hotel opening

JW Marriott Opens Tallest Hotel in Indiana

As our sister site AOL Travel reported, JW Marriott has opened the doors of its latest hotel, the JW Marriott Indianapolis. The 34-story hotel is the tallest in the state of Indiana. The massive hotel is aimed at attracting conventioneers with 1,005 guestrooms, 53 meeting rooms, and a 40,500-square-foot Grand Ballroom, the largest hotel ballroom in the Midwest.

Guests will be pampered in rooms with 40" LCD televisions and a plug-in panel that integrates laptops, MP3 and video players (you'll pay a $12.95 for high speed internet access and unlimited calling). The building includes a Osteria Pronto, and High Velocity, which is described as an energetic, high-tech Indianapolis sports bar.

The hotel is piece of a $450 million complex of Marriott hotels that takes up seven acres offering a total of 2,248 new hotel rooms in downtown Indianapolis. The Marriott complex is just part of an ambitious $3 billion urban investment project in downtown Indianapolis that includes the expanded Indiana Convention Center, Lucas Oil Stadium, and a new International Airport all designed to bring more tourism to the area. Opening rates start at $159. A video tour from local television station WISH-TV is after the jump.

Tags: hotel opening, indianapolis, jw marriott

Continue reading “JW Marriott Opens Tallest Hotel in Indiana”

Chicago's Aqua Tower Will Be Home To Radisson Blu Hotel

by Deidre Woollard (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Luxury Travel & Hotels, Real Estate Developments

Chicago's Aqua skyscraper will be home to the first Radisson Blu hotel in the U.S. Chicago Breaking Business says that Carlson Hotels is planning a $125 million hotel for the first 18 floors of the 82-story building. A prior deal to have the tower host a Fairmont-brand hotel fell through several years ago. The building is also home to condo units. Current prices for units on the market range from $299,000 for a studio to $1,988,832 for a four-bedroom unit.

The building has won awards for its unique style that includes wave-like balconies. In 2009, Jeanne Gang, principle and founder of Studio Gang Architects earned a PETA Proggy award for using bird-deflecting elements in the residential building and hotel. The undulating exterior and etched glass help prevent birds from flying directly into windows. The building also contains 55,000 square feet of retail and office space. The hotel will open this fall and rooms will probably average more than $200 per night.

Tags: aqua tower, chicago real estate, hotel opening, radisson blu, studio gang architects

New Ritz-Carlton Hotel Opens In Dubai

by Deidre Woollard (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Luxury Travel & Hotels

The year has only just begun but we are already seeing a second new hotel open in Dubai. The Ritz-Carlton, Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC) officially opens its doors this week. The 341-room hotel includes 124 executive residences. It is the second Ritz-Carlton in Dubai and the sixth property in the region for the luxury hotel company.

This hotel is directly linked to the complex of buildings in Dubai International Financial Centre and No. 5, the hotel bar is located in the prime welcoming position at the end of this pathway. A 100-foot wine wall that is home to 3000 bottles of the finest varietals in the world is a focal point for gourmands and wine connoisseurs. Other dining selections include Blue Rain, the signature Thai fine-dining restaurant; Can Can, a French brasserie and the Center Cut steakhouse. There is also a lobby cafe, health club and a spa with 13 treatment rooms.

The hotel has a 10-story waterfall cascading down the front of the building into the courtyard facing the lobby. There are eight water features situated throughout the hotel, which are meant to be not just appealing to the senses but also lend themselves to the feng shui belief that the constant flow of water signifies wealth and prosperity. Opening rates start at 950 AED (around $258).

Tags: dubai, hotel opening, ritz-carlton dubai

Mondrian To Open New Soho Hotel

by Deidre Woollard (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Luxury Travel & Hotels

Morgans Hotel Group Co. is adding a third Mondrian hotel in February (current Mondrian hotels are located in Los Angeles and Miami's South Beach). Mondrian SoHo will open on March 1st, with an exclusive preview at the end of February.

The hotel at 9 Crosby Street was designed in collaboration with Benjamin Noriega-Ortiz, the visionary behind the re-imagined Mondrian Los Angeles. The design draws inspiration from Jean Coucteau's 1946 French fantasy film "La Belle et la Bete." Guests enter Mondrian through a green garden topiary facade on Crosby Street into an area with a powdery French blue color palette, a pale oak floor and casual seating groups with custom furniture designed by Noriega-Ortiz.

Tags: hotel opening, mondrian, mondrian hotel, mondrian soho, MondrianHotel, new york hotel, New york hotels

Continue reading “Mondrian To Open New Soho Hotel”

Four New W Hotels Set to Open Starting in December

by Ann Brenoff (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Luxury Travel & Hotels

File this under: You can never have too much of a good thing.

Four new W Hotels are debuting beginning this December. The new W's are in Austin, Texas; Taipei; Koh Samui Thailand; and a W Retreat and Spa in Bali. All are built-from-the-ground new facilities and all feature high-end resort-style amenities including cutting-edge restaurants and bars. Room rates vary by location and season, but are approximately $300 a night. The rollout plan begins in December and ends in February.

The W Austin, acknowledging the city's unofficial slogan of "Keep Austin Weird," captures the city's local flavor -- although hardly in a weird way. The 251-room hotel, with a rooftop pool and bar is surrounded by the city's hippest night spots and restaurants just steps from Sixth Street and the Warehouse District.

Tags: austin, bali, hotel opening, koh samui, new hotels, starwood, starwood hotels, tapei, w hotels

Continue reading “Four New W Hotels Set to Open Starting in December”

Hotel Verta Takes Off In London

by Deidre Woollard (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Luxury Travel & Hotels

A new hotel in London is the only hotel in Europe with adjoined to a heliport. The 70-room Hotel Verta is part of the von Essen hotels and is designed with a 1930s feel meant to harken back to the golden age of aviation. Despite the location the hotel promises that these are some of London's quietest bedrooms. There is a subterranean two level spa and Patrisey, the restaurant with views of the heliport and the Thames river. Just above the restaurant at Mezzanine level is Vertilon Bar which offers an extensive selection of cocktails including non-alcoholic cocktails from the 'For The Pilots' selection of the menu. On the penultimate floor, The Roof Top, a function and event space offers 360 degree panoramic views of London. The 'Landing Pad' at the top of the hotel is a two bedroom penthouse suite that can host up to 50 people outside on the decking area and has a hot tub, personal gym, bar and outdoor cooking area.

Hotel Verta is part of the £150 million Bridges Wharf development and is part of the regeneration of the Thames riverfront at Battersea. The London Heliport celebrates its 50th anniversary this year and is the only commercial heliport in London. Opening rates are in the £150-£295 range per room.

Tags: hotel opening, hotel verta, london hotel

The James Hotel Opens Second Outpost in SoHo

by McLean Robbins (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Luxury Travel & Hotels

Long beloved by residents of the Windy City, The James Hotel brings its unique blend of residential cool to SoHo with the opening of its first New York City property. Anchoring the southwest corner of Soho at Grand and Thompson Streets, The James is currently accepting reservations at its 114 guestrooms and suites.

"The stylish and culturally rich neighborhood of Soho is the ideal home for The James New York," said Brooke Barrett, co-CEO of Denihan Hospitality Group, owners and operators of The James brand.

In homage to the creative neighborhood it calls home, The James New York will feature a mix of local and international artists, both prominent and up-and-coming. In an effort to be both child and pet-friendly, the hotel will offer both pajama sets and Paul Frank coloring sheets. Dog beds and doggy bowls will be provided by Soho-based pet retail shop Doggystyle, along with a specially-created amenity treat bag.

Tags: hotel opening, new hotels, new york hotel, New york hotels, soho, the james hotel

Continue reading “The James Hotel Opens Second Outpost in SoHo”

Waldorf Astoria Club Opening In Shanghai

by Deidre Woollard (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Luxury Travel & Hotels

More and more luxury hotel brands are planting their flag in Shanghai. The Waldorf Astoria Shanghai on the Bund has announced that the first of its two buildings, the Waldorf Astoria Club, will open this summer, with reservations now being accepted for September 15, 2010 and beyond. The club is located on the famous Bund in Shanghai and is in the home of the former Shanghai Club, an exclusive club originally built in 1911. The neo-classic architectural gem has been restored to its former glory, with designers using archival photographs and historic records as a reference guide.

Each of the Waldorf Astoria Club heritage building's 20 suites is decorated in classic European style. Some amenities include walk-in closets, marble-finished bathrooms, claw-foot bathtubs and separate showers, in-room entertainment and coffee and tea-making facilities.

Tags: china hotels, hotel opening, shanghai 2009, waldorf astoria, WaldorfAstoria

Continue reading “Waldorf Astoria Club Opening In Shanghai”

Muse-Inspired Hotel Opens In St. Tropez

by Deidre Woollard (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Luxury Travel & Hotels

Great ladies inspired the Muse Hôtel De Luxe, the first of YTL Hotel's global expansion, opening in Saint-Tropez, France this week. The new hotel is comprised of 15 suites, 10 with pools, most overlooking the terraced gardens. Each suite is named after one of the muses the hotel has been dedicated to such as 'Edith', after Edith Piaf, 'Catherine', after Catherine Deneuve and 'Lauren' after Lauren Bacall. The suites have their own decor but each has cool stone floors and mamorino wall finishes. Suites have oversized showers and plasma screen televisions. The guest services include Bentley shuttles to the beaches and sun-butlers to apply sunscreen.The hotel includes the restaurant 'M', inspired by the Slow Food philosophy, where executive chef Nicolas Le Tourmelin and consultant chef Clement Bruno of Chez Bruno preside over an exclusive truffle menu. The menu also offers such tempting fare as Royal King Crab Thermidor style, Red Mullet Tart with Aubergine Caviar and Baby Mozzarella, Scottish Beef 'Aberdeen Angus' Fillet with Red Wine Reduction and Sea Bass Baked in a Crust of Salt or Flambéed with Thyme. The bar at Muse has views over the sunken pool and gardens. The bar offers alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks and and healthy smoothies and non-alcoholic cocktails such as carrot cleansers, fresh fruit juices and presses for detoxing during the day. At dusk, a range of signature cocktails and aperitifs are served with creative canapés. Rooms start at 350 euros.

Tags: france, french riviera, hotel opening, muse hotel, muse hotel de luxe, saint-tropez

Eaton Luxe Hotel Opens In Nanqiao

by Deidre Woollard (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Luxury Travel & Hotels

The Eaton Luxe, Nanqiao, Shanghai recently opened its doors in the newly developed business district of Fengxian in South Shanghai, China. The hotel has 204-rooms and suites and is the first international deluxe hotel in the town of Nanqiao, which is also home to multi-national high-tech manufacturing plants. This is one of UK-based Eaton Hotels International planned10 properties to be set up in Asia in the next five years. The Eaton Luxe, Nanqiao's green features include the use of environmentally-friendly materials, organic plants and sustainable design features.

Tags: china hotel, china tavel, eaton luxe, hotel opening, hotel shanghai, shanghai

Continue reading “Eaton Luxe Hotel Opens In Nanqiao”

Buccament Bay Resort Opening On St. Vincent

by Deidre Woollard (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Luxury Travel & Hotels

Buccament Bay Resort, a new luxury resort on the Caribbean island of St. Vincent, has announced its soft opening. The 368-room resort is the first from the new hotel brand, Harlequin Hotels & Resorts. The resort offers both hotel suites and beachfront villas. The resort has several restaurants and lounges including Jack's Steak and Seafood, Arlecchino Italian fine dining, Trader Vic's offering a blend of Pacific Island, Asian and American cuisine, Ginger & Co. Asian fusion restaurant, and The Bay Beach Club serving drinks and snacks throughout the day. The Pearl, Buccament Bay's resident galleon ship, offers cruises with drinks and a buffet.

The resort offers plenty to do including the tennis at the Pat Cash Tennis Academy. The resort is the first Caribbean destination to feature a partnership with a football (American soccer) club with the opening of the Liverpool Football Club Soccer School. Courses will be available for children of five years and up and the facilities will also be available for professional teams to undertake pre-season training. The theatrically minded can take classes at the Harlequin Performing Arts Academy with classes for children and master classes can also be arranged for aspiring adults. There is also a diving and watersports center. The Alaia Spa offers both traditional beauty and spa treatments indoors as well as outdoor treatment suites.

The resort marina has berths for cruising yachts and offshore anchoring mooring buoys for larger yachts. Additional resort amenities include several boutiques, a white sand beach, swimming pools with concierge service, a children's pool, business center, Teen Club, babysitting and Little Harlequins, Buccament Bay Resort's signature kid's club. Room rates start around $400 per night.

Tags: buccament bay, caribbean, hotel opening, luxury hotel, st. vincent

Taj Cape Town Opens In South Africa

by Jonathon Ramsey (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Luxury Travel & Hotels, Spas

Your team just won the World Cup, and those who are still conscious are shuffling toward the exits and the airports. But not you – you flew all that way, and now you've got a reason to celebrate, so you're headed to the Cape Town, where brand new Taj Cape Town awaits.

Located in the historic St. George's Mall, even though it's brand new, the Taj occupies two rather old buildings: the 114-year-old Board of Executors and the adjacent, 78-year-old South African Reserve Bank. Seventeen stories were added to the buildings, however, to ensure that you don't lack views of the city and Table Mountain. There are 177 rooms in 11 layouts, all of the tower rooms have walk-out balconies and the Taj Club Floor rooms gain access to a private lounge with butlers.

Of course you'll need the top-floor, two-bedroom, split-level Presidential Suite with its own massage and steam rooms, kitchen, office, gym and deck. When you're not busy being presidential, you might make your way down to the Jiva Spa with its Ayurvedic treatments, followed up by yoga and meditation, and if you really need to get out, there are all those world class Cape Town beaches to enjoy. In fact, with all of that to make you feel good, the the Taj Cape Town might be even better for you if your team loses...

Source

Tags: africa, cape town, hotel opening, south africa, taj cape town, taj hotels

Park Plaza Westminster Bridge Hotel Opening Date Set

by Deidre Woollard (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Luxury Travel & Hotels

A soft opening date has been announced for the Park Plaza Westminster Bridge Hotel. The hotel, which will be London's biggest new hotel opening in more than a decade has a soft opening date of February 4 with room rates starting at £99. The hotel has 1,021 rooms including 54 suites and penthouses and will offer the second-largest ballroom space in London after the Marriott Grosvenor House, with the ability to host 1,000 people for dinner. In February the hotel will be partially open while the property completes the spa, swimming pool and gym. The hotel has six restaurants, a business lounge and 31 meeting rooms and will feature an Italian coffee bar by espressamente illy.

[via Breaking Travel News]

Source

Tags: hotel opening, HotelOpening, hotels, london, park plaza westminster bridge, ParkPlazaWestminsterBridge, travel

Hotel Palomar Opens In Philadelphia

by Deidre Woollard (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Luxury Travel & Hotels

The travel business may be slow but new hotels are still opening. The only new hotel scheduled to debut in downtown Philadelphia this year is the Philadelphia Palomar, a Kimpton Hotel. The 230-room boutique hotel is in the building previously known as the Architects Building. The building was gutted and renovated and is a LEED registered luxury hotel. The 20-month, $92.5 million renovation of the 80 year old building was done in a palette of neutral tones with Art Deco flourishes and original artwork from Philadelphia artists.

The hotel includes a fitness center and offers a morning coffee and tea bar and a hosted evening wine hour in the hotel's living room which has a fireplace. Adjacent to the hotel will be Square 1682, Kimpton's first Philadelphia restaurant and bar. Chef Guillermo Tellez serves a New American menu with world flavors. It also opens this week.

[via Philly.com]

Source

Tags: hotel, hotel opening, hotel palomar, HotelOpening, HotelPalomar, philadelphia

W Hotel opens in Washington

by Ariston Anderson (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Luxury Travel & Hotels, Events

If only this one had been open in January when millions rushing to D.C. to witness President Obama's Inauguration were faced with sold-out hotels left and right. In what marks another milestone in the global expansion of the W Hotel brand, the W Hotel in Washington, D.C opened this past Thursday with a giant bash. It was a jam-packed party full of the town's political elite, including Presidential Aide Reggie Love and the President's personal secretary Katie Johnson, as well as celebs like Emmy Rossum who flocked to hear an intimate performance by John Legend. In an event that brought Versailles to Washington, the party was full of Marie Antoinette models sporting powdered wigs and opera glasses while guests sipped on pink cocktails and munched on cotton candy.

The new W Hotel, the 25th to open in North America, takes over the historic Hotel Washington, which opened in 1917. The new design incorporates the 1920s Beaux Arts architecture of the original building with the edgy designs of Dianna Wong whose, L.A.-based firm transformed all of the interiors. Wong gathered artwork symbolizing "old Washington," which she sprinkled among her more modern designs including a digital fireplace, crackled paint, deconstructed fixtures, and new chandeliers complimenting the original 1920s light fixtures. Her theme throughout the hotel is "pinstripes and lace," to appeal to both the masculine and feminine powers of Washington.

As the city's closest hotel to the White House, the location features unparalleled views of our nation's monuments, and can expect to attract an abundance of stately guests from around the world, and perhaps a national scandal or two.

W turned the famed rooftop, where for decades politicos have converged to drink and deliberate, into a modern cocktail lounge, with a menu provided by cocktail king Sasha Petraske of Milk & Honey and Little Branch. The cocktails can also be ordered in the Living Room, W's design of the traditional hotel lobby. Dining options include the J&G Steakhouse and Wine Bar from Chef Jean-Georges Vongerichten.The W Washington D.C. has 317 guestrooms in total, including 23 Marvelous suites. The W's interpretation of the traditional Presidential Suite, the "pinstripes and lace" Extreme WOW suite, is an exact symbol of the new design influence quickly arriving in our nation's capital.

Gallery: W Hotel opens in DC