HOTEL BRAND'S 50TH ANNIVERSARY OFFERS
Preferred Hotels & Resorts, the world's largest collection of independent hotels, is celebrating its 50th anniversary with a year-long Golden Anniversary campaign featuring a bonus points promotion and experience-rich packages, among other offerings.
Throughout this year, the brand is offering travellers the best available rate, plus a US$50/£50/€50 (S$66/S$92/S$81) hotel credit - depending on which country the hotel is located in - or a complimentary 50-minute activity.
For example, guests at The Franklin London will get to attend a champagne sabering and testing class.
Those at Hotel Chinzanso Tokyo can take part in one of two cultural activities - either a Japanese language lesson or a tour of the hotel's gardens.
Guests at the Nassima Royal Hotel in Dubaiwill be pampered with a couple's massage, while those at the Galeria Plaza Reforma in Mexico City can try cooking Mexican dishes during a lesson at the hotel's Almara restaurant.
The offer is valid at more than 200 participating hotels around the world.
Members of the brand's I Prefer Hotel Rewards programme will also receive 50,000 bonus points if they book a minimum stay of two nights via preferredhotels.com before Feb 28.
The bonus points can be used to redeem reward certificates, which can be used for free room nights and other on-property expenditures at more than 600 participating hotels.
For more information, go to www.preferredhotels.com/preferredcelebrates50.
NEW ANTI-GRAVITY YOGA SESSIONS IN VIETNAM RESORT
Four Seasons Resort The Nam Hai, a 100-villa luxury resort in the city of Hoi An in central Vietnam, has launched anti-gravity yoga classes, which it says is available for the first time in Vietnam.
Anti-gravity yoga uses hammocks suspended above the ground to master gravity-defying poses and is said to encourage a deeper, more flexible connection to the self.
The activity will be offered at a new 130 sq m yoga space called the Thanh Tinh Yoga Pavilion at the resort. There are eight hammocks and four 75-minute anti-gravity yoga group classes weekly. Prices start at US$50 a person.
Private classes at US$100 a person are also available.
The resort also offers a complimentary third night stay with every two consecutive paid nights. This free night must be used in conjunction with the initial stay.
For more information, go to www.fourseasons.com/hoian
NEW EMIRATES SERVICE TO CHILE
Emirates has announced plans to launch a five-times weekly service from Dubai to Santiago International Airport, starting from July 5.
The new route will operate via Sao Paulo, Brazil, increasing Emirates' daily service to Sao Paulo to 12 times a week.
Serviced by a Boeing 777, the flight will depart Dubai on Tuesdays, Thursdays, Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays at 9.05am local time and arrive in Sao Paulo at 5pm. It will depart for Santiago at 6.30pm, arriving in the Chilean capital at 9.40pm on the same day.
The return flight will fly from Santiago on Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays at 1.10am local time, arriving in Sao Paulo at 5.55am. The flight will depart for Dubai at 7.45am and arrive at 5.15am the next day.
For more information, go to www.emirates.com
Benson Ang and Lydia Vasko
