Regent Announces First Hotel-Cruise 'Art Travel' Program

For Art Enthusiasts, From Ship to Shore, Regent Embraces the Art World through Experiential Travel P

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. October 14, 2008

DECEMBER 7, 2006. In conjunction with the kick- off of Art Basel Miami Beach and a partnership with the Bass Museum, Regent introduces the first-ever experiential "art travel" program to be offered by a cruise and hotel company. The Regent Art Experience and Endowment Program, is a multi-faceted program that will give Regent hotel and cruise guests exposure to some of the art world's most prominent players and exhibitions.

The program's initiatives will include exclusive hotel-art packages, Circles of Interest(SM) programs aboard Regent Seven Seas Cruises, and fundraisers, including "Regent Art Endowment" sweepstakes, offering exclusive art experiences to Regent guests.

"Regent is delighted to embrace the art community globally through our cruises and hotels, by offering our guests innovative enrichment experiences focused on art," said Sophie Vlessing, vice president guest strategy and marketing for Regent. "In our on-going commitment to experiential travel, we are offering art enthusiasts unique opportunities to gain private access to art experts, artists and exhibits."

The Regent Art Experience and Endowment Program is launched first in partnership with the Bass Museum of Art, to coincide with the Regent hotel brand's renaissance in North America. Over the next few months, Regent will open two new hotels in the greater Miami area, The Regent South Beach and The Regent Bal Harbour. The program will soon be introduced into Regent's current and future hotel destinations, including Boston, Berlin, Shanghai, and Zagreb.

Art at Sea and Ashore

To bring the art world to the Regent Seven Seas experience, Regent is working with esteemed museums to develop an ongoing series of art-focused Circles of Interest. A Regent signature program, Circles of Interest is a themed enrichment program, featuring lectures, excursions and events that are led by a "Circle" expert and promote camaraderie among guests who share a common interest. For the first Regent Art-focused Circles of Interest program, Regent has partnered with the Bass Museum's Executive Director and Chief Curator, Diane Camber, to lead three Seven Seas Navigator voyages through the Mediterranean. Camber's art excursions will be held in the ports of Sorrento, Venice, Monte Carlo and Florence/Livorno. Guests will have the opportunity to explore Roman ruins, survey Michelangelo's masterpieces throughout Florence and view the private collection of billionaire collector Francois Pinault at the Palazzo Grassi in Venice. On board, Diane will provide unique insights into the life and art of various artists such as Gaudi, Miro, Picasso and Carvaggio.

Art in the City

Of equal importance to the art-at-sea programs, are Regent's art travel experiences within its hotels. Working with prominent museums, Regent is creating one-of-a-kind, hotel-art packages that offer special access into the art world in their respective destinations. Exclusive components include special access to museums, invitations to private receptions with artists and invitation-only exhibition openings.

Hotel-art packages will be created for Regent hotels globally. The first packages will be offered in South Florida at The Regent Bal Harbour and The Regent South Beach.

Regent Supports Art Community

Introducing guests to the diverse world of art travel is only part of Regent's new initiative. The luxury hotel and cruise group will also provide financial support to the museums through the "Regent Art Endowment" sweepstakes as well as museum donations for each cruise the museums sell to their members. The first sweepstakes is for the "Regent Asian Art Excursion" -- a ten-night trip to China's finest art museums.

The sweepstakes' winner will be selected at the grand opening of The Regent South Beach in second quarter 2007. The winner and guest will enjoy a ten-night trip to China's finest art museums and stay in style for five nights each at The Regent Shanghai and The Regent Beijing, two of China's newest hotels, offering personalized service and an ultimate luxury experience. The stays include Regent Club Lounge services, featuring concierge and butler service, complimentary breakfast, afternoon tea, evening cocktails and all-day refreshments. The winner will also be treated to a special dining experience with the hotel's general manager, who will provide insider tips to touring each city.

The Regent Art Experience and Endowment Program will continue to be introduced globally as the Regent brand is expected to double its portfolio over the next two years, with the addition of seven new hotels. Regent's existing portfolio encompasses six properties in the cities of Shanghai, Singapore, Kuala Lumpur, Taipei, Berlin and Zagreb. In addition to the upcoming openings in south Florida, in Asia, The Regent Beijing will open in early 2007 and The Regent Boston Hotel at Battery Wharf in fourth quarter 2007. Future Regent developments in Asia, Europe and the Middle East include properties in Bangkok, Thailand; Ningbo, China; Dubrovnik, Croatia; and Dubai, United Arab Emirates.