WA Travel Guide
Hotel News / SLS Hotels / Seattle Hotels / Sam Nazarian / sbe / → All Tags
An Unstoppable Force: SLS Heads Northwest To Seattle In 2016
The folks over at SLS are on a roll this week. One day after announcing SLS Las Vegas will open in 2014 (allegedly), they're looking even further into the future with plans for SLS Seattle to open in 2016.
Can you say 'overachiever?'
We're reminded of a Virgin Hotels exec who recently said they're "still on track" to reach their goal of 20 Virgin Hotels in 10 years—despite the fact that they haven't even opened one yet.
Admittedly, SLS/sbe/Sam Nazarian are in a far better position, with four properties already up and running (SLS South Beach, SLS Beverly Hills, The Redbury, and The Raleigh). So for now, we'll take their word for it that construction on a $400 million development, located at 5th and Columbia in Downtown Seattle, is set to begin at the end of the year, with an anticipated completion of 2016.
The hotel will have 184 rooms (designed by Philippe Starck, of course), and will occupy floors 2 through 15 of a mixed-use tower with a whole bunch of food, beverage and retail outlets, not to mention a spa and fitness center.
Read a quote from sbe founder Sam Nazarian after the jump!
Reality TV Hotels / The Layover / Celebrity Chefs / Anthony Bourdain / Atlanta Hotels / → All Tags
Anthony Bourdain Selects a Stunner in "The Layover" Seattle
Anthony Bourdain is back for another season of “The Layover”, and we like it because he names the hotels in the cities where he'll be spending his precious time. We figure, he won't be laying his salt-and-pepper head just anywhere, after all, he's big time now.
So, for entertainment and a dose of travel value, we’ll give you some details on the properties he picks, just in case you find yourself looking for a place to stay in a city that’s sanctioned by this travel personality/chef.
In the season finale, our guy heads to Seattle. He’s got 48 hours to play in a place with a thousand nicknames, and lets viewers know “people love to hate this city, ” the reasons apparently boiling down to the weather. No surprise, there. As he hops into his $100K loaner electric Tesla S which has WiFi (!), he mentions he could watch porn while he’s driving--until his faceless passenger mentions he might need two hands on the wheel while driving. Oh. Then he’s off and running around this hipster (yeah, we’ll say it) town, making tons of Dave Matthews jokes all the way.
We cross our fingers hoping he'll make his last hotel choice of the season a good 'un.
Washington Hotels / Killer View / Hotel Waterfalls / Hotel Snapshot / → All Tags
Ever Stayed at a Hotel with Its Own Waterfall?
It's one thing for your hotel to have its own swimming pool or, if you're seeking to get "out in nature," perhaps a pond or lake for boating. It's entirely another thing for that hotel to boast a waterfall in its side yard.
Well, that's actually the case at Washington's Salish Lodge, a small five-star retreat 30 minutes outside of Seattle. While it's all Pacific Northwest-typical dark leather couches, wool and stone on the inside, the exterior of the main building is awash in the green and granite of the raw parkland and Snoqualmie River, into which the Snoqualmie Falls drop.
Hotel Openings / Crown Hotels / Perth Hotels / Casino Hotels / → All Tags
Melbourne's Crown Casino Puts It's Luxury Sights on Perth
The luxury Melbourne hotel and casino, Crown, has decided to head west--way west, to the other side of the country in Perth. Specifically, Crown is looking to expand their operation in the the Burswood Entertainment district of the coastal city.
After a significant investment in the entertainment complex, Crown is hoping to lure more guests from not only Australia, but from Asia (and who isn't going after the Asian travel market these days).
For the last eight years, the hotel group has been upgrading an existing hotel they acquired from Intercontinental Group but the very dated pyramid building needs a major facelift. So now its time for Crown to recreate their signature luxury known to Melbourne with a completely new hotel.
Hotel Photography / Hotel Cameras / Hotel Packages / Hotel Art / Hotel Sex / Literary Hotels / Seattle Hotels / Provenance Hotels / → All Tags
Bookworms And Photographers, Get Your Kicks At Hotel Max This Summer
We already know that Hotel Max in downtown Seattle likes to express itself. Artistically, that is. The 350 original paintings and photographs scattered around the hotel ought to tell you so—least of all the funky guest room doors, which each showcase one of 39 different designs by local artists.
Now, with two new promotions—"Shoot From The Hip" and "Fifty Shades of Seattle"—guests at the hotel will be able to be part of that creative process, though in two very different ways.
But whether you end up enjoying Seattle from behind the lens of a tricked-out analog camera, or gazing at it from above during a 30-minute "helitour," we don't think you'll be struggling for any inspiration.
Wine Tasting Hotels / Washington Hotels / Hotel Packages / → All Tags
Three Reasons to Stay at The Willows Lodge in Washington's Wine Country This Summer
We love to taste our way around the Pacific Northwest wine appellations. So when we finally visited the quintessential Northwest style Willows Lodge in Woodinville, we were really happy to find out that in addition to delicious local wines, there are three more reasons to stay here.
Number one is the location. The hotel Willows Lodge is tucked into the Columbia Valley wine appellation about 15 miles northeast of Seattle making for a perfect base for exploring the surrounding wineries including the grand-mere of them all Chateau Ste. Michelle, which is conveniently just across the road.
Hotel Gift Shops / Hotel Shopping / Hotel Lobbies / Facebook / Social Media Hotels / Tacoma Hotels / → All Tags
Hotel Murano Turns To Facebook To Find A New Tenant For Its Lobby Gift Shop
Dropping off portfolios, sitting down to meetings, providing references—sooo old-fashioned. These days, all it takes to get your foot in the door is quick glance at your prospective employer's Facebook wall.
Yesterday afternoon, the Hotel Murano Tacoma posted that their lobby retail space is currently available for lease, and that interested parties should get in touch with the GM, Stan. Of course, a more traditional interviewing process would likely follow, but we're still fascinated by the way social media has managed to tap into every single aspect of hotel life. And why shouldn't it? If you want a late check-out, check in on Foursquare. If you've accidentally locked yourself in the hotel bathroom, tweet about it.
And if you feel like owning your own hotel gift shop, hie thee to Facebook!
Historic Hotels / Hotel Bars / Hotel Restaurants / Seattle Hotels / DoubleTree Hotels / Hilton Hotels / → All Tags
On Your Next BROadtrip, Hit Up An Old Gentemen's Club In Seattle
In 1918, the building that currently houses the DoubleTree Arctic Club Seattle originally opened as a gentlemen's club called (unsurprisingly) The Arctic Club. Its clientele? Successful business men who had become wealthy from the Klondike Gold Rush. These days, the hotel attracts locals and visitors alike to its restored Northern Lights Dome Room, a restored ballroom whose leaded glass domed ceiling (above) simulates the effects of the Northern Lights. Luckily you don't have to go mining for gold in Alaska to enjoy it!
Inside and around the hotel, there is plenty to look at. Unique architectural details—like the 27 carved walrus heads on the exterior of the building, or the stairways lined with Alaskan marble—make the place feel less like a regular old DoubleTree and more like an independent boutique hotel. Which it is. Plus free cookies.
Hotel Wine / Embassy Suites Hotels / Wine-Tasting Hotels / → All Tags
When This Embassy Suites Opens Next Year, It Will Have Its Own Wine Label
Hotels putting out their own brand of wines is nothing new but it is quite unusual to hear of a private wine label from an Embassy Suites Hotel. Yet when the Embassy Suites opens their hotel in the Horn Rapids golf community of Richland, Wash., next year that's exactly what the hotel will have.
The hotel will sit on three acres of vineyard which will be open for guests to tour and explore. Grapes from the vinyeard will be used to make the private label wine that will be sold exclusively at the hotel and of course, offered in the hotel's full service restaurant and Bistro wine bar.
But don't worry, you won't be stuck drinking just Embassy Suites wine. The hotel promises to feature over 160 wines from wineries located within 60 minutes of the hotel.
Hotel News / Fairmont Hotels / Amanda Knox / Seattle Hotels / → All Tags
Foxy Knoxy Supporters Gathered at The Fairmont Olympic Hotel in Seattle
Amanda Knox spent four years locked up in an Italian prison for a crime she says she didn't commit and yesterday, an Italian appeals court agreed with her, overturning her conviction and setting her free.
While international media converged upon a courthouse in Perugia, back in Knox's hometown of Seattle, friends, family members and even more members of the media gathered in a hotel suite at the Fairmont Olympic Hotel to first, watch the verdict and then later, celebrate.
The NY Times reports:
On Monday at the hotel, her supporters held hands in anticipation of the verdict, switching between CNN and Fox News. Next to the large, flat-screen television were framed photographs of Ms. Knox, Mr. Sollecito and Ms. Kercher.
Ms. Knox’s supporters were outnumbered by journalists, who had to show identification before entering the suite. The hotel also heightened security by posting a guard outside the rooms....
In an adjacent room, Susan Rosales, a member of the Friends of Amanda Knox, sat on an unmade bed as she read aloud Ms. Knox’s 10-minute statement to the jury.
Hotel Emergencies / Hotel News / Four Seasons Hotels / Seattle Hotels / Hotel Saftey / Hotel Windows / → All Tags
More Falling Glass From a Hotel, This Time at The Four Seasons Seattle
Just when we thought the falling glass trend was behind us, some windows have shattered again, this time at the Four Seasons Seattle on Sunday. And much like what happened with the W Austin the loose window panes were actually from the residences that are attached to the hotel. But what's worse here is that this is the third time windows have fallen from the building since July.
Thankfully, no one's been hurt or injured but the glass has cracked the glass awning at the entrance of the hotel and a car was slightly damaged.
Needless to say the hotel has finally gotten the idea that all 300 of the tempered-glass windows need to be replaced. The hotel's GM told the Seattle Times:
Hotel Restaurants / Washington Hotels / Foodie Hotels / → All Tags
Hotel Restaurants You'd Actually Eat In: The Inn at Langley
The reputation of hotel restaurants as sad, overpriced affairs is quickly falling away as some talented chefs make the eateries destinations of their own. This week, HotelChatter contributor Katherine Spiers is taking us to some of the best hotel restaurants in the world.
The restaurant at the Inn at Langley isn't messing around: they're only open three or four nights at week. And dining here is a serious event, with seven or so courses. It makes sense, as there's not much to do on Whidbey Island but work up an appetite, and then indulge it.
Washington state has great natural products, from fruit to fish, and the Inn keeps the menu pretty local and seasonal: looking at today's seasonal menu, the only thing that couldn't have originated on Whidbey Island itself seems to be the coconut and mango in the dessert; you'll dine overlooking the herb garden.
