The Westin Nanea Ocean Villas: Opening Summer 2017, Maui's Newest Resort Now Confirming Reservations

Opening Summer 2017, Maui's Newest Resort Now Confirming Reservations

The Westin Nanea Ocean Villas kicks off bookings with exclusive Cyber Sale from Nov. 18­–Dec. 4

KAANAPALI, Hawaii -Discover nanea (relaxation and repose) at The Westin Nanea Ocean Villas, which will

 become Maui's newest resort when it opens in summer 2017.   The highly anticipated 390-villa resort

 situated on 16 oceanfront acres of North Kaanapali Beach announced that it has begun confirming reservations.

"The Westin Nanea Ocean Villas will offer guests a luxurious experience that is steeped in rich Hawaiian

 culture and tradition," said Angela Nolan, area managing director, Hawaii Villas, 

Vistana^TM Signature Experiences. "Upon its completion, a hinai (fish basket) will be featured at the

 center of the lobby. The hinai symbolizes both the stories of old Hawaii and the unwritten stories o

f our guests. We are thrilled to begin taking reservations, which kicks off the memory-making and

 story-writing of our guests' Kaanapali vacations."

To celebrate the start of bookings, The Westin Nanea Ocean Villas will offer a limited-time rate 

during its Cyber Sale. When booked from Nov. 18, 2016 through Dec. 4, 2016, rates will start at

 $625 per night (plus taxes and fees) for a two-bedroom resort-view villa for stays between

 July 1, 2017 and Sept. 4, 2017. This is up to a 20% discount. The reservations for this exclusive

 offer must be prepaid at the time of booking, are non-refundable and cannot be cancelled.

Comprised of one-, two- and three-bedroom villas, The Westin Nanea Ocean Villas is designed to 

be a relaxing haven replete with culturally inspired programs and distinctive Hawaiian experiences.

 Under the careful guidance of the resort's director of culture, Makalapua Kanuha, Hawaiian culture

 has been carefully woven into design elements throughout the property. Additionally, the Puuhonua

 o Nanea Cultural Center will be at the resort's heart. Its innovative and educational cultural offerings

 will honor local history, language, art, crafts, music and dance.

The Westin Nanea Ocean Villas' world-class amenities will include an expansive lagoon-style 

swimming pool, children's beach pool and play area, oceanfront cabanas and a WestinWORKOUT^® 

Fitness Studio. Mauka Makai Restaurant (mauka: toward the mountains; makai: toward the ocean), the

 resort's full-service restaurant, will pay tribute to the farming and fishing cultures of ancient Hawaii.

 With an emphasis on farm-to-table, Mauka Makai will utilize indigenous plants and vegetables

 grown on-site and from local farms to complement popular local dishes. It will also feature the

 Westin^® brand's signature SuperFoodsRX^TM menu with nutrient-rich and delicious options to

 tempt every palate. Additionally, the Inu (Drink) Pool Bar will provide a relaxing setting to enjoy

 oceanfront views, cocktails and lighter fare. Guests will also enjoy access to resort amenities at

 The Westin Kaanapali Ocean Resort Villas located next door, including 

Spa Helani, a Heavenly Spa by Westin^®.

Each of the villas at The Westin Nanea Ocean Villas will offer many of the key amenities of home,

 combined with signature Westin touches. The master bedrooms will include king-size signature

 Westin Heavenly^® Beds and Westin Heavenly^® Baths with showers, bathtubs and vanities. The

 living areas will offer armoires, queen-size sofa sleepers and private furnished lanais. Villas will

 also come with fully equipped kitchens and washers and dryers.

For more information or to make a reservation, please visit westinnanea.com.

About The Westin Nanea Ocean Villas Situated on Maui's North Kaanapali Beach, The Westin Nanea Ocean Villas is designed to

 provide a relaxing haven complete with culturally inspired programs and authentic Hawaiian

 experiences. Every feature of the resort — from the Puuhonua o Nanea Cultural Center to the

 locally sourced art — celebrates native culture and traditions. The Westin Nanea Ocean Villas

 offers world-class amenities including an expansive lagoon-style pool, full-service restaurant

, beach bar and a WestinWORKOUT^® Fitness Studio. All villas offer many of the key amenities

 of home, combined with signature Westin^® touches, such as the Westin Heavenly^® Bed and

 Westin Heavenly^® Bath. Villas also feature fully equipped kitchens and washers and dryers. 

Visit westinnanea.com.

About Vistana Signature Experiences, Inc.Vistana^TM Signature Experiences, Inc., an operating business of ILG (NASDAQ: ILG), is the

 exclusive provider of vacation ownership for the Sheraton^® and Westin^® brands under license

 from Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, LLC and is an authorized partner of the SPG^®program. 

More than 220,000 families own at the company's 20 villa resorts in the U.S., Mexico and the

 Caribbean, which operate under the Westin and Sheraton brands. Vistana offers a flexible vacation

 lifestyle, giving Owners and Members the ability to vacation within a collection of villa-style resorts

 in the best locations within the most sought-after destinations. Customers also enjoy privileged

 access to trade their ownership for stays at more than 1,300 hotels and resorts in nearly 100 countries

 through Starwood Preferred Guest^®, one of the industry's leading loyalty programs, allowing

 members to earn and redeem points for room stays, room upgrades and flights, with no 

blackout dates. Headquartered in Orlando, FL, and with over 4,300 employees in North America, 

Vistana continues to build on its more-than-35-year history of excellence in vacation ownership

 and leisure travel. For more information, please visit vistana.com.

Survey Reveals America’s Most Romantic Hotel Chains

Money can’t buy love, but it can buy a romantic hotel room. There's no shortage of hotel options in the U.S., but for an anniversary, date night or specific holiday - one must book overly romantic accommodations. With Summer getaways just around the corner, MissTravel.com surveyed members to reveal the most romantic hotel chains.

New York - March 7, 2016

A good hotel, much like a good relationship, must have the perfect combination of comfort, excitement, and indulgence. The trick is finding the right match. Travel-dating website, MissTravel.com, asked members to fill out a blank form, results were then tallied to determine the most romantic hotel chain in America.

Members voted Kimpton Hotels as the most romantic. Respondents alluded to the "stylish rooms," "hosted wine tasting" and the "luxe-feel," as contributors to the romantic appeal of the boutique-hotel brand.

Top 10 Romantic Hotel Chains

Rank - Chain - Number of Votes

1 Kimpton - 10,724

2 Hyatt - 9,145

3 Hilton - 7,897

4 Marriott - 4,718

5 Omni - 3,421

6 Intercontinental - 2,573

7 W - 2,144

8 Raddison - 1,844

9 Sheraton - 1,286

10 Westin - 643

“The perfect hotel is essential to a romantic vacation,” said Brandon Wade, founder and CEO of MissTravel.com. “Travelers looking to book a romantic getaway shouldn't shy away from big-name chain hotels. Many offer unique perks and luxurious amenities which can enhance romance at a very accessible price.”

MissTravel.com is the world’s first travel-dating website, the platform connects singles for dates to popular vacation destinations. MissTravel members are frequent fliers and avid travelers.

About MissTravel

MissTravel.com is the world’s first travel dating website. Instead of the conventional date, such as movies or dinner, singles venture on first dates to vacation destinations all over the world in hopes of finding romance. MissTravel.com was founded by MIT alum and online dating expert, Brandon Wade, and joins an impressive brand family of successful niche dating websites. Launched in 2012, the site boasts over 600,000 members in 135 countries.

Starwood Hotels Expands Presence In Canada

TORONTO, Canada - Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc today announced the signings of two new build properties: The Westin Calgary Airport, owned by PAL Hospitality Ltd, and The Westin Edmonton Gateway, owned by Neelam Investments Ltd. With these new signings, Starwood will further strengthen its footprint across Canada, while significantly bolstering its upper-upscale presence in Alberta.

“We are very excited to continue growing our reach in Canada with this strategic expansion of the Westin brand in key Alberta markets,” said Alison Reid, Senior Vice President of North America Development for Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc. “We highly value our relationships with owners and franchisees, and continue to see strong interest from partners looking to leverage Starwood's powerful brands, network, global booking platforms and loyal customer base."

With 250 guestrooms, The Westin Calgary Airport will be located directly on Calgary International Airport property. The five-story hotel will feature a Westin Club Lounge, 30,000 square feet of meeting space, restaurant and lounge. The Westin Edmonton Gateway will offer 225 guestrooms, as well as a Westin Club Lounge, full restaurant, contemporary bar and more than 10,000 square feet of meeting space. The hotel will be located near The Anthony Henday Expressway, which encircles Edmonton, providing convenient access throughout the city and to downtown.

Both hotels will embrace the Westin brand positioning of For a better you™ by offering programs designed to inspire balance and enhance well-being, leaving guests feeling better than when they arrived. The properties will be fully equipped with the brand’s signature amenities, such as the world-renowned Westin Heavenly® Bed, the Heavenly® Bath experience, and an ergonomic work area for optimal productivity.

“These hotels are a great example of how Starwood is working proactively to increase our portfolio throughout Canada with the right partners, the right properties and in the right places,” said Scott T. Duff, Sr. Director Development - Canada & Alaska. “Our solid portfolio of 67 hotels in the country across seven of our brands positions us well for continued growth across the country across all segments.”

Starwood Hotels is also pleased to welcome The Gupta Group / Easton’s Group of Hotels, to the Starwood family. The Gupta Group recently acquired The Westin Bristol Place Toronto Airport Hotel, assuming the franchise licensing agreement for the hotel. The hotel is located adjacent to Toronto Pearson International Airport and just 25 minutes from downtown Toronto. With the purchase of the property, Easton’s Group, led by owner Steve Gupta will invest $9 Million in renovations to the hotel over the next year.

The momentum continues for Starwood Hotels in Canada, with opportunity for growth across all its brands, including the newly introduced Tribute Portfolio™. A robust pipeline of future openings is spurred by growth of Starwood’s Specialty Select brands. Boasting the largest portfolio among all of Starwood brands in Canada, Four Points by Sheraton will soon welcome new properties including Four Points by Sheraton Moncton, Four Points by Sheraton Surrey, Four Points by Sheraton Regina, Four Points by Sheraton Edmonton West, Four Points by Sheraton Sherwood Park, Four Points by Sheraton Grande Prairie, Four Points by Sheraton Lloydminster, Four Points by Sheraton Estevan and Four Points by Sheraton Saint John. After the recent opening of Element Vancouver Metrotown, momentum for Starwood’s trailblazing eco-wise Element brand continues in Canada with plans to open Element Calgary Airport and Element Edmonton West in the coming years.

Starwood Hotels & Resorts Strikes A Chord With Amped Up Music Experiences

Musically-inclined SPG members are singing a sweeter tune thanks to new, members-only music offerings and once-in-a-lifetime interactive artist experiences. Starwood Preferred Guest (SPG), the award-winning loyalty program from Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc. is partnering with Trevanna Entertainment, a live music consulting agency, to produce another remarkable year of the signature in-hotel music series, Hear the Music, See the World. Additionally, through SPG’s expanded relationship with AEG, the largest sports and entertainment presenters in the world, getting into the world’s most exciting music festivals and the best luxury suites is now a reality.

“Music moves our members, so we’re making this year’s program even more memorable, which will deepen our relationship with our most valuable guests,” said Mark Vondrasek, Senior Vice President, Distribution, Loyalty and Partnership Marketing for Starwood Hotels & Resorts. “Through SPG’s music program, we’re redefining what loyalty programs can do. We’re continuing to cultivate loyalty beyond reason with all of our members by providing them once-in-a-lifetime access to music’s top talent and the chance to see amazing performances from the comfort of SPG’s luxury suites in some of the world’s best venues.”

Up Close and Personal

SPG’s Hear the Music, See the World concert series has become one of the most popular SPG Moments. Tickets for this year’s intimate, acoustic series become available April 7, 2015. SPG members can redeem Starpoints at spg.com/moments to attend any of the five in-hotel performances, which gives fans the rare opportunity to connect with their favorite artists in intimate settings.
Confirmed 2015 Hear the Music, See the World performances include:

Aloft & Element Aloft/Element Miami Doral
Miami, Florida June 26 Nate Ruess
W W Beijing
Beijing, China July 4 Zhang Zhen Yue
St. Regis The St. Regis Mexico City
Mexico City, Mexico October 8, 2015 Jamie Cullum
Westin Westin Palace Madrid
Madrid, Spain October 30, 2015 Bastille
Sheraton Sheraton LA Downtown
Los Angeles, California November 5, 2015 John Legend

“There is nothing better than getting up close and personal at small venues with fans who love music as much as I do,” said John Legend. “I get to perform for these devoted fans in the most beautiful settings at the most incredible hotels in the world. SPG delivers what matters most to us – bringing music to the people.”
“Suite Access” to the #spglife

Through its expanded relationship with AEG, SPG is giving its members the opportunity to enjoy the #spglife outside of Starwood’s more than 1,200 hotels. Members can enjoy powerful performances from the comfort of SPG’s Luxury Suites in AEG affiliated venues such as STAPLES Center in Los Angeles, Shanghai’s Mercedes-Benz Arena and London’s The O2, which are all part of the AEG Facilities venue portfolio. Members can share their experience at the SPG “selfie spot” while enjoying the SPG bar and other suite perks. Redemption begins April 7, 2015 at spg.com/moments.

Sold Out Festivals? Not for SPG Members

Now SPG Members will have priority access to festivals including the Coachella Valley Music & Arts Festival, New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival and Barclaycard Presents British Summertime Hyde Park, which typically sell out in days if not hours. Through SPG, members can get sold out VIP or General Admission passes, behind the scenes tours, the best views of the stages, access to hospitality and AMEX lounges, catered dinners and more.

Westin Hotels Continues To Lead Healthy Hotel Revolution

Westin Move Well Advocate - Holly Perkin

Westin Hotels & Resorts, part of Starwood Hotels and Resorts Worldwide, Inc. (NYSE: HOT), has revealed the next phase of its year-long Westin Well-being Movement with the announcement of Westin Wellness Escapes, an ongoing well-being series led by experts in the fields of mindfulness meditation, nutrition, yoga, running and more. Taking place at Westin properties around the globe, the series will first launch inNorth America before rolling out internationally. Established health and fitness personalityHolly Perkins will kick off the series by hosting the Women's Strength Nation™ LIVE retreat this April, following her appointment to Westin's Well-Being Council as the brand'sMove Well Advocate.

Westin Wellness Escapes are designed to inspire empowerment and help attendees pursue their well-being through interactive workshops, including fitness classes, healthy cooking courses, panel discussions, seminars and robust itineraries of wellness activities. The inaugural retreat, held at The Westin San Diego Gaslamp Quarter Hotel,April 10-12, will consist of a weekend-long curriculum of tutorials, exercises and activities designed to help participants' cultivate their inner strength.
As a leading voice in fitness and the founder of Women's Strength Nation, a resource dedicated to educating women on the value of strength training, Holly will offer guests the inspiration and tools needed to lead a healthy lifestyle. Westin will also partner with other wellness leaders to curate subsequent retreats in 2015.

"The Westin Wellness Escapes series is designed to motivate and educate those seeking to achieve or sustain a healthy lifestyle while still exploring the world," saidBrian Povinelli, Global Brand Leader for Westin. "Similar to Westin's collaboration with New Balance, Holly's involvement in the program reinforces theMove Well philosophy and lets us further cater to the diverse needs of our guests."

Westin Picks Up the Pace with First-of-Its-Kind Series

Travelers are increasingly seeking quick and effective wellness breaks instead of extended holidays for mind and body reboots, choosing more accessible options that offer a brief change of scenery, relaxation and wellness activities. Leading research groups, such as Global Wellness Tourism Economy Report, predict that wellness tourism will grow by more than 9% per year through 2017, nearly 50% faster than overall global tourism.

Westin is capitalizing on this growing trend with Wellness Escapes to offer concise, thoughtfully organized itineraries for discerning, wellness-minded travelers. The series is inspired by the brand's six pillars of well-being: Feel Well, Work Well, Move Well, Eat Well, Sleep Well and Play Well. Themes will vary across all events; with each workshop focused on well-being and the Westin brand philosophy, "For a Better You."

The Westin Wellness Escapes slated in the brand's pipeline thus far is as follows:

* Women's Strength Nation LIVE with Fitness Expert Holly Perkins at The Westin San Diego Gaslamp Quarter --April 10-12, 2015 The weekend-long strength training retreat for women will enable attendees to achieve next level fitness through a multitude of educational sessions. Participants will learn techniques and methods derived from Holly's Women's Strength Nation platform to discover personal strength through the development of outer strength.

* Triathlon Recovery Retreat with runWESTIN Concierge Chris Heuisler at The Westin Jekyll Island --May 16-17, 2015In celebration of its grand opening and as part of its Jekyll Island Turtle Crawl Triathlon sponsorship, The Westin Jekyll Island will offer a 24-hour triathlon recovery retreat, hosted by runWESTIN Concierge,Chris Heuisler. Activities will kick off right away at the finish line of the race with a private tent for hotel guests, and continue both on and off-property until Sunday at check-out. Westin racers whobook a stay at the hotel on Saturday, May 16 will enjoy a number of carefully selected amenities targeted at the importance of proper recovery following a race, as well as an expertly crafted schedule of recovery activities and educational talks. Additional Wesitn Wellness Escapes will be announced throughout the year. To join the Westin Wellness Escapes conversation, users are invited to use #westinwellbeing on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

Holly's Fitness Fundamentals Bring to Life Westin's Mantra "For a Better You"With 20 years of experience in the health industry, Holly is a leading voice in women's fitness and the ideal candidate to support the brand'sMove Well pillar and host the inaugural Westin Wellness Escapes retreat with her Women's Strength Nation programming. Also, as part of the collaboration, Holly has produced four strength training videos with exclusive and engaging content focusing on tips and tricks for staying fit while traveling.

Developed as 5-minute video segments, the films provide a comprehensive, equipment free, 20-minute workout which can easily be done in a guest room or at home. The video content is accessible via on-demand for free at 80+ hotels across the country in addition to being available on Westin's YouTube channels andwestin.com now.

As a certified strength and conditioning specialist, Holly's success is derived from her philosophy that science should be the foundation of fitness. In 2014, Holly created the Women's Strength Nation community to educate, inspire and lead women towards a new definition of inner strength. The platform serves as a resource for women seeking to enhance their strength in, and out of, the gym.

The Westin Well-being Council is a diverse advisory board composed of renowned thought leaders, each of whom aligns with a specific wellness brand pillar. Perkins joins Council membersAshley Koff, internationally-renowned dietician,Andy Puddicombe, Headspace Co-Founder and mediation expert, and media mogulArianna Huffington in guiding and inspiring new initiatives, leveraging proprietary research to inform and introduce new programs throughout the year.

"It is exciting to join the Westin Well Being Council and help you stay fit even when you travel," saidHolly Perkins. "An active life is key to ensuring optimal health, wellbeing and vitality. In order to thrive, the human body needs to run, jump, dance and play every day. My mission in life is to provide inspiration and tools for you to create a fitness plan that works for your lifestyle and helps you achieve your personal best."

About The Westin Well-being Movement With a brand positioning rooted in wellness for more than a decade, Westin Hotels & Resorts is dedicated to ensuring that guests leave feeling better than when they arrived. Earlier this year the brand launched The Westin Well-Being Movement -- a year-long global initiative designed to enhance the well-being of guests and associates with the introduction of a string of innovative partnerships and programs across the brand's six pillars of well-being: Feel Well, Work Well, Move Well, Eat Well, Sleep Well and Play Well. Building upon its existing healthy SuperFoodsRx™ menus, Westin recently introduced new delicious and nutrient-rich offerings includingWestin Fresh by The Juicery, featuring energizing juices and smoothies, and kid-tested nourishing dishes developed in partnership with SuperChefs on the Westin Eat Well Menu for Kids (Eat Well). The brand also recently announced a partnership with the mindful meditation app, Headspace (Feel Well), in which guests have exclusive access to customized content through the Westin website, designed to spread healthy benefits including decreasing stress, improving mood and increasing creativity.

The inspiration for Westin's wellness strategy, the iconic Heavenly® Bed (Sleep Well) is beloved by guests and lauded as one of hospitality's great innovations. WestinWORKOUT®, RunWESTIN™ and Westin Gear Lending with New Balance® (Move Well) together pack a formidable punch, offering guests a holistic fitness solution. The brand's nature-inspired design, signature sensory welcome, Heavenly Bath and Heavenly Spa (Feel Well) offer a relaxing respite from the rigors of travel. Tangent (Work Well), an innovative workspace concept for small groups modeled to support today's mobile traveler, is receiving rave reviews and high usage from guests in locations where available. Westin Weekend (Play Well) signature experiences are designed to let guests escape, discover and relax and the brand's digital destination guide, Westin Finds from AFAR, provides guests with uniquely curated travel experiences.

6 Luxury (Vegan) Hotels In Singapore (And Johor Bahru)

With the rapidly increasing number of people choosing a vegan lifestyle, luxury hotels and resorts are beginning to adapt their services to ensure guests looking for plant based luxury feel just as at home as their non-vegan counterparts. There are already some vegan hotspots in the world (including Berlin and Los Angeles) that are well known for their plentiful vegan offerings, where you can eat happily without having to accept salad at every meal.

Now Singapore, famed for it’s culture, history and culinary adventures, is nipping at the heels of some of the more famous vegan cities in the world and it’s luxury hotels are helping to lead the way.

It’s also just over the Causeway from Johor Bahru in Malaysia, where the luxury continues and the vegan food is really pretty special.

Johor Bahru is often overlooked by those travelling in the region despite being just an hour from the centre of Singapore and a frequent destination for Singaporeans who love to shop, the city is currently undergoing huge development with shopping malls, new hotels and theme parks including Legoland and Hello Kitty World, all opening recently and drawing massive crowds.

Here’s our pick of 6 luxury (vegan) hotels in Singapore (and Johor Bahru).

The Westin Singapore

Situated in the heart of the Central Business District, The Westin Singapore is a modern and fresh new property with killer views and a weekend brunch event that’s famous with food loving Singaporeans.

But a lesser known fact is that the Westin follows a culinary philosophy (SuperFoodsRX) that contains mainly vegan foods and they have a dedicated chef who deals with all special dietary requirements.

The hotel is also right near one of the iconic VeganBurg restaurants so guests wanting to try one of these world famous vegan burgers can pop by during their stay.

Grand Hyatt Singapore

Right in the centre of the busy Orchard Road shopping and entertainment district, vegans will be very happy at Grand Hyatt Singapore.

Chefs at their signature, award winning restaurant Mezza9 are happy to put together a vegan menu where guests can dine on vegan versions of Asian cuisine from around the region.

Plus the in-room amenities are by New York based luxury brand June Jacobs whose products are all natural, organic and 100% vegan (rarely found in hotels so this is an added luxury vegan bonus).

Sheraton Towers Singapore

Sheraton Towers Singapore has a great location on Scotts Road and offers all of the upscale amenities you would expect from a 5 star hotel in Singapore.

They earn their place on our list because of the amazing array of vegan delights, including a phenomenal vegan breakfast, where their talented team pulled out all the stops and made a stack of vegan pancakes, vegan banana bread, granola, a range of cooked options and a variety of fresh juices.

Drink vegan cocktails in the Towers Executive Lounge and eat dainty vegan canapes before heading down to Li Bai, the Sheraton Towers Singapore’s fine dining Cantonese restaurant where you’ll be seriously impressed by the vegan food on offer.

A stay here gets you a vegan banquet in the morning but make sure to leave room for all the other vegan food on offer because there is a lot of it!

Four Seasons Singapore

Check in to be greeted by beautiful vegan snacks in your classic luxury suite. The Four Seasons brand is well established in the luxury travel world but they’re also very well equipped to look after vegan travellers who want to experience what this top end brand has to offer.

The renowned fine dining Cantonese restaurant has a menu with a whole section of vegan (and vegetarian) dishes. Dinner at Jiang-Nan Chun as a vegan guest still offers the same high quality experience as other (non-vegan) guests with exquisite food being served at every course.

There’s nothing out of the ordinary about eating plant-based food in this restaurant and the food is exceptional.

The other great thing about the Four Seasons Singapore is the great range of luxury vegan products available in their spa. Whether booking in for a treatment or stocking up on luxury skincare, vegan guests can choose from a range of products that contain no animal products and haven’t been tested on animals.

Regent Singapore

Located just around the corner from the Four Seasons Singapore, the Regent Singapore is home to the seriously talented Chef Angelo, whose ability to make vegan guests feel at home is second to none.

Vegan visitors to the Regent Singapore will be well looked after during their stay but making a reservation at Basilico, their signature Italian restaurant guarantees a fine dining experience that won’t be forgotten in a hurry.

At breakfast, they’ll make you vegan versions of local favourites as well as coming up with a few extra dishes that taste as good as they look.

Renaissance Johor Bahru

Our top pick in Johor Bahru has to be the Renaissance Johor Bahru, a 5 star luxury hotel just 10 minutes from the Malaysia – Singapore checkpoint, enabling guests to experience both Malaysia and Singapore on the same visit.

Expect modern rooms, state of the art fitness centre, a stylish outdoor pool and superb customer service, as well as delicious vegan dining at both Cafe BLD and Wan Li.

The award winning chef at Cafe BLD will prepare a vegan feast that not only tastes amazing but looks amazing too, including this exquisite ‘Carrot Cake with Pepper Relish and a Green Pea Puree’ and ‘Potato Cake With Marmalade, Beetroot Puree’.

If Cantonese fine dining is your thing then Wan Li will not fail to impress with a wide range of vegan dishes, our favourite being the ‘Bamboo Shoot Rolls with Golden Pumpkin Sauce’ which were packed full of flavour.

The wonderful thing about all of these hotels is that even though they aren’t specifically vegan companies, they cater exceptionally well for all their customers no matter what their dietary requirements are.

So now vegan travellers looking for luxury can head to Singapore and neighbouring Johor Bahru where they can see the sights, soak up the culture and enjoy the finer things in life in one of our chosen luxury hotels.

Amazing vegan food is guaranteed!

Contributed by Paul Eyers, Founder of Vegan Food Quest. www.aluxurytravelblog.com

Follow us on Twitter: @TraveloreReport

Le MerIiden Reinvents The Écair In Partnership With Accclaimed Pastry Chef And Newest LM100™ Member Johnny Iuzzini

Paris-Born Hospitality Brand Appoints Iuzzini to Create Seasonal Éclair Recipes

 Inspired

 by Global Tour

 of Le Méridien Destinations

  

 In anticipation of National Chocolate Éclair Day (June 22), Le

 Méridien Hotels & Resorts today announced the launch of its first-everglobal éclair program in

 partnership with award-winning pastry chef and new LM100 member Johnny Iuzzini.  As part

 of the brand’s new culinary program, Le Méridien hotels and resorts worldwide will offer guests the 

opportunity to indulge in a variety of modern twists on the chic Parisian treat, including both classic flavors

 as well as unique creations inspired by the destination. In addition, Chef Iuzzini will create eight seasonal 

éclair recipes for the hotels, inspired by his travels through various Le Méridien destinations.  As part of

 the programme, each hotel will offer modern takes on three signature éclair flavors – coffee, chocolate and

 vanilla – as well as one locally inspired flavor.

“Drawn from our European roots, Le Méridien Éclair will allow guests and locals yet another way to unlock

 their destination,” said Brian Povinelli, Global Brand Leader, Le Méridien & Westin. “Through local recipes

 and a modern perspective on this quintessentially French pastry, Le Méridien éclairs enable us to

 offer unique, memorable guest experiences in our signature Le Méridien Hubs and restaurants around the

 world.” 

A 2006 James Beard Award winner for Outstanding Pastry Chef and author of Dessert FourPlay and Sugar 

Rush (September 2014), Iuzzini served as Head Judge on Bravo’s “Top Chef Just Desserts.” He boasts 

more than 20 years of kitchen experience at some of the top restaurants in New York City and currently

 owns a pastry and culinary arts consulting company, Sugar Fueled, Inc.  As the newest member of the

 LM100™, a group of cultural innovators and artists who define and enrich the guest experience at Le

 Méridien, Chef Iuzzini will guide the éclair programming and initiatives around the globe, employing his youthful 

energy and unique culinary style to reinvent the classic pastry and create eight seasonal éclair recipes

 exclusively for Le Méridien.

Le Méridien Celebrates the Éclair

To commemorate the launch of Le Méridien éclairs, Le Méridien hotels around the world will host exciting 

on-property events, programs and special offerings highlighting the delectable French treat, from

 do-it-yourself (DIY) tutorials with on-property pastry chefs to regular éclair hours for guests to sample

 seasonal creations. Guests of Le Méridien properties throughout the months of June and July will also be

 encouraged to upload and share their experiences on social media using #LMeclairs. 

Le Méridien hotels around the world will continue to feature a variety of destination-inspired éclairs, offering

guests an authentic taste of the local culture, from the Maple Bacon Éclair and Texas Honey Pecan Éclair 

at Le Méridien Dallas by the Galleria to the Dulce de Leche Éclair, infused with coconut, from Le Méridien

 Panama.  In Germany, Le Méridien Munich will offer a savory éclair with goat cheese, cranberry and 

pumpernickel crumbs, while Le Méridien Bangkok will feature a citrus-inspired treat with mango, lime

 and ginger.

Johnny Iuzzini and ‘The Éclair Diaries’

Through this unique culinary collaboration, Chef Iuzzini will create eight signature éclair recipes exclusively

 for Le Méridien over the next 12 months, inspired by a global tour of select Le Méridien destinations. 

 Éclair Diaries will kick off in San Francisco on Thursday, July 10 where Chef Iuzzini will travel around the 

city and discover the region by motorcycle to uncover local flavors and find inspiration for his fall 2014 éclair

 recipe.  Chef Iuzzini’s recipe will then be unveiled at a special event in New York City on Tuesday, July 29. 

 Johnny’s Éclair Diaries will continue throughout 2014 and 2015 with additional stops being announced soon.

“I’m constantly searching for new flavors, techniques and ideas, and travel is a necessary source of inspiration,”

 said Chef Johnny Iuzzini.  “I am excited to work with Le Méridien in particular because of the brand’s

 commitment to unlocking the destination through locally-inspired cuisine, and I look forward to reinventing 

the éclair with the help of Le Méridien’s talented chefs around the world.”

The Le Méridien éclair programme comes on the heels of the brand’s recent announcement of a new global

partnership with French Bossa Nova collective Nouvelle Vague,who has curated a 24-hour soundtrack for 

Le Méridien hotels around the world, as well as a new global beverage program, Le Méridien Sparkling,

 inspired by the European aperitif culture.  Together, these programs elevate the guest experience via

 the brand’s signature Hub experience, encouraging visitors to unlock their destination through coordinates,

 culture and cuisine.

Launched in 2011, the signature Le Méridien Hub™ re-interprets the traditional hotel lobby into a social

 gathering place, building on the brand’s award-winning Arrival experience and coffee culture. Le Méridien 

arrival consists of four elements: large-scale artwork in high impact areas; sensory experience, illustrated 

through the LM01 signature scent, sound and use of light; UNLOCK ART™ programme, featuring artist

 designed key card collections that offer access to Le Méridien affiliated contemporary cultural centers 

in the destination; and a 24-hour soundtrack, now curated by Nouvelle Vague. Each Hub also features

 a Master Barista, a recently launched initiative to meet the growing demands of coffee lovers at every Le

 Méridien hotel worldwide. Master Baristas lead coffee-related initiatives at each hotel, serve as a coffee

 cultural ambassador, and maintain knowledge of current coffee trends within the destination.

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About Le Méridien Hotels & Resorts

Le Méridien, the Paris-born hotel brand currently represented by nearly 100 properties in more than

 40 countries, was acquired by Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc. (NYSE: HOT) in November

 2005.  With more than 80 of its properties located in Europe, Africa, the Middle East, and Asia-Pacific,

 Le Méridien provided a strong international complement to Starwood’s then primarily North American

 holdings at the time of purchase. Since then, Le Méridien has gone through a brand re-launch, which

 included a large scale hotels product consolidation and redefined brand strategy. Through creation of the

 LM100 artist community, Le Méridien has transformed numerous guest touch points, thus bringing

 unique, interactive and curated experiences to its guests. Plans call for dynamic expansion of Le Méridien

 Hotels and Resorts within the next five years, concentrating on markets in Asia-Pacific and the Americas.

 Le Méridien recently opened new hotels in Cairo, Bali, Atlanta, Dallas, Istanbul, Oran (Algeria), Zhengzhou 

(China), Arlington (Virginia, USA) and Santa Monica, (California, USA), and will open in the next 12 months

 in Bangkok, Chicago, New Orleans, Mahabaleshwar (India), Gandhinagar (India), Dhaka (Bangladesh),

 Tampa (Florida, USA), Charlotte (North Carolina, USA) and Indianapolis (Indiana, USA).  

For more information, please visit www.lemeridien.com or www.facebook.com/lemeridien.

Follow @LeMeridienHotels on Instagram and Twitter.

About Chef Johnny Iuzzini

Chef Johnny Iuzzini, award winning pastry chef, hails from the Catskills region in upstate New York.

 A graduate of the Culinary Institute of America with over 20 years of kitchen experience, Chef Iuzzini

 honed his craft at highly lauded dining locations such as The River Café, Daniel, Payard, Café Boulud and 

Jean Georges, all in New York City. In 1998 he traveled around the world and studied pastry at some of 

the finest patisseries in France including LaDuree under Pierre Hermès. In 2006, the James Beard

 Foundation awarded Chef Iuzzini "Pastry Chef of the Year." In addition he has been recognized as one

 of the "10 Most Influential Pastry Chefs in America" by Forbes, "Best New Pastry Chef" by New York 

Magazine, and named one of the “Top Ten Pastry Chefs in America” two years in a row by Pastry Arts 

and Design. He has appeared on national television shows including the "Today Show," "Good Morning

 America," "Martha Stewart," "Paula Dean," and "Live with Regis and Kelly" and was the head judge of

 Bravo’s culinary competition series “Top Chef: Just Desserts” for two seasons. During his near decade

 as the Executive Pastry Chef at Restaurant Jean Georges, the restaurant received four stars from the

 New York Times, three Michelin stars, and was considered one of the world’s fifty greatest restaurants.

 Since leaving Restaurant Jean Georges, Chef Iuzzini has started his own pastry and culinary arts consulting

 company, aptly named Sugar Fueled, Inc.  He is the author of DESSERT FOURPLAY: Sweet 

Quartets from a Four-Star Pastry Chef (Clarkson Potter) and his second book, Sugar Rush, will be

 released in September 2014. In addition, Chef Iuzzini has been traveling around the globe researching

 new trends and techniques in the industry and devoting time to his other passion, motorcycle racing.

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