One of the worlds leading groups of unique independent hotels, WORLDHOTELS, is pleased to present its top four Christmas destinations. To coincide with Christmas markets opening across Europe this weekend, WORLDHOTELS is offering special deals in magical destinations including Prague, Gothenburg, Vienna and Lucerne. All hotels and their Christmas offers can be booked online at worldhotels.com.

Prague, Czech Republic With the Czech capitals castle and Charles Bridge blanketed in snow, this is a great time to visit Prague. The Christmas markets are some of the most charming in Europe: brightly lit wooden huts sell original handicrafts, local specialties including Trdelniks, Czech pastries and warming mulled wine, as well as scented candles and hand-made jewellery. Visitors to Prague can choose from exclusive seasonal offers at the following WORLDHOTELS properties (all prices are per night based on two people sharing a double room): Grand Majestic Plaza from EUR 86; Hotel Leonardo from EUR 92; Art Deco Imperial Hotel from EUR 110; Grand Hotel Bohemia from EUR 116; and Buddha-Bar Hotel Prague from EUR 258. For more information on WORLDHOTELS properties in Prague, visit www.worldhotels.com/hotels-in-prague.

Gothenburg, Sweden Despite the long Scandinavian nights, Gothenburg is anything but dark during the holiday season. The streets are decorated with thousands of twinkling Christmas lights, creating a magical glow across the city. At the Liseberg amusement park, guests will find the largest Christmas market in Scandinavia: 80 stalls selling traditional crafts, gingerbread, and glögg, Swedish mulled wine. In the city centre, visitors will love the ice skating rink where skaters all wear red Santa suits. The following WORLDHOTELS properties offer special seasonal rates (all prices are per night based on two people sharing a double room): Hotel Gothia Towers from SEK 795 (approx. EUR 79); Hotell Liseberg Heden from SEK 995 (approx. EUR 95); Hotel Riverton from SEK 1.195 (approx. EUR 119); and Landvetter Airport Hotel from SEK 1.195 (approx. EUR 119).

Lucerne, Switzerland As one of the most beautiful cities in Switzerland, Lucerne has a special charm during the Christmas season. Visitors should not miss the Christkindlimarkt which takes place in the old central railway station. The magically decorated huts offer Swiss handicrafts and culinary specialties. Children will enjoy the merry-go-round and may get a chance to meet Santa Claus, if visiting on December 6th. One of the great highlights is the Lucerne Christmas Concert on December 19th and 20th. Visitors to the city can choose from special seasonal offers at the following WORLDHOTELS properties (all prices are per night based on two people sharing a double room): Hotel Continental-Park from CHF 255 (approx. EUR 167); Grand Hotel National from CHF 254 (approx. EUR 168); and Hotel des Balances from CHF 259 (approx. EUR 171);

Vienna, Austria One of Viennas main winter attractions is its Magic of Advent with the Christmas Market centred around City Hall. This year, it boasts over 140 stalls selling Christmas gifts and mouth-watering delicacies. Meanwhile the Rathaus Park near the fair is transformed into a magical winter wonderland, where visitors can enjoy a romantic Advent stroll. The following WORLDHOTELS properties offer special seasonal rates (all prices are per night based on two people sharing a double room): Hotel Bellevue from EUR 99; Flemings Hotel Wien Westbahnhof from EUR 109; Hotel Kummer from EUR 129; and Hotel de France from EUR 210.

For those who are looking for a special Christmas shopping experience, three WORLDHOTELS properties in Vienna offer a very special treat: former New York stylist Lucie Lamster-Thury will take guests off the beaten path to the best boutiques and give background information on the shops and the designers. The Shopping with Lucie package is available at Hotel Erzherzog Rainer from 298 EUR; Hotel am Parkring from 332 EUR and Hotel Stefanie from 298 EUR. The offer includes two nights accommodation, daily breakfast, Christmas menu, 2½ hours Shopping with Lucie tour (Thursday to Saturday only; in English language) or a ticket to a Mozart or Strauss Concert.

More Christmas offers can be found at www.worldhotels.com/christmas-europe.

Ends

Note to editors:

About WORLDHOTELS WORLDHOTELS is an exclusive collection of the world's most unique independent hotels. Under the banner "Unique Hotels for Unique People", it now has almost 500 affiliate properties in more than 300 destinations and 70 countries worldwide. For nearly 40 years, the company's mission has been to offer business and leisure travellers easy access to a wide range of accommodation options with a strong emphasis on hotels of character and distinction. WORLDHOTELS' guests benefit from an extensive portfolio of partnerships, including frequent flyer programmes from 18 of the world's leading international airlines, including Air France/KLM, United Airlines, Cathay Pacific and Lufthansa. Through state-of-the-art distribution and technology and global marketing campaigns, WORLDHOTELS gives independent hotels the collective strength of a strong, global hotel brand whilst still allowing them to retain their strong individual character and unique identity.

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For further information visit worldhotels.com.

Issued on behalf of WORLDHOTELS by Grebstad Hicks Communications.

For further information, please contact:

Grebstad Hicks Communications Ms. Carol Kong Tel: 852 2810 0532 E-mail: carol.kong@ghcasia.com

WORLDHOTELS Mr. Roland Jegge Tel: 65 6227 5535 E-mail: rjegge@worldhotels.com