Tag: Hotel Renovations View All Tags
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The Hotel Ferrandi Is Dead, Long Live The, Um, 'BJ 2010'
Well here’s a way of getting our attention. The Hotel Ferrandi in Paris has closed for a rebuild, but lest you forget about it and fall for one of the establishments offering crazy deals all over the place, it’s making a bid for your attention by renaming the new hotel, BJ 2010.
Ok, it’s a codename for the rebuild project rather than a permanent moniker (at least, we sincerely hope), but still. The hotel’s blog says:
It’s our way of hiding the identity of the character who will be giving the hotel its new theme.
Er, whatever. We say it’s their way of getting our attention – and it’s worked.
Tags: Hotel Renovations / Boston Hotels / Marriott Hotels / Hotel Sportsbars / → All Tags
Marriott Copley Place Unveils Renovated Digs, Giant TV Screen
Hey, Red Sox fanatics: Looks like you might have a new favorite game day destination in Beantown (Fenway Park notwithstanding, obviously). As part of the Boston Marriott Copley Place’s $22-million, year-long renovations, the hotel has a new restaurant, Champions, that boasts “one of the largest HD projection screens in New England,” or so they claim.
Champions’ 12-by-24-foot screen seems poised to become one of the hottest places to watch the Sox, if you ask us. Especially since the resto also has more than 40 flat-panel TVs, a high-tech sound system, and 36 beers on tap.
But enough about Champions — that $22 million didn’t all go the jumbo screen. Copley Place also features a completely renovated first and second floor, with new front desk area and three new meeting rooms, the new Connexion Lounge, renovated health club and pool, and full makeover of all 47 suites.
Full renovations will be complete in early 2010 — guess we mean guests can still expect a little hammering in the meantime?
Tags: Checking In On / Hotel Renovations / Hotel Reopenings / Fairmont Hotels / London Hotels / Luxury Hotels / → All Tags
The Savoy Will Finally Reopen In April Or May Next Year
If it seems like years since The Savoy closed its doors for its £100m restoration, that’s because it, um, is. It closed in December 2007, and was supposed to reopen 16 months later, but of course, 16 months in hotel speak is double the length of normal human time.
But, hallelujah, it looks like we’re coming to the end of the process - Fairmont just announced that they expect it to reopen in Spring 2010. And when we quizzed them what counts as spring, they said April or May. Here’s hoping!
We’re not sure what’s taken all the time up, but they’re adding a new two-bedroom Royal Suite, "remodeling" the River Restaurant, "relaunching" the River Suites, and adding a new bar, the Beaufort, and a rooftop swimming pool. Dare we hope it’s an infinity pool overlooking the Thames?
Tags: Sweet Suites / Hotel Renovations / Surfer Hotels / Themed Hotel Rooms / Laguna Beach Hotels / → All Tags
Laguna's Casa del Camino Just Got a Whole Lot Cooler
On what ended up being a sunny, yet slightly overcast day in Laguna Beach, we had the opportunity to check out ten recently overhauled rooms at La Casa del Camino, a comfortable boutique hotel that lies just above the city's famed shoreline. And just in case you're wondering, no, we didn't run into any ex-cast member of a certain O.C. reality television show.
Anyways, we're of the "we have to see it to believe it" variety; almost daily we catch wind of the latest multi-million dollar renovation, but it takes an in-person visit to determine exactly what makes those new, meticulously chosen linens and architectural changes worth a guest's time and, sometimes, extra money.
Casa del Camino's Surf Project differs from your run-of-the-mill update for many reasons. Not one, but ten designers were paired up with ten quintessentially Orange County companies that represent the best of surf and skate culture, from Roxy to bikini line L*Space. When we first entered the hotel, its traditional Spanish architecture, soft, recessed lighting, and a familiar seaside bungalow ambiance belied the hypermodern changes that lay inside the ten rooms.
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The Greenbrier Resort Is Looking Sexy
Last week we shared the good news that West Virginia’s iconic Greenbrier Resort seems to be back on its feet — and freshly pedicured feet at that. But in addition to adding a new resto and coming-soon casino, C2 Limited Design Associates is injecting the resort with some mod accents.
Indeed, the ol’ Greenbrier is looking sexy — and not even in that Sean Connery distinguished sort of way. Check out the photos below.
Right on trend, the Greenbrier’s new lobby is awash in pink, gray, and black.
Yes, the old pink and white candy-striped awnings remain but those are a Greenbrier tradition.Tags: Hotel Renovations / W Hotels / Chicago Hotels / → All Tags
Inside the New Room at The W Chicago-City Center
Since the W considers itself the purveyor of cool, it makes sense that the chain would decide to redo the W Chicago-City Center. It was the first W hotel to come to the city in 2001 and it was looking a little shabby.
The $35 million makeover targeted the W Living Room, a.k.a. the lobby, and the hotel's 235 guestrooms and suites. What was hot back in '01, aside from 'N Sync, was dark decor with oversized furniture. The hotel tried to get away from that dated look throughout the hotel with bright, airy spaces.
Tags: Hotel Renovations / Arizona Hotels / Sedona Hotels / Hotel Anniversaries / → All Tags
L'Auberge de Sedona Gets a $25 Million Makeover for Turning 25
The grounds at L'Auberge de Sedona
Time, energy, and millions of dollars are often fed into resort overhauls to prove that they are bigger, better, and more luxe than their swanky competitors. The $25 million dollars that L'Auberge de Sedona invested into Phase One of their expansion project was a symbolic expense, meant to coincide with the property's 25th anniversary. And here, we thought that a sterling silver plaque would suffice.
Previously honored by Wine Spectator and Condé Nast Traveler, the message L'Auberge de Sedona seems to be sending with the renovation is, "The more frills, the better." Many of the lodgings are meant to be private mini-retreats, with 64 brand new cottages recently added to the grounds. At 1,200 square feet, with indoor and outdoor spaces, outdoor showers, and gas fireplaces, the phrase that comes to mind is "rental property," not weekend getaway.
With prices ranging in the $400-500 range for cottage accommodations, you're definitely paying a premium for all of those extras. However, there are rooms and Gardenside Cottages available at a comparatively more reasonable $200-300.
Tags: Hotel Renovations / Dominican Republic Hotels / Hotel Deals / Hotel Refurbs / → All Tags
Puntacana Celebrates 40th Anniversary With A Spruce-Up
We haven't quite reached our 40th birthday yet, but when we do, a bit of a renovation will probably be just what we need. That was the same thought the Puntacana Resort and Club in the Dominican Republic had. They're celebrating their 40th anniversary this year and have been having some major refurbishments done, which are due to be all tidied up by the end of this week.
The Puntacana Hotel has spruced up all of its 186 rooms. There are now flat screen TVs throughout, new paint and bedding, and it's looking nice and fresh.
Refurbished doesn't mean more expensive: they've still got some good deals going. If you book online at their website, you can pay from $96 for the "new" rooms including breakfast. There seem to be plenty of rooms available at the $96 rate, right through until December 18.
Tags: Hotel Renovations / Hotel Hell / Viceroy Hotels / Santa Monica Hotels / → All Tags
Viceroy Santa Monica Will Be Getting a Renovation
The other day we took a look at What's on The Block at the Viceroy Santa Monica, a happening hotel near the beach that is always giving us good enough excuses to get drunk on a random weekday.
But could it be that the guests are also partying too hard? A commenter on our story pointed us to his TripAdvisor review which showed an Empire Suite (about $640 a night) in seriously worn down condition. Cigarette burns in the carpet, wrecked furniture and low shower head pressure were some of the complaints.
Needless to say our commenter was pretty unhappy about having paid so much for just a so-so room. We were sort of shocked ourselves since we've stayed in a regular room not too long ago and the room, while definitely not brand, spanking new, it was in good condition.
We asked the hotel's rep if they could comment on the situation for us and they told us they would answer the TripAdvisor review instead. Here's what Caroline Dyal, Director of Hotel Operations, wrote:
Tags: Hotel Renovations / Germany Hotels / Radisson Blu Hotels / → All Tags
Sneak Peek at the Newly-Revamped Radisson Blu Hamburg
Design-minded travelers to Hamburg, Germany, will be happy to hear the Radisson Blu Hamburg reopens this week after a 48-million-euro makeover. Claiming the title of Hamburg’s biggest hotel, the hotel has 556 rooms and stands nearly 400 feet tall.
Thanks to the renovation, brand-new features include a 23,000-square-foot conference area/ballroom, freshened-up lobby with two lounges, two restaurants and bars, and a fitness center. Plus, the guestrooms have been re-imagined with individual themes.
The lobby now has white tile floors, black walls, and an under-lit reception area (see photo above — looks pretty good, dontchya think?). Think mod chandelier lighting and gold armchairs alongside Arne Jacobsen Egg chairs. Meanwhile, Swedish architect Christian Lundwall refreshed the guestrooms in three styles: natural (light colors, beechwood furniture); urban (modern aesthetic, oak furniture, Amtico flooring); and mansion (Turkish rugs, rosewood furniture, silver wardrobes). The rooms all have free Wi-Fi (yay!) and some have city views.
Tags: Hotel Renovations / Bonaire Hotels / Scuba Diving Hotels / → All Tags
Captain Don's Habitat in Bonaire Has Plans to Be Beautified
Back in August, we told you about our brush with sucky service at the Captain Don's Habitat in Bonaire, Netherland Antilles. The whole debacle left us feeling kinda icky, mostly because we really fell hard for the island of Bonaire, and well...for the most part, the situation could have been avoided.
But hang onto your swim fins, because there may be a happy ending to our scuba sob story. We just caught wind of some good (and completely unexpected) news regarding the long-time diving institution.
The folks at Captain Don's Habitat must've snapped out of 1973, because the rundown property is (gasp!) being updated and renovated. They're planning on purchasing new (desperately needed) bathroom fixtures and furniture later this month, which should arrive to the island sometime in March. Then, the first phase of renovations will get underway and construction of new suites will be completed.
Tags: Morgans Hotel Group / San Juan Hotels / Hotel Renovations / → All Tags
Morgans Hotel Group To Take Over San Juan Water and Beach Club
It's a San Juan-derful day! Ok lame puns aside there is some interesting news in San Juan, Puerto Rico today. First, we learned about the San Juan Marriott's YouTube Concierge and then a tipster pointed us to this press release that announced Morgans Hotel Group would be taking over the San Juan Water and Beach Club Hotel next week. The former managers were Desires Hotels.
The hotel will remain open as it undergoes renovations to transform it into a Morgans Hotel-branded property that will "boost travel and attract a more hip, rich and famous crowd." Our tipster wondered, "Rehab Puerto Rico?" Oh god, we hope not. Then again, we sort of hope so. It's a trainwreck we can't help but watch.
[Photo: San Juan Water Club's Facebook]
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