Abercrombie & Kent has been internationally recognized as the first name in luxury adventure travel for over 45 years. Founded in 1962 by Geoffrey Kent, the company started as a safari outfitter. Today its outstanding travel and tour operations explore 100 countries on all seven continents. The best of both worlds, A&K offers the convenience, service and security of a US-based company plus 24/7 support from a network of 50 on-site offices worldwide. This local involvement gives clients “by invitation only” access and highly personalized, low-profile and intelligent service.

A&K’s trips combine active days with comfortable, often luxurious nights. From escorted small group journeys to family holidays to tailor-made private travel, its itineraries are tirelessly researched and filled with the most authentic experiences. A deep-rooted concern for the natural world infuses every A&K journey.

NEWS: A&K continues to explore the outer boundaries of travel with several new ultimate travel experiences, including:

•	Extreme Adventures—a portfolio of 15 unbelievable expeditions from flying in a fighter jet in South Africa to running a dog sled through Norway
•	Clipper Odyssey—small ship cruising in the Russian Far East, Alaska, the South Pacific and New Zealand
•	Itineraries by private jet
•	Journeys for Women
•	The Yangtze Explorer in China
•	Private Tented Safaris in East Africa
•	Sanctuary Lodges & Camps in Zambia

Abercrombie & Kent Residence Club has revolutionized the "destination club" marketplace with a series of unique membership benefits including:

1) An unmatched portfolio of global destinations. By the end of 2008, the Abercrombie & Kent Residence Club expects to offer its members 43 properties in 30 destinations in the U.S. and abroad. Members will also be able to use some of their annual vacation time on A&K trips in more than 100 exciting destinations.

2) A unique membership model. Unlike most other destination clubs, the Abercrombie & Kent Residence Club is a debt-free nonprofit club that is 100% owned by its members, providing them with the peace of mind of knowing that the club will not borrow against the club’s properties to fund its operations.

3) Unsurpassed service, insider access and trust. Simply put, no other club can offer its members Abercrombie & Kent’s reputation for commitment and integrity, its superlative level of service, its degree of privileged access, its network of local guides and partners, or its unrivaled range of inspirational travel opportunities in over 100 countries.

 

CasaMagna Marriott Cancun Resort
The CasaMagna Marriott Cancun Resort is conveniently located in the heart of Cancun’s famous hotel district, bordering the Caribbean beachfront on Mexico’s Yucatan Peninsula. The resort's lineup of extraordinary amenities includes 452 rooms, an oceanfront pool, two tennis courts, a health club, water sports, a children's program, five restaurants, four bars, shops and 10,980 square feet of flexible meeting space. The resort is two miles south of Cancun's convention center and shopping district, and the Greg Norman-designed Playa Mujeres golf course is nearby. The CasaMagna is also within a two-hour drive of several historic Mayan ruin sites and ecological parks.

Coco Palm, in St. Lucia’s hip Rodney Bay Village, is the perfect getaway for travelers who want to immerse themselves in the vibrant St. Lucian culture. Developed by hotel-industry guru, Allen Chastanet, who launched the well-known Island Outpost group of boutique hotels, Coco Palm is the first "boutique hotel" (à la South Beach) to open on the island.

NEWS: Recently ranked by Arthur Frommer’s Budget Travel Magazine and TripAdvisor.com as a “Best Value,” Coco Palm's winter 2008/2009 rates range from $200 for a Garden View Room to $360 for a signature Swim-up Room (guests can literally step into the resort's free-form swimming pool from their patios). Starting at just $315 a night, the Grand Suites offer two full bathrooms, a living room and terrace. These low prices allow Coco Palm guests to indulge in St. Lucia's outstanding activities, including hiking through the rainforest, catamaran cruising, snorkeling or taking a helicopter ride over the Pitons.

Despite its low prices, Coco Palm’s 71 guest rooms and 12 suites are stocked with the full raft of modern amenities, including flat-screen televisions, DVD players, CD players and free Wi-Fi. Coco Palm has even perfected hassle-free check-in by eliminating the traditional front desk and providing each guest with a “host” who serves as a personal guide and assists with everything from organizing activities to explaining St. Lucia’s rich history. The hotel also has Rodney Bay Village’s hottest restaurant, Ti Bananne Caribbean Bistro & Bar that overlooks the pool and serves up light Caribbean-Creole fare and nightly entertainment in an alfresco setting.

For the past 38 years, the Concorde Hotels & Resorts Group has been committed to high-quality accommodations, attentive service and outstanding culinary offerings that are the mark of exceptional hospitality. Today, the Concorde Hotels & Resorts Group offers an international network of four and five-star hotels whose location and architecture give them their unique character.

Situated in the heart of some of the most exciting cities of the world -- including Amsterdam, Barcelona, Cannes, London, Nice, Paris, Prague and Tokyo -- Concorde Hotels & Resorts owns, manages and represents 33 luxurious hotels in 13 countries, including the Hotel Lutetia, a grand hotel located on Paris’s West Bank just steps away from the Jardin du Luxembourg and the Mus?e d’Orsay; the Hotel Martinez, an Art Deco luxury hotel sitting on the famous boulevard de La Croisette in Cannes; Hotel de la Paix, right in the heart of Geneva, Switzerland and recently renovated in 2006; and the Hotel Concorde Berlin known for its modern architecture and elegant style.

 

Curtain Bluff in Antigua is one of the Caribbean's finest resorts, with a picture-perfect setting, friendly atmosphere, excellent cuisine and a host of outstanding activities incorporated in an all-inclusive rate that is loaded with value. Included in the daily rate: all meals and drinks and a long list of activities from scuba diving, sailing, snorkeling and water skiing to deep-sea fishing, tennis, yoga and kayaking. This formula has proved so successful the resort enjoys one of the highest return-guest rates in the region. It has also been ranked the #1 resort in the Caribbean in the Readers' Choice Awards in the November '07 issue of Condé Nast Traveler.

Another incentive to visit: the Spa at Curtain Bluff continues to get "rave" reviews, nabbing a top spot in Condé Nast Traveler’s “Hot List” in May 2008 and again being recognized as one of the magazine's “Top Ten Spas in the Caribbean” in the June 2008 issue.

THE BIG NEWS: For 2008/2009, Curtain Bluff will be completely renovating 18 bathrooms in the Deluxe Room category and refurbishing the entire dining room. No wonder guests keep returning year after year.

Long considered one of the Caribbean's most luxurious and "hip" hotels, Eden Rock sits on a rocky promontory surrounded by a coral reef on the Bay of St. Jean on the chic and beautiful island of St Barths. The resort's dedication to providing its guests with the highest level of service possible was recently rewarded when Condé Nast Traveler's readers named Eden Rock the #1 hotel in the Caribbean (November 2007).

NEWS: Eden Rock, St Barths is currently rolling out its "Eden Rock Estates" collection—three ultra-luxurious, six-star villas. Two of them, Villa Nina (opened January 2008) and Villa Rockstar (opening January 2009) are right on the beach next to the resort. These villas offer the best of both worlds: all of the services of a world-class hotel, plus the privacy and spacious luxury of a world-class villa.

The next addition to the Eden Rock Estates Collection will be The Glen Affric Estate, located in the Highlands of Scotland. A historically important Victorian Lodge surrounded by 10,000 acres of mountains, forests and streams, Affric is scheduled to open in late 2009.

A respected leader in the global hospitality industry, Fairmont Hotels & Resorts has one of the largest collections of landmark properties in the world. The Fairmont Copley Plaza Boston, the Fairmont Chateau Frontenac in Quebec City, the Fairmont Chateau Whistler and the Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise are just a few of the castles, lodges, meeting places and modern retreats in the Fairmont portfolio with a legendary status.

Located in cities and resort areas in the US, Canada, Bermuda, Barbados, Egypt, Germany, Kenya, Mexico, Monaco, Switzerland, the UAE and the UK, they provide access to activities that are culturally rich and authentically local. Fairmont's portfolio includes 56 distinctive hotels, with plans to develop over 20 new properties in the coming years in destinations like Shanghai, Abu Dhabi and Anguilla. Fairmont is committed to responsible tourism and is an industry leader in sustainable hotel management with its award-winning Green Partnership program.

NEWS: As part of its environmental stewardship, Fairmont Hotels and Resorts are establishing bee colonies in an effort to reverse the decline of these vital pollinators. Not only are the hotels producing honey for themselves, they are supporting the local farmers and growers, an extension of Fairmont’s loyalty to local purveyors. With the growing interest in the “100-mile menu,” Fairmont Chefs continue to incorporate other fresh, organic ingredients into menu offerings.

A classic beachfront hotel on St. Thomas in the USVI, Frenchman’s Reef & Morning Star Marriott Beach Resort has casual yet sophisticated accommodations (479 guestrooms) overlooking a secluded beach with warm, aquamarine waters and sweeping vistas of the Caribbean’s most beautiful yacht harbor.

NEWS: Having recently completed a $25 million renovation, Frenchman's is the perfect choice for those who want to take advantage of St. Thomas' incomparable duty-free shopping, excellent diving and rich history. The "Shop ‘Til You Drop" package includes a “shop talk” seminar and generous discount coupons from local shops. Families will love the “Sea Lion Swim” package, which includes tickets to the nearby Coral World Ocean Park, a 25-minute swim with South American sea lions and an island tour. The property is also tailor-made for destination weddings and island honeymoons. Packages like the "Escape! Wine and Dine On Bended Knee” help to make proposals truly memorable.

 

Grande Lakes Orlando continues to be the luxury-resort leader of Orlando, America's #1 vacation destination. Only minutes from the city’s major attractions, the 500-acre, $600-million estate includes a 584-room Ritz-Carlton and a 1,000-room JW Marriott.

The resort is ideal for families, provides state of the art meeting space, and is a beautiful locale for weddings and other special events. Located at the headwaters of the Florida Everglades, Grande Lakes offers activities for all ages. The Grande Lakes Outfitters program provides guests with the opportunity to experience fly fishing, kayaking eco-tours and nature walks. Golfers enjoy the Greg Norman-designed, 18-hole Ritz-Carlton golf course along Shingle Creek and take tips from Golf Caddie-Concierges who accompany each round. The 40,000-square-foot, citrus-themed Ritz-Carlton Spa has a new rooftop hammock eco-massage.

The resort offers more than 10 different dining and lounge choices including two signature restaurants. Norman's, at the Ritz-Carlton, is a culinary collaboration with celebrated chef Norman Van Aken. At the JW Marriott, the highlight is Chef Melissa Kelly's Primo restaurant, incorporating organic ingredients, some grown in the resort’s garden, into innovative dishes. Both Van Aken and Kelly are James Beard Foundation Award winning chefs who have established Grande Lakes Orlando as an outstanding culinary destination.

For the past 19 years, Melbourne-based Intrepid Travel has been creating small, affordable, socially and ecologically responsible group adventures that take travelers off the beaten path. Founders Geoff Manchester and Darrell Wade had a vision back in 1988 as they were traveling across the Sahara—to create a style of travel that would offer all of the benefits of independent travel without any of the hassles. This idea has grown into Intrepid Travel, a company that now employs over 600 staff globally and runs 400 trips in 93 countries.

In 2003, Intrepid established The Intrepid Foundation, which improves the quality of life in Intrepid's destination communities worldwide. The foundation supports 12 NGO Partners and over 30 projects in health care, education, human rights, child welfare and environmental and wildlife protection. Travelers are invited to contribute to any of the projects, and Intrepid matches their donations.

NEWS: Intrepid's has measured the greenhouse gas emissions on its favorite trips, reduced them where possible and offset the rest by purchasing carbon credits.

Intrepid Travel has just launched its new research and development division, The Travel Lab. This new offshoot will literally take travelers to the ends of the earth, offering spectacular experiences that have been previously unavailable to travelers.

This renowned 1,400-acre private island in the Grenadines has long been a favorite hideaway for the world's most discriminating travelers. Scattered around the island are 70 extraordinary designer villas, each with its own distinctive architecture and atmosphere. Available for weekly rentals, these villas