Anantara Kihavah Villas, Maldives

Anantara Hotels, Resorts & Spas, a leading developer and operator of luxury hotels, resorts and spas, is expanding its portfolio across Asia, the Indian Oceana and the Middle East to encompass 50 properties within the next five years.

The group currently boasts seven thriving resorts in Thailand, two in the Maldives, one in Bali and two Middle East additions (12 in total), and enthusiastically anticipates the debut of seven new resorts in China, the Maldives, Bali, Oman and the UAE by the end of 2011. Such growth reflects a 60% expansion of the portfolio in existing and new markets.

Opening in 2011:
Anantara Kihavah Villas, Maldives will offer the ultimate in privacy and luxury. Each of the 78 spacious over-water and beach suites are set within the lush tropical nature of the island with private infinity pools, high ceilings, timber interiors and terrazzo floors. The resort will boast five dining options including an underwater dining experience showcasing the idyllic location of the dazzling Indian Ocean. Guests can also enjoy the signature Anantara Spa journey and enjoy a wide range of unique Maldivian cultural experiences. The resort is scheduled to open in January 2011.

Anantara Sanya Resort & Spa is situated on the serene Luhuitou Peninsula, Xiaodonghai, on the southernmost point of Hainan Island in south China. The luxury boutique property will comprise of 128 guestrooms and 20 pool villas flanked by two beaches, Xiaodonghai Bay and Luhuitou Bay, and a coastline that stretch of over 1000 metres. The renowned Sanya tourism attraction, Luhuitou Park, is located on the hill overlooking the peninsula and provides a setting for 1000 year old romantic fables as well as panoramic views of the vast sea, the rolling mountains and Sanya city, which is only 3 km away.

Anantara Xishuangbanna Resort & Spa is located in the midst of the Hengduan Mountains, Xishuangbanna in Yunnan province, an idyllic mountainous setting fringing northern Laos. The resort is set on the banks of the Luosuo River and will feature 103 guestrooms with Dai characteristics, including 80 deluxe rooms and 23 pool villas. The region is home to the indigenous Dai people who are renowned for their folklore and colourful festivals such as the water splashing celebration.

Xishuangbanna is rich in nature including rain forests, rare plants and wildlife such as the Asian elephant which is still found in the wild. Nearby Xishuangbanna Gasa Airport provides connections to Shangri La, in addition to major hubs such as Kunming and Beijing.

Anantara Al Madina A’Zarqa Resort & Spa, Oman is set on a natural peninsula jutting into the crystal clear waters of the Gulf of Oman. The 122 room luxury resort and spa is located 60 minutes from the historical city of Muscat and just 40 minutes from Seeb International Airport in Muscat. The traditional Arabian architecture will be seamlessly blended with modern innovation and service. The award-winning Anantara Spa will offer a rejuvenating and relaxing experience.

Anantara Uluwatu Resort & Spa is set to open in Bali, the island of a thousand temples, and the island of paradise. Perched high on a limestone cliff on Bali’s south-western tip, each of the suites at Anantara Uluwatu offers unobstructed views of the ocean and the infamous Balinese sunset. The resort will feature 77 spacious suites and three international dining options in a contemporary and comfortable setting. The warmth of local culture and the indigenous natural elements give a unique welcome that is always longed by holiday seekers.

Al Sahel by Anantara, Sir Bani Yas Island will be a unique addition to the destination of Abu Dhabi. 30 luxury chalets, each with private plunge pools, will be set in the west section of the Arabian Wildlife Park. Overlooking the rugged landscape and salt-dome hilltops, the rustic lodges will be surrounded by a lush grass savannah, affording guests’ uninterrupted views of grazing sand gazelles, as well as Arabia’s elusive mountain gazelle and Oryx.

Al Yamm by Anantara, Sir Bani Yas Island will offer tranquil sea facing chalets on the beautiful eastern shores of Sir Bani Yas Island, surrounded by natural sandy beaches and crystal clear waters. The spacious chalets will also edge a peaceful lagoon rich with high mangroves, treating guests to stunning views of the elegant flamingos that favour this verdant sanctuary.

“We’ve come a long way since our first resort opening in 2001,” said Mr. Peter Carmichael, Senior Vice President, Anantara. “As we move into our tenth anniversary year we will open seven stunning new resorts that will offer guests luxury and tranquility in surroundings that are culturally and environmentally uplifting. As we continue to expand, our initial goal of providing a unique and authentic destination experience for all our guests will always remain the same.”

For more information on Anantara Hotels, Resorts & Spas, please visit www.anantara.com

Hilton Hotels & Resorts

New Innovative Global Spa Concept Features Exclusive Treatment Journeys And Innovative Design Elements

Hilton Hotels & Resorts unveils eforea: spa at Hilton, its new global spa concept that is poised to be one of the world’s fastest growing spa brands. eforea: spa at Hilton features an exclusive menu of treatment journeys and innovative design elements, all providing a turnkey spa solution that owners can easily implement and customize. Leveraging its global reach and expertise, Hilton pulled the best elements and practices from Europe, Asia Pacific, Middle East and Africa and the Americas to create a unique concept for today’s savvy global travelers.

Hilton Hotels & Resorts is one of the largest providers of spa services with 123 in operation at its properties worldwide. The Hilton Hotels & Resorts brand currently has more than 80 properties in development that are committed to including a spa and anticipates that the spa of choice for these properties will be eforea.

“Today we raise the on-property spa experience to a new level with the introduction of our innovative global spa concept – eforea: spa at Hilton,” said Dave Horton, global head, Hilton Hotels & Resorts brand. “eforea delivers the high standards guests expect from Hilton and further reinforces our position as the stylish, forward-thinking leader of global hospitality. With today’s opening at Hilton Short Hills and more than 80 spas currently in our global pipeline, eforea has the potential to evolve the spa segment of our industry on a global scale.”

Hilton Hotels & Resorts

The first eforea: spa at Hilton, debuts today at Hilton Short Hills, a AAA Four Diamond hotel located in Short Hills, New Jersey and 45 minutes outside of Manhattan. The star-studded grand opening celebration includes a fashion show in collaboration with Boho, an eco-fashion, lifestyle magazine; and a book signing with celebrity chef Bethenny Frankel in support of the American Cancer Society. A global trail of openings is scheduled to follow in countries as diverse as Thailand, Australia, United Arab Emirates, Japan and the Maldives. Designed by the flagship brand of Hilton Worldwide, eforea will also be available at Doubletree and Embassy Suites Hotels properties.

In creating the word eforea, Hilton provides a refreshing identity that is unexpected in a spa world often dominated by sameness. The concept name is as unique as the iconic Hilton brand and transcends the languages of the 76 countries it serves. In an increasingly fast-paced and sometimes stressful world, today’s business and leisure travelers are looking for ways to attain a calmer, more spiritual place; the word eforea was created to describe that place. The eforea brand promise is to bring balance and wellness to the body and take guests on a transformative journey of the senses, helping them to emerge brighter, hence the brand’s signature icon — a butterfly freed from its cocoon.

Customized Experiences
At the core of the eforea concept are three signature spa journeys that pair a therapeutic approach with transformative journeys of the senses.  The Essentials Journey features Kerstin Florian products along with a Signature Correcting Facial featuring Microcurrent technology. This unique treatment marries potent botanicals, cosmeceutical ingredients and advanced, non-invasive facelift technology. The Escape Journey is a set of holistic experiences fusing organic plant ingredients with traditional healing practices such as the Hilton Head-to-Toe Revitalization, an experience using products from the LI’TYA organic product line. Making men a priority, rather than an afterthought, Hilton created its custom Men’s Journey, a collection of goal driven treatments engineered for men including the Signature Body Repair with a heated bamboo massage created especially for Hilton. Each journey is comprised of a selection of face, body, and massage treatments with select add-in options.

Hilton Hotels & Resorts

Innovative Design Features
The eforea concept features innovative elements to create memorable experiences in a “purposefully modern” setting. A notable element is the Vichy shower design that will be featured in eforea spas. Spa aficionados will notice the intimate and comfortable feel of the cocoon-like, signature-curved walls of the vichy shower room, creating a warm, relaxing environment compared to the traditional cold, clinical shower rooms. All treatment rooms feature an integrated music speaker and aroma-diffusing system, which simultaneously disperses signature scents throughout the room while playing soothing music to enhance the relaxing spa environment. Another technology that will be featured in eforea spas is the K-Lift, Age Management System, providing a multi-phase approach that combines Red LED Light, advanced Impulsed MicroCurrent and a Transdermal Delivery System to achieve a smooth, lifted appearance.

Synergy with Spa Experts
A cornerstone of the eforea experience is synergy between the world’s leading hospitality company and some of the world’s top spa product brands chosen for their exceptional quality and expertise. Kerstin Florian offers a progressive range of results-oriented European facial, body and bath products and treatments sourced from natural resources that include algae, mud, herbal extracts, thermal mineral water and essential oils. The product line is founded in advanced phytotherapy, aromatherapy, thermal mineral, herbal and marine technology. LI’TYA draws on the revitalizing and restorative powers of Australia’s native resources to provide a holistic spa experience. VitaMan provides a comprehensive line of Australian-made natural spa and grooming products formulated specifically for men.

Hilton Hotels & Resorts

eforea Experience
Embodying eforea’s “emerge brighter” promise, the spa’s Arrival Lounge is fitted with a custom design lighting element that brightens as guests walk from treatment rooms. The Changing Lounge includes a dry and wet changing pod and grooming unit; and the Thermal Lounge offers hot and cold therapies as a precursor to guests’ spa experiences. The Transition Lounge transports spa-goers into a state of relaxation, while therapy rooms are designed as havens of comfort, intimacy and escape.  Finally, the spa’s retail solution provides guests the tools necessary to extend their spa experience through their travels.

Turnkey Spa Solution For Owners & Consistent Global Standards
eforea has the potential to become one of the world’s largest spa operations with its consistent standards, customizable key elements and easy implementation.  The eforea concept can enhance guests’ overall on-property experience, while also contributing to the global presence of the iconic Hilton brand that boasts properties in more countries than any other full-service brand.

“Hotel owners and investors have long been searching for a turnkey spa solution that is easy to implement yet meets guests’ needs across the globe,” said Tyra Lowman, senior director of spas – full service and luxury brands, Hilton Worldwide. “eforea’s new cutting-edge design concept is complemented by the ease of standard operating procedures, global supply agreements, an exclusive treatment menu and training – which together can make opening a new spa simpler and more profitable for our hotels.”

Four Seasons Hotel London at Park Lane - Photographer Wait, Richard

Introducing the New Four Seasons Hotel London at Park Lane, Set to Open This Winter. Rooftop spa and lounge crowns all-new rooms, meeting spaces, and a sensational restaurant in a hotel experience only Four Seasons can provide.

In just a few months, Four Seasons returns to Mayfair with the opening of the new Four Seasons Hotel London at Park Lane. With its greenery-filled interiors opening up through windows and conservatories to terraces and sweeping views of Hyde Park and Westminster, the new Hotel will be a breath of fresh air that ushers in a new era as Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts celebrates fifty years of hospitality in 2011.

“In many ways, London is where the Four Seasons philosophy was born, and where the idea that guests should feel as welcome as they do in someone’s home originated,” says John Stauss, regional vice president and general manager, who will lead a team of 435 staff. “This Hotel represents all that Four Seasons has learned, all we’ve observed, and all that we anticipate will be important to our guests in the future.”

A Great Idea That’s Time Has Come

The experience begins as the sun rises, when guests who arrive early are whisked to the 10th Floor Lounge. There, they can relax and have breakfast, take a shower, plug back in to the rest of the world, and take in panoramic views of one of the world’s most exciting cities.

“This unique space has essentially been created by our guests – we’ve all experienced it, arriving after a long flight and having nowhere to go while waiting for rooms to be ready,” says Stauss. “Now, there’s an oasis atop the city that welcomes, soothes and refreshes weary travellers.”

As morning becomes midday, the 10th Floor Lounge offers spa lunches, and in the evening, the space will be available for private parties, with its own balcony opening out to the sparkling London skyline.

Four Seasons Hotel London at Park Lane - Photographer Wait, Richard

London’s Best Views – From a Spa and Fitness Centre

The Hotel’s Spa is also on the 10th floor. “At last, spa-savvy travellers and Londoners won’t have to descend into a basement for treatments,” says Stauss. “With its sky-lit vitality pools, steam rooms, saunas and treatment rooms all bathed in natural light, ‘celestial’ might best describe the spa experience that awaits.”

Each of the nine rooms has its own post-treatment relaxation pod, and thanks to a custom-designed curtain system, each room offers both Hyde Park views and complete privacy. The double-size Sky Suite boasts 180 degree views for couples or friends to enjoy together.

Another surprise: the Fitness Centre is also on the 10th floor, with incredible views of Westminster to motivate guests while they workout.

Amaranto: One Destination, Three Dining Venues

The new Four Seasons Hotel London at Park Lane is also destined to be a favourite meeting place for Londoners. A new restaurant, Amaranto, is uniquely designed as a series of rooms that transition seamlessly from lounge to bar to restaurant, allowing guests to choose their own setting. Entered directly through the Hotel or through its own street entrance in Hamilton Place, it features an outdoor terrace on one side leading into a conservatory and dining room, then an impressive wine wall highlighting the club-like bar in the middle, and a light-filled atrium lounge at the other end with direct access to the Hotel lobby. With modern menus inspired by Italian cuisine, Amaranto will be a destination for power breakfasts, chic lunches, English afternoon tea, cocktails and dinner.

Whether meeting friends for a post-shopping luncheon, a date for dinner, or a colleague to negotiate a business deal, Amaranto offers dozens of quiet corners, a private dining room and a fireside wine tasting table. When groups get together to work, socialise or celebrate, they ascend a grand staircase to the mezzanine-level meeting rooms, ranging in capacity from 10 to 370. The Hamilton Room affords 180-degree views of Hyde Park, while some rooms have antique panelling and fireplaces, and most are filled with natural light. “We’ve put all the meeting rooms on one floor for the convenience of event organisers and attendees. You can even book the whole floor and make it your own,” offers Stauss.

Four Seasons Hotel London at Park Lane - Photographer Wait, Richard

Rooms of Distinction

When it’s time for bed, Four Seasons has thought of everything. Each of the 192 rooms and suites is furnished in a residential style, but with a decidedly modern twist. “Guests will find that rooms, and the entire Hotel, accommodate today’s technological needs,” says Stauss. “And, it’s a green Hotel, literally and functionally. There will be an abundance of living green plants in the public areas because they improve air quality and connect us with the outdoors. Controls for room lighting and temperature are designed for optimal energy efficiency and guest comfort.”

Dressing room closets have space for luggage and, in some suites, the dressing room even has its own discreet door so that housekeeping staff can put away laundry without disturbing guests.

The Hotel will also have many options for connecting rooms, allowing families and other larger parties to stay together at Four Seasons.

The Look and Feel of Four Seasons Hotel London at Park Lane

Interior designer Pierre-Yves Rochon has created a warm and sophisticated environment with elements from different eras. Architect Eric Parry’s building has been compared to a ship, with the prow pointing up Park Lane and the rooftop Spa and Lounge capping it in zinc. Working from this foundation, Rochon recalled the golden era of travel by luxury passenger ship in the 1930s, when travel was unhurried and travellers were curious to see the world. He also wanted the feel of an English country house that welcomes guests for the weekend, and thus there are working fireplaces everywhere – in the lobby, the restaurant and bar, several meeting rooms, the 10th Floor Lounge, and many of the guest rooms and suites.

In the Conservatory Suites, guests will find a plant-filled, furnished indoor patio – the perfect place for morning tea or a quiet drink before going out on the town. The most coveted room in the Hotel may be the Garden Suite, with its large furnished terrace and Hyde Park views.

Continuing to Write Company History

Four Seasons Hotel London at Park Lane is built on the site of the original Four Seasons Inn on the Park, opened in 1970 and a favourite of world travellers and Londoners for close to 40 years.

“Years of flying back and forth as he created that hotel inspired our founder, Isadore Sharp, to focus on managing medium-sized luxury hotels where the guest experience is the number-one priority,” recalls Kathleen Taylor, president and CEO of Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts worldwide. “It was here in London that Four Seasons employees began living by the golden rule, ‘treat others as you would like to be treated yourself.’ Today, as we come back to Park Lane on the eve of our 50th anniversary, this philosophy remains at the very heart of what we do around the world, every day.”

The Ritz-Carlton Shanghai, Pudong

The Ritz-Carlton Hotel Company L.L.C. opens its second hotel in Shanghai, The Ritz-Carlton Shanghai, Pudong on June 21

The Ritz-Carlton Shanghai, Pudong, opening on June 21, will be the luxury hotel brand’s second property in the city, and its seventh in China. Located in Shanghai ifc, the prime real estate in Lujiazui financial trade zone, the hotel and development is the work of architect Cesar Pelli.

“The Ritz-Carlton Shanghai, Pudong is an integral feature of Shanghai ifc, developed by Sun Hung Kai Properties, one of Asia’s leading property developers, with proven excellence in creating world-class mixed-use developments incorporating luxury retail, office, residential and hotels, as the company’s IFC and ICC in Hong Kong have demonstrated. It is a great honour for us to partner with Sun Hung Kai to build and develop this iconic hotel in Shanghai,” commented Rainer Burkle, area vice president and general manager.

The Ritz-Carlton Shanghai, Pudong

The 285-room Ritz-Carlton Shanghai, Pudong is Shanghai’s ultimate destination for luxury and style, and occupies the top 18 floors of the Shanghai ifc South Tower. Opening in June during the World Expo, the design and style of the hotel is contemporary, with hints of new interpretations of 1930’s Shanghai Art Deco. This gives a great sense of place to the hotel as guest rooms and restaurants embrace magnificent sweeping views over The Bund – the most intact collection of Art Deco architecture anywhere in the world.

With interior designs by Richard Farnell, The Ritz-Carlton Shanghai, Pudong guest rooms and suites range in size from 50 square meters (500 square feet) to 400 square meters (4,000 square feet), for the palatial Ritz-Carlton Suite and Chairman Suite. There are three floors of Club accommodation, and each club room enjoys access to the hotel’s stunning Club Lounge on the 49th level, which will be open 24 hours a day.

This new hotel will offer a host of exquisite luxury restaurants and a bar with unrivalled views over The Bund and the Shanghai skyline. Restaurants include Aura Lounge and Jazz Bar, Jin Xuan, the fine dining Chinese Restaurant designed by Steve Leung; Scena Italian Restaurant and Flair Rooftop Restaurant and Bar, both designed by the world famous Super Potato. Flair is Shanghai’s highest al fresco dining and wining venue and is destined to be the unique new social center of Pudong and the city. Featuring more than 2,500 square meters (25,000 square feet) of meeting and conference space on the third level, including a 1,135-square-metre (11,350 square feet) Grand Ballroom, the second largest ballroom among the city’s luxury hotels, The Ritz-Carlton Shanghai, Pudong can accommodate large and small meetings and gatherings in sumptuous environment with world-class technology and facilities underscored by The Ritz-Carlton legendary service. All meeting space offers floor-to-ceiling windows and natural daylight.

The Ritz-Carlton Shanghai, Pudong

Located on the hotel’s 55th floor, and occupying an area of more than 1,500 square meters ( 15,000 square feet), The Ritz-Carlton Spa by ESPA features 10 treatment rooms, including nine multi-function treatment rooms and a Harmony Suite where two guests may relax and enjoy treatments together. The Ritz-Carlton Spa by ESPA combines the essence of ancient and modern Chinese, Indian, European and Balinese spa cultures and uses luxury ESPA products that harness the best of nature’s essential oils, botanicals and marine supplements. The exquisite collection of treatments represents complete care, personalization and the ultimate in luxury.

A diamond-like façade glittering with the vibrancy of the city, Shanghai ifc mall also boasts opulent interiors framing the most stylish shopping environment and housing hundreds of world-renowned international branded retails. Guests of The Ritz Carlton will enjoy direct access to this world leading lifestyle landmark.

“As Shanghai has been experiencing exponential growth and many multi-national companies have opened in Pudong, we find it strategically viable for The Ritz-Carlton to be located on both sides of Huangpu River,” Burkle explained. “While The Ritz-Carlton Portman, Shanghai at Puxi has established its name over the past decade as the most preferred luxury hotel in the city, I have no doubt that The Ritz-Carlton Shanghai, Pudong will prove itself to be another quintessential business and social centre for domestic and international travelers alike.”

For more information visit www.ritzcarlton.com

Four Seasons Hotel Hangzhou

The newest Hotel is in one of China’s most picturesque, ancient settings. Ideally situated along the shores of beautiful West Lake, Four Seasons Hotel Hangzhou invites you to discover a new level of serenity in a tranquil, natural enclave.

Embraced by mist-shrouded peaks and peppered with weeping willows, lotus pools and painted pavilions, West Lake beckons you with its natural beauty. Explore magnificent Chinese gardens and bamboo groves, just steps from your high-style guest room. Lounge by our outdoor pool, surrender to bliss in your private spa suite, or entertain to impress in one of our 11 private dining pavilions surrounding the lagoon.

Welcome to Four Seasons Hotel Hangzhou at West Lake. In China’s most picturesque setting, Four Seasons reveals an intimate lakeside village, melding centuries of tradition with chic contemporary style. Convenient to business and shopping, discover a tranquil enclave, woven with ponds, streams and lagoons. Experience the gentle spirit of Chinese hospitality in exclusive private dining rooms and resort-style recreation, including two swimming pools and a cutting-edge designer spa. Deftly sophisticated Four Seasons care instills confidence and delight.

Accommodation.
Small, quiet and exclusive, Four Seasons Hotel Hangzhou at West Lake features just 78 guest rooms – including seven suites – plus three residential-style villas for families and larger parties.Starting at 63 square metres (678 square feet), our guest rooms are the most spacious in Hangzhou. Many accommodations open to a terrace conservatory that features windows that may be pushed back in fine weather. Views encompass forest glades, traditional gardens or lovely West Lake. Decor blends centuries of Chinese tradition with chic designer style, seamlessly incorporating the latest technology for business and entertainment.

Opening late 2010. Now confirming reservations for arrivals from October 1, 2010.

To reserve by phone, contact your travel consultant or our Worldwide Reservations Office

Learn More & Reserve online>

Four Seasons Hotel Hangzhou

Four Seasons Hotel Hangzhou

Four Seasons Hotel Hangzhou

The Ritz-Carlton, Los Angeles

Downtown Los Angeles’s first five-star caliber hotel marks the completion of $2.5 Billion L.A. LIVE sports, residential and entertainment district.

LOS ANGELES, 1 April 2010 – The highly anticipated Ritz-Carlton, Los Angeles opens on April 2, 2010 as the first luxury hotel of its caliber in Downtown Los Angeles. The opening of the hotel is the final piece of L.A. LIVE, the $2.5 billion sports, residential and entertainment district, which was inaugurated with the opening of STAPLES Center in 1999.

“We are proud that The Ritz-Carlton, Los Angeles is a part of L.A. LIVE and the renaissance of Downtown Los Angeles,” said General Manager Javier Cano.  “The Ritz-Carlton, Los Angeles provides another dimension to this exciting and active area, which is now a true destination for travelers and local residents.”

Perched on the upper floors of the 54-story tower that it shares with sister hotel the JW Marriott Los Angeles at L.A. LIVE and The Ritz-Carlton Residences at L.A. LIVE, The Ritz-Carlton, Los Angeles has 123 well-appointed guestrooms, including 14 suites.  The 3,000 square-foot/278 square metre Ritz-Carlton Suite is the hotel’s largest and boasts incredible northern and western views.  The luxurious suite includes a piano and entertainment room, media corner, lounge, kitchen and formal dining area.

The Ritz-Carlton, Los Angeles

Featuring elegant, contemporary décor by renowned Los Angeles firm, Barry Design, and some of the city’s best views of Downtown L.A., the hotel provides guests with an exclusive retreat.  Designed by Gensler, the hotel and luxury condominium tower will be LEED-certified (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design certification by the US Green Building Council) and is owned by Los Angeles-based AEG, developer of the four million square foot L.A. LIVE, and MacFarlane Partners.

The hotel is home to Downtown L.A.’s only full-service hotel spa, The Ritz-Carlton Spa, a luxurious, 8,000-square-foot/743 square metre sanctuary that is designed to reflect the glamour and excitement of Los Angeles in a calming yet sophisticated environment.  With nine treatment rooms, two customized aromatherapy steam rooms, cold plunge showers and two relaxation lounges, the Spa offers guests a true respite. The experience is further enhanced by iPod docking capability for each treatment table, which allows guests to have fully customizable music for their treatments.  Featuring the finest products available, the Spa offers services that range from The Ritz-Carlton Signature organic experiences in massage and skincare to results-oriented, cosmeceutical-grade skin care.  The “Champagne and Shimmer” theme of the Spa is highlighted with treatments that include the Glowing Gold Facial and the Champagne and Citrus Scrub.

Celebrity chef Wolfgang Puck brings WP24, his latest restaurant concept, to The Ritz-Carlton, Los Angeles.   Located on the 24th floor of the hotel, WP24 features refined Asian fare from a dining area with floor to ceiling windows providing a stunning view of the Los Angeles skyline.  In addition to a spacious dining room and lounge, the restaurant offers a wine cave and two private dining rooms.

The Ritz-Carlton, Los Angeles

Guests can also take pleasure in the panoramic vistas of Downtown L.A. and surrounding Southern California from the 3,400-square-foot/315 square metre signature Ritz-Carlton Club Lounge on the 23rd floor.  In addition, guests can see the spectacular views from the 26th floor as they relax by the exclusive, private rooftop pool and bar.  Cabana and conversational seating arrangements allow guests to enjoy the outdoors both day and night.  For those interested in more active pursuits, a 2,000-square-foot/185 square metre fitness center on the 26th floor offers guests the opportunity to catch a productive workout while enjoying the cityscape.

The hotel also offers meeting and event planners the Gallery Collection, the most efficient meeting space in Downtown L.A., with nearly 100,000-square-feet/10,000 square metres of ballroom and meeting rooms.  With the size and flexibility of the event space, The Ritz-Carlton, Los Angeles provides long-awaited support for the Los Angeles Convention Center.

Just steps away from STAPLES Center, Nokia Theatre L.A. LIVE, The GRAMMY® Museum and a variety of dining and other entertainment options, The Ritz-Carlton, Los Angeles provides guests with an oasis from the activity of the city as well as the convenience of being seconds away from the heart of one of the most exciting parts of Los Angeles.

L.A. LIVE is home to 13 restaurants and bars including Wolfgang Puck Bar & Grill, The Farm of Beverly Hills, Rosa Mexicano, Katsuya, ESPN Zone, Flemings Prime Steakhouse and Wine Bar, Rock ‘N Fish and Trader Vic’s.  The district also houses some of Los Angeles’ most popular entertainment venues such as Club Nokia and Lucky Strike Lanes & Lounge.

For more information on L.A. LIVE visit www.LALive.com and www.ritzcarlton.com.

Hotel Eden Roc Ascona

A paradise awakes from its winter slumber : the Hotel Eden Roc Ascona reopens tomorrow.

The complex spa conversion has been successfully completed. Bookings for April and May are already extremely promising. The opening of the Eden Roc Marina with a further 16 rooms and a new restaurant is to follow at the start of May.

For the last five and a half months, visitors to Ascona have strolled past the closed Hotel Eden Roc with great curiosity and conjectured as to what might be going on behind the building site fences. Admittedly, the changes are barely perceptible from the outside on account of the fact that the conversion of the spa area was largely confined to the interior of the two buildings making up the five-star establishment. From tomorrow on, the Eden Roc will again be open to visitors and the management and owners alike are keenly awaiting the response of the many Easter guests to the new developments. A grand total of 20 million Swiss francs has been invested in the transformation of the former Beauty Centre into a luxurious Eden Roc Spa extending over 2,000 square metres that will also be open to non-residents outside the main season. The inspiration for the design of the new water world, sauna area and seven new treatment rooms plus hairdressing salon was provided by the natural beauties of Ticino – more precisely, seven local flower species and the many colours of Lake Maggiore, ranging from silver gray to sky blue.

Hotel Eden Roc Ascona

In addition to the two indoor and outdoor pools, the expanded water world now offers guests a large hydropool with various whirlpool recliners in which to relax. Large mosaics reflect the incident sunlight from the adjoining garden area.  Another new feature is the Kneipp path constructed with stones from the nearby Maggia River. As the stones are not fixed permanently in place, their natural movements convey the impression of walking through a real river bed. In addition, the Eden Roc Spa offers a new sauna world with steam bath, sanarium, Finnish sauna and an exclusive private area for ladies as well as a fitness centre and a hairdressing salon open every day.

In its seven treatment rooms, a wide variety of massages, baths and facial treatments is available with products from the Sensai, Dermalogica, Clarins and ComfortZone lines. In the new nail lounge, the new Eden Roc Spa crew will be specialising in manicures and pedicures with high-quality lacquers from the innovative US brand OPI – after all, open shoes ranging from flip-flops to elegant sandals are part of the unspoken dress code in Ticino from May to October. As his inspiration for furnishing the treatment rooms, Ascona interior designer Carlo Rampazzi used the incomparable Ticino floral environment. A giant blossom, such as a rose, magnolia or hydrangea graces the walls and lends its name to the room concerned.

Hotel Eden Roc Ascona

“The redevelopment of the wellness area was an immense challenge due to the fact that we built it within the existing building” explained Corinne Denzler, Group Director of Tschuggen Hotel Group, who has been intimately involved in the planning of the new Eden Roc Spa for many months in conjunction with Europe’s leading manufacturer of sauna, bathing and wellness equipment, the German company Klafs GmbH. “At times the Eden Roc’s extensive gardens more closely resembled an adventure playground due to the need to transfer all the materials to the appropriate locations by crane and digger.” Nevertheless, the effort put in by the more than 150 planners, painters, tilers and electricians involved in the conversion is already paying off: the number of bookings received for the early season months of April and May is extremely gratifying. The Spa Opening Special launched by the five-star establishment at the beginning of February has already been taken up almost fifty times.

At the beginning of May, the second stage of the major redevelopment project will also be completed with the opening of the new Eden Roc Marina annex featuring 16 new, casually elegant rooms and a lifestyle restaurant in 1970’s retro look on the shore of the lake.

For more information visit : www.edenroc.ch

Sir Bani Yas Island, Abu Dhabi

Anantara Hotels, Resorts & Spas announced that it will manage two new luxury lodges on Sir Bani Yas island in Abu Dhabi. Due to open in late 2010, both resort lodges will offer unique experiences that capitalise on the impressively diverse beach and wildlife blend of Sir Bani Yas Island.  The dual launch further serves to fill a niche market on the island, answering to the luxury needs of travellers seeking a more exclusive, intimate style of island living.

Al Barari Lodge, meaning Savannah, occupies one of the best locations on Sir Bani Yas Island in the west section of the Arabian Wildlife Park. A setting of such natural seclusion entices a myriad of free roaming wildlife, and leads to captivating adventures for guests, as well as rooms with spectacular wildlife views.  Overlooking the Arabian Sea and salt-dome hilltops, 30 luxurious rustic lodges will be surrounded by a lush grass savannah, affording guests’ uninterrupted views of grazing sand gazelles, as well as Arabia’s elusive mountain gazelle and oryx.

Of equal allure, yet achieving a distinctly different set of natural charms, Al Yamm Lodge meaning ‘The Sea’, will comprise island lodges of luxurious beachfront tranquility.  Residing on the beautiful eastern shores of Sir Bani Yas Island, with beaches renowned as the finest on the island, the retreat also edges a tranquil lagoon rich with high mangroves, treating guests to views of the elegant flamingos that favour this verdant sanctuary. Consisting of beach style lodges overlooking the dazzling Arabian Sea, residences will benefit from a shoreline position, and others will be set back with idyllic views over a beautiful salt-water lagoon.

In addition to the opening of these unique lodge retreats, the island will see further development with the launch of the Desert Islands Conference Centre, Desert Islands Dive & Water Sport Centre, and the Sir Bani Yas Equestrian Centre, also to open later this year.

Desert Islands Conference Centre, managed by Anantara, will be located directly adjacent to the Desert Islands Resort & Spa by Anantara on the north side of the island, between Anantara Spa and the Dive & Water Sport Centre. With capacity for 300 guests, the Conference Centre will be the island’s first and only venue to accommodate larger groups. Facilities will include 8 break-out rooms, a reception centre, a large sea-facing courtyard, a business centre and prayer rooms.

For more information on Anantara Hotels, Resorts & Spas, please visit www.anantara.com

Banyan Tree Cabo Marqués, Acapulco

Award-winning Asian hospitality brand, Banyan Tree Hotels and Resorts is gearing up to receive its first paying guests at Banyan Tree Cabo Marqués on 15 March 2010. Located in the famed Acapulco region of Mexico, Banyan Tree Cabo Marqués is set to be the only five-star internationally branded all-private pool villa resort in Acapulco, offering the quintessential Banyan Tree service standards and rejuvenating Banyan Tree Spa experience. This is the Group’s second resort in Mexico, following the March 2009 launch of Banyan Tree Mayakoba in Riviera Maya, on the Yucatan peninsula.

To celebrate its opening, Banyan Tree Cabo Marqués is offering one complimentary night for minimum two consecutive paid nights’ stay. Introductory rates start from US$600++ per night in a Valley View Pool Villa, inclusive of daily breakfast for two. Guests who book a villa for three consecutive paid nights and above will enjoy one 90-minute Banyan Tree Spa massage session, usually worth USD$160, per booking.  The opening offer is valid for reservations from now till 30 June 2010.

Designed For Romance

Named for its location in the exclusive residential development of Cabo Marqués in Acapulco Diamante, Banyan Tree Cabo Marqués is a 20-minute drive from Acapulco International Airport and located a short 12 kilometres away from the vibrant Acapulco city centre. Famous since the roaring 1950s, Acapulco made its mark as a glamorous beach getaway for the jetsetter crowd, being just a 40-minute flight from key local cities such as Mexico City, Monterrey and Guadalajara, as well as three-hour flight from primary US states such as Texas and California.

Banyan Tree Cabo Marqués, Acapulco

Banyan Tree Cabo Marqués brings back the romance, adventure and vintage charm of Acapulco, with its luxury collection of 47 private all-pool villas, which includes an expansive three-bedroom Presidential Pool Villa. The Presidential Pool Villa converts to an exclusive compound with the addition of a Spa Pool Villa, turning it into a four-bedroom retreat for large families and intimate groups of friends.

Exclusively designed by Architrave Design and Planning, Banyan Tree’s in-house architecture arm, Banyan Tree Cabo Marqués is uniquely inspired by Acapulco’s long association with the Far East, being a major port of call for China in the 19^th century. Hence, the resort boasts a distinctively Asian flavour, with steeply pitched roofs, wide eaves, and the entire villa built on stilts. Each villa measures at least 189 square metres, with free-standing views on high stilts over the dramatic cliffs overlooking Acapulco Bay. The sense of elevation is heightened by use of wide expanses of glass to give guests the soaring feeling of blue on blue – the merger of sky and sea across the horizon.

Drawing also from exquisite Mexican artwork, the interior design is filled with sculptures and pieces from strong artisanal locations such as Oaxaca and Guadalajara. The designers also used talavera earthenware as accessories, black onyx as lamp bases, traditional huipil fabric from Chiapas, and tin etchings for mirror frames.

Banyan Tree Cabo Marqués, Acapulco

Dining is always an occasion for celebration at Banyan Tree. Guests will enjoy the choice of three establishments, comprising Saffron – the signature modern Thai restaurant, hill-side Las Rocas Grill and Bar, and all-day dining restaurant La Nao. La Nao is named for La Nao de China, a 16th century trading vessel that brought Mexican gold and Asian treasures across the seas on the vital Manila-Acapulco Galleon Trade route. Today, La Nao makes its mark as Acapulco’s most stylish restaurant, pioneering a modern world cuisine based on Latin and Oriental influences, with live local music in the evenings.

Banyan Tree Spa also makes its debut in Acapulco, bringing its rejuvenating Asian therapies and therapists trained at the Banyan Tree Spa Academy in Phuket, Thailand to create a “Sanctuary for the Senses” for guests in Acapulco. Enjoy the Banyan Tree lifestyle in the comfort of home through a gallery that embodies “Shopping as Art”: With exquisite products, aromatic essential oils wafting in the air, and soothing strains of spa music, walking into a Banyan Tree Gallery is a complete sensory experience.

Other facilities at the resort include a meeting room catering to small and exclusive groups as well as weddings. Perched on the cliff-side overlooking the Pacific Ocean, Banyan Tree Cabo Marqués is a spectacular setting for intimate ceremonies and honeymoons. A dedicated Romance Manager will be on hand to provide inspiration for couples to make the most of their sojourn.

Mexico’s Hottest Playground

In the 1950s and ‘60s, the Hollywood jet set made Acapulco their home – golden stars such as Elizabeth Taylor, John Wayne, Frank Sinatra, Clark Gable, and Elvis Presley lent their shine to the formerly sleepy fishing village. With 360 days of sunshine and a deep, beautiful bay, Acapulco also is known for the La Quebrada Cliff Divers, professional high divers who leap 45 meters from the cliffs into the sea below. Now rediscovered as much for its historic monuments like the 17^th-century Fuerte de San Diego, a fort that protected this Spanish port from numerous pirates, as well as exciting nightlife and cosmopolitan culture, Acapulco holds ample charms for the modern-day visitor looking for the best of old and new worlds.

Banyan Tree Cabo Marqués best available rates start from US$600++ per night in a Valley View Pool Villa. For reservations, call the resort directly at +52 744 434 0101, email cabomarques@banyantree.com or log on to banyantree.com.

Li Jiang River, Guilin

Shangri-La Hotels and Resorts, Asia Pacific’s leading luxury hotel group, celebrates the opening of Shangri-La Hotel, Guilin today.  The newly opened hotel is also offering guests a luxury cruise experience along the Li River – the only luxury hotel in the city to provide this exclusive waterborne journey.  From now until 31 October 2010, guests can book the Suite Cruise package and enjoy two nights in an Executive suite, a 90-minute morning or afternoon guided tour, a gourmet four-course meal cooked on-board by the hotel’s executive chef, daily breakfast for two and full Horizon Club access and privileges.

Sailing from Long Chuan Ping Jetty to Die Cai Mountain, guests can enjoy a classical Chinese guzheng (a Chinese plucked zither) performance as the boat journeys across a 10-kilometre natural river gallery, passing 10 of Guilin’s most famous mountains such as Elephant Trunk Hill, Fubo Hill, Seven Star Hill and Laoren Hill.  The waterborne trip is the perfect cruise from which to enjoy China’s famed “finest mountains and rivers under heaven.”  The sheer rock formations of the Li River, the series of mountains shrouded in mist and old villages that the cruise passes have inspired many poets and painters through the centuries.

A stay in an Executive Suite overlooking the Li River and karst mountains completes the journey.

Shangri-La Hotel, Guilin is located on the banks of the Li River and features many of the city’s firsts and superlatives.  These include the city’s largest guestrooms, the largest state-of-the-art meeting and conference facilities, the only hotel to have a wedding pagoda and the first hotel to feature indoor and outdoor swimming pools.

Situated near Yushan Bridge, the seven-storey Shangri-La Hotel, Guilin, is a 35-minute drive from Guilin Liangjiang International Airport and a 10-minute drive from the city centre.  Leading tourist attractions are all easily accessible, including Die Cai Mountain and the city’s largest walking street.

The 449-room Shangri-La Hotel, Guilin features the largest rooms in the city starting at 42 square metres.  There are 17 suites, ranging from an 84-square-metre Executive Suite to the 210-square-metre Presidential Suite. The hotel also incorporates Shangri-La’s Horizon Club guestrooms and lounge, a haven where today’s traveller can experience an even higher standard of accommodation and personalised service complemented with a host of exclusive privileges and amenities.

For meetings, incentives, conventions and exhibitions, the 1,800-square-metre Grand Ballroom, the largest ballroom in Guilin, is the perfect venue for hosting high-profile events of up to 2,000 people.  With six additional private function rooms and a dedicated VIP room, Shangri-La Hotel, Guilin is able to cater to a diverse range of event needs, from small private gatherings to conferences or large social events.  In addition, Guilin’s first and only wedding pagoda makes the hotel a much sought after location for weddings.

Shangri-La Hotel, Guilin also features a comprehensive range of recreational facilities including indoor and outdoor pools in addition to tennis courts and a health club.

The hotel’s dining includes Shang Palace Chinese restaurant, which offers Cantonese, Hunanese and Huaiyang cuisines as well as local Guilin specialties against a backdrop of the Li River.  Li Café features live food action stations showcasing both Western and Asian cuisine and U Bar offering an assortment of grills and beers. For business or pleasure, the Lobby Lounge is a warm and intimate location that offers desserts and pastries, a Chinese influenced snack menu and high tea sets from afternoon to evening.  Surrounded by lush gardens, the Pool Bar serves fresh and simple snacks and meals as well as a diverse range of cocktails and juices.

The Suite Cruise package is offered at RMB8,888 for two and, also includes round-trip airport and jetty transfers by hotel limousine.  The rate quoted excludes tax and service charge and is subject to availability.  For reservations and enquiries, please contact Shangri-La Hotel, Guilin on (86 773) 269 8888 or e-mail reservations.slgl@shangri-la.com.  Two weeks’ advance reservation is required.  Guests can also take advantage of a special opening offer of RMB688 per night for single occupancy and RMB788 per night for double occupancy for Deluxe category rooms, including buffet breakfast, subject to 15 per cent service charge and prevailing government tax.

www.shangri-la.com

Hotel Missoni Kuwait

September 2010 will see the debut of the second property for the exciting new hotel brand. A partnership between Missoni and the Rezidor Hotel Group, Hotel Missoni Kuwait channels the unique style of the Milan-based fashion house. And with extensive facilities, this destination resort is sure to delight visitors to Kuwait City.

Decorated in pure Missoni glam (just check out the colorful prints and designer furniture in the photos), the hotel overlooks the turquoise Arabian Sea from its perch in central Kuwait City. It’s all about the Missoni lifestyle, meaning the restaurant, Cucina Missoni, whips up Italian family recipes from Mama Missoni in an open-style kitchen– served on china from Missoni homewares. Hotel Missoni KuwaitA few dishes to tempt the tastebuds: Barolo & Castelmagno cheese risotto, seabass baked with a salt crust, and roast rabbit served with polenta & radicchio. The hotel will also offer the Choco Café, inspired by the Italian passion for coffee. (A hopping scene and bar alternative in non-alcoholic Kuwait.)

What’s more- the Hotel Missoni Kuwait will be home to a 13,000-square-foot Six Senses Spa and an outside pool tiled in the signature Missoni stripe. While sipping a drink on the glamorous pool terrace, take in endless vistas across the Arabian Sea.

Hotel Missoni Kuwait

A little bit about the 169 rooms and suites: All of them have sea views, Missoni linens and scented toiletries, and complimentary Internet access. Designed with gold, turquoise and beige accents, the contemporary rooms stress a combination of form and function, equipped with all the latest technology. Top digs: The Presidential Suite boasts a sprawling outside terrace.

Next up for Hotel Missoni? New openings in Cape Town, Oman, and Brazil.