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Kelly Hoppen Goes Lux* In Mauritius

Where: Mauritius

A Hoppen-designed room

There are few excuses we need to dream of Mauritius. Mauritius + celeb designer redoing a hotel? Super-excuse.

So thanks to Kelly Hoppen for signing up as designer for the LUX* Belle Mare. Not familiar with the property? It was called the Beau Rivage until December, when its owners Naiade Resorts rebranded as LUX*Island Resorts (going for the Wallpaper crowd, anyone?).

The redesign will be fully unveiled in September this year (she's already done the Honeymoon Suites and Pool Villas), but according to the hotel, the inspiration will be “Island Light” – or rather, a “lighter, brighter interpretation of luxury”. Think neutrals with bright – and we’re talking bright - accents of turquoise, fuchsia, apple green, orange, purple and Chinese red.

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Old School Veuve Clicquot Estate Sheds WWI Damage for New School Makeover

Is that neon-lighting we see in the background?

Long operating hotels are working double time to keep up with their slick newer counterparts, undergoing minor facelifts or totally gutting their interiors to compete with fresh faced, showy young'uns. Truth be told, we often enjoy staying at places with a bit of time-worn character, but when a building's facade bears damage from World War I, even us history buffs think it's time for an extreme makeover.

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The Surfcomber to Officially Open as a Kimpton Hotel on December 1

Where: 1717 Collins Avenue [map], Miami Beach, FL, United States, 33139

While the opening status of some hotels in Miami Beach like the Edition and the Cipriani have us scratching our heads, there is one confirmed hotel "opening" coming soon--The Surfcomber Hotel on December 1. Ok, so the hotel has been open for a long time, but come December 1st, the hotel will officially turn into a Kimpton Hotel (previously, it was a Doubletree.)

The rebranding made news back in April but the hotel has since undergone a top to bottom renovation that has sought to combine "the eclectic style of European Bohemia with a down home American front porch appeal." The 186 rooms now feature Frette linens and Ero bath toiletries but the hotel's outdoor pool area and its direct beach access remain unchanged.

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Sneak a Peek at the Shelborne's Vesper Cafe & Brasserie

Where: 1801 Collins Ave [map], Miami Beach, FL, United States, 33139

As you can see from this shot we snapped yesterday, there's lots going on at the Shelborne Beach Resort. The hotel's renovations are under way, and according to hotelier Keith Menin, right on track for the hotel's big reopening on November 30.

Finishing touches were still being added to the guest rooms, so we can't show you those just yet but we can tell you that they are smart, light and beachy with tons of natural light and simple, modern spins on the classic Deco hotel room. As Menin himself says, the idea is to create "a great, beachy, fun hotel" that will appeal to all kinds of travelers.

A laidback beachfront, poolside eatery, Lucy's Cantina Royale will help spread this good cheer to anyone strolling by and will be a place where you can grab a $6 taco or two and not feel like you're being ripped off.

And for something a little more upscale that you can dress up for, there's Vesper's Cafe & Brasserie. Here's a sneak peek...

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Indoor Tailgating at the Hyatt Regency New Orleans

Where: 601 Loyola Avenue [map], New Orleans, LA, United States, 70113

It's no secret that the eatin' and drinkin' in New Orleans is out of this world. Also, on game days, there is tailgating aplenty around the Superdome—and, now it's reopened, the Hyatt Regency New Orleans. But inside? There's even more yumminess to be had.

Our gallery has a little visual sampling of what's on offer, and here are the important deets on where to eat in the hotel:

8 Block Kitchen & Bar: Named for the eight blocks of Upper Bourbon Street in the French Quarter, the Hyatt Regency NOLA's signature restaurant is helmed by executive chef Eric Damidot, who joined the hotel from Caesar's Palace in Vegas. His menu is farm-to-table driven and blends international foodie favorites with traditional New Orleans flavors. Breakfast options include Fried Oyster Eggs Benedict and Beignets. Lunch and dinner specialties include She Crab Soup, Rotisserie Coq au Coin Farm Chicken Gumbo, Garlic and Pepper Crusted Gulf Shrimp and a Muffaletta sandwich.

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Inside the Newly Reopened Hyatt Regency New Orleans

Where: 601 Loyola Avenue [map], New Orleans , LA, United States, 70113

We love a new hotel opening. But what's even more exciting is a hotel reopening—especially when it's one as symbolic as this. On October 19, the Hyatt Regency New Orleans finally threw open its doors again, after a four-year top-to-toe refurbishment.

The hotel was badly damaged during Hurricane Katrina—and a highly visible sign of the storm, situated right behind the Superdome. Its return has locals beaming with pride and it couldn't come at a better time, with tourists back in force in Nola, and a slew of big events on the way, including the BCS National Championship in 2012 and the Super Bowl in 2013.

We checked in over the weekend, when the hotel was abuzz with Saints fans who filled up a large percentage of the 1,193 guest rooms. Here's our first peek at the hotel and an Executive Suite room. We'll have more on the hotel and its public spaces later this week...

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Inside The Newly Reopened Hotel Bel-Air, LIVE!

Where: 701 Stone Canyon Road [map], Bel-Air, CA, United States

We have been waiting for over two long and torturous years to step inside the legendary Hotel Bel-Air since it closed down for renovations. But today, we don't have to fret about whether or not we will be plucked from the waitlist to experience the hotel's new glamorous look.

That's because the hotel has graciously invited us to take a property tour. And knowing that this is a pretty major hotel event for hotel geeks, we've decided to bring you along!

That's right, HotelChatter is live-blogging the reopening of the Hotel Bel-Air! So sit back, relax and enjoy the show! And yes, there will be swans!

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A Facelift and a New Identity as The Mountbatten Becomes the Mercer Street Hotel

Where: 20 Mercer St, London, United Kingdom, WC2H 9HD

A suite

We’d got so intense on all the latest London hotel openings that we’d forgotten about a re-opening: the Mercer Street Hotel, which officially reopens in Covent Garden tomorrow.

The property – just off the lovely Seven Dials – used to be called the Mountbatten, but £15m and a New York-y name change later, it’s the Mercer Street, a Radisson Edwardian property with 137 new bedrooms, free WiFi and Apple TVs in each room.

There are also eight suites, which come with views over Seven Dials (good), walk-in showers (better) and fridges painted with the Union Jack in the dressing room (amaze). Pics on the website of the hotel rooms are limited, but we have these pictures of the suites (if not the Union Jack fridges) and we're pretty happy with them.

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Hyatt New Orleans Still Set to Reopen October 19 at $239 a Night

Where: 601 Loyola Avenue [map], New Orleans, LA, United States, 70113

We've been waiting for the Hyatt Regency New Orleans to reopen for quite some time and the hotel, unlike many other hotels, is not keeping us waiting.

The hotel, which was damaged heavily by Hurricane Katrina (see these photos on MSNBC) is still going ahead with an October 19 reopening date to show off its $275 million redesign and restoration. Room rates are also holding steady at $239 a night for a queen bed, which hasn't changed since we last checked on it in May.

About the only gripe we have with this place now is that we just wish there were better photos up on the website but instead there are just renderings. We hope that changes soon.

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Why You Should Stay at The Hotel Bel-Air on Opening Night

UPDATE: The hotel is TOTALLY SOLD OUT for the first two weeks. Arrggh. There is a waitlist available and we suggest you get on it if you want to taste some Wolfgang Puck before the rest of the world. Fingers crossed someone drops out!

We can't believe this day is almost near. The Hotel Bel-Air, which closed two years ago for a massive renovation, will be reopening on October 14.

If you're one of the longtime fans of the hotel (and there are many) who can't wait to sleep inside the new rooms, then you probably already booked your reservation when they went online in June. But now there's another incentive for staying at the Hotel Bel-Air on opening night and that's exclusive access to Wolfgang Puck's new restaurant, The Wolfgang Puck at Hotel Bel-Air as well as the new bar and lobby lounge.

These spaces will open to the public on November 1st but hotel guests will be among the first to try them out for two weeks. Yay! We love special guest perks!

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The Park Hyatt Sydney Will Be More Luxe Than Ever When It Reopens Later This Year

Where: 7 Hickson Road, The Rocks, Sydney, Australia, NSW 2000

Floor-to-ceiling windows GALORE at the newly-reopened Park Hyatt Sydney

Luxe travelers to the Land Down Under were dealt a blow when the iconic Park Hyatt Sydney closed its doors almost a year ago for an Extreme Hotel Makeover. After being stripped and redesigned nearly from scratch, the hotel is set to open later this year and promises to be more extravagant than ever. With all of the major nips and tucks it's received, you'd swear it doesn't look a day over its 21-years.

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Hurrah! The NYLO Warwick is Reopening on Monday

Where: 400 Knight Street [map], Warwick, RI, United States, 02886

It took more than a year after much of the hotel was damaged during massive floods but finally, after extensive renovations, the NYLO Hotel in Warwick, Rhode Island will be open once again this Monday. Business Week reports:

Susan Shaw, the new general manager, said the 163-room hotel will open with between 35 and 40 employees, down from 60 at the time of the flood. It will add employees and should reach full capacity by early next year, she said. It will look much like it did before it closed. The restaurant will offer a new menu and have what Shaw described as a more "mellow" feel.

Heading to Warwick and want to give the NYLO some much-needed love? Glass king loft rooms start at $149 a night on Monday and yes, that includes free WiFi. Oh and a cute little toy!