ICON launches London restaurant site

After Rome’s celebrated La Rosetta and 40 years of culinary excellence, chef Massimo Riccioli brings to London the exclusive specialty restaurant that bears his name.

Massimo Restaurant and Oyster Bar is all about style and Italian passion. Set in an inspiringly elegant ambient that combines fine marble decorations with richly-textured fabrics, the restaurant offers tantalising dishes that satisfy the very best of gourmets.

Teaming up with ICON, a Malta-based web development firm, Massimo has once again served excellence, this time in the form of a beautifully-crafted website that matches the restaurant’s interior in artistry. Using ICON.snap, a flexible content management system, ICON’s talented designers have embedded a winning blend of water-colour splashes and free-hand drawn illustrations into the restaurant’s portal. An eclectic blend of colour and fully optimised pages to ensure positive search-engine rankings make the site chic and easy to use.

www.massimo-restaurant.co.uk is a website fine-diners should not overlook. With ICON’s e-News module Massimo can keep in touch with its clientele through their newsletter by sending regular gourmet updates on seasonal food choices. Integrated with OpenTable this Whitehall Place restaurant can also accept online booking making sure you always have a table ready for delicious culinary discoveries.

ICON’s collaboration with Massimo showcases success in ICON’s own internationalisation efforts as well as its ability to develop high-end, creative portals that brim with gusto.

 

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Where to save and splurge with London vacation packages

Fashion magazines say it all the time: When building an outfit, find items to splurge on and save on the rest. The same can certainly be said for travel. If you have a pricey destination like London on your bucket list, don't be discouraged. When it comes to going on your dream trip, smart travelers know that where there's a will, there's a way.

When it comes to flights to London, you - and your wallet - could very well be in luck. Because London sees so much air traffic, it's easier to find a good deal on airline tickets. If your travel dates are flexible, consider making the trip outside high season, which can help you save even more.

Other than your flight, hotels in London will likely be your largest expense, so it pays to be a relentless comparison shopper. Luckily, the Web makes this easier than ever. With just a few clicks on sites like Travelocity.com, you can have a list of hotels, arranged by price, at your disposal - and you can be sure that you're getting the best available rates. Hotels are a particularly great place to find savings, if you're an active traveler who wants to spend most of your time away from the room. Not only will you be able to cut back on amenities like room service, but you can also look for hotels slightly outside the center of the city and find savings - just use London's famous Underground to get around.

Since hotels and flights generally take up the biggest portion of your budget, consider London vacation packages, in which hotel and flights are bundled to give you a discount. If you're looking for ways to stretch your dollar the farthest, the savings a vacation package offers can be a smart solution. It'll still be a splurge, but looking for ways to save on high-cost items will leave you with a bigger budget for enjoying the city.

Exchanging money in London is a necessity, but one you shouldn't take lightly. You'll put yourself in a better position to save money by researching ahead of time to find out where you can get the best rates. Many times, exchange bureaus in airports don't offer the best rates; downloading an exchange rate app to your phone will help you know the difference. If you plan on using your ATM card, make sure it (and your PIN) be compatible, and talk to your bank about international withdrawal and transaction fees.

London is a great shopping city, and there's little doubt that you'll want to explore the endless array of boutiques. Start out by window shopping, even making a list on your phone or in a journal of the items that you like. Then, on your last day or two, narrow down your selections so that you get items that you want without blowing the budget. This is also a great way to see if the fascination with a particular item really lasts.

Dining in itself is a splurge-and-save proposition. If you want to book reservations at the hottest restaurants, you've got a few options. Check to see if they do lunch - you might find lower prices during the day. Otherwise, if you want to go all-out for a deluxe dinner or two, keep your other food expenses low by doing a bit of grocery shopping and picnicking - Hyde Park makes a lovely backdrop.

A travel budget is all about balance. Know what's most important to you and splurge on those things, saving on items that you aren't quite so concerned about. With this philosophy in mind, you can travel almost anywhere and stay right on budget.

 

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STRING of Hollywood stars is being touted to feature in a film that has the Costa del Sol at the centre of the action. Ralph Fiennes, Philip Seymour Hoffman and James Spader have all been approached to play the lead role

STRING of Hollywood stars is being touted to feature in a film that has the Costa del Sol at the centre of the action.
Ralph Fiennes, Philip Seymour Hoffman and James Spader have all been approached to play the lead role in The Enigmatic Mr Phelps, based on a series of novels inspired by Nerja.


Meanwhile British star Edward Fox has asked to have a role in the movie based on international fraudster Oscar Phelps, who uses Nerja as a frequent base.
Author David B Green, who now lives in Canada, spent three years as a resident of the town in the 1990s and still has a soft spot for the area.
“The atmosphere in Nerja is different to the rest of the Costa del Sol, it hasn’t been touched by development in the same way and has retained much of its character from the 60s and 70s,” Green told the Olive Press.
The film, described as ‘a classic crime mystery thriller with all the ingredients of the genre’, spans 14 years in the life of Phelps, a loveable rogue and cold-blooded killer.
Now Green expects the film, that is being made by Astral Media, will use Nerja as one of its main bases.
“Lots of action would take place around town and all of the old town would be used, including The Church of El Salvador,” explained the father-of-seven, who works in healthcare.
“The name for my first book 32-Red is inspired by the fabulous 34 Carabeo restaurant, which I always thought would be a great place for Phelps to be based,” he added.
The film, which could also feature scenes in Marbella, Malaga and Motril, is still in the early stages of development, with the cast selection process due to get under way next month.
“The company are already touting it as similar to The Talented Mr Ripley, which was a huge hit a few years ago,” said Green.

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Jaguar to begin production of its C-X75 Hybrid Supercar

The ultimate expression of Jaguar design and engineering innovation, the C-X75 ‘C’ for Concept and ‘X’ for Experimental was the highlight of the 2010 Paris Motor Show where Jaguar fans witnessed for the very first time the prowess behind the British Luxury sportscar makers sustainable mobility program.


While, most may have been quite skeptical about the turbine powered electric propulsion of the C-X75 ever making it to the assembly lines, Tata Motors Chairman, Ratan Tata made it aptly clear that the company only planned to showcase concepts that in all probability will go into full production. And Jaguar’s announcement that it will soon begin production of its most technologically advanced model to date is a clear indication of the fact that Tata Motors doesn’t really believe in raising any kind of false hopes for its customers.


However, for Jaguar to have achieved this feat, there have been some crucial steps that it has taken both in terms of technology and external aid to make this dream a reality. While, the original concept will remain unscathed, an innovative powertrain had to be developed to make the concept suitable for road use. Being the definitive hybrid sportscar of its time, the C-X75 now gets a carbon-fibre chassis to create an incredibly lightweight, yet rigidly strong structure.
 
 
 

 
 
 
With the technical specifications of the car in place for becoming a production friendly model, the Jaguar C-X75 will be developed with Williams F1, who will provide their engineering expertise in key areas like aerodynamics, carbon composite manufacture and hybrid technologies to further assist Jaguar in making its C-X75 model the most suitable hybrid sportscars for urban use.


Speaking at the announcement of the C-X75 Concept going into production, Adrian Hallmark, Jaguar Brand Director, said “People expect Jaguar to be innovators, and that is when Jaguar is at its best. The C-X75 received an incredible reception as a concept car. We’ve been building on that momentum and there is a clear business case for this exclusive halo model. No other vehicle will better signify Jaguar’s renewed confidence and excellence in technological innovation than this.”
 
When C-X75’s motors and combustion engine combine, it will be one of the fastest production cars in the world, conquering an acceleration of 0 to 100km/h in just 3.4 seconds and a top speed of 328kmph. Crucially, this performance will be generated alongside incredibly low emissions, with a target of less than 99g/km CO2, thanks to Project C-X75’s lightweight construction and cutting-edge powertrain technology.

Only 250 examples will be built, each costing between £700,000 - £900,000 (51,541,795.4- 66,268,022.7 INR) depending on market and local taxes.

 

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Lamborghini have overtaken the Bugatti Veyron Super Sport by producing the world’s most expensive sports car costing £1.77 million.

Lamborghini have overtaken the Bugatti Veyron Super Sport by producing the world’s most expensive sports car costing £1.77 million.
Despite its hefty price tag and cutting edge technology, there is one major drawback with this luxurious car: it can’t be driven legally on US roads.
The Lamborghini Sesto Elemento boasts a top speed of 200mph and can accelerate from 0-62mph in just 2.5 seconds, but all of this speed and power comes at a price, as Lamborghini has had to dispense with normal measures when creating the car, which means it doesn’t meet the required standards to be driven on a public highway.
So it seems the world’s most expensive car will be forever resigned to being driven on private racing tracks, so if you’re looking for a expensive toy, the Lamborghini Sesto Elemento may be just up your street.
With a 5.2 litre V10 engine and sleek carbon fibre body which weighs less than a tonne, it’s not surprising this sports car can reach impressive speeds in the blink of an eye.
The new Lamborghini model was first revealed as a concept car at the Paris Motor Show last year. Now the luxury Italian car maker has decided to go ahead with manufacturing just 20 of these state of the art cars.

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THE football star protected by a super-injunction over his affair with Big Brother star Imogen Thomas is about to be named.

The exposure in a popular Spanish newspaper is planned to coincide with an important date for the player, causing maximum personal impact to him and allegedly putting him off his game.

Tabloid daily newspaper El Mundo Deportivo will print the name of the Premier League idol who won a gagging order last month to suppress claims he cheated on his wife in a six-month fling with gorgeous Imogen.

But the injunction only prevents British publications from exposing him.

A Spanish media source said: “The newspaper is happy to print his name because they are published abroad.

“They are determined to print it on a date when they know it is vitally important for the footballer to be able to concentrate only on his game.

“The player will not want any distractions at this time so this will have a huge impact on his ability to focus only on football.

“I am sure he will be angry and upset about this but there’s nothing he can do about it.”

A Spanish website has already named the player alongside a sexy picture of Imogen wearing a see-through bra, G-string and black stockings.

Former Big Brother babe Imogen, 28, who has forged a career as a men’s magazine model, recently spoke about her relationship with the star who is described as a “family man”.

She told ITV1’s This Morning recently that she wished she had enough money to get a super-injunction to protect her name when the scandal broke.

Imogen said: “I had no intention of ever speaking about the man, I just wish that my name was protected.

“I didn’t have £50,000 to get an injunction. I feel like I have been thrown to the lions and told to ‘deal with it’.

“I’m coping with a lot of stress and pressure on my head at the moment.” Imogen said she had been subjected to “horrible abuse” on Twitter, being called a “slag” and a “whore”.

The footballer is already said to have admitted to his wife that he is the person with the super-injunction after she confronted him.

He is the latest in a string of celebrities who have taken legal action to gag people they have had affairs with.

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Galliano's Jewish lawyer quits weeks before anti-semetism trial

Disgraced designer John Galliano has been abandoned by his Jewish lawyer weeks before he stands trial for allegedly hurling anti-Semitic abuse in a Paris bar.

Stephen Zerbib had represented Galliano, left, since his arrest in February. The designer could face up to six months in prison and a £20,000 fine following two alleged rants against fellow drinkers. His lawyer has quit, with a source claiming: "Mr Zerbib has had enough."

Galliano, 50, who was raised in London and lives in Paris, is on bail. He was sacked from Christian Dior because of the alleged anti-Semitic rants and was fired as boss of his eponymous label.

 

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Princess Diana’s former lover James Hewitt has put the record straight saying he is not Prince Harry’s father.

When repeatedly questioned in an interview with Inside Edition on the question regarding Harry’s paternity and the possibility that Harry may be a genetic abbreviation of himself, Hewitt said “No I am not“.

“I am not happy talking about it.”  and added “It’s out of respect for everyone.”

Speculation has been rife over the similarities between Harry and James since the news of Diana’s affair with Hewitt broke, but the affair is not meant to have taken place until after Harry’s birth.

I really don’t care if Ken the milkman is Prince Harry’s father and nor should anyone else except Harry and his family (and possibly Ken the milkman…..who is fictitious by the way).

But seeing as its out in the public domain lets just take a look at Harry.

His glare/look is exactly the same of that of Prince Philip. He even likes the Nazi uniform just like his grandad (supposedly) does, so I think that lays to rest any further speculation on the matter.

Unless of course we have a state sanctioned DNA test to see if Hewitt is Harry’s father with Jeremy Kyle reading out the results to the world in between Kate and William’s wedding vows broadcast live.

Now that would be entertainment!……

Harry is Prince Charles’s son…..he just doesn’t look like him but he does have that ‘I will tear you apart from limb to limb Mr Fox and drink your blood through a straw‘ look.

Would I trust Prince Harry to look after my Children’s pet rabbits and hamsters if we went away?

No I would not….that is how certain I am that Philip is Harry’s grandfather which makes Charles Harry’s father by default.

James Hewitt is ginger and so is Prince Harry…..that single connection is the premise, which many base Harry’s paternity on. But with that same logic an Ed Miliband is Cheryl Cole’s brother because both are unconvincing in their professional roles.

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James Hewitt has claimed he considered committing suicide following his five-year affair with Princess Diana.

The former military man said he had planned to shoot himself during a trip to France - until his mother made him take her along.

'I got in my car and loaded a few things up to get on the ferry to go to France - to shoot myself,' he said.

The former military man told Inside Edition he had planned to shoot himself during a trip to France - until his mother made him take her along

'Then my mother insisted on coming with me. If she hadn't, I would probably have shot myself. So I owe her my life really.

'I felt I had let people down - probably myself, my family, my friends, the nation, the army, my regiment. Other than that, no one at all.'


Hewitt, 52, opened up about life after Diana during an interview on U.S. television show Inside Edition.

The Princess, who died aged 36 in August 1997, acknowledged her affair with the former household cavalry officer after her divorce from Prince Charles.


Affair: Diana blushes as she presents James Hewitt with the Captain and Subalterns Cup after he led his army polo team to victory at Tidworth in 1989 - at the height of their affair

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By royal admission: Princess Diana, who died aged 36 in August 1997, acknowledged her affair with the former household cavalry officer after her divorce from Prince Charles

Rumours later circulated that Hewitt, not Charles, could be the father of Diana's son Prince Harry.

But the ex-army man has claimed the young Prince was born before he and Diana began their affair.


Hewitt has always denied that he is the father of Prince Harry

'No I am not,' he said, when asked once again whether he was Harry's father. 'I am not happy talking about it. It's out of respect for everyone.'

Hewitt came under fire for trying to sell love letters he received from Diana for £10 million.

He also helped write a book about the Princess following her death, but insists he still misses her.

'I think we all miss her,' he said. 'But I've tried to move on with my life.'

The full interview with Hewitt airs in the United States today.

It was revealed last week that Hewitt is to trade upon his increasingly tenuous links to the Royal Family by throwing a Royal Wedding party at his bar in Spain – with himself as ‘guest of honour’.

He has been living in Marbella in exile after his scandalous attempt to sell her letters for £10 million.

The ‘comeback cad’, as he’s been dubbed, has cheekily given his approval for Prince William and Kate Middleton’s wedding and is planning a lavish Royal-themed day at his bar, Polo House, on April 29, complete with a big screen showing the ceremony.

Diana admitted to having the five-year affair during her sensational Panorama interview in 1995.

He first met Princess Diana at a party in London's Mayfair in 1986. She was 25, he 28.

Although six years ago, he was hypnotised for a television programme in which he 'revealed' that his affair with Diana had begun earlier than he had previously stated, commencing in 1982, not 1986 - before the birth of Prince Harry.


 In another interview on Larry King Live in 2003, Hewitt discussed his relationship with the princess, the controversy over his going public with her personal correspondence and recent press reports of his attempts to auction the letters

When they met, Diana was in the middle of a famous 39-day trial separation from her then husband Prince Charles.

Diana took Hewitt on as a horse-riding instructor for her and her two sons. Their relationship lasted until 1992 when Diana is reported to have stopped taking Hewitt's calls.

In 1994 Hewitt broke cover and collaborated with writer Anna Pasternak on Princess In Love, a sordid account of his affair with Diana.

Diana was said to be distraught by this betrayal, telling Martin Bashir in the Panorama interview: 'Yes, I adored him. Yes, I was in love with him. But I was very let down.'


'I was in love with him': Diana admitted to having the five-year affair during her sensational Panorama interview in 1995

Hewitt later tried to tried to sell 60 love letters he received from the Princess for a reported £10million.

In 1999, two years after Diana died in Paris, he published his autobiography, Love and War in which he revealed intimate details about his affair.

He told how Diana seduced him and how they made love in her four-poster bed and on a bathroom floor.

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Melanie Griffith was rubbing shoulders with royalty last night as she and husband Antonio Banderas met the Spanish royal family at a Gala dinner in Madrid.

Melanie Griffith was rubbing shoulders with royalty last night as she and husband Antonio Banderas met the Spanish royal family at a Gala dinner in Madrid.

Looking glamorous in a long black sparkling number, the 53-year-old star happily chatted to a very thin looking Princess Letizia during a family line up.


Meet and greet: Melanie Griffith shakes hands with Prince Felipe and Princess Letizia at a Gala dinner in Madrid last night


Line up: Griffith and Banderas add a touch of glamour to the Spanish gala

Wearing a midnight blue dress, the Princess looked happy and relaxed as she met the Hollywood stars alongside husband Prince Felipe, heir to the Spanish throne.


 the 50-year-old Mask of Zorro star bowed to King Juan Carlos of Spain at a Royal Gala dinner in Madrid last night.

Banderas, who was born in Malaga, looked dapper in a tuxedo, while his 53-year-old wife wore a glittering black number.


Royalty meets royalty: Antonio Banderas and wife Melanie Griffith meet King Juan Carlos of Spain at a Gala dinner in Madrid last night


The couple also met Sheikh Hamad Bin khalifa Al-thani and his wife Sheikha Mozah Bint of Qatar at the event.

Banderas is a brother of a Roman Catholic religious brotherhood, and travels to the country ever week for Holy Week to take part in processions.

Griffith and Banderas have a daughter, Stella, 14.


 Banderas and Griffith also met Sheikh Hamad Bin khalifa Al-thani and his wife Sheikha Mozah Bint last night

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Italian and Manchester City soccer star Mario Balotelli has had his luxury car impounded 27 times and has had to pay 10,000 pounds in fines.

Mario Balotelli According to The Sun, Balotelli has left liaison officers at the club tearing their hair out as they have had to go back time and time again to reclaim his Maserati.


The 100,000-pound-a-week Italian striker has had an average of three parking tickets a day since he signed for the Premier League club last year.

In contrast, he has had ten yellow cards and two reds in only 24 appearances for Manchester City. (ANI)

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Europe’s first ‘Grand Hotel’, The Langham, London will launch Europe’s first Chuan Spa in February 2011.

Europe’s first ‘Grand Hotel’, The Langham, London will launch Europe’s first Chuan Spa in February 2011.  Offering a tranquil haven in the heart of London, Chuan Spa will be London’s first hotel spa (http://www.chuanspa.co.uk) to incorporate ancient principles of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) into its signature treatments, ambiance and décor. “Chuan” in Chinese means flowing water and water is considered the foundation of life.

Dating back thousands of years, Traditional Chinese Medicine is acclaimed throughout the world for its ability to harmonize the body and soul and enrich personal happiness and fulfillment. The philosophy uses the principle of the balance of the five natural elements of metal, wood, water, fire and earth and the body’s opposing yet mutually dependent halves, Ying and Yang.  Emphasizing a holistic approach, the therapists at Chuan Spa will adopt the guiding principles behind TCM, using energy flows, basic elemental forces and the influence of hot and cold to create individual treatment plans.

Upon entering Chuan Spa, guests will experience the ambience designed to gently nurture Jing (life force), Qi (vital energy) and Shen (mind and spirit).  Over a glass of element tea, guests will meet with their therapist to discuss the treatment plan addressing the rebalancing of their five elements and personal Ying and Yang.  Guests will then relax in the vitality pool, salt-sauna and steam room before visiting the spa treatment area where fragrant candles and especially composed music will provide a calming and tranquil environment. Afterwards, guests are invited to stay and enjoy a glass of Chuan tea and fresh fruit platter in the contemplation area.

VIP’s and Couples will be able to enjoy the ultimate in privacy and romantic relaxation with joint treatments in ‘The Spirit Room’,  a VIP couples suite, for half or full day packages. Five other treatment rooms are available.

In addition to its signature treatments, Chuan Spa will offer the services of a fully qualified TCM Practitioner for private consultations and specialist TCM therapies including acupuncture, Ho Guan (cupping), moxibustion and other techniques.

For the fitness enthusiast, Chuan Spa will also offer a fully equipped fitness centre with state-of-the-art Technogym cardio and resistance equipment, free weights and a 16 metre swimming pool open to hotel residents and spa guests. Fitness membership packages will also be available.

Located in an unrivalled position at the top of Regent Street, Chuan Spa at The Langham, London (http://www.chuanspa.co.uk) is the ultimate urban retreat offering a serene and soothing environment in the heart of the West End, and the first European outpost of this critically acclaimed and prestigious spa brand.

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Wildenstein Scandal

Guy Wildenstein and his brother Alec have been surrounded by more scandal than any other wealthy family bar the Kennedys. The 65 year old billionaire, who is the president of Wildenstein & Co. presided over one of the most prestigious art dealerships in the world, which dates back five generations and is still family run. Wildenstein is now facing charges by French anti-fraud investigators for alleged money-laundering and tax evasion. It is also thought that a charge of theft may possibly be added to the list as the gallery faces half a dozen lawsuits with allegations of fraud, handling of stolen paintings and deception.
The seizure of about 30 works has put another uncomfortable focus on the scandal ridden Wildenstein family. The courts are also seeking answers to questions raised by the Académie des Beaux-Arts lawsuit. ADBA is a prestigious French cultural society that has filed a legal complaint seeking an inquiry into the whereabouts of a missing painting.
The Wildenstein Institute a non profit charity which is run by the family as a research center in Paris has now been raided on several occasions. It is alleged that sculptures and paintings by artists such as Degas, Rembrandt Bugatti and Berthe Morisot have been carted off by the police. The works were reported missing by Jewish families who claimed restitution rights through new laws instituted in the 1990's. The law helps claim works stolen by the Nazis, from wealthy families. Heirs have had thousands of works returned through family estate settlements.
It has been said that the Wildensteins are charming sociopaths. They have now reached the end of their dominance as art market leaders with career, credibility and possibly their liberty at stake.
The raid and the subsequent legal action resulted from a criminal lawsuit filed in Paris in September by Mr. Wildenstein’s stepmother, the late  Sylvia Roth Wildenstein who alleged that, Guy and Alec, convinced their stepmother that their father died bankrupt to rob her of money from his estate. She accused Wildenstein of tax evasion and money laundering to mask the size of the family fortune by shuffling the ownership titles of Impressionist paintings, including 19 valuable works by Bonnard and storing the art in a vault in Geneva as well as other tax havens, far from the reach of the French tax authorities.
The family has also suffered a number of personal scandals, including the acrimonious divorce of Alec from Jocelyn 'Cat Woman' Wildenstein.  She was granted a divorce in 1999 after she allegedly found Alec in a compromising position with a 19-year-old model. She cried “sexual abandonment” and won a hefty settlement which she promptly spent on more plastic surgery securing her nickname as 'The Bride Of Wildenstein'. Could this family possibly bring more disgrace upon itself?

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Holidaymakers are being overcharged hundreds of pounds because of a suspected hotel price-fixing scandal

Hotels are accused of secretly ordering travel agents not to offer discounted rooms, according to leaked documents. Those cutting the price of hotels beneath the secretly fixed prices are banned from selling rooms in future.
The scandal has allegedly stopped some agents reducing the price of hotel rooms at well-known properties around the world by up to 25 per cent.
The Office of Fair Trading has started an investigation into price-fixing by hotels and travel agents which could lead to the cost of family holidays falling by hundreds of pounds.
If they are found to have fixed prices, the hotel chains could be fined up to ten per cent of their turnover — which could run into tens of millions of pounds each.
The Daily Telegraph has seen key documents at the heart of the OFT investigation which purport to disclose how hotel chains including Radisson, Thistle and Starwood are ordering travel agents not to offer discount prices. This newspaper has also spoken to the whistle-blower who has exposed the questionable practice.

The disclosure is likely to anger millions of Britons who have flown off for the Easter break this weekend. It follows similar scandals that have embroiled the airline industry which has recently paid multi-million pound fines after admitting price fixing.
Hotels and online travel agents – which now account for the majority of sales – are suspected of secretly agreeing a system called “rate parity”. This means rooms are sold for identical prices by different agents and the hotels.
The system is allegedly policed by travel agents and the hotels themselves, who report any competitors selling rooms at below the “parity” price. The discounters are allegedly then threatened with sanctions. An email to a website from a senior executive at Radisson shows how hotels try to enforce “rate parity” so that all internet sites offer the same price.
“Please REMOVE all Radisson Edwardian Hotel product from your site as you are causing us online rate parity issues,” wrote Gail Jordan, a sales director at the hotel company.
“We offer a best online rate guarantee, as do most brands,” Miss Jordan said. “Same room type should be same price across all online distribution.”
Travel agents buy rooms from wholesalers, who block book hotels. Contracts are suspected to be in place to ensure that those selling the rooms then charge a fixed mark-up. For example, a wholesaler may buy a hotel room for £50 a night, then sell it to an online travel agent for £75 who charges a consumer £100.
In one email to a hotel discounter, an executive at Starwood, which runs Le Meridien, Westin, W and Sheraton hotels, said: “Should a wholesaler decide to sell the rooms on a room only basis, he has to make sure that the per contract agreed minimum mark-up is guaranteed.”
The employee said the “violation” of Starwood’s Best Rate Guarantee was “really serious” and the breach was reported to the Brussels headquarters.
An employee at Millennium and Copthorne Hotels, which handles establishments around Europe, wrote an email to a website warning that rooms were being sold at “rates which are not available for online distribution”.
However, the company would be “happy” for the website to sell at “public rates”. The employee said: “These are the same rates we are distributing on our brand website as well as all of our online partners.”
Ordering distributors to sell rooms at a minimum price could be a breach of legislation under European and UK competition law. Cartels operate by agreeing that all distributors fix a price and all charge the same amount. “Price-fixing covers any agreement or conduct where competitors settle on fixed prices or minimum prices. They don’t need to do this explicitly or directly,” said Jason Logendra, a competition law expert at the international law firm Watson, Farley and Williams. “It is enough that they agree on maximum discounts.”
Last night, a spokesman for the OFT said the investigation into suspected breaches of competition law in the hotel online booking sector was at “a relatively early stage”.
“However, after a preliminary review of the evidence gathered to date, the OFT continues to consider this matter as an administrative priority and is pursuing the investigation further,” he said.
The impact of the secret hotel policies on consumers was clear last week.
For example, on the evening of Prince William and Kate Middleton’s wedding on April 29, the London May Fair, a Radisson Edwardian hotel, offered a standard room at £204 on its own website. Expedia, Opodo, Booking.com and Travelocity all offered exactly the same price for the five-star hotel.
The OFT investigation is thought to have been sparked by Dorian Harris who runs Skoosh, a website selling hotel rooms. Mr Harris contacted the OFT after allegedly being bombarded by requests from hotels that he stop offering their rooms on Skoosh.
Last night, hotel groups denied that they were breaking the law.
A spokesman for Starwood said: “Starwood Hotels & Resorts requires our properties to adhere to all legislation and takes this matter seriously. Starwood has not been contacted by the Office of Fair Trading but is willing to assist with any information they require.”
Abode declined to comment.
Copthorne & Millennium refused to comment on the emails, but said: “Our policy is to comply with all relevant legislation in all jurisdictions.”
A spokesman for Thistle and Guoman hotels said: “We are unable to comment on enquiries relating to specific room rates but can confirm that Thistle Hotels’ pricing policies are in line with UK and European competition law in the hotel online booking sector.”

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Kate Middleton was spotted shopping for panties being sold at a discounted price of 3.90 pounds.

The half-price "Brazilian-style" lacy briefs were part of another pre-wedding shopping trip for thrifty Middleton, 29, who also bought two bikinis, ahead of her wedding to Prince William.
"I certainly didn't expect her to be browsing at the bottom end of the range," the Sun quoted one shopper as saying.

Middleton's red-faced Royal protection officers waited outside as she browsed for smalls at lingerie store Goldenpoint in London's King's Road.

She was also spotted returning to the street in West London's Chelsea, for more underwear.

She trawled the lingerie department of Sloane favourite Peter Jones and picked up two Calvin Klein bras for around 30 pounds each - one black and one nude.

In the department store she also bagged a pair of sunglasses for her trip even though they were the tester pair tried on by hundreds of people before her.

"Kate fell in love with the sunglasses but they were the last pair and had been sitting on the rack for ages. She said it didn't matter if people had worn them before, she liked them too much," a source said.

At High Street chain Whistles Kate had to swap a pair of 150 pounds blue-and-while spotty trousers in her usual size 10 - because she has dropped to a tiny size 8 in her pre-wedding weeks.

While paying for the trousers and two tops at the till, she told staff that they were for her

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When Playboy’s new London club opens later this year, its bunnies will have access to an unusual perk: an employee whose sole job it is to help them adhere to its 'strict' dress code.

When Playboy’s new London club opens later this year, its bunnies will have access to an unusual perk: an employee whose sole job it is to help them adhere to its 'strict' dress code.

The club will be employing a bunny mother to fluff tails, make sure bunny costumes are pressed, and ensure that hair and make-up is flawless. It is also the job of the mother bunny to mentor and advise girls, and answer any questions they have about their job.

A spokesperson for the club said: "It is one of the most important roles in the club. [The mother bunny] is someone that all the other bunnies can look up to and she also makes sure that the club runs really smoothly.

"She will check that the girls have got their outfits on correctly. It is a very standard way of dressing."

Perhaps this unique brand of human capital management is especially important for Playboy, where employees are its assets in more ways than one.

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Ukraine's richest man spends record amount for a UK home after buying two Knightsbridge flats totalling 25,000 sq ft

Ukraine's richest man, Rinat Akhmetov, has paid the highest price for a UK residence, buying an apartment in the One Hyde Park development in Knightsbridge.

Land Registry documents show that two properties on the seventh and eighth floor of the luxury development have been bought by a single buyer, the total consideration amounting to £136.4m.

Confirmation of the sale had been expected for some time, with news that a purchaser had paid the huge sum emerging last year. It has been estimated that the buyer would also be spending £60m fitting out the property.

A spokesman for Akhmetov's company, System Capital Management, confirmed the oligarch had invested in the development, which has caused uproar among local residents because of its modern architecture.

Akhmetov, the son of a coal miner, runs SCM, a Ukrainian conglomerate involved in mining, retail, financial services and even football – it owns the club Shakhtar Donetsk.

Estimates of his fortune vary, although most agree he is worth billions of pounds. As the owner of Metinvest, a coal, ore-mining and steel business, his net worth is likely to have soared over the past year on the back of the commodities boom, with Forbes recently estimating his fortune at $16bn (£10bn).

Buyers of flats in One Hyde Park are treated as permanent guests of the Mandarin Oriental, the hotel adjacent to the development. As well as outlining the property bought in each case, each lease document also specifies which area of the development's wine cellar the buyer is entitled to. Akhmetov will be able to store his collection of fine wines in wine storage spaces 16 and 17.

The flat is reported as having an area of 25,000 square feet, meaning the Ukrainian billionaire has spent £5,456 a square foot.

That is less than the absolute peak figures the developers, Nick and Christian Candy, had hoped for – with the highest flats with the best views of Hyde Park expected to go for as much as £6,000 a square foot.

The brothers are unlikely to be too bothered, however. Total sales of about half the flats have reaped £963m, the Candys have indicated, enough to almost pay off the £1.1bn cost of the development.

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Peter Andre is a 'dirty' lover

Peter Andre admits he's a "dirty little rotter" in bed.

The singer - who recently split from Spanish model Elen Rivas after a brief romance - says he is very adventurous when it comes to sex and is confident any woman who sleeps with him won't be disappointed.

He said: "I'm a gentleman, but I'm fiery, too. I'm a hot-blooded male! I'm a sexual man, definitely.

"I'm pure filth. But I'm not a sleaze. I'm a massively passionate person. A dirty little rotter in the bedroom, and a gentleman, too. The whole package, I hope!

"I like to satisfy the other person. I'd rather they be satisfied than me. I'm generous."

Although Peter - who has two children, Junior, five, and three-year-old Princess Tiaamii, with ex-wife Katie Price - enjoys sex, he is careful that his children never see him in bed with a woman.

He told this week's issue of heat magazine: "It's about having fun, but I want to stress that this is only when the kids aren't around. They have never seen me in bed with anyone but their mother, and I feel very strongly about that. Children get confused and they shouldn't see stuff like that.

"When they are with me it's about them having a great time and me being with them, hands on and enjoying every moment. They are the most important thing. My personal life is when they're not around."

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World's 50 best restaurants

Every year, San Pellegrino water sponsors a contest and names the world's best restaurants. It's pretty prestigious.

This year, for the second year in a row, top honors go to an eatery few outside Europe have heard of. No, it's not in a renowned foodie destination such as Paris or the rest of France, or Italy or Spain.

It's Noma, an eatery in Denmark, where you can feast on "New Nordic" cuisine featuring the freshest North Atlantic fish, local berries, vegetables and other produce prepared in creative ways under the supervision of chef Rene Redzepi. Think razor clams with horseradish and buttermilk, with fresh clam juice poured on. Be prepared to spend $300 or more for dinner for two (I peeked in when I visited Copenhagen, appreciated the minimalist-chic decor, but couldn't afford the tab). The restaurant also has two Michelin stars.

Six U.S. restaurants also made the S. Pellegrino "World's 50 Best Restaurants Guide" for 2011, overseen by Restaurants magazine.

They are Alinea in Chicago (6), Manhattan's Per Se (10), Daniel (11), Le Bernardin (18), Eleven Madison Park and the interestingly named Momofuku Ssam Bar(40). Momofuku, by the way, supposedly means "lucky peach" in Japanese,

All these, save for upscale noodle bar Momofuku, are out of reach of the average diner, and I would think some Vegas and West Coast restaurants would make the cut.

If you care to share your favorite U.S. restaurant, belly up to the comments area!

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George Benson to return to Marbella

Performing at the Hotel Puente Romano Tennis Club in Marbella on June 25th 2011, George Benson is quite simply one of the greatest guitarists in Jazz history and he is back in Marbella by popular demand, entertaining us with his greatest hits including Never give up on a good thing, On Broadway, Give me the Night and many more.

At various points along the four-decade continuum of George Benson’s career, he has been heralded as a jazz guitarist of unparalleled talent, a vocalist with great emotional range and sophistication or a combination of both and with 14 Grammy´s in his pocket, another spectacular performance is guaranteed in Marbella.

Location: Hotel Puente Romano Tennis Club, Marbella, Spain

Date: June 25th, 2011

Doors: 8pm

Support: 9pm

George Benson: 10pm

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