Disney Plans D.C. Hotel at National Harbor

Earlier this week, Disney Parks and Resorts purchased a 15-acre site from the Peterson Companies at the National Harbor in Prince George's County, Maryland.

The property overlooks the Potomac and is being considered for a new stand-alone Disney hotel. Milton V. Peterson, chairmen of the Peterson Companies, was thrilled over the sale:

Disney is the top family entertainment company in the world, and its purchase is a great vote of confidence in the future of National Harbor.

For Disney's part, Jay Rasulo, Chairman of Parks and Resorts, said the family entertainment giant had plenty to offer and plenty to gain from a Washington DC property:

As we began identifying possible locations to grow our business, the Washington, DC area immediately jumped to the top of the list. National Harbor offers an array of entertaining activities for regional visitors, but it is also a family-friendly base camp, from which visitors from around the world can explore the stirring sights and inspirational stories of our nation’s capital.

Disney's new resort hotel will join an already wide variety of National Harbor attractions, including a variety of restaurants and venues, boutique stores and J. Seward Johnson Jr.'s mildly terrifying but completely awesome sculpture, "The Awakening." (pictured above)

Costa Rican Boeing 747 Hotel Looks a Little "Lost"

The hotel and travel industry are always coming up with really creative ways to attract consumers to new locations. Sometimes these involve bizarre hotels made of ice or giant wine casks. Or sometimes, as pictured above, they involve a Boeing 747 in Costa Rica. Which is the Costa Verde Resort, via Inhabitat.

The two-bedroom, two-bathroom suite also includes a kitchenette, flat-screen tvs, a dining room, and a terrace with an ocean view. We can’t really agree with their choice of furnishings, which are made from teak and shipped across the Pacific from Indonesia, but at least they were hand carved. The tip-to-tail paneling on the inside is also teak, but it was harvested locally in Costa Rica.

Now, I'm not one for "quirky travel" in the sense of staying somewhere just to say that I stayed there. And I actually don't like heights -- but this is just an appealing hotel, folks. It's fashionable, trendy, of the highest quality and it's a plane that sits in a giant tree. Really, all it's missing is snakes. And Samuel L. Jackson.

Marriott Helps You Score Amazon Cash

I have many weaknesses and/or vices. One of them, specifically, is Amazon.com. I wish I could help it, but I can't; I see things on the site that I want (books, music, Johnny Carson mics for podcasts) and I just start swiping my credit card left and right.

So, it's with that understood that I'm really excited to see Marriott's latest promotion, which features Visa and Amazon and hotel rooms. No, I am not a shill for Marriott. I just like their Twitter account. And it's quite simple: you book at Marriott, you get Amazon gift certificates.

Get one voucher for a $25 Amazon.com Gift Card claim code per night for up to two nights on weekend stays at Marriott Hotels and Resorts, JW Marriott Hotels, and Renaissance Hotels and Resorts

Get one voucher for a $15 Amazon.com Gift Card claim code per night for up to two nights on weekend stays at Courtyard hotels

There's always some catch, of course, though. This deal isn't particularly bad though: you simply have to book between April 13th and May 3rd for a weekend stay between April 16th and June 14th.

Now, clearly an Amazon $50 gift card/credit does not equal cash. But at the same time, if you can get $50 off a Marriott stay instead of having to stay at a lesser hotel, and then pick up, say a Grant Green box set, you've done pretty well for yourself.

Icy Hotel Adventures Up North

Ramsey Qubein is Travelin' Light's on-the-road correspondent.

ProfessionalTravelGuide.com has thousands of hotels bearing expert coverage on the ins and outs of their offerings, but some draw attention more than others for their unique lodging style.

Take, for example, the Hotel des Glaces on the outskirts of Quebec City, the only ice hotel in North and South America. During my recent visit there, I was warmly surprised by the lengths the property goes to create a memorable experience for its igloo-bound guests.

Each room or suite (yes, there are suites) is decorated in Arctic style with artwork carved out of the ice walls and varying degrees of illumination providing thematic interest.

Guests hunker down on the slabs of ice (topped with a mattress) and ensconced in a sleeping bag for the evening. Instructions are given in advance to avoid drinking liquids 4-5 hours before bedtime as the bathrooms are outside (although heated, a plus for the most frozen of visitors). Management encourages guests to sleep in as little clothing as possible since the hearty sleeping bags will make clothed guests sweat leading them to unzip only to freeze again. And lest one think the novelty behind this property stops at the exterior walls, there are hot tubs, sauna, ice bar (complete with vodka-laden drinks in ice cube glasses), and an ice slide to entertain arrivals.

Groups can congregate in the grand lounge for drinks or a night of dancing too! Even the furniture (sofas, chairs, and tables) are made of ice.

The hotel takes 500 tons of ice and more than a month of labor to build and only has a high season as it is completely melted during the spring, summer, and fall months. For a truly cool experience you’ll never forget, book a night at the Hotel des Glaces. And if spending the night doesn’t exactly light your fire, day passes are available to take a peak. Just remember to pack warmly!

Hotels.com Now Offering Semi-Creepy "Photo Pillows"

Ramsey Qubein is Travelin' Light's on-the-road correspondent.

Now you can sleep with Eva Mendes in a different hotel each night!

…Eva or technically anyone for that matter. Hotels.com will sell you more than a room now that it helps travelers to slumber with their choice of companion. A new service at their web site allows customers to upload (or email, pillowphotos@hotels.com) a photo of anyone (or anything!), and the company will send a pillowcase with the image printed directly on it.

While other companies have been selling everything from pillowcases to blankets with custom photos printed on them, this is a first from a travel company looking to differentiate itself from the pack. Remember, when booking at hotels.com, most hotel chains will not award frequent guest points or honor elite status benefits. But, the thought of snuggling with a feather-stuffed loved one makes up for it!

Lake Jocassee Video

FareFinder: February 10

With poor economy comes great responsibility. Or something ridiculous like that. Farefinder brings the best deals around the web to lighten the travel weight on your wallet. 

Continental.com specials for the week

Southwest Airlines Yes You Can! sale offers $49 one-way flights

NCL's Freestyle Resolution: Up to $250 on-board credit and $99 sailings

Princess Cruises continues its Balcony Bonanza deals

Single in NYC? Mandarin Oriental has a plan

Get Paid for Not Making the Bed?

Ramsey Qubein is Travelin' Light's on-the-road correspondent.

Slobs everywhere rejoice! Or at least book a room at the Sheraton Seattle Hotel and Towers. The Starwood-affiliated property has recently rolled out a program entitled “Help the Earth—You Tidy, We Treat,” providing $5 gift card in the hotel’s restaurants or 500 Starwood Preferred Guest Points for guests who are willing to turndown housekeeping services. And this reward is offered each day the Do Not Disturb sign graces the doorknob. Yes, it finally pays to not make your bed. Who would have thought this day would have come to pass?

Certainly not the housekeeping staff! This new program is in its infancy stages so it is unclear if this measure will save money from staff reductions or simply from less water and detergent usage. The big question comes from potential wear and tear in rooms that may repeatedly go days without being cleaned.

“We want to increase our environmental conservation efforts by providing an optional incentive program for our guests,” says General Manager Matthieu Van Der Peet. “The beauty of this program is that the decision to participate can be made on a daily basis and doesn’t require you to contact anyone in the hotel.”

The Sheraton in Kauai was the first hotel to begin a similar program, and the Seattle Sheraton and Towers agreed to be the second pilot test. Management will surely be keeping a watchful eye on the development of this program and how effective it is at controlling costs. And, guests are thrilled at the chance to earn big points and food discounts. Talk about a win-win that has led to a successful rollout at other Starwood properties in 2009.

Many hotels make it clear that linens will not be changed each day until a guest checks out anyway. And getting your towels changed? Well, with enough points for a free hotel stay after just a few days without housekeeping, the choice becomes quite clear.

Marriott Goes Green... Slightly

Marriott recently announced that it plans to begin using key cards made, at least partially, from recycled plastics. The decision, while undoubtedly made with public perception in mind, does have positive environmental consequences and sets a good example in the hospitality industry.

Marriott International has begun replacing the 24 million plastic key cards that it purchases annually in the U.S. with those made of 50% recycled material.

The company said the policy change will save 66 tons of plastic from being dumped in landfills.

Sure, considering the amount of solid waste piling up in landfills every year, 66 tons is basically dryer lint. Nevertheless, Marriott deserves a nod for the effort. It's always nice to see large-scale corporations making environmentally conscious decisions, even if those decisions are minor.

It would be wonderful to see more large hotel chains manifest these considerations with sustainable building materials, passive heating and water-saving fixtures... but for now, we'll take what we can get. You've got to start somewhere, even it's half-recycled key cards.

Musings on the Hotel Experience

Ramsey Qubein is Travelin' Light's on-the-road correspondent.

How often have you stayed in a hotel when the big things were impeccable, but it was the little things that caused irritation. In my role as a correspondent for Northstar Travel Media, I am privileged with the opportunity to experience and inspect a variety of international properties for our readers. But, it amazes me to find the exact same annoyances at properties across the globe. Too small to cause concern, but in summation enough to produce anger, these are undoubtedly widespread situations that all travelers endure.

How many times have you…

…been interrupted or awakened by the minibar inspector who wanted to check the status of your fridge? (You know... the one that you never even opened!)

…been charged for high speed Internet access at a so-called full-service property after having experienced free Internet at a budget-minded hotel days earlier?

…been awakened by overpowering noise in the hallways as housekeepers bang and scream their way from room to room? (Don’t get me wrong, I find housekeeping to often be the most friendly members of staff, but they can often be as loud as all get out!).

…been charged a token dollar or two to the room to go towards charity (from which the hotel will receive the praise)? Management knows most guests will be too embarrassed to remove the charge, and they can get away from saving what they would have contributed on their own.

…been saddened to find that the expensive room you paid for has hair in the sink or on the towel?

…been guilted into reusing your towel for environmental purposes?(A cause I support wholeheartedly, but always have an inkling the savings go into the hotel’s coffers rather than towards worldly good - Ed. Note: You and me both, brother. -).

…been submerged by water around your feet in the shower only minutes after starting the water since the so-called rainfall shower head was never matched to the drain’s capabilities.

I am by no means a perfectionist, but I do believe that the hotel industry has become complacent at a variety of key “touch points” that are important to the guest. My personal “touch points” are: the arrival moment, the ease of “living” in the room (Internet, phone, TV), the bathroom, the bed, and the unscripted interaction with employees (a smile from a housekeeper or greeting from a bellman). These are important “moments” where a guest’s opinion of a property can change in an instant.

Sure, it’s nice to have a signature scent in the lobby, turndown service, or a half-dozen restaurants. But, if I cannot relate on these primary touch points, I leave with more hesitation than praise.