Yesterday we were able to get a sneak peek at the Hotel Palomar in Westwood which will open tomorrow thus making it the first Kimpton Hotel in Los Angeles. Hurrah!
We've actually waited a long time to see this hotel come to fruition and so far, things are looking very good.
This here is room 1918, a vista deluxe guestroom on the top floor. The reason that it's called "vista" is because it offers a killer view of the Westside. Some rooms facing west at this hotel will even give guests a view of the ocean, provided it's a clear day. Just remember, that doesn't happen in LA too often.
Nevertheless, all rooms have huge 42"inch flat screen TVs, iHome alarm clock, L'Occitane bath products, and the popular Kimpton animal print robes. The hotel's restaurant, Boulevard 16 is also gearing up for an opening this week and pretty much everything is completed in the hotel, including the small pool and lounge area out back.
It's kind of refreshing isn't it? A true hotel opening as opposed to a soft-opening with half-finished rooms. Special introductory room rates start at $229. The vista deluxe rooms start at $279.
Check out our photo gallery of the Hotel Palomar below.
Kimpton Hotels has always been a haven for pet owners and WiFi-demanders alike but now the chain is starting to cater to kids with the launch of their KimptonKids program.
Starting this summer on June 1, Kimpton will be offering the following kid-friendly amenities at their hotels:
· Special KimptonKids welcome tote bag filled with goodies like yo-yos and bath sponges · "Guppy love," the companionship of a fishy friend, is offered at many Kimpton hotels, for families missing their pets · KimptonKid-approved guide to local attractions like parks, restaurants and toy stores · Complimentary use of in-room cribs and other child rental items, such as strollers and highchairs. · In-room child safety kits, including outlet covers, toilet latches and nightlights · Special concierge service like finding a babysitting service.
And of course, since the Kimpton bathrobes are one of their most popular amenities, KimptonKids will sport kid-size animal print robes. The program will also give kids a feedback card where they rate things from "yummy to yucky" feedback card so they can voice their opinions. Wow. We'd love to get a look at those opinion cards.
T-minus 32 days until the "Sex and the City" movie struts into a theater near you and Carrie, Miranda, Samantha, Charlotte-themed hotel packages continue to in.
The Muse New York seems to have come up with the best one yet, as it doesn't involve boarding a double-decker tour bus or having to subject yourself to an annoying personal shopper.
The package includes accommodations in the hotel's newly renovated luxury suite, stocked with the same hair products used to create Carrie's occasionally wacky do's; breakfast in bed and in-room massages for two; a personal driver to chauffeur you to the show's haunts like Jimmy Choo and Magnolia Bakery; and a personalized gift, based on the SATC character you most resemble.
Self-professed Carries get a year's subscription to Vogue, Elle or Cosmo, while Charlottes get the book "How to Marry a Multi-Millionaire." Samanthas receive a bathroom filled with "Dirty Girl" bath products and Mirandas land Suze Orman's book, "Women & Money: Owning the Power to Control Your Destiny."
All this, for $475 per person, based on double occupancy.
If you're like us you shy away from the standard tourist traps when you travel. You know, the same old attractions, big box stores, and hokey-theme restaurants. That's for amateurs.
Kimpton Hotels knows just how you feel, so they've launched Quick Concierge, an easy to use pocket-size guide filled with personal recommendations for food, fun, shopping, and more from those in the know, the locals.
With this exclusive reference system in your pocket, you'll never be stuck on the streets wondering where to grab a terrific burger, meet for a drink, or dance the night away. The very "best of" the city is right at your fingertips. Or at least that's what Kimpton's promising anyways.
Already available to guests at many Kimpton Hotels, Quick Concierge becomes a brand standard on May 1st.
There's tons of hotel news flying around this week and we don't have time to give each and every story the love and attention it may deserve, so you will have to settle for some news briefs.
· The Waldorf-Astoria Collection: As expected, the Waldorf-Astoria Collection keeps on growing. Hilton's luxury chain, anchored by the flagship Waldorf-Astoria in New York, has announced plans for the Palace Jerusalem which will be a 220-room hotel with 30 residences on site. The building for the hotel was actually built in 1929 but will undergo a complete restoration and renovation before opening in 2010.
· Kimpton Hotels: Kimpton is already planning a Hotel Palomar for the City of Brotherly Love but they are also working on adding another hotel in the Robert Morris building on 17th and Arch Streets. Both hotels should open sometime in 2009.
· RockResorts: The Inn at Beaver Creek will now be known as The Osprey at Beaver Creek and has been snapped up by RockResorts. The 41-room hotel will get a $7 million renovation this summer and re-open just in time for the 2008/2009 winter ski season.
· The Opus Montreal: The Opus has opened a new dining scene called Koko Restaurant & Bar, a 9000-square feet serving modern Asian cuisine. The name Koko was inspired by the glamorous Coco Chanel and actually Koko means "here" in Japan.
· The Lanesborough: The posh London hotel has also added a new restaurant, Apsleys. The fine dining establishment will feature modern Italian cuisine from chef Nick Bell. Apsleys will open in what was formerly The Conservatory Restaurant.
Certainly we at HotelChatter don't need to remind you what today is -- Tax Day. So what better way to stick it to The Man by booking a hotel package that's tax-free?
The Muse New York is offering a "tax relief" package through the rest of this month, straight through May 31, 2008 ("extended for late filers," ho ho ho).
Their $499-a-night flat rate package not only frees you up from those pesky taxes, but you get the hotel's usual cash-free amenities: Gratis copies of The New York Times, Wall Street Journal and USA Today; a nightly all-you-can-drink wine reception; free HBO and Showtime; and a free onsite 24-hour fitness center. All the rooms come with WiFi and MP3 docking stations, L'Occitane bathroom goodies, yoga accessories for the asking, and LCD HDTVs.
The Muse is pretty much right in the heart of it -- snug in the theatre district, just off Times Square, and walking distance to all the Gotham must-sees. They'll also let you loll around in your room -- yes, late check-out is on the house, so you get your dollar's worth.
But the best part of the package is a grab-bag filled with luxuriously named confections: PAYDAY, 100 Grand and Sugar Daddy candy bars. Now that's sweet.
Hotel swag just gets better and better. This week the most attractive merchandise to catch our eye is courtesy of the Kimpton Hotel chain, where we already knew they're into animal print luggage.
The exciting news--well, somehow we're feeling excited about it today--is that the whole animal print thing goes a step further, and you can also buy animal print bath robes from Kimpton's online shop. Kimpton thinks that wearing these bath robes will "let your wild side run free", and what's more they'll "add character and style to your daily routine".
And here we were thinking our daily routine was already stylish enough. The big question is which animal print to choose: leopard, zebra or giraffe. For us it's a no-brainer: giraffe. Leopards and zebras are try-hards, but giraffes are so stylish they don't even know it. We are checking our credit card still has $120 left on it and we're ordering.
We were on hand the other night for the "Mix, Match and Splash" cocktail challenge hosted by the Muse Hotel in Times Square to benefit the Dress for Success charity.
The winning team of the cocktail challenge would have their drink served at the silverleaf tavern at 70 Park Avenue for the month of April as well as be treated to a private cocktail party for up to 10.
Despite the best efforts of an SFO*Media team (Juliana, Sedona and JetSetCD) who were helped along by a few others, the winning team was The Dream Girls with their "Dream" cocktail.
The cocktail is two parts light rum, with one parts orange juice, cranberry juice and pineapple juice mixed in with a splash of pink grapefruit and club soda served in a martini glass and garnished with a lemon peel.
Although the competition was fierce, the party was not all about the cocktails. The event also held a raffle and an auction where party-goers could bid on trips like a roundtrip on American Airlines for 2 people, and 5 nights at any Kimpton hotel, redeemable until April 2009. We think we heard the winning bid was at $1,200.
One-hundred percent of the event proceeds and auction items were donated to Dress for Success and all proceeds of the Dream cocktail will go to the non-profit as well. It's the drink that keeps on giving.
Photo of the winning team and their drink after the jump.
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by juliana
T-minus 32 days until the "Sex and the City" movie struts into a theater near you and Carrie, Miranda, Samantha, Charlotte-themed hotel packages 
