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LUXURY HOTEL INSIDER
 
FSA LogoThe Luxury Hotel Insider: Exclusive luxury hotel deals, features and special rates from the luxury hotel experts at Five Star Alliance. 
 
Named one of Tripbase's Best Luxury Travel Blogs for 2011, below are Five Star Alliance's newest articles featuring exclusive information on luxury hotels worldwide including special offers and deals at the world's best hotels.

Green Hotels: Viceroy Snowmass Has Rates from $100 this Spring

March 1, 2011
By: Mary Winston Nicklin

Viceroy SnowmassHow do we love the Viceroy Snowmass? Let us count the ways. There's the Ute Indian-inspired wellness spa. The all-season heated saline pool, terrace with cabanas, Nest lounge and café designed by Kelly Wearstler. The helpful ski valet with on-site ski and snowboard rental. And the kick-ass slopeside location in the heart of Snowmass' new Base Village just seven miles from downtown Aspen. But perhaps most importantly: the hotel is eco-friendly. Outside Magazine has the deets:

More and more ski resorts are going green-- meaning you can feel good about living it up. In Colorado's recently renovated Snowmass village, the year-old Snowmass Viceroy offers 173 luxe rooms and a sprawling spa complex. But thanks to smart construction (think low-flow faucets and high-efficiency heating systems) as well as gaudy extras like an electric-car charging station, the lodge is up for LEED Silver certification. Roll up in your hybrid and parking's free.

Hot deal: Viceroy Snowmass has "Linger Longer Rates" starting at $100 per night from May 26, 2011. The ski season may be over by then, but you'll be privy to fantastic weather and gorgeous Rocky Mountain views.


Buzz in New York: New Lounge Mister H Opens in Mondrian SoHo

February 28, 2011
By: Katie Tandy

Mr. H

Manhattanites rejoice:The Beauty and the Beast-inspired Mondrian SoHo - swathed in powder blues and polished silver - has just opened something decidedly different, Mister H.

Channeling the opulence and decadence of an opium den in Shanghai circa 1930, the new nightclub looks like a Asian boudoir with velour beds and blood-red lighting coupled with antique mirrors, a jade and gold checkered floor and of course, a slew of flickering lanterns.

Owned by Armin Armiri of Socialista and Bungalow 8, Armiri says he wanted to create a place where Humphrey Bogart would head for a nightcap - this fictitious establishment is embodied in Mister H, which will serve up 12 specialty cocktails amid an all vinyl, funk soundtrack.

We've even heard that every pillow-strewn bed has a phone and each phone is randomly connected to another bed to facilitate coquettish phone calls.

Related Article: Morgans Hotel Group Plans to Open Delano Hotels in Mexico and Turkey


Winter Breaks: The Canyons Resort, Utah’s Largest Ski and Snowboard Playground

February 28, 2011
By: Mary Winston Nicklin

Grand Summit Hotel at The Canyons ResortLooking for one last winter vacation spot for spring break? Revel in the sublime snow and peaks at The Canyons Resort in Park City- boasting some 4,000 acres of skiable terrain. With 176 trails, 19 lifts, six natural half-pipes (including the quarter-mile-long Canis Lupus), and two cutting-edge terrain parks, The Canyons is Utah's largest mountain playground for skiers and snowboarders. Check out some of the brand new lifts and gondolas, and ride the first-ever lift in North America with heated seats-- departing from The Canyons Grand Summit Hotel. While you're there, be sure to check out The Canyons Resort Ski Beach, a new gathering place at the base area where you can grab a hot drink and tasty eats and recharge your batteries. After a glorious day on the mountain, soak up the luxury at the Grand Summit Hotel or Silverado Lodge at The Canyons. You'll find beautiful slopeside lodging and no shortage of amenities: elegant dining, four season heated pools, children's programs and more.


Things that Go Bump in the Night: The New Nightclub in the LES, SGTs

February 25, 2011
By: Katie Tandy

Hotel ChantelleJust when you thought Ludlow St. in Manhattan couldn't get any hipper, Hotel Chantelle (which is actually a bar and restaurant) goes and opens a new speakeasy, SGTs, rumored to be named after a French World II safe house.

Try the first floor first - take a seat on the crimson-colored leather banquettes or take a gander at the 18th and 19th-century salvaged wood that serves as a cozy decorative mainstay.

But then keep your eyes peeled for an illuminated exit sign inside Hotel Chantelle's bar and descend the stairs to discover the hush-hush dance club SGTs, all 7,500 square feet of it.

And just in case you're thinking of this bar as a the kind of place to hunker down in winter with a warm pint of Guinness, rest assured that come spring, all the scantily clad sirens of NYC will be flocking to the pending greenhouse rooftop garden with retractable roof.


Book Today: 40% Off Rooms at The Fairmont Banff Springs

February 25, 2011
By: Mary Winston Nicklin

Fairmont Banff SpringsHurry! You've just got a few more days to snag a deal at The Fairmont Banff Springs-- the majestic mountain resort known as "The Castle in the Rockies." Styled after a Scottish Baronial Castle, the resort is set in the heart of Banff National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The Fairmont Banff Springs Spotlight Offer is available to book until February 27, 2011 and translates to 40% off room rates with a third night free, for travel until May 31, 2011. Prices start from CAD $179 based on double occupancy in a Fairmont Room. (The fine print: A full non-refundable deposit (no cancellations) is required at time of booking. This offer is non-transferable and subject to availability.)

Psst. Could The Fairmont Banff Springs host the young royals on their honeymoon? From the website:

With the approaching royal wedding, rumour has it that Banff National Park is a possible honeymoon location for William and Kate. Royal watchers agree that Fairmont's regal history – King George VI & Queen Elizabeth’s 1939 visit, and Her Royal Highness, Queen Elizabeth II & Prince Phillip’s 2005 visit to Jasper Park Lodge – makes our iconic Rocky Mountain resorts perfect for the young royals!


Grand Wailea in Maui: The Setting for “Just Go With It”

February 24, 2011
By: Mary Winston Nicklin

Grand Wailea Resort, MauiDid you see the new comedy from Adam Sandler and Jennifer Aniston? (Our correspondent Daniel Moses suspects you've seen "Just Go With It" at least a few times already.) If so, we bet you were curious about that spectacular oceanfront pool. Well, we've done some sleuthing around for you and we've found the place: The Grand Wailea, A Waldorf Astoria Resort in Maui. This gorgeous Hawaiian retreat gets serious props for its pool area, a sprawling complex of waterfalls and water slides facing one of America's best beaches. In fact, the pool has been repeatedly named one of the top hotel pools in the U.S. Eager to check out the pool with your own eyes? Take advantage of the "Best of Waldorf Astoria" offer and get complimentary breakfast for two and an on-property credit for each night of your stay at the Grand Wailea.


Porsche Car Service, Cutler Salon, Core Fusion Classes and More at Gansevoort Park Avenue

February 24, 2011
By: Mary Winston Nicklin

Gansevoort Park Avenue, New YorkAugust 2010 witnessed a soft opening for Gansevoort Park Avenue, the sexy urban resort with a happening rooftop pool scene. And now we're getting word that the Gansevoort Hotel Group's newest luxury property is 100% open and all facilities are fully operational. There's a lot to love at the corner of 29th Street and Park Avenue South in Manhattan: 249 sleek rooms averaging 462 square feet; a three-story lobby; a tri-level rooftop complex with a beautiful indoor/outdoor pool (and destination nightlife venues); and the recently opened Ristorante Asellina, a 10,000 square-foot Italian trattoria, operated by The ONE Group and featuring a James Beard Award-winning chef. Notably, the hotel has partnered with leading brands in the restaurant, beauty, and fashion industries to provide guests with top-notch amenities. So you can get a lift in a Porsche Panamera, pick up Gansevoort goodies at the Lacoste boutique (all staff sport uniforms by Lacoste), get fit with a Core Fusion® yoga class at the Exhale spa, and get styled at the Cutler Salon. You'll dig the Cutler products in your guest room, too.


The Mark Hotel Offers Exclusive Access to the Neue Galerie New York

February 23, 2011
By: Mary Winston Nicklin

The Mark New YorkArt lovers visiting Manhattan will want to reserve a room at The Mark. Steps from Central Park, the award-winning hotel has recently partnered with the Neue Galerie New York to provide exclusive tours off the tourist track. Located on the historic Museum Mile – just a few blocks from the hotel – the Neue Galerie is a museum of German and Austrian art founded by philanthropist Ronald S. Lauder and art dealer and curator Serge Sabarsky. A former Vanderbilt townhouse is now home to their impressive collection of early 20th Century Austrian and German art. Not only can guests visit the Neue Galerie on closed days and after business hours, but they also get benefits usually reserved for museum membership: advance reservations at Café Sabarsky plus access to Neue Galerie members’ programs including special lectures, gallery talks, exclusive breakfasts and Members’ Thursdays which provides extended viewing hours.

The Mark New YorkBook the "In the Art of New York" package, starting at $800 in a Superior Courtyard King Room, and get daily continental breakfast for two; a private tour for two people outside of business hours or on closed days (Tuesday and Wednesday); a reservation at the exclusive Café Sabarsky; a complimentary copy of the book “Portrait of Adele Block-Bauer"; access to Members’ lectures, gallery talks, breakfasts and monthly Members’ Thursday which provides for extended viewing hours; a 10% discount in both the Design Shop and the Book Shop; a welcome package in your hotel room from the Neue Galerie. This package at The Mark New York is valid until April 24, 2011.


Morgans Hotel Group Plans to Open Delano Hotels in Mexico and Turkey

February 22, 2011
By: Mary Winston Nicklin

Mondrian South BeachManhattanites have been in a tizzy about the latest hotel to open in New York's SoHo. The Mondrian SoHo is the fourth Manhattan property for Morgans Hotel Group, whose Morgan Hotel-- opened in 1984-- is said to be the country's first true boutique hotel. Premiering today, the Mondrian SoHo promises eye-catching interiors from designer Benjamin Noriega-Ortiz, inspired by Jean Coucteau’s 1946 film La Belle et le Bête. Now we've just gotten word about more expansion plans for Morgans Hotel Group. Three new hotels are in the pipeline, two of which will carry the Delano brand. Slated for 2013, the Delano resorts will open in Cabo San Lucas and on the Aegean Sea in Turkey. The third property will open in 2014 in Manhattan near the High Line park.

Check out some other properties from Morgans Hotel Group:

Mondrian in West Hollywood

Delano, Mondrian (pictured) and Shore Club in South Beach

Sanderson in London

Clift in San Francisco


The Cosmopolitan Las Vegas: “More Style-Driven” than Most Sin City Resorts

February 21, 2011
By: Mary Winston Nicklin

The Cosmopolitan Las VegasThere's been a lot of talk about the newest (and trendiest) destination resort to open in Las Vegas: The Cosmopolitan. And not just because of its star-studded grand opening and New Year's Eve party with Jay-Z and Coldplay. This trendy new hotel boasts wow-worthy facilities that make it a "confident competitor" in Sin City's luxury resort market. A recent article in The Los Angeles Times calls out the "2,995 upscale guest rooms, 13 restaurants, gargantuan meeting rooms, three groovy pools, a light-filled casino and oodles of geek-worthy tech toys into two 50-story towers that teeter on just 8.7 acres." This hot spot is "more style-driven than most Vegas resorts," says the LA Times, "aimed at young, tech-savvy couples." Imagine: relaxing in your Japanese soaking tub while gazing out on the city's bright lights and all the action on The Strip. Other stand-out features? The smartly-designed Sahra Spa & Hammam, the Boulevard Pool with its open-air stage (talk about a summertime destination!), and Marquee Nightclub. Here's the skinny about The Cosmopolitan's guest room decor:

The guest rooms were decorated by David Rockwell, veteran designer of the Kodak Theatre in Hollywood and several W hotels. His palette of navy, ivory and other cool neutrals ensures that the rooms are a calm counterpoint to the cacophony of the lobby, which is defined by video monitors built into tall columns. Though arriving guests are surrounded by the lobby's high-tech touches, the clerks add humanity by stepping out from behind their oversized check-in desks.