Tuesday, November 23, 2004

BE HERE IN BEND--FOR THE NEXT 100 YEARS: Popular Outdoor Recreation Destination Turns 100 With a Year-Long Celebration

Contact: Justin Yax
DVA Advertising & Public Relations
541-389-2411
justin@dvaadv.com

FOR RELEASE AT WILL

Contact: Mike Glover, Executive Director, Bend Visitor & Convention Bureau, 800-949-6086, mike@VisitBend.com Justin Yax, DVA Advertising/PR, 541-389-2411, justin@dvaadv.com

BE HERE IN BEND--FOR THE NEXT 100 YEARS

Popular Outdoor Recreation Destination Turns 100 With a Year-Long Celebration
(BEND, Ore.)--It's not often you get to see 100 candles atop a birthday cake, but there will be plenty to celebrate in Bend on January 4, 2005, the 100th birthday of the most populated city in central Oregon and one of the country's burgeoning travel/regreation destinations. A year-long centennial celebration is planned to commemorate the city's past and look to the future.

Farewell Bend, as it was once called, was established in 1905 and was a popular stopping point for covered wagon trains before they continued over the Cascade Mountains to reach the Willamette Valley.

The town was named for a bend in the Deschutes River where many people bid farewell to Central Oregon, and often to loved ones, before they continued their journeys. The name was shortened to Bend by the US Postmaster, who felt the name was too cumbersome.

Bend has come a long way from its roots of covered wagons and logging, becoming a bustling city with a population of nearly 63,000, but has largely managed to maintain its historic downtown core, small-town atmosphere and charm. The timber industry that built and sustained Bend for the majority of its first 100 years has been replaced by outdoor recreation, and the town now boasts numerous art galleries, shops, microbreweries and extraordinary dining.

To celebrate this once-in-a-lifetime occurrence, the City of Bend and the Bend Visitor and Convention Bureau have organized various anchor events throughout the year. The Mayor's Ball will be held on the centennial anniversary, Jan. 4, and will be followed by the Bend Winterfest February 11-13. The Winterfest is held downtown and includes local art, music, food, and even an ice-carving competition.

The events will continue with a centennial-themed 4th of July celebration and the "Log Jam," an October event that includes a Run/Walk, professional wood-chopping and log-rolling competitions, along with music, food and local booths.

In addition to these large-scale celebrations, various businesses and organizations in Bend have scheduled other unique events to commemorate the centennial. Details on these events can be found by logging onto www.VisitBend.com.

The Bend Visitor & Convention Bureau is a non-membership, non-profit economic development organization dedicated to promoting tourism on behalf of the City of Bend. For more information or to order a complimentary 22-page Official Visitor's Guide to Bend, contact the Bend Visitor & Convention Bureau at 1-800-949-6086 or visit http://www.VisitBend.com.

Friday, November 05, 2004

The Secret of Relative Harmony

Contact Name: Jessica Spearing
Company: Broad Street PR
Telephone: + 44 (0)1635 281765
E-Mail: jessica.spearing@virgin.net
Date Released: 11/5/2004

Renting a villa with a big group of friends and family is a great way to holiday; getting them all to agree where to go is another thing all together!

With over 2,000 villas sleeping at least 8 all over the world, www.holiday-rentals.com knows how complicated finding the right villa for every member of the party can be.
After all, who would have thought that Uncle Greg could ever be quite so fussy about the size of the pool when he can't even manage a length at the local public baths? And why is the teenage drama queen of the family so upset at the prospect of a bit of rural isolation?
Now a brand new facility aims to minimise all the fuss and furore over whether the pool is the right size, the kitchen is suitable for gourmet cooking or how far the house is from the nearest bar.

Visitors to the site can now build their own personalised shortlist of villas and e-mail the list to up to 5 different e-mail addresses at a time using the brand new Shortlist facility. What's more, you can add notes about individual properties on your list which others can view but not edit. The service is free and extremely easy to use - just build as you browse - no need to register unless you want to save your list and return to it later.

"A huge number of people browsing our site are arranging global reunions or big surprise anniversary parties and it can be difficult getting everyone to agree not just on where to go, but also what type of place to stay in. I hope this new facility will help to make the whole process a great deal easier and provide a holiday that's suits everybody," said Marcelle Speller, co- founder of www.holiday-rentals.com

For more info contact
Jessica Spearing
Freelance PR
01635 281765

Tuesday, November 02, 2004

CHERRY VALLEY LODGE LAUNCHES MENOPAUSE WEEKEND

Contact: Amy Weirick
Weirick Communications
(614) 848-8380
amy@WeirickCommunications.com

Granville, OH USA - Ohio-based Cherry Valley Lodge announced today that it has created a special women-only escape package ideal for groups or pairs of girlfriends or sisters, or for individual women seeking a fun and unique getaway. The Cherry Valley Lodge MenoPause Escape is available any time (based on availability) and is just $350 for two women based on double occupancy or $260 for one with single occupancy.

The package is described like this:
They say getting old is no fun. We're proving them wrong. Be gone hot flashes, mood swings and osteoporosis! Cherry Valley Lodge has cooked up an unforgettable MenoPause Escape. Just for real women in the prime of their lives, this fun-filled weekend is the perfect escape for girlfriends, sisters or any group of women who want to celebrate the wisdom, experience, and of course, the sense of humor, that comes as you move into this meaningful time of life.

The MenoPause Escape includes:
Overnight accommodations
Bottle of Cherry Valley Lodge Private Label wine Breakfast in the Cherry Valley Lodge Dining Room Fashion fan Therapeutic 30-minute Menopause Massage (may upgrade for additional charge) "Chillow" cooling pillow "Bite Me" candy bar, made from flax seed, which are rich in phytoestrogens and believed to fight symptoms like moodiness and hot flashes The book, "The Wisdom of Menopause"

"Several women with whom we work were laughing about the many changes women go through as they approach menopause," said Cherry Valley Lodge General Manager Becky Miller. "So we decided to create a package that both recognizes and celebrates this important time in a woman's life."

Cherry Valley Lodge is a one-of-a-kind, 200-room resort-style lodge located in Licking County, Ohio, 25 miles east of Columbus. Interior design features a dramatic soaring lobby with towering twin stone fireplaces. Two beautifully landscaped courtyards are among the many outdoor features the nation's only hotel to be designated an official Arboretum and Botanical Garden. Visitors also enjoy indoor and outdoor pools, a game room and unusually large guestrooms with luxurious appointments. Reservations and consumer information are available
(800) 788-8008 or online at www.cherryvalleylodge.com.

Comp or press rate trips, color art, video and additional media information available.
Media contact Amy Weirick, (614) 848-8380 or amy@WeirickCommunications.com.

3rd Annual Around-the-World Travel Competition Looking For Globetrotting Participants

Contact Name: Pamela L. Finmark
Company: GreatEscape 2005
Telephone: 310.264.1983
E-Mail: mailto:plf@GlobalScavengerHunt.com
Date Released: 10/27/2004

Vancouver, British Columbia, CANADA (27 October 2004) The previous winners of an around-the-world travel adventure competition are getting ready to defend their titles as “The World’s Greatest Travelers” in GreatEscape2005: The Global Scavenger Hunt beginning April 15th, 2005.
Outside magazine calls The Global Scavenger Hunt, “…one of the most amazing trips in the world!” NPR’s “Savvy Traveler” host Dianna Nyad, thinks that GreatEscape “…is just such a great idea!” And nationally syndicated Pierre Wolf of “Pack Your Bags,” agrees saying that the competition is, “The most remarkable travel adventure I’ve ever heard of…truly, a one of a kind global event. This is what travel should be all about!” So far, travelers from over three-dozen countries have applied to join the annual adventure.
Created for independent travelers who thirst for spontaneity, new experiences and human interaction, the around-the-world event is designed to be a rally rather than a flat out race. The 2005 edition will have Teams travel across 4 continents over three weeks between April 15th and May 8th, 2005, with Teams earning points by completing a series of cultural-oriented scavenges in each of 10 exotic destinations. Three winning Teams will divide $100,000 in prizes, but only the First Place Team will earn “The World’s Greatest Travelers” crown.
Circling the globe is everyone’s ultimate travel fantasy every travel poll declares. It took Magellan over three years to do it. It took Jules Verne’s Phileas Fogg character 80-days to it. Amelia Earhart would have made it in about 45 days. It took those participating in GreatEscape2004, the world’s only travel adventure competition, just 22 days to do it!
One participant called The Global Scavenger Hunt, "A cross between Abercrombie & Kent and Lonely Planet!...and I am richer for the experiences!” Another international traveler called it, “…like Survivor, The Amazing Race, and the Eco-Challenge all rolled into one except with much more cultural interaction!” All former participants agree that the global competition combines the style of 19th Century Grand Tours with the jet-setter reality of 21st Century travel. But the Amazing Race and Survivor TV-reality shows are strictly for amateur wannabes and armchair voyeurs. This real life travel adventure is for only the truly travel savvy among us who crave authentic adventure, genuine exotic travel, intimate cultural immersions, real competition and world-class fun.
Teams have already started getting ready for the 3rd annual installment of The Global Scavenger Hunt and applications are currently being accepted at www.globalscavengerhunt.com …but again, couch potatoes need not apply because GreatEscape2005 is seeking only the most travel savvy of globetrotters.
Like 1930’s, anthropologist-adventurers hot on the path of the Holy Grail, contestants will ride elephants to sacred temples, jostle atop camels around the Pyramids, haggle in ancient souks, partake in bizarre cultural festivals, and, in between the escalating daily thrills, catch their fair share of Himalayan sunrises and Mediterranean sunsets. Former participants treasure this once-in-a-lifetime around-the-world adventure. “Our travel adventure competition moves Teams away from having their noses stuck in guidebooks and gets them engaged in the human connection of travel,” says William D. Chalmers, travel book author and the events organizer, “It’s from those personal interactions and up close ‘n personal experiences that we all grow as people. That’s what The Global Scavenger Hunt is all about. Our unofficial motto has become trusting strangers in strange lands.”
The 3rd annual charitable fundraising event will take an exclusive group of 25-Teams of two on a three-week adventure of a lifetime from Los Angeles to New York—the long way! Teams will circle the globe while completing unique cultural-oriented scavenges in unusual locations and be competing for cash and “The World’s Greatest Travelers” trophy before returning to New York City on May 8th, 2005.
“Our annual event is designed as a true cultural immersion. We believe that travel brings people closer together, fosters global understanding and improves compassion for all involved,” continues Chalmers, who was dubbed the ‘world’s greatest traveler’ by National Geographic Traveler magazine (April 2002), “Going around-the-world on one trip is an exciting prospect and when we add a lot of Indiana Jones–like adventure to it, we feel that The Global Scavenger Hunt has all the makings of a classic travel adventure competition bar none. I believe that you never feel more alive then when overcoming unique challenges…not climbing Mount Everest mind you, but overcoming language barriers, cultural differences and the inevitable transportation snafus that happen on a global adventure like this.”
Teams will be limited to using local public transportation while solving clues. “Public transportation makes a foreign environment seem, well, more foreign!” continues Chalmers, the winner of a previous race around the world, “Participating Teams will get more than some snapshots, a sunburn and souvenirs, they’ll replenish their memory banks with exciting and exotic experiences. I suspect, like the Eco-Challenge for physically fit marathon trekkers, that GreatEscape2005 will be the ultimate cocktail hour competition among true travelers. More than just a travel a competition however, Teams will be helping to raise a million dollar goal for some great charities.”
Applications are being accepted at GlobalscavengerHunt.com or by calling 310.281.7809. Teams will be reviewed for suitability; single applicants will be paired with like-minded travelers in what may be the ultimate Blind Date with The World! The entry fee of $9,900 includes all airfare, hotels and special events for the three-week adventure. (Some expenses associated with the event may be tax-deductible—please consult with your accountant or tax-advisor.)
The GreatEscape Foundation uses the annual travel competition as the springboard to raise funds for worthy international humanitarian organizations, including: Nobel Peace Prize winning Doctors Without Borders, UNICEF, CARE, International Special Olympics, Conservation International, Habitat for Humanity International and the World Monuments Fund, among others.

For additional press related information, including:
GreatEscape2005’s E-Press Kits, a Video News Releases (VNR), past Travel Photos, Traveling Press rates, or scheduling interviews with participants or event organizers, please contact:

Pamela L. Finmark
plf@GlobalScavengerHunt.com
513 Wilshire Blvd., Ste 364
Santa Monica, California – 90401
USA
310.281.7809
www.GlobalScavengerHunt.com

Hollywood USA: A Little Bit of Hollywood Everywhere

New York, N.Y. (CUTLASS) 10/19/2004
Cutlass, Inc. announces the launch of Hollywood USA, the first wireless guide to movie and TV locations across the country. This new interactive travel experience exploits the image capabilities of the latest cell phones to match popular interest in movie locations to feature classic and recently released productions. Each Hollywood USA site shows a color image of the location, a description of the scene, details of the movie, including actors, director, release date and DVD cover. As a J2ME downloaded application, Hollywood USA targets the color screen cell phones and related wireless devices.

"As a former movie location scout, the idea of joining cell phone technology with this new form of tour guide is a great way to let everyone behind the scenes," says Steve Bull, CEO of Cutlass, Inc. Anyone with a cell phone can now conveniently match their favorite movie scenes with the locations as they look today--and to follow in the footsteps of the celebrities themselves. With Hollywood USA's color location images and detailed descriptions of key scenes, movies come alive.

Hollywood NYC presents 15 New York City locations: Annie Hall (1977), Adam's Rib (1946), Big Daddy (1999), The Day After Tomorrow (2004), Death Wish (1974), Ghostbusters (1984), Hair (1979), Little Nicky (2000), Manchurian Candidate (2004), Men In Black II (2002), Miracle on 34th Street (1947), Spider-Man 2 (2004), Taxi Driver (1976), The Warriors (1979) and When Harry Met Sally (1989).

Hollywood USA East presents Adam's Rib (1946), The Bellboy (1960), Big Daddy (1999), Diner (1982), Exorcist (1973), Forrest Gump (1994), Ghostbusters (1984), Goldfinger (1964), Hair (1979), Interview with the Vampire (1994), Little Nicky (2000), Manchurian Candidate (2004), Men In Black II (2002), Miracle on 34th Street (1947), Scarface (1983) and Trading Places (1983) with locations in Florida, Georgia, Lousiana, Maryland, New York, Pennsylvania and Washington DC.

Hollywood USA West presents The Blues Brothers (1980), Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid (1969), Basic Instinct (1992), Blade Runner (1982), Fight Club (1999), The Greatest Story Ever Told (1965), Home Alone (1990), Happy Days (1974-1984), King Kong (1933), It's a Wonderful Life (1946), Miracle on 34th Street (1994), The Parallax View (1974), Sleepless In Seattle (1993), The Untouchables (1987), Vertigo (1958) and X Files (2000) with locations in California, Illinois, Utah and Washington.

Founded in 2000, Cutlass, Inc. is a leading location-based wireless entertainment and information company. Cutlass, Inc. also offers the Cutlass Treasure Hunt, a location-based nationwide wireless campus game, Fookie, a cell phone fortune cookie, Pet-Pals, a camera phone pet site, and TouchToneTours (Canada) and Quirky World (UK), cell phone tour guides.

Travel writers interested in trying out the Hollywood USA service can contact:

Steve Bull
Cutlass, Inc.
212-388-9121
Or steve@ctlss.com
http://www.ctlss.com