HotelChatter

Since the Kor Hotel Group is on an expansion binge, taking its two brands--The Tides and Viceroy--global, there will be huge spas in all of the newest properties. The company has even hired Liz Ratcliffe as the Corporate Director of Spa Development and last night's party was simply a way to show off all the good things at the Estrella Spa in Palm Springs as well as highlight what to expect from Kor Hotels in the future.

Which at first seems a little sad for the Viceroy since they don't have a proper spa of their own but we did learn that they offer in-room spa treatments using on-call therapists and they have a partnership with the spa at nearby Fred Segal.

Additionally, the hotel will ramp up their spa offerings in time for awards season. Special spa suites will be set up for the Emmys and the Oscars and much of what we took in last night will be offered.

Also being held at the same time as the Spa Soiree was the hotel's weekly Taste of Tuesdays. Chef Warren Schwartz serves up different appetizers and drinks (which changes week to week) like an Un-Pear-able Martini and a Grilled Elk tenderloin which we were too afraid to try out. Each taste is $5 and the tastings are hapenning every Tuesday throughout the summer from 5:30 to 10pm.

As we walked about mulling a hand massage, chatting up the folks from Red Flower, and trying to understand how a chocolate spray tan is made, we heard whispers that a certain, recently arrested starlet had been at the Viceroy the night of her arrest. Whether she was drinking there or not we can't confirm but several people said she had been at the hotel.

In lighter news, we learned that yesterday was also the five-year anniversary of the Viceroy Santa Monica and Kor Hotel Group celebrated by bringing an In-n-Out truck to work. Yum. If you ever do stay at this hotel and are jonesing for a cheeseburger or a double-double, the closest In-n-Out is on Washington just off Lincoln Boulevard.