All Entries in the "Asia" Category
Marriott Announces Plans for Five New EDITION Hotels
Marriott International is adding to their newest luxury brand, according to an announcement made by the company on in January. The new brand, created in a joint effort with New York’s Ian Schrager Company, is known as EDITION.
Five separate EDITION hotels are slated to open within the next couple of years in New York, London, Bangkok, Abu Dhabi, and Miami Beach. A sixth property is planned for opening no later than 2015. In addition, management contracts have been signed for hotels in Los Angeles and India.
The first addition to EDITION to open is expected to be the New York property. It will be located in the historical Clock Tower Building on Madison Avenue. Marriott acquired the building from Africa Israel USA for some $165 million. It should be ready for opening later this year.
Hyatt Capital Gate, Abu Dhabi – Now Open
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.
137 Pillars House – Old Building, Modern Luxury in Thailand
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.
Guangzhou, China Hilton Opens
Visitors to Guangzhou, China now have a new luxury hotel option with the opening of the brand new Hilton Guangzhou Tianhe. The hotel, operating under the Hilton Hotels & Resorts brand, is the first of two being opened by Hilton in the south-eastern Chinese city. It is conveniently located close to the airport and only a few steps away from the city’s East Railway Station.
The site for the Hilton Guangzhou Tianhe was chosen as a way to meet the needs of international business travelers in the region. The city is one of China’s most advanced manufacturing cities, playing host to businessmen and women from around the world. With just over 500 luxury rooms and suites, the new hotel brings the strength of the Hilton name and reputation to Southern China. Luxury is the key word describing the hotel and its rooms, especially the Presidential Suite which is one of the largest in the city.
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.”
Welcome to the New Banyan Tree Macau Resort
Macau’s first 5-star urban resort has just opened, much to the delight of the property’s namesake, Banyan Tree. The new Banyan Tree Macau is the Singapore-based company’s first offering in Macau, considered by many to be one of the top tourist destinations in Asia. The resort has been designed specifically to offer guests a truly unique and enjoyable experience in traditional Asian relaxation.
A brand-new Banyan Tree Spa will open at the resort later this summer as part of Banyan Tree’s USD $1.9 billion Macau investment. The spa features 21 luxurious treatment rooms staffed by therapists who have graduated from the renowned Banyan Tree Spa Academy. Treatments centre on ancient Oriental techniques that concentrate on touch over technology.
The spa is open daily from 10:00 AM to 11:00 PM and offers a full range of treatments exclusive to Banyan Tree. For example, the Harmonising Banyan Gui Shi combines natural substances like sesame oil, lotus, and rice with expert massage and heated stones to detoxify, balance qi, and condition the skin. Other Banyan treatments include the Royal Banyan Herbal Pouch Massage, the Tropical Rainmist, and an ancient Chinese foot massage.
St. Regis Hotels and Resorts Brings Luxury to Bangkok With Opening of The St. Regis Bangkok
When discriminating travellers hear the name St. Regis, they can’t help but think of sophistication, class, and unparalleled luxury. Now, that same reputation has reached Thailand with the announcement of Starwood Resorts & Hotels’ newest offering, the St. Regis Bangkok. This brand new, 47 story property graces Bangkok’s skyline with breathtaking architecture from Brennan Beer Gorman Architects, the world-renowned architectural design firm known for a style that is both cutting-edge and unique.
The St. Regis Bangkok aims to be the address of choice not only for international travellers, but also for influential residents who desire the finest in hospitality, luxury, and service. The St. Regis is the first hotel in the city to provide butler service to all guests and residents. Furthermore, the addition of Thailand’s first Elemis Spa and ZUMA restaurant means there’s no better place to be than the St. Regis.
Accommodations
The St. Regis Bangkok’s 227 total rooms include 51 suites and 53 unique residences. Taking luxury and elegance to new heights, guest rooms range in size from 45 m² to 250 m². Floor to ceiling windows provide breathtaking views of the city and beyond, while exquisite styling and lavish appointments provide guests a peaceful and relaxed escape from the busy city below.
Ritz-Carlton Hong Kong World’s ‘Highest’ Hotel
The world’s “most vertical city” is home to the brand-new Ritz-Carlton Hong Kong, a five-star luxury hotel which opened in March 2011. The Ritz-Carlton Hong Kong continues the tradition of world-class accommodations in the finest destinations the Ritz-Carlton name is known for. This new hotel also qualifies as the “highest” in the world, taking up floors 102 to 118 in the city’s International Commerce Centre.
The property offers absolutely stunning views of the Hong Kong skyline, the harbour, and the Chinese mainland. Situated in the heart of the city, the Ritz-Carlton Hong Kong is just 20 minutes from the airport and five minutes from the city centre. It is a perfect venue for meetings, business gatherings, trade shows, and as a launching pad for wonderful Asian holiday.
Accommodations
The Ritz-Carlton Hong Kong features 312 total rooms, all with spectacular views. Rooms begin with the 530 ft.² Deluxe, and vary in size and amenities all the way up through the Ritz-Carlton suite; a 3920 ft.² space of absolute magnificence. Club Level rooms offer guests special perks such as access to Club Concierge and the Club Lounge complete with complimentary food and beverages 24 hours a day. All rooms are tastefully decorated and equipped with the latest state-of-the-art technology including flatscreen TVs, DVD/Blu-Ray players, iPod docking stations, and Wi-Fi.
The Kerry Hotel Pudong, Shanghai
Shangri-La International Hotel Management, Ltd. has chosen Shanghai as the site of its newest luxury hotel; as well as the first city to host Shangri-La Hotels & Resorts’ newest brand known as Kerry Hotels. The Kerry Hotel Pudong, Shanghai is the new 31-story, five-star hotel in the Kerry Park complex in the heart of Pudong. It is designed for discriminating business travellers who prefer a combination of relaxed atmosphere and impeccable service and quality. More than that, the Kerry Hotel Pudong, Shanghai is meant to be the centre of social and leisure activity for both travellers and local residents alike.
Accommodations
The Kerry Hotel has a total of 574 rooms, including 33 club suites. All feature contemporary furnishings that provide not only a relaxed atmosphere promoting socialization, but also an efficient space for work. Rooms include custom-built consoles with mini bars, complimentary broadband and wireless Internet, flat screen TVs, iPod docking stations, and separate bath and shower facilities. And of course, don’t forget the incredible panoramas of the city.
Club accommodations provide 33 suites of residence quality. Club suite guests enjoy the Club Lounge, 24hour butler service, concierge service, and complimentary breakfast and evening cocktails. The hotel devotes seven full floors to Club guests with incredible views all the way around.
Amenities
The Kerry Hotel Pudong, Shanghai offers three incredible dining options that cover the entire span of tastes. Most remarkable is the Cook restaurant featuring 11 different kitchens, all with their own unique menu and live entertainment. This à la carte restaurant covers everything from traditional Chinese and Japanese to a butcher block and Asian barbecue.
If all this were not enough, the hotel is proud to boast the city’s largest hotel-based sports complex which includes three floors and 6,000 m² of sports and recreation space. Guests enjoy a 24-hour gym, aerobics, Pilates, yoga, basketball and tennis courts, rooftop jogging track, heated pool, and much more. You’ll also find special play zones for children and a complete wellness Centre featuring a spa with traditional Chinese treatments and Wushu healing practices.
Finally, the Kerry Hotel houses Shanghai’s largest banqueting and meeting facilities. At more than 7300 m² the facilities include two ballrooms and 26 multi-purpose spaces that can accommodate your weddings, business meetings, or trade shows. For more information please visit the web site at www.shangri-la.com.
MODO Launches Music Lifestyle Hotel Accommodations
The launch of MODO will introduce a new concept of lifestyle hotel with its music-oriented design and guest services. With abundant and inexpensive features, MODO gives luxury accommodations an entirely new angle. The brand’s Bauhaus loft space layout involves a stunning concrete-and-glass structure with uncovered supports and finished cement wall surfaces. Within the walls of the revolutionary design, the actual attraction will be the RPM restaurant-lounge, a rising area with 14-foot ceilings, customized fixtures and natural light streaming through the floor-to-ceiling glass windows. Situated close to the primary entry, RPM will be simple to identify with areas which include step-downs, or lowered floor surfaces, lengthy cozy sofas and an impressive and progressive lighting style.
MODO is a brand new global lifestyle hotel that’s fashionable, inexpensive and musically influenced. The brand incorporates a impressive elegant loft layout. Full-service MODO hotels will each contain one hundred and more visitor lofts, a cafe restaurant, bar and lounge, courtyard with swimming pool, conference area, business facility, library, gift shop and high-tech fitness center. Within the high-energy diner, the MODO Music Center will be at the center. Visitors will listen to tunes and make their very own playlists from the huge and meticulously culled music collection which showcases independent musicians from around the world. MODO will debut in India and Brazil with foreseeable future growth prepared for urban centers within the U.S. and in other places around the world.
