On Location at Disney California Adventure

The Cars Land Opening Ceremony on June 13 drew thousands of media, as well as celebrities that included Larry the Cable Guy and Randy Newman. // © Deanna Ting 2012

If you’ve ever seen “Cars” or “Cars 2” you’ll feel like you’ve stepped into each film as soon as you set foot onto Cars Land at Disney California Adventure theme park in Anaheim, CA. From the Radiator Springs Town Hall and Flo’s V8 Café to the thrilling Radiator Springs Racers and Mater’s Junkyard Jamboree attractions, the detail you find wherever you go is simply uncanny.

I was lucky enough to get a behind-the-scenes look at Cars Land the day of its grand opening, June 13, and the next day, June 14, while it was open only to media and select guests. From what I can tell you, the new 12-acre area was well worth the more than five-year wait. Here’s a quick guide to some of Cars Land’s best attractions and rides:

 

At the end of Radiator Springs Racers, your car races against another in an exciting drive filled with thrilling banks and curves. // © Deanna Ting 2012

Radiator Springs Racers

This is the star attraction of Cars Land and it lives up to the hype. The largest attraction by acreage at Disneyland Resort, it combines clever storytelling techniques with a heart-pumping race to the finish in colorful automobiles—each of which seats six—that tour Ornament Valley on a scenic road trip, followed by a drag race on the track. The winner of each race is randomly chosen so it’s exciting to see how it all pans out.

I don’t want to spoil the ride for you or your clients. but I’d definitely recommend taking a spin on the ride at night, when the lights shine onto the hand-painted, hand-carved façade of Ornament Valley and the rest of the park glows. 

There’s a height restriction of 40 inches on this ride and while the speeds of the vehicles do pick up toward the end, it’s a smooth and scenic ride throughout.

 

The baby tractors from this ride twist you around. // © Deanna Ting 2012

Mater’s Junkyard Jamboree

It doesn’t look like there’s a lot of kick to it but this ride, which features 22 individual baby tractors in training, has a bit more than you’d expect. Think “Mad Tea Cups” gone country, with original songs by Larry the Cable Guy (the voice of Mater from “Cars”) playing in the background.
 

The entrance to Luigi’s Flying Tires attraction. It’s not uncommon to see characters from “Cars” parked—and moving—throughout the area. // © Deanna Ting 2012

Luigi’s Flying Tires

The best way to describe this ride is like being on a giant, life-size air hockey arena. Guests sit atop inflatable tires that float across the floor. If you lean in a certain direction, the tire will also start to move toward there as well. There are also plenty of fun, oversize Italian-flag-inspired beach balls and plenty of Italian racing memorabilia to keep you occupied.

Flo’s V8 Café and the Cozy Cone Motel

If you love old-fashioned dishes and rotisserie roasted classics, you have to stop by this classic café in the heart of Cars Land. The Cozy Cone Motel, aptly named for its car safety cone-inspired architecture, serves up all kinds of “cone”-themed foods, from ice cream cones to chilli “cone” queso.

Shopping at Cars Land

There are three shops in Cars Land—Radiator Springs Curios, Sarge’s Surplus Hut and Ramone’s House of Body Art—and each is home to special merchandise your clients can only purchase here at Cars Land. Popular souvenirs include hats shaped like a tire from Luigi’s Casa Della Tires and a cars-themed rendition of the classic Mickey ears hat.

Simply put, whether or not your clients are fans of “Cars” or “Cars 2,” I have a feeling they’ll want to stick around a while in Cars Land. As for me, I’m hoping to take one more spin on Radiator Springs Racers before I leave.

Cars Land and the Grand Reopening of Disney California Adventure will open to the public officially on June 15.

Disney Travel Agents
http://disneytravelagents.com/

New La Prairie Spa at Le Bristol Hotel Paris

The "Russian Room" // Photo by Richard Nahem

Richard Nahem, an ex-New Yorker living in Paris, leads private insider tours showing visitors the Paris most of them never see on their own (www.eyepreferparistours.com), and also writes a popular insider's blog www.eyepreferparis.com.

The Bristol Hotel is Parisian refined luxury at its height. In a quest to compete with a spate of new luxury spas in other hotels in the city, they have teamed up with the prestigious skincare company La Prairie from Switzerland. Designed by Maja Oetker along with French architect Pierre-Yves Rochon, the tri-level spa is all about calm and serenity.

The jewel of the spa is the “Russian Room”, which has a marble heating table with a shower head, the first of its kind in Paris. The pristine white room on the lower level also contains a private Turkish bath. For something a little romantic, there are duo rooms where couples can intimately relax with a whirlpool, private terrace, and a private Turkish bath. Hands and feet are given special treatment with a room dedicated especially to them.

Although the spa is under the name La Prairie, four other brands of European style treatments are offered. London-based The Organic Pharmacy uses only organic ingredients in all its treatment products. From the shores of Brittany is Les Thermes Marins de Saint Malo, a brand of skincare that uses the marine environment as a base for its products. Russie Blanche products are inspired by the traditional Russian Baniya method, which uses birch branches containing essential oils and helps restore the body. Maison de l’Argan specializes in products that use argon oil, which has restorative qualities and softens the skin.

Specialty treatments include an aromatherapy/made to measure massage, which lets you select your own body oil to be used for your massage, the Under Rain massage using the French thalassotherapy method where hot drops of rain release your stress, the Japanese Body Brushing treatment, which uses a dry brush to cleanse the body and improves circulation, and most exotic of all is the Organic green coffee and chili oil body sculpting treatment, which tones and re-sculpts your silhouette and improves blood and lymph circulation and helps eliminate toxins.

In addition to the spa, an inviting rooftop pool awaits you with vistas of Paris surrounded by a handsome teak and glass room inspired by a 19th century yacht.

Le Bristol Paris
112 rue Faubourg Saint-Honoré, 75008
Tel. 01 53 43 41 67
Open Monday to Saturday, 10AM to 7PM

How Are UK Hotels Preparing for Olympics?

As the 2012 Olympics draw closer, hotels around the UK (and especially throughout London) are entering the homestretch to make the most of the visitors that will descend upon the country.

Several hotels are scheduled to open just before the Games, like The Bulgari Hotel in June, ME by Melia London and Ampersand in July, and Hilton London Wembley in September (in time for the Paralympic Games).   

"10,000 rooms opened over the last year in London," London & Partners representative Jo Geneen told Travel Agent. "Not just hotels, but B&Bs and self-catered apartments as well. There's a broad spectrum of accomodation—more than enough for everybody."

But not everything is perfect: A few weeks ago, Hotels in Cardiff, Wales were reported to be raising prices in advance of events held in that city, while, conversely, London hotels are cutting prices as rooms go unbooked for the Games. Other brands are offering special deals to make sure the last of their rooms are taken: Accor Hotels in London have released a new block of rooms for July through September, with rates starting at $129.  

Of course, we won't know how the Games will impact the UK's hotel scene until after the events are over and the numbers are tallied up, but while it seems logical to raise prices to meet increased demand (and, conversely, to lower prices to spark demand), the recent rush in development may turn out to be premature if rooms are going unbooked. “There will be over 120,000 rooms in London by the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games, and there are still deals to be found both inside Central London and a short train ride away (approximately 1 hour) in places such as Oxford, Cambridge, Bath and Brighton," Meredith Pearson of Visit Britain said. "We know from past Olympic Games that there are always more accommodation options available than people think." She adds that the company expects the lower-priced options to go quickly as the games draw nearer.

Do you think the recent increase in development will end up helping or hurting the country's overall hotel industry during and after the Games? Sound off in the comments below! 

The Spa at Mandarin Oriental Paris

Richard Nahem, an ex-New Yorker living in Paris, leads private insider tours showing visitors the Paris most of them never see on their own (www.eyepreferparistours.com), and also writes a popular insider's blog www.eyepreferparis.com.

The Eastern philosophy of the famed Mandarin hotel group even carries over to its spa. The over 9,000 square ft. spa in the lower level of the hotel is a calm, meditative oasis. The large range of signature treatments and therapies has been developed using traditional Chinese medicine and master aroma therapists.

I personally experienced one of the massages, which I thought was one of the best I have ever had in Paris. The waiting area was quite inviting and before my massage, I was interviewed by the masseuse to ask me about my general health and if I had any special requirements. I was given a ceramic mug with calming tea and a pair of special slippers before I entered the massage room, along with a hot towel to calm my feet. Most spas I have been to you have to go to a locker room to change and then there is the awkwardness of walking down the hallways in a bathrobe and slippers. I liked the special touch at the Mandarin of having a changing locker in the massage room. After I changed, the massage therapist offered a choice of essential oils that were exclusively mixed for the hotel, which included lavender, chamomile, Ylang Ylang, mandarin, ginger, and rose. I lay on the massage table and the massage therapist rubbed the lavender oil in and sent me to never, never land with her deep and penetrating but relaxing massage. I woke about an hour and twenty minutes later feeling completely relaxed and revitalized. After I dressed, the massage therapist asked me how I was feeling and offered me a most delicious, light fruity pastry and a cup of tea. It was the perfect finale to a most delightful early afternoon.

After my massage I took a tour of the stunning pool with a waterfall and luxurious daybeds lining the perimeter. I inquired about the cosmetics and skin care products that lined the shelves of the reception area and the receptionist gave me a thorough initiation of the appealing products, many which were sold exclusively at the spa.

251 rue Saint Honoré 75001
Tel. +33 1 70 98 70 26
http://www.mandarinoriental.com/paris/spa/
Open 9M to 9PM daily

Hawaii's Airfare Pricing Games Begin

As the East Coast gets ready for nonstop flights from New York and Washington, D.C. to Hawaii (courtesy of Hawaiian Airlines and United, respectively), other airlines are looking to remain major players in the game, increasing service from the West Coast to the islands. This week, Alaska Airlines announced new nonstop daily service between Oakland and San Jose and Hawaii. The airline operates flights from both cities to Kauai, Maui and Kona on Hawaii Island, with 35 flights a week from the Bay Area and Sacramento to Hawaii.

Allegiant Air, meanwhile, also announced flights from their Las Vegas base and Fresno to Honolulu. Mike McCartney, president and CEO of the Hawaii Tourism Authority, said that the addition of these flights will help to provide additional direct flight access to the state and is estimated to provide $29.8 million in visitor expenditures and $3.25 million in tax revenue.

Hawaiian Airlines, which won't begin flying to the East Coast until June, responded with a 36-hour flash sale—raising an interesting question: Allegiant's main appeal is in its low costs, but the airline charges for carry-on baggage and is decidedly no-frills, whereas Hawaiian promotes itself as the only domestic airline that still offers complimentary hot meals on flights to and from the mainland across all classes. Since the flight from California to Honolulu is not insignificant (approximately five to six hours), will visitors be willing to save money on their ticket only to make up for it in baggage and food fees onboard? And will the difference in fares be significant enough to convince East Coast travelers to fly from the West Coast rather than paying for a nonstop flight? The pricing games have begun—who will win? Sound off in the comments below.

My Blend Spa at Le Royal Monceau

Richard Nahem, an ex-New Yorker living in Paris, leads private insider tours showing visitors the Paris most of them never see on their own (www.eyepreferparistours.com), and also writes a popular insider's blog www.eyepreferparis.com.

The Royal Monceau hotel, recently taken over by the Raffles Group, had an extensive facelift in 2010 to the tune of over 100 million euros, where no expense was spared. Philippe Starck was at the helm of the design of the hotel and while contemplating the philosophy of the spa he said, “ A spa is quintessentially a feminine world. I wanted to explore the architectural possibilities of the female subconscious.” The result is a fluid and open world of white grandeur that measures over 1500 meters, where guests can get lost in labyrinth-like design.

Measuring 28 metres, the pool has the distinction of being the largest indoor pool in Paris, so serious swimmers have plenty of room for swimming laps. The area around the pool is an oasis of comfy white couches to spread out on with oversized pillows and the skylight soothes with its natural light.

The long list of enticing spa treatments is almost overwhelming, and the desire to try all of them is quite tempting. A list of cleverly named treatments include White Paradise, a Royal Bath with tonifying plant powder scrub and massage, The Lights of Paris, a milky-soft foot spa with a luminosity restorer and a massage with hot stones, and the Weightless, a face, back, feet, hands and scalp treatment. I had the immense pleasure of receiving the customized My Blend facial. The facial consists of a thorough analysis of your skin by a highly trained expert who asks a set of personal questions about your skin and afterwards uses cutting edge technology to test your skin so he or she can enter the information into computer to devise the correct treatment for you using the parameters of skin hydration, serum, and elasticity. After the treatment, a two-week supply of day and evening skin cream is made for you to continue your skin therapy. The creams are easily refillable and a file is kept of your specific formula.

There are special coaches for each area of the spa including a beauty coach to advise you on your skins needs, a pool coach to assist with an aqua gym and other pool sports, 12 body coaches who specialize in an array of fitness trainings including body building, yoga, and Pilates, and lastly, a spa concierge to manage all spa appointments for hotel guests and club members.

Other services the spa offers is a full hair and makeup room, manicure service, sauna, Turkish bath, ice fountain, and a boutique stocked with My Blend and Clarins products.

My Blend spa at Le Royal Monceau
37 Ave Hoche, 75008
Open Monday to Saturday 6:30AM -10PM, Sunday 6:30PM-8PM
www.leroyalmonceau.com

Opinion: Cancun Tourism Won’t Suffer Despite Latest Warning From Texas

For the second straight year, the Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) has issued a travel warning to Mexico for college students considering spending their spring break there.

And for the second straight year, the Mexico Tourism Board is not pleased about it, but, in our opinion, shouldn’t worry about it either.

During my more than five years as Travel Agent’s Mexico expert, I can tell you that keeping college students away from Cancun is harder than keep an agent away from a bonus commission, especially when Cancun is just as safe - if not way safer - than it ever was.

Sure, the culture of Cancun has changed since my back-to-back Spring Break vacations there in the late ‘90s. In fact, in 2005 Hurricane Wilma did a pretty good job in erasing a lot of the Spring Break-friendly resorts, aka resorts that didn’t mind a cluster of rowdy teenagers cramming into one room and breaking a piece of a furniture two.

The storm created so much damage to the resorts catering to Spring Breakers that they were forced to invest millions of dollars just to stay open. And when you invest that kind of money, you start getting picky about who you let in the door.

Ever since that, I’ve noticed more and more affluent families making there way to the now four-and-five-star resorts that took over the destination’s famed hotel district; I’ve heard tourism officials proclaim the death of the Spring Break traveler in Cancun and I’ve seen Spring Break staples, like the old MTV hangout, Phat Tuesdays, close its doors.

But although the volume changed, Spring Breakers were still making there way to the resorts.

The Cancun scene of the ‘90s that I enjoyed – and could barely remember (thank God there was no Facebook back then)- is not entirely extinct. The evidence can be found at a resort I stayed at in January– The Grand Oasis Cancun. There is a still a heavy market for younger, party-going guests who want to take part in poolside games, eat chicken fingers by the dozens and flirt with anything with a pulse.

In fact, the resort was pretty packed with guests (we were told these were students traveling in their winter recess) looking to dance the night away without leaving the resort. So business did not appear to be a problem.

For travel snobs like myself, this resort may not be a good fit. It’s loud, it’s cheap and full of Jersey Shore wannabes. But if your clients are into this and they are strapped for cash, this is the resort for them. In fact, rates here start at around $70. For the type of market this resort is looking to attract, it does a very good job.

But more importantly, Grand Oasis Cancun serves as a great example that although Cancun Spring Breakers have seriously dropped in numbers, there will also be a place for them in this legendary party city.

Also, don’t forget that the most of the original spring breakers who put Cancun on the map in the late ‘70s are now most likely mothers and fathers taking their children on family holidays. Perhaps a deluded trip down memory lane sounds like a great family retreat for these clients.

Whatever the reason is, Spring Break in Cancun may never reach the height it hit in the late ‘90s, but I refuse to believe that the Spring Break clients aren’t going anymore. And I refuse to believe the destination doesn’t welcome it, especially during a time in which Mexico is looking for any heads to fill the beds. Whether it’s a past, present or future Spring Breaker, the Spring Break client is essentially responsible for putting Cancun on the map and also for keeping the destination afloat during some of the country’s toughest times.

As far as the latest warning goes, according to MyFoxAustin.com, the Texas DPS has issued a travel warning to college students on spring break, urging them not to travel to Mexico. Authorities are pointing to several recent incidents of drug-related violence in the country, including the murders of a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agent and two El Paso boys last month.

Since last year’s warning, the Mexico Tourism Board has had several meetings with Texas DPS officials with hopes of convincing them that the country was a safe place for spring breakers to travel to. Last year’s warning, however, was geared specifically toward Cancun while this year’s warning concentrates on the entire country.

So how many incidents were reported from last year's Spring Break season?

Not one.

So, how much did last year’s warning hurt Cancun tourism?

Not at all.

In 2011, Cancun recieved 1,940,671 international visitors, which was up about 3 percent from 2010. In fact, Cancun's numbers have increased every year since 2009, the year of the economic downturn impacted travel across the globe.

In fact, Travel Agent was on hand Monday for Vacation.com and Travel Leaders Group’s “Think Big” 2012 news conference, a state-of-the-company address where both the agency and its travel network shared with media some ongoing trends in the industry as well as an update on its growing products.

One of the most revealing trends with regards to Vacation.com’s tourism product was a surprising, year-to-year upswing in Mexico business despite the negative publicity, including a refreshed travel warning there back in February, that has been eating away at the country.

“If you didn’t look at these numbers or didn’t know about these numbers, I’m sure most of you would have just thought that Mexico’s numbers tanked again,” said Stephen McGillivray, chief marketing officer for the Travel Leaders Group. “ But the numbers haven’t tanked. And we think that’s a testament to agents. They are addressing clients' concerns and our members are really handling the objections a client has to a destination.”

John Lovell, president of Vacation.com, says most of the “double-digit” spike in Mexico business could be traced to the Riviera Maya. Specifically, Cancun and Cozumel have been the two hottest destinations to come out of the Riviera Maya region.

“Lets not forget that this has something to do with value as well,” McGillivray says. “Mexico has great value with its all-inclusives. This is, after all, where you’ll find some of the greatest all inclusive in the world.”

Visit www.visitmexico.com and www.cancun.travel.
 

Three Paris Day Trips

Malmaison // All photos by the author

Richard Nahem, an ex-New Yorker living in Paris, leads private insider tours showing visitors the Paris most of them never see on their own (www.eyepreferparistours.com), and also writes a popular insider's blog www.eyepreferparis.com.

There are many pleasant daytrips one can make outside of Paris besides the familiar Versailles, Fontainebleau, and Giverny. Here are three lesser-known places we think are most worthwhile visiting.

Auvers-Sur-Oise
Less than an hour outside of Paris lies the idyllic village of Auvers-Sur-Oise. Auvers-Sur-Oise is noted as the place where Van Gogh spent the last two months of his life before tragically dying by a self-inflicted gun wound.

After leaving the asylum in St. Remy in the south of France in 1890, Van Gogh came to Paris but could not cope with the chaos of city life, so he found refuge in the hamlet of Auvers-Sur-Oise.

Take a leisurely stroll through the hilly backstreets of the charming and luscious green village and visit landmark spots such as the famous church Van Gogh painted, the cemetery where he and Theo are buried, and Dr. Gachet's house, the doctor that was in many of Van Gogh’s last portraits. The other highlight is Auberge Ravoux, a bed and breakfast where Van Gogh spent his last days, where you can take a guided tour that includes a view of his modest room.

Directions: Take the RER C from Gare d’Austerlitz or Gard du Nord, toward Pontoise. Get off at St-Ouens L’Aumone (approx. 1hr.). Switch to the Persan Beaumont Creil line (walk downstairs and change to opposite platform; consult screen for departures) and get off at Gare d’Auvers-sur-Oise (approx. 15min.). €10 round-trip.

Le Corbusier's Villa Savoye
One of Le Corbusier's most significant projects, the Villa Savoye, is a must-see for any architecture aficionado. Located in a quiet suburb thirty minutes from Paris, Villa Savoye was designed in 1929 as a weekend house for a wealthy Parisian family.

The house contains some important key points of Le Corbusier's aesthetic theory of architecture including the pilotis, the ground supporting columns, a flat roof terrace with a garden area, and horizontal windows to provide better illumination and ventilation. The Savoye family lived in the house until 1940. During WWII the Germans occupied it and after them the Allies, and it was badly damaged almost beyond repair. About to be torn down, it was saved due to the support of architects and Le Corbusier. It was declared an historic landmark and fully restored between 1985 and 1997.

Villa Savoye
 82 rue de Villiers,
Poissy

Tel 01 39 65 01 06

Open Tuesday - Sunday, from 10am - 6pm, and from Nov. 2-Feb. 28 10am - 1pm and 2pm - 5pm

Directions: Take RER A train to Poissy, then take bus # 50 towards La Coudraie and ask bus driver to stop at Villa Savoye

Malmaison
Malmaison is the celebrated manor house that Josephine, Napoleon Bonaparte’s wife, bought seven miles from Paris in 1897. She transformed it into a magnificent palace with a heated orangerie for 300 pineapple trees, a famous rose garden, and filled the grounds with rare birds and animals.

Today you can visit Malmaison in all its restored splendor, where everything is dedicated the memory of Josephine, her children Eugene and Hortense, and Napoleon during his time as general and consul.

http://www.chateau-malmaison.fr/

Paris Contemporary Art Galleries

All photos by Richard Nahem

Richard Nahem, an ex-New Yorker living in Paris, leads private insider tours showing visitors the Paris most of them never see on their own (www.eyepreferparistours.com), and also writes a popular insider's blog www.eyepreferparis.com.

Although Paris has some of the most treasured art pieces in the world, it also boasts a lively and thriving contemporary art scene. There are hundreds of galleries dotting the city with French and international artists exhibiting paintings, sculptures, drawings, and installation pieces.

The Marais area has some of the most notable and well-know galleries and here is a list of some of our favorites.

Galerie NEC
Starting out as a high-end Scandinavian mid-century modern furniture gallery, Galerie NEC has expanded their repertoire in the last five years to include art and sculpture exhibits. In fact, the owners Alain Chiglien from France and Roger Nillson from Sweden have opened a separate gallery just for art, close to their original space. The gallery specializes in ceramics and their artists include Vincent Gagliostro, Carl Richard Soderstrom, Frederique Chauveaux, Gregoire Scalabre and Harumi Nakashima.

Furniture gallery 117 rue Vieille du Temple, 75003
Art gallery: 20 rue des Coutures Saint Gervais 75003
Open 11 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. Tuesday to Saturday

Emmanuel Perrotin
Emmanuel Perrotin is a trailblazer in the Paris art world and owns one of the most respected contemporary galleries in Paris. When he was 17 he quit school and worked in galleries to pursue his passion for art, starting his own gallery out of his apartment at age 24. He was the first gallery in Paris to promote such avant-garde artists as Damien Hirst, Takashi Murikami, and Maurizio Cattelan. His French artists include Sophie Calle, Bernard Frize, and Xavier Veilhan. He has also organized a series of modern installations at the Versailles Palace with artists Jeff Koons, Xavier Veilhan, and Takashi Murikami.

Galerie Perrotin
76 rue de Turenne, 75003
http://www.perrotin.com/spaces.php
Open 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Tuesday to Saturday

Galerie Karsten Greve
With 40 years experience as an international art dealer, Karsten Greve is a revered gallerist.

He opened his first gallery in 1973 in Cologne, Germany with show by French artist Yves Klein and subsequently opened a Paris gallery. Greve is known to work intimately with his artists, which include Cy Twombly, Jannis Kounellis, Louise Bourgeois and the recently deceased John Chamberlain. The gallery also has a strong photographic presence representing photographers such as Sally Mann, Adam Fuss and Lynn Davis. Karsten Greve also has a gallery in the luxury ski resort St. Moritz.

5 rue Debellyme, 75003
Open 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Tuesday to Saturday

Galerie Thaddeus Ropac
Since opening in 1983, Thaddeus Ropac has been at the forefront of American and European contemporary art for the last three decades. Originally starting in Salzburg, the gallery has also been a long time staple in the Paris gallery world, opening in 1990 near the Picasso Museum. Their prestigious stable of artists includes Donald Baechler, Alex Katz, Robert Longo, Gilbert & George, Sylvie Fleury, Jack Pierson, Liza Lou and David Salle.

Galerie Thaddeus Ropac
5 rue Debellyme, 75003
Open 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Tuesday to Saturday

Top Hawaii News from 2011

It’s been an exciting year for Hawaii, with some major developments and improvements pointing towards a promising 2012.

Late in 2010, Ian Schrager and Marriott opened the Waikiki Edition, which generated plenty of buzz thanks to the major names attached and the prime location. But the hotel didn’t thrive as expected, and by May, lawsuits were being filed between various parties. In late August, a midnight takeover gave the hotel a new name as an Aqua property. The lawsuits are ongoing, and time will tell who ultimately ends up owning the hotel, but it’s probably safe to say that Hawaii’s hotel scene hasn’t seen this much drama in years.

Another major development in the state’s hospitality scene was the opening of Disney’s Aulani in September. The resort offers something unique for families (and couples, and singles) in Oahu, and also presents a genuine Hawaiian experience for Disney fans. Perhaps best of all, the resort is a genuine luxury getaway, with understated top-tier service and rooms that will impress even the most discriminating guests.

Hawaii’s airlift scene got a major boost this year as well, with increased service from numerous airlines. In June, United Airlines announced direct flights from the mainland to Hilo on Hawaii Island, bypassing Honolulu and offering travelers an easier way to reach a less-explored part of the state. Around the same time, Alaska Air announced direct flights from San Diego to Honolulu and China Eastern Airlines launched nonstop service from Shanghai to Honolulu.

And then in fall, Hawaiian Airlines announced nonstop flights from New York to Honolulu, bringing Hawaii that much closer for East Coast travelers. Thanks to an increased fleet of wide-body, long-haul planes, the airline is also expanding its service to Los Angeles and to Sydney, making the islands much more accessible for both international and domestic travelers.

With all this happening in just 12 months, we can’t wait to see what happens in 2012!