ACCLAIMED AUTHOR, THOMAS KENEALLY TO HEADLINE "THE AUTHOR'S TALE" AT THE TENNESSEE WILLIAMS / NEW ORLEANS LITERARY FESTIVAL
The Chic Tourism Collection is proud to announce that the prize-winning author, Thomas Keneally will headline The Author's Tale, the first program in The Chic CULTURAL Collection, one of six featured in the company's travel anthology.
"An Evening With Thomas Keneally" in New Orleans is one of the many thrilling and exclusive experiences guests will enjoy in The Author's Tale, which incorporates the 2012 Tennessee Williams / New Orleans Literary Festival and other literary-themed venues in New York and Beverly Hills.
"I am delighted to be visiting New Orleans again to speak about books and writing with The Chic Tourism Collection. I am also excited about attending the Tennessee Williams / New Orleans Literary Festival, which connects major writers from throughout the world," says author, Thomas Keneally.
Winner of the prestigious Man-Booker Prize for Schindler's Ark (later republished as Schindler's List, which was adapted into the Academy Award-winning film by producer/director, Steven Spielberg), Mr. Keneally was also shortlisted for The Chant of Jimmy Blacksmith, Gossip From The Forest, and Confederates and twice won the Miles Franklin Literary Award for The Widow and Her Hero and Three Cheers for the Paraclete. His more recent titles include Searching for Schindler: A Memoir and Australians: Origins to Eureka."We are honoured to have Thomas Keneally host an exclusive dinner in New Orleans. Not only is Mr. Keneally an Australian icon and giant in modern literature, he is one of the few world-acclaimed authors who can eloquently engage his audience on the correlation between words, language and historic themes in literature and enrich the minds of his readers through his impressive body of work," says Elizabeth Laursen, Executive Director, The Chic Tourism Collection.
Throughout the festival The Chic Tourism Collection guests will enjoy the VIP literary parties, panel discussions, writing workshops and literary readings with the guest authors along with other events relating to American literature and the arts. Other prize-winning authors and playwrights who have attended the festival over the past few years include Robert Olen Butler (A Good Scent from a Strange Mountain), Michael Cunningham (The Hours), Edward Albee (Who's Afraid Virginia Woolf), Margaret Atwood (Alias Grace), Richard Ford (The Sports Writer and Independence Day) and historian, Stephen Ambrose.
Complementing the event are a number of sumptuous dining experiences and a luxurious six-night stay at International House, one of New Orleans' finest properties located near the French Quarter.
"THE AUTHOR'S TALE"
Priced at $ 13,100 per person, double occupancy or $ 14,990 per person, single occupancy, the 11 day / 10 night travel experience commences in New Orleans, Louisiana, on March 20, 2012 and concludes in Beverly Hills, California, on March 30, 2012.The Author's Tale features an exclusive event with author, Thomas Keneally, a host of VIP receptions and literary events at the Tennessee Williams / New Orleans Literary Festival and a surprise cocktail reception in New York, five-star dining at Bayona, Commander's Palace and Broussard's in New Orleans, dinner at Daniel - one of New York's most lauded cuisine experiences, fine dining at Wolfgang Puck's new five-star establishment at Hotel Bel Air, cocktails at the Beverly Hills Hotel's famous The Polo Lounge, night time jazz at Preservation Hall and a Broadway show and dinner.
The travel experience also includes six nights accommodation at the luxury boutique hotel, International House, three nights accommodation at New York's Midtown boutique property, The Muse, one night's accommodation at the luxurious Montage Beverly Hills – a Preferred Hotels & Resorts property, daily breakfast including a lavish brunch at Brennans in New Orleans, a walking tour of New Orleans' Garden District, a nighttime New Orleans Ghost Tour, high-tea at Lady Mendl's in Gramercy Park, a New York Museum Pass and an Edith Wharton literary walk in Gramercy Park, economy flights from New Orleans to New York and Los Angeles, taxes, porterage and meal gratuities, airport, hotel and venue transfers.
In New Orleans, The Chic Tourism Collection can arrange an optional airboat trip to Jean Lafitte Swamp in Louisiana's backcountry, a Steamboat Natchez Harbour Jazz Cruise or an excursion to Oak Alley Plantation on Louisiana's historic River Road, in the 'shadow of the slave master.'
"The Author's Tale is truly a magnificent cultural journey and once-in-a-lifetime experience that is exclusive to The Chic Tourism Collection, where guests meet and interact with the world's most celebrated authors; most notably with Thomas Keneally at an private dinner in New Orleans," adds Ms. Laursen.
In addition to enjoying a variety of 'Chic' travel experiences and program surprises, The Author's Tale has been customised so that guests have personal time to explore New York and New Orleans at their leisure including the bustling downtown district of Manhattan, the jazz bars and antique shops that flank the French Quarter and the literary establishments that were once home to playwright, Tennessee Williams and authors, William Faulkner, Truman Capote, John Kennedy Toole, Elmore Leonard, Anne Rice and Lillian Hellman.
The Author's Tale caters for small groups of up to a maximum of 20 travellers over the age of 18 years, and will be expertly hosted with a guaranteed departure. Packaged as a 'land-only' experience so guests can choose to fly with their preferred airline carrier, the fully-escorted 'Chic' program can be personally customised to include pre or post travel itineraries and international flights in conjunction with the company's licensed travel partner, Momento Travel Services.
The Author's Tale's is price-guaranteed until December 15, 2011 and all bookings must be confirmed by February 10, 2012 (terms and conditions apply).
For further information on The Chic Tourism Collection's 2012/2013 travel anthology -
Email: travel@thechictourismcollection.com
Website: www.thechictourismcollection.com
Facebook: www.facebook.com/thechictourismcollection
ABOUT THE CHIC TOURISM COLLECTION:
The Chic Tourism Collection is an independent, boutique tourism operator based in Sydney, Australia, which was first established nearly two decades ago as a destination marketing and media company. Its special interest travel division was created in 2010 to showcase some of the world's finest travel and cultural experiences via the talented creators at the core of fashion industry, the arts (film and literature) and wildlife conservation.
Featuring incomparable and bespoke travel experiences in six 'Chic' collections – The Chic LUXURY Collection, The Chic DELUXE Collection, The Chic CULTURAL Collection and The Chic SPORTS Collection, The Chic GASTRONOMY Collection, The Chic WILDERNESS Collection – each program has been meticulously produced so that every journey is exclusive, evocative and unforgettable.
The Chic Tourism Collection's hospitality partners have earned the highest levels of professional recognition, with each selected by the Chic team for their dazzling locations, luxury amenities, exemplary service delivery and environmental conservation policies (in South Africa). The company's program partners in Australia and New Zealand include Preferred Hotels & Resorts, Preferred Boutique Hotels, Baglioni Hotels and Dorchester Collection.
