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Washington Marriott at Metro Center Gets Spiffed Up
In recent years, Washington DC's downtown has transformed into a destination you might actually want to hang out. Or at the very least, those safe-clean-friendly claims being made about it a few years ago are now much closer to being true! Think haute restaurants, quality theatre and galleries, and much, much more foot traffic. (There's even a trendier name for the 'hood: Penn Quarter.)
For Marriott's part, they've responded to the neighborhood's spiffier image with an $11 million renovation at the Washington Marriott at Metro Center, just in time to celebrate the hotel's 15-year anniversary. The 459-room hotel recently unveiled its new contemporary look and feel, which includes 32-inch plasma screen TVs, tech-friendly plug-in panels, and check-in self-serve kiosks. In the lobby, "semi-private seating nooks" give comfortable spaces for guests to work or mingle, particularly thanks to the free WiFi.
Tags: Hotel Renovations / Trump Hotels / Celebrity Hotels / Manhattan Hotels / → All Tags
Trump International Will Stay Open During 2010 Renovations
With all the breathless anticipation over the February opening of the Trump SoHo, we almost forgot that the Don and the kids had other properties. (Almost but not quite—after all, how can you miss those towers cutting off your access to the sun?) But you don't expect the Trumps to let their flagship baby languish while the cool kid downtown gets all the attention, do you? Of course not!
So it will come as no surprise, then, that the Trump International Hotel & Tower New York (that big sucker at the bottom of Central Park) is getting a multimillion-dollar spit and polish come January.
While the Forbes (formerly Mobil) Five-Star Hotel has always been stately and posh, the renovations will, according to Donald J. Trump Jr, put it in step with the "elegant, classic-contemporary feel of the other Trump Hotel Collection properties." It was Don Jr. himself who approved the model room displaying the proposed renos. So, what can all those tween stars expect when their tours bring them back to NYC in 2010?
Tags: Reality TV Hotels / Hotel Renovations / Manhattan Hotels / Hotel Hair Salons / → All Tags
Reality Star Gives Makeovers in Madeover Suites at The Kimberly Hotel
We know what you’re thinking: reality TV stars at hotels—no, thanks. But this tale does not involve Speidi or Omarosa or a certain single father of eight. No, the reality TV dude in question here is Danish hairdresser Rene Fris, who was one of the judges for Bravo’s Shear Genius. Here he is wielding his scissors in a suite at the Kimberly Hotel in Midtown Manhattan.
But before you get too excited, Fris has not started a salon residency in the hotel—he was there to give a few lucky folks a makeover. The hair, make-up, and styling session bestowed upon Fred and Susan Denischuk and their daughter Melanie Jaskiw was a silent auction prize at the Viennese Opera Ball. For the lowly among us, that’s one of the big charity galas on the New York City social calendar, thrown by the U.S.-Austrian Chamber of Commerce. It’s the kind of ball where ladies wear long gowns and men are required to wear "white tie and decorations."
It’s held at the Waldorf-Astoria, but it was the smaller but still luxurious Kimberly Hotel which donated the rooms for the Denischuk family to claim their makeover prize last month.
Tags: Hotel Spas / Palm Springs Hotels / Hotel Renovations / → All Tags
The New Spa at The Parker Palm Springs Believes in a Good Stiff Drink
Heading down to the Parker Palm Springs for a relaxing weekend in the desert? It turns out there's more to do there than just lay by the pool and sip on cocktails. The hotel has just finished renovating their Palm Springs Yacht Club spa (PSYC) and it's not exactly what you would expect. Take a look at the spa's mission statement:
We believe in the American country club experience: mixed doubles, a long steam, and a stiff cocktail.
And indeed the new spa space makes access to a cocktail just as important as access to a heavy-handed masseuse.
The spa has created a new lounge with dark leather chairs, coffee tables and lit by candlelight with real treats available to guests (not a bowl of apples, they promise) and even shots of whiskey will be passed around. Well, that will certainly bring a "glow" to your face fast.
Tags: Hotel Reopenings / Hotel Renovations / Paris Hotels / → All Tags
The Hotel Ferrandi Is Dead, Long Live The, Um, 'BJ 2010'
Well here’s a way of getting our attention. The Hotel Ferrandi in Paris has closed for a rebuild, but lest you forget about it and fall for one of the establishments offering crazy deals all over the place, it’s making a bid for your attention by renaming the new hotel, BJ 2010.
Ok, it’s a codename for the rebuild project rather than a permanent moniker (at least, we sincerely hope), but still. The hotel’s blog says:
It’s our way of hiding the identity of the character who will be giving the hotel its new theme.
Er, whatever. We say it’s their way of getting our attention – and it’s worked.
Tags: Hotel Renovations / Boston Hotels / Marriott Hotels / Hotel Sportsbars / → All Tags
Marriott Copley Place Unveils Renovated Digs, Giant TV Screen
Hey, Red Sox fanatics: Looks like you might have a new favorite game day destination in Beantown (Fenway Park notwithstanding, obviously). As part of the Boston Marriott Copley Place’s $22-million, year-long renovations, the hotel has a new restaurant, Champions, that boasts “one of the largest HD projection screens in New England,” or so they claim.
Champions’ 12-by-24-foot screen seems poised to become one of the hottest places to watch the Sox, if you ask us. Especially since the resto also has more than 40 flat-panel TVs, a high-tech sound system, and 36 beers on tap.
But enough about Champions — that $22 million didn’t all go the jumbo screen. Copley Place also features a completely renovated first and second floor, with new front desk area and three new meeting rooms, the new Connexion Lounge, renovated health club and pool, and full makeover of all 47 suites.
Full renovations will be complete in early 2010 — guess we mean guests can still expect a little hammering in the meantime?
Tags: Checking In On / Hotel Renovations / Hotel Reopenings / Fairmont Hotels / London Hotels / Luxury Hotels / → All Tags
The Savoy Will Finally Reopen In April Or May Next Year
If it seems like years since The Savoy closed its doors for its £100m restoration, that’s because it, um, is. It closed in December 2007, and was supposed to reopen 16 months later, but of course, 16 months in hotel speak is double the length of normal human time.
But, hallelujah, it looks like we’re coming to the end of the process - Fairmont just announced that they expect it to reopen in Spring 2010. And when we quizzed them what counts as spring, they said April or May. Here’s hoping!
We’re not sure what’s taken all the time up, but they’re adding a new two-bedroom Royal Suite, "remodeling" the River Restaurant, "relaunching" the River Suites, and adding a new bar, the Beaufort, and a rooftop swimming pool. Dare we hope it’s an infinity pool overlooking the Thames?
Tags: Sweet Suites / Hotel Renovations / Surfer Hotels / Themed Hotel Rooms / Laguna Beach Hotels / → All Tags
Laguna's Casa del Camino Just Got a Whole Lot Cooler
On what ended up being a sunny, yet slightly overcast day in Laguna Beach, we had the opportunity to check out ten recently overhauled rooms at La Casa del Camino, a comfortable boutique hotel that lies just above the city's famed shoreline. And just in case you're wondering, no, we didn't run into any ex-cast member of a certain O.C. reality television show.
Anyways, we're of the "we have to see it to believe it" variety; almost daily we catch wind of the latest multi-million dollar renovation, but it takes an in-person visit to determine exactly what makes those new, meticulously chosen linens and architectural changes worth a guest's time and, sometimes, extra money.
Casa del Camino's Surf Project differs from your run-of-the-mill update for many reasons. Not one, but ten designers were paired up with ten quintessentially Orange County companies that represent the best of surf and skate culture, from Roxy to bikini line L*Space. When we first entered the hotel, its traditional Spanish architecture, soft, recessed lighting, and a familiar seaside bungalow ambiance belied the hypermodern changes that lay inside the ten rooms.
Tags: Hotel Renovations / Historic Hotels / Virginia Hotels / → All Tags
The Greenbrier Resort Is Looking Sexy
Last week we shared the good news that West Virginia’s iconic Greenbrier Resort seems to be back on its feet — and freshly pedicured feet at that. But in addition to adding a new resto and coming-soon casino, C2 Limited Design Associates is injecting the resort with some mod accents.
Indeed, the ol’ Greenbrier is looking sexy — and not even in that Sean Connery distinguished sort of way. Check out the photos below.
Right on trend, the Greenbrier’s new lobby is awash in pink, gray, and black.
Yes, the old pink and white candy-striped awnings remain but those are a Greenbrier tradition.Tags: Hotel Renovations / W Hotels / Chicago Hotels / → All Tags
Inside the New Room at The W Chicago-City Center
Since the W considers itself the purveyor of cool, it makes sense that the chain would decide to redo the W Chicago-City Center. It was the first W hotel to come to the city in 2001 and it was looking a little shabby.
The $35 million makeover targeted the W Living Room, a.k.a. the lobby, and the hotel's 235 guestrooms and suites. What was hot back in '01, aside from 'N Sync, was dark decor with oversized furniture. The hotel tried to get away from that dated look throughout the hotel with bright, airy spaces.
Tags: Hotel Renovations / Arizona Hotels / Sedona Hotels / Hotel Anniversaries / → All Tags
L'Auberge de Sedona Gets a $25 Million Makeover for Turning 25
The grounds at L'Auberge de Sedona
Time, energy, and millions of dollars are often fed into resort overhauls to prove that they are bigger, better, and more luxe than their swanky competitors. The $25 million dollars that L'Auberge de Sedona invested into Phase One of their expansion project was a symbolic expense, meant to coincide with the property's 25th anniversary. And here, we thought that a sterling silver plaque would suffice.
Previously honored by Wine Spectator and Condé Nast Traveler, the message L'Auberge de Sedona seems to be sending with the renovation is, "The more frills, the better." Many of the lodgings are meant to be private mini-retreats, with 64 brand new cottages recently added to the grounds. At 1,200 square feet, with indoor and outdoor spaces, outdoor showers, and gas fireplaces, the phrase that comes to mind is "rental property," not weekend getaway.
With prices ranging in the $400-500 range for cottage accommodations, you're definitely paying a premium for all of those extras. However, there are rooms and Gardenside Cottages available at a comparatively more reasonable $200-300.
Tags: Hotel Renovations / Dominican Republic Hotels / Hotel Deals / Hotel Refurbs / → All Tags
Puntacana Celebrates 40th Anniversary With A Spruce-Up
We haven't quite reached our 40th birthday yet, but when we do, a bit of a renovation will probably be just what we need. That was the same thought the Puntacana Resort and Club in the Dominican Republic had. They're celebrating their 40th anniversary this year and have been having some major refurbishments done, which are due to be all tidied up by the end of this week.
The Puntacana Hotel has spruced up all of its 186 rooms. There are now flat screen TVs throughout, new paint and bedding, and it's looking nice and fresh.
Refurbished doesn't mean more expensive: they've still got some good deals going. If you book online at their website, you can pay from $96 for the "new" rooms including breakfast. There seem to be plenty of rooms available at the $96 rate, right through until December 18.
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