HolidayCity.com – The historical city of Rome would again welcome thousands of runners and visitors from all over the world to this year’s edition of the Maratona di Roma – the Rome Marathon. Scheduled to be held on the 21st of March 2010, the Rome Marathon takes its participants through one of the most visually stunning running routes in the world lined with historical landmarks, beautifully sculptured life-sized statues, beautiful architecture and an amazing view of the river. Those thinking of coming to Rome during this time should make their bookings for Rome hotels soon.

More than 11,000 runners participated in the 2009 Rome Marathon and a higher number of entrants are expected this year. It is going to be quite a challenge to maneuver the narrow, cobblestone streets with tight corners that are bound to create some congestion. Starting from the 2000 year old Coliseum, where fierce gladiators once fought for their freedom, the runners would find it hard not to stop and feast their eyes on the magnificent Saint Peter’s Basilica, the romantic Trevi Fountain, the Spanish Steps, Piazza Navona and many others. The Rome Marathon is certainly a great way to exercise and go sight-seeing at the same time.

The Maratona di Roma is not just for the die-hard marathon runners. It also offers the highly popular event called the ‘RomaFun – “La Stracittadina”, a non-competitive 4km run. More of a leisurely walk, the event attracts all kind of participants, from teenagers and their friends, senior citizens, and parents and their young children. Minutes after the marathoners are sent off; these fun-seeking participants would take to the streets where the fun continues even after the finishing line outside Emperor Nero’s Golden House with an almost festival-like atmosphere.

Lee Lai Huat, CEO of HolidayCity.com, and a keen runner himself, comments, “Any marathon runner in search of a different and exciting experience should make his or her way to the Maratona di Roma. It is unlike any other running events especially with the amazing landmarks that can be seen along the route.” He added, “With thousands of visitors expected, HolidayCity.com is happy to offer fantastic savings on Rome accommodation to make their experience at the marathon memorable.”

HolidayCity.com offers attractive rates at the following Rome hotels and many others:

Hiberia Hotel Rome (3 star)
Starting rate from EUR124

Hotel Columbia Rome (3 star)
Starting rate from EUR156

Holiday Inn Rome-Eur Parco Dei Medici (4 star)
Starting rate from EUR90

Colonna Palace Hotel Rome (4 star)
Starting rate from EUR171

Eurostars International Palace Hotel Rome (4 star)
Starting rate from EUR159

About HolidayCity.com
HolidayCity.com offers online hotel bookings for more than 20,000 hotels in 900 destinations. Our customers are assured of great rates all year round, broad accommodation range, easy-to-use websites and friendly customer service 24-7, together with thousands of hotel reviews from our guests. For more great deals for Rome hotels, go to http://www.holidaycityeurope.com/romehotels/ . Also check out http://www.holidaycity.com/ for more deals you can’t resist as well as amazing promotions at http://www.holidaycityeurope.com/.

Online travel agency, Holidays-Direct says the top destinations for UK holidaymakers in 2010 will include all-inclusive resorts.  Holidays to Turkey and Bulgaria will top the list of destinations as Brits avoid euro-destinations.

UK holidaymakers will be shopping around for summer holiday bargains in 2010, with many taking 10 or 11 day breaks rather than a traditional 2 week stay says online travel agency www.holidays-direct.co.uk.

All inclusive holidays will be more favourable to self catered holidays as holidaymakers want greater value for money.

Jon Pearce of Holidays-Direct.co.uk said, “UK travellers don’t want to give up a traditional summer holidays, instead they want to break it up and go on more frequent holidays to bargain resorts, like all inclusive holidays in Turkey.”

Holidays-Direct have compiled a list of the top destinations for 2010:

• Turkey – a popular all inclusive holiday destination with great cultural excursions
• Egypt – great for snorkelling and all inclusive holidays with a hot and sunny climate all year around
• Morocco – this North African country is popular for excursions and shopping in the famous markets or souks
• USA – a range of city breaks choices and sunny holidays, the USA has a bit of everything to offer
• Sri Lanka – a great destination to experience different cultures and value for money all inclusive holidays
• Dubai – has a hot sunny climate all year round and is a favourite for couples, the UAE has great culture and architecture as well as plenty of shopping malls
• South Africa – the 2010 World Cup will draw many tourists and football lovers
• Bulgaria -  a budget friendly and all inclusive popular destination with a comfortable climate
• Thailand – great for site-seeing excursions and culture with a hot sunny climate
• Tunisia – traditional souk’s to visit and warm and sunny climate, a great all inclusive holiday destination which is budget friendly.

Jon continues, “Holidays in Europe where countries aren’t part of the Euro will remain popular choices as many holidaymakers don’t just go to sunny or tropical countries for sun, sea and sand. Many now go to get a taste of the culture and enjoy the different excursions or to see the World Cup in South Africa.”

Destinations with something unique to offer as well as resorts that have been re-developed over the previous year will certainly be top of UK holidaymakers lists to visit in 2010.

About www.holidays-direct.co.uk

Online travel agency http://www.holidays-direct.co.uk is part of the Midlands Co-operative Society Group and is a member of ABTA. They specialise in providing affordable flights and accommodation in the top holiday destinations around the world.

Midlands Co-op Travel, incorporating Ilkeston Co-op Travel, is the No 1 independent travel agent in the Midlands.

For more information about Midlands Co-operative Travel please contact:
Julie Carey / Laure Doucet / Dawn Walker at Midlands Co-operative on 01543 414140
Email – firstname.lastname@midlandsco-op.com
Log onto – http://www.midlandsco-op.com/pr/

Holidays-Direct
Central House
Hermes Rd
Eastern Avenue
Lichfield
Staffs
WS13 6RH

The snow falls just added to the magic at the Lodore Falls Hotel when over 100 people packed in to see Aladdin.

Aladdin is the first pantomime performance ever held in the hotel. The panto was a complete sell out and the hotel “theatre” was buzzing with a very excited audience.

It couldn’t have been a more festive, winter wonderland location for the panto – snow on the fells, pretty Christmas lights and 70 sparking Christmas trees – the perfect backdrop for the performance.

Without doubt the family groups really enjoyed the panto, saying it was great to have some good family fun just before Christmas and the Blast off Burgers went down a treat in the interval. Visitors included nine members of the Hughes family from Keswick who thoroughly enjoyed the occasion – a special trip for Emelia who was eight next day.

Sophie Kings, Assistant Manager of the Lodore Falls Hotel part of the Lake District Hotels Ltd group and organiser of the panto said “We thought there was a need for some traditional panto fun this Christmas and I am thrilled so many people wanted to see it. Everyone agreed it was fantastically funny for adults and children alike and very engaging for the little ones who loved sitting on the silk cushions at the front. The kids were such an integral part of the performance and the feedback has been fantastic – seeing everyone laughing, shouting and clapping so much was utterly fabulous and we are already thinking of what we can do next year.”

Anyone interested in organising groups for next year should contact Sophie Kings on 017687 77285 or visit http://www.lakedistricthotels.net

Kuala Lumpur – The best of the best endurance runners in the world would make a beeline for Singapore come 6 December 2009 to participate in the world-class Singapore Marathon.  The event, held on the first Sunday of the month, would see an astounding 50,000 runners hitting the pavement for a chance to grab a total of the US$193,900 prize purse.  Participants come from as far as Kenya and Tanzania, the United States, China, Japan, the United Kingdom and many other European and the neighbouring countries. Last year’s event attracted 2700 runners from over 60 countries, a testament to its international reputation.  It was certainly a great boost for the Singapore hotels that would have seen good room demand.

Another great turnout is on the card with five categories being offered that ranges from distances of 750m up to 42.195km. They include the Full Marathon (42km), the Half Marathon (21km); the 10km – Men’s and Women’s, 10km Team and the 10km Wheelchair Race. Children are not forgotten with the Kids Dash categories that cater to those 13 years of age and below. Team spirit is also celebrated with the Team categories – Men’s and Women’s, which require each team of 4 – 6 runners to complete a 10km route. Runners can expect a scenic course that is both flat and shaded, taking them from the Esplanade Bridge, passing by some of Singapore’s historical sites, the charming East Coast coastal route, the towering skyscrapers of the Business District of Shenton Way to the finishing line at Padang. The route is especially great for supporters’ participation with many strategic places to watch and cheer their favourite runners.

Lee Lai Huat, CEO, HolidayCity.com, remarked, “Last year’s event was full of excitement and drama for both the runners and spectators alike. The presence of Luke Kibet, the reigning world champion who went on to win and set a new full marathon course record was definitely one of the highlights. Who can forget the 160,000 strong supporters who turned out to cheer the runners?” He further said, “There’s no doubt that the Singapore Marathon would continue to attract world-class athletes and thousands of running enthusiasts to this small island nation. And we at HolidayCity.com are happy to bring fantastic savings on room rates and attractive deals for Singapore accommodation to ensure a great time at the marathon for both runners and visitors.”

HolidayCity.com offers attractive rates at the following hotels and many others:

Fragrance Hotel Ruby Singapore (2 star)
Starting rate SGD53

Broadway Hotel Singapore (2 star)
Starting rate SGD90

Hotel Ibis Singapore on Bencoolen  (3 star)
Starting rate SGD98

Golden Landmark Hotel Singapore (4 star)
Starting rate SGD140

Parkroyal on Kitchener Road Singapore (4 star)
Starting rate SGD110

About HolidayCity.com
HolidayCity.com offers online hotel bookings for more than 20,000 hotels in 900 destinations. Our customers are assured of great rates all year round, broad accommodation range, easy-to-use websites and friendly customer service 24-7, together with thousands of hotel reviews from our guests. For more great deals for Singapore hotels, go to http://www.holidaycity.com/singaporehotels/ . Also check out http://www.holidaycity.com/ for more deals you can’t resist as well as amazing promotions at http://www.holidaycityeurope.com/ .

British holidaymakers looking to escape the cold dreary UK winter head to destinations such as the Caribbean on cruise holidays, according to Holidays-Direct.co.uk.

Holidays-Direct.co.uk has revealed a noticeable increase in the last few months of interest in winter holiday destinations. Many UK holidaymakers want to escape the doom and gloom of dark mornings and cold winter evenings to swap for somewhere hot and sunny.

There are many winter holiday bargains as well as city break offers in the New Year. Brits tend to either go away for the festive season or soon after.

Jon Pearce of www.holidays-direct.co.uk comments: “People always seem more refreshed and full of energy after having a relaxing winter holidays in the sun. Many of the destinations winter holidaymakers travel to tend to be exotic locations, where sunshine is guaranteed.”

Top winter-sun destinations for this winter include:

• The Canaries
• Egypt
• The Caribbean
• Goa
• Dubai

Jon continues, “Winter holiday sun is one of the best ways to lighten up the cold winters, plus it’s the best time to visit the Caribbean as its out of the hurricane season.”

Cruise holidays are also a great option for sightseeing in several countries or resorts in one holiday. Whilst Caribbean cruises remain the most popular cruises all year around, they are especially popular during the winter months for hot sunny climate and exotic locations.

About Holidays-Direct.co.uk

Online travel agency www.holidays-direct.co.uk is part of the Midlands Co-operative Society Group and is a member of ABTA. They specialise in providing affordable flights and accommodation in the top holiday destinations around the world.

Midlands Co-op Travel, incorporating Ilkeston Co-op Travel, is the No 1 independent travel agent in the Midlands.

For media enquiries, please contact:
Janine Cross
Online News Coordinator
WebCertain Group Ltd
Northminster Business Park
York
YO26 6QW
United Kingdom
Tel: +44 (0)1904 780030

Kuala Lumpur – Another exciting lineup and a large turnout is expected at the Langkawi International Maritime and Aerospace (LIMA) Exhibition from 1 – 5 December 2009. The 10^th edition of LIMA 2009 promises to be an exceptional podium for manufacturers from the aerospace, maritime and related industries to present their latest technology and products to international buyers.

Strongly supported by the Government of Malaysia, the event attracts thousands of trade visitors such as government officials, military representatives and industry professionals who converge on the island of Langkawi since its inception nearly 20 years ago. Those who make last minute room bookings for Langkawi hotels may be left disappointed with reservations being made months in advance.

Exhibitors at LIMA 2009 would focus on getting their fair share of presenting their wares and products to key decision makers from Asia Pacific countries that are charting exceptional growth in both the commercial aviation and defense sectors. Each year, million dollars business deals would be clinched in addition to the signing of memorandum of understanding. An astounding USD3.9 billion in transactions was recorded in 2007 from numerous business deals, MOUs and letter of offer, and others. This year, over 450 exhibitors are expected to participate with over 80 aircrafts and 70 warships and vessels in attendance. The popularity of LIMA 2009 attracted the participation of 24 countries worldwide and over 40,000 trade visitors are expected to throng the expansive Mahsuri International Exhibition Centre.

Lee Lai Huat, CEO, HolidayCity.com, remarked, “Although LIMA 2009 is mainly catered to the commercial and defense markets, it does not mean that it is not popular with the ordinary folks. The last day of the event is open to the public and events such as aerial and static aircraft display would be held to entertain them.” He further remarked, “The otherwise quiet and peaceful island of Langkawi would suddenly come alive with excitement and festivity. HolidayCity.com is happy to join in the celebration by providing great savings and fantastic room rates for Langkawi accommodation to ensure everybody gets the chance to experience LIMA 2009.”

HolidayCity.com offers attractive rates at the following hotels and many others:

Villa Molek Langkawi (3 star)
Starting rate MYR 575.00

Bella Vista Hotel Langkawi (3 star)
Starting rate MYR 404.00

Holiday Villa Beach Resort & Spa Langkawi  (4 star)
Starting rate MYR 480.00

Four Seasons Resort Langkawi  (5 star)
Starting rate USD 628.89

Tanjung Rhu Resort Langkawi (5 star)
Starting rate MYR 1,126.00

About HolidayCity.com
HolidayCity.com offers online hotel bookings for more than 20,000 hotels in 900 destinations. Our customers are assured of great rates all year round, broad accommodation range, easy-to-use websites and friendly customer service 24-7, together with thousands of hotel reviews from our guests. For more great deals for Langkawi hotels, go to http://www.holidaycity.com/langkawihotels/ . Also check out http://www.holidaycity.com/ for more deals you can’t resist as well as amazing promotions at http://www.holidaycityeurope.com/ .

Royal Caribbean International’s (http://www.royalcaribbean.co.uk) newest cruise ship Oasis of the Seas arrived at Port Everglades in Fort Lauderdale, Florida USA following the 14-day transatlantic crossing from Turku, Finland.  Hundreds of onlookers including Royal Caribbean International senior management, local government officials, residents and media watched the ship’s debut in the United States.

Final touches will be applied to the ship over the next six days ahead of pre-inaugural celebrations including an exclusive performance by pop star Rihanna.  On Thursday 19 November, 2009, the star will be the first performer to take the stage on Oasis of the Seas.  The ship will make its worldwide television premiere on ABC TV network’s “Good Morning America” show from 7:00 a.m. to 9:00 a.m. (EST) on Friday 20 November, 2009.  The ship’s pre-inaugural activities can be followed on webisodes with updates available online at www.oasisoftheseas.com and Twitter by following @OasisandAllure and including #Oasisishere in Tweets.

The official naming ceremony for Oasis of the Seas will take place on Monday 30 November, 2009 during a one-night inaugural celebration fundraiser in aid of the non-profit Make-A-Wish Foundation, which grants the wishes of children with life-threatening medical conditions.

Oasis of the Seas is the largest and most revolutionary cruise ship in the world.  An architectural marvel at sea, it spans 16 decks, encompasses 225,282 gross registered tons, carries 5,400 guests at double occupancy, and features 2,700 staterooms.  Oasis of the Seas is the first ship to feature  Royal Caribbean International’s new neighbourhood concept of seven distinct themed areas, which include Central Park, Boardwalk, the Royal Promenade, the Pool and Sports Zone, Vitality at Sea Spa and Fitness Center, Entertainment Place and Youth Zone.  The ship sails weekly from her home port of Port Everglades in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. Additional information is available at www.OasisoftheSeas.com.

Media Contact

Royal Caribbean International

Surinder Manku

smanku@rccl.com

http://www.royalcaribbean.co.uk/

01932 834 200

Kuala Lumpur – Writers, publishers and book lovers alike are set to congregate in Gasteig, Munich from 12^th to 29^th November 2009 and celebrate the 50^th anniversary of the popular Munich Book Show. One of the more successful book shows in the world, this year’s event is expected to attract about 300 publishers from Germany and other German-speaking countries. About 160,000 visitors had been converging here in the last few years and this number is expected to increase in 2009 with many famous and renowned authors making their appearances. The city would certainly be an exciting and busy place for the entire 18 days with roaring business expected for Munich hotels.

Authors and publishers from all over the world would make a beeline for the book show with special evenings organized for readings and special presentations. Among them would be Spanish writer, Carlos Ruiz Zafón, Gioconda Belli from Managua, and John Harvey and Robert Harris from the United Kingdom. Other respected authors that are scheduled to attend include Hans Küng, Frank Schätzing, Anselm Grün, Hans-Peter Dürr, Alfons Schuhbeck and Wladimir Kaminer. Other exciting programmes have also been planned to further attract the crowds. They include special evenings with Thorsten Havener who would demonstrate his amazing mind reading ability, and readings by Juli Zeh that would also feature the rock group, Slut. The book show is also a great opportunity for some of the authors who would get the opportunity to talk about their new books with the listeners of the Bavarian Radio.

One of the main goals of the Munich Book Show is to promote reading especially among children. With this in mind, children and parents can look forward to book readings, discussion and exhibitions.   Especially noteworthy events would be readings by Cassandra Clare (with Claudia Engler) who would read from her book, ‘City of Glass’ and Zizou Corder (with Axel Milberg) for ‘Lee Raven’. Another not-to-be-missed event would be the appearance by Lucy Hawking, daughter of astrophysicist Stephen Hawking.

Lee Lai Huat, CEO, HolidayCity.com, remarked, “Book lovers are going to have a great time at the Munich Book Show. Not only would they be able to check-out the latest offerings from the literary world, they would also get the rare opportunity to get up close and personal with their favourite authors and attend special readings and other exciting events.’ He further said, ‘It’s a great place to bring your children and cultivate a love for books and reading. With thousands expected to attend the book show, HolidayCity.com is more than happy to offer great savings and discounts on Munich accommodations to make their trip more memorable.’

HolidayCity.com offers attractive rates at the following hotels and many others:

Creatif Hotel Elephant Munich (3 star)
Starting rate EUR65

Germania Hotel Munich (3 star)
Starting rate EUR99

Deutsches Theater Hotel Munich (3 star)
Staring rate EUR109

Holiday Inn Munich – Schwabing (4 star)
Starting rate EUR116

Platzl Hotel Munich (4 star)
Starting rate EUR192

About HolidayCity.com
HolidayCity.com offers online hotel bookings for more than 20,000 hotels in 900 destinations. Our customers are assured of great rates all year round, broad accommodation range, easy-to-use websites and friendly customer service 24-7, together with thousands of hotel reviews from our guests. For more great deals for Munich hotels, go to http://deutsch.holidaycity.com/munichhotels/ . Also check out http://www.holidaycity.com/ for more deals you can’t resist as well as amazing promotions at http://www.holidaycityeurope.com/ .

Strictly Come Dancing stars, Darren and Lilia host Island Cruises Grand Final Cruise for the Latin American dance competition, an opportunity for cruise travellers to participate onboard the Island Escape from Cruises-Direct.

Get up and Dance with Lilia Kopylova and Darren Bennett is an opportunity for cruise goers to show off their dancing skills on board the Island Escape cruise liner, bookings are available through online travel agency, www.cruises-direct.co.uk.

Every week during January and February Island Cruises are running dance classes twice a day in Latin American dance including; Salsa, Jive, Rumba and Cha Cha Cha, giving everyone the opportunity to take part and have some fun cruising around the Canaries and North western Africa.

Jon Pearce from Cruises-Direct said, “This is a great opportunity for regular cruise goers and those who are new to cruise holidays who enjoy dancing, even if a complete novice, the chance to participate in Latin dance classes. With the addition of the competitive element, I’m sure this will certainly spice up the competitive streak in some of the partakers!”

The winners of the qualifying heat at the end of each cruise could win a free Grand Final Cruise in April 2010, onboard with Darren and Lilia, two of the Stars of the hit BBC TV series, Strictly Come Dancing. Destinations for the Grand Final Cruise include:
• Las Palmas, Gran Canaria
• Funchal, Madeira
• Agadir, Morocco.

Jon continues, “We are delighted to be able to offer our customers Island Cruises and the chance to enter the competition to win a free cruise, especially with steady growth in this sector of the travel industry. I’m sure everyone who takes part will have a lot of fun!”

Cruises-direct.co.uk offer great deals on cruises all over the world from cruise liners such as, P&O, Carnival, Fred Olsen and Thomson Cruises.

About Cruises-Direct

Cruises-Direct are owned and operated by Holidays-Direct.co.uk who are a trading division of Midlands Co-op Travel, are fully ABTA and ATOL bonded and offer full financial security when booking your cruise holiday.

Online travel agency are able to offer a wide range of cruise packages including cheap last minute cruises, first time family cruises and a full range of luxury cruise deals.

Cruises-Direct have a large range of other travel offers including cheap package holidays, city break deals and ski and snowboard holidays.

Online travel agency www.holidays-direct.co.uk is part of the Midlands Co-operative Society Group and is a member of ABTA. They specialise in providing affordable flights and accommodation in the top holiday destinations around the world.

Midlands Co-op Travel, incorporating Ilkeston Co-op Travel, is the No 1 independent travel agent in the Midlands.

For media enquiries, please contact –
Janine Cross
Online News Co-ordinator
WebCertain Group Ltd
Northminster Business Park
York
YO26 6QW
United Kingdom
Tel: +44 (0)1904 780030

After nearly six years in the making, Royal Caribbean International (http://www.royalcaribbean.co.uk) today took delivery of its newest and most revolutionary cruise ship, Oasis of the Seas, from STX Europe in Turku, Finland.

Oasis of the Seas left Turku with Captain William S. Wright at the helm, en route to Port Everglades in Fort Lauderdale, Florida where the ship will make its official debut on Wednesday November. 11.  The transatlantic crossing will be chronicled via daily webisodes broadcast on OasisoftheSeas.com and via Twitter @OasisandAllure.  A new feature to OasisoftheSeas.com will allow visitors to view a Google Maps application and follow Oasis of the Seas journey.  Richard Fain’s “Chairman’s Blog” on OasisoftheSeas.com and “Adam’s Blog” by President and CEO Adam Goldstein on NationofWhyNot.com also will provide personal updates.

Royal Caribbean International has revolutionised the cruise industry in recent years, with onboard attractions including the FlowRider surf simulator, ice-skating rinks, cantilevered whirlpools, rock climbing walls and the Royal Promenade – an entertainment boulevard stretching nearly the length of the ship. The innovation continues onboard Oasis of the Seas with a range of new attractions and engineering marvels.

Industry “firsts” include a neighbourhood concept – seven themed areas providing guests with the opportunity to seek out relevant experiences based on their personal style, preference or mood. Within these seven neighbourhoods – Central Park, Boardwalk, the Royal Promenade, Pool and Sports Zone, Vitality at Sea Spa and Fitness Center, Entertainment Place and Youth Zone – are extraordinary elements such as the first park at sea, a thrilling zip line that races diagonally nine-decks above an open-air atrium, an original handcrafted carousel, an aquatic amphitheatre called the AquaTheater that serves as a pool by day and an oceanfront theatre by night.

Oasis of the Seas will be welcomed into its home port of Fort Lauderdale, Florida on US breakfast show “Good Morning America”. The hit show will as also give viewers an exclusive first glimpse of the ship during a special live broadcast on Friday November 20. The official naming ceremony for Oasis of the Seas will take place on November 30 during a one night inaugural celebration-fundraiser to benefit the non-profit Make-A-Wish Foundation, which grants the wishes of children with life-threatening medical conditions.

Royal Caribbean International
http://www.royalcaribbean.co.uk/
01932 834 206
smanku@rccl.com
Surinder Manku

Kuala Lumpur – The city of Madrid comes alive this November as the locals and visitors alike welcome the much anticipated Autumn Festival. The month-long event, which takes place from 4^th to 29^th November 2009, would certainly be exciting news for those who are planning to visit or book Madrid hotels during this time of the year. Organised by the Vice-presidency, Department of Culture and Sport and Government Spokespersons’ Department, the festival attracts thousands from the surrounding areas, Spain and other countries far and wide.

Madrid Autumn Festival, which is celebrating its 26^th year, promises world-class performances from 32 companies that would be coming from all over the world. They bring with them quality entertainment and performances which include theater shows, dance and music concerts and contemporary circus productions. Visitors and locals alike would certainly enjoy the packed programme which includes exciting and progressive theatre productions such as ‘Isabella’s Room’ from Jan Lauwers & Need Company, ‘Médée’ from Théâtre Nanterre-Amandiers and ‘Pénélope ô Pénélope’ from Tera.

Those who are more interested in the dance and musical performances will not be disappointed with offerings from Rosas with ‘Rosas danst Rosas’, Shiro Takatani with ‘La cámara lúcida’ and the exciting pairing of María Pagés and Sidi Larbi Cherkaoui with ‘Dunas’. Taking the stage would also be the Whale Watching Tour and Hanne Hukkelberg from Norway. Contemporary circus shows include ‘Chouf Ouchouf (Look and Look Again)’ from the talented team of Martin Zimmermann, Dimitri de Perrot and 12 acrobats of the Groupe Acrobatique de Tanger.  The performances are scheduled to take place in numerous venues in the city including Teatros Del Canal Sala, Teatro De La Abadía and Teatro Español.

Lee Lai Huat, Chief Executive Officer, HolidayCity.com, remarked, “Madrid should really be on everybody’s list of places to see. Noteworthy destinations include the Royal Palace of Madrid, built in the Baroque style and Reina Sofia Museum which currently houses Pablo Picasso’s Guernica. Madrid is also the best place to see bullfighting that is held at Plaza de Toros, the largest bullring in Spain.” He further added, “Madrid Autumn Festival is definitely a great time to visit the city as it embraces and celebrates the beauty of art in its many forms. Visitors need not worry about where to stay as HolidayCity.com offers great savings and discounts on Madrid accommodation for their convenience.”

HolidayCity.com offers attractive rates at the following hotels and many others:

Hotel Hostal Apolo Madrid (3 star)
Starting rate EUR42

Hotel Tryp Alondras Madrid (3 star)
Starting rate EUR95

Hotel Amura Alcobendas Madrid (4 star)
Starting rate EUR123

Hotel A. Gaudi Madrid
Starting rate EUR89

Hotel Gran Melia Fenix Madrid
Starting rate EUR195

About HolidayCity.com

HolidayCity.com offers online hotel bookings for more than 20,000 hotels in 900 destinations. Our customers are assured of great rates all year round, broad accommodation range, easy-to-use websites and friendly customer service 24-7, together with thousands of hotel reviews from our guests. For more great deals for Madrid hotels, go to http://espanol.holidaycity.com/madridhotels/ . Also check out http://www.holidaycity.com/ for more deals you can’t resist as well as amazing promotions at http://www.holidaycityeurope.com/ .

Kuala Lumpur – Get ready to put on your running shoes and participate in the Auckland Marathon 2009 this November. This popular road race event, that typically attracts just over 10,000 runners from all corners of the world, was first held in June 1936 and became a yearly attraction since the 1960s. The Auckland Marathon 2009’s route would take the runners through some of Auckland’s more famous locations before it finishes at Victoria Park. The starting point is at Devonport on the North Shore and continues through the shopping district of the North Shore City and a few other significant landmarks such as the Harbour Bridge, Westhaven Marina, the Viaduct Harbour and Auckland City’s waterfront before it ends at Victoria Park. The initial stage of the course would be more of a challenge than the second half with the hilly terrain expected to give some of the runners a rather tough time.

Auckland Marathon 2009 offers 5 categories which include the Marathon, Half Marathon, Quarter Marathon, the 5km Walk and the Kids Marathon. The top 3 winners of the Marathon and Half Marathon would take home a total of NZ$5000 and NZ$2900, respectively. Meanwhile, the jackpot prize money has increased to NZ$20,000 this year and this can be won by the persons that clock-in a better course times for both men’s and women’s categories as determined by the organizers prior to the event. Walking is a fantastic way to maintain and improve your heart’s health. What better way than to join in the fun Heart Walkers 5km Walk and make a charitable donation to the Heart Foundation at the same time? For children age 7 to 12, they get the chance to participate in the full marathon through a 8, 10 and 12 weeks training programme that would see them race the final 2.195km of the distance on the day of the Auckland Marathon.

Lee Lai Huat, Chief Executive Officer, HolidayCity.com remarked, “Auckland Marathon 2009 is a fantastic event that attracts thousands of runners and visitors from around the world. This year’s event is set to be another record-breaking event with 9000 runners expected to compete in the marathon and half-marathon events. And HolidayCity.com is more than happy to offer the runners and visitors great savings and discounts for Auckland accommodations.”

HolidayCity.com offers attractive rates at the following hotels and many others:

The Langham Auckland (5 star)
Starting rate of NZ$171

Duxton Hotel Auckland (4 star)
Starting rate of NZ$129

Mercure Hotel Auckland (3 star)
Starting rate of NZ$129

City Central Hotel Auckland (3 star)
Starting rate of NZ$85

Arena Hotel Auckland (2.5 star)
Starting rate of NZ$84

About HolidayCity.com
HolidayCity.com offers online hotel bookings for more than 20,000 hotels in 900 destinations. Our customers are assured of great rates all year round, broad accommodation range, easy-to-use websites and friendly customer service 24/7, together with thousands of hotel reviews from our guests. For more great deals for Auckland hotels, go to http://www.holidaycity.com/aucklandhotels/. Also check out http://www.holidaycity.com/ for more deals you can’t resist as well as amazing promotions at http://www.holidaycityeurope.com/ .

In December of this year, Celebrity Cruises’ (http://celebritycruises.co.uk) new Celebrity Life Savor Series and Bon Appétit will present their second at-sea experience focusing on the joys of cooking and dining: a seven-night Eastern Caribbean voyage on Celebrity Solstice, the stylish and innovative flagship of Celebrity’s newest class of ships.

Building on the success of April’s joint program during which the magazine and the cruise line offered a Mediterranean experience on Celebrity Summit, and playing off Celebrity’s new Celebrity Life program of onboard activities, the Bon Appétit cruise will take place on the 2,850-guest vessel that elevated the cruise industry’s approach to style and design. Celebrity Solstice will depart Fort Lauderdale, Florida on December 13, 2009, on a round-trip voyage that includes calls at San Juan, Puerto Rico; Basseterre, St. Kitts; and Philipsburg, St. Maarten.

The featured guest chef will be one of the foremost chefs in the U.S., Chef Marc Murphy, owner and executive chef of three popular New York City restaurants: Landmarc (TriBeca), Landmarc (at the Time Warner Center) and Ditch Plains. Renowned for his mastery of rustic French and Italian dishes, Chef Murphy will offer guests a comprehensive gastronomic experience.

Onboard, Chef Murphy will bring his own flair to the voyage’s culinary, enrichment and entertainment activities, as well as partner with Celebrity’s own team of highly accomplished chefs. Chef Murphy will lead several culinary demonstrations and share his experiences via two enrichment lectures. During the cruise, Celebrity will feature special custom dishes inspired by Chef Murphy in addition to the traditional menu served in the Grand Epernay Dining Room.

Celebrity’s most loyal guests, members of the line’s Captain’s Club program, will be offered the opportunity to participate in a shore excursion with Chef Murphy (on a space-available basis). The seven-night sailing will also feature food and wine trivia, a recipe contest, a cooking class and an interactive cooking competition.

In July, Celebrity Cruises launched Celebrity Life, in tandem with the arrival of the brand-new Celebrity Equinox, the second Solstice Class ship. Celebrity Life offers guests a new series of palate-pleasing, intellectually-enriching and life-enhancing programmes designed to deliver the most unique and sophisticated onboard experience in premium cruising. Built on long-established pillars of the Celebrity brand – dining, enrichment, and wellness – Celebrity Life encompasses three distinct program categories: “Savor,” “Discover,” and “Renew.”

Media contact

Celebrity Cruises
Website: http://www.celebritycruises.co.uk/
Latest news: http://www.celebritycruises.co.uk/pages/news.php

Surinder Manku
smanku@rccl.com
01932 834 200

17th September 2009, London – Just Luxury Travel has agreed a formal Partnership with luxury Hotel and Resort chain Occidental. The Occidental Group, which includes the luxury brands Allegro, Occidental Grand, Royal Hideaway and Occidental Hotels and consists of 16 4 and 5 star luxury holiday resorts in Aruba, Cost Rica, Spain, Mexico and the Dominican Republic.

The partnership has resulted in Just Luxury Travel acting as a UK agent for the chain, ensuring their customers can benefit from a wide range of luxury holidays resorts and luxury beach holidays. Just Luxury Travel’s International Contracts Manager Alejandro Sanchez explained “Our partnership with the Occidental Group proves our commitment to providing our clients with the best brands available within the luxury travel market.” “Furthermore” he continued “We are fully committed to continue this expansion to ensure we stay at the forefront of the tailor made luxury holidays and luxury resort travel markets.”

Just Luxury Travel specialises in providing tailor made luxury holidays – with 5 star luxury hotels a key market. The ethos of Just Luxury Travel is to make luxury beach holidays available to a wider market, meaning that luxury resort travel is not just for the rich and famous.

The company expects to announce further partnerships with high-end hotel chains throughout the remainder of 2009 and 2010.

About Just Luxury Travel

Just Luxury Travel is a leading UK Luxury Travel company and is part of the Apache Associates Group of companies. The Group includes numerous leading travel-related ventures, including Apache Associates (Travel Recruitment), ClickTransfers (airport transfer services) and Absolute Villas (online Global holiday villa rental site).

Just Luxury Travel – Part of the Apache Associates Group of Companies

For more information contact Glen Bird – Director

Tel: 0800-567-0555

Fax: 01727 827 558

Email: glen@apacheassociates.com

Web: www.justluxurytravel.com

Kuala Lumpur – HolidayCity.com, a leading online hotel reservation service, announces its partnership with Mondial Assistance, a global leader in travel insurance and assistance that would allow travellers’ access to a comprehensive range of travel insurance options available for purchase on HolidayCity.com’s websites.

Through this partnership, HolidayCity.com’s guests worldwide can now make their online hotel bookings and purchase travel insurance products at attractive and affordable rates. They can choose from basic coverage on items such as lost baggage and flight delays, to quick evacuations and repatriation during any emergencies and receiving the best health care in reputable hospitals worldwide. Another offering is the cancellation insurance, which provides protection on the hotel booking in case of sudden emergencies like illness. Through Mondial Assistance, HolidayCity.com’s guests can now enjoy additional reprieve as the travel insurance options provide coverage for their immediate family members as well.

“The travel industry has certainly taken quite a beating lately especially with the increasing global concern over the threat from H1N1 or swine flu. Travellers are now becoming more vigilant in terms of ensuring that they are well protected in any emergency situations. In this regard, we are expecting to see our guests opting to purchase travel insurance when they make their hotel booking online. Through our exclusive arrangement with Mondial Assistance, our guests can now have these options readily available on our sites”, said Lee Lai Huat, CEO, HolidayCity.com. “Aside from being a reputable leader in the network of medical and assistance resources, Mondial Assistance is well regarded as a provider of reliable cover and assistance for their policyholders even in the more demanding situations.”

“HolidayCity.com, like many of today’s online travel agents, is continually looking to add value and convenience to their customer’s online experience. One of Mondial Assistance’s strengths is their capabilities in online distribution, so there is a natural synergy to our partnership”, said Carole Tokody, Director of eCommerce, for Mondial Assistance in Asia.

She added “Mondial Assistance has been providing innovative eCommerce travel insurance and assistance services to travel industry leaders for years. Especially in today’s economic climate, customers are more cautious and wary of potential disruptions to their travel plans. Our tailored products, like Hotel Cancellation Insurance, ensure that customers can include peace of mind and financial protection with every HolidayCity.com hotel booking.”

About HolidayCity.com
HolidayCity.com offers online hotel bookings for more than 20,000 hotels in 900 destinations. Our customers are assured of great rates all year round, broad accommodation range, easy-to-use websites and friendly customer service 24-7, together with thousands of hotel reviews from our guests. For a comprehensive range of travel insurance, please visit http://www.holidaycity.com. Also check out http://www.holidaycityeurope.com for more deals you can’t resist as well as amazing promotions at http://www.holidaycityflash.com.

About Mondial Assistance
Mondial Assistance Group: an intervention every 2 seconds around the world. International leader in Assistance, Travel Insurance and Personal Services, today the Mondial Assistance Group counts more than 9,400 employees who speak 40 different languages and work throughout the world with a network of 400,000 service providers and 180 correspondents. 250 million people, or 4% of the world’s total population, benefit from its services, which the Group provides on all five continents. The Mondial Assistance Group is a member of the Allianz Group. For the latest news on Mondial Assistance, please visit www.mondial-assistance.com.

The Borrowdale Hotel steps back in time with an exhibition of old photographs depicting life in the Borrowdale valley hundreds of years ago. The exhibition is set to run until the end of October.

The display, by kind permission of Patricia Roscamp, is made up from historical photographs that have been hung in the Borrowdale Hotel bar. It is quite fitting that the photographic exhibition is being held at the Borrowdale hotel in the Lake District – built over 140 years ago it was the first purpose built hotel in the valley.

General Manager Stephen Wilcock is also marking the occasion by introducing a luncheon and dinner menu that is representative of the 1800’s. Dinner guests can choose from today’s a-la-carte menu, or choose dishes from a menu available to guests in the 19th century. The menu is as close to tradition as possible, but certainly doesn’t go as far as Heston Blumenthal’s Tudor feasts shown on TV last autumn. Diners can choose from two, three or four courses which includes Victorian favourites like ‘Ham Hock Terrine with pureed peas, roast goose and an old fashioned desert of Lemon Posset with almond brandy.

Head Chef Peter Starauscheck has tried to replicate 19th century dishes wherever possible, but knows tastes have changed! “Local ingredients and seasonality have always been important, but Chef’s in 1800 would have goose on the menu any time of the year – today geese are generally available around Christmas, so we had to place a special order to ensure we could include Goose on the menu. Once the Pheasant season begins we will be introducing a three bird roast of goose stuffed with a chicken and pheasant.”

Lunch time visitors to this Lake District hotel can sample the ‘Bygone Days two or three course luncheon’ while they peruse the photos and history of the valley; potted salmon with pink peppercorns, egg, lemon, peppers and a tomato vinaigrette, or chunky vegetable and bacon soup, followed by slow braised shoulder of mutton served upon stewed pearl barley and vegetables. Proper puddings were certainly fashionable in the early 1800’s and a rhubarb and Bramley apple crumble mixed with oats and nuts would be warmly welcomed – then and now.

Stephen Wilcock said “we have completed most of the hotel refurbishment and thought the exhibition would be a good opportunity for local people to come and have a look. We have mounted the old pictures and hung them in the bar so visitors can see how the valley used to look while they enjoy lunch afternoon tea or dinner. Adding a 19th century dinner menu certainly tested Chef – but like today, they would have used as many local lake District ingredients as possible and diners will be delighted when they see what we can offer.”

For more details on the exhibition and details of the 19th century dinner menu at the Borrowdale Hotel please contact the General Manager – Stephen Wilcock on 017687 77224, http://www.lakedistricthotels.net or http://www.lakedistricthotels.net/borrowdalehotel/index.htm.

Windermere Marina Village are offering cycling enthusiasts a £50 discount on self-catering cottage breaks if they ditch their cars and arrive by bike.

With Windermere station a mere 10 minute ride away and numerous trails on our doorstep you won’t need a car to get the most out of your biking break. Four-star self-catering cottages, secure bike storage and a wash down station ensure you and your bike are well catered for at Windermere Marina Village.

Occupying an enviable position on Windermere Lake, the marina is the largest in the North of England offering not only moorings but also cottages in Windermere. The cottages overlooking the marina are spacious, well-equipped and offer you a little luxury after a day out cycling. Many of the cottages have double rooms that can be converted to twins offering flexibility for groups and can be booked for 3, 4 or 7 night breaks. Throughout your stay you will also enjoy full use of our onsite bar, bistro & leisure club; soothe those aches and pains with a dip in the Jacuzzi or pint on the terrace.

Jason Dearden, Managing Director of Windermere Marina Village & mountain biker says “We want to provide cyclists with the facilities they need and are keen to encourage people to leave their cars at home, reduce their carbon footprint and enjoy the stunning Lake District landscapes; so we’ve installed secure bike storage, provided flexible accommodation and an incentive to book”.

For further details of the facilities on offer please check out the website at http://www.wmv.co.uk/bike-holidays-lake-district.asp or call the reservation team on 015394 46551. Please quote “Car Free” to receive your £50 discount and ensure the bike storage is booked along with your cottage.

Although the vast majority of people booking ski holidays have some previous experience, each year thousands of new skiers take to the slopes for the first time each year. To help beginner skiers pick the right holidays for them, Ski-Direct.co.uk has put together a wealth of vital information.

Ski-direct have a unique and personal service which gives customers peace of mind when booking their first ski trip. With the daunting prospect of choosing where to go, Ski-Direct.co.uk have the perfect solution, they’ll sort everything out for skiers of all abilities.

All customers have to do is give the experienced operators a call to discuss when they want to go and how many are in the skiing party.

Jon Pearce of ski-direct.co.uk says, “Our travel advisers will endeavour to fulfil consumer needs and expectations by talking them through all the necessary information, plus we can give plenty of tips for skiing in Europe, America and Canada. We are here to help after all and make the experience as easy as possible!”

Ski-Direct.co.uk is so committed in exceeding customer expectations that they have a dedicated page on their website for Beginners, enabling ski novices to read about where the best places are to learn to ski, what clothing and equipment to get, along with advice on where and when the best time is to go skiing.

Here is a comprehensive guide to the best beginner’s lessons at European ski destinations from www.ski-direct.co.uk:
Andorra – Arinsal
Austria – Ellmau, Kitzbuhel
Bulgaria – Borovets, Pamporovo
France – Aple D’Huez, La Plagne, Les Arcs, Risoul
Italy – Passo Tonale, Cervinia, Selva
Switzerland – Crans Montana, Grindelwald, Saas-Fee

Jon continues, “We have had great feedback from customers about how comprehensive our advice and service is, the effort we go to, to exceed customer expectations is second to none. We often have customers call us who are complete novices and it’s so rewarding when they contact us to say they’ve had the most fabulous time and enjoyed every second.”

The www.ski-direct.co.uk travel experts are putting together special new deals for this winters ski season throughout Europe, America and Canada. Affordable prices for catered, bed and breakfast as well as self catered chalets gives optimal choice to make a great first ski holiday, one never to be forgotten.

About www.ski-direct.co.uk

Ski direct is one of the UK’s best ski specialists, selling ski & snowboard holidays to Austria, France, Italy, Canada, USA, America, Bulgaria, Andorra, Switzerland, Romania, Slovenia, and Sweden. The Ski-Direct team have over 100 years combined experience of Skiing and selling Ski holidays, and they’re people who ski with their families and friends in ski resorts across Europe and North America.

They work with all the major Tour Operators including Inghams, Neilson, Airtours, First Choice and Crystal Ski, as well as the specialist Ski companies such as Ski Total, Ski Esprit, Skiworld and Mark Warner.

Ski-Direct is part of the Midlands Co-operative Society Group and is a member of ABTA. Midlands Co-op Travel, incorporating Ilkeston Co-op Travel, is the No 1 independent travel agent in the Midlands.

For further information call 0844 553 3501 or visit www.ski-direct.co.uk.

Ski-Direct
Central House
Hermes Rd
Eastern Avenue
Lichfield
Staffs
WS13 6RH

####

For media enquiries, please contact:
Jenny Simpson
Online News & PR Manager
WebCertain Global Ltd
Northminster Business Park
York
YO26 6QW
United Kingdom
Tel: +44 (0)1904 780030

For the 4th successive year the Lodore Falls Hotel has taken an award at the Keswick Tourism Association ‘Keswick in Bloom’ Competition.

Results were announced earlier this week (Tuesday) and the hotel scooped Best Garden in the large hotel category.

The hotel has 40 acres of grounds to manicure and uniquely has the Lodore Falls situated in the grounds – which makes it an attractive and very audible garden. It also has its own pack horse bridge and lakeside frontage – popular settings for photographs.

General Manager Stephen Johnson said “This is the 4th year in succession that the hotel has been mentioned in the Keswick in Bloom Awards and we are pleased that the hard work put into our gardens is appreciated. They are a natural draw for visitors who enjoy seeing the planting bloom through different seasons. The gardens have been carefully planned to be naturally sympathetic to the local environment – and occasionally there is a Herdwick sheep who wanders through – very in keeping but not popular with our gardeners! The picturesque grounds provide a stunning backdrop for guests enjoying the outdoor hot tub and we also get some great comments from photographers and wedding guests”.

This imposing hotel, part of the luxury Lake District Hotels Ltd group, was built in traditional Lakeland slate has had a commanding presence in the Borrowdale Valley for over 200 years. Standing in 40 acres of grounds with lake frontage and the dramatic backdrop of the spectacular Lodore Falls and surrounding mountains, this Lake District hotel has one of the finest settings, with access to some of the most impressive walks in the area from the front door.

Anyone interested in finding out more about the gardens should contact Stephen Johnson at the Lodore Falls Hotel on 017687 77285 or visit http://www.lakedistricthotels.net/lodorefalls/

5 th August 2009, London – Just Luxury Travel has introduced a new luxury holiday travel destination, now enabling clients to book tailor-made luxury holidays in Dubai. This new route compliments Just Luxury Travel’s existing range of hand-picked hotels and resorts within the Middle East and the rest of the World.

“We believe that the addition of Dubai to our current luxury holiday destinations was essential in order to keep the company at the forefront of the market” commented Carl Littlechild, Just Luxury Travel’s Managing Director. He continued “This is part of our ongoing expansion which will ensure that the brand goes from strength to strength despite the difficult economic climate.”

Just Luxury Travel specialises in providing luxury travel hotels – with 5 star luxury hotels a key market. The ethos of Just Luxury Travel is to provide highend yet affordable cheap luxury holidays and luxury discount hotels for the mass market .

The company expects further destinations to be added in the last quarter of 2009 and throughout 2010.

Just Luxury Travel – Part of the Apache Associates Group of Companies

For more information contact Glen Bird – Director

Tel : 020 0800 567 0555

Fax : 01727 827 558

Email: glen@apacheassociates.com

Web : www.justluxurytravel.com

Sliema, Malta ( fastPressRelease ) July 30, 2009 – It’s summer and dining at The Palace has moved outdoors.

Situated at street level in High Street, Sliema Malta, with the beautifully restored 18th century chapel as a back-drop, Talk of Town offers diners an idyllic location in summer. Here, in the relaxed ambiance of their terrace, patrons may enjoy a traditional Maltese a la carte menu offering authentic Maltese food including marinated fish, soups, rabbit, meats and much more.

Talk of Town is more than a simple Café Malta. It also serves delicious breakfasts as well as fresh bakery, sandwiches & light meals throughout the day; high tea in the afternoon; and a variety of dips to accompany its excellent wine list in the evening.

At the high end of this superior Malta Hotel, way above on the 9th floor terrace, the unique TemptAsian Restaurant is once again offering patrons it’s Tempting Asian BBQs every Wednesday on its spectacular terraces. The barbeque menu was an instant hit when launched last summer and is now being revisited with a fusion of Asian and traditional cuisine. Courses include an assortment of mouth-watering favourites such as sushi, makimono and sashimi; and a vast selection of salads, barbequed meats, chicken and fish. The dessert menu is also extremely varied and consists of a selection of Asian fruits and delightful sweets and sorbets made by the TemptAsian award winning chefs.

Patrons may opt for TemptAsian lunches which feature an Asian influenced summer menu at the roof-top pool deck. The menu includes ethnic dishes, salads, wraps, sushi, grills home made desserts and ice creams.

One can also unwind over a light snack sushi, platters, cocktails or wine, at the indoor and outdoor lounge areas. For those with time to spare The Palace is also accepting a limited number of day-members for the pool.

The Tempting Asian barbeques are held every Wednesday and are open to non-residents. Diners at any of the Hotel restaurants may utilise the Hotel’s underground parking facilities free of charge.

About :

The Palace is one of the established five star hotels in Malta offering a superior choice of Accommodation Malta , top selection of Malta Restaurants, and a state of the art Spa and Wellness Centre. Adjoining The Palace is the Victoria Hotel, one of the leading four star Luxury Malta Hotels .

Enquiries:
Contact Press Office
Tel: +356 21 333444
Web: www.thepalacemalta.com
Email:    info@thepalacemalta.com

###

Kuala Lumpur – HolidayCity.com, a leading online hotel reservation service, is happy to announce its partnership with The Leading Hotels of the World. This strategic collaboration would expand HolidayCity.com’s hotel inventory to include more than 450 luxury hotels in 80 countries worldwide. HolidayCity.com’s customers and travellers are the beneficiaries as they take advantage of the competitive rates and savings made possible by this preferred partnership.

The Leading Hotels of the World, Ltd. is the prestigious luxury hospitality organization representing the world’s finest hotels and resorts. Headquartered in New York City, the company maintains offices in 24 cities around the globe. With more than 450 luxury hotels with over 84,000 rooms in 80 countries, The Leading Hotels of the World offers the largest collection of luxury hotels, resorts and spas — from grand palaces, to intimate city hideaways, from luxury tent enclaves to expansive self-contained resorts to private island retreats.

Lee Lai Huat, CEO of HolidayCity.com, remarked, “HolidayCity.com has provided an online hotel reservation service to travellers worldwide for more than 10 years. We emphasize in giving our customers competitive rates and quality service, and we endeavor to continue to meet our objectives through our partnership with The Leading Hotels of the World.” Lee added, “This is certainly an advantageous collaboration for both HolidayCity.com and The Leading Hotels of the World as both parties continue to strengthen our online brand position. At the end of the day, our customers can expect great savings and best available rates at The Leading Hotels of the World’s members’ exclusive properties.”

“The Leading Hotels of the World is delighted to have forged this partnership with HolidayCity.com,” says Philip Ho, vice president, Asia Pacific.  “This new distribution channel will allow us to reach a new set of qualified customers who seek special, luxury travel experiences.  By communicating the exceptional stories of our hotels and simultaneously offering value, I am confident this arrangement will deliver and generate incremental room reservations to our hotels.”

About HolidayCity.com

HolidayCity.com is an Internet-based accommodation reservation service that offers nearly 20,000 hotels in over 900 destinations worldwide. We offer our customers the advantage of paying upon check-in with no booking or cancellation fee, and other outstanding benefits such as amazing discounted rates for thousands of hotels and resorts worldwide, unbiased guest reviews, a 24-hour customer service. Check out our exciting promotions at http://www.holidaycity.com. For more great rates and savings, please go to http://www.holidaycityeurope.com. You can also check out the latest deals at http://www.holidaycityflash.com.

Celebrity Cruises (http://www.celebritycruises.co.uk/) Celerity Equinox had less than six metres “breathing room” on either side, the 2,850-guest Celebrity Equinox – the eagerly anticipated sister ship to the widely heralded Celebrity Solstice – left shipbuilder Meyer Werft in Papenburg, Germany, to make the 42 km transit – an event known as the “conveyance” – down the River Ems…backwards.

At its tightest point along the course, there are as few as four metres – not even adequate room to park a London black cab – between each side of the 317 metre-long, 37 metre-wide ship and the riverbank.

During Celebrity Equinox’s transit from Papenburg to Eemshaven, Netherlands, the ship has navigated the passing of a railway bridge in Weener, a highway bridge in Leer, and a lock in Gandersum. The journey takes between 12 and 15 hours to complete, and is likely the most complicated ride the ship will encounter in its life. Due to the size and scale of the ship, the transit can take place only during absolutely ideal weather conditions: when the river is at high tide, when winds are extremely calm, and when tidal barriers are closed, in order to ensure there is enough water to accommodate the draft of the ship.

“The conveyance is an interesting challenge for any Captain,” said Celebrity Equinox’s Captain Apostolos Bouzakis. “The limited space available for navigation, the nature of sailing in reverse, and the number of locks and bridges to traverse are all factors that cruise ship captains normally do not have to contend with. But, a real benefit of this event is the opportunity to test the manoeuvrability of the ship at reduced speeds. With an average channel breadth of 111 metres it is a bit like taking a brand-new sportscar down winding country lanes: It’s exhilarating, but not without its share of trepidation.”

Tens of thousands of spectators are estimated to have lined the banks of the River Ems to watch Celebrity Equinox make its challenging and historic transit. Together with sister ship Celebrity Solstice, the two are the largest ships ever to have sailed on the River Ems.

The 122,000-gross-registered-tonnes Celebrity Equinox is scheduled to enter service July 31 from Southampton, England, on an eight-night cruise through the majestic Norwegian Fjords, followed by a series of romantic Mediterranean sailings from Civitavecchia (Rome), Italy, beginning 8 August.

Media Contact
Celebrity Cruises
Surinda Manku
smanku@rccl.com
0845 456 1520
Web: http://www.celebritycruises.co.uk/
Latest News: http://www.celebritycruises.co.uk/pages/news.php
Solstice Class: http://www.celebritycruises.co.uk/pages/solstice.php

Grove Cottages, the Lake District cottages company with properties in Ambleside, announce the launch of their new website.
www.grovecottages.com has been refurbished and updated to fully promote the refurbishments and upgrades of the five properties on Grove Farm. The new website offers much clearer and informative details on each cottage, the environment, farm and location. An online booking system has been integrated allowing quick and easy real time availability and booking of each cottage. More images have been included which enlarge when clicked.

Grove Farmhouse is the latest addition to the four holiday cottage lets already on the farm. This new renovation comfortably accommodates 8 – 10 people. Grove Farmhouse has been finished to a very high standard and contains all the modern conveniences expected from a luxury holiday let without compromising the original features of the farmhouse. Grove Farmhouse has two lounges each with log burning stoves, wireless broadband access and in the kitchen, a traditional Rayburn cooking range. A total of three bathrooms make this property an excellent choice for a large group.

The luxury Lake District cottages lie in the beautiful Stock Valley in Ambleside. They are reached by a private drive from Ambleside, which runs past Stockghyll Falls and nature park, climbing to 700 feet to offer some of the finest Panoramic views in the Lake District. Each of the Cumbrian cottages has been lovingly converted from a traditional Lakeland barn. Guests are invited to relax in the secluded gardens, or explore the farm and its wildlife. The latest development on the farm is Grove Farmhouse which was released earlier this year. This new renovation comfortably accommodates 8 – 10 people. Grove Farmhouse has been finished to a very high standard and contains all the modern conveniences expected from a luxury holiday let without compromising the original features of the farmhouse.

Andrew Howard together with his brothers Max and Ross, took over the running of Grove Farm in the summer of 2008.Their family has been farming for over 150 years on the edge of Sherwood Forest in Nottinghamshire. Grove is a typical Lakeland hill farm, running to some 160 acres of grass and woodland on the slopes of the Stock Valley. The pastures on the farm are home to the Howard’s herd of pedigree Dunn Galloway cattle. The cattle are sold to local speciality butchers.

For further information and to check availability go to http://www.grovecottages.com or telephone 015394 33074.

Recent publicity suggesting there has been a sharp rise in the cost of ski holidays for the 2009-10 ski season misinforms the public, causing unnecessary concern, warns www.ski-direct.co.uk. The ski holiday bookings experts say there are a great many bargains available and they have been packaging great ski holiday deals together offering significant saving to consumers.

Ski-Direct.co.uk offers reassurance to customers concerned by reports of a rise in ski holiday prices for the 2009-10 winter ski season. As experts in booking family and group skiing holidays, the ski specialists have already put together a range of bargain ski holidays that offer significant savings to customers.

Jon Pearce of www.ski-direct.co.uk says: “We think recent reports of a possible rise in prices are irresponsible in an already sensitive market. No-one is pretending that the low rate of the pound to the euro is helping matters, but we are seeing that customers still want to have a special ski holiday and are putting a lot of effort into saving money wherever they can.”

In response to the current economic climate, Ski-Direct report that they have been creating new ski package holidays that offer significant savings, much earlier in the year than usual. Therefore, there are more bargains available to consumers than compared to this time last year.

Jon continues: “Like many operators, we are running at a small margin so we can pass on the most attractive deals to our customers and we are putting together a range of package ski holiday deals that really do offer real savings.”

“We work very hard with our partners to offer the widest range of ski holiday deals possible – across Europe and North America, thus giving our customers great choice of resort, accommodation and facilities.”

Many people choose to travel in large groups, saving money by booking into chalets and taking advantages of the offers from the ski resorts – including free lift passes for children.

Ski-Direct expects more ski resorts across Europe and North America to make announcements about free ski passes and similar deals throughout the summer.

So, the strong message from www.ski-direct.co.uk, is – look for the creatively packaged deals put together by experts who know about the real costs of taking a ski holiday.

Booking early is the best way to get the best deals. Deposits are low, minimising the risk of maximising your budget, Ski-Direct aims to give its customers value for money, as well as great service.

About www.ski-direct.co.uk

Ski direct is one of the UK’s best ski specialists, selling ski & snowboard holidays to Austria, France, Italy, Canada, USA, America, Bulgaria, Andorra, Switzerland, Romania, Slovenia, and Sweden. The Ski-Direct team have over 100 years combined experience of Skiing and selling Ski holidays, and they’re people who ski with their families and friends in ski resorts across Europe and North America.

They work with all the major Tour Operators including Inghams, Neilson, Airtours, First Choice and Crystal Ski, as well as the specialist Ski companies such as Ski Total, Ski Esprit, Skiworld and Mark Warner.

Ski-Direct is part of the Midlands Co-operative Society Group and is a member of ABTA. Midlands Co-op Travel, incorporating Ilkeston Co-op Travel, is the No 1 independent travel agent in the Midlands.

Ski-Direct

Central House
Hermes Rd
Eastern Avenue
Lichfield
Staffs
WS13 6RH