Lewis Hamilton feels refreshed after his Spa weekend

LEWIS HAMILTON is adamant his latest crash is out of his system.

The McLaren ace took full responsibility for the accident in Sunday’s Belgian Grand Prix where he and Sauber’s Kamui Kobayashi bumped tyres, which effectively wrecked his world title hopes.

Hamilton, 26, is now 113 points adrift of reigning champion Sebastian Vettel with 175 available.

The Brit said: “Last year I won at Spa and failed to finish in Italy at Monza, so this year I guess I’m looking to reverse that sequence.

“I’ve already moved on from my non-finish in Belgium. We go into the weekend feeling optimistic.”

To Labor or Not to Labor?

Held the first Monday in September, Labor Day constitutes a yearly national tribute to the contributions workers have made to the strength, prosperity, and well-being of our country.

Let this September 5, 2011 be a celebration of your commitment to hard work by rewarding yourself with a little well-deserved relaxation time.

Day spas all over offer a wide variety of ways to relax and unwind. For most, the ultimate way to create that Zen-like feeling is through massage. There are so many fabulous techniques, including the traditional relaxation massage where the therapist applies slow, long strokes with light to moderate pressure over your body helping you drift off into peaceful rest.

Or maybe deep tissue is what helps you work out the kinks in order for you to relax. Venture outside the norm and try a Hot Stone Massage or Bamboo Fusion. These techniques require the therapist to use heated river rocks or bamboo as a tool used throughout the massage. The heat helps to bring you to a deeper relaxation faster than a traditional massage. Just be sure you’re ready for this one, it could cause drooling.

What ever way you choose to relax, just be sure to honor Labor Day for its true meaning.

Local spas that offer massage techniques include:

• Venus and Mars Day Spa: try this Westchase spa for a massage using lava stones. Print their new customer coupon for $10 off. (11614 Countryway Blvd. Tampa, Fl; 813-814-9104)
• The Body Bar Spa: let go of tension with a deep tissue massage here. New customers get $10 off any service of $50 or more. (11013 Countryway Blvd. Tampa, Fl; 813-814-1202)

Kelly Seeley and Tylene Headley are founders of spa50.com, the authority on Tampa Bay area day spas and online resource for spa owners and spa-going consumers.

Boomer calendar: Sept. 4-11

Dutchess Peace Coalition meeting – Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Poughkeepsie, 67 South Randolph Ave., Poughkeepsie. 7 p.m. Sept. 5. Group meets for planning antiwar and anti-recruitment activities on the first Monday of each month. All those interested in peace and social justice are invited. Call 845-876-7906 or visit www.dutchesspeace.org

Amateur radio club meets – East Fishkill Community Library, 348 Route 376, Hopewell Junction. 7 p.m. Sept. 6. Meeting of the QSY Society Amateur Radio Club. The public or anyone with an interest in amateur radio is welcome to attend. Refreshments and social half-hour begin at 7 p.m., meeting begins at 7:30 p.m. Members will discuss their other hobby interests besides ham radio. For more information, contact Henry Ritz at 914-739-0884 or visit www.qsysociety.org

Father’s Rights chapter meets – Blodgett Memorial Library, 37 Broad St., Fishkill. 5:30 p.m. Sept. 7. The Father’s Rights Association of New York State, Mid-Hudson Valley chapter meets the first Wednesday of each month from 5:30-8 p.m. The group advocates for parents who want to have an active role in their children’s lives and for the child’s right to both parents.For more information, call 845-240-1372 or visit www.macenylaw.com/organizations.htm

Alzheimer’s support group – Alzheimer’s Association, 2 Jefferson Plaza, Suite 103, Poughkeepsie. 11 a.m. Sept. 7. Group meets the first Wednesday of the month. Free. Reg-istration required. Call 845-471-2655. www.alz.org/hudsonvalley

Sunset sensations wine and food series – Locust Grove, the Samuel Morse Historic Site, 2683 South Road (Route 9), Poughkeepsie. 5:30 p.m. Sept. 8. Series held the second Thursday of the month through October. Visitors may sample hors d’oeuvres featuring seasonal vegetables from the site’s heritage gardens prepared by the monthly guest chef. Also wine pairings, garden tours and cooking demonstrations. $24, advance; $26, day of event. For tickets, call 845-454-4500 or visit www.lgny.org

Lecture on how to borrow e-books from library – Beekman Library, 11 Town Center Blvd., Poughquag. 6:30 p.m. Sept. 8. Participants will learn how to select and borrow e-books (sorry, not Kindle) from the Mid-Hudson Library System and download them to an e-reader. Sign up at www.beekmanlibrary.org or call 845-724-3414.

Middle East Crisis Response group meets – Woodstock Public Library, 5 Library Lane, Woodstock. 7 p.m. Sept. 8. The Middle East Crisis Response is a group of Hudson Valley residents joined in support of human rights for Palestinians and an end to the U.S.’s aggressive policies in the Middle East. Call 845- 876-7906 or visit www.mideastcrisis.org

2nd annual Mid Hudson Animal Aid Golf Tournament – Casperkill Golf Club, 2320 South Road, Poughkeepsie. Sept. 9. Charity event to raise funds for the Mid Hudson Animal Aid Shelter in Beacon. Golfers and sponsors wanted. $150 per player. Email Allyson at loveacatforever@hotmail.com for more information. Visit www.midhudsonanimalaid.org

Ecology programs on the Walkway – Walkway Over the Hudson State Historic Park, 61 Parker Ave., Poughkeepsie. 5 p.m. Sept. 9. The Walkway Ecology Team, made up of students in grades 5-12, will teach the public about the ecology of the Hudson River watershed. The program was developed by Cornelia Harris, an educator at the Cary Institute of Ecosystem Studies in Millbrook and is funded by the Open Space Institute. The team will continue its sessions 5-7 p.m. Sept. 23. For more information, call 845-677-7600, Ext. 321.

Blues Band Music Festival Wellness Fair – Freedom Park, 212 Skidmore Road, LaGrange. 2 p.m. Sept. 10. The Oral Cancer Awareness Foundation (OrCA) hosts the sixth annual music festival and wellness fair. Music by the OrCA Blues Band and others. Also features local artists with their work, massage therapists and reflexologists, nutritionists and personal trainers and yoga classes in the park. Admission is free; some events have a fee. For more information, call 845-483-9500. www.4orca.com

Esopus Meadows Lighthouse tours – Hudson River Maritime Museum, 50 Rondout Landing, Kingston. 12:30 p.m. Sept. 10. Tours of the last wooden lighthouse built on the Hudson River in 1871. The tour includes transportation aboard the Estuary Steward to spend approximately an hour at the lighthouse.

Check-in will start at 12:30 p.m. with departure to the lighthouse at 1 p.m., returning to the museum by 3 p.m. Cost is $25 per person; $20 for members; $15 for children ages 12-15. Children under 12 are not permitted at this time. Tours continue Sept. 24 and Oct. 8. Reservations are recommended and can be made at 845-848-3669. www.esopusmeadows lighthouse.org.

Sacred chanting sessions – Unison Arts Learning Center, 68 Mountain Rest Road, New Paltz. 10-11:30 a.m. Sept. 11. Meets the second and fourth Sundays of each month through December. Various cultures have used chanting as a means to release anxiety and achieve union with the spirit. Bring a pillow for sitting on the floor. Chairs will be provided. $10 donation. 845-255-1559. www.unisonarts.org.

Yoga basics – Inner Light Health Spa, Route 9, Hyde Park. 5:30-6:30 p.m. Thursdays. Donations accepted. Call to reserve a spot: 845-229-9998. www.innerlighthealthspa.com

Gentlest yoga ever – Inner Light Health Spa, Route 9, Hyde Park. 4:30-5:30 p.m. Mondays. Postures designed for beginners. Donations accepted. Call ahead to reserve a spot: 845-229-9998. www.innerlighthealthspa.com

Zumba Gold – Benedictine Hospital Auditorium, Administrative Services Building, 105 Mary’s Ave., Kingston. 5:15-6:15 p.m. Mondays. Designed specifically for active “older” adults, or for anyone requiring a modified, slower presentation of the same Latin-inspired dance fitness program. $6 suggested donation. Call 845-331-2071, Ext. 100, or email doris.blaha@hahv.org

Seniors in Training – All Sport Fishkill, 17 Old Main St., Fishkill. 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Mondays and 2:15-3:15 p.m. Wednesdays and Fridays, Ongoing low-intensity workout, friends and fun. Nonmembers $99 for 16 sessions. Call Pam at 845-896-5678, Ext. 119. allsporthealthandfitness.com

Vail Restaurant Month dishes up four-week foodie adventure

VAIL — This fall, Vail Restaurant Month will serve up a feast of more than 50 events and experiences during its four themed weeks, Sept. 19–Oct. 16.

“We’re celebrating Vail’s spectacular fall season with more big events, more restaurants, and more chefs, along with lodging and spa packages, fashion shows, cooking classes for adults, cooking parties for kids, charity receptions, contests and prizes, celebrity guests, picnic kits, themed menus, outdoor adventures, exclusive offers, and premium wine, beer, champagne and spirits tastings,” said Ilene Rapkin, the event’s co-founder.

The calendar on VailRestaurantMonth.com is loading up fast with major events, celebrity appearances, and enticing experiences showcasing Vail’s most acclaimed chefs and representing more than 20 premier restaurants in Vail Village and Lionshead. New event hosts include the Four Seasons Resort Vail, the Sebastian, bol and Left Bank. Returning partners include La Tour, Sweet Basil, Kelly Liken, Larkspur, Ludwig’s, Vail Chophouse, Tavern on the Square and Terra Bistro.

This year, Vail Restaurant Month presents major events starring celebrity guests such as “RUN•RIDE•REFRESH” presented by Runner’s World and Bicycling Magazine at Vail Chophouse, co-hosted by bicycling coach Chris Carmichael and running icon Ellen Miller. Other event highlights include a cooking school program at Terra Bistro with New York Times food columnist Martha Rose Shulman, a high profile fashion show at the Sonnenalp Resort, and a Belvedere Vodka reception at Masters Gallery supporting the (Red) initiative to fight AIDS.

“Vail Restaurant Month is themed to share beloved facets of the Vail-in-fall experience, and every event we create is a driver for hotel occupancy and dining in Vail,” said Rapkin, who brings to the event a significant background in the culinary, travel and event world as former associate publisher of Cond Nast Traveler, Bon Apptit and Food Wine. “Together with so many partners and allies, this year’s series of events more than ever reflect the DNA of Vail — natural beauty, world-class resort, a treasure of talent, a welcoming spirit, adventurous attitude, vital lifestyle, unforgettable experiences.”

For more information, a complete calendar of events, and special lodging packages, visit www.VailRestaurantMonth.com. For special offers, invitations, contests, recipes and chef secrets, go to www.facebook.com/VailRestaurantMonth and click the “Like” button.

GroundLink Partners with Omni Hotels & Resorts to Offer Guests Ground …

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Omni Hotels Resorts Partners

Untapped ancillary revenue streams are difficult to find in the travel industry, but we believe ground transportation is a huge unrealized opportunity, which is why we have built a network of over 45,000 providers in over 15,000 cities.

New York, NY (PRWEB) August 23, 2011

GroundLink, the world’s most reliable ground transportation company, has recently partnered with Omni Hotels Resorts to provide its customers with a convenient way to get to and from their properties. The luxury brand has 50 luxury hotels and resorts across North America, all of which are now accessible through GroundLink’s extensive network.

Charles Fraas, CEO of GroundLink said, “Omni guests now have a fast and easy way to book transportation to or from their properties without the hassle of renting a car or making other arrangements. We can provide their guests with a variety of vehicles from SUVs to limousines at any of their properties. Our industry-leading technology delivers superior on-time performance and makes us easier to work with for our partners and customers.”

“GroundLink’s fleet of luxury vehicles aligns with the experience we strive to provide our customers everyday, said Kerry Kennedy, Vice President of E-Commerce for Omni Hotels Resorts. We are pleased with the added convenience for our guests.”

GroundLink is committed to helping the airline, cruise line and hotel industries take advantage of the huge opportunities available to them by providing their customers ground transportation services. Fraas explains: “Untapped ancillary revenue streams are difficult to find in the travel industry, but we believe ground transportation is a huge unrealized opportunity, which is why we have built a network of over 45,000 providers in over 15,000 cities, servicing over 5,000 airports. By consolidating this highly fragmented industry, our partners finally have a high-quality, consistent experience they can offer to their customers.”

About GroundLink

Groundlink uses technology to drive better ground travel for corporate road warriors around the world. The company provides black car sedans anytime, anywhere – in 170 countries and every city in the United States. GroundLink’s software platform – available via API – provides travelers, web partners, GDSs, travel agents and other travel providers with access to 45,000+ global ground travel vendors. Current partners include JetBlue, Continental, Expedia, Kayak, and Omni Hotels. GroundLink’s in-car GPS technology provides real-time inventory availability, enables dynamic pricing, and drives the highest on-time arrivals in the industry. Customers can book their ride and track their car via iPhone and Android apps. Groundlink: this is technology driving better ground travel.

About Omni Hotels Resorts / Hotel Operator

Omni Hotels Resorts creates genuine, authentic guest experiences that take guests on “A Total Departure” to 50 distinct luxury hotels and resorts in leading business gateways and leisure destinations across North America. From exceptional golf and spa retreats to dynamic business settings, each Omni showcases the local flavor of the destination while featuring four-diamond services, signature restaurants, Wi-Fi connectivity and unique wellness options. Known for its award-winning, personalized service, Omni leaves a lasting impression with every customer interaction, with a heightened level of recognition and rewards delivered through its Select Guest loyalty program and the company’s “Power of One” associate empowerment program. The brand is frequently recognized by top consumer research organizations such as Harris Interactive’s most recent EquiTrends® report which ranked Omni as the Top Luxury Hotel Brand in 2011.

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Yes, You Should Negotiate with Your Friends

Never negotiate with your friends, say the experts.

That’s all well and good for the vast majority of men who are adept at turning their friends into business relationships (think golf, Lakers games and other business development boondoggles).

Most women – who should, by the way, be inventing our own spa-weekend boondoggles – tend to make friends of our business colleagues, clients and contacts.

I’ll wager that has something to do with men’s greater success at rainmaking in the law. Once our clients become our friends, we’re hesitant to “take advantage” of them by negotiating a good deal for us.

We’re afraid we’ll be creating a bad outcome for them. And we wouldn’t do that to our friends, would we?

That’s why our upcoming online six-week training defines negotiation as a conversation leading to agreement. It’s also why we stress collaborative interest-based negotiation even though we also teach our students competitive zero-sum distributive bargaining strategies and tactics.

Keep your friends close but your enemies closer.

But let’s talk about our friends.

We women tend to have dozens to hundreds of people in a friendship garden that we’ve been tending since elementary school. Even those that haven’t reached the C-suite have developed unique talents that have permitted them to produce terrific products or provide dynamite services.

Escape to a Day Spa

Well, this fantasy can become your reality rather soon, if you heed these words and check out some of the day spa getaways that I have found for you just a few miles south of Lawrenceville.

The first one is a great one-stop hit of high luxury called the 29 Spa, located at The Mansion on Peachtree in Atlanta. Though part of a larger luxury hotel chain, the minute attention afforded by seasoned aesthetician Lydia Mondavi will leave your skin relived and your soul glowing inside during the first few minutes that you enter the premises. Mondavi offers state-of-the-art botanical facial and bodily therapies developed from grape seed oils of Italy and California. Of course, as a 4-star hotel, you’ll have an amazing place to stay in between your “you time” indulgences.

Another great spa destination is the Spa at The Four Seasons Hotel in downtown Atlanta. Not surprisingly, The Spa offers every treatment you can think of, from a classic 1-hour head-to-toe deep tissue massage to couples manicures. Their hours are pretty great too, offering their services from an early 6:30 am to as late as 9 pm on some days.

Lastly, but certainly not least, is the W Hotel’s Bliss Spa in downtown Atlanta. Bliss offers so many good treatments and amazing skin and hair care products that you can take home with you after your vacation is long over. Some of their signature treatments include full waxing and even an oxygen bar to help your blood and cells eliminate toxins.

Spa no expense in exquisite India

India, Kerala

ANYBODY who knows me will testify that I am probably the least likely person to visit a health spa.

I like to spend my time drinking beer and watching Everton rather than being manhandled with massage oils.

And I’d prefer to get a season ticket at Anfield than wake up at 6.30am for a yoga session.

But presented with the opportunity to experience a traditional Indian spa, I decided to take the plunge.

And so it was that I found myself lying face down on a massage table with only a paper nappy to protect my modesty.

Before you all reach for the sick bag at that thought, bear with me… because the experience was amazing. India’s Kerala region is the home of Ayurveda – traditional plant-based holistic treatments and medicines. And when it comes to Ayurvedic spas, the Zuri Kumarakom Kerala Resort is a world leader.

This luxurious property, nestled on the banks of Vembanad Lake, is rightfully proud of its relaxing setting.

But it’s inside the Maya Spa where the relaxation begins – and where I swap booze and footie for the good life.

I opted for a full body and head massage – expertly carried out by my local masseuse. Having not experienced a massage before, I’m probably not best qualified to say if it was any good or not.

But the fact that my masseuse had to wake me up once it was all over speaks volumes. Remember me saying that I’d rather watch Liverpool week in, week out, than try yoga? Well guess what I did the following day?

Yoga sessions at the Zuri Kumarakom take place on a specially-built platform over the resort’s stunning private lagoon.

The teachers cater for beginners – just as well, really – and offer a range of classes for those with more experience.

And for the more adventurous traveller, the resort has a full-day schedule of activities.

Guests can stay in a variety of rooms either looking out over landscaped gardens or, for a few FROM PAGE 47

rupees more, the lagoon. But for the ultimate in luxury, head to the private one-bed villas overlooking the lake – complete with infinity pools just steps from the bedroom.

Zuri Kumarakom’s website describes them as “plunge pools”, but I’ve seen smaller pools in hotels on the Costa del Sol.

With luxury all around, you could be forgiven for forgetting where in the world you are.

And it is for exactly that reason that guests are encouraged to experience life outside the resort.

The most popular tour is to Aymanam – “the village of small things” – just 20 minutes away in Kerala’s famous backwaters.

First stop was the home of Mathoor Govindan Kutty – a leading actor in the performance art of Kathakali, a classical Indian dance-drama that originated during the 17th century.

It’s famous for its attractive make-up, some extremely elaborate costumes and detailed facial gestures.

From there we headed for the backwaters proper and a tour of the waterways in a traditional canoe.

Ours worked its way through water-side villages at a snail’s pace, allowing us to chat to local schoolchildren, watch fishermen laying their nets or take snaps of the famous Kerala kingfishers.

The Zuri Kumarakom seemed a million miles away – yet the people of Aymanam were far from poverty-stricken.

They enjoy some of the best living conditions and life-expectancy rates in India, and thanks to extra money from tourism, things are still improving.

After spending two days looking across Vembanad Lake, it was time to explore it on a traditional houseboat.

These giant floating homes are made from bamboo and steel and can have up to three bedrooms. They come equipped with a crew and personal chef and are popular with families and honeymooning couples.

Zuri offers a variety of cruises, from three-hour tours of the lake to romantic overnight packages.

Delightful as it is, the steamy atmosphere and humid conditions of Kerala’s backwaters can leave you longing for the cool coast.

Thankfully Goa is a one-hour flight away. Cynics say the region – famous as a 1960s hippy hangout – has been ruined by package tours.

But pick your destination wisely and you can find paradises such as the White Sands Resort on the spectacular Colva Beach.

Just like its sister resort in Kerala, White Sands serves up some great local tours.

The former capital Old Goa, which in the 16th century was bigger than London, is a popular destination.

Its magnificent Christian churches, nestled among lush forests, lift the lid on a part of Goa that is rarely seen.

The pick of these is the impressive Basilica of Bom Jesus, one of the richest and oldest in Goa, festooned with marble and inlaid with precious stones.

So there you have it: massage, yoga and church in the space of six days. I truly am a changed man… just don’t tell my mates.

KUONI has 7nts BB in India with 3nts at The Zuri White Sands in a superior room, 3nts at The Zuri Kumarakom in a superior lagoon view and 1nt at the Zuri Bangalore. Inc British Airways flights, transfers in resort. From pound;1,565pp based on two sharing www.kuoni.co.uk, 01306 747008. BA flights to Bangalore from Heathrow start from pound;529.60 return inc taxes www.ba.com, 0844 4930787. Tourism: www.incredibleindia.org

First-class location sets Spa hotel apart

Radisson Blu Palace Hotel

Where • Palace Royale 39, Spa, Belgium

More info • radissonblu.com/palacehotel-spa

Nestled in a valley of the Ardennes Mountains, in the heart of
Spa, Belgium, the Radisson Blu Palace Hotel attracts both business
and leisure travelers. The first class, four-star, 120-room hotel
is only about 8 miles from Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps, the venue
of the Formula 1 Belgian Grand Prix, and is walking distance to
most city attractions, including the world’s oldest casino located
directly across the street.

Best yet, the hotel is virtually attached to the Thermes de Spa,
and hotel guests can not only book hotel-spa packages and enjoy spa
discounts, but they can also use their hotel room keys to enter the
private funicular giving direct access to the spa.

The setup • Location isn’t the only perk of
this hotel. The modern designed property contains everything a
traveler might need, including a restaurant, brasserie, bar,
parking garage and fitness area with sauna and Turkish bath.

Our room • I stayed in a “standard room,” which
was spacious, well-designed and decorated in contemporary style.
Travel-savvy touches, such as good reading lamps, free Internet
service, in-room coffee makers, individual climate control, mini
bar and safe added to the comfort of the stay. The gray-marble
bathroom reinforced the room’s sleek décor and held all the
necessities, including a bathtub and shower.

For me, extra perks came in the form of a nice view of Spa from
my window, Spa-brand water on the night table, a collection of
luxurious Anne Semonin amenities in the bathroom and a bountiful
buffet breakfast.

Pricing • The Internet lists the average
nightly rate for a standard room at about $173. The special “Spa
Package” for two people came in at $403 and included, in addition
to the room and use of the hotel, a three-course dinner, one-day
access to the Thermes of Spa and breakfast. Prices fluctuate with
the exchange rate.

Boots Champneys skincare products gain luxury look

Three packs developed for creams and facial masks sold at Boots stores in the U.K.

Quadpack has developed the packs for three skincare products in Boots Champneys Spa range. Yonwoo’s 50-ml airless Jumbo pumps and a 50-ml airless tube were selected to contain the new Moisturising Day Cream, Rejuvenating Night Cream, and Revitalising Facial Mask, in the Champneys Spa Skin and Facial ranges, sold at Boots stores throughout the UK.

“Champneys Spa is a premier brand and Boots sought out the best technology on the market to protect and preserve these advanced formulas. As a Boots-approved supplier, we look forward to continuing our relationship with them as the brand expands,” says Quadpack CEO Tim Eaves.

Champneys Spa Skin Moisturising Day Cream SPF15 is a gentle skin cream; Champneys Spa Skin Rejuvenating Night Cream moisturises skin during sleep; Champneys Spa Facial Replenishing Moisture Mask rescues dry dehydrated skin.

In a project managed and filled by Boots, Quadpack developed and decorated the packs following the brand’s luxury look, with elegant gold touches. The Moisturising Day Cream is contained in a white pump, while the Rejuvenating Night Cream and Replenishing Moisture Mask have pink color-matched components. The caps, bottles, and tube have a matt finish, with gold hot-stamp prints.

The new products all benefit from the protection of Yonwoo airless technology that shields the formulas from external contamination. Designed to actuate product without waste or physical effort, Yonwoo packs dispense the correct dose every time. Quadpack is the exclusive distributor of Yonwoo in Europe.

Champneys Spa products are designed to deliver a luxury spa experience at home. Following an exclusive partnership with Champneys, Boots developed a range of Champneys spa products in April, making the brand accessible to a wider audience. Boots is launching new lines throughout the year, available throughout all Boots UK stores and Boots.com, as well as Champneys spa resorts, Town City Spas, and at champneys.com.