Stylish Bethesda Marriott Celebrates 30th Anniversary with New Hotel Renovations
Posted July 14, 2009 , add a comment) Bethesda, Md. ? June 17, 2009 — Bethesda Marriott, Maryland’s first full service Marriott branded hotel, marks its 30th anniversary with the completion of a $15 million hotel renovation. Virtually a “new” 407-room Bethesda hotel, the milestone was celebrated by VIP customers and Marriott executives including David Marriott, vice president, Marriott Eastern Region and Steven Marriott, executive vice president, Marriott Culture. First opened in 1979 in Bethesda, Maryland, the hotel is managed by Marriott for the CMG Bethesda Owner, LLC.
“For 30 years, the Bethesda Marriott Pooks Hill has been a centerpiece in this growing community providing Marriott’s legendary service to travelers from across the globe,” said Brian Hilger, general manager, Bethesda Marriott. “Today, we’re very excited to welcome both our loyal and new guests to this totally re-invented, high-tech and stylish hotel.”
The hotel’s recent renovations include a redesign with a look and feel that is warm and inviting. All hotel guest-rooms come equipped with a 32-inch high-definition LG® plasma screen television and Marriott’s plug-in panel (www.plugintomarriott.com) that provides customers with multi-tasking abilities through versatile multimedia usage. Semi-private seating nooks around the lobby allow guests to socialize, work and play. With WiFi through out the lobby, hotel guests can upload and work on their personal laptops or unplug and kick up their feet on oversized ottomans and relax in front flat screen high-def televisions.
Ideally located near the NIH and downtown Bethesda, MD, the Bethesda Marriott is ideal for business and social occasions, offering a total of 18,500 square feet of updated meeting space. Hotel meeting space includes a 4,592 square-foot Grand Ballroom and 27 flexible breakout rooms. Technological capabilities include high-speed Wifi access in all meeting rooms and a state-of-the-art audio visual system. A 24-hour business center is also available at the hotel to meet guests’ needs.
For dining and entertaining in downtown Bethesda, the hotel is home to Agio, a contemporary casual, restaurant and bar featuring rustic, regional Italian cuisine and cocktails. Agio serves breakfast, lunch and dinner. Standout menu items include pancetta wrapped shrimp, zucchini gnocchi with eggplant ragu; veal scallopine with lemon-thyme linguini, and eggplant and goat cheese stacks with pomodoro sauce. Agio’s wine menu features a good mix of California and Italian wines, both big-label and boutique, moderately priced. Over 25 wines are offered by the glass. Guests can also sip on Agio’s Tuscan inspired cocktails such as the Lemoncello Mojito, Campari Cosmo, and Bellini Martini.
The hotel is located just minutes from vibrant downtown Bethesda’s myriad of galleries and restaurant destinations; and is close to area companies such as FDA, IBM, Lockheed Martin, Kaiser Permanente and the National Institute of Health (NIH). Downtown Washington, DC is accessible from the Washington, DC Metro, Reagan National, BWI and Dulles Airports.
With world-class shopping, dining, and cultural venues within a short distance, Bethesda Marriott Hotel guests are sure to enjoy their stay at our metro Washington DC hotel whether it be for a DC weekend getaway, business and leisure travel, a wedding or social affair, or a corporate function. For more information about this newly renovated hotel in Bethesda or for hotel reservations, call the Bethesda Marriott at 301-897-9400 or 1-800-228-9290, contact the Marriott Worldwide Reservations Center at (888) 364-1200, or visit the hotel’s web site at www.bethesdamarriott.com.
Crowne Plaza Undergoing Resurgence of U.S. Hotel Portfolio
Posted , add a comment InterContinental Hotel Group’s Crowne
Plaza brand is undergoing a resurgence of its Americas hotel
portfolio this year through the investment of a quarter billion
dollars in major renovations by hotel owners.
“We’ve seen a period of incredible
growth over the past few years, mostly with conversion
properties,” said Gina LaBarre, vice president, Brand Management,
Crowne Plaza Hotels & Resort—the Americas. “To become even
stronger players in the market, we’re elevating the brand a step
further through a resurgence of major property renovations.”
By the end of 2009 it is expected that up to 50%
of today’s Crowne Plaza portfolio in the U.S. will be completely renovated.
Approaching its twenty-year
anniversary, the Crowne Plaza in New York City’s Times Square
recently underwent an $85 million renovation.
“The hotel has been able to achieve double digit RevPAR
Index gains every month in 2009,” said Nan Molofsky, senior vice
president, City Investment Fund, the ownership group for the
hotel.
The Crowne Plaza Old Town Alexandria in
Washington, D.C., completed renovations in March 2008 and has seen
proof that modernization is key in stealing share from
competitors.
“We renovated our guest rooms,
meeting space, restaurant and lobby,” said Hammad Shah, vice
president, Asset Management, Carr Hospitality. “After just one
year we have seen 11 straight months of positive RevPAR Index
growth.”
Etihad Airways and American Airlines sign Codeshare Agreement
Posted , add a commentEtihad Airways and American Airlines are hoping
to receive regulatory approval from the US government for a
proposed new codeshare agreement.
The codeshare agreement will further extend the
two airlines’ global networks by providing access between Abu
Dhabi and key cities in the United States including Washington,
Los Angeles, San Francisco and Houston which have previously been
unavailable to Etihad customers.
Etihad Airways
will place its ‘EY’ code on a number of transatlantic services
operated by the US carrier between Europe and the United States,
as well as selected domestic services operated by American
Airlines beyond New York and Chicago.
In turn
American Airlines will place its own ‘AA’ code on services
operated by Etihad Airways between Abu Dhabi and New York (JFK),
Chicago (ORD), Paris (CDG), Dublin, Frankfurt, Manchester and
Milan (MXP).
James Hogan, Etihad Airways’ Chief
Executive, said, “The United States represents a key market for
Etihad and one in which we are keen to grow further, both through
the addition of new routes of our own, such as Chicago, and
through close cooperation with other well-established airlines
such as American Airlines.”
The American Airlines domestic routes within the US
covered by the new codeshare arrangement will initially include
flights between New York (JFK) and Washington, Los Angeles and San
Francisco as well as flights between Chicago and Washington, Los
Angeles, San Francisco and Houston.
The
transatlantic services include American Airlines flights between:
Paris (CDG) and Boston, Chicago, Miami; Dublin and Chicago;
Frankfurt and Dallas/Fort Worth; Manchester and Chicago; and Milan
and New York (JFK).
Subject to gaining US
government regulatory approval, the new codeshare agreement is
expected to come into effect to coincide with the launch by Etihad
of its new service to Chicago at the beginning of September, 2009.
Once the codeshare agreement is in place, customers
transferring between the two carriers will be able to purchase a
single ticket for their journey and enjoy the convenience of being
able to check in their luggage to their ultimate destination.
Etihad Airways currently flies to two destinations in
North America: New York (JFK) and Toronto in Canada. The airline
will begin flights to Chicago from Wednesday 2 September, 2009.
The route will be served initially three times a week and will
increase to daily flights from Thursday 1 October, 2009.
American Airlines currently flies transatlantic services
from New York to Barcelona, Brussels, Milan, London, Paris, Rome
and Zurich; Chicago to Brussels, Dublin, Frankfurt, London,
Manchester, Moscow, New Delhi, Paris and Rome; Miami to London,
Madrid and Paris; Dallas/Fort Worth to London, Madrid, Paris and
Frankfurt; Los Angeles to London; and Raleigh/Durham to London.
Where to find great travel deals in 2009
Posted January 17, 2009 , add a commentSure, the economy is struggling and most Americans are cutting back on their discretionary spending. But it’s not all doom and gloom for travelers in 2009. Even though the travel industry is impacted by the economic downturn, the good news is 2009 is the year of the great travel bargain. Your dream vacation may cost a lot less this year because of discounts, extras and upgrades. And some of the most popular travel destinations are seeing smaller crowds, which can make your visit a more enjoyable experience.
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Beach Resort Vacations Choices
Posted December 20, 2008 , add a commentAre you looking for the perfect beach resort? If you are planning a vacation and are looking for the perfect travel spot, this article is for you. Hopefully, you are thinking of something a bit more Fantasy Island than Survivor. There are numerous tropical resorts that offer beauty, fun, and romance at an affordable price… and no member of your “tribe” will be sent home- at least until their return flight. The beach resort vacations cited here are all in the United States. So put on your flip flops and swimsuit and come for a walk with me in search of the perfect beach resort- no passport required.
Continue reading 'Beach Resort Vacations Choices'