Heroes in a Half-Shell: Banyan Tree Resorts Saves Turtles

It's always great when a hotel gives back to the habitat that it draws so much from. Banyan Tree Resorts are paying homage to the beautiful and endangered sea turtle with an awareness campaign around the dwindling habitat for these gentle sea creatures.  Felly the Turtle is leading the charge, and while his knitted form might not be particularly seaworthy, it should definitely help his aquatic brethren.  Banyan tree is honoring the coming of Earth Day in under two weeks and doing their part to preserve the habitats that luxury travelers depend upon so much for their enjoyment.  I'll add my voice to the crowd saying that we really appreciate when hotels recognize that they are a part of a habitat and a community and giving back is a wonderful thing. 

Banyan Tree has resorts all over southeastern Asia and Mexico, and you can learn more about their diverse and luxurious properties here.

It's Business Time: Taj Palace Best Business Hotel New Delhi

There's a very interesting split in the travel industry between business and leisure travelers. And if you're one of the business types, you know well that you're on the road constantly and the things that matter to you, travel convenience, efficiency, and connectivity, are almost the opposite of what a leisure traveler might want. If the word 'secluded' ever appeared in a hotel description, you'd cross it off the list immediately. So I'm here to use some adjectives you might appreciate hearing in describing some of the world's best business hotels. Today? New Delhi.

There's one hotel in New Delhi that has historic pedigree to play host to the most influential businessmen and foreign dignitaries, and that's the Taj Palace Hotel. On six acres of the Diplomatic Enclave, which is itself just a stone's throw from the business district, you're right in the center of the action, whether it's financial or political. Thirteen meeting rooms across the property can accommodate up to 1,000 people, so you'll never be lacking for space in the hotel itself, and a short 10 minute drive to the airport eliminates any hassle that comes with travel. Go right from your flight to your room with no fuss at all. Stay connected with state-of-the-art electronics and all the business facilities you need. Four restaurants on site provide Mediterranean, Indian, and Chinese cuisine, and there's a nearby private club for a golf or tennis break, as well as a nine hole putting course at the hotel.  The Taj Palace Hotel is just what our more entrepreneurial travelers are looking for in New Delhi.

New Luxury Hotels Opening in 2012: Palace Hotel Tokyo

We at Five Star Alliance are all about the best and most luxurious hotels. We certainly keep up with the happenings in the luxury travel world and take pride in bringing our clients the latest luxury travel news. Keep up with our blog series where we’ll be featuring luxury hotels opening in 2012 to stay on top of the trends and make your reservations at the newest hotspots.

The Palace Hotel Tokyo is set to have its grand opening next month on May 17th, 2012! This luxury hotel is located in the heart of Tokyo and it aims to provide the absolute best of Japan. Its history dates back to the 1947 opening of Hotel Teito, which then became the Palace Hotel in 1961. The Palace Hotel ceased operations in 2009 in preparation for its restoration as the contemporary Palace Hotel Tokyo, and it is now a beautifully renovated luxury hotel equipped with the most modern facilities and amenities. There are 290 guest rooms and suites, each at least 45 square meters in size and all beautifully decorated with comfort and luxury in mind. Guests staying in the Club rooms or suites have access to the private club lounge, and the hotel has a new renowned spa facility, fine dining options on site, and a phenomenal event space that can accommodate up to 1,500 people. Be one of the first to experience this newly redesigned luxury hotel in Tokyo and make your reservations for any time after May 17th, 2012!

Condé Nast Traveler Gold List 2012: The Peninsula Hong Kong

We understand that no one aims to come in second place; there is no recognition for mediocrity. We at Five Star Alliance understand better than anyone the importance of offering the most luxurious resorts in the world, so we notice what’s going on in the industry, and it matters to us, because it matters to you. We work hard to offer you the best in the industry, and we’d like to welcome you to our second blog series where we feature the best and most luxurious resorts in the world. But don’t take our word for it. These resorts have been recognized as the best in the business and have made the prestigious Condé Nast Traveler Gold List 2012.

The Condé Nast Traveler Gold List 2012 is the eighth of their annual lists, and the hotels chosen by their team of editors and experts are the best for service, food, location, rooms, leisure facilities, ambiance and design.

The Peninsula Hong Kong in Kowloon, Hong Kong is featured on the Gold List 2012: Best for location. This luxury hotel has been regarded as one of the finest hotels in the world. Built during the 1920s, the Peninsula Hong Kong continues to set the standard worldwide and combines the best of Eastern and Western hospitality in an atmosphere of timeless elegance. It’s perfectly situated on the central tip of Kowloon Peninsula, in the heart of Kowloon’s business, shopping, and entertainment areas. The Peninsula Hong Kong enables guests to travel to the central district on Hong Kong Island is less than 10 minutes, and certain rooms offer breathtaking, panoramic views of the city skyline and the Harbour.

A must-try experience: The spa package at the Peninsula Hong Kong #travel #luxury - ht.ly/acNY6

— Penne Cole (@pennecole) April 11, 2012

Condé Nast Traveler Gold List 2012: Banyan Tree Lijiang

We understand that no one aims to come in second place; there is no recognition for mediocrity. We at Five Star Alliance understand better than anyone the importance of offering the most luxurious resorts in the world, so we notice what’s going on in the industry, and it matters to us, because it matters to you. We work hard to offer you the best in the industry, and we’d like to welcome you to our second blog series where we feature the best and most luxurious resorts in the world. But don’t take our word for it. These resorts have been recognized as the best in the business and have made the prestigious Condé Nast Traveler Gold List 2012.

The Condé Nast Traveler Gold List 2012 is the eighth of their annual lists, and the hotels chosen by their team of editors and experts are the best for service, food, location, rooms, leisure facilities, ambiance and design.

The Banyan Tree Lijiang in Lijiang, China is featured on the Gold List 2012: Best for leisure facilities. It is a luxury property that embodies soul, peace, and ethnic harmony. It is a sacred sanctuary that has protected the unique cultures of minorities since ancient times. The old town of Lijang is regarded as the Venice of the Orient because of its numerous beautiful bridges and canals that lace through the cobbled streets. Banyan Tree Lijang’s luxurious villas reflect the culture and history through its design and furnishings. This Himalayan retreat offers 55 villas with phenomenal views, and the hotel provides visitors with ample opportunities to visit Old Town, Tiger Leaping Gorge, and the top of Jade Dragon Snow Mountain.

On the Hot(el) List: Waterhouses at South Bund

In a fantastic renovation project, korean lawyer-turned-hotelier Loh Lik Peng has turned an old warehouse located in the old dock district of Shanghai into one of the edgier contemporary hotels that's around: The Waterhouse at South Bund.  Making the Conde Nast Hot List for 2011, the broken-down building has been given a thorough scrubbing and made leaps and strides into modernity. Designer furniture accents minimalistic rooms that allow the peculiarities of a building definitely not built to be a hotel to shine through.  The external maintains a facade of the original industrial architecture that hides within it the intimate boutique hotel.

Small projects like this are the perfect province of boutique hotels. The small scale allows the designers to take risks that would never fly for larger investors who want a safe, guaranteed return.  Cutting-edge properties like this one are, in my opinion, where the real innovation in luxury design happens.  Public and private spaces are integrated into one another, allowing glimpses of the other side. The Waterhouse is part of a Chinese aesthetic revolution that is grasping at the old classics and transforming them into something wholly new.

As a Lhasa Resort: Stay at the St Regis in Tibet

The St. Regis Lhasa Resort is a rare chance to experience the wonders of one of the traditional spiritual regions in the world.  Nestled in the mountains of Tibet, the Lhasa Resort stands on the roof of the world, granting you a perspective on life you have never before seen. Of course, that may just be due to the lightheadedness from a low oxygen count, but either way, it seems incredibly revelatory.

The property itself is gorgeous, merging the traditional beauty of Tibetan forms with modern architectural feats to create a mixture of the local with the international, bringing you into its private world.  Iridium, the on-site spa, soothes the world-weary traveler using thousands of years of accumulated physical and spiritual knowledge.  Its 162 rooms and villas are individual tailored to your experience by the St. Regis butler, who is happy to help you design the perfect stay to surpass your own expectations.  And any hotel with a tea room is a winner in my book.  Check out the St Regis Lhasa Resort for a truly wonderful stay at the heart of a spiritual movement. 

Shangri-La Hotel Beijing Participates in Earth Hour Yet Again!

According to Earthhour.org, 5,200 cities and towns in 135 countries turned off their lights for Earth Hour in 2011, sending an impacting message to spark action on climate change. The Shangri-La Hotel Beijing is a proud participant in conserving energy for Earth Hour for the last three years, making 2012 its fourth consecutive participation year! Earth Hour is a global event organized by the World Wildlife Fund for Nature, and we’re thrilled to see luxury hotels playing their part in conserving energy!

Tomorrow, March 31st, between 8:00pm and 10:00pm, the Shangri-La Hotel Beijing will stop the turnstiles and escalators, and dim or turn off the lights in public areas, restaurants and bars, shops, guestroom corridors, house areas, and back activity areas. Additionally, this luxury hotel will host an Earth Hour Party at Cloud Nine Bar, serving complimentary cocktails to guests of the hotel who support Earth Day and have turned off the lights in their rooms. According to Christopher Chia, the area general manager of Shangri-La Hotels and Resorts, “at the Shangri-La Hotel, Beijing, environmental protection, energy conservation and the reduction of waste emissions are integral components of our corporate social responsibilities. We hope that our involvement in this event will enhance staff and guest awareness of the need to protect our environment for future generations.” We couldn’t have put it better ourselves! Be sure to check out the Shangri-La Hotel Beijing for Earth Day as well as for your future travels, knowing that you are supporting a hotel that supports our environment!

It's Business Time: Fairmont Singapore Best Business Hotel in Singapore

There's a very interesting split in the travel industry between business and leisure travelers. And if you're one of the business types, you know well that you're on the road constantly and the things that matter to you, travel convenience, efficiency, and connectivity, are almost the opposite of what a leisure traveler might want. If the word 'secluded' ever appeared in a hotel description, you'd cross it off the list immediately. So I'm here to use some adjectives you might appreciate hearing in describing some of the world's best business hotels. Today? Singapore.

In real estate, it's all about three things: location, location, location. For the business traveler, it's much the same, and the good folks at Fairmont kept that in mind with the Fairmont Singapore. The hotel is located at the crossroads of Singapore's major business, cultural, and shopping districts.  A staggering 70,000 square feet of meeting space means that you can host an event of just about any size in the hotel's wonderfully furnished top-of-the-line meeting rooms.  The main ballroom itself can host up to 3200 people, and there's another auxiliary room that can hold up to 1,000. After you're done with business, relax and unwind, or treat your guests, at the Willow Stream Spa, one of the largest in the city, ensuring that you can find exactly what you're looking for.  And with 769 rooms and suites, all of the executives can stay on-site; there's no having to worry about booking additional rooms and coordinating transportation to other hotels. The Fairmont Singapore is a business center in the center of business for Southeast Asia. 

Taj Lake Palace Gets Twitter Accolades

The Taj Lake Palace has long been in our category of super luxury, and it's certainly one of the most beautiful hotels in our collection.  And now, it's getting some celebrity recognition, thanks to hotshot designer Diane von Furstenberg.  She recently stayed at the hotel and declared it possibly the 'best hotel in the world.'  A woman with an eye for fashion, her approval certainly counts a little more than the average bear's.  While the superlative might be a bit hyperbolic and a few other hotels give it a run for its money, I can't imagine experiencing anything less than the sublime at the Taj Lake Palace.  

The white marble palace seems to be suspended above the waters of the surrounding lake, where the Maharana lived and entertained at his summer palace.  Ceremonial barges and private dinner-pontoons promise to whisk you away to a land of enchantment, and the breathtaking gardens and lily ponds are the perfect setting for romance.  If you can't trust me, then take the word of Diane von Furstenberg, and stay at the Taj Lake Palace in Udaipur.

Via HotelChatter.