Hot New Hotels for 2011: Announcing the Viceroy Maldives

We're the first to admit it: we've got a big weakness for Viceroy Hotels and Resorts. From Santa Monica to Snowmass to Miami to Anguilla, Viceroy has staked its claim to some prime real estate, wowing with designer interiors (Kelly Wearstler at her best) and sumptuous facilities (glimmering private pools, dining with dramatic views). And get this. Pretty soon the world-famous L’Ermitage Beverly Hills will be reborn as Viceroy L’Ermitage Beverly Hills. There's more. Come summertime, the Viceroy Maldives will debut in the Indian Ocean, the first resort beyond the Americas for the collection. Set on the crescent-shaped island of Vagaru in the Shaviyani Atoll, the Viceroy Maldives will feature 61 luxury villas perched over the white sand and crystal clear water. These villas are billed as some of the largest in the Maldives, occupying between 1,345- 3,300 square feet of indoor space. Not to mention the private outdoor living areas and plunge pools.

2011 Grand Award Winners from Andrew Harper’s Hideaway Report

Hats off to the 2011 Andrew Harper Grand Award Winners! Since 1979, the prestigious publication has tracked the best in luxury hotels, and now the newest list is out. What's the criteria for choosing the award winners? From the official website: "Mr. Harper chooses his favorite properties visited over the past calendar year to comprise this list. All possess exceptional character, a commitment to classic hospitality and a profound sense of place." And without further ado, the top award, the "Hideaway of the Year," is Il Salviatino in Florence, Italy. Other award winners include: Amangiri, The Hazelton Hotel, and Lake Placid Lodge in North America; Tambo del Inka and Titilaka in South America; The Peninsula House and Tucker's Point in the Caribbean; Banjaar Tola (India) and Sumahan on the Water (Istanbul) in Asia & Mideast; Villa Bordoni and Hotel Le Fontanelle (Italy), Lydmar Hotel (Stockholm), Tenbosch House (Brussels), Amberley Castle and Lime Wood (England) in Europe.

Hot New Hotels: Devi Ratn in Jaipur, India

Recently singled out by The New York Times T Magazine as a "hotel to watch," the Devi Ratn is a contemporary vision of Indian design: "The latest jewel of India takes inspiration from Jaipur’s gem industry. At the 63-suite Devi Ratn, red sandstone is made into lyrical domes and arches, and surfaces sparkle with metal inlay." Anchored in the architectural tradition of Rajasthan, a region celebrated for its vibrant color and culture, the Devi Ratn also pays homage to Rajasthan's ancient astronomical observatories. The hotel's 'Devi Spa by L'Occitane'-- featuring signature treatments from the French brand-- will catapult the Devi Ratn into a leading spa destination. Every suite has views of the Aravali mountains, and if you book a villa, you'll get access to your own private pool and jacuzzi.

New Year’s Bash and More: Warm Up in Shanghai at the JIA Boutique Hotel

In Shanghai for New Year’s Eve? Book a table at JIA-- the trendy boutique hotel-- and you’ll be privy to a 4-course celebration menu at issimo by Salvatore Cuomo with free flowing Prosecco 'til the wee hours. Add sparkle to your night by booking the special “Winter Warmth” package. You’ll get a room upgrade and all kinds of complimentary JIA extras: a hot cooked breakfast at issimo, 24-hour soft beverages, afternoon cakes and the evening wine reception in the lobby, local phone calls, and special entry to the exclusive KEE private member’s club. This special is available now through January 5, 2011. Priced from RMB 1280 in a chic Studio. The four-course NYE dinner is priced from RMB 688 per person. (Get unlimited Prosecco with a package price of RMB 288 per person.) While you’re in town, warm up with traditional hot chocolate served with a dash of either Disarrono or Grand Marnier and topped with whipped cream, at the hotel's Ciobar.

Designer Eric Raisina Creates Christmas Tree for Raffles Grand Hotel d’Angkor

Move over, John Galliano. Another fashion designer has worked his magic on a yuletide surprise, this time in the lobby of Siem Reap's most elegant hotel, the Raffles Grand Hotel d'Angkor. You may have seen his fashion on the runways of Yves Saint Laurent, Christian Lacroix and New York Fashion week, but now Madagascar-born, Cambodian-based designer Eric Raisina has crafted a Christmas tree that's sure to get tongues wagging. Inspired by traditional life on the Mekong River, Raisina designed a non-traditional tree out of fishing equipment used by local Cambodians. Adorned with hand-woven fishing nets and bamboo fishing rods and baskets, the tree takes center stage in the lobby of the glamorous hotel. The recent Christmas Tree lighting ceremony heralded the start of festivities throughout the hotel which will culminate in the highly-anticipated New Year's Eve Gala celebration by the pool, with fireworks ringing in 2011.

Sky-High Luxury Hotels in Tibet: St. Regis, Shangri-La & InterContinental Head to Lhasa

First it was the St. Regis. As we first reported a few years ago, Starwood set its sights on bringing its signature St. Regis butler service to the remote capital of Tibet, accomplished last month with the opening of the 162-room hotel-- steps from the UNESCO World Heritage sites of Potala Palace and Norbulingka. While taking in the awesome views over Lhasa, guests can luxuriate in rooms equipped with marble bathrooms, plasma screen TVs, and yes, high speed Internet. And now other luxury brands are following suit, opening luxury hotels on the roof of the world. (Tibet is indeed the highest region on earth, with an average elevation of 16,000 feet.) A recent article in Bloomberg Businessweek calls attention to the current trend in China of targeting remote locations for hotel growth, because of the glut in lodging in the urban areas:

In 2012, Shangri-La Asia will open a 350-room hotel in Lhasa, and InterContinental Hotels Group (IHG) plans to add a high-end, 2,000-room hotel in the city within three years. Visitors to Shangri-La's Lhasa hotel will be able to experience Tibetan welcome rituals and the local hand-churned butter tea, which is believed to be beneficial at high altitudes and prevent chapped lips. The property will feature a full-service clinic to attend to guests who suffer from altitude sickness... "Luxury today is not about champagne and caviar but about experiencing something your neighbor hasn't," says Jonas Ogren, a Singapore-based director for STR Global, an industry research company. "It's about experiencing champagne and caviar at Everest Base Camp."

Interest in Tibet, especially among the Chinese, has increased since the opening of the Qinghai-Tibet railway four years ago.

Chauffeur-Driven Mini Coopers: Now Available at The Peninsula Hotels in Chicago and New York

Guests of The Peninsula Hong Kong have raved about the two Mini Coopers (added to the hotel's fleet of Rolls-Royce Phantoms earlier this year). What a great shopping spree sidekick! So now The Peninsula Hotels in Chicago and New York are following suit, introducing chauffeur-driven Mini Coopers-- painted in Peninsula green, of course-- for holiday shopping in style. The cars are outfitted with iPod/iPhone connections and mini refrigerators stocked with drinks and cold towels. As the USA Today's Hotel Check-in explains, "The chauffeur won't have a problem loading a guest's purchases into the tiny auto, thanks to a storage box mounted on the rooftop." Just book a suite and you'll have free access to the cute cars for up to three hours per day. Next up: The Peninsula Tokyo, which will roll out its Mini Cooper service in January.

Last Day to Book Starwood’s Global Holiday Sale

The big two-week global sale from Starwood Hotels & Resorts is coming to an end. Act fast to score savings of up to 30% on best available rates this holiday season across all nine Starwood brands: Sheraton, Westin, W Hotels, St. Regis, Le Méridien, The Luxury Collection, Aloft, Four Points by Sheraton and Element. The offer is valid for stays between November 4, 2010 and January 17, 2011 at more than 750 hotels and resorts worldwide; valid at participating hotels over weekends and at participating resorts all days of the week.

Pictured: The world-renowned Hotel President Wilson in Geneva, part of the Luxury Collection.

Fly Over the Maldives by Seaplane with the Four Seasons at Kuda Huraa

Talk about a Maldives adventure! Located on a private coral island a short speedboat ride away from Malé, the Four Seasons Resort Maldives at Kuda Huraa is a luxurious haven of palm-thatched bungalows on the sand overlooking the crystal-clear turquoise water. Unwind at the spa, or explore the untouched atolls surrounding the island in the Four Seasons Explorer catamaran. But perhaps the most spectacular views of the Maldives can be experienced from the air. The resort can arrange 20-minute seaplane rides so you can check out schools of dolphins and manta rays as you fly low over the ocean, taking in the views of coral reefs and beautiful lagoons. Now that's an experience to write home about.

A Delicious Special at Sofitel Hotels from Chicago to Paris to Hanoi

Sofitel Hotels is rolling out the red carpet for families who love chocolate this holiday season. And who doesn't love chocolate? With the "I Love Chocolate" special, you'll score one free night (stay for 3 and pay for only 2), a late check-out at 3 p.m., and a festive chocolate feast the whole family will enjoy. Think chocolate-filled pastries and cups of rich hot chocolate to warm up after a day wandering the city streets, shopping and sightseeing. Available from November 15, 2010 through January 16, 2011 at luxurious Sofitel Hotels around the globe. Here's a sampling of prices:

Sofitel Chicago Water Tower from $117

Sofitel Legend Metropole Hanoi from $157

Sofitel Washington DC Lafayette Square from $147

Sofitel Philadelphia from $117

Sofitel London St. James from GBP 133

Sofitel Agadir Royal Beach Resort from EUR 117

Sofitel Amsterdam The Grand from EUR 193

Sofitel Paris Arc de Triomphe from EUR 193