Message from Your CCRA Team |
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Dear Partners in Travel,
Our July newsletter is packed with value savings for your clients and new money making opportunities for you. If you haven’t heard by now, we’ve increased our commissions on CCRAtravel.com. Check out the new rates in the “Good News in Tough Times” blurb.
This summer we were happy to return to the 11th Annual Vacation.com International Conference & Trade Show, where we announced our new commission structure, and our new brand, CCRA Travel Solutions. The feedback we received from the 800 travel agents who attended the show was so positive, and we’re happy to continue providing quality service to all of you. We look forward to bringing you more ways to generate more money!
Also in this newsletter check out some travel secrets you can share with your clients. Times are still tough for many Americans, but that doesn’t mean you can’t provide your clients with a great vacation. Learn how to book cheap cruises in the off season, or check out one of our Featured Destination hotels for summer packages or special offers for CCRA agents.
Now is the time to start thinking about holiday travel; get ahead of the rest by booking your clients’ holiday travels early to save them more money. The best place to do that is on CCRAtravel.com, but don’t forget to enjoy the rest of the summer!
Sincerely,
Your CCRA Team
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CCRA Returned to the Vacation.com International Conference & Trade Show |
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CCRA was proud to participate at the 11th Annual Vacation.com International Conference & Trade Show in Las Vegas, June 15th – 19th.
Click here to view our PowerPoint presentation on why CCRA Continues to be Your Hotel Booking Solution.
During the conference we unveiled CCRA’s new brand, CCRA Travel Solutions. We also had an opportunity to share our newest offerings on CCRAtravel.com: Got Groups? and CCRACa$hRewards. We have spent the first part of the year making our exclusive hotel booking tool better than ever. We continue to enhance our booking portal so that the thousands of agents who have registered to use it can easily find the hotel they want in the location they need.
Once again, this year, we hosted the CCRA Pavilion sponsored by fourteen of our top travel partners, educating agents on the latest property news and sharing gifts and prizes – including over $20,000 in hotel stays! We want to thank all our supplier partners for making our 11th appearance at the Vacation.com show so successful!
- Accor Hospitality
- Best Western
- Carey
- Carlson Worldwide
- Choice Hotels International
- Destination Hotels
- Endless Vacation Rentals
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- Fairmont Hotels and Resorts
- FiestAmericana (Posadas)
- Gaylord Hotels
- Hilton Hotels
- Intercontinental Hotel Group
- Millennium Hotels and Resorts
- Wyndham Hotel Group
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Click here to see more photos from the Vacation.com Trade Show.
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Repositioning Cruises - One of the Best Kept Travel Secrets
By Steve Schulman |
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If you don't know about repositioning cruises, then you're missing one of the best kept travel industry secrets. When the weather changes cruise ships are rerouted and cruises taken aboard these rerouted ships are greatly discounted.
 For example, in the autumn cruise lines have to relocate their ships from Alaska to the Caribbean. Then in late spring they transfer them back to Alaska. Ships that cruise European waters in the summer travel transatlantic to the Caribbean in the late fall. The following spring they're on their way back to Europe again. So, instead of sailing empty, cruise lines offer discounts to passengers who take these repositioning cruises.
Why do they do this?
Well, most passengers like stopping at several ports in their journey. These voyages seldom do. So, to attract passengers the cruise lines discount the fares. However, the cruise ships still have many of the usual amenities, such as shops and casinos and bars that will keep the passengers entertained during this longer-than-usual voyage.
These cruises are quite popular for a number of reasons.
Probably first and foremost is that the price is heavily discounted. The daily cost for these cruises is often significantly less than for cruises with the same departure and arrival ports. The cruise itself can be more relaxing since these cruises typically are longer than a week and include more days on the ocean instead of being in port. Repositioning cruises cruise to some of the best locations.
They travel from: Alaska back and forth to Hawaii. The Panama Canal and western ports in North and South America. The Mediterranean and Europe back and forth to the Caribbean and the United States. South America back and forth to the Caribbean and the United States. Asia back and forth to the Indian Ocean and various ports in the Pacific.
Potential drawbacks: Because thousands of miles often separate the embarking and disembarking ports, airfare can be considerably more expensive. The cruises are often a week to two weeks in duration. Your clients must have the time available to enjoy the length of the cruise. There are fewer ports to disembark at and explore so they will have to enjoy being aboard the ship. However, if they have the time and like being on the water on a cruise ship you'll find that booking them a repositioning cruises can be very relaxing, less expensive, and overall an amazing trip they weren’t expecting.
As a travel agent this could be your chance to suggest to your clients something they would never have thought of for themselves, showing your expertise while also showing them you’re taking their budget into consideration. It’s a win-win!
The article "Repositioning Cruises - One of the Best Kept Travel Secrets" was Submitted by Steve Schulman through http://Articles.GetACoder.com network.
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Tourism Cares for Gettysburg
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300 travel industry volunteers come together to make a difference
 Working hard in the travel industry usually conjures up images of travel professionals working long hours behind computers designing travel dreams and front line people making those dreams come true. However, if you ask the 300 who answered the call to volunteer to begin the restoration of an historic farm on the battlefield at Gettysburg National Military Park at the 7th annual Tourism Cares for America event, you’d see a different picture. These hard working volunteers from all facets of the travel industry came together to make a difference and kick off a major restoration that would help the Gettysburg Foundation further its efforts to restore a farm to show future travelers what happened here nearly 150 years ago.
On the morning of Friday, April 17, volunteers grabbed a pair of gloves, a rake, a shovel, hand saws or clippers; broke into groups and began work on the 200 year old farm. From beginning to end, the George Spangler Farm was completely transformed- windows appeared where vines had overgrown and even an underground door was unearthed, its purpose and origin unknown.
The George Spangler Farm served an important purpose in the Civil War. As a field hospital during and after the 3-day battle in July of 1863, it helped heal the wounds of the men who found themselves fighting for what they believed in. For the volunteers, the site brought to light the importance of restoration and preservation. Without the efforts of the Gettysburg Foundation which purchased the 80-acre property to save it from residential development and the Tourism Cares volunteers, the story of the George Spangler Farm may never have been told.
People from all walks of travel from 27 states and 2 Canadian provinces, many of them high level executives and others front line professionals, who may once have been strangers, stood side by side for one common purpose, demonstrating the commitment of the travel industry to make sure we preserve the travel experience for future generations.
Volunteers uncovered artifacts throughout the day - old bottles, inkwells, children’s toys - all things that could be common trash or Antiques Road Show treasures. The relics were set aside to be saved and analyzed, and the work continued. Tons of branches and tree trunks, endless thorny vines and other debris were pulled and cut by hand, then raked and piled throughout the property. At the end of the day, the volunteers looked over their shoulders on the long walk down the road from the Spangler Farm and proudly marveled at the difference they had made in just one day.
Traveling to Gettysburg itself was truly an experience. Passing by endless fields on the ride into town showed what a serene and beautiful place it was then and is today. It was an amazing revelation to realize that just shy of 150 years ago, chaos prevailed on those green, peaceful fields. Buildings still wear bullet holes from the battle and tourists in Civil War attire walk through the town bringing the town’s history to life.
This day of ultimate “voluntourism” was only one of the dozen such Tourism Cares for America projects organized by Tourism Cares since its first at Ellis Island in 2003. It was once again a very gratifying day for the volunteers and the sponsors who made it possible. For more information on how travel people can get involved in future Tourism Cares programs, visit www.tourismcares.org.
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Properties shown: Top - Best Western Zion Park Inn, Springdale, UT, USA. Middle row, from left - Best Western Half Moon Bay Lodge, Half Moon Bay, CA, USA; Best Western Salmon Rapids Lodge, Riggins, ID, USA; Best Western Great Northern Hotel, Helena, MT, USA. *10% discount available in North America only. Each Best Western® hotel is independently owned and operated. *Numbers are approximate and can fluctuate. Breakfast either continental OR hot breakfast available (many complimentary). **Free high-speed internet access at most hotels in North America. Amenities may vary slightly at international hotels. Best Western and the Best Western marks are service marks or registered service marks of Best Western International, Inc. ©2009 Best Western International, Inc. All rights reserved.
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Featured Destinations |
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 The Millennium Hotel St. Louis is perfectly situated for your value-packed vacation getaway to St. Louis. Located just one block from Busch Stadium, home of the St. Louis Cardinals, and adjacent to the landmark St. Louis Gateway Arch, the hotel is within walking distance to the Old Cathedral, Laclede’s Landing, and the President Casino. Whether you’re traveling for business or pleasure, our convenient location makes for easy accessibility. Four main thoroughfares are located within two blocks of the hotel, and Lambert International Airport is just 15 minutes away.
It’s no secret that St. Louis is one of the best cities in the country when it comes to free things to do. St. Louis boasts free admission to the world-class St. Louis Zoo, St. Louis Science Center, Art Museum, Missouri History Museum, St. Louis Union Station and the Anheuser-Busch Brewery tour. And if it’s baseball season, the St. Louis Cardinals are doing their best to make a visit to the ballpark affordable for families.
The Millennium Hotel St. Louis can stretch a family’s budget with one of their value-added room packages:
- Millennium Home Run Package $10.00 Cardinal Bucks, parking and breakfast for two.
- The St. Louis Adventure Package with special admission to the Missouri Botanical Garden, Arch Tram passes to the top of the Gateway Arch, St. Louis Science Center Discovery Room, and St. Louis Zoo Safari passes.
- Savor St. Louis Package with Superior accommodations with an Arch View, St. Louis’s own Gus’ Pretzels and Fitz’s Root Beer delivered to the guestroom, parking and a sporty pair of binoculars.
- St. Louis “RendeView” Package with Superior accommodations with an Arch View, “Chocolate Creation” and Champagne, parking and breakfast.
 Soak in the views from one of our 780 guestrooms and 29 suites, offering amenities such as a high-speed Internet access, as well as wireless access in meeting space, lobby and restaurants, along with a fitness center, game room and indoor and outdoor pools. Our Club Rooms feature premium amenities like complimentary breakfast and plush bathrobes.
Our Top of the Riverfront restaurant is St. Louis’s only revolving restaurant, serving contemporary American cuisine 28 stories above the cityscape with memorable 360º views. Martini’s Lobby Lounge offers your pick of over 30 delicious martinis, served before two-story windows with panoramic views of the Gateway Arch. Open daily for breakfast, lunch and dinner, Fourth Street Grill features casual dining in a contemporary atmosphere. And if you’re on the go, the Palm Court features gourmet coffee, tea and a variety of breakfast breads and pastries.
The Millennium Hotel St. Louis accommodates meetings, events and social gatherings in our full-service, expansive function space, boasting the largest hotel ballroom in the state of Missouri. A full array of guest amenities and business services complements our convention level which features over 65,000 square feet of meeting space including a unique, oval-shaped grand ballroom and a dedicated exhibit hall. Our experienced convention services team will help you design the perfect event, with trained banquet professionals to make certain every promise is fulfilled.
GDS Access Code: MU
Millennium Hotel St. Louis | 200 South 4th Street | St. Louis, Missouri 63102-1804
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 Situated along tree-lined Nicollet Mall in downtown Minneapolis, Millennium Hotel Minneapolis is the closest full-service hotel connected by an enclosed skyway to Minneapolis Convention Center. The hotel is easily accessible via Interstates 94 and 35, and is less than 20 minutes from both Minneapolis/St. Paul International Airport and the world-famous Mall of America. Our prime downtown location affords convenience to shopping, dining, vibrant nightlife, cultural activities and the business/financial center of Minneapolis. We also offer complimentary transportation to many local corporate offices in the downtown area.
Accommodations include 321 comfortably equipped guest rooms, inclusive of ten suites. We offer a wide range of amenities and services—high-speed Internet access, room service, concierge and business center, indoor swimming pool and sauna, fitness suite—ensuring that your stay is both enjoyable and successful. We also provide Club level rooms with upgraded amenities and services. Smoke-free and accessible guest rooms are also available.
There are several points of interest and a variety of activities within walking distance of the hotel. Enjoy shopping at Macy’s, Saks Fifth Avenue and Nieman Marcus, Target Center and Metrodome. Explore cultural attractions such as the Walker Art Center, Guthrie Theater, Historic Orpheum and State Theatre, Minneapolis Institute of the Arts and Orchestra Hall. Experience one of many city lakes and parks with walking and biking paths, or venture out to your choice of over 75 restaurants and bars moments from the hotel.
 Of course, you can enjoy dining or relaxing at our own Nic’s Restaurant and Martini’s Lounge for breakfast, lunch and dinner as well. Our multi-level restaurant offers arched windows overlooking Nicollet Mall, a custom made floor to ceiling wine cabinet and a cherry wood beamed ceiling. Our culinary professionals have created an eclectic multi-course menu favoring regional comfort foods with a contemporary influence. And our international wine selection was developed to complement a ‘busy’ menu or simply entice you to sample grape varietals unfamiliar to your palate.
Or unwind in the contemporary setting of Martini’s Lobby Lounge while indulging in one of our signature martinis, such as an Ocean Wave or Very Cherry. Or, try one of our innovative appetizers, sit back and watch the latest world news or sporting event on a pair of 42” plasma screens. A great place for meeting friends or go ‘on-line’ via our high-speed Internet access conveniently located throughout the lounge.
Millennium Hotel Minneapolis offers over 20,000 square feet of flexible meeting and banquet space in 16 rooms. The Forum Ballroom is an elegant space with 16-foot high ceilings, divisible to three sections and can accommodate groups of up to 700. The Loring Ballroom accommodates up to 500 guests. And the Premier 14th floor banquet space is one of a kind in the downtown Minneapolis area, offering floor to ceiling windows that gives a spectacular panoramic view of the Minneapolis skyline. Whatever your specific group needs are, Millennium Hotel Minneapolis can provide all the components to make this a successful event.
GDS Access Code: MU
Millennium Hotel Minneapolis | 1313 Nicollet Mall | Minneapolis, Minnesota 55403
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Unmatched style, service and elegance await you at the Mobil Five-Star / AAA Five-Diamond Raffles L’Ermitage Beverly Hills, the only Raffles property in the United States.
All CCRA Club Level guests receive a special chef’s welcome amenity and a 4 pm late checkout.
 Located on a peaceful tree-lined residential avenue in one of the most famed cities in the world, Raffles L’Ermitage Beverly Hills stands alone as the premier hotel in Beverly Hills as it embodies the spirit and ambiance of a sophisticated urban residence guaranteeing a serene, private and luxurious experience – a dramatic difference from the frenetic Los Angeles scene.
Exceptional features – reserved exclusively for hotel residents - include the signature Raffles Amrita Spa and Fitness Area, a personal retreat where all treatments are individualized and relaxation is assured. Treatments are also available in guest rooms. The Rooftop Pool and Cabanas, also reserved exclusively for hotel residents, is a serene place to relax, cool off and unwind high above the city.
You’ll want to entertain friends and business associates in the hotel’s Living Room and Writers Bar. Both rooms offer a private club ambiance with their refined furnishings, intimate seating areas, wood paneling, two fireplaces and outdoor patio lounge. The menu features specialty cocktails, more than forty wines and champagnes by the glass; and dining from afternoon till late into the evening.
The JAAN Restaurant and Garden Patio, one of only two AAA Four Diamond restaurants in the city, offers fine dining from morning to night. Guests may reserve a table in the domed main room, enjoy an al fresco meal on the adjacent patio, or host an event or dinner in The Pavilion, a private dining room. Hotel residents may also dine poolside, in a cabana or on the Pool Terrace with its panoramic views of the city and dramatic sunsets at day’s end.
 The 119 spacious guest rooms and suites – averaging 675 square feet, almost twice the size of most hotel rooms – exude luxury, simplicity and serenity. The classic décor conveys modernism at its best with English Sycamore paneling and custom maple wood furnishings; original artwork; large marble bathrooms, walk-in closets and dressing areas; and balconies with views of the city and the surrounding hillsides. The hotel’s 24 hour arrival /departure policy assures your room will be ready on your schedule, not ours. Personal amenities include: customized private bars; large screen televisions; complimentary Wi-Fi property wide; four multi-line phones with personal fax and phone numbers; personalized ‘In Residence’ cards and notepaper; in-room plain paper copier/printer/scanner/fax machine; CD and DVD players with complimentary library; “intelligent” remote to control and personalize temperature, lighting, audio and video; in-room safe; and more. In addition, a complimentary local car service is available to all guests.
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 Located in downtown Washington, DC, L’Enfant Plaza Hotel is only steps from the National Mall, the Capitol Building, Tidal Basin and all Smithsonian Museums. You will enjoy convenient access to the Metrorail subway line - your ticket to amazing sights, terrific restaurants, and lots of shopping. Stay at the hotel if you want friendly service, spacious accommodations and a dynamic setting:
- Rooms with river, city, monument and plaza views
are available
- Large year-round roof top pool
- Fitness center with free weights and full aerobic and
cardio equipment
- Full-service Concierge with access to all attraction and
event tickets
- Shopping Promenade located under the hotel with 50+ shops
- Direct access to Metrorail's L'Enfant Plaza subway stop and 4 metro lines
- Minutes from many corporate offices and government agencies
- A 15-minute drive from Ronald Reagan National Airport, easily accessible from I-395 and Metro
Relax in Comfort
Guest rooms are spacious and include many amenities for travelers:
- NEW Sealy Pillow-top mattresses and bedding
- Coffee Makers with premium coffee and teas
- On Demand movies
- In-Room Safe (accommodates laptops)
- Iron/Full-Size Ironing Board
- Hair Dryer
- Wireless Internet Access
An Unforgettable Dining Experience Awaits At L’Enfant Plaza Hotel
Guests will enjoy a selection of restaurants for both casual and fine dining. You can experience the following unique dining choices:
 American Grill: A Steak and Seafood Market. Enjoy breakfast, lunch and dinner in a well-known DC restaurant that is known for its breakfast buffets, varied lunch menu and dinner selections that include regional specialties and the freshest seafood. - Lobby Lounge: a stylish, sophisticated setting for unwinding with cool cocktails and light appetizers.
- Foggy Brew Pub: kick back and experience a neighborhood pub that is vibrant, serves tasty pub favorites and has some of the area’s best microbrews.
- Starbucks Coffee Cart: Have an “eye opener” at the Starbucks station in our Lobby or grab a donut or sandwich to go.
Hold Your Meeting Or Special Event In The Most Powerful City
L’Enfant Plaza Hotel has more than 21,000 square feet of flexible meeting space that includes two large ballrooms. Its 370 guest rooms and suites are designed for every type of business and leisure traveler whether it is for attending a convention, wedding, family reunion or just seeing the sights. The hotel can hold events for up to 800 people in the Grand Ballroom with many of its rooms having natural lighted meeting space.
Meeting and event planners will appreciate the following benefits:
- On-site, full-service Audiovisual staff
- Wireless Internet access in all meeting rooms
- Professional Conference Services and Event team
- Award-winning Banquet and Catering team that can plan the perfect menu with you
- On-site Business Center
Location, Comfort and Style Can Be Yours
Whether you are traveling on business or pleasure, L’Enfant Plaza Hotel is the Perfect Location.
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Located in Manhattan's thriving Meatpacking District, the newest of hotelier Andre Balazs' Standard Hotels stands commandingly above The High Line, the former elevated railroad undergoing redevelopment as a public park.
337 rooms on 18 floors, The Standard, New York boasts full business amenities, extensive event space and a state of the art fitness facility. Floor-to-ceilings windows in each room offer unparalleled views of the Hudson River and Lower Manhattan.
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Wynn Las Vegas
 Imagine a resort designed to ensure that everything you need is always closer than you think. Where every room inspires you, with views of cascading waterfalls or an 18-hole championship golf course. And where every detail invites you to relax in an exclusive sanctuary, right in the middle of the most exciting city on earth. Wynn Las Vegas features 2,716 rooms and suites, 18 unique dining experiences, two amazing nightclub environments, 29 high-end retail boutiques and shops, a Ferrari and Maserati dealership, a show by Franco Dragone, creator of "O," world-class casino with the latest slot machines and traditional table games, an 18-hole championship golf course, designed by Tom Fazio and Steve Wynn, located on property, a full service spa and multiple pools surrounded by sculptured gardens and spas.
Every person has their passion. One name invites you to explore them all: Wynn. Conceived to accommodate, driven to innovate, Wynn Las Vegas will be the most intimately imaginative resort experience anywhere in the world.
Features:
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2,716 Rooms and Suites
- 18 unique dining experiences
- 2 amazing nightclub environments
- 29 high-end retail boutiques and shops
- A Ferrari and Maserati dealership
- A new show by Franco Dragone, creator of "O"
- World-class casino, with the latest slot machines and traditional table games
- An 18-hole championship golf course, designed by Tom Fazio and Steve Wynn, located on property
- A full service spa with complete salon services, barber shop, treatment rooms and wet areas
- Multiple pools surrounded by sculptured gardens and spas
Wynn Las Vegas is located on the site of the former Desert Inn, adjacent from the Sands Expo Center and across from the Fashion Show Mall.
Every room has floor-to-ceiling windows for sweeping views of the golf course, the property's mountain, lake or the Las Vegas Strip. Plush European linens and bedding and flat screen TVs in the living and bathroom areas.
A shuttle from within the hotel takes guests to the Las Vegas Convention Center. There are pedestrian bridges to the Fashion Show Mall and Sands Expo Center.
 Encore at Wynn Las Vegas
Encore is the new signature resort in the Wynn collection.
Encore at Wynn Las Vegas is a 50-story resort featuring 2,034 suites, five signature restaurants, 11 designer boutiques, a European-inspired salon and spa, expansive pool areas and exciting leisure activities and nightlife.
Encore complements Wynn Las Vegas’ repertoire of luxury accommodations, signature culinary offerings and leisure activities. Further revolutionizing the resort experience in Las Vegas, Encore finds new ways of expressing classic ideas through rich visual layers of architecture, design, gardens and sunlight.
Indulge in Encore’s casually elegant approach to ambiance. Designed to fill your stay with moments of discovery and evoke your sense of wonder, signature elements of the Encore experience include a landscape of foliage, sunlight, pools of water, candlelight and layers of richly textured materials.
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15% OFF BAR RATE AND 10% COMMISSIONABLE THROUGH 12/31/09
 The Lexington Hotel Central Phoenix is conveniently located in the heart of Phoenix's business corridor with easy access to the Theatre and Arts Districts and within a mile from the Phoenix Civic Plaza Convention Center, home of both the Arizona Diamondbacks and Phoenix Suns sporting teams.
Our well-appointed, spacious guest rooms feature complimentary high-speed wireless Internet access, cable satellite television offering over 44 premium channels, complimentary local calls, and direct-dial long distance access. In addition to our guest rooms, we offer 6 luxury penthouse suites with private balconies providing breath-taking views of the Phoenix skyline.
Hotel amenities include a heated outdoor pool and Jacuzzi, fitness room, business center and over 5200 square feet of meeting space. Our on-site restaurant, Central Avenue Bar and Grill, is open for breakfast, lunch and dinner and the adjoining bar provides nightly drink specials from 4pm to 10pm. The property features a complimentary breakfast, complimentary HSIA, and complimentary parking for all guests.
Our friendly staff is ready to ensure a comfortable and memorable stay while visiting the beautiful city of Phoenix - the Valley of the Sun. Your clients will thank you for choosing the Lexington Hotel Central Phoenix – Phoenix, Arizona.
CHAIN CODE LP
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