is already challenging enough, especially if you’re a first-timer. Moms- and dads-to-be alike need a break from the doctor’s appointments, planning and anxiety that come with bringing a new life into the world. So, when you measure the future in centimeters (you’ll get it if you’re expecting) instead of miles, it’s hard to imagine getting on a plane, regardless of how attractive the destination is.

Before pampering takes on a new meaning – and it will – book a babymoon to Curtain Bluff. The resort, located in Antigua, takes all the thinking out of your vacation, thanks to the all-inclusive pricing. Reserve your stay and your flight, and then just show up. Sleep comfortably in your junior suite (while sleeping is still an option), and have dinner on your balcony overlooking the Caribbean Sea. Sprawl out in the sand, get on a boat or take a swim. Enjoy the last days of pre-parental life with each other.

The spa at Curtain Bluff has prenatal treatments, so be sure to book at least one trip to this den of luxury while you’re in Antigua. The massages are unbeatable, and the skilled professionals know how to navigate both male and female bodies, pregnant and otherwise.

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Get your daily dose of pampering right here.