Thinking of taking a dip in the pool while on vacation? Even if you choose not to, you could get charged $40 just for having the option.
Leadership is a choice. Pure and simple.
Whoever stole a sketch by Dutch master Rembrandt van Rijn from a hotel apparently dumped the piece in a church building, perhaps daunted by the prospect of trying to unload it amid widespread media coverage, a Los Angeles County sheriff's detective said Tuesday.
updated: Tue Aug 16 2011 13:49:00
Police have recovered 'The Judgment' etching, valued at more than $250,000, but have yet to nab a suspect.
Detectives in southern California searched Sunday for clues to crack the case of a stolen piece of artwork by Dutch master Rembrandt van Rijn, thought to be worth some $250,000.
Anyone who has ever owned a boat has probably dreamed of cruising around the world on it. Sadly, very few of us actually do. Work, kids, health or other commitments usually gets in the way of our ambitions.
A tip to hotel owners: For happy customers, offer wireless internet and a free breakfast, be sure to have smoke-free rooms and keep the level of service consistently high across your properties.
The country star and Mike Fisher have been snorkeling with reef sharks and taking helicopter rides in Tahiti
Police in Indonesia have confirmed that a man arrested on Wednesday is one of the most wanted terrorists in the country.
Police in Indonesia captured a man believed to be one of the most wanted terrorists in the country on Wednesday, authorities said.
Just because you booked a standard room, doesn't mean you have to stay in one. Travel + Leisure gives you seven ways to sleep better.
Orla Duffy brought her three daughters to Orlando for a "girls' weekend" but they weren't planning to ride a single roller coaster, or even set foot in a theme park.
Business is starting to rebound at many top-end hotels, but if you do your homework, you can still find bargains for that special vacation, experts say.
ORLANDO -- In the end, logic and the weight of numbers won out. A modified sudden-death overtime proposal passed for the 2010 NFL playoffs by a surprisingly easy 28-4 vote by league owners Tuesday afternoon, backed by raw data and by a overtime reform convert, commissioner Roger Goodell.
Calling the unemployed! Do you like pool parties, sun tan lotion and hotties?
When I think of great customer service, I remember Alamo.
Avocados bigger than grapefruit, star fruit, breadfruit, wild watercress and vegetables I've never heard of...
updated: Sat Sep 19 2009 04:09:00
Indonesian police confirm most-wanted militant Noordin Top was killed in a police raid.
There's a name for what ails you, and it's called "luxury guilt." Even if you can afford to travel, you reason, isn't it wrong to indulge when times are so tough? Well, if you haven't been swayed by the open-your-wallet, shorten-the-recession argument, how about this one: You may be missing a rare chance to visit some of the finest hotels on the planet at prices you aren't likely to see over the next decade. The deals now are better than in the aftermath of the Asian economic crisis, 9/11, or SARS, says Jan Freitag, vice president of Smith Travel Research, making travel to just about any place in the world from 30% to 50% more affordable than last year. One note: If you don't find these rates on the hotel website, call to book.
updated: Fri Aug 14 2009 10:14:00
CNN's Christiane Amanpour investigates how one madrassa student is recruited to join the Taliban.
A handful of suspects in the twin suicide bombings in Jakarta, Indonesia, are on the run, national police said Wednesday.
A group claiming to be the Indonesian arm of the al Qaeda terrorist network is purportedly taking responsibility for a pair of deadly bombs that exploded within minutes of each other at two luxury hotels in Jakarta.
updated: Tue Aug 11 2009 23:13:00
CNN contributor Tom Fuentes discusses what group may be responsible for the Indonesia bombings.
Authorities investigating the twin hotel bombings in Jakarta have found the remains of another person and think a notorious Malaysian-born militant fugitive may be behind the assault, police said Saturday.
A bomb discovered in an 18th floor room of a luxury hotel in Indonesia was armed and timed to detonate before two other fatal bombs exploded far below, police said Friday.
Authorities in Indonesia released sketches Wednesday of two men believed to have carried out last week's bombings at two luxury hotels in Jakarta.
updated: Sun Jul 19 2009 22:31:00
Indonesian investigators and police sift through the rubble of Jakarta's two terror bombings. CNN's Dan Rivers reports
Indonesian police have recovered a laptop they believe belonged to one of the bombers of Friday's hotel attacks in Jakarta, the country's official news agency said Sunday, although police would not confirm the report to CNN.
Indonesian authorities believe two suicide bombers checked into the JW Marriott Hotel in Jakarta and carried out coordinated bombings Friday morning, killing themselves and at least six victims and wounding more than 50 others.
U.S. President Barack Obama and British Foreign Secretary David Miliband both said they "strongly condemn" Friday's deadly hotel attacks in Jakarta, Indonesia.
Bomb attacks in Jakarta on Friday are the latest in a long line of deadly strikes on prominent hotels worldwide that show, despite stringent security measures, they remain a favorite target for terrorists.
Explosions tore through two luxury hotels Friday morning in south Jakarta, Indonesia, killing at least eight people, a presidential spokesman said.
The visiting kids are shy about meeting the Arizona locals until Lance, Bailey and Sonora start showing off their tricks, wowing their young guests.
A year ago, employees at Boiron, a medical manufacturing company, wined and dined at the Ritz-Carlton Golf & Spa Resort overlooking the picturesque bay in Rose Hall, Jamaica, for their annual retreat.
The cup of coffee I drank this morning required 37 gallons of water to produce. In the United States, 35 out of 50 U.S. states will face water shortages in the near future. Even as drought and desertification inflict international misery, the world's five largest beverage companies collectively use enough water to satisfy the needs of the entire planet.
All the stars will be there – and here's where to find them
"Voluntourism is not about martyrdom," says Christopher Hill, CEO of Hands Up Holidays, a London-based company that arranges high-end excursions that incorporate volunteering. "It's about making a difference, even if you're staying at a luxury hotel."
Guests at W Hotels have come to expect "Whatever/Whenever." But this year's presidential election finds the luxury chain partnering with get-out-the-vote organization Declare Yourself in order to push that motto one step further --allowing guests to register to vote right from bed.
Welcome to the trip of a lifetime," Martha Wharton, vice president of TCS Expeditions, says to the 74 guests relishing a Ritz-Carlton dinner of filet mignon and giant prawns in Orlando. It's the eve of what is to be 25 days circumnavigating the globe in a 757 refitted to all-business class - a guided excursion that's part of a growing phenomenon in the industry: private-jet travel.
It's midmorning of a cool May day on the California coast. Standing amid rolling fairways and tightly trimmed greens, entrepreneurs Jared and Brooke Zaugg are basking in the glory of their creation, not a golf tournament but a celebration of machinery. Today the Ocean Course links, wrapped around the Ritz-Carlton hotel at Half Moon Bay, are home to the third annual Legend of the Motorcycle Concours d'Elegance.
All the world's a stage, particularly where we work. We have our costumes, our hair and makeup, and the characters we play - and, in time, come to be. Every career has its entrances and exits, its high points and valleys, its scenes in shadow and sunlight. And in our time each of us plays many roles, one modulating into the next with alarming speed.
It's not as though they married on the fly, but for newlyweds Laila Ali and retired NFL star Curtis Conway - who exchanged vows Sunday in the rose garden of the Ritz-Carlton in Marina del Rey, Calif. - their honeymoon in Tahiti is still in the planning stage.
Lately, my local Starbucks baristas have started suggesting specific pastries to go with my tea, and consequently I've developed a lasting relationship with cinnamon-swirl coffee cake. In other words, I've been upsold.
Windowless corridors, drab paint and crowded rooms have typified hospitals for more than a century - and the effect can be downright depressing.
We found places perfect for sharing -- just in time for Valentine's Day.
How would you like a big, luxurious vacation home in a beautiful resort for just a tenth of the going rate? Sounds good, right?
Sharing food is an age-old bonding ritual, but preparing it can be intensely competitive. Which is why Bibby Gignilliat, the founder of Parties That Cook (www.partiesthatcook.com), thinks an event ...
Everyone knows Cuban cigars are illegal in the United States, thanks to the embargo on Fidel Castro's goods.
Open up your wallet and look through your credit cards. Now take out a pair of scissors and cut up the ones with the name of an airline on it.
HORST SCHULZE is his own toughest customer. After spending 13 years as the president and COO of Ritz-Carlton Hotels, he went on to form the West Paces Hotel Group, which is in the midst of launchin...
rint) or the fact that haggling is expected--even at department stores and websites. Then there's the huge range in prices: If you have a $2,900 budget and want a queen-size innerspring bed, you could purchase the high-end hotel mattress beloved by seasoned travelers, along with the best linens a lot of money can buy. Or you could deck out aSn entire bedroom. Whatever makes you most comfortable. --JULIE MIHALY ...
taker to keep an eye on things when you're not there, but that requires hiring a local caretaker, which isn't easy. And if something does go wrong, such as a burst pipe, it's now your problem to find le plombier in Paris--even if it's 4 a.m. and you're in bed--in Chicago. Even if you're not so far away, having paid for your getaway, you're now obligated to spend every vacation there. Time-shares used to be one option, if you wanted a week in Myrtle Beach, but there's now a new way to own your dream: fractional-ownership plans and destination clubs. Both give you the space and seclusion of a private home without the responsibilities of actually owning one. Maintenance and upkeep are taken care of by the management company. All you have to do is show up. Read on to find out how, in some cases, the sweetest home can be someone else's. ...
You've heard of extreme skiing, but how about extreme ski resorts?
You've always dreamed of owning an apartment in Paris or a house in Aspen. Then reality sets in: Taking care of a home that's thousands of miles away is no small thing. You could hire a local caret...
For my business, Rhodes Architectural Stone, I travel frequently to China and India. I'm often setting up factories in remote areas where I can't count on having electricity or clean water. I was n...
Fate has a sense of irony, said Gregory S. Henderson, M.D., Ph.D. That's his explanation for the twist of fate that made him one of the few physicians available to the huddled masses trapped by Katrina's waters on the downtown streets of New Orleans -- "and I'm a pathologist!"
Shopping for a mattress is enough to make a person lose more than mere sleep. Maybe it's the slick salesmen babbling about coil counts, or the multipage warranties (yes, you should read the fine pr...
Pity the ignorant executive who boards a plane for the United Arab Emirates bragging about his Ritz-Carlton reservations. Because even before landing, he'll spot the best business hotel in the Midd...
In an age of heated competition for guests, posh hotels often offer more than just a nice place for pampered travelers to lay down their weary bones.
Australia's biggest city, Sydney, has again been named the world's best city by readers of the U.S. magazine Travel and Leisure.
Supporters of President Bush will be bringing their own fanfare and enthusiasm when they flock to Washington in January for inaugural festivities, but they'll also be generating much excitement for D.C. hoteliers, who promise to pamper anyone willing to pay.
The center of the fashion universe these days just might be the bar at the Bulgari Hotel, located steps away from Milan's most glamorous retailing district.
If you've noticed a little more hustle and bustle at your fave vacation hot spot this summer, you're not imagining things. Hotels are filling up faster than they have in several years. According to...
Snaking security lines and crowded terminals are making airports feel like hell on earth this summer. But on board, it's heavenly up front as airlines wage a high-altitude battle for high-paying pa...
Want a credit card that earns you free private-jet travel? Check out the new Stratus Rewards Visa. Gift certificates for your dog? There's a new card for that too. Even Donald Trump recently launch...
Last November, Bill Kapner, CEO of financial software provider Bigdough, checked into the Ritz-Carlton in Palm Beach, Fla. Before introducing himself, he was greeted -- by name -- at the front desk. Then a reception clerk asked, "Will you be having sushi tonight?"
Last November, Bill Kapner, CEO of financial software provider Bigdough, checked into the Ritz-Carlton in Palm Beach, Fla. Before introducing himself, he was greeted--by name--at the front desk. Th...
Anytime a member of your staff interacts with a customer, whether the employee is a salesperson, a call-center operator, or a technician on a house call, you can win--or lose--a lifetime of loyalty...
Neither as sturdy as bars nor as fragile as truffles, these rich confections are ideal gifts. Just don't buy them too far ahead; they are at their best for only a fortnight or so. Here, listed alph...
[HIT] Bet the crackers aren't Ritz: Extras like the gourmet brown-bag lunches that Ritz-Carlton hotels give to their pampered air travelers helped put the upscale chain over the top in J.D. Power &...
A OUI BIT OF DESPERATION Hotel bookings in France by Americans are down around 20% so far this year. The plunge in popularity, coupled with a weak dollar, has the French falling over themselves to ...
What's the first thing you do when you get home from work? I take off my shoes.
In Manhattan there's been one power-breakfast spot since the 1970s: the Regency Hotel. But a colleague pointed out that the hotel's restaurant, called 540 Park, was far from discreet about its morn...
The airlines are enticing frequent fliers by lowering the number of miles needed for a free trip. A round-trip flight to Europe on American or TWA is 35,000 miles, down from as much as 60,000, if you fly before March 31. On Delta, a trip to Japan will cost you 45,000 miles, down from 60,000, through Jan.31. United has discounted flights to Europe to 35,000 miles (from 50,000) through March 31, and to Asia and the South Pacific to 40,000 miles (from 60,000) through Jan.31.
Just before 9:00 A.M. on Sept. 11, Marriott International CEO Bill Marriott was holding a meeting in his Bethesda, Md., office. Hearing that a jet had crashed into one of the World Trade Center tow...
Barb and Bruce McLeod don't need to "get away" as much as they used to. True, she's still a busy 56-year-old public relations exec and he remains a harried 58-year-old with a career in software sal...
They're sorry. So sorry. After making job offers to a slew of college and MBA students from the class of '01, many belt-tightening employers--including Cisco, Dell, and Intel--have suddenly asked t...
It's 110 degrees in the shade, but you'd never know it inside the air-conditioned Rolls-Royce Silver Seraph whisking you from Dubai's new $550 million airport to the Burj Al Arab Hotel. Shaped like...
Okay, so it's unlikely some dot-com startup is going to eat your lunch. And it turns out that the Internet was made for big companies after all. So what? None of this changes the fact that in virtu...
WINTER
Given Philadelphia's attempts to convert from a mercantile economy to one based on tourism--even Broad Street has been renamed Avenue of the Arts--it's fitting that the new Ritz-Carlton opened in a...
It's not hard to be a fan in Chicago. With the Bears (football), Blackhawks (ice hockey), Bulls (basketball), and Cubs and White Sox (baseball, of course), Chicago is the proverbial sports-crazed t...
There's a hot show in Hamburg, but it isn't the World's Fair. While Expo 2000 is drawing one-tenth of the visitors expected, organizers of Autostadt--in nearby Wolfsburg--expect two million people ...
As apt as the metaphor may be, it really wasn't portentous that the biggest recent gathering of Internet superstars convened atop a cliff. Nobody at the so-called Internet Summit, hosted by Web wee...
Auto-company-sponsored credit cards, which let you build points toward the purchase of a new car, have always been among the most lucrative credit-card loyalty programs around. But our favorite, th...
Disney's new cruise ships--The Magic and The Wonder--are already showing up in package deals. The Travel Co. (800-777-0707) has cut 21% from regular rates, making an all-inclusive, seven-day voyage...
Don't want to leave the hotel to find a great meal? The dining hall at any Four Seasons or Ritz-Carlton is always a safe bet, but other classy hotels also house first-rate restaurants (like the Pre...
It's breakfast on the second day of the Montgomery Securities Investment Conference. The money manager seated to the right of me strikes up a conversation with the chief financial officer to my lef...
A good hotel is a surrogate mother and business partner rolled into one. At the top chains, you're paying for a blend of pampering and no-nonsense service that should leverage your time in hundreds...
Hungry and alone? Whatever you do, don't believe everything you see in the movies. In the 1984 film The Lonely Guy, Steve Martin's forlorn protagonist picks a busy restaurant. "Are you alone?" asks...
"Thank you for calling Ritz-Carlton central reservations." I'm on the phone trying to book a room at Boston's Grande Dame, but I can tell from the agent's honeysuckle accent I've reached Atlanta, h...
IN AN UNUSUALLY faddish era, building customer loyalty is one business precept that won't go out of fashion. If the Eighties rewarded widespread improvements in product quality, the Nineties will c...
This may be the year of the rooster in China, but for travelers in the United States, it's the year of the family. A full 99.4 million people say they expect to vacation with their families this ye...
A growing number of execs are packing up the kids as well as their carry-ons before hitting the road. Nearly one in seven business trips now includes children, according to the US Travel Data Cente...
No matter where you shop, you won't find America's new No. 1 export anywhere overseas. It's tourism. Foreigners spent a record $43 billion last year on U.S. vacations and business trips, about $450...
In what they called a two-day encounter session, executives of Lorimar Inc. and Telepictures Corp. munched meal after meal in their suite at New York's Helmsley Palace hotel last September as they ...
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