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Hotel News Briefs
W Hollywood Tops Out And Throws A Rooftop Party
December 4, 2008 at 5:10 PM | 1 Comment
There's tons of hotel news flying around this week and we don't have time to give each and every story the love and attention it may deserve, so you will have to settle for some news briefs.
· W Hollywood is Up: The W Hollywood celebrated the completion of their vertical construction with a rooftop bash. We can expect a HUGE party when the whole hotel is finished in November 2009. [Curbed LA]
· Munich Prison to Become Hotel Social Project: An old women's prison in Munich is set to become a 4-star hotel to be run by at-risk teens. Yup. [TheLocal]
· Scariest Hotel Concept Ever: A Russian architecture firm has designed a futuristic hotel concept called Aerotel, which looks a bit like the most terrifying jellyfish you've ever seen ... crossed with an angry spaceship floating above water. [DeviceDaily]
· Hilton San Diego Bayfront Now Open: After a bit of a rocky construction period, the Hilton San Diego Bayfront opens its doors today. Yay!
[Photo: Curbed LA]
Sneak Peek
The First Look at the Standard NYC's Lobby and Entrance
December 4, 2008 at 2:17 PM | 0 Comments
Damn, there's no chicquarium! Check out this exclusive snap of the newly-finished lobby of the notorious hotel construction site, The Standard New York. While there seems to be plenty of stonework—check out the marble at reception, the slate floors and hardcore building blocks back behind the screens—there is a serious lack of color. We only hope this will be remedied with furniture and lighting tricks to bring about needed visual interest.
Thompson Hotels
Smyth Tribeca Opening in January
December 3, 2008 at 2:37 PM | 1 Comment
A king superior room at the hotel.
We blame it on the Turkey Dinner. Last Monday, we heard from Thompson Hotels that Smyth Tribeca would be opening in January. And our mouths literally dropped open. But they insisted that it was true. So it was either the turkey we ate two days later or the sheer idea of this hotel opening in January that caused us entirely to forget about it.
But NewYorkology did not. According to the hotel's own website, rooms will be opening on January 6th starting at $205 a night. Here is the room description:
Our Queen Superior room measures 260 sq ft and features a queen bed with custom made 400 thread count SFERRA linens and is decorated in a contemporary design with vintage wine accent colors, rich walnut paneling and furniture, polished chrome light fixtures and features a sleek stainless steel desk. The full marble bathroom is lavishly designed with rain showerheads, luxurious fixtures, a centerpiece floating sink and features a floor-to-ceiling translucent glass shower wall that discreetly separates it from the bedroom.
Oh god. We loved the rainshower at Thompson LES. We sincerely hope it's the same one.
A Jour Et Nuit ("Day and Night") restaurant will be opening inside, although we're not sure when. You know how Thompson likes to open piece by piece. Rounding out the rest of the hotel are killer suites, 24-hour room service, a bar and lounge and presumably a fitness center. You can bet we'll be there opening night.
Hotel News Briefs
Encore Las Vegas is Coming!
December 2, 2008 at 4:25 PM | 2 Comments
There's tons of hotel news flying around this week and we don't have time to give each and every story the love and attention it may deserve, so you will have to settle for some news briefs.
· Wynn's Encore Opening Soon: In our last story about the rooms for CES in Las Vegas we noticed that the Encore Las Vegas would be open during the convention. We just wanted to remind you that Encore will be officially opening on Dec. 22nd. [Official Site]
· Plaxico Burress Shoots Himself in a Hotel Nightclub: We all know that NY Giants receiver Plaxico Burress shot himself in the leg over the weekend. But did you know the nightclub where it went down was in a hotel? In a Radisson Hotel ?? [Jaunted]
· Rock Island Casino-Hotel Opens: A new $150 million casino and hotel complex has opened in Illinois, called Jumer's Casino Rock Island. [Chicago Tribune]
· How to Survive a Terrorist Attack On Your Hotel: This author has stayed (at one point or another) in four hotels that have now been attacked by terrorists. Here are his tips for picking safe hotels. [The Atlantic]
· Cambria Suites Opens 10th Hotel: Cambria Suites just opened their 10th hotel in Raleigh Durham today. Not bad for a brand that's only one-year old. [MarketWatch]
· More Hotel Woes: 200 workers at the Rio Mar Beach Resort & Spa in Puerto Rico, a Wyndham property, were laid off. [Newsday]
Hotel Opening Rates
Hilton San Diego Bayfront Announces $139 Rates
December 2, 2008 at 9:14 AM | 0 Comments
We first gave you a sneak peak at the lobby and exterior of the Hilton San Diego Bayfront last week and it looks like you'll be able to see (and stay in) the finished rooms pretty soon: the hotel is totally on track for its scheduled December 3rd soft opening.
When it does get up and running, the room rates aren't going to be bad at all (heads up, East Coasters looking to flee the freezing temperatures and tourist frenzy happening in the colder big cities). The new waterfront hotel is offering a $139 per night "room preview" rate so you can sink into the never-before-slept-in beds (our fave) and check out the design of the place — and report back on the design, please. While one PR tipster described the look and feel of the lobby area in a pretty cool way (artwork that “moves like waves in the ocean"), HC commenter HotelMonster, who worked with the hotel, says the hotel's design is "so-so".
Also, for an extra twenty bucks you can get yourself the package with all the extras bundled in: the $159 package rate includes a standard room, in-room internet access, health club access and breakfast for two at the hotel's restaurant.
But get on it — the preview rates are valid for December only!
Miami Hotel Mambo
Three Hot Hotels Still Opening This Month in Miami
December 1, 2008 at 1:38 PM | 1 Comment
Today was supposed to be a day of reckoning--hotel opening-style--in Miami but it's been kind of a bust so far. Here's an update on three hotels set to open this month in Miami--two of which were to open today.
1. MONDRIAN SOUTH BEACH:
The word on the street is that the hotel is officially open today. The hotel is also hosting a party on Wednesday for its designer Marcel Wanders and will be hosting more events later in the week as Art Basel reaches its art collecting and partying peak.
Yet we were still unable to make reservations online. And when we called the phone number for the hotel listed on the website early today, we got a recorded message. It was not from the front desk. Plus, over the weekend we got a message from this tipster:
When I called Morgan's Hotel Group reservations I was told the Mondrian is not available for Art Basel, but the Delano is. I took that to mean the Mondrian was completely booked, but instead maybe the hotel doesn't want to book all the rooms. I know complementary rooms were given away, so maybe it's a soft opening.
Hmmm...We think it's safe to conclude the Mondrian is definitely open. But for regular guests to make bookings, we say give it another week after the Art Basel hub-bub dies down.
Hotel Openings
The "Dreamy" Lorien Hotel From Kimpton is Opening in February
December 1, 2008 at 11:25 AM | 1 Comment
We’ve heard whispers about the new Kimpton hotel coming soon to the Washington, D.C., area, but we’ve now received official word (and an opening date!): the $50-million Lorien Hotel & Spa is set to open Feb. 12, 2009, in Old Town Alexandria, Virginia.
Marketed as Kimpton’s “crown jewel” in the Washington metro area, the 107-room hotel will reportedly “celebrate the story of dreams.” That means perks like a 24-hour “dream” button on guestroom phones, which goes straight to the concierge who can help coordinate the guest’s every happiness, apparently. Plus, a “Dream Service Menu” features comfort foods as well as bath, aromatherapy, and pillow options available via room service.
Hotel Openings
Here's Hoping the Mondrian South Beach Opens Next Week
November 25, 2008 at 2:01 PM | 1 Comment
Oh noes! Is the Mondrian South Beach going to be open next week? The hotel has said it would be opening Dec. 1st with rooms going for a killer introductory rate of $195 a night. Yet when we tried some dates online, nothing was available. The website was also giving us a "minimum requirement of three nights" message as well.
We know that Art Basel is swinging into town very shortly but there were rooms open at the sister properties--The Shore Club and The Delano. Hmm....We hope this place is still opening on time, the wait is killing us!
Have you been able to book at room at the Mondrian Miami? If so, let us know in comments below.
Hotel Services
"Sand Valets" Available Via Walkie-Talkie at New Laguna Beach Hotel
November 25, 2008 at 12:23 PM | 3 Comments
Seven4One opened quietly in Laguna Beach back in August, and we've been hearing enough buzz about the small eco-conscious boutique hotel that we got over our aversion to the somewhat-obnoxious name and headed over to the website to check the place out.
Prepared for yet another pretentiously green-ified swanky boutique hotel, we were pleasantly surprised that the emphasis was on serious service more than anything else. And we also found out that the name has something to do with the hotel's street address, not an area code or anything.
Oh! And they've got some pretty cool staffers, too: a GEM (Guest Experience Manager) is a concierge, a butler and a personal Assistant rolled into one; they greet each guest upon arrival and serve as the main point of contact for the duration of your stay. Well, unless you're on the beach, that is — in which case you're waited on by a Sand Valet, whom you contact via walkie-talkie to bring over a complimentary iPod (not for keeps), food, a refreshing water mist, or to align your beach chair for optimum sun exposure (seriously).
Sneak Peek
A First Look at The Hotel Shangri-La in Santa Monica
November 24, 2008 at 2:45 PM | 0 Comments
We stopped by Hotel Shangri-La over the weekend to check on the progress. While things are still looking a bit (a lot) construction-y, we believe them when they say Dec. 1. Well, a Dec. 1 soft opening. The first few floors of rooms will be open offering deluxe ocean view rooms and one bedroom suites.
The lobby looks unfinished, but we walked in it and it is really, really almost done. We promise. It's just covered in plastic for protection.
Ascend Hotels
Gem Hotel "Soho" Also Now Open
November 24, 2008 at 9:35 AM | 0 Comments
A few weeks ago one of the first Ascend Hotels opened in New York City--the Gem Hotel in Chelsea. If you remember, Ascend is the new Clarion Collection from Choice Hotels. And today we also walked by another Gem Hotel--this time in the Lower East Side.
Despite the hotel's location on Houston Street and Eldridge (which is clearly LES turf), the hotel's name is listed as Soho. Hmm...not quite. But you are just two short blocks away from the massive Whole Foods store.
Just like the Chelsea location, rooms here look small with nothing in it aside from a massive white fluffy-looking bed and a flat-screen TV. Sometimes, that's all you need. Rates were going for tonight at $189 a night which is not bad. Except we paid $170 a night for our room at Thompson LES.
Sneak Peek
First Look at the Hilton San Diego Bayfront
November 21, 2008 at 9:05 AM | 2 Comments
Despite a serious blast in May that disrupted construction, the Hilton San Diego Bayfront appears to have bounced back and will have a soft opening Dec. 3, just as scheduled. That’s soon, people! And lucky for all of us, a friendly insider has sent us some photos of the lobby and exterior.
First, the exterior: Designed by Portman & Associates, the shiny new glass high-rise punctuates the San Diego skyline with the look of, well, pretty much every other Hilton we’ve ever seen, honestly.
But! The lobby is where it gets interesting. In addition to having a bunch of guest check-in counters for speedy service, hanging from the wall is a huge chandelier-like artwork made up of tiny links of stainless steel mesh. When the sea breeze swoops in, the piece “moves like waves in the ocean,” says our PR tipster. And it has various colors of changing lights that shine through the lobby at different parts of the day to reflect sunrise and sunset.
We can’t totally picture what they’re talking about with the lights, but it sounds sorta trippy in a fun way.
