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The Saddest Cupcakes That Ever Graced A Hotel Bar
We showed up to a pre-Fashion Week party last night at W Union Square and, as usual with these types of events, made a beeline for the bar. Planning on ordering a quick cocktail, we then noticed something that made us chuckle. At one end of the bar on a silver tray were rows of mini cupcakes—thick with icing, delicious looking, and virtually untouched.
But what else did we expect? This is Fashion Week, after all, where anything more than a stick of celery is considered an indulgence.
Not that these sugar bombs put a damper on anyone's fun. Indeed, with guest appearances by DJ Chelsea Leyland, W Global Fashion Director Jenné Lombardo, and man-about-town Waris Ahluwalia, the music was loud and the paparazzi bulbs were a-flashin'. Boy, were we glad for that drink.
Design Thursdays / Hotel Design / Sheraton Hotels / Starwood Hotels / Hotel Openings / 2012 Hotel Openings List / Trump Hotels / Four Seasons Hotels / Waldorf-Astoria Collection / Hyatt Hotels / Park Hyatt / → All Tags
A Quick Look at Some Cool Hotel Designs Coming in 2012
Remember the guys who brought you the sperm-shaped urinals at Trump Panama? Well, in the spirit of our recently-launched (and super hot topic-y) 2012 Master List of Hotel Openings, we were a little curious to see what else the design wizards at HBA had cooking on the stove.
Though their total project list spans 21 properties, a few in particular stand out: Four Seasons Guangzhou, Park Hyatt Hyderabad, Sheraton Fuzhou, and Waldorf-Astoria Ras Al Khaimah are all places we'll be keeping a close eye on as they gear up for their respective 2012 grand openings. We love nothing more than unique, well-executed, culturally-relevant design, and these places have it all.
Though we can't quite make out the white sculpture at the far end of Park Hyatt Hyderabad's atrium (above)—some sort of cat? or god?—we love the scale of those high black marble columns and curvy chandelier over the low rounded bench below. Proving, once and for all, you don't need urinals with tails to really make a lobby pop.
Hotel Loyalty Programs / Loyalty Program News / Starwood Hotels / Starwood Preferred Guest / Starwood Ambassadors / Hotel News / → All Tags
Starwood Unveils New Loyalty Program Perks for Dedicated SPGers
Remember two years ago when we first got wind of this super-secret Starwood Ambassadors program? Well, it turns out the program is now going public.
Today Starwood unveiled a couple of big changes to their Starwood Preferred Guest loyalty program starting on March 1st which includes personal ambassadors for SPG members who have spent 100 nights annually in Starwood hotels.
Starwood’s ambassadors work one-on-one with guests to understand their preferences and what matters to them on each trip to deliver a customized experience on property. Ambassadors also provide services beyond the hotel and are even empowered to assist guests when they’re not traveling
SPG also introduced a new loyalty tier for the devoted SPGers--SPG Lifetime which gives guests who stay 250 total nights and who have maintained their elite status for five years (consecutive or not), a lifetime of SPG Gold status. Members who tally up 500 stays and who have maintained their elite status for ten years (consecutive or not), will become SPG Platinum for life.
Killer View / Panama Hotels / Westin Hotels / Hotel Views / Hotel Bathrooms / Hotel Balconies / Starwood Hotels / → All Tags
Do Yourself A Favor and Make It An Ocean View At Westin Playa Bonita
You're checking into your hotel. You're tired from the trip, yet excited to be somewhere new, yet disoriented by the unfamiliar scenery—often all at once. Without your wits about you, how are you supposed to determine which side of the building to request to get the best room view? Well, in the case of Westin Playa Bonita, let us point you in the right direction: between two options (Rainforest view and Ocean view), always, always pick the Ocean view.
We were lucky enough to get given a room with an Ocean view right off the bat. And sure enough, one of the first things we did upon entering our room was rush over to our balcony, slide open the door, and gush for a good five minutes (to ourselves) about how amazing the view was.
Facing south, the Ocean view side of the building looks straight at the Pacific. From here, you can see islands in the distance, watch the sun rise and set, and even spot ships queuing up to cross the Panama Canal.
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How To Sleep With Practically Anyone At a Starwood Hotel
Hotel Kamp in Helsinki is owned by Starwood
The New York Daily News is reporting on a lawsuit between Wall Street banker Alison Fournier and Starwood Hotels, who gave an unknown man the key to Fournier's Helsinki hotel room, after he explained to the Front Desk that he was her husband. Creepy! And kinda unbelievable.
The surveillance video depicts an American man showing up at the Hotel Kamp's Front Desk, drunkenly explaining he had been locked out from his wife's room, and walking away with the key. Minutes later, he entered Fournier's room, took his clothes off and got into bed with her. Creepy again! Though half-asleep, and alone, Fournier immediately realized what was going on and ran straight out of the room. Starwood has called the event "very unfortunate" and is looking into the facts before taking any further action.
Like, um, an apology?
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Two Aloft Hotels to Screen Sneak Peek of 'Portlandia' Season 2
A few quick questions: Do you like hotels? Did you watch (and laugh at) any of the first season of IFC's show Portlandia? Do you like free stuff? If you answered yes to at least two of these questions and you're anywhere near Brooklyn, NY or Portland, OR this week, you should totally head to Aloft Hotels' screenings of the first episode of Portlandia Season 2.
The new season officially begins this Friday on IFC at 10pm EST, and sure you can already watch preview sketches online, but going outside your place and seeing the whole first ep (for free) while scoring drink specials and Portlandia swag while having the opportunity to meet other local hipsters beats out the internet.Here's the screening schedule:
Wednesday, January 4, 7pm: Aloft Brooklyn 216 Duffield Street
Thursday, January 5, 7pm: Aloft Portland 9920 NE Cascades Parkway
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Twitpic of the Week: A Children's Choir Always Livens Up The Lobby
In the ever-expanding universe of Twitter, there is one particular trend @HotelChatter happens to quite enjoy: candid hotel photos. These Twitpics range from stunning views to anti-views to celebrity tomfoolery and everything in between. And we can't get enough of 'em! Every Monday, we will feature one "Twitpic of the Week" to commemorate our favorite hotel-themed snapshot. Got a favorite of your own? Want to show off your sweet suite? Send it in!
How adorable is this photo, tweeted by @SheratonYHM, located in Ontario, on Thursday. Shown gathered around the hotel's gold-and-pink themed Christmas tree is the local St. Joseph's elementary choir, who sang carols in the lobby, accompanied by a violin.
Unlike some other bands we've seen recently, these guys didn't take up an entire suite just to perform a song.
Pop-Up Hotels / Mexico Hotels / Starwood Hotels / Design Hotels Collection / Beach Hotels / Odd Hotels / → All Tags
In These Tough Economic Times, Mexico Puts Its Money On The Pop-Up Hotel
After learning last week that Design Hotels had been partially taken over by Starwood, we worried that the originality and flair of the former might start to be undermined. Starwood's great and all—but running a multi-brand corporation is certainly different than running a small, design-oriented boutique collection like Design Hotels.
For now, our worries have been put to rest by some exciting news about a new pop-up hotel being launched by DH this month in Tulum, Mexico. According to MSNBC.com, Papaya Playa is a 99-cabana resort on the Mayan Riviera, and boasts a spa, private suites, and several restaurants.
Unlike other flashy resorts along the Caribbean, this spot has an expiration date of May 6. So if you like what you hear, you'd better not dally!
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Eek! Design Hotels Now Partly Belong to Starwood Hotels
This is an interesting development--Design Hotels, a collection of 200 awesome independent, boutique, design-forward hotels, is now a part of Starwood Hotels. But if you fear that your favorite assortment of art, design and fashion hotels will be corrupted by Westins, Sheratons and Ws, feel free to exhale.
The partnership is purely an investment deal as Starwood will not be involved in Design Hotels day-to-day operations nor will Design Hotels be a part of Starwood's reservations system or Starwood Preferred Guest program. That's reassuring but we're still suspicious of this whole deal.
But let's not focus on the negative, let's focus on the fun instead. Design Hotels has just kicked off their online Advent Calendar.
Hotel Sex Kits / Hotel News / London Hotels / Kelly Rowland / W Hotels / Sexy Hotels / Starwood Hotels / → All Tags
W London Turns Scarlet Woman For World AIDS Day With Kelly Rowland
If you’re in London today and happen to be mooching past Leicester Square, you might notice that the W Hotel – which usually exudes a mysterious ice maiden white-blue light has turned scarlet woman, with red lights (ooh err) running all across the building. The above pic is how we saw it this afternoon, but in the evening, according to the hotel, it's looking like this:
But fear not, for it hasn’t taken the recent specially-written-for-it porn to heart; it’s red today to mark World AIDS Day. Very nice too; but that’s not all.
The hotel has also knocked out some new brand new sex kits in support of the Elton John AIDS Foundation, and lured in Kelly Rowland – who is now huge in the UK thanks to her status as an X Factor judge – to support the cause, by waxing lyrical about them.
The best part (other than the glorious Lady K’s involvement of them, obvs) is that over 50% of the £20 will be donated to the Elton John AIDS Foundation.
The new kits cost £20 and contain condoms, three types of lube, a "vibrating ring with the strongest vibrations and special pleasure bumps" a "super-powered mini massager", a chocolate and vanilla massage candle that's rather sweetly called "Monogamy" and herbal supplements for both men and women to "stimulate energy levels", all ensuring, according to the hotel, that "guests can play hard but play safe."
Hotel Deals / 11-11-11 Hotels / Sonesta Hotels / Starwood Hotels / W Hotels / Cheap Hotels / → All Tags
Many More Hotel Deals Involving The Number '1'
Though we had these five hotels originally on our radar for 11/11/11, we thought it would be helpful to throw in some more options. Most hotels seem to be having fun with the lucky date—and if they're having fun, you may as well have fun too.
Like the sale going on at Sonesta Maho Beach Resort & Casino and Sonesta Great Bay Beach Resort & Casino for $111-per-night rooms. The deal only lasts from today through Sunday, and requires a two-night minimum, though you've got until December 29 to stay there. Which leaves us plenty of time for dancing around skulls in LA. Rate code: 1111
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Starwood Hotels to Put Reviews Right on Their Websites
The Nines in Portland
You know how when you go online shopping at Gap and Old Navy, you can immediately see reviews from other customers talking about the clothing (i.e. "I ordered a large and it fits like an extra large! Returned it right away!")? Well, that's soon what you are going to see at Starwood Hotels.
Hotel Check-In reports that Starwood will allow guests to write reviews directly on the hotel's website--as opposed to go to TripAdvisor and other review sites.
And not only is Starwood opening up their sites to reviews but after a property has accumulated enough reviews, the system will give it ratings-1 being the worst, 5 being the best--across several different categories.
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