Heard Around the Hotel World: Horses, Jogs, Cookies and Graydon Carter

7/02/2007 at 9:00 AM
Tags: Heard Around, DoubleTree Hotels, Hotel Services

We have spies all over the hotel industry who like to send various miscellaneous tips--and in some cases, press releases--our way. Some of these are post-worthy, others are not much more than one sentence tid-bits. So here's the latest batch of whispers through the hotel grapevine.

· The Half Moon Resort in Jamaica offers an equestrian program for its guests of all ages and skill levels. You can sign up for day excursions like the Beach Ride  ($50) or the Jungle Jaunt ($70) and you can also sign-up for one-on-one lessons.

· In what we consider a pretty smart move,  Rome Hilton Cavalieri famous for its Gladiator training program has unveiled two new ones---Jogging with the GM and Kids' Cucina (cooking lessons for kids.) The hotel's GM is a marathon runner and will take guests from the Ponte Milvio and continue along the Lungotevere with a shuttle bus taking the wear back to the hotel at the end of the run. Meanwhile the kids can sign up for the Saturday and Sunday 50 minute cooking classes and learn to cook--what else?--pizza.

· DoubleTree Hotels will be offering up their infamous chocolate chip cookies for free to all those who pass by or stay in a Doubletree on July Fourth from 12:01am to 11:59pm. Don't miss 'em!

· We missed this the other week but someone pointed it our way. Graydon Carter, editor of Vanity Fare is looking to purchase the Oak Bar in the revamped Plaza Hotel. Elad Properties, the hotel's news owner, has renovated most of the place, turning hotel rooms into private residences. But they have agreed to leave the Grand Ballroom, Palm Court and The Oak Bar intact.