A tour of the luscious Beverly Hills Hotel and lunch at the fabled Polo Lounge

BEVERLY HILLS – No stars. But plenty of style.

I was lucky enough to spend a night at the famed Beverly Hills Hotel this week, that fabulous pink palace made famous by the likes of Marilyn Monroe and dozens of other celebs over the years.

It’s a fabulous place that’s pretty much everything you’d think of; a dazzling, circular lobby that was recently given a major renovation, the wonderful and fabled Polo Lounge, a great swimming pool where they play classical music through underwater speakers and those famous bungalows for the reclusive movie types.

It was a nice day so I didn’t spend as much time looking over the interior of the Polo Lounge as I should have. But they’ll soon be giving it a facelift, so to speak, so perhaps it’s just as well.

There was a piano player tinkling away as we walked through, playing the song “Tomorrow” from Annie. The menu’s are covered with photos of various stars; mine had Warren Beatty and George Burns. The waiters are in white jackets, and, yes, mine is an aspiring actor and a musician who also hails from Buffalo. Nice kid.

The patio out back is paved with bricks and huge white umbrellas under a canopy of deep green trees and flowering pink bougainvillea. A stunning location, but be aware that a plate of very good pasta will set you back $35 and a glass of wine probably $17 or so. Still, it’s worth it just to soak in the atmosphere and to, yes, say you’ve dined at the Polo Lounge.

They serve some fine salads, too, including one with quinoa, kale, faro, raisins, chick peas, feta and fresh flower petals in a lemon vinaigrette for $26. It’s as beautiful a salad as you’ll see anywhere, and quite tasty.

The hotel turned 100 years old this year and they’ve made a lot of changes. The Polo Lounge is enormously popular with many long-time patrons, and they’re quite nervous about what the owners have planned. I was told it would be mostly a “soft” renovation, with changes to things like carpeting and paneling.

They’ll be redoing the guest rooms and suites by 2014. My room was lovely, with pale furnishings and beige/pinky red accents and comfortable chairs and a small sofa. I had a huge bathroom with pink and black marble floors and a huge tub with a separate shower and lots of gold. Perhaps a tad traditional looking so a refreshment wouldn't be a bad thing. Thankfully they have “normal” lights that don’t require a degree from MIT to operate.

I got a brief tour of the bungalows. Number four was a favourite of Howard Hughes. Apparently he loved the hotel’s roast beef sandwiches and would order them during the day and ask the staff to hide them outside his room in the garden or on the branches of a tree. He’d then come out at night and root around to find his food. And to think people called him crazy.

Marilyn Monroe loved units one and seven. I got a look inside Bungalow 7, which is huge and sumptuously furnished (see photo at left). There was a beautiful bed in the bedroom and I had to run my hand along it, even though it obviously isn’t the mattress Marilyn used. I’m not much on movie stars but it was pretty cool to stand in the bedroom where she used to sleep. Or whatever.

The 1912 Bar has some fine cocktails, including a 50-year-old Scotch that sells for something like $2,800 for a single shot. Hotel staff isn’t supposed to divulge secrets about who comes to the bar or the hotel, but I was told Charlie Sheen made a point of ordering not one but TWO of the drinks and then insisting hotel staff tell everyone that he had done so. So I can at least reveal that Hollywood tidbit.

It’s a nice bar where they have live music several days a week. There’s also a cool patio with comfy sofas outside and space heaters, with nice views of the palm trees on the property and down to the lighted towers of Century City.

One of the great spots at the BHH is the Fountain bar downstairs, which is open from 7 to 7. It’s a tiny lunch counter spot that has room for exactly 19 people and feels like an old-time diner, but with the hotel's famous banana leaf motif and a splash of signature pink. A friend tells me she sat next to Chris Rock last time she was there, but I was sitting with a couple from Chicago who have relatives in Toronto. We chatted about hotels and baseball and sipped $7 glasses of some of the finest orange juice on the planet.

It’s a fun spot for lunch or breakfast and it won’t cost an arm and a leg. Definitely recommended.

A swanky 007 deal at the Trump Toronto; hey, who doesn't want a Bentley?

Full marks to the folks at Trump Toronto for their new "Shaken, Not Stirred: Bond on Bay" package.

The hotel, formally called Trump International Hotel and Tower Toronto doncha know, is taking advantage of the new James Bond Skyfall movie and the Designing 007 show in Toronto by offering what it called the "ultimate Bond-lover's package that is lavish enough for 007 himself."

Here's the, um, deal: For $17,007 you get the following:

- A two-night stay in a "sumptuous" Trump Executive 30th floor suite; advertised as "the highest views in the city," plus personal Trump Attache service.

- Access to a Continental Bentley GT for the duration of your stay (hey, access for early check-in!)

- Breakfast, lunch and dinner for two of you with Champagne at STOCK Restaurant/Bar for your entire stay.

- Admission for two to the exhibition "Designing 007: Fifty Years of Bond Style" and two movie passes to a Bond film at the TIFF Bell Lightbox, plus return limo service.

- You get to keep a designer cocktail dress and Hugo Boss tuxedo, complete with a private fitting courtesy of The Bay.

- Spa experience at Quartz Crystal Spa, including a couples massage, hair and makeup for her and manicure for him.

- Martini "shaken not stirred" lessons at Suits Lobby Lounge.

Oh, there's also "bespoke chocolate," which sounds silly to me, and a complimentary fruit and cigar box.

How do you like them apples? All for $17,0007.

Reservations? Call 855-88-TRUMP or visit ww.TrumpTorontoHotel.com.

ON A MORE MODEST NOTE

Since most of us don't have $17,007 (or even $17,0006) lying around waiting to be spent on a weekend retreat, here's a little more affordable deal. Starwood Preferred Guests members can book hotels today and tomorrow and get 25 per cent savings on previously discounted rates for arrivals Thursday to Saturday between Nov. 8 and Jan. 31 ,2013. If you want to book during the period Nov. 8 to 10, you'll save 15 per cent. If you wait to book on Nov. 11, you'll get 10 per cent off.

Not a Starwood Preferred Guest? It's free to sign up at spg.com, so there's no reason not to do it.

The offer is valid at a very solid 56 properties under the Starwood banner, including Westin, Sheraton, Four Points, W, Aloft and more. Rates are from a very low $79 in Montreal to $99 in Toronto and $104 in Vancouver.

Rooms are limited and may not be available at these rates and there are some blackout dates. But it's still a good deal, especially if you act now.

Participating hotels include the lovely Westin Bayshore in Vancouver, right on the water near Stanley Park (see photo above), The Westin Resort and Spa in Whistler (also lovely), The Westin Calgary, The Westin Harbour Castle in Toronto, Le Centre Sheraton Montreal, W Montreal, The Westin Nova Scotian in Halifax and the Sheraton Hotel Newfoundland.

SPA HONOURS FOR STE. ANNE'S

Ste. Anne's Spa announced on Monday that SpaFinder® Wellness, the global spa and wellness resource, has once again named Ste. Anne's Spa (see summer time photo below right) as the winner of the prestigious 2012 Country Award for Canada. This recognition is given annually to the number-one most-voted spa in Canada by spa-goers across the world in SpaFinder Wellness' Readers' Choice Awards.

If you've never been I highly recommend it. Ste. Anne's is a short drive from Toronto, near Grafton Ontario. Great food, beautiful grounds (400 acres in all) and a fabulous spa with 35 different treatments make for a wonderful retreat.

NIAGARA WINTER FEST STARTS

Yeah, it's a little chilly out there. But there's some good news, too.

The CAA Winter Festival of Lights in Niagara Falls began on Saturday and there are more than 125 animated lighting displays and 3 million tree and ground lights which can be seen within the Niagara Parks Winter Wonderland, including the world-famous Enchantment of Disney displays and the world's largest illuminated Canadian-American flag. It runs til Jan. 31 so there's lots of time to visit.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Returning to normal in U.S. skies ... Awesome Air NZ safety trailer w/The Hobbit

Still some cancellations today, but things appear to be running much more normally in terms of air service. Newark and JFK airports in New York are open, and LaGuardia opened this morning, albeit not at full service.

It's devastating to see the damage in New Jersey, especially along the coast (see photo of the Seaside roller coaster resting in the ocean, and doesn't it feel like a disaster movie or something from Planet of the Apes), and in parts of New York, such as Queen's. I saw yesterday that both American and United airlines were giving away miles in their frequent flyer programs to folks who made donations. The figure I saw was 250 miles for a $50 donation, and that's a nice gesture.

Certainly every day lost to tourism and travel is a big deal in a city like New York. It also hurts here at home as there were hundreds and hundreds of folks who couldn't make it into Toronto earlier this week to spend money at hotels and restaurants and in taxi cabs.

Speaking of cabs, can anyone tell me just when this city became so ridiculously expensive? I took a cab from 1 Yonge St. to Union Station on Wednesday to shoot a video for wheels.ca and it cost $8. Eight dollars! In New York that would get you 20 blocks, I bet...

The video for wheels.ca was one of Wheels Editor Norris McDonald's famous "smackdown" deals, where he squares off against someone else in the newsroom about an issue regarding cars. Our "argument," as it were, was whether it's better to take the train in Europe or to drive a car.

Naturally, Norris took the side of driving a car, arguing you have flexibility to follow your own schedule and veer off in various directions if you want to see, say, an auto race. I took the side of trains, arguing they're fast and efficient and allow you to watch the world go by or read a book or have a coffee. Since I met my wife on a train in Italy, I could hardly argue for the car option.

In truth, of course, the ideal vacation would be a little of both. Trains are cheap and easy and fast ways to go from city to city and from some towns to others. But you won't find trains taking you to those famous hilltop villages in Tuscany. For that, you want a car.

I drove from Zurich to Salzburg ten or twelve years ago and had a wonderful time checking out remote valleys and small towns. Ditto on a trip to Italy a few years back.

For general purposes and for getting from point A to point B and seeing the major sites, the train is still your top option.

HOBBIT SAFETY VIDEO

Gotta love the folks at Air New Zealand. They like to be a little cheeky when it comes to their safety videos, so this time they've teamed up with actors from The Hobbit, due to be released in NZ in about 27 days (and I CAN'T WAIT).

They've put together a four-minute safety blurb that they're showing on their planes, complete with gnomes and elves and furry-footed hobbits and wizards who switch their glowing staffs to airplane mode and a creeping Gollum and handsome earth men who flirt with female passengers and explain how to inflate things by blowing into a tube.

It's a bit racy but mostly just great fun. At the end, a co-pilot dressed like Gandalf the wizard invokes a passage from The Lord of the Rings and whispers "Fly, you fools."

It's great stuff, so check it out here: http://www.youtube.com/user/airnewzealand?feature=watch.

The airport in Wellington, New Zealand also has been outfitted with a giant Gollum reaching for some "fresh fishhhhes" and Air New Zealand has painted a couple of their planes with Hobbit themes. Good fun, all around.

 

"The Bachelor" films in St. Croix USVI (I'm pretty sure) ... incredible Buck Island

ST. CROIX, U.S. VIRGIN ISLANDS - There are a half dozen beautiful women parading about the Buccaneer Hotel and Resort here in St. Croix. There are movie cameras all over and folks wandering about with walkie talkies. There was a helicopter hovering over nearby Christiansted for much of the day.

Nobody can quite confirm it, but I’m pretty confident the hotel is being used for a filming of The Bachelor. I gotta say the women are pretty attractive. I’ve also heard a lot of giggling and a few whiny comments about responsibilities and a couple of what look like rum drinks being consumed near the beach.

It’s certainly a beautiful spot for the show to be filmed, with gorgeous beaches and grounds and lovely rooms and lots of privacy. I’ll be interested to see how the show unfolds, and those are words I’d never thought I’d say.

Because of whatever they were filming, the main restaurant at the hotel was closed the last couple nights. I did manage, however, to check out Mermaids, their ocean-side, casual restaurant. It was a tad rowdy on Sunday Night Football night and the pasta with sausage was a mushy mess. But the chicken kabobs were decent and they make a pretty good hamburger.

Most of the units at the Buccaneer are good size; 500 square feet or larger. We were given an ocean unit, with fabulous beach views and a small patio with chaise lounges. The room has marble floors and dark wood furniture with a four-poster bed with carved pineapples. There are colourful, local prints on the walls and a huge TV and they have free Wi-Fi, which is easy to access.

The hotel is painted pink and sits high on a hill where a sugar mill once stood. Some of the buildings date back to the 1600s, so it’s got plenty of character. The units are somewhat spread out but the grounds are quite well done and there are five beaches on the property, plus several pools and a basketball court, golf Frisbee course and a full, 18-hole golf course. You also can take scuba lessons in the pool and take a kayak out for free and they have a free kids’ camp.

The spa has manicures and pedicures and they also offer facials, wraps and massage treatments, including in-room massages for couples. The gym features a variety of machines, including Stairmaster units with their own TV’s.

++++

There are a ton of activities folks can do when they visit this beautiful island; four by four tours inthe rainforest, kayaking trips, golfing, sailing and lots more. One of the best trips you can take is a snorkeling visit to Buck Island, a U.S. national park

I did one with Big Beard’s Adventure Tours and it was absolutely outstanding. We took a 10 or 15 minutes ride out to the island, a small affair surrounded by the clearest aquamarine waters you’ve ever seen and with a beautiful beach straight out of Castaway with Tom Hanks. They’ll give you the drill on how to snorkel properly and you can swim around near the beach, where you’re frankly unlikely to see any fish. But it’s a nice swim and a pretty beach and high-energy types can take a hike through a scrub forest.

After an hour they motor over to the national park and anchor near a horseshoe shaped reef. A guide will show you the underground trail and make sure you don’t touch any coral. There are underwater signs along the way and glorious coral reefs with shapes straight out of a Rohrshach test. The fish are plentiful; deep blue tangs and canary yellow schoolmasters and lots more. I spotted a small barracuda and a couple guests spotted a two-meter reef shark.

“I see a shark everytime I come out,” said Brad, our good-humoured guide who looks like Owen Wilson meets Carl Wilson of the Beach Boys. “They won’t hurt you.” You don’t’ have to go far from the boat to see plenty of fish, and you’re provided with vests that inflate so you don’t have to get tired from treading water. The tour guides also will keep an eye out for you, so there’s no real safety issue. It’s $68 for a half-day tour and it’s well worth it.

 

New Four Seasons ups ante in Toronto ... Hobbits to rescue in New Zealand?

And then there were four. Or five. Or maybe, kinda six.

The new Four Seasons opened officially in Toronto last Friday, with much fanfare and, of course, an appearance by nattily attired Four Seasons head guy Izzy Sharp (see photo below, courtesty of digital journal).

It was handled with a fair bit of humour and a lot of style. Sharp said the hotel is in a category by itself.

“We finally, FINALLY have a true Four Seasons in our home town,” he said, a not so vague reference to the tired old gal over on Avenue Road.

The new, updated version is at the northeast corner of Bay and Yorkville and looks considerably more appealing from the street than its predecessor with its giant garage entry. I’m not so sure I find the giant, Paris-style fountain out back to be so attractive, but perhaps it needs some more flowers and gardening to soften the impact.

The interior is what you’d expect from Four Seasons; quiet and sophisticated and serene. There’s lots of local art and soft colours and it’s quite the soothing interior.

The bar on the lobby level looks like a great spot to unwind after work, too.

It’s going to be fascinating to watch how the new boys in town duke it out for the five-star ratings. The Ritz-Carlton is the only property in town that has a five-diamond mark from the Canadian/American Automobile Association. But the new Four Seasons is aiming to duplicate that feat, as is the just-opened Shangri-La down on University and the downtown Trump on Bay St. And don’t forget the Hazelton, where I’m told Bruce Springsteen commanded a fine suite during his recent stay.

And there’s still the Thompson, which is probably aiming for a younger set and, I suspect, isn’t as worried about five star status.

It’s interesting how the Film Festival’s move to the King West area has spurred such development. The Ritz is on Wellington, just steps from the TIFF Lightbox, and the Shangri-La is on Adelaide at University; right around the corner. The Trump is only a few steps further east, which gives you three superb properties in the downtown/Entertainment District area, and then the Hazelton and Four Seasons up in Yorkville.

CAN HOBBITS DELIVER FOR NEW ZEALAND?

The New Zealand government gave Warner Bros. as much as $25 million in subsidies two years ago to make sure The Hobbit movies were filmed in the land of the Kiwi. With the first of the two Hobbit movies being released in New Zealand next month (Nov. 28), it’ll be interesting to see if they get their money back.

It’ll be tough to match the surprising impact of The Lord of the Rings, which I was personally scared would be a terrible trio of movies. Of course, 30 seconds into the first one I was grinning like a kid and looking forward to the next two flicks.

I love the movies and I adore New Zealand, which I like to think of as a more pastoral, greener version of Canada south of the equator; a mix of Canadian sensibilities with California weather and food.

Twenty five million dollars probably isn’t a lot, and we’re already seeing lots of stories about folks visiting NZ to check out the movie set. We’ll have a story in Star Travel coming up, and the New York Times just ran one on Sunday.

Still, times are tough in New Zealand. When the first Lord of the Rings came out, Bloomberg notes in a story in today’s Star business section, the New Zealand dollar was way down around 40 cents vs. the U.S. dollar. It’s now up at 83 cents. Saving 17 per cent on your currency is still a good deal, but NZ is nowhere near the bargain it was eleven years ago. And it’s not a cheap country to get to from North America, of course.

New Zealand certainly is banking on The Hobbit to make a difference. Tourism New Zealand in August began a “100 per cent Middle Earth” ad campaign that capitalizes on scenes from the movie series.

Tourism officials concede they can’t simply rely on folks wandering over to New Zealand simply to check out a movie set. Which means they need to remind folks of all the other great things to do in their country.

You probably know about the bungee jumping and the fjords of the South Island and the sheep and maybe the hot springs and the Maori culture, which is outstanding. But there’s so much more: great cities like Auckland with smart shopping and great restaurants; incredible beaches, some of them right out of a Tahiti movie set; world-class vineyards in absolutely stunning settings, fabulous skiing and luxurious eco-resorts and golf resorts with some of the best courses you’ll find on the planet.

I’d be hard-pressed to think of another country that offers such diversity in such a small package.

100% New Zealand campaign looking good ... Wanna buy a Greek island?

Tourism New Zealand (TNZ) is making a significant international push for new international visitors.

They're about to launch their newest "100% Pure New Zealand campaign," invoking the magic of Middle-earth just as a lot of folks (me included) look forward to the coming release of The Hobbit.

There's a new TV and movie commercial (available here on You Tube) that links the fantasy world of  The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey, to the (wonderful) reality of New Zealand.

According to the press release, the campaign targets all potential travellers to New Zealand portraying the country’s stunning scenery and unique activities and experiences, coupled with Middle-earth-themed narration.

Chief Executive Kevin Bowler says the campaign aims to leverage off interest generated in New Zealand by its starring role as Middle-earth in the Peter Jackson-directed trilogies based on The Lord of the Rings, and The Hobbit.

“Millions of people have seen The Lord of the Rings trilogy and we expect millions more to watch The Hobbit trilogy, a production of New Line Cinema and Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Pictures(MGM).

“Our objective is to show people that while New Zealand stars as the fantasy world of Middle-earth, what people see in the cinema is actually a real place just waiting to be explored. 

“Not only that but you can have some amazing adventures and experiences within movie-like landscapes.

I didn't get to a lot of the places used to make The Lord of the Rings when I was in New Zealand a couple years ago, but I did manage to see quite a lot: the cosmopolitan and pretty city of Auckland, the marvellous, South Pacific-like Bay of Islands region in the north, laid-back Waiheke Island near Auckland, the fabulous wineries near Hastings and in central Otago, the art deco buildings of Napier, the rugged mountains and lakes near Queenstown and more.

I absolutely loved the place. It was quiet and laid back but fun and irreverent at the same time, with awesome food and wine and spectacular scenery at every turn. I felt like I was in my native California but back in the 1950's or something, before freeways and smog and all that urban nonsense.

Yeah, it's not cheap to get there. But right now the New Zealand dollar is trading at 80 cents Canadian. So everything you buy in New Zealand dollars is basically 20 per cent off.

I checked Expedia this morning and found the lovely Langham hotel in Auckland - nice rooms and a cool bar - had rooms for a weekend in October at $144 and up. The Sofitel down by the harbour had rooms for less than $200.

I'VE ALWAYS FANCIED SANTORINI, MYSELF ...

I don't think they'll actually put anything on the auction block, but it's interesting to hear Greek authorities talk about using some of their islands as ways to reduce the country's crushing debt.

The headlines in the paper today made it sound like entire islands could be sold off to the highest bidder as a way to make money. I've always wanted to visit Santorini, but I suspect it's a bit beyond my budget.

Actually, if truth be told I've only had a chance to visit two islands in Greece. I did a trip in, oh, 1989 or so to Paros and absolutely loved it. It's one of the quieter islands in the Cyclades, with those famous white buildings and deep blue painted roofs and doors and bright pink bougainvillea splashed all around. There are great beaches, many with naked women as I recall, and terrific, harbourside cafes where you can sit for hours under the bright Mediterannean sun.

The only other one I've been to is Hydra, and that was just for a few hours the day after the Athens Olympics ended in 2004. It was a lot of fun, with some nice, pebbly beaches and fun cafes and donkeys ferrying goods to and fro. I had some fabulous Greek yogurt with my late, great buddy Randy Starkman and with current Star columnist Dave Feschuk, and then dined on the freshest calamari steak I've ever had.

 

 

Canadians invited to sell our country to overseas tourists with new CTC project

This could be fun to watch.

The Canadian Tourism Commission today announced it's trying to lure more folks to our fair shores with something called the 35 Million Directors project. They're asking Canadians by the score to upload videos and images to a new website that they hope will inspire travellers from around the world to choose Canada (see Yukon photo below) for their holidays.

"Footage and photos must showcase Canadian travel experiences - from a favourite hike to a music festival, a sporting event to dining al fresco downtown," officials said. "‘Directors’ will want to capture moments that will whet the appetite of international travellers looking for unique and authentic examples of what is available across Canada."

There is, of course, a contest for the best entries and a random draw so even the worst of us gets a shot at something. The contest runs until September 16, 2012, when the CTC will then look at the story-line Canadians have created, select the best entries, and mix in the work of a few professional directors to create a grassroots video advertisement to inspire travellers from around the world to visit Canada.

“We’re out to create a story from the point of view of Canadians and what makes them proud about our great cities, our geography and nature, our cuisine, our culture, or perhaps the friendliness of a local festival,” said Michele McKenzie, CTC president and CEO. “We hope Canadians are out there this summer enjoying what our country offers whether on a trip or during a lunch break. Many are already capturing what moves them on phones and cameras and sharing with friends and family. We want to share these images big time with the world, and add a grassroots dimension to our marketing efforts in attracting more and more international visitors to Canada.”

It would've been nice to get this started a touch earlier in the year, as a lot of folks have already taken their Canadian summer vacations. Then again, maybe with 35 million invitees it's better to trim the field a bit!

PASSENGERS ASKED TO PAY FOR FUEL - WHAT'S NEXT?

When I first saw this headline, I thought it was one of those crazy, small airlines again. But, no, it appears that this time it was Air France asking passengers to chip in for gas.

Travelmole.com reports that Air France admits it had to ask passengers for fuel on a flight bound from Paris to Beirut that had to be diverted to Damascus, Syria. In the end, it turned out they didn't need the cash after all.

Air France released a statement to CNN saying that payments for fuel in Damascus can only be made in cash, which I guess I can see given what's happening in Syria these days. As it turned out, Air France apparently found some pop bottles or some cash hidden under some seats and was able to get the fuel they needed without hitting up the passengers.

Just remember that next time you want to complain about pricey Subway sandwiches on a flight to Calgary.

QANTAS BOSS TAKES A BIG HIT

You don't see THIS everyday. Travelmole.com reports that Qantas chief executive Alan Joyce has agreed to wave goodbye to his bonus and pay rise this year after the airline suffered a sharp drop in profits.

He told the Australian Financial Review: "It's absolutely appropriate that when company returns go down, executive pay should go down as well.

"It has been an extremely tough year for Qantas shareholders and what we want to show is that my pay has to have a huge correlation with the profitability of the company."

The Australian airline has forecast a 90% fall in its profits for the financial year ending 30 June, blaming international operations, high fuel costs and the impact of strikes and labour disputes.

It is due to announce its full-year financial results on Wednesday of this week, Aug. 23.

Sounds tough, but I applaud Joyce's move.

New Zealand gears up for The Hobbit ... Maldives Twitter move backfiring

Air New Zealand is gearing up for the November 2012 premiere of the first part of Peter Jackson's The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey by branding two Boeing 777 aircraft with Middle Earth images and graphics in collaboration with Jackson's Weta Workshop, says travelmole.com.

A report today quoted Air New Zealand General Manager Marketing and Communications Mike Tod, said as saying that "New Zealand is clearly established as the home of Middle-earth and Air New Zealand will bring the magic to life for travellers.

"This partnership follows on naturally from the success of Air New Zealand's relationship with The Lord of the Rings trilogy in raising New Zealand's profile as an international travel destination," Tod said. "Similarly, we will be putting millions of dollars of marketing behind the two films based on The Hobbit to promote New Zealand in new and innovative ways across the globe."

Tod said that the airline will also be screening a special Hobbit-themed inflight safety video, also produced by Weta.

Really? A Hobbit-themed inflight safety video? I can only imagine Gandalf (see wizard-looking dude in the poster) warning against setting off fireworks on board a plane? Or maybe they can have Gollum (see nasssttttyyy looking guy at right) explaining the fresh fish on the menu in first class...

MALDIVES TWITTER MALFUNCTION?

Another item I spotted on travelmole today concerns a Twitter campaign thought up by Maldives tourism chiefs as a way to boost the popularity of the country as a holiday destination. Nice try, but it sounds like hashtag they were using has been taken over by Twitter users complaining about political coups, brutal police tactics and social unrest.

"The Maldives tourism authorities urged the islands' tourism businesses to help make #SunnySideofLife a global trend, but activists used the hashtag to tell the world about the darker side of life in the Maldives," travelmole reported.

I spotted this tweet Friday morning by  @haaghee:  #mvcoup by MALDIVES Dictator Gayoom have thrown country back to Austerity. Arrest him! #SunnySideOfLife http://www.haveeru.com.mv/dhivehi/news/125887 via @haveeru.

I also found this one: Mauroof Khaleel ‏@maapu Dear traveller, welcome to #Maldives where justice is a joke & basic human rights is considered a luxury! Enjoy #SunnySideOfLife

I'm thinking that's not quite what the tourism folks had in mind...

 

Giant Marilyn Monroe statue leaves Chicago for sunny Palm Springs

Goodbye Norma Jean.

The giant, controversial statue of Marilyn Monroe has been taken down from Pioneer Plaza on Michigan Ave. in Chicago after a successful, one-year run featuring millions of gawking tourists. Workers snuck in around dusk yesterday and took the old girl apart in chunks. Oh, the humanity...

Not everyone liked the statue as it was, let's face it, pretty sexist. Day and night, women and men gathered around and under the 26-foot-high statue of the actress' famous pose from "The Seven-Year Itch" to snap photos. Her dress was billowing up and about and folks would gather by the thousands each day to stare up and see what was under that famous outfit.

Who knows what she wore during filming, but the statue presents a very Midwestern pair of white cotton-looking panties that border on bloomers. Disappointing, no doubt, to young (and old) men around the world, but that's art for you.

The initially controversial "Forever Marilyn" creation by Seward Johnson was unveiled last July directly across Michigan Ave. from the famous Wrigley Building and next to the luscious Tribune Tower. The old gal is headed to Palm Springs, California, where NBC says she was discovered  by a Hollywood agent. I always thought she was discovered, if you want to call it that, at a soda fountain at Hollywood and Vine. But maybe that was Chewbacca from Star Wars.

“It’s a perfect fit,” says Tim Ellis, local hotelier, Palm Springs Chamber President and member of the P.S. Resorts Board of Directors. “Marilyn Monroe has legendary ties to Palm Springs. She was ‘discovered’ at Charlie Farrell’s Racquet Club, was rumoured to have frequented the Movie Colony estate with Joe DiMaggio, currently known as the Sand Acre Estate, and owned a 50’s bungalow-style house in Las Palmas,” says Ellis.

"We received many requests as far away as Tokyo and Madrid and cities in Brazil, and we really felt that Palm Springs has a special connection to Marilyn because it is the legendary play land for Hollywood,” Paula Stoeke, the director and curator of the Sculpture Foundation, an organization funded and run by Johnson, told the Los Angeles Times.

The plan was for crews to dismantle the statue into four pieces and drive her across the country, and I bet they argued over who got to hold which piece. I mean, I'm sorry, but they're probably GUYS and you know what we're like. I'd apologize, but I don't really see the point of making excuses for half the planet. 

Anyway, it's too bad they couldn't leave the statue intact and strap it to a flatbed. It could've toured all over the country, giving little thrills to schoolboys from Little Rock, Arkansas to Walla Walla, Washington and even in rural Alberta, where they raise up giant statues of everything from dinosaurs to Easter eggs. Alas, Marilyn is Goin' to California with an aching in heart and word is all 34,000 pounds of her will be set down at the corner of Tahquitz Canyon and Palm Canyon Dr.

Word is she'll debut in Palm Springs May 24 and stay for about a year. After that, there's word she'll appear at the next Liberal convention and that her skirt will act as an umbrella for the entire national membership.

Her new So Cal location is not far from the outdoor statue of former Palm Springs mayor Sonny Bono, and not too distant from a sculpture of Lucille Ball. It makes perfect sense in a city where boulevards are named after the likes of Frank Sinatra and Bob Hope, I guess.

I would've liked to see the statue at Hollywood and Vine, personally, with a leg on either side of Hollywood Boulevard. The traffic would've been horrible, but who would've noticed?

According to NBC, one website, VirtualTourist.com, ranked her the worst piece of public art in the world. Guess they were never around Toronto in the 1980s to see "Gumby Goes to Heaven" on University Ave., eh?

VirtualTourist apparently also wondered why the statue was in Chicago, when Monroe was made famous in Hollywood and the movie scene was set in New York.

Virtual Tourist also suggested the towering, blown dress forced many to peer up at Marilyn's panties. Forced? I don't think so. I mean, I did my bit on this past weekend, sure, but I don't recall anyone holding a gun to my head and saying, "You, tourist from Canada, check out those panties right now or I'll fill your guts fulla lead."

It's too bad for Chicago. But they'll probably manage all right with the likes of all that great architecture, a fabulous lakefront, incredible art galleries and top-notch food and drink. Not to mention Wrigley Field, as long as you don't pay attention to this year's version of the Cubs, that is.

 

 

 

WestJet chooses Bombardier, AirCanada TO-Montreal sale & movie improvements

The Great Canadian Airline wars continue today, with breaking news all over the joint. My email and Twitter feeds went a little bonkers this morning, with headline after headline rolling in on all sorts of changes.

Possibly the biggest news for consumers here in Toronto is that Air Canada is celebrating its one-year anniversary of returning to the Toronto Island/Billy Bishop Airport by launching fares as low as $75 one-way from the island to Dorval in Montreal. That includes all taxes and fees, folks, so it's quite the steal. Heck, you could spend $75 just getting to Pearson from downtown Toronto by cab, as my recent expense form to the boss suggests.

The deal is on until May 6, and it covers travel from May 8 to Aug. 30, which means a solid summer of savings if you can snag the lowest rate. The ad in the Star lists the lowest fare as $21, plus $54 in taxes and fees for a combined $75. Even if you had to pay $100 or $125 each way, it's a bargain for a great city like Montreal. And that includes a full-service bar and snacks.

Porter, which still pretty much owns the Island Airport, is offering 50 per cent off base fares if you book by May 4, according to their latest ads. Montreal fares are listed at $124, all inclusive, while fares to Halifax are $198 and flights to Newark/New York are $180 each-way.

I haven't seen any big WestJet announcements on sales this morning, but they did make a big splash today by announcing that they've chosen Bombardier's Q400 as their new regional airplane, opting for the Montreal-based company over ATR out of Europe.

The new plane is part of WestJet's plan to challenge AirCanada and Porter with a regional airline, set to launch in the second half of 2013. Officials say the new plane will allow them to serve new cities, plus existing destinations not currently connected by WestJet, and will allow for schedule improvements on certain routes where a smaller aircraft can efficiently provide greater frequency.

"We are very impressed with the Q400," said Gregg Saretsky, WestJet President and CEO (see photo). "Both ATR and Bombardier put forward excellent proposals and ultimately we believe the Bombardier Q400's combination of range, speed and seat density is the best choice to meet the needs of the market and how we plan to operate the regional airline. We look forward to working with another great Canadian company."

Some experts had suggested the ATR was the better choice given fuel efficiency issues. But WestJet opted to buy Canadian, which is certainly a good political move and one that undoubtedly will bolster spirits in Montreal, as well as perhaps Bay Street.

Round about the same time all these announcements were being made, Air Canada sent out a missive saying they're bumping up the number of movies available on those terrific (mostly) seat-back TV's they offer on most of their planes. The airline said it's doubling the number of movies available and will now offer up to 150.

That's pretty outstanding, folks, especially when you consider some airlines still make you watch Adam Sandler pictures on a tiny overhead screen that's 30 feet away. If you're really lucky, it's 35 feet.

I like the movies for the most part. But I never quite get the "classic" movies Air Canada offers. It seems to me it's always a bunch of black and white films with Charlie Chaplin and never enough of "Gone With The Wind" or "Casablanca." Personally, I'd like a wider variety in that category. Not that anyone was asking...

OOPS - BAD TIMING FOR PARKS CANADA CUTS

This is awkward. On Monday, the Canadian Tourism Commission announced it was adding a slew of new "Signature Experiences" to its list of great things tourists can do when they visit Canada.

Among the new top-rated experiences listed is a tour of the Fortress of Louisbourg in Nova Scotia. That release came around 9 a.m. Later in the day came news that federal budget cuts could mean reduced staffing at the Fortress; perhaps as many as 120 fewer jobs.

BIZ STUDY PUTS TORONTO ON THE MAP

A company called Concur recently published a study of business travel and entertainment spending. Based on overnight stays at hotels, the company said the most visited city for U.S. biz types were London, Shanghai, Singapore, Beijing and Toronto. Nice we're fifth, but it's interesting that Beijing and Shanghai were both ahead of us. A real testament to the Chinese economy, I suspect.

Anyway, Montreal was 9th on the list, Calgary 16th and Vancouver 19th.

The study also analyzed the cost of travel and entertainment to cities around the world. Topping the list (not a list you want to be on top of) was Tokyo, at an average daily cost of $528.43. Next was Copenhagen, then Perth Australia ($502.65), Sydney, Stockholm, London, Brisbane Australia, Zurich, Melbourne and Paris ($440.65). That's four Australian cities in the top 10, but you have to keep in mind that the cost of getting to the city was included.

I'm sure it's cheaper to stay in Perth (see photo at left) than it is in Paris, but for most Americans, and North Americans, it's a lot cheaper to fly to Europe than to Australia.