November saw the addition of five new independently owned and operated hotels to the Small Luxury Hotels of the World (SLH) portfolio, ranging from a stately home in Queenstown to a classic alpine lodge in Austria. Here’s a list of who joined the group of last month.
One of Sri Lanka’s newest boutique hotels, Owl and the Pussycat Hotel, opened in January of 2016 and has just joined the SLH group. Close to the UNESCO listed historic Galle Fort and Buddhist temples, the hotel aims to provide authentic Sri Lankan experiences with modern and imaginative twists. The 16-suite coastal retreat was designed by New York architect Udar Dhar and houses furniture, colorful textiles and artwork hand-made by 20 artists from across the world. The hotel’s restaurant, The Runcible Spoon, is another nod to the hotel’s namesake, “The Owl and the Pussycat” by Edward Lear, and serves traditional Sri Lankan cuisine with Mediterranean influences.
Rates start at $180 per night, visit www.slh.com/owl.
Foxhill Manor in Cotswold, England, offers just eight rooms on the 400-acre Farncombe Estate. The pet-friendly, Grade II property has a “whatever you fancy, whenever you fancy” attitude, aimed at guests who are more laid back in personality. Guests of the property can help themselves to cocktails and cake in the Drawing Room, snacks in The Pantry or a home-cooked meal from Foxhill’s personal chef. Amenities on site include a cinema room and a free shuttle service to Foxhill Manor’s sister property, Dormy House, where guests can take advantage of the spa and restaurant facilities.
Rates start at $467 per night, visit www.slh.com/foxhill.
Just 10 minutes from the center of Queenstown, New Zealand, guests will find another new addition to the SLH group: the Hulbert House. Sitting halfway up a hill overlooking Lake Wakatipu, the villa was initially built in 1887 and has since been restored by designer Neil Lachlan. Each accommodation of the six room property has a view of either the lake, garden or skyline. Unique décor varies from room to room, with some featuring a canopy bed or wood burning fire place, while others have an antique writing desk or a tear drop chandelier. An onsite chef prepares breakfast and evening canapes for Hulbert guests, using home-grown produce paired with local New Zealand wine options.
Rates start at $656 per night, visit www.slh.com/hulbert.
The Villa Della Pergola in Alassio, Italy, was purchased by its current owners, husband and wife team Antonio and Silvia Ricci, back in 2006 to save the property from its upcoming destruction. With help from Italian architects Paolo Pejrone and Ettore Mocchetti, the couple has restored the villa and its grounds, and the hotel has now become a member of SLH. The property offers 12 bedrooms across three buildings, designed to keep the original architecture of the property while adding airy and elegant spaces. The hotel’s grounds span over 22,000 square meters, displaying a variety of garden features including Mediterranean flora and evergreens. Executive chef Giorgio Servetto serves traditional Ligurian cuisine at the hotel’s restaurant, Ristorante Nove.
Rates start at $350 per night, visit www.slh.com/dellapergola.
One of the larger properties added to SLH last month, the Das PostHotel in Tyrol, Austria, is a classic alpine lodge with 27 rooms and an eco-conscious design. The hotel’s owners, the Binder family, are the largest timber producers in Austria and live next door to the property, which explains the hotel’s raw pine, oak and native spruce furnishings and structures. A solar-heated pool and a kitchen (at the HeLeni restaurant) are just some of the initiatives the resort has taken to ensure sustainability. Located in the Zillertal ski area of Austria, the hotel offers optimally-groomed pistes, modern lift facilities and guaranteed snow; snow-sure slopes of the Hintertux Glacier ensure guests can ski all year round.
Rates start at $210 per night, visit www.slh.com/posthotel.
Agents booking with SLH should visit www.slh.com/travel-agents to receive a variety of commission options ranging anywhere from 10-20 percent available through all SLH booking forums. In addition, agents who join the Small Luxury Heroes program will earn points towards added benefits and rewards, in addition to being the first to know about latest hotel news and travel industry rates.
Reservations, additional info and a complete list of Small Luxury Hotels of the World by country can be found online at www.slh.com.