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Spend Labor Day in Scottsdale For Only $95 a Night
President Obama might be requesting privacy in Martha's Vineyard during his vacation but for your Labor Day getaway you can hit up the hotel he checked into a few months back, The Intercontinental Montelucia in Scottsdale, Ariz.
The hotel is offering rooms over Labor Day for just $95 a night through September 7. That includes a $25 daily resort credit and an upgrade to a Kasbah Village Poolside Room or Oasis Village Room (if available.)
The deal can only be found on TravelZoo. Guests must use the code TZ8 to book. We went and tested it ourselves and unlike some other low rates we've seen, this one actually worked. Without the code, a signature room was going for $160 a night. The Presidential Suite, where we assume President Obama stayed, was going for $10,000 a night. Hmmm...we'll pass.
Tags: Hotel Amenities / Phoenix Hotels / Scottsdale Hotels / → All Tags
The Boulders Resort Sees the Glass as Half Full
It's a sign of the times: The Boulders Resort & Golden Door Spa's new turndown amenity is all about optimism. That's right, times have gotten so troubling that the Scottsdale resort seems to think their guests could use a few happy thoughts at bedtime — and apparently the Gideon Bible isn't cutting it anymore.
Instead, guests at the Boulders Resort find a copy of the book "Life is Good: Simple Words from Jake and Rocket." Though the goodwill is shared for free, guests also have the option of buying their copy and taking it with them in a pay-it-forward sort of way, since part of the profits are being donated to The Life is Good Kids Foundation, which supports charities dedicated to helping children who face unfair challenges.
Sure, it's a pretty touchy-feely turndown (and honestly, we'd probably still prefer a chocolate mint or even a sushi-inspired treat), but let's remember that the resort is located in — of all places — Carefree, Arizona.
Tags: Hotel Closings / W Hotels / Scottsdale Hotels / Hotel News / → All Tags
W Scottsdale Is Definitely Closing at the End of 2009
[UPDATE: The W Hotel Scottsdale is NOT CLOSING at the end of 2009. Go here for complete update.]
When we heard yesterday that the troubled W Scottsdale was closing at the end of 2009, we wanted to give the less-than-a-year-old property the benefit of the doubt by wondering if Starwood would step in and save the W before 2009 was out. But a W source tells us that's not likely:
Hopefully Starwood will intervene, but in times like these I dunno know if there's much they can (or will) do.
Another tipster tells us that you definitely cannot make a reservation on the W Scottsdale website past Dec. 31, 2009. And since Starwood Hotels allow you to make reservations 550 days in advance, that's a sure sign the property is closing.
Lastly, Suge Knight could have been the thug that broke the W's back. A third tipster tells us that Suge's recent physical alteration (he was punched in the face twice) took place at the W Scottsdale, as was reported in the Arizona Republic.
Seriously, we aren't so sure if we've ever heard of a hotel so cursed within a year of opening. At this point, it's definitely better for karma purposes to get rid of the W name. The neighbors may be happy the noisy parties will be gone but it sucks that the Phoenix-Scottsdale area loses out on the W. Thankfully, the Mondrian is still around.
Have you stayed at the W Scottsdale? Wanna give us your review? Put it in comments below. Got any more gossip on the closing? Let us know.
[Photo: *wood]
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W Scottsdale To Close At the End of 2009?
The writing has been on the wall for quite some time for the W Scottsdale. From several opening delays to noisy parties that pissed off the neighbors to disputes between the developers and the owners over money, the W hotel has been cursed from the start.
And now it will be put out of its misery. According to a source inside W Hotels:
So, apparently the W Scottsdale won’t be able to recover from its issues in time to keep their flag. They are officially closing at the end of 2009. Sad...it’s such a nice property.
No surprise here but it's such a shame that the developer and owner could not pull this project together. However, if the W is closing at the end of 2009 you still have almost a year to redeem or earn SPG points for staying there. No word yet on what type of hotel will take its place. Since we're in a gossipy mood today, if anyone has more dirt on the hotel closing, please email us.
[Photo: *wood]
Tags: Snapshot / Hotel Indigo / Scottsdale Hotels / → All Tags
The Hotel Indigo Scottsdale Has Interesting Wallpaper
As we mentioned last week Hotel Indigo is planning an aggressive expansion, meaning that everywhere us guests turn we might find a new Hotel Indigo. If you aren't familiar with the philosophy behind HI, it's to be a personalized hotel experience for the frequent business traveler, and not every hotel is alike.
Personalization is achieved through amenities and services like oversized beds and pillows, free wireless and lobbies that are conducive for post-work socializing, but also by incorporating much of the hotel's local flavor into the design. Some of this stuff makes sense, like artwork from local artists displayed in the lobbies and rooms. Some of it does not make sense, like the giant hanging floral basket at the just-opened Hotel Indigo Paddington in London.
Anyways, since we might be seeing more of Indigo in the future, we thought we'd show you this Flickr shot of a room inside the Hotel Indigo Scottsdale. Yes, that's cactus photo wallpaper. Um. Ouch?
Room rates at this hotel start at around $209 a night. The Paddington branch.
Tags: Scottsdale Hotels / Ritz-Carlton Hotels / Edition Hotels / Marriott Hotels / Hotel Hype / → All Tags
We Await With Bated Breath the Opening of Edition Scottsdale
Soon (but not soon enough) a Ritz-Carlton and an Edition Hotel will grace this land.
Even in this economic downturn, hotel development in Scottsdale, AZ and neighboring Paradise Valley still seems like a hot item. In a development called "The Palmeraie" which is located on land in between both towns, two of Marriott's hotel brands the Ritz-Carlton and Edition will come in with a big bang.
The first hotel to be built on the property is the Ritz-Carlton, Paradise Valley which was originally supposed to commence construction last summer, but was held up due to a town referendum. Now ground breaking should occur soon, with an opening date of Fall 2010 scheduled. The hotel will have 225 room and 161 residences.
But the exciting part of the development (at least for us) is the construction of one of Marriott & Ian Schrager's first Edition hotels within the same development (on the Scottsdale side.)
Tags: Hotel Woes / W Hotels / Scottsdale Hotels / → All Tags
W Scottsdale Still Cannot Get It Right
It turns out we might have answer to all those delays that plagued the opening of the W Scottsdale. The hotel's owner, Triyar Hospitality, and the construction company, Hunt Construction Group are embroiled in a lawsuit over $20 million in payments that Hunt claims Triyar still owes. Triyar on the other hand says that Hunt did shoddy work, went $57 million over budget and held up the hotel's opening date over a year.
According to the Arizona Republic, it seems as though Triyar is the reason behind all the delays:
It [Hunt Construction Group] cites more than 215 revisions to the original plan, the latest less than two months before the hotel opened. Its lien says it did $21.4 million in extra work "at the special insistence and request of" Triyar.
Hunt contends the project was behind from the start, with Triyar providing late, and sometimes incomplete or faulty, drawings and other building plans. It said the original design of the parking garage ramp, for example, couldn't accommodate certain types of cars.
Not only that but an additional 30 liens have also been filed by other sub-contractors all claiming that Tryiar still owes some money.
All this legal wrangling has the potential to put the property into foreclosure with the lenders, and Triyar could lose the property, which was their first attempt at building a hotel. Let’s just hope the W Scottsdale doesn’t end up like the W Honolulu-Diamond Head which also went into foreclosure before being purchased, and now renamed.
[Photo: *wood]
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W Scottsdale Knows That Looks Are Important
The neighbors may have some issues with the new W Scottsdale hotel but there is no denying that this place looks very cool. Thanks to Budget Travel, we skipped over to *Wood, an informal blog about Starwood Hotels which has just posted pics and video of the W Scottsdale. From *wood:
With every turn of my head, I found something new begging my curiosity. Let’s start with the living room, which was seductively lit and speckled with design-heavy chairs and couches arranged to facilitate close conversation. Each section of seating had its own unique styles and fabrics. Upon entering the public washrooms, a communal block of sinks broke the divide between the sexes and forced opportunistic co-mingling . . . and that’s just the beginning of the cool factor.
Hahah. "Opportunistic co-mingling"--that sounds just like W speak! *wood also checked out a studio suite which had a computer on the desk as part of the amenities. That's definitely the way to win our hearts. However, we didn't learn much from this post about the service or the pricing. But we do know that W music is thumping in the rooftop pool through an underwater stereo system. We are sure the neighbors loved that.
[Photo: *wood]
Tags: W Hotels / Hotels Behaving Badly / Scottsdale Hotels / Ben Bethel / → All Tags
W Scottsdale and Neighbors Still Can't Seem to Get Along
Things are getting heated between the W Scottsdale and its neighboring residents who are still pissed off that the hotel's outdoor bar keeps them awake at night. But that's not all they are mad about. Apparently, the hotel's partying guests are leaving trash in the 'hood too. From the Arizona Republic:
Resident Jim Anderson said bass from the music creates a beat of thumps that shake the walls of his property. And when the party shuts down, he says, people trash the neighborhood. On a recent Monday afternoon, Anderson combed through the lawn outside his home, filling an empty Milwaukee's Best beer carton he found on the street with garbage "from the pigs this weekend." He regularly picks up litter and has thought about "dumping it in their (the hotel's) lobby."
Egads! We really hope he doesn't do that. The W and the residents are just going to have to work things out. Maybe they can listen to Ben Bethel's suggestion which he posted in comments at the bottom of the Republic's article. He's the owner of the Clarendon Hotel.
However, we do have one question that's been nagging at us here: Why are W Scottsdale party guests drinking from a carton of Milwaukee's Beast Beer? That's just gross. What's next--Natty Light on the front lawn?
[Photo: Sherrie Buzby/Arizona Republic]
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W Scottsdale Enters the Scene with Poolside Fashion Show
The dust has barely settled around the W Scottsdale as it braces to enter its third month of operations, which means it is time to party down and give this place a reputation. Luckily, the W is two steps ahead and already targeting their favorite niche of hotel guests: the fashionistas.
Tomorrow the hotel will host a Terexov Fashion Show poolside, a la Chanel's resort collection at The Raleigh, although the designer presenting is a 20-something Russian and not a French house of couture. Since we just happened to be at Terexov's Spring 2009 Runway Show during New York Fashion Week, we can attest to the fact that the man does tropical jet set fashion very well. His outfits are for goddesses of global mobility, a few of whom will be watching tomorrow from the W Scottsdale's cabanas.
As this is obviously a grab at situating themselves as a hotspot for style, we think this is a pretty good move for the W Scottsdale to make; after all, fashion shows are so hot right now. And maybe the neighbors won't be so pissed now that there's beautiful models walking around the place.
[Photo of Terexov via Getty Images]
Tags: W Hotels / Hotels Behaving Badly / Scottsdale Hotels / → All Tags
W Scottsdale Too Loud for the Neighborhood
While us hotel geeks and a few Starwood Stalkers were eagerly anticipating of the W Scottsdale, which finally opened last month after several delays, it seems as if the surrounding neighborhood could care less.
According to the East Valley Tribune, the hotel has been a pain in the ass for the neighbors.
Since its "soft opening" on Sept. 5, some residents living near the hotel said they have been upset about noise levels and what they believe are patrons parking and littering on their streets.
And when the hotel held their official grand opening party last night, they sent out a letter to their neighbors forewarning them that a band would be playing music outdoors until about midnight. This of course, further pissed off the residents.
The live music acts aren't limited to the hotel's opening party either. The hotel plans on having more live acts which means more residents will be pissed off. We only hope the hotel soundproofed their guest rooms.
Have you stayed at the W Scottsdale? Send us a reader review!
Tags: Hotel Openings / Hotel Opening Rates / W Hotels / Scottsdale Hotels / → All Tags
W Scottsdale Will Finally Open Today
Finally! The W Scottsdale is open for business.
The long-awaited hotel--it was supposed to open in May--will officially open today although online reservations will not begin until September 9th. When that day comes, internet-only rates begin at $259 a night for a Wonderful Room with a king bed. A Spectacular Room with a Garden Views is available at $289 a night.
If you want to book a room for this weekend you will have to do it the old-school way by calling (480) 970-2100.
If you stay at the W Scottsdale, send us your review!
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