Hotel News We Noted: November 2, 2012

by McLean Robbins on

We’d like to begin this week’s column by sending out our thoughts to all of those who have been without power or homes since Sandy tore through the East Coast earlier this week. While we escaped the worst of the storm in D.C., we know that many of our friends and colleagues in the Northeast were not so lucky. We’ll be reporting on ways travelers can help throughout the coming weeks.

The hotel news, however, must go on. So, without further ado, here is this week’s issue of “Hotel News We Noted.”

If you’re interested in sending us newsy tidbits or comments, please do so via email. We welcome reader mail! We’re also seeking hotels and travel companies offering Black Friday and Cyber Monday specials for an upcoming special edition.

Storm Loss: $700 Million In Business Lost
A new Wall Street Journal article estimates that the one-day loss totals from Hurricane Sandy equaled 600,000 business trips lost and $700 million in associated spending loss. Significant, sure, but not compared to the $50 billion plus expected to clean up the damage as a result of the storm. Still, for the tens of thousands of travelers still stranded in airport hotels waiting to get home and those who are currently staycationing because their buldings lack power, we hope you get home soon.

Hotel Openings: In North Korea?
We all knew those crazy North Koreans were on a power trip. Now the AP is reporting (see the full story over on our friends at HuffPo) that the “world’s tallest hotel,” Pyongyang’s Ryugyong Hotel, will likely open next year. The 105-story hotel will partially open more than two decades after initial construction began, via a management contract with European hotel chain Kempinski.New Hotel Partnership: Gaylord Joins Marriott
Marriott now has a 14th brand. As of early 2013, Gaylord Hotels’ four resorts in the D.C., Orlando, Dallas and Nashville areas will be part of the Marriott Rewards program. Members earn 10 points per dollar spent at Gaylord Hotels on room rate only or two airline miles per dollar spent on room rate only. That’s a good deal for business travelers, many of who find themselves at these massive conference centers for events.

Haute Hotel Package: Holiday Prep at the White Barn Inn
Learn how to be the “Hostess with the Mostess” this holiday season. On November 10, The White Barn Inn, the boutique Relais & Chateaux property in Kennebunkport, ME, is offering guests a Holiday Workshop, complete with a baking class in the new bakery (with champagne, of course), lunch at the famed White Barn Inn restaurant where guests can try their baked creations, and a cocktail class by White Barn Inn expert mixologists to learn to make the hottest holiday cocktails of the season. Rates start at $760 for an overnight plus breakfast for two. Pricey, but if it gets you any closer to Martha Stewart-like fame for your domestic skills, the investment might be worth it.

Hotel Deals of the Week
It seems like even hotels are getting in the holiday spirit early this year. Arizona’s Biltmore is offering an incredible $89 holiday rate for stays booked between Nov. 2 and 9 for stays between Nov. 18 and Dec. 1 or between Dec. 14 and Jan. 1.

[Image Credit: Arizona Biltmore]

Hotel News We Noted: October 26, 2012

by McLean Robbins on

As the East Coast prepares to batten down its hatches for the pending “Frankenstorm” (Hurricane Sandy) and the rest of the country is bombarded with an equally unpleasant series of political messages, we hope this week’s edition of “Hotel News We Noted” can serve as a bright spot. From holiday and Halloween happenings to World Series-worthy suites and new hotel openings, we’ve got it all covered.

As always, please feel free to email us with suggestions or leave a note in the comments below.

Seasonal Specials: Hot Haunted Hotels
Colleague Jessica Festa already gave us a great list of Halloween hotel specials, but the haunted hotel news keeps coming in. Here are a few last-minute favorites:
· Renaissance Vinoy Resort & Golf Club has a “spirits menu” of boozy libations as well as a haunted past. Request a room in the historic tower, which has been reported to have friendly paranormal activity.
· Manhattan’s Wolcott Hotel has also had many a ghost encounter, but we’re not scared of the rate (starting at just $200 a night). It’s a scary good deal.
· Allegiance Bed & Breakfast has not one but two ghosts. Karen and Ray apparently like to sit on guests’ beds in the middle of the night.
· We love the gratis PB&J sandwiches at New Orlean’s Le Pavillon hotel, as well as its friendly ghosts. We’re not much of a believer, but during our last stay here, we were definitely captivated by the grand Gilded Age décor.Political Package: Pick Your Party at The Mayflower Renaissance Washington, DC
Get in on the Red State, Blue State debate with The Mayflower’s “Pick Your Party” suite package in Washington. For $5,000, guests can stay in an ultimate Republican or Democrat one-bedroom suite, decorated with appropriate “party-perfect” red or blue decorations, fan-fare, hats, T-shirts and more, a Champagne breakfast for two, politically-inspired DVDs for in-room viewing, and a champagne moonlight limo tour of the monuments. We’re fairly certain this is the political wonk’s dream proposal package as well. Nothing gets you in the mood like re-runs of “The West Wing,” right?

Sweet Suites: Giants Dugout Suite
Rooting for your beloved Giants in the World Series? Do so in style from the Giants Dugout Suite at Hotel Union Square. Styled in the Giants’ signature orange and black and filled with the team’s memorabilia, baseball lovers will feel as if they have hit a home run in this spacious corner suite. From the bed dressed with Giants pillows to the Giants beanbag chair and custom designed “Fear the Beard” window shades, fans will get the ultimate sports experience. The walls are adorned with a three-panel screen of Vida Blue photos, a canvas autographed by Vida Blue, photos of the Giants ballpark, team flags and pennants. The room also comes with four comp tickets to take a tour of the Anchor Brewing Company. We only wish it came with gratis peanuts and hotdogs too … or maybe some World Series tickets.

Hot Hotel Deals of the Week: October 26
We get so many pieces of insider information on hotel sales and upcoming promotions that it seems a waste not to share some of our favorites with you. So each week, look for a few of our favorite hot hotel deals in this space.
· Kimpton is offering rates from just $90 for the next few days with this hot holiday sale. There’s a caveat, you have to be an InTouch member to buy.

[Image credit: Personality Hotels]

Hotel News We Noted: October 20, 2012

by McLean Robbins on

What a week it has been! We’ve been busy reporting the latest hotel series here on Gadling, “Birth of a Hotel,” as well as meeting with friends from some of our favorite hotels and travel groups around the world. As we head deep past the midpoint of October, we’re already being bombarded with holiday pitches. It’s enough (along with the explosion of pumpkin-themed goodness everywhere) to put us in the holiday spirit … or at least a bit more jolly than usual. We hope this week’s news will put you in a good mood too … whether you’re geeking out over the latest digital news or dreaming of a fair weather spa weekend.


Drama Drama: Eden Roc South Beach
Long story short, Eden Roc was, until earlier this week, a Marriott-managed property … a Renaissance, to be exact. That was, until the ownership group attempted to overthrow them in a predawn raid (yes, we said raid) on Oct. 14. Really, this isn’t out of a movie. Like Katie Holmes serving Tom Cruise divorce papers, they were all set up for a new hotel, arranging for a new website, name and all … alleging mismanagement of their darling property. But things didn’t go as planned. Marriott sued and won a restraining order against the ownership group. As of today, the property is still firmly in Marriott control. Perhaps they’d had practice in situations like this before. Remember the Edition in Waikiki? Drama, drama. We’ll keep you posted.

On the Digital Front: Fairmont Gets a Facelift

We admit, we secretly (or not so secretly, if you’re reading this) geek out with joy when a hotel joins the 21st century and gets a new, user-friendly website. Maybe because, in our other life, we actually help hotels develop usable content strategies, but that’s besides the point. We like the look! It’s sleek, clean and image-driven … and uses a very similar font to Four Seasons, whose website we reported on back in June. The “Enhance Your Stay” section that allows for add-ons right within the booking window offers everything from breakfast and massages to hot air balloon rides.

Romantic Room Service: Inn at the 5th
When we’re on a romantic weekend (ha, that’s rare) we love a good room service expedition. Who doesn’t? That’s why we’ll be ordering our eggs benny from Eugene, Oregon’s Inn at the 5th, where rooms feature private butlers’ doors so that orders can be completed without ever revealing your true identity (or ugly pajamas). What an ingenious idea for those who want their meals in complete privacy.

News from ‘Cross the Pond: Churchill’s Classy New Digs
Hyatt Regency London at the Churchill has a new hot spot, their soon-to-open Churchill Bar. We had breakfast this morning with Henny Fraser, the hotel’s director of sales and marketing, and she told us about the hotel’s new bar concept, which takes the former cigar lounge and transforms it into a open a contemporary bar and lounge space based on what hotel muse Winston Churchill would have loved as a young man. Focused on gin, local cuisine and high-touch service, this sounds like a place we’d love to enjoy a cocktail … you can too, starting November 24.

[Photo Credit: Inn at the 5th]

Hotel News We Noted: October 12, 2012

by McLean Robbins on

Awesome Amenity: A Food Truck Concierge
No matter what you’re craving – ice cream, tacos, dumplings, or more – Thompson’s Food Truck Concierge can assist. They offer a special Food Truck Concierge application, letting visitors know the exact cooking times and locations of their favorite mobile eats. Thompson’s New York hotels are also offering special food truck deals, using code ‘FOODTRUCK’ when booking online.

Hotel Trends: Same Night Booking
Two years ago, we would have told you that the biggest trend in hotel booking was the flash sale. Now we’ll tell you it’s “same night booking,” a platform (often in curated mobile app form) that allows hotels to lower rates for unsold same day reservations. Jetsetter did it earlier this week, HotelTonight even tells you what they do in their name. Hotwire Travelocity and Priceline all have web or application-based tools to allow travelers to book day-of reservations. The platforms all differ slightly. Some are opaque, meaning that they reveal details about the property but not its name until after booking. Others showcase the name of the property or its “type” to entice travelers.

We’re fairly confident that this development is a big one – and we’ll soon be seeing it migrate to other industries, such as fitness, spa and sports.

Hotels Get Social: Sofitel Launches Tumblr Blog
In an effort to engage better with guests of their nine North American properties, Sofitel has launched a new Tumblr blog, Life is Magnifique. The hotel chain says that the content, which is centered on an online concierge experience, will feature cultural activities, restaurant openings, key events and fashion updates by Sofitel staff in each city. We’re excited to see where this goes. Tumblr can be a fun and very interactive platform for hotels, but we have seen too many brands use blogs to push out PR content, leaving little value to the consumer. So far, however, the content seems fun and engaging, and the blog’s layout is easy to read.

Hotel Reviews: HotelMe
A new hotel review site is on the market. HotelMe is touting itself as an alternative to travel review sites like TripAdvisor that have recently been in the news for having fake or unverified reviews on their websites. This new site promises “verified” reviews by partnering with hotels to confirm the reviewer’s stay through a patent-pending method. We’re intrigued … would you use this website to scout out a potential hotel?

Sweet Suites: Diane Von Furstenberg’s Penthouse in Hayman, Australia
Acclaimed fashion designer Diane von Furstenberg has crafted a new penthouse on Hayman, Australia’s private island destination, and we’re already lining up for a stay. The two-bedroom is designed with DVF signature fabrics, freestanding tone bathtub and classic furnishings, but that’s not really what gets us excited. We’re coveting this space thanks to its prime positioning in the spectacular Great Barrier Reef, which can be viewed on the oversized balcony. Of course, Butler services and all meals don’t hurt either.

Hotel News We Noted: October 5, 2012

by McLean Robbins on

Happy Columbus Day weekend, everyone. We’d wish you a happy holiday, but we’re not sure that anyone other than postal carriers really get the day off for this anymore.

Lucky for you, we have lots of fun news this week to keep you busy reading over your two (or three) day weekend.

As always, email us with questions, comments or tips. We love to hear from our HNWN fans!

Hotel News We’re Noting: Birth of a Hotel
If you haven’t already, take the time to check out our newest series on Gadling, “The Birth of a Hotel.” We’ll be following the development and opening of Capella Washington D.C., Georgetown, and talking all about the hotel industry as well. We’d love for you to tune in!

Hotel Openings, Renovations & Rezzies Galore in Las Vegas: The D, Nobu, Wynn and Golden Gate
It has been a busy few weeks in Las Vegas. Recently, one of our favorite ultra-luxe hotels, Wynn, unveiled a major renovation of its spa space. The Zen-themed spa has 45 updated treatment rooms and a new menu. Nobu’s first hotel, inside Caesar’s Palace, has started taking 2013 reservations (about $250/night).

But it isn’t just the strip that’s booming. Downtown Las Vegas is going through a massive overhaul. Doors opened at the Smith Center for the Performing Arts and the National Mob Museum. Zappos announced plans to build its corporate headquarters in the historic neighborhood as well.

Hotel-wise, next week the downtown area will welcome the D Las Vegas, a soaring renovation of the former Fitzgeralds property and sister hotel to Las Vegas’ original Golden Gate Hotel & Casino. Golden Gate announced completed renovations last month. Looks like there’s a lot to see in the Glitter Gulch. We hope to bring you a live report soon.Hotel Openings: Four Seasons Hotel Toronto
There’s more to love in Toronto today with the grand opening (or shall we say re-opening) of the all-new Four Seasons Hotel Toronto. The hotel moved buildings and closed for several months while it moved into the new space. The location will be the brand’s new flagship, and, as can be expected, cool perks, design additions and amenities abound. Enjoy Michelin-starred Chef Daniel Boulud’s latest dining experience, a massive art collection, in-room iPads and house cars with WiFi. The spa should also be impressive. It’s the largest not only in the city but of any Four Seasons worldwide.

Hotel Spotlight: Chile
Things have been heating up in Chile over the past few months. The South American country has seen the launch of several ultra-luxe hotels, including: Hotel Palacio Astoreca (in Valparasio), a 1920s-era Victorian mansion featuring a wine cava, library, a piano bar lounge and a chic spa. The hotel’s restaurant Alegre, is even helmed by an ex-chef of El Bulli.

In more remote settings, we can’t wait to visit Refugia Lodge, the first luxury lodge on Chiloé Island in southern Chile, a region chosen by the New York Times in “45 Places to Go in 2012.” The 12-room property offers all-inclusive packages that tie in trips to remote islands aboard the lodge’s custom-built Chilote boat, visits to penguin colonies, UNESCO Jesuit churches and more.

And, for a true bucket-list adventure, we’d head to Hangaroa Eco Village & Spa on Easter Island. The Hangaroa is Chile’s most ecologically sustainable hotel, modeled after the Orongo ceremonial village with curvilinear walls and grass roofs. In addition to awesome water views, you’ll find a 75-person cinema, spa and two restaurants. It’s a big deal … this hotel is located in the only village on Easter Island.