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| Plunge pool at Four Seasons Jimbaran Bay |
From three new beachfront villas at Andaz Maui at Wailea Resort, to two new Sofitel properties set to be constructed in Singapore and Kuala Lumpur, here's the latest luxury hotel news.
Update: The Ritz Paris Scheduled to Open in June
As previously reported by Luxury Travel Advisor and Mary Winston Nicklin, a fire broke out at the Ritz Paris on January 19. The hotel, which was set to open in March after a major renovation that lasted several years, will now open in early June.
According the hotel, firemen quickly took control of the blaze. The hotel also reported that Place Vendôme, which houses a majority of the rooms, suites, the restaurant, the brasserie à la française, the spa and the gardens, was not affected by the fire.
Before the fire, the restoration was running a price tag of about €200 million. The project will include a new Chanel spa, which is the first for a hotel.
An exact date for the reopening has not yet been announced.
For more information, continue to visit www.luxurytraveladvisor.com
GuocoLand Signs With AccorHotels For Sofitels in Singapore, Kuala Lumpur
GuocoLand has announced that it has signed a deal with AccorHotels for the management of the group's two new-build hotels at Tanjong Pagar Centre in Singapore and Damansara City in Kuala Lumpur.
Once complete, the Sofitel Singapore City Centre and the Sofitel Kuala Lumpur Damansara will add 534 rooms to the AccorHotel portfolio. The opening date has yet to be announced.
The 222-room Sofitel Singapore City Centre will be part of the upcoming Tanjong Pagar Centre in Singapore, located between Chinatown and the CBD. It will have Singapore's tallest building, a residential and office tower, retail and event spaces, and the Sofitel hotel. In addition, The Sofitel Singapore City Centre will have an outdoor pool, an executive lounge with city views, a 6,674 square foot ballroom and eight meeting rooms. There will also be a restaurant and bars.
Also, in Malaysia, the 312-room Sofitel Kuala Lumpur Damansara will be part of a new 8.5 acre integrated development in the Damansara Heights enclave called Damansara City. The property will also comprise two Grade A office towers, two high-rise residences, and an F&B-centric lifestyle mall. The Sofitel will have a lobby lounge, deli, three restaurants and bars, a Club Millesime executive lounge on the 22nd floor, a So Spa, So Fit gym and outdoor swimming pool complete with pool bar. A 9,042 square foot ballroom and five meeting rooms will provide banquet and function spaces.
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| St. Regis Dubai, The Palm |
The St. Regis Dubai, The Palm To Open in 2018
Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide has announced the scheduled opening of The St. Regis Dubai, The Palm in 2018.
Owned by Nakheel, the hotel will be part of The Palm Tower, a 52-story mixed-use development located on Dubai’s Palm Jumeirah island. The property will comprise 289 guestrooms and suites, spread throughout the first 18 floors of Palm Tower. The building’s upper floors will become The Palm Tower Residences, with 504 studios and one-, two- and three-bedroom apartments with island, sea and skyline views.
The hotel will have two swimming pools, including one of the world’s highest infinity pools that will be located on the 50th floor, bordering all four sides of the building for a 360-degree view of the Palm Jumeirah, Arabian Gulf and Dubai skyline.
Dining options at the property will include a restaurant with city views on the 51st floor, as well as an all-day restaurant. The Palm Tower will also have a public rooftop viewing deck on thes 52nd floor, and will be connected to Nakheel Mall, which spans 4.4 million square feet with 350 shops, a 15-screen Vox cinema, 12 restaurants on its roof terrace, as well as a medical center and fitness complex.
Visit www.starwoodhotels.com
Le Méridien Visconti Rome to Open This Year After Extensive Renovation
Starwood Hotels & Resorts is set to open Le Méridien Visconti Rome by the end of 2016, marking the brand’s reentry into Italy after an extensive renovation and conversion of the Visconti Palace Hotel.
Situated in the Prati district near the Vatican and Castel Sant’ Angelo, Le Méridien will be located near posh shopping and within walking distance of Piazza di Spagna. The guestrooms and suites will be decorated in a modern style. There will also be a rooftop terrace, all-day dining restaurant, a breakfast room and bar and a fitness area, while the lobby will also be revamped. The property’s signature Latitude Bar will serve coffee specialties from the partner, Illy.
Starwood currently has 23 hotels in Italy, with brands including St. Regis, The Luxury Collection, Sheraton, Westin and Four Points by Sheraton.
Visit www.starwoodhotels.com
Aja Malibu Set to Open This Spring
Aja Malibu, a holistic retreat located in the Santa Monica Mountains, is scheduled to open this spring.
Set on 23 acres, the luxury retreat was once owned by President Roosevelt and has seven guestrooms, seven gardens and offers a seven-night wellness program.
During their stay, guests will enjoy vegetarian cuisine and will participate in rituals and ceremonies, as well as healing spa therapies in an effort to help them feel self-empowered and relaxed.
The resort décor uses natural reclaimed FCS-certified timbers, and there are also sustainable cooling systems and solar powered radiant heat. Guests will sleep on organic sheets and use organic towels and robes. Aja aims to provide visitors with a chemical-free environment.
In addition, various workshops will be offered during a stay. Guests can opt to visit the gardens to learn about edible flowers and herbs and also learn about what to grow in their own gardens. During the day, there will be wisdom workshops, tea ceremonies, experiential nature exercises, meditation and daily hikes through local canyons. Good to know: The tours and food will change seasonally.
The all-inclusive rate begins at $10,000 per person for a seven-night stay. The rate includes 28 spa treatments, meals and all workshops.
Visit www.ajamalibu.com
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| Andaz Maui at Wailea |
Andaz Maui at Wailea Resort Unveils Three Residential-Style Beachfront Villas
Andaz Maui at Wailea Resort has announced the introduction of three new oceanfront residential-style villas at the property, bringing its collection of partial and full ocean view villas up to 10.
The 3,234-square-foot villas at Andaz Maui at Wailea Resort, have up to three bedrooms and include modern touches like private lanais offering views of the Maui sunset, baths overlooking the ocean and gardens, showers and luxurious bath amenities.
The property’s décor was inspired by the island’s natural elements, such as Ambrato marble tile and white lava stone floors, wooden white-washed oak screens and warm walnut finishes throughout, all combined with modern enhancements including Miele appliances and custom Bianco Versace marble counters in each of the kitchens, oversized basket-like chairs and Cappellini teak chaises.
In addition, each villa has custom-made furniture, a private outdoor plunge pool or hot tub, Viking range barbecue grills, and lounge areas accented with ottomans and platform beds.
Villa reservations start at $1,750 per night and are inclusive of roundtrip airport transfers or valet parking for one vehicle for a guest’s duration of stay; daily breakfast in Ka’ana Kitchen; resort credit; and access to the activities and amenities available at Andaz Maui at Wailea Resort.
Visit www.maui.andaz.hyatt.com
Renovation Now Complete at Four Seasons Jimbaran Bay
Four Seasons Jimbaran Bay recently announced the completion of renovations on the Premier and Deluxe Villas on the property.
Jimbaran Bay, located in Bali, still offers accommodations inspired by Balinese culture; however, there are some new touches including hand carvings and a relaxing, muted color-scheme. The bedroom in the villas is also 50 percent larger and is combined with a new indoor living room. Also, the living room now has sliding doors that open completely to a garden and pool. (The plunge pool is also now bigger in the Premier villas only.) Outside, both villa options have a new thatch-roof bale with direct access to the infinity-edged pool.
Part of the renovations at the property included the creation of Family Premier Villas, which offer a separate room for children complete with a daybed and trundle, television and writing desk.
Guests who book by June 30 will save 30 percent off the newly-renovated Premier Ocean Villas, Family Premier Villas and Deluxe Villas. This includes daily breakfast. The offer is available on a two-night stay for travel until December 20, 2016.
Jimbaran Bay also opened a new Yoga Bale this year, offering a lotus-petal inspired, open-air facility designed with Balinese bamboo. AntiGravity yoga classes and meditation classes are all on offer.
Looking forward, Jimbaran Bay is scheduled to renovate its two-bedroom villas in May of this year.