Viaggi in Avventura will take tourists to discover the region of Peruvian central plateaus, via car tracks and on foot.

The beauty of valleys, plateaus, lagoons and mountains is the scenario against which is set an authentic country, far from the masses of tourists and proud of its own tradition. Besides visiting the most important Inca archaeological sites, they will also get in touch with complex cultural realities.

One of the stops: the remote lake region Castrovirreyna, one of the least anthropized areas of Peru. In Ayacucho there is the first contact with the Huari pre-inca culture that blossomed in this area between 450 and 900 a.C. becoming the leader of the widest religious, political and military expansion prior to the foundation of the Inca empire. It will follow the five-day trip leading to the Machu Picchu. Crossing the Chinchero plateau and the Maras’ Salinas – where one side of the mountain was entirely adorned with over 6000 pools for water evaporation – they will arrive in Cusco. The visit to the Tambo Machay and Quenco temples, as well as the ancient stop over, Puca Pucara, and the magnificent fort of Sacshuayaman, will allow for a last dive into the history of this country.

Accommodation: the Mountain Lodges of Peru promote sustainable development by involving local communities in the active management of the lodges and by supporting Yanapama Peru, the NGO that specifically deals with bettering the quality of education for 150 families and with encouraging the local population to contribute to the touristy development of their land.

www.viaggiinavventura.it

Italian version

Everything is arranged by the Hotel de la Cité of Orient-Express that proposes the tasty package Short Break in the Cité with a € 75,00 credit to spend on gastronomic goods.

www.orient-express.com

Italian version

The nation is visited by those who want to spend a winter holiday on the yacht, far from the most crowded destinations. Coraline barriers, sea suitable for diving and for sailing couple with the vegetation and the charm of scarcely inhabited islands. These characteristics made the place one of the favourites destinations of famous people, from the world of music and politics.

The Pearl of the Grenadines is Mustique, small private island, about 3 miles long and less than 2 miles wide, visited by a limited number of tourists, endowed with 94 luxury villas, built and furnished in Caribbean style.

The “European” history of the island dates back to the first half of the Eighteenth century when the land was divided into seven plantations for the cultivation of sugar canes. When the production was brought to Europe the place regained its wild nature, until 1959 when it was bought by the Scottish Colin Tennant, today Lord Glenconner. In 1968 the Lord set up the Mustique Company, company that owns the island and manages the tourist reception to welcome the most demanding guests. Princess Margaret of England, Mick Jagger, Tommy Hilfiger, Hugh Grant and many more were guests on the island.

Mustique, due to its natural shores and the always present winds, is the ideal destination for the fans of marine pleasure crafts, besides being rich of creeks and beaches. Diving is also very popular, thanks to spectacular sites like All-awash, Pillories, Dry Rock South and Coral Glen.

The area is protected and surrounded by a tropical climate, featuring mangrove forests inhabited by tortoises and iguanas, among the other species.
For this reason, one of the most common activities is trekking or riding horses on the hills. Obviously there are also shops and book shops, Spa, tennis and golf fields and fitness centres.

The only hotel is the very elegant Cotton House, with twenty cottage rooms, two beaches, nymphs ponds, pools rising on an old Eighteenth century plantation, where an old windmill is left. An island of peace, where there is no TV but only music and extras like the cushions menu: you can choose among ten different types.

The villas are all hidden, high hill, each with its own feature: the Wind Rose, for instance, evokes an Etruscan temple. Each building features devoted personnel and exclusive services.

http://www.mustique-island.com/

Italian version

It comes into being the first urban hotel in Milan. Situated on the very central Corso Matteotti, overlooking the Duomo’s pinnacles, the new Boscolo Hotel Exedra opens its doors to the city. The five-star-luxury owned by the Italian chain, was conceived as a proper gathering and communication venue for all those people that experience the city of Milan: what is key are in fact the services offered, from the catering that is open 24/7, to the Spa (which closes at midnight), to the area reserved to exhibitions and art shows.

The Exedra stems out of the talent of architect Italo Rota who entirely revisited the palace on Corso Matteotti that formerly hosted the headquarters of the Imi Bank. Hotel rooms are all different from each other, so to highlight the importance of customization. The hotel hosts over 150 rooms, from the Superior Room to the Presidential Suite, whose prices range between 800 and 7000 euros per night. Clients can choose among three restaurants: one mainly serving boiled and roast meat, the second mainly serving fish and the third, serving international cuisine, is situated on the eighth floor and has a terrace with view over the Duomo.

To enrich even more the eating-venues scenario, there are Lambruscheria, managed by F&De Group (specialized in eno-gastronomic traditions of the Po Valley) and champagnerie. The Spa Suisse, stretching over 1000 sq meters, is provided with a pool with falls, sauna, hammam and six massage cabins. Among the treatments, there is also a champagne-elixir peeling with rose petals and a beauty treatment with ultrasonic-wave technologies. The director of the newly inaugurated hotel is Roberto Boscolo.

Why did you choose to open a hotel in Milan?
Milan is not a capital but it actually is as if it were one: fashion, economy, design are here. We want this hotel to be the very first work built for the 2015 Expo; the Exedra was indeed conceived not only as a hotel but also as a gathering venue for the Milanese and Milan’s guests. I wish to underline the fact that 70% of the hotel area is public. This kind of hotel launches a new way of being in the hotellerie sector. In fact this format will be maintained for the construction of the new 5 star hotels of the group and for the renovation of existing ones.

What are the common areas?
The setting of the street side conveys the idea of a city entering the hotel. In fact, big glass windows open up on Corso Matteotti, as if the people inside were the protagonists of the stage and those outside could enjoy the view of internal spaces. The common areas are the three restaurants that already exist, plus one that will be inaugurated in a few weeks and that will be headed by a very important chef whose name cant yet be revealed. The Lambruscheria, champagnerie and the day Spa are also open to anyone.

How did you choose this location?
I was visiting the building with my father Angelo, when it was still occupied by the Bank. He was walking down the aisles and could already imagine how the hotel would have been. Then he told me: “Within nine months, I will create a hotel that has no precedents, and then you manage it for the years to come.” I accepted the offer and that’s how this jewel came into being.

What can you tell us about the Boscolo group?
Today, the Boscolo Hotels Group owns seven five-star hotels that create the BoscoloHotels5 chain, and sixteen four-star hotels, the BoscoloHotels4. Atop of this there is the Boscolo Travel inside, a tour operator that specializes on group and individual trips in Italy and Europe; the division Hotel Engineering dealing with project management services for the hotel industry; the Boscolo Food % beverages; the Boscolo Academy (School of culinary arts); and the Boscolo Catering. All this means: 2000 employees, and an annual turnover that in 2008 amounted to 270 million euros.

What are your future projects?
In 2010 we will open a new four-star hotel, in Milan, hosting 300 rooms, three restaurants and a conference centre with the capacity to host 1000 people. The architect in charge of the project will be Simone Micheli that has already realized the Exedra Spa. By the end of next year we should also be opening another five-star hotel in Bari that a key-city for the southern part of Italy, but that has suffered for years the lack of a high-standard hotel facility.

Alessandra Iannello

Italian version

Paris is a city filled with an exciting and romantic charm. Well-known for her cultural and artistic wealth, the ville lumiere has a rich and vibrating musical heart, with her two opera theatres, the Opéra Garnier and the Opéra Bastille, and the three concert halls (Théâtre du Châtelet, Théâtre des Champs-Elysées and Cité de la Musique).

During the week-end 23-25 October 2009, two important musical events will take place there: one of the most loved lyric operas and a refined concern directed by one of the promises of classic music.

On 23rd October, Anna Netrebko will play Mimi in the Boheme by Giacomo Puccini. Considered one of the most fascinating lyric voices, Valery Gergiev discovered her talent when she was cleaning the Marinskij Theater, and later led her to play, within only a few years, roles that were traditionally devolved upon the royal and fussy sopranos of the old school. From Lyudmilla by Glinka to Donizzetti’s Norina and Gilda of the Rigoletto. In 2004 her very first DVD Anna Netrebko – The woman, the voice exceeded, in Europe, the sales of Beyonce and Britney Spears’ DVDs.

The following evening, the enfant prodige of Claudio Abbado, Venezuelan Gustavo Dudamel will direct the Simón Bolívar Youth Orchestra in a concert entirely dedicated to Čajkovskij.
Final outcome of the FESNOJIV (Fundación del Estado para el Sistema de Orquestas Juveniles e Infantiles del Venezuela), the Simón Bolivar Youth Orchestra is one of the most important musical project of the last years, which had a significant impact on the social sphere too. When 16, Gustavo Dudamel became director of the Orchestra symbol of the Sistema, the Simón Bolívar Youth Orchestra. In 2009, 28 years old, Dudamel took in charge the directorship of the Los Angeles Philharmonic Orchestra.

For a luxury stay, Il Sipario Musicale offers first class tickets for both shows and hotel accommodation for two nights, double bedroom and breakfast included at the Hotel Balzac or at the Jolly Lotti.

www.ilsipariomusicale.com

Italian version

In the Laurentides, Mauricie and Charlevoix regions, leaving behind the summer heat you can still practice open-air sports, like fishing and make kayak and rabaska (the long Indian canoe) excursions, or go through wood paths by foot, by bike, on a horseback or by quad.

In this moment of the year the eyes get lost in the huge maple expanses which create an unbelievable colour vibration: red, orange, gold, brown, the colours of trees losing leaves while waiting for the winter. Between peat bogs and tee-pees, lakes and red-hot woods, from one sucrerie to the other to learn how to make maple syrup, in Quebec in this period one can enjoy a sudden rise of temperature 820-22 degrees) and a fable atmosphere.

To stay in total harmony with nature, there is the Hotel Sacacomie in Saint Alexis des Monts, co-resort fully built with pine trunks, very simple oasis of rustic elegance with 109 rooms, half of which with whirlpool bath, boutique, Spa and panoramic restaurant. After an excursion at the beaver reserve, after reaching an Indian village by canoe, fishing and dining beneath trees branches, after a tour on a hydroplane unveiling the isolation of the place, one can enjoy a Swedish massage or taste a cognac in front of the fireplace.

Of a different kind is the Fairmont Le Chateau Montebello, obtained by a Victorian palace. A resort with golf field and Spa, whose building has been built with huge cider trunks, rustic luxury hitting right when entering the hall, with at the centre a monumental fireplace. The game reserve surrounding the resort is wonderful: a lodge with 70 lakes, a real escape from the world.

www.bonjourquebec.com/it
www.sacacomie.com
www.fairmont.com

Italian version

In such a particular summer like the one which we are leaving to our backs, what did holidays represent?
A holiday, for tour operators like us, is nothing but a careful analysis of the best solutions and locations where our clients can de-stress and get rid of all their thoughts, through a thorough search for high quality at the best price.

How did the approach of tourists change towards the structures and services?
The guests are more and more demanding and accurate in the search for services and interesting occasions.

How did Veratour respond?
By offering interesting and cheap solutions – confirming for 2010 the same prices as in 2009 which, in turn, had been significantly lowered compared to that of 2008 -, by renovating some structure or parts of the resorts – like the rooms of the Veraclub Thalassa in Kos – and by opening new structures – like the Verclub Ranveli at Maldives, which will make its début on 29th December 2009.

What will be the new projects of the Veraclub Queen Sharm in the next months?
The project is to begin a restyling of the rooms in the historical part called beach.

What are the achievements of the summer 2009? And what is expected in the coming months?
Our firm ends the summer with the same turnover of last summer, although 2009 has been a very difficult year for the field of tourism, and, considering the context and the general economic situation, this is already an excellent result.

We are positive about the future since tourism is irrepressible and because we believe that a recovery will take place and it will be ever more evident, also because the interest that our clients show in our structures is always present and strong.

Francesca Zottola

Italian version

The theme of the project of the Atkins Design Studio is water. Particular care has been given to eco-sustainability: geothermic energy will be used while the quarry has a natural climatisation and the green roof favours thermic isolation.
The hill will be transformed in roof-gardens with terraces with a waterfall at the centre.
The first two floors of the building will be underwater, with luxury rooms and a restaurant, overlooking a ten meters deep aquarium.

For the fans of extreme sports there is the rocky gym and a Bungee Jumping. And of course there will be a waterfall with a swimming pool, besides the possibility to practice various sportive activities linked to the water world.

Italian version

One of the most exclusive hotels of the world is even the highest, with its 321 metres: it’s the Buri Al Arab of Dubai. The one located at the biggest altitude, instead, is the Hotel Everest View, in Nepal, rising at more than four thousands metres height and reachable only on a helicopter.

If you’d like to be surrounded by comfort throughout your trip you can book your stay at the most expensive hotel of the world, the Villa royale, at the Grand Resort Lagonissi of Athens: butler, chef and personal piano player will be at your disposal for 40 thousands euro per night.
Over three billions euro, instead, to create the Emirates Palace of Abu Dhabi, the hotel whose construction was the most expensive.

If you like wide spaces, choose the Suite royale of the Hotel Grand Hills, in Broummana, in Lebanon, the biggest room of the world, with its eight thousands squared metres and two indoors pools. The biggest hotel in terms of number of rooms is, instead, the Pallazzo resort Hotel & Casino of Las Vegas, with 8,108 rooms.

If you look for a bit of romance, choose the oldest hotel of the world, the Hoshi Ryokan, in Komatsu in Japan – built in 781 and run by the same family for 46 generations – and the coldest hotel, the Icehotel, in Jukkasjarvi in Sweden, with the temperature of the rooms between -5° and -8°C.

Eventually, for whom doesn’t give up the respect of the environment even on a trip, there is the most ecological hotel, the Daintee Eco Lodge & Spa, in Queensland in Australia, with solar panels, low consumption lamps, separate collection and recycled garbage.

Italian version

The five stars Bellagio in Las Vegas, with seven restaurants and almost 4,000 bedrooms, where some scenes of Ocean’s Eleven have been shot. The sequel, Ocean’s Twelve, instead, has been shot at the Pulitzer Hotel in Amsterdam, made of 25 XVII and XVIII century houses along the Prinsengracht canal, 500 meters away from the very central Dam Place and comprises the famous Coffee Bar Dampkring.

The Roosevelt Hollywood is a higher category hotel located in the heart of Hollywood. After being chosen in 1929 as the venue for the first ceremony of the prestigious movie awards, Academy Awards, this hotel has quickly become the “second home” of Hollywood stars and it’s still considered a milestone in the history of Hollywood.
The hotel was the prestigious movie set of many films interpreted by stars like Clark Gable and Marylin Monroe, and, more recently, it was the setting of Catch Me if You Can! casting Loenardo Di Caprio and Tom Hanks.

The Park Hyatt in Tokyo was the setting of the Sofia Coppola’s movie Lost in Translation. The restaurant Kozue offers its guests a spectacular view on the Fuji Mountain and the New York Bar located on the last floor offers memorable dinners and an impeccable service.

And of course, eventually, the hotel of Pretty Woman, the Regent Beverly Wilshire in Los Angeles. A stone’s throw from Rodeo Drive, it is an oasis of elegance and first order service.
With its luxury bedrooms, the relaxing spa and the great restaurants, the hotel is the perfect venue to immerse oneself in the glamour of Beverly Hills.
Italian version

Quality, utility, style are the concepts from which these products are created – from the fender-covers to the cushions, from the lamps to the glasses, from the shoes to the belts – that can be personalized with a logo, making every boat unique.

The president, Aldo Mangili, talks about how the firm was born and about the Elyt accessories.

How did you come up with the choice to focus on a collection of accessories to personalize pleasure boats?
The idea came on a boat during a trip with friends and from a banter against the owner for the not very pretty fender-covers. We began to talk about what the market offered in terms of quality and prices. I used to work in the field of textiles and clothing and my idea was to create a collection of fender-covers according to my view of quality and style and I gave them to the shipowner. This is how everything began.
Today, we create, produce and make partner firms produce glasses, shoes, towels, textiles, bags, clothes to wear on board and other objects that embellish and make cosier the sea life. To aim at excellence means to avail of the collaboration of firms specialized in specific sectors. Everything exclusively made in Italy.

Is it important the choice of textiles to make this kind of products?
The quality of the raw material has a fundamental importance in the creation of nautical products. The sea, especially, is very exigent and it strains any kind of material to the limit. Our research and development office allows us to create only top products. The Elyt quality doesn’t admit any kind of compromise, from the raw material to the wrapping, finishing and personalization, be it embroidered or laser-cut. This is why the thirty-year old Know-how of the founding associates is the essential heritage that Elyt puts to the disposal of its clients, both shipyards and shipowners. My specific experience is in the textile sector, others are focused respectively on high quality embroidering and on the renovation of spare parts of old boats. Even the colour can be personalized with Elyt. Elyt is a firm that loves the sea and it respects it and for the taint it uses colourings that meet the most severe international norms, to guarantee the highest solidity and resistance always in the respect of the environment.

What is your main target?
We supply numerous and prestigious shipyards, direct importers of boats produced in Europe and overseas, dealers and firms dealing with the laying up. Everyone seeks in our accessories high quality products and personalized exclusively with the name of the shipyard and/or the name of the boat.
Recently we have received many requests from private shipowners who found out about our products and want to personalize their boat everywhere is possible and they ask us for ever more gadgets to give to their guests as a reminder of the good times spent on the boat.

What is the dream yacht?
It’s a displaceable boat, it doesn’t have to be fast, people on a pleasure boat are not in a rush, it has to be able to comfortably welcome guests, few but real friends, it should allow even when sailing for conversation and to move freely, to have breakfast or dinner inside or on the prow and, why not, to enjoy a wonderful cigar while looking at the sun disappearing beyond the horizon.

What is the not-to-be-missed nautical event?
Genoa International Boat Show

elytonline.com

Italian version

Do you remember the new Kempinski Hotel Adriatic, the resort of the homonym hotellerie group, inaugurated to ensure a luxury summer to the fans of Croatia?

We had already talked about it sometime ago, emphasizing the assets of this five stars structure.

Only few days away from the beginning of holidays, we present another novelty in addition to the great hospitality of the structure. It’s the inauguration of the Presidential Suite, named “Jure Grando” after the most famous vampire of Istria, that was officially opened on 1st August.

Located on top of the Kempinski Hotel Adriatic with access also from the heliport, the suite is a work of art of the refined design by Consonni Contract, prestigious brand of the hotel furnishing made in Italy.

Inside: a wide living-room with fireplace, a dining-room with pianos, a small studio and a king size bedroom with view on Croatia, Slovenia, Italy and the Alps. In addition, a whirl pool bath and a Jacuzzi on a 570 s-m terrace.

Besides the elegance of its interior decorations, the Presidential Suite offers high tech services and details.

A TV screen made by the top German firm Ad Notam built in the luxury bathroom, touch screen Cisco phones to provide information about the local events, restaurants, room service, weather broadcast, and a Bose Dolby Surround Sound system individually controlled are only few of the high tech services of the suite.

Also: in the new Presidential Suite of the Kempinski Hotel Adriatic there is the most spectacular TV ever made by Bang & Olufsen. It’s the new Beo Vision 4-103 with a 103”mega screen: when not in use, this technological jewel stays at the floor level and then it lifts up and places where needed once its’ switched on.

The Kempinski Hotel Adriatic will be the first hotel in the world to use its functions, that together with the design and high tech details, constitute one of the assets of the structure: for a luxury summer in Croatia.

Kempinski Hotel Adriatic, Istria, Croatia
www.kempinski-adriatic.com

Italian version