Jetsettersblog

Hullett House, which has officially opened, is designed to bring to life old Hong Kong and celebrate the traditions of the city’s rich and unique heritage and culture.

Situated in the colonial white-stucco building that was formerly the Marine Police Headquarters on Canton Road in Tsim Sha Tsui, Kowloon, close to the Star Ferry terminal, Hullett House comprises an intimate design-led heritage hotel, five restaurants and bars, a souvenir store and a performance area specially created as a venue for showcasing traditional festivals and celebrations.

Managed by aqua restaurant group, Hullett House is inspired by Hong Kong’s rich and varied history over the last 150 years, with its unique blend of Chinese and British influences and mix of old and new.

Founder David Yeo says the group’s vision was to be “By Hong Kong, for Hong Kong – we give you old Hong Kong!” He adds that Hullett House is aqua’s humble attempt to give something back to Hong Kong in return for all the wonderful opportunities Hong Kong has given the group.

At the heart of Hullett House is a design-led heritage hotel that promises an intimate guest experience and old fashioned, personal service in each of its 13 suites. The rooms, which range in size from 800 to 1100 sq ft, are all individually designed, with airy private terraced balconies and spectacular views over the city, the harbour or the gardens and courtyard below.

Guests can choose from one of 13 elegant suites each individually designed to reflect a period of Hong Kong’s design history. For example, there is the Imperial China suite, with its hand drawn red-lacquer murals and four- poster pagoda bed or the Shanghai suite, with its art deco style that is reminiscent of the swinging 1930s jazz bands scandalous dancing and short dresses. For a more restful, pastoral experience, guests may choose the English suite with its country-manor turquoise tones and hand-painted murals depicting 12 birds local to Hong Kong.

The hotel suites, whilst historic in design, are equipped with the latest hi-tech facilities such as large screen LCD TVs, DVD, i-pod stations and wireless broadband, and have spacious, modern bathrooms with large-head rain showers .

The drinking and dining options of Hullett House similarly bring to life different aspects of Hong Kong’s colonial past.

The Parlour, which is open all day for hearty English breakfasts and genteel afternoon tea, becomes a sophisticated lounge bar by night. The three rooms, with their hand-painted murals and dramatic bar featuring the dragons of Kowloon, conjure up bygone images of the city and its roots as a colonial outpost of late 19th century England.

Chinese restaurant Loong Toh Yuen showcases the best of Hong Kong cuisine by Executive Chef, Sham Wing On and Dim Sum master Chef Lam Mok, with a selection of traditional Hong Kong dim sum recipes and à la carte specials including modern interpretations of long-lost or hard-to-find Hong Kong dishes.

These include Steamed Big Bun with Sliced Chicken, Barbeque Pork, Preserved Dried Sausage and Shrimp and Steamed Turnip Cake with Conpoy, Crabmeat, Scallops and Shrimp. At the heart of Loong Toh Yuen is the “50 Pigeons” Courtyard, which is surrounded by bespoke wrought-iron Chinoiserie tasseled lanterns and elegant colonnades, making it a stunning setting for alfresco dining found nowhere else in Hong Kong or Kowloon.

Stables Grill takes its name from its location in the old horse stables. A casual eatery that offers lighter and more casual dining, Stables Grill serves up a fine selection of grilled dishes and tasty tapas. The emphasis is on using the freshest produce with minimal cooking to bring out the best in the basic ingredients.

In line with its maritime heritage, the walls of the Stables Grill are paneled using salvaged original old wood decking from a 50 year-old ship. The all-leather 1930s pendant lamps are made from leather cylinders used for storing sheared wool to be transported to wool mills.

In a nod to modern day Hong Kong, David Yeo has deliberately chosen the red “egg lamps” ubiquitous in Hong Kong’s wet markets.

Hullett House’s fine dining Western restaurant, St. George, features the best of modern European cuisine with a British accent. Open for lunch, dinner and private functions, St. George is led by one Michelin Star Chef Philippe Orrico, a protégé of Pierre Gagnaire.

St George evokes an old English club atmosphere in a cosily refined setting, with its high vaulted ceilings, open wooden trusses, velvet & oak wall panels, and crystal chandeliers that are sure to evoke memories of a bygone and more “genteel” era.

Originally a drinking place for visiting seamen and working policemen, there has been a Mariners’ Rest in the Marine Police Headquarters for more than 100 years.

The present location also used to be the sergeants’ mess of the Marine Police Headquarters. Mariners’ Rest serves beers on tap and British gastro pub fare with a modern edge.

Brave visitors will be able to visit and drink in the building’s original jail cells.

Those looking to take home an elegant and evocative gift can visit The Souvenir Shop, which has a variety of unique bespoke products that proudly reflect both Hong Kong’s history and its modern day handicrafts.

In the building’s courtyard will be a pavilion for performances and demonstrations of arts and crafts from Hong Kong;

Chinese paper cuttings, shadow and live puppetry, a noodle maker, and the ladies of Canal Road who famously beat the paper tigers.

Yeo explains, “Showcasing Hong Kong’s wonderful arts and traditions will be a huge part of what Hullett House is all about. We hope to keep such arts and traditions alive by making them more visible and a part of every day life in Hong Kong again.”

Hullett House is named in honour of Richmond William Hullett, a 19th century English academic and scholar who lived and worked in Asia.

A dedicated botanist, he discovered, amongst others, a variety of Bauhinia, also known as the orchid tree. The Bauhinia flower with its delicate pink orchid-like leaves was adopted as the floral emblem of Hong Kong in 1965, and since 1997, has proudly appeared on Hong Kong’s flag and coins. A statue of the flower was presented to the people of Hong Kong by the People’s Republic of China, and can now be found at Golden Bauhinia Square in Hong Kong.

Hullett House’s celebration of old Hong Kong sensibilities and its array of dining options, drinking havens and distinctive luxury suites are to become a landmark destination in the city.

Hullett House can be found at 2A Canton Road, Tsim Sha Tsui, Kowloon, Hong Kong, opposite the Cultural Centre and just a short walk from the Star Ferry.

For enquiries call +852 3988 0000 or visit www.hulletthouse.com

Cotswold House in Chipping Campden, Gloucestershire, England, plans to launch a new spa in December 2009, the first Temple branded spa in the U.K.

Temple Spa at Cotswold House will have seven treatment rooms, a hammam room, a hydrotherapy pool and several lounge areas.

The spa will be housed in a converted coach house, accessible via a covered path from the hotel.

It will cater to both hotel and day spa guests with a range of treatments and therapies, including anti-ageing facials, facials for men, pedicures and manicures, thermal stone massage, brush treatments and Indian head massage.

Cotswold House offers a tranquil retreat a few hours from London and the Midlands.

The regency townhouse’s original architecture has been preserved and modern facilities have been added.

The hotel has 28 rooms and suites and houses a casual brasserie restaurant and a fine-dining restaurant.

For more information, visit

www.ghorg.com

Santo Domingo is home to the country’s first Holiday Inn property since the InterContinental Hotels Group (IHG) began its $1 billion revamp of the brand.

The property is located in the heart of the city and is surrounded by local shopping areas, nightclubs and restaurants.

Amenities of the hotel include an outdoor rooftop swimming pool, business center, 24-hour fitness center and free wireless internet service in all rooms.

For more information, visit www.ihgplc.com

Beginning Nov. 23, Explore Minnesota Tourism will publish weekly reports on downhill ski and winter trail conditions.

These online reports offer information on where the conditions for downhill and cross-country skiing and snowmobiling are optimal.

The downhill ski report, provided in partnership with the Minnesota Ski and Snowboard Association, contains information on 14 downhill ski areas across the state. The winter trails report covers ski and snowmobile trail information across the state as reported by the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources and community organizations.

These reports are available at www.exploreminnesota.com  or by email or RSS feed.

Exploreminnesota.com also offers information on places to stay and things to do near the hills and trails.

For more information, visit www.exploreminnesota.com

This winter, visitors will be able to experience new additions made to Casa de Campo.

The 7,000-acre resort is adding 80 new Elite Hotel Rooms and Elite Suites will open to the public in December.

In addition, the resort’s main area will be completely re-designed and re-built to introduce a contemporary concept, which will include a lobby, fine dining restaurant, lounge bar, fitness center, library, boutique, business center and main pool area.

The total investment for Casa de Campo’s first phase of refurbishments will reach $20 million. For more information, visit www.casadecampo.com.do

A new day trip to Great Keppel Island is enticing visitors back to this pristine island near Rockhampton in Central Queensland.

For just $77 per person, the ‘Great Keppel Island Great Day Out’ package includes return ferry transfers from the mainland (Pier One, Rosslyn Bay), tea and coffee on arrival, a thrilling tube ride along Fisherman’s Beach and free use of snorkel gear and fins, kayaks, catamarans, sun suits and life jackets.

Situated just 30 minutes by boat from the mainland, Great Keppel Island is situated on the southern end of the Great Barrier Reef and is renowned for its 17 beautiful beaches and fantastic bushwalking opportunities.

Snorkel, scuba dive, swim and paddle in the safe beaches, relax on the sand, or enjoy a walk to the lookout for fantastic views of the other 13 islands in the Keppel Bay group.

Lunch can be purchased at Island Pizza or at the Keppel Haven Bar and Bistro and you can also choose to add an overnight stay at the Great Keppel Island Holiday Village just behind the sand dunes amongst the gum trees.

http://www.gkiholidayvillage.com.au

Spyder Rider Australia is causing Gold Coast visitors to look twice as their stylish, and unusual, three-wheeled motorbikes zoom past.

The Gold Coast is the only place in the world people can ride a Can Am Spyder Roadster Motorbike.

The unusual looking set of wheels offers riders and passengers the speed and thrills of a motorbike with the safety and stability of a car including traction control, stability control, power steering and ABS.

The half day ‘You-Ryde’ tag along and ‘We-Ryde’ pillion passenger tours visit places including Springbrook, Mount Tamborine and Surfers Paradise.

A valid motorcycle licence and a minimum age of 23 years is required for the You-Ride tour and both include gear hire (helmet, jacket and gloves), morning or afternoon tea, fuel, insurance and guide/s. Thrill Rydes also available.

The Spyder can accelerate faster than a Porsche 911.

You-Ryde and We-Ryde tours are for four hours from $250 per person and Thrill Rides are from $66 per person and range from 30 minutes to two hours.

The Spyders are also available for private hire for up to five days. www.spyderryder.com.au

An exciting new package tour of Brisbane’s coastal Redlands region combines the diverse offerings of North Stradbroke Island with a visit to Australia’s first environmental centre for indigenous plants.

The City to Straddie Tour includes a half day Straddie Kingfisher Tour including Brown Lake, pippy digging on Main Beach, the Gorge Walk, beach fishing and a barbecue lunch on Flinders Beach.

The tour then returns to the mainland for a Bush Tucker Tour through the themed native botanical gardens at Redlands IndigiScapes Centre and afternoon tea in the open air Tea Gardens Café.

The tour runs from 7.15am-5.30pm and includes pick-up and drop-off from hotels in the Brisbane CBD, morning and afternoon tea, a BBQ lunch, and ferry transfers.

Costs are $175 per adult and $125 per child aged 4 to 14. www.straddiekingfishertours.com.au

InterContinental Hotels & Resorts announced the Dec. 1, 2009 opening of InterContinental Hua Hin Resort, Thailand’s new seaside retreat, located on prime beachfront along Petchakasem Road.

Inspired by the Maruekhathaiyawan Palace built by King Rama VI, InterContinental Hua Hin Resort features 119 rooms, of which 10 deluxe rooms have direct pool access.

The resort’s top-end accommodation includes 11 deluxe ocean-view suites and six executive suites.

Three beachfront villas with private plunge pools and one presidential suite provide the highest level of luxury.

The presidential suite can also cater as a distinctive and private wedding chapel. All rooms have individual master bedrooms, spacious living and dining areas in addition to large bathrooms with a separate shower and bathtub.

Guests can also enjoy entertainment options such as 37-inch to 50-inch Samsung LCD TVs, Bose DVD players and iPod docking stations.

Personalized butler service and premium L’Occitane brand amenities in every bathroom ensure the utmost in comfort and convenience. Room rates start from $154 per night.

Principle design team Space Architect along with construction firm Power Line, swimming pool and landscape designer Belt Collins, lighting designer Lifestyle and interior designer PIA together conceived this premier destination in Hua Hin.

From a striking infinity-edge swimming pool to elegant fine-dining outlets all featuring stunning ocean views, guests enjoy high quality accommodation and service in a delightfully low-key setting.

Guests can be pampered at Spa InterContinental, work out at the Techno Gym, or dine at the signature oceanfront Beach Grill. The resort’s signature kids’ club, Planet Trekkers, is designed as a mini-resort for younger guests.

Distinguished International Hotels, Residences and Resorts welcomed the Mount Falcon Country House Hotel in West Ireland as the newest member of its international properties.

Located in County Mayo between Foxford and Ballina, this estate property sits on 100 acres with the offering of a four-star hotel, a fishery and three- and four-bedroom, self-catering luxury suites spread among three idyllic sites on the property — the Lakeside, Courtyard and Woodlands. Mount Falcon Country House Hotel boasts 32 rooms and suites beautifully appointed with many original features such as 15-foot-high ceilings, original marble fireplaces, cornices, servant bell ringers, pitch pine floor boards and shutters.

The en suite bathrooms have been carefully designed many of which feature cast iron bathtubs and marble top vanities.

Forty-five self-catering suites offer guests an alternative to enjoy the magical experience of the estate grounds.

For more information,

call 866-581-0501

or visit www.distinguishedhotels.com

For more information about Ireland visit http://www.discoverireland.com or for a free vacation planning kit call the NY office at 800/223-6470. Read Ireland feature stories from Jetsetters Magazine at the graphic below.