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Destination Spotlight - Bahía Beach, Puerto Rico - Dine Among the Ferns

Wednesday September 1, 2010

When the St. Regis Bahia Beach Resort opens in November, so will the latest signature restaurant by acclaimed chef Jean-Georges Vongerichten: Fern by Jean-Georges.

"I am very excited about becoming a part of the new St. Regis Resort, Bahía Beach in Puerto Rico," Chef Jean-Georges says. "I love the Caribbean, the rainforest, the beaches and the warm people."

Much as it does at Lagoon at the St. Regis Resort in Bora Bora, the menu will no doubt make the most of local fresh fish, too, such as grouper, wahoo and dorado (aka mahi-mahi). Fortunately for Jean-Georges, Puerto Rico's local agriculture is quite robust, so he and his chefs won't be forced to travel to nearby islands to forage for staples. Fern blends the chef's signature "vibrant cuisine," which draws on the flavors and culinary traditions of both France and Asia, with traditional Puerto Rican ingredients such as papaya, mango, yuca and coconut.

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Offbeat

Destination Spotlight - Bahía Beach, Puerto Rico: Tee Off at the Robert Trent Jones, Jr. Golf Course

Tuesday August 31, 2010

For more than 40 years, Puerto Rico has been a favorite destination of golfers, but this year players of the gentleman's game have two more reasons to polish the clubs and head to the island. The Robert Trent Jones, Jr. Golf Course is one of the most exciting new courses in the world, having opened recently along a gorgeous stretch of Bahía Beach. Better still, this world class course is just steps from the brand new The St. Regis Bahia Beach Resort, Puerto Rico, which will open its doors to guests on November 4, 2010. Spread out over 6,979 yards, the course overlooks the Atlantic ocean, 80 acres of saltwater lagoons, and the mountainous El Yunque rainforest, giving players plenty of challenges with every hole. The par-three fourth hole, for example, requires a short carry over water to a large, triangular green, while the three final holes play directly along the ocean and beach - offering little room for error and plenty of natural beauty to test one's focus. But no matter how the round goes, golfers will be glad to return to the St. Regis Bahia Beach after the 18th for dinner at Fern by Jean Georges, where a world of culinary delights comes with views of swaying palm trees. Brag about your best shots over drinks at the St. Regis bar and start making plans for another golf getaway.

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Destination Spotlight - Bahía Beach, Puerto Rico - Tap Into the Nature Lover in You in the El Yunque Rainforest

Tuesday August 31, 2010

If you believe there aren't any tropical rainforests in the United States Forest System, you're almost right. The US lays claim to just one, the El Yunque Rainforest, a magical and majestic spot within view of the St. Regis Bahía Beach Resort, which is scheduled to open November. 4, 2010.

As you would expect of a tropical rainforest, El Yunque provides shelter to many exotic fish (snook and tarpon), birds (pelicans), animals (West Indian whistling ducks, iguanas), and lush flora whose growth is aided by the more than 100 billion gallons of rain that fall annually. The slow-moving Espiritu Santo River winds through the forest and along the eastern border of the St. Regis, putting kayaking and canoeing within easy reach. Tackle El Yunque's Mt. Britton, a 3,088-foot peak that takes about 45 minutes to climb and provides beautiful views of the rainforest, or hike in hopes of seeing the endangered Puerto Rican parrot, the only remaining native parrot in Puerto Rico. The US Fish & Wildlife Service estimates that there are only about 40 of them left in the wild, all of which live in El Yunque. If you're a nature lover who can't wait to try and spot the brilliant green birds with the red forehead, you'll likely be glad to know that Bahía Beach will have a naturalist on staff to lead walks and conduct workshops.

[image via Wikimedia Commons]

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Inside

The St. Regis Polo Tradition Thrives With The Launch of Its Dedicated Polo Website

Monday August 23, 2010

Nacho & PH.jpg St. Regis Hotels & Resorts, in association with American Express®, the official card of St. Regis Polo, recently launched a new destination website, stregis.com/polo, celebrating its long association with this much-loved sport. The relationship between St. Regis Hotels & Resorts and the sport of polo began in 1904, when John Jacob Astor IV and his family would attend matches on Governors Island, a small island off the coast of Manhattan. Polo players and spectators alike would often stay at Astor's new St. Regis Hotel creating a bond with the sport that has endured for more than a century. Today that bond is stronger than ever, with events throughout the year that exemplify the very best of the polo world.

This year Nacho Figueras,the world's most recognized polo player, was appointed the first ever St. Regis Connoisseur, offering guests access to some of the greatest polo matches and experiences in the world. Figueras kept some esteemed company at the Veuve Clicquot Polo Classic on Governors Island this spring as his Black Watch team competed against HRH Prince Henry of Wales and Team Sentebale. On June 25th, The St. Regis New York hosted a gala charity event to raise money for Sentebale, the prince's charity, benefiting the over 400,000 orphans living in Lesotho, Africa. Prince Harry was in attendance for this event where Chef de cuisine Didier Elena from Alain Ducasse's Adour at The St. Regis New York crafted a four-course menu degustation for the evening.

St. Regis sponsors major polo matches around the world including the third annual St. Regis International Cup, which kicked off the UK polo season at Cowdray Park, the home of British Polo on May 22nd. There, VIP guests were treated to world-class polo and signature St. Regis afternoon tea. Earlier this summer, The St. Regis Singapore participated in the Audemars Piguet International Tournament, an annual tradition of the Singapore Polo Club as the official hotel sponsor. In Singapore, Nacho Figueras hosted a special VIP dinner, where he met SPG Moments winners, who attended a weekend of thrilling matches.

Visit stregis.com/polo today to learn about upcoming events in the world of polo, such as the Tortugas Open in Argentina or the Royal Salute Polo Gold Cup in China.

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Inside

St. Regis Monarch Beach Named to 2010 Condé Nast Traveler Gold List

Thursday August 12, 2010

The St. Regis Monarch Beach in Dana Point, California is once again the recipient of a major industry award, as it was recently named to the 2010 Condé Nast Traveler Gold List as one of the world's best and most desirable places to stay. Located along the Pacific Ocean, this Tuscan-style resort is the epitome of service, elegance, and luxury. It boasts everything you need to have a completely restorative experience, including a private beach club, three swimming pools, the Monarch Beach Golf Links, and the Sandcastle Kids Club for younger visitors. Alfresco dining takes on new meaning at the resort's six ocean-view restaurants. Enjoy some light American fare and a fruity beverage by the pool at the Pool Bar & Grill, or dress up in something stylish and visit the renowned Stonehill Tavern, where chef Michael Mina creates a one-of-a-kind dining experience with inventive small-plate trios that feature three different preparations of the same ingredients. There are few places more pleasant than the restaurant's outdoor terrace, where dinner and cocktails come with unparalleled views of the sun setting over the ocean. Visit the hotel's exclusive offers page and see this award-winning destination for yourself.

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Savor

Beijing's Over-the-Top Restaurants

Thursday August 12, 2010

Modern China is quickly gaining a taste for the finer things in life, and sometimes that results in restaurants that can only be described as over-the-top. Indulge your own culinary fantasies during your stay at the St. Regis Beijing — starting with the hotel's own extravagant champagne and caviar Sunday brunch.

The Philippe Starck-designed Lan in the LG Twin Towers feels a little like the set of a music video: DJs spin, Renaissance-style paintings hang down from the ceiling, and the mirrored bathrooms feature an armchair alongside the toilet. Service unfortunately appears to be slipping, but the food and drinks are still good.

Walking into the Whampoa Club feels more like a dream, as you find yourself surrounded by dozens of birdcages and avant garde furniture. The upper dining room overlooks a lotus pond, while the basement dining room's ceiling is glass, with thousands of crystals dangling from it, creating an endless chandelier. Restaurateur Jerem Leung's menu produces haute versions of traditional Chinese dishes.

Bin Feng Tang restaurant at the Beijing Zoo offers a different sort of fantasy. Despite its setting (or perhaps because of it) you can order dishes made with such exotic animals as hippopotamus, kangaroo and crocodile. None of the animals are endangered, but it has plenty of people upset — and probably a lot of other people salivating at the thought. (I haven't seen any articles lately about it, so the zoo may have bowed to pressure. Check before you go.)

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Celebrate

Starwood Insider - Peter Foreman - Blazing the Trail with the Singapore 2010 Youth Olympic Games

Friday August 6, 2010

Peter Foreman is the Director of Sales & Marketing at Le Méridien Kuala Lumpur and thelobby.com's expert on Asia.

For such a small nation, Singapore makes a big name for itself in the international community with events such as the world's first night Formula 1 and now the world's first Youth Olympic Games. The Singapore 2010 Youth Olympic Games will be held between August 14-26, 2010 with more than 3,600 athletes between 14 and 18 years of age competing in 26 sports such as basketball, gymnastics, sailing and even, table tennis. As with all Olympic Games, the Olympic torch, will be lit in Greece and will travel to one city (Berlin, Dakar, Mexico City, Auckland & Seoul) in each of the five continents before arriving in Singapore where it will travel through the five communities of the island nation in August. In Singapore, you can choose to stay at the legendary St. Regis Singapore or the Sheraton Towers Singapore. To purchase tickets, visit the official site here.

Did you know that the 2014 Summer Youth Olympic Games will be held in Nanjing, China while the first ever Winter Youth Olympic Games will be held in Innsbruck, Austria in 2012? Start planning your next Olympic adventures!

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Celebrate

Fine Art Comes Alive in Laguna Beach

Thursday July 22, 2010

It's often said that art, at its best, has a lifelike quality, but that idea is taken to the extreme at a fascinating art festival in Laguna Beach this summer. The Festival of Arts - Pageant of the Masters takes place now through August 31, 2010, and it has a little something for the art lover in all of us. First, it's a major art show. Works by hundreds of talented artists are on display in a beautiful park by the ocean, with judges awarding prizes to the finest selections in different media. At the same time, in the Irvine Bowl, the Pageant of the Masters features an show of "Living Pictures" in which actors, dancers, and musicians act as living statues to show how painters and sculptors find their inspiration. This year's theme is Eat, Drink, and Be Merry, so look out for recreations of plenty of scenes involving fine foods, wine, music, and merrymaking. The pageant dates back to 1932, when artist and vaudevillian Lolita Perine dressed local residents in period costume and seated them behind a makeshift frame. The Living Pictures were so popular that the tradition expanded throughout the years. Today, it's one of the biggest events on the cultural calendar, and truly something like you've never seen before. Starwood has several hotels in the Laguna Beach area, including the nearby St. Regis Monarch Beach, recently selected as part of the Condé Nast Traveler Gold List for 2010.

[image via Festival of Arts - Pageant of the Masters]

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Inside

Soothing Beaches, Sparkling Waters and Savings of a Lifetime in the Pacific

Tuesday July 13, 2010

The Pacific island vacation you've always dreamed of is closer than you think. With 50% off in Hawaii and French Polynesia you can enjoy stays at 11 resorts on Oahu, Maui, Kauai, and the Big Island of Hawaii, or three resorts on Tahiti and Bora Bora for half the price. Put simply, paradise is on sale. At the Sheraton Kauai Resort (pictured), you'll be immersed in the serene beauty of Hawaii's oldest island. The Westin Maui Resort & Spa is the most romantic escape in all the Hawaiian Islands... the dramatic point at which the legendary Black Rock of Ka'anapali meets the ocean. A night at the luxurious Le Méridien Tahiti boasts white sand beaches, calming blue waves and commanding mountain views. And the Le Méridien Bora Bora offers 99 tropically themed bungalows that are perched over the lagoon or nestled amid palm trees at the edge of ivory sands. Book your vacation to paradise online or by calling 866-716-8141 and requesting rate plan SPG50SPC for travel through December 31, 2010.

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Modern Shows in Rome's Ancient Spaces

Monday July 12, 2010

Rome's Teatro Romano di Ostia Antica dates back more than 2000 years to the rule of the Emperor Augusto, but it's still one of the best venues in the city for both classic and modern performances. The open-air 3,000-seat amphitheater is located in the Ostia Antica, the "harbor city" of ancient Rome that contains some of the best-preserved ancient frescoes and artwork in the city, including the Baths of Neptune and Cisiarii. Show up a few hours early for your performance to take a stroll through this ancient city before heading to the beautifully-restored theater. With its series of large masks looking out at patrons, it serves as a centerpiece to this ancient center of art and commerce, so a concert is more than just a concert, it's a trip back in time. It's a fun way to experience Rome as it was a few thousand years ago. Upcoming shows this summer include British prog rockers, Jethro Tull, and art-rock favorite, Patti Smith, performing an all-acoustic set. Starwood has six hotels in Rome, including the elegant St. Regis Grand Hotel, Rome.

[image via Ostia Antica]

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Bahia Beach, Puerto Rico

Set amongst the El Yunque Rainforest, the only tropical rainforest in the US, this majestic destination boasts world-class golf, signature dining and a myriad of outdoor pursuits. Book your trip now!

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