July 2009 Archives

Rafael Nadal, recently ranked as the world's number one in men's tennis, has purchased a home in the residential complex of Playa Nueva Romana, in the Dominican Republic, promoted by Bahia Principe.

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The residential complex, located in one of the most exclusive areas of the Caribbean, will have 1,200 luxury homes, a marina, a five-star hotel, and an 18-hole golf course. This new development represents an investment of more than US$180 million and covers an area of 620 acres of coconut groves, just 45 minutes from Santo Domingo's international airport.

The project is part of the Pinero Group's expansion strategy within the real estate sector, based on the potential for development of tourist residential complexes. Located next to the hotels that the Bahia Principe Clubs & Resorts chain has in the Mexican Caribbean, the Dominican Republic and Jamaica, it offers residents a chance to enjoy all the services of the hotel complex.

For its most exclusive customers, Bahia Principe Residences & Golf Resort has created a Founders Club, offering investors unique opportunities. In addition to owning a lovely property on the Mayan Riviera Maya or Playa Nueva Romana, they can upgrade their investments with benefits like preferred location, unrivalled views, VIP treatment at the golf course, membership in Vitalicia Familiar, a private club in the Clubhouse, personalized golf cart, buildable land, VIP service packages and more.

This new project is backed by one of the most important Spanish companies in the industry at the international level, the Pinero Group, with more than 35 years' experience in the tourism market.

Soltour, whose main business centres on the development and sale of tourist packages to various vacation destinations, is recognized as one of the most solid tour operators in Spain, Portugal and Russia.

Bahia Principe Clubs & Resorts' all-inclusive five-star hotels are located in the finest vacation destinations: Mayan Riviera, Dominican Republic, Jamaica and Tenerife. The hotels are situated right on the beach, making them perfect for enjoying luxury vacations in an incomparable setting of nature and comfort.

SOURCE Bahia Principe Clubs and Resorts / Grupo Pinero

July 29, 2009 / category: RE-Homes / link / comments (0)

Enjoy a free night when you stay at the legendary Eden Roc, A Renaissance Beach Resort & Spa, offering new luxurious oceanfront rooms, new oceanfront dining experiences and a variety of upscale recreational amenities.

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Simply stay two nights get the third night free, or stay six nights and get two nights free. With rates from $229 to $399 per room, per night, guests won't want to miss this exclusive Miami vacation package, valid through December 26, 2009.

Rediscover the new Eden Roc Beach Resort on beautiful Miami Beach. Relax poolside at one of four pools, or claim a chaise lounge on the beach. Discover culinary excellence at Gia Italian Kitchen and Wine Bar, Cabana Beach Club or the Lobby Bar. The luxury Miami Beach hotel is also currently offering spa services and a fitness center to all guests.

Be sure that the promotional code B4F appears in the Corporate/Promotional code box when making your online Miami hotel reservation, or call 1-800-228-9290 in the US and ask for promotional code B4F.

For package details, terms and conditions, visit http://marriott.com/hotels/hotel-deals.

Eden Roc, A Renaissance Beach Resort & Spa

Overlooking world-renowned Miami Beach, the bold new Eden Roc hotel in Miami Beach, Florida embraces its role as a timeless treasure, yet welcomes guests with a gracious new contemporary spirit. Once again, guests can luxuriate in spacious rooms & suites at this unique Miami Beach, Florida hotel. Bask in the sun at one of four refreshing pools or claim a chaise lounge on the beach to watch the waves roll by. Enjoy additional Miami hotel amenities including a marina, Starbucks Cafe and 46,000 square feet of lavish indoor meeting space as well as 25,000 square feet of outdoor event space. Eden Roc, A Renaissance Miami Beach Resort & Spa has completed a magnificent and historic $200 million renovation with the exception of our new spa which is in the final phase of planning and permitting.

SOURCE Eden Roc, A Renaissance Beach Resort & Spa

July 23, 2009 / category: Florida / link / comments (0)

UK home buyers and investors looking for an affordable property with strong long term potential need look no further than the Thalassa Beach Resort on the Karpas Peninsula in North Cyprus. With its undisputed and internationally recognised land title, this development is a fantastic opportunity to buy in one of the Mediterranean's most stunning beachfront locations. Prices start from just GBP59,950.

Thalassa Beach is the largest and most prestigious beachfront development in Northern Cyprus and the last scheme in the area with permission to build right up to the shoreline. There is a selection of 1, 2 and 3 bedroom apartments, ranging in size from 65 square metres to 150 square metres, some with balconies and some with private pools.

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The development boasts an Aqua resort with large communal pool, private beach with water activities, children's activity area, lagoon with water sports, spa, gym, Turkish bath, massage area, sauna, restaurant/beach bar, management offices and a retail/commercial area.

Thalassa Beach Resort is set in the stunningly beautiful conservation area of Bafra. This region is renowned for its unspoilt beauty with glorious sandy beaches, clean blue Mediterranean waters and a ruggedly spectacular coastline all framed by the Besparmak mountain range. The development is also just 20 minutes drive from one of the largest yacht marinas in the Mediterranean which will accommodate 300 berths.

Bafra is quickly becoming a world famous hideaway due to increasing tourism at the quality end of the market. One of its major draws is the five-star Kaya Artemis Hotel which is conveniently located near to Thalassa Beach.

Tim Morgan, Managing director of Emerging Real Estate, commented: 'Northern Cyprus is a stunning country and offers huge long term potential for both investors and holiday home owners thanks to its fantastic climate, scenery and people. There have been a lot of problems with land issues but we are pleased to say that this development is fully recognised and is a safe purchase.'

Tim concluded: 'We have sourced all the relevant paperwork and legal documentation for added piece of mind. Our team is on hand to talk clients through all of this so they know their dream investment in the sun is secure.'

For full details and an information pack on Thalassa Beach, interested buyers should contact Emerging Real Estate on T: +44(0 )1924-364754/ E: info@emergingrealestate.com" target=_new>info@emergingrealestate.com/ Website: http://www.emergingrealestate.com

July 21, 2009 / category: RE-Apartments / link / comments (0)

The Renaissance Amsterdam Hotel officially celebrated the completion of its two-year, multi-million dollar make-over with major fund raiser for the Amsterdam-based Kika Foundation for cancer research. Located in Amsterdam's historic city center, the landmark hotel, with its signature 17th century Koepelkerk conference center, has been totally redesigned to meet the needs of today's business and leisure travelers.

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"The Renaissance Amsterdam Hotel is our latest gem in a global portfolio of more than 140 hotels and resorts," said Tina Edmundson, senior vice president, lifestyle brands and Renaissance operations. "The hotel is a perfect blending of old and the new, traditional and modern, matching up with our equally exciting ultra-modern Renaissance Paris Arc de Triomphe and chic Renaissance New York Hotel 57 -- three fabulous hotels in three major cities."

"The Renaissance Amsterdam Hotel is a masterpiece, and when I first walked into the bright new lobby, I immediately felt the Renaissance brand difference," said Amy McPherson, Marriott International's newly appointed President and Managing Director, Europe. "The new design makes the most of this property which is at once historic and very modern and vibrant -- just like the city of Amsterdam."

The lobby design reflects the 24/7 work patterns of business travelers, allowing for a smooth transitioning from work to relaxation, socializing or play. "With this innovative concept of adaptable spaces and settings, guests can tailor their uses to suit their needs, just as they normally do at home," said hotel General Manager Yehia Rashed. "And the lobby seamlessly leads into the restaurant and lounge." The hotel features with 402 new guest rooms and suites, a new restaurant, lounge bar, 24/7 modern fitness room, club lounge and the most extensive conference and event facilities in Amsterdam and Central Europe.

In the contemporary and casual Scossa restaurant, Executive Chef Michel Westerman presents a traditional Mediterranean style menu, with fresh, artfully prepared signature dishes. Guests at Scossa can enjoy a quick bite or a more leisurely, complete meal for breakfast, lunch and dinner. The large, open kitchen creates a dialog between chefs and guests, who can also dine at the master chef's signature table to watch culinary masterpieces come together."


Across from Scossa, the hotel serves signature cocktails and standout menu items in the trendy 2b Lounge bar. Decorated in orange, red and yellow hues, with warm wood patterns and stylishly designed booths and banquettes, 2b lounge is the ideal venue for before or after corporate or social events, where guests can easily work, socialize, mingle and relax during business hours or after.

Amsterdam is known for its beautiful canals, history and art, but equally popular are its legendary cafes or Kroegen. The Koepelcafe, just a few steps behind the 2b lounge bar, is a traditional Amsterdam Kroegen - a place to relax and just "hang-out." A rough-and-ready establishment, truly traditional and thriving, it serves local delicacies, bite-size sandwiches and melt-in-the mouth pastries.

With its two major meeting locations, the Renaissance Amsterdam is a prime venue in Europe for meetings and incentives, conferences and events. In the main hotel, a total of 3,972 square feet of updated, state-of-the-art meeting space accommodates meetings for six to 150 persons and dinners for up to 110 persons. Across the street, the historic, iconic Koepelkerk -- built in 1668 and once an inspiration for Dutch painter Vincent Van Gogh - now inspires meeting and event planners, offering another 10,721 square feet of space and six flexible breakout rooms, comfortably hosting up to 700 persons.

Each of the hotel's guest rooms and suites were redesigned with Renaissance bedding, the best in technology including high-speed Internet via cable and wireless LAN, 42-inch HDTV televisions with a wide choice of channels in a selection of languages, digital music sound systems and computer connections, as well as standard amenities. Business travelers will particularly appreciate the comfort of ergonomic executive chairs and spacious desks. All rooms are decorated with modern art depicting the beautiful Koepelkerk.

The Renaissance Amsterdam Hotel is perfectly located within a three-minute walk of Central Station and the famous canal, the Singel, within a short walk of fine dining, shopping and cultural discoveries, such as the Anne Frank House, Flower Market, the Royal Palace.

SOURCE Marriott International, Inc.

July 16, 2009 / category: Hotels / link / comments (0)
Six Omni Hotels have earned high rankings in Travel + Leisure's annual 2009 World's Best Awards readers' survey in the Large City Hotels in the Continental US and Canada category and the Small City Hotels in the Continental US and Canada category. The awards announced Friday are on travelandleisure.com./worldsbest, and will be featured in the August issue of Travel + Leisure hitting newsstands July 24th( ).

"We are honored to have so many of our properties selected by the well-traveled readers of Travel + Leisure," said Mike Deitemeyer, president of Omni Hotels. "We are delighted that our commitment to providing memorable experiences is recognized by our guests and credit our talented team at each property for these esteemed accolades."

Five Omni Hotels are named to Travel + Leisure's list of Top Large City Hotels in the Continental US and Canada: Omni La Mansion del Rio in San Antonio, TX, ranked number four; Omni Mandalay Hotel near Dallas, TX, ranked number nine; Hotel Omni Mont-Royal in Montreal, Canada, ranked number 15; Omni San Francisco Hotel, ranked number 21; and Omni Chicago Hotel, ranked number 25. The second highest-rated hotel on the list of Top Small City Hotels in the Continental US and Canada, the Watermark Hotel & Spa in San Antonio, TX, is also owned by Omni Hotels.

Travel + Leisure readers rated hotels, cities, islands, airlines, tour operators, car-rental agencies and cruise lines in the magazine's annual World's Best Awards readers' survey. Hotel rankings are based on readers' ratings in the following categories: rooms/facilities, location, service, restaurants/food and value. Small City Hotels are defined as those with fewer than 100 rooms; Large City Hotels have 100 rooms or more.

SOURCE Omni Hotels

July 14, 2009 / category: Hotels / link / comments (0)

The Ritz Carlton Residences are among the most striking of options of the many new condos along Baltimore MD's inner harbor. The residences had their grand opening a little over a year ago in May 2008.  The complex consists of 192 units with waterfront and downtown views and luxurious features such as high ceilings, solid wood doors, hardwood floors, marble bathrooms, fireplaces, wet bars and gourmet kitchens with granite coutertops.

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Baltimore MD's inner harbor recently received the Urban Land Institute Heritage Award, which has only been given 8 times in the past 30 years. The award is given to those urban designs that are successful after 25 years and that are copied in other cities.

The inner harbor area is vibrant and beautiful example of city living. Restaurants, shopping, grocery stores (Whole Foods!), sports arenas are all within walking distance,  The area hosts several festivals and events such as Fourth of July fireworks over the inner harbor.  Baltimore.org has a lot more information.

July 6, 2009 / category: RE-Condos / link / comments (0)

If there is a single word more alluring than Italy, then it must be its own heart and soul... Tuscany. Always so much more than a place, Tuscany, Italy is first a way of life, each present moment infused with two centuries of the world's favorite art, culture, food and wine.

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In the rolling Tuscan hills not far from the mythic cities of Florence, Siena and San Gimignano is one of the largest private landholdings in all of Italy. Vineyards and orchards of olive trees pattern the hillsides. Two grand cypress-lined lanes ascend to a historic castle. Dotting the Castello di Casole estate are restored Casali farmhouses each with dramatic glass-tiled private pools.

For many, no dream is more enticing than to own your own home in Tuscany. To travel and explore every season; to leave behind the worries of reservations and logistics and upkeep; to return to a comfortable, exquisite surrounding, now also known as home...

Castello di Casole makes this dream an infinitely closer reality, for not only does it offer what are surely Tuscany's most remarkable villas and surrounding estate, but also the choice of whole or partnership interests ownership.

For those not intrested in ownership you can still enjoy the beauty of Castello di Casole... there will also be a beautiful boutique hotel opening in Summer 2010.

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And Casali farmhouse rentals are also possible.

Source: Timbers Collection, Castello di Casole

July 1, 2009 / category: RE -Fractional Ownership / link / comments (0)

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