Having traveled to Vancouver, British Columbia 13 years ago versus a trip that I’m on currently, exploring all things epicurean, I realize just how much the city has changed. From the best in dining to new hotels, such as the stunning two year old Shangri-la Hotel in Downtown, and the new Fairmont property and the Pacific Rim in the Waterfront area, Vancouver is a town to be reckoned with, even rivaling that of San Francisco, New York and Paris.

The easily manageable walking city is sparkling clean and safe. An easy going friendly atmosphere, people seem happy here. Of course I land into one of the first sun soaked weekends, where locals are out shopping in trendy Yale town, dining at outdoor cafes next to blooming tulips, or partaking in the 26-mile marathon around the city.

Vancouver is alive! It’s springtime, the birds are flying across crystal clear blue skies, views of emerald colored mountains topped with the last of winter’s snow capped peaks rise from Vancouver’s busy port – visually, it’s simply breathtaking.

A favorite day trip is taking one of the several tour buses around the island, touching upon favorite tourist destinations like Stanley Park, home to the Vancouver Aquarium, rose gardens and the famed Tea House Restaurant set amid towering pines, and rolling lawns at one of the many parks within the park.

Take the Aquabus off Yaletown’s pier and head over to Granville Island to experience a touristy hot spot, but also a local’s hangout, with one of the best markets I’ve ever experienced anywhere in the world. The Granville Island Market is best navigated by taking the Pacific Institute of Culinary Art’s tour with the enthusiastic Chef Julian as he winds guests through mounds of fresh vegetables, cheese areas, bread shops, culinary specialty shops in a Plugged in Tour. His enthusiasm about food is contagious, and one can’t help but learn a tip or two about buying organic, whether buying fresh versus frozen is advantageous, how to break an egg the chef way, or simply what to look for when purchasing sustainable products.

There is so much to share, it simply can’t be covered in just one story. So, I’ll be breaking down the people I’ve come across, the experiences I’ve had, and the best destinations to discover when visiting this dream destination called British Columbia.

Story originally appeared at Exclusive Resorts

New State-Of-The-Art Outdoor Kitchen and Herb Garden Harnesses the Four Elements of Chi

Aspiring chefs will delight in the opening of One&Only Palmilla’s new Outdoor Kitchen and Herb Garden for Mexican Culinary Classes and private dining. Home to the upcoming Mexican Culinary Festival November 7-11, 2012, the One&Only Palmilla Herb Garden served as the location for daily cooking demonstrations led by celebrity chefs Enrique Olvera from Pujol, Daniel Ovadía from Paxia, and Edgar Nunez from Sud777 during the inaugural festival last fall.

The new intimate garden venue will now serve as the location for weekly complimentary cooking demonstrations and Iron-Chef-style culinary competitions led by visiting Mexican chefs and resort experts. Able to accommodate up to 12 guests, each weekly culinary seminar begins with a guided tour of the herb garden that boasts a variety of fresh produce including a collection of indigenous chilies such as habanero, pequin, and poblano, and herbs such as cilantro, epazote, sweet basil, and hibiscus tea plant. Each demonstration will be paired with a Mexican wine or tequila selected by Head Sommelier Manuel Arteaga.

“We know our guests are passionate about food, so we have taken elements from the Mexican Culinary Festival and transformed them into a weekly curriculum to be enjoyed throughout the year,” says George Sotelo, Resident Manager. “My hope is that guests walk away with a new appreciation for the techniques and flavors of Mexican cuisine that they can then recreate at home.”

In addition to weekly culinary classes, the new Herb Garden will also play host to Iron-Chef-type competitions pairing teams of four guests with one chef against another like team in a light-hearted cook-off. Winners will be awarded a complimentary dinner at the Chef’s table. Similar style culinary classes and competitions in the Herb Garden will also be made available for teens ages 14-17.

Designed to incorporate the four elements of Chi – water, fire, earth and wind – the One&Only Palmilla Herb Garden featuring an authentic Mexican fountain and torch also presents guests with an exclusive new venue for private dining and celebrations.

It is two hours before I’m to meet Chef María José San Román at her Michelin-starred restaurant, Monastrell, when she calls. “Would you meet in the foyer now for a quick restaurant tour before our dinner later?” she asks apologetically, explaining that the Spain versus Portugal soccer game will begin shortly and she must meet up with her daughter at a party.

Downstairs, in the lobby of the Hospes Amerigo, wafts of splendid kitchen aromas override the mayhem ensuing outside on Calle de Rafael Altamira– a mix of car exhaust, honking and soccer fans running to catch the kick-off.

My attention turns away from the street and onto the entrance’s wall, where chef superstars’ images hang– close friend Chef José Andrés and French actor and restaurateur Gerard Depardieu are just a few of the notables. Hanging with these famous luminaries is nothing new for this world-class Spanish chef, whose entre into the restaurant business started with investments in several of Spain’s famed eateries. Graduating from investor to owner, San Román now runs six of her own acclaimed restaurants in Alicante.

While leaving for her party, she hands me an address to her latest venture, La Taberna Del Gourmet– an upscale delicatessen-meets-wine-bar just around the corner. Grabbing a seat at the boisterous gastro bar — better known to global foodies as the best tapas bar in Spain — I sample small plates of baked goat cheese with herbs and honey paired with white sangria, and Santa Pola Bay squid grilled to perfection.

After the game enthusiastic crowds pour into the streets while I make my way back into Monastrell. San Román, now attired in chef jacket and toque, is settled into where she’s most comfortable, the kitchen. In between succulent pumpkin lasagna with sage, paired with Trico wine and a phenomenal brioche sandwich of squid with caramelized onion emulsion, we both get a reprieve — me, from gorging on impeccable gourmand, and San Román, with a break from her magnificent cookery.

When I ask her about being a woman restaurateur amid Spain’s male dominated restaurant world, she replies, “It’s an advantage and it is changing,” while opening a book about Spanish chefs from the Alicante region. Pointing out her own chapter, plus five other chapters on female chefs, she notes, “Not bad, six females among thirteen chefs in total.”

She chooses to cook what she feels, and for tonight’s meal puts her spin on traditional Valencian classics. “Never follow the rules,” she smiles, “and when I create something, I have to make sure it’s executed, because trees don’t always let you see the forest.” San Román trusts her team implicitly and luckily for me, this allows her to spend time at my table sharing restaurant tales, family photos and her new luxury toy, the iPad.

Quickly whipping back and forth between foodie images, and talking with San Romána about her trips to Jordan and the White House where she took to the podium to support Michelle Obama’s healthy eating campaign, I sit quietly listening and savoring my last course–arroz con leche y manzana caramelizada.

Turning back to her iPad, San Román asks if I’d like to see something “incredible,” and pulls up a piano keyboard app. While cooking up a tune as her fingers pluck at the screen, I can’t help but ask her one last question. “Is this how you have fun as the kitchen boils down at the end of an evening?”

Still tapping the digital keyboard, she looks up smiling. “I don’t ever feel like I’m ‘working,’ the best fun in life is now, and it’s amazing!”

Original Story posted on Exclusive Resorts.

Photo: Diana Edelman

Flagship aircraft features Lufthansa’s newest in-flight products in every class – Initial routes focus on United States and India

East Meadow, NY, May 1, 2012 – Today Lufthansa officially received delivery of the first Boeing 747-8 Intercontinental passenger aircraft.  Lufthansa is the first airline to operate Boeing’s new Jumbo jet, which is one of the carrier’s flagship aircraft, marking yet another milestone in the more than half century partnership between the two industry leaders. The official handover took place during a ceremony at Boeing’s Everett, WA, facility outside of Seattle, where Carsten Spohr, CEO of Lufthansa German Airlines; Pat Shanahan, senior vice president, Airplane Programs, Boeing Commercial Airplanes and more than 100 company executives, employees, media and local dignitaries gathered to celebrate the momentous occasion.

“We are excited and thrilled to welcome the 747-8 Intercontinental to our fleet. With its lower noise, lower fuel burn and lower emissions, the 747-8 Intercontinental will help us meet our strategy of environmental protection and sustainability, underpinned by investment in innovation. And our passengers will love the new interior, which includes our all-new full-flat business-class cabin,” said Carsten Spohr.

Later today, the new aircraft will be flown to Lufthansa’s Frankfurt base, where it will be prepared to enter service in just one month, on June 1^st. The inaugural route will be Frankfurt (FRA) to Washington, D.C.’s Dulles International Airport (IAD) with flight LH 418/419.  Later this year, Los Angeles, Chicago O’Hare, New Delhi and Bangalore will be added to the route network.

“We are very proud and pleased that Lufthansa is the airline launch customer for the 747-8 Intercontinental,” said Boeing’s Pat Shanahan. “Lufthansa has been a trusted partner for many years and has contributed greatly to making the 747 a truly beloved airplane around the world. We are excited for Lufthansa’s passengers to experience the incredible new Intercontinental — it is truly a Queen of the Skies for the 21st Century.”

Lufthansa currently has 20 Boeing 747-8s on order and is expected to take delivery of five more this year. “This investment by Lufthansa is a significant contribution to U.S. exports, bolstering our National Export Initiative and sustaining U.S. jobs in innovation and manufacturing by showcasing the excellence of The Boeing Company as a global leader in aerospace. I applaud this vital and successful partnership,” said Francisco J. Sanchez, Under Secretary of Commerce for International Trade.

The Boeing 747-8 is a brand new aircraft designed on the well-tested base of the 747-400. It features new state-of-the-art wings with improved aerodynamics and raked wing tips; new fuel-efficient, U.S.-manufactured GEnx-2B engines that contribute to a reduction in fuel burn, emissions and noise and thus give airlines the lowest operating costs and best economics of any large passenger airplane; and fly-by-wire technology.

The aircraft generates a 30 percent smaller noise footprint than the 747-400 and brings double-digit improvements in fuel efficiency and CO2 emissions per passenger, making it one of the industry’s most fuel-efficient aircraft and key to Lufthansa’s commitment to sustainable reduction of carbon dioxide emissions.  The 747-8 fuselage is 250 feet 2 inches long, which is 18 feet 4 inches longer than the 747-400. Lufthansa will operate the 747-8 with a configuration of 362 seats (8 First Class, 92 Business Class and 262 Economy Class). The stretch also provides Lufthansa with 26 percent more cargo volume.

Brand new Business Class product with innovative “V” seating concept

The aircraft interior includes a new curved, upswept architecture that gives passengers a greater feeling of space and comfort, while adding more room for personal belongings. In addition, passengers of the Lufthansa 747-8 Intercontinental will enjoy the carrier’s most up-to-date cabins in all three classes, and will be among the first to experience the airline’s new Business Class product, including a completely redesigned seat that meets the comfort and privacy desires expressed by customers during an extensive research process. At the push of a button, the seat converts to a full-flat, horizontal sleeping surface measuring 6’6” in length (1.98 m). Ergonomically improved cushioning ensures a high degree of comfort in a sitting or horizontal position, and adjustable armrests provide more space in the shoulder area when lying down.

Another unique attribute of the new Business Class cabin is the innovative seating arrangement in the form of a “V” whereby two neighboring seats are angled towards one another along a central axis. This solution enables Lufthansa to fulfill one of the main wishes expressed by customers – to sit or lie facing the direction of travel, while at the same time enjoy virtually double the distance between two neighboring seats at shoulder level, which now gives Business Class passengers greater privacy and more personal living space.

The public can track the progression of the 747-8 into Lufthansa’s service via a dedicated 747-8 micro site that showcases product features along with 3-D models of the aircraft and interactive games.

About Lufthansa

One of the world’s largest and most prestigious airlines, Lufthansa currently flies to 211 destinations in 84 countries, with hubs in Frankfurt, Munich, and with the Lufthansa Group acquisition of Austrian Airlines, Brussels Airlines and SWISS – Vienna, Brussels and Zurich. From its 21 North American gateways, Lufthansa— recently voted by Fortune as one of the five most admired airlines in the world— and its partners serve over 450 destinations in more than 120 countries. An industry innovator, Lufthansa has long been committed to environmental care and sustainability, operating the most technologically-advanced and fuel-efficient fleet in the world. Its long-haul fleet to and from North America includes the Boeing 747-400, as well as the Airbus A300 sub fleet. Currently, Lufthansa has over 160 new aircraft worth about $22 billion on order. Lufthansa is the largest European operator of the A380 and is also the launch customer for the new Boeing 747-8, the industries’ two most fuel-efficient passenger aircraft. Known for its premium services, Lufthansa continues its $105 million program earmarked for building new or upgrading existing lounge facilities across its worldwide network and will spend more than $3.6 billion in new onboard products and services by 2015. In 2010, Lufthansa re-launched its broadband wireless Internet service onboard, FlyNet. For more information or reservations, visit www.lufthansa.com.

COSTA RICA WINS BID TO HOST 2013 ADVENTURE RACING WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP

San Jose, COSTA RICA (April 19, 2012) – For the third consecutive year, Costa Rica will host a qualifying competition for the Adventure Racing World Series from April 21-28 in the coastal cities of Puntarenas and Guanacaste. This is the only qualifying competition in Latin America, which will culminate in a world championship in France this September. The competition will consist of several different adventure activities including mountain biking, hiking, sea kayaking, rafting, canopying and canyoning, among others. Furthermore, in order to offset CO2 emissions related to the competition, teams will plant trees and partake in other environmentally-friendly activities throughout the race.

“Adventure tourism is one of the main activities for visitors to Costa Rica,” commented Ireth Rodriguez, deputy director of marketing for the Costa Rica Tourism Board. “Seventy-two percent of tourists that travel to Costa Rica participate in adventure-related activities such as kayaking, surfing, rafting and bungee jumping, positioning us as a leader in this segment,” she continued.

The 2012 Costa Rica Adventure Race is comprised of 18 competing teams from countries such as France, Spain, the United States, Mexico, Colombia, Argentina, Brazil, Denmark,  Italy, and, of course, Costa Rica. The teams will participate in a 326 mile trek through rural, populated and inaccessible areas throughout Puntarenas and Guanacaste, with the winning team being granted a $6,000 prize and an invitation to the finals in France. The team that comes in second place will win $3,000 in prize money, while the third place team will be awarded a prize of $1,000.

The Adventure Race World Series is comprised of 11 qualifying competitions around the world, where competitors race non-stop for up to eight days at a time. Costa Rica’s Northern Zone and Caribbean Coast were home to qualifying competitions in 2010 and 2011, respectively. In 2013, Costa Rica will host the Adventure Race World Championship between October and November, where 90 teams from over 30 countries from around the world will participate. Costa Rica was chosen for being a quality tourist destination with exuberant nature, an optimum tourism infrastructure and its sustainability practices. It didn’t hurt that the country is a long-time supporter of the race and host to three qualifying competitions from 2010-2012.

“It’s such an honor for Costa Rica to be selected as the host of the 2013 Adventure Race World Championship,” commented Ireth Rodriguez, deputy director of marketing for the Costa Rica Tourism Board. “Being chosen as the host city for such a prestigious international event showcases the country as a premiere adventure destination,” she continued.

For more information about the 2012 Costa Rica Adventure Race, please visit http://www.arworldseries.com/races/costarica.html.

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About Costa Rica

Nestled between the Caribbean Sea and the Pacific Ocean, Costa Rica is located in Central America between Nicaragua and Panama. The country represents only .05 percent of the planet’s surface but shelters almost 5 percent of the world’s biodiversity and 3.5 percent of the world’s marine life. Costa Rica is home to three UNESCO World Heritage Sites, four types of forest, 12 microclimates and more than 500 species of flora and fauna, with more than 26 percent of its territory comprising national parks and other protected areas, making the country one of the most popular sustainable tourism destinations in the world.

Adventure Girl’s trip to Bachelor Gulch at the Ritz Carlton Hotel offered up some behind-the-scenes… what else, adventures. Starting in the ski shop to the “bunny slope” onto a rendition of “dirty bird” by ski instructor Frank, Stef let’s fans in on all the fun.

Greater Miami & the Beaches is home to the some of the most spectacular, challenging and desirable golf courses in the world.  And now, with the spring golf season underway, the Greater Miami Convention & Visitors Bureau (GMCVB) is announcing its first-ever Miami Golf Month during April.

For the next month, golfers will be able to take advantage of special offers, discounts and hotel packages to celebrate the internationally recognized golf courses and resorts in the destination.  Home to more than 30 golf courses, Greater Miami & the Beaches also boasts one of only four World Golf Championship events and plays host to golfers from all over the world at such desired courses like that of Doral Golf Resort and Spa, the Miami Beach Golf Club (designed by the legendary Arthur Hills) and the Normandy Golf Club.

“With our beautiful climate, stunning views, accommodating locations, and multiple premiere golf events, Greater Miami & the Beaches is one of the most desirable locations in the world to play golf in,” said William D. Talbert III, CDME, president and CEO of the GMCVB.  “Although golf is a year-round sport in Miami, we’re proud to be officially celebrating it during the month of April.  Whether you aspire to be the next PGA champion or just want some weekend time to improve your game, Miami has a course for you.”

Golf Resorts participating in Miami Golf Month include:

•          The Biltmore Golf Club

•          Doral Golf Resort & Spa

•          Miccosukee Golf & Club

•          Shula’s Hotel & Golf Club

•          Turnberry Isle Miami

Golf Courses participating in Miami Golf Month include:

•          Briar Bay Golf Course

•          Country Club of Miami

•          Crandon Golf Key Biscayne

•          Greynolds Golf Course

•          International Links Miami – Melreese Country Club

•          Miami Beach Golf Club

•          Normandy Golf Club

•          Palmetto Golf Course

To kick off the month, the GMCVB has organized a series of consumer interactive stunts throughout April that will offer consumers promotional giveaways and additional information on the month’s offerings.  The first took place at WrestleMania Pro-Am Golf Tournament with other events to follow in the coming weeks at Aventura Mall, Bayside Marketplace, Miami International Airport, and Miami Beach Polo.

“Miami is truly one of the world’s marquee golf destinations, and  having played a longtime role on  the Miami golf scene, I’m thrilled to have the  opportunity to partner with the GMCVB on Miami Golf Month to highlight the best of golf in Greater Miami,” said Charlie Delucca, President of Delucca Enterprises, Inc., which manages the International Links Miami – Melreese County Club.

More information can be found on www.MiamiGolfMonth.com

The Inn at the White Elephant Village will open summer 2012* with 20 units, including 14 suites and six deluxe guest rooms. Located on South Beach Street, the new Inn and existing White Elephant Residences will comprise the newly-created White Elephant Village, a natural extension of the award-winning White Elephant hotel that continues to be rated among the top hotels in the world by Travel + Leisure and Condé Nast Traveler magazines.

As part of the expansion, the Village will have its own lobby, including reception area, concierge, fireplace, gift shop, and business center. The lobby will serve morning coffee, pastries, all-day snacks, and late-afternoon port and cheese – creating a natural hub for guests. All guests of the White Elephant Village will continue to enjoy exclusive use of the Village’s heated pool and cabanas, fitness center, and complimentary bicycles.

Celebrated Nantucket interior designer Kathleen Hay will bring a warm, neutral palette to the Inn, providing a sophisticated and comfortable décor. Reflecting the ambiance of its island location, the Inn will feature over-sized windows, allowing natural sunlight to illuminate the rooms, and quintessential Nantucket wainscoting detail throughout. Each of the suites and deluxe guest rooms will be replete with HD flat-screen TVs and miniature refrigerators as well as linens by Pratesi, plush turkish towels, bathrobes, and cozy slippers. Ideal for families, the 14 suites will offer sofa beds to accommodate couples traveling with children and four of the suites will feature fireplaces.

Managing Director of Nantucket Island Resorts Khaled Hashem sees this expansion as a positive sign that tourism in Nantucket is continuing to grow. “We are excited with the addition of the Inn that will further enable us to host families and groups in the award winning accommodations these travelers expect from the White Elephant.”

*The iconic White Elephant hotel and White Elephant Hotel Residences will open for the season on April 19. Guests can book now for suites and guest rooms this summer at the Inn at the White Elephant Village.

For more information visit www.nantucketislandresorts.com or call 800.475.2637.

About Nantucket Island Resorts

Nantucket Island Resorts is a collection of premier hotels on Nantucket that specialize in bringing the unique Nantucket lifestyle to all guests. From boating to fine dining to a large number of island festivals and events, Nantucket Island Resorts caters to its visitors and offers vacation planning that lets you get the most out of a Nantucket vacation while staying in a fantastic array of accommodations. Properties include The Wauwinet, ideal for romance with access and views of both bay and ocean beaches and home to the award-winning TOPPER’S restaurant, White Elephant, the iconic hotel located right on Nantucket Harbor that offers a lovely arrangements of rooms, suites, cottages, and a stunning loft as well as the Brant Point Grill, the White Elephant Village offers one-, two-, and three-bedroom Residences and the new Inn, Jared Coffin House, a historic and charming inn located in Nantucket Town, The Cottages & Lofts at the Boat Basin, waterfront cottages with full kitchens located on three wharves jutting out into Nantucket Harbor and featuring 12 pet-friendly accommodations, and Nantucket Boat Basin, a 240 slip full-service award winning marina.

LONGWOOD, Fl.– Biosphere Expeditions, an award-winning volunteer wildlife conservation organization is offering travellers the chance to lend a hand this summer through their worldwide volunteer wildlife projects. Ideal for “wannabe” scientists and biologists, these volunteer vacations give volunteers an opportunity to work closely with real scientists and biologists in the field on volunteer wildlife conservation programs in destinations like Peru, Namibia, and Altai.

Preserve Jaguars, Pumas, and Primates In The Peruvian Amazon
This project takes volunteers to a remote biodiversity hotspot of the upper Amazon rainforest in the wilds of Peru. As part of a small team, participants will experience living and working in the jungle together with local biologists on an important wildlife survey concentrating on cats, primates and other flagship species of the Amazon to aid community conservation efforts and the development of sustainable management strategies. Based at a comfortable jungle lodge in a remote part of the forest, volunteers spend their days working on foot in the largest trail grid in the entire Amazon, and in canoes on natural waterways through the jungle, recording species, setting camera traps, creating databases, and more. Dates: August 26-September 1, 2012. $1690 pp.

Help The Big Cats Of Africa On A Volunteer Vacation In Namibia
Journey to the beautiful Khomas Hochland (highlands) in central Namibia to conduct a survey of African cats including species like leopard, cheetah, caracal and their interrelationship with humans and prey animals such as giraffe, eland, kudu, zebras, and others. As part of a small international team, volunteers follow collared cats both on foot and in expedition Land Rovers to record information about animal behavior. Travelers also conduct game counts and participate in community education and outreach programs such as accompanying groups of school children on game drives and hikes in the bush, including conservation talks. Volunteers may also get to assist with cat capturing and collaring. This landmark volunteer vacation is an effort to mitigate human-wildlife conflict and create a sustainable future for all with the ultimate goal of creating a protected area in the Khomas Hochland. Dates: August 12-24, Sept 2-14, Sept 16-28, Sept 30- Oct 12, Oct 21-Nov 2. $2590 pp.

Protecting The Snow Leopards Of Central Asia
On this two week volunteer expedition, travelers journey to the high mountains of Central Asia to survey snow leopards and their prey animals like Argali mountain sheep and the Altai ibex, as well as other animals. From a camp that’s set up at the foot of a remote mountain range overlooking a vast area of open steppe, volunteers cover ground on foot and in Land Rovers, looking for tracks, kills, scats, and the animals themselves. A challenging yet truly rewarding volunteer vacation, travellers experience true expedition-style base camp conditions while doing important research that will help protect the areas ecosystem and wildlife. Dates: August 13-25, 2012. $2270 pp.
For more information about volunteer vacations with Biosphere Expeditions, visit www.biosphere-expeditions.org

IBERIA CELEBRATES FIRST YEAR IN LOS ANGELES WITH A SPECIAL OFFER TO FLY TO SPAIN STARTING FROM $791 

• Nearly 70,000 people used the direct Los Angeles-Madrid route in the first year

Madrid, March 28, 2012/One year ago today an Iberia aircraft took off from Los Angeles bound for Madrid launching a route which has since been used by nearly 77,000 passengers, and shown an average cabin occupancy rate of 80%, unusually high for a new route.

To celebrate this first year in Los Angeles, Iberia has launched a special offer to fly from Los Angeles to Madrid starting from $791*, round trip, final price, for tickets purchased until April 10^th for trips beginning April 3^rd and May 21^st, and between August 24^th and October 31^st.

Iberia, the first Spanish airline to operate on this route, flies between to two cities on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Saturdays, with convenient connections at Iberia’s T4 hub in Madrid. Passengers can continue from/to another 31 Spanish cities, 42 in other European countries, and 13 in Africa and the Middle East. In fact, in the first year about half of all passengers flew to/from cities other than Madrid, especially in Italy and France.

Passengers fly in one of Iberia’s 254-seat Airbus A-340/300s, with 36 business class seats featuring 87 inches between rows and seats that unfold into horizontal beds. Since the end of last year business travelers have also enjoyed Iberia’s new dining service based on Mediterranean cuisine and designed by some of Spain’s most renowned chefs –with two Michelin stars each.

For Ángel Valdemoros, Iberia’s International Sales Manager, the new route “has fully met our expectations and brought the U.S. West Coast much closer to Spain –today we are the only company connecting Spain and California directly. Many Californians have already taken advantage of this connection in order to visit our country”.

In addition, Iberia’s code-sharing agreements with American Airlines facilitates travel on the route by passengers bound from/to other cities such as San Francisco, Santa Barbara, San Diego, San Jose, Fresno, Sacramento, Las Vegas, Phoenix, and Honolulu.

The United States is Iberia’s largest overseas market; the Spanish airline flies to New York, Chicago, Miami and Boston, as well as to Los Angeles. This year Iberia will supply a total of 1.23 million seats between Spain and the U.S., a 9% increase on 2011, particularly significant in a period marked by sluggish demand and high fuel costs.

* Offers are subject to inventory availability of the specific class of service at the time when the reservation and purchase are made on www.iberia.com/us. The prices indicated may vary depending on your travel plan (origin, destination, departure dates and arrival, etc.). Taxes and carrier-imposed fees per ticket are included in the fare, but can have little modifications. Customers purchasing Economy Class tickets may check one bag at no charge and a second bag for $60 for US departures, and 60€ for EU departures. Tickets cost $20 more if purchased by telephone and $25 more if purchased at an airport ticket office.

About Iberia: Iberia is Spain’s largest air transportation group and Europe’s fourth-largest. Iberia is market leader on routes between Europe and Latin America, with the largest offer of destinations and frequencies. Together with its franchise partner Iberia Regional/Air Nostrum, it operates about 1,000 flights with a fleet of 160 aircraft to 107 destinations in 45 countries. The Iberia Group carried more than 24 million passengers last year. Iberia is a member of the oneworld alliance that offers more than 8,400 daily flights to about 680 destinations in 134 countries. For more information, please visit http://grupo.iberia.es