Tag: Le Meridien Hotels

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5 Essential Facts About Le Meridien's New "Hub" Concept

June 29, 2011 at 9:30 AM | by | Comments (0)

It was a jumble of funny-sounding European accents last week at the unveiling of Le Meridien's new Hub concept—a campaign that is set to transform all of Le Meridien's 130 international hotels into one unified "design-led contemporary brand." MC-ing the event were Austrian-born Eva Ziegler (Global Brand Leader for both W Hotels and Le Meridien) and French-born Jerome Sans, the appointed Cultural Curator. We think Sans put it best when he described the goal of The Hub as "a way to grow your brain."

The evolution of The Hub's slightly highbrow bent can be traced back to the hotel's interest in cultivating a "creative class" as well as the launch of their key-card-souvenir program, Unlock Art. Both of these elements play into The Hub. But now, with its first manifestation at Le Meridien Barcelona, we really begin to see what The Hub—in all its rainbow glory—is all about.

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What is Le Meridien's 'Creative Class' and Do You Belong?

April 21, 2011 at 5:02 PM | by | Comments (0)

The other week we got hotel key card collectors in a tizzy over the UNLOCK Art key cards from Le Meridien Hotels which not only open the hotel rooms to guests but also gives them complimentary access to art museums and cultural centers near by.

This is just one of the ways that Le Meridien has been reaching out to what they call the "Creative Class." But what exactly is the Creative Class and who would feel most at home at a Le Meridien hotel? We put forth these questions and more to Carlos Becil, vice president of North American brand management for Le Meridien. Check out what he has to say about Le Meridien's artist roots, the signature LM01 scent and the brand's plans for "creative hubs" in the lobbies in our Q&A below.

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Another Reason to Collect Hotel Key Cards: Le Meridien's Unlock Art Program

April 11, 2011 at 4:08 PM | by | Comments (0)

We're already big fans of Hotel Art here at HotelChatter but now Le Meridien Hotels are giving us a way to explore our appreciate for art a bit further with their UNLOCK Art program.

Several Le Meridien hotels have partnered up with local contemporary art institutions and exhibitions to offer guests complimentary access simply by using their hotel key cards. Really, that's it. You present your key card at the museum and voila, you're in.

The program is currrently in place at the Le Meridien San Francisco which gives access to the Yerba Buena Centre for the Arts as well as the Le Meridien Philadelphia (The Institute of Contemporary Art in Philadelphia), the Le Meridien Nice (The MAMAC in Nice) and the Le Meridien London with access to the Tate, along with a few other Le Meridiens worldwide.

Yet Le Meridien can't have its guests presenting boring old key cards at these art institutions. No, no, no. Instead Le Meridien's Global Cultural Curator (actual job title), Jérôme Sans, handpicks artists to design the special key cards.

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Espresso and Taipei 101 From the Le Meridien Taipei

Go To The Hotel's Web 
  Site Where: 38 SongRen Road, Taipei, Taiwan, 110
April 8, 2011 at 12:01 PM | by | Comments (0)

We are suckers for a room with a killer view. We find that we are even more likely to forgive some minor hotel inconveniences if we can stare out the window at something pretty--yeah we are that shallow. Let's help out our fellow hotel mavens by uploading rooms with killer views to the HotelChatter/Flickr photo pool, or by sending the photo along to us. We will feature our favorites in this space from time to time. Remember to tell us the name of the hotel and the room number of the hot view.

The window might be a touch dirty but we're loving this arty shot of the Taipei 101 Skyscraper from the Le Meridien Taipei. HotelChatter Flickr member Ken Lee dropped in this shot back in December and while not as shiny and new as the W Taipei which opened in February, the Le Meridien did just open last year. So it's got all the important shiny and new amenities we like such as flat-screen TVs, rain showers, separate bathtubs, white leather ergonomic desk chairs and Nespresso machines--hence the espresso cup.

Rooms are predictably modern and muted but totally affordable at around 6,900 TWD a night, or $237.

[Photo: Ken Lee]

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Le Parker Meridien Offers A Four-Hour Quickie Package

Go To The Hotel's Web 
  Site Where: 118 W 57th St. [map], New York, NY, United States, 10019
February 8, 2011 at 2:01 PM | by | Comment (1)

You probably won't be watching Laurel and Hardy

It's the grossest hotel promo of the month—or so we hope! In a collab with Urban Daddy, Midtown Manhattan's Le Parker Meridien is offering an "afternoon tryst" package for adulterers, office Casanovas, and assorted other bros who don't find the idea of paying hourly rates for a hotel completely repellent. The details?

You’ll have access to a Park View room from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., where you’ll be free to indulge in whatever consensual indoor activities you desire. Or you can upgrade so your room includes champagne, strawberries with whipped cream and an on-demand adult film of your choice.

The room-only rate is $150, while the upgrade is $250. Which seems a lot for some bubbly and a skin flick.

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Blazing Hot Deal on Le Meridien's Flagship Paris Hotel

Go To The Hotel's Web 
  Site Where: 81 Boulevard Gouvion Saint-cyr, Paris, France, 75848
February 4, 2011 at 3:00 PM | by | Comments (0)

Enough with the twee Paris boutique hotels we've been going on about all week! The monumental Le Meridien Etoile, which at 1,025 rooms is a shade bigger than the world's largest J.W. Marriott, has just popped up on Travelzoo with a remarkably low rate for a four-star Parisian property: €102 ($139) a night. That's more than 50 percent off the usual €299 rates. You also get a 10 percent discount at famed department store Galeries Lafayette.

But don't let the low, low rate make you think this is a fusty old convention center bore. These rooms are straight out of Blade Runner, with hard angles, gleaming surfaces and a lobby that reminds us of the space station in 2001.

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The Newly Renovated Le Méridien Tahiti Is Ready for Beach Bums

January 27, 2011 at 9:31 AM | by | Comments (0)

Tahiti's insanely beautiful beaches will make you want to sleep on the shore. But in case you don't want to wake up with sand in your pajamas, check out the newly renovated Le Méridien Tahiti.

The lagoon- and panoramic-view rooms and suites are decked out with contemporary neutral-colored furniture and linens, hardwood floors and bamboo accents. They also have some subtle Polynesian touches, like surfboard-shaped tables and lights made with tapa cloth.

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Le Parker Meridien Has Gingerbread, Not Burgers, On Its Mind These Days

Go To The Hotel's Web 
  Site Where: 119 W 56th St [map], New York, NY, United States, 10019
November 18, 2010 at 3:05 PM | by | Comments (0)

Hotels are getting in a holiday mood! Usually around this time, we spotlight all the delicious holiday cocktails that hotels concoct for the season. Don't worry, we're not giving up the booze but we are keeping tabs on all the wonderful, wild, and in some cases, weird Holiday Hotel Decorations that hotels put up this year. Seen some great holiday decor in a hotel recently? Send us a snapshot!

When the holidays hit New York City, it's a veritable rat race to see which restaurant, cafe, or bar can spread the most cheer. And nothing is getting us more excited than the upcoming gingerbread-themed menu at Le Parker Meridien's gothic espresso bar, Knave.

Launching early next month, the "Winter Treats" menu consists of nine items, including a poached pear and ginger tart ($8), a gingerbread hazelnut affogato (espresso, gingerbread syrup, ice cream, frangelico, $8) and a pumpkin spice martini ($16), which can all be enjoyed under the bar's dramatic chandeliers and cathedral ceilings. Not bad for a hotel mainly known for its cheeseburgers!

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Even the Dalai Lama Can't Resist a Good Hotel Party

Go To The Hotel's Web 
  Site Where: Raja Bahadur Mill Road, Pune, India, 411001
October 13, 2010 at 10:04 AM | by | Comments (0)

There's no question that the Dalai Lama is a modern man complete with his own website, webcasts and personal treadmill setup. And don't forget, he Twitters! So it's not that surprising to see him out and about at a hotel party in Pune, India. Still, we think it's rather cool.

His Holiness showed up at the Le Meridien Hotel after attending the World Peace Festival.

All the members of the staff were extremely excited to have The Dalai Lama at the hotel. His Holiness was received at the entrance by Jaswinder Narang, General Manager of Hotel Le Meridien, and felicitated the spiritual guru by garlanding Him. Jaswinder Narang then personally escorted His Holiness to his suite.

Despite the suite accommodations, the Dalai Lama actually only stayed at the hotel for a few hours, probably just to get some rest. Yet we wondered if he still had to pony up for internet in the suite? That would cost him $15 for 24 hours. Surely, Le Meridien waived this fee for the Dalai Lama. Room rates at the hotel typically start at $175 a night with the Royal Club suite starting at $385 a night.

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For the Sake of Hotel Art: Le Meridien Chambers Minneapolis' Entire Gallery

Go To The Hotel's Web 
  Site Where: 901 Hennepin Avenue [map], Minneapolis, MN, United States, 55403
September 14, 2010 at 3:49 PM | by | Comments (0)

Is the WiFi free? Does the gym have good machines? All these things get noticed when checking into a hotel, but what about the atmosphere of the place—specifically the art on the walls or on the floor? All this week, we'll be highlighting properties around the world that do their artwork right, and the specific pieces you should stare long and hard at when next you drop by.

Today: Le Meridien Chambers Minneapolis' Burnet Art Gallery.

Many months ago, a friend sent us a curious photo via text message. It was a picture of one of artist Damien Hirst's embalmed sharks, and our friend said that this piece resided at a hotel in Minneapolis, Minnesota. It's too bad we don't have the (low-quality) image anymore, but it's obvious from this piece and the 250+ others they own, that Le Meridien Chambers was built to be on our list of Art Hotels.

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Le Méridiens in Bora Bora and Tahiti Set To Get Even Prettier

June 22, 2010 at 10:02 AM | by | Comments (0)

Resorts in Tahiti regularly make our Killer View lists, but Le Méridien is not content to rest on its pretty-as-hell laurels and has just launched another round of renovations to keep its Tahitian properties in tip-top shape.

Le Méridien Tahiti is sprucing up all of its public spaces and rooms with new decor, and plans to unveil the results in November.

Le Méridien Bora Bora (pictured above) has already been through phase one of its renovations, and the second round—including new interiors for the beach and overwater bungalows and all public spaces—begins on October 1st.

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Le Meridien Philly's Resto Serves Steak Frites With a Side of Power

Go To The Hotel's Web 
  Site Where: 1421 Arch Street [map], Philadelphia, PA, United States, 19102
May 10, 2010 at 9:55 AM | by | Comments (0)

Have you ever wished you could recharge your cell phone or laptop while you're refueling yourself with lunch or dinner? Now you can—thanks to Amuse, the restaurant inside the new Le Meridien Philadelphia. These outlets are located on the edges of the communal table at Amuse, as captured by the team at the Philadelphia City Paper.

The restaurant apparently prides itself on its signature steak frites, but we have to say that this power board is one of the most impressive things we've ever seen on a restaurant menu.

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