In January a handful of hotel guests outside of Québec City, Canada did the unthinkable: they climbed into sleeping bags for a long night’s sleep atop giant blocks of ice. It’s a ritual performed every year from January through March at the Hôtel de Glace of Québec.

The hotel is made up entirely of ice and compacted snow; construction typically begins in late November as long as the weather in the Northern Québec cooperates. The 2012 version boasts some brand-new features never before seen as well as what hotel officials describe as “amazing discoveries and lots of fun,” combining the art, culture, and history of the First Nations that once inhabited the area.

The Hôtel de Glace of Québec is certainly not the only ice hotel in the world. The concept actually dates back to a 1990 art show in Sweden where an ice igloo, which was part of the show, was used as accommodations for some of the guests because of a lack of hotel space. From those humble beginnings more than 20 years ago, ice hotels have evolved to become elaborate works of art with themed rooms, ice sculptures, full ice bars, and incredible lighting.

Nightly rates start at $199.

Hôtel de Glace Québec
http://www.hoteldeglace-canada.com/
9530 Rue de la Faune Quebec
QC G1G 4G4, Canada

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When your eyes first lay hold on the Hyatt Capital Gate in Abu Dhabi, your mind has a difficult time comprehending what you see. For ascending out of the ground is an architectural structure unlike anything you’ve ever seen. As so much of new the Abu Dhabi construction is designed to be, the Hyatt Capital Gate is as much a work of art as it is a luxury business hotel. It is a modern structure in every sense of the word with a stunning 18° lean that seems to defy gravity.

The hotel’s interior is equally stunning with modern décor, stylish elegant design, and the magnificent architecture. The hotel features 189 guest rooms and suites that could be considered nothing less than five-star. Guest accommodations occupy the 18th through 33rd floors, while the areas below accommodate the hotel’s restaurants, bars, meeting rooms, and ballrooms. Guest rooms and suites all come with 24-hour room service, high-speed Internet access, dedicated work area, comfortable seating and bedding, and floor-to-ceiling windows with spectacular views. 

The 19th floor is home to the incredible Rayana Spa, designed to give the impression of an “elevated oasis” rising above the desert floor. Guests will relish time spent in the spa’s suspended outdoor pool, as well as a complete list of well-being treatments provided for the ultimate in relaxation and comfort. Made complete by panoramic views of the city, Rayana Spa may very well be the best spa in Abu Dhabi.

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W Paris – Opéra is being designed in a partnership between Rockwell Group Europe and W Global Brand Design. It will take full advantage of the historic nature of the building to create an atmosphere of sophistication, which plays off of the designation of Paris as the City of Lights. At the centre of the design is a spectacular backlit wall that undulates throughout the core of the building with displays of The Spark; digital patterns creating abstract images that continuously change.

As for the hotel rooms themselves, the five-story property will feature a total of 91 guest rooms. Among them will be W Paris – Opéra’s 20 luxury suites and two others is being billed as “Extreme WOW Suites.” All of the hotel’s rooms include three and a half meter ceilings, a spacious and sophisticated design, and unforgettable views of the local neighborhood and the Opéra Garnier. Adding to ambience will be some of the historical elements of the building, which will remain intact throughout the hotel’s public spaces. Guests will enjoy gorgeous stained glass windows, exquisite fireplaces, marble staircases, and second-floor mosaic flooring.

The Parisian reputation as one of the most exciting places to be for fashion was part of the inspiration for choosing the site of W Paris – Opéra. W Hotels hopes their first venture into Paris will provide an exciting experience full of energy and vibrancy guests will not soon forget. To that end, everything about the hotel is meant to capture the attention of guests and stimulate them to experience all that is Paris.

http://www.whotels.com/parisopera

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Northern Thailand’s historic city of Chiang Mai is home to 137 Pillars House, a unique experience combining modern luxury and elegance in a historic Thai building. This 30 room hotel sits effortlessly on a glorious piece of land along the Mae Ping River, and was formerly used by the Thai government to host visiting guests.

137 Pillars House offers four levels of accommodations, starting with their 20 Rajah Brooke Suites. These suites offer 70 square meters including a suite bathroom, walk-in closet, and tiled veranda overlooking lush tropical gardens. The hotel’s top-tier accommodations are their two Louis Leonowens Pool Suites. At 135 square meters, these one or two bedroom suites feature their own private pools and indoor/outdoor showers. All of the rooms feature four poster king or super king beds with Sealy Posturepedic mattresses and 400-ct. bed linens. Guests will also enjoy personal butlers, concierge service, high-speed Internet, a welcome basket of fruits and local delicacies, and so much more.

Strolling through the grounds reveals carefully preserved lady palms, mimosa trees, and lots of tropical flowers. It is the perfect setting for the hotel’s spa, which offers traditional Thai spa treatments. Guests will find professionally trained therapists and spa staff offering classical massage, aromatherapy, yoga, and a variety of beauty treatments. Guests can even receive private instruction in order to take massage skills home with them.

Nightly rates start at over $600 per night.

137 Pillars House
2 Soi 1, Nawatgate Road,
Tambon Watgate,
Muang Changmai,
50000 Thailand
Thailand

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The Armani Group has announced the opening of its second hotel – this one in the fashion-rich city of Milan. It follows closely on the heels of the brand-new hotel chain’s first property, the Armani Hotel Dubai. While Dubai property focused on luxury in a modern, art deco world, the Milan property is a step back in a unique package which combines luxury, old world Italian elegance, and Giorgio Armani’s personal sense of sophistication. It is a hotel designed not only for international travelers on holiday, but also the world’s top business representatives coming to the city. Armani Hotels are operated in partnership with Emaar Properties PJSC

The lovely 95-room property sits atop the historic Manzoni 31 building where Armani’s signature first store is also located. The hotel features three room options including Armani Deluxe, Armani Signature, and Armani Presidential suites. The presidential suites are by far the most sought after ranging up to 2,162 square feet, spread across two floors and joined by an impressive staircase. Among the modern and sophistication design elements are a one-way glass shower enclosure, cupboards that recede and disappear into the walls, and a unique front vestibule separating the bedroom area. Guests are sure to appreciate the sophisticated neutral colors, elegant furnishings, and the abundance of Asian limestone in the bathrooms.

The hotel includes a spa on the eighth floor complete with a 24-hour fitness gym, heated pool, six treatment rooms, a couple’s suite, and a world-class combination of treatments designed for both beauty and ultimate relaxation. One floor below is the Armani Ristorante, Armani Lounge, and Armani Bamboo Lounge. The restaurant features classic gourmet Italian from a first-rate chef, complete with a private wine list and a handful of exclusive tables right in the kitchen. Both the seventh and eighth floors also serve as the best place to view the city of Milan. Completely enclosed in glass, visitors will see awe-inspiring views in every direction.

The Armani Hotel Milano officially opened on November 10, with a star-studded guest list numbering 300 celebrities.

Rates start at over $700 a night.

Armani Milano
Via Monzoni 31,
Milan, Italy

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Always known for its first-class accommodations and entertainment venues, Disney opened its latest resort hotel on the island of Oahu, Hawaii to much fanfare and customer anticipation. The first guests arrived the last week of August to enjoy a combination of Disney quality and the gorgeous island atmosphere of Hawaii; an atmosphere that provides an unforgettable holiday getaway for people of all ages.

The Aulani Disney Resort sits on 21 gorgeous acres of waterfront space just 30 minutes from Waikiki. Guests can spend their days soaking up the sun, relaxing in a Disney spa, touring the island with official Disney excursions, and having fun in the resort’s swimming pools. Yet the hotel’s most unique feature is its storytelling theme, which plays off the ancient Hawaiian tradition of carrying on indigenous history through storytelling. And as an added bonus, just like Disney has scattered “hidden Mickey’s” all over its resorts in Orlando, they’ve also hidden an unknown number of Menehune statues for guests to try and find.

Accommodations

The resort is still under construction, but will include 359 hotel rooms and more than 475 two-bedroom villas when complete. All the rooms and villas will be built within two resort towers and will offer stunning views of the ocean, the lush greenery, and the glorious Hawaiian mountains. Each of the spacious rooms is exceptionally decorated in Disney’s signature, over-the-top, imaginative style, with special attention being given to highlighting traditional Hawaiian architecture and culture. And with each room guests are treated to the legendary Disney quality and top-notch service.

Amenities

The Aulani is truly a family-friendly paradise with something for both adults and children. The adults will especially enjoy the Laniwai, an 18,000 sq ft spa and fitness centre with 15 treatment rooms. Traditional Hawaiian healing techniques are the centre of the spa, designed to provide the ultimate in relaxation and well-being. For those who love traditional Hawaiian Art, the Aulani features wonderful works throughout including a stunning lobby mural painted by artist Martin Charlot. Your senses will be overwhelmed by the multiple layers, patterns, and scenes that all combine to tell the Hawaiian story.

As usual, Disney has not forgotten the children either. They have access to their own kids club with plenty of age-appropriate activities that are both entertaining and educational. The resort boasts its own water park with pools, fountains, and a handful of water slides that combine for a full day of waterfront. And for the adventurous, Disney offers the Makai Preserve conservation pool where kids can interact with exotic marine wildlife.

Dining

The Aulani offers dining options through two restaurants contained on-site. Both feature an extensive menu utilizing traditional Hawaiian ingredients provided by local fishermen and farmers. For breakfast, the Makahiki features the opportunity to dine with Disney characters. As morning turns into afternoon, and then eventually evening, the Makahiki ambience changes with programmed lighting. And last but not least, three bars treat guest to an extensive list of exotic drinks, as well as individual themes.

The Aulani Disney Resort is not just for kids, adults will enjoy their time as well.

Nightly rates start at just under $400 per night.

Aulani Disney Resort
92-1185 Aliʻinui Drive
Kapolei, HI 96707

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The beautiful city of Florence recaptures a bit of former glory in the Starwood Hotels & Resorts restoration of one of its most historic and grand buildings. Starwood has just completed a 10-month renovation of the former Grand Hotel Florence, which they previously operated under their The Luxury Collection brand. With the renovation complete the new property is now known as the St. Regis Florence.

The St. Regis Florence occupies what was once the first luxury hotel in the city designed in 1432 by architect Filippo Brunelleschi. Starwood has returned the building to its former glory careful to preserve both the heritage and historical significance of the structure. The renovation is part of a $100 million effort by Starwood to renovate their most desirable properties across Europe, the Middle East, and Africa.

The St. Regis Florence is a truly Italian hotel featuring 81 rooms, 19 suites, and a special designer suite from Bottega Veneta. All guest rooms feature luxury appointments, custom furniture, gloriously beautiful paintings, frescoes, and chandeliers, and unique names of noted Italian artists and nobility. Furthermore, each room is decorated with sophistication and elegance, in one of three color themes: Florentine, Medici, and Renaissance. As for the property’s public spaces, guests will appreciate fine antiques and handmade engravings scattered throughout the hotel.

For the ultimate in relaxation Starwood has included Europe’s first IridiumSM Spa with three luxury treatment suites featuring Florentine marble, beautiful custom mosaics, walls incorporating gold and silver, and Jacuzzi tubs.

The St. Regis Florence is located in the heart of the city and includes what may very well be one of the most acclaimed restaurants and lounges. Etichetta Pinchiorri combines a sophisticated cuisine with a very impressive wine list, all in the space reminiscent of early 19th century Italy.

Nightly rates start at just over $300 depending on the season.

The St. Regis Florence
Piazza Ognissanti 1
Firenze, 50123, Italy
Phone: (39)(055) 27161

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In Europe the Virgin brand name is one of the most well-known and respected among all industries. Now the company aims to strengthen its position in North America by venturing into the hotel business. To that end, Virgin Group has announced the completion of a deal that will bring the first Virgin-branded hotel to America. The site of the property is a historic office building in downtown Chicago that the Group purchased from Wabash Lake Partners LLC, Chicago.

Assisting Virgin Group in the deal was Chicago-based John Buck Company. The two will jointly work together on a redevelopment plan to transform the property into a 250-room, four-star hotel. No details have yet been released on the direction designers will be taking, or the total cost of the renovation, but Virgin’s hotel division has been allotted as much as USD $500 million to acquire and develop properties in America’s most dynamic cities. In addition to Chicago, Virgin has targeted New York, Los Angeles, Miami, San Francisco, and Washington DC.

The Chicago property is a 27-story building on the city’s West side, between the shores of Lake Michigan and the Chicago River. The Art Deco building is significant to Chicago’s heritage, making it a perfect venue for the Virgin brand name. Virgin has not yet scheduled a date for the property’s grand opening and is open the possibility of another US-based hotel debuting before the October 2013 Chicago deadline.

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Luggage Forward is an American company based in Boston, Massachusetts. The company offers its service to more than 200 countries and territories around the world, making bookings available via the telephone or the Internet. The company partners with world-class shipping companies and forwarding specialists in order to ensure your luggage gets where it needs to go. Luggage Forward is the official forwarding service for well-known organizations like AAA, Starwood Hotels & Resorts, Abercrombie & Kent, Holland America, and American Express.

As to the reasons why someone would choose Luggage Forward, simply think of the hassles of transporting your luggage through the standard airline channels. With this service there are no more long check-in lines, annoying bag-check fees, frustrating waits at the baggage claim area, and lost or damaged luggage from airline carelessness. With Luggage Forward you simply get on and off the plane without anything else to worry about.

To book your service simply contact Luggage Forward from their website or over the phone. Rates are generated based upon the type of bag being sent, its contents, where it’s going, and how quickly you want it to get there. Regardless, it is an affordable means of getting your luggage to its destination without breaking the bank. And best of all, Luggage Forward offers a full money-back guarantee plus an additional $500 on-time guarantee.

http://www.luggageforward.com/

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Regular users of Bose headphones know that they are an excellent choice for travel. So it should be no surprise that the company’s two newest models, the OE2 and OE2i, live up to the same Bose standards we’ve come to know and love. According to an official announcement, they are even better than their predecessors.

The OE2i feature an in-line switch that allows interaction with connected devices so that users can both listen to music and speak on the go. With your smart phone that means you’ll be able to take calls and listen to music without having to switch your earphones. You’ll be able to make use of voice applications, adjust your volume, scroll through tracks, and a whole lot more.

As for the OE2 headphones, they don’t come with the same voice features, but they reproduce music just as accurately and crisply as the OE2i. Bose accomplishes this with their proprietary TriPort® acoustic technology. This technology reproduces sound that is more natural and more balanced with rich clarity at all frequencies – lows, mids, and highs – so you get perfect sound reproduction by matter what type of music you listen to.

Both models are now offered in both white as well as the traditional Bose black.

The OE2i retail for $149 & the OE2i retail for $179.

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