From Saturday 1st October until 30th November 2011, guests and visitors at Royal Mansour Marrakech will be able to view works of arts from young Moroccan artist, Youssef Titou.

Born in 1978 in Fez, Titou uses a variety of multimedia techniques to create highly abstract and evocative images, based on the elements of space, material, energy and location. Titou’s exhibition, ‘Fragments of Space’ will be held at Royal Mansour Marrakech who confirms its commitment to the arts and a celebration of Moroccan culture. A new young Moroccan artist will be welcomed to the hotel every two months, providing them with the perfect platform to showcase their works to the hotel’s international clientele. Each exhibition perfectly reflects the beauty, diversity and culture of Morocco.

Royal Mansour, Marrakech redefines the gold standard of luxury hotels. It takes exclusivity, luxury and privacy to a level not seen before, offering an extraordinary array of spacious, opulent riads in the heart of one of the world’s most exotic cities. The ground breaking, distinctive and ingenious hotel design is exemplified by a labyrinthine series of underground tunnels to each of the 53 riads. They are accessed only by staff, thus guaranteeing the utmost privacy, discretion and seclusion satisfying even the most high profile of guests.

A one-bedroom riad at Royal Mansour starts from 1,650 Euros per night, including breakfast, service charges and VAT. For enquiries and bookings, T: + 212 5 29 80 80 80 or E: info@royalmansour.ma

For further information, please contact Mason Rose on +44 (0) 20 7201 8060

Savour the Tuscan Autumn with Olive Harvesting and Truffle Hunting at Castiglion del Bosco, the breath-taking 800-year old country estate spanning nearly 4,500 acres, set in the heart of Val d’Orcia National Park.

This October and November join Castiglion del Bosco to celebrate the gastronomic highlights of the Tuscan autumn: olives and truffles. In an elegant new four day experience, guests follow the olive harvest from oil to press, witnessing the art of this ancient tradition and appreciating the tangy, flavoursome new oil. They are also given the rare chance to join a tartufo hunting expedition, accompanying a local truffle hunter and his dog on their search for the rare white tuber. The four-day, three-night event culminates with a wine tasting and a gourmet dinner at Castiglion del Bosco in which the prized tartufo bianco (white truffle) gets star billing.

• Three nights’ accommodation in Senior Room
• Daily American or Tuscan breakfast and newspaper
• Truffle-hunting expedition
• Olive Oil Experience: visit to a local olive grove and oil mill, followed by an olive oil tasting
• Wine tour and tasting at Castiglion del Bosco
• One dinner at Castiglion del Bosco
• Access to the sauna, steam bath, fitness centre, infinity pool, tennis and bocce courts

Package rates start from €1920 in October and €1810 in November 2011

General Terms and Conditions: Prices above are exclusive of 10% VAT. Rates are per room/suite, for the 3-night stay, based on 2 adults sharing. Children staying in a suite with parents are free of charge; their meals will be charged à la carte. Offer is subject to availability and cannot be used in conjunction with any other offer. 3 night minimum stay. Additional nights may be booked and guests will receive a 10% discount on the 4^th night rate. Validity: 1^st October – 30^th November 2011

For further information, please contact Mason Rose on +44(0)20 7201 8060

As the summer season draws to a close, don’t worry about the long winter ahead, instead why not plan an autumn getaway to the only city in the world situated on two continents: Istanbul.

During the autumn months the city is a truly beautiful destination, making it the perfect time to visit. Buildings appear to rise out of the Bosphorous while the domes and minarets are lit by the autumn sun creating a magical vision of silhouetted islands.

Along with delectable scenery this is a vibrant city that has endless entertainment on offer. Between September and November travellers with a passion for art can visit the International Istanbul Biennial, which comprises of 50 artists from across the world showcasing a variety of art. Or, for the more music-oriented traveller, there is the Akbank Jazz Festival, which takes place for two weeks in October and brings together musicians from diverse backgrounds. A truly outstanding event!

To experience Istanbul at its finest, stay at the timeless Pera Palace Hotel, situated in the heart of the city in the authentic Pera district which offers the highest standards of traditional design and service. Complete with an exquisite spa, two restaurants, a bar, a patisserie and a tea lounge, this hotel ensures that it has every modern amenity whilst maintaining its rich history and as a result is a favourite of royalty, millionaires and superstars.

As the black sea breeze cools the city, why not try one of the city’s award-winning restaurants and bar, 360 Istanbul. The restaurant, which sits on the top floor of the historical Misir building, offers traditional Turkish cuisine and a selection of exclusive wines as well as breathtaking 360 degree panoramic views.

For some insider knowledge, take note of Tanya Rose’s Istanbul Travel Secret:  “It worked for Cameron Diaz and any number of royals… you have to experience a real Turkish bath once in your life. This is not a remake of ‘Midnight Express’ but the last great Ottoman Hammam Cağaloğlu.”

Istanbul straddles Europe and Asia and connects the old and the new, the east and west, and has a deep history and culture. It is this variety that offers travellers the perfect autumn break.

For further information, please contact Mason Rose on +44 (0)20 7201 8050

There are many wonderful aspects of being pregnant, but one of the best has to be the food guilt, or should I say the lack of it! I have never counted the calories of my meal or avoided carbohydrates – luckily I have a fast metabolism, but I have to admit that, pre-pregnancy, I would think twice about having a whole piece of cake for dessert. That thought is now a distant memory and dessert has become the highlight of my meal, whether it is chocolate fudge cake, blueberry cheese cake, lemon drizzle cake or anything else that satisfies my recently over developed sweet tooth. As long as I eat my 5 pieces of fruit and veg a day and follow a varied diet I feel no guilt in indulging in occasional moments of gastronomic pleasure. And let’s face it- it is not that I am going to have to worry about my waist line for quite a while; just as nature intended…

I therefore found myself going to St James’s Hotel and Club for afternoon tea last week. Evenings out over a few glasses of wine have been replaced by more civilized afternoon teas, so I have become quite an expert in the matter! I have since learnt that afternoons teas were originally devised in the mid nineteenth century by Anna,  7th Duchess of Bedford. As her evening meal was served fashionably late at 8 o’clock, she would become hungry at around 4 o’clock. Hence afternoon tea was born to fill this long gap and to this day there is no ritual more quintessentially English than the ceremony and serving of afternoon tea.

At St James’s Hotel and Club, afternoon tea is served at William’s Bar and Bistro, a welcoming and stylish restaurant, which together with Michelin Starred Restaurant Seven Park Place, is the culinary sanctuary of award-winning chef William Drabble. As I look around, the atmosphere is relaxed, yet sophisticated and all the tables are starting to fill up with three-tiered trays covered with mouth-watering delights, including a delicious variety of finger sandwiches, light scones with luscious strawberry jam and rich clotted cream, and an attractive selection of sumptious cakes and pastries. My friends and I can’t stop eyeing out the tray and without hesitation, we successfully make our way from tier to tier leaving no trace in our accomplishment – we are content, fulfilled and blissfully satisfied.

Not only was it one of the most enjoyable afternoon teas, not to mention the excellent service and friendly atmosphere, but also a very affordable one at just £19 per person! As I left the hotel, I thought how grateful we should be to the Duchess of Bedford!

By Elena Taboada, Sales Account Director

With balmy evenings and long hot summer holidays now a distant memory, the Mason Rose team look back over August with a little news from September thrown in for good measure too.

Monday 1st August
Felicity ‘Gibbs’ jetted off on her honeymoon taking in the sights and sounds of Bali on a whirlwind tour with her new beau. The happy couple hopped from Uluwatu to Ubud and then to Lombok and Gili Trawangan, diving in the crystal clear waters along the way. The pictures will make you green with envy! We’re just pleased to have her back

Tuesday 2nd August
Mason Rose welcomed our wonderful new PR intern, Matilda Coles into the fold. A recent graduate from Edinburgh University with a degree in psychology and a passion for far flung travel, she’s already made a wonderful addition to the team

Wednesday 3rd August
When it comes to networking, Ruurd is our resident expert and this month he headed over to Canary Wharf where he attended an event hosted by the LGBT Association. The event attracted a high number of well-travelled senior executives from international banks that make up this community which gave Ruurd the perfect opportunity to share lots of information about the hotels in the Mason Rose collection

Thursday 1st September
Yet again Ruurd headed to a fabulous client event hosted by Lamborghini London in association with Edmiston & Company super and mega yacht sales, charters and management along with Legend of Kremlin vodka. The event was attended by 100 high net worth individuals

Friday 2nd September
European travel leaders gathered together for the World Travel Awards 2011 to recognise the brands that have demonstrated greatest strength amid global economic uncertainty. On behalf of the whole team at Mason Rose, we’d like to say big congratulations to the following worthy winners: Switzerland’s Leading Hotel Resort, Gstaad Palace; Europe’s Leading Hotel and France’s Leading Hotel, Hotel Le Bristol;  Europe’s Leading Resort, Dubrovnik Palace Hotel, Conference Centre and Spa and Italy’s Leading Resort, Forte Village Resort.

The next stages of the awards include the Africa and India Ocean gala ceremony on the 16th September, Asia and Australasia gala ceremony on 28th September, Caribbean and The Americas gala ceremony on 19th October, culminating in the Grand Final gala ceremony held in Qatar on 29th November.

Church, marquee, food, booze, flowers, music: TICK. With only 5 days to go before the big day, and with a super-efficient mother on hand to take control, there was only one thing left to do: beautify.

But where to start? Over the years of working as a luxury travel PR, I’ve had many a spoiling chance to sample some of the world’s most impressive spa treatments, performed by top notch therapists, with deliciously decadent products in to-die-for locations. It  could have been an impossible decision, yet two simple prerequisites ‘face’ and ‘lunch-hour’ screamed one glorious thing: a Sisley facial at Urban Retreat.

Optimistically trying to fit a full sixty minute treatment into my lunch ‘hour’, inevitably I arrived at Harrods less than composed; heart racing, forehead beading, hair frizzing, but within seconds of walking in to Urban Retreat I was transported to a zen level not usually experienced around Knightsbridge in the height of tourist season. Rarely has that over-used phrase ‘haven of calm and tranquillity’ seemed so apt. What was I expecting though from the sanctuary crowned Best Day Spa 2011 by the sagacious Conde Nast Traveller readers?

No time was wasted stumbling around trying to find the treatment room. A beaming Sisley therapist scooped me up and whisked me into my heavenly home for the next hour. And so ‘Les Soins Essentiels’ began…  Lindsey certainly knew her stuff; a quick once over and a succinct consultation later I was enveloped in fluffy towels, sinking into an almost unbearably comfortable bed. I was in heaven then and there. But, no, it got better, and oh so much better.

Beginning with deep breaths inhaling soothing lavender oil, I knew I was in for a treat. It seems counterintuitive that the usual daily chore of cleansing, toning, moisturising could feel so very indulgent. Yet it did – Lindsey’s hands worked wonders and I could swear I could ‘feel’ the goodness of the products. The richness and variety of scrubs, masques, potions and lotions was delicious. And the foot massage whilst waiting for my ‘Botanical Facial Mask’ to work wonders, proved that every second of my precious sixty minutes had been planned to precision.

In a trance I reluctantly headed off into the real world and back to the office. But not without booking in a cheeky post-honeymoon appointment. After all, Sisley is quite right; it is ‘essential care’ and who am I to argue with this cosmetic tour-de-force…

By Felicity Gibbs, PR Account Director

Sisley at Urban Retreat, Harrods     Tel: 020 7893 8333    www.sisley-cosmetics.co.uk

Enjoy a warm Autumn and Winter at Hotel Puente Romano in Marbella, with the following package which includes:

• Accommodation in a spacious double room with sitting area and private terrace
• Gourmet buffet breakfast
• Special amenities in room upon arrival.
• Free daily use of the state-of-the-art gymnasium, sauna and Turkish baths at the Puente Romano Tennis & Fitness Club
• Special rates at the 18 hole The Marbella club Golf Resort and the 9 hole El Higueral Golf Club.

Until 15th October 2011
Superior Double room with garden view, double occupancy: €315
Superior One bedroom Suite with garden view, double occupancy: €350

16th October 2011 to 31st March 2012
Superior Double room with garden view, double occupancy: €225
Superior One bedroom Suite with garden view, double occupancy: €275

The above rates per room per night and include 8% VAT. The package is valid for a minimum 3 night stay and is subject to availability.

For further information, please contact Mason Rose on +44 (0)20 7201 8050

Forte Village remains one of the largest conference resorts in Europe with 766 rooms in 8 Hotels, and events space for over 1000 guests.  Located 40 min’s drive from Cagliari Airport in South Sardinia, and set in 25 hectares of lush gardens, Forte Village offers a large range of facilities ideal for any event.  There is always something new for your group at Forte Village, with 21 restaurants, 11 bars, a nightclub, thalasso spa, and leisure land that includes go-karting, bowling and much more – activities and venue ideas on property are never ending.

Forte Village is offering the following special group offer:

Special Rates including half board
From €150 per room per night plus 10%VAT, in a twin room for single occupancy
From €220 per room per night plus 10% VAT, in a twin room for 2 people

These rates include:

• Overnight stay
• Breakfast buffet
• Welcome cocktail upon arrival
• Buffet dinner in dedicated area including water and house wine
• Meeting room including water
• 1 coffee break per day
• Hospitality desk
• 1 person complimentary for every 35 full paying guests (maximum 25 free persons)
• 1 complimentary upgrade for every 50 rooms booked
• Complimentary WiFi throughout the resort
• Complimentary use of sports activities including football, beach volley, basket ball and tennis as well as the pools and beach
• Dedicated contact reference within the resort

The above offer is valid for a minimum stay of 2 nights for a booking of 70 rooms. The bookings need to be confirmed by 31st January 2012 and taken in March and April 2012, subject to availability.

For further information, please contact Mason Rose on +44 (0) 20 7201 8050

Hotel Puente Romano is an original on the Marbella Golden Mile, a private Andalusian village with its own tropical gardens directly on the beach front; it truly is an exception to the Coasta del Sol.  Puente Romano has 285 rooms & suites’, meeting space for up to 600 guests, a private golf club within 20 min’s drive, world class tennis club and extensive food & beverage facilities – Puente Romano is built for large conferences, product launches and incentives.

Hotel Puente Romano is offering the following group room rates including:

• Guaranteed free upgrade to 45 sq. m. Superior Rooms and Superior Suites for up to 150 bedrooms
• 1 Complimentary room/night per every 40 rooms/ night confirmed
• Complimentary WI-FI Internet access in all Hotel areas
• Complimentary main meeting room rental and staff office
• Beach front venue in exclusivity
• Special golf green fee at Higueral (€35 ) and Marbella Club Golf Resort (€65 )
• Complimentary stay for the meeting planner on a B&B basis
• Complimentary 20 minute  relaxing massage for the meeting planner at Puente Romano’s Milk & Roses Beauty Centre

November 2011 to February 2012
Rates from €140 per room per night for single occupancy and from €170 per room per night for double occupancy, including buffet breakfast and service fees, excluding 8% VAT.

The above rates are subject to availability and based on a minimum booking of 50 room nights.

For further information, please contact Mason Rose on +44 (0)20 7201 8064

Ayada Maldives is offering several honeymoon packages for 4 night, 7 night and 14 night stays:

4 Nights
A five-course candle light dinner plus welcome cocktail and one breakfast in villa

7 Nights
A bottle of Champagne; a five-course candle light dinner plus welcome cocktail; one breakfast in villa plus one 30 minutes spa treatment for the couple. Free room upgrade upon on availability.

14 Nights
A bottle of Champagne; a five-course candle light dinner plus welcome cocktail; one breakfast in villa; one 30 minutes spa treatment for the couple and $50 Spa credit per person once during stay. Free room upgrade upon on availability.

Rates from US$950 per villa night including half board for two people & all tax and service charges

The above offers are valid from 1st October 2011 to 24th August 2012, subject to availability

For further information, please contact Mason Rose on +44 207 201 8050