peninsula

The Peninsula Spa by Espa: Techniques with both Asian and European Traditions

Filed under: Luxury Travel & Hotels, Spas

From the windows of the spa at Hong Kong's Peninsula Hotel, guests can enjoy sweeping harbor views, a sauna, a peppermint vapor steam room and other perks – all before their treatments even begin. Small wonder The Peninsula Spa by Espa is a nominee for a Luxist award in the best day spa category.

Founded in 1928, The Peninsula was Hong Kong's first modern-day luxury hotel. The British briefly lost the enclave to Japanese forces in 1941, with the commanding officer issuing an official surrender in a room on The Peninsula's third floor, before regaining Hong Kong at the war's end. The middle of the century saw The Peninsula become one of the world's premier luxury destinations; in 1994, the hotel added a 30-story tower behind the original structure to meet growing demand. Shortly thereafter, The Peninsula Spa by Espa was installed high in the new tower.

Developed by industry giant ESPA, the spa offers body treatments and skincare with techniques borrowed from European and Asian tradition. The establishment's 14 rooms are adorned with reclaimed wood, green bamboo and indoor waterfalls; most offer views of the shimmering skyline on the other side of Victoria Harbor.

Treatments include "De-Stress," a massage with frankincense oils and a skin-specific facial (120 minutes: $250), as well as "Time Together," a couples' aromatherapy massage complete with full-body exfoliations and a steam bath (120 minutes: $650). If that's not enough relaxation, have afternoon tea in the lobby or dinner at iconic onsite restaurant Felix, which was designed by Philippe Starck.

Cast your vote for your favorite spa until March 31st. Winners will be announced on April 1.

Tags: awards-main, best day spa, best spa, BestDaySpa, BestSpa, Hong Kong, HongKong, luxist-awards, peninsula, peninsula hotel, peninsula hotels, PeninsulaHotel, PeninsulaHotels, spa, spa-main

New Fleet of Rolls-Royce Phantoms Arrive In Hong Kong

by Deidre Woollard (RSS feed) —

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

Our siblings at Autoblog report on the massive fleet of custom Rolls-Royce Phantoms which recently arrived at the Peninsula Hotel in Hong Kong. The Peninsula ordered 14 long-wheelbase Phantoms, each finished in Brewster Green with a tan stripe, Peninsula Hotel sill plates, an enlarged trunk, a coolbox for chilled towels, compartments for used towels in the doors, MP3 jacks for the rear seats and "No Smoking" plaques.

If you are interested in staying at this sumptuous hotel, you may as well go for the top suite. The Peninsula Suite, which regularly makes lists of the most expensive suites in the world, has a private balcony with panoramic views of Victoria Harbor and Hong Kong Island, two separate sitting areas, a conference room, mini-gym, private office, harbor-view bathroom, three private washrooms, and a guest washroom, two separate dressing areas and a fully equipped kitchen and Butler's pantry. This amazing suite costs $42,000 Hong Kong Dollars (around $5,400 per night).

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Tags: hong kong, HongKong, peninsula, phantom, rolls-royce

Peninsula, Mandarin, & Ritz-Carlton Take Tokyo

by Matthew Collins (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Luxury Travel & Hotels

Tokyo, consistently rated one of the world's most expensive cities, has had a glaring absence of luxury hotels. Certainly, the Four Seasons is probably the best in town, but up till now it hasn't had any real competition. The Mandarin Oriental has just opened its 179 room hotel in Nihonbashi that balances the natural elements of forest and water. In other words, its designed to make you feel at one with nature, even though you are on top of a skyscraper is one of the most densely populated cities on Earth. Joining Four Seasons and Mandarin in 2007 are both Peninsula and Ritz-Carlton, who will open new hotels in Tokyo later in the year. The venerable Peninsula Hotel Group is opening a 315 room, 24 floor hotel in the Marunouchi district of Tokyo. Situated in a area experiencing a revitalization, the triangular shaped hotel will certainly become a hub of luxury-minded travelers. Ritz-Carlton is opening 250 rooms on the top nine floors of a high rise in Roppongi district. Part of a mixed-use facility designed by American architecture firm Skidmore, Owings & Merrill. The hotel will feature a sky lobby, several restaurants, and a large spa. At long last, a place to lay my head where I can dream of the world's most expensive hotel bill.

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Tags: four seasons, FourSeasons, luxury hotels, LuxuryHotels, mandarin oriental, MandarinOriental, peninsula, ritz carlton, RitzCarlton