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You Can Thank Salma Hayek For The Ritz-Carlton South Beach's Hot New Spa Treatment
It may have been Gloria Estefan who warned that the rhythm was gonna get you, but it's Salma Hayek who inspired the brand new Rhythm Massage at the Spa at the Ritz-Carlton South Beach.
The spa launches 19 new treatments this month, including the Carita Contour to target cellulite and the Hungarian Mud Wrap to detox and heal aching joints and tired skin.
But it's the Rhythm Massage we're dying to try, if only for the music alone...
Tags: Hotel News / Simon Cooper / Ritz-Carlton Hotels / Marriott Hotels / Herve Humler / Hotel Industry News / → All Tags
Simon Cooper is Moving On Up from Ritz-Carlton to Marriott Asia Pacific
Beijing Marriott Hotel City Wall
We were pretty stunned to hear that Ritz-Carlton's CEO and President Simon Cooper was leaving the brand, but it looks like he's getting a far bigger job. We had heard he would stay on at Marriott in another capacity and as it turns out he will now be president and managing director of Marriott's Asia Pacific division--an exciting job for sure, given all the hotel action that's going on in China. In fact, Marriott has 130 hotels and 70 more under development in this region. Plus, he gets to be based in Hong Kong.
Marriott tells us the move is a part of their ongoing strategy for the last 18 months to break the Marriott company into four divisions---Americas, Europe, Asia Pacific and Middle East and Africa. These divisions were designed to facilitate growth and bring more Marriott-branded hotels to the market, i.e. opening them faster so we can stay in them.
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Ritz-Carlton's President and CEO, Simon Cooper, is Stepping Down
UPDATE: Go HERE for details on Simon Cooper's new gig for Marriott
*A HotelChatter Exclusive*
There's a big shake-up happening in the hotel industry today. We've got extremely reliable word that Simon F. Cooper, president and CEO of Ritz-Carlton Hotels, is stepping down. In a memo sent to high-level Ritz-Carlton employees, it noted Cooper will stay on at Marriott in another capacity but Herve Humler, currently President of Ritz's international division, will assume the role of prez and CEO. And from what we've heard, it sounds like that's effective immediately.
Last year, we speculated on the Marriotization of Ritz-Carlton and since then Marriott has been making subtle changes in its corporate structure. A commenter last August offered up some interesting perspective on all the changes. Later on in November, Cooper himself admitted that there were a lot of movement in "the back of the house" as Ritz continued to undergo a serious corporate makeover.
We just never imagined he would be the one lost in the shuffle. (Although Ritz folks tell us the writing has been on the wall for Cooper since then.)
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Spain's Hotel Villa Padierna Prepares For Obama Girls
Forget Whatshername who just got married in Rhinebeck, there's much more exciting Presidential Daughter news going on in hotel land: the Obamas are headed to Marbella, Spain. Well, two of them are: First Lady Michelle and First Daughter Sasha.
The pair, along with longtime family friends, are said to have booked four nights at the luxurious Villa Padierna, a Ritz-Carlton property that we've ogled before.
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Between The Pages Of The Ritz-Carlton Magazine
This week we're taking a look at a dying hotel amenity--The Hotel Magazine. Sure, most hotels stock their guestrooms with the trendy magazines of the day or at least place some localized publication on the desks but there are actually a few hotels out there that still publish their own magazine. We've got our hands on a few copies of these rare breeds and we'll be documenting our finds for you here. Know of a hotel magazine we should see before it goes out of print? Send it to us!
As such a well-established luxury brand, it makes sense that Ritz-Carlton Hotels want their in-room magazine to share a similar pedigree. That's no doubt why on the website for the magazine, they tout its relatively recent redesign "led by James Truman, former editorial director of Condé Nast." [Just to be clear: Conde Nast does not publish the Ritz-Carlton Magazine. It does publish us. ]
Truman and a solid lineup of contributors bring their years of established print-mag experience to these well-produced pages and altogether it certainly looks and feels as expensive and stylish as the rooms you'd find the publication in.
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No Brainer: Low Room Rates Equals Happy Hotel Guests
We got this room at the Affinia Chicago for $159 a night. And we liked it!
A new report released by J.D. Power & Associates says hotel guests are more satisfied this year with their hotel stays and hoteliers have reasonable room rates to thank for that.
Because of the recession, hotels have had to drop room rates and as we've known here at HotelChatter for quite some time, when we get good deals on rooms, we're happier guests. Also thanks to the recession, hotels have had lower occupancy levels so more guests have gotten room upgrades at check-in. J.D. Powers' Mark Schwartz told the LA Times:
“If occupancy is lower, we find satisfaction with the speed of check-in is higher,” he said. “Guests are spending less time in line, are less likely to face overbooking and are more likely to be able to get an upgrade because more rooms are available.”
And guests are probably happier because hotels are rolling out all sorts of new amenities and services to keep them happy, from free WiFi to wine-tastings to cool in-room technology and upgraded lobby cafes.
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Angelina Jolie Brings Her Sexy Spy Gear to the Ritz-Carlton Moscow
It was a "salty" sort of day yesterday at the Ritz-Carlton Moscow when super world traveler Angelina Jolie swooped into promote her new spy movie, "Salt."
After posing for some media photo opps on the rooftop of the luxury hotel--which is actually where the hotel's sushi restaurant and spa are located--Jolie headed to Moscow's Oktyabr cinema for the official movie premiere. (BTW, have you seen the (appropriately) red Versace dress she wore? Stunning.)
Now we're not 100 percent certain, but we think Jolie spent the night at the Ritz as well. And if she did, then we're certain they put her up in the Ritz-Carlton Suite
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Philly's Ritz-Carlton is Still Milking Their Top Cheftestant
Has it already been over a year since Top Chef Seasons 6, aka the Las Vegas one? We love Top Chef not only for the pretty food, but also for a glimpse at what talented chefs are cooking in hotel kitchens, since oftentimes the contestants cut their teeth at a hotel restaurant.
Even the winner of Season 6, Michael Voltaggio, continues to cook at The Dining Room at the Langham Huntington Hotel & Spa in Pasadena, a restaurant that holds one of the few Michelin stars awarded in the US.
But it's Philadelphia we're focusing on now, since our recent visit revealed that the Ritz-Carlton Philadelphia is still milking their Top Chef contestant, Jennifer Carroll. She didn't win, but she did come in fourth.
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Thompson Toronto to Remain the New Kid in Town a Little Bit Longer
The Ritz-Carlton Toronto, with the CN Tower reflected on its facade.
It looks like the Thompson Toronto will enjoy the rest of the summer, knowing that it's still the newest hotel in town.
The Le Germain's Hotel Maple Leaf Square was supposed to open in August but now its fully fleshed out website is saying Fall 2010. Similarly the Ritz-Carlton Toronto near the Thompson on Wellington Street has been pushed back just slightly to late Fall 2010.
While we're awaiting more news on the Le Germain (which will be the brand's second hotel in Toronto), the Ritz has put forth a detailed construction update here. And it turns out that some construction woes have caused the delay:
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'Top Chef' Tastiness at the Ritz-Carlton SoBe (And The Food's Not Bad Either)
So, the new season of Top Chef is in D.C.—but there are already a number of former Top Chef contestants working in hotel land across the country, including the lovely Jeff McInnis, Chef de Cuisine at The DiLido Beach Club.
Keen HotelChatter readers already know that we're fans of the Ritz-Carlton South Beach's Tanning Butler, but after spying Chef Jeff on our last jaunt to Miami, we think Miguel has some serious competition in the Ritz-Carlton eye candy department.
Excellently, the food McInnis serves up is pretty damn delicious, too.
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Do a Stint as the Guest Guacamologist at the Ritz-Carlton, Dallas
If you’ve always wanted to whip up Mexican cuisine like chef Rick Bayless, the Ritz-Carlton, Dallas will help fulfill your Top Chef Masters dreams with its guest guacamologist program. And yes, that would be your real title.
You may not learn Bayless’s famous 27-ingredient mole, but an aspiring chef of Mexican cuisine has to start somewhere. As the guest guacamologist, you’d work with the pro guacamologist to make your own custom dip from scratch using Texas farm-to-market produce.
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The Ritz-Carlton in Ireland is Giving It Up for Free (The WiFi, That Is)
If you've been reading our Annual WiFi Reports, then you know how we feel about International Hotel WiFi (If you need a refresher, go see about our recent WiFi Hell at the Sheraton Frankfurt.)
You also know that the more you pay for your hotel room, the less likely your internet connection is to be free. And the repeat offenders who make our naughty list year after year are the luxury brands like the Four Seasons and Ritz-Carltons. But there might be an exception to that crappy rule.
Check out this amenity listing at the Ritz Carlton Powerscourt near Dublin, Ireland:
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