All Entries in the "Europe" Category

Qatar Airways Opens New Premium Lounge at London Heathrow

Qatar Airways introduced 15 new destinations in 2011, a move that plays heavily into the importance of London’s Heathrow airport as the hub of the airline’s European operations. In order to reinforce that position the airline recently announced the opening of a brand-new passenger lounge. The Premium Lounge at Terminal 4 is the second such passenger lounge from Qatar Airways, and the first of its kind in Europe.

The most significant difference between the Premium Lounge and those offered by competing airlines is the atmosphere. Rather than have the look and feel of a typical airport lounge, designers created the space to feel more like a luxury resort. The lounge includes private showers with brand name toiletries, hotel quality towels, heated floors, and other amenities. Throughout the space guests will enjoy free WiFi connection, a fully equipped business center, and power outlets at every seat.

Guests can also enjoy drinks at the Martini Bar and light meals in the delicatessen. Qatar Airlines even went so far as to hire the best talent from five-star hotels to staff their kitchen space. The entire lounge is meant to reward loyal customers with the luxury travel experience they deserve.

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.

Intercontinental Moscow Tverskaya – Now Open

Tverskaya is perhaps the most famous street in all of Moscow. But it also happens to be home of the brand-new InterContinental Moscow Tverskaya Hotel. After a 10 year absence from Russia, InterContinental Hotels Group makes its return with a luxury property designed to give business and leisure travellers and experience which incorporates all Russia is. Just minutes from Red Square and the Kremlin, the hotel projects an image of classic Russian design combined with a new embrace of contemporary influences.

InterContinental Moscow Tverskaya offers a total of 203 rooms including 16 junior and senior suites. There are also three penthouse suites where luxury meets culture in one of Russia’s most important forms of art: ballet. Each of the suites honours one of that country’s most famous dancers — Isadora Duncan, Vaslav Nijinsky, and Galina Ulanova. In all of the rooms guests will be treated to traditional Russian tastes perfectly accented with cog-shaped reading tables. The design is stylish and sophisticated yet purposely reflective of the city’s industrial heart.

The Ritz-Carlton Announces First Hotel in Austria

The American-based Ritz-Carlton Hotel Company will be making its Austrian debut during the second quarter of 2012, after being selected by Verny Capital to operate a newly acquired property located within Vienna’s historic Ringstrasse district. The announcement further solidifies the working relationship between Ritz-Carlton and Verny Capital, following the Verny acquisition of the Ritz-Carlton Moscow this past May. Verny Capital officials chose Ritz-Carlton because of their reputation as a leader in luxury hospitality.

The new hotel will be situated inside two historic, 19th-century palaces which have long been protected under Austrian preservation laws. The area in which the palaces are located is one of cultural and historic significance in part of what’s considered Vienna’s “old city.” Although specific plans have not yet been announced, it’s expected that the hotel’s 202 rooms will incorporate the city’s rich heritage as a centre for Europe’s classical music scene. Very near the site is a selection of other historically important buildings erected during the late 19th century. The location of the hotel provides easy access to all the most important sites Vienna has to offer.

W Hotels Paris – Sneak Peek

February 14, 2012 will mark the start of a new era in Paris, France. That’s because W Hotels makes its debut on that day with a new property set directly across the street from the historic Opéra Garnier theatre and opera house. The new Starwood hotel aims to create a fusion of the quintessential Parisian neighborhood with the dynamic atmosphere of New York City’s cultural district.

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.

Armani Hotel Milano is Now Open

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 St. Regis Brings it’s Style of Luxury to Florence

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.

Dorchester Collection Announces New London Hotel, 45 Park Lane

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.