http://www.hotelchatter.com/ Hotel Reviews, Hotel Ratings, Hotel Openings en-us Copyright 2008 - SFO Media 2012-02-15T09:12:15Z HotelChatter HotelChatter http://www.hotelchatter.com/images/hcwhite.jpg http://www.hotelchatter.com/tag/HotelChatter%202008%20Awards http://www.hotelchatter.com/story/2008/12/31/12924/984 <![CDATA[<p><img align src="http://www.hotelchatter.com/files/1425/2008Awards.jpg" class="top"><p><img align="right" src="http://www.hotelchatter.com/files/3/2008_awards_hc.jpg" class="imgborder">Thanks for joining us on the last day of 2008 for our 2008 HotelChatter Year-End Awards. A big, big shout-out to all the Hotel Mavens out there who have contributed to our site with their <a href="http://www.hotelchatter.com/tag/reader%20reviews">reviews</a>, <a href="http://www.hotelchatter.com/tag/hotelchatter%20flickr%20pool">photos</a> and <a href="http://www.hotelchatter.com/tag/hotelchatter%20comments">comments</a> this year. We couldn't have done it all without you. Keep it up in 2009!<br> <p><p> As always, there are at least four ways to contribute:<br> <br>&#183;<a href="http://www.hotelchatter.com/newuser">Become a HotelChatter member</a> and <a href="http://www.hotelchatter.com/submit">submit</a> stories, releasing your inner travel writer.<br>&#183;<a href="http://www.hotelchatter.com/newuser">Become a HotelChatter member</a>, <a href="http://www.hotelchatter.com/story/2007/12/31/133116/60/hotels/2007_HotelChatter_Awards_Epilogue#postform">comment on stories</a>, and <a href="http://www.hotelchatter.com/story/2006/6/8/112925/9560/hotels/HotelChatter_Launches_Intergalactic_Hotel_Pages">review hotels</a>.<br>&#183;<a href="http://flickr.com/groups/hotelchatter/">Send us snapshots of your favorite and least favorite hotels.</a><br>&#183;<a href="mailto:tips@hotelchatter.com">Shoot us an email tip.</a><p>Now for your viewing enjoyment, here HotelChatter 2008-12-31T12:41:38-05:00 http://www.hotelchatter.com/story/2008/12/31/72017/676 <![CDATA[<p><img src="http://www.hotelchatter.com/files/454/sls_exterior.jpg" class="top"><p><img align="right" src="http://www.hotelchatter.com/files/3/2008_awards_hc.jpg"> <p>We know: you thought we were gonna with the <b><a href="http://www.hotelchatter.com/hotel-reviews/Thompson+LES/local/31">Thompson LES</a></b> as the best hotel opening of 2008, weren't you? Not this time &#151; we've given the LES lots of the love and attention (and fair criticism) it deserves, but in awarding this particular honor we looked West to <b><a href="http://www.hotelchatter.com/hotel-reviews/The+SLS+at+Beverly+Hills/local/1098">SLS Hotel at Beverly Hills</a></b>. <p>Last year, if you'll recall, we <a href="http://www.hotelchatter.com/story/2007/12/31/11446/499/hotels/Best_Hotel_Opening_NYLO_Hotel_Plano">bestowed the honor</a> of Best Opening upon <b><a href="http://www.hotelchatter.com/hotel-reviews/Nylo+Hotel+Plano/local/977">NYLO Plano</a></b>, for whom we had <a href="http://www.hotelchatter.com/story/2008/1/8/115746/8097/hotels/HotelChatter_Goes_Inside_NYLO_Plano">very little criticism </a>after a rather enjoyable overnight stay fairly soon after the property opened. Our choice of SLS for the best hotel opening may be a little bit surprising considering we've heaped a fair <a href="http://www.hotelchatter.com/story/2008/12/9/142757/937/hotels/Three_Things_You_Won_t_Like_About_the_SLS_Hotel">bit HotelChatter 2008-12-31T11:55:00-05:00 34.0699461 -118.37640 http://www.hotelchatter.com/story/2008/12/31/11859/538 <![CDATA[<p><img src="http://www.hotelchatter.com/files/454/balazsmap.jpg" class="top"><p><img align="right" src="http://www.hotelchatter.com/files/3/2008_awards_hc.jpg"> <p>We're very visual people and we assume all hotel geeks are as well &#151; so when we've got a whole bunch of info about hotels in an area, we map 'em all for you so you can see the big picture. We've been all over the maps this year (again with the wordplay!), and it was tough to pick a fave among hits like our <a href="http://www.hotelchatter.com/tag/Thompson-Hotels-Map">Thompson Hotels Map</a> charting the progress of the rapidly-growing chain; our <a href="http://www.hotelchatter.com/maps/Beijing-Olympics-Hotels">Beijing Olympics Map</a>, our <a href="http://www.hotelchatter.com/tag/Malibu-Beach-Hotels-Map">Malibu Beach Hotels </a>map and the definitive guide to the hotels you should hit up <a href="http://www.hotelchatter.com/tag/Carmel-Hotels-Guide">in Carmel</a>... but one came out on top for us: hottie hotelier <b><A href="http://www.hotelchatter.com/tag/Andre%20Balazs">Andre Balazs'</a></b> <a HotelChatter 2008-12-31T11:45:58-05:00 http://www.hotelchatter.com/story/2008/12/31/9581/5063 <![CDATA[<p><img src="http://www.hotelchatter.com/files/454/billmarriotthorizontal.jpg" class="top"><p><img align="right" src="http://www.hotelchatter.com/files/3/2008_awards_hc.jpg">When <a href="http://www.hotelchatter.com/tag/bill%20marriott"><b>Bill Marriott</b></a> first started <a href="http://www.hotelchatter.com/story/2007/1/18/103342/877/hotels/Hotel_Blog_Watch_Marriott_Hotels">blogging</a> we were kind of miffed he was honing in on our turf. But this past year we've really come to appreciate all of Marriott's social networking efforts from his Marriott on the Move Blog to Twitter (done by his communications staff) to Flickr (see pics of Bill's birthday bash!) to YouTube.<p>For us, all this internet activity helped us keep dibs on what Marriott Hotels were up to. For guests, they can see more of what goes on at Marriott hotels aside from what's listed on the website. And it's working. Bill's blog has given Marriott an estimated $4 million+ in bookings. And now Marriott is <a href="http://www.marriott.com/news/detail.mi?marrArticle=369815">reporting</a> that HotelChatter 2008-12-31T11:09:34-05:00 http://www.hotelchatter.com/story/2008/12/31/10450/905 <![CDATA[<p><img src="http://www.hotelchatter.com/files/454/palazzo_suite1.jpg" class="top"><p><img align="right" src="http://www.hotelchatter.com/files/3/2008_awards_hc.jpg"><a href="http://www.hotelchatter.com/hotel-reviews/Palazzo+Hotel+and+Casino/local/927"><b>People's Choice Award: Palazzo Las Vegas</b></a><p> It's been an interesting year for the <a href="http://www.hotelchatter.com/hotel-reviews/Palazzo+Hotel+and+Casino/local/927"><b>Palazzo Las Vegas</b></a> which was the most popular hotel in 2008 here on HotelChatter. When the place finally opened last December, much of it was under construction and the rooms weren't quite ready. <p>Then we wandered through the casino in mid-January and <a href="http://www.hotelchatter.com/story/2008/1/14/13918/1472/hotels/Palazzo_Las_Vegas_is_Kind_of_a_Bust">it was dead</a>. On a Friday night. Before the recession had even kicked in. Yet once the Palazzo started to open up their <a href="http://www.hotelchatter.com/story/2008/1/18/122851/499/hotels/VIP_Party_Dispatch_The_Palazzo_Las_Vegas_Grand_Opening_Weekend">luxury shopping mall and new restaurants</a>, the tide started to turn a bit.<p>Celebrity sightings came quick and fast after that. We managed to spend a few days in the hotel in April, experiencing all HotelChatter 2008-12-31T10:49:15-05:00 36.1230910 -115.17012 Search HotelChatter string http://www.hotelchatter.com/search/