Hotel News We Noted: November 23, 2012 (Special Black Friday/ Cyber Monday Edition)

Happy Holidays! With Thanksgiving officially behind us, it’s time to start the mad countdown to your winter festival of choice. Whether you’re seeking a quick weekend away, a New Year’s blowout or are getting a head start on planning spring break, these deals are ripe for the choosing.

We’ve ranked our lucky 13 favorites, starting with brands and hotel groups and working our way down to amazing deals at individual hotels and resorts.

Craving more? For travel deals that aren’t related to hotels, check out Allison Kade’s post, here.

Your regularly scheduled “Hotel News We Noted” post will return on November 30.

Destination Hotels & Resorts
Destination Hotels & Resorts is offering an advanced look at some of its Cyber Monday savings with up to 50% off. More than 15 properties in Destination Hotels & Resorts are offering special deals of up to 50% off, including properties in Washington, D.C., Charleston, Colorado, Chicago and Northern Virginia. Visit http://www.destinationhotels.com/CyberMonday to book.

Omni Hotels Worldwide
For the third consecutive year, Omni Hotels & Resorts’ Click Quick offer will feature 999 room nights available at a $99 nightly rate. This rate applies only to rooms booked between Nov. 23 and Nov. 26, 2012, for stays through Jan. 31, 2013.

Viceroy Hotel Group

Now through Cyber Monday, Viceroy Hotel Group is offering a variety of deals on its 13 properties worldwide in cities like Anguilla, Santa Monica, Abu Dhabi and many more. For details, visit www.viceroyhotelgroup.com/earlyaccess.

Portico Club

This normally member’s-only travel club is offering special access to its private homes on Cyber Monday. Book homes or condos in areas like Steamboat Springs, Las Vegas, Scottsdale and Rose Hall. Special deals vary by property.

Loews Hotels

A Cyber Monday special will run from 12:01 a.m., Monday, Nov. 26 (EST) to 3 a.m., Tuesday, Nov. 27. Bookings apply for travel from Nov. 26, 2012 – April 30, 2013. Those who book on Cyber Monday will receive up to 40 percent off Loews Best Rate at 15 Loews Hotels & Resorts and free in-room Internet access.Lake Placid Lodge, Lake Placid
Lake Placid Lodge, is offering several Cyber Monday deals with savings of up to 50% off. Reservations for all deals are bookable online at LakePlacidLodge.com from 10:00 a.m. EST on Monday, Nov. 26 until 5 p.m. EST on Friday, Nov. 30. Rates start at $400 per night.

Grand Lucayan, Bahamas
Starting Black Friday, Nov. 23, through Cyber Monday, Nov. 26, Grand Lucayan, Bahamas, is offering 60% percent off stays for travel through Sept. 30, 2013. Rates begin as low as $79 in this 96-hour sale. Reservations must be made online here.

Miraval Resorts, Tucson

Starting Nov. 26 through Dec. 2, guests can book an all-inclusive Miraval 3-night stay for two and receive an extra $500 dollars in resort credits. The deal includes casita-style accommodations, a $150 nightly resort credit per person, all meals, unlimited self-discovery activities, full access to resort amenities, complimentary shuttle from Tucson International Airport or complimentary valet parking, a welcome gift and extra $500 in resort credits per stay.

Sonesta Resorts Saint Maarten

Sonesta Resorts Saint Maarten’s Black Friday Sale returns Nov. 22 – 29, 2012, offering a 50% discount on all-inclusive rates valid for travel Dec. 1, 2012 – Dec. 19, 2013. Bookings can be made with promo code BFSALE.

Bernardus Lodge, Carmel

The Bernardus Lodge is offering a special rate of $285 per night, complete with one 50-minute massage per room, a 50 percent savings, from Black Friday to Cyber Monday.

Helmsley Park Lane Hotel, New York City

On Monday, Nov. 26, the Helmsley Park Lane Hotel in New York City will offer 40% off the best available rate for stays Dec. 1, 2012 through September 30, 2013. This Cyber Monday special will be viewable and bookable on that day only by visiting this link here.

Hotel Madeline Telluride, Colorado

Book your winter vacation and save up to 50% at Hotel Madeline Telluride. Hotel Madeline Telluride is offering a one-of-a-kind Ski & Spa package, which combines access to the resort’s 2,000 skiable-acres and the hotel’s relaxing spa. For $600 total, guests who book the Ski & Spa package on Cyber Monday will receive two nights in a deluxe king room, breakfast for two, two ski passes and two massages.

[Image credit: Lake Placid Lodge]

Hotel News We Noted: November 2, 2012

We’d like to begin this week’s column by sending out our thoughts to all of those who have been without power or homes since Sandy tore through the East Coast earlier this week. While we escaped the worst of the storm in D.C., we know that many of our friends and colleagues in the Northeast were not so lucky. We’ll be reporting on ways travelers can help throughout the coming weeks.

The hotel news, however, must go on. So, without further ado, here is this week’s issue of “Hotel News We Noted.”

If you’re interested in sending us newsy tidbits or comments, please do so via email. We welcome reader mail! We’re also seeking hotels and travel companies offering Black Friday and Cyber Monday specials for an upcoming special edition.

Storm Loss: $700 Million In Business Lost
A new Wall Street Journal article estimates that the one-day loss totals from Hurricane Sandy equaled 600,000 business trips lost and $700 million in associated spending loss. Significant, sure, but not compared to the $50 billion plus expected to clean up the damage as a result of the storm. Still, for the tens of thousands of travelers still stranded in airport hotels waiting to get home and those who are currently staycationing because their buldings lack power, we hope you get home soon.

Hotel Openings: In North Korea?
We all knew those crazy North Koreans were on a power trip. Now the AP is reporting (see the full story over on our friends at HuffPo) that the “world’s tallest hotel,” Pyongyang’s Ryugyong Hotel, will likely open next year. The 105-story hotel will partially open more than two decades after initial construction began, via a management contract with European hotel chain Kempinski.New Hotel Partnership: Gaylord Joins Marriott
Marriott now has a 14th brand. As of early 2013, Gaylord Hotels’ four resorts in the D.C., Orlando, Dallas and Nashville areas will be part of the Marriott Rewards program. Members earn 10 points per dollar spent at Gaylord Hotels on room rate only or two airline miles per dollar spent on room rate only. That’s a good deal for business travelers, many of who find themselves at these massive conference centers for events.

Haute Hotel Package: Holiday Prep at the White Barn Inn
Learn how to be the “Hostess with the Mostess” this holiday season. On November 10, The White Barn Inn, the boutique Relais & Chateaux property in Kennebunkport, ME, is offering guests a Holiday Workshop, complete with a baking class in the new bakery (with champagne, of course), lunch at the famed White Barn Inn restaurant where guests can try their baked creations, and a cocktail class by White Barn Inn expert mixologists to learn to make the hottest holiday cocktails of the season. Rates start at $760 for an overnight plus breakfast for two. Pricey, but if it gets you any closer to Martha Stewart-like fame for your domestic skills, the investment might be worth it.

Hotel Deals of the Week
It seems like even hotels are getting in the holiday spirit early this year. Arizona’s Biltmore is offering an incredible $89 holiday rate for stays booked between Nov. 2 and 9 for stays between Nov. 18 and Dec. 1 or between Dec. 14 and Jan. 1.

[Image Credit: Arizona Biltmore]

Even more Cyber Monday hotel and travel deals

Black Friday and Cyber Monday aren’t just for holiday shopping. You can get great deals on holiday travel too. Writer Melanie has already tracked seven great Black Friday travel deals and Chris found some awesome Black Friday cruise and general travel promos but there are more floating in every day. Peruse the list below, and let us know if we’re missing any – we’ll add it right in!

Best Western
Purchase a $100 Best Western Travel Card online and receive a bonus $20 gift card reward for yourself. Cyber Monday shoppers can choose a $20 Best Western Travel Card, or a $20 gift card from participating retail partners. The Best Western Travel Card can be used like cash to pay for accommodations at more than 4,000 Best Western hotels worldwide. BWR members will be able to take advantage of this special offer now, through Monday, Nov. 28 at 11:59 p.m MST.

Abercrombie & Kent
The luxe tour company is offering independent departures to 10 of their most popular destinations at up to 50% off during the Six Days of Holiday Savings, from November 28 at 9 a.m. to December 3 at 1 p.m. CST.

Cape Resorts Group
Starting Friday and going to midnight Monday, purchase $100 in gift cards and receive a $20 bonus gift card. With every additional $125 purchased received additional $25 on your bonus gift card. The card is valid at all Cape Resorts in Cape May, NJ.

Marriott’s Florida Hotels
JW Marriott, Marriott Hotels & Resorts and Renaissance Florida hotels and resorts are joining in on the e-shopping spree with up to 25% savings on Cyber Monday with rates starting from $95 to $186 per night. The one-day only online sale is available for those who book on Monday, Nov. 28, 2011 for stays through Jan. 8, 2012.* For reservations, visit www.marriott.com/floridacybermonday (live on Cyber Monday) or visit www.marriott.com and enter the promotional code DOD.

Omni Hotels & Resorts
The Omni Hotels & Resorts “Holiday Treat” limited time offer is back for a second year, offering travelers exceptional values on wonderful winter destinations. From Black Friday through Cyber Monday, rooms across the brand will range from $79 to $119 in favorite Omni destinations such as Atlanta, Boston, Chicago, Dallas, Fort Worth, New York, San Francisco and more. Plus, in honor of the official kick-off to the holiday shopping season, Omni will give away 100 room nights to 100 followers at Facebook.com/OmniHotels.

InterContinental Hotels Group
IHG’s (InterContinental Hotels Group) is offering a Twitter-exclusive travel deal with their “Gotta Get 100” promotion. Followers of @IHG_Deals who uncover the “Gotta Get 100” link and register for the promotion Nov. 1 through Nov. 28 will be eligible for $100 off of any flight on any airline to any destination, when they book two consecutive weekend nights (Friday, Saturday or Sunday) at any IHG hotel throughApril 29, 2012. IHG is also giving away a $100 prepaid gift card for every day of the “Gotta Get 100” promotion. For more details visit www.ihg.com/get100rules.

Viceroy Resorts
A variety of deals are available for Cyber Monday, detailed at viceroyhotelgroup.com/cybermonday. Many involve social media offers and include hotels in Palm Springs, Santa Monica, St. Luicia, Aguilla, Snowmass, Abu Dhabi, Miami and more.

Hotels.com
hotels.com® is starting its annual Four Day Sale at midnight on Black Friday with more than 300 properties half off their original costs for travel through January 2nd in most destinations. The sale runs through 11:59 p.m. on Cyber Monday.

American Airlines
Beginning Nov. 23 and running through Jan. 2, 2012, customers traveling on American’s Wi-Fi-equipped aircraft can enjoy 30 minutes of free access to special discounts and in-air exclusives at top retailers with the Gogo Fly & Buy Holiday Store. Purchase a two-pass holiday pack for $14.95 and use the passes any two days until Jan. 3, or buy a three-pass holiday pack for $19.95 and use the passes on any three days through the same promotion period.

Qatar Airways
Qatar Airways is offering savings of up to 25% on roundtrip flights from the USA to over 100 destinations worldwide through Cyber Monday.

[Flickr via Dan Shouse]

Black Friday travel on sale from hotels to cruises

Between Black Friday and Cyber Monday travel companies are going all out with some outstanding bargains on everything from airfare to cruise vacations. It’s a time when sellers of travel hope they can get us to buy big, once, and take care of the whole family with a single purchase.

One big travel gift for the whole family is a great choice for people who don’t like to shop very much and like to travel or know people they need a gift for who do. Travel gifts don’t have to be big either, a travel gift card is a good choice for backpackers, road warriors and everyone in-between. Still, Black Friday deals are up first so lets take a look at some of the best available, Friday only.

Travelocity has savings of up to 50% off with offers that might include third night free and 40-50% off at hotels in Hawaii, Chicago, and other cities. They even have a special Black Friday Booking site.

Yuupon is offering hourly, travel deals where shoppers get sale items that can include up to 90% off airline, gas and restaurant gift cards and Vegas shows and Florida tours are also included. Yuupon also has a special Black Friday website set up.

Hotels from Red Roof Inn to Intercontinental have special offers too. Follow Intercontinental Hotel Group on Twitter for special deals announced on Friday. Orbitz lets Friday buyer save up to 50% for stays at popular hotels in Orlando, Las Vegas, San Diego, New York, Miami and Hawaii. The company also promises similar savings at international locations, including Paris; Puerto Vallarta and Cancun, Mexico;and London.

“Discounts are likely to slip away faster than the parking spaces at the mall,” Orbitz told CNN.

To get the deals, visit The Orbitz Cybersale web site. The site goes live 12:01 a.m. Friday and closes 11:59 p.m. Monday.

Princess Cruises’ first-ever After Thanksgiving Alaska Sale has travelers dreaming of savings on visiting the splendor of Alaska’s wilderness.

Running from November 25-29, the sale offers passengers up to $1,000 in savings and up to a $50 onboard credit on one of the cruise line‘s popular cruisetour vacations, which combine a Gulf of Alaska cruise with rail travel to Denali and stays at Princess’ exclusive wilderness lodges. For those who opt to see Alaska by sea only, the sale provides a free balcony upgrade and up to $100 onboard credit.

Norwegian Cruise Line will offer reduced deposits (50% off) and up to $250 in onboard credit per stateroom. The sale begins on Wednesday, Nov. 23 and runs until Nov. 29. All sailings are included in this sale with the exception of 1 & 2 day sailings and those on the Norwegian Breakaway.

Costa Cruises, Europe‘s largest cruise line, is planning a Black Friday sale that will feature its lowest rates of the season on select Mediterranean and Caribbean sailings. Cruise-only fares for 11-night eastern Mediterranean departures will start at $599 per person based on double occupancy while seven- to 11-night western Mediterranean cruises will begin at $399.

“For the third consecutive year Costa is offering Black Friday fares because they have proven to be very popular with consumers,” said Maurice Zarmati, president and CEO of Costa Cruises North America. “At these exclusive rates travelers can book one of our Italian-style cruise vacations at an incredible value.”

Costa Concordia seven-night and Costa Serena 11-night Mediterranean sailings feature a $100 per person on-board credit for balcony cabins plus huge savings on Caribbean 10-night cruises. Cruise-only fares for 11-night eastern Mediterranean departures start at $599, and seven- to 11-night western Med cruises begin at just $399. The 10-night Caribbean cruises begin at just $699.

Royal Caribbean also has a special offer, extending their usual “Tuesday Only” sale to begin on Friday and run through the weekend. See your travel professional for details and pricing on this sales event too.


Seven Black Friday and Cyber Monday hotel deals for 2011

As a holiday purist, I lament the day that “Black Friday” and its sister “Cyber Monday” supplanted Thanksgiving as November’s most anticipated event. But as a shopper, in particular a seeker of travel deals, I always look forward to seeing what kinds of discounts I can gobble up.

This year, quite a number of hotels are offering flash sales on Black Friday (November 25), Cyber Monday (November 28), or both. Here is a sampling of some of the deals that came across the wire at Gadling Labs. Discounts are not limited to U.S.-based hotels; there are also deals in Canada, Mexico, and Costa Rica. All times listed for the deals are Eastern Standard Time (EST) unless otherwise noted.

Charles Hotel, Cambridge, MA
This smart hotel a few steps from Harvard University is offering a one-hour flash sale on Cyber Monday. From 11:28am to 12:28pm on November 28, the Charles will offer a 50% discount off all of its room rates, including suites, good for a stay between December 3, 2011, and March 31, 2012. Booking a room during the flash sale will also net you a $50 gift card at the hotel’s new Corbu Spa & Salon. Click here on 11/28 at 11:28am and use the code CYBER11.Kimpton Hotels – DC, Maryland, and Virginia
Twelve Kimpton hotels in the Mid-Atlantic will be on sale during a 72-hour spree beginning at midnight on Cyber Monday. While upgrades last, the boutique hotelier will offer suites at standard room rates at its properties in Washington, DC, Maryland, and Virginia. As dates of travel are limited between December 15 and December 30, 2011, Kimpton’s flash sale is a great opportunity for families looking for a place to stay over the holidays. For example, the specialty bunk room at the Hotel Rouge in DC will be on sale for $119 per night, down from its typical rate of $299. Deal-seekers should visit the website www.kimptonhotels.com/cybermonday and use the code SALE72.

Shore Hotel, Santa Monica, CA
Travelers with plans to vist Santa Monica between November 28, 2011, and February 28, 2012, can snag a Cyber Monday deal from the Shore Hotel, Santa Monica’s newest LEED-registered hotel. For 24 hours on November 28, the Shore Hotel will offer 30% off of a partial ocean view room. Note, however, that the hotel takes the “cyber” out of Cyber Monday by offering this deal by phone. Call 310-458-1515 to book.

Shell Vacations – Resorts in the U.S., Canada, and Mexico
From midnight on November 25 through 11:59pm on November 28, Shell Vacations Hospitality is offering 50% off resort rates for 25 properties in North America. Travelers who visit www.shellhospitality.com/Black_Friday next weekend will find rock-bottom rates for ski retreats in Canada‘s Horseshoe Valley, golf resorts in Scottsdale, and beach-side inns in Hawaii. A sample Black Friday/Cyber Monday rate from Shell Vacations is a room rate starting at $65 per night at San Francisco’s Inn at the Opera.

Z NYC Hotel, New York
For those with plans to travel to New York City over the first half of next year, the Z NYC Hotel in Long Island City is having a super flash sale centered around the number 28 (Cyber Monday takes place on November 28). Beginning at noon on November 28 and running for 28 minutes until 12:28pm, rooms at the Z NYC Hotel will go for $128 per night. Guests will be able to book stays that take place over the 28th of the month for the first six months of 2012. A two-night minimum stay is required. If this isn’t enough to convince the hoards to check out revitalized Long Island City, Z NYC is also throwing in two-for-one cocktail deal. To book, call 1-877-256-5556 and use the code CYBER.

Monte Azul Luxury Boutique Hotel, Costa Rica
The deal on offer at this Costa Rican eco-resort lives up to the spirit of Black Friday. From midnight to 11:59pm on November 25, Monte Azul is offering guests two nights for the price of one. Travel must take place between January 4 and May 31, 2012. Visit www.monteazulcr.com/en/hotel/reservations and add “Black Friday Deal” in the notes section to take advantage of this discount.

JW Marriott Hotel, Chicago
Marriott’s Cyber Monday-only deal at Chicago’s JW Marriott is a chance to snag significant savings on a hotel room next month. Beginning at 8am CST on November 28 until 7:59am CST on November 29, rooms at the JW Marriott will go for $149 per night for the month of December (excluding Friday, December 2, and Friday, December 31). Visit www.jwmarriottchicago.com or call 312-660-8200 to book.