For Immediate Release | Official News Wire for the Travel Industry

Where press releases are breaking news

The St. Regis Atlanta and CURE Childhood Cancer Continue Partnership for Upgraded Third Annual Out of the Kitchen

by

The Southeast’s Most Celebrated Chefs Provide Intimate Dining Experience at the Exclusive Culinary Event Benefiting CURE Childhood Cancer

The St. Regis Atlanta is thrilled to announce the enhanced third annual Out of the Kitchen dining event, taking place at the iconic, recently refreshed Buckhead property on October 30, 2019.  A collection of 20 illustrious regional chefs will prepare an interactive experience for discerning diners, with the event’s proceeds benefiting CURE Childhood Cancer, a local nonprofit dedicated to funding pediatric cancer research and providing meaningful support to children and families facing a cancer diagnosis.  

New to this year’s event, Out of the Kitchen will now include two special tables with different sponsorship levels that will present elevated experiences to VIP guests.  The first sponsorship level at $15,000 includes premium seating for 12 with Chef Philippe Haddad of Cape Dutch providing the meal, Nickel & Nickel Winery table service, a suite for the table host at The St. Regis the night of the event, access to the exclusive after party and chef reception, and name/logo recognition on all event materials.  The second sponsorship level at $20,000 includes premium seating for 12 with Chef Fuyuhiko Ito of Umi as the attending chef, Louis Roederer Cristal table service, five rooms for guests and a suite for the table host at The St. Regis that night, access to the exclusive after party and chef reception, an engraved bottle of Cristal for each couple to take home, and name/logo recognition on all event materials.

“This event brings together some of the most talented chefs and philanthropic individuals in the region,” said Guntram Merl, general manager of The St. Regis Atlanta.  “What truly makes this event one-of-a-kind is the charitable purpose behind Out of the Kitchen.”

Teaming up with culinary co-chairs Chef Jordan Barnett of The St. Regis Atlanta and Chef Philippe Haddad of Cape Dutch, The St. Regis Atlanta will continue to donate 100 percent of the event proceeds to CURE Childhood Cancer.  Since its inception in 2017, the event has raised a cumulative total of $446,000 for the cause.

The unconventional event will take place in the Astor Ballroom inside The St. Regis Atlanta, followed by an after party and chef reception, which will be hosted at the hotel’s new three-story meeting and event space, Maisonette.  The event will host 240 guests with chefs selecting the freshest and most divine ingredients to create a remarkable three-course tableside meal for 12 guests at each table.  Attendees will enjoy live entertainment and delicious food, while also having the privilege to interact with the thought leaders of Atlanta.  The evening commences with a champagne reception and concludes with an elaborate dessert reception presented by Pastry Chef Daniela Lea of The St. Regis Atlanta.

All chefs are contributing their time and talent to the fundraising event.  Returning chefs from 2018 include: Philippe Haddad (CapeDutch), Reinaldo Santosa (The St. Regis Atlanta), Gerry Klaskala (Aria), Piero Premoli (Pricci), Jaime Adams (Il Giallo Osteria & Bar), Fuyuhiko Ito (Umi), Pano Karatassos (Kyma), Deedee Niyomkul (Chaiyo), Cyrille Holota (Le Bilboquet), Peter Kaiser (Kaiser’s Chophouse), and Joe Schafer (Atlanta Hawks).  New chefs include: Freddy Money (Tavistock Restaurant Group), JiJi Lee (Heriloom Market BBQ), Gilles Schreiber & Alex Gut (AG at The Ritz-Carlton, Atlanta), Hubert Keller (Fleur by Hubert Keller), Nick Leahy (AIX), Bernard Guillas (The Marine Room at the La Jolla Beach Club, San Diego), Ron Hsu (Lazy Betty, Atlanta), Ian Winslade (Mission + Market), and Casey Thompson (Top Chef Season 3 finalist, culinary instructor and entertainer).

“Supporting local organizations like CURE speaks to the values and beliefs of The St. Regis as a brand.  We are committed to making an impact within our community and supporting children and families that are part of CURE,” said Julia McKelvey, The St. Regis Atlanta’s director of catering and event management.  “We value the relationship that we continue to build with this incredible organization and feel incredibly privileged to be partnering with them for the third year in a row.”

About The St. Regis Atlanta

Combining timeless sophistication with an unrivaled luxury, The St. Regis Atlanta Hotel & Residences debuted April 14, 2009.  The 26-floor development features 151 luxuriously appointed guest rooms and suites, 53 St. Regis Residences, more than 24,000 square feet of contemporary meeting and event space, two exclusive bars, world-class culinary options, a state-of-the-art fitness facility that overlooks an exquisite 40,000-square-foot Pool Piazza and poolside Bar, a 7,800-square-foot Remède Spa, and Astor Court, the resort’s distinctive upper lobby restaurant offering compelling cuisine and an unparalleled ambiance. Each guest room and suite is attended by the signature St. Regis Butler Service, an ever present yet unobtrusive service dedicated to meeting the needs of discerning global travelers.  The property continues to be listed among the Top Hotels in the South by Condè Nast Traveler for its Readers’ Choice Awards, and in 2017 and 2018 it received a Gold Badge in U.S. News & World Report’s Best Hotels in the USA. The St. Regis Atlanta Hotel & Residences is located at 88 West Paces Ferry Road in Buckhead.  For more information, please call 404.563.7900 or visit www.stregisatlanta.com.

About CURE Childhood Cancer

Founded in 1975, Atlanta, Georgia-based CURE Childhood Cancer is dedicated to conquering childhood cancer through funding targeted research while supporting patients and their families.  With cancer as the second leading cause of death in children, CURE dedicates more than $4.3 million annually to specific research projects aimed at curing cancers which affect children.  Through innovative programming, CURE Childhood Cancer also provides crisis oriented support to patients and their families, addressing their most critical and urgent needs. For more information, visit www.curechildhoodcancer.org.

Media contacts: Evan Nicholson, Grecia Corleto and Juliona Miller at Glodow Nead Communications, (415) 394-6500 or StRegisAtl@GlodowNead.com

CURE Childhood Cancer Contact: Jennifer Grizzle, 404.291.1310 or jennifer@theprstudio.com

Tourism Clubs launched for primary and secondary students 

by

Students of primary and secondary schools around Mahé, Praslin and La Digue can now be part and parcel of the booming tourism industry as the Ministry for Tourism and its partner the Seychelles Hospitality and Tourism Association launch the Tourism Clubs for Seychellois students.

The initiative launched on Friday March 22, 2019 at the AVANI Seychelles Barbarons Resort and Spa on Mahé is the result of a long preparation germinating from discussions held during the Tourism Festival organized by the Tourism Department last year.

The aim of the project is to educate students about the tourism industry and trigger their interest for a career in hospitality and tourism.

The launch was conducted by the Minister for Tourism, Civil Aviation, Ports and Marine, Mr.  Didier Dogley and Mrs. Jeanne Simeon, Minister for Education and Human Resource Development.

The ceremony also saw the presence of Mrs. Anne Lafortune, Principal Secretary for Tourism, Principal Secretary for Early Childhood, Primary and Secondary Education, Dr Odile de Commarmond, and Seychelles Hospitality and Tourism Association Chairperson, Mrs. Sybille Cardon alongside Martin Kennedy.

In his opening statements, Martin Kennedy who presided the event’s proceedings mentioned that all the respective ministries, stakeholders and educators equally have a role in helping the young Seychellois to imagine themselves as a major successful partner in the tourism industry.

Speaking at the launch the Minister for Education and Human Resource Development, Mrs. Jeanne Simeon commended the stakeholders of the Tourism sector for their active commitment in providing an extra-curricular activity that would not only benefit the development of students but also impact on their life choices.

“As a country we should not underestimate the importance of the Tourism Industry as the major pillar of our economy and it is of utmost importance that this is transmitted to our children from primary. Tourism should be seen as a sector that helps builds our country’s brand and value,” said Minister Simeon.

Minister Dogley supported the statement as he addressed the gathering emphasizing that it is his pride that Seychellois manage more than 60 percent of the small hotel establishments.

“I thank all the partners, especially ministry for Education and Human Resource Development, the private sector and club coordinators as we all work towards building the next generation of hoteliers and educating them about the importance of keeping our local tourism industry’s standard high in order to maintain our reputation as a destination,” said Minister Dogley.

Mrs. Sybille Cardon, also present, expressed her satisfaction to see the project concretize. She mentioned that with the implementation of the tourism clubs, the industry is hoping to see a very positive response.

With the tag line “We are Tourism,” the call for our responsibility as Seychellois is once again called upon to raise the profile of our Destination and the standard of our Tourism industry.

The event concluded with presentations made from students from Mont-Fleuri Primary School and Beau-Vallon Secondary School.

Travel News | eTurboNews

Do Millennials want “the Grands” along when they travel?

by

It’s no surprise that Millennials love to “do it for the ‘gram.” But when it comes to travel buddies, it’s Millennials’ desire to travel with Grandpa and Grandma that may surprise you.

According to a new survey from Visit Anaheim, the official destination organization for Anaheim, multigenerational vacations are top-of-mind with travelers when it comes to reliving memories, while also creating new ones, with the next generation. The survey, conducted by OnePoll for Visit Anaheim, polled a sample of 1,000 Americans and found that Millennial respondents (aged 25-34) lead the category when it comes to wanting more multigenerational trips, coming in at a whopping 83 percent.

“While Visit Anaheim knew that families loved reliving childhood experiences by having grandparents tag along on vacation, we were surprised by the enthusiasm that the Millennial survey respondents had for this ‘Grandtravel’ trend,” said Jay Burress, president & CEO of Visit Anaheim. “Millennials often have a close relationship with their parents and are now becoming parents themselves. The Baby Boomer grandparents are incredibly active, so they can easily keep up with the grandkids. Additionally, as many smart parents have figured out, having Grandpa and Grandma around means Mom and Dad can escape to check out the local nightlife or less kid-friendly attractions, knowing the kids are in great hands.”

In fact, two thirds (66 percent) of respondents have traveled with three or more generations of their family, making vacations with grandparents, their adult children, and grandchildren, a travel trend with no signs of slowing down. In fact, the majority plan on taking more extended family trips.

Nostalgia is one of the main reasons the trend keeps growing. Many parents and grandparents love reliving memories. The majority (56 percent) “strongly agree” that multigenerational trips are more special when visiting somewhere their parents or grandparents have been before and 53 percent report being “very happy” when they take trips to places they’ve previously been with their parents or children.

VISIT ANAHEIM’S GRANDTRAVEL CONTEST

With Spring vacation around the corner and Summer vacation planning in the works, Visit Anaheim is kicking off their first-ever Grandtravel contest. One lucky family of six will win an Anaheim vacation, including accommodations at Great Wolf Lodge and tickets to Knott’s Berry Farm – perfect for a family of four, plus two grandparents. Contest starts Tuesday, March 26, 2019 and ends Tuesday, April 30, 2019. Enter to win here. Find rules and regulations available here.

Actress, activist and mom to four kids, Holly Robinson Peete, is helping to kick-off the contest by encouraging families to take Grandma and Grandpa along for the vacation fun.

“Anyone who watches us on ‘Meet the Peetes’ knows that my mom is a big part of our lives – and that includes vacation time,” said Robinson Peete. “Whether it’s a girls weekend in New York City visiting my daughter, Ryan, or escaping for a quick staycation to somewhere fun like Anaheim, having grandma along for the journey is something the entire family looks forward to every chance we get.”

Additional Survey Highlights

Other noteworthy Visit Anaheim survey results include:

  • LET’S HIT THE ROAD – Multigenerational trips are most likely to be either a road trip (69 percent), traveling to see family (67 percent), or a flight to a major destination (48 percent)
  • PARENTAL PLANNERS – When planning a multigenerational (grandparents, parents, kids) trip, parents are most likely to choose the flights (46 percent), set the dates (38 percent), pick the hotels/lodging (44 percent) and pay for the trip (41 percent)
  • GRANDPARENT TRAVEL PERKS – Top benefits of traveling with three generations are:
    • Allows bonding time/memories to be built between grandparents and grandchildren (67 percent)
    • Spending more quality time together (65 percent)

Though packing up the minivan with three generations can be fun, over half of the respondents (51 percent) have taken a trip where Grandpa and Grandma took the grandkids on vacation – sans their adult children. Many wanted one-on-one time with their grandchild(ren)/grandparent(s) (48 percent), others celebrated a special event or milestone (45 percent), and some believed it created a different dynamic when parents are not there (41 percent).

“Getting to spend time with your grandkids is always special, but being able to vacation with them is truly a treat,” said Dolores Robinson, Holly Robinson Peete’s mom. “My grandkids affectionately call me everything from ‘Gorgeous’ to ‘G-Money.’ It’s because we’ve carved out time to create memories that we have such a close bond. Visit Anaheim’s survey is proof that families love to travel with grandparents. And I love that they’re giving a family a chance to win a vacation to Anaheim – including spots for Grandma and Grandpa. How fun!”

Fans can watch Holly, grandma Dolores, Holly’s husband – NFL veteran quarterback Rodney Peete, and their four kids, embark on their newest adventures on season two of “Meet the Peetes,” which debuted on the Hallmark Channel in late February and airs Monday at 10 p.m./9 Central.

For more information on Anaheim and to begin planning a memorable family-friendly vacation, please visit: visitanaheim.org

Travel News | eTurboNews

Hong Kong Airlines debuts Chris Cosentino’s Business Class menu

by

Hong Kong Airlines has launched a brand new Business Class menu for its customers travelling out of Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) from 22 March 2019. Designed exclusively by celebrity chef and television personality Chris Cosentino, the new LAX Business Class menu is an adaption of his current San Francisco Business Class menu and comes with a slight twist to cater to the preferences of Southern California travelers.

Chris Cosentino is the chef and owner of San Francisco restaurant, Cockscomb, where he reinterprets classic San Francisco dishes by adding his own unique twist. He is also known as the winner of Top Chef Masters, a contestant on The Next Iron Chef and for his appearance in Iron Chef America in addition to his extensive work raising awareness and funds for Chefs Cycle in support of No Kid Hungry, a national charity fighting to end childhood hunger.

Chef Cosentino collaborated with Hong Kong Airlines in late 2017 to design a comprehensive menu of 12 dishes, including a series of appetizers, main courses and desserts to be rotated regularly on the airline’s service from San Francisco International Airport (SFO) to Hong Kong. His Business Class inflight menu was officially launched on the SFO inaugural flight to Hong Kong on 25 March 2018 and has received positive feedback from Hong Kong Airlines’ customers for his “big in flavor, rich in texture” dishes.

“When the opportunity came for me to work with Hong Kong Airlines to make delicious inflight meals in Business Class, I jumped at the chance,” said Chef Cosentino at a media preview event in Los Angeles on Thursday.

Using my years of education and experiences to create meals that would not only satisfy but excite the guests at 10,000 feet up and giving a fresh new approach to what inflight food can be has been a complete joy. Launching our new menu on the Los Angeles-Hong Kong route is very exciting. I am looking forward to flying on the first flight showcasing the menu,” he added.

Mr Chris Birt, Hong Kong Airlines Director of Service Delivery said: “Hong Kong Airlines always strives to deliver the best services to our customers. We launched our menu partnership with Chef Cosentino exactly a year ago on our San Francisco route. His menu has proven to be such a hit with our Business Class customers that we are excited to now bring his signature innovative and creative cuisine to those flying with us from Los Angeles.”

Hong Kong Airlines’ Los Angeles service was launched in December 2017 and was the airline’s first destination in the continental United States. The daily service is currently operated by Airbus A350, one of the newest and most technologically advanced aircraft in the world. In September 2018, Hong Kong Airlines introduced its new Business Class product on the Los Angeles route, reaffirming its commitment to serve the USA market with its best products and services.

Travel News | eTurboNews