NEW YORK – It was 80 years ago that two international legends were launched: the Academy Awards and The Leading Hotels of the World. To celebrate that mutual milestone, Leading Hotels has drawn on all the adventure, romance and excitement that made the Academy Award-winning classic “Around the World in 80 Days” so memorable to create an Oscar-worthy performance in luxury travel: “Around the World in 80 Ways.”
Celebrating eight decades of international hospitality excellence, The Leading Hotels of the World pays homage to this epic film with the creation of an extraordinary journey around the globe. This once-in-a-lifetime offer, which loosely retraces the steps of Phileas Fogg (brilliantly played by legendary actor David Niven) lets travelers recreate the 19th-century around-the-world fantasy experience with 21st-century comfort and flair.
In honor of the two notable anniversaries, this dream package debuted in Los Angeles during the 16th annual Elton John AIDS Foundation Academy Awards Viewing Party. Arguably the hottest party ticket in town, this star-studded event attracted the industry’s glitterati and helped raise $5.1 million USD for the Foundation.
Priced at $1 million USD, the 28-night trip is now available for purchase and begins in London , the starting point for Phileas Fogg’s quest. With private air transportation for the entire itinerary provided by Air Partner, the world’s leading air charter broker, it continues on to Paris, Dubai, Mumbai, Jaipur, Udaipur, Hong Kong, Tokyo, Honolulu, San Francisco, Chicago and New York. Guests will stay in ultra-luxurious Leading hotels and resorts in all 12 destinations along the way, where they will enjoy exotic experiences and unmatched elegance. Although every detail has been richly imagined, components of the trip can naturally be completely customized to suit the specific desires and needs of the guests.
Just a few of the elements of this incredible adventure include a camel safari in Dubai, an unforgettable dinner for two at Le Jules Verne restaurant in the Eiffel Tower, a traditional Japanese tea ceremony in Tokyo, couture and bespoke wardrobes, and Rolls- Royce Phantom limousine service.
Perhaps most rewarding of all, 10 percent of the cost of the program will be donated to the Elton John AIDS Foundation.
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“We are very pleased to help orchestrate this effort to support the Elton John AIDS Foundation. While guests of The Leading Hotels of the World are eager to experience luxury travel at its best, they are also strong proponents of philanthropy, and actively seek ways to contribute to the greater good,” said Paul McManus , president and chief executive officer of The Leading Hotels of the World, Ltd. “As Leading Hotels marks its 80th anniversary in 2008, it seems especially fitting that our ‘Around the World in 80 Ways’ package celebrates the Golden Age of travel – and the current age of responsible luxury.”
Here is a sampling of the highlights of “Around the World in 80 Ways”:
London – The Ritz
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A Green Park Suite at The Ritz; arrival and departure in a chauffer-driven Rolls-Royce Phantom; dinner for two in The Ritz Restaurant; tickets to an exhibition at the Royal Academy; couple’s treatments in The Ritz Salon; original Isabell Kristensen couture gown created for the lady; Aquascutum trench coat for the gentleman
Paris – Hôtel de Crillon
A historic suite at Hôtel de Crillon; lunch at Les Ambassadeurs followed by a personal tour with Chef Jean-François Piège of the gastronomic kitchens; limousine excursion through Paris; a gift from Baccarat; dinner at Le Jules Verne restaurant in the Eiffel Tower, overlooking the City of Lights
Dubai – Al Maha Desert Resort & Spa
The Presidential Suite at Al Maha Desert Resort & Spa; couple’s spa treatments; falconry presentation; camel or horse safari; guided tour of the Dubai Desert Conservation Reserve; intimate dinner in the desert watching gazelles, rare Arabian oryxs and other indigenous species; hot-air balloon ride over the desert; lunch with the resort’s general manager
Mumbai – The Taj Mahal Palace & Tower
The Rajput Suite with Champagne welcome at The Taj Mahal Palace & Tower; personalized shopping tour; cocktails aboard the exclusive Taj yacht on the Arabian Sea; specially prepared dinner in Chef Oberoi’s studio; dinner for two at Wasabi by Morimoto; drinks at the legendary Harbour Bar
Udaipur – Taj Lake Palace
The Khush Mahal Suite, the former Queen’s chamber, at the Taj Lake Palace in Udaipur; vintage car tour of the city; romantic candlelit dinner on the pontoon on Lake Pichola; tour of the palace grounds and Lake Pichola
Jaipur – Rambagh Palace
The Prince’s Suite with Champagne welcome at the Rambagh Palace ; transportation in a vintage car; rejuvenation therapies in the tented spa; dinner at Suvarna Mahal; a private visit to the Gem Palace , showcasing the jewels of the Maharaja and Maharani
Hong Kong – The Langham Hotel
The Premier Suite at The Langham Hotel; unlimited Champagne throughout the stay; helicopter tour of the city; a selection of hand-tailored shirts; lunch for two in T’ang Court; romantic dinner for two at Bostonian
Tokyo – Imperial Hotel
The Premier Suite at the Imperial Hotel; traditional Japanese Kaiseki dinner for two; customized tour of Asakusa, including a specially prepared lunch; traditional Japanese tea ceremony
Honolulu – The Kahala Hotel & Resort
The Presidential Suite at The Kahala Hotel & Resort; arrival transfer via limousine; welcome heralded by the Hawaii Symphony Pops Orchestra; Hidden Dragon Banded Jacket by designer Anne Namba; couple’s massage in a spa suite; DolphinQuest experience; dinner with custom tasting menu by the Chef in the hotel’s gazebo; curator’s tour of the Princess Bernice Pauahi Bishop Hawaiiana Exhibit
San Francisco – Campton Place – A Taj Hotel
Luxury Suite at Campton Place; en suite dinner for eight and in-room movie night following dinner, with additional overnight accommodations in the California Suite; guided limousine tour of the city as seen through Hollywood’s eyes; gift of 25 DVDs of films shot on location in San Francisco; limousine transfer to Vine Cliff vineyard for dinner and wine tasting with vineyard owner; bottle of a rare vintage, etched with winner’s name; case of personally selected fine wines to take home
Chicago – Trump International Hotel & Tower
A one-bedroom Grand Deluxe Riverview Suite at Trump International Hotel & Tower; round-tip airport transfers in a Rolls Royce Phantom; couple’s massage at The Spa at The Trump; intimate dinner for two at Sixteen
New York – The New York Palace Hotel
A Triplex Suite at The New York Palace Hotel; round-trip airport transportation in the hotel’s Maybach; full day of pampering for two at Cornelia Day Resort; luxury pajamas and robes for him and for her from Donna Nadeau; dinner for four at critically acclaimed Gilt restaurant.
www.lhw.com/80ways
For further information on reserving this exceptional package, please contact Jon Londeen, senior vice president, reservations management, The Leading Hotels of the World, Ltd., at jlondeen@lhw.com, or (212) 515-5704.
About The Leading Hotels of the World, Ltd.
The Leading Hotels of the World, Ltd. is the prestigious luxury hospitality organization representing nearly 450 of the world’s finest hotels, resorts and spas, and is the operator of www.lhw.com and www.lhwspas.com – the online sources for your luxury lifestyle. As the largest international luxury hotel brand, the firm maintains offices in 26 major markets across the globe.
Since 1928, the company’s reputation for excellence derives from the exacting levels of quality it demands of its members, each of which must pass a rigorous, anonymous inspection covering 1,500 separate criteria.
High-resolution images and press information on individual member hotels are available for downloading at www.lhw.com/press. For reservations and information, visit
www.lhw.com or telephone toll-free from the USA, Canada, Puerto Rico and the US Virgin Islands, (800) 223-6800.
