hotel

I don't know about you, but I never need an extra reason to visit the Ritz-Carlton Naples Resorts. I'm not a golfer, so I can't speak with authority about the courses. But, they looked incredible. The spa, on the other hand, I experienced directly, and it continues to be among my favorites. Well, through April 29, 2010, there's another perk. Guests of both the beach and golf resorts will have access to eight BMWs and one MINI convertible. The cars will be available for complimentary use through the BMW/Ritz-Carlton Driving Tour.

Guests will have access to the cars from half an hour to up to three hours, based on availability, from 9 AM to 6 M every day. If you have restaurant plans that take you off-property, you can arrange to pick up the keys to one of the BMWs by 5:30 PM and return the car by 11 PM. To make a reservation, stop by or call the BMW/Ritz-Carlton Driving Tour desk at either the golf or beach resort. Making a reservation a week in advance is a smart move.

Three high-profile London hotels could wind up in the hands of the government soon. The Berkeley, Claridges and Connaught, all owned by Maybourne Hotel Group, are at risk of being controlled by the National Asset Management Agency (NAMA), due to the terms of a €16 billion loan. And, there wil probably be more.

In Ireland, five hotels could fall victim to the impact of economic woes on their developers. Loans totaling €80 billion could push the prestigious hotels – the Shelbourne, K-Club, Ritz-Carlton Wicklow, Radisson and G Hotel in Galway – into the hands of the state. Even if the loans don't go into default, the fact that they used government relief could push control to NAMA.

Depending on how the situation unfolds, NAMA could become one of the largest hotel owners in the world, a dicey proposition for the properties given the agency's lack hospitality experience. There's a shot that 100 hotels could find their way to NAMA's portfolio according to the Irish Hotel Foundation, and others in the industry put the potential at double that amount. The problem is that these assets aren't easy to manage.

Some of the properties that could wind up in NAMA's hands fall distinctly into the luxury sector. The lowest priced hotel in the Maybourne Group comes in at €643 a night (for the Berkeley). At the Connaught, you could wind up dropping more than £8,000 a night. Given the stakes involved, some the developers will be kept on to manage the new properties, though there are cases where NAMA will bring in a new team.

It's a rare treat to stay in a hotel that looks and feels like a palace. Such is the case with Hotel Imperial in Vienna.

This historic property, now part of Starwood's The Luxury Collection, has been serving as host to dignitaries, queens and emperors since its doors opened in 1873. It was commissioned by the Duke of Württemberg for his wife, but, as the legend goes, she didn't like it (something about it not having a garden). Fortunately, the magnificent building was purchased by the enterprising Horace, Ritter von Landau, who wisely decided to turn it into a hotel. The breathtaking, expansive lobby on the ground floor originally served as stables for guests' horses, and in World War II, it was occupied by the Russians, who made it their headquarters until returning it in 1955. The staff famously hid 150 of the hotel's fabulous Persian rugs -- one by one -- in a Viennese bank to keep them safe during the occupation.

Hotel Imperial has naturally undergone several renovations; the most recent was a 10 million euro project in 2000 which converted the hotel's upper floors, once offices and servants' quarters, into additional rooms. The 138 guestrooms now feature flat screen televisions, electronic key access and beautiful amenities from fresh flowers in the unique living rooms to spacious marble bathrooms stocked with Bulgari products. It is the only hotel in all of Austria which offers butler service.

There are a number of reasons to stay at the Hotel Imperial, ranging from its excellent Ringstrassen location to the charm of each room being different, and the appeal of knowing that great composers premiering their work at the State Opera House down the street, as well as dukes, princesses, kings and presidents have slept, perhaps, in your very room. I'd tell you who, but one can really only name drop when the list isn't very long. I've got a Word document seven pages long in front of me, and the names are in small type.

If you don't have the opportunity to stay in Hotel Imperial, it is worth your time to visit the first-rate dining room for dinner, or even the ground floor cafe for lunch -- be sure and get a signature Imperial Torte and the Imperial Coffee Melange. Who knows, you may catch sight of an important visiting celebrity.

My visit to Vienna was sponsored by the Vienna Tourist Board, but the opinions expressed in the article are 100% my own.

In our column on photographer Aline Coquelle's brilliant book about the wide world of polo, we discussed some of the exotic locations where the sport of kings is played far from the the hermetic hemisphere of the Hamptons and Palm Beach. At Estancia Vik, a recently opened, ultra-luxurious private retreat in Jose Ignacio, Uruguay, you can now learn the ancient and noble game while enjoying all the amenities one would expect from a world class resort. A stylish haven of art, nature and design, the Estancia is situated on 4,000 acres taking full advantage of the pristine beaches, spectacular rolling landscape and relaxed, bohemian setting the area is famous for. Designed to be a coveted destination for the curious and design-forward international traveler, it's a sprawling Spanish colonial structure featuring white adobe walls and a red tin roof, designed by Uruguayan architect Marcelo Daglio with some dramatic avant-garde design flourishes.

The 50,000-sq.-ft. Estancia boasts 12 spacious suites each designed by a different Uruguayan contemporary artist, wine cellar, gym, spa, game room, a traditional Uruguayan barbeque pit, polo field, stables, several outdoor patios and gardens, rivers, lakes and a 65-ft. Absolute Nero stone swimming pool overlooking the lush countryside and the ocean in the distance (the beach is a mere five miles away). The property has partnered with with Haras Godiva Polo Management to provide a number of polo packages for all skill levels. Beginners and first-time riders may elect to try an introductory course, while a family who plays can have a group session and intensive, one-on-ones can be arranged as well. Ponies and all equipment except for riding boots are provided. They are currently offering a polo package including two nights at the Estancia and three polo lessons, will also be available from March through October for $1,750.



The Estancia also hosts major polo events on occasion, for those who prefer the role of spectator. On Jan. 4th the La Dolfina team, consisting of Adolfo Cambiaso, Jr., Ernesto Gutierrez, Juan de Dios Cincunegui and Federico Heinemann, played the Fiat Linea team of Andres Cassarino, Fernando Pigni, Cristiano Rattazzi and Bartolome Castagnola, with the highly exciting match ultimately ending in a draw. Following the event which was attended by a the chic sporting set the players' helmets were auctioned to benefit local school, each having been painted by some of the South American artists whose work is represented at Estancia Vik.

Parisian haven at the corner of the Champs Elysées and Avenue George V, Hotel Fouquet's Barrière, has a new VIP package -- but this time, VIP stands for Very Important Planet.

Luxury travel is starting 2010 off on the right foot, with a bevy of eco-friendly options for savvy, conscientious travelers. One of these options is the five-star Hotel Fouquet's Barrière's VIP package, which includes:

• Luxury accommodations
• Special "Fitness Breakfast" for two (includes freshly squeezed fruit or vegetable juice, an egg white omelet, multi-grain bread and a blend of pumpkin, linseed, sunflower and sesame seeds)
• One 50-minute natural oil treatment at the hotel's U Spa, per person
• Organic lunch for two at the hotel's Joy Gallery
• A bottle of eco-friendly Pop Earth Champagne in-room upon arrival
• Carbon offsetting through the non-profit organization "Action Carbone"

Though carbon offsetting has been skewered by critics for functioning as a sort of "indulgences" payment for the wealthy, it's better to offset than not to offset (and the wealthy are going to travel anyway). This package is part of the hotel's "Dignified Luxury" plan, one which implies that environmental responsibility is noble and honorable. The hotel also decorates with fair trade flowers and participates whenever possible in events which benefit environmental organizations, such as Neoplanet and GOODPLANET Association.

Further amenities can include pickup in a hybrid limousine, organic meals at La Diane, electric E-solex bikes for exploring Paris and, of course, room upgrades for an additional cost. The VIP package starts at €990 (approximately US$1,436), based on double occupancy, and is available through December 28, 2010.

After serving as a restaurant for the past 15 years a German airplane from the 1960s is getting a third life as a luxury hotel suite for two. Located at Teuge airport in the Netherlands, what used to hold 120 passengers is now grounded and provides amenities for two such as crisp white interiors, a jacuzzi, sauna, a Blue Ray player, 3 flat screen tvs, and a hostess that's available 24/7. The cockpit has been left untouched for a dash of excitement and history, and parachute jumps and stunt plane rides are also available (via a different plane, of course) for the even more daring. The cost is €350/night for a single couple, which includes a full breakfast.

Via Treehugger



This isn't the first time we've seen an airplane pressed into service as a hotel. In Stockholm, a 747 has been turned into the Jumbo Hostel and in Costa Rica, a 727 fuselage makes a unique luxury suite.

In this age where chefs can create magic with desserts (such as the stunning chocolate sculpture below), a company which serves as home to some of the world's finest chefs and confectioners, the Ritz-Carlton is going back to basics.

The new Ritz-Carlton Redefined Classic Dessert menus will feature the kinds of desserts we all crave, including:

• Bread & Butter Pudding
• Carrot Cake
• Creme Brulee
• Double Fudge Chocolate Cake
• Fresh Fruit Tart
• Ice Cream Sundae
• Key Lime Pie
• Molten Chocolate Cake
• New York Cheesecake
• Plum Tart
• Strawberry Shortcake (above)
• Tarte Tatin
• Tiramisu

"It's about comfort food," said George McNeill, Vice President, Culinary and Corporate Chef, with whom we caught up at a launch event in the Ritz-Carlton Suite of the NYC Central Park South hotel. The company's return to classics answers society's yearning for simpler times. The truth is, dessert has gotten a little complicated. "We just want to make the best cheesecake," said McNeill. He added that 50 percent of the dessert menus will still be up to chefs' discretion. "They're artists. We don't want to stifle them."

They are indeed artists, as exemplified by this chocolate sculpture which was handmade by Sebastien Thieffine, Executive Pastry Chef from the Naples, Florida Ritz-Carlton. We spoke briefly with Thieffine, who has a charming French accent, about the piece.

Luxist: How on Earth did you create this?

Sebastien Thieffine: Well, we wanted a "chef display," so I incorporated copper pans, cocoa beans ...

L: But those copper pans are chocolate, right?

ST: They are chocolate, and I applied a copper powder on them.

L: Are they still edible?

ST: They are. Would you like to try it?

L: Yes.

Thieffine then handed us a wooden spoon which appeared to be dipped in chocolate. We shyly tasted the chocolate, and he said "No, you have to crack it." We bit down and found the spoon was not wooden at all, but entirely comprised of delicious, bitter chocolate. A pleasant surprise!

ST: You just ate a spatula.

L: That's delicious! How did you come up with this design?

ST: I always try to have three sections, so I have the base, the center, and the top -- very light. You don't want to have heaviness everywhere. I incorporated cocoa pans, an old jam maker, the flowers. You can look at it from both sides.

L: Did you study sculpture or art history?

ST: No.

L: So, this is just something you can do?

ST: There have been a lot of tries. A lot of breaking.

The Ritz-Carlton Redefined Classic Desserts arrived at domestic properties on January 22, 2010, along with a selection of warm winter and cool champagne cocktails. In addition to savoring the delicious fare, guests will also now have the option to take home a book of the recipes for all of the above dessert dishes; the same recipes as those used in the Ritz-Carlton kitchens, merely fleshed out to make cooking easier for chefs of all levels. Have a look at exclusive photos of some of our favorites below:

Three Holiday Inn hotels in Britain are doing a trial this month of a very strange new take on a very old-fashioned service: they're offering human bed warmers.

Yes, on a cold winter's night you can have a Holiday Inn staff member climb into your bed and pre-warm it for you to the optimal temperature of 68º F (they carry a thermometer). Details on exactly how this service plays out are a little sketchy but we do know the staff member will wear an all-body fleece sleeper suit while they're in your bed and cover their hair, plus they'll get out before you get in. Unless they fall asleep, of course. Then you might have to give them a nudge.

Holiday Inn spokeswoman Jane Bednall told Reuters "It's kind of like having a giant hot water bottle in your bed." Um, no. It's kind of like when you sit in a chair that's still warm from the last person and you can't help but feel a little dirty.

So why not just use one of those old-fashioned bed-warming pans that looks like a frying pan with a lid and a long handle? Slip that between the sheets with some nice hot coals inside and that bed will be nice and toasty in no time, minus the creep-factor. Or even an actual hot water bottle would work. There's something very luxurious and pampered about having a staff member come warm the sheets right before you get in (like you're royalty or something) but there's something distinctly not luxurious about having a stranger show up in a giant Snuggie with feet and a hair net ready to climb into your bed while you're brushing your teeth.

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Glenmere, the Hudson Valley home of the Goelet family has opened as a small and sumptuous luxury hotel. The mansion has 19 rooms and suites ranging from $550 to $3,500 per night. It was originally built in 1911 as a 35-room Tuscan villa with a central open cortile, marbled column porticos and sweeping interior and exterior staircases. The home has undergone a renovation to restore its former glory and each room features antiques and art from a private collection. Most rooms have working fireplaces and some have terraces with views over Glenmere's 150 acres. Suites include the Penthouse, a two-bedroom suite designed for living with three fireplaces (including one in the master bath), a large living room, and butler's bar, the Goelet suite with three bedrooms and three fireplaces, the Ogden suite, with a private garden, and the Duchess Suite, with a balcony at the front of the mansion. All rooms have custom-designed Italian linens, marble baths with heated floors, and flat-screen TVs, DVD players, iPod docking stations and high speed internet access. The Supper Room is the intimate dining room for candlelit evenings in high style and the Frog's End Tavern has full bar service and serves light lunch fare and informal evening meals.

Last month we heard that the Royal Bank of Scotland was looking to unload some art but the bank may be selling an even more valuable asset, the Grosvenor House hotel in London. The Grosvenor House is operated by Marriott and is the setting for some of the UK's biggest award ceremonies, is set to be put up for sale. The five-star hotel opened in 1929 and became a JW Marriott Hotel in September 2008 after a major restoration.

The hotel could sell for between £600m and £700 million. The Telegraph reports that that property agent CBRE is being lined up to handle the sale and it could hit the market this month. The question of course is who's buying? Travel and tourism is still sluggish and RBS has tried to sell the hotel several times before, most notably to several Middle Eastern investors. Breaking Travel News says that London commercial property has been on the rise in recent months which means that for RBS is might be the right time to test the waters once again.

I love it when hotels get involved with the arts. The new art hotels opening in Australia excited me, and I had a blast exploring the art-themed properties in Orlando. The latest hotel to jump on this trend is The Opposite House, in Beijing. Through March, The Opposite House will be showing two painting installations by Peng Wei, an artist famous for the delicate ink color paintings she creates on silk and paper.

Her new series, Bodies, consists of female forms on rice paper. The pieces are lit from within, providing a soft glow and likely to mesmerize anyone who passes by them. Rock Garden, also on display, is a series of rocks painted on transparent pastels, coming together in a garden representing the scholarly tradition.

The tone of your stay is set when you cross into a hotel's lobby, and the commitment made by The Opposite House is sure to get your visit started in a manner that will be tough to top.

There is a certain type of traveler who will scoff when you tell them that you love San Miguel de Allende, a city smack in the middle of Mexico. "Oh, that's where the gringos go," they'll say, and it's true. There are many US and Canadian retirees that have made this Silver City their home, and in fact it's been a magnet for north Americans since just after World War II. The attraction was the ability to study at two different art schools in town where GI Bill dollars went very far, Or perhaps it's better to call that the justification, the attraction was the beauty of this town, which is well-preserved – an attraction that exists to this day, drawing gringas like me, international tourists besides, and not a few Mexico City weekenders.

Let that certain type of traveler scoff, for San Miguel is a confection of a city, with brightly painted buildings, and old iron lamps and absurdly narrow and steep cobblestoned streets, the cobblestones themselves streaked with color. There are plenty of things to do here, but I think the best itinerary is just to wander around those streets from early morning to late night, interrupted with a coffee from El Petit Four bakery and a hand churned ice cream from a street vendor in the afternoon.

Your luxurious base of operations should be Casa de Sierra Nevada, a boutique hotel with 37 rooms and suites, spread across six historic mansions which date from the 16th to the 18th century. These six buildings are all within a few steps of one another – three are connected by courtyard – with the exception of Casa Parque, which is a few blocks away in a former 17th century fort. (This building is said to be haunted, but when I visited I saw nothing supernatural.)

Hotels shutting their glass and filigree doors or going into some form of financial distress could have made more of this year's new than new openings; still, the quantity and quality of newly available suites to call your own felt just as stellar as in better years past. Sure, we didn't get the J line of hotels (yet), but we did get the Bardessono -- and 82 geothermal wells and hand-loomed Coyuchi linens are probably as good as anything Jay Z had to offer. Whittled to just ten, with the help of our friends over at TabletHotels.com, in no particular order here are Luxist's top openings of 2009...

More bad news out of Las Vegas for the tourism industry. The AP reports that the Sahara hotel-casino on the Las Vegas Strip is closing rooms in two of its towers over the winter season. Sam Nazarian's SBE Entertainment owns the property now and a publicist has said that the two towers will stay shut until business improves. The casino and the main Tangiers tower will remain open. It's not known if the hotel will lay off staff. Several other hotels recently opened on the Strip at the City Center complex so there is no shortage of places to stay in Las Vegas.

Love Bermuda? Check out this hotel deal. For 99 hours only (starting December 16, 2009) you can lock in special rates from $99 per night at The Fairmont Southampton. The hotel is primely situated atop the island's highest point, an excellent spot for enjoying Bermuda's turquoise seas, pink sand beaches and spectacular sunsets. The resort has six restaurants including the 320-year-old AAA 4-Diamond Waterlot Inn restaurant. The hotel has 593 guest rooms and suites each with a private balcony. The hotel also includes indoor and outdoor swimming pools, 11 all-weather tennis courts, an 18-hole executive par 3 golf course and a Health Club with Willow Stream spa services. The offer may be booked from December 16 through 19, 2009 and is valid for travel from January 1 through April 30, 2010.