The Ritz-Carlton hotel chain has always strived to create the most comfortable and pleasurable experience for guests, so it’s no surprise they have introduced their new mobile app for IPhone and Android devices. The app goes well beyond the basic functions of finding and reserving hotel rooms. It fully integrates with the entire Ritz-Carlton experience to truly enhance your stay.

The app connects you with the Ritz-Carlton World Concierge service, provides push notifications to keep you informed of what’s going on at the hotel, and allows you to easily find out about happenings in the local area. The app also provides you with virtual tours of as many as 20 of the best Ritz-Carlton hotels and Presidential Tips from company president Herve Humler to help you get the most out of your stay. If you’re a regular Ritz-Carlton guest their new app is a must have.

Download the app here.

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Restaurant Background
New York’s E. 57th St. is home to the Four Seasons Hotel and its famed L’Atelier de Joel Robuchon restaurant. The restaurant was opened in September 2006, after a 2-year quest by owner Ty Warner to bring founding Chef Joel Robuchon and his world-class French cuisine to New York City. Since its opening, L’Atelier de Joel Robuchon at Four Seasons has been the recipient of numerous accolades and awards including a 2-star rating in the 2011 Michelin Guide, a 3-star rating from the New York Times, the James Beard Foundation’s Best New Restaurant of 2007, and designation as a top 10 New York restaurant in the Zagat Restaurant Survey for 2008, 2009, and 2010.

Chef Joel Robuchon is known the world over for creations made only from the freshest and best ingredients: creations that feature cutting-edge creativity, minimalist presentation, and his signature “clockwork precision.” Every Robuchon dish is designed to provide exceptional quality and flavour without being ostentatious and excessive. Critics have raved about his La Caille Farcie de Foie Gras et Caramélisée and L’Agneau en Carré Doré a la Fleur de Thym.

The interior at L’Atelier de Joel Robuchon was designed by Pierre-Yves Rochon, the famous French designer responsible for creating the original L’Atelier de Joel Robuchon style. Rochon commiserated with architect I.M.Pei to make sure the restaurant blended beautifully with the existing hotel in both style and design. The combination is a space with a casual feel and a minimalistic decor, accented with bright colours. The tables are arranged in a U-shape to create a theatrical feel in which guests become the audience watching a culinary “performance” put on by kitchen staff.

Restaurant Experience
During our dinner our waiter felt more like a friend than an employee of the restaurant. Throughout the meal he began to be an integral part of the experience, often checking in with us and conversing about our newest dishes.

The restaurant’s sommelier has assembled an international collection of more than 550 wines for guests to choose from, each one offering a unique compliment to the food it is paired with. This is where our waiter really became essential. He was able to make wine recommendations personalized for both of our personal wine preferences, taking into consideration what flavors of food we would be experiencing on our palettes.

We enjoyed the highly recommended tasting menu. It runs $190 for 9 courses of pure indulgence; also available is a wine pairing for each course for $95. Each course is like a work of art. The angel in you doesn’t want to ruin the beautifully designed dish, and the devil in you is dying to taste the first bite. We had the best seat in the house at the bar, overlooking the chefs creating their masterpieces. This wasn’t your typical bar seat, as it surrounded a culinary display rather than a section of spirits. The bar only seats about 15 or so people, so make sure you request this seat when you make your reservation (this is ideal for a party of 2).

The pastry chef, Salvatore Martone, adds his own creative flair to top off an exceptionally exquisite meal. Guests will be thrilled from start to finish regardless of their menu choices.

Second to the food is the impressive, yet intimate atmosphere of L’Atelier de Joel Robuchon. With a total seating capacity of just 46 guests, you’ll find it to be a very personal dining experience, surrounded by energy of other delighted customers. The restaurant is only open until 10:15 PM and reservations are highly recommended.

- Current Tasting Menu With Paired Wine -

LE CAVIAR

Delicate Chilled White Asparagus Gaspacho With Caviar

Macon-milly-lamartine, Les Heritiers Du Comte Lafon, 2009

LE HAMACHI

Hamachi Sashimi With Minty Guacamole, Citrus Dressing

France, Premières Côtes De Bordeaux, Château Reynon 2009

LA LANGOUSTINE

Crispy Langoustine Papillote With Basil Pesto

France, Loire Valley, Sancerre “le Rochoy” Domaine Laporte, 2009

LE FOIE GRAS

Seared Foie Gras And Kumquat Compote, “pain Dépices”

Riesling Grand Cru ”schlossberg” Domaine Paul Blank, 2007

LE BAR 

Roasted Sea Bass, Lightly Sautéed Vegetables, Barigoule Jus

Usa, Chardonnay, Hanzell Vineyards, Sonoma Valley, 2009

LE CANARD

Long Island Caramelized Duck Breast With Spices And Nuts, Zucchini Nipitella

France, Burgundy, Savigny Lavieres, Domaine Tollot- Beaut 2008

LE BOEUF 

Seared Wagyu Hanger Steak with Micro Spinach And Fresh Wasabi

Châteauneuf-du-pape, Maison Tardieu-laurent, 2008

***

LE CHEESECAKE

Cranberry And Mascarpone Cheesecake

LE CHOCOLAT

Chocolate Cream, Bitter Chocolate Sorbet And Oreo Cookies

Canada, Riesling Icewine, Peller Estates, Niagara Peninsula, 2006

LE CAFÉ – LE THÉ

Et sa Friandise

Espresso Coffee Served with Nougat

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Our panel of travel experts has chosen the top luxury travel brands of 2012 within each respective category. We call this list the LUXList.  And our winners are…

The 2012 LUXList

1. Domestic Airline: Virgin America
Virgin America’s inflight experience continues to be unparalleled by the competition.

2. International Airline: United Airlines
The merger with Continental Airlines is complete, and now provides one of the most complete global route networks in the world.

3. Hotel Company: Starwood Hotels & Resorts
Starwood has had strong growth in new and existing markets within 2011, and continues in 2012 with its luxury brands including St. Regis, W Hotels, Le Méridien, Westin, and the properties within The Luxury Collection.

4. Rental Car Company: Hertz
In a industry with lots of choice, and highly drive by price Hertz themselves with it’s customer service and Hertz #1 Club rewards program.

5. Luxury Travel Reward Card: Platinum Card® from American Express
Lots of travel reward cards promise exclusive access, but the Platinum Card® from American Express delivers allowing you to bypass arrival lines at most U.S. airports when returning from intentional travel, and free access for 3 at airport lounges around the world.

6. Fractional Ownership Network: Timbers Resorts
Timbers Resorts now has 12 properties in their collection luxury boutique resorts. Each one uniquely positioned and engrained within the culture and community of its destination.

7. Vacation Club: Exclusive Resorts
The 10-year-old vacation club has reinvented how luxury travelers view vacation home ownership. Members have access to properties in 40 of the most desired luxury destinations throughout the world.

8. Luggage: Tumi
Tumi continues to design the world’s most attractive and practical luggage for frequent travelers.

9. Travel Accessories: Bose
Bose’s recent additions of their SoundLink wireless mobile speaker & OE2 headphones make Bose an even better companion while traveling.

10. Rookie of the Year: Inspirato
Inspirato, the new travel club already has an impressive 40 destinations within its portfolio. In their first year they have become the fastest growing club in the world.

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3. St. Regis Announces Partnership with Bentley Motors

St. Regis, one of the premier names in the Starwood Hotels & Resorts family has announced a new partnership with luxury auto maker Bentley Motors. The partnership will also include hotel properties that are part of Starwood’s The Luxury Collection Hotels & Resorts division.

According to the announcement the hotels will be using Bentley vehicles both for house fleets and special driving programs aimed at residents and hotel guests. Bentley represents the ultimate in luxury vehicles combining unparalleled style and quality, making their cars the perfect match for the unrivalled luxury found at St. Regis and The Luxury Collection.

Last fall the St. Regis Rome and St. Regis Florence hosted a joint Italian driving tour aimed at current Bentley owners and hotel guests. This month Austrian guests will enjoy the Springtime Bentley Grand Tour as they drive from Vienna to Salzburg in classic vehicles like the signature Bentley Continental Flying Spur. The Flying Spur features a hand-crafted leather interior, plenty of natural wood, and the latest technology including Sirius satellite radio, iPod interface, adaptive cruise control, and zoned climate control. Most importantly however, all Bentley vehicles are known for their exquisite craftsmanship and attention to detail.

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Carnegie Hall, Rockefeller Center, and Central Park – 3 landmarks that define one of the world’s most exciting cities; but the Big Apple is also home to the Four Seasons Hotel New York, a luxury hotel property well loved by discriminating travelers from all over the world. Towering 52 stories above E. 57th St., the majestic Four Seasons overlooks Central Park to the north and the heart of Manhattan’s theatre district to the south.

Opened in 1993, the Four Seasons New York is a combination of subtle Art Deco and stylish sophistication from the heart and soul of architect I.M. Pei. The minute you walk into the Four Seasons, the hustle and bustle of the city streets will be forgotten. It is just what you would expect and more from a 5-star hotel catering to modern tastes. From your entrance into its lobby, to the footsteps into your room, you will be treated to an atmosphere of elegance, class, and luxury. Throughout your stay you will be waited on by an attentive staff trained to meet your every need, while still being unobtrusive; this is the magic of the Four Seasons experience.

The hotel’s accommodations consist of 368 rooms and suites. Signature amenities in all rooms include marble bathrooms, leather upholstered furniture, and an overall design theme that is light and open. Some rooms and suites have views of The Park, while others display views of the city skyline. However, the more affluent suites have views of both, including the Royal suite, which takes up the entire 32nd floor of the hotel.

The rooms are spacious and encourage indulgent relaxation. After a long day of shopping, dining, or catching the latest Broadway play, it’s nice to have a sanctuary to return too. A deep oversized tub and glass-enclosed shower are the focal points of the bathroom, and just outside of it is foyer changing area where you can hang your clothes and decide on which outfit you’re going to adorn to the next cocktail hour.

While at the Four Seasons guests enjoy amenities including down pillows and duvets, Internet access, newspaper with breakfast, and boarding pass printouts available 24 hours a day. The hotel also offers a 24-hour, fully equipped fitness center, luxury spa facility, and nightly turndown service.

For your dining pleasure you absolutely must have dinner at the acclaimed L’Atelier de Joël Robuchon restaurant. Owner Ty Warner spent 2 years trying to convince world-class chef Joel Robuchon to bring his culinary expertise to New York, and it finally paid off in 2006. The restaurant is one of the most respected in all of Manhattan.

The Four Seasons Hotel New York is billed as the perfect respite after a hectic day in New York City. With its warm atmosphere, elegant styling, and attentive service, it is a hotel that more than lives up to its reputation.

Nightly rates start at just under $900.

Four Seasons Hotel New York
57 East 57th Street
New York, New York 10022
http://www.fourseasons.com/newyork/

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At the center of Octavius Tower is a brand-new interactive app for guests accessible through any mobile browser. With the use of a smart phone, tablet, or any other mobile device with connectivity guests will be able to access most of the services available at the hotel. They’ll be able to contact the concierge to make dinner reservation, request assistance from housekeeping, order room service, and communicate with the transportation, valet, butler, and bell services. In addition they will be eligible to receive special offers not available to guests of the other towers.

In a room, guests of the Octavius Tower will also be treated with a multi-format media hub centred on a 42-inch HD flat screen television. The technology of the media hub is such that it automatically detects when a device is connected to it and implements the necessary software needed to use that device. Once the device is disconnected the center automatically reverts back to television mode without the need for any programming or switching by the guest. Media hubs are compatible with all Apple devices as well as most other smartphones, tablets, and laptops. Guests can surf the Internet, check email, watch videos, and even conduct presentations while connected.

Outside the technology guests are sure to appreciate some of the other amenities provided by Octavius Tower. They have their own private entrance and lobby area as well as direct access to the pool and hotel gardens. And of course, just like all guests of Caesars Palace, those staying in Octavius Tower will be treated to the finest luxury accommodations that the world’s most discriminating travelers demand.

Octavius Luxury Villas

The Octavius luxury Villas located within the Octavius Tower average 8,800 square-feet and have design inspiration from France, Greece or Spain. Each villa is named after a Roman emperor who lived within the region. The names of the villas are the following: Claudius, Constantine and Marcus Aurelius.

The villas include beautiful finishes such as imported marble floors; a private elevator; hand-painted wall murals and ceiling designs; wood and stone archways and casings; a billiard room; a plush home entertainment theatre; whirlpool bathtubs in the master and guest baths; steam mist showers in all bathrooms; fully integrated audio visual systems with televisions in most rooms and custom contemporary artwork.

In addition to the luxurious amenities inside the villas they also feature outside amenities including a private terrace, a spa tub, fire pit, a dining area, and more.

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Miami Beach is a vibrant destination full of energy and excitement that attracts international travellers from all over the world. Now those travellers have a new destination in the St. Regis Bal Harbour Resort & Residences. Starwood Hotels & Resorts announced the grand opening of the world-class resort on January 20, making note of the fact that its opening marks a tripling of the global St. Regis portfolio over the last five years.

At the heart of the resort is a culture of art, design, and world-class fashion. Throughout the property guests will be treated to splendid art works from Santiago Rubino, Candida Hofer, and Sawada Hirotoshi. Rubino, a Miami Beach native, was commissioned to create a mural, which stands as the centrepiece of the hotel’s bar and lounge. The hotel’s interior design, which is largely the work of world-class design firm Yabu Pushelberg, makes use of Movinque wood from West Africa, Chinese God Flower Stone, and plenty of granite from Starwood’s private quarry.

The property offers 245 private residences as well as a resort boasting 243 luxurious guest rooms and suites. Both the residences and guest rooms come with breathtaking ocean views, spacious balconies, and the signature St. Regis Butler service. The property consists of three 27-story towers, with floor to ceiling glass, overlooking the ocean and the sprawling white sand beaches of Miami.

As for the residences, buyers can choose from a variety of one to five bedroom floor plans starting at 1700 square feet. The most spacious of the residences comes in an astounding 6800 square feet. Units feature spacious outdoor living areas, state-of-the-art technology, private balconies, and access to all of the amenities enjoyed by resort guests. Those world-class amenities include the Remède Spa & Fitness Center.

At the spa you’ll be spoiled with 12 treatment rooms featuring the latest in well-being treatments as well as a fitness centre with an ocean view, separate lounges for men and women, steam rooms, sauna, and a full-service salon. The entire spa experience is designed to provide you with the ultimate in relaxation, tranquillity, and revitalization. Guests can customize their spa experience to indulge in whatever way they see fit.

According to St. Regis officials, the St. Regis Bal Harbour Resort & Residences aims to be a destination in of itself. It’s located on the northern tip of Miami Beach, well within walking distance of the city centre and the South Beach area. For discriminating travellers looking for a new home in South Florida, St. Regis Bal Harbour is the place to be.

Rates start at over $700 per night at the hotel. The residences range from $1.7M- $11M

St. Regis Bal Harbour
http://www.stregisbalharbour.com/ 
9703 Collins Avenue
Bal Harbour – Miami Beach, Florida 33154
305-993-3300

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Starwood Hotels & Resorts, one of the best-known names in 5-star hotels and travel, is about to turn the luxury travel world on its head. Looking to cater to a small but distinct group of travellers responsible for driving nearly one-third of the company’s profits, Starwood has developed an exclusive loyalty program they call Starwood Preferred Guest (SPG). The program offers unique benefits to what Starwood refers to as “mega travellers”; a group of sophisticated and prolific travellers who long ago were disillusioned by standard perks and points reward programs.

In order to reward this loyal group with an equally loyal resorts program, the hotel chain embarked on three-year pilot project designed to quietly discover what the world’s elite travellers desired in a loyalty program. The result is nothing less than impressive, beginning with the industry’s first 24-hour check-in option. With Your24 check-in, members can choose their own custom check-in and check-out times to meet their schedules. For example, guests who check in at 8 PM don’t need to check out until 8 PM on the departure date. Gone are the industry standard 11 AM check-outs and 3 PM check-ins.

Another unique feature is the hotel’s Personal Ambassador service which assigns an individual ambassador to work with each guest to personalize and customize his or her experience. It is the role of the ambassador to make sure each guest is provided with everything he or she needs for a perfect stay.

Other loyalty rewards are also offered and can be earned through additional stays at Starwood properties. The programs are designed to increase reward options and make them more personal in direct proportion to how often guests stay with Starwood. The most loyal of guests will receive a lifetime Gold or Platinum membership in SPG; memberships that include complementary stays, room upgrades, and Starpoints which can be used toward a long list of products and services.

Starwood Hotels & Resorts raises the bar again with SPG. It’s just what we’ve come to expect from one of the world’s finest hoteliers.

To review all the changes that will take place starting March 1, 2012 visit SPG.com. To see a chart of benefits for Preferred, Gold & Platinum members click here.

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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.

The signature of the EDITION brand is personalized, unique, and cutting-edge design created by Ian Schrager for each individual hotel. No two EDITION properties will be alike. Each one will be designed to complement the city where it’s located, with thoughtful elements that combine an artistic modern touch with the unique aspects that set the target city apart. Special attention will be paid to the amenities, dining and nightlife, and services the sophisticated traveller has come to expect from Ian Schrager.

For more information visit the Edition hotels website.

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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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