Hotel News We Noted: July 13, 2012

by McLean Robbins on

It’s Friday the 13th! Let’s hope nothing too scary happens today. How the time has flown – it seems hard to believe that we’re nearly halfway through summer. While July is often a slow month, the hotel world has stayed hot, hot, hot with openings, trends and promotions. Here’s what we’ve got on tap for you this week in “Hotel News We Noted.”

Hotel Opening: The Nantucket Hotel & Resort
The quintessential summer town has a new resort; The Nantucket Hotel & Resort opened officially yesterday and has an equal emphasis on the luxe and family-friendly. Featuring both guestrooms and family suites, a casual eatery with a decadent lobster-stuffed burger and two heated swimming pools, this is a great option for families looking to escape for a week or two. The 60-room hotel starts at $395 for regular rooms and $660 for family suites, with a special opening promo of 20 percent off for three nights in a one-to-four bedroom suite.

Social Hotel News: Hotel Tonight Goes European (and Canadian)
One of our all-time favorite travel apps, Hotel Tonight, has expanded in the past few weeks with the launch of a London edition. The app-only product, which offers (as you would guess), discounted hotel rooms for “tonight” is now in more than 40 cities, including Toronto and Vancouver. I used the app to book a last-minute hotel room in Newport, Rhode Island, over Memorial Day, paying just $99 for a great suite at the adorable Architect’s Inn, when rates were well over $300 at most other places. Easy to use and usually a pretty good deal, this is one of our top app picks and great news for those looking for London hotel rooms in this admittedly very busy summer overseas.

Hotel Perk: Ride In Style
We’ve heard about gratis BMWs and the one-off Aston Martin rental, but Fairmont Hotels and Resorts have gotten some cool perks for transportation of late that are a bit more out-of-the-box. Fairmont properties around the world offer guests the use of BMW Cruise Bikes to hop on and explore, but Fairmont Miramar Hotels & Bungalows in Santa Monica offers Dregs 37 Ditch Surf skateboards. For guests staying in one of the 32 bungalow rooms, the skateboards (or long boards) are available to cruise around Venice beach, the pier, Third Street Promenade and anywhere else you’d want to go. Guests looking for a high-flying mode of transportation can head to The Fairmont Waterfront, Vancouver or The Fairmont Empress, Victoria. The hotels share a Helijet that is available to transport guests to and from each respective location in 35 minutes. Fairmont has also expanded its complimentary chauffeured car service with BMW to its hotels throughout the United States. Awesome perks!

Hot Hotel of the Week: Kura Hurlanda
It’s been a busy week and we just got around to watching “The Bachelorette” last night, where we got an insider’s look at Kura Hurlanda Lodge in Curacao. We’re planning a whole feature on hotels of “The Bachelor” and “The Bachelorette,” but we couldn’t help but marvel at the beauty of this Caribbean gem. Did you see the tree house mansion used in her date with Jef? How romantic! If you want to live like Emily, they’re offering two different Bachelorette packages, starting at $1,696.

Hotel News We Noted: July 6, 2012

by McLean Robbins on




Greetings, friends. Here’s to hoping that everyone in a hotel tonight is there because they are enjoying an extended Fourth of July vacation, and not because they’re still without power from last weekend’s storms or Colorado’s devastating wildfires. It seems like the end of the world might be nigh after all – so this week, in addition to your standard Hotel News We Noted on openings, trends and new developments, we’ve got a special Mayan package at one of our favorite resorts.

If you have news, tips or comments, please feel free to drop us a line via email.

Resort We Want to Visit: NIYAMA Per AQUUM
Dying for a trip to the Maldives? Sure, so are we. If you suddenly find yourself on the other side of the world, be sure to check out NIYAMA, the area’s newest resort, featuring the world’s first underwater music club, a 24-hour spa, a coral adoption program, tribal cooking over hot rock grills and in-room delis for midnight snacking. Sounds amazing, right? If any of those perks aren’t your thing, the Per AQUUM brand also has a polo estate in Dubai and another property in the Maldives, Huvafen Fushi.Hotel Opening: Dorset Square, London
We’ve seen a whole slew of London openings over the past few months as the city scurries to ready itself for the upcoming Olympics. The latest luxury hotel is Dorset Square, part of the same ownership team that brought us the Convent Garden Hotel in London and also New York’s Crosby Street hotel. Officially opened as of June 18, the totally renovated property has 38 individually designed rooms and suites, many of which look over a private garden that was originally the site of a cricket field. Rooms start at just 150 euro, which means we’re definitely putting this new property on our list of hotels to explore next time we’re across the pond.

Cool Perks, Hot Days: Trump SoHo
In addition to chic interiors designed by Ivana and a spa we can’t help but love (it has New York City’s first authentic Hammam), Trump SoHo has raised the bar yet again with cool summer amenities for its pool goers. Lounge at the Bar d’Eau with one of the hotel’s Kindle Touch devices, which feature a glare-proof screen and come stocked with books and magazines like Forbes and Shape. Hmm, we wonder if “50 Shades of Grey” is on there too. While you’re lounging, cool off with a glass of the new Moet Ice Imperial, the first Champagne designed to be enjoyed over ice and a new European import.

It’s the End of the World As We Know It: Mayan Spa Rituals at Rosewood Mayakoba
Rosewood Mayakoba in Riviera Maya, Mexico, is celebrating the planned Mayan calendar end on December 21, 2012, with new spa treatments. The Mayan Equinox Ritual starts with a traditional Mexican sauna experience called the Temazcal, followed by burning incense and a wrap and mask using jade, gold and silver. They are also offering a New Moon Treatment for new mothers, using ingredients like rose, apricot and honey, as well a Garden Detoxifying Ritual, said to help purify the body, mind and soul. It’s basically a high-end mud wrap, but it does sound quite decadent. The best part? All of these treatments come with a silver pendant with your name engraved in Mayan. Just watch out – these treatments start at $400, so while it may not be the end of the world after December 21, it might be the end of the money in your wallet.


Want to know about more Mayan-themed specials? Jessica Festa wrote a great roundup earlier this year.

Hotel News We Noted: July 29, 2012

by McLean Robbins on

Greetings from Evian, France, land of the famed water, where I’ve been scouting hotels and spas all week. As usual, in Hotel News We Noted, you’ll find the best news, notes and trends from the hotel world this week.

Have a story or a tip? Send it our way via email.

Hotel Promo: Social Media Day
Fairmont Hotels and Resorts are getting into Social Media Day, June 30, with a special promotion. Restaurants and lounges across the Fairmont brand are offering a complimentary “app” from 3 p.m. through closing, tomorrow, June 30. You can find the social updates on the hotel’s Twitter, Facebook and FourSquare pages. If you choose to dine, you’ll also receive a one-time 25 percent discount through August 31, 2012. We champion Fairmont for “going social” and wonder why more hotels aren’t playing along!

All Eyes on London: Celeb Spottings
We, along with the rest of the world, have our eye on London this summer, thanks to that little thing called the Olympics beginning next month. But two London hotels are getting a bit of an early boost. The luxe Corinthia Hotel had a most distinguished guest earlier this week in the Prince of Wales, who toured the hotel. A-List guests also included Rihanna, who unfortunately was evacuated from the hotel yesterday after a small fire broke out. You win some; you lose some, Corinthia! Our favorite Spice Girls also announced a new musical at the St. Pancras Renaissance, where they shot their debut music video, Wannabe.

Amnesty for All: The Waldorf=Astoria New York
The Waldorf=Astoria is seeing to take back its history by calling on past guests to return hotel items that may have secretly checked out when they did. Past guests are encouraged to return all items predating 1960 with no questions asked during the amnesty period running now through Sept. 15. During the amnesty period, the hotel’s staff will evaluate returned items, selecting the best to be displayed on the hotel’s Facebook page; top returned items will then be showcased in the lobby museum. Start searching for those teacups, spoons and bathrobes, ladies and gents!

Happy Birthday: Raffles
The Singapore-based Raffles chain is celebrating its 125th birthday this year. Congratulations to the famed hotel group, which now has sister properties in Paris, Dubai, Cambodia, the Seychelles, Beijing and the Holy City of Makkah. Openings are happening in Manila, Istanbul, Jakarta and Hainan in China, over the next two years.

Hotel News We Noted: June 22, 2012

by McLean Robbins on

It’s finally summer, and outside isn’t the only thing that’s warm in this week’s edition of Hotel News We Noted. Here, we explore some of the world’s most sizzling new hotels and promotions, as well as cool amenities that can keep you traveling in style.

As always, if you have a suggestion or a comment, feel free to email us.

Hotel Trends: U.S. Hotels Catering to Chinese Travelers
Chinese travel to the United States is up 36 percent over last year, to the tune of more than $1 million. This article from the Seattle Times explored what that means for hotels. Chains like Marriott and Hilton have already rolled out special programs for tourists, while Starwood and The-Ritz Carlton have relocated managers to China to help them gain cultural awareness. Fairmont has just rolled out a new Chinese menu. Just one example includes the nation’s strict hierarchy – employees should not be placed on a higher floor than their boss, no matter the room type. Chinese guests are also not housed on floors with the number four, which sounds like the word for “death” in Mandarin – a strange request for a U.S. audience, but something that these tour groups have greatly appreciated. And, at the tune of $5.7 billion per year spent by the Chinese in the United States, or $6,000 per traveler, hoteliers can’t afford not to take note.

Cool Perk: Leave the Workout Gear at Home, Thanks to Westin
Westin is making it easier than ever to stay fit on the road (and still avoid checked bag fees). For $5, guests can get an entire New Balance outfit – from a sports bra to shoes – delivered to their room as part of an exclusive gear-lending partnership with New Balance.

Money We Wish We Had: Larry Ellison Buys Lanai, Two Four Seasons
Oracle CEO and billionaire Larry Ellison has gone and done it again. This time, he bought Lana’i, one of Hawaii’s seven islands, which has not one but two Four Seasons Resorts. Purchased are the 236-room Four Seasons Resort Lanai at Manele Bay and the 102-room Four Seasons Resort Lana’i, The Lodge at Koele. We didn’t realize this was even possible, but apparently it is – he purchased the island to the tune of $500 or $600 million from David Murdock, another billionaire.

Unique Amenity: An On-Site Bagpiper
Guests at Sea Island’s (image of their luxe property The Cloister above) can relax after a day of shooting school or playing one of the resort’s three championship golf courses and enjoy the sounds of the resort’s resident bagpiper, who plays on the golf course every day at sundown. Shockingly, this isn’t the only U.S. hotel to offer the amenity – the Inn at Spanish Bay near Pebble Beach has the same thing. Who would have thought?

Soon-to-Open: Hotel BPM, Brooklyn
It’s no shock to us that Brooklyn will be the home base for the boutique Hotel BPM, or Hotel Beats Per Minute in Sunset Park. The hotel, opening August 1, has one cool program we’re keeping an eye on – guests can request one song that will be played throughout the hotel sound system at some point during their stay. At just $139 a night for the opening rate, it might be worth it to go and request something terrible like “Ice Ice Baby” or country music just to see the reaction of other guests. Sorry, we’re terrible.

Hotel News We Noted: June 15, 2012

by McLean Robbins on

We’re almost officially into summer, friends, and it’s time for this week’s “it’s almost summer” edition of “Hotel News We Noted.” As always, feel free to email us tips and thoughts for next week’s edition.

Luxury Hotels: Four Seasons & Trump
If you’re a Trump hotels fan, you’re in luck. The brand has closed a deal on the Doral Resort & Spa in Florida and planned a $200 million renovation of the property. Four Seasons has also assumed management of a luxury favorite, New Mexico‘s former Auberge property, Encantado. They will rename the property Four Seasons Resort Rancho Encantado Santa Fe.

Awesome Amenity: Art Concierge
We’ve seen watch butlers, pet sitters and soap concierges, but now Rosewood San Miguel de Allende is taking personalization a step further with their new Art Concierge, who helps guests engage with the local public and community by facilitating interactive arts education and language classes. We’d ordinarily find this a strange service, but the San Miguel de Allende area has long been known as one of Mexico’s premier artist communities.

Hotel Package: Fourth of July in the Nation’s Capital
We may be biased because of our “Washingtonian” status, but we can’t help but think that the Nation’s Capital is a pretty great place to spend the Fourth of July. Starting Thursday (June 21) book rates at DC, Maryland and Virginia Kimpton hotels for $109 to $159 per night, a savings of more than 20 percent off. These boutique chic properties are the perfect home base from which to explore the museums, monuments and more. We’d highly suggest coming for July 4 and catching the famous fireworks show on the National Mall. Book here (the page goes live on Thursday) with code: BOOM. This exclusive sale is only 72-hours long, so book fast.

Hotel Visits: NYC’s 6 Columbus and The Standard East Village
We spent a quick weekend in New York City where we checked in and checked out of two boutique hotels in different areas of the city – 6 Columbus, a Thompson property, as well as The Standard East Village, formerly the Cooper Square Hotel. We loved the boutique vibe of both hotels – spare and minimalist but with luxe touches – Frette linens (both), designer bath amenities (Red Flower for The Standard, Kiehls for 6 Columbus) and piles of hard-to-find design and shelter magazines (both) for our in-room reading pleasure. Worth noting at 6 Columbus: in addition to chic restaurant Blue Ribbon Sushi, which was hopping even at nearly one in the morning, we loved the FourSquare special, which waived the $15 Wi-Fi fee for those who “checked in.” We were particularly interested in the new Standard, which is slowly renovating its public spaces and rooms from the old Cooper Square property. They’re not quite there yet – a room mishap at check-in took more than an hour to rectify (and required a few firm phone calls) – but fans of the Meatpacking property will be pleased to know that this hotel also offers floor-to-ceiling windows. We’re not sure if this was intentional, given the other location’s infamy for peep show like performances from guests, but we can say that we’re looking forward to seeing more changes down the road throughout the year.