Friday, January 27, 2012

New York - Virtuoso Northeast Regional


Last weekend I attended the Northeast Regional conference for Virtuoso.  I met the Largay Travel team for the first time.  I am pleased to be affiliated with such a warm and professional group of travel experts. The meetings were held at the The Plaza Hotel which is located on Central Park and Fifth Avenue in Midtown. The Plaza Hotel in New York City is the ultimate luxury destination..  Exciting new offerings include the elegant Champagne Bar the stylish Rose Club, and The Plaza Food Hall by Todd English.   The Plaza is the first hotel in the world to offer in-room iPads for all guests to control their entire hotel experience.  At the touch of a screen, guests can order In-Room Dining, make restaurant reservations, communicate directly with the Concierge, request wake-up calls, and even check airline schedules and print boarding passes. Amenities at The Plaza include the world-class Shops at The Plaza, featuring exclusive boutiques and purveyors of fine food, as well as health and wellness facilities including a Caudalie Vinothérapie® Spa, Warren-Tricomi Salon, and a Fitness Salon.  Lavish social and business events and unforgettable weddings continue to be held in the Grand Ballroom and Terrace Room. We had a wonderful tour of the hotel and I was able to take pictures of the suites as you can see below.  The movies Home Alone and Eloise were filmed in the suites of this famous hotel.   After our tour, we had a wonderful luncheon in the Grand Ballroom with Markus F. Tscherner, Director of International Sales and Crystal Laurence, Director of Business Travel and Entertainment Sales.
Masterbath with 24 kt.gold embedded in tiles.
The Lobby at the Plaza Hotel
The Edwardian Suite

Saturday, Melissa Russo, Vira Mastroianni, and I went to see Wicked which was playing at the Gershwin Theatre.  Plowed snow covered the sidewalks from a morning shower.  We met up with Amanda Klimak for dinner at Emmett O'Lunneys, a famous Irish Pub in midtown.  On Sunday, I had a chance to tool around Madison Ave. and 5th Street.  The first store I hit was American Girl  at Rockefeller Center for my 9 yr. old. daughter.  Below are some highlights of my free afternoon before heading back to North Carolina. 
Time Square
  
Madison Ave.

Rockefeller Center



Sunday, January 8, 2012

Puerto Rico

Puerto Rico - A culture where all are welcome.  
 From the indigenous natives to the colonizing Spanish, the international influence makes for the best eating in the Caribbean. Comida criolla consists of many different ingredients like roast pork, rice, beans, deep-fried plantains, and yucca.

   El Yunque is an ecotour adventure in the Luquillo mountains.  This tropical rainforest offers inspiring  views of the valleys, the Atlantic, the Caribbean, and the eastern islands.  La Parilla, one of the kiosks of Luquillo  was one of our favorite spots for dinner on the beach.  Taking the 2 hour ferry to visit Culebra is worth the time.  Flamenco Beach is one of the finest beaches in the Caribbean.  Sip on refreshing coconuts under the palm trees while eating pinchos of chicken and beef and whole fried red snapper.  Snorkeling in the wildlife rescue is a must –do.  Phosphorescent Bay is home to the highest concentration of phorescent dinoflagellates in the world.  An evening trip through the lagoon is fascinating – with hundreds of fish whipping up 
bright –green contrails below the surface of your kayak.
The Gran Melia Resort located directly on the beach offers snorkeling, pools, and an onsite dive center.  It is located in Rio Grande which is a great location for seeing El Yunque, San Juan, and the Bio Bays.  We rented a car since the roads in Puerto Rico are very good.  We found all the sites very easily.