BBC could be on its way to becoming the most extravagant broadcasting corporation ever, for they are planning to send about 84 of their journalists to South Africa. Now what makes that so horrendous? Well, BBC is going to spend £1million at the 110-room Mandela Rhodes Place in Cape Town.

Room rents there cost about £270 and £636 per night. Some of the cool facilities that they would get to enjoy are three gourmet restaurants, a trendy bar, one of the South African city’s hottest jazz venues. In fact, BBC has already been screwed by many people for using tax payers money to send 295 staff to the World Cup in South Africa.

Considering how dismal British performance has been, both on economic, political and sport fronts, this kind of expenditure is surely going to create a lot of bad press, in rival broadcast and print corporations of course. It would be cool to see if the Brits win any medals or not, or if they shall bring back some South African souvenirs like tribal art instead of the coveted medals. BBC will really be scrutinized!

Via: The  Sun

Hilton is a name that has been always famous for its brand of hotels. The world wide chain of Hilton hotels have gained such trust and respect that anyone who wants to stay luxuriously would always check into the nearest Hilton. With that in mind, Hilton Worldwide’s portfolio of brands garnered a number of awards in the Business Travel News 2010 U.S. Hotel Chain Survey. Hampton Hotels is Hilton Worldwide’s brand and it won an unprecedented 11 of 12 categories.

The different areas in which the Hampton Hotels won awards are “Arranging Group and Individual Travel,” “Corporate Rate Programs,” “Commission Payment Systems,” “Food Quality,” “Staff,” “Physical Appearance,” “In-Room Amenities,” “Business Amenities,” “Business Center” and “Overall Price/Value Relationship.”

The next time you visit some place, making sure that you stay at one of the Hilton Worldwide hotels would ensure that you receive the best of everything. Moreover, they have hotels all around the world and you could choose to stay in 3,500 hotels in 81 countries. It should not come to us as a

Via BusinessWire

Tourism as a source of revenue is important for every country as long as it is blessed either with natural scenic or concrete beauty. Cambodia seems to have the best of both. With a view to further bolster its revenue from casino segment; it has launched the Titan King Casino in the province of Svay Rieng, right at the Cambodia Vietnam Border.

Claiming to be the largest hotel casino in Cambodia, Titan King would have the latest in gaming tables and gaming machines. An exclusive luxury boutique hotel would be attached to the casino with special Junket, VIP and VVIP suites. The President claims that guests can scale on luxury and entertainment whilst staying at their hotel.

The casino is located on the Land of Bavet which intends to go parallel with other entertainment hubs like Las Vegas and Macau. Gamblers across the globe will now have a new destination to splurge their green bucks. The head honcho of Titan King, Kith Thieng, has the Prime Minister Hun Sen as his close contact. Well, I am not hinting at anything, it is just good to know information.
Via WashingtonExaminer

Seattle is known for its boring IT companies and the really interesting grunge music. The contrasting features of the city make it really wild and exciting and loads of people still visit the city for either travel, business or leisure purposes. Moreover, the city is home to a large number of well heeled people who could make use of a great spa.

Not that the city lacked good spas, but the one by Hotel 1000 called Spaahh is one of the best one could ever experience in that city. IT comes with excellent massages to sooth your overstressed muscles, and you would really let out an “aah” or two, thanks to the sensual nature of the massages. They have everything else that is expected in a spa too, and you could expect to have a relaxing massage there.

They also have great facials which would do wonders to your sagging skin. The massages begin at $45 for 30 minute sessions and you could also ask to be picked up from the airport if you are arriving from Britain. The massages are quite affordable and if you were looking forward to spending a great time at a spa, this is it!

Via: Telegraph

San Diego is one of those sunny cities which is inhabited by many people working in the new sectors of technology and information. Moreover, the city has a growing number of tourists who visit and stay for many days and thus there has always been a need for a great hotel that meets the requirements of people.

The luxurious Andaz chain of hotels have thus opened a new branch in San Diego. Andaz San Diego comes with 13 deluxe suites and 4 specialty suites. It would be located in the Gaslamp Quarter of San Diego, the city’s cultural hub. It aims to provide warm and friendly service for that is what most people look for more than anything else. It is one of the most appealing destinations in Southern California.

It comes with the Ivy Entertainment experinece and you could enjoy free VIP passes to the luxury, multi-level Ivy Nightclub. The nightclub features national DJ’s, professional dancers and a VIP bottle service. They have 88 vintage wines and some amazing restaurants as well. Japanese Kobe has opened a branch too!

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Via: Travel Bite

How much would you be ready to spend on your Ramen noodles? $10? or $30? How about spending $110 just for a bowl of ramen? Well, a Japanese restaurateur has begun to dish out bowls of $100 ramen which is being touted as the Five-taste Blend Imperial Noodles. It is served at the Tokyo’s Fujimaki Gekijyo restaurant and comes with 25 years of the restaurateur’s experience.

It is being touted as the top ramen noodles in the world and comes with complex ingredients including top grade Chinese broths, spices, meats and vegetables. It is one of the most intriguing bowls of ramen you could have ever tasted, and I would not be surprised if people start visiting Japan just to have a bowl of this.

However, I still don’t think it is all that expensive, for in my own town there are places where you get a bowl of noodle soup for $50 to $60. I guess it all depends on how you look at it, for in Japan ramen is considered something that is eaten by the poorer folks. And to spend $110 on a bowl of ramen would be akin to something like spending $110 on a bland donut.

Via: Luxury Insider

The hospitality sector is going to raise its bar of excellence as the ‘7 Star Service’ is here. I am not talking about any kind special service rendered by some Asian waiters. It is the name of a training program launched by the Magnums Butlers International, which will help service providers hone their skills to achieve optimum satisfaction of the customers.

It is going to be a 5 day program which will commence on 15th March in Jakarta and 22nd March in Bali. It will not jus be limited to the butlers but all the staff which is concerned in some way or the other with the process of rendering services. It will surely help hotels touch unbelievable standards of perfection and service.

The five day program will focus on the key points like, importance of giving attention to the details and understanding a guest’s unsaid needs, customizing services in accordance with the hotel and the guests, offering the guests an opportunity to unravel the luxuries of the hotel and adding a personal touch to the services.

After a five day’s work they assure you that your staff will have well equipped skills in welcoming the guests, ensuring their comfort and paying attention to their personal hygiene as well!

Luxury also comes in small packages, and the Talbott Hotel can very well justify this statement. This hotel may not cover acres of land but it certainly knows how to impress people. It boasts its small size and clearly understands that people value services over size.

Built in the year 1927 and located in the Gold Coast of Chicago, it claims to have over 500 small hotels in about 65 countries. It also touts itself as the best hotel in Chicago and one of the best hotels in the whole of the United States. While it is a few steps away from the contemporary Michigan Avenue, but still it has managed to preserve the true English ambience in its interiors.

World class service and comfort have already been talked about, but the modus operandi of their advertising campaign drew my attention to it. It displays its chef’s specials, happy meals, discounts on suites and rooms and many more offering, online. This is a very cool concept as it spares the guests any future hassle.

Not only that, you can also book a suit or a room directly on its site by clicking here, without involving any intermediaries.

via:  1) talbotthotel

          2) pr.com/press-release

The Ritz Carlton in Tucson truly reminds you what Tucson is all about, serene plains, the Dove Mountains, Horizon-touching pristine deserts, this is the kind of image you get in your mind when you visit this Ritz. It blends the scenic beauty of that place with its opulence and offers you an indulgence which is worth becoming a memory of a lifetime.

Against the backdrop of dark and gorgeous Tortolita Mountains this luxurious abode will offer you all the amenities and breathtaking views. It is located in the town of Marana, in the northwest of Tucson and spans across 850 acres of land and has 250 rooms.

It not only offers you indoor luxuries and royal treatments but it also offers 20 miles of biking and hiking trails, a splendid golf course, four tennis courts, a 235-foot waterslide  and will let you become a part of the  White Stallion Ranch.

It also has a casita suit and a special 2,100 sq ft Ritz Carlton special suit. It allows its guests to choose from a wide array of plans like the customized home plans, triple villa plan or you could even build your own home in their property!

via: ritzcarlton

Omni Hotels, the four diamond luxury brand is a hallmark destination in Texas. It is now going to use it advantage of impeccable service and charm to wellness brand hailed as Mokara.

It’s the Watermark Hotel and Spa that will pioneer Omni Hotels’ venture into Wellness segment beginning from 1st April. It goes without saying this venture is to get on the leveled playing field with other luxury brands from the hotel industry. The strategy employed here is rebranding existing ones rather than constructing new structures. I believe it’s the idea to get a faster hold on the Wellness and Spa industry because fresh construction equals to a waiting period. With almost 25 hotels under consideration in urban South and North America, the management has shrewdly refrained from spilling any beans of the exact timetable of expansion.

Mokara brand will have its gates of hospitality open for the privileged class of society who wouldn’t mind splurging green bills for weekend treat or relaxation during vacation stays.

Via HotelChatter