TORONTO, ONTARIO–(Marketwire – July 13, 2010) –
Attention: Lifestyle, Travel, and Feature Editors
Fairmont Hotels & Resorts has launched a series of water-themed travel packages for active, socially responsible families and the eco-consciously inclined. The following “H2O” packages are designed to inspire travelers to get to know the oceans, seas, rivers and waterways that make many Fairmont destinations so unique.
Fairmont’s commitment to ocean and freshwater sustainability goes even deeper. In the Pacific Ocean, The Fairmont Orchid on the Big Island of Hawaii partners with the University of Hawaii to monitor the health of the offshore coral reef that fronts the property. Meanwhile, over in the Atlantic Ocean, The Fairmont Royal Pavilion has set up a ‘Turtle Patrol’ team to protect nesting grounds and help collect data on the hatchlings. These are just two examples of the many ways Fairmont colleagues are actively doing their part to protect our precious sources of water for future generations to enjoy.
From the Nile River in Egypt to the glacier-fed waters of Lake Louise in Canada, guests of Fairmont hotels can dive in and experience some fascinating water adventures. For a full listing of all H2O packages and to book, please visit www.fairmont.com/promo/H2O or call 1-866-840-8129.
Canada
The Fairmont Palliser invites guests to learn about species conservation in the water and on land at The Calgary Zoo with Discover Life on Earth package. The Zoo’s Centre for Conservation Research conducts innovative scientific research in zoos and in the wild to address environmental problems threatening the world’s species and ecosystems. After a day at the Zoo, guests can visit the Rimrock Dining Room at The Fairmont Palliser and select items from the Ocean-Wise menu, supporting the hotel’s commitment to sustainable seafood. Weekend package rates starting from $269 are based on double occupancy, and include accommodation, parking, two full-day Zoo admission passes, and $100 credit for dinner.
Fairmont The Queen Elizabeth is located in Montreal, surrounded by a series of waterways and 380 islands. Guests of the One Drop at a Time package will explore Ste. Helene’s island, created using the extra soil generated from the creation of the metro, built for Expo ’67. On the island, visit the Biosphere, a museum dedicated to education on major environmental issues and water preservation. The One Drop at a Time package includes one night accommodation for two adults and two children, family admission to the Biosphere, public transit tickets and an environmental welcome amenity. Valid until to September 6, 2010, from $259 CDN per night, based on two adults and up to two children aged 17 or under.
The Fairmont Winnipeg offers the Gone Fishin’ package for guests to experience the excitement of year-round fishing in lakes stocked with Manitoba’s best sport fish, or enjoy more contemplative pursuits such as canoeing, hiking or bird-watching at FortWhyte Alive, a 600-acre nature reserve of prairie, lakes, forest and wetlands. Guests will enjoy a luxurious Fairmont 1-Bedroom Suite and a family day-pass to FortWhyte Alive. Those with hybrid cars will have free valet parking; the family also enjoys a complimentary 1-hour boat ride, canoe trip or bison buggy rental. Fairmont will donate $25 per night for every package booked to FortWhyte Farms, a hands-on training program for at-risk youth. Package is available Thursday through Sunday from May 15 until October 31, 2010. Rates start at $259 CAD per night.
The Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise has a Swim with the Westie package for conservation minded guests. The Westslope Cutthroat Trout, known as the “Westie” among friends, is a species-at-risk. Guests will learn about this important fish while gliding over the still waters of Lake Louise on a canoe, or snowshoeing across it, depending on the season. Afterward, guests can relax over dinner for two featuring delicious sustainable seafood. Guests will also receive a reusable stainless steel water bottle and a donation will be made in their name to Trout Unlimited. Rates start at $399 CAD per night.
The Fairmont Chateau Whistler lets guests experience the ecological wonders of British Columbia’s waterways with the Waterways of Whistler package, providing the best of the outdoors with Whistler Eco Tours and the comforts of luxury indoors at The Fairmont Chateau Whistler. Guests will venture forth on “The River of Golden Dreams”, a scenic glacier river tour, and learn about the history, geography, flora, and fauna of this mountain paradise. The tour is followed by a delicious Ocean Wise dinner for two in the exclusive Wine Room. Package is available April 21st – Sept 15th depending on weather. Rates start at $412 CAD per night with a two night minimum stay.
Fairmont Le Manoir Richelieu is showing its support for the Group for Research and Education on Marine Mammals (GREMM) with their Adopt a Beluga package. Guests will enjoy a three-hour whale watching excursion for two adults on the Saint-Lawrence River. Package includes accommodation, buffet breakfast for two, complimentary indoor valet parking for hybrid vehicles and $10 CAD from each package will be donated to GREMM. Access to the Multi-Sport Center with saltwater indoor and outdoor all-season pools is also included. Available until September 30, 2010; rates from $349 CAD per night.
The Fairmont Algonquin in St. Andrews by-the-Sea, New Brunswick, invites guests to experience the whales of the East Coast with their Whale of a Time package. Guests will sail the Atlantic on a whale watching eco-vacation with the chance to adopt a whale. Included in the package is complimentary breakfast and one adoption certificate of a Right Whale in the guest’s name from the Grand Manan Whale and Seabird Research Station. Rates from $179 CAD during winter months and $219 CAD during the summer.
Fairmont Waterfront in Vancouver offers a Whale of a Time package for guests who wish to get up close and personal with the whales of the West Coast. Travelers of all ages van imitate the otters, smooch with a sea lion or buddy-up with a beluga at the Vancouver Aquarium. This family adventure gives kids of all ages a chance to rediscover the wonders of the sea. The package includes family passes to the Aquarium and the Vancouver Trolley, along with a souvenir keepsake for the kids. Valet parking is also included. Rates from $389 per night based on two adults and two children (under 18), with a minimum two-night stay.
The Fairmont Hotel Vancouver is delighted to announce the newest member of their family – Tanu, a friendly Sea Otter who calls the Vancouver Aquarium home. The adoption was an Environmental Committee initiative and to celebrate, the hotel has created a fun family package. The Sea the Change package includes overnight accommodation, a family pass to visit Tanu and other incredible marine members at the Vancouver Aquarium, along with free admission to the 4-D Planet Earth epic movie, “Shallow Seas”. Parents can enjoy a special Ocean Wise dinner for two and will receive a special welcome amenity from the Chef upon arrival. Rates from $359 for two adults and two children (under 18).
Fairmont Pacific Rim in Vancouver offers an Urban H2O Adventure package for those wishing to escape from the bright lights and late nights. Guests will head to the shore for a kayak tour and a sea-level look at Vancouver’s coastline. Package includes overnight accommodation, guided kayaking tour for two, a welcome gift of two stainless steel water bottles and breakfast. Rates start from $379 per room.
Fairmont Tremblant, at the foot of the majestic Laurentian Mountains, invites guests to discover Parc du Mont-Tremblant with its four hundred lakes and six rivers dotted with waterfalls, cascades, and a multitude of streams. The Meanders of the Diable package takes guests on a guided canoe tour through the Diable River, stopping along the 6-km descent for a snack and a swim. Paddlers often see ducks, beavers and several different species of birds. The package includes accommodation, daily buffet breakfast for two, half-day guided canoe adventure for two on the Diable River and a welcome amenity. Valid from June 24 – September 6, 2010; rates from $356 CDN per room.
Fairmont Le Château Montebello in Québec invites families to celebrate the Great Outdoors, by exploring one of North America’s largest private nature reserves at sister property Fairmont Kenauk. Families may enjoy a half-day of canoeing and kayaking followed by a walk through the hotel’s trails where nature interpretation panels provide tutorials on the region’s native flora and fauna. Package includes accommodation, daily breakfast for a family of four and free valet parking for hybrid vehicles. Available until September 30, 2010, rates start at $255 CAD per room.
United States
The Fairmont Orchid on the Big Island of Hawaii promises ocean breezes and an Outrigger Canoe adventure guided by a Fairmont Orchid Beach Boy with its Pacific Luxury package. After their adventure, guests will whet their appetite with a tour of the Fairmont Orchid’s Tropical Herb Garden, followed by dinner for two at Brown’s Beach House, featuring locally grown sustainable cuisine. The package includes accommodation in a Luxurious Garden View room with an organically sustainable Puolo treat and a donation made in the guest’s name to the HPA/NOAA Turtle Tagging Program. Package available until December 20, 2010 and starts at $399 USD per night.
Fairmont Turnberry Isle has an Everglades Safari that’s sure to unleash the wild side of guests. The NaviGATOR Safari package offers nightly accommodation, an “Everglades Birds” pocket guide souvenir upon arrival, complimentary valet parking for hybrid car drivers, a naturalist or biologist to help navigate the national park’s four ecosystems, plus a donation will be made in the guest’s name to the Everglades Restoration fund. During the day safari, guests enjoy a flat-bottomed airboat ride through the pond apple forest and sawgrass sloughs in Shark Valley where alligators, egrets and a variety of wildlife are in abundance. The adventure continues with a scenic drive through the Big Cypress National Preserve and a pontoon boat excursion around the waters of Chokoloskee Bay and its “10,000 islands” will leave guests amazed. An alfresco lunch at the Seafood Depot and visit to renowned Everglades master photographer Clyde Butcher’s gallery is also included in the experience. Available until December 19, 2010, package starts at $568 USD for a two-night stay.
The Fairmont Sonoma Mission Inn & Spa offers guests the experience of Water & Wine at its elegant 40,000 square-foot spa, built on the historic site first revered by Native American Indians for its healing waters. The spa is one of the only resorts in the United States with its own source of natural thermal mineral water, which flows 1,100 feet directly beneath the Inn at 135 degrees Fahrenheit. The Spa pays homage to the Native Americans who first discovered the Sonoma waters, as well as ancient Egyptian, Greek and Roman civilizations, which believed in the axiom ‘Sanitas per Aquas,’ or healing through water. Guests of the Water & Wine package will stay in a handsome Wine Country Fairmont room, receive an organic bottle of wine, be treated to a daily docent-guided hike and enjoy a Farm-to-Fork Dinner for Two at the Michelin-rated Santé dining room. For every package reserved, Fairmont will make a donation to the Sonoma Ecology Center. Rates begin at $449 USD per night.
Fairmont Copley Plaza and Fairmont Battery Wharf are both offering the Live Blue Weekend package this year. This package celebrates the world of water at The New England Aquarium, one of the most popular destinations in Boston. The New England Aquarium seeks to increase understanding of aquatic life and environments, to enable people to conserve the world of water, and to provide leadership for the preservation and sustainable use of aquatic resources. This package includes accommodations, two tickets to the New England Aquarium and a donation to the New England Aquarium’s “Proud Parent Program” to support the care of one of the aquarium’s species for one year. Rates start at $329 USD per night.
Fairmont Newport Beach provides an authentic reflection of the “OC” with its So Cal Crusin’ package. Guests will take a step off land and into a charming, easy-to-operate Duffy Boat where they will have a water’s-edge view of the good life, cruising around the world-famous Newport Harbor. The natural harbor boasts seven residential islands, over 20 restaurants and is home to 10,000 private boats, which include more than 2,000 Duffy Electric Boats – the most popular boats in the harbor. Package includes accommodation, Duffy Boat Rental for two hours and complimentary valet parking. Available year-round, rates start at $319 USD per night.
Fairmont Scottsdale Princess is bringing water adventures to the desert this summer with their National Geographic Explorers Camp package. On summer holiday weekends, world-renowned National Geographic Explorers visit Fairmont to lead little campers aged 5-12 on expeditions throughout the resort, from exploring the Princess Falls waterfall, swimming in one of the five resort pools, fishing at scenic lagoons, and learning about blue herons, families of ducks or turtles sunning near the lily pads. After their daily adventures, families can enjoy 200-foot waterslides, “dive-in” movies, a teen “Hang Out” and visits from mascots “Arizona Jones” and “Bobcat Billy.” The National Geographic Explorers Camp Package is $189 USD per night and includes a half-day camp with an all-day Kids Dining Passport for up to three children, until September 6, 2010.
Mexico & The Caribbean
Fairmont Mayakoba works closely with Community Tours Sian Ka’an, a not-for-profit Mayan organization that seeks to preserve Sian Ka’an, a biosphere reserve in Quintana Roo, Mexico and a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1987. Mayaking at Sian Ka’an is a guest package that allows vacationers to experience this special part of the world, with a one-day kayaking trip at Sian Ka’an for two adults, including transportation and a picnic lunch. Guests will also be treated to a bird watching tour onsite at the Fairmont Mayakoba’s extensive grounds and two trees will be donated on guests’ behalf to a local carbon capture project. Package also includes accommodation and daily breakfast buffet for two. Rates start at $299 USD (Sept 1 – Oct 31) and $319 (May 15 – Aug 31 and Nov 1 – Dec 17), with a minimum of three nights.
The Fairmont Royal Pavilion in Barbados offers an amazing opportunity to Swim with the Turtles in Paradise. The beaches at The Fairmont Royal Pavilion are popular nesting grounds for the rare Hawksbill sea turtles. Working with the Barbados Turtle Project, the Royal Pavilion has set up a ‘Turtle Patrol’ team to protect these precious nesting grounds and guests are invited to help collect data on the hatchlings. Guests will get up close and personal, swimming with the turtles and observing these magnificent creatures in their natural habitat. For travel between May to September, prices start from $408 USD per night in an Oceanfront Deluxe guest room with dinner for two at the Palm Terrace restaurant and of course, swimming with the turtles.
The Fairmont Southampton in Bermuda, located just 700 miles off the coast of the US, is surrounded by some of the world’s northern-most reefs, making it an excellent location for underwater exploration. The Reefs to Research package includes three nights in a luxurious guestroom, a 3-hour Catamaran Coral Reef Snorkel Excursion, an eco-friendly welcome gift and a donation made in the guest’s name to The Bermuda Institute of Ocean Sciences, Inc. (BIOS), an organization that supports independent and collaborative research in disciplines as diverse as marine invertebrate zoology, coral reef ecology, animal physiology and carbonate geology. Rates for this package start at $479 per person for three nights; available through October 31, 2010.
Europe
Fairmont St Andrews provides the spectacular vista of the North Sea with its Scottish Coast Experience. Guests will look out across the rugged Fife Coastline from a Fairmont Deluxe Guestroom, then head down to walk along its path, stopping for a luxury picnic lunch on the West Sands beach in St Andrews. The Scottish Coast Experience package is an ideal weekend getaway for two, including a picnic lunch, maps of the Fife coastal path, Crest of the Cliff spa treatment and a five-course dinner at Esperante, encompassing the finest seafood Scotland has to offer. Rates start at 459 GBP per night, with a two night minimum stay.
Fairmont Le Montreux Palace in Switzerland has an H2O Package that allows guests to Float your Boat on Lake Geneva. This guest package provides a refreshing weekend in an earth friendly environment on the shores of Lake Geneva. Guests will cycle from Montreux to Le Bouveret passing through the natural reserve of Les Grangettes for a chance to stop and smell the flora. A picnic lunch is provided, as well as a return ticket by lake steamer from Le Bouveret to Montreux. Package includes two nights of accommodation in a luxurious double room, buffet breakfast in the Palmeraie, bicycle rental, savory picnic basket lunch; one-way boat tickets for two from le Bouveret to Montreux and access to the Willow Stream Spa (including sauna, Hammam, Jacuzzi, swimming pool and fitness room) VAT and service charges. Rates begin at 919 CHF for a two-night stay.
Fairmont Hotel Vier Jahreszeiten is offering its Port of Dreams package, featuring a boat tour through the historic port of Hamburg. Between 1850 and 1939, Hamburg served as the “Gateway to the World” for some five million European emigrants who left their homeland via the city’s port in search of a better life across the Atlantic. Guests will visit Ballin’s “Emigrant City” on the Elbe River’s Island Veddel. This new museum complex with its “Family Research Center” shows the conditions under which emigrants travelled across the Atlantic to start a new life in America. Afterward, enjoy a fabulous three-course dinner at the Jahreszeiten Grill, followed by breakfast the next morning. Package includes two night’s accommodation, boat shuttle and tickets for two to Ballin’s Emigrant City Museum, dinner and breakfast for two, and complimentary access to the Spa and Fitness Club. Rates for the two-night package begin at 357 Euro per person, until October 31, 2010.
Fairmont Monte Carlo, on the shores of the Mediterranean Sea, is the place to visit for a tour of the Oceanographic Museum of Monaco and its world famous Aquarium. Guests of the H2O package will receive two free passes to the museum, along with access to the exclusive Damien Hirst exhibition, “Cornucopia“. Afterward, guests will experience the restorative power of water during a special “Willow Stream Elements” signature treatment at the Willow Stream Spa. Package includes buffet breakfast for two, museum entrance for two, two spa treatments and complimentary access to the exceptional roof-top pool and fitness centre. Rates starting from 468 Euro per night, based on a minimum two-night stay. Available from June 1 – September 30.
Middle East
With a new package from Fairmont Nile City, the hotel pays homage to The Nile River, which has served as the lifeline to civilization in Egypt for millennia. The river’s preservation is key to the ongoing development of the great city of Cairo. The Greek historian Herodotus wrote that “Egypt was the gift of the Nile”; today travelers are invited to explore the city with The Gift of the Nile package, including accommodation in a Deluxe Nile Room, a dinner at Saigon Bleu, where guests partake of a sustainable menu with French-Vietnamese flavors, a day at leisure on the hotel’s rooftop pool featuring views of Cairo and the Nile, and dinner on a Falouka, a sail boat which cruises down the river. Guests can also sail to nearby Jacob Island and explore the Pharaonic Village, a detailed replica of ancient Egyptian life. Rates start at US$ 245 per night, minimum three-night stay required.
Fairmont Bab Al Bahr is Abu Dhabi’s “gateway to the sea”. Surrounded by more than 200 islands, the design of the hotel is water-inspired with a translucent blue glass façade and exterior lighting symbolizing sea crests. The hotel’s H2O package provides an escape to serenity featuring accommodation and a tranquil morning paddle. Guests can be at one with nature, while kayaking through stunning lagoons, narrow channels under the full canopy of Abu Dhabi’s mangroves, and encounter fascinating bird species and fish. To finish the experience, a specially packed picnic breakfast is prepared for guests to take as they retire to the hotel for well-earned rest and relaxation at the pool or by the private sandy beach. For every package booked, Fairmont will donate mangrove seeds to a nursery plantation on Jubail Island. Rates start from AED 1099 ($307 USD) per night, available year round.
Asia
Fairmont Singapore is inviting guests with an eco-conscious spirit to try its Singapore Walks and Waterways package. Guests will tour the Marina Barrage, the urban reservoir experience featuring the Sustainable Singapore Gallery – a sensory extravaganza showcasing Singapore’s efforts towards environmental sustainability in six galleries. In the morning, guests will visit MacRitchie Reservoir Park, abundant with nature walks from 3 to 11 kilometres in length and boardwalks skirting the edge of the reservoir. All are perfect for discovering a breathtaking view of the surrounding forests and a glimpse into the freshwater wildlife that inhabits this spot of nature. Package includes two night’s accommodation, breakfast for two daily and admission to the Marine Barrage and MacRitchie Park for two. Starting at SGD $678 for a two-night package.
Africa
Fairmont Mount Kenya Safari Club has the angle on ponds, streams and mountain lakes with its three-day 100-mile Fishing package. Guests will fish for tilapia in one of the Club ponds, rainbow trout in the streams among the bamboo forest of Aberdares National Park and then trek up to Lake Alice on the slopes of Mount Kenya for a little high-altitude fly fishing. Afterward, guests return to the Club for an après-fishing glass of Leleshua Kenyan Sauvignon Blanc in front of the Zebar fire, followed by a four-course dinner at Tusks restaurant. Package includes three nights in a Garden Suite, full meal plan for two people, and exclusive use of a 4X4 LandCruiser. Park fees will be additional. Rates begin at $829 per night, with a minimum three-night stay. To book, contact the hotel directly at + 254 (0) 20-2265000 or [email protected].
Fairmont Mara Safari Club invites travelers to explore Lake Victoria on a full-day fishing expedition. Guests will be picked up from the resort’s airstrip at 7.30 a.m., flown to an island on Lake Victoria, transferred to a camp for coffee, and then taken on out on a boat to seek the gigantic Nile Perch or tasty Tilapia. Guests will be given lunch at the camp before being flown back to the resort in time for dinner, where Chef will be waiting to prepare their catch! Price for this daily expedition is $450 USD per person (can be booked through hotel at + 254 (0) 20-216940; room rates start at $369 USD per night including full meal plan for two people.
Taxes, resort fees and gratuities not included. Package pricing is per room, per night, based on double occupancy in a Fairmont room unless otherwise stated. Packages are available until December 30, 2010 unless otherwise stated and subject to availability. Package terms and inclusions vary by resort. Minimum night stay requirement may apply to some packages. Rates are subject to change without notice and exchange rate fluctuations. Packages may be booked by visiting www.fairmont.com/promo/H2O or calling 1-800-441-1414.
FAIRMONT’S GREEN PARTNERSHIP
With a long commitment to environmental stewardship and responsible tourism, Fairmont is a sponsor of the National Geographic Mission Programs as well a member of the WWF global Climate Savers program. For 20 years, Fairmont’s Green Partnership has been the company’s award-winning environmental program focused on minimizing the impact of hotel operations on the environment. In addition to publishing “The Green Partnership Guide”, a “going green” handbook used by its hotels and others in the hospitality industry, initiatives include recycling and organic waste diversion in the hotel’s kitchens, purchasing sustainable seafood, a green conferencing solution dubbed Eco-Meet, retrofitting energy efficient lighting, creating rooftop herb gardens at properties, and redistributing gently used goods and food to those in need. For more information on Fairmont’s Green Partnership program, visit www.fairmont.com/environment.
In 2008, Fairmont removed bluefin tuna and Chilean sea bass from its restaurant menus. Each Fairmont property is aligned with a local seafood watch organization, ensuring that Fairmont guests feast on a wide variety of fish caught or sourced in ways that contribute to their continued survival.
Fairmont Hotels & Resorts’ dedication to the protection of the environment goes well beyond helping conserve species that reside in the sea. On a wide-ranging basis, the luxury hotel brand maintains a comprehensive commitment to purchasing local, organic and sustainable food items whenever possible.
ABOUT FAIRMONT HOTELS & RESORTS
With over 60 distinctive hotels, including the iconic Fairmont San Francisco and Fairmont Peace Hotel, Shanghai, and more in development, Fairmont Hotels & Resorts is a global hospitality brand known for its warm and engaging service and culturally rich experiences. Located in coveted worldwide destinations, its unrivalled collection of classic hotels imbue a sense of heritage, sophistication, and social importance, and are often considered destinations in and of themselves. Fairmont is also committed to responsible tourism and is an industry leader in sustainable hotel management with its award-winning Green Partnership program. Fairmont is owned by FRHI Holdings Limited, a leading global hotel company with 95 hotels under the Fairmont, Raffles, and Swissôtel brands. The company also manages Fairmont and Raffles branded residences, estates and luxury private residence club properties. For more information or reservations, please call 1-800-441-1414 or visit www.fairmont.com.