Elite Insider - July 2, 2014
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With summer in full swing, Insider turns the spotlight on great luxury breaks that run the gamut from family fun to international intrigue. We wish our American readers a happy July 4th holiday and everyone a relaxing and rewarding summer.
Warmest regards,
The Schwabs
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A New View in Genoa
Genoa's famous Aquarium (the second largest in Europe) has unveiled a new Cetacean Pavilion that allows visitors to view and hear sea animals through a 24-meter-long glass wall. Through Sept. 15, a family-friendly package at the nearby Hotel Bristol Palace includes aquarium tickets, buffet breakfast, free WiFi and movie and soccer channels, admission to the game-stocked recreation area, and fitness center access. Quadruple and family rooms make the Bristol Palace an ideal choice for travelers with children. |
A Summer Interlude in Moscow
Right in the heart of Moscow, the grand Hotel Metropol puts guests just steps from major attractions such as the Bolshoi and Red Square. And now, the hotel's rich history and ideal location come at a great value. The Summer Interludes package offers savings for travelers that range from 5% on a two-night stay to 15% for four nights. The package must be booked by August 21 for stays through Sept. 7
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Betting on a Bond-worthy Getaway
Casino packages at two Elite hotels have upped the ante on European gaming getaways, 007 style. In Milan, the stylish Townhouse 8 Milano offers a Night at the Casino package, complete with transfers by Bentley to the Casino di Campione d'Italia across the Swiss border, free room upgrade when available, Italian breakfast and free WiFi.
Meanwhile, the historic Palace Luzern in Switzerland has two packages that both include entry to the Grand Casino Luzern, game chips valued at CHF 30, and a four-course dinner at the hotel's Jasper restaurant. Guests who book the All In have the option to look their James Bond best with a tuxedo rental, secured on a chauffer-driven jaunt by Jaguar to Stansstad, for their casino night. The Royal Flush combines casino action with a romantic spa retreat for two.
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Grand Hotel Majestic gia Baglioni
Bologna's most historic hotel also offers its most distinctive guest experience. Guests can tour the Italian countryside by Lamborghini, Maserati, Ferrari, or Ducati motorcycle, then return to the heart of the city for a cooking lesson, unwind in the hotel's Turkish bath, and dine on authentic Bolognese cuisine at its renowned restaurant, I Carracci. Adding to the Grand Hotel Majestic's appeal is its 18th-century palazzo setting atop an ancient Roman road, just steps from shops, theater, the medieval market and the famous Due Torri (Two Towers). Learn more about this exceptional hotel here.
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Elite Bites
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 The stylish At Eight restaurant in Vienna's The Ring Hotel now sports two distinct looks for day ( top picture at left) and evening ( bottom).
In Verona, Italy, the Michelin Guide has  awarded Three Forks to the Due Torri Hotel's Lounge and Restaurant. Executive chef Sergio Maggio's risotto all'amarone, Villeroy veal chop, and mango puree with chocolate mousse were jury favorites.
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Urs Buehrer, Director, Bellevue Palace
 At the helm of The Bellevue Palace in Bern since 2007, Urs Buehrer is credited with breathing fresh energy into the historic hotel, which serves as the official state guest house for the Swiss Confederation. Recognizing his achievement, in 2013 the Sonntagszeitung honored Buehrer as Hotelier of the Year in its prestigious hotel ratings -- capping a monumental year that also marked The Bellevue's 100th anniversary.
Guests' connection to his hotel is an emotional one, says Buehrer. "We tell stories our guests love to hear. Countless pages of history were written here," he notes, pointing out that The Bellevue's guest books date back to 1932 and include countless luminaries, from Hollywood stars like Charlie Chaplin and Sophia Loren to heads of state like Nelson Mandela and Jacques Chirac.
"For decades, The Bellevue has drawn politicians, diplomats and journalists like a magnet. It's a meeting place for travelers and locals alike, a venue for closing business deals and swapping society gossip, and a studio set for film crews." He says that while moviegoers will recognize the hotel and its legendary bar from the 1981 John le Carré spy thriller Smiley's People, The Bellevue also has made headlines over the years in association with true stories of espionage.
What inspires Buehrer most about the world of luxury hospitality? "It's a people business. I enjoy the personal contact with our distinguished guests. Every single day is different, utterly exciting, and fulfilling."
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On the Road with Greg and Jeannie
    Greg was barely home from his African adventure before he and Sandy were back in flight and headed to Jerusalem to visit new Elite member the American Colony Hotel. Their whirlwind visit took them to a wealth of famous sites near the hotel, from the Wailing Wall to the Yad Vashem Museum, and from the Mount of Temptation to the Dead Sea. Meanwhile, Jeannie heads to New York City at the beginning of July, then back to the West Coast for three weeks of sales calls leading into August's Virtuoso Travel Week in Las Vegas. Accompanying her through San Francisco, Southern California, and Arizona will be hoteliers from Baur au Lac, 51 Buckingham Gate Taj Suites and Residences, Hotel Metropol Moscow, Elite's new South African hotels from the Sun International collection, and the Seiler Hotels in Zermatt. |
Hot Spots
What to do and see in Elite destinations this season:
The National Gallery
London, U.K.
April 30 - Sept. 21, 201
Various venues
Zurich, Switzerland
June 13 - July 13, 2014
Arena di Verona
Verona, Italy
June 20 - Sept. 7, 201
Various outdoor venues
New York, NY
June 23 - July 10, 201
Rossini's La GazzettaOpera St. Moritz
The Kulm Hotel
St. Moritz, Switzerland
June 26 - July 12, 2014
Jungfrau, Switzlerland
July 4-10, 2014
Hampton Court Palace
London, England
Gurten Park
Bern, Switzerland
Buckingham Palace
London, England
Aug. 2 - Sept. 28, 2014
Various venues
Bern, Switzerland
Various venues
Zurich, Switzerland
August 14-31, 2014
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 Travel writer Kevin Richberg does his best to convey the massive scale of Victoria Falls, just a stone's throw from the Royal Livingstone Hotel, in this video posted June 23 on Huffington Post. (Stay tuned for more information on our new African member hotels!) In other news, Conde Nast Traveler has reviewed four great travel apps that make booking, organizing and navigating your next trip a breeze. |
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The Elite International Luxury Hotels Portfolio EUROPE Alain Ducasse Restaurants - Alain Ducasse Cooking School La Bastide de Moustiers, Provence- Hostellerie de l'Abbaye de la Celle, Provence Hotel Bristol Palace, Genoa - Due Torri Hotel, Verona - Grand Hotel Majestic Gia Baglioni, Bologna Hotel Bernini Palace, Florence - Home in Italy Private Villas - Seven Stars Galleria, Milan Townhouse 8 Milano Townhouse 12 Milano - Townhouse 31 Milano - Townhouse 33 Milano - Townhouse Street Milano Goldoni Townhouse Street Milano Duomo - Townhouse 70 Torino - The Beaumont Hotel, London The Kulm Hotel, St. Moritz - Mont Cervin Palace, Zermatt - Hotel Schoenegg, Wengen
Grand Hotel Wien, Vienna - The Ring Hotel, Vienna - Thurnhers Alpenhof, Zurs/Arlberg Hotel Metropol, Moscow
AFRICA
The Royal Livingstone Hotel, Livingstone - The Table Bay Hotel, Cape Town - The Maslow, Johannesburg The Palace of the Lost City, Sun City
MIDDLE EAST Text Link
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