JW Marriott San Antonio Hill Country Resort & Spa Welcomes Its First Guests

Opening Marks Completion of the JW Marriott Brand’s Largest Resort

The luxurious 1002-room JW Marriott San Antonio Hill Country Resort & Spa is the first JW Marriott resort in Texas and offers discriminating travelers an unrivaled experience of natural elegance. Set on 600-acres of rolling hills, meandering creeks and Live Oak trees, guests can relax and explore all just minutes away from San Antonio.

“We are thrilled to welcome our first guests to this magnificent property,” said Arthur Coulombe, general manager of the JW Marriott San Antonio Hill Country Resort & Spa. “Our entire staff has put their hearts into ensuring every guest seamlessly enjoys our distinctive South Texas hospitality and the natural wonders of the Texas Hill Country.”

As an incentive, the resort is offering Special Introductory Rates through the end of February. For a limited time, room rates start at $149 a night or $288 night with breakfast for two and a single round of golf at the all new PGA TOUR Tournament Players Club (TPC) San Antonio. (The regular room rate starts at $249.) The resort is also offering special Valentine’s Day and Super Bowl packages with dining and spa options.

With sunny, mild winters, the area is an ideal place for indoor or outdoor recreation and relaxation year-round. These special introductory rates offer guests full access to the resort’s world-class amenities for the perfect late winter getaway. For more information on these special rates and packages please visit www.jwsanantonio.com.

The Ultimate Golf Experience
Golfers can test their skills on the newest PGA TOUR Tournament Players Club (TPC) championship golf courses with 36 challenging holes and stunning views. Two of golf’s most legendary names designed the courses – Pete Dye for the AT&T Canyons Course and Greg Norman for the AT&T Oaks Course. The Norman-designed course will begin hosting the Valero Texas Open in May 2010. The club is private and only accessible to members and guests of the Resort.

Relaxation and Rejuvenation
For those who need a winter recharge, the Resort’s 26,000 square-foot Lantana Spa offers 30 treatment rooms, including two couple’s treatment suites and two outdoor private treatment rooms. A complete fitness center and movement studio features the latest in cardio-training equipment, free weights and stationary weight training equipment as well as yoga and other fitness classes. Between treatments, guests can enjoy the serenity of the spa’s heated, lagoon-like pool, healthy refreshments at the Replenish Spa Bistro or finding the perfect indulgence at the spa’s boutique.

Outdoor Exploration
Nature lovers have plenty to explore on the property’s 600 acres of rolling, oak tree-covered hills with an adjacent 100-acre bird sanctuary. Resort guests can meander through the property’s hiking and biking trails as they enjoy the native landscape and wildlife.

Exhilarating Water Features for the Entire Family
Guests don’t have to wait for summer for the ultimate in outdoor fun and relaxation. All outdoor water features are heated during cool weather months for year-round enjoyment. Guests of all ages will enjoy the River Bluff Water Experience, which includes a thrilling 650-foot rapid river ride, three water slides and a 1,100-foot-long lazy river. In addition, there are children’s pools, a serene adult pool, hot and cold plunge pools, whirlpools and an expansive activity pool.

Cuisine, Boutique Shopping and Sports – Texas Style
Resort guests will find culinary delights and boutique shopping at every corner. The resort’s casual restaurant, Cibolo Moon, serves authentic Texas cuisine that captures the unique flavors of the region. Located at the Golf Clubhouse, 18 Oaks features sweeping views of the 18th greens of the two TPC golf courses and will showcase prime cuts and traditional steakhouse fare. High Velocity Sports Bar, the Resort’s media rich sports venue, puts guests right in the middle of the action with wall-to-wall multi-media screens featuring a variety of sport channels. Guests will also enjoy shopping in the area’s high-end boutiques.

World-Class Accommodations Blended with Hill Country Hospitality
The resort’s 1,002 rooms, including 85 suites, reflect the authentic style and hospitality of the Texas Hill Country. The spacious rooms feature custom designed furniture and finishes that make use of hand-tooled leather, copper and ironwork also used throughout the property. Spacious bathrooms offer the luxury visitors expect from a world-class resort experience.
Less than 20 minutes from San Antonio International Airport and surrounded by the Texas Hill Country, the resort’s exceptional amenities make it the ideal winter destination. For more information or to make a reservation please phone 1-866-882-4420 or visit www.jwsanantonio.com.

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JW Marriott is a world-class luxury hotel brand that seamlessly orchestrates every aspect of its sophisticated, accomplished guests’ stay in an authentic environment of unpretentious elegance. The JW Marriott experience is expertly edited to leave only what is truly desired and beautifully delivers lasting memories. Guests can experience imaginative cuisine, award-winning spas and state-of-the-art fitness centers. There are currently 43 JW Marriott Hotels & Resorts operating in 20 countries.

Indonesia announces ASEAN ‘open skies’ airports

News from Travel Daily Aisa,today. It is said that the Indonesia’s Transportation Ministry has declared that five international airports in the country will be included in the ASEAN ‘open skies’ agreement.

According to a Jakarta Post report, Soekarno-Hatta in Jakarta, Kuala Namu in Medan (under construction), Juanda in Surabaya, Ngurah Rai in Denpasar, and Hasanuddin in Makassar, will be included in the policy, which will allow carriers to operate unlimited flights between ASEAN member countries by 2015.

But only ASEAN? Why not world wide?

Green Hotels Juggle Conservation with Customer Service

The Washington Post examines how hotels balance environmental and customer needs, and looks at Marriott’s industry-leading efforts.

For full story, please click here (washingtonpost.com)

Indonesia studies high-speed rail plan

From Travel Daily Asia

Indonesia is studying the possibility of introducing an environmentally friendly, high speed train as early as 2012, the Jakarta Post has reported. A proposed US$3 billion project would connect Jakarta to cities across Java, according to the Malaysian firm Caedz, LLC, a member of the consortium planning the project. A 90-day feasibility study is current underway.

MARRIOTT Kicks Off New Decade with Global Rate Break

Leisure travelers can enjoy 20 percent off on weekend room rates at more than 2,500 participating hotels around the world. Select resorts in the Caribbean, Latin America and Hawaii are offering up to 40 percent off room rates.

See details here.

Related Link: Tell Your Friends and Family About Global Rate Break

GLOBAL BUSINESS TRAVELERS Rates RITZ-CARLTON Hotels Among The Best

Institutional Investor surveyed more than 150 frequent-traveling senior executives and asked them to rate the hotels worldwide that provide the finest service.

Full story, visit iimagazine.com

Survey on Hotel Guest Habits Reveals

From traveldailyasia.com

Novotel has conducted its second survey of in-hotel habits for Australia, New Zealand and Fiji, with results revealing that guests are leaving their rooms cleaner and greener, but still occasionally ending up naked in corridors and leaving unusual objects behind in their rooms.

Compared to the first Novotel survey 10 years ago, both genders are now travelling with fewer bags (1 bag per male to 2.1 bags per female), guests are more likely
to reuse towels, men are drinking less beer and more wine, and guests are making healthier food choices. However some things haven’t changed; female guests are still messier than their male counterparts, are more demanding, and more likely to ‘souvenir’ items from their rooms.

Men, meanwhile, are more generous tippers, are more likely to be caught naked outside their rooms, and are more likely to order the most expensive wine on the list.

Due in part, perhaps, to the global financial crisis, there was more restraint shown in tipping from both genders. The survey highlighted an increased level of care for the environment, with more guests now reusing towels and, in some cases, even bed linen not being changed. Interesting requests included a guest who asked if 33 rubber ducks could be placed in the bathtub before his girlfriend checked in, the guest who wanted the bath filled with red wine at the Novotel Barossa Valley, and one guest who literally took the clothes off a staff member’s back when he left his suit behind for a wedding.

For full story, please visit traveldailyasia.com

ROAD WARRIOR LIFE DURING THE U.S. ‘BIG CHILL’

USA Today shares tales of hotels helping travelers endure winter weather, including one of a bellman at the Portland Marriott at Sable Oaks (Maine) who helped clean snow off guests’ cars.

Full story here.

Dubai Cruise Tourism Expected to Surge in 2010

The cruise industry in Dubai is growing rapidly with 250,000 cruise tourists visiting the emirate during 2009; a 37% year on year increase. And in 2010, Dubai is expected to host 120 ship calls with over 325,000 passengers when the Dubai Cruise Terminal becomes fully operational by the end of this month.

Spanning an area of 3,450m² the new terminal will handle up to four ships simultaneously. According to estimates, Dubai’s cruise tourism is expected to increase by almost 80% between 2008 and 2010.

For full story, please visit traveldailyasia.com

RITZ-CARLTON, MARRIOTT HOTELS MAKE TRAVEL + LEISURE’S ‘500 WORLD'S BEST HOTELS’ LIST

There are 28 Ritz-Carlton, JW Marriott, and Marriott hotels on the annual list, including 13 U.S. hotels and seven hotels in Asia.

Please read the full report from usatoday.com

Asian Hotels Continue to Climb

Occupancy levels show signifi cant improvement.

Hotels in the Asia and Pacific region continued to see improvements in occupancy and average daily rates (ADR) in November, compared to the earlier months of the year.

This is the evidence provided by STR Global’s November 2009 data for seven key cities across the region, provided exclusively to TDA. The figures show all seven of the studied cities posting occupancy levels significantly higher in November than the average for the first 11 months of the year.

This trend continues in terms of ADR, although only two of the cities (Sydney and Tokyo) saw ADR rising compared to the same month last year. Overall revenue per available room saw
five out of the seven markets rising year-on-year, but all of the cities showing considerable
improvement compared to the year-to-date average.

Taken from traveldailyasia.com

First Leisure Trip this year.

Yesterday, 2nd January 2010, we had a one-day leisure trip to various recreation sites in Bahrain. It was the first time this year and we enjoyed a lot

I rented a budget car from Elite Rent a car. It was a small city car, Toyota XA. It's ok for city tour.

I invited Zuhri, Marcia and Sebastian (sorry for other members of the gank, I couldn't include you due to the limited seats, hahaha.. Lol)

Instead of rounding the city, we actually travelled out of the capital Manama. We visited Amwaj Island, we went to Sitra, we did shopping at the City Centre, we went to Al Bander Resort, as well as visiting Al Dar Island office at the Fishermen Port and we also went to a beach somewhere near to a heavy manufacturing and mining area in Muharraq island (not Hid area).

Well, overall, we really enjoyed the recreation. Both Marcia and Zuhri were so happy and don’t ask Sebastian, coz he's the one who pushed me a lot.

We started from home at 9am and finished at 10pm, no wonder I was quite tired, since I was the driver. I will post details of the trip later.

This Year Resolution

I have a very high resolution image in my mind. How high? 300 dpi? Or even 1200 dpi? (Hahaha… printing guys will understand these terms).

Well, this year, I have a big dream. I planto move to Jakarta, live in one roof with my family and join with one of the Marriott properties in the city.

Second, I must improve my skill and knowledge as well as the quality of my life.

Third, making money through any channels of passive income.

Fourth, I wish I can by my dream car.

Amin.