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Hotel Fashion / Riviera Maya Hotels / Fairmont Hotels / Stephanie Johnson / Hotel Shopping / Hotel Giveaways / → All Tags

The Fairmont Mayakoba Inspired This Designer's New Line of Travel Accessories

Where: Carretera Federal Cancún- Playa del Carmen Km. 298, Playa Del Carmen, Quintana Roo, Mexico, 77710

Usually, when fashion designers get inspired by fancy hotels and resorts, it's bikinis they churn out. But in the case of designer Stephanie Johnson, what we get is a new range of travel accessories. And the hotel that took Johnson's fancy? The Fairmont Mayakoba, on Mexico's Riviera Maya.

We haven't stayed at this property but we've stayed at one next door that's on the same Mayakoba development of lush jungle rolling down to the ocean. Can't say we blame Johnson for getting inspired--it is indeed very pretty!

So is the new line of bags, which includes an iPad case and a few small cosmetics bags that double as cute clutches for a night out on the town—or on the beach at the resort's bar.

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Hotel Apps / California Hotels / Oregon Hotels / Washington Hotels / Hotel Giveaways / → All Tags

Pacific Coast Highway Hotels Get Their Own App

Ready to take your next West Coast road trip to the next level? Check out this $0.99 iPhone/iPad app by GuideGecko, which organizes over 200 hotels—by state—along the 1,250 mile journey from San Diego to Seattle. And for all you jet-setting winos, there is even a special category built for California Wine Country.

While travel guidebooks can certainly be helpful in providing local info, listings, and some photos, no 500-page Lonely Planet can ever become as fully integrated (or as lightweight) as an app like this. Want to call and check availability? You're already on your phone. Want to book online? Tap away. Got lost along the way? All of the maps can be accessed offline.

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Hotel Desserts / Hotel Giveaways / DoubleTree / Hilton / Colorado Hotels / → All Tags

Colorado Springs Getting A Taste Of DoubleTree's Cookies Today

Where: 1775 E Cheyenne Mountain Blvd [map], Colorado Springs, CO, United States, 80906

Remember that DoubleTree cookie tour we told you about in May? Since kicking off in New York, the dessert truck has made its way across nineteen states in the country, and today, they roll into downtown Colorado Springs, CO. We figured you could use a little pick-me-up to get you through the end of the week. And free cookies definitely have that uplifting quality to them!

For those who live in the area, prepare to get your cookie around 2:30pm this afternoon. The CAREavan will show up at the corner of Tejon St and Colorado Ave, about five miles north of the DoubleTree by Hilton Colorado Springs. Everyone is entitled to a free cookie—no singing or Cookie Man dancing necessary. Cookies will be available until 5:30pm, at which point you should go find yourself a proper meal.

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Hotel Giveaways / Hampton Hotels / Guy Fieri / Hotel Breakfasts / Hotel News / → All Tags

Hampton Inns and Guy Fieri Will Give Out Free Waffles and More in NYC on Thursday

Free waffles! How can you say no to free waffles? Well, if you're in New York City and willing to show up to Herald Square park at 6am this Thursday, then you could get more than just some free waffles, but rest assured that there will be waffles and they will be free until noon.

The waffle-a-thon is in celebration of Hampton Inns adding freshly-baked waffles to the breakfast choices at their 1,800+ nationwide hotel locations. And in addition to claiming your free waffles on Thursday, you'll also get to meet chef Guy Fieri and his son Hunter, who'll be passing out the waffles, and—if you're among the first 50 to show up and present their pdf Facebook invite (print it!)—you'll also get a prize pack including a waffle baker, waffle mix, Hampton apron and tote bag.

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Hotel Giveaways / Hotel Restaurants / Los Angeles Hotels / Kimpton Hotels / → All Tags

Hotel Palomar Westwood's BLVD 16 Will Buy You Lunch

Where: 10740 Wilshire Blvd. [map], Los Angeles, CA, United States, 90024

If you're bored of eating your usual PBJ sandwich for lunch, hightail it to the Hotel Palomar Los Angeles - Westwood. The hotel's BLVD 16 will give out free grab-and-go lunches on May 20 to the first 100 people who visit the restaurant.

The grab-and-go giveaway starts at 11:30 a.m., so take that lunch break a little early to claim your PBJ alternative. As part of the complimentary meal, you'll get a gourmet sandwich, chips and a beverage. The chef will choose the sammie, though there will be a meat option and a vegetarian one.

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Hotel Giveaways / SLS Hotels / Beverly Hills Hotels / → All Tags

SLS Hotel At Beverly Hills Is Giving Away Rooms For $1 To Lucky Clickers

...It's just saving you more money to spend on Rodeo Drive. Have you always wanted to stay in Beverly Hills? How about a hotel with a Phillipe Starck-designed interior, including a floating bed? Well, our "Best Hotel Opening 2008" winner, the SLS Hotel at Beverly Hills might make both those dreams come true, and for only $1.

The swank hotel, whose rooms begin around $270 per night, is keen to celebrate it's one-year anniversary with a blowout giveaway deal. For a lucky person who visits their Anniversary website, the SLS Hotel will randomly award two $1 Saturday night stays per week until November 30. Here's how to try and win...

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Hotel Giveaways / Hotel Openings / Orlando Hotels / → All Tags

Win a Free Night at the Soon-to-Open Hilton Orlando Bonnet Creek

Where: 14100 Bonnet Creek Resort Lane [map], Orlando, fl, United States, 32831

Earlier this month we reported that Hilton’s Bonnet Creek development is on schedule to open Oct. 1, and that Hilton Orlando Bonnet Creek — one half of the mammoth development — was offering a free night for its first 90 Facebook fans. Good news!

The hotel is making good on its promise to offer more specials exclusive to FB fans and has extended the free-night promotion. Between now and opening day, the hotel will periodically give away free nights to Facebook fans. Once you become a fan you’re automatically entered into the raffle. Free nights can be redeemed on stays Oct. 1 through Nov. 30.

Just make sure you check your Facebook inbox frequently, which is where you'll be notified if you're a winner. You’ll have seven days to claim your prize. And once you stay, be sure to send us photos and let us know how it goes!

Hotel Openings / Waldorf Astoria Collection / Hilton Hotels / Hotel Giveaways / → All Tags

Hilton's Massive Bonnet Creek Development Set to Open Oct. 1

Where: 14100 Bonnet Creek Resort Lane [map], Orlando, fl, United States, 32821

When the Waldorf Astoria Collection became just that — a collection of hotels, not merely one storied entity in Manhattan — Hilton tacked the brand onto a few already-standing properties that warranted an extra push of posh.

But scheduled for Oct. 1, the “first-ever newly built Waldorf Astoria outside of New York,” the 497-room Waldorf Astoria Orlando, will open for business alongside the new 1,000-room Hilton Orlando Bonnet Creek. Together the development is being described as Hilton’s largest project in history.

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Choice Hotels / Hotel Giveaways / → All Tags

Three Reasons to Crash at Choice Hotels This Summer

Road warriors, take note: Choice Hotels have rolled out a few extra perks for summer guests. Umbrella brand Choice Hotels harbors a well-stocked armory of budget hotel brands scattered throughout the U.S. and Canada — you know, the sorts of cheap-and-reliable spots that have long punctuated impromptu road trips and cross-country family vacays. Here are three more reasons to take the next highway exit and sleep over:

1. The Comfort Suites Golf Getaway Sweepstakes is doling out trips to golf destinations, with the top prize being an all-expenses paid trip for four to the 2009 Solheim Cup in Sugar Grove, Illinois. The prize includes roundtrip airfare for four, five nights hotel stay at a Comfort Suites hotel, four tickets to the Solheim Cup, 18 holes golf at a Chicago course, a set of PING golf clubs, two one-hour golf lessons by a pro, 30,000 Choice Privileges reward points, $1,000 cash and four Golf Free Play Certificates. Three runners up will win a scaled-down version of that trip. Travelers can enter the contest at choicehotels.com/golfgetaway through June 25.

2. Travelers who stay three separate stays at any qualifying Choice Hotels brand between May 21 and Aug. 13 can earn a free $50 prepaid cash card. Participating hotel brands are Comfort Inn, Comfort Suites, Quality, Sleep Inn, Clarion, Cambria Suites, and Ascend Collection.

3. Choice Hotels guests can also automatically earn a “double scoop” of Choice Privileges points on every qualifying stay (translation: any MainStay Suites, Suburban Extended Stay Hotel, Econo Lodge or Rodeway Inn hotel). This promo is good May 21 through Aug. 13.

Book rooms at choicehotels.com.

Hotel Giveaways / W Hotels / Hoboken Hotels / Hotel Openings / → All Tags

Get Your W Hoboken Goody Bags Tomorrow

Where: 225 River Street [map], Hoboken, NJ, United States, 07030

Hey, Hobokeners! Get ready to tell your NYC-dwelling coworkers to stuff it, because tomorrow you'll be getting presents from W Hotels and they won't. To hype up the imminent arrival of the W Hoboken to the North New Jersey scene, W Hotels "talent" will be stationed at the Hoboken PATH station during the peak morning and evening rush hours with goodie bags they're calling "PATH packs."

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Art Basel / Miami Hotel Mambo / W Hotels / Hotel Giveaways / → All Tags

W Models in Hummer Golf Carts Will Be Asking "What's Your Wish?"

Where: 2201 Collins Ave [map], Miami Beach, fl, United States, 33139

That might be the most randomest headline we have ever written but hey its Art Basel Time in Miami Beach--anything goes!

As a way to promote the upcoming (soon, hopefully) W South Beach Hotel models will be riding around Miami Beach in mini-golf-cart-sized Hummers with a Wish Wheel allowing people to spin and win a Wish Card. This is all a part of the W Hotels' "What's Your Wish?" Campaign. Prizes on the Wish Wheel include product discounts at W South Beach's Bliss Spa, complimentary cocktails at Serafina or Mr. Chow inside the hotel, and VIP poolside service.

How to flag down the Wish Wheel? It's simple:

The Wish Wheel will be attached to the back of the vehicle and the models will be stopping frequently and encouraging passer-by’s to spin the wheel and win their Ooh, Aah or Mmm Wish depending on where their spin lands. Winners can then visit Whotels.com/sobewish or text their wish code for details about their prize and to find more fun and exciting information on the exclusive world of Wonderlust at W South Beach.

An added bonus for Project Runway fans? The models will be wearing outfits designed by Season 3 fave (and lover of all animal prints) Uli Herzner.

The models will be cruising today around the Container Village (the area surrounding 23rd and Collins) and tomorrow in the Design District from 3 to 7pm.

If you spin on the Wish Wheel, you MUST email us and let us know what you got. Photos too are always good!

Hotel Videos / Hotel Giveaways / Hotel News / Starwood Hotels / Intercontinental Hotels / → All Tags

Make a Video of Your Hotel Experience and Get a Free Stay...Maybe

Guess what? Next time you shoot a quick video of your hotel room and then send it into the vast expanses of the interwebs, you might score a free stay at that hotel! Also, next time you buy a lottery ticket you might win the lottery. But we digress.

According to USA Today, the video = free stay thing can happen:

Aaron Schwartz, an executive recruiter in Fairfax, Va., wanted a nice memento of his vacation in Aruba. Using his video camera, he filmed his stay at the Marriott Renaissance Ocean Suites last June -- shots of the beautiful beach, flamingos along the water. He uploaded the video to his MySpace page and YouTube.

He then received a call from the resort's general manager, who liked the video so much that he offered Schwartz a free seven-day stay."

So, turns out, hotels are watching your videos in an effort to monitor their online images (smart!) and even going as far as to reward amateur media-makers for helping their brands look pretty.

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