Red Carnation Acquires the Historic Ashford Castle

Ashford Castle will be soon be seeing red.  Our sister publication Luxury Travel Advisor, has reported that Red Carnation Hotels has taken over the historic property. Ashford Castle is the former estate of the Guinness family. It dates back to 1228 and is set on the shores of Lough Corrib, Ireland's second largest lake, in the picturesque village of Cong. Jena Tessa Fox reports that:

Red Carnation Hotels' Managing Director Jonathan Raggett said that the team was looking forward to working with Ashford's General Manager Niall Rochford and to growing the workforce with local talent. "We will be working with local suppliers and partners on a refurbishment program that will restore this illustrious hotel to its former glory, and build on the fine reputation that the hotel already enjoys," Raggett said.

More on the acquisition >>

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Movie Star Suites at Leading Hotels

Nobody can make you a star, but you can check in to a hotel that will make you feel like you are one. Our sister publication, Luxury Travel Advisor, has the rundown on sleeping in star spots. Here's an excerpt:

Did you miss out on Cannes this year? We hear The Leading Hotels of the World is offering travelers a chance to live the celeb life at some movie-star themed suites around the world. Here are the top picks:

An ardent fan of the town of Portofino, actress Ava Gardner often chose to spend her holidays there. In 1952, she stayed at Hotel Splendido, during the filming of The Barefoot Contessa, co-starring Humphrey Bogart and Edmond O’Brien. In homage to Ms. Gardner, sister hotel Splendido Mare dedicated a suite to her. Stretching across the entire top floor of the hotel, the Ava Gardner Suite offers a magnificent terrace with incomparable views of the harbor, promontory and Castello Brown, which are also fully visible from the bed and the sitting room. The 603-square-foot terrace is adorned with a huge, potted lemon tree and flowering Mediterranean plants. The expansive bedroom is incredibly well lit thanks to two generous windows that highlight the soft pastel tones of the walls, fabrics and furniture. A large door connects to the sun-filled sitting room, which boasts an almost wall-to-wall window. When open, this joins the sitting room and terrace, creating one magnificent space— half indoors and half outdoors. No doubt Ms. Gardner would feel blissfully at home here!

More Star Suites >>

View rates, details, and more photos of Hotel Splendido and Splendido Mare >>

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New to Five Star Alliance: The Dunloe

The Dunloe is a beautiful luxury hotel, overlooking the famous Gap of Dunloe, set on its own 64 acre estate leading to the ruins of the 12th century castle and River Laune.

View rates, details, and more about The Dunloe >>

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The (Summer) Bar is Open at Mandarin Oriental Munich

The (summer) bar is open at Mandarin Oriental Munich! Our sister publication, The Luxury Hotel Advisor, recently reported on drinks al fresco at the German luxury hotel:

Rooftop season has descended upon Munich, we hear, with the opening of China Moon Roof Terrace at the Mandarin Oriental, Munich. The seasonal venue has a 360-degree view of the city, including the Frauenkirche church and the Alps. Open from May through October, guests can enjoy Asian, Oriental and international specialties along with a long list of trendy cocktails. New this year: China Moon has a new corner bar with city views. Guests can also enjoy an art exhibition by painter Shirin Donia.

View rates, details, and more photos of Mandarin Oriental Munich >>

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Hotel de Crillon Renovations Revealed

The legendary Parisian Hotel de Crillon recently closed in order to go a major renovation that's expected to last two years. Our sister publication, The Luxury Travel Advisor, got some inside information on what future guests might expect.

 Here's what writer Jena Tessa Fox found out about the renovations: 

Architect Richard Martinet, along with Artistic Director Aline d'Amman and three Parisian decorators – Cyril Vergniol, Chahan Minassian and Tristan Auer – are working to bring the historic hotel into the 21st century. And although both management and designers have revealed little in the way of details, a recent press release offered a hint: "The 7th floor … will be imagined as a 'quarter within the hotel' where fashion designers and brands can collaborate with the Crillon to decorate the suites." The hotel's management contract, the story continues, may take a page from the Kempinski model - an established brand that manages a number of historic hotels. And the Crillon will need a special kind of care to balance contemporary tastes with classic style: It is 250 years old, and several rooms are listed as national historic monuments. But the "Louis XV" decor, while never lacking for gilding, can seem a tad dated, and when the French Ministry of Tourism was handing out "palace" status to hotels in 2011, the Crillon was absent from the list. It is worth noting that Mohamed Al-Fayed's Paris Ritz also lost out and has also recently closed for a 27-month refurbishment. The renovated hotel will open its doors again in 2015.

We look forward to seeing the stunning results! 

Art and iPads at The Dolder Grand

The historical Zurich luxury hotel, The Dolder Grand, has entered the digital age. The Dolder Grand is renowned for its world-class art collection, a collection that would make most museums green with envy.  There are over 124 pieces of art work set around the property, work by such art world luminaries as Joan Miro, Keith Haring, Andy Warhol, Man Ray, Salvador Dali, Camille Pissarro, Damien Hirst, Rene Magritte, and Max Ernst.  Now, guests can guide themselves through the astounding collection via a just-launched iPad application.

Guests can borrow an iPad from the reception desk and use a the app to see the hotel’s collection. The works have been sorted by location and guests can access a map showing them positions of the works throughout the hotel. There's also additional information about each artist. 

Guests can have a museum experience without ever leaving the hotel.  

View rates, details, and more photos of The Dolder Grand >>

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Sneak Peek: Rosewood London

Opening in October 2013, Rosewood London will embrace guests within one of London’s most historic locales, where the City meets Covent Garden and the West End on High Holborn. The early 20th-century Edwardian, Grade II-listed building will offer a true sense of the destination, combining English heritage with contemporary sophistication.

See details and more photos of Rosewood London >>

New to Five Star Alliance: Sir Albert Hotel

We are delighted to welcome Amsterdam's Sir Albert Hotel to the Five Star Alliance collection!

Sir Albert Hotel is in  De Pijp, the Quartier Latin of Amsterdam. The area is home to literati, artists, fashion designers, entrepreneurs and the city’s most famous market, the Albert Cuyp. De Pijp is also close to the Royal Concertgebouw, for lovers of classical music. And for lovers of shopping, you’re a leisurely stroll from Van Baerlestraat and the legendary P.C. Hooftstraat.

View rates, details, and more photos of Sir Albert Hotel >>

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Spotlight on Villa Gallici

Villa Gallici is a Provencal house is bathed in the soft light do often depicted by Cezanne. Set against an elegant Florentine garden, where cypress trees are reflected in a luxurious pool, it offers sumptuous rooms with terraces and private gardens, a place to linger with an apertif in the shade of the trees. Traditional Provencal cuisine is accompanied by the finest wines in the restaurant.

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Mandarin Oriental Geneva Unveils Its Mandarin Floor

Mandarin Oriental Geneva recently complete a two-year refurbishment of its guestrooms, and has recently revealed its new "Mandarin Floor." Located on the hotel's sixth floor and boasting superb views over the city, rivers, and mountains. Interiors have been designed by renowned French Designer Sybille de Margerie of SM Design. Margerie was also responsible for the guestrooms, public areas, and spas at the Mandarin Oriental Paris. The new interiors are designed to provide guests with the ultimate in comfort, modernity and style, whilst enjoying magnificent views over the river Rhône, city and mountains. The "Mandarin Floor" offers modern and spacious rooms and suites bursting with a sophisticated palette of reds, invigorating exotic fuchsia, and delicate tones of silver or gold.

The "Mandarin Floor" offers guests a variety of luxurious rooms and suites; from the elegant Mandarin Rooms, stylish Junior River Suites, the classy Deluxe Suites, to the most exclusive Royal Mandarin Suite with its private elevator access and the possibility of a configuration as a magnificent three-bedroom suite. All rooms and suites are equipped with the latest in sophisticated technology and entertainment systems and complimentary Nespresso coffee machines. With the addition of the "Mandarin Floor," the Mandarin Oriental Geneava now offers a total of 170 stylish and spacious guestrooms and 27 suites. With the launch of the “Mandarin Floor”, Mandarin Oriental, Geneva now offers a total of 170 stylish and spacious guestrooms and 27 top suites.

View rates, details, and more photos of Mandarin Oriental Geneva >>

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