hotel

The Classicist: London's Famed Savoy Hotel Back After $350 Million Revamp

Filed under: Luxury Travel & Hotels, Architecture & Design

London's renowned Savoy hotel has just reopened following a massive $350 million revamp encompassing one of the most ambitious restorations in British history. The world famous landmark, built by impresario Richard D'Oyly Carte with profits from his Gilbert and Sullivan operas, originally opened in August 1889. Originally managed by Swiss hotelier César Ritz and Maitre Chef Auguste Escoffier, the hotel quickly became known for impeccable service and cuisine as well as glittering parties and famous patrons. Over the decades George Gershwin, Frank Sinatra, Fred Astaire and Noel Coward entertained there, while famous guests included King Edward VII, Harry Truman, Marilyn Monroe, Humphrey Bogart, Elizabeth Taylor, Coco Chanel, Bob Dylan, The Beatles and numerous others. The property, now managed by Fairmont, has been closed for nearly three years while the impressive restoration project took shape.

120 years later the hotel's two main design aesthetics, Edwardian and Art Deco, have been carefully revitalized under the direction of world-renowned designer Pierre Yves Rochon. More than 1000 craftspeople, artists and artisans worked tirelessly to create interiors that are in keeping with the hotel's original and much-loved spirit. 38 new River Suites and guestrooms have been added, offering the same stunning views over the River Thames that inspired Whistler and Monet. Nine Personality Suites pay tribute to a few of the artists and well known figures who made the legendary hotel their London home away from home including Sinatra, Maria Callas, Charlie Chaplin and Marlene Dietrich. The suites contain art, literature, photographs and artifacts that evoke the time and spirit of the stars including the 12 pink roses in the Marlene Dietrich Suite that the actress always requested upon arrival.

The reopening also includes the addition of a stately $16,000-per-night, 325-square meter Royal Suite featuring two bedrooms, a study, sitting room, dining room, master bathroom, dressing room (with a specially ventilated shoe closet) and a master bedroom with a bespoke Savoir bed. The suite has been specially designed so that all the rooms enjoy one of the finest views of London. The legendary River Restaurant meanwhile gets a contemporary interpretation of Art Deco décor, and the famed cocktail mecca the American Bar is back in business while Savoy Grill returns under the operation of Gordon Ramsay Holdings with Chef Patron, Stuart Gillies and Head Chef, Andy Cook. [continued]

Gallery: The Savoy Reborn

Tags: Art Deco, bar, cocktails, Coco Chanel, Elizabeth Taylor, Fairmont, Fairmont hotels, Frank Sinatra, Fred Astaire, Gilbert and Sullivan, Gordon Ramsay, hotel, hotel suites, London, luxury hotels, Maria Callas, Marilyn Monroe, Monet, Ritz, Savoy, Savoy hotel, tea, Thames, The Beatles, UK

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Rent the Entire Mandarin Oriental Tokyo For One Night at $670,000

by Jared Paul Stern (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Luxury Travel & Hotels, Wealth

To celebrate its fifth anniversary Tokyo's luxurious Mandarin Oriental Hotel is offering the opportunity to rent the entire property for one night for 55 million yen, or about $670,000. The price includes the exclusive use of all the hotel's 157 guest rooms and 21 suites, including the posh Presidential Suite, its nine restaurants, cocktail bars, spa, fitness center and Grand Ballroom. The package, available until Nov. 30, 2011 and easily the world's most expensive hotel offering, also comes with a cocktail reception for 500 people with the dessert portion catered by an award-winning Japanese pastry chef, the Wall St. Journal reports. Gen Yoshida, the hotel's communications officer, says it is the first time for any Mandarin Oriental to offer such a package. The Hong Kong-based Mandarin Oriental Hotel Group currently operates, or has under development, 41 luxury hotels spread across 27 countries.

Gallery: Mandarin Oriental Tokyo

Tags: hotel, hotel suites, Japan, luxury hotels, Mandarin Oriental, Mandarin Oriental Tokyo, spa, Tokyo, worlds most expensive

The Hotel Concierge: How to Get the Best Experience

by Rigel Celeste (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Luxury Travel & Hotels, Services

One of the most valuable amenities offered by luxury hotels the world over is also one of the most under-used: the concierge. Sure, lots of people stop at that little desk in the lobby and ask for directions or a restaurant recommendation, but few take advantage of the full spectrum of what a good concierge can offer. Here are a few tips making the most of the experience.

Choose the Right Hotel
No matter how awesome a concierge may be they can still be limited by the name they represent. The better the hotel the more effective your concierge will be at getting you impossible to land show seats or last minute reservations at the new hot spot because being an insider will only get them so far -- when push comes to shove the concierge that works for the more prestigious hotel (and therefore sends the bigger spenders) will always be the vendor's favorite. In a round-about way you get what you pay for.

Call Ahead
Before your trip even starts call ahead and share your itinerary. Concierge's are local so they can give you a heads up on any particulars about the area and help fine tune your plans in ways a regular assistant can't -- like letting you know about opportunities that require advance planning or giving you ideas for filling in free time. Calling ahead can also qualify you for special deals and discounts in some cases, and at the very least it will give the concierge a leg up on securing tough reservations.

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Tags: awards-main, concierge, hotel, luxist-awards, madonna, summer-travel-pedia, winter-travel-pedia

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What Does a Hotel Concierge Do?

by Carrie Coolidge (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Luxury Travel & Hotels

One of the most valuable assets a luxury hotel has, the concierge is there to help make a guest's stay a happy and memorable one. Indeed, concierges are trained professionals who services run the gamut from the mundane (message handling) to the extraordinary (such as getting hard-to-find tickets to the latest Broadway show).

To learn more about the importance of a concierge, we sat down with Spencer H. Wadama, who is the General Manager of The Surrey Hotel, the tony and newly renovated boutique hotel located on Manhattan's upper east side. Spencer previously served as the general manager of the Ritz-Carlton in Sharm El Sheikh (Egypt).

According to Wadama, The Surrey Hotel's staff of concierges, for example, regularly make special arrangements for their guests, often before the guest has even arrived at the hotel. "They give you an opportunity to experience a destination in a better, more authentic way," says Wadama. "They are a priceless amenity."

Ever wondered how much to tip a concierge for his or her services? Here what Wadama has to say about this subject in this Luxist Awards video.

Tags: awards-main, concierge, hotel, importance of a concierge, luxist-awards, Spencer Wadama, summer-travel-pedia, surrey hotel, tipping, winter-travel-pedia

Samoset Resort: Quiet Luxury in Maine

by Tom Johansmeyer (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Luxury Travel & Hotels

The Samoset Resort, in Rockland, Maine, is fairly remote and offers a comfortable retreat from the frenetic pace of city life. Located a tad more than three hours from Boston, it's a great place for people looking to disappear for a few days, either to swing a golf club or simply to hide from the realities of everyday life.

To truly appreciate what this property has to offer, though, you need to walk through the main building, across the golf course and along the water a bit. Or, you can have someone give you a lift in a golf cart, which might be a bit easier.

The Flume Cottage sits apart from the rest of the resort, resulting in seclusion within seclusion. This1,500 square foot cottage, refurbished in 2010, sits right on the water, with a back deck that sports drop-dead views of the breakwater, with its lighthouse at the end. And, you can soak in the sights from the Jacuzzi that's out there. Since the only adjacent action on land is golf, you don't need to worry about the slightest noise intruding on your getaway, except, perhaps, a knock at the door when your meals arrive.

Gallery: The Flume Cottage at the Samoset Resort

Tags: golf, golf course, golfing, hotel, hotel review, hotels, Jacuzzi, maine, maine hotels, resort, resorts, rockland

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Historic Ocean House Resort Reopens

by Michael B. Dougherty (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Luxury Travel & Hotels, Real Estate Developments

Watch Hill, Rhode Island's majestic Ocean House resort has reopened for the summer 2010 season after a sweeping, $140 million renovation.

Originally opened in 1868, the Victorian-style property catered to the era's high society with its prime beachfront location and leisure class activities like croquet on the lawn, bathing and sailing, and afternoon tea. By 1917, the dining room could serve 500, bands traveled from New York to entertain guests and the Douglas Fairbanks vehicle American Aristocracy, filmed at the resort, had just been released.

But by the turn of millennium a series of fires, almost a century-and-a-half of wear and a shift in tastes away from the seaside resort vacation, left the Ocean House a ghostly shell of its former grandeur. When in 2004 a group of summer residents, led by Royce Funds president Charles M. Royce, attempted to salvage the original structure it was determined that it was too far gone, and so the decision was made to recreate the original Ocean House as a modern hotel with period charm.

The 152,660-square foot result is a faithful, and striking, homage to its provenance with 49 rooms and 23 private residences. Thousands of architectural elements were salvaged and recreated to populate the hotel, including a 19th-century elevator, reception desk, stone fireplace, moldings and chandeliers. Even the resort's 247 windows have been placed in their original locations and the exterior color remains the distinctive butter cream yellow.

Gallery: Ocean House

Tags: hotel, ocean house, rennovations, resort, rhode island, watch hill

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L'Assiette Champenoise: A Bubbly Hideaway

by Zack O'Malley Greenburg (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Luxury Travel & Hotels, Wine

L'Assiette Champegnoise in Reims, France

The city of Reims, France, has long been known as the center of the country's storied Champagne region. These days, a noisy construction project snarls traffic and plays havoc with downtown hotels and restaurants meaning there's never been a better time for visiting oenophiles to stay at L'Assiette Champegnoise, a quaint hotel on the outskirts.

Reims is home to all five of last month's Luxist Award nominees in the best sparkling wine/champagne category Krug , Dom Perignon, Pommery, Louis Roederer and Veuve Clicquot. L'Assiette Champegnoise is mere minutes by car from the headquarters of these houses and others.

Built on an old Norman estate, L'Assiette consistently ranks among the best hotels in the area. Cruise through the main gate and the first thing you will see are the twin chimneys rising from the main building, a turreted chateau brimming with old world charm. Behind it lie the hotels 55 rooms and four acres of greenery. The back yard, shaded by century-old trees and strewn with overstuffed chair-pillows, makes for an ideal place to relax with a good book and a flute of champagne from the intimate bar in the lobby.

Visitors needn't venture into Reims for dinner, as the best restaurant in the area is on-site: a two-star Michelin restaurant helmed by chef Arnaud Lallement. In good weather, the aperitif is served outside on the deck; in any case, the intimate dining room and its large windows bring diners closer to nature. For those who would prefer an even more local experience, the restaurant offers room service as well.

Old-fashioned appeal doesn't mean an aversion to modern amenities: each room at L'Assiette offers a television, a telephone, and wireless internet. For such an elegant and conveniently located hotel, the prices are reasonable, starting at 165 Euros per night. The champagne, however, is not included.

Tags: Champagne, Dom Perignon, France, hotel, LAssiette Champegnoise, luxist-awards, Pommery, Reims, Veuve Clicquot

The Berkeley's Roof-Top Midnight Movies, Martinis and Manicures

by Carrie Coolidge (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Luxury Travel & Hotels

One of the chicest boutique hotels in London has just added a little more glamor by transforming the spectacular roof-top terrace of its spa into a midnight movie theater, complete with home-made popcorn, mini ice cream cones, martinis from its famous Blue Bar and even manicures.

The Berkeley, which is located in fashionable Knightsbridge, is offering the latest fashion documentaries on a big screen under the stars. On Friday nights until the end of August, hotel guests and Londoners alike are invited to The Berkeley to enjoy mini ice cream cones and home-made popcorn as they sit underneath beautifully lit palm trees watching documentaries that offer a behind-the-scenes look at some of the world's leading fashion houses. Featured documentaries will include: Le Jour D'Avant, featuring Karl Lagerfeld, Sonia Rykiel, Proenza Schouler and Jean Paul Gaultier, Signe Chanel, Valentino: The Last Emperor, The September Issue, Marc Jacobs & Louis Vuitton, and Lagerfeld Confidential.

As guests enjoy the featured presentation, therapists from The Berkeley Health Club & Spa will give manicures that feature a choice of Chanel's latest Les Pop-Up nail varnish. If you feel a chill in the air, mulberry blankets are on hand.

The Berkeley's Midnight Movies, Martinis & Manicures packages start at £485 ($725) plus VAT based on double occupancy and include an overnight stay with access to the roof-top cinema. A special Midnight Movies, Martinis & Manicures package is also available for Londoners for £85 ($127) per person which includes full access to the movie theater between 10 pm and midnight, two signature Blue Bar cocktails per person, snacks and a mini-manicure with Chanel's latest summer colors.

The package is subject to availability and is available on Fridays in June, July and August, weather permitting. Reservations can be made online or by calling the following toll-free numbers: (866) 599 6991 in the United States and 0808 238 0245 in the United Kingdom.

Tags: awards-main, Chanel, hotel, hotel deals, jean paul gaultier, karl lagerfeld, Knightsbridge, London, Louis Vuitton, luxist-awards, Marc Jacobs, The Berkeley, Valentino

A St Barths Hotelier does Manhattan

by Tom Johansmeyer (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Luxury Travel & Hotels

I sipped a glass of rum as the plates were cleared. To my left was Christian Langlade, half the husband-and-wife team that owns and runs Hotel Christopher on St. Barthelemy and my host for dinner. After talking about his property, the conversation turned to my hometown, and I was amazed to learn his regular hotel on jaunts up to Manhattan: On the Ave.

I spent several months at On the Ave in 2004, first on consulting assignments during my white collar travel days and then to facilitate my move to New York from Boston. Just the mention of this hotel brought a flood of memories so powerful that I had to put my glass down for a moment.

On the Ave isn't glamorous, but is far better than sufficient – frankly, it was a business traveler's dream. Tucked away on W. 77th St. between Broadway and Amsterdam Avenue, it's rarely the first choice of visitors looking for access to Times Square or Wall Street. Nonetheless, I fell in love with the property quickly. It offered easy subway access, simple accommodations that I found comfortable for late-night work and, best of all, a sixteenth-floor terrace with a north-facing view.

Tags: hotel, hotels, manhattan, new york, new york city, St Barths, Upper West Side

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Learning Lobster at Hotel Christopher

by Tom Johansmeyer (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Dining, Luxury Travel & Hotels

Growing up in New England, I've cracked into more than a few lobsters, ranging from the downright puny to a mighty 7 pounds. This continued experience with creatures (formerly, by the time they reached my table) dwelling off the costs of Nova Scotia and Maine, ingrained in me a baseline for lobster that has guided my expectations ever since.

So, as the waiter at the Hotel Christopher on St. Barths explained the evening's specials last week, the langouste, which he translated for us as "lobster," caught my attention. Recalling my travails with French in high school and college, I vaguely remembered that Jean-Paul Sartre writing of a hallucination in which he fled an "homard." The different word for lobster led to the obvious question: "What's the difference?"

Christian Langlade, who owns Hotel Christopher with his wife, Sandrine, explained that homard" refers to the tasty resident of northern waters, the creature I cracked open throughout my childhood – and which tormented the French existentialist. "Langouste," however, is the lobster found in the Caribbean, sans claws yet certainly delightful to chomp.

Disclosure: Hotel Christopher picked up the tab for this trip. Nonetheless, my opinions are my own – they're certainly not for sale at any price.

Tags: hotel, hotels, lobster, lobsters, resort, resorts, St Barths, st. barth, st. barths

Nominees for Best in Entertainment

by Carrie Coolidge (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Dining, Spirits

Best Wine Bars

The first nominee offers an authentic Tuscan experience in the heart of Manhattan while the second nominee is an inviting and chic wine bar that is a favorite of San Francisco residents. The third nominee is sure to please every oenophile with its vast selection of wines from around the world while the fourth nominee offers a stunning selection and intimate ambiance with a European feel. The final nominee is a cozy, yet sophisticated establishment that attracts wine country royalty.

Accademia di Vino

Bar Bambino

The Local Vine
Mercy Wine Bar

Underwood Bar & Bistro

Best Cocktail Lounges
The first nominee is a monumental place with a magical atmosphere while the second features handcrafted liqueurs and innovative imbibables. The third nominee takes a culinary approach to the art of cocktail making while the fourth has been mixing masterpieces for Parisians and international celebrities since 1911. The final nominee is housed in a two-story barn that dates back to the 16th century England.

Best Coffeehouses
The first nominee is known for discovering unknown and exotic coffees from around the world while the second is focused on its craft of making the best coffee. The third nominee is the largest chain of coffeehouses in the world while the fourth nominee knows coffee the way oenologists know wine. The final nominee features artisan-roasted beans and single-origin coffees and teas from around the world.

Zoka

Best Hotel Bars

The first nominee offers the royal treatment and is located within one of the world's most glamorous hotels. The second nominee blends grand heritage with modern panache while the third offers spectacular service and stupendous views. The fourth nominee is a decadent, elegant and decidedly dressy bar while the final nominee is a New York landmark and iconic meeting place.

Best Brew Pubs

The first nominee is in Vemont and the only way to sample its beer is to go there yourself. The second nominee has won countless awards while the third nominee features hand-crafted beer. The fourth nominee brews its award-winning beer on the premises while many consider the beers made by the final nominee among the best in the world.

The Alchemist Pub and Brewery

Four Peaks Brewing Co.

Lost Coast Brewery

Silver City Brewery

Spuyten Duyvil

Tags: awards-main, beer, best brew pub, best cocktail lounge, best hotel bar, best wine bar, claridges, Cocktail Lounge, four seasons, Four Seasons George V, hotel, luxist-awards, Plaza Hotel, Starbucks, starbucks coffee, wine, wine bar, winners-entertainment

Sardinia's Hotel Capo Spartivento Now Illuminating Your Spirits

by Jonathon Ramsey (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Luxury Travel & Hotels

One look at a picture of the Hotel Capo Spartivento and the answer was "Yes," even though there was no one around to ask us any questions. Set at the end of a lonely road on the southern coast of Sardinia, the Capo Spartivento is the oldest lighthouse on the island and set inside a preserve that allows no general car traffic. It was a home for the lighthouse keeper until the eighties, but millions have spent to make it a destination worthy of getting yourself all the way to the southern coast of Sardinia.

There are four junior suites inside the main buildings, and two larger apartments in an adjacent annex. All of the rooms come with every mod-con you would expect, as well as a chef and service staff. Then there are those unexpectedly fantastic views of the Mediterranean, which you might take in while swimming in the actual Med, or from the less salty confines of the infinity pool. Decisions, decisions...

The hotel is booked in one-week blocks. Which reminds us, whenever someone at the Capo Spartivento gets the idea to ask us "Would you like to come by for a couple of weeks in July?", you have our answer.

Monique, thank you for the tip

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Tags: hotel, hotel capo spartivento, italy, resort, sardinia

Ventana Inn: A Sense of Calm in Big Sur

by Zack O'Malley Greenburg (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Dining, Luxury Travel & Hotels

From any direction, the drive to Big Sur is at once stunning and stressful, awe-inspiring and nauseating. Hairpin turns seem to punctuate every panorama, and as Highway 1 dips toward the Pacific and soars skyward, your stomach bounces along with it.

But when you leave the winding road for another, steeper, shorter street that runs up the side of Big Sur's highest hill to the Ventana Inn & Spa, a sense of calm sweeps over you. Perhaps it's the pungent scent of cedar that pervades the resort, or maybe it's the glass of wine you're given at check-in. Either way, the relaxation begins as soon as you arrive on the property.

Ventana has been that way since writer Lawrence Spector founded the resort in 1975 with funds earned from the film "Easy Rider." Early frequenters of the inn included Steve McQueen and Ali McGraw; more recently, Ventana has counted Anthony Hopkins and Oprah Winfrey among its visitors. All along, it's been a place for those who want to see – but not necessarily be seen.

And there's a lot to see. Though Ventana's 60 rooms and suites mostly resemble humble cabins on the outside, their interiors contain a mix of rustic and modern luxuries sure to please any vacationer. Each room comes with a view of valley, mountain, ocean, or all of the above. A private balcony or patio is also standard, as are real wood-burning fireplaces, heated stone floors, Egyptian cotton sheets, terry cloth robes, and of course, a flat-screen television. Many suites also boast private hot tubs.

Tags: awards-main, big sur, Big Sur coastline, California, Easy Rider, hotel, luxist-awards, luxury hotels, luxury travel, Post Ranch Inn, Sierra Mar, Ventana Inn

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Australia's Newest Hotel, Crown Metropol, Now Officially Open

by Jonathon Ramsey (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Luxury Travel & Hotels

Melbourne's latest and hippest joint for temporary accommodation has just opened, and it's called the Crown Metropol. It is said to redefine "the word 'nu-luxury' in hotels," which means we need to catch up on things because we weren't aware of the first definition of "nu-luxury." Luckily the Crown Metropol has 658 rooms divided into four categories which will give us plenty of material to study: luxe accommodations including 12 Isika spa rooms, R58 and R60 studio-style rooms, 33 lofts, and an apartment on the 25th floor with its own lobby, butler kitchen, and spa bath.

Gordon Ramsay's Maze is the Metropol's headlining restaurant, serving Australian-inspired French cuisine. Not left alone for dining duties, however, it is joined by 12 other premium eateries that count Nobu among them, as well as 19 casual establishments for more relaxed offerings in the Crown Entertainment Complex. And if you really want to make a statement, there's Level 28, a private lounge on the top floor.

If your own idea of luxury is nu enough then Melbourne's Southbank could be the spot for you, and it's taking reservations now.

Source

Tags: australia, crown metropol, gordon ramsay, hotel, isika, isika spa, melbourne

Aviara Resort Switches From Four Seasons To Hyatt

by Deidre Woollard (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Luxury Travel & Hotels, Spas

Last year we wrote about the troubles facing the Four Seasons Aviara. The luxury resort north of San Diego has finally left the Four Seasons fold. Hyatt has announced that Broadreach Capital Partners and Maritz, Wolff & Co. have selected Hyatt to brand and manage Aviara Resort as part of its luxury Park Hyatt portfolio.

The resort and spa has a great setting with ocean views but this idyllic retreat has been filled with controversy. Since last year the owners said that the Four Seasons financially mismanaged the Aviara and they struggled to replace it with a new operator. The LA Times reports that an arbitration panel found that Four Seasons did not violate the management agreement but found that both parties had a share in the disintegration of good relations and that it was best that the arrangement be terminated.

Hyatt will assume management of the hotel on June 21, 2010, when Park Hyatt Aviara Resort will become the 25th property operating under the Park Hyatt brand.

Tags: aviara, four season, hotel, hyatt, resort, spa

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