Inn and Spa at Loretto Represents New Mexico Among Condé Nast Traveler’s 2012 Gold List Elite

Inn and Spa at Loretto

A first time entrant, the Inn earns an overall 91.4 Reader’s Choice Awards rating

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

PRLog (Press Release) – Jan 06, 2012 -

Hotels are more than just a place to sleep, they are the first impression the starting point and typically the only pre-set element that continues to shape a guest’s travel experience. While many awards competitions recognize hotels for their facilities, Condé Nast Traveler 2012 Gold List voters also deem subjective attributes like design, food and activities equally important. A first time entrant, the Inn and Spa at Loretto was the only hotel in New Mexico to accomplish the distinguished feat of offering the facilities, character and ambiance to make a visit to the Land of Enchantment truly enchanting.

Nearly eight million votes were cast and in the end only 511 hotels, resorts and cruise lines earned the right to be ranked as the top places to stay around the world. Criteria for each varied slightly, but candidates were rated on five key components, including 1) rooms, 2) service, 3) food, 4) location, 5) design, and 6) activities. The Gold List is based on data collected from the annual Readers’ Choice Survey and to qualify for inclusion in the Gold List rankings, a property had to receive a required minimum number of responses.

“Guests choose hotels for a myriad of reasons, but it is up to the hotel to cultivate new and more personal reasons to influence a guest’s future decision,” said Stefan Huber, general manager at the Inn and Spa at Loretto. “We are grateful to all Condé Nast readers that nominated us for this prestigious award. It lets us know that our collective efforts are appreciated and valued.”

With an overall rating of 91.4, the AAA Four Diamond Inn and Spa at Loretto made an impressionable first appearance on the Gold List and singlehandedly represented New Mexico against all other travel destinations. This first-of-the-year achievement concludes a streak of favorable 2011 rankings for the Inn, including placing no. 27 in the ‘United States Hotel’ category and no. 25 in the ‘Top Hotel Spas in North America’ category in Condé Nast Traveler’s Readers’ Choice survey.

“People from around the world travel to Santa Fe to immerse themselves in the region’s southwestern charm, culture and history,” said Huber. “This pursuit should not end at your hotel’s doorstep. The Inn’s award-winning amenities, rich history, and conscious effort to interweave the region’s spirit across all facets of the hotel, ensure guests have both the facilities and experiences to fully realize their travel aspirations.”

To view the complete Gold List, please visit Condé Nast Traveler. For more information about the Inn, please visit www.innatloretto.com or call 877-857-5685.

About the Inn and Spa at Loretto

The Inn and Spa at Loretto, an award-winning, AAA Four Diamond hotel, is ideally located in the heart of Santa Fe, steps from the Canyon Road galleries and just one block from historic Santa Fe Plaza’s galleries, museums, restaurants and boutiques. Eloquently blending old-world charm with world-class splendor, the exquisite Inn and Spa at Loretto reflects the culture and sophistication of its historic Santa Fe location. The hotel features 134 guestrooms, a full-service spa, casual fine dining, three art galleries and a tranquil garden. Enjoy Luminaria Restaurant and Patio for three meals daily; The Living Room for happy hour, late night dining and live music and The Spa at Loretto for a holistic and complete indulgence experience.

About Destination Hotels & Resorts

Destination Hotels & Resorts is a privately held hospitality management company headquartered in Colorado. With more than 35 independent, luxury and upscale hotels, resorts and golf clubs, Destination is the third largest hospitality management company in the country. The company’s portfolio features more than 8,450 guest rooms, 15 golf courses and 16 full-service spas. Destination Hotels & Resorts properties are located in key metropolitan and resort markets including Washington, D.C., Seattle, Denver, San Diego, Santa Fe, Aspen, Austin, Phoenix, Portland, Palm Springs, Palos Verdes, Maui and Lake Tahoe. The company is a subsidiary of Los Angeles-based investment, development and management firm Lowe Enterprises. For a complete list of properties in the Destination Hotels & Resorts collection, please visit www.destinationhotels.com.

London, Austin and Chicago to be Travel Hotspots in 2012

New index also uncovers most-booked destinations, busiest travel weeks and top travel routes for 2011

CHICAGO, Jan. 5, 2012 /PRNewswire/ — An improving economy and a pent-up demand for travel resulted in a strong year in 2011 for the travel industry and a bright outlook for 2012 with London, Austin and Chicago projected to be among the top destinations this year. Orbitz today released its “Look Back, Look Ahead” Insider Index, examining 2011 travel and projecting top destinations and travel trends for the year ahead.

THE 2012 TRAVEL SCENE: A LOOK AHEAD

The Orbitz team of travel experts and editors have coupled their industry experience with consumer booking data and analysis of millions of consumer searches to unveil the best destinations, top hotel perks and travel trends to watch for 2012.

Hotspots for 2012

London: London will mark its place in history as the only city to host the modern Olympic Games three times when it welcomes the 2012 games this summer. “London is expected to attract more than 10,000 athletes and hundreds of thousands more spectators for the games July 27 – Aug. 12,” said Nic Bryant, London destination expert and regional director for Orbitz Worldwide. In late June, the city will also host one of its most beloved events, Wimbledon, where spectators can watch some of the best tennis champions compete on the court.

Austin: The trendiest part of Texas only seems to grow in popularity each year and 2012 will be no different, Orbitz experts predict. Regarded as a music lover’s mecca, tens of thousands of revelers flock to the self-proclaimed “Live Music Capital of the World” every spring for the annual South by Southwest Festival, which takes place March 9-18 this year. And the excitement doesn’t end on that note. “This year, Austin is expanding outside of the music scene and dipping its toes into something new by hosting the first U.S. Formula 1 Grand Prix starting Nov. 18,” said Jerrold Broussard, Austin destination expert and regional director for Orbitz Worldwide.

Chicago: The city that attracts 40 million visitors a year is gearing up to welcome even more as it serves as the backdrop for two high-profile world events in 2012. The 12th World Summit of Nobel Peace Laureates will make its North American debut in Chicago in April followed by the G8 Summit in May. “The Nobel Peace Laureate and G8 are two of the biggest global annual events attracting hundreds of international high-profile leaders, dignitaries and organizations,” said Emmy Conway, Chicago destination expert and senior market manager for Orbitz Worldwide.  For those who find their own version of peace on the back nine, Chicago will also host the Ryder Cup in September– a bi-annual international golf event eagerly followed by golf enthusiasts around the world.

Sure Bets for Great Deals in 2012

San Diego:  Whether a mountain adventurer or a coastal relaxer, there is something for everyone at a price that works in San Diego. And this year, there’s even more of a reason to visit this coastal city.  The convention business is growing, but has yet to reach the peak levels attained during 2007.  This, combined with an increase in supplier inventory, means great values throughout the city. “Hotels throughout the region will likely be looking to fill rooms and offer more competitive rates for leisure travelers,” said Lisa Kroll, San Diego destination expert and regional director for Orbitz Worldwide.

Washington, D.C.: A bit of a hush falls over the nation’s capital during election years with the Washington insider crowd outside the Beltway campaigning.  “As candidates hit the campaign trail in 2012, more hotel rooms and flights have space available and that can add up to great deals for travelers looking to explore Washington, D.C.,” said Donna Mulligan, Washington, D.C. destination expert and regional director for Orbitz Worldwide.

Riviera Maya: Soft white sand and beautiful aqua water make Mexico’s own Riviera an oasis for travelers seeking relaxation. With its large hotel infrastructure—the biggest in Mexico—Riviera Maya has long been a shoo-in for travel deals. However, trending declines in visitors from foreign countries will make the area even more affordable in 2012. “With the combination of massive hotel availability and trending declines in European visitors to the region, travelers will be able to nab some great hotel deals,” said Antonia Pitta, Mexico destination expert and senior regional director for Orbitz Worldwide.

What Consumers Want Most in a Hotel in 2012

Orbitz prides itself on providing travelers with everything they need to know about hotels inside and out. Based on consumer search inquiries in 2011(1), Orbitz travel experts anticipate these popular perks will continue to drive consumers’ hotel booking decisions in 2012:

Convenient transportation: Whether driving or flying, travelers are looking for easy, no hassle ways to get to their destination. Free parking and airport shuttles are among the top-searched hotel amenities.

Pool: Swimming pools rank high on the list for both families traveling with kids and for those heading to spots like Las Vegas or Miami where it’s more about the scene (and being seen) than actually swimming. As one of the top-searched hotel amenities for the second year in a row, pools often determine whether a hotel option will sink or swim for a consumer.

The extras: Consumer searches show there is strong interest in hotel amenities that go beyond the basics.  Four-legged companions are often seen as an integral part of the modern family. As such, search behaviors show that lots of travelers are seeking lodging that will accommodate their pets.  There is also strong interest in hotels that provide spa services, fitness centers and wireless internet.

Orbitz Travel Trend Predictions for 2012

In-house travel experts at Orbitz also identified the top three travel booking trends for 2012.

Mobile: Mobile commerce is expected to nearly double in the U.S. next year(2) and many of those mobile consumers will be on-the-go travelers, Orbitz forecasts. “65% of hotel reservations made via our mobile channels are for same-day stays compared to 14% via traditional desktop browsers,” said Chris Brown, vice president of product development for Orbitz Worldwide. Orbitz also offers mobile bookers great deals with the recently launched “Mobile Steals,” exclusive, mobile-only discounts of up to 50% on hotels worldwide. Steals are available across all mobile channels including the mobile website (m.orbitz.com) and the latest versions of the Orbitz iPad, iPhone and Android apps.

Flash Sales: The number of flash sale sites rose more than 350% from July of 2009 to July 2011 and the popularity of such sites seems only to be growing.(3) “To meet consumers’ growing demand for limited-time deals, Orbitz recently launched ‘Insider Steals,’ weekly, members-only flash sales that offer 50% or more off handpicked hotels in top destinations around the world,” said Peggy Bianco, group vice president of global hotel services for Orbitz Worldwide.

Gift of Travel: Today, many consumers are finding more meaningful value in giving experiences and memories vs. products off store shelves. “We are seeing parents gifting travel for graduations and birthdays and more engaged couples are opting to register for activities for their honeymoons instead of a set of towels,” said Jeanenne Tornatore, senior travel editor for Orbitz.com. While most give the gift to help people explore somewhere new it can also be a subtle reminder, and the extra push some need, to visit loved ones who do not live nearby.

THE LOOK BACK ON 2011

The collection and in-depth analysis of U.S. consumer travel in 2011 provides a window into U.S. travel habits and preferences over the last 12 months.

Busiest Air Travel Weeks in 2011: For the third year in a row, Christmas week (Dec. 19 – Dec. 25) was the busiest travel week in 2011, followed by the week leading up to the Fourth of July and Thanksgiving week. Two summer weeks—the first week of August and the third week of June—rounded out the top five travel weeks as many consumers took advantage of the warm weather and kids being out of school.

Orbitz Insider Index: The Top Five Busiest Travel Weeks(4)

  • December, Christmas Week (Dec. 19–25)
  • Fourth of July Week (June 27–July 3)
  • November, Thanksgiving Week (Nov. 21–27)
  • August, First Week (Aug. 1-7)
  • June, Third Week (June 20-26)

Top 2011 U.S. Destinations: The usual suspects are back atop the list of the 10 most popular U.S. travel destinations. Las Vegas and New York claimed the top two spots for the fourth year in a row. One surprise showing, however, came from Orlando, which nudged ahead of Chicago, bumping the Windy City down to number four.

2011 could be dubbed the year of the urban escape as U.S. travelers often opted for cities over sand. In fact, the following beach destinations on the 2010 list were notably absent in 2011 rankings: San Diego (#5 last year), Honolulu (#7), and Miami (#10). Meanwhile, Boston and Los Angeles—two top destinations for 2009—reemerged in 2011 and Denver (#6) and Atlanta (#8) were welcomed as newcomers.

Top 2011 International Destinations: The top three international travel destinations for U.S. travelers – Cancun, San Juan and London—held steady in the same slots as 2010. However, there was a bit of shuffling from 2010 with Paris moving up two spots to number four and Toronto climbing one spot to six. Additionally, Mexico had an impressive showing, adding three of its cities to the list.

Warm climates and adventure activities enticed consumers to hop flights to foreign destinations last year. In addition to scenic beaches, travelers benefitted from lower rates in Mexico City, Guadalajara and San Jose del Cabo, while Cancun stayed relatively unchanged.

Top 10 U.S. Travel Routes: The Big Apple took up a big slice of the Top 10 U.S. Travel Routes in 2011. New York City was the origin city for five of the top 10 route pairings last year for the second year in a row. The most popular travel route was New York to Chicago, followed by New York to Ft. Lauderdale – bumping the transcontinental New York-to-Los Angeles route down a notch from 2010 to number three. New York was again the most popular destination for travelers departing from Los Angeles and Chicago, as well.

(1) Amenities based on consumer search behavior on Orbitz.com in 2011.

(2) Mobile Commerce estimate from eMarketer, Nov. 2011

(3) Experian Hitwise report August 2011 http://weblogs.hitwise.com/heather-dougherty/2011/08/huge_growth_continues_for_flas_1.html

(4) Busiest travel weeks and individual days determined by total air bookings (domestic and international) made on Orbitz.com by 12/1/11 for travel between 1/1/11 and 12/31/11. Each seven-day period included travel booked Sunday through the following Saturday.

(5) Top U.S. destinations determined by total hotel and package bookings made on Orbitz.com by 12/1/11 for travel between 1/1/11 and 12/31/11.

(6) Top international destinations determined by total hotel and package bookings made on Orbitz.com by 12/1/11 for travel between 1/1/11 and 12/31/11.

(7) Most popular U.S. travel routes determined by U.S.-only air bookings made on Orbitz.com by 12/1/11 for travel between 1/1/11 and 12/31/11.

About Orbitz.com
Orbitz.com is a leading online travel company that enables travelers to search for and book an array of travel products and services, including flights, hotels, car rentals, cruises, and vacation packages. Since launching its website in June 2001, Orbitz.com has become one of the largest online travel sites in the world and has led the industry with innovations including the Orbitz Matrix Display and Orbitz Price Assurance. The Matrix Display revolutionized the way the travel industry displayed fares and makes it quick and easy for consumers to compare flights, rental cars and vacation packages. The Price Assurance program gives travelers confidence that they have the lowest Orbitz price on their flight or hotel.  With Price Assurance, if another Orbitz customer books the same flight or prepaid hotel for less, we’ll send you a check for the difference — automatically.  Orbitz.com also offers “Insider Steals” a weekly, members-only flash sale that provides exclusive deals of 50% or more off of handpicked hotels in top destinations around the world.  On Orbitz.com consumers can search a broad range of suppliers worldwide.  Orbitz.com is owned by Orbitz Worldwide. Stay connected to Orbitz.com with sale alerts, exclusive promotions and engaging conversations by following Orbitz on Facebook, Twitter and the Orbitz Travel Blog.

2012′s Top 10 Ethical Destinations in the Developing World

Ethical Destinations for Incentives

Report names highest performers in human rights, environmental protection

BERKELEY, Calif., Jan. 5, 2012 /PRNewswire/ — Travel-Newswire.com — From a shortlist of 30 finalists, an annual report released today highlights 10 tourism destinations for their accomplishments in the areas of environmental protection, social welfare, and human rights.

Ethical Traveler congratulates the countries that make up our 2012 list of The Developing World’s 10 Best Ethical Destinations. The winners (in alphabetical order, not in order of merit) are:

  • Argentina
  • The Bahamas
  • Chile
  • Costa Rica
  • Dominica
  • Latvia
  • Mauritius
  • Palau
  • Serbia
  • Uruguay

Every year Ethical Traveler conducts a study of developing nations, from Afghanistan to Zimbabwe. The research team first identifies the best tourism destinations in the developing world. Then, using publicly available data, countries are rated in the areas of environmental protection, social welfare, and human rights. For more on the methodology, please see the full report at EthicalTraveler.org.

Report co-author and Ethical Traveler executive director Jeff Greenwald says, “It’s always an honor to compile this list. It gives us great pleasure to express our admiration for these countries, and we hope they’ll reap real economic and social benefits as a result of our endorsement.”

As researcher Natalie Lefevre points out, “None of these countries are perfect, but the countries that are on this list deserve their spots — thanks to their effort to ensure that tourism has a positive impact on their country and their people.”

Ethical Traveler noted some surprises in 2012. According to Greenwald, “The steady trend we’re seeing toward green practices and support for sustainable tourism — by governments and travelers alike — is a fantastic development, and shows a real coming-of-age in the international tourism community.”

Island nations and South American countries did well again this year. New on the list for 2012 were Serbia, Palau and the Bahamas.

Greenwald notes, “One thing that was interesting this year – and unfortunate – was that some otherwise excellent countries in Latin America and Africa didn’t make the list because of their draconian anti-gay laws.”

Ethical Traveler encourages travelers to use their vacations to reward these countries by visiting them, and enjoying the wonderful sights, cultures and activities they offer.

Report co-author Natalie Lefevre says, “I hope that the countries that didn’t make it onto 2012 year’s list will feel motivated to work harder on their environmental, social and human rights records, so they might be reconsidered in 2013.”

The 2012 winners were initially announced at the Commonwealth Club of California. To view the full 2012 Ethical Destinations report and accompanying photo gallery, please visit http://ethicaltraveler.org/destinations.

About Ethical Traveler:

An all-volunteer, non-profit project of the Earth Island Institute, Ethical Traveler’s mission is to use the power of tourism to protect human rights and the environment. For more information, please visit http://ethicaltraveler.org.

AMResorts to Open Secrets The Vine in Cancun August 2012

Secrets Resorts & Spas to debut the brand’s first resort in Cancun’s Hotel Zone

PHILADELPHIA, PA – January 6, 2012 – AMResorts, provider of sales, marketing and brand management services for Zoëtry Wellness & Spa Resorts, and Secrets, Dreams, Now and Sunscape Resorts & Spas, will introduce the Secrets Resorts & Spas brand to Cancun’s popular Hotel Zone with the opening of adults-only Secrets The Vine Cancun in August 2012. The resort becomes AMResorts’ twenty first property in Mexico and tenth for the Secrets brand.

The newly built Secrets The Vine is located on the golden Yucatan Peninsula coastline. The property features 495 luxurious guest rooms, all with ocean views, private balconies, Italian porcelain floors, and teak wood furnishings.

The Secrets The Vine’s lobby celebrates fine wine in both its design and menu offerings with a designated wine tasting area for guests, the Enoteca (wine cellar). Featuring a Mexican handcrafted wood table with seating for up to 30 guests, a unique wine wall housing as many as 3000 varieties of wine, and sommelier-lead tastings of some of the world’s finest wine collections, the Enoteca promises guests a rich and relaxing wine tasting experience.

All resort guests will enjoy the benefits of Secrets Resorts & Spas’ signature Unlimited-Luxury® vacation concept which offers limitless access to gourmet a la carte dining and premium beverage brands, 24-hour room and concierge services, countless daytime activities, live evening entertainment, and more.

The resort features seven distinctive restaurants and three bars offering a variety of experiences. Additionally, guests have access to a range of activities including land and water sports, daily special events such as movies on the beach, dance classes, nightly shows, evening entertainment and more.

Secrets The Vine’s 12,580 square-feet spa offers the perfect atmosphere for those seeking relaxation with a selection of signature treatments and hydrotherapy experience inspired by the underground limestone caves and subterranean open water pools of the Yucatan Peninsula. A fitness center facility and full service beauty salon also are available.

The resort’s variety of meeting spaces, including 17,000 square feet of flexible meeting and event space overlooking the Nichupté lagoon, is ideal for group meetings and incentive travelers.

Secrets The Vine also provides the perfect romantic setting for couples with many special amenities; and wedding, honeymoon and anniversary packages available.

Introductory Rate

To celebrate the impending opening, Secrets Resorts & Spas is offering a limited time pre-opening special of $160 per person per night based on double occupancy for travel between August 1 – October 28, 2012, and $175 per person per night for travel between October 29 – December 27, 2012.*

*NOTE: The booking window is 11/29/11 to 1/31/12. Book at SecretsResorts.com.

About Secrets® Resorts & Spas

Unlimited-Luxury® Secrets Resorts & Spas offer adults an extra measure of romance and sensuality in beautiful settings where everything is included. The award-winning resorts feature elegantly-appointed rooms and suites with 24-hour concierge and room services; multiple gourmet, a la carte restaurants and lounges serving premium beverages; endless day and evening activities in spectacular settings; and more. Most Secrets Resorts & Spas properties are members of Preferred Hotels & Resorts Worldwide; Secrets Marquis Los Cabos is a The Leading Hotels of the World designated resort. Information about Secrets Resorts & Spas is available by calling 1-866-GO-SECRETS or visiting www.secretsresorts.com.

Last Minute Centerpiece Steals the Show in Guadalajara

It is funny, I never really do any talking about decor. Not my gig I guess, although I have strong opinions about what does and does not work for meetings and events.

This is a really cool idea that came from the folks at the Crowne Plaza Guadalajara. They were the host for our recent Site Chicago educational event and time was limited. We would be arriving, going straight to breakfast and then directly to the meeting rooms with very little time for a proper site inspection (it is a nice property by the way).

Because we would not have time to see the entire property at length, someone had the great idea to use flat screens as the centerpiece for breakfast with a slideshow detailing the property. Way Cool…..

The slideshow was the topic of conversation during breakfast and even made for conversation over a few tequilas later in the evening.

I think that the beauty of the idea is the simplicity of it…..

Post reprinted courtesy of PlannerWire

Mexico’s Meeting and Conventions Industry Growing as Tourism Surges

ICCA ranks Mexico 22nd worldwide for international association meetings

MEXICO CITY, June 7, 2011 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ — Mexico’s Meeting, Incentives, Congress, and Exhibitions business continues to grow, and has been ranked 22nd worldwide in the latest rankings by the International Congress and Convention Association (ICCA).   Mexico moved up five (5) places in the 2010  rankings  from its 2009 ranking of 27th, in the number of events with a nearly 31 percent increase in meetings held in Mexico.

This comes to no surprise, as visitor arrivals to Mexico have been on the rise.  Most recently, the Secretariat of Tourism (SECTUR) announced that in 2010 Mexico was the main destination for tourists from the United States by capturing 14.7 percent of overseas US tourism. This represents the highest number of U.S. travelers to Mexico since 2005, according to the U.S. Department of Commerce.

“Destinations and entities continue to invest in infrastructure, equipment and services… But Mexico has much more to offer,” said Gloria Guevara Manzo, Mexico’s Secretary of Tourism, in a press release. “In order to continue our competitiveness, we will also promote less well-known destinations that can be of interest for international conventions.”

And international convention planners have clearly taken notice. In 2010, Mexico was host to 140 international conventions, many of them taking place in Mexico City. ICCA ranked Mexico City 15th on the international list of top cities for congresses and conventions, with more than 36,000 annual participants. Mexico City clinched the 5th spot in the Americas category, having hosted 43 conventions. International meetings are defined as those organized by international associations which take place on a regular basis and rotate between a minimum of three countries.

The conventions and meetings industry and tourism growth may be in part due to increased levels of investment in tourism projects. During the first trimester of 2011, more than US $900 million were spent on tourism projects in Mexico, according to the Secretary of Tourism. The investments represent a 127 percent increase from 2010.   The Secretary of Tourism, has stated that “the resources were primarily allocated to projects relating to the areas of accommodations, real estate tourism, and the food and beverage industry.”

SOURCE: Ministry of the Economy, Mexico

Site Board Member Mexico Meetings Network Interview

Site Chicago Board Member Interview

Mexico Meetings Network just published an interview Board Member Keith Johnston did with them last month, here is an excerpt. The complete interview can be found by clicking the link after the excerpt!

In the interview, Keith talks about our Annual Retreat in Guadalajara, Mexico and the realities of taking an event to this amazing country.

The Excerpt:

Keith Johnston is a Chicago based event and meeting professional with 15 years in the meetings industry, planning meetings, conferences, incentives and tradeshows. Keith is currently the editor and publisher of Meetings Blog PlannerWire.net and Famit.net which cover issues facing the meetings and events industry, as well as looking at destinations where meetings and event planners should be taking their programs.

Keith has organized several meetings and incentive trips to Mexico over the years, and he recently attended the Chicago Chapter of Site International’s annual retreat in Guadalajara, Jalisco. In this Mexico Meetings Network interview, Keith talks more about his experience planning meetings in Mexico.

The Complete Interview at Mexico Meetings Network