2012

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CROWNE MAGAZINECROWNE PLAZA & HOLIDAY INN HOTELS – ISRAELGUEST MAGAZINE www.crowneplaza-il.co.il

CROWNE PLAZA & HOLIDAY INN HOTELS – ISRAELGUEST MAGAZINE

CROWNE MAGAZINEwww.crowneplaza-il.com

Crowne Magazine6

Produced & Published by:

Israel Travel News Ltd.

11 Gush Etzion St. Givat Shmuel 54030 ISRAELTel: 972-3-5251646. Fax: 972-3-5251605office@itn.co.il www.itn.co.il

Africa Israel Hotels and Israel Travel News Ltd. are not responsible for the contents of any advertising appearing in this publication.

Publisher & Editor-in-Chief Eyal Shmueli

Managing Director Tal Shmueli

Graphic Design Studio T

Marketing Manager Sigal Shmueli

Marketing Yuval Nevo

ContentsSummer - Fall 2012

News from the Chain

Someone Like You

Happiness is a Serious Business

In Honor of Summer

Summer of Chefs

Crowne Plaza Tel Aviv: A True UrbanVacation

The Restaurants of Crowne Plaza and Holiday Inn

Holiday Inn Ashkelon - A Real Family Holiday

Gossip Girl

Rome and the South of Italy

The Dead Sea: It’s Not Just the Lowest Place on Earth

Crowne Plaza & Holiday Inn Hotels in Israel

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Dear Guests,I am happy and pleased to host you at one of the Crowne Plaza & Holiday Inn Chain of hotels.

Lord Robert Baden Powell once said, “The most worth-while thing is to try to put happiness into the lives of others.” This quote reflects the essence of our daily labors in the chain, and that is why all of us, the managers and the employees in our hotels, burn the midnight oil to make sure that your holiday with us will be happy and unforgettable. .

I believe you can see the results with your own eyes. We have been investing heavily this year in renovating our properties in Tel Aviv, Jerusalem, Ashkelon and the Dead Sea, placing particular emphasis on significantly upgrading the rooms and corridors, as well as the public areas that were upgraded too in some of our hotels, for your comfort and benefit.

Crowne Plaza Israel is a part of the international InterContinental Hotels Group, and this is why we are so particular in preserving our uniformity and the look of our hotels, in keeping with worldwide standards. Eilat, Tel Aviv, New York, or London - no matter the city you’re in - you’ll enjoy the same uncompromising, high-level service, as well as personal and quality hospitality experience at every hotel in our chain. As members of an international chain, the topic of service is our guiding principle. I am certain you will find our staff members attentive to you; they will be pleased to do their utmost to answer your needs and requests. Please, do not hesitate to turn to us on any matter or question - before, during, and also after your stay.

As a guest at any of the chain’s hotels you are welcome to experience Priority Club Rewards, the hotel loyalty program that gives you the freedom to do the things you love. Whether you’re on the road for a night, out of town for business or venturing off to a far away destination, we offer extraordinary benefits that ensure you get the very most out of your travel. Plus, there are plenty of exceptional features that allow you to earn and redeem points for things you do every day even after your travel has come to an end. If you don’t own a PCR acount - please turn to the front desk to explore the benefits of membership and they will be happy to assist.

Activities for children and for the entire family stand at the heart of our summer 2012 programs. Most of our hotels have prepared a variety of interesting programs for you, sure to please you and to enrich your vacation. We have also prepared a new safety instruction card in time for the summer season. Please read the card carefully, so that we all get through the summer safe and sound. You can find the card at the front desk.

On behalf of all of us, I wish you and your family a happy holiday.

Ron Yariv,General Manager

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Happiness is justa check-in away…

Come, enjoy a magical stay in Israel

at the largest International

Hotel Chain - Crowne Plaza

� Free Wi-Fi at all hotels

� Free shuttle to the city center

at Crowne Plaza Jerusalem

� Free shuttle to the Beachfront

at Crowne Plaza City Center Tel Aviv

Crowne Plaza News

Look us up atCrowne Plaza Israel: Tel Aviv City Center Tel Aviv Jerusalem Haifa Eilat Dead Sea Holiday Inn Ashkelon

Contact your travel agent for more details, or call: Tel: +972-3-5390808 Fax: +972-3-7602035 www.crowneplaza-il.com

Crowne Magazine 11

News from the ChainRejuvenating. Exciting. The Crowne Plaza chain continues to surprise all the time, and to offer you a wealth of unforgettable experiences.

Benefit at the chain’s restaurantsJoin Crowne Plaza Israel on Facebook, go to the coupons app and download a benefit coupon for the restaurants. Details on P. 38.

How Lovely!All the Crowne Plaza hotels in the chain undergo both minor and major refurbishment and upgrades throughout the year, to enhance the experience of your stay and maintain the most updated standards. Recently, we have been placing emphasis on modern, very comfortably appointed Executive Floors that exude a homelike ambience. Two floors were transformed into Executive Floors at both the Crowne Plaza Tel Aviv and the Crowne Plaza Dead Sea; these floors are a reflection of modern design and a promise of flawless personal service. The rooms are spacious and large, each outfitted with furniture imported from Italy, and the finest, most advanced room accessories available to the hotel industry. The view is simply spectacular from all of these rooms, and the luxurious suites are perfect for top-echelon hospitality.

We’re on the Map!The Crowne Plaza Tel Aviv, Crowne Plaza Tel Aviv City Center, Crowne Plaza Haifa, and Holiday Inn Ashkelon have been awarded a Certificate of Excellence by reviewers on TripAdvisor, the world’s most well-respected and important tourism website. The readers themselves rate the properties where they have stayed, and there’s hardly a tourist that doesn’t check TripAdvisor before placing a booking.In explaining the decision to award certificates to the chosen hotels, the website’s management referred to holiday makers from all over the world that stayed in the hotels and gave them high marks in every category relevant to the hospitality experience they had during their stay, which they said was perfect.

Crowne Plaza Dead Sea

Crowne Plaza Tel Aviv

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קראון פלזה / 12873 / פוסטר למילואימניקים / a3 / 5.1.12 / אליאס סבב

בפק”ל ההטבות ניתן למצוא: ● אירוח ללילה אחד על בסיס חצי פנסיון ● תיק רחצה מאובזר

שוברי ארוחות ● שימוש חופשי במתקני המלוןמענקים מיוחדים ● חבילות שי

DISTURBNOTDO

I‘m Happy

מילואימניקים, הגיע הזמןשמישהו ישרת אתכם...

עובדים יקרים המשרתים במילואים, קראון פלזה שמחה להעניק לכם בחזרה ולפנק

אתכם במגוון הטבות שיעשו אתכם פשוט מאושרים

פרטים נוספים במשאבי אנוש

* החברה רשאית להפסיק את ההטבה בכל עת

Jermyn Street Design © 3

Front of House

Jermyn Street Design © 7

Food & Beverage

Nice Doing Business with YouA new, upgraded Business Lounge has opened at the Holiday Inn Ashkelon, outfitted with a sound system, and offering newspapers in various languages, Wi-Fi connectivity, a coffee machine, wine, fruit, and an assortment of snacks. An intimate meeting room has been developed adjacent to the lounge, and office services are available.In addition, the seventh floor of the hotel has been transformed into a business floor, and everything in it has been upgraded, from A to Z, based on the chain’s international standards.

The Way We Look As part of the international rebranding revolution of the Crowne Plaza chain, designed to position it on a level with the world’s finest hotels, new, advanced standards have been introduced for staff uniforms in the hotels. Housekeeping, Security, Food & Beverage, and Reception Desk staff have all been issued new, high-quality clothing, similar to that which their Crowne Plaza colleagues receive everywhere in the world. Visitors will be welcomed by Reception Desk clerks dressed in black pants and white button-down shirt, accompanied by a beige, white and bordeaux tie for men or a scarf in the same colors for women. Food & Beverage workers will serve guests while dressed in black pants, grey button-down shirt and a black apron.

With Love to Israel’s Reserve SoldiersRecently, Crowne Plaza Israel has received an award of merit given by the chief reserve corps officer of the Israel Defense Forces to businesses that support and encourage their employees to fulfill their obligation to perform reserve military duty. The award was handed out, in the presence of Israel’s Minister of Defense and the army Chief of Staff, as a way of expressing appreciation for the package of benefits with which the chain outfits its workers when they go off to serve in the reserves.

Oh, What a Wonderful Morning!Crowne Plaza Israel hosted a festive event not long ago to launch its new “Be Happy” customer loyalty club. The special event took place at the Crowne Plaza Tel Aviv, and hundreds of club members and other special guests were invited to a morning cocktail, followed by a rich breakfast and a lecture. Crowne Plaza Israel General Manager Ron Yariv announced, in the course of the event, that the chain would donate half of its income from Be Happy membership to the Elem Association.In the photo (left to right)Ron Yariv; Nava Barak; Nadav Greenspun; Shai Dahan.

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Shutterstock

Someone Like You B

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It’s difficult to believe that Adele is just 24 years old. The young singer, who delivers deep insights on broken relationships, is a shining star in the music industry worldwide, praised for her extraordinary voice, and songs that touch hearts everywhere. On her way to stardom, she did not let anyone get in her way, especially not her ex-boyfriend, who had the nerve to demand a share of the royalties from the songs she wrote about their relationship. She appears on the covers of famous fashion magazines, and talks freely about her soft spot - her weight - and also about rumors such as one that she is planning to marry her 23-year-old boyfriend, with whom she is expecting a child. She speaks candidly of feeling she is too fat but has a pretty face, and of the images of her that have been altered with the aid of Photoshop. But she has no problem giving as good as she gets, saying: “I am a singer, not a model.”

Adele has long since proven that she is one of the best-loved singers in the world

and, as a result, she does not feel the need to join the mainstream by losing weight and wearing the kind of make-up that many of her colleagues in the music industry wear. She has a powerful voice and is an accomplished pianist, singing ballads in a soulful way that pulls on the heartstrings. Moreover, her songs describe things that have happened in her life, conveying the pain she is feeling to her listeners, who are swept along by the experience. She is a singer you can believe in; you can see she has been hurt along the way, discarded by her lover, and all of this helps raise the level of identification with her songs on the part of her admirers around the world.Although known simply as Adele, her full name is Adele Laurie Blue Adkins, and she was born in May 1988 in the town of Enfield, in northeast London. Her mother, an English furniture designer, gave birth to her at the age of just eighteen and a half; her Welsh father was not a presence in her life. By the age of 11, she was already enchanting people with her singular singing ability, but it

was at 14 that she received confirmation that she was an outstanding singer when she was accepted to the Brit School for Performing Arts and Technology in Croydon, in southeast London. The school has nurtured many special talents, such as Amy Winehouse. When a childhood friend of Adele’s posted a test tape of her singing to MySpace, the singer began to receive appreciation of her special skills and even a recording contract from a record company.

Her first album, called “19,” was released by XL Recordings Ltd. in 2008, when Adele was 19 years old, along with two singles: “Hometown Glory” and “Chasing Pavements.” The album also featured a cover of the Bob Dylan song “Make You Feel My Love.” A year later, she was already able to put two Grammy awards on her mantelpiece for her breakthrough on the world stage and her refreshing new songs. Little more than a year later, her next album was released. This album too was named simply for her age at the

Adele, the British singer with the face of an angel and somewhat overweight, captured six prestigious Grammy awards at the start of 2012, as well as winning “British Album of the Year” at the Brit Awards and the hearts of many music lovers across the world with a series of catchy songs for the brokenhearted. She proved to any doubters that she is bigger than life, but how did her star rise so rapidly?

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time, and called “21.” Sadly for her many friends all across the world, they had to make do with hearing her songs either on the album, or live performances that were posted to YouTube, since the singer had to undergo an operation on her vocal chords in late 2011. Her enforced silence, however, did not prevent her songs from being played on computers, televisions, cable TV, and compact disc players across the globe, as well as receiving rave reviews on social media such as Facebook, Twitter, MySpace and others.In December 2011, “21” became the 21 century’s biggest-seller in Britain, and two months later Adele came home with six Grammy awards, including Album of the Year and Best Pop Album of the Year. In addition, the song “Rolling in the Deep” won Best Song of the Year, while “Someone Like You” won the award for Best Solo Performance. And last May, the album

“21” officially became the best-selling album of all time in Britain, 15 months after it was released, selling more copies than Michael Jackson’s legendary “Thriller” album 29 years earlier.The huge sales served to make Adele the diamond in the crown of British popular music and the most popular singer since 2004, selling the most albums and leading the sales charts. And if all that weren’t enough, in recent months Adele has passed the nine million mark in albums sold in the United States.

But despite all the remarkable success that Adele has achieved, not everything in her garden is blooming. There is continuous media interest in her weight problem, the color of her hair and comments that the dresses she wears look like sacks. In addition, there is no end to the stories about her

losing weight, on the men she is seen with publicly and speculation about whether they will be the subjects of her next songs. There was even a report suggesting that she was having an affair with a married man and that she was thinking of taking a break from singing for several years in order to have children and raise a family.

An American magazine found the perfect timing with its March issue, in time for the Grammy Awards announcements, for an article on the singer accompanied by pictures showing a much slimmer version of Adele, thanks to Photoshop. That led to a flood of reader comments asking how she had managed to lose so much weight so quickly. Criticism of Adele and her weight issue also came from the direction of influential designer Karl Lagerfeld of the Chanel

fashion house, who tactlessly said she was too fat. Adele took the comments from Lagerfeld, and the apology that arrived soon afterwards, in her stride, however, saying she had no intention of slimming and that people should concentrate on her music.

In an interview in People magazine, she explained that if she had been an actress and needed to lose weight for a specific part, she would have done so. On the other hand, Adele is clearly very much concerned with her image, as evidenced by the meticulous way she dresses in her own unique and inimitable style, with red hair bordering on blonde and raised in a 1960s-style bouffant. In addition, she doesn’t spare the eyeliner and uses a lot of red lipstick in a way that is suited to one who stands comfortably in the middle of a stage knowing that all eyes are glued on her and entranced by her extraordinary voice.

Crowne Magazine 21

Kahneman recommended that people should invest more energy in finding ways to get more sleep than in earning more money.

The time has passed when we believed that money guarantees happiness, and if you want proof that this attitude has been changing, check Google. The number of searches for “how to get rich quickly” has dropped; the number for “happiness” has increased.

Not only have private individuals understood the secret to a good life; more and more countries are coming to a realization that improving the quality of its citizens’ personal welfare will result in happier people,

and the United Nations has been lending a hand to such endeavors. A United Nations Conference on Happiness met this past April with the aim of giving its stamp of approval to an international “Gross National Happiness” (GNH) index, as an upgraded version of the Gross National Product (GNP) level conventionally used to measure a nation’s growth.

The idea of a GNH index was first proposed in 1972 by the then king of Bhutan, Jigme Singye Wangchuck, who applied it to his small country. Buddha, King Wangchuck’s inspiration, had spoken of the four basic types of happiness for a householder living in the

“real” world: 1. Anaya sukha: The happiness of being free from the misery of being in debt. 2. Atthi sukha: The happiness of possessing debt-free wealth and property. 3. Bhoga sukha: This wealth enables one to enjoy the happiness of various comforts in life - one sees pleasing sights, hears melodious music, smells sweet fragrances, tastes delicious foods, and enjoys pleasant physical contact. All these comforts give happiness. 4. Anavajjasukha: But all this wealth and these comforts are of no use without the happiness experienced by living a wholesome lifestyle - without harming oneself or another being.

Happiness is a Serious Business When Professor Daniel Kahneman, recipient of the 2002 Nobel Prize in Economics, carried out his large study on happiness, he came across a very interesting finding: American women that took part in the research project reported that sleep quality affects happiness more than their salary.

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As a basis for the new index, the king reconfigured these four basic types into nine specific elements: physical health; a psychologically healthy quality of life; good time management; community & social life; cultural wealth; ecological preservation; universal equal-opportunity education; parity in earnings, and good government. The higher the total score, the higher the level of individual happiness.

Now, after the declaration by a UN conference that countries should include the GNH as part of their development programs and public agendas, concern on an international level for the happiness of the private individual has been noted. Think tanks have been

established in France and the U.K. for the purpose of promoting the principle of individual quality of life, while surveys on personal happiness are carried out in the United States, Canada, Germany and Italy. Brazilian President Dilma Rousseff used the concept of GNH in her election campaign, and the prime minister of India rose to office after his party ran on a platform that stressed happiness for the individual.After the United Nations committee had passed its GNH resolution, New York’s Columbia University published a summary study on current happiness. The findings were not that surprising. The list was headed by northern European countries; Togo

and Sierra Leone were last. Israel was slotted in 14th place, a very respectable showing.

“Forever Happy”“Imagine a beautiful world, somewhat less sad than what it is now, and people walking there with sunlight in their pockets. Imagine a beautiful world, a city within the darkness, a simple world, imagine a touch of happiness.”

These words were written by Israeli singer/composer Shlomo Artzi, and they reflect what we all know. We do not require very much to be happy: some free time; quality fun with friends and family; intimate interludes with our partner; hobbies that enrich our soul, and

help to others.

The Crowne Plaza Chain has raised the “Banner of Happiness” at all its hotels, and its slogan, “Just be Happy,” is part of all its activities, all the time: from the moment you reserve a room via the chain’s Happy Customers Club until your holiday comes to an end. The chain offers personal service by a staff that is aware of guests’ needs and is attentive to them. The food is excellent and diversified, the spas feature a variety of treatments for body and soul, the quality mattresses are your guarantee of a good night’s sleep - and all of this adds up to a true sense of carefree freedom and time devoted to entertainment and fun.

Chef Nir Abutbul

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wheat and grain-rich breads. Moreover, guests are treated to ice cream, watermelon served poolside each afternoon, and a selection of grilled meats from the barbecue bar. The menu at the lobby restaurant has undergone a summer “face-lifting” too, and includes a selection of dishes such as toasts, pastas and salads.

Reflecting a worldwide trend, the poolside ambience at the Crowne Plaza Eilat has been toned down, and now is more tranquil and quiet. Morning activities

include thought games, areas for the entire family and a singer whose job is to add to guests’ pleasure as they take in the sun. Once settled into the hotel, parents can say good-bye to their kids, since the hotel has planned so many activities for its young guests throughout the day. The chain’s summer program has been designed to transform the children into kiddie chefs, outfitted in apron and toque and participating in their very first cooking or baking workshop, under the eye of the Crowne Plaza Eilat’s chef. The hotel is also home to the largest Gymboree

compound of its kind in Eilat, and it features a wide variety of large inflatable objects.There is a climbing wall too, as well as other attractions. Also, a club for children, situated in a room set aside especially for it, features a choice of books and games, as well as a PlayStation and other activities too, all of which take place under the supervision of well-trained counselors. The hotel changes gear in the evening, offering a variety of entertainment programs. The Crowne Plaza Eilat entertainment team takes the stage each evening at 8, with a children’s show.

One hour later, it’s the turn of international stars, and a different show every night - Russian, Chinese, and African circuses - in a surprising, electrifying atmosphere. This is followed by a second show from the hotel’s entertainment team, which also includes rhythm and drumming workshops Then, guests are invited to dance the night away at a swinging dance party.

In Honor of Summer The Crowne Plaza

Eilat offers a special menu for the hot season, as well as a variety of activities especially adapted for summer.

After preparing the world’s largest “hamentash” (a pocket pastry stuffed with jam, fruit and/or nuts and served for the Jewish holiday of Purim), after breaking the Guinness World Records’ mark for the world’s largest gefilte fish (another stalwart of the Jewish holiday kitchen), and after engineering a gigantic pyramid made of matza (unleavened bread), Nir Abutboul, age 43, the executive chef of the Crowne Plaza Eilat, found the time to reach yet one more height, as he prepared the world’s largest blintz (a thin, filled and rolled pancake).

It took 470 eggs, 35 kg of flour, and nine kg of sugar to prepare this huge dish, as well as large quantities of cheese, vanilla, raisins and nuts, a reflection of what Nir means when he says: “I like big things that are pretty and a bit wild.” This may explain why the enormous blintz is

just the “amuse bouche” of a project of his that is no less grandiose. “My dream is for chefs from Jordan and Israel to work in tandem to prepare a really elongated, 150-meter-long ‘Peace blintz,’ the two parts of which would be connected at the border between Jordan and Israel.”

Meanwhile, the original blintz was carved up for guests of the hotel, and some of it

was also donated to Eilat’s golden-age clubs and club for the visually impaired. “It was a project built entirely on cooperation and giving,” Nir says. “Every department - from Maintenance and Housekeeping to the kitchen staff - made a concentrated effort to aid in its success, and contributing part of the food to the community made it even more of an emotional experience.”

Nir lists Parisian and New York restaurants on his resumé, renowned meccas of the culinary art where he studied and served his apprenticeships. He is also the owner of three gold medallions, which he won in cooking competitions. He has been with the Crowne Plaza chain for 10 years, and just two years ago, he packed up his belongings and headed south to Eilat with his wife and three children. “I love this city,” he muses, “the sense of freedom and the peace and quiet here. And above and

beyond all the difficult work, there’s a sense of family here at the hotel that I have never experienced anywhere else in the world.”Making guests happy is just as important to Nir as breaking world records, and therefore, in time for the summer, the hotel’s menus were adapted to reflect the new season and better suit the hot climate. They feature light, healthful dishes, rich in vegetables and low in fat, along with many fish options; a variety of salads; cheeses, ranging in fat content from low to high; health juices, shakes, yogurt and other dairy treats, as well as whole

The Chef’s Corner

For Summer

29Crowne Magazine

Summer of Chefs The phenomenon started on TV and quickly

spread, like melting chocolate: Cooking workshops are constantly gaining in popularity, and they are now presented in the hotel in which you are staying.

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Happiness, with a capital J

Crowne Plaza Jerusalem invites you

to enjoy top class hospitality

and a magnificent view to one

of the world's most prized

metropolitan jewels.

Free shuttle to the city center

at Crowne Plaza Jerusalem

Look us up atCrowne Plaza Israel: Tel Aviv City Center Tel Aviv Jerusalem Haifa Eilat Dead Sea Holiday Inn Ashkelon

Contact your travel agent for more details, or call: Tel: +972-3-5390808 Fax: +972-3-7602035 www.crowneplaza-il.com

Crowne Magazine30

It has been impossible to turn on the TV these past few years without coming across some culinary-themed program. “Master Chef,” the reality cooking competition, has become one of the world’s most viewed shows, and the doings of chefs are no longer reserved for the food columns, but for the gossip pages as well since chefs have gained celebrity status.

That’s why it should come as no surprise that this trend has also taken Israeli youngsters by storm. They’re familiar with all the professional terms, can identify any kitchen utensil and how each is used, and no longer just look on when their parents cook dinner. They roll up their sleeves and know how to do everything by themselves. In case you didn’t believe that young children could be so kitchen proficient, the new Israeli TV series, “Kid Master Chef,” resolves the issue once and for all; and in the wake of the

growing awareness of cuisine, the average age of youngsters taking part in cooking workshops continues to drop. If in the past budding young chefs entered the kitchen under parental supervision alone, cooking workshops are offered nowadays even to kindergarten children, many of whom can teach adults a thing or two about what to do with a potato. They, together with their mothers and fathers, knead bread, prepare sculptures in sugar and dough, and enjoy experimenting and tasting.

And why not? Taste is an acquired sense, and while learning how food is prepared, the youngsters also learn to experience the wonderful world of tastes. In addition, the group workshop experience contributes to their desire to taste and try out new things, since seeing their friends try out unfamiliar tastes motivates them to do so as well.

Summer of ChefsIdentifying this growing trend, the Crowne Plaza & Holiday Inn chain has embarked on special summer activities in its hotels, based on food and cuisine. Starting off in mid-July, “Summer of Chefs” activities are planned for the chain’s hotels in Eilat, Ashkelon, Jerusalem, and the Dead Sea. Every child arriving on holiday at one of the participating hotels will be invited to a special check-in counter located near the reception desk, where he or she will be welcomed with a “Chef ’s Kit” that includes a chef ’s toque, apron and a recipe book (available only in Hebrew). The young guests are invited to color their kits as soon as they get them, as they are told about the workshops and special events in store for them. These include a morning cooking/baking activity that takes place in a special room set aside for this purpose. The actual food is prepared by the kids and the hotel staff will

showcase the dishes they prepare at a dinner in the course of their stay. They will also get to watch a film on the subject of food and take part in rehearsals leading up to a drumming performance using kitchen utensils, and more. In addition, guests in all the hotels will enjoy special surprises during their stay, prepared by the hotels’ chefs.

Special chef dinners are being planned for the chain’s urban properties during the summer, with the participation of some of Israel’s cutting-edge chefs. Dishes designed in the spirit of these guest culinary artists - as well as each chef ’s signature dish - will be prepared by the kitchen staff in each of the participating hotels.

For further details, please contact the chain’s reservations center.

May we all enjoy a delectable summer!

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Situated on the Tel Aviv Promenade and offering enchanting views of the marina and direct access to the beach, the Crowne Plaza Tel Aviv is one of the city’s most sought-after hotels. Loyal to the chain’s high international standards, it offers guests top-quality service, changing its pace in concert with that of the city. Tourists from Israel and abroad frequent the hotel all through the week, but on weekends particularly, enjoying its many advantages: the rooms – some of the largest and most spacious of any hotel in the city; the sensational landscapes as seen through the windows; the swimming pool, open to the sea; the renovated pampering spa, with its fully equipped workout room; and the restaurants offering a diverse and rich menu.

Two executive floors were inaugurated recently in the hotel. Carpenters were brought in from Italy to execute the design of the expansive accommodation units using the finest of raw materials, which they brought with them. The results: rooms with a presence; stately, yet modern.

Two suites are located on the executive floors, and many consider them to be the most beautiful in the city. These fabulous suites are intended for the use of high-ranking dignitaries, which is why they are complemented by stringent security measures, and offer all the services needed, on a level that meets the highest standards.

Guests accommodated on the hotel’s Lifestyle floor enjoy the services of a concierge, ready

to deal personally with guest requests in the shortest possible time and assist them with recommendations for nightlife, entertainment and shopping. He knows about all the important events scheduled for the city; he can arrange reservations to the most “in” restaurants and get good seats to the hottest shows and performances.

A Night in Tel Aviv: The Right Place at the Right TimeWest Rothschild: It seems as though the area between Herzl St. and the Nahalat Binyamin Pedestrian Mall will be one of the city’s most important centers of nightlife this summer. The Breakfast/Milk Club is located at 6 Rothschild; Rothschild 12 is at the address its name proclaims, and Ninouchka is an eclectic resto-bar. Newer

Crowne Plaza Tel Aviv: A True Urban Vacation Directly overlooking the seashore, in a city

highlighted by restaurants, clubs and bars, the Crowne Plaza Tel Aviv enables you to enjoy both worlds.

The Presidential Suite, the Crowne Plaza

Tel Aviv by the Sea

A new Execurive Room, the Crowne Plaza Tel Aviv

by the Sea

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spots include Hadoar (46 Yehuda Halevi St.), Café Europa (9 Rothschild) and Beeper (28 Rothschild). Incidentally, from June to October, between the hours of 6 pm Friday and 6 pm Saturday, Rothschild Blvd. is to be transformed into a pedestrian mall.

The Flea Market: The Jaffa Flea Market is becoming more and more a nightlife center, and this summer too, the “Pishpeshlaila” (the Flea Market at Night), which has become a season tradition, will be held. The hottest places to try are “Italkiya Bapishpishim,” a chef restaurant serving Italian food (16 Olei Tzion) and the Marguza Bar (3 Rabbi Yohanan St.), a bar/club for those in the know.

The City CenterMany small bars are situated in Tel Aviv’s city center neighborhoods, to serve the needs of indolent locals that don’t want to get into their cars. These include the Patio Bar (on the corner of Ben Yehuda and Mapu streets), Hamaoz (on the corner of Bograshov and King George streets), and the Peacock. On the other hand, the city also is home to a number of mega bars, such as the Dizengoff Bar (16 Ben Ami St.), adjacent to Dizengoff Square, and the three-storey Yaya Bar (3 Ben Yehuda St.), with its large outdoor balcony offering a view of the sea. If you are looking for live entertainment, try the Baozen Bar (48 King George St.), which showcases both young

and better-known talent; if dancing’s your thing, Maxim (48 King George St.) and Nylon (99 Dizengoff St.) are two of the more “in” places.

More restaurants in Tel Aviv: Dellal (10 Shabazi St.) has been designed with local Middle Eastern décor; Vicky Christina is a tapas and wine bar in the Hatachana compound; Hamizlala (57 Nahalat Binyamin St.) is a well-received restaurant by celebrity chef Meir Adoni; another chef of local renown, Shaul Ben Aderet, runs the Blue Chicken, situated in the new and prestigious G Center, while celebrity chef Haim Cohen sets the culinary tone at Jaffa-Tel Aviv (98 Yigal Alon St.).

The Crowne Plaza Tel Aviv by the Sea

The 11th Floor Restaurant, Crowne Plaza Tel Aviv City Center, Azrieli Center, the Square Tower (kosher)“The 11th Floor” is a steakhouse located high above the city on the 11th

floor of the prestigious Crowne Plaza Tel Aviv City Center in the Azrieli Center’s Square Tower. The restaurant has been designed as a large open space - white, minimalist and spectacular - and the emphasis here is on high-quality meat prepared correctly in a way that raises each dish to the heights of cuisine. First courses are diverse and impressive, main dishes are carefully chosen and served in large portions with quality side dishes, and a rich selection of desserts is on offer.

For lunch, a prix fixe menu is available, painstakingly crafted with the business person in mind. It too is diverse and includes meat, fish and vegetarian selections, as well as a choice of sushi combinations.

Open: Sunday-Thursday.Afternoon menu served from 12:30-4 pm.Evening menu served from 7-10 pm.Closed Fridays & Saturdays.Tel. (to book private events for up to 80 people): 03-7604777.

Pacific - Crowne Plaza Tel Aviv (kosher)“Pacific” is a kosher bistro that combines exotic touches from Asiatic cuisines with sushi delights. It offers a culinary experience in pleasant surroundings complemented by breathtaking views of the Mediterranean Sea. The restaurant’s intimate décor and the division of its various dining spaces imbue it with a romantic ambience. In addition, a private VIP room is available, suitable for family occasions, business meetings, etc.

Pacific features a rich bar replete with choice alcohol, a broad range of cocktails, and Israeli boutique wines. Open: Sunday-Thursday, 7 pm to midnight. Tel. (to book private events for up to 40 people): 03-9611025.

“Bar 24,” the 11th Floor, sushi, meats & drinks, Crowne Plaza Tel Aviv City Center, Azrieli Center, the Square Tower (kosher)Like every leading Tel Aviv bar, Bar 24, located on the 11th floor of the Crowne Plaza Tel Aviv City Center in the Azrieli Center’s Square Tower, offers an enormous range of both urban and exotic alcoholic beverages alongside excellent Israeli wines. It is designed in prestigious hi-tech style, and its professional barmen offer a warm welcome to visitors and can recommend the very best drinks, along with an assortment of cocktails. Bar 24 also serves meals at the bar : professionally prepared quality sushi, or a selection of meats accompanied by a glass of cold beer on tap.Tel: 03-7774067Open: Sunday-Thursday from 12:30 pm to the last customer.Closed Fridays & Saturdays. Open Saturday evening after sundown and offering a special Saturday evening menu.Tel: 03-7604777.

Confit, the Crowne Plaza Haifa (kosher) Chef Guy Peretz oversees the Crowne Plaza Haifa’s Confit Mediterranean-style chef ’s bistro. The restaurant’s open kitchen encourages diners to observe cooking experts prepare their quality dishes with the utmost precision, right in front of their eyes, using the finest ingredients chosen with meticulous care. The meat is treated as it should be, fish is freshly caught from the Mediterranean Sea, the vegetables are grown in Israel, and extra-fine virgin olive oil is used. The wine list has been assembled with care, and everything is prepared with great love for food and hospitality, making for an unforgettable dining experience.

Enjoy the chef ’s signature dishes, such as Moroccan pastilla, Mediterranean tomato salad, lamb chops, carpaccio flowers, a cornucopia of select meat skewers, and other taste delights. Confit’s dessert menu includes cigars filled with mixed nuts and other snack treats, berry kadaif (a filled dessert made of very

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The Restaurants of Crowne Plaza and Holiday Inn

fine vermicelli-like pastry), and malabi (a Mediterranean almond pudding).

Along with memorable cuisine, the restaurant, a true Mediterranean dining experience, features breathtaking views of lovely Haifa Bay and the boats anchoring in the port.

The ambience exudes comfort, the background music is pleasing, and the service is dedicated and polite - all guaranteed to lift your dining enjoyment to new heights.

Open: Sunday-Thursday, noon to 10:30 pm. Closed Fridays & Saturdays.Confit’s VIP room for up to 24. Special events for groups of up to 120 guests.Tel: 04-6080538.

Gaspatcio - Holiday Inn Ashkelon (kosher) “Gaspatcio,” located in the Holiday Inn Ashkelon, is a restaurant offering Mediterranean cuisine that incorporates characteristic touches from the Moroccan kitchen. The menu is based on the uncompromising use of high-standard ingredients: quality meat, fresh fish, vegetables supplied by the region’s best growers, along with special mixtures of spices purchased and ground according to the directions of Chef Guy Peretz.The successful combination of tasty dishes, unique service, a relaxing atmosphere, and hospitality from the heart has transformed Gaspatcio into a magnet attracting locals, many tourists and guests of the hotel.An afternoon menu is available 12-5 pm.Closed Fridays & Saturdays.Address: 9 Yekutiel Adam St., Ashkelon. Tel. (to book a table or private event): 08-6748888.

Bereshit Restaurant - Crowne Plaza Jerusalem - Lobby (kosher)With its cosmopolitan ambience, “Bereshit,” the lobby restaurant of the Crowne Plaza Jerusalem, attracts government ministers, ambassadors, and members of the Knesset (Israel’s parliament) just about every day.The restaurant offers a diverse dairy menu that includes a selection of salads, toasts, sandwiches, ice creams, pizzas and home-made cakes, along with

a choice of hot, cold and alcoholic beverages.The restaurant offers quiet and intimate sitting areas.Open: Daily 7:30 am to midnight. Tel. 02-6588818.

Sato Bistro - Crowne Plaza Dead Sea (kosher) The “Sato Bistro” restaurant, located in the Crowne Plaza Dead Sea, is a kosher Asian restaurant with fusion touches. The restaurant, a combination of East and West, offers a culinary experience that blends amazing, enticingly tasty dishes with an experience for all the senses. Open: Sunday-Thursday, 6:30-10 pm.Closed Fridays & Saturdays.Private parties can be booked in advance.Tel. for reservations: 08-5791956.

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* Benefit at the chain’s restaurants: To receive the benefit, please go to the Crowne Plaza Israel Facebook page, download the benefit coupon to your cell phone and present it upon paying your bill, at the restaurant of your choiceCity Center: a glass of house wine free of charge, when ordering a starter and main course.Jerusalem: dessert or a glass of house wine, free of charge, when ordering a meal.Haifa: Free dessert when ordering a meal.Ashkelon: Free dessert when ordering a meal.Dead Sea: a bottle of house wine free of charge, when ordering a first course, main course and dessert for two.Tel Aviv: Free dessert when ordering a meal.* The benefit is valid only for restaurant diners paying for their meal.

all_e_July AM

Take a break In the city that never stops

Crowne Plaza Tel Aviv and

Crowne Plaza Tel Aviv City Center invite you

to enjoy an exciting sunny city vacation at one

of the world’s most vibrant and energetic cities

� Free Wi-Fi at Tel Aviv hotels

� Free Shuttle to the beachfront from

Crowne plaza Tel Aviv City Center

Crowne Plaza News

Look us up atCrowne Plaza Israel: Tel Aviv City Center Tel Aviv Jerusalem Haifa Eilat Dead Sea Holiday Inn Ashkelon

Contact your travel agent for more details, or call: Tel: +972-3-5390808 Fax: +972-3-7602035 www.crowneplaza-il.com

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“Excellent location,” “fantastic architecture,” “good food,” “a wonderful hotel for doing business”: just a few of the superlatives lavished upon the Holiday Inn Ashkelon by website TripAdvisor’s reviewers, people that have actually stayed at the hotel. These and other positive comments, many relating to aspects of a hotel designed to offer guests a great hospitality experience, have helped earn it TripAdvisor’s coveted Certificate of Excellence for 2012.Location - that’s where it begins. Just 40 minutes from Tel Aviv, the Holiday Inn Ashkelon was constructed

on a cliff overlooking the Mediterranean Sea, the seaside promenade and the marina. Its unique architectural shape allows for the sea to be visible from all of its large, spacious rooms, which can comfortably sleep a family with two children.The hotel offers everything you can possibly need for a wonderful holiday: green lawns; a large swimming pool; a beach just a “stone’s throw” away; spa and health club; a children’s and youngsters’ club; rich, diversified food that kids also enjoy, and a wealth of attractions in both the hotel and the surrounding area.

Holiday Inn Ashkelon - A Real Family HolidayThough part of the international chain, this Holiday Inn is Israeli through and through. The Holiday Inn Ashkelon is ready for summer. Are you?

As a member of the international Holiday Inn chain, the hotel underwent a process of rebranding recently, reflecting the chain’s worldwide uncompromising standards. Improvements are obvious everywhere: in the rooms and public areas; the lobby and, dining room, and on the grounds. In addition, the intensive training the staff underwent coincided with a period in which important rules defining operations at Holiday Inn properties all over the world were being changed to emphasize personal hospitality, attention to even the smallest details, and a professional and efficient response to every guest query.

A Pleasure Doing Business with YouThe growing number of business people that choose to stay at the Holiday Inn Ashkelon has influenced the management of the hotel to implement a series of significant upgrades, reflecting a global, chain-wide revolution based on stringent standards and designed to make the stay more comfortable and efficient. An upgraded business lounge was inaugurated recently at the hotel, and it is equipped with a sound system, newspapers in various languages, Wi-Fi connectivity, coffee machine, wine, fruit and snacks. An intimate meeting room and office services are available too, according to need.In addition, the entire seventh floor of the hotel

has been transformed into a comprehensively upgraded Business Floor, based on the chain’s new standards.

A Peach of a PropertyMore and more families are beginning to understand that the Holiday Inn Ashkelon suits them to a T, and with family holidaymakers in mind, a unique and wonderful program has been developed for July and August. Stars from Israeli children’s TV will be at the hotel every Tuesday and Saturday afternoon. In addition, fun activities will take place for the youngsters by the kiddie pool, and the hotel will also feature a club for children and teens, “A Star is Born” competitions, well-trained counselors and a broad range of activities. Also, cooking and/or baking workshops are being offered to our young guests, as part of the local chain’s “Summer of Chefs” program.

The new rooms on the 7th floor

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By

Nat

alie

Silv

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Gossip Girl

Back In a Big WayAustralian singer Kylie Minogue celebrated her 44 birthday together with the release of an album of her greatest hits. Minogue, who started out as a TV actress and has been singing for 20 years, also appears in a series of very daring photos in the July issue of Britain’s Glamour magazine which showed that her age has no effect on her whatsoever.

A Growing FamilyVery few people recognized actress Uma Thurman, 42, when she went for a walk in a park in New York in an outfit that did nothing whatsoever for her. But a brief investigation uncovered the fact that Thurman, the star of “Kill Bill,” is at an advanced stage of pregnancy with her third child. The baby is her first with her partner, Australian billionaire Arpad Busson. Thurman had two children with actor Ethan Hawke, while Busson had two children with former Australian supermodel Elle Macpherson.

Happily MarriedCongratulations to Israeli model Esti Ginzburg who married businessman Adi Keizman in June. They performed the wedding ceremony at a private home in Ein Hod, while singer Daniel Solomon sang love songs in the background.

Tying the KnotBad news for any women who fantasized that one day they would marry movie star Matthew McConaughey. After five years of being together with Brazilian model Camila Alves, the couple tied the knot in a secret and intimate wedding attended by family and close friends at McConaughey’s Texas estate. They have two children: Levi, aged four, and

Vida, two and a half.

The Diet Starts TomorrowU.S. reality TV star Kim Kardashian appeared on Jimmy Kimmel’s talk show in a tight leather dress, telling viewers of her relationship with singer Kanye West and her desire to have a baby with him. According to Twitter comments, Kardashian barely managed to fit into the dress, and even had to be helped into it by the show’s production team since she could not zip up the back on her own. Luckily for her, the dress did not burst open when Kardashian sat down on the sofa for the interview with Kimmel.

Kim Kardashian

Esti Ginzburg

Matthew McConaughey

Uma Thurman

Kylie Minogue

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Taking It On The HeadActress Charlize Theron has only just adopted her first son, but is already preparing for her new role in the movie “Mad Max.” As part of the preparation for the film, she had to have her head shaved, which presumably explains the fact that she is wearing hats as part of her normal attire.

Calm Down, AlreadyNot long after Madonna appeared in Israel, where she kicked off her worldwide tour, it seemed that the Queen of Pop has not grasped that she is now 54 years old. Otherwise, it is difficult to understand why she reveals a different part of her anatomy at her shows. In Italy, it was her bottom that she displayed, while in Turkey it was her breast. Dear Madonna – we know that you have the body of a 20-year-old, and a boyfriend of around the same age, but do you have to do a striptease during your shows?

Accidental Blow Sends Singer Ga-gaLady Gaga had only just split up from her boyfriend when she took another blow during a recent show in New Zealand. It happened when one of the dancers accidentally hit her on the head with a column from the stage. The upshot was a concussion for Lady Gaga who did not stop telling the world all about the incident on her Twitter page.

Pool Frolics Stoke SpeculationActress Miley Cyrus is only 19, but has already been with boyfriend Liam Hemsworth for three years and accepted his wedding proposal. However, that did not stop her from having a good time with a good-looking guy at a hotel pool in Miami, which, of course, led to a flood of speculation regarding the state of her relationship with her fiancé.

Making Eyes?Is the new Princess Kate, the bride of Prince William, making eyes at his younger brother, the charming Harry? That is what some of the tabloids in Britain have been saying. The two were seen joking and exchanging comments at one of the many ceremonies held to celebrate the Queen’s 60th anniversary on the throne. It seems a bit unlikely to us, though, especially as Kate and William are set to eventually become king and queen of Great Britain sometime in the future.

Put Something OnThe singer Rihanna is not blessed with great taste when it comes to her wardrobe selection, but went a step even further when she walked around New York wearing a strapless dress that exposed everything that it was meant to cover. The pop star herself did not understand what all the fuss was about – but agreed to throw on something to cover herself up.

Madonna

Lady Gaga

Miley Cyrus

Rihanna

Kate Middelton

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Many visitors regard the southern half of Italy as the most authentic and splendid part of the country, which is why it attracts the many visitors that flock to its main tourism sites mostly during the summer months.The suggested route goes via the Amalfi Coast, which is considered by many as among the five most beautiful journeys in the world, passing via Sorrento to Salerno. It is 60 kilometers in length and passes over cliffs, before dropping down to bays sparkling in the Sun, where it almost touches the sea. The summer town which gives the route its name is Amalfi – an extraordinarily beautiful place located in a steep gorge. With its whitewashed houses and tiny harbor with colorful boats bobbing in the water, it is a sight you won’t forget.At the western end of the coastal route, on a steep cliff, lies the town of Sorrento. As with all the towns in the area, Sorrento has postcard-pretty alleys and charming squares. The main road, Corso Italia, crosses the town, and along its length can be seen the remains of its ancient city walls, its cathedral, and the town’s museum. From its beautiful and large harbor, ferries leave for Capri.

Capri, a small island of just 10 square kilometers, served in the past as a holiday location for members of the aristocracy and is a place that cries out to be visited. After landing on the island, take a boat to the entrance to the Blue Grotto, and after a rowboat tour, take the chairlift

to the observation point – Monte Solaro on the island’s tallest peak. Following that, you can walk around the town of Capri or explore nearby surroundings.The capital of southern Italy is Naples, and its old-timers came up with the expression: “See Naples and die.” Naples is a colorful, vibrant and noisy city that won’t let you ignore it or pass it by. We recommend that you visit the main promenade and the nearby gardens, view the city’s famous bay, wander around the old city, and enjoy a meal at one of the restaurants in the fishermen’s port. Afterwards, take a walk along the beach to beautiful Palazzo Reale, and do some shopping in the prestigious nearby Umberto Uno mall. A 30-kilometer drive from Naples is another beautiful city – Caserta. In the city is the Palazzo Reale, built by a local king in order to show members of his family that he could construct a wondrous palace even more extraordinary that Versailles, and the result is, indeed, wondrous.

Crowne Plaza and Holiday Inn hotels in Southern ItalyBecause the distance between the area’s beautiful places of interest is not that great, it is worth staying at one hotel during your vacation in the area and visiting the sites as daily excursions. It is possible to make reservations directly with the hotel on the Internet: www.ichotelsgroup.com; Tel: 180-945-3716, or call the hotel directly.

Istockphoto Rome and the South of ItalyIn the southern half of Italy, there is a pearl to be discovered, with sea views, cliffs, wonderful beaches, picture-postcard towns, amazing sunsets, a Mediterranean climate and delicious food.

The managers of the Crowne Plaza Tel Aviv City Center hotel were taken on an excursion to southern Italy. They enjoyed a week of tours, marveling at the amazing views and visiting Naples, Caserta, Sorrento, the Amalfi coast and the island of Capri. The managers were taken on tours of a pasta factory and a dairy plant that makes Mozzarella cheese. They also participated in a cookery workshop where they prepared their own dinner.

Crowne Plaza Stabiae Sorrento Coast Tel: +972-39-081-394-6700

Holiday Inn Salerno – Cava De TirreniTel: +972-39-089-213-2401

Holiday Inn, NaplesTel: +972-39-081-225-0111

Crowne Plaza CasertaTel: +972-39-081-2250111

Shutterstock

Rome, the Spanish Steps

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The Dead Sea: It’s Not Just the Lowest Place on Earth

Man has been making history at the Dead Sea from as far back as ancient times. Our prehistoric ancestors scampered over the cliffs; Abraham, the biblical patriarch, engaged regional kings in battle, and, the Book of Genesis tells us, Lot’s wife was turned into a pillar of salt. King David fled to the region for refuge, King Herod constructed palaces here, the perfumes produced in the area back then sold for a king’s ransom and the Essenes, a Jewish cult, lived a hermit’s existence in the Judean Desert caves. The region was captured over and over and over again - by the Persians, Arabs, Crusaders, Mamelukes, Turks, and finally by the British. All have left their mark, and signs of their fascinating cultures.

The Dead Sea’s location, weather, and salt always were the main motivating factors for people to live in or visit the area. Now too, these Dead Sea qualities continue attracting tens of thousands of tourists. The sun, which shines down on the sea 340 days annually, bathes sun worshippers with its ultra violet rays, filtered on their way down into the atmosphere. This makes them safe for sun bathing and for acquiring a lovely, healthful tan in moderation, and for treating skin diseases.

The Dead Sea waters also have therapeutic benefits. Studies have proven that water with high salinity levels can affect inner skin layers and help to heal or at least palliate skin diseases. Moreover, many minerals are found in the Dead Sea, including magnesium, phosphorus, and bromine, all of which are beneficial to people with high blood pressure. It has also been discovered that Dunaliella

salina, a small single-cell microorganism that is a source for beta-carotene and Vitamin A, essential for maintaining good health, lives in these salty waters.The air, too, is beneficial, clean and free of contaminants like dust and additional allergens, and, therefore, has a healthful effect on people with respiratory problems. Humidity is very low here; since the Dead Sea is at the lowest point on the face of the globe, the barometric pressure is relatively high and air is richer in oxygen than elsewhere. All of these contribute to the health of people visiting in the area.

Crowne Plaza Dead Sea: Enjoying All the AdvantagesThe Crowne Plaza Dead Sea does everything to offer its guests all the Dead Sea’s advantages, served up in prestigious wrapping and in a tranquil and coddling ambience. The hotel beachfront is a real gem, featuring sand trucked in from afar, a bridge

leading into the water, beach showers, unique sun shades, sunbeds and attractive sitting areas. The hotel’s Dead Sea spa, one of the largest and most luxurious in the area, includes a swimming pool, sulfur pool, sauna and 100 different massage and treatment options.

New at the Crowne Plaza Dead SeaWork was completed recently on renovating the hotel. As part of this program, the hotel’s two executive floors were rebuilt completely, including the beautiful and expansive Presidential Suite. Improvements included changing all the rooms’ systems from A to Z, importing furniture from Italy, and punctilious planning by Interior Designer Buki Zucker, who also headed up the refurbishing efforts. The result: some of the most modern rooms available in the Dead Sea region, outfitted with exceptional taste.