http://www.hotelchatter.com/ Hotel Reviews, Hotel Ratings, Hotel Openings en-us Copyright 2008 - SFO Media 2009-11-24T23:27:06Z HotelChatter HotelChatter http://www.hotelchatter.com/images/hcwhite.jpg http://www.hotelchatter.com/tag/Waldorf-Astoria%20Collection http://www.hotelchatter.com/story/2009/9/23/125820/317 <![CDATA[<p><img src="http://www.hotelchatter.com/files/1425/stormingsazerac.jpg" class="top"><p><i>Taken during the very first "stormin'" in 1949.</i><p>Some people go for Civil War re-enactments, some people prefer Jane Austen movies, but when it comes to historical fixes, we prefer the vintage booze that are making a comeback at hipster-frequented speakeasies across the country. That&#146;s why we want to tell you about the upcoming <b>&#147;Stormin&#146; the Sazerac&#148;</b> event at the landmark <a href="http://www.hotelchatter.com/hotel-reviews/Roosevelt+Hotel+New+Orleans/local/1423"><b>Roosevelt New Orleans</b></a> on Friday, September 25.<p>Back in the day, women were only admitted to the Sazerac Bar at the Roosevelt on one day of the year: Mardi Gras (remember, this is New Orleans). Well, 60 years ago, a group of well-to-do New Orleans ladies decided they wanted a drink, and on September 25, 1949, they stormed EricRosen 2009-09-23T15:28:47-05:00 29.9540755 -90.071250 http://www.hotelchatter.com/story/2009/9/16/15945/4490 <![CDATA[<img src="http://www.hotelchatter.com/files/32083/rooseveltnyla.jpg" class="top"><p> <p>The Big Easy never really lost its swing, but it has had to significantly rebuild both literally and emotionally post-Hurricane Katrina. Nothing brings a commercial boost like an influx of out-of-towners, especially those willing to roll large and invest in a taste of <a href="http://www.hotelchatter.com/tag/Waldorf-Astoria%20Collection">The Waldorf-Astoria</a>'s opulence. <p><a href="http://www.hotelchatter.com/hotel-reviews/Roosevelt+Hotel+New+Orleans/local/1423"><b>The Roosevelt New Orleans</b></a>&#151;known as The Grunewald and The Fairmont in its earlier incarnations&#151;recently underwent a whopping $145 million restoration, making it central to the city's rebirth. Located in the French Quarter, guests really can't get any closer to the core of life in New Orleans. <p>Reviews are <a href="http://www.tripadvisor.com/Hotel_Review-g60864-d111970-Reviews-The_Roosevelt_New_Orleans_A_Waldorf_Astoria_Collection_Hotel-New_Orleans_Louisiana.html">generally positive</a> across the board, but, honestly, it's hard to imagine such a massive project backed by a name like Heidi Atwal 2009-09-16T15:41:46-05:00 29.9540755 -90.071250 http://www.hotelchatter.com/story/2009/8/24/23929/0699 <![CDATA[<img src="http://www.hotelchatter.com/files/1425/BiltmoreOriginalTequilaSunrise.jpg" class="top"><p> <p><i>We've kicked off our <a href="http://www.hotelchatter.com/tag/summer cocktails">Summer Cocktails</a> series where we profile fun new summer drinks that hotels are making. Got one we should know about? <a href="mailto:tips@hotelchatter.com">Send us the recipe with a photo of the drink.</a> Otherwise, enjoy and <a href="http://www.twitter.com/hotelchatter">@reply us</a> when you're wasted!</i><p> <p>The last news we heard from the <a href="http://www.hotelchatter.com/hotel-reviews/Arizona+Biltmore+Resort+-+The+Waldorf-Astoria+Collection/ian/105306"><b>Arizona Biltmore</b></a> was about the <a href="http://www.hotelchatter.com/story/2009/7/6/13456/53352/hotels/The_Arizona_Biltmore_is_Getting_a_600_Million_Facelift">not-in-a-hurry renovations</a> (dates like "sometime before 2020" were getting tossed around) so we're happy to have something more concrete to report: the Biltmore's got a special summer cocktail, and it's a classic.<p>Something we didn't know is that the <b>Tequila Sunrise</b> was apparently invented at the Biltmore, back in the 1940s when a frequent guest asked the bartender amandak 2009-08-28T09:23:48-05:00 33.5218000 -112.02034 http://www.hotelchatter.com/story/2009/8/21/05027/5440 <![CDATA[<p><img src="http://www.hotelchatter.com/files/1425/grandwaileacabanaline.jpg" class="top"><p>Last month, we told you that the <a href="http://www.hotelchatter.com/hotel-reviews/Grand+Wailea+Resort/local/486"><b>Grand Wailea Resort and Spa</b></a> in Wailea, Maui might have the coolest pool amenities (little grottos, a kiddie pool with a beach, waterslides galore) but that the place was <a href="http://www.hotelchatter.com/story/2009/7/6/15624/45628/hotels/Is_the_Grand_Wailea_Resort_Like_Las_Vegas_But_for_Kids_">too crowded with children</a> for anyone to truly enjoy. <p>Well, we thought you might like some photographic evidence of just how crowded the pool scene is: here's a snapshot of the line for beach cabanas that we snapped last Friday. <p>Guests (only hotel guests are allowed access to the resort) must wait in this line before obtaining one of the beach cabanas. As usual with pool chairs and the like, the early bird gets the coveted seat on the beach juliana 2009-08-21T08:54:38-05:00 20.6832550 -156.43956 http://www.hotelchatter.com/story/2009/8/7/14454/13040 <![CDATA[<p><img src="http://www.hotelchatter.com/files/1425/dakotamountain_room.jpg" class="top"><p> <i>A suite at the Dakota Mountain Lodge.</i><p>The <a href="http://www.hotelchatter.com/tag/Waldorf-Astoria%20Collection"><b>Waldorf-Astoria Collection</b></a> has been snapping up and renovating properties left and right but now the first <i>new</i> hotel has opened, <a href="http://www.hotelchatter.com/hotel-reviews/Dakota+Mountain+Lodge/local/1535"><b>The Dakota Mountain Lodge </b></a> in super swanky Park City, Utah. Detes on the guestrooms come courtesy of the press release we just got:<blockquote><p>Guestrooms are finished with custom designed furniture, natural colors and rich interiors to create a casual yet sophisticated retreat. Available in king or queen rooms, each room is designed with a gas fireplace, 42&#148; HDTV, spacious bath with jetted tubs and/or steam showers, and private patio or balcony. Suites are one-to-four-bedroom, some loft style, and feature large gourmet kitchens with stainless steel appliances and granite juliana 2009-08-07T15:02:49-05:00 40.6897299 -111.55019 Search HotelChatter string http://www.hotelchatter.com/search/