Tag: hotel renovations
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Whatever They're Planning, It Better Not Be Another Westin Times Square Eyesore
Two weeks ago, we learned that Host Hotels had purchased the New York Helmsley and was planning on re-making it into a Westin. Now, we find out that $65 million is being poured into the building for what they're calling an "extensive re-branding initiative."
Fine. The part that gets us, though, is when they mention that the entire facade of the building is gonna be transformed as well. Ah, real monsters! We desperately hope Westin isn't sketching out a repeat of their purple-and-blue stripey Times Square mess (which we once upon a time dubbed one of the ugliest hotels alive). For a 774-room hotel in midtown Manhattan, we're not sure what kind of "statement" Westin will be going for, but hopefully nothing big. A nice scrub-down and maybe some window replacements should do the trick nicely.
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Hilton Head Oceanfront Resort Is Now An Omni
Omni Hotels has been busy down in South Carolina securing the re-branding of its newest property: the Hilton Head Oceanfront Resort. Changes to the hotel will come gradually: starting first with the name change.
Though Omni's sibling company, Allegiance Hospitality, has managed the resort since 2003, now the whole place rests in Omni's hands. The current $18 million renovation, which will last through 2013, is intended to better "showcase the natural beauty of the resort." Which could mean anything really, but we're hoping for more windows that look out onto the ocean for better views. Meanwhile, time will also be devoted to the Courtyard area between the resort and the beach, as well as the pool area.
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While New York's Oak Room Closes, Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Starts A Music Festival In Vegas
Two main players in the hotel music world are really getting the shake-up this month, and all we can do for now is sit back and watch (or, you know, listen) as the changes come to pass.
For starters, let's face the awful truth that The Algonquin is saying bye-bye forever to the Oak Room, its famed piano lounge that has hosted cabaret legends from Barbara Carroll to Julie Wilson to Steve Ross. According to the NY Times, audiences there have been "declining."
But it's not all doom and gloom! Head west—about 2,200 miles west—and witness a positively burgeoning indie music scene when Sports Illustrated Swimsuit hosts its first-ever music festival at The Cosmopolitan (where else?). The two-day lineup will feature indie acts like The Black Lips (above), Delta Spirit, and Elan Atias among others, and will hopefully do for the Strip what SI's Swimsuit issue has traditionally done for non-sports fans—make everyone sit up and pay attention.
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Eating on the Edge at the Four Seasons Miami
Yesterday, we took you on a spin through the new-look suites at the Four Seasons Miami. Now, it's time to eat.
Edge, Steak & Bar is also new, replacing Acqua, a more generally contemporary cuisine/power-lunch restaurant in the same space. As you can tell from the name, Edge is a steakhouse of sorts--although it's referred to as "steak lite"--and it's accompanied with lighter options like salads, sandwiches and lots of seafood.
The space is light and pretty with low-hanging lamps, a shiny, modern bar, and lots of cozy-looking banquettes surrounding the room.
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Life is Suite in the Refreshed Rooms at the Four Seasons Miami
Ever since the Four Seasons Miami freshened up its rooms last fall, we've been trying to get in and take a peek. That's been problematic because the hotel has been consistently sold out.
Last week, we finally got a look at a couple of suites (yep, the regular rooms were all booked), located on the 28th and 29th floors of the tower.
Even though they're suites--and pretty sweet ones at that, with oodles of space and panoramic views--you can get a good idea of what the regular rooms look like from scoping out the pictures in our gallery. The color schemes are similar, and the soft furnishings and new-look window seats are the same in the entry-level rooms--also pretty spacious at a generous 500 square feet.
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The Pool is Now Open at Hotel Breakwater
Last year, Ocean Drive got a revamped Deco hotel with a SoBe scene vibe in Hotel Breakwater. Now, at last, the hotel has unveiled its pool, making it one of the few hotels on Ocean to have one--especially one facing the actual ocean across the street.
As you can see, it's not very big, but we do admire its modern look and simplicity. We imagine the beauty of taking a dip here has more to do with the hangover cure qualities of the water and the view than with anything as athletic as swimming laps.
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The National Hotel Miami is Getting a Little Work Done
** UPDATE: We hear from the National's PR reps that the Airstream is no longer part of the renovation plans. Sounds like the Preservation Board nixed those plans after all. But the backyard kitchen is getting a reno--with a new sundeck for daybeds on top--so that's something.
As you can see from our snapshot, Miami's National Hotel is getting a little top-work done. Perhaps in an effort to keep up with the Joneses--or, on this stretch of Collins Ave, with next-door neighbor Delano, the newly glammed-up Shelborne and the soon-to-open SLS South Beach?
As an historic property, the National has to adhere to restoration preservation guidelines and it's from the Miami Beach Preservation Board's minutes that we found out a little more about the spit-and-polish going on here.
Back in November, the National got approval for the partial demolition, renovation and restoration of the existing hotel-- including design modifications to the interiors and exteriors, construction of a new entrance canopy and construction of a new single-story building at the pool deck. That beachfront area out back will also get spruced up in the landscaping department, and it sounds like there will be additional roof deck space for guests to get their sun on.
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Park Hyatt Sydney Will Reopen March 1 at $855 a Night
We knew the big, big revamp of the Park Hyatt Sydney was going to be a big deal. But deal is not a word you're going to hear in any other capacity when it comes to this harbour-front icon.
Apparently the hotel is on track to re-open in mid-February but is taking reservations from March 1 onwards. And the starting rate for a night on March 1st? $AUD 855 a night.
Before you think, but hey, that's Aussie dollars. It's got to be cheaper when you convert it, right? --check out how strong that Aussie dollar is. The rate converts to $893 US dollars. Ouch.
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Grand Hyatt's Club Lounge Goes Au Naturel
It's time to reveal the identity of the butterfly Club Lounge! And if you guessed Grand Hyatt New York (which two people did), then you're right!
For an extra $100 per night, guests can bump up to a Grand Club King (starting at around $299), which allows them access into the Grand Club's sprawling, beige-accented lounge area. Like in other club lounges, breakfast is laid out here every morning, snacks are available all day, and the whole space has a feeling of peace and quiet. It helps that it's way up on the sixteenth floor. And yes, nature is kind of a theme here, with those dried butterflies, and a piled rock sculpture (which is actually made of wood), and bright bursts of greenery coming from the terrace outside.
For a full photo gallery, see below!
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JDV's Hotel Lincoln Looking Good for a March Debut in Chicago
This is Chicago's time in the hotel limelight, there's no doubt of that. The next property to open in the Windy City will have an excellent neighborhood, prime lake views, and a top-rated restaurant all to itself—this is the Hotel Lincoln, due to fling open its doors this spring at the intersection of Lincoln, Wells and Clark Street in Lincoln Park.
This is the second property outside California for Joie de Vivre Hospitality (following The Saguaro in Arizona), and totally out of their comfort zone. Chicago is a long way from LA, baby.
The Lincoln looks to be going with a quirky nautical vibe for the 184 rooms, which are small, yes. The first bookable night is March 30, and only the standard room type is available for $199. Playing around with dates in later spring, we were able to find rooms for $139.
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A New Autograph Collection Hotel Launches Today in NYC
That's right, The Algonquin is no longer New York's only Autograph Collection hotel. As of tonight at midnight, rooms at The Carlton, on Madison Avenue and E 29th St, will be bookable via the Autograph website, under the category of Boutique Chic.
The Rockwell Group, who has worked on other hotels like The Cosmopolitan, The Ames and Trump Soho, revealed that The Carlton is in fact housed in a former carpet showroom. And when renovations began, they discovered not only a Tiffany style glass dome on the mezzanine level, but also exquisite mosaic flooring, which had been—as luck would have it—preserved perfectly by the carpets themselves. Oh, the serendipity of interior design!
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Peninsula Hong Kong to Make Over Its Rooms and Tech Offerings
When HotelChatter popped into the Peninsula Hong Kong just over a year ago, there wasn't much that we didn't like at the hotel from the welcome amenities to the in-room telescopes, the bedside tech control panel and the white-gloved service.
But all this "classic lushness" may have been a little too "classic" as the hotel has just announced the start of a major guestroom redesign which will update all 297 rooms in both of the hotel's towers.
Conceived by The Peninsula Hotels in-house design team, the newly enhanced rooms showcase the finest materials and craftsmanship, boasting a bespoke luxury residential feel. With an accent on Classic Modernity, simplicity and chic elegance, the new room aesthetic melds the distinctive design touches and practicality present in today’s luxury yachts, motorcars, and private jets, taking The Peninsula guest experience to the next level.
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