Tag: Hotel News
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What All Hotel Guests Should Know About Carbon Monoxide Poisoning
A tragic story emerged this week about the death of an 11-year-old boy due to carbon monoxide poisoning in his Best Western Plus hotel room. Unfortunately, it was made even more tragic when authorities revealed that the same exact room had been responsible for killing another two guests—also from carbon monoxide poisoning—back in April.
(TIME magazine's 'Hotel Horror' headline was pretty spot on, if you ask us.)
Tests confirmed an "elevated level of carbon monoxide in the room," and the hotel has been shut down for the time being—but the question that keeps circling in our head is: could we be susceptible to carbon monoxide poisoning in our hotel room, too? How would we even know if the levels were high? After all, carbon monoxide is deadlier than other gases because it can't be seen or smelled.
So, to ease our anxiety, we've done a little research that ought to help us (and you) sleep peacefully next time you check into a hotel room. Here are five facts about carbon monoxide poisoning all hotel guests should know:
Virgin Hotels / Hotel News / Chicago Hotels / Hotel Hype / Virgin Clubhouses / → All Tags
The Virgin Chicago Hotel Will Have a Rooftop Bar and a Virgin Clubhouse
We will soon be drinking way up there.
When we first heard there would be a Virgin Hotel opening in Chicago, we speculated about it having a rooftop pool. Well, that won't be happening but what will be happening is a rooftop bar and lounge.
We found this exciting bit of info on the website for Lionstone Development, the developers behind the hotel. We also got a look at a rendering for the entrance, although you should know that renderings don't always look like the finished product. Still we're digging those Virgin logos next to the front doors, not to mention what looks like an outside dining spot. (Update: Virgin Hotels said the rendering is not accurate and it will be removed from the Lionstone website.)
But most intriguing are the plans for a Virgin Clubhouse.
Hotel News / Hotel Openings / Thailand Hotels / Sports-Themed Hotels / → All Tags
Why Aren't U.S. Teams Sporting Their Own Hotels?
The Amari Buriram United football club will open a 60-room football-themed (soccer) hotel in Thailand later this year, aimed at increasing sports and leisure-related travel.
The rooms will overlook a mini-soccer field and a pool, and although details are a bit vague at the moment, it seems the bathrooms will be designed after a "player's changing room." Hopefully the sweat-soaked sock smell is not included! To further replicate the team-style amenities and way of life, the in-house restaurant will feature bench-style seating.
While we admit that parts of the concept sound hit or miss (aka the locker room bathrooms), this property seems poised to attract both casual and fanatic fans on a game weekend. Which makes us wonder: Are you surprised this concept hasn't caught on in the States yet? Couldn't you totally see Yankee Stadium with a 100-room hotel attached? Not just a Howard Johnson or a Holiday Inn close by -- we're talking an official Yankees Hotel. Or a Dallas Cowboys or Boston Red Sox establishment around the corner from the stadium?
Anantara Hotels / Hotel News / Hotel Openings / Vietnam Hotels / Hoi An Hotels / → All Tags
Anantara Brings Über Luxury To Hoi An, Vietnam
The second time's a charm when it comes to what Anantara Hotels have been up to in Vietnam. To be a bit more specific, the Central Coast town of Hoi An has been pinned as the resorts newest stunner.
Let's have a look at the location before we get into the property. Hoi An is one of the Vietnam's UNESCO World Heritage sites and is best known for it's colonial architecture, traditional handicrafts, vibrant art scene and romantic café culture. The city itself calls the banks of the Thu Ban River home and truly makes it part of the charm.
Anantara takes advantage of the colonial history by staking claim to a group of French, Dutch, Chinese and Japanese influenced buildings that house all of the 93 rooms and suites that feature killer river views and balcony day beds to relax in the warmth of SouthEast Asia. If hanging out in the plush digs is more your speed, each room is two-stories with an upper bedroom and bathroom, leading down to a lower lounge that opens onto it's porch. Yeah, this is luxury.
Hotel News / Hotel Openings / Boutique Hotels / Canada Hotels / Halifax Hotels / Free WiFi / Good Rate / Affordable Hotels / Le Germain Hotels / → All Tags
Our Favorite ALTernative Hotel Brand Sets Up Shop in Halifax
We mentioned last year that ALT Hotels, baby sister brand of the chic Le Germain Hotels, was planning a Canada-wide expansion. They started in Québec City, then Montréal's Quartier Dix30, at Toronto's Pearson International Airport and now? Halifax.
The 169-room ALT Hotel opened at the Halifax Stanfield International Airport on Monday and is the fourth ALT in Canada. The hotels combine good design and stylish interiors with a “no-frills found here” concept that works.
Resort Fees / Orlando Hotels / Orlando Hotel Guide / Hotel Fees / Hotel News / → All Tags
Near The Most Magical Place on Earth, You Will Find Resort Fees
School's out for summer and in Orlando that means the crowds are a-coming. If you're heading to Disney World, Sea World or Universal Studios during peak season (now-August), you know you are going to end up paying more than you'd like for everything from park admission to food and worst of all, souvenirs. You should also be prepared to read the fine print for your hotel stay as several hotels in the area charge the dreaded resort fees.
While not as prevalent as Las Vegas, Orlando does have a fair amount of hotels that charge additonal for services that used to be "free" like pool access and in-room safes.
Below we've rounded up the hotels that charge an all-encompassing resort fee (and not just separate fees for parking or shuttle services.) Some fees include internet and some do not. All of these are also taxable.
Know of a resort fee in Orlando? Tell us in comments!
Hotel News / TripAdvisor Reviews / → All Tags
Accor Exec Busted for Phony Reviews Raises the Question: Do You Trust TripAdvisor Anymore?
We let off some steam a few weeks ago, letting hotels know we think they should back off the throttle a little bit when it comes to their sometimes-annoying persistence in getting guests to give reviews on TripAdvisor.
Given the importance that is being placed upon online reviews these days, we can't really say we're surprised to hear the news that an Accor executive was recently exposed for posting more than 100 phony reviews of Accor-operated hotels on TripAdvisor under an alias. He/she also wrote fake reviews about competing hotels, and Accor has placed the unnamed employee on leave.
"The employee has taken a leave of absence whilst we investigate this situation further," Accor said in the statement. "We value the feedback online travel reviews and forums provide and will take whatever steps we can to ensure their credibility and transparency."
Hotel Ads / Westin Hotels / Hotel Trickery / Hotel Marketing / Hotel Trends / Hotel News / → All Tags
Hold Up, There are Now Ads on the Hotel's Bathroom Mirrors?
And we thought the mere possibility of hotels using our internet connections to advertise was scary. It could be way more offensive than that. Imagine waking up in the morning to brush your teeth and an ad greets you from that bathroom mirror? According to Arthur Frommer Online, that's what happened to one guest at the Westin Bonaventure Hotel & Suites in downtown Los Angeles. Frommer editor Jason Cochran writes;
L.A. is currently hosting E3, the Electronic Entertainment Expo, a huge trade conference in which all the major gaming systems jockey for attention. Apparently Microsoft's XBox thought it would pay Starwood Hotels' Westin to make sure its ads couldn't possibly be missed by its guests — and Westin agreed to sell mirror space to advertisers.
Is this a frontier too far for a hotel chain? I'd say yes. Perhaps the hotels have forgotten that we already pay them for rooms. This week standard rooms at the Westin Bonaventure are going for $350.
We have to agree, especially when you're paying upwards of $300 for a room. It actually feels criminal.
Tech Hotels / Brooklyn Hotels / Hotel Parties / Hotel Rooftops / Hotel News / Hotel Events / Hotel Tech / → All Tags
Hipsters and Nerds Are Battling It Out At The Wythe Hotel's First Ever 'Hackathon'
The other week, we were reading an article in New York mag about Brooklyn's Northside Festival, a neighborhood-wide music, movie, and tech festival that gets underway tomorrow. We mainly glossed over the parts about sponsorships and tickets sales and how it will be "unlike a traditional music festival," but one line in particular caught our eye, about a "hacker challenge" set to take place at the Wythe Hotel.
Not being hackers ourselves, but endlessly amused by the concept of them, we asked the hotel to elaborate a bit.
It turns out the Wythe will indeed be hosting a two-day technology conference (this Friday and Saturday), including an event called the "Hackathon," which is every bit as awesome as it sounds. According to the hotel:
"Essentially, Northside Next Festival hosting a panel/team building session at Wythe (in the screening room) on Friday night about the future of healthcare. Then, over the next 24 hours, members of the NYC hacking community will move to Third Ward [a nearby arts community center] and work to build apps to help people to engage with their healthcare in a more meaningful & regulated way."
Sound geeky enough for you? If hacking—or watching people hack—is your thing, then plan on moseying down to the Brooklyn hotel this weekend for a eyeful of keyboard-tapping and code-writing. We also recommend breaking up the day with a nice cold drink on the Wythe's sixth-floor rooftop bar. We have a feeling the crowds will be right up your alley.
[Photo: HotelChatter]
Four Points by Sheraton / Starwood Hotels / Business Traveler Hotels / Brian McGuinness / Hotel News / → All Tags
Four Points By Sheraton Aims to Be "The Best for Business" As It Expands Worldwide
Four Points by Sheraton has long won the hearts of travelers with their free WiFi and free bottled water, their affordable rates and their BestBrews beer program. Even its mother brand, Sheraton Hotels, seems to be taking cues from Four Points--offering free WiFi in the lobbies at most of its hotels and rolling out a brand-new wine-tasting hour called the Sheraton Social Hour.
Now, Four Points is about to hit a major growth spurt. The brand will celebrate its 175th hotel opening later this year and expects to hit 200 hotels by 2015 worldwide with a heavy push happening in Asia, India and the Middle East. And with this growth spurt, Four Points is highlighting some of its "best for business" amenities which ironically include doing away with the business centers.
Instead, Four Points is putting more emphasis on the guestrooms, creating a space where folks can get their work done yet also kick back and relax after a long business day.
"Our motto is 'Comfort isn't complicated,'" said Brian McGuinness, senior vice president of Starwood Hotel's specialty select brands. "There's no nickel and diming. The rate is the rate. There's free bottled water, free WiFi and comfortable, classic furniture."
And that WiFi will be seriously fast as McGuinness said that Four Points is implementing high-speed internet and bandwidth standards for its properties. "It's a utility," he said of WiFi. "And not just high-speed but a good quality." (Ed. note: Hallelujah! Can we get an AMEN? )
Hotel News / Hotel Construction / Manhattan Hotels / → All Tags
NYC Moving For a New Hotel Near Chinatown in 2015
Should we just create a “New NYC Hotel of the Day” category here at HC? It might be necessary at the rate these properties are rolling out.
A report from the Lower Manhattan Construction Command Center provides details on a new 20-story, 220-room hotel scheduled to open at 50 Bowery in Spring 2015. The high-rise hotel will be located south of Canal Street and near the entrance of the Manhattan Bridge.
We spoke to Peter Poon Architects (the firm behind the Grand Street Hotel and Hyatt Place) who told us the property, which is currently named "Hotel Bowery" (not to be confused with The Bowery Hotel) will be constructed after the demolition of two existing buildings. Problem is, the application to demolish 50-52 Bowery hasn't been approved and the tear-down process was supposed to begin last month. Seems there's a bit of resistance from the neighborhood to build at 50 Bowery, which has some rich history behind it as an 19th-century entertainment venue.
Once completed however, the foundation, which is scheduled to begin next summer, will be laid down for the hotel which is expected to span from Bowery to Elizabeth Street. For now, the area is one big eye-and-traffic sore.
[Photo:TheLowdownNY.com]
Miami Hotel Mambo / Convention Center Hotels / Rem Koolhaas / South Beach ACE / Miami Beach Square / Hotel News / → All Tags
Rem Koolhaas Wants to Build a Cool Hotel in Miami Beach
Miami Beach's hotel scene has been hot for quite some time now but with a renovation of the old Miami Beach Convention Center on deck, it could get some serious starchitecture as well.
Here's a look at the proposed 800-room hotel for the convention center cite from Rem Koolhaas's firm, OMA and what the hotel will entail:
· All 800 rooms will have private balconies
· The hotel's placement in the center of the 52-acre convention site gives it killer views in every direction, including west to downtown Miami and east out to the ocean.
· The pool deck will be oriented to the east with views of the ocean.
· A penthouse lounge will rise 194-feet off the ground with panoramic views
· The curved design references Miami Beach's historic Art Deco style.
The renovated convention center plan will feature not just the hotel but also retail outlets, a cultural center, 28 acres of park space and residential apartments.
