Discount Hotels in Virginia Beach | "Wine tasting in the hills of Virginia"

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For a temporary escape from the bustle and activity during the holiday season, a day trip to one of Virginia’s stunning wineries is well within reach near the D.C. metro area. Virginia is home to almost 200 wineries that feature the variety and vast subtleties of the region, while showcasing the beauty of the state.  Not only are Virginia’s wines gaining popularity and becoming renown around the country, but they consistently compete handily with California vintages, as well as with international wines.

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Boxwood Winery A brief drive through scenic Middleburg will take the wine-seeker to Boxwood Winery, approximately fifty miles west of Washington D.C.  Currently, the Boxwood lineup features only reds grown and harvested in the Bordeaux tradition. Their 2010 Topiary is a blend of Cabernet Franc and Merlot with earthy undertones. The 2010 Cabernet Sauvignon will remain unblended to preserve the integrity of the flavor. A new addition to the Boxwood lineup, the Trellis, is an accessibleblend of Merlot and Malbec that could be paired with a meal or enjoyed alone. Rachel Martin, the executive vice president of Boxwood, explained that Boxwood’s endeavor is to remain committed to quality. She opted for a selective micro harvest, which involved a “painstaking” hand sorting of clean fruit. This resulted in a lower yield for the season, but the effects of which can be tasted in the quality of the wine. Boxwood faced an enormous challenge during the 2011 season. The ideal climate for grapes is a summer that is hot and dry, whereas 2011 featured heavy rains from hurricanes. With too much rain the berries can split, causing rot.  Boxwood’s vineyard uses only environmentally-approved materials, and their bottling and tasting rooms have an open, contemporary feel. Tours and tastings are by appointment, and visitors can request excursion information to set up a trip. Boxwood Winery Telephone:  540-687-8778 http://www.boxwoodwinery.com/

Sunset Hills Vineyard Sunset Hills Vineyard, located in Purcellville, Virginia in Loudoun County, has arustic atmosphere with rolling hills that showcase their vineyards.  Vines with clustered fruit and a 1870s-era Amish barn repurposed and restored for their tasting room create a scene comparable to Italy’s Tuscany. Additionally, the roofs of their tasting room and storage buildings are installed with 154 solar panels,providing 100% electrical self-sufficiency. Sunset Hills’ employs only manual labor to hand tend, hand pick, and hand sort the grapes. Spent grape skins from the pressing process are repurposed as fertilizer.

As a relatively young vineyard – opening in 2008 – they continually adapt to the variances between seasons in order to create the highest quality of wines. A sampling of past season’s offerings includes two whites, a rose, three reds, and a dessert wine. Highlights include the 2010 Chardonnay, an unblended white wine with hints of white flower, apple, and peach. The 2009 Cabernet Sauvignon is a medium-bodied red, which has been aged 18 months with hints of oak and a spicy finish. The dessert wine is a blend of late-harvested grapes, left longer on the vine to increase the residual sugar in the flavor.

The result is a sweet, refreshing finish, perfect for any meal. Sunset Hills also offers a light fare menu with hand-crafted Amish cheeses, French bread, and Italian imported salami and pepperoni. Visitors are allowed to bring their own food, though it must be kept to the designated picnic areas. Reservations are not required except in cases of groups larger than 8.

Discount Hotels In Virginia Beach | "Dining with Stars"

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With the recent announcement of this year’s awards and the publication of the 2011 Michelin guides, we thought what better than a run-down of ten of our best hotels – in no particular order – with Michelin starred restaurants. Whether you’re a fine gourmand or simply wish to treat yourself to a special meal, we’ve got all you need…

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Hotel Condes de Barcelona

This modernist hotel is home to two prestigious restaurants: Loidi, an affordable bistro, and Lasarte for fine dining. Both are run by three Michelin star awarded master chef Martin Berasategui, one of the best chefs in the world today.

Hotel Wellington Madrid

Among Hotel Wellington’s restaurants is the Michelin starred Kabuki; the best of its kind in the Spanish capital, offering a unique fusion between Japanese and Mediterranean flavours.

Hotel Metropole, Venice

Enjoy the richly spiced Italian cuisine prepared by well-known chef Corrado Fasolato in the hotel’s Michelin awarded Met Restaurant.Elysian’s restaurant Ria, run by chef Jason McLeod, was recently awarded two Michelin stars in the first edition of the Chicago guide, making it one of only three venues in the city to receive this prestigious award.This hotel has two Michelin star awarded restaurants under its roof: the French Stella Maris, run by chef Tateru Yoshino, and Hanasanshou, which specialises in traditional Japanese kaiseki cuisine – prepared under the guidance of chef Yoshiaki Takada.

Hotel Le Meurice, Paris

Enjoy the delicacies of restaurants Le Meurice and Le Dali, created by the three star awarded master chef Yannick Alleno.

Hotel Martinez, Cannes

Superb French cuisine that changes with the seasons can be found in the two starred gourmet restaurant Palme d’Or, run by chef Christian Sinicropi.

Halkin Hotel, London

Don’t miss a visit to Nahm, the only Michelin starred Thai restaurant in Europe, under the guidance of Australian chef David Thompson.

Okura, Amsterdam

Find three Michelin starred restaurants under one roof at the Okura hotel: the two star awarded Ciel Bleu with its unique take on French cuisine, plus two Japanese restaurants – Teppanyaki Restaurant Sazanka, where dishes are prepared under the watchful eyes of guests, and the traditional Yamazato Restaurant, which serves authentic haute cuisine.

Hotel Quinta das Lágrimas, Coimbra, Portugal

Enjoy the cuisine of one star awarded in-house restaurant Arcadas, prepared using fresh aromatic herbs, fruits and salads cultivated on the premises.

Discount Hotels In Virginia Beach | "What do women want from hotels?"

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What do women want from a hotel?

Easy access to electronics chargers, hair-straightening irons, yoga mats and quality shampoo that will protect their hair, according to new research from Hyatt Hotels & Resorts. Being able to leave those items at home could help female business travelers turn a checked bag into a carry-on, and prevent the need to spend valuable time waiting at the airport, says Sara Kearney, Hyatt's senior vice president in charge of brands.

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Female guests also want an easier way to communicate with hotel management and give staff feedback.

These are among the findings from Hyatt's research, initially conducted to get to know all their customers better, says Kearney.

Hyatt runs about 475 hotels under seven names including the traditional Hyatt, upscale Park Hyatt, contemporary Andaz and mid-priced Hyatt Place brands.

"Initially, we were conducting a study to get greater understanding of what travelers' general perceptions of the overall travel experience were," Kearney says. "As we started digging, we found that the richest area of opportunity was to focus more on what we were hearing from women. You could tell there were passion points that would make a bigger impact for women, and that men would probably appreciate them as well."

HOTEL DEALS: More cities embrace 'Restaurant Week' for hotels

In response to the findings, Hyatt began testing proposed changes in eight hotels such as the Hyatt Regency Chicago O'Hare. For some hotels, the new female friendly approach — officially in place as of today — has meant buying new shampoo and conditioner. For others, there have been additional changes.

As of today, guests should find in Hyatt's hotels:

Easier communication: Many women want assurance that their room has been cleaned and they want to provide feedback, the research revealed. As a result, Hyatt's hotels have added old-fashioned sheets of paper on which housekeepers sign their name and personally confirm that they've cleaned the room. They also invite guests to share their needs during their stay using pen and paper instead of e-mail. So far, the notes have mostly consisted of "thank you's" but Hyatt will be monitoring future patterns, Kearney says.

No-hassle borrow or buy program: The research also showed that female guests tend to be "much more reluctant than men" to seek assistance, she says. That means that a simple forgotten item such as a Dell laptop power cord or Blackberry phone charger could create a major obstacle. As a result, Hyatt's rolling out a special program called "Hyatt Has It" so that guests can borrow a variety of must-haves such as chargers, curling irons, flatirons, steamers, makeup remover wipes, razors and yoga mats. The items will be available for purchase or for borrowing. Since all travelers forget things, Hyatt expects this will be a big hit with men, too.

Customized meals: Many women find it harder to maintain their health and weight on the road, the research showed, so Hyatt revamped its menus. Expect to see new, freshly made juices and smoothies as well as smaller-portion options, even on room-service menus for late-night orders. Women who might like to order a plain piece of broiled fish and steamed broccoli will now be able to do that, too.

More trustworthy shampoo: Most female travelers pack the facial soap they use at home, but when it comes to hair products, they'll likely use hotel-provided products if they are credible, Kearney says. As a result, the Hyatt brand is doing away with its generic Portico toiletry line and replacing with a variety of amenities from such labels as KenetMD Skin Care, Le Labo, June Jacobs and Aromapothecary. Hyatt repeatedly heard from women, "I want a quality bath product that's consistent with what I'd use when at home." Kearney says.

Catering to women in a male-dominated industry

Last month, USA TODAY's Hotel Check-In discussed the topic of what women want from their hotels with five leading hotel CEOs - including Kimpton Hotels CEO Mike Depatie.

The medium-sized chain of about 60 boutique hotels, such as Hotel Monaco in Washington, D.C. and Hotel Palomar in San Francisco, receives a higher-than-average share of female guests because of its strategy, he says.

"You've got a fairly male-dominated industry; it's amazing how we forget some of the things that are important to women," he says.

He attributes Kimpton's appeal to women to its formula of having mainly hotels with about 200 rooms or less, which create a feeling of safety for many women, in addition to high-quality restaurants. The restaurants eliminate the need for female guests to "get in a cab and go across town," he says. Furthermore, their gyms all have glass doors for transparency, also generating a feeling of security, he says.


At Kimpton's boutique Hotel Allegro in Chicago, guests can ask to borrow a flat iron, curling iron or upgraded hair dryer.(Photo: Jordan Frank)
In addition, Kimpton hotels make available high-quality hair dryers, curling irons and flatirons. Each hotel receives requests for flatirons roughly five to 10 times per week, says Kimpton spokeswoman Jordan Frank.

"Other products most frequently requested by women are salon power hair dryers, shower caps, nail polish remover, feminine hygiene products, fashion tape and bubble bath/bath salts," she says.

Love for fancy shampoo, flat irons

So how big of a deal are such things as shampoo and flatirons for female travelers?

Meilee Anderson, a tourism industry executive in Seattle, for one, would appreciate it if hotels made flatirons available to guests. It would be one less thing to pack, she says.

Hitha Palepu, a pharmaceutical executive who travels often, says that "hotel-provided hair straighteners would be amazing." The irons are a must-have for her since she has "fussy" hair that can get fussier depending on the water quality in a given destination.

For other business travelers, having something as simple as upgraded shampoo is a valued expectation.

"If I'm going to a nice hotel, I expect some nice shampoo and leave my shampoo at home," says lobbyist Kim Musheno of Washington, D.C.

Jennifer Valdes, who works in public relations, says she regularly packs her own shampoo when taking longer trips and checking a bag with her airline. When she's taking a short trip, however, she boards her flight with only carry-on bags and takes a risk that her hotel will have quality shampoo, but she does so at risk of getting a talking to from her hair stylist.

Discount Hotels In Virginia Beach | "New downtown hotels spark optimism"

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The number of hotel rooms in downtown Wilmington could soon more than double if all projects currently in the works come to fruition.

But is there enough demand to warrant adding more than 400 new rooms to the Port City's riverfront?

Or, in other words, is this beginning to look like too much of a good thing?

"We don't think we will be overbuilt right now," said Kim Hufham, CEO of the Wilmington and Beaches Convention and Visitors Bureau.

Discount Hotels In Virginia Beach

More hotels are a good thing in helping to attract more and larger groups to the Wilmington Convention Center, Hufham said. The addition of these downtown hotel rooms "would give us the inventory so we could market to larger groups, for people to be able to stay overnight within walking distance of the convention center."

The roster of new projects downtown includes one hotel that's under construction and two others in the works – make that possibly three – and at least one other prominent piece of property being marketed as a prime site for a future hotel.

There are 4,458 rooms in Wilmington and 6,283 in New Hanover County, plus 1,520 rental units such as condominiums and cottages, Hufham said.

But being within walking distance of a targeted destination is very important for hotels' success, said Margo Metzger, spokeswoman for the N.C. Bureau of Tourism, Film and Sports Development.

There are around 400 rooms downtown now, Hufham said, and that includes not only the Hilton Wilmington Riverside and the Best Western Coastline Inn, but inns and B&Bs as well.

Add to that 453 rooms if the three hotels in the works right now are all built.

The 124-room Courtyard by Marriott, under construction at Second and Grace streets, is scheduled to open later this year, said Tushar Zaver, of developer CN Hotels in Greensboro.

The 143-room Hotel Indigo, to be located at 1 Hanover St., may begin construction as soon as June if it gets the required permits, said Kyle Myers project manager for the development by USA InvestCo.

The proposed 186-room Embassy Suites Convention Center hotel should break ground this summer, said Brooks Johnson, director of development for Harmony Hospitality in Virginia Beach.

Developers Todd Toconis and David Spetrino have another property downtown under contract with a hotelier, Toconis said, but he would not give the address. He said he would have something to announce in two weeks.

Additionally, the owner of the land at 101 N. Front St. – site of the ill-fated The View condominium project – is casting a net that includes hoteliers.

"We are looking at multiple development concepts, including a hotel," said Cape Fear Commercial's Brian Eckel, who is providing development consulting services to the owners of the site.

Wilmington isn't by itself in hotel growth.

The lodging market is strong across North Carolina, said Lynn Minges, president and CEO of the N.C. Restaurant and Lodging Association.

"We have seen inventory in North Carolina grow for several years, including when the economy was down," she said.

Wilmington's hotel numbers are among the highest in the state, Minges added.

Discount Hotels In Virginia Beach | "Video Games and Today's Generation"

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There are visual, verbal, and hands-on learners. Soon, there might be a new category: video game learners.

At the Aspen Ideas Festival, the non-profit video game research organization Institute of Play announced the development of a new video game design lab with a twist.

The Games, Learning and Assessment Lab, or GLASS Lab, aim to teach younger students the new, yet necessary, skills that colleges and workplaces currently look for in candidates – all through video games.

Discount Hotels In Virginia Beach

In the GLASS Lab, a video game would be designed based on a particular school subject, then it would be put into classes where teachers and students use the game in their lessons. All along, the organization is constantly gathering data to see if the program is really helping students learn.

More than “40 years ago, a new technology was seen as a waste of time,” said Michael Gallagher, president and chief executive of the Entertainment Software Association, the U.S. video game industry’s trade association.

That was the television, he said, a device that is now used often in the classroom for educational videos. “The next transitional leap is to video games,” Gallagher said. “But we don’t want to just talk about it, we want to do something.”

The GLASS LAB is still in its early days, though it is expected to continue its research for at least three years. The initial work is to choose “what is most compelling for students and, from an education perspective, what will work” to help students learn, Gallagher said.

Whether it is for math, history, or physics, a game is developed for that subject. One of the basic concepts of video games is that the user cannot progress until they achieve understanding of a certain skill.

The mastery of that concept allows the student to move on to the next level, and the GLASS Lab receives the output of the learning: data on how the student completed the video game.

Video games are “compelling educational tools,” Gallagher said. And if the GLASS Lab proves with their research that video games help students learn, the program will expand more broadly.

The GLASS Lab unites the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation, the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, leading video game company Electronic Arts, and the Entertainment Software Association. The foundations support the GLASS Lab with $10.3 million in grants, and it will be based at EA’s Redwood City, Calif. headquarters.

In a press release, Robert Torres, senior program officer at the Gates Foundation said, “We need projects that will work with students and speak to them in their native language – digital media. Through game-based learning, students will be challenged, and teachers and parents can get real-time feedback on student progress.”

With the changing technology and economy, expectations of students are much higher than the previous generations.

“The core skills are different today in the 21st century colleges and workplace,” Gallagher said. “Collaboration, empathy and problem solving are all key parts of video games and skills that can be put back into the education process.”

Discount Hotels in Virginia Beach | "Stupid or Genius: Ten Craziest New Gadgets"

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The Consumer Electronics Show – full of technological innovation, thousands of vendors vying to be the next big thing – and some of the craziest gadgets I’ve ever seen. Now there’s a fine line between crazy and brilliant, and sometimes it’s hard to tell the difference. So here are my top ten picks for craziest gadget at CES. Stupid or genius? You decide.

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1. Necomimi Brainwave Cat Ears – $99
In case you can’t tell for yourself if you’re being attentive or relaxed, put on these brainwave-sensing cat ears. Then think relaxing thoughts, and the ears will droop. Focus your attention, and the ears perk up. A fine therapeutic tool for those with attention deficit disorder - or a slightly pricey party trick. Also available as devil’s horns.

2. Hapifork – $99 in Beta on Kickstarter
Continuing the trend in products for people who are completely unaware of their own behaviors… The Hapifork is a Bluetooth-connected utensil that collects data on how fast you’re eating – and it vibrates in your mouth if you eat too fast. True, most of us probably don’t take enough time to appreciate what we’re stuffing in. So big points for wanting to make people more self-aware around eating. Developed by Hapilabs in France, where they really know how to enjoy a good meal.

3. Health Mate Half Sauna
I’m really not sure why someone would want to bake just their lower half, but if you hate it when your arms get hot but love it when your butt does, have I got a product for you. Sit in this cedar box, and slide the top closed, just above your belly (the top would make a fine surface for a laptop if you weren’t worried about the heat). And the heat? The one I tried was set to 150 degrees Fahrenheit. Yow.

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4. iPotty – $39.99
Trouble toilet training your toddler? Well, there’s a technological fix for everything these days. The iPotty from CTA Digital is a plastic potty with a swiveling mount for your wee one’s iPad. Of course, it doesn’t actually come with an iPad, but it does come with a splash guard, which might come in handy.

5. Game Skunk – price not yet available
It’s finally here – Smellovision! The Game Skunk from Sensory Acumen adds odors to your gaming experience. Playing a shoot-em-up set in the desert? How would that be complete without diesel fumes and odors of exploding IEDs and burning tires? Ah, I love the smell of napalm in the morning…

6. WheeMe Massage Robot - $99
Sadly, your personal Fembot has not yet arrived, but you can lie down and place this 4-wheeled device from DreamBots on your back. This 5-inch long robot automatically steers itself over your body without falling off, caressing you as it goes. Maybe they’ll hook up with Game Skunk and add the smell of the beach and suntan oil.

7. Sharky the Beaver – Free App (plus $129.99 for the Sphero Robotic Ball)
Sharky the Beaver almost makes this list just on the basis of its name. But before I get into Sharky the Beaver, a little history: Sphero has been selling robotic balls since way back in 2011. You can remotely control these tennis-sized balls with an iOS or Android device. You can drive them around your living room, play tag with other Sphero users, or make the ball chase after your little brother. Sharky the Beaver is Sphero’s first venture into Augmented Reality gaming. The big, exciting augmentation? Now, when you look at the tablet or phone device running the Sharky the Beaver app, instead of seeing the remote-controlled Sphero ball, in its place you see an animated beaver. Wow.
Celebrity Headphones
We’ve seen celebrity-endorsed headphones for years (think “Beats by Dre”), but now you don’t even have to be a musician to have your own line. Ferrari has a pair; Usain Bolt has a pair – what are these, the world’s fastest headphones? But my favorites for outside-the-box marketing:

8. House of Marley Headphones - $59-$69
Partially made with hemp. Yah, mon. Now extra legal in Washington and Colorado.

9. Tim Tebow Signature Series Headphones - $299.95
I don’t know quite what being an evangelical football star has to do with music, but it may be no mere coincidence that these headphones are from Soul Electronics. Tim says he’s thinking of renaming one of the headphone models in his line – the one formerly called the “Jet.”

10. Motorheadphones - $99-$129
Remember the mockumentary “This is Spinal Tap” about “the world’s loudest band?” Well, not to be outdone, the hard-rocking metal band Motorhead has come out with their own line of headphones. According to Motorhead’s lead vocalist Lemmy Kilmister, “We designed these headphones to deliver everything louder than anything else.”