Portland’s Historic Heathman Hotel Invites Guests to Join GM Chris Erickson For Tuesday AM Run

Calling all fitness buffs! Tie those laces tight, grab that lucky headband and get ready to take a run through downtown Portland with the Heathman Hotel’s GM. Every Tuesday, guests and members of the Portland community are invited to join General Manager (and marathon runner!), Chris Erickson, as he embarks on his morning run through Portland. The Run with the GM Program and Package is the ideal way for Portland-based runners and Heathman Hotel guests to stick to their fitness routines while on the road and see the city in a completely different light.

“I enjoy starting each morning with a run through the beautiful city of Portland before the rest of the community wakes up,” says Chris Erickson general manager for The Heathman Hotel. “I’m thrilled to welcome our guests and fellow runners in the area who share my passion. This new program allows Portland-based runners to experience a few of my favorite city routes and out-of-towners to stay fit on-the-road and take-in the beautiful sights this city has to offer.”

For travelers looking to mix fitness with pleasure during their visit to Portland, the Run with the GM Package offers guests the required essentials to help prepare and recover from a morning run. Additionally for every package purchased, the Heathman will donate $20 to One Fund Boston to help the people most affected by the tragic events that occurred in Boston on April 15, 2013.

Run with the GM Package includes:

• · Deluxe overnight accommodations the Monday before run day
• · Adidas Employee Store coupon
• · Unlimited bottles of Heathman water
• · Tuesday morning run with the GM at 7am sharp – rain or shine!
• · Post-run 12 oz. juice delivered to guestroom
• · In-room breakfast from the hotel’s Running Menu
• · 500 frequent flyer miles from any of the hotel’s participating airline partners including United Airlines, Alaska Airlines, American Airlines, Air France, British Airways, Virgin Atlantic

Rates for the one-night Run with the GM Package start at $259, are based on availability and do not include tax or service.

The Run with the GM Package is available on Monday evenings. Guests who wish to book this package all other days of the week, will be provided with maps full of the GM’s favorite running routes. For an additional fee, travelers also have the option of adding a second night, in-room pre-run dinner from the hotel’s Running Menu, and in-room massage (advance reservations required). Guests may call 800.551.0011 for more information or to make a reservation.

For more information about the Run with the GM program, be sure to check out their dedicated Facebook page:
https://www.facebook.com/events/151607451677028/

Historic Heathman Hotel

Built in 1927 and located in the heart of Portland, Ore.’s, cultural district, this 150-room luxury hotel maintains strong partnerships with local arts and culture organizations and is Portland’s premier arts hotel. An independently owned luxury boutique property, the Heathman Hotel is a member of the Preferred Hotel Group and Historic Hotels of America. The Heathman has received the prestigious Four Diamond distinction from AAA for 26 consecutive years. In 2013, the hotel was featured on Condé Nast Traveler’s Gold List and the 2013 edition of U.S. News & World Report’s Best Hotels rankings. The hotel was recognized in 2012 by Travel + Leisure as one of the top 50 World’s Best Hotels. In 2011, the hotel was included on Condé Nast Traveler’s list of the world’s best hotels in its annual Readers’ Choice Awards. In 2010, the hotel was selected as the top Mid Luxury Hotel for business in the United States by Entrepreneur magazine. Additionally, the Heathman was recognized for overall excellence on Condé Nast Traveler’s 2005 Gold List and was featured in the 2005, 2006, 2007 and 2009 editions of Travel + Leisure’s top 500 World’s Best Hotels list. The hotel also received Wine Spectator’s Best of Award of Excellence in 2008, 2009, 2010 and 2011. The hotel also was recognized by Energy Trust of Oregon in 2007, 2008 and 2009 for its commitment to sustainability and conservation efforts; the property continues to work toward EnergyStar certification and recently received Green Seal Silver certification. The Heathman Hotel and its sister property, Heathman Kirkland, encompass the art of hospitality in the Pacific Northwest.

For reservations, visit www.heathmanhotel.com.

See:

Portland, Oregon Proves It’s Great Being Green

Portland Offers Rich Cultural Landscape

Portland: City of Books, Brews, Blooms & Bikes

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Historic Hotels of America Announces its Top Six Vacation Packages

Selected from more than 3,000 packages and unique experiences on HistoricHotels.org

 

Admission to novelist Edith Wharton’s The Mount is included in Cranwell Resort’s Culture in the Country Package , in the magnificent Berkshires of Massachusetts, a mecca for culture and nature enthusiasts © 2013 Karen Rubin/news-photos-features.com

This summer, Historic Hotels of America offers travelers more than 3,000 packages many including special rates, overnight accommodations, historical tours, Civil War Sesquicentennial packages, and so much more. Six of the travel packages below were handpicked from more than 3,000 offers featured on HistoricHotels.org. Here travelers can discover and explore hotel offers, specials, historical fun facts and much more.

In addition to these special featured packages, Historic Hotels of America is offering travelers summer specials and packages from more than 240 hotels across 46 states on HistoricHotels.org.

Featured packages and promotions from Historic Hotels of America:

Cranwell Resort, Spa & Golf Club (1894) Lenox, Massachusetts

Culture in the Country Package

Celebrate the Berkshires this summer at the Cranwell Resort, Spa & Golf Club. The Cranwell boasts a world-class spa, historic golf course, indoor pool, and three restaurants. The Culture in the Country package includes:

• · Classic resort accommodations
• · $20 dining credit for any of the Cranwell’s restaurants (including the Music Room, The Wyndhurst and Sloane’s Tavern)
• · Full use of the Spa at Cranwell with heated indoor pool, whirlpools, saunas, steam rooms, and fitness center
• · Two tickets per package to your choice of cultural venues, including Herman Melville’s Arrowhead, the Berkshire Botanical Garden, Chesterwood (a National Trust site), Hancock Shaker Village, the Massachusetts Museum of Contemporary Art, Edith Wharton’s The Mount, and the Norman Rockwell Museum
• · Additionally, reserve a Culture in the Country Package midweek in July and August and receive two complimentary lawn tickets per package and a Maplewood parking pass for the Tanglewood performance on that date.*

Rates start from $240 per night midweek with double occupancy, exclusive of room tax. *Tanglewood tickets and parking pass only available with midweek hotel reservations on the following dates: July 7, 11, 14, 17, 18, 21, 24, 25, 28, and 31; August 4, 7, 11, 14, 15, 18, 20, 22, and 25.

1886 Crescent Hotel & Spa (1886) Eureka Springs, Arkansas

Eureka Springs Four-Day Three-Night Historic Vacation
Treat your family or friends to a mini-vacation in the Ozark Mountains this summer. Enjoy overnight accommodations, historic attractions (including a ghost tour of America’s Most Haunted Hotel), massages, and more. This escape includes:

• Four days / three nights in Premium Double / Double Room (based on availability)
• Four tickets to the Eureka Springs Historical Museum per stay
• Four tickets to a ghost tour of “America’s Most Haunted Hotel” per stay
• Two one-hour massages in the hotel’s New Moon Spa & Salon per stay
• Four tickets to Turpentine Creek Wildlife Refuge per stay
• Self-guided history tour of the hotel, including a souvenir guidebook

Rates start from $654 for a 3-night stay (Reservations must be made at least two weeks in advance of stay. Offer expires December 28, 2013 and is subject to availability.)

Grand Hotel Marriott Resort, Golf Club & Spa (1847) Point Clear, Alabama

Bellingrath Gardens & Home Package

Travel + Leisure, Conde Nast Traveler, and Successful Meetings named the Grand Hotel Marriott Resort, Golf Club & Spa among their best hotels for 2013. Come experience exceptional Southern Hospitality with a modern twist. Book the Bellingrath Gardens & Home package, which includes:

• · Deluxe guestroom accommodations
• · Two one-day tickets to historic Bellingrath Gardens & Home per stay
• · Daily Breakfast buffet for two

Rates start from $278 per night

Mimslyn Inn (1931) Luray, Virginia

Civil War Sesquicentennial Package

Enjoy a self-driving tour, Discover and explore 24 historic sites and battlefields within two hours of the Inn. The Civil War Package includes:

• · A packaged lunch prepared for two (per stay) by the culinary staff at the Mimslyn Inn
• · A bottle of wine made from grapes grown in vineyards near The New Market Battlefield
• · Dinner for two per stay at Circa ‘31 with the menus and recipes created from the same foods that were available during the 1860’s
• · Historic Guestroom for two nights

Rates start from $450 per night

Hacienda del Sol (1929) Tucson, Arizona

Breakfast with a Side of History Package

Explore the Southwest and book the “Breakfast with a side of History” Package at Hacienda del Sol Guest Ranch Resort, which includes:

• Nightly accommodations
• Daily breakfast for two (inclusive of tax and gratuity)
• Guided historic walking tour of Hacienda del Sol

Rates start from $204 per night (Valid April 1 – Dec 31, 2013 Two night minimum stay on weekends. Based on availability.)

French Lick Springs Hotel (1901)French Lick, Indiana

Historic Experience Package

Book the three night Historic Experience package, which includes:

• · Historic guestroom for 3 nights
• · One souvenir DVD highlighting French Lick Resort
• · One Guided Historic Landmarks Walking Tour per person
• · $30 Breakfast Credit per day

Rates start from $183 per night (Rate code is HHA3)

Travelers can select from over 3,000 dynamic hotel packages, extraordinary historic experiences, and hot deals found exclusively on HistoricHotels.org. For more information about Historic Hotels of America’s specials and deals, including summer specials and packages, please visit www.historichotels.org/hotel-deals/.

Historic Hotels of America is committed to providing guests with the lowest published rates online, as a part of the Price Match Guarantee. If a lower rate is found on another website within 24 hours of booking a reservation, simply submit a claim form and the lower rate will be honored. For terms and conditions, please refer to
http://www.historichotels.org/price-match-guarantee.php
. When booking on HistoricHotels.org, you’ll never pay a booking fee and rates are clearly marked with cancellation policies and few pre-booking or deposits. If you prefer to book your reservation by phone or if you have questions about hotels or an existing reservation, call 800-678-8946.

Special Offer

If you book before August 31, 2013 on HistoricHotels.org, you’ll also receive a complimentary one-year family membership (a $30 value) to the National Trust for Historic Preservation*. In addition to the satisfaction of knowing that you’re helping to protect places that matter, your family will enjoy a savings of up to 50% at participating Historic Hotels of America, a subscription to Preservation magazine, and discounted admission to over 600 historic places worldwide.

Historic Hotels of America  is the official program of the National Trust for Historic Preservation for recognizing and celebrating the finest Historic Hotels. Historic Hotels of America was founded in 1989 by the National Trust for Historic Preservation^® with 32 charter members. In 2007, Preferred Hotel Group partnered with the National Trust for Historic Preservation to grow and enhance Historic Hotels of America. Historic Hotels of America has more than 240 historic hotels. These historic hotels have all faithfully maintained their authenticity, sense of place, and architectural integrity in the United States of America, including the U.S. Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico, Historic Hotels of America is comprised of mostly independently owned and operated properties. More than 30 of the world’s finest hospitality brands, chains, and collections are represented in Historic Hotels of America. To be nominated and selected for membership into this prestigious program, a hotel must be at least 50 years old, listed in or eligible for listing in the National Register of Historic Places or recognized as having historic significance. For more information, visit www.HistoricHotels.org, call 800-678-8946.

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Historic Woodstock Inn & Resort Offers Special $195 Rate through Sept 13

No need to pack away the summer whites just yet. With record breaking above-average temperatures this summer expected to continue past Labor Day, the Woodstock Inn & Resort invites travelers to extend their summer with a special per night rate of $195 through September 13.

“Visitors are welcome to enjoy the ‘Endless Summer’ feel at the Woodstock Inn & Resort before the crisp cool air of fall settles into the region,” said President and General Manager Werner Graef. “The weather is ideal for experiencing the great outdoors including our award winning golf course.”

The “Endless Summer” rate represents a savings of 30 percent and is available Sunday through Thursday from August 20 to September 13, 2012, based on double occupancy. Rate excludes applicable taxes and resort fee.

Golfers looking for an endless summer getaway can tee-off at the Robert Trent Jones, Sr 18-hole golf course with the Unlimited Golf Package starting at $349 per room, per night. The packageincludes:

Unlimited golf at The Resort’s Golf Club

One night luxury accommodation

Golf cart

Continental breakfast for two

Complimentary use of the practice facility

The Unlimited Golf package is valid now through October 31, 2012, based on double occupancy, excluding applicable taxes and resort fee.

The culturally rich destination of Woodstock has an abundance of antique shops, art galleries, boutiques, restaurants, specialty food markets and more, all within steps of the resort. Guests can walk Main Street and partake in nearby outdoor activities including hiking, biking, and tennis.

Relaxation and recreation are essential components of a stay at The Woodstock Inn & Resort. The property’s 10,000 square-foot LEED-certified spa offers a nature-inspired ambiance and features nourishing treatments with organic products. The Racquet & Fitness Club is a comprehensive facility with indoor and outdoor tennis courts, racquetball courts, a 30-by-60 foot indoor lap pool, a whirlpool, workout equipment and a steam room and sauna. Dining options include The Red Rooster, the resort’s award-winning fine dining restaurant emphasizing fresh, local ingredients sourced from the best purveyors in New England. And, Richardson’s Tavern offers a cozy old-world atmosphere with an extensive dinner menu and full bar.

For more information, become a fan on Facebook at www.facebook.com/Woodstock-Inn-Resort, visit www.woodstockinn.com or call (888)-481-8802.

Bar Harbor’s Historic Balance Rock Inn Opens for Summer Season on Frenchman’s Bay

Built as a family ‘cottage’ 109 years ago, when wealthy tycoons selected the most desirable locations along the rocky, island-studded Maine coast for their summer season mansions, the Balance Rock Inn in Bar Harbor today presents romantic ambiance and luxurious amenities.

The Balance Rock Inn (circa 1903) is opening for the Summer Season for guests to enjoy the privacy and serenity of Frenchman’s Bay and the opulence of days gone by. Built as a family ‘cottage’ 109 years ago, when wealthy tycoons selected the most desirable locations along the rocky, island-studded Maine coast for their summer season mansions, the Balance Rock Inn today presents romantic ambiance and luxurious amenities to new and returning guests through the end of October.

The Inn celebrates the “balance rock”, a precariously positioned boulder and a huge remnant from an ice age. On the Inn’s sloping lawn down to the shoreline, guests can gaze from the veranda past the glistening swimming pool, flower gardens and nearly three acres of sweeping lawns framed with stately trees to where the property connects with the historic Shore Path walk along the water’s edge.

The Balance Rock’s 21 rooms and suites and three apartment-style luxury suites are tastefully outfitted in harmonious colors, handsome wall coverings and handcrafted furnishings. Each accommodation is unique with features such as ocean views, fireplaces, whirlpool baths, saunas and private porches. Guests have been returning season after season to pamper themselves in the luxury and amenities that set the Balance Rock Inn apart from the expected.

A lavish Breakfast buffet is prepared for guests daily where they can dine and relive the splendor of the Gilded Age in the dining room, sundeck or verandah ~ featuring impeccable service and a full hot and cold menu. The well-stocked Verandah Bar is a popular spot to relax and meet other guests throughout the day with cocktail hour hors d’oeuvres presented nightly.

Only a block from the restaurants, shops, galleries, museums and outdoor activities that define Bar Harbor, The Balance Rock Inn is a perfect getaway to experience scenic bike riding, granite peak hiking, sightseeing boat tours to view whales or seals or to indulge your taste for lobster within steps of the front door.

For generations, the shingle-style building has been an icon of comfort, grace and style. As guests walk the historic Shore Path, winding from the seaport’s pier along the ocean’s edge and past many glorious mansions built over a century ago, it’s obvious why visitors recognize the Balance Rock Inn as a gem of hospitality, spectacular scenery and innate charm.

Balance Rock Inn, 21 Albert Meadow, Bar Harbor, Maine 04609, 800-753-0494 or 207-288-2610, www.BalanceRockInns.com.

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Breakers Rewards savings make it easier to enjoy romantic escape to iconic Palm Beach resort

The Breakers resort is making it easier for couples to enjoy a luxurious romantic escape and families to enjoy a winter getaway with the added savings of “Breakers Rewards,” its seasonal offer available through February 14, 2012, just in time for Valentine's Day © 2012 Karen Rubin/news-photos-features.com.

The Breakers resort is making it easier for couples to enjoy a luxurious romantic escape and families to enjoy a winter getaway with the added savings of “Breakers Rewards,” its seasonal offer available through February 14, 2012, just in time for Valentine’s Day.

You get $50, $100 or $200 in nightly credits per room, based on category of accommodations booked at regular rates:

• $50 Breakers Rewards (per room per night), applicable to Deluxe guest rooms
• $100 Breakers Rewards (per room, per night), applicable to Premium guest rooms
• $200 Breakers Rewards (per room, per night), applicable to Flagler Club (concierge level), Oceanfront Rooms and Suites

Breakers Rewards are applicable to myriad resort amenities:
• Dining and drinks at any of the resort’s nine Palm Beach restaurants and five lounges
• Golf play on The Breakers’ two championship courses
• Personalized golf instruction at the renowned John Webster Golf Academy
• Rejuvenating luxury spa
• Tennis, applicable to court play and private instruction
• Luxury beach bungalows for daytime rental
• World-class shopping, applicable to purchases at the resort’s 11 boutiques
• Children’s programs at the Family Entertainment Center.
• Overnight valet parking

Complimentary resort benefits always include Internet inclusive of WiFi, access to main hotel’s fitness center and fitness classes (excluding private sessions).  Breakers Rewards not available to groups.  Other restrictions apply.

The Breakers offers an alluring, domestic winter vacation in the style of tropical and Mediterranean destinations. This 140-acre Palm Beach resort, originally built in 1896, has undergone a comprehensive, $250 million revitalization and expansion over the past ten years, and today features a glamorous yet classic ambiance that combines Italian Renaissance style and European feel, with an alluring beachfront reminiscent of St. Tropez.  The value of its proximity is palpable…a prime stateside location, more affordable than overseas, with stunning vistas of the Atlantic Ocean, easy air transit for guests and close airport proximity.  With its bounty of dining and recreational amenities, The Breakers is a self-contained, panoramic escape, from which guests never have to step a sandal off property.

“We have found that these daily monetary credits encourage winter travelers to enjoy and save on their preferred experiences, all available on site,” said David Burke, vice president of sales & marketing of the 140-acre property.  “The Breakers Palm Beach offers an unrivaled resort experience that could not be replicated today – a stunning atmosphere of relaxed elegance with an amazing range of resort experiences.  With our long-term vision and commitment to future generations of guests, we ensure it keeps getting better year after year.”

One of America’s legendary resort destinations, this 540-room, Italian Renaissance-style hotel resides on 140 acres of oceanfront property in the heart of Palm Beach.  The Breakers was founded in 1896 and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places, and continues to thrive independent of chain affiliation.  Renowned for its gracious service, the resort indulges its clientele, whether couples on a romantic getaway, multi-generational travelers on a family vacation or large gatherings in celebration.  With the commitment of its long-standing ownership, descendants of founder Henry Flagler, The Breakers invests $20 million each year in the property’s ongoing enhancement to ensure it remains appealing to future guests.  Following a comprehensive ten-year $250 million revitalization, its timeless atmosphere — from its magnificent interiors to its artfully designed landscape — has been renewed in a style of relaxed elegance.

A multi-faceted destination, The Breakers features 36 holes of championship Florida golf, including the Ocean Course and The Breakers Rees Jones® Course; 10 Har-Tru tennis courts; luxury spa; a breathtaking oceanfront with a half-mile of private beach, Mediterranean-style beach club, as well as luxury beach bungalows for daytime-rental, five pools, four whirlpool spas and a variety of water sports; a Family Entertainment Center and an extensive program of family and children’s activities.  Nine distinctive restaurants, as well as an array of on-site boutiques, are all owned and managed by the resort.  The Breakers is recognized as a AAA Five Diamond property and has earned numerous accolades for its commitment to the environment, community service and the quality of life it provides to its employees.

For reservations or more information, contact the resort toll-free at 1-888-BREAKERS (273-2537), (561) 655-6611, visit www.thebreakers.com, or contact your travel professional.

See also:

The Breakers Palm Beach: iconic American resort has relaxed, contemporary feel and slideshow

The Breakers, iconic Palm Beach destination resort, redefines dining experience and slideshow

Wake Up In Woodstock Package Showcases Vermont’s Summer Festivals

Summer is peak festival season in Vermont and The Woodstock Inn & Resort’s Wake Up In Woodstock package offers value and flexibility for guests to enjoy any number of events.  Wake Up In Woodstock includes accommodations, breakfast, welcome gift, admission to the Billings Farm & Museum, admission to the Marsh-Billings-Rockefeller National Historical Park and complimentary use of the Inn’s Racquet & Fitness Club.  Guests will also enjoy one complimentary appetizer per room in The Red Rooster for dinner.  Prices start at $282 per night based on double occupancy.

The Woodstock Inn & Resort is hosting its annual Summer @ Six Concert Series at nearby Suicide Six (pentanglearts.org).  The concert series kicks off Friday, July 22 and Saturday, July 23 with a bluegrass festival featuring performances by Grammy-award winner bluegrass singer-songwriter Peter Rowan; bluegrass virtuosic instrumentalist/singer/songwriters Sierra Hull & Highway 111; David Grisman, famed acoustic string instrumental musician; The King of Newgrass Sam Bush; Ricky Skaggs & The Kentucky Thunder; The Bluegrass Gospel Project and The Infamous Stringdusters.

On Friday, August 26, the Levon Helm Band headlines the second Summer @ Six concert with special guests Assembly of Dust, Bow Thayer and the Perfect Trainwreck.

Other summer events include:

The Killington Music Festival Concert Series will also kick off in July with Saturday concerts July 9, July 16, July 23, July 30 and August 6 (killington.com)

Billings Farm & Museum has a full calendar of events throughout the summer including Foodways Fridays from July 15-October 14 where visitors can learn how to use heirloom vegetables from the garden in historic recipes prepared in the 1890 Farm House kitchen.  Celebrate National Ice Cream Day July 17 where visitors can lend a hand making and tasting the ice cream (billingsfarm.org).

Glassmaker Simon Pearce’s restaurant, housed in a restored mill overlooking a waterfall, hosts complimentary cooking demonstrations each month.  On July 21, visitors can learn about “Summer Produce.”  August will feature “Summer Soups” and September “Vermont Cheeses.”  In addition, enjoy special access “Drinks on the Deck” on select Wednesdays and Sundays.  For specific dates, visit www.simonpearce.com/category/restaurants/quechee.do

Enjoy the “Taste of Woodstock” on August 13 from 10am-8:30pm with local wines, craft beer, organic foods, kettle corn, lemonade and live entertainment ShackletonThomas and Sustainable Woodstock host the Naked Table Project and lunch, on the covered bridge in Woodstock August 20-21.  Saturday, participants construct a table out of sustainably grown sugar maple, harvested from the Marsh-Billings Rockefeller National Park.  On Sunday, all are invited to a locavore lunch served on the newly made tables under the covered bridge.  Admission: $35 lunch or $850 for table making (nakedtable.com)

For a full listing of events in and around Woodstock, visit woodstockinn.com/the-resort/events.

The Woodstock Inn & Resort is now home to a new 10,000 square-foot LEED-designed spa, offering a nature-inspired ambiance and featuring nourishing treatments and organic products.  In celebration of Summer, guests can experience the 100-minute Signature Berry Bliss Treatment which begins with an exfoliating body scrub and hydrating wrap and ends with a full-body massage.

Resort activities include a 18-hole Robert Trent Jones designed golf course, a 41,000 square foot Racquet & Fitness Club, which includes indoor and outdoor tennis courts, indoor racquetball courts, a 30-by-60 foot indoor lap pool, a whirlpool, workout equipment and a steam room and sauna.   Guests can also enjoy downtown Woodstock filled with antique shops, art galleries, boutiques, restaurants, specialty food markets and more.

For more information, visit www.woodstockinn.com or call (888) 481-8802.

About The Woodstock Inn & Resort

Located in idyllic Woodstock, Vermont, The Woodstock Inn & Resort defines country sophistication in one of New England’s most charming and popular year-round vacation destinations.  The 142-room, AAA Four Diamond Resort and member of Preferred Hotels & Resorts, offers award-winning dining in two restaurants, ranked among the finest in New England.  The Woodstock Inn & Resort is owned and operated by The Woodstock Foundation, Inc.  Proceeds from Resort operations support The Woodstock Foundation and Billings Farm & Museum education and conservation programs.

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Historic Willard Hotel in Washington DC offers Year of Civil War Programming

The lobby of the Willard Hotel, where President Ulysses S. Grant popularized the term “Lobbyist." The Historic Hotels of America member hotel was also where Abraham Lincoln stayed before his inauguration and figured prominently during the Civil War. Close to the White House and the Smithsonian Institution museums, the Willard is hosting a year-long Civil War Sesquicentennial series of lectures and programs © 2011 Karen Rubin/news-photos-features.com.

As America marks the 150th anniversary of the start of the Civil War in 2011, the Willard InterContinental, a member of Historic Hotels of America, is highlighting its significant history of the period with Willard Hotel and the Civil War, featuring special lectures and events, as well as a special lodging package.

 This yearlong event in conjunction with Destination DC’s regional Civil War to Civil Rights commemoration highlights various aspects of the Willard’s history during this period through exhibitions, lectures, tours, concerts, discussion panels and related events. The Willard’s programming includes partnerships with such cultural and historic entities as Lincoln at the Crossroads Alliance, The International Spy Museum, Ford’s Theater, the Civil War Preservation Trust and The Washington National Opera.  Events will include presentations by actors Stephen Lange (Avatar) and Sam Waterston (Law & Order.) Further underscoring the anniversary, the Willard is offering a history-related package.

Among the upcoming events this summer:

Civil War Spies: A Three-Part Exploration of Union and Confederate Intelligence Operations, June-July, offered In collaboration with Ford’s Theatre, National Historic Site, National Park Service; The Willard InterContinental Hotel and the International Spy Museum.

The North and the South both had their share of intelligence successes (and failures), but neither the Blue nor the Gray were strangers to intrigue and espionage.  Society ladies carried secret messages, runaway slaves re-crossed the Mason-Dixon Line as undercover agents, and couriers worked covert operations in the life or death climate of wartime.  In this series, a distinguished group of historians and espionage experts will introduce you to some of the most amazing spies and spy cases of the War Between the States.

Spy Rings, Covert Action, and Deception: Spies and their Tactics (Tuesday, June 21 at the International Spy Museum): Civil War intelligence operations ranged from the dazzling to the preposterous. How close did Southern covert action come to rendering New York City a Confederate holding?  How did music lend deception to the battlefield?  Join International Spy Museum historian Mark Stout,  James A Davis, Prof. of Musicology at State University of New York, College at Fredonia, (invited), and other experts impart the value of intelligence and deceptive measures during the Civil War.  Explore the key role that intelligence played in the North’s victory at Gettysburg, Pinkerton’s intelligence network and counterintelligence operations for the Union, and the “spy” gadgets available to the Civil War era James Bond.

The Lincoln Assassination Conspiracies (Tuesday, July 19 at Ford’s Theatre): Why did a handsome, successful actor murder President Lincoln? Examine the Lincoln assassination anew—at the scene of the crime—during this eye-opening adventure.  On one fact alone do scholars agree: President Lincoln was shot at Ford’s Theatre on April 14^th, 1865.  All else is suspect!  This program is presented in the very theatre where the tragedy occurred.  Learn the true facts of the event and also the key conspiracy schools of thought.  Was Booth acting as a lone gunman?  A player in an internal Union scheme?  A tool of the Confederacy?  A cog in an insidious global plot?  The evening will include a surprise appearance by “Booth.”

Civil War Sisterhood of Spies (Tuesday, July 26 at The Willard InterContinental) Discover the secret work of key Civil War operatives of the fair sex.  Meet three of the most successful female Civil War spies: Wild Rose Greenhow, a charming high society widow who sweet-talked top-flight Union officials and lowly Union clerks alike, encoded their intelligence, and smuggled messages south—with the help of her own spy ring!  Antonia Ford, a confederate spy who married one of the Willard Hotel’s 19^th century proprietors and Virginia-based Civil War Union spy Elizabeth Van Lew.  Ann Blackman (invited) author of Wild Rose will cover Greenhow, Amanda Ohlke, director of adult education at the International Spy Museum will trace Van Lew’s espionage career, and historical impersonator Emily Lapisardi (invited)  will portray Confederate spy Antonia Ford.

The programs are at 7 p.m.; series tickets are $60; Individual Tickets are $25. Tickets can be purchased at www.spymuseum.org or by calling 202.654.0932 begin_of_the_skype_highlighting            202.654.0932      end_of_the_skype_highlighting.

Another program this summer, 1861: The Civil War’s First Year in 3D, is a free exhibit presented by the Civil War Preservation Trust, on view June 24 to July 15 (9 a.m. to 6 p.m. at the Willard InterContinental. In 1861, America was torn apart and thrust into civil war.  States seceded from the Union, armies were raised, battles were fought, leaders emerged and the nation began an inextricable series of changes. This upheaval was not only captured by the lenses of a growing army of photographers, but was recorded using 3D, stereoscopic cameras.  This exhibition will present more than three dozen Civil War-era photographs in the manner in which they were meant to be seen – in 3D.  From secession to civil war, from Abraham Lincoln to Jefferson Davis, and from Fort Sumter to Bull Run, see the Civil War in depth and how the art of photojournalism was born!  Developed in association with the Center for Civil War Photography and HISTORY (formerly called the History Channel), the exhibition will include a multimedia documentary-style program focusing upon the Civil War’s first, but bloodless battle, Fort Sumter.

The Willard was a center for political and social life in Washington DC throughout the Civil War.  Located close to the White House, the six-story building upon which the New Willard Hotel was later built in 1901, was at the crossroads of society and politics. According to Nathaniel Hawthorne, Willard’s was “much more justly called the center of Washington and the Union than the Capitol, the White House or the State Department.”

In addition to the calendar of special events marking the occasion, the hotel will offer a Willard Hotel and the Civil War package available throughout the year. The Willard is also issuing a new edition of its complimentary Willard history brochure for guests.  The brochure, designed by Jeanne Krohn of Krohn Design, and written by Cindy Gueli, PhD, who together created the Willard’s comprehensive history gallery, will be a compilation of historic anecdotes and evocative imagery.   “We hope the new Willard history brochure will provide guests with an enhanced sense of place,” said Jim Veil, General Manager of the Willard InterContinental and Regional Director of Operations for Baltimore and Washington, D.C., “the Willard InterContinental is so much more than an architectural gem, it is a true microcosm of American history centered as a vital establishment through some of our nation’s most dramatic chapters,” Veil continued.   A new series of Willard and the Civil War “history bytes” compiled by Professor Gueli will be included in the hotel’s guest and media communications throughout the year.

The Willard InterContinental is located in the heart of the nation’s capital on Pennsylvania Avenue near the White House, the Smithsonian museums and the downtown business and theatre districts.   The Willard epitomizes world-class hospitality as the hotel of choice for heads of state and leaders of the world’s business, cultural, social and political elite.  The hotel’s 335 well appointed guestrooms include 41 elegant suites.  Dining options include Café du Parc, the popular French bistro with seasonal outdoor seating, the Occidental Grill & Seafood, traditional Afternoon Tea in Peacock Alley and the classic Round Robin Bar.  The luxurious Red Door Spa offers a wide array of pampering treatments.

An American institution, the Willard has hosted nearly every U.S. president since 1853. Abraham Lincoln stayed at the Willard before his inauguration in 1861.   It was at the Willard that Julia Ward Howe wrote The Battle Hymn of the Republic, where President Ulysses S. Grant popularized the term “Lobbyist,” and where Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King finished his renowned “I Have a Dream” speech.  The Willard is also noted for its 100% wind power, recycling and charitable initiatives including Anacostia River clean-up, the hotel’s “Adoption” of a Pershing Park, and support of a school prom for disabled youth.   The classic Willard InterContinental combines heritage and luxury with contemporary comfort and the latest technology.

 The Willard Hotel and the Civil War package for two includes a weekend night in a Deluxe King Room, Breakfast in Café du Parc, Valet Parking and Tickets to the Lincoln Cottage.  Price starts at $369 per room per night and is offered Thursdays to Sundays through May 31, 2011. Package must be booked at least seven days prior to arrival. Based on availability.   Bookings can made by calling 202-628-9100 begin_of_the_skype_highlighting            202-628-9100      end_of_the_skype_highlighting, or by visiting www.washington.intercontinental.com.

Willard Hotel, 1401 Pennsylvania Avenue NW, Washington DC 20008, 202-628-9100 begin_of_the_skype_highlighting            202-628-9100      end_of_the_skype_highlighting, 800-827-1747 begin_of_the_skype_highlighting            800-827-1747      end_of_the_skype_highlighting, or Web site:  www.washington.intercontinental.com.  Twitter: www.twitter.com/willardhotel ; Facebook:  www.Facebook.com/willardhotel.

See more travel features about Historic Hotels and Civil War:

www.travelwritersmagazine.com/TravelFeaturesSyndicate

www.examiner.com/eclectic-travel-in-national/karen-rubin

Historic Hotels of America Offering Free Family Membership in National Trust

The Hermitage in Nashville, a Historic Hotels of America member, has been exquisitely restored and offers a unique sense of place, and heritage. It is where Suffragettes stayed to lobby Tennessee State legislators to ultimately win the right to vote for women © 2011 Karen Rubin/news-photos-features.com

Historic Hotels of America^® has launched a new website to make finding information and booking visits to its distinct members easy, and in conjunction with the new website,  is offering guests the ultimate incentive to book their next getaway.

Travelers who book their hotel accommodations on the new Historic Hotels of America website, www.historichotels.org, will receive a complimentary one-year family membership* ($30 value) to the National Trust for Historic Preservation^®.

During this complimentary membership year, families will receive a savings of 10 percent at participating Historic Hotels of America, a subscription to Preservation magazine, and discounted admission to over 600 historic places worldwide. In addition to the satisfaction of knowing that travelers are helping protect places that matter, members of the National Trust for Historic Preservation also receive invitations to National Trust Tours, featuring domestic and international destinations, discounts on preservation books and merchandise at many National Trust Sites’ gift shops, and e-communications on the latest news and advocacy alerts where travelers can take action to help save places that matter.

Members of the National Trust for Historic Preservation are also eligible for an additional, valuable travel benefit–the National Trust Member Group Rate Program. Should members require a block of 10 or more guestrooms at participating Historic Hotels of America, they simply submit a request for proposal to the Historic Hotels of America National Sales Office via the new website, and they will receive a 5 percent discount off the hotel’s best available rate or the prevailing group rate, whichever is lower–a great savings for reunions, weddings, and gatherings of all sizes.

Launched this week, www.historichotels.org makes researching, planning, and booking travel accommodations easy, engaging, and educational. By connecting Historic Hotels of America’s unique collection of more than 235 historic hotels with the locations, events, and places in history, the new website provides an unforgettable experience for guests seeking rich cultural and historic travel. With an enhanced search criteria console, a dynamic map-based hotel finder, and an interactive timeline that mixes historic events, famous people, inventions, and economic milestones with member hotel openings, www.historichotels.org proves to be as much of an interactive history guide as it is a hotel booking site.

The new interactive Historic Hotels of America website includes historic hotel members ranging from small historic inns to city-center icons, and from converted factories to grand dame hotels and resorts. The site enables visitors to navigate through America’s rich history in order to find their next heritage travel experience and choose from more than 1,200 packages, historic experiences, and special offers at participating historic hotels across the country.

As a special bonus and in celebration of the recent launch of its new website, Historic Hotels of America will offer guests a complimentary one-year family membership to the National Trust for Historic Preservation when booking a minimum of one night’s accommodations on the new Historic Hotels of America website from May 18, 2011, through September 30, 2011. Terms and conditions apply.*

Historic Hotels of America invites travelers to discover more on www.historichotels.org

About the National Trust for Historic Preservation^®

The National Trust for Historic Preservation (www.PreservationNation.org) is a non-profit membership organization bringing people together to protect, enhance and enjoy the places that matter to them. By saving the places where great moments from history – and the important moments of everyday life – took place, the National Trust for Historic Preservation helps revitalize neighborhoods and communities, spark economic development and promote environmental sustainability. With headquarters in Washington, DC, eight regional and field offices, 29 historic sites, and partner organizations in 50 states, territories, and the District of Columbia, the National Trust for Historic Preservation provides leadership, education, advocacy and resources to a national network of people, organizations and local communities committed to saving places, connecting us to our history and collectively shaping the future of America’s stories.

About Historic Hotels of America^®

Historic Hotels of America^® was founded in 1989 by the National Trust for Historic Preservation^® with 32 charter members. In 2007, Preferred Hotel Group partnered with the National Trust for Historic Preservation to grow and enhance Historic Hotels of America. With more than 235 hotels that have faithfully maintained their authenticity, sense of place and architectural integrity in the United States of America including the U.S. Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico, Historic Hotels of America is comprised of mostly independently owned and operated properties. More than 30 of the world’s finest hospitality brands, chains and collections are represented in Historic Hotels of America.  To be nominated and selected for membership into this prestigious program, a hotel must be at least 50 years old, listed in or eligible for the National Register of Historic Places or recognized as having historic significance. Historic Hotels of America partners with Historic Hotels of Europe, a federation of 21 hotel associations in 21 countries, and with Historic Hotels of Mexico, an association of hotels and restaurants located in buildings of historical significance including haciendas, palaces, monasteries, convents, fortresses, country estates. For more information, visit www.historichotels.org.

More about Historic Hotels of America and destination features at www.travelwritersmagazine.com/TravelFeaturesSyndicate.

see: NASHVILLE’S RICH HERITAGE: Country Music’s Capital Shows Penchant for Classical

PORTLAND OFFERS RICH CULTURAL LANDSCAPE

‘GAL GETAWAY’ TO CONNECTICUT’S SPA AT NORWICH INN

MILL STREET INN, NEWPORT’S LANDMARK ALL-SUITE LUXURY HOTEL, JOINS SMALL LUXURY HOTELS OF THE WORLD

Gilded Age mansions, like The Breakers (above), are among the top attractions that bring visitors to Newport, RI. Make your lodging as interesting by staying in a 19th century mill converted to a luxury, all-suite hotel, the Mill Street Inn © 2011 Karen Rubin/news-photos-features.com

Newport, RI –

The Mill Street Inn, Newport’s landmark all-suite hotel was recently honored with election as a member of the prestigious Small Luxury Hotels of the World™ (SLH) brand.  Nestled in Newport’s historic hill area and featuring 23 newly renovated luxury suites, the Inn is offering several packages to guests visiting Newport this season.

A former 19^th-century mill, the Inn was converted to an all-suite hotel in the 1980’s and has undergone major improvements under its current ownership.  Over $1 million has been invested in the Inn over the last few years to bring the property to its SLH status.  Only the world’s finest small luxury hotels are accepted into the SLH brand based on strict criteria.  The Mill Street Inn is now proud to be part of an unrivalled portfolio consisting of 500 hotel s in 70 countries.

Suites have been fully renovated throughout the hotel, combining historic charm with today’s modern luxuries.  Spacious suites, with exposed brick walls and original beams, are decorated with a contemporary style and nautical theme.  While maintaining the historical integrity of the Inn, the Inn is now also a member of the Green Hotels Association, incorporating green technologies such as energy efficient lighting and plumbing systems.  Gas fireplaces will also be added to the townhouse suites this spring.

In addition to the many renovations, each suite offers a list of hotel amenities including:  Aveda spa products, 300-thread-count linens, feather bed comforters, mini-bar, flat screen TVs, high-speed internet access and a complimentary breakfast each morning, with freshly squeezed orange juice and Nespresso coffee.  A rooftop patio with expansive views of the harbor lets guests enjoy breakfast on sunny mornings in the ocean breeze.

Dean Maki, the General Manager, says the hotel is preparing for a busy summer, but encourages travellers to also visit Newport this spring.  The hotel recently launched a springtime package deal that includes a two night stay, dinner at 22 Bowen’s, a mansion tour, bottle of wine upon arrival, and a continental breakfast starting at $255.  Visitors are encouraged to visit www.millstreetinn.com for further package details.

 Newport’s famed waterfront, excellent dining and speciality shops are within close walking distance from the Inn.   

Mill Street Inn, 75 Mill Street, Newport, Rhode Island, 401-849-9500, www.millstreetinn.com.

See also: NEWPORT IS RICH IN OFF-SEASON ACTIVITIES

NEWPORT OFF-SEASON: STORIES THESE GRAND MANSIONS DO TELL

Cranwell Resort in Berkshires Partners with Stash Hotel Rewards

Cranwell Resort's historic Wyndhurst mansion, in the Berkshires (© 2011 Karen Rubin/news-photos-features.com).

Cranwell Resort, Spa and Golf Club announced its partnership with Stash Hotel Rewards®, an innovative hotel rewards program that enables travelers to quickly earn free nights at distinctive, independent hotels without blackouts or inflexible category restrictions. Guests of Cranwell Resort can now earn points toward free nights each time they stay at any of the more than 110 distinctive hotels in over 80 cities that participate in Stash.

Located in the Berkshires in Western Massachusetts known for its abundant cultural venues including the famed Boston Symphony’s Tanglewood Music Center and the Norman Rockwell Museum, Cranwell stands apart with it graceful, historic Gilded Age Mansion and 380 acres of surrounding panoramic views.   Visitors will now be able to experience this unique setting while earning reward points for stays at Cranwell and other one-of-a-kind, independent hotels through the U.S.

“Stash Rewards is perfect for frequent travelers who are seeking a variety of unique guest experiences at hotels and resorts like Cranwell,” said Norma Probst, Director of Marketing for Cranwell.  “Not only will our current guests who return to Cranwell year after year be rewarded for their loyalty, but Cranwell is now in a position to attract new travelers also seeking value through a rewards program.”

Guests can easily sign up for a free account at the Stash website.  Points can be earned immediately and never expire. Redemption is simple and free from rigid reward categories, and black-out dates don’t exist. Additionally, Stash partner hotels provide members with exclusive travel deals.

About Cranwell Resort, Spa & Golf Club

Cranwell is located just two and one-half hours from New York City and Boston in the historic New England village of  Lenox, Massachusetts.   This award winning resort features 96 distinctive guest rooms and suites, an 18-hole Championship golf course set on 380 hilltop acres, and is home to one of the largest resort Spas in the Northeast.  With three restaurants and spacious banquet rooms, Cranwell also hosts numerous year-round conferences, weddings and social events.   The resort is a member of Small Luxury Hotels of the World™ brand and is also a long time member of Historic Hotels of America, which preserves the authenticity of over 200 of America’s most prominent historic hotels and inns.  The resort is listed in Zagat’s “Top U.S. Hotels, Resorts & Spas” and some of their many recognitions include SpaFinder Readers’ Choice Award for one of “Best Spa Resorts for Golf” and the Wine Spectator Magazine Award for Excellence.

About Stash Hotel Rewards
Stash Hotel Rewards frees travelers from the uninspired offerings of existing hotel reward programs by making it as easy to earn free nights at an amazing hotel as it is a so-so one. Members earn 5 points per dollar spent on their hotel room, resulting in a free night in a little as 5 typical stays. And Stash points can be redeemed without blackout dates, point expirations or annoying category restrictions found in many chain programs.  The distinctive hotels that offer Stash include some of the best spas in Napa, world-class resorts in Florida, and boutique gems in New York, Seattle and Los Angeles. Many Stash partner hotels appear on the “Best Hotels” lists of the leading travel publications and the hotels receive some of the highest recommend ratings on top travel sites.  Travelers can easily sign up for a free account at the Stash website www.stashrewards.com.

Read BERKSHIRE’S CULTURE & CRANWELL RESORT’S LUXURY ARE UNBEATABLE COMBO