HotelChatter - Portland

Alice in Eco-Land: Head Down the Rabbit Hole at The Nines for NYE

Heidi Atwal — 2009-12-18T16:41:52-05:00

<![CDATA[<img src="http://www.hotelchatter.com/files/32083/ninesNYE.jpg" class="top"> Five, four, three, two, one...Happy Sustainability! Er, New Year! Papers and cable networks have been abuzz with stories about Copenhagen's Climate Conference, which wraps up today and coincides with news about LEED-certified hotel <a href="http://www.hotelchatter.com/hotel-reviews/The+Nines/local/1224">The Nines</a>' New Year's Eve party plans. We'd expected the color palette for said event to be green, naturally (ba-dum-bum), but instead we're seeing shades of blue, blue, blue for the Alice in Wonderland-themed bash. (Tiffany blue also happens to be the hue of choice for The Nines' rooms.) The sixth floor of the hotel will be transformed into a veritable Wonderland, with entertainment courtesy of a local marching band. Don't worry, we don't think they'll spontaneously burst into a school's fight song;

Cheerio and Hola! Standard Hotels to Open in London and Costa Rica

juliana — 2009-12-03T12:34:48-05:00

<![CDATA[<img src="http://www.hotelchatter.com/files/1425/standarddndsign.jpg" class="top">[Update]: A Standard rep says that London and Costa Rica are high on Andre's list but "as of now there are no confirmed plans." So expect these to open, as reported, "eons from now." We always suspected that hottie hotelier <a href="http://www.hotelchatter.com/tag/andre balazs">Andre Balazs</a> would soon be expanding his <a href="http://www.hotelchatter.com/tag/standard hotels">Standard Hotels</a> brand but we haven't quite been able to follow his mysterious plans. We thought for sure <a href="http://www.hotelchatter.com/story/2006/12/5/13059/0325/hotels/Andr_Balazs_To_Seattle_Rumors_Part_II">Seattle</a> and then we thought definitely <a href="http://www.hotelchatter.com/story/2008/2/4/102731/4138/hotels/Andre_Balazs_Maison_Tropicale_House_is_Now_On_Display">somewhere in the Caribbean</a> with his Maison Tropicale. But now the <a href="http://www.abbe-diaz.com/PXthisToo/2009/12/the-standard-expand-ard/">PX This</a> blog writes that Standard Hotels will be taking their show on the road to London and Costa Rica.<blockquote>Your beloved chain of snazzy flophouses, by your favorite cute

Hotel Monaco Portland Puts A New Lab In The Lobby

MsRebecca — 2009-10-07T14:42:48-05:00

<![CDATA[<img src="http://www.hotelchatter.com/files/1425/timmy_monaco.jpg" class="top">There are a lot of things we like about Kimpton Hotels, such as the "Forgot It? We Got It?" toiletry-supply service. We also love that the chain is so pet-friendly that <a href="http://www.hotelchatter.com/hotel-reviews/The+Muse+-+A+Kimpton+Hotel/local/167">The Muse Hotel</a> in New York once <a href="http://www.hotelchatter.com/story/2008/6/24/144441/974/hotels/Kimpton_Hotels_Will_Accept_Any_Type_of_Animal_Even_Sloths">hosted a sloth</a>. We'll settle for taking our dog, but even when we can't, Kimpton covers that too. Just like when you forget your toothpaste. Eight Kimpton properties have "Directors of Pet Relations" on the premisesdogs who essentially hang out in the lobby looking cute and rubbing up against guests in search of treats. The lineup includes a Bulldog, Bichon Frise, and pocket-pup Pomeranian. You can see their adorable mugs <a href="http://www.kimptonhotels.com/services/pet-directors.aspx">here</a>. This month, a new member joins

Portland's Ace Hotel Enters Fall With New Bikes And Artisan Booze

JetSetCD — 2009-10-05T16:41:04-05:00

<![CDATA[<img src="http://www.hotelchatter.com/files/6193/AceSwoboBike.jpg" class="top"> Ah, fall in the Pacific Northwest; it just makes you long to be outside, wearing your favorite flannel shirt and dreaming of chai tea. Luckily, <a href="http://www.hotelchatter.com/hotel-reviews/Ace+Hotel+Portland/local/821">The Ace Hotel</a> in Portland, Oregon anticipated this and they've amped up their offerings for a refreshed and outdoorsy autumn. First up are their new, specially-outfitted-for-Portland Swobo bicycles. Now we've all heard about the classic cruisers availabe at New York hotels, but Portland requires something more rugged, more street and trail-ready, and they've found it in their new fleet of six Swobos, with the customizations done by six different Portland bike shops. If you're a hotel guest, then you can feel free to borrow them for the day for free, and

Green is the New Black at the Newly LEED-Certified Nines Hotel

Heidi Atwal — 2009-09-08T13:19:04-05:00

If there's one thing Portland is known for, it's being green—literally, of course, with all of those lush Weeping Sequoias dotting its landscape, but also in the environmental sense. Long before Al Gore's An Inconvenient Truth made being eco-friendly chic, Portland was a city leading the green revolution, and its building practices have been a part of this wave.

Take The Nines hotel, for instance, which we raved about after paying it a visit upon its opening last fall. In addition to personal notes from maid service and free WiFi, we can add yet another point in its favor: The Nines recently earned LEED Silver certification from the U.S. Green Building Council.