Beach by day opera by night

Sarasota Opera, Florida, celebrates its 52^nd season this year and will feature a string of operatic heroines, including a few feisty divas.

Mixing classic works with less well-known modern repertoires, the opera company season includes favourites like Bizet’s Carmen and Puccini’s Madama Butterfly, which will open the 2011 performances in October. During 2012, opera lovers will also be able to see Donizetti’s tragic Lucia di Lammermoor, as well as admiring the multimillion dollar renovation of the building which dates back to 1926 and is now one of North America’s Historic Places.

The Sarasota Opera House is the perfect place for opera novices as well. On a smaller scale than many opera houses, with fewer than 1,200 seats, Sarasota Opera has won critical acclaim for its productions of well-known works by the great composers as well as offering some pre-performance lectures for rarer productions.

And this year, the company will be celebrating a special anniversary of its own during the season, marking 30 years of artistic leadership by Victor DeRenzi, who’s helped bring the company world-wide recognition.

Taking a look back over the decades, as well as forward to the future, Sarasota Opera will also be staging a gala concert where Maestro DeRenzi will conduct his favourite selections on March 25 2012.

Sarasota Opera’s popular ‘Opera Lovers Weekends’ allow audience members to see all the Winter Festival selections in three days, continue with three full weekends of opera in repertory. The final Opera Lovers Weekend will include the Gala Concert celebrating Maestro De Renzi’s 30th anniversary with Sarasota Opera. Opera Lovers Weekends for 2012 will be March 9-11, 16-18, and 23-25.

For general information on Sarasota call 0870 033 1501 and visit www.sarasotafl.org Tickets are on sale from the Sarasota Opera box office or visit www.sarasotaopera.org

Santa Monica in 2009 continues to offer Irish holidaymakers the best location to enjoy incredible scenery, fantastic sunshine as well as world class shopping. This coastal city jewel offers Irish holidaymakers a wonderful welcome combined with incredible hospitality. Whether your clients are looking to stay just a few days or for a week you can let them know that we are looking forward to their arrival and can enhance their trip with some of these inviting activities.

Top 25 Free Things to Do in Santa Monica!

1.       Grab a towel, sun block and a good book and head out to enjoy the Southern California scenery on picturesque Santa Monica Beach, which stretches for 3.5 miles between Venice and Malibu.


2.       Take a stroll on Santa Monica Pier, hailed as the oldest piers on the West Coast of the United States. Featured in the Oscar-winning movie, “Forrest Gump,” the Pier is open year-round and is the perfect spot for viewing a sunset or taking a romantic stroll.

3.       Pay a visit to Third Street Promenade by evening. Street performers and entertainers light up this pedestrian-only boulevard with the sound of drums, acoustic guitars, and tambourines. Stop to watch the acrobats, dancers, psychic cats, mimes and bubble blowers.

4.       Window shop along Montana Avenue, a 10-block open-air, retail destination frequented by discerning visitors and affluent Angelenos. Lined with boutiques, celebrities come to get coffee, lunch with friends, or shop for the latest in furnishings and skin care.
 

5.       Walk down Main Street to discover quintessential beach life with a hip, urban edge. Peruse the lively and eclectic boutiques, chic clothing stores and design showrooms.
 

6.       Sway to the tunes at the Twilight Dance Series on the Santa Monica Pier featuring free evening concerts in the summer from some of your favorite musicians.
 

7.       Make it a summer movie night at a drive-in movie on the Santa Monica Pier. Offered Thursday evenings in September, movies are projected onto a huge screen in the open air.

 
8.       Visit one of Santa Monica’s three farmers markets. Choose from the Third Street and Arizona Market, the Santa Monica Airport Market or the Main Street Market for organic produce and plenty of edibles.

 
9.       Indulge your ears with “Jazz on the Lawn” at Santa Monica City Hall in the summer time, the best way to spend a hot summer afternoon. Talented jazz artists bring their own flavor to the genre.

 
10.   Enjoy gardens, public art, volleyball, beach tennis, and a playground at the newly unveiled Annenberg Community Beach House, the only public beach house in the United States.

 
11.   Explore the Pico Boulevard neighborhood at the southern end of Santa Monica. This area contains a varied mix of shopping and attractions including a planetarium, Santa Monica College's performing arts venues, boutiques, galleries, and dining options

 
12.   Cozy up to a series of free events in celebration of the 100th anniversary of the Santa Monica Pier. Visitors can enjoy “Lalop at the Pier,” “Sideshow at the Pier,” “School's Out!” and “La Monica Ballroom Redux,” which all take place between March and September 2009. These events highlight photography, dance, children's activities, art and entertainment.

 
13.   Flex your muscles at the original Muscle Beach, which beckons visitors to test their strength and work on your beach body in an open-air gym along a three-acre stretch of beach. Test out the fully restored areas featuring chinning bars, parallel bars, rings and small jungle gyms for children. Celebrities such as Jack LaLanne, Jayne Mansfield, and Mae West were frequent visitors at Muscle Beach, helping to establish Southern California as a body builder’s paradise.

 
14.   Relax and unwind with a free yoga session in Santa Monica Park

 
15.   The South Bay Bicycle Trail runs for 22 miles alongside the Los Angeles coast from Will Rogers State Beach to Torrance Co. Beach and provides a unique way to see a long stretch of Pacific coastline and get some exercise. With easy points of entry and exit, cyclists can make the ride as long or as short as they desire.

 

16.   Serve in a game of volleyball at Santa Monica’s many volleyball courts, where several US Olympic beach volleyball competitors have trained. Adjacent to the pier, a row of volleyball courts is available to the public on a first come, first serve basis. Olympic Gold Medalist Misty May-Treanor grew up playing volleyball in Santa Monica.

 
17.   Hunt for Santa Monica’s many green-friendly businesses. City partners have joined together to implement the Santa Monica Certified Green Business program. Look for these decals in storefronts showing that they meet the “green” requirements.

 

18.   Immerse yourself in the arts at Southern California’s largest art gallery complex, Bergamot Station. Visit over 35 contemporary art galleries, studios, and architecture design firms.

 
19.   Explore the Santa Monica Museum of Art, displaying innovative exhibits that foster diversity, and pivotal moments in the history of contemporary art and history. 

 
20.   Enjoy a mirror-and-lens panorama that has documented Santa Monica for more than 100 years. Stop by Camera Obscura – a lifesize, walk-through pinhole camera – only one of three in the US along Palisades Park.

 

21.   Experience “culture within culture” along Santa Monica’s Design District, featuring showrooms of modern design for home or business.  Embark on a self-guided tour with the Santa Monica Design District Map, available at any of the three Santa Monica Visitors Center locations.

 

22.   Visit legendary McCabe’s Guitar Shop for live concerts and strum a vintage guitar. Opened in 1958, McCabe’s specializes in acoustic and folk instruments and offers thousands of books and recordings.

 
23.   Come and see where historic Route 66 begins! Visit the spot that is home to the plaque of the original US highway that ran from Chicago to Los Angeles.

 

24.   Pick up a Santa Monica Art Trek Map which offers a comprehensive guide to public art works around the City.

 
25.   Music to your ears. The award winning Santa Monica Symphony presents four concerts a year at no charge at the Santa Monica Civic Auditorium.

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A selection of 25 Santa Monica accommodations, from luxury to beachfront hotels, and value options to boutique havens, are welcoming guests with a never-before seen hotel promotion showcasing a Southern California hotel collection as diverse as its destination. Santa Monica’s “Sun, Sea, Save” promotion offers travelers a 3rd night free and a variety of free attraction passes when booking from a selection of participating Santa Monica properties. 

 

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Want a different way to see Washington DC? Get active and explore the many landmarks of Washington DC with ‘Bike and Roll’. The company, which offers entertaining and informative guided bike tours of the city, allows travellers the chance to learn about the city’s history, unique and quirky facts and touring tips during a safe and easy bike ride.

From mid march to mid December tourists can hire bikes and guides to see everything from Capitol Hill to the Potomac Tidal Basin and the city’s memorials and Smithsonian’s. Not forgetting the spectacular dusk tours of the memorials when the crowds have dispersed, and the sun is setting. The city’s flat terrain and abundance of cycle paths make it a great place to explore by bicycle and there has never been a better excuse to get back in the saddle.

With groups of up to 15 people and a huge choice of bikes, including mountain, comfort, road bikes, cruisers, hybrids, tandems, kids bikes (9 and upwards) and accessories, everyone can have a go at this fun and safe alternative tour. The 3 hour tours, which are done at a leisurely pace, are run by enthusiastic guides, who have in-depth knowledge of the city. Bike and Roll is a great way to get your bearings, discover the best places to eat, drink and be entertained and plan the rest of your stay in the City.
For more information or to book a tour visit Bike and Roll.

To find out more about Washington, DC and the Capital Region USA, visit www.CapitalRegionUSA.co.uk

Press enquiries to Lisa Cooper / Kylie Rathbone at KBC PR & This email address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it / This email address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it  Tel: 01825 763636

Florida Keys Launches

‘Live Chat’ Website Feature

The Florida Keys & Key West tourism council has launched a new "live chat" communications tool on its www.fla-keys.co.uk  website, enabling visitors to obtain real-time assistance from a live travel professional in the Keys, without having to make a phone call. The live chat is available on weekdays from 2pm to 10pm UK time (9am to 5pm Keys time).

“This feature is relatively new for tourism bureaus and destination marketing organizations,” said Jessica Bennett of the Keys tourism council. “Website visitors interact with live people with real-life knowledge.”

To access the live chat feature, visitors simply click the "Chat With Us Live" button located at the top of each page of the website. Users then are prompted to input which area of the Keys they are interested in or “Not Sure” for a general inquiry, as well as their name and (optional) email address, and then click on “Start Chat.” A chat window screen opens and within seconds the user is greeted by a chat operator and invited to respond with questions.

President of the Marathon Chamber of Commerce, Daniel Samess, said, “We are excited about providing this new service giving visitors another means to connect and interact with travel professionals who live in the Keys.”

For further information on the Florida Keys & Key West, visit www.fla-keys.co.uk

For more information and images, please contact Jo Thomas at the Florida Keys & Key West UK Press Office on 01825 763636 or This email address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it . 

  Continental Airlines still

‘Best Airline to North America’

from Ireland

Premium Outlets® offers two distinct and incredible outlet shopping locations in Orlando, featuring 330 designer and brand name outlets combined, and offering savings of 25% to 65% every day. Orlando Premium Outlets® - Vineland Ave, with 150 stores, is located less than a mile from Walt Disney World and Orlando Premium Outlets® - International Dr, with 180 stores, is located minutes from Universal Studios. Together these two centers offer the most complete outlet shopping experience in the world.

Orlando Premium Outlets is open Monday through Saturday, 10am-11pm and Sunday, 10am-9pm. Located minutes from all major attractions, Orlando Premium Outlets is a mecca for designer brand conscious shoppers.


Orlando Premium Outlets - Vineland Ave
This beautiful Mediterranean inspired outdoor village is located between Walt Disney World and SeaWorld and is regarded as one of the country's most upscale outlet centers.  It is also a popular destination for theme park visitors. Orlando Premium Outlets – Vineland Ave is home to 150 outlet stores including Barneys New York, Burberry, CH Carolina Herrera, Coach, Diesel, Fendi, Giorgio Armani, Hugo Boss, Joe’s Jeans, Lucky Brand, Marni, Roberto Cavalli, Salvatore Ferragamo, Tag Heuer, Tod's, Tory Burch, True Religion, Y-3, and more.

Orlando Premium Outlets - Vineland Ave is located directly off Interstate 4 at exit 68. Driving along I-4, you'll see the center's three large towers and buildings lined with names of the finest American and International designer brands.

Orlando Premium Outlets - International Dr

Located just minutes from Universal Studios, Orlando Premium Outlets - International Dr is the area's newest and largest outlet center.   Previously named Prime Outlets - Orlando, this attractive center features 180 stores including Ann Taylor, Baccarat/Lalique, Ed Hardy, Kate Spade, L’Occitane, Le Creuset, Neiman Marcus Last Call, Saks Fifth Avenue Off 5th, St. John, Stuart Weitzman, Ted Baker, Tourneau, Under Armour, Victoria’s Secret, and more.

Orlando Premium Outlets - International Dr is located off of I-4 and the Turnpike, at the very north end of International Drive. The center is visible along I-4 westbound just before exit 75A.

Groups are always welcome and all group members will receive a voucher for a VIP Coupon Book filled with hundreds of dollars in added savings at participating outlet stores - a $5 value. Special Meal Deals are available for groups and added benefits are available for group leaders and drivers. For your convenience you can easily book your group online at www.premiumoutlets.com/tours.

Premium Outlets awards travel agencies, tour operators and receptive operators for referring their clients to Premium Outlet Centers throughout the United States. In addition to the quarterly awards for referring the most clients to any Premium Outlet Center, companies are rewarded on a center-by-center basis, with a total annual earning potential of $50,000! If you are not already a member, register today at www.premiumoutlets.com/traveltrade and take part in our enhanced Incentive Program. Participation is simple and free. Every client you send to Orlando Premium Outlets will receive a complimentary VIP Coupon Book filled with hundreds of dollars in added savings and special offers at participating outlet stores.  Please visit our website for complete details.

Our quarterly tourism e-Newsletter will keep you up-to-date on new shopping packages, partnership opportunities, group tour incentives, sales and events and more. Please visit www.premiumoutlets.com/tournews to sign up to receive this exciting e-newsletter.

We welcome the opportunity to work with you and look forward to hosting your groups and FITs.

Please let us know if you have any questions or if we can provide you with any additional information.

From festive celebrations to fine food festivals, the winter season in the Florida Keys & Key West is as bustling as it is warm and sunny. Below are some winter highlights; a full list is available on www.fla-keys.com/calendarofevents.

Florida Keys Holiday Festival – 2 December 2011

This Islamorada extravaganza traditionally begins with a tree-lighting ceremony at Founders Park. Other attractions typically include a holiday parade featuring Santa, a holiday gift bazaar and a silent auction of ornaments decorated by local artists. Visit www.islamoradachamber.com.

Lighted Boat Parades – 10-11 December and 17 December 2011

The Florida Keys’ way of saying Happy Holidays features thousands of twinkling lights illuminating the tranquil waters, mistletoe hanging from vessels’ masts and lights decorating the rigging. Watch decorated and lighted boats cruising through Keys waters during fun-filled parades on Key Largo’s Blackwater Sound, Marathon’s Key Colony Beach, the Lower Keys’ offshore world and Key West Harbor. For details, visit www.fla-keys.com/calendarofevents.

30th Annual Key West Literary Seminar – 5-8 January 2012

The seminar’s 2012 topic is “Yet Another World: Literature of the Future” featuring lectures and conversations, readings, panel discussions and receptions with some of contemporary literature’s most compelling, thought-provoking and funniest writers. Writing workshops will be held from 8-12 January following the seminar.  Visit www.kwls.org.

Key West Food and Wine Festival – 26-29 January 2012

Top chefs and restaurateurs showcase their culinary creativity and the Keys’ indigenous cuisine in a tasty schedule of events for food lovers. Visitors can also participate in food-related adventures during the savoury celebration. Visit www.keywestfoodandwinefestival.com.

3rd Annual Key Largo Stone Crab & Seafood Festival – 28-29 January 2012

Full of fresh stone crabs, conch, local seafood, music, entertainment and fun for the entire family, the festival includes cooking demonstrations, a peel-and-eat shrimp eating contest, "little mermaid" contest, kids' play area, arts and crafts vendors, steel drum band, magic shows, face painters, beverages and Key lime pie. Visit www.keylargoseafoodfestival.com.

For further information on the Florida Keys & Key West, visit www.fla-keys.co.uk.

CONTINENTAL AIRLINES RANKED NO. 1 WORLD’S MOST
ADMIRED AIRLINE BY FORTUNE MAGAZINE

Sixth consecutive year as FORTUNE World’s Most Admired airline

HOUSTON, March 2, 2009 – Continental Airlines (NYSE: CAL) today announced that it was again rated the top airline on FORTUNE magazine’s annual airline industry list of World’s Most Admired Companies. This is the sixth consecutive year that Continental has topped that list.
“Continental’s more than 42,000 co-workers are the reason for our success, and I’m proud to see their hard work recognized again this year,” said Continental Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Larry Kellner. “They have shown once again that they are the best team in the airline industry.”
The rankings are determined in a survey of corporate and airline executives, boards of directors and industry analysts. Companies are evaluated according to the following criteria: quality of products/services, global competitiveness, people management, quality of management, social responsibility, innovation, use of corporate assets, financial soundness and long-term investment. 
Continental received an overall score of 7.71, followed by Air France-KLM Group (7.15), Southwest Airlines (6.89), Singapore Airlines (6.85), Lufthansa Group (6.57) and Delta Air Lines (6.18).
Additionally, Continental was ranked among the top ten companies for management quality across all industries on the FORTUNE World’s Most Admired Companies survey.
( more )
The results are from the magazine’s March 16, 2009, issue.
Continental Airlines is the world’s fifth largest airline.  Continental, together with Continental Express and Continental Connection, has more than 2,800 daily departures throughout the Americas, Europe and Asia, serving 135 domestic and 132 international destinations. More than 650 additional points are served via alliance partners.  With more than 42,000 employees, Continental has hubs serving New York, Houston, Cleveland and Guam, and together with Continental Express, carries approximately 67 million passengers per year.
Celebrating its 75th anniversary this year, Continental consistently earns awards and critical acclaim for both its operation and its corporate culture.  For more company information, go to continental.com.
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SANTA MONICA WELCOMES TRAVELERS TO EXPLORE

SIMPLE PLEASURES WITH SPECIAL PROMOTION

Sun, Sea, Save Offers Savvy Travelers 3rd Night Free and a Host of Free Activities
Santa Monica, CA (April 9, 2009) – A selection of 25 Santa Monica accommodations, from luxury to beachfront hotels, and value options to boutique havens, are welcoming guests with a never-before seen hotel promotion showcasing a Southern California hotel collection as diverse as its destination. Santa Monica’s “Sun, Sea, Save” promotion offers travelers a 3rd night free and a variety of free attraction passes when booking from a selection of participating Santa Monica properties. 
Beckoning  adventure seekers, fun families, sophisticated singles, bright-eyed business types and cool couples, Santa Monica invites all to rediscover its sandy shores, abundant sunshine and laid-back diversion that is surely to be the springboard for guilt-free self indulgence, self discovery and oh so much fun!  In addition to great deals across the city, guests booking this special Santa Monica vacation package will also be treated to a free sampling of Santa Monica’s most iconic attractions.

In celebration of the world-famous Santa Monica Pier’s Centennial Celebration, the Pier will provide a complimentary whirl on their historical Carousel; Pacific Park on the pier will offer a free ride on their solar-powered Ferris Wheel; Perry’s Café locations along Santa Monica Beach will offer a complimentary beach bicycle rental; and Santa Monica’s award winning ‘Big Blue Bus’ transportation system will offer visitors a free fare card. Coupled with a list of ‘25 Free Things to Do in Santa Monica,’ the “Sun, Sea, Save” promotion is a perfect opportunity to enjoy a ‘back to basics’ exploration of this vibrant seaside city.

A year-long calendar of free and low cost vacation and travel activities are highlighted by major destination and visitor developments in 2009.  The world-famous Santa Monica Pier celebrates its 100th anniversary on September 9, 2009 with festivities planned all year long.  The Centennial experience will be a celebration of the Pier’s historical, cultural and recreational contributions to Santa Monica over the past 100 years.  This once-in-a-lifetime occasion will include special events, leading up to the climactic Centennial Week of September 6-9 that will include the first large-scale Santa Monica fireworks display in 18 years.  Cirque du Soleil plans its return to Santa Monica, after 20 years as its first United States tour destination.  Cirque du Soleil has chosen to celebrate its 25th birthday by returning to Santa Monica with the production “KOOZA,” which will run from October to December 2009.

Also, the Santa Monica Historical Society Museum, opening late 2009 will be the first museum to display historical information on the art, culture, and history of Santa Monica. The Museum of Flying, opening in fall 2009, will offer interactive exhibits, video kiosks, and a theater.    Offering locals and visitors the quintessential California beach experience, The Beach House opens its doors in April 2009.  This public and free beach house will offer a visitors center; pool house; beach volley ball and tennis courts and a café.

With the “Sea, Sun, Save” special hotel promotion and attraction offers, Santa Monica is the place where the pure pleasure of travel and art of reconnection, whether with one’s self or loved ones, can be truly memorable.
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** For participating hotels, rates and more information on ‘Sun, Sea, Save’ visit www.santamonica.com or call (800) 544-1319 from the US or + (310) 319-6263 from outside the U.S.  Rates and promotional offers are based on availability; blackout dates apply. Complimentary vouchers to Santa Monica attractions are based on double occupancy and include (two) 2 passes for each activity, provided at check-in. 
For images, press information, including a list of ’25 Free Things to Do in Santa Monica,’ please contact the media contacts listed.

About Santa Monica Convention & Visitors Bureau
Santa Monica Convention & Visitors Bureau (SMCVB) is a non-member, nonprofit organization designed to increase visitor expenditures, tourism revenues and local employment opportunities through the promotion of Santa Monica as a premier travel destination. For travel and accommodation information please call (800) 544-5319 or (310) 319-6263; or email This email address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it ; or write Santa Monica Visitor Center, 1920 Main Street Suite B, Santa Monica, CA 90405. Official Santa Monica Maps, Visitor Guides, Corporate Guides, Art Trek, Design District, Big Blue Bus and Historical Landmark Maps are available at all Santa Monica visitor service locations and can be mailed upon request. To reduce our environmental footprint, some of these materials can also be downloaded or ordered from our website at www.santamonica.com.

Dazzling ‘Drops” and Fireworks to Highlight New Year’s Eve in Florida Keys

New Year’s Eve partiers tired of cold-weather festivities such as the traditional “ball drop” in New York’s Times Square can find exuberant celebrations and much warmer temperatures in the Florida Keys.

Celebrations in the Upper Keys will include fireworks displays and other inviting activities at popular Key Largo and Islamorada restaurants and resorts. In Key West, merrymakers can get the “drop” on the New Year at any of three unique takes on the Times Square tradition as midnight approaches Saturday 31 December 2011.

Thousands of people are expected to gather on Key West's famed Duval Street to ring in 2012 by watching a gigantic manmade conch shell, the symbol of the Florida Keys, "drop" at Sloppy Joe's Bar, once one of Ernest Hemingway’s regular hang-outs. Festivities are emceed by a rooftop host beginning at 10 p.m. and, as a huge clock counts down the seconds to midnight, the shell begins to descend. Live music inside Sloppy Joe's adds to the event's appeal. Visit www.sloppyjoes.com.

At the Bourbon St. Pub/New Orleans House complex, the annual celebration stars renowned female impersonator Sushi. Seconds before midnight, the elaborately gowned Sushi is to be lowered from the complex's balcony in a glittering, super-sized red high heel. Thousands typically gather to watch the "drag queen drop" and performances by female impersonators. Visit www.bourbonstpub.com/newyearseve.html.

In Key West’s Historic Seaport New Year’s Eve merriment salutes the island’s colourful seafaring history. As midnight approaches, a pirate wench is lowered from the top of a tall ship's mast as cannons boom and the ship's pirate crew cheers her descent. Other attractions include live music, dancing and festivities at Schooner Wharf Bar. www.schoonerwharf.com.

Blackwater Sound in Key Largo is the setting for the Upper Keys' annual New Year's Eve fireworks extravaganza. The sparkling sky display is hosted by bayside restaurants Sundowners, Señor Frijoles, Cactus Jack's, Gus' Grille at the Marriott Key Largo Beach Resort and the Caribbean Club. www.keylargofireworks.com.

For a casually elegant New Year's Eve celebration, Islamorada's Cheeca Lodge & Spa is planning a midnight fireworks display. Known for its renowned cuisine and beachside location, Cheeca is an ideal spot for revellers and romantics to ring in 2012. www.cheeca.com.

For further holiday and New Year’s Eve events, visit www.fla-keys.com/calendarofevents. For further information on the Florida Keys, visit www.fla-keys.co.uk.

Loews Coronado Bay Resort Celebrates

two Decades of Hospitality

Twenty years ago, Loews Coronado Bay Resort opened its doors on a private 15-acre peninsula off the Pacific coast. It was (and still is) the first and only waterfront resort in San Diego County to feature three tennis courts, a luxury spa, working garden, direct beach access and a private 80-slip marina. 

Twenty years later, the hotel has maintained its AAA Four Diamond status and earned national praise for its innovative family offerings, community outreach efforts and best workplace practices. It has made Parents’ list of the “Best Beach Resorts for Families in the United States,” and garnered countless “Planner’s Choice” awards as one of the best hotels to conduct a meeting or convention.

At the heart of the resort is Loews Hotels’ Good Neighbour Policy, which has supported countless organizations over the years, including Camp Able, Coronado Schools Foundation and the National Multiple Sclerosis Society. The resort’s partnership with the California State Parks has generated more than $600,000 for conservation efforts at the Silver Stand State Beach.  

“As we reflect on the past, we also look forward to an exciting future. In 2012, we’ll embark on an extensive lobby and restaurant renovation, underscoring our commitment to reinvest in our hotel and community for years to come.” said Brian Johnson, general manager of Loews Coronado Bay Resort.

To celebrate 20 years of hospitality, Loews Coronado Bay Resort is offering special anniversary perks and packages, including:

• “Anniversary Sale” Package: Features a 20% discount on any guestroom or suite, including the resort’s ultra luxurious bay side villas, and two complimentary glasses of Schramsberg Mirabelle Brut. Rates start at $159 per night and are valid until 30 December 2011.

• “You Dine, We Donate” Dinners: Keeping in line with its award-winning community outreach initiatives, the resort will donate 20% of dinners enjoyed in the Market Café from 1-30 November to DonorsChoose.org to help support San Diego County schools in need.

• 1991 Trivia Game: Guests can test their knowledge of 1991 trivia with a fun online survey. Upon completion, they will receive a $20 voucher that can be used at the resort’s award-winning Mistral restaurant or luxurious Sea Spa.

For more information on any of the resort’s 20^th Anniversary festivities, please visit www.loewshotels.com/coronadobay.  

For more information on Loews Hotels please contact Lisa Cooper at the UK Press Office

on 01825 763636 or email This email address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it

Tour Rapid City with stops at Stavkirke, a replica of an 830-year-old church in Norway; The Journey Museum, with exhibits on traditional and contemporary Native American culture; the Museum of Geology, with skeletons of giant prehistoric marine reptiles; the Dahl Arts Center; a Black Hills Gold jewelry factory tour; and Dinosaur Park and Storybook Island for kids of all ages. Overnight in Rapid City.

Depart Rapid City via Highway 44 to Badlands National Park, 244,000 acres (97,600 ha) of eerie, haunting topography. After touring the Badlands, a popular stop is a world-famous drug store in Wall. This tiny store, built in 1931, has boomed to become block-sized and internationally known. While in Wall, also visit Wounded Knee: The Museum and learn about the last, bloody conflict between Native Americans and the US Army Cavalry. Drive via Interstate 90 to Sturgis and the Fort Meade Museum and on to Spearfish, home of the D.C. Booth Historic Fish Hatchery. Overnight in Spearfish.

Start the day with a drive through Spearfish Canyon, a National Forest Scenic Byway. Stop in the Lead/Deadwood area to visit attractions like the Black Hills Mining Museum in Lead or Deadwood’s Mount Moriah Cemetery, where the likes of Wild Bill Hickok and Calamity Jane are buried. More than 80 gaming casinos beckon with slots, blackjack and poker. Leave Deadwood behind and travel south on Highway 385 to Hill City for a ride on a historic 1880 train and see works by local artists in main street shops. Move on to Crazy Horse Memorial, a gigantic carving of Lakota leader Crazy Horse being blasted from a mountain in the Black Hills. The Crazy Horse complex also contains the beautiful Indian Museum of North America. Continue on to 71,000-acre (28,400 ha) Custer State Park for an overnight stay in one of four enchanting lodges. Evening entertainment can include a hayride/supper or a visit to the Black Hills Playhouse. Overnight in Custer State Park or Custer.

Enjoy trail rides through the mountains or Jeep rides on the Wildlife Loop Road in Custer State Park to see the buffalo herds. Wind Cave National Park is south of Custer State Park on Highway 87. Cave tour options range from simple walking tours to lantern tours. Further south on Highway 87 is the city of Hot Springs, home of The Mammoth Site, a horse sanctuary and the world’s largest natural, indoor warm-springs swimming pool. Overnight in Hot Springs.

Today’s route covers the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation with stops at the Red Cloud Indian Art Gallery, the Wounded Knee Massacre Site, and the Oglala Lakota College. After visiting the reservation, the tour concludes with the highlight of any South Dakota visit, Mount Rushmore National Memorial. Overnight in Rapid City.

Nature lovers will be spoilt for choice in Virginia this year as the state celebrates the 75^th anniversary of its State Parks. There are a wide range of adventure and water sports available in the 35 Parks across Virginia, including canoeing, white water rafting and fishing, all in some of the world’s most breathtaking landscapes. In Virginia you’re never more than an hour from a state park. http://www.dcr.virginia.gov/state_parks/

The state treasure, Shenandoah National Park is one of Virginia’s most scenic attractions. The Park boasts nearly 500 miles of hiking trails, featuring spectacular waterfalls and stunning vistas over the Shenandoah Valley and the Massanutton Mountains to the west. Visitors can participate in guided hikes, rock climbing and rappelling, as well as taking to the Parks clear waters. Overall Run Falls, the parks highest waterfall is one of the parks most popular trails and showcases great panoramic views as a reward for completing the challenging hike to the top.

Nestled in the Blue Ridge Mountains, Smith Mountain Lake offers travellers over 500 miles of pristine shoreline to enjoy. Renowned for its sailing, golfing, fine restaurants and exceptional bass fishing the Lake is a peaceful retreat for visitors looking for a relaxing break. One of the best trails is the Sea Side Trail, which offers specular paddling at Cape Charles and Chincoteague Island.

For adrenaline junkies there is only one place to go, Russell Fork at the Breaks Interstate Park, which is known as the ‘Grand Canyon of the South’. The craggy 1,600ft gorge is renowned for its white water rafting and the infamous ‘El Horrendo’ is one of the most challenging drops in the east. Explore the parks 4,500 acres and why not set up base at one of the areas campsites, cabins and lodges for a real escape into the wilderness.

To find out more about Virginia and the Capital Region USA, visit www.CapitalRegionUSA.co.uk

Maryland’s National Aquarium, First Mariner Arena and the Historic Savage Mills shopping centre are among a number of attractions to be ranked as the top ten-tourist destinations in Maryland by the Baltimore Business Journal. 

●The First Mariner Arena is one of the top ten most popular attractions in Maryland, and the largest sports and entertainment facilities in Baltimore. Having hosted some of the biggest names in American entertainment, such as Jay-Z, Janet Jackson, and the Rolling Stones, the arena offers an authentic taste of America’s entertainment culture.

●The National Aquarium attracts around 1.5 million visitors a year and is home to more than 16,000 sea life specimens. The aquarium hosts a full range of extraordinary attractions and demonstrations including a dolphin display, a multi-storey shark tank, and a rooftop rainforest.

●Lexington Market is world famous and the longest running market in the world. The market is perfect for food lovers, hosting a range of traditional eateries, and stands selling baked goods, fish and meat products, and mouth-watering American candy.

●The Historic Savage Mill in Howard County, a converted cotton mill, is one of the most historic buildings in the U.S and home to a host of boutique shops and restaurants. Packed full of American and European art studios, and a host of antique and home furnishing stores, the Historic Savage Mills offers a uniquely historic shopping experience.

●The Harbourplace & the Gallery, located at the heart of Baltimore’s famous Inner Harbour, is one of the best shopping centres in Maryland. A wealth of traditional shops, restaurants, and regular street performances make the shopping centre one of Maryland’s most popular tourist attractions.

To find out more about Maryland and the Capital Region USA, visit www.CapitalRegionUSA.co.uk