HotelChatter

Hotel Openings / Hotel Rebrandings / Hotel News / Hotel Design / JDV Hotels / Scottsdale Hotels / → All Tags

JDV's First Hotel Outside of California, The Saguaro, is Now Open

Where: 4000 N Drinkwater Blvd [map], Scottsdale, AZ, United States, 85251

Fresh off the news that Joie De Vivre Hotels has merged with Thompson Hotels, the California-based hotel collection has just announced the opening of its very first hotel outside of the Golden State--The Saguaro in Scottsdale.

Previously, this hotel was to be called The Drinkwater but the owners changed the name to Saguaro to reflect the hotel's tie to the Southwest region and the experience that will be offered to guests. Also, saguaro is a type of cactus and is prominently featured on the hotel's website and throughout the hotel.

more ›

Tanning Concierges / Concierges / W Hotels / Scottsdale Hotels / → All Tags

10 Tips From The W Scottsdale Tanning Concierge

Where: 7277 E. Camelback Road [map], Scottsdale, AZ, United States, 85251

As if this nasty-gross heat wave weren't proof enough, we are in the throes of summer. To take full advantage of the sizzling sun, the W Scottsdale has offered some tips on how to get a burn-free bronze.

The hotel's complimentary on-call tanning concierge will do everything from book you appointments for an airbrush tan in your room to give you advice on what to pack for your Arizona trip. Below are the tanning concierge's Top 10 tips to safe summer skin:

more ›

Hotel Rebrandings / Hotel Renovations / Joie De Vivre Hotels / JDV Hotels / Scottsdale Hotels / → All Tags

Joie De Vivre Will Open The Drinkwater in Scottsdale This Fall

The old Hotel Theodore formerly known as The Mondrian Scottsdale nee James Scottsdale has finally gotten a new identity, The Drinkwater, which comes from the hotel's location on Drinkwater Boulevard. (That name came about in honor of Scottsdale's former four-term mayor, Herb Drinkwater.)

If you recall, the hotel was snapped up by Joie De Vivre Hotels back in February and when it reopens in the fall will actually be JDV's first hotel outside of California.

Right now, the place is undergoing some "reimagination" to showcase the spirit of the Southwest as envisioned by architects Peter Stamberg and Paul Aferiat of Stamberg Aferiat Architecture.. The hotel is not closed but there is limited availability.

more ›

Fourth of July Hotels / Music Festival Hotels / Scottsdale Hotels / Fairmont Hotels / → All Tags

The Fairmont Scottsdale Princess Really Loves America

Where: 7575 E. Princess Drive [map], Scottsdale, AZ, United States, 85255

At the Fairmont Scottsdale Princess, the Fourth of July will turn into the First, Second and Third of July. The Arizona hotel will throw a three-day festival with concerts to mark the patriotic holiday.

The Fourth of July Freedom Fest will go down all weekend long with a 75-minute concert each night under the stars on the hotel's Lagoon Lawn. The concerts will also be shown on the big screen at the South Pool, in case you want to take a dip while you watch.

more ›

Hotel Hype / Hotel Rumors / Ace Hotels / Joie de Vivre Hotels / JDV Hotels / Phoenix Hotels / → All Tags

Is An Ace Hotel Opening in Scottsdale? No, It's Not

We got a tad too excited when we saw some internet chatter saying the hipster hotel brand du jour, Ace Hotels, would open in Scottsdale but upon closer look, it was just wishful thinking.

The Phoenix New Times reports that the James Scottsdale, Mondrian Scottsdale, er the Hotel Theodore could turn into an Ace Hotel now that The Sydell Group (the owners of the Ace NYC and Ace Palm Springs) have purchased the property with plans for a renovation and a rebranding.

We agree--an Ace Scottsdale is an excellent idea. Why have a random boutique hotel like the Theodore when you could capitalize off the success of the fun Ace brand?

more ›

Cool Hotel Jobs / Hotel Staff / Hotel Bars / Fairmont Hotels / Scottsdale Hotels / → All Tags

More Cool Hotel Jobs: Fairmont Scottsdale's Tequila Goddess

Where: 7575 E Princess Dr. [map], Scottsdale, AZ, United States, 85255

She's not a hotel version of Q or an astronomy wizard, but Danielle Griffin of the Fairmont Scottsdale Princess would definitely rate as a hotel mixmaster: She's the hotel's official Tequila Goddess, which means she's in charge of the hotel's 130 or so varieties of Mexican hooch.

What's it take to be the baroness of booze? More than just mixing up margs:

She is now one of seven in the world to earn an individual diploma from Mexico’s Tequila Regulatory Council (the only institution to verify and certify the compliance of Tequila with the Mexican Official Standard). This “Award T” accreditation, similar to a sommelier, enables her to provide guests and fellow La Hacienda staff with more in-depth knowledge of this special spirit.

Danielle is part of chef Richard Sandoval's reboot of La Hacienda restaurant in the hotel, where Tuesdays offer 50 percent off almost every label of tequila in the house. The better to try them all, we say.

Hotel Rebrandings / Hotel Renovations / Hotel News / Scottsdale Hotels / Joie de Vivre Hotels / → All Tags

Scottsdale's Hotel Theodore Will Become Joie De Vivre's First Non-Californian Conquest

Where: 7353 East Indian School Road [map], Scottsdale, AZ, United States, 85251

Relationships: they don't last long these days, do they? Just 11 months since the Mondrian Scottsdale became the Hotel Theodore, it’s been dumped by its owners GF Hospitality, and, just in time for Valentine's, sparked up a new relationship. The new owner is the Sydell Group (which formerly brought you the Aces New York and Palm Springs, and the Nomad in NYC), and the hotel will be managed by Joie de Vivre – making it the first property outside of California for JdV.

The hotel will be “reconceived and relaunched” as a Joie de Vivre hotel this Fall, and they’re promising a “significant renovation” including a “new restaurant concept”. What to expect? Something pretty traditional by the sounds of it:

Sydell Group and Joie de Vivre will focus renovation and rebranding plans on embracing the property’s Southwestern roots in order to give the hotel a true sense of place.

more ›

Hotel Deals / Holiday Hotels / Travelzoo / Fairmont Hotels / Scottsdale Hotels / → All Tags

Recover From Holiday Shopping With a $99 Stay at Fairmont Scottsdale Princess

Where: 7575 East Princess Drive [map], Scottsdale, AZ, United States, 85255

It's only the second day of December and we're already wishing we could drop all sense of reason and act like a spoiled Real Housewife--ie jet off someplace warm to get over the dreadful stress of holiday parties and gift shopping. Thanks to this great deal from Travelzoo, perhaps we can! The site currently has a sale on rooms at the Fairmont Scottsdale Princess for just $99 a night for much of December.

When we checked this morning, the $99 rooms were available on December 23 and Christmas Eve, but why wait? If the big-city holiday rush just gets too much, we say do as Ramona or Bethenny would: grab your fruit-loopiest friends and head to the spa.

more ›

Hotel Spas / Four Seasons Hotels / Scottsdale Hotels / → All Tags

The Spa at Four Seasons Scottsdale Mines the Periodic Table of Elements

Where: 10600 E. Crescent Moon Dr. [map], Scottsdale, AZ, United States, 85262

While we were learning about new hotel features and amenities at Arizona hotels during a Greater Phoenix Convention and Visitors Bureau event last week, we came across a new spa treatment at the Four Seasons Scottsdale that got our inner high-school chemistry dork all a-bubble like an overheated beaker.

The Spa at the secluded luxury resort has just introduced a new line of products from Hungary called Omorvicza (don’t ask us how to pronounce it) that uses the “strong anti-aging power of minerals including copper, zinc, calcium and magnesium.”

Bringing the atomic mass even higher (yeah, we totally just made a chemistry joke), the Pinnacle Facial even incorporates copper and gold. The treatment begins includes a gold sugar scrub exfoliation, gold shimmer oil, a copper peel, and application of a gold-infused “rescue cream” over the course of 110 minutes.

more ›

Hotel Rebranding / Hotel News / Hotel Name Changes / Scottsdale Hotels / Morgans Hotel Group / → All Tags

The Mondrian Scottsdale Is Now The Hotel Theodore

Where: 7353 E Indian School Rd [map], Scottsdale, AZ, United States, 85251

Forget trying to accumulate Virgin America points at the The Mondrian Scottsdale. Morgans Hotel Group ran the hotel up until Tuesday but since they foreclosed on the property back in December, Bank of America has taken over the unwanted property and replaced the brand with an independent management company, GF Hospitality. The hotel will now be known as The Hotel Theodore.

Dawn Gilbertson at the Arizona Republic reports that most of the Mondrian's staff remains although the hotel will have a new general manager. Additionally, the hotel's far-out trippy design might get toned down a bit:

more ›

Holiday Cocktails / Desert Retreats / Marriott Hotels / → All Tags

Aw Snap! The Gingersnap Egg Nog Martini at The Camelback Inn

Where: 5402 E Lincoln Drive [map], Scottsdale, AZ, United States, 85253

You know how much we love our cocktails here at HotelChatter. We'll find any reason to celebrate with a cocktail and fortunately for us (but not for our liver), hotels feel the same way. We've slurped down Summer Cocktails and Halloween Cocktails and now we're ready for the main event, Holiday Cocktails. We'll be taking a look at these concoctions all season long. If you have a suggestion, don't hold out on us. (Photos, recipes and prices are helpful too!)

It's understandable that those who live in a "Winter Wonderland" year after year, may want to hightail it to the desert for the holidays to get some sun on their skin and to ditch the layers, even if it's just for a few days. But just because you're celebrating near the pool overlooking the landscape of mountains and cacti doesn't mean you can't indulge in a little festive cocktail.

The Camelback Inn in Scottsdale is serving a Gingersnap Egg Nog Martini ($12) at their R Bar, which also has outdoor seating, a circular fire pit and live music. And in case you drink too much egg nog, room rates start at $189 a night.

If you can't make it to the desert, we've got the recipe for you after the jump.

more ›

Hotel Closings / W Hotels / Hotel News / Hotel Disputes / → All Tags

Hold The Phone: W Scottsdale NOT Closing at End of 2009

Where: 7277 East Camelback Road [map], Scottsdale, AZ, United States, 85251

This morning things looked positive that the W Scottsdale would be closing at the end of 2009 but K.C. Kavanagh, VP of public relations for W Hotels, has told us that the hotel has no intention of reflagging (in which the W brand would move out of the hotel) and that guests can now book well into 2010 at the hotel. We tried a weekend in February of 2010 and it worked, although the rate was $749 a night.

The hotel is still in foreclosure but Kavanagh wants to assure future guests that this will not impact their hotel stay:

While there is a dispute between Triyar ( the developer of W Scottsdale) and the hotel's construction general contractor which has generated headlines, this is expected to have little or no impact on the day-to-day operations of the hotel or the service we provide our guests. W Hotels, which is not involved in this business dispute, continues to manage and operate the hotels, and it is business as usual on property.

Kavanagh went on to say that the hotel has been sold out "several times over the last few weeks" and that she is confident W will have a "successful future" in Scottsdale.

Well, that makes us hotel geeks happy. We never like to see a W close down. But still we'd like to hear from you. Have you stayed at the W Scottsdale? Wanna give us your review? Put it in comments below. Got any more gossip on the closing? Let us know.