Tag: Design Hotels
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What's Out, What's In: Diamonds are a Girl's Best Friend
We've started a series of what’s trending in hotels these days: What’s Out, What’s In. Do we like what we see? Think it's a dud? You be the judge!
What’s Out: Seaweed facials
What's In: Facials with gold, diamonds and other sparkly things
Diamonds and other precious metals and gems are sparkly and luminous; why shouldn’t your skin be the same? See what the hotel spas below are doing to make your skin radiate with good health.
The Dorchester Hotel in London offers the Carol Joy London Diamond Facial. Following ten years of research and three years of development, Carol Joy London products are created with some of the most precious beauty ingredients around (who knew that Golden Millet Oil was like pure gold?).
This intensive facial includes exfoliation with a diamond-head contraption that is said to be gentler than the traditional crystal ablater (we just like that word –- it sounds kind of bad-ass). While that’s going on, you’re being blasted with an Oxyjet machine that produces 95% pure oxygen to cool and soothe your skin and stimulate collagen production. The result? A firmer, clearer and more glowing you. The price for beauty, in this case, is £205 ($279).
Jail Hotels / Hotel Openings / Hotel News / Design Hotels / Oslo Hotels / Norway Hotels / → All Tags
Don't Get Caught Missing Info On Oslo's New Thief Hotel
Sure we’ve heard of former jails turning into hotels (see Boston's The Liberty Hotel, Oxford's Malmaison, and Four Seasons Istanbul), but this is fresh fish on the hotel cell block (ha!)
On January 9th in downtown Olso, Norway, a former 18th-century prisoner colony became the country’s first waterfront hotel. It’s name? The Thief . Seriously, we don’t make this stuff up! The moniker goes back to the days when criminals were brought to the island just off the coast called Tjuvholmen, nicknamed "Thief Island". Today, you’ll find art galleries, bars, cafes, restaurants, and funky shops along this Scandinavian city’s mile-long waterfront. What won’t you find? Cars. So the primary way of getting around is via foot or bike--the popular local way.
And it’s your feet that’ll lead you to the modern 119-room hotel which is a member of Design Hotels. There are nine-floors at The Thief, including a penthouse suite, that affords panoramic views of the city. Add that and the rooftop terrace and we have a feeling no one will be longing to escape these quarters.
Photo Gallery / Hotel Reviews / Germany Hotels / Frankfurt Hotels / 25hours Hotels / Design Hotels / → All Tags
Frankfurt Gets Funky: Inside the Goldman 25Hours Hotel
Think about the adjectives typically associated with Frankfurt, Germany. They're not exactly the most pleasant, are they? Perhaps that's why the Goldman 25Hours Hotel shakes up the scene with confident use of colors and whimsical design touches. In any case, our stay (1 night, paying a standard prepaid rate of 92 Euros) blessedly brightened what had been a dreary, sleep-deprived week
Never heard of the 25Hours boutique chain? Well neither had we until last year, when we found their Hamburg HafenCity location and promptly fell head over heels. Their Goldman Frankfurt property is not as new or large as Hamburg, but the brand's bravery with design and affordable rates are very much in house at all locations.
Hotel Fitness / Hotel Swag / 25Hours Hotels / Germany Hotels / Frankfurt Hotels / Design Hotels / → All Tags
A 'Jogging Corner' and Freebie Fitness Extras at a Funky Frankfurt Hotel Find
While more and more hotels realize that perhaps their guests prefer a fitness experience other than a musty gym, we see more and more yoga mats in closets and jogging maps on desks. Recently, during a stay at the Goldman 25Hours in Frankfurt, Germany, we checked in at reception next to this little "Jogging Corner" cart.
The Jogging Corner is all the basics you'd need to have an enjoyable run, while traveling light. That means they provide the water bottles, the small sweat towels, wristlet keychains or branded sweatbands, all complimentary to guests.
We went for the sweatbands, since we quickly figured out that these serve more than the function of storing the tiny specially made jogging map of the area; we wore the sweatband and stored our bus and tram coins in it. Perfect! No fumbling in a wallet while trying to board public transportation.
Hotels Under $100 / Self Check-In Hotels / Artist Hotels / Australia Hotels / Adelaide Hotels / Design Hotels / Art Hotels / → All Tags
Self Check-In Is Minimal Hassle At Adelaide's Minima Hotel
Calling all artists...and art lovers...and thrifty travelers. Have we got the property for you. Minima Hotel in the South Australian city of Adelaide
The city's first self check-in hotel and serves up some modern and contemporary design by featuring local artists' works. We're not talking about a few pieces of art on the lobby or in the rooms, more like using the room as the entire canvas. Every year, 12 of the 46 rooms are white-washed for 12 new artists to go and throw a splash of color in the room by painting the primary wall.
Currently, the rooms are pretty basic and on an economy scale. Although they are light on the amenities and design, come April all the rooms should be completed by a local artist. The final goal is to have all rooms painted in a different theme. Since the bookings are done online or on the lobby kiosk, guests that want a bit more paint will need to call the hotel group to check availability.
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Sydney Gets Trendier With New Unlisted Collection Hotel
Here's Sydney's hottest new hotel...in a few years
Sydney is sure on the radar for hot new hotels and it continues with the recent announcement of a new Unlisted Collection property planning to bring the unique design of lawyer-turned hotelier, Loh Lik Peng.
Located in the inner-suburb of Ultimo, down a laneway that evokes inner-city grittiness and history all at the same time. The new hotel will be housed in the former administration building for Carlton and United Brewery and will undoubtedly be the destination for memorable hotel experiences.
Mr. Loh promises that the 60-room hotel will be a bit more grown-up and on the same lines as his own, Waterhouse at South Bund in Shanghai and Town Hall Hotel & Apartments in London. This can only mean that the floating beds might not be a feature as they are in the New Majestic Hotel.
Hotel Art / Hotel News / Hotel Openings / Indianapolis Hotels / Indiana Hotels / Design Hotels / → All Tags
New Indianapolis Hotel Opens And We're Digging...The Garage
It’s not often we get to chat about hotels in Indianapolis (hey, Conrad!), but this new one is especially interesting for one reason—it’s parking garage is off the chain.
Set to open January 14th, The Alexander Hotel (named after Alexander Ralston, the architect who platted both Indianapolis and Washington D.C.) will be a 209-room haven in the heart of the city, that’s filled with more works of art than you can imagine.
Get ready to hold your chin and say “hmmm” as you peruse instillations by artist Jorge Pardo, as well as over 50 commissioned works displaced throughout the hotel’s public spaces. There are also pieces curated by the Indianapolis Museum of Art, including one by Madame C.J. Walker, the first self-made African American female millionaire and Indianapolis legend.
But what about that garage we mentioned?
Hotel Reviews / Hotel Openings / Design Hotels / Amsterdam Hotels / Netherlands Hotels / Free WiFi / Madonna / Luxury Hotels / Boutique Hotels / → All Tags
A Look-See Inside Amsterdam’s Swanky Conservatorium Hotel
Amsterdam is kickin’ ass and takin' names these days. It's just that simple. With the re-opening scheduled this year of the Rijksmuseum after a 10-year reno and the Van Gogh Museum after a much shorter reno, the 400th anniversary of the canals, and the re-opening of the Stedelijk modern art and design museum, the city’s hopping.
Hotels, it seems, have all been preparing for the buzz of 2013: the Hotel de l’Europe had major work done, the Andaz Amsterdam opened its doors, as did the Conservatorium Hotel. Earlier this week we also told you about the opening of The Waldorf Astoria expected in early 2014 so everyone's getting in on the act.
They say a picture speaks a thousand words so have a look at the Image Gallery to see what your next trip to Amsterdam might look like.
Glamping / Boutique Hotels / Brussels Hotels / Belgium Hotels / Design Hotels / Europe Hotels / → All Tags
Brussels' Vintage Hotel Wants You To "Glamp" In Their Front Yard
When we think of Brussels, we think about the European Union, beer and chocolate. Never had we thought of the city, although scenic and somewhat quirky with its love of surrealism, as the headquarters of cool. And then in 2009 along came the 29-room Vintage Hotel (a former home for the elderly), that's in a great location close to swish shopping street, Avenue Louise. Suddenly the "it" factor went way up.
Now, in 2012, the hotel’s added a symbol of pure 1950s Americana: a refurbed vintage 1958 Airstream trailer that has all of the mod-cons one expects.Yes, Brussels has discovered "glamping" !
We got a peek at this eccentric hotel and the Airstream Room (known as "Hazel") parked in the hotel’s courtyard. Hazel is outfitted with a double bed, shower and WC, a separate seating area, WiFi, a flat-screen TV and air conditioning. (BTW, it’s the only room at the hotel that’s air conditioned.)
Hotel News / Japan Hotels / Ritz-Carlton Hotels / Design Hotels / Hotel Openings / → All Tags
Modern Escape Meets History At The Ritz-Carlton Okinawa
It’s a year of anniversaries for The Ritz-Carlton in Japan: the group’s first hotel opened 15 years ago in Osaka, and five years ago Tokyo was added to the list. Just as celebrations are happening to mark both occasions, the urbanites that love these two city hotels have an alternative when looking for a weekend escape,The Ritz-Carlton, Okinawa, which opened this past Spring.
Okinawa prefecture consists of hundreds of the Ryuku islands, which stretch over an area of 620 miles south of Japan’s main islands all the way to Taiwan. Part of the Kise country club, The Ritz-Carlton raises the bar for luxury on Okinawa Island, adding a chance to play golf and hit up the spa to the area’s beaches and diving options.
Hotel Openings / Sydney Hotels / QT Hotels / Design Hotels / Australia Hotels / → All Tags
QT Sydney Opens To The Public...Kinda
Sydney is getting a fresh new design hotel and there's no time to waste if you want in on the deal at the new QT Sydney. The hotel is officially opening on the 17th, but they've been treating visitors to a sneak peak and discounted room rates since Tuesday.
Housed in the former Gowings Department Store and State Theatre, on the corner of George and Market Streets, the QT will be tickling the design senses for guests with 200 ultra-modern rooms, a lobby bar full of swank, a full-service restaurant and a namesake shop, QTique. Maintaining the vintage building's own design elements, the overall design is eclectic and full of funk.
Photo Gallery / London Hotels / Hotel Openings / Design Hotels / Hotel Rooftops / → All Tags
A Complete Look Inside London's South Place Hotel
We tempted you last week with the glassware drawer you’ll find in each of the bedrooms at London’s new South Place Hotel, and as promised we're following up with a full tour of this week-old property.
Mid-way between Liverpool Street and Moorgate, on the street from which it takes its name, this is the first hotel venture of restaurant group D&D London, as we learned when we first took some snaps of the construction earlier this summer.
Fun fact: Sit outside on the terrace on South Place and you’re in the City of London. Cross the threshold into restaurant 3 South Place and you’ve stepped into the borough of Islington. Just as the hotel straddles these two parts of London, it brings together a focus on art & design with plenty of opportunities to eat, drink & socialize.
