Good Morning Darlings!

The economy is getting better, yes? You feeling a little more flush these days?

If you have followed this blog for any length of time, you know I adore New Orleans. The Ritz-Carlton, New Orleans in particular.

They have got some crazy fun packages for you to celebrate Mardi Gras 2012. Take a gander at some hot hotel trends for this year!

Immersion Conversion: In search of a true local’s experience?
Opt for one of the following packages:

Lundi Gras Ride of a Lifetime: Ride in a Mardi Gras parade, stay in the hotel’s exclusive penthouse and enjoy the 2012 carnival season like royalty. Price: $27,500.

Discover with You (a.k.a. Paris without the Jet Lag): Discover New Orleans, a city that has been compared to Paris, and eliminate the jet lag. Starting Price: $329.

Louisiana’s Bicentennial (War of 1812): Commemorate the 200th anniversary of the State of Louisiana and the War of 1812 on our Club Level. Starting Price: $639.

Sportsman’s Paradise: Take a limousine to a helicopter, board a sea plane to a charter fishing boat, and then have the chef cook your fresh catch. Price: $21,000.

For Women Only Floor: With prior planning, ladies can reserve the fourth floor (six rooms) of the hotel’s exclusive Club Level. This private key-access-only wing of the hotel features complimentary food and beverage presentations throughout the day along with concierges who can arrange spa services, offer restaurant recommendations and suggest retail therapy.

Restaurant Trends: In keeping with the trends, we’re stocking up on champagne, adding Bananas Foster French Toast to the menu, and buying locally from Covey Rise Farms, in addition to snipping herbs from our on-site garden. And, on any given day, Executive Chef Vinny Russo can be found experimenting with liquid nitrogen and working with Chef de Cuisine Emily Dillport to craft new menus that will debut in March for both M Bistro Restaurant and The Davenport Lounge. http://nrn.com/article/food-writers-top-menu-trends-2012?page=0,0

Pet-Friendliness: Pet owners don’t have to leave their dogs or cats at home when they stay at The Ritz-Carlton, New Orleans. Contact us in advance and we’ll arrange a Ritz-Carlton pet bed, bowls, and homemade treats from the pastry kitchen for your furry family members.

Mind, Body and Soul Vacation: A trip to the #1 Hotel Spa in the U.S. and Canada (Travel + Leisure) would certainly qualify as a mind, body, and soul experience. The Ritz-Carlton Spa, New Orleans spans 25,000 square feet, is open seven days a week, and offers nearly 100 services. It also features a salon, fitness center, relaxation lounges, retail store, and café. Reserve the Restorative Day, Rebalancing, or Gentleman’s Getaway package.

Money Matters/Corporate Social Responsibility: The hotel offers community outreach options for leisure and group guests. Leisure guests can support the efforts of Café Reconcile by dining at the nearby restaurant for lunch, while group guests can plan an off-site dinner at the venue. Café Reconcile’s life skills and job training program assists young people ages 16 to 22 from at-risk communities (www.reconcileneworleans.org). Guests who want a more hands-on experience can help rebuild homes through the St. Bernard Project (www.stbernardproject.org). These unique offerings make your money matter and offer an alternative to the typical lunch, meeting break, reception, or team-building exercise.

Second-Chance Cities: Business travelers should give New Orleans a second chance in their leisure time. Venturing outside of the hotel would expose them to the city’s unique art, music, cocktail, and culinary offerings. From the music on Frenchmen Street to the art on Julia Street and the plantations on River Road, we recommend giving the Crescent City a second chance.

Off-Season Travel: The months of December, June, July, and August are considered off-season and the best months to book a trip to our city. Room rates then dip an average of 55%.

Travel with an Expert: The Concierge team at The Ritz-Carlton, New Orleans has been featured on CNN and in numerous publications for their ability to create unique, one-of-a-kind experiences for our guests. They can offer personal insights or arrange to have an expert guide you on a private tour (history, voodoo, antique, etc.). The most popular tour is the Hollywood South Movie Tour, showcasing the city’s many past and present filming locations.

Social Media: We enjoy conversing with guests and learning about their travel goals on our new Facebook page (www.ritzcarlton.com/RitzCarltonNewOrleans). In 2012, travelers will use crowd-sourced alternatives (Gogobot, Afar, Trippy, Tripped Off, and Tripl) to share travel tips and research travel options on Facebook.

Digital Detox: In a world of e-mail, Facebook, Twitter, cell phones, smartphones, etc., we encourage guests to digitally detox. With live jazz, handcrafted cocktails, culinary delights, and a world class spa, there are a lot of reasons to leave your device at home (or at least in your room) when you stay with us.

Intimate Accommodations: Guests who prefer a bed and breakfast experience to a full-service hotel can have the best of both worlds if they choose our Club Level. This hotel-within-a-hotel features 75 residential-style guest rooms, a sitting room, two lounge areas, and a library. The Club’s ambience, art and antiques, food and beverage presentations, and personal concierges recreate the intimacy associated with bed and breakfasts.

You have got to experience The Ritz-Carlton, New Orleans. It’s like being wrapped in a silk cocoon where everything is perfect.

I’m pretty sure Heaven must be modeled after The Ritz-Carlton.

xoxo, Patti

Today blogging to Belinda Carlisle – Heaven Is A Place On Earth