The Lygon Arms Celebrates its 480 Year History this Diamond Jubilee

The Lygon Arms is one of the most celebrated hotels in England. Situated in Broadway, ‘the prettiest village in England’, the luxury Cotswolds retreat dates back to the 16^th Century and has hosted a number of very important guests from Hollywood stars to royalty. The luxury retreat in Broadway is stepped in history and has many Royal connections.  Back in 1651, Oliver Cromwell stayed at the hotel and it’s claimed that the now aptly called Cromwell Room was where he spent a sleepless night prior to the Battle of Worcester, the last battle of the English Civil War. Today, the room is used for private dining and is still adorned with antique furniture and an impressive ceiling enriched with early 17th-century plasterwork.  Charles I also frequented The Lygon Arms and rumour has it that he opted for the bedroom with a secret tunnel to guard the details of his late night affairs.

As part of the Jubilee celebrations, The Lygon Arms will be holding an all-you-can-eat tea party in its courtyard on Sunday 3rd June, tying in with the ‘Big Jubilee Lunch,’ and Monday 4th June from 2pm until 5pm on both days. With tea, finger sandwiches, scones with cream and strawberries, visitors can celebrate Her Majesty’s 60 years on the throne in style at one of theUK’s most historical hotels.

Throughout May and June, The Lygon Hotel is offering one night’s accommodation with breakfast and dinner plus a complimentary bottle of sparkling wine for £195.00 per person.

Please quote promotional code LAUNCH. The tea party is priced at £12.00 per person will be held from 2pm until 5pm. The ‘Big Jubilee Lunch’ will be held from 2pm until 5pm.

For more Jubilee offers from Puma Hotels’ Collection, please visit www.pumahotels.co.uk/offers

Editorial Notes

With over 2800 bedrooms and 217 conference and meeting rooms, plus Health & Leisure Clubs and Spa’s, Puma Hotels’ Collection offers excellent facilities for both leisure and corporate guests.

Puma Hotels’ Collection has 21 hotels throughout the country, from traditional coastal and country retreats to vibrant town and city getaways, all the way from Scotland to Torquay.

For more information visit; www.pumahotels.co.uk

Portfolio Includes
The Stirling Highland Hotel, The Marine Hotel Troon, Redworth Hall Hotel, The Carlton Hotel Edinburgh, The Lygon Arms, The Old Ship Hotel Brighton, Combe Grover Manor Hotel, Billesley Manor Hotel, Daventry Court Hotel, Hinckley Island Hotel, Basingstoke Country Hotel, Walton Hall, Walton Hotel, Shrigley Hall Hotel Golf & Country Club, The Palace Hotel, The Majestic Hotel, The Imperial Hotel Blackpool, The Oxford Hotel, Cheltenham Park Hotel, The Angel Hotel Cardiff, The Imperial Hotel Torquay

Chamber Music and Large-Scale Works at this Year’s Kuhmo Festival

Themes range from myths to the enigmas of the universe

 

This year’s Kuhmo Chamber Music presents not only favourite items from the chamber-music repertoire but also large-scale works: two symphonies, two operas, Mozart’s Requiem and Haydn’s Creation. There are 70 concerts in all, preformed by over 170 artists including stars such as the Kronos Quartet, the Eric Ericson Chamber Choir and Soile Isokoski. The two-week festival will run from 15^th- 28^th July.

The programme this year is so diverse that Artistic Director Vladimir Mendelssohn refuses to single out any particular theme. “It could be God, visions, beauty, the limitations of man and the limitlessness of the universe,” he says. “Or it could be myths, memories, nature, wisdom or courage.”

Some 170 top artists from Finland and around the world will be appearing at Kuhmo this summer. Among the familiar faces are pianists Paavali Jumppanen, Valeria Resjan, Roope Gröndahl and Henri Sigfridsson, violinists Hagai Shaham, Ilja Gringolts and Elina Vähälä, cellists David Cohen, Martti Rousi and Marko Ylönen, flutist Janne Thomsen and clarinettist Michel Lethiec. One of the most highly-acclaimed musicians of her generation, Norwegian violinist Vilde Frang, will be making her Kuhmo debut.

 Along with ten others, the list of international singers includes Soile Isokoski, Martin Alvarado, Jaakko Kortekangas and Mari Palo. The Kuhmo ensembles are the Kronos, Danel, Enesco and Meta4 Quartets and the Storioni Trio. This summer, visitors to Kuhmo can also hear a host of rising stars chosen on the basis of auditions.

The 18 day festival will see pieces by Brahms, Joseph Joachim, Peter Brook, Marius Constant, Bach, Mendelssohn, Salieri and Mozart spanning across all themed concerts including, religion, opera, “twos”, eternity and more.

There will be exhibitions during the festival at the Kuhmo Arts Centre: paintings by Outi Heiskanen and graphic art by Janne Laine, and sculpture by Jaana Bombin. Kuhmo Osuuspankki bank is putting on an exhibition of landscape photos by I.K. Inha.

For further information about the festival please visit www.kuhmofestival.fi

Grab a Bottle of the World’s Oldest Champagne in… Åland?

The world’s oldest, still drinkable and most exclusive champagne on the market can be bought at an annual auction held in Åland this summer. The auction takes place on June 8^that Alandica Culture & Congress Centre in the city of Mariehamn.

Åland is a cluster of islands in the Baltic Sea between Sweden and Finland, and an autonomous region of the latter. Åland consists of a staggering 6 500 islands, 65 of which are inhabited.

In the summer of 2010, a shipwreck containing in tact bottles of champagne was found in the Åland archipelago. According to experts, the champagne dates back to the first half of the 1800s.

Made by such established champagne houses as Veuve Clicquot, Juglar and Heidsieck,11 of the bottles are now for sale at the auction.

In the first Åland champagne auction in 2011, a bottle of Veuve Clicquot was sold for a world record-breaking 30000 euros.

More on the Åland Champagne discovery: http://www.visitaland.com/en/facts/champagne

There’s more to Åland than exclusive champagne. Check out these holiday tips:

Activities: A pleasant way of taking in Ålands nature and sights is by bicycle. http://www.visitaland.com/en/do/bicycle_mc

Events: Coinciding with the champagne auction is the Åland Food and Drink Week. For a score of other summer events, see http://www.visitaland.com/en/do/events.

Food: Try Jan KarlsgårdensWärdshus, located next to key sights Kastelholm Castle and Vita Björn Prison Museum. This year, the exciting “Smakbyn” (Taste Village) project exhibits local culinary traditions! http://www.visitaland.com/jan_karlsgardens_wardshus/en

Places: The Åland Maritime Museum re-opens in spring 2012. http://www.visitaland.com/en/press/press_releases?releaseid=630901

Accommodation in Åland: http://www.visitaland.com/en/stay

Getting to Åland: Fly to Helsinki or Turku. Further instructions: http://www.visitaland.com/en/travel

Visit Ålandweb page and photos:http://www.visitaland.com/en,www.visitaland.com/images

Visit Finland online:visitfinland.com; facebook; twitter

PLAYA D’EN BOSSA WELCOMES NEW SPA FOR SUMMER 2012

The popular Palladium Palace Ibiza Resort located on the quieter side of Playa d’en Bossa is re-opening this summer as the Grand Palladium Palace Ibiza Resort & Spa, featuring a brand new Spa and Wellness Centre.

The new Spa will open its doors at the beginning of the summer season as one of the most comprehensive Spa facilities on the White Isle offering a range of relaxing treatment rooms and an extensive list of massages and therapies. Guests can also take advantage of the indoor heated pool, Jacuzzi, sauna and steam baths and wedding parties can take advantage of the innovative Bridal Room where small groups can enjoy a wide array of services in a private area such as hairdressing, massage or beauty therapies.

The new Spa which also features an outdoor pool with jet streams, water umbrellas and individual bubble cabins, a wet and dry sauna, sensation showers, aquabeds, hydromassage and a fully equipped gym, helps secure Grand Palladium Palace Ibiza Resort & Spa as one of the leading hotels on Playa d’en Bossa.

The All-Inclusive resort also features four swimming pools with relaxing Balinese style chill-out beds, three “a la carte” restaurants, seven tennis courts and offers a children’s play club and baby sitting services, making it ideal for couples or families with young children.

Rooms are priced from €93 per night per person on a double standard room on an AI basis.
Spa facilities are also available for use by guests not staying at the hotel.

For more information or to book, please visit www.fiestahotelgroup.com

ANGRY BIRDS TO LAND IN FINNISH THEME PARK

This summer, the world’s first Angry Bird themed visitor attraction will open inTampere,Finland. As part of Särkänniemi Adventure Park, Angry Bird Land will promise an ‘interactive entertainment experience’ where ‘the physical and the virtual world combine’ with children and families in mind.

 

Rovio, the Finnish entertainment media company behind Angry Birds, first released the game as an iPhone app in December 2009. Since then the game has been downloaded 600 million times worldwide gaining national fame with fans including Angelina Jolie, Kylie Minogue and David Cameron. The company has generated £70 million in revenue in just two years and has expanded the Angry Birds franchise with cook books, themed adventure playgrounds, a cartoon on Nickelodeon and merchandise galore. With aspirations to be a global brand, the theme park attraction is the newest addition to the Angry Bird portfolio with Harri Koponen, Executive Vice President of licensing and merchandising, revealing that Angry Birds Land will be “the first of several Angry Bird parks around the world” with the goal being “to motivate the fans, both adults and children, to exercise and enjoy the outdoors”.

Rovio will work with Särkänniemi personnel and BDR Design, an internationally-known amusement park entertainment design company to create the visitor attraction. “We wanted to create a unique themed area and associate it with a strong and well-known brand. The Angry Birds characters were born in Finland but are known worldwide by people of all ages. This is a perfect fit for ourAdventurePark” says Miikka Seppälä, CEO of Särkänniemi Adventure Park.

This spring, Särkänniemi will reveal more information about the design of Angry Birds Land, which will include many different elements such as rides and amusement park games. The area will also include “Magic Places”, where the physical and the virtual gaming worlds meet.

Särkänniemi Adventure Park’s summer season opens on April 28th 2012 and sneak peeks of the construction of Angry Birds Land will be shown during the development phase on Särkänniemi Adventure Park’s website and Facebook page. The Park is already home to some great theme park rides as well as an aquarium, a planetarium, a dolphinairum and a children’s zoo.

A short distance from the Särkänniemi Adventure Park is Tampere City Centre. The city offers a mix of industrial heritage, slick Finnish sophistication and spectacular scenery including waterways and woodlands. This unique city, often referred to as the ‘Manchester of Finland’, has an industrious energy and many of the large factories and warehouses have now been converted into unusual galleries and museums such as the Moomin Valley Museum, Vakoilumuseo (Spy Museum) and the Lenin Museum (where Lenin and Stalin allegedly first met).

Ryanair offers flights to Tampere from both London Stansted and Edinburgh operating three times a week with prices starting at £20.99 via www.ryanair.com. Sokos Hotels has as a number of hotels across Tampere and offers double rooms from £120.00 per night (www.sokoshotels.fi/). The centrally located Scandic Tampere City Hotel has double rooms starting from £70.00 per night (www.scandichotels.com).

For further information on Finlandas a tourism destination, please visit www.visitfinland.com/uk or contact Kate McWilliams Kate@lotus-uk.co.uk / 02079537470

For further information on Tampere, please visit www.visittampere.fi

For further information on the Särkänniemi Adventure Park, please visit http://www.sarkanniemi.fi/www/index.php?lang=en

For further information on Angry Birds, please visit http://www.angrybirds.com/

 

LUCIANO & FATBOY SLIM TO KICK START SUMMER SEASON AT USHUAЇA IBIZA BEACH HOTEL

Luciano and Cadenza Records, together with Fatboy Slim have been confirmed as headline acts for the official Ushuaïa Ibiza Beach Hotel opening weekend.

 

Ushuaïa Ibiza Beach Hotel, the hotel that forever changed Ibiza last summer, comes back for a second season even stronger than ever.   Even though the hotel will open its doors to guests on May 1st, the official opening of its already famous poolside “daytime parties” will be held during the last weekend of May with stellar performances by Luciano and top DJs from Cadenza Records on Saturday 26^th, followed by megastar Fatboy Slim on Sunday 27^th.  

Luciano, the Swiss-Chilean DJ, producer and founder of Cadenza Records, is one of the biggest stars of the global electronic music scene. As a DJ he has performed at virtually every major club and festival in the world, blazing a trail of music from Ibiza to Berlin, Peru to Tokyo, via London, Frankfurt and São Paulo.

One day after, on Sunday, May 27th, Ushuaïa Ibiza Beach Hotel will host its first big event of the season. Fatboy Slim, one of today’s top names in electronic music, will perform some of his greatest hits live under the Balearic sunshine such as “Praise You” or “Right Here Right Now”.

From projecting lasers onto the Great Wall of China to performing live on top of a trio elétrico (huge truck loaded with thousands of watts of sound equipment) during the Salvador de Bahia Carnival with 5 million people on the streets, Norman Cook’s (aka Fatboy Slim) shows involve not just playing his own patented brand of ‘party acid house’, but a complex audio-visual production.

After last year’s successful first summer season, including 100% occupancy and more than 40 unique parties held next to Ibiza’s hottest poolside stage, Ushuaïa Ibiza Beach Hotel looks forward to another phenomenal summer season.

Featuring outstanding performances by leading artists such as Usher, David Guetta and Moby, special hotel guests such as the Hilton Sisters, and unconditional party goers such as Puff Daddy, James Blunt and Dennis Rodman, amongst many others, it’s no surprise that this year Ushuaïa Ibiza Beach Hotel will once again become THE Hotel on the “White Isle” and a must-go venue for the best ibicenco party scene. 

Further developments are underway and guests can expect an entirely unique party atmosphere with the venue decked out with the most up-to-date decor and technology. From its innovative real time Facebook experience (the worlds first!) to the onsite recording studio, the Pioneer sponsored suites and the distinctive art features, guests can start planning now for what is sure to be another memorable Ibiza season.

Rooms are priced from €93/ £80 per person per night based on two people sharing on a B&B basis. For more information or to book, please visit www.ushuaiabeachhotel.com

NEW PANDA WEEKEND FROM WENDY WU TOURS

1^st departure date 31^st May 2012

Done Barcelona, over Paris, out of love with the UK? Looking for an ultimate weekend to max out annual leave and ensure bragging rights in the office on return? Well, Wendy Wu Tours, in partnership with Etihad Airways, has created the ultimate short break to China, requiring just one day out of the office!

Utilising the new Etihad route to Chengdu, the capital of the Sichuan province in central China, this four day super break takes in the key site of the Grand Buddha and gives travellers a rare chance to get up close to the endangered Panda, arguably the worlds best-loved endangered species.

With a lead in price of just £995 per person including all flights, internal transfers, accommodation, meals, visits and guides, this is a weekend with a difference!

Tour Details
Day 1 – Thursday

Start with an overnight flight from London Heathrow (allowing a full working day in the office) to Chengdu via Abu Dhabi with Etihad Airways

Day 2 – Friday

Arrive at early evening local time and transfer to hotel. Time to relax

Day 3 – Saturday

Travel overland to Leshan to visit the stunning site of the Grand Buddha, the world’s largest stone-carved Buddhist statue standing over 70m in height. Take a short boat trip to view the statue. The Buddha has been stone-carved into the side of Lingyun Mountain; carving began in 713AD and was completed in 803AD. Prior to returning to the hotel take in a visit to the old town of Huanglongxien route.

Return to Chengdu for a typical Sichuanese meal.

Day 4 – Sunday

A full day visiting the famous Chengdu Panda Reserve to see these adorable animals being reared in wooded surroundings, reminiscent of their natural habitat. The panda is a symbol of conservation efforts worldwide and the Chengdu Panda Reserve is one of China’s leading conservation centres, offering visitors the chance to get up close and personal with China’s national treasure.  Visitors have the chance to feed the Pandas their favourite snacks of bamboo and natural foods and there is also the opportunity to get involved in some of the Centre’s work, which focuses on breeding, raising, and protecting the endangered giant panda.

En route back to the hotel stop at the UNESCO listed Dujiangyan Irrigation Project.

Evening departure fromChengdu airport

Departure dates for this tour are:

• 31^st May to 4^th June, priced from £995 per person
• 16^th to 20^th August, priced from £1290 per person
• 4^th to 8^th October, priced from £995 per person
• 15^th to 19^th November, priced from £995 per person

Day 5 – Monday

Arrive at London Heathrow at 07:20 (06.45 during the winter flight schedule) and head into the office to impress your colleagues with tales of your weekend away in China.

Extension Tours

For those who have longer to spend there are two extension tours available; ‘Dinosaur Discovery’ and the Nine Village Valley.

Dinosaur Discovery – Exclusive to Wendy Wu Tours

With a lead in price of £590 per person this tour transfers from Chengdu to Zigong where there is a tour of the Dinosaur Excavation Site which was discovered in 1972 and features dinosaur fossils in a sandy layer of the Meso-Jurassic period, from around 160,000,000 years ago. This excursion is exclusive to Wendy Wu Tours in the UK and is followed by an overnight stay in Zigong and visit to the Salt Museum over a two day period before travelling back to Chengdu to pick up the return flight to London Heathrow.

Nine Villages Valley

This extension includes an internal flight to the Nine Villages Valley where there follows a full day’s tour of this scenic area of vast mountain ranges inhabited by only a handful of Tibetan and other ethnic villages. This dream-like valley offers stunning alpine scenery that is heavily forested and home to many protected species. The Nine Villages Valley was accidentally discovered by a lumberjack in 1972 and was subsequently listed on the World Natural Heritage List in 1992.

Back in Chengdu there is a chance to explore the Wide and Narrow Alley, an area of ancient streets preserved from the Qing dynasty (1616AD-1912AD), before returning to the airport for departure to London Heathrow.

*All prices are subject to availability and are based on selected departures. Prices are based on twin rooms (no single supplements for those willing to share). The price includes, international flights, accommodation, current taxes, meals as stated, touring with guides, entrance fees and visa fees for UK passport holders. Terms and conditions apply.

For more information on any of these tours or to find out more about Wendy Wu Tours, please visit www.wendywutours.co.uk or call 0844 875 2436.

-ends-

Editors Notes

• *Subject to flight availability. Terms and conditions apply.
• All prices are subject to availability and are based on selected departures
• LHR airport (Manchesterdepartures also available but additional charges may apply)
• Prices are based on twin rooms (no single supplements for those willing to share)
• To request a brochure, please call 0844 875 2436 or visit www.wendywutours.co.uk
• To view the Wendy Wu blog, please visit http://blog.wendywutours.co.uk/  
• To view the Wendy Wu promotional video, please visit http://www.wendywutours.co.uk/videos.php

*     Supplementary charge for additional Panda Conservation activities

Lotus UK nominated for the second year running at the Travel Marketing Awards!

Lotus UK is delighted to have been shortlisted for the second year running at the Travel Marketing Awards for ‘Best PR Campaign’ supporting the launch of Ushuaïa Ibiza Beach Hotel in the UK.

Following a successful PR pre-launch and launch in the UK market, the hotel come music venue quickly gained recognition and almost instantly became a reference for live music in Ibiza, bringing the open-air performance concept back to the White Isle.

Summer 2011 was a phenomenal first season with 100% occupancy and more than 40 live gigs, featuring dazzling performances from the likes of David Guetta, Usher, Moby, Swedish House Mafia, Defected – one of the UK’s most important house music labels, as well as Annie Mac and Pete Tong who went live on air for BBC Radio 1’s annual Ibiza trip.

For 2012, Ushuaïa Ibiza Beach Hotel looks forward to another phenomenal summer season with Luciano and Fatboy Slim both confirmed for the official opening weekend.

Further developments are underway and for 2012 guests can expect an entirely unique party atmosphere with the venue decked out with the most up-to-date decor and technology.

Barceló Troon Marine Hotel Wins Tripadvisor Traveller Choice Award 2012

The luxury Barceló Troon Marine Hotel inAyrshire,Scotland has been awarded a Tripadvisor Travellers Choice® award 2012. Based on reviews from guests on Tripadvisor.co.uk, the hotel has been placed in the ‘Top 25 hotels’ in theUKfor relaxation and spa.

Barceló Troon Marine Hotel is located on the stunning Ayrshire coastline, overlooking the 18th green of Royal Troon Golf Course. Guests can dine in the hotel’s award winning Fairways Restaurant or relax with a drink in the Arran Bar which offers views of the Isle of Arran. On a clear night the sunset over the isle is a sight to behold. For those wishing to unwind, the Beauty Rooms offer a wide range of treatments in tranquil surroundings. The Heath and Leisure Club has an indoor pool, sauna, steam room, Jacuzzi, fully equipped gym and a fitness studio. Those wishing to explore the Scottish west coast will not be disappointed with dramatic coastlines, breathtaking scenery, miles of countryside and historic attractions such as Dundonald Castle.

Stuart Maxwell, general manger of the Barceló Troon Marine Hotel, says; ‘We are delighted that the hotel has been awarded a Tripadvisor Traveller Choice Award®. The Barceló Troon Marine is a great place to stay for a relaxing break and is unique in its location. To be recognised by our customers as one of the top relaxation and spa hotels in the county is a great honour and testament to the hard work and dedication of all the staff here.”

One night packages start from £69 per room per night on a B&B basis*. A one night spa break is priced from £99 per person* on a half board basis, including two of the following spa mini treatments; massages, manicures, pedicures or facials. The Spa packages are available for bookings made with promotional code SPA1 before 31/12/12. Bathrobes and slippers are also provided for maximum comfort and relaxation, as well as full use of the Health Club.

*price based on two sharing a double or twin room. Price is a ‘from’ rate only. Subject to availability. (price valid for stays until 31^st March 2012)

 

For further information  please contact Kevin Kear(kevin@lotus-uk.co.uk/ 02079537470).

Happy Chinese New Year – Kung Hei Fat Choy!

In Chinese Astrology, 2012 is the Year of the Dragon which is particularly auspicious as it is predicted to bring prosperity and good fortune. Chinese New Year starts on 23^rd January, but unlike our own flash in the pan celebrations, the festivities will carry on for fifteen days where they culminate with the colourful lantern spectacle where lantern processions crowd the streets of villages, towns and cities.

Chinese New Year is the key celebration in the Chinese calendar. Linked to the phases of the moon, the New Year is also the start of the Lunar New Year. On the eve of the New Year families gather to prepare and feast on jiaozi – traditional minced meat and vegetable dumplings which are eaten on the stroke of midnight with chilli and soy sauce and are believed to bring good fortune to those who indulge.

For those looking to test the predictions of the Dragon’s prosperity, Wendy Wu Tours can already fulfil this and increase your bank balance by saving £100 off any tour made throughout January. To catch some of the New Year celebrations or to visit China in the year of the Dragon, Wendy Wu Tours offers extensive trips to the country including the following:

A China Experience

This classic and concise tour of China’s must-see sights is perfect for those who want to experience China in a limited time and for the first time visitor. This ten day fully inclusive group tour takes in China’s three most famous cities Shanghai, Xian and Beijing as well as a trip to the historic canal town of Wuzhen. The itinerary shows the contrast between Wuzhen’s old-world charm and cosmopolitan Shanghai and Beijing. The tour also includes a cruise on the panoramic Huangpu River and a visit of the unique Temple of Heaven.

If booked in January, A China Experience fully inclusive group tour is available from £1,490* per person when departing on 28^th January or 24^th November 2012 and from £1,590pp* per person when departing on 18^th February or 17^th November 2012. Departures are guaranteed.

Discover Yunnan Private Tour

For those who have already visited China and are looking to revisit and experience the culture in more depth, the new Discover Yunnan private tour is ideal.

Discover the picturesque Stone Forest in Kunming with its vast limestone columns, explore the ancient quarter of Dali, visiting the Three Pagodas and cruising on Erhai Lake. Spend a day at the ‘Living museum’ town of Lijiang and take time to stroll through the meadows of the Jade Dragon Snow Mountain. Additional highlights of this visit include the Baisha Frescoes, the Tiger Leaping Gorge, the Baishui Terrace, Napa Hai Lake and Songshanlin Monastery.

The 12 day tour is priced from £2,990pp in 2012. Save £100pp if booked by the end of January.

For more information or to book visit www.wendywutours.co.uk or call 0844 875 2433.