Hotel News We Noted: August 3, 2012

by McLean Robbins on



We’re officially into the Dog Days of Summer and it seems like every resort we see is trying to promote a pet-friendly package. Be sure to inquire if you want to travel with Fido or Fifi – many hotels offer pet-friendly policies for dogs under a certain size, and some, like Kimpton, even cater to the pampered pooch with special welcome amenities.

This week’s Hotel News We Noted is full of both good news and sad, as it seems like most of the big openings and events will be happening later in the fall. Still, we’ve got a full slate of happenings for you, just down below.

As always, send us a message if you have questions, comments or tips!

Hotel Closing: The Ritz Paris
The video above is in tribute to the closing of The Ritz Paris, an iconic property that closed this week as part of a two-year restoration. We love the cheeky video, which shows lights being turned off, maids undoing aprons, and dust covers being placed on the furniture. We wish the hotel and its staff the best of luck during their hiatus.

Hotel Concierge: Apothecary Concierge at Hotel Matilda
We’ve heard of art concierges and even a soap concierge, but this is the first we’ve heard of an on-site Apothecary Concierge. San Miguel de Allende’s Hotel Matilda has a new on-site herbalist who creates handmade natural beauty and skincare products personalized for each guest. Each guest gets a personalized skincare consultation and can discuss with the herbalist their unique needs and preferences. The proper remedy is then whipped up on the spot and given to the guest for use during their stay and to take home. We’re pretty sure this might be the coolest concierge perk we’ve seen in some time. Now if only we needed to take a trip to Mexico.

Hotel Amenity: OPUS Vancouver Loves Apple
We are beginning to suspect some sort of partnership – first OPUS Vancouver gives guests in-room iPads, and now they’re replacing their phones too. Guests in rooms at this boutique property now have in-room and during-their-stay use of an iPhone 4. While we think it’s a bit strange to outfit rooms with phones that can’t connect direct to the front desk or in-room dining, we love the idea of being able to take our phone with us when we travel … and, since our own iPhone doesn’t work internationally, this is a perk we’d definitely use. What do you think?

Hotel Openings: Hard Rock Rockin’ On in Mexico and a New Kimpton in La Jolla
The Hard Rock brand had a banner week with the refurbishment and opening of two new properties in Mexico – the Hard Rock Hotel Vallarta and the Hard Rock Hotel Cancun. Both properties are now open for biz, and plan to host star-studded (and likely big name music acts) opening parties in August and October, respectively. Prefer to stay in the U.S. to get your beach fix? Kimpton has spent $4 million to refurbish a brand new property in La Jolla, aptly named Hotel La Jolla, open today.

Happy Birthday, Holiday Inn
One of America’s best-loved brands is turning 60. This month, the iconic Holiday Inn brand turns the big 6-0. This is a brand known for firsts – when launched it was the first hotel to introduce many things we take for granted today like TVs, in–room telephones, air conditioning, free ice, free parking, a full service restaurant and a pool, all at affordable prices. It was the first hotel brand to allow kids to eat and stay for free; and the first to take online bookings. Now they’re encouraging guests in the US, Canada and China to share their own “firsts” on Facebook, Twitter and Weibo to win up to 60 free nights each day in August. Guests from all over the world can also share their “then and now” pictures on Facebook and Weibo through October. The best entries will win a weeklong family vacation at the Holiday Inn of their choice anywhere in the world.

Hotel News We Noted: July 27, 2012

by McLean Robbins on




Unless you’ve been living under a rock, you’re aware that this is the month of the Olympics – and we’ll be doing our due diligence by bringing you the best hotel news, packages and trend data over the next few weeks in this column and elsewhere. This week, however, we’re highlighting spots of summer with a slew of new hotel stay reviews, openings, trends and far-out amenities.

As always, if you have a comment, thought, or want to share details from a great hotel you’ve recently experienced, send us an email.

Now Open: Scrub Island
If it’s private island luxury you crave (who doesn’t?) try the newly opened, yet unfortunately named, Scrub Island Resort on the east end of Tortola in the British Virgin Islands (shown at top). As the first luxury resort built in the destination in more than 15 years, the hotel is part of Marriott’s Autograph Collection. Set on a private island and rugged cliff overlooking the Atlantic Ocean and Caribbean Sea, you’ll enjoy a choice of 52 rooms as well as two-, three-, and four-bedroom villas, a spa, restaurants, three private beaches and a 55-slip marina. Rates for a July stay start at $400 per night.

Opening Soon: Margaritaville Atlantic City
Under the boardwalk, down by the sea, on a blanket with my margarita, that’s where I’ll be. More likely, we’ll be in the casino at the Margaritaville Atlantic City, predicted for a May 2013 opening. A hotel-within-a-hotel at the Resorts Casino, the Jimmy Buffett hotel will not be the first – there are already casinos in Biloxi, Mississippi, and Las Vegas, as well as a hotel in Florida and a number of the iconic restaurants nationwide. USA Today reports that the complex will have a restaurant, bar, shops, year-round beach bar and the first ever Margaritaville-themed coffee shop.

Fun Perk: Sing-A-Long Movies at the Westin Resort & Casino, Aruba
This fun Starwood resort adds a twist to their traditional “dive-in” movie theme with a family-friendly Sing-a-Long Movie Summer. Every Tuesday through the end of August, guests gather in the resort’s free-form pool to watch and sing along with classic films like “Mary Poppins,” “The Sound of Music,” “The Wizard of Oz” and more. Summer rates at The Westin, Aruba start at a reasonable $179.

Hotel Review: The Reef at Atlantis, Paradise Island, Bahamas
We are going to give the most positive review we can of our recent weekend at Atlantis in the Bahamas‘ Paradise Island. Keep in mind, we’re probably not the hotel’s target demographic – we don’t have kids, weren’t traveling on a company’s incentive trip budget, and don’t generally love gigantic hotels. The famed casino-resort-cruise ship stopping point was to be our home away from home at the wedding of a friend, the one reason we didn’t book a stay at the One & Only Ocean Club on the island instead.

The price for The Reef? A steep $398 per night pre-tax, which totaled out to an additional $120 per night … and this with a near 50 percent wedding rate discount. The rooms were spacious and the kitchenettes offered a good perk – we ordered from the handy FoodStore2Go to stock up for breakfast and other munchies. Red Flower bath amenities were a lovely touch; the horribly scratchy sheets (we’ve had better at a Hampton Inn for sure) were not.

Generally speaking, service was beyond, even the expected, “Caribbean time” slow. The staff (with the exception of housekeeping) was rude and unhelpful, and the resort was packed to the gills with the patrons dropped off from cruise ships each day. The Cove, the resort’s most luxe portion, was by far the best for adults, but even then, a DJ spinning morning and night at the pool made it feel more like Las Vegas or Miami then a relaxing Caribbean escape.

Rooms in other towers – the Beach, Coral and Royal – looked dated and in need of refurbishment. Sadly, rain deterred our plans to visit amenities like the Dolphin Cay and our time was cut short at the Aquaventure water park, but those definitely seemed worthy of a visit, particularly for families with children. The Mandara Spa, however, was a standout – the spa was still very crowded (go early in the day) but the treatment was one of the best we’ve had.

The final verdict? It’s the perfect day visit from a cruise ship or another resort. If you have kids and want to entertain them, it’s an easy alternative to Disney World. If you’re on someone else’s dime, enjoy! The island is beautiful. If you’re coming as a couple, save your money and go elsewhere.

Hotel News We Noted: July 20, 2012

by McLean Robbins on

Greetings from the sunny islands of the Bahamas! We’re visiting the famed Atlantis Resort this week for a wedding of a good friend, and will be excited to report back next week on our swim with the dolphins, boat trip to the Exumas and spa treatments.

But we couldn’t leave you without this week’s edition of “Hotel News We Noted,” where we track the latest and greatest hotel news, packages, trends and promotions you need to know now.

If you have questions, comments, concerns or tips, just email!

Hotels Coming Soon: SLS New York
We’ve told you about the opening of SLS South Beach, but now it seems that the boutique brand is headed to the Big Apple as well. In addition to hotels in California and a planned Las Vegas spot, the New York Post is reporting that a new hotel will open in 2013 on Park Avenue. Celebrity designer Philippe Stark will work with nightlife guru Sam Nazarian on the 190-room hotel, which should open in the second quarter of next year. Nazarian, an NYU grad, told the Post that he loves the city, even going so far as to speculate that there could soon be two or three New York properties in the portfolio. At least it looks like he’s picked a good location – the planned hotel is within blocks of popular properties like The Gansevoort Park Avenue, The Ace and the Eventi hotel.

Hotel Trend: Social Perks
We love getting things for free, and have talked before about how social media interaction with a hotel or brand can earn points, perks and recognition. Now MGM Resorts have jumped on the bandwagon. The hotel has partnered with Topguest to reward members of its M life program for sharing their adventures via social media. They can receive credit for linking their account, checking in on FourSquare or Facebook places, or for tweeting to or about the resort. Engagers can earn points towards status in the loyalty program (up to 30,000 per year) – a big number when one considers that the second-level tier of the program (Pearl) is only 25,000 credits per year.


Happy Birthday, Grand Hotel!
If there’s a place we’ve always wanted to visit, it’s Mackinac Island’s famed Grand Hotel. One of the great hotels of yesteryear, this property boasts the distinction of being pretty much the main business on this popular Michigan vacation spot. This year, the hotel is celebrating a big accomplishment – its 125th birthday. So join us in raising a glass to say congratulations. Fun fact for those of you who haven’t visited: Mackinac Island is one of the few places in the United States left that doesn’t permit cars; horse and buggy and bicycle are the primary modes of transportation.

Hotel Perk: A Hotel Room to Match Your Mood
Here’s a fun extra. At the new Pod 39 hotel in Murray Hill, guests can request one of three room color schemes to enhance their stay. Studies show that colors can affect your mood, and Pod designer, Vanessa Guilford, applies this concept to hotel design, giving guests yet another preference to enhance their stay. Guests can request a red room for “stimulation,” a teal room for “emotional balance, stability and controlling emotions” or a blue room to help one be productive and calm. Hey, we’re just happy that it’s affordable – rates start at $85 per night in July for a pre-opening special (the hotel is putting its finishing touches together for a later summer grand reveal).

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.