Kiwi Collection President, Philippe Kjellgren, has joined the advisory board for The Bodhi Tree Foundation (TBTF), a non-profit organization that is charged with mobilizing support from the travel and tourism industry to protect places, help people and preserve culture around the globe.

The Bodhi Tree Foundation just announced its new campaign, the Power of One. The campaign’s goal is to unite travelers around the world to stand as one in order to make a difference.

The campaign aims to shine light on the power of adding one dollar to every trip booked in order to change lives and give back to the people and places that make travel so rewarding. With 100% of Bodhi Tree Foundation’s donations going directly to the programs it supports, one person and one dollar can be a powerful force of change.

Find out more about how to donate to The Bodhi Tree Foundation

Some of the charities that benefit from the work done by TBTF this year include:

• Fundación Haciendas del Mundo Maya
• The African Wildlife Foundation
• FXB International / Protravel Rwandan Village
• The Southern Environmental Association
• Heritage Watch

The Bodhi Tree Foundation was founded in 2008 by Jena Gardner and James Saleh, both philanthropy-minded business leaders and passionate travelers whose lives have been changed by travel.

Ms. Gardner and Mr. Saleh saw the possibility to harness the resources of travel and tourism, one of the world’s largest industries, to help protect nature, support cultural diversity and directly benefit local people in destinations around the world, and the travelers who gain immeasurable joy by visiting them.

Find the perfect high-end hotel for your stay in Vancouver for the 2010 Olympics this February. Make the most of your once-in-a-lifetime trip to Vancouver!

With the 2010 Vancouver Winter Olympics right around the corner, its best to start planning a head. And with so little time left to do it, Kiwi Collection is happy to help you get you sorted on where to stay at some of the best hotels in Vancouver.

Where to Stay During the 2010 Vancouver Winter Olympic Games February 12-28, 2010:

Shangri-La Hotel:

Check Availability

The Shangri-La Hotel is one of the best places to stay in Vancouver during the Olympics. Located right in the heart of the city and close to all the festivities taking place, this luxury hotel is the perfect starting point for any events you have planned.

Also, being Vancouver’s tallest building nestled right between the Pacific Ocean and the Coast Mountain Range, be sure to expect amazing and breathtaking views.

All of the 119 rooms at the Shangri-La Hotel are decorated in an exquisite contemporary style with a distinct Asian influence along with floor to ceiling windows allowing for lots of natural lighting.

Along with an amazing location and fabulous hospitality the Shangri-La Hotel is also home to the internationally acclaimed three star Michelin chef and entrepreneur Jean-Georges Vongerichten and his restaurant, Market, which offers four distinct dining atmospheres; bistro, outdoor terrace, fine dining and a musical chair bar. Great food and a great atmosphere is sure to leave any visitor satisfied beyond exceptions.

Other fabulous hotels in Vancouver include:

The Opus Hotel: Located in Vancouver’s fashionable Yaletown, the Opus Hotel is a few minutes walk away from the downtown core, steps from the inner harbor, and a quick jaunt to the city’s famous Stanley Park and local beaches.

This luxury boutique hotel offers a beautiful contemporary atmosphere along with intuitive service making sure that all guests are always taken care of.

The Sutton Place Hotel Vancouver: Recently renovated with luxurious guest rooms with breathtaking cityscape views, this hotel brings a touch of European elegance to Vancouver.

This hotel is located in the heart of downtown close to the arts and entertainment district as well as just steps away from Robson Street, one of the country’s most popular shopping areas.

The Fairmont Hotel Vancouver: As one of the city’s famous landmarks with the charm of an English castle, this hotel sits close to the city’s business district and right across the street from the Vancouver Art Gallery.

Best known for its fabulous dining experiences this hotel houses one of the city’s most popular bistro’ Griffins Restaurant as well as their 900 West Lounge, a popular gathering place for locals with award winning martinis and the sounds of live jazz music.

Loden Vancouver: This urban waterfront retreat is inspired by all things Vancouver, from its curved glass emulating the ocean waves to its natural stone and copper bringing the coastal mountains indoors.

Its earthy pallet is stylish and chic for both business nomads and leisure seekers alike and features all of the best in luxury amenities. Located in Vancouver’s Coal Harbor this hotel is also adjacent to many of the city’s most popular attractions from museums and galleries to numerous world class restaurants.

Wedgewood Hotel and Spa: Situated amidst the gardens and waterfalls of the cities fashionable Robson Square in the heart of downtown, this family run, privately owned, luxury boutique hotel has become an intimate oasis in Vancouver.

All rooms feature private walk out balconies as well as the owner’s personal touches with art and antiques from their private collection.

Pan Pacific Vancouver: Located atop a pier overlooking the waterfront and set against a mountain backdrop this hotel features 503 luxurious rooms and suites with panoramic vistas of the harbor, mountains, Stanley Park and the city skyline.

After a long day, feel free to relax at their Spa Utopia or their outdoor salt water pool.

This luxury hotel not only offers the best service to its guests and is also a proud member to the Green Key ECO- rating program committing itself to reduce their environmental impact.

The Fairmont Waterfront: This hotel has a stunning view wherever there’s a window.

Rooms are spacious and elegant and are sure to satisfy even the most discriminating guest offering only the best in luxury amenities.

Perfectly situated for a long walk around the sea wall to Stanley Park or a quick boat ride to North Vancouver. Dining here is also superb using only the freshest ingredients along with herbs and vegetables from their garden deck.

Every seasoned traveler knows that amazing scenery plays a huge part of a great experience. And, of course, in the travel exposure business, great travel photography of that amazing scenery is the key to success.

We here at Kiwi Collection know all about great photography.

The photography talents of one of our own — former Kiwi Insider Eugene Chekanov — was recently recognized when he won the Water World category of Canadian Geographic’s 24th annual photo contest.

His photos of Vancouver’s Staney Park (one of which is pictured to the right) really highlight Vancouver’s stunning landscape. And yes, Stanley Park really does look like that!

Eugene was first acquainted with his camera at age 10 when he was growing up in Lviv in Western Ukraine. It was love at first sight.

He quickly expanded his talents in photography and learned how to develop black and white photos. Mainly learning by trial and error, he continued to practice this fine art when he moved to Toronto, Canada in 1994.

The sheer beauty of Canada only encouraged him to test his skills further as he captured the country’s Great Lakes, forests and rocky shores.

Eugene moved to Vancouver in 2006, where he continues to explore photography. You can view more of Eugene Chekanov’s photography on his website.

Now, we can all see that Eugene is an excellent photographer, but it certainly helps when you have attractive subject matter like Vancouver.

Vancouver is an excellent place to visit if you want to enjoy the benefits of a cosmopolitan city while exploring the mountains, tall trees and the Ocean. We recommend staying at any Vancouver luxury hotel if you’re in the mood to travel to this beautiful Canadian city.

We could go on. But one incredible photo is worth 1,000 words, right? Congratulations Eugene!

High-end consumers visiting Forbes Traveler will have their prayers answered early next year when they can book their dream vacations instantaneously using Kiwi Collection’s hotel booking engine.

Forbes and Kiwi Collection, one of the world’s largest luxury hotel directory, announced a deal yesterday that allows visitors to www.forbestraveler.com to book hotels from the site. In addition, Kiwi Collection’s entire listing of luxury accommodations, consisting of 2,100 hotels and resorts in 140 countries, will be featured on Forbes Traveler.

Not only does this deal mean great things for discerning travelers looking for an easier way to find and book luxury accommodations online, but also greater exposure for all of the hotels in Kiwi Collection’s directory to millions of people who are interested in staying in high-end accommodations.
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Exciting news hot off the presses from Kiwi Collection…a new second edition of the highly acclaimed “Overnight Sensations: The Americas” book is set to be launched to bookstores and online retailers in time for the upcoming holiday season, with guaranteed delivery on/before December 15, 2008 for all pre-orders received before the December 1 official launch date.

This book is one of the single greatest resources to luxury accomodations in the Americas and the write-ups and imagery contained within the pages of this new tome are simply spell-binding! Chalk full with new information, this book will be the definitive resource to the most amazing luxury experiences found in the Americas.

Join celebrities, heads of state and other VIP’s who clamour to receive copies of this extrordinary and stunning book by pre-ordering your copy today on the Kiwi Collection online store for a mere $99.

Click the more button to read the full press release about this edition from Kiwi Collection.

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Kiwi Collection welcomes the sublime Es Saadi Palace & Villas, where luxury meets nature.

Discover for yourself the renowned Moroccan luxury and hospitality in exquisite surroundings, play to your heart’s content in exotic Marrakech.

Es Saadi Palace & Villas is set in the heart of the city of Marrakech in an eight hectare park with shaded pathways leading to the resort, the palace, and the villas. The resort showcases 1950’s French architecture along with luxury, refinement and traditional Moroccan hospitality for three generations. The resort is an environmentally conscious property and uses much of the property’s natural gifts.

Facing the beautiful snow capped Atlas Mountains, The Palace guest rooms offer sumptuous decoration created by Master Craftsmen of Morocco. There are 90 spacious suites meticulously and artistically decorated for guest’s pleasure. For extra privacy Es Saadi Palace & Villas feature 10 villas situated in their own beautiful exotic gardens, each with a swimming pool which is heated in the winter season. All villas feature Oriental themed architecture and are spacious, light and designed for comfort.

Savor culinary delights at the restaurant, offering local specialties with romantic ambiance, whether out by the serene lights of the pool at night or in the grand restaurant.

Be taken away to another time in the Oriental Spa Es Saadi, where traditional rituals and treatments ensure a complete holistic experience. Try your luck at the Casino de Marrakech. Or dance the night away at the glamorous Theatro nightclub.

Es Saadi Palace & Villas is located in the beautiful city of Marrakech, Morocco. The city is renowned for its fabulous architecture, cuisine and cultural heritage.

Cant wait to see you there!