Author Archive for Carmen
Four Seasons Baltimore Opens November
If you’ve ever visited Baltimore you know that it is a thriving hub of medical research, business, professional sports, shopping, dining, and culture. If you’ve never visited, you need to do so. In fact, there’s no better time to go than this November, when the new For Seasons Hotel Baltimore opens its doors.
This 18 story hotel rises majestically above the city’s bustling east harbor with an edgy, modern look. It’s just minutes from the Baltimore convention Center, the world-famous Johns Hopkins Medical Center, and the city centre. The hotel offers 256 rooms all complemented by Baltimore’s most extensive hotel-based art collection and interior design from Brayton & Hughes Design Studio.
St. Regis New York – The Dior Suite
The St. Regis New York hotel is proud to announce the availability of their new Dior Suite in collaboration with the famed Parisian fashion house. This is the hotel chain’s a second joint effort with Dior, this time in a 1700-square feet space of decadent luxury. And just like the Tiffany Suite, the Dior was designed to the highest standards the St. Regis brand is known for.
The Dior is normally a one bedroom suite with views of 5th Avenue, Central Park, and 55th St. However; it can easily be converted to a two-bedroom suite. It’s been painted almost entirely in the St. Regis signature colour known as “whispering gray”, with the finest luxury appointments included.
LEGOLAND Hotel to Open in Carlsbad, CA – Luxury for Kids
This past summer the ownership of LEGOLAND California Resort made a major announcement regarding the first ever North America based LEGOLAND Hotel to open on resort property in summer 2013. The property will occupy space now being used by the resort for bus parking. Construction begins this month on the 250-room hotel which will feature a LEGO theme with bright colours, LEGO designer décor, a swimming pool, and a restaurant. Initial approval for the project was first given by the city of Carlsbad back in 2009. Since then the company has been working diligently to secure the proper permits and other approvals required.
LEGOLAND California resort first opened in 1999 with just a single theme park area. It has enjoyed astronomical growth in the 12 years since, expanding to four total areas welcoming hundreds of thousands of visitors every year. As for the new hotel, it will be designed specifically to cater to families with children with accommodations being themed after the four main LEGOLAND areas. Guests can expect LEGO characters, LEGO themed furniture, and plenty of colour throughout the rooms and public spaces. Once the hotel is complete it will join two other on-site hotels, the Sheraton Carlsbad Resort and the Grande Pacific Palisades, in providing accommodations for LEGOLAND California’s guests.
JetSuite Brings Fuel Efficiency to Priviate Luxury Aviation
Southern California-based JetSuite is proud to announce a new program which makes them the only private jet operator to fly the new Embraer Phenom 100. This new jet is the most fuel-efficient in its class and will enable JetSuite to provide more service to more destinations at a lower cost. Along with completely updating their fleet, the company now wants to offer more affordable private aviation services to give customers the best flight options with no obligations.
JetSuite currently provides private aviation services to airports in the U.S., Mexico, and Canada, utilizing what the company calls SuiteSpots. The company, which has earned the highest possible safety rating from ARG/US, attributes a lot of their success to CEO Alex Wilcox. Wilcox is one of the founding executives of JetBlue, though he’s no longer with them.
Dorchester Collection Announces New London Hotel, 45 Park Lane
The Dorchester Collection is known around the world for offering the finest luxury hotels with elegance and style. The newly-opened 45 Park Lane in London is the newest member of the Collection, featuring 45 rooms and suites centred on fine art and guest relaxation. The hotel’s Penthouse Suite boasts 1830-square feet of spacious indulgence complete with London panoramas on a wraparound terrace. All the remaining guest rooms feature a view of Hyde Park.
With fine art as a centrepiece, guests will enjoy the ‘Psalms’ series from Damien Hirst displayed in the hotel restaurant. Ten other leading British artists provide the artwork for guest rooms and the rest of the hotel. The building itself is also a piece of art from internationally known architect Thierry W. Despont. His awe-inspiring art deco and contemporary designs will leave you breathless.
45 Park Lane provides fine dining with the CUT restaurant; an American-style steakhouse from world-famous chef Wolfgang Puck. CUT offers choice steaks in a refined and relaxing environment, with a superb wine list. Future guests will also enjoy Bar 45, plus a hotel library and media room on the mezzanine level; all accessible from a grand spiral staircase rising up from the lobby.
Jordan Planning New Star Trek Resort
Rabid fans of the Star Trek television series and movies, also known as Trekkies, will only have to wait three more years before realizing their stellar Shangri-La, thanks to a brand-new 184 acre resort opening in Jordan in 2014. The product will be a world-class resort and theme park centered around the hugely popular Star Trek franchise first made famous by Gene Roddenberry’s television program of the 1960s. The program developed such a cult-like following, that 40 years later there are people who dress in the costumes, play-act as the characters, and even learn to speak the constructed language of Klingon.
The Aqaba resort will include four hotels and the theme park when it is completed, at a cost of about $1.5 billion. Although a number of Middle Eastern and U.S. investors are involved, the biggest money comes from the King Abdulla II Fund for Development – Jordan’s King Abdullah II has long been an avid Star Trek fan. In order for the resort to be profitable it has to draw nearly 500,000 visitors annually, something investors believe will not be a problem due to the universal appeal of the Star Trek brand. The resort is a developed as a joint venture between Paramount Recreation and kept Rubicon Group Holding. It is licensed by the owner of Star Trek, CBS Consumer Products.
How far the Star Trek theme will be taken remains to be seen. But for now, Trekkies can start making plans to be “beamed up.”
Sunpocket Sunglasses – The Perfect Travel Accessory
When packing to go on vacation, suitcase space is at a premium. Everyone wants to take favorite outfits with them, and there are the other vacation essentials such as sandals, sunscreen, books to read by the pool, cosmetics or toiletries. Airlines are getting ever more restrictive about baggage allowances, and many are also limiting the amount of cabin baggage travelers take on board the aircraft with them. By packing sensibly and making clever choices of accessories, you can easily free up space in your baggage and make your journeys smoother and less stressful.
Sunpocket sunglasses have one major benefit over competing brands. All of the different models which are produced by the company fold in half down the middle, making them much easier to slip into a pocket or small pocket on a bag than traditional rigid designs of glasses. The special case which is provided with the glasses protects them when traveling, and means that they can stand up to being crammed in a suitcase or put into the corner of a small cabin bag.
Experience Tropical Paradise Off the Coast of Tanzania at Essque Zalu Zanzibar
Off the coast of Tanzania, in the beautiful Indian Ocean, lies the tropical island paradise of Zanzibar. Sitting gracefully at the north end of Zanzibar is the beautiful Essque Zalu Zanzibar, a world-class resort offering a luxury experience of a lifetime. Guests will enjoy an atmosphere of natural wonders, African mystery, and deep rooted legends. Explore the streets of Swahili, learn about the local people and their culture, and let your senses run while among the areas of many spice plantations.
The Essque Zalu Zanzibar is located in the extreme northern region of Nungwi, in an area known for its exquisite diving opportunities. Guests have access to the region through Stone Town on Zanzibar’s east coast. You may choose between a 20 minute flight from Dar es Salaam to the airport at Stone Town, or a ferry which makes the same trip in about 50 minutes. From Stone Town you’re a mere 50-minute car ride from the resort.
The resort offers 40 suites and 9 villas all designed to captivate you in a world of unparalleled luxury. The suites all include gorgeous views of either the turquoise-blue waters of the Indian Ocean or the resort’s lush, tropical gardens. You’ll find the ambience to be very tasteful with a combination of local materials, indigenous artwork, and traditional Makuti roofing. The resort’s villas are a bit larger than the suites and come in three-bedroom or four-bedroom options. The villas all boast a private pool, kitchen, and private terrace or balcony. Villa guests are also free to enjoy in-room massages and dining options.
Eccleston Square Hotel Opens, Brings High Tech Amenities
In July 2011 the contemporary London hotel scene introduced a new type of property unlike anything the industry has seen to date. It is the high-tech lover’s dream, described by the hotel’s owners as “an ultra high-tech urban cocoon.” The new Eccleston Square Hotel was designed by Woods Bagot to facilitate director Olivia Byrne’s vision of uncompromising luxury and technology. Ms. Byrne is a graduate of the highly regarded Ecole Hotelière de Lausanne.
Central to the Eccleston Square Hotel model is the state-of-the-art technology found in each of the property’s 39 rooms. Guests will enjoy the most advanced technology including 46-inch, 3-D flat screen TVs, HD movie channels, 3-D channels, 3-D Blu-Ray players, and the fastest Wi-Fi connections possible. VOIP technology even allows guests to make unlimited free phone calls anywhere in the world.
The technology continues into the little details like controlling the room’s environment. Want to adjust the lighting? How about closing the curtains and turning on a peaceful and soothing soundtrack? It’s all possible with a simple touch of a button, thanks to the hotel’s electronic control system. The iPad2 is also standard in every room, giving guests access to absolutely everything they could want or need, from the privacy of their own rooms. You’ll be able to use the iPad 2 to request room service, book some time at the luxury spa, order shopping guides, or contact the front desk.
Mandarin Oriental Paris Grand Opening
The City of Lights welcomed a brand-new luxury hotel from Mandarin Oriental with a ribbon ceremony late last month. The new Mandarin Oriental Paris is just the latest in a series of wonderful properties the brand is known for. The hotel is situated on the world-famous Rue Saint Honoré and features 138 guest rooms with world-class service and luxury. With Paris being one of the world’s favorite tourist destinations, the Mandarin Oriental Hotel Group has been anxious to have a presence in the city. Now that they’ve arrived, they face stiff competition from other luxury hoteliers in the city.
The location of the new Mandarin Oriental puts it right at the heart of the city’s most sought after retail and entertainment districts. From this region guests have access to the Paris business center and all the major tourist sites the city has to offer. The hotel fits perfectly in its chosen neighborhood with an Art Deco façade, contemporary interior design, and a chic and up-and-coming ambience. The hotel’s redesign was led by legendary architect Jean-Michel Wilmotte.
Luxury, class, and elegance are the defining characteristics of the hotel’s guest rooms. The rooms are among the largest in the city and feature plenty of light and open space. The design theme is an unexpected mixture of oriental influences and sophisticated Paris touches that will stir your imagination. Upon entering your room you will be greeted with an environment of tranquillity, peace, and total relaxation.
