Orchestrated & hosted by actress and author Suzanna Leigh, The King's co-star in Paradise, Hawaiian Style (1966), more than two dozen celebs who knew him will gather this August to remember the 30th anniversary of the death of the King of Rock & Roll. Tens of thousands of fans from around the world will be in attendance at the glittering gala, where several notable actors and personalities will be on hand to talk to fans about their experiences with Elvis, sign books, photos & memorabilia - & meet with fans.

Participants include:

• Pat Priest Easy Come, Easy Go
• Sue Ane Langdon Roustabout, Frankie and Johnny
• John Rich - director of Roustabout, Easy Come, Easy Go
• Irene Tsu, Edy Williams & Donna Butterworth  - Paradise, Hawaiian Style
• Jan Shepard King Creole, Paradise Hawaiian Style
• Gloria Pall & Jennifer Holden - Jailhouse Rock
• Will Hutchins - Spinout, Clambake
• Lance LeGault - Girls! Girls! Girls!, Kissin' Cousins, Roustabout
• Leslie Bricusse (songwriter)
• Yvonne Romain Bricusse - Double Trouble
• Michael Dante - Kid Galahad
• Jack Carter - Viva Las Vegas
• Jack Grinnage - King Creole
• L.Q. Jones - Love Me Tender, Flaming Star, Stay Away, Joe
• Celeste Yarnall - Live a Little, Love a Little
• Victoria Paige Meyerink - Speedway
• Gail Gilmore - Girl Happy, Harum Scarum
• & fellow entertainers and Elvis pals Tommy Sands & Ty Hardin

There will also be a special video appearance by Dolores Hart, Elvis's co-star in King Creole and Loving You. She is now a Benedictine nun and spokesman for The Neuropathy Association. A portion of the proceeds from Night of a Thousand Stars will go to the charity that raises awareness of the neurological disorder that Mother Dolores has been battling since 1997.

WHEN: August 16-18, 2007
WHERE: Inn of Hunt Phelan, Memphis, Tennessee (a mere 20 minutes from Graceland)
CHARITY: The Neuropathy Association
DEADLINE FOR RESERVATIONS: July 20, 2007
MORE INFO: Night-of-a-Thousand-Stars.com

- The Travel Snob

(photo: blavish.com)

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As an added travel-minded twist on extracting the equity from your property for what you really want to do - travel! - the American Mortgage & Real Estate Group (AMRE) is sweetening the pot with air miles.  “In a limited promotional offer, we will exchange air miles with every customer who refinances with our EquityBuilder+ product," explains Vladimir Rozumniy of AMRE about the deal in which every mortgage dollar refinanced on mortgages valued between $100,000 & $1 million - equals an air mile.

For more info, call 1.877.MyAirMiles or visit AMREGroup.com.

- The Travel Snob

(image: corporatetravelsafety.com)

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"Too many people these days travel purely to tick items off a list of things to be seen, rather than letting the experience truly seep through," notes the French-born Anne Suire, the owner of Luxury Travel Consultant, which has six new tours of France on offer for fall, all focusing on various regional specialties - and all at a relaxed pace.

Designed for small groups of 8-10 people, they are divided into three categories of two tours each:

1. for women who like art, food, wine, and shopping
2. with a focus on painting in the Luberon region of France
3. the high life in a plush castle outside Avignon with an expert chef, housekeepers and waiters

All the tours include:

• visits to wineries
• tours of the region
• visits to local artists like potters, sculptors and designers
• transfers & first-class TGV train rides
• stays in luxury villas and castles
• additional facilities: private chef, daily housekeeping, luxury car rentals & chauffeurs

"Our tours are not touristy but rather educational, and we want our clients to see the world from a different perspective and feel absolutely at home in France." For France at a more French pace, visit LuxuryTravelConsultant.com.

- The Travel Snob

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Ten years after an exhibit of Renoir's Portraits set an attendance record of 340,000, the National Gallery of Canada will be hosting the Renoir Landscapes, 1865-1883 exhibition featuring 60 of Renoir's most beautiful landscape paintings - on loan from leading art museums and private collections around the world from June 8, 2007 until September 8, 2007.

For the duration of the exhibition, the Albert at Bay Suite Hotel & Best Western Victoria Park Suites in Ottawa have been named Privileged Partners with the National Gallery of Canada. "We are pleased to partner with the Albert at Bay Suite Hotel and Best Western Victoria Park Suites to help provide a unique and enriching experience to tourists visiting the National Capital Region", explains Joanne Charette, Director of Public Affairs at the National Gallery. "We understand that guests traveling to Ottawa have a very finite amount of time to visit attractions. The beauty of booking a Renoir package with us is that the guest will have a guaranteed time to see the Renoir Landscapes Exhibit and will not leave disappointed," notes Roger  MacKinnon, Director of Sales & Marketing for the hotel, which is located in downtown Ottawa & situated steps from Parliament Hill, the Canadian War Museum and Sparks Street's shopping & nightlife. "We are delighted to be in partnership with the National Gallery to help make this happen."

For more info, visit AlbertAtBay.com or Victoriapark.com.

- The Travel Snob

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The new 80-foot Turkish schooner, Novia Mia ( My Girlfriend), recently debuted at the Marina of San Lucas, and can accommodate 35 passengers for day excursions or 8 overnight guests in six comfy cabins with bathroom; one kitchen; two dining rooms for indoor and outdoor dining; sun deck and TV with DVD player. Four exclusive packages are currently available (don't worry - you're not required to be guest at the resort):

• Snorkel Tour Three hours of snorkeling adventure from 11:00 A.M. to 2:00 P.M. Includes snorkel and fishing equipment, kayaks, towels, refreshments including domestic open bar and gourmet snacks. Marquis butler and Michelin-star chef are included. A light lunch menu features Marquis appetizers such as Ceviche Yucatan Style, Shrimp Sushi, Oysters, Clams, Prosciutto & Provolone Sandwiches and Haagen Dazs ice cream for dessert. $120 USD per person (plus tax and service charge).

• Sunset Tour Three hours of spectacular sunset-viewing and evening snorkeling from 6:00 P.M. to 9:00 P.M. The tour includes snorkel and fishing equipment, kayaks, towels, refreshments including domestic open bar and gourmet snacks. The evening fare includes Marquis appetizers such as Salmon Sashimi, Fruit Brochette, Lobster Frittatas, Beef Turnovers with Fried Bananas and Chile Poblano and Mini French Cakes for dessert. (Marquis butler and Michelin-star chef are included.) $200 USD per person. 

• Private Tour Four hours of seclusion and water sport activities like snorkeling, fishing and kayaking. The tour includes snorkel and fishing equipment, kayaks, towels and refreshments including international open bar. The Michelin-star chef will customize an elaborate menu from signature restaurant selections at Vista Ballenas and Canto del Mar. $3,500 USD to rent the entire boat, plus tax and service charge.

• Wedding Package Cmbines 24 hours of wedded bliss on the high seas with water activities and brunch for guests. The bride and groom can host 8 overnight guests and 35 day guests on the schooner. The wedding ceremony can be performed in the afternoon aboard the Novia Mia, and afterward, the boat will travel through the Sea of Cortez overnight and arrive near the shoreline in the morning. After a Michelin star chef prepares brunch, arrival at the Marina of San Lucas is set for 2:00 PM - 3:00 P.M. Includes boat rental for 24 hours; fishing, snorkel and kayak equipment; international open bar; gourmet snacks; Maitre Cuisinier de France, Marquis butler, waiters and service employees to assist all wedding guests. $9,500 USD plus tax and service charge. (Wedding ceremony, reception dinner and décor are additional.)

For more info, visit MarquisLosCabos.com

- The Travel Snob

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Fuelmyblog.com recently teamed up with Lastminute.com to launch a competition to find the best blog post about "the best ever weekend break". Open exclusively to bloggers, the highest quality 300-word post wins a a weekend in Vienna with business class flights from London. "We are delighted to be joining forces with one of the most successful dot-com businesses in the world," explains Fuelmyblog Founder, Kevin Dixie. "Many bloggers write about their travels and exotic experiences in far-flung destinations and, as the home to the world's blogging community, we wanted to support their efforts with a special prize."

All entries will be published on Lastminute.com & Fuelmyblog.com, with the best ten judged by Internet pioneer and the creator of Freeserve, Ajaz Ahmed.

To enter, go to Fuelmyblog.com.

- The Travel Snob

(image: bloggingtimes.net)

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With all the various beauty lotions & potions that it's imperative to schlep with on the road, your average "travel-size" bottle is just too small. However Sonya Dakar recently introduced their flight-ready, chic new travel kit with just enough of the three skincare basics for a two week jaunt to Africa or Greece or even Fiji. 

The Jet Set kit contains a facial wash,  multi-vitamin & anti-oxidant boosting primer, and ultra-light moisturizer, and is available for dry, normal or oily skin. The elegant satin case contains a waterproof compartment and room to spare for the rest of your skin care, toothbrush, toothpaste and anything else crucial for 3000+ miles of travel.

Available at SonyaDakar.com.

- The Travel Snob

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Starting June 1, The Moderne will be getting a full-fledged green makeover. Using the guidelines recommended by the Green Hotels Association, by fall 2007, the building will be made environmentally friendly with energy efficient lighting, bulk dispensers for shampoos and soaps, recycled biodegradable paper products, 100% bamboo unbleached linen, and no smoking in the entire hotel.

"Converting The Moderne into a Green, non-smoking hotel is not enough," notes Stuart Podolsky, the real estate developer behind the greening of the 34-room boutique hotel - in partnership with Jay Podolsky. "We wanted to add an additional touch to it and begin serving a 100% health conscious breakfast that will include wheat grass, fresh juices, organic and soy products, buck wheat pancakes, basically a non-fat high fiber breakfast."

For more info, visit NYCHotels.com.

- The Travel Snob

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According to a recent survey conducted by Visa International Asia Pacific and Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA), more than 50 percent of travelers are considering Asia as their next travel destination, and the country that topped the list? Thailand.

Blessed with beautiful beaches, magnificent mountains, and friendly folks, Thailand has long been popular with the backpacking set and international beach bunnies. However, it's the culture that lures many, and with so many traditional arts & crafts to choose from, shopping is a significant part of any visit. Most of the silks, woodcarvings, gifts, home decor, and handmade paper items come from Chang Mai, but if you know where to look, you can pick up fab souvenirs either at the source, or in Bangkok.

Shopping Chiang Mai:

• NIGHT BAZAAR The area of Chiang Mai next to the river transforms itself nightly to a street market offering all sorts of delightful handicrafts. This is the first place to go in Chiang Mai, since artisans from all over Northern Thailand show their products here. For indoor shopping, there are two large handicraft malls on either side of the main street -- Vieng Ping Night Bazaar and Kalare. Best Kept Secret? Kalare has continuously running cultural shows -- and they are free.

• BAN TAWAI About twenty minutes from Chiang Mai City by car, Ban Tawai is the center for handicraft decor and furniture items. Most of the "antiques" here are not much older than an Ikea sofa, but the designs are traditional and the makers are expert at aging them. Best Kept Secret? Savvy shoppers go past the main area another half kilometer to see the articles being made, talk to the artists, and get the best prices.

• BO SANG Outside Chiang Mai on the SanKamPaeng road is an entire village whose inhabitants are dedicated to the making and trading of Thai handicrafts. Walking the main street of Bo Sang gives a sense of the variety available, but bargain hunters duck to the back rooms to find the real treasures. Best Kept Secret? Factory direct prices for hand made mulberry paper are in a remote part of Bo Sang called Ton Bau. This is where the makers are, and all have shops for browsing.

• SUNDAY MARKET Every Sunday evening, the streets from Thai Pae Gate to Wat Pra Sihng are closed to traffic. Vendors from all over Thailand lay out blankets and sell striking and original items at bargain-basement prices. Best Kept Secret? Many of the temples in the walking area also provide space for vendors. Shoppers find bargains while viewing temples at a time they would not normally be open to the public.

Shopping Bangkok:

• CHATUCHAK WEEKEND MARKET Chatuchak Weekend Market is the undisputed center for buying Thai Handicrafts of all kinds. Now it's easily accessible by both subway and Sky Train -- se when time is limited, this is the place to go. Mixed in with knock-off jeans and cheap sneakers are some outstanding Thai products. Best Kept Secret? Chatuchak is open on Fridays as "wholesale day", but all are welcome. Avoid the weekend crowds and get the best bargains.

• NARAYANA PHAND THAI HANDICRAFT CENTER Travelers with a very tight schedule go to the Narayana Phand Thai Handicraft Center located across the street from Central World Shopping Center in Pratunam. Beautifully presented Thai handicrafts from all over the country are sold at fixed prices. Many items from Royal Projects sold here support Hill Tribe, disabled and elderly artisans. Best Kept Secret? The basement shops are independent sellers, selling many of the same items as in the main shop at greatly reduced prices.

• SILOM ROAD/PATPONG At night, the financial district of Bangkok becomes a market packed with every type of product, legal and illegal. Shoppers who brave the crowds and the touts can discover budding artisans staked out selling unique designs - from delicately carved soap flowers (warning - these fade in the sun!) to hand-made sandals. Best Kept Secret? Most "Thai Silk" sold on the street is really polyester. Genuine silk catches on the fingers, and the ends of any fringe will have fibers of varying sizes, including very fine ones.

• SUAN LUM NIGHT BAZAAR The days of the Suan Lum Night Bazaar are numbered. Soon to be replaced by a condominium complex, this treasured shopping experience is home to all sorts of independent sellers -- many of whom design and make their own home decor designs. It's just down the road from Lumpini Park, convenient for spending a whole evening dining, shopping and generally having a pleasant time. Best Kept Secret? Next to the Bazaar at the Lumpini Boxing Stadium is a small shop selling genuine Muay Thai (Thai boxing) paraphernalia -- not tourist knock-offs. Don't miss the boxing glove key rings.

Or simply stay at home & shop there: try ExporThai.com, one of the most established online vendors of Thai Handicrafts.

- The Travel Snob

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Tucked away in Val d'Aran, Baqueira, a scenic 2 hour drive from the Toulouse Airport and 3 ½ hours from the Barcelona Airport is one of Spain's premier five-star resorts & part of the Small Luxury Hotels of the World portfolio: the 70-room La Pleta Hotel & Spa.

From June 23rd through Sept. 19, 2007, La Pleta is offering three, five and seven night wellness packages at its 2,000 square foot Occitania Spa, featuring modern design with exquisitely lit, glass-floored treatment rooms that still retain the regional rustic feel amid décor of slate, local stone and wood.

• 3-NIGHT PACKAGE includes accommodation in one Occitania superior room, breakfast buffet, transfers service from/to Barcelona, one spa honey massage per person, and one bottle of Cava sparkling wine in your room. from $1,870.42 (per room, per stay, & exclusive of the 7% tax)

• 5-NIGHT PACKAGE a superior Occitania room with sparkling water, breakfast buffet & transfers, as well as a mineralised aromatic exfoliation, facial, and hot stone massage. from $2,780.28

• 7-NIGHT PACKAGE superior Occitania room with sparkling water, champagne and Vin Caud (Catalan hot wine), breakfast buffet & transfers, a flower elixir treatment, an anti stress treatment, one hot stones treatment, and one facial treatment. from $3571.83

To make a reservation, visit Small Luxury Hotels of the World at slh.com. For more info on La Pleta, go to LaPleta.com.

- The Travel Snob

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