Tag Archives: hotel

Trip Sisters – Show Notes – 12/15/18 – Winter Travel

Dec 15, 2018 | JVO

Episode 27 – Winter Travel

Special Guest: Trip Beat
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Colleen & Catie’s Picks for Big Cities

Colleen – The Abbey – Lake Geneva, Wisconsin
www.theabbeyresort.com
Accommodations: The Abbey Resort & Avani Spa in Lake Geneva, Wisconsin – Stunning resort complete with 334 recently updated suites and guest rooms, plus 14 luxury villas.

Restaurants:
240 West at The Abbey – Higher end, delicious food!
Waterfront Restaurant at The Abbey – Burgers, more casual

Activity:
Ice skating at the Abbey’s outdoor rink, treating yourself to the Avani Spa at the Abbey, indoor and outdoor pools, and even enjoy a Santa Cruise on the lake.

Packages/Events at The Abbey Resort:
1) Quarterly Long Table Dinner Series – The Abbey’s quarterly Long Table Dinners featuring a special four-course, farm-to-fork menu prepared by Executive Chef Joshua North. Dates are set quarterly – check the website for dates and additional menu specifics.
2) Stay and Ski Package – Stay at the Abbey Resort and ski at one of the Midwest’s premier winter destinations, Wilmot Mountain which is now owned and operated by world-class Vail Resorts!
3) Immersion Family Package – Enjoy overnight accommodations, $50 credit to be used in any resort dining outlet including Immersion Café, and four 15-minute sessions in the area’s first virtual reality gaming center, Immersion.
4) Parent’s Escape Package – This escape includes overnight accommodations, $130 spa credit per stay as well as all day spa access, and at the end of the night, unwind in your room with champagne and locally-handcrafted chocolate. Package is worth a savings of more than $80.
5) Sweet Retreat Package – This escape includes overnight accommodations, in-room amenity of champagne and chocolate covered strawberries, $100 dining allowance to the resort’s keynote restaurant 240 West, post-dinner pairing of spirits and locally-made handcrafted truffles from Ethereal Confections, and a complimentary turndown service with an Ethereal Confections chocolate bar.

Catie – Scottsdale, Arizona
Accommodations: Fairmont Scottsdale Princess – Located in Sonoran Desert, home to five top-ranked Arizona restaurants and bars, an innovative spa and fitness programs at Well & Being Spa, six sparkling pools, and even a championship golf course.

Restaurant: Old Scottsdale

Activity: Hiking, horseback riding, shopping in downtown Scottsdale

“What’s” with the “Trip Sisters”

What’s in Your Suitcase?
The Heat Holders – Hat, socks, footies – We used these when filming an episode of “Family Travel” in Quebec. They’re known as the world’s warmest socks and are over 7x warmer than regular cotton socks and 3x warmer than ordinary thermal socks! The socks start around $9.99 and hats and gloves around $19.99 and you can buy them at www.heatholders.com

What’s on your phone?
WeatherBug: Forecast, Radar & Alerts – The WeatherBug app is one of the most accurate, real-time current and future weather apps that helps you track any oncoming winter storms. Free for your Android or iOS and there’s also an Elite, ad-free version available for $9.99.

What’s the tip?
Add fresh squeezed citrus juices to help provide immune cells with an energy boost and promote faster recovery from illnesses like colds and the flu
Add Flax seed powder to your oatmeal or yogurt. Then add cashews and almonds to add healthy zinc & omega fatty acids for clean energy. Plus, the probiotics in yogurt can reduce your risk of catching a bug by 27%
Get at least 6 – 8 hours of uninterrupted sleep
Your vitamin D levels may run on E in winter. Vitamin D can spur your body to fight off colds. In fact, taking 10,000 IU of vitamin D3 a week may cut your risk of upper respiratory infection in half.
Don’t touch your face. People who occasionally touch their eyes and nose are 41 percent more likely to develop frequent upper respiratory infections than hands-off folks, a 2013 study in the Journal of Occupational Health found.
Get a Flu Shot – And workout right before hand. When you exercise prior to receiving a flu shot, the post-exercise inflammation boosts your body’s immune response to the virus in the vaccine
To Stay Healthy While Flying:
Drink plenty of water before and during your flight
Opt for hot beverages, like tea, to drink on your flight
Eat beforehand (if possible) to avoid food contamination on flights
If you must eat on your flight, opt for warm foods vs. cold salads
Bring disinfectant wipes to wipe down your seat and area first

EPISODE 23 – Thanksgiving/Planes, Trains & Automobiles

Nov 17, 2018 | jskordas

Sisters and travel experts Colleen Kelly and Catie Keogh talk you through all the things you need for smooth thanksgiving holiday travel. Also in today’s show the Trip Sisters talk about their favorite places to get away during the holidays.

Trip Sisters – Episode 21 – 10/27/18 – Halloween Show

Oct 27, 2018 | jonathanbregman

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Trip Sisters – Episode 21 – 10/27/18 – Halloween Show

What to know about the Chicago hotel worker strike

Sep 11, 2018 | kimberlykaczmarek

 

Big John and Ramblin’ Ray explain why housekeepers, doormen, cooks, bartenders, room service attendants and more — whose contracts expired Aug. 31 — are on strike. The union that represents the workers, UNITE HERE Local 1, says that 6,000 workers are covered by those expired contracts, though it isn’t clear how many people have actually walked off the job. The strike is happening at 25 downtown Chicago hotels, including the JW Mariott, the Palmer House Hilton, the Hyatt Regency, and the Sheraton Grand. Contracts cover 30 hotels in Chicago, and the five not yet striking are in labor disputes and could join, the union says.

Strikers primary demand to have year-round health insurance guarantee into their new contracts. Learn more on who’s striking and the strike at chicagohotelstrike.org

 

Trip Sisters Episode 14 (9-01-18) – Buena Park, California

Sep 1, 2018 | dhopkins

Sisters Colleen Kelly and Catie Keogh talk tips and trends on all things travel. This week they talked about new airline routes that are coming soon. A Six Flags amusement park contest prize giving one lucky baby lifetime free entry to all of their amusement parks.  There are a lot of things to do in southern California, the sisters highlight some fun things to do in Buena Park.

Trip Sisters – Episode 14 notes – 9/1/18 – Buena Park

Sep 1, 2018 | JVO

Episode 14 – Buena Park

 

 

Colleen & Catie’s Picks

www.visitbuenapark.com

www.knotts.com

www.portosbakery.com

www.piratesdinneradventureca.com

www.farrellsusa.com

www.bigairusa.com/buena-park

 

Colleen

Accommodations – Fairfield Inn & Suites

Conveniently located to central Buena Park (Knott’s, restaurants, shopping, etc). Great for families!

 

Restaurant – Farrell’s Ice Cream Parlour

Colleen and Catie went there when they were kids! A nostalgic ice cream shop, one of the only two in California. They offer free ice cream to kids on their birthday and are famous for their giant sundae, the “Zoo”!

 

Activity – Pirate’s Dinner Adventure/Big Air Trampoline Park

Pirate’s Dinner Adventure – Fun, interactive dinner show in a galley-style theater where you feel like you’re truly being captured by pirates!

Big Air Trampoline Park – Great for kids to get out their energy! They offer trampolines, foam pits, dodgeball, rock climbing, jousting, much more.

 

Catie

Accommodations – Knott’s Berry Farm Hotel

The 320 room hotel features a SNOOPY-themed wing, fitness center, pool with children’s activity area, lighted sports courts and many other amenities.

Dining options including Amber Waves, specializing in All-American fare and hotel room service.

A variety of affordable family vacation packages, including admission to Knott’s Berry Farm, are available year-round with special early admission into Knott’s Berry Farm during the summer.

 

Restaurant – Porto’s Bakery

Porto’s Bakery was born out of Rosa Porto’s love for sharing her wonderful cakes and pastries with friends and family. You have to try their amazing pastries & savory potato balls!

 

Activity – Knott’s Berry Farm/Soak City

Knott’s Berry Farm is an amusement park that offers an array of rides and roller coasters for all levels and ages! Young kids will love Camp Snoopy, while thrill-seekers can enjoy rides like HangTime, the first and only dive coaster in California. Be sure to stop by their water park Soak City to cool off!

 

“What’s” with the “Trip Sisters”

 

What’s in Your Suitcase?

Fly Tot – $79 on www.fly-tot.com

Makes traveling with little ones much more comfortable! Fly Tot is light and compact, made with highly durable material, and proven to provide more rest time on long flights. Children can be safely buckled in while sleeping, and it turns an economy seat into a business class for children. Plus it’s accepted on over 50 airlines worldwide!

 

What’s on your phone?

Knott’s Berry Farm App

Exclusive App for Knott’s Berry Farm that can provide Ride Wait Times, Season Passes, Special Offers and even a Car Finder!

 

What’s the tip?

Tips And Tricks To Outsmart Everyone At The Theme Park

  • Take zip lock bags for your phone and valuables on water rides
  • Take a picture of your parking spot
  • Walk through the park backwards to try to avoid the biggest lines
  • If you have kids, write your name and number on their wrist or on a tag on them, so they can be found if lost
  • Go on rides during a parade or fireworks show
  • If you’re traveling alone, look for the single riders line to get on sooner.
  • Go left! A lot of people go right in lines, sometimes it’s better to go left

 

 

 

Trip Sisters Episode 13 (8-25-18) Chicago Trip

Aug 25, 2018 | dhopkins

Sisters Colleen Kelly and Catie Keogh talk tips and trends on all things travel. This week they talked about a vacation to Chicago and also they interview Roy Sekoff.

Trip Sisters- Episode 11 (8-11-18) -Dallas, TX

Aug 11, 2018 | dhopkins

Sisters Colleen Kelly and Catie Keogh talk tips and trends on all things travel. This week they talked about their trip to Dallas, Texas. Also they speak with Philip Jones who lets us know the many reasons the Dallas-Fort Worth area is now the Number 1 visitor destination in the state.

Trip Sisters – Episode 10 – (8-4-18) – Chickasaw Country, OK​

Aug 4, 2018 | jonathanbregman

Sisters Colleen Kelly and Catie Keogh talk tips and trends on all things travel. This week they talked about their trip to Chickasaw Country, Oklahoma. They talked with former Miss Oklahoma, Triana Browne, who is from there.​

Person injured in fire at Oakbrook Terrace hotel

Aug 22, 2016 | WLSAM Staff
Firefighters battle a blaze Sunday night at the La Quinta Inn in Oakbrook Terrace. | Network Video Productions

(OAKBROOK TERRACE) A person was injured and more than 100 people were evacuated after a fire broke out in a hotel room Sunday night in west suburban Oakbrook Terrace.

Firefighters responding at 9:38 p.m. to an activated fire alarm at the La Quinta Inn, 1 Midwest Road, found heavy smoke and fire coming from the rear of the hotel, Oakbrook Terrace Fire Protection District Chief Ralph DeLuca told reporters at the scene.

Three people were rescued from the third floor of the building with the use of exterior ground ladders, DeLuca said. More than 100 people were evacuated from inside the hotel.

One person suffered “minor smoke inhalation” in the blaze and was taken to the hospital, he said.

The fire was extinguished within about 20 minutes and was contained to a unit on the second floor, where it originated. The cause of the blaze remains under investigation and the hotel sustained “heavy smoke and fire damage,” DeLuca said.

The Oakbrook Terrace Fire Protection District was assisted in the evacuation by firefighters from Westchester, Westmont, Addison, Elmhurst, Lombard, Glen Ellyn, Villa Park and more.

© Copyright 2016 Sun-Times Media, LLC. All rights reserved.

Navy Pier to get a hotel

May 2, 2016 | WLSAM Staff

(CHICAGO) Add hotel destination to the list of identities Navy Pier has taken on since Chicago’s famous lakefront attraction was built 100 years ago.

Mayor Rahm Emanuel announced Sunday that construction of the hotel will begin in 2017 and be completed in the second half of 2018, the Chicago Sun-Times is reporting.

The five-story, 200-room hotel will be built next to the Festival Hall near the end of the Pier, and, for the first time, will allow visitors to spend the night, according to the mayor’s office.

A preliminary design of a glass-and-steel structure with balconies for each room has been put together by architect Jackie Koo, who designed the Wit hotel at 201 N. State.

“This new hotel will be a key part of the transformation and our efforts to bring 55 million visitors to Chicago annually by 2020, generating jobs and economic opportunity throughout Chicago’s neighborhoods,” Emanuel said in the release.

Navy Pier was a naval training facility during World War II. Afterward it served as a branch of the University of Illinois. And after years of neglect, it was transformed into one of Chicago’s top tourist destinations.

The hotel plan comes on the heels of another recent announcement: In 2015, Chicago set a record for domestic tourism, drawing 50.97 million visitors.

The hotel is projected to cost $90 million and will not require taxpayer money, the mayor’s office said. No brand name has been chosen for the hotel, which will be developed by and operated by Chicago-based First Hospitality Group. The group owns 19 hotels in Illinois under banners such as Hyatt, Hilton, Holiday Inn and Marriott.

“The hotel will provide a unique place to stay in Chicago year round — not to mention breathtaking and unparalleled views of the Pier, lake and city,” Marilynn Gardner, Navy Pier Inc. president and CEO, said in the release.

The hotel project, part of Navy Pier’s Centennial Vision, which aims to reimagine the Pier, is expected to create 300 construction jobs and 200 permanent jobs, according to the release.

Last year, the Pier unveiled its new 196-foot Ferris wheel, almost 50 feet higher than the one it replaced.

More than 8 million people visit Navy Pier annually. It is billed as the top-attended leisure destination in the Midwest.

The Pier stretches more than six city blocks and contains 50 acres of parks, restaurants, retail shops, sightseeing and dining cruise boats and exposition facilities.

© Copyright 2016 Sun-Times Media, LLC. All rights reserved.

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