Trump SoHo puts a spa in guest rooms suites

by Melanie Nayer on

Travelers are becoming more aggressive today with their hotel amenity “must haves.” Everything from free WiFi to in-room coffee machines top the list of essential amenities for hotel guests. To help ease the demand, more hotels are offering these guest requests and some are even designing rooms that include everything from Disney characters to luxury car services.

But what if your hotel stay included a spa and fitness center in your room? What if you didn’t have to leave your room to sit in the sauna or get in a quick yoga class? That’s the premise behind Trump SoHo’s new concept, the 24/7 in-room spa suite.

The luxury New York hotel will unveil three new luxury spa suites on May 1 for the guest who needs some serious pampering. The suites include a private treatment room, hydrotherapy showers, and one suite is equipped with a sauna for two.Some more deliciousness from the spa suites:

  • The spa suites plus bedroom and living room suite range in size from 741-825 square feet
  • A 32-inch-deep Jacuzzi tubs with a view of Manhattan cityscapes
  • Stocked mini bar customized with healthy snacks and beverage options
  • Technogym Wellness Rack in your room, complete with custom-sized dumbbells and an in-room yoga kit
  • Private entrance to The Spa at Trump

As you would expect, this lap of luxury comes with a price. The spa suites start at $789 a night and come with a $200 spa credit per night.

How’s that $14.95 a day wireless access looking now?

Readers: Would you prefer to have your spa in your room, or do you enjoy the full experience of a full spa service?

Luxury travel: Ritz-Carlton announces first hotel in Abu Dhabi

by Melanie Nayer on

The Middle East is set to get a little more glitz and lot more glamour. The Ritz-Carlton just announced an agreement with Abu Dhabi National Hotels (ADNH) for a waterfront hotel in Abu Dhabi, and Gadling got a sneak peak at some of the hotel designs.

The Ritz-Carlton Abu Dhabi, Grand Canal will have 447 guestrooms and suites, as well as 85 villas. The Venetian-inspired hotel is set in a crescent shape across 54 acres and has its own private beach overlooking the Grand Canal. A highlight for guests of the hotel will be the villas, which range in size from 968 to 1,400 square feet, and come complete with outdoor terraces that overlook the Grand Canal and personalized butler service.

“We are delighted to be bringing The Ritz-Carlton renowned levels of hospitality to the power capital of the United Arab Emirates,” said Herve Humler, president and chief operations officer of the Ritz-Carlton, in a statement. “The Ritz-Carlton Abu Dhabi, Grand Canal hotel will be a welcome landmark, and together with the owning company Abu Dhabi National Hotels, we will create a prestigious luxury hotel that will be the highlight of the new waterfront development.”

In addition to the spacious rooms, sweeping views and stunning architecture, the Ritz-Carlton Abu Dhabi, Grand Canal will also include:

  • The Ritz-Carlton Club located on a private floor accessible only by elevator key. As with other Ritz-Carlton Club levels, the Abu Dhabi club will feature five complimentary food and beverage presentations throughout the day and a dedicated concierge service.
  • ESPA, a 21,500-square-foot spa with its own separate entrance.
  • Fitness center and outdoor tennis courts.
  • Three restaurants, including an Italian restaurant, steak and seafood restaurant, Middle East restaurant and an Asian restaurant.
  • A rooftop terrace, which will offer food and beverage service.
  • Two poolside bars.
  • Lobby lounge and bar area, also serving drinks and small bites

The show-stopper of this property, however, lies outside the hotel. The 17,222-square-foot swimming pool provides a stunning backdrop to the Renaissance-era influenced hotel. This clearly calls for a few new swimsuits and some designer hats to help shade the Middle East sun.

The Ritz-Carlton Abu Dhabi, Grand Canal, is expected to open in late 2011.

Grace Hotels opens first U.S. property, Vanderbilt Grace, in Newport, Rhode Island

by McLean Robbins on




This week, Grace Hotels announced the official acquisition of their first U.S. property, The Vanderbilt Grace.

The Vanderbilt Grace, formerly known as Vanderbilt Hall, was commissioned in 1909 by Alfred Gwynne Vanderbilt and opened as hotel in 2008 after several years of restoration. The original owner died aboard the ill-fated RMS Lusitania in 1915. Before before its acquisition by Grace Hotels Vanderbilt Hall formed part of a collection of hotels and private clubs owned by British entrepreneur and philanthropist, Peter de Savary.

In recent years, the property has undergone an extensive renovation to restore the hotel to its original Beaux Arts glory. Today, the property features 33 rooms and suites, two restaurants, a cocktail bar and spa and fitness center with indoor and outdoor swimming pools. The building dates from 1909 and has a rich history: it was one of many mansions in the area owned by the Vanderbilt family.

This summer, the hotel is opening Muse by Jonathan Cartwright, a fine dining experience created by celebrated New England chef, Jonathan Cartwright. Chef Cartwright is best known as Grand Chef Relais & Châteaux at Vanderbilt Grace’s sister hotel, The White Barn Inn in Kennebunk, Maine.
Guests can expect local favorites, such as New England Clam Chowder alongside classic Cartwright creations including Pan Roast New England Pheasant Breast with Mushroom and Cranberry Puree, Braised Red Cabbage and Madeira Sauce.

The boutique hotel brand, started in 2007, has properties throughout Europe but is just now branching into the states.
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Luxury Travel: London’s most expensive suite to open at Lanesborough Hotel

by Melanie Nayer on

Have a few extra Euros to spend? The Lanesborough Hotel in London can help put those extra pence to good use. In May, London’s luxe hotel will open its 4,000-square-foot Lanesborough Suite for a cool £14,000 (approximately $20,000 USD) a night (plus VAT).

The signature suite makes use of Lanesborough’s Michelin-starred restaurant, personal butler service, and offers some of the best views of Hyde Park, but is it worth $20k? You decide.

The suite has four bedrooms, two living rooms, five bathrooms, a kitchen and a dining room. The decor aims to “blend 19th century elegance and 21st century opulence,” according to ehotelier.com, who received artist renderings of the London hotel suite. In an interesting twist of typical hotel layout plans, the suite will be located on the hotel’s first floor and have floor to ceiling windows. (We like the concept of feeling like you’re walking into your own home with a suite on the first floor, but we’re a little weary about the lack of privacy this might invite.) Guests will have access to 24-hour butler service, a chauffeur-driver Rolls Royce and its own personal bar.

The Lanesborough Suite is scheduled to open at the beginning of May, so if you aren’t U.K.-bound for the Royal Wedding, or have a few extra to spare after buying the new couple’s wedding gift, we suggest you head over to the Lanesborough and live it up luxe-style for the night.

[For artist rendering photos of the massive suite, click here]

Luxury travel: Presidential Suite at Mandarin Oriental, Washington DC

by Melanie Nayer on

There’s no denying that power is the top player in Washington DC. From the White House to the Capitol Building to the endless red leather, cherry wood restaurants that have housed heads of state for martini lunches over the years. Still, Washington DC has a few hidden gems worthy of an ambassador or two.

Mandarin Oriental Washington DC‘s recently renovated presidential suite is anything but ‘under the radar’ in this high-powered city. On a brief stop to Washington DC, I had the opportunity to explore the 3,500-square-foot space and overwhelmed by the idea of high-level meetings happening in his luxe space.The Presidential Suite in the Mandarin Oriental Washington DC offers 3,500-square-feet of space for a nightly rate of $10,000. The three-bedroom suite comes complete with a living room, kitchen, full bathrooms and separate dining area, but it’s the “great room” that steals the show.

The massive room offers enough seating for a cabinet meeting (or a little less) and to help inspire the attendees, features views of The Washington Monument, Lincoln Monument and Jefferson Memorial, and on clear days you can see all the way to the Capitol Building.

The adjacent study which connects the living room to the bedroom has been made into a cozy annex for respite and intimate meetings. A small nook off the master bathroom has enough space for a treadmill – the perfect accessory for a jetlagged traveler needing to work off some energy.

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