United States Travel Guide
B Hotels / b2 Hotels / Hotel News / Hotel Hype / Budget Hotels / → All Tags
B Hotels To Get More Affordable with Their New b2 Brand
It's been a while since we checked in with B Hotels and Resorts but we were generally pretty pleased with our stay at the B Ocean Hotel in Fort Lauderdale which offered modern guestrooms with fun amenities and free WiFi for a reasonable price (Our stay was $169 on Jetsetter.com). Now B Hotels is getting even more affordable with their new spin-off brand called b2 hotel.
b2 will be offer the same value-oriented amenities to guests as B Hotels but the properties will be more of a three and three and a half star experiences in smaller markets, as opposed to four star hotels in key destinations.
According to Ayelet Weinstein, CEO of B Hotels & Resorts, the b2 concept will also have a more streamlined operational and staffing model. Yet while going more of the select-service route, b2 will still offer the following B signature service: B In Touch amenities like complimentary iPad rentals, digital concierge touchscreens and of course, free WiFi; B Ambiance which includes mood lighting and signature scents and B Nourished food and beverage offerings with a signature restaurant concept and even, in-room dining.
Hotel Sales / Hotel Deals / Public Hotels / Chicago Hotels / Ian Schrager / → All Tags
When Lightening Strikes Twice: How to Score a Room at PUBLIC Chicago’s Next $1 Sale
$1 room or not, you can still lounge with coffee or a sexy cocktail in the Library at PUBLIC Chicago
Word is out today that another One Dollar Sale is coming from Ian Schrager’s bright white Chicago gem, PUBLIC Chicago. For those unfamiliar with the online hotel sale, it’s an amazing chance for would-be guests to book a room at PUBLIC for just one buck. For those who swung and missed at the last sale -- you know, the vast majority, including yours truly at HotelChatter – the one dollar offer might feel more like the ultimate tease as rooms ended up selling out in less than five minutes flat.
Still, we’re not about to give up. Real live people picked up all 270 available rooms in the last sale so we know it can be done. And since we really, really want to stay at the PUBLIC for a buck, no less, we’re gonna play it smart this time. Which is why we talked to a PUBLIC Chicago insider for some tips on how to get a leg up at the hotel’s next dollar sale.
Friends of PUBLIC, if there ever was a way, than this is how you score a $1 room at PUBLIC Chicago.
What is This / Scottsdale Hotels / W Hotels / Hotel Lobbies / Hotel Design / → All Tags
What is This at the W Scottsdale?
We like to keep it fun but informative here at HotelChatter so our newest series, What is This? is devoted to odd-looking items in hotel rooms that upon first glance look as if they serve only a decorative purpose. But everything happens for a reason, right? And we're here to tell you what these things really do.
When you walk into the lobby of the W Scottsdale (and after you've inhaled the vanilla bourbon custom scent), your attention will be drawn to this mini Stonehenge formation of tree trunks just outside the W Gift Shop and before the front desk. Have you momentarily stepped outside again?
GEM Hotels / Hotel Openings / Hotel Construction / Atelier and Company / Hotel Architecture / → All Tags
A Sneak Peek at The Facade of The GEM Hotel Union Square
Yesterday, we reported that the GEM Hotel Union Square aka The Jade Hotel would be opening in late 2012. Now today, we've been blessed with some renderings of what the hotel's exterior will look like.
Brooklyn-based Atelier and Company, not Gene Kaufman, is apparently handling the architecture for the facade of the hotel and they've given a "cleaner, richer and more authentic approach" to the hotel's entrance.
You can scroll through renderings here or you can skip over to the company's Facebook page for updated photos (from yesterday) of the construction progress. Wheee!
Given how much we loved our stay way back when at the intimate GEM Hotel in Chelsea, which sports a similar authentic facade, we're getting mighty excited for the GEM Union Square. Or is it the Jade? Hopefully, they'll get a website going up soon so we can settle this once and for all.
Hotel Reopenings / Hotel News / Manhattan Hotels / Hotel Cats / Hotel Pets / Matilda / → All Tags
The Cat Came Back: The Algonquin Will Reopen Tomorrow with Matilda In the Lobby
It's been a long winter (and spring) but soon things will be getting back to normal on "Hotel Row" aka 44th Street in New York City with tomorrow's reopening of the revamped Algonquin Hotel at precisely 10am. After six months and an $18 million facelift, everything will be back in its place, except better than before. And that includes the hotel's resident guest--Matilda!
To celebrate the hotel's reopening and the return of Matilda, you can book the Matilda Package which includes To celebrate its re-opening, the Algonquin has updated its popular Matilda Package to includes accommodations; continental breakfast for two; a welcome cocktail in the lobby, a Matilda coloring book, a feline-focused book called "Fabulous Felines" by Sandy Robins, a plush stuff Matilda cat and chocolates for the kids and a "CATabulous" eye mask to help you with your catnaps.
Rates for Matilda package start at $329 a night not including taxes. Meanwhile, regular room rates for tomorrow start at just $229.
Wanna see what the new rooms of the Algonquin look like? GO HERE for our extensive photo gallery!
Los Angeles Hotels / Budget Hotels / Boutique Hotels / → All Tags
What is the L.A. Sky Boutique Hotel?
We were stalking hotel booking sites yesterday, trying to find you some good hotel deals, when we stumbled upon this Expedia listing for a hotel in Los Angeles called, LA Sky Boutique Hotel. Whatever could this be?
As it turns out, it's the same Sky Hotel that we wrote about back in 2007. (Yup, we've been doing this job too long.) As it turns out the hotel is in the process of changing its name from Sky Hotel to LA Sky Boutique Hotel.
Located in the heart of West Los Angeles on Westwood Boulevard near Pico, close to UCLA, the freeway and the Westside Pavilion mall, the hotel has just 28 rooms, done up in a stylish furniture with sky-inspired colors (lots of blues and light colors). We found rates for this weekend, Memorial Day Weekend, for just $149 for a queen bed guestroom. King beds are just $159. Those rates include breakfast and free WiFi.
Miami Hotel Mambo / Hotel Amenities / Hotel TVs / Hotel Design / → All Tags
It's a Mirror, It's a TV! It Takes a Little Work To Get Things Right at the Marlin Hotel
If you've done some hotel hopping lately, you would have noticed the size wars underway.
No, not the size of the bed--or your WiFi bandwith (we wish). We're talking about TVs. The size of flatscreens keeps ballooning--but none we've seen have been as impressive as the TVs at South Beach's revamped Marlin Hotel.
When you first walk into your room, it looks like a mirror. But as you'll soon find once you play around with your in-room iPad, there is a 60-inch LED screen hidden behind the mirror, in service of the also-concealed AppleTV system.
A nice piece of design in theory, but how does it work in the wild? We gave it a test spin during a recent stay...
Dude Ranches / Tucson Hotels / Horseback Riding / Resorts / → All Tags
What to Pack for a Stay at The Tanque Verde Ranch
We know that packing the appropriate attire makes for a better trip, so we're helping you pack your bags for "dude-luxe" horseplay at Tanque Verde Ranch in Tucson, Arizona.
Let's start with footwear. While barrel racing and penning dogies, all gringos and horseback enthusiasts should wear traditional western boots with smooth soles. Trot off in a dusty cloud of confidence wearing comfy Lucchese or Lamas to the Sonoran Desert Breakfast ride.
But toss in your tennis togs as well since full courts and lessons are available. And don't forget some good hiking boots for those guided nature walks, exploring the Sonoran Desert's diverse flora and fauna.
If you're into cycling, you might also want to bring your biking shoes (and some sweat wicking clothing) as the ranch offers mountain bikes with which you can ride through over 600 single- track trails framed by the Rincon and Catalina mountain ranges.
Gem Hotels / Hotel Openings / Hotel Hype / Manhattan Hotels / Gene Kaufman / → All Tags
The GEM Hotel Union Square Is Expected To Open in Late 2012
From sometime in 2011
It's been a while since we heard of any activity from Gem Hotels but as we were scrolling through an NYC Hotel Development report, we noticed that there's plans for a new hotel in Greenwich Village from Gemini Real Estate Advisors, the same folks who run the three GEM Hotels in NYC.
Called The Jade Hotel Greenwich Village, the hotel will open on 54 W. 13th Street between Fifth and Sixth Avenues with 114 rooms. A projected opening date is listed for late 2012. As it turns out this is definitely the GEM Hotel Union Square, although the Greenwich Village nabe destination has us slightly perplexed.
Hotel Events / Hotel Indigo Hotels / London Hotels / Hotel Theater / → All Tags
'The Hit' is Taking Over the Hotel Indigo Tower Hill in London This Weekend
We all know how expensive London hotels can be but if you're in town this weekend, there's something you can do at a London hotel entirely for free--and it's not related to the Queen's Diamond Jubilee either.
The Hotel Indigo Tower Hill is putting on an interactive theater production throughout the hotel. The Hit, a "Madmen"-esque production tells the story of a historic heist filled with greed and deception which is perfect considering the hotel's location in the Financial District. Scenes of the production will take place throughout the hotel. The show is running from May 25-May and tickets are open to the public and gloriously free.
We're expecting it will be a lot like the W London's Punchdrunk experience from last year, only maybe less kinky. Wanna make a night out of it? Sorry, rooms are sold out this weekend and next. But we found rooms on June 8 for just £99 a night.
Standard Hotels / Hotel Renovations / Manhattan Hotels / Hotel Bars / Hotel Restaurants / → All Tags
Here's What Andre Balazs Has In Mind for The Standard East Village
At last, we have a better idea of what hotelier Andre Balazs plans on doing with his newest hotel in NYC--The Standard East Village, previously known as the Cooper Square Hotel.
According to Eater, Balazs and his team won approval from the community board to add an additional bar in the garden space. No small feat especially considering how much the neighbors hated the noise that came from the hotel when it was run as the Cooper Square.
But Balazs has gotten around the noise issue but rearranging the hotel lobby so that 60 percent of the garden space will now be indoors. The bar will be a small one, only 16 by eight feet with 18 stools for guests. The existing bar on the second floor will be turned into either a guest room or a gym. Or perhaps a ping-pong room?
Miami Hotel Mambo / Retro Hotels / Hotel Rebrandings / Autograph Collection / → All Tags
What The Winter Haven Will Look Like Once It's Autographed This Summer
As we know, Miami will be rocking not one, not two, but three Autograph Collection hotels in 2012.
Turnberry Isle Resort was the latest to go Autograph, and we've had a sneak peek at what the upgrade means for The Blue Moon Hotel. But what about the little-known third hotel, Winter Haven?
After taking a peek at the 1930s-esque renderings of the Winter Haven's Autograph Collection makeover, we're thinking this may just be the sleeper hit in the trio.
Sure, the above shot is only a rendering but we kinda love the glamorous ocean-liner feel, especially the porthole-shaped mirrors. It definitely has more personality than the room decor it's replacing...
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