Boutique Hotels: Vive la Différence

The mid-twentieth century, some say, was the golden age of the big, bland chain hotel. Vacationers of the 1950s or '60s took out second mortgages to afford jet travel, supposedly to find, as they hurtled from destination to destination, that a hotel room in Melbourne was the same as one in Manila. Innkeepers were accused of rolling out design templates such that no matter where you awoke in the world, the features of your room—the bedside panel, the writing desk—looked identical. Indeed, the very words Holiday Inn or Hilton took on a pejorative connotation: they were globalization's earliest villains, blamed for destroying a sense of place with an imperialist approach to style.

But this is judgment passed in haste. For the fact is that there is another, more conformist time, and that is the present.

Dubai Government Firm Buys NYC Hotel

Dubai's government has bolstered its holdings of New York City real estate by purchasing a majority stake in Manhattan's five-star Mandarin Oriental hotel.

The $340 million purchase of the Mandarin Oriental, part of the Time Warner Center on Manhattan's Columbus Circle, adds to the growing U.S. real estate portfolio held by the Arab world's financial powerhouse.

The purchase by Istithmar PJSC, the Dubai government's holding company, was announced Sunday.

Istithmar's New York properties include the W Hotel on Union Square, the Knickerbocker Hotel on Times Square and commercial buildings at 280 Park Avenue, 230 Park Avenue and 450 Lexington Avenue. The firm also owns the Hotel Washington in Washington D.C.

"We're building a portfolio of both luxury and budget hotels in key target markets around the world," said Joe Sita, chief executive of Istithmar's hotels group.

Dominican Paradisus Palma Real Resort enters world luxury hotels list

In recognition of its level of excellence, Paradisus Palma Real Resort, a five-star, luxury, all-inclusive which opened its doors in December 2005, has been honored as a member of the world's most prestigious collection of luxury hotels, The Leading Hotels of the World.

The Leading Hotels of the World is the renowned luxury hospitality organization representing more than 430 of the world's finest hotels, resorts and spas. Since 1928, the company's reputation for excellence derives from the exacting levels of quality it demands of its members, each of which must pass a rigorous, anonymous inspection covering 1,500 separate criteria.

"Achieving the coveted status of The Leading Hotels of the World so early in our tenure is a great honor, ensuring Paradisus Palma Real Resort's position as one of the finest hotels in the world, we are pleased to be included in a group that shares our standards of service and excellence," stated Susanna Mander, Director of Brand Management for Paradisus Resorts.

Disney to add resort

Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts will build a luxury hotel and 18-hole championship golf course along the northeast border of Walt Disney World, theme park officials said Thursday.

The Toronto-based luxury hotel chain is part of two expansion plans that will take eight to 10 years to fully develop and will include single- and multifamily vacation homes, fractional ownership homes and a 450-acre retail, dining and lodging district, said Meg Crofton, Disney World's president.

The number of jobs the two developments will bring to the area is unknown, Crofton said. Disney currently has 60,000 employees.

Four Seasons, with 74 hotels in 31 countries and two locations currently in Florida, will anchor a 900-acre development which already houses two golf courses.

Dominican Paradisus Palma Real Resort enters world luxury hotels list

In recognition of its level of excellence, Paradisus Palma Real Resort, a five-star, luxury, all-inclusive which opened its doors in December 2005, has been honored as a member of the world's most prestigious collection of luxury hotels, The Leading Hotels of the World.

The Leading Hotels of the World is the renowned luxury hospitality organization representing more than 430 of the world's finest hotels, resorts and spas. Since 1928, the company's reputation for excellence derives from the exacting levels of quality it demands of its members, each of which must pass a rigorous, anonymous inspection covering 1,500 separate criteria.

"Achieving the coveted status of The Leading Hotels of the World so early in our tenure is a great honor, ensuring Paradisus Palma Real Resort's position as one of the finest hotels in the world, we are pleased to be included in a group that shares our standards of service and excellence," stated Susanna Mander, Director of Brand Management for Paradisus Resorts.

Ground Broken On New Luxury Resort In South Bay

Lowe Enterprises broke ground Wednesday on a multimillion-dollar, oceanfront resort on the site of the old Marineland aquatic park in Rancho Palos Verdes. The $450 million development, known as Terranea, is expected to open in spring 2009. "We have the rare opportunity to create the only true luxury destination resort along the coastline of the Pacific Ocean in Los Angeles County," said Robert J. Lowe, chairman and chief executive of Lowe Enterprises. "We are extremely mindful of the responsibility that comes with this amazing opportunity," he said in a statement. "To ensure that Terranea will be a jewel for the entire region, we have brought to its planning all of what we have learned in 35 years of developing exceptional resorts." The 102-acre development will feature a 360-room resort, along with 20 two-bedroom bungalows, 50 three-bedroom casitas and 32 villas.

Teenage Caribbean holiday heaven on Antigua

Moody teenagers complaining they have nothing to do and are bored can dampen any family holiday. But help is at hand for Caribbean holidays at least, as Curtain Bluff, Antigua's leading luxury all inclusive resort, has launched a determined bid to attract families with teenage children to holiday at the hotel this summer. While many resorts in the Caribbean concentrate on offering facilities for young children and toddlers, Curtain Bluff is targeting older offspring. The resort is remaining open throughout the summer this year to attract British families and is offering teenagers a whole range of interesting activities including learning to deep sea fish. The fishing lessons take place on the hotel's own fishing boat which is used to catch the fresh fish featured daily on the resort's dinner menus.

Top California golf resorts: Pebble Beach rocks, but La Quinta's no. 1

The best golf resorts in California? Our top pick, La Quinta Resort & Club, may surprise Pebble Beach fans. But La Quinta is a classic that has aged well, and golfers here can take on Pete Dye's epic Mountain and PGA West TPC Stadium golf courses. Don't fret, Pebble devotees, it's no. 2.
California knows resorts like Paris Hilton knows partying.
The Golden State practiced relaxation as a religion long before the rest of the country caught on. Plush accommodations, on-call masseuses, fine wines in the cellar and knockout golf courses outside your door became high-life staples here. That Michigan golf resort you loved? It probably picked up many of its tricks from California.
"Resorts just fit in with the California lifestyle," said Tim Hurja, a PGA Professional who worked at his share of resorts before starting Palm Springs Golf Central, a hotel and golf packaging company.

Upscale hotels turn to suppliers of luxury for that extra special ...

Those who haven't stayed in a fine hotel lately might have a hard time imagining how luxuriant the whole experience has become. Giant vases from the Far East and African carvings adorn lobbies, while guest rooms are embellished with marble countertops and goose-down comforters. Increasingly affluent and well-traveled guests expect pampering, and hotels are eager to satisfy. As competition at the hotel industry's high-end grows, the emphasis on unique furnishings, fine cuisine and personal pampering has never been greater. "The haves have a lot more now than they ever had," said Peter Jarvis, president of Triar Seafood Co. in Hollywood, Fla., a hotel supplier. "They are demanding the best, and they are willing to pay for premium goods and services wherever they go." Internet buying has made a big difference.

Macau bets on new casino

MACAU - Thousands of gamblers on Sunday jammed into a new casino owned by a local billionaire who is trying to fend off an invasion by Las Vegas tycoons who have been gobbling up market share in the booming Chinese territory of Macau.
Many of the punters who crowded into the Grand Lisboa - shaped like a huge lotus flower covered in blinking lights - were big-betting mainland Chinese who helped push Macau past the Las Vegas Strip last year as the world's gaming center.
The five-floor casino is owned by Hong Kong billionaire Stanley Ho, who held a monopoly on gaming in Macau for four decades until 2002. The former Portuguese enclave - two islands and a peninsula off China's southeastern coast - is the only place in China where casinos are legal.
In the past four years, some of the biggest names from Las Vegas - Las Vegas Sands Corp.'s Sheldon Adelson, Wynn Resorts Ltd.'s Stephen Wynn and MGM Mirage Inc.

CityCenter's Mandarin Oriental newly sold out

LAS VEGAS, Nevada -- More than 90 percent of the luxury residential offerings at CityCenter's Mandarin Oriental Las Vegas have sold in a mere 14 days and generated more than $600 million, signifying a robust market for Las Vegas' next generation development. The first of CityCenter's four residential developments to be released to the public for purchase, The Residences at Mandarin Oriental achieved prices well above expectations.
Still available is the Mandarin Penthouse collection, including luxurious two- and three- bedroom units ranging in size from 2,065 square feet to 4,259 square feet. These residences are priced from $3.7 million to $9.1 million and will be delivered as grey shells.
CityCenter, MGM MIRAGE's (NYSE: MGM) $7 billion dazzling vertical city, will open in the heart of the Las Vegas Strip between Bellagio and Monte Carlo resorts in late 2009.

Qatari Diar Real Estate and NorthCourse Leisure Real Estate ...

Real estate industry leaders Qatari Diar, a regional leader in sustainable real estate development, and NorthCourse, a global leisure real estate consulting and asset management company, signed a joint venture agreement today, creating what is poised to be a significant player in luxury real estate brokerage in parts of the Middle East and North Africa region. The company that will be established, Qatar Real Estate Partners, has obtained the exclusive franchise rights for the Sothebys International Realty brand in Qatar, Morocco, Egypt and Oman.
The company, which will market luxury real estate, will be headquartered in Doha, Qatar and expects to initially open Sothebys International Realty offices there and in Casablanca, Morocco. Offices in Cairo, Egypt and Muscat, Oman are planned to follow shortly.

Luxury resort set for Lake of Ozarks

Springfield hotel developer John Q. Hammons is bringing his vision of luxury lodging to the Lake of the Ozarks, on a peninsula where the 15-story hotel is sure to stand out. Hammons estimates that his property -- a European-style hotel, to be called Chateau on Lake of the Ozarks, Osage Beach -- will cost $80 million to $90 million. The hotel will have 320 rooms and more than 100,000 square feet of meeting space. The 30-acre site went to Hammons in January. It sits on a peninsula visible from U.S. 54 in both directions on the Grand Glaize bridge. Osage Beach officials have been looking forward to the project for more than a year and offered plenty of praise ahead of an official announcement scheduled for today. "It will be a huge benefit and boost to the city," said Nancy Viselli, Osage Beach's city administrator.

Club La Costa sets sail into luxury holiday market

This spring, Club La Costa Resorts & Hotels will launch its exclusive Yacht Club in Palma, when the first of its fleet of 60 ft luxury €1 million catamarans will sail around the island of Mallorca for its inaugural spring/summer season (from March 17th to October 20th, 2007, inclusive.) The Club intends to quickly expand its fleet and destinations in the future to include Italy, Turkey and the Aegean. With the backing of parent company Club La Costa - which this year will celebrate 23 years in the holiday industry - the Yacht Club aims to bring the luxury of sailing holidays within the financial reach of everyone, for considerably less than a similar vacation available from the usual charter operators. Set to cater for those wishing to experience the ultimate holiday lifestyle of the yachting elite – minus the expense and management that comes with owning your own yacht – this unique style of holiday means guests can relax onboard, soak up the sun and enjoy the high life while the crew takes care of everything else, from serving breakfast to mixing mojitos at sunset, or from arranging excursions to scuba diving lessons along with a variety of other water sports.