New to Five Star Alliance: Travaasa Austin

Travaasa Austin thinks of itself as Texas's most active destination resort and spa. The luxury resort takes pride in offering its guests a compelling menu of inclusive guided adventures, culinary classes, cultural encounters, healing spa treatments, and fitness and wellness workshops, all located in a Zen-like preserve for the soul.

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Did You Know? Inn at Pelican Bay

 
There are literally dozens of golf courses in Naples, FL. The Inn at Pelican Bay is just blocks from pristine Paradise Coast beaches, award-winning golf courses, and fabulous shopping opportunities, this hotel in Naples, FL provides a delightfully serene retreat.

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New to Five Star Alliance: The Moorings Village and Spa

The Moorings Village is a picturesque South Seas-Style Resort on 18-acres, consisting of 18 cottages and homes on what was once acoconut plantation.The resort's location on Islamorada, known as "The Sportfishing Capital of the World," means two distinctly different types of fishing are readily available. Diving and snorkeling in the Keys are also popular activities.

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Did You Know? The Ranch at Rock Creek

The Ranch at Rock Creek has all-inclusive rates based on type of accommodation. For those seeking the ultimate in luxury and privacy, Trapper is a secluded Canvas/Wood cabin, 10 minute bike ride from Granite Lodge. It accommodates a king bed, kitchenette, private tub on the patio. Located up against Rock Creek with unparalled wilderness.

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Did You Know? Wailea Beach Villas

These ultra-luxurious Penthouse suites and villas at Wailea Beach Villas are generously sized up to 3,100 square feet and feature a great room with an open floor plan comprising a living room, dining area and gourmet kitchen, complete with an embellished coffee bar. A private lanai with Viking barbecue grill is perfect for entertaining.

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Five Star Alliance Welcomes Hotel Zetta San Francisco

We are delighted to welcome Hotel Zetta San Francisco to the Five Star Alliance collection. Centered within the convergence of San Francisco’s SoMa district, Mid-Market and Union Square, Hotel Zetta offers immediate access to the city’s iconic attractions, shops and restaurants. Hotel Zetta’s enviable downtown address allows guests with unprecedented local amenities, with the Westfield Shopping Centre next door, the historic cable-car turnaround just one block away, and Union Square and the Moscone Center only minutes further.

This super-stylish boutique luxury hotel  offers a high level of sophistication and service without taking itself too seriously. 

The vibrant décor and sustainable architecture lend an innovative, creative vibe, while the high-tech conveniences, oversized guestrooms and plush pillow top beds keep things modernand always relaxed.

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Sneak Peek: Andaz Maui at Wailea

Andaz Maui at Wailea is the newest luxury hotel on the block. The LEED certified resort is accepting reservations starting September 15, 2013. The 15-acre resort will have 297 guest rooms and suites, including seven luxury 2-4 bedroom residential villas. 

 Guest of Andaz Maui at Wailea will appreciate a host of services, from upscale spa services to a diverse array of experiential tours that celebrate Maui’s equally diverse culture.  Andaz Maui at Wailea's  LEED-certified status means that the resort has been enhanced with eco-friendly, green-minded amenities.

Exclusive Maui Resort Services include:

-Private access to Mokapu Beach

-4 outdoor infinity pools and separate adult pool

-2 poolside bars and lounges

-2 acclaimed full-service restaurants

-Full-service, eco-friendly spa with apothecary retail store

-Exclusive Wailea golf privileges

-Complimentary high-speed wireless Internet access

-15,000 square feet of residential-style meeting and event facilities

-Experiential tours and activity desk

-Fitness center

Just minutes from Wailea’s most acclaimed golf courses, restaurants and shops, resort guests will experience their own slice of island life.

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W New York Union Square Renovations Revealed

Jena Tesse Fox recently wrote for our sister publication, Luxury Travel Advisor, about the renovations at The W New York - Union Square:

Heads up, New Yorkers! The W New York - Union Square has unveiled the results of a major renovation project. The transformation is part of the W brand's plan to renovate more than 11 of its properties across North America, and includes a full re-design of the hotel's 270 guestrooms and top suites, W Living Room, Todd English's Olives New York, and destination bar Lilium by Gerber Group (previously Underbar). The renovation also preserves original design details of the landmark 1911 Beaux Arts building, including its turn-of-the century Great Room with 23-foot high gilded ceilings and grand windows, which was restored late last year.

The W Living Room:  The new design of the W Union Square Living Room, by New York based design firm Krause + Sawyer, is good for for conducting business by day and unwinding by night. A black steel communal table, equipped with inlay plugs for chargers, encourages guests to mix and mingle while staying connected.

The Guest Rooms + Suites: Each of the hotel's 270 remodeled guest rooms and suites are anchored by a sculptural headboard representing an abstract view of Union Square. Silver window coverings are brightly stitched together with silk fabric mimicking a man's tie, while wall coverings in a soft, sophisticated "Park Avenue" white are contrasted with a bohemian metallic blue. Cool touch: The Extreme WOW Suite (the W brand's take on the Presidential Suite) is equipped with state-of-the-art audio and video capabilities including wall units that can easily interchange from dining room table to space for a DJ booth.

Lilium and Olives New York:  The hotel's renovation also includes the re-design of its destination bar Lilium, as well as a complete renovation of Todd English's Olives New York restaurant. Lilium, the hotel's subterranean nightspot, sits beneath the hotel's façade. Key features of the 1,600 square foot interior include a twisted metal ceiling that cascades down the walls and complements the sculptural black steel lilies, created by metal artist Scot Brown. At Olives, the expanded bar, now located in the center of the space, creates a vibrant hub in the heart of the restaurant while new seating choices include u-shaped banquettes, an elevated chef's table or a nine-seat raw bar along the signature open kitchen. For more information, visit www.whotels.com/unionsquare.

Read more at Luxury Travel Advisor >>

Dine at The Dining Room And Terrace at El Encanto

With breath-taking ocean views of the Riviera, El Encanto captures the beauty glamour and charm of Santa Barbara. Santa Barbara is a city rich in local culinary fare, and has all the comforts of fresh and locally grown produce, freshly caught seafood, locally raised beef and poultry, complete with a robust wine industry. An ideal place for foodies, El Encanto's The Dining Room And Terrace restaurant extends the same "locavore" sentiment with everything they serve. El Encanto not only roasts its own coffee, they brew their own unpasteurized beer, have an on-site garden to get fresh produce complete with an aeroponic tower to grow Japanese herbs, and even has its own dairy cow named Ellie who provides the dairy for the kitchen's homemade cheese program! The amazing view of the Santa Barbara Riviera from The Dining Room and Terrace, is just an added bonus. The artisanal innovative menu offerings of coastal Californian cuisine with Japanese and Parisian flairs at The Dining Room And Terrace at El Encanto is an all around treat and what gastronomic dreams are made of.

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Be Nautical at The Inn at Perry Cabin

Ahoy, mateys!

The Inn at Perry Cabin is located on the Maryland Eastern shore, alongside the Chesapeake Bay. The location alone makes it an ideal vacation spot for sailing enthusiasts to set a course to this nautical friendly destination. The Inn at Perry Cabin caters to its location and sailing enthusiasts with an array of exciting excursions, tours and activities that are available on stand by. Guests can anchor aweigh on one of the many vessels for a sailing tour along the Chesapeake Bay, or spend a day running a trotline and dipping crabs while munching and sipping away on The Inn at Perry Cabin delicacies. At the end of your crabbing trip, the employees at The Inn at Perry Cabin will steam their guests' catch and deliver them fresh to eat for dinner that same night! The Inn at Perry Cabin provides two different sailing courses through the Chesapeake Bay's Offshore Sailing School, located on their property. The Inn provides a novice Learn to Sail course to get the basics of sailing down, and a five day Bareboat Cruising course for the more experienced sailing Enthusiast. Or guests can stay ashore and learn traditional boat building by becoming an apprentice for a day. Sail away towards The Inn at Perry Cabin, to indulge your sailing dreams!

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