hotels

The Ritz-Carlton Hong Kong: Highest Hotel in the World Opens

Want to get high ... legally? No, we're not talking a Salvia trip à la Miley Cyrus, but a literal 118 stories high.

The Ritz-Carlton, Hong Kong yesterday announced the opening of their 16th property in Asia, which boasts the title of "highest hotel in the world." Located at the very top of the International Commerce Centre (ICC) in Hong Kong and occupying floors 102 to 118, the hotel takes the honors away from the current title holder in Dubai.

"The opening of this landmark hotel in Hong Kong is the culmination of many years of hard work and dedication to delivering the very best product, facilities and service in this international gateway city," said Herve Humler, president and chief operations officer of The Ritz-Carlton Hotel Company, L.L.C.

Arrival
Don't prep for a long elevator ride just yet. The hotel's arrival lobby is actually located on the ninth floor of the building, where guests will pause before being transported to floor 103, which offers panoramic views of Hong Kong and the harbor.

Gallery: The Ritz-Carlton Hong Kong

Tags: highest hotel, hong kong, hotels, luxury hotels, luxury travel, ritz carlton, ritz carlton hong kong, the ritz carlton

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Four Seasons Houston Awarded AAA Five Diamond Status

by Jared Paul Stern (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Luxury Travel & Hotels

On the heels of a three-year, $25 million renovation project that introduced re-styled guest rooms, a new resort-style swimming pool area and a fresh, modern lobby, the Four Seasons Houston has been named the the city's only AAA Five Diamond Hotel. The travel authority's highest and most exclusive rating was awarded to the hotel for an unparalleled experience of luxury and sophistication in an artfully designed setting, complemented by service that goes above and beyond. A destination in its own right, the new $4 million pool (above) at the Four Seasons Houston is downtown's only outdoor, resort-style pool.

The pool, which glows with artful lighting at night, meshes dramatic cityscape views with exotic materials such as Turkish travertine tile, environmentally-friendly Ipe wood decking, and lush tropical plants. The pool renovation included the creation of cabana-style patios, a trellis-covered event space, soothing water wall, hot tub, fire pit and poolside bar. Acclaimed San Francisco-based design firm BAMO also created custom-designed furniture and one-of-a-kind abstract artwork designed for the hotel's luxe new guest rooms.

Gallery: The Four Seasons Houston

Tags: AAA, AAA Five Diamond, awards, Four Seasons, Four Seasons Houston, hotels, Houston, luxury hotels, swimming pool, Texas

Four Seasons Marrakech Set to Open This Summer

by Jared Paul Stern (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Luxury Travel & Hotels

Four Seasons Marrakech Set to Open This Summer
Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts is set to open its newest property this summer, the Four Seasons Hotel Marrakech. The luxe hotel situated in a 40-acre walled oasis will feature 140 rooms and suites, five restaurants, two pools, an extensive spa, and acres of sunlit gardens. Offering a modern take on traditional Moorish architecture, rose-hued pavilions with hand-carved details are surrounded by a lush landscape of swimming and reflecting pools, gardens, pathways and fountains. Buildings are low-rise so as not to obstruct stunning views of the snow-capped Atlas Mountains and Menara Gardens beyond the Hotel's towering palms.

Two Spa pavilions sit among gardens filled with birds and exotic flora. The main pavilion offers 15 treatment rooms for massages, facials and body treatments, plus a salon and whirlpool. Surrounding the Hotel's posh public spaces, pavilions of guest rooms and suites form a village connected by arcades, walkways and courtyards evoking a contemporary medina filled with riads. Each of the 140 guest rooms and suites, which are among the largest in the city, has its own spacious balcony or terrace with mountain and garden views.

Gallery: Four Seasons Hotel Marrakech

Tags: architecture, Four Seasons, Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts, hotels, luxury hotels, Marrakech, marrakesh, Morocco, resorts, spa

Marrakech's La Mamounia Offers One Million Dirham Ultimate Experience Package

by McLean Robbins (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Luxury Travel & Hotels

Famed Marrakech hotel La Mamounia has long been long been heralded as the choice for the discerning traveler. Over the years the famed hotel has hosted the "who's who" of international royalty, politicians, celebrities and uber rich jetsetters.

For the first time, the hotel is offering anyone who can afford the million dirhams a chance to experience the resort like an A-lister with their new "Ultimate Experience Package." The trip begins with private jet transport from any European city within a three hour flight time of Marrakech. Arriving guests will be met at the airport by private Jaguar transport back to the resort.

Upon arrival, guests will be whisked away their own private Riad, a three-bedroom villa with a Moroccan salon, private terrace and ozone swimming pool nestled in the heart of the resort's historic gardens. Naturally, these accommodations feature 24 hour butler service. That evening, enjoy a private wine tasting with La Mamounia's Chief Sommelier, followed by a bespoke gastronomic menu accompanied by carefully selected fine wines, a Champagne breakfast served ensuite or on the Riad's private terrace is also included.

Tags: dirham, hotel deals, hotels, la mamounia, luxury hotels, Marakkech, morocco

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Asia's Best Design Hotels

by Carrie Coolidge (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Luxury Travel & Hotels, Architecture & Design

Modern architecture-loving travelers will love the destinations featured by our friends over at Departures . The magazine took a look at Asia's coolest design hotels, which are some of the most impressive properties in Shanghai, Bangkok, Hong Kong and Singapore. These properties are "sleek super towers and seemingly impossible, imagination-defying structures" according to the luxury magazine that is published by American Express publishing.

Today's Asian luxury hotels are influencing Western hotels, while once it was the opposite, according to Edwin Heathcote, architectural critic for the Financial Times. The most significant new hotels each have something that is memorable, the Departures piece explains. In some, it's the restaurant that's the most memorable; in others, it's a soaring sky bar or a penthouse suite. In others it is the structures themselves that are redefining skylines.

Hong Kong
According to Departures, Hong Kong has also opened itself up to a host of contemporary international architects who have put their stamp on the city, from Foster + Partners to Cesar Pelli to I. M. Pei. Recently, at the 117-room Upper House (from $425), local Andre Fu-known for doing the home of actress Michelle Yeoh-has created an ideal, almost spiritual, balance of uncluttered spaces. "The design is not Asian in a literal manner," Fu told Departures, "but it reflects a subtle Asian sensitivity." He has achieved this with pools of water, bamboo enclosures, natural timber, shoji glass, limestone and lacquered paper panels. Additional design highlights include the Sky Bridge on the 49th floor, which crosses a 130-foot-high atrium; the hotel's Bedonia stone façade (see photo above) by one of Britain's hottest architect-designers, Thomas Heatherwick; and freestanding bathtubs with panoramic harbor or island views.

Tags: architecture inspired clothing, art+deco+hotels+asia, artdecohotelsasia, Asia, asia+hotels, asiahotels, Bangkok, best+hotels+in+the+world+with+photos, besthotelsintheworldwithphotos, coolest+design+hotels, coolestdesignhotels, Departures, departures+design+hotel, departuresdesignhotel, design hotels, Hong Kong, hotel+designers, hoteldesigners, hotels, michelle+yeoh, michelleyeoh, modern+architecture, modernarchitecture, new+design+hotel+2011, newdesignhotel2011, Shanghai, Singapore

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Grand Hotel Villa Cora Reopens in Florence

by Jared Paul Stern (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Luxury Travel & Hotels

Following an extensive three-year, mulimillion-dollar renovation, Whythebest Hotels group has just reopened the Grand Hotel Villa Cora in Florence, one of the city's most prestigious properties. Established when Florence was the capital of the Kingdom of Italy, the Grand Hotel Villa Cora has a long association with the likes of emperors, princes, Pashas and famed artists such as Tchaikovsky. Comprised of three separate structures located inside a centuries-old landscaped park, the hotel was restored with the aim of conserving as much of the original architectural detail as possible.

The Main Villa houses 30 suites and rooms each with its own style inspired by famous guests who have stayed there over the years, including an Imperial Suite dedicated to the Japanese emperor Hirohito. The renovations also include a new spa, gym, swimming pool, and two restaurants, one of which is dedicated to Egyptian ruler Pasha Isma'il who stayed in the villa for numerous years. The spa features a tepidarium, hydro massage, sauna, hammam, fitness room, and a beauty and wellness center, while the heated outdoor pool overlooks the famed Boboli Gardens.

Gallery: Grand Hotel Villa Cora

Tags: Florence, Grand Hotel Villa Cora, hotels, Italy, luxury hotel, Whythebest Hotels

Cipriani Family to Launch Luxe New "Mr. C" Hotel Brand in Beverly Hills

by Jared Paul Stern (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Dining, Luxury Travel & Hotels

Ignazio and Maggio Cipriani, fourth generation of the famed Cipriani family internationally renowned for its restaurants, landmarked banquet spaces, clubs, and residences, have announced the debut of Mr. C, a chic new signature hotel brand opening its first property in Beverly Hlls this April. Mr. C is designed to be "a modern version of old-world simplicity and stylish European glamour, providing today's traveler with a comfortable, elegant and effortless experience blending contemporary amenities with discreet, personalized service." The 138-room property will feature 12 Signature Suites and Classic Suites, alongside spacious guest rooms ranging from 365–800 square feet, each with a private balcony and many with panoramic views of Beverly Hills and Los Angeles. The interior design aims to be "rich and welcoming" with dark hardwood floors, burgundy and gray color palettes, and crisp white accents. Vintage black and white photographs from films like La Dolce Vita bring iconic and historic cultural moments to life on the walls, and well-appointed bathrooms feature teak flooring, marble accents, and luxe amenities.

Additionally, the property will feature five multi-level, residential-sized bungalows averaging approximately 3,000 square feet, each with a private garden, gourmet kitchen, plunge pool and views of Beverly Hills. Renowned Californian architect Ray Kappe designed the bungalows, which will feature all the Mr. C amenities including spa treatments, housekeeping, and room service from the signature Mr. C restaurant. The restaurant will welcome guests and Angelenos alike with a menu featuring classics from Cipriani's famed kitchens alongside grilled specialties and pizzas from morning to night. The restaurant will offer indoor and outdoor seating, a separate entrance for non-hotel guests, and two private rooms for more intimate occasions. The hotel will also feature an outdoor swimming pool for hotel guests only and an indoor/outdoor private event space boasting 360-degree panoramic city views from the 12th floor of the hotel, with a private exterior glass elevator. Rates will run from $429 for a Deluxe City View room to $2,009 for a Specialty Suite.

Gallery: Mr C, Beverly Hills

Tags: Beverly Hills, bungalow, California, Cipriani, hotel, hotels, interior design, Los Angeles, luxury hotel, Mr. C, restaurants

Grosvenor House Sold To Indian Billionaire

by Deidre Woollard (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Luxury Travel & Hotels

At the start of 2010 we heard that the Royal Bank of Scotland was interested in selling London's Grosvenor House, now as the year closes it appears that the luxury Mayfair hotel is finally getting new owners. The 494-room hotel, one of London's largest five-star hotels, has been bought by a conglomerate, Sahara India Pariwar, owned by Indian billionaire Subrata Roy. Earlier in the year it was predicted that the hotel could sell for between £600m and £700 million but it went for £470 million. The five-star hotel opened in 1929 and became a JW Marriott Hotel in September 2008 after a major restoration.

Tags: grosvenor house, Grosvenor House Hotel, hotels, london fashion week, mayflower

Five Ways to Protect Yourself From a Poor Luxury Experience

by Tom Johansmeyer (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Luxury Travel & Hotels

I'm sure you'd love to believe that your concerns are being heard. At an airport, restaurant, hotel or any other place where you're parting with your hard-earned cash, you expect a certain level of service. When you don't get it, you expect management to give a damn. Shocking, I know, but sometimes even this second part doesn't happen.

Gone are the days when even the risk of a customer complaint struck horror in the eyes of a hospitality manager. Close to a decade ago, I emailed a gripe to Kelly's Roast Beef in Massachusetts. Within 24 hours, I had a call from the manager who as horrified, embarrassed and eager to make things right. I didn't care about the free meal offer – in fact, I turned it down twice before giving in – it was the attitude that made the difference. He was genuinely upset that he was losing a single customer, and the prospect of that didn't sit well with him. Now, so many years later, this remains my go-to story about customer service perfection.

Today, that seems to be gone – or at least scarcer. For some restaurants and other hospitality companies, even in the luxury space, it's the belief that a certain amount customer churn is to be expected. Or that brand is irrelevant. Or that intermediaries (such as online booking sites) have made price the motivator, obviating the need for a commitment to customer service excellence. In a recent case for me, at The Mercer Kitchen, in the Mercer Hotel, it was clear that brand was the problem – namely that a cool, upscale spot didn't need to worry about customer satisfaction.

Using this experience, let's take a look at five things you should be wary of when expressing your concerns to a hospitality manager; they indicate that your complaint isn't being handled properly:

Tags: customer satisfaction, customer service, hotel, hotels, manhattan, mercer hotel, new york, new york city, restaurants, service, soho

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Sofitel Philadelphia Hotel Sold To Pebblebrook Hotel Trust

by Deidre Woollard (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Luxury Travel & Hotels, Real Estate Developments

We've been watching the Pebblebrook Hotel Trust gobble up hotels left and right lately. The latest is the Sofitel Philadelphia Hotel which it picked up for $87 million. The Center City hotel is in a historic building that once housed the Philadelphia Stock Exchange and is located near the Philadelphia Convention Center. It was converted to a hotel in 2000 and has 306 elegantly appointed guestrooms, including 68 suites. The hotel includes on-site underground parking, a fitness center, a breakfast-only restaurant and the newly renovated bar/lounge Liberté, which serves cocktails, hors d'oeuvres and light dinner fare. In 2009, the Sofitel Philadelphia Hotel operated at approximately 77% occupancy, with an average daily rate of approximately $169. The hotel will continue to be managed by Sofitel.

Last month the Pebblebrook Hotel Trust bought the Sheraton Delfina Santa Monica Hotel in Santa Monica, California for $102.8 million. Other Pebblebrook hotels include the Sir Francis Drake Hotel in San Francisco, the InterContinental Buckhead in Atlanta, the Hotel Monaco in Washington DC. Back in October we mentioned that the Pebblebrook Hotel Trust had picked up the Grand Hotel in Minneapolis for $33 million.

Tags: hotel for sale, hotels, pebblebrook hotel trust, philadelphia, sofitel

Exploring the Caribbean's Most Exclusive Escapes

by Jared Paul Stern (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Decor, Luxury Travel & Hotels, Books

Seasoned travel journalist and luxury hotel expert Meg Nolan Van Reesema sussed out the Caribbean's most exotic and exclusive escapes for her entrancing new book Caribbean Hideaways: Discovering Enchanting Rooms and Private Villas from Rizzoli. The thirty gorgeous destinations from fifteen different islands featured in the book were chosen for their unique views, elegant decor – no examples here of the tacky tropical style we like to call "Caribbean Awful" – and unique ambience. Over 200 vibrant photographs by Jessica Antola bring the desirable destinations to life, while practical information about the best suites, what to expect during your stay, and the local surroundings is also included.

Standouts include the relaxed, chic bungalows of Hermitage Bay in Antigua with dark wood furnishings and freestanding tubs; the open-air guest rooms of Jade Mountain in St. Lucia with unparalleled views of the Piton peaks; the posh, private Oliver Messel-designed Fustic House estate in Barbados; the spectacular Balinese furnishings of Anguilla's Bird of Paradise Villa; St. Barth's super-stylish Isle de France hotel; the ultra-luxe Yemanja villa on Mustique (pictured on the book's cover above) complete with a private screening room; and the elegant British Colonial-style Colleton Suite at Barbados' Cobblers Cove. Check out the gallery for a preview.

Gallery: Caribbean Hideaways

Tags: Anguilla, Antigua, Barbados, books, Caribbean, Cobblers Cove, coffee table books, Hermitage Bay, hotels, island, luxury hotel, luxury hotels, Mustique, resorts, St. Barth, St. Lucia, villa

Sleep on a Giant Mushroom for $1,400 a Night

by Rigel Celeste (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Luxury Travel & Hotels, Art

The Museum for Contemporary Art in Berlin has a very unique exhibit that must be experienced in a unique way. The exhibit is intended to give visitors a taste of what it would be like to experience soma, the mythical healing and enlightenment drink that was used by ancient Vedic nomads in India to access the divine. No one knows for sure what soma was made of but experts believe 'magic mushrooms,' or fly agaric mushrooms, were a likely ingredient and so the installation features a floating hotel room where guests can spend the night suspended over a large 'shroom-shaped platform.

Besides re-enacting a soma experience artist and creator Carsten Hoeller also aims to explore how to achieve enlightenment and the roles science and myth play in our society. The exhibit will be open November 5th through February 6th for $1400/night.

Source

Tags: art, carsten hoeller, experience art, hotel, hotels, museum, performance art, soma, travel

New Service Outs Hotel Towel Stealers

by Deidre Woollard (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Services

Hotel guests have plenty of places to register their displeasure with a stay but now hotels and other resorts in the UK have their own recourse, a new database called GuestScan that launches this week. Around 10,000 hotels and B&Bs are expected to sign up to for the subscription-based database which will let hotels check out guests before they get to the hotel. The information in the database will show infractions like stealing towels, breaking things and general bad behavior. Businessman British businessman Neil Campbell came up with the idea after a friend who owned a B&B suffered a "visitor from hell". The service is launching in the UK and offenders can stay on the list for two to four years. Those who find themselves on the list have the right to appeal.

Tags: guestscan, hotel guest, hotel guest behavior, hotels

The Classicist: Movie Star Style at the Beverly Wilshire's New $25,000-Per-Night Penthouse

by Jared Paul Stern (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Decor, Luxury Travel & Hotels, The Classicist, Architecture & Design

Following a recently completed $40 million facelift, Beverly Wilshire, A Four Seasons Hotel has just unveiled its newly renovated Penthouse and Presidential Suite for the ultimate in movie star style. The Penthouse, beginning at $25,000 per night, is the largest hotel suite in Los Angeles and now one of the world's most expensive as well. L.A.-based architectural firm Barry Design Associates transformed the historic suites into modern, sophisticated spaces. They even throw in a Porsche. The Beverly Wilshire is a true piece of Hollywood history; the Italian Renaissance-style stone and marble building was completed in 1928 when the city had fewer than 18,000 residents, and its grand suites have played host to many of movieland's most famous faces over the decades.

The three-bedroom Penthouse offers guests 5,000 square feet of space. Positioned on the private top floor of the hotel's Beverly Wing it features floor-to-ceiling windows, high ceilings and a wrap around balcony with sweeping views of downtown L.A. and the Hollywood Hills. An entry way welcomes guests with marble mosaic flooring and Swarovski crystal chandeliers, while a dining room offers seating for 12 people adjacent to a state-of-the-art designer kitchen with Michelangelo marble countertops and Miele appliances. The elegant master bedroom is highlighted by an antique mirror and silver leaf detailed bed frame along with huge walk-in closet finished in stained oak. The master bath is fitted with glass tiles, exotic stones, a marble soaking tub, dual steam and rain shower contains a light and music system. There's also a media room for private screenings of your latest blockbuster.

Gallery: Beverly Wilshire Reborn

The two-bedroom Presidential Suite offers 4,000 square feet of space, entered through a spectacular grand foyer (above) with Corinthian columns and intricate crown molding designed when the Hotel first opened over 80 years ago. Located on the eighth floor of the hotel's original Wilshire Wing, it features sweeping views of the Hollywood Hills and has been graced by numerous celebrities, legends and dignitaries over the years. The suite comes complete with its own living room and library as well, while the master bath is fitted with a soaking tub, steam shower for two and integrated televisions in the mirrors above the black lacquer vanity counters. [continued]

Tags: Beverly Wilshire, California, celebrity, Four Seasons, Hollywood, Hollywood Hills, hotel suites, hotels, library, Los Angeles, luxury hotel, marble, movie stars, penthouse, Porsche, Porsche Panamera, presidential suite, Swarovski, worlds most expensive

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Koffmann's Opens at London's Luxe Berkeley Hotel

by Jared Paul Stern (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Dining, Luxury Travel & Hotels

The Berkeley (above), London's luxurious and beloved five-star Knightsbridge hotel, has just opened Koffmann's, a new restaurant from legendary French chef Pierre Koffmann. Overlooking Hyde Park, the historic hotel has long been the destination of choice for stylish travelers including Madonna, Gwyneth Paltrow and Naomi Campbell. Chef Koffmann, whose name has been synonymous with some of the UK's finest French cuisine for over 35 years, counts Gordon Ramsay among his protegés. The opening of Koffmann's marks the chef's return to The Berkeley, where he was at the helm of the celebrated La Tante Claire until its closing in 2003. The Koffmann's menu features several of the chef's signature items, such as a braised pig's trotter with morels, which guests may recognize from La Tante Claire, but on the whole Koffmann has moved into a more relaxed, informal style while still embracing his classic, provincial, French culinary roots. The menu offers hearty, robust, seasonal dishes, many influenced by his Gascon heritage, which can be enjoyed seven days a week for both lunch and dinner.

Gallery: Koffman's and The Berkeley