http://www.hotelchatter.com/ Hotel Reviews, Hotel Ratings, Hotel Openings en-us Copyright 2008 - SFO Media 2009-11-23T23:57:59Z HotelChatter HotelChatter http://www.hotelchatter.com/images/hcwhite.jpg http://www.hotelchatter.com/tag/dorchester%20collection http://www.hotelchatter.com/story/2009/9/30/03158/4482 <![CDATA[<p><img src="http://www.hotelchatter.com/files/34094/hotel_belair.jpg" class="top"> <p>The iconic 63-year-old <a href="http://www.hotelchatter.com/hotel-reviews/Hotel+Bel+Air/ian/112168"><b>Hotel Bel-Air</a> closes today</b> for a massive multimillion-dollar renovation that'll take two years to complete. <p>Burrowed among the canyons in L.A., the hotel's hosted a slew of stars, from Grace Kelly, Jackie Gleason, Cary Grant, Elizabeth Taylor and Marilyn Monroe to Oprah, Robin Williams, Hillary Swank and Nicole Kidman. Despite its star-packed clientele, the hotel was in <a href="http://www.hotelchatter.com/story/2008/4/11/12414/0174/hotels/Hotel_Bel_Air_Might_Need_a_Makeover">desperate need of an Extreme Makeover: Hotel Edition</a></b>. <p>To keep its luxury cred, the hotel will renovate its 91 rooms and suites, Champagne Bar, restaurant and private dining rooms. The Hotel Bel-Air also will add 12 villas on it 12-acre grounds and a new spa with seven treatment rooms and three junior spa suites. General Jennifer Kester 2009-09-30T08:43:51-05:00 34.0865579 -118.44642 http://www.hotelchatter.com/story/2009/8/26/71615/2316 <![CDATA[<img src="http://www.hotelchatter.com/files/3873/Principe_di_Savoia.jpg" class="top"><p> <p>Remember our fears about the <a href="http://www.hotelchatter.com/hotel-reviews/Hotel+Principe+Di+Savoia/ian/141199"><b>Hotel Principe Di Savoia</b></a> fixing what ain't broke by renovating their iconic <a href="http://www.hotelchatter.com/story/2009/2/26/14025/6698/hotels/Is_Milan_s_Hotel_Principe_di_Savoia_Nixing_Their_Iconic_Bar_">Winter Garden bar</a>? Well, we're not 100% sure yet but the renovations at the hotel are pretty much done and from what we can figure out, it's still an impressive place.<p>Ready to debut in September, the $50 million worth of renos include nine new suites, a new Imperial Suite and an impressive new lobby (pictured); and a refurbishment of the bar. The refurb of the Winter Garden has been planned by architect Thierry Despont, who also worked on the Dorchester in London and the Getty Center in LA, so we're feeling we're in good hands &#150; but we'll amandak 2009-08-27T16:03:09-05:00 http://www.hotelchatter.com/story/2009/8/3/1682/03943 <![CDATA[<p><img src="http://www.hotelchatter.com/files/1425/belair_sign.jpg" class="top"><p> We've always been a little perplexed as to how the <a href="http://www.hotelchatter.com/hotel-reviews/Hotel+Bel+Air/ian/112168"><b>Hotel Bel-Air</b></a> was consistently ranked amongst the best hotels in Los Angeles, winning Best Decor from the Zagat Guide and the #1 Reader's Choice from <a href="http://www.hotelchatter.com/story/2008/7/10/142927/790/hotels/Why_Do_Travel_Leisure_Readers_Love_the_Hotel_Bel_Air_So_Much_">Travel + Leisure.</a> There's no question that the grounds are beautiful and the service top-rate--it is a <a href="http://www.hotelchatter.com/tag/dorchester%20collection">Dorchester Collection</a> hotel after all. But a hotel can only coast on that for so long. <p>In this day and age when in-room amenity trends are changing at lightning speed (flat screen TVs are standard; hotels now use Keurigs instead of Mr. Coffee makers), a luxury hotel cannot afford to be bested by a cheap boutique hotel that stays up to date juliana 2009-08-03T16:13:23-05:00 34.0864530 -118.44635 http://www.hotelchatter.com/story/2009/6/25/22551/0856 <![CDATA[<p><img src="http://www.hotelchatter.com/files/6193/DorchesterTea.jpg" class="top"> <p>It seems like afternoon tea has been picking up heat in London again, now that the classic hotels are updating their menus and places like <a href="http://www.hotelchatter.com/story/2009/6/24/123048/218/hotels/Escape_A_Fussy_Hotel_High_Tea_With_Vintage_Fun_At_Covent_Garden">Covent Garden</a> are taking it outside and literally dancing around it. Among the top hotels for tea is the classic and celeb favorite <b><a href="http://www.hotelchatter.com/hotel-reviews/The+Dorchester+Hotel/local/5">Dorchester</a></b>, which is now extending its <b>famous tea service</b> up into the skies. <p>Beginning in August, The Dorchester's complete formal afternoon tea with champagne will be found on the traytables of <b>First Class seats on transatlantic flights with British Airways</b>. The airline originally began serving tea in the 1940s on its Stratocruiser plane, but then that baby took twenty hours to cross the ocean, so tea was JetSetCD 2009-06-26T09:11:50-05:00 http://www.hotelchatter.com/story/2009/6/9/105353/2419 <![CDATA[<P><img src="http://www.hotelchatter.com/files/1425/rover_belair.jpg" class="top"><p> <a href="http://www.hotelchatter.com/hotel-reviews/Hotel+Bel+Air/ian/112168"><b>Hotel Bel-Air</b></a> is introducing the <a href="http://hotelbelair.com/guest_services/pet_services/">Precious Paws Program</a>, a five-star amenity program designed to cater to man's best friend. <a href="http://www.hotelchatter.com/tag/dorchester%20collection"><b>The Dorchester Collection</b></a> hotel gives pups the royal treatment the moment a pet steps it's paw on-property. Pet perks include: a "chic neckerchief" given upon arrival to fancy up the collar, a private photo shoot to make your pet feel like a cover girl or boy, and a frame for your furry playmate centerfold as a check-out souvenir. <p>Rooms are doggy-ready too. They feature dog beds and read-to-go dog bowls. Doggy turn-down service includes peanut butter treats personally made by the in-house pastry chef. (The recipe is available at check-out.) And if by chance your shiralevine 2009-06-09T16:42:08-05:00 34.0864530 -118.44635 Search HotelChatter string http://www.hotelchatter.com/search/