Recently in Experts Category

AmeliaEarhart.jpgCandice Kraughto is the Director of Public Relations for Starwood Hotels & Resorts Hawaii and thelobby.com's expert on Hawaii.

I'm fascinated with Amelia. July 24th marks the anniversary of the famous aviatrix's birthday and debut of "Amelia Earhart at The Royal Hawaiian - a Collection of Recently Discovered Photos from Matson Archives." The hotel presents a collection of recently discovered and rarely seen photographs of Amelia Earhart, documenting her time in Hawai'i from December 22, 1934 to January 12, 1935 and March 18-20, 1937. The photos will be on display in the resort's Coronet Lounge until the end of the year. The collection includes 65 black and white photographs that document Amelia Earhart and her Lockheed Vega, a red high wing monoplane (identification on wing NR-965-Y) on Matson Lines S.S. Lurline passenger ship and in Hawaii.

Earhart and her Lockheed Vega were transported on the S.S. Lurline from Los Angeles to Honolulu December 22, 1934 and arrived in Honolulu at Aloha Tower five days later on December 27th with her husband George Putnam and technical expert Paul Mantz. Although she was planning her solo flight across the Pacific from Honolulu to Oakland, the aviatrix also vacationed in Waikiki and was photographed relaxing at The Royal Hawaiian, having tea in a kimono robe and even sharing a pineapple with Duke Kahanamoku. The photo exhibit runs through the end of the year.

recent articles

more More

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

Visiting Tokyo can be quite overwhelming; the sheer size of the city is hard for this boy from Down Under to fathom, and then there is the challenge of the language.  Yet, it is a beautiful city to explore and gaining a bird's-eye view from a vantage point lets you put the city into perspective.
 
The Roppongi Hills development in Tokyo is a modern mix of private residences, offices and more than 200 shops, restaurants & cafes.  The centre of this urban enclave is the Mori Tower - set atop this skyscraper is Tokyo City View (level 52; open until midnight) and above this is an open-air sky deck (open until 8 p.m.) offering 360 degree views of Tokyo.  Take advantage of the late opening hours and enjoy the night time scenery. Admission is ¥1,500 (US $17) to Tokyo City View and an additional ¥300 (US $4) to the sky deck. The Westin Tokyo is a 2-stop subway trip from Roppongi on the Hibiya line.
 
My tip: Purchase a Japan Rail "Exchange Order" from your country of residence, before you arrive in Japan to obtain great discounts on train travel in Japan.  You must have "Temporary Visitor" status in your passport to be able to exchange your pre-purchased order for your actual travel ticket.  Note: you cannot use these tickets for Japan's fastest bullet-train, the Nozomi, but it is valid on other train services provided by Japan Railways, including bullet trains, Hikari and Kodama.

recent articles

more More

FreeFitnessFirstSundays.jpgJeremy McCarthy is the Director of Global Development and Operations for Starwood Hotels & Resorts and thelobby.com's expert on everything spa.

The Heavenly Spa at the Westin Moana Surfrider is now offering Ki Kilo Lani yoga classes. "Ki" is the Japanese word describing a person's "internal force". "Kilo Lani" means "to reach or look toward Heaven." Instructor Matt Meko's spirit opening style of yoga flows gently and keeps the heart pumping for all levels of experience. Locals can try the classes at the spa's "Free Fitness First Sundays" series which invites local residents to come try free yoga and fitness classes on the first Sunday of every month. Expect the essential yoga workout benefits such as: strength, endurance, flexibility, coordination, joint stability, and relaxation.

recent articles

more More

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

Crikey!  It's Bindi's Birthday. A visit to Australia's Sunshine Coast is not complete without taking the family to visit Australia Zoo - Home of The Crocodile Hunter - and given that it's Bindi's 12th birthday on Saturday, July 24th, it's a great excuse to take the kids and explore one of Australia's best attractions. Bindi is the daughter of the late Steve Irwin, the Crocodile Hunter. The Australia Zoo has won many tourism awards and is a must-for-all visitors, both local and international. Enjoy an opportunity to cuddle koalas, feed elephants, and of course, watch the crocodile show in the Crocoseum! To celebrate Bindi's birthday, children will be admitted free on July 24th (up to 14 years old, when accompanied by a paying adult). Head to the Australia Zoo and celebrate with Bindi! Sheraton Noosa Resort & Spa is a 30-minute drive from Australia Zoo, while the Sheraton Mirage Resort & Spa, Gold Coast is a 90-minute drive.

recent articles

more More

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

Being a huge Sex and the City fan, you could understand my excitement as I stumbled upon the Magnolia Bakery, home to where Carrie enjoyed those cupcakes and talked about Carrie's crush on Aiden. It is said that the Magnolia Bakery started the cupcake craze in the 1990's which continues until today. There, the cupcakes are baked from scratch and in small batches throughout the day to ensure their freshness. No preservatives are used in their recipes.

My takeaway box, containing two delicious cupcakes, cost just $5.50 USD. I could not go past the original and simple vanilla cakes with their rich butter icing. Speciality cupcakes, such as the red velvet are $3.25 USD. Diagonally opposite the bakery is an outdoor picnic area with tables and chairs where you can sit and enjoy these little gems! Outlets have now opened Uptown on Columbus Avenue and at the Rockefeller Centre on Avenue of the Americas. However, if you are a SATC fan, you simply must visit the original store located at 401 Bleecker Street, between 11th & Perry Streets in the West Village, a leisurely walk from the W New York - Union Square.

recent articles

more More

Jeremy_China.jpgJeremy McCarthy is the Director of Global Development and Operations for Starwood Hotels & Resorts and thelobby.com's expert on everything spa.

Research shows that one reason people don't buy new skincare products is that they feel guilty about all of the unused products that they already have in their medicine cabinets. But if those products aren't working for you, why deny yourself finding something that does? The Heavenly Spa at The Westin Beijing Financial Street has found a way to help their customers clean out their medicine cabinets guilt-free and in a way that's good for the environment. They are encouraging their clients to bring in all of their used cosmetic bottles to the spa, where they will consolidate them and have them recycled. Clients who bring in ten or more bottles receive a voucher good for a credit on their next spa treatment. This is a great way to do good for your medicine cabinet, your skin, and the planet all at the same time.

recent articles

more More

Kraughto_chocodaifuku1.jpgCandice Kraughto is the Director of Public Relations for Starwood Hotels & Resorts Hawaii.

I confess. I am a mochi maniac. Wherever I travel throughout the world, I search for mochi - whether it is plain kinako chi chi dango or ichigo daifuku with a whole strawberry inside. Maybe in five years mainstream Americans will probably discover this delightful Japanese dessert snack made of glutinous rice pounded and molded into a plump, soft ball filled with sweet bean paste. While on a business trip in San Francisco earlier this year, I stared out of my room at the The Palace Hotel. What were those words on the red storefront across from the hotel on Market Street? Did it say "Japanese sweets?" I ran out of The Palace on New Montgomery across Market Street and into Minamoto Kitchoan. Oh joy! Cradling the individually wrapped balls of sakura mochi (cherry blossom flavor) and chestnut mochi, I carefully placed them in my shopping basket. I would enjoy them later in my hotel room with a cup of hot tea. All these years that I have stayed at The Palace and never knew my favorite dessert was waiting for me across the street! Mochi just like in Japan. Maniacs like me only need to trek across the Pacific Ocean to Hawaii where mochi culture thrives. Where mochi stuffed with peanut butter filling or melon, blueberry or chocolate chi chi dango is sold in the local Long's Drugs or Walgreens. An encounter with taro mochi balls on the Saturday night buffet at the Sheraton Keauhou Bay Resort & Spa's Kai restaurant was enchanting. If you are feeling decadent, mochi filled with lilikoi cream or chocolate and haupia (coconut pudding) is perfect with a cup of genmaicha.

[image via Minamoto Kitchoan]

recent articles

more More

SavannahSquares.jpgJeremy McCarthy is the Director of Global Development and Operations for Starwood Hotels & Resorts and thelobby.com's expert on everything spa.

Savannah, Georgia is a great walking town. The town is filled with quaint shops, art galleries and restaurants offering a variety of local fare. It is uniquely laid out on a grid with small plazas found every couple of blocks in every direction, each one honoring some important figure from Savannah's past. Many of the plazas, but not all, honor heroes from the Civil War. It is easy to start walking and get lost (as I did) just strolling from plaza to plaza for hours. If you are staying at The Westin Savannah Harbor, your walk begins and ends with a nice boat ride across the Savannah River.

recent articles

more More

McCarthy_SpaAnjali.jpgJeremy McCarthy is the Director of Global Development and Operations for Starwood Hotels & Resorts and thelobby.com's expert on everything spa.

I like the "green" steps that the new Spa Anjali at the Westin Riverfront Resort and Spa in Avon, Colorado is taking. The building is Silver Leed Certified, and the spa manager, Suzy Johlfs is always looking at ways that they can soften their impact on the environment.
One program they have started recently is the "green check-in" for arriving spa guests. Guests are incentivized to arrive to the spa using the robe from their room, rather than using a new robe from the spa. Washing less robes means significant water savings for a busy spa operation. So far about half of the hotel guests that come to the spa are doing their part to help. Suzy estimates that within two years she will have saved enough water to fill the resort's expansive swimming pool. The spa staff recently showed off their green personality at their grand opening party (pictured), where ladies dressed as Aspen trees "blended in" to the spa's unique lobby.

recent articles

more More

WMexicoCitybath.jpgJeremy McCarthy is the Director of Global Development and Operations for Starwood Hotels & Resorts and thelobby.com's expert on everything spa. Over the last few weeks, he has been reporting from Mexico, where he has been traveling around the country.

What is the woman in the mural of the Away Spa at W Mexico City looking at? She is peering into the Temazcal, the traditional steam bath ritual that is available for individuals, couples or small groups in the heart of the spa. A local shaman or "temzcalera" leads guests through a chanting and meditation ritual while hot rocks cause them to sweat out all of their toxins and impurities.

recent articles

more More
  • About
  • More
Starwood Preferred Guests can now stay updated on the latest travel trends. A core group of experts – including Starwood employees and SPG members – provide updates on unique and noteworthy travel experiences around the world. Get a behind-the-scenes look at exciting Starwood travel destinations and receive daily articles using TheLobby.com widget for your blog, desktop or web page.
spg member corner
Find out recommendations from our SPG members about what to do and where to go when you're on vacation. View the Articles
q & a with spg Sign up now for Starwood Preferred Guest and discover how rewarding membership can be. sign up now
destination spotlight
StRegisDSBahia.jpg

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!
q & a with spg Looking for advice about SPG? Ask questions to our SPG insiders and other SPG members or answer the questions submitted by others. submit your question or answer