In addition to the permanent collection of artwork and sculpture adorning Le Pavillon des Lettres, the literary-themed hotel, located just off Paris’ Champs Elysées, has launched an ongoing art series that will showcase collections of original artwork on a rotating basis.

The first installation features the photographs of local Parisian photographer, Blaise Lavigne, and can be viewed (and purchased) from now through June 10. The artwork is dotted among the hotel’s public spaces, seamlessly blending with the décor.

Lavigne’s exhibit, entitled Correspondences, features 25 stunning portraits of readers – a perfect complement to the literary atmosphere of Le Pavillon des Lettres. Like all of his work, Lavigne’s images play on light and form, creating a sense of fragility and dream-like elegance.

Following Lavigne’s exhibit, Le Pavillon des Lettres will feature Jean-Daniel Henry’s photography collection, “Les portraits dans le Noir” (portraits in the dark) from September 6 through December 31.

For more information about Le Pavillon des Lettres, visit www.pavillondeslettres.com or call 33 (01) 49 24 26 26.

For more information about Lavigne’s work visit www.blaiselavigne.com.

About Le Pavillon des Lettres

Opened in November 2010, the boutique luxury hotel combines arts, literature and fine design, with each of its 26 rooms devoted to a letter of the alphabet and an international writer corresponding to that letter. Think H for Hugo or B for Baudelaire. Text from the corresponding author’s book, poem or play is painted above the bed and a hard copy of the piece can be found on the nightstand, right next to the iPad in each room – loaded with international bestsellers and playlists from jazz to classical and beyond. The two top floor penthouse suites offer sweeping views of the Eiffel Tower and the Grand Palais.

The annual Nantucket Film Festival will take place on idyllic Nantucket Island June 20 – 24, and will feature an expanded lineup of films and programs. Celebrating its 17^th year, the Nantucket Film Festival is one of the premiere destination film festivals in the world offering preview screenings and signature discussions.

Ben Stiller returns to present the All-Star Comedy Roundtable. The conversation series, “In their Shoes,” will be hosted by journalist Chris Matthews; and Glee’s Mike O’Malley will lead “Late Night Story Telling.”  Jerry Seinfeld and Seth Meyers are but two of the star-studded names who have taken part in previous years’ events. The five-day event also features family film tickets starting at $10 per person. More guest and film announcements will be made on April 24.

Stay tuned for weekend packages including tickets and accommodations from the White Elephant, which has been a major sponsor of the Nantucket Film Festival and was recently voted Conde Nast Traveler’s “Top 200 Best Hotels in the U.S.”. Packages will also be offered at other Nantucket Island Resort properties: White Elephant Hotel Residences, The Cottages & Lofts at the Boat Basin, Jared Coffin House, and The Wauwinet.

To purchase tickets visit www.NantucketFilmFestival.org or to book a stay visit www.nantucketislandresorts.com.

Royal Mansour Marrakech will welcome local Moroccan artist Hicham Benohoud starting March 3. Born in Marrakech, Benohoud bases his work on the familial, religious, and hierarchical structures of his culture.

Benohoud’s exhibit, entitled La Salle de Classe, features striking black and white photos of local students during the school day. The images reflect the provocative sensibility that permeates much of his work. Despite their haunting quality, the images in La Salle de Classe are beautiful, otherworldly, and not to be missed.

This exhibit is part of the property’s ongoing commitment to showcasing top local artists. These temporary exhibits join the hotel’s permanent art collection of over 80 contemporary Moroccan artists. The artwork is dotted among the hotel’s public spaces and private riads, seamlessly blending with the stunning Moroccan décor.

For more information about Royal Mansour Marrakech, please visit their new website, www.royalmansour.com.

About Royal Mansour Marrakech

From the black marble road leading to the entrance to the 500 staff members, Royal Mansour is everything short of staying at a palace.  Built into the media wall, the expansive property covers over eight acres, comprising 53 individual riads, the product of exquisite handiwork.  Extravagantly luxe, each riad (ranging in size from 1,400 square feet to 19,375 square feet) showcases Moroccan splendor: hand-done tile work and mosaics cover courtyard floors and riad walls while interiors are furnished with handcrafted wood and antique furniture.  The top local craftsmen were recruited, and their level of skill and attention to detail literally make the property a work of art.  Royal Mansour Marrakech was carefully designed to represent traditional aesthetics. The 53 riads are true to the classic riad style, configured around a central, open-air courtyard with few openings to the outside. Around this is a bar, living area, and, in some cases, a dining room; first floors house bedrooms that overlook the private courtyard below; and roof terraces with sun beds and private pools provide stunning views of Marrakech or the Atlas mountains.  The estate’s landscape is dotted with imported ancient palm and olive trees ranging in age from three to seven centuries in addition to grenadine trees surrounding the entrance and orange trees outside the spa.  The spa is 27,000 square feet and has 13 treatment rooms, which include six rooms for a specific treatment, three spa suites and four multi-purpose cabins. The spa also contains a fitness center, a gymnastics area for Pilates and Yoga, a salon, and an indoor swimming pool.  Additionally there are two Hammams (ladies and gentlemen) each with three areas (hot, warm and cold in each).  One also has a water bath, and another has a balneotherapy tub and a yoga space.  Products lines include Maroc Maroc, Dr. Hauschka, and Sisley. The two main fine-dining restaurants represent the predominant cultures in Morocco: Moroccan, of course, and French. La Grande Table Marocaine is draped in honeyed tones, with low seats and benches and a soundtrack of local music. La Grande Table Française’s elegant white décor, accented with veils of silver thread and crystal chandeliers, showcases French glamour.

Rates for a full individual riad start from €1,650 per night.

Those interested in attending the festival should consider booking a stay at the luxurious Royal Mansour. The property’s dedication to the arts as well as its close proximity to the festival, located inside the Medina walls, makes it the perfect choice.

Run by the AiM Association, a non-profit organization based in Morocco, the Biennale is held every two years. This year, The Marrakech Biennale will take place from February 29 – March 4 and will mark the opening of the Main Visual Arts Exhibitions, which will be open through June 3. For art, film, and literature lovers, there couldn’t be a better time to visit the beautiful city of Marrakech and see a society truly embrace freedom of expression and address social issues through the arts.

The Metropolitan Museum of Art’s Islamic galleries, which opened in November, have drawn staggering crowds that surpassed all expectations. The collection, dating back to the seventh century, reflects the incredible diversity of Islam and includes works of art from Spain, Morocco, Turkey, Iran, and Asia.

In the very heart of the new galleries, guests will find a medieval Maghrebi-Andalisian-style courtyard, a major feature of Moroccan and southern Spanish Islamic architecture that serves as a physical and spiritual center in the traditional riads and mosques of Marrakech.

The overwhelming attendance of the new Islamic galleries speaks to the elegance and stunning beauty of Islamic art. For enthusiasts, a trip to Royal Mansour Marrakech would not only give a sense of context to The Metropolitan Museum of Art’s Islamic galleries, but would expand upon the profound beauty of this art. A tribute to Moroccan elegance, Royal Mansour Marrakech was carefully designed to represent traditional aesthetics with glamorous style. Royal Mansour’s 53 riads are true to the classic technique, configured around a central, open-air courtyards, and truly embody the Moroccan art de vivre.

Rates for a full individual riad start from €1,650 per night.

For more information about Royal Mansour Marrakech, please visit their new website, www.royalmansour.com.

Following the success of its inaugural art exhibit earlier this summer, Royal Mansour Marrakech is showcasing another local artist, Youssef Titou.  The exhibit, entitled Fragments of Space, opens on October 1 and will be on display through November 30. Titou uses an assortment of techniques to create his exceptionally evocative and abstract images that are based on the elements of space.

Titou, a native of Fez, follows the showcase of French-Moroccan photographer, Leila Alaoui.  Royal Mansour will continue to welcome the country’s top artists bimonthly, providing a unique platform to showcase their works.

These temporary exhibits join the hotel’s permanent art collection of over 80 contemporary Moroccan artists. The artwork is dotted among the hotel’s public spaces and private riads, seamlessly blending with the property’s stunning Moroccan décor.

For more information about Royal Mansour Marrakech, please visit their new website, www.royalmansour.com.

Considered one of the world’s greatest theatrical festivals, not to mention the longest running in France, the Festival d’Avignon marks its 64th anniversary this summer! From choreographed dances to modern plays, the festival is sure to suit any art lover’s fancy. Taking place July 2-26, with over 35 performances in the beautiful Cour d’Honneur of the Pope’s Palace and multiple other outdoor venues, it’s hard not to get lost in the location’s rich history. This year’s shows include such works as La Paranoia by Elise Vigier and Marcial Di Fonzo Bo, Child by Boris Charmatz, and I Am the Wind directed by Patrice Chereau. (Click here for a complete list of programming.) Ticket prices range from free to €38 (approximately $54), allowing everyone an opportunity to participate in this historic event!

Need a place to stay?

Hotel Crillon le Brave, a mere 26 miles away, is the perfect place for festival goers to rest their heads. The property offers seven beautifully restored 16th and 17th century stone houses, accented by cobblestone walkways and hidden courtyards. When not immersing in theatrical performances, relax back at the hotel while sipping wine at the Grange bar, pedaling through the olive groves on complimentary bikes, or joining in a cooking demonstration with new head Chef John Ellis.

The hotel’s concierge is happy to assist with transportation arrangements and booking tickets to the Festival d’Avignon. Rates start at €290 (approximately $416) per night.

Music festivals, world-class opera, hiking, biking, museum hopping, unique culinary adventures and art shopping – Santa Fe has plenty to offer this summer! Recently nominated by Travel + Leisure as one of “America’s Favorite Cities,” Santa Fe invites travelers from around the world to dive into its unique culture and exciting history.

Right in the heart of the city is the Inn on the Alameda, a charming, cozy inn as rich in history as the city itself. Located just steps away from some of Santa Fe’s most exciting attractions, the inn maintains a secluded serenity throughout its stone courtyards and peaceful patios. Authenticity radiates from the handcrafted finishes, adobe walls and southwestern décor, reflecting the essence of “the city different.”

Whether a relaxing getaway or adventurous fun in the Southwest sun, Santa Fe has it all!

For more activities in Santa Fe, visit the Convention and Visitors Bureau web site: http://santafe.org/perl/page.cgi?g=1067

Capture the beauty and essence of majestic mountains, lush forests and ancient monasteries on a seven day tour through scenic Bhutan. COMO Uma Paro Resort is offering this amazing “Through a Lens” excursion June 22^nd-29^th. The unique experience is available to photographers of all skill levels, as guests will be guided by a skilled photographer through the distinctly different valleys of Paro and Punakha for a series of location shoots and once-in-a-lifetime moments to be caught on film.

After long days of capturing the splendor of Bhutan, guests will return to their comfortable lodgings at Uma Paro and a charming hotel in Punakha with accommodations provided on a full board basis. Guests can also enjoy complementary use of the swimming pool, library and gym at Uma Paro, as well as a 1-hour daily Yoga class.

For more information and a full itinerary, visit http://bit.ly/lgOLGo.

Following this inaugural exhibition (up until the end of June), Royal Mansour will continue to welcome the country’s top artists to the hotel, providing a unique platform to showcase their works to the hotel’s international clientele. These temporary exhibits will join the permanent art collection of the hotel, scattered among the public spaces and the riads, of 80 contemporary Moroccan artists.