Sometimes it's the little things that make us happy and as java drinkers, an in-room coffee maker can sometimes be a deal-breaker for us. If a hotel room doesn't have a coffee maker, then we're forced to go downstairs or go out of the hotel. If they have it in-room and it doesn't work or if it works, but makes motor oil coffee, that's just as bad
So we were excited to find the Cuisinart dual-cup, single-brew coffee maker and Lavazza coffee in our room at the Hilton Quebec in January.
Maybe it was the steamy Italian coffee countering the snowy weather or perhaps it was the pristine white ceramic mug with `Lavazza' emblazoned across it that made our coffee seem all the more flavorful.
Ohhhh, we love us some good top secret info: apparently, Hilton has a hidden secret lab -- so secret that it goes by a "code name." It's tucked inside a wing of the Hilton Garden Inn El Segundo, an unassuming LAX airport hotel.
Well, we suppose it's not so secret anymore since Portfolio wrote it up this week:
The secret wing, code-named University, is Hilton's "hotel laboratory," the place were the company tests and refines its next generation of rooms. A year or two from now, the ideas, concepts, and furnishings that have been tried out in El Segundo will make their way into Hilton-brand hotels around the world, including Doubletree, Embassy Suites, Homewood, Hampton Inn, and, of course, Hilton and Hilton Garden Inn
This is sort of like the much-hyped prototype "warehouse" that Starwood used to develop its Aloft brand, except the Hilton testing grounds are a bit different since HGI guests can actually stay in them overnight.
The gigantic 757-room Hilton Baltimore right next to Oriole Park at Camden Yards (with Ballpark-view rooms, even!) is now open.
The hotel is connected to the Baltimore Convention Center via an enclosed skybridge thingy (pictured) and also has an Executive Floor where special guests can enjoy a private check-in and access to complimentary food and beverage service in the hotel's Executive Lounge.
More deets -- and special opening rates -- after the jump.
Also: the place has a heated indoor pool, whirlpool and sauna, a fitness center, Diamond Tavern (with HD TV's so nobody misses a single second of an Orioles game, obviously) and a bar.
And: bonus! Even though we checked on the opening rates in April and were disappointed with the $299 we found, the hotel is now offering a special Grand Opening Rate of $199 per night through December 31st -- reservations can be made here (but make sure the "Grand Opening Rate" box is checked in the "Special Rates" category). Um, go Orioles? Is that what we're supposed to say?
Michael Phelps keeps on swimming in Beijing but his latest race wasn't for gold. It was for something even better.
Phelps jumped into the pool at the Hilton Beijing on Tuesday to swim 6,250th and final lap of the "Hilton Swim to Beijing Relay." The relay is a multi-city charitable event contributing $100,000 to the USA Swimming Foundation to fund swim education programs across the United States.
The race actually began back in November 2007 when Phelps kicked off the swim at the Hilton Universal City. It then went on to five other cities. So why 6,250 laps? Well that's the distance from LA to Beijing.
Hilton will be donating the money to swim education programs in the participating cities as well as $50,000 to the USA Swimming Foundation. We're pretty sure every kid in America is going to be asking for swimming lessons this year.
The Hilton Buenos Aires is offering a "Totally Tango" package to coincide with the Buenos Aires World Tango Championships, which kick off next week.
The package includes accommodations in a deluxe room, a tango lesson for two with one of
Argentina's top dance instructors, tickets to the World Tango Museum, an evening at Esquina Carlos Gardel (the city's premier tango house), and a
souvenir CD of instrumental tango music.
The deal also includes daily breakfast for two and access to the hotel's fitness facilities -- book a newly-renovated corner suite and the package starts at $845.
Reservations can be made online or by calling 5411-4891-0101. The deal expires December 31st and a minimum of 3 nights must be booked.
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. Please include "For Reader Deals" in the subject heading.
The Hilton Baltimore, situated ideally between the Oriole Park at Camden Yards, home of the Orioles, and the Baltimore Convention Center has answered the city's need for a convention center hotel, but at the same time, it has enraged locals with a skyline-blocking design as seen from inside the ballpark.
When it opens this Friday, hopefully everyone will get a chance to form their own opinion.
In our latest edition of Viva Vegas Hotel Construction Updates we have two pretty big developments, both which - not surprisingly - are caused by the credit slowdown that's affecting everyone nowadays.
First, Elad Properties has announced that they are delaying the construction start of The Plaza until "sometime in 2009" (we won't hold our breath) but are still fully committed to finishing the project.
Discover Downtown NYC at the Millenium Hilton $225 per night
As temperatures in NYC start to drop (albeit ever-so-slightly), the Millenium Hilton in downtown NYC is offering a Discover Downtown Package that's perfect for first-time NYC visitors or veteran Manhattan bargain hunters alike.
Though the hotel is right across from Ground Zero and there is the possibility of extended construction hours due to the Ground Zero rebuild (according to the hotel's website), it's also close to South Street Seaport, tons of great shopping and cultural attractions.
Plus, the Millenium is family-friendly, pet-friendly and even has an indoor pool in case those temperatures aren't quite cool enough for you by the time you get there.
