Path: bloom-picayune.mit.edu!snorkelwacker.mit.edu!news.media.mit.edu!americast.com!usa-post Newsgroups: usa-today.travel From: usa-post@AmeriCast.Com Organization: American Cybercasting Approved: usa-post@AmeriCast.com Subject: travel Wed, Mar 18 1992 Date: Wed, 18 Mar 92 05:44:27 EST Message-ID: 03-18 0000 DECISIONLINE: Travel USA TODAY Update March 18, 1992 Source: USA TODAY:Gannett National Information Network REGENT, FOUR SEASONS MAKE DEAL: Two of the world's most deluxe hotel chains are joining forces. Under a deal announced Tuesday, Four Seasons would become the manager of Regent International Hotels, the world's largest network of luxury hotels. Toronto-based Four Seasons has 23 hotels. Regent International, owned by Hong Kong-based E.M.I. Corp., has 15. (For more, see special Hotel package below.) NWA OFFERS FREE TICKETS ABROAD: Northwest Airlines joins other major airlines offering free tickets to Europe for frequent fliers. The purchased ticket - first class, business class or full-fare coach - has to be used by June 15. The free ticket can be used Sept. 15 to Feb. 28. DERBY DAY SOLD OUT: Seats are sold out for the 118th Kentucky Derby May 2, says Harriet Howard of Churchill Downs. Standing-room tickets for the clubhouse ($30) and the infield and grandstand ($20) can be purchased on Derby Day. For 1993 tickets, write Harriet Howard, Director of Special Events, Churchill Downs, 700 Central Ave., Louisville, Ky. 40208. Prices range from $40-$60 to $55-500. RAIL SYSTEM GETS BIDS: A consortium of Japanese companies plans to join international bidding for a project that plans a high-speed rail system. The 254-mile system linking Seoul, South Korea, with Pusan would mean a 100-minute journey. Current express trains take four hours, 10 minutes. The local train takes five and a half hours. SPRINGTIME IN ARKANSAS: Mid-March through April is the best time for foliage in Arkansas, say USA TODAY travel experts. Peak: First or second week in April in southern Arkansas; a week later in the north. Flowers in bloom then include dogwood, trillium, May apple and black cherry. For information, the Arkansas Department of Parks and Tourism, 800-628-8725, provides a calendar. DUTCH DON'T REQUIRE HELMETS: The Dutch, among the most enthusiastic bicyclists in the world, are apparently less concerned about falling on their noggins than other cyclists: No helmets are required and it's hard to rent one. Cyclists should buy one their or bring their own, says Eline van Bon of The Netherlands Board of Tourism in New York. Keep in mind that The Netherlands is flat and filled with bike paths. MUSEUMS HAVE TREK EXHIBITS: "Star Trek" has been a TV series, an animated program, six movies, best-selling books and a current TV spinoff. Now, it's an exhibit. The show is the focus of exhibits at the Smithsonian's National Air and Space Museum in Washington and the Oregon Museum of Science and Industry in Portland. The Oregon show is breaking attendance records; the Smithsonian counts more than 2,500 daily. SHOWS IN OREGON, D.C.: Travelers interested in attending the "Star Trek" exhibits at the Oregon Museum of Science and Industry in Portland and the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum in Washington should remember the shows are very popular. The Smithsonian one is free but visitors must pick up same-day passes. The OMSI show costs $5.25; $4.25 for seniors and $3.25 ages 3-17. AIRLINE HAS DOT OK: Reno Air has been approved by the U.S. Department of Transportation to launch flights but it's still waiting for approval from the Federal Aviation Administration. The airline plans to start service to Los Angeles in May or June. SPECIAL PACKAGE ON HOTEL: DEAL NOT QUITE FULL MERGER: The deal between Four Seasons and Regent stops just short of a full merger. Four Seasons Hotels Inc. will take over the management of five Regent hotels in Beverly Hills, New York, Milan, Bali and Fiji. Regent owner E.M.I. and Four Seasons will place some hotels in a partnership that will be 80% owned by E.M.I. Four Seasons also will put in $102 million and buy Regent trademarks and tradenames. FOUR SEASONS WANTS ASIA: For Four Seasons, the alliance helps it ride the coattails of a company known for great Asian hotels. Institutional Investor rates the Regent Hong Kong the best hotel in the world and the Regent Bangkok seventh best. With more Asian travelers coming to the USA, Four Seasons hopes to make customers out of Asians already familiar with Regents, says Executive Vice President Roger Garland. REGENT MAY BE TOP CHAIN: Both Regent and Four Seasons cater to the upper crust of world travelers, charging rates between $150 and $350 a night. But some experts rate Regent's image slightly higher. "Four Seasons running a Regent really dilutes the identity of Regent," says William Tomicki, publisher of Entree, a travel newsletter. (End of package.) 24-HOUR TELEPHONE INFORMATION: USA TODAY Weather Hot Line. 95 cents a minute. 1-900-555-5555. Travel Editor: Beth Mann. (1-919-855-3491) Making copies of USA TODAY Update (Copyright, 1992) for further distribution violates federal law. This article is copyright 1992 Gannett News Service. Redistribution to other sites is not permitted except by arrangement with American Cybercasting Corporation. For more information, send-email to usa@AmeriCast.COM