The Luxury Hotel Insider: Exclusive luxury hotel deals, features and special rates from the luxury hotel experts at Five Star Alliance. The Kessler Collection Announces Plans for The Grand Bohemian at Historic Power Plant in Savannah
March 11, 2013
By: Five Star Alliance
Original article written by Adam Van Brimmer and posted at Savannahnow.com, Savannah Morning News
Richard Kessler's Kessler Collection of hotels has a grand vision for remaking the west end of Savannah, Georgia's River Street.
The hotel developer and Savannah native unveiled his preliminary plans for the Plant Riverside site Thursday during a Savannah City Council workshop. The Grand Bohemian at Historic Power Plant will anchor the $100 million-plus redevelopment of the waterfront property, which straddles the intersection of Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard and River Street.
Redevelopment of the site, which Kessler bought for $9 million on New Year’s Eve, won’t begin for at least a year. Construction will take between 18 months and two years, meaning the hotel will open no earlier than 2016.
The 160-room Grand Bohemian is just one piece of the project. The hotel will be housed in the historic power plant, along with a café, a restaurant and bar, a 3,500-seat ballroom, a 3,000-square-foot art gallery and other upscale retail.
Kessler proposes to build a combination exhibition hall/parking garage to the west of the power plant along the riverfront. The cleared lot east of the power plant, which once was home to the transformer farm, initially will be converted to a grassed plaza and reserved for future development.
Kessler’s project was warmly received by council, a testament to the success of his past development work in Savannah. The Grand Bohemian will be the seventh hotel he’s built in the Historic District since launching his development career in 1970.
The Kessler Collection of Hotels:
The Mansion on Forsyth Park in Savannah, GA
Beaver Creek Lodge in Beaver Creek, CO
Kessler Canyon in DeBeque, CO
Grand Bohemian Hotel Orlando in Orlando, FL
The Castle in Orlando, FL
Casa Monica Hotel in St. Augustine, FL
Bohemian Hotel Celebration in Orlando, FL
Bohemian Hotel Savannah in Savannah, GA
El Monte Sagrado in Taos, NM
Grand Bohemian Hotel in Asheville, NC
Image of the Day: Rocpool Reserve Hotel
March 10, 2013
By: K. Clare Johnson
Red, not Scottish plaid, is the color du jour in this sitting room at Rocpool Reserve Hotel.
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By: K. Clare Johnson
Image of the Day: The Raj Palace
March 9, 2013
By: K. Clare Johnson
Just one of the many majestic rooms at The Raj Palace in Jaipur, India
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By: K. Clare Johnson
Image of the Day: Art Series The Cullen
March 8, 2013
By: K. Clare Johnson
One of the many pieces of whimsical art found at Melbourne's Art Series The Cullen
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By: K. Clare Johnson
Grand Hotel Tremezzo Opens for the Season
March 8, 2013
By: Meagan Drillinger
Five Star Alliance's sister publication, Luxury Travel Advisor, recently wrote an article about Grand Hotel Tremezzo's season opening: 
Debuting for the first time last year, the hotel unveiled a newly renovated Rooftop Floor, made up of eight suites. The fifth floor of the palace now includes three Rooftop Junior Suites, three Rooftop Corner Suites and two Rooftop Front Suites. Each has its own private terrace, outdoor heated Jacuzzi pool, butler services and views of the lake.
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Image of the Day: The Westin Beach Resort & Spa Fort Lauderdale
March 7, 2013
By: K. Clare Johnson
The stunning walkway to the beach courtesty of The Westin Beach Resort & Spa Fort Lauderdale
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By: K. Clare Johnson
Your Questions Answered: What are the best accommodations for a family of six in Scottsdale, AZ?
March 7, 2013
By: Betsy LeTourneau
Your Questions Answered: What are the best accommodations for a family of six in Scottsdale, AZ?
The Hilton Scottsdale Resort & Villas is located in the heart of Scottsdale, Arizona, within minutes of shopping, attractions, dining, world-class golf, and business districts. With breathtaking views of Camelback Mountain, this AAA Four Diamond resort combines a relaxed ambience with decor inspired by the Sonoran Desert. Relax in your beautifully furnished, spacious guest room. Unique from other Scottsdale hotels are our spacious two-bedroom villas with wood-burning fireplaces which provide beautiful views from your private balcony, and a pool dedicated solely to the villas.
Two Bedroom Deluxe Villa Details: these luxurious two bedroom, two bathroom Villas range between 1,500 and 1,800 sq. ft. All of the Villas have identical guestroom configurations; the first bedroom offers a king bed, and the second guest room offers two double beds. The spacious living room features a wood burning fireplace, queen sleeper sofa, wet bar, dining table and a 42-inch flat-screen plasma television with Bose stereo system. The kitchenette is stocked with ample cookware, cooking utensils and silverware. Other kitchenette amenities include: flat top range, refrigerator, toaster and plenty of cabinet storage. Additional villa amenities include: secure entrance, private pool, complimentary wireless internet, dual line telephones, washer and dryer, private patio and upscale bath amenities.
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By: Betsy LeTourneau
Image of the Day: Metropol Palace Belgrade
March 6, 2013
By: K. Clare Johnson
One of the many snazzy seating areas at Metropol Palace Belgrade
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New to Five Star Alliance
March 5, 2013
By: K. Clare Johnson
We're always on the lookout for the top luxury hotels to add to the Five Star Alliance collection. Here are a few we've added recently.
Paradisus Playa del Carmen La Perla, located in Playa del Carmen, Mexico, is an adults-only all-inclusive resort located on a spectacular and intimate bay. Paradisus Playa del Carmen La Perla combines a prestigious Caribbean setting with world-class facilities, including Royal Service, the ultimate in spa treatments, a relaxed ambience, and flexible meeting spaces with state-of-the-art equipment.
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Refinery Hotel New York is located in the heart of Manhattan's garment district. It is blocks from Bryant Park, the theater district, Times Square, and the Empire State Building. There are 197 Guest Rooms and Executive Suites throughout the hotel's 12 elegant floors, each opulently tailored and custom-furnished. The chic decor and artistic ambience have industrial accents, a nod to the building's former life as a hat factory.
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Paradisus Playa del Carmen Esmeralda, also located in Playa del Carmen, is also all-inclusive, but is geared towards a fun family vacation. There is a family pool, and 11 restaurants to choose from. The oceanfront location is surrounded by a lush tropical mangrove preserve and has views of Cozumel Island. Enjoy fun activities such as tango dance classes, sushi-making, and sensorial experiences.
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By: K. Clare Johnson
Sponsored Article: Hotel Vitale
March 4, 2013
By: K. Clare Johnson
All 200 guestrooms at Hotel Vitale feature limestone covered bathrooms, luxurious sheets, and a soft and subtle color scheme designed to promote vitality. But we'd like to draw your attention to the rooms that showcase Hotel Vitale's prime location on the revitalized Embarcadero Waterfront. After all, who doesn't want to wake up to a view of the bay? Here are the rooms you want to book if you want waterviews.
-The Landmark Terrace Suite is located on the top floor of the Hotel Vitale. 663 square feet of indoor living space includes a bedroom with a king bed and a living room with sliding glass doors leading to a private terrace. 
The terrace overlooks the famous landmarks of the historic Ferry Building, the Bay Bridge, Alcatraz, and the San Francisco Bay, the Ferry Building, and the Bay Bridge.
-The Panoramic Suite is a corner suite designed in a 180 degree circular style. It has dramatic views of the San Francisco Bay, Ferry Building, and Bay Bridge. The living room features a soaking tub for two. Other amenities include a wet bar, king-size bed, entertainment center, and spa-style limeston bathroom with dual rainforest showerhead.
-Waterfront Rooms are located on floors three through eight and feature San Francisco Bay, Ferry Building, Treasure Island and Bay Bridge views. Each room has a seating area, bay windows, and spa-style limestone bathroom with rainforest showerhead. Ranging in size in 370-390 square feet, rooms have either a one King bed or two Queen beds.
-Superior Water View Rooms offer partial water views and partial views of the Bay Bridge or Ferry Building. The rooms with two queen beds have a large window that offers partial water views and views of the Ferry Building or Treasure Island. Included in each room is a limestone bath and tub and shower combination. Square footage of the superior water view guestrooms ranges from 310 to 395 square feet.
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By: K. Clare Johnson
