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Days
of
Wine
and
Roses at Sheraton Addis
Ababa
by
Jerry W. Bird
 
This
is a new section where a wide
variety of profiles will be
appearing soon, from luxury to
value packages. Here are a few
sample profiles:
My
inner child loves surprises, and
to discover a freshly cut
sweetheart rose grown on the horn
of Africa nestled on one's pillow
is a touch that transcends time
and space. This was the first
surprise the Sheraton Addis
reserved for our group, and much
more awaited us the next morning
as we explored the halls, nooks
and crannies of this elegant
hotel and
its
spacious,
luxuriant, terraced grounds.
Later, we discovered ornate vases
of Ethiopian roses literally
everywhere; in the restaurants,
around the lobby and corridors,
at the pool-side, and at a
festive wedding we attended on
our first evening there. Freshly
cut roses perfumed the air at
other locations throughout the
city.
After
asking around, we discovered that
these fragrant blooms were home
grown &emdash; a budding new
industry that's capturing hearts
and markets in Europe and the
USA. Since Addis Ababa means "new
flower " in Amharic it is
significant that this 8-year old
cut flower business is
flourishing nearby. Water for
continuous irrigation of the
flower beds is pumped and
gravity-fed from Lake Zama.
Already exporting over 100,000
roses weekly and employing over
200 workers, Meskel Flowers, is
expected to more than double in
the next few years.
(continued)
Exclusive
South African private game
reserve voted best international
resort hotel. Singita on top of
the world for the 3rd consecutive
year
South
Africa's celebrated Singita Group
with exclusive luxury game lodges
in the Sabi Sand Reserve and
Kruger National Park, has been
rated the worldâs No. 1
Resort Hideaway for the third
consecutive year and has
triumphed as the smallest
property ever to come first in
the international resort hotel
category of the highly regarded
international connoisseurâs
Travel Guide, Andrew
Harperâs Hideaway
Report.
Singita
was voted as the top resort
hideaway for properties under 50
rooms and with its l8-room lodge,
became the smallest property in
the 22 year history of the poll
to be named the best
international resort hotel
overall. The USA based annual
Andrew Harperâs Hideaway
Report is the oldest, most highly
regarded poll of its kind
conducted amongst its worldwide
readership of sophisticated
frequent travellers. Currently in
its 25th year, this subscription
newsletter carries enormous
respectability as an insight into
hotels, resorts and properties
globally that achieve and
maintain the highest possible
standards.
Singita
boasts a string of other
accolades including top honours
in the prestigious Conde Nast
Traveler Readersâ Choice
Awards for the past two years,
inclusion in UK Tatlerâs
2003 Travel Guide listing for the
101 Best Hotels Worldwide, and
was the only Southern African
property to be included in the UK
based The Gallivanterâs
Guide in its 2002 Awards for
Excellence.
For
more information on Singita,
visit their website at
http://www.singita.co.za/.
For reservations in South Africa
Email: mailto:reservations@singita.co.za,
Tel: 27-21-683 3424, Fax:
27-21-683 3502.
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