HotelChatter

DoubleTree Hotels / Hotel News / London Hotels / Mint Hotels / Hotel Takeovers / Hotel Amenities / → All Tags

DoubleTree Cookies Plus Mint Hotel iMacs Equals Fun In London

Where: Pepys Street , London, United Kingdom, EC3N 4AF

Exactly one year since Mint Hotel Tower of London debuted its jaw-dropping panoramic Sky Lounge, the dreaded Hilton DoubleTree takeover that we announced back in September has finally come to pass. The hotel is now known as the DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel London- Tower of London (bit of a mouthful, eh?)—and this is just one out of eight Mint hotels across the UK and the Netherlands that DoubleTree plans to re-brand over the coming year.

Second up is the Mint Hotel London Westminster, which is now the DoubleTree by Hilton London- Westminster.

But things aren't looking so bad! Aside from their newly-extended tongue-twisty names, both hotels will get to hang onto the the design elements and amenities that guests have become accustomed to over the past year—like the Sky Lounge, the Living Wall, floor-to-ceiling windows, and the in-room iMacs (phew!) Hilton will extend its HHonors program to both of the Thames-facing hotels, making London stays even more attractive to repeat Hilton guests. And the cookie? Well, we don't mind if we do...

more ›

Hotel Hell / Miami Hotel Mambo / Hotel Balconies / Hotel Takeovers / → All Tags

The Gansevoort Miami Beach is Neglecting Some of Its Hotel Rooms

Where: 2377 Collins Ave [map], Miami Beach, FL, United States, 33139

The Gansevoort Miami Beach underwent some managerial woes nearly two years ago and it looks like the scuffle has started to affect the hotel rooms.

A HotelChatter reader sent us this note along with the following photos about the sad state of the rooms, particularly room 536. They write:

I just got back from the Gansevoort in Miami Beach. After some research, I found your article which may explain why our rooms were in such sad shape. While the public areas of the hotel are beautiful, the room seemed to be one of the forgotten ones. The balcony was pretty shoddy looking (see photos), a handle to the shower controls was constantly falling off. One of the electrical sockets didn't work. The phone was broken, and the coffee maker didn't work. There's more, but no need to go any further.

more ›

Edition Waikiki Lawsuit / Hotel Takeovers / Aqua Hotels Hawaii / Edition Hotels / Marriott Hotels / Hotel Employees / Honolulu Hotels / → All Tags

It Turns Out The Edition Waikiki Was 'Just a Job' to Some

We all had a three-day weekend thanks to the Labor Day holiday but down at the Waikiki Edition (or Edition Waikiki or Modern Honolulu, whatever team/side you're on), the employees were still working--both to serve guests and to fight against their new bosses, Aqua Hotels and Resorts.

As far as we know, Aqua is still running the hotel as the Modern Honolulu and Marriott is begrudgingly respecting the hotel owners, M Waikiki's recent bankruptcy filing. In the meantime, Marriott plans to sue M Waikiki up the wazoo, or for tens of millions of dollars in damages for breaking the management contract. As for the guests, Marriott is now urging them to call the Marriott reservations center and make reservations at other nearby Marriott hotels.

On the bright side, even though there are miserable employees on the property, the booze is free. The hotel is no longer selling alcoholic drinks because it needs to apply for a new liquor license in Aqua's name as the old one belonged to Marriott. That sounds crappy but reports say they are giving away the alcohol. Whee!!

Now onward with the next chapter in this story..

more ›

Edition Waikiki Lawsuit / Aqua Hotels / Hotel Takeovers / Honolulu Hotels / Marriott Hotels / Hotel News / Hotel Employees / Hotel Woes / → All Tags

Here's The Latest Edition on The Waikiki Edition

The takeover and the takeback of the Waikiki Editionis moving so fast that we're finding it hard to keep up with all the developments especially as we're attending a work conference in Vegas (for realz! and we are actually sober!) So we're sitting here trying to recap all that we can as we get the time. Fortunately, it's only 12:30pm in Hawaii right now so we're not too late!

First off BANKRUPTCY! M Waikiki LLC has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection today. No doubt they blame Marriott for their financial woes but the filing also prevents Marriott from filing any countersuits against them. Tricky! Marriott, meanwhile, has called the move "desperate." As it stands right now, the hotel is now an Aqua Hotels and Resorts-run place called The Modern Honolulu. But given the craziness of the past few days, who knows how long that will last.

more ›

Edition Waikiki Lawsuit / Edition Hotels / Aqua Hotels Hawaii / Hotel Lawsuits / Hotel Employees / Hotel Takeovers / → All Tags

The Waikiki is Now The Waikiki Edition Once Again (But For How Long?)

Some late-breaking news yesterday--a New York judge has ordered M Waikiki LLC, the owners of the The Waikiki Edition who dumped the brand in favor of The Modern Honolulu, to reinstall the Edition team which is owned by Marriott Hotels.

The Wall Street Journal reports:

On Wednesday, a New York state judge issued a temporary restraining order and preliminary injunction that stated that Marriott should be allowed to return to its management role at the hotel by 2:30 p.m. local time, replacing Aqua Hotels & Resorts, the management company installed by the owners on Sunday, according to a copy of the judge's order.

But despite the ruling, the WSJ said that by late Wednesday Aqua was still in place and that a bunch of Marriott executives had arrived but then later left the hotel.

Still Marriott says they are accepting reservations for the hotel through Marriott.com and over the phone as well as through "numerous online and other travel providers." (Also of note; anyone who booked a spa deal through PlayHawaii.com are welcome back as well.) But will it still be a Marriott/Edition hotel when you get there? That remains to be seen.

more ›

Hilton Hotels / Political Hotels / Hotel Takeovers / Venezuela Hotels / Hotel News / → All Tags

Chavez Not Happy With Hilton; Installs Himself At Front Desk

We’re familiar with the feeling of loving a hotel so much we’d like to move in and make it our home. And when we’re unhappy with a room or the service at a hotel we might make a complaint, leave, and remember not to return unless the situation improved. But that’s us. Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez has a different strategy. If he doesn’t like the hotel, he has his government take it over. (Now, why didn’t we think of that?)

Earlier this week, Chavez used a presidential decree to acquire the Hilton hotel on Margarita Island. Was he unhappy with the presidential suite? Not keen on the room service? No, as this report puts it, Chavez was unhappy with Hilton for being “cheeky.”

more ›