Travel News - Summer 2005

Los Angeles, Miss USA 2005, TRAVEL TIPS for Summer 2005

CITYPEEK HOTEL Highlight is THE BEVERLY HILTON® in Los Angeles, CA

For nearly 50 years, The Beverly Hilton® has combined the excitement and entertainment of Hollywood with the elegance of Beverly Hills. Today, the 570 room hotel is undergoing a $60 million renovation that will capitalize on the prestige and charm of the hotel’s glamorous past while meeting the demands of the most discerning of business and leisure travelers. In the heart of Beverly Hills, 1⁄2 mile from Rodeo Drive, America’s #1 zip code.

Guest Rooms have sophisticated furnishing including European linens over pillow-top mattresses and down-filled comforters, natural light, warm colors and an open, efficient design bring a sense of modern elegance to each guestroom. The bed was rated Best Bed, so comfy and www.CITYPEEK.com agrees! The newly remodeled rooms incorporate state-of-the-art technology to meet the needs of business and leisure travelers including high-speed internet access, an efficient work desk, ergonomic chair, and 42” flat screen TV's. The resolution was fabulous. The hotel features 101 Suites. It has a wonderful ballroom and conference facilities.

The hotel serves up special touches like L’Occitane bath products in spacious renovated bathrooms. There were high def TV’s 13” in bathroom and a 43” bedroom. Actually, my only star gazing while at the hotel was Beverly Hills 90210 star, Tori Spelling. Also saw dogstar, Benji who was attending the Humane Society Award benefit in the hotel’s magnificent ballroom. Benji brought about 50 paparazzi to take his picture in the Hilton’s Valet area! The Excutive Offices were so helpful , the reservations dept greets with smiles and bowls of fresh fruit. A first class hotel and remember, it is still being improved. I guess some good things can still get even better!

We had a marvelous meal @TRADER VIC’S in the BEVERLY HILTON. The restaurant began in 1934 as HINKY DINK’S in Oakland, CA on a $500 investment. Now, they’re in multiple locations around the world in various HILTON Hotels and former WESTIN properties. The service and food, created by award winning Chef KATSUO “SUKI” SUGIURA was fast, fresh and fabulous. Maitre ‘D CHAI ROJANA was voted MAITRE ‘D of the Year 2004-5 by the S. California Restaurant Writers, Inc! Now, back to those mai-tai, oh-la-la! Such a treat to eat Polynesian delicacies like the traditional spare ribs to salmon & rock shrimp spring rolls to crispy prawns to lamb and sea bass entrees which melted in our mouths! The oven used was a slow cooked clay over in full view of the restaurant patrons. What a feast!

REAL ESTATE Highlight: RITZ-CARLTON RESIDENCES INNER HARBOR, BALTIMORE

For the past 25 years Baltimore’s residents and visitors have watched the architectural rebirth and revitalization of the Inner Harbor with waterfront activities, entertainment and high-rise condominium growth. Today, the Inner Harbor’s southern shore heralds a new high watermark of luxurious living: The RITZ CARLTON RESIDENCES, INNER HARBOR BALTIMORE. These upscale Residences from developer Midtown Baltimore, LLC, present owners with a wealth of amenities and conveniences that discerning travelers have always associated with the name Ritz Carlton. A 5-star restaurant, valet parking and a 24-hour concierge department are a few of the many on-site services offered.

The Pre-Construction sales program is underway for one, two and three bedroom Residences ranging from approximately $800,000 to $5 million, with completion projected for mid-2007. Visit www.harborluxury.com or www.citypeek.com or call 410-727-4417 for a personal appointment.

CITYPEEK MUSEUM Highlight:

The Maryland Historical Society (MdHS), founded in 1844, is the state’s oldest cultural institution. Located at 201 W. Monument Street in the Mount Vernon Cultural District, the MdHS collects, preserves and interprets more than seven million artifacts and documents reflecting Maryland’s diverse heritage through a museum, library, press, and extensive educational programs. The collection includes the original manuscript of Francis Scott Key’s “The Star-Spangled Banner” as well as one of the most extensive collections of Americana in the world. The museum of the MDHS has several permanent exhibits including Looking for Liberty, Furniture in MD Life and Maryland Through the Artist's Eye. Satellite sites include the Baltimore Civil War Museum & the Fells Point Maritime Museum. 410.685.3750 www.mdhs.org.

CITYPEEK.com is proud to announce it has expanded to now include city information in Baltimore, MD, Washington, DC/N.Virginia, Detroit Michigan, Cleveland, Ohio, Ocean City, MD and Delaware Beaches. Coming to Charleston, SC next and to a city near you soon! IF you need to know the BEST places to See and the BEST Hotels and BEST Condominiums or areas to live, CITYPEEK will help you find it. Come on in, take a PEEK! Since July 2004, 1MILLION hits and going strong…. A newly enhanced, upgraded look will unveil shortly. Also check, the information resources of chambers, economic development and business resources offers invaluable information. Bookmarkwww.citypeek.com and come on in often and take a PEEK @ CITYPEEK.com. To be included, contact patti@citypeek.com.

~ Due to overwhelming popularity, the special exhibition, Stubbs and the Horse, has been extended through June 5 @ Baltimore’s Walters Art Museum. This unprecedented exhibition focuses on George Stubbs’s remarkable range within the equine theme—from portraits of famous racehorses to dramatic scenes of mortal combat between wild horses and lions, all based on meticulous anatomical studies. Many consider this British artist to be the greatest painter of horses in the history of art. View 40 major paintings, 35 drawings and 3 rare copies of the book The Anatomy of the Horse. And, ahhh, see WHISTLEJACKET @ over 9 feet tall! And is the most widely admired of Stubbs’s works since its acquisition by the National Gallery in London in 1997.www.thewalters.org . A horse and art lover’s paradise!

MISS USA 2005 in BALTIMORE

Baltimore City and the state of Maryland hosted the 54th annual MISS USA© Competition in Baltimore at the France-Merrick Performing Arts Center at the Hippodrome Theatre on April 11. The contestants traveled in the state two weeks prior to the event filming segments at various locations that aired during the live broadcast. During the contestants’ stay, thousands of friends, family members and fans are visited Maryland and millions tuned-in to watch the live telecast, providing substantial exposure for the city and state. On average, the Miss USA pageant is seen in over fifty countries; the 2004 Miss USA pageant was distributed to a record-breaking one hundred countries and territories. MARYLAND and BALTIMORE were mentioned so many times. CITY PEEK got a hoot seeing THE DONALD, his wife, and some of THE APPRENTICE TEAM. We met SUGAR RAY LEONARD, a judge from Maryland and MICHAEL PHELPS, OLYMIAD STAR from MARYLAND!

Visitor expenditures were almost $1 million. The Miss Universe Organization spent approximately $600,000 on hotels, meals and transportation. The value of the international television exposure is valued at $4 million. Baltimore, be proud CHARM CITY was beeming!

Putting the hospitality in country’s hospitals --Demanding boomers drive the market By ROBYN Lamb-Daily Record Business Writer

Amid increased competition in the health care industry, Sodexho USA is launching a program that will offer hotel-style amenities such as valet parking and concierge to hospital patients. The Gaithersburg-based food and facilities management company said last week it will start testing the program in a handful of hospitals in June, with a company-wide rollout scheduled for the beginning of next year. Called the Total Patient Experience, the plan is to transform and upgrade the way non-medical services are offered so that hospital accommodations rival those found in a hotel or luxury resort.

CONSUMER REPORTS: New Ways To Gouge GuestsTIP for a bellhop who didn’t carry a single bag; $1 a day for “unlimited” local phone calls; $2 for the coffee that comes with your “complimentary” coffeemaker; $5 for the corkscrew in theminibar. Those are charges you might find on your hotel bill.HIGH SPEED INTERNET access can run $10 or more per day. The rate forFAXES has risen to around $5 for the first page at some hotels. Besides paying forfood, you may have to swallow a gratuity, tax, and “administrative fee” that hike the bill by as much as 25 percent. Exorbitant charges forSNACKS are nothing new. Now some hotels hit guests with a restocking fee of $2.50 to $5. Some budget hotels charge $1 a day forSAFE to lock up valuables. Some people who answered our online inquiry complained that they were billed for the safe even if they didn’t use it. Many hotels require 48 to 72 hours’ notice if you areCANCELING a reservation; otherwise, you’ll face a charge equal to one night’s stay.If you arrive a few hours before check-in or leave a day early, you may have to pay aPARTIAL day’s rate. You may pay $8 to $24 per day for amenities such as the pool, tennis court, or exercise room, even if you never use those facilities.

BWI OPENS NEW TERMINAL--JAMES MOSHER, Daily Record Business Writer , 4/20/05

Baltimore/Washington International Airport’s new terminal will open three weeks from today, but the airport’s name change is unlikely to be finalized by then….BWI is the No. 3 hub for fast-growing Southwest, known for leading the discount business strategy in the airline industry. As many of the older carriers struggle, Southwest last week reported first-quarter profit nearly tripled to $76 million. Baltimore is viewed as a focal point in the growth strategy of Southwest…BWI serviced 20 million passengers last year, up 3.3 percent from the previous year.

Such fees generated more than $1.3 billion in hotel revenue last year, says Bjorn Hanson, global industry partner for industry analyst PricewaterhouseCoopers

Visit the Maryland Stadium Authority, Sports Legends at Camden Yards is a $16 million attraction showcasing Maryland’s entire sports history: Baltimore’s ORIOLES, RAVENS,COLTS, and BLAST; Negro Leagues; Amateur and Minor League Baseball; and College Game Day, featuring Maryland, Navy, and six other colleges. A Kid’s Discovery Room will be home base for almost daily educational programs for children and school groups. The John Steadman Research Center will house one of the largest collections of sports-related books and manuscripts, hosting a significant source for research. See their website on CITYPEEK what To do in Baltimore page @www.citypeek.com.

Adpatti’s & CITYPEEK Mantra: DO WHAT U LOVE AND LOVE WHAT YOU DO! AREA EVENTS:

RESTAURANT ASSOCIATION OF MARYLAND:The Restaurant Association of Maryland hosted its 51st Hospitality Industry Awards Black-tie Gala. The annual event recognizes outstanding hospitality industry leaders and establishments in Maryland. Attending the event were over 700 of the biggest named hospitality professionals in the state as well as many other Maryland dignitaries. Restaurateur of the Year - Karen Oertel, Harris Crab House, Inc. in Grasonville, MD. The RAM currently has 3,000-members statewide Seewww.citypeek.com/CPTOURISMLINKS.htm.

From May 17: Garden Open for Lunch @4 East Madison Inn in Mt Vernon, Baltimore, MD Take a Break and have...Lunch in the Garden Tuesday-Friday: 11:30 AM- 2:00 PM. Salads & Sandwiches-Vegan to Carnivore 2004 City Paper ”Best of Baltimore” award winner! 410.332.0880Find them on the web @www.citypeek.com

DETROIT is host of the 2005 MLB All Star Game AND the NFL SUPERBOWL—get information @http://www.citypeek.com/CPDETROIT.htm along with many other sports options the MICHIGAN area hosts for the BEST places to Eat, Best Hotels, BEST Car Dealers.

OCEAN CITY, MARYLAND and DELAWARE BEACH areas like Dewey and Bethany and Rehobeth are gearing up for a great season. See some events in the area @www.citypeek.com. Emailpatti@citypeek.com for information.

Happy Spring. The Cherry Blossoms in DC, Baltimore and up and down the East Coast are beautiful. Send me your notes to keep the national tourism community updated on the hot spots, the best places to see and do and best places to visit and live.

CITYPEEK.com, serving up the best information to the best in the industry! Come on in, take a peek!

Patti Neumann, CEO@CITYPEEK.com