Recently in Starwood Ownership Category

Lucy Williams is an Orlando-based writer for Starwood Vacation Ownership and thelobby.com's expert on the subject.

Nestled at the base of Camelback Mountain in Scottsdale, Arizona is The Phoenician resort, a luxurious oasis where you may relax in unrivaled accommodations amid serene desert beauty. And now you can enjoy a lifetime of exquisite experiences within The Phoenician resort with a unique fractional ownership opportunity. As a Member of The Phoenician Residences, The Luxury Collection Residence Club, Scottsdale, the distinctive pleasures of The Phoenician become yours to savor. Exquisite two- and three-bedroom floor plans are currently available. Select features include imported Irish linens, rich hardwood floors, a travertine fireplace, a private plunge pool, LCD televisions and an outdoor summer kitchen with gas grill. Amenities vary from Residence to Residence.

Here you may indulge in an outstanding array of amenities and pleasures. Enjoy three nine-hole championship golf courses surrounded by the rich colors and textures of the desert. Play an invigorating match at the Tennis Garden, with eleven lighted courts and four unique surfaces. Or simply unwind at one of eight shimmering pools, where you may enjoy private cabanas and a 165-foot water slide.

Lucy Williams is an Orlando-based writer for Starwood Vacation Ownership and thelobby.com's expert on the subject.

The Travelocity Roaming Gnome is on another adventure, and this time he has been seen at several different Starwood Vacation Ownership resorts. When you stay at one of these resorts in 2008, you can go on a Roaming Gnome scavenger hunt for a chance to win prizes. Roaming Gnomes will be hidden in secret spots around the resorts. Participants will receive a clue sheet with hints as to where they are hiding. Once you complete your clue sheet, you can redeem it for a prize at the resort. You will also be entered into a grand prize drawing to win a five-day, four-night resort stay, plus two airline tickets worth up to $750 each. The contest began on May 1 and will continue through the end of 2008. The grand prize winner will be chosen at the end of the year.

Participating Starwood Vacation Ownership resorts are: Sheraton Vistana Villages and Sheraton Vistana Resort in Orlando, Florida; The Westin St. John Resort & Villas in St. John, U.S. Virgin Islands; The Westin Ka'anapali Ocean Resort Villas in Maui, Hawai'i; The Westin Princeville Ocean Resort Villas in Kaua'i, Hawai'i; The Westin Mission Hills Resort & Villas in Rancho Mirage, California; Sheraton Desert Oasis and The Westin Kierland Villas in Scottsdale, Arizona; Sheraton Mountain Vista in Avon, Colorado; Sheraton Broadway Plantation in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina; Sheraton PGA Vacation Resort in Port St. Lucie, Florida; and Vistana's Beach Club in Jensen Beach, Florida.

Lucy Williams is an Orlando-based writer for Starwood Vacation Ownership and thelobby.com's expert on the subject.

This summer, Central Florida's theme parks are unleashing an array of new thrills that promise to entertain and delight. Fans of "The Simpsons" animated TV show will want to head to Universal Studios® Florida to check out The Simpsons RideTM, a roller coaster simulator. Tag along with Homer, Marge, Bart, Lisa and Maggie at Krustyland, Krusty the Clown's fictitious theme park. The ride commences with a safety short featuring Itchy and Scratchy. But things go awry when Sideshow Bob takes over Krustyland to wreak havoc on the cartoon family. Expect heart-pumping action, including what the park calls "the first 360-degree barrel role ever attempted in a simulator."

Or, head to Walt Disney World® for Toy Story Mania!, the new 3-D ride modeled after the "Toy Story" movies. Enter the world of Andy, the cartoon boy whose toys come to life when humans aren't in sight. Giant dice, checkers and other toys line the ride queue to make guests feel toy-sized. Aboard the ride, you can launch darts, rings and pies at animated targets by using a spring-action shooter.

Lucy Williams is an Orlando-based writer for Starwood Vacation Ownership and thelobby.com's expert on the subject.

Sunny Central Florida offers an array of ways to cool off when the heat rises. For serene or extreme aquatic encounters that are certain to help you keep your cool, head to SeaWorld Orlando. Through the Beluga Interaction Program, you can enter the environment of beluga whales and enjoy a hands-on meeting with the beautiful white mammals. Participants learn about the beluga whales, then change into wetsuits and get into the water for animal interactions that include touching and feeding the whales, as well as helping trainers communicate with the animals using hand signals.

If you want to get closer to a variety of aquatic life, check out the Marine Mammal Keeper Experience. During this 8-hour program, you may work alongside marine mammal experts to prepare daily diets and learn husbandry behaviors for a variety of mammals in the park, including manatees, dolphins and beluga whales.

Lucy Williams is an Orlando-based writer for Starwood Vacation Ownership and thelobby.com's expert on the subject.

If you're looking for the perfect place to cool off this summer, consider taking a vacation in the Rocky Mountains. When other parts of the country are feeling the heat, Steamboat Springs, Colorado offers ideal weather for an array of outdoor activities, including hiking, mountain biking, kayaking and fly-fishing. Plus, you can beat the heat with a dip in the cool pool at Strawberry Park Hot Springs.

For a limited time, you're invited to get away to the Rocky Mountains and discover the pleasures of Sheraton Steamboat Resort Villas, a vacation ownership resort in Steamboat Springs. Enjoy five days' and four nights' accommodations in Steamboat Springs for just $229. To learn more about this offer or to view the complete details of participation, please call 888.293.9186 or click here.

Lucy Williams is an Orlando-based writer for Starwood Vacation Ownership and thelobby.com's expert on the subject.

You're invited to experience a celebration of wine and spirits in Beaver Creek, Colorado from August 7 through 9, 2008. The Beaver Creek Wine & Spirits Festival will feature San Francisco-area celebrity chefs as well as the winners of the San Francisco International Wine Competition and World Spirits Competition. You can expect an exciting array of events, including tastings, food pairings, a wine auction, cooking classes and much more. Enjoy the natural beauty of the Rockies when you attend Walk & Wine, a guided hike from the Beaver Creek Hiking Center followed by a wine pairing luncheon. Or check out Fly Fish/Eat Fish, an event where you can fish the Eagle River with an experienced guide, plus taste over 40 award-winning wines, spirits and dishes from celebrity guest chefs at the festival's finale. To purchase tickets, visit here. After each day of wining and dining, return to comfortable and spacious accommodations when you stay at Sheraton Mountain Vista in Avon, Colorado.

Lucy Williams is an Orlando-based writer for Starwood Vacation Ownership and thelobby.com's expert on Florida.

The Kapalua Wine & Food Festival returns this weekend to Maui for its 27th year. During this four-day culinary extravaganza, you may discover some of the world's top gastronomic trends and enjoy an array of exciting gourmet events. This year's festival brings together top master sommeliers, celebrated chefs and industry insiders for themed tastings, seminars and gala evening events. Cooking demonstrations, wine tasting seminars, winemaker dinners and a golf tournament are but a few of the highlights of this festival. The festival will be held through June 29, 2008, with tickets available here. After each day of culinary delight, unwind in spacious and inspired accommodations at The Westin Ka'anapali Ocean Resort Villas or The Westin Ka'anapali Ocean Resort Villas North.