Finally, Hotels.com has upgraded their logo. Gone is the silly bellman carrying bags. Instead, we are now presented with a very modern look with the "o" being an important focus.
Trademork speculates the "o" could be "an elevator button and the arrows are up and down arrows" but we think it might have something to do with a search function since Hotels.com is essentially a search engine for cheap hotel prices.
Either way, we'll have to wait a bit before the new logo is in effect. Trademork reports that the application to protect the trademark was filed Jan. 25, 2008.
In other news: · Lionel Richie apparently consoled the defeated Patriots team at their private Super Bowl loss party at the Westin Kierland resort by saying, ""Come on, there's reason to celebrate. Lionel Richie survived Nicole Richie!" Random and weird. [Page Six] · Chloe Sevigny will endorse the new steamer trunks from Samsonite's Black Label at the Bryant Park Hotel tomorrow night. [WWD, sub. req'd] · Omni Hotels unveils its new in-house spa brand, Mokara [Dallas Morning News] · The newest incarnation of the Flying Hotel is called The Manned Cloud. It won't take off until 2020 but will have 20 bedrooms, a spa, gym, library, bar and a restaurants. It will travel 105 miles an hour using an eco-friendly sort of fuel and can circle the globe in 10 days. Um...yeah right. [Switched]
While Tom Brady was having the worst game of the season in the biggest game of the year yesterday, Bridget Moynahan (his ex-girlfriend and baby momma) was cool as a cucumber while brunching at Shutters on the Beach Hotel in Santa Monica.
The "Recruit" actress was caught by the paparazzi over at the Shutters Hotel yesterday afternoon for a little pre-game grub. And the new mommy was looking comfy and casual in a striped sweater, overcoat, and a simple pulled-back hairdo. If she was feeling a little jealous of her ex, Tom Brady, it didn't last long.
Ok so technically if she was there before the game started she couldn't be rejoicing (yet) but maybe she was confident that her game jinxing tricks would work?
Just because you aren't in Phoenix for the Super Bowl, doesn't mean you can't watch the Big Game at a hotel. Or so say the sales and marketing departments for hotels nation-wide. Here's what's going on at these hotels on Sunday.
· The James Chicago: The hotel's executive chef Rick Gresh (Primehouse) will host a party at JBar featuring the big-game on the big-screen, beer specials ($4 for domestic bottles and $5 for imported bottles) and foods representing each Super Bowl team. So New England Patriots fans will get mini-crab cakes and Giants fans will mini-pastrami sandwiches on rye.
· Viceroy Santa Monica: The hotel's poolside restaurant Whist is offering up cabana rentals which include 32" flat-screen TVs, "gourmet game day grub" from executive chef Warren Schwartz and drinks galore. Small cabana rentals, which fit 15 people, start at $250. Food and beverage will cost an extra $500.
· Wynn Las Vegas: Even though this is Las Vegas and the sports books will be crowded, the Wynn is advertising $69 tickets to see John O'Hurley in Monty Python's Spamalot. And there's a post show cocktail reception where guests can meet O'Hurley and the men of Spamalot. The show starts at 8 so you'll be able to catch both the game and O'Hurley.
In which, HotelChatter readers are treated to exclusive hotel deals dug up by us.
All deals have a limited amount of rooms attached to them and may sell out quickly.
Today's Hotel Deals
2.4.08-2.7.08 *Mardi Gras Hotels in New Orleans* $From $125/night This site has several cheap hotel deals in New Orleans like the Saint James for $125 a night. But rooms require full payment and no refunds allowed.
2.2.08-2.4.08 *Super Bowl XLII Hotel* $Days Inn North Phoenix from $150 Via Priceline. The good thing about this deal is that you don't have to stay a minimum of five nights.
2.4.2008 - 2.8.2008 *Carnival Hotel* $Everest Rio Hotel from $350 a night Rooms are still open at this Ipanema hotel for Carnival but four nights stay is required.
2.4.08 - 2.7.2008 *Fashion Week Hotel* $Six Columbus for $175 a night A teeny Pod room is available but at this price, you might have some money leftover to afford some new fashion.
Have a hotel deal you think we should consider? Or have a destination and date where you want us to check for hotel rooms and rates for you? No guarantees on either, but you can try your luck by hitting us here: tips@hotelchatter.com.
The other week we mentioned where the Giants were shacking up for the Super Bowl but we had no idea that it was at one of the "World's 100 Sexiest Hotels"? At least, according to rankings by the website Sexiest Hotels Inc.
So if you're the ultimate Giant fan and you're looking for a romantic getaway, then you should hit up The Sheraton Wild Horse Pass Resort & Spa, which is offering a sensuous special for V-Day.
First up, choose one of Aji Spa's treatments, such as the Honey Rose Body Wrap or the Aromatherapy Companion Massage. However, we would probably prefer The Chocolate Dipped Strawberry Pedicure, which includes a chocolate foot masque followed by a strawberry-body-butter massage -- all the while sampling your own chocolate-dipped strawberries and sipping a glass of champagne. Mmm...
Of course, once properly pampered, guests are encouraged to get a room. And not just any room.
The Wild Horse Pass "True Love and Truffles" room package includes an overnight stay for two, the Bed of Roses rose-petal turndown service (which sounds cheesy but chicks dig it), as well as a special room delivery of champagne and truffles. Make it a late-nighter and take advantage of the resort's 4 p.m. late checkout the following afternoon (based on availability). Rates at the 500-room AAA four-diamond start at $475 per night.
Many Super Bowl-goers have already forked out thousands for tickets and travel -- so what's a few grand more?
Ebay has several high-priced options for those with fat wallets. For example, one can have 4 nights at the "beautiful Embassy Suites Hotel in downtown Phoenix" for a mere $2499. Empassy Suites is only a few miles from downtown and about 10 miles from the stadium. And sold out. But hurry -- this deal expires in a little over 2 days.
Over at Craigslist, there's more pricey options galore. For about 15 grand, you can spend Super Bowl week in "Castle Mansion". This castle boasts 4 bedrooms, 6 bathrooms, a theatre room, pool with Jacuzzi spa and waterfall.
And finally...(drumroll)... Located in the newly constructed Summit at Copper Square high-rise in downtown Phoenix, this million-dollar luxury rental defies comparison. Of course, it has the price tag to prove it.
Yesterday, we had some last-minute round-ups on Super Bowl XLII accommodations including a stay in a monastery. Here we have more details.
Big screen TVs, wireless internet, and free continental breakfast. Sounds like a 3- or 4-star hotel, right? Guess again. It's the Our Lady of Guadalupe Monastery in Phoenix, where the Benedictine nuns are renting out rooms for Super Bowl week.
Rooms are going for $250 a night, plus $50 extra for each additional person.
But for a room right next to the action (3.5 miles to be precise), it isn't half bad.
"We've never opened the monastery for an event like the Super Bowl," said Sister Linda of the Benedictine Sisters of Phoenix. "It's just a different clientele than we're accustomed to."
The Monastery rooms are normally rented out for Church retreats and individuals who feel their lives could benefit from the peace and isolation Our Lady of Guadalupe offers. The property includes a common area, cafe, Chapel and Meditation Grounds.
And though the sisters won't impose a curfew, they do have a few rules: no smoking, no rowdy behavior, and most importantly -- no alcohol.
Super Bowl XLII is only five days away so these are your last days to get a room. That is, if you've managed to snag tickets to the game in the first place. But even if you are planning to watch the game elsewhere, things may not go so smoothly.
We got a review in our mailboxes from one Cincigirl1 who was very disappointed in the Hard Rock Las Vegas for canceling a group reservation for the Super Bowl. Here's her story:
Our small company booked a large suite for the upcoming Super Bowl at the Hard Rock Las Vegas. We booked it months ago and it was "guaranteed." The room was expensive and we were even paying over $400 for a larger TV to host important clients for the game. We were called a week before and told there was a computer glitch and we couldn't have the room.
We were offered a meeting room with a long tables a regular TV and cafeteria chairs as their solution. Terrible now we are scrambling last minute to find something. Would never deal with them again.
Just because you aren't in Phoenix for the 
