Mother's Day is next Sunday, May 11 and if you were thinking of picking up all the usual gifts for mom on her big day like flowers, chocolates, that latest New York Times bestseller, we say get a little more creative. Afterall, moms like to have fun too. (Or at least we think they do.)
So our suggested way of thanking Mom for all her years of love and hard work is with a pedicure, a facial, and lunch by the pool at the decadent Estrella Spa at Viceroy Palm Springs.
The "Mom and Me" Special involves a full-day spa package that offers mom-and-daughter pedis, full-hour facials, wash-and-blowouts, and a makeup application so you two can look your best.
Keep reading for more details and booking suggestions
We've had our suspicions for quite sometime that the Viceroy Hotel brand would be coming to New York City and today we have official word:
Kor Hotel Group, a growing presence in world-class hospitality, is proud to announce its first hotel planned for Manhattan.
Viceroy's first New York City project will offer 168 exquisitely appointed accommodations set within the top 12 newly constructed floors of an office, retail and hotel complex being developed on a full city block at 330 Hudson Street between Charlton and Vandam Streets in New York's Hudson Square neighborhood.
The Hudson Square area is adjacent to both Tribeca and SoHo but the Viceroy's location is actually just steps away from the Holland Tunnel. Yet with MTV Networks relocating across the street from the planned Viceroy site, we're sure the hotel will have no problem getting folks to come down there.
If that doesn't work then the rooftop terrace with an outdoor pool and cabanas will do the trick.
The architecture firm Brennan Beer Gorman and interior designers Yabu Pushelberg will create the Viceroy New York. BBG was the group behind the andarin Oriental Hotels in New York and Washington D.C.; W Union Square; Gramercy Park Hotel and the Peninsula, Bangkok. Toronto-based Yabu Pushelberg has worked for Four Seasons Hotels & Resorts as well as Mandarin Oriental Hotel and Peninsula Hotels.
Right now, the opening date is set as sometime in 2010.
We have spies all over the hotel industry who like to send various miscellaneous tips our way. Some of these are post-worthy, others are not much more than one sentence tid-bits. So here's the latest batch of whispers through the hotel grapevine.
· Our Vegas sources say that the Thompson Hotel inside the Rio Hotel & Casino is getting closer to a deal. Stephen Brandman, everyone's favorite hotelier, was in Sin City on Tuesday at the Rio checking the place out. · Prive nightclub inside the Planet Hollywood Hotel & Casino will open on New Years Eve with Avril Lavigne set to host. · Kor Hotels have announced yet another expansion of the Viceroy Hotel brand, this time in Asia. Viceroy China Beach will open in 2010. · NYLO Plano is opening on Tuesday, December 18th and we were able to talk with the senior VP of operations, Patrick O'Neil. We will have that interview next week but it's interesting to note that so many of the partners/execs at NYLO Hotels came from Starwood. They of the similar brand, Aloft. And so the battle begins.
Now we learn that Viceroy has announced plans for its first-ever foray into Europe and the Middle East with Viceroy Andermatt in Switzerland and Viceroy Sifah in Oman.
Kor has entered into a joint-venture term agreement with developer, Egypt-based Orascom Hotel and Development, for the development of the resorts. Kor Hotel Group will manage and operate each resort.
Viceroy Andermatt, located in the Ursern Valley in the Gothard Alps, will be the only luxury hotel in the Orascom development which includes a total of six hotels, chalets, golf chalets, an 18-hole golf course, ski lifts and spa facilities. The Viceroy will have 175 units and residences will be offered. Expected completion date is 2011.
The Viceroy Sifah in Oman is also part of a mega resort development from Orascom which include four 5-star hotels, a marina, villa residences, an 18-hole golf course and clubhouse. The Viceroy will have up to 200 luxury hotel residence units when it's completed, also in 2011.
So if you ever wished there were more Viceroy hotels in this world, looks like your wish came true.
Fresh off our review of The Tides Zihuatanejo comes word that the Kor Hotels Group is taking over a nearby plot of land to build a Viceroy and some expensive condos. This is also on top of their other Mexican in-development project, Viceroy Mayakoba in the Riviera Maya.
In our interview of Nicholas Clayton of Kor Hotels, he said the Viceroy brand was more of a city hotel style with great dining and bars. We're not sure how that applies to a small beach resort area with no city for hours in either direction, but "Tides II" doesn't have the same marketing appeal we suppose.
"Viceroy Zihuatanejo will feature all of the Viceroy brand's elite features, including provocative design, personalized and uniquely customized service, an array of opulent and modern amenities designed for leisure travelers, signature dining venues that reflect the distinctive character of their settings and a holistic wellness program offering contemporary, natural spa treatments," says the official news release.
Will the Viceroy Santa Monica push its celebrity guests to take a jaunt to the sister property in Zihuatanejo? We won't know until 2010 since this property hasn't broken ground yet, so you're safe from paparazzi photographers on the beach until then.
Last month we heard about the restaurant and location plans for the Viceroy South Beach but there is also a Viceroy Miami coming to town. Yes, two Viceroys in the Miami area. But while the Viceroy South Beach will be more of a resort-type of getaway, the Viceroy Miami Resort and Residences will be located within a high-rise residential complex called the Icon Brickell.
The complex already has two towers of residences and the Viceroy Miami will complete the third tower. (No, it's not you. This is confusing stuff.)
Located within the third and final Icon tower, Viceroy at Icon Brickell will command one dozen of the building's 53 stories. A sky-high rooftop pool bar for Viceroy guests, Icon residents, and Miami locals will crown the roof. On the main pool plaza level, Viceroy will also offer a destination restaurant. Kelly Wearstler Interior Design will envision and execute the interior design for the Viceroy at Icon Brickell guestrooms, residences, lobby and restaurants; all promise to captivate and enchant like the Viceroy environments in the British West Indies, Santa Monica and Palm Springs.
This is like a Mega Condo-Hotel complex and everything about it is high-end luxury, from butler service to personal chef service, a 28,000 sq. ft. spa and a 50th floor bar and lounge area. But don't expect either Viceroy to open until sometime in 2009.
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by annie0007
We've had our suspicions for quite sometime that the 
We have spies all over the hotel industry who like to send various miscellaneous tips our way. Some of these are post-worthy, others are not much more than one sentence tid-bits. So here's the latest batch of whispers through the hotel grapevine.
