Hotel News We Noted: September 28, 2012

by McLean Robbins on

Welcome to “Hotel News We Noted” and our first official fall issue. As always, we’re finding lots of new developments in the hotel world this week, from football-friendly packages (the refs are back and the games will go on) to openings, amenities and info galore.

Want to weigh in? Send us an email or leave a comment below.

Awesome Amenity: Hotel Monaco, Philadelphia
Philadelphia’s second Kimpton hotel is opening to the public on October 4, but we got the inside scoop on what you can expect from general manager Nick Gregory. Guests at the soon-to-open hotel (seen above) will be able to operate their in-room televisions from a complimentary app available on their smartphone. No touching the dirty remote? We’re thrilled. Of course, the rooftop lounge, Stratus, seems pretty cool as well. Want to plan a trip? Rooms are 15% off during the hotel’s special “preview” period.

Hotel Opening: Shangri-La, Toronto
The second Shangri-La hotel in North America is now open officially to the public. While some of the Toronto Film Festival’s stars did stay at the property during the fest, it seems that now everyone can enjoy the downtown luxury hotel. While we were wowed by the property’s beautiful glass front during a recent visit, the most interesting aspect of the 202-room, 66-story property is actually the attention paid to the concept of feng-shui. From the David Chang restaurant to the Shangri-La suite to the hamman and spa by Caudalie, careful attention has been paid to the Chinese concept of balanced energy.

Now Taking Rezzies: AKA West End, London and Beverly Hills
AKA didn’t make it in time for the Olympics, but the chic extended-stay brand’s first European hotel is taking reservations for October 1, and the first West Coast outlet, in Beverly Hills, is now in a soft open, and expected to have the lobby and suites fully ready by the end of the year.

Cool Perk: Loews Lets Its Best Customers Skip The Line
Loews Hotels & Resorts‘ best customers can now skip the airport immigration wait with free membership in the U.S. Customs and Border Protection’s expedited immigration program. The program, which normally costs $100, is available for Platinum members of the hotel’s loyalty program for the next 60 days. Works for us!

Hotel News We Noted: September 21, 2012

by McLean Robbins on

The leaves are changing and we’re itching for a getaway somewhere fun and “fall” themed. We participated in the first ever #traveluxe Twitter chat earlier this week and all the talk of fall hotels got us thinking about some bucket-list hotel names that would be great for a weekend away, including The Inn at Palmetto Bluff, Mohonk Mountain House and Blantyre Resort.

So this week we pose a question to readers (answer in the comments below) … where will you be headed for a fall getaway? Will you take a weekend in an intimate B&B or a luxury hotel, or skip those lodgings entirely for a cabin or rental home?

As always, you can weigh in via comments or email on our “Hotel News We Noted” items of the week. We welcome suggestions, questions, comments and even critiques. Send it all our way.

And, without further ado … this week’s “Hotel News We Noted.”

Hotel Package: Elect Your President at The Mayflower
It’s less than 60 days to the election, and hotels in DC are really gearing up for some partisan parties. The Mayflower, one of the closest hotels to the White House, is offering up packages and “elect your own” promos to get in on the political action. We’re fans of the “elect your turndown” service that lets you choose on a ballot of favorite presidential snacks, including Barack Obama’s Chocolate Caramels, George W. Bush’s Pretzels and Ronald Reagan’s Jelly Beans. Cocktails in the bar range from President Clinton’s favorite Stout and hard apple cider mix, called a Snakebite, to John F. Kennedy’s top choice for pre-dinner drinks, the Daiquiri. If you’re not in DC, you can even follow fun facts on Mayflower Mondays via social media.

Crazy Concepts: The Salt Chef at The Ritz-Carlton Amelia Island
When you have a restaurant named Salt, we’d expect that things might get, well, a little salty. And that’s just the case at The Ritz-Carlton, Amelia Island. The chef there leads guests through special demos on how to infuse salts using herbs from the hotel garden. Guests then break into teams to design and name their own blends, with winning creations featured on the restaurant menu for a week. We’ve heard of some fun cooking classes, but this actually seems like one we’d take home and try.Hotel Booking: Hotel Tonight Gets Better
We’re already fans of Hotel Tonight, but if you’re not aware, this hotel booking app offers deeply discounted hotel rates at some of the world’s coolest hotels for same-night booking. We are loving the updates in their newest version, including better suggestions from “similar” bookers, more access to hotels you’ve already stayed in and liked, better location targeting, and extra “impulse” deals for luxe and hip hotels. The improved sorting for international locations also makes it easier to find what we’re looking for. Haven’t tried the free app yet? Here’s a link to download.

Celebrity Hotels: The Inn at Little Washington
A shoutout for the acclaimed Inn at Little Washington. Known in foodie circles as one of the best dining experiences on the East Coast, it is becoming known as a romantic hideaway this week as well, thanks to its celebrity sightings in the form of Blake Lively and Ryan Reynolds, who spent Saturday at the Virginia inn before Lively returned to film “Gossip Girl” in New York City on Monday. What do you think? Are you more or less likely to visit a celebrity hotspot hotel?

Hotel News We Noted: September 7, 2012

by McLean Robbins on




Greetings from Toronto, where we’re visiting our fair neighbor to the north during the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF, for short). There is much to be enjoyed in this bustling capital, where hotels like the new Shangri-La, Trump, Ritz-Carlton (can you believe that’s what has opened only in the last year?) and soon-to-launch Four Seasons are dominating the luxury hotel scene, and buzzy up-and-comers like ALT near Pearson Airport and boutique-chic The Drake (no relation to the Chicago property), which rocks on in Ace Hotel-like hipster fashion on the trendy Queen Street West.

But enough about Canada, as there’s plenty of hotel news to be had around the world this week. Welcome to the first fall edition of “Hotel News We Noted.” As always, send us a note if you have tips, comments or suggestions.

Viral Video: Ritz-Carlton Showcases “The Art of the Craft”
Ritz-Carlton is showcasing their commitment to service and their “staff as family” approach with a new YouTube series that goes behind-the-scenes to highlight the work of hotel staffers. From shoe shiners to housekeepers, the videos showcase the level of commitment that each staffer has for their jobs. We love how employees at every level within the company take such a sense of pride in their job and the organization as a whole.
Hotel Openings: Four Seasons Baku and Pudong
The Four Seasons has had a big week with the opening of two new properties, Four Seasons Hotel Baku, the brand’s first in Azerbaijan, as well as the second property in Shanghai, Four Seasons Pudong. Once a well-kept secret among oil industry executives, Baku, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is attracting interest of a much broader range of travelers, especially with its rich cultural history, vibrant art scene, designer shopping and developing wine industry. The Shanghai property is primed for business success, located in the newly built, 55-story 21st Century Tower. Is anyone heading that way who will report back on how these hotels look in person?

Hotel Revamp: Peninsula Hotels
YouTube videos must be all the rage this week, as Peninsula has also launched their own series, dubbed “Peninsula Moments,” offering a more film-like approach to what it looks like to go behind-the-scenes at the hotel. Part of a new brand campaign and revamp for their flagship Hong Kong property (to the tune of a cool $450 million), here’s what else you can expect:

  • Cool new city guides from LUXE, designed exclusively for the hotels.
  • The re-launch of the Hong Kong property, which features the same designer as the Getty, new rooms and suites, and upgraded technology and design enhancements. These include touch screen tablets pre-set in one of five languages offering full control of all room technology, complimentary long-distance VOIP phone calls from guest rooms and, from the hotel’s Rolls-Royce fleet, upgraded in-room technology including memory-card readers and the now ubiquitous in-mirror bathroom TVs.

Hot Amenity: Find Your Chi At Palace Resorts
This change alone is enough to let us book a stay at a Palace Resort (an all-inclusive brand located throughout Mexico) – they’ve added Chi amenities to all of their rooms. Not a woman? This means the industry’s best hair dryers (plus flat irons) in all rooms, as well as the brand’s own line of amenities. Looking good while traveling AND keeping our suitcase from going over the required weight limit? We’re all about it.

Sleeping Beauties: Westin and Diamond Resorts
People have long loved their hotel beds, and many brands, both luxury and mid-range, sell their sleeping products online so that you can enjoy the same comforts at home. If you’re a Westin fan, snag their signature “Heavenly Bed” online through September 22 for 20% off. If you’re not in the market (or the budget) to replace your mattress, we’d suggest a stay at a Diamond resort, which just launched the heaviest pillow in the hotel industry, a 51-ounce pillow that feels more like a memory foam than the typical “must fluff all night long for a good night’s sleep” variety. At just $27 on the hotel site, they won’t break the bank, either.

Hotel News We Noted: August 31, 2012

by McLean Robbins on

Happy Labor Day weekend, everyone! We hope you’re off to enjoy one last summer fling – did you like our roundups of hotel deals (some are still going on) and great hotel pools for one last dip?

Kids are back in school and it seems like the hotel world has woken from its summer slumber too – we’ve got lots on tap for you, below.

As always, if you have news or notes, please send us an email.

Still Haven’t Booked For Labor Day? Last Minute Hotel Apps
If you still haven’t booked your hotel for a weekend getaway, check out our last-minute hotel specials and these great road trip tips. You could also try an app like Hotel Tonight or Booking.com.

Sweet Treat: A Beer Float at Park Hyatt Beaver Creek
We’ve heard of floats and we’ve heard of craft beer, but what about a craft beer float? That’s exactly what you’ll get at Park Hyatt Beaver Creek, which is pairing craft beers with seasonal ice cream and sorbet combos. Sample New Belgium 1554 Black Ale 13 with Rocky Mountain Road Ice Cream and Raspberry-Champagne Sorbet, or Sam Adams American Kriek 24 with Black Cherry-Nutella Swirl, Dark Chocolate, and Vanilla Bean Ice Cream. Yum.

Hotel Opening: The Ritz-Carlton, Vienna
The Ritz-Carlton opened its first hotel in Austria to much fanfare earlier this week (seen in the image, at right). The 80th hotel in the brand’s portfolio is composed of four 19th century palaces in the city’s downtown. You’ll find a rooftop bar, a restaurant serving authentic Austrian cuisine and a soon-to-open boutique spa by luxury skincare brand Guerlain.

Celebrity Not Welcome: Chateau Marmont
We’re not sure if Lindsay Lohan or Chateau Marmont looks worse in this situation. Word broke this week that LiLo is no longer welcome at the posh L.A. area hotel after refusing to pay a $46,000 bill that she claims should have been taken care of by producers of her upcoming “Liz and Dick” film. It’s not really a shock to us that Lohan is a bit of a train wreck – we’ve seen this for some time now. But it also appears a mark against the hotel itself – hotels of a certain caliber are supposed to have some level of discretion, particularly those that cater to the celeb set. What do you think? Who comes out looking worse here? Hotel staff or LiLo?

Hotel Opening: Refugia Lodge, Chile
It’s a week of far-flung hotel openings. This week, remote Chiloé Island in southern Chile, gets a touch of the luxe in a region known for its rusticity. The 12-room Refugia Lodge sits perched atop a rolling hill with beautiful views of the Reloncaví Sound and the snow capped peaks of the Andes in the distance, just 20 minutes from the capital city Castro. The all-inclusive lodge would be a great place to visit – a place the New York Times named one of the “45 Places to Go in 2012.” The Chiloé Archipelago is culturally and ethnically distinct from mainland Chile due to hundreds of years of relative isolation. Sounds like a real treat from $530 USD per night.

Hotel News We Noted: August 25, 2012

by McLean Robbins on

It’s hard to believe summer is almost over! Next week, we’ll bring you a selection of great Labor Day getaways, but for now, we’re tracking this week’s industry news on Hotel News We Noted.

Hotel Package: Get In Touch With Your Inner Dinosaur at Hotel ZaZa
We’ve long wanted to stay at a Hotel Za Za (mostly just so we can say the name and feel very glamorous), but we also love the idea of an “art focused luxury hotel.” The ZaZa in Houston has partnered with the Houston Museum of Natural Science’s new Paleontology Hall for a “Texas Triassic Tour Package” with overnight accommodations, admission for two, dinner, valet parking and Internet for just $249, a discount of 40%. No bones about it, this sounds like a good deal.

Hotel Package: Fast Cars and Fancy Resorts in the Cayman Islands
Ever had a fantasy that you were a racecar driver? Here’s your chance – spend five nights relaxing at the luxe Cotton Tree Grand Cayman, a sponsor of the Blancpain European Sports Racing circuit. After you’ve gotten your fill of the Caribbean, fly to Spain for a two-day race in October, where you’ll get VIP treatment in the team’s pit. For $6,500, this seems like a great deal for a once-in-a-lifetime experience.

Hot Hotels: In Memory of Marilyn
It’s the 50th anniversary of Marilyn Monroe’s death this month. If you’re a lover of the film icon, plan a stay at the historic Hotel del Coronado, the location for Monroe’s 1959 comedy, “Some Like It Hot.” Vacation like a star by staying at the ornate Victorian hotel where Jack Lemmon, Tony Curtis and Monroe dazzled audiences in what is regarded as the number one comedy of all time by the American Film Institute.

Hotels in the Headlines: Taylor Swift Kicked Out of Fairmont Copley Plaza
Or so the rumors go. Apparently (according to the Daily Mail, anyway), Swift and beau, a member of the Kennedy clan, were attending a wedding of Conor Kennedy’s cousin and were politely asked to leave because Swift’s fame was causing a scene that upstaged the bride. Rumor has it that Swift was very polite, but returned again later that night to dance at the reception. What do you think? Was she wedding crashing in poor form or is the notoriously nice country singer just getting a bad rap for perhaps outshining the bride on her big day?