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And This is Why You Request a Room on a High Floor
We are suckers for a room with a killer view. We find that we are even more likely to forgive some minor hotel inconveniences if we can stare out the window at something pretty--yeah we are that shallow. Let's help out our fellow hotel mavens by uploading rooms with killer views to the HotelChatter/Flickr photo pool, or by sending the photo along to us. We will feature our favorites in this space from time to time. Remember to tell us the name of the hotel and the room number of the hot view.
Let's hear it for New York. So technically, The Mandarin Oriental New York doesn't even begin until the 35th floor but as this view from the hotel's 51st floor shows, it never hurts to request an even higher floor here. This snapshot dropped into the HotelChatter Flickr Pool by shaolo/paolo is absolutely stunning.
Shaolo/Paolo writes it was taken from a Central Park View room which is the second to last room category before the suites begin. This room will cost you approximately $895 a night. So not only does it have a killer view but a wallet killer as well. Har har.
[PS. Here's another killer view from the hotel in the daytime.]
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Mandarin Oriental's Haute New Ad Appeals to Fashionistas
We'd never think of Mandarin Oriental hotels as fashion hotels but we can't help but think that the editors at Vogue, Elle, Lucky and Harper's Bazaar would love this new ad.
It features 11 different outfits and their corresponding accessories--jewelry, purses, and shoes--in the shape of a fan, which is the Mandarin Oriental symbol. At the bottom, the tag line reads, "Mandarin Oriental. Perfect for a short break."
Hmmm..."short break" is a very objective term. For us, it means two nights. But for MO with 11 outfits, that would mean something like at least four or five days. Not sure we will ever have enough money to lounge at an MO hotel for four days but we certainly can dream.
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Worst Hotel Hell: The Mandarin Oriental Beijing Burns Down Before It Opens
It's what you've been waiting all year for--The 2009 HotelChatter Awards! We'll be bringing you the best and worst of the year (and the decade) all day today and part of tomorrow. Agree or disagree with our picks? Air your thoughts in comments below.
WORST HOTEL HELL: MANDARIN ORIENTAL BEIJING FIRE
If you've ever stayed in a Mandarin Oriental Hotel before, it will likely be an luxury hotel experience you (and your wallet) won't forget. Which is why it was so sad that the Mandarin Oriental Beijing burned down just as it was nearing completion. Even sadder, the fire was a result of Chinese New Year fireworks that had been set off by China's state-run broadcasting company near the hotel. D'oh.
The fire-ravaged hotel is still standing and the hotel's website says that the project has (obviously) been postponed. According to the StructureHub blog, the hotel can be repaired but may not necessarily rebuilt. We hope something good can come from these luxury ashes.
Keep reading for more of the year's worst events.
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The Mandarin Oriental Takes You Up and Brings You Down in More Ways Than One
So you've rocked out to the music from our Mandarin Oriental Las Vegas video tour and you've drooled at the pictures. Ready to look some more? Well, we've got enough eye candy from this hotel to whet your appetite. But all is not zen at the MOLV.
In a break from our standard HotelChatter reviews, we're going to start off with what we loved about the hotel first. Then we'll get into the real heartbreaking stuff after that.
Service: It seems that we must be suffering from early Alzheimer's or else we've just been in Vegas far longer than is recommended. You see, we arrived at the hotel a day early. But the hotel easily accommodated us. In fact, they apologized to us. When it was really our fault because we apparently can't keep our dates straight.
The front desk worked their magic and in about 10 minutes, we were up...er...down to our room on the 10th floor. Check-in actually happens in the Sky Lobby on the 23rd floor, which offers sweeping views looking out at Paris and Planet Hollywood as well as the north end of the Strip.
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Inside The Mandarin Oriental Las Vegas
This video comes with its own soundtrack!
Yes, the Technology Box...er Kit that we featured in yesterday's Guess the Hotel belonged to the Mandarin Oriental Las Vegas where we very recently spent two nights in the lap of luxury.
But this was not without a serious strain on our bank account. We were able to book the Mandarin's "We Fan Las Vegas" offer which gave you a complimentary night for each night you booked. The bill before taxes was $465 for two nights which is really, a terrific deal when talking about the esteemed Mandarin Oriental brand and their incredible service. Seriously, it was some of the best we've ever experienced.
However, it's the little charges that nearly broke our hearts here. Yes, we know this is Vegas and everything you want costs money but some of the "services" here felt like blatant price-gouging.
You know it's bad when you wish the hotel would just institute a resort fee instead of charging you a la carte. Sigh. More on that tomorrow but for now enjoy the photos and the video room tour. (And yes, that music playing is coming from the room. It's not something we dubbed into the video.)
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Is There Another Mandarin Oriental Hotel Planned for Barcelona?
Update [2009-12-1 11:51:44 by juliana]:: A source tells us that the hotel in Puerto Rico that designer Patricia Urquiola is working on is the W Retreat & Spa – Vieques Island. It is owned by the same company that owns the MO Barcelona, REIG Capital. The sources surmises that Urquiola is probably working on another REIG hotel in Barca, not necessarily a Mandarin Oriental.
It happens to the best of us. You put off a task forever, and when you finally do it, and it goes smoothly, you wonder what the problem was. And if it goes particularly smoothly, you start wondering about whether you should do it again for good measure.
That’s the mood we figured Mandarin Oriental must be in when Design Week dropped the bomb that they’re planning a second hotel in Barcelona, when their first one only just opened (late, obviously) on Thursday.
In an article about Patricia Urquiola who designed the interiors of the hotel, it said:
Mandarin Oriental has also engaged Urquiola to work on the interiors of its new resort in Puerto Rico, which will open in March, and a second hotel in Barcelona.
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Mandarin Oriental Barcelona Is Sticking to Its Opening Date This Thursday
Well here’s a nice surprise to start the week. Despite our fears, the Mandarin Oriental Barcelona is going to open on schedule this Thursday.
When we say schedule, of course, we mean delayed schedule. The hotel was originally down to open 29 October, but when the date came and went, it was pushed back to 26 November. Although we weren’t so sure it was a goer, given that the website wasn’t taking rezzies until 15 December.
But hallelujah! We just called the hotel and spoke to a delightful man who told us that it is indeed opening Thursday, although plebs like us would not be welcome – it’s a private inauguration and opening do. Guests can arrive on Friday, but he said there was very little availability till December.
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The Next Gordon Ramsay? Daniel Boulud Is Coming to London
Hey Daniel Boulud, have you never heard of Gordon Ramsay? Or of over-reaching yourself? Not content with dominating most of North America, he’s going to be crossing over the pond and gracing London with his presence in the Mandarin Oriental Hyde Park.
Bar Boulud London will basically be a rip-off take on his New York Bar Boulud, and promises to “bring into play French techniques applied to the finest ingredients.” So pâtés, terrines, cheese and charcuterie with lots of wine. Yum.
The decor sounds interesting – there’s a wine theme, so vaulted ceilings and lots of wood and cork – and Boulud promises to combine ”New York’s energy and spirit, French soul and tradition, and a touch of London style.” Just a touch? Whatever.
BBL will open Spring 2010 and will seat 165. See you at the bar.
[Photo: NY Mag]
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Mandarin Oriental Barcelona Will Now Open on November 26th
Oh Barcelona, you’re pretty n all, but we could do without your mañana mañana attitude spoiling our hotel plans. First the W pushed back its opening date no less than three times, and now it’s the turn of the Mandarin Oriental.
Last time we checked, the hotel was due to open on October 29. But when we hadn't heard any fanfare today, and checked out the hotel’s website to find the calendar showing “no availability”, we smelt a rat.
So we just called Mandarin Oriental’s PR people, and they told us the hotel is scheduled to open on 26 November. So that’s delay number one. But we’re expecting a delay number two, seeing as the website’s not taking reservations until 15 December. Hmm.
Opening rates, if they are opening December 15, are showing up as €284 ($421/£254) at the moment, although there’s an intriguing note on the booking page saying that “most rooms accommodate 3 people.” Er, surely the kind of people paying that amount of money won’t want to share with two others? Unless, of course, we're being, um, naive.
Here’s hoping all will be revealed on 26 November. In the mean time, how nice does that rooftop pool look? Shame it'll be too cold to use when they finally let us in.
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The Mandarin Oriental's 'Festive Breaks' May Not Be So Festive After All
When planning our next hotel stay, a night at a Mandarin Oriental Hotel is never even within our realm of possibilities as the luxury hotels are usually far out of our price range. But if we suddenly manage to receive a Christmas gift of cash in the next month or so, we could consider a night at MO, thanks to their new Festive Breaks offer.
From November 12 to December 30 guests who book two nights in a Mandarin Oriental will get a hotel credit of up to $100 per stay ($200 if you book a suite.) The credits cannot be used towards the room but you can use them at the spa or the hotel restaurants.
This sounds generous of Mandarin Oriental but it's actually quite frustrating.
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The Elbow Beach Hotel in Bermuda Gets Moved to Friday Nights
The Elbow Beach Hotel in Bermuda, a Mandarin Oriental hotel, has decided to close down its 100-year-old main building at the end of November because it was pretty much just for show and besides, the hotel is building a newer, better, bigger resort behind it. As if! But remember those days when hotels could do that sort of stuff on a whim?
No, the Elbow Beach Hotel is closing down the old building because of--you guessed it--the economy. And even worse, the hotel is going to lay off about 160 workers between now and November.
ABC News reports that 131 rooms will be closed, leaving essentially only the 98 luxury suites and cottages open to guests. The hotel would like to renovate the old building during its closure (which should last for several years) but there are no firm plans. The hotel will also outsource its food and beverage operations as well.
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POTUS Dresses Down Wall Street at Mandarin Oriental
The Mandarin Oriental in New York is popular with celebrities: in the past, we've seen Bruce Willis and Natalie Portman there. But approaching the hotel close to 5 p.m. yesterday, we encountered way too much security for there to just be someone from Hollywood in the building. The street itself was blocked off and a mix of NYPD officers, generic security dudes, serious-looking men in suits—aha! Secret Service!—and excited New Yorkers waiting by the barricades gave it all away: President Barack Obama was in town. And about to arrive any second.
We got a bit of a thrill to learn this, too, along with a hint of dread that we may not get into the hotel for our business meeting after all. We did not have photo ID on us, and there was no official invite for our small meeting meant to take place at the MO Bar. We watched as one security guy turned away a woman who lived on the same block ("go around the other way,"), and refused to let an Equinox instructor into the building unless he had a gym membership card. Hotel guests were asked to present their room keys.
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