Condé Nast Traveler Gold List 2012: The Opposite House

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 Opposite House in Beijing, China is featured on the Gold List 2012: Best for food. This urban hotel is designed by Kengo Kuma, a renowned Japanese architect. The hotel name stems from a translation of a Chinese word, and it represents the lively city of diversity and opposites – east and west, bohemian and chic, old and new. The hotel’s 3 restaurants and its chic late night bar use the highest quality ingredients to bring guests the best Mediterranean flavors and the best food options in China.

Shangri-La Hotel Beijing to Launch a Fabulous New Brunch

The Shangri-La Hotel Beijing is located in the heart of Beijing’s western district, and it consists of two beautiful towers overlooking the city. S.T.A.Y., a luxurious restaurant will be launching a new Sunday brunch option on March 4th, 2012. The menu will center around a ‘nature concept’ and will offer dishes such as Angus Beef Tartar, Egg White and Black Truffle Omelet, Sea Urchin Scramble, and much more. The brunch menu will be available every Sunday from 11am – 4pm, and it serves as the perfect way to spend a Sunday morning with family and friends. Let the kids play in the weekend playroom while you relax and unwind with incredible food and a selection of Louis Roderer champagne. Make your reservations today and enjoy the incredible dining options at the Shangri-La Hotel Beijing!

Condé Nast Traveler Gold List 2012: Alila Villas Uluwatu

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 Alila Villa Uluwatu in Bali, Indonesia is featured on the Gold List 2012: Best for ambience and design. This luxury hotel is located on a cliff top plateau along the southern coast of Bali. The view from this hotel is simply breathtaking, and the entire property aims to fulfill its tradition of offering an experience that is serene, sensual, and pleasantly different. With 84 spacious villas, all with private salt-water pools and ocean-view cabanas, this Alila property goes above and beyond the expected levels of luxury. The rooms have ceilings from bamboo and flat roofs that are insulated with volcanic rocks. Indulge yourself in the spectacular cliff top pool and bar, and take in the beauty that surrounds you everywhere you turn at this incredible hotel.

Space-ious Suites: Wanderlust Hotel Is Now Out of This World

This post by HotelChatter is a little bit outside of the classic sense of a luxury hotel, but it's just too fun not to spotlight.  They recently got to take a look at the new space suite at the Wanderlust Hotel in Singapore, a Design Hotel that features whimsical suite designs, from treehouses to typewriters to space.  The room greets you with such highlights as a ceiling-high rocket ship, space-age bubble chairs, and a nightsky motif.

If you're looking for a way to take a trip back to the imagination of your childhood, when you could stare up into the darkness of the ceiling above and see straight through it into the far reaches of the galaxy, then the space suite will be happy to oblige you.  It's unabashedly silly and exists precisely for those of us who wish we could be 10 again, and that's the precisely the beauty of it.  In a room like this, it's easy to shed the pretenses of adulthood, pull out your crayons, and color all over the wall (note: don't do this!).  You might, however, taking your actual children along with your inner one; I bet they'd get along quite well.

If whimsy fits your fancy, then check out the Wanderlust Hotel, or if you're looking for something a little more classical luxury and just want to pay a visit to this fine suite -- we have it on good authority that if you ask nicely, you might be able to have a look-see -- check out any of our hotels in Singapore.

Photo via HotelChatter.

Hotels with an Incredible View!: Thailand

We understand that an incredible view is of utmost importance to luxury travelers. After a day of exploring a new city, there’s nothing more enjoyable then returning to your luxurious accommodations and taking in the miraculous view before calling it a day. For others, there simply is no time to enjoy everything a city has to offer, and the only exploration one has time for is to take in the view from the hotel. We’d like to introduce you to our  blog series, which will be featuring incredible hotels with incredible views!Whatever your travel reasons or however much time you have to enjoy your trip, we hope you leave thinking wow what a view!

Our second feature is the Peninsula Bangkok. It’s located on the west bank of the Chao Phraya River and it is one of Bangkok’s finest hotels. It is a stunning, 39-story hotel offering incredible panoramic views of Bangkok and the Chao Phraya River from every one of its luxurious guest rooms and suites. This luxury hotel is within easy access of the shopping and business districts as well as near the Bangkok Sky Train and 35 minutes from Don Muang International Airport. The Peninsula Bangkok has an incredible 3-tiered swimming pool, a fitness center, and a beauty salon offering a variety of massages and treatments.

You can view our first featured hotel with a view, the Marina Bay Sands Singapore here. Be sure to keep up with our blog series to discover various luxury hotels all over the world with the best views!

Hotels with an Edge: The Ritz Carlton Hong Kong

In today’s competitive world, everyone needs a way to stand out from the crowd. Luxury hotels certainly are not any different and are always looking for ways to outshine their competitors and attract more visitors. We understand that our travelers look for the best of the best, and we would like to introduce you to our newest blog series, Hotels with an Edge. We’ll be highlighting and featuring a few hotels we feel truly stand out and offer their guests more than is expected. Be sure to check in with us to explore various hotels that deserve recognition for their supreme levels of luxury.

Our first featured hotel is the tallest hotel in the world, the Ritz Carlton Hong Kong. This luxury hotel dominates the sky at 490 meters, 1575 feet high, and it’s located on the top floors of the International Commerce Centre. Take in unrivaled views of the Victoria Harbor and Hong Kong Island from the 102nd to the 118th floor. The Ritz Carlton Hong Kong has 321 luxurious rooms, all offering a spectacular view of the city and harbor. This hotel also has 6 restaurants starting on the 102nd floor including a lobby lounge, tea lounge, and alfresco rooftop bar.

Make your reservations at this breathtaking hotel today, and be sure to keep up with our blog series for a little inspiration on where to stay next!

Condé Nast Traveler Gold List 2012: Alila Villas Uluwatu

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.

Featured prominently on the Gold List for ambiance and design, the Alila Villas Uluwatu is everything you could hope for in an secluded all-villa property.  On the very edge of sheer limestone cliffs that overlook the Balinese ocean below, the views from the outdoor pool and gardens seem to look over the edge of the world itself.  Sky and sea meet in an endless ocean of blue that is only ever disrupted by the prismatic diffusion of the sun's rays as it falls below the skyline.  And as darkness drapes itself over the edge of the cliffs, cradling Uluwatu in its embrace, simply step inside to the Sunset Cabana for a nightcap or something more substantial. Its holistic design is minimalistic but never spartan, tranquil but never vacant.  The Alila Villas Uluwatu truly deserves its place on the Conde Nast Gold List for most ambient and well-designed hotels of 2012.

Hotels with an Incredible View!: Singapore

We understand that an incredible view is of utmost importance to luxury travelers. After a day of exploring a new city, there’s nothing more enjoyable than returning to your luxurious accommodations and taking in the miraculous view before calling it a day. For others, there simply is not enough time in a day to enjoy everything a city has to offer, and the only exploration one has time for is to take in the view from the hotel. We’d like to introduce you to our new blog series, which will be featuring incredible hotels with incredible views! Whatever your travel reasons or however much time you have to enjoy your trip, we hope you leave thinking wow what a view!

Our first feature is the Marina Bay Sands Singapore. It’s located in the heart of Singapore along the Marina Bay Waterfront. This luxury hotel is the leading destination for business and leisure travelers visiting Asia. Its 2,561 rooms and suites have a classic luxury design, and the hotel has a museum, an incredible shopping mall, world-renown restaurants, a casino, and an outdoor event plaza. The rooftop Sands SkyPark is perched atop the hotel, 200 meters above the city, featuring exclusive restaurants, an infinity pool, an observation deck, and an unbeatable 360 degree view of the Singapore skyline.

Be sure to keep up with our blog series to discover various luxury hotels all over the world with the best views!

Photo via Hotel Chatter

Environmental Jawstice: Shangri-La Hotels Save Nemo

In a laudable move, Shangri-La Hotels and Resorts has announced the expansion of its sustainable seafood policy to include the discontinued use of all shark fin products in 72 hotels and resorts, as well as phasing out additional of species of fish who suffer from overfishing and support unsustainable farming industries. The two species to get the axe of preservation are Bluefin tuna and the Chilean sea bass. As Time Magazine and Greenpeace report, the commercial overfishing of sharks and fish is leading to a depletion of marine ecosystems that, due to declining populations, will not be replaced.  Shangri-La's steps to reduce demand for these items are commendable, and it follows their initial 'Sanctuary, Shangri-La's Care for Nature' project that have developed marine sanctuaries to support the integrity of important coral reefs around their properties. 

In order to fulfill its contractual obligations, all banquets reserved to include the dish shall be honored, but no new requests for shark fin soup can be made either individually at its restaurants or through its commercial catering. If you would like to show your support by staying at any of Shangri-La's now more sustainable hotels and resorts, you can find them all at Five Star Alliance.

Celebrate Chinese New Year at Shangri-La Hotel Beijing

What better place to celebrate the most important of the traditional Chinese holidays than China itself? Chinese New Year is on January 23rd, and the Shangri-La Hotel Beijing has gone above and beyond to ensure a phenomenal celebration. This Shangri-La property has put together various gift packs with a variety of sticky rice cakes and rice balls which make perfect gifts for family members and friends. The hotel will also be putting on a traditional feast featuring a suckling pig, roast duck, and poon choi. The Shang Palace, a fine dining restaurant at the Shangri-La Hotel Beijing, will be offering a Chinese New Year package which will feature foods with promising names to bring good fortune and joy to the New Year. The Shang Palace will feature Happy Chinese New Year (suckling roasted pig and steamed chicken), Good Fortune (lettuce with dried oysters), and All Wealth (abalone with Chinese mushrooms and sea cucumber). All of the foods served during Chinese New Year tell a story and a captivating legend worth exploring during your stay in China.

On the first day of the Chinese New Year, the Shangri-La Hotel Beijing will put on the lion dance in the lobby to celebrate the beginning of the Year of the Dragon. Be sure to make your reservation at the Shangri-La Hotel Beijing to enjoy the extravagant dinner and the snacks available to all guests to share the taste of an authentic Chinese New Year with all!