Summer 2010

Dear Colleague,

Now that summer is here and the economy is on the rise with brighter economic forecasts, more people are looking forward to summer travel. Recently, people from all over the world traveled to attend FIFA’s World Cup in South Africa – a huge international event.

Recalling another highly successful world event – the 2010 Winter Olympics – I am excited to add a Whistler property to my portfolio – the luxury boutique hotel Nita Lake Lodge.


And those planning trips to Europe will enjoy a favorable exchange rate. Visitors to Florence, Italy, will appreciate Moira’s special rates/package at Villa Vedetta: rates for 2010 start at 200 euros per room and 380 euros per suite and include one-night accommodation, a buffet breakfast and welcome drink for two; two-night stays include a buffet breakfast and a three-course dinner for two at Onice Restaurant.

I am also pleased to pass along the good news from the Post Hotel & Spa, which has been ranked among the top 10 Hotels in the Continental US and Canada in T+L’s 2010 World’s Best Service Awards.  

Scenic Tours new 2011 brochure is now available and EarlyBird bookings are selling fast.

Clayoquot Wilderness Resort, which received top honors as the Most Excellent Lodge in the US and Canada in Conde Nast Johansens 2010 Annual Awards for Excellence had a devastating fire on May 18th just prior to opening for the 2010 summer season. They quickly re-built and reopened on June 10th and everything is open and better than ever! 

RELAIS & CHATEAUX HOTELS


THE POST HOTEL AND SPA
This award-winning Relais & Chateaux hotel and spa in the Canadian Rockies was rated among the top 10 hotels in the Continental US and Canada in T+L’s 2010 Worlds Best Service Awards. The hotel’s sixth Wine Summit held in May was a great success; Wine Summit 2011 will take place May 26 – 29. Summer activities at The Post include hiking, golfing, fishing, whitewater rafting, horseback riding, wildlife viewing and more – all followed by relaxation and rejuvenation in the hotel’s luxurious Temple Spa. Please see the website for three exciting new packages. The hotel’s Watson House – a 4-bedroom lodge with kitchen and boardroom or dining table for 10 – is ideal for a family vacation or corporate retreat.  Please contact Moira for a special amenity in the room.

CHATEAU DE LA CHEVRE D’OR
New Head Chef Fabrice Vulin will join the hotel’s four restaurants at the end of July 2010: La Chèvre d’Or gastronomic restaurant, Les Remparts Mediterranean terrace, EDEN “fusion” terrace, and Café du Jardin Summer terrace. In his former positions at Parc des Eaux-Vives in Geneva, Vulin earned 2 Michelin stars in only 14 months; at Morrocco’s luxurious La Palmeraie Golf Palace, his restaurant Dar Ennassim Fabrice Vulin was named “Marrakech’s best dining out venue.” New for 2010, Chateau de la Chevre d’Or is offering a special pre- and post-cruise one-night package, which includes transfers from Monaco and Villefranche harbors and Nice airport, welcome treats, breakfast, special dinner at La Chevre d’Or, and complimentary access to fitness facility, hammam and Eze Tennis Club, perfumery tour – all starting at 475 Euros pp dbl.  Please contact Moira for bookings and an amenity in the room.


VILLA LA VEDETTA
This romantic Relais & Chateaux villa sits atop Piazzale Michaelangelo, offering an urban retreat with amazing views of Florence. Ideal for travelers who wish to avoid inner city traffic, the hotel offers a complimentary shuttle that operates from 9 am to 7 pm from the hotel to Ponte alle Grazie, located only five minutes on foot from the famous Ponte Vecchio. The hotel is only 15 minutes from the international airport Amerigo Vespucci. Surrounded by an Italian garden and its own private park, the 18 room/suite, five-star hotel offers a two-level swimming pool and bar, and gourmet dining in Onice Lounge & Restaurant. This gourmet restaurant is recommended in numerous national and international gastronomic guides for its fine cuisine and impeccable service.  Please contact Moira to booking this special offer.

LUXURY BOUTIQUE HOTELS & RESTAURANTS

CLAYOQUOT WILDERNESS RESORTS & SPA
The resort still has some space available this summer and reports it is having a banner season for wildlife viewing. Guests are being treated to daily sightings of many healthy Black Bears with two and three cubs each. And there are many whale sightings in surrounding waters – the blow spouts, tail showings and breachings are hard to keep up with!  Also, a record number of Salmon and Halibut are being caught by guests. Voted the Most Excellent Lodge in the US & Canada in Conde Nast Johansens 2010 Annual Awards for Excellence, and rated among the 11 Most Exclusive Hotels in the World by Forbes.com & the Travel Channel 2009, this all-inclusive luxury eco-resort is offering the same rates as 2009. Agents receive booking commissions of 10% on the total value of resort packages. Please contact Moira for bookings and receive a shipment of BC Sockeye smoked salmon.


EXECUTIVE HOUSE HOTEL
This European-style, boutique hotel in the heart of downtown Victoria, BC, has recently undergone refurbishing with new sinks, counters, furniture and double pane windows – part of the hotel’s “going green” program. The hotel is also offering its 1400 sq ft 1701 Penthouse Suite with balcony and view of the harbor, lush garden terrace, fully-stocked kitchen, dining room, living room with fireplace, work area and more for $4,000 per month or $210 per night. Monthly rates will appeal to snowbirds escaping prairie winters. Victoria, consistently voted among the Top Cities in North America, offers fabulous shops, restaurants, museums, city parks , the famous Butchart Gardens as well as world-class golf courses, hiking trails and fishing expeditions. Seattle-based Kenmore Air provides direct flights to Victoria while United Airlines offers convenient non-stop flights from San Francisco. Please contact Moira for a special amenity in the room.


NITA LAKE LODGE
Nestled on the shores of Nita Lake near the base of Whistler Mountain, site of the 2010 Winter Olympics, this 77-room/suite luxury boutique hotel features a secluded lakeside location surrounded by nature, convenient proximity to the train station and Whistler Village, private shuttle service to any Whistler destination, a restaurant, casual café and lakeside lounge, 6300 sq ft of meeting and convention space, and a soon-to-be-opened ayurvedic spa. The Lodge offers a variety of packages that include recreational activities such as golf, ziptreking and paddle surfing, gourmet dinners, and return rail journey. In the summer, nearby activities include hiking, mountain biking on tails and bike parks, golfing, ziptreking, luging, canoeing, sailing and wind surfing, dog sledding (summer & winter) and Adventure Zone passes for children that include up to 15 different outdoor activities. Please contact Moira for bookings and a special amenity in the room.

LUMIERE
Dine Out in Style, available throughout the summer from 5:30pm-7:00pm, features three-course dinners from Chef MacKay's Prix Fixe menu for $58 pp. Sommelier Drew Walker offers a Poplar Grove wine pairing for $28 pp, plus tax and gratuity.  The new Lumière Wine Dinner Series events take place on Monday nights. On  July 26th, Grand Chef Dale MacKay and Wine Director Kevin Van Hullebush present 'A Journey through Southern France' pairing the extraordinary wines of Antech Limoux, St. Martin de la Garrigue, and Domaine La Barroche with inspired dishes created just for the occasion. Please contact Moira for special gift card.


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db BISTRO MODERNE
Due to popular demand Dine Out Vancouver pricing will continue through Aug 31. Prix-fixe menus -- $38 three-course, dinner table; $28 three-course, lunch table -- include choice of appetizer, entree and dessert and optional wine pairings by the glass or bottle. Tax and gratuity not included. Wine dinners introduce La Frenz Estate Winery from Naramata in the famed Okanagan wine country on July 12th. An evening of great food and great Jazz featuring Vancouver's own Jackee Guillou takes place July 15th with a three-course prix fixe menu for $35 pp. And on July19th db bistro moderne offers a private cooking lesson for eight, plus dinner with Chef de Cuisine Nathen Guggenheimer. Please contact Moira for special gift card.


SCENIC TOURS
Scenic Tours’ European river cruises are already selling quickly for 2011. Departures on popular EarlyBird offers, which must be booked by Oct 31, 2010, have limited availability with some departures already sold out. Many itineraries and categories are eligible for Flying Free to Europe. Scenic offers an all-inclusive cruise experience allowing clients to pay one price for all sightseeing and tours, airport transfers, gratuities, a choice of three dining venues, wine and beer with lunch and dinner, exclusive ‘ScenicEnrich’ shoreside experiences and much more. Agents earn commission on the all-inclusive fare rather than just the cruise. Scenic’s fleet of four luxury ‘space-ships’ (soon to be five with the addition of the Scenic Pearl next spring) feature private balconies in 82% of the accommodations.  Please contact Moira for bookings and a complimentary bottle of wine in the cabin.

For reservations and brochures or to VIP your clients please contact Moira Fitzpatrick of Exquisite Hotels & Resorts at 1-604-602-1282 or  Email

All best wishes,

Moira

Moira Fitzpatrick 

1190 Melville Street

Suite 507

Vancouver, BC, V6E 3W1

(Ph) 604-602-1282
(Toll-Free) 1-866-322-7199

(Fax) 604-681-3545

mfcons@bismail.com
www.moirafitzpatrick.com