We’re honored to be the official hotel sponsor of the NFL, and this week we’re sharing the bounty with all our fans by bringing a slew of NFL superstar players to the Courtyard Lobby Zone at the NFL Experience in Indiana. Come on through for NFL surprises and meet-and-greets* with the players!
Friday, 1/27/12 – Ben Ijalana, 6-7pm
Saturday, 1/28/12 – Adam Vinateri, 2-3pm; Gary Brackett, 6-7pm
Sunday, 1/29/12 – Jerry Hughes, 2-3pm; Joseph Addai, 6-7pm
Monday, 1/30/12 – Anthony Castonzo, 5-6pm; Dallas Clark, 7-8pm
Tuesday, 1/31/12 – Pierre Garcon, 5-6pm; Joe Reitz, 7-8pm
Wednesday, 2/1/12 – DeMarco Murray, 5-6pm; Rich Eisen, 6:45-7:15pm; JJ Watt, 6-7pm
Thursday, 2/2/12 – Cam Newton, 5-6pm; Rich Eisen, 6:15-6:45pm; Mark Ingram, 7-8pm
Friday, 2/3/12 – DeAngelo Williams, 4-5pm; Rich Eisen, 6-6:30pm; Matthew Stafford, 5:15-6:45pm
Saturday, 2/4/12 – Jason Witten, 11:15-12:15pm; London Fletcher, 2-3pm; Dhani Jones, 3:30-5:30pm
*All schedules are subject to change.
Hut, hut, WIN! We’re giving away 5 autographed footballs everyday starting Monday, January 30, 2012, till the day before Super Bowl Sunday (February 4, 2012), from the following NFL superstars:
Dhani Jones, former linebacker for the Cincinnati Bengals – Monday, 1/30/12
Pierre Garcon, wide receiver for the Indianapolis Colts – Tuesday, 1/31/12
DeMarco Murray, running back for the Dallas Cowboys – Wednesday, 2/1/12
Mark Ingram, running back for the New Orleans Saints – Thursday, 2/2/12
Matthew Stafford, quarterback for the Detroit Lions – Friday, 2/3/12
Jason Witten, tight end for Dallas Cowboys – Saturday, 2/4/12
Simply follow @CourtyardHotels on Twitter and tweet @courtyardhotels the Twitter pal you’re watching the Super Bowl with (e.g. @USERNAME) and #HutHutWin for a chance to win.
[Fenway Park: Flickr/Werner Kunz]
Grab your foam hand, jersey or favorite cap and get ready for some tailgating. Travel + Leisure asked their readers to help rank cities where playoffs, bowl games, and stadium are an important part of the local culture.
The following five cities are really serious about their sports. If you happen to be visiting one, be sure to stop by a sports bars, stadium, or other landmark for a taste of the local sports passion:
#1: Philadelphia, PA
Over the years, Philly sports fans have suffered much heartache, which only seemed to strengthen their commitment to their teams. Get taste of the city’s sport culture at Chickie’s and Pete’s sport bar for “crab fries.”
#2 Boston, MA
In the past 11 years, Boston sports teams have brought home 7 championship titles. Experience the Green Monster with a tour of the 100 year-old duck Fenway Park or follow the footsteps of champions by taking a Duck Tour.
#3 Chicago, IL
Insider tours of Wrigley Field are a great way to experience the sports culture of the Windy City. You can also chow down at a sports scene institution such as Michael Jordan’s Steak House, Harry Caray’s Italian Steakhouse, and Pequod’s Pizza.
#4 New Orleans, LA
Wild weekends, strong civic pride and some of the best live music in the US are the perfect recipe for wild New Orleans Saints fans. Be sure to visit Champions Square, just outside the Mercedes-Benz Superdome to sample the local culture.
#5 Denver, CO
In the Mile High City, residents don’t only love sports – they are also the most athletic in the nation. Denver also boasts the best micro brews, which you can enjoy on the patio at Lodo’s Bar & Grill while overlooking Coors Field.
Wherever your favorite team takes you, stay with Courtyard after the game.
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[Photo: Flickr/rommy ghaly]
For many travelers, starting with a burger and fries at the airport is part of the routine. According to a TripAdvisor survey of 1,000 US travelers in July, 65% believed healthy eating was important on vacations, though 81% admitted they were likely to overindulge.
Eating healthy while you travel can be a challenge, especially at the airport where burgers, fries, and pizza dominate the menus of most restaurants. But across the country, airports are working to improve the healthy food options for travelers. A recent survey by Physician Committee for Responsible Medicine found that 83% of all restaurants at airports offer at least one vegetarian item on the menu — low in fat, high in fiber and good for your heart.
And the benefits of eating healthy on the road are great. Susan Levin, nutrition education director for the Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine, healthy food can help offset the stress of travel and keep you healthy. Drinking water can help you combat the germs in the jet’s cabin and high-fiber, low-fat foods can boost energy and help digestion.
So next time you travel, resist the temptation of that burger and fry and opt for a salad or turkey on wheat. Here are the top 11 US Airports to grab a healthy bite at:
Healthy airport eating
| Airport | Score | Healthful/total restaurants | |
| 1 | Detroit | 100% | 59/59 |
| 2 | San Francisco | 96% | 65/68 |
| 3 | Washington Dulles | 92% | 35/38 |
| 4 | Minneapolis-St. Paul | 86% | 57/66 |
| 5 | Dallas-Fort Worth | 83% | 82/99 |
| Las Vegas (tie) | 83% | 48/58 | |
| 6 | Denver | 82% | 46/56 |
| Miami (tie) | 82% | 60/73 | |
| 7 | Phoenix | 81% | 46/57 |
| Charlotte (tie) | 81% | 39/48 | |
| 8 | Orlando | 80% | 33/41 |
| 9 | Los Angeles | 76% | 42/55 |
| Baltimore/Wash. (tie) | 76% | 31/41 | |
| 10 | Washington National | 75% | 27/36 |
| 11 | Atlanta | 71% | 64/90 |
| Source: Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine | |||
With 900 locations worldwide, check to see if there’s Courtyard where you’re traveling next.
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[Photo: Flickr/Binder.donedat]
Marriott Rewards and Virgin America are joining forces to offer Marriott Rewards members a new earning option, where members can now choose Virgin America’s Elevate program as their earning choice. The unique Virgin America Elevate program allows guests to redeem points for any unsold seat on any flight, at any time. Elevate members also receive exclusive offers such as tickets to Hollywood premieres and a chance for a seat on a Virgin Galactic sub-orbital space flight.
As soon as you sign up, every USD$2 spent at Courtyard by Marriott will earn 1 Elevate point, and dollars spent at any other participating Marriott property will earn points as well. Additionally, Rewards members that choose to earn with the Elevate program can convert Marriott Rewards points into Elevate points at the following exchange rates:
10,000 = 1,000
20,000 = 2,500
30,000 = 5,000
70,000 = 12,500
125,000 = 25,000
Virgin America’s unique, award-winning brand of low-fares and upscale service offers a host of innovative amenities, and some of the most advance entertainment in the skies. This new partnership is another way for Marriott Rewards members to enjoy the perks of the awards program that won 2011 and 2010 Frequent Travel Award and 2009 Freddie Award for “Best Hotel Rewards Program,” and has been named best hotel rewards program by the readers of Business Traveler, Global Traveler, Executive Travel and BusinessWeek magazines.
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[Photo: Flickr/Moyan_Breen]
Around the world, tourists flock to museums to view infamous artistic masterpieces, scientific artifacts, and pieces of history. For many, the museum is an inexpensive or even free way to spend an afternoon and take in the culture of places they visit. Travel + Leisure collected data from museums, government agencies, and reputable media outlets to tally up the annual attendance at the world’s most-visited museums – check out the three museums that made it to the top:
1. Musée du Louvre, Paris
For several years, the Louvre has attracted 8.5 million visitors annually—a number considerably greater than the 6.7 million that visit the Eiffel Tower. With over 35,000 masterpieces in the museum’s collection including infamous works like the Venus de Milo and the Mona Lisa, it’s no wonder the numbers are so high.
2. Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum, Washington D.C.
Located on the national mall in Washington D.C., 8.3 million people visit the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum each year. The museum houses the world’s largest collection of historic aircraft and spacecraft ranging from the Wright Brother’s 1903 Flyer to a piece of lunar rock.
3. Smithsonian Museum of Natural History, Washington D.C.
6.8 million visitors flock to the Smithsonian Museum of Natural History to view the massive 126 million item collection, which includes dinosaur fossils and the infamous Hope Diamond. It is also always improving its offering, adding Sant Ocean Hall, the world’s largest marine collection, in 2008, and the Koch Hall of Human Origins in 2010.
Need to see one of these museums for yourself? Stay with Courtyard when you get there.
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Takeoff at Sea-Tac Airport. Photo: Flickr/aturkus
We’ve all been there: stuck at the gate, watching the minutes slip away with the chances of making to your next flight. A delayed flight is a stressful situation that every traveler would love to avoid.
While there are many factors affecting take-off, some airports are just notorious for delayed flights. Travel + Leisure gathered data from the Bureau of Transportation Statistics to find which airports are most notorious for flights that depart more than 15 minutes behind schedule, and which ones tend to get you off the ground on time. The result is a list of America’s Best and Worst Airports for Flight Delays. Check out the five best and worst airports for delays, and travel accordingly.
The Five Worst Airports
5. John F. Kennedy Airport (JFK): New York’s busiest airports has trouble getting flights off the ground on time, with a 21.6% of planes running behind schedule.
4. Las Vegas-McCarran International Airport (LAS): Bring some quarters to play the airport slot machines – 21.8% of flights are delayed at LAS.
3. San Francisco International Airport (SFO): All that fog in the bay area really poses a problem for planes at SFO, 22.8% of flights don’t take off on time.
2. Baltimore/Washington International Airport (BWI): BWI debuted in 2010 as one of the worst airports for delays and held steady with 23.2% of flights running late.
1. Chicago Midway Airport (MDW): 29.9% of flights are delayed at MDW, if you want to get out on time, be sure to schedule a flight that departs before 8 a.m.
The Five Best Airports
5. Dulles International Airport (IAD): Back in 2008, this DC airport was on the worse delayed list, but it cleaned-up its act with only 16% of flights delayed now.
4. Salt Lake City International Airport (SLC): Travelers rave about SLC’s smooth operation – even in the face of winter storms only 15% of flights run late.
3. Reagan National Airport-Washington, D.C. (DCA): DC’s oldest airport had a few more delays in 2011, but still made it to the top 3 best airports with 13.7% delays.
2. Portland International Airport (PDA): Traveler’s love the easy transport to and from PDX, and since 2008 they have been able to count only 13.5% flights being late.
1. Sea-Tac Airport (SEA): Maybe it’s all the coffee in Seattle that keeps SEA running smoothly—only 13.1% of flights don’t make it out on time.
Delay or no delay: Stay with Courtyard when you arrive at your final destination.
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Walton Harbour Lighthouse, Bay of Fundy, Nova Scotia.
Photo:Flickr/archer10 (Dennis)
The New Year is quickly approaching, so it’s time to start making travel plans. But if you don’t have any idea where to go in 2012, you’re in luck—Frommer’s survey travel experts and their readers have handpicked the best destinations for the coming year.
Bay of Fundy, Nova Scotia
The coastline of the Bay of Fundy is one of the most impressive and dynamic coastlines in the world. The breathtaking landscape consists of awe-inspiring rock cliffs, marsh plateaus, and tide-sculpted sandstone sculptures.
The Bay of Fundy is built for adventurous travelers with activities including jet boating, tidal bore rafting at Shubenacadie, hiking the Fundy Trail or rappelling at Cape Enrage. After all that action indulge in coastal lobster on the shore, relax with wine from one of the coastal wineries, and keep watch for the 12 species of whales and millions of migrating seabirds that visit the bay.
Chongqing, China
The Yangzi and Jialing rivers converge around this hilly city in China. Chongqing has become a bustling metropolis with 30 million residents that offers both historic sites and modern glamour.
See the world’s largest seated stone Buddha at Leshan, stroll through the breathtaking statues and frescoes in Dazu, or explore the bustling backstreets hidden behind the city’s shiny new skyscrapers. If you visit during the summer, cool off in a local watermelon stand or teahouse. Or if you visit in the winter, warm up with some of the region’s extra spicy hotpot.
Fukuoka, Japan
Located on the island of Kyushu 550 miles west of Tokyo, Fukuoka is a model ‘green’ city. The 1.4 million residents of Fukuoka think it’s the most livable city in Japan because of citywide initiatives like the “Morning Glory Curtain Project” which covers building facades with beautiful flowers and greenery.
Fukuoka offers many enticing attractions including the historic Dazaifu Tenmangu Shrine, adventure at the Space World theme park, shopping at Canal City Hakata, and plenty of delicious eats at the food stalls at the river island.
Greenwich, London
Greenwich is one of London’s most historic areas. Situated along the River Thames, Maritime Greenwich is designated as a UNESCO heritage site, and the river waterfront features many remarkable baroque facades. Of course, it’s also the location of the Prime Meridian – or “zero” for terrestrial longitudes, where official world date and time originate.
2012 is a big year for Greenwich, the area will celebrate the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee, host Olympic events and welcome the extension of London’s cable car across the Thames. While you’re visiting be sure explore the antiques, arts and crafts, and tasty treats at the famous Greenwich Market.
Kansas City, Missouri
Kansas City is emerging as world-class cultural destination. In September 2011, Kansas City’s Kauffman Center for the Performing Arts, opened as one of the premiere performance halls in the United States offering world class ballet, classical music, and opera performances. The city is also home to the National World War I Museum, Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art, and the American Jazz Museum.
Catch some thrills at Worlds of Fun amusement park, visit Harley-Davidson factory, or enjoy the music, dining, and shopping of the Power and Light District. While you’re in town, don’t forget to grab some class slow-cooked Kansas City barbecue at Arthur Bryant’s, or Gates.
Yucatán Peninsula, Mexico
The Yucatán Peninsula offers all the best Mexico has to offer—perfect beaches, unique cuisine, lively fiestas, and colorful wildlife. Home to the Maya, the region has maintained a culture slightly different from the Mexican mainland, and takes pride in being of the safest regions in the country.
While you’re in the Yucatán climb the infamous Chichen Itza pyramid, cool off in a cenote (a sacred well), feast on piquant fare, or see the exotic wildlife that call the region home. Most importantly take some time to relax in this unique region—it has the potential to rearrange your perspective on the world.
Did you know Courtyard offers more than 900 hotels in 37 countries? No matter where you travel in 2012, check to see if Courtyard is there.
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Courtyard Chevy Chase in Chevy Chase, Maryland
Courtyard Hotels are going green: the US Green Building Council (USGBC) has awarded LEED Volume pre-certification to Courtyard Hotels. As the first hotel brand to be pre-certified for the program, Courtyard will able to build LEED-certified hotels based on a pre-approved prototype and process.
According to the USGBC, LEED-certified buildings are designed to have lower operating costs, reduce waste sent to landfills, conserve energy and water, be healthier and safer for occupants, and reduce harmful greenhouse gas emissions. Scheduled to open in early 2012, Courtyard Scottsdale Pima in Arizona will be the first Courtyard built using the LEED pre-certification. But this won’t be the first green Courtyard, three hotels have already been LEED-certified—Courtyard Chevy Chase in Maryland and Courtyard Portland City Center are both LEED gold certified, and Courtyard Pittsburgh Settles Ridge was LEED Silver designed.
“We live in a world where concerns about the environment and about sustainable development are a necessary and growing consideration for everyone,” says Karim Khalifa, senior vice president of architecture and construction. Marriott International aims to have 300 LEED-certified hotels by 2015 – a process spearheaded by Courtyard, TownePlace Suites, and Residence Inn brands.
Stay a little greener >> Read about Marriott’s environmental efforts, or stay at one of our LEED certified hotels.
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Times Square, NYC. Photo: Flickr/Loozrboy
Of all the cities in the world, only a few will fall on Travel and Leisure’s list of the world’s 50 most-visited tourist attractions. Looking for something spectacular? Millions of annual visitors can’t be wrong – check out the 5 Most-Visited Attractions around the globe:
- Times Square, NYC (39,200,000 visitors/year): An impressive spectacle of neon lights, megastores, Broadway shows, taxis, and countless people. In 2009, pedestrian-only areas with tables and seating were added to space to hang out in the bustling crowd.
- Central Park, NYC (38,000,000 visitors/year): 850 acres of green, right in the middle of Manhattan. People flock to the park to relax on the Great Lawn, visit the zoo, take a carriage ride, climb to the top of 19th-century Belvedere Castle, or enjoy one of many other attractions.
- Union Station, Washington, D.C. (37,000,000 visitors/year): Since 1907, around 12,000 passengers a day ride this massive station, which features a distinctive mix of Classical to Beaux-Arts to Baroque. But Union Station is also a shopping destination—with over 70 retail stores housed inside, it’s definitely a D.C. must-see.
- Las Vegas Strip (29,467, 000 visitors/year): There’s more to Vegas than gambling. Right in the heart of Sin City you’ll find the Bellagio fountains, plenty of shopping, and some of the most entertaining people-watching in the world.
- Niagara Falls, NY & Canada (22,500,000 visitors/year): It may not be the tallest waterfall in the world, but Niagara Falls spews 6 million cubic feet of water every minute, which makes it one of the most powerful. It’s also more accessible than many other major falls, which makes it easy for millions to visit.
Want to check out one of the world’s busiest tourist attractions? You’ll probably need a quiet place to relax at the end of the day. >> Stay with Courtyard.
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