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Pop-Up Hotels / Mexico Hotels / Starwood Hotels / Design Hotels Collection / Beach Hotels / Odd Hotels / → All Tags

In These Tough Economic Times, Mexico Puts Its Money On The Pop-Up Hotel

Where: Tulum, Mexico

After learning last week that Design Hotels had been partially taken over by Starwood, we worried that the originality and flair of the former might start to be undermined. Starwood's great and all—but running a multi-brand corporation is certainly different than running a small, design-oriented boutique collection like Design Hotels.

For now, our worries have been put to rest by some exciting news about a new pop-up hotel being launched by DH this month in Tulum, Mexico. According to MSNBC.com, Papaya Playa is a 99-cabana resort on the Mayan Riviera, and boasts a spa, private suites, and several restaurants.

Unlike other flashy resorts along the Caribbean, this spot has an expiration date of May 6. So if you like what you hear, you'd better not dally!

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Design Hotels Collection / Starwood Hotels / Hotel Industry News / Hotel Contests / → All Tags

Eek! Design Hotels Now Partly Belong to Starwood Hotels

This is an interesting development--Design Hotels, a collection of 200 awesome independent, boutique, design-forward hotels, is now a part of Starwood Hotels. But if you fear that your favorite assortment of art, design and fashion hotels will be corrupted by Westins, Sheratons and Ws, feel free to exhale.

The partnership is purely an investment deal as Starwood will not be involved in Design Hotels day-to-day operations nor will Design Hotels be a part of Starwood's reservations system or Starwood Preferred Guest program. That's reassuring but we're still suspicious of this whole deal.

But let's not focus on the negative, let's focus on the fun instead. Design Hotels has just kicked off their online Advent Calendar.

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Hotel Contests / Design Hotels Collection / Movie Set Hotels / → All Tags

Reenact a Classic Hotel Movie Scene (Think 'Psycho') to Win Free Nights and More

Easy hotel contest alert! Design Hotels has gotten quite creative with their newest promotion—they have asked the public to vote for the Top 5 Hotel Movie Scenes and now that the results are in, they want you to reenact them to win free nights, a Leica camera, Playstation 3 and more.

You have until January 24, 2011 to submit a photograph here of you and your friends/family/random strangers re-enacting one of the classic hotel movie scenes. So let's check out your choices...

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Hotel Openings / Design Hotels Collection / St Tropez Hotels / South of France Hotels / French Riviera Hotels / → All Tags

Hotel Sezz Says It's The New Place to Be on the French Riviera

Where: Route des Salins, St Tropez, France, 83990

If Paris Hilton’s recent sojourn in St Tropez put you off the place for good, you might like to know about the latest place to open in Eurotrash central. The Sezz St Tropez has opened its doors (mercifully in time to avoid a Hilton visit) and is the latest Design Hotel to grace the Riviera.

It’s a tiny hotel, with just 37 rooms (called cocoons, bungalows and villas) and a restaurant, spa and (sigh) champagne bar and the aim is relaxation – the hotel has apparently been inspired by the lavender fields of southern France, and the owner has promised it will be “a place full of grace and tranquility.” Umm, good luck matching that with the champagne bar.

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World Cup Hotels / Hotel Deals / Design Hotels Collection / → All Tags

Bet on the 2010 World Cup and Get Discounts at Design Hotels

Headed to the FIFA World Cup in Johannesburg next month? JEALOUS. Not heading to the World Cup and sad about it? Design Hotels has something to cheer you up--betting on the World Cup for hotel room discounts!

This nifty collection of true design hotels from around the world (no Marriotts, Hyatts or Hiltons included) has kicked off a clever World Cup-themed promo in which room rate discounts will increase as the hotel's country advances into the football tournament. So while there are no actual bets being made, selecting your hotel room is a bit of a gamble.

Starting with Round 32, rates at participating design hotels will be discounted by 10 percent. In Round 16, the rates will drop by 20 percent. Quarter finals will get you a 30 percent discount, semi-finals will get you a 40 percent discount and the Finals will get you a whopping 50 percent off the best available rate.

However, things are a little tricky. If the team does not advance to the next round, the special "World Cup Rate" will no longer be valid. So while we hope for some great upsets for our viewing pleasure, we do hope that your team wins so you can get the discount.

More breakdowns on the World Cup Rate after the jump

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