New Orleans, Hotel Monteleone host 2011 ‘Festigals’ Girlfriend-Getaway, Oct 6-9

New Orleans and the Hotel Monteleone are hosting the ultimate girlfriend getaway weekend, “Festigals”, in the city which AAA Southern Traveler Magazine calls the “Best Large City for a Weekend” and the “Best Girls Getaway in America”.

The ultimate girlfriend getaway weekend, from Thursday, October 6 through Sunday, October 9 offers:

• Lunch with CNN Special Correspondent, Soledad O’Brien
• A block party featuring ‘hot’ New Orleans firemen
• A participatory parade called the ‘Stiletto Stroll’
• A chocolate and wine event
• Singing, clapping, and dancing at a gospel brunch

“Women work harder than anyone,” said Founder Diane Lyons. “FestiGals is the ultimate reward…a weekend-long event away from work, family, and responsibilities that promotes women, fashion, food, friendship, and fun for a cause.”

Women attending the weekend will be able to stay busy or rest and relax between the planned FestiGals activities. Optional escapades include a trip to Houmas House Plantation; a city tour of New Orleans; cooking lessons; and an arts & antiques visit to Magazine Street.

In addition to Soledad O’Brien’s keynote address, taken from her critically-acclaimed memoir, “The Next Big Story: My Journey through the Land of Possibilities”, Saturday’s program offers the S.H.E. series. Dynamic guests will speak on a variety of topics dedicated to self, heart, and empowerment, (S.H.E.).

Home base for the weekend will be Hotel Monteleone, a member of Historic Hotels of America. Participants will enjoy two award-winning restaurants, the famous Carousel Bar, a heated rooftop pool, Spa Aria, an exercise facility, a business center, and valet parking. Participation in FestiGals is $225 for the FestiGals Ultimate Package (individual events priced separately), and $159 per night at the Hotel Monteleone.

A portion of the net proceeds of tagged FestiGals events will benefit ‘Women for Women International’ and ‘Dress for Success New Orleans’. Click Here to register. To sign up for FestiGals updates, email info@festigals.org or call 855-GAL-WKND (425-9563).

About FestiGals

The mission of FestiGals® is to provide a fun, safe and enriching weekend for women to relax, enjoy high-quality special events, and explore the cultural diversity and rich heritage of New Orleans, while contributing to Women for Women International and Dress for Success, whose missions are to empower women by giving them a hand-up, not a hand-out.

For more travel features, visit:

www.travelwritersmagazine.com/TravelFeaturesSyndicate

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

LOEWS NEW ORLEANS FEATURES VISIT TO NATIONAL WWII MUSEUM

Visitors planning a trip to Loews New Orleans Hotel and the Big Easy now have more than Bourbon Street, Riverwalk and the French Quarter to explore. New Orleans is home to the National World War II Museum whose interactive displays and exhibits encompass the June 6, 1944 invasion of Normandy, the home front during WWII and the invasions in the Pacific.

The hotel’s “National World War II Museum Experience” package features admission to the museum and a showing of the 35-minute Beyond All Boundaries, a 4-D cinematic experience executive produced by Tom Hanks.  The immersive journey from Pearl Harbor to VJ Day with breathtaking effects, rare archival footage and images, CGI animation and multi-layered projection includes the voice talents of Kevin Bacon, Patricia Clarkson, Kevin Connolly, Viola Davis, John Goodman, Neil Patrick Harris, Brad Pitt and Gary Sinise, among others.

“New Orleans is a city of more than just festivals, food and fun,” says David Bilbe, general manager of Loews New Orleans Hotel. “We have a great cultural and historic tradition.  New Orleans is home to ‘Higgins Boats’ which were used in WWII for the American amphibious operations in Europe and the Pacific to transport the troops from ship to shore. The National World War II Museum is a shared experience for multi-generations of families visiting together.”

The Loews New Orleans’ “National World War II Museum Experience” package includes:

• Luxurious guest room accommodations
• Two tickets for admission to National World War II Museum
• Two tickets to see Beyond All Boundaries, a 4-D experience in the museum’s Solomon Victory Theater
• A 10 percent savings on purchases at the Museum Store
• Complimentary overnight hotel valet parking

The rate starts at $147 and is valid through December 29, 2011 and subject to availability and change.

The National World War II Museum’s exhibitions blend personal accounts, artifacts, documents, photographs and never before seen film footage to tell the stories of the amphibious landings that made victory in World War II possible. Visitors also can experience the Solomon Victory Theater, featuring Beyond All Boundaries, a 4-D cinematic experience; the Stage Door Canteen, a recreation of a wartime entertainment venue; and the American Sector – a Chef John Besh restaurant. .  For more information, call (877) 813-3329 or (504) 527-6012 or visit www.nationalww2museum.org.

Situated adjacent to New Orleans’ Arts District, the 285-room Loews New Orleans Hotel features sweeping views of the Mississippi River or New Orleans skyline. Personalized service and beautifully appointed guestrooms provide an unpretentious Four-diamond and MORE experience, while Café Adelaide and the Swizzle Stick Bar (operated by the Commander’s Palace Family of Restaurants) offers award-winning local cuisine in a relaxed setting, embodying the essence of the Crescent City.

For reservations call 866-211-6411 or 504-595-3300 or visit www.loewshotels.com.