PalmDesert

The Desert Springs JW Marriott Resort & Spa in Palm Desert, California has jumped on the Twitter bandwagon with a special contest deal. They will be running a "Tweet to Retreat" promotion throughout the month of October 2009. Followers will have their knowledge of Desert Springs tested with questions ranging from the ingredients in the Angel Kiss cocktail at Oasis Bar & Grille to the number of rooms at the hotel. Luckily you can cheat, all answers can be found on the Desert Springs website. One winner will receive a three-night stay at the resort, including dinner at Ristorante Tuscany and Mikado Japanese Steakhouse, daily breakfast at LakeView, four 60-minute spa treatments, a VIP table at Costas nightclub, and a choice of tennis or golf lessons for two. To play follow the hotel at www.twitter.com/DesertSprings, and keep an eye out for the questions which will begin October 1st and continue throughout the month. First person to respond with the correct answer each day will be entered into a drawing for the ultra-luxe prize. The winner will be notified on November 2, 2009.

Like Las Vegas, the area around Palm Springs, California is another location that has felt the bite of the drop in tourism. The Desert Sun reports that the Coachella Valley has lost nearly $30 million in convention and meetings travel in the last seven months. A survey of f local meeting hotels conducted by the Palm Springs Desert Resort Communities Convention and Visitors Authority revealed that canceled meetings added up to a total loss of 51,000 room nights in hotels in the area.

The event was part of Tuesday's Travel Rally Day, a nationwide event meant to raise attention for the beleaguered travel industry. Like private jets, corporate travel has taken a huge hit partially because of the economy and partially because of the media focus on the excesses of big business.

I wouldn't generally think of Earth Day as a vacation holiday but the Desert Springs JW Marriott Resort and Spa and the City of Palm Desert, California are trying to turn it into one with an "Escape! Earth Day" travel package during the month of April. The package, starts at $399 a night and includes a stay in a standard guest room at the Desert Springs, two 50-minute organic date scrub spa treatments, use of spa/fitness facilities, breakfast buffet for two at the resort's Lake View restaurant (including an organic honey tasting) and a free admission to Palm Desert's Living Desert (in exchange for turning in a used cell phone). The Living Desert is Palm Desert's natural zoo which fosters conservation through preservation. Ten percent of the proceeds from the package will be donated to the Living Desert Organization. While I might debate the eco-friendliness of travel, at least if you go to the Palm Desert in April you likely won't need the air conditioning.

Another hotel Destination Resorts Hawaii is offering a $250 carbon credit for guests traveling to Maui this spring. Their Honua Makuahine (Mother Earth) package includes five nights lodging, a complimentary Dollar rental car, free parking and a $250 carbon credit per booking. The offer is valid April 1 through June 15, 2008 and pckage rates begin at $1,080 based on lodging in a one bedroom condominium. The $250 carbon credit offsets an average of 3.5 roundtrip flights from Los Angeles to Maui based on calculations from Carbon Planet.

Tickets recently went on sale for yet another food and wine festival. This one is the first Palm Desert Art of Food & Wine Festival which will take place November 9 - 12, 2006 in Palm Desert, California (a lovely time of the year to be in that area). The Desert Springs JW Marriott Resort & Spa, the City of Palm Desert and Southern Wine and Spirits are hosting the four-day festival art, food, and wine. The event includes the dedication of the 2007/08 El Paseo Invitational Sculpture Exhibition, "Wining on the Golf Course", featuring wine, spirits, and culinary delights for sampling throughout the 18-holes. Other events include guided art tours, fashion shows, and plenty of tastings. A weekend pass costs $650 and the winemaker dinners are already starting to sell out.