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Mandarin Oriental Barcelona Is Sticking to Its Opening Date This Thursday
Well here’s a nice surprise to start the week. Despite our fears, the Mandarin Oriental Barcelona is going to open on schedule this Thursday.
When we say schedule, of course, we mean delayed schedule. The hotel was originally down to open 29 October, but when the date came and went, it was pushed back to 26 November. Although we weren’t so sure it was a goer, given that the website wasn’t taking rezzies until 15 December.
But hallelujah! We just called the hotel and spoke to a delightful man who told us that it is indeed opening Thursday, although plebs like us would not be welcome – it’s a private inauguration and opening do. Guests can arrive on Friday, but he said there was very little availability till December.
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The Next Gordon Ramsay? Daniel Boulud Is Coming to London
Hey Daniel Boulud, have you never heard of Gordon Ramsay? Or of over-reaching yourself? Not content with dominating most of North America, he’s going to be crossing over the pond and gracing London with his presence in the Mandarin Oriental Hyde Park.
Bar Boulud London will basically be a rip-off take on his New York Bar Boulud, and promises to “bring into play French techniques applied to the finest ingredients.” So pâtés, terrines, cheese and charcuterie with lots of wine. Yum.
The decor sounds interesting – there’s a wine theme, so vaulted ceilings and lots of wood and cork – and Boulud promises to combine ”New York’s energy and spirit, French soul and tradition, and a touch of London style.” Just a touch? Whatever.
BBL will open Spring 2010 and will seat 165. See you at the bar.
[Photo: NY Mag]
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Mandarin Oriental Barcelona Will Now Open on November 26th
Oh Barcelona, you’re pretty n all, but we could do without your mañana mañana attitude spoiling our hotel plans. First the W pushed back its opening date no less than three times, and now it’s the turn of the Mandarin Oriental.
Last time we checked, the hotel was due to open on October 29. But when we hadn't heard any fanfare today, and checked out the hotel’s website to find the calendar showing “no availability”, we smelt a rat.
So we just called Mandarin Oriental’s PR people, and they told us the hotel is scheduled to open on 26 November. So that’s delay number one. But we’re expecting a delay number two, seeing as the website’s not taking reservations until 15 December. Hmm.
Opening rates, if they are opening December 15, are showing up as €284 ($421/£254) at the moment, although there’s an intriguing note on the booking page saying that “most rooms accommodate 3 people.” Er, surely the kind of people paying that amount of money won’t want to share with two others? Unless, of course, we're being, um, naive.
Here’s hoping all will be revealed on 26 November. In the mean time, how nice does that rooftop pool look? Shame it'll be too cold to use when they finally let us in.
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The Mandarin Oriental's 'Festive Breaks' May Not Be So Festive After All
When planning our next hotel stay, a night at a Mandarin Oriental Hotel is never even within our realm of possibilities as the luxury hotels are usually far out of our price range. But if we suddenly manage to receive a Christmas gift of cash in the next month or so, we could consider a night at MO, thanks to their new Festive Breaks offer.
From November 12 to December 30 guests who book two nights in a Mandarin Oriental will get a hotel credit of up to $100 per stay ($200 if you book a suite.) The credits cannot be used towards the room but you can use them at the spa or the hotel restaurants.
This sounds generous of Mandarin Oriental but it's actually quite frustrating.
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The Elbow Beach Hotel in Bermuda Gets Moved to Friday Nights
The Elbow Beach Hotel in Bermuda, a Mandarin Oriental hotel, has decided to close down its 100-year-old main building at the end of November because it was pretty much just for show and besides, the hotel is building a newer, better, bigger resort behind it. As if! But remember those days when hotels could do that sort of stuff on a whim?
No, the Elbow Beach Hotel is closing down the old building because of--you guessed it--the economy. And even worse, the hotel is going to lay off about 160 workers between now and November.
ABC News reports that 131 rooms will be closed, leaving essentially only the 98 luxury suites and cottages open to guests. The hotel would like to renovate the old building during its closure (which should last for several years) but there are no firm plans. The hotel will also outsource its food and beverage operations as well.
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POTUS Dresses Down Wall Street at Mandarin Oriental
The Mandarin Oriental in New York is popular with celebrities: in the past, we've seen Bruce Willis and Natalie Portman there. But approaching the hotel close to 5 p.m. yesterday, we encountered way too much security for there to just be someone from Hollywood in the building. The street itself was blocked off and a mix of NYPD officers, generic security dudes, serious-looking men in suits—aha! Secret Service!—and excited New Yorkers waiting by the barricades gave it all away: President Barack Obama was in town. And about to arrive any second.
We got a bit of a thrill to learn this, too, along with a hint of dread that we may not get into the hotel for our business meeting after all. We did not have photo ID on us, and there was no official invite for our small meeting meant to take place at the MO Bar. We watched as one security guy turned away a woman who lived on the same block ("go around the other way,"), and refused to let an Equinox instructor into the building unless he had a gym membership card. Hotel guests were asked to present their room keys.
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DC's Mandarin Oriental to Launch New Resto Concept
JFK famously described Washington DC as a city of Southern efficiency and Northern charm, an unfortunate trait that many would say still holds true. But our nation’s capital’s Southern edge is fortunately also explored at many restaurants, with upscale soul food restos particularly trendy of late.
DC’s Mandarin Oriental is the latest to go ga-ga for fancy grits. Next month the hotel will launch a new restaurant, called Sou’Wester, which will feature traditional and interpretive takes on classics like Chicken and Dumplings, Braised Rabbit Leg with Creamed Grits, and Sauteed Perch with Old Bay Chowder, plus lunch specials like Shoat Rillette with Pickled Green Tomatoes, Maryland Blue Crab with Mango and Avocado, and Sauteed Pork Belly and Pickled Watermelon Rind. Sandwiches will be served with housemade piccalilli.
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Mandarin Oriental Hyde Park Tickles Your Olfactories With Jo Malone Tea
When temperatures finally drop and tourist head into London's Hyde Park water bottle-free, where is the best place to cuddle up with a cup of tea and revel in the sweet end of summer? If you say the window seat of your hotel suite, you'd be correct, but we'd also accept the answer of the Jo Malone Teatime at the Mandarin Oriental Hyde Park.
Available only in September in both their Park Restaurant and Park Terrace (pictured above), the Jo Malone tea celebrates the release of the Vanilla and Anise Cologne from the famous and very chic perfumery. The menu inspired by the frangrance has got us salivating like we never expected something perfume-related would; expect "Honey and Vanilla Glazed Madeleines, Clementine and Vanilla Fairy Cakes, Black Fig with Wildflower Honey and Mascarpone Mousse and Wild Fennel Scented Apple Tartelettes."
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Mandarin Oriental Hyde Park Offers 'Best of the British' But Look at Those Rooms
Of course, Posh Spice or Robert Pattinson could have told you this already, but apparently it’s fash to be British right now. Or at least, that’s what Mandarin Oriental are hoping, as they’ve just launched the suitably jingoistically titled Best of British package for their London property on Hyde Park.
And they’re thinking big – they’re inviting you to “join the ranks of luminaries and politicians past and present to experience London’s finest in style.” For those of us unsure what that means (the luminaries being the Queen, who took dance lessons there, to Maggie Thatcher, who ripped it up for her 80th there), the package includes a full English breakfast, lunch (if you can fit it in) at Michelin-starred Foliage, Harrods gift certificates (up to £50, depending on your room category) and free entry to private members club and casino Aspinalls in Mayfair.
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Mandarin Oriental Dhara Dhevi's Retreats Will Magically Heal You
If inspiration and wellness are what are missing in your life, then it just might be that a trip to Thailand is what you need. More specifically, you should try the all-very-different wellness retreats that Chiang Mai's Mandarin Oriental Dhara Dhevi have got on offer.
Scheduled to run at various dates between November this year and February 2010, the retreats each have a different focus but a common goal: to get you living a healthier and fulfilling life. Of course we think our life will be pretty fulfilling just by having a vacation in Thailand, but if you want more, then take your pick from one of the four.
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Mandarin Oriental Will Say 'Hola' To Barcelona Later This Year
Looks like we might have to return to Barcelona again pretty soon. We're already eagerly anticipating the opening of the W Barcelona and now we've got word that Mandarin Oriental will open their Barcelona outpost later this year. From the press release:
Mandarin Oriental, Barcelona is ideally located on Paseo de Gracia, Barcelona’s most prestigious address, at the very center of the city’s commercial and entertainment district. The property provides easy access to the city’s finest shopping, dining and cultural venues and is a short walk from many major tourist attractions. From the hotel, guests will be able to stroll amongst the city’s celebrated promenades and architecture and enjoy the attractions of the famous Las Ramblas and the Gothic Quarter. Barcelona’s many museums, churches and parks are all close at hand and two of the most celebrated buildings by the city’s famous architect, Gaudi, are just a stone’s throw from the hotel.
The hotel will feature only 98 guest rooms, all designed by Spanish designer Patricia Urquiola. A 10,763 square foot Spa at Mandarin Oriental will be onsite and of course, several restaurant and bars are expected, one of which will be al fresco in the hotel's 7,104 square foot outdoor garden. Plus, a rooftop pool. We just hope it's bigger than the Omm Hotel's rooftop pool.
No word on the price point yet but expect it to be muy caro.
Tags: Mandarin Oriental Hotels / Summer Hotel Deals / Hotel Deals / → All Tags
Score Some Resort Cred With Mandarin Oriental's Summer Deal
No matter which Mandarin Oriental hotel you want to visit this summer, they're offering you a Summer Break package which could prove worthwhile. (Curious about the summer thing, we double-checked and found they don't have any strictly southern hemisphere hotels yet, so the deal really does fit across their entire hotel group).
Basically, the deal is this: book a minimum of two nights between now and September 7, and you'll get up to $100 credit a day to spend in the hotel during your stay — on anything from restaurant meals to spa treatments or even airport transfers. In fact, the credit varies between $25 and $100 a day depending on which hotel you're headed for, but it increases if you book a suite; you could get between $50 and $150.
If we had to pick a Mandarin Oriental destination to take advantage of this deal, we'd probably dream of choosing between the Mandarin Oriental Hong Kong or the Mandarin Oriental Tokyo. But since we still have to pay to get there, the Mandarin Oriental San Francisco might be more do-able. And we're pretty sure we'd be spending that credit money in the spa — or the bar.
[Photo: kodama]
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