http://www.hotelchatter.com/ Hotel Reviews, Hotel Ratings, Hotel Openings en-us Copyright 2008 - SFO Media 2008-10-13T17:31:56Z HotelChatter HotelChatter http://www.hotelchatter.com/images/hcwhite.jpg http://www.hotelchatter.com/tag/Awards http://www.hotelchatter.com/story/2008/2/24/144612/104 <![CDATA[<p> <img align="right" src="http://www.hotelchatter.com/files/454/best_geek_hotels_2008.jpg" class="imgborder"> <p><p>As most people who suffer from technophilia know, a lot can change in a year. In the year that we released our first Best Geek Hotels List, the iPhone beat out every other cellphone on the market, the MacAir usurped the MacBook and saved shoulders worldwide, Guitar Hero and Rock Band raged, and Facebook surpassed MySpace, at least in our group of friends.<p>While most hotels are still rather slow to adopt technology -- hello, working free WiFi please?-- we did find a new crop of geek hotels that were worthy of superlatives. Some of these hotels have been geeking it out for a while and some are still in beta. But much of the source HotelChatter 2008-03-04T10:34:26-05:00 http://www.hotelchatter.com/story/2007/10/31/34310/664 <![CDATA[<img src="http://www.hotelchatter.com/files/3873/treetops_lodge_lawn.jpg" class="imgborder"><p> <p>The recent 20th annual Conde Nast Traveler awards threw up some not-too-surprising results in the Australia/Pacific section, with Melbourne's about-to-be-even-bigger <a href="http://www.hotelchatter.com/hotel-reviews/Crown+Towers/ian/119168">Crown Towers</a> complex coming up in the number one position, closely followed by Sydney's <a href="http://www.hotelchatter.com/hotel-reviews/Park+Hyatt+Sydney/local/242">Park Hyatt</a>. </p><p>But coming in at number three was the less mainstream option of the <a href="http://www.hotelchatter.com/hotel-reviews/Treetops+Lodge+And+Estate/ian/212345"><b>Treetops Lodge</b></a> in Rotorua, New Zealand. With just twelve rooms, it certainly has less guests coming through the door than places like the Crown or the Park Hyatt, but those that have checked in have been suitably impressed.</p><p>The Treetops Lodge is in the middle of the forest so nature and wildlife are the key impressions you'll get. There are plenty of outdoor activities to be amandak 2007-10-31T09:22:23-05:00 http://www.hotelchatter.com/story/2007/10/29/8140/0666 <![CDATA[<img src="http://www.hotelchatter.com/files/3873/NamHoiInfinityPool.jpg" class="imgborder"><p> <p>Last week in Bangkok the Asian <a href="http://www.ttgasia.com/ttg-awards/">TTG Travel Awards</a> for hotels, airlines and travel agents were handed out, and one of our favorite Vietnamese spots, the <a href="http://www.hotelchatter.com/hotel-reviews/The+Nam+Hai/ian/252041"><b>Nam Hai</b></a> near Hoi An was awarded the prize for Best New Beach Resort.</p><p>Less than one year into its life--it first opened in December 2006--the Nam Hai is really stacking up the accolades. As well as this best new beach resort award, it's been listed in the Conde Nast 2007 Hot List (in both the US and the UK), been picked as a "best of the best" of new hotels by Gourmet Traveller, and, on top of all of that, we think it's a nice place too. A place amandak 2007-10-29T09:22:01-05:00 http://www.hotelchatter.com/story/2007/10/23/165056/72 <![CDATA[<p><img src="http://www.hotelchatter.com/files/admin/cntrav_top100.jpg" class="imgborder"><p>It's that time of the year again when Conde Nast Traveler unveils its <a href="http://www.concierge.com/bestof/readerschoice/">Readers Choice awards.</a><p>Topping the list for the best U.S. city was San Francisco who has won this distinction for 17 of the past 18 years. Whoa. Good thing San Francisco has <a href="http://www.hotelchatter.com/city/San%20Francisco">a ton of hotels</a> for all of its happy visitors.<p>As far as hotels go, not many US hotels made any top spots. <a href="http://www.hotelchatter.com/hotel-reviews/Four+Seasons+Maui/local/23"><b>The Four Seasons Maui</b></a> nabbed the #15 spot and the <a href="http://www.hotelchatter.com/hotel-reviews/Ritz-Carlton+A+Four+Seasons+Htl/ian/115063"><b>Ritz-Carlton Chicago</b></a> placed 25, followed closely by the <a href="http://www.hotelchatter.com/hotel-reviews/The+Peninsula+Chicago/local/483"><b>Peninsula Chicago</b></a> at 26.<p>The highest-ranked New York hotel on the list is the <a href="http://www.hotelchatter.com/hotel-reviews/Four+Seasons+New+York/ian/131734"><b>Four Seasons New York</b></a> at #39 and that's tied with the <a href="http://www.hotelchatter.com/hotel-reviews/Hotel+Bel+Air/ian/112168"><b>Hotel Bel-Air</b></a>.<p>So who juliana 2007-10-23T17:03:00-05:00 http://www.hotelchatter.com/story/2007/5/10/233515/980 <![CDATA[<p> <img src="http://www.hotelchatter.com/files/3/raffles_beijing_hotel.jpg" class="imgborder"> <p>Conde Nast magazines in the US and the UK have been giving out gongs to the <a href="http://www.hotelchatter.com/hotel-reviews/Raffles+Beijing+Hotel/local/1292"><b>Raffles Beijing Hotel</b></a> (often just referred to as the Beijing Hotel): it made the Hot List 2007 in both countries, plus its Jaan restaurant gained a place in the US version's Hot Table list.</p><p>The Raffles Beijing Hotel is in a 1907 building but was taken over and fully refurbished just last year. The location is great for sightseers, less than half a mile to the Forbidden City and Tiananmen Square, and many of the 171 rooms and suites have good views over Beijing.</p><p>Facilities include an indoor swimming pool (and the fact that complimentary cell phones are available while you're amandak 2007-05-11T09:32:06-05:00 Search HotelChatter string http://www.hotelchatter.com/search/