Fall is officially here and hotels.com is celebrating the season of foliage, fairs and football with the largest Fall Sale in the company's history. Nearly 2,000 properties are on sale in more than 100 destinations, helping travelers take advantage of one of the most affordable travel times of the year.

"Fall is one of the best times to travel since it lands between two heavy tourism seasons - summer and the holidays. Travelers can find some of the year's deepest hotel discounts with rates often much lower than other months," said Carl Sparks, general manager of hotels.com. "Plus with great weather, beautiful fall scenery, and an abundance of sporting events, fairs and festivals there's plenty to see and do in almost every destination."

This year's Fall Sale features up to 50 percent off select hotels in Chicago, Boston, Las Vegas and Miami, as well as free nights at participating hotels in New York, Dallas and Orlando. In addition to great rates, guests may also receive added perks including resort credits, food and beverage gift certificates, and more.

Guests have five weeks to cash in on the Fall Sale and must book by October 12, 2009 for stays through October 19, 2009. For full promotion details and deals, please visit www.hotels.com/fallsale or see below for a sample of sale properties in favorite fall destinations:

Fall Foliage and Fairs

Autumn leaf aficionados can enjoy the vivid reds, oranges and yellows for less with Fall Sale hotels located from the foothills of New England to the forests of Washington state. And when travelers get their fill of foliage they can kick back at local festivals, from the ubiquitous Oktoberfest to more unusual events like the Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta.

Boston: The Westin Boston Waterfront

    4 star, 4.3 hotels.com guest rating, 88 percent recommended
    Save up to 30 percent
    Sale rates from $132

Denver: Hotel Monaco Denver - A Kimpton Hotel

    4 star, 4.5 hotels.com guest rating, 94 percent recommended
    Save 20 percent
    Sale rates from $135

Seattle: Fairmont Olympic Hotel

    5 star, 4.7 hotels.com guest rating, 94 percent recommended
    Save 40 percent
    Sale rates from $179

Santa Fe: Villas de Santa Fe

    2.5 star, 4.5 hotels.com guest rating, 95 percent recommended
    Save up to 50 percent
    Sale rates from $100

Football Destinations and City Escapes

Diehard football fans won't have to miss a snap of action this season with Fall Sale hotels in college towns and pro football cities alike. And luckily for less fanatic sports fans, many top football destinations also double as some of the best big city getaways.

Austin: Radisson Hotel Austin - Town Lake

    3.5 star, 4.0 hotels.com guest rating, 81 percent recommended
    Save 40 percent
    Sale rates from $131

Miami: Pelican Hotel

    3.5 star, 4.6 hotels.com guest rating, 100 percent recommended
    Fourth night free
    Sale rates from $120

San Francisco: Hotel Adagio, a Joie de Vivre Boutique Hotel

    3.5 star, 4.4 hotels.com guest rating, 90 percent recommended
    Save up to 30 percent
    Sale rates from $123

New York: On the Ave Hotel

    3.5 star, 4.4 hotels.com guest rating, 92 percent recommended
    Save 20 percent
    Sale rates from $219

A minimum night stay may be required for some Fall Sale rates. More information on the sale is available at www.hotels.com/fallsale.

Source; hotels.com

While the worst of the recent recession may be behind us, many families are still searching for creative ways to stretch their holiday budgets this year.

Whether these expenditures involve gift-giving, travel or dining out, there are a variety of ways AAA can help its more than 51 million members financially this holiday season.

Rather than trying to save money by searching local shopping malls for a bargain, eating at fast food restaurants, and haggling with telephone operators for a decent hotel rate, AAA members can simply reach into their wallets for instant savings. They are also protected in several ways from major automotive-related expenses. And, they can go online to AAA.com to access various tools and products that will aid them this holiday season. If a family member or friend is not already a member of AAA, membership makes a great money-saving gift too. To join, go to AAA.com.

Seven ways AAA helps consumers stretch and protect their holiday budgets

1. Members can start saving immediately for holiday expenses this year and next. They don't need to stash money in a checking or savings account that pays little or no interest. AAA offers better-than-average market rates on money market accounts and certificates of deposit through its relationship with Discover Bank. By using an online financial calculator--such as the ones available for CDs and money market accounts at AAA.com/Deposits-- consumers can see how much interest their deposits will generate. While the holidays may be just around the corner, it is never too late to start a personal savings plan.
2. Before they reach into their wallet for cash or a credit card, millions of AAA members pull out their membership card. AAA's Show Your Card & Save(R) program is available at 164,000 locations in North America. Deals include discounts on meals, hotel rooms, themed attractions, car rentals, movie tickets, apparel and footwear, vision care, prescriptions and auto parts. Members also save online with well-known general merchandise retailers, as well as with many of the Internet's best known and trusted specialty stores on items such as jewelry, floral arrangements, books and other media, and luggage. Visit AAA.com/discounts for a complete list. Last year, members saved an estimated $2.1 billion via the Show Your Card & Save program.
3. When holiday plans include travel, seasoned travelers know to call or visit a AAA travel agent or go online to AAA.com/travel. AAA Travel Agency services are available to members and non-members, although members are entitled to special benefits. AAA, which operates the largest leisure travel agency network in North America, is able to provide access to unmatched travel values via its industry partnerships with leading travel providers, including the best tour and cruise companies, a wide range of hotel operators, numerous themed attractions and special destinations. In the current economy steep discounts, as well as free upgrades and extras are not uncommon, but holiday travelers should seek up-to-the minute information for the best deals.
4. AAA members don't need to search all over town for the best prices on gasoline. Many members and non-members go to www.aaa.com/triptik for information on local gas prices updated as frequently as four times per day. AAA's special relationship with the nation's leading provider of retail fuel price information - Oil Price Information Service - makes this information available on AAA's trip mapping and planning tool. This is also the ideal place to plan your holiday road trip. You can find hotels, restaurants and other points of interest. Plus, you can plot your travels to avoid toll roads if you wish. AAA maps and AAA TourBook(R) guides are also available free to members at their local office.
5. A definite holiday budget buster can be an unexpected breakdown or major car repair. As a free public service, AAA inspects auto repair shops around the country and only approves those that meet and continually maintain high professional standards for equipment, customer service, cleanliness and training. To search for a AAA Approved Auto Repair shop nearby, visit AAA.com/repair. AAA recommends all motorists have their vehicles thoroughly inspected by a qualified technician at least once each year; especially if they are contemplating a long road trip. Regular inspections and maintenance can help consumers avoid major repair expenses, or the frustrating inconvenience of an automotive breakdown.
6. Members can use the AAA Credit Card with WorldPoints(R)( )Rewards to earn points redeemable for cash, travel, merchandise and unique adventures as well as around-the-clock fraud protection, online access to account information, supplemental auto rental collision damage deductible insurance and more. AAA Cash Rewards offers AAA members the ability to earn one percent cash back on all net retail purchases. Member redemption is "On Demand", whereby the member requests a cash-back check in $25 increments. Every time the member spends $2,500, they will be eligible to redeem $25, however, members may accumulate with no ceiling for any cash back amount. AAA pioneered the first affinity credit card in the 1970's. To find out if your AAA club offers these cards and fill out an application visit: AAA.com/creditcard .
7. Should their vehicle fail them during the holiday rush, AAA's legendary emergency road service is just a phone call or email away for members. Basic membership includes free towing from three to five miles (depending on local club policies) to any destination. AAA Plus members are entitled to 100 miles of free towing in any direction. Unlike most road service plans, AAA membership provides coverage for any vehicle they are driving or riding in. Experienced drivers know the expense of a tow alone will frequently pay the full cost of a one year membership in AAA. In addition, the motor club's unique abilities as a roadside problem solver means members are not left alone to find a repair shop, arrange their own towing, secure a rental car or even make hotel arrangements should their holiday trip be disrupted. Last year, AAA responded to more than 29 million calls for roadside assistance.
   

As North America's largest motoring and leisure travel organization, AAA provides more than 51 million members with travel, insurance, financial and automotive-related services. Since its founding in 1902, the not-for-profit, fully tax-paying AAA has been a leader and advocate for the safety and security of all travelers. AAA clubs can be visited on the Internet at AAA.com.

SOURCE AAA

Longtime natives of the Asheville area in the Blue Ridge Mountains, known for its extended fall foliage season, will tell you that the best color displays come later -- toward the end of October. Celebrating the 75th anniversaries of Smoky Mountains National Park in 2009 and Blue Ridge Parkway in 2010, mountain families like Steve Woody's were moved from their homesteads in the 1930s for the creation of the park and are proud of the natural legacy they have left to us all.

Mountain Heritage Remembered

"If you talk to families from the area, there's a peace about the creation of Smoky Mountains National Park," says Woody, whose family was moved from their land in Cataloochee in Western North Carolina. "There was great sacrifice. They had to move from their forbearers' homesteads and livelihoods. But, today they wonder, had the Park not come, what would have happened to the land? You just have to look at other places to get an idea. Now, it is a pristine and wooded place that everyone can enjoy."

PBS Presents "America's Best Idea"

Stories like those of the Woody family are the kind that famed filmmaker Ken Burns had in mind when he began his latest documentary The National Parks: America's Best Idea, a six-part series coming to PBS this fall, beginning September 27. The documentary, regional anniversary celebrations and predictions of a healthy leaf season round-out an opportune time to appreciate and experience our natural history in full autumn glory.

Fall Color Predictions

"Every year is a good year for autumn color, depending on where you are in Western North Carolina. We finally had a normal rainfall year. As of September 1, the Asheville airport reports only one inch above 'normal' precipitation. With good growth on the trees, we have all the foliage we need for great fall color. As long as autumn develops normally with cool nights and dry days -- and October is typically one of our driest months -- it should be a colorful season." -- Biltmore Director of Horticulture, Parker Andes

"Drought-stressed trees show more color and turn, more or less, simultaneously. So, our wetter year could make the colors appear more gradually. We don't know what the weather will bring, but fronts that give us cold nights and bright sunny days will start the process in a couple weeks at high elevations, which will be vibrant very soon, and continue down to the low elevations. The later color from oaks and hickories will be nice at the end of October and early November." -- University of North Carolina Asheville Associate Professor of Biology, David Clarke

"Compared to when I was growing up, I think it tends to stay warmer and we see the color later in the season. This was a more typical summer, like the kind I remember as a kid... cooler and wetter." --Steve Woody, Friends of Great Smoky Mountains National Park

Gateway City Getaway

Located just outside Great Smoky Mountains National Park and along the Blue Ridge Parkway, the Asheville area is steeped in natural history and full of fall adventures. Extreme elevation variations and hundreds of deciduous tree species (the largest number in North America) combine to give Western North Carolina one of most extended and colorful leaf seasons in the country.

Online Resources

• Weekly Fall Color Reports: Visit FallintheMountains.com (http://www.FallintheMountains.com) for expert fall color reports for Western North Carolina, budget travel info, scenic drives, events, value packages and insider tips
• Twitter: Area insiders "tweet" color updates and up-to-the-minute travel deals @FallColorHunter (http://www.twitter.com/FallColorHunter) and @AshevilleDeals (http://www.twitter.com/AshevilleDeals)
• GreatSmokies75th.org (http://greatsmokies75th.org/welcome-to-the-great-smokies-75th/)
• BlueRidgeParkway75.org (http://www.blueridgeparkway75.org/)
  

Fall Value Packages

• Fall is for Waterfalls Package (http://www.exploreasheville.com/deals/seasonal-packages/fall-is-for-waterfalls/index.aspx)
• Extreme Fall Color Whitewater Package (http://www.exploreasheville.com/deals/the-great-outdoors-packages/french-broad-river-12-day-rafting-package/index.aspx)
• Wheee! Fall Canopy Tours Zip Line Package (http://www.exploreasheville.com/deals/the-great-outdoors-packages/canopy-tours-package/index.aspx)

SOURCE Asheville Convention & Visitors Bureau

Summer vacation may be over for the kids, but adults can still play this September with special offers for California Wine Month.

For wine lovers, there's no better time to indulge their passion than harvest time, when vintners from all over the state are lovingly guiding the process in hopes of creating the next great vintage. To help oenophiles in their quest, hotels, restaurants, events, wineries and tour companies from Temecula and Paso Robles to Napa and Sonoma are offering more than 75 great deals this month on hotel packages, tastings, winemaker dinners and tours.

"California is the leading destination for wine and food travel in the U.S.," said Caroline Beteta, president & CEO of the California Travel & Tourism Commission and chair of the U.S. Travel Association. "We produce 90 percent of American wine and 350 different crops, making us a playground for the culinary arts, which translates to a gourmet paradise for foodies yearning for a deeper connection with California's great wine and fresh produce. California Wine Month is the ultimate time wine connoisseurs can enjoy the Golden State, and these special offers make it even more appealing."

For information on deals for California Wine Month, check out www.visitcalifornia.com/winemonth.

The CTTC is a non-profit organization with a mission to develop and maintain marketing programs -- in partnership with the state's travel industry -- that keep California top-of-mind as a premier travel destination. According to the CTTC, travel and tourism expenditures total $97.6 billion annually in California, support jobs for 924,000 Californians and generate $5.8 billion in state and local tax revenues. For more information about the CTTC and for a free California Visitor's Guide, go to www.VisitCalifornia.com.

SOURCE California Travel & Tourism Commission

Date night will never be the same again. Whether you're falling in love for the first time or simply looking to rekindle the romance with that special person in your life, the Renaissance Austin Hotel has the perfect Austin, Texas romantic getaway for you. Enjoy a special night's stay at the luxury Austin hotel complete with the following:

• Luxurious Texas Hill Country accommodations in a stylish, oversized room
• Two (2) complimentary Movie Passes
• Choice of two (2) complimentary appetizers or salads with the purchase of dinner at Banderas - A Texas Bistro
• Prices from $99 per room, per night
• Valid through September 30, 2009

For more information or to make reservations, call 512.343.2626 and ask for rate code to VLKY or visit www.renaissancehotels.com/AUSSH and enter rate code L9Z.

About Renaissance Austin Hotel

Encounter an Austin hotel unlike any other and discover the distinct style and diverse personality of the Lone Star State at the Renaissance hotel in Northwest Austin. Nestled in the picturesque hills of Texas Hills Country, this luxury hotel in Austin provides a tranquil environment surrounded by nature trails and 95 breathtaking acres. Enjoy close proximity to Downtown, University of Texas, Sixth Street, Austin Bergstrom International Airport and The Domain Shopping Center, less than two miles from this hotel in Northwest Austin, Texas. From the dramatic nine-story atrium to the stylish oversized rooms, this Austin, Texas hotel features upscale amenities to revitalize body and mind. Stunning outdoor North Austin hotel reception facility accommodates intimate or grand wedding receptions, while luxury Austin hotel meeting space is perfect for sophisticated corporate functions. Discover the charming grace and unique distinctiveness of the Renaissance Austin hotel and experience incomparable luxury.

For more information or to make a reservation, call 512-343-2626 or visit http://marriott.com/aussh.

*All dates are based on availability from June 1-September 30, 2009. Complimentary appetizers and/or salads must be utilized during stay, during dinner hours only, and does not include entrees, deserts, or beverages.

SOURCE Renaissance Austin Hotel

The Lofts at Promenade, Long Beach's impressive new apartment addition to the city's much-anticipated pedestrian only entertainment, restaurant and retail shopping promenade, announces its grand opening on Thursday, August 27, 2009.

"We are delighted to announce the Grand Opening of The Lofts at Promenade," said Frank T. Suryan, Jr., Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Lyon Capital Ventures. "The design and planning of the project is a culmination of our commitment to excellence and a collaboration between design and development that is the signature of our approach to multifamily living. There is a general misconception that the development of an apartment project is inferior to condominiums, but since 1989 Lyon has taken great pride in developing quality, award winning properties that are designed to be representative of their specific locations. The Promenade at Long Beach is home to the newest urban loft-style apartments in the heart of exciting downtown and The Lofts is the ideal location for the urban sophisticate. Just step inside and see the sleek, contemporary design of gourmet kitchens with culinary islands, granite countertops, concrete flooring and open living spaces. Every project presents distinct challenges and opportunities and the Lofts at Promenade is no exception. What we have achieved is essentially two projects in one connected by an innovative sky bridge where residents will enjoy the exclusive Rooftop Sky Lounge, Sky Fit Health Club, resort style pool and spa, private cabanas and outdoor fireplace surrounded by spectacular panoramic city views. The Lofts at Promenade is truly representative of the 'best in industry' reputation our company has earned and works so hard to maintain."

Long Beach Mayor Bob Foster added: "The Lofts at Promenade and the Lyon Apartment Companies' new addition is a great example of commercial and residential interests partnering with the City of Long Beach to create projects that will improve our downtown area. The Lofts at Promenade's rooftop is an innovative space where residents can join together as neighbors in a communal area that is consistent with Long Beach's Sustainability Plan."

Mayor Foster is among the city officials and local dignitaries scheduled to attend the invitation only event from 5:00-8:00 P.M.

The Promenade is a six block long thoroughfare in the heart of Downtown Long Beach, anchored on the North by the popular City Place, and the Long Beach Convention Center to the South. It is a major component in an investment of more than $1.8 billion in new construction in the city since 2000. The area is accessible by four major freeways, with the MTA Blue Line Providing daily service to and from Downtown Los Angeles. Long Beach is also host to crowd pleasing major events such as the Toyota Grand Prix, Long Beach Jazz Festival, and Pro Beach Volleyball.

The Lofts at Promenade offers a variety of floor plans, from approximately 600 to 1400 square feet, with monthly rents starting at $1,715. Each luxury urban loft features epic views of the city and the Pacific, designer light-filtering roller shades, gourmet kitchen, modern floor finishes, private balconies, and modern industrial designer fixtures and hardware. Renters have the option of additional upgrades to customize their residence. Also available are corporate rental packages and a resident referral program with cash bonuses when tenants refer a friend.

Residents also have special access to a private elevator just off the busy Promenade to the elite Terrace Club. Across the resident Sky Bridge they will find the exclusive, tranquil rooftop Sky Lounge. At this private sanctuary they can truly get away from it all and socialize with friends, grill on complimentary barbecues, take a refreshing swim, or enjoy an exhilarating workout.

Another major feature of the Lofts at Promenade is its unprecedented list of concierge services which range from therapeutic massage to personal trainers, chef services to dog walkers, dinner reservations, dry cleaning, housecleaning, pet and fitness services, concert tickets too.

The Lofts at Promenade is a property of Lyon Apartment Companies. Major General William Lyon, USAF Retired, founded The William Lyon Company in Orange County more than 55 years ago. Lyon Apartment Companies, originally founded in 1989, currently manages over 14,000 apartment homes in several key markets, coast-to-coast, including 1900 Ocean also in Long Beach. Lyon Management Group, Inc. founded in 1989 by Frank T. Suryan, Jr., Chairman and CEO also offers the Lyon Peace of Mind Program which provides "protection from the unexpected". Lyon will allow tenants out of their lease in case of job loss. The company has earned numerous industry awards, including multiple California Council for Quality and Service "Best-in-Class" honors, as well as "The Best in the Industry" resident satisfaction awards from CEL & Associates, the country's largest surveyor of resident satisfaction.

Source: The Lofts at Promenade

Centrum Properties, Inc. today announced the conversion of its premium, 342-unit development, The Lofts at Roosevelt Collection, from condominium to rental. Apartment seekers may visit the leasing center currently located at 709 South Clark Street and may also access details and contact information at www.rooseveltcollection.com. The leasing center will move to the property, located at 150 W. Roosevelt Road, beginning August 14.

"The Lofts at Roosevelt Collection is a one-of-a-kind property, which will attract renters with high standards who expect the best. Our intent is to deliver service that exceeds those expectations," said Centrum principal John McLinden. "The South Loop location is convenient to much of what makes this city great, from Museum Campus and Soldier Field, to Grant Park, the lakefront and Printer's Row." The project design was honored by New Home Magazine as "The Best New Mid-Rise Development in Chicago"; and the one-and two-bedroom apartments are offered in 25 distinct and appealing floor plans. In addition, Centrum is developing a 2-acre, beautifully landscaped public park, directly adjacent to the project.

Apartments will be available for occupancy beginning September 1; one-bedrooms will be offered starting from $1,375 and two-bedrooms starting from $2,300 per month. The Lofts at Roosevelt Collection offers design elements unmatched in Chicago's luxury apartment marketplace, including hardwood floors; balconies or terraces; gourmet kitchens with granite countertops, designer Italian cabinetry, stainless-steel Kitchen Aid appliances and chimney-style stove hoods; and bathrooms clad in porcelain tile, featuring Grohe fixtures, soaking tubs and rainshowers, and Kohler frameless glass shower doors. Residents will also enjoy many building amenities including a social lounge, business center, conference room, theater room, a fitness center outfitted with state-of-the-art equipment, and storage compartments.

Roosevelt Collection is the South Loop's most dynamic new "neighborhood within a neighborhood" and includes such exciting features as:

• A 16-screen multiplex theater - Kerasotes Showplace's premiere location in Chicagoland.
• Approximately 300,000 square feet of dynamic retail shops and restaurants with indoor and outdoor dining
• An upscale health club
• A generously landscaped 2-acre public park
• A pedestrian-friendly plaza
• Ample indoor public and private parking
• The ultimate convenient location, between Target and Whole Foods, and walking distance to both the Loop and the lakefront.
  

Said McLinden, "The Lofts at Roosevelt Collection offers a lifestyle experience unparalleled in the Chicago market - the opportunity to rent a luxury apartment in a hip, active and truly mixed-use community of residents, retail shops, restaurants and entertainment, just steps from all the city has to offer."

SOURCE Centrum Properties, Inc.

Los Angeles-based builder Lee Homes, Inc. and institutional urban development investor CityView today announced the grand opening of TLofts, a new ultramodern sustainable loft community, situated in the heart of West Los Angeles. An Urban Block Party was held on Saturday, August 8, 2009 from 11:00 am to 4:00 pm to celebrate the culmination of years of work to bring this community to fruition. Henry G. Cisneros, former Secretary of U.S. Housing & Urban Development and Executive Chairman of CityView, and Jeff Lee, Principal of Lee Homes, presided over the official opening ceremony that was held at 11:30 am. Also participating in the ceremony was Lynn Jacobs, Director of the California Department of Housing and Community Development. Representatives from the offices of Los Angeles County Supervisor Mark Ridley Thomas and Los Angeles City Councilmember Bill Rosendahl presented commendations honoring the long-awaited new community.

The opening of TLofts coincides with last week's news from the S&P/Case-Shiller index report that showed home sales climbed in June for the third month in a row indicating a rise in homebuyer confidence. Following the positive reports of an economy in rebound, Cisneros and Lee announced that 13 lofts have sold at the TLofts development even before the grand opening and an interest list of more than 800 names promises to keep sales moving along at a rapid pace.

The Grand Opening & Block Party was a lively event demonstrating the lifestyle for those who will live in this prime urban location. Local merchants represented vendors who will serve the new community, such as Trader Joe's, FIJI Water and The Wine House set-up shop for the day in the community's courtyard offering everything from food and wine to giveaways and samples. Other participants adding their wares and services to the festivities included Best Buy, Bed Bath & Beyond, Romina Foods, Simply Pet Life and many more.

"TLofts is an excellent example of CityView's mission to finance the development of reasonably-priced communities with quality builders that are located near employment and transportation centers," said Cisneros. "We are excited to see evidence of increased consumer confidence and feel the timing of the TLofts grand opening couldn't be better!."

A perfect example of a smart growth development, and certified as a "green community" by California Green Builder, TLofts consists of 84 one- and two-story lofts. Combining eco-friendly living with work/live spaces, high-quality design and a desirable location "walkable" to jobs and retail, the community adapts to today's different lifestyles. It is the only large community in Los Angeles to offer charging stations for electric cars. Prices start from $415,000.

"TLofts is truly a unique project and we are thrilled to provide this quality live/work community to West Los Angeles," said Lee. "Lee Homes is steadfast in our commitment to offer innovative, green urban developments close to work, friends and family, and in walking distance to conveniences. Together with CityView we have brought this smart growth community to one of the most desirable areas in Southern California."

"We are very pleased with CityView and Lee Homes for their resilient commitment to housing production in Los Angeles County, and for the innovation and environmental quality of their work," said Supervisor Thomas.

"I like seeing eco-friendly projects like this opening in Los Angeles," said Councilmember Rosendahl. "It's the standard and the path we all must follow in creating a sustainable future."

TLofts is situated on Tennessee Avenue, just west of Sawtelle Blvd. and east of Olympic Blvd. It is also ideally proximate to bus stops and the proposed Exposition Light Rail Line. Additionally, TLofts is close to major employment hubs, including the nearly two million square feet of office space within walking distance on Olympic Boulevard, as well as in Century City, Westwood and Santa Monica.

For further information on TLofts, visit www.tlofts.com

Source: CityView

Alexico Group, the developer of The Laurel, a new Upper East Side luxury condominium, hosted an open house weekend June 27-28(th), 2009 to showcase the building's newest amenity spaces, The Laurel Club and The Trophy Club. Jeannie Woodbrey and Joanie Schumacher of Corcoran Sunshine Marketing Group welcomed guests to The Laurel, located at 400 East 67(th) Street. Another open house is this coming weekend, Sunday August 9th from 1 - 4 PM.

Prospective buyers, brokers and residents enjoyed refreshments in The Laurel's new club spaces. In The Laurel Club, the building's two-story, 4,000 square foot private recreational space, guests shot pool, played foosball and arcade video games, and enjoyed movies in the Club's 30-seat private theater. On the lower level in The Trophy Club's Triathlon Training Center, a trainer was on hand to provide demonstrations of the The Laurel's cutting-edge training equipment, which includes custom designed resistance pools, Woodway "The Force" treadmills, CycleOps pro indoor cycles and SCIFIT ergo-meters. The two-story, 8,000 square foot Trophy Club offers residents extensive cardiovascular and strength training facilities and two pools, including a 50-foot infinity edge lap pool with a glass mosaic tile interior and a botticino marble deck.

"We are so pleased to welcome our residents and neighbors to the newly completed Trophy and Laurel Clubs. These spaces are beautifully designed and outfitted with the best equipment and furnishings. The Clubs offer buyers at The Laurel a place where they can relax, recharge and play while never having to leave home. Already we're seeing residents and their families enjoying the spaces; the theater and the Apple computer station are especially popular with the children in the building," said Woodbrey.

The Laurel, a 31-story glass and Indiana limestone residential building, was built to the highest LEED-certified standards using environmentally responsible construction. Offering immediate occupancy, residents can move in today and enjoy coming home to a top quality building with the best services and amenities on the Upper East Side including a full-time concierge, 24 hour doorman, bicycle and stroller storage, on-site parking and an on-site resident manager. There are 129 condominium residences in The Laurel, developed by Alexico Group and designed by award-winning architects Costas Kondylis and Brian Callahan, which range in size from studios to four bedrooms.

For more information please visit: www.laurelcondominium.com

SOURCE Alexico Group

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.

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