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Ducasse's 1st Caribbean Eatery to Open at W Vieques

Filed under: Dining, Luxury Travel & Hotels

Famed French chef Alain Ducasse will open his first restaurant in the Caribbean at the new W Retreat & Spa: Vieques Island this November, called "miX on the beach." At the eatery (above) Ducasse will offer a sophisticated menu, exploring "colorful Latino Caribbean flavors with an artful French twist and refreshing dishes that highlight only the finest ingredients from land and sea, expertly prepared and creatively presented." Both indoor and outdoor dining will be available with impressive ocean views on all sides. The first W Retreat & Spa in the Caribbean, the resort is located just off the Southeast coast of Puerto Rico on the peaceful 55-acre island of Vieques. In addition to miX on the beach, Ducasse's team will also manage the entire food and beverage program for the resort.

Tags: Alain Ducasse, AlainDucasse, beach, Caribbean, celebrity chef, CelebrityChef, chef, Puerto Rico, PuertoRico, resort, spa, Vieques, W hotel, W Retreat Spa, WHotel, WRetreatSpa

Famous Waikiki Hotel Shuts Down

by Deidre Woollard (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Luxury Travel & Hotels

One of Waikiki's most recognizable hotels will no longer be open for guests. The Y-shaped Ilikai hotel on Waikiki Beach (shown above, hotel not pictured) opened in 1964 but came to national attention in the 1970s when it used in the opening sequence of the "Hawaii Five-0" television show. But now the hotel has closed because its new owners were losing several hundred thousand dollars a month.

In its nearly five decades the 30-story Ilikai has hosted U.S. Presidents and celebrities, especially during its 1960s and 1970s heyday when stars like Elvis Presley, Stevie Wonder and Lucillle Ball visited. But the hotel has fallen on hard times recently. New York-based iStar Financial Inc. bought the hotel for $51 million at a foreclosure auction in May and has decided it was too expensive to keep the hotel open. The move puts around 75 employees out of business. There were 203 hotel rooms in the 1,000-unit hotel-condo-timeshare property and guests staying at the hotel at the time of closure were relocated elsewhere. Operations related to the condo units are not affected. The hotel was an 800-room hotel operation just a few years ago before it was sold off into time share chunks.

Employees have said their tearful goodbyes but are holding out hope that the new owner will reopen the Ilikai with the same union crew. On the day before the closure workers rallied to save their jobs. Hawaii has seen many of its tourism jobs affected as hotel occupancy rates have plummeted. Recently the Hawaii Tourism Authority unveiled a new initiative aimed at boosting short-term travel to Hawaii by focusing on courting visitors from Japan.

UPDATE: The AP is reporting that the four dozen employees of the Ilikai hotel got their jobs back on Friday when their labor union and the property's new owner struck a new deal. Those employees that won't be rehired will receive severance packages.

Gallery: Hotels In Transition

Source

Tags: beach, hawaii, waikiki

Continue reading “Famous Waikiki Hotel Shuts Down”

New $175 Million Verdura Resort Opening in Sicily

by Jared Paul Stern (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Luxury Travel & Hotels

The new $175 million Verdura Golf & Spa Resort on the southern coast of Sicily from the Rocco Forte Collection opening August 1 will be the only luxury resort in the Mediterranean offering a five-star experience across golf, hotel, dining and spa facilities. The Collection's 13th property features 203 ocean view rooms and suites, each with a private terrace overlooking 1.2 miles of private coastline, two championship golf courses, six tennis courts, a 43,000-sq.-ft. spa, fitness and yoga center, four restaurants, 55 private villas, a conference center, ballroom, open-air amphitheater and helipad.

To celebrate its much-anticipated opening of the 570-acre beachfront resort, Verdura is offering guests visiting between August 1 and December 31 complimentary benefits including green fees for unlimited golf play on its three world-class courses, dinner every evening at any of its four superb restaurants and thalassotherapy spa treatments as well as a 50% discount on a second family room. Starting rates for a three-night stay range from $1,399 for a December visit to $2,967 for a visit in August.

Tags: beach, Europe, golf, hotels, Italy, Mediterranean, resort, Rocco Forte Collection, RoccoForteCollection, Sicily, spa, Verdura Golf Spa Resort, VerduraGolfSpaResort

Philip Johnson Hamptons House for Sale at $35 Million

by Jared Paul Stern (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Estates

A Hamptons beach house designed by Philip Johnson three years before the architect built his famous Glass House in New Canann, Conn. has come on the market for $35 million. Built in 1946 and based on plans drawn up by Mies van der Rohe, the modernist Farney House (above) is nestled in the dunes of Sagaponack supported on raised log piers. The house, which was expanded and updated by local architect Mark Matthews in 1989 - perhaps spoiling the purity of Johnson's work in the eyes of some - features a stunning glass-enclosed living room with spectacular ocean views. The 5,000-sq-.ft., 8-bed, 7-bath wooden residence sits on 3.6 oceanfront acres with 363 ft. of pristine Hamptons shoreline, and is accessed by a private road situated a substantial distance from any public beach access. The property includes a free-form swimming pool, tennis court, play area, putting green and basketball court incorporated into a beautiful landscape design, as well as a long boardwalk running from the house to the beach.

[via JustLuxe]

Tags: architecture, beach, Glass House, GlassHouse, Hamptons, Mies van der Rohe, MiesVanDerRohe, modernism, Philip Johnson, PhilipJohnson, Sagaponack

Pukas for Dunhill Ltd. Edition Surfboard

by Jared Paul Stern (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Sports, Men's Style

Last winter we wrote about the teak, titanium and carbon fiber skis made by timeless men's London luxury outfitters Alfred Dunhill. For summer the storied British brand has come out with a limited edition surfboard (above), decorated with a modern take on Dunhill's iconic Bulldog motif. Designed for Dunhill by the acclaimed European surfboard company Pukas in conjunction with surfing legend Jed Noll, the 9 ft. board is constructed from lightweight but high-density polyurethane foam with a superior resin-soaked fiberglass hard outer surface, minimizing drag on the waves. Only 10 of the exclusive boards will be offered for sale at the Alfred Dunhill flagships in London, Tokyo and Shanghai for about $3,000.

[via JustLuxe]

Tags: Alfred Dunhill, AlfredDunhill, beach, Dunhill, limited edition, LimitedEdition, Pukas, sporting goods, SportingGoods, surfboard, surfing

Hermès Opens Pop Up Store in East Hampton

by Jared Paul Stern (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Apparel, Handbags

Despite the burgeoning recession Hermès is opening a new store in East Hampton this summer, but the French luxury goods firm is hedging its bets and the shop will shut its doors come September 20. "We have 22 of our own boutiques in the U.S. - East Hampton will be 22 and a half," Hermès President and CEO Robert Chavez tells the East Hampton Star. He said the company had been eyeing a Hamptons location for a while but that a permanent location just doesn't make sense these days.

"We just weren't ready to commit to a long-term lease," he notes, "knowing that obviously the key selling period is in the summer months when most people are there." Most Hamptons retailers are doing the same this season. The Hermès pop up boutique has a more casual feel, is painted a crisp white and features displays of scarves, handbags, neckties, housewares, bathing suits and beach towels. There's also an equestrian section featuring a one-of-a-kind white leather saddle, "price available upon request."

Tags: beach, East Hampton, EastHampton, equestrian, Hamptons, Hermes

Agent Provocateur's New Swimwear Line

by Jared Paul Stern (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Apparel

Luxe British lingerie brand Agent Provocateur, known for their ultra-sexy ad campaigns, has just come out with a new swimwear collection featuring a wide range of eye-catching styles. Described as "the perfect beach wear for all seductive sirens," the collection is heavy on cleavage and cutaway sides, naturally. Looks include classic polka dots, a Daisy Duke-style red-and-white gingham and denim bikini, a trio of 60's-inspired one-piece swimsuits (above) with oversized silver buttons, and some decidedly more '80s-inspired pieces in black wet-look fabric with fishnet panels.

Tags: Agent Provocateur, AgentProvocateur, beach, lingerie, swim, swimming, swimsuit, swimwear

Bamford's New Barbados Beach Boutique

by Jared Paul Stern (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Apparel, Decor, Luxury Travel & Hotels, Cosmetics and Fragrance, Men's Style

Bastion of top-drawer British style Bamford Ltd., known for its beautiful customized Rolex watches, has opened an understatedly luxurious new beach boutique in Barbados. Bamford founder Carole Bamford was inspired by her "longstanding love affair" with the posh island resort in creating the airy, bright Barefoot on the Beach boutique from a traditional chattel house in St. James. The luxe boutique (above) is a treasure trove of Bamford's naturally luxurious women's and men's ready-to-wear and body collections, home wares and lifestyle products from the hands of skilled artisans. The shop offers elegant, hand-worked silk kaftans, organic khaki cotton accessories from India, ceramic rosary beads, quirky slogan beach baskets, straw hats and sandals, as well as the brand's beloved men's collection, Bamford & Sons, and the Bamford Body product line.

Tags: Bamford, Bamford Sons, BamfordSons, Barbados, beach, British style, BritishStyle, Carole Bamford, CaroleBamford, entertainment-awards

Halekulani Resort Debuts Custom Exotic Auto Fleet

by Jared Paul Stern (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Luxury Travel & Hotels, Luxury Cars & Autos

At $7,000 per night, the Premier Suites at the beachside Halekulani resort in Hawaii are among the world's priciest. However, the posh getaway has just added a luxurious new amenity that gets you a lot more bang for the buck. Called "Art in Motion," the program consists of a fleet of custom designed exotic autos, included at no additional charge as part of the Premier Suite guest experience. These include the Royal Suite, the Vera Wang Suite and the Orchid Suite.

The fleet features a Bentley Continental GTC convertible (above), Maserati Gran Turismo, Lotus Elise and Lotus Exige S. With the Bentley and Maserati guests have the option of being chauffeured around the glorious landscape in Waikiki, while the Lotus collection features GPS-guided thematic tours of the island, such as Culture, Adventure and Romance. Each car also comes with personalized leisure itineraries prepared by a Halekulani concierge.

Gallery: Haute Luxe Halekulani

Tags: Beach, Bentley, Halekulani, Hawaii, Hotel, Hotel suites, HotelSuites, Lotus, Maserati, Resort, Vera Wang, VeraWang

Boca Raton Resort & Club Unveils $220 Million Revamp

by Jared Paul Stern (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Luxury Travel & Hotels, Spas

The Boca Raton Resort & Club (above), designed by legendary architect Addison Mizner in 1926, has just unveiled a stunning $220 million dollar refurbishment. Upgrades include a revamp of the hotel's Palm Court and lobby by famed interior designer Thierry Despont, who has created a "return to casual life in an elegant environment drawing on Mizner's DNA"; the re-opening of the 212-room Beach Club designed by Fiona Thompson of Richmond International; the new Boca Bungalows, designed by Alexandra Champalimaud; the opening of Serendipity, known for its famous frozen hot chocolate, the first of its kind located outside of NYC; and the first Southeast outpost of Morimoto, from Masaharu Morimoto of Iron Chef fame, also designed by Thierry Despont.

The BRR&C's amenities include a half-mile stretch of private beach, the acclaimed Spa Palazzo, two 18-hole championship golf courses, 30 tennis courts and a full-service marina. The property, which is set to join the Waldorf=Astoria Collection in 2009, "embodies the modernity, elegance, and the sophistication of one of the most historically significant resorts in the United States, and is poised to redefine that guest experience for the 21st century." See the gallery for images.

Gallery: Boca Raton Resort & Club

Tags: Addison Mizner, AddisonMizner, Beach, Boca Raton, Boca Raton Resort Club, BocaRaton, BocaRatonResortClub, Florida, Morimoto, Serendipity, Thierry Despont, ThierryDespont

Hotel St. Barth Isle de France's New Beach Suites

by Jared Paul Stern (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Luxury Travel & Hotels

The Hotel St. Barth Isle de France, the luxuriously appointed hotel, resort and spa in the French West Indies that was just named Best Hotel in the Caribbean by the readers of Condé Nast Traveler, has just opened a quartet of new state-of-the-art Beach Suites. Designed by Penny Morrison of Morrison Interiors in London, the Suites feature amazing views of the island's beautiful Flamands beach. Each one has a private infinity plunge pool (above), large terrace with beach loungers, 52″ plasma television, fully equipped kitchen, wireless internet, stone bathtub and outdoor shower. The hotel also recently introduced membership in the Isle de France Club, an investment opportunity consisting of a fractional ownership in one of five Club residences, complete with the finest furnishings and the highest level of guest services.

Gallery: Hotel St. Barth Isle de France

Tags: Beach, Hotel St. Barth Isle de France, HotelSt.BarthIsleDeFrance, Resort, Spa, St. Barths, St.Barths, West Indies, WestIndies

Limited Edition James Perse Beach Cruiser

by Rigel Celeste (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Luxury Cars & Autos

Get fit, be green, and travel in style on one of the new James Perse Cruisers. Available in 4 colors, the vintage 50s and 60s-style Beach Cruisers (meaning they have wide tires for handling the sand, low wide-set handlebars, and coaster brakes) are custom built and in limited edition. Features include a Hydroform steel frame, hand-aged leather seat and handle grips, wide 2" rims and tires, and a limited edition serial number and serial number tag. Only available at James Perse boutiques for approx $2200.

Via Acquire

Source

Tags: beach, beach cruiser, BeachCruiser, bicycle, bike, cruiser, james perse, JamesPerse, perse, wheels

Surfrider Foundation, Charity of the Day

by Rigel Celeste (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Charity, Charity of the Day

The Surfrider Foundation is dedicated to preserving the world's oceans, waves, and beaches, and works to further that mission through educational programs and the development of grassroots awareness. Their programs include everything from the expected like monitoring water quality and teaching kids to respect the beach to the slightly less expected, like information on how to create an "ocean friendly garden" that reduces runoff and harmful pollutants.

You can take part in their programs hands on if you live near any of the nations coasts (they have chapters pretty much everywhere) or join online and support them from anywhere.

Source

Tags: beach, beaches, charity, charity of the day, CharityOfTheDay, conservation, earth, environmental, environmentalprotect..., green, surfrider, surfrider foundation, SurfriderFoundation

Palmetto Bay Resort Planned For Belize

by Deidre Woollard (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Real Estate Developments

Another new resort is planned for Belize, an area that has been experiencing a major development boom over the past few years. The Palmetto Bay Resort at Maya Beach will be located on Belize's Placencia Peninsula in an area situated on 16 miles of white sand beaches and backed by the scenery of the Maya Mountains. Palmetto Bay will offer beachfront real estate and four star amenities and will be the first development in the Caribbean designed 'green' from inception.

The first phase of the gated resort, which is currently under construction, will be comprised of 36 whole ownership, luxury beachfront condominiums ranging from approximately 1,100 to 4,500 square feet, each with open views of the Caribbean. Prices will start in the high $200,000s. The turnkey one- two- and three-bedroom residences are spread through two low-rise buildings. Designer Julieanne Dobson who also worked on Francis Ford Coppola's Turtle Inn in Belize will create the interiors using warm woods and natural stone, vibrant contemporary textiles, and niche lit Mayan and African inspired art.

Ownership at Palmetto Bay Resort will include access to fitness facilities, conference rooms with wireless internet; 24-hour reception and security; fully equipped luxury kitchens with gourmet utensils and stainless steel appliances; balcony barbecues; and lush, mature landscaping with use of indigenous fruit trees and plants. The property will feature a 300-foot oceanfront infinity pool, a 400' private beach, beach boardwalk, and private dock.

Green factors include geothermal, solar, and water filtration technologies, which alone is estimated to conserve 1,000 gallons of water per day at full occupancy. Sales have begun on the property.

Source

Tags: beach, belize, development, palmetto bay resort, PalmettoBayResort, real estate

Banyan Tree Maldives Madivaru

by Deidre Woollard (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Luxury Travel & Hotels

The Banyan Tree Hotels is opening their fourth property in the idyllic Maldives, the Banyan Tree Maldives Madivaru. The property unveils the hotels first tented pool villa concept in the Maldives. Each villa is comprised of three tents that form living, sleeping and bath areas. The bath tent also includes spa beds for in-tent massages and facials. The tents have timber floors, rattan and teak furniture and big ceiling canopies. The villas are priced starting at $3900 but the resort is offering a special deal of 50% savings on accommodation, 25% savings on seaplane transfers, in-villa couple spa treatment, complimentary meals and selected beverages now through October 31st 2007 with minimum three nights' stay.

Source

Tags: banyan tree, BanyanTree, beach, maldives, resort, travel, vacation

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