HotelChatter - Tag: Starwood Hotels

HotelChatter - Tag: Starwood Hotels http://www.hotelchatter.com/ Hotel Reviews, Hotel Ratings, Hotel Openings en-us Copyright 2008 - SFO Media 2012-02-14T18:46:02Z HotelChatter HotelChatter HotelChatter http://www.hotelchatter.com/images/hcwhite.jpg http://www.hotelchatter.com/tag/Starwood%20Hotels Panama City: Come To Panama For The Canal, Stay for the Cool Hotel Art http://www.hotelchatter.com/story/2012/2/12/172636/906 <![CDATA[<img src="http://www.hotelchatter.com/files/61268/GamboaBirdArt.jpg" class="top">It's been two weeks since we returned from Panama, but still we find ourselves <del>flipping</del> clicking through our photos from the trip and letting out tiny sighs. One thing we loved about almost every hotel we visited was all the cool lobby art on displayall of which had a great way of summing up the look and feel of each property. Inside the lobby at Gamboa Rainforest Resort, there's so much animal art, it feels like the safari's begun before you even setting foot in the rainforest! In addition to banners embroidered with frogs and butterflies hanging from the ceilingnot to mention some beautiful metal sculptures of birds poised in mid-flightwe loved this intricate metalwork on the railings, ASchechter 2012-02-13T09:10:02-05:00 New York: The Saddest Cupcakes That Ever Graced A Hotel Bar http://www.hotelchatter.com/story/2012/2/7/0245/39641 <![CDATA[<img src="http://www.hotelchatter.com/files/61268/WFashionUnionSquare.jpg" class="top">We showed up to a pre-Fashion Week party last night at <a href="http://www.hotelchatter.com/hotel-reviews/W+New+York+Union+Square/local/177">W Union Square</a> and, as usual with these types of events, made a beeline for the bar. Planning on ordering a quick cocktail, we then noticed something that made us chuckle. At one end of the bar on a silver tray were rows of mini cupcakesthick with icing, delicious looking, and virtually untouched. But what else did we expect? This is <a href="http://www.hotelchatter.com/tag/Fashion%20Week%20Hotels">Fashion Week</a>, after all, where anything more than <a href="http://www.hotelchatter.com/story/2011/8/31/122551/797/hotels/The_True_Fashion_Week_Meal_at_The_James_New_York_Celery_and_Champagne_">a stick of celery</a> is considered an indulgence. Not that these sugar bombs put a damper on anyone's fun. Indeed, with guest appearances by DJ Chelsea Leyland, W <a href="http://www.hotelchatter.com/story/2011/9/7/23140/62285/hotels/W_s_Global_Fashion_Director_Speaks">Global Fashion Director</a> Jenné Lombardo, and ASchechter 2012-02-07T09:00:02-05:00 A Quick Look at Some Cool Hotel Designs Coming in 2012 http://www.hotelchatter.com/story/2012/2/2/94853/40204 <![CDATA[<img src="http://www.hotelchatter.com/files/61268/ParkHyattHyderabadAtriumResize.jpg" class="top">Remember the guys who brought you the <a href="http://www.hotelchatter.com/story/2012/1/31/91323/6604/hotels/Men_Get_A_Little_Something_Extra_In_The_Bathrooms_at_Trump_Ocean_Club">sperm-shaped urinals</a> at <a href="http://www.hotelchatter.com/hotel-reviews/Trump+Ocean+Club+International+Hotel+%26+Tower/local/4809">Trump Panama</a>? Well, in the spirit of our recently-launched (and super hot topic-y) <a href="http://www.hotelchatter.com/story/2012/1/16/235841/535/hotels/The_Master_List_of_Worldwide_Hotel_Openings_in_2012">2012 Master List of Hotel Openings</a>, we were a little curious to see what else the design wizards at HBA had cooking on the stove. Though their total project list spans 21 properties, a few in particular stand out: <a href="http://www.fourseasons.com/new_hotels_and_resorts/#guangzhou">Four Seasons Guangzhou</a>, Park Hyatt Hyderabad, <a href="http://www.starwoodhotels.com/sheraton/property/overview/index.html?language=en_US&propertyID=3751">Sheraton Fuzhou</a>, and <a href="http://waldorfastoria3.hilton.com/en/hotels/uae/waldorf-astoria-ras-al-khaimah-RKTWAWA/index.html">Waldorf-Astoria Ras Al Khaimah</a> are all places we'll be keeping a close eye on as they gear up for their respective 2012 grand openings. We love nothing more than unique, well-executed, culturally-relevant design, and these places have it all. Though we ASchechter 2012-02-02T09:50:56-05:00 Starwood Unveils New Loyalty Program Perks for Dedicated SPGers http://www.hotelchatter.com/story/2012/2/1/141158/1365 <![CDATA[<img src="http://www.hotelchatter.com/files/1425/starwood_wishspg.jpg" class="top"> Remember two years ago when we first got wind of this super-secret <a href="http://www.hotelchatter.com/tag/starwood%20ambassadors">Starwood Ambassadors</a> program? Well, it turns out the program is now going public.Today Starwood unveiled a couple of big changes to their <a href="http://www.hotelchatter.com/tag/starwood preferred guest">Starwood Preferred Guest</a> loyalty program starting on March 1st which includes personal ambassadors for SPG members who have spent 100 nights annually in Starwood hotels. <blockquote>Starwoods ambassadors work one-on-one with guests to understand their preferences and what matters to them on each trip to deliver a customized experience on property. Ambassadors also provide services beyond the hotel and are even empowered to assist guests when theyre not traveling </blockquote>SPG also introduced a new loyalty tier for the devoted SPGers--SPG juliana 2012-02-01T14:22:47-05:00 Panama City: Do Yourself A Favor and Make It An Ocean View At Westin Playa Bonita http://www.hotelchatter.com/story/2012/2/1/92114/47484 <![CDATA[<img src="http://www.hotelchatter.com/files/61268/WestinOceanView.jpg" class="top">You're checking into your hotel. You're tired from the trip, yet excited to be somewhere new, yet disoriented by the unfamiliar sceneryoften all at once. Without your wits about you, how are you supposed to determine which side of the building to request to get the best room view? Well, in the case of <a href="">Westin Playa Bonita</a>, let us point you in the right direction: between two options (Rainforest view and Ocean view), always, always pick the Ocean view. We were lucky enough to get given a room with an Ocean view right off the bat. And sure enough, one of the first things we did upon entering our room was rush over to our balcony, slide ASchechter 2012-02-01T09:28:50-05:00 Search HotelChatter Search HotelChatter string http://www.hotelchatter.com/search/