Bermuda Is Back in Business, Quick Recovery After Hurricane Nicole. #Bermuda #BermudaStrong

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BERMUDA IS OPEN FOR BUSINESS  Island Bounces Back from Hurricane Nicole Hotels as well as Airport Open and Operational Within 24 hours, Bermuda bounced back from one of the strongest storms in the island country’s long history. Hurricane Nicole, a dangerous Category 4 storm, hit Bermuda Thursday, October 13 toppling trees, flooding neighborhood streets and knocking out power to 90% of the island. However, strict building codes and a tireless commitment to hurricane preparedness paved the way for a wide-ranging recovery effort immediately following the storm. By this afternoon, power was restored to 22,000 customers with 5,300 remaining. There were no major injuries nor loss of life as a result of Hurricane Nicole. All hotels are open with little to no damage and the airport is now open. “Bermuda bounces back quickly from storms thanks to a community spirit that is evident island-wide. Hospitality is in our blood - we take care of our visitors on-island and are ready to welcome new visitors from our airline and cruise ship partners, said Victoria Isley, Chief Sales & Marketing Officer. “Bermuda is on track this year to welcome the most visitors to the island since 2008 – and to be back online within 24 hours of such a major storm is a testament to Bermuda’s dedication to visitors.” For example, hotels such as the Fairmont Southampton and Grotto Bay entertained guests during the storm with a Hurricane Party and Rum Cake Bingo respectively. The Hamilton Princess was fully operational through the storm, including Marcus restaurant. And planes touched down in Bermuda Thursday, October 14 with new visitors ready to soak up island life in Bermuda.   Here are some updates on where we stand now: The L.F. Wade International Airport (BDA), as well as the causeway, the main road serving the airport, both reopened as of today, Friday, October 14, one day after Hurricane Nicole. All of Bermuda's hotel properties are open and welcoming guests. All followed comprehensive hurricane preparation plans to ensure the safety and security of their guests and colleagues. They have sustained very little damage as a result of the hurricane and clean-up is underway. Buses and ferries will be running on normal routes and schedules tomorrow. Public parks and beaches are open. The majority of visitor attractions are open for business. Work crews from the Ministry of Public Works, Department of Parks, the Royal Bermuda Regiment and Belco continue their clearing and restoration works around Bermuda.  For the most up to date information on the clean-up efforts of Hurricane Nicole, please refer to www.gov.bm.

AccorHotels Group Announce Acquisition Of FRHI Hotels & Resorts (FRHI) And Its Luxury Hotel Brands: Fairmont, Raffles And Swissôtel.

Joining AccorHotels’ global network is a portfolio of globally admired brands, which includes management of many of the world’s most iconic and historic hotels located in key strategic cities around the world, including: The Savoy in London, Raffles Singapore, Fairmont San Francisco, New York’s The Plaza, Fairmont Le Château Frontenac in Quebec City, and Le Royal Monceau Raffles Paris.

The addition of  the three hotel brands will position AccorHotels as a leading player in the global luxury hotel market.

“The acquisition of these three emblematic luxury hotel brands is a historical milestone for AccorHotels. It will open up amazing growth prospects, lift our international presence to unprecedented heights, and build value over the long term,”

Sébastien Bazin, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of AccorHotels

AccorHotels plans to generate approximately €65 million in revenue and cost synergies thanks to the combination of brands, the maximization of hotel earnings, the increased efficiency of marketing, sales and distribution channel initiatives, and the optimisation of support costs.

Hotels Expand Options To Keep Guests Healthy On The Road

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In this Jan. 24, 2016, photo, Paula Walker, center foreground, an instructor with Green Monkey... Read more

(AP) — Running concierges, a hotel mini bar stocked with produce from the local farmers market and a training wall that comes standard in every room. The hotel industry is moving beyond basement gyms and basic spa menus to accommodate guests' growing requests to stay healthy while on the road.

The trend has been a mainstay at spas and wellness resorts for years, but now hotels frequented by business travelers and families are showing that life on the go doesn't have to mean sacrificing spin class or a quinoa superfood bowl. Boutique and luxury hotels along with big name brands including Westin and Wyndham have vastly expanded fitness programs and dining options in recent years. The luxury gym Equinox is even opening its own hotel in New York.

The number of hotels with fitness facilities jumped from 63 percent in 2004 to 84 percent in 2014, according to a study by the American Hotel & Lodging Association. And hotels offering in-room exercise equipment has nearly doubled in the past 10 years, from seven to 13 percent, according to the study.

"It's what the marketplace is demanding," said Dena Roche, wellness travel expert and editor of The Travel Diet website. "People are trying to lead a healthier lifestyle in their daily life so when they go on the road they want to keep doing those things."

At the Even Hotels, every room has a training zone with a yoga mat, exercise ball, foam roller and a mounted fitness wall with resistance bands plus 19 videos and training guides to help you get your sweat on. Wyndham guests can request a room stocked with an exercise machine (like a stationary bike, elliptical machine or treadmill) and free workout wear, and the W hotel chain partnered with popular yogi Tara Stiles for free in-room yoga videos and a set of tip cards placed around the room to suggest poses to help you relax, wake up or get in the mood.

"It's pushing from a trend to a tipping point where there's mass adoption around wellness into every aspect of people's lives," Jason Moskal, a vice president at Intercontinental Hotels Group, which owns the Even brand. Even Hotels have three locations, including one in New York City, and are planning to open eight more including one in Miami.

"Everyone has a different aspect of what they're looking for ... the hotel was designed with this idea of wanting wellness on my own terms," he said.

Rooftop yoga classes are all the rage at hotels across the country including The James Hotel in New York and the Mondrian South Beach. Guests at The Standard in Miami Beach can also enjoy waterfront yoga or stand-up paddle board classes and grab a green drink from the hotel's juice bar. Their spa, which offers a variety of fitness classes for guests (some are for members only) is also a hub for sessions taught by some of the world's top yogis.

Spinning junkies only have to walk downstairs at the 1 Hotel South Beach for a Soul Cycle class.

Forgot to pack your workout clothes? No problem.  Fairmont  has partnered with Under Armour and Reebok respectively to style your workout. Westin's lending program with New Balance had a 16 percent increase in requests in 2015. At the hotel's Grand Central location in New York, more than 2,000 guests paid $5 to use a new pair of sneakers and clothes delivered to their room.

Kimpton's running kit includes a map of the Hudson River running path and pre-loaded iPod shuffle. Fairmont and several other hotels have running programs including "run concierges" at roughly 200 Westin locations and other options for runners.

The beefed-up offerings come as guests, particularly younger ones, say it's one of the deciding factors on where they will stay. Forty-five percent of millennials and 38 percent of Gen-Xers said spa and fitness centers were influential in where they booked a room, according to a 2015 survey from travel and hospitality marketing firm MMGY Global.

Several hotel chains are also targeting the tech-minded fitness buffs.  Westin is  partnering with Fitbit to deliver personalized video-based exercises that guests can download on their phones or on the Internet along with real-time feedback.

And there's no need to wonder whether there are gluten-free options at hotel restaurants. Most have even revamped the notoriously calorie-laden room service menus.

The Epiphany Hotel in Palo Alto, California, offers guests a fridge stocked with produce from a local farmers market, green juices and homemade power bars for $95. Kimpton hotels overhauled room-service menus, substituting quinoa and oats for white flour. Westin developed a SuperFoodsRx menu  less.

TRAVELORE DESTINATION REPORT: Pittsburgh Pennsylvania Is Home To 8 Fortune 500 Firms, A Thriving Arts District, Champion Sports Teams, And Is Now Gaining National Attention As A 'Hot' Destination To Visit

We were impressed with our first ever visit to Pittsburgh to learn about the development of new hotels in this thriving metropolitan area, named by Conde Nast Traveler as One Of the Top Places In The World To Visit in 2015. We found the city to be clean, reminding us of Toronto, with a mix of eclectic and warmth of a small town feel.

We stayed at one of the newer hotels, the Hotel Monaco. The Hotel Monaco, part of the Kimpton Hotel group, is located in a beautiful Beaux Art style building dating back to 1903. We found the hotel with 247 rooms including 13 suites very comfortable and friendly, with an intent to connect people with offerings including a complementary wine hour. Some of the elements of the hotel are quirky including whimsical art including a theme of bird cages throughout the hotel. Before staying there we recommend visiting their website, www.kimptonhotels.com ,  and joining their Karma Rewards program so you'll be set up with free internet access and extras including a $10 bar credit. We also recommend you call to request complementary services including evening turn-down service and a coffee maker. The hotel does not have a business center or computers to use so we used the business center at the nearby Fairmont. For more details please visit: Www.Monaco-Pittsburgh.Com or call 412-471-1170

The Four Diamond Fairmont Pittsburgh features 185 guest rooms, 12,000 square feet of meeting space and a full-service health club and spa. Unique to the pet friendly Fairmont Hotels are Canine Ambassadors, represented by Edie who is a Boxer/Labrador Retriever mix in Pittsburgh. Edie welcomes guests, hosts events to benefit local animal shelters, and visits local schools and events.  Even if you are not staying at the hotel we recommend visiting to view their display of artifacts from the excavation of the PNC Plaza that the hotel is in.  More than 26,000 objects dating from 1840 to 1872 were recovered by archaeologists offering a unique glimpse into the life and commerce of Pittsburgh in the mid-1800's. The hotel is also the city's first LEED Gold certified hotel. For more details please visit: www.Fairmont.Com/Pittsburgh



One of the more unique dining experiences to Pittsburgh is Emporio, A Meatball Joint. Varieties featured include Classic  Beef, Spicy Pork, Turkey and Vegetarian. We were very pleased with the vegetarian variety made with mushrooms, white beans, and  cauliflower. Nine sauces are offered as well as traditional and eclectic varieties of sides We selected the arrabiata sauce and vegetable quinoa side. For more details please visit: http://emporioameatballjoint.com/ or call 412-281-2810

On future visits to Pittsburgh we will plan to report on the thriving arts and recreational activities offered. For more details please visit: Www.VisitPittsburgh.Com .