Luxury hotel to open at Palace at Versailles

by Melanie Nayer on

There’s no better place to sleep like a king than at the Palace of Versailles, and now travelers might just get their chance.

NPR reports that a building at the cherished cultural landmark, home to the French monarchy since Louis XIV, will soon be turned into a five-star luxury hotel. The luxury hotel will stand about one hundred yards from the main palace.

“Known as the Hotel du Grand Controle, the mansion was built in the 1680s to serve as the offices and home of the king’s treasurer, where he lived with his family and servants. The Hotel du Grand Control was evacuated, along with the rest of Versailles, during the French Revolution. In the 19th and 20th centuries it fell into further disrepair,” Mikael Hautchamp, deputy administrator for the Palace of Versailles, told NPR. The story goes on to say that Versailles turned toBelgian hotel company Ivy International to fund and renovate the mansion into a 23-bedroom luxury hotel.

While there’s certainly some concern about turning a treasured monument into a hotel, opening a luxury hotel in Versailles would give travelers with a passion for history a chance to ‘live’ at Versailles, if only briefly.

The hotel, which will be called Hotel de l’Orangerie, is slated to open in January 2012. Rumor has it when the hotel officially opens, guests will be given champagne and access to stroll the famous gardens of Versailles, which haven’t been strolled in some 300 years.

[For the full story, read the NPR article]

Westin teams up with New Balance to give travelers a reason to stay fit while traveling

by Melanie Nayer on

It’s getting a little harder to avoid working out on vacation. Westin Hotels & Resorts and New Balance have joined forces to empower travelers to stay healthy and fit when away from home by providing New Balance footwear, apparel and fitness program content at Westin Hotels worldwide.

During a pilot program in 2010, guests of 10 Westin properties were given access to New Balance shoes and accessories during their stay to incorporate some wellness with their travel. The program was so successful, Westin is planning to roll out the New Balance offerings in all Westin-branded hotels worldwide in 2011.

“Convenient access to the proper athletic equipment and programming is vital to the traveler who wants to stay healthy and fit while they’re away from home,” said Hilary Keates, director of global marketing and brand management for New Balance. “New Balance is excited to partner with Westin to provide their health and fitness-minded guests with footwear, apparel, accessories and programming for an overall enhanced experience. As leaders in our respective categories with like-minded consumers, this alliance made perfect sense.”
Westin guests wanting to workout will get travel-specific fitness content from New Balance Fitness Ambassador and Exercise TV celebrity trainer Holly Perkins, who will develop exclusive in-room fitness and equipment-free content that includes stretching and strengthening workouts, cardio and yoga. The program includes “Wellness in Travel” tips from Holly on nutrition and creative ways to combat jet lag and healthy living. New Balance is also working with individual Westin properties to enhance its current three- and five-mile local area running maps. As part of the partnership, participating properties will provide guests traveling to a city for a major athletic event, such as a marathon, with wellness amenities, including turn-down gifts with “performance/fuel” goodies for the race and “good luck” wake-up calls.

We want to know: If given all the equipment, including shoes, would you be more inclined to workout when you travel?

Ritz-Carlton ready to open first new hotel of 2011: Dubai International Financial Centre

by Melanie Nayer on

The Ritz-Carlton hotel group is gearing up for an exciting 2011. Amid the flurry of anticipation for the opening of the tallest hotel in the world in Hong Kong, the hotel group is also preparing for its first opening of the year, The Ritz -Carlton, Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC), slated to welcome guests on Jan. 12, 2011.

The 341-room hotel, with 124 executive residences, will be the second Ritz-Carlton in Dubai and the sixth property in the region.

Located in Dubai’s bustling financial district, The Ritz-Carlton, DIFC graces the skyline wrapped in a French limestone façade and shades of art deco elements. Standing 14 storeys high, the hotel will be a grand fixture among the city’s towering skyscrapers.Unique designs include:

  • A 10-storey outdoor waterfall cascading down the building directly into the courtyard facing the lobby.
  • A total of eight striking water features are situated throughout the hotel playing on the feng shui belief that the constant flow of water signifies wealth and prosperity.
  • A three-storey high lobby ceiling with a glamourous centerpiece – 44 crystal stems designed to resemble frosted branches in the moonlight.
  • A dramatic 30 meter (100 feet) wine wall that is home to 3000 bottles of the finest varietals in the world.

Dining options include Blue Rain, the signature Thai fine-dining restaurant; Can Can, a French all-day dining brasserie and the Center Cut steakhouse. The Lobby Lounge & Terrace will host Dubai’s only chocolate and champagne experience.

The top two floors of the hotel are dedicated to guests of The Ritz-Carlton Club. The hotel will also offer two Royal Suites, each at 220 square meters (or 2,370 square feet) in size and luxury furnished residences that range in size from one- to four-bedroom. Residents will have access to an exclusive rooftop health club and outdoor pool, plus can utilize all services offered by the hotel including housekeeping, catering, concierge, and in- room dining.

Guests staying the hotel will enjoy a fully-equipped health club, indoor pool and The Ritz-Carlton Spa, featuring 13 treatment rooms.

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Daily Pampering: Private cigar rooms at Davidoff Lounge, Ritz-Carlton Beijing

by Melanie Nayer on

Crystal chandeliers and red velvet furniture adorn what is possibly the most exclusive cigar bar in Beijing. But why would you simply hang out at the bar when you can have your own private room?

The Davidoff Lounge at The Ritz-Carlton, Beijing, attracts the discerning type, just as Zino Davidoff had intended it to be when he opened the world’s first cigar lounge in Switzerland back in the 1920s. Since then, Davidoff branded lounges have been catering to the world’s cigar affectionados.

The four private rooms at the Ritz-Carlton, Beijing, Davidoff Lounge were all designed by separate artists, allowing guests who want to purchase a private room the opportunity to pick one that suits their tastes. Grab one of the fine cigars and rare cognacs, and then settle into your private room for something truly unique and special: karaoke. Because really, what’s a good cigar and cocktail without your personal rendition of Foreigner’s “I Want To Know What Love Is”?

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The Davidoff Lounge offers some of the rarest single malts you’ll find in Asia, perfect for those needing to loosen up a bit before grabbing the mic and choosing their song of choice from the touch-screen TVs located in each of the rooms.

Just to rent one of the four private rooms costs ￥2888-3888 (approximately $430 to $590 USD). Cocktails start around $12 USD and the cheapest bottle of wine will run you around $68 USD. If you’re craving a cigar, puff on a Cohiba or a Davidoff for around ￥300 (approximately $45 USD).

Rumor has it celebrities including Jackie Chan have made an appearance at the Davidoff Lounge …

Want more? Get your daily dose of pampering right here.

InterContinental Hotel Group prepares for 2011 openings in Russia, Portugal, Qatar, more

by Melanie Nayer on

A new year brings new hotels. While travelers are prepping their calendars in anticipation of 2011 trips, hotel groups are working hard to open new properties around the world for guests. International expansion in Asia and Europe are top priorities for hotel groups including Marriott, Starwood and Hilton. Next up: InterContinental Hotel Groups plans their 2011 expansion including hotels in Russia, Portugal and a second property in London.

I caught up with my contacts at InterContinental to get a sneak peak at what’s to come:

InterContinental Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia (February 2011)

The InterContinental Kuala Lumpur is a 473-room hotel located at Jalan Ampang, a prestigious upscale address in the heart of the capital’s business, shopping and entertainment district. The hotel is a short distance to the iconic Petronas Twin Towers and the Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre. There will be five restaurants, offering Japanese, Chinese, Malaysian and international cuisine.

InterContinental Moscow Tverskaya, Russia (July 2011)

Situated on the site of the former Minsk Hotel at Number 22 Tverskaya, InterContinental Moscow Tverskaya will be part of a brand new 64,000 square-meter development with luxury retail outlets and state-of-the-art offices. Within a short walking distance are the Kremlin, City Hall and Pushkin Square. Guest rooms with have hardwood parquet flooring, built-in TV in both the bedroom and bathroom, and bespoke furniture, including one-of-a-kind credenzas featuring etchings of Seven Sisters skyscrapers that were planned but never built. InterContinental Porto Palacios das Cardosas, Portugal (July 2011)

The hotel will occupy what was once the Palace of the Cardosas, located on the main square of Porto, Portugal‘s second largest city and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. There will be 105 guestrooms, with Penthouse suites located on the 7th floor. A main feature of the hotel will be the Cafe Astoria, once part of a bank that occupied the palace, which will have its original Belle Époque elements restored. The hotel will also have an urban spa with pool and sauna.

InterContinental Doha West Bay, Qatar (late 2011)

InterContinental Doha West Bay will be part of a 60-storey tower located in the Doha city center, close to the main shopping and business districts. The 540-room hotel will have suites and serviced residences, as well as a Club InterContinental. There will be extensive dining options, including a steak house, sushi bar and dim sum restaurant. Some of the restaurants will be located on the 55th and 56th levels, with views of the city. Another standout feature: an outdoor sky pool located on the 46th floor.

InterContinental London Westminster, England (early 2012)

InterContinental London Westminster will occupy the former Queen Anne’s Chambers, originally built in the 19th century. The 254-room hotel is InterContental’s second London property and only a short walking distance to major landmarks including Buckingham Palace, Westminster Abbey, the Royal Parks and the London Eye.