Press Releases

[EnLinea Media]

Here's a central point for spreading the news to interested journalists! Note that for specific travel deals, other good places to post include our Deals & Packages group and the relevant destination groups.

(If you're a travel journalist, please respond to press releases posted here by e-mailing the poster directly or replying on his/her profile's comment wall. Thank you!)

[Louise Plonowski]

Press Release - Austrian Airlines Vacation Center, January 14, 2010

Ready for a Break? Save $150 on Luxury Spring Trip To Prague!

$1,299 Includes Air Plus Three Nights At Prague’s InterContinental Hotel - Book By February 14

[Janine Allen]

Press release: Australia’s Working Holiday Visa for Canadian Grads Provides an Exciting Alternative for a Year Abroad

With the new year upon us, thousands of Canadian college and university students are now looking towards May, when graduation hits and the ‘real world’ begins.

Youth travel promotions included.

[Janine Allen]

Press release: NEW AUSTRALIA VACATION DEALS MAKE IT EASIER TO GO TO AUSTRALIA NOW

If you’re looking to escape the winter cold, Australia is the place to be. With Australia currently in the summer season, enjoying a refreshing culinary adventure, a romantic retreat or meeting the local wildlife, has never been hotter.

[Allison Scott]

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Matt Sawicki / Allison Scott
[e-mail]
[e-mail]
[phone]
[phone]

ANNIKA SORENSTAM TO SERVE AS HONORARY CHAIR
OF 2011 U.S. WOMEN’S OPEN
Colorado Springs, Colo. (Jan. 27, 2010) – Hall of Fame golfer Annika Sorenstam has been named the honorary chair for the 2011 U.S. Women’s Open, to be conducted at The Broadmoor, July 4-10. The Broadmoor was the site of Sorenstam’s first U.S. Women’s Open victory in front of a record-setting crowd in 1995.
"I am extremely honored to be able to serve in this role with the USGA," said Sorenstam. "The U.S. Women's Open is our premier championship and when I won at the Broadmoor in 1995, it was my first professional victory in the United States. Both the championship and the venue will always hold a special place in my heart and I look forward to going back.”
As honorary chair, Sorenstam will help promote the championship and appear at the ticket launch press conference in 2010. She will also host an exhibition during the week of the championship in which she will provide tips and demonstrate golf shots for spectators.
“We approached Annika to serve in this capacity because we wanted to honor her accomplishments at past USGA championships and her connection to the 1995 U.S. Women’s Open at The Broadmoor,” said Stephen Bartolin, Jr., president and CEO of The Broadmoor.
During her 15-year Hall of Fame career, Sorenstam rewrote the LPGA and Ladies European Tour record books, won countless awards, and changed the way women’s golf was played, viewed and covered. She has 89 worldwide victories, including 72 on the LPGA, 10 of which are major championships, including the 1995, 1996, and 2006 US Women’s Open titles. She earned a record eight Rolex LPGA Player-of-the-Year awards; a record-tying eight money list titles; six Vare Trophies for the lowest scoring average; was named Golf Writers Association of America Female Player of the
Year eight times and became the first player in LPGA history to cross the $22-million mark in earnings. She played on eight Solheim Cup teams and was inducted into the LPGA and World Golf Halls of Fame in 2003.
Sorenstam stepped away from professional golf after the 2008 season to focus on her family and the ANNIKA brand of businesses. These include the ANNIKA Academy, ANNIKA Financial Group, ANNIKA Course Design which currently has eight projects worldwide, the ANNIKA Collection of apparel with Cutter & Buck, signature high-end wines with Wente Vineyards, a fragrance with SA Fragrances, and an online retail shop, shopannika.com. In 2007 Sorenstam started the ANNIKA Foundation as a way to teach children the importance of living a healthy, active lifestyle through fitness and nutrition, and offer aspiring junior golfers opportunities to pursue their dreams. In 2008,
Sorenstam was named an Ambassador of the United States Golf Association, and in 2009, she was named a Global Ambassador by the International Golf Federation. In this role, Sorenstam supported the successful efforts to have golf added to the 2016 Olympic Games.

About the U.S. Women’s Open:
The 66th U.S. Women’s Open, to be held July 4-10, 2011, will bring a field of 156 of the world’s best professional and amateur female golfers to The Broadmoor East Course. Featured players expected to compete include: Lorena Ochoa, Cristie Kerr, Suzann Pettersen and Michelle Wie. The U.S. Women’s Open will be the seventh USGA championship staged at The Broadmoor, dating back to the 1959 U.S. Amateur won by Jack Nicklaus.

About The Broadmoor:
The Broadmoor, located at the foot of the Rocky Mountains in Colorado Springs, Colo., is the longest consecutive winner of the AAA Five-Diamond and Forbes/Mobil Travel Guide Five-Star awards for excellence in service and facilities. The Broadmoor spans 3,000 acres with 700 hotel rooms and suites surrounding Cheyenne Lake, three championship golf courses, an award-winning tennis club and an internationally renowned European full-service spa.

About the USGA:
The USGA is the national governing body of golf in the USA and Mexico, a combined territory that includes more than half the world’s golfers and golf courses.
The USGA annually conducts the U.S. Open, U.S. Women's Open, U.S. Senior Open and 10 national amateur championships. It also conducts two state team championships and helps conduct the Walker Cup Match, Curtis Cup Match and World Amateur Team Championships.
The USGA also writes the Rules of Golf, conducts equipment testing, provides expert course maintenance consultations, funds research for better turf and a better environment, maintains a Handicap System®, celebrates the history of the game, and administers an ongoing “For the Good of the Game” grants program, which has allocated more than $65 million over 13 years to successful programs that bring the game’s values to youths from disadvantaged backgrounds and people with
disabilities.
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[Sharon A McCoy]

[The Highway Girl]

The Highway Girl is a traveling music show featuring singer songwriters and the venues and cities they play. Stream over 2,000 songs from artists like Aimee Mann and Martha Wainwright for free! Brand new website coming in March 2010!

Check out The Highway Girl

[Dana Covey]

FEBRUARY IS ROMANCE MONTH AT ROCK HALL BOUTIQUE LODGING AND RESORT

Special Romance Package Includes Champagne, Chocolate, Flowers and More at Mizner-Designed Historic Home in Litchfield County

Seeking a romantic weekend getaway with the flavor of New England and a “pinch” of Palm Beach just became easy during the month of February. Rock Hall, located in historic Colebrook, Connecticut (located in the Litchfield Hills/Southern Berkshires) has added romantic touches for all guests during February, without increasing prices. Guests staying at this c.1912 historic home, built by famed Palm Beach architect Addison Mizner, will enjoy a complimentary split of premium champagne the entire month of February. Individual or couples massage, artisanal chocolates and fresh roses are available at an additional charge with advance notice. In addition, the home's private screening room will offer continuous showings of romantic movies -- with popcorn included. Rates start at $240 per night, including a sumptuous Mediterranean-style breakfast.

Rock Hall's four luxurious guests rooms offer fireplaces, Wi-Fi, imported linens, down bedding, flat screen TVs, and fresh fruit infused spring water in every room. Guests are treated to an abundant breakfast/brunch featuring frittatas, home-cured gravlax, plus breads, cheeses, jams, teas and produce all supporting local farmers, producers and purveyors.

The property also features a billiard room, and marked hiking trails. Local activities include alpine and cross country skiing, antiquing, music, theatre, dance, film, golf and more. On-site massage and private yoga classes can be arranged, as well as a horse-drawn carriage or sleigh-ride with door-to-door pick-up and drop-off.

Addison Mizner built Rock Hall, a 10,000 square foot manor house, in 1912 for Jerome Alexandre, of the Alexandre Steam Ship Lines fortune. The property's grounds are attributed to a collaboration between the firm of Frederick Law Olmsted (of Central Park fame) and Mizner with an impressive variety of specimen trees, perennial gardens and a wildflower meadow. This historic gem has been meticulously restored and is now one of the areas most luxurious and romantic lodging options, featuring in-season use of a 75-foot heated outdoor swimming pool and Jacuzzi, and a synthetic grass tennis court with ball machine. The property is expected to be admitted into The National Register of Historic Places in March 2010.

Rock Hall is located in the northwest corner of Litchfield County, Connecticut in the Litchfield Hills and Southern Berkshires. Guests under age 12 not permitted.

For more information and reservations, go to: www.19rockhallroad.com, or email: [e-mail].
NOTE TO TRAVEL JOURNALISTS: comp and press-rate visits to Rock Hall available. Contact: [e-mail]