After 3 years and close to $400 million dollars worth of renovation, the world famous Plaza Hotel is up and running again. For a time, it looked as though the historic hotel would be completely transformed into condos. However, preservationists, New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg, and lovers of the hotel fought to maintain at least some semblance of the Hotel in tact.

The fight paid off, and you can now enjoy a night’s stay in one of the Plaza’s newly renovated rooms for about $1,000 and you can once again take afternoon tea in the Palm Court…

Things are heating up in Las Vegas, and with the higher temperatures come some great deals on luxury travel. The hotels on the Strip want you to come spend your hard earned cash, and they’re willing to thrown some perks your way to get you in the door.

Keep reading to see the latest offers from the Luxor, and book by April 11th to take advantage of their deals…

With Open Skies flights just days away, we thought it would be a good idea to take a look at the international business class of one of the airlines that is expanding its presence in the US. KLM Royal Dutch Airlines is starting direct flights to/from DFW and along with SkyTeam partners like Northwest Airlines, they are creating easier connections for Americans looking to travel to Europe.

KLM international business class offers many of the comforts and amenities we’re used to seeing from European and US-based carriers. Keep reading to see what you can expect if you take a flight a long haul flight in KLM Royal Dutch Airlines business class…

bmi has launched an airfare sale featuring reduced prices on business class airline tickets to Manchester, London, and onto Scotland. The highlight of this airfare sale, and what separates it from most of the transatlantic airfare sales we’ve seen lately, is the range of travel dates it offers. You have to book your flight by April 10th, but the deals are good for travel from May 7th to December 31st.

You can’t procrastinate too long, or you’ll miss your chance to book, but you have the option of flying to the UK for spring, summer, fall, or winter. Keep reading to see some sample business class airfares available from bmi…

All International First Class cabins are not created equal. Before you get ready to spend your money on added luxury, amenities, and service, you might want to get an overview of what you can expect seat-wise from the different airlines.

Luckily, the folks at SeatGuru have created an easy-to-use comparison chart for international first class seats. Here’s a glimpse of what you can expect from most major airlines when you choose to sit up front on a long-haul flight…

Forbes takes a look (on this video) at some of the perks all-business class providers are offering passengers, and gives their opinion on which airlines you should seek out when heading to specific destinations in Europe.

Keep reading to see some of the amenities that made the list, because if you want to take a helicopter to the airport or hop on a private jet for a connecting flight, you’ll find exactly what you’re looking for…

Earlier this week, we highlighted Continental Airlines’ business class airfare to Europe. We also looked at some of the cheap business class flights on British Airways.

Continental Airlines has offered this airfare sale regularly for the last six years or so, and the deals are always good. Some of Continental’s European competitors have regularly matched (or come relatively close) to matching airline ticket prices on several routes, as well. But, as Joe Brancatelli points out on Joe Sent Me, for some reason this year the Continental airfare sale seems to lack some of the excitement it’s had in the past…

Over the last few weeks, we’ve highlighted international business class flights on several US-based airlines. This week, we wanted to take a look at what British Airways has to offer.

BA has plans to challenge business-class only carriers like eos and SilverJet with business class-only offerings of their own. However, they are also rolling out a new Club World business class cabin that aims to change the way business class travelers look at luxury…

Yesterday, we highlighted some low business class airfares to London from British Airways. Well, if London isn’t your ideal destination for a European vacation, Continental Airlines can get you to a range of other cities in business class for less.

You’ll find airline tickets for as low as $799+ each-way to cities in Spain, Norway, Switzerland, Italy, Ireland, and more. Keep reading for booking details…

For those of you who want to fly to London in added comfort and style, British Airways is offering reduced summer airfare from several departure cities throughout the US. Their WorldClub business class offers dedicated check-in, gourmet meals, flat beds, personal entertainment options, and much more.

Once you’re in London, you can keep living it up for less. BA is offering a 15% discount on all of the 4-star and 5-star hotels in the city of you book through them.

Keep reading for booking details and sample airfare from British Airways…

We’ve all heard of “time shares” where you buy a couple of weeks in a condo/house for vacations.

But have you heard of the elegant big sister to time shares? We’re talking “destination clubs” and they are really special.

If you have an extra million dollars hanging around, or you just want to dream, keep reading!

Last week, we took a look at the business class luxury on L’Avion. Well, the French-based carrier is making a push to get American business travelers to take notice.

Recent PR from L’Avion highlights everything from their bilingual staff to the comfort and cuisine that they feel sets them apart from other international business class carriers, big and small.

Keep reading for a taste of that je ne sais quois that makes L’Avion different…

We continue our look at international business class offerings this week with American Airlines. American’s “Flagship Experience” on International Business Class and First Class is designed to provide travelers with easy check-in, access to lounges in airports all over the world, and luxury that goes beyond that of standard business class cabins.

Of course, most airlines make these claims, so let’s take a look at what you can expect if you fly international business class on American Airlines…

Porter Airlines is a Canadian-based carrier that hopes to change the way American business travelers think about economy class.

Starting March 31st, Porter Airlines will be bringing their brand of “stylish short-haul service” to the US with seven daily roundtrip flights between Toronto City Centre Airport (TCCA) and Newark Liberty International Airport.

Porter offers a range of amenities that you won’t find on standard economy class flights…

As part of their latest airfare sale, Virgin America is offering deals on first class flights along several of their West Coast routes.

Virgin America prides itself on the luxury of its first class. Massage chairs, a range of entertainment options, and outlets for your laptop are just a few of the first class perks you can expect. If you’re flying first class out of SFO, you can now utilize the Virgin Atlantic Clubhouse, as well.

Keep reading for sample first class airfare on Virgin America…

It’s time to fly first class for less than coach again with a Y-Up airfare. Delta Air Lines is offering a Y-Up airfare (technically an H-Up on Delta) from Phoenix to Seattle for $426+ R/T for travel dates in mid-March.

As a point of reference, flying coach from Phoenix to Seattle on the same day on Delta could cost you as much as $515+ R/T. So, why not fly in style for less?

Keep reading for booking details and for information on how to fly first class for less than coach from your home airport…

Virgin Atlantic is following up it’s bio-fuel jumbo jet flight with a new green offering. This one is targeted directly at VIPs and luxury travelers.

The limousine service provided by Virgin Atlantic to certain “very important people,” will no longer feature gas-guzzling monsters. Instead, the carrier plans on switching to more environmentally-friendly fuel cell limos from GM…

Last week, we took a look at the perks of international business class flights on United Airlines. Let’s keep things going with a look at what Delta Air Lines offers its international business class travelers.

Like many international business class programs, Delta’s BusinessElite service starts before you ever step on the plane. You can enjoy priority check in and spend your time before the flight relaxing at Delta’s Crown Room Club lounge.

One of Delta’s goals is to get their international business class passengers checked in and boarded on the plane quickly. Once onboard, those passengers can start taking full advantage of BusinessElite…

You don’t even have to step on the plane to start enjoying that perks that come with flying first class on Virgin America. As part of their continued effort to separate themselves from the competition, Virgin America has now opened up their SFO Virgin Atlantic Clubhouse to travelers flying first class on Virgin America.

A trip to the SFO Virgin Atlantic Clubhouse will cost you $40 per visit, but if you’re looking to escape the hustle and bustle of SFO, it should be well worth it. Keep reading for a taste of the luxurious life you can lead if you fly first class on Virgin America…

Singapore Airlines is set to announce all business-class flights to Singapore from Los Angeles and Newark. The carrier currently offers service on those routes, but as reported by the Wall Street Journal, Singapore Airlines will start utilizing wide-body jets carrying only 100 business-class seats for those “ultra long-haul” flights.

Singapore Airlines consistently ranks as one of the best airlines for customer service and overall passenger experience, so their all business-class flights to Asia should provide travelers with the added attention and comfort the airline has become famous for.

Keep reading for all of the details on Singapore Airlines’ new business-class only flights…

For the first time in years, Southwest Airlines doesn’t anticipate turning an annual profit. Over the past several years, the Dallas-based airline has enjoyed success and growth even as other carriers seemed to collapse. However, with fuel prices continuing to rise and a potential recession looming, Southwest CEO Gary Kelly knows 2008 is going to be a challenging year.

Starting in 2007, Southwest Airlines started an aggressive marketing campaign directed towards business travelers, hoping the added profit would help to counteract rising fuel expenditures. One of the major directives of the campaign was introducing Southwest Airlines’ Business Select Airfare, which gives business travelers the first shot at seat selection. Southwest Airlines’ new boarding process also ensures that business travelers won’t have to stake their claim to a decent seat by plopping down on the floor an hour before take-off.

Keep reading to get Gary Kelly’s perspective on business travel in the upcoming year…