Jetsettersblog

Philippe Starck’s first Italian hotel, and Design Hotels member, is Palazzina Grassi in Venice. The designer was chosen by Emanuele Garosci, hotelier and former rally driver, to create an imaginative five-star hotel with 16 bedrooms and six apartment suites, a private members-only club and a restaurant.

Designed to make guests feel a “temporarily Venetian,” this 16th century former residence captures the charm of the city.

Traditional Italian touches such as exposed bricks mix with contemporary design, including glass wardrobes and nine custom-made Murano glass works by the artist Aristide Najean.

The result is a luxurious hotel on the Canal Grande that retains the aura and charm of an aristocratic Venetian home.

Palazzina Grassi offers guests a pick-up service in its 1960s Celli boat.

Check-in happens on board and guests are dropped off directly at the hotel’s private pier.
Those who prefer a quieter approach by land can use the hotel’s street entrance opposite the Canal Grande.

Guests are welcomed with a glass of prosecco or wine from Veneto. Breakfast can be served anytime and anywhere in the hotel.

The guest rooms offer large backlit mirrors, warm lighting, floors in Venetian wood, bathrooms using natural stone and bespoke pieces of furniture including dressing tables.

In the apartment suites, beds are situated in the center of the room and are surrounded by transparent glass wardrobes, soft rugs and coffee tables made of steel and moonstone onyx. Instead of the usual directory of guest services, visitors can take inspiration from a “list of vices” advising them to eat well, drink, read and surrender to their passions.

The ground-floor PG’s restaurant and bar offers a masterpiece in art and design in the form of two long monolith high dinner tables, one made of marble and the other of mirrored glass.

Mahogany wood paneling on the walls, soft lighting and pieces of Venetian glass complete the environment.

Diners have a view of the show kitchen and bar, a modern reinterpretation of the traditional Venetian “cicchetteria” or “osteria,” a popular meeting place where people can gather for conversation and local fare.

The G club, overlooking the Canal Grande, contains a private intimate dining room.

Its two interconnected rooms feature a bar outfitted with vibrant red, yellow and silver Murano tiles and offer a cozy space where hotel guests and their friends mix with Venetian society.

Set in the heart of Venice next to Palazzo Grassi on Canal Grande, Palazzina Grassi is housed in a 16th century building, former home to aristocrats.

The hotel is a short walk from the main museums and art galleries, including the Guggenheim Collection and the Galleria dell’Accademia.

For more information, visit www.designhotels.com

A new Napa Valley website, www.NapaValleyValues.com , features deals on food, wine, lodging and entertainment throughout the Napa Valley.

The site includes a mixture of ongoing deals and special, limited-time offers. Content is geared toward locals and visitors alike, with weekday and weekend deals, plus specials on lodging at local hotels and B&Bs.

Current postings include a second-night free offer at three local inns and a $14 comfort food meal deal at the Culinary Institute of America’s restaurant.

NapaValleyValues.com encourages visitors to sign up for a free email newsletter, so they can learn about the latest deals on food, wine, lodging and entertainment.

For more information, visit www.napavalleyvalues.com

The Aurelio Spa in Austria is offering new treatments that revitalize the body after an exhilarating day of skiing.

The new spa menu focuses on Valmont products that incorporate Alpine herbs cultivated in Valmont’s private alpine garden, triple DNA, powerful anti-oxidants and glacial water from the Wallis Alps.

Facial masks like the 60-minute “Energy of Bisses” treatment moisturize the epidermis. The “Ski Massage” offers a stress-relieving full-body massage including head and foot reflexology with menthol and eucalyptus oils that thaws out the exhaustion from a day of skiing in the Alps.

The Spa’s new “Hits for Teens” regimen is designed specially for their younger visitors as well as their men’s line with nurturing substances ideal for male skin.

The spa features a 54-foot indoor pool, Finnish sauna, steam bath, Jacuzzi, diving pond, two treatment rooms and a tranquil meditation room where guests snuggle up in front of an open fire.

Aurelio Lech is situated next to the Schlegelkopf-Piste.

Its location allows guests to start a day of skiing directly from the hotel.

With a total of 85 lifts, 173 miles of downhill slopes and 112 miles of off-track skiing, the area of Lech accommodates skiers of all skill levels.

Located directly on the slopes, Aurelio Lech provides all the sophistication and comforts of a world-class hotel combined with the ambiance and elegance of a private residence.

For more information, visit www.aureliolech.com

The U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) has unveiled a more user-friendly aviation consumer website that makes it easier for consumers to file complaints about airline service, compare the historical on-time and baggage mishandling records of airlines, and find helpful tips about air travel.

“This updated website is part of our ongoing effort to improve resources for consumers and ensure that airline passengers are treated fairly when they fly,” said U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood. “We want to make it as easy as possible for consumers to find the information they need to make their air travel experience as smooth and hassle-free as possible.”

The improved site contains useful information about the department’s complaint-handling system for consumers who experience air travel service problems, including a web form that consumers can use to file a complaint with DOT about airline service.

The site also offers guidance regarding aviation rules and statutes, advice concerning airlines that have stopped operating or filed for bankruptcy protection, and travel tips and publications related to air travel, such as the Air Travel Consumer Report, Fly-Rights and the annual report on disability-related air travel complaints.

It also features easy-to-navigate links to all of the department’s information for air travelers, as well as links to other agency websites with useful material for air travelers.

The public will also find it easier to obtain enforcement orders, rules and guidance pertaining to a wide array of subjects such as baggage, fare advertising, refunds, overbooking, disability and flight delays.

The website is also available in Spanish.

An individual can access the Spanish website from the English site by simply clicking the word “Spanish” on the homepage.

The National Business Travel Association praised the new site.

The group has sought greater transparency in on-time airline performance for some time, said Michael W. McCormick, the NBTA’s president and COO.

Access to this historical data allows corporate travel managers and business travelers to evaluate flight options and make well-informed decisions when arranging travel, saving a company both time and money.

For more information, visit

www.airconsumer.dot.gov

Wyndham Hotel Group announced that the Apollo Hotel Amsterdam, a 223-room hotel with a 50-year history of serving visitors, has joined the upscale Wyndham Hotels and Resorts brand as its first hotel in the Netherlands. The Wyndham Apollo Hotel Amsterdam, the flagship of Apollo Hotels & Resorts, overlooks the only point in Amsterdam where five canals converge.

It is near the RAI Trade and Congress Centre, the World Trade Centre Amsterdam, Royal Concert Hall and the city’s museums, shopping districts and night life of the Leidseplein.

The hotel caters to business and leisure travelers as well as groups.

Its six multipurpose function rooms can accommodate events of up to 300.

Dining facilities include Restaurant La Sirène, known as one of the best seafood restaurants in Amsterdam, the Marina lounge and two waterside outdoor cafes. Other facilities include a gym and business center with administrative support.

All guest rooms currently are equipped with Phi-ton beds, featuring an award-winning design that “floats” without a sub-frame; high-speed wireless Internet service; mini bar; coffee- and tea-making facilities; flat-screen TV; and a spacious work area.

Luxury suites offer a separate bedroom and living area.

The Wyndham Apollo Hotel Amsterdam boasts a private harbor and offers dinner and cocktail cruises onboard a classic salon boat.

The hotel offers a private car park and is a 20-minute drive from Schiphol airport.

For reservations or more information, visit www.wyndham.com

Hilton Worldwide signed two franchise agreements for Doubletree by Hilton hotels in Turkey.

One of the new hotels will be located in Istanbul and a second in Cappadocia and are anticipated to open in mid 2010.

This latest announcement marks Doubletree by Hilton’s entry into the Turkish market, the continued growth of Hilton Worldwide in Europe, and the further development of the upscale, full-service Doubletree by Hilton brand. Patrick Fitzgibbon, senior vice president of development, Europe and Africa, said,

“Hilton Worldwide already has nine hotels in operation in Turkey and we are delighted to be adding more properties in 2010, adding to the significant development momentum in this exciting market. We believe these first Doubletree by Hilton hotels in Istanbul and Cappadocia will be the first of many in Turkey.”

With these latest signings, Hilton Worldwide now has a total of 15 hotels in the pipeline across its portfolio of brands in Turkey.

“The company has its sights set on continued strategic growth in the country. Doubletree by Hilton, Avanos-Cappadocia, owned by Ata Turizm Isletmecilik Tasimacilik Sanayi ve Ticaret Ltd. Sti, will offer 126 bedrooms, meeting facilities, a restaurant, bars, indoor and outdoor swimming pools and a spa.

“This hotel conversion will see a freshly refurbished hotel provide accommodation in one of the world’s greatest historical sites, which is famous for its ancient carvings, traditional Cappadocia dwellings and natural beauty.

Doubletree by Hilton, Istanbul-Old City, owned by Erpet Turizm Insaat Taahhut Sanayi ve Ticaret A.S, will offer 172 bedrooms, meeting facilities, restaurant, lobby and rooftop bars, fitness and Turkish sauna facilities.

Located in the Old Peninsula area of Istanbul, the new build hotel will be in the city’s historic, cultural and commercial district and will be located close to major tourism destinations such as the Grand Bazaar, Sultanahmet, the Blue Mosque, Hagia Sophia, Topkapi Palace and the historic Istanbul University building.

Hilton Worldwide has six Hilton Garden Inn hotels under construction in Turkey and agreements signed on a further five. These are in addition to the nine hotels that the company currently operates in Turkey, eight Hilton hotels and one Conrad hotel — Conrad Istanbul, Mersin HiltonSA, Hilton Kayseri, Hilton Izmir, Hilton ParkSA Istanbul, Hilton Istanbul, Ankara HiltonSA, Adana HiltonSA and the Hilton Dalaman Resort & Spa which opened in 2009.

For more information, visit

www.doubletree.com  

or www.hiltonworldwide.com

Centara Hotels & Resorts has opened the Moksha Himalaya Spa Resort at Himachai Pradesh in India.

Operated by Centara under a management contract, the Moksha Himalaya Spa Resort is the first under the new Centara Boutique Collection brand to open outside of Thailand.

Located at a height of 5,200 feet among the pine trees of the Shivalik Valley, the resort is 35 minutes by road from Chandigarh International Airport.

The final stage of the journey is a 10-minute cable car ride to the resort, providing a panoramic view of the countryside. The resort and spa comprises 15 colonial-inspired buildings linked by pathways for easy walking or travel by buggy. With just 62 guest suites, the resort is designed to a scale that provides both intimacy and privacy.

For more information, visit www.centarahotelsresorts.com

SBE, a Los Angeles-based luxury hospitality and development company, has opened the Hyde Lounge Mammoth.

The après ski nightlife venue is a social viewing and pub located in the heart of the village. Partially modeled after its predecessor on Sunset Boulevard in Los Angeles, Hyde Lounge Mammoth accommodates 120 guests indoors and up to 200 guests on the patio.

The 5,000-square-foot of space features a V-shaped bar, a pool table, plasma video displays, a wrap-around patio and an outdoor terrace with in-ground heating.

For more information, visit www.sbe.com

For Mammoth Mountain information, call 800-626-6684 or visit www.mammothmountain.com

A new beach is born at The Ritz-Carlton, Cancun. The Caribbean oceanfront resort has recently added to its world-class facilities a 300-feet-deep beach as part of Cancun’s $71 million beach recovery project, which required extracting and pumping more than 5.2 million cubic meters of sand using 2,137 tons of equipment, equivalent to 4,470 linear meters of pipe use on land, floating and submerged for the restoration of the sand.

As a result, the white-sand beach in front of the resort has been restored and is larger than ever before.

To highlight the dramatic expansion, guests staying at The Ritz-Carlton, Cancun will experience a beach celebration program that includes dining literally on the beach, moonlight fiestas, salsa lessons, ocean-inspired spa treatments and much more.

Beach lovers can reserve the resort’s Beyond Beach package available until June 1, 2010.

Starting at $559 per room, it includes overnight accommodations with views of the Caribbean, complimentary Beach Villa during stay, daily breakfast for two, a beach bag with tailored amenities and a farewell gift.

In addition, guests may pre-order picnic baskets to enjoy luncheon in the comfort of their own beach oasis for an additional price.

For more information, call 800-241-3333 or visit www.ritzcarlton.com

Wynn Las Vegas has partnered with the N9NE Group’s Michael Morton to open a wine bar at the hotel this fall.

The bar will offer wines, beers, organic spirits and specialty cocktails.

Food menu items will include charcuterie, farmhouse cheeses, hand-cut crudo, tapas a la plancha and bite-size desserts.

Music will be derived from rhythms from around the world including Italy, Spain, France, Argentina, Chile and Australia.

The venue will open in a newly renovated space adjacent the Terrace Pointe Cafe at Wynn Las Vegas.

For more information, call 877-321-9966 or visit www.wynnlasvegas.com